This week on We Dig Plants, Carmen and Alice talk to Roy Diblik, author of . Roy tells us about his book, and the hosts ask him about some of the garden plans and layouts that he includes. This program has been sponsored by Fairway Market. Today’s music provided by Shadowbox.

Image from Amazon

“We all run into people that change our path and direction a little bit…and when I looked at the key to every one of them, it was community involvement.” [39:00]

Roy Diblik on We Dig Plants

Carmen Devito is getting wild with Miriam Goldberger, author of Taming Wildflowers, on this week’s edition of We Dig Plants! Tune into this week’s edition of the program to learn how Miriam became interested in wildflowers, and how she learned that they worked well at cut flowers. Why are wildflowers so important in supporting pollinators? Hear Miriam explain how lawn cultivation is hurting native plant populations, and how the Midwestern prairie is slowly disappearing. How can gardeners grow wildflowers in their backyards? Learn how wildflowers provide shelter for many species of bugs and butterflies! One gardener’s weed is another gardener’s flower; celebrate wildflowers on this week’s installment of We Dig Plants! Thanks to our sponsor, Heritage Foods USA. Music provided by Pamela Royal.

“There are so many parallels between the aesthetics of dance and garden design because you are talking about color, space, movement, and energy.” [10:10]

“I wanted to see if wildflowers could make good cut flowers and- contrary to popular belief- they do!” [13:35]

— Miriam Goldberger on We Dig Plants

Looking to get something special for that special someone on Valentine’s Day? Skip the roses and try some slow flowers! What’s a slow flower? Well, Debra Prinzing is here today on We Dig Plants to explain! Alice Marcus Krieg and Carmen Devito invite Debra onto the program to discuss her infatuation with local, seasonal, American-grown flowers, and why she wrote about the floral industry entitled Slow Flowers. Why is origin labeling not required for flowers? Hear how Debra made a flower arrangement a day using whatever flowers and plants were in season at the time! Are there any special government grants for American flower producers? Find out on this week’s edition of We Dig Plants! Thanks to our sponsor, Tabard Inn. Music by Idgy Dean.

“This artisanal notion allows us to slow down and connect with nature.” [11:30]

“There are floral designers that are growing their own flowers out of the desire to have the most unique varieties!” [17:50]

— Debra Prinzing on We Dig Plants

This week on We Dig Plants, Carmen Devito and Alice Marcus Krieg discuss hermitages with the author of The Hermit in the Garden, Gordon Campbell. Tune in to learn about the religious and secular connotations of hermits, and the roots of hermitages in Rome. Why were hermitages in vogue during the time of Shakespeare, and why was culture so fascinated by melancholy? Tune in to learn about some of the more outrageous performative aspects of the culture surrounding hermitages, and how some hermits became regarded as mystical fortune tellers. Tune in to hear Gordon describe some of the more famous and regal hermitages in the world! Thanks to our sponsor, Heritage Foods USA. Music by EULA.

“Along with the style of English gardening that was very popular was a thing called ‘associative gardening.’ The garden is the idea that prompts a series of emotions… this idea goes along with the cult of melancholy.” [26:00]

— Gordon Campbell on We Dig Plants

This week on We Dig Plants, Alice Marcus Krieg and Carmen Devito talk about the gardening influences of Beatrix Potter with Marta McDowell, author of Beatrix Potter’s Gardening Life. You might remember Beatrix Potter from her famous The Tale of Peter the Rabbit, but Beatrix was also a natural scientist and conservationist! Learn about Beatrix’s childhood, and how her summers in Scotland fostered her love for the natural world. How did Beatrix get involved with botany, and what was her involvement with noteworthy gardens like Kew Gardens? How did Beatrix’s fist books get published, and how did she develop her unique painting style? Find out Beatrix was able to brand herself and produce her own spin-off merchandise for Peter Rabbit long before branding became an institution. Thanks to our sponsor, Heritage Foods USA. Music by Pamela Royal.

“Beatrix Potter was very early in making spin-off merchandise. She made, by herself, the first stuffed model of Peter the Rabbit and arranged to have them manufactured… She wanted to make money.” [36:15]

— Marta McDowell on We Dig Plants

Learn to create your own miniature garden with Janit Calvo and her book, Gardening in Miniature! This week on We Dig Plants, Alice Marcus Krieg and Carmen Devito chat with Janit about the origin of her company, Two Green Thumbs, and her interest in miniature gardens. Find out how Janit uses some bonsai methods to create her little gardens, and why hearty, small-leaved plants suit the gardening style. Find out why benches and furniture are some of her best sellers, and her reasoning for shying away from the term ‘fairy garden’. Find out about the commonalities between miniature gardens and terrariums, and why mini-gardening is a great activity for a wide range of ages! Thanks to our sponsor, Cain Vineyard & Winery. Today’s music is courtesy of Obey City.

“Our biggest seller is miniature furniture. It gives your eye a place to sit!” [22:30]

“I can’t grow a terrarium, and I couldn’t if I was paid to!” [26:15]

— Janit Calvo on We Dig Plants

Alice Marcus Krieg and Carmen Devito are celebrating the 18th installment of Plant-O-Rama on this week’s edition of We Dig Plants! Alice and Carmen check in with Bob Hyland, one of the founders of Plant-O-Rama. Hear about Bob’s history in horticulture, and why he decided to move out to Portland, Oregon. Find out why Plant-O-Rama filled a gap amongst garden enthusiasts in New York City. Find out how the Metro Hort Group helped Alice get her first horticulture job in New York City, and why nursery nerds should consider attending the Plant-O-Rama trade show! Who will be speaking at this year’s event? Why, Dave Culp, author of The Layered Garden, will be talking at Plant-O-Rama, and he joins today’s program to discuss the future of horticulture! Hear how Dave will elaborate on the relationship between plants and politics in his speech. Thanks to our sponsor, Fairway Market. Music by Idgy Dean.

“Few gardens, if any, are made in vacuum. They’re made on the shoulders of another garden, or perhaps another movement.” [29:45]

“We get out of our gardens what we demand of them.” [31:10]

“One of the reasons I love The Highline is because you always see people in it. Gardens are for people.” [37:00]

— Dave Culp on We Dig Plants

What makes quality gardening tools? This week on We Dig Plants, Carmen Devito and Alice Marcus Krieg catch up with Blake Schreck of Garden Tool Co. to talk wood, steel, and weeds! Learn about the history of gardening tools at the top of the show, and later hear Blake dig into the specifics of strong and versatile steel. What garden tools are generally best sellers? Why did Blake decide to host his gardening tool shop online? Learn about European tool-making traditions, and whether or not American toolmakers can shake a stick at their counterparts overseas. Don’t miss this week’s edition of We Dig Plants! Thanks to our sponsor, Cain Vineyard & Winery. Music by Four Lincolns.

“Carbon steel is a great product, and many manufacturers add boron to their carbon steel to make it even stronger. They’re going the extra mile to make tools that last.” [14:00]

“With garden tools, there’s a fine line between too hard and too soft.” [15:10]

— Blake Schreck on We Dig Plants

On the final episode of 2013, Carmen Devito recaps We Dig Plants’ favorite gardening books of the past year! Tune in to learn what books are great for novice gardeners and plant enthusiasts, and find out what others are best suited for horticultural experts. Interested in landscape design? Carmen has a few books for that? Tune into this program to hear why coffee table books are waning in popularity, and find out how farming has become the sexiest form of plant cultivation. This program has been sponsored by Whole Foods. Music by The Hollows.

“Farming, or least reading about farming, has replaced gardening as the trend du jour.” [8:45]

— Carmen Devito on We Dig Plants

This week on We Dig Plants, Alice Marcus Krieg and Carmen Devito are talking gesneriads with artist and Gesneriad Society member Bruce Boyd! Tune into this program to hear Bruce give some tips on growing gesneriads at home. What watering methods work best for plants like African Violets, and what lighting conditions cause gesneriads to thrive? Hear what types of fertilizers Bruce uses for his indoor gesneriad garden. What are some of Bruce’s ideal gesneriads that he finds hard to grow? Hear how you can implement episcias in terrariums, and learn why many gesneriads do not need much soil. Today’s program has been sponsored by Fairway Market. Music by Pamela Royal.

“Episcias are tricky to grow. I find they do better enclosed. I will grow them inside of deli containers. They thrive on humidity… I recommend them for terrariums.” [30:00]

— Bruce Boyd on We Dig Plants