Blackhawk Bloomers Garden Club

I am honored to step into the role of President of our garden club. For those of you who may not know me well yet, I was born and raised in Idaho, but I've called Danville home for nearly ten years now. 

I worked as a dental assistant for many years but retired after my second daughter was born to be a full time mom, and I have never regretted that for one minute. I am the proud mom of two grown daughters. Ashlyn is a CPA, and Makenna is a fifth-grade teacher, and I am very lucky they are both living close for the time being.  Matt and I have been married for 32 years, after meeting on a blind date my first week at Idaho State University! I love tinkering in my yard,and I especially love container gardening. I also enjoy traveling, Hawaii being a favorite destination, bocce, and golfing(though I do wonder when or if I will get better). You will also see me walking the neighborhood with my mini goldendoodle, Teddy, the four-legged love of my life and a constant companion. 

I am looking forward to this year together-learning from each of you, digging into new projects, and growing both plants and friendships. Let's make this a blooming good year!

 I’m a 

I was born in Georgia, raised in Sterling, Kansas, graduated from Kansas State University and moved to Northern California in 1975 to begin my banking career.  My husband Jay Silva and I were married in 1984, moved to Danville and quickly decided we had found our “home” for life!  We joined Blackhawk in 2000 and moved inside the gates in 2012.  Our son Jason graduated from USC, lives in Oakland and is the Stadium Operations Director of Security and Systems for the Oakland A’s.  After 42 years of working, I retired in May 2017. 

I joined Bloomers in May of 2013 just in time for the Garden Tour and then in 2016 had the honor of chairing the event.  In 2017 I was Treasurer and Co-Chair of the Garden Tour and then was President from 2017 to 2019.  During the last several years I have held the positions of VP of Programs, Day Away, Workshops and Events and Treasurer.  My position on the Board this year is Parliamentarian.

For my family golf has become a new passion for all three of us!  We always enjoy spending time together, very special to do so on the golf course.  We also love traveling with family and friends!

Hello! I was born and raised in New York and then came to San Francisco to attend the University of San Francisco School of Law in 1985. After law school, I went back to the East Coast and spent more than 30 years practicing tariff and international trade law at a global law firm in Washington, DC. Longing for beautiful California, I moved to Danville 8 years ago when my two oldest children were entering college. I retired in 2019 and have been very active with Bloomers' community service and other activities. I have served as Chair of the Bounty Garden for several years and was also Vice President of Programs a few years ago.  I regularly participate in the Bloomers' Dig in the Dirt Program at Tassajara Elementary School.  I have also become an avid gardener, finding that California growing is so much easier than in the East Coast! I also found I have some skill baking birthday cakes and make ones for foster and shelter kids through a nationwide charity, Cake4Kids.org. I am very excited to serve as Vice President of Programs again this year and am hopeful that everyone will enjoy all the programs!

Hello! I was born and raised in beautiful California. I have spent my entire life in the Bay Area. I
graduated from the University of California Berkeley with a degree in Microbiology. Continued
my education at Stanford University in the field of Clinical Laboratory Science. Staying on at
Stanford University Hospital until moving back to the East Bay, working at John Muir Hospital.
My husband and I raised our two daughters in Pleasanton. Before retiring I worked at Valley
Care Hospital in Pleasanton in microbiology and anatomical pathology. My older daughter is a
research scientist working in San Diego at a Biotech company. The younger daughter is a
mathematician/engineer working in the Cash App division of XYZ (Block). Five years ago my
husband and I moved to Blackhawk, I joined the Blackhawk Bloomers that year. Moving into a
new community it was wonderful to meet so many wonderful Blackhawk Bloomers. In my free
time a pursue my passion for art in my studio, learning the very difficult medium of watercolor.

I am 

Born in SoCal, I grew up across the west, but primarily in Montana, where my love for nature first began to bloom. I spent my career as a teacher, nurturing curiosity and growth in the classroom, while also raising two wonderful daughters. Today, I live at home with my husband and our large, lovable Bernese Mountain dog. Wildflowers hold a special place in my heart, and I enjoy traveling, reading, and hiking whenever I can. I also volunteer with Child Advocates (formally CASA) a foster youth organization, where I’m passionate about making a positive difference in young lives.