Instructor Bios

Mary Allinson is one Section Gardeners responsible for the Conservatory Displays working specifically with the Bonsai and Garden Path.  As one of the team leaders for the Christmas Season, she helps create the displays for the Music Room and Ballroom each year.  Mary is a graduate of the Longwood Professional Gardener Program and has a degree in Fine Art from the Indiana University of PA. She has worked at Longwood for over 25 years and is an avid home gardener.

Dr. Susan Barton earned her Ph.D. from the University of Delaware and has worked there as an extension specialist and assistant professor for over 20 years.  Her projects include researching and implementing new roadside vegetation management strategies, and the Plants for a Livable Delaware Program, designed to provide alternatives to known invasive plants.  Susan promotes sustainable initiatives by teaching both students and professionals.

Antonia Bellanca is a floral and perfume designer. Antonia studied art in Boston and then in France, where she discovered wonderful varieties of flowers that she had up until then only seen in pictures - anemones, poppies, mimosa, freesia, and many more. She moved to New York City, and opened a flower shop on Madison Avenue. Always looking to learn she began working with the chief perfumer of one of the country's finest essential oil houses. She has said “I imagined a perfume that would evoke the experience of entering my flower shop,” and has created Antonia's Flowers, Sogni del Mare, Floret, Tiempe Passate perfumes.  http://www.antoniasflowers.com/index.asp

Nancy Bell is the manager of Ornamental Plants at Gateway Garden Center in Hockessin, DE.  She has developed a lifelong fascination and passion for all things nature into a career in horticulture.  She is an avid Master Gardener, who has created workshops on Landscaping with Ornamental Grasses and Gardening for Wildlife. Her own yard is certified as a Backyard Habitat by the National Wildlife Federation.  Nancy was involved in the complete restoration of the pond and creek bed at Fenimore Woods in Radnor PA. 

Dr. Richard L. Bitner completed both Certificate programs and has been a Plant Study Walk instructor since 1993. He teaches the Conifers and Deciduous Flowering Shrubs II courses. He is on the Pennsylvania Horticulture Society’s Gold Metal Plant Award Committee. His best-selling Timber Press book Conifers for Gardens: An Illustrated Encyclopedia was published recently. For his day job he is an anesthesiologist and faculty member of the Penn State Hershey Medical Center.
 
Jim Bobb is a Penn State Master Gardener and teaches horticulture classes at the Barnes Foundation and Montgomery County Cooperative Extension Service and is active in the Mid Atlantic Hardy Plant Society.  He served as the president of the Pennsylvania State Beekeepers Association and is the Chairman of the Board for the Eastern Apiculture Society.  Jim runs over 140 hives at various local arboretums and other public gardens.

Nancy Bosold is an extension agent with the Penn State Cooperative Extension in southeast Pennsylvania specializing in turf grass management. She provides educational programs and consultation for professional turf managers.

Randi Bradley received her Certificate of Merit in Ornamental Plants in 1987. She has been a lab instructor for the Longwood Gardens Continuing Education certificate courses since the inception of the program. An assistant with the Continuing Education office Randi organizes plant lists, mapping and specimen collection for the certificate courses. Randi is a Norwegian National who has lived and gardened in Kenya, South Africa, Greece, and Switzerland.

Tom Brightman holds a B.S. degree in American Civilization with a minor in Legal Studies, and a Master of Environmental Studies degree, both from the University of Pennsylvania. He is the Land Steward at Longwood Gardens, responsible for the health and care of the 700 acres of natural and perimeter lands at Longwood, and is involved in several of Longwood’s sustainability initiatives. 

Dr. Jules Bruck, APLD received her Ph.D. in Agricultural Education from Texas A&M University. She is a certified member of the Association of Professional Landscape Designers (APLD) and has been an assistant professor of Landscape Design at the University of Delaware since 2006. Jules has taught landscape design at Longwood Gardens since 2001 and now teaches Landscape Design Studio I and II.

Rob Cardillo, an accomplished photographer, is the former Director of Photography at Organic Gardening Magazine, and a current member and former regional director of the Garden Writers Association. His work now appears in magazines such as Garden Design, Horticulture, Better Homes and Gardens, and numerous other publications, as well as on his website www.robcardillo.com.

Susan Cartwright started at Longwood Gardens as a Display intern and she is now a full-time gardener for Hillside section; she earned a Bachelors of Science in Environmental Horticulture/Urban Forestry from University of California, Davis and was a professional floral designer in the San Francisco Bay Area and Napa Valley.

Shelley Clemens holds a Certificate of Merit in Floral Design from Longwood Gardens and as well as a degree in floral design from the Community College of Baltimore. A Federated Garden Clubs “Best in Show” winner, Shelley is a floral designer working in a full service floral shop as well as providing free lance design services for floral businesses in the Baltimore area.
 
David Culp is a well-known gardener, past president of the Hardy Plant Society, and a sales representative for Sunny Border Nurseries, Inc., the largest perennial grower on the East Coast. David lectures throughout the United States, contributes articles to a variety of horticulture magazines, and has taught at Longwood for several years.

Marilyn Daly is an Assistant Professor in the Biology Department at York College of Pennsylvania. She conducts plant trials on her farm in Dallastown, Pennsylvania. She travels extensively, especially to South Africa, always searching for new and exciting plants that can be grown here. Her gardens, travels, and research have been featured in numerous magazines and newspapers, and in television and radio interviews.

Roger Davis earned a degree in horticulture from Clemson University, and is now a Senior Gardener in the outdoor division of Longwood’s Horticulture Department. He focuses on the Topiary gardens.

Sarah Deacle received her B.S. degree in Biology from The College of William and Mary, and her M.S. in Horticulture from Michigan State University. Her horticultural work experiences include research assistantships, herbarium work, a now long-ago Longwood internship in Visitor Education, and a stint as an extension agent for Cornell University Cooperative Extension. She currently works at the Delaware Center for Horticulture and teaches at Temple University.

Dennis Donald has studied bonsai for over 35 years and is a member of the Brandywine Bonsai Society, the Delaware Valley Bonsai Study Group, and is on the Board of Directors of the National Bonsai and Penjing Museum in Washington, D.C.  A retiree from the DuPont Company where he was a research fellow, Dennis now volunteers for Longwood’s bonsai collection.

Ronell Douglass is an Associate First Degree Master of the Ohara School of Ikebana. She has studied at the Ohara Headquarters in Tokyo, Japan. For many years, she attended seminars in given by Grand Master, Mutsuo Tomita. Demonstrations and workshops for Ikebana International Chapters have taken her to major East Coast cities. Ronell has been President of the North American Ohara Teachers Association, the Delaware Valley Chapter of Ohara, as well as, the Philadelphia Chapter of Ikebana International

Jeanne Frett has been a research horticulturist at Mt. Cuba Center for the past nineteen years. Her responsibilities include native plant propagation and
production research. Jeanne has authored several horticultural references including Asters in the Mid-Atlantic Region and Trilliums at Mt. Cuba Center, A
Visitor’s Guide.

Carol Gangemi is a professional graphic designer and illustrator and a member of the American Society of Botanical Artists. She has exhibited her work in galleries and at the Philadelphia Flower Show, and has instructed art classes at the University of Delaware, Wilmington College, and the Moore College of Art and Design.

Dick Gies manages the Blue Bird Project at Longwood.  His team builds, repairs and monitors over 120 boxes, plus various Wood Duck, Owl and other nesting boxes.  A longtime period furniture maker (helpful in making bird boxes!), Dick also gardens on the property once owned by the great-grandson of Joshua Peirce of the Peirce-duPont House.

Karl Gercens is a section gardener responsible for many of the changing displays in the Longwood conservatories. Karl has worked at Walt Disney World in Florida and Filoli Estate in California, and has visited hundreds of gardens to gain inspiration and new ideas for planting creative gardens with seasonal interest.

Kari Getchonis is a graduate of Cornell University with a B.S. degree in Plant Science.  She has been a Gardener in the Display division at Longwood for four years and currently takes care of several areas in the outdoor east section of the gardens.  Her favorite plants are native bog and wetland plants, which she enjoys looking for in the wild.  Kari uses nursery-propagated specimens of this fascinating plant palette to create a display of bog containers in Peirce’s Plaza each year.

Richard Greenwood is a fine arts photographer whose repertoire spans from macro photography to landscapes.  A photographer for over 40 years, he continues to grow and explore new modes of photographic expression.  Frequently combining photography and writing assignments, his works are featured in magazines, galleries, and homes throughout the northeast. 

Jane Godshalk earned an MBA in Organizational Behavior before discovering her passion, floral design.  She has received certificates from Longwood Gardens in Floral Design and Ornamental Plants and a certificate in Dutch floral design; most recently Jane earned the designation of a Certified Floral Designer who will be inducted into AIFD in 2010.  Jane is an artistic judge for the Garden Club of America (GCA) and received the GCA National Medal for consistently innovative floral design.  Her work has been featured in books and magazines.

Mark Gormel is a frequent lecturer, professional photographer, and native plant consultant, with an emphasis on the design, installation and management of native plant wildflower meadows. Since 1990 he has been Horticultural Coordinator for the Brandywine Conservancy and is responsible for its native plant horticulture programs at the Brandywine River Museum.

Mark Highland pushed his first shovel into garden soil on a beautiful piece of Illinois farmland. After he “grew up”, he earned a B.S. degree in Environmental Horticulture at the University of Florida. Mark focused his M.S. degree studies on compost and potting soil. After the Longwood Graduate Program, Mark started an organic, peat-free potting soil company, The Organic Mechanic Soil Company, LLC.

Kirk Himelick earned a M.S. in horticulture and a Master of Landscape Architecture at the University of Illinois.  Kirk taught landscape design courses at the University of Illinois and  the University of Delaware. He  works as  landscape designer, and teaches Small Flowering Trees in the Certificate of Merit Series.

Robin Howell is a Senior Gardener in Longwood’s Central Outdoor Section, specializing in the formal rose garden and rose arbor. He received a B.S. in horticulture from the University of Kentucky. He is also a graduate of the Longwood Certificate of Merit in Ornamental Plants Series I and II.

Jeff Jabco holds a M.S. degree in horticulture and plant pathology from North Carolina State University. He is the Director of Grounds and Coordinator of Horticulture for the Scott Arboretum at Swarthmore College, teaches botany in Longwood’s Certificate of Merit in Ornamental Plants Program, and is also an instructor in Longwood’s Professional Gardener Training Program. He frequently lectures on sustainability and gardens, and is vice-president and co-founder of the Mid-Atlantic Peony Society. Jeff was named Teacher of the Year in 2009 by the North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture.

Jeff Janoski is graduate of the Longwood Gardens Certificate of Merit in Ornamental Plants Series I and Series II, he has experience in both urban gardening and naturalistic landscape design.  He is a judge for the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society City Gardens Contest and a member of the horticultural information committee for the Philadelphia Flower Show.  Jeff earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Yale University and his Juris Doctor at Cornell.    Tim Jennings is a graduate of Longwood’s Professional Gardener Training Program and is the section gardener responsible for Longwood’s Outdoor Waterlily display, fern passage, and rose house. Tim and former Longwood Waterlily display expert Pat Nutt continue to teach several popular water gardening courses at Longwood Gardens.

Mike Leventry is the Integrated Pest Management Specialist and is responsible for managing pests of all indoor and outdoor ornamental plants at Longwood Gardens to maximize plant health while minimizing the environmental impact. One of Mike’s primary responsibilities is to track and maintain the health of Longwood’s 500+ hemlock species. 

Ginny Levy studied botany and education at the University of Delaware and has been employed by Longwood since 2000, working in several areas and special display projects throughout the conservatories. Ginny has taken many Continuing Education courses, including both Certificates of Merit in Ornamental Plants and the Certificate of Merit in Floral Design.
 
Rick Lewandowski has been the director at Mt. Cuba Center for ten years and was formerly the director of horticulture at the Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania for seven years. Rick has published numerous articles about gardening and horticulture and currently is a featured monthly columnist for The News Journal, Wilmington, Delaware.

Dr. Robert Lyons holds a Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota and is the Program Director for the Longwood Graduate Program in Public Horticulture. He has served on the faculty of Virginia Tech, North Carolina State University, and currently at the University of Delaware. Bob is also an avid photographer, lecturing nationally on horticultural photography, and has published his work in numerous publications, print and electronic, most notably Horticopia garden software www.horticopia.com.
 
Betty Mackey is knowledgeable in the craft of trough making, and has created and produced two multimedia CDs and is the editor of two books on making and planting troughs and alpine gardens. She has taught trough-making at the Philadelphia Flower Show, as well as at Longwood Gardens.

Dan Maffei creates gardens for private, public and commercial clients throughout southeast Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland with an emphasis on horticultural sustainability, meaningful spatial relationships and appropriate, high-quality materials and construction

Joyce Mason-Monheim AIFD, PFCI, AZMF, a prestigious floral industry free-lance designer and educator, earned a floriculture degree in 1976. She is a Teleflora Educational Specialist and a trustee for the Professional Floral Communicators International. She holds AIFD positions - 2nd Vice-chairman for Membership and Education Chairman. Joyce has served as President of many local, state and regional organizations and is an Arizona Master Florist. She has published in many media outlets focusing on trade editorials and design photography and participates in special event coordination including the Rose Parade, Presidential Inauguration and Design Chairman for the Society of American Florist Annual Convention.

Kat McCullough is an indoor display gardener responsible for maintaining the Mediterranean and Silver gardens.  Her work with the succulents in these gardens has sparked an intense interest in using these easy and durable plants at home.  She has a B.S. in Environmental Studies with a minor in Botany from Stockton College in New Jersey and has previously worked at a golf course in Newark, DE and a private estate in Chaddsford, PA.

Cres Motzi is a Longwood Gardens Certificate of Merit in Floral Design graduate and an internationally trained floral designer.  She recently earned the designation Certified Floral Designer and will be inducted into AIFD in 2010.  She works full-time at Robertson’s Flowers designing flowers for every occasion.  An award winning designer at the most recent Philadelphia Flower Show, she demonstrates flower arranging locally and writes for GCA By Design, a publication of the Garden Club of America.

Bob Mulrooney earned his M.S. in plant pathology from the University of Delaware (UD) in 1974, and has been the extension Plant Pathologist at the University of Delaware Cooperative Extension Service since 1977. He leads the Plant Diagnostic Clinic and Nematode Testing Service at UD, and regularly speaks and writes about current pest issues. He instructs for the UD Ornamental Horticulture Short Course Program as well as Longwood Gardens.

Chad Nelson is an Assistant Professor of Landscape Design at the University of Delaware and is a registered landscape architect consulting with the firm of Rodney Robinson Landscape Architects, Inc.  A student of Warren Byrd and Richard Scott, he encourages students with examples and real experience to increase their ability to communicate through drawing.  With degrees from the University of Virginia and the University of Delaware, he loves to travel and has honed his sketching skills around the world.  Recent study trips have included France, Brazil, and Italy.

Rafael Nightingale received a BA in biology from the University of Rhode Island.  He is certified by the International Society of Arboriculture and a full time arborist at Longwood Gardens.

Patrick Nutt received his horticultural training at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, England and came to Longwood Gardens in 1957. He worked with waterlily expert, George Pring, to plan and develop Longwood’s world famous waterlily display. Although now retired from Longwood, Pat continues to stay active as a knowledgeable resource, particularly on waterlilies.

Gwynne Ormsby is an alumna of the Arboretum School of the Barnes Foundation and a graduate of the Longwood Gardens Certificate of Merit in Ornamental Plants Series I.  For over twenty years, she gardened with people with mental retardation, growing and using dried flowers.  She worked at Barclay Friends, of the Kendal Organization’s retirement communities in West Chester, designing and installing enabling gardens for use by residents in therapeutic programs.

Alan Petravich is the Senior Gardener in research at Longwood Gardens. His work deals with a great variety of plants both under glass and in the nursery. He received a B.S. in biology from Penn State University with an emphasis on botany and a minor in theater. Alan then completed an M.S. in ornamental horticulture at Penn State. He was a grower for Trail Gardens Inc. in Pottsville, PA for three years before joining the staff at Longwood.

Thomas Purviance is the co- owner of Parkside Orchid Nursery.  Thomas is a former Director of Alumni and Development Programs at Westminster Choir College. A full-time business grew out of an intrest in orchrids when “raising a few plants as a hobby”.  Parkside has grown to be one of the largest orchid nurseries in the northeastern United States with 13,000 square feet of growing space.

Catherine Renzi has an A.B. in Art/Architecture from Smith College and a Master’s degree in History of Art from the University of Pennsylvania. She became interested in landscape and conservation through a lifelong passion for growing food, flowers, and raising all sorts of plants and animals. She is a popular public speaker and prolific writer. You can find more information about Catherine at www.yellowspringsfarms.com which is the culmination of her lifelong interest in art and nature.

John Ritterson, a Senior Gardener in the outdoor division at Longwood Gardens, is a graduate of the University of Delaware as well as Longwood’s Certificate of Merit in Ornamental Plants Series I and II. John is an active volunteer with many regional horticultural institutions and does consulting for the gardening community.

Joyce Rondinella, a graduate of Longwood’s Professional Gardener Training Program, is currently the Senior Gardener in charge of the care and display of the tropical plants in Longwood’s conservatory. Joyce has instructed several continuing education courses, as well as ornamental plant courses for the Professional Gardener Program.

Eileen Rosen has extensive experience teaching botanical, scientific, natural, and medical illustration. She is an instructor at various institutions, including the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Pennsylvania Horticulture Society, Scott Arboretum, Morris Arboretum, and Jenkins Arboretum. She is a member of the Guild of Natural and Scientific Illustrators and the American Society for Botanical Artists, and her work has appeared in various publications.

Craig Rybinski  is a professional garden designer and consultant.  His concentration is on residential design and he has created countless gardens since 1982.  A background in architecture and design combined with a love of plants and horticulture his designs provide a year-round garden experience.

Nora Sadler earned a Bachelor of Science in Plant Science and a Bachelor of Arts in Earth Resources/Geography from the University of Delaware and has completed the Longwood Gardens Series I and Series II Certificate of Merit programs.  Nora has been the staff gardener for the Brandywine Conservancy since 1992.   She has a one acre garden that emphasizes native plants.

Dr. John Salventi is the co- owner of Parkside Orchid Nursery.  John is a former health-care professional. A full-time business grew out of an intrest in orchrids when “raising a few plants as a hobby”.  Parkside has grown to be one of the largest orchid nurseries in the northeastern United States with 13,000 square feet of growing space.

Nancy Gingrich Shenk, a graduate of the Rittner’s Floral School in Boston, Ma and the Dutch Masters’ Design School in Lisse, Holland, and has a Praktijkdiploma from Stoas College in Holland. She has owned her own custom design studio for over 25 years. Nancy was a member of the floral design teams for two former presidents’ inaugurations, and her work has been featured in several magazines. She was named Teacher of the Year in 2008 by the North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture.
 
Janet Solomon has been studying Ikebana for over twenty years and has  attended an intensive study program at Ikenobo headquarters in Kyoto. She has attained the rank of Professor in the Ikenobo school. She is a founding member and current head of the Ikenobo Ikebana Main Line Study Group and teaches on-going adult education classes in a variety of settings. Janet gives demonstrations regularly at the Philadelphia Flower Show, garden clubs and civic associations in the Philadelphia area, as well as to Ikebana International in Bermuda.

Ed Somers is a seasonal employee at Longwood.  He started working as a volunteer 10 years ago after retiring from the DuPont Company.  The entire time has been spent specializing in aquatics and the indoor hibiscus/rose display.  Ed has traveled twice to the Amazon to collect seed for the Victoria Platters as well as the discovery of a new species of Drawf Amazonica.

Allan Summers, is an Associate with Rodney Robinson Landscape Architects, Inc., a  registered Landscape Architect, LEED Accredited Professional, and a graduate of The Professional Gardener Training Program. He has over 19 years experience in landscape architectural design including: master planning, public and private gardens, horticultural exhibits and renovations to historic sites. He practices landscape design using creative solutions that are contextually appropriate, incorporating thorough horticultural and construction knowledge.

Jim Sutton is the Display Designer at Longwood Gardens, having been the section gardener in the Main Conservatory for over 10 years.  His work as a floral designer for parties and special events has made him an avid home gardener and a passionate outdoor entertainer. Preparation for the fragrance exhibit for 2010 has added to his command of the nuances of “fragrant” plant selection and design planning.

Renee Talley has an A.S. in Horticulture from Temple University and a M.S. in Educational Leadership from Neumann College She completed the Certificate of Merit Series I and is nearing the completion of Series II.  Retired from teaching she operates her own landscape business full-time.  
Midori Tanimune, a Japan native, holds diplomas and high ranking teaching certificates from the renowned Sogetsu School of Ikebana in Tokyo. Midori is held in high regard by the International Ikebana community, and has taught Ikebana courses at numerous venues, including the Philadelphia Flower Show, Philadelphia Horticulture Center, and the US National Arboretum.

Harold Taylor is the Section Gardener for Longwood’s Idea Garden, specifically working with vegetables, herbs, fruits, and the Compost Demonstration site.  He is a graduate of the Longwood Professional Gardener Training Program.  Harold has worked at Longwood for over 20 years and is an avid home gardener.  
Joshua Taylor, Jr brings a background of over thirty years experience in photography. Josh has presented workshops at the Smithsonian National Orchid Show, U.S. National Arboretum, U.S. Botanic Garden, as well as in the Smithsonian Studio Arts Program and at the Corcoran School of Art and Design. Josh speaks at camera and garden clubs, judges photographic competitions, and exhibits his photographs in gallery shows.

Nick Tomlan is a senior Gardener in Longwood’s Idea Garden. Starting in 2000 as a groundskeeper, he has since worked in the Longwood Nursery, Main Fountain Garden, and is now responsible for the care of the perennial, grass, vines, groundcover, and informal rose gardens, and the idea garden container area.

Art Tucker is a Research Professor in the Dept. of Agriculture & Natural Resources at Delaware State University and Co-Director of the Claude E. Phillips Herbarium.  He has published widely on essential oils and perfumery. Look for his newest publication the Encyclopedia of Herbs offered by Timber Press. A list of his other publications can be found at http://cars.desu.edu/faculty/atucker/.

Scott Wade is a graduate of Penn State, 90', with a degree in Liberal Arts. He has over 17 years of experience in commercial landscaping and the private garden sectors. Scott is a "stay at home Dad" with his three children and wife in Media, Pa. When he isn't busy with the family, he manages Verde Consulting, a residential and commercial horticultural liaison. He is the State coordinator of the Champion Tree Program with the Pennsylvania Forestry Association and has found and measured many champion trees.

Jonathan Wright is a graduate of  the Professional Gardener program at Longwood Gardens and Temple University. He gained horticulture experience during his internship at  Herron’s Wood in Washington State and while traveling after being awarded the Chanticleer Fellowship. Jonathan currently works at Chanticleer, where he is responsible for the teacup garden, the entrance as well as the tennis court garden where he uses a wide array of hardy and non hardy tropical to create the displays..

Michael Zawislak is a groundskeeper at Longwood Gardens specializing in turfgrass pesticide application and mowing patterns. He holds a degree in business from Western New England College and a certificate in Sportsturf Management from the University of Georgia. Mike also works part time for the Philadelphia Phillies.