Plants Always Win (Sean Patchett and Erin Alladin)
Explorez tous les épisodes de Plants Always Win
| Date | Titre | Durée | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 Dec 2024 | Ep.1 Erin VS Sean | 00:43:07 | |
In this pilot episode of Plants Always Win, Erin and Sean give the Plant Face-Off a trial run…with a twist. Instead of competing for viewers’ votes with the most interesting information about a plant or gardening concept, they go head to head with competing interviews of each other. Find out what theft has to do with Erin’s early forays into gardening, why she makes content about gardening with chronic illness and disability, and how talking about plants every week complements her literary life. Then learn how Sean’s mom got him into a horticulture career, explore the pros and cons of the profession, and get excited about Sean’s dreams for a botanical garden in Muskoka, Ontario. We wrap up with some impromptu (and impassioned) tangents on invasive plants in garden centres, cities that plant only male trees, cultivars vs. nativars, and permaculture.
Find Sean online at @GardenGuyMuskoka on TikTok and Instagram. Find Erin online at @EarthUndaunted on TikTok, @ErinAlladin on Instagram, and at https://earthundaunted.com/.
Comments? Feedback? Want your garden question to be featured in a future Q&A segment? Email us, reach out over social media, or get Q&A priority by supporting us on Patreon.
Instagram: @plantsalwayswinpodcast Facebook: plantsalwayswinpodcast TikTok: @plantsalwayswinpodcast Website: www.plantsalwayswin.com
Credits Website Design and Illustration by Sophia Alladin
Intro and Outro Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/when-my-ukulele-plays License code: GWOIMMBAS15FG6PH
00:52 What's Growing On? 1:00: Erin vs. Quack Grass 2:17 Sean's Zone 4 Fruit Trees 3:27 Raccoons 1 | Chickens 0 4:50 First Frosts 6:24 Plant Face-Off 7:00 Sean's topic: Erin 7:52 Stealing Gardens from Parents 8:50 Gardening with Chronic Illness 12:40 Why Erin Agreed to Do This Podcast 13:52 Our Wives Think We’re Big Nerds 15:37 Erin's Least Favourite Thing About Gardening 19:15 Erin's Topic: Sean 19:20 Blame it on Sean's Mom 21:16 The Garden Labour Trap 22:57 The Master Gardeners of Ontario 24:00 Running a Landscaping Business 26:09 The Muskoka Botanical Garden Dream 27:26: Why Sean Started This Podcast 28:53: Sean's Rant: Stop Selling Invasive Plants 33:51 Erin's Rant: Male-Only City Trees 33:22 Nativars and Cultivars 38:17 Selfish Gardening vs. Permaculture 41:26 Contact Us & Outro | |||
| 18 Dec 2024 | Ep.2 Poinsettia VS Amaryllis | 00:48:07 | |
In this “versus” episode, Erin and Sean face off with two big holiday plants: Poinsettias and Amaryllis. Erin comes in swinging with the fraught history of settler (Poinsettia) and Indigenous (cuetlaxochitl) names for her plant, but Sean pushes back with the romantic (or is it?) mythology behind amaryllis. Both contenders shatter misconceptions (Poinsettias are not toxic! Some amaryllis are imposters!) and share care tips for keeping these festive flora in good shape during the holidays and year round. A few tangents slip in about specialist insects that thrive on toxic plants and the way plants interpret light and darkness. And of course we get a plant rant about florists and nurseries using spray paint and glitter. The episode wraps up with a listener question about how late she can plant an evergreen tree. Who won the Plant Face-Off? Was it Erin with poinsettias or Sean with amaryllis? You decide! Send your vote by email or on Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook with the hashtag #PAWFaceOff. Comments? Feedback? Want your garden question to be featured in a future Q&A segment? Email us, reach out over social media, or get Q&A priority by supporting us on Patreon. Instagram: @plantsalwayswinpodcast Facebook: plantsalwayswinpodcast TikTok: @plantsalwayswinpodcast Website: www.plantsalwayswin.com Credits Website Design and Illustration by Sophia Alladin Intro and Outro Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/when-my-ukulele-plays License code: GWOIMMBAS15FG6PH Citations Cultural history of poinsettias Kohfeld, M. (2024, November 30). Cuetlaxochitl: A cultural history of the Poinsettia. Swansons Nursery. https://www.swansonsnursery.com/blog/history-of-poinsettias Chart of specialist insects who sequester the toxins (glycocides) in milkweed sap Holdrege, C. (n.d.). The Story of an Organism: Common Milkweed — The Nature Institute. The Nature Institute. https://www.natureinstitute.org/article/craig-holdrege/the-story-of-an-organism-common-milkweed Commercial production of poinsettias Environmental Horticulture Department - UF/IFAS. (n.d.). Production Guidelines - Poinsettia Cultivation. Commercial Floriculture. https://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/floriculture/poinsettia/production_guidelines.shtml Dr. Ing-Ming Lee’s research into phytoplasmas Ing-Ming Lee. (n.d.). The American Phytopathological Society (APS). https://www.apsnet.org/members/give-awards/awards/Fellows/Pages/Ing-MingLee.aspx Care and reblooming of poinsettias Schnelle, M. (2017, April 1). Poinsettia Care. Oklahoma State University Extension. https://extension.okstate.edu/fact-sheets/poinsettia-care.html Weisenhorn, J. (2024). Growing and caring for poinsettia. UMN Extension. https://extension.umn.edu/houseplants/poinsettia Plants in the amaryllis family Petruzzello, M. (2016, March 8). List of plants in the family Amaryllidaceae | Amaryllis, Narcissus, Hyacinth. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/list-of-plants-in-the-family-Amaryllidaceae-2058006 Facts about Amaryllis DeJohn, S. (2024, October 17). Amaryllis Legends and Fun Facts. Gardeners Supply Company. https://www.gardeners.com/how-to/amaryllis-facts/8660.html
Amaryllis and hippeastrum Mahr, S. (n.d.). Amaryllis, Hippeastrum. Wisconsin Horticulture. https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/amaryllis-hippeastrum/ 0:51 What’s Growing On? 0:56 Winter Prep (and lack thereof) 1:57 Sean Got a Puppy! 2:51 The Plant Face-Off 3:30 Poinsettias and Pronunciation 4:22 Cottoneaster Tangent 4:42 Pointsettia Etymology 5:40 Poinsettia Sap: Not Toxic! 8:25 The Euphorbia Plant Family 10:16 Turning Shrubs into House Plants 12:12 Tricking Plants with Light 14:17 Spray-Painted Poinsettias 17:31 Poinsettia Care 21:50 How (not) to Research Plants Online 23:45 What is—and isn’t—an Amaryllis? 25:01 Amaryllis Relatives 26:26 The Amaryllis Identity Crisis 28:48 Naturalized vs. Invasive Plants 29:58 600+ Amaryllis Cultivars 30:50 Romantic(?) Amaryllis Mythology 31:43 How Amaryllis Grows 38:14 Amaryllis Care 44:47 Q&A: Can You Plant a Tree in Late Fall? 47:28 Contact Us & Outro | |||
| 24 Dec 2024 | Ep.3 Garden Education with Paul Zammit | 00:57:37 | |
In this interview episode, Sean chats with Paul Zammit about the life of a garden communicator. Paul has had a long career in horticulture and is presently a professor of Horticulture and Environmental Studies at Niagara College as well as CBC’s Ontario Today gardening expert—although “expert” is a term he would like to contest. After all, we never stop learning, and that’s especially true in the garden. Paul and Sean talk about selfish gardening (taking space from nature for ourselves) compared to building a biodiverse space that wildlife can enjoy alongside us—even if that means broadening our definition of beauty. They lament the spread of incomplete and untrue gardening tips online, although they’re still excited about the information-sharing power of social media. And although they’d happily talk forever, they force themselves to wrap up the conversation by answering some listener questions about insect-afflicted ash trees and re-blooming orchids. Find Paul on Instagram at @paulsplantpix Paul Zammit is a professor at Niagara College’s School of Environment and Horticulture. He can be found giving garden advice on CBC’s Ontario Today program He occasionally co-leads international tours of public and private gardens. Comments? Feedback? Want your garden question to be featured in a future Q&A segment? Email us, reach out over social media, or get Q&A priority by supporting us on Patreon. Instagram: @plantsalwayswinpodcast Facebook: plantsalwayswinpodcast TikTok: @plantsalwayswinpodcast Website: www.plantsalwayswin.com Credits Website Design and Illustration by Sophia Alladin Intro and Outro Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/when-my-ukulele-plays License code: GWOIMMBAS15FG6PH 0:45 Preamble 1:15 Interview 2:33 Paul’s Impressive Résumé 4:04 Leading Garden Tours 7:11 “Garden Expert”, and Other Misnomers 13:07 Gardening is different everywhere! 15:25 Biodiversity: If You Plant it, They Will Come 16:24 Invasive Species and Constructive Conversations 21:30 Rethinking Beauty 24:03 Cultivars Aren’t Evil 26:24 Gardening for Ourselves and for Nature 35:20 Social Media and Iffy Plant Hacks 42:07 Intermission 42:50 Q&A 44: 26 Emerald Ash Borers 46:35 Re-Blooming Orchids 53:12 Paul's Shout-Outs 56:20 Outro | |||
| 31 Dec 2024 | Ep.4 Bay Leaves VS Mustard Seed | 00:47:08 | |
In this Versus episode, it’s the battle of herbs and spices. Get your fill of these fascinating aromatic plants that have flavoured our food and changed our history since paleolithic times. Learn why they bother smelling so good—and what you can do to make the most of their flavour—then get ready to cast your vote in the Plant Face-Off. Sean is representing the herbs with bay laurel, a plant not to be confused with the many other bays and laurels in the world—especially not the toxic ones. Learn how it grows, how to preserve the leaves, and why there are so many misconceptions about its safety. Erin follows up with mustard seed and how to grow and prepare it…but first she shakes things up with some tasty knowledge about spices around the world. Who won the Plant Face-Off? Was it Sean with bay leaves or Erin with mustard seed? You decide! Send your vote by email or on Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook with the hashtag #PAWFaceOff. Comments? Feedback? Want your garden question to be featured in a future Q&A segment? Email us, reach out over social media, or get Q&A priority by supporting us on Patreon. Instagram: @plantsalwayswinpodcast Facebook: plantsalwayswinpodcast TikTok: @plantsalwayswinpodcast Website: www.plantsalwayswin.com Credits Website Design and Illustration by Sophia Alladin Intro and Outro Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/when-my-ukulele-plays License code: GWOIMMBAS15FG6PH Citations What is a spice? Hogeback, J. (n.d.). What’s the difference between an herb and a spice? Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/story/whats-the-difference-between-an-herb-and-a-spice Essential Oils/Volatile Oils Biology Online. (2023, September 15). Volatile oil - Definition and Examples - Biology Online Dictionary. Biology Articles, Tutorials & Dictionary Online. https://www.biologyonline.com/dictionary/volatile-oil iHerb.org’s Herbs of the Year International Herb Association. (2023, May 30). Herb of the Year™. https://www.iherb.org/herb-of-the-year/ Bay laurel’s history and use Belsinger, S. (2009, March 18). Bay (Laurus nobilis): From Legend and Lore to Fragrance and Flavor. Fine Gardening. https://www.finegardening.com/article/bay-laurus-nobilis-from-legend-and-lore-to-fragrance-and-flavor?srsltid=AfmBOoonN-BDS8stQ2WPnnKPaq6O6XNdSRjOD1nROnT2zNqDeIo7KlEC The toxicity of laurel hedges Hopes Grove Nurseries. (2024, September 23). Are Laurel hedges poisonous?. https://www.hopesgrovenurseries.co.uk/knowledge-base/are-laurel-hedges-poisonous/#:~:text=You%20are%20here%3A%20Home%20%C2%BB%20Are,cause%20serious%20complications%20if%20ingested Medicinal uses and side effects of bay laurel BAY LEAF: Overview, uses, side effects, precautions, interactions, dosing and reviews. (n.d.). WebMD. Retrieved December 27, 2024, from https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-685/bay-leaf The biology of white mustard (also known as yellow mustard) Canadian Food Inspection Agency. (2022, May 6). The biology of Sinapis alba L. (mustard). inspection.canada.ca. https://inspection.canada.ca/en/plant-varieties/plants-novel-traits/applicants/directive-94-08/biology-documents/sinapis-alba#a24 Growing saffron in Ontario Balzer, D. (2024, November 6). Growing saffron – in a cool Canadian climate! Donna Balzer. https://donnabalzer.com/growing-saffron-in-a-cool-canadian-climate/ Timestamps 00:12 Intro 00:53 What’s Growing On? 01:07 Erin Gets Native Seed Mail 02:17 This Episode is Dedicated to Siblings 02:58 The Plant Face Off 03:08 Herbs and Spices: Definitions 04:25 How Bias Affects Research 06:00 Sean’s Plant: Bay Laurel 08:05 The Laurecea Plant Family 08:45 A Laurel by Any Other Name Might be Toxic 10:02 Mediterranean Evergreens 11:22 Tree Genders 13:28 Medicinal Uses of Bay Laurel 14:40 Bay Leaves: They’re Sharp 17:49 Preserving Bay Leaves 19:40 Growing Bay Laurel 20:40 Aromatics to Deter Pests 23:50 Erin’s Spice Journey 24:59 Preserving Spice Potency 26:41 Spice Fun Facts 28:56 Erin’s Plant: Mustard 29:12 The Fascinating Brassica Family 32:28 Making Your Own Mustard 36:26 Mustard Types 39:13 Q&A: Low-Fuss, Low-Light Houseplants 43:23 Listener Feedback 45:41 Contact Us & Outro | |||
| 07 Jan 2025 | Ep.5 Pokemon Ecology with Alex Meinders | 00:44:10 | |
We’re always pretty nerdy on Plants Always Win, but in this interview episode Alex Meinders helps us take it to a whole new level. He’s a wildlife biologist and videogame enthusiast whose passion project is the YouTube and TikTok channel Geek Ecology. He uses his real-world science know-how to analyze the biology and ecology of Pokémon—yes, those quirky monsters from the cartoon, card game, and video games. This week Alex speculates with us about the plant-inspired class of grass-type Pokémon. We consider their place in the food web (are they animals or vegetables?), their evolutionary history (what environmental pressure caused them to look like plants?) and their methods of reproduction (do they create clones by seed and genetic diversity by egg?). If you’re worried about missing out on real-world plant talk, never fear! We dig into some fascinating plants along the way, including the parasitic corpse flower, the piratical ghost pipe, and mandrakes, which really do look like that. Find Alex on YouTube, TikTok, and Twitter at @GeekEcology. Fact Check: We promised some fact-checking during the episode! Here are the results: Alex brought up the subject of a tissue-culture mammoth meatball that made news headlines. This was created in 2023 by Australian company Vow as a way to bring attention to their cultivated meat products. It turns out the meatball was not eaten since no one knows how our immune systems will react to protein from 10,000-year-old DNA. If someone wanted to eat it, the company would need to re-do the process with closer attention paid to the needs of regulators. But it’s a great story! The Pokémon Grimer was part of Generation 1, which came out in Japan in 1996. Points to Sean for remembering that accurately. It was actually four different fish who beat Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, since, for health reasons, their owner swapped in a different one every twelve hours. But, yes, the notoriously fail-proof game has been beaten by the random movements of fish swimming around a tank with quadrants mapped to the controller buttons. We also mention the Feejee Mermaid. It turns out there were many such “mermaids” made from combining the bodies of fish and monkeys. They have cultural significance as “ningyo” in Japan, but when westerners like PT Barnum got their hands on them in the nineteenth century, shenanigans ensued. Comments? Feedback? Want your garden question to be featured in a future Q&A segment? Email us, reach out over social media, or get Q&A priority by supporting us on Patreon. Instagram: @plantsalwayswinpodcast Facebook: plantsalwayswinpodcast TikTok: @plantsalwayswinpodcast Website: www.plantsalwayswin.com Credits Website Design and Illustration by Sophia Alladin Intro and Outro Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/when-my-ukulele-plays License code: GWOIMMBAS15FG6PH Citations The mammoth meatball (which was not, in fact, eaten by anyone): Carrington, D. (2023b, March 28). Meatball from long-extinct mammoth created by food firm. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/mar/28/meatball-mammoth-created-cultivated-meat-firm?CMP=share_btn_url P.T. Barnum’s Feejee Mermaid (one of many from the 1800s): Szalay, J. (2016, September 9). The Feejee Mermaid: Early Barnum Hoax. livescience.com. https://www.livescience.com/56037-feejee-mermaid.html The meaning behind the name Oddish: Fandom. (n.d.). Oddish. Codex Gamicus. Retrieved December 10, 2024, from https://gamicus.fandom.com/wiki/Oddish Mandrakes: The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. (1998, July 20). Mandrake | Description, Species, & Traditions. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/plant/mandrake-Mandragora-genus#ref202668 Corpse flower, Rafflesia arnoldi, definitely the inspiration behind Vileplume Rafflesia arnoldi. (n.d.). Kew Royal Botanic Gardens. Retrieved December 10, 2024, from https://www.kew.org/plants/rafflesia-arnoldi Ghost pipe, a mycoheterotroph: Ghost pipe. (n.d.). Nature Conservancy Canada. Retrieved December 10, 2024, from https://www.natureconservancy.ca/en/what-we-do/resource-centre/featured-species/plants/ghost-pipe.html Timestamps 00:46 Introduction 01:56 Pursuing wildlife biology because Jurassic Park isn't real 3:54 What is Geek Ecology? 5:08 Pokémon Food Webs 10:27 The Fish who beat Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire 11:30 Why “grass type” and not “plant type”? 13:02 Are Pokémon their own kingdom of life? 14:00 A discussion on evolution 18:07 Angiosperms (flowering plants) and gymnosperms (non-flowering plants) 19:09 Impatiens would make good Pokémon 20:30 Plant Pokémon reproduction: seeds AND eggs?? 22:10 Sean wants a Pokémon breeding simulator 12:45 Do Pokémon need to be pollinated? 25:29 What plant inspired the Oddish? 30:58 Vileplume: it’s just a corpse flower, right? 34:45 Parasitic plant tangent 29:25 Pokémon with fake Latin names 40:50 Find Geek Ecology online 42:55 Contact Us & Outro | |||
| 14 Jan 2025 | Ep.6 Milkweed VS Beardtongue | 00:50:00 | |
This versus episode is a battle of the native wildflowers. Sean leads with penstemon, also known as hairy beardtongue, a charmingly fairytale-looking native perennial genus with species that grow across North America. Points in this plant’s favour: it has few pests and diseases, pollinators love it, and Sean lets us in on the secret to increased blossoms. Also: tube-shaped flowers = hummingbirds and adorably wiggling bee butts. Not to be outdone, Erin pushes back with common milkweed Asclepias syriaca, another native perennial that’s important for pollinators and a range of specialist insects, including monarch butterflies. Its sweet-smelling ball-shaped flower clusters seem engineered for human appeal, but this plant’s genes are wild and free. Erin explains what kind of garden space you need to grow them and addresses some common fears about the toxins in milkweed’s sap. And then both our hosts get into The Milkweed Controversy. Tangents this week include rhizomes, informational websites with no dates on them, the ethics of merch, and the menace of black swallow-wort, a.k.a. dog strangling vine. Who won the Plant Face-Off? Was it Sean with beardtongue or Erin with milkweed? You decide! Send your vote by email or on Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook with the hashtag #PAWFaceOff. Fact Check We weren’t quite certain, but our memories were right: monarch butterflies are listed as endangered in Canada and, as of December 2024, threatened in the United States. However, it’s also important to know that provinces also have their own systems of classification. In Ontario, the monarch is only a species of “special concern,” which doesn’t come with the protections that “endangered” and “threatened” do. La Grassa, J. (2024, December 13). Canadian monarch enthusiasts, experts welcome possible new protections for butterfly in U.S. CBC. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/windsor/monarch-butterflies-southwestern-ontario-1.7407440#:~:text=In%20Ontario%2C%20the%20monarch%20is,receive%20species%20or%20habitat%20protection.%22 Comments? Feedback? Want your garden question to be featured in a future Q&A segment? Email us, reach out over social media, or get Q&A priority by supporting us on Patreon. Instagram: @plantsalwayswinpodcast Facebook: plantsalwayswinpodcast TikTok: @plantsalwayswinpodcast Website: www.plantsalwayswin.com Credits Website Design and Illustration by Sophia Alladin Intro and Outro Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/when-my-ukulele-plays License code: GWOIMMBAS15FG6PH Citations Moving Penstemon from Scrophulariaceae to Plantaginaceae Gerry. (2016, January 24). Genus Penstemon Moved from Scrophulariaceae to Plantaginaceae. USWildflowers.com Journal. https://journal.uswildflowers.com/2016/01/genus-penstemon-moved-from-scrophulariaceae-to-plantaginaceae/ Penstemon Basics: Hairy Beardtongue. (2025, January 8). Ontario Native Plants. https://onplants.ca/shop/penstemon-hirsutus/ TWC Staff. (2023, February 22). Penstemon hirsutus (By The University of Texas at Austin). Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=PEHI The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. (1998b, July 20). Penstemon | Native, perennial, flowering. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/plant/Penstemon A Beginner’s Guide to Native Penstemons Native Penstemons: A Beginner’s Guide. (2024, December 22). The Plant Native. https://theplantnative.com/plant/penstemon/ Medicinal uses of Wildflowers Medicinal uses (By Oregon State University). (2019, March 13). College of Agricultural Sciences. https://agsci.oregonstate.edu/mes/sustainable-wildflower-seed-production/medicinal-uses Ellen Zachos, author of the books Backyard Forager: 65 familiar plants you didn’t know you could eat, The Forager’s Pantry: Cooking with wild edibles, and How to Forage for Wild Foods Without Dying: An absolute beginner’s guide to identifying 35 wild, edible plants, and more Zachos, E. Backyard forager. Retrieved January 8, 2025, from https://backyardforager.com/ The David Suzuki Foundation Butterflyway Project The Butterflyway Project. (2025, January 8). David Suzuki Foundation. https://davidsuzuki.org/take-action/act-locally/butterflyway/ Your local Native Plant Society will have information about the milkweed that grows in your area. Native Plant Societies. (n.d.). North American Native Plant Society. Retrieved January 8, 2025, from https://nanps.org/native-plant-societies/ The Xerces Society Milkweed Finder can help you find seeds if you want to grow your own. Milkweed Finder. The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Protection. Retrieved January 8, 2025, from https://xerces.org/milkweed/milkweed-seed-finder Raising monarch butterflies Pasternak, Carol. How to Raise Monarch Butterflies: A Step-By-Step Guide for Kids (How it Works). E-book ed., Firefly Books Ltd., 2015. The life cycle and migration of monarch butterflies “Life Cycle”, Monarch Joint Venture, https://monarchjointventure.org/monarch-biology/life-cycle. Accessed 20 November, 2024. A close study of milkweed and the species it hosts Holdrege, Craig. “The Story of an Organism: Common Milkweed”, The Nature Institute, 2010, www.natureinstitute.org/article/craig-holdrege/the-story-of-an-organism-common-milkweed Timestamps 00:11 Intro 01:04 What’s Growing On? 01:50 Sean’s Puppy Update 02:03 Erin’s New Book 05:00 The Plant Face-Off 05:23 Face-Off Results for Poinsettia vs. Amaryllis 06:30 Sean’s Plant: Penstemon, a.k.a. Beardtongue 06:57 The Reclassification of Penstemon 08:58 The Value of Dates on Research Materials 11:03 Penstemon Species and Ranges 12:19 Penstemon In Your Garden 14:21 Penstemon Pollinators, Featuring Bee Butts 16:38 Learning Medicinal Uses for Plants 19:30 Tending Penstemon 23:58 Erin’s Plant: Common Milkweed 25:56 What is Rhizome? 27:51 National Garden Bureau’s Year Of the Asclepias 28:55 Milkweed Misnomers 30:14 The Destruction of Common Milkweed 31:43 Toxic Sap and Nuanced Conversations 35:09 Would You Eat (cooked) Milkweed? 35:58 When Growing Milkweed Kills Monarchs 39:52 How to Source Milkweed for Your Region 41:23 Saving Monarchs—who, how, and why 46:00 The Problem of Dog-Strangling Vine 48:16 Outro | |||
| 21 Jan 2025 | Ep.7 Winter Sowing Native Plants with Amanda Jewell | 00:52:22 | |
You might think a gardening podcast would focus on guests who have a lifetime of gardening expertise and plenty of credentials. But we want to emphasize that anyone can garden, and amateurs everywhere find niches to flourish in. That’s why we invited Amanda Jewell to share her adventures in learning to grow native plants from seed. Amanda is a vision therapist by trade. In her free time, she uses her postage-stamp urban yard in Northern Ontario to grow hundreds of native wildflowers every year. She describes for us the joy she felt the first time she discovered that her garden was supporting local insects and how the focus on bringing more wildlife to her yard drove her interest in native plants. She also explains how winter sowing has become such an effective technique for her, in spite of mishaps along the way, and how leaning in to nature’s lack of orderliness is both useful and liberating. We wrap up with conversation about finding community among gardeners and about resources and seed sources for listeners who want to try starting their own native plants. Amanda’s Shout-Outs: The Ottawa Wildflower Seed Library distributes free seeds to organizations and gardeners every winter: https://wildflowerseedlibrary.ca/ The Butterflyway Project supports the creation of connected patches of butterfly habitat throughout neighbourhoods: https://davidsuzuki.org/take-action/act-locally/butterflyway/ The Miskwaadesi native garden is a new garden in North Bay, Ontario created by the North Bay Indigenous Friendship Centre: https://www.miskwaadesi.ca/ Timestamps 00:51 Intro 01:25 Gardening in Urban Northern Ontario 03:20 Observe Before You Grow 04:16 Becoming a Disney Princess for Hornets 08:10 A Cheap, Low-Maintenance, Wildlife-Friendly Garden 10:00 Growing Native Perennials Is Beginner Friendly! 11:23 Why Some Seeds Need Cold Stratification 13:57 What is Winter Sowing? 15:22 Organization Not Necessary 17:05 When to Open your Winter-Sowing Greenhouses 18:56 Collecting Native Seeds 21:29 Wildlife Garden With Their Poop! 22:07 Amanda’s Native-Plant Wishlist 23:19 Making a Microclimate for a Southern Plant 25:08 Making a Rain Garden or Pond 26:18 The Miskwaadesi Native Plant Garden in North Bay 28:29 Garden Centres vs. Nurseries 30:41 The Nativar Debate 36:26 Pollination and Genetic Diversity in the Garden 37:23 Understanding Your Garden Ecosystem 38:40 Add Rotting Wood to your Garden 43:40 A Warning about Growing Seeds in Mulch 47:20 Amanda’s Shout-Outs and Tips | |||
| 28 Jan 2025 | Ep.8 Peace Lily VS Phalaenopsis Orchid | 00:58:37 | |
This versus episode kicks off with a discussion about creating a safe space on social media for respectful, loving communication about everything plants and gardens, then digresses into a discussion of Latin pronunciations in botanical, liturgical, and classical settings. When we make it to the Plant Face-Off, Erin leads with peace lily, or Spathiphyllum spp. She explains why some plants in the Spathiphyllum genus have Big Spadix Energy, then explores the fascinating physical mechanism that makes biting a peace lily a bad idea. She explains how to approximate the conditions of its home in the understory of tropical rainforests and how to treat problems, then digs into why she and others are so darned allergic to its pollen. Finally, Erin and Sean dissect the infamous NASA Clean Air Study that still prompts publications to insist that peace lilies can purify your air of household toxins. In the second half of the episode, Sean confidently takes the stage to predict a win for his favourite plants, Phalaenopsis orchids, also known as moon orchids or moth orchids (for their moth-like flowers). He explains how they grow hanging in the air, attached to trees or stones, and describes the various options for propagating them. Next he covers such controversial topics as what media to grow orchids in, how to water them, and where to position them for the best kind of light. As someone who has rehabilitated many a box-store orchid, he is well equipped with advice on helping them re-bloom and thrive. Sean closes his segment with some history and surprising medical uses for Phalaenopsis. Who won the Plant Face-Off? Was it Erin with peace lilies or Sean with Phalaenopsis orchids? You decide! Send your vote by email or on Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook with the hashtag #PAWFaceOff. Instagram: @plantsalwayswinpodcast Facebook: plantsalwayswinpodcast TikTok: @plantsalwayswinpodcast Website: www.plantsalwayswin.com Shout-Outs: Southern Ontario Orchid Society: https://soos.ca/ Central Ontario Orchid Society: http://coos.ca/ Knotmoth Micro Crochet: https://www.instagram.com/knotmoth/ Credits Website Design and Illustration by Sophia Alladin Intro and Outro Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/when-my-ukulele-plays License code: GWOIMMBAS15FG6PH Citations Phalaenopsis Culture Sheet Phalaenopsis Culture Sheet - American Orchid Society. (n.d.). https://www.aos.org/orchid-care/care-sheets/phalaenopsis-culture-sheet The Phalaenopsis group on Missouri Botanical Garden’s Plant Finder Phalaenopsis (group). (n.d.). Missouri Botanical Garden. https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=264608&isprofile=1&basic=phalaenopsis An updated version of a 1956 article in the American Orchid Society Bulletin Phalaenopsis, the Genus - Beginner’s Handbook, XXIII. (n.d.). American Orchid Society. Retrieved January 21, 2025, from https://www.aos.org/orchid-care/orchid-care-and-culture-sheets/phalaenopsis-culture-sheet/phalaenopsis-the-genus Research into medical uses for commercial orchid waste Minh, T., Khang, D., Tuyen, P., Minh, L., Anh, L., Quan, N., Ha, P., Quan, N., Toan, N., Elzaawely, A., & Xuan, T. (2016). Phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity of phalaenopsis orchid hybrids. Antioxidants, 5(3), 31. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox5030031 The history of orchids Hill, E. (2021, March 26). The history of orchids. Love Orchids. https://www.loveorchids.co.uk/blogs/home/four-things-about-the-history-of-orchids-you-might-not-know?srsltid=AfmBOooOu7XYkq-RGQmlx8YUl1JBoj50X_3xPH1wgEjo3CmOf20X1hMR Peace lilies’ relatives: plants in the Araceae family Grant, B. L. (2021, August 11). Arum plant information: Learn about common varieties of arum. Gardening Know How. https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/houseplants/hpgen/arum-plant-information.htm Information about spathes and spadixes Ellis, M. E. (2021, November 29). What is a spathe: Learn about the spathe and spadix in plants. Gardening Know How. https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/info/what-is-a-spathe.htm Spathiphyllum overview, including pests and diseases Spathiphyllum (Peace lily, Spathe flower, White sails) | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. (n.d.). Retrieved January 21, 2025, from https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/spathiphyllum/#poison Treating pests and diseases of Spathiphyllum Spengler, T. (2021, May 29). Diseases in spathiphyllum: Tips on treating peace lily diseases. Gardening Know How. https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/houseplants/peace-lily/diseases-spathiphyllum-tips-treating-peace-lily-diseases.htm How calcium oxalate crystals in peace lily leaves cause reactions Wismer, T. (2015). Feline toxins. August’s Consultations in Feline Internal Medicine, 7, 791–798. https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-323-22652-3.00079-7 Spathiphyllum as an unusually bad trigger for allergies among houseplants egás, V. H., Duch, G. D., García, V. G., De La Losa, F. P., Fernández, M. C., Velandia, D. G., & Jané, P. G. (2019). Allergy to Spathiphyllum wallisii, an Indoor Allergen. Journal of Investigational Allergology and Clinical Immunology, 29(6), 453–454. https://doi.org/10.18176/jiaci.0419 Debunking popular NASA Clean Air Study interpretations Editorial Staff. (2017, February 15). Getting into the Weeds: Do Houseplants Really Improve Air Quality? American Lung Association. https://www.lung.org/blog/do-houseplants-really-improve-air-quality#:~:text=This%20NASA%20study%20showed%20that,long%20history%20of%20health%20impacts NASA’s own account of the Clean Air study Plants clean air and water for indoor environments. (2007). NASA Spinoff. https://spinoff.nasa.gov/Spinoff2007/ps_3.html A deeper dive into the study and how houseplants really benefit your home Russel, E. M. (2020, September 7). Debunked: Despite NASA clean air study claims, houseplants don’t effectively purify air. Clean Air Gardening. https://www.cleanairgardening.com/do-houseplants-clean-air/ Timestamps 00:57 Intro 01:13 What’s Growing On? 01:15 Opening our Discord to the Gardening World 2:45 Booking Some Public Gigs 04:20 The Plant Face-Off 04:43 Face-Off Results for Milkweed vs. Beardtongue 05:30 Pronouncing Latin: A Context Sport 07:05 Erin’s Plant: Peace Lily 07:22The Arum Family (Araceae) 08:20 Spathes and Spadixes 09:02 Corpse Flower Amorphophallus titanum: Big Spadix Energy 11:05 Peace Lily’s Not-so-Peaceful Toxic Reaction 14:09 Caring for your Peace Lily 19:52 Peace Lily Allergies 21:55 The Infamous NASA Clean Air Study 31:55 Sean’s Plant: Phalaenopsis Orchid 33:13 Orchid Taxonomy (and What’s Taxonomy, Anyway?) 33:06 Orchid Origins 36:33 Epiphytes on Trees and Lithophytes on Rocks 37:22 Three Ways to Propagate an Orchid 40:22 What to Grow your Orchid In 42:59 How to Have a Happy Orchid 48:50 Orchid Pests, Pestilence, and Stress 50:00 History Time, Featuring Orchid Delirium 53:30 Orchids in Medical Research 55:09 Shout-Outs 55:13 Ontario Orchid Societies 55:37 Knotmoth Micro Crochet 57:17 Contact Us and Outro | |||
| 11 Feb 2025 | Ep.10 Valentine's Day Special Part 1: Roses | 00:49:26 | |
This is a special two-part Plant Face-Off! We had so much to say about roses and carnations that we had to split the recording into two episodes. In this instalment, we start with some housekeeping, answering the listener question “What is Patreon?”, explaining why we’re phasing off the Meta platforms Facebook and Instagram, and reminding YOU to reach out if you’d like to join the conversation at our Plants Always Win Discord server. After that Sean takes us through history and around the world with the ever-sweet subject of roses. Learn about the surprising members of the rose family fruit tree, explore their history and symbolism, and learn how to take care of them in your garden—especially here in Ontario. Sean also answers some questions from the internet, such as “Can I regrow my rose bouquet?” “Are rose petals edible?”, and “How can I make my cut roses last?” But the face-off doesn’t end here. Come back later this week for Part II when Erin takes the floor with roses’ Valentine’s Day competitor, carnations. Then cast your vote by email on social media with the hashtag #PAWfaceoff. Comments? Feedback? Want your garden question to be featured in a future Q&A segment? Email us, reach out over social media, or get Q&A priority by supporting us on Patreon. Bluesky: @plantsalwayswin.com TikTok: @plantsalwayswinpodcast YouTube: @plantsalwayswinpodcast Website: www.plantsalwayswin.com Credits Website Design and Illustration by Sophia Alladin Intro and Outro Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/when-my-ukulele-plays License code: GWOIMMBAS15FG6PH Citations Roses (native and not) that grow in Ontario Ontario Trees and Shrubs - Roses Group. (n.d.). http://ontariotrees.com/main/group.php?id=80 Distinguishing different types of roses The Different Types of Roses: An Ultimate Guide. (n.d.). Jackson & Perkins. Retrieved February 4, 2025, from https://www.jacksonandperkins.com/ultimate-guide-rose-types/a/types-of-roses/ General information about the Rosa genus roses (Genus Rosa). (n.d.). iNaturalist. https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/53438-Rosa Roses and their soil pH needs Jones, S. (n.d.). Balancing soil pH for growing roses. Santa Clarita Valley Rose Society. Retrieved February 4, 2025, from http://www.santaclaritarose.org/BalancePH.html Research into traditional medicinal uses of roses Schwarcz, J., PhD. (2023, February 8). Valentine’s Day! Time to smell the roses! McGill University Office for Science and Society. https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/history/valentines-day-time-smell-roses Timestamps 00:59 Intro 1:41: Audience question: What is Patreon? 4:37 Social Media Changes 5:59 Merch Update 6:50 Our Discord Server 8:10 The Plant Face-Off 8:32: Sean's Plant: Roses 9:45 The Surprising Rosaceae Family 12:15 The Symbolism of Roses 13:13 Greek and Egyptian History 14:35 Roses Come From Everywhere! 16:28 A Rose by Any Other Type... 18:16 Growing Roses in your Garden 19:02 Fertilizer Tangent: They Alter pH? 22:34 Pruning and Deadheading your Roses 24:32 Rosehips Don't Lie: Eating Roses 25:33 Reverting to Wild Rootstock 26:24 What Pests and Diseases? Basically All of Them. 30:01 Rose Fragrances: Perfumes, Oils, and your Grandma's Soap 31:35 Pigments, Dried Flowers, and Other Uses 33:24 Culinary and Medical Uses (and Speaking to the Deer) 38:10 Answering Internet Questions about Roses 40:49 Regrowing your Bouquet 43:05 Caring for your Cut Roses 46:20 Shoutout to Teacup Miniature Roses 48:14 Outro | |||
| 14 Feb 2025 | Ep.11 Valentine's Day Special, Part 2, Carnation Nation | 00:43:07 | |
This is the second instalment of our two-part Roses vs. Carnations Valentine’s Day special. After Sean eloquently shared his love for roses earlier this week, Erin barges in with the claim that roses are elitist and carnations are the flower of the people. Her focus is Dianthus caryophyllus, a cut-flower relative of some familiar garden flowers like pinks. She takes us back to the Carnation Revolution and other people’s uprisings in which carnations became important symbols, tells us what the name “pink” has to do with dianthus’ ruffled petals, and explores carnations’ aromatic uses. When Erin puts Sean on the spot to describe the science behind why putting food colouring in a carnation’s water source will dye it, he pulls it off admirably and gives us some bonus facts about mineral buildup on tap water-fed houseplants. The episode gathers steam with school carnation sales at Valentine’s Day (awkward), Mother’s Day symbology (touching), and the Vicorian language of flowers (not Erin’s favourite thing). Then it winds down with carnation care both in the garden and as cut flowers. Are you ready to join Carnation Nation? Or have roses won your heart? Cast your vote by tagging us on social media and using the hashtag #PAWFaceOff. Fact Check We promised to find out which was named first: pinking shears (which cut saw-toothed edges in fabric) or garden pinks (which have petals with saw-toothed edges). The answer is not clear-cut, but we highly recommend the Online Etymology Dictionary’s interesting entry about it: https://www.etymonline.com/word/pink Comments? Feedback? Want your garden question to be featured in a future Q&A segment? Email us, reach out over social media, or get Q&A priority by supporting us on Patreon. Bluesky: @plantsalwayswin.com TikTok: @plantsalwayswinpodcast YouTube: @plantsalwayswinpodcast Website: www.plantsalwayswin.com Credits Website Design and Illustration by Sophia Alladin Intro and Outro Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/when-my-ukulele-plays License code: GWOIMMBAS15FG6PH Citations Carnations overview Dianthus caryophyllus “Vienna Mischung.” (n.d.). Missouri Botanical Garden. Retrieved February 6, 2025, from https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=z910 Carnations’ Caryophyllaceae relatives The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. (1999, May 4). Caryophyllaceae | Description, Taxonomy, Genera, & Species. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/plant/Caryophyllaceae Growing carnations NC State Extension. (n.d.). Dianthus caryophyllus. North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Retrieved February 6, 2025, from https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/dianthus-caryophyllus/ Caring for your carnation bouquet Plant Addicts. (2023, April 5). Cut Carnation Flower Care | Plant Addicts. https://plantaddicts.com/cut-carnation-flower-care/?srsltid=AfmBOoomoX8SAtbDhtMp6O2aJ9c0bqjVF7i2Mxq12NotQoMiF1zWtRa- Carnations Flower Care. (n.d.). Farmgirl Flowers. Retrieved February 6, 2025, from https://farmgirlflowers.com/care/care-by-flower-type/carnations?srsltid=AfmBOoqvVyDnu1wEwiRoqpfa9sYsja3keUGZ6K8yqnNayTL4MsfB6k1Y Timestamps 1:00 Intro Erin’s Plant: Carnations 1:38 Dianthus caryophyllus and Family 3:37 Which Came First, the Pink or the Shears? 4:35 Carnation Etymology 6:15 How to Describe a Carnation 9:03 Transgenic Cultivars 11:18 A Symbol of the People 13:32 Aromatic Uses 15:15 The Science of Colouring Carnations with Food Dye 17:46 Mineral Buildup on Houseplants 20:06 Carnations’ Mild Toxicity 20:58 Valentine’s Day School Carnation Sales 22:48 The Motherhood Connection 22:30 The Victorian Language of Flowers 25:42 Growing Carnations at Home 29:59 Cover your Bare Soil! 32:09 Insects Hosted by Carnations 33:36 Caring for your Carnation Bouquet 40:13 Points per Pun 40:51 Contact Us and Outro | |||
| 18 Feb 2025 | Ep. 12 Groundcovers with Kathy Jentz | 01:07:25 | |
This week we cover a lot of ground on the subject of groundcovers with Kathy Jentz. Kathy is the editor and publisher of Washington Gardener, the host of the Garden DC podcast, and the author of Groundcover Revolution, a book written to give inspiration and examples for turf grass substitutes that gardeners everywhere can use to find the best plants for their region. They can also use its attractive and accessible photographs to get their spouses and their HOA on board. We start our conversation by establishing some ground rules: what is a groundcover? Kathy says it’s any plant that covers the ground thickly enough to suppress weeds, which kicks off a conversation about turf substitutes, plant height, maintenance, and moss lawns. We reflect on the history of lawns, the aggressive nature of many groundcovers, and how to manage them through plant choice or through physical intervention. What about avoiding invasive species of groundcovers altogether? Kathy shares some favourites and some species she would never recommend in her region, Washington DC. Erin and Sean offer their own top and bottom choices for Central Ontario and discover, in spite of distance and very different growing seasons, some common ground. For more of Kathy, you can find her in the following places: Upcoming speaking engagements
Kathy’s Online Platforms • Washington Gardener Plant Store: • Washington Gardener Blog: www.washingtongardener.blogspot.com • Washington Gardener Archives: http://issuu.com/washingtongardener • Washington Gardener Discussion Group: https://groups.google.com/g/washingtongardener/ To join, send an email to - washingtongardener+subscribe@googlegroups.com • Washington Gardener Twitter Feed: • Washington Gardener Bluesky Feed: https://bsky.app/profile/wdcgardener.bsky.social • Washington Gardener Instagram Account: https://www.instagram.com/wdcgardener/ • Washington Gardener Pinterest Account: https://www.pinterest.com/wdcgardener/boards/ • Washington Gardener TikTok Account: https://www.tiktok.com/@wdcgardener • Washington Gardener Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/WashingtonGardenerMagazine/ • Washington Gardener Youtube: www.youtube.com/washingtongardenermagazine • Washington Gardener Amazon Affiliate Store: www.amazon.com/shop/wdcgardener • Washington Gardener Podcast: GardenDC Kathy’s Books The Urban Garden: 101 Ways to Grow Food and Beauty in the City Books and Experts Referenced in this Episode: The Magical World of Moss Gardening by Annie Martin, a.k.a. Mossin’ Annie Comments? Feedback? Want your garden question to be featured in a future Q&A segment? Email us, reach out over social media, or get Q&A priority by supporting us on Patreon. Bluesky: @plantsalwayswin.com TikTok: @plantsalwayswinpodcast YouTube: @plantsalwayswinpodcast Website: www.plantsalwayswin.com Credits Website Design and Illustration by Sophia Alladin Intro and Outro Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/when-my-ukulele-plays License code: GWOIMMBAS15FG6PH Timestamps 00:45 Intro 01:10 Welcoming Kathy Jentz 1:53 What is a Groundcover, Anyway? 03:39 Moss Lawn Appreciation 06:03 Mossin' Annie, Moss Lawn Expert 08:07 Kathy’s New Book, Groundcover Revolution 09:25 Writing Gardening Books for an International Audience 11:52 Lawns, Landowners, and Historic Showing Off 14:55 Managing Aggressive and Invasive Groundcovers 20:39 A Native Lily of the Valley 24:45 Growing Conditions in Washington, DC 28:49 Growing Conditions in Central Ontario 31:50 Very Different Growing Seasons 34:50 Kathy’s Favourite Groundcovers 40:35 Erin’s Favourite Groundcovers 43:40 Sean’s Favourite Groundcovers 48:28 Gardening with Deer 50:47 Groundcovers Kathy Never Recommends 53:22 Groundcovers that Sean Never Recommends 54:54 Managing the Mint Family 57:47 Don’t Shame Your Neighbours 1:02:30 Erin’s Least Favourite Groundcover 1:04 Where to Find Kathy 1:05:53 Contact Us and Outro | |||
| 04 Mar 2025 | Ep. 13 Beneficial Non-Natives? Borage vs. Cosmos | 01:00:38 | |
It’s a concern being voiced by conscientious gardeners everywhere: is it okay to plant a non-native flower that feeds pollinators but also self-sows freely? One suspect that is being discussed in many online gardening groups in borage. It shows up in pollinator-garden seed mixes that the purchasers expected to be 100% native. It features at seed swaps and in seed libraries because its seeds are easy to collect, and established gardeners know it always brings the bees in. But it also sows itself aggressively, and it didn’t evolve alongside North American pollinators. The people want to know: is it problematic to grow it? Is an aggressive plant necessarily invasive? That’s the question that sets the stage for this week’s versus episode. Sean takes on the borage question while Erin examines her own potentially-problematic fave, cosmos. They look into each plant’s origins, its spread around the world, and how manageable it is once it’s in your garden. They examine studies about wildlife use and raise questions about nectar and pollen quality. Along the way, they uncover a treasure trove of interesting science…and a wealth of questions still to be answered. Who brought the most fascinating facts about their plant this week? Vote for borage or cosmos by tagging us on social media and using the hashtag #PAWFaceOff. Comments? Feedback? Want your garden question to be featured in a future Q&A segment? Email us, reach out over social media, or get Q&A priority by supporting us on Patreon. Bluesky: @plantsalwayswin.com TikTok: @plantsalwayswinpodcast YouTube: @plantsalwayswinpodcast Website: www.plantsalwayswin.com Credits Website Design and Illustration by Sophia Alladin Intro and Outro Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/when-my-ukulele-plays License code: GWOIMMBAS15FG6PH Citations What is Borage? borage. (2025). In Merriam-Webster Dictionary. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/borage A broad overview of Borage Hageman, B. (2024, December 10). Borage: a beautiful herb with many benefits. Grow Organic. https://www.groworganic.com/blogs/articles/borage-a-beautiful-herb-with-many-benefits?srsltid=AfmBOorlAOi28B_PjvoYMORhIqEzDctHk2McssEbhsKe870WpYnYA8yn Use of borage for gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. (n.d.). Specialty cropportunitites - borage. Specialty Cropportunities. Retrieved February 24, 2025, from https://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/CropOp/en/indus_misc/oil_crops/borage.html Borage’s medical potential BORAGE: Overview, uses, side effects, precautions, interactions, dosing and reviews. (n.d.). Web MD. Retrieved February 24, 2025, from https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-596/borage The origin of the word cosmos for the well-arranged flower and the well-ordered universe Liddell, H. G., & Scott, R. (n.d.). κόσμος. Henry George Liddell, a Greek-English Lexicon. Retrieved February 24, 2025, from https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.04.0057:entry=ko/smos Kosmos Meaning - Greek Lexicon | New Testament (NAS). (n.d.). Bible Study Tools. Retrieved February 24, 2025, from https://www.biblestudytools.com/lexicons/greek/nas/kosmos.html Growing and keeping cosmos as cut flowers Boeckmann, C. (2025, February 7). Cosmos Flowers: Planting, growing, and caring for Cosmos. Almanac.com. https://www.almanac.com/plant/cosmos Care and wildlife use Iannotti, M. (2024, July 19). How to grow and care for cosmos. The Spruce. https://www.thespruce.com/how-to-grow-cosmos-4125538 An account of leafcutter bees using cosmos Burlew, R. (2017, March 31). Cosmos: a multipurpose bee flower. Honey Bee Suite. https://www.honeybeesuite.com/cosmos-a-multipurpose-bee-flower/ The food value of cosmos pollen and nectar Hicks, D. M., Ouvrard, P., Baldock, K. C. R., Baude, M., Goddard, M. A., Kunin, W. E., Mitschunas, N., Memmott, J., Morse, H., Nikolitsi, M., Osgathorpe, L. M., Potts, S. G., Robertson, K. M., Scott, A. V., Sinclair, F., Westbury, D. B., & Stone, G. N. (2016). Food for Pollinators: Quantifying the nectar and pollen resources of urban flower meadows. PLoS ONE, 11(6), e0158117. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0158117 Use of quercetin in cosmos rhizomes for treating malaria Ali, A. H., Sudi, S., Shi-Jing, N., Hassan, W. R. M., Basir, R., Agustar, H. K., Embi, N., Sidek, H. M., & Latip, J. (2021). Dual Anti-Malarial and GSK3Β-Mediated Cytokine-Modulating activities of quercetin are requisite of its potential as a Plant-Derived therapeutic in malaria. Pharmaceuticals, 14(3), 248. https://doi.org/10.3390/ph14030248 One of many personal accounts of using Sulphureus for dye Keegan, G. (n.d.). Cosmos. Graham Keegan. Retrieved September 5, 2023, from https://www.grahamkeegan.com/cosmos?srsltid=AfmBOooSp8-OAkqSDU6XCI6pd0VP-Ny6aGKZvqfDgCfORtTfFTHmEuRu Commentary on the potential invasiveness of cosmos Ask Mr. Smarty Plants. (2013, April 26). Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - the University of Texas at Austin. https://www.wildflower.org/expert/show.php?id=9284 Timestamps 00:37 Should We Grow Non-Native "Beneficial" Flowers? 01:41 Erin’s Sentimental Attachment to Cosmos 03:53 The Plant Face-Off 04:14 Sean’s Plant: Borage 04:25 The Boraginaceae Family 05:19 Borage Etymology 05:58 True Annuals, and How They Die 12:12 What Makes a Flower Perfect? 14:15 Borage’s Native Range 15:11 Gamma-Linolenic Acid 17:20 Eating Borage 18:44 Borage Benefits and Warnings 21:35 Are Hairy Plants Pest Assassins? 25:05 Do Naturalized Plants Stay Non-Invasive? 30:56 Water Break 32:33 Erin’s Plant: Cosmos 34:01 Cosmos Name Origins 36:19 What’s a Half-Hardy Annual? 37:31 Uses for Cosmos 38:25 Seeking High-Quality Nectar and Pollen 42:22 Growing Cosmos 43:09 Can You Eat Cosmos? No One Agrees. 47:43 Medicinal Uses of Cosmos 49:25 Cosmos Range and Invasiveness 53:38 Do All Flowers Benefit Pollinators? 56:17 Deciding Whether to Plant Non-Native Flowers 57:46 The Things That Get You Gardening 58:56 Contact Us and Outro | |||
| 18 Mar 2025 | Ep. 14 Living Soil with Michelle Bruhn | 01:04:35 | |
Soil is the foundation of a healthy garden…or homestead…or farm. For sustainable gardening that gives us nutritious food without depleting the land, we need to know how to feed and maintain living soil. After all, it’s the community of living things in the soil that feeds the plants we eat ourselves. That’s where Michelle Bruhn comes in. Michelle is a suburban homesteading author, speaker, and educator who manages the online information hub Forks in the Dirt. This week, she joins Erin (who’s always excited about home-scale regenerative agriculture) to talk about how she has turned a sandy suburban lot into a tiny paradise that produced almost seven hundred pounds of food in 2024. Through the course of this conversation, Michelle gives us the dirt on a range of organic practices that build soil, feed it, and maximize its effectiveness, even in a short growing season. We’re talking composting in place with sheet mulching, lasagna gardening, and hügelkultur; supporting healthy soil food webs with companion planting, mulch, and cover crops; and extending the growing season with cold frames, hoop houses, and even plastic bins. If you think you’re already a master of all these things, so did Erin—and this interview got her out gardening in the early-March snow to try something she’s never done before. If you want to keep learning from Michelle Bruhn, check out…
You can also find her on social media:
Citations: Jeff Lowenfels’ book Teeming with Microbes, which discusses how adding Nitrogen fertilizer to soil decreases the Nitrogen produced by bacteria: Lowenfels, J., & Lewis, W. (2010). Teaming with Microbes: The Organic Gardener’s Guide to the Soil Food Web. Timber Press (OR). Michelle’s recommended source on nutrients and wood decomposition (correction: from USDA, not US Forest Service): Marcot, B. G. (2023, February 10). Ecosystem processes related to wood decay. DecAID. https://apps.fs.usda.gov/r6_decaid/views/ecosystem_processes.html The study on nitrogen immobilization with wood decomposition that Erin referenced: van der Wal, A., de Boer, W., Smant, W. et al. Initial decay of woody fragments in soil is influenced by size, vertical position, nitrogen availability and soil origin. Plant Soil 301, 189–201 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-007-9437-8 Sepp Holtzer, Hügelkultur expert Holzer, S. (n.d.). Huegel Culture Design. Sepp Holzer Permaculture. Retrieved March 10, 2025, from https://www.seppholzer.info/huegel-culture-design/ Michigan State Extension Services study on the pest suppression abilities of mustard as a cover crop Snapp, S., Date, K., Cichy, K., O’Neil, K., & Michigan State University, Department of Crop and Soil Sciences. (2006). Michigan farmers rely on a wide range of cover crops as vital management tools. In Michigan Farmers Rely on a Wide Range of Cover Crops as Vital Management Tools. https://midwestcovercrops.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/MI_2006_Mustards-A-Brassica-Cover-Crop-for-Michigan.pdf Utah State Extension publication on squash beetles and blue Hubbard squash USU Extension IPM program. (2021). Blue hubbard squash as a trap crop to suppress squash bugs. In USU Extension IPM Program. https://extension.usu.edu/planthealth/ipm/veg/Trap-Crops-Squash-Bugs.pdf Comments? Feedback? Want your garden question to be featured in a future Q&A segment? Email us, reach out over social media, or get Q&A priority by supporting us on Patreon. Bluesky: @plantsalwayswin.com TikTok: @plantsalwayswinpodcast YouTube: @plantsalwayswinpodcast Website: www.plantsalwayswin.com Credits Website Design and Illustration by Sophia Alladin Intro and Outro Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/when-my-ukulele-plays License code: GWOIMMBAS15FG6PH Timestamps 00:11 Introduction 01:00 Michelle Bruhn and Forks in the Dirt 03:10 Michelle’s Suburban Homestead 03:26 Lawns for Bees and for Kids 06:03 Growing Neighbours through Gardening 08:28 Sheet Mulching for No-Dig Garden Beds 11:39 Urban and Suburban Pollinator Habitat 17:22 Why Compost Instead of Chemicals? 23:10 Water Break 25:00 Leaf Mulch and the Law of Return 28:55 Lasagna Gardening 30:25 Hügelkultur: Turn Wood Debris into Soil 37:58 Fungal Decomposition Beats Bacterial Decomposition 38:48 Permaculture and Indigenous Knowledge 40:47 Companion Planting: Optimize the Plant Community 43:15 Using Trap Crops for Aphids 46:01 Yellow Mustard and Cover Crops 48:23 Growing Zones and Frost Dates 53:42 Season Extension in Cold Climates 1:02:36 Find Michelle Online 1:03:44 Outro and Contact Us | |||
| 25 Mar 2025 | Ep. 15 Lost Ladies of Garden Writing with Carol Michel | 00:41:56 | |
Carol Michel is a garden author and co-host of The Gardenangelists podcast. She boasts of having the world’s largest hoe collection…which is overshadowed only by her library-worthy collection of gardening books. Among the hundreds of volumes on her shelves are hard-to-find copies of books by a number of American women who were horticultural experts of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, but who have been all but forgotten by history. To honour them, Carol started a Substack called the Lost Ladies of Garden Writing. On this week’s episode of Plants Always Win, she invites us into some of their stories. Publishing styles and garden trends change over time, but some things stay the same. People want to know how to make their poinsettia re-bloom, how to get rid of pests, how to find the hottest new cultivar. Carol uses genealogical records, newspaper archives, and Google Books to piece together the lives of the women who were answering those questions in decades past, then shares them with her subscribers. It’s a project of passion and dedication, and it has given her some extraordinary stories to tell! Lost Ladies featured in this episode include:
Some better-known ladies of garden writing are also mentioned:
To enjoy more garden gab with Carol, find her in the following places:
Comments? Feedback? Want your garden question to be featured in a future Q&A segment? Email us, reach out over social media, or get Q&A priority by supporting us on Patreon. Bluesky: @plantsalwayswin.com TikTok: @plantsalwayswinpodcast YouTube: @plantsalwayswinpodcast Website: www.plantsalwayswin.com Credits Website Design and Illustration by Sophia Alladin Intro and Outro Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/when-my-ukulele-plays License code: GWOIMMBAS15FG6PH Timestamps 00:30 Introducing Carol Michel 01:30 The World's Largest Hoe Collection 04:45 Carol's Gardening Book Library 07:40 The Lost Ladies of Garden Writing Project 10:30 Garden Writing Then and Now 11:34 Cynthia Westcott, PhD: The Gardener's Bug Book 13:48 Can We Trust Old Gardening Books? 15:18 Buckner Hollingsworth, Gardening on Main Street 16:51 Carol convinces Sean to Become a Collector 19:57 G.A. (Grace) Woolson, Ferns 24:39 Elizabeth Lawrence, A Southern Garden 26:29 How Carol Does her Research 27:38 Writing Under their Husbands' Names 29:33 Kate Brewster, The Little Garden for Little Money 30:41 Jean Hersey, The Shape of the Year 34:36 Alma C. Guillet, Make Friends of the Trees and Shrubs 35:20 Cassandra Danz, Mrs. Greenthumbs 38:54 Carol's "Humorous but Helpful" Gardening Books 39:07 Find Carol Online 40:53 Contact us and Outro | |||
| 01 Apr 2025 | Ep. 16 Q&A Special: Cedars, Compost, and Cardboard Mulch | 01:00:08 | |
We’re cultivating a safe space to ask gardening questions! We have been plotting for some thyme to add some dedicated Q&A episodes to the recording schedule. While we love seeding quick questions into the end of a show, and while many of our most popular episodes have sprouted from a particularly juicy inquiry, there are plenty of other questions that merit ten minutes of discussion rather than sixty or two. In this inaugural Q&A special, we tackle a bushel of cedar and shrub questions and spend some time in the vegetable garden as well:
If you have questions of your own or if you want to weigh in on these topics (we love learning new things through respectful discussion!), email us or reach out over social media. Bluesky: @plantsalwayswin.com TikTok: @plantsalwayswinpodcast YouTube: @plantsalwayswinpodcast Website: www.plantsalwayswin.com Remember that you can get Q&A priority and other perks by supporting us on Patreon. Credits Website Design and Illustration by Sophia Alladin Intro and Outro Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/when-my-ukulele-plays License code: GWOIMMBAS15FG6PH Citations Understanding PFAS Our current understanding of the human health and environmental risks of PFAS | US EPA. (2024, November 26). US EPA. https://www.epa.gov/pfas/our-current-understanding-human-health-and-environmental-risks-pfas Figure out if your cardboard mulch has (significant amounts of) PFAS Olson, T., & Olson, T. (2024, May 23). Is cardboard mulch toxic? – Mother Earth News. Mother Earth News – the Original Guide to Living Wisely. https://www.motherearthnews.com/organic-gardening/gardening-techniques/is-cardboard-mulch-toxic-zm0z24jjzols/ Debunking the anti-cardboard crusade Hoag, M. (2024, April 2). Addressing the 2024 cardboard Sheet-Mulching myth madness. Transformative Adventures. https://transformativeadventures.org/2024/04/01/debunking-the-2024-cardboard-sheet-mulching-myth-madness/ Timestamps 00:11 Introduction 00:53 What's Growing On? Erin's False Spring 04:36 What's Growing On? Sean's Pupdate and Seedling Roulette 17:10 Water Break 17:26 Removing Cedars Near a House: Environmental Impacts? 12:35 Is Cardboard Mulch Really Unsafe? 24:48 What Gives Rose of Sharon a "Dirty Tree" Reputation? 31:18 How Can You Fill in Gaps in a Sparse, Old Cedar Hedge? 37:10 Can You Shorten an Established Cedar Hedge? 48:55 What's the Best Soil-to-Compost Ratio for Veggie Gardens? 57:37 Invitation to Conversation 58:39 Conclusion and Contact Us | |||
| 08 Apr 2025 | Ep. 17 Plants Need Bugs | 01:03:50 | |
Plants always win…and to manage it, they need insects, arachnids, and other creepy-crawlies on their side. Of course, those creatures need plants too. In this episode, Sean and Erin are joined by Kelly and Amanda of Bugs Need Heroes. And what happens when you cross-pollinate a gardening podcast with one where an entomologist and an illustrator create bug-based superheroes? There’s a lot of laughter, a heaping scoop of science, and the birth of a new squad of garden defenders. Insects and their compatriots come armed with some pretty impressive real-world superpowers that savvy gardeners can use to their advantage. This week’s discussion delves into the incredible diversity of insect species, the role biting insects play in pollination, the importance of leveraging friendly neighbourhood garden expertise for advice that suits your location, and the villainy of spraying for mosquitoes. Then there’s the highlight of the episode: superhero personas based on the denizens of the garden, including bumblebees, wolf spiders, and…well, you’ll have to listen to find out. Want more of Kelly and Amanda? Visit the Bugs Need Heroes website at https://www.bugsneedheroes.com/ or find their Reddit at https://www.reddit.com/r/BugsNeedHeroes/. Fact Check: The year of the last recorded death by black widow venom in the United States is stated on many websites as 1983. Wikipedia offers a link to the Clinical Toxicology paper this fact apparently comes from, although the link is broken. If you have questions of your own or if you want to weigh in on these topics (we love learning new things through respectful discussion!), email us or reach out over social media. Bluesky: @plantsalwayswin.com TikTok: @plantsalwayswinpodcast YouTube: @plantsalwayswinpodcast Website: www.plantsalwayswin.com Remember that you can get Q&A priority and other perks by supporting us on Patreon. Credits Website Design and Illustration by Sophia Alladin Intro and Outro Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/when-my-ukulele-plays License code: GWOIMMBAS15FG6PH Citation Bumblebee Proboscises by Rusty Burlew, R. (2024, July 8). Hey bee, stick out your tongue and say “Ahh.” Honey Bee Suite. https://www.honeybeesuite.com/hey-bee-stick-out-your-tongue-and-say-ahh/ Timestamps 00:00 Introducing Bugs Need Heroes! 02:40 Bugs are everywhere 03:22 How Many Wolf Spiders? We Don't Know. 04:45 Plants vs. Insects: How they Make New Ones 07:40 Amanda's Real Superhero Background 09:20 Kelly's Real Bug Background 10:53 Mosquitoes are Essential, Actually (Stop Spraying!) 17:43 Context! Nuance! Location Matters. 21:26 The One Species Kelly would Remove from Earth 22:30 Yes, Sean has Mites in his Eyebrows (So Do You) 23:40 Insect Superheroes 24:56 Erin's Insect Hero: Just a Happy Lil Bumblebee 30:45 Kelly's Insect Hero: Wolf Spider 32:46 Black Widow Bites 37:16 Maman the Spider Sculpture in Ottawa 40:03 The Hunter Hunter Phagogenesis Tangent 42:15 Amanda's Luck-Powered Hero Insect 47:50: Sean's Serviceberry Hero 51:18 Is Superman a Plant? 57:33 Snail Teeth are Stronger than Diamonds 58:50 Our Hero Costumes 1:01:16 Shout-Outs 1:02:30 Outro and Contact Us | |||
| 15 Apr 2025 | Ep. 18 Seed Starting vs. Direct Sowing | 00:54:35 | |
As a changeable April wears on, spring-hungry northern gardeners are anxious to get seeds planted. But should they start those seeds indoors with grow lights or on a widow sill? Or can they put them directly in the ground outside (if the snow ever melts!)? That’s the subject of this versus episode. Normally, Erin and Sean compete to see who can make their versus topic more interesting. This week, it’s more of a collaboration. Erin gives us the rundown on materials needed for direct sowing (not much but a rake and a gentle watering head are your friends) and Sean does the same for seed starting, covering grow lights, types of soil and soilless media, fans, and more. They compare the pros and cons of each method, which plants have a preference for one or the other, and what gardeners need to know about timing, growing season, and microclimates. They also shine a light on common seed-starting mistakes and explain how hardening off works. As always, accessibility and flexibility are Erin and Sean’s watchwords; as they say, failure is a common part of gardening and anything is worth an experiment. By the end of the episode, you’ll have your own ideas germinating about how to make the most of your gardening season . Comments? Feedback? Want your garden question to be featured in a future Q&A segment? Email us, reach out over social media, or get Q&A priority by supporting us on Patreon. Bluesky: @plantsalwayswin.com TikTok: @plantsalwayswinpodcast YouTube: @plantsalwayswinpodcast Website: www.plantsalwayswin.com Credits Website Design and Illustration by Sophia Alladin Intro and Outro Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/when-my-ukulele-plays License code: GWOIMMBAS15FG6PH Timestamps 00:12 Introduction 00:44 What's Growing On: Erin's Seed Snails 02:50 What's Growing On: Sean's late-season winter sowing 05:17 The Plant Face-Off, Sort Of 05:32 Water Break 05:38 Definitions: Direct Sowing 06:16 Definitions: Seed Starting 07:05 When do I Direct Sow my Seeds? 12:35 Winter Sowing: a Hybrid 13:20 When do I Start Seeds Indoors? 18:46 Materials for Direct Sowing 21:33 Materials for Seed Starting 22:49 Soilless Media 24:02 "With Mycorrhizae" Advertising 31:04 Which Plants To Start Indoors or Out? 37:10 Containers and Up-Potting 37:43 Hardening Off and Transplant Shock 42:45 Pros of Starting Seeds Indoors 45:05 Pros of Direct Sowing Outdoors 48:14 Sean's Biggest Problem: Managing Moisture 49:22 Erin's Biggest Problem: Labels 53:06 Outro | |||
| 22 Apr 2025 | Ep. 19 Moths and Butterflies with Stoned Affection | 01:05:49 | |
Susie of Stoned Affection is a practicing entomologist who has been raising moths and butterflies—and raising awareness of them—since 2014. She also creates beautiful art from lepidoptera taxidermy. This week Susie joins Sean to talk about what it’s like to work with moths and butterflies, especially the ethical considerations that go into sourcing and raising both native and tropical species. If you’ve ever wondered about butterfly farming, butterfly houses, and sending live specimens through the mail, this is the episode to satisfy your curiosity. You’ll also find out what Susie thinks of lepidoptera in media, whether butterflies make good pollinators, and what the differences are between butterflies and moths. To learn more about Susie, her art, and her outreach, visit her website at www.stonedaffection.com, or catch a Twitch live stream at https://www.twitch.tv/stonedaffection. You can also find Susie on social media: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@stonedaffection Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stonedaffection/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stonedaffection Comments? Feedback? Want your garden question to be featured in a future Q&A segment? Email us, reach out over social media, or get Q&A priority by supporting us on Patreon. Bluesky: @plantsalwayswin.com TikTok: @plantsalwayswinpodcast YouTube: @plantsalwayswinpodcast Website: www.plantsalwayswin.com Credits Website Design and Illustration by Sophia Alladin Intro and Outro Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/when-my-ukulele-plays License code: GWOIMMBAS15FG6PH Timestamps 00:46 Introducing Susie of Stoned Affection| 03:21 Name Origins: Plants Always Win 05:00 Ordering Insects by Post 07:45 The Difference Between Moths and Butterflies 11:40 The Family Lepidoptera 12:50 Butterflies are Surprisingly Nasty, Little Creatures 14:23 Moths That Can't Eat 16:12 Are Butterflies Good Pollinators? 17:35 Making Silk from Silk Moths 19:25 What do Moths Get Up to at Night? 22:30 Ethically Sourcing Tropical and Local Insects 27:00 Farmed Tropical Insects 28:00 Butterfly Houses: Good or Bad? 30:50 Susie's Favourite Squeaking Moth Species 33:10 Susie's Favourite Butterfly 35:19 What Happens when a Butterfly Pupates? 40:28 Lepidoptera in Movies and TV Shows 43:20 Susie's Public Outreach Work 47:14 Sean's Relationship with Insects 50:40 Jumping Spiders as Pets 54:52 Earthworms in North America 58:45 Susie's Plugs 1:04:15 Susie's Word of Wisdom 1:04:30 Conclusion and Contact Us | |||
| 04 Feb 2025 | Ep.9 Garden Classrooms with Lauren MacLean | 00:44:51 | |
Have you learned to read your garden? This week we sit down with Lauren MacLean, a teacher, author, and podcaster from Richmond, British Columbia. She’s a big advocate for how outdoor classrooms help kids learn better, but a few years ago she had a learning experience of her own when her school built a new garden classroom. In this interview she shares with us her background as an outdoor educator and explains the magic of “sit spots” for creating a relationship with our environment—something we should all do in our own gardens. Lauren explains how even though she was new to gardening when her school dug into its new project, she was helped by the nature literacy she and her students already possessed. “Reading” the plants and the species who live in relationship to them is key. Throughout today’s conversation we celebrate the value of garden failures and what they can teach us and the children who follow our example. We extend grace to ourselves and all gardeners (and houseplant parents!) who struggle to help their plants thrive. Lauren also offers advice for teachers to keep their garden classrooms afloat when the first bloom of ambition fades, and celebrates the community connections they can forge. Finally, we wrap up by trouble-shooting problems like summer watering, wildlife interactions, and weed identification. If you want to learn more from Lauren about outdoor learning, check out… Lauren’s Courses: Nature’s Path: a Year of Monthly Sparks—monthly outdoor-learning professional development for educators and homeschooling families Thrive Outside: Grow Your Teaching Space—a five-week program for teachers and homeschooling parents to grow their teaching into the outdoors Lauren’s Books: Me and My Sit Spot—a picture book about choosing and using a sit spot Finding Common Ground—a story set in an outdoor classroom Sitting with Nature: An Educator’s Guide to Sit Spots—the book that brought Lauren and Erin together as author and editor, a resource that introduces why and how to use sit spots in the classroom (with lesson plans included!) Lauren’s Online: Teach Outdoors is Lauren’s podcast about outdoor learning. teachoutdoors.ca is her website. Lauren’s Social Media Instagram: @teachoutdoors.ca Facebook: Lauren MacLean-Douglas Bluesky: @teachoutdoors.bsky.social Timestamps 00:34 Intro 01:12 Lauren’s Outdoor-Learning Origin Story 02:40 Sit Spots: Building a Relationship with Nature 08:34 Lauren’s Garden-Classroom Learning Curve 10:10 Developing Plant Literacy 11:30 The Value of Failure in the Garden and the Classroom 16:55 Taking the Whole Curriculum Into the Garden 20:56 How Not to Abandon Your Garden Classroom 24:05 Classroom Gardens and Community 24:30 Summer Watering 27:47 Mulch and Acidity (worry less about it) 29:40 What Does Your (School) Garden Grow? 30:30 Fruit Trees in Schools? 30:50 An Ode to the Serviceberry 34:25 Lauren’s Home Gardening Mishap 35:00 Plant Propagation 38:54 The Importance of Weeding Guides 41:27 Lauren’s Courses, Books, and Podcast 43:33 Outro Books and Experts Referenced in this Episode Monty Don’s Down to Earth, in which he talks about building a place to sit in every garden Don, M. (2020). Down to earth: Gardening Wisdom. National Geographic Books. Megan Zeni, Outdoor Educator Zeni, M. (2025). Megan Zeni - Room to Play Consulting. MeganZeni.com. https://meganzeni.com/ Robin Wall Kimmerer’s The Serviceberry Kimmerer, R. W. (2024). The ServiceBerry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World. Simon and Schuster. Erin’s picture book Outside, You Notice Alladin, E. (2021). Outside, you notice. Pajama Press. | |||