Lee County Extension
Meet the Master Gardeners

William (Bill) Blankenship was born in Cincinnati, Ohio and raised as an Ohio farm boy in Moscow, Ohio.  He has a BA degree in (French major/English minor).  Bill was a Computer Analyst/Programmer of corporate banking and retail Financial Systems and Data Bases.  With retirement He moved to Fort Myers, Florida in July 2004.  The poorly kept yard required learning as much as possible about plants, bushes, palm trees, etc.  As a Florida Master Gardener trainee in 2005 he is much more familiar with what to do and what not to do.

Joan Bush is a retired school librarian and art teacher.  She settled in Cape Coral, Florida from Northwest Ohio in 1998, and became a Florida Master Gardener in December, 2005.  Joan's primary gardening focus is on Florida native plants and related environmental issues. She teaches FYN Introductory classes, participates in FYN Rain Barrel Workshops and represents Lee County FYN on the Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Programs Citizen Advisory Committee.

Warren Bush is a retired school administrator from Northwest Ohio. He settled in Cape Coral, Florida in 1998 and became a Florida Master Gardener in December, 2005.  Warren's primary gardening interests are with Florida native plants and related environmental issues. He teaches FYN Introductory classes, participates in FYN Rain Barrel Workshops and represents Lee County FYN on the Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program's Citizen Advisory Committee.

Don Carpenter was born in Indiana.  He attended Indiana University.  He worked for 20 years for a company in Louisville, KY as their Project Engineer.  He was responsible for the development of the commercial ice machines that produce the round ice tube with a hole in the center.  He was Assistant Chief Engineer when he left the company in 1976 and moved to St. Louis to start his own company to design and install commercial ice making systems worldwide.  He is retired and moved to Florida in 2001.  In Florida he found anew challenge and passion for gardening.  He wants to use my ability to help develop Lakes Park into a place many can find enjoyment.

Donna Cressman has had a long and enjoyable career connecting people and books.  She managed a chain of bookstores in Philadelphia for ten years.  Then she and her husband, George Boyer, owned and operated their own stores, Maxwell Books, near   Dallas, Texas.  After they retired, she and George moved to the "City of Palms".  Donna took the Master Gardener course to learn more about palms and other tropical plants, and graduated in 2005.  She enjoys working in the Palm Garden and the Butterfly Garden, as well as assisting in the FYN program.

Maryann Czarneckiwas 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.

Dick Dutton was born in Santa Rosa, California (Home of Luther Burbank). In 1973, He moved to Indiana to work with International Harvester. In 2003, Dick relocated to Okeechobee, Florida, where he became a Master Gardener that same year. By 2006, he was in Fort Myers and was accepted into the Lee County Master Gardener Program. Dick works the Horticultural Desk, volunteers at the greenhouse at Edison-Ford Estate, and is a member of the mulch assessment team.

Gayle Edwards was born and raised in Nashville, Tennessee. She is married to a Ford Motor Company employee for the past 41 years. She has learned to "Bloom wherever they were transferred." Detroit and Livonia in Michigan and Lima and Bay Village in Ohio as well as Bicknacre, England were once called "home" before moving to southwest Florida in 1998. Gayle was president of her garden club for 10 years and became an Ohio Master Gardener in 1996 and was a member of the 1999 Lee County Master Class that reworked the Butterfly Garden. She enjoys golf, cooking, quilting, photography, eco-tourism and membership in the Florida Native Plant Society as well as gardening. She has a tendency to take current interest to the obsessive level. Come visit her in the Butterfly Garden on Tuesday mornings.

Grace Fields was born in Southern California and raised in a military family. A vegetable garden, no matter how small, was always a part of family life. Grace worked in Maryland for many years and became a Master Gardener there in 1996. She became a Master Gardener in Florida in 2004 and has volunteered in the Herb Garden. She currently volunteers at the Horticulture Advisory Desk. She is also participating in a study on the effect of mulch on soil fertility.

Ron Gestwicki retired from teaching humanities at the University of North Carolina in Charlotte and returned to graduate school at Antioch University in New England.  He earned a Masters of Science in Environmental Studies.  After two internships at the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation, Ron was employed part-time as a biological technician.  Ron continues with the Foundation in the winter doing vegetation surveys.  His wife Carl and Ron live on Sanibel in the winter and in the foothills of the White Mountains of Maine in the summer.  Volunteer activities:  Florida Yards and Neighborhoods program. 

William Griffiths (Grif) 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.

Peg Gutmann moved from Michigan in November 2006 after spending 29 years working for Ford Motor Company.  Peg was a Michigan Advanced Master Gardener and had worked on several native gardens, a butterfly garden for a public library and a period herb garden for the Westland Historical Museum.  She was looking forward to working with Lee County Master Gardeners on the herb garden and doing research.  Peg became a Lee County Master Gardener in the class of 2007.

John Hulett was born in Washington D.C. and was raised on a dairy farm in upstate New York in the small town of Grandville. He spent three years in the USMC during World War II. John owned his own farm and as he said "ran the cows off the farm with sweet corn and became a market gardener." After moving to Fort Myers in 1981 and discovering garden was a bit different he became a Master Gardener in 1997, "to reeducate himyself." He now works at the Horticulture Advisory Desk, is a Citrus Home Advisor and does soil and water testings.

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.

Nancy Jones is a Master Gardener from the class of 2005. She lived and taught school in McLean, Virginia (just outside of Washington, DC) for 35 years where she enjoyed watching the dogwood and cherry trees blossom each year while growing roses, azaleas, and buddleia. Presently living on Sanibel, she volunteers at the Extension Office horticultural desk, Lakes Park, and Rutenberg Gardens with Florida Yards and Neighborhoods.

Born in St. Paul Minnesota, Jerry Jovanovich lived on a farm until he was 15 years old. He alternately lived in Forest Lake and Bear Lake, Minnesota. Jerry is a retired post office worker. He was a Minnesota Master Gardener for seven years before transferring to Lee County Master Gardeners in 1996. Jerry is president of Southwest Florida North American Butterfly Association. He raises butterflies, fish and flowers and assists others in yard maintenance and landscaping. Jerry is an accomplished artist. As a Master Gardener he teaches butterfly gardening and landscaping.

Kenneth Kath was born and grew up in Rochester, Minnesota. After the US Army, he moved to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, then to Nebraska, Tennessee and back to Cedar Rapids where he remained for 31 years. Ken and his wife moved to Lehigh Acres in 1994 and became a Master Gardener in 1996. He enjoys propagation of Florida’s plants and working at the Horticulture Advisory Desk. Ken coordinates the Annual Plant Auction in May and the big plant sale in November.

Marty Kendall grew up in the middle of corn fields in Ohio and always enjoyed warm tomatoes just off the vine.  After much schooling, Marty had a private practice in clinical psychology for many years in Michigan before moving to Florida in 2000.  Gardening, painting, scuba diving and archeology at the Randell Center are part of the daily ritual.  Her art work is at Wildchild Gallery in Matlacha, Florida, and her acre garden, complete with nesting eagles, is open daily for those who love the unusual.  Marty became a Florida Master Gardener in 2007.

Cheryl Lamm was born and raised in Durand, WI.  She moved to the Minneapolis / St. Paul area in 1967 where she worked for Bell–AT&T-Lucent in the technology sector for 30 years.  She graduated Summa cum Laude with a BFA from the U of MN.  Always being interested in both gardening and art, she became a 2005 graduate of the Florida Master Gardener program combining her two main passions.  Cheryl belongs to several Art organizations in SW Florida, as well as the Matlacha Hookers and the Pine Island Garden Club.  You can find her working in the Palm Garden on Tuesday Mornings. 

Kenneth D. Laser, Ph.D., grew up in a farm community near Big Rapids, Michigan with one brother and four sisters, and in an era with Victory Gardens, butchering and harvesting crops of grain to feed cattle and pigs.  Ken was an active 4-H member until college, and was always interested in fruits and vegetables; actively engaged in growing gourds and sunflowers.  His Undergraduate Degree in Science is from Ferris State University (Big Rapids) and Masters Degree in Biology/Education from the University of Northern Iowa and Ph.D. in Developmental Botany from Iowa State University (Ames) with Post Doctoral experience at Indiana University, Bloomington . . . continuing his  research with Sorghum. Ken has been an educator, training teachers and teaching life sciences in the classroom for 48 years, first at the middle and high school level, then numerous colleges and universities (Iowa State, IU, Stonybrook University, University of MD in Europe, U of MO St. Louis, Salem State College), as Education Chairman at Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, now an Adjunct Professor of Biology and Environmental Science at Florida Gulf Coast University and Edison College. His two daughters are teachers in Phoenix, his son works as a Budget Analyst with NIH, and Ken has seven grandchildren. In 2004, Ken received the Outstanding Teachers Award from the University of Florida in Gainesville (IFAS and Biology Departments.) He now lives in Cape Coral where Ken practices a lot of horticulture that he has learned from being a Master Gardener.  Volunteer Activities:
Volunteers as answering service for MG Program.
Serves on the Planning Committee for the annual MG conference.

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.

Celestine Luke was born in East Lansing, Michigan. She graduated from the University of Detroit School of Dental Hygiene. She became a Master Gardener in 1994. Celestine proctors the monthly pesticide exams, gives talk on orchids, and helps coordinate the plant clinics on Sanibel Island.

Ted Lundgren was born and raised in Akron, Ohio.  He moved to Cleveland in 1977 into a house on a double lot with 40 trees.  The rest was grass...that began to change after two-years of trying to replace the grass with the native Ohio plants.  Each year the landscaper would remove another foot of grass and make the plant beds larger.  Mary Beth and Ted moved to Florida, December 1999.  They began removing the "grass" during 2000 and planted all native vegetation.  The goal was to start his lawn mower every six-months just to be sure it still worked.  Today, no "grass" remains, only paths and 95% native plants. 
Volunteer Activities:  Cameraperson, filing, butterfly garden and "STUFF."

Philip Marks is a retired physician of 37 years in Southern California.  He formerly specialized in roses, specimen trees, and lawns. He moved to Sanibel two and a half years ago and has experienced several hurricanes.  He has no lawn – all mulch – mostly native trees, and shrubs.  Phil is now interested in palms, native plants, flowering shrubs, and unusual trees.  His other interests are: boating, inshore fishing, birding, and a member of the Planning Commission, City of Sanibel.

Anita Rae Marshall was born in Aurora, Colorado and traveled extensively as an Air Force brat.  Anita's husband and herself migrated to Ft. Myers from Orlando in the year 2000.  Anita became a Master Gardener in 2002 and a Master Naturalist in 2006. Her special interests are birds, butterflies, and backyard habitats.  She is a co-organizer for of the SWF Annual Butterfly Conference and writes monthly "Habitat Gardening" articles for Sebring Publications.  She works at Edison College as the District Horticulturist, where you'll find her keeping the gardens gorgeous for all three campuses.  Anita's gardening motto is: Wildlife habitat is now us backyard gardeners responsibly, investigate your backyard and see what you can do to improve your own habitat contribution for wildlife.

Kay Martin came to Florida in 1993 from South Dakota where she gardened on a rocky hillside.  She was always interested in gardening and was a novice weaver and potter.

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.

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.

Mary Ann Parsons is originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She lived in Naperville, Illinois for the last 20 years, where she retired from Lucent Technologies. She was a middle manager in software development for the wireless phone division. She has a bachelor degree from Marquette University and a master degree from Illinois Benedictine University. She graduated as a Master Gardener in 2002 and became a Citrus Home Advisor in 2003. She speaks on Litoral Planting.

John Rae has lived most of his life in the metropolitan Detroit area, always growing vegetables and flowers.  Now, in southern Lee County, as the president and landscape chair of his homeowner's association, he tends to the well-being of shrubs and turf.  John's personal interest is container gardening on the lanai and creating a tropical haven.

Carol Ratajczyk lived in Cleveland, Ohio, before moving to Lehigh Acres in August 2004 and plans to begin a new career in gardening design.  Her passion for gardening and their design began as an early teenager when she designed and built a rock garden, complete with a waterfall for her sister’s wedding.  Before leaving Ohio, she had seven different theme gardens to play in, and two more being planned.  She now works at a garden center and her favorite task is helping customers plan their garden beds.

Randy Rausch moved to North Fort Myers from California in 2003.  He received Bachelor of Science degree in Turf Grass Management in 1970 from Ohio State University.  Randy managed turf nurseries in Ohio and California.  He was a Supervising Groundskeeper for the State of California and a Master Gardener in San Bernardino County in 1986.  Retired in 2003 from the California Department of Corrections as an Associate Warden.  Randy became a Master Gardener for Lee County in 2004.  Primary interests are landscape and irrigation maintenance. He currently assists in the maintenance the irrigation systems around the gardens at Terry Park.  Randy, assists as a trainer in the Master Gardener and the home owners programs.

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.

Bobbi Robertson graduated from our Master Gardener Class 2005.  She was born in Stratford, Connecticut, but spent most of her adult life in the Garden State of New Jersey.  Bobbi worked as a floral designer until retiring to North Fort Myers in 1995.  She has been working for the Boston Red Sox Spring Training for the past 10 years.  Bobbi works in the Butterfly Garden and is on the planning committee for the Butterfly Conference.  Most recently she started Community Garden in North Fort Myers.

Karen Rodon retired in 2004 after a 36-year Federal career in Human Resources Management with the Veterans Administration.  Frank, her husband, and Karen are avid boaters.  They sailed their boat around the Great Loop from their previous home in western New York State to their new home in Ft. Myers. Karen has enjoyed gardening for years and in 2006 completed the introductory Florida Yards and Neighborhoods (FYN) course which piqued her interest in Florida native plants and our environment.  Karen became a Master Gardener in 2007 and has volunteered at Lakes Park and the Extension Office
Volunteer activities:  Lakes Park.

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.

Barbara H. Shafer was born, raised and married in Fort Myers, Florida. She is the mother of three children, their spouses and seven grandchildren. She received her Bachelor of Arts from College of Wooster and Masters from University of South Florida. She is a retired physical education teacher and coach from Fort Myers High School. Barbara has been a Master Gardener since 2002 and volunteers in the Butterfly Garden.

Beth Simpson is a long time resident of Lee County and a seventh generation Floridian (Florida Cracker).  She grew up with families of farmers and cattle ranchers.  She spent twenty years in Architectural services before retiring. 

JoAnn Soyka is a native New Jerseyian.  She worked as a lab technician all her life, starting with Burroughs Electronics, where in the 60's she personally created their first transistor.  When JoAnn left to have a baby and returned, the research dept. had jumped ahead lightyears.  Her next job was with National Starch and Chemical Co. where, eventually, JoAnn was the Quality Control Technician testing all their Super Glue. She stuck her fingers together more than once.  She even tested the adhesive underwater to simulate underwater bombs for bridges, etc.  Then, JoAnn worked for an environmental laboratory testing wastewaters and drinking waters for all kinds of noxious chemicals.  The house JoAnn lived in for almost 40 years had a yard that was mostly all shade and that made her crazy trying to grow flowering plants.  JoAnn thought it would be easier in Florida with so much sun.  Not so.  Now she is trying to grow at least one tree to afford my plants some shade!  JoAnn likes working outside and have been volunteering at ECHO since she went on a tour five years ago.  Now, as a Master Gardener, JoAnn is also working at Lakes Park, where she is still learning from the Master Gardeners there. 
Volunteer Activities:
Lakes Park’s Fragrance Garden.
Farmer’s Market.

Kathy White was born and raised in Buffalo, New York, lived in Marietta, Georgia for 23 years and moved to Ft. Myers Beach in 2005. Kathy's husband and she resides at Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia during the summer months.  Kathy has worked as a medical laboratory technician, a secondary school chemistry teacher and retired as Director of the West Georgia Science and Technology Center. Impressed by the community work done by Master Gardener friends in Georgia, she became a Lee County Master Gardener in 2005.
Volunteer Activities:
- Lakes Park’s Fragrance Garden.
- Rutenberg Florida Yards and Neighborhoods (FYN) program.
- Interested in working with school groups.

Terence Wolfley was born and raised in southeastern Idaho. He’s been gardening in many areas of the world for more than 50 years. Terence main interests are tropical and temperate fruit trees and vegetables. He enjoys gardening, woodworking and amateur radio. Terence is an active participant of the Master Gardener Speaking Tour, he works the Horticulture Advisory Desk, and is a member of the Southwest Florida Garden and Landscape Conference planning team. You can read Terence weekly garden columns in the LeHigh Acres News-Star.