The gardening community recently lost a steady, reassuring voice with the passing of Walter Reeves. For decades, Walter was more than a gardening expert; he was a trusted friend to thousands of us who tuned in each Saturday morning to listen to his radio show. Walter hosted The Georgia Gardener for 26 years before retiring in 2020. Week after week, he offered practical advice with a warmth and humility that put even the most inexperienced gardeners at ease. He didn’t just give instructions—he gave confidence. Gardening feel accessible and forgiving, and mistakes became part of the learning process.
A Calm and Reassuring Voice
Cobb Master Gardener Cris Force shared a memory that captures Walter’s spirit:
“Before I took Master Gardener training, I had gone on a buying spree, buying way too many plants, among them three blueberry bushes. I realized I didn’t have enough sunny areas to plant them. So, I called the Saturday morning show he did on WSB radio with a question about growing blueberry bushes in pots. As I waited in the phone queue to be connected to Walter, I was nervously thinking, “What am I doing? He is probably going to think I am a big airhead for frivolously buying plants with no thought of where to plant them. Instead Walter made me feel quite validated, as he told me that I was in good company; he said, ‘We all do that.’ In that moment, I felt welcomed into the circle of good gardeners like himself by my love of plants.
Master Gardener Mike Sumpter remembers how Walter helped him save a plant gifted to him by a dear friend. “Several years ago, my edgeworthia looked terrible. It was January and where there should have been blooms there were black tips. On a whim, I emailed Walter Reeves about what the problem could be. Much to my surprise, I promptly received a response. Walter reminded me of the heavy frost of the previous November. He suspected that was the problem. His suggestion was to leave the plant alone and if it didn’t produce leaves by May or June, it would not come back. I did as he suggested and by May the edgeworthia was sprouting new growth. I have enjoyed that plant for many years.”
Humor and Humility
Some of our members had the pleasure to travel with Walter and Earthbound Expeditions. June Jordan recalls, “My husband and I traveled through Italy with Walter as our host, in April of 2018. Walter was as warm, friendly, and unassuming in person as he was on the air. He was witty, had a self deprecating humor and an endless collection of great stories. In looking back to this travel, and the time he taught our Master Gardener class on Managing Wildlife, I think of Walter as someone who was very comfortable in his own skin and knew how to enjoy life.”
Master Gardener Duane Best echoes that sentiment: “I traveled to New Zealand with Walter. It was an incredible tour of gardens on both the north and south islands. As you might imagine, we saw a lot of unfamiliar plants and when someone would ask Walter to identify one, he always responded, ‘That’s an elifino.’ I also went to Cambodia and Vietnam in 2019 with Walter; there were many ‘elifinos’ there as well! Quite a character! Very knowledgeable and fun guy.”
Those who met Walter in person found him just as he was on the air—kind, attentive, and genuinely interested in others. His retirement marked the end of an era, but his influence continues in the gardens and gardeners he nurtured.
