The gift of a plant grew into a passion and a new career for local gardener, teacher and writer Jesse Vernon Trail.
“I wasn’t really that interested in gardening until my wife bought me a plant. It was so beautiful that I wanted to learn more about it, so I started reading, and it all blossomed from there,” said Trail, who was working in management at the time but not enjoying spending so much time indoors.
The next step was a job managing a greenhouse.
“It’s so much fun to see all those plants you started from seeds and then people taking them home and getting more pleasure from them. I like to use the knowledge I’ve gained to teach and encourage other gardeners,” said Trail, who took the University of Guelph Horticulture degree program and has a certificate in Herbal Studies/Phytotherapy from the U.K.
He likes all types of gardens and finds beauty in every kind of flower, fruit and vegetable. One of his favourites of all the classes he teaches is one on growing plants that gardeners are supposedly not able to grow in this area, for example cyclanthera pedata, a vine with an edible, cucumber-like fruit.
“People should try to grow their dream plants but in this area, we have to take into account drought and heat tolerance and water restrictions. I like teaching people how to garden with native plants and telling them how to find them from local businesses which propagate responsibly. Never take anything from the wild as that disturbs the eco-system. Once those pretty little plants are gone, they’re gone. And never buy invasive plants which can choke out native plants.”
His favourite flowering plants include rock rose (helianthemum) and hardy geraniums. While gardeners dream about the end results of their hard work, Trail said hard work is what it takes to get the desired effect.
“Make a long-term plan so you get the right plant in the right spot so it won’t outgrow its space, and prepare the soil to suit the plants. Meet all the requirements that they would have in their natural environment,” he said.
“Learn the right way to do things before you do them. I had people tutor me and now I want to pass that on. Knowledge is important but be adventurous and try new plants, too.”
He likes to see people expanding their plant choices and promotes uncommon plants that are often only available through seed companies.
“Gardening will never go out of fashion. People will always buy plants even when they don’t have very much money. There is something in the greenery and beauty of plants that gives us a feeling of comfort and joy,” said Trail.
He teaches classes on all aspects of gardening, with the focus on organic, natural, sustainable and ecologically-aware practices, for the City of Vernon and Armstrong Spallumcheen parks and recreation programs, and Okanagan College distance education programs.
Trail is the instructor for the Landscape Horticulture certificate program for Okanagan College and has taught Master Gardener Program classes.
He wrote the curriculum for the Horticultural Apprenticeship Program of Horticulture Education, British Columbia and has had many articles published in gardening magazines. He is currently writing a book.
