Ep. 555 - The Rookie Gardener

In Defense of Plants Podcast

In Defense of Plants

Science & Medicine, Natural Sciences

4.8 • 1.2K Ratings

🗓️ 7 December 2025

⏱️ 52 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Gardening can be a daunting enterprise, especially for a beginner. Heck, even skilled gardeners still kill plants. The quest to become a better gardener is a lifelong journey and thanks to people like my guest today, taking the leap doesn't have to be scary. Joining us is horticulturist and author Chloe Foster who has written an amazing book called "The Rookie Gardener" to help you in your gardening journey. Listen in as we explore how feeding native caterpillars with native plants started her journey and why she wants to help you discover your passion for plants as well. This episode was produced in part by April, Dana, Lilith, Sanza, Eva, Yellowroot, Wisewren, Nadia, Heidi, Blake, Josh, Laure, R.J., Carly, Lucia, Dana, Sarah, Lauren, Strych Mind, Linda, Sylvan, Austin, Sarah, Ethan, Elle, Steve, Cassie, Chuck, Aaron, Gillian, Abi, Rich, Shad, Maddie, Owen, Linda, Alana, Sigma, Max, Richard, Maia, Rens, David, Robert, Thomas, Valerie, Joan, Mohsin Kazmi Photography, Cathy, Simon, Nick, Paul, Charis, EJ, Laura, Sung, NOK, Stephen, Heidi, Kristin, Luke, Sea, Shannon, Thomas, Will, Jamie, Waverly, Brent, Tanner, Rick, Kazys, Dorothy, Katherine, Emily, Theo, Nichole, Paul, Karen, Randi, Caelan, Tom, Don, Susan, Corbin, Keena, Robin, Peter, Whitney, Kenned, Margaret, Daniel, Karen, David, Earl, Jocelyn, Gary, Krysta, Elizabeth, Southern California Carnivorous Plant Enthusiasts, Pattypollinators, Peter, Judson, Ella, Alex, Dan, Pamela, Peter, Andrea, Nathan, Karyn, Michelle, Jillian, Chellie, Linda, Laura, Miz Holly, Christie, Carlos, Paleo Fern, Levi, Sylvia, Lanny, Ben, Lily, Craig, Sarah, Lor, Monika, Brandon, Jeremy, Suzanne, Kristina, Christine, Silas, Michael, Aristia, Felicidad, Lauren, Danielle, Allie, Jeffrey, Amanda, Tommy, Marcel, C Leigh, Karma, Shelby, Christopher, Alvin, Arek, Chellie, Dani, Paul, Dani, Tara, Elly, Colleen, Natalie, Nathan, Ario, Laura, Cari, Margaret, Mary, Connor, Nathan, Jan, Jerome, Brian, Azomonas, Ellie, University Greens, Joseph, Melody, Patricia, Matthew, Garrett, John, Ashley, Cathrine, Melvin, OrangeJulian, Porter, Jules, Griff, Joan, Megan, Marabeth, Les, Ali, Southside Plants, Keiko, Robert, Bryce, Wilma, Amanda, Helen, Mikey, Michelle, German, Joerg, Cathy, Tate, Steve, Kae, Carole, Mr. Keith Santner, Lynn, Aaron, Sara, Kenned, Brett, Jocelyn, Ethan, Sheryl, Runaway Goldfish, Ryan, Chris, Alana, Rachel, Joanna, Lori, Paul, Griff, Matthew, Bobby, Vaibhav, Steven, Joseph, Brandon, Liam, Hall, Jared, Brandon, Christina, Carly, Kazys, Stephen, Katherine, Manny, doeg, Daniel, Tim, Philip, Tim, Lisa, Brodie, Bendix, Irene, holly, Sara, and Margie.

Transcript

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0:00.0	Conversations like you're about to hear do not happen unless you support In Defensive Plants.
0:04.0	And now more than ever, we need conversations like this to reach as many ears as possible.
0:09.0	One of the best ways to help keep In Defensive Plants up and running is to become a patron over at patreon.com slash In Defensive Plants.
0:16.0	In return for a tiny bit of support each month, you will get access to a completely separate podcasts.
0:21.0	It explores a lot of really fun gardening topics, everything from seed collection and storage
0:25.2	to growing native plants, the struggles of trying to garden in different climates, and so much
0:30.2	more. It's a heck of a lot of fun. We're learning so much, and we're trying to share that with you.
0:34.5	So come on and join the Patreon over at patreon.com slash indefensive plants and help keep this show up and running in the process. I hope to see you over there. But in the meantime, on with the show. Hello everyone and welcome to the Indefensive Plants podcast, the official podcast of indefensiveplants.com. What's up? This is your host, Matt. Welcome to the show. How is everyone doing this week?
0:59.3	I'm doing great because we're exploring how native gardening can introduce us to the wider world of gardening. And of course, when it comes to gardening, it can be very intimidating for so many
1:03.9	people to take that first step or to continue on from a few failed attempts. Garning is an iterative
1:09.7	process. There's no one single recipe for
1:11.8	success, and it can get really overwhelming at times. But my guest today is taking a stab at
1:16.5	helping people get off the ground and hopefully become a little bit more obsessed, and it all
1:21.2	starts for her with the native plant movement. Joining us is author and horticulturist, Chloe
1:26.6	Foster, who's written a wonderful gardening book called The Rookie Gardener. There's so many great things contained in this book. It's extremely approachable. It's very smart at the same time. And I think it's one of those gardening books that will stand the test of time. So I don't want to keep you from it any longer. This is such a fun conversation. Chloe is such a great horticulturist in person,
1:44.4	so let's just jump right into it. Without further ado, here's my conversation with Chloe Foster.
1:48.5	I hope you enjoy.
2:05.1	All right, Chloe Foster.
2:07.9	I am so happy we made it to this interview today.
2:12.0	If you knew what went on behind the scenes with the coordination, we did it.
2:13.8	I'm so excited to talk with you.
2:15.0	Thank you for being here.
	...

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