About Melinda

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      Melinda Myers, best known for her gardener friendly and practical approach to gardening, has more than 25 years of horticulture experience in both hands-on and instructional settings. She has a bachelor’s degree in horticulture from The Ohio State University and a master’s degree in horticulture from University of Wisconsin-Madison, is a certified arborist, and was a horticulture instructor with tenure at Milwaukee Area Technical College. 

    Outside the classroom, Melinda shares her expertise through a variety of media outlets. She has written over 20 gardening books, including Can’t Miss Small Space Gardening, the Birds & Blooms’ Ultimate Gardening Guide, and Jackson and Perkins’ Beautiful Roses Made Easy: Midwestern Edition. She hosts “Great Lakes Gardener,” seen on PBS stations throughout the United States, and “Melinda’s Garden Moments”, which air on 50 network television stations throughout the country. She also appears regularly as a guest expert on various national and local television and radio shows. She writes the twice monthly “Gardeners’ Questions” newspaper column and is a contributing editor and columnist for Birds & Blooms and Backyard Living magazines. Melinda has also written articles for Better Homes and Gardens and Fine Gardening magazines. Additionally, she hosted “The Plant Doctor” radio program for over 20 years.    		 garden growing sun tip


Melinda Myers gardening help Melinda has written many other books, including Jackson and Perkins’ Selecting, Growing and Combining Outstanding Perennials: Midwest Edition, The Garden Book for Wisconsin, Month-by-Month Gardening in Iowa, Month-by-Month Gardening in Nebraska, Month-by-Month Gardening in the Dakotas, My Wisconsin Garden: A Gardener’s Journal, Month-by-Month Gardening in Wisconsin, Month-by-Month Gardening in the Prairielands, The Minnesota Gardener’s Guide, The Minnesota Horticultural Society’s Month-by-Month Gardening in Minnesota, and The Perfect Lawn: Midwest Series. 

Her 13 years of experience at the University of Wisconsin Extension allowed Melinda to work with backyard, community, and master gardeners throughout Wisconsin. In addition, she began the Master Gardener Program in Milwaukee County. As Milwaukee’s Assistant City Forester, Melinda helped manage the city’s street trees, boulevards, and green spaces. She worked with the Young Adult Conservation Corps supervising crews that maintain University of Wisconsin Extension urban test gardens and provide trail repair and other conservation work. She serves as a horticulture consultant to numerous community and beautification groups.

For her work, community service and media presence, Melinda has received recognition and numerous awards, including the 2003 Garden Globe Award for radio talent and the Quill and Trowel Award for her television work, both from the Garden Writers Association. She has also received the Garden Communicator’s Award from the American Nursery and Landscape Association, the 2007 Perennial Plant Association Garden Media Award, the Gold Leaf Award for Arbor Day from the International Society of Arboriculture, as well as the 2005 Honorary Life Membership Award from the Wisconsin Arborist Association.