Kerry Ann Mendez is an award-winning garden educator, author, design consultant and proprietor of Perennially Yours based in southern Maine. She is dedicated to teaching the art of low-maintenance flower gardening and landscaping – featuring time-saving gardening techniques, workhorse plants and sustainable practices. As an exceptionally popular educator and communicator, she has presented hundreds of lectures to thousands of gardeners in 23 states. In 2014 she received the Gold Medal award from the Massachusetts Horticultural Society for “Exceptional teaching and writing that increases public enjoyment and appreciation of horticulture.” Kerry Ann has written four gardening books, the most recent being The Budget Wise Gardener and The Right-Size Flower Garden. Her e-newsletters go out to almost 9,000 subscribers throughout the United States. In 2016 Kerry Ann started producing international gardening Webinars that have been enjoyed by thousands. To learn more about Kerry Ann, please visit her web site pyours.com.

Kelly has been a Master Gardener for over 25 years, and she has farmed with her husband for more than 35 years. You’ll find them at farmers’ markets with their grass-fed beef and eggs.

Michele has worked for Purdue Extension for 7 years. She is a co-chair for the Animal Science Focus Group, active in the Purdue Women in Agriculture team, Indiana 4-HDairy Academy team, and is passionate about teaching composting and vermicomposting, including having a worm bin in her office. Her motto is “Have Worms, Will Travel”.

When she is not working she can be found hanging out with her nephews, fishing, reading, playing board games with friends and family, and buying house plants.

Marian began her journey with Monarch Butterflies nearly a decade ago, after witnessing a field of milkweed being bulldozed for development and seeing Monarchs fluttering over the fallen plants. Concerned for their survival, she collected milkweed pods and planted them in her garden, eventually learning to raise butterflies from eggs to release. That first year, she released 14 Monarchs: the following year, over 100. Now in her ninth season, Marian has released 75 butterflies in 2025 alone, with many more expected. Though she cannot halt construction or pesticide use, she has created a thriving pollinator haven in her own yard—and inspired others to do the same. Her dedication continues to make a meaningful impact on the survival of this iconic species.