Bob Hyland is a Portland-based horticultural consultant and garden designer. He owns Hyland Garden Design and Contained Exuberance, a garden pottery shop and design studio. During his 40-year career, Bob has managed horticulture, operations, and education programs at leading public gardens on both coasts – Longwood Gardens, San Francisco Botanical Garden & Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Before moving to Portland in 2011, he built, co-owned, and operated a connoisseur plant nursery in New York’s Hudson Valley. Rooted firmly in the Pacific Northwest for 8 years, Bob has served on the boards of several public gardens and horticultural organizations.

CiCi Polson is a self-described science nerd.  She has a bachelor’s degrees in neuroscience and nursing and a master’s degree in nursing.  She is a retired nurse-midwife.  In 2010, she became an OSU Master Gardener and is a garden tour guide and work crew member at Pittock Mansion.  She has designed and created school gardens and taught many children and adults about science and botany.  Her special interests include native plants, herbal medicine and the healing properties of gardening and nature.

Originally from Philadelphia, Francheska Snyder is the current owner/operator of Niwa Method LLC, a landscape contracting business specializing in Japanese gardens in the Portland area. She has previously worked in public non-profit gardens at Portland Japanese Garden, Shofuso Japanese House and Garden, and Wyck Historic House and Garden. She is a member of various garden and horticulture societies, and a recognized Chanticleer Scholar. Francheska earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry from Rochester Institute of Technology in 2009. She holds a certificate in Garden Design from Cornell Cooperative Extension, a certificate in Ornamental Horticulture from Longwood Gardens, and a 4th Term Master Level certificate from the Ohara School of Ikebana. She also uses her time and talent to volunteer with Friends of Trees and the Oregon Garden.

Retired from Portland Parks & Recreation and a career in community relations, public involvement, and volunteer coordination. Was involved with the Garden in that capacity in the early 1980s and is pleased to be back now as a volunteer.

More Information coming soon

A practicing dentist and real estate developer, Mike is active in the Gresham community and in 1996 was honored as Gresham Area Citizen of the Year. He has served as a member of the Gresham School Board, is past-president of the Gresham Area Chamber of Commerce and currently serves on a number of boards including ODS and Portland State University Foundation.

Richard Hartlage is the founding partner of Land Morphology, a landscape architectural design working in eight states. His award-winning, innovative designs are renowned as emotive, immersive spaces that incorporate sophisticated horticulture, artful detailing, and historical knowledge that heighten the human experience of the natural world.

Richard’s diverse span of work includes planting design for the Seattle Waterfront, the master plan and first phase of development of Leach Botanical Garden, renovations to Yew Dell Botanical Gardens in Kentucky, the design of the Herb and Vegetable Garden at the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens, and the design of Chihuly Garden and Glass in Seattle.

Sam Bennett is an Associate at Hennebery Eddy Architects and brings her experience with energy-efficient sustainable design to all her work, from new construction to resiliency and historic renovations. Sam has developed design and construction documents for complex rehabilitation projects for the National Parks Service, including carefully incorporating new materials and systems to improve the life-span and performance of several historic buildings. She has worked on multiple projects where prioritizing the landscape was integral to successfully rehabilitating significant historical, archaeological, and cultural resources. Her recent notable projects include renovation work at the historic Wawona Hotel in Yosemite National Park, multiple historic renovation and preservation projects at Yellowstone National Park, work at the Pu’uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park, and the design/build expansion and renovation of the Oregon Youth Challenge facility in Bend, Oregon.

Co-owner and President of Kohler Meyers O’Halloran, Inc., a real estate company, Sue worked with the City of Portland acquiring properties in the Johnson Creek Watershed for restoration. Involvement in Leach Botanical Garden continues this important work of connecting nature and quality of life. Sue was Gresham Citizen of the year in 1995 and Outstanding Volunteer in 2006 and 2008. She is President of Gresham’s Center for the Arts Foundation, past president of East Metro Economic Alliance,  and Mt. Hood Community College Foundation board member.

Tom Bland, Certified Public Accountant, was chief operating officer of several start-up companies and non-profit organizations. He has extensive knowledge of business operations, and assists companies in building and establishing financial operations, governance, human resources, risk management and facilities operation. He owns Sequoia Financial Consulting, a tax and financial management company. He sits on the boards of a number of environmental organizations and was past president of the local North American Rock Garden society chapter. He has a BS and MS in Genetics.