Bob is currently the groundskeeper for the Kathryn Lange Estate near Ludlow Falls. His love of gardening goes back to childhood when he worked with his grandfather at his home. He graduated in 1976 from the Montgomery County Joint Vocational School, as it was called then, and came in third in the state of Ohio in his field.
Bob then worked in three well known flower shops in the area - Patterson's in West Milton, Tipp Florist, and Northmont Florist. He began helping Kathryn Lange with her greenhouse at her estate. When she passed away she bequeathed the estate to Transfiguration Catholic Church in West Milton where both she and Bob were members. It was natural for Bob to be asked to take care of the grounds fulltime.
Kathryn had laid out most of the gardens herself and Bob set about to restore all of them. There are both formal and informal including rose gardens, a fish pool and a reflecting pool on the 2.5 acres. The Church built five duplexes which are home to eight retired priests, and the original home was remodeled to serve as a retreat house.
Bob is a member of the Great Lakes Hosta Association, the Miami Valley Hosta Society, the American Conifer Society, and the Ohio Valley North American Rock Garden Society. His main focus is dwarf, unusual, and rare conifers. He & his wife have a collection of 300 different varieties, as well as 350 kinds of hostas and 200 kinds of day lilies.
Bob is good friends with local flori-culturalist Anne Randall who is also an avid collector. They met when Bob was asked to be an instructor at “Hosta College” - a 2-day event with 5 class periods held at Piqua Upper Valley. Everyone who attends may receive an invitation to Bob’s Labor Day “rare & unusual plant sale!” Don’t miss!