Hello from Massachusetts

[Mattus]

Since Mark is hounding me to start posting here, I shall! Hi everyone, my name is Matt Mattus, and I've been an alpine plant enthusiast practically my whole life. I joined NARGS about 8 years ago and started growing alpines more seriously then, so I feel like a newbie although I think I probably have worn out that excuse. I live in central Massachusetts on 2.5 acres of land bordering woodlands, on property and a home that was my grandfathers home built in 1910. With three generations of gardeners, I am lucky to have good soil and old trees and a mature planting that has a history.
I grow most of my alpines in troughs, and a small crevice garden, but I do keep a raised alpine bed along the foundation of my greenhouse. In the greenhouse, I grow many bulbs, mostly winter blooming southern hemisphere bulbs, and little bit of everything else. As an obsessed plant lover, I'm sure many of you can understand. I love to travel and hike alpine area around the world, and look for every opportunity to join expeditions or explorations in unusual areas.
Some of you may be familiar with my blog Growing with plants, where I try to post interesting events and adventures in my gardening life, as well as my self published digital magazine, Plant Society. Also, I guess I should admit that I am a secret design contributor here at NARGS.com, designing the logo, the banners and many of the graphics on this beautiful site that Hugh built.
I cherish many of the friendships that I have made through NARGS, and I look forward to making more. It's the best plant society in the world! (although, I do like the folks at the SRGS too!).

[Lori S.]

Well, so glad the "hounding" worked, LOL!  Welcome, Matt! 

[McDonough]

Ok, just call me an ol' hound dog!

Matt, I'm so glad my "encouragement" (read: friendly badgering ) worked to get you over here. I used to be the "young fellow" in our local New England Chapter of NARGS, but those honors now below to Matt, as energetic and inspired a gardener as you'll ever find, a force to be reckoned within the plant world.  Being the prolific writer and blogger that you are, we hope you conserve some of your energies for posting here and there on the NARGS Forum. 

[RickR]

Glad to see you here, Matt!  Gee, another high caliber participant.  We are so lucky!

I need to take hounding lessons from Mark...

[Peter George]

I'm glad you finally showed up. I think you'll find at least some of the topics interesting, and I  we'll enjoy your contributions. Welcome.

[Hugh MacMillan]

Matt - I would say welcome, but you have been a 'behind the scenes' contributor to the NARGS website since Portland, April 2009 when we discussed the look and feel of the revamped NARGS website.  To all of you who do not know Matt, be prepared for excellent contributions from a remarkable spirit.

[Weiser]

Matt
Welcome.  I look forward to you posts and insight!

[Mattus]

Thanks everyone! I'm looking forward to participating more, I just need to get used to the format, it's much easier than some others.

[McDonough]

Thanks everyone! I'm looking forward to participating more, I just need to get used to the format, it's much easier than some others.

Good to see you back here Matt!  Looking forward to more of your botanical musings.
Getting ready for our first possible real snowstorm of Winter 2010.

[Spiegel]

Thanks everyone! I'm looking forward to participating more, I just need to get used to the format, it's much easier than some others.

Welcome, Matt.  Great to see you're on the Forum.  Re: the format -  It must be pretty easy because I've managed to post and put on pictures (with help from Mark and others!)