Plant People

Michael Dockry, Assistant Professor of Forestry Studies at the University of Minnesota and a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, explores the state of our forests—and the increased threat of wildfires in today’s climate. Then we dig into the ways that traditional means of forestry, from controlled burns to carefully considered cutting, provides the knowledge we need to tackle this problem if only we acknowledge its value.

Guest: Michael Dockry

We're joined by landscape designer Edwina von Gal, founder of Perfect Earth Project, for a chat exploring America's love of grass, its historic roots as a ubiquitious plant, and von Gal's advocacy for toxin-free landscaping. Dig into the ways that changing our relationship to our lawns can help our gardens work harder as part of the solution to our most pressing environmental challenges. We'll examine lawn alternatives, the "Bee Lawn" and "No Mow May" movements, and some of the other ways we can turn suburban America's landscapes into a force for the good of our planet.

Guest: Edwina von Gal

Take an in-depth look at how NYBG has championed the natural world for over 130 years by caring for its unique and historic collections — together with Dr. Emily Sessa, Director of the William and Lynda Steere Herbarium, and Rhonda Evans, Director of the LuEsther T. Mertz Library.

We’re first joined by Library Director Rhonda Evans for an exploration of the world-renowned Mertz Library, where she digs into the ways that a botanical literature archive like this is incredibly important for our understanding of plants and environmental health, past, present, and future. She goes into the highlights of our collection, how we’re growing it, and takes a peek into our book restoration and conservation lab.

Next, Emily Sessa takes us inside NYBG’s Steere Herbarium and its miraculous collections to share what our herbarium specialists do, and why studying the past through collections like these is key to protecting the future of biodiversity on Earth. The hidden stories of various herbarium specimens will come to life, to help listeners orient themselves amidst the centuries-old act of collecting, documenting and studying plant specimens.

At the crossroads of plants, people, and the planet, Plant People, from the New York Botanical Garden, connects the dots between the natural world and our own well-being. Through lively stories and conversations with scientists, gardeners, artists, and explorers, we dig into the many ways we rely on plants to thrive—and what we can do to return the favor for the ecosystems that sustain us.

Join host Jennifer Bernstein as she explores humanity’s relationship with plants, greening our cities and communities, and how NYBG is working toward a bright and botanical future for all. Listen and subscribe to Plant People, out every two weeks starting May 20, 2024.