Donna Parikka was born in Merced and raised in Citrus Heights, California on a mini family farm. Gardening was always a large part of her childhood as they raised their own vegetables, fruit and beef. She participated in 4-H for 7 years with horse, beef, clothing, food and leadership projects. She has lived on Cleburne and Burleson Texas for the last 53 years. She attended University of Texas at Arlington and worked for 50 years as an accountant, most of which were with the same CPA firm in Cleburne. Her interests are gardening or anything outdoors including hanging out with her two very spoiled Australian Shepherds..
A lifetime gardener she became a Tarrant County Master Gardener in the class of 2018 as part of her retirement plan. She is now the lead over the demonstration native grasses garden and serves as the TCMGA as treasurer in 2023. She is a master gardener advanced tree and propagation specialist and a Citizen Forester.
Donna: “I became interested in the MG native grasses garden because it was the first part of the master gardeners demonstration garden that I toured. Now my yard is all Texas native and adapted plants. I believe that is the best way to have a successful garden in Texas.”