Hi, everybody. This is Joe Lampel, the Joe Behind Joe Gardner, and welcome to the Joe Gardner Show.

Today, we are all in for a treat. I get to have a conversation with someone I've known and admired for about 25 years, my friend, Dr. Alan Armitage.

If you've spent any time in the world of gardening or horticulture, you probably already know his name.

Alan is one of those rare people who has shaped this field from every angle, research, teaching,

plant introductions, storytelling, and just plain passion for helping gardeners grow better.

Alan has since retired as Professor Emeritus of Horticulture from the University of Georgia, but over his career,

he spent decades there conducting research, writing, running plant trials, and teaching both

students and industry professionals. He's received just about every award a horticulturist can get,

and he's written 16 books. Many of them, the go-to references gardeners and professionals

rely on. He's also brought us beloved plants, like the Margarita Sweet Potato Vine, and Verbina

Homestead Purple, and the Sun-Lover series of Colius. Plus, he has a podcast and a great

garden app that we'll talk about later.

But here's what I love most about Alan.

Beyond the credentials and accolades, he's an educator at heart and one of the best storytellers I know.

And today's conversation is a perfect example of that because we're talking about something very different than what you might expect from him.

Call it a temporary detour from his decades of more formal horticulture writing.

His latest book, The Common Sense Gardner, feels like you're sitting down with Alan on his back porch,

talking plants and life and laughing while learning something real.

It's practical, it's insightful, it's funny, and it's full of that no-nonsense wisdom he delivers better than anyone. So today, we're tapping into Dr. A's

decades of experience as we talk about his newest book and his observations and experiences

that shaped it, along with the lessons every gardener, beginner, or seasoned,

can take from it. I'm thrilled to share this conversation with you, so let's get into it,

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