GMG's Friday Find: Hats Off to the Women in Horticulture Who Make a Difference!

In honor of International Women's Day, we'd like to give a shout out to three women we feel embody sustainable change in the world of horticulture. Each has made unique contributions that have impacted the industry with positive change and lasting creative impressions. 

We love Katy Moss Warner. she is a fireball who can make things happen. She is currently President Emerita of the American Horticulture Society (AHS), a national, non-profit member based organization with a bold vision of "making America a nation of gardeners, a land of gardens".  She served as President and CEO from 2002-2006, was on their Board of Directors from 1992-1998 and then served as Chair of the Board from 1998-2000.

Katy is a graduate of the Harvard School of  Design with a Loeb fellow which allowed her to focus attention on the challenges to enhance the quality of life in our natural environments in America.

As director of Disney's Horticulture and Environmental Initiatives at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida for 24 years, Katy was responsible for the landscapes of four theme parks, 15 resort properties, and over 70 miles of roads on the 30,500 acre property and leading a team of over 700. Her focus was on earth-friendly practices, minimizing the use of pesticides, increasing the use of composting, and encouraging native, natural landscapes as well as fun, interactive children's gardens .

Anna Caroline Ball is an icon in the industry and a role model for many women - and men. She is president and CEO of the 107-year old Ball Horticultural Company, which specializes in all aspects of horticulture, including breeding, biotechnology, production and marketing of hybrid flower seeds and other flowers. Anna received her B.A. from the University of Colorado and her MBA from Northwestern University. She is a Trustee for the Morton Arboretum, Limestone College, and Choose DuPage and is also Director of the Board of the Ball Foundation.

Working with Anna as a former client, Garden Media Group respects her foresightedness, generosity and leadership in the horticulture world.

Flora Grubb is a household name in eco-gardens with her insipirational designs from Flora Grubb Gardens in San Francisco. In 2003 she shifted from designing gardens to owning a plant nursery in a 28,000 square foot space in the Bayview district. She is a trend leader who reinforces her mission of "introducing a real peace and joy in city dwellers' lives through the act of gardening".

She has also made education a cornerstone of her business, hosting lectures on sustainability and vertical gardens. She provides a creative hub for horticulture and design and was honored in the first annual "American Made Awards" by Martha Stewart. This award highlights rising stars whose work shares the quality, beauty, inspiration, possibility and creativity valued by Martha.

We salute these women and all the women in the garden/horticultural world whose tireless efforts bring about positive change.  And a special thanks to our own Queen Bee, Suzi McCoy, president of Garden Media Group, who works behind the scenes to create all the buzz about gardening.

~Peggy
Garden Media Group