John Waddington has a PhD. in forage agronomy, and worked as a research scientist for the federal Ministry of Agriculture in Saskatchewan for twenty-eight years. He retired to West Kelowna in 1996 and almost immediately joined the board of the Friends of the Gardens. He served on the board until 2009, including a one-year stint as president. During those years, John tested many plants, mostly from the western USA, for hardiness in our climate. The results of his work were displayed in his remarkable West Kelowna garden and in the pages that follow. Now living in Ottawa, John has generously shared his discoveries with the Friends of the Gardens and all who visit this website. As the climate warms, his work becomes ever more relevant.