Neil Sperry
Neil Sperry is a Texas gardening and horticulture expert known for his books, magazine, radio program, and annual gardening show. Sperry was born and raised in College Station, Texas where he graduated A&M Consolidated High School as Salutatorian and Student Body President. He attended Texas A&M University and earned horticulture degrees from Ohio State University. He married his wife Lynn in 1967, and they now live in McKinney, Texas.
While in high school and at Texas A&M University he owned and operated a nursery. From 1970 to 1977, he worked as a Horticulture Specialist for the Texas Cooperative Extension.
Neil Sperry hosted a radio show on Dallas station KRLD 1080-AM for over thirty years. On his February 13, 2010 broadcast, Sperry informed his audience that KRLD was exercising a 180-day opt-out clause in their contract. His broadcasting there ended in summer 2010. He now hosts a show on WBAP.
Two of Sperry's books have become favorites of Texas gardeners. His Complete Guide to Texas Gardening, has been popularly known as the "boot book," in reference to its cover art. It remained a primary reference for Texas gardeners until the publication of Neil Sperry's Lone Star Gardening in 2014. This 344-page book contains comprehensive plant listings and more than 800 photographs taken by Sperry, an avid photographer.
Publications
Neil Sperry's Lone Star Gardening: Texas' Complete Planting Guide and Gardening Calendar Neil Sperry's Complete Guide to Texas Gardening, "the 4th best-selling gardening hardback in American history."1001 Most Asked Texas Gardening Questions Complete Guide to Texas Gardening: Landscapes, Lawns, Fruit, and Vegetables Gardening GreenBook Just For Texas Neil Sperry's Gardening GreenBook Neil Sperry's Texas Gardening Gardens magazine Neil Sperry's Gardens electronic magazineRadio
Texas Gardening, a paid-programming weekly talk-show on KRLD and 60 other radio stations. On July 10, 2010, his talk show on KRLD moved to WBAP. Neil Sperry broadcast 1,573 weekends during his tenure at KRLD.Newspaper
- His weekly gardening column appears in 20 Texas newspapers.
Recognition
- American Garden Communicator of the Year
- American Garden Communicator of the Year
- Man of the Year in Texas Agriculture
- Member, Texas Radio Hall of Fame, inducted October 18, 2003.
- Volunteers of the Year, McKinney
- McKinney Citizen of the Year, 2003
- Collin County Living Legends, 2007
Charitable Work
- Avenues Counseling Center past board president
- Serenity High School advisory board
- Crape Myrtle Trails of McKinney, chair
- Denton State School Chair, Volunteer Services Council board