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Ron Cowart

Ron Cowart Landscaping Consulting 
 
 
Ron Cowart has pretty much done it all in the horticultural and landscaping world. Back in 1975, after five years working for a local landscaping business, Ron launched his own landscaping and nursery business – Tookeedoo Farms. Based in scenic Elgin, SC, Tookeedoo propagated and grew a variety of trees and shrubs, installed sod and sprinkler irrigation systems, and designed landscapes for residential and commercial customers. Ron has earned two degrees from Clemson University and has a wealth of hands-on experience he is eager to share. A teacher at heart, Ron has spent more than a decade teaching horticulture and landscaping at Midlands Technical College. In fact, in 2007 Midlands Tech named Ron an Instructor of the Year. More recently Ron began growing fresh vegetables for local markets, including the Northeast Columbia Farmers Market off Clemson Road.
 
Ron has a wide range of expertise and as an independent landscaping consultant he is able to offer objective counsel as to the best and most cost effective solutions to their landscaping problems. 
 
Amy Bledsoe
 
International Certified Arborist, and Certified Environmental Landscaper.
 
Landscape Designer for the City of Columbia, and graduated with a 4.0 GPA when she received her degree in horticulture. She was also the recipient of the 2002 Horticulture Student of the Year award from the SC Nursery and Landscape Association. She's a Certified Nursery Professional, and has been in the horticultural industry for several years as a garden center employee, lecturer, consultant, and designer. She serves as an advisor to the Columbia Green board, and is a member of the SC Nursery and Landscape Association and the Greater Columbia Landscape  Association. She has consulted on gardening articles for Columbia Metropolitan magazine, and The State newspaper, appeared on ETV's "Making It Grow", and also been a radio guest on "The Andy Thomas Show" to answer on air gardening questions.

Don Carter

I've worked in all phases of the plant industry since Jr. High School. Starting with field work and progressing to owning and operating a retail nursery and landscape business. Some of the more visible projects I've been involved in are the Hampton Roads Coliseum, Hampton, Va.; The Fort Magruder Inn and Conference Center, Williamsburg, Va.; Busch Brewery, Williamsburg, Va.; Summit Parkway planting, Columbia, SC.; and the Columbia Airport planting around the UPS building. I retire in 2001 and now am active in the Richland County Master Gardener's Assoc. and work part time for Clemson University Extension service as a consumer horticulturist. I do freelance landscape design and consultation. I can be reached via email or at 803-438-0448.

Thomas R. Knowles

Consulting Arborist & Horticulturist Taylor & Knowles, Inc.

Mr. Knowles is an I.S.A. (International Society of Arboriculture) Certified Arborist, a S.C. Certified Nursery Professional and a Natural Resource Expert as designated by American Forests' Global ReLeaf program. He has extensive experience in the urban forestry and horticulture fields with over 25 years of related work experience. Currently Mr. Knowles is the Director of the Landscaping & Environmental Services Department for the University of South Carolina. Mr. Knowles is President of Taylor & Knowles, Inc., an arboriculture and horticulture consulting company.

Professional Organizations and Education:  B.S. Degree, West Virginia University, College of Forestry, Parks and Recreation Management, Morgantown, W.Va. 1981 A.A.S. Degree, SUNY @ Cobleskill, Natural Resources, Cobleskill, NY,1979 International Society of Arboriculture- 20 years, Southern and Rocky Mountain Chapters SC Urban & Community Forestry Council, Inc. – Founding Memebr and past Chairman of the Board. 803-223-9784

Joe Golson

Upon receiving my Plant Sciences degree from Clemson University in 1977, I ran away and joined the circus. Actually, I started my own landscape – irrigation company, Lawnscapes of Columbia, which I operated until 1990. During that period (in 1985), I had the good fortune to work with Clemson in establishing their landscape AutoCAD department still in use today. In 1990 I joined W.P. Law, Inc., received my CID (Commercial Irrigation Designer) certification in 1996 and have been working in a supervisory/ design/ inside sales position in our Horticultural Department. Since 1999, I have been employed by Midlands Technical College as an adjunct teacher for their irrigation design class and have written an irrigation installation manual for our customers use. Joe can be reached at 803-461-0586 — voice mail available

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