Nancy Agnew

Nancy Agnew holds a Ph.D. in Horticulture from Kansas State University. She is a life-long educator and has taught courses in herbaceous ornamentals, floriculture crop production, greenhouse management, tropical plants and interior landscaping, home horticulture and horticultural mathematics. She is an instructor in Longwood's Professional Horticulture Program. Prior to her work at Longwood Gardens, Nancy served on the horticulture faculty at Iowa State University and managed the campus garden. Along with her co-authors, Nancy has written a book titled Mathematics for the Green Industry. In 2013, Nancy was presented the Teaching Award of Merit by Longwood Gardens and the North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture.

Elizabeth Alakszay

Liz is an avid organic gardener, naturalist, educator, and artist who was introduced to gardening at an early age. She has an undergraduate degree in Chemical Engineering from Penn State; a Master's Degree in Chemical Engineering from Villanova University; and an MBA from Penn State and certification in Computer software design, requirements and development. She has worked in numerous fields and industries and is the Chester County Master Gardener Coordinator, leading their outreach programs to promote native plants, pollinator gardens, and vegetable gardens. She also teaches various gardening classes at the Chester County Night School. While not volunteering, designing gardens, working on botanical drawings, working full time, or being 'Mom' to dogs, cats and fish, she grows vegetables and fruits, provides custom seed starting, and maintains a National Wildlife Federation and a Penn State Pollinator certified property.

Jonathan Alderson

Mr. Alderson has a BA from the University of Reading, United Kingdom, and holds a Master of Landscape Architecture with Certificate in Urban Design from the University of Pennsylvania. Mr. Alderson, who has taught at Temple University, is a registered Landscape Architect in Connecticut, Delaware, Indiana, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia, and is a member of the Council of Landscape Architecture Registration Boards. Project experience includes: the creation of an 85-acre Meadow Garden for Longwood Gardens including bridges, boardwalks and pavilions; the design of an elevated ADA walkway for Chanticleer Gardens; the design of bike corrals for the University of Pennsylvania; and the design of a Healing Garden and Landscape for Lancaster General Health. Mr. Alderson has won several significant design competitions including Reimagine Broad Street, the Avenue of the Arts, Philadelphia.

Mary Allinson

Mary Allinson retired from Longwood in 2017 and, along with her team, was responsible for many of the Conservatory displays. Mary is a graduate of the Longwood Professional Gardener Program and has a degree in Fine Arts from Indiana University of PA. She worked at Longwood for over 30 years and is an avid home gardener.

Shipley Allinson, APLD, PCH

Shipley has been in practice as a professional landscape designer since 1980. He studied Landscape Architecture and Plant Science at the University of Delaware where he received his Bachelor of Agriculture, Plant Science degree. He has been designing beautiful gardens and outdoor living spaces throughout his career in the tri-state area. His garden designs are crafted to serve the specific needs of his clients and are customized to utilize the natural assets of each unique site. His private garden in Kennett Square, Pa, has been featured on many private garden tours sponsored by Longwood Gardens, the Pennsylvania Landscape & Nursery Association, The Tyler Arboretum, The Scott Arboretum, and Fine Gardening magazine.

Geoffrey L. Anderson

Geoffrey L. Anderson, RLA, LEED AP, is a principal with the landscape architectural firm Robinson, Anderson, Summers, Inc. (formerly Rodney Robinson Landscape Architects). Geoff has over 25 years of experience designing public and private gardens, historic landscapes, and urban spaces. He received his B.S. in Horticulture from North Carolina State University, and a Master of Landscape Architecture from the University of Pennsylvania.

Brie Arthur

Originally from southeastern Michigan, Brie Arthur studied Landscape Design and Horticulture at Purdue University. With more than a decade of experience as a grower and propagator, she now shares her knowledge and passion by communicating the value of gardening across the US. Her debut book, The Foodscape Revolution, is a best seller on Amazon. Brie is a passionate leader in the foodscape movement, a model of community development that incorporates sustainable, local food production. She speaks on a variety of horticulture topics around the country and has appeared as a correspondent on the PBS television show Growing A Greener World.

Brad Austin

Brad Austin's passion for flowers started long before he gained recognition as one of L.A.'s leading floral designers. His unique creativity and organizational savvy soon earned him acclaim within the entertainment industry, where he has worked on over 80 films and TV shows. He was also part of a team that won four Daytime Emmys for set decoration. When Brad isn't busy creating exquisite arrangements for his clients, he designs gardens, studies photography, and enjoys botanical illustration. "I have always been amazed at how the natural world works, how the smallest detail interconnects with everything around it," Brad says. "My enthusiasm for nature is infused into my work. It is my calling, and it is apparent in everything I do."

Andy Bale

Andy received his MFA from the University of Delaware in 2005, and his BFA from the Savannah College of Art and Design in 1994. He has been a full-time Lecturer of Photography at Dickinson College since 2013, and served as an adjunct professor of Photography prior to that from 2005 until 2012. His photographs are included in the permanent collections of Caisse d'Epargne in Toulouse, the Photomedia Center and Messiah College in Pennsylvania, and at the Savannah College of Art and Design in Georgia.

Sadie Barber

Sadie Barber is on sabbatical from the Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh, Scotland, where she worked in the Horticulture Division since 2006. Sadie holds a Bachelor of Arts with Honors degree in Photography, Film, and Television from Napier University, a Higher National Diploma in Horticulture with Plantsmanship from the University of Glasgow, as well as Certificates in Field Botany and Media Communications. She is interested in how public gardens can work together to engage audiences in an effort to address “plant blindness.” Sadie intends to eventually sit as an Executive Director of a public garden where she can collaborate with those in research, public engagement, and education to help study and conserve the increasingly threatened flora of the world.

Kris Barry

Kristin Barry currently operates her family business, Groff's Plant Farm, with her husband Jonathan in Kirkwood, PA. Before returning home, Kris worked in ornmental flower breeding at Pan American Seed in Chicago, IL, and cotton breeding in Lubbock, TX. She received a Ph.D. in environmental horticulture from the University of Florida. She has two elementary age children, two large dogs and several chickens.

Susan Barton

Dr. Susan Barton earned her Ph.D. from the University of Delaware and has worked there as an extension specialist and associate professor for over 30 years. Her projects include researching and implementing new roadside vegetation management strategies and the Plants for a Livable Delaware Program, which was designed to provide alternatives to known invasive plants. Susan promotes sustainable initiatives by teaching both students and professionals.

Daniel Benarcik

Daniel Benarcik is a native of Wilmington, Delaware, and was raised in a family-owned retail florist business. He is a graduate of the University of Delaware. He gained horticulture experience at the Mt. Cuba Center and Imperial Nursery, and currently works at Chanticleer, an innovative public garden for both plants and design. He has taught classes for the Delaware Center for Horticulture, The Scott Arboretum, and the Pennsylvania Horticulture Society, and lectures frequently to garden clubs, arboreta, and horticulture institutions around the country.

Kevin Bielicki

Kevin Bielicki currently serves as the Bonsai Curator for Longwood Gardens. He is responsible for maintaining and growing the collection that consists of over 50 trees. He works to expand the collection by increasing the variety and quality of trees available to the public while refining the current trees. He intends to build more public interest through this growing collection combined with rotating themed exhibits. Prior to this role he assisted in the maintenance for The Kennett Collection, a private bonsai garden, for over 12 years. Here he gained his experience and knowledge from internationally renowned bonsai masters. He holds his MFA in sculpture from IUPUI and a Minor in Art History from the University of Delaware.

James Bobb

Jim Bobb has served as president of the Pennsylvania State Beekeepers Association and as chairman of the board for the Eastern Apiculture Society. Jim enjoys horticulture and plant identification walks, volunteers at apiaries in arboreta and public gardens, and assists others to get started in the wonderful hobby of keeping bees.

Will Brown

Chef Will Brown strives to combine classical French and modern techniques as well as incorporating local and seasonal ingredients in his menus. Attention to sustainable seafood and ethical food products are also at his forefront. An avid gardener himself, he loves creating dishes that focus on pure flavors and incorporating fresh herbs and edible flowers whenever possible.

Susan Brutico

Susan Brutico is the owner of "Let's Grow," a small garden consultation and maintenance company. She earned a B.S. in Plant Science from the University of Delaware and holds both Series I and Series II Certificates of Merit in Ornamental Plants. Susan's strong communication and organizational skills were developed as the owner of a retail business for over twenty years.

Sarah Carlton

Sarah began her horticultural career in 2004, working as a gardener in Brighton. In 2013 she graduated with a first class honours degree in Horticulture with Plantsmanship (BSc) from the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE). It was during her time at RBGE that she discovered a love for Alpine plants and went on to work as part of the Alpine Team at RHS Garden Wisley. She is now delighted to be part of the team at St Andrews Botanic Garden and is looking forward to developing the botanical collections.

Young Choe

Kusamono artist Young Choe studied traditional art-ink painting and calligraphy in her native Korea before she moved to the United States. She obtained her BS in Horticulture from the University of Maryland. While volunteering at the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum, she was able to bring her artistic talent together with her knowledge of horticulture to create Kusamono. She traveled to Japan to study this unique art form with the master Kusamono artist, Keiko Yamane, a former student of Saburo Kato. Young currently works at the US National Arboretum.

Roseann Christian

Roseann Christian is a graduate of Longwood Gardens Certificate of Merit in Floral Design.  She is a member of the Garden Club of America and a candidate in the GCA Judging Program. Her designs have won awards at Club, Zone, and Philadelphia Flower Shows. She owns a small floral design business, providing floral creations for weddings and events. She has been a volunteer for several years in Longwood's Continuing Education Department, primarily in Floral Design classes. Roseann is currently pursuing a Certificate of Merit in Ornamental Horticulture at Longwood Gardens.

Louise Clarke

Louise Clarke is the horticulturist in charge of The Morris Arboretum's 65-acre Bloomfield Farm, home to more than 1,200 woody plants and over 6,000 square feet of green roofs. She holds a B.S. in Environmental Horticulture from Temple University and an MBA from DeSales University. As a Garden Writers Association member, she teaches workshops and lectures on numerous horticultural topics. After hours she tends Halcyon, her lush home garden, a mixture of tender tropicals, bulbs, perennials, unusual annuals and vines.

Ashley Clayton

Ashley Clayton earned a B.A. in Biological Sciences with a minor in Horticulture from Clemson University. She expanded her horticulture experience through internships at Mt. Cuba Center, Longwood Gardens, and the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden. Currently, Ashley is one of Longwood Gardens’ Research Specialists who manages the tissue culture lab, soil lab, and experimental greenhouses. When she is not looking through a microscope or researching the mysteries of nature, she can be found dabbling in a new craft project.

Theresa Clower

Theresa Clower, AIFD, is Owner and Lead Designer of THERESA Floral Design, a special event design studio established in 1996 and located in Newark, Delaware. Theresa's work has been seen in many of the area's most prestigious venues including Winterthur Estate and Gardens, Hotel du Pont, the DuPont Country Club, Franklin Institute, the Delaware Center for Contemporary Arts, and the Barnes Foundation Museum, among others. She is a multiple award winner at the Philadelphia Flower Show and has ranked among the top five percent of wedding floral designers in the country for the fifth consecutive year. Theresa is a long-time student of ikebana, the Japanese art of floral design, and is working toward her teaching certification in this discipline.

Rosemary Connelly

Rosemary Connelly studied fine art and graphic design at Mesa Community College and Arizona State University. She worked for over 20 years as a graphic designer. She spent two years living in Italy where she painted and journaled extensively. Rosemary has been practicing watercolor journaling for over 10 years and has been teaching workshops since 2009, throughout Delaware and in locations around the country. Rosemary is a member of the Mispillion and Rehoboth Art Leagues, Urban Sketchers and is a founding member of Sketchers Delaware.

Jon Cox

Jon Cox is an assistant professor in the Department of Art at the University of Delaware and Board Member of the Dorobo Fund for Tanzania. Cox's latest published work was a six-year documentary book project with hunter-gatherers in Tanzania titled Hadzabe, By the Light of a Million Fires. To learn more about the Dorobo Fund and the book go to http://www.dorobofund.org. Cox has directed twenty photographic study abroad programs across the globe including destinations to Antarctica, South East Asia, Tanzania, Australia, Tasmania and several countries in South America. He was a pioneer in the field of digital photography, served as the adventure photographer/writer for Digital Camera Magazine and authored two Amphoto digital photography books. Cox is the 2014 co-recipient of a National Geographic—Genographic Legacy Fund Grant to support his current cultural mapping initiative with the Ese'Eja hunter-gatherers living in the Amazonia basin of Peru. http://voices.nationalgeographic.com/2014/08/12/the-eseeja-from-a-cotton-thread-in-the-sky-to-protectors-of-the-amazon/

Charles Cresson

Charles Cresson is a consulting horticulturist, writer, and avid gardener. Hedgleigh Spring, his personal garden in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, is known for its collections of rare plants, including many bulbs. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Horticulture from the University of Vermont, studied at the University of Bath in England, and worked for the Royal Horticultural Society Garden at Wisley. Charles is the author of three books: Ornamental Trees; Rock Gardening; and Charles Cresson on the American Flower Garden.

David Culp

David Culp is a well-known gardener, past president of the Hardy Plant Society, and a vice president with Sunny Border Nurseries, Inc., the largest perennial grower on the East Coast. David lectures throughout the United States, contributes articles to a variety of horticulture magazines, and has taught at Longwood for many years. He has received numerous awards, including the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society's Award of Merit, and the 2014 Perennial Plant Association's Media Award. His book, The Layered Garden, was named overall book of the year by the Garden Writers Association.

Sarah Deacle

Sarah Deacle received her B.S. in Biology from The College of William and Mary, and her M.S. in Horticulture from Michigan State University. Her horticultural work experiences include research assistantships, herbarium work, a now long-ago Longwood internship in Visitor Education, and a stint as an extension agent for Cornell University Cooperative Extension.

Tanner Delvalle

Tanner Delvalle is a Commercial Horticulture Educator with Penn State Cooperative Extension for both Schuylkill and Berks Counties. His major focus areas include green industry, turf maintenance, weed control, vegetables, fruit, berries, and Christmas tree production. He received an M.S. in Agronomy from Penn State, a B.S. in Turfgrass Science from Penn State, and an A.A.S. in Logistics from the Community College of the Air Force. Tanner's professional experience includes golf course maintenance, a sales consultant for a green industry supplier, director of a lawn care company, and six years in the U.S. Air National Guard.

Frank DePietro

Frank DePietro is a realist painter living in Kennett Square, PA. He received his Bachelor of Art from Bloomsburg University and later studied at several art institutions in Philadelphia. He exhibits his work both locally and nationally, and has received various awards for his painting. Frank has instructed courses at many Greater Philadelphia art centers, Moore College of Art and Design, and currently teaches landscape painting at the Delaware Museum of Art.

Robert Dougan

Robert Dougan is a graduate of Temple University and has been concentrating on trees for his entire career. He works as grounds supervisor for Jeanes Hospital, where he cares for over 700 trees on a 34-acre campus in Northeast Philadelphia. Robert also teaches classes on Woody Plant ID, Residential Landscape Design, and Landscape Maintenance at Temple University. He has also presented programs on Tree Identification for the Penn-Del chapter of the ISA, the Montgomery County Penn State Cooperative Extension, the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, and Tyler Arboretum.

Maria Fadiman

Maria is an associate professor in the department of Geosciences at Florida Atlantic University and a National Geographic Emerging Explorer. She researches the human/environmental aspect of conservation throughout the globe, focusing on the rainforests of Latin America and the Savanna in Africa. She loves teaching and won the Excellence and Innovation in Undergraduate Teaching award and was a finalist for the Distinguished Teacher of the Year Award. She received her Ph.D. in Geography at the University of Texas at Austin, an M.A. in Latin American Studies from Tulane University, and a B.A. from Vassar College.

Tim Farrell

Tim Farrell, AIFD, AAF, PFCI, is a retail florist from Drexel Hill, PA. Tim has owned and operated Farrell's Florist since 1983 and is very active in the floral industry. He is a member of the prestigious Teleflora Design Team, teaching retailers across the United States, and is an educator at the Teleflora Education Center in Oklahoma City, OK. His work has been featured many times on the cover and in feature articles for FLOWERS& Magazine. Tim has designed for presidential inaugurations and Congressional receptions in Washington, DC. He has been designing flowers for the Academy Awards in Los Angeles since 2005, and represented the United States in the Teleflorist World Cup Competition in Tokyo, Japan, in 2007.

Carol Gangemi

Carol Gangemi is a former professional graphic designer and illustrator and a member of the American Society of Botanical Artists. She has exhibited and sold her work in galleries and at the Philadelphia Flower Show, and has instructed art classes at the University of Delaware, Wilmington University, and Moore College of Art and Design.

Darcie Garcia, AIFD, CFD

As a 25-year veteran of the floral industry, Darcie Garcia has led design teams, shared her talents with audiences and continued to educate herself by learning from seasoned industry experts. For the last 23 years she has been the Head Designer at RichMar florist in Allentown, PA. In 2015, Ms. Garcia successfully completed the Professional Floral Design Evaluation and was invited to join the prestigious American Institute of Floral Designers (AIFD). She has participated in award-winning exhibits both at the Philadelphia Flower Show and on the Designer Studio stage there.

Karl Gercens

Karl Gercens, Conservatory Manager, is responsible for many of the changing displays in the Longwood conservatories. Originally from the Mississippi Delta, Karl has worked at Walt Disney World in Florida and Filoli Estate in California to experience horticulture from coast to coast! Karl has worked in the Conservatory for a third of his life and has visited hundreds of gardens in all 50 states. Karl catalogs his inspiration and ideas for classes at his website, www.KarlGercens.com.

Adam Glas

Adam Glas is currently a gardener at The Scott Arboretum of Swarthmore College. There he has been overseeing and performing the renovation of the Dean Bond Rose Garden. His is also primary caretaker of the International Clematis trial and the American Rose Trials for Sustainability program and trial. Glas also cares for the Arboretum's espalier collection. Prior to joining the gardening staff at Scott, he was the nursery manager at a local garden center. He is a graduate of the Professional Gardener class of 2006 and studied Horticulture and Landscape Design at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. He is the current president of the Professional Gardener Alumni Assocation (PGAA) and vice president of the board at Chenoa Manor.

Jane Godshalk

Jane Godshalk, AIFD, is an exciting and internationally recognized floral designer with a uniquely American style, fresh and uncomplicated. Her new book, Flower Arranging Secrets—Natural Designs for Everyday Living, demystifies the art of floral design in an environmentally friendly way. Jane has been recognized with a National Medal in Flower Arranging from the Garden Club of America, as well as the American Horticultural Society honor for outstanding floral design education. She has represented the United States in the Chelsea Flower Show (London) and the World Association of Flower Arrangers (Dublin), and is a member of the American Institute of Floral Designers (AIFD).

Mark Gormel

Mark Gormel is a frequent lecturer, professional photographer, and native plant consultant, with an emphasis on the design, installation and management of native plant wildflower meadows. Since 1990 he has been Horticultural Coordinator for the Brandywine Conservancy & Brandywine River Museum of Art, where he is responsible for the native plant horticulture programs that take place on the Chadds Ford, PA campus.

Eleanor Gould

Eleanor Gould arrived at Longwood having served as Curator of Gardens at Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello in Charlottesville, Virginia. Prior to that role, she was assistant gardener in Monticello's fruit, flower and vegetable gardens. Her most recent work includes maintenance, management, interpretation, and documentation of the historic gardens. She also served on the program committee for the annual Heritage Harvest Festival. She has worked to expand the Jefferson-documented plant collection at Monticello and shared her daily photographs of the garden on social networks. She attended the University of Virginia and graduated with a masters degree in Landscape Architecture in 2010. Eleanor intends to maintain the spirit of a “young gardener” throughout her career while continuing to advance into a senior position within public horticulture.

Richard Greenwood

Richard Greenwood is a fine arts photographer whose repertoire spans from macrophotography to landscapes. A photographer for over 45 years, he continues to grow and explore new modes of photographic expression. Frequently combining photography and writing assignments, his works are featured in magazines, galleries, and homes throughout the northeast.

Greg Griffis

Greg Griffis graduated with a degree in Music Education from West Chester University. He attended the 2010 Longwood Orchid Show where he purchased his first orchid. One plant quickly became twenty or so, and before long he was hooked. In 2010 he visited Parkside Orchid Nursery for the first time, and by Summer 2011 he was working part time for Tom Purviance and John Salventi. He studied under their tutelage while working for them, and when they sold the nursery in 2012, he was hired by the new owners as the Grower and Manager. He managed Parkside for one year, before leaving to grow orchids in Hawaii. He worked for Hilo Orchid Farm for more than a year, spending a large amount of time working with Paphiopedilum, as well as Intergeneric Oncidiinae and Miltoniopsis. At the beginning of 2015, Greg was hired as the orchid grower at Longwood Gardens.

Zach Hammaker

Zach Hammaker is the owner and principal landscape designer of ZH Design. He completed his education at Penn State University earning a Bachelor of Science in Landscape Contracting's Design/Build concentration, and a minor in Horticulture. After graduation, he moved to the Delaware Valley to work with Terrain at Styers before starting his own business in 2012 in Media, PA. Zach is the past president of the Association of Professional Landscape Designers (APLD), PA-DE chapter. He is currently working on a dual Masters Degree from University of Pennsylvania in Landscape Architecture and City Planning.

James Harbage

Dr. James Harbage leads the Floriculture and Conservatories division at Longwood Gardens, which includes seasonal plant production operations and management of the Conservatory displays. Prior to joining Longwood Gardens, Dr. Harbage was an associate-professor of horticulture at South Dakota State University. He has a Ph.D. in Horticulture and Botany from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and an M.S. in Horticulture from the University of Maryland-College Park.

Harriet Henderson

Harriet Henderson is a principal of Cushing & Henderson, a landscape architecture firm in Unionville, PA. She received a B.S. in Landscape Architecture from Cornell University, was awarded the William F. Dreer Award for work/study of garden design during two years in Kyoto, Japan, and received a Master of Architecture from the University of Pennsylvania. Her residential and institutional landscape architecture practice emphasizes connections with horticulture and architecture, with design ranging from formal to naturalistic, and Western to Asian. She has taught a History of Gardens course at the Barnes Foundation for over 20 years, and has lectured widely on garden design topics at Haverford College, Morris Arboretum, Pennsylvania Horticulture Society, University of Pennsylvania, and other eastern arboreta and colleges.

Lauren Hill

Lauren Hill has been a part of the indoor display team at Longwood for five years. A graduate of Penn College, Lauren majored in Floral Design and Interior Plantscaping, which has helped train her eye for floral design and display in Longwood's Orangery and Exhibition Hall. Throughout the year Lauren changes the displays in the Conservatory to reflect the seasons and always works to maximize the design.

Sam Hoadley

Sam Hoadley has been a member of the Outdoor Horticulture Staff at Longwood Gardens since 2013 after graduating from the University of Vermont with a degree in Sustainable Landscape Horticulture in 2012. Sam's outdoor areas of concentration are the Hillside and Topiary Gardens. He is also heavily involved in the outdoor holiday lighting display. His primary horticultural focuses include shade perennials and woodland plants, orchids, and woody plants.

Jim Hynd

Jim Hynd, AIFD, is the Vice President and Floral Director for Fiesta Parade Floats, the premier builder of parade floats for the Tournament of Roses Parade. His floral work has appeared on more prize-winning floats than any other designer in the history of the Rose Parade.

Robin Irizarry

Robin Irizarry is the Philadelphia Watershed Coordinator for the Tookany/Tacony-Frankford Watershed Partnership. He holds a degree in Landscape Architecture from the Temple University School of Environmental Design. He has worked as a landscape designer for Land Stewards Ecological Landscape Design in Bucks County and has served as a teaching assistant in several of Temple University's Master of Landscape Architecture studios. In his free time he enjoys drawing and wood carving and is the Owner/Craftsman of Fiddlehead Toys.

Steven Ittel

Steve Ittel started studying bonsai as a student of Dennis Donald over twenty years ago. He is a member of the Brandywine Bonsai Society and runs their web site. In addition to tending his bonsai collection, he also makes bonsai pottery and works with Longwood's bonsai collection.

Jeffrey Jabco

Jeff Jabco holds an M.S. in Horticulture and Plant Pathology from North Carolina State University. He is the Director of Grounds and Coordinator of Horticulture for the Scott Arboretum at Swarthmore College, teaches botany in Longwood's Certificate of Merit in Ornamental Horticulture Program, and is also an instructor in Longwood's Professional Horticulture Program. He frequently lectures on sustainability and gardens, serves on the council for the International Clematis Society, and is vice-president and co-founder of the Mid-Atlantic Peony Society. Jeff was named Teacher of the Year in 2009 by the North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture.

Tim Jennings

Tim Jennings is a graduate of Longwood's Professional Gardener Training Program and is the Senior Gardener responsible for Longwood's outdoor Waterlily Display, Fern Passage, and Rose House. Tim teaches several popular water gardening courses at Longwood Gardens and can answer almost any question on waterlilies! Tim also serves as a lab instructor for various plant identification classes.

Paul Kawoczka

Paul Kawoczka is one of the Co-Founders of Enliven Planters, a seasonal planter subscription service. Their mission is to bring the joy of container gardening to homes and businesses across the country. Paul has planted thousands of seasonal planters and window boxes over the years and finds the most joy in the process of curating plants and materials for Enliven's pots.

Martha Keen

Martha is a 2016 graduate of the Professional Gardener Program at Longwood Gardens, where she received the Wilhelmina du Pont Ross Award for student work that best exemplifies high standards of display. Previously, Martha has worked as a gardener in the historic restorations of the Frederick Law Olmsted landscape at Prospect Park Alliance in Brooklyn, NY, and as a collaborator with Apiary Studio Landscape Architecture in Philadelphia, PA. Martha holds a BA in Liberal Arts from St. John’s College in Santa Fe, NM. She is currently the horticulturist and landscape manager at Wyck Historic House in Germantown, Philadelphia, the oldest rose garden in its original plan in the United States, which was created and preserved by a legacy of gardeners—all of whom were women.

Donni LaBrake

Donni LaBrake is a graduate of Rochester Institute of Technology's School of Art and Design. She pursued a speciality in watercolor and enjoyed a career as a free-lance commercial artist. In past years she created and sold wildlife paintings. For many years she has specialized in botanical art. Donni was invited to participate in the 11th Annual Exhibition of Botanical art at the Hunt Institute in Pittsburgh and subsequently received a formal request to have one of her paintings for inclusion in The Hunt's permanent collection. For the past 15 years she has exhibited at the annual Philadelphia Flower Show.

Craig LeHoullier

Craig LeHoullier, who resides with his wife, dogs, and cats in Raleigh, North Carolina, caught the heirloom tomato bug big time after joining the Seed Savers Exchange in 1986. With a tomato collection now numbering in the thousands, Craig not only collects varieties but is leading a project to create useful new tomatoes for space-challenged gardeners. Epic Tomatoes (Storey Publishing, published in January 2015) collects everything he has learned about his favorite crop. Craig now gardens extensively in straw bales and containers, and continues to learn more and more about this most popular summer crop.

Ginny Levy

Ginny Levy worked in the Horticulture Division of Longwood Gardens for 15 years in several permanent display areas and special projects throughout the Conservatory. She teaches floral design and horticulture classes, including the Conifers course. She is an active member of the Garden Club of America—serving as the Horticulture representative for Pennsylvania and Delaware, as the zone vice chair, and currently as president of the West Chester Garden Club. Ginny holds both Certificates of Merit in Ornamental Plants and the Certificate of Merit in Floral Design.

Andrew Lyman

For the last 16 years, Andrew Lyman has been working with the arborist crew to manage the trees at Longwood Gardens. In addition to implementing progressive tree care solutions, he and his staff are also responsible for the installation and maintenance of many of the outdoor Christmas light displays during the winter holiday season. Andrew obtained his B.S. in Forest Management from the University of Maine, is a Board-Certified Master Arborist and Tree Risk Assessment Qualified.

Robert Lyons

Dr. Robert Lyons holds a Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota and is the former Director of the Longwood Graduate Program in Public Horticulture. He has served on the faculty of Virginia Tech, North Carolina State University, and currently is a retired Professor Emeritus in Landscape Horticulture at the University of Delaware. Bob has been an avid photographer for over 30 years, lecturing nationally on horticultural photography, and has published his work in numerous publications, print and electronic, most notably Horticopia.

Danilo Maffei

Danilo Maffei is a professional landscape designer and horticulturist who believes the way to a better life is through a balanced approach to the creation, use and maintenance of our built and natural environments. He specializes in conceiving and creating outdoor experiences that are meaningful, relevant and responsive to the specific conditions in which they are set, with an emphasis on sustainable plant selections. With a background in design, public horticulture, landscape contracting, business and civic leadership, he brings to each project a positive and practical perspective on the way gardens enrich our experiences and engagement with people and places. He sits on the board of directors for the Association of Professional Landscape Designers (APLD) where he serves as President in 2018.

David Mattern

David Mattern holds a degree in Landscape Contracting with an emphasis on design and a minor in Horticulture from Penn State University. He is also a graduate of Longwood's Professional Gardener Program. David is an avid gardener, and has spent the past several years working in horticulture and landscape design. He is currently an assistant horticulturist at Chanticleer Garden.

Valerie McLaughlin

Valerie McLaughlin is a freelance floral designer working out of her home in Wallingford, PA, where she lives with her five sons and husband. She earned a Certificate in Floral Design from Longwood Gardens. The flower business suits her, adding a bit of femininity to an otherwise masculine household. Even Rudy the dog is a boy. Valerie creates custom arrangements within a budget. Her designs reflect her own joy and passion for living.

Kerry Ann McLean

Kerry Ann McLean is a Plant Buyer for Terrain Garden and Home Centers in Glen Mills, PA and Westport, CT. Before completing Longwood Gardens' Professional Gardener Program in 2010, she managed private estates along Long Island and New England's coastal shores. Since Longwood, she has worked with/for Temple University, Philadelphia; SVF Foundation, Newport, Rhode Island; W. Atlee Burpee & Co., the seed company; and Wyck Historic House, Garden, and Farm, Philadelphia. She has a passion for plant diversity, design, teaching, and the endless usefulness of nature's bounty.

Eva Monheim

Eva Monheim is co-creator of VEE – Verdant Earth Educators, LLC and an instructor at Longwood Gardens for the Professional Horticulture Program where she teaches woody plants and arboriculture. Monheim also is a faculty member at The Arboretum of the Barnes Foundation at St. Joseph's University. Professionally trained, she is a horticulturist, certified arborist, master floral designer, artist and writer. Monheim was an assistant professor of instruction at Temple University in the department of landscape architecture and horticulture for over twelve years where she taught thirteen different subjects in undergraduate and graduate programs. Monheim holds Bachelors’ degrees from the Pennsylvania State University in art and horticulture, a Master of Arts in English from Arcadia University, and post graduate studies in horticulture from the University of Reading in England.

Cres Motzi

Cres Motzi, AIFD, is a graduate of Longwood Gardens Certificate of Merit in Floral Design and an internationally trained floral designer. She was inducted into the American Institute of Floral Designers in 2010. Graduated from Boerma Instituut in Holland with diplomas in professional and advanced Dutch design, Cres has been a full-time designer who now works as a freelancer for events and weddings. She is a floral design demonstrator and has written tutorials and articles for By Design, a quarterly publication of GCA. Her works have been published in Green Scene, a publication of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society; Flower Arranging the American Way; International Floral Art Annual 2010/11; and the Jubilee Edition of International Floral Art 2014-15. She successfully completed a European Masters Certification program with Tomas de Bruyne of Belgium in May 2012, received her certification in September 2013, and is now an AIFD Certified Floral Evaluator/Judge. Cres is a 4th-grade Sogetsu Ikebana teacher.

Bob Mulrooney

Bob Mulrooney earned his M.S. in Plant Pathology from the University of Delaware (UD) in 1974, and was the extension plant pathologist at the University of Delaware Cooperative Extension Service from 1977 until retiring in 2012. He led the Plant Diagnostic Clinic and Nematode Testing Service at UD. He was a frequent speaker at horticulture seminars on plant disease identification and control, and continues to be invited to speak on diagnosing plant diseases in the landscape.

Greg Nichols

Greg has been in professional horticulture for over 30 years. He is an International Society of Arboriculture certified arborist, and is currently on the Phladelphia Board of Directors of Professional Grounds Management Society (PGMS). Greg is vice president of GreenWeaver Landscapes, an environmentally friendly landscape firm that serves the Delaware Valley. Greg started in landscaping by mowing lawns while attending George Mason University. Greg worked as assistant director of Facilities for Grounds at Bryn Mawr College in Bryn Mawr, PA, from 2004-2008.

Jennifer Nichols

Jennifer Nichols founded GreenWeaver Landscapes in 2008, when after years in the traditional landscape industry, the need for an environmentally sensitive approach to landscaping became apparent. She is a consultant and lecturer and has studied horticulture and design at Longwood Gardens and Landscape for Life through the Sustainable Sites Initiative. Prior to founding GreenWeaver, she was vice president of Twin Oaks Landscaping, Inc. of Fairfax, Virginia.

Mitch Oswald

Mitch hails from Scranton, PA, and is a passionate arborist of five years who has been at Longwood Gardens since 2017. He graduated from Penn State Mont Alto with an Associates Degree in Forest Technology. He worked for Bartlett Tree Experts on Nantucket Island, Massachusetts, for three years, where he developed skills and love of tree pruning and plant health care.

Melissa Palmer

Melissa Palmer trained under Gregor Lerch in Germany and attended the Boerma Institute in the Netherlands in Dutch Master Design. She owns her own business, Florum Flowers and Petaling Posies, and grows flowers on her New Jersey farm. She is a frequent speaker at the Philadelphia Flower Show.

Donald Pell

Donald Pell designs immersive gardens that are evocative of regional landscapes. These gardens look to inspire circulation and realize the possibilities of place. After working under landscape designer Susan Jones of Peter Zimmerman Architects, a journey into the world of design emerged. He has lectured for numerous associations, including being a featured speaker for the Perennial Plant Association throughout the Eastern US. His work has been featured by APLD designer of the year Carrie Preston of the Netherlands, and Don’s own design studio’s gardens have been featured by the website Houzz.

Ann Perry

Ann Perry is a student of the Ohara School of Ikebana. She was introduced to Ikebana in 1968 while living in Tokyo, Japan, and was fortunate to have studied with several Masters of the Ohara School. After receiving her Master's Certificate she returned to the U.S. where she continues her study. She has demonstrated, taught, and has exhibited at the Philadelphia Flower Show, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and Longwood Gardens.

Scott Quitel

Scott Quitel has an extensive and diversified background that brings together ecology, arboriculture, law, business, and urban planning. His involvement with stream and marsh restoration projects has been augmented by tree surveys, vegetation inventories, reforestation and urban planning experience. He has worked on wetland monitoring and field investigations of soils and hydrogeology. Scott has a thorough understanding through these experiences of the ecology of the northeastern forest/Piedmont region and Atlantic coastal plain environment.

Colvin Randall

Colvin studied architectural history at the University of Virginia and botanic garden management in the Longwood Program at the University of Delaware. From 1977 to 2004 he was Longwood's PR Manager and subsequently became the Gardens' historian. In 2008 he was named Longwood's first P. S. du Pont Fellow. He has studied all aspects of Longwood's history since 1973 and has designed Longwood's musical fountain displays since 1980. He has written or produced books, CDs, and DVDs on the Gardens, including the Longwood Gardens—The First 100 Years centennial volume and Longwood Gardens Christmas.

Lisa Roper

Lisa Roper is a graduate of the Professional Gardener Program at Longwood Gardens and the Cooper Union in New York City where she studied fine arts. Lisa has worked at Chanticleer since 1990 and is currently the Ruin and Gravel Gardener.

Eileen Rosen

Eileen is an instructor of drawing and painting with a focus on the natural world. She has twenty-plus years of teaching experience at various institutions such as Longwood Gardens, Pennsylvania Horticulture Society, Jenkins, Scott, and Morris Arboretums, Mainline Art Center, and the University of the Arts. She has also led workshops in Spain and Belize and has done murals and paintings in private homes.

Matthew Ross

Matthew received a B.S. and M.S. in Horticulture from Michigan State University where he studied landscape design and urban forestry. After working as a landscape designer for Season's by Ruggirello and as a salesman for Ray Wiegand's Nursery, he moved to Toledo, Ohio. At Owens State Community College he instructed close to 20 courses ranging from soil science to post-harvest technology and landscape design. While teaching he also was a horticulturist at Toledo Botanical Garden where he oversaw nearly 30 acres of gardens and developed a 5-acre farm in the heart of the city. He currently is the Coordinator of Continuing Education at Longwood Gardens where he oversees the development and delivery of more than 170 courses and lectures annually.

Emily Salmons

A lifetime gardener, outdoors enthusiast, and a graduate of Longwood’s Professional Gardener Program, Emily is a full-time horticulturist in the Idea Garden. Emily has worked at Longwood since 2009 in various capacities and has owned and operated her own garden design business since 2000. She completed both Series I and Series II of the Certificate classes in ornamental horticulture and is on the Board of Directors at Wyck Historic House and Garden in Germantown, PA, where she also chairs the horticulture committee.

David Sanford

David Sanford is an associate professor of horticulture at the Berks Campus of Penn State University, where he is coordinator of the agricultural program at the campus. He has earned degrees from Cornell University, Michigan State University, and North Carolina State University—all in horticulture. He has over 30 years of experience teaching courses in general horticulture, plant propagation, greenhouse production, landscape management, and herbaceous and woody plant identification. He also has an appointment with Penn State University Cooperative Extension as a specialist in ornamental horticulture. He has served on the board of directors and as president of both the Eastern Region of the International Plant Propagators' Society and the national Perennial Plant Association.

Rachel Schnaitman

Rachel Schnaitman is the IPM Manager at Longwood Gardens. She oversees the plant diagnostic work in greenhouses, interiorscapes, and outdoor gardens. She is a certified pesticide applicator and completes and oversees applications in outdoor landscapes, greenhouses, and interiors capes. Before starting at Longwood she graduated with her M.S from the University of Oxford and her B.S from the University of Delaware.

Chris Scott

Chris Scott is a 2008 graduate of the Professional Gardener Program at Longwood Gardens. Since completing the program Chris has gone on to be a greenhouse grower in Chester County. He lives in Delaware with his wife and three children.

Emma Seniuk

Emma feels very fortunate to have an occupation which is constantly nurturing and explorative. She feels it is a joy to be a gardener! Emma has received training at Mt. Cuba Center, Longwood Gardens and Great Dixter Gardens. She has worked as a horticulturist at Chanticleer and is currently loving her job at Doe Run Farm, an expansive and ever evolving private estate in Chester County.

Linda Shanahan

Barefoot Botanicals is a labor of love for Eric VanderHyde and Linda Shanahan, bringing together their combined years of experience in herbalism, nursing, engineering and agriculture. Having grown vegetables, flowers and herbs for over a decade, Eric and Linda are now specializing in certified organically grown medicinal and culinary herbs.

Nancy Gingrich Shenk

Nancy Gingrich Shenk is a graduate of Rittner's Floral School in Boston, MA, and the Dutch Masters' Design School in Lisse, Holland, and has a Praktijkdiploma from Stoas College in Holland. She has owned a custom design studio for over 25 years. Nancy was a member of the floral design teams for two former presidents' inaugurations, and her work has been featured in several magazines. She was named Teacher of the Year in 2008 by the North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture.

Liz Spencer

Liz Spencer is the dogwood dyer. She creates high quality handmade accessories and garments from ethically sourced fibers and dyestuffs. In the country and along roadsides surrounding New York City, wild & abundant plants are responsibly collected throughout the year, particularly in the warmer spring & summer seasons, then used to extract natural color for dyeing. Many plants are also grown in her urban Brooklyn streetside planters. No chemicals whatsoever are used in the process. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from Linfield College and a Master of Arts from the world's leading sustainable fashion graduate program 'Fashion Futures' (formerly know as 'Fashion & the Environment') from the London College of Fashion and now teaches fashion, sustainability, and natural dyeing at Parsons the New School and FIT. She is a venture fellow at the Brooklyn Fashion and Design Accelerator (BF+DA).

Erik Stefferud

Erik Stefferud holds a B.S. in Geography with a concentration in Environmental Planning from Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania. He is a Land Stewardship Technician within the Natural Lands Department of Longwood Gardens, in which he assists in the management of Longwood's natural areas, and is directly involved with the management of their Prescribed Fire program.

Judy Stevenson

Judy Stevenson is Archivist in the Library and Archives at Longwood Gardens, where she manages and catalogs Longwood's historical archives and cultural object collections. She holds a B.A. in History from Moravian College and a Masters in Library and Information Science from Drexel University. Previously, she has worked in the Pictorial Collections Department at Hagley Museum and Library in Wilmington, DE, and in the Library and Archives at the Independence Seaport Museum in Philadelphia, PA.

Ian Stewart

Ian grew up in Newcastle, England and gained a doctorate degree from the University of Leicester studying a variety of birds. He spent several years at the University of Delaware conducting research on tree swallows and bluebirds before being employed as an Ornithologist at the Delaware Nature Society. Ian's work involves public bird banding sessions as a form of educational outreach along with research into how the society's land management activities are affecting bird numbers and diversity at different times of the year.

Jim Sutton

Jim Sutton graduated from Penn State with a degree in ornamental horticulture and has worked at Longwood Gardens for 10 years. He has also worked as a private estate gardener and floral designer for parties, weddings, and large charity events. He has completed the Series I Certificate of Merit from Longwood, is an avid home gardener, and loves to bake and entertain.

Leona Swiacki

Leona Swiacki is a 2004 graduate of Longwood Gardens Certificate of Merit in Floral Design. She then found her second career working in retail and corporate design settings serving Philadelphia, Wilmington, and NYC and has since retired from Hoffman Design Group in Folcroft, PA. Leona is currently a free-lance designer and Floral Design Instructor at Delaware County Community College, Tyler Arboretum, and Longwood Gardens.

Caroline Tait

Caroline Tait is a self-taught nursery propagator, gardener, florist, designer, and businesswoman with a strong desire to make gardens and gardening inclusive and easy for all. She is completing the Fellows Program while on sabbatical from Coton Manor Garden in Northampton, UK, where for more than 25 years she developed the nursery from modest beginnings to a thriving business. Caroline received a Bachelor of Science with Honors in Ecology from Queen Mary College, University of London. As a Longwood Fellow, Caroline is looking forward to learning about future-proofing a business while developing staff and broadening visitor experience and knowledge.

Stephen Talabac

Stephen Talabac has been an amateur nature photographer for more than 40 years. His primary subject matter interests are landscapes, flowers, and wildlife. A member of the Central Maryland Photographers Guild, Stephen has served as its Director, Assistant Director, and Education Coordinator. He organized the Guild's DSLR Users Group. Stephen's photographs have been published by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and by Outdoor Photographer magazine in its 2015 national photo contest book, The American Landscape. He has given talks on digital camera principles of operation, led hands-on workshops on how to photograph birds in flight, and provided in-the-field instruction to help amateur photographers expand their knowledge and improve their skill. His work can be viewed at SJTPhotography.com.

Midori Tanimune

Midori Tanimune, a Japan native, holds diplomas and high ranking teaching certificates from the renowned Sogetsu School of Ikebana in Tokyo. Midori is held in high regard by the International Ikebana community. She has taught Ikebana courses at the Philadelphia Flower Show, Philadelphia Horticulture Center, and the US National Arboretum, and has done demonstrations and workshops in Richmond, VA, San Antonio, TX, Wilmington, SC, Washington DC, and throughout PA. Midori has attained the Komon degree, only one step below the top rank of Ikebana artists.

Harold Taylor

Before his retirement in 2019, Harold Taylor was the Section Gardener for Longwood's Idea Garden, specifically working with vegetables, herbs, fruits, annuals, and perennials. He is a graduate of the Longwood Professional Gardener Program. Harold worked at Longwood for over 30 years and is an avid home gardener. He was named Teacher of the Year in 2010 by the North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture.

Joshua Taylor

Joshua Taylor, Jr. brings a background of over thirty years of experience in photography. Josh has presented workshops throughout the mid-Atlantic. He speaks at camera and garden clubs, judges photographic competitions, exhibits his works in gallery shows, and is a Canon camera instructor.

Matt Taylor

Matt Taylor obtained a B.S. in Horticulture from Penn State University, an M.S. in Horticulture Science from The University of Florida and a Ph.D. in Horticulture Science from North Carolina State University. He has also been a grower for Dan Schantz Farm and Greenhouses in Zionsville, PA and was the head grower for Woodring's Greenhouses in Bellefonte, PA. Matt is currently the Research Manager at Longwood Gardens and carries out research in many different areas including: plant trials, plant breeding, tissue culture, plant propagation and optimization of cultural techniques for Longwood's plants. He also oversees Longwood's integrated pest management program, soil and compositing operation, plant conservation efforts and the plant exploration program.

Joseph Thomas

Joseph Thomas is a Land Stewardship Technician who has been on the Natural Lands Team for a little over a year. He grew up in Wilmington, Delaware, and has fond memories of visiting Longwood Gardens as a child. Joe earned his bachelor's degree in Wildlife Conservation and Plant Science from the University of Delaware. He also has a master's degree in Plant Science from the University of Tennessee. Joe has also worked in natural areas in Idaho and North Dakota. His professional interests revolve around invasive species control and ecological restoration.

Shannon Toal

Shannon Toal, AIFD, CFD, PFDE, is a professional special event floral and event designer, bringing over twenty years' design experience. Shannon has partnered with the area's premier design companies and designed at the most elegant venues in the Philadelphia area. She has created everything from weddings to corporate events across a wide spectrum of styles and size. Shannon has also used her talent and passion to help educate budding floral designers through her adjunct professor position at Bucks County Community College, Longwood Gardens, the Philadelphia Flower Show, and the Northeast Regional Chapter of the American Institute of Floral Designers (AIFD). In addition, Shannon is a frequent participant in the Philadelphia Flower Show and has contributed to numerous award winning exhibitions with AIFD and excellent florists.

Renee Tucci

Renee Tucci has more than 18 years of progressive floral design and leadership experience in the retail and event marketplaces. Ms. Tucci has participated by invitation only as a key team leader at the Philadelphia Flower Show for the past 10 years working for award-winning exhibitors. Most recently at the 2017 Flower Show, she coordinated the execution of the grand entrance exhibit, as designed by PHS. Ms. Tucci achieved credentialed status in the industry and was inducted into the American Institute of Floral Designers (AIFD)in 2016.

Mara Tyler

California native turned Pennsylvania flower farmer, Mara Tyler grew flowers in small spaces for 20 years in her home state. She now farms in Southern Chester County, on a 12-acre farmette that was historically used for dairy and sheep farming. Fenced pastures with meadowed flatlands seemed perfect for brightly colored flowers, and the idea of The Farm at Oxford was born. The farm's cut flower business specializes in locally grown peonies, dahlias, roses, spring bulbs, and companion perennials.

Eric VanderHyde

Barefoot Botanicals is a labor of love for Eric VanderHyde and Linda Shanahan, bringing together their combined years of experience in herbalism, nursing, engineering and agriculture. Having grown vegetables, flowers and herbs for over a decade, Eric and Linda are now specializing in certified organically grown medicinal and culinary herbs.

Scott Wade

Scott Wade is a graduate of Penn State, with a degree in Liberal Arts. Scott is a certified arborist, working at Longwood Gardens. Volunteering as the state coordinator of the Champion Tree Program with the Pennsylvania Forestry Association, he has found and measured many champion trees.

Alice Waegel

After receiving a PhD in Biology from the University of Delaware, Alice worked as a Biology Professor at Neumann University where she received the Lindback Award for Distinguished Teaching. Often referred to as “The Moss Doctor,” Alice frequently teaches moss classes in many different venues including botanical gardens, garden clubs, master gardener meetings and rock garden societies. At home, Alice both actively gardens with moss and encourages its growth.

Scott Weidensaul

Scott Weidensaul is the author of more than two dozen books on natural history, including the Pulitzer Prize finalist Living on the Wind, about bird migration; The First Frontier: The Forgotten History of Struggle, Savagery and Endurance in Early America; and the Peterson Reference Guide to Owls of North America and the Caribbean. Weidensaul is a contributing editor for Audubon, a columnist for Bird Watcher's Digest, and writes for a variety of other publications; he lives in the mountains of eastern Pennsylvania, where he studies the migration of owls and hummingbirds.

Hattie Weselyk

Hattie Weselyk is a self-taught jewelry artist who has been making jewelry since she retired as a professional ballerina to begin her family. Seeking a creative outlet after professional dance led her to an unexpected path—Hattie purchased a beginner jewelry-making book from a local craft store and established an immediate connection and passion for artisanal work. "Being self-taught as a jewelry artist has allowed me to cultivate my own unique style without undue outside influence." Hattie's jewelry is on sale in the Longwood Gift Shop as well as other national outlets.

Tom Wessels

Tom is a terrestrial ecologist and professor emeritus at Antioch University New England, where he founded the Master's degree program in Conservation Biology. He is the author of numerous books; his latest is Granite, Fire, and Fog: The Natural and Cultural History of Acadia. Tom has conducted workshops on ecology and sustainability throughout the country for over three decades.

Chad Wlazelek

Chad Wlazelek, a graphic designer with a passion for flowers, enjoys bringing two-dimensional inspirations to life with floral design. Chad received his Certificate of Merit in Floral Design from Longwood Gardens in 2012 and continues his design journey with Continuing Education classes at Longwood Gardens.

Susan Yoder

Susan is the Executive Director of Seed Your Future—a national movement to promote horticulture in the US and encourage more young people to pursue careers in horticulture. She joined Seed Your Future in September 2016 and brings with her more than twenty-five years of experience working with nonprofit organizations. She is passionate about the outdoors and the positive impact it can have on physical and emotional health. She is dedicated to finding more opportunities to move the traditional classroom outside, thus providing youth with the opportunity to learn about—and in—the natural world.

Betty M. Young

Betty M. Young is a 2012 graduate of Longwood Gardens' Certificate of Merit in Floral Design Program. She is presently the Continuing Education Assistant responsible for flower and foliage processing and material preparation for all Floral Design classes. Retired from the Pharmaceutical Industry of 39 years, Betty is an avid home and community gardener who enjoys floral design and organic vegetable gardening for her family, her friends, and her church.

Pandora Young

Pandora Young is a Senior Gardener in Longwood Garden's Outdoor Eastern Section since 2005, specializing in native plants and caring for a historic arboretum. In her home garden the rules are: it has to be native or edible, ideally both (with the exception of Lily of the valley). She earned a B.A. in Japanese studies, with a minor in Biology from Earlham Collage, IN. Public horticulture combines her passion for art, science, the great outdoors, and connecting with people from all walks of life.

Peter Zale

Peter Zale, Ph.D, earned his doctoral degree from The Ohio State University, where he studied plant germplasm collection development, breeding, and genetics. As Curator and Plant Breeder at Longwood Gardens, he is responsible for curatorial activities, the plant breeding program, the plant exploration program, and the recently initiated plant conservation program. He has published over 20 articles in trade, specialist, and peer-reviewed journals and has designed and participated in over 20 plant exploration expeditions throughout the United States, Japan, Vietnam, Myanmar, and the Republic of Georgia.