Archives: Wildstory Podcasts

Episode 22 is now available on Spotify,
Apple, Google, and Amazon

Listen Here!

The WildStory: A Podcast of Poetry and Plants
by the Native Plant Society of New Jersey

Hosted by Ann E. Wallace, PhD
Poet Laureate Emeritus of Jersey City

Co-host Kim Correro
Rutgers Master Gardener and Director of State Programs

Special Contributor
Dr. Randi Eckel
Entomologist and Vice President of Membership NPSNJ

Do you have a question about native plants for Randi?
Email:

Today’s featured poet is Ibe Liebenberg (0:03:51) who joins Ann Wallace to talk about his new collection, Birds at Night, published in 2025 by Texas Tech University Press. Ibe is a member of the Chickasaw nation, as well as a firefighter from Paradise, California. With wildfires causing increasing destruction across the nation in recent years, we have wanted to speak with a firefighter on The WildStory—and this conversation with Ibe does not disappoint. It is a reflective one, highlighting the intertwining threads—of land, migration, and ancestry, of family and memory, of fire, loss and healing—contained within his poetry.

Spring is here, and in this month’s segment of “Ask Randi,” Randi Eckel (0:31:47), owner of Toadshade Wildflower Farm encourages listeners to take a gentle approach when tidying up their gardens this season. She explains that because insects and other wildlife rely on leaf litter, stems, and decaying wood throughout the year, plant debris is essential for the survival of many creatures.

Next, Kim Correro is joined by guest host Susan Landau, one of the people behind the Foote’s Pond Wood Park restoration project in Morristown, New Jersey. Susan has also been instrumental in creating the “Going Native” planting guide for Northern New Jersey, and she collaborates each year on the popular Great Swamp Watershed Native Plant Sale, which is open online through April 18th. More information can be found at greatswamp.org.

Together, Kim and Susan interview William Cullina (0:41:10), the F. Otto Haas Executive Director of the Morris Arboretum & Gardens at the University of Pennsylvania. Cullina is a well-known author and recognized authority on North American native plants. During their conversation, he shares his long-term goals for the Morris Arboretum and discusses his research in tree genetics and soil microbiology, as well as an exciting new exhibition titled “Bees, Butterflies, and Blooms: A Pollinator Paradise,” which will run this year from May 23 to September 30.

In the final segment, Kim and Ann speak with award-winning author and designer Kelly D. Norris (1:08:39), one of the leading ecological horticulturists of his generation. Kelly’s new book, Your Natural Garden, is a page-by-page guide through the seasons of a naturalistic garden’s life, and the tasks that come with each stage. Kelly explores the connections between people, plants, and place through ecological, site-specific design and art. He talks with Kim and me about the history of natural places, the value of abundance—in life and in planting—and the importance of becoming familiar, beyond the limited information contained on labels, with the plants we have in our gardens and parks. 

Questions: Email

Episode 21 is now available on Spotify,
Apple, Google, and Amazon

Listen Here!

The WildStory: A Podcast of Poetry and Plants
by the Native Plant Society of New Jersey

Hosted by Ann E. Wallace, PhD
Poet Laureate Emeritus of Jersey City

Co-host Kim Correro,Rutgers
Master Gardener and Director of State Programs

Special Contributor Dr. Randi Eckel
Entomologist and Vice President of Membership NPSNJ

Do you have a question about native plants for Randi?
Email:

In this episode, featured poet Theta Pavis (0:03:00) speaks with Ann Wallace about her new chapbook, The Red Strobe, which just came out from Finishing Line Press. Theta’s work is marked by grief and pain, but also love, family, protection, and a fierce kind of resilience—as can be seen in the garden her mother created many years ago, a garden which is now Theta’s, in her Jersey City yard. Follow Theta online at ThetaPavis.com

Randi Eckel returns for a brand-new Ask Randi segment about NPSNJ’s upcoming BioBlitz, (0:34:31) to celebrate National Native Plant Month. Randi describes how volunteers, scientists, and naturalists collaborate to document as many native species as possible in a specific area within a set timeframe.

Kim Correro is then joined by Bobbie Herbs, (0:41:36) co-leader of the NPSNJ Southwest Chapter. Bobbie has played a crucial role in establishing the IGC Committee, which aims to encourage independent nurseries throughout New Jersey to stock native plants. Together, Kim and Bobbie talk with award-winning author and pollinator conservationist Heather Holm. Heather is an expert on the interactions between native pollinators and native plants, and she will teach a four-week course for NPSNJ beginning in April.

In the final segment, Kim and Ann speak with Paula Whyman (1:09:57) about her new book, Bad Naturalist: One Woman’s Ecological Education on a Wild Virginia Mountaintop, which was released this winter by Timber Press. Blending memoir, natural history, and conservation science, the book chronicles her efforts to restore a former mountaintop farm to its natural habitat. If you enjoy the book, you can continue following Paula’s journey by signing up for her popular newsletter, Bad Naturalist at PaulaWhyman.com and meet her on March 13th during a live conversation with Kim and Ann at The Museum of Early Trades & Crafts in Madison, New Jersey.

Thank you for joining us on The WildStory. Follow us on Instagram @Thewildstory_podcast

Episode 20 is now available on Spotify,

Apple, Google, and Amazon

Listen Here!

The WildStory: A Podcast of Poetry and Plants

by the Native Plant Society of New Jersey

Hosted by Ann E. Wallace, PhD

Poet Laureate Emeritus of Jersey City

Co-host Kim Correro,

Rutgers Master Gardener and Director of State Programs

Special Contributor Dr. Randi Eckel

Entomologist and Vice President of Membership NPSNJ

Do you have a question about native plants for Randi?

Email:

The WildStory presents a special episode this month in celebration of Black History. We have three amazing guests, who share the stories of Black Americans who wrote poetry, created gardens, advanced the field of horticulture, and inspired others—and who are each doing important work themselves today. An unexpected throughline in these conversations is the influence of W.E.B. DuBois, the Black leader, visionary and author of the 1903 book The Souls of Black Folk, which inspired generations of Black Americans toward self-realization and liberty through education, the arts and culture, and more. 

The first guest is Shaun Spencer-Hester (0:04:43), granddaughter of the poet, gardener, and community leader Anne Spencer. Anne Spencer’s home and garden in Lynchburg, Virginia was a gathering place for Black intellectuals of the Harlem Renaissance, offering a garden refuge and retreat at a time when many Black Americans had migrated north to urban centers for new opportunities. Shaun shares family stories about her grandmother’s life, garden, and poetry, and brings us inside the Anne Spencer House and Garden Museum, where she is the Executive Director and Curator.

In lieu of our usual Ask Randi segment, this month, Kim and Ann take the mic and dive into the exciting opportunities on the horizon for NPSNJ members (0:41:10). Mark your calendars for the highly anticipated Spring Annual Meeting and Conference on March 1st, where we’re proud to welcome the esteemed keynote speaker Doug Tallamy. NPSNJ is rolling out six brand new classes that explore a range of captivating topics, and is thrilled to introduce a Spanish language version of the helpful brochure, “Going Native: A Guide to Landscaping with Native Plants in Northern New Jersey.” Don’t miss these incredible chances to elevate your knowledge and skills! 

In the second interview, Jerri Mitchell-Lee of Newark, NJ speaks with us about her remarkable great-aunt, Effie Lee Newsome (0:50:33) a prominent figure of the Harlem Renaissance. Newsome was the editor of the children’s column “Little Page” in W.E.B. Du Bois’s influential publication, The Crisis, where she showcased several of her own children’s poems. An avid lover of the outdoors, Effie Lee Newsome possessed an extraordinary talent for connecting people—especially children—with the wonders of nature. Whether she was marveling at a spider, a goldfinch, a snowflake, or a violet, she made the natural world come alive. In 1940, she published Gladiola Garden: Poems of Outdoors and Indoors, which was reprinted in 2020, making her work accessible to a brand new audience.

In the final segment, horticulturalist Abra Lee (1:10:01) tells us about her highly anticipated book, Conquer The Soil: Black America and the Untold Stories of Our Country’s Gardeners, Farmers, and Growers (Timber Press, 2026). This remarkable work is set to inspire readers and shed light on the profound history and culture of Black growers across our nation. Abra serves as the Director of Horticulture at the historic Oakland Cemetery in Atlanta, GA. During our conversation, we delve into Abra’s impressive career path and explore the influential figures in her life, particularly her parents, who encouraged her curiosity and ambition.

Thank you for joining us on The WildStory. Follow us on Instagram @Thewildstory_podcast

Episode 19 is now available on Spotify,
Apple, Google, and Amazon

Listen Here!

The WildStory: A Podcast of Poetry and Plants
by the Native Plant Society of New Jersey

Hosted by Ann E. Wallace, PhD
Poet Laureate of Jersey City

Co-host Kim Correro,
Rutgers Master Gardener and Director of State Programs

Special Contributor Dr. Randi Eckel
Entomologist and Vice President of Membership NPSNJ

Do you have a question about native plants for Randi?
Email:

Our featured poet is James Crews, (0:3:54) who speaks with Ann Wallace about his new book, Unlocking the Heart: Writing for Mindfulness, Courage, and Compassion from Mandala Publishing. James offers wisdom about all that we can learn from the natural world, when we allow ourselves to quiet the ever-present din, open our senses, and refocus our attention. Knowing this is easier said than done, James generously offers a prompt for mindfulness and writing after every poem in his collection, inviting each of us to develop our own observational and reflective practice. Trust us, this is a conversation you need to calm your anxieties and appreciate the awe and wonder that accompany us, always.

In Ask Randi, Dr. Randi Eckel, (0:35:52) our native plant expert and owner of Toadshade Wildflower Farm, answers questions from listeners about the iconic American Holly, the Winterberry Holly, and the Inkberry Holly. She clears up some confusion about straight species vs. cultivars and talks about the crucial role these plants play in the ecosystem, as they provide vital food and shelter for wildlife, particularly during winter.

Also in this episode, Ann and Kim talk with Fran Chismar and Tom Knezick (0:48:24) of Pinelands Nursery, one of the largest native plant nurseries in the country, about their popular podcast Native Plants Healthy Planet. They tell us how creating the podcast has offered the best ecological education they ever could have imagined. Coming up on their 250th episode, Fran and Tom remind us that being approachable, curious, and joyful is the best way to bring people together to create a healthier planet.

In our final segment, Ann and Kim are joined by urban naturalist and author Joanna Brichetto. (1:14:44) Joanna talks with us from her home in Nashville, Tennessee about her new book, This Is How A Robin Drinks: Urban Essays on Nature recently published by Trinity University Press. Joanna also writes the popular urban nature blog Sidewalk Nature: Everyday Wonders in Everyday Habitat Loss. She shares how observing the local wildlife just outside her door has impacted her in so many ways, even helping her cope with debilitating migraines. At the end of our conversation, she leaves us with a lovely observation about New Jersey’s state flower the Common Blue Violet. 

In celebration of the holidays, listeners of The WildStory will receive 20% off Unlocking the Heart by James Crews and This Is How A Robin Drinks by Joanna Brichetto. To access the discount codes go to www.npsnj.org/Thewildstory or follow the podcast on Instagram at @TheWildStory_Podcast.

Thank you for joining us on The WildStory. We are grateful to our listeners and extraordinary guests for your support. We will see you for season three beginning in February 2025.

Episode 17 is now available on Spotify,
Apple, Google, and Amazon

The WildStory: A Podcast of Poetry and Plants
by the Native Plant Society of
New Jersey

Hosted by Ann E. Wallace, PhD
Poet Laureate of Jersey City

Co-host Kim Correro,
Rutgers Master Gardener and Director of State Programs

Special Contributor Dr. Randi Eckel
Entomologist and Vice President of Membership NPSNJ

Do you have a question about native plants for Randi?
Email:

Listen to Episode 17 Here

We would like to take a moment to reflect on the recent devastation in the Southeast from Hurricane Helene and on Hurricane Milton, which was raging on Florida’s Gulf Coast as we completed this episode. The destruction of homes, communities, security, human life, and of nature itself, from this extreme weather has been hard to witness, even from afar. Our thoughts are with those whose lives and loved ones have been directly impacted. 

We hope you find—as we do—that our guests today offer solace, along with hands-on steps we each can take in caring for our planet and joining the work of combatting climate change. No one of us can do this work alone, but together we can create and fight for meaningful change. Together we can put hope into action.

Today’s featured poet is Nadia Colburn (03:47), who joins Ann Wallace from Massachusetts to speak about her new collection, I Say the Sky, published this year by University of Kentucky Press. Nadia’s collection is a work of meditative healing, moving from silence into power. She invites us to see ourselves reflected in nature, and that poetry, in the words of Audre Lorde, indeed is not a luxury. 

Next up, Kim Correro speaks with Sarah F. Jayne (0:37:29) about her new book Nature’s Action Guide: How to Support Biodiversity and Your Local Ecosystem. Sarah’s book, a companion to Doug Tallamy’s Nature’s Best Hope, outlines fifteen actions we can and must take for creating healthy, functioning ecosystems where we live, work, and play. Each action includes a checklist, step-by-step instructions, recommended resources, and informative tips.

And in our final segment, Kim and Ann talk with Doug Tallamy, (057:39) bestselling author and co-founder of Homegrown National Park, about his new book, How Can I Help: Saving the World with Your Yard, forthcoming from Timber Press on April 8, 2025. In the new book, Doug shares compelling and actionable answers to questions he most often receives from gardeners and homeowners. Topics range from ecology and biodiversity, conservation and restoration, native plants and invasive species, to pest control and support of wildlife at home. Doug offers important advice on what we can do as individuals to support biodiversity. He also stresses the importance of voting and making our values known to public officials. 

Thank you for joining us on The WildStory. Follow us on Instagram
 @Thewildstory_podcast

Episode 16 is now available on Spotify,
Apple, Google, and Amazon

The WildStory: A Podcast of Poetry and Plants
by the Native Plant Society of New Jersey

Hosted by Ann E. Wallace, PhD
Poet Laureate of Jersey City

Co-host Kim Correro,
Rutgers Master Gardener and Director of State Programs

Special Contributor Dr. Randi Eckel
Entomologist and Vice President of Membership NPSNJ

Do you have a question about native plants for Randi?
Email: 

Listen to Episode 16 Here

This episode of The WildStory is all about the southernmost point in New Jersey—beautiful Cape May, known to beachgoers as a summer destination. But for nature lovers, September is migration season and the very best time to head to Cape May. Which is exactly what many of us from the Native Plant Society of New Jersey will be doing, for a special trip to Cape May the weekend of September 27th through the 29th. The retreat sold out faster than we anticipated, but we wanted to share some of the wonders of the area with you in this episode, which includes an inspiring roster of guests from South Jersey. 

Our featured poet is Penny Harter (4:00), who has lived and written in May’s Landing for the past dozen years. Penny and Ann spoke about memory, grief, and the everyday creatures and objects that become the imagery that fills her poetry. Penny also offers a mini-lesson on haibun, a beloved Japanese form near to her heart, a form that allows ideas to ripple and expand, like rings upon a lake,

In Ask Randi, Dr. Randi Eckel (0:32:00), a native plant expert for NPSNJ and owner of Toadshade Wildflower Farm, talks about entering fall, when the many species of goldenrod come into their glory. She clears up the confusion between goldenrod and ragweed and shares why Seaside Goldenrod, which grows along the seashore, is one of her favorites. 

We then hear from naturalist Mark Garland (0:44:54) the Director Emeritus of the Cape May Monarch Monitoring Project. Mark has lived and worked in Cape May for more than 20 years and is the author of Watching Nature: A Mid-Atlantic Natural History. Mark talks with Kim about the Monarch butterfly and why its migration is unlike any other that we know of on this planet. 

In our final segment, Kim and Ann catch up with naturalist Pat Sutton (01:09:04), who has lived and worked in the Cape May area for over 40 years. Pat shares her knowledge of Cape May Island, one of the top spots in the world to see butterfly and bird migration. She points out her favorite places to visit and tells us about her film, “The UNFOLDING of Pat Sutton’s WILDLIFE GARDEN,” which features her 1/2 acre home wildlife habitat which encompasses 202 native plants, 61 trees, shrubs, and vines, 9 grasses, 5 ferns, 213 bird species, 79 butterfly species and 113 other pollinators. 

Thank you for joining us on The WildStory.

Episode 15 is now available on Spotify,
Apple, Google, and Amazon

The WildStory: A Podcast of Poetry and Plants
by the Native Plant Society of New Jersey

Hosted by Ann E. Wallace, PhD
Poet Laureate of Jersey City

Co-host Kim Correro,
Rutgers Master Gardener and Director of State Programs

Special Contributor Dr. Randi Eckel
Entomologist and Vice President of Membership NPSNJ

Do you have a question about native plants for Randi?
Email: 

This episode features an interview with best-selling author Barbara Kingsolver (0:04:34) from 2022. It was recorded for The WildStory’s predecessor, an Instagram series called Saturday Morning Poetry, hosted by the Hudson County Chapter of NPSNJ. Barbara Kingsolver is of course most widely known for her brilliant novels, but she is also a poet with two published collections. In this interview, recorded a week before the release of the internationally acclaimed novel Demon Copperhead, we talked about Barbara’s 2020 poetry collection How to Fly (in Ten Thousand Easy Lessons), leaning into poetry’s capacity for delight and whimsy with a conversation about trees as good people, followed by a more sobering discussion about climate change and the need to cherish and protect the natural places on this earth. We reprise this interview here on The WildStory with special permission from Barbara Kingsolver.

In Ask Randi, Dr. Randi Eckel (0:25:35), the native plant expert for NPSNJ and owner of Toadshade Wildflower Farm, talks about the impact ecologically damaging plants have on the environment, with a focus on the Butterfly Bush. Although eye-catching, hardy, and seemingly helpful to butterflies and other pollinators, Butterfly Bush is actually an invasive species that can impair the health of our local ecosystems.

We then hear from Katie Bliss (0:39:28), the Director of Horticulture for the Cape May Point Science Center, formerly known as St. Mary by the Sea retreat house. The Center is located in the middle of the Atlantic flyway and is the location for this year’s NPSNJ retreat for membership in late September. Katie talks with Kim about the center’s rich history and the pollinator garden she created with her husband, which is a recipient of a 2024 NPSNJ mini-grant. 

In our final segment, Kim and Ann chat with naturalist Nancy Lawson (0:58:27), author of The Humane Gardener, about her newest book, WildScape (Princeton Architectural Press 2023), which takes readers on an insightful and fascinating exploration of the secret lives of animals and native plants at her wildlife habitat. She shares memories of her father, who died suddenly but left her with curiosity, patience, and the ability to appreciate small details. Nancy also talks about the repercussions of chronic noise from gas-powered leaf blowers and the impacts of artificial feeders on plants and animals.

To close the episode, we leave you with a short reading by Nancy from WildScape (1:27:30) about the awe and childhood memories awakened within her by a yellow-billed cuckoo on a rainy day as her father was dying, grief and love sitting side by side, together in this passage. For more information about Nancy Lawson, visit her website at humanegardener.com

Episode 14 is now available on Spotify,
Apple, Google, and Amazon

The WildStory: A Podcast of Poetry and Plants
by the Native Plant Society of New Jersey

Hosted by Ann E. Wallace, PhD
Poet Laureate of Jersey City

Co-host Kim Correro,
Rutgers Master Gardener and Director of State Programs

Special Contributor Dr. Randi Eckel
Entomologist and Vice President of Membership NPSNJ

Do you have a question about native plants for Randi?
Email:

In episode 14, Kai Coggin, Poet Laureate of Hot Springs, Arkansas and host of Wednesday Night Poetry (0:02:56) , talks with Ann Wallace about her new book Mother of Other Kingdoms, published in April 2024 by Harbor Editions. Kai speaks about the many ways in which the tender act of mothering living things, whether wild or human, has enriched her life and provides sustaining lessons on finding joy and wonder through difficult times.

In Ask Randi, Dr. Randi Eckel, the native plant expert for NPSNJ and owner of Toadshade Wildflower Farm, (0:35:34) explains why native Jewelweed is hard to find for sale. She then answers a listener question from Maude about how we define local when purchasing native plants. Randi also makes a special announcement about the September trip to Cape May for NPSNJ members.

Kim Correro then speaks with Rebecca McMackin (0:45:41) about the power of ecological horticulture in creating a more just and equitable world. Rebecca discusses the emotional and physical benefits of living in a thriving ecosystem, and offers that access to beauty should be a human right. She wraps up by sharing tips on the importance of knowing how to water your plants and why fall is the ideal planting season. We encourage you to sign up for Rebecca’s free NEWSLETTER, which is filled with valuable information for gardeners. Don’t forget to check out her TED Talk “Let Your Garden Grow Wild” with almost one million views!

To close out the episode, Kim and Ann talk with Jared Rosenbaum, botanist and co-owner of Wild Ridge Plants in New Jersey (1:09:24). We speak about cultural ecology and Jared’s YouTube series ROOTED. Each episode features one wild plant species, sparking stories about place, history, and future prospects. In the upcoming season, they span the state of New Jersey to feature Prickly Pear Cactus, Purple Milkweed, and more. Rooted is a recipient of a 2024 NPSNJ Mini-Grant. 

Episode 13 is now available on Spotify, Apple, Google, and Amazon

The WildStory: A Podcast of Poetry and Plants by the Native Plant Society of New Jersey

Hosted by Ann E. Wallace, PhD
Poet Laureate of Jersey City

Co-host Kim Correro,
Rutgers Master Gardener and Director of State Programs

Special Contributor Dr. Randi Eckel
Entomologist and Vice President of Membership NPSNJ

Do you have a question about native plants for Randi?
Email:

Listen to Episode 13 Here

In episode 13, Camille T. Dungy (0:03:00), a renowned poet, essayist, and memoirist, joins Ann Wallace in conversation about her book Soil: The Story of a Black Mother’s Garden, published by Simon and Schuster in 2023 and now out in paperback. Soil is a book that invites us into Camille’s native plant prairie project at her home in Colorado, but it is also about much more than that, taking us back to the year 2020 and making record not only of the story of a garden but of the context—familial, national, historical, ecological, social—from which it sprang. 

In Ask Randi, Dr. Randi Eckel (0:35:00) makes a special announcement about the 2024 NPSNJ mini-grant program. She then answers a question from Tom in Connecticut, who is on a tight budget and needs help choosing colorful native plants that will bloom throughout the seasons.

Ann then speaks with Susan Darwin (0:46:48), New Jersey artist and member of the Native Plant Society, who discovered us through the annual conference while working on her New Jersey 2023 series of paintings. Susan is nearly halfway through her 10-year location series, in which she artistically explores a different place each year. Her New Jersey 2023 exhibit, featuring 20 paintings from across the state, is currently on display at Reeves-Reed Arboretum in Summit and all are invited to attend the artist reception on the afternoon of Saturday, June 29.

To close out the episode, Kim and Ann talk with Claudia West (1:03:31), a seasoned professional in her field. Claudia is a landscape designer, grower, installer, and land manager. She is also co-owner of Phyto Studio and co-author of the highly acclaimed book Planting in a Post-Wild World, which has been a valuable resource for many gardeners.