Gail Barton Email & Phone Number

Meridian, Mississippi

Work with clients to create residential landscape designs and consult about landscape problems. I also contract grow wildflowers by request and accept speaking engagements and garden writing assignments.

Meridian, Mississippi

Worked under contract as a liaison between College Administrators and UWA Department of Grounds to improve appearance of the campus landscape. I prepared landscape plans and a maintenance schedule. I also selected species and located planting sites for all new trees. I coordinated efforts so that UWA was designated as a Tree Campus USA. I also collected local seed, propagated plants and used these materials to install a 1 acre Prairie Garden located at UWA's Black Belt Gardens.

I have spoken at many state and regional plant conferences including Mississippi’s Master Gardener Conference, Mid-South Native Plant Conference, The Cullowhee Landscaping With Native Plants Conference, Gulf Coast Regional Native Plant Conference, Lone Star Regional Native Plant Conference. I have co-hosted state-wide gardening talk shows including the Gestalt Gardener on several occasions. Recently I have presented several hands on Plant Propagation seminars.

Meridian, Mississippi

- Implemented a new Horticulture Technology program for Meridian Community College. Accomplishments included designing the curriculum, selecting all textbooks, making all decisions regarding acquisitions of supplies and equipment, writing specifications that led to the purchase of a 2400 square foot greenhouse, 600 square foot shade house and all related equipment. I worked closely with the MCC Grounds Department in designing beds, installing new shrub plantings and supervising student workers. My annual course load was ten classes averaging more than twenty classroom contact hours weekly. Courses taught included: Plant Science, Plant Materials I and II, Greenhouse and Nursery Production I and II, Plant Propagation, Landscape Design, Ornamental and Turf Pest Management, Landscape Maintenance and Weed Control, Landscape Construction. In addition, I was required to submit all state-mandated paperwork. My recruiting efforts included various public relations activities such as writing regular gardening columns for the Meridian Star, appearing on radio and television and teaching short courses.

Meridian, Mississippi

I ran a successful retail mail order nursery from 1987 until 1995. The nursery specialized in perennials, herbs, native plants and ornamental grasses.