Fenella Greig Heckscher had a long career as a researcher in pediatric endocrinology at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City. Her connection to the Hudson Valley began in 1985, when she started gardening to escape the work of restoring a historic house. She was introduced to Jane Colden at a meeting of the Garden Club of Orange and Dutchess Counties, which led her to examine the entire Botanic Manuscript to understand Jane Colden's full descriptions of the native plants. This led to the establishment of a Jane Colden wildflower garden at Bear Mountain State Park. She continues to combine her love of the countryside with her background in biology as she explores the rich local history of the Hudson Valley.