Garden People

My guest today is Ngoc Minh Ngo, a photographer and author based in New York City.  Her work is an immersive exploration of the beauty of plants and nature, enveloping and other worldly.  I always feel I am being drawn into a more three-dimensional space. It is an almost tactile experience as the garden wraps around you and where you can disappear into the page.  No matter what she captures, it often seems as though I am looking at my own memory of a space or plant, whether or not I have seen it before.  Her creative expression stretches not only through different gardens and subjects – this year alone she photographed gorgeous books by Gabriela Salazar and Umberto Pasti, and authored one on the green spaces of New York to be released next month – she also experiments with other media.  I can see how these practices, along with her own garden, give her a deeper understanding of her subjects and allow her to reveal their beauty and essential nature.  I am so grateful to have her work to transport and inspire me, and to share this conversation with you. Thank you for listening!Garden People Podcast from @violetear_studioL I S T E N iTunesSpotifyStitcher S H O W N O T E SNgoc’s IGNgoc’s websiteNgoc’s books:New York Green - coming May 23, 2023Eden Revisited In BloomBringing Nature HomeArtistry of Flowers: Floral Design by La Musa de Las Flores by Gabriela SalazarThe House of a Lifetime: A Collector’s Journey in Tangier by Umberto Pasti Botany of Desire, Michael Pollan Naval Cemetery Landscape Nature Sacred<a href="https://www.britishmuseum.org/about-us/british-museum-story/people-behind-collection/mary-delany"...

Can you name a garden dweller who is ecologically obsessed, a little punk rock, and creates spaces for plants, pollinators and people in equal measure? Why that would be the next guest on the Garden People podcast, Rebecca McMackin! Link to listen in the bio or find us wherever you catch your podcasts. Rebecca @oroeoboeococoao is an ecological gardener, a Loeb Fellow with the Harvard Graduate School of Design, and former Director of Horticulture for Brooklyn Bridge Park (BBP) in New York. She writes, lectures, and teaches on ecological landscape management and pollination ecology. In these spheres, she brings an infectious enthusiasm alongside an abiding commitment to ecological vitality and urban biodiversity. As part of NYC Parks Rebecca was the head gardener at historic Washington Square Park, where she deftly maintained displays and occasionally was called on to coax a reveler down from an English Elm. At BBP, Rebecca managed 85 acres of diverse parkland organically, creating a habitat that was welcoming to New Yorkers, birds, butterflies, and soil microorganisms. She migrated to Cambridge after being awarded the Loeb Fellowship, where she currently studies ecological design and science communication.Rebecca understands plants and their pollinators, but she also understands people and how we can best invite them into the garden. This is helped by her exceptional ability to synthesis and share important information about our world. Her newsletter is an indispensable part of my learning, a go-to for a roundup of important articles and ideas, all framed by her optimism, humor, and seriousness of purpose. This interview was recorded in the last weeks of her Directorship at BBP, and it was a pleasure to speak with her at this time of transition.Thank you for listening!S H O W N O T E SRebecca’s IG @oroeoboeococoaoRebecca’s website Rebecca’s newsletterDouglas Tallamy Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates Inc Margaret Roach lawn article National Audubon SocietyXerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center - Wildflower.org US EPA Ecoregions Robin Wall Kimmerer Brooklyn Bridge Park Horticulture database <a href="https://xerces.org/sites/default/files/publications/18-003_02_Monarch-Nectar-Plant-Lists-FS_web%20-%20Jessa%20Kay%20Cruz.pdf" rel="noopener...

My guest is Lucy Hunter, a multi-hyphenate if there ever was one: creative director, garden designer, floral artist, stylist, photographer, teacher, author, botanical dyer…the list goes on. Based in North Wales in the UK, Lucy is, at root, a restless creative who is always adding to her list of projects and modes of expression.  She shows us how useless labels can be in a creative life, and how generous our output becomes when we do away with them.  Her book, The Flower Hunter: Seasonal Flowers Inspired by Nature and Gathered from the Garden, was published in November of 2021.   I was fortunate enough to attend a workshop with Lucy, Gabriela Salazar, and Max Gill this past March, and saw first-hand her creative force at play. From design notes to photography demonstrations, her energy and engagement with attendees and their work was simply amazing. I’m so happy to welcome her here today.Lucy will have another whirlwind tour of workshops in the coming months, including one in October with TJ McGrath in New Jersey. Next year, she will return to New York, San Francisco, Seattle, and New Orleans in March, and Provence in April. You can receive up-to-date information on dates and registration on her website and IG. Links in the show notes, below. Garden People Podcast from @violetear_studioL I S T E N iTunesSpotifyStitcher S H O W N O T E SLucy Hunter Lucy’s website Lucy’s book: The Flower Hunter: Seasonal flowers inspired by nature and gathered from the gardenCarol’s Garden (Featured in Lucy’s book) Great DixterSissinghurst Castle GardensKiftsgate Court GardensJackdaws eating buxus caterpillars Rachel Ashwell Shabby Chic Interiors: My Rooms, Treasures, and Trinkets Gabriela Salazar La MUSA de las FLORESMax Gill Max Gill Design Wilding: Returning nature to our farm by Isabella Tree <a href="https://amzn.to/3bwGFW1"...

My guest today is Jennifer Jewell, gardener, author, and the host of Cultivating Place, a co-production & podcast of North State Public Radio, which is syndicated across the United States and available as a podcast worldwide.  For listeners of a garden podcast in North America, much less one produced in Northern California on indigenous land, Jennifer probably needs no introduction.  In many ways she has shaped a corner of garden culture and literacy, introducing listeners to gardeners across the globe and the remarkable beings in their own backyard.  Her interviews and writing are focused on the importance of the person and place in the garden -- considering the land, its history, and culture, and always moving toward a more sustainable, inclusive whole. I am always inspired by her unwavering faith in gardeners, and the belief that we can meet the incredible challenges of our current time with community, care, and an embrace of the interconnectedness of our natural world.   Garden People Podcast from @violetear_studioL I S T E N iTunesSpotifyStitcher S H O W N O T E SSeed Savers ExchangeHeronswoodJohn Whittlesey Earth in Her HandsUnder Western Skies Caitlin Atkinson Arrabella Lennox Boyd (and her wonderful new book)Anna Pavord, The Tulip (and her most recent: The Seasonal Gardener: Creative Planting Combinations)Rowan White, Sierra SeedsVandana Shiva (two favorites: Who Really Feeds the World? and Stolen Harvest)Leah Penniman,...

Today I welcome Amanda Luu and Mia Westphal of Studio Mondine, a floral design studio based in San Francisco, California, to the Garden People podcast.  Mondine’s work is multifaceted and always a reflection of the group’s deep appreciation of the natural world.  Whether it’s finding inspiration for a bridal bouquet in the weeds growing around the wedding venue or puzzling through ways to make travel to that venue the most environmentally sustainable, the team works with admirable care and infectious joy.  They lead by example and educate through beauty, and they might just invite you to eat the centerpiece. Listen in to hear them discuss sustainable floristry and seeking inspiration from nature. Garden People Podcast from @violetear_studioS H O W N O T E S@studiomondineStudio Mondine Ikebana Ikebana Unbound (by Amanda and co-founder Ivanka Matsuba)if i made courseGarden People episode with Hanna Brannan of Gather Flora Azuma Makoto Lauri Kranz, her book A Garden Can Be Anywhere: A Guide to Growing Bountiful, Beautiful, Edible Gardens P L A N T L I S TJasmine TulipsPeoniesMushrooms

Today I welcome floral artist and flower friend and mentor, Sarah Statham of Simply by Arrangement. Whether writing from her corner of Yorkshire, England, or gardens farther afield, she is forever seeking light and the perfect pebble, and always celebrating color, form, and seasonality. Her role as an educator extends beyond the vase, providing invaluable business advice through one to one conversations with numerous flower fettlers, both seasoned and new. As much as I rely on her rock steady advice, it is her humor, love of learning, and keen sense of observation that I admire most. Perhaps it is due to the many roles she has held in her own life, but her ability to see and share stories is one of her greatest gifts. And since most of you will know her way with a bowl and a tulip or two, you’ll agree there are few in the same league. Garden People Podcast from @violetear_studio L I S T E N iTunesSpotifyStitcher S H O W N O T E SSarah StathamSimply by Arrangement Rachel, Yorkshire Flower PatchJill Shaddock Miss Pickering, Stamford Flowers from the FarmDove Cottage NurseryMax Gill Constance Spry Beth ChattoChristopher LloydSue Stuart Smith, The Well Gardened Mind: Restorative Power of Nature Anna Pavord, The TulipIan McEwan The Business of Selling Flowers (Claire Brown, Paula Baxter, Carol Siddorn) - <a href="https://www.thebusinessofsellingflowers.com/scholarship" rel="noopener noreferrer"...

My guest is Jane Scotter, a biodynamic farmer and author and the force behind Fern Verrow in Herefordshire in the West Midlands of England.  Jane has been a huge inspiration for me and countless growers and gardeners.  Her passion, drive, and love for her land are evident in each crate of castelfranco.  In addition to her cookbook, Jane’s relationship with Skye Gyngell and Spring restaurant shows the wonderful partnership between plot and plate, and the artistry involved in the growing and making of meals.  The gorgeous products of her work also make one of the most compelling arguments for how care for our earth and where our food comes from can be life affirming in addition to being life-saving.  From favorite tulips to the best days for cultivation, you'll hear about Jane's dynamic relationship with the growing season, which is always imbued with beauty and a celebration of taste.    Garden People Podcast from @violetear_studioS H O W N O T E SJane ScotterFern VerrowFern Verrow cookbookBiodynamic gardening Neal’s Yard Dairy Skye GyngellSpring Restaurant LondonSarah JohnsonRandolph HodgsonMaria Thun calendar / Thun app Heckfield Place Alan Chadwick Alice WatersBob CannardChez PanisseP L A N T L I S TTulip Bown sugar Tulip Red impression Castelfranco

My guest is Marryn Mathis, a flower farmer and educator running a small family flower farm in Stanwood Washington.  A few years ago Marryn left her corporate job for a life of flowers and has never looked back.  To hear Marryn’s approach, it seems like she can always do more, whether that’s planting 13,000 sweet peas to 10,000 sunflowers.  This past spring she also fielded 46,000 online visitors to her dahlia tuber sale.  It speaks to her boundless energy and enthusiasm for what she does, and the joy she takes in sharing flowers with her community.  What I am struck by, though, is how thoughtful she is about what she spends her time on – she is constantly reconsidering and reshaping her work, which then allows her to put her whole heart into the farm and its many wonderful projects.  Whether it’s a wall of sweet peas or a rainbow row of dahlias, you’re sure to be inspired.  Garden People Podcast from @violetear_studioL I S T E N iTunesSpotifyStitcher S H O W N O T E SMarryn MathisFarmhouse Flower Farm FloretP L A N T L I S T Chocolate lace flower SunflowersCressSweet peas:VicksBlue shiftEmmaWindsor Apricot queen Old Times Clementine kiss Susan Burgess Kings ransom Betty White Deborah Devonshire

My guest today is Bex Partridge, the floral artist and gardener Botanical Tales based in Devon, England. Bex creates sustainable designs, displays and installations using dried flowers, also known as everlastings.  Her work celebrates nature and the shifts of the seasons, drawing attention to flowers in each stage of their existence.  Her ethereal displays and designs create a sense of wonder in the observer, and bespeak certain magic.  Learning from her – whether through her workshops, books, or Patreon community – will change the way you see the garden.  Her most recent book, Flowers Forever, is available this month in the UK, and at the end of June in the USA. Please see the links below for order'/preorder information. Garden People Podcast from @violetear_studioL I S T E N iTunesSpotifyStitcher S H O W N O T E S Bex PartridgeBotanical TalesBex’s most recent book “Flowers Forever: Sustainable dried flowers, the artists way,” available early June in the UK and June 28 in the USA. Also see: Everlastings: How to Grow, Harvest and Create with Dried FlowersBiodynamic growing UK and USA Biodynamic preparationsCharles Dowding no dig, No till from Love ‘n Fresh Flowers Digging / double digging Wormery Egg shell fertilizerOudolf Field - Hauser and WirthP L A N T L I S TTulipa ssp.Oxeye daisies Leucanthemum vulgareRanunculusMeadow Buttercup Ranunculus acris<a...

My guest today is the incredible Melissa Goldstein, a ceramic artist based in Brooklyn, New York.  Her work – hand thrown and painted with a cobalt stain and the occasional metallic splatter – is inspired by 17th century German and Japanese botanical illustration, and draws on numerical calligraphy, botanical drawings, and ornithology.  Every piece is absolutely exquisite: from platter to vase, the flowers seem to grow, the birds careen midflight. The details speak to a life of close observation and deep immersion in art and the world as a garden. My guest today is Melissa Goldstein, a ceramic artist I have long admired. Melissa is based in Brooklyn, New York.  Her work – hand thrown and painted with a cobalt stain and the occasional metallic splatter – is inspired by 17th century German and Japanese botanical illustration, and draws on numerical calligraphy, botanical drawings, and ornithology.  Her pieces are absolutely exquisite: from platter to vase, the flowers seem to grow, the birds captured midflight. They speak to a life of close observation and deep immersion in art and the world as a garden. If you are in New York, please make your way to Fox Fodder Farm to see more of the vases we discuss. You can buy Melissa’s pieces in all their forms at the lovely E-E Home, or on her website, Mg by hand. Garden People Podcast from @violetear_studio L I S T E N iTunesSpotifyStitcher S H O W N O T E S Melissa Goldstein Mg by hand John CageE-E Home Fox Fodder FarmNgoc Minh NgoP L A N T L I S T Flowering quince - Chaenomeles speciosa Lady tulip - Tulipa clusianaSnake’s head fritillary, checkered fritillary - Fritillaria meleagris Persian lily - Fritillaria persica