Robert Grese grew up in Tennessee and studied landscape architecture at the University of Georgia and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He has taught landscape architecture at the University of Michigan since 1986 and currently serves as Director of the University’s Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum. He is the author of Jens Jensen: Maker of Natural Parks and Gardens (1992) and has written widely on the ‘prairie style” of landscape gardening. He is a long-time advocate of ecologically-based design and the careful stewardship of cultural and natural landscapes.

Connie’s earned her Bachelors of Science in Horticulture at Michigan State University, and began working at Matthaei Botanical Gardens shortly thereafter. She manages the Helen V. Smith Woodland Wildflower Garden, the orchid, bromeliad, fern, and bonsai collections, in addition to general natural area management and restoration at the MBG site. Connie is currently working toward her Masters of Science in the Resource Ecology Management through the University of Michigan, School of Natural Resources.

Connie has served as President for the Ann Arbor Orchid Society and for the Ann Arbor Bonsai Society. She served the Huron Valley Chapter of the Michigan Botanical Club for six years as Vice President and Program Chair. She has been with the Matthaei Botanical Gardens for nineteen years.

Judy Dluzen has been at the Matthaei Botanical Gardens site for over 16 years, primarily focusing on the annual design and maintenance of the Perennial Garden, the Gateway Garden of New World Plants, and the Terrace Garden, as well as, the design and installation of the seasonal displays in the Conservatory. Judy’s interests lie in garden design and she places emphasis on the color composition of her gardens. She served as a docent for many years, and as a volunteer naturalist at the Audubon Nature Center.

At home, Judy has been an organic vegetable gardener at home for 30 years. She and her husband have sold vegetables at Ypsilanti Farmer's Market and have incorporated various aspects of homesteading over the years, including raising chickens for egg production, building three houses, root cellaring, keeping bees, and preserving home grown food.

David has worked at MBGNA for over 17 years and serves as the Associate Curator. He holds a B.A with Highest Honors in Botany from UNC, Chapel Hill, NC; a M.A. in Botany & Ph.D. in Botany from Claremont Graduate School, Claremont, CA. David has served as a lecturer for the School of Natural Resources teaching courses in The Built Environment. He currently serves on two interdepartmental academic committees: Museum Studies Program Faculty Advisory Committee for the Rackham Graduate School, and the 2009 Museum Theme Semester Steering Committee for the School of Literature, Science, and the Arts.

As curator, David develops the living plant collection at both Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum sites. In addition, he manages students to create interpretation for our collections and GPS data mapping of our living collection. Both of these projects are working to create a web-based interactive plant database.

David is the co-author of Taylor’s Guide to Groundcovers, has been published in Horticulture magazine and chairs the editorial committee that publishes The Public Garden, the journal of the American Public Garden Association. David has led garden study tours in Asia, Europe, New Zealand and North America.

Adrienne has been with Matthaei Botanical Gardens since 1982, working on many different projects and gardens. She currently maintains the Alexandra Hicks Herb Knot Garden and several other gardens at MBG, as well as managing the Peony Garden at the Arboretum. She orders and organizes the plants for the Spring Plant Sale and grows plants for seasonal displays in the Conservatory. Her areas of expertise include growing and timing plants to bloom for displays, herb gardening, peonies, annuals, bulbs and perennials. She is very knowledgeable about insects and natural history and enjoys gardening at her home in both the sun and shade.

Mike Palmer has been with Matthaei Botanical Gardens since 1990, joining the staff after he received his B.S. in Commercial Horticulture from Purdue University. At Purdue he focused his studies on woody plants and plant propagation, with emphasis on botanical nomenclature and public gardens. He was also a lab instructor for a class taught by Dr. Harrison Flint, author of Landscape Plants of Eastern North America. The class focused on woody landscape plants and their identification.

At MBGNA, Mike serves as the manager of the woody plant collections, plant propagator for collections and natural areas, and horticulturist in charge of the Marie Azary Rock Garden. He also manages the Propagation Committee that grows plants sold in the Gift Shop.

Jeff Plakke loves the outdoors and has worked in the field of Natural Resources for over ten years. While pursing a B.S. in Forestry at Michigan Technological University, he worked with Dr. Rolf Peterson on the Ecological Study of Wolves and Moose on Isle Royale and continues to work as an EarthWatch Research Team Guide for the this study. He also worked on Isle Royale as a backcountry Ranger and a Biological Sciences Technician conducting vegetation surveys.

After graduating from MI Tech, Jeff began working as a Conservation District Forester in Oceana and Newaygo counties of Michigan where he consulted on tree health and land management for timber and wildlife. Jeff moved to Ann Arbor several years ago and began working for the Nichols Arboretum evaluating and removing hazardous trees and managing the Rhododendron Collection. Since then, his primary focus has involved working with all aspects of MBGNA’s Natural Areas Stewardship: Prescribed Burning, Exotic Invasive Species Control, the Propagation of Native Plants as well as many other aspects of the care and promotion of these facilities.

Jeff is currently enrolled in the University of Michigan School of Natural Resources and Environment and plans to graduate with a M.S. in Resource Ecology and Management.

T.J. began working at Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum in 2006 in an information technology administration role. Having graduated with an Information Systems Management degree from Kettering University, he comes to the team with a diverse background including IT project management, web development, and database administration and has over 12 years of professional experience with non-profit organizations.

Sarah began as a project manager of landscape project installations at MBGNA in 2004. She holds a masters degree in landscape architecture from U of M and a Michigan builder’s license. Her professional career started at university housing’s grounds, with an emphasis on community and children’s play areas within family housing communities.

Sarah has taught the Construction Materials and Methods course to students in U of M’s landscape architecture program for over nine years. At MBGNA, she especially enjoys working with the MBGNA intern program and the chance to work outdoors. Sarah is currently focused on the installation of the Gaffield Children’s Garden project, slated for opening in late 2009.