Chris Cooper - Host
Chris is a UT Extension Horticulture Agent and Coordinator for the Master Gardener Program in Shelby County. Chris can be found throughout Shelby County conducting educational programs addressing issues that affect urban and home horticulture.
Chris has a B.S. degree in Soil Science from Southern University, Baton Rouge, LA., and a M.S. and Ph.D. in Plant Physiology from Alabama A&M University, Huntsville, AL.
Chris writes a monthly blog "Chris’ Corner" on the Memphis Area Master Gardeners web site.
Chris has a B.S. degree in Soil Science from Southern University, Baton Rouge, LA., and a M.S. and Ph.D. in Plant Physiology from Alabama A&M University, Huntsville, AL.
Chris writes a monthly blog "Chris’ Corner" on the Memphis Area Master Gardeners web site.
Walter Battle
Walter has been employed by the University of Tennessee Extension for twenty-five years. Presently, he is the Director of its Haywood County office in Brownsville responsible for Agriculture and Community Economic Development programs.
A native of Nashville, Battle’s family operated a 10+ acre vegetable operation and produce market. In 1983 he followed his agricultural passion and enrolled at Tennessee State University earning a BS (Animal Science) in 1987 and an MS (Agriculture Science) degree in 1992.
Walter enjoys cooking, evaluating leadership concepts, and gardening.
A native of Nashville, Battle’s family operated a 10+ acre vegetable operation and produce market. In 1983 he followed his agricultural passion and enrolled at Tennessee State University earning a BS (Animal Science) in 1987 and an MS (Agriculture Science) degree in 1992.
Walter enjoys cooking, evaluating leadership concepts, and gardening.
Mike Dennison
Mike is a native of Newbern Tennessee, and graduate of The University of Tennessee at Martin His first position after college was Vocational Agriculture Instructor at Collierville High School in 1977-1978. He later earned his M.S. degree (Biology major) from The University of South Alabama in Mobile in 1991.
Mike started his Extension Career in 1978 in Alabama where he worked until 1995. He joined the UT Extension Service in Memphis in 1995 and retired in 2009 as County Director in Shelby County.
Mike now works as an independent contractor with BASF. Most of the research and demonstration work he does is at Agricenter International and Murray State University. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for Agricenter International.
Mike started his Extension Career in 1978 in Alabama where he worked until 1995. He joined the UT Extension Service in Memphis in 1995 and retired in 2009 as County Director in Shelby County.
Mike now works as an independent contractor with BASF. Most of the research and demonstration work he does is at Agricenter International and Murray State University. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for Agricenter International.
Joellen Dimond
Joellen Dimond is a Tennessee State University Horticulture Extension Agent and Coordinator for the Extension Master Gardener Program in Tipton County. Joellen has a Bachelor of Science degree in Ornamental Horticulture with a specialization in Landscape Design from the University of Illinois.
Joellen has over 30 years of experience working in horticulture here in the Mid-South. She has taught horticulture continuing education classes, worked in flower and plant production and maintenance, landscape design and installation, and vegetable gardening. She is currently on the Board and President of the West Tennessee Chapter of the Tennessee Urban Forestry Council.
Joellen has over 30 years of experience working in horticulture here in the Mid-South. She has taught horticulture continuing education classes, worked in flower and plant production and maintenance, landscape design and installation, and vegetable gardening. She is currently on the Board and President of the West Tennessee Chapter of the Tennessee Urban Forestry Council.
Lelia Kelly
Lelia Scott Kelly is a horticulturist with a lifelong passion for plants first sparked when she was a small child by her mama. She has her M.S. and Ph.D. in horticulture from Mississippi State University. She worked 15 years as a Mississippi licensed landscape horticulturist, has owned and operated a wholesale greenhouse business and worked 17 years for the Mississippi Extension Service. She is a published author, landscape consultant and designer. She has a reputation for being a lively, knowledgeable and entertaining speaker at garden events and meetings across the Southeast.
She is an avid gardener and maintains large gardens surrounding her home near Corinth, Mississippi where she grows and kills (research purposes only!) plants on a regular basis. You may contact her through her facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/SouthernGardenWisdom/ or through email [email protected].
She is an avid gardener and maintains large gardens surrounding her home near Corinth, Mississippi where she grows and kills (research purposes only!) plants on a regular basis. You may contact her through her facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/SouthernGardenWisdom/ or through email [email protected].
Booker T. Leigh
Booker's primary role is working with the commercial clientele who are producing horticulture crops and providing service to the general public through education programs. He will be setting up classes for training and certification for the commercial landscapers. Booker, also has a television program on cable channel 18 (the Library Station) that provides horticulture information to the general public.
Booker T. Leigh is a graduate from Coffeeville High School, Coffeeville, MS. He received his Bachelors of Science Degree from Alcorn State University in 1980, and his Master’s Degree from the University of Memphis in Education in 1989. He taught Horticulture at Melrose High School in Memphis, TN for eleven years. He is currently a Commercial Horticulture Agent for UT Extension. Booker has been married to Beverly Leigh for 34 years. They have one daughter, Catherine.
Booker T. Leigh is a graduate from Coffeeville High School, Coffeeville, MS. He received his Bachelors of Science Degree from Alcorn State University in 1980, and his Master’s Degree from the University of Memphis in Education in 1989. He taught Horticulture at Melrose High School in Memphis, TN for eleven years. He is currently a Commercial Horticulture Agent for UT Extension. Booker has been married to Beverly Leigh for 34 years. They have one daughter, Catherine.
Tom Mashour
Tom Mashour was born and raised in Detroit and worked in his dad's grocery store. He joined the Navy and retired from the service in October 1981. He got into gardening while in California around 1967 but while living in Guam he found gardening impossible due to the local snail population. In 1978 Tom moved to Millington in 1978 and joined the Master Gardeners Association in 2005. He is heavily into vegetable gardening but always learning and experimenting. He taught classes on vegetable gardening and various forms of plant prorogation. He has been married to his wife, Patricia, for 55+ years.
Carol Reese
Carol Reese is an Ornamental Horticulture Specialist with UT Extension, where her job is to keep the green industry professionals up to date with an increasingly savvy gardening clientele. Her Hort degrees are from Mississippi State where she taught classes in plant materials and landscape design.
Her speaking engagements take her around the country, to such notable venues as the Raulston Arboretum, Longwood Gardens, and Swarthmore. She is a contributor to many garden magazines, and writes a weekly gardening and nature column for the Jackson Sun. However, she says her most important credentials are learning from her mistakes and successes and from those of other gardeners.
Her speaking engagements take her around the country, to such notable venues as the Raulston Arboretum, Longwood Gardens, and Swarthmore. She is a contributor to many garden magazines, and writes a weekly gardening and nature column for the Jackson Sun. However, she says her most important credentials are learning from her mistakes and successes and from those of other gardeners.