Writing a column for The Joplin Globe as an independent garden writer from my perspective as a long-time gardener in the Ozarks, receiving an award for Best Newspaper column for 2018 by the Missouri Writer's Association.

I have been an artist and craftsperson most of my life, working in many different medias, experimenting with new ideas that come along. I am an experienced beader, also work with lapidary, wirework, leather, wood, acrylic paints, mosaics and recycled and upcycled garden art. I started a blog in 2009 about gardening, the out of doors, and thoughts on life. In December of 2013 I was invited to write a garden column for The Joplin Globe, and have been having fun with that. In 2018 I joined the Joplin Regional Artists Coalition and was elected as a board member for 2019-21, and have been displaying my acrylic paintings and pencil drawings at various area galleries.

retail bead store/vegan restaurant, bead artist, retired to stay home , work on art projects and garden. Currently write a garden column for The Joplin Globe, "Speaking of Gardens"; and a blog, "Welcome to Chaos", http://chaosinature.blogspot.com/

Garden center employee, working with plants and customer, Master Gardener, former Missouri Landscape and Nursery member. Still working there in spring, potting plants and generally getting my hands in the dirt..