Who is Skippa?

The nickname Skipper was given to horticulturist John Neville as a boy by his beloved grandmother. As a result of her Southern dialect, he became accustomed to being called "Skippa."

Since those early days, Skippa has expanded his love of gardening. After acquiring a degree in Horticulture, he went on to test his skills in a variety of ways. He has managed a hydroponic greenhouse and owned a landscape design and installation business. For the last sixteen years, he has been the Estate Horticulturist at the Duke Mansion, in Charlotte, NC, where he established herb, vegetable, and perennial gardens.

In addition to his work in the gardens, Skippa acts as a Consulting Designer and Horticulture Expert for Outdoor Life Inc. He has appeared on several episodes of the gardening show "Garden Smart." He has also appeared on the show "Making it Grow." Skippa's work at the Mansion was profiled in an article for the Charlotte Observer. Finally, he has teamed with Executive Chef John Morey to work with Radio Disney at the Charlotte, NC, Southern Spring Show to present a children's program on vegetables.