From Montana to Guam and back
Polson’s ‘Mary Poppins of Botany’ reflects on lifelong love of plants
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At the age of 32, Agnes Rinehart mother of 4, suddenly became a widow. She alone had to decide what was going to be best for her family moving forward. Always a firm believer that one should embrace every experience one can, and “go for it with everything you’ve got,” she did just that. In 1966 Rinehart and her four children moved to Guam where she took a position as a sixth-grade elementary math teacher. Her family’s favorite new hobbies were snorkeling and “boonie stomping” (stomping through wild forested areas to explore plant life).
After her children had grown, Rinehart occupied her extra free time volunteering at an herbarium, a place that stores plants. Rinehart’s lifelong passion and love for gardening have led her to some amazing places and opportunities. While volunteering at the herbarium Rinehart met a friend named Lynn Raulerson. Together they started a small botanical survey company they ran for 20 years. Their business conducted surveys for golf companies prior to golf course construction in order to ensure that endangered plant species weren’t being dug up. Rinehart and Raulerson wrote and published two books on Guam’s native plant species: “Trees and Shrubs of the Northern Marina Islands” and “Ferns and Orchids of Marina Islands.”
During her time in Guam a dear friend once jokingly asked Rinehart if she ever discovered a new flower that she name it after her. Years later, Rinehart came through for her friend. She named a new species of orchid that she discovered Nervilia Jacksoniae. Although her friend had already passed away, Rinehart believes she is pleased just the same (in heaven) knowing she has her very own personal orchid and that her name will live on forever.
Rinehart met Ken Siler in Guam in 1982. They have been “sweethearts” since 2001 when they moved to Polson together and built the home they still live in. Since moving to Polson, Rinehart has become known for her beautiful gardens, and has won numerous awards for the extensive landscaping and foliage surrounding her home. She was recently awarded “Best Beautiful Garden” from the Polson Beautification Committees Polson in Bloom contest.
“Agnes is very generous with her plant knowledge and with sharing her plants themselves,” said friend and fellow gardener Jane Larson. “She is also very appreciative of other people’s gardens and is very modest about her talents. She is very inspiring and puts us all to shame.”
At 89 years young, Rinehart doesn’t let age slow her down. She credits her love of gardening to a childhood spent helping with her family’s ranch in Northeastern Montana. Rinehart’s grown children help weed the garden when they visit, and Siler does the mowing. The rest she does herself. She spends at least 2 hours a day maintaining her landscape and loves every minute of it.
“I take a lot of naps,” she offered with a smile as to how she keeps up with it all.
Though her favorite flower is a lily, Rinehart is quick to add that she loves all plants. “I love the smell of the earth, and air and I love being outdoors,” she said. Vibrant sunsets, fresh air, cool evenings, and driving down the hill to see Flathead Lake and valley are what she enjoys most about living in Polson. An active member of the Polson Beautification Committee and Southshore Garden Club, Rinehart encourages people to take pride in their curb-view gardens.
Rinehart shares her favorite deer repellent recipe with Valley Journal readers below. “It works like a charm every time,” she said, “You only need 4 ingredients.”
Deer Spray Recipe
-3 eggs
-1/3 cup dish soap similar to Joy or any dish soap you prefer.
-1/3 cup of red tobacco sauce
-1 cup of water
Put all ingredients in a blender and blend very well so the egg yolks don’t get clogged in the sprayer. Pour into a 1-gallon sprayer and fill up to the gallon mark.
“Use this to spray once a week, or after it has rained, on the things you do not want the deer to eat,” she said.
