2005-05-12 TWORLD - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

from 1961-1966. I then went to graduate school at UC-Davis, and received a MS and a PhD in Botany, and graduated from there in 1971. I became very familiar with sub-tropical horticulture and agricultural practices as I grew up in California. And I learned at least a thousand different ornamental plants in California. Upon graduation from UC-Davis, I accepted a position with the University of Florida and went to work at the Ft. Lauderdale agricultural research center. There I worked with ornamental tropical plans that are typically grown in South Florida by nurserymen and used in landscapes and plant interiorscapes. I worked for the University of Florida for 7 years and I became familiar with several thousand other tropical species of plants, and with tropical horticultural practices. And here is very important information: During that time, I authored a research paper, along with Dr. Albert Will from the community college on the dangers of invasive plant species in Flordia. Because, one of the goals of my research was to introduce new plant species to South Florida nurseries via the University of Florida plant introduction system, and get these into the landscape industry.Anditwasveryimportanttobecarefultointroduceplantslesstheyspreadandcrowd out native plant species. We found such a plant that would endanger the environment that was brought in by Mr., Dr. Will from Australia; and we determined that it was an invasive species; and we took steps to destroy it; and we wrote an article about that. This was a Referee Journal and it had national circulation. So I am aware of the dangers; and I know of the many, many weedy pestiferous plants that plague Hawaii and threaten the existence of the native plant environment, and are very sensitive to that issue. After 7 years with the University of Florida, I went to work for a commercial tropical foliage plant nursery and set up a 5,000 square foot plant tissue culture laboratory, a two-acre propagation greenhouse complex, and 40 acres of shade cloth. I also planted a 20-acre field nursery. After almost 4 years of non-stop work, I decided to look for a slower-paced job in an academic setting and found a teaching position at the University of Wisconsin in River Falls, that is just to the east of that Mall of America. Most of you might be familiar with that Minneapolis, St. Paul area. SPRINGER:Mr. Neely, can you address the application, which is to construct a visitors center parking lot and related improvements? NEELY:Okay. My vision for the Garden: First and foremost, I want to see the Gardens as a place where people can learn about and enjoy the beauty of plants in a setting here in Hawaii. As a former educator, I am very much interested in increasing the awareness and knowledge of plants in people of all ages and walks of life. In order to be of the most service to most people, we need to increase the quality and size of the facilities we have at the Gardens, and we also want to be able to offer our visitors the opportunity to purchase items that will enhance their visit to and their memories of the Gardens and of Hawaii. We presently have a very small (200 square foot or less) temporary wooden greeting center, which has been in place for 10 years, along with two porta-potties that are serviced twice a week. We want to construct permanent restroom facilities for our visitors, many of whom travel the distance from Kona, on the way to see the Volcano. They are grateful to be able to get out and stretch and to see the beauty of the Gardens, and they are often looking for a snack. We need to have an office to replace the rented office in Downtown Hilo. We need to have a ticket sales 11EXHIBIT C