Sometimes you are blessed to work with wonderful people, and get to call them friends, too. Sometimes this leads to some heartbreak when they leave us.
Our dear Wilma Holley, our master gardener volunteer and recently retired Florida Friendly Landscaping Specialist recently passed away. Her celebration of life was full of folks that loved Wilma, and we enjoyed sharing Wilma stories as we watched butterflies dance by us as we laughed and cried together. We’ll be missing Wilma. She was kind, funny, practical, and forthright. She was so insightful and knowledgeable about plants, gardening, wildlife, pollinators and bugs, irrigation, rain barrels, and so much more- she shared beautiful photographs and images with those fortunate to attend her workshops as she was a gifted photographer, too.
A knowledgeable and generous colleague and volunteer
I remember being in our office lobby and as she entered the office at least five people had questions for her before she could even set her bag down- some of us staff, some of us volunteers, and some of the public, too. Such was her breadth of knowledge she had wisdom to share with each of us. We didn’t google, we “Wilma’d” and we kept her busy until her retirement just a short couple years ago. Such was her dedication to her work, the master gardeners, our extension, and her love of gardening, that she became a master gardener volunteer after her retirement so she could continue to share her skills and knowledge with us and our community.
Humble and kind
One of the many qualities I appreciated about Wilma was how approachable she was. She had a welcoming and helpful manner- that wasn’t obstructed by ego. She wasn’t interested in proving she knew more about plants than many- she was simply compelled to give great guidance when asked. And we asked a lot. We learned a lot. The impact she made cannot truly be measured. Yet, the stories we shared of Wilma- how she helped us appreciate more about the flora and fauna of Florida, stories how she changed us- what we grew, how we grew both in practice and in ourselves. Like the seeds of wildflowers -what Wilma sowed in all of us and in the plants and spaces she gardened, we will continue to see emerging, growing, and resowing for generations to come. What a way to be Florida-Friendly, for our ecosystem and for each other.
Sowing it Forward: Respite in gardens
I can only be grateful to have had time with Wilma, a generous colleague and my kind friend. She was the sort of person that soon after meeting her, you could be comfortable, feeling like you knew each other far longer than you did. I am one of many who will be missing her and when sorrow needs somewhere to go, I find myself going outside and taking solace in the gardens. If you find yourself missing Wilma, too, or looking for some garden inspiration and the welcome respite that gardens and gardening can offer, please visit our extension office and enjoy viewing the pollinators, Florida Friendly plants, and the Wilma inspired wildflower meadow that is just dawning. In this way, and along with all the wisdom and care she propagated in us through the years, may we continue to share a little bit of Wilma with each other.
You can still learn from Wilma and enjoy hearing her voice in two versions of similar topic about Florida Friendly principles for edible gardening. Shared Spaces: Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Principles in Your Edible Garden (webinar) 90 minute version
or 60 minute version tweaked for school gardens. How to BEE Florida-Friendly in Your Edible Garden
story maps of gardens and more
More about the master gardener program
Event listings for garden tours
Garden design and types of gardens
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