I Dig Your Story

Introducing Fifth Tuesdays

We are introducing a new show spinoff: Fifth Tuesdays. Wanting to keep to just four Tuesday interviews each month, host Ellen Wells decided to use this “fifth Tuesday” as a quarterly bonus. For each month that has a Fifth Tuesday, she will answer your questions and update you on any I Dig Your Story happenings.
 
In this episode, Ellen answers:
Why horticulture?
What makes a good interview?
How do you stay curious?
What’s been surprising about the podcast so far?
 
Ellen also answers a few lightning round questions, too—you’ll want to hear what plant she struggles with the most (hint: it’s not actually a plant).
 
SHOVEL READY:
I Dig Your Story is now open for sponsorships and partnerships!
Watch for an I Dig Your Story newsletter coming your way soon.
Questions: IDigYourStory@gmail.com

Bloom & Grow Garden Society: How a Garden Club Transforms Its Community

Host Ellen Wells chats with former Walt Disney World Director of Horticulture Katy Moss Warner and former Florida Nursery, Growers, and Landscape Association (FNGLA) COO Linda Adams to share the story of the Bloom & Grow Garden Society in Winter Garden, Florida. The conversation is proof that a passionate garden club can literally reshape a community. 
 
Together Linda and Katy reveal how Bloom & Grow:
- Helped turn Winter Garden’s blighted downtown into a lush linear park 
- Planted 1,000 bald cypress trees at Tucker Ranch and has become known as "the folks who do trees well." 
- Helped establish Winter Garden’s official flowering tree (Pink Trumpet Tree) and the Heritage Tree Walk 
- Maintains multiple public gardens that support both pollinators and the people who live in and visit downtown Winter Garden.
- Run multiple programs that serve as models for other community-focused garden clubs throughout the nation.  
 
You’ll hear practical inspiration for starting or reimagining a garden club, engaging local leaders, partnering with industry and using plants to build community, connection and long-term legacy.
 
And the next time you see Katy, ask her about her Aspidistra collection.
 
SHOVEL READY:
Bloom & Grow Garden Society’s Spring Fever in the Garden: https://www.springfeverinthegarden.org/
America In Bloom: https://americainbloom.org/

Kathy Jentz: Gardening Is Local, Media Matters, and Growing What You Love

On this episode of I Dig Your Story, Ellen talks with Kathy Jentz — journalist, podcaster and founding editor and publisher of Washington Gardener Magazine.
Kathy shares how a lifelong love of reading and telling stories led her to study journalism in college, but it wasn’t until she bought a small house with a big garden that gardening truly became a passion. Eventually, noticing the lack of reliable regional information for Mid-Atlantic gardeners, she launched her own publication — and later the GardenDC podcast — to connect gardeners with trustworthy, local expertise.
Ellen and Kathy talk about how garden media has evolved from printed newsletters and magazines to blogs, podcasts, and social media — and what that shift means for today’s home gardeners. With so much information circulating online, Kathy explains why finding credible, regionally relevant advice is more important than ever, especially as AI-generated content, misleading graphics, and viral gardening “hacks” spread across the internet.
In this conversation, they dig into:
Kathy’s path from feature writer and association communicator to magazine founder and podcaster
How gardening trends have shifted from primarily ornamental plants to growing interest in edibles and native plants
The pandemic-era gardening boom and what has stuck with new gardeners
Why Kathy says “all gardening is local” and how gardeners can find reliable advice in their own region
Viral gardening trends — like snail-spiral seed starting and banana peel fertilizer water — and whether they actually work
 
Learn about Kathy’s most reliable tools and how she protects them, why roses do not have to be scary, and her believe that we should all grow what we love and tackle garden projects in small, manageable pieces.
If you’ve ever wondered how someone builds a career telling gardeners’ stories — or how to separate helpful gardening advice from online noise — this episode is full of insights and practical wisdom.
 
Where to Find Kathy
Instagram/X/BlueSky/Threads: @WDCgardener
LinkedIn: Kathy Jentz
Facebook: Kathy Jentz and Washington Gardener Magazine
Website: www.washingtongardener.com
Blog: www.washingtongardener.blogspot.com
Podcast: GardenDC available on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and other major platforms
 

Maria Rodale: Growing Up Organic and the Future of Regenerative Farming

In this episode of I Dig Your Story, Ellen sits down with Maria Rodale—author, organic advocate, and co-chair of the Rodale Institute board—to explore a lifetime spent growing alongside plants and the organic movement. 
 
Maria shares what it was like growing up on the pioneering Rodale family farm, where Organic Gardening and Prevention magazines were born and where her father’s research helped prove that organic systems can outperform chemical agriculture while regenerating soil. 
 
She explains the difference between organic and regenerative organic, why eliminating toxins is still the heart of the work, and how “regeneration” became part of the movement’s vocabulary. 
 
With guest co-host Mike Betterly from Organic Mechanics Soil Company, the conversation turns to: 
Why growing your own food—whether in a backyard, container, or windowsill—is empowering 
Easy entry points for new gardeners 
The joy of heirloom and culturally important seeds 
Learning to see weeds, groundhogs and imperfections as part of a living ecosystem 
And, maybe best of all, Maria gives us permission to not weed! 
Find Maria Rodale on:
Substack @Life.Unfiltered
 

Frank & Pamela Arnosky: Marigolds, Polka Music and a Texas Flower Farm

On this episode of I Dig Your Story, host Ellen Wells chats with Frank and Pamela Arnosky, founders and owners of Arnosky Family Farm and Market — known as Texas’ premier cut flower farm and garden.
Ellen first interviewed Frank and Pam for a 2025 FloraCulture International article and immediately knew their story deserved a deeper dig. The couple reveal that what started as a shared childhood love of plants separately grew into a thriving specialty cut flower operation as they came together. 
The Arnoskys' journey began with a small bedding plant business and a bold opportunity. When Whole Foods Market asked if they could supply “all you can grow,” the Arnoskys dove deep into specialty cut flowers. That eventually led to the creation of Texas Specialty Cut Flowers and the Blue Barn Market, beloved by flower lovers near and far.
In this episode, listen for:
How marigolds changed everything. A single crop dramatically shifted their production focus and opened new retail doors.
How COVID nearly flipped their business model 180 degrees. When wholesale demand stalled, retail  sales surged.
How polka music altered the course of their lives. Sometimes destiny arrives with an accordion.
Frank and Pam share honest insights about taking chances, resilience, sticking to their mission, and staying rooted in purpose. Through every season, they’ve remained grounded in one simple belief: Every home should have flowers every day.
If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to build a highly respected cut flower brand beloved throughout the Lone Star State — or how love, partnership, and a little polka can shape a life in horticulture — this episode is for you.
 
Where to Find the Arnoskys:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arnoskyfamilyfarms
Website: https://www.texascolor.com/
 

Chuck Pavlich: From Dinosaur-Obsessed Kid to Global Plant Explorer

In this episode, host Ellen Wells zooms with Chuck Pavlich, Director of New Product Development at Terra Nova Nurseries in Oregon. Find out how a farm-raised boy’s obsession with dinosaurs and rocks evolved into a passion for all things plants. After working in retail horticulture in various positions for 30 years, Chuck is now exploring the world in search of new plants to breed, develop and bring to gardens worldwide.
Learn what it takes to hike a 15,000 ft. high mountain, how to find the gem in a trial garden and how a misdialed number led to Chuck’s short-lived but quite excellent film and television career. It’s all true!
Where to find Chuck:
Terra Nova Nurseries YouTube channel

Jay Sifford: Designing Gardens Like Living Works of Art

In this episode of I Dig Your Story, host Ellen Wells sits down with Charlotte, NC-based garden designer Jay Sifford to explore how he turns ordinary spaces into immersive, story-rich landscapes. Jay shares his winding path from ministry and sales to aquariums and, finally, to garden design, and explains why he treats plants like an artist treats paint, using color, form, and mood to compose gardens that feel magical, personal, and deeply memorable.
 
Find out about Jay’s love of slag glass, his hot takes on designing with natives and how Mary Poppins changed the trajectory of his garden design career. It's a great conversation—you're gonna love it!
 
Where to Find Jay Sifford 
Website: SiffordGardenDesign.com 
Instagram: @siffordgardendesign 
Facebook: Sifford Garden Design 
Writing: Regular contributor to *Fine Gardening* magazine 
Video Features: Appearing in garden tours on Jim Putnam’s HortTube YouTube channel 

Helen Lawson: From Nature Lover to Horticultural Marketing Coach

On this episode of I Dig Your Story, host Ellen Wells is joined by Helen Lawson, Retail Marketing Partnership Coach for Monrovia, a California-based nursery with nationwide operations. Helen is one of those people I’ve had minimal but excellent interactions with, and that was more than enough to know she had a story worth digging into.
Helen shares how a childhood love of the outdoors led her to writing and photography, how writing led her into marketing, and how a Garden Writers Association event helped her discover a passion for horticultural marketing. Her journey is a reminder that careers don’t have to follow a straight path to be meaningful.
At the core of Helen’s story is a simple but powerful philosophy: “Just show up.” Got an interest? A dream? Show up for it.
Stick around for the lightning round to find out if Helen loves disco—and which marketing trend she’s soooo totally over.
 
Shovel Ready:
Vivid Bright Lights Dianthus: www.monrovia.com/viviid-bright-light-dianthus.html
 
From the Convo:
Centennial Ruby Hydrangea: www.monrovia.com/centennial-ruby-hydrangea.html
GardenComm/Garden Writers Association: info.gardencomm.org/
 
Helen on Socials:
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/helennewlinglawson/
Instagram: www.instagram.com/helen_gardenspotting

Kate Ferguson & Lila Sullivan: From Science Fair Rivals to Plant Business Partners

On this episode of I Dig Your Story, I’m joined by Kate Ferguson and Lila Sullivan, the co-founders of Flourish Plant—and proof that a shared love of plants and nature can turn into something much bigger. Long before they were business partners, Kate and Lila were science fair competitors, both already deeply curious about how plants work and what they need to thrive.
In our conversation, we trace their path from early science geekdom and parallel nature-obsessed lives to launching Flourish Plant together. Kate and Lila share what it’s really like to start a plant care company from absolute scratch, how they navigated the complexities of the fertilizer market, and why creating sustainable, high-quality products has always been a non-negotiable for them.
 
We also talk about friendship in business, what excites them most about expanding their product line, and how their passion for plants continues to shape their vision for the future of Flourish Plant.
 
Find Flourish Plant products at more than 500 Whole Foods and independent plant shops and garden centers nationwide and also on Amazon. For more information on Kate, Lila and Flourish Plant, visit:
www.flourishplant.com 
www.instagram.com/flourishplant
www.tiktok.com/@flourishplant
 
 

Jan Johnsen: Monster Seeds, Japan, and a Life in Landscape Design

Joining me on the I Dig Your Story podcast today is landscape designer Jan Johnsen. Grab your popcorn my friends because this lady has some stories!
Like what? We talk about growing “monster seeds," winning the NY Citywide science fair with a plant experiment, living in 1970s Japan how she became a sort-after landscape designer in Westchester County, New York. 
We also lament the fact that the world is out of touch with green spaces and how important it is to inform the next generations that yes indeed plants can be a career choice. 
It's a fun time with Jan! And seriously, we may need to have a Part II. 
 
Connect with Jan: 
Instagram: Johnsen Design
Substack: Gardentopia
LinkedIn: Jan Johnsen
Website: Johnsen Landscapes