Growing Joy with Plants - Wellness Rooted in Nature, Houseplants, Gardening and Plant Care

Gardening has long been known for its therapeutic advantages and as a place of calm and peace in the middle of a hectic schedule. Garden therapy can relieve stress and enhance our mental and emotional health. In this episode, we'll look at 9 gardening practices that can help you develop a deeper connection with nature—and yourself. In this episode, we learn: [05:11] Therapeutic benefits of gardeni...

Do your plants get enough water and light?  These questions are typically asked, and the answer is often "It depends." But this answer is more meaningful than you might think, which will be explained in today's episode of our new series, "Grow Better," featuring Leslie Halleck. As a certified horticulturist with extensive experience in plant care, Leslie is here to share her insights on the subjec...

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be a homesteader?  A growing number of people are turning to self-sufficiency and sustainability in their way of living. However, homesteading can seem intimidating, especially when social media portrays it as an exclusive lifestyle requiring acres of land and living off the grid. The good news is that it doesn't have to be an all-or-nothing lifestyle! In t...

Flowers have totally mesmerized people for ages with their awesome colors, shapes, and smells.  We're totally obsessed with them, and they've been a huge part of our cultures, traditions, and personal bonds for as long as we can remember. In this episode, we're going to talk about the history of flowers with a celebrated garden writer, Noel Kingsbury. We'll explore the history and meanings behind...

Gardening is already a popular hobby, but the pandemic has revived an interest in growing plants.  Many of us plant parents turned to gardening to keep busy, improve our mental health, and even grow food as we were forced to spend more time at home. Similar to this occurrence is the Victory Gardens of the past. In this episode, Maggie Stuckey joins us to review the history of Victory Gardens and t...

How do you handle burnout?  We have all asked that question at some point because modern society has a lot of demands, and it's become too easy to feel overwhelmed. But what if there was a free and accessible tool that could help you turn towards yourself again, away from overstimulation and crazy schedules? In this episode, I will share with you my own experience with deep depression and severe b...

Do you want to learn how to grow mushrooms at home?  In the third episode of our Mushroom Mini-series, Billy and I share how you can enjoy the process of growing mushrooms indoors. Our relationship as co-hosts, and more importantly, as life partners, has made this journey more delightful. We enjoy our time together as self-proclaimed “mushroom farmers,” learning and growing together. In this episo...

Introducing the Bad Seeds Podcast, by our dear friend, Summer Rayne Oakes! Bad Seeds is a new podcast from School of Humans and iHeart Podcasts that investigates a growing area of crime that you might have never heard of: plant crime. Ever since the COVID-19 pandemic, plant crime has been on the rise. From timber poaching in Zambia to cactus smuggling in the US' national parks, Bad Seeds explores...

Succulents are beautiful, low-maintenance plants that are perfect for us busy plant parents.  They're also total badasses. However, they can be quite tricky to care for if you don't know what you're doing. In this episode, I have invited my “succy” friend Andrea from Justsuccit.com to shed some light on the facts and fiction surrounding succulent care! In this episode, we learn: [00:17] Why succul...

Have you ever thought about the healing power of plants beyond just their aesthetic appeal?  As plant parents, we know how much fun it is to take care of our plants, but did you know that therapeutic horticulture is a practice being used in hospitals, retirement homes, and even correctional facilities? Today, we're exploring the concept of therapeutic horticulture with the guidance of expert teach...

Did you know that plants can also be friends?  If you’ve followed me on Instagram this year, you will know about the love affair I am having at  The Lodge at Woodloch , a luxury resort and spa, about an hour from where I live. A very interesting aspect of the Lodge at Woodloch is the Blackmore Farm, their regenerative organic farm that grew 9500 lbs of produce for the Lodge’s Restaurant last year!...

Plant friends, we are changing things up. We're taking a detour from our typical long-form content to introduce a new format — mini-episodes — taken from our rich conversations. These episodes are meant to be your bite-sized lessons about how to use nature to bring joy into your life. And in this first episode, inspired by our recent interview on aromatic gardening, we’re going to talk about 5 pra...

Do you love the smell of fresh flowers or the aroma that wafts through your home as you cook with herbs?  Smell might not be the first thing we think of when it comes to gardening, but it's actually a super powerful way to bring joy to our gardens! In fact, our sense of smell has strong associations with our long-term memories and emotions. Today, we're chatting with my friend Amy Anthony, a certi...

Did you love this weeks episode with Kelly from Decorating Tips and Tricks on Interior Design Trends for your Garden? If so, listen to her trailer, and go check out the Decorating Tips and Tricks Podcast and subscribe! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Interior design principles are not limited to our indoor spaces!  For us plant parents, interior design and gardening may initially appear as separate domains, but there are numerous similarities between the two—so much so that the principles of one can be applied to the other. In this episode, we'll learn from Kelly Wilkniss of Decorating Tips and Tricks podcast as she shares nine valuable interi...

Where did our houseplants come from and what’s the history behind them?  From Babylonian gardens to the healing power of herbs, houseplants have been used for centuries to cultivate joy in our lives. In this episode, I spoke with Jane Perrone, OG planty podcaster and author of the newly released  Legends of the Leaf . Jane has spent years researching and collecting stories, lore, and surprises abo...

Did you know that the freshest and most delicious lettuce comes from growing them yourself?  At home, Billy and I haven't bought a plastic box of lettuce in months and enjoy fresh salad almost daily! We've been growing lettuce hydroponically indoors and are now gearing up to start our outdoor lettuce garden. In this episode, we're joined by Nicole Burke from Gardenary, who shares her expertise on...

What if you could grow functional mushrooms next to your tomato plants?  In this episode 2 of the Mushroom Miniseries, Billy and I continue our exploration of the world of mushrooms in partnership with  North Spore  and their expert mycologist, Louis Giller. Today's episode focuses on growing mushrooms in your garden and covers topics such as integrating mushrooms into a traditional garden and the...

Are you ready to give your house plants the love and care they deserve this spring?  It's that time of year again where we shed our winter blues and embrace the sunshine and fresh air of a new season. And what better way to welcome the change than by spring cleaning for your plant babies? In this episode, we've got you covered with a checklist of things to do to set your plants up for success this...

Are you ready to take your gardening skills to the next level and avoid common pitfalls?  Spring is finally here, and it's time to get ready for gardening season! But before you start planting, it's important to know what not to do in your garden. That's why we've brought back Joe Lamp'l of joegardener.com to share his expertise on common gardening mistakes and how to avoid them. From beginners to...

As plant parents, we love our green babies, but sometimes we can get carried away with our collections.  With life returning to normal, we might feel like it's time to simplify our spaces and make room for new experiences. Today's episode is all about embracing the joy of living with less. We're joined by Stephanie, the host of the Sustainable Minimalism podcast, to talk about how the principles o...

Have you ever wondered about the fascinating world of soil biology and the joy of creativity through plants?  In this episode, we're joined by Adam from  @dirty_roots_berlin  to learn all about the importance of living soil, growing your own soil, and using nature to combat nature. Plus, we'll dive into how TikTok offers a refreshing and diverse platform for sharing your love for plants and explor...

Are you ready to dive into the magical world of mushrooms?  We're excited to introduce the  Mushroom Miniseries , our four-part exploration into the incredible, functional world of mushrooms. From learning about their adaptogenic nature to understanding how they grow, we're here to take you on a journey of discovery! Join me and my husband Billy as we partner with mushroom expert Louis Giller from...

Are you always seeking out new plant friends to swap plant care tips and experiences with?  This episode is perfect for new plant parents looking to learn from experienced plant lovers or anyone who wants to be part of a community of plant enthusiasts. Join me as I chat with the Potted Together trio Adam, Nicole, and Becca about the evolution of plant parenthood, the different seasons of plant car...

Many of us might think of deserts as barren wastelands, but in reality, the desert is a planty oasis within itself!  There are towering saguaros, rosette aloes and agaves, and pollinators flitting between prickly pear flowers. To walk us through this underrated environment, we have a very special guest: Tina Wilson, the Director of Horticulture at the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix, Arizona. W...