Meet Beth Bolles

Meet Beth Bolles

by | Aug 24, 2020

Beth has served as a horticulture educator with the University of Florida for 23 years in Escambia County.  She assists both homeowners and professionals with evidence-based information to improve their gardening and landscaping practices.  Beth earned degrees from the University of Tennessee in both Horticulture and Entomology that complement each other well, enabling her to find solutions to a broad range of horticulture issues faced by the community.

Visiting a favorite bird of prey at the Wildlife Sanctuary of Northwest Florida.

The best part of the Beth’s Extension work is the variety of activities and topics that are involved in the job.  Everyday can offer something new to learn.  She especially enjoys learning about the local environment and determining the ‘whys’ behind a particular gardening practice or recommendation.

If Beth had to choose her favorite gardening activity, it would be pruning trees because you often need to envision future growth and how it can be directed in a certain way for plant health and attractiveness.  She does not enjoy installing sod as much.

Beth and her husband are currently parents to seven spoiled cats.  They both enjoy attending the Epcot Food and Wine Festival and Universal Halloween Horror Nights when a cat sitter is available.  Her impressive collection of Harry Potter memorabilia can fill up an entire room.

Visiting Hogsmeade. Hogwarts wasn’t hiring so Beth teaches Muggles instead.

When Beth retires many years from now, she will like to serve as a volunteer for a local animal organization and travel across the country to see its natural beauty.  Cats may just have to come along as well.

Meet Mary Salinas

Meet Mary Salinas

by | Aug 14, 2020

Mary is the Residential Horticulture Agent and Master Gardener Volunteer Coordinator for UF/IFAS Extension in Santa Rosa County.  She earned a B.S. and M.S. in environmental horticulture at the University of Florida. She and her volunteers provide research-based solutions for residents with their lawns, landscapes, and gardens. Mary also oversees the educational programs, horticulture, butterflies, and volunteers at the Panhandle Butterfly House & Nature Center that has just relocated to Milton and should reopen in 2021.

Mary Salinas at the US Botanic Garden in Washington, D.C. Photo credit: Allison Ngom.

Ever since she can remember, Mary has loved plants and nurturing them. She learned how from her mother and grandmother growing up with good rich soils in Michigan.  A relocation to Tampa in 1991 meant learning a whole new way to garden – new plants, new soils, and new timetables. Nearly eight years ago she moved north to Santa Rosa County to take her current position and, again, had to tweak her garden skills.

Between she and her husband they have 6 children and 4 grandchildren and are hoping for more grandchildren real soon. Family and faith are a priority. At home, Mary loves to try new crops and varieties in her vegetable garden and is passionate about growing perennials, especially native milkweeds, and watching new generations of monarch butterflies take flight. And she is fascinated with huge container gardens. Gardening is not the only activity in her life; Mary loves to kayak, cruise in the pontoon boat, hike, and volunteer as a guardian ad litem for children in foster care.