Leigh Talmo

Leigh has been working with elementary-aged school children since 1994 at The Arboretum of Los Angeles County. Her program, “Roots and Shoots” program brings a designated classroom of children to The Arboretum 14 to 17 times over the course of the school year. In addition to working in their vegetable garden, the children join Leigh in reading stories, journaling their experiences, exploring The Arboretum, collecting seeds, flowers and leaves and observing the life in such a place. Once or twice during the year, Leigh invites a local chef to the garden to help the children prepare meals from their plants. The participating schools have shifted over the years, but consistently there have been low income, disadvantaged, urban children experiencing the natural, outdoor environment with a kind, compassionate, intelligent, experienced and knowledgeable guide. Leigh has had an emotional and intellectual impact on these children for so many years, and has enriched their lives and given them insight into the greater natural world around them.

— Proposed by Pasadena Garden Club (CA), Zone XII
 

In recognition of your work with elementary school children at The Arboretum of Los Angeles County through the "Roots and Shoots" program. You have enriched their lives and given them insights into the greater natural world around them. Proposed by Pasadena Garden Club, Zone XII