James W. Smith is something of a wrinkled garden gnome that has the practical knowledge gained from years and years down on his hands and knees in the dirt. He's your own personal gardening superhero, Plantman to the rescue! This book will save you time and money, because he's already done the years of research, experimentation, observation and hard work for you. Think of this as "The Garden Gospel according to James," your practical, fluff-free garden guide that will demystify gardening and enable you to cultivate the world of plants. You'll understand how plants grow, what they need to thrive, and the things you can do to provide the best environment for them using sustainable methods and techniques. This is, quite possibly, the shortest and most informative gardening book ever! "...A fascinating and comprehensive little booklet of gardening tips and knowledge that experienced and beginning gardeners alike will benefit from. I know this little book is going to wind up in my gardening tote for handy access!" - A Good Year for the Roses I'm not one of those "pretty boy landscapers" at all. I'm more of a wrinkled garden gnome that has the practical knowledge gained from years and years down on my hands and knees in the dirt. A simple gardener that has learned a lot, and who would like to share what I've learned and discovered with you. In third grade, I was the kid who got to water and take care of the class vegetable garden, and since then I've been the manager of both wholesale and retail nurseries, Assistant Professor of Ornamental Horticulture at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, the head gardener for several private estates, a plant breeder, and more. You'll even find me listed in Who's Who in America . I'm a teacher-gardener who has the patience to prune 300 roses, transplant 14,000 hibiscus seedlings by hand, or watch the behaviors of insects or diseases on a plant over a long period of time so that I can teach you how to improve your own garden. Consider me your own personal gardening superhero, Plantman to the rescue! Some people have wished for photos in the book, but I have something better! You can find the "Wise Old Gnome" on YouTube where I've posted a five-part garden tour of the private estate I manage, and I'm on Facebook too. Stop by and "Like" me! Not only that, but I have a hands-on pruning demonstration instructional video, available here on Amazon: "How to Prune Roses: Real Men Prune Roses Bare-Handed." If you like "The Wise Old Gnome" and my video, don't forget to review and tag them both! Listed in Who's Who in the West , 19th edition and Who's Who in America , 43rd edition: SMITH, JAMES WALKER, horticulturist, consultant, plant breeder; b. Glendale, Calif. Sept 29, 1946; s. Dale Walker and Eleanor Grace (Hoven) S Student Los Angeles Pierce coll., 1964-66, Mira Costa Coll. 1971-72; B.S. Cal Poly State U., 1974; grower Pacifica Evergreen Nursery 1975; head estate gardener for pvt. estate Woodside, CA, 1975-78; ptnr. landscaping design firm, San Francisco, 1978-79; head estate gardener Whittell Estate Trust, Woodside, 1979-80; horticulturist, plant breeder PlantSmith, Jamestown, Ca 1980-; hort. cons. Served with USAF, 1966-70. Decorated Bronze Star; commendation medal (Vietnam). Mem. Calif. Hort. Soc.; Strybing Arboretum Soc. Calif. Native Plant Soc., Saratoga Hort. Found., Western Hort. Soc. Democrat. Roman Catholic.