Richmond Shee is clearly a passionate gardener. He keeps six gardens going -- two of them on berms - and he's not afraid of using tropicals. The results pay off, though. To see some of them, go to http://richmondsgarden2008.shutterfly.com/action

Richmond and his wife, Jody, live in Olathe. Here are his answers to a few questions from kcgardens:

How did you begin gardening?

Richmond Shee in one of his berm gardensRichmond Shee in one of his berm gardensI had a house with an above-ground swimming pool. I thought the backyard would look much better with colorful flowers, so I gave the pool away and planted flowers in its place. I had no gardening background; not even the most basic concept such as zone, light and water requirements, and height. I simply bought good-looking plants and seeds from magazines. The trouble was most of the good-looking pictures did not translate to my garden. Many plants died or did not return the next season. The garden was sparse and there were lots of disappointments. Some plants, however, did amazingly well. They turned out to be the native plants.

Describe your garden.

Today, I have 6 gardens, the largest is 70x18 feet. Two of the gardens are on berms. This time of year, daisies and coreopsis explode like the grand finale of 4th of July fireworks. The fragrance of coreopsis arrests passers by. Peonies and weigelas, refuse to be second, waving in the breeze from another garden. Daylilies, honeysuckle, hollyhocks, hibiscus, yarrow, and blueberries are not far behind, and strawberries are so sweet.

There are new flowers practically everyday from spring to fall. And not just flowers, but plants of various foliage and height, and ornamental trees. Birds love to visit and some even call it home. It is a magical and therapeutic place to forget the stress of daily work. The gardens are the envy as well as praise of neighbors.

What are your special interests?

I have a special interest in propagation. I collect seeds from the flowers and sow them for the next season. I have also started on herbaceous and soft-wood propagation.

Coolest plants in your garden?

The hardy banana is cool because it is a tropical specie. Zinnias are absolutely beautiful. I can't wait for the red dinner-plate hibiscus.

Biggest gardening mistake you ever made?

My biggest mistake was not paying attention to the zone, light and water usage labels. I fall in love too quickly with plants. Be aware that retailers sell perennial plants that are not suited for our environment.

Best tips you can give a beginning gardener?

-- Like most hobbies, gardening can be expensive. The best way to find out what plants to buy and learn about landscape design is to visit your local botanical gardens and arboretums.

-- You can't go wrong with native plants.

-- Consider the plants' foliage color and size, height, and width when designing your landscape.

-- Propagation will save you a lot of money.

-- Start a compost pile and your plants will reward you.

-- Finally, be patient... good things take time.