SG582: Plant Explorers with Karen Rexrode
I’m so delighted to have Karen Rexrode on the show today. Karen is giving an encore presentation of her keynote presentation, Plant Explorers, heard Saturday night at the 2017 Garden Blogger’s Fling.
Karen is a gem of horticultural wisdom - she's quite a find in her own right! Karen is a Northern Virginia Gardener, a popular garden speaker and she’s my favorite kind of subject matter expert when it comes to plants - she’s an owner operator. Karen built Windy Hill Plant Farm, in Loudoun County, from the ground up. For 25 years, she specialized in perennials and unusual annuals.
Today, Karen is giving us an encore of her presentation on the Plant Explorers. Karen covers 18 different Plant Explorers (or Plant Hunters as they are often called) focusing mainly on the 18th through the 20th century explorers. Driven, brave, and curious - Plant Hunters sacrificed plenty in their quest for new species and rare specimens. Karen does a marvelous job of bringing these fascinating explorers to life - sharing their successes, their connections, and their humanity.
Karen’s research on the Plant Explorers reminds us all about the often overlooked, yet completely enthralling history of plant exploration. I know I have a renewed appreciation for so many plants after listening to Karen’s keynote - and I’m hoping you will discover that same excitement - that same recognition of the history of some of the plants right in your own garden. I’m certain that you will have a new feeling a gratitude for the sacrifice and the outrageous lengths that were taken to bring the plants we know today out of the wild, out of obscurity, and into our gardens... and our hearts.
Prominent horticulturist, garden speaker and creative force, Karen Rexrode and her presentation Plant Explorers - that's the topic of today’s show and it’s coming up after:
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I never write reviews but this is the best gardening podcast out there. Jennifer has interesting topics and guests and is not one bit annoying like some others are. I love that she involves her kids at the end of the podcast - usually with poetry or music. Really good podcast.
- Barbcfc, Mar 23, 2016
Still Growing is one of the reliably informative gardening podcasts from North America. The format consists of an intro (personal gardening status chat, seasonal remarks), an extended interview with a guest, and an outro with funny outtakes, side remarks, and some chatter (poems, readings) from the host's children. The podcast is focused on reliable knowledge - the guests are typically experts like academics, master gardeners, gardening entrepreneurs or public garden leaders. The intro and especially the outro give it a homey feel. Given I live in the high northern region, just a little below the Polar Circle, I'm always looking for more cold-weather oriented gardening information. Jennifer Ebeling is in Minnesota, so that's helpful to me! Vegetable gardening (my main interest) gets a good share, but is not predominant. Most topics transcend your specific gardening interest and are applicable to many styles: landscaping principles, vermicomposting, greenhouses. The episodes are typically an hour long, which is just fine for me.
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Best gardening podcast out there. Her preparedness leads to a good interaction with the guests and brings out the best in them. Very informative and yet personable.
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This is a great podcast. Really well produced and organized with good sound quality. I love the mix of information and personal touches. Jennifer has great guests and asks the best questions. You can tell she really does her homework. I listen to several gardening podcasts and this is my absolute favorite!
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