Let's Argue About Plants

We’re taking the podcast on the road again and this time we traveled to Logee’s Greenhouses in Danielson, Connecticut. Known countrywide as a mecca for houseplant and tropical plant lovers, this unique business is the ideal location to visit if you need to chase away the winter blues. Join us as we step into the 80° F, subterranean greenhouses to check out trees adorned with lemons the size of footballs and fragrant jasmines that almost anyone can grow (even Steve and Danielle). We also get the inside scoop on caring for some of these exotic plants from Byron Martin, the co-owner of Logee’s. And, in case you’re sad that you couldn’t join us on this adventure, Logee’s ships plants across the country, so you can order any of the jewels we discovered on this visit and have them delivered to your doorstep.

Expert testimony: Byron Martin, co-owner of Logee’s Greenhouses, in Danielson, CT.

Blue--arguably the most elusive color in gardening. If you’ve ever bought a plant that touted “beautiful blue blooms” only to discover that when it flowered it was actually purple, you are not alone. Or, perhaps you’ve drooled for years over pictures of Himalayan blue poppies, the truest of blue flowers, and one of the most difficult plants to cultivate successfully. Well, Steve and Danielle to the rescue. In this episode the pair discuss awesome plants with blue blooms (or at least Danielle does—turns out Steve is a bit color-challenged). The topic was so inspiring, there was even some signing. We apologize for that in advance.

Expert testimony: Dan Robarts, horticulturist and propagator at Coastal Maine Botanic Gardens in Boothbay.

It’s easy to get excited about the first tulip or even the first dandelion in the yard (OK—that might be a stretch). But what about those plants that don’t get all the love and attention, yet still brighten up those first few months of the gardening season? Today we’re honoring those unsung heroes of the spring garden—plants that need a better PR agent because they’re marvelous, but not very well-known. We’ve got a few native dark horses and even a shrub that Steve thought he’d never like. To get you really laughing we revisit some childhood memories of using spring plants in mischievous ways. Finally, we debut a new segment where we give a brief look into what’s going on (good, bad, and ugly) in our gardens right now.

Expert testimony: Bill Cullina is the executive director of the University of Pennsylvania’s Morris Arboretum.

It’s been a long winter and a less than stellar start to spring, so naturally we went a little overboard on the seed-starting this year. While Steve purchased and started mostly flowers/ornamentals, Danielle went to town in the edibles department. And, we couldn’t do an episode on seed-starting without our resident expert, Fine Gardening Associate Editor Carol Collins telling us all about the varieties (both edible and ornamental) she’s growing this year. We’re talking about bicolored tomatoes, flowering vines you’ve never heard of, and a variegated pepper almost too pretty to eat.

Around here we’re not fans of the f-word. No, not that f-word. We’re talking about FALL. In our minds that cooler weather is still a long way off, so we’ve decided to celebrate the dog days of summer by talking about plants that really put on a show in August. When much of the garden is looking tired and bedraggled, these plants add a colorful punch to the scene. Some unexpected perennials and shrubs dominate our lists and for those who have been demanding it—Peter is back with his take on the end of summer. In true Peter fashion though, he’ll be discussing ice cream and...the solar system? Well, his segment will be entertaining, that’s for sure.

Expert guest: Cheyenne Wine is a writer and photographer at Rare Roots Nursery in Virginia, and a regular contributor to Fine Gardening’s Southeast regional reports.

Danielle’s Plants

Sombrero® Granada Gold coneflower (Echinacea 'Balsomold', Zones 4-9)

Scarlet rose mallow (Hibiscus coccineus, Zones 6-9)

Coral Crème DropTM garden phlox (Phlox paniculata 'Ditomdre', Zones 3-8)

Quick Fire® panicle hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata 'Bulk', Zones 4-8)

Carol’s Plants

‘Dark Knight’ blue mist shrub (Caryopteris x clandonensis ‘Dark Knight’, Zones 5-9)

Mexican sunflower (Tithonia rotundifolia, annual)

Small yellow baptisia (Baptisia tinctoria, Zones 3-9)

‘Purple Supreme’ smoke bush (Cotinus ‘Purple Supreme’, Zones 5-8)

Expert’s Plants

'Cherry Choco Latte' rose mallow (Hibiscus x moscheutos 'Cherry Choco Latte', Zones 4-9)

Blue cardinal flower (Lobelia siphilitica, Zones 4-9)

'Ham and Eggs' lantana (Lantana camara 'Ham and Eggs', Zones 7b-11)

Vanilla Strawberry panicle hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata 'Renhy', Zones 3-8)