PLANT DOCTORS
THE PLANT DOCTORS
The 63rd Apopka Art and Foliage Festival is delighted to welcome our Plant Specialists (aka Plant Doctors) once again. “The Plant Doctors” are experts in their fields, willing and ready to advise you on how to improve the health of your foliage, how to keep those brand-new plants looking vibrant, what to do about those pesky insects bugging your plants or even questions about tree health. Take a look at our website (apopkaartandfoliagefestival.org) for days and times and specialties of each Plant Doctor. PLEASE feel free to bring pictures or a small sample of your plant problem to help the doctors with their diagnoses.​
On Saturday, April 26, look for:
​9am-11am:
Tom MacCubbin
Specialty, Horticulture Extraordinaire
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Tom is the author of six books about Florida gardening and landscaping. He has been honored by the Florida Nurseryman and Growers Association as the Best Horticultural Writer. He has hosted the “Better Lawns and Gardens” radio show for over 18 years and The American Horticulture Society recognized Tom as the National Teacher of the Year. In March of 2007, Tom was promoted to the distinguished position of Extension Agent Emeritus with the University of Florida upon his retirement after 36 years of service. As always, it is truly an honor to have Tom kick off our Plant Doctor lineup.​
Tom MacCubbin & Mayor Bryan Nelson
11 am-1pm:
Teresa Watkins
Specialty-Horticultural and Landscape Design
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Teresa is a landscaper designer, horticulturist, garden author, and consultant. She designed the landscape for the first certified ‘green home’ in Florida in 2001. Watkins co-hosts the weekly syndicated Better Lawns and Gardens with Tom MacCubbin on 24 Florida radio stations. iHeart, iTunes, and Amazon. Teresa’s first gardening book series, A Gardener’s Compendium: Gardening in a Twitter World in 140 Characters or More has three published volumes. Come say hello to Teresa as she offers her expertise once again particularly in the horticultural and landscape design areas.
Teresa Watkins & Deborah Green
1 pm-3pm:
Moh Leng Kok-Yokomi
Specialty-Ornamental and vegetable pests
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Moh, a PhD in Agriculture Entomology from the University of California, Davis, has researched and taught classes in the entomology field. She retired from the University of Florida, Mid-Florida Research and Education Center in Apopka, where she conducted research on agricultural pest problems in ornamental and vegetable crops. Moh has given our festival her expertise for several years and we welcome her back. Let Moh give insight to making your garden its best.
Moh Leng Kok-Yokomi
3pm-5pm:
Deborah Green
Specialty-Native Plants
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Deborah, a native Floridian, is a Native Plant Expert. She earned her Ph.D. in the field of entomology from the University of California, Berkeley. She worked in Puerto Rico for three years and then returned to Gainesville, her home town, before settling in central Florida. She taught biology and environmental sciences at several universities and retired from Valencia College. As a bonus, Deborah currently serves as president of the Orange Audubon Society. Native plants and birds-see how to make your yard a natural habitat paradise.
Teresa Watkins & Deborah Green
ON SUNDAY COME SEE:
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10am-12pm:
Jennifer Hitchcock
Specialty-Aboriculture (Trees and horticulture)
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Please stop by and welcome Jennifer to the Apopka Art and Foliage Festival and especially to the Plant Doctor tent. She is a 3rd generation Floridian, a tree doctor and a world traveler. She is a certified ISA (International Society of Arboriculture) Arborist and horticulture consultant in the Orlando area. Jenn is a University of Florida graduate with a B.S. and M.S. in Environmental Horticultural. She is bringing her over 20 years of experience in the horticultural and arboricultural industry to the Apopka Art & Foliage Festival.
12pm-2pm
Dena Wild
Specialty-Urban Horticulture
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We are excited to welcome Dena to our Plant Doctor line-up for her third year. Dena holds a master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Oregon. Her urban horticultural education includes “hands-in-the-dirt” experience, post-graduate studies in landscape architecture at the University of Colorado, the Boulder and Orange County Master Gardener programs, and the University of Florida’s Best Management Practices for the Green Industry. Dena’s free time is spent in her lawn-free yard, traveling and reading.
Jennifer Hitchcock, Dena Wild and Deborah Green
2pm-4pm
Commissioner Alexander Smith
Specialty-Agriscience (Agriculture and Horticulture)
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Commissioner Smith will once again round out the Plant Doctors in his dapper and knowledge manner. He graduated from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) with a degree in Agricultural Education with a minor in Horticultural Science. He is one of the founding board members and past President of AIA (Apopka Improvement Association) and one of the founding board members of the Billie Dean Community Garden as well as Past President of the Florida Association of Agricultural Educators; Past President of the Florida FFA (Future Farmers of America) Board of Directors; Past President of the Orange County Agriculture Teachers Association; served on the Orange County Board of County Commissioner Agricultural Advisory Board as well as on the Advisory Board for the Orange County Agricultural Extension Service. He is a member of the first Agriscience Leadership Team for the State of Florida and of the Orange County Farm Bureau.
Commissioner Alexander Smith