Let's Argue About Plants

If you live in the Northeast, Mountain West, or Midwest your idea of winter interest is certainly different than say, a gardener living in the South. Those of us who live in cooler locales are often satisfied with calling any plant that sticks its head above a snowbank “a winter stunner.” But in today’s episode we’re holding the bar a bit higher and talking about plants that really do save their best for the months of December, January, and February. We discuss shrubs that flower in winter, perennials that are evergreen, and even a few trees that every garden (regardless of geographic location) would benefit from. Our special guest is from Montana, so if she can find plants for winter interest, you know that anyone can. Special guest: Kielian DeWitt lives and gardens on a horse ranch in the Bitterroot Valley in Montana.

Is there a better time of year than seed-ordering season? You may shop for seeds online, or perhaps you prefer the analog version (like us) of paper catalogs. Regardless, ordering and starting seeds is an act of defiance against the winter conditions outside. Starting seeds says, “Hey snow and ice--you don’t scare me! I know spring is right around the corner.” Today we’ll talk about the seeds that have made it into our virtual shopping carts this year and tell you a little bit about what a particular variety was deemed a must-have. Carol, being the resident seed-starting expert offers up some ornamental and edible options, while Danielle sticks to tried-and-true veggies. Joining the hosts on this episode is digital content manager for FG, Christine Alexander who has some extra insight to share after she started a slew of seeds last year to grow her own wedding flowers. What did well--and what didn’t? Tune in to find out. Special guest: Christine  Alexander, digital content manager for Fine Gardening.

What if you could have a garden that basically planted itself? The idea isn’t as far-fetched as you might think. Self-sowing plants are delightfully serendipitous plants that will happily disperse seed without any intervention from you. Yes, there are lots of plants out there that spread indiscriminately and obnoxiously--but those are not the ones we are discussing in this episode. Instead, we’re focusing on an array of perennials, annuals, and even edibles that will create offspring politely--filling in gaps and blank spots in your beds and borders. The English have embraced the idea of self-sowers more readily than gardeners stateside, but on today’s podcast we argue that opportunistic plants have a place in virtually every garden. Listen now to find out which self-sowers dance through our gardens (and driveways). Expert testimony: Amanda Thomsen is a horticulturist, garden designer, and author based in suburban Chicago.

Perhaps it’s the winter season we’re in right now, or perhaps we’re just hungry, but regardless, we have berries on the mind. This episode highlights some plants that provide us with unexpected (but very appreciated) fruit. It could be a perennial that is grown for its foliage but puts on a late fall show with its berry-set. Or a shrub that is known for it’s berries--just not in a certain bubblegum color. We’ll give credit where credit is due for this topic: Andy Brand, who is our expert for this episode, pitched the idea of plants that have a secret talent of producing amazing berry displays. Did we surprise you with some of these plants? Our guess is yes. Spoiler alert: there is no such thing as a crunch berry tree, despite what Cap’n Crunch says. Expert testimony: Andy Brand is the interim director of horticulture at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens in Boothbay.

Well loyal listeners, it’s hard to believe, but this is our 100th episode! We cannot thank everyone out there who has stuck with us from the early days of trying to figure out what a podcast about plants should sound like, and still downloads episodes to this day (when we’ve only figured out a bit more of what we’re doing). We’re not big on birthdays around here, but we did decide to kick off this anniversary episode with a question: If you could have 100 of any plant to give as gifts to friends and fellow gardeners, what would it be? Our answers may surprise you. Then we stick with the theme of gifts and launch into our annual holiday episode of plants that have made it onto our wish lists this year. Listen today and join the celebration.   Expert testimony: Amanda Bennett is Vice President of horticulture and collections at Atlanta Botanical Garden.   Danielle’s Plants 100 Plant Choice: Redbud (Cercis and cvs., Zones 4-9) 'Lemon Squeeze' fountain grass (Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Lemon Squeeze', Zones 4-9)

The thought of restricting most gardeners to only three of any plant might sound cruel. After all, what makes us happier than heading to the nursery to fill a shopping cart? But limiting your plant palette has many advantages. Less variety means less chaos, in many cases. And, when it comes to trees, limiting yourself to just three options may also be necessary since trees take up more space and are more expensive than a perennial. It’s for these reasons that we decided to imagine ourselves on a strict three-tree diet. In this episode we answer the question: If you could only have three trees, which ones would you choose? The answers might surprise you. Expert testimony: Ed Gregan works for Bailey Nurseries in Saint Paul, Minnesota.

Everyone likes an upgrade. Whether it’s a faster car or a more efficient cell phone, it’s hard to turn down a better version of something you already like. Plants are much the same. If you already love that gorgeous catmint that flowers all season long, what not try one that not only has all the same great attributes but also has an improved habit.  Today we’re talking about plants we have a great affinity for, but that plant breeders have made just that much better. Perhaps it’s a longer bloom time, or stronger winter hardiness, or even a different color to the foliage. Whatever the change may be, it’s an improvement that has made us fall even more in love with these classic plants. Expert testimony: Irvin Etienne is Curator of Herbaceous Plants and Seasonal Garden Design for The Garden at Newfields in Indianapolis.

Here at Let’s Argue About Plants we’re big fans of native plants. Our gardens are filled with them and for good reason: native plants are essential to the preservation and health of the local ecology. Aside from their benefits to the environment, many native plants are built to thrive in the conditions where you live, too. Today, we’re talking about native alternatives to certain less-desirable plants. These undesirables might be invasive, or spread obnoxiously, or perhaps they are just prone to certain insects and diseases.  Instead, we’ll give you a native plant that is a far superior option.  And, don’t be fooled by our Connecticut location, we feature plants suitable for locales outside of the Northeast. Expert testimony: Ulrich Lorimer is the director of horticulture for the Native Plant Trust in Framingham, MA.  

Nothing says fall in the garden more than the sight of ornamental grasses pluming. It goes right along with all other things that signal the season change—the kids going back to school, pumpkin spice everything, and turning the heat on for the first time. Gardeners seem to have a love/hate relationship with ornamental grasses. They have great texture, they give life to the late-season landscape, and many are native to North America. But, some spread like noxious weeds, become invasive, or are maintenance nightmares that need frequent division. In this episode we discuss some of our favorites from this category of plants—grasses that are stunning in three seasons (if not four) and don’t require a plethora of care to look their best. We even talk about a few newbie grasses that you might not have heard of before! Expert testimony: Paul Zammit lives and gardens in Toronto’s West End, and is a professor of horticulture at Niagara College in Southern Ontario.

Since the Let’s Argue About Plants podcast is based in New England, we know all about fall color. This time of year is a favorite for most of our staffers with the native sugar maples turning bright red and the birch trees shifting to brilliant yellow. But this episode is all about the unsung heroes of fall—plants that don’t immediately pop to mind when you think of vibrant autumnal color. And, we’re not just talking about trees. There are some select perennials (even some that bloom in fall) and a couple shrubs that no one ever seems to mention as late-season stars. Tune in to find out what underdogs made our lists. Expert testimony: Jason Reeves is a horticulturist and curator of the University of Tennessee Gardens at the West Tennessee Research and Education Center in Jackson.

Fall is a wonderful time of year for gardeners for so many reasons. It finally cools down so you can actually weed and prune without breaking a sweat. Many of us get to experience the color change of many perennials and woodies as the temps start to drop. And, of course, this is the time of year that we get to start shopping for fall bulbs. If you are one of those people who always kicks yourself in spring for not planting enough—or any—fall bulbs, you’re not alone. This year we’re here to inspire you to get out those catalogs and computers and seek out some truly unique options. We’re celebrating a new season and the introduction of a new cohost on this episode, so join us to find out about a crocus that looks like a monarch butterfly and an iris that is bluer than any sapphire. Expert testimony: Joseph Tychonievich, horticulturist, frequent Fine Gardening contributor, and author of, Rock Gardening:  Reimagining a Classic Style.

You know you’re a hardcore gardener when you dream about moving to the tropics--not for the beaches and tiki drinks--but because that would enable you to grow so many more cool plants. In this episode we discuss tropical plants we wish we could grow in our cooler climates, or even ones that we are looking forward to trying to grow in the future (and overwintering them like our agaves). There are some selections you’ll recognize, but there are also a couple plants we are 99% sure you’ve never heard of before. So, grab your grass skirt (and a glass of rum punch) and meet us South of the equator for this tropical themed chat.   Expert testimony: Jim Kincannon is a horticulturist who previously worked at the Indianapolis Museum of Art (now called Newfields) gardens.

Peas and carrots. Peanut butter and jelly. Batman and Robin. If this was Jeopardy  the correct answer would be, “What are perfect pairings.” On this episode we’re talking about two plants that just seem to belong together. It could be that they have complimentary textures, or they bloom in unison, or perhaps their habits fit together like puzzle pieces. String a few of these perfect plant pairs together and you’re sure to get a garden that is pleasing to the eye. Expert testimony: Amy Galloway is a horticulturist at Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, in Austin, Texas.

It pretty much seems like drought is the norm these days.  No matter where you live—East Coast, West Coast, or anywhere in between—periods of no rain are commonplace. Some gardeners out there have been dealing with droughty conditions for decades while others are just starting to learn what a “real” drought-tolerant plant is. After a record-breaking dry spell last summer (and it looks like we’re shaping up to have much of the same this year), Steve and Danielle decided to highlight some of their favorite plants for dry conditions. Some are East Coast favorites (after all, that’s where we garden) but others are West Coast stunners and there’s even a Colorado native plant that has proven itself useful in gardens around the country. Expert testimony: Leslie Harris is the owner of LH Gardens, a firm in Charlottesville, Virginia, that designs, installs, and maintains gardens.

Right about now you might be asking yourself, “What exactly is a workhorse plant?” In our minds it is a plant that asks little from us but delivers a whole lot to the garden. These are tough plants, capable of fitting into an array of spots and producing multiple seasons of interest. They aren’t the stars (aka focal points), and they aren’t the supporting cast (aka reliable performers). They are more like stage managers, ensuring that the garden always looks decent. We thought it was high time that these unsung garden heroes got some praise, since rarely are awards given to plants that are simply defined as “solid.” Saddle up for a long list of perennials—and a few shrubs—you’ll be happy to have ride into your garden.

Do you ever find yourself recommending the same handful of plants to friends and neighbors? We do. These might not being the splashiest of plants, or even the ones that you’d base an entire design around. But, these are fantastic herbaceous perennials—the meat and potatoes of the garden. To make things even more interesting, we limited ourselves down to choosing just four of these go-to plants. Our choices have multiple seasons of interest, thrive under less-than-ideal conditions, and in our minds, are essential in any great garden.   Expert testimony: Susan Morrison is a garden designer in Concord, California.

For those who are a little confused by this episode’s theme let us try to explain. Yes, all garden beds are built with plants. But, there are certain plants that are such solid performers that they are the perfect jumping off point for building a bed. These are not the dramatic focal points that catch everyone’s attention, nor are they the stoic bones of the garden that just play a background role. These are the perfectly chicken tenders, around which the rest of the meal comes together. Steve would’ve preferred a baked goods analogy here, but you don’t always get what you want. Looking to start a new garden and need ideas of where to start? Or, need more solid performers to round out a bed that is lacking something, but you don’t know what? These plants could help.    Expert testimony: Richie Steffen is executive director of the Elisabeth C. Miller Botanical Garden in Seattle.

Spring has long ago sprung and now that all the pruning, dividing, and mulching is done we’re ready to plant up our containers. Like many of you, we are tempted to try something new every year and sometimes end up with a plant that is worthwhile. But we always make sure to incorporate a few tried-and–true container plants. These are selections that never let us down, and if you were to show up on our doorstep tomorrow, you’d likely see them filling in our pots (just call ahead, we want to be sure to pick up a little bit before your arrival). We’ve got fillers, thrillers, and even some spillers on the list, so be sure to listen for some sure-fire options. Expert testimony: Riz Reyes, a horticulturist and floral designer based in Seattle, Washington.