Melanie Blandford is a recent graduate of the Department of Plant Sciences at The University of Tennessee. After receiving her Bachelor of Science degree from James Madison University, with a major in Anthropology and a minor in Biology, Melanie took science credits from Virginia Western Community College and the University of Tennessee. She then tailored a masters degree program at UT to increase her expertise in public horticulture. Melanie has training and experience in a wide variety of horticultural areas, which nicely complement her specialties, plant/people interactions, children's gardens and educational programming.
Upon graduating with her masters degree at UT, Melanie took a position as Educational Programs Coordinator for Scott Arboretum, in Swarthmore, PA. The Arboretum encompasses more than 300 acres of the Swarthmore College campus and exhibits over 4,000 kinds of ornamental plants.
Melanie's masters committee was selected to guide her development in horticulture, public horticulture, qualitative research techniques, and social research in natural settings. Her major professor, Dr. Sue Hamilton, directs the department's undergraduate and graduate programs in public horticulture. Dr. Mark Fly, associate professor in the Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries, is Director of the university's Human Dimensions Research Lab and specializes in Forestry's Wildland Recreation Concentration. Dr. Fly guided Melanie is the use of social science research methods, including surveys and focus groups, to address issues associated with children's gardening. Dr. Handel Wright, an associate professor in the Department of Educational Administration and Cultural Studies and an expert in Cultural Studies/Qualitative Research, particularly helped Melanie with case studies. Dr. Mary Albrecht, formerly department head of the Department of Ornamental Horticulture and Landscape Design and current associate dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, provided general horticultural and academic guidance.
In addition to her position as Coordinator of the Gardens Volunteer Program, Melanie played an active role in many of the Garden's other programs. She was instrumental in preparing for the Garden's first annual Blooms Days, a two-day Garden Festival and Marketplace held in the Gardens in June 2003. She is actively involved with the Garden's non-profit fund-raising and promotion organization, Friends of the UT Gardens. Working with the Garden Director throughout her career at UT has allowed Melanie to be involved with most of the Garden's resources and specialty areas. These include:
- UT Gardens Volunteer Program (Coordinator)
- Assistant to Gardens Curator
- Masters Gardeners Program
- All-America Selections Trials Program
- Tenne Select Program
- Wedding Policy & Organization
- Children's Garden Guide
- Garden tours
- Management of Specialty Gardens
- Tree & Shrub Garden
- Drainage Swale & Bog Garden
- Groundcover, Turf & Vine Garden
- Color & Texture Garden
- Perennial Garden
- Water Garden
- Container & Hanging Basket Collection
- Ornamental Herb Garden
- Shade Garden
- Vegetable Trials Garden
- Entrance Garden
Melanie is an active member of Pi Alpha Xi, the UT Horticulture Honor Society, and has organized plant sales and other events for society. As a Graduate Teaching Assistant in the department for two years, Melanie gave guest lectures, TA'ed her Public Gardens Operations and Management Course and the Fall Herbaceous Ornamental Plants course.
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