Aiea linguist creates colorful oasis

When Biserka Cikes works in her Aiea garden, it’s as if she’s creating an artistic masterpiece. Everything is placed with intent to create depth, color and texture.

The native of Croatia credits her architect father for instilling in her an appreciation for landscaping.

“I watched him design houses and gardens. My dad was a very technical person and could really shape trees,” she said.

“I didn’t realize how much I was into this until I bought a home. It must be in my blood.”

(Her mother, on the other hand, was a little more pragmatic when it came to gardening. “She liked potted plants,” Cikes said.)

A linguist for 20 years in Europe, Cikes speaks six languages: Croatian, English, German, French, Spanish and a little Italian. She moved to Hawaii 6-1/2 years ago when her husband, Jeff, took a federal job here. When Cikes started to work on their yard, it was filled with red dirt and little else.

It’s quite a different picture now.

She uses a variety of plants with different characteristics: Some have sharp, pointed foliage, while others have round, broad or small leaves and flowers, depending on the effect she’s trying to achieve.

“I added plants with yellow leaves or spotted leaves so it’s not so monotonous. My father taught me to use texture,” she said.

Cikes admits she doesn’t know the names of most of the plants in her garden; she adds them simply because she likes their color or texture. There are deep-pink hibiscus, oleander, variegated ginger, red roses, a Meyer lemon tree, Russian sage with lovely purple flower stalks that sway in the breeze, and far too many others to mention. A grove of fruit-laden papaya trees stands along the back boundary.

If she has a plan, it’s to make sure there are always fresh and colorful sights to take in.

“I miss the seasons, so I try to plant things that bloom at all different times,” she said. “Something is always blooming.”

The centerpiece of her sloping backyard is a space reminiscent of a European country garden. Slate and rock steps lead down to a hidden seating area with benches where one can relax and enjoy the surroundings.

“I sit here early in the morning. It’s cool and I enjoy the fresh air. I’ll look around and see what needs to be done,” Cikes said.

She said she spent a couple of months creating the steps. “I wanted it to look like a dried riverbed,” she said. “When we were setting it up, we worked from morning until dark. My husband and I would look on Craigslist to find people giving away rocks and soil.

“We used about 10 trucks of soil.”

The front yard contains a lush mix of roses, bougainvillea, a fig tree, fragrant puakenikeni and plumeria, one of Cikes’ favorites. On one side of the house is a rectangular, concrete water feature Cikes made for her husband’s birthday.

She is continually looking for interesting plants to add to the garden.

“I planted the coffee tree from a bean,” she said. “I harvested 4 pounds of coffee. You need to pull one layer back and then peel another layer before roasting the beans. It’s hard but the coffee was so good.”

Gardening has provided other benefits: All of the neighbors have gotten to know Cikes because she spends so much time outdoors, tending to her yard.

“Garden Party” spotlights Hawaii’s unique and exceptional gardens. Call 529-4808 or email features@staradvertiser.com.