Whimsical retreat

Albert and Elissa Yellin had a clear vision when they first designed their garden on a sprawling 1.1-acre field in Pupu­kea on Oahu’s North Shore nine years ago.

It would feature a rock walkway encircling their green-shingled home, meandering among different beds of agaves, aloes, cactuses and succulents from the southwestern U.S., Cuba, Mexico, South America and Africa.

Like a living journal, the garden documents their botanical journeys over the past five decades. Some plants come from trips abroad and others from the collections of botanist friends who have since died.

"It’s my personal palette, which is predominately succulent," said Elissa Yellin. "I just wanted to design a property I saw fit for us. It’s a personal garden."

The Yellins became passionate collectors of plants in the late ’60s and early ’70s, when they lived in Southern California.

When you enter the garden through their custom-made wooden gate, the tall Moringa drouhardii, an endemic species of southwestern Madagascar, dominates the view. The Yellins have dubbed it the "Dr. Seuss tree" or "Seussaly" because it has a branch that’s bent over in a whimsical way.

The tree, commonly known as the bottle tree because of its bloated white trunk, was just 12 inches tall when brought over from California but grew into a 500-pound giant within six months, due in part to abundant rainfall.

Seussaly is much heavier than that now, and its pods have even given birth to new trees.

Elissa, 75, says she loves tropicals but wanted to look beyond plumeria trees, heliconias and split-leaf philodendrons.

Many of the plants — about 20,000 pounds, to be precise — were shipped in pots from the Yellins’ previous garden in Santa Mon­ica, Calif., over a 10-month period between 2004 and 2005.

For her the Pupu­kea garden became the perfect opportunity to see what happened when plants were transferred from pot to ground. She planted many in the ground for the first time in Hawaii because of its warm climate.

She’s chosen an eclectic mix offering texture and color — from Alo­ca­sia Por­to­dora (hybrid elephant ears) to terrestrial bromeliads, crinum lilies, angel’s trumpets and a striking Dasylirion (blue twister) from Mexico with long, green blades that curve into white blooms.

One of her favorites is an Uncarina tree from Madagascar with year-round yellow blooms, she said. There is also a native Hawaiian munroidendron.

The plants, shrubs and trees are mostly perennials, representing both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres of the globe.

"There will always be something in bloom," said Albert, a retired vascular surgeon.

Albert, 76, is mostly fascinated with cactuses and plants that take on bizarre shapes or are challenging to grow.

"What’s rewarding is having a plant flower, grow seed and then become a new plant, completing the cycle," he said.

The Yellins also have a commercial-size greenhouse, which they refer to as their "plant house." It’s home to potted euphorbias, orchids, desert roses and Fockeas, which belong to the succulent family and are characterized by their fat, twisted, tuberous roots.

It also houses rare plants like Welwitschias, which consist of just two leaves, that traditionally grow in the desert of Namibia.

One of their treasures is a potted fouquieria, or Idria columnaris tree more commonly known as the boojum tree, which is at least 40 years old.

"It’s been with us almost all of our plant-collecting life," said Albert, who spends much of his time in the greenhouse.

Albert said he likes to grow things from seedlings — his latest experiment is with the seeds of pitaya, or dragonfruit.

The Yellins also share their home with two dogs and a cat, which have the run of the garden.

While they have a full-time gardener, the Yellins are outside every day, observing nature as it unfolds and enjoying the wonders of its creation.

"It’s tremendously satisfying, and there’s always something a little bit different," said Elissa, pointing out the red fruit growing from an Arenga (feather palm).

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Viewings of the garden are by appointment only. Email aeyellin@hawaii.rr.com.