The Garden Mixer
Marianne Willburn, garden author & columnist, and Leslie Harris, host of the podcast Into the Garden with Leslie, team up to bring you The Garden Mixer. This bi-weekly conversation provides guidance for beginner gardeners, encouragement for experienced gardeners, and amusement for all. Marianne and Leslie mix up opinions, strategies, the occasional guest, and cocktails as they discuss all things gardening.
- Update frequency
- every 11 days
- Average duration
- 49 minutes
- Episodes
- 160
- Years Active
- 2021 - 2025
20: Monarda, Gardenerd Tip of the Week and how to properly water your plants
Icky things (a worm and a snake) I posted on Instagram; Plant of the Week is Monarda, and the interview (at 7:21 is with Christy Wilhelmi of Gardenerd Tip of the Week podcast and website. Christy is …
19: Lavender, Chickens, and how to deal with Mosquitos
We have the famous Chicken Lady, Lisa Steele of Fresh Eggs Daily, to try to talk me into having them in the garden. The Plant of the Week is Lavender and there are tips on nasty garden things like po…
18: Virginia Sweetspire, Hardscaping, and a VA Anthem!
Today, I sit down with Matt Berry of Dos Amigos Landscaping to learn more about hardscaping. The playlist includes a VA anthem and food for flowers!
Time Stamps:
0:00 Intro / 2:49 Plant of the Week…
17: Longleaf Pine, Chris Jones, and a Plant Pod!
This week, I chat with Chris Jones, assistant grounds superintendent at Pinehurst Resort, about landscaping and the longleaf pine!
Timestamps
Intro 0:00 / Plant of the Week 2:10 / Guest 4:29 / Playl…
16: Verbena, Cut Flowers with Jenny, and Gardenerds!
This week, Jenny Hopkins of Big Arms Farm clues me in on the cut-flower farm operation, with tips for the flower-loving home gardener as well!
Time Stamps
Intro 0:00 / Plant of the Week 4:32 / Guest …
15: Oaks, Doug Tallamy, and a Webinar!
This week, I sit down with Doug Tallamy—entomologist, author, and the oak tree's biggest advocate!
Time Stamps:
Intro 0:00 / Plant of the Week 3:35 / Guest 5:25 / Playlist 23:59
14: Tender Annuals, My Sister Sue Ann 2.0, and "The Ugly Bug Ball"
This week, I talk tender annuals and my lovely sister Sue Ann joins me to discuss container planting.
Time Stamps:
Intro 0:00 / Plant of the Week 2:40 / Guest 6:30 / Playlist 24:20
13: Okra, Diane Burns, and "Vegetables"
In keeping with our veggie theme, our plant of the week is okra! Diane Burns, head gardener at Pippin Hill Farm and Vineyards, joins us to discuss the ins and outs of vegetable gardening. Tune in for…
12: Pinxterbloom Azalea, My Garden, and Audible Recs!
Our plant of the week is pinxterbloom, an azalea native to Eastern North America. This week, the tables have turned: my friend Susan Terwilliger interviews me about my garden! Tune in for some garden…
11: Fringe Tree, My Sister Sue Ann, and "Surrey with the Fringe"
My little sister Sue Ann Kane joins me to talk about starting a garden from scratch. Our plant of the week is the fringe tree: what song could be more fitting than "Surrey with the Fringe (tree) on T…
10: Camassia, Rod and Maggie Walker, and "Poison Ivy"
The plant of the week is the Pacific NW native, Camassia! I’m joined by Rod and Maggie Walker from Blue Ridge PRISM. Need something to listen to while playing in your garden? I recommend “Poison Ivy”…
09: Boxwoods, Michael Abbott, and Chasing Cars
The plant of the week is the boxwood! Today we are talking with Michael Abbott of Bartlett Tree Experts. When I look at my garden this time of year I'm reminded of a line of a song, Chasing Cars.
0:…
02: Native Plants, Carol Carter, and Hydrangea Pruning Basics
This week’s Plant of the Week is the Ilex verticillata, or Winterberry. Carol Carter talks to us about Native Plants and their importance in nature and in our gardening. The Playlist includes informa…
08: Tulip Poplars, Jason LaRose, and How to Shop for Plants
The plant of the week is the tulip poplar. This week's interview is with arborist Jason LaRose from Queen City Silviculture. The Play List includes what to shop for and Vivaldi's Spring. Corrections …
03: Daffodils, Piedmont Master Gardeners, and Nathan Colberg
The Plant of the Week is a spring fave, the daffodil. This week's interview promotes the Virtual Spring Lecture Series provided for free by Piedmont Master Gardeners. The Playlist talks about what to…
04: The Paperbush, Anne Blackwell Thompson, and Pruning Your Roses
Plant of the Week is Edgeworthia chrysantha, update on Historic Garden Week prep, interview with Anne Blackwell Thompson of Blackwell Botanicals on display at Quirk Gallery, and The Playlist includes…
05: Dogwoods, Historic Garden Week, and Mulch
The Plant of the Week is the State Flower AND tree of Virginia. This week's interview is with two of the three chairs of Albemarle’s part of the state-wide Historic Garden Week. The Playlist includes…
06: Canadian Hemlock, Kelly D. Norris, and Perennial Division
The plants of the week are the Hemlock and the River Birch (both natives). This week's interview is with Horticulturist Kelly D. Norris about his latest book New Naturalism. The Play List talks about…
07: Twin Leaf, Peggy Cornett, and Haydn String Quartets
The Plant of the Week is the Twin Leaf or Jeffersonia diphylla. This week's interview is with Curator of Plants at Monticello Peggy Cornett. The Play List includes what to do in your garden this week…
01: Hellebores, Matt Berry, and How to Prune Azaleas
In this first episode, Leslie introduces herself and how she got into gardening. She also introduces the Plant of the Week, the Hellebore. Matt Berry of Dos Amigos Landscaping talks about how to hire…