Joanna Thomas is the owner of Gardenscapes By Joanna, a unique landscaping business that offers an array of services to both residential and commercial customers. Prior to becoming a sole proprietor of her business, she worked as a Perennial Sales Coordinator at Dean’s Greenhouse and Flower Shop in Westlake, OH, where she managed sales inventory of perennials, trees, and shrubs; maintained a three quarter acre display garden with over 2,500 perennials and 300 shrubs and trees; landscape consultations for homeowners; supervised and trained employees; helped to establish direct-mail newsletter; and conducted horticulture seminars.

Joanna has been teaching horticulture at Cleveland State University for the Continuing Education Department since 2003. Her classes include Flowers in the Landscape, Maintenance of Trees, Shrubs and Groundcovers Part I and Part II.

Joanna also has taught community education classes in Rocky River and Berea as well as area Garden Clubs. She participated in horticulture education and field plant testing with the Chicago Botanical Garden and Morton Arboretum in Lisle, IL, along with the following educational pursuits:

• In August 2006, obtained Certified Arborist Designation from the International Society of Arboriculture
• Deciduous Tree School June 2003, an intensive 2-day course; OARDC’s Wooster campus
• Tree Risk Management Seminar/National Arbor Day Association, Columbus, OH 10/03
• Participated at the Perennial Plant Association Symposium July 2002, in Chicago, IL.
• Obtained Master Gardener certification form Ohio State University in August of 1997
• Contributed to the development of the Medina County Gardeners’ Newsletter
• Assisted in the Hinckley Library landscaping project, Medina County Fair, Medina Home and Flower Show, Let’s Go Gardening, OSU Master Gardener Hotline, and Secrest Arboretum (OARDC).
• Member of ISA (International Society of Arboriculture)
• Member of Ohio Nursery Landscape Association
• Long-time member of the Cleveland Botanical Garden and Perennial Plant Association