From March 2024
Interviewing Elaine Johnson for this Spotlight was challenging. I had to find time between book club, tap, skiing, yoga, and a Superbowl party to sit down and talk. That’s her schedule–not mine. I don’t know what impressed me more: the fact that Elaine is so incredibly busy or the fact that she’s 84 years old and still so incredibly busy.
Elaine’s story reads like a romance, a travelogue, and a motivational pamphlet on the power of community. But it’s not about gardening. She didn’t grow up with gardening; she married into it. Still, in the last 5 years she’s added that to an already impressive list of interests: art, theater, music, and decorating for fundraisers. (If you’re one of those lucky MGs who has to decorate for our annual Celebration, take note–Elaine’s your gal!)
Elaine grew up in New Jersey and attended college at the University of Vermont where she studied fashion merchandising and interior design. It was there that she met her husband Scott who was studying agriculture. The two were married in 1963 and headed west on their honeymoon to Oregon where Scott had secured a job as a Home Horticulturist with OSU Extension in Salem. Soon their family doubled in size with the birth of two sons.
In 1969, they moved to Modesto, California and Elaine took a job teaching fashion merchandising and modeling at Modesto Junior College, a job she held for 20 years. At the time, Scott worked for General Foods, and they both co-owned and managed apartments to supplement their income. When they weren’t working they enjoyed sailing, hiking, and traveling to exotic places–Alaska, Egypt, India, Australia, and Iceland, to name just a few. Avoiding cities, they sought active or unusual adventures: riding camels and elephants, exploring King Tut’s tomb, skiing in the Alps.
Throughout their five decades of marriage, Scott was the gardener of the family, and that suited Elaine just fine. She was more than happy to take care of the house and the family and just enjoy the flowers and food that he grew. When they retired to Hood River in 2001, the “Dynamic Duo” became actively engaged in community organizations. Elaine volunteered at the History Museum for years and, in the interest of gender equality, recruited Scott to serve on the board–a job she took over after his death in 2014. Scott worked in the community garden near Hawk’s Ridge and converted a vacant, overgrown lot near the Senior Center into another community garden.
After Scott passed away, Elaine wanted to keep his gardening legacy alive. Kathy McGregor, who had worked with Scott in the community garden, introduced her to Anny VanNatta. Anny helped Elaine with her yard and garden and encouraged her to join CGMGA. She also served as her mentor. Elaine became certified in 2018. She still loves the classes and the opportunity to learn about gardening. Her favorite parts of Master Gardening–aside from classes–are the plant sale, the garden tours and the “social stuff.” When the pandemic forced classes to be held virtually, Elaine found the technology aspect challenging. She still prefers to learn the old-school way with paper, pencil, and the massive Sustainable Gardening Handbook. Four years ago she put her new gardening knowledge to work designing a small garden outside her bedroom. She’s justifiably proud of the results–a garden project that’s truly hers.
Elaine’s story is a testimony to the power of community and connections. She encourages new trainees to become actively involved in the organization and to take advantage of the garden parties held periodically throughout the summer. It’s a great way to meet others and to build connections and relationships that, like gardens, will continue to grow and bring us joy.
By Anne Gehrig
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