The Garden Mixer

How better to take advantage of the experience, skill, and time of others than to buy and plant a plumped-up, pumped-up, ready-to-bloom-for-you bulb? Or maybe two hundred.When perennials need a couple years, shrubs insist on commitment, and trees require a selfless gift to future generations; bulbs are all about YOU — and it’s time to indulge. Granted, it’s the you of six months from now — but where else in life can you successfully pull off a surprise party for yourself? And afford the florist?Today, Leslie and Marianne explore all the options. Which ones will delight the senses, which ones will delight the critters, and which tools can help you get them in the ground. It’s not too late to grab those last-minute deals and give yourself the spring surprise party your family keeps meaning to throw. ___________________Be sure to hit the subscribe button so we can keep you smiling while you hit the mess [your garden] out there.Full Show Notes at⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Garden Mixer Podcast’s Substack⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠____________________Socials – Pick Your Platform:Follow us on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@thegardenmixer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Indulge us on TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@the.garden.mixer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spar with us on X⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@gardenmixerpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠“French Bistro” theme by Adieu Adieu. License D0LZBINY30GGTBBW

When the spring erupts in tones of yellow, lemon, gold, and that weird orangey-mustard that you’re not sure you love, it’s time to bring on the blue. Leslie Harris and Marianne Willburn have suggestions for how to achieve that in your garden, and dip briefly into the controversy surrounding the [almost] universally loved daffodil. From blue bells in the woods to blue spells when you're pulling out Vinca minor by the fistful, they'll touch on some of gardeners' favorites, and get sucked down a rabbit hole or two on their way.For full show notes, links and laughs, subscribe at The Garden Mixer's Substack. Comments, questions or suggestions? We'd love to hear them. Drop us a line at comments@thegardenmixer.com

It's a wild mix of topics this week on The Garden Mixer. Along with their guest, author and speaker Brie Arthur, Leslie and Marianne talk plant propagation, foodscaping, blooming shrubs, maintenance-hungry perennials, and lifechanging illness. Turns out Brie is not just an expert on making baby plants, but can also share a thing or two about physically & mentally dealing with tick borne disease when your life is lived 100% in horticulture. It's not going to stop her -- or either of them for that matter. (spoiler alert: Grey Goose vodka is your friend.) Join Leslie and Marianne for another episode of laughs, irreverence, and a viburnum or two on The Garden Mixer.Read full show notes, links and laughs at The Garden Mixer Podcast on Substack.We LOVE to hear from you. Comments & questions? Get in touch at comments@thegardenmixer.com

How much can you learn about pruning when your loppers are older than most Influencers? It turns out, quite a lot when you’re taught by the right people. This week, Leslie grills Marianne on her recent trip to the UK and the Great Dixter Symposium where pruning was on the menu (along with some incredible food thanks to Claire Rooney @thelayeredcook Now's the time to get into the garden and prune, and the girls advocate a bold approach (with a little insurance on the side). From Rosa rugosa to Wisteria ahem sinensis (and frutescens), cautious pruners may just find that the pruning jobs they dreaded are now the best part of gardening.But what, exactly, do knife fights and crotches have to do with pruning? You'll have to listen. Or watch! The Garden Mixer Video Edition is now on YouTube.Please send your comments, questions and snark to make us laugh at comments@thegardenmixer.comFull show notes at The Garden Mixer's Substack.The Garden Mixer is also on Instagram @TheGardenMixer TikTok @the.garden.mixer & X @gardenmixerpod

We’re clinking glasses this week with Erin Schanen, YouTube’s Impatient Gardener, and we’re not asking her about her tomatoes.That’s right, who needs to eat when June is a feast for the eyes? We’ll be interrogating Erin on the flower seeds she practically starts in her sleep, the ones that need a little more attention, and the favorites she would never be without.First, there are a couple topics the girls want to hash out over Marianne's timeless gin & tonic and Leslie's 1990s glass of buttery chardonnay. From what Leslie thinks of her Lomi, to how Marianne could possibly make a gardening podcast X-rated, there's a lot of fun in store. Join us.Find the full time-stamped show notes, links & laughs at The Garden Mixer Podcast Substack

Chickens in broth and chickens in gardens are under the penetrating Garden Mixer gaze this week as Leslie Harris & Marianne Willburn move past their respective Christmas viruses and valiantly into the new year.     Suffering her way through a strong cup of homemade broth while Leslie goes back to the red wine, Marianne makes a case for why chickens have made sense for her soil, plants, and kitchen for the last 22 years. But why is she so militant about keeping them cooped? Mahonia, Galanthus, and Garden Tours feature in this episode; as well as Marianne's channeling of Debbie Downer for her latest anti-tech rant on GardenRant. Proving once again that if you’re going to any event, you’ll have way more fun with Leslie. _________________________ Full show notes, links and chicken soup recipes at ⁠The Garden Mixer Podcast⁠ Comments? Questions? Suggestions for better drink choices? Send them all to ⁠comments@thegardenmixer.com⁠ or check out their Instagram @thegardenmixer

In this episode of the newly logo'd and newly music'd The Garden Mixer, Marianne tries her hand at interviewing Leslie -- posing transparently self-serving questions about Leslie's transition to a tiny garden in order to make herself feel better about the future. In her  (self-described) "penetrating and 60 Minutes-esque style", Marianne is after information that all gardeners secretly wonder about in their more overwhelmed moments: Do I want to garden here forever? Can I garden here forever? What does it feel like to downsize when you love your big garden? What does it mean to have a balanced life like normal people? Other discussion topics include bulbs (yes, apparently the two of them are still planting); exciting group trips to the UK and Portugal that Marianne is planning with her travel buddy Andrea Gaspar;  and how to gather interesting greens and garden bits without being caught by your neighbors.  Questions, comments, or kudos? They'd love to hear them at: comments@thegardenmixer

This week on The Garden Mixer, Leslie Harris, Marianne Willburn, and their guest, Scott Beuerlein from The Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens, continue to wrestle over the big topic of bulbs for the benefit of listeners who still have bags of obligation awaiting them in the garage.    Big ones, little ones, early ones and late ones are discussed on their merits and – as Marianne is involved – their possible vulgarity.  Sales are discussed. Vendors are endorsed. Scott once again endears himself to listeners by commiserating over post-bloom daffodil foliage, while Leslie issues judgement over braiding it, and offers alternatives.  Meanwhile, Marianne talks about one of the problems of foliage that has nothing to do with looks but everything to do with successfully pairing bulbs with the rest of your garden. As usual, it’s a fun and informative mix up of plants and points of view, with the promise of more sophisticated drinking choices in future episodes.

In this week’s episode of The Garden Mixer, Leslie Harris & Marianne Willburn stir up a spirited two-part discussion about all things bulb with their inaugural guest, Scott Beuerlein of The Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens, Horticulture Magazine, and GardenRant. Whether you’re going for naturalistic layers or the hypnotizing effect of thousands en masse, there’s more than one way to make the most of what you’ve still got left to plant, and they’ve all three got an opinion over which is best.  Scott and Leslie inevitably gang up on Marianne’s design ideas and drink choices (even as Scott quaffs boxed red wine and admits some of his best displays are by accident); Marianne sexually harasses Leslie and snidely rejects her Bulb Spiral; and Leslie reveals her worst bulb planting mistake made while under the influence of inexperience (which they all agree is fairly common when you’re just starting out).  And what does a poached egg have to do with bulb planting anyway?  Marianne thinks it makes for a profound analogy, even if Scott is irritatingly better at expressing it.

On this episode we talk about the premeditated murder of some large Abyssinian bananas, how Leslie is meh on winter berries, peonies (Leslie protests the look of singles, Marianne protests Leslie's color choices), a good thing to do with excess cherry tomatoes (an alternative from leaving them in unlocked cars). We do several "Book Moments". Who are we kidding... only Marianne has book moments while Leslie continues to rely on the brain that lives in her back pocket. Deer deterrents, when plants fail, is it our fault and should we consider Mahjnong if we have a a black thumb? Also, Black Thumb; is that code for "I don't like to fuss with plants"? Winter annuals, and then finally (it's another long one, good people), shouldn't we have a guest for the next episode?

Marianne and Leslie are ready to start stirring things up in their inaugural podcast episode of The Garden Mixer. Jumping into the fray of native plant zealotry, they cool down a little with normal topics such as perennials with great fall color, only to argue about botanical name pronunciation while offering botanical Latin sources for those who need to see the words they're attempting to say. It promises to be fun mix up of garden, drinks, plants, and laughs. Welcome!

I chat with Kevin Graham and Dragan Kurbalija about their farm in King George's County, Virginia. More news on my move-- we have found a place and it is tiny! How do you curate a ton of plants and containers?

I interview Nick McCullough, horticulturist, nurseryman, designer, speaker and author, about his new book, written with his wife Allison and Teresa Woodard. Titled American Roots, the book explores some of the best of our gardens, and gardeners, right here in America. After last week's announcement of us moving away from this garden, I begin to talk about HOW I will choose plants to take or leave and the process of ending one garden and starting another.

In this very short episode (laryngitis!) I have a special announcement about my garden.

Binx and Andrew announced their engagement in March of 2022, and the great day is June 10, 2023. If you had over a year to make your garden look amazing for a wedding, how would you do it? Listen to my conversation with Robin Stafford-- tips, tricks and timing!

"Nature's Best Hope" was the first Doug Tallamy book I read, and although it points out some dire facts such as mass extinction, it does give hope to the situation of each property owner all over the world being able to help remedy the current insect and bird loss. Now it has been re-written for children, who have more time to truly be nature's best hope --although Dr. Tallamy points out that we can't wait for them to grow up; these individual and simple changes to the way humans interact with nature need to start now. The Plant of the Week is the Zizia aurea, and I talk about how to deal with bulb foliage and the end of peony season.

Marcus Bridgewater, known as Garden Marcus, author of "How to Grow: Nurture Your Garden, Nurture Yourself" talks about his book and how positivity and balance can help us to be better people and gardeners. The Plant of the Week is the common clover, which is colonizing all over my lawn these days. Also included: what is happening in the early May garden.

Brie Arthur is a horticulturist, author, speaker and now an Air BNB hostess! She has created the Carolina Garden House in Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina, outside of Raleigh. I talk to her about her new, almost completely native garden, which is next-door to her longtime personal garden. The Plant of the Week is the Aronia melanocarpa or chokeberry, and I give tips on daffodils.

Probably everybody's favorite butterfly is the Monarch, and Kate Daly has formed a group of Instagrammers who are teaching us what we all can do to help this wonder of nature. She and I discuss how to help out and also talk about the flower farm she is starting down in Alabama. The Plant of the Week is the Myosotis sylvestris and you will hear Scott Beuelein and Marianne Willburn talk about their writing relationship on Garden Rant and their trip to California to see the latest plants breeders have dreamed up.

I chat with Jenny Williams, who gardens in northern Wales (@thelaundrygarden). Jenny and I chat about the origins and development of her garden, and the challenges and joys of having it open to the public via Instagram, UK Open Days, and the Retreat accommodation. The Plant of the Week is the Bougainvillea (I know; incongruous, but I visited Jamaica), and The Play List talks about what is going on the in garden right now.