text: I feel privileged to have hiked the trails looking for wildflowers with Verna.  Verna's enthusiasm for wildflowers was contagious and everyone who hiked with her caught the bug.  She identified every flower as if it were her first time seeing the plant even though she had seen the same plant hundreds of times.  She was always excited to see them.  Verna was an outstanding teacher who imparted her knowledge in a simple way that everyone could understand.  She knew everything about the plants and if they were edible. I learned a wealth of knowledge about Alaska's wildflowers from Verna.  Verna gave me the support and confidence to lead wildflower walks on my own.  I loved her wonderful Massachusetts accent.  I will miss her deeply.
  
  Thank you Verna for your time in educating people about the beauty of Alaska's wildflowers.  That's a special gift that I will always take with me on the trails.  Whenever I see a wildflower, I will always think of you.