Bill and Sea Peterson’s residence on Laipo Road has won the Wailua-Kapa‘a Neighborhood Association’s Neighborhood Pride Award for June. Bill is a retired engineer and Sea is a retired teacher. They tried for a low-maintenance yard because “they are not
Bill and Sea Peterson’s residence on Laipo Road has won the Wailua-Kapa‘a Neighborhood Association’s Neighborhood Pride Award for June.
Bill is a retired engineer and Sea is a retired teacher. They tried for a low-maintenance yard because “they are not getting any younger.” However, they really enjoy being in and working on the “moderate” maintenance yard that they have created.
They have a collection of more than 50 palms and 50 statues on a half acre, which is divided into three distinct garden areas. They also have a bountiful vegetable garden.
Among the many fruit trees is a starfruit that produces about 200 pounds of fruit a year and a very large, prolific macadamia nut tree. There are so many nuts that the Petersons own one of the few industrial-sized nutcrackers on the island.
With no master plan, everything has evolved — and very nicely, too. Once an engineer, always an engineer, even in the yard. Bill had the soil tested and strives for soil balance. They’ve decided that Euphorbia is the best ground cover, and its white flower blooms all year.
When you are a substitute teacher in the K through 5 classes and you “need peace,” what do you do? If you have an engineer-type husband, you make and build your beauty and tranquility.
Luckily, beautiful buildings come in kits now. So it was a jump start in the form of an imported (with no instructions) coconut wood gazebo. The tranquility of the plantings takes a bit more effort. The view from the Gazebo is spectacular and the surroundings are magnificent. At least 20 hours a week of work and fun have paid off in the creation of a wonderful outdoor environment.
The Petersons will receive their award at the Wailua-Kapa‘a Neighborhood Association Meeting from 2 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, June 25, at the Kapaa‘ Library. The public is invited to this free community information and involvement meeting.
Nominations for beautiful front yards, located in the 96746 zip code can be submitted at Helena1824@aol.com or 822-1885, Helena Cooney, chairman. The resident must do their own work.
