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Episode 354: Modern Planting Design

Roots and All - Gardening Podcast

Release Date: 09/22/2025

Kelly Baldry Interviews Sarah Wilson show art Kelly Baldry Interviews Sarah Wilson

Roots and All - Gardening Podcast

This time, I’m the one in the hot seat. In this reflective end-of-year episode, Kelly Baldry takes over as host to ask searching questions about the podcast, changing minds, climate contradictions, and the limits of horticulture as a mental-health cure, alongside a deeper look at my work with Veterans’ Growth and what it really means to create safe, supportive spaces in and beyond the garden. Please support the podcast on And follow Roots and All: On Instagram On Facebook On LinkedIn

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Universal Qualities of Healing Gardens show art Universal Qualities of Healing Gardens

Roots and All - Gardening Podcast

Sandra Schwarz talks about her new book Restore, and shares how her research led her to identify six universal qualities that make landscapes restorative. We talk about the complexities of “owning” nature, who restorative gardens are really for, and how designers can create spaces that meet people where they are. It’s a thoughtful, hopeful conversation about greening with intention. Links Please support the podcast on And follow Roots and All: On Instagram On Facebook On LinkedIn If you liked this week's episode with Sandra Schwarz you might also enjoy these ones from the...

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Episode 365: Protecting Our Parks & Gardens show art Episode 365: Protecting Our Parks & Gardens

Roots and All - Gardening Podcast

Linden Groves of the Gardens Trust talks about the vital—and surprisingly vulnerable—protections for our historic parks and gardens, and the government’s proposal to remove the Trust’s statutory consultee role. We unpack what this would mean for our green spaces, why it matters to all of us, and how people can help. Links Please support the podcast on And follow Roots and All: On Instagram On Facebook On LinkedIn If you liked this week's episode with Linden Groves you might also enjoy this one from the archives:  Sarah speaks with landscape designer and rewilding advocate...

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Episode 364: Permaculture Planting show art Episode 364: Permaculture Planting

Roots and All - Gardening Podcast

I’m joined once again by permaculture designer and author Pippa Chapman to explore how beauty, productivity and wildlife-friendly principles can all thrive together in the garden. We dive into her creative approach, the ideas behind her new book, and how small, thoughtful changes can transform any space into a resilient, edible ecosystem. Links Please support the podcast on And follow Roots and All: On Instagram On Facebook On LinkedIn If you liked this week's episode with Richard Hayden you might also enjoy this one from the archives:  Sarah speaks with Pippa Chapman about her...

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Episode 363: The High Line show art Episode 363: The High Line

Roots and All - Gardening Podcast

Richard Hayden of New York’s High Line talks about how the space has grown and transformed—its evolving plantings, newly added areas, and the thoughtful maintenance practices that have helped it become a beloved, essential part of daily life for both residents and visitors. We trace how this once-industrial rail line has matured into one of the city’s most treasured green spaces. Links Please support the podcast on Patreon And follow Roots and All: On Instagram On Facebook On LinkedIn If you liked this week's episode with Richard Hayden you might also enjoy this one from the...

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Episode 362: Growing Fruit show art Episode 362: Growing Fruit

Roots and All - Gardening Podcast

I’m joined by Chris Whitelock, author of Growing Fruit, to explore how modern varieties are reshaping the way we grow fruit at home. We discuss everything from choosing space-saving or container-friendly trees to tackling pests, diseases, and even the challenge of keeping birds off your harvest. Links Please support the podcast on And follow Roots and All: On Instagram On Facebook On LinkedIn

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Restoring Nature, Rebuilding Lives show art Restoring Nature, Rebuilding Lives

Roots and All - Gardening Podcast

I’m speaking with Karen Hall, Program Director of Ecological Education at the Institute for Applied Ecology, about an inspiring initiative that connects conservation with social rehabilitation. We explore what ecological education involves, the features of the landscape and ecology of the region where Karen works and how changes to funding have affected these conservation in the efforts.  Links Staff profile at IAE: — her bio, role description and contact information.  Curriculum materials she oversaw: — downloadable education-units with her listed as Program Director. ...

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Beyond Big Food show art Beyond Big Food

Roots and All - Gardening Podcast

Nancy Matsumoto discusses her new book Reaping What She Sows, an exploration of the women transforming our broken food system from the ground up. We talk about what an alternative food system really looks like, why women are at the forefront of this movement, and how they’re reimagining the way we grow, distribute, and consume food could offer a more just, sustainable, and human-centric future. Links Other episodes if you liked this one: In this episode, Pete Russell discusses how the platform Ooooby links customers with small‑scale local growers, promoting a shift away from the...

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Episode 359: Hard Landscapes, Living Systems show art Episode 359: Hard Landscapes, Living Systems

Roots and All - Gardening Podcast

This episode, Nicolas Salazar of Guardians Worldwide explores the often-overlooked role of rocks in our designed environments. We discuss their carbon storage potential, their deep relationship with plants, and why removing rocks from landscapes may have more impact than we think. It’s a conversation that challenges us to see rocks not as static objects, but as vital, living parts of ecological systems. Links Other episodes if you liked this one: In this episode, host Sarah Wilson speaks to Giles Heap of CED Stone about sourcing natural stone ethically, using materials appropriate to...

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Episode 358: Inside The New Beautiful show art Episode 358: Inside The New Beautiful

Roots and All - Gardening Podcast

Gardens Illustrated editor Stephanie Mahon has curated the magazine’s first ever book, The New Beautiful — a celebration of gardens that reflect today’s shifting ideas of beauty, sustainability, and design. We discuss what defines a ‘Gardens Illustrated’ garden, how the featured spaces in the book were chosen, about the evolving role of perennials to the challenges of capturing a garden’s true character in a photograph, Stephanie shares insights from her years at the forefront of garden publishing — and offers a glimpse into where garden design might be heading next. Links ...

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More Episodes

Acclaimed garden designer Andrew Fisher Tomlin discusses the craft of planting design, the skills and knowledge needed to thrive in the profession, and the evolving role of planting designers today. He also shares insights from his new book, The Modern Professional Planting Designer, which is a novel and interesting look at the processes behind successful planting design.

Links

www.andrewfishertomlin.com

The Modern Professional Planting Designer: Creating Beautiful, Sustainable, Resilient Gardens for the Twenty-First Century

Other episodes if you liked this one:

Episode 94: James Basson of Scape Design
James Basson of Scape Design, working from southern France, talks naturalistic planting, use of native species, matrix/grid planting in large landscapes, and how to design resilient planting schemes.
Link

Episode 205: Gardening on a Gradient
Carol Smith, garden designer and lecturer, discusses designing and establishing gardens on sloping sites — site assessment, design, planting, and the challenges and opportunities slopes bring.
Link

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