Episode 167: Pollinator Plants

Let's Argue About Plants

#Lifestyle #Containerplants #Foliage #Gardening #Landscapeplants #Vegetablegardening #Arts #Hobbies #Graphic Design #Plants #Christine Alexander #Fine Gardening Magazine #Annual #Edible #Rose #Perennial

6:24

Grumpy helps a reader choose the best hydrangea for their hometown. Plus, Grumpy’s gripe of the week. You can find us online at southernliving.com/askgrumpy Ask Grumpy Credits: Steve Bender aka The Grumpy Gardener - Host Nellah McGough - Co-Host Krissy Tiglias - GM, Southern Living Lottie Leymarie - Executive Producer Michael Onufrak - Audio Engineer/Producer Isaac Nunn - Recording Tech Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices…

about a year ago 1:06:11

MP3•Episode home

Great options for welcoming winged visitors to your garden

Hardly an episode goes by where we don't mention a pollinator plant. But we have never dedicated an entire episode to the topic, which in our minds is bananas! So today we’re fixing that track record and discussing 11 of our favorite pollinator plants. Native plant expert Cheyenne Wine joins us from Rare Roots Nursery in Virginia to add her top picks to the conversation, as well. Listen now to find trees, shrubs, perennials, and even some bulbs to plant if you’re interested in turning your garden into an insect party buzzing with activity!

Expert: Cheyenne Wine is a writer and photographer for Rare Roots nursery in Mechanicsville, Virginia.

119 episodes

Let's Argue About Plants

Episode 167: Pollinator Plants

Let's Argue About Plants

18 subscribers

published about a year ago

MP3•Episode home

Great options for welcoming winged visitors to your garden

Expert: Cheyenne Wine is a writer and photographer for Rare Roots nursery in Mechanicsville, Virginia.

119 episodes

All episodes

Let's Argue About Plants

1
Episode 180: Plants with Big, Bold Foliage 58:24

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58:24

In this episode, we’re turning up the drama—garden drama, that is! We’re talking all about plants with big, bold foliage that steal the show and bring serious texture and presence to your landscape. Whether you're designing a tropical-feel patio or adding contrast to a woodland border, these leafy giants know how to make a statement. We'll cover our favorite varieties, tips for placement and care, and how to use them effectively in garden design. If you're ready to go big and leafy, this episode is for you! P.S. We promised not to sing...we’ll leave that to Sir Mixalot. Expert: Dr. Andy Pulte is a plant sciences faculty member at University of Tennessee, Knoxville. He is also a contributing editor.…

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Episode 179: Most Beautiful Flowers 58:01

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If your pulse quickens at the sight of a dogwood or peony in full bloom, this is the episode for you. Although a restrained, foliage-focused design is always a safe bet, fabulous floral textures and colors offer a level of excitement that leaves alone can’t provide. For many of us, a love of flowers was the gateway that brought us to gardening. Follow along as Danielle, Carol, and expert guest Wambui Ippolito discuss some of the beautiful blooms that make their hearts sing. Expert: Wambui Ippolito is an award-winning landscape designer, horticulturist, and author based in New York City. Danielle's Plants ‘Bowl of Beauty’ peony ( Paeonia lactiflora Bowl of Beauty’, Zones 4-9) Japanese stewartia ( Stewartia pseudocamellia , Zones 5-8) ‘Mistral Bordeaux’ poppy anemone ( Anemone coronaria ‘Mistral Bordeaux’, Zones 8-10) Pink flowering dogwood ( Cornus florida f. rubra , Zones 5-8) Carol's Plants ‘Storm Cloud’ blue star ( Amsonia tabernaemontana ‘Storm Cloud’, Zones 4-9) ‘Orange Wonder’ snapdragon ( Antirrhinum majus , Zones 7-10) Walk in Beauty™ Watermelon Man prickly pear ( Opuntia ‘OP099’, Zones 4-9) ‘Fascination’ and ‘Adoration’ Culver’s root ( Veronicastrum virginicum cvs., Zones 3-8) Expert’s Plants Wild mullein ( Vebascum roripifolium , Zones 5-8) Threadleaf bluestar (Amsonia hubrichtii, Zones 5-8) ‘Soft Caress’ mahonia ( Mahonia ‘Soft Caress’, Zones 7-9)…

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Episode 178: Best Interview Moments from Let’s Argue About Plants 30:37

10 weeks ago30:37

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While the Fine Gardening team is busy exploring the Philadelphia Flower Show, we’re taking a moment to look back at some of the most insightful and inspiring conversations we’ve had on Let’s Argue About Plants over the past year. In this special episode, we’re revisiting standout moments from interviews with horticulturists, garden designers, and educators who have shaped the way we garden. You’ll hear from Stacie Crooks , a self-taught garden designer from Seattle, as she shares how she got her start in horticulture. Jay Sifford , a North Carolina-based designer, discusses his artistic influences and how pop culture can inspire transcendent garden spaces. Irvin Etienne , a public horticulturist at Newfields in Indianapolis, reflects on his farm upbringing and how it shaped his passion for plants. And Dr. Jared Barnes , an associate professor at Stephen F. Austin State University, talks about his journey into horticultural education and the creation of a unique campus botanical garden called The Plantery . Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just getting started, these expert insights are sure to inspire your next project. Tune in to hear some of our favorite moments.…

Let's Argue About Plants

1
Episode 177: Seeds We’re Starting This Year 1:07:39

13 weeks ago1:07:39

1:07:39

As we recorded this episode, snow was gently falling outside our windows here in New England. But that isn't depressing for us—it simply means it’s time to start our seeds! Today we are joined by digital editor Christine, and we are talking all about which seeds we’re starting this year and why. There’s an assortment of edibles and flowers on our lists, and we discuss the best practices for getting them to germinate. Do all seeds need a heat mat? Or is it a good idea to pop your packets of seeds in the freezer before sowing them into a soil block? Get the answers to these pressing questions (and find out which zinnia had Danielle and Carol screaming with delight) in this pre-spring conversation. Expert: Christine Alexander is the digital content editor at Fine Gardening.…

Let's Argue About Plants

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Episode 176: Plants with Personality with Amanda Thomsen 39:00

15 weeks ago39:00

39:00

Amanda Thomsen is a landscape designer, project manager, and garden writer. Recently, she opened Aster Gardens in Lemont, Illinois. This neighborhood boutique offers plants, home décor, classes, and events. Amanda brings an irreverent, punk-rock spirit to her horticultural work, so she is the perfect person to help adventurous gardeners to explore some plants with personality. Unusual herbs, hardy cacti, and a foxglove that is not your usual cottage garden suspect all make appearances in this fun episode. Here's Amanda’s personality-packed plant list: 1. Lovage (Levisticum officinale, Zones 4–8) 2. Rozanne geranium (Geranium ‘Gerwat’, Zones 5–8) 3. Rattlesnake master (Eryngium yuccifolium, Zones 3–8) 4. Fernleaf peony (Paeonia tenuifolia, Zones 4–8) 5. Eastern prickly pear (Opuntia humifusa, Zones 4–9) 6. Rusty foxglove (Digitalis ferruginea, Zones 4–8) 7. ‘Forelock’ ornamental onion (Allium ‘Forelock’, Zones 4–8) 8. Bear’s breeches (Acanthus spinosus, Zones 5–9)…

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1
Episode 175: Great Houseplants 1:07:07

17 weeks ago1:07:07

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Potted plants will bring life and positive energy into any room, and studies have shown that having them nearby can relieve stress, boost creativity, and improve focus. In winter, when the weather is not good for outdoor gardening, it is particularly satisfying when we can help the living gems on our windowsills to thrive and look their best. In this episode Danielle and Carol chat with their friend and colleague, Christine Alexander, about the houseplants they consider to be truly worthy of a spot indoors. Expert: Christine Alexander is the digital content editor at Fine Gardening.…

Let's Argue About Plants

1
Episode 174: Plant Evaluation with Sam Hoadley and Richard Hawke 40:21

19 weeks ago40:21

40:21

Catalogue descriptions for new plants may grab our attention, but usually provide little useful information about how these up-and-coming cultivars will perform in your garden. Fortunately, comparative trials like those conducted at Chicago Botanic Garden and Mt. Cuba Center put plants to the test, side-by-side, under typical garden conditions. In this episode, Richard Hawke and Sam Hoadley delve into a few of the similarities and differences between their trial programs. They compare notes, trade stories, and dispel a few misconceptions as they prepare for the talk they will give on Thurday, March 6th, 2025 as part of the Know to Grow lecture series at the Philadelphia Flower Show . See more by going to the show notes at https://www.finegardening.com/podcast…

Let's Argue About Plants

1
Episode 173: Beneficial Host Plants 1:04:54

21 weeks ago1:04:54

1:04:54

This week we might rename the show Pollinator Haven, the podcast where we dig into the vibrant world of pollinators and the plants that sustain them! Well, probably not, but we will be diving into the essential role host plants play in supporting bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and other pollinators. These are species that are critical in providing places for insects to lay their eggs and food for hungry larvae. Whether you're a seasoned gardener or just starting out, you'll discover how choosing the right plants can turn your yard, balcony, or community space into a thriving ecosystem. Expert: Cheyenne Wine works to promote biodiversity and ecological resilience with the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation. For more of Cheyenne’s plant picks, check out this recent Southeast regional page .…

Let's Argue About Plants

1
Episode 172: Focal Points with Susan Morrison 43:31

23 weeks ago43:31

43:31

Susan Morrison , owner and principal designer at Creative Exteriors Landscape Design , has created hundreds of gardens in California’s East Bay area. Her designs incorporate comfortable outdoor rooms into landscapes of all sizes, from hillside estates to postage-stamp front yards. Susan’s home garden features thoughtfully arranged spaces for relaxing and entertaining enfolded in an artful, water-wise plant palette. Focal point plants in key locations draw the eye through the landscape, inviting visitors to explore. In this episode, Susan describes her thought process for siting focal point plants, and shares some of the eye-catching cultivars she uses most often.…

Let's Argue About Plants

1
Episode 171: Deer-resistant Plants 1:11:04

26 weeks ago1:11:04

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Let's Argue About Plants

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Episode 170: High-Impact Native Plants with Uli Lorimer 46:46

28 weeks ago46:46

46:46

Ulrich Lorimer is the director of the Native Plant Tust in Framingham, MA, a conservation organization that manages Garden in the Woods . He has been a longtime advocate for cultivating native plants in both public and private gardens to help offset habitat loss. In this episode, he talks about some outstanding native species that have an outsized impact when planted in a garden setting. He also digs into the nitty-gritty of designing with regionally adapted plants, gardening in a changing climate, and integrating native plants into our backyard ecosystems.…

Let's Argue About Plants

1
Episode 169: Great Foundation Plants 1:10:42

30 weeks ago1:10:42

1:10:42

When we say “foundation plants” you might think we’re talking about plants that are the backbones of our beds and borders. But that’s not what we mean in this instance. Today we’re discussing plants that are perfect for planting around your home’s foundation. These selections need to adhere to a certain set of requirements: they can't get too big; they can't be too small; they can’t have aggressive root systems; they must have multiple seasons of interest. If that sounds like the holy grail of plants, it is! But luck for you we’ve culled together a dynamic assortment of options for all areas of the country. So, if you're sick of looking at that ugly 2-foot expanse of concrete at the foot of your home listen up, because we’re going to help you cover it up in style. Expert: Lifelong horticulturist Tony Fulmer is the retired chief horticulture officer for Chalet, a specialty nursery in Wilmette, Illinois.…

Let's Argue About Plants

1
Episode 168: Rewind – Design Rules of Thumb with Stacie Crooks 53:40

32 weeks ago53:40

53:40

Seattle-based garden designer Stacie Crooks creates beautiful, ecologically friendly, low-maintenance gardens throughout the Pacific Northwest. Her most recent article in the December 2024 issue of Fine Gardening magazine tackles the challenges of integrating a vibrant, plant-focused garden into a cookie-cutter neighborhood developed during the post-World War II building boom. To coincide with the publication of the article, we’re revisiting this engaging interview where Stacie covers some of the most valuable insights she has gained through years of experience. Anyone can use Stacie’s rules of thumb to make their own outdoor spaces more welcoming and easier to maintain.…

Let's Argue About Plants

1
Episode 167: Pollinator Plants 1:06:11

35 weeks ago1:06:11

1:06:11

Great options for welcoming winged visitors to your garden Hardly an episode goes by where we don't mention a pollinator plant. But we have never dedicated an entire episode to the topic, which in our minds is bananas! So today we’re fixing that track record and discussing 11 of our favorite pollinator plants. Native plant expert Cheyenne Wine joins us from Rare Roots Nursery in Virginia to add her top picks to the conversation, as well. Listen now to find trees, shrubs, perennials, and even some bulbs to plant if you’re interested in turning your garden into an insect party buzzing with activity! Expert: Cheyenne Wine is a writer and photographer for Rare Roots nursery in Mechanicsville, Virginia.…

Let's Argue About Plants

1
Episode 166: Gardening for the Greater Good with Andrew Bunting 35:38

37 weeks ago35:38