B.S. - Ornamental Horticulture & Landscape Design, 2000 Area of emphasis: Public Horticulture M.S. - Plant Sciences, 2002 Area of emphasis: Public Horticulture

After graduting from UT in 2002, Jayme took a position at Callaway Gardens. Her responsibilities there included teaching environmental education programs for local school groups, coordinating gardening symposia, teaching seasonal workshops and discovery programs for adults and children in the Gardens, leading wildflower trail hikes, writing monthly articles about horticulture around Callaway, and organizing seasonal festivals.

"My job is very diverse, which makes it exciting and challenging. The conclusions from my Masters thesis, the creative process of writing a thesis, as well as the practical experience I received in the University of Tennessee Gardens are the three most valuable tools I keep close to me in my job. Since I’ve left UT, I’ve learned so much about the operations of a public garden. My position challenges me to explore new environmental education programs and ideas in garden design and teaching children and adults about nature."

In 2006, Jayme got married and moved to Hawaii. Jayme Tims Grzebik is now living and working on Kaua’i, the northern most island in the Hawaiian islands.  Her job is with The National Tropical Botanical Garden, a non-profit organization whose main concentration is on reestablishing native plant species into conservation land on the islands on Hawaii.  NTBG Field Botanists not only concentrate on native species on the Hawaiian Islands, but also endangered tropical species from tropical regions of the world and Pacific islands.  Collections of tropical plants from around the world are placed within 220 acres of the McBryde Garden.  Visitors can see these collections through a self-guided tour.  Jayme is now conducting guided tours and interpreting NTBG’s mission through a two and half hour tour through 82 acres of the Allerton Garden.  She also concentrates on special programs for the public at the Southshore Visitor Center.  Visit the “Meet the Plants” page on the NTBG website (ntbg.org) to see and learn more about the native plants in this awesome state.