Below there are two articles in the Friends of Dinosaur State Park newsletter in which my work is documented: The first is an article I wrote regarding the addition of two new (at the time) Wollemi pine saplings and the second picture documents my work cataloguing botanic specimens in the museums herbarium which was started in 1974.
Working at Dinosaur State Park in Rocky Hill, Connecticut, helped advance my knowledge of plant evolution as they put me to work creating displays for the halls of the exhibit center. I also had the opportunity to write an article regarding the new (at the time) addition of two young Wollemi pine saplings. I led the public on tours through the facility and plant walks on the outdoor trails. It was a fantastic experience and my fellow staff members were extraordinarily supportive. I feel proud of the work I did there and will always have found memories.
As a seasonal naturalist working at the Kellogg Environmental Center & Osborne Homestead Museum I lead a public workshop on creating altered books and this is a photo of the flier for it. I also painted the animals on the canvas used for a bag toss activity for a large public event that the CT DEEP held in the Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History. Perhaps the animals did not need to be painted with as much detail for a simple childs game, but it didn't take me long and I enjoyed it. Plus I get to look back at my work and feel good. It isn't DaVinci level work but I was surprised that they turned out better than I thought.
It was about 13 years ago when I worked for Natureworks and first saw this property designed by the owner Nancy DuBrule. Several years later, Susan and Bill Wasch contacted me through my ad on Craigslist and asked me to do maintenance for them. When I arrived I realized it was the same property! They mostly had woodland perennials--mostly dry part shade tolerant plants. Shrubs and grasses and a lovely Viburnum rhytidophyllum (leatherleaf viburnum). I worked there for several years until I became a greenhouse manager for CTDaylily. They were lovely people and I am grateful for the experience.
Thirteen years ago I took on my first design job ever--I didn't have any training in digital design programs or never took a design class. But I did have a few years of landscaping and gardening under my belt and I was familiar with the growth requirements of many plants. Looking back of course I see my mistakes but I can also see I am off to a strong start. Thank you to my friend Sue Capuano who gave me this opportunity.
