Interests

  • Working with volunteers
  • Seed collecting
  • Native plant propagation
  • Leading tours in the Mundy Wildflower Garden
  • Working with students
  • Speaking about propagation of native plants and gardening with native plants

About

My enchantment with the forest ecosystem of the Northeast has led me to the Mundy Wildflower Garden, a flood plain forest along Fall Creek, a protected waterway. I spend most of my time working with volunteers and students. We are removing invasive species, collecting local seeds, and propagating native plants for gardens, plant sales, and natural areas restoration. It is my pleasure to introduce the plant communities of the Mundy Wildflower Garden to students from Cornell and other colleges, students in the 2nd through 12th grades, and community groups.

The wildflower garden supports one intern for 12 weeks during the growing season and student workers any time of the year. I enjoy working with the natural areas stewards and assisting the education staff with garden interpretation. I teach classes and workshops at Cornell Botanic Gardens and lecture at plant conferences and gardening clubs throughout the northeast and mid—Atlantic states. I have been a gardener and land steward by trade for 28 years. Previously, I was the gardener at the Brandywine River Museum in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania, and the land steward in the Laurels Preserve on lands held in perpetuity by the Brandywine Conservancy. Currently, I serve as a steering committee member of the Finger Lakes Native Plant Society, and have served in that capacity for 18 years.