SRGC RISING STAR

[Ian Y]

The latest issue of the excellent RHS magazine 'The Garden' has just arrived and features one of our own rising stars.



Johanna Leven who received a grant from the RHS towards this trip was also supported by a grant from the SRGC.
I have seen her report on this expedition to the Svalbard Islands in the Arctic Circle and it is very informative, well written and superbly illustrated.
There is no doubt that Johanna has plants in her blood as she has been brought up within the SRGC attending shows for as long as we have and helping out since she was able to walk.
She has also successfully exhibited in the Junior sections of our Shows both plants and art work.



Johanna with her proud parents Sandy and Anne Leven.
Well done Johanna we are all proud of you.

[Sandy Leven]

That's my girl....... and that's my girl
Proud Dad

[Sandy Leven]

  Here are a few pictures of Johanna's 'fire' on Svalbard.
You can tell how far into the expedition she was by the colour of her jacket!

[Sandy Leven]

So proud that I posted the pictures twice!

[Maggi Young]

This topic reminds me of a page in the old forum :
 http://www.srgc.org.uk/discus/messages/1078/41968.html?1162196181

click the link above to see the Leven family in party mode!

[Paddy Tobin]

You may recall Sandy mentioning recently that his daughter, Johanna, had received a bursary to help with her expenses as part of a British Schools Exploring Society expedition to the Svalbard Islands.

Well...Johanna has a very well written article immediately inside the front cover December issue of the Royal Horticultural Society's journal, 'The Garden'.

Congratulations to her on a very well written article, also very well illustrated - I'm sure the proud Dad will pass on the sentiments as I am also sure that other members of the forum will be equally delighted to see 'one of our own', so to speak, doing so well.

Paddy

[Maggi Young]

Paddy, bless your heart, you are behind the times: see this page:
http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=53.0

However, you express the sentiments of many of us, especially those who have watched Johanna progress through her SRGC career. That girl is a real star, and no mistake. And I'm not just saying that because she has fabulous red hair! Though she has!

[Paddy Tobin]

Maggi,

Bless your own heart - for tolerating this 'senior moment'.

I receive the RHS, The Garden, at home and at work(affiliated school). When I arrived home I showed the cover to Mary (her indoors) and asked her if she thought the photograph on the cover was familiar, had I showed it to her from Stephen Lacey's recent book on 'Gardens of the National Trust'. She couldn't recall seeing the photograph before so, as usual, I blundered on in my own very special befuddled way.

However, the article brought a bright moment to my evening. It is lovely to see someone so young interested in horticulture. The general age profile of garden club and garden society membership seems to hover around the retirement age or even above here locally and all need the reinvigoration that youth brings.

We say in Irish: 'Mol an Óige agus tiocfaidh si' - Praise youth and it will prosper (rough translation)

As moderator you will be able to delete all of the above to spare other members the bother of reading outdated comment.

Paddy

[Maggi Young]

Delete? Delete talk of one of my most favourite SRGC friends... certainly not!
The girl has a great eye for plants, has done more than her fair share of work for the medal winning SRGC  display team lead by her Pop. She has shown plants, artwork Well, I could go on. You can likely see that I am a big fan of Johanna ! She has two big good looking brothers, too, who have also done plenty in the service of the SRGC but they haven't got red hair!!

[Paddy Tobin]

OK Maggi,

My blushes are a very very cheap price to pay in that case.

Johanna is obviously a great girl, talented etc and deserves all the praise we can give to her.

Well done, Johanna.

Paddy