A Short Walk from City Streets to Wasatch Mountain Bliss

MARCH-APRIL 2019

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TABLE OF CONTENTS Executive Director’s Message 2 President’s Message 4 Hot Off the Press 5 New & Noteworthy ...... 6 Academic Scholarships ...... 7 Sustainability ...... 8 Business ...... 10 Regional News & Notes ...... 11 GardenComm Blog ...... 12 Regional Events ...... 13 ASJA’s 48th Annual Writer’s Conference . . . 13 Strategic Planning Meeting Wrap Up 14 City Creek Canyon has several small waterfalls along its trails. PHOTO COURTESY KYLE JENKINS AND OUTDOOR PROJECT/VISIT SALT LAKE PROJECT/VISIT SALT OUTDOOR AND JENKINS KYLE COURTESY PHOTO GardenComm Honors and Awards 15 MANTS ...... 15 GardenComm Flower Show Award 15 City Creek Canyon: GardenComm Luminaries 16 TPIE ...... 17 Call for Officer and Director Nominations . 17 A Short Walk from City Streets Member Profile/Eubanks ...... 18 Welcome New Members ...... 19 Helping Us Grow 19 to Wasatch Mountain Bliss Upcoming GardenComm Events . . . . . 19 Member Profile/Schultz ...... 20 BY STEPHANIE DUER In Memoriam/Chandoha ...... 21 In Memoriam/Austin ...... 22 September is an ideal time to enjoy a stroll in Salt Lake City. Daytime tempera- tures typically begin to drop from the searing 100s to the comparatively cool high 80s. Evenings are ideal, warm enough to forego a jacket but cool enough Can’t log into the website? that it feels like a delicious respite from the day’s heat. Landscapes that Visit MyGardenComm under Member seemed parched and limp in the heat of the summer look revived and crisp, Resources, click here. A login screen will appear. Click “Forgot your password?” especially when seen in the golden glow of the late-day sun. Yes, September Enter your email address. A message will is the perfect time of year for a walk. So, after your meetings and sessions for be sent with a secure link to set or reset the day are wrapped up, consider wandering north out of the downtown area your password. Click the link and choose to one of the most iconic and cherished parts of our city. a new password. Once complete, you may One of the best things about living here is how close we are to nature. Just a couple of short login using your email as username and your new password. For issues, please blocks north of downtown is a network of parks and canyon trails that leads you from the heart call 212-297-2198. of Salt Lake City’s downtown to cool canyons and breathtaking vistas—all within a 4½ mile walk. — Continues on page 3

1 MARCH-APRIL 2019 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE MARIA UNGARO

On the QT is the membership newsletter of the GardenComm: Planning the Future: How you Can Help The Association for Garden Communicators. It is published bimonthly and distributed electronically. In January, our elected leaders and select member representatives met to © 2019 GardenComm All rights reserved discuss the exciting future of GardenComm. For one record-breaking cold weekend in Chicago, we locked ourselves PUBLISHER in a room to evaluate the organization’s existing strategic goals and where GardenComm necessary, make adjustments as we continue to progress and evolve. We 355 Lexington Ave., 15th Floor • New York, NY 10017 212-297-2198 [email protected] discussed member recruitment and benefits, new branding and communication initiatives, professional development possibilities and much more. EDITORIAL After that inspiring session, I’m eagerly anticipating the impact GardenComm will have on Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp, Editor the gardening and horticultural industry. [email protected]

Cathy Wilkinson Barash, Copy Editor MEMBERSHIP [email protected] You, the members are the heart and soul of GardenComm. We plan to continue to expand the organization’s reach by engaging the next generation of garden communicators and Paul Wilson, Graphic Designer horticulturists, as well as expanding our knowledge base to new communication disciplines [email protected] not previously embraced. ADVERTISING/CIRCULATION In early March, a powerhouse of garden media superstars, including GardenComm mem- Jennifer Perrone bers and outside speakers, will spend the day mentoring young professionals at our Career- 212-297-2198 [email protected] Next Summit at Magnolia Plantation and Gardens. The information contained in articles and advertisements Whether it’s through providing career connections or engaging education opportunities, herein represents the opinions of the authors and advertisers, GardenComm is committed to helping the next generation grow into the horticultural and although believed to be accurate and complete, is not represented or warranted by GardenComm to be accurate or experts and media influencers the industry needs. complete. GardenComm disclaims any and all responsibility for damages suffered as a result of reliance on information BRANDING & COMMUNICATION contained herein. As you know, we have launched a new brand to better reflect our expanding, diverse 2018-19 GARDENCOMM OFFICERS membership, which includes photographers, speakers, landscape designers, television and President Becky Heath • Brent & Becky’s radio personalities, consultants, publishers, extension service agents and many others. Vice President Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp • Write for You! LLC Our name has changed but our mission remains the same. GardenComm will continue to Treasurer Maria Zampini • UpShoot LLC provide leadership, education and development opportunities for professionals in the field Secretary Ellen Zachos • Backyard Forager of gardening communication. Past President Kirk R. Brown • John Bartram Lives It has been encouraging to see the industry’s reaction to our new brand. While at MANTS Executive Director Maria Ungaro • 212-297-2124 in Baltimore, we received feedback from individuals who said they loved the new branding. DIRECTORS Additionally, we’ve launched the “I am GardenComm” promotional campaign to help spread N = National Director • R = Regional Director • Date = Term Expires REGION 1 REGION 5 the word online about our rebrand. Be sure to let us know if you are interested in participat- C.L. Fornari (2019 N) Bill Johnson (2019 N) ing in the campaign through a blog, video or testimonial. The Garden Lady Bill Johnson Nature Stock Carmen DeVito (2019 R) Photography Inc. Groundworks Inc. Rita Perea (2020 R-North) EDUCATION Ellen Ecker Ogden (2020 R) International Contemplative We are looking at ways we can better support your professional development needs. We Kitchen Garden Designs Garden Association Dee Nash (2020 R-South) want to provide access to more learning opportunities in formats that fit into your lifestyle. REGION 2 Red Dirt Ramblings Be sure to check out some of our upcoming webinars, such as “So You Want to Have a Kathy Jentz (2021 N) Shelley Cramm Podcast” with C.L.Fornari and Ellen Zachos, 2 to 3 p.m., Thursday, March 14 (EDT). Washington Gardener (2019 R-South) Louise Clarke (2020 R) The Morris Arboretum REGION 6 FINANCE Teresa Speight (2019 R) Mary-Kate Mackey (2020 N) As exciting as these goals are, they cannot be reached without achieving financial sustain- Cottage in the Court Freelance Anne Reeves (2020 R-North) ability. Our new 501c3 tax status allows us to look into additional ways that we can generate REGION 3 Moment of Delight revenue both through grant writing opportunities and potential expense reductions. We are Diane Blazek (2019 N) Jacqueline Soule All-America Selections/ (2020 R-South) also taking a close look at dues and non-dues revenue streams. National Garden Bureau Gardening with Soule Beth Botts (2020 R) Tova Roseman (2019 R-South) VOLUNTEER MANAGEMENT Morton Arboretum Tova’s Garden Are you interested in helping us achieve all the goals we’ve laid out? Join a committee. Don’t Susan Martin (2019 R) Gardener Sue’s News REGION 7 miss your chance to build your network, demonstrate your leadership and give back to the Ken Brown (2021 N) green communications industry. Check out the website to find outmore or contact Jenn REGION 4 gardening-enjoyed.com Kate Copsey (2021 N) Andrea Whitely (2020 R) Perrone ([email protected].) Freelancer Andrea Whitely Garden I look forward to the months ahead…and the years beyond with GardenComm. k Cheval Opp (2019 R) Consultant Cheval’s Garden Tours Bob Howard (2019 R) Marie Mims Butler (2020 R) The Hamilton Spectator Garden Speaker

2 The park offers both paved and rustic paths, City Creek Canyon is open to pedestrians which provide access for folks with a variety daily and to cars and bicyclists on alternating of abilities and energy levels. There are also a days. As you follow the roadway up into the number of established dirt trails that follow canyon, you quickly leave the city noise and the creek. Staircases ascend from the park. heat behind. City Creek tumbles within the —City Creek Canyon, continued To the west, paths lead up to the Capitol, canyon, surrounded by box elder and western while to the east, stairs access the Avenues birch trees; beyond are grassy foothills. CITY CREEK PARK AND CANYON ROAD, neighborhood—an eclectic mix of vernacular Although the road ends at the City Creek 0.36 MILE architecture along tree-lined streets, some Water Treatment Facility, a path continues Begin at City Creek Park (just north of State of which are quite steep. farther up into the canyon for several miles. Street) at the intersection of North Temple and Walking north up the road through Memory While in the canyon, please observe the 2nd Avenue. The park, which hosts concerts Grove takes you higher into City Creek Canyon. posted regulations as the creek provides during the summer, is a favorite of folks looking The road is sinuous, with trees offering dappled critical drinking water for the community. for a pleasant place for a lunch break. Past shade. City Creek, which was the first diverted If you’re in the mood to wander even farther (or through) the park, tree-lined Canyon Road source of water for the Mormon pioneers who afield within City Creek Canyon, adventurous leads away from the downtown area via a settled the area in the 1850s, can be seen and hikers will find trailheads leading to the residential neighborhood of historic homes heard tumbling nearby. Although the paved Bonneville Shoreline Trail. This network of trails and a median through which City Creek flows road through Memory Grove is closed to auto follows the eastern rim of the ancient Lake for the final time before entering the storm- traffic, be on the lookout for bicyclists who may Bonneville, offering hiking and running trails water system on its way to Jordan River. be catching speed on the way down. with spectacular views of the valley. The west sidewalk offers a surprising Whether you’re looking for a pleasant nature study; observant strollers will note the CITY CREEK CANYON, 3.2 MILES TO THE evening stroll or a walk that will shake out footprints of City Creek’s many feathered and WATER TREATMENT PLANT those sitting-too-long cobwebs, City Creek furry denizens embossed in the steps. Memory At the top edge of Memory Grove, cross Canyon brings the Wasatch Mountains to the Grove Park is at the road’s end, at the base of Bonneville Boulevard. This one-way road, backdoor of downtown Salt Lake City. k City Creek Canyon. which connects the Avenues to the Capitol and Marmalade neighborhoods, is a favorite of Stephanie Duer is water conservation manager MEMORY GROVE PARK, 1 MILE walkers, runners and bicyclists. If you remain with the Salt Lake City Department of Public Utilities, and a member of the local organizing Dedicated to Utah Veterans, Memory Grove on City Creek Canyon Road, your walk will take committee for #GardenComm2019. Park contains memorials, a meditation chapel, you into City Creek Canyon. This gem is only a pond (part of the city’s stormwater retention a short distance from downtown, but it offers system), City Creek and even a replica of the the cool, sublime respite typical of higher and Liberty Bell. more distant canyons.

3 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE BECKY HEATH

Building the Buzz for GardenComm

The Mid-Atlantic Nursery Trade Show (MANTS) in January was the perfect venue for the merger between GWA and the GWA Foundation (now known as GardenComm), to be introduced to the rest of the horticultural industry. Some of the GardenComm members who greeted visitors at our booth interviewed a number of the exhibitors who had a new or a featured item, and videotaped them giving ILLUSTRATION COURTESY ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/FILO ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/FILO COURTESY ILLUSTRATION a 30-second spiel about their product. We forwarded the videos to headquarters so they send them to our members via various social media avenues. This activity is like what a bakery does by giving out a free cookie to encourage future business. We hoped this would create a buzz about the item that was videoed, but also is almost like getting a vitamin B-12 shot to GRANT WRITING COMMITTEE promote GardenComm as an organization rejuvenate the creative juices and boost the Therefore, we are planning to start a com- that could have an impact for green industry flow of new ideas for stories, articles or books. mittee of members who have had experience products. It was a fun project and partnership, Please look at the schedule for upcoming in writing grants, researching grants or are one we may consider doing at other trade- regional meetings, Cultivate19 and our Salt interested in learning more about how to shows. Lake City Conference & Expo, and plan to be obtain grants. If you fall into any one of those This was the fifth year that GardenComm at any you can attend. We will all benefit from categories, please email me or Maria Ungaro. members were invited to attend MANTS’ your presence and you will benefit as well. I see a bright future for you and all the Media Breakfast and 41 people turned out. It is members of GardenComm and what we, as a very generous gesture by the management EXPLORING FUNDING OPTIONS an organization, might accomplish. at MANTS and tourism leaders in Baltimore, Because of our merger, GardenComm is which was appreciated by GardenComm now a non-profit, 501c3 organization. This AWARDS AND HONORS members. opens up the possibility for receiving grants This is the time of year when we would like Individually and collectively, we try to give for particular projects like education, which you to think who would be a good nominee back by promoting the conference and the might include funding for On the QT, the best for GardenComm’s Honors and Awards, participating sponsors and vendors. newsletter around. It is a very valuable part which are presented to members in recogni- of our information highway, but is a line item tion for their service to GardenComm. Please TPIE IN FLORIDA in the expense part of our budget. Since our take a look at the different awards, which can The Florida Nursery, Greenhouse and newsletter does not pay for itself, a grant to be found on our website and nominate your Landscape Association (FNGLA) offered a tour fund it would be fabulous. choices. of private gardens, which was arranged by Another item in our budget that falls under While you are there, don’t forget to check our own Sylvia Gordon, on January 15, which education is the Webinar Series. The Board your profile and update anything that isn’t was over-the-top-fabulous. Each garden was made the decision that if a specific webinar current, including adding you picture. It really different and all were equally interesting and doesn’t have enough participants to cover helps for all of us to get to know each other beautiful. The next day, we were hosted at the all the expenses, it would be cancelled, so better. Now is a good time to signup to be on Tropical Plant International Conference (TPIE) it doesn’t affect the budget negatively. But one of our committees. We all need to be an and were treated royally. This is a conference wouldn’t it be wonderful to be able to pay the active part of the GardenComm Team. I am that is worth the trip if you can fit it into your presenters more than we do now without looking forward to meeting you all at an schedule. There is something very special having to raise webinar costs for the members? event in 2019. k about being in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in I feel certain that there are other areas January. where grants could help GardenComm Getting together with other GardenComm become a more dynamic and helpful organi- members, whether it’s in conjunction with zation to its members and also to the rest of a tradeshow, a regional or national meeting the citizen gardeners who are our followers.

4 success? In From Frantic to Fabulous, Rita shares Buddha-inspired wisdom and tactical success strategies. HOTOFF the press • • • LISA ELDRED STEINKOPF EMMA BIGGS, STEVEN BIGGS LEE MILLER Grow in the Dark: How to Choose and Care Gardening with Emma Dream, Garden Grow! Musings For Low-Light Houseplants Storey Books of a Lifetime Gardener Cool Springs Press 144 pages, $18.99 Self-published $25, 128 pages January 22, 2019 135 pages, $16.99 To be published in May, 2019 December 3, 2018 Gardening with Do you live in a dark Emma by Emma Lee Miller’s Dream, home or apartment? Biggs and her Garden, Grow shares her Finding it hard to get father, Steven memories of childhood your houseplants to Biggs, is a kid-to-kid and how she grew live? It may be that guide with inspiring to become a lifetime you are choosing the gardening ideas, gardener. Packed wrong plant for the including garden with stories about life, conditions you have hideouts, bug gardening, medicinal to offer. Lisa Eldred vacuums, plants for uses of plants, garden Steinkopf has written this book for you. With a noise garden, fun folklore, seasonal a playful spin on glow-in-the-dark, Grow In plants and Emma’s top 130 tomato varieties. interest, sustainable and indoor gardening, The Dark helps you find the right low-light A 13-year-old Canadian gardener with a you’ll laugh and learn as you explore what plant for your home. With more than 50 plants passion for growing edibles, Emma grows makes a gardening addict and the meaning to choose from, and tips and tricks to help tomatoes on the garage rooftop, the driveway behind mysterious gnomes and garden fairies. improve the light you have, this book is the and in big wicking beds right under a big old While exploring, you will also learn about guide you need to make your houseplant black walnut tree. moon gardens, witty garden jargon and tried search successful. and true gardening tips. Whether you have a • • • green or brown thumb, Lee’s stories will • • • MATT MATTUS entertain, amuse and teach you inspiring JUDITH TANKARD Mastering the Art of Vegetable Gardening gardening pointers. Lee Miller is also the Gardens of the Arts and Crafts Movement Cool Springs Press author of A Guide to Northeastern Gardening Timber Press 272 pages, $30 and Landscape Design Combination. 300 pages, $45 January 1, 2019 • • • Published November 2018 Prepare to RITA PEREA The rich legacy of encounter new From Frantic to Fabulous: How to Raise Your the Arts and Crafts varieties of common Energy, Tame Your Work and Transform Your Movement has been plant species, learn World in the Digital Age enthusiastically their history, LifeWorks! Press hailed by historians, benefits and, most 124 pages, $17.99 architects and de- of all, identify December 29, 2018 signers. Most known fascinating new for its influence on edibles to grow in As a business leader, architecture and art, your own gardens. entrepreneur or the movement also Matt’s Mastering aspiring manager, are played an important role in the landscape the Art of Vegetable Gardening offers a wealth you barely surviving world by defining the garden as a harmonious of new and exciting opportunities alongside at work and in life? component of the home. In Gardens of the beautiful photography, lore, insight, and As you navigate this Arts and Crafts Movement, Judith surveys the humor that can only come from someone rapidly changing inspirations, characteristics and development who has grown each vegetable himself and digital world, do your of garden design during the Arts and Crafts truly loves gardening. With more than 200 days feel disjointed, Movement. She presents a selection of houses varieties of vegetables and herbs from the 50 chaotic and out of and gardens from the era, with an emphasis most popular plant groups, this book has been control? Do you feel on the diversity of designers who helped thoughtfully curated to tell you how, where overwhelmed with forge a special approach to garden design. and why to grow each vegetable. the shoulds, gottas With nearly 300 illustrations and photographs and must dos, along with too many interrup- and packed with examples from Europe and tions to accomplish them all? Or, are you one North America, this is an essential resource for of the lucky fabulous few waking up each designers and gardeners interested in the era. morning feeling self-confident, pulled together and ready to take on the world to achieve

5 he has received from the green industry, including: Hamilton County, Tennessee, Master Gardeners; GardenComm; Perennial Plant Association; Knoxville Garden Club; NEW& East Tennessee Iris Society; Southern Nursery Association; Perennial Plant Society of Middle Noteworthy Tennessee and Madison County, Tennessee, Master Gardeners. SNA Honors Avent • • • Souther Nursery Association (SNA) honored Silver Anniversary for Connecticut Gardener Tony Avent, horticulturist and hybridizer of Connecticut Gardener magazine celebrates its hostas, rare bulbs and hardy aroids, with the 25th year of publication in 2019. Anne 2019 Don Shadow Award of Excellence. The Rowlands and her husband, Will Rowlands, award recognizes an individual, corporation or purchased the magazine in 2009. Subscription- organization that has provided exemplary based, it comes out five times a year in both service, leadership and generosity in the print and digital formats. It features content by development, promotion and use of new and and for local gardeners. Contributors include improved landscape plants. Recipients must local, regional and nationally known writers. demonstrate a sincere commitment to and passion for expanding knowledge and use of spotter at Garden Media Group, and Kelly is • • • new and improved plants for the landscape. an author and director of horticulture at the Book Features Smith’s Design Freelance garden writer, international garden Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden. Atlanta landscape architect Bill Smith, ASLA, lecturer and plant auctioneer, Tony and his was featured in the recently published book, wife, Anita Avent, own Plant Delights Nursery • • • Seeking Eden: A Collection of Georgia’s Historic and established Juniper Level Botanic Garden Abra Lee Heads to Longwood Program Gardens by Catron, Eaddy and Lockhart. Smith in Raleigh, North Carolina. Abra Lee has been selected for the Longwood restored the early 20th century Tudor garden, Gardens Fellows Program for 2019. During built on land in Augusta, Georgia, originally • • • the 13-month, fully funded, cohort-based purchased by Lord Sandwich in 1799. The Civic Garden Center Honors Beuerlein residency at Longwood, fellows delve into John Herberts of New Jersey built their home The Civic Garden Center of Greater Cincinnati topical issues relevant to public horticulture in 1928 where Mont Salubrity School was will present its Building Community Award to today, such as leadership, organizational originally built. Smith used period Smithsonian Scott Beuerlein, a horticulturist who manages behavior, board relations and governance, images to refurbish the now famous Salubrity the Cincinnati Zoo Botanical Garden’s outreach communications and other business-related Hall. and is involved with plant trialing, education content. A two-month international field and community projects. He also runs the placement provides a deeper understanding • • • zoo’s three annual horticultural symposia. of these issues, equipping fellows to lead Stross Book Wins Gold The award recognizes someone whose life organizations into a vibrant and sustainable The Nonfiction Authors Association named and work exemplifies the mission of the Civic future. Alumni of the Fellows Program join Amy Stross’ The Suburban Micro-Farm: Modern Garden Center to build community through the prestigious Society of Fellows, a global Solutions for Busy People the 2018 Gold Winner gardening, education and environmental network of public garden professionals. The for Nonfiction Books. aim of the Fellows Program is to build leader- • • • ship capacity within the public horticulture • • • Curbelo Enrolls in Hort Therapy Program industry. Abra begins her studies in June. Walliser Named Perla Sofia Curbelo from Puerto Rico has Acquisitions Editor started the Chicago Botanic Garden’s • • • Jessica Walliser has Horticulture Therapy Certification Program. Scholarship been named The 10-month program consists of online Recipient acquisitions editor classes and two required on-site visits in June Graduates for Quarto Publishing and October. She started the program in Isaac Luhrs graduat- Group’s gardening January. Perla joined GardenComm in 2016. ed with a degree in imprint, Cool Springs stewardship. public horticulture Press. Quarto Publish- from the University of ing Group is a leading • • • Tennessee, Knoxville, illustrated, non-fiction book publisher, creating New QVC Hosts in December. In 2019 a wide variety of books and intellectual prop- Katie Dubow and Kelly Norris are the new he is hiking the entire Appalachian Trail. As an erty products for global distribution, with a hosts for Cottage Farms’ long-running program up-and-coming designer and plantsman, he mission to inspire life’s experiences. k on QVC. Katie and Kelly are both recipients intends to spend his days on the trail in search of GardenComm’s Emergent Communicator of unique native plants for the horticultural Award. Katie is creative director and trend industry. He’s grateful for all of the support

6 GardenComm Awards Academic Scholarships

Six college students will have it a bit easier was the president of the Horticulture Club for LINCOLN THOMAS financially with scholarships from Garden- a year and a resident assistant for nearly three. Since 2014, Lincoln Comm. The Kathleen Fisher Scholarship is She is an editorial intern for The American has been writing $500, the other five scholarships are $750 Gardener, the national publication of the stories, journal entries, each. This year, there were 13 entries with American Horticultural Society. Going forward, poems and articles. many excellent candidates. The scholarship Laken plans to pursue an MFA in creative writ- When he fell in love committee, made up of Kirk Brown, Maree ing, a track that will continue to combine her with horticulture Gaetani, Becky Heath, Nan Sterman, Jo Ellen love of horticulture with her gift for writing. during a high school Meyers Sharp, Bill Thomas, Ellen Zachos and When not working, she explores new places, class in Trinity, North Maria Zampini, opted to award six rather reads, sings and spends time with her family. Carolina, Lincoln never than the usual five. Each winner also received thought it would be the opportunity to bridge a complimentary student membership in KASANDRA his interests in science and writing. He is GardenComm. Meet the Class of 2019. HERNANDEZ studying horticulture/floriculture at Colorado When Kasandra State University and enjoys writing more than TANIEL AJAMIAN completes her Associ- ever. With a student body of nearly 33,000, he Taniel, who is from ate of Science degree is the only agriculture writer for The Collegian, Markham, Ontario. in plant science and the campus newspaper. Lincoln also runs works and studies landscape technology The ProtAGonist, his blog about agriculture. at the Niagara Parks next winter, she plans Receiving this scholarship made it clear to Commission School of to enroll at Kent State him that there is a definitive bridge between Horticulture in Niagara University to obtain a science and art. Falls, Ontario. He and Bachelor of Science in horticultural sciences/ other students urban forestry. Her interest in the green maintain core areas industry comes from her love of the outdoors KELLIE WALTERS - of the 99-acre Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens, as well as an immense interest in science. KATHLEEN FISHER including the vegetable, rose and herb Kasandra hopes to continue making success- SCHOLARSHIP gardens. Classes run year round and range from ful forward strides in the industry and learn In elementary school, plant identification to oral communication. from her supervisors. She knows that there are Kellie sold marigolds Taniel has been awarded scholarships for his endless connections, job opportunities and as- and spider plants achievements on the practical and academic sociations out there and that no matter where at the end of her program through the School of Horticulture. she ends up, she will achieve her intended driveway while her He exhibits a positive attitude and an eager- outcome. sisters sold lemon- ness to learn—both in and out of the program. ade. Currently, she is a Ph.D. student in the Taniel loves to share his knowledge and Department of Horticulture at Michigan State experiences to educate others through PARKER STRAND University. Kellie received her Bachelor and teaching, writing, photography and poetry. Parker, a junior at the Master of Science degrees in horticulture from He has a love for nature, cats and trees. You Pennsylvania State Iowa State University. Her dissertation research can email Taniel if you have any questions for University, is pursuing focuses on manipulating growth, develop- him or are interested in his work. a Bachelor of Science ment, volatile production and ultimately the in plant science with flavor of hydroponically produced culinary a focus in horticulture. herbs in controlled LAKEN BURNS He has spent five years environments by altering light intensity, An alumna of West as a garden volunteer temperature and carbon dioxide. She also Virginia University, at Winterthur Museum, conducts experiments to solve present Laken hails from Garden and Library in Delaware as well as four problems in greenhouse production and has Pittsburgh, Pennsyl- seasons in the visitor services department at written popular articles for Greenhouse Grower, vania. She graduated Chanticleer in Wayne, Pennsylvania. Parker is Greenhouse Management, Greenhouse Product magna cum laude in passionate about public horticulture, seeking News, Grower Talks and Michigan State December 2018 with to educate younger generations on the University Extension to disperse research a Bachelor of Science subject, and eventually wants to have a leader- findings. k in horticulture and ship position at a public botanic garden. a minor in creative writing. In college, Laken

7 SUSTAINABILITY LOIS J. DE VRIES You’re Going to Need a Permit for That!

My mind bounced back and forth like a ping-pong ball. Should I call the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and turn this guy in? He just told me he had drained swampland and re-routed a stream. But wait, to this gardener I was the face of a huge national publishing firm and that would be bad public relations. Then I had a light-bulb moment. “When did you do all the work on this part of your garden?” I casually asked him. After he said, “around 1978,” I breathed a sigh of relief. That was well before New Jersey’s Freshwater Wetlands Protection and Stormwater Management Rules went into effect. As chair of my local environmental commission, twice each month I received bulletins from the New Jersey DEP that listed new permit applications and ongoing violations, their current status and recommended remediation, if any. Walls above a certain height and fences may need permits and have to meet local building codes. IGNORANCE CAN BE COSTLY ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF LOIS J. DE VRIES DE J. LOIS OF COURTESY PHOTOS ALL As an avid gardener and field editor, I was distressed to see how many of these issues permitting requirement for soil dis- • Moving, removing, grading or occurred on residential lots and how many turbance ranges from 5 cubic yards in bringing in large quantities of soil could, and should have been avoided by a some urban areas to 100 cubic yards without a permit simple review of the homeowner’s survey or in many rural townships. A full-sized, • Violations of freshwater, wetlands a visit to town hall. For example, a swimming 19-inch-deep pickup bed, filled level, protection and stormwater pool that encroached on a conservation holds about 2.5 cubic yards of soil. management regulations easement, disturbance of the 300-foot buffer Cheryl Corson • Constructing walls that require a alongside a Category-1 stream, heavy IT’S A JUNGLE OUT THERE permit, are too high, have no construction on steep slopes and filling in a I asked three professionals for their provision for drainage, impinge on vernal pool. In New Jersey, pleading ignorance thoughts: Russell Stern, a New Jersey- a property line or right-of-way or begging forgiveness after the fact doesn’t based landscape architect and or direct runoff onto another work. Homeowners are required to restore municipal planner; Cheryl Corson, a property the property to its original state, or provide certified playground safety inspector remediation in a location chosen by the DEP. (CPSI) and licensed landscape SO WHAT SHOULD YOU DO? If you’re the person who drew the design architect in Maryland; and 2018 Green Pamela Berstler Corson and Berstler echoed Stern’s and made the recommendations, you could Medal honoree Pamela Berstler, CEO recommended first step. “Make a face not only an angry customer, but also the of G3, Green Garden Group, a landscape design simple call to your town’s zoning officer and prospect of paying for a costly mistake. and training company in Southern California. expect to present a clear sketch of what Landscape architects will generally know The consensus among all three is that the you plan to do. Gazebos, pergolas, garden what kinds of questions to ask and where to most likely trouble spots center around people houses, sheds, patios and sidewalks all require get the answers, but unlicensed designers and not knowing what they don’t know, failure permits, and some structures may require garden coaches may not. Local regulations to obtain required permits and not seeking an impervious cover variance,” he said. can vary widely from region to region, even guidance from local zoning officials. In the field, within the same state. In New Jersey alone, the the three most common mistakes they see are: — Continues on page 9

8 — Sustainability, continued from page 8

Public gardens, such as this one at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles, are a good source of inspiration for aesthetically pleasing ideas, naturalized plantings and what grows well in a regional climate. Left: Sheds and similar garden structures may not require a permit, as long as they’re not on a permanent foundation or are smaller than a specific size such as 100 square feet. ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF LOIS J. DE VRIES DE J. LOIS OF COURTESY PHOTOS ALL

may also need errors and omissions coverage, Lois J. de Vries, founding executive director depending on the type of work they’re doing.” of the Sustainable Gardening Institute and the Even when working in an unincorporated Sustainable Gardening Library, will speak on area, state and Federal regulations may still Stormwater Management at the American apply, so check carefully before giving an Public Gardens Association Conference in June. estimate and starting work, to protect both She works and gardens in the forests of North- yourself and your client. You just might need a western New Jersey. “In California, anything other than a planting permit. k plan must be done by a landscape architect. Over the years, landscape design and mindful use of water have run below the radar of many RESOURCES: Californians, including policymakers. Major 1. APLD, (Association of Professional Landscape Designers) “Licensure” earth-moving and other construction projects were done without permits and, as a result, 2. ASLA, (American Society of Landscape Architects) “Licensure” we now see problems such as hillside failures 3. Corsen, Cheryl, “Sustainable Landscape Maintenance Manual for the Chesapeake Bay Water- and towns consistently exceeding their water shed, Section 2,” 2017. Chesapeake Conservation Landscaping Council budgets,” Berstler said. “If you’re hiring yourself out as a profession- 4. “Permaculture Design Course,” Permaculture Institute of North America al, be sure you understand the limits of your 5. “New Jersey Stormwater Best Management Practices Manual - Landscaping,” February 2004, practice, embrace an appropriate standard New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection of care and consult other experts as needed, “New Jersey Forestry and Wetlands Best Management Practices Manual,” New Jersey Bureau of for example, a certified arborist for tree work,” Forest Management Corson said . “Many of our colleagues know they should have liability insurance, but they 6. “The Watershed Approach,” G3 green gardens group

9 BUSINESS JO ELLEN MEYERS SHARP

and observe whenever I want to. That’s trained How Members Stay Connected & Fight me to be more interested and observant.” BEVERLY HURLEY Loneliness When Working Alone Beverly is editor and publisher of Triangle Gardener, a six-times-a-year magazine for When I left my full-time colleagues to bounce ideas off of, for sure. the Raleigh, North Carolina, reporting job at a metro daily I am fortunate to have a husband who also area, with 35,000 copies newspaper to start my own works in the marketing world, so I usually distributed free. She started freelance writing business, a bounce ideas off of him. I talk to my the magazine in 2009. Before lot of people told me I’d be hairdresser, too. She knows nothing about then, she spent several years in the travel lonely. Granted, sometimes plants, so she is the average consumer and industry and from 1991 to 2009, she ran her I do feel lonely, but most of I use her reactions to gauge my marketing own public relations firm out of her home. the time what I really miss is being able to campaigns to consumers.” “I never looked back,” Beverly said. She walk down the hall and ask a co-worker what Angie said that the loneliness she feels is opted for her own business at home after her she thinks about this or that idea, discuss the hardest part to working alone. She enjoys first child was born and she had a job that what’s going on in the news or help solve a feeding the birds in her landscape, calling wanted her available 24/7. “It’s not that I didn’t biz problem. them her extended office mates. like being with people in the office. But it can A lot of GardenComm members fall into the “The longer I’m home for a stretch, the be so cumbersome in traditional organizations. freelance category, working at home alone— more exhausting it is to me to actually have There’s far too much chit chatting. I can work well, except maybe for our pets, spouses and real conversations in a professional setting. smarter and faster at home.” kids. Working for ourselves affords flexibility in Beverly recommends setting a schedule how we manage our time. I’ve been freelancing BILL JOHNSON with set hours for different tasks and to set all for 20 years and, as I tell people, I still have Bill is an award-winning appointments for the same day. my house. But when you freelance or work photographer who lives in When she switched to a career in garden for yourself out of your home, it’s easy to feel Minneapolis with his wife communications, “I made sure I got involved disconnected. Rachel Dabill. Bill Johnson in enough places to stay in the know about On the QT wondered how other members Nature Stock Photography what’s going on.” deal with working alone and how they Inc., specializes in the manage their time and stay connected with microphotography of insects. TONI GATTONE family, colleagues, clients and community. But Bill, a former musician and guitar Speaker, author and adaptive instructor, also does freelance writing. Rachel gardener, Toni first founded a ANGELA TREADWELL-PALMER frequently accompanies him on photo garden and gift manufacturers’ Angie is founder and shoots and to GardenComm meetings. rep business in the San co-owner of Plants Nouveau, He has an office upstairs in the home and Francisco-area. Targeting a plant introduction and Rachel works away part time. He said he felt California retailers, Toni said marketing company that lonely when he first started his own business she loved that she was able to works primarily with the in 1993, but not so much now. He stays in combine sales, customer service, management nursery industry. She’s a touch with clients and colleagues through and presentation skills. Her latest book, The wife, mother, coach, active Facebook groups, via email and phone Lifelong Gardener: Garden with Ease and Joy at community member and business owner conversations. He tends to avoid a lot of social Any Age, will be published by Timber Press in who lives in Boston. media contact with other photographers August. “Working from home affords me a lot of because he finds it distracting. “I can concen- “Twenty-eight years and I’ve never looked flexibility in raising my family and being a trate better. A lot of what I’m doing they are back to work in corporate. I love the freedom large part of my community,” Angie said. not, especially with photography of insects of being on my own,” she said. “I coach and run the girl’s lacrosse program and their relationships with plants.” She describes herself as “pretty gregarious, in our area. I also help with the vegetable He has a routine in his home office—“more and I don’t mind reaching out to problem garden and I am known as the “Tasting or less.” He gets up at a certain time, opens solve.” She founded a women’s group with Tuesday” lady at the local elementary school. his email, “which is less and less with the loss manufacturers’ reps from different markets I would not be able to have a flexible of so many magazines,” scours photography such as the wine industry, apparel, toys and schedule that allows me time to do those want lists and processes digital images. “I interior design. “I honestly don’t feel lonely or things if I worked for someone else or in make sure I know where everything is I shot.” alone as friends and colleagues are a phone an office.” He bounces ideas off of Rachel and various call, text or email away.” k She stays connected with her business editors. On the rare occasion the struggle of partners (many are overseas) and colleagues a freelancer upsets him, “it’s for about 10 Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp is editor of On the QT and via email and Skype. “I do miss having minutes. But then I realize I can go outside Vice-president of GardenComm.

10 REGIONAL NEWS & NOTES

REGION 1 CARMEN DEVITO

Spring is the busiest time for so many of us in garden-related professions. I know I always swear off any events during the marathon of planting and maintenance work. But this year, I am committed to changing the usual paradigm and getting out more, even when I think I don’t have the time. I have decided to commit to at least one event that allows me to connect with like-minded gardeners. Our region has so many to choose from this season. Dig in and see if you get inspired to cultivate yourself even in the heady days of the spring season.

Charlie Nardozzi will speak at the Rowayton Garden Club in Connecticut, March 7, at the Philadelphia Flower Show, March 8 and 9, and at Canada Blooms Garden Festival, March 13. He’ll be leading “Discover Cuba: Garden, Culture and History Tour,” March 20 to 27. Other talks: Gardener’s Supply Co., in Lebanon, New Hampshire, April 6, and in Burlington, 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Vermont, April 13 and 16. Charlie will also speak at the Natick Massachusetts Garden Club, April 18. members. Opening Day is March 27. House Marie Iannotti will present “The Potted & Garden Tours occur at 11 a.m., Fridays and REGION 3 SUSAN MARTIN Potager: Reducing Maintenance in the Saturdays; tours are also complimentary to members. Chanticleer will host former director, Vegetable Garden without Lowering the Yield,” For the sixth year, Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp will Chris Woods, with his presentation about his March 17 at the Boston Flower and Garden co-teach the six-week City Gardener Program, Show and on March 23, at New York’s Capital book, Gardenlust: A Botanical Tour of the World’s Best New Gardens, March 31, at the Radnor offered by Purdue University-Marion County District Garden and Flower Show. The talk is Extension, with Steve Mayer, horticulture from her upcoming books, Grow Great Memorial Library in Wayne, Pennsylvania. educator, beginning March 5. On March 9, she’ll Vegetables in Massachusetts and Grow Great Louise Clarke will be the opening speaker at be in Danville, Illinois, to present “Don’t Let Deer Vegetables in New York. the Gloucester County (New Jersey) Cost You a Lot of Doe” at the Vermilion County Horticultural Symposium at the Clayton, Master Gardener Volunteers’ 2019 Garden Day. Author Chris Woods will present Gardenlust: New Jersey, Government Service Building, She will give four demonstrations of “Spring A Botanical Tour of the World’s Best New April 23. Her topic, “Small Trees for Residential Container Plantings” at the Indiana Flower & Gardens on Sunday, April 28 at the Cary Landscapes,” includes native and non-native Patio Show, March 11 and 12. Institute for Ecosystem Studies, Millbrook, New selections adapted to fit today’s smaller York, as part of the Garden Conservancy Open March 23 will find her speaking about residential properties. Days Program’s Digging Deeper series. “Fabulous Foliage” in Newark, Ohio, at the Licking County Master Gardener Volunteers’ Denise Schreiber will speak about “Fragrant program. She’ll be back in Ohio on March 26 Flowers,” April 27, at The Center at the Beaver REGION 2 to speak about “Sustainable Landscaping” at the TERI SPEIGHT Valley Mall, Monaca, Pennsylvania. Mill Creek Metro Parks’ program in Youngstown. Kim Roman will speak about “Small Space Kathy Jentz, editor of Washington Garden- April 10, she travels to Grosse Pointe Farms, Gardening,” March 2, at the Maryland Home er magazine, will speak about “Water in the Michigan, to speak about “Growing with Life’s & Garden Show at the Maryland State Fair- Landscape: Creating a Garden Oasis,” at the U.S. Changes,” at the Grosse Pointe Garden Center. grounds in Timonium. Botanic Garden in Washington, D.C. The talk is On May 3, she will be conducting “Spring at noon, May 31, as part of the garden’s lunch- Container Planting Demonstrations” at a fund- Chanticleer invites you to visit this spring. and-learn series. It is free, but pre-registration raiser for the Frankfort (Indiana) Community Garden admission is free for GardenComm is required. Library Foundation.

11 REGIONAL NEWS & NOTES

Melinda Myers will present a keynote on garden trends at the 13th annual Spring into Gardening event, March 9, in Paddock Lake, Wisconsin. The afternoon will include breakout sessions on plant diseases, canning and preserving, jumping worms and spring wildflowers.

Amy Stross will present programs on “Suburban Micro-Farming” at the Clermont County Public Library in Milford, Ohio, March 12, and at the Plantwalkers Spring Gathering 2019 in Versailles, Indiana, April 6. She will also present “Using Permaculture Design in the Formal (Edible) Landscape,” a program for horticulture volunteers, at the Cox Arboretum in Dayton, Ohio, March 16.

Carol Michel will make appearances to GardenComm’s 2017 Green Medal Sustainabili- Master Gardener Creative Gardening Series, promote her series of humorous gardening ty Award winner, Paul Tukey, will present April 23, speaking on “Designing Gardens books at a number of events in Indiana and The Art of the Sustainable Landscape, March that Draw Us In: Learn the Tools” at the Cedar Michigan this spring. She will kick off her 24, at the Sacred Heart Campus in Louisville, Rapids Public Library. speaking season at the Indiana Flower and Kentucky. As a longtime proponent of Patio Show in Indianapolis, March 13, followed sustainable garden and landscape manage- Join Jodi Torpey at Tagawa Gardens in by the Growing Great Gardens conference, ment, Tukey has overseen development and Centennial, Colorado, April 7, to discover ways to transform an ordinary landscape into an March 16, in Taylor, Michigan, where she will implementation of a plan for the sustainable incredible edible garden with easy foodscap- share the stage with fellow GardenComm and 100 percent organic management of the ing design ideas. k member Jessica Walliser. Fans will have a 250-acre museum campus. This is a unique chance to meet Carol as she presents for the opportunity to learn from someone on the Kentuckiana Herb Society in Borden, Indiana, cutting edge of the combination of art, March 30, the Indiana Master Gardeners on garden and sustainable development. April 6 and 16, at the Frankfort (Indiana) Public Library, May 3, and for the Johnson County REGION 4 Master Gardeners in Franklin, Indiana, May 4. CHEVAL OPPS

Debra Knapke will lead a design workshop March is going to be a busy month for Pam at Fellows Riverside Garden in Youngstown, Beck as her lecture schedule starts at the Ohio, March 16, and present “How To Simplify Magnolia Plantation & Gardens Annual Spring Your Garden Without Diminishing Your Joy” Plant Symposium in Charleston, South Carolina, at the Gardens at Gantz Symposium at Gantz March 9. Then she heads up to the Shenan- Farm in Grove City, Ohio, March 23. doah Valley Plant Symposium in Waynesboro, Bobbie Schwartz will speak about her latest Virginia, March 15. She ends up closer to home, book, Garden Renovation, at the St. Clair County speaking for the Gardeners of Wake County in Master Gardener’s Spring Symposium in Port Raleigh, North Carolina, March 19, at the J. C. GardenComm Grows: Huron, Michigan, March 16. She will also Raulston Arboretum. present “Design Concepts” to the Licking GardenComm’s Blog County Master Gardeners in Newark, Ohio, REGION 5 Want to learn more about GardenComm March 23, and to the Avon Lake (Ohio) Garden SHELLEY CRAMM or do you have an interesting, timely Club, April 3. topic to share with other members of On March 4, Judy Nauseef will speak at the GardenComm? Check out the Garden- Delaware County Iowa Master Gardeners Nina Koziol will teach three programs at the Comm blog for weekly features by Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe, Illinois, Mondays in March program, on “Native Plants members. If you’d like to contribute a in March, including “American Home Garden for the Gardener: Sustainable Choices for post, please contact Carol Michel at Design—1830 to Present,” March 19, “Grow Iowans.” The event is held at the Savior [email protected] k a Cook’s Garden,” March 19, and “Paint Your Lutheran Church, Manchester, Iowa. On April

Garden with Plants,” March 30. 23, she will lead off the Linn County Iowa ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/JOHNWOODCOCK COURTESY ILLUSTRATION

12 REGIONAL EVENTS GardenComm

REGION 1 Learn more about botanical names in the Savings at ASJA’s On March 15, The Horticultural Society of New online course “Botanical Names Demystified” York can help you get out of your cooking taught by botanist Chris Benda of The Morton 48th Annual rut with “Wild Edibles: Recipes for Foraged Arboretum, beginning March 15. You’ll learn: Foods.” Join Chef Noah Sheetz of Chefs’ • How plants get their scientific names Writers Conference Consortium as he teaches how to identify • Why these naming conventions are useful delicious foods from nature. He will be cook- and important Members of GardenComm have access to ing with wild edibles he’ll bring to class. exclusive discounts to the 48th Annual ASJA • Tips and tricks for pronunciation conference in New York. As part of the New York Botanical Garden’s • Botanical names for 40 common native The conference features four tracks of Winter Lecture Series (now in its 19th year), plants of Illinois dynamic programming focused on journalism, Margaret Roach, former editorial director of Martha Stewart Omnimedia and creator of Gnome Away From Home, March 16 through content marketing, books, and the business the acclaimed A Way to Garden website and 31, Garfield Park Conservatory, Indianapolis. of writing. You’ll learn tips for Turning Clients podcast will be speaking on March 28 about into Anchors, Writing and Selling Personal on her life in gardening and gardening media. “Resilient Landscapes” is the theme of Essays, How to Negotiate Like a New Yorker, This is sure to sell out, so get your tickets now. Allen Centennial Garden’s upcoming signature Understanding Brand Voice and so much more. spring symposium in Madison, Wisconsin, With more than 1,200 members, ASJA stands March 22 and 23, at the University of As part of the Garden Conservancy Open as the country’s leading and most Wisconsin-Madison. It explores cutting-edge Days Program’s Digging Deeper series, prestigious association of successful journalists, ideas and emerging trends in horticulture and landscape architect Susan Cohen will present authors and nonfiction and literary design. The focus will be on a “new garden “Finding Design—Landscape Architecture nonfiction writers. This is a great opportunity to ethic” and intuitive methods to manage and the Creative Process” on Sunday, March landscapes with “know maintenance.” The talk about collaboration and networking. 31, at the Cary Institute for Ecosystem Studies, discussion, featuring a panel of local change Join ASJA May 5 and 6, at the New York Millbrook, New York. makers and trendsetters who are pioneering Marriott Downtown for two days of sessions resilient landscape, will cover two of our and connections, plus tips, tricks and strategic Kerry Ann Mendez has helped organize the greatest contemporary public landscapes, moves from seasoned journalists and authors, 15th annual Great Gardens and Landscaping Millennium Park in Chicago and the High Line editors, agents, content buyers, and more. Symposium, April 13, in Woodstock, Vermont. in New York City. There will also be a special Register here and use the code GARDEN- This inspirational and exhilarating symposium showing of the award-winning documentary COMM to save up to $50 off your registration will enlighten and energize your approach to movie Five Seasons: The Gardens of Piet Oudolf. fees; $299 to attend one day, $519 to attend gardening. During the daylong event, great k both. k speakers will share everything from sustainable design and maintenance to growing beautiful food. There will also be a Gardeners Marketplace with plant vendors, artisans and more. This is a wonderful way to connect with fellow gardeners in the Northeast. Join the

REGION 3 American Indiana Flower & Patio Show, March 9 through Horticultural 17, Indiana State Fairgrounds. Society Scott Beuerlein invites GardenComm members to attend the eighth annual Sustainable The American Horticultural Society (AHS) Urban Landscapes Symposium, March 14, is a national membership organization that supports sustainable and earth-friendly at The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden. gardening. Speakers include Dr. Aruni Bhatnagar, who has done important research on the relationship Member benefits include: between the environment and heart disease • Six issues of The American Gardener and other health issues, Laura Ekasetya from magazine Lurie Garden and Laura Kunkle from America • Opportunity to participate in the annual in Bloom. Additional exciting speakers for the AHS Seed Exchange program event will be announced soon. • Access to members-only area of website • Free admission and other discounts at 300 public gardens and arboreta www.ahsgardening.org/join

13 STRATEGIC PLANNING MEETING WRAP UP RYAN MCENANEY

Hard Work in Windy City Forms Future of GardenComm

When I first saw the opportunity to participate in the GardenComm Strategic Planning Session in On the QT, I jumped at it. Though I am not a board member, the organization has provided me with incredible access to communicators necessary to drive my career, and I wanted to give back and offer my insights to continue growing GardenComm for the future. I had the great privilege to be a part of the previous Strategic Planning Session in New York City after Kellen came on board three years ago, so I also felt that the continuity would be a benefit to the process. While cold and blustery January winds surrounded us in Chicago, the entire process was lively and productive. Our contingency of Board and non-board members as well as Kellen staff arrived for the first half-day session to confirm our position on the newly merged GWA and GWA Foundation’s mission and vision. These themes would drive our conversation for the following day and a half, so being The Board has to decide on and approve high cost of participating in trade shows aligned from the start was key. We were a action items from the planning session, so (not just GardenComm, but all trade shows), collection of creative communicators there’s nothing solid for me to report. What and the great expense of building and main- condensing many ideas into mere sentences, I think is most important to share from this taining relationships with garden communica- so it was a fun challenge, and that’s the meeting is the incredible passion that exists tors. The viability of GardenComm somewhat amazing power of this group. We are to make this the strongest organization for relies on the financial support and presence passionate and excited to continue driving its members. We had a mix of professionals of the Allied Trade members, and the Allied GardenComm in a direction that supports around the table from various disciplines, Trade members rely on access to the Garden- our mission, members and longevity of the regions, ages and more. It was a respectful, Comm membership. It’s a wonderful symbi- organization. passionate, focused conversation that will reap otic relationship, but it needs to be constantly great rewards in the short and long term. nurtured. HIGH-LEVEL RECOMMENDATIONS As we all feel the pain of tightening I am consistently encouraged by the Board Throughout the two days in Chicago, our budgets, reliance on freelance income and and Kellen’s openness to my thoughts and group of thinkers focused on creating high-lev- increased need to prove ROI (Return on opinions as an Allied Trade member. My inclu- el strategic recommendations to the Board. We Investment) to ourselves, managers and sion in this planning session is a great example did an assessment of organization stakeholders industry partners, choosing which organiza- of their focus on earning each of our members’ past, present and future. We tions to belong to becomes a high-priority dues each year. It’s about all key stakeholders performed a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, decision. This was a key theme throughout and maturing to ensure the membership is Opportunities and Threats) analysis to the meeting, ensuring that each decision earned each and every year. The future of Gar- determine the strengths, weaknesses, the Board ultimately makes shows benefit to denComm is bright. That is illuminated by the opportunities and threats to the organization. GardenComm members. organization’s commitment to growth through We all contributed ideas to grow the strategic planning, inclusion of those outside organization that were then categorized into UNIQUE VOICE the Board and evolution to remain relevant in overarching strategies. Finally, we took those I am in a somewhat unique position, in that a changing communications landscape. k strategies and offered suggestions for action I am an Allied Trade member who also writers items on which to execute in the coming one personally. So I have the perspective of need- Ryan McEnaney is a communications and public to three years. ing to prove ROI on offering sample plants, the relations specialist at Bailey Nursery.

14 GardenComm Honors & Awards for 2019 MANTS Meet-Up BY DEBRA PRINZING BY KATHY JENTZ

Returning for a second year RECORD SET IN 2018 More than 50 GardenComm as chair, the 2019 Honors & 2018 was a banner year for Honors & Awards members attended the 2019 Awards Committee comprises because we received a record 20 nominations, Mid-Atlantic Nursery Trade Nan Sterman, Melinda Myers with more than two candidates in each cate- Show (MANTS), January 9 and Rob Cardillo. Along with gory and up to five in several categories. through 11 at the Baltimore support from staff and board We fully expect to grow that list for 2019. Convention Center. liaison President Becky Heath, This program highlights passion and profes- GardenComm held an official we’re excited to announce the 2019 Honors & sional excellence in our organization. It is a Connect meeting at the Lord Baltimore Hotel Awards categories. The nomination process member benefit, both to receive an award lobby bar after the first day of exhibits. will open and be announced via email and on- or honor, but also to have the privilege of The next morning, the show management line on March 4th. The deadline for submitting submitting a nomination for one of your peers hosted a breakfast briefing for the media and nominations is May 15th. Nominations will be or an organization you respect. Please take GardenComm members were the majority of accepted in the following categories: advantage of this program and take the time that crowd (see photo). Next, there was an to consider deserving candidates, and follow informal lunch at a nearby eatery for those • Emerging Communicator through with your submission. Each com- who just couldn’t get enough networking in • GardenComm Fellow mittee member is available to answer your at the previous events. • GardenComm Hall of Fame questions during the process. k The GardenComm booth was redesigned • Honorary Member and emphasized the organization’s new Debra Prinzing, founder of SlowFlowers.com, is branding. Exhibitors were invited to stop • Wilfred J. Jung Distinguished Service Medal former GardenComm President and was inducted • Cynthia Westcott Scientific Writing Award into the GardenComm Hall of Fame in 2016. by and film short videos about their new products. Traffic at the booth was steady and hundreds of flyers promoting the use of professional garden communicators to the green industry were distributed. In addition, several MANTS attendees stopped by for GardenComm Creates Flower Show Award information on joining GardenComm. k BY MARY-KATE MACKEY

GardenComm was invited to sponsor a new Outdoor Living Award for the 2019 display gardens at Seattle’s Northwest Flower & Garden Festival, which took place February 20 through 24. The judges looked for the display garden that exhibited the most beautiful, creative and educational ideas to encourage effective use of horticulture and design for functional outdoor living environments. The award was given to “Mystic Garden” by Nature Perfect Landscape and Design The first judges for this award, all Northwest Region VI members, reflect a wide variety of

horticultural points of view. Ed Hume, with MACKEY MARY-KATE COURTESY PHOTO 54 years’ experience as a major award-winning award-winning author, photographer and a retention and use of natives. The new award author, TV and radio show host, has judged 12-year blogger with over 2,500 posts. parameters were developed with input from national and international garden shows. Debra Knapke, Chair of the Sustainability Christina Salwitz, known as The Personal The judging criteria included consideration Committee, Anne Reeves, Region 6 Regional of inviting design, creative use of materials, Garden Coach, comes in as a designer, Director and Mary-Kate Mackey, Region 6 such as upcycling, and demonstration of photographer, speaker and author of National Director. k top-selling garden books. Anne Reeves is an sustainable practices like green roofs, water

15 GardenComm Luminaries Shine as Stars: Part 1 BY MARY B. GOOD

Show business in America has its 15 EGOT winners, luminaries who have achieved this status, garner- ing Emmy (television), Grammy (recording), Oscar (film) and Tony (stage) awards. These actors, directors, writers and musicians have won the grand slam of Elvin McDonald Flowering Shrubs and Small Carlton Lees Jeff Lowenfels with entertainment industry kudos. Trees by Isabel Zucker his kids. We’re talking about people like Audrey ISABEL ZUCKER passed away. With Derek Fell contracted to do Hepburn, one of the greatest screen legends The concept to form an organization of garden the revision, but still under Isabel’s authorship of Hollywood’s Golden Age whose 1993 communicators was devised in a hotel elevator (with Fell), Flowering Shrubs and Small Trees was Emmy-award winning public television’s series, with four writers attending an American born. Gardens of the World, was blessed with Garden- Horticultural Society meeting. Isabel Zucker Here was a wealthy woman; her husband, Comm’s eminent Elvin McDonald as primary was one of them. It was Isabel who recom- Myron, invented an automotive part that was horticultural consultant for North America. mended Henry Pree be the first president in acquired by the motor industry. Her home in Earlier, a select group of garden writers 1948, and in 1967, Isabel assumed that office. the upscale Detroit suburb of Bloomfield Hills were invited to visit with Hepburn at the Huis When celebrated author and photographer was more like an arboretum than a backyard Doorn, a national museum and national Derek Fell first set eyes on this feisty redhead, garden—a photographer’s paradise. heritage site where Audrey’s mother Baroness it was in his Burpee Seed Company office, A passionate nature-lover, Isabel fought Ella van Heemstra spent much of her where he worked early in his career. It was building development; in the 60s, the couple childhood. ‘Audrey’, a white tulip named for July and Isabel breezed in wearing a full-length bought 70 woodsy acres along Michigan’s Flint the actress, was growing there. It was part of fur coat. River to save the property from rapacious an April, 1990 tour of the Holland tulip fields. Isabel was a grand dame, a dynamo and a developers. For many years, Isabel was a Our small group was led by Sally Ferguson, little Napoleon who didn’t suffer fools gladly. benefactor of the Michigan Nature Associa- who was then the director of the Netherlands She is remembered for running the board tion. After the Zuckers donated the preserved FlowerBulb Information Center, and guests meeting with precision and focus—a force to area to the association, it was dedicated as of the International Bloemenbollen Centrum. be reckoned with. When Isabel was President, the Myron and Isabel Zucker Nature Preserve. The film crew for the TV series was there to if she didn’t think a new recruit was accom- Isabel died in 1986. catch it all. plished enough to belong to GWAA (Garden While these glamorous and exciting highest Writers Association of America, as it was called CARLTON LEES achievements have been attained by only back in the day), she let the newbie know. A horticulturist, landscape architect and Audrey Hepburn and 14 others in entertain- Her standards for others were high, just as she author, Carlton Lees was President of our as- ment history, similarly only six GWA (now demanded excellence in her own work ethic. sociation for the long haul, from 1971 to 1975. GardenComm) superstars have achieved our She could literally scare the bejesus out of a Here was a charming and witty gentleman industry’s highest triple honors in the history garden-writing greenhorn. whose accomplishments in our industry are of the organization. It’s our own version of Very outspoken, Isabel had a brilliant, staggering. A few of Carlton’s most dazzling, EGOT recognition. And like EGOT, such rarified scientific mind. As director of the National high-powered career positions included vice status is tough to attain, especially the Hall of Garden Bureau, her words carried weight. president and interim chief executive officer Fame, our highest honor. When she finished writing her flowering shrub of the New York Botanical Garden. He had The distinguished roster of members book, Isabel announced that she would not been with Brooklyn Botanical Garden and who have ascended to the Presidency, been sign the contract unless the publishers agreed was associated with Horticulture magazine as honored as Fellows and inducted into the Hall not to change anything, not a word, not even well as the Pennsylvania and Massachusetts of Fame are: Isabel Zucker, Carlton B. Lees, a punctuation mark. Try that today! horticultural societies. Carlton received the Theodore O. Marston, James W. Wilson, Isabel’s shrub book was published in 1966. prestigious Helen Hull award for horticultural Barbara Perry Lawton and Jeff Lowenfels. Decades later, publishers wished to re-issue literature from the National Council of State Having worked with most of them, it’s my the popular tome, expanding the number of Garden Clubs. “Gardens are necessary for our honor to share their stories with our members. descriptions and changing the photos from very existence,” he was known to say. black-and-white to color. Isabel had already — Continues on page 17

16 —GardenComm Luminaries, continued from page 16 Our colleague was vice president of the National Wildflower Research Center, founded by Lady Bird Johnson, who was made an Honorary GWAA Member of GWAA in 1985. Carlton also staged events for the New York Metropolitan Opera. In retirement, he served on the advisory committee of the world-renowned Smithsonian Institution. He was dashing, elegant and beloved by GWAA members; I can just picture him smiling, skirting through the Pearly Gates in a tuxedo. Carlton Lees left us too young, in 1989 at the age of 65, from cancer.

TED MARSTON Kindly, fatherly and understated, Theodore About a dozen GardenComm members took advantage of the great offer of free admission to special tours Marston’s greatest gift was connecting people. and the trade show for TPIE in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in January. GardenCom-TPIE organizer Sylvia Gorden You might say he invented garden writers is seated in a yellow jacket. networking. To know him was to be encouraged to be the best you can be by writing about what you know best. According to his wife, Dorothy, who often CALL FOR OFFICER AND DIRECTOR NOMINATIONS accompanied him to our annual meetings, Ted’s creativity and imagination were boundless; he The GardenComm Nominations Committee is soliciting nominations from members to feasted on ideas. be considered as candidates for officer and director positions on the 2019-2020 Garden- After graduation from Iowa State University, Comm Board of Directors. Ted was an account exec who wrote advertising Serving on the GardenComm Board of Directors is both an honor and a commitment. copy in Chicago. Later, he bought a rose-growing To work with other distinguished members of our industry in leading and shaping this business and at one time worked for Ball Seed organization is a productive and immensely enjoyable experience. Company. Please submit a self-nomination or recommend people whom you know will demon- Known from coast to coast as a fountain of strate the energy and innovative spirit we need to build on our momentum. horticultural knowledge, Ted was on the board Officers, two-year term for: of directors of the American Horticultural Society • Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary. and co-founded the Northwest Flower and Garden Show in Seattle. He authored several National Director, three-year term for: books and was known for his graceful writing • Region 1, representing Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, style. Rhode Island, Vermont. He became GWAA president in 1981, but • Region 3, representing Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, West Virginia. Ted’s greatest claim to fame was as founder and • Region 5, representing Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Arizona, publisher of the critically acclaimed houseplant Colorado, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico. magazine, Plants Alive! In retirement, Ted led garden expeditions to many parts of the world, Regional Director, two-year term for: searching for rare plants for propagation. Before • Region 1, representing Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, his death in 2002 following complications of sur- Rhode Island, Vermont. gery, Ted, 70, completed a three-year project of • Region 3, representing Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, West Virginia. designing and installing a spectacular waterfall • Region 4, representing Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South garden at his home in Kirkland, Washington. Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia. Look for more wild and crazy tales of • Region 5, North or South, representing Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South GardenComm’s early days in Part 2 coming in Dakota (North); Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, the May-June 2019 issue of On the QT. k Texas (South). • Region 6, North or South, representing Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, A member of the Wisconsin Academy of Science, Wyoming (North); Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Utah (South). Arts, and Letters, notorious storyteller and morel • Region 7, representing Canada & International mushroom fancier, Mary B. Good has spent more than 60 percent of her life as a member of Gar- Please take a moment to review the duties and responsibilities and submit a nomination form. denComm in all its name iterations. She’s currently gloating that her latest book, Skewed Flash Fiction: Nominations due no later than Noon (EDT), Monday, April 1 A Collection of 50 Freaky-Fast Reads, is going into its second printing.

17 MEMBER PROFILE CARMEN DE VITO

ment. What started out as a collection focused primarily on a research function Susan Eubanks–By the Book (the first director was the editor of a scientific journal) has evolved into a collection that Librarian Specializes in Horticulture Tomes serves a much broader public. “Library patrons want integrated information on every- Ask Susan Eubanks what thing from vegetable makes a good gardening gardening to water- book and she’ll give you a saving gardening direct answer: It needs to practices,” Susan said. have depth of knowledge. “If we don’t make this The Plant Science Librarian information available, we at the Los Angeles County won’t be able to breathe Arboretum and Botanical Garden, Susan has in 150 years.” This trans- noticed a distinct trend in publishing— lates to practical advice Instagram and internet posts being turned as the library’s book into books—and that doesn’t sit well with buyer; she would buy any someone who is in the business of helping book that helps people people get the right information. make their gardens more It’s not that she’s down on social media. In adaptable to climate fact, it was the arboretum’s Instagram posts change. Also on her per- that first put her on my radar. In her experi- sonal wish list is turning ence, librarians are the most tech-savvy staffers the classic Agaves of at many institutions, and the specialized skills Continental North America they bring with them are invaluable in the into a glossy book that digital age.

PHOTO COURTESY SUSAN EUBANKS. SUSAN COURTESY PHOTO gardeners would love. Susan’s Bachelor of Arts in art history prepared her for her dream career as a critic of Susan Eubanks is Plant Science Librarian at the Los Angeles County GARDEN COMMUNITY contemporary art. But her plan did not include Arboretum and Botanical Garden. GATHERING PLACE the natural path for a modern art critic— Under Susan’s manage- moving to New York when she had a love of ment, the arboretum’s library is much more the West. After earning her Masters of Library her to better connect. “The synergy of writers than a repository for books and research. It’s an and Information Studies from the University and gardeners made for a very rich environ- art exhibition space, a place for organizations of California-Berkeley and a brief stint index- ment,” she said. But Susan is concerned that like the Western Landscapes Book Club (one of ing magazines and newspaper articles, she we may be losing some of the old-school her personal passions) to meet. And, it serves launched her long career as a librarian. That searching skills that are still needed to navigate as an enormously popular place for children’s led her to work at some of the most presti- traditional libraries. programs, all serving a community that has gious horticultural institutions in the United Today, people assume that everything is changed as much as the land the library finds States, including the Denver Botanic Garden, available online and that everything should itself on. and San Francisco’s Strybing Arboretum and be. Specialized libraries, with their centuries of Susan believes that horticultural institutions Botanical Garden. horticultural and gardening information vetted through editors and publishers, have an must continue to help connect people with information, from plant monographs to BRING IN THE PUBLIC important place in the information ecosystem. e-books and podcasts. “No one really knows By removing the chains that blocked access While at the Grand Canyon National Park what we are searching for and writers are not to the library stacks and creating fun and Library, she was involved in opening its sure what they will write till they write it,” she informative Instagram posts, Susan and her collection to the public for the first time. That said. corps of volunteers are making the library achievement represents in a nutshell what That’s the magic of walking into a library. visible and relevant to a diverse group of users. Susan’s career has been all about: Making It’s all there in real life. And there is an actual information and ideas about nature, land- person, a professional available to help you on CONNECTING WITH PEOPLE scapes and horticulture available to everyone. your path to learning, delight and discovery, The L.A. County Arboretum’s 127 acres in According to Susan, we are all in the same with no ads or pop-ups to distract you. k business—finding and sharing information. Arcadia, California, once part of a Native When Susan moved to Los Angeles, she American settlement turned Spanish rancho, is Carmen DeVito is a Director in Region 1, principal found the horticultural community was much now surrounded by a modern, suburban land- of Groundworks in Brooklyn, New York, and more spread out than the tight-knit ones she scape, yet it continues to connect the people co-host of the GardenComm Media Award win- was used to. Joining GardenComm allowed with the region’s land, history and environ- ning We Dig Plants on HeritageRadioNetwork.org.

18 Upcoming WELCOMENEWMEMBERS GardenComm Gary Bachman • (228) 239-3023 Robert Polomski • (864) 656-2604 EVENTS [email protected] [email protected] ALL TIMES LOCAL Biloxi, MS Clemson, SC Cynthia Bee • (801) 410-6465 Rae Punzel • (262) 220-1251 [email protected] [email protected] March 2, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. West Jordan, UT Kenosha, WI CareerNext Summit 2019 Emma Biggs • (416) 953-1549 Joann Vieira • (978) 602-0070 Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, [email protected] [email protected] Charleston, South Carolina Toronto, Canada Princeton, MA March 6, 4 to 5 p.m. Susan Brackney • (812) 219-6847 Connect (& MORE): GardenComm @ PHS [email protected] Bloomington, IN Philadelphia Flower Show 2019 Philadelphia Convention Center, Adriana Delgado • (202) 641-7014 Helping Philadelphia, Pennsylvania [email protected] US Washington, DC GROW! March 9, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Lisa Ethridge • (804) 370-9489 GardenComm @ Canada Blooms 2019 [email protected] • • • Enercare Center, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Alpharetta, GA Thanks to these GardenComm members March 14, 2 to 3 p.m. ET Pam Farley • (916) 425-6318 for helping to grow the organization GardenComm Webinar Series: [email protected] in 2019. For every new member you Sacramento, CA bring in in 2019, you’ll save $20 on your “So You Want to Have a Podcast... Kathleen Fliegauf • (908) 619-6368 2020 membership dues. ” With Ellen Zachos and C.L. Fornari [email protected] • • • Online webinar Oxford, NJ March 22, 5 to 7 p.m. to March 23, ONE MEMBER Leslie Hunter • (515) 554-5934 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. [email protected] Katie Elzer-Peters Woods, Writers & War, Des Moines, IA Kate Jerome Milledgeville, Georgia Kim Kemper • (214) 762-0518 Abra Lee Milledgeville, Georgia [email protected] Kelly Norris Waco, TX August 9, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sharon Richardson Connect (& MORE): GardenComm @ Texas Barb Levisay • (434) 466-4649 Nan Sterman [email protected] Nursery Landscape Association Ruckersville, VA Betsy Williams Henry B. Gonzales Convention Center, Valerie Martin • (610) 955-4720 Lisa Mason Ziegler San Antonio, Texas k [email protected] Clearwater, FL Erin McAndrews • (757) 218-6388 [email protected] Felton, PA Reggie Millette • (514) 892-5388 [email protected] St. Ambroise, QC Cheryl Monroe • (301) 908-0706 [email protected] Myersville, MD Amanda Rose Newton • (804) 370-9489 [email protected] W. Melbourne, FL

Herb Frazer (left), Teri Speight and Kirk Brown were among about 30 GardenComm members who attended MANTS in Baltimore in January.

19 MEMBER PROFILE ELLEN ZACHOS

can find info on how to grow a tomato and Randy Schultz–PR Agency Rooted experts can dig deep into subjects like how to cook with their rose hips,” he said. What Randy enjoys most about being con- in Love of Gardening tent editor of Home, Garden & Homestead is that he can hire his fellow GardenComm members, pay them for their work and publish it. Giving and editors seeking back to an organization that has done so much information on healthy for him gives Randy great pleasure. and organic products. The As chair of the GardenComm Membership birth of The Consumer’s Committee for several years, Randy believes Guide coincided with the it’s important for our organization to evolve. 20th anniversary of Earth As the business of garden communications Day. There was passion has changed, our skill sets must also change. in America for all things “Today’s garden communicator needs many environmental: Recycling, more entrepreneurial skills,” he said. cloth diapers as well as Randy jokingly refers to himself as unem- organic food and ployable, but what he means is that as an gardening. entrepreneur for 30-plus years, he wouldn’t Randy published the want to work for anybody else. “The percent- guide twice a year for five age of our membership made up of freelancers years. By 1995, the initial gets higher every year. We need to help our wave of media enthusiasm members develop the skills they need for the had subsided, and Randy modern marketplace.” was ready for something different. Looking back GARDENCOMM LIKE A FAMILY over five years of data, he So what does GardenComm do for Randy realized that the garden Schultz? Professionally, the relationship is a section of The Consumer’s Guide had always Randy Schultz was destined win-win. Schultz Communications provides been its strongest. There were staff garden to be a member of a service to both individual and allied mem- writers at most mid- to large-sized newspapers bers, while Home, Garden & Homestead both GardenComm. It took him a and they needed content. So Randy launched employs GardenComm members and benefits little while to get there, but a PR firm focused on the home and garden from their expertise. ever since his first annual industries. It was the perfect way to combine Personally, the GardenComm membership conference (San Antonio, his skill as a communicator, his lifelong love has become part of Randy’s extended family. 1997) Randy knew he had found his tribe. of gardening and his experience in the PR Each conference is not only an opportunity for He came to gardening via vegetables and business. is still a vegetable gardener at heart. In his Schultz Communications continues to grow, professional development, but also includes early 20s, living in a townhouse with no representing clients including High Country the fun you’d expect at a family reunion. garden space, Randy grew tomatoes in 5- Gardens, Summit Responsible Solutions, “Anyone who plugs into GardenComm will gallon containers. He always enjoyed growing Nature Hills Nursery and Logee’s. In 2013 have that same wonderful experience,” Randy plants, but “growing a plant that gives you Randy added a new branch to his business. said. “If they put something into GardenComm, something to eat…now that’s a bonus.” He wondered if The Consumer’s Guide would they’ll get so much back. In this day and age, After graduating from San Diego State make a viable online resource. Home, Garden when almost everything is a text or an email, University with a degree in journalism, Randy & Homestead was originally intended to be a when people don’t even pick up their phones, went into corporate communications. He directory for editors and writers, but the getting together at a conference or a small worked steadily in Los Angeles for insurance garden communications industry had regional meeting is really important. It’s espe- companies and real estate holding companies, changed. There weren’t as many staff writers cially important for gardeners, because we’re but in 1988, with a wife and new baby, Randy or newspaper garden columns. It made sense nurturing people. We coax life out of the bare moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico, in search to create a site that spoke directly to the ground! The personal connection is essential.” of a more family friendly place to live. Alas, consumer. Look for Randy in Salt Lake City in 2019. there was no job in Albuquerque. He’ll be happy to say hello. k WEBSITE LAUNCHES GardenComm Secretary Ellen Zachos is the AGENCY IN ALBUQUERQUE Randy plans for Home, Garden & Homestead author of seven books, including The Wildcrafted Thus, Schultz Communications was born. In a to be the most popular home and garden Cocktail and Backyard Foraging. She is the co-host flash of genius, Randy created The Consumer’s destination on the internet. “Why not start of the Plantrama podcast with C.L. Fornari, and Guide to Planet Earth, a directory for writers big? At Home, Garden & Homestead, beginners writes about wild foods at backyardforager.com.

20 IN MEMORIAM

David Austin February 16, 1926 – December 18, 2018

“ There is nothing more exciting than having 350,000 seedlings growing that no one has ever seen before”

— David Austin

David Charles Henshaw Austin was born in Albrighton, in Shropshire County, England on February 16, 1926, and grew up in a farming family. A self-taught horticulturist who upended the rose market by creating more than 240 hybrids that were distinguished by their broad color range, ambrosial fragrances and multiple annual blooms, he died on Industry professionals said nobody would considered the benchmark for modern roses. December 18 at his home in Albrighton. buy these “old-fashioned roses” and recognition From its base in Albrighton, David Austin Roses He was 92. of his English Roses was slow at first. But his sells English Roses in 30 countries through mail David spent six decades obsessively fortunes changed significantly in 1983 when order and retail, and to florists. pursuing his ideal of what a rose could be he introduced three varieties at the prestigious David’s extravagant rose displays became a by developing varieties that combined the Chelsea Flower Show in London, including fixture at the Chelsea Flower Show, where on at fragrances of the so-called “old roses” that he ‘Graham Thomas’ (named for his good friend least one occasion, he greeted Queen Elizabeth adored—but that had largely disappeared and mentor, the much-revered horticulturist), a II as she made her rounds. His roses brought from modern gardens—with the rich palette yellow climbing rose with a fresh tea fragrance. him 24 gold medals at Chelsea. In 2007, he was and repeat flowerings of the stiff and lightly The response from the press, as well as the awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) scented hybrid teas and floribundas that had general public, to ‘Graham Thomas’ was over- for services to horticulture, and he received the long become dominant in nurseries, flower whelming and David credited it with being the highest award of the Royal Horticultural Society, shops and home vases. “My emphasis has rose most responsible for the recognition and the Victoria Medal of Honour. always been on charm and beauty rather than success of the English Roses. Unknowingly, he David was also a writer; his first book, The sheer brilliance of colour,” he said in a 2002 was responsible for creating the world’s first Heritage of the Rose, was published in 1988. The interview in Gardens Illustrated magazine. horticultural brand. first edition of The English Roses came out in With whimsy and an appreciation of the 1993. He published a collection of his own ENGLISH ROSES arts and history, David gave memorable names poems in 2014 entitled The Breathing Earth, With time and extraordinary dedication, ‘Charles Darwin’ (with lemon-scented, yellow which draws on his life experiences and his David created his first rose in 1961, ‘Constance cupped blooms), actress ‘Dame Judi Dench’ love of nature. Spry’ (Ausfirst). Named after a renowned (orange blooms with ruffled petals), flautist “Nothings speaks of England more than his English gardener, florist, cookbook coauthor, ‘James Galway’ (a climber with dense pink roses, whether climbing over a door, tumbling it had large rose-pink blossoms that smelled rosettes) and author ‘Roald Dahl’ (whose with heady scent from a trellis or providing a of myrrh. By 1969, he had refined the breed- orange-red buds open up to peach rosettes). classy splash of colour in a border,” wrote ing process and launched his first range of “He used to say that the easiest way to kill a Stefan Buczacki, a horticulturist and former repeat-flowering English Roses, the name he rose was to give it a bad name,” Michael host of a British gardening show, in The Daily coined for his ground-breaking varieties that Marriott, the senior Rosarian at David Austin Mail after David’s death. fused the old with the new. He reasoned that Roses, said in a telephone interview. the French have the Gallica roses, the Scottish Cathy Wilkinson Barash, from The New York the Scots, so why shouldn’t the English also AWARDS AND ACCOLADES Times, Washington Post, and The Daily Mail have a group of roses to call their own— He would become one of the world’s lead- especially with the rose being so intertwined ing rose breeders. His English Roses—there in England’s culture and history. are more than 240 varieties to date—are

21 IN MEMORIAM

Walter Chandoha November 30, 1920 – January 11, 2019

On January 11, 2019, Walter Chandoha, a world-renowned photographer and writer, known as the forefather of cat photography, passed away at the age of 98. Walter was also—and more importantly—a very good friend of mine; it was a great honor to have known him. When I was a kid, from the late 50s into the late 60s, I remember my folks buying what was considered the most popular calendar in the country—the latest cat calendar, which was all Walter Chandoha’s photography. Being a cat person myself, it was always great to see a new picture every month. Then, at some point, they were no longer being published and I never knew why. The birth of my lifelong interest in photography was during that same time frame. In the early 90s when I started to get published, I would notice the photo credits on the other photos along with mine. One day, I saw this name that I’d forgotten—Walter Chandoha. Having a unique name, I wondered if it was the same photographer who did the cat calendars. To my amazement, it turns out that it was.

FIRST MEETING Fast forward to 2009 in Raleigh, North Caroli- caught in the image as the cats wouldn’t sit still advertisements and promotions of the major na, where the Garden Writers Association (now long enough. She had became ill and passed camera companies including Kodak, GardenComm) was having its annual sympo- away, so he didn’t have a wrangler anymore. Hasselblad, Nikon, Polaroid and Graflex, to sium. At the hotel bar one evening, there was a He realized that he could shoot plants by promote their brands to both consumers and gathering of a lot of photographers who would himself and it would possibly be less stressful, professionals. He had a longtime collaboration only see each other at these meetings. Sitting and so his work in the horticultural field began. with Kodak, and his work was featured across from me was an older man. I hadn’t Walter distinguished himself as a horticulture multiple times on the enormous 18’ X 60’ yet heard his name, but after asking around, photographer as well as a cat photographer. Kodak Colorama at Grand Central Station I found out that it was Walter. I had to get up, He was named a GWA Fellow in 1997 and was in New York City. go introduce myself and tell him how much I’d inducted into the GWA Hall of Fame in 2006. “Chandoha’s photographs were also featured admired his work throughout the years. I mean, My wife and I had the good fortune to visit at Kodak’s massive World’s Fair pavilion, which this guy was a living icon. with him this past summer at his home in New was amongst the most visited of the fair with As I got alongside him, the chair next to him Jersey. I am so grateful to have had that over 51 million visitors in 1964 and 1965. became empty. As I reached out to shake his opportunity. I’m going to miss him terribly. “He has had 33 books published since 1951 hand, he grabbed my hand, pulled me down featuring his cat, dog, animal and garden into the chair and said “I know who you are,” OFFICIAL OBITUARY photography. Andy Warhol used his photos and I said “I know who you are too,” which he The following lines are taken from an obitu- from the book All Kinds of Cats as source immediately followed up with, “Betcha you ary that the funeral home placed. “Chandoha’s material for Warhol’s cat illustrations in 1954. thought I was dead, didn’t you?” His comment universally appealing cat, dog and animal “He just finished his 34th book, to be sort of startled me and then we laughed. photographs have appeared in over 300 published by Taschen in the spring of 2019.” He told me that the cat calendars ended magazine covers, thousands of human interest Rest in peace, my friend. because during that period, his wife was the features, pet food packaging and in countless cat wrangler who would position all the cats iconic advertisements. —Bill Johnson so he could get the shots taken. He said that “Throughout his career beginning in the there were a lot of photos with her hands 1950s, his work was featured consistently in the