One of his favorite orchid types is the leafless genera. Hurricane Wilma was less gentle with the leafless, and he was reduced from 17 species to 6. He is rebuilding his collection, but it is difficult to find some of the species.

One of his new interests is vanilla, especially since he found some leafless species of vanilla including two leafless Florida natives. He now has 12 species of vanilla, including 5 leafless types.

In his spare time from orchid growing, Jim is a tax accountant.