Angel Ramos, 86, has never not been growing plants, whether as a hobby or for survival.

Raised in Ilocos Norte in the Philippines, he and his six siblings helped tend his impoverished family’s tobacco, cotton and food crops. He learned to grow things from seed.

"We had to farm because there were no jobs," said Ramos, a Kahuku resident.

His gardening roots stuck with him when he moved to Hawaii in 1946 at age 17 as part of a wave of Filipino immigrants, known as Sakada, recruited to work on Hawaii’s plantations. He married his late wife, Rose, in 1948 and together they had 13 children. He has more than 40 grandchildren and admits he’s lost count.

Ramos maintained a home garden to raise food for his family while working for the Kahuku sugar plantation until the mill closed in 1971. He moved to his current home just down the street and went on to work as a groundskeeper and senior clerk at the Kahuku Golf Course, retiring in 1991.

"We had everything but we were still humble," he said.

He has more than 4,000 plants, mostly cacti and succulents, and Ramos cares for them as if they were part of his family. Every day he can be found in his garden, watering and seeing what needs his attention.

"I spend as much time in the yard as I can," he said.

He’s also taken up photography, and his plants are a frequent subject.

When he moved to the property more than 40 years ago, he started with an empty dirt lot. Now both the front and back yards are loaded with plants. The grass he originally planted throughout the yard was eventually replaced with plants he’s collected over the years.

"Most of the plants were given to me by friends," Ramos said.

Some are in the ground but most are in pots lined up in tidy rows across the yard. Narrow footpaths between the rows allow Ramos to care for the plants more easily. Others grow on trees. Many of his plants resemble alienlike creatures with twisted branches and stems and oversized leaves.

The Honolulu City Council named Ramos a "living treasure" in 1998 for helping to keep the history of Filipino plantation workers alive by sharing his stories and memorabilia. He also shares his knowledge of plants by participating in the International Sansevieria Society, which celebrates the common yard and house plant known as mother-in-law’s tongue, or snake plant. Ramos named a variety of variegated sansevieria after his late wife, Rose.

Ramos also has been a member of the Cactus & Succulent Society of Hawaii for the past 30 years and is regular guest speaker at the club and other groups.

Although most of the plants in his garden are not edible, he does grow starfruit, guava, jabong, ong choi and chili pepper. He’s also growing mountain apple saplings that he plans to distribute as part of the annual Arbor Day tree giveaway in April.

Ramos said gardening is what keeps him mobile and active.

"I came from a family of farmers. Plants have always been a part of my life," he said. "I just love them."