Meet Our Speakers
Jim Piala – Piala’s Nursery and Garden Shop
Jim has a BS from Loyola University Chicago and has successfully owned and operated Piala’s Nursery and Garden Shop, Inc. for nearly 30 years. In this capacity Jim has answered just about every question a homeowner might have!
Ken Wentland – American Landscape
With a broad and highly successful customer services and supervisory / managerial background with several prominent landscape maintenance and landscape companies, Ken joined American Landscape to further his interests and passion for people, training and development of staff, good service, and most especially, all things landscape. His prior work led to awards, including a national landscape management award for a prominent area commercial client from ALCA, the green industry’s professional oversite organization. Ken is a true professional in terms of plant and tree knowledge, measured both by certification (Certified Arborist) and even more so by mature experience & training, which results in confidant identification, troubleshooting, and a marvelous reputation. Customers find him both personally engaging as well as highly observant of the needs of their landscapes, whether it is Landscape Maintenance, Improvements, Tree needs, or their winter counterpart, Snow Services, from plowing to ice controls.
David Wanninger – Beaver Creek Nursery
Dave Wanninger is chief horticulturist at Beaver Creek Nursery, a wholesale nursery located south of Clinton, Wisconsin. Klehm’s Song Sparrow Farm is the retail mail order/internet sister company of Beaver Creek Nursery.
Dave has previously operated a landscaping company and was the nursery manager at a large independent garden center. He is also a longtime Instructor in the Horticulture and Landscaping program at Blackhawk Technical College in his hometown of Janesville, Wisconsin. When not gardening, he enjoys reading, bicycling and fine wines, although not usually at the same time.
Mary Bauschelt – University of Wisconsin- Madison
Mary Chambers Bauschelt has been the Horticulturist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Department of Botany Greenhouses and Botanical Garden for the past twenty-five years. She nurtured and grew the famous giant "Corpse Flower" or "Stinky Plant", Amorphophallus titanum which was on display there.
Mary is also a Botanical Artist, painting plant portraits from life, using the traditional English watercolor method. She is on the Board of Directors of the American Society of Botanical Artists (ASBA). Her work has been on exhibit in Berlin, Germany, in many botanical gardens and museums in the U.S. and at the Gordon-Craig Gallery in London.
Brian Hudelson – University of Wisconsin- Madison
Brian Hudelson is affectionately known as “Dr. Death” because of his love of plant diseases. Brian received his BS in Botany, Bacteriology and Molecular Biology, MS in Biometry and PhD in Plant Pathology from the UW-Madison, and in 1998, became the director of the Plant Disease Diagnostics Clinic (PDDC). The PDDC, part of the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and University of Wisconsin-Extension, provides expertise in diagnosing plant disease problems, and provides information on diseases and their control to a wide range of clientele throughout the state of Wisconsin. For more information on Brian and the PDDC, check out the PDDC website at http://pddc.wisc.edu.
Kurt Bartel - David J. Frank Landscape Contracting, Inc.
Kurt has been at DJF since 1989 and previous worked at the Milwaukee County Zooligical Park. Kurt holds a BS in Horticulture and Plant Pathology and did his graduate studies in Integrated Pest Management. His areas of expertise are turf management, integrated pest management, herbaceous ornamental horticulture, woody ornamentals, arboriculture, amending and managing soil fertility. Kurt is recognized as one of the top horticulturalists in Wisconsin.
Lynn Goldstein – Creative Landscape Designs, Inc.
Lynn is the owner of Creative Landscape Designs, Inc., which is in its fourth year of business. Lynn designs and installs for both residential and commercial clients. Last year she started a seasonal container division and installs decorative containers fore every season! Lynn teaches at MATC in the Horticulture department and teaches recreation gardening classes at Nicolet High School. She holds a Masters Degree in Art Education from UWM and an Associate in landscape/horticulture from MATC.
Brian Thomas – The Garden Mart and Midwest Landscape Co., LLC.
Brian has a degree in Horticulture and Landscape Design, is a Master Gardener, and a Certified Arborist. Brian has worked in the horticulture industry for over 15 years and is owner and operator of a retail/wholesale Garden Center.
Brian’s enjoys educating and working with people.
Ellen Rulseh and Susan Priebe – Earth and Water Works, LLC.
Ellen Rulseh, Founder and President of Earth and Water Works, LLC, has initiated and coordinated rain garden and shoreline buffer development in five Wisconsin counties. She has developed and presented talks, workshops, media releases and educational materials on rain gardens and shoreline buffers in partnership with UW-Extension-Jefferson, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, the Dane County Lakes and Watershed Commission, the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District and other groups in Wisconsin and Illinois. In the Rock River Basin, where she trained volunteers in stream water quality protocols through the Rock River Coalition, she has coordinated multiple-partner participation in eight community rain gardens. Ellen is a Member of the Board of Directors of the Friends of Starkweather Creek in Madison and is a participant in the UW-Extension’s 2005-2006 Wisconsin Rural Leadership Program. She has more than 15 years’ experience as a project manager, coordinator and promoter of sustainable economic development for institutions, non-profit agencies and businesses in New York City, on Long Island and in Wisconsin. In 2006, she and her partner Susan Priebe are the design/build firm retained by The Nelson Group for the construction of Madison’s first “LEED” (Leadership in Engineering Energy Design) certified apartment building.
Susan Priebe, Founder and Vice President, is a specialist in rain garden, shoreline buffer, prairie and green roof site preparation, design and installation. In 2005 and 2006 she received specialized training in green roof technology and designed the green roof for the Nelson Group’s LEED certified apartment building “The Norman” on Madison’s east side. Susan has been the lead and collaborative designer in rain gardens, shoreline restorations, and landscape plans in five Wisconsin counties. In fall of 2004 she designed the overall landscape plan and oversaw implementation for Middleton’s Community Airport, Morey Field. She is the Parks Commissioner for the Town of Dunn, is on the Board of Directors of WasteCap Wisconsin and is a Member of the Madison Safety Council. She has eight years of experience in corporate environmental management, including: rain garden design, recycling, “green team” oversight and work safety.
David Bock – Hartland Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine
David Bock is owner and Oriental Medical practitioner at Hartland Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine. He provides medical care for patients with a wide variety conditions. The clinic focuses on Family medicine, pediatrics through geriatrics, acute infections to chronic medical conditions. David has a background in biology and chemistry with a graduate degree is in Oriental medicine and holds National Board
certification in Acupuncture and Chinese Herbology.
Sue Corcoran – Little Luxuries
Sue grew up in a wonderful family that encouraged creativity, so she has always been “artsy”. For the past 30 years she taught elementary school for MPS. Basically Sue is a papermaker and soap making became of extension of this since both arts use color, texture, and botanical additives. Sue has taught at Michael’s Arts and Crafts as well as some local recreation centers.
Sonia Culbertson – Sunrise Soap Shop and Main Street Soaps
Sonia grew up watching her mother make soap. As an adult she made all-natural soap as a hobby and began to give it to friends and relatives who encouraged her to sell it. Sunrise Showers Soap Co. was established in 1999 and began selling soap at farmer’s markets, craft shows, and other events. As the business grew, her husband, Glenn, joined her in many of the activities. They now offer 48 varieties of all-natural soaps, and have added lotions, shea butter body butters, bath salts, scrubs, solid lotion bars, liquid soaps, and other body-care products. All the soaps are made with 100% food-grade vegetable oils. They are mild, gentle, and very moisturizing. Once customers try them, after only a day or two they realize that their skin is not dry, flaky, or scratchy.
As the soap-making outgrew their home, and to be able to offer the body-care products year-round, they opened Main Street Soap Shop in Delafield about 5 years ago. In addition to Sunrise Shower’s body-care products, the store has 4 rooms filled with other bath and body-care products. They continue to sell at the farmer’s markets and other events, and ship their products to customers around the country.
Kristin Berry – Chicago Botanic Gardens
Kristin Berry works as the Horticulturist of the Elizabeth Hubert Malott Japanese Garden at Chicago Botanic Garden. Her job entails caring for the 14-acre Japanese stroll garden, supervising seasonal workers, volunteers, giving tours and teaching classes through the School of the Chicago Botanic Garden.
From an early age, Kristin was interested in public parks and forests. She started her career at the age of 4, leading her parents on nature walks in parks across the US and Canada. She furthered her career by obtaining a BSc(Agr) in Natural Resources Management and Parks and Recreation Management from the University of Guelph, in Canada.
Upon graduation, Kristin stumbled happily into the world of Japanese Gardening while working at the University of Guelph Arboretum. There, she helped to install a small Japanese Garden dedicated to the memory of a professor from the University of Guelph.
After obtaining a Niagara Parks Diploma from the Niagara Parks School of Horticulture in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada, Kristin went back to The Arboretum and spent two years as Head Gardener, maintaining and improving upon the gardens. While doing research on Japanese Gardens maintenance and how to teach the public about this garden style, Kristin became intrigued by the subtleties and intricacies of the Japanese garden style.
In 2001, Kristin became Horticulturist of the Elizabeth Hubert Malott Japanese Garden. Kristin continues to learn about Japanese gardening techniques while working on improving the overall maintenance and enhancing the existing features of her garden with proper pruning and training techniques, rock placement and a high quality of maintenance and attention to detail. This past year, Kristin oversaw a restoration of the eroding shoreline and the addition of rock and planting features, which enhance and perfect the beauty of this 30-year-old garden.
Kristin is very interested in teaching and has joined with the staff of the School of the Botanic Garden at CBG and with the volunteer training programs to offer classes in her area of expertise. These classes include woody plant identification (Conifers and Broad-leaved Evergreens, Small Flowering Trees and Deciduous Trees), classes on historical Japanese garden and Japanese garden design and practical training for aspiring horticulturists.
Lynn Laufenberg – Idle Hours Design and Floral
Over the past 10 years Lynn has instructed classes at Waukesha County Technical College which have included 6 and 8 week sessions in Basic Principals of Floral Design, Advanced Floral Design, Garlands, Swags and Wreaths, Organic Decorating, Bow-making and Package Decorating, and Wedding Floral Design.
Lynn has owned and operated a full service retail flower shop for over 15 years and has over 25 years in the floral industry, working at or managing various shops in Southeastern Wisconsin. Upon selling her retail business, Lynn returned to school to finish her degree in Interior Design Lynn feels this background combined with being a floral design artist lends credibility whether it be for placement of a custom designed permanent piece, or for helping choose personalized fresh blossoms for a wedding bouquet.
Lynn's work has been displayed at the Parade of Homes in 2001 and 2003, and at the Waukesha Symphony Show House in 2002.
As a basket weaver, Lynn has been weaving since the early 1990’s and have been instructing groups for the past 5 years. Lynn designs her own basket patterns so she can incorporate different techniques to add variety to my designs.
Karl Becker – Wisconsin Iris Society
Although Karl is not formally trained in Horticulture he has been growing many varieties of shrubs, plants, and bulbs for over 55 years. In 1980 Karl began to grow Iris and in 1994 joined the Wisconsin Iris Society. To date Karl has collected over 600 different varieties and growing. In 2002 Karl was elected the president of the Wisconsin Iris Society and re-elected in 2004. Karl is also listed in the American Iris Society Website for Garden Tour. Karl is also a member of the American Iris Society and the Tall Bearded Iris Society.
Welody Wilson – Wonagrow Landscape Design Owner of Wonagrow Landscape Design LLC, specializing in complete landscape designs, designs for do-it-yourselfers, consultations and soil tests. Have horticultural experience in nurseries and garden centers for the past 18 years before starting WLD four years ago. Have a degree in landscape design from Milwaukee Area Technical College. Approach is creative and pragmatic especially for those clients who have little time to maintain their plantings. Enjoy working on special problems and gardens with a theme. Also like to throw a little fun into the mix with surprises in the garden.
Theresa Williams – Christenson Landscape
Theresa holds a degree from MATC in Landscape Horticultural Science with an emphasis on Landscape Maintenance and Arboriculture, and Design. She is an active member of the Wisconsin Arborist Association, MATC Horticulture Club, and attends the annual Perennial Plant Conference. Theresa is always expanding her knowledge by attending classes and seminars all over the country with professionals such as Melinda Meyers, Ed Hasslekus, and Laura Jull, to name a few. Theresa was previously working at a golf course as the Assistant Horticulturalist and Arborist. Currently, she is working at Christenson Landscape doing design, installation, and maintenance of unique and amazing landscapes. Theresa takes pride in her work and loves working with clients to ensure they build their perfect landscapes.Christenson Landscape Contracting, LLC has been serving Washington, Ozaukee, Waukesha, and Milwaukee County for over 11 years. The company is owned and operated by Leif and Kathy Christenson. Christenson is committed to providing quality and creative design and installation. They take pride in providing a knowledgeable staff that provides excellent service. Christenson Landscape is an award winning company that offers extensive services. For more information please visit them at www.christensonlandscape.com
Irene Lewandowski – Gatherwerks GardensIrene was previously a partner of Herbal Harvest Gift Shoppe in Geneva, IL where she taught many workshops, made hundreds of wreath arrangements, and bundled and sold vast amounts of herbs and dried flowers from the land where she grew the plants for the Shoppe. In 1990 Irene transferred to Wisconsin and due to the change in growing area she began to focus more on herbs and began Gatherwerks Gardens named for the fact that she is always gathering plants from her garden and working with it!Irene has been teaching at Boerner for over 10 years now and has taught numerous different classes over the years at Boerner, at her own shop in Delafield, and also for garden clubs. In 1996 Irene became a member of the National Herb Society. Irene is a self-taught gardener; she grows most of her material from seed and grows as organically as she can. Irene favorite natural craft is pressing botanicals.
John Lamm of Jackson, Inc. of Lamm Farm and Garden
Lamm Farm and Garden began in 1966 with the landscape division and nursery. It has grown to include a landscape management division and a garden center, Lamm Gardens. The entire farm is over 150 acres, with about 20 acres of nursery. Areas are still farmed and woodlands preserved for wildlife and green space. Sylvia’s garden, located near the garden center, is a memorial garden named for John’s mother, an avid gardener. It has 52 Sugar Maples encircling a white music pavilion.
Various garden concerts, events and weddings are held in the garden areas.
The Lamm Family welcomes families to enjoy a visit to the country. Many seasonal events are offered throughout the year, including educational seminars, garden concerts, hayrides, a Buckskinners Rendezvous, Christmas activities and Snowflake Festival in winter.
For more info – www.lammscape.com
Splendor of a Boerner Spring - Crabapples
Everyone loves Peonies!
"HOT" Hostas!
