Plants and flowers have been an integral part of Don Hillbrant’s life for roughly three quarters of a century.
He credits his green thumb to his grandfather, Pryor Heath, and aunt, Edith McClanahan, “who could grow anything.”
Over the years, Hillbrant’s home at 302 S. Colborn St. has become a showpiece for plant lovers, with dozens of showy specimens adorning his colorful front lawn and surrounding his signature koi pond in back.
Hillbrant admits his hobby became an addiction. Rarely would an idle afternoon pass where he wasn’t working with his plants.
“But my body’s starting to slow down,” he said. “My back hurts when I’m out there, and it’s harder on my hands now.”
So he’s quitting. Sort of.
Hillbrant will begin a massive sell-off Thursday of dozens of tropical plants he’s tended to over the years.
He counted about 75 different species of plants, filling the better part of 200 flower pots, ready to find a “happy home.”
“I don’t really want to lug all of those plants down in my basement again for the winter, so I want to get rid of them all,” he said.
The plant sale runs from 3 to 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, and will extend to next week if necessary.
“You’ll be getting top-of-the-line plants at garage sale prices,” he said, noting that most — if not all — of the plants will be sold for a fraction what they would garner at a nursery.
“With the economy the way it is, there’s no way I could charge much for these,” he said.
He’ll also assist each plant’s new owner by offering helpful tips to keep the greenery fresh and vital.
HILLBRANT was raised on a 400-acre farm northwest of Iola, where he and his family focused on traditional crops — corn, soybeans and wheat.
“First and foremost, I’ll always consider myself a farmer,” Hillbrant said.
He taught science in Leavenworth for 31 years, where he learned quite a bit about horticulture.
His trips as a missionary in Mexico and Central America brought dozens of opportunities to learn about tropical plants, which he, in turn, brought home to Iola.
Trips to Germany gave him another perspective on horticulture.
“I didn’t understand all this about cuttings, grading plants, air layers and hormone use until I first visited Germany,” he said.
Once known, his love of plants exploded.
HILLBRANT’S retirement from gardening may take a while to be fully realized.
He’ll continue his contract services to provide landscaping to Super 8 Motel, Sterling Six Cinemas, area nursing homes and other businesses. And he’ll continue to work with vocational agriculture instructors who request his assistance with their greenhouses.
And, he plans to keep dozens of plants still, even after his first sell-off.
“I’ve got a quite a few that I’m still trying to get healthy enough,” he said. “Nobody will want those yet.”
Eventually, Hillbrant will bid adieu to his home and its signature landscaping.
“The koi pond and everything,”
“Ideally, I’d like to find a small apartment, maybe someplace near the high school,” he said. “That day’s coming.”
