The University of Hawaii Urban Garden Center in Pearl City held a work day in several areas throughout the garden grounds on Saturday. Urban Garden Center Master Gardner’s tended to the Herb Garden while Pearlridge Rotarian volunteers continued their work on the center's Peace Garden which includes the Honolulu Rose Society Rose Garden and newly constructed garden pergola.
Chores included picking up rocks and rubbish that occupied the hillside in the garden, maintenance of the rose garden beds, digging out tree stumps and roots along the garden walkway, and spreading mulch around the Peace Garden perimeter.
Bob Speer, past President of the Honolulu Rose Society who serves as the Peace Garden project coordinator and lead construction foreman, made an exciting announcement to the group of volunteers with regard to future support for the Peace Garden during lunch that was provided by the UGC Master Gardeners.
"Two big international groups that have globally ten million people and five million people respectively as a part of these organizations, are going to adopt and dedicate a space that will be the Peace Garden pathway," said Speer. The two groups will be heading this initiative along with the University of Hawaii. We're going to get into the Peace Garden business here in the next few years, probably in quite a big way. We're starting that now."
On Saturday, September 23, the Urban Garden Center will host a luncheon at the Peace Garden / Rose Garden to celebrate the completion of the first phase of the project. Three hundred guests are expected to attend the event.
Members from the Honolulu Rose Society spent a portion of Saturday morning pruning dozens of rose plants in preparation for the September 23rd event. "On September 23rd the roses will all be in bloom," Speer said. "They pruned them so the blossoms will come out for that weekend. That will be a spectacular day."
Mr. Speer also expressed his appreciation on Saturday to the group of Rotary Club of Pearlridge volunteers, led by club President Tony Lorenzo for their help and support.
"Thanks so much to the rotary club for all your efforts to come down to help," Speer said. "You made my day, our day, for making that place look like we always dreamed it could be. It looks pretty darn good."
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
Bob Speer (middle),past President of the Honolulu Rose Society and Peace Garden project coordinator and lead construction foreman, takes a break for a photo with Pearlridge Rotarians Gordon Arakaki (left) and Vince Savarino (right).
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
A Honolulu Rose Society member (center) is pictured pruning a rose plant in the rose garden on Saturday.
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
Current Rotary Club of Pearlridge President Tony Lorenzo (second from right) is pictured with past club president's, Jarrett Oshiro (far left), Theo Stiller, and Clifton Yasutomi.
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
Mahalo to the refreshment and snack crew for keeping the volunteers well hydrated and fed during Saturday's work day at the UGC Peace Garden.
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
Chef David was once again the 'Master of the Grill' on Saturday!