From the publisher

The first issue of Upstate Gardeners’ Journal came out in March of 1995. I had a little experience in publishing, access to the requisite equipment (it now costs about a tenth of what it did then), and a love of horticulture, and I saw what felt to be a hole in the market—there were no local gardening magazines. It started small, but ultimately became my full-time job, which was great because I could work from home and be there for my family. Today, I doubt very much I would start a gardening magazine, or any magazine. A blog, maybe. But back then, publishing was more profitable. 

I have decades of wonderful memories and have made dear friends over the years. I would always attend Rochester’s GardenScape, being there every hour it was open (or at least it felt that way), and for many years sharing a “booth” with friend Michael Warren Thomas. It was exhausting, but I loved it, loved interacting with all the readers who came up to offer up praise, criticism, ideas, and subscription checks. One GardenScape memory that stands out is from 1998. My daughter had been born a week or two before the show, and it was my first solo outing. I remember how magical everything seemed—usually I was there to see at least some of the setup, but this time I was walking into a fully-formed fantasy. And the smells! Nothing smells better than the mulch, the hyacinths, and the greenery of a flower show. GardenScape is, of course, long gone, but Buffalo’s Plantasia smells exactly the same and provides the same wonderful respite we all need at the very end of winter.

Many of you readers have been with me from the beginning, following my column in the Democrat and Chronicle for nineteen years and other freelance work, and then supporting (585) magazine and (585) Kids when I moved on to that. I can’t express how much I appreciate it. Thank you! I think you all will love the content we have in store for our thirtieth anniversary year. Let me know either way.

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