My first gardening experience dates back to when I was 3, and I used to run ahead of my Dad’s reel mower “saving” the Johnny Jump Ups from being mowed under.

My  first paying job was also in “horticulture”, when at the tender age of 11 I was paid the princely sum of $1 a week to deadhead my neighbor’s numerous pots of petunias.

I was employed for 5 seasons at Gledhill Nursery in West Hartford, one of Connecticut’s destination nurseries.  While there, I founded their retail water garden department.  I also lectured at Gledhill and wrote 2 email newsletters for them, one exclusively on water gardening, and one on general gardening.

I have lectured at Capital Community College where I offered various one-hour courses on gardening, both at their Hartford campus and throughout the community in conjunction with various towns’ Parks and Rec departments.  I currently lecture to homeowner’s associations, garden clubs, women’s groups, nurseries, and in various special places like Gardeners Supply in Burlington, Vermont and at the Envirothon™

In the past, I have done landscape design and garden coaching  and have advised homeowners on such varied topics as houseplants, pond placement, garden re-design and planting.  I continue to assist my homeowner’s association with aquatic weed control.

Currently I am the  garden columnist for West Hartford Magazine and the Book Reviewer for the Connecticut Horticulture Society, as well as the sole author of this organic gardening blog, “Gardendaze.”

My backyard is certified as a Backyard Habitat by both the Connecticut Dept. of Environmental Protection (Certification #22) and the National Wildlife Federation (Certification # 34,999).  I have been an organic gardener since 1994.

I am a member of the Garden Writers Association, the Connecticut Horticultural Society, the Connecticut Invasive Plant Working Group, and the Connecticut Orchid Society. She does her best, whenever possible, to tread lightly on the earth.