Luminaries
Jean Iseli - 1934-1986

By John Bagnasco

To those homeowners who mow lawns, plant petunias and spray their yards with miracles from a box, the true joys of gardening have hardly been realized. When the snails have decimated the last of the pansy seedlings and rust has ravaged the snapdragons, the landscape cries out for substance and escape from the ephemeral. Providentially, the inspired work of passionate garden luminaries shines out like a hotel neon, with the promise of rest and redirection. Great plantsmen before us have paved the way to plant material that enriches our environments without the burden of extra maintenance. Many see conifers as the plant group that anchors and adds a sense of stability to the garden.

Jean Iseli, the founder of Iseli Nursery, Inc., possessed a fervor for plants; especially rare and dwarf conifers and Japanese maples. As his intensity grew, former mathematician began the nursery in 1975, with the assistance of fellow plantophiles. His employees, and eclectic group from nearly every walk of life, were infected with his enthusiasm. His genius stirred confidence in each particular plant, until the employees became believers in its previously unrecognized attributes. While customers often found Jean aloof and difficult, he was beloved by his employees as he steadfastly worked by their sides. Iseli often described his position in the company as "Head Grunt."

Many nurserymen felt that his fanaticism for the dwarf conifers would be his financial undoing. Jean urged his employees to grow the tiny evergreens with the assurance that they would sell themselves as soon as there was public awareness. He prodded employees to experiment with unique grafts, such as multiple scions on mature plants, unique combination grafts on one understock and scions grafted on standards of various heights. Iseli directed experimentation with pleaching to present the illusion of unique plant forms. He was the first to attempt these practices on such a grand scale.

While the nursery enjoyed only modest financial success during Jean's lifetime, it became a must-see for all plant lovers. Jean, who was a little bashful at first introduction, erupted with enthusiasm and passion as soon as he began sharing his "babies" with his guests. His home was just 200 feet from the propagation greenhouses and surrounded by an exquisite collection of plants. Regretfully, Jean passed away at 5:00am June 16,1986, while at home preparing to leave for the nursery office, only a few years before the market fully appreciated his beloved conifers.

However, his foresight and perseverance proved correct. While he died relatively young, he left his employees, his friends, a great bequest. Jean was not there to realize it, but his coworkers were satisfied in the knowledge that they played a part in his dream. They were justified in the realization that the love Jean Iseli had inspired in them was now being shared throughout the world by those who cherished the little evergreen gems of nature.

Originally published in the November/December 2004 issue of Garden Compass magazine.
Reproduced with permission.

 

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