Happy 4th of July y’all! Meet Mr. Wormley Hughes: Head Gardener at Monticello; “Master of Many Trades;” Horticulture Icon; and slave of Thomas Jefferson (the principle author of the Declaration of Independence and 3rd U.S. President.) Real talk: being “Head Gardener” is a big a** deal!
Jefferson’s granddaughter Ellen recalled Mr. Hughes being “armed with a spade and a hoe.” He planted seeds, bulbs, and trees. Mr. Hughes also planted flowers beds; took up bulbs for winter; and spread dung in the vegetable garden. Hughes even dug Jefferson’s grave. There is no Monticello without mentioning Wormley Hughes and the many slaves who’s talents were used forcibly by Jefferson to build and nurture its land.
“Independence Day” in the USA is a celebration of July 4, 1776—the date the 13 colonies received independence from British rule. Note: slaves like Wormley Hughes did not receive their full independence until “Juneteenth” June 19, 1865.
What if the neighbors are balling harder then you?! Then honey you “borrow” their view! It is no accident the lower branch of the tree has been removed. You want to know why? Because from this owners backyard they now get a glimpse of the golf course annnnd the lake! If the branch were still on the tree all they’d be looking at right now is…well…leaves. (For the record the cut made to the trunk of this tree is trash but we’ll talk about that another time.)
Now you know we’re classy over here on this page. So don’t go around cutting big ol’ obvious holes to do this. You are essentially ‘framing’ your “borrowed view” (that’s the discreet way.) A few cuts here and there to create an opening will do just fine. Look around and see if there are any views (architectural or natural) you can “borrow” or any “struggle” you should screen.
My name is Abra Lee and welcome to the ConquerTheSoil family! It would be obvious (and easy) for me to start my first post with, well…soil. After all this is where most plants start. But, I’m gonna start with failure. My failure and how overcoming insecurities allowed me to have a very successful career in Horticulture. This is how we will help you too. By confronting failure and fear of plants, nature, and design and turning them into successes! Here you will be empowered with knowledge in the art and science of Horticulture. We will break complex principles down into simple lessons. You will feel confident and be able to take these lessons back to beautify your outdoor/indoor space and your community!
Here’s a little story…
I didn’t attend Auburn University to become a Horticulturist. I had no idea what to do with my life. One day, I was on the campus bus and we rolled up on some students looking at trees and taking notes while their professor talked. For real?! There’s such a thing as a tree class? And y’all are actually getting grades for learning outside? I was in!
I always enjoyed my plant classes and my professors. I did not enjoy the isolation I felt. I was black, one of only a handful of women, and the only person of color in the undergraduate program. Though I tried to “fit in” I felt lonely and excluded from a good ol’ boys club I would never be able to join. Many times I was depressed and did not show up for class. There was no excuse for this, but that is how I felt, insecure. Things got so bad I ended up failing courses and was placed on academic suspension. During the 6 months I sat out of school a surprising thing happened. My parents didn’t show anger towards me for my failures. Their disappointment was that I quit. How could I walk away from something I loved just because I wasn’t fitting in? What did “fit in” mean anyway? I was already good enough showing up as myself (and start your own darn club.) So what if you fail? Face the challenge–find your rhythm, your lane, and what speaks to you. This is also true with plants, nature, and design. You don’t always get it right the 1st, 2nd, or 506th time. But be open to change. Experiment and try. This is how you ConquerTheSoil!
Nature is an act of patience. Know you will get there. As a Horticulturist I still fail. I talk to my plants if I have too. I feel pressure every day because people think since I’m formally trained I have a “green thumb” and can grow anything. That’s simply not true. Plants don’t care about my previous failures and they don’t care about yours either.
ConquerTheSoil is a safe space to learn about Horticulture without feeling excluded. We will also regularly touch on some of my passions: Fashion and Culture. Whether you are here for the free content or, maybe you want something more in depth and would like to invest in some of the online classes and products we are putting together. We’ve got some fun stuff coming your way and are so glad you are here!
(P.S. The pic is circa 2001 I was a little lowly intern. My colleague Christian was the expert and helping me find my way with topiary shears!)
Abra Lee is a storyteller, horticulturist, and author of the forthcoming book Conquer The Soil: Black America and the Untold Stories of Our Country’s Gardeners, Farmers, and Growers. She has spent a whole lotta time in the dirt as a municipal arborist and airport landscape manager. Her work has been featured in The New York Times, Fine Gardening, Veranda Magazine, and NPR. Lee is a graduate of Auburn University College of Agriculture and an alumna of the Longwood Gardens Society of Fellows, a global network of public horticulture professionals.
Education
-Auburn University College of Agriculture, Auburn, Alabama – B.S. Horticulture
-Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania – Leadership in Public Horticulture Fellowship
Career Highlights
City of Atlanta Department of Park – Municipal Arborist
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport – Landscape Manager
George Bush Intercontinental Airport – Grounds Superintendent
Conquer The Soil, LLC – Horticulturist Extraordinaire
“Abra Lee delivered an amazing presentation at our GardenComm Career Next event. She spoke from the heart sharing her life journey. She shared not only the victories but also the challenges and how those have not only built her character but her career. Abra was insightful, inspiring and I would highly recommend her.”
Aimee Coker, PR/Marketing Encore Azalea Southern Living Plant Collection Sunset Western Garden Collection
