Randy Collins to sign copies of book Tuesday at Eitel’s

Friday, May 17, 2019
Randy Collins

Putnam County native Randy Collins will be back in Greencastle on Tuesday with his new book, “Stop ... and Smell the Mints: A Glimpse into the Mint Family of Plants: Lamiaceae.”

A book signing celebration is set for 3:30-5:30 p.m. at the studio at Eitel’s & Co., 17 S. Vine St. A question and answer session will begin at 4:15 p.m.

A graduate of Fillmore High School, Collins went on to live more than 40 years in Greencastle before moving to Fishers and then retiring to Aiken, S.C.

Collins had spent all his life applying practical skills to achieve results. As an accountant, he was used to organization, analysis and responsibility.

After he retired, he found himself with a gap in his life — he wanted to be productive, but he’d had enough of being answerable to a boss or a client. He wanted to work on his own terms.

Like many people, Collins turned to gardening and found it to be a compelling, fascinating world. For him, it was a perfect solution. The meticulous, observation-focused mindset he’d developed as an accountant translated beautifully to the process and science of gardening. On the other hand, the art and creativity required to nurture and grow ornamental plants allowed him to explore a new side of himself.

At the heart of this memoir is Collins’ greatest challenge: How to outsmart a foraging white-tailed deer who saw the garden as his personal gourmet salad bar.

A warm, relatable story of how one man came to terms with retirement and nature, “Stop … and Smell the Mints” strives to be both enjoyable and educational.

Copies of the paperback will be availabe during the event, though it is also available online through Amazon, Barnes and Noble and other sources.

After working for IBM for 29 years, Collins went on to spend 15 years as a small business financial consultant.

Collins and his late wife had three children, one of whom happens to be Eitel’s owner Jenny Sullivan, and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

He currently enjoys family life and retirement with his second wife, whom he married in 2002.

He is a certified master gardener, and a member, emeritus, of the Aiken County Master Gardener Association, the South Carolina Native Plant Society, the Georgia Perennial Plant Association and the American Horticultural Society.

Anyone wanting to pick up the new book or catch up with an old friend is invited to stop by Eitel’s from 3:30-5:30 p.m. on Tuesday.

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