Munch and Learn: Expert Rose Growing Tips with Rick Pudwell

Rick Pudwell was born in Chicago. He has always been interested in living things, both plant and animal. His parents weren't gardeners, but his grandparents were, serving as his mentors. Pudwell graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in commercial floriculture and greenhouse management. After college, he served in the U.S. Army Medical Corps in Southeast Asia from 1968 to 1970. Following his military service, Pudwell bought a small farm in Illinois, where he grew vegetables, fruit and cut flowers. He also raised poultry and exotic birds and animals. He later worked as a greenhouse manager and then a nursery manager. In 1977, he married his wife, Kris. After several harsh winters, the couple decided to move to a milder climate with their two young children. Pudwell accepted a job at the Memphis Zoo as general foreman and horticulturist in 1986. There, he made significant changes to the landscape, added greenhouses and built a horticulture department from scratch. He became active with the Memphis Horticulture Society, Mid-South Fair Horticulture, Tennessee Nurserymen's Association and the steering committee of the Mid-South Native Plant Conference. In 1994, he left the zoo to do landscape design for Trees by Touliatos. A year later, he joined the staff at the Memphis Botanic Garden, where he served as director of horticulture for 27 years. He managed the horticulture staff, planned plantings, oversaw plant sales and led programs for garden clubs and plant societies. Pudwell has been recognized by the University of Tennessee Master Gardener Program, the Memphis Zoological Society, the Tennessee Federation of Garden Clubs, the Garden Club of America and the Memphis Horticulture Society. He retired in September 2022. Order lunch at Dixon's café, Park and Cherry. Pre-order by calling (901) 312-1277 or preview the menu here: https://www.dixon.org/parkandcherry Munch and Learn is endowed by the Landau family in memory of Leslie Mann Landau.

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