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BIO

Jimmy L. Turner
Director of Horticulture Research
Dallas Arboretum & Botanical Society
8617 Garland Rd.
Dallas, TX 75218
214-515-6580

 

Biographical Sketch:
Native born Texan, grew up in Lone Oak, Texas
Currently reside in the Oak Cliff section of Dallas
 
Education:
B.S. Horticulture East Texas State Univ.
M.S. Horticulture The Pennsylvania State Univ.
 
Work History: (Click here to see Article on Job Duties)
Director of Horticulture - Research at the Dallas Arboretum.  Started May 2003
Duties include:
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Plant trials and research
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Designing all color and perennial displays for the 66 acre garden
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Purchasing of all plant material
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Budget manager
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Industry liaison
 
Information
Since 2003, I have been the Director of Horticulture Research and Garden Designer of the Dallas Arboretum & Botanical Garden.  The Dallas Arboretum is in essence a 66 acre display garden planting over 500,000 bulbs each year for display and over 2.3 million bedding plants.  We are considered one of the top 10 Botanical Gardens nationwide. 
 
The Dallas Arboretum Plant Trials Program has become the premiere testing site for breeders across the globe for heat tolerance and extreme climates. Yearly we take data on over 3,000 varieties of plants. Our testing program trials annuals, perennials, shrubs, tropicals, bulbs and trees, no plant new or old is excluded from our scope. We're not only looking for the newest & neatest, but also the best of the old varieties. The plants that excel in our trials are awarded the coveted "FlameProof" and "Arboretum Approved" awards.

The Dallas Arboretum is the only testing site for the All America Selections seed trial program in the state of Texas. This is the largest, and oldest independent national testing program. In 2006 the trial program at the Dallas Arboretum received the AAS Category III Exemplary Education Award. Our Trial Garden were also awarded "Best place for Design Ideas" by the Dallas Observer newspaper in 2006.
 
Yearly, Mr. Turner give over 45 presentations locally and nationwide, and produces numerous articles for Trade magazines such as NMPro, Neil Sperry All Garden Magazine, and Fine Gardening.


 

 

Click on the picture to see an article about me from the Dallas Morning News

Click on Picture to see an Article on me from Texas Gardener

Prior Positions
 
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 10 years as General Manager for Green Lake Nursery (a 60 acre nursery specializing in hardy perennials and annuals for the Dallas/Ft. Worth area).
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2 years as General Manager of Clint Horticulture, Inc.  A Landscape Design, Build and Maintain company.
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Have omnivorously worked in most all fields of ornamental horticulture from retail sales, wholesale, growing, management, florist, weeder, and waterer.
 
Awards:
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2005 recipient of the Curtis Taber Award from the Texas Nursery and Landscape Assoc. region IV membership for outstanding contributions to the Texas horticulture industry.
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2005  Plant Trials at Dallas Arboretum Award the "Best Of" status from the Dallas Observer for best place to get ideas and find the best plants for Texas!
 
Hobbies:
Voraciously collecting, trying to grow, and murdering one of every known annual, perennial and bulb in my search for the perfect plants for our area.
Cooking (if you can't be skinny make your friends fatter!)

 

webmaster: jturner@dallasarboretum 214-515-6580

Copyright: Jimmy L. Turner, Dallas Arboretum & Botanical Society, 2005
Information or photos may not be reprinted without permission.