Hi! I'm Chrissie Harten, and I live in Redditch, Worcestershire, England, with my husband, and dog Toby, also known as Tobe, Tubster, or Tobi-wan-kenobi. (No - don't ask!) Tobe was my mother-in-law's dog, but when she could no longer look after him, we adopted him. He was originally a rescue puppy from a local RSPCA dogs' home. He's what you might call "a lovable rogue"! Here's a picture of him looking like butter wouldn't melt in his mouth!

I've loved plants for as long as I can remember - in fact one of my earliest memories is of hiding at the back of the border in my father's garden, with delphiniums, lupins, phlox and all manner of other plants towering above my head, and loving it! It was inevitable, then, that I would eventually become the gardener that I am today.....

Gardening is my passion, and I think I might easily be described as a plantaholic, (if there is such a word), as I find it almost impossible to resist a plant I haven't got. My favourite plants are grasses, Hostas, Heucheras, ferns and ivies. I've got quite a collection of these in the garden. (See Plant List.) They are all invaluable in floral art to give form and texture to arrangements. The picture to the right is me at the Chelsea Flower Show, and I'm standing by the wonderful exhibit staged by the Barbados Horticultural Society. (The picture was taken by my friend Deanne Clarke, who is a member of the Barbados Horticultural Society and helped to stage the exhibit - thanks Deanne!)

When I'm not in the garden, I teach flower arranging and play the saxophone (but not at the same time!). I also write articles on gardening or flower arranging for various publications, as well as photographing plants, flowers and floral designs at shows and exhibitions for publication in magazines and books.

For many years, I've been a member of Bromsgrove and District Flower Arrangement Society, which is affiliated to NAFAS - the National Association of Flower Arrangement Societies. I'm currently the Society's Secretary, and also Internet Officer (I also built and maintain their website, as well as this one!). If you've never been to your local flower arrangement society, I recommend that you go. The address will probably be in your local library, or you can contact NAFAS for the address of your nearest club. You will meet some lovely people, make new friends, and spend many happy afternoons or evenings being entertained by talented floral art demonstrators, all for the price of a few pounds a month! Better still, get yourself on the Committee like me - willing hands are always needed, and it's great fun too!