David L. Morgan Ph.D.

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Editorial Content Director, Southwest

Extras

Meet David and his youngest student (his grandson).

David is a horticulturist by default. Though a native of Louisiana, he grew up on a Texas cattle ranch, after which he determined that he wanted nothing more to do with horses, cattle, sheep, goats, building fences and scorching summer heat. So he opted to study journalism in college, and after graduating, went to work as a newspaper reporter. But the hours were terrible and the pay miserable. That’s when he decided he wanted nothing more to do with newspapers. Next, he went to law school. But he was unhappy with law; and law was unhappy with him. (Pin-striped suits, long hours in the library, a life of confrontation – is that anyway to live? He thought not.) After some consideration, he determined that his best course of action would be to study horticulture. And why not? Plants don’t mess up your boots and kick you in the shins. They don’t argue with you, and most of them smell good. (Better than sheep, anyway.) David received his Ph.D. in horticulture from Texas A&M University and worked for 21 years for the A&M System and Texas Tech University, after which he retired and became editor of a few horticultural magazines before joining us at Learn2Grow. He also teaches horticulture courses at Tarrant County College, has been secretary-treasurer of the Southern Region of the International Plant Propagators’ Society for 21 years and writes for several horticultural magazines. When he’s not talkin’ horticulture, he’s talking in other languages – whether it’s baby-speak with his grandson (David’s also a proud grandpa!) or Spanish. (He seeks out every opportunity to travel around Mexico). Perhaps all of this (and more) is why if David’s garden could talk, it would ask him, “Where have you been for the last three years?” (Or, “Hello, do I know you?”)

Facts

David’s two hobbies are studying Spanish and fishing. (He also enjoys naming cats, avoiding confrontation and returning home from long meetings.)
Favorite movie: “¡Viva Zapata!”

Quotes

“Gardening – whatever your experience – is trial (trowel?) and error. It’s an exercise in patience. For every healthy plant in my garden, I’ve killed at least two others of the same species.”

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