Awards & Honors

2011 Hall of Fame Awardee: Mike Jeronimus

Mike worked with his dad, Ken for 14 years at Green Acres Nursery, growing, landscaping and selling wholesale. They cultivated and registered the Populus sargentii ‘Jeronimus’ which is a superior Sargent cottonwood.

In 1992, Green Acres Nursery merged with Arapahoe Acres Nursery and became one of the largest nursery operations in the Rocky Mountain region. In 2000, Mike began lining out plant material at Boxelder Creek Nurseries in Hudson, Colo. Mike’s interest has always been in the actual growing and care of the field grown plants. He valued the people who worked with him the most and enjoyed seeing them grow in this industry.

Mike served on the CNGA board (2001 - 2005) and was Board President in 2002. Mike was an advocate for protecting Colorado urban forest and worked diligently to prevent the introduction of insects and diseases from other states.

(standing fourth from right, wearing blue tie, with his family and staff)

Frank has spent his life at Center Greenhouse watching it grow from cut flowers to bedding plants and plug & liner producers. He is dedicated to the green industry, serving on various boards and working with National brokers. He has a strong passion and unequaled enthusiasm for this business. Many of his employees have been with him for 10-25 years. Frank motivates all who have the privilege of working with him.

Frank has served on the GCC board, been a president of GCC, a member of CNGA, ALCC, Michigan State Research Group and Young Plant Research Group. He is also a member and officer of Saint Michaels Society where he has organized an annual golf tournament that has given out over $60,000.00 in college scholarships over the past several years.

Person of the Year: Kelly Grummons

Kelly received undergraduate degrees from CSU in both Landscape Horticulture and Horticulture with emphasis in Nursery and Landscape Management and Floriculture in 1985. He interned at Brooklyn Botanic Garden. He has traveled widely studying nursery techniques and looking for wild plants to cultivate. He has introduced many of his own strains, and has brought the best plants adapted to Colorado to the public.

Kelly has been active in many groups including CNGA, ALCC and many garden clubs, including Colorado Cactus and Succulent Society, North American Rock Garden Society and was instrumental in starting CNGA’s Perennial Committee.

2011 Horizon Award Winner: Anne Carlson

Anne began working a Echter’s in April of 2008. she is the assistant foliage and annuals buyer for the store. Anne is originally from Pueblo and attended Colorado College and Colorado State University. After working for many years as a dental hygienist she made the career change to horticulture where she now works with plants; one of the passions of Anne’s life.

She is in the process of completing the Master Gardener Program and takes any opportunity afforded to enhance her knowledge of horticulture.

Horizon Award Winner: Michelle Heronema

Michelle has been with Bath Garden Center for four plus years as the Nursery Manager. Michelle is a Colorado State University graduate, with a degree in Horticulture, was a Colorado Nursery Research and Education Foundation (CNREF) scholarship recipient and has been a Colorado Certified Nursery Professional since 2007. She is knowledgeable about all plants and loves to share that knowledge with the customers and staff.

Michelle volunteers on the CNGA programs committee and at the CNREF Golf tournament every year and donates her time to help our community with education about plant care, xeriscape, watering difficulties. She sets up and runs a booth for the local water wise workshops and teaches classes at the garden center, including a class at ProGreen teaching children how to garden.