Natchez Glen House Stories

We are about to get a bit closer.

Soil is an enigma wrapped in puzzle lost in a maze. In this story I talk with my friend Professor Bill Fonteno to try and find some truth about soil. We discuss what is soil, what is media, and get some insight to the conversation surrounding peat moss.    For more on Professor Fonteno's work Bill Fonteno | Horticultural Science | NC State University (ncsu.edu)

Richard Hawke from the Chicago Botanical Garden brought all the knowledge and opinions for this episode. Richard and I discuss the trials that he's been conducting at the Chicago Botanical Garden over the years and why so many of the plants that he has trialed aren't as easy to find as they should be. This is an episode that you are going to want to listen to several times.   To see the trials Richard Hawke Conducts the the Chicago Botanic Gardens visit the link Below Plant Evaluation | Chicago Botanic Garden

If you are a flower farmer this is a gift from me to you. John Dole from NC State University joined me to talk about harvesting, storing, and all-round post processing of cut flowers. John is easily the most well respect professor on post flowering processing in the United States.   For more on Johns work Dr. John Dole - Associate Dean and Director for Academic Programs (ncsu.edu)

To be a major part of building a legacy for roses is an incredible journey and that is exactly what Michael Marriott has achieved. Michael recently retired from David Austin Roses where he worked for four decades. He's one of the most respected people in the world of roses and one of my favorite guests. In this story we explore what his retirement has meant for him, the changes in gardening over the last year, and the traveling he's looking forward to again.    Michael also along with his partner Rosie, future podcast guest, are offering garden tours in the UK which I can't recommend enough. For more information visit Michael's website below and follow him on social media as well. Michael Marriott (michaelmarriottrosarian.org) Michael Marriott (michaelmarriottrosarian.org) Garden Tours  TOD GARDEN TOURS – Michael Marriott (michaelmarriottrosarian.org)  

One of the best trends in gardening has been so many great gardening and horticulture experts sharing their knowledge. One of those stepping to the forefront of that has been Annie Guilfoyle. Annie is an exceptional garden designer and has taught garden design all over the world. She co-created the Garden Masterclass program. It is an absolutely fantastic program with some of the most talented people in the world of gardening participating. Originally the program toured gardens in the UK and Europe but like so many things in 2020 pivoted to an online platform. Annie and I share the story of how that transition took place and her perspective on so many things in the gardening world.    For more on Annie and the Garden Masterclass program Garden Masterclass

The changes across the world over the last year have clearly been dramatic. One of the curious happenings has been a renewed interest in gardening. I wanted to explore the changes and interest we've seen in gardening over the year and Joe Lamp'L was the perfect person to explore this story. Joe has been producing and hosting gardening media content for over 20 years and now has created a dynamic online course series. We talked about the interest in in gardening and with so many new gardeners who do they trust for good information.   For more Information on Joe's course series visit his website Organic Gardening | Grow Like a Pro with Joe Lamp'l | joe gardener®

Doug Oster has been telling stories of gardeners for his entire career in gardening media. I loved this conversation with Doug. I've read his columns in Pittsburgh for years but hadn't had the chance to talk with him before. So, we had lots to talk about. In this story that covers Doug's career and also do cities have their own garden culture? For more on Doug Oster Doug Oster - Everyone has a garden story, I'd love to tell yours   Natchez Glen House Stories is possible because of your support of Natchez Glen

Kelly's new book 'The New Naturalism' is a great look into what the future of gardening can be. In this story we explore the worlds of ecology and horticulture and at times how they've been at odds but may be headed towards a renaissance.    For more information about Kelly's work and to purchase his book 'The New Naturalism'  

Ornamental grasses as a group were first introduced to me by Adrian Bloom. Over the last twenty years the use and beauty of ornamental grasses continues to grow. Getting to know the history of where they were and where they are today is very important to understanding how to use grasses in gardens. To help me get to that history Shannon Currey of Hoffman Nursery joined me for this story. Hoffman Nursery is a wholesale nursery based in North Carolina and was one of the first nurseries dedicated to growing incredible grasses for gardens.   

Roy is both an incredible plants person and a fantastic garden designer. His understanding of plant communities and using that knowledge to create beautiful gardens is exceptional. Roy and I talk about his own journey with plants and gardening. And is working with plants an art?   I also strongly encourage you to purchase Roy's book "The Know Maintenance Perennial Garden"   For more information about Roy https://northwindperennialfarm.com/

Paul is one of the best voices for roses in the world. He not only is super knowledgeable about them as a plant but he has also grown them in various climates and traveled to see them around the world. One of my favorites things about Paul is he has also been producing content about roses for years now. In this episode we talk about all of the current issues with roses in the world of gardening.    Follow Paul on all of his social media platforms  http://paulzimmermanroses.com/

This was a fantastic conversation. Many times I go into podcasts not knowing the guest well or at all. Carolyn Mullet was a case of where we had never spoken before. By the end of the conversation I felt like we had known each other for years. Carolyn's book Adventures in Eden is an incredible look into some of the best gardens in the world. Carolyn's years as a garden designer give her a unique perspective into the gardens in her book and also the tours in Europe she offers.   For more on Carolyn  https://www.carexdesign.com/tours/ To follow her on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/ccamullet/  

Mark is the Director of the JC Raulston Arboretum in North Carolina. In this story I share with Mark what an influence the JC Raulston Arboretum has been for me and my interest in horticulture. Mark is a true plants person and this is a great conversation about the world of plants.    For more on Mark  https://markweathington.com/   For more on the JC Raulston Arboretum  

I knew of Plants Nouveau and had heard Angela's name before but the two of us hadn't talked before this story. Our conversation was fantastic about plants and Angela's career in horticulture. As a gardener this is a great insight on how a new plant comes to market and the rewards and challenges of that path.    For more about Plants Nouveau http://plantsnouveau.com/

In recent stories we've talked about the different communication approaches in the gardening and horticulture world. In this story my new friend Carmen Johnston and I discuss how to best communicate with enthusiastic gardeners if they are new or if they are looking for more in-depth information. Carmen also shares her passion for plants, garden design, and container design.    To Follow Carmen on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/carmenjohnstongardens/ For All of Carmen's Great Work https://www.carmenjohnstongardens.com/

Jimi Blake is an incredible plants person. There are very few people on social media who I follow that make me say "what plant is that?" and I love Jimi for being one of those people. His garden in Ireland, Hunting Brook, is a magical garden filled with some of the best plants from around the world. In this story Jimi shares his story and passion for plants and his new online course series which I highly recommend.    To follow Jimi on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/jimiblake_huntingbrookgardens To find out more about the online courses http://www.huntingbrook.com/courses-events/

Over the course of the podcast we've talked about the cultural differences of gardening. One example is how the United States looks at gardening as compared to the UK. To help me tell the story of some of these differences in is this episode my guest is Jo Thompson. Jo is one of the top garden designers in the UK and her work is absolutely beautiful. In this story we also explore the value and meaning of garden words including my name ;)    To follow Jo, and you should immediately, all of her social media link are available on her website On Instagram https://www.instagram.com/jothompsongarden/ https://www.jothompson-garden-design.co.uk/

The where do new plants come from story is so important to every gardener. How do we take a plant that we like and improve its' flaws to make it a plant we love? To help answer that question I have Chuck Pavlich Director of New Product Development from Terra Nova Nurseries on as a guest in this story. Chuck and the team at Terra Nova are doing some incredible work to reverse engineer some of the plants we know, and some we don't yet, to be beautiful in our gardens. 

I say Epimedium you say? That's been one of the great questions of plant collectors for the last two plus decades. This incredible group of plants that only get better with age are still not well known amongst home gardeners. In this story I have the help of Karen Perkins from Garden Vision Epimediums to share the incredible plants that are Epimediums. 

Growers, gardeners, and landscape designers all love plants but who or what makes a garden? That's part of the story that Nick McCullough and I explore in this episode. I've admired Nick's work as a landscape designer and his blog "Thinking Outside the Boxwood" for a long time. We cover a wide range of topics in this story and I know you'll enjoy it.   Follow Nick On Instagram https://www.instagram.com/nickmccland

Matthews Nurseries Ltd has been growing gorgeous roses in Wanganui, New Zealand for over 70 years. Bob Matthews joins me in this story to share his incredible knowledge on roses.  For more information on Matthews Rose Nursery  https://www.rosesnz.co.nz/

This story is a wide range of fantastic topics. I finally got a chance to talk with Brie Arthur who I've know of for years but we've never had a chance to have a conversation. Brie studied Landscape Design and Horticulture at Purdue University and has worked as a propagator and grower at leading nurseries such as Plant Delights. As a green industry communicator, Brie works with garden clubs, extension services, universities, landscape contractors and state trade organizations. As an ambassador for Soil3 organic compost she shares monthly gardening advice and fields questions from homeowners around the southeast US.

A long overdue talk about what is "Natchez Glen" and a good round of questions and answers.

On the first episode of season three there could be no bigger topic in the world than the global pandemic of Covid 19.  We talk so much about the science of plants I wanted to make sure we took the same approach to this story. Dr Megan Freeman who is an pediatric infectious disease specialist and has worked on Coroanviruses as far back as 2010 joins me as a guest. Dr Freeman works at UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh and is a Pediatric Infectious Diseases Fellow. The goal of this conversation is to make sure we approach all things with science as a guide.

More and more I like to share the stories of where plants come from and the people that get them into our gardens. No grower is a better illustration of that than Walters Gardens based in Michigan. In this story I talk with Laura Robles. Laura is the trials manager at Walters Gardens. We tell the story of how important Walters Gardens and their work is for getting incredible plants into your garden and some of the amazing plants they're working on.    For more information about Walters Gardens  https://www.waltersgardens.com/ Social Media https://www.instagram.com/waltersgardens/ @waltersgardens Facebook https://www.facebook.com/waltersgardens/

This story is going to give us perspective on the moment during a global pandemic we are all experiencing together. Professor Charlie Hall is my guest to give both an economist expertise to the moment and the challenges that led to this economic crisis for the green industry. If there has ever been a story to share this is the one.    For more about Professor Charlie Hall and his work https://ellisonchair.tamu.edu/multimedia/charlies-angle/  

This is a unique story taken from an Instagram Live I did about how to navigate the business of flowers. 

My own personal passion for plants began with growing vegetables. So this week's story means a great deal to me. I'm joined by Aaron Bertelsen of Great Dixter. Aaron oversees the vegetable growing at Great Dixter and has authored two world class books on the subject of vegetable gardening. In this story we discuss how a broader view of gardening can come from vegetables or any plant. To learn more about Aaron https://www.greatdixter.co.uk/learning/tutors/aaron-bertelsen/ https://www.greatdixter.co.uk/learning/tutors/aaron-bertelsen/  Instagram https://www.instagram.com/aaronbertelsenofficial/ https://www.instagram.com/aaronbertelsenofficial/ To buy Aaron's book in the US https://www.amazon.com/Grow-Fruit-Vegetables-Pots-Planting/dp/0714878618/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=aaron+bertelsen&qid=1582908812&sr=8-1

Indoor plants have always been a passion of mine and my guest this week feels the same. Summer Rayne Oaks of Homestead Brooklyn is incredibly passionate and knowledgeable about indoor plants. I've admired Summer Rayne's work for years now and her story with plants is a perfect blend of education and enthusiasm for plants. In this story we share about the balance of creating content and education with the new opportunities social media has provided to share about the fascinating world of plants.   Be sure to follow Summer Rayne on her website https://homesteadbrooklyn.com/   Her YouTube Channel is an absolute must subscribe  https://homesteadbrooklyn.com/youtube Homestead Brooklyn Instagram https://www.instagram.com/homesteadbrooklyn/   To Purchase How to Make a Plant Love You https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0525540288/ref=as_li_tl?camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0525540288&ie=UTF8&linkCode=as2&linkId=395f96de9d361464bb4087a181b0335e&tag=homesteadbroo-20    

There are peonies but then there are Alaskan grown peonies. Over the last twenty years the state of Alaska has developed a unique flower crop of peonies. The peonies from Alaska are incredible but getting these huge peonies from Alaska to the rest of the lower 48 states is a unique challenge. In this story I talk with Martha Lojewski the Sales Manager for the Alaska Peony Cooperative. Our conversation explores navigating the beauty of peonies with the realities of running a flower farm in Alaska.  For more information about the Alaska peony Cooperative  https://alaskapeonycooperative.com/index.html Follow their social media  Instagram http://instagram.com/alaskapeonycooperative Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/Alaska-Peony-Cooperative-817713411613622  

This week's story features one of my favorite growers in the country, Rick Watson of Perennial Farm. Over the last forty years the business of gardening and the nursery industry has seen all kinds of changes, but Rick Watson's consistent love of plants and a commitment to quality has never changed. Rick and his team grow millions of perennial plants for both wholesale retail garden centers and home gardeners. In this story we explore Rick's personal journey with plants and how he navigates all of the new varieties the plant world has today.  Perennial Farm Marketplace Facebook Instagram

ATTENTION: If you are or your children are offended by some profanity this isn't the story for you. If you're fascinated by plants and the natural world this will be your favorite story ever. This week's story features Joey of Crime Pays But Botany Doesn't. His YouTube channel and IG are his exploration of plants and the ecology of the world as a self-taught botanist. I've found his raw and extremely informed opinions on botany refreshing and entertaining. A completely new and needed voice in the world of plants.  Crime Pays But Botany Doesn't  YouTube Channel Instagram https://www.instagram.com/crime_pays_but_botany_doesnt/

One of the greatest experiences I have through the podcast is getting to spend time with people in the world of gardening. I have an incredible amount of respect and appreciation for this week's guest P Allen Smith. In this story we explore the current world of gardening but paying attention to if we are forgetting what makes gardening magical. PA and I explore the plants and the people of the gardening world both then and now. BTW, this is my favorite Story yet. For more information about all things P Allen Smith and to subscribe to his weekly newsletter https://pallensmith.com/ Follow P Allen Smith on Social Media Instagram: @pallensmith Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pallensmith/

One of the greatest joys I have is getting to tell the stories of growers. That is exactly the same thing Lisa and Linda of Fam Flower Farm in the Netherlands are doing. They are growers who are actively sharing what they do, which in their case is growing incredible dahlias and tulips. To learn more about Fam Flower Farm Website: https://www.famflowerfarm.com/about-us Instagram: @famflowerfarm Follow Natchez Glen Instagram: @natchezglenhouse Website: https://natchezglen.com/ 

My friend Joe Lamp'l joined me to talk all things good and bad in the world of gardening. As host of both the "Joe Gardener" podcast and "Growing a Greener World" on PBS, Joe has a unique view on the world of gardening. Call this a "State of the Union" of gardening.

Maybe the most exciting and concerning of all the stories I've done so far. 

This episode we explore dahlia fake news and how some flowers will always be seen as wild. 

After a hiatus to Mount Dahlia I have returned with thoughts. 

This may be the most exciting episode for me yet. It's rare that my mind is blown by a plant based topic but Dr. Mark T. Windham from the University of Tennessee did it several times in this story. Mark is one of the leading research professors in the world on Rose Rosette Disease. Education and understanding this very fascinating virus and the microscopic problem that carries it is key. Here's the link to early detection of RRD https://extension.tennessee.edu/publications/Documents/SP806.pdf 

This story features my new friend Kelly Shore. Kelly has an incredible floral design business, Petals by the Shore, in the Washington DC area and beyond. Where it gets really interesting is Kelly also put a tremendous amount of effort into sourcing her flowers domestically in the United States. She and I try to bridge the gap between flower grower and floral designer. You also should follow Kelly on Instagram @petalsbytheshore and at www.petalsbytheshore.com  

After last weeks story I wanted to recap the feedback. I also wanted to clarify some very complicated issues regarding what I do here at Natchez Glen. 

This is the most important story to date. My guest is Nate Miller who has worked with PASO Internacional in Columbia. He and PASO Internacional interviewed over 400 people employed by the cut flower trade in Columbia. We explore what he saw and learned during that process and we try to unravel a very complicated story of international grown flowers. 

This week's story is Naomi Slade. Naomi is an incredible author and gardener. Her book on Dahlias, aptly named Dahlias,  communicates their magic along with botanical science. In this story we explore her books on Dahlias, Snowdrop, and the idea and journey of Orchards. All of her books can be found at these links: Dahlias  https://www.amazon.com/Dahlias-Beautiful-Varieties-Home-Garden/dp/1423648323/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=dahlias&qid=1551962654&s=gateway&sr=8-1 The Plant Lover’s Guide to Snowdrops http://www.timberpress.com/books/plant_lovers_guide_snowdrops/slade/9781604694352 An Orchard Odyssey http://www.timberpress.com/books/plant_lovers_guide_snowdrops/slade/9781604694352  

This is the most I've shared of what being a flower farmer really is about. Not just about an image on Instagram but what the realities of "farming" flowers means versus gardening with flowers. There is a group of people that this Podcast will not be popular with but my goal with all of the content I produce isn't for those people. The content I create is for people that love plants and gardening or are just starting to find their passion for plants. 

In this story we explore the world of garden guest and how gardening is more local than global. The story also answers Christopher Llyod of Great Dixter's question asked nearly 30 years ago. A huge range of story in this Garden Notes. 

Each podcast I try to shed light on the journeys of plants and the people who love them. This story I'm joined by Dr. Allan Armitage and the story ranges from why people who work in plants need to do a better job sharing their passion and his story of being a true pioneer in the horticultural world. Allan's work with perennials has been one of the key reasons for their gained popularity over the last twenty years. For anyone that loves plants all of Allan's books are a must own and you can get them at www.allanarmitage.net/shop and if you use the promo code STEVE you will get 20% off your order. 

I was so fortunate early on in my plant research I discovered Dr. Linda Chalker-Scott's work. Linda has spent decades challenging many of the myths that gardening and horticulture has generated. In this story we examine so many of those myths as well as how you can learn to avoid them. We also discuss the cottage industry of flower and plant growing workshops that are developing and how there are so many great free resources available. Two of those free resources can be found from Linda's work. The first are many of her papers available here https://puyallup.wsu.edu/lcs/ and a great tool to determine if the horticultural information you're being given is fact or opinion through scientific literacy https://pubs.wsu.edu/ItemDetail.aspx?ProductID=15830 

For years I've been fascinated by Chrysanthemums. Both in a magical plant way and also in a mysterious how do you grow these things way. Last year I grew some fantastic varieties that I loved and was extremely excited about how easy they were to grow. To further solve the mysteries of all things "Mum" I wanted to have Brian from King's Mums on to talk his story and how he came to own one of the only nurseries in the world growing heirloom mums. Plus, we had to talk about the "mums" outside the grocery stores in the fall.  

This week's story dates back to 1910 and the start of a 250 acre farm in the Netherlands. My friend Philipp paid a visit and we talked about all things bulbs and being part of family with over 100 years in the tulip growing and selling business. We also discuss the best way to extend flowers in your garden well past spring and all the way till fall. Plus also find out why you may need to go get a t-shirt about bulb size.   

What is spring, when does it start, and how do you know it's here? All questions that from a gardening perspective take unique answers. This week's story is all about Spring and when the magic starts.