Ian Prosser
GreenFest 2011
Ian Prosser of Botanica International Design Studio presents "Come to the Table with Nature's Bounty." With more than 30 years experience within the floral industry, Ian has won numerous awards and was invited by the Society of American Florists to participate in designing the inaugural decorations of former Presidents Clinton and Bush.
Maryon Marsh
GreenFest 2010
Maryon Marsh
Maryon Marsh was born in North Wales and raised in England. In 1976 she married Mel, a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Air force. His last assignment, before retiring in 1985, was at MacDill Air Force Base, so staying in the Bay Area was a natural. On retirement from the Air Force they started the Misting Shed, a wholesale nursery growing woody ornamental plants. Through a sequence of events, the woody ornamental operation evolved into Maryon's true passion, herbs. In 1992, she entered into a partnership in a retail store in Ybor City, St. Fiacre's Garden Gifts in which everything was herbal related.
Maryon is a Florida Certified Horticultural Professional and Master Gardener. She has authored numerous articles and her love of herbs has made her a popular speaker at garden clubs and plant events in Central Florida.
Brightman Logan
GreenFest 2009
Brightman Logan
Born in Tampa, Brightman Logan is highly regarded for his knowledge on Florida native plants. He is Committee member of both the Florida Native Plant Society and Florida Wildflower Foundation, as well as a lifetime member of the Tampa Bay Reforestation and Environmental Effort, Inc. Environmentalist and Owner of All Native, LLC in San Antonio, Florida, Brightman has spent 23 years testing and finding plants that love our heat, handle the wet season, and tolerate the dry season. As our keynote speaker for 2009, he will share those experiences and present his own sure choices for your garden, whether it's a couple of pots or a large yard.
Rick Martinez
GreenFest 2009
Rick Martinez
Part of All Native Nursery is used for organic farming. In conjunction with this, Rick Martinez will also talk at the luncheon about Sweetwater Organic Community Farm and answer questions on organic farming. Rick Martinez, a third generation Tampa native, has been pioneer in the organic farming movement over the last 30 years. Rick is founder and Executive Director of Sweetwater Organic Community Farm, a CSA serving the Tampa Bay area. He also is founder of Organic Integrity International conducting audits, consulting and quality system development worldwide, having worked in over 35 countries. In addition, he has conducted organic inspector trainings in many different regions of the world, served as a board member for the Independent Organic Inspectors Association (IOIA) for 6 years and 2 years as IOIA Chair.
Pamela Crawford
GreenFest 2008
Pamela Crawford
Pamela Crawford was the featured speaker for GreenFest 2008. She has written 6 gardening books with a focus on Florida plants and climate. Her work has been featured on the cover of Better Homes and Gardens, countless magazine stories, and both the Fine Living Network and Home & Garden Television.
Easy Container Gardens for Anyone Who Ever Killed a Plant! will be released just prior to GreenFest 2008. Crawford assures would-be gardeners the promise of a burst of color to enjoy even if their space is limited.
Ms. Crawford has a BA from Vanderbilt University and a Masters Degree in Landscape Architecture from Florida International University, where she won the "Torch Award" as one of the outstanding alumni from the School of Architecture. She has designed 1500 gardens for residences and country clubs in Florida.
Paul James
GreenFest 2007
Paul James
Paul James, “The Gardening Guy” and host of HGTV’s “Gardening by the Yard” was the featured guest speaker for GreenFest 2007.
Paul entertained over 250 GreenFest Luncheon guests at the A LA CARTE EVENT PAVILION with his extensive knowledge as a master gardener and his charming personality. He also spoke twice at the GreenFest Speakers Tent. Over 300 visitors attended each session and were treated to his spirited and informative audience participation of gardening trials and conquests.
Paul admits there was a time when he hated gardening. The dislike stemmed from digging Bermuda grass out of his father's vegetable garden in the middle of August.
Paul has come a long way since that memorable hot and sweaty day. Now known as "The Gardener Guy", Paul serves as Gardening by the Yard's creator, writer and senior producer. Almost the entire show is shot in his own backyard.
"I remember watching gardening shows when I was younger, and I was amazed at how everything was always picture perfect. The soil was so soft and crumbly. The plants were pest disease free. And the hosts never broke a sweat! So when I got the chance to do my own show, I decided to make it as real as possible."
That realism, plus Paul's somewhat zany style and a commitment to all-natural approaches to gardening, has endeared viewers to his show since it first aired on HGTV in 1996. "If I've got a spot where the soil is awful, or a plant that's been riddled by bugs or plagued by some sort of disease, I don't hide it. I feature it. How else will people know how to deal with their own garden problems?"
Paul's gardening career began in 1978 when he and his wife, Carrie, purchased their first home. As an undergraduate, Paul studied botany, plant physiology and plant pathology. He obtained his master gardener certification in 1983.
Despite his credible education background, Paul confesses that most of what he knows about gardening came from "digging in the dirt, and making more than a few mistakes along the way."
When he's not in the garden, Paul enjoys time in the kitchen, fishing his favorite trout stream, playing guitar, hanging out with his kids, practicing Tae Kwon Do and working on his third-degree black belt.
