Back in my younger days, I was an undercover cop in Detroit, Michigan, posing as a gardener, tree trimmer, landscaper, and seed salesman. While recovering from a job-related injury, I decided to turn to the more tranquil pursuit of gardening. Through a lot of hard work in the “School of Hard Knocks,” I eventually became America’s #1 expert on lawn, garden, and plant care.

My folksy humor, practical know-how, and homespun philosophy are in part derived from my Grandma Putnam, an American Indian who first taught me to talk to plants. I lived with her for several of my most formative years, and it was she who showed me many of the tips, tricks, and tonics for common plant ailments and gardening problems that I now use. With a time-worn almanac in one hand and a dog-eared Bible in the other, Grandma Putt instilled in me a deep respect for Mother Nature, Mother Earth, and all things green and growing.

Since my days with Grandma Putt, I’ve been on a mission to spread her gardening gospel, along with the thousands of gardening tips, home remedies, and amazing cures I’ve picked up along the way.

I first gained a measure of fame and notoriety with the publication of my runaway bestseller, Plants Are Like People, in 1972. I was also the guy who started the national craze of talking to your plants with the publication of a book by the same title. Since then, I’ve written more than 50 books, and more than twenty million copies of my books have been sold, including my most recent bestsellers, Supermarket Super Products!, The Anti-Pain Plan and Year 'Round Bloomers, found in my online Bookstore.

Soon after I hit the bestsellers list, television came a callin’, and I was appearing on many of the most popular TV talk shows. Millions of viewers know me from my frequent guest appearances on such shows as “Dinah’s Place” (I was a regular), “The Tonight Show,” “The Merv Griffin Show,” “PM Magazine,” “The Today Show,” and “Good Morning America.”

But I didn’t stop there. Currently, I have my own gardening specials that air on Public Television Stations across the country. These shows feature my timely tips, tricks, and tonics on such topics as lawn, flower, tree, shrub, and evergreen care. They have been very successful, and are among the most popular programs on PBS.

We also entered the 21st century by going online with this Web site in February 1998. I tell you, gardening just ain’t what it used to be, what with all these fancy portals, browsers, and hyperlinks. But I wouldn’t have it any other way. With all of this modern technology, I can now do research and find things faster than ever before, which means I can bring you even more great garden tips, tricks, and tonics at the click of a mouse.

But the more things change, the more they stay the same. No matter where you live or how much fancy equipment you have, gardening is gardening. After all of these years, I still longingly look back to those days I spent with my Grandma Putt, who said that all a fellow (or gal) needs is the good earth, a handful of seeds, a little “grow-how”, and a desire to get back to basics. It was that simple back in her day, and it’s still that simple today.

As you can see, I’ve got a lot to be thankful for in my life, and I owe a large debt of gratitude to a lot of folks who helped me along the way— my parents, my Grandma Putt, my family, and last, but certainly not least, to all of you who have loyally and faithfully followed me over the years. Without your support, I couldn’t have gotten involved in all of the things that I’ve done, and I would never have had the success that I’ve had. Like a green thumb gardener, you’ve helped me develop, grow, and flourish as a person, educator, and entertainer, for which I’m eternally grateful. For all of that, I have but two heartfelt words to say: