KC Shore Why did you choose to volunteer at the PSL Botanical Gardens? I grew up spending most of my time out of doors. Anything to do with plants, animals and rocks/minerals drew my attention! As an adult my husband and I have had organic fruit, vegetable and medicinal herb gardens on our small farms, and we practice Permaculture techniques. When we moved to suburban Florida last year the PSL Botanical Gardens was a first stop to work on my "plant fix." While strolling through the Garden Center I was fortunate to meet up with Laura Mehr who oversees that area with Brenda Gustafson. Laura and I got to chatting, and she persuaded me to come out and volunteer my time working in the Garden Center and helping to get the Center spruced up. So, when you meet up with Laura while visiting the PSLBG be prepared to be charmed into becoming a volunteer (if you love plants you'll be glad you did)! Do you have any goals for your time here as a volunteer? Being a volunteer at PSLBG has been a very rewarding experience. I've had the opportunity to meet many wonderful people who love plants, gardening, and outdoor life. My personal goal is to continue to help make the Garden Center, and the Botanical Gardens as a whole, a welcoming place for people to come out and enjoy a family-friendly stroll, exchange information and knowledge for and about plants, and to relax in a beautiful, park-like setting where nature surrounds. What do you find most rewarding about volunteering at PSLBG? PSLBG offers a wide variety of opportunities to help with plant care, and learn from amazing Master Gardener volunteers! Being a volunteer has added tremendously to my understanding of plant life and plant management. Plus, it's wonderful to spend time with our many Garden volunteers and people who come to visit the Gardens. What do you like to do when you’re at the Gardens? I can't say I "love" weeding in and around our sale plants, however the fact that the Gardens promote a healthy plant biome and don't use sprays for weeding means there's always weeding to do - you can weed out potted plants one day, and be weeding them out again the next! I fully support the old-fashioned weed-by-hand philosophy and that helps change the focus of weeding from being a chore.
Who was the most instrumental person who influenced your love of gardening? My grandmothers had many houseplants when I was growing up. When each passed away I inherited her collection, including a hoya that was said to be over 50 years old. It took some serious learning on my part to help ensure those plants survived in my care! I've been fortunate to be able to exchange plant-related information and knowledge with other like-minded people over the years. When my husband and I had our organic farms we hosted young visitors from around the world who wanted to learn more about and participate in organic gardening and permaculture. Those many cultural exchanges have been amazing experiences the expression "A mind is like a parachute, it only works when it's open" is so apropos. I've enjoyed the swapping of ideas, information, experiences, tried-and-true methods, and so much more. It's an ongoing cycle of "pay it forward"! What’s your favorite tree or plant, and why? As well as enjoying many different plant types I'm a big fan of epiphytes (many are commonly called 'air plants'), bromeliads, succulents/hoyas/cacti, and desert/aridclimate plants. I suppose the fascination has to do with their prehistoric characteristics. Learning more and more about these way-cool and fascinating plants is on my "to do" list. Outside of the Gardens, what do you enjoy doing in your free time? Free time - what's that?? [said smiling] I love traveling so put me on a plane, train, boat, bike, etc. and I'm off... well, at least that was true in the nottoo-distant past and will be again as the virus slows its march. For as long as I can remember I've always wanted to be a rotary-wing pilot (read: helicopters). In my younger days I'd be out in the open fields begging rides whenever a helo would touch down! As of a few years ago I had the opportunity to begin learning to fly gyrocopters, and one of these days I'd love to spend hours in a flight simulator and aloft, continuing to advance my very limited chopper education and experience toward one day taking off on my 'flight of fancy.' Know anybody that needs a whirlybird washed and waxed?? LOL Tell us something about you that’s interesting, or that not many people know. Where would I even start?? OK, a couple that can be told... While living in New Zealand for years I was a planetarium "Sky Tour" volunteer presenter - gave presentations to the public on night sky objects in the Southern Hemisphere - and my husband and I were telescope operators at a small observatory. I've been involved with the horse world for many decades, and I coach people in Equine Learning Theory (how horses learn) and equine behavior modification. Basically I'm helping people be more effective and aware communicators, and horses to develop their focal skills, in order to have improved relationships between people and their equine partners.
What’s your favorite quote or saying? "Due to the recession and to save on energy costs, the light at the end of the tunnel has been turned off."
15