Originally from Edmonton, John studied Horticulture in Alberta before eventually settling in the Niagara region and starting the Ontario nursery facility in 1988. He has taught perennial courses for various colleges and undertaken further studies with internationally-known garden designer John Brookes.

John spends a good deal of his time working on the Heritage Perennials™ website and answering e-mail from gardeners all over North America. He's also a frequent speaker at garden clubs and conferences.

John's own garden is under constant renovation these days, located in the scenic village of Jordan, in the Niagara region. Known as "The Tangled Garden", it's an eclectic collection of plants growing around a century farmhouse.