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After 34 years of Service, Mary Lou Retires
Dear Master Gardeners,
I was hired to create Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs for agriculture, but my interest in Master Gardeners started early. I remember attending the California State Fair in the early 1980's and being somewhat horrified to find the UC Master Gardeners answering questions using the Ortho Problem Solver and the Rodale Guide to Organic Gardening. I was told that they relied on these books because UC provided very little garden pest management information. This motivated me to write Pests of the Garden and Small Farm and later to hire Steve Dreistadt to compile Pests of Landscape Trees and Shrubs. From there we moved on to the Pest Notes, Quick Tips, UC IPM web site, UC IPM kiosk, our YouTube channel, blog and Twitter. Master Gardeners embraced and promoted all these products and now UCIPM is as well known for its home and garden information as for agricultural IPM.
I have loved teaching Master Gardener volunteers. They are the most enthusiastic students ever. I learn something every single time I go out and teach a class—and I've taught thousands of them. UC Master Gardeners inspire so much of what we do.
For example, it was Master Gardeners who stimulated our research on convergent lady
beetle releases for aphid control. All the published literature said releases weren't useful, but Master Gardeners challenged this idea. Over a 3-year study, Steve Dreistadt and I found that they were right, and we published several journal articles documenting the results.
Last but not least, thank you to all of you Master Gardener Coordinators. Each of you does an incredible job gently guiding and informing your enthusiastic volunteers. I have watched you in action and you do something special every day.
Sincerely,
Comments:
Thanks for all you have done for Master Gardeners. You have many friends and admirers out in Master Gardener Land that appreciate all that you have done. Thanks for your knowledge, dedication, the years of service and now for the next best job in the world---enjoy your retirement.
Lee Miller
San Joaquin County MG
It has been wonderful having you create so many fabulous resources for the Master Gardeners to use for educating the public. Your many publications have made our job so much easier over the years. Your constant innovation and creation of new types and forms of resources made the information so much more accessible. Thank you so very much for seeing a need and addressing it so well. Thank you for all your years of service to the University and best wishes for a happy retirement.
Yvonne Rasmussen,
Volunteer Program Coordinator
UC Master Gardeners of Napa County
I always enjoyed interviewing you. You explained things so well and have a great sense of humor.
Have a wonderful retirement!
You have been such a tremendous gift to the Master Gardener program throughout California. On behalf of the Butte County Master Gardeners, I would like to thank you for your service. The information you have provided us is so valuabe. Not only are Pests of Landscape Trees and Shrubs and Pests of the Garden and Small Farm our favorite "take with" resources, you have given us Pest Notes, Quick Tips and an absolutely incredible IPM website! And it just gets better and better.
When you come to teach a new class of Master Gardeners, I am always deeply touched by your conveyance to them of their value in our California communities. You take the time to make everyone present truly feel like our mission matters and we are greatful for your enthusiastic support of our programs.
Again, thank you for all you have done for The University of California and for the Master Gardener Program. We wish you the very best in your retirement and all of your future adventures.
Sincerely,
Marian Stevens
Master Gardener Coordinator
Butte County
Posted by Marian Stevens on July 11, 2014 at 1:30 PM