Episode 181: Plants You Can’t Kill
Let's Argue About Plants
It’s worth finding a few stalwarts that will survive almost anything When plants are done in by pests, diseases, or bad weather, it is hard not to take it personally. But on the positive side, each plant that shuffles off this mortal coil does offer an opportunity to add something newer and better to our garden. In this episode, Danielle, Carol, and expert guest Kielian DeWitt talk about some of the most reliable cultivars that have stood the test of time under tough conditions. Perhaps one of these choices will be just right for filling a gap that has recently opened up in your...
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Episode 180: Plants with Big, Bold Foliage
Let's Argue About Plants
In this episode, we’re turning up the drama—garden drama, that is! We’re talking all about plants with big, bold foliage that steal the show and bring serious texture and presence to your landscape. Whether you're designing a tropical-feel patio or adding contrast to a woodland border, these leafy giants know how to make a statement. We'll cover our favorite varieties, tips for placement and care, and how to use them effectively in garden design. If you're ready to go big and leafy, this episode is for you! P.S. We promised not to sing...we’ll leave that to Sir Mixalot. Expert:...
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Episode 179: Most Beautiful Flowers
Let's Argue About Plants
If your pulse quickens at the sight of a dogwood or peony in full bloom, this is the episode for you. Although a restrained, foliage-focused design is always a safe bet, fabulous floral textures and colors offer a level of excitement that leaves alone can’t provide. For many of us, a love of flowers was the gateway that brought us to gardening. Follow along as Danielle, Carol, and expert guest Wambui Ippolito discuss some of the beautiful blooms that make their hearts sing. Expert: Wambui Ippolito is an award-winning landscape designer, horticulturist, and author based in New York...
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Episode 178: Best Interview Moments from Let’s Argue About Plants
Let's Argue About Plants
While the Fine Gardening team is busy exploring the Philadelphia Flower Show, we’re taking a moment to look back at some of the most insightful and inspiring conversations we’ve had on Let’s Argue About Plants over the past year. In this special episode, we’re revisiting standout moments from interviews with horticulturists, garden designers, and educators who have shaped the way we garden. You’ll hear from , a self-taught garden designer from Seattle, as she shares how she got her start in horticulture. , a North Carolina-based designer, discusses...
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Episode 177: Seeds We’re Starting This Year
Let's Argue About Plants
As we recorded this episode, snow was gently falling outside our windows here in New England. But that isn't depressing for us—it simply means it’s time to start our seeds! Today we are joined by digital editor Christine, and we are talking all about which seeds we’re starting this year and why. There’s an assortment of edibles and flowers on our lists, and we discuss the best practices for getting them to germinate. Do all seeds need a heat mat? Or is it a good idea to pop your packets of seeds in the freezer before sowing them into a soil block? Get the answers to these pressing...
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Episode 176: Plants with Personality with Amanda Thomsen
Let's Argue About Plants
is a landscape designer, project manager, and garden writer. Recently, she opened in Lemont, Illinois. This neighborhood boutique offers plants, home décor, classes, and events. Amanda brings an irreverent, punk-rock spirit to her horticultural work, so she is the perfect person to help adventurous gardeners to explore some plants with personality. Unusual herbs, hardy cacti, and a foxglove that is not your usual cottage garden suspect all make appearances in this fun episode. Here's Amanda’s personality-packed plant list: 1. Lovage (Levisticum officinale, Zones...
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Episode 175: Great Houseplants
Let's Argue About Plants
Potted plants will bring life and positive energy into any room, and studies have shown that having them nearby can relieve stress, boost creativity, and improve focus. In winter, when the weather is not good for outdoor gardening, it is particularly satisfying when we can help the living gems on our windowsills to thrive and look their best. In this episode Danielle and Carol chat with their friend and colleague, Christine Alexander, about the houseplants they consider to be truly worthy of a spot indoors. Expert: Christine Alexander is the digital content editor at Fine...
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Episode 174: Plant Evaluation with Sam Hoadley and Richard Hawke
Let's Argue About Plants
Catalogue descriptions for new plants may grab our attention, but usually provide little useful information about how these up-and-coming cultivars will perform in your garden. Fortunately, comparative trials like those conducted at and put plants to the test, side-by-side, under typical garden conditions. In this episode, and delve into a few of the similarities and differences between their trial programs. They compare notes, trade stories, and dispel a few misconceptions as they prepare for the talk they will give on Thurday, March 6th, 2025 as part of the Know to Grow lecture series at...
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Episode 173: Beneficial Host Plants
Let's Argue About Plants
This week we might rename the show Pollinator Haven, the podcast where we dig into the vibrant world of pollinators and the plants that sustain them! Well, probably not, but we will be diving into the essential role host plants play in supporting bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and other pollinators. These are species that are critical in providing places for insects to lay their eggs and food for hungry larvae. Whether you're a seasoned gardener or just starting out, you'll discover how choosing the right plants can turn your yard, balcony, or community space into a thriving...
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Episode 172: Focal Points with Susan Morrison
Let's Argue About Plants
, owner and principal designer at , has created hundreds of gardens in California’s East Bay area. Her designs incorporate comfortable outdoor rooms into landscapes of all sizes, from hillside estates to postage-stamp front yards. Susan’s features thoughtfully arranged spaces for relaxing and entertaining enfolded in an artful, water-wise plant palette. Focal point plants in key locations draw the eye through the landscape, inviting visitors to explore. In this episode, Susan describes her thought process for siting focal point plants, and shares some of the eye-catching cultivars she...
info_outlineOne deer can do major landscape damage overnight, and if a herd regularly visits your garden you may feel like giving up. Although almost no plant is completely safe if the herbivores are hungry enough, gardeners facing extreme deer pressure aren’t powerless. Incorporating plants with “nasty” characteristics like strong smells, prickly textures, or even toxicity is one easy way to encourage those hooved hordes to browse elsewhere. In this episode, Danielle and Carol share some of the plants that have remained unscathed in their backyards, and expert Bonni Engelhardt weighs in with some of her own go-to selections.
Expert: Bonni Engelhardt is a landscape designer and consultant based in southwestern Oregon. You can read about more of her deer-resistant plant recommendations in this article.