Ruah Donnelly is an attorney and Massachusetts native with a lifelong interest in New England gardens—especially other people’s. Her first plant, acquired at age 11, was a white iris rescued from a derelict rock garden. Childhood chores included vegetable gardening in New Hampshire and early trial-testing of ‘Butter and Sugar’ corn. She has planted a tree on every property she has owned, including white dogwood, golden weeping willow, river birch, copper beech, and variegated pagoda tree.

She has been an active member and supporter of the Worcester County Horticultural Society, which owns the132-acre Tower Hill Botanic Garden in Boylston, Massachusetts. Her urban container gardens have won Making Boston Grow awards for several years. She lives with her husband in Boston and Conway, Massachusetts.

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