The Garden Club of Honolulu is famous for giving back to our community and making it more beautiful, while we all learn something together.

The club's first major flower and horticulture show since 2006, "Na Pua Ali'i: Reflections on Hawai'i's Royal Legacy," is coming right up — Friday through April 19 at the Honolulu Academy of Arts.

The overall message is, "right plant, right place." Visitors will learn about climate conditions, soil types and plant-growing techniques for their own home gardens. (Some of our favorites in makai gardens can be total weeds up in wet mauka gardens.)

It's amazing how different plants can be in various Hawaiian microclimates. Take white or kahili ginger: We nurture and baby it beachside; in Waikiki gardens and up mauka it goes nuts; and in mauka rainforests like up Koke'e on Kaua'i and in the uplands of Moloka'i, it's a weed, taking over.

The ali'i had homes and gardens in various climates. Queen Emma and Queen Lili'uokalani were famous for their gardens and love of flowers and trees. Their gardens were like botanical wonderlands. Even Queen's Hospital is famous for its gardens, illustrating the ability of plants to heal and nurture us.

This year's garden show will feature three royal homes: 'Ainahau, the Waikiki home of Princess Ka'iulani; the Queen Emma Summer Palace in Nu'uanu, a summer retreat with its cool mountain breezes; and Washington Place, the residence of Queen Lili'uokalani, with plants that graced the gardens.

Each home has its own eco-climate.

The Queen Emma Summer Palace has the higher elevation and more rain.

Washington Place is the kula location — in the area between the mountains and sea, with flatter, more rolling land, and also sunnier and drier than the mountains.

'Ainahau is the ocean location, with its hot, dry, salty air.

Historical plants from the three royal gardens, as well as more modern plants now used in each climate zone, will be featured. Educational handouts will also be available. Other exhibits include flower arranging, horticulture, photography and botanical jewelry.