I first met Jill Wagner more than 20 years ago when we were both volunteering at Amy Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden in Captain Cook. I learned most of what I know about native Hawaiian plants there and still turn to garden manager, Peter VanDyke, as well as Jill when I have questions about native plants.
Jill was drawn to Amy Greenwell Garden when she first arrived in Hawaii. “I have always loved curated gardens where you can learn something about the plants,” she said.
During the years she spent at Amy Greenwell Garden, she became well-versed in cultivating and propagating native plants. These plants still remain her preferred species and she continues to work to promote and preserve native plants and their habitats.
When asked how her love of plants developed, Jill described her childhood. Most of her early years were spent living in Southern California visiting parks and gardens almost weekly at the behest of her British-born father. Her Ecuadorian mother was also a plant and garden lover. Through her, she developed an interest in healing and medicinal plants as well as edibles.
Jill responded further about being a plant lover, “I actually think it’s in my blood.”
Today, Jill’s love of plants, especially natives, manifests in many ways. She has always cultivated an area on her property to serve as a “retreat.” As a Buddhist priest, having a meditative spot where she can find peace is important in her life. From her early years on a farm in South Kona, to her property in Kaloko, to her current location in Makalei, Jill has always grown plants that she finds beautiful as well as interesting.
She takes her aesthetic sense into her design and consulting business. She is dedicated to helping others design landscapes that consider the site conditions before choosing the plants. Jill is a staunch believer in putting the right plant in the right place. She always recommends placing plants that are well suited to the site rather than collecting a hodge-podge of favorite plants and trying to combine them into an aesthetic design. Careful and deliberate plant choices are always the best guarantee for a healthy landscape and gardening success, according to Jill.
For more than 20 years, Jill has also maintained a nursery space on her property to propagate native Hawaiian plants as well as other ornamentals and trees. When setting up her nurseries, she always considers wind directions, sun exposure and spacing. She spaces her plants to allow for good air flow and exposure to light. These factors she considers very important to growing healthy plants. Nursery hygiene is perhaps her most important consideration, however. She maintains constant weed control and is a watchdog against insect or disease attacks.
Jill took me in her ATV to see her two large nursery buildings and outdoor growing space. We travelled though rough terrain that opened up onto a flat space with a gorgeous coastline view where her nursery sits.
Most of the plants she grows in her nursery are for her design and consulting clients or for reforestation projects. She also has a few lovely orchids and some interesting succulents that she grows for her own enjoyment.
Reforestation is a compelling interest of Jill’s. She is actively involved in several projects on Hawaii Island to revive native forest land. The projects involve not only planting natives, but also removing alien species to encourage the forests to regenerate and thrive. For more information on Jill’s nursery and services, go to www.forestnursery.com.
“Restoring the native forests is a key to sustainable ecological health here in Hawaii,” Jill said. She added, “We need to preserve wild lands to maintain the health of a place.”
Over the years, the arrival of many non-native species including plants, animals, insects and diseases have seriously undermined Hawaii’s ecological balance. Many introduced plants thrive here away from the controls that exist in their native habitats. They often spread rapidly into traditionally native habitats.
Jill described the introduction of new plants passionately. “By bringing in new plants, people are essentially putting bullies on our streets,” she exclaimed. “There is a big difference between continental plants and island plants.”
She further explained how new plant species can quickly take over our native forests as well as landscapes where natives once dominated. Jill definitely views this as a serious problem which is one reason she decided to establish a seed bank to preserve seeds of native Hawaiian plants.
Working with funding from grants from the Dorrance Family Foundation, Jill is able to direct and manage a non-profit seed bank, the Hawaii Island Seed Bank. She collects seeds and processes those that she and other volunteers have collected. Many steps are required to get seeds ready to be stored long term. Removing shells, husks and outer layers before lowering the moisture content to approximately 10 percent are some of the steps. At that moisture level, seeds can be stored long term, often decades.
The seeds will be used over time for reforestation projects as well as for members of the seed bank to use on their property when needed. Jill and her seed bank assistant put in nearly 20 hours a week to continue this important work. To become a member or find out more about the seed bank, go to www.drylandforest.org.
Always a dreamer, Jill continues to dream of a day when she can actually find the right place to put in her own curated garden filled with native plants as well as complementary introduced species. For her, establishing a well-designed arboretum in Kona would bring her full circle from her childhood love of gardens to offering one for future generations to enjoy and learn from here in Hawaii.
Diana Duff is a plant adviser, educator and consultant living in a dryland forest north of Kailua-Kona.
Gardening Events
Monday: Hawaii Tropical Fruit Growers Monthly Meeting from 6-9 p.m. at West Hawaii Tropical Fruit Growers office 81-6393 Mamalahoa Highway in Kealakekua. White wooden building on makai side across from the Department of Transportation yard. Park in front or on the north side. Heather Forester from the Hawaii Ant Lab will speak about ways to deal with Little Fire Ant infestations in South Kona. Members and guests are encouraged to bring fruit and holiday treats for sharing. Non-members are welcome to attend. For more information contact Brian Lievens President West Hawaii Chapter at 895-8753 or greenwizard@hawaii.rr.com.
Saturday: “Work Day at Amy Greenwell Garden” from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Meet at the Garden Visitor Center across from the Manago Hotel in Captain Cook. Volunteers will be able to help with garden maintenance and are invited to bring a brown bag lunch. Water and snacks provided. Call Peter at 323-3318 for more information.
Saturday, Feb. 2: “Pruning Shrubs and trees” from 10-11:30 a.m. at the Kailua-Kona Public Library at 75-138 Hualalai Road with Diana Duff. A free gardening-in-depth workshop as part of the Community Seed Library monthly series. Learn proper pruning techniques for the health and beauty of your plants. Bring your pruning questions. For more information call the library at 327-4327.
Farmer Direct Markets
Wednesday: “Hooulu Farmers Market” 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Sheraton Kona Resort &Spa at Keauhou Bay
Saturday: “Keauhou Farmers Market” 8 a.m. to noon at Keauhou Shopping Center
“Kamuela Farmer’s Market” from 7 a.m. to non at Pukalani Stables
“Waimea Town Market” from 7:30 a.m. to noon at the Parker School in central Waimea
“Waimea Homestead Farmers Market” from 7 a.m. to noon at the Waimea Middle andElementary School Playground
Sunday: “Pure Kona Green Market” 9 a.m. to2 p.m. at Amy Greenwell Garden in Captain Cook
“Hamakua Harvest” 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Highway 19 and Mamane Street in Honokaa
Plant Advice Lines
Anytime: konamg@ctahr.hawaii.edu
Tuesdays and Thursdays: 9 a.m. to noon at UH-CES in Kainaliu – 322-4893
Mondays and Fridays: 9 a.m. to noon at UH CES at Komohana in Hilo 981-5199
