We're available to speak to your group, either virtually or in person. We are also available to hold workshops. See Speakers for more information.
Rabeeya Amjad
Rabeeya has recently completed her Horticulture certificate from the University of Guelph. Rabeeya has a day job in Business Planning and has a family business of tropical plants, but is passionate about gardening. Her area of focus is native gardening and creating urban spaces for native birds and pollinators.
Tanya Bignell
Tanya has always had a passion for flowers and gardening. Following her retirement in 2021, she decided to pursue her interest in gardening more seriously. In March 2022, she joined the Durham Master Gardeners. Tanya has completed the educational requirements to become a Durham Master Gardener and is currently working towards obtaining her horticultural certificate from the University of Guelph. With her expanded expertise, she aims to assist her family and friends in developing an appreciation for gardening while striving to create her ideal garden in her own backyard.
Norine Blyth
Norine has been gardening for most of her adult life. She loves the peace and quiet that gardening brings to her. She completed her Master Gardener Certificate from Dalhousie University in 2020. Walking with and without dogs is another passion of hers.
Auryn Braini
Auryn Braini’s love for gardening began in childhood, learning alongside her grandmother in South Africa. She has carried that passion with her ever since and is now a new member of the Durham Master Gardeners. Currently enrolled in the Horticultural Studies Certificate Program at the University of Guelph, she has a special interest in pollinator gardening with native plants, as well as self-sufficiency and food security practices like seed starting, edible landscaping, and seed saving.
Pam Clarke
Pam has been an active member of Durham Master Gardeners for over 15 years and holds a Horticultural Certificate from the University of Guelph. A self-described “generalist” gardener, Pam gained hands-on experience running her gardening services business after retiring. She now focuses on sharing her knowledge with her family and educating her community. Pam enjoys creating a pollinator- and bird-friendly backyard oasis while finding ways to include native trees and simplify garden maintenance.
Lindsay Code
Lindsay completed her certification as a Master Gardener in 2023. She studied both biology and environmental science and has extensive field work experience. As such, Lindsay understands the possibilities associated with native plants. Lindsay opened a landscape maintenance company in 2012 which focuses on gardening. She has been successfully assisting residential and commercial clients within the Durham Region. Lindsay is a practical gardener. She enjoys studying environments and conditions and helping people to beautify their green spaces by making informed decisions about plant selection.
Sherry Dodson
Sherry has been an active member of the Durham Master Gardeners since 2011. She holds a Horticulturist Certificate from the University of Guelph and a Certificate in Horticultural Therapy from the Toronto Botanical Garden. Sherry is passionate about the natural connection between people and plants, and she works to harness this bond to help individuals improve their well-being—whether it's by enhancing mobility, encouraging physical activity, or fostering a more positive outlook on life.
Robynne Dunn
Robynne started gardening with her father at a very young age while growing vegetables in their backyard. Her love of gardening has continued throughout her life. Robynne has a Certificate in Landscape Design from George Brown College and is continually looking for new ways to expand her knowledge and share her passion for gardening. Joining Master Gardeners has been a fantastic opportunity to do both, and to meet some amazing people who share her enthusiasm for getting outside and marveling at all that nature has to offer.
Karen Durnin
Karen has been with the Durham Master Gardeners since 2011 and has a Certificate in Horticulture from the University of Guelph. Her passion for gardening began early. She grew up on a farm in southwestern Ontario where she learned how to grow, harvest and preserve a large variety of fruits and vegetables. She has carried this tradition on in her own gardens, growing many heirloom vegetables and a wide assortment of herbs. In the last number of years, her focus has expanded into the area of naturalized gardens and a love of native plants. She has become increasingly aware of how essential it is to provide habitat for birds and pollinators in an urban setting. As a master gardener, Karen has enjoyed the opportunity to help new and experienced gardeners learn how to grow their own food and create pollinator friendly gardens.
Roman Halkiewicz
Roman is a new Master Gardener in training. He spent four years completing a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture in Poland and graduated from Poznan University of Live Sciences in 2012. In addition, he continued his education in Canada for two more years, and graduated from Durham College with honours as a Horticulture Technician in 2015. Studying and designing human natural living space has been Roman’s passion for over a decade. He currently works for the Town of Whitby as a Landscape Architect Technician.
Ingrid Janssen
Ingrid is a horticulturist, speaker, blogger and master gardener. She has been gardening for most of her life and is a passionate, some would say “crazy gardener”. She is an inspirational speaker who has appeared on Rogers TV Durham and has spoken at Canada Blooms several times. She has both ornamental and food production gardens on her country property and has been a dedicated native plant enthusiast for over 30 years. Ingrid received her Horticulturist Diploma from the University of Guelph and is an active member of several horticultural and plant societies. She has been a member of the Durham Master Gardeners since 2012.
Rabia Khan
Rabia is a Master Gardener in training with DMG's Children's Outreach Committee. She graduated from Guelph in 2022 with the Diploma in Horticultural Studies and is currently completing a certificate in Sustainable Urban Agriculture. She has taken a course in gardening with Special Populations with Toronto Botanical Gardens, and is a certified steward with Pollinator Partnership. She currently volunteers with the Canadian Horticultural Therapy Association within their Communication committee. Rabia is a Seed Sitter, and a Butterflyway Ranger with the David Suzuki Foundation. Finally, Rabia is the Founder/Director of Allaah, Nature and Me and homeschools her daughter and son.
Dolly Konzelmann
Dolly completed the Master Gardener training in 2023 through the University of Guelph. She continues her education through seminars, research and working in her vegetable, herb and flower gardens. Dolly enjoys year-round gardening in her greenhouse and is looking forward to working with her newly built cold frame. She has been a DMG member since 2020.
Leah Kuhne
Leah joined Durham Master Gardeners in 2022 motivated by her life long love of plants and gardening. She completed her Master Gardener certification in 2024 and is continuing her education in horticulture through the University of Guelph. Leah is a Food Scientist and Red Seal Chef and loves to combine her knowledge of food with fruit, vegetable and herb gardening. She is passionate about starting plants from seed, seed saving and sharing basic gardening skills.
Nancy Lawrence
Nancy is a master gardener in training with DMG. She graduated from Humber College in the Landscape Technician and Retail Floriculture programs. She worked for the city of Etobicoke as a greenhouse grower for 10 years and spent the next five years working part-time at various garden centres. Nancy has recently retired from Parkwood Estate after 28 years running the greenhouses and working on the estate grounds, mainly in the annual and perennial gardens. Her career also included nine years of teaching horticulture courses at Durham College. Nancy has recently retired to enjoy time working in her own garden and pursuing other interests.
Carmen Lint
Carmen has always enjoyed working in her yard on the weekend and upon retirement became a snowbird. She joined the Oshawa Garden Club and while volunteering with the club at Parkwood she became interested in broadening her knowledge of gardening. She enrolled at Dalhousie University’s Master Gardener Program and became a Master Gardener in 2023. Carmen is interested in Invasive plants and native plants.
Kyla Paonessa
Kyla is a dedicated Master Gardener in Training with a passion for sustainable gardening and community engagement. She was honored with the Irene Kock Environmental Awareness Award for her leadership in the Aldonschool Court Pollinator Garden Project, where she transformed a neglected cul-de-sac into a thriving habitat with over 350 native plants. Through her Instagram account, @mamaisinthegarden, she shares her gardening journey, practical tips, and the beauty of nature, inspiring a growing community of fellow gardening enthusiasts.
Sarah Powell
Sarah inherited an instinct for gardening from her mother and grandmother. Collecting hundreds of houseplants at Queen’s University, then transforming a succession of boutique gardens in Toronto, she now cultivates four acres of trees, shrubs, grasses and perennials in Newcastle. Sarah has spent many exciting years as a writer, director and producer of car commercials, and serves as a horticultural volunteer in her community. She completed her Master Gardener training at Dalhousie University in 2024.
Sharon Rabenda
Sharon likes the sense of peace and well being that gardening brings to her. She inherited the love of gardening from her mom and has enjoyed 'digging in the dirt' for many years. In 2018 she began online studies with University of Guelph completing the Horticulture Diploma in 2021. In 2019, after 30+ years of working in the finance field, she began working in the horticulture field at a local garden centre and golf course. Her particular interests include shade gardening, native plants, drought tolerant perennials, soil health and compost. She has been a member of DMG since 2019.
Judy Rivers
Judy has enjoyed gardening for over 30 years and completed the Landscape Design Program at Humber College. She has been with Durham Master Gardeners since 2017. Judy worked at a large local nursery for over seven years providing advice and assistance with plant selection and landscape designs. Active in her community, Judy is a member of the Whitby Sustainability Advisory Committee and is a past member of the Whitby In Blooms committee and assisted with the annual garden tour and Speakers Series. She is also a palliative and bereavement volunteer with VON Durham Hospice. Judy completed a Certificate in Horticultural Therapy in 2018 through the Toronto Botanical Gardens - combining her love of plants and serving others within her community. In her spare time, she enjoys walks in nature and creating unique terrariums and planters using succulents.
Gini Sage
Gini has over 40 years of gardening experience in urban and country settings. She graduated from Michigan State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Forestry, and earned a diploma in Landscape Design from the University of Guelph. Gini is an active Master Gardener, volunteering with Master Gardeners of Ontario for twenty years. Her primary interests include growing vegetables and herbs, including incorporation of them into ornamental gardens, and expanding the use of native plants in the urban landscape. Additionally, she enjoys utilizing her design background in the development of creative solutions for landscape problems.
Karen Schmidt
Starting with a garden boxes and containers on her back deck, Karen has expanded her garden to include a naturalized front yard (no more grass for her!) and a food garden in the back. With a degree in Environmental Science and a Horticulture certificate from the University of Guelph, Karen is excited to be a Master Gardener in Training. Karen has spent time volunteering as a Willing Worker on Organic Farms (WWOOF) in Australia and most recently was a volunteer and gardener with the Whitby Ajax Garden Project (WAGP). Her interests include Native plants, naturalization of spaces and soil regeneration.
Laurelee Stocks
After teaching for 34 years Laurelee is now loving retired life and wonders how she ever had time to work she's so busy! Laurelee has been volunteering with the Toronto Zoo for many years and is also involved with other community groups. Laurelee has completed the Horticulture Certificate from the University of Guelph and considers herself a lifelong learner. She is passionate about starting plants from seeds, native plants, and growing vegetables. Laurelee loves being outside and you will find her out in all types of weather walking or working in her garden.
Art Vanden Enden
Art retired in 2022 from a lifelong career in the garden centre business. He has always been an interested gardener. Education, training and improved practices in sustainability are areas of interest. Personally, he enjoys touring gardens and natural areas in any season. Backyard gardening keep Art busy when not involved in other projects.
Helen Vander Byl
Helen grew up on a farm in Eastern Ontario where her love of the outdoors was nourished. She is particularly interested in composting, vegetable gardening and native plants. Since retiring in 2015 she has been spending a lot of time in her gardens in Whitby and at the cottage in the Algonquin Highlands. Helen has recently completed the Master Gardener training through the University of Guelph and looks forward to being a life long learner. She has been a member of the Durham Master Gardeners since 2018.
Cori Whittington
Cori has been with Durham Master Gardeners since 2013, and has loved gardening and caring for nature and the environment since childhood. After a career in teaching she is enjoying spending her days outside volunteering and working at a stable, farm and native plants nursery.
Isia Yeo
Isia has a love for the outdoors; hiking, camping, canoeing and or course gardening. Gardening offers her the opportunity to create and share her knowledge of plants with her grandchildren. She has her Sustainable Landscape Certificate from Guelph University and is working on completing her Horticultural Certificate.