41. Sam Hoadley on Native Plant Trials at Mt. Cuba Center

Sam Hoadley BIO

Sam Hoadley is the Manager of Horticultural Research at Mt. Cuba Center where he evaluates native plant species, old and new cultivars, and hybrids in the Trial Garden. Sam earned his degree in Sustainable Landscape Horticulture from the University of Vermont. You can learn more about Sam and Mt. Cuba’s Center by visiting their website to access resources including free downloadable reports, sortable plant spreadsheets, and educational classes.

SHOW NOTES

• Sam shared how his early connection to plants began in childhood through woodland exploration and freedom in the home garden

• His education in sustainable landscape horticulture at the University of Vermont and formative internship at Longwood Gardens

• How Longwood Gardens exposed him to a wide range of gardening styles, from formal to naturalistic, and the value of learning landscape management at scale

• Shares his first impressions of Mt. Cuba Center’s high maintenance standards and its transition from private estate to public garden

• The history of the Copeland family and how the Copelands evolved from general gardening to a strong focus on native plants and conservation

• Mt. Cuba’s mission to inspire conservation through the beauty and value of native plants

• Dr. Richard Lighty’s role in helping Mrs. Copeland define her passion for wildflowers and shape the public garden’s direction

• The goals of the trial garden at Mt. Cuba to evaluate plant performance and wildlife value, primarily for the Mid-Atlantic

• How the trial garden helps gardeners and nurseries make informed decisions about native plant use

• The importance of context in plant performance and the need to interpret results for different site conditions

• How unexpected demand for top trial performers like Carex woodii (Wood’s sedge) taught the team to proactively engage with nurseries

• How Mt. Cuba’s annual trial report releases have become highly anticipated by horticulturists

• Sam’s first trial report on Helenium (sneezeweed) and the challenges of synthesizing data for plants no longer alive in the trial

• How trial writing becomes easier and more rewarding with extended plant exposure and personal enthusiasm

• The value of providing accessible botany and morphology education in the research reports

• Mt. Cuba’s goal of sparking curiosity and offering entry points for all levels of horticulturists

• Key planning strategies for running a successful trial garden, including multi-year timelines and goal setting

• Market analysis for commercially available plants and spotlighting underused natives

• Mt. Cuba’s organizational commitment of space and staff time to long-term trials

• The four-year herbaceous perennial trial model—including establishment period; data collection with weekly evaluation methods of measurements, ratings, standardized performance scores; how trial scores are averaged and weighted; and differences between perennial and woody plant evaluations

• How using Survey123 transformed their data collection process and improved efficiency

• The strategy for maintaining rating consistency by limiting data collectors and training interns

• Discusses the critical role volunteers play in supporting pollinator observations and garden maintenance

• The early signs of spread in the Pycnanthemum trial and how they interpret vigor across cultivars

• Insights from the Solidago trial that will be published in January 2026

• Future trial reports on ferns, Asclepias, oakleaf hydrangeas, and a new bluestem grass trial

• Invites public garden visitors to observe trials firsthand and spot top performers in real time and how standout trial plants are usually visually obvious and align with high ratings

• The small Physostegia trial, including wild-collected Gulf Coast species and cultivar comparisons and how Physostegia performs well even under intense summer heat and offers valuable habitat

• Rapid-fire lessons from past trial reports

• Helenium selections from Europe often perform poorly long-term compared to native species

• Echinacea showed clear pollinator preference for straight species over double-flowered hybrids

• Hydrangea arborescens can tolerate full sun and how pink-flowered forms outperform whites in sunnier conditions

• Learning Carex (sedge) is a highly adaptable genus with major landscape potential and commercial nursery interest

• Mowing Carex (sedge) can rejuvenate its appearance mid-season, especially post-bloom

• The 10-year Amsonia trial showed species are long-lived, deer-resistant, and consistently high-performing across the board; however, ‘Blue Ice’ Amsonia was found to be synonymous with a European species, not native as often assumed

• The Vernonia trial highlighted the genus’s size diversity and ornamental potential, including 15-ft plants like 'Jonesboro Giant'

• Encouraging home gardeners to set up mini trial gardens, especially for observing pollinator activity

• Distributed trials across different ecologies could expand understanding of native plant performance

• Explaining cultivar diversity and how some selections retain high ecological value

• A framework for understanding where cultivars are appropriate including formal gardens, naturalistic gardens, and restorations

• Sam advocated for inclusion and nuance in the native plant conversation and to support conservation by addition, warned against oversimplified messaging around cultivars, and advocated for transparency about plant origin and traits

• Mt. Cuba’s role in interpreting the ecological trade-offs of different plant forms

• How comparing multiple accessions of the same species adds insight into plant origin and genetics

• How cultivar names can sometimes provide more transparency about origin than “wild-type” labels

• Sam’s practice of visiting gardens and natural areas to fuel creative thinking and garden inspiration

• Sowing Beauty by James Hitchmough as a recent favorite for its seed-based design insights

• The best way to propagate more horticulturists is to expose kids early to nature and gardens

• You can learn more about Sam and Mt. Cuba’s Center by visiting their website to access resources including free downloadable reports, sortable plant spreadsheets, and educational classes.

40. Theresa Crimmins on the Power of Plant Phenology

THERESA CRIMMINS BIO

Theresa Crimmins is an internationally recognized phenology researcher, director of the USA National Phenology Network, and associate professor in the School of Natural Resources and the Environment at the University of Arizona. In her role with the Network, Theresa supports an amazing team and works enthusiastically to support the growth and use of phenology data and resources curated by the USA-NPN, involvement in Nature’s Notebook, and a broader appreciation of phenology among scientists and non-scientists alike.

Theresa has published over 70 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters in journals including Nature, Geophysical Research Letters, Global Change Biology, and Journal of Ecology. Her writing has appeared in Scientific American, The Hill, and the Old Farmer’s Almanac, and Nautilus Magazine. She shared her thoughts about the importance of observing phenology in a TEDx talk in October 2024 and her book Phenology was published through MIT Press in early 2025.

You can learn more about Theresa by visiting the USA National Phenology Network website.

SHOW NOTES

• How an early interest in plant biology and hands-on classes in college sparked Theresa’s passion for plants

• The pivotal role of a professor in shaping her botanical interests

• Transitioning from biology to geography to learn GIS and mapping technologies

• Returning to ecology for her Ph.D. to escape computer work and engage with the outdoors again

• Studying Lehmann lovegrass (Eragrostis lehmanniana) and modeling its potential spread under future climate scenarios

• Leading the USA National Phenology Network and coordinating a national-scale citizen science program

• Defining phenology as the study of seasonal biological events and their links to environmental conditions

• Why phenology is a valuable tool for understanding species’ responses to climate change

• The power of phenological cues like “oak leaves the size of squirrel ears” and their ecological basis

• Dr. Dan Herms using bloom times of indicator plants like spirea and lilac to predict insect activity like pine needle scale and developing the Ohio State Phenology Calendar

• Encouraging gardeners to observe and document bloom sequences as a gardening tool

• Nature’s Notebook as a citizen science platform for tracking phenology across the country

• Benefits of contributing observations to formal databases for research and conservation

• How to develop a personal phenological calendar by tracking repeated seasonal patterns

• Growing degree days as a method for quantifying heat accumulation and predicting biological events

• Accumulated Growing Degree Day models

• The value of even simple observations written in journals or calendars

• How Nature’s Notebook provides standardized protocols and mobile or paper options for data entry

• Explanation of phenophases as distinct life cycle events like leaf-out, flowering, and fruit drop

• Observing multiple phenophases on a plant at the same time and how to identify them

• The depth and utility of the Phenophase Primer (and Botany Primer) as a visual guide to nuanced plant development

• How detailed observation fosters wonder and reduces plant blindness

• The delight and insight Theresa found in observing her saguaro cactus begin to bud for the first time

• The emotional and restorative impact of observing Patty’s memorial Palo Verde tree

• How phenology cultivates gratitude, mindfulness, and a stronger relationship with nature

• Creating a weekly habit of phenological observation as a calming personal practice

• Developing regional bloom calendars as cultural records of seasonal events

• How long-distance migrants triggered by sun angle may arrive too late for peak caterpillar abundance

• The importance of citizen science in documenting shifts and informing conservation strategies

• Writing the book to make phenology more accessible and to shift everyday attention to seasonal life

• The challenge of maintaining the network and transitioning from federal to foundation support

• Clarifying the difference between phenology and phrenology, a common misconception

• Native moon calendars and Japanese microseasons as inspirations for localized phenological tracking

• Documented mismatches between bird migration and insect emergence due to differing climate cues

• Observing ocotillos flowering without leafing out in response to drought, challenging common assumptions

• Examples of stress-induced flowering and how plants may behave unpredictably under extreme conditions

• Advocating for surprising others with botanical facts to spark curiosity and connection

• Using plant-based activities, like dissecting fruits with kids or adults, to nurture appreciation for plants

• Resources on the USA-NPN website including Nature’s Notebook, training modules, and local programs

• The potential for community-building through shared phenology observation projects

• Theresa’s favorite recent read: The Comfort of Crows by Margaret Renkl

• How routine observation sharpens awareness, deepens ecological literacy, and creates personal meaning

• You can learn more about Theresa by visiting the USA National Phenology Network website.

39. John Magee on Native Plant Design

JOHN MAGEE BIO

John Magee has been designing and building landscapes in the Washington DC Metro area and beyond for the past 30 years.  After receiving his B.S. degree in Agriculture from the Ohio State University and spending a few years training and showing horses, he settled into the landscaping industry as the General Foreman of Pennsylvania’s highest award-winning landscaping firm.  While in Pennsylvania, he became a volunteer at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary where he met his wife Susana and was introduced to habitat gardening and the use of native plants in the landscape.  He now operates his own award-winning design firm Magee Design in the beautiful countryside of Middleburg, VA where he also enjoys kayaking and taking long walks with his wife and dogs Shaq and Dilly.  He created and hosts the award-winning Native Plant Podcast to help inform the public about the benefits of landscaping with native plants. You can learn more about John at his website john-magee.com and at The Native Plant Podcast.

SHOW NOTES

• Finding rejuvenation and inspiration in the native ecosystems of Dolly Sods, West Virginia

• A moment of awe sparked by discovering pink-flowered Pedicularis canadensis (wood betony) in the wild

• Childhood memories in his grandmother’s garden sparking a lifelong love of plants

• Transitioning from a career in horse training to landscape design through hands-on landscaping work

• Lessons learned from building projects for designer Joanne Kostecki of Garden Design in the New American Garden style

• Realizing the lack of plant knowledge in many commercial landscaping contexts

• Shifting from production to design in his career

• Advocating for hands-on landscape crew experience as essential for aspiring designers

• Insights on starting with production before moving into design and how it shaped a practical approach

• John’s recent article in Fine Gardening about a pollinator garden he designed

• Experience designing a pollinator garden in a gated community with strict color constraints

• Using plugs and small plants to manage large-scale installations economically

• Emphasizing the ecological value of elderberry and strategic placement in wet sites

• Applying bold, naturalistic planting in high-end landscapes while meeting client expectations

• The benefits of constraints in the design process

• Strategies for managing weeds in naturalistic plantings using modified weed trimmerw between close plantings

• Incorporating maintenance efficiencies by burying weeds on-site to reduce hauling

• Philosophy of combining ecological soundness with appealing, client-specific aesthetics

• Managing stormwater on-site with rain gardens piped from rooftops and planted with wetland species

• Early adoption of rain gardens and recognizing their growing relevance in ecological design

• Thoughts on using herbicides judiciously and only with client consent

• Advocacy for smoother piping to prevent mosquito breeding in stormwater systems

• Cautioning against overly ambitious soil prep, which can trigger invasive weed outbreaks

• Personal shift away from intensive bed preparation due to changes in invasive species pressures

• Emphasizing mass planting as both a design and maintenance strategy

• Perspective on native plant design as a process of working with and responding to each site

• Key takeaways for students: don’t be afraid to fail, start with production, and enjoy the process

• Favorite plant combinations like Eryngium yuccifolium (rattlesnake master) with Schizachyrium scoparium (little bluestem), and Eupatorium perfoliatum (joe pye weed) with Panicum virgatum (switchgrass)

• Insight into iterative design as a collaborative, evolving process with clients

• The importance of responsiveness and clear communication in design relationships

• Lessons learned from managing large projects and adjusting plans to meet budgets

• Realization that aggressive soil prep can unintentionally benefit invasive species more than natives

• Warning against downplaying the threat of invasive species within the horticultural industry

• Personal responsibility in no longer planting species that show invasive tendencies

• Frustration with the continued sale of known invasive plants in nurseries

• Advocating for voluntary industry standards to avoid government regulation of invasive species

• Example of discovering a beloved plant (Nigella damascena) was invasive and promptly removing it

• Reflections on designing with ecological consciousness while still creating beauty

• The value of podcasts in bringing together voices and sparking ideas across the horticulture field

• Origin story of the Native Plant Podcast and working with Mike Berkley and other co-hosts

• Memorable podcast guests like Dr. Michael Osborne and Felder Rushing for their emotional insights and big-picture thinking

• Reminder that planting design is a living, evolving craft shaped by both intention and unpredictability

• Use of waterproof notebooks as a simple but powerful tool for capturing ideas

• Recommended reading: The Man Who Would Dam the Amazon and Other Accounts from Afield by John G. Mitchell for perspective on environmental ethics

• Debunking the myth that native plants are more expensive or harder to grow

• Emphasis on education and outreach as a way to engage the next generation of horticulturists

• Encouragement to observe, experiment, and stay open to learning in the field of native plant design

• You can learn more about John at his website john-magee.com and at The Native Plant Podcast.

38. Sarah Sikich and Ryan Watson on Growing Orchards with Giving Grove

Sarah Sikich and Ryan Watson Bio

Sarah Sikich and Ryan Watson are dedicated urban orchard advocates, spreading The Giving Grove’s mission to grow sustainable community orchards nationwide.

Sarah, Director of Marketing and Communications, began her journey with The Giving Grove as a volunteer at the first little orchard, witnessing how urban orchards can transform neighborhoods. Combining her background in communications with her passion for gardening, she now works to expand the reach of community orchards across the country.

Ryan, National Orchard Operations & Education Manager, brings over a decade of experience in urban agriculture. After co-founding North Brooklyn Farms and developing public green spaces in New York City, he now lives in the Catskill Mountains, managing an heirloom apple orchard at Wild Russet Farm with his wife. His expertise in community greening and orchard care guides The Giving Grove’s programs nationwide.

Together, Sarah and Ryan bring hands-on experience and practical knowledge to the world of urban orchards, helping communities grow sustainable green spaces that nourish neighborhoods.

You can learn more about Giving Grove at their website, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Youtube.

SHOW NOTES

• How Ryan’s passion for plants began on a balcony in Los Angeles, and lead him to community gardens and urban farming in Brooklyn

• The influence of Brooklyn Grange and the transformation of an empty lot into a seven-year urban farm project.

• A move to the Catskills and an introduction to wild apple foraging that sparked a love for cider making and fruit trees.

• How working for a cider maker using foraged apples deepened Ryan’s appreciation for apple trees and led him to the Giving Grove.

• Sarah’s background growing up in Texas with a family connection to agricultural research.

• The unexpected career shift from marketing to community orcharding started with a school orchard planted near her home.

• The power of community orchards in revitalizing neighborhoods and fostering connections.

• The Giving Grove’s mission to address hunger and climate change through community-led urban orchards.

• How Giving Grove has helped establish over 650 orchards nationwide, projected to produce 93 million servings of fresh fruit annually.

• The universal language of fruit and how community orchards create inclusive, welcoming spaces.

• Essential lessons for starting and maintaining community orchards, including the importance of long-term tree care and education.

• The challenge of fruit tree selection and why choosing disease-resistant cultivars is crucial.

• Using Surround WP kaolin clay to help protect trees from insects

• The importance of community buy-in for orchard success and why the Giving Grove only establishes orchards where they’re invited.

• How different regions require different fruit tree strategies, from pawpaws in Pittsburgh to muscadines in Atlanta.

• Strategies for engaging communities while waiting for fruit trees to mature, such as planting berry brambles and hosting orchard events.

• The role of celebrations in orchard culture, from wassailing events to community jam-making contests.

• Michael Pollan’s The Botany of Desire

• Insights from the Orchard Project in the UK and how their education focus complements the Giving Grove’s data-driven approach.

• The benefits of integrating understory plantings in orchards for pest control, soil health, and biodiversity.

• Practical examples of plants for orchard understories, including comfrey, clovers, rye grass, daffodils, and dynamic accumulators.

• Michael Phillips The Apple Grower and The Holistic Orchard

• The importance of soil testing and site selection for healthy orchards, including strategies for soil improvement.

• Using Azomite for fertility

• The role of ramial wood chips in supporting fungal-dominant soil and promoting tree health.

• Managing challenges in urban orchards, including soil contamination concerns and strategies for site remediation.

• The power of signage and community education in reducing vandalism and ensuring proper fruit harvesting.

• How giving children ownership over orchard spaces fosters stewardship and reduces damage and vandalism.

• The need for dedicated program managers to ensure the long-term success of community orchards.

• Common mistakes in orchard management, including planting too many trees without a long-term care plan.

• The importance of pruning and holistic sprays in maintaining healthy, productive fruit trees.

• The holistic spray recipe

• Helen Atthowe’s keynote address where she mentioned research on holistic sprays in Oregon

• How traditional orchard structures are evolving to incorporate food forests and greater plant diversity.

• Favorite ways communities celebrate harvests, from cider pressing to jujube drying and mead making.

• The history of cider in America and how Prohibition nearly wiped out the country’s cider apple diversity.

• The impact of southern heirloom apples and their adaptation to warm climates with efforts to preserve rare cultivars.  

• Jason Bowen of the Southern Heritage Apple Orchard and Josh Fuder with UGA’s Heritage Apple Orchard

• Jason Bowen and Josh Fuder’s NAFEX presentation

• Personal routines and practices that help Sarah and Ryan grow creatively

• Book recommendations, including Susan Poizner’s books, The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben, Mycorrhizal Planet by Michael Phillips, and for social justice Notes on an Execution by Danya Kukafka.

• The significance of involving children in growing and harvesting food to foster future horticulturists.

• You can learn more about Giving Grove at their website, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Youtube.

37. Jack McCoy on Garden Lessons from Travels Abroad

Jack McCoy Bio

Jack McCoy designs residential and commercial landscapes in Knoxville, the Southeast United States, and beyond through his practice, Jack McCoy Garden Design Company. His work reflects a deep understanding of plants, shaped by global experiences in some of the world's most renowned gardens.

Jack's horticultural journey began in landscape construction as a teenager, followed by earning an Undergraduate Degree in landscape design and construction from The University of Tennessee at Knoxville in 2012. He furthered his design education at Inchbald School of Design in London, UK, where he received a Postgraduate Garden Design Degree.

In 2016, Jack volunteered at Great Dixter, the iconic garden of Christopher Lloyd and then returned as the Christopher Lloyd North American Scholar which is supported by Chanticleer Garden in Pennsylvania to train under head gardener Fergus Garrett. This marked the start of a transformative time at both Great Dixter and Chanticleer where he refined his design skills and plant knowledge.

Jack then received a fellowship at The Jerusalem Botanical Gardens, managing Israel’s rare and endangered plant species. He credits this experience with deepening his understanding of plant ecology and survival. To expand his propagation expertise, Jack worked at Plant Delights Nursery in Raleigh, North Carolina, known for its rare and unique perennials.

In 2022, Jack returned to Knoxville to focus on garden and landscape design, drawing from his diverse experiences to create gardens that are both beautiful and enduring.

You can learn more about Jack on Instagram at @jackmccoygardendesign, where he shares updates on his projects.

SHOW NOTES

• Jack shared how growing up in Knoxville, Tennessee, gave him an early connection to nature and gardening.

• His passion for plants began unexpectedly when helping his father in the garden as a child initially as a form of punishment.

• How studying at UT Knoxville and taking plant science classes opened up opportunities in horticulture.

• The rain garden project at UT Knoxville where he focused on stormwater management and native plants.

• Jack emphasized the importance of adapting designs on-site and learning to collaborate with maintenance staff for successful implementation.

• Inspiration from following in the footsteps of Luciano Giubbilei

• His time at the Inchbald School of Design in the UK was instrumental in shaping his design philosophy and focusing on gardens as an extension of the home.

• Thinking of the whole space outside as a garden

• His paper topic of looking at the trend of plant introductions over time

• The influence of Great Dixter and Fergus Garrett on his understanding of planting combinations and horticultural practices.

• Using boards to minimize soil compaction while gardening, a practice he continues today.

• Seeing plants in the wild during his time at the Jerusalem Botanical Garden deepened his understanding of plant ecology and propagation.

• He shared insights about collecting seeds from Israel’s distinct zones and developing propagation protocols tailored to each environment.

• Returning to the U.S., Jack observed how plants he encountered abroad, like Salvia (sage), Nepeta (catmint), Asphodeline (king’s spear), and Ferula (giant parsley) could thrive in southeastern landscapes.

• How to look at a space to create a theme and guiding future design decisions

• Taking time to understand a site deeply before starting the design process

• Design strategies like juxtaposing mass and void in garden plantings

• His work rethinking the suburban U.S. gardens by integrating more diverse and sustainable plantings.

• Jack is currently advising and designing areas at Lakeshore Park in Knoxville by balancing natural beauty with thoughtful design.

• He mentioned the importance of using notebooks to document observations, ideas, and tasks, a practice he learned at Great Dixter.

• Using Field Notes to write down gardening tasks

• Jack cited Gardens Are for People by Thomas Church, Grace Hall, and Michael Laurie and The Know Maintenance Perennial Garden by Roy Diblik as influential books.

• Propagating more horticulturists by exposing more people to the broad opportunities available in horticulture to inspire future generations.

• Jack can be found on Instagram at @jackmccoygardendesign, where he shares updates on his projects.