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

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

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Did you know mushrooms aren’t actually plants, but a completely different kingdom that plays a huge role in soil health, plant health, and the success of your indoor and outdoor garden?

This is the third episode in our Mushroom Mini Series, and this week we’re having a high-level conversation all about what mushrooms are, how fungi and mycelium work, and why they matter so much for plant parents and anyone interested in holistic plant care.

Louis from North Spore joins me and my husband Billy for a really fun conversation about the underground “wood wide web,” how mushrooms support your garden ecosystem, and why understanding fungi can completely change the way you think about gardening, mushrooms in soil, and growing mushrooms at home.

I hope this conversation helps you better understand the hidden life in your soil and inspires you to look at mushrooms, plant care, and your garden in a whole new way.

 

In this episode, we learn:

[05:42] What is it like being a mushroom farmer?

[06:40] Multiple harvests from the grow kits through proper moisture management

[08:51] Debunking magic mushroom misconceptions

[2:44] Billy and Maria’s positive experiences with Lion's mane mushroom

[14:34] How do you grow mushrooms indoors?

[14:44] #1 Spray & Grow Kits (The perfect beginner species!)

[18:02] #2 Fruiting Blocks

[19:17] Where can you get premium quality growlights?

[21:05] Where can you find delightful wind chimes that make for a perfect gift choice?

[22:23] #3 Martha Tents (aka North Spore’s Boom Room)

[25:36] How do you avoid mold with a Martha tent?

[28:18] What's the ideal humidity level on the humidistat for the fruiting blocks?

[30:39] What comprises a fruiting block and what goes into making it?

[32:17] How do you distinguish spawns versus spores?

[37:13] How do you pasteurize something?

[37:58] What would be three great beginner mushrooms to start in a grow tent?

[40:09] Economics of mushroom cultivation

[42:26] Can a Martha tent enable a wider range of mushroom growth compared to a mono tub?

[43:21] #3 Mono tub

[50:22] What are the two substrates of Nameko mushrooms?

[54:23] Who is North Spore?

 

Mentioned in our conversation:

How to Make a Martha Tent Mushroom Fruiting Chamber

‘BoomRoom’ Automated Mushroom Martha Tent Grow Kit

How to Make a Monotub: The Complete Monotub Tek Guide

Using a Spray & Grow Kit

Fruiting Block Kits

Spray & Grow Kits

Monotub Kits

Monotub Set Up & Grow Guide

How to Grow Mushrooms in Buckets & Containers

 

Feeling a little more mushroom curious after this episode?

Check out the full show notes and blog for fungi basics and growing tips!

 

Follow North Spore

Louis' LinkedIn

Website

Instagram

YouTube

Facebook

TikTok

 

 

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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Did you know that your bulb garden doesn't have to be high-maintenance? One of my earliest memories is my mom planting what felt like endless tulip bulbs—500 of them, in fact. She was a young mom with three kids, no spare time, and definitely not a person who could fuss over plants every day, but somehow, she always had color! Bulbs showed up for her, and she did not have to slave over her garden to get them. That’s why I know it is possible to create a low‑maintenance garden with bulbs. So I invited Jenny Rose Carey on the show to walk us through it. She gardens on a 4.5‑acre property called Northview, filled with thousands of bulbs that bloom from late winter through fall. She’s a horticulturist, a biologist, a teacher at heart, and the author of The Essential Guide to Bulbs. She shares how bulbs actually work, which ones are worth planting, and how to plant them so they don’t rot or disappear after one season! Let's begin!

 

In this episode, we learn:

[04:04] Meet Jenny Rose Carey

[07:05] What’s the history behind her 4-acre garden called Northview?

[09:57] What a full season of bulbs actually looks like at Northview

[11:30] What counts as a bulb? (Are dahlias bulbs?)

[12:43] How the bulb cycle works

[14:25] Designing a wedding garden with dahlias, raised beds, and containers full of flowers!

[15:44] Manukora Honey

[17:30] How to understand the seasonal lifecycle & dormancy of bulbs (spring bulb vs summer bulb)

[22:12] How bulbs can create a lower-maintenance garden

[23:37] What are the best summer bulbs?

[26:55] Summer bulbs Jenny loves most for flowers and cutting gardens!

[29:48] Bulb planting 101

[33:20] How do you know which way is up when planting a bulb?

[34:32] Why some bulbs seem to “fail” the first year

[37:16] The drainage rule to avoid bulb rot

[39:28] In-ground vs. containers for bulbs

[41:42] How lasagna planting works for bulbs

[44:39] The best places in your garden to plant bulbs

[45:52] What are Jenny’s favorite fragrant bulbs for summer?

[48:03] The biggest mistakes people make when planting bulbs

[49:15] How to use store-bought bulbs for instant gratification

[50:28] Where to find Jenny, her book The Essential Guide to Bulbs, and her garden at Northview!

 

Mentioned in our conversation:

Growing Joy 150: Bulb Basics with Jenks Farmer

The Essential Guide to Bulbs by Jenny Rose Carey

Northview Gardens

 

For Jenny's complete bulb tutorial,

check out the full show notes and blog here!

 

Follow Jenny:

Website
Northview Garden
Instagram
Facebook
YouTube
X

 

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

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

Did you know that you can actually grow edible gourmet mushrooms in your garden right alongside your tomatoes, lettuce, peppers, herbs, and veggies?

You can! And by doing that, you can improve your soil health, support your garden ecosystem, and add another delicious crop to harvest and enjoy throughout the growing season.

This is the second episode in our Mushroom Mini Series. Last week, we re-released our episode on growing mushrooms indoors, and this week, we’re talking all about how to grow mushrooms outdoors in your garden.

Louis from North Spore joins me and my husband Billy for such a fun conversation about growing mushrooms outdoors right alongside your vegetables, herbs, and even cut flowers.

We talk about beginner-friendly ways to start growing edible mushrooms at home without a fancy setup required! If you’re a plant lover, gardener, or curious plant parent, this episode will open your mind to just how easy and rewarding mushroom gardening can be.

I can’t wait to see what kinds of mushrooms you grow, how you cook them up, and how they support both your garden and your health.

 

In this episode, we learn:

[05:35] Benefits of Lion's Mane mushroom supplements for improved focus and energy

[09:15] Why should you grow mushrooms in your garden?

[10:45] Specific vocabulary in mushroom cultivation

[12:43] Is mushroom DNA diverse or uniform across different areas?

[15:30] Why you can't simply grow any mushrooms in soil alone

[17:15] Are mushrooms annuals or perennials?

[20:14] Where can you find full spectrum plant lights to bring the beauty of outdoors inside this April?

[22:16] Where can you find a healthy meal delivery program?

[24:52] What protections exist for preventing other mushroom species from colonizing a bed of ripe food and confusing the farmer?

[26:29] Can you harvest mushrooms immediately after inoculating your garden beds?

[27:35] What mushrooms are best for beginners to grow in the garden?

[29:30] Do you need a lot of space to grow a good harvest?

[30:29] Do worms compete or work with mycorrhizal?

[32:25] What materials do you need for growing mushrooms in your garden?

[34:44] Where can you find a wind chime that would make the perfect gift these holidays?

[36:21] How can you grow mushrooms in your mulch?

[41:04] Does a denser, ground-level plant provide better shade for the mushrooms??

[44:00] Is there a general rule for spacing the insertion points when inoculating a bale of hay?

[44:49] How do mycorrhizal networks and mold coexist in nature, particularly in damp and dark environments?

[48:09] How to create a mushroom container for small gardening spaces

[52:49] What are the required maintenance tasks for growing mushrooms during the season?

[57:03] What is the difference between cutting and pulling mushrooms during harvesting?

[58:23] Best beginner mushroom varieties that are resilient to temperature and humidity changes

[59:40] Different mushrooms that you can grow in different garden zones or different climates

[01:00:56] What is the process of inoculating logs for growing mushrooms?

[01:03:48] What's the purpose of wax capping your mushrooms?

[01:05:29] Can mushroom inoculation be done before or after the frost date?

[01:10:12] Where can you find mushroom spawns and learn more about mushroom growing?

 

Mentioned in our conversation:

North Spore ‘Spray & Grow' Mushroom Growing Kits

Pink Oyster ‘Spray & Grow’ Mushroom Growing Kit

YouTube video North Spore Test garden in Portland, Maine

Lion’s Mane tincture

How to Grow Mushrooms in Buckets & Containers

Which Species of Log is Best?

How to Make Outdoor Mushroom Beds

How to Grow Mushrooms on Logs, Totems & Stumps

Mushroom Spores vs. Spawn: What is the Difference?

YouTube video How to Grow Mushrooms on Logs | Complete Inoculation Walkthrough!

 

Are you officially tempted to start a mushroom bed now?

Check out the full show notes and blog for mushroom-growing tips and everything we mentioned in this episode!

 

Follow North Spore

Louis' LinkedIn

Website

Instagram

YouTube

Facebook

TikTok

 

 

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.

My goal this year is to find more ease and joy in my garden! I love my plants, but I don’t want my yard to feel like another job. And when I realized that was a theme that was gonna keep coming up, I knew I needed to do an episode on permaculture. So I invited my plant friend, Brandy Hall. She’s a permaculture designer and has helped me see it as a simple, practical way to garden. She calls herself a garden editor for homeowners, which means she helps people like us turn regular lawns into regenerative spaces that get better over time.

 

In this episode, we learn:

[02:45] Meet Brandy Hall of Shades of Green Permaculture!

[03:23] How did she become the permaculture expert that she is today?

[04:38] What pesticide exposure did to her family and why it changed everything

[08:24] How travel, farm life, and construction work pulled Brandy into this career

[10:51] Permaculture vs regenerative gardening vs rewilding vs ecological landscaping

[12:50] Is permaculture growing your own food?

[14:44] What are the three pillars of a regenerative landscape?

[14:55] Pillar #1 Restore water cycle

[15:11] Pillar #2 Soil fertility

[15:46] Espoma Organic

[17:22] Pillar #3 Building plant communities

[18:00] Applying permaculture to real neighborhoods

[21:19] How modern development broke the natural water cycle

[23:42] What permaculture does differently with water

[26:22] The biggest water management mistakes homeowners make

[27:23] How to work with your downspouts and rain gardens to manage water

[28:19] Why the soil is your best water storage system

[30:19] How much water actually falls on your roof

[31:55] What does a permaculture site consultation actually look like?

[33:23] How to “read” your own space

[34:47] How to choose plants for permaculture

[36:02] Native vs non‑native plants

[37:39] How to make a permaculture garden look aesthetic (even in an HOA)

[40:00] How Brandy designs beautiful & productive beds

[41:10] Where to start if you're new to permaculture

[42:53] Brandy's online course, The Regenerative Backyard Blueprint

[44:10] Where to find Brandy, her book, and her resources

 

Mentioned in our conversation:

The Complete Guide to Home Permaculture by Brandy Hall

The Cut Flower Handbook: Select, Plant, Grow, and Harvest Gorgeous Blooms by Lisa Ziegler

 

For Brandy's recommended permaculture habits,

check out the full show notes and blog here!

 

Follow Brandy:
Website
Instagram
Facebook
YouTube

 

Thank you to our episode sponsor:

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

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