By Alex Tisthammer
It has been two months since I’ve dug in the soul and I’m already jonesing to get out there again and get my hands dirty. The time off has been nice but my head is in the clouds thinking of next year’s fresh flower bed, all the new fantastic vegetables, and that compost I just have to try! But alas, there are still threeish months left of being stuck in my house to daydream. This is a guide to all my favorite resources you can access to get fresh ideas, learn something new about the natural world, and amazing, eye-candy landscapes that will have you drooling and feeling inspired.
Podcasts
Podcasts are a wonderful passive learning tool. It is incredibly easy to just push play and learn about all sorts of topics while doing dishes, sitting in the car stuck in traffic, or at the gym. Some of my favorite plant-based podcasts are In Defense of Plants and A Way to Garden with Margaret Roach.
In Defense of Plants covers a myriad of topics, from orchids to seagrasses. I always take away an immense amount of information about topics that I didn’t know I was interested in. There is so much to learn about ecology and horticulture, and there always will be! We are constantly learning more and more about our natural world. Matt Candeias, the podcast host, has a passion that oozes through the microphone and will get infect you with enthusiasm. The most recent episode was about leaving leaf litter and the effect it has on insects, a very popular subject that many homeowners grapple with every year. This episode, with guest Dr. Max Ferlato, gives insight on his study of the importance of leaving debris for habitat.
A Way to Garden is another great resource and usually a quick listen. Two episodes that I particularly enjoyed were about converting a lawn to a meadow and rare plants. In the first, Margaret interviewed Sara Weaner Cooper, discussing how she and her husband transitioned their front lawn into a meadow. They go into great detail about the entire process, very helpful for anyone thinking about tackling a similar project this spring. The rare plants episode features gust Kelly Dodson, one of the owners of Far Reaches Farm and the nonprofit Far Reaches Botanical Conservancy. Far Reaches specializes in conserving and growing unique and rare plants, an interesting episode for any plant nerd, especially those that have an affinity for shade plants.
*Links to all podcast episodes mentioned included at bottom of article.
TV Shows
While podcasts are great for on-the-go learning, they lack the visual impact of SEEING breathtaking plants and gardens, which is a huge part of the fun! Nothing helps chase away the wintertime blues more than curling up with a cup of tea and putting on a gardening show, displaying image after image of flowers and landscapes that make you gasp. Two of my favorites feature the same well-known British horticulturist and writer, Monty Don.
Gardeners World will definitely make you gasp with the amazing gardens in each episode. Esteemed presenters travel to different locations highlighting a range of plants and landscapes. It’s refreshing to learn about specific types of plants instead of just over-arching groups. I particularly loved learning about cyclamen in Episode 2.
Big Dreams, Small Spaces, also hosted by Monty Don, is perfect for anyone looking for inspiration to transform their yard. This reality show focuses on helping homeowners achieve their gardening dreams with Don’s advice and hard work. You will almost always take away a tidbit from each episode that can be applied to your landscape. Since these shows are both based in Britain, some of the types of plants and the timing of gardening jobs are different, but many of the fundamentals are easily applied to gardening in Colorado.
A full on eye-candy show to enjoy is Full Bloom. This floral competition show is sure to spark your creativity with vivid displays created with beautiful materials by exceptionally talented florists. In each episode the creations are more and more inspired and will leave you wanting to expand your cutting garden! Since this is a reality show, it does fall victim to some of the cringey reality show tropes, but it is still worth the watch to see the amazing pieces that are created by very talented people. There are only two seasons so you can binge it over one particularly nasty winter weekend.
Instagram Accounts
If you’re scrolling on Instagram, shouldn’t it at least be full of flowers? Below is an extensive list of some wonderful accounts with a wide array of topics and types of plants.
@blackforager- Alexis Nikole, an account focused on cooking with foraged materials you come across in everyday life.
@clivenichols- Clive Nichols, an amazing garden photographer.
@denverbotanic- Denver Botanic Garden’s account, great informational videos on Colorado gardening and beautiful shots of the gardens.
@plantfortheapocalypse- Kenton Seth, a garden designer that specializes in crevice gardens, meadows and native plant gardens. Based in Fruita, Colorado.
@clausdalby- Claus Dalby, great inspiration for container gardening and use of bulbs.
@ethicaldesert- Donnie Barnett, a cold hardy cacti and succulent nursery based in Pueblo, Colorado. Amazing photos of unique cacti and succulents that are for sale.
With all these resources, hopefully you’ll find something that can bring some excitement, inspiration and help with planning ahead for the upcoming spring. If anything, they can chase away the winter cold and transport you to a world of beautiful blooming plants and bring awe-inspiring landscapes into your home.
Podcast Links
In Defense of Plants- Leave the Dang Leaves!
A Way to Garden with Margaret Roach- Sara Weaner on Lawn Transformation
A Way to Garden with Margaret Roach- Botanical Treasures with Kelly Dodson
Originally published on January 6th, 2025.