From December 2023
A longtime resident of Hood River, Anne Saxby became interested in the Master Gardener program after enjoying several years of MG garden tours. Anne joined the program in 2005, the year that Hood River separated from Wasco County and established the Central Gorge Master Gardener Association.
Anne’s interest in horticulture started years prior to that; she and her husband Gil purchased a small orchard on the west side of Hood River and transitioned it to organic in the late 1980s. They primarily grow pears but also have an acre of apples. While most of the pears are packed and sold around the country, they peddle the apples and some pears to local and regional customers.
They built a house on the orchard in 1994 and established a vegetable garden and began landscaping shortly thereafter. Gil is the primary vegetable gardener while Anne focuses on the landscaping. At this stage, much of her work is editing as the flower beds have filled in and overgrown. Last Christmas, Gil gave her an electric chainsaw, her newest favorite tool. Easy to start and so efficient to limb up trees and remove overgrown shrubs, she reported.
When asked why she likes the MG program, she quickly replied that her fellow Master Gardeners are the best part. “Everyone likes to get their hands dirty; we are a real can-do group!” she explained. As to what she’s learned as a Master Gardener, Anne noted that the overriding thing she’s learned is how much she doesn’t know. However, she added that she’s learned where to find the answers to all her questions.
Anne has been primarily involved in the Learning Garden, Garden Tours and the annual Plant Sale. She truly enjoys Plant Clinic and says she always learns something as she researches gardening problems. “I have most every pest and disease we get questions about, so I am able to apply what I learn in plant clinic to my own operation”, she explained.
Donna DesRochers
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