You can call me DOCTOR!

Saturday was my last day as a student at Auburn University. The arrival of the day was bittersweet, as I'm excited about completing the Public Horticulture Program and about what the future holds but I am very sad to leave this amazing job and all the wonderful friends I've made in the Horticulture Department.

During the last 3.5 years I've had the privilege to be a part of implementing the Public Horticulture Program at Auburn, to complete a huge research project and it's accompanying 300 page dissertation, to design 2 Public Gardens, to travel to 7 new states and 1 new country, to meet many new people in the public horticulture world and to discover all that it has to offer, and so much more.  These years have been some of the most eventful and enjoyable of my life and I look back on them with much joy and thankfulness.

Just a few days ago I walked across a stage and officially became Dr. Ann Fleener! I am incredibly excited about this and about where I'm heading next. After 24 years of school I am ready for a break, albeit a short one, and I plan to head out west to visit some friends in Colorado and then to drive down the west coast from Vancouver all the way to San Diego.  I'm so excited to visit several gardens in these areas and to explore a part of the country that, except for attending ASHS a couple weeks ago in California, I have yet to see.

Butchart Gardens, Vancouver Island

Denver Botanic Garden, Denver

Golden Gate Park, San Francisco

Japanese Tea Garden, San Francisco

After returning from that trip I plan to settle into a job in an Education Department at a Public Garden. I have several applications out at garden's across the U.S. and am waiting with anticipation to hear from them. I will let you know the moment I accept a job but for now I'm just excited to be closing this chapter and taking a break for a bit.

War Eagle!

Ann Fleener