Garden Gab Club 022: Summer Solstice Shenanigans

Garden Gab Club 022: Summer Solstice Shenanigans

Welcome back to the Garden Gab Club people! It's the lazy, hazy days of summer... and we are loving it. The garden has entered that glorious, slightly chaotic point in the season where the zucchini won’t stop coming, the weeds are winning (until they’re not), and every day seems to hold a small excuse to stay outside just a little longer. In this episode, we’re settling into the rhythms of midsummer—celebrating the summer solstice, sharing simple adventures close to home, and talking about the gardens that are teaching us patience, abundance, and joy. From Cahaba lilies blooming in Alabama rivers to neighborhood dinners, overflowing vegetable beds, and the plants quietly carrying our gardens through the hottest days of the year, we’re reflecting on why the simplest moments often become the ones we remember most. We also wander into a conversation about beauty (you’ll need to check out this wedding of the century! [https://www.instagram.com/p/DZLtvnfDwyT/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==]) that can’t be manufactured, why real experiences matter more than perfect pictures, and how gardens continue to offer hope—even in the hardest places. So grab something cold to drink, find a shady spot, and come spend an hour in the garden with us!   Links: * Subscribe to the show Substack HERE [https://substack.com/@gardengabclub] to stay in the know on all things Garden Gab! * This book might sounds like a downer, but wow… War Gardens [https://amzn.to/4g1zeFd] is filled with such HOPE! * Molly’s BF introduced her to the magic of… Mater Magic [https://amzn.to/4oKsKg8]! And let’s just say… her raised beds be lovin’ it!

Garden Gab Club 021: Little Tessa in the Big Apple

The girls popped a cold one today because the pod is officially 21 people! They are settling into summer with a proper catch-up episode, or should we say… just a good ole fashioned gab! This week, Tessa shares what she's learned from opening her own garden for workshops. They discuss why waiting for the "perfect" space might be keeping us from doing the things we dream of right now. What if people were invited into imperfect and personal gardens?? Down home is filled with the surprising questions visitors ask, meadow updates, goldfinches, and the simple joy of homemade cake shared under a garden pavilion. Then the girls head out and about as Tessa recounts a whirlwind trip to New York City, from wandering Central Park with a stroller to dining at the legendary Blue Hill at Stone Barns and exploring the ever-evolving plantings of the High Line. Along the way, they reflect on Frederick Law Olmsted's vision for public green spaces, the restorative power of landscapes, and why travel is almost always money well spent! Pour yourself something cold, pull up a chair on the porch, and join us for a midsummer Garden Gab!! Don't forget to subscribe to stay in the know on our show Substack [https://substack.com/@gardengabclub], leave a review, and share the show with your favorite garden friend!   Show Notes: + Tessa might call this Italian Lemon Olive Oil Cake [https://thisitaliankitchen.com/italian-lemon-olive-oil-cake/] a peasant cake after her illustrious career as a wedding cake designer, but you will feel rich the second it hits your tongue!! + Molly's life (and the lives of those who she has shared these with) has been deeply altered by this Tahini Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe [https://eatmorecakebycandice.com/the-easiest-chocolate-chip-cookies-with-tahini/]! And they really are that easy. + If the girls were emphatic enough about watching Chef's Table on the episode, take this as another nudge to do yourself a favor and at least watch Dan Barber's episode! [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqGZKiOLsU8] + Check out Experiencing Olmsted: The Enduring Legacy of Frederick Law Olmsted's North American Landscapes [https://amzn.to/4v7zuqL], the book that started Tessa's Central Park curiousity!

Garden Gab Club 020: Remembering Planting Designer Nigel Dunnett

Welcome back, garden gabbers. This episode is a little more reflective as Molly and Tessa remember Nigel Dunnett who was a giant in ecological planting design and someone whose work deeply shaped both of their own work as designers. In the wake of his passing at the end of April, it only feels fitting to pay tribute to a man who deeply influenced so many.  Molly shares stories from her time working with Nigel in Sheffield, and together the girls unpack what made his work so powerful... planting that brings the feeling of wild, immersive, and living landscapes into urban spaces—for people! From Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park to the Barbican in London to countless other project across the UK and the world, Nigel’s legacy is everywhere. In light of his passing, the conversation turns a bit deeper... why does this work matter? And can we do it here, where we are? It also only feels fitting to wrap the episode with a bit of Garden Busts, noting that sometimes we hold the weight of hope of where we want to go and what we are still learning with joy. Thanks for joining the gab! Don’t forget to subscribe to the show Substack HERE [https://substack.com/@gardengabclub] and share the show with a garden friend!   Show Notes: + Gardens Illustrated Talking Gardens interview [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/talking-gardens/id1675312085?i=1000658537726]with Nigel + To read more in depth about Nigels work, check out his books The Dynamic Landscape [https://amzn.to/4fzQ7Xa] (written with James!) and Naturalistic Planting Design. [https://amzn.to/4dEqH8s]  + Read more about the Heemparks in the Netherlands [https://www.visitamstelveen.nl/en/discover-amstelveen/nature/botanical-gardens] that Nigel discusses in the podcast linked above.

Garden Gab Club: Chelsea Draft Picks #3

The time has finally come! Tessa and Molly discuss the final three Main Avenue show gardens for the 2026 Chelsea Flower Show… and let’s just say this last batch has some big expectations on their shoulders! Can Tom Stuart Smith raise Best in Show once again? Will Kazuyuki Ishihara defend his 2025 sweep of Best in Show AND People’s Choice Award? The girls also unpack what it takes to get a gold medal at Chelsea, and even more, what sets a Best in Show apart. But most importantly, Tessa and Molly make their picks for top honors as well as possible dark horses in other categories. What are you most excited to watch at this year’s Chelsea? We would love to hear! Thanks for joining us for this special Chelsea Flower Show hype!! Stay tuned for our follow up with Don and Janice (Molly’s parents) who will be at the show on opening day!! Thanks for joining the Gab!!

Garden Gab Club: Chelsea Draft Picks #2

Garden Gabbers… did we forget to tell you that we are going to have on the ground correspondents at the 2026 Chelsea Flower Show?! It’s not Tessa…. and not Molly… IT’S DON AND JANICE, Molly’s beloved parents. Although it is rude they are not taking Molly with them, we can put that aside and live vicariously. So stay tuned for a post show recap with our boots on the ground. The girls review the next round of gardens which are all centered around worthy causes including raising awareness for preserving the countryside of England, giving children peaceful havens in nature, and advocating for teens to find careers in the green industry. There are Chelsea veterans alongside newer names, all coming to bat for a gold medal this year! Stay tuned for our third round of Chelsea Flower Show draft picks where we will also make our picks for Best in Show, People’s Choice Award, and our Dark Horse thoughts!