National Gardening Association: The National Gardening Association is the largest member-based, nonprofit organization of home gardeners in the United States. For more information about the National Gardening Association, write to 180 Flynn Ave., Burlington, VT 05401 USA; or visit its Web site at www.garden.org.
Bob Beckstrom, coauthor of Landscaping For Dummies, is a licensed general contractor. He lives in northern California and enjoys building things, spending time outdoors, and sharing what he's learned with other people. Bob has taught adult courses in house building and remodeling at The Owner Builder Center in Berkeley, California; and has written and edited extensively on home-improvement topics, including Decks & Patios For Dummies.
Karan Davis Cutler, coauthor of Herb Gardening For Dummies, is a former magazine editor and newspaper columnist and the author of seven other garden books. She publishes regularly in horticultural magazines and is an eight-time winner of the Quill & Trowel Award from the Garden Writers Association of America.
Kathleen Fisher, coauthor of Herb Gardening For Dummies, is former editor of The American Gardener, published by the American Horticultural Society. A longtime newspaper reporter, she now works as a freelance writer and editor.
Phillip Giroux, coauthor of Landscaping For Dummies, graduated from the University of Arizona with a degree in landscape architecture and ornamental horticulture. He established his landscape designing and building firm in 1978, and Philip is responsible for numerous large-scale projects, such as the Los Angles County Museum of Arts Sculpture and Japanese Pavilion Garden. Phillip has served as L.A. Chapter President for the California Landscape Contractors Association and is a member of the Royal Horticulture Society.
Judy Glattstein, author of Flowering Bulbs For Dummies as well several other gardening books, is a garden consultant. She lectures extensively across the United States and abroad, and has twice spoken for the Royal Horticultural Society at their Great Autumn Show in London.
Mike MacCaskey, coauthor of Gardening For Dummies, received a bachelor of science degree in ornamental horticulture from California State Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo in 1976. He served as Editor-in-Chief of Vermontbased National Gardening Magazine, and his magazine writing has been honored by both the Western Magazine Publishers Association and the Garden Writers of America.
Bill Marken, author of Annuals For Dummies, Container Gardening For Dummies, and coauthor of Gardening For Dummies, is the editor of Rebecca's Garden Magazine, a publication from Hearst Magazines Enterprises based on a popular television show. Bill served as Editor-in-Chief of Sunset, the Magazine of Western Living, from 1981 to 1996. Earlier in his career, he wrote for the magazine's garden section, pitched in on several editions of the bestselling Western Garden Book, and generally nurtured his interests in subjects related to gardening, landscaping, travel, and other aspects of the good life in the West.
Charlie Nardozzi, author of Vegetable Gardening For Dummies, graduated from the University of Vermont in 1981 with a degree in plant and soil science. Charlie then spent three years in the Peace Corps in Thailand, helping farmers grow everything from rice to garlic, chili peppers, and mangoes. He returned to the United States and received a master's degree in education, again from the University of Vermont. After working as a landscaper, he served as a horticulturist at the National Gardening Association for more than 10 years.
Sally Roth, contributor to Landscaping For Dummies, is a lifelong naturalist, gardener, and writer. Her writing credits include books and magazine articles for several publishers. When she isn't digging in her garden or out walking in the woods looking at birds, Sally listens to blues and folk music, reads, and plays a mean game of Scrabble.
Marcia Tatroe, author of Perennials For Dummies, is a garden designer, lecturer, and writer who's been fortunate to have the opportunity to live and garden in areas as diverse as Highland, California; Tacoma, Washington; Lompoc, California; the Netherlands; and south-central England. Marcia, also a former Master Gardener of several years for Colorado State University's Cooperative Extension Program, says that tending the garden is one of her greatest passions, and she hopes that it's contagious.
Lance Walheim, author of Roses For Dummies and Lawn Care For Dummies, and coauthor of Landscaping For Dummies, graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, with a degree in botany. Shortly after, he started writing and researching books on gardening and since has authored or contributed to over 40 titles. He also has served as a writer for Sunset and National Gardening magazines.
Ann Whitman, author of Organic Gardening For Dummies and Trees & Shrubs For Dummies, earned a bachelor of science degree in plant and soil science at the University of Vermont and went on to complete a master of arts in landscape design in Massachusetts. She's been tending her own patches of soil for more than 25 years.
