Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast I Dig Your Story

A north-facing window box that didn’t go quite as planned might seem like an unlikely beginning for a gardening journey. But for Erin Schanen, better known as The Impatient Gardener, that early gardening mishap sparked a desire to understand what went wrong—and eventually grew into a thriving online community and business.

Erin grew up around gardening, thanks to her mother, but it wasn’t until she bought her first home that she dove headfirst into learning everything she could about plants. In 2009, she started a blog to document her rapidly expanding garden. As the online gardening world evolved, she moved to YouTube, bringing viewers along for an honest, unfiltered look at her garden, whether it was thriving or a bit of a wreck.

In this conversation, Erin shares how connecting with fellow garden enthusiasts led to unexpected opportunities in the horticulture industry, including a pivotal trip to California Spring Trials (CAST) that transformed her understanding of how plants get from breeders to gardeners. We also talk about the value of reliable, unsung garden plants, why she believes in planting more to control weeds, and the importance of remembering that gardening is supposed to be fun.

In This Episode:

• How a failed window box sparked a deeper interest in gardening and led to The Impatient Gardener blog.
• How Erin’s transition from blogging to YouTube—and a revealing look inside the horticulture industry—helped turn her passion into a business.
• Why every garden needs its reliable “backup singers,” and why gardeners don’t need to worry so much about perfection.

Find Erin: Website: The Impatient Gardener (https://www.theimpatientgardener.com/) YouTube: The Impatient Gardener (https://www.youtube.com/@TheImpatientGardener) Instagram: @ImpatientGardener (https://www.instagram.com/impatientgardener)

Connect with Our Show Sponsors:

Seed Your Future: www.seedyourfuture.org (https://www.seedyourfuture.org/)

National Garden Bureau: www.ngb.org (https://ngb.org/)

Flowers have been part of Katie Elzer-Peters’s life for as long as she can remember. They are her “thing.” Today, she combines her love of plants with a passion for making art, from botanical drawings and watercolors to cyanotype prints made with leaves, flowers, and even weeds.

A horticulturist by training, Katie spent years working in public gardens before building The Garden of Words, a marketing agency that helps horticultural businesses connect with their audiences. But in 2020, drawing flowers with her mother over Zoom opened a new creative chapter—and a new way of experiencing the plants around her.

In this conversation, Katie shares how art has become an important part of her life, why making things with plants deepens her appreciation for gardening, and how we can find new ways to connect with the natural world by following our curiosity.

In This Episode:

• Katie's journey from public horticulture to marketing for the green industry.
• How rediscovering art in 2020 helped her find a creative outlet and a new perspective on the plants around her.
• How to turn garden plants into art through cyanotypes, leaf prints, and other hands-on projects—and why you don't have to be an artist to begin.

Resources

• Katie Elzer-Peters: The Garden of Words (https://thegardenofwords.com) and on Instagram:@katie_gardenofwords (https://www.instagram.com/katie_gardenofwords/)
• Art from the Garden by Kerry Michaels (https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/kerry-michaels/art-from-the-garden/9781643264172/)
• Florals by Hand by Alli Kochs (https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/624162/florals-by-hand-by-alli-koch/)
• Art Toolkit, compact art supplies for sketching on the go (https://arttoolkit.com)
• Sign up for Katie’s occasional and extremely well-written e-newsletter at tinyurl.com/gownewsletter (http://tinyurl.com/gownewsletter)
• Connect with Katie on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/katieelzerpeters/)

Listen to the episode and discover new ways to bring plants into your creative life!

Connect with Our Show Sponsors:

Seed Your Future: www.seedyourfuture.org (http://www.seedyourfuture.org)

National Garden Bureau: www.ngb.org (http://www.ngb.org)

Sonya Harris loved teaching special education, but a struggling first-grade math lesson led her and a colleague to discover that nature is the ultimate classroom. With no gardening experience at all, Sonya reached out to a celebrity gardener for help—and the resulting school garden changed the direction of her work.

As founder of the Bullock Garden Project, Sonya went from helping children understand math through gardening to teaching educators, families, and communities how to grow food. When COVID-19 underscored how close many people are to food insecurity, her mission expanded. Retirement didn't mean stopping her work as an educator; it meant finding new ways to help others learn, grow, and thrive.

Today, Sonya is exploring garden-based learning as a way to help children cope with trauma, while championing more inclusive community gardens and reminding us that plants offer far more than beauty and food.

In This Episode

• How a math lesson, a little ingenuity, and an unexpected outreach to a TV gardening personality sparked a school garden.
• How the Bullock Garden Project grew from supporting students to helping people address food insecurity and learn to grow food.
• How gardens can support children facing trauma—and how plants provide fibers, dyes, building materials, and opportunities for connection.

Resources

• Sonya Harris is NJGardenTeacher on Instagram – instagram.com/njgardenteacher
• Watch the Bullock Children's Garden video created by Rich Laru – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5aEIdCWOQE

Kate Santos has built a career that crosses some of horticulture’s most distinct boundaries: from applied research and greenhouse production to breeding and global operations—and now public horticulture at Longwood Gardens.

As Associate Vice President of Science at Longwood, Kate brings that commercial and scientific experience to a place where horticulture is about growing beautiful plants—and so much more. Her work connects production, conservation horticulture, biodiversity, climate resiliency, sustainability, research—and most importantly she’s helping to connect these to the 1.7 million people who visit Longwood Gardens because they simply love plants and nature.

In this conversation, Kate talks about feeling disconnected from plants despite moving upward in her career, and eventually taking a year away to ask the hard questions and figure out what truly mattered to her. She also explains how Longwood is using horticulture as a tool for conservation and stewardship, and what it means to help carry the responsibility of a garden of such distinction.

Listen for:

• How Kate bridged the gap between commercial and public horticulture—and why her perspective on the transition matters.
• The extraordinary amount of work behind Longwood’s 1,000-bloom chrysanthemum—and why it takes 18 months to create.
• Kate’s must-see list for a short visit to Longwood, including the meadow, conservatories, fountains, and ornamental kitchen garden.

Connect with Kate: Website: www.longwoodgardens.org Email: ksantos@longwoodgardens.org

Connect with Our Show Sponsors:

Seed Your Future: www.seedyourfuture.org

National Garden Bureau: www.ngb.org

In this quarterly bonus I Dig Your Story sub-pod we call Fifth Tuesdays, host Ellen Wells does a follow-up with a former guest, Roshan Patel.  

When we first talked, Roshan was getting his hands dirty at Mack Park Farm in Salem, Massachusetts, and discovering just how much community can grow around a garden. Now, several months later, he has plenty to report.

Roshan talks about a busy growing season, creating garden videos, and the expanding impact of Mack Park Farm—including nearly 5,000 pounds of donated food and a growing volunteer base. He also fills us in on a new community garden at the Plummer House and the new Friends of Mack Park Farm, a nonprofit created to help secure the farm’s future.

And, of course, Ellen has to ask: Has Roshan finally made peace with kale? Plus, a peek at fatherhood and Roshan’s hopes for introducing baby Blake to the garden.

Resources:

Roshan Patel: Growing Community Through Urban Agriculture - podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/roshan-patel-growing-community-through-urban-agriculture/id1856208214?i=1000779882808

Roshan’s Instagram: - https://www.instagram.com/drizzleranch/

Jonathan Bardzik has built a life around curiosity, creativity, and bringing people together. From growing up in his family’s Massachusetts garden center to working in horticulture, cooking for others, writing books, and creating retreats, his path has rarely been linear—and that’s exactly the point.

In this conversation, Jonathan shares how his relationship with plants began, why following curiosity has shaped so many of his choices, and how cooking became a way to create connection and joy. We also talk about his experience spending more than nine months on solo retreats, what he learned from stepping away from everyday demands, and why he now creates that space for others.

Jonathan keeps close to his heart this advice: “Make connection a priority in your life. It is the greatest source of joy that you will have.”

Listen for:

• How Jonathan’s childhood in a garden center—and his strong sense of self—influenced the life he ultimately created.
• Why following curiosity has led him from horticulture into cooking, storytelling, writing, and television.
• What Jonathan discovered during his extended periods of solo retreat—and the surprising value of unstructured time.
• Why he believes “Connection is the greatest source of joy in our lives.”

Connect with Jonathan: Website: www.jonathanbardzik.com Instagram: www.instagram.com/jonathanbardzik YouTube: www.youtube.com/@JonathanBardzik Jonathan’s All-America Selections recipes: https://all-americaselections.org/jonathan-bardzik-to-produce-videos-and-custom-recipes-with-aas-winners/

What happens when two friends get excited about school gardens and then decide to start taking their viewers inside some of the most interesting gardens around Central California?

Christy Calderon and Shelley Joyner are the creators of Between Two Shrubs, a YouTube show that’s a little like MTV’s Cribs, but for gardens. They tour home landscapes, talk with the people who created them, and show viewers what’s growing, what’s working, and generally what’s happening just out of sight.

But their interest in gardening and their friendship started before their viral backyard videos. Christy and Shelley became involved with the garden program at their children’s school because they saw the garden as a place where kids could learn by doing and have access to fresh food. Their work has grown into a hands-on educational garden with a full curriculum, gardening activities, events, and plenty of opportunities for students and parents to get their hands in the soil.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Why school gardens became important to Christy and Shelley
• What a garden can teach kids beyond how to grow food
• The evolution of their school garden and curriculum
• How Between Two Shrubs became the garden version of Cribs

Connect with Christy & Shelley:

Between Two Shrubs on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@BetweenTwoShrubs

Between Two Shrubs on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/betweentwoshrubs/

Between Two Shrubs School Garden Planning Materials - https://www.etsy.com/shop/BetweenTwoShrubsShop

Sunset Magazine article: https://sunset.com/home-garden/garden-basics/how-to-start-a-school-garden

Rayne Gibson grew up in family-owned wholesale nursery in Louisiana, learning the business from the ground up. By the time he graduated from LSU with a horticulture degree, he had a very specific vision: build up the operation into a multi-state container nursery business and become one of the best nurserymen in the industry.

Then everything changed.

In this episode of I Dig Your Story, Rayne talks about leaving the family business after realizing the future he had been promised wasn’t going to happen—and how that difficult decision ultimately led him to opportunities he never expected. He shares the story of turning around a struggling wholesale nursery in Fort Worth, rebuilding its team and operations, and discovering what good leadership really looks like.

Today, through Taproots Horticulture Consulting, Rayne helps horticulture businesses that struggle with production planning, operational efficiency, sales coaching, team building and leadership, helping them become the best nurseries and people they can be.

The conversation also touches on:

• Family business dynamics
• Consultant or counselor?
• Building a healthy workplace culture
• His philosophy of becoming the leader he wished he had

Resources:

• Taproots Horticulture Consulting – www.taprootsconsulting.com
• Rayne Gibson on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/rayne-gibson-6056381aa

Laura Kunkle’s career has taken some unexpected turns—from wanting to be a professional piano player at the Olympics, to sports broadcasting, accounting at Highlights for Children, and eventually a decades-long career in the green industry. Today, she’s the executive director of America in Bloom, an organization helping communities across the country become better places to live, work, visit, and invest in.

In this episode, Laura and I talk about how America in Bloom uses trees, flowers, environmental stewardship, heritage preservation, and—most importantly—volunteerism to help communities see themselves differently. Laura shares the remarkable transformation of Castle Rock, Washington, and explains why communities need to “be in it for the long haul” to create lasting change.

We also get into why plants are more than pretty, how beautiful communities can make us feel good (and encourage us to spend time and money there), and why community involvement is at the heart of lasting change.

And because this is I Dig Your Story, we go beyond the professional story. Laura reveals her hidden talents—juggling! spinning a ball on her finger!—and explains why pickleball became an unexpected way for this self-described shy person to build community.

In this episode:

• Laura’s winding path from sports broadcasting to the green industry
• The 25-year story of America in Bloom
• Why volunteerism is the program’s most powerful ingredient
• How flowers helped transform Castle Rock, Washington
• Why plants are more than pretty

Connect with Laura:

America in Bloom – www.americainbloom.org

Gardens Across America – www.americainbloom.org/programs/gardens-across-america

Ashley Vernon’s relationship with plants began with childhood curiosity—tasting honeysuckle, exploring her grandmother’s grapevines, and growing her first strawberry patch—but the path to her career in community orchards was anything but predictable.

Adopted as a baby, Ashley grew up curious about her background and where she came from. That curiosity became a kind of wanderlust, leading her from nursing to political science, international studies, and journalism, then to Belize, the Peace Corps in Mauritania and Rwanda, and eventually to social work. Along the way, she developed a fascination with understanding people, places, and how interconnected our stories are.

That curiosity led to Ashley becoming Co-Executive Director of The Giving Grove, a national organization helping communities establish and sustain community orchards.

In this episode:

• How adoption shaped Ashley’s curiosity and career trajectory
• Her unexpected journey from nursing and journalism to community orchards
• How The Giving Grove puts communities—not organizations—in the driver’s seat
• The remarkable scale: 17 cities, 850+ community orchards, nearly 2,000 trained orchard stewards, almost 14,000 trees, and access to nearly a million people
• Why community engagement is just as important as pruning, pest management, and harvesting

Plus, Ashley shares the story of the first apple tree she grafted—and why she calls one particularly wicked-looking tree in her yard “Maleficent.”

Find Ashley: The Giving Grove: givinggrove.org Free fruit-tree education: Visit Giving Grove for resources (www.givinggrove.org/resources) on tree selection, pest and disease management, and fruit-tree care.

What happens when a lifelong love of plants meets an insatiable curiosity about, well, just about everything? For horticulturist, author, educator and entrepreneur Leslie Halleck, it has made for one fascinating career.

Leslie and I go way back, so this conversation was a chance to talk not just about what she does, but how she got there. From growing up as an Army brat and gardening with an adopted German “Oma” to studying botany, working at a garden center, conducting research trials and eventually building her own horticultural consulting business, Leslie has never been a one-lane kind of person.

We talk about her career in public gardens and retail, how writing became such an important part of her work, and the three-legged stool that is Halleck Horticultural: supporting the horticulture industry, teaching the next generation of horticulturists, and providing scientifically accurate gardening information to consumers.

Leslie also shares why she thinks gardeners need to be especially careful about the information they find online, what she teaches her horticulture students about evaluating sources, and why she believes learning new things—and even picking up new hobbies—is an important part of who she is.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Leslie's unconventional path into horticulture
• The role writing and teaching have played in her career
• How to separate good horticultural information from gardening misinformation
• Reinvention, curiosity and embracing your many interests

Listen to Leslie's story on I Dig Your Story—and find out what happens when a horticulturist refuses to stay in just one lane.

Find Leslie: Halleck Horticultural: www.halleckhorticultural.com – sign up for her newsletters here! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lesliehalleck// LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lesliehalleck/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HalleckHorticultural

Angelique Robb didn’t grow up dreaming of a career in horticulture. She studied engineering, worked in the oil industry, and moved to Scotland before gradually finding her way into landscape design and build. Along the way, she discovered that the problem-solving, project management, and visualization skills she developed as an engineer were remarkably useful in the landscape industry.

Today, Angelique is the owner of SYNKD, a media and events platform created to connect the many disciplines that make up the landscape industry. In this episode, we talk about her unconventional career path, the lessons she learned running a landscape design/build business, and why she believes collaboration—not working in silos—is one of the keys to moving the industry forward.

• How designing and building her own gardens on two different continents sparked Angelique’s interest in plants.
• What engineering and the oil industry taught her about landscape design, construction, and project management.
• Why a frustrating experience with a landscape contractor inspired her to start her own design/build business in Scotland.
• How a move back to Louisiana led to the creation of SYNKD—and why Angelique wanted to bring the landscape industry’s many disciplines together.
• Why communication, collaboration, and sharing what works are essential to solving the industry’s biggest challenges.

Visit SYNKD at synkd.io for the publication, events, podcasts, videos, and more.

Angelique welcomes feedback and ideas from landscape professionals about what the industry needs. Contact her at Angelique@synkd.io

After a corporate layoff unexpectedly changed his career path, Roshan Patel traded digital marketing for community gardening—and found a new sense of purpose in the process.

In this episode, Roshan shares how volunteering at Mack Park Farm in Salem, Massachusetts, grew into a passion for urban agriculture, food security, and community engagement. He also talks about using social media to make gardening more approachable and why getting your hands dirty can change much more than what's growing in the garden.

• Roshan's journey into urban agriculture
• How Mack Park Farm serves the Salem community
• Gardening, food security, and building connections
• Making gardening accessible through social media
• Why everyone should spend more time outdoors
• It is indeed possible to learn to love kale

• Drizzle Ranch on Instagram: instagram.com/drizzleranch
• Mack Park Farm: https://mack-park-farm-salemma.hub.arcgis.com/

Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to I Dig Your Story, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who loves plants, gardens, and the people behind them. Keep digging!

In this episode of I Dig Your Story, host Ellen Wells talks with Matt Lebon, a.k.a. The Foodscaper, about the idea of foodscaping—creating landscapes that combine beauty, food production, ecological diversity, and water management.

Matt shares the winding path that took him from business school and the Peace Corps to organic farming, permaculture, and eventually designing food-producing landscapes for homeowners. He and Ellen talk about food forests, edible front yards, rain gardens, resilient plants, and how you can rethink the landscape you already have.

Whether you're interested in growing more of your own food or simply want to make your landscape more useful, this conversation will give you plenty to think about.

In this episode:

• What foodscaping is—and what it can look like at home
• Why your front yard might be the perfect place to grow food
• Food forests and multilayered landscapes
• How rain gardens can help manage water
• Choosing resilient, low-maintenance plants

Find Matt: The Foodscaper: thefoodscaper.com Instagram: Matt The Foodscaper - https://www.instagram.com/matt.the.foodscaper/

Resources mentioned: Free Plant Guide: https://www.thefoodscaper.com/

YouTube Resources: The Foodscaper - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8X1D7AD9xc2i4tZye61FNQ

Jennifer Rust spent years building a successful corporate career in sales and management consulting. But after stepping away from corporate life—and into what she jokingly calls her "post-corporate therapy" of pulling weeds in her own yard—she discovered that the business she was searching for had been growing alongside her passion for plants all along.

Today, Jennifer is the founder of Jennifer Rust Botanicals and Studio JRB, where she creates everything from seasonal container gardens to biophilic designs for luxury hotels and commercial spaces. In this conversation, she shares how corporate experience became an unexpected advantage, why community was essential to launching her business, and how evidence-based biophilic design improves both human well-being and business performance.

Along the way, Jennifer offers practical container gardening advice and encourages anyone with a dream that it's never too late to build a thriving business around what you truly love.

Whether you're a gardener, entrepreneur, designer, or someone considering your own second act (or even third!), Jennifer's story is a reminder that sometimes the path forward begins by listening to the passion that's been there all along.

• Growing up in a military family where gardening always meant home
• How working at Crabtree & Evelyn foreshadowed a future in plants
• Leaving a successful corporate career and finding "post-corporate therapy" in the garden
• Why container gardens became the foundation of Jennifer Rust Botanicals
• The value of finding community through Digging In
• What biophilic design really means—and the research behind it
• How Studio JRB helps hotels and commercial spaces improve guest experience through plants
• Jennifer's favorite container garden design principles
• The overlooked garden center section where "the good stuff" lives
• Why it's never too late to build a business around your passion

Jennifer Rust Botanicals: https://jenniferrustbotanicals.com/

Studio JRB: https://studiojrb.com/

Follow Jennifer on Instagram: @jenniferrustbotanicals - https://www.instagram.com/jenniferrustbotanicals/ @studiojrb - https://www.instagram.com/studio_jrb/

More:

The Psychology Today article on biophilia mentioned in Shovel Ready - https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/biophilia

Keep listening—because everyone has a story worth digging into.

What if public gardens are much more than beautiful places to visit?

Jessica Turner-Skoff firmly believes—and convinces her listeners—that public gardens are where beauty, science, conservation, and human connection come together.

As Associate Director of Science Communications at Longwood Gardens, Jessica helps translate groundbreaking plant research into stories that inspire visitors, volunteers, and gardeners alike. But her own story begins on a hobby farm in rural Ohio, where farm chores, medicinal plants, and a lifelong sense of wonder shaped the path that eventually led her to one of the world's great gardens.

In this episode of I Dig Your Story, Jessica shares how her childhood fascination with nature evolved into a career that blends biology, communication, conservation, and storytelling. Along the way, we explore American ginseng, the hidden science happening inside public gardens, and why every one of us already has a relationship with plants—even if we don't realize it.

Whether you're a gardener, plant professional, science communicator, or simply someone who enjoys spending time outdoors, Jessica's perspective may forever change the way you experience a garden.

In this episode we discuss:

• Why every person has a relationship with plants • From aspiring zoo keeper to plant scientist • Researching American ginseng and conservation in Appalachia • Why public gardens are scientific powerhouses—not just beautiful destinations • Jessica's TEDx talk on reconnecting people with nature • Her advice for anyone considering a career working with plants

Jessica also shares one of the simplest challenges you'll gladly participate in:

Take 30 seconds to think about all the ways plants make your life better.

You may never look at the world quite the same way again.

Connect with Jessica:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicabturnerskoff/ • Longwood Gardens: https://longwoodgardens.org

• GrowerTalks article regarding Christmas poinsettias at Longwood: https://www.growertalks.com/Article/?srch=1&articleID=27630

Landscape designer, plantsman, author, and ecological steward Kelly D. Norris believes gardens aren't static works of art but are living communities. In this episode of I Dig Your Story, Kelly shares the remarkable path that led him from running a mail-order iris nursery as a teenager on his family's Iowa farm to becoming one of the country's leading voices in ecological landscape design.

Kelly explains why he prefers the word stewardship over maintenance, why curiosity has shaped every chapter of his career, and why the best compliment someone can give his work is to say it doesn't look designed at all.

Whether you're tending a backyard garden, managing a public landscape, or simply wondering how to create more meaningful connections with the natural world, this conversation will leave you looking at plants—and your own landscape—a little differently.

• How a 14-year-old convinced his parents to buy a mail-order iris nursery
• Why Kelly believes plants are collaborators, not landscape objects
• The difference between maintaining a landscape and stewarding one
• Leaving security to build an entrepreneurial design studio
• The philosophy behind Kelly's motto, "Just Keep Planting."
• Why asking better questions matters more than having all the answers

Learn more about Kelly and his work at:

https://kellydnorris.com

Fifth Tuesdays #2:

In this quarterly bonus I Dig Your Story sub-pod we call Fifth Tuesdays, host Ellen Wells is answering your questions!

In this episode, Ellen answers:

• What’s your earliest plant memory?
• But Ellen, are you a good gardener?
• How do I keep our Wisteria from taking over our small urban yard?
• Do coffee grounds really help plants?
• Do you have a hack for bugs and other pests?

Ellen also shares the latest IDYS news:

• The IDYS website launches this July! – www.idigyourstory.com
• The IDYS Substack newsletter is coming at the end of the month
• Request the IDYS Media Kit and learn how you can support the show
• Nominate someone (or yourself!) to be a guest on the show

Questions? IDigYourStory@gmail.com

Did you know there’s an IDYS Instagram page? Check it out at www.instagram.com/idigyourstory

What happens when an eight-year-old sticks a broken branch in the ground and discovers it can grow roots? Mind blown!

For Joe Lamp'l, that moment sparked a lifelong fascination with plants that eventually led him from a corporate career in finance to becoming one of the most recognizable voices in gardening media.

Known to millions as joe gardener, Joe joins Ellen Wells on I Dig Your Story to share the story behind his career. As they talk, he reveals how a childhood obsession with plant propagation evolved into television hosting, podcasting, online education, and environmental advocacy – with only a brief diversion in a suit-and-tie job.

Joe and host Ellen Wells discuss:

• the unexpected contact that launched his television career
• the challenges of producing 52 episodes of a scripted gardening show
• why audio remains his favorite medium
• the gardening practice Joe believes is most underrated
• and his next move into ecological gardening and native plants

Their conversation goes beyond gardening to explore the nurturing of curiosity, persistence and entrepreneurial drive, and the power of following a passion.

Connect with Joe:

Web: www.joegardener.com Instagram: www.instagram.com/joegardener YouTube: www.youtube.com/@joegardenerTV

In Part 2 of my conversation with horticulture industry veteran Marvin Miller, we go beyond the fascinating intersections of horticulture, data, and business and discuss some of Marvin’s personal passions of travel and photography.

We start with an explanation of how Marvin’s graduate research helped analyze the U.S. cut flower industry and shaped the way all of us understand market trends, industry growth, and business behavior. He also gives a behind-the-scenes look at his role at Ball Horticultural Company, where he tracks industry data, forecasts trends, helps train sales teams, and advocates for horticulture at the national level.

But Marvin's story extends far beyond his professional life. We talk about his commitment to fundraising for multiple sclerosis research through long-distance cycling, his love of photography, and his adventures across Alaska—from photographing polar bears and the Northern Lights to exploring Denali National Park in every season.

You'll also hear: • How market research influences the future of horticulture • Why communication matters during times of industry change • Marvin's work with American Floral Endowment, American in Bloom, and other nonprofit organizations • What motivates him to ride 100-mile cycling events for MS • His favorite photography destinations and dream travel locations • His thoughts on Alaska's cut peony industry and the power of simply saying, "How can I help?"

Marvin's optimism, curiosity, and dedication to both people and plants shine throughout this conversation.

Contribute to Marvin's Tour De Farms Bike MS Ride at:

https://events.nationalmssociety.org/participants/Marvin-Miller-2025-2

What happens when a kid becomes fascinated by a tiny tomato growing in the garden—and then never stops being fascinated by nature?

In Part 1 of this special two-part conversation, Ellen Wells sits down with horticulture industry veteran Marvin Miller of Ball Horticultural Company to explore the roots of a career that would eventually influence everything from supermarket flower departments to consumer buying habits.

Marvin shares stories of growing up in Baltimore, learning from family gardeners and neighborhood mentors, reclaiming a property known as Harmony Acres, and discovering that horticulture could become more than a hobby. He also explains how his interest in both plants and economics led to groundbreaking consumer research that helped make mixed bouquets a supermarket floral staple.

In this episode, you'll hear:

• Why Marvin calls himself an "extreme gardener" • The influence of immigrant family traditions and neighborhood gardening • What Harmony Acres taught him about plants and hard work • Why he chose Purdue University to study horticulture • How agricultural economics became part of his career path • The research that helped shape modern supermarket floral sales

Jennifer Brennan has spent her career helping gardeners succeed—and proving that horticulture can be both educational and fun.

In this episode of I Dig Your Story, host Ellen Wells talks with horticultural consultant Jennifer Brennan about her journey from a college greenhouse job and a dorm room overflowing with plants to becoming one of the most trusted gardening educators in the Chicago area. Along the way, Jennifer shares how she helped introduce Hello Kitty to the United States, why she returned to horticulture after a detour into sales, and how she built a career translating plant science into practical advice for everyday gardeners.

Jennifer also discusses the biggest mistakes gardeners make, the challenge of combating misinformation on social media, and why listening skills are just as important as plant knowledge.

In this episode: • How a greenhouse job for extra pocket money sparked a lifelong love of plants • The surprising career detour that eventually led back to horticulture • Why watering is the most misunderstood gardening skill • The importance of chemistry and science in plant care • How to handle social media’s unfortunate gardening advice • The reward of helping gardeners succeed

Connect with Jennifer Brennan: info@jenniferbrennanhorticulture.com

How do we inspire the next generation to choose horticulture careers if they don’t even know the industry exists?

We are celebrating Women in Horticulture Week with Seed Your Future Executive Director Jazmin Albarran. In this episode of I Dig Your Story, Ellen Wells talks with Jazmin about women in horticulture, workforce development, and the challenge of helping students, parents, and educators understand the breadth of opportunities available in the green industry.

Jazmin shares how her background in psychology, youth development, and communications unexpectedly led her into horticulture—and why she now believes the industry offers some of the most meaningful and fulfilling careers available.

The conversation explores:

• Why horticulture is often an “accidental career”
• The growing role of women in industry leadership
• How Seed Your Future is connecting students with horticulture careers
• The importance of social media in reaching younger generations
• Why horticulture needs future leaders in technology, automation, business, marketing, and science

Katie Dubow, president of Garden Media Group, makes a special appearance to talk about the reasons GMG began Women in Horticulture Week in 2020 and how we can participate in lifting up women during this week of recognition.

Learn more:

Seed Your Future - https://www.seedyourfuture.org

I Am Horticulture Campaign - https://www.seedyourfuture.org/greenpro_under_40

Women in Horticulture LinkedIn Group - https://www.linkedin.com/groups/16299029/

What do sea turtles, corpse flowers, aphids, and philodendrons have in common? For Michelle Opela, they’re all part of a career journey that somehow led to horticulture.

In this episode of I Dig Your Story, Michelle shares how she went from marine biology adventures in Alaska and Australia to becoming deeply involved in Integrated Pest Management (IPM), biological controls, and plant health in the horticulture industry.

Michelle also shares some of her pest and disease expertise. She breaks down complicated topics in a way home gardeners and industry pros alike can understand, including how to spot plant problems before bringing them home, why beneficial insects aren’t always simple for consumers to use, and the growing pressure to produce “perfect” plants.

We also talk about:

• Growing up obsessed with insects in rural New York
• Working aboard fishing vessels in the Bering Sea
• Tagging sharks and sea turtles in Australia
• Beginner-friendly biological controls
• Fungus gnats and dramatic houseplants
• Michelle’s obsession with corpse flowers and other unusual plants

Most importantly, Michelle reminds listeners that every gardener deals with pests eventually — and that it doesn’t make you a bad plant parent.

• Cornell University
• NOAA Fisheries
• Costa Farms
• BioWorks

• BioWorks
• Costa Farms

For three decades, Delilah Onofrey has helped tell the stories of the horticulture industry, first as editor of Greenhouse Grower and now as Marketing Director for Suntory Flowers.

In this episode of I Dig Your Story, Delilah joins Ellen to talk about growing up among heirloom flowers in a historic Cleveland-area home, discovering journalism at Kent State University, and unexpectedly building and loving a lifelong career in floriculture.

They discuss:

• The evolution of her time in horticultural trade journalism
• Why community beautification matters
• How a trip to Japan changed her career path
• How friendships and relationships shape business and opportunities

Plus, Delilah shares her love of music in our Lightning Round. 

Whether you work in horticulture or simply love hearing how careers evolve through curiosity and connection, this episode is full of warmth and perspective as only Delilah can deliver.

Find Delilah and Suntory Flowers:

Home - Suntory Flowers - www.suntoryflowers.com (trade site)

Home - Suntory Garden Club - www.suntorygardenclub.com (consumer site)

Facebook - www.facebook.com/SuntoryFlowers

Instagram - www.instagram.com/suntoryflowers.na/

Can't Miss Video!

Delilah unveils a special Rolling Stones "time capsule":

https://youtu.be/JyR-G1hB7Uw

What happens when a landscape architect realizes the plants—not the plans—are the real passion?

In this episode of I Dig Your Story, Ellen Wells talks with David Bache of Garden Industries in Loxahatchee, Florida, about finding your path in horticulture, growing what others won’t, and creating a nursery experience that inspires.

David shares how trying different roles—from landscape design to floral importing—ultimately led him back to what he was meant to do. Today at Garden Industries, he grows unique and heirloom plants, breeds new varieties, and believes every customer visit should feel like an experience—not just a transaction.

Ellen and David also dig into how the nursery industry has evolved, why social media matters more than ever, and what continues to inspire him after decades in the business.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• Why trying different jobs can lead you to the right one
• How growing uncommon plants sets a business apart
• How plant trends rise, fall—and come back around again
• Why knowing your plants is still the most important skill
• What continues to inspire a lifelong plant person

Connect with David & Garden Industries:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GardenIndustries

Instagram: www.instagram.com/mr_plant_man/?hl=en

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Mr_Plant_Man-b5w

Garden Industries Newsletter Sign-Up: https://mailchi.mp/2fc4ca0532a0/newsletter-signup

Garden Industries Website: www.gardenind.com

Melinda Knuth didn’t set out to become an academic—but a series of questions, opportunities and one pivotal experience at Disney World led her there.

In this episode of I Dig Your Story, Melinda shares how her early goal of building a wholesale floral business evolved into a career focused on understanding how—and why—people connect with plants. From her upbringing in agriculture to her graduate work in consumer behavior, her story is a reminder that career paths rarely move in straight lines.

We talk about the moment that shifted her thinking, her passion for engaging consumers, and what the horticulture industry still gets wrong about communicating plant benefits. Melinda also shares insights from her research—like how online pre-researching is shaping plant purchases—and why simplifying our messaging may be the key to reaching more people.

At the heart of it all is a deep belief in helping others discover their passion for plants.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How one unexpected experience reshaped Melinda’s career path
• Why simplifying plant messaging matters more than ever
• How consumers are researching plants before they buy
• The role collaboration plays in horticultural business success
• Why “points of adversity” can also be moments for innovation

Find Melinda:

NC State Horticultural Department: https://cals.ncsu.edu/horticultural-science/people/mjknuth/

Cognitive Behavioral Lab: https://cognitivebehaviorallab.cals.ncsu.edu/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mknuth/

CBS News Sunday Morning segment “The Pride and Perils of Plant Parenthood” on YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vO-61q69PUw

Gail Cash, owner of Flori-Design in Eustis, Florida, has built a horticulture career shaped by resilience, focus and creativity.

In this episode of I Dig Your Story, Gail shares her journey from FFA and Virginia Tech to launching her own business, including how she found a niche in carnivorous plants and built memorable products like “Little Pot of Horrors.”

She also talks about expanding into dish gardens and terrariums, designing standout products, and what it took to survive the Great Recession.

Along the way, Gail shares the lesson that continues to guide her business today:

“I really learned during the Great Recession that you need to stick with what you do best and just try to do a better job of it.”

We also discuss leadership, team retention, and how treating people well has helped her build a loyal workforce.

🎧 Listen in for a conversation about plants, business, and staying grounded through change.

Where to Find Gail:

Website: https://www.flori-design.com/

Little Pot of Horrors: https://littlepotofhorrors.com/

Instagram: @flori_design_inc

Facebook: Flori-Design Nursery

What does it mean to truly grow through every season of life?

In this deeply moving conversation, Gladys Opiyo shares a story that spans continents, hardship, discovery and purpose. From her early years as a refugee to her journey through agriculture in Uganda, Costa Rica and the United States, Gladys reveals how her path was shaped by resilience, faith and her discovery of and appreciation for floral beauty.

Her connection to plants runs far deeper than a career—it’s rooted in survival, shaped by necessity, and elevated by curiosity. Today, as a Director of Sales at Profile Products, Gladys brings a unique perspective shaped by hands-on growing experience, global education and a heartfelt commitment to supporting her grower customers.

This is a story about more than plants. It’s about perspective, perseverance

and finding purpose in the unexpected turns of life.

Find Gladys on LinkedIn.

What if the thing you loved as a kid could grow into a career that reaches millions?

In this episode of I Dig Your Story, Justin Hancock shares how a simple fascination with plants turned into a role helping gardeners everywhere feel more confident, capable, and inspired.

From early curiosity to industry influencer, Justin’s story is about following what pulls you in—and figuring it out along the way.

In this episode, we dig into:

• Where his love of plants really began (and how early it started)
• The twists, turns and pivotal moments that shaped his career
• Why making gardening approachable matters more than ever
• His "Disney movie moment" in is Miami back yard
• Exactly how different gardening is in Minnesota compared to Miami—and the lessons he learned along the way.

If you’ve ever wondered “could this actually go somewhere, career-wise?”—this conversation is for you.

SHOVEL READY:

Garvinea Garden Gerberas - https://garvinea.com/

Variegated Kaempferia - https://costafarms.com/products/variegated-kaempferia-medium

Where to Find Justin:

Costa Farms: costafarms.com Podcast: Plant Prescription Reddit: GardeningJustin LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-hancock-6304127/

We are introducing a new show spinoff: Fifth Tuesdays. Wanting to keep to just four Tuesday interviews each month, host Ellen Wells decided to use this “fifth Tuesday” as a quarterly bonus. For each month that has a Fifth Tuesday, she will answer your questions and update you on any I Dig Your Story happenings.

In this episode, Ellen answers:

• Why horticulture?
• What makes a good interview?
• How do you stay curious?
• What’s been surprising about the podcast so far?

Ellen also answers a few lightning round questions, too—you’ll want to hear what plant she struggles with the most (hint: it’s not actually a plant).

SHOVEL READY:

• I Dig Your Story is now open for sponsorships and partnerships!
• Watch for an I Dig Your Story newsletter coming your way soon.

Questions: IDigYourStory@gmail.com

Host Ellen Wells chats with former Walt Disney World Director of Horticulture Katy Moss Warner and former Florida Nursery, Growers, and Landscape Association (FNGLA) COO Linda Adams to share the story of the Bloom & Grow Garden Society in Winter Garden, Florida. The conversation is proof that a passionate garden club can literally reshape a community. 

Together Linda and Katy reveal how Bloom & Grow:

- Helped turn Winter Garden’s blighted downtown into a lush linear park 

- Planted 1,000 bald cypress trees at Tucker Ranch and has become known as "the folks who do trees well." 

- Helped establish Winter Garden’s official flowering tree (Pink Trumpet Tree) and the Heritage Tree Walk 

- Maintains multiple public gardens that support both pollinators and the people who live in and visit downtown Winter Garden.

- Run multiple programs that serve as models for other community-focused garden clubs throughout the nation.  

You’ll hear practical inspiration for starting or reimagining a garden club, engaging local leaders, partnering with industry and using plants to build community, connection and long-term legacy.

And the next time you see Katy, ask her about her Aspidistra collection.

SHOVEL READY:

Bloom & Grow Garden Society’s Spring Fever in the Garden: https://www.springfeverinthegarden.org/

America In Bloom: https://americainbloom.org/

On this episode of I Dig Your Story, Ellen talks with Kathy Jentz — journalist, podcaster and founding editor and publisher of Washington Gardener Magazine.

Kathy shares how a lifelong love of reading and telling stories led her to study journalism in college, but it wasn’t until she bought a small house with a big garden that gardening truly became a passion. Eventually, noticing the lack of reliable regional information for Mid-Atlantic gardeners, she launched her own publication — and later the GardenDC podcast — to connect gardeners with trustworthy, local expertise.

Ellen and Kathy talk about how garden media has evolved from printed newsletters and magazines to blogs, podcasts, and social media — and what that shift means for today’s home gardeners. With so much information circulating online, Kathy explains why finding credible, regionally relevant advice is more important than ever, especially as AI-generated content, misleading graphics, and viral gardening “hacks” spread across the internet.

In this conversation, they dig into:

• Kathy’s path from feature writer and association communicator to magazine founder and podcaster
• How gardening trends have shifted from primarily ornamental plants to growing interest in edibles and native plants
• The pandemic-era gardening boom and what has stuck with new gardeners
• Why Kathy says “all gardening is local” and how gardeners can find reliable advice in their own region
• Viral gardening trends — like snail-spiral seed starting and banana peel fertilizer water — and whether they actually work

Learn about Kathy’s most reliable tools and how she protects them, why roses do not have to be scary, and her believe that we should all grow what we love and tackle garden projects in small, manageable pieces.

If you’ve ever wondered how someone builds a career telling gardeners’ stories — or how to separate helpful gardening advice from online noise — this episode is full of insights and practical wisdom.

Where to Find Kathy

Instagram/X/BlueSky/Threads: @WDCgardener

LinkedIn: Kathy Jentz

Facebook: Kathy Jentz and Washington Gardener Magazine

Website: www.washingtongardener.com

Blog: www.washingtongardener.blogspot.com

Podcast: GardenDC available on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and other major platforms

In this episode of I Dig Your Story, Ellen sits down with Maria Rodale—author, organic advocate, and co-chair of the Rodale Institute board—to explore a lifetime spent growing alongside plants and the organic movement. 

Maria shares what it was like growing up on the pioneering Rodale family farm, where Organic Gardening and Prevention magazines were born and where her father’s research helped prove that organic systems can outperform chemical agriculture while regenerating soil. 

She explains the difference between organic and regenerative organic, why eliminating toxins is still the heart of the work, and how “regeneration” became part of the movement’s vocabulary. 

With guest co-host Mike Betterly from Organic Mechanics Soil Company, the conversation turns to: 

• Why growing your own food—whether in a backyard, container, or windowsill—is empowering 
• Easy entry points for new gardeners 
• The joy of heirloom and culturally important seeds 
• Learning to see weeds, groundhogs and imperfections as part of a living ecosystem 

And, maybe best of all, Maria gives us permission to not weed! 

Find Maria Rodale on:

Substack @Life.Unfiltered

On this episode of I Dig Your Story, host Ellen Wells chats with Frank and Pamela Arnosky, founders and owners of Arnosky Family Farm and Market — known as Texas’ premier cut flower farm and garden.

Ellen first interviewed Frank and Pam for a 2025 FloraCulture International article and immediately knew their story deserved a deeper dig. The couple reveal that what started as a shared childhood love of plants separately grew into a thriving specialty cut flower operation as they came together. 

The Arnoskys' journey began with a small bedding plant business and a bold opportunity. When Whole Foods Market asked if they could supply “all you can grow,” the Arnoskys dove deep into specialty cut flowers. That eventually led to the creation of Texas Specialty Cut Flowers and the Blue Barn Market, beloved by flower lovers near and far.

In this episode, listen for:

• How marigolds changed everything. A single crop dramatically shifted their production focus and opened new retail doors.

• How COVID nearly flipped their business model 180 degrees. When wholesale demand stalled, retail  sales surged.

• How polka music altered the course of their lives. Sometimes destiny arrives with an accordion.

Frank and Pam share honest insights about taking chances, resilience, sticking to their mission, and staying rooted in purpose. Through every season, they’ve remained grounded in one simple belief: Every home should have flowers every day.

If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to build a highly respected cut flower brand beloved throughout the Lone Star State — or how love, partnership, and a little polka can shape a life in horticulture — this episode is for you.

Where to Find the Arnoskys: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arnoskyfamilyfarms

Website: https://www.texascolor.com/

In this episode, host Ellen Wells zooms with Chuck Pavlich, Director of New Product Development at Terra Nova Nurseries in Oregon. Find out how a farm-raised boy’s obsession with dinosaurs and rocks evolved into a passion for all things plants. After working in retail horticulture in various positions for 30 years, Chuck is now exploring the world in search of new plants to breed, develop and bring to gardens worldwide.

Learn what it takes to hike a 15,000 ft. high mountain, how to find the gem in a trial garden and how a misdialed number led to Chuck’s short-lived but quite excellent film and television career. It’s all true!

Where to find Chuck:

Terra Nova Nurseries YouTube channel

In this episode of I Dig Your Story, host Ellen Wells sits down with Charlotte, NC-based garden designer Jay Sifford to explore how he turns ordinary spaces into immersive, story-rich landscapes. Jay shares his winding path from ministry and sales to aquariums and, finally, to garden design, and explains why he treats plants like an artist treats paint, using color, form, and mood to compose gardens that feel magical, personal, and deeply memorable.

Find out about Jay’s love of slag glass, his hot takes on designing with natives and how Mary Poppins changed the trajectory of his garden design career. It's a great conversation—you're gonna love it!

Where to Find Jay Sifford 

Website: SiffordGardenDesign.com 

Instagram: @siffordgardendesign 

Facebook: Sifford Garden Design 

Writing: Regular contributor to *Fine Gardening* magazine 

Video Features: Appearing in garden tours on Jim Putnam’s HortTube YouTube channel 

On this episode of I Dig Your Story, host Ellen Wells is joined by Helen Lawson, Retail Marketing Partnership Coach for Monrovia, a California-based nursery with nationwide operations. Helen is one of those people I’ve had minimal but excellent interactions with, and that was more than enough to know she had a story worth digging into.

Helen shares how a childhood love of the outdoors led her to writing and photography, how writing led her into marketing, and how a Garden Writers Association event helped her discover a passion for horticultural marketing. Her journey is a reminder that careers don’t have to follow a straight path to be meaningful.

At the core of Helen’s story is a simple but powerful philosophy: “Just show up.” Got an interest? A dream? Show up for it.

Stick around for the lightning round to find out if Helen loves disco—and which marketing trend she’s soooo totally over.

Shovel Ready:

Vivid Bright Lights Dianthus: www.monrovia.com/viviid-bright-light-dianthus.html

From the Convo:

Centennial Ruby Hydrangea: www.monrovia.com/centennial-ruby-hydrangea.html

GardenComm/Garden Writers Association: info.gardencomm.org/

Helen on Socials:

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/helennewlinglawson/

Instagram: www.instagram.com/helen_gardenspotting

On this episode of I Dig Your Story, I’m joined by Kate Ferguson and Lila Sullivan, the co-founders of Flourish Plant—and proof that a shared love of plants and nature can turn into something much bigger. Long before they were business partners, Kate and Lila were science fair competitors, both already deeply curious about how plants work and what they need to thrive.

In our conversation, we trace their path from early science geekdom and parallel nature-obsessed lives to launching Flourish Plant together. Kate and Lila share what it’s really like to start a plant care company from absolute scratch, how they navigated the complexities of the fertilizer market, and why creating sustainable, high-quality products has always been a non-negotiable for them.

We also talk about friendship in business, what excites them most about expanding their product line, and how their passion for plants continues to shape their vision for the future of Flourish Plant.

Find Flourish Plant products at more than 500 Whole Foods and independent plant shops and garden centers nationwide and also on Amazon. For more information on Kate, Lila and Flourish Plant, visit:

www.flourishplant.com 

www.instagram.com/flourishplant

www.tiktok.com/@flourishplant

Joining me on the I Dig Your Story podcast today is landscape designer Jan Johnsen. Grab your popcorn my friends because this lady has some stories!

Like what? We talk about growing “monster seeds," winning the NY Citywide science fair with a plant experiment, living in 1970s Japan how she became a sort-after landscape designer in Westchester County, New York. 

We also lament the fact that the world is out of touch with green spaces and how important it is to inform the next generations that yes indeed plants can be a career choice. 

It's a fun time with Jan! And seriously, we may need to have a Part II. 

Connect with Jan: 

• Instagram: Johnsen Design
• Substack: Gardentopia
• LinkedIn: Jan Johnsen
• Website: Johnsen Landscapes

Host Ellen Wells chats with Katie Jensen of Katie Casey Designs—a plant shop, garden center, and landscape design studio all rolled into one—in Clear Lake, Iowa. Even while recovering from a flu-like bug, Ellen wasn’t about to miss the chance to catch up with Katie, who truly “does it all.”

Ellen has known Katie long before she opened her own shop—back when Katie was writing for Better Homes and Gardens. From those early days as a garden writer to becoming a business owner and designer, Katie’s career has taken some impressive and unexpected turns.

In this conversation, Katie shares:

• Where her love of plants first began

• How and why she walked away from her original career path

• What led her to create Katie Casey Designs

• What’s ahead for her and her business in the coming year

And fair warning, Kelly Norris—Katie may be paying you a visit soon.

Tune in to hear how passion, creativity, and a little boldness can grow into a life rooted in plants and possibility.

Find Katie IRL at Katie Casey Designs in Clear Lake, Iowa, and online at katiecaseydesigns.com. 

Welcome to I Dig Your Story, a podcast where we unearth the personal stories behind the plants, people, gardens, and green spaces that shape our lives.

I’m your host, Ellen Wells, and today’s guest is someone I’ve known for nearly 18 years—Marta Maria Garcia, Head of Product Management and Marketing for Dümmen Orange in North America. Marta Maria and I have been friends and industry colleagues for a long time, but even after all these years, I realized I didn’t really know how she first found her way into the plant world.

In this episode, Marta Maria shares the surprising path that led her from marketing Bacardi in Puerto Rico to building a career in the plant industry in South Florida. We talk about how her background in marketing shaped her approach, the twists and turns of her career, and what drew her to horticulture in the first place.

Stick around to find out:

• What “legacy plant” is growing in her backyard

• Her favorite flavor from Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream

• And what she plans to do when she wins that massive Powerball jackpot (and yes, I’m definitely going with her)

This one is full of stories, good laughs, and a reminder that everyone in this industry has a unique path worth digging into.

On this episode of I Dig Your Story, I’m joined by Cheri Ruane, Chief Development Officer at Weston & Sampson—and a longtime friend, although exactly how long we’ve known each other is still up for debate. Like many friendships, I realized I didn’t exactly know what Cheri does for a living, but I knew it had something to do with landscape architecture. And honestly—do we ever really know what our friends do all day?

In this episode, we break down what a Chief Development Officer at an engineering firm actually does and how a girl from New Jersey made her way to the C-suite of a Boston-based company, with an important stop working in her cousin’s landscape contracting business along the way.

We also talk about how Cheri learns about new plants, why plant selection matters in public spaces, and the one type of plant she hopes breeders will start producing in abundance for public parks everywhere.

Learn more about Cheri: 

@work - https://www.westonandsampson.com/

Fun stuff - just Google Cheri Ruane ; ) 

In this special installment of I Dig Your Story, Ellen answers a few questions you didn't even know you had about her podcast. Such as, who is this Ellen? And what's the whole show anyway? 

In this very first episode of I Dig Your Story we chat with Diane Blazek of National Garden Bureau and All-America Selections. Learn about little Diane, how she found her way into the world of horticulture, and what it takes to keep these two vital industry non-profits running smoothly. Spoiler alert—she and I both want more hours in the day.