“O Tannenbaum - Hawaiian Christmas Tree Story"

There are many stories about when the “Christmas Tree” and the celebration tradition of the seasonal holiday came to Hawaii. Here's NKOs!

Reading “The Peopling of Hawaii” by Eleanor C. Nordyke” we know plantations brought German immigrants to the islands to support th sugar mills in the late 19th Century. They brought with them their culture and traditions which include celebrating with Yule trees. 

The German people are credited with introduction of the “Christmas Tree” tradition that has been adopted by cultures around the world and eulogized in the seasonal mele “O Tannenbaum (Christmas Tree) O Tannenbaum” … Your branches green delight us!” School children learn about the nature of the “Christmas Tree” through the lyrics “In beauty green will always grow. Through summer sun and winter snow.”

The Black Forest and Alps Region of Europe of are native to all kinds of fir and pine trees and naturally would be a source of decoration for the villages in Deutschland (Germany). Many of the fine holiday tree ornaments sold in department stores like Neiman Marcus are still handmade in Germany. 

According to Gary A. Warner, Travel Writer, “on December 25, 1786 the British ship Queen Charlotte was anchored off present-day Waimea, on the west side Kauai. This was eight years after Capt. James Cook had come into Waimea Bay and "discovered" what he would call the Sandwich Islands, after the Earl of Sandwich, the Lord of the Admiralty.” Warner says the sailors sent trinkets ashore to the native women and children on Kauai and were in return gifted with fruits and pig from native Hawaiians…celebrating the first Kauai Christmas.

In 1846, the popular British royals, Queen Victoria and her German Prince, Albert, were sketched in the Illustrated London News standing with their children around a Christmas tree. Undoubtedly Prince Albert, a Dutchman, brought his Yule traditions to the British Court. This image was circulated around the world. Victoria was very popular with her subjects, and what was done at court immediately became fashionable not only in Britain but in the new America. The Christmas tree had arrived as a holiday tradition.

In 1856, King Kamehameha IV moved the official national day of Thanksgiving to Dec. 25, more than coincidentally coinciding with Christmas. A large Christmas party was held on the Royal Residence grounds in 1858, including what is believed to be the first Christmas tree. A few years earlier we know that the Australia's Norfolk Island fir, the Norfolk pine was introduced to Hawaii.

Kauai has a close connection with Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. A view of the famous English monarch, in profile, was fashioned by nature along the distinctive green Ha'upu Mountain Range that graces Kauai’s south side. It is a delight for visitors and locals to find this unique natural sculpture and ponder its very creation! Hawaii’s own royal Prince Albert Edward Kamehameha, the only child of King Kamehameha IV and Queen Emma Kaleleonalani Naʻea, was the Godson of the Queen and given the royal family name in honor of the dear relationship between Queen Victoria and Queen Emma.

In a 2006 Honolulu Advertiser Duane Choy wrote “ The first Norfolk pine seedlings were brought to Hawai'i from the Sydney Botanic Garden in 1852 in a cargo addressed to the "King of the Sandwich Islands." This large pine grows to 130 feet tall and is native to Norfolk Island, which is near the east coast of Australia. It is known botanically as Araucaria columnaris, and is sometimes called the Cook Island pine. 

Once cut down, Norfolks will stay green, healthy and gorgeous for more than a month making them a perfect choice for a Island “Christmas Tree.” Norfolk pines do not need much water so they are sustainable. Before mainland fir tree importers and as late as the 1970 Norfolks were the only live trees available for Hawaii families for the season. With its near perfect branches it makes a graceful traditional Yule tree. Today in Hawaii a few nurseries specialize in growing the Norfolks for folks who want a live tree and for those who care about keeping foreign invasive species from being unleashed into our island environment, which is a risk with mainland trees.

Come to NKO nursery and see Flora in the garden for a perfect Yule gift of a live plant for someone special on you list!

POINSETTIA – Flor de Nochebuena

It’s the most wonderful time of the year if you’re a lover of the traditional Christmas plant the Poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima)! 

Native to Mexico the Aztecs called the vibrant red plant "Cuetlaxochitl." Modern Mexicans know the plant as Flor de Nochebuena (Christmas Eve Flower) whose blooms herald the beginning of the Season. 

In the early 19th Century Joel R. Poinsett, the first U.S. ambassador to Mexico brought back Poinsettias cuttings to his South Carolina home. A physician by trade Poinsett was an avid armature botanist who cultivated the cuttings in his greenhouse and sent plants to his friends thereby introducing the plant to America. When the commercial market began to take off Poinsett was given the honor of having the plant named after him. Even though Poinsett had an outstanding career as a United States Congressman and as an ambassador he will always be remembered for introducing the poinsettia into the United States.

Poinsettias became popular in the United States and around the world and today is a significant agriculture product. Popular it is! During the holiday season 85% of plants sold are the beautiful Poinsettia with a market of over 60 million plants grown for sale in all 50 states! The U.S. growers market supplies 90% of the worlds Poinsettia plants. That’s amazing…

Most folks know the Poinsettia as a dazzling red plant but today they are cultivated in many colors including a deep purple. Red, White and Pink are the most common colors you will find at your local nursery or garden shop and often they will have variegated color leaves. Poinsettia plants require a specific kind of care for growers to develop the striking colors. Did you know that Poinsettias does not really have a flower rather “modified leaves” similar to the Bougainvillea? 

Selecting Poinsettias
• Choose a plant with dark green foliage down to the soil line.
• The poinsettia should look full, balanced and attractive from all sides.
• The plant should be 2 1/2 times taller than the diameter of the container.
• Check the plant’s soil. If it’s wet and the plant limps this could be an indication of root rot.

Will my Poinsettia last during the holiday season?
How long your Poinsettia will stay beautiful after you bring it home depends on how old the plant is at time of purchase and how you treat the plant. Poinsettias can retain their beauty for weeks and some varieties will stay attractive for months.
• If the Poinsettia comes in a plastic sleeve remove it immediately. 
• Keep your plant in indirect light. Six hours of light daily is ideal. 
• On the mainland keep Poinsettias away from warm or cold drafts from radiators, air registers or open doors and windows.
• Check the soil daily. Be sure to punch holes in foil so water can drain into a saucer. Water when soil is dry. Allow water to drain into the saucer and discard excess water.
• Fertilize the poinsettia if you keep it past the holiday season. Apply a houseplant fertilizer once a month. Do not fertilize when it is in bloom.
• Water only when the soil is dry.
• Placing your poinsettia in a cool room 55 to 60°F at night will extend blooming time.

December 12th is National Poinsettia Day. 
Learn more here: www.poinsettiaday.com/

2012 - The Year of the Dragon NKO’s word is QUALITY

From Abby’s Desk!

Each year NKO has a “one word theme” to focus our company actions and support our goals. We ask each NKO team member to think about what the theme means professionally & personally.

For 2012 - The Year of the Dragon NKO’s word is QUALITY

Simply defined QUALITY is “the degree of excellence.” Quality may be interpreted differently by individuals, situations or by results - expected or achieved. At NKO we like to exceed our clients’ expectations and always strive to achieve customer satisfaction with our company staff and services.

A philosophical view of the word QUALITY may be, “I can’t define it, but I know when I see it.” At NKO we know when we see it AND we know how to achieve it. NKO views QUALITY as quantifiable and measurable.

We have established characteristics we use as benchmarks that are tangible and achievable. Excellence in quality is not only in the eye of the beholder but also in the standards set by NKO management and by employing sustainable and best management practices.

At NKO our competitive advantage is based on QUALITY.

Every member of the NKO organization is clear about the concept, definition, and measurement of QUALITY as it applies to their job responsibilities. What best satisfies a clients preferences or needs are those with the highest quality for that account.

Value-based quality is defined in terms of costs as well as other attributes. A client’s expectation is based on quality services at the acceptable price. Indeed you get what you pay for in the number of hours you contract for services but the QUALITY of the work is what makes NKO stand out as a leader in providing landscape services on Kauai.

Laua’e Fern

Common Laua’e Fern (Microsorium scolopendria plydodium)

The plant commonly referred to as Laua’e Fern (Microsorium scolopendria plydodium) is actually a non-native species ornamental garden plant. This common Laua’e Fern is native to parts of Oceania and tropical Asia and is NOT indigenous to Hawaii. This hardy Laua'e Fern is one of the most beautiful and well known ferns throughout the Hawaiian Islands.

Laua’e Ferns typically grow on "runners" over the ground and have large glossy green leaves. Look closely at a Laua’e Fern and you will notice two types of leaves, vegetation and spore bearing. The spores are clustered together on the underside of leaf. In reproduction, the spores fall to the ground and grow into new plants in a ground area that is shady, warm and moist.


True Laua’e Fern ((Microsorum spectrum wainiha)

The native Laua’e Fern mentioned in hula chants and spoken of in Mary Kawena “Pukui’s ‘Ōlelo No‘eau” actually refers to another much more rare fern found in Kauai’s Wainiha Valley. The true Laua’e Fern, (Microsorum spectrum wainiha), is so rare it has been replaced in cultural hula practices with the non-native fern, Microsorium scolopendria plydodium, which is more common. Traditionally, true Laua’e was used to scent kapa cloth with its delicate maile like fragrance as well as in lei making and for native spiritual practices including hula.

Laua’e Ferns add interesting texture and color to tropical landscapes. The common Laua’e Fern thrives in a variety of locations. Laua’e can grow on rocks, trees trunks or on the forest floor as well as a ground cover. The leaves are often used for decorations. Cut fronds can last about a week for flower displays. You will find the common Laua’e Fern used in landscape designs for resorts and shopping centers and local gardens where it grows nicely in shady moist soil.

Showers of Flowers on the Road to Poipu.

When driving South along Ala Kinoki Way (the Koloa By Pass Rd), look carefully on the right side just past the Koloa junction (Weli Weli Rd) you will see a small "plaque" dedicating the planting of the gorgeous Rainbow Shower Trees that line the road on the way to Poipu. The humble "plaque" states that in 1996 The Koloa Community Association (KCA) donated the Rainbow Shower Trees to the “community.”

No Ka Oi Landscape Services (then No Ka Oi Plants) was asked to support the original 1996 tree planting. It was at the suggestion of Abby Santos, NKO CFO and Licensed Landscape Contractor, that KCA choose the Rainbow Shower Tree for this beautification project.

The vision for Ala Kinoki Way is to be lined with a colorful canopy of tropical trees that would bring beauty, a sense of place and offer a shaded welcoming green-way to locals and visitors driving to and from Poipu. The Koloa bypass road is very windy, hot and dry making the selection of the type of tree that would be sustainable without irrigation and could withstand the microclimate of the area critical to the project’s success. The Rainbow Shower Tree was a perfect selection.

The Koloa Rainbow Shower Trees have beautiful flower clusters that start blooming in late Spring with rice paper like blossoms ranging in hue from deep pink, to soft yellow, to a snowy white. A sterile hybrid that originated in Hawaii from the cross pollination of its Asian ancestors - Golden Shower Tree and Pink Shower Tree-the Rainbow Shower Tree is bright, beautiful and elegant.

Rainbow Shower Trees are drought tolerant. They grow best in full sun, hot, and dry conditions. Perfect for Koloa/Poipu! The mature height of this hybrid is 30–40 ft, and the colorful canopy can cover up to 35ft. Rainbow Shower Trees grow well in sandy to clay soils.

There are several different cultivars of the Hawaii hybrid Rainbow Shower Trees (Cassia x nealia), each having various colors of flowers, often maturing from one color to another. The Wilhelmina Tenney variety has red, yellow, and white blossoms in each cluster and the designation of being the official tree of Honolulu! The Queen’s Hospital White’s first bloom with yellow-­orange flowers that become a creamy white with maturity. The Lunalilo Yellow starts with rich golden blossoms that soften to a light yellow over time and the Nii Gold blossoms are rich golden yellow.

Because the Rainbow Shower Tree is a sterile hybrid, the trees do not produce seed pods. Another plus is the root system is non-aggressive. Annual pruning aids in shaping and flower production. This low maintenance makes it ideal for planting in Hawaii’s parks, along roadways and in resort and commercial landscapes.

The shower of flowers makes us lucky we live Hawai'i Nei!

Hawaii Four 0 Seasons

Hawaii Four-0 Seasons

In Hawaii when we talk seasons we often identify Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall in a way that is localized to the micro climate where we live. We use indicators like surf conditions (South Swell- Summer, Winter Swell - North Shore), wet or dry (no make salt, make salt), flower blooms for leis (pakalana, pikaki, plumaria perfumes the air…) and fruits in season (can you say mango season!)

Lucky we live Hawaii!

If you have traveled to Hawaii you know that each major island is unique in size and land conditions. All the islands are built upon volcanic terra firma – with rainy sides and dry sides and mountains in the middle. This natural ecology allows for a year round growing season and make for some delicious local eating.

Visiting Hawaii this summer? - Plan to buy LOCAL seasonal fruit…if you can. Shopping in HI supermarkets you might be tempted to pick up a peach but be forewarned; mainland imported produce has spent weeks in transit and just aren’t flavorful by the time they arrive here in the islands.

Living in Hawaii we are always looking for the best local seasonal produce, whether from our yard, fruit stands, farmer’s markets or the grocery stores. The islands are full of farmers markets, some sell ONLY organic produce; others have farmers with specialty items like goat cheese and honey. Don’t be surprised if you see fruit stand along the road with a “honor system” for payment. That’s local style…still.

If you're not local, be aware that farmers markets in Hawaii have serious start-times. Shoppers line up and wait for the opening horn at which point folks run to claim the freshest lettuce and most fragrant pineapple… and this time of year mangos. The “aloha” seems a bit lacking in the “rush for the best” but if you lay back and let the crazy pass you will find a plethora of farm fresh fruits, veggies and local products that will make your experience worth the price.

This year the island of Kauai seems to have had a lot of rain, particularly on the Westside of Kauai where our best mangos grow. Locals say the mango and lychee crops, if any, will be small. Folks start eating mangos green with shoyu and continue on thru the Summer when the ripe, juicy and fragrant fruit is usually abundant.

Along with mango and lychee, breadfruit, starfruit (pictured above), Meyer lemons, seedless limes and logan are the fruits of Summer in the Islands. They are showing up at markets but it’s get em when you can. Some years we have so many mangos that folks can’t give them away…not this year.

PLANT NATIVE

PLANT NATIVE

Naturally NKO gets asked questions all the time – “Why is my bougainvillea not flowering?” “My hibiscus has a white bug - what is it?” “My lawn has brown patches - what do I do?” Many times these are temporary conditions that left alone nature will take care. That said if your garden looks flat you may have to take some corrective measures to bring it to a healthy and lush appearance.

Fertilizers can support healthy plant growth, but like in life too much of a good thing (Lilikoi Pie!) may have negative effects. It is important to apply only what “food” a plant can use. Over application of plant fertilizers can have a negative effect on your garden and the larger natural environment. Plus they cost a lot!
When fertilizers and plant food nutrients are over applied they tend to leach into the surrounding soil, find a way into our ground water and run off into streams and the ocean. Where this happens we may find aggressive aquatic plant growth in reservoirs, streams, lakes and bays. These invasive aquatic plants may look nice at first glance but they choke off the sunlight and oxygen that support the area’s natural ecosystem. Not a good thing.

One of the best solutions to having to use additives and fertilizers in your garden is to consider using native plants or others plantings with low fertilizer needs and turf like El Toro sod.

A smart approach, when evaluating how to feed your lawn and garden is to take the simple step of doing a soil test. A simple soil analysis will show if you are applying too much, too little, or the wrong type of fertilizer. The cost of fertilizers is significant and without a reliable soil analysis you may be wasting money and time using the wrong product and not getting the results you expect.

Hawaii experts say not to buy commercial test kits as they are not “not calibrated to give accurate recommendations for Hawaii.” Call your local University of Hawaii Cooperative Extension Service (CES) office for information on how you can take and submit soil samples to the UH Agricultural Diagnostic Service Center (ADSC) for testing. The Kauai CES office can be reached at 274-3471. We do know that you will want separate soil tests for your lawn and for your garden. When the results come in the cooperative extension agent should be able to help you understand the test report, recommend the type(s) of fertilizer for your landscape, and the proper application amounts for your landscape needs. If this is for your lawn you want to get info on how to correctly calibrate your fertilizer spreader.

With the proper information you will be feeding your lawn and gardens what they need. Soil testing is not complicated and with CES experts information you will be on your way to a healthy landscape and know you are protecting the natural Hawaii environment.

NKO is the BEST Kauai source for El Toro sod that is grown in Poipu. Call Abby at 645-0710 and she can let you know when the next harvest will take place.