Keynote Speaker: Obbie Todd
Obbie Todd is a local naturalist and writer in Daviess County, Kentucky. He has back-packed the Appalachian Trail, Big South Fork, Land Between the Lakes and Mammoth Cave, National Park. Last year, he canoed the entire 380 miles of the Green River, startling at Campbellsville, Ky and finishing at the mouth of the Ohio River in Henderson Kentucky.
Mr. Todd has written the downtown walk for the city of Owensboro and just completed the Trail Guide for the Green Belt, which is a paved, 8 foot wide, 15 mile long walking/bike path encompassing Owensboro. He has also written many blogs for Adventure Tourism which can be found on Kentucky's Tourism Web page. Obbie is also a local bee keeper.
Obbie learned the trade of landscaping and plant identification from his parents, who owned a Greenhouse and Nursery business. The down payment for his first house was made through his father's landscaping business.
Obbie was a teacher for 33 years, his last 27 at Owensboro's Apollo High School. At Apollo, he started a class called “Outdoor Education” in which the curriculum included all the wildflowers, trees and birds of Kentucky. Obbie today gives nature walks throughout the year in Daviess County, free of charge.
Obbie's newest adventure?.... He and his buddies are building a boat made out of whiskey barrels and plywood. Their goal is to leave Owensboro and make it to the Gulf of Mexico. Obbie is married to Trisha Strother Todd. They have two children, Obbie Tyler and Grant.
“Trash to Treasure” with Master Gardener’s Carol Grider and Carol Bradley
Carol Bradley-Able is a graduate of the first Bullitt County Master Gardener Class in 2007. She has served as President of the Horticultural Council, is a member of the Bullitt County Extension Council and is Chair of the 2014 Master Gardeners Plant and Garden Art Sale. A native of Pennsylvania, she began gardening with her grandfather when she was five years old and never stopped. She is also an antiques dealer and avid “junker” which along with gardening is a beautiful combination!
Carol Grider, after retiring from the American Red Cross, fulfilled one of her “Bucket List” goals of becoming a Master Gardener with the Bullitt County Extension Service. Currently, Carol is a member of the Bullitt County Extension Council and President of the Horticultural Council. After 20 years of crafting and DIY projects, she is a self-taught Upcycle artist and strong advocate of recycling and improving our environmental footprint.
“Kentucky Grown Designer Arrangements” with Lindsey Fares
Lindsey Fares, Owner of “Petal & Pine” in Owensboro, KY is an event floral designer with a passion for using locally grown items to create lush natural arrangements. She graduated from Transylvania University where she earned a degree in art. Shortly after moving back to Kentucky, Lindsey met local flower farmer Ella King of King's Country Gardens and began a friendship that would shape the direction of her growing business. Working with unique freshly grown products and signature garden grown touches sets the work of Petal and Pine apart from many traditional florists. Lindsey travels throughout the year to flower weddings and events all over Kentucky, Tennessee, Indiana, and Illinois. She also grows a few specialty flowers & hosts interactive design workshops at her farm studio in Owensboro. Through demonstration and design, Lindsey will share her expertise on “Kentucky Grown Designer Arrangements.” See http://www.petalandpinedesign.comor visit http://www.facebook.com/petalandpine for additional information on Lindsey and Petal and Pine.
Tom Wortham – Nature Photography
Tom Wortham, a 44-resident of Madisonville, Kentucky, is a retired pharmacist who has had a love for photography since his teenage years. He was graduated from the University of Kentucky in 1966, and became seriously involved with photography while in the Air Force. He has taught photography in the Adult Education Program of Madisonville Community College. In 1979, he hung a one-man show of his b/w railroad depot silver prints at the Tennessee Central Railroad Museum in Cookeville, Tennessee. In 2001, Tom and 5 other photographers in the area helped organize the West Kentucky Photography Club where Tom served as President. While his interests in photographic subjects are varied, his work centers primarily on nature and wildlife. In 2010, Tom was one of six individuals in the Photography Club to successfully complete a 365 – day challenge. His current photographic efforts involve the presentation of programs to church groups, garden clubs and civic organizations.
Nancy Hastings – “My Favorite Things” Perennials Perform
Nancy Hastings is a Horticulture graduate from Purdue University and has her own Greenhouse business, Hasting Plants. They provide one of the area’s largest selections of perennial and annual varieties. Hasting Plants is located southwest of Mount Vernon, Indiana, just off of Highway 69 South. They are a small, family owned business, open since 1982. Nancy has traveled the world visiting gardens.
Eddie Atherton - Arborist
Eddie Atherton is the Horticulturist and Grounds Manager for the city of Owensboro, Kentucky. During Eddie’s 24 years of service, he has been involved with beautification of the original Smothers Park area during the early 1980’s as well as playing an integral role in the current riverfront revitalization. Other major projects he has been involved in include the Greenbelt, Frederica Street island improvements and many other city medians and rights of way. He ensures that the City of Owensboro upholds the distinguished ‘Tree City USA’ designation by planting hundreds of trees each year in city parks and on other city properties. His work will be enjoyed and admired for generations to come.