Down The Garden Path Podcast

48:46

Tips for Growing Lettuce, Spinach & Potatoes

Down The Garden Path Podcast ·

2026/04/21

Thinking about growing your own lettuce, spinach, and potatoes this spring? In this April 2025 encore episode, Joanne chats with Julia Dimakos about successfully growing these popular vegetables at home. In this episode: How to grow lettuce successfully for fresh, continuous harvests Julia explores the basics of growing lettuce from seed, including the importance of starting with fresh seed, giving seeds light to germinate, transplanting early, spacing plants properly, succession sowing every

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52:21

Native Trees: Finding the Right Tree for the Right Spot

Down The Garden Path Podcast ·

2026/04/13

This week on Down the Garden Path, Joanne chats with Manny Lavrador about the growing interest in native trees and how to choose the right one for your property. In this episode: Why are native trees such an important topic right now? More gardeners and homeowners are looking for plants that support the environment, work well in local ecosystems, and respond to growing concerns about invasive species. What is the most important thing to remember when choosing a native tree? That even a native tree

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47:56

Hardy Canadian-Grown Roses from Jackson & Perkins

Down The Garden Path Podcast ·

2026/04/07

Have you been hesitant to add roses to your garden? This week on the podcast, Joanne talks with Paul Zimmerman about Jackson & Perkins' expansion into Canada, what it means for rose lovers, and why these cold-hardy, Canadian-grown roses may be easier to grow than many gardeners think. In this episode: Roses are becoming more accessible for Canadian gardeners. Jackson & Perkins roses are now available in the Canadian market, with roses being grown, tested, and shipped within Canada through their

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29:52

April in the Garden

Down The Garden Path Podcast ·

2026/03/31

After a long winter, it's tempting to get outside and start tidying, digging, and checking everything off our spring to-do list. But April is such a gentle, in-between month in the garden, and it really asks us to slow down, pay attention, and let nature lead a little. This week on the podcast, Joanne reviews what you should and shouldn't be doing in your April garden. Why is patience so important in the April garden? Because early spring gardening depends more on weather and soil conditions than

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49:56

Landscape Designer Spotlight: Abby Rupsa of Botanical...

Down The Garden Path Podcast ·

2026/03/23

This month on Down the Garden Path, Joanne welcomes five talented landscape designers, each with their own style, story, and specialty. What connects them all is a shared passion for creating beautiful, thoughtful outdoor spaces for their clients. Tune in each week in March as they share their experiences, perspectives, and the many ways landscape design can shape how we live outdoors. In this episode, Joanne speaks with Abby Rupsa, founder and lead designer of Botanical Living in Colorado, about

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01:17:11

Landscape Designer Spotlight: Jeff Collins of REWILD...

Down The Garden Path Podcast ·

2026/03/16

This month on Down the Garden Path, Joanne welcomes five talented landscape designers, each with their own style, story, and specialty. What connects them all is a shared passion for creating beautiful, thoughtful outdoor spaces for their clients. Tune in each week in March as they share their experiences, perspectives, and the many ways landscape design can shape how we live outdoors. In this episode, Joanne speaks with Jeff Collins of Ottawa's REWILD Landscapes about ecological landscaping,

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01:04:26

Landscape Designer Spotlight: Rita Nugent of Rita...

Down The Garden Path Podcast ·

2026/03/09

This month on Down the Garden Path, Joanne welcomes four talented landscape designers, each with their own style, story, and specialty. What connects them all is a shared passion for creating beautiful, thoughtful outdoor spaces for their clients. Tune in each week in March as they share their experiences, perspectives, and the many ways landscape design can shape how we live outdoors. This week, Joanne welcomes Rita Nugent, a landscape designer in Southern Ontario, and owner of Rita Nugent

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49:37

Landscape Designer Spotlight: John Bright of BRIGHT...

Down The Garden Path Podcast ·

2026/03/04

This month on Down the Garden Path, Joanne welcomes four talented landscape designers, each with their own style, story, and specialty. What connects them all is a shared passion for creating beautiful, thoughtful outdoor spaces for their clients. Tune in each week in March as they share their experiences, perspectives, and the many ways landscape design can shape how we live outdoors. This week, Joanne welcomes John Bright, a certified landscape designer in London, Ontario, and owner of BRIGHT

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55:29

Little Forests Durham with Ingrid Janssen

Down The Garden Path Podcast ·

2026/02/26

This week, Joanne welcomes master gardener Ingrid Janssen to the podcast to discuss the inspiring work being done by Little Forests Durham, a nonprofit organization focused on planting Miyawaki mini forests throughout Durham Region. About Little Forests Durham Little Forests Durham is a volunteer-run community non-profit organization based in Durham Region, Ontario, Canada, focused on giving tools, knowledge, and support to people, communities, organizations and local authorities to plant Little

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38:09

Bloomin' Easy Plants with Madison House

Down The Garden Path Podcast ·

2026/02/19

This week, Joanne welcomes Madison House of Bloomin' Easy Plants to the podcast to talk about what makes gardening feel "easy" for newer gardeners and what's new in their plant lineup this year. About Bloomin' Easy Plants Bloomin' Easy finds stronger, more compact, longer-blooming genetics (often from European breeders), then trials plants for years in Canadian conditions before they ever reach garden centres. They also build support tools around each plant, such as QR-code care reminders, an app, a

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12:10

Houseplant Chat: Fertilizer

Down The Garden Path Podcast ·

2026/02/11

In the fourth episode of Down the Garden Path's "Houseplant Chat" series, Joanne discusses the basics of fertilizing houseplants. Topics Covered When to start fertilizing Wait until days are noticeably longer (sometime after daylight savings time) when plants begin active growth again. How to read fertilizer labels (N-P-K) The three numbers represent Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), Potassium (K). Leafy plants may benefit from higher nitrogen; flowering plants often need more phosphorus.

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17:51

Houseplant Chat: Propagation Made Simple

Down The Garden Path Podcast ·

2026/02/03

In the third episode of Down the Garden Path's "Houseplant Chat" series, Joanne discusses propagation, a simple and rewarding way to expand your plant collection. Topics discussed: Quick recap of Houseplant Chat #1 and #2: winter light, soil refresh/repotting, and watering What propagation is (and why it's easier than starting from seed) Best beginner-friendly plants to propagate: pothos and philodendrons Fixing a long, "leggy" trailing plant by trimming and replanting rooted cuttings back into the

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20:17

Houseplant Chat: Soil & Watering Tips

Down The Garden Path Podcast ·

2026/01/26

In the second episode of Down the Garden Path's "Houseplant Chat" series, Joanne focuses on soil and watering techniques during the winter months. Topics discussed: Joanne emphasizes the vital role that soil plays in the health of our houseplants. Steer clear of potting soils with added fertilizers or unnecessary ingredients, as houseplants generally do not require fertilization during this period. Instead, opt for a basic, nutrient-rich potting mix that supports healthy growth without overwhelming

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14:01

Houseplant Chat: Getting the Light Right

Down The Garden Path Podcast ·

2026/01/20

This week, Joanne kicks off the 12th season of the Down the Garden Path podcast with the first episode in her "Houseplant Chat" series: Getting the Light Right. Tune in to learn how to keep your houseplants happy when winter light disappears. Topics discussed: Joanne emphasizes the importance of light for houseplants, especially in January, and shares practical tips for ensuring plants receive adequate light. She discusses her personal experiences with moving plants around her home to optimize

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25:34

Canada Gardener's Journal with Steven Biggs

Down The Garden Path Podcast ·

2025/12/10

This week, Joanne welcomes horticulturist Stephen Biggs back to the podcast to talk about his latest project, the newly expanded Canada Gardener's Journal. About Steven Steven was recognized by Garden Making magazine as one of the "green gang" making a difference in Canadian horticulture. His home-garden experiments span driveway straw-bale gardens, a rooftop kitchen garden, fruit plantings, and an edible-themed front yard. He's a horticulturist, award-winning broadcaster and author, and former

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51:12

Soil Testing with Amy Ellard-Gray

Down The Garden Path Podcast ·

2025/11/25

This week on the podcast, Joanne discusses soil testing with The Hobby Homestead's Amy Ellard-Gray, who grows 75% of her family's fruits and vegetables in her Guelph backyard. About Amy Amy runs The Hobby Homestead in suburban Guelph, where she cultivates over 100 varieties of native plants to support the local ecosystem. Through her YouTube channel, Instagram, website, and in-person consultations, she helps people design and troubleshoot their own food-growing spaces. Her mantra, "growing food in

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27:44

Transitioning to Indoor Gardening

Down The Garden Path Podcast ·

2025/11/11

This week on Down the Garden Path, Joanne shares her passion for indoor gardening with practical winter houseplant care tips and a reminder that there's always something new to learn and grow. Topics discussed: 1. From Annuals to Houseplants It's time to turn your attention to houseplants as gardening shifts indoors. Don't rush out to buy new plants: friends and family often have extras or cuttings to share. 2. Winter Care Basics During shorter days and lower light levels, houseplants slow down

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41:44

Mythic Plants with Ellen Zachos

Down The Garden Path Podcast ·

2025/11/04

This week, Joanne welcomes Ellen Zachos, author of 11 books on plants, including her latest, Mythic Plants: Potions and Poisons from the Gardens of the Gods. About Ellen A Harvard graduate, Ellen's first career was on Broadway (Les Miz), but the gift of a peace lily on opening night opened her eyes to the wonderful world of plants. Ellen taught at the New York Botanical Garden for many years and also served as Coordinator of the Gardening Department in Continuing Ed, before moving to Santa Fe, NM

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41:43

The Suburban Gardenista

Down The Garden Path Podcast ·

2025/10/28

This week on the podcast, Joanne welcomes Brandie, the Suburban Gardenista, an avid gardener passionate about supporting pollinators with native plants. Brandie is Pollinator Stewardship Certified by Pollinator Partnership Canada and loves sharing her learnings through podcasts, workshops, and social media. You can find her online on YouTube and Instagram @thesuburbangardenista. Brandie's Gardening Journey Began gardening ~20 years ago after moving into a home with no plants Inspired by her

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23:44

How to Overwinter Your Annuals

Down The Garden Path Podcast ·

2025/10/21

If your summer containers still look surprisingly lush, don't toss them out just yet. This week on the podcast, Joanne discusses how, with a little care, you can enjoy them again next year. Tune in to learn how to overwinter your annuals. Topics discussed: Many annuals are still looking great in mid-October — don’t toss them yet! You can successfully overwinter several annuals to save money and enjoy them again next year. There’s no single foolproof method; success depends on the type of plant,

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