Volunteers 30 years of service

“The Fantastic Five”

“The Fantastic Five” … Robbie Cranch, Rita Evans, Joanie Finch, Nancy Mack, and Darlene Young are members that have been volunteers for 30 years! These are impressive milestones, from the class of 1993, and we will honor these members throughout their 30th year. Many times we might be so focused on logging hours, that we forget to celebrate the years! Over the next 5 months each will be honored in the newsletter, so look for and congratulate them at MG events. Hip, hip. hooray!!!

Rita Evans

“Fantastic Five” featuring Rita Evans

By Ann Edahl

You’ve been a Fresno Master Gardener since 1993! What prompted you to join the program?

I can still remember the day I saw an article in the Fresno Bee about the new class application period. My heart leaped as I read it and I knew this was something I really wanted to do. So, I applied, was interviewed (I even remember I wore a dynamite red suit to the interview). And when I received that letter of acceptance, I did my happy dance. Although I was working full time, a window of opportunity opened for me that allowed me to take care of my bank manager responsibilities and still attend class. It was one of those golden opportunities that come around that ends up enriching your life. I always loved gardening, and this program has given me an opportunity to learn and to grow as a volunteer and to give back to my community.

Any special memory?

I have 30 years of special memories in this program. In class I met such wonderful people who would end up being dear friends for life. I remember all 40 of us being crammed into a very small room at the old county building on Maple, huddled around a U-shaped table. It was mighty cozy—no wonder we ended up being so friendly! We had no Master Gardener handbooks, just copious handouts. We have come a long way since 1993!

Have your interests changed through the years?

I have had wonderful opportunities to be involved in so many aspects of the program. From board service, MG tours, Smart Gardening Conference, Spring Garden Tour, Home and Garden Show, and this list goes on. I love being in leadership and have chaired most of the events I have been involved in. And then Covid hit, I turned 80 and was diagnosed with a heart condition. But then we all learned to adjust and Zoom meetings were born. This changed my way of doing things and my interest is still there, but now I mostly do admin stuff and I do it sitting down. So, I haven’t aged out yet and I am so grateful for that. I love this program and welcome new opportunities to serve, even with a walker or whatever it takes. Onward!

Then and now—Does the program feel different?

I had the opportunity to visit the new class a couple of times, and I am so impressed with the level of technology our class of 2023 processes. They are light years ahead of where we were when we were learning to use the computer and VMS when it was introduced. Our world of technology has changed, and we have changed with it, making us a savvier program. Each new class brings in more gifted MGs to join us and to help lead the way for what our program will look like in the future.

Any advice for the new MGs?

Yes! Try everything that the program offers. This will give you opportunity to meet and work with our other fine MGs. And as you develop these opportunities to make lifelong friends, you will also find your niche in the program. You will have so many learning opportunities. The key to falling in love with this program is to get and stay involved. You have it all before you….Enjoy it!

Robbie Cranch

Robbie Cranch is a Master Gardener who has worn almost every hat in our program. From multiple years on the Board and as the president, to teaching a variety of classes and seminars, public speaking, contributing to both editions of the MG Handbook, various jobs with all Spring Garden Tours, mentoring the current 2023 class, her home garden was on the Spring Garden Tour in 2003, and the list truly goes on and on. Robbie's wreath class has been loved by hundreds of attendees for 29 years. She has participated, earned hours, and represented our program year after year. Robbie was awarded the Educator of the Year honor in 2020.

Joanie Finch

“Fantastic Five” featuring Joanie Finch

by Nancy Devaurs

Joanie invited me for lunch at her nursery, Cliff Finch’s Topiary Zoo, this week and we had a wonderful lunch and visit together with Master Gardener Julie Arndt, who volunteers at the nursery. Joanie shared some of her favorite activities and experiences over the thirty years she has participated as a master gardener. She became interested in the Master Gardener program after talking to Ken Elder at the Fresno Home & Garden show. She has served many different roles over the years including a stint as the board secretary, working the Home & Garden Show, and on the social committee. She has taught classes for the public at the Home & Garden show and the Garden of the Sun on topiaries. She talked about when the Garden of the Sun was just being laid out with chalk lines where the different beds would go and that she started the dinosaur and bunny topiaries in the children’s garden and fun events like “Moonlight and Chocolates.” She shared that one thing she loves about the Spring Garden tour is the opportunity it offers to teach people about gardening in the gardens. She has enjoyed working with the public.

Joanie recommends that new master gardeners should try a wide variety of different areas to volunteer in as you never know what you might enjoy and new interests you’ll find. The GOS is a great place to get to plant, propagate and watch plants grow while getting to know people. She relishes the close friendships she has developed through the master gardener program.

“Fantastic Five” featuring Nancy Mack

I had the pleasure of interviewing Nancy, one of our Master Gardeners who is celebrating thirty years in the program. I wanted to know what had kept her interested and engaged for thirty years, and it became apparent that she was an avid gardener with varied interests and a strong desire to keep learning. In fact, the opportunity for learning from other master gardeners was cited as a prime reason for her ongoing interest in the program. Her interests have changed over the years; notably, she and her husband have down sized and now live in a smaller home with a much smaller yard. Nancy brought some of her plants, pots and many cuttings to her new home and has enjoyed learning about ‘small’ design and being selective about her design choices. She loves flowers, especially roses, and ‘never gets tired of the first spring blooms’ in her rose garden. Nancy has managed to maintain her English garden look in a much smaller space using flowers, pots and a raised bed.

Nancy is very interested in learning more about soil health and aesthetic pruning. She has enjoyed meeting fellow gardeners in her Home Owners’ Association and has taught several classes for them. She looks to the Garden Master Class and Garden Design websites for inspiration, but she loves Spring Garden Tour Day the most of all. Nancy had these words of advice for the new trainees:

1.” Find something new for your garden each year after Spring Garden Tour.” Nancy has found wonderful ideas each year and enjoys implementing them into her landscape.

2. “Get involved in something you know nothing about; it will be a great learning experience for you!”

Congratulations to Nancy Mack, a lifelong learner and dedicated Master Gardener.

Article by Carol G MG volunteer

Darlene Young

“Fantastic Five” featuring Darlene Young /By Melanie Sarkisian

Do you recall why you wanted to join the program? A friend who had become a Fresno MG in 1991 encouraged her to join. They were training for a marathon at the time! Darlene was working full-time in banking in the Consumer Loans Department and could not commit to the MG New Class training. Then the company she worked for did a major downsize and laid off everyone in Darlene’s department. That opened the door to MG training! She also remembers an article in the Fresno Bee stating applications would be taken. She applied and was thrilled to be accepted to the program!

Any special memory? Looking back Darlene remembers the great MG “Rita and Gail” trips. Chartered bus trips took happy MGs all over California and beyond visiting public and botanical gardens as well as making amazing nursery shop/stops. Darlene said she joined in on many of these trips – where she participated as a “serving wench.” She remembers the fun of handing out ample food and beverages to those on the bus and was thrilled to be included with the entertainment.

Have your interests changed through the years? As you can imagine, Darlene has volunteered in most areas of the program in the past 30 years. She shared that in the early years there was a plant clinic nearly every weekend! Darlene also has fond memories of her years working with the new classes – from the initial interview of applicants to becoming the Chair for the new class in 2015 – she did all the jobs related to new class duties. Darlene also served a term on the Advisory Board and always looks forward to the Spring Garden Tour where she was a Garden Captain in 2022.

Then and Now - does the program feel different? To Darlene, an important thing that stands out is how things have changed since we no longer have the UC Building available as our Master Gardener office. Like many MGs, Darlene is concerned about the loss of a home base, a place to gather; no classrooms or meeting rooms; somewhere to have events and training. She is hopeful something will become available again, and we can return for those times together.

Any advice for new MG Trainees? “Keep an open mind; volunteer for a variety of events to see where you fit. You are well equipped to do the job – embrace it!”

Well said Darlene – thank you for 30 years of service!