"In western Pennsylvania, where I come from, that's nothing," says Eddinger. "People mow an acre."
Mowing the state land is just a small part of what Eddinger and Dr. Rod Powell have done along Forest Ridge Way. In the past 15 years they have transformed a strip of overgrown vegetation into a paradise with hundreds of plantings.
There are Alexander palms, tall Hong Kong orchid trees, six magnolia trees, eight jacaranda, dwarf poinciana, three species of native hibiscus, azaleas, spider lilies, impatiens, cycads, tall beefsteak, and the lovely medinilla magnifica with clusters of pink flowers-- just to name a few of the species.
Powell, now retired from his job as an international health specialist at the University of Hawaii, is in awe of Eddinger's energy for gardening.
They live in a home that has one of the best gardens on Oahu. It goes back up a hillside, about 140 feet up, and includes thousands of plantings and several terraces. (See related story, below).
Eddinger, a soft-spoken modest man, didn't want to make it appear the many hours of planting and maintenance along Forest Ridge Way were hard work.
"The truth is that we're enjoying ourselves immensely," says Eddinger. "I can't say any of it was difficult; it was all fun."
By Dennis Oda, Star-Bulletin
A Buddha statue meditates
tirelessly in the garden .
Six friends helped with the project and several women from the neighborhood worked with them on plantings at the intersection of Forest Ridge Way and Round Top Drive where the Alexander palms are very dramatic.
Eddinger and Powell also thanked the community for its support, including the core group of 20 to 25 people who come out four times a year for a work day to clean up the area.
"We're a close knit group," says Powell.
Eddinger and Powell even went outside of the immediate Forest Ridge Way area to plant many wiliwili trees starting in the 2400 block on Round Top Drive and going up to the Puu Ualakaa state lookout. The city provided the trees and the plantings were done to fill in bare areas. Now there are 60 wiliwili trees and a row of jacaranda trees.
It took 10 years of work to get the Forest Ridge Way strip to maintenance condition.
Now, every two weeks, Eddinger must take out the lawn mower and go over flat and hilly ground to keep the manicured look. He doesn't use a trimmer; that's not necessary, he says.
"But when I buy a mower I have to pick it up to see if I can carry it (over the hilly areas along the strip)," says Eddinger, smiling.
The garden clings to the slopes at a height equal to a 14-story building-- that's about 140 feet up the Tantalus hillside. Hundreds of plantings fill the area.
"I don't know how many plants we have here but I do know we put down more than 2,000 stepping stones," says Powell.
The land area is only about one-half acre but that's deceptive because so much of it goes up.
Hemigraphis lines the pathway, along with huge formations of bromeliads with red centers and green leaves. Tall red ti plants provide drama. American iris are used as a groundcover and are drought resistant, says Powell.
Lights are installed to highlight the features at night.
Water fountains and statuary are placed at key locations along the half-dozen terraces.
Stone statuary of whimsical animals are seen at some places but there also is statuary which carries a religious theme.
A terrace near the top includes a stone bust of David. About half way up the hillside there is a fountain tribute to St. Francis of Assisi, the Italian friar and preacher who founded the Franciscan order and consecrated himself to poverty and religion.
"About four or five times a week we walk through the garden to see how the plants are doing," says Powell. "Occasionally, we will read a book in the garden. We spend a lot of time just working in the garden."
They do entertain on the terraces, and Powell says the garden can easily accommodate 30 or 40 people.