Hosted by
Dallas County Master Gardeners
April 8 -10, 2010
  
 
 
 
 

SPEAKERS
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Norma Babbitt - Norma Babbitt is a native Dallasite, graduating from "Woodrow" with her future husband Stan, and has been a Dallas County Master Gardener for 10 years. They have been blessed with 3 children and 3 grandchildren. Norma has been gardening all her life, beginning at her grandmother's knee, and has a special love for all the flowers she has grown. She started growing roses 16 years ago and has enjoyed propagating many of them down through the years. Norma especially enjoys teaching others the satisfaction of rooting rose cuttings. She began with the Speaker's Bureau at the Richland College Emeritus Program (Horticulture Series) and has given programs at garden clubs, the Dallas Arboretum, and many other places. She and her granddaughter have actually hybridized a rose together. What a thrill it was for them to see the new rose bloom for the first time, the only one like it in the world!

Sara Beckelman - Sara Beckelman is an Irving Master Composter and has been trained as a Master Composter Trainer by the former Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (now the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality). She is part of a 4 person training group that has taught the 16 hour Master Composter course around the D/FW area since 1998. Sara specializes in Vermi-composting but has had experience with several different composting processes. She is very happy to spread the word about this natural process which produces a dark, rich, soil conditioner that is high in nitrogen and contains many other soil and plant nutrients that are not found in fertilizers.
More....(pdf)

Marcia Borders - Marcia moved to Texas from Louisiana to obtain her Masters from Texas Women's University. She met and married a real Texan and has lived in Dallas since 1969 and in the same house since 1973. She became a Master Gardener and a Master Composter in 1994. In 1996 she became a Master Composter Instructor and formed a teaching partnership with three other Master Composters. Though working full time, Marcia still finds time to teach around the metroplex and twice a year in Irving , and also fulfills numerous speaking engagements for Speakers Bureau, as her lectures are in much demand. More ....(pdf)

Marian Buchanan - When my oldest child left for college, and I finally had time between high school swim meets and cross-country races to do something for myself! I started the Master Gardener training program. Marian enjoys anything herbal, gardening for wildlife, and gardening with special populations. My love of gardening and speaking to groups about the joy of gardening has been an adventure for almost 20 years. Marian speaks on a wide range of topics. Anything herbal! Herbal topics include landscaping, low water use, basic growing, harvesting, some cooking and crafts, herb vinegars, edible flowers, lemon herbs, and scented gardens, etc. She also speaks about habitat and butterfly gardening. More ....(pdf)

Mark Chamblee - Mark Chamblee is president of Chamblee's Roses and Gifts, Inc. dba Chamblee's Rose Nursery. He and his wife Sharon own and operate Chamblee's Rose Nursery in Tyler and the Lott Home Bed & Breakfast in Mineola , Texas . Mark has a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in accounting from the University of Texas at Tyler and has been certified as a Texas master Certified Nursery Professional through the Texas Nursery and Landscape Association. He currently serves as State Director of Region III of the Texas Nursery and Landscape Association. Mark is an active Farm Bureau member, currently serving on two state committees. He has become well known as a speaker across the State and an authority on rose growing, care and production. Marks works closely with Texas A&M University and Texas Agri-Life Extension in promoting the horticulture industry on local, state, and national levels. More ....(pdf)


Steven Chamblee - Steven is the Chief Horticulturist at Chandor Gardens, serves as Consulting Editor and writer for Neil Sperry's GARDENS magazine, and authors a monthly e-newsletter column entitled "Native Son." He earned the MS degree in Public Horticulture Administration in the Longwood Graduate Program, has more than 20 years experience in public gardens, and is an Adjunct Instructor for Weatherford College. Steven gives presentations statewide, using his trademark "Texas road trips" to study native plants, visit gardens, and meet fellow gardeners. More..(pdf)


Steve Chaney - Employment status - Wichita County Extension Agent - Horticulture 04/00 to 09/04- Tarrant County Extension Agent - Horticulture 09/04 - Family info - Jon Michael (son) 27, U. S. Marine Nikki (daughter) 25, Student at OU - Molly - cat (ruler of the house) Gardening background - born in a small town in South OK and was in the garden from an early age. BS Degree from OSU from the Landscape Arch. Program with a heavy emphasis on Horticulture. Owned and operated a Design/Build firm for 10+ years in OK. Master Gardener Projects (new) - Community Gardening, with a mission to provide the resources and training to neighborhood groups who believe in their communities and want to reclaim them from urban decay and apathy. Favorite plant - to many to choose from, but here are just a few. Nandinas, Indian Hawthornes, Desert Willow's and of course the Oklahoma Redbud.
More ....(pdf)


Tim Closs - I graduated in 1985 with a B.S. in Ornamental Horticulture and in 1991 received my M.S. in Horticulture with my thesis focusing on plant tissue culture and micropropagation. I worked my way through college with my own landscape business and by working at an EPA sponsored Pesticide information hotline. After college, I continued to work for the EPA until 1995. In August of 1998, I was approached to teach at Naaman Forest H.S. in Garland Texas, where I have been ever since. Our high school horticulture program is well respected throughout the state for our innovative approach to teaching and our intense focus on both the students and horticulture. More..(pdf)


Murray Covens- Murray Covens is the Principal with North Texas Nonprofit Resources, a leading North Texas grant writing and development firm.  Mr. Covens has over 25 years of financial and business management experience with both nonprofit and for-profit organizations, with more than 10 years of experience with nonprofit organizations in management and development.  He holds a BBA and MBA.
Synopsis  grant writing myths, why grant requests are denied, finding potential funders, how to stay organized, components of a grant proposal, how to write a grant proposal, sample cover letter and grant proposal

Jeff Crilley - Jeff Crilley retired from TV news after 25 years in the business to start the country's first "all journalist" PR firm. During his career he made hundreds of national news appearances including CNN, CNN Headline News, FOX News, The Discovery Channel, Good Morning America and The CBS Early Show.
He has been recognized by his peers with dozens of national and regional awards including the Emmy, the National Headliners Award, the Edward R. Murrow Award, the Thurgood Marshall Award and in 2004 was named by the Texas Associated Press, "The Best TV Reporter in the state."
More ....(pdf)
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Judy Fender - Born in the Garden State ( New Jersey ), Judy Fender began her gardening experiences in the 1950s. Moving to Texas in 1977, she learned everything she could about plants in the Texas landscape, landscaping all the homes in which she has lived since. Her current residence is a certified Butterfly Habitat and Wildlife Habitat. She has 3 ponds and a 46-foot stream in her gardens, which she built herself. Her yard was a Dallas Water Utilities' Xeriscape Garden winner in 2001. Her gardens and ponds have been on many garden tours, including the prestigious Garden Conservancy 'Open Days' tour of selected Dallas gardens (2002 through 2005). Judy's drought-tolerant landscaping includes over 100 roses, various herbs, perennials, native plants, and water garden and bog plants.
More ....(pdf)


Dr. Steven George - Dr. Steven George is a native of Oklahoma and obtained a Bachelor of Science in Zoology and a Master of Science in Horticulture from Oklahoma State University. He then received a Ph.D. in Plant Pathology from North Carolina State University.
Since 1988, Dr. George has served as a Landscape Horticulture Specialist for Texas AgriLife Extension, and is headquartered at the Texas A&M Research and Extension Center in North Dallas. Dr. George has created and serves as National Coordinator of the EarthKind® Environmental Landscape Management Program.


Barbara Gollman - Barbara Gollman is a chef-taught culinary nutritionist, co-author of the highly regarded Phytopia Cookbook: A world of Plant-Centered Cuisine and Texas Master Gardener. As a former national spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association, she's appeared on local and national TV and contributed to many print articles. Barbara's passion for food, nutrition, plants and good health pepper her talks and writing.
In 2005 Barbara became a Dallas County Master Gardener and joined the Speakers Bureau in 2007 speaking on culinary herbs, WaterWise gardening, and container plants. More ....(pdf)

Mariana Greene - Mariana Greene, garden editor at The Dallas Morning News , is a Dallas native and lifelong gardener . She comes from an extended line of Southerners whose women raised flowers — morning glories, zinnias and sweet peas —   and whose men raised crops such as cotton, onions and tobacco seedlings for resale to other planters. Her first gardening memory is helping her mother dig transplant holes for annual red verbenas and disturbing a horny toad.
A writer and journalist since junior high, Mariana has specialized in garden writing since 2003. Her stories and weekly column, appropriately named Gardening Fool, seek to convey the passions that digging in the dirt can awaken in people — herself and others practicing the art and craft in North Texas. More ....(pdf)

Gaye Hammond - Gaye Hammond, Past President of the Houston Rose Society, has served on the Board of Directors of that organization since 1999. She is a life member of American Rose Society, a Consulting Rosarian, a patron of the ARS South Central District and has been awarded the ARS Bronze Honor Medal for Outstanding Service. Gaye is also a member of the San Antonio Rose Society, the Texas Rose Rustlers and the Heritage Rose Foundation.
Gaye oversees the creation and maintenance of the two gardens at the American Rose Center in Shreveport, Louisiana, as well as the Houston Rose Society's Earth-Kind ® Rose Test Garden in Pasadena, Texas and three scientific rose research trials in Navasota, Odessa and Burnet, Texas. More ....(pdf)

Diana L Harris - Diana’s corporate job took her on many overseas assignments, which prevented her from getting home on weekends. She took these opportunities to visit various gardens and parks around the world. It was a great departure and stress reliever from her corporate job. In addition, as time permanent she did a “fixer-upper” of a house that required a complete landscape design. Gardening for over 23 years, Diana became a truly dedicated gardener about 7 years ago when she started her own landscape design firm.
More ....(pdf)

James Hatcher - Since becoming a Dallas County Master Gardener in 1993, James has become the "go to" guy when there are needs for a speaker on lawn care and management. Falling back on his 46 years of experience of tending his lawn, his favorite and most knowledgeable subject is, "Lawn Care", but he also speaks on, "Pruning", "Annuals for Dallas", "How to Identify and Control Fungal, Bacterial, and Viral Diseases" and lastly, "Turf Management- How to Mow, Water, and Fertilize Properly".
James serves as the Help Desk Coordinator, the Help Desk Computer Administrator and the Help Desk New Intern Trainer/Scheduler for the Dallas County Master Gardener Association. He has spoken to many garden clubs, home and garden shows and to many junior colleges. More ....(pdf)

Steve Houser - Mr. Steve Houser , a Dallas area native, is a Dallas County Master Gardener and contributes well over 1000 volunteer hours each year toward worthy tree/forestry, Master Gardener and Master Naturalist projects. He teaches the North Texas Chapter, Texas Master Naturalists, as well as other local chapters, and regional Master Gardener chapters each year about tree and forest related subjects. He offers public presentations through both groups as well as the City of Dallas Urban Forest Advisory Committee , which he chaired for 4 years. A part of the Master Naturalist training involves field trips to natural areas such as Reverchon Park with Steve, to discuss forest ecology. Steve has been a Texas Master Naturalist himself since 2000. More ....(pdf)


Steve Huddleston - Master of Arts in Teaching English as a Second Language, University of Arizona, Bachelor of Science in Horticulture, Oklahoma State University, Senior Horticulturist at the Fort Worth Botanic Garden since 1994. Responsible for overseeing operations of the 109-acre garden, including coordinating landscape and construction projects, purchasing plant material, managing horticultural displays, coordinating special events, working with major support groups, supervising Garden staff, assisting with budget management, and promoting the Garden through speaking engagements and the media.
Publications include articles in Neil Sperry's GARDENS magazine, Dallas/Fort Worth House & Home, and Mansfield Magazine. Co-author of the book Easy Gardens for North Central Texas. President of Blooming Concepts, Inc., a landscape consultation, design, and installation company.


John Hunt - I Got to Texas as fast as I could. Born in Minnesota , raised in Wisconsin and Colorado . I came to Dallas in 1970 after four years in the U.S. Navy and started my business career, family and college. As a homeowner it was time to learn how to maintain my urban landscape. That need spawned a whole new field of study in horticulture. After completing studies at Richland College and the University of Texas at Dallas in the 70's, I was back in the classroom this time to learn about, biology, soil, plants and more. Studying the written works of many local garden personalities, including, H.S. Stevens and Field Roebuck gave me inspiration to do more.  As a life member and two term president of the First Men's garden Club of Dallas, I became involved with community programs and raised funds for a Hardy Palm and Tropical Garden at the Dallas Arboretum with a special "Gardener's Beefcake" calendar. The calendar project provided a springboard to radio, TV, lectures, writing and More ....(pdf)

Randy Johnson - Randy is a native Texan raised in Mesquite. From an early age he developed a deep love for Nature, mostly from exploring a creek that ran behind his house and spending summers on his grandparents farm in Kaufman, TX. Upon discovering that remnant virgin blackland prairie still existed near his home he began collecting and propagating the seeds he found there and this was the genesis of his love for native plants. He earned his degree in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences from Texas A & M University and while attending was a proud member of the Corps of Cadets. More ...(pdf)
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Billy Kniffen - Texas AgriLife Extension Service Water Resource Specialist with focus on rainwater catchment education and with statewide responsibilities. He has served in extension for 28 years and most of which were as an extension agent assigned to a particular county. He serves as a national director for the American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association and their education committee coordinator and instructor. He helped organize the Texas Rainwater Catchment Association and served as its first president in 2007-09. He received a BS from Abilene Christian College and MS from Tarleton State University. He and his wife Mary live in Menard in a home solely dependent on rainwater.


Dione Lineberry - Getting into gardening was something to do while her little ones were playing in the yard. Dione's special interests include (but are not limited to) : Perennials, roses, shade gardening, evergreens, landscaping and Design, Container gardening, WaterWise gardening, and Sun gardens. Combining creativity with her fashion design background, a terrific sense of humor and a flair for life that's hard to beat, she proudly declares she's a graduation of the school of "learned it by doing it". Self taught in landscape and design, perennials, roses, soaker hoses, and container gardening, her audiences are always impressed with the results.
More ....(pdf)


Landry Lockett - Landry Lockett was born and raised in Lubbock, Texas. He completed both a B.S. and a Masters degree at Texas Tech University in Ornamental Horticulture. Landry moved to Austin to be an arborist working for Davey Tree Expert Company for more than a year. He then spent the next six years as an Ornamental Horticulture County Extension Agent in Collin County. His work with Texas Master Gardeners began at that time as he led the Collin County Master Gardeners. Landry earned a Doctorate of Education in Agricultural Education through a joint degree program from Texas A&M and Texas Tech, and is currently serving as an Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist within Texas AgriLife Extension's Organizational Development unit in the Agricultural Education Department at Texas A&M University. More ....(pdf)

A. L Nickerson - Biographically speaking, I was born in Dallas and graduated from South Oak Cliff High School in 1965.  My undergraduate degree is in marketing and I have an MBA in Finance and Management.  I have worked for the Department of Justice for the past twenty-five years as a financial analyst in corporate reorganizations.  Prior to that, I was a business analyst with Dun & Bradstreet.  I am currently working on an Enology and Viticulture degree from Grayson County College. I am a Master Naturalist (inactive) and a Master Composter.  I have taught the Master Composter class in Dallas and Plano .  I have been active in composting and community gardening for the past ten years or so.  I worked with Gardeners
more....(pdf)

Carolyn Oldham - A native of Waco and a graduate of Baylor University, Carolyn is a longtime member of Prairie and Timbers Audubon Society of Collin County. She and her late husband, Dave, have been "birders" for over 20 years, travelling all over Texas to find many of our state's specialty birds. Her family also made it to Costa Rica where they saw 220 new birds in 8 days, including 19 species of hummingbirds. The Oldham Plano backyard list now totals 122 species. She currently has her own landscape design and installation service in the metroplex specializing in perennials, natives and habitat gardens. 
Synopsis:  The main focus of the seminars will be how to attract more colorful birds to the backyard garden, especially hummingbirds and other beautiful seasonal migrants. The talks will celebrate Texas as the #1 birding state in the nation.

Gary Olp  - Gary Gene Olp directs a successful environmentally focused private architectural practice in Dallas, Texas. It is a general practice established in 1987 to effect a fundamental change in the application of the craft of Architecture based on an understanding of environmental stewardship. His efforts reflect an enterprising approach to energy efficiency, passive solar techniques, natural day lighting, enhanced fresh air systems with an emphasis on reducing construction waste and the use of natural, non-toxic building materials. more....(pdf)
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Rose-Mary Rumbley - Rose-Mary Rumbley holds a PH.D in communications from the University of North Texas. She taught speech and theatre at Dallas Baptist University for 12 years and served as single adult minister at First Baptist Church, Dallas, for 7 years. She appeared in the Dallas Summer Musicals and at Casa Manana in Ft. Worth. Now, she's on the speaking circuit and enjoys researching each and every topic. Rose-Mary is married to Jack Rumbley, a professional musician. They have two grown children and one grandchild.


Kim Schofield - Kim Schofield began her career at the Dallas Research and Extension Center on Coit Road as an Extension Program Specialist for Urban Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in February 2004. She moved to Dallas from Texas A& M University in College Station , where she earned a B.A. in biology and an M.S. in entomology with an emphasis on urban and structural entomology. Kim's major focus is to increase awareness within the Metroplex of the Texas Two Step Method for controlling the red imported fire ant as well as increase public awareness of the principles of IPM. IPM plans use multiple techniques, such as cultural, biological, mechanical and chemical tactics, in order to control pest. more....(pdf)


Janet D. Smith - She began as a DCMG volunteer speaker in 2006 and fast become one of the most in popular in our Speakers Bureau. She brings a breath of fresh air and wonderful sense of humor to her talks. Janet is an avid photographer of flowers and butterflies and has created new programs using her photos. Her presentations include: Waterwise Gardening, Sex in the Garden (Pollination), Miracle of the Monarchs, and Butterfly Gardening. Janet is currently serving the Dallas County Master Gardener Association as Chair of Speakers Bureau. More..(pdf)


Tig Thompson - Since retiring as an employee benefits consultant in 2001 Tig Thompson (Class of 2001) has been an active Master Gardener. His home has been on the local garden tour twice. Currently Tig maintains the hours data for the Dallas County Master Gardener Association.
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Doug Welsh, Ph.D. - Dr. Welsh previously served as coordinator for the Texas Master Gardener program for 21 years and currently serves as Associate Department Head for Extension Horticulture in the Texas AgriLife Extension Service.
Dr. Welsh has over 30 years of experience as a garden writer and broadcaster, having provided regular garden programming and columns for WOAI-AM1200 ( San Antonio ), KTKR-AM760 ( San Antonio ), KTAM-AM1240 ( Bryan ), KSAT-TV ( San Antonio ) and the San Antonio Express-News . Currently, he currently produces a weekly garden segment on KBTX-TV (Bryan) and a weekly one-hour, call-in garden show on KAMU-FM, public radio (College Station). More...(pdf)

Dr. Carl Whitcomb - Dr. Carl Whitcomb grew up on rented farms and at the edge of a small town in Southeast Kansas . He received a BS degree from Kansas State (1964) and MS and Ph D from Iowa State (1966 and 1969). He was Professor of Horticulture at the University of Florida [67-72], then Oklahoma State [72-85] before starting Lacebark Inc. in 1986. Lacebark Inc is a private research facility with focus on all aspects of plant growth in containers and field. Some examples include; Containers designed to improve root systems, stop root circling and speed landscape establishment. More...(pdf)

Lisa Whittlesey - Lisa is an employee of Texas AgriLife Extension Service part of the Texas A&M system. She received her bachelor and masters degree from Texas A&M University in horticulture with an emphasis in education/curriculum development . Her professional work experience includes teaching/coordinating horticulture training program at a Federal Prison Camp for female offenders, coordination of horticulture therapy programs at 2 drug treatment facilities and youth gardening curriculum development. For the past 9 years, she has served as the program director for the JMGsm International Junior Master Gardener program which currently operates in all 50 states and has expanded internationally through collaborative partnerships with the Borlaug Institute for International Agriculture. More..(pdf)

Nancy Wilten - Prior to becoming a Master Gardener, Nancy lived on the Texas Gulf Coast . She has lived in Dallas , Los Angeles , and Chicago . Having lived in a variety of climates, she is familiar with the problems faced by people moving to Dallas from other parts of the country.
She is an active orchid grower since the mid-70's. Since returning to Dallas in 1983, she has moved from growing orchids in her home to becoming a greenhouse grower. Since taking early retirement in 1993, she has been able to become more active in general gardening, including taking most of the horticulture classes at Richland College . More ....(pdf)

Tom Wilten - Tom Wilten was born and graduated from high school at Port Arthur , Texas. He graduated from Baylor College of Dentistry in 1966. He is married, the father of two sons and continues to practice general dentistry in Dallas, Texas.
He became interested in horticulture in 1973, his first attempt at propagation being English ivy. He served as president of the First Men's Garden Club of Dallas in 1991 and 1992. He has authored twenty original articles on various aspects of horticulture. He has been a master gardener since 2007, and he was accredited as a specialist in propagation in 2008. He is a member of the Speaker's Bureau, and he has taught propagation to the classes of the last three years to the master gardeners. His favorite topics include: propagation, shade trees and pruning.  more...(pdf)

Dotty Woodson is an Extension Program Specialist for Water Resources. She is located at the Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Urban Solutions Center in Dallas, TX . Woodson works with the Water Resources Team to provide landscape water conservation, rainwater harvesting and irrigation efficiency information in Tarrant, Dallas , Denton , Collin and other counties. Woodson addresses homeowners and professionals to provide the most sustainable information about landscape water use from design and plant selection to water conserving landscape management practices. Woodson started with Extension in May 1995 as a county Extension agent in Tarrant County . Woodson has B. S. and M.S. degrees in Horticulture from Tarleton State University and a doctoral degree from Texas A&M and Texas Tech.  More ....(pdf)

 

  © 2008 Dallas County Master Gardeners Association, Inc. The information given is for educational purposes only. References to commercial products or trade names is made with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement by Dallas County Master Gardeners or Texas AgriLife Extension Service is implied.