MANY GARDENERS SEEM AS compelled to share their joy and wisdom as they are their plants. Many of my teachers taught themselves and discovered the secrets of gardening themselves, but wanted to pass it all on by molding dirt and youngsters—by sharing—without any idea of what might grow out of it all. Thank you to all the teachers and contributors in this book for sharing your ideas—sometimes pounding them into my head—and for trusting me with your friendship, your narratives, and your plants.
Most teachers and gardeners have big support networks. I’ve been able to call on so many people from different parts of my life to help bring this book together. Thank you to my family, Tom Hall, Gloria Farmer, Hunter Desportes, Bob Waites, and the Raintrees. To people who have read, commented, and molded, including Sharon Altman, Genice Jones, Patrick Butler, Jean Ann Van Krevelen, Bonnie Thurmond, Dick Birr, Patty Barrett, Judy Caldwell, Pam Beck, Charles Lesser, Roger Swain, and Felder Rushing.
Gardeners everywhere, even some I didn’t know, introduced me to people they thought I needed to learn from, including Angie Smitman, Lindsey Kerr, Bob Fuller, Marcus Thompson, Chris Gajewicz, and Cindy Vann.
Great thanks to these photographers for sharing: Chris Brinkinshaw, Patrick Butler, Andy Cabe, Hunter Desportes, Tom Hall, Will Hooker, Jim Martin, Mark Lee Photography, Sharon Wilson of Scribbletime Photography, David Schelling Photography, and Virginia Weiler.
Finally, I’m overwhelmed by the time and gentle guidance that Jamie Hendrick contributed to this project. He became my companion on road trips to interview gardeners and give presentations, and my mentor in writing. Through his work, Jamie’s taught thousands of teenagers to love words. I can’t imagine the patience that’s required to do that or to wrangle this mass of ideas and roots into something that might teach and inspire others.