Lee County Extension
Citrus Home Advisors Program


Oranges, grapefruits, limes and lemons are important fruit trees for most of southwest Florida.

Along with lawns and palms, the care of citrus trees dominates much of the questions coming across the Horticulture Advisory Desk. For this reason, we’ve given Master Gardeners additional intensive training to become Citrus Home Advisors.

A Citrus Home Advisor can come to your yard, identify your citrus problem and write a prescription for your citrus problem.

Consider your Citrus Home Advisor your citrus doctor who makes yard calls.

To scheduled your citrus home visit, just call the Extension Office at (239) 461-7504 and speak to Peggy Cruz to arrange the visit. We’ll need about a two-week notice to arrange the date of a visit. The Citrus Home Advisors are prohibited from diagnosing Citrus Canker infection and will not come to your home for that purpose.

Maryann Czarnecki was born in Manchester, Connecticut. She has three children, three grand children. Maryann has a degree in Art Education and is an active substitute teacher. She became a Master Gardener in 2002 and a Citrus Home Advisor in 2003. Maryann also volunteers at the Fragrance Garden and is a crew leader with Habitat for Humanity.

Della Fisher was born in Clarksburg, West Virginia. She worked as a nurse and later went to work as an administrative assistant for the federal government. She’s always been interested in gardening but had to develop new skills upon gardening in Florida. Della is a 2002 Master Gardener graduate and is a 2003 Citrus Home Advisor graduate.

William Griffiths (Grif) (Lehigh Acres)MG class of 1999. Born and raised on a farm/ranch in Kansas. U.S. Navy veteran and retired as a Program Integrity Specialist for the Social Security Administration in Dallas Texas before moving to Lehigh Acres in 1996. Enjoys playing in the dirt and considers food production and permanent landscaping his forte. He is one on Lee County's Citrus Home Advisors covering Eastern Lee County.

Bill Johns was born in Chicago, Illinois, and lived in Albany, New York, for a number of years. He now lives in Bonita Springs. Bill is a chemist by training. He’s been a Master Gardener since 1996 and is a Citrus Home Advisor, for which he does citrus home visits. Bill is also a regular at the Horticulture Advisory desk.

Hyman "Hy" Lans was born in Chicago. He practiced general surgery in Chicago until his retirement. In 2000 he moved to Sanibel and in 2002 he became a Master Gardener. Hy co-directs activities at the Fragrance Garden, answer questions at the Horticulture Advisory Desk and at Home Depot, speaks on hibiscus, moderator for library talks, and is a Citrus Home Advisor.

Kelly Leary was born and raised in Connecticut. She lived in northern New Jersey for 20 years, moved to Miami in 1996 and to Fort Myers Beach in 2002. Kelly became a Master Gardener in 2002. She volunteers at the Fragrance Garden and Butterfly Garden, Mantanza Pass Preserve, and is a Citrus Home Advisor.

Harvey Lincoln was born in Vermont. He has lived in New York, Maryland and North Carolina. A Florida resident since 1987, he has been a Master Gardener since 2000. Harvey is a Citrus Home Advisor, and has worked in the Tomato Project, the Imaginarium Citrus Project and other activities.

Barbara Meyer was born in Chicago, Illinois. She has lived in Florida since 1955. Barbara worked in the airline industry until 2001. She enjoys her time gardening. Barbara is a 2002 Master Gardener graduate. She works at the Horticulture Advisory Desk, works the Plant Clinics and is a Citrus Home Advisor.

Barbara Mintz grew up in San Bernardino, California. She worked as a certified public accountant until her husband, a navy doctor, was transferred to Yokosuka, Japan. After leaving the navy in 1978, the Mintzes moved to Cape Coral. Barbara became a Master Gardener in 2000. She volunteers as a Citrus Home Advisor and a Horticulture Phone Advisor.

Lisa Oxton is originally from Washington, Missouri. Lisa love for gardening came from her mother and the "little old lady next door," both ladies were always growing unusual things in their backyards. She came to Naples Florida in 1988 as a result of a job transfer. She is a graduate of the 2002 Master Gardener class and is a Citrus Home Advisor.

Betty Rickard was born in Lansing, Michigan. She has lived in Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio. Betty moved to Florida in 1988. Among other things, she proctors pesticide exams, works at the Fragrance Garden, is a Citrus Home Advisor, and has a special interest in orchids.

Gisela Schwab was born near Stuttgart, Germany and was raised in New York City. She lived most of her married life in New Jersey. Gisela and her husband came to Fort Myers when she retired from active teaching of German and Russian in 1993. Gisela works at the Horticulture Advisor Desk and is a Citrus Home Advisor.

Sonja Smith - Whiskey Creek, Central Fort Myers areas

Helen Subic - Cape Coral
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