Shelley Ryan facts for kids

Shelley Ryan (born August 6, 1956 – died January 16, 2014) was an American gardener and cook. She was famous for hosting the TV show The Wisconsin Gardener. This show was shown on Wisconsin Public Television and other PBS stations. Shelley believed that "Gardening isn't about plants, compost or dirt. It's really about people."

Shelley's Early Life and Career

Shelley Ryan was born in 1956 in Carbondale, Illinois. When she was a young girl, her family moved to Middleton, Wisconsin. She went to Middleton High School. After that, she studied and graduated from the UW-Madison.

Shelley worked at Wisconsin Public Radio for several years. But she soon discovered her true passion: plants and gardening! She became a Master Gardener through UW Extension. This program teaches people a lot about gardening. She also worked at different plant nurseries. These experiences helped her come up with an idea for a TV show. She wanted a show for Public TV that would answer gardening questions for people in Wisconsin.

The Wisconsin Gardener TV Show

The Wisconsin Gardener was a half-hour TV show. Shelley Ryan was both the producer and the host of this program. It aired on Wisconsin Public Television. The show started in 1992 and ran for a long time. It was one of the longest-running gardening shows in North America. Hundreds of episodes were filmed during its run. Shelley hosted and produced the show for 21 years.

This popular show also led to the creation of Wisconsin Public Television's Garden Expo. This big event brings together about 20,000 gardening fans. They meet in Madison every February. Shelley also lent her voice to many promotional ads. These ads were for both Wisconsin Public Television and Wisconsin Public Radio.

Books and Articles by Shelley

Shelley Ryan also shared her love for gardening and cooking in books. In 2005, she published a cookbook called Leeks, Love And Laughter: Growing And Eating Through the Seasons. This book was released by HenschelHAUS Publishing.

She also wrote many articles and columns. Her writings appeared in magazines like Wisconsin Gardening Magazine and Country Market. She also wrote for Midwest Living magazine and Country Woman magazine. You could also find her articles in Fine Gardening magazine. She contributed to many other local and regional publications too.

Shelley's Personal Life and Passing

Shelley Ryan lived in Blue Mounds, Wisconsin with her husband, Dennie. In April 2013, Shelley decided to retire from her role. She finished working on the final season of The Wisconsin Gardener. At that time, she shared with her fans that she was facing health challenges. Shelley Ryan passed away on January 16, 2014.