As I was beginning to think about retiring, I decided I didn't want to spend my "golden years" sitting in a rocking chair
on the front porch. Having been interested in gardening most of my adult life and knowing the pleasure that my Dad
got from gardening, I thought that enrolling in a Master Gardener class would be right up my alley.
So, I did, and as a result, I have become
- A Master Gardener certified by the State of Texas;
- A Master Pruner certified by the San Antonio Botanical Garden; and
- A founder and volunteer for the Gardening Volunteers of South Texas (GVST).
From the Master Gardener program I received advanced training in
In addition, I have actively been involved in vegetable trials and plant propagation.
As an engaged gardener, I have been
- President of the Bexar County Master Gardeners;
- Master Gardener of the Year;
- Editor of the Bexar County Master Gardener newsletter;
- President of the Gardening Volunteers of South Texas (GVST),
- Speaker and teacher for both the Bexar County Master Gardeners and GVST.
- First certified Square Foot Gardening instructor in Texas (2006),
- Teaching gardening classes for almost 15 years.
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As I began to become interested in all of the various programs offered on gardening, my interest was piqued to the point that I now read, write, and teach gardening classes to others, especially for the area school districts and garden clubs. This interest has brought me from being a weekend gardener to a more knowledgeable and prolilfic speaker, writer, and consultant about gardening.
My Ph. D. is in education and I was a college professor for over 30 years. I have used my experience as a bridge between teaching and gardening.
Other things I am currently doing are:
- Writing a weekly newspaper gardening column for the Boerne Star and
articles for magazines, newsletters;
gardening blog, "Way to Grow," was an award winner at the 2010 State Master
Gardener Conference as was one of my classes, Building Raised Beds;
- Co-hosting a hill country gardening television show is my latest undertaking and learning
experience. (See On TV.);
(930 AM on the dial in San Antonio, Texas) with Dr. Jerry Parsons and Dr. Calvin Finch
on Sunday afternoons about 12:30 CST.
Please check out the other pages on this site. Some interesting stuff here...weekly
newsletter and books, for example.
