back in 2004 or 2005 . At the time , she knew Daniel only as “ a fine gardener who managed a big estate landscape in the area .” He surprised Debra and the entire writing class with the language he gave to the flowers being described .
GWA Foundation hits the road for GRO1000 programs
“ I always aspire to be more literary in my work and Daniel is one of the best examples of the way I wish I could write ,”
— Debra Prinzing
“ His prose brings you into his world of color , form , seasons , weather , life and death . In his spareness of storytelling , there is not a single wasted word . He sweeps you up and makes you feel included . There is universality in his writing that connects the reader to his own experience in the garden . I always aspire to be more literary in my work and Daniel is one of the best examples of the way I wish I could write ,” Debra said .
Now he designs gardens for others , tends his own , writes about them , and of course , still creates art . A recent exhibition of his photographic prints was titled Willow . “ I live in a swamp and grow a lot of different species of willows . I take a lot of pictures of willows and wanted to present them to the public , because I think most people don ’ t give willows the time of day ,” he said . “ The series of photographic prints that I produced are influenced as much by Helen Frankenthaler ’ s abstractions as 19th century botanical prints . I want to keep experimenting with images of willows and the printing process .”
If you ’ d like to see more of Daniel ’ s work , he can be contacted through Mount Gardens or by email , daniel @ mountgardens . com .
GWA member Mary Ann Newcomer , a native daughter of Idaho , is deeply rooted in the soil of the American West . As a scribe-scout-andspeaker , she blogs at www . gardensofthewildwildwest . com . The American Horticulture Society profiled her as “ A member making a difference ” in American Gardener magazine .
BY ASHLEY HODAK SULLIVAN
Alexa Haller teaches St . Louis school children how to keep a pollinator journal as part of the Gro 1000 project .
This spring , the GWA Foundation team has been traveling the country to celebrate the 2016 showcase grant winners of the Scotts Miracle-Gro GRO1000 program .
On May 4 , foundation representatives traveled to St . Louis for the dedication of the city ’ s Riverfront Butterfly Byway . When complete , the project will span approximately 31 acres of monarch butterfly habitat along the northern portion of the 19-mile riverfront . It will be planted with native plants that will also attract pollinators and serve as urban prairie patches for other species . GRO1000 partners and volunteers spent the day creating one of the projects special gardens , along with school children from nearby schools . A very special thank you to GWA Foundation Director Jeff Lowenfels and GWA National Director Linda Nitchman for joining the team for the day ’ s activities , culminating in a garden dedication by St . Louis Mayor Francis G . Slay .
The following week , the team was at General Street Park in Providence , Rhode Island , where GRO1000 partners and volunteers installed several edible and pollinator gardens . These gardens will support nutrition literacy and food access in this neighborhood park , which is completely surrounded by a low-income housing complex , many parts of which are occupied by families . The May 11 project aims to transform General Street Park into a vibrant , creative and safe place for residents and youth , as well as an opportunity for access to healthful food and environmental education . A very special thank you to GWA member Mort White , who decided to spend his birthday with the GRO1000 partners for the day ’ s event . During the dedication , he was invited to join the ceremonial planting with several neighborhood children .
The GWA Foundation team will attend garden dedications : June 2 in New York City and June 18 in Atlanta . Be sure to visit the GWA Foundation Facebook page for news and photos of these wonderful community events . Interested in attending ? Contact Ashley Hodak Sullivan at asullivan @ kellencompany . com .
Ashley Hodak Sullivan is executive director of the Garden Writers Association Foundation .
PHOTO COURTESY ASHLEY HODAK SULLIVAN
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