Quentin Schlieder

Member since: 1994

Quentin Schlieder graduated cum laude in 1970 from Delaware Valley College of Science and Agriculture in Doylestown, Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Science degree in Ornamental Horticulture. He subsequently studied at Temple University, Pennsylvania State University and the University of Delaware. He taught Ornamental Horticulture in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania for two years before accepting a position as Horticulturist with the 14,000 acre Morris County Park Commission in Morristown, New Jersey where he rose to the position as Executive Director before his retirement in November 2002. During his tenure with the Park Commission he managed public gardens, four championship public golf courses, historic sites, camping areas, an equestrian center, an ice/sports arena and extensive natural areas.

Quentin is a life and honorary member of many plant societies and historical organizations and has judged at the Philadelphia, Boston and New York Flower Shows. He has lectured at many public gardens including the New York and Brooklyn Botanical Gardens, Longwood Gardens and the Brandywine River Museum. He was admitted as an Honorary Life Member of the Garden Club of America at their national meeting in Honolulu, Hawaii in 1991. He has chaired two Eastern Study Weekends for the North American Rock Garden Society. He also has chaired two international Conventions for the Gesneriad Society, and is an honorary life member and Past President of the Frelinghuysen Arboretum Chapter of the Gesneriad Society as well as a member and past President of the Delaware African Violet and Gesneriad Society. He also is active in the National Capital Area, Liberty Bell and Greater New York Chapters of the Society. He will Chair the 2014 Mid-Atlantic African Violet Society Convention. He Chaired the 2014 Mid-Atlantic African Violet Society Convention in Wilmington, DE.

Quentin discovered Smyrna, Delaware shortly before his retirement and bought a historic home on South Main Street in the Town's Historic District. He has actively worked as a Board member and volunteer Manager of the Smyrna Main Street Association, now the Smyrna Downtown Renaissance Association, on historic preservation, economic revitalization and public beautification in his adopted hometown. Quentin is the Editor of the local historical Society's newsletter. He has served on the Town's Shade Tree Commission and Business Development Committee.

In his spare time he continues to work on the restoration of his 1847 Greek Revival historic home and enjoys working in his garden. He also is an active volunteer at Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge and coordinator of its Garden Keepers Group.

Currently, he is offering occasional workshops through the Friends of Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge and the Smyrna Shade Tree Commission. He also developed a self-guiding tree tour of nearby Historic Belmont Hall.

Member since 1994.