I was raised on a farm near Niagara Falls in the great state of New York in the United States. While I'm a botanist/plant ecologist by profession, I have always been fascinated by all aspects of natural history. It's not unusual for me to be fossil hunting, bird watching or, of course, botanizing wherever my travels may take me.

I'm currently employed with the Auburn University Museum of Natural History in Alabama, where I've had the good fortune of working throughout the southeastern U.S. conducting botanical surveys and becoming acquainted with the region's remarkable natural heritage. Through my work and leisure, I've been able to author numerous papers, technical reports, and popular articles. In my spare time, I join my wife in keeping the homestead up and running.