What happens when a landscape architect realizes the plants—not the plans—are the real passion?

In this episode of I Dig Your Story, Ellen Wells talks with David Bache of Garden Industries in Loxahatchee, Florida, about finding your path in horticulture, growing what others won’t, and creating a nursery experience that inspires.

David shares how trying different roles—from landscape design to floral importing—ultimately led him back to what he was meant to do. Today at Garden Industries, he grows unique and heirloom plants, breeds new varieties, and believes every customer visit should feel like an experience—not just a transaction.

Ellen and David also dig into how the nursery industry has evolved, why social media matters more than ever, and what continues to inspire him after decades in the business.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

Connect with David & Garden Industries:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GardenIndustries

Instagram: www.instagram.com/mr_plant_man/?hl=en

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Mr_Plant_Man-b5w

Garden Industries Newsletter Sign-Up: https://mailchi.mp/2fc4ca0532a0/newsletter-signup

Garden Industries Website: www.gardenind.com

Melinda Knuth didn’t set out to become an academic—but a series of questions, opportunities and one pivotal experience at Disney World led her there.

In this episode of I Dig Your Story, Melinda shares how her early goal of building a wholesale floral business evolved into a career focused on understanding how—and why—people connect with plants. From her upbringing in agriculture to her graduate work in consumer behavior, her story is a reminder that career paths rarely move in straight lines.

We talk about the moment that shifted her thinking, her passion for engaging consumers, and what the horticulture industry still gets wrong about communicating plant benefits. Melinda also shares insights from her research—like how online pre-researching is shaping plant purchases—and why simplifying our messaging may be the key to reaching more people.

At the heart of it all is a deep belief in helping others discover their passion for plants.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

Find Melinda:

NC State Horticultural Department: https://cals.ncsu.edu/horticultural-science/people/mjknuth/

Cognitive Behavioral Lab: https://cognitivebehaviorallab.cals.ncsu.edu/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mknuth/

CBS News Sunday Morning segment “The Pride and Perils of Plant Parenthood” on YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vO-61q69PUw

Gail Cash, owner of Flori-Design in Eustis, Florida, has built a horticulture career shaped by resilience, focus and creativity.

In this episode of I Dig Your Story, Gail shares her journey from FFA and Virginia Tech to launching her own business, including how she found a niche in carnivorous plants and built memorable products like “Little Pot of Horrors.”

She also talks about expanding into dish gardens and terrariums, designing standout products, and what it took to survive the Great Recession.

Along the way, Gail shares the lesson that continues to guide her business today:

“I really learned during the Great Recession that you need to stick with what you do best and just try to do a better job of it.”

We also discuss leadership, team retention, and how treating people well has helped her build a loyal workforce.

🎧 Listen in for a conversation about plants, business, and staying grounded through change.

Where to Find Gail:

Website: https://www.flori-design.com/

Little Pot of Horrors: https://littlepotofhorrors.com/

Instagram: @flori_design_inc

Facebook: Flori-Design Nursery

What does it mean to truly grow through every season of life?

In this deeply moving conversation, Gladys Opiyo shares a story that spans continents, hardship, discovery and purpose. From her early years as a refugee to her journey through agriculture in Uganda, Costa Rica and the United States, Gladys reveals how her path was shaped by resilience, faith and her discovery of and appreciation for floral beauty.

Her connection to plants runs far deeper than a career—it’s rooted in survival, shaped by necessity, and elevated by curiosity. Today, as a Director of Sales at Profile Products, Gladys brings a unique perspective shaped by hands-on growing experience, global education and a heartfelt commitment to supporting her grower customers.

This is a story about more than plants. It’s about perspective, perseverance

and finding purpose in the unexpected turns of life.

Find Gladys on LinkedIn.

What if the thing you loved as a kid could grow into a career that reaches millions?

In this episode of I Dig Your Story, Justin Hancock shares how a simple fascination with plants turned into a role helping gardeners everywhere feel more confident, capable, and inspired.

From early curiosity to industry influencer, Justin’s story is about following what pulls you in—and figuring it out along the way.

In this episode, we dig into:

If you’ve ever wondered “could this actually go somewhere, career-wise?”—this conversation is for you.

SHOVEL READY:

Garvinea Garden Gerberas - https://garvinea.com/

Variegated Kaempferia - https://costafarms.com/products/variegated-kaempferia-medium

Where to Find Justin:

Costa Farms: costafarms.com

We are introducing a new show spinoff: Fifth Tuesdays. Wanting to keep to just four Tuesday interviews each month, host Ellen Wells decided to use this “fifth Tuesday” as a quarterly bonus. For each month that has a Fifth Tuesday, she will answer your questions and update you on any I Dig Your Story happenings.

In this episode, Ellen answers:

Ellen also answers a few lightning round questions, too—you’ll want to hear what plant she struggles with the most (hint: it’s not actually a plant).

SHOVEL READY:

Questions: [email protected]

Host Ellen Wells chats with former Walt Disney World Director of Horticulture Katy Moss Warner and former Florida Nursery, Growers, and Landscape Association (FNGLA) COO Linda Adams to share the story of the Bloom & Grow Garden Society in Winter Garden, Florida. The conversation is proof that a passionate garden club can literally reshape a community. 

Together Linda and Katy reveal how Bloom & Grow:

- Helped turn Winter Garden’s blighted downtown into a lush linear park 

- Planted 1,000 bald cypress trees at Tucker Ranch and has become known as "the folks who do trees well." 

- Helped establish Winter Garden’s official flowering tree (Pink Trumpet Tree) and the Heritage Tree Walk 

- Maintains multiple public gardens that support both pollinators and the people who live in and visit downtown Winter Garden.

- Run multiple programs that serve as models for other community-focused garden clubs throughout the nation.  

You’ll hear practical inspiration for starting or reimagining a garden club, engaging local leaders, partnering with industry and using plants to build community, connection and long-term legacy.

And the next time you see Katy, ask her about her Aspidistra collection.

SHOVEL READY:

Bloom & Grow Garden Society’s Spring Fever in the Garden: https://www.springfeverinthegarden.org/

America In Bloom: https://americainbloom.org/

On this episode of I Dig Your Story, Ellen talks with Kathy Jentz — journalist, podcaster and founding editor and publisher of Washington Gardener Magazine.

Kathy shares how a lifelong love of reading and telling stories led her to study journalism in college, but it wasn’t until she bought a small house with a big garden that gardening truly became a passion. Eventually, noticing the lack of reliable regional information for Mid-Atlantic gardeners, she launched her own publication — and later the GardenDC podcast — to connect gardeners with trustworthy, local expertise.

Ellen and Kathy talk about how garden media has evolved from printed newsletters and magazines to blogs, podcasts, and social media — and what that shift means for today’s home gardeners. With so much information circulating online, Kathy explains why finding credible, regionally relevant advice is more important than ever, especially as AI-generated content, misleading graphics, and viral gardening “hacks” spread across the internet.

In this conversation, they dig into:

Learn about Kathy’s most reliable tools and how she protects them, why roses do not have to be scary, and her believe that we should all grow what we love and tackle garden projects in small, manageable pieces.

If you’ve ever wondered how someone builds a career telling gardeners’ stories — or how to separate helpful gardening advice from online noise — this episode is full of insights and practical wisdom.

Where to Find Kathy

Instagram/X/BlueSky/Threads: @WDCgardener

LinkedIn: Kathy Jentz

Facebook: Kathy Jentz and Washington Gardener Magazine

Website: www.washingtongardener.com

Blog: www.washingtongardener.blogspot.com

Podcast: GardenDC available on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and other major platforms

In this episode of I Dig Your Story, Ellen sits down with Maria Rodale—author, organic advocate, and co-chair of the Rodale Institute board—to explore a lifetime spent growing alongside plants and the organic movement. 

Maria shares what it was like growing up on the pioneering Rodale family farm, where Organic Gardening and Prevention magazines were born and where her father’s research helped prove that organic systems can outperform chemical agriculture while regenerating soil. 

She explains the difference between organic and regenerative organic, why eliminating toxins is still the heart of the work, and how “regeneration” became part of the movement’s vocabulary. 

With guest co-host Mike Betterly from Organic Mechanics Soil Company, the conversation turns to: 

And, maybe best of all, Maria gives us permission to not weed! 

Find Maria Rodale on:

Substack @Life.Unfiltered

On this episode of I Dig Your Story, host Ellen Wells chats with Frank and Pamela Arnosky, founders and owners of Arnosky Family Farm and Market — known as Texas’ premier cut flower farm and garden.

Ellen first interviewed Frank and Pam for a 2025 FloraCulture International article and immediately knew their story deserved a deeper dig. The couple reveal that what started as a shared childhood love of plants separately grew into a thriving specialty cut flower operation as they came together. 

The Arnoskys' journey began with a small bedding plant business and a bold opportunity. When Whole Foods Market asked if they could supply “all you can grow,” the Arnoskys dove deep into specialty cut flowers. That eventually led to the creation of Texas Specialty Cut Flowers and the Blue Barn Market, beloved by flower lovers near and far.

In this episode, listen for:

How marigolds changed everything. A single crop dramatically shifted their production focus and opened new retail doors.

How COVID nearly flipped their business model 180 degrees. When wholesale demand stalled, retail  sales surged.

How polka music altered the course of their lives. Sometimes destiny arrives with an accordion.

Frank and Pam share honest insights about taking chances, resilience, sticking to their mission, and staying rooted in purpose. Through every season, they’ve remained grounded in one simple belief: Every home should have flowers every day.

If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to build a highly respected cut flower brand beloved throughout the Lone Star State — or how love, partnership, and a little polka can shape a life in horticulture — this episode is for you.

Where to Find the Arnoskys:

Website: https://www.texascolor.com/