Landscaping is known to yield an average 109% return on every dollar spent, making it a strategic home improvement and investment. Homes with professionally landscaped and manicured lawns sell faster and have a higher property value. Beautification can have a positive effect on businesses and people are much more likely to choose to live and work in buildings with attractive landscapes. MGEVs are called upon for advice and direction, contributing to public and historic gardens and landscapes, partnering with local agencies on projects that enhance community landscapes, and providing leadership for demonstration gardens that in turn contribute value to the community. Each year, MGEVs spend many volunteer service hours dedicating their skilled hands to the care of community landscapes. At Grow Strong! 2017 on February 24, 2017, Dr. Tim Smalley will address the GA MGEV Program value of landscapes program initiative by speaking about how gardens influence community prosperity.
Dr. Tim Smalley, Associate Professor, Horticulture Department, University of Georgia cultivated his horticultural expertise as: a student gardener at the Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh, Scotland; a tree farmer at Walt Disney World; assistant director of the botanical garden at Cornell University, and a research/extension scientist for the Middle Tennessee Nursery Industry. He currently teaches Landscape Horticulture, Woody Plant Identification and Use, European Garden Study Tour, and Horticulture Professionalism. He has conducted soil amendment and boxwood decline research. In addition, he documents the horticulturally and historically significant trees of Georgia. He is a recipient of the Outstanding Undergraduate Educator Award from the American Society for Horticultural Sciences and is a Josiah Meigs Distinguished Teaching Professor at the University of Georgia, the highest accolade for teaching offered by the University.
**If you have not already registered for Grow Strong! 2017, you may do so here. Act quickly! the final registration deadline is this Wednesday, February 1, 2017 at 4 PM.**