Pat Holloway retires June 30

Horticulture Professor Pat Holloway officially retired from
the university June 30, but it sounds like it it will be a working retirement — at
least for now.

She will work half-time this summer with Washington State
University researchers who are studying Botrytis, a type of gray mold that
afflicts peonies, and thrips, a tiny insect that causes damages to peony
flowers as they open. She plans to teach one-credit classes on plant propagation (campus) and wild and
cultivated berries (distance) this fall and plant propagation in the spring. She
is working on several other peony research projects and will continue to help the
peony association if asked.

She does not want a traditional retirement.  “I can’t do that,” she said. “I’m not that
kind of person.”

Pat with peonies at the garden. Photo by Cassie Galasso

Holloway began her association with the university in 1975 as
a research aide for horticulturist Don Dinkel at the Agricultural Experiment
Station. “He taught me how to drive my very first tractor,” she said. Holloway
sought him out because they shared an interest in native plants.

She worked with Dinkel for three years before returning to
school and earning a doctorate in horticulture at the University of Minnesota.
Her dissertation was on lingonberries. She returned to UAF in 1982.

Horticulturists who work for
universities Outside tend to be much more specialized, she said. “In the Lower
48, you can spend your entire life working on garlic.”

Working as a horticulturist in Alaska requires being
flexible and responding to needs and opportunities as they arise, she said.

One example is her work on antioxidants, which started after
a study showed that blueberries Outside had high levels of antioxidants. “Our
phones started ringing off the hook,” she said. People wanted to know how
Alaska berries measured up.

Another example is her peony research, which began after she
learned that peonies bloomed in Alaska in July, at a time they did not bloom
elsewhere  — and that international buyers
were interested.

She used Ted Stevens’ earmark money to buy 30 varieties of peonies
and research which ones grew best. Variety trials began in 2001. Her work with
peonies led to a specialization of a certain kind because, with the retirement
of another horticulturist in Kansas, she became the sole peony researcher in
North America. She now has peony contacts around the world.

Holloway is best known for developing the Georgeson
Botanical Garden, which consisted of unnamed research plots when she started, and
her work supporting the peony industry.

 “Pat’s the one who opened
the door,” says Ron Illingworth, who, with his family, operates North Pole
Peonies, the largest peony operation in the Interior.

Ron and his wife, Marjorie, are founding members of the Alaska
Peony Growers Association and have almost 16,000 peonies planted. Illingworth said
Holloway provided growers information on which varieties grew best and advice
on how to grow them and manage pests. She has also brought up specialists to
advise peony growers and to provide research.

Holloway plans to plant 500 peony plants at her home off
Gilmore Trail. She does not plan to sell the flowers but would like to have
them available for continuing research.

She does want to do more traveling, camping and hiking,
which she enjoys. During a recent trip, she and her son encountered a Society
of Martha Washington Festival in Laredo, Texas, which was unexpected and a great
deal of fun. Quirky museums, local festivals and national parks will all be
stops on her retirement travels.

Other retirement plans include writing books on propagation,
Alaska native plants and historical gardens in Alaska. She would also like to
study botanical illustration just for fun and to continue developing one-credit
online courses for the horticulture industry and others who are interested.

Holloway will be recognized this fall with one of UAF’s
highest honors, an Emil Usibelli Distinguished Service Award.