About The Grower

My first years in gardening were focused primarily on growing edible crops, edible ornamentals, and herbs. In the early 80's, I became intensely interested in organic growing techniques and focused on soil management. It was hard to find organic amendments, in quantity, back then at a reasonable price. I started a small business selling things like blood, bone, kelp, and cottonseed meal by the pound, and rock phosphate by the bag. I did this on a home delivery basis. This worked well until the local nurseries started doing the same thing - but I think that's a good thing.

During this time, I also completed the Master Gardener's program and fulfilled much of my volunteer requirements by teaching seminars on soil management. I was also very involved in growing herbs during the 80's, and sold plants and herbal crafted items through different venues from Farmers Markets to community fairs.

In the early 90's, I designed and installed my front landscape, which included a small koi pond, with waterfall. Through this process, I had to learn about water chemistry and balancing a pond environment, the elements of Japanese garden design, and became acquainted with strictly ornamental plants. At first, I felt guilty, abandoning my die-hard belief that all plants I grew should have another use. Roses were okay, because I used the petals in potpourri and rose-petal jelly. However, the more I learned about Japanese garden design, the more I became appreciative of the fact that gardens could be about contemplation and meditation. I discovered that flowers were food for the soul!

It was also during this time that I discovered by I had stopped painting on canvas a few years before. I kept tearing up areas of the yard to start over with a new, blank, canvas to create planting beds using artful techniques, paying attention to colors, form and texture. Who needed paint?

By the end of the 90's, I became rather bored with the line-up of plants one saw at all the local nurseries. I worked for a season in the garden department of Home Depot, which didn't help. They would occasionally get in a few 'cool plants', but for the most part, it was just plain boring. The job was also more about selling lawn mowers, retaining wall bricks, and barbeque grills. Every so often, it was about the plants, which was great.

I didn't realize it was boredom I was experiencing, until my first visit to the famous Heronswood Gardens, here in Kitsap County. As I was walking along the main path at Heronswood, I realized I didn't recognize a single plant. What a wonderful visit that was! Not long after, I had the opportunity to spend time in the Phoenix area and thoroughly enjoyed the Southwest landscape look. The Boyce Thompson Arboretum fascinated me, and the Desert Museum, in Tucson, was captivating.

Exploring these 'foreign' garden worlds revitalized my horticultural interest immensely. Around the turn of the century (I love being able to say that), I realized I couldn't keep ripping parts of my yard apart all the time, to create new plantings. It just wasn't physically feasible, as time marches on and bodies don't get younger. I started planning for being semi-retired from my annual garden frenzy and started installing plants that would require less work and endure longer. The rose garden had to go, so I extended my Japanese garden-style plants into the area the roses were. I stopped vegetable gardening in the back yard and have slowly transformed it into a permascape of plants that will give me color throughout the seasons and require little maintenance.

I had taken up 'normal' art again, creating with polymer clay, paints, and beautiful papers. I was getting ready to sell off my huge library of garden books. Then, I was invited to work in a local commercial greenhouse. Through this work, I discovered that there will never be any retiring for me, when it comes to dirt and plants. It is an essential part of my being, and the more I do it, the younger I feel.

In 2008, I went to work at Clear Creek Nursery, near Silverdale, WA, for a year and a half.  The part I loved most about the nursery job was sharing my passion for gardening and plants with the people who came to the nursery. Also, it was equally fun to meet other knowledgeable people and to swap plant lore with.

Now that I'm back in business for myself again, both my art business and my plant business, I find the part I miss the most is the interaction with other gardeners.  To counteract this, and to help continue teaching my community, I have created a blog called Westsound Gardener.  Please visit it and tell me what you think!