Iain M Robertson has taught at the University of Washington for over twenty years. His interests include plants as a design medium, human experiences of landscape designs, and urban ecological design. He has practiced as a landscape architect in his native Scotland and on the East and West coasts, and has consulted with several Western arboreta and botanic gardens.

Pat Rubin lives in Auburn, California. She writes about gardening for The Sacramento Bee, and has also written for Fine Gardening, Family Circle, San Francisco Chronicle, California Journal, and more. She is especially interested in mediterranean-type  plants, but is also working to collect every kniphofia she can find.

Debra Prinzing is an award-winning author, speaker, and a leading advocate for American-grown flowers. She is the creator of Slowflowers.com, a free online directory that helps consumers find florists, designers, studios, and farms that supply American grown flowers. Debra is the producer and host of the Slow Flowers Podcast with Debra Prinzing, which is available for free download on iTunes or at www.debraprinzing.com.

Nathan Smith is a horticulturist for the University of California Botanical Garden at Berkeley, where he is responsible for maintaining the California Native Garden. When not gardening, he enjoys writing, garden design, surfing, and hiking in the state’s botanical wonderlands.

Barbara Tuffli has had a life-long interest in gardens and a particular interest in camellias. Her own garden in Atherton, California includes 500 camellias in a beautifully landscaped setting with many other woody plants. She is president of the American Camellia Society.