A lifelong gardener, horticulturist and farm girl, Joan Z Calder loves to play in the dirt. Joan grew up learning about gardening on a dairy farm in Cato, Wisconsin. She earned a degree in Ornamental Horticulture from Foothill College in Los Altos Hills, California. It was while she was manager of the Greenhouse for Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology at UCSB where she met her first monarch butterfly. A passion for monarch butterflies, and a burning desire to educate and excite both young and old about these wonders of nature are what inspired her to write Airplanes in the Garden: Monarch Butterflies Take Flight. Joan gives presentation to elementary schools, horticulture groups and nature centers. Her book is the recipient of Learning Magazine 2013 Teacher's Choice for Children's Books Award, Mom's Choice Awards Gold Recipient, and Creative Child Magazine 2012 Award for Kids Storybooks. Joan resides in Santa Barbara with her husband and many caterpillars.