Whenever I see the lavatera in the Botanical Gardens, I am reminded of my grandma, who would scatter seeds of asters, calendula, poppies and lavatera in her flower beds, and my dad, who starts most everything from seeds. I recently retired, taking photographs in the gardens, and a serendipitous, welcoming conversation with a volunteer made me want to be part of this hardworking group. I became the photographer for BGSS Communications, and now, as a Board member, I am experiencing another level of involvement and opportunity to learn. I am proud to have my name on a project that impacts the gardens positively.

I love talking to visitors and showing off the beauty of our gardens with my photographs and social media posts. BGSS provides me with the opportunity to hone my skills, be creative, and meet my needs for community and purpose.

Volunteering for BGSS is also a fantastic opportunity to learn from very talented gardeners who love to teach. I look forward to tapping into my gardening heritage when I trade my camera in for a rake and shovel.