Native plant activist and anti-invasive crusader Story by Kristi Hendricks Helen Hamilton has been a native plant activist for years. At 85, she’s still energetically carrying forth the message of the importance of native plants to the ecosystem – giving talks, writing for publications, and collecting samples of native plants. You can hear her love …
Q&A with a lifelong gardener Story by M.J. Van Deventer Photos courtesy of Larry Hoffman M.J. had a short Q&A session with Larry Hoffman, Retired State Farm Insurance Agent, President of the Muskogee, Oklahoma Garden Club and Civic Volunteer. He lives in the Zone 7 garden area. How long have you been gardening? Not including …
Tending a suburban oasis Story and Photos by Rodney Wilson The city of Highland Heights is situated just 8 miles from the Ohio River and, on the other side, the bustling city of Cincinnati. The northern Kentucky town isn’t exactly sleepy itself, with a plethora of interconnected neighborhoods, always-busy retail district, and the campus of …
A family tradition in botany Story by PJ Gartin Photos by Richard Porcher Dr. Richard Porcher comes from a long line of gentlemen planters who embrace scientific knowledge. His family has been part of the agrarian fabric of Berkeley County, South Carolina, for centuries. However, he doesn’t view his zest for botanical adventure as simply …
Plant collector and protector Story and Photo by Katie Jackson Tucked behind two houses on Woodfield Drive in Auburn is a hidden garden where both history and plants are nurtured and protected under the watchful eye of Ken Rogers. Rogers, now a retired conservation agronomist, grew up on a Jackson County farm where his gardening …
Being a constant student keeps gardening fresh Story and Photo by Joyce Grunewald Many lifetime gardeners can trace their passion back to family members. Fran Boninti is no exception. Her grandmother and mother were the people who, genetically and by example, planted the seed for her love of what grows in her garden. A touching …
A bucket list of growing tips Story and Photos by Maureen Heffernan Five generations of his family, beginning with his great-great-grandfather, have farmed and gardened on Jared Dean West’s 102 acres in Ada. Of this acreage, 52 acres were part of the original Indian allotment lands of the late 1800s. His great-great-grandfather made his way …
A professor gone bananas! Story by Annie Barbas Photos courtesy of Dr. Greg Fonsah As we guide our children toward academic success, we would have to look very hard to find a more intriguing example than Dr. Greg Fonsah. Originally from the former French colony of Cameroon, Dr. Fonsah was a local planting expert even …
Leading the foodscape revolution Story by Julie Thompson-Adolf, juliesgardendelights.com Photo by Elizabeth Galecke, elizabethgalecke.com Revolutions often begin quietly. Gathering insurgents, organizing covert meetings, planning protests, planting arugula among violas … For many homeowners, creating edible gardens in their front yards is viewed as an act of homeowners’ association treason. Neighborhood associations strive to maintain or …
Preserving history Story by Kristi Hendricks Photos courtesy of Colonial Williamsburg “When looking at the garden, I see friends. There are few professions or hobbies quite like that. When a friend shares seeds or plants, you often think of that person while watching the plant grow in your own garden.” This is how Laura Viancour, …
