In this episode of The Wildstory, Ann Wallace and Kim Correro sit down with the incomparable Julie Zickefoose (0:2:39), beloved writer, birder, and wildlife rehabilitator. Julie shares a first listen of her unpublished nature poetry and dives into the brand-new edition of Birdwatching for Dummies, co-written with bwd editors Jessica Vaughan and Dawn Hewitt. And don’t miss the finale: Julie reveals how you can create her popular Warbler Fall and gives an exclusive sneak peek at the updated Enjoying Bluebirds More, returning this spring after selling over half a million copies.

Next up, Dr. Randi Eckel, owner of Toadshade Wildflower Farm (0:42:02), tackles a listener's question by demystifying the confusion around Purple Giant Hyssop. She also breaks down the fundamentals of proper plant naming and offers a quick guide to reading nursery labels so you can tell whether you’re choosing a true native species or a cultivar.

In our final segment, we are thrilled to talk with Dr. Lea Johnson (0:53:03), Director of Conservation at the Native Plant Trust, which is celebrating its 125th anniversary this year. A plant ecologist specializing in community ecology, ecological restoration, and urban forestry, Dr. Johnson bridges foundational research with real-world land management and design. Her work brings together multiple disciplines to better understand human-altered environments and to strengthen the science that guides effective ecological restoration in a rapidly changing world.

This month’s featured poet is Holli Carrell, whose debut collection Apostasies was recently published by Perugia Press. Holli speaks about her personal process of reflection and discovery—including an intentional turn toward the natural world—after leaving the Mormon church of her upbringing. 

In Ask Randi, Dr. Randi Eckel, Owner of ToadShade Wildflower Farm, tackles a listener’s question about Oleander aphids and explains why buying ladybugs isn’t the best approach to eliminating them. 

In Five Questions, President of the Native Plant Society of NJ, Kazys Varnelis, shares the lineup for Weird NJ, this fall’s virtual conference, happening Saturday, November 1. From parasitic plants to carnivorous, aquatic, and fungal species, discover how these fascinating natives play vital roles in our ecosystems.

And to close out the episode, we speak with Mary Anne Borge, editor of Butterfly Gardener Magazine, a publication of the North American Butterfly Association (NABA), and a naturalist at Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve. Mary Anne talks with us about how we can each make a difference for butterflies, the connection between the Sleepy Orange butterfly and Wild Senna, and why ants deserve a spot on every gardener’s “thank you” list.

This episode features poet Lynne Shapiro (0:2:29) of Hoboken, New Jersey, who speaks with Ann about her collection To Set Right, published in 2021 by WordTech Editions, and about her work in progress. Lynne’s work holds space for the life we can and cannot see. She talks with Ann about the importance of returns, learning to see, and the persistence of nature, and reminds us that, to truly know a place, we must look upward and study the sky.

In this Ask Randi segment, Dr. Randi Eckel (0:33:10) answers a question from Eilika about native alternatives to the ecologically harmful Barberry (Berberis thunbergii), particularly options that still provide distinctive purple or burgundy foliage with vibrant red stems.

Later, we debut our new segment, Five Questions With. Kim sits down with Chris Martine, (0:45:35), who is the President-Elect of the Botanical Society of America and the David Burpee Professor of Plant Genetics and Research at Bucknell University. He shares stories behind his newly re-published field guides from the NJ Forest Service, Trees of New Jersey and the Mid-Atlantic States, and Shrubs and Vines of New Jersey and the Mid-Atlantic States.

In our final segment, Kim and Ann talk with Jean Epiphan, (1:03:05) Associate Professor of Ecology at Rutgers University and the newly appointed arborist on the NPSNJ board. Jean reminds us that the future of our forests begins in our own backyards, underscoring how true forest stewardship starts with the everyday choices we make as caretakers of our own land. Jean is also a Coordinator for Region 1 (Northern NJ) for the Rutgers Environmental Steward program with an extensive background in forestry, ecology, and landscape restoration, as well as garden design, landscape management, tree care, and land stewardship.

Today’s featured poet is Charise Hoge (0:03:35) whose latest collection, Inheritance of Flowers, came out this spring from Kelsay Books. Reflecting on her grandmother’s legacy as a southern flower shop owner, Charise speaks with Ann about ancestry, belonging, and our internal connections with nature that are sustaining even in times of upheaval and hibernation.

In the Ask Randi segment, Dr. Randi Eckel (0:29:27) dives into New Jersey’s game-changing Bill S1029, which was just passed by the State Senate. This bill tackles the sale of invasive plants and creates an Invasive Species Council—huge wins for our native ecosystems. But this bill is not law yet. The New Jersey State Assembly still needs to pass Bill A4137 to seal the deal. So now is the moment to act: Call or email your State Assembly member and urge them to support A4137 or reach out to NPSNJ Advocacy with questions. Your voice can help protect the landscapes we love! Plus, Randi answers a listener question about living native Christmas trees—sharing her top picks for outdoor planting after the holiday season.



Kim then talks with Ken Chaya (0:43:43) celebrated artist and New York-based urban naturalist. Ken shares why Central Park has become one of the premier birding spots in the United States. With its unique geography and rich canopy of over 20,000 trees, the park is a vital oasis for migratory birds—and a paradise for birders. Ken was instrumental in creating the Central Park Entire App, is the past President of the Linnaean Society and teaches at the New York Botanical Garden, where he helped design the Urban Naturalist Certificate Program. Most recently, he led a four-week deep dive into The Natural History of Birds for NPSNJ.

Kim and Ann close the episode in conversation with the remarkable Mélina Mangal (1:11:32)—author of children's books that explore our deep connections between nature and culture. Her latest works, Birds Sing Their Words and Trees Stand Tall, are lyrical board books for young readers, published by Free Spirit Publishing. Mélina is also a school library teacher in Minneapolis, where she champions the joy of reading every day. Together, we discuss book censorship, the vital role of storytelling, and why the freedom to read and access information is essential to the health of our democracy. 

Announcement from The WildStory: We will take a short hiatus this summer—offering regenerative time for gardening, writing, family, and more. We will be back with a new episode in September!

Today’s featured poet is Ibe Liebenberg (0:03:51) who joins Ann Wallace to talk about his new collection, Birds at Night, published in 2025 by Texas Tech University Press. Ibe is a member of the Chickasaw nation, as well as a firefighter from Paradise, California. With wildfires causing increasing destruction across the nation in recent years, we have wanted to speak with a firefighter on The WildStory—and this conversation with Ibe does not disappoint. It is a reflective one, highlighting the intertwining threads—of land, migration, and ancestry, of family and memory, of fire, loss and healing—contained within his poetry.

Spring is here, and in this month’s segment of "Ask Randi," Randi Eckel (0:31:47), owner of Toadshade Wildflower Farm encourages listeners to take a gentle approach when tidying up their gardens this season. She explains that because insects and other wildlife rely on leaf litter, stems, and decaying wood throughout the year, plant debris is essential for the survival of many creatures.

Next, Kim Correro is joined by guest host Susan Landau, one of the people behind the Foote’s Pond Wood Park restoration project in Morristown, New Jersey. Susan has also been instrumental in creating the "Going Native" planting guide for Northern New Jersey, and she collaborates each year on the popular Great Swamp Watershed Native Plant Sale, which is open online through April 18th. More information can be found at greatswamp.org.

Together, Kim and Susan interview William Cullina (0:41:10), the F. Otto Haas Executive Director of the Morris Arboretum & Gardens at the University of Pennsylvania. Cullina is a well-known author and recognized authority on North American native plants. During their conversation, he shares his long-term goals for the Morris Arboretum and discusses his research in tree genetics and soil microbiology, as well as an exciting new exhibition titled "Bees, Butterflies, and Blooms: A Pollinator Paradise," which will run this year from May 23 to September 30.

In the final segment, Kim and Ann speak with award-winning author and designer Kelly D. Norris (1:08:39), one of the leading ecological horticulturists of his generation. Kelly’s new book, Your Natural Garden, is a page-by-page guide through the seasons of a naturalistic garden’s life, and the tasks that come with each stage. Kelly explores the connections between people, plants, and place through ecological, site-specific design and art. He talks with Kim and me about the history of natural places, the value of abundance—in life and in planting—and the importance of becoming familiar, beyond the limited information contained on labels, with the plants we have in our gardens and parks. 

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In this episode, featured poet Theta Pavis (0:03:00) speaks with Ann Wallace about her new chapbook, The Red Strobe, which just came out from Finishing Line Press. Theta’s work is marked by grief and pain, but also love, family, protection, and a fierce kind of resilience—as can be seen in the garden her mother created many years ago, a garden which is now Theta’s, in her Jersey City yard. Follow Theta online at ThetaPavis.com

Randi Eckel returns for a brand-new Ask Randi segment about NPSNJ's upcoming BioBlitz, (0:34:31) to celebrate National Native Plant Month. Randi describes how volunteers, scientists, and naturalists collaborate to document as many native species as possible in a specific area within a set timeframe.

Kim Correro is then joined by Bobbie Herbs, (0:41:36) co-leader of the NPSNJ Southwest Chapter. Bobbie has played a crucial role in establishing the IGC Committee, which aims to encourage independent nurseries throughout New Jersey to stock native plants. Together, Kim and Bobbie talk with award-winning author and pollinator conservationist Heather Holm. Heather is an expert on the interactions between native pollinators and native plants, and she will teach a four-week course for NPSNJ beginning in April.

In the final segment, Kim and Ann speak with Paula Whyman (1:09:57) about her new book, Bad Naturalist: One Woman’s Ecological Education on a Wild Virginia Mountaintop, which was released this winter by Timber Press. Blending memoir, natural history, and conservation science, the book chronicles her efforts to restore a former mountaintop farm to its natural habitat. If you enjoy the book, you can continue following Paula's journey by signing up for her popular newsletter, Bad Naturalist at PaulaWhyman.com.



Thank you for joining us on The WildStory. Follow us on Instagram @Thewildstory_podcast

The WildStory: A Podcast of Poetry and Plants

by the Native Plant Society of New Jersey

Hosted byAnn E. Wallace, PhD

Poet Laureate Emeritus of Jersey City

Co-hostKim Correro,

Rutgers Master Gardener and Director of State Programs

Special ContributorDr. Randi Eckel

Entomologist and Vice President of Membership NPSNJ

Do you have a question about native plants for Randi?

Email: [email protected]

The WildStory presents a special episode this month in celebration of Black History. We have three amazing guests, who share the stories of Black Americans who wrote poetry, created gardens, advanced the field of horticulture, and inspired others—and who are each doing important work themselves today. An unexpected throughline in these conversations is the influence of W.E.B. DuBois, the Black leader, visionary and author of the 1903 book The Souls of Black Folk, which inspired generations of Black Americans toward self-realization and liberty through education, the arts and culture, and more. 

The first guest is Shaun Spencer-Hester (0:04:43), granddaughter of the poet, gardener, and community leader Anne Spencer. Anne Spencer’s home and garden in Lynchburg, Virginia was a gathering place for Black intellectuals of the Harlem Renaissance, offering a garden refuge and retreat at a time when many Black Americans had migrated north to urban centers for new opportunities. Shaun shares family stories about her grandmother’s life, garden, and poetry, and brings us inside theAnne Spencer House and Garden Museum, where she is the Executive Director and Curator.

In lieu of our usual Ask Randi segment, this month, Kim and Ann take the mic and dive into the exciting opportunities on the horizon for NPSNJ members (0:41:10)! Mark your calendars for the highly anticipatedSpring Annual Meeting and Conference on March 1st, where we’re proud to welcome the esteemed keynote speaker Doug Tallamy. NPSNJ is rolling outsix brand new classes that explore a range of captivating topics, and is thrilled to introduce a Spanish language version of the helpful brochure, "Going Native: A Guide to Landscaping with Native Plants in Northern New Jersey.” Don’t miss these incredible chances to elevate your knowledge and skills! 

In the second interview, Jerri Mitchell-Lee of Newark, NJ speaks with us about her remarkable great-aunt,Effie Lee Newsome (0:50:33) a prominent figure of the Harlem Renaissance. Newsome was the editor of the children's column "Little Page" in W.E.B. Du Bois's influential publication, The Crisis, where she showcased several of her own children's poems. An avid lover of the outdoors, Effie Lee Newsome possessed an extraordinary talent for connecting people—especially children—with the wonders of nature. Whether she was marveling at a spider, a goldfinch, a snowflake, or a violet, she made the natural world come alive. In 1940, she published Gladiola Garden: Poems of Outdoors and Indoors, which was reprinted in 2020, making her work accessible to a brand new audience.

In the final segment, horticulturalistAbra Lee (1:10:01) tells us about her highly anticipated book, Conquer The Soil: Black America and the Untold Stories of Our Country's Gardeners, Farmers, and Growers (Timber Press, 2026). This remarkable work is set to inspire readers and shed light on the profound history and culture of Black growers across our nation. Abra serves as the Director of Horticulture at the historicOakland Cemetery in Atlanta, GA. During our conversation, we delve into Abra’s impressive career path and explore the influential figures in her life, particularly her parents, who encouraged her curiosity and ambition.

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Our featured poet is James Crews, (0:3:54) who speaks with Ann Wallace about his new book, Unlocking the Heart: Writing for Mindfulness, Courage, and Compassion from Mandala Publishing. James offers wisdom about all that we can learn from the natural world, when we allow ourselves to quiet the ever-present din, open our senses, and refocus our attention. Knowing this is easier said than done, James generously offers a prompt for mindfulness and writing after every poem in his collection, inviting each of us to develop our own observational and reflective practice. Trust us, this is a conversation you need to calm your anxieties and appreciate the awe and wonder that accompany us, always.

In Ask Randi, Dr. Randi Eckel, (0:35:52) our native plant expert and owner of Toadshade Wildflower Farm, answers questions from listeners about the iconic American Holly, the Winterberry Holly, and the Inkberry Holly. She clears up some confusion about straight species vs. cultivars and talks about the crucial role these plants play in the ecosystem, as they provide vital food and shelter for wildlife, particularly during winter.

Also in this episode, Ann and Kim talk with Fran Chismar and Tom Knezick (0:48:24) of Pinelands Nursery, one of the largest native plant nurseries in the country, about their popular podcast Native Plants Healthy Planet. They tell us how creating the podcast has offered the best ecological education they ever could have imagined. Coming up on their 250th episode, Fran and Tom remind us that being approachable, curious, and joyful is the best way to bring people together to create a healthier planet.

In our final segment, Ann and Kim are joined by urban naturalist and author Joanna Brichetto (1:14:44) Joanna talks with us from her home in Nashville, Tennessee about her new book, This Is How A Robin Drinks: Urban Essays on Nature recently published by Trinity University Press. Joanna also writes the popular urban nature blog Sidewalk Nature: Everyday Wonders in Everyday Habitat Loss. She shares how observing the local wildlife just outside her door has impacted her in so many ways, even helping her cope with debilitating migraines. At the end of our conversation, she leaves us with a lovely observation about New Jersey’s state flower the Common Blue Violet. 

In celebration of the holidays, listeners of The WildStory will receive 20% off Unlocking the Heart by James Crews and This Is How A Robin Drinks by Joanna Brichetto. To access the discount codes go to www.npsnj.org/Thewildstory or follow the podcast on Instagram at @TheWildStory_Podcast.

Today’s featured poet is Elizabeth Sylvia, (03:39) who speaks with Ann Wallace about her new manuscript Eating Cake in the Garden with Marie Antoinette, as well as her 2022 collection, None But Witches: Poems on Shakespeare’s Women (Three Mile Harbor Press). They spoke about Marie Antoinette’s model farm, a product of opulent privilege but also a site of refuge at a time of revolution, and the unexpected connections to our current moment of climate crisis. Elizabeth’s pastoral poems are tender and intimate, inviting us to walk around the garden, lay in the meadow, and feed the bees with her. Follow Elizabeth on Instagram here.

In Ask Randi, Dr. Randi Eckel, (0:35:40) a native plant expert for NPSNJ and owner of Toadshade Wildflower Farm, offers important advice for fall and winter clean-up. She reminds us that our gardens are not dead but very much alive in winter, which is why it is so crucial to leave the stems and leaves in our gardens as a habitat for wildlife to overwinter.

Kim Correro and Ann Wallace then speak with critically acclaimed food writer and memoirist Elissa Altman (0:44:40) about her writing, garden, and caring for her fiercely determined elderly mother, Rita. Elissa shares the complexities of her relationship with her mother, who is at the center of Motherland: A Memoir of Love, Loathing, and Longing (Ballantine Books, 2019). Throughout the conversation, Elissa discusses the perennial garden she shares with her wife, Susan Turner, as a space where she often finds inspiration and solace. We close by hearing about her new book, Permission: The New Memoirist and the Courage to Create (forthcoming in March 2025 from Godine Press and available for pre-order now), on the craft of memoir and transcending the fear that keeps vital stories from being written. Follow Elissa on Instagram here.

In the final segment, Margaret Roach, (1:11:45) the New York Times garden columnist and host of the award-winning podcast A Way to Garden joins Ann and Kim. In 2007, Margaret left New York City and her job as Executive Vice President and Editorial Director of Martha Stewart because she craved completely different rewards: solitude, a return to the personal creativity of writing, a closer connection to nature, and her first passion, the 2.3-acre garden in the Hudson Valley where, as she says, the birds taught her how to garden. Follow Margaret on Instagram here.

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Episode 17 features poet Nadia Colburn (03:47), who joins Ann Wallace from Massachusetts to speak about her new collection, I Say the Sky, published this year by University of Kentucky Press. Nadia’s collection is a work of meditative healing, moving from silence into power. She invites us to see ourselves reflected in nature, and that poetry, in the words of Audre Lorde, indeed is not a luxury. 

Next up, Kim Correro speaks with Sarah F. Jayne (0:37:29)about her new book Nature’s Action Guide: How to Support Biodiversity and Your Local Ecosystem. Sarah’s book, a companion to Doug Tallamy’s Nature’s Best Hope, outlines fifteen actions we can and must take for creating healthy, functioning ecosystems where we live, work, and play. Each action includes a checklist, step-by-step instructions, recommended resources, and informative tips.

And in our final segment, Kim and Ann talk with Doug Tallamy, (057:39)bestselling author and co-founder of Homegrown National Park, about his new book, How Can I Help: Saving the World with Your Yard, forthcoming from Timber Press on April 8, 2025. In the new book, Doug shares compelling and actionable answers to questions he most often receives from gardeners and homeowners. Topics range from ecology and biodiversity, conservation and restoration, native plants and invasive species, to pest control and support of wildlife at home. Doug offers important advice on what we can do as individuals to support biodiversity. He also stresses the importance of voting and making our values known to public officials. 

Thank you for joining us on The WildStory. Follow us on Instagram @Thewildstory_podcast