I have been an animal and nature lover my whole life! I grew up reading and studying everything I could find about animals, as well as, tromping through woods, ponds, streams, drainage ditches, etc... in search of various creatures. I have always loved birds and have been through various periods of serious birding as I have moved through the stages of life. I have always enjoyed gardening and now I have started to really look at trying eliminate non-native and to plant native.