Bio
Mike often says that his background in gardening is show business, which is pretty close to the truth. Although he is a Master Gardener and a certified Treekeeper, trained by the Openlands Project, he is actually a professional writer, actor, director, radio host and speaker on gardening and the environment , , , and a fervent amateur when it comes to growing things..Mike attended the University of Michigan and worked for several years in Detroit radio before he moved to Chicago. He co-founded The Commons Theatre and scored a Joseph Jefferson hat trick, winning citations as actor, director, and playwright. His play "The Signal Season of Dummy Hoy" was performed off-Broadway.
Mike has been the host of WGN Radio's “Let's Talk Gardening” for a decade, and is an award-winning columnist for Chicagoland Gardening Magazine. He has also appeared on WGN-TV Channel 9, CBS 2 Chicago and the DIY Network.
In 2002, Mike founded the Midwest Ecological Landscaping Association with landscape designer Connie Cunningham. The organization promotes environmentally responsible landscaping and horticultural practices among professionals and the public. Mike served as MELA's president for four years. He is vice president of the Chicago Recycling Coalition and on the board of the Lincoln Park Conservancy. He recently joined the Speakers Network for Safe Lawns, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting natural lawn care and grounds maintenance.
Midwest Ecological Landscaping Association Chicago Recycling Coalition Lincoln Park Conservancy Chicagoland Gardening Magazine Safe Lawns The Frozen Robins Rolls Voyce Mike also sings with two a cappella groups, The Frozen Robins and Rolls Voyce.