How long have you been gardening?
Since I can remember. As a small child I gardened. Professionally for about thirty some years.

What triggered your interest?
Just the outdoors and nature in general. My earliest memories were of planting bare-root strawberries every fall and eating the fruit every spring. Strawberries are still my favorite fruit.

What is your specialty, expertise or claim to fame?
After twenty-five years of professional garden management, all in Southern California, I suspect I'm pretty well rounded. Professionally, I have written on various garden topics for many newspapers, magazines, etc. and appeared in some television and radio.

What formal education do you have?

What formal horticultural training do you have?
Ornamental Horticulture degree. Countless seminars, workshops, conferences, educational trips, etc. More importantly . . .lots of practical knowledge.

What is your favorite garden or plant-related topic? Tell us a little about them.

What is your biggest gardening pet peeve? Tell us about it.
Bad information.

How much time per week do you spend gardening?
Not counting my work time, I suspect it is about 10 hours per week, maybe a bit more.

How much time per week do you spend working at the business of gardening, such as consulting, reading, writing or talking about your gardening subject?
About 60 hours per week, not counting my own personal gardening time.

What gardening or horticultural clubs, societies, or organizations (or any other interest) do you belong to?
Royal Horticultural Society, Orange County Horticultural Society, San Diego Horticultural Society, California Native Plant Society, Mediterranean Garden Society and a few more. Also memberships at several botanical gardens.

What other biographical information would you like to share?

Gardening Questions

What do you like most about gardening?
Sharing with other people. Helping them to discover the value of gardens and gardening.

What do you dislike most about gardening?
People getting bad advice, bad plants, etc. and then giving up.

What individual has influenced your gardening interest the most? How?
I can't name just one. Some influences have been Robert Smaus, Pat Welsh, Dave Fross, Jan Smithin, Dan Hinckley and Nicholas Staddon, . My original horticulture instructors, John Parker and John Lenanten remain an influence. My father, will always be my greatest influence.

What is your favorite place or activity in the garden?
I love potting and re-potting, as well as propagating new plants.

What is your favorite time in the garden?
Fall and winter (on mild, dry, clear days).

What is your favorite public or private garden in the world? Why?
Heronswood was . . . But now I'm looking for a new favorite.

What is your favorite color in the garden?
This will change from time to time. Currently it is warm Mediterranean colors, such as gold's, caramels, browns and rusts.

If you could grow only one plant, what would it be?
Impossible to answer.

What plant have you tried to grow that has given you the most trouble? Or, what plant would you like to grow and can't, and why?
A couple include Worsleya and Paramongia.

What is your favorite gardening outfit or costume?
Just a pair of shorts, sandals and a hat.

Do you have a gardening philosophy you would like to share with other gardeners? What is it?

Who is your own favorite gardening personality on TV, radio or in print? Why?
I don't have one. Gardening is too local to have a national icon.

What is the one question about gardening you would really like people to ask you?

And what's the answer?

What is a garden myth you hear frequently which you know is untrue?
Not so much of a myth as it is a misnomer; "How often should I water this?"

And, what is the reality?
Of course, there is no answer. The answer is "when it needs it", butt you often hear this answered in a matter of fact manner. Too bad.

What group or kind of person do you think would benefit most from the advice you can give on gardening?
Very interested people who want to learn, and want good, solid, fundamental information. They don't need to know a lot, but they need to want to learn. And they must love nature and the outdoors. If they're only gardening to get a job done or to impress someone, forget it.

Would you like to participate, or can you recommend someone who you think should? We're always looking for more expert gardeners to tell about their philosophies and give their plant recommendations contact us and we'll get started (it's easy and a great way to promote yourself).