JOYCE HARRIS, A TRIBUTE (Part II)

October 28th was a very sad day for all of us who had worked with and learned from Joyce Harris. As the news of her death trickled out I began to receive phone calls from around the state. Phone calls from people whose lives Joyce had touched in a most personal way. You see,
Joyce was the main force behind so many now Horticulture and Design Judges, Teachers and Award Winners. She had received so many notable awards herself including our Waterman Bowl (which she won twice) and the Stancliff Bowl for her work on designing and maintaining the
garden at The Mary Wade Home. Her national awards (The Joyce Harris Award For Excellence In Horticulture) will be a constant reminder forever of her expertise and deep love for all things that grow (as she often described her interest). She was a GCA Horticulture Judge and also a Master NGC Judge where she was required to study Flower Design and to exhibit. She always said she"hated" to design but so many times I would see an exhibit of hers with a blue ribbon and often special awards.

I joined the garden club because I wanted to learn how to put together those designs I saw at shows. No sooner had I joined our club when I learned there was to be a flower show. What to do and where to go to learn?? A good question because our club did not have a regularly scheduled workshop series at that time. Joyce announced during a meeting that she would be conducting a workshop in preparation for the show in the Spring. I eagerly signed up and loved every minute of it, she was a good teacher. Little did I know as I walked through the Carriage House door in Edgerton Park that my life was about to take on a new dimension. Joyce got hold of me that day
and didn’t let go until just a few years ago when she saw me through my study and handbook exam to become a full Accredited Judge. I know that without her constant encouragement, and guidance, I never would have had the self confidence to exhibit, judge or start our present workshop series. Over the years I came to know that I was not the only such person encouraged by Joyce. There are many out there who will forever credit Joyce Harris with "getting them started". I learned from Joyce the importance and pure satisfaction of passing knowledge on to
others coming along so that the personal joys of planting, growing, exhibiting and flower designing could be realized. Above all, this is what defined Joyce as we knew her.

I for one will always be in her debt. We should always remember that we do have an obligation to share our knowledge. We should keep on learning, sharing and always encouraging others. This is the legacy so lovingly given to us by Joyce Harris.

--Betsy Nininger