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Paul James
Key Note
Speaker for Awards Banquet
Paul
James "The Gardener Guy", host of HGTV "Gardening by the Yard"
will entertain us with his humor and gardening knowledge at our
Awards Banquet.
Paul served as Gardening by the Yard's creator, writer and senior producer and shoots almost the entire show in his own backyard.
That realism, plus Paul's somewhat zany style and a commitment to all-natural approaches to gardening, has endeared viewers to his show since it first aired on HGTV in 1996. Paul's gardening career began in 1978 when he and his wife, Carrie, purchased their first home. As an undergraduate, Paul studied botany, plant physiology and plant pathology. He obtained his Master Gardener certification in 1983.
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We have committments from the following speakers for our Educational
Sessions and will be adding more in the future. |
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David Bamberger - Known for his habitat restoration, Mr. Bamberger has served on the Advisory Board of the Texas Nature Conservancy, the Board of Trustees of the Natural Areas Preservation Society, the Environmental Advisory Board of Austin College and the Private Lands Advisory Board of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission. He purchased a 5,500-acre ranch near Johnson City in 1969. This property had been poorly managed and was degraded. He founded the Bamberger Ranch Preserve (BRP), a not-for-profit foundation known as “Selah”, and spent the last 41 years restoring the ranch to health and productivity. It is called the largest habitat restoration project on private land in Texas. Now, prairie grasses cover much of the rangeland, where once dormant springs and creeks now flow. He wrote a book about the project in 2007 entitled Water From Stone. |
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John Begnaud - retired Tom Green County Extension agent for horticulture |
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Steven L. Chamblee - In 1986, Mr. Chamblee joined the Fort Worth Botanic Garden as a gardener, and then attained his formal education in horticulture. Later, Mr. Chamblee served as the Native Plant Horticulturist for the Heard Natural Science Museum in McKinney, Texas, before returning to the Fort Worth Botanic Garden as the Grounds Manager, and then Education Director. Currently, he is the Chief Horticulturist for Chandor Gardens in Weatherford. Mr. Chamblee designs custom landscapes, serves as consulting editor and writer for Neil Sperry's GARDENS magazine, authors a monthly e-newsletter column entitled “Native Son,” and is an Adjunct Instructor for Tarrant County College and Texas Christian University's Extended Education. |
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Steve Chaney Mr. Chaney currently serves as County Extension Agent — Home Horticulture for Tarrant County. In this role he coordinates a 400-member group of Master Gardeners — one of the largest in Texas. He advises the Cross Timbers Master Naturalists and the Tarrant County Master Composters and oversees the county's Junior Master Gardener program projects. Mr. Chaney is the statewide co-coordinator for Earth-Kind, the Extension's Horticulture Banner Program. Prior to serving in Fort Worth, Mr. Chaney worked as an Extension Agent in Wichita County. |
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Hennen Cummings -
Dr. Hennen Cummings is Director of Turfgrass Management and Professor of Agribusiness, Agronomy, Horticulture and Range Management at Tarleton State University. His turfgrass management curriculum consists not only classroom & labs, but also practical activities in the greenhouse and in the field. Dr. Cummings received Tarleton's prestigious Barry B. Thompson Service Award in 2009 for his work in & out of the classroom and dedication to the university and its students. He writes and lectures on turf management and weed control. |
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Curt Decker - Natural Resource Specialist, Fossil Rim Wildlife Center |
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David Dyke - Dave Dyke, Commercial Floriculture Educator, Ohio State University Extension Hamilton County, has more than 35 years of horticultural experience as a business owner and horticultural educator. He offers technical and marketing assistance to the commercial greenhouse and garden center industry in southwest Ohio and provides "green" landscape storm water management assistance and training to the Metropolitan Sewer District of Greater Cincinnati and other entities. He has led a multi-agency collaborative that authored Rain Garden Guidelines for Southwest Ohio, a Practical Handbook for Home Gardeners and Sustainable Landscape Systems for Managing Storm Water . |
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Dr. Travis Faske - Dr. Faske is the Assistant Professor of Plant Pathology and Genetics for the Department of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Tarleton State University. His research is focused on plant-parasitic nematodes and fungal diseases. He seeks to identify low risk disease management techniques through innovative, cost-reducing methods comprised of resistance, cultural and protection practices. His teaching responsibilities include courses in plant pathology, biotechnology and genetics. Dr. Faske provides disease management support to local and regional clientele. He also provides on-site and remote support to clients in Chile and Peru to help manage onion diseases. |
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Debbie Benge-Frost, CEA-Horticulture, Ector County , gave an Earth-Kind® presentation at the World Federation of Rose Societies Convention held in Vancouver , British Columbia in June 2009. Delegates from 39 countries attended this week-long educational event. |
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Jayla Fry - Master Gardener Program Coordinator
- A graduate of Texas A&M University, Ms. Fry coordinates the state's Master Gardener volunteers. In her first professional role, she facilitated a horticulture program at a federal prison camp. Now, she teaches aspects of the Texas Master Gardener Program, Earth-Kind Landscaping and Botany. She also assists Master Gardener Associations with organizational development through board training. In 2009, she was a co-editor for the Sixth Edition of the Texas Master Gardener Handbook and co-authored the Plant Growth and Development and Earth-Kind Landscaping chapters within the handbook. |
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Leslie Finical Halleck - Ms. Halleck is a horticulturist by education and profession, but first attended college as an art student. She later received her bachelor's degree in biology/botany and a master's degree in horticulture. Her graduate research focused on the flowering physiology of herbaceous perennials. Her gardening career began in college at a garden center called the Green Fiddler in Denton. She also ran her own small gardening business. In 1998, Ms. Halleck joined the Dallas Arboretum, first as Curator of Plants and then as Director of Horticulture Research, a joint position with Texas A&M University. Her work at the Arboretum included creating the highly successful plant trial program. She is currently the General Manager for North Haven Gardens, an independent garden center in Dallas. |
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Gaye Hammond - is a consulting rosarian, an international lecturer and writer and past president of the Houston Rose Society, the largest local rose society in the United States with well over 2,000 members. For several years, Hammond has been working with Dr. Steve George of Texas A&M University with his Earth-Kind® Rose Program. She oversees the creation and maintenance of three Earth-Kind® Rose trial sites in Texas and is involved in Earth-Kind® projects at the American Rose Society Headquarters in Shreveport , La. Hammond , a member of the National Earth-Kind® advisory board, is a published illustrator of children's books. Gaye Hammond's published credits include Raven Goes Berrypicking and Raven & Snipe.Houston |
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Steve Huddleston– As Senior Horticulturist for the Fort Worth Botanic Garden since 1984, Mr. Huddleson is responsible for operations of the 109-acre garden, including landscape and construction projects, plant purchases, horticultural displays, special events, staff supervision and speaking engagements. He previously served as Horticulturist for the cities of Grand Prairie and Grapevine. He has published articles in Neil Sperry's Gardens Magazine , Dallas/Fort Worth House & Home and Mansfield Magazine . He is co-author of the book Easy Gardens for North Central Texas and President of the landscape company Blooming Concepts, Inc. |
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David H. Kattes - Dr. Kates is a Professor with the College of Agriculture and Human Sciences, Tarleton State University. A Board Certified Entomologist, he instructs courses in agronomy, entomology, range management and horticulture. He received the Phi Theta Kappa Founder's Day Award for Excellence in Teaching in 1999 and the Excellence in Scholarship, Tarleton Faculty Senate in March 2010. His published works include the book Insects of Texas: A Practical Guide . He lectures on subjects such as insect management, mosquito biology and fire ants.
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Billy Kniffen -
Known throughout Texas, Billy Kniffen has served in the Extension for 29 years. In his current position as Texas AgriLife Extension Service Water Resource Specialist he has statewide responsibilities that focus largely on rainwater catchment education. Most of his tenure with the Extension was a county Extension agent. During his career, he has served as a director and education coordinator for the American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association. He also helped organize the Texas Rainwater Catchment Association and served as its first president. Mr. Kniffen is a TAMU Board of Regents Fellow Service recipient. He and his wife Mary live in Menard in a home solely dependent upon rainwater. |
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Patty Leander Patty Leander is passionate about homegrown vegetables. She writes for Texas Gardener Magazine, is a Master Gardener Vegetable Specialist and holds a bachelor's degree in Food and Nutrition. In addition to writing about vegetables, she travels throughout Texas to give presentations on growing vegetables. Ms. Leander's passion for vegetables was inspired by the late George and Mary Stewart of Houston, who shared their gardening wisdom and encouraged her to pass it on so that others may share in the satisfaction and success of growing vegetables. |
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Tom LeRoy -
A graduate of Texas A&M University, Tomas LeRoy received degrees in horticulture and plant breeding. He worked as County Extension Agent-Horticulture in Montgomery County where in 1979 he started the first Master Gardener Volunteer Program in Texas. In 1988 he transferred to Harris County to head up their Master Gardener Program. In 1998, he moved back to Montgomery County as County Extension Agent-Horticulture. His third book was titled “The Southern Kitchen Garden”. Mr. LeRoy presents educational programs statewide to gardening organizations and Master Gardener groups. Program topics include vegetable gardening, fruit and nut culture and plant propagation. |
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Ann McCormick - If you enjoy herbs and organic gardening, you'll want to hear Ann McCormick, the Herb 'n Cowgirl. A lifelong gardener, she has devoted her time since 1998 to writing and speaking about her favorite subject. Ms. McCormick is a columnist for Herb Quarterly where she pens the Herbalist Notebook . She also contributes to regional and national home and garden and lifestyle magazines, including Organic Gardening, Country Woman, Gardening How-To, and Neil Sperry's Gardens . The Herb 'n Cowgirl also shares her love of herbs and her gardening techniques as a speaker and media guest. |
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Evan McKibben - Red Caboose Winery |
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Scott Ogden and Lauren Springer Ogden - Garden designers Scott Ogden and Lauren Springer Ogden lecture internationally emphasizing plant diversity and ecological attunement. This husband/wife team has horticultural experience spanning USDA zones 4–10, having designed or worked in gardens in 12 States as well as England, Ireland, and Austria. Public projects include Naples Botanical Garden, Denver Botanic Gardens, Callaway Gardens and San Antonio Botanical Gardens. The Ogdens have written several books including Plant-Driven Design , Garden Bulbs for the South , The Moonlit Garden , The Undaunted Garden , Waterwise Gardening and Gardening Success With Difficult Soils . |
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Skip Richter - Richter has had gardening in his life for more than 35 years — ever since he started his first garden as a 4-H project. His travels have taken him to gardening and commercial horticulture sites across the United States as well as in the Netherlands , Austria and Bulgaria . Richter writes two weekly newspaper gardening columns in Texas and has authored numerous articles for statewide, regional and national gardening magazines. He currently serves as the Travis County Extension Horticulturist. There he conducts educational programs on a wide variety of subjects from hobby/recreational gardening to commercial horticulture. |
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Trisha Shirey - In 26 years at Lake Austin Spa Resort, Ms. Shirey has developed organic herb and vegetable gardens, an orchard and flower gardens to beautify the grounds and enhance the Spa's low-fat dishes. Garden Design magazine recognized the Resort for having “One of the best spa gardens in the world.” Ms. Shirey practices safe and effective natural pest control, shares her tips on two Austin radio shows and gives gardening presentations to groups across Texas. As the former Grounds Manager for Bauer House (Chancellor's residence, University of Texas System), she converted the five-acre property to an organically managed site. |
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 Manon Shockey Ms. Shockey serves as an instructor of floriculture, plant propagation, greenhouse and nursery management, greenhouse crop production, retail horticulture and horticultural design at Tarleton State University. She develops horticulture curriculum and is the Director of the Invitational and Area Nursery/Landscape and Floriculture events. Previously, she was an instructor at Texas State Technical College in Waco where she taught a plant science course in the Golf Course and Landscape Management department. She was also an instructor for courses in herbaceous plant materials, turfgrass science and management, woody plant materials and weeds/herbicides. |
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| John Snowden - researched the state of native plant landscaping in Texas and surrounding states while earning his Master of Science in Horticulture degree from Texas A&M. He discovered that there was a severe dearth of ornamental native grasses in the nursery trade. Snowden combines talents and skills garnered from a lifetime of outdoor activities, an intense interest in learning about the natural world, a bachelor's degree in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences and a willingness to listen to experience. The underlying philosophy of his business, BLUESTEM NURSERY, is to promote natural habitat rehabilitation through education and the use of attractive, native, ornamental grasses. Imported species and non-grasses are included only due to market demand and natural substitutes are used whenever possible. |
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Marty Vahlenkamp - As a County Extension Agent since 1999, Mr. Vahlenkamp has worked in the areas of home horticulture, forages, livestock and 4-H. He began his career as an Assistant County Agent in Ellis County, but is now the Agriculture Agent in Hood County. Mr. Vahlenkamp has a bachelors degree in Animal Science from Texas A&M University and a masters degree from West Texas A&M University. He has received several communications awards through the Texas Agriculture Agents Association and was a National Finalist Award winner in 2007. |
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Bill Welch -
Since 1972, Dr. Welch has served as Professor of Horticulture for the Texas AgriLife Extension Service, Texas A&M University. His bestselling book, Perennial Garden Color , pioneered the use of perennials in Southern gardens. He co-authored Antique Roses for the South and The Southern Heirloom Garden with Greg Grant. He also co-authored Bountiful Flower Garden with Dr. Neil G. Odenwald. Dr. Welch contributes to Southern Living Magazine , The Southern Garden website at Aggie Horticulture and Neil Sperry's Gardens . He coordinates national and state accredited Landscape Design Study Courses. |
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Doug Welsh - Dr. Welsh serves as Professor and Associate Department Head for Extension Horticulture, in the Texas AgriLife Extension Service, Texas A&M System. He has more than 30 years of experience as a garden writer and broadcaster. He is co-author of the book, Xeriscape Gardening: Water Conservation for the American Landscape . His newest book, Doug Welsh's Texas Garden Almanac won a Gold Medal and Silver Medal of Achievement from the Garden Writer's Association. Dr. Welsh previously served 21 years as coordinator for the Texas Master Gardener program. |
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Check back often
as we will include information as plans are settled.
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