From June 2024
Jen Munroe may be a relative newcomer to CGMGA, but her garden speaks of a seasoned gardener with a flair for blending diverse styles and elements into a harmonious whole. Before I met her, I had the pleasure of “meeting” her garden: an inviting oasis that offers water features, flowering trees, and comfortable seating areas that beckon one to stay and relax.
Jen has always enjoyed gardening, but her love of plants blossomed 30 years ago while working on her dissertation. As she researched and wrote about 16th and 17th century English literature and gardens, she found solace and stress-relief in gardening. Today her pursuits lean more toward the practical and less toward the scholarly, but her garden still reflects much of what she learned decades ago. She’s a self-proclaimed “obsessive fan” of the British publication Gardeners’ World, but also enjoys the quiet tranquility of Asian-inspired gardens and has incorporated some of those elements into her own soothing garden space.
Jen’s story is as interesting and diverse as her garden. She’s a mom to 11-year old Clem and two adult children and recently became a first-time grandma. She’s a professor who spent 2 decades teaching courses in Shakespeare and other period literature, film, and gender studies at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She has an avid interest in environmental justice, food systems, and sustainability and is part of an international group of scholars who transcribe and cook historical 17th century recipes. Pottery is a recently-acquired avocation, and she has graciously donated lovely handmade pieces to the plant sale the past two years.
Jen and her family moved to Hood River from NC in 2020. She and her husband Alan–an avid windsurfer–had always entertained the idea of retiring here, but were hesitant about weathering the winters. The pandemic presented them with the impetus they needed to make the move. Jen was teaching online, Alan had closed his business, and daughter Clem was eager to change schools. Jen says that she finds Oregon more conducive to gardening than North Carolina, where clay soil, poor drainage, and a “rainforest of weeds” were a constant challenge.
Jen became a certified Master Gardener in 2023. She was approaching retirement and wanted to “give back to the community.” She loves this community of gardeners and views the organization as a way to build on many of the things she already cares about: gardening, the environment, and sustainable practices.
Jen and family recently returned from an extended stay in England where she served as resident director for the university study abroad program with UNC’s partner university at Kingston. While there, she took advantage of the opportunity to travel and to visit English gardens, including the Kew Gardens, her personal favorite.
In late March she returned to American soil and quickly re-immersed herself in CGMGA. She is currently involved with the educational outreach committee, the publicity team, Seed to Supper, and the educational writing team. Her advice to trainees? Embrace the experience. CGMGA is as much about community as it is about gardening. Become involved as a community, not just in the community. Wise words from someone who is a scholar, a professor, a gardener, and a lifelong learner.
Anne Gehrig
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