Walter Reeves, the trusted voice of Georgia gardening for generations of Atlanta homeowners, died Friday morning at the age of 74 after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease .
For 26 years, Reeves hosted “The Lawn and Garden Show” on WSB Radio, a Saturday morning staple that became one of the most listened-to weekend programs in the Atlanta market. He retired from the show in 2020 as his health declined, ending a broadcasting career that also included the GPB television program “Your Southern Garden” and a weekly column in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that ran for more than three decades.
Born and raised on a small family farm in Fayette County, Reeves grew up tending chickens, cows, and a large vegetable garden. He swore he would never garden again after leaving home at 18, but those early roots in the soil became the foundation for a lifetime of teaching others. A graduate of the University of Georgia with a degree in chemistry, he worked as a UGA Cooperative Extension agent from 1980 until 2005, bringing research-based advice to homeowners across the state.
Reeves began his media career at WGST-AM in 1986 before moving to WSB in 1994. Over the years, he authored or co-authored nine books on gardening and became known for his calm, approachable style that turned complex topics into practical solutions . “His gift was making goals attainable,” said Condace Pressley, a longtime WSB radio executive. “He was like your favorite bathrobe and slippers you put on Saturday morning with your cup of coffee”.
Colleagues remembered Reeves for his patience and genuine kindness. Ashley Frasca, who screened calls for his show for eight years before taking over the program in 2020, recalled how he answered the same questions over and over as if he had never heard them before. “He was a Southern gentleman who was super kind and super patient both on and off the air,” she said . He was inducted into the Georgia Radio Hall of Fame in 2018.
Reeves was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2016. “It was a courageous battle,” Frasca said. “He gave it everything he had. He was still mentally there until the end but got so frustrated with his physical limitations”. In his final AJC column on Christmas Day, he offered a simple farewell: “Green side up, brown side down. It makes all the difference”.
Reeves is survived by his son, Grey . His death prompted tributes from longtime listeners and colleagues who remembered him as a patient teacher, a trusted advisor, and the man who made Georgia lawns and gardens a little greener.