Jim Nau manages the greenhouses and gardens of the Ball Horticultural Company in West Chicago, Illinois. Jim also assists in selecting new varieties for the Ball Horticultural product lines and is the author of two books; The Ball Culture Guide and The Ball Perennial Manual. Jim's love of horticulture spans the industry. He is the past President of the Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers and currently serves as Vice President as well as a judge for All American Selections. Jim is the Perennial Plant Association's Garden Media Award Winner for 2003 and has been a keynote speaker for OFA and Southeast Greenhouse Conference. Articles and references to him have been seen in magazines like GrowerTalks, Martha Stewart Living, GMPro, Garden Design, Midwest Living, The Landscape Contractor, Home, Park Maintenance and Grounds Maintenance, Organic Gardening, Florists' Review and others. Growing and gardening are a passion with Jim. In his spare time, he manages the family grain farm in Iowa.