| Past honorees have been pioneers in print, radio and | | | | (1995) were the others. |
| television. Their names have graced campus buildings | | | | ?At times like this there are many people I really hope |
| and public gardens. For a dairy farmer?s grandson | | | | are smiling down on us, and Currier is one of them,? |
| from Maine, the news that he was to receive the | | | | said Tukey, who wrote numerous articles about the |
| Ameri-can Horticultural Society?s 2006 Horticultural | | | | renowned iris hybridizer from South Harpswell, Maine, |
| Communication Award was the most humbling of his | | | | who passed away two years ago at age 101. |
| career. | | | | ?Another would be my grandfather, Henry VanDyne, |
| ?To be included among the past recipients of AHS | | | | who ? I?m proud to remember ? once won the award |
| awards is the highest honor of my professional life, | | | | for dairyman of the year for New England at the |
| and nothing I could ever have dreamed of receiving,? | | | | Springfield Exposition. Spending my summers with him |
| said Paul Tukey, who founded People, Places & | | | | on his farm was what made me love the scents and |
| Plants magazine in 1995, along with a television show | | | | physical activity of gardening.? |
| of the same name in 2002. ?It is something I share | | | | After graduating from the University of Maine and |
| with an incredibly dedicated staff at People, Places | | | | embarking on an award-winning, nine-year career as a |
| & Plants and my friends and family, who have | | | | sportswriter and newspaper editor, Tukey followed his |
| supported me through all the trials and tribulations of an | | | | love of the outdoors into landscaping and founded his |
| running an independently-owned publishing company in | | | | own company, Home ?n? Land, in the late 1980s. In |
| this day and age. Honestly, to win this was stunning.? | | | | honoring Tukey for his garden writing and his television |
| Founded in 1922, the American Horticultural Society is | | | | work that began at NBC affiliate WCSH6 in Portland, |
| one of the oldest gardening organizations in the nation. | | | | Maine in 1996, the AHS cited his repeated commitment |
| Its awards program, started in 1952, is considered to | | | | to supporting independent garden centers as well as |
| be the most prestigious in the field of horticulture. | | | | promoting environmentally friendly gardening ? including |
| ?The American Horticultural Society recognizes | | | | an upcoming book on organic lawns. |
| American horticultural heroes in a wide variety of | | | | ?Now more than ever I think it?s important to retain an |
| professions through the annual Great American | | | | independent voice and be an advocate for the |
| Gardeners Awards,? said AHS President Katy Moss | | | | environment and family business,? Tukey said. ?This |
| Warner. ?These awards celebrate the best and | | | | award, in great measure, is a validation of the efforts |
| brightest in our nation, from scientists who develop | | | | we?ve made. We really try to make a difference in |
| tough plants for our gardens, to public garden | | | | people?s lives.? |
| professionals who promote earth-friendly gardening | | | | Tukey also reiterated his thanks to many people who |
| practices, to journalists who popularize gardening | | | | have made a difference in his own life and |
| throughout America. This year, Paul Tukey is receiving | | | | professional career. |
| the AHS Horticultural Communication Award in | | | | ?This really should be an award for everyone involved |
| recognition of the extraordinary work he has done to | | | | with People, Places & Plants because, even |
| encourage gardening through his dynamic talks, his | | | | though I had the idea, the company belongs to our |
| presence on HGTV, and his People, Places & | | | | staff and everyone in horticulture in the Northeast,? he |
| Plants magazine.? | | | | said. ?I could fill an entire magazine thanking everyone |
| Tukey, who hosts a popular gardening show based on | | | | who has helped, including Susan Gilman and Rick |
| the magazine on HGTV at 7 a.m. each Sunday, is one | | | | Churchill, who have been here since the beginning, and |
| of 12 members of the horticultural community who will | | | | especially Mark Sellew, who was at our side for five |
| be honored by the American Horticultural Society | | | | extraordinary and evolutionary years. And, of course, |
| during its Great American Gardeners Awards | | | | ?The Man in the Red Suspenders? and his amazing |
| ceremony and banquet on June 2. He is just the third | | | | wife ? Roger and Elisabeth Swain. If I should get an |
| Maine recipient of a lifetime achievement award since | | | | award for anything, it would be my ability to surround |
| AHS began presenting the awards. University of Maine | | | | myself with great people.? ? |
| horticulturist Lewis Lipp (1972) and Currier McEwen | | | | |