Lee Schneller
(Maiden name:  Lee Sligh)

Professional Experience

    Owner, Lee Schneller Fine Gardens.  1995 – present.  Fine gardening business
    specializing in designing and building Japanese-inspired, naturalistic and
    continuously blooming perennial gardens.  Designed and built over 150 gardens.

    Japanese Translator.  Free-lance.  1989 – 1995 (full time); 1982 – 1989 (part time).

    Computer Consultant.  Cape Cod Planning and Economic Development
    Commission, Barnstable, Massachusetts.  1984 – 1985.

    Translator, Editor and Technical Writer.  Free-lance.  Tokyo, Japan.  1983 – 1984.

    English Teacher (ESL).  Sendai & Tokyo, Japan.  1980 – 1983.

Education

    Kyoto University of Art and Design, “The Japanese Garden – Intensive Seminar,”
    Kyoto, Japan, September – October 2003.

    University of Maine Cooperative Extension, Master Gardener course, 1997.

    Asahi Culture Center (Tokyo, Japan), Intensive courses in Japanese language, 1983.

    Nankai University (Tianjin, China) Intensive program in Chinese language, 1980.

    Michigan State University, B.A., Chinese Language and Literature, 1980 (with honor).

    Michigan State University, B.A., Asian History, 1980 (with honor).

    Honors and Scholarships (at MSU):  Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Kappa Phi, Phi Alpha
    Theta, Shao-chang Lee Scholarship.

    Rotary International Exchange Student, Fukuchiyama, Japan, 1974.

Talks and Workshops Given

    "Japanese Gardens, Ancient and Modern," (2 Talks), West Bay Rotary, Camden,
    Maine, February 2008; Rockland Public Library, Rockland, Maine, February 2008.

    "Gardens of Shoguns and Samurai," (Talk), Merryspring Nature Park, Camden,
    Maine, February 2007.

    "Japanese Gardens: The Meaning of Water," (2 Talks), American Association of
    University Women, Rockland, Maine, December 2006; Coastal Maine Botanical
    Garden, July 2007.

    “Japanese-Inspired Gardens in the United States,” (2 Talks), Merryspring Nature
    Park, Camden, Maine, February 2006; Rockland Public Library, July 2006.

    “Introduction to Written Chinese and the Tao Te Ching,” (Talk), The 19th Annual
    Camden Conference, Camden, Maine, January 2006.

    "Creating Japanese-Inspired Gardens in Maine," (8 Talks), Garden Club Federation
    of Maine, Annual Conference, Bar Harbor, Maine, June 2006; Merryspring Nature
    Park, Camden, Maine, August 2006; 14th Annual Maine Garden Day (hosted by
    University of Maine Cooperative Extension), Auburn, Maine, April 2007; Spring
    Garden Celebration (hosted by Waldo County Cooperative Extension), Unity, Maine,
    April 2007; Jackson Memorial Library, Tenants Harbor, Maine, August, 2007; Maine
    Master Gardener Statewide Conference, Orono, Maine, October, 2007; Japan-
    America Society of Maine, Brunswick, Maine, November, 2007; Garden Group of
    Orono, Orono, Maine, January 2008.

    “Spirituality and Religion in Japanese Gardens,” (2 Talks), Avena Institute, Camden,
    Maine, February 2005, February 2006.

    “Choosing Plants and Materials for Japanese-Inspired Gardens in Maine,” (Talk),
    Georges River Land Trust Garden Tour, Thomaston, ME.  July 2004.

    “Japanese Gardens:  Aesthetics and Design Features,” (5 Talks):
       • Belfast Garden Club, Belfast, ME, 2005
       • Merryspring Nature Park, Camden, ME, August 2003 and January 2004
       • Owls Head Garden Club, Owls Head, ME, 2004
       • Olde Bristol Garden Club, Damariscotta, ME, 2004
       • Master Gardener Awards Banquet, Waldoboro, ME, 2004

    “Designing Continuously Blooming Perennial Gardens”:
     10 Workshops (totaling 275 attendees):
             -  Merryspring Nature Park, Camden, ME, January 2004, February 2004,
            March 2005, January 2006, February 2006, January 2007, February 2008.
             -  Jackson Memorial Library, Tenants Harbor, Maine, February 2007.
            -   Farnsworth Art Museum (Benefit for Farnsworth Victorian Garden),
            August 2005, January 2008.
    4 Talks:
            Warren Garden Club, Warren, ME, 2004
            Sigma Phi Sorority, Thomaston, ME, 2004
            Maine State Prison, Warren, ME, 2005
            North Haven Garden Club, 2007

    “Victorian Garden Talk,” (4 Talks),Farnsworth Art Museum, Rockland, ME.  July and
    August 2002, July and August 2003.

    “Putting Your Garden to Bed,” (Talk), Merryspring Nature Park, Camden, ME, 2004.

Publications

    “Use a Simple Grid to Plan for Continuous Blooms.” Fine Gardening, no. 95
    (February 2004): 18.

    Tool and product reviews, Fine Gardening, 2004 to present.

    “Creating Japanese-Inspired Gardens in Maine.”  Spring Home and Garden (Courier
    Publications), April 28, 2005, pp. 3 and 31.

    “All About Bulbs.”  Fall Home and Garden (Courier Publications), Sept. 22, 2005, p. 8.

Courses/Talks/Symposia Attended

    "Tuckerman's Ravine," a tour of alpine plants at Mount Washington's famed glacial
    cirque, led by New Hampshire State Botanist Chris Mattrick and sponsored by New
    England Wildflower Society, August 2007.

    “In Search of Fairy Isle Fantasies: The Gardens of the Meiji Period,” Talk by Marc
    Peter Keane, Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston, February 2006.

    “The Path Beyond the Transient World: Japanese Tea Gardens Ancient and Modern,”
    Talk by Marc Peter Keane, Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University, February 2006.

    “Digital Garden Photography Seminar,” Workshop with Ian Adams, Arnold Arboretum
    of Harvard University, October 2005.

    “Fourth International Symposium of Japanese Gardens,” International Association of
    Japanese Gardens, Seattle, Washington, August 28 – 31, 2004.

    “Elegant, Exceptional and Ecological Gardens for the Northeast,” Symposium, New
    England Wildflower Society, April 2004.

    “Maintaining Mature Trees: Success Stories from Mount Auburn Cemetery,” Talk by
    David Barnett, New England Grows Show, Boston, February 2004.

    “The Use of Mycorrhizal Fungi in the Landscape,” Talk by Michael Amaranthus and
    Kevin Burrows, New England Grows Show, Boston, February 2004.

    “A New Continental Style for American Gardens,” Talk by Lauren Springer, New
    England Grows Show, Boston, February 2004.

    “The Bare Root Transplanting Method: Lessons from the Streets of Ithaca, NY,” Talk
    by Nina Bassuk and Andrew Hillman, New England Grows Show, Boston, Feb. 2004.

    “Environmentalism and Design,” Symposium, Harvard University, March 2003.

    “The Art of the Japanese Garden,” Symposium, Arnold Arboretum, May 2002.

    “The Gray Area: Restoration and Landscape Gardening,” Workshop with Larry
    Weiner, New England Wildflower Society, February 2001.

Memberships

    Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University                        
    Coastal Maine Botanical Garden                                
    Georges River Land Trust                                
    International Association of Japanese Gardens
    Japan America Society of Maine
    Maine Audubon Society
    Merryspring Nature Park
    New England Wildflower Society

Volunteer Work (Garden-related)

    Asticou Azalea Garden (Japanese-inspired garden in Northeast Harbor, Maine)
    JGarden.org (researching and writing Japanese garden descriptions; photographs)
    Farnsworth Art Museum (Rockland, Maine; also as paid gardener)
    Humane Society of Knox County (Rockland, Maine)
    Bay Chamber Concerts (Rockport, Maine)


Other Skills and Interests

Carpentry, architectural design, Japanese pottery.
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