Tell us a little about your background and how you came to Bridge Gardens:  

"I grew up in Riverside, Connecticut and came to the East End for one thing: to garden.  My first year out here, I served as head gardener for a private residence in East Hampton. I left that to assume a bigger role as estate manager for a 40-acre property here in Bridgehampton, but once I realized how much of an office job it was (and how little gardening was really involved), I left to come work at Bridge Gardens. A lot of people think I'm crazy for turning down a six figure salary to garden, but I'm a lot happier digging in the dirt!"

"I studied horticulture at the New York Botanical Garden, as well as with NOFA's (Northeast Organic Farming Association) organic land care program, and I am NOFA accredited in organic land care.  I have been interested in gardening ever since college, where I worked in the student run community vegetable garden on campus."

Most memorable day this summer: "My most memorable day here at the gardens was when a volunteer group came to help us from Goldman Sachs.  It was incredible to see how appreciative these volunteers were to be able to be outside gardening, and doing something good for the community.  I loved seeing their reactions to the gardens here."

Favorite Plant: "My favorite plant is the Lobelia cardinalis, the Cardinal Flower.  It's a native wetland plant, and an important plant for hummingbirds and butterflies."