Growing Joy with Plants - Wellness Rooted in Nature, Houseplants, Gardening and Plant Care

Don't sweet peas have the most amazing floral scent? I remember them as a scent before I ever knew them as a flower, like the Bath & Body Works body spray that no other brands can seem to replicate. Then I realized I had never actually done an episode on these before, so there’s no better time than to invite my dear plant friend, Marryn Mathis, the Sweet Pea Queen, to share her story! Marryn quit a 21-year IT career, moved her family onto raw land in a 28-foot travel trailer, and built The Farmhouse Flower Farm from the ground up. She's now growing 40,000 sweet pea seedlings a season, breeding her own varieties, and just wrote a book on the subject! Let's get growing!

 

In this episode, we learn:

[02:49] Meet Marryn Mathis, the Sweet Pea Queen!

[06:51] Growing flowers at scale without formal training

[08:12] Growing cut flowers for florists vs. harvesting seeds for sale

[09:14] What’s her process of breeding and naming a new Sweet Pea variety?

[10:52] Why Sweet Pea deserves more popularity!

[13:38] What’s the history behind Sweet Pea? (Hint: It started in Sicily!)

[15:37] Lisa Ziegler’s Cut Flower Handbook

[16:55] Espoma Organic

[18:47] How sweet peas migrated from garden fixtures into the cut flower industry

[19:38] What is the sweet pea fragrance scale and how do you differentiate them?

[21:31] Spencer sweet peas vs. other varieties

[22:37] How to grow sweet peas in hot climates and warmer zones (like Florida and Texas)

[24:31] Starting sweet peas from seed vs. buying garden center seedlings

[24:45] How to start sweet peas from seed

[26:25] The #1 mistake people make when growing sweet peas

[27:06] The 55-degree germination temperature for sweet pea seeds

[29:51] When to transplant indoor-started sweet peas

[31:27] How sunlight and location impact the lifespan of your sweet peas

[32:58] How to set up drip irrigation for sweet pea beds

[36:17] How to create a magical "Sweet Pea Tunnel" with cattle panels

[37:15] What are the biggest mistakes beginners make with sweet peas?

[39:45] Some cutting tips for sweet peas

[41:38] Is there a way to preserve sweet pea scent after cutting?

[41:51] What are the best workhorse sweet pea varieties for beginners?

[45:30] Where to find Marryn, her seeds, and her farm!

[46:10] Check out their new storefront on their farm!

 

Mentioned in our conversation:

Sweet Pea School Book by Marryn Mathis

PRO-MIX Potting Mix

Espoma Potting Soil Mix

Growing Joy 246: What is Regenerative Gardening and Permaculture? with Stephanie Rose of Garden Therapy

 

For Marryn's trusted advice on how to grow sweet peas,

check out the full show notes and blog here!

 

Follow Marryn:
Website
Instagram
Facebook
YouTube
Shop

 

Thank you to our episode sponsors:

Quarto: The Cut Flower Handbook by Lisa M Ziegler

Pick up The Cut Flower Handbook at your favorite local bookstore, quarto.com, bookshop.org, Barnes & Noble or amazon.com.

Espoma Organic

Visit espoma.com to find your local Espoma dealer or check my Amazon storefront.

 

Follow Maria and Growing Joy:

Order my book: Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness (and Plants)by Maria Failla, Illustrated by Samantha Leung

Take the Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle)

Support Growing Joy with Maria by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon!

Instagram: @growingjoywithmaria

Tiktok: @growingjoywithmaria

Subscribe to the Growing Joy YouTube channel! /growingjoywithmaria

Website: www.growingjoywithmaria.com

Pinterest: @growingjoywithmaria

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If you knew where most grocery store lettuce comes from and what it goes through before it lands in that plastic box, you’d never look at bagged salad the same way again.

In this Best of Growing Joy episode, I’m sharing a practical, beginner-friendly guide on how to grow lettuce from seed so you can harvest fresh, crunchy salad greens right outside your door with my friend and garden coach, Nicole Burke of Gardener. We talk about simple ways to grow lettuce in raised beds, containers, grow bags, and even tiny balconies, so you can enjoy homegrown salads on repeat all season long!

Nicole breaks down the different types of lettuce and salad greens, when to direct sow seeds versus starting them indoors, and the watering routine that actually keeps those shallow roots happy. We also chat about easy organic pest strategies, smart spacing, and how to harvest lettuce so it keeps growing back, giving you that dreamy cut-and-come-again salad garden.

By the end of this episode, you’ll feel confident starting lettuce from seed and excited to swap those plastic boxes for vibrant, living greens just a few steps from your kitchen!

 

In this episode, we learn:

[00:03] Maria shares indoor hydroponic lettuce growth and outdoor lettuce garden prep.

[06:02] Why lettuce is ideal for first-time food-growing houseplant parents.

[06:53] What is Gardenary all about?

[08:23] How Nicole makes beautiful raised-bed gardens

[14:19] Where are 98% of the United States lettuces grown?

[17:01] What materials are needed for lettuce?

[20:47] Where can you find a wide array of quality lettuce seeds and seed mixes?

[23:27] Where to get a potting mix, soil, fertilizer, or compost for your garden beds/containers?

[25:15] What lettuce does Nicole recommend for beginners?

[24:34] Lettuce Category #1: Loose leaf

[29:15] Lettuce Category #2: Head lettuce

[31:09] Is Nicole indoor-starting or direct-sowing lettuce?

[32:32] How do you calculate when it's time to start direct sowing?

[35:55] What is the process of growing lettuce from seed?

[36:14] Process #1: If you have limited space

[40:40] Where to find a nutrition program for weight management, more energy, and clear skin?

[42:55] Process #2: If you live in an apartment

[46:01] What are Nicole’s tips for harvesting?

[47:53] What mistakes do people commonly make in growing lettuce?

[49:58] How to eat Swiss chard

[52:23] Have you heard of Nicole’s newest book Kitchen Garden Revival?

[57:45] Where can you follow Nicole?

 

Mentioned in our conversation:

Growing Joy Episode 120 Designing and Planning My Garden // Coaching With Nicole of Gardenary

Ivette Soler’s book The Edible Front Yard: The Mow-Less, Grow-More Plan for a Beautiful, Bountiful Garden

Hydroponic planter

Nicole Burke’s book Kitchen Garden Revival

Nicole’s Burke’s book Leaves, Roots & Fruit

Rocky Top Mix Salad Blend

Territorial Seed Company Spring Mixes

Martha Stewart's book Vegetables: Inspired Recipes and Tips for Choosing, Cooking, and Enjoying the Freshest Seasonal Flavors: A Cookbook

10 Years, 4 Cities, 8 Gardens-Nicole Burke's Kitchen Garden Journey

 

Craving fresher, crunchier salads straight from your garden?

Check out the full show notes and blog for my favorite beginner lettuce varieties, seed-starting tips, and easy harvest tricks!

 

Follow Nicole

Website

Twitter

Facebook

Instagram

YouTube

 

 

Follow Maria and Growing Joy:

Order my book: Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness (and Plants)by Maria Failla, Illustrated by Samantha Leung

Join the Bloom and Grow Garden Party Community Platform & App AKA the plantiest and kindest corner of the internet! Get your FREE 2-week trial here!

Take the Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle)

Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon!

Instagram: @growingjoywithmaria

Tiktok: @growingjoywithmaria

Subscribe to the Growing Joy Youtube channel! /growingjoywithmaria

Website: www.growingjoywithmaria.com

Pinterest: @growingjoywithmaria

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Why are monarch butterflies so special? If you follow me on Instagram, you already know my answer. The monarch butterfly has completely taken over my heart. I literally dressed up as one for Halloween this year, and I have zero regrets! Ever since my husband and I moved to Florida, I started planting milkweed just to watch them hatch in my own yard. And wow. Seeing their life cycle happen right in front of me made me think deeply about gardening. It also made me realize I had a lot to learn. So I called up my favorite wildlife nerd, David Mizejewski, and we spent a whole podcast episode just geeking out about monarch butterflies together! Let's dive in!

 

In this episode, we learn:

[03:57] Meet David Mizejewski, a naturalist, NWF, and a fellow monarch nerd!

[04:36] Why monarch butterflies hold a special emotional place for me

[06:06] What are the benefits of monarchs?

[08:49] Are monarchs really disappearing?

[10:53] Why the endangered/threatened designation is so confusing

[12:52] What would a "threatened" listing actually do for monarchs?

[15:28] Manukora

[17:13] How microplastics affect the environment

[18:25] Why are monarchs disappearing?

[19:20] The monarch lifecycle

[22:19] Why monarchs are specialists

[29:48] How gardeners can actually help monarch butterflies

[31:33] Native milkweed varieties worth knowing

[35:12] How to source pesticide-free native plants

[36:45] What are neonicotinoids?

[37:37] Which milkweed to avoid (aka the tropical milkweed problem)

[42:39] How to visually identify tropical milkweed

[45:05] Why you shouldn’t hand-rear monarchs!

[48:25] How the monarch migration actually works

[52:03] What to do instead of hand-rearing!

[53:43] Why parasitic wasps killing caterpillars is natural

[57:46] Where to find native plants by zip code

[59:46] How to certify your monarch garden with NWF

[01:01:19] My plans for my new home, my HOA, and my neighborhood kids!

[01:02:35] NWF's "cues of care" strategy

[01:04:37] Where to find David and all NWF resources

 

Mentioned in our conversation:

National Wildlife Federation

Native Plants Finder

Garden for Wildlife

Native Plant Finder by Zip Code

Certified Wildlife Habitat

 

If you want to help the monarch population,

check out the full show notes and blog for David's expert advice!

 

Follow David:

Website
Instagram
YouTube
Facebook
TikTok
LinkedIn

 

Thank you to our episode sponsor:

Manukora

Go to manukora.com/bloom to get up to 31% off the starter kit that includes their 850+ Manukora honey jar, 5 honey travel sticks, a wooden spoon, and a guidebook, PLUS $25 worth of free gifts! 

 

Follow Maria and Growing Joy:

Order my book: Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness (and Plants)by Maria Failla, Illustrated by Samantha Leung

Take the Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle)

Support Growing Joy with Maria by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon!

Instagram: @growingjoywithmaria

Tiktok: @growingjoywithmaria

Subscribe to the Growing Joy YouTube channel! /growingjoywithmaria

Website: www.growingjoywithmaria.com

Pinterest: @growingjoywithmaria

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Did you know your “regular” herb garden can double as a medicinal herb garden, and that the mint you grab for mojitos can actually calm your nerves and your digestion? I used to think herbalism meant mysterious tincture bottles and complicated formulas… until I started turning the basil, mint, and lemon balm I grow into simple herbal teas I actually drink every night.

In this Best of Growing Joy episode, I’m revisiting a conversation with Juliet from the Chestnut School of Herbal Medicine, botanist, herbalist, and author of The Healing Garden. If you’re a gardener, tea lover, or herbalism beginner who wants to learn how to grow and use medicinal herbs you already have, this episode is for you!

You’ll learn which common herbs (like mint, basil, rosemary, lemon balm, and calendula) are most powerful to start with, how to harvest and dry them for tea, and why plant energetics (matching herbs to your unique body) matters more than any trendy supplement. By the end, you’ll know exactly how to make your own herbal tea from garden herbs instead of reaching for another tea bag.

 

In this episode, we learn:

[04:58] What led Juliet Blankenspoor to become interested in herbalism

[08:52] What makes plants medicinal, and have they been proven by doctors?

[11:51] Energetics of plants and how to complement their energies with people's

[15:49] How do you determine your own energy constitution?

[16:45] Who is Wim Hoff and what are the possible benefits of cold showers?

[19:16] What's the best way to get started with this completely new field of medicinal benefits?

[22:22] Where to get the best seeds for your spring garden

[23:38] The right choice for safe indoor and outdoor gardening products

[27:03] What are the properties of Mint?

[28:30] Some of the commonly used herbs that we might not be aware of

[30:01] What tonic means in the context of herbal medicine

[32:36] What are the medicinal properties of chives?

[33:58] How we can prepare tea from fresh and dried herbs

[38:16] Is there any medicinal value to the mint stem?

[39:43] What other herbs can you grow to make your own tea?

[44:13] Your next favorite kitchen appliance!

[47:19] What are some of the most versatile medicinal plants Juliet recommends exploring that aren't found in a traditional culinary garden?

[48:19] What plants should you add to your culinary garden for medical benefits?

[52:38] Juliet Blankespoor’s favorite herbs that you can add to your cooking recipes

[57:39] What can you learn from the book ‘The Healing Garden: Cultivating and Handcrafting Herbal Remedies'?

 

Mentioned in our conversation:

The Healing Garden: Cultivating and Handcrafting Herbal Remedies, book by Juliet Blankespoor

Tea strainers

Wim Hof Method

FREE 2-week trial to the Garden Party!

 

Curious what else your herb garden might be hiding?

Check out the full show notes and blog for beginner-friendly herbalism tips and recipes!

 

Follow Juliet

Website

Instagram

Facebook

Healing Garden Gateway, Juliet's personal website

 

 

Follow Maria and Growing Joy:

Order my book: Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness (and Plants)by Maria Failla, Illustrated by Samantha Leung

Join the Bloom and Grow Garden Party Community Platform & App AKA the plantiest and kindest corner of the internet! Get your FREE 2-week trial here!

Take the Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle)

Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon!

Instagram: @growingjoywithmaria

Tiktok: @growingjoywithmaria

Subscribe to the Growing Joy Youtube channel! /growingjoywithmaria

Website: www.growingjoywithmaria.com

Pinterest: @growingjoywithmaria

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

I’ve always wanted to make gardening a lifelong hobby because I plan to have dirt under my nails well into my 80s or 90s, but I never really thought through HOW to make that happen. Because as much as we love our plants, gardening as you age is not about doing the same thing forever. I see it with my mom who’s an incredible gardener. She has that true plant parent energy, but even she has to change how she gardens. So what if the secret to longevity is just learning how to garden differently? To help me with that topic is Rhonda Fleming Hayes. She’s the author of Garden for Life and has been gardening across more climates, zones, and life changes than most of us can imagine. And in this episode, she teaches us gardening tips for seniors and how to adapt your garden as you age so gardening stays joyful!

 

In this episode, we learn:

[02:56] Meet Rhonda Fleming Hayes, author of Garden for Life!

[03:25] What do we call “senior gardeners” without promoting ageism?

[04:21] Why 55 is the turning point for when/how much you garden!

[05:56] How has Rhonda's gardening experience been?

[08:09] How Rhonda’s relationship with her garden has changed as she’s gotten older

[09:42] What are the mistakes senior gardeners make?

[12:04] Gardening as something that should change with you!

[13:03] Why continuing to garden matters as you age

[15:09] Concrete Botany by Joey Santore

[16:14] My summer with Melody + how companionable garden buddies help each other!

[18:49] How to evaluate your garden for safety/accessibility?

[21:00] Tools that make gardening sustainable over time

[23:06] How to start gardening over again when moving to a new space

[25:59] Why you need to create "way stations" to sit and enjoy your garden

[27:52] How to overcome the “ego blow” of hiring professional garden help

[31:01] What does Rhonda's own Minnesota garden look like?

[33:40] What getting help actually looks like in practice

[34:39] Inspiring real-life gardener stories from her book, Garden for Life

[36:27] Where to find Rhonda and her book online

 

Mentioned in our conversation:

Rhonda’s books:

Garden for Life: Strategies for Easier, Greener, More Joyful Gardening as We Age

Pollinator Friendly Gardening: Gardening for Bees, Butterflies, and Other Pollinators

 

For Rhonda's complete senior gardening tips

check out the full show notes and blog here!

 

Follow Rhonda:

Instagram
BlueSky

The Garden Buzz Facebook

The Garden Buzz X

 

Thank you to our episode sponsor:

Quarto: Concrete Botany by Joey Santore

Grab Concrete Botany at quarto.com and wherever books are sold.

 

Follow Maria and Growing Joy:

Order my book: Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness (and Plants)by Maria Failla, Illustrated by Samantha Leung

Take the Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle)

Support Growing Joy with Maria by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon!

Instagram: @growingjoywithmaria

Tiktok: @growingjoywithmaria

Subscribe to the Growing Joy YouTube channel! /growingjoywithmaria

Website: www.growingjoywithmaria.com

Pinterest: @growingjoywithmaria

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.