Rosalie Doolittle (1904–1995)

[from New Mexico Archives Online website]
Rosalie Doolittle, author and gardener, was born in Johnstown, Pennsylvania in June 1904. When she was four years old, her family moved to New Mexico where she attended public schools. After graduation from Albuquerque High School, she attended the University of New Mexico. She married George Doolittle and, except for the years during World War II, they resided in Albuquerque.

Always interested in landscaping and planting, Rosalie became Albuquerque's gardening expert. She wrote a regular local newspaper column and was a regional columnist for House and Garden magazine. She also hosted a call-in talk show about gardening on KZIA radio for many years. In addition, she developed two fertilizers that were marketed commercially in New Mexico.

Doolittle's gardens attracted many visitors. The landscaped yard at her home was an Albuquerque landmark, but she was most proud of the garden she planted at St. John's Cathedral in Albuquerque. It was a biblical garden displaying plants mentioned in the bible and some representing biblical events.

She received many awards for her work, including one from the National Council of Garden Clubs for her book, Southwest Gardening. Doolittle was also the founder of the Albuquerque Rose Society and a founding member of the Albuquerque Garden Club. She died in Albuquerque on April 30, 1995.