Hawaii gardeners love orchids and fragrant flowers, and some varieties of orchids even combine the two with exotic beauty and a delightful perfume.

Though we have grown orchids in Hawaii for years, there is always more to learn.

For example, did you know that you can eat, cook with and make medicine from honohono orchids? Ingelia White of Windward Community College and her students have been assessing the medicinal value, vitamin content and culinary aspects of the honohono orchid, scientifically known as Dendrobium anosmum.

They have made soaps, chewing gum, tinctures and more from honohono. They have also crafted some onolicious recipes featuring the plant.

Orchids were even included in the Chinese pharmacopeia as far back as the Han Dynasty (200 B.C. to A.D. 200).

We have come a long way with orchid horticulture science and new varieties.

Original honohono orchids are light lavender, but new varieties are being developed all the time.

Do you ever notice how people will look at a flower, admire it, and the next thing they do is sniff it? People even do this with flowers that are rarely fragrant. And because of their intoxicating perfume, most local people can never get enough gardenia, ginger or pakalana.

Fragrant varieties of honohono are no longer out of reach. Science has made them a reality.

You cansee some beautiful orchid displays, learn more about the flowers and purchase your own plants at the Honolulu Orchid Society show. The show will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday at Washington Middle School. Willette Wong is chairwoman of this year’s show, themed "Planet Orchid."

Because of the popularity of honohono, the show is presenting two hands-on culture classes: 1 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m. Sunday.

The old-time wisdom was to "water them whenever you looked at them," which is to say often, and to fertilize them with rice rinse water. Attend classes this weekend to find out how knowledge has changed.

A "plant doctor" will be available to diagnose sick plants. Bring them sealed in a plastic bag to prevent contamination of healthy plants.

Admission to the orchid show is free, and walking through the beautiful displays will relieve your stress and inspire you.

Heidi Leianuenue Bornhorst is a Hawaiian horticulturist, arborist, food gardener and sustainable landscape designer. Reach her at heidib@hawaii.rr.com.