I retired in 2023 and started the Master Gardener program immediately. I have always had an interest in plants but not much time for them. Through the Master Gardener program, I met individuals who are native plant enthusiasts and quickly realized that this was an area that was of interest to me. I have since started to replace non natives and lawn in my own yard with native plants. 

I also started taking courses at the UNCC Botanical Gardens for their Native Plant Certification. I am currently 22 credits away (though I have a 10 credit class in late Jan-early Feb) from being certified through their program. Additionally, I have started attending plant rescues with Carrie DeJaco and Constructive Plant Rescue (CPR). 

Additionally I am a member of the Lake Norman Garden Club. With my leadership, we have started several native plant gardens in Catawba County. Two large gardens are at the Sherrills Ford library and two smaller ones are at Mountain Creek Park. Additional gardens are to be planted at both locations. These gardens entailed removing non native plants and replacing them with natives.

Through Lake Norman Garden Club, I will be helping Sherrills Ford Elementary School start a polinator garden for the garden club. I will be helping to educate the 3rd-5th graders on native plants and the functions they provide within an ecosystem.

I enjoy starting plants from seed and cuttings. I currently have seeds from approximately 120 different native plants to stratify this winter and I have plans to take cuttings from native plants both in my yard and in friends in the May-June timeframe next year. I will use many of these plants in my own yard as I remove more turf but also plan on donating many to CPR. I beleive I have a slight addition here! 

I realize there is a lot that I do not know but am willing to work hard and learn both on my own and in classroom settings.