"What lead me to become a Master Gardener? "
In the picture from Left to Right
Anita Stuever Executive Director of Leila Arboretum
Kathy Gardener owner of Warm Gestures LLC. was Moderator of the Perinnial Production Workshop. Kathy has also moderated the Master Gardening Program,and Moderated the Landscaping class. Kathy is also a member of the Leila Arboretum, Leila Arboretum Society, and Kiwanis.
Stacey Rocklin, Manager of Horticulture at Leila Arboretum.
Since the age of five, I was my fathers little helper in the garden. Cleaning up the vegetables and watching him turn over the soil with a shovel I was soon fascinated by watching plants grow.
I never seemed to have lost an interest in plants. After losing my mom at the age of twenty and then later losing my daughters it became a priority and a passion to make sure they had flowers from my garden with the seeds I had saved from year to year. I had seen an article in the newspaper where Leila Arboretum was offering the Master Gardener program. I went in with the attitude that "I knew it all." After all, I had been gardening since I was a little girl. It opened a whole new chapter in my life and that same year I had not only received my Master Gardener certification but also became an Advanced Master Gardener.
With my many years of education and experience I turned my yard into an English Garden. A garden containing all my favorite plants and elements. It's full of texture, form, fragrance, and color. Mature plants intermesh, boundaries become less defined and the bed transforms into a changing palette of colors and textures and varying heights. When I am in my garden I am in my own world that not only serves me but my loved ones as well.
More about Warm Gestures LLC.
When my daughter Rachael died 24 yrs ago, my motherly instincts were overpowering. She died on Oct.31. When the snow started falling, my first thought was that she was going to get cold. I know it is silly, but I just wanted to continue to protect her.
Through a friend I learned about grave blankets. I immediately had one made. I've been making them every year since.
It was really my faith in God that got me through the pain. I know she is with God and he is keeping her safe, but making her a blanket began a healing process for me. And the healing has continued through the deaths of a second daughter, my late husband, my father and others.
I've been gardening since I was a little girl and got my green thumb from my father, but not his vegetable garden. I decided my garden would grow flowers. "He said Kathy... you can't eat from that, it doesn't feed you. All I know when I am in my garden I am in my own world.
I am an advanced master gardener. I have provided flowers for funerals, (out of my own yard) planters for cemeteries, and helped individuals and institutions with gardening projects.
I take my skills and my love of flowers and go from my garden to your garden. I love making a difference and to be able to bring comfort to others.
Kathy Gardner is a member of Leila Arboretum Society, is a Kiwanis Member, and a Member of St. Joseph Catholic Church.
© 2007 Warm Gestures LLC.