Have you noticed how this Foster Mansion Driveway Lamp seems to guard the entrance? It stands silently watching over all who pass. Its story is intertwined with the rich history of Foster Botanical Garden.
The Foster Mansion Driveway Lamp marks the entrance to a place of serene beauty. Foster Botanical Garden is Honolulu’s oldest botanical garden. It spans a compact 14 acres. It offers a tranquil green oasis.
In 1853, Queen Kalama leased land to William Hillebrand. He was a botanist and physician. Hillebrand and his wife built a home here. The magnificent trees in this area were planted by him.
Hillebrand introduced Common Myna birds to Honolulu. He also brought other animals. After 20 years, Hillebrand returned to Germany. He published Flora of the Hawaiian Islands in 1888.
In 1884, Thomas R. Foster and his wife Mary E. Foster bought the property. They continued to develop the garden. In 1919, Foster leased land to the Hawaiian Sugar Planters’ Association. Dr. Harold L. Lyon directed the experiment station. He built on the work of plant conservation.
Upon Mrs. Foster’s death in 1930, the site was bequeathed to the City and County of Honolulu. It became a public garden. It opened to the public on November 30, 1931. Lyon was its first director.
Dr. Lyon introduced 10000 new kinds of trees and plants to Hawai’i. The Foster Garden orchid collection started with Dr. Lyon’s own plants. Paul R. Weissich expanded Foster Garden. It grew to over 13.5 acres. He also developed four additional sites on Oahu Island. These became the 650-acre Honolulu Botanical Gardens system.
Foster Botanical Garden is a living museum of tropical plants. These plants come from throughout the world’s tropics. Today, the garden consists of different themed areas. These include the Upper Terrace and Middle Terraces. There is also an Economic Garden.
The garden also contains exceptional trees. These trees are valuable for their beauty. They also perform crucial ecological functions. Foster Botanical Garden contains 25 exceptional trees.
The Foster Mansion Driveway Lamp has witnessed all this history. It has seen the garden evolve. It has welcomed countless visitors. Think of the stories this lamp could tell. Its light has guided people for decades. It has illuminated the path to this beautiful sanctuary.
As you leave, remember the Foster Mansion Driveway Lamp. It is more than just a light. It is a symbol of the garden’s enduring legacy. It stands as a beacon.