Meet a Master Gardener
Welcome to our “Meet a Master Gardener Volunteer” blog series, where we spotlight the dedicated individuals who make a significant impact in our community through their passion for horticulture and education.
As the season of giving thanks approaches, it’s a perfect time to reflect on the incredible contributions of the volunteers who enrich the UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County Master Gardener Volunteer Program. These individuals dedicate their time, knowledge, and passion to create a positive impact in our community, inspiring those around them with their generosity and enthusiasm.
In this installment of our “Meet a Master Gardener Volunteer” series, I am thrilled to introduce Carol Holmes, whose journey as a Master Gardener Volunteer is as inspiring as it is impactful. Carol exemplifies what it means to give back, combining her love of gardening with a commitment to education and community service. Her efforts have touched countless lives, from students discovering the joy of growing plants to inmates learning horticultural skills for a brighter future.
Carol’s story not only highlights her dedication to the program but also her adventurous spirit and love of learning. I’m continually inspired by volunteers like Carol, whose willingness to share their passions and life adventures make our program truly special.
Since becoming a Sarasota Master Gardener Volunteer in 2014, Carol Holmes has volunteered more than 1,500 hours across several projects, but particularly in the School Gardens project, 4-H, and the Horticulture Program at the Sarasota County Correctional Facility. Her love of gardens has influenced her travel itinerary. Her organizational skills, honed in the transportation industry, came into play, when she was finally able to time her excursions to see azaleas in bloom.
Tell us something about yourself, and what sparked your interest in gardening
My first gardening experiences were growing up in a family of five in Indianapolis, Indiana, and having flowers – pansies, four o’clocks, alyssum, petunias and tulips in our yard and a garden plot of vegetables. My two sisters and I helped plant and maintain the vegetable garden, which most summers supplied us with tomatoes, cucumbers, green bean and radishes.
Living most of my working adult live in Cleveland, Ohio, and being a single mother with a hockey playing son, I did not do much gardening. I worked for Stouffer Foods as their Cargo Claims Manager for 15 years, and then took the same position with Lester Coggins Trucking with the prospect of a move to Florida.
Once retired and moved to Sarasota in 2010, my husband and I bought a house with many palms and shrubs. I then decided I needed to learn about Florida’s plants and so something worthwhile in retirement. Learning of the Master Gardener program at the UF/IFAS Sarasota County Extension, I took the class in 2014.
Tell us about your involvement with the Master Gardener Volunteer Program
As a Master Gardener I have spent a great deal of time in the Sarasota County Extension’s School Gardens program, helping to install gardens at Sarasota County schools. Each semester, in February and September, plant starts and seeds are planted by students in school garden beds. As many as 30 Sarasota County Schools participate in this program. At one planting, a third grader said to me, as he held a plant start in his hand, “What are these white things?” He was asking about the plant’s roots—confirming to me why I think school gardens are so important.
I help out with 4-H activities such as the radish judging contest and the Sarasota County Fair, which are always rewarding and enjoyable. I am one of several Master Gardeners, who teach in the Horticulture Program at the Sarasota County Correctional Facility every other Tuesday. The program, with a well-designed University of Florida-based curriculum, presents the inmates gardening ideas that can be implemented upon their release. The inmates look forward to seeing the “Garden Girls” when they come.
I served as Treasurer of the MGV group from 2015 to 2017. I was also asked to serve as the MGV representative on both the Sarasota County Extension Director’s Advisory Committee and on the Advisory Committee of the Food and Nutrition Program. I felt honored and learned a great deal about Extension’s programs and activities.
Describe how you have blended both your love of gardens and travel
Since my husband and I love to travel in our little 20’ used Jayco travel trailer, we have traveled to 45 states in the lower 48 (as they say in Alaska!) We have visited, but not camped in California, Oregon, Washington, and Alaska. When we have traveled, we have seen many gardens in various states—the Powell Botanical Garden in Kansas City, Kansas; the Atlanta Botanical Garden in Atlanta, Georgia; the Coastal Maine Botanical Garden in Boothbay, Maine; and Butchart Gardens in Brentwood Bay, British Columbia, Canada, to name a few. Visiting these gardens gives me such an appreciation for the diversity of flora and fauna in our country and elsewhere.
As they say, “the third time is charm”—it took three trips and three years for Bob and me to finally see azaleas in bloom. Our first trip three years ago was to Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain, Georgia, and the last two were to Maclay State Park in Tallahassee. During the second trip to Maclay Park, not only were the azaleas in bloom, but there were lovely vistas and other interesting plant specimens. Of special interest to me are the Kurume Azaleas, which were originally collected from Mount Kirishima, Japan, in the 1850s.
Two other plants of interest in Maclay Park are the Florida Torreya (Torreya taxifolia)—nearly extinct in its native habitat because of a lethal fungus disease; and the Ashe’s Magnolia (Magnolia macrophylla var. ashei), which is a Florida endangered native species that can be 25-30 feet tall, and has 18-32 inches (in.) long leaves, and 6 in. white fragrant blossoms with a purple blotch at the base of each petal.
Maclay State Park was originally part of the Lafayette Land Grant, and is one of my favorite gardens. As a Master Gardener, I find its history fascinating and important.
Conclusion: Giving Thanks for Carol Holmes and Her Inspiring Journey
Carol Holmes’ story is a wonderful reminder of the passion, dedication, and curiosity that define our Master Gardener Volunteers. Her commitment to education and community service, combined with her love of gardens and travel, showcases the many ways our volunteers enrich lives and inspire others.
As we give thanks during this season, I am especially grateful for volunteers like Carol, whose contributions make a lasting impact on our program and the Sarasota community. Her willingness to share her time, knowledge, and life adventures serves as a beacon for others to explore the fascinating world of horticulture.
I hope Carol’s story inspires you to find your own connection to nature, whether through gardening, volunteering, or even discovering the beauty of gardens during your travels. Together, we can continue to cultivate not only plants but also connections, growth, and gratitude. Thank you, Carol, for all you do!
Carol Holmes co-authored this post, supplying written answers for questions posed by UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County.
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