Horticulture plays a tremendous role in my life.Growing, preserving and saving" edible antiques" and sharing these wonderful treasures with other gardeners has been without a doubt an important part of my career, as well as my life. Like other heirlooms, heirloom plants will vanish from the face of the earth, never to be apart of our lives ever again, if gardeners do not preserve these precious seeds. I am proud to be a gardener who saves these great plants for future generations to plant in their gardens. I also want to share these wonderful heirlooms with hungry people in need in our community and the world community. I have collected over 4,600 packs of seeds in the last 5 years. I gave these seeds to community gardeners, garden clubs, organizations, farmers, and individual gardeners who help to feed hungry people in our local community and all over the world.I can not think of a better cause for me to be apart of in gardening. I work toward a "greener" earth that works with Mother Nature and not against her. I believe each of us can help make our earth a better place to live!

Interests:

I was born and raised in football country, Canton, Ohio. I love football. I also like watching basketball. I love the hometown teams, the Browns and Cavs. I love listening to classical music and jazz.I still hold a F.C.C.radio telephone operator's license as a professional broadcastor. (Nick name on the radio "Black Velvet") I am also an interpreter of the deaf. I taught sign language for 8 years at a local university. I interpret for all of the deaf and hard of hearing customers who need assistance in the Home Depot where I work as a garden professional. My volunteer work is almost always tied into gardening projects. I love to teach other people gardening techniques. I lecture a great deal and give workshops, clinics and classes related to gardening. There is no difference in my work and my pleasure. My work is gardening and indeed it is also my pleasure. I am a real "Garden Nut" !

Music:

Jazz, New Age Jazz, Classical and Easy Listening are my favorite types of music

Movies:

Mystery type movies such as old Hitchcock's Rear Window, The Birds and Psycho. I love all James Bond movies especially the old ones like Goldfinger, From Russia With Love and You Only Live Twice. Old musicals such as Singing In The Rain,The King and I and Bye, Bye Birdie.Old black & white flicks such as Now Voyager, The Maltese Falcon and Mildred Pierce. Christmas movies such as Pocket Full of Miracles, Miracle On 34Th Street (the original movie) and White Christmas. Movies featuring African American actors such as The Color Purple, Cotton Comes To Harlem and Watermelon Man. Space movies such as Star Trek, Alien and Star Wars. Cartoons such as the Lion King, Cars and A Bug's Life. And many, many more to numberous to mention

Books:

Any and all garden and related books. Hopefully, my favorite book will be the one I am currently writing about African American heirloom plants. My other favorite gardening project is native Ohio heirloom plants

Television:

Keeping with the theme of antiques, I love the Antiques' Road Show. I also like any Law & Order show, any C.S.I. show, cooking shows on P.B.S. and any gardening shows