Kathy Kennedy of Plainsboro is new to African violets but not to the world of flowers and plants. Her grandparents, who immigrated to the U.S. 100 years ago, owned Belyung Florist in Trenton for many years. “My earlier recollections are scampering around the flower shop and watching them put arrangements together,” she says. “I was amazed at the process.”
Kennedy became a master gardener in 2012. She completed the 18-month program in Middlesex County. “It was a better schedule (than Mercer’s) and I had access to the experimental greenhouses,” she says. She volunteers during the spring to prepare for the annual plant sale — being held on Saturday, April 27, in conjunction with Rutgers Day. The plants are germinated from seed and “potted up” to larger containers as they grow.
Born in Trenton, Kennedy was raised in Haverford, Pennsylvania. Her mother, also born in Trenton, was a registered nurse at St. Francis Hospital. Her father, born in Bordentown, was a graduate of Notre Dame and had a master’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania. Now deceased, he was a professor of literature.
After graduating from Villanova University with a degree in English literature she managed printing plants for the Wall Street Journal for many years. During one of her relocations around the country she acquired a master’s degree in business administration in Colorado. “Education was important to my father,” she says.
She moved to Plainsboro to work with Dow Jones and worked there until a few years ago. After working at Bloomberg Business, she now runs projects in the office of strategy and programs at Merrill Lynch in Hopewell.
Her husband, John, is an editor at Mathematica. The couple met at college and moved to Plainsboro in 1992. Their daughter, Megan, graduated from West Windsor-Plainsboro High School, Class of 1999. She is the acting curator at James Madison Foundation. Their son, Matthew, graduated from the Hun School in 2003. He is a controller at Cross Current Corporation, a software development and systems integration firm.
“Our house is full of indoor plants,” she says. “I had to bring the outside in.” Kennedy won several awards at the African violet show last year. “African violets are a joy to me, and I look forward to exhibiting at this year’s show.”
Master Gardeners Q&A and Plant Sale, Cook Campus, New Brunswick, 732-398-5220. Saturday, April 27, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Annual plant sale presented by Master Gardeners of Middlesex County.
Show and Plant Sale, Garden State African Violet Club, Mercer College Student Center, West Windsor. Saturday, May 4, noon to 4 p.m.; and Sunday, May 5, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. “Violets in Vogue” features African Violets in horticulture form and in flower arrangements. Hundreds of judged plants on display are grown by area enthusiasts. Plants for sale from commercial growers and club members. Free. 609-259-7095. www.princetonol.com/groups/gsavc.
