Visiting Secrest Arboretum, you may encounter Secrest Master Gardener Volunteers (MGVs) working in public spaces. Some will be tallying data in the research plots, others may be weeding, mulching or deadheading throughout the winding paths of the Secrest gardens, or perhaps some will be guiding tours of the grounds and answering visitor’s questions. However, another equally dedicated but unseen group of volunteers works behind the scenes at the outer edges of the 110-acre property in the Secrest Arboretum Nursery.
It is here on Thursday mornings that you will find MGV Joe Arthur. Depending on the season, he might be planting seeds, transferring seedlings to pots, or preparing one of Operations
Manager Paul Snyder’s grafts for a Discovery Day plant sale. Joe enjoys the opportunity to work with plants and learn more from Paul about grafting. He states, “I love watching my work go from seed to plant at the greenhouses and learning new things.” The process of gathering seeds from the Arboretum, such as pawpaws, acorns, and various cones, to nurture and create new trees, fascinates him. He has found the recent use of rice hulls for mulching the pots to be quite effective for weed control and moisture content. Occasionally, mystery plants may surface among the seedlings, and Joe enjoys transferring them to his home garden to see what will develop. His hard work in the nursery is appreciated by Paul who states, “Joe has been volunteering since completing the MGV course in 2016. He always has a can-do attitude and is just an overall great person to be around.”
Joe’s path through life has had many interesting twists. After graduating from high school, Joe worked at the Brewster Dairy making cheese until he was drafted. From 1966-68 he served in the United States Army as a sentry dog handler with the military police, stationed at a missile base for which he had to have top security clearance. Upon leaving the military, he worked as a steel inspector for the Timken Roller Bearing Company in Canton. A coworker who was studying for the Ohio State Highway Patrol test suggested Joe go with him to take the exam. Joe agreed to the challenge. Of the pair it was Joe who passed the test and entered the Academy to become an Ohio State Highway Patrol Trooper. Throughout his career, he enjoyed talking with the people he stopped and listening to their life stories and problems. He is proud of a commendation he received for his treatment of a traffic violator with whom his honest discussion made a difference in her life. During his twenty-five years with the State Highway Patrol, Joe was stationed at the State Highway Patrol post across from Secrest Arboretum.
Retirement found him working as the grounds supervisor for the Holmes County Courthouse where he also served as a part time bailiff in addition to being involved with many volunteer organizations. In 2016 hearing about the new Master Gardener Volunteer class at Secrest, Joe thought it seemed a good opportunity for both volunteering and learning more about plants and so he applied. Having worked with plants throughout his life, Joe has always appreciated the practical side of gardening. His first gardening lessons came when he helped his parents with their vegetable gardens. They showed Joe the basics of planting, harvesting, and preserving, and their gardens rewarded the family with produce to eat throughout the winter months. Joe continues this practice with his own gardens, enjoying corn, beans, and tomatoes. He enjoys learning about the newest research and developments in the plant world. His advice to other gardeners is “If it doesn’t work the first time look at all the knowledge you have gained from your mistake to take on to your next project.”
Although he has always had a very active life, Joe especially enjoys kicking back and listening to classical musicians. His wife, Jean, is a birder and as a result Joe has become quite good at identifying the many birds that flock to their feeders and yard. Recently, they purchased electric bicycles and enjoy travelling the Wayne-Holmes Bike trail which passes next to their backyard. Without a doubt though, you can be sure that come Thursday morning, you will find Joe Arthur tending and caring for the developing plants in the Secrest Arboretum Nursery.
–Pat Warner, Master Gardener Volunteer