Volunteer Spotlight: Linda Dishart

By Greta Engel

Phipps is well-known for our beautiful gardens, seasonal flower shows, pioneering sustainability initiatives, informative educational programs and community outreach. None of our work, however, would be possible without the knowledge and dedication of our volunteers. In this series of profiles, we meet some of the people who give their time to make Phipps possible.

Volunteer Linda Dishart likes to say she fell into gardening. As a kid she literally fell off a porch and into a garden and has been hooked ever since! After leaving her job as an engineer in the corporate world, Linda began a 20-year career teaching yoga and pilates at her own studio. She is now beginning to slowly retire, and she just works with private clients within the age range of 73 – 86. In her free time, Linda loves hiking and traveling. She used to be an avid mountain biker, but she and her husband have since retired from that to focus on their other passions. She most recently returned from a trip to Japan and is planning a hiking trip in Italy for this spring.

Orchids are what led Linda to Phipps. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Linda got into seed starting and moving plants around all over her garden. After lots of trial and error, many gardening technique lessons were learned, and her husband became very interested in orchids. They decided to join the Orchid Society and the friends Linda met there recommended that she get involved with Phipps’ Orchid collection. In a typical day of volunteering, Linda is ecstatic to hear from orchid experts. She has learned a lot about the diversity of orchids and how to troubleshoot when there is something wrong. Since she spends so much time in the orchid greenhouse, she has also learned a lot about how greenhouses run. Recently, Linda put in a lot of time helping out with the Orchid and Tropical Bonsai Show: Blooming with Love installation.

Linda believes that it is an absolute joy to volunteer at Phipps. “The people make Phipps, not just the plants,” she says. She also describes the learning process as invaluable. As a volunteer, she has always felt treated as an equal by the staff. It is a hike for Linda to get from her home in the North Hills to the Conservatory, but being around nature and people who love nature makes it worth it for her. “There is diversity in perspectives, yet no conflict,” Linda says when describing the volunteer environment. Linda’s passion for being around all kinds of people and plants makes her the perfect volunteer for Phipps!