William C. Welch

Professor and Texas AgriLife Extension Service Landscape Horticulturist
Department of Horticultural Sciences
Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-2134

Phone: 979-845-8564

FAX: 979-845-8906

E-mail: wc-welch@tamu.edu

Bill Welch is a native of Houston, TX and graduated from Lamar High School. He attended Southwestern University at Georgetown Texas for two years prior to going to Louisiana State University where he received an undergraduate degree in Landscape Architecture and later his MS and doctorate in Horticulture and Extension Education. He has had a lifelong interest in gardening. Since 1972 he has served as Professor of Horticulture and currently works for the Texas AgriLife Extension Service, Texas A&M University.

Dr. Welch has worked closely with garden club and nursery organizations throughout his career and been recognized for excellence in his educational programs. He has coordinated the accredited Landscape Design Study Courses at the national and state levels for many years, and has long been involved with the Texas Certified Nursery Professionals Program of the Texas Nursery and Landscape Association. A favorite organization is The Southern Garden History Society where he has served as president and is currently a member of the board of directors.

Bill’s book Perennial Garden Color has been a national best seller and pioneered the use of perennials in Southern gardens. Likewise, Antique Roses for the South has helped to foster a renaissance of interest in these fragrant and low maintenance treasures. He considers the plants grown by our ancestors as living antiques, because they are tangible symbols of success for generations of gardeners. His book, The Southern Heirloom Garden, with co-author Greg Grant, focuses on the cultural contributions and plants that are a part of our gardening heritage.

In addition to his books Bill contributes regularly to Southern Living Magazine, The Southern Garden website at Aggie Horticulture, Neil Sperry’s Gardens and other publications. He and Greg Grant are currently working on a revised and expanded edition of The Southern Heirloom Garden through the Texas A&M University Press. He also co-authored the Bountiful Flower Garden with Dr. Neil G. Odenwald. This book focuses on cutflowers and foliage materials from the garden.

In addition to many years of contributions to the National Garden Club, Dr. Welch has been a strong supporter and contributor to the Garden Club of America where he was recognized in 1993 as an Honorary Member. He received the Zone IX Historic Preservation Award in 2007 for his commitment to historic preservation of the Gulf Coast Landscape. In May, 2008, at their National Convention in Norfolk, VA Bill received the Garden Club of America Distinguished Service Medal for his horticultural work. In June, 2009, he received the B.Y. Morrison Communication Award from the American Horticultural Society—“recognizing effective and inspirational communication through print, radio, television as well as on-line media that advances public interest and participation in horticulture”.