Richard Craig

BY FORREST PREECE

1. What is something about you that most people don’t know?

I am a direct descendant of Elijah Craig, a Baptist preacher in Kentucky who supposedly invented Bourbon whiskey in the late 18th Century.

2. What was your first job? Restocking the shelves at the Austin Public Library’s Howson branch on Exposition Blvd. during summer break.

3. If you could have dinner with any three people in baskets of gardening goodies. Again this year Girl Scout Troop 42112 will help with refreshments. history, who would they be?

This year’s speakers are Darrel Mayers whose talk is entitled A Celebration of Gardens and Gardening in Poetry and Music with Special Guest Speakers, and Renee Studebaker who will talk about the benefits and steps in rewilding a home garden.

April 1’sTrowel and Error Gardening Symposium is Mayfield Park-Community Project’s annual fundraiser to help restore the grounds and cottage of Mayfield Park, an out of town getaway a century ago for the Mayfield family of Austin, and now an Austin city park and peacock refuge that invites meditative walks among the palm trees, cottage gardens, rock walls, and trails to Lake Austin.

Frederick Law Olmsted, Texas Governor E.M. Pease and Lyndon B. Johnson.

4. If you had to pick three musicians for a playlist, who would they be?

Robert Earl Keen, Willie Nelson and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. I am also a big fan of the now defunct Austin indie band “the Hudsons.”

5. Favorite Book & TV Show Book: “Washington” by Ron Chernow. TV show:

“Finding Your Roots” on PBS.

6. Most powerful movie: “An Uncomfortable Truth” by Al Gore

7. Favorite Place in Austin: Pease District Park & the Shoal Creek Hike & Bike Trail

8. Favorite Local Restaurant and Watering Hole: 34th Street Cafe (Eddie Bernal is the host with the most). Watering Hole: Hopfield’s

9. What did you want to be when you were growing up? When I was very little- a zookeeper. When I was oldera lawyer.

10. What living person do you most admire?

That’s a tough one. Maybe four people; Dr. Anthony Fauci, Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger and Congressman Jaime Raskin.

11. What makes you happy? Planting and caring for trees. Watering is very zen!

12. Best advice you ever received? Keep your mouth shut more often than not.