A Career Rooted in Gardens
I have spent most of my career in the entertainment and hospitality side of horticulture—working in theme parks, resorts, a botanical garden, city parks and a celebrated golf club. Along the way, I’ve also gained hands-on and hard-won experience in landscape contracting, commercial landscape management, horticulture media, and historic garden presentation.
With each chapter of my profession, my enthusiasm for gardening has grown and branched out in new directions. My education began with my grandparents and parents, who inspired me by cultivating their own vegetable and ornamental gardens and taking me to experience some of America’s great landscapes. That positive spark led an impressionable eight- year-old kid to start my own vegetable garden, and the passion keeps growing more intense.
My Gardening Philosophy
I consider myself a horticulture omnivore—I consume, learn, test, borrow and apply garden ideas that work. My guiding principles are simple:
- Start with healthy soil—the foundation of every successful garden.
- Utilize the full palette of ornamentals, natives and organic or conventional techniques- whatever best suits the situation.
- Be practical—every solution must be sustainable, effective and successful. It’s got to make sense. I look for answers that make the gardening process easier and more enjoyable.
- Respect both tradition and innovation.
I love compost and soil building. I grow fresh herbs and vegetables, design with ornamentals or natives when appropriate. And yes—I have killed many plants along the way. But that’s part of the process. Experimentation keeps gardening innovating and interesting.
I’m not bound by every new trend, “green” marketing gimmick, or popular wisdom of the day. I’ll use horticultural chemicals responsibly when needed. I use ornamentals when designing and natives when they are the best choice. I’ll choose a gas-powered engine when it’s the most effective tool—or electric equipment when it makes good sense. Gardening, for me, is about balance, results, responsibility and enjoyment.
The Joy and Benefits of Gardening
Gardening is more than planting. It’s about:
- Food awareness – knowing where your food comes from and enjoying vegetables that are fresher, more nutrient-dense, healthier and more flavorful.
- Stress relief – working in the garden clears the mind, reduces stress, and creates a sense of calm.
- Satisfaction and pride – from fresh harvests to well-manicured landscapes, the rewards of gardening last for a lifetime.
- Connection with nature – I have lain in the grass contemplating the day, staring up into my trees and had neighbors passing by ask me if a I was still alive. Smart alecks. Gardens help us escape the noise of daily life. Gardens can do that.
If you think gardening is “work,” you are not doing it right. A garden is not just a landscape—it’s a place of joy, satisfaction, accomplishment, release and escape.
What You’ll Find Here
Most gardening websites focus on vegetables and the back-to-nature lifestyle. While I’ll share insights on those, I’ll also take you into new horticultural directions, including:
- Secrets of theme park and resort landscaping
- The art and science of creating topiaries
- The unusual and the dark side of plants
- Designing undersea-inspired gardens
- Themed landscapes and poolscaping
- Choosing and caring for residential and urban trees
- Right Plant, Right Place strategies
- Gardening in containers and hanging baskets
- The delights of fragrance gardens
- Unfamiliar tropical food crops that thrive in summer heat
- The benefits of natives AND ornamentals
- Exploring lawns vs. turf-free landscapes
- Proven favorite performers in the garden
- Fun, fascinating and magical Harry Potter plants
- Using color in summer and winter landscapes
- My favorite tools and garden supplies
- Gasoline vs. electric equipment
- And many more
Comments
2 responses
This is a fantastic resource for both the professional and anyone who has even the slightest interest in gardening. What a treat to tap into the knowledge and insights of one of the most talented and accomplished horticulturalists operating at a national level. Truly inspired to hear from someone with a lifetime of passion for his work!
Thank you for the kinds words, Joe!
I am very glad that you like my site. I hope that you find it helpful and useful.
I love what I do.
I hope that it shows.