P is for Parterre

This episode, we're getting bogged down — in the best way. Liz sits down with Katie Hutchens, Parterre's Director of Ecological Services for Greater Boston, to unpack one of the most misunderstood habitats on Earth.

We dig into what bogs actually are (spoiler: not the Bog of Eternal Stench), how they take thousands of years to form, and why the peat beneath them is literally half carbon — making bogs a powerful, unsung weapon against climate change. We also cover carnivorous plants that dissolve insects alive, bog bodies preserved like mummies, why bogs have such a spooky reputation, and what you can do to help protect them.

Featuring a rapid-fire round of bog favorites and shoutouts to Massachusetts bogs you can visit — including Ponkapoag Bog in Canton, a hidden gem near Harold Parker State Forest in Andover, and the legendary Holly Bog out near Northampton.

Resources mentioned:

• Bogs and Fens: A Guide to the Peatlands of the Northeastern United States and Canada by Ronald B. Davis — a field guide and bog locator all in one
• Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act: https://www.mass.gov/doc/310-cmr-1000-the-wetlands-protection-act/download

Follow and rate us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or Amazon Music. Find us on Instagram @parterregardenservices. Reach us at [email protected].

Topics & Timestamps:0:00 — Intro0:45 — Welcome & introductions1:19 — Pop culture bogs & misconceptions3:27 — Katie's background with bogs4:02 — What is a bog?5:14 — How bogs form over thousands of years6:10 — Nutrient-poor, acidic ecosystems6:53 — Common misconceptions: smell, methane & cow farts8:04 — Peat as carbon storage9:14 — Bog destruction in the UK & Ireland9:33 — Why bogs are special habitats11:04 — Mythical connections, bog bodies & preservation12:27 — Carnivorous plants: pitcher plants14:38 — Bladderwort: the vacuum-powered carnivore15:36 — Why people should care about bogs16:51 — Protecting bogs: legislation & local action18:34 — Book recommendation: Bogs and Fens19:30 — Massachusetts bogs to visit20:59 — Rapid fire questions25:31 — "Bogs are beautiful" — closing message25:49 — Outro & credits

What if the solutions to flooding, pollution, and climate resilience were growing right in front of us? In this episode of P is for Parterre, we dive deep into green infrastructure — what it is, why it matters, and how it's shaping communities across New England. Host Liz Cox is joined by Parterre's ecological crew lead Julia Halm and special guest Kelsey Kern, a water resources engineer at Nitsch Engineering.

Kelsey shares her winding path from landscape architecture to civil engineering, her work shaping green infrastructure projects across New England, and why she calls herself a "certified stormwater nerd." We cover how green infrastructure differs from traditional gray infrastructure, the challenges of public perception and maintenance, and how homeowners can implement small-scale green infrastructure on their own property — from rain barrels to backyard rain gardens. Plus, Kelsey leaves listeners with two homework questions you won't be able to stop thinking about, and we get a behind-the-scenes look at her legendary Halloween costume contest streak.

Guest:

Kelsey Kern — Water Resources Engineer at Nitsch Engineering. Kelsey's work sits at the intersection of sustainability, design, and stormwater management. Over the past six years, she has helped shape green infrastructure projects across New England, from developing guidance for the Boston Water and Sewer Commission to advancing community-focused initiatives like Safe Routes to School. She holds degrees in landscape architecture (Kansas State University) and civil engineering, and is a three-time champion of the Nitsch Halloween costume contest.

Co-Host:

Julia Halm — Ecological Crew Lead at Parterre Garden Services. Julia specializes in green infrastructure maintenance, including rain gardens in Boston and surrounding towns. Her background spans environmental science, water quality testing, and floodplain restoration in Vermont.

Resources Mentioned:

• Kelsey's lightning talk on green infrastructure maintenance — ⁠https://www.nitscheng.com/the-death-and-life-of-green-infrastructure-a-call-to-action/⁠

• Vermont Manual for Bioengineering — ⁠https://dec.vermont.gov/sites/dec/files/documents/BioEngineeringManual_Final.pdf⁠

Follow on Instagram: @parterregardenservices

Email: [email protected]

Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or Amazon Music: Follow and rate P is for Parterre

Topics & Timestamps:

0:04 — Welcome to P is for Parterre

0:44 — Introducing the podcast, Julia, and guest Kelsey Kern

2:40 — Kelsey's career path: from an 8th-grade art project to landscape architecture to civil engineering

4:53 — Julia's background in water quality, floodplain restoration, and ecological horticulture

6:54 — What is green infrastructure? Plants and soils managing stormwater at the surface

8:41 — Using design and signage to improve public understanding of green infrastructure

12:06 — The greatest challenges: public awareness, maintenance, and funding

16:33 — Can you do green infrastructure at home? Rain gardens, rain barrels, and the Vermont Bioengineering Manual

18:01 — Rain barrels 101: how they work and what to know

21:27 — Favorite plants: buttonbush, mint family, tallgrass prairie grasses, and why rats matter

24:30 — Adapting to climate change in New England: aging infrastructure and policy change

27:56 — Kelsey's homework: "Where does your drinking water come from? Where does your wastewater go?"

30:16 — Julia's tip: watch the water's path during the next storm

30:45 — Kelsey's Halloween costume contest championship streak (Flo, fidget spinner, Chewbacca mom, Transformer, dumpster fire, RayGun, and more)

38:06 — Wrap-up and resources

For the third year in a row, we're sitting down to talk all things Halloween decor with Cory Wojcuilewicz, our Urban Fine Gardening Field Manager. From 12-foot witches to Star Wars light displays, we're catching up on last year's most memorable installations, what's inspiring this season's themes, and dreaming up a few displays that don't exist yet.

In this episode:

• A recap of last year's standout displays: three 12-foot witches in custom costumes, a skeleton-turned-mummy tomb scene, the return of Ghoul School, gold skeletons scaling a wall, and an upgraded Star Wars installation with custom X-wing and TIE fighter lighting
• What's new for this year: flying witches playing with silhouettes and dimension, plus a spooky-meets-beautiful butterfly scene
• What makes a perfect Halloween display: cohesive themes, that jaw-dropping magic factor, and why more stuff doesn't always mean better

• Logistics of city installations: tight sidewalk spaces, early October timelines, and clients who want a surprise pop-up
• Dream installations: a giant haunted castle with an astronomer's tower, a magical forest with giant flowers — or maybe both combined
• A call for listener ideas: share your dream Halloween display concepts in the comments!

Interested in Halloween decor services for your property? Reach out - there's still time!

• Instagram: @parterregardenservices
• Email: [email protected]

Every year, many gardeners face the same questions: what's attacking my plants, and what do I do about it? In this episode of P is for Parterre, host Liz sits down with Parterre's own pest and disease expert, Jack Flavin, Field Manager for the Fine Gardening division, to break down why pests and diseases are one of the biggest outside forces shaping how a landscape looks and thrives.

Jack shares practical tips for identifying problems early, when to treat versus when to let nature take its course, and how professionals lean on trusted resources (and each other) to diagnose tricky cases.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• University of Minnesota Extension Service – "What's Wrong With My Plant?" tool
• Picture Insect app (for pest identification)

Have a question for a future episode? Email us at [email protected].

Connect with us on social media through Instagram @parterregardenservices

Bloom with us next time — remember, P is for Parterre.

This episode of P is for Parterre, brought to you by Parterre Garden Services, digs into native plants that can withstand drought — timely, since the Northeast is currently facing a level three critical drought. Host Liz sits down with Katie Hutchens, Parterre's Director of Ecological Services, and Ali, one of the ecological crew leaders, to talk all things native and drought-tolerant.

In this episode:

• Why native plants play a key role in water conservation
• How native landscapes improve soil health (and why lawns fall short)
• Favorite drought-resistant trees, shrubs, flowers, and grasses — including oaks, hackberry, bald cypress, bayberry, goldenrod, milkweed, yarrow, mountain mint, and Massachusetts' very own native cactus, prickly pear
• How to figure out which native plants are right for your yard (soil testing, plant finder tools, and more)
• How long it takes for a native landscape to become established
• Common misconceptions about native plant gardening — and the truth about bugs, bees, and "messy" gardens
• A rapid-fire round with Katie and Ali's favorite native plants, most underrated species, and best success stories from the field

Our Beginner's Guide to Native New England Plants:

Trees

• Oaks (white oak, red oak, swamp white oak)

• Hackberry
• Bald cypress
• Maple (NOT Norway maple)
• Cherry
• Hickory

Shrubs

• Bayberry
• Staghorn sumac
• Spicebush

Flowering Perennials / Wildflowers

• Solidago (goldenrod), including seaside solidago and field goldenrod
• Asters (woodland aster)
• Milkweed (and swamp milkweed)
• Yarrow
• Mountain mint
• Prickly pear cactus
• Joe-Pye weed
• Jack-in-the-pulpit
• Mayapple
• Rudbeckia
• Partridge pea
• Sassafras (also a small tree)

Grasses/Groundcover

• Wild strawberry
• Wild ginger
• Fescue
• Native grasses
• Rubus (bramble species)

Other

• Asteraceae (plant family, mentioned generally as good for pollinators)

Resources mentioned:

• Mass Audubon
• Native Plant Trust (plant finder tool)
• Go Botany
• Books by Doug Tallamy and Robin Wall Kimmerer
• UMass Extension soil testing (and other university extension programs)

Plant native, plant a tree — and thanks for listening!

In this episode of P is for Parterre, we welcome ourfirst guest from outside the Parterre family: Marc Fournier, Energy Efficiency and Environmental Sustainability Specialist, certified arborist, ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualified, LEED Accredited Professional, and member of the USDA Forest Service Urban Forest Strike Team.

Marc joins hosts Liz Cox and Chris Ward for a wide-rangingconversation about his decades-long journey in environmental stewardship — from childhood roots in recycling and tree care to building nationally recognized sustainability programs at UMass Amherst.

Topics covered:

• Marc's path into arboriculture, public works, and sustainability leadership
• The moment climate change became personal and urgent
• Visible and hidden impacts of climate change across New England (invasive species, tick-borne illness, sea level rise, and more)
• The difference between coastal and inland climate impacts
• Native plants, "near-natives," and the future of landscape design
• Practical, everyday actions anyone can take: use less, plant trees, educate others, and vote
• Reasons for hope amid the climate crisis

Three takeaways from Marc:

1. Use less — energy, water, and resources in daily life
2. Plant native trees — and support biodiversity in your own yard
3. Educate and vote — for policies and leaders that protect the environment

Resources Marc mentioned in the episode:

Books

• Nature's Best Hope by Doug Tallamy

• The Nature of Oaks by Doug Tallamy

Apps

• Picture This (plant identification app)

Programs/Organizations

 • Bay State Roads Program (UMass) — "Street Tree Essentials" course

• Mass Save — home energy efficiency/insulation program

• Essex County Beekeepers Association (bee school)

This is a heartfelt, hopeful conversation for anyone who cares about trees, native landscapes, and the future of our planet.

P is for Parterre is brought to you by Parterre GardenServices — a design, build, and maintenance company specializing in landscaping, horticulture, ecological services, irrigation, and lighting.

Follow us on Instagram at @parterregardenservices andreach out to us through our email at [email protected]

June is the garden's big moment — and in this episode, host Liz Cox is joined by Fine Gardening team members Luke Eleey and Jack Flavin to talk about everything that makes early summer in the garden so special.

They cover the plants stealing the show right now (think salvias, nepeta, roses, and the stunning Persicaria polymorpha), the colors that define a June garden, and the key tasks to keep things looking their best — from deadheading and the Chelsea Chop to taming wisteria and properly pruning roses for a second flush.

Luke and Jack also tackle the pests and diseases to watch out for as the heat and humidity arrive, including rose slug sawfly, scale, and black spot, plus practical advice on watering smart during drought conditions and how to handle hydrangeas that just won't stay upright.

Whether you're a weekend gardener or a plant obsessive, this episode is packed with timely, hands-on advice straight from the field.

P is for Parterre is produced by Parterre Garden Services, a design, build, and maintain landscaping company based in North Billerica, Massachusetts. Follow us on Instagram @parterregardenservices or reach us at [email protected].

Are snakes actually dangerous in your landscape? Should you be worried if you find one in your garden? In this episode, we're joined by Brody Gauthier and Ali Carroll from Parterre's Ecological division to break down the truth about snakes in the landscape — from their vital role in pest control to how to safely coexist with them in your yard.

Resources mentioned:

https://www.massaudubon.org/nature-wildlife/reptiles-amphibians/snakes

https://www.mass.gov/info-details/snakes-of-massachusetts

Key takeaway: Snakes are more afraid of you than youare of them. They're harmless garden assistants — and a sign of a healthy ecosystem. And as always: PLANT NATIVE!

Follow us on Instagram: @parterregardenservices Contact us:[email protected]

In this episode, host Liz Cox sits down with Parterredesigner Joel Port to explore one of the most historically significant projects the team has taken on — a landscape design installation at Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Founded in 1831, Mount Auburn is a National HistoricLandmark and the first landscape-style cemetery in North America. Joel walks us through the rich history of the iconic Egyptian Revival gatehouse, the evolution of the Welcome Center Plaza, and how Parterre's ecological division first opened the door to this remarkable collaboration.

From early schematic designs to a bold, out-of-the-boxconcept inspired by ripples in water and Egyptian symbolism, Joel shares how the design process unfolded — and why this project feels like something that could last another 200 years.

Tune in to hear how thoughtful design, deep historicalresearch, and a willingness to take creative risks came together at one of New England's most beloved landmarks.

🔗 Learn more about Mount Auburn Cemetery: https://mountauburn.org/📸 Follow us on Instagram @parterregardenservicesfor design plans and progress photos.

What happens when multiple divisions come together on a single, complex property? In this episode, we're going behind the scenes at Lakeside Manor, a historic Olmsted estate that called on Parterre's expertise across the board.

Liz sits down with JJ, Field Director on the Installation team, and Annie, Field Manager for the Ecological Division, to talk through what real cross-divisional collaboration looks like on the ground. They cover everything from navigating conservation commission regulations and wetland buffers, to managing steep terrain and tight timelines — plus the honest lessons learned about communication, team culture, and slowing down to work fast.

If you've ever wondered how native species restoration fits alongside traditional hardscape and installation work, or what it takes to coordinate multiple divisions on one client's property, this episode is a must-listen.

In this episode:

• Site challenges: grades, conservation buffers, and parking logistics
• Client education around invasive removal and native planting
• How JJ and Annie navigated cross-team communication breakdowns
• What success looks like for both Installation and Ecological