In Memory of Kris Petterson

[kathleen appelbaum]

In the photo taken July 17, 2021, Kris was checking on the orchid seeds she had planted in Fall. The mosquitoes were very bad and she went to Walmart and bought a yard of tulle to wrap around her face.This young lady was very bright and full of curiosity about the natural world. Sadly she died way too soon on October 15, 2021.

Kris came to Watson Preserve to learn more about Orchid fungal and bacterial diversity. She was working in Dr Jyotsna Sharma's lab at Texas Tech University. She set up an experiment that was to continue for several years. Her goal was to observe the relationship of mycorrhizal fungus and endophytic bacterial in the roots and protocorms of Chapman's Orchid (Platanthera chapmanii). Her poster:

Kris was from North Carolina and she loved to travel. She shared some stories with Jim and me of her adventures around the world, including China. She credited her high school Biology teacher with inspiring her interest in science.

There are some wonderful details of her short life here, including a video.