Twin sisters share love of gardening

LYNNWOOD — They both studied art as young women, both married electronics engineers, both have a passion for gardening and oftentimes they wear the same color on the same day.

It’s a twin thing, say Jill and Jan Nunemaker, 58. “We can’t help it,” said Jill Nunemaker. “Everyone should be so lucky.”

After graduating college, Jill Nunemaker traveled to Sweden to paint and continue her art studies while her sister moved her career forward through graphic design across the United States.

The Spokane-born pair landed in the Puget Sound region. Jan Nunemaker moved next door to Zsofia Pasztor, owner of Innovative Landscape Technologies, Everett. The firm specializes in sustainable landscape design and construction.

“I always liked gardening and did landscaping,” Jan Nunemaker said. “A neighbor told me Zsofia was looking for someone to help with weeding and pruning and I started working for her.”

Blending her lifelong passion for gardening with art, Jill Nunemaker designed a native plant garden at a school where she was teaching art to demonstrate to students how to join art with nature.

The next logical step, the twins agreed, was to study horticulture — setting their sights on Edmonds Community College while they both worked for Pasztor.

“I went back to college when my youngest child went to college,” Jill Nunemaker said. “I was frightened. But I wanted to be able to support myself with a marketable skill, unlike fine arts.”

For her sister? “I wanted to prove that I could still think,” Jan Nunemaker said. “I had the art skill. What I needed was the plant skills.”

“It turned out to be not as scary as I thought it would be,” Jill Nunemaker said. “I thought I would feel out of place, but most students in horticulture are more than 40 years old and women. Going through this together is the best part. We really help each other.”

Her sister agreed. “Going back to college is very empowering, especially for women who have raised a family and look for something else,” Jill Nunemaker said. “Community college is different than four-year schools. The classes are smaller with supportive instructors who know you. I had the idea before (attending) that community college was rigorous. But it certainly does challenge you.”

Jill and Jan are now about two-thirds through the horticulture program and continue to work for Pasztor.

Their design mettle was tested in February during the Northwest Flower and Garden Show. Pasztor was asked to lead the design and implementation efforts of a display garden presented by the Washington State Nursery and Landscape Association. Pasztor asked the Nunemaker sisters to consult on the project.

Given the firm’s specialty, the garden highlighted sustainability, featuring low-impact rain gardens, green roofs, living walls, pervious pavement, low-volume irrigation, composting and a chicken coop.

The design efforts earned a bronze award and second place in the People’s Choice voting. During the show, broadcast celebrity gardener Ciscoe Morris taped his television segment in Jan and Jill’s garden.

“Green solutions are the new solutions,” Jan Nunemaker said.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Olivia Vanni / The Herald 
The Mukilteo Lighthouse. Built in 1906, it’s one of the most iconic landmarks in Snohomish County.
The Mukilteo Lighthouse. Built in 1906, it’s one of the most iconic landmarks in Snohomish County. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mukilteo mayor vetoes council-approved sales tax

The tax would have helped pay for transportation infrastructure, but was also set to give Mukilteo the highest sales tax rate in the state.

Marysville Mayor Jon Nehring gives the state of the city address at the Marysville Civic Center on Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024, in Marysville, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Marysville council approves interim middle housing law

The council passed the regulations to prevent a state model code from taking effect by default. It expects to approve final rules by October.

x
State audit takes issue with Edmonds COVID grant monitoring

The audit report covered 2023 and is the third since 2020 that found similar issues with COVID-19 recovery grant documentation.

Bothell
Bothell man pleads guilty to sexual abuse of Marysville middle schoolers

The man allegedly sexually assaulted three students in exchange for vapes and edibles in 2022. His sentencing is set for Aug. 29.

Larsen talks proposed Medicaid cuts during Compass Health stop in Everett

Compass Health plans to open its new behavioral health center in August. Nearly all of the nonprofit’s patients rely on Medicaid.

Snohomish County Health Department Director Dennis Worsham on Tuesday, June 11, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Snohomish County Health Department director tapped as WA health secretary

Dennis Worsham became the first director of the county health department in January 2023. His last day will be July 3.

Police Cmdr. Scott King answers questions about the Flock Safety license plate camera system on Thursday, June 5, 2025 in Mountlake Terrace, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mountlake Terrace approves Flock camera system after public pushback

The council approved the $54,000 license plate camera system agreement by a vote of 5-2.

Community members gather for the dedication of the Oso Landslide Memorial following the ten-year remembrance of the slide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
The Daily Herald garners 6 awards from regional journalism competition

The awards recognize the best in journalism from media outlets across Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington.

The pathway at Matt Hirvela Bicentennial Park is completed Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023, in Mountlake Terrace, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Lynnwood light rail leads to new trees in Mountlake Terrace

Mountlake Terrace replaced trees removed during construction of the Lynnwood light rail… Continue reading

Riverfront Everett in Everett, Washington on Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Everett council extends deadline for riverfront grocery store

A city agreement requires the land owners to bring a grocer there. Developers say more housing units need to be built to attract one to the site.

A firefighter with Sky Valley Fire sprays water on a hotspot Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2022, along U.S. 2 as the Bolt Creek fire continues to burn between Index and Skykomish. (Peter Mongillo / Snohomish Regional Fire and Rescue)
Snohomish County releases draft of wildfire protection plan

Community members can submit feedback and questions online through July.

Snow dusts the treeline near Heather Lake Trailhead in the area of a disputed logging project on Tuesday, April 11, 2023, outside Verlot, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Utah Senator pulls public lands provision from tax bill

The original proposal would have put federal land in Snohomish County up for sale.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.