One of Oregon's best-loved gardening gurus has died at the age of 69.
Known to her fans at the "rock star of gardening", Dulcy Mahar's weekly Oregonian column was a big favourite with greenhouse enthusiasts and her fans flocked to see her at shows, the Oregonian reports.
Dulcy's own garden in Portland's Garthwick neighborhood always drew crowds too and the emails and letters of tribute have poured in since she lost her battle with cancer on Saturday (July 2nd).
"I am most grateful for Dulcy's ability to make me feel confident in my decisions, dislikes, failures, visions and, most of all, my love for gardening," reader Barbara Ann Alexander wrote. "She has to have one of the most beautiful souls ever."
She died holding the hand of her husband of 48 years Ted Mahar, who she met when they were both studying at the University of Oregon.
Doug Wilson, who came to work for Dulcy 15 years ago, said she appreciated her fans as much as they did her.
"It would light up her face when people came up to talk to her," Wilson said. "She considered that group of people family too. I don't think it would have worked just one way."