Gretchen Reynolds (Class of 2022), the March recipient of the Dallas County Master Gardener Association (DCMGA) Making a Difference Award, is a multitalented, multitasking Master Gardener. She is equally adept at the administrative aspects of our organization as she is at the physical aspects of gardening.

Gretchen Reynolds hard at work

Gretchen is an efficient, kind and hardworking member of the Communications Team, serving as Co-Content Manager. Zandra Faris and Cynthia Jones who lead the Communications team, said, “From the start of MG School in 2022, we knew that Gretchen would be a wonderful Master Gardener. Even before completing her classwork, she accepted the position of Content Manager for the DCMGA Communications team, a pivotal role similar to that of an air traffic

controller- deciding which articles worked best for the website and how to optimally schedule them.

Her strength lies in recruiting and working alongside our dedicated group of writers, providing seasonally appropriate horticultural topics and determining the best ways to share them. She works seamlessly with her co-manager Cathrine Heeman to keep the website current, engaging and aligned with our mission to educate the public on best horticultural practices.  Next time you look at the home page, know that Gretchen is behind the scenes making it the best it can be. Gretchen, we can never say thank you enough!”

But this significant contribution is not all Gretchen does. For the past several years, she has been dedicated to the Justice Garden Project at Temple Shalom, serving as the project’s co-chair. In December of 2023 Temple Shalom dedicated its Justice Garden. The garden boasts 56    beautifully planted raised beds. At the dedication of the garden, Gretchen said, “The garden will change the landscape around us and create positive change in love, kindness and dignity.

A crowd of over 200 gathered for the dedication of the garden, including Dallas County Horticulture Agent Katerina Graham and members from US congressman Colin Allred’s office, the Dallas City Council, and clergy from Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration, as well as representatives from the North Texas Food Bank and Temple Emanu-El’s Garden.