Where did you grow up, and were you a city kid or farm kid?
Grew up in Council Bluffs, IA - more of a city kid.
What is your background and area of expertise?
General horticulture but tend to gravitate towards perennials and houseplants.
What year did you make your first appearance on Backyard Farmer?
2024
What do you enjoy most about being part of the Backyard Farmer show?
What I enjoy most about being part of Backyard Farmer is getting to help people solve problems in their own backyards. It’s fun to take what I know and turn it into something useful for someone else. I love being part of a show that makes gardening feel a little less overwhelming and a lot more approachable.
What’s one piece of advice you find yourself giving most often?
One piece of advice I give all the time is to keep watering, even in the fall and winter. It’s easy to forget when the sprinklers are off and the plants go dormant, but drought stress doesn’t take a season off.
What’s the most unusual question you’ve been asked on Backyard Farmer?
One of the most unusual—and fun—questions I’ve been asked was about Medlar. It’s a type of fruit tree you don’t see very often in Nebraska, so I was both surprised and impressed that someone was growing it here.
Do you have a favorite plant, tree, flower, disease, bug, or critter — and why?
Peonies and African violets are the two favorite plants I enjoy growing. Peonies are a great classic plant for the landscape. African violets have always just been fun to grow.
What’s something people would be surprised to learn about you?
Most people assume I’ve always been into plants, but my first passion was actually paleontology! I wanted to be a paleontologist when I was a kid, and I still geek out over dinosaurs. My favorite? Euoplocephalus—a type of ankylosaur.
What hobbies or activities do you enjoy outside of work?
Outside of work, I enjoy weaving and bike riding. Both hobbies help me slow down, stay connected, and appreciate the details.
