In Defense of Plants Podcast

From seed collection to restoring populations, this episode is all about what it takes to save rare plants from extinction. Joining us is Dr. Joyce Maschinski, Director of Plant Conservation for San Diego Zoo Global, and President and CEO of the Center for Plant Conservation to discuss how these two incredible organizations are at the forefront of plant conservation efforts. As you will hear, plant conservation is a collaborative effort involving many interesting and innovative approaches. The best part is, all of these resources are made available to anyone who wants to learn via the Center For Plant Conservation's Rare Plant Academy. Dive into the science of plant conservation with us and learn how inspiring these efforts truly are. This episode was produced in part by Christina, Brett, Jocelyn, Kathleen, Ethan, Kaylee, Runaway Goldfish, Ryan, Donna, Donica, Chris, Shamora, Alana, Laura, Alice, Sarah, Rachel, Joanna, Griff, Philip, Paul, Matthew, Clark, Bobby, Kate, Steven, Brittney, McMansion Hell, Joey, Catherine, Brandon, Hall, Vegreville Creek and Wetlands Fund, Kevin, Oliver, John, Johansson, Christina, Jared, Hannah, Katy Pye, Brandon, Gwen, Carly, Stephen, Botanical Tours, Moonwort Studios, Liba, Mohsin Kazmi Takes Pictures, doeg, Clifton, Stephanie, Benjamin, Eli, Rachael, Plant By Design, Philip, Brent, Ron, Tim, Homestead Brooklyn, Brodie, Kevin, Sophia, Mark, Rens, Bendix, Irene, Holly, Caitlin, Manuel, Jennifer, Sara, and Margie.

Today we are joined by the one and only Jane Perrone, houseplant guru and host of the wonderful On the Ledge podcast. Houseplants are such a wonderful hobby to indulge in, especially in recent weeks, and Jane is dedicated to sharing her love and knowledge with anyone who wants to be a better houseplant grower. Jane and I sit down for a chat about topics ranging from her recent Hoya obsession and why she wants you to try growing plants from seed, to using nematodes to battle fungus gnats and why parenting might not be the best gardening metaphor. It is always a blast talking with Jane and I hope this episode can brighten your week. This episode was produced in part by Brett, Jocelyn, Kathleen, Ethan, Kaylee, Runaway Goldfish, Ryan, Donna, Donica, Chris, Shamora, Alana, Laura, Alice, Sarah, Rachel, Joanna, Griff, Philip, Paul, Matthew, Clark, Bobby, Kate, Steven, Brittney, McMansion Hell, Joey, Catherine, Brandon, Hall, Vegreville Creek and Wetlands Fund, Kevin, Oliver, John, Johansson, Christina, Jared, Hannah, Katy Pye, Brandon, Gwen, Carly, Stephen, Botanical Tours, Moonwort Studios, Liba, Mohsin Kazmi Takes Pictures, doeg, Clifton, Stephanie, Benjamin, Eli, Rachael, Plant By Design, Philip, Brent, Ron, Tim, Homestead Brooklyn, Brodie, Kevin, Sophia, Mark, Rens, Bendix, Irene, Holly, Caitlin, Manuel, Jennifer, Sara, and Margie.

The sandmat spurges probably do not factor into the daily lives of most people. Yet, we walk over them, we trample them, we pull them from our lawns and gardens with little regard to their incredible natural history. The spurge family (Euphorbiaceae) lays claim to many incredible plant species but today we take a closer look at one group in particular: the sandmat spurges in the section Anisophyllum. Joining in on the celebration is spurge fanatic Nathan Taylor, who is leading the charge on understanding these plants a lot better. He isn't doing it alone. With the input from citizen scientists all over the world, Nathan is using iNaturalist to amass a much greater understanding of the sandmat spurges as well as many of their botanical cousins. Join us for a deep dive into a group of plants to which we all need to dedicate more attention. This episode was produced in part by Brett, Jocelyn, Kathleen, Ethan, Kaylee, Runaway Goldfish, Ryan, Donna, Donica, Chris, Shamora, Alana, Laura, Alice, Sarah, Rachel, Joanna, Griff, Philip, Paul, Matthew, Clark, Bobby, Kate, Steven, Brittney, McMansion Hell, Joey, Catherine, Brandon, Hall, Vegreville Creek and Wetlands Fund, Kevin, Oliver, John, Johansson, Christina, Jared, Hannah, Katy Pye, Brandon, Gwen, Carly, Stephen, Botanical Tours, Moonwort Studios, Liba, Mohsin Kazmi Takes Pictures, doeg, Clifton, Stephanie, Benjamin, Eli, Rachael, Plant By Design, Philip, Brent, Ron, Tim, Homestead Brooklyn, Brodie, Kevin, Sophia, Mark, Rens, Bendix, Irene, Holly, Caitlin, Manuel, Jennifer, Sara, and Margie. *Note: The bee we mention is Perdita minima

The name "Hydrangea" most often conjures up images of medium sized shrubs adorned with pom poms of bright blue or pink flowers. Our exposure to this incredible genus is often very limited. This is a shame because the world of Hydrangea is wonderfully diverse. Plant hunter, gardener, and author Dan Hinkley returns to the podcast for an in depth look at the amazing diversity of Hydrangea around the world. From deciduous stalwarts to tropical climbers, you may never look at the genus Hyndrangea the same way again. This episode was produced in part by Jocelyn, Kathleen, Ethan, Kaylee, Runaway Goldfish, Ryan, Donna, Donica, Chris, Shamora, Alana, Laura, Alice, Sarah, Rachel, Joanna, Griff, Philip, Paul, Matthew, Clark, Bobby, Kate, Steven, Brittney, McMansion Hell, Joey, Catherine, Brandon, Hall, Vegreville Creek and Wetlands Fund, Kevin, Oliver, John, Johansson, Christina, Jared, Hannah, Katy Pye, Brandon, Gwen, Carly, Stephen, Botanical Tours, Moonwort Studios, Liba, Mohsin Kazmi Takes Pictures, doeg, Clifton, Stephanie, Benjamin, Eli, Rachael, Plant By Design, Philip, Brent, Ron, Tim, Homestead Brooklyn, Brodie, Kevin, Sophia, Mark, Rens, Bendix, Irene, Holly, Caitlin, Manuel, Jennifer, Sara, and Margie.

Native Plant Trust has one major goal in mind: conserving and promoting New England's native plants. Founded in 1900, Native Plant Trust is America's oldest plant conservation organization. Since then, it has gone through some name changes (Society for the Protection of Native Plants, New England Wild Flower Society) but its mission has remained the same. Join me as I sit down for a conversation with their Director of Horticulture, Uli Lorimer, to talk about his journey into growing and conserving plants, and how Native Plant Trust's mission is helping New England's botanical legacy be a major part of its future. This episode was produced in part by Kathleen, Ethan, Kaylee, Runaway Goldfish, Ryan, Donna, Donica, Chris, Shamora, Alana, Laura, Alice, Sarah, Rachel, Joanna, Griff, Philip, Paul, Matthew, Clark, Bobby, Kate, Steven, Brittney, McMansion Hell, Joey, Catherine, Brandon, Hall, Vegreville Creek and Wetlands Fund, Kevin, Oliver, John, Johansson, Christina, Jared, Hannah, Katy Pye, Brandon, Gwen, Carly, Stephen, Botanical Tours, Moonwort Studios, Liba, Mohsin Kazmi Takes Pictures, doeg, Clifton, Stephanie, Benjamin, Eli, Rachael, Plant By Design, Philip, Brent, Ron, Tim, Homestead Brooklyn, Brodie, Kevin, Sophia, Mark, Rens, Bendix, Irene, Holly, Caitlin, Manuel, Jennifer, Sara, and Margie.

The Devonian Period was for plants what the Cambrian Period was for animals. Land plants really started to experiment with new forms of growth some 380 million years ago which led to the establishment of the first forests on Earth. My guest today is Dr. Chris Barry who was part of the team that recently discovered the oldest fossil evidence of forests. As you are going to hear, these forests were very different from the ones we know and love today. This episode was produced in part by Kathleen, Ethan, Kaylee, Runaway Goldfish, Ryan, Donna, Donica, Chris, Shamora, Alana, Laura, Alice, Sarah, Rachel, Joanna, Griff, Philip, Paul, Matthew, Clark, Bobby, Kate, Steven, Brittney, McMansion Hell, Joey, Catherine, Brandon, Hall, Vegreville Creek and Wetlands Fund, Kevin, Oliver, John, Johansson, Christina, Jared, Hannah, Katy Pye, Brandon, Gwen, Carly, Stephen, Botanical Tours, Moonwort Studios, Liba, Mohsin Kazmi Takes Pictures, doeg, Clifton, Stephanie, Benjamin, Eli, Rachael, Plant By Design, Philip, Brent, Ron, Tim, Homestead Brooklyn, Brodie, Kevin, Sophia, Mark, Rens, Bendix, Irene, Holly, Caitlin, Manuel, Jennifer, Sara, and Margie.

A zoo getting involved in plant conservation? Sounds pretty radical but that is exactly what the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens is doing. These efforts are born out of the fact that you can't conserve animals without conserving their habitat and native plants ARE that habitat. On average, plant conservation costs less than animal conservation and has the potential to have much greater impacts for biodiversity and ecosystem health in the long run. Also, it is much more accessible to people. As you will hear, people from all walks of life can get involved in plant conservation efforts. Joining us to talk about their efforts is Plant Conservation Officer, Houston Snead. His passion for protecting rare plants has landed him in a unique situation in which he is actively working with various partnerships and collaborators on plant conservation projects throughout southeastern North America. This episode was produced in part by Kaylee, Runaway Goldfish, Ryan, Donna, Donica, Chris, Shamora, Alana, Laura, Alice, Sarah, Rachel, Joanna, Griff, Philip, Paul, Matthew, Clark, Bobby, Kate, Steven, Brittney, McMansion Hell, Joey, Catherine, Brandon, Hall, Vegreville Creek and Wetlands Fund, Kevin, Oliver, John, Johansson, Christina, Jared, Hannah, Katy Pye, Brandon, Gwen, Carly, Stephen, Botanical Tours, Moonwort Studios, Liba, Mohsin Kazmi Takes Pictures, doeg, Clifton, Stephanie, Benjamin, Eli, Rachael, Plant By Design, Philip, Brent, Ron, Tim, Homestead Brooklyn, Brodie, Kevin, Sophia, Mark, Rens, Bendix, Irene, Holly, Caitlin, Manuel, Jennifer, Sara, and Margie.

The movement of species around the globe is akin to opening Pandora's Box. Once an invasive species becomes established, it can be very difficult, if not impossible to get it under control. Every once in a while, however, nature provides us with a solution. In this episode we learn about how the incredibly beautiful ornate bella moth (Utetheisa ornatrix) is keeping some invasive peas at bay in Florida. The larvae of the ornate bella moths feed only on rattlebox plants in the genus Crotalaria. Not only do the caterpillars need rattleboxes for food, they also utilize its toxins for communication and defense. Join me and my guest Dr. Andrei Sourakov as we discuss how bella moths have shifted their diets to include invasive rattlebox plants and how this host shift is keeping their invasion at bay. This is a fascinating discussion about the ecological consequences of invasive plant introductions. Kaylee, Runaway Goldfish, Ryan, Donna, Donica, Chris, Shamora, Alana, Laura, Alice, Sarah, Rachel, Joanna, Griff, Philip, Paul, Matthew, Clark, Bobby, Kate, Steven, Brittney, McMansion Hell, Joey, Catherine, Brandon, Hall, Vegreville Creek and Wetlands Fund, Kevin, Oliver, John, Johansson, Christina, Jared, Hannah, Katy Pye, Brandon, Gwen, Carly, Stephen, Botanical Tours, Moonwort Studios, Liba, Mohsin Kazmi Takes Pictures, doeg, Clifton, Stephanie, Benjamin, Eli, Rachael, Plant By Design, Philip, Brent, Ron, Tim, Homestead Brooklyn, Brodie, Kevin, Sophia, Mark, Rens, Bendix, Irene, Holly, Caitlin, Manuel, Jennifer, Sara, and Margie.

With his first book, "Bringing Nature Home," Dr. Doug Tallamy managed to distill decades worth of ecological science into a compelling story of the environmental benefits of native plants. Now he is back with an empowering new book entitled "Nature's Best Hope: A New Approach to Conservation That Starts in Your Yard." In a world full of doom and gloom, Dr. Tallamy's latest book is an uplifting and empowering guide to how each and every one of us can be part of the conservation movement and it all starts with native plants. With 83% of the land in the United States under private ownership, the power to help nature lies in the choices we make. Join Dr. Tallamy and me for an empowering discussion about how each and every one of us can play a role in restoring nature. This episode was produced in part by Ryan, Donna, Donica, Chris, Shamora, Alana, Laura, Alice, Sarah, Rachel, Joanna, Griff, Philip, Paul, Matthew, Clark, Bobby, Kate, Steven, Brittney, McMansion Hell, Joey, Catherine, Brandon, Hall, Vegreville Creek and Wetlands Fund, Kevin, Oliver, John, Johansson, Christina, Jared, Hannah, Katy Pye, Brandon, Gwen, Carly, Stephen, Botanical Tours, Moonwort Studios, Liba, Mohsin Kazmi Takes Pictures, doeg, Clifton, Stephanie, Benjamin, Eli, Rachael, Plant By Design, Philip, Brent, Ron, Tim, Homestead Brooklyn, Brodie, Kevin, Sophia, Mark, Rens, Bendix, Irene, Holly, Caitlin, Manuel, Jennifer, Sara, and Margie.

Wetlands have a disproportionate effect on a global scale. Whether you are concerned with habitat, wildlife, or human health, the world needs healthy, functioning wetland communities. Unfortunately, humans have been painfully slow to realize this fact. The last few decades have seen laws and regulations put into place to try and protect and restore wetlands but the process needs ecological science. Joining us to talk about the science behind protecting and restoring wetlands is University of Illinois professor Dr. Jeff Matthews. Dr. Matthews' work focuses heavily on understanding and informing wetland restoration work and policy. As you will here, most of this comes down to promoting functioning native plant communities. Join us for an in depth look at the ecology, conservation, and restoration of wetlands. This episode was produced in part by Donna, Donica, Chris, Shamora, Alana, Laura, Alice, Sarah, Rachel, Joanna, Griff, Philip, Paul, Matthew, Clark, Bobby, Kate, Steven, Brittney, McMansion Hell, Joey, Catherine, Brandon, Hall, Vegreville Creek and Wetlands Fund, Kevin, Oliver, John, Johansson, Christina, Jared, Hannah, Katy Pye, Brandon, Gwen, Carly, Stephen, Botanical Tours, Moonwort Studios, Liba, Mohsin Kazmi Takes Pictures, doeg, Clifton, Stephanie, Benjamin, Eli, Rachael, Plant By Design, Philip, Brent, Ron, Tim, Homestead Brooklyn, Brodie, Kevin, Sophia, Mark, Rens, Bendix, Irene, Holly, Caitlin, Manuel, Jennifer, Sara, and Margie.

Florent Grenier fell in love with plants at an early age but it was a trip to South Africa as a teenager that change the course of his life forever. Florent now dedicates himself to studying the ecology, diversity, and distribution of succulent plants. Five years of intense field work investigating strange pollination syndromes involving long tongued flies has culminated in Florent's first book. "Secrets of Namaqualand Succulents" combines beautiful photography with the latest science to give readers an inside look at South Africa's succulent bounty. What's more, "Secrets of Namaqualand Succulents" serves as a reminder of just how much we have yet to learn about these plants. Join us for a wonderful discussion about the flora of this incredible region of the world. This episode was produced in part by Donna, Donica, Chris, Shamora, Alana, Laura, Alice, Sarah, Rachel, Joanna, Griff, Philip, Paul, Matthew, Clark, Bobby, Kate, Steven, Brittney, McMansion Hell, Joey, Catherine, Brandon, Hall, Vegreville Creek and Wetlands Fund, Kevin, Oliver, John, Johansson, Christina, Jared, Hannah, Katy Pye, Brandon, Gwen, Carly, Stephen, Botanical Tours, Moonwort Studios, Liba, Mohsin Kazmi Takes Pictures, doeg, Clifton, Stephanie, Benjamin, Eli, Rachael, Plant By Design, Philip, Brent, Ron, Tim, Homestead Brooklyn, Brodie, Kevin, Sophia, Mark, Rens, Bendix, Irene, Holly, Caitlin, Manuel, Jennifer, Sara, and Margie.

Counting the rings of a tree can be so much fun. In the temperate zone, each ring marks a year in that tree's life. However, if you know what to look for, tree rings can tell you so much more. Dr. Valerie Trouet has made a career out of counting and measuring tree rings. Tree rings offer a surprisingly detailed window back in time and allows scientists like Dr. Trouet to understand everything from fire regimes to climate conditions. Even beyond that, tree rings can provide valuable insights into human history. Insights like this are the subject of Dr. Trouet's incredible book "Tree Story: The History of the World Written in Rings." Join us for an in depth look at the fascinating world of dendrochronology. This episode was produced in part by Donna, Donica, Chris, Shamora, Alana, Laura, Alice, Sarah, Rachel, Joanna, Griff, Philip, Paul, Matthew, Clark, Bobby, Kate, Steven, Brittney, McMansion Hell, Joey, Catherine, Brandon, Hall, Vegreville Creek and Wetlands Fund, Kevin, Oliver, John, Johansson, Christina, Jared, Hannah, Katy Pye, Brandon, Gwen, Carly, Stephen, Botanical Tours, Moonwort Studios, Liba, Mohsin Kazmi Takes Pictures, doeg, Clifton, Stephanie, Benjamin, Eli, Rachael, Plant By Design, Philip, Brent, Ron, Tim, Homestead Brooklyn, Brodie, Kevin, Sophia, Mark, Rens, Bendix, Irene, Holly, Caitlin, Manuel, Jennifer, Sara, and Margie.

For author, gardener, and landscape designer Georgina Reid, gardening is more than a hobby. It is a way of connecting with the natural world. Gardening changes the way we look at and interact with plants in a big way and that is exactly what Georgina wants to tell the world. Her new book "The Planthunter" honors this ideal in a beautiful and touching way. Through conversations with gardeners from around the world, "The Planthunter" reveals something incredible about how growing plants transcends all of the trappings of modern society. Though the reasons we garden vary as much as the gardeners themselves, we begin to see just how unifying the experience of gardening can really be. Join us for an insightful conversation about our relationships with plants. This episode was produced in part by Chris, Shamora, Alana, Laura, Alice, Sarah, Rachel, Joanna, Griff, Philip, Paul, Matthew, Clark, Bobby, Kate, Steven, Brittney, McMansion Hell, Joey, Catherine, Brandon, Hall, Vegreville Creek and Wetlands Fund, Kevin, Oliver, John, Johansson, Christina, Jared, Hannah, Katy Pye, Brandon, Gwen, Carly, Stephen, Botanical Tours, Moonwort Studios, Liba, Mohsin Kazmi Takes Pictures, doeg, Clifton, Stephanie, Benjamin, Eli, Rachael, Plant By Design, Philip, Brent, Ron, Tim, Homestead Brooklyn, Brodie, Kevin, Sophia, Mark, Rens, Bendix, Irene, Holly, Caitlin, Manuel, Jennifer, Sara, and Margie.

Today I sit down for a chat with fellow plant podcaster, Vanessa Fuchs. Vanessa is the host of The Royal Botanic Garden Sydney's award-winning podcast "Branch Out." Listen as we discuss what got us into plant podcasting, the need for engaging science communication, and all of the amazement and wonder we have for the botanical world. This episode was produced in part by Chris, Shamora, Alana, Laura, Alice, Sarah, Rachel, Joanna, Griff, Philip, Paul, Matthew, Clark, Bobby, Kate, Steven, Brittney, McMansion Hell, Joey, Catherine, Brandon, Hall, Vegreville Creek and Wetlands Fund, Kevin, Oliver, John, Johansson, Christina, Jared, Hannah, Katy Pye, Brandon, Gwen, Carly, Stephen, Botanical Tours, Moonwort Studios, Liba, Mohsin Kazmi Takes Pictures, doeg, Clifton, Stephanie, Benjamin, Eli, Rachael, Plant By Design, Philip, Brent, Ron, Tim, Homestead Brooklyn, Brodie, Kevin, Sophia, Mark, Rens, Bendix, Irene, Holly, Caitlin, Manuel, Jennifer, Sara, and Margie.

Plants and arthropods have a long evolutionary history that involves plenty of interaction. If you know where to look, evidence of such history can be found in fossil plant remains. Today we are joined by PhD student, Gussie Maccracken who has discovered the oldest remains of one of the most common, yet poorly understood plant/animal mutualisms on our planet. Did you know that many flowering plants produce tiny homes in their leaves for mites? They do, and it looks like this relationship is very old and very important. Join us for a fascinating discussion about how paleontologists can use plant fossils to gain insights into so many aspects of the living world. This episode was produced in part by Shamora, Alana, Laura, Alice, Sarah, Rachel, Joanna, Griff, Philip, Paul, Matthew, Clark, Bobby, Kate, Steven, Brittney, McMansion Hell, Joey, Catherine, Brandon, Hall, Vegreville Creek and Wetlands Fund, Kevin, Oliver, John, Johansson, Christina, Jared, Hannah, Katy Pye, Brandon, Gwen, Carly, Stephen, Botanical Tours, Moonwort Studios, Liba, Mohsin Kazmi Takes Pictures, doeg, Clifton, Stephanie, Benjamin, Eli, Rachael, Plant By Design, Philip, Brent, Ron, Tim, Homestead Brooklyn, Brodie, Kevin, Sophia, Mark, Rens, Bendix, Irene, Holly, Caitlin, Manuel, Jennifer, Sara, and Margie.