After 34 years of Service, Mary Lou Retires

UC Master Gardener Program Statewide Blog

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News and updates from the statewide UC Master Gardener Program office.

Author: Mary Louise Flint
Editor: Melissa G. Womack

Published on: July 11, 2014

Dear Master Gardeners,

As many of you know, I retired at the end of June. During my 34 years with the University of California division of Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR), many of my most rewarding moments have been spent with Master Gardeners. I am constantly amazed by the enthusiasm, energy, creativity and knowledge of Master Gardeners. What an incredible service they provide for UC and the California public!

I was hired to create Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs for agriculture, but my interest in Master Gardeners started early. I remember attending the California State Fair in the early 1980's and being somewhat horrified to find the UC Master Gardeners answering questions using the Ortho Problem Solver and the Rodale Guide to Organic Gardening. I was told that they relied on these books because UC provided very little garden pest management information. This motivated me to write Pests of the Garden and Small Farm and later to hire Steve Dreistadt to compile Pests of Landscape Trees and Shrubs. From there we moved on to the Pest Notes, Quick Tips, UC IPM web site, UC IPM kiosk, our YouTube channel, blog and Twitter. Master Gardeners embraced and promoted all these products and now UCIPM is as well known for its home and garden information as for agricultural IPM.

I have loved teaching Master Gardener volunteers. They are the most enthusiastic students ever. I learn something every single time I go out and teach a class—and I've taught thousands of them. UC Master Gardeners inspire so much of what we do.

For example, it was Master Gardeners who stimulated our research on convergent lady
beetle releases for aphid control. All the published literature said releases weren't useful, but Master Gardeners challenged this idea. Over a 3-year study, Steve Dreistadt and I found that they were right, and we published several journal articles documenting the results.

Last but not least, thank you to all of you Master Gardener Coordinators. Each of you does an incredible job gently guiding and informing your enthusiastic volunteers. I have watched you in action and you do something special every day.

Sincerely,

Tags: IPM (13), Mary Louise Flint (1), Master Gardeners (12)

Comments: 7

Comments:

by Marian Stevens

on July 11, 2014 at 1:30 PM

Dear Mary Louise,

You have been such a tremendous gift to the Master Gardener program throughout California. On behalf of the Butte County Master Gardeners, I would like to thank you for your service. The information you have provided us is so valuabe. Not only are Pests of Landscape Trees and Shrubs and Pests of the Garden and Small Farm our favorite "take with" resources, you have given us Pest Notes, Quick Tips and an absolutely incredible IPM website! And it just gets better and better.

When you come to teach a new class of Master Gardeners, I am always deeply touched by your conveyance to them of their value in our California communities. You take the time to make everyone present truly feel like our mission matters and we are greatful for your enthusiastic support of our programs.

Again, thank you for all you have done for The University of California and for the Master Gardener Program. We wish you the very best in your retirement and all of your future adventures.

Sincerely,

Marian Stevens
Master Gardener Coordinator
Butte County

by Lee W. Miller

on July 12, 2014 at 3:44 PM

Dear Mary Louise,
Thanks for all you have done for Master Gardeners. You have many friends and admirers out in Master Gardener Land that appreciate all that you have done. Thanks for your knowledge, dedication, the years of service and now for the next best job in the world---enjoy your retirement.
Lee Miller
San Joaquin County MG

by Yvonne Rasmussen

on July 14, 2014 at 4:02 PM

Dear Mary Louise,
It has been wonderful having you create so many fabulous resources for the Master Gardeners to use for educating the public. Your many publications have made our job so much easier over the years. Your constant innovation and creation of new types and forms of resources made the information so much more accessible. Thank you so very much for seeing a need and addressing it so well. Thank you for all your years of service to the University and best wishes for a happy retirement.

Yvonne Rasmussen,
Volunteer Program Coordinator
UC Master Gardeners of Napa County

by Wendy A. Roberts

on July 14, 2014 at 4:29 PM

You will be greatly missed, but the materials you've created will carry on your legacy of invaluable education. Thank you so very much!

by Laura Christman Manuel

on July 17, 2014 at 8:36 PM

I relied on your expertise on many gardening stories I wrote for the Record Searchlight in Redding. And Pest Notes is a treasure trove of story ideas and good information for journalists!
I always enjoyed interviewing you. You explained things so well and have a great sense of humor.
Have a wonderful retirement!

by Lisa Rini

on July 18, 2014 at 1:38 PM

congratulations mary lou! we are grateful in san diego that you were able to join us for our 2014 master gardener training on IPM! wishing you the best of luck in your retirement! -lisa

by Vickie-Marie P Ward

on July 27, 2014 at 10:36 AM

Congratulations on your well-earned retirement, Mary Louise, and thank you for bringing us such great information with Integrated Pest Management! You introduced me to the IPM concept when I was in Master Gardener training in 1995. That fact alone, opened doors for me when I transferred to the Oregon State Master Gardener Program in 2006. And now, almost 20 years later, back with the UCCE Master Gardener Program, I still find your original IPM books to be at the very top of my resource list for diagnosing plant issues and recommending best practices! Thank you for sharing so much of your career with Master Gardeners and the Public!