A man wearing a plaid shirt and a beige cap is watering plants in a garden. He is holding a green hose with a black nozzle, spraying water onto various potted plants, including some with yellow and purple foliage. The background shows more greenery and hanging pots.

Cowboy Way: Lou Anella

Wednesday, May 14, 2025

Media Contact: Mack Burke | Associate Director of Media Relations | 405-744-5540 | editor@okstate.edu

Lou Anella loves sharing his horticulture expertise. He grew up in a rural area of upstate New York and worked on his neighbor’s farm. After completing a doctorate at Cornell University, his job search led to Stillwater and a teaching role in the Oklahoma State University Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture.

While serving as a professor, Anella was named director of The Botanic Garden at OSU in 2014. The garden was established 30 years ago as a filming site for “Oklahoma Gardening,” a weekly television show produced by OSU Agriculture, which airs on Oklahoma PBS affiliate OETA. “Oklahoma Gardening” celebrates its 50th anniversary this spring.

“‘Oklahoma Gardening’ is the origin of the botanic garden, and it’s still a major part of our mission to provide whatever the show needs,” Anella said. “But over time, it has become more of a public space.”

Under his leadership, The Botanic Garden at OSU has upgraded its infrastructure, paving roads, sidewalks and parking lots; improving accessibility for garden visitors of all ages; building a new on-site classroom; and developing the Treewalk Village, among other attractions, for children.

In 2023, Anella gave up teaching responsibilities to be the garden’s full-time director. He mentors employees, facilitates hands-on internship opportunities and assists with fundraising initiatives.

Much of the garden’s funding is provided through donations with coordination from the OSU Foundation.

“When I can sit down with a potential donor and explain our projects, why we need the money, or how their money will honor their loved one or help us serve the community, they end up wanting to give more,” Anella said. “As the full-time director, I can pay attention to projects and get the community more involved.”

Throughout his 28-year tenure at OSU, Anella has received two regents distinguished teaching awards, national recognition for teaching in irrigation, and a national accolade for fundraising efforts at the garden.

“I’ve had an excellent career. I met my wife here, got married here, ended up having a stepson and raised him here,” he said. “Oklahoma, Stillwater and OSU have been very, very good to me.”

Photos by: Gary Lawson

Story by: Gail Ellis | STATE Magazine