horticulture-rising's podcast: Recent Episodes
Brandon George Jordan Foreman
Welcome to Horticulture Rising, a podcast dedicated to finding the "human in horticulture". Hosted by Brandon George, please join us for inspiring interviews with our colleagues and peers in our industry.
Please join me for a conversation with Ryan Drake, an ecological horticulturist at the Greater Des Moines Botanic Garden. In this episode, we’ll be discussing the concept of plant sociability, his research, and the process behind helping to design the Founders Garden, as well as deconstructing the meaning behind nativeness.
In this episode, I’ll be speaking with Nathan Lamb, owner of Nathan Lamb gardening and ecology. We’ll be discussing the considerations that shape the language we use in referring to non-native plant species, his blending of horticulture and ecological practices, and his vast array of experiences.
Please join with for a conversation with Gerard Hoogendoorn, Chief Horticulture Operations Officer at the University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa. We’ll be discussing water scarcity in forcing adaption, ways in which the average person can be a part of plant conservation, and some of his favorite plants to use.
Please join me for a conversation with Alex Cairns, a kitchen gardener at The Small Holding in Kent, England. In this episode, we’ll be talking about his observations from a no-till organic system, the positives of the lockdown period, as well as being inspired to explore cooking with what you grow.
Please join me for a conversation with Quill Teal-Sullivan, horticulturist and owner of Queen Valley Farms based on Lopez Island in Washington. In this episode, we’ll be discussing the learning curve of starting a business, unique challenges female horticulturists face in our industry, as well as the realization that there is no right way to garden.
Please join me for a conversation with Charlie Hawkes, a landscape designer based in London. In this episode, we’ll be talking about his experiences working at some of the most influential landscapes, how thinking with the end in mind can help define a career and potential legacy in our industry, as well as the benefits that finding inspiration outside of horticulture can bring.
In this episode, I’ll be speaking with Peter Shaw, designer and owner of Ocean Road Landscaping in Angelsea, Victoria, Australia. We’ll be discussing his new book Soulscape, his views on laws impacting landscapes, as well as how to best serve future generations going into our industry.
Please join me for a conversation with Jeff Benca, a horticulturist and paleobotanical research associate based in Seattle, WA. In this episode, We’ll be discussing what it was like being a closeted plant nerd growing up, his love for lycophytes, and his Pleistocene, ice age garden that he’s cultivating at home.
Please join me for a conversation with David Godshall, a landscape architect, and partner at Terremoto, a landscape design studio based in Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay area. In this episode, we’ll be talking about the design philosophy that he realizes in his work, what could possibly be the best climate in California, and the importance of taking a lead to improve the welfare of those who are often unrecognized in the industry.
Please join me for a Conversation with Crystal Brinson, a horticulturist and owner of Star Garden studio in New Bedford, Massachusetts. in this episode, We’ll be discussing the importance of focusing your talents and passions, her management philosophies for keeping plant material onsite to reduce impact as well as the turning point in her gardening career.
Please join me for a conversation with David Mattern, a horticulturist at Chanticleer Garden in Wayne, Pennsylvania. in this episode, He’ll be sharing his advice for reimagining a garden space and how he finds inspiration for his work, as well as the importance of visiting other gardens and natural areas to continue to be invigorated with new perspectives gained from others in the industry.
Please join me for a conversation with Jac Semmler, a horticulturist based in Frankton, Victora, Australia. In this episode, we’ll be discussing her work with The Diggers Club, her relationship with the native Australian landscape and what’s she been experimenting with in her own garden.
In this episode I’ll be speaking with Michael Albanese, owner of Avesi Stormwater and Landscape Solutions based in Hamilton, Canada. During our conversation we’ll be talking about the differences between a rain garden and a bioswale, his new book The Modern Rain Garden, as well as a unique challenge he has for anyone who has read it.
In this episode, I’ll be talking with Ashley Edwards, head gardener of Horatio’s Garden in London. We’ll be talking about the points in his career that have led him to find success in this position, how the mission of the garden aligns with his values, as well as how the online gardening community welcomes diversity in horticulture.
Please join me for a conversation with Clare Al-Witri, a landscape architect based in Oakland, CA. We’ll be talking about her inspiration behind transitioning into landscape architecture, her piece in Pacific Architecture, profiling gardeners, and what kind of professional legacy she hopes to leave behind someday.
Please join me for a conversation with Justin Henderson, Garden Director of Powellswood Garden in Federal Way, Washington. You may know him as the guy with the great garden instagram page if you follow. In today's episode, we’ll also be talking about his transition into the horticulture industry and how the welcoming experience he received—changed his perspective on public gardens and the service they provide to their communities.
Please join me for a conversation with Katie Mack, a horticulturist trainee from Sheffield, England. We’ll be talking about the influences that have shaped her budding career in horticulture, her zine Zeal Botanica, as well as her hopes for leaving an impact on the industry as she follows her inclinations and passion.
Please join me for a conversation with Mark Akimoff, a rare flower bulb grower and owner of illahe Rare Bulbs in Salem Oregon. We’ll be talking about the influence that the now closed Berry Botanic Garden had on his passion for propagation, his desire to share suitable bulbs for a changing climate, as well as new plants he’ll be introducing.
Please join me for a conversation with Natalie Angus, based in Cheshire England, she’s the head gardener at the Birches Remembrance. We’ll be talking about the unique aspects of working at and managing a crematorium garden, how this role has changed her as well as her work as a garden designer for Imbolc Design.
Please join me for a conversation with Omri Bachrach, a horticulture intern at the Jerusalem Botanical Garden. We’ll be discussing his beginnings in the world of horticulture and the role he is playing in the conservation of rare and endangered species in Israel, in addition to how he has changed as a result of this experience.
Please join me for a conversation with Donald Warmbold who goes by Stubby. He’s the owner of Black Locust Lumber is currently living in Europe, and will be sharing his story of utilizing black locust for its myriad of uses and properties. We’ll be talking about his long career in forestry, the future of black locust in landscape design, the cultural perceptions of Robinia psuedoacacia, as well as how his patented Permeable Proflow Pavers are providing employment for adults with disabilities.
Please join me for a conversation with Justin Kondrat, a horticulturist at the Smithsonian Gardens in Washington DC. We’ll be talking about His passion for Orchidaceae the importance of inclusivity in our industry, the steps forward, and his involvement with the pansy project.
Please join me for a conversation with Dr. Benjamin Vogt, garden designer, author, and educator in Lincoln, Nebraska. In this episode, we’ll be talking about the double-edged sword that is social media, what it takes to move the needle, and have the conversation about using layered landscapes in our front gardens and why feeling guilt in garden design can be a good thing.
Please join me for a conversation with Rosenwyn Holliday as she talks about the stigma around her career choice to pursue being a gardener, her experience with the Professional Gardeners Guild, and the way art informs her interpretation of gardening and vice versa.
Please join me for a conversation with Ben O’Brien, a landscape designer from Prince Edward County Ontario. We’ll be discussing the long game of building his business, his inspirations taken from the naturalistic garden movement, and the people he is inspired by. Also, he will be discussing his work with trialing gravel substrates that inform his design work for clients.
Please join me for a conversation with James Miller, a British Horticulturist working at the Alameda Gardens in Gibraltar. We’ll be talking about what makes the gardens unique in this small overseas territory, his hopes for developing a south African plant collection there, and his plans for a future trip to Japan.
Please join me for a conversation with Kevin Zuidervliet, horticulturist, and founder of Verdure based in Christiana, PA. We will be talking about the building of this online course startup platform verdure and the careful considerations he takes to differentiate his courses, in addition, we will be talking about his plans for the future and his homes of creating a plant nursery that is a hub for the community.
Please join me for a conversation with Hafsah Hafeji as we discuss her work with Solidaritree, a UK based environment network led by women of color as part of her Roots and Shoots video series, as well as her hopes for reconnecting with her heritage in India in the future.
Please join me for a conversation with Nick Dyner, CEO of Molaear, a company developing nanobubble technology, based in Torrance, CA. This is something of a unique episode in that Nick and I will be having a conversation on the science behind nanobubble technology. We'll be talking about the applications for the horticulture industry and what Molaear hopes to achieve.
Today I am speaking with Jared Toogood, cannabis consultant, and plant scientist based in Detroit, Michigan. We will be talking about his passion for plants and growing operations, and how that lead to an opportunity in the burgeoning cannabis industry. We'll also be talking about his hopes for the industry to outsource learning and fulfilling philanthropic causes.
Today I am speaking with Jabari Taylor, horticulturist, artist, landscape architect based in New York City. We will be talking about his passion for film making and interpreting garden spaces, his work with the Garden Conservancy, and his use of art as a side job.
Today I am speaking with Tyler Bozzuto, Horticulturist, and Head Gardener at a private estate. We will be speaking about what it means to take public garden guest experience and apply that to managing a private estate. In addition, we will be talking about volunteering at the early stages of a career and his three tips for success in our industry.
In this episode I am talking with Dean Bolton-Grant, Horticulturist and Director of Grant Horticulture in North Yorkshire, England. We will be discussing people as the takeaways from horticulture experiences, his insights into Malta and some of the positives he hopes to see in the post-covid era.
Today I am speaking with Sid Hill, permaculturist, educator, and autodidact from Redruth, UK. We will be talking about the considerations that go into designing an ecological and edible meadow, the research for his trial gardens, and insights into his self learning approach.
Please join me for a conversation with Jeanine Beare from Punta del Este, Uruguay. She is an environmentalist, horticulturist, seed collector, and educator who is filling a niche market to make available the seed of the native flora of Uruguay. Fundamentally, she hopes to create a renewed sense of appreciation for these plants amongst her people.
Today I am speaking with Kim and Kevin Raftery from Palo Alto, CA. They are garden designers, arborists, educators, and the authors of KidsGardening, the first book about gardening that I read as a kid. We'll be speaking about their passions and involvement in their local community, what considerations go into creating a kids gardening book, and the ways they encourage the next generation of gardeners.
Please join me for a conversation with Laszlo Mate Talas, a third-generation horticulturist from Tiszakurt, Hungary. We'll be talking about his quest to learn as much as he can from the best in the industry before he takes over as header gardener from his father at the Tiszakurt Arboretum, in addition to his hopes for bridging the connections he's made in western Europe to strengthen those in eastern Europe, along with his aspirations for creating something of a school of horticulture in Hungary.
Today I am speaking with Joel Karsten, founder of the straw bale gardening movement. He's an author, public speaker, and horticulturist. We'll be discussing the history of the method, the adaptability of using alternative carbon sources in place of strawbales, and his hopes for helping solve the global hunger crisis.
Join me for a conversation with Freddie Strickland, he is a horticulturist and garden designer based in Bristol, England. In this episode, we will be talking about some of our favorite garden spaces in London, engaging youth in the industry, and his appreciation for fostering mentor relationships in the early stages of his budding career.
Please join me for a conversation with Shoeib Ahmer, from Hyderabad, Telangana, India. He is a young horticulturist anxious to discover his role in the future of the industry. We'll be discussing value-added crops as an intersection point between agriculture, horticulture, and floriculture in India, and the increased challenges we face with climate change and the role technology is playing to help solve this issue.
Today I am speaking with Philip Tallon, owner of Lacystown Garden and Nursery from Stamullen, in County Mead, Ireland. He's a horticulturist, avid experimenter, and has high ambitions. We will be talking about his current project building a garden from scratch on his family's land, the learning curves that have given him a positive outlook, and the hope that one day, perhaps, he will have the longest herbaceous border in Ireland.
Please join me for a conversation with Michael Gordan, he is an Optometrist, passionate horticulturist, and garden tour guide from Peterborough, NH. We'll be talking about the best gardening advice he's been given, balancing horticulture as a passion when it's not your profession, and enjoying natural spaces in the current era of social distancing.
Nels Olson is a farmer, gardener, and horticultural therapist, and we will be talking about the Hugelkultur method, the power of always staying challenged, and the power of paying it forward in our industry.
Join me for a conversation with Ellie Pay and Sophie Cook. They are horticulturists, propagators, and the founders of the zine, The Young Propagators Society. We will be talking about how zine came to be, the knowledge they are hoping to preserve, and the hope for a YPS conference in the future.
Today I am speaking with Przemyslaw "Shem" Rusczcyk, he is the fruit and vegetable gardener at Hagley House & Museum in Wilmington, Delaware. We will be discussing the opportunities we have all as horticulturists to engage our peers and communities alike, and how Shem hopes to be part of Hagley's future and restoration.
Today I am speaking with Alistair Baldwin, landscape architect and horticulturist in Newby Hall in North Yorkshire, England. We will be talking about the increasing influence of China on the world horticulture stage, using Lonicera nitida as a boxwood alternative, and the art of incorporating shadows in design.
Today I am speaking with Logan Fisher, he is a horticulturist and photographer living in New York City and will be speaking to me about his reflections and horticultural takeaways from spending four months in Japan. Learn more about wabi-sabi, tobi-ishi, and Logan's intrepretation of the human connectedness to nature in the concept of Ma.
Today I am speaking with Mark Brownlee, the Principal Ecologist at Wildlawn in Quakertown, PA. We will be speaking about how Wildlawn is different from other lawn alternative companies, the importance of using locally sourced seeds of native plants, and why he is optimistic that the supply will meet the demand of the growing native plant movement.
Today we are speaking with James Brayton Hall, who is the Executive Director of the Garden Conservancy. We will be talking about the future of the conservancy, the third golden age of garden conservation we are currently experiencing, and the unique abilities of both professional and amateur gardeners alike having the ability to be leaders in their own right.
Today we are speaking with Rizanino 'Riz' Reyes, he is a horticulturist, florist, and garden designer based in Seattle, WA. We will be talking about expressing interesting in gardening from a young age and what it means to empower those who work for us amongst other topics in this episode.
Today we are speaking with Ann Amato. She is a horticulturist, propagator, and seedstress from Portland, Oregon. On this episode, we will be talking about inspiring seed collecting, the unique horticulture scene of Portland, and what exactly a seedstress is.
Today we are speaking with Jason Chen, he is a self-employed horticulturist and florist living in San Diego, CA. We will be talking about the importance of education and training in horticulture and the necessity of connections both locally and afar in our community.
Today we will be speaking with Imogen Toomer. She is a horticulturist in Brisbane, Australia and has recently returned from her internship as the first recipient of the scholarship from The Global Gardening Trust. We will be talking about her time interning at DeWiersse Gardens and her experience and lessons she has learned there.
Today we are speaking with Tommy Tonsberg, he is a gardener, writer, photographer, and plant propagator in Nannestad, Norway. He shares with us his experience importing and growing plants at his nursery, and making the most of a challenging climate.
Today we will be interviewing Kurt Wilkinson. He is a self-taught garden designer, photographer, and topiarist from the Adelaide Hills region of Australia. Speaking about the power of experimentation and taking influence from your idols, we are reminded to stay humble and allow the garden to speak.
On today's episode, we will be speaking with Conor Gallinagh who is a freelance horticulture consultant from Stranorlar, Ireland. We'll be talking about the horticulture scene in Ireland, the benefits of horticulture therapy, and his goal of reaching youth in our industry.
Today we will be speaking with Shelby Doggett who is the Executive Director of What Cheer Flower Farm in Providence, RI, and Virginia "Ginny" Purviance who is the founder of Green Women and is a retired Garden designer. We'll be talking about a nonprofit flower farm and the legacy of five generations of women in horticulture.
Today we will be speaking with Cody Parker, he is the founder of Drop The Beet Farms, running an aquaponics farm at Calgo Gardens in Freehold, NJ. In this episode, we will be talking about the challenges of aquaponics, being a small business owner, and learning to diversify business endeavors to maximize reward and minimize risk in a new industry.
In today's episode, we will be speaking with Emma Vautour. She is the Design Director of Blue Flax LLC, an ecologically focused landscape design company in Harwich, MA. We will be discussing working with laws defining what a native plant is, meeting the demand for landscape plugs, and the importance of educating clients in our industry.
Today we will be speaking with Caleb Melchior, he is the planting designer at ASA Engineering Inc. in Chattanooga, Tennessee. In this episode, we will be talking about public policy intersecting with horticulture, the power of branding yourself and horticulturists who inspire his work.
Today we will be speaking with Kirsty Wilson. She is the herbaceous supervisor at the RBG Edinburgh in Scotland, UK and is the Associate Director of YoungHort, an organization encouraging young people in the United Kingdom to make a career of horticulture. We'll also be talking about the power of Instagram to make connections and her latest findings on her travels to Mauritius.
Today we will be speaking with Joshua Sparkes. He is the head gardener at the Forde Abbey in Dorset, England and is always striving to advance ideas on sustainability and ecology in our field. We will be talking about his use of sand beds, the Korean natural farming method and why even roses covered in blackspot can still be beautiful.
Today we will be speaking with Zena Kolbe-Saltzman. She is the head gardener at Noci Sonoma in Sonoma County California. We will be discussing the magical flora of the San Francisco Bay area and the importance of engaging the public with edible ornamentals.
Today we will be speaking with James McGrath. He is the head gardener at the Robin Hill estate designed by Dan Pearson in western Connecticut. We will be discussing the importance of choosing the right container in a floral piece, the inspiration we take from our travels, and the result we attain by approaching a landscape with a light touch.
Welcome to Horticulture Rising, a podcast dedicated to the future of horticulture and those taking us there. The hosts, Brandon, and Jordan, friends and former students at Longwood Gardens are back collaborating on this podcast. We hope to inspire you with our interviews with people making an impact in our industry to help find the human in horticulture.