I created this site to share my passion for desert plants. All the articles I write are based on my experiences living in Arizona and California. I'm not perfect, so please let me know if you spot anything that needs correction.
Baltimore to Surprise
I grew up in the suburbs north of Baltimore, MD, and graduated from Towson University. I lived in San Diego and worked as an assistant to the director for a Los Angeles-based film production company before returning to Baltimore after an unfortunate accident that resulted in two years of almost daily intense physical therapy.
My biggest claim to fame is tracking down Sherman Hemsley, who was sequestered in a hotel room, and working with the producers of Baywatch to scout a location in Malibu to drive a car off a cliff.
In addition to my short stint in Hollywood, I spent several years as a restaurateur before transitioning to the tech industry, where I have been self-employed for most of my life.
In 2015, I moved from Baltimore to Surprise, Arizona— a city I had never heard of — about 30 minutes west of downtown Phoenix. I love this area of the country almost as much as SoCo. The Phoenix area is undoubtedly a desert, but it also has a subtropical feel because of the large number of palms, intense sun, and almost always breezy conditions. When I first moved here, I would gaze over the horizon while driving, expecting to see the Pacific Ocean.
The Phoenix area receives about 5 inches of rain annually, is free of mosquitoes, and has a healthy population of Arizona bark scorpions.
Since moving to Arizona, I've spent a fair amount of time volunteering with organizations that support causes I believe in, including Liberty Wildlife, Silver Lining Riding, St Mary's Food Bank, and BSAR (Battalion Search and Rescue). That's me in the orange bandana!
I hope you enjoy your time here and find this site a helpful resource. If there's a particular subject you'd like me to write about, shoot me a message. I'll let everyone know if I publish an article based on your question!
Mil gracias,
