Meet Julia Siik

Julia was born and raised in San Antonio, Texas. She lived in Fort Worth, Texas and in Acworth, Georgia before moving to Norfolk, when her husband was transferred to Norfolk for his job at Norfolk Southern Railway. She graduated from Texas Christian University and University of Texas at Arlington.

Julia is a retired ICU nurse.

Julia has enjoyed gardening but felt a loss of purpose because  of COVID, when her retirement plan to volunteer at the hospital where she used to work was adversely affected. Her grandparents owned an 80-acre farm in Iowa, where she attained a very basic knowledge of gardening but realized there was more to learn so she joined the Master Gardener Class of 2026.

She enjoyed the classes and thought the speakers were great. She would have preferred that the classes to  have been in the afternoon instead of morning because they prevented her from going to her usual yoga classes. She didn’t like getting up in front of the class to present her project, but has no problem interacting with the public.

To attain her required fifty hours Julia worked at the Zoo Garden and the Potager Garden as well as some community outreach projects. She has found the steering committee meetings interesting and she wants to do more continuing education. Going forward she wants to try the Significant Tree Project, and will no longer choose to volunteer outdoors when the temperature exceeds the upper 80s.

Julia loves to travel. She enjoys helping her friends with their personal gardening projects. She is fixing up her home in order to sell it in a couple years.

Julia is married and owns a cat. She has a sister who lives in Austin.

When you see Julia, be sure to introduce yourself and welcome her to the Norfolk Extension Master Gardeners.