merwin now 87 years old better known as one of the nation's leading post.suits he says comes from exactly the same place. when he began the maui garden for example. >> i was feeling my way and learning learning all the time from failures as well as from successes. >> brown: is that like poetry. >> exactly like poetry. i always through my experience takes you by surprise. >> brown: there were few trees around when merwin was raised in new jersey and scranton, pennsylvania son of a presbyterian minister. he would first cultivate words and become a much read and honored poet. a translator of more than 50 books, winner of every available award including two pulitzer a two time poet laureate. most recently in 2011. in the late 70's merwin came to maui and bought three acres ofqan old pineapple planation. it was very much a paradise lost where nothing would grow where the soil has been ruined by chemicals and deforestation. >> i thought it would be sort of fun to see what you could do with a piece of land like this. maybe you could save it. >> brown: one of the o

merwin transforms a barren plot of land into a paradise for the world's palm trees.

merwin. here's a short preview. >> you don't expect this, a whole forest of palms.hem of incredible variety. variety. bands of many sizes, twists an shapes of many kinds even sharp thorns, more than 400 species from all over the world, on 19 acres of land on the northern coast of maui. >> woodruff: a hawaiian palm farm, that's friday on the newshour. i'm judy woodruff. >> ifill: and i'm gwen ifill. we'll see you on-line and again here tomorrow evening, with mark shields and david brooks. for all of us here at the pbs newshour, thank you and good night. >> major funding for the pbs newshour has been provided by: ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ moving our economy for 160 years. bnsf, the engine that connects us. >> lincoln financial-- committed to helping you take charge of your life and become you're own chief life officer. i.b.e.w. the power professionals in your neighborhood. >> and with the ongoing support of these institutions >> this program was made possible by the corporation for public broadcasting. and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. capti