1 minute read
ALL THE DIRT
MEET DEAN RUHNKE
TBG Seasonal Gardener is back at work getting the gardens ready for spring
DEAN WAS introduced to gardening by his grandmother who won awards at her local horticultural society for her peonies and roses. “Growing up we had a large vegetable garden that we helped with at home,” recalls Dean. “But. I really discovered my love of gardening at my first job when I was 15 years old working at Hubert’s Springhill Nursery.”
After studying for three years at Niagara Parks Commission, Dean spent more than 20 years in various aspects of the gardening field ranging from commercial greenhouses to installing and maintaining gardens as he does now for the TBG. He began as a garden volunteer working 24 hours a week in July 2017 and continued through to the end of December that year. “That’s when I officially became a seasonal gardener and I have been here each year since.”
Dean is looking forward to continuing to reinstate the Piet Oudolf Entry Way this year thanks to financial gifts from donors. “It is a great opportunity and an honor to work on it. I’m also really happy with all the new annuals and perennials for the Showcase Garden.”
Another wish come true for Dean is that “donations are making it possible for us to redesign the Perennial Border which I am really eager to get at this year.”
