CASNR instructor, greenhouse manager retires Jan. 29
Judith Wilmington, a longtime instructor and manager of Texas Tech's Department of Plant and Soil Science greenhouse complex, will retire at the end of the month after more than a dozen years of service at the university, Tom Thompson, professor and chairman for the department, announced Friday.
Wilmington joined the Tech faculty in 1998, and was named manager of the Horticultural Gardens and Greenhouse Complex in 1999. She received a bachelor's degree in horticulture from Texas Tech.
Teaching Environment. "Working with plants is a pleasant way to spend the day," said Wilmington, who was honored in 2006 for her service and support of Texas Tech University's College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources when she was presented the CASNR Instructor Award. "The interaction with students and serving in a teaching environment has been close to my heart all the years I've been at Tech."
Over the years Wilmington has hosted many public school visits, as well as making presentations to area public school classes, garden clubs and other organizations. In addition, she has led one of CASNR's premier annual events: the Spring Flower Show.
Floral Design. For years winter-weary residents of Texas Tech got a sweet smelling reprieve in early April as floral design students in the Department of Plant and Soil Science staged an exhibition of their best work. The event served both as a fundraiser and as the students' final project.
"I've always enjoyed teaching the spring floral design class because it afforded me the opportunity to interact with students on a creative level," Wilmington said. "They consistently amazed me in the expression of their designs and show planning."
Artistic Quality. At the completion of the competition, the students' floral arrangements were sold for a donation of $25 to the Texas Tech Foundation's Margaret Coil Endowment for Floral Design. The endowment was founded to honor Margaret Coil, an Oklahoma native who moved to Lubbock in 1949 and pursued her love of gardening and floral design throughout her life.
As part of the class, students not only learned how to produce artistic and high quality flower arrangements, Wilmington said. They learned about the history and elements of floral design, as well as the business aspects of the profession. During the spring semester the students often travelled to both retail and wholesale flower businesses for a first-hand understanding of their operations.
By Norman Martin
CONTACT: Thomas Thompson, professor and chairman, Department of Plant and Soil Science, Texas Tech University at (806) 742-2838 or thomas.thompson@ttu.edu
0115NM10 / Photo Credit: Norman Martin / TTU-CASNR
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