Resources

A collection of books, podcasts, and trusted resources to help you create more beautiful, sustainable outdoor spaces.

Lagniappe

Pronounced: LAN-yap

A little something extra.

My Nana and her best friend Jimmy opened a landscape design and plant shop called Lagniappe Associates in the 1980s. The name, Lagniappe, is Cajun for "a little something extra" and reflected Nana's love of going above and beyond for people.

This section is my homage to Nana's dream. Here you'll find my favorite books, educational resources, and recommendations, my own little "something extra" for fellow plant lovers.

Podcasts

Looking for something to listen to while you're in the garden? Here are a few podcasts I regularly recommend.

  • Cultivating Place with Jennifer Jewel

    • This podcast is a hug through your phone. With an encouraging and uplifting tone, Jennifer Jewell interviews people in the plant world. Her guests range from farmers and florists to garden historians and scientists. A definite delight for gardening aficionados looking to learn more!

    Ologies with Alie Ward

    • Enthusiasm incarnate, Alie Ward lights my curiosity every time I listen to her podcast. A more general science podcast, she focuses on interviewing one scientist per episode about their specific specialty. There are some fascinating plant-centric episodes (ethnobotany, soil, moss, trees, and mushrooms for example), in addition to earth -ologies (fire ecology, environmental toxicology, and critical ecology). Ologies are sorted by topic on her website and she also offers shortened, kid-safe episodes called Smologies.

    Completely Arbortrary

    • A lighthearted but informative discussion between Casey Clapp and Alex Crowson, this podcast covers all things trees.

    Peace, Love & Pollinators

    • I took a class with Trevor Smith and really enjoyed his teaching style. I was excited to learn that he now hosts a podcast. He interviews people connected to pollinators and shares advice that you can incorporate immediately, regardless of the size of your garden. He explores the “why we plant,” not just the “what to plant.”

    Native Plants, Healthy Planet by Pinelands Nursery

    • This podcast features the host duo of Fran Chismar and Tom Knezick as they interview important voices in the fields of ecology, restoration, and conservation. While the topics are regionally focused on native plants in New Jersey, there are interesting takeaways regardless of where you live!

Classes & Learning

Explore courses and educational resources to deepen your understanding of sustainable gardening and landscape design.

  • Oregon State University

    • OSU has a broad range of classes that are available online. They’ve offered remote education for a while and it’s established and well-supported. Occasionally, they will offer one of the Master Gardener training classes for free, so keep an eye out for that rotating list. I’ve enjoyed their courses and highly recommend taking a class with instructor Alan Shay, if possible.

    The Native Plant Trust

    • The Native Plant Trust is located in Massachusetts, but does offer some online classes as well. They also have several basic and advanced certificate tracks (which cannot currently be completed remotely) in a Botany & Conservation specialty or a Horticulture & Design specialty. They have a full schedule of classes and field studies so you can pick and choose your favorites in your budget.

    PlantAmnesty

    • Experts in all things pruning, this group has fabulous training classes and workshops (online and in-person) for tree and shrub maintenance.

    Create Academy

    • This online learning platform features educational videos made “for creatives, by creatives.” They have a wide array of courses with topics ranging from interior design to gardening and floristry to decorative arts. It’s beautifully filmed and I’ve enjoyed learning from expert artists around the world. I would recommend subscribing when they’re having a sale because the price for a year of unlimited access to their hundreds of videos costs less than 2 regular priced courses.

Recommended Books

Discover some of my favorite books on gardening, ecology, native plants, and thoughtful landscape design.

I’m an affiliate of Bookshop.org, a platform supporting independent bookstores around the world. You get the simplicity of online shopping and the satisfaction of helping small local businesses!

When you purchase through these affiliate links, I earn a small commission—at no extra cost to you. Happy learning!

Is there a podcast, learning platform, show, or garden book you love that’s not on my list? Please leave me a comment and let me know so I can check it out!