Ask the Expert

Davey expert and Horticulturalist Leonard Burkhart became inspired at an early age. "When I was 9, I got my first plant book from the Chicago Natural History and Field Museum. It made me aware of careers in plant science, even if it was the grand illusion of collecting rare plants from exotic locations," he says.

For Burkhart, the best thing about his job is being able to meet with property owners to help them identify plants or diagnose the cause of their plants' problems. His boyhood passion has melded with his academic understanding of plant science - identification, horticulture, plant pathology, entomology - to inform his practical "in the field" expertise.

Education:
Bachelor's degree in botany, Eastern Illinois University; master's degree in agronomy, doctorate in horticulture, University of Illinois.

Certifications:
International Society of Arboriculture certified arborist.