A Gainesville couple, Lee and Kathy Lovett, are the winners of a national award from the American Horticultural Society.
The Jane L. Taylor Award is given to an individual, organization, or program that has inspired and nutured future horiculturists through efforts in children and youth gardening, according to the Society.
The Lovetts were recognized for their creation of Gardens on Green, located on Green Street, an education garden next to the Hall County Education Building. It's designed to introduce children to the "miracles in a garden," as Kathy Lovett puts it. Gardens on Green is a teaching and learning space complete with conifer, vegetable, and pollinator gardens, as well as a compost center. More recently, a nutrition center has been added to teach kids about healthy eating habits.
The Lovetts are longtime (50 years) educators in the Hall County School System. Kathy Lovett has since retired from teaching middle and high school, while Lee now serves as deputy superintendent.
Read more about the American Horticultural Society and the other 2016 award winners by clicking here http://www.ahs.org/gardening-programs/national-awards/great-american-gardeners/2016-award-recipients.
