Discovering My Journey: The Story Behind Who I Am

Hi my name is Mike and I decided to write this blog as I love writing and wanted to help people get improve their knowledge of houseplants, let me tell you a bit about myself. I have been involved in horticulture since I first helped out at my local cricket club as a shy 14 year old preparing the wickets for the upcoming weekends games. Imagine my excitement 2 years later getting accepted onto an apprentice scheme with my local council as a groundsman.

The following 3 years flew by spent at Usk Horticultural College (sadly no longer open) and moving around various grounds in the local area picking up valuable grains of knowledge along the way. Winter months included days spent in glass houses and nurseries sowing seeds,  pricking out and potting on before getting my own ground as a 20 year old.

I worked here for 12 years before joining he family business due to ill health of my father, Some years later I returned to the plant world running my own lawncare company, eventually joining a grounds maintenance company.

This evolved into a job giving gardening lessons to vulnerable adults. My career took another turn, joining up with  a like minded horticultural enthusiast travelling all around the country maintaining interior tropical plant displays in hotels and banks. This was my first real introduction to houseplants and I can honestly say it was a pleasure to go to work for this guy and do something I loved and feed off his love of all things green.

I was sad to leave here but the world of hospitality came calling where I spent quite a bit of time pulling pints and cooking food. Now in construction due to the tragic downturn in the pub trade and working towards retirement when I can indulge my passion once again on a more regular basis,

As you can see my experience is very varied, throw in some dry stone walling, mole catching and occupational therapy and you have my career all wrapped up. I always wanted to be a teacher but the cards never fell my way, now maybe, just maybe I can show some people that plants are wonderful additions to the home by a kind of teaching and hopefully not preaching. If there is something you want to ask please get in touch.