Life Amid the Palms

William Stanley (W.S.) Merwin was born in New York in 1927. He spent early years in New Jersey & Scranton Pennsylvania (BTW, birthplace of Joe Biden, American President, & me: Ann Karen 😏.) His father was a Presbyterian minister, which prompted him to begin writing hymns at 5 years old. He also took an early interest in nature. 

He published a poetry book at age 25, his first of almost 36 more. He was a prolific writer, and had an unusual poetic style. Taking up residence in several countries including Spain, England & France, he moved to Hawaii at age 49.

W.S. Merwin While Living in Europe

With WS Merwin's move to Hawaii, he discovered three sorry acres on Maui. It had been a pineapple plantation which used chemicals for pest treatment. No trees at all. Lacking any native flora.

He purchased it at a bargain price. He told PBS "I thought it would be sort of fun to see what you could do with a piece of land like this."

W.S. Merwin When Visiting Poet Ezra Pound's Birth House
in Hailey, Idaho

With his wife, they improved the soil and began planting Palms Native to Hawaii.

The couple then traveled the palm tropics & subtropics, and places Where Palms Grow, obtaining seeds. And continued planting. They also added other tropical foliage, compatible with palms. Eventually ending up with more than 2700 palms, almost 400 species. In 2010 he founded the Merwyn Conservancy.

Four years later he enlisted other organizations to help enumerate exactly what was growing in that palm tree garden. They inventoried over 3000 palms. Later that year he donated the land to the Hawaii Land Trust to protect it always. Plus helping to save many endangered palm species.

Merwin, 90 years old, Checks Out His Own Special Collections Exhibit Housed at the Rare Book & Manuscript Library,
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign