Our Staff
Resident Gardener
Michelle Jantsch
Michelle Jantsch has been cultivating her green thumb in Austin, TX, for the past decade. After purchasing her home, affectionately known as the Jantsch Ranch, she undertook a complete transformation of the grounds, designing her ideal garden space. Over the course of the pandemic, this garden has more than doubled in size, with the addition of several native plants and fruiting trees.
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Now that the Jantsch Ranch has flourished, Michelle is eager to share her knowledge and skills with the public. Starting this summer, she will be hosting workshops and craft sessions at her space and offering garden consulting for those looking to bring their own projects to life. She is thrilled to be named the Gardener in Residence at Flower Hill and looks forward to sharing her expertise with all who visit.
Curator of Collections and Exhibitions
Michele Stewart
Michele Stewart is the Curator of Collections and Exhibitions at Flower Hill Center. An Austin area native with a deep passion for history, her love for museums was sparked by a childhood field trip to the Bullock Texas State History Museum. Her academic journey includes an AA from Austin Community College, a BA in Classical Studies from the University of Texas at San Antonio, and a Master of Arts in Museum Studies with an emphasis on collections management from Johns Hopkins University. Michele's love of decorative arts and furniture, books, and memorabilia aligns perfectly with the rich collections at Flower Hill. She is especially dedicated to preserving and interpreting the collections of Miss Jane Smoot, highlighting the historical significance of the Smoot house and family to Austin. When not studying the fascinating stories within museum collections, Michele enjoys spending time with her family, reading, listening to and creating music, and exploring the diverse natural and urban landscapes of Austin. At Flower Hill, Michele is committed to sharing the story of the Smoot family's home, their well-loved belongings, and their impactful lives for the enjoyment and enrichment of our community.
Our Board
The Staff and Board of Flower Hill include subject matter experts in the fields of historic preservation, museum curation, fundraising, education, strategic planning, infrastructure assessment, nonprofit management, ecology, and research planning and development.
After hosting several historic house museum directors; preservationists; and preservation student groups, teachers, and historians at the home; the governing body was able to determine exactly what makes Flower Hill a vital and viable part of Austin’s historic and nonprofit tapestry.
To rise above convention, and offer a new championing voice for preservation, Flower Hill aims to contextualize local, state, and national history through the guise of recognizable community figures—religious leaders, teachers, and citizen historians who offer a comforting (rather than intimidating) connection to the past, and exemplify a pathway to how visitors can contribute to their local, state, and national communities today.
Interested in serving on the Board or joining a committee?
Please email info@flowerhillcenter.org for more information about the different ways you can support our organization.