I grew alpine plants when I was a child, encouraged by my mother. Later when my wife and I had a garden of our own, I built our first rock garden and became a member of the Alpine Garden Society  and joined in the seed exchange.

I took AGS surplus seed into the primary school where I taught, and along with the weather chart and milk monitor, there was the 'seed monitor', whose job was to spot any germination.  After moving to a new job in a drier part of England, I gradually decided to grow more and more dwarf bulbs. I enjoy growing alpine plants and bulbs especially if the seed has been collected from the wild.

I am a member of the Alpine Garden Society, the Cyclamen Society, The North American Rock Garden Society, the Crocus Group and the Electronic Rock Garden Society.