In the winter of 2016 Ellen and C.L. recorded a video in front of a live audience. They titled it Houseplant Rescue: Save it, or Say Goodbye?  In the process they realized that they enjoyed talking about plants in a personal, conversational manner. They discovered that they like to have fun with their topic, have different areas of plant or garden expertise, and they don’t always agree. It was the start of a creative working relationship.

C.L. and Ellen believe that podcasts are perfect for providing plant information that enriches listeners’ lives, helps them to be successful with the plants they grow, and assists them in understanding natural processes. Being outdoors among plants is good for us, physically, mentally, spiritually and beyond. We feed body and soul, which is what this podcast is all about.

Ellen Zachos is a garden writer and photographer, and lectures at flower shows and for garden clubs around the world. She is the author of seven books including Backyard Foraging: 65 Familiar Plants You Didn’t Know You Could Eat and The Wildcrafted Cocktail. A former Broadway performer (cast of Les Miz), Ellen is a Harvard graduate and earned multiple certificates in horticulture and ethnobotany at the New York Botanic Garden. She taught at the NYBG for many years, and also worked there as Coordinator of the Gardening Department in Continuing Ed, before moving to Santa Fe, NM in the summer of 2016. Ellen works with RemyUSA, teaching foraging mixology workshops across the US for The Botanist Gin, and shares seasonal recipes and tips on foraging for wild edible plants and mushrooms at www.backyardforager.com.

C.L. has cultivated flower and vegetable gardens in Wisconsin, California, New York State and Massachusetts. She is the author of seven books and numerous articles about plants and gardens.  As a self-described “plant pusher” C.L. has been a voice for gardening on several radio stations including: The Cultivated Gardener on NPR in 1999 and 2000;  The Garden Lady on WRKO from 2015-2017; and GardenLine on WXTK from 2002 to the present. C.L. has her radio audiences convinced that her initials stand for “Compost Lover.” She grows all types of plants at Poison Ivy Acres on Cape Cod and blogs at GardenLady.com.