Below is my speech at my induction into Garden Communicators International’s Hall of Fame, July 11, 2025 in Columbus, Ohio. There are some minor edits or changes from my original document.
Photo courtesy Katie Elzer-Peters
I grew up in a family of greenhouse growers and florists.
When I was little, I’d run down the dirt alley, passing the backyards of aunts, uncles, godparents, cousins, until I reached what we all called the greenhouse. It actually was my grandparents’ florist that had greenhouses attached. The business was started by my great grandfather when he emigrated here from Germany in the mid 1800s.
I have strong memories of following my grandfather into the florist shop’s cooler and the strong smell of lilies. The fragrance of lilies takes me back to that time. Remember, scent is one of our strongest senses for memory.
I learned a lot of basics when working for my Uncle Bill’s greenhouse, which sold mostly annual bedding plants to the public. Aside from learning which plants were good for shade and which ones for sun, I learned a lot about customer service. And I learned gardeners with a little or a lot of experience, had questions that needed answers.
That’s about the time I started gardening at my home, where among the first plants I grew was bishop’s gout weed because, as I was told, it grows really well. Indeed. I also planted a white blooming dogwood and honey locust, both of which remain in the landscape long after I’ve moved.
As I became more interested in gardening, I became more critical of The Indianapolis Star’s garden writer, a very nice guy who wrote about obscure aspects of gardening, little known plants and other topics that didn’t interest me. I was already on staff in the news area, so I went to the features editor and asked if he’d be interested in a new garden writer. He said write a test column and he’d decide.
That first column was about beginning gardeners and planting a tomato. Those of us who have planted tomatoes know their leaves can turn your thumb green and that’s what I told the readers to do to get a green thumb. I was hired as the weekly garden writer for The Star in 1989.
Not too long after, I learned about Garden Writers and joined. The first meeting I attended was one connected with a trade show in Chicago. I met Nona Koziol and Bill Aldrich, both of whom became presidents of this organization.
The first conference I attended was in San Diego. It was 1997, the year The Indiana Gardener’s Guide came out and my co-author Tom Tyler and I went together. I met Nan Sterman, one of my longest Garden Comm pals. I’ve attended every conference since, except 2001, the year of 9/11. I went to my cousin Lt. Gen Timothy Maude’s funeral. He was killed at the Pentagon and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
For about 20 years I was privileged to work either full- or parttime several years for one of Indianapolis’ largest independent garden centers. At one point, I was the buyer of perennials, trees and shrubs and staffer in the garden center.
For a long time as a garden writer, I worked fulltime at The Star on the news staff and I freelanced the column. I left the paper in 1997 and took up marketing, public relations, freelance writing. Eventually I sequed into garden communcations and coaching as my full-time occupation. I continued freelancing my gardening column until 2019.
That August in 2019 was the month I became president of GardenComm. It also was the month an editor called to tell me the paper was dropping my column after 30 years because of poor metrics. They did let me write a farewell column to my readers.
Coincidentally, Katie Elzer-Peters and I had started working on a Hoosier Gardener newsletter, which launched in September 2019. I was able to mention that in my farewell column, and the first week I got more than 500 subscribers. The Hoosier Gardener newsletter, a free, monthly, award-winning newsletter now reaches 3,000 subscribers.
I make my living now as a freelance writer, editor, garden coach, speaker, program presenter, and planting about 50 containers four times a year for clients. I used to call it a patchwork quilt, but my more artistic friends said to call it a mosaic. Ok, but sometimes there are pieces missing in my mosaic.
Just as my career path has changed over the years, the organization I love and support has changed too. When I first went to the board as a Region 3 director, I learned the board’s recent strategic planning session approved not letting the organization get larger than 1,800 members. I was kind of shocked by that. I knew about the Shakers, a religious group that didn’t believe in procreation.
Our struggles have been many like other membership organizations. But I still feel life and strength in our group and its members. They continue to support their fellow members and nourish our development.
When I think about being a garden writer – or garden communicator – I feel like I’m continuing the gardening and growing work of my ancestors, but just in a different way. And I’m grateful to GWAA, GWA and GardenComm for supporting me as a I run (walk?) down the dirt alley of my career. Thank you!
(The Hall of Fame is the highest honor bestowed on GardenComm members. The honor recognizes members whose lives and careers have significantly advanced the organization’s objectives. Inductees are nominated by members, recommended by the Honors Committee, and elected by the Board of Directors. Hall of Fame members are excused from dues. Only one member is admitted each year.)