Patsy has a BSc in taxonomic botany from Liverpool University, U.K., and has pursued botany both as a botany technician with the Alberta government and as a hobby ever since. She has advocated for the protection and conservation of natural areas both provincially and in Edmonton and surrounding areas, and helps manage two local remnant grasslands. She enjoys writing about plants, ecology and conservation. She began growing native plants, with limited success, a few years ago.