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The Garden Mixer: A Gardening Podcast

Leslie Harris and Marianne Willburn

The Garden Mixer is a bi-weekly gardening podcast hosted by Marianne Willburn, garden author and columnist, and Leslie Harris, host of Into the Garden with Leslie.

Each episode blends practical gardening advice for beginners, thoughtful insight for experienced gardeners, and plenty of humor, as Marianne and Leslie mix opinions, strategies, listener questions, expert guests, and the occasional cocktail.

If you’re looking for a gardening podcast that’s honest, informative, and genuinely fun — not preachy or perfect — this is your place.

🌱 Gardening shouldn’t be boring.
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35 episodes
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Today · 22 min
Barrel: What Really Scares Experienced Gardeners (Barrel Aged One More Sip)
From landscape fabric and boxwood blight to copperhead snakes, even experienced gardeners have things that make their stomachs drop into their shoes! Marianne Willburn and Leslie Harris are normally brave and stalwart gardeners, but there are moments when they'd rather not look too closely for fear of confirming their worst suspicions. Halloween may be over, but in this Barrel Aged edition of One More Sip from The Garden Mixer, we're still talking about the things that genuinely scare us in the garden—and the things that really shouldn't. Are poisonous plants as frightening as some gardeners think? What about non-venomous snakes, spotted lanternflies, and other much-publicized garden threats? We share our experiences, a few cautionary tales, and some perspective on which garden problems deserve your attention and which might not be worth losing sleep over. Because gardening should be a pleasure, even when something scary is lurking in the shrubbery! Welcome to a Barrel Aged episode of One MoreSip. One More Sip is our every-other-week deepdive on a single topic — released fresh to paid subscribers, and then, after ayear of fine barrel aging, uncorked for the wider Mixer community. You’re holding the bottle now. Enjoy!! If you’d like to catch these episodes whilethey’re still young — and get all the show notes, the GM Chat, and SubstackLIVE events that go with them — upgrading your free subscription is easy andcosts less than a decent bottle of anything. To those already subscribed: our gratitude isdeep. Thank you for supporting our mission: Gardening Shouldn’t Be Boring. Hit the YouTube subscribe button so we can keep you smilingwhile you hit the mess (your garden) out there. The Garden Mixer Podcast https://episodes.fm/1561064602 Full Show Notes bonus episodes at The Garden Mixer Podcast’sSubstack https://thegardenmixerpodcast.substack.com/ Socials – Pick Your Platform: Follow us on Instagram @thegardenmixer https://www.instagram.com/thegardenmixer/ Indulge us on TikTok @the.garden.mixer https://www.tiktok.com/@the.garden.mixer Spar with us on X @gardenmixerpod https://x.com/gardenmixerpod “FrenchBistro” theme by Adieu Adieu. License D0LZBINY30GGTBBW
October 30 · 59 min
What to Do With Fallen Branches: Dead Hedges & Habitat Nests
Every garden —even the smallest — produces dead things: the limbs that come down in a storm, the invasives you’ve finally pulled, the sticks that land in front of the door and sit there longer than you’d like. Sooner or later you have to decide what to do with them. Today, Leslie and Marianne go through the traditional options, from the bonfire to the chipper to the bags on the curb; but would rather make the case for keeping it all where it fell — well, sort of. To do that, Marianne catches up with horticulturist Gregg Tepper, the man behind her beloved habitat nests — sculptures built from fallen branches that shelter wrens and beetles and look fantastic doing it. And Leslie discusses her experience working in neighborhoods with sharp-eyed HOAs to create her own mini-sculptures and dead hedges. Happy Halloween. Let’s clear up the bodies. __________ Please hit the subscribe button so we can keep you smiling while you hit the beautiful mess [your garden] out there. Full Show Notes at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Garden Mixer Podcast’s Substack⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ____________________ Socials – Pick Your Platform: Follow us on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@thegardenmixer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Indulge us on TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@the.garden.mixer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Spar with us on X⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@gardenmixerpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ “French Bistro” theme by Adieu Adieu. License D0LZBINY30GGTBBW
October 27 · 53 sec
Meet The Garden Mixer: A Garden Podcast
Gardening shouldn't be boring! Join Leslie Harris and Marianne Willburn for lively conversations, strong opinions, cocktails and plenty of laughs. From favorite plants to garden triumphs and disasters, there's always something to stir up. New episodes every other week, with Barrel Aged One More Sip conversations in between. Follow The Garden Mixer and join the fun!
October 23 · 18 min
Barrel: Ugly Fall Clearance Plants (Barrel Aged One More Sip)
Gardeners love a challenge, and they also like a deal. So when those two factors come together on the death racks of your local nursery or big box, it’s really hard to say no. Should you? Today on One More Sip of The Garden Mixer, Leslie and Marianne find themselves at odds about the best way to handle your late-season plant hoarding tendencies. Welcome to a Barrel Aged episode of One More Sip. One More Sip is our every-other-week deep dive on a single topic — released fresh to paid subscribers, and then, after a year of fine barrel aging, uncorked for the wider Mixer community. You’re holding the bottle now. Enjoy!! If you’d like to catch these episodes while they’re still young — and get all the show notes, the GM Chat, and Substack LIVE events that go with them — upgrading your free subscription is easy and costs less than a decent bottle of anything. To those already subscribed: our gratitude is deep. Thank you for supporting our mission: Gardening Shouldn’t Be Boring. Hit the YouTube subscribe button so we can keep you smilingwhile you hit the mess (your garden) out there. The Garden Mixer Podcast https://episodes.fm/1561064602 Full Show Notes bonus episodes at The Garden Mixer Podcast’sSubstack https://thegardenmixerpodcast.substack.com/ Socials – Pick Your Platform: Follow us on Instagram @thegardenmixer https://www.instagram.com/thegardenmixer/ Indulge us on TikTok @the.garden.mixer https://www.tiktok.com/@the.garden.mixer Spar with us on X @gardenmixerpod https://x.com/gardenmixerpod “FrenchBistro” theme by Adieu Adieu. License D0LZBINY30GGTBBW
October 16 · 1 hr 12 min
Parking Lot Plants: Better Than You Think!
Parking lot plants. The ones growing between the cart return and the McDonald’s drive-through. The ones shaved into meatballs and meatloaf and shapes that can’t be easily defined in meat terms. The ones that ask for nothing more than hard pan, cigarette butts & exhaust fumes — and deliver anyway. These plants have a reputation problem. Not because they aren’t good plants, but because they’ve been used badly, repeated endlessly, and associated with the worst design instincts of the last fifty years. And yet: there is a reason they keep showing up. They work. They survive. And they look beautiful when they are transported out of the ninth circle of hell and brought to a garden where they can be the plants they’re meant to be. Leslie and Marianne are here to raise a glass to them — and to make the case that the parking lot plant in your garden, handled with intention, is not a consolation prize. It’s a plant that has already proven itself under conditions your garden will never impose. So how about a little respect? Today on The Garden Mixer. __________ Please hit the subscribe button so we can keep you smiling while you hit the beautiful mess [your garden] out there. Full Show Notes at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Garden Mixer Podcast’s Substack⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ____________________ Socials – Pick Your Platform: Follow us on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@thegardenmixer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Indulge us on TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@the.garden.mixer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Spar with us on X⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@gardenmixerpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ “French Bistro” theme by Adieu Adieu. License D0LZBINY30GGTBBW
October 9 · 29 min
Barrel: Our Biggest Gardening Mistakes, So Far (A Barrel Aged One More Sip)
In this latest Barrel-Aged episode of One More Sip of The Garden Mixer, Marianne and Leslie talk about all of their worst gardening boo-boos over the years. The format is interesting-- this is a LIVE Substack video that took place a year ago. They bring up mistakes that range from planting the wrong thing to just plain planting wrong and one story involves the explosion of a rear window. Who knew gardening could get so violent? At least it's never boring when you listen to Marianne Willburn and Leslie Harris of The Garden Mixer. If you are interested in being up to date with One More Sip of The Garden Mixer, which is our in between episode that comes out between bigger sips (regular episodes), head over to Substack to join our community and support the show. And thanks! Hit the YouTube subscribe button so we can keep you smilingwhile you hit the mess (your garden) out there. The Garden Mixer Podcast https://episodes.fm/1561064602 Full Show Notes bonus episodes at The Garden Mixer Podcast’sSubstack https://thegardenmixerpodcast.substack.com/ Socials – Pick Your Platform: Follow us on Instagram @thegardenmixer https://www.instagram.com/thegardenmixer/ Indulge us on TikTok @the.garden.mixer https://www.tiktok.com/@the.garden.mixer Spar with us on X @gardenmixerpod https://x.com/gardenmixerpod “FrenchBistro” theme by Adieu Adieu. License D0LZBINY30GGTBBW
October 2 · 1 hr 19 min
How to Build a Deer Fence when One Type Won't Do.
Last December, Leslie and Marianne talked deer fences on the podcast — and Marianne’s imminent enclosure and ironic freedom. Somewhere in the middle of that episode, Founding Mixer and friend Erin Schanen, The Impatient Gardener, decided she’d had enough. Not of the podcast. (uh, obvs!) Of the deer. So she did what any reasonable person does when pushed past the breaking point by a herd of four-legged garden criminals: she went all in. Not with one kind of fence. With four. Simultaneously. On a suburban property with ordinances, a neighbor with opinions, a driveway that needed a gate and a woodland doubling as a deer maternity unit. She is here to tell us how it went. And more importantly, how you might piece together a solution for yourself if you can’t just pick up the phone and call the local fencing company. Spoiler: She’s zapped herself three times on the electric fence. But her phlox have never looked better. Join us as we discuss thinking outside the box to create a box. Today, on the Garden Mixer. __________ Please hit the subscribe button so we can keep you smiling while you hit the beautiful mess [your garden] out there. Full Show Notes at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Garden Mixer Podcast’s Substack⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ____________________ Socials – Pick Your Platform: Follow us on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@thegardenmixer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Indulge us on TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@the.garden.mixer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Spar with us on X⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@gardenmixerpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ “French Bistro” theme by Adieu Adieu. License D0LZBINY30GGTBBW
September 25 · 25 min
Barrel: Garden Paths (Barrel Aged One More Sip)
What makes a good garden path? Gravel? Grass? Pavers? Wood chips? Flagstone? And why does something that looks gorgeous in one garden become a maintenance nightmare in another?In this Barrel Aged One More Sip, Leslie and Marianne head down the garden path—quite literally—to talk about the materials they’ve used, loved, regretted and sworn never to use again.Marianne is preparing to replace nearly 100 feet of struggling turf path with gravel, which leads to a conversation about pea gravel, stone dust, stepping stones, wood-chip paths, flagstone, edging and even those beautiful slices of tree trunk that look wonderful...until they start rotting.We also talk about how wide a garden path should be, choosing a surface that works with the style and scale of your garden, dealing with snow, weeds and wheelbarrows—and why landscape fabric under a path is one mistake neither of us wants to make again.Because a path isn't just a way to get from one part of the garden to another. It changes how you move through the garden, how you see it—and how much work you'll be doing to maintain it.And yes, gravel wins quite a few points. Whether Marianne still loves hers after installing nearly 100 feet of it remains to be seen.The Garden Mixer with Leslie Harris and Marianne Willburn.Welcome to a Barrel Aged episode of One MoreSip. One More Sip is our every-other-week deepdive on a single topic — released fresh to paid subscribers, and then, after ayear of fine barrel aging, uncorked for the wider Mixer community. You’re holding the bottle now. Enjoy!! If you’d like to catch these episodes whilethey’re still young — and get all the show notes, the GM Chat, and SubstackLIVE events that go with them — upgrading your free subscription is easy andcosts less than a decent bottle of anything. To those already subscribed: our gratitude isdeep. Thank you for supporting our mission: Gardening Shouldn’t Be Boring. Hit the YouTube subscribe button so we can keep you smiling while you hit the mess (your garden) out there.The Garden Mixer Podcast https://episodes.fm/1561064602Full Show Notes bonus episodes at The Garden Mixer Podcast’s Substackhttps://thegardenmixerpodcast.substack.com/Socials – Pick Your Platform:Follow us on Instagram @thegardenmixerhttps://www.instagram.com/thegardenmixer/Indulge us on TikTok @the.garden.mixer https://www.tiktok.com/@the.garden.mixerSpar with us on X @gardenmixerpodhttps://x.com/gardenmixerpod“French Bistro” theme by Adieu Adieu. License D0LZBINY30GGTBBW
September 18 · 46 min
Golden Hour in the Garden: Plants for Fall Color
With some surprise and not a little relief, the garden is hurtling towards late middle age by mid-September. The promise of spring and the relentless drive of summer have departed, and with them the cultural expectation that the garden needs to look good in a crop top and pretend that it’s still May. There are some big bonuses to late middle age. With lowered expectations now the norm for those around you who don’t garden, your plot is well positioned to surprise and delight visitors with color, texture & not a little sass. It may be the Golden Hour, but that doesn’t mean you can’t rock it. This week, Marianne and Leslie remain so dedicated to their craft and the proposition that ‘rock it’ is more than just a salad green, that they bring the Show with them on vacation to Normandy. (Or at least Leslie was on vacation when the girls recorded this episode — Marianne was working her derrière off). However, since they had a fine coachload of exceptional gardeners whose ideas they could harvest for fall color ideas (including a group of professional container designers) they didn’t have to work too hard. It’s LIVE-ish from Normandy, with a surprise or two — and don’t forget to check out the YouTube silliness. Today on The Garden Mixer. __________ Please hit the subscribe button so we can keep you smiling while you hit the beautiful mess [your garden] out there. Full Show Notes at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Garden Mixer Podcast’s Substack⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ____________________ Socials – Pick Your Platform: Follow us on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@thegardenmixer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Indulge us on TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@the.garden.mixer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Spar with us on X⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@gardenmixerpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ “French Bistro” theme by Adieu Adieu. License D0LZBINY30GGTBBW
September 11 · 24 min
Barrel: Putting Your Best Friend Plants in Storage (Barrel Aged One More Sip)
Gardeners in cold climates dabbling with tropical and subtropical plants in their summer gardens are about to come to a hard stop: First Frost. If you’re a gardener who loves these plants outside, but doesn’t particularly want them rubbing shoulders with you over the winter, you may be interested in which ones Marianne terms “Best Friends” in her last book, Tropical Plants and How To Love Them — plants that can be stored in dark, dormant conditions in a frost-free location. Today on One More Sip the girls discuss the plants that can take this kind of treatment, the ones that can’t, and encourage you to safely experiment to add even more to your list. From digging those rhizomes to the details of storage — they’ll make it easier than ever to bring some of your favorite “Best Friend” plants through the winter so you can enjoy them in your garden for years to come.
September 4 · 1 hr 7 min
Garden Center Secrets: Just in Time for Fall!
It’s planting season once again for many of us in the Northern Hemisphere – which of course means buying season, and splurging season, and did-I-really-need-that-many-clearance-plants season. Need a strategy? Today we welcome Louisa Zimmermann Roberts, co-owner of Thanksgiving Farms in Frederick, Maryland who’s been watching the buying habits of customers for decades, and has more than a little insight on what you should be doing when you fill that cart. She’ll have you examining that root system, squinting at plant tags, rethinking your potting soil, and generally becoming the smartest gardener on the block. Today on the Garden Mixer. __________ Please hit the subscribe button so we can keep you smiling while you hit the beautiful mess [your garden] out there. Full Show Notes at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Garden Mixer Podcast’s Substack⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ____________________ Socials – Pick Your Platform: Follow us on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@thegardenmixer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Indulge us on TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@the.garden.mixer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Spar with us on X⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@gardenmixerpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ “French Bistro” theme by Adieu Adieu. License D0LZBINY30GGTBBW
August 28 · 19 min
Barrel: 10 Things to STOP Doing in Your Garden (Barrel Aged One More Sip)
On this Barrel Aged and decanted episode of One More Sip of The Garden Mixer, Leslie and Marianne go full listicle and shelve the “Do!” for the “Better If You Don’t Do” on a range of issues in the garden — from design considerations, to maintenance considerations, to yes…psychological considerations. While gardening is a creative, subjective exercise, we can definitely make it harder on ourselves than it needs to be — and the girls try their best to help you learn from their mistakes (…and the mistakes of others). Join them as they put together the gardener’s ultimate Honey Don’t Do list. Welcome to a Barrel Aged episode of One MoreSip. One More Sip is our every-other-week deepdive on a single topic — released fresh to paid subscribers, and then, after ayear of fine barrel aging, uncorked for the wider Mixer community. You’re holding the bottle now. Enjoy!! If you’d like to catch these episodes whilethey’re still young — and get all the show notes, the GM Chat, and SubstackLIVE events that go with them — upgrading your free subscription is easy andcosts less than a decent bottle of anything. To those already subscribed: our gratitude isdeep. Thank you for supporting our mission: Gardening Shouldn’t Be Boring. Hit the YouTube subscribe button so we can keep you smilingwhile you hit the mess (your garden) out there. The Garden Mixer Podcast https://episodes.fm/1561064602 Full Show Notes bonus episodes at The Garden Mixer Podcast’sSubstack https://thegardenmixerpodcast.substack.com/ Socials – Pick Your Platform: Follow us on Instagram @thegardenmixer https://www.instagram.com/thegardenmixer/ Indulge us on TikTok @the.garden.mixer https://www.tiktok.com/@the.garden.mixer Spar with us on X @gardenmixerpod https://x.com/gardenmixerpod “FrenchBistro” theme by Adieu Adieu. License D0LZBINY30GGTBBW
August 21 · 1 hr 8 min
Garden Travel: How to See a Garden Without Missing It.
Each year, millions of gardeners prowl the globe seeking ‘aha!’ moments that they can bring back to their own gardens at home. Are you one of them? Leslie has been visiting gardens abroad for decades, and over the last two years, Marianne has built a company dedicated to bringing great gardens to great groups of people. Together they’re heading to Normandy next week to see gardens such as Giverny, Jardins d’Etretat, Chateau de Boutemont, Le Jardin Plume, and Chateau Champ de Bataille. And they want to do it right. So what is the BEST way to see a garden when you finally decide to go? Do you study? Do you wing it? Do you spend hours behind your phone taking the perfect shot only to find you can’t remember the garden because you never experienced it? And what on earth do baby faces have to do with a garden anyway?!? Thankfully, you don’t need a visa or a VISA to journey with them today. All aboard! Next stop: Garden Inspiration! __________ Please hit the subscribe button so we can keep you smiling while you hit the beautiful mess [your garden] out there. Full Show Notes at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Garden Mixer Podcast’s Substack⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ____________________ Socials – Pick Your Platform: Follow us on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@thegardenmixer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Indulge us on TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@the.garden.mixer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Spar with us on X⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@gardenmixerpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ “French Bistro” theme by Adieu Adieu. License D0LZBINY30GGTBBW
August 14 · 23 min
Barrel Aged: Should You Keep Bees?
This week, Leslie & Marianne dive into the sticky world of beekeeping as a gardener. Leslie is buzzing with questions (and incredibly bad puns) and mercilessly questions Marianne who kept bees for over 15 years and can’t let go of the possibility to do so again (just as soon as she gets her resident bear problem under control and/or moves out of her valley). Is she delusional or just in love? Whether you’re thinking about plunging into this fascinating world — or simply need motivation to keep harvesting those 50 pound supers in the heat of summer, you’ll appreciate the helpful hints and honest perspective on a hobby that captivates gardeners and non-gardeners world-wide. Welcome to a Barrel Aged episode of One MoreSip. One More Sip is our every-other-week deepdive on a single topic — released fresh to paid subscribers, and then, after ayear of fine barrel aging, uncorked for the wider Mixer community. You’re holding the bottle now. Enjoy!! If you’d like to catch these episodes whilethey’re still young — and get all the show notes, the GM Chat, and SubstackLIVE events that go with them — upgrading your free subscription is easy andcosts less than a decent bottle of anything. To those already subscribed: our gratitude isdeep. Thank you for supporting our mission: Gardening Shouldn’t Be Boring. Please hit the subscribe button so we can keep you smiling while you hit the beautiful mess [your garden] out there. Full Show Notes at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Garden Mixer Podcast’s Substack⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ____________________ Socials – Pick Your Platform: Follow us on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@thegardenmixer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Indulge us on TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@the.garden.mixer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Spar with us on X⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@gardenmixerpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ “French Bistro” theme by Adieu Adieu. License D0LZBINY30GGTBBW
August 7 · 1 hr 20 min
Drought & Heat Strategies with Carol Reese
In the heat of August, it’s not just gardeners that want to check out — it’s their plants. But there’s a lot plants can tell us about the conditions we’re all navigating, so it’s worth paying attention when the temperatures soar. To channel those thoughts, Leslie and Marianne welcome Carol Reese — horticulturist, writer, humorist, retired University of Tennessee extension specialist, and keeper of approximately three to four hundred dogs — though not all at once. Carol gardens on 118 acres in West Tennessee, where the heat index routinely clears 105°F and the garden operates on something close to feral principles. So does she, and she’s ready to dish on what survives in serious heat, why it’s hard to watch Europeans complain about their new normal, and why giving people plants you know they should be growing is a public service — even if you have to grab a shovel and plant them yourself. You might want to pull up a chair somewhere shady — it’s time for a long cool drink with The Garden Mixer. __________ Please hit the subscribe button so we can keep you smiling while you hit the beautiful mess [your garden] out there. Full Show Notes at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Garden Mixer Podcast’s Substack⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ____________________ Socials – Pick Your Platform: Follow us on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@thegardenmixer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Indulge us on TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@the.garden.mixer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Spar with us on X⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@gardenmixerpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ “French Bistro” theme by Adieu Adieu. License D0LZBINY30GGTBBW
July 31 · 20 min
Barrel Aged: Botanical Names- Why Do Gardeners Use Them
Botanical Names: Those complicated, two-part, dead language elements of tongue- torture that every gardener looking for a special plant will face at some point in their horticultural journey. Should you embrace the challenge, and feel vulnerable? Or dismiss the challenge and [possibly still] feel vulnerable? This week on One More Sip of The Garden Mixer, Leslie and Marianne discuss the third option — studying with curiosity, speaking with confidence, and ignoring those who use botanical nomenclature as a weapon in conversation. Bet you can think of a few peeps that fit THAT bill. If you find yourself mumbling botanical names in horticultural circles in the profound hope that no one hears you; or vainly sifting through seven types of ‘wood fern,’ searching for the one you want, it’s time to get resources, get confident, and get communicating better in this discipline that you love! Welcome to a Barrel Aged episode of One MoreSip. One More Sip is our every-other-week deepdive on a single topic — released fresh to paid subscribers, and then, after ayear of fine barrel aging, uncorked for the wider Mixer community. You’re holding the bottle now. Enjoy!! If you’d like to catch these episodes whilethey’re still young — and get all the show notes, the GM Chat, and SubstackLIVE events that go with them — upgrading your free subscription is easy andcosts less than a decent bottle of anything. To those already subscribed: our gratitude isdeep. Thank you for supporting our mission: Gardening Shouldn’t Be Boring. Hit the YouTube subscribe button so we can keep you smilingwhile you hit the mess (your garden) out there. The Garden Mixer Podcast https://episodes.fm/1561064602 Full Show Notes bonus episodes at The Garden Mixer Podcast’sSubstack https://thegardenmixerpodcast.substack.com/ Socials – Pick Your Platform: Follow us on Instagram @thegardenmixer https://www.instagram.com/thegardenmixer/ Indulge us on TikTok @the.garden.mixer https://www.tiktok.com/@the.garden.mixer Spar with us on X @gardenmixerpod https://x.com/gardenmixerpod “FrenchBistro” theme by Adieu Adieu. License D0LZBINY30GGTBBW
July 24 · 49 min
Garden Ornaments: Can We Go Too Far?
Every gardener has a tchotchke threshold — the point at which a garden stops being a garden and starts being a yard sale with better plants. But where exactly is that line, and who gets to draw it? After decades of embracing, avoiding, judging, and occasionally defending their own questionable choices, Leslie and Marianne weigh in on the art of garden ornamentation — how to use it well, when to put the hedgehog down, and why Fergus Garrett's favorite garden in Hastings has hardly any plants in it at all. Toads or total chaos? Today on The Garden Mixer. __________ Please hit the subscribe button so we can keep you smiling while you hit the beautiful mess [your garden] out there. Full Show Notes at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Garden Mixer Podcast’s Substack⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ____________________ Socials – Pick Your Platform: Follow us on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@thegardenmixer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Indulge us on TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@the.garden.mixer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Spar with us on X⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@gardenmixerpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ “French Bistro” theme by Adieu Adieu. License D0LZBINY30GGTBBW
July 17 · 17 min
Barrel Aged: Staking Floppy Perennials
It’s mid summer and if you haven’t been staking your floppiest floppers, the chance is you haven’t quite gotten away with it. Some plants stand tall on their own. Others need a little help. In this Barrel Aged One More Sip of The Garden MIxer Leslie Harris and Marianne Willburn tackle one of gardening's most practical—and most overlooked—skills: staking. They discuss which plants are worth staking, which ones are better left alone, how to make supports nearly invisible, and why choosing the right plants in the first place can save you a lot of work. Along the way they share techniques learned at Great Dixter, the beauty of traditional pea-sticking, why timing matters, and a few confessions about staking jobs that never quite happened. Whether you're growing peonies, delphiniums, dahlias, grasses, or other tall perennials, this conversation will help you keep your garden looking natural instead of looking like a tomato patch. Gardening shouldn't be boring. Welcome to a Barrel Aged episode of One MoreSip. One More Sip is our every-other-week deepdive on a single topic — released fresh to paid subscribers, and then, after ayear of fine barrel aging, uncorked for the wider Mixer community. You’re holding the bottle now. Enjoy!! If you’d like to catch these episodes whilethey’re still young — and get all the show notes, the GM Chat, and SubstackLIVE events that go with them — upgrading your free subscription is easy andcosts less than a decent bottle of anything. To those already subscribed: our gratitude isdeep. Thank you for supporting our mission: Gardening Shouldn’t Be Boring. Hit the YouTube subscribe button so we can keep you smilingwhile you hit the mess (your garden) out there. The Garden Mixer Podcast https://episodes.fm/1561064602 Full Show Notes bonus episodes at The Garden Mixer Podcast’sSubstack https://thegardenmixerpodcast.substack.com/ Socials – Pick Your Platform: Follow us on Instagram @thegardenmixer https://www.instagram.com/thegardenmixer/ Indulge us on TikTok @the.garden.mixer https://www.tiktok.com/@the.garden.mixer Spar with us on X @gardenmixerpod https://x.com/gardenmixerpod “FrenchBistro” theme by Adieu Adieu. License D0LZBINY30GGTBBW
July 10 · 1 hr 5 min
Our Biggest Gardening Mistakes, And What We Learned
Every gardener has them. The plant that ate the house, the catalog seduction that ended in tears, the tree you loved that didn’t love you. Regrets are how gardeners learn — or in Marianne’s case, how they beat themselves up while learning. Leslie chose the topic. Marianne suffered through it. Both of them had more material than an hour could possibly cover. Welcome to a guided tour through the taxonomy of gardening mistakes — organized by category, confessed to with varying degrees of shame, and occasionally still present in the garden because nobody could bring themselves to finish the job. The girls are drinking deep from the well of regrets, and they’re fairly sure you’re going to relate. Today on The Garden Mixer. ___________________ Please hit the subscribe button so we can keep you smiling while you hit the beautiful mess [your garden] out there. Full Show Notes at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Garden Mixer Podcast’s Substack⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ____________________ Socials – Pick Your Platform: Follow us on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@thegardenmixer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Indulge us on TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@the.garden.mixer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Spar with us on X⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@gardenmixerpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ “French Bistro” theme by Adieu Adieu. License D0LZBINY30GGTBBW
July 3 · 18 min
Barrel Aged: Deadheading, the Chelsea Chop & Other Garden Surgery
Deadheading, do we or don't we? The answer, as you expected, is complicated. And Leslie and Marianne want to dive into the nuance on this barrel aged edition of One More Sip. In fact they’re going to discuss a lot of heinous herbaceous amputations in the name of beauty, such as Chelsea chopping, tiered pruning, and post-pruning. Why does it work? And when doesn’t it? And do you really have the patience to snip 235 cornflower heads into a basket when you can simply rip it out and let the Verbena bonariensis take over? All this and baby stealing on this Barrel Aged version of One More Sip of The Garden Mixer. Welcome to a Barrel Aged episode of One MoreSip. One More Sip is our every-other-week deepdive on a single topic — released fresh to paid subscribers, and then, after ayear of fine barrel aging, uncorked for the wider Mixer community. You’re holding the bottle now. Enjoy!! If you’d like to catch these episodes whilethey’re still young — and get all the show notes, the GM Chat, and SubstackLIVE events that go with them — upgrading your free subscription is easy andcosts less than a decent bottle of anything. To those already subscribed: our gratitude isdeep. Thank you for supporting our mission: Gardening Shouldn’t Be Boring. Hit the YouTube subscribe button so we can keep you smilingwhile you hit the mess (your garden) out there. The Garden Mixer Podcast https://episodes.fm/1561064602 Full Show Notes bonus episodes at The Garden Mixer Podcast’sSubstack https://thegardenmixerpodcast.substack.com/ Socials – Pick Your Platform: Follow us on Instagram @thegardenmixer https://www.instagram.com/thegardenmixer/ Indulge us on TikTok @the.garden.mixer https://www.tiktok.com/@the.garden.mixer Spar with us on X @gardenmixerpod https://x.com/gardenmixerpod “FrenchBistro” theme by Adieu Adieu. License D0LZBINY30GGTBBW

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