I have been a resident in Bethesda, MD for twenty-four years. My gardening experience began when my husband and I bought our first and only home in Westmoreland Hills.  I quickly became interested in learning to garden after paying steep fees for landscapers.  I bought gardening books, read blogs, and spent a lot of time at garden nurseries reading labels.  I joined my community garden club where I learned a wealth of information from some very experienced gardeners.  I am a self-taught gardener through trial and error.  I have no formal background in horticulture or landscaping.  However, I am consistently looking for continuing education opportunities through local nurseries, print and on-line publications, and formal education programs.  I promote Integrated Pest Management and the use of native plants to reduce the amount of pesticide use and to protect our beneficials, pollinators, and environment.