Mary Maguire Lerman, retired horticulturist for the City of Minneapolis’ Parks and Recreation Department and past chair of MSHS, received the Terrace Award from Terrace Horticultural Books this past Saturday at the store’s Annual Fall Open House. Mary is the seventh individual to be recognized for service to horticulture in Minnesota by Terrace books.

Mary retired in 2008 from the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board as its Environmental Coordinator of Horticulture. Her career as an educator began at Como Park in 1974 at the conservatory where she worked for two years before accepting the job in MInneapolis. Her volunteer efforts are wide and include her role as Eco Steward at her neighborhood College Park, an advisor and educator at the new YMCA Midway Garden in a Box program and as a volunteer who helps with the Bromeliads at Como Park Conservatory. She also volunteers working in the archives in the Minneapolis Parks and served as the Chair of the Board of the Minnesota Horticultural Society from 2011-2013. Mary has written numerous articles for gardening periodicals and written or contributed to three books on horticulture. For 25 years she presented topical noon hour Green Themes programs at the Minneapolis Public Library.

Kent Petterson, owner of the bookstore, said, “For those of us who have known Mary over the years, her path in life was clear and she puts it clearly in what she told me, ‘My grandmothers taught me how to garden and taught me how to create joy with a garden. That has been my mission—to help others enjoy the joy of gardening.'”

Although  technically retired, Mary continues to volunteer and to consult about gardening through her firm, Designs by Mary Frances. Terrace Horticultural Books, 503 St. Clair Ave. is open M-F, noon to 5pm or by chance, 651-222-5536.