Denise is originally from Berks County, PA, and a graduate of Governor Mifflin Senior High School in Shillington, PA. She is a Summa Cum Laude graduate of Temple University’s Bachelor of Science program in Horticulture.
Her formal training in plants began at the Central Florida School of Holistic Living, where she tested the waters in a field that had always been interesting to her: ethnobotany and botanical medicine. After receiving advanced certifications in Clinical Plant Medicine, she completed an apprenticeship with renowned herbalist Rosemary Gladstar, and subsequently lived on Rosemary’s land for a growing season to study with Rosemary in exchange for caring for the gardens. Here she concluded that studying plants academically should be her next step, and always a scholar, enrolled in Temple University’s Horticulture Bachelor’s Degree program.
At Temple, Denise was president and coordinator of several on-campus projects, and interned at Greenland Nursery of the Fairmount Park system where she propagated street trees; with Friends of High School Park where she served as the Invasive Plant Steward; and at Ambler Arboretum where she was selected for the Native Plant Internship. She also earned the privilege to work as research assistant for Sasha Eisenman, Ph.D. after securing funding through Temple’s competitive Diamond Research Scholar Program. She has received a number of awards for her scholarship and service.
Upon learning of the previous Wyck Horticulturist and Landscape Manager’s imminent departure, she was asked to join Wyck as the new Horticulturist and Landscape Manager. After falling in love with the garden, the environment, and the mission, she simply could not pass up the opportunity. She is thrilled to be with Wyck and to support the mission of preserving the beauty and history of the landscape while connecting with the community through meaningful and accessible education.
Notes From the Garden 