An oasis in the city

Behind downtown Honolulu on Vineyard Drive there is an oasis in the urban desert, quiet, sweet-smelling and beautiful, and admission is only $3. I'm talking about Foster Botanical Garden. I've been going to Foster Garden since 1978 when I first saw the cannonball tree. Back then there was even a garden of poison plants! There is a still a grove of "food trees" -- orange, lemon, cocao, vanilla, coffee -- and loads of orchids. The Friends of Honolulu Botanical Gardens and the Honolulu Botanical Gardens this weekend present "The Nutcracker Sweet Festival 2007," including food, music, silent auctions of art, and sales of plants some of which have never before been offered. It starts Saturday at 9:30 a.m. with free balloons for keiki, and at 11:15 a.m. the actor Jason Scott Leigh will give a talk on natural farming. Bonsai classes are also scheduled. Garden tours will be given at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. For more information: 537-1708.