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The WildStory: A Podcast of Poetry and Plants
by the Native Plant Society of New Jersey
Share this podcast with your friends and family. The Wildstory is a FREE
resource to learn from and available to everyone!
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: TheWildStory@npsnj.org
In this episode of The Wildstory, Ann Wallace and Kim Correro sit down with the incomparable Julie Zickefoose (0:2:39), beloved writer, birder, and wildlife rehabilitator. Julie shares a first listen to her unpublished nature poetry and dives into the brand-new edition of Birdwatching for Dummies, co-written with bwd editors Jessica Vaughan and Dawn Hewitt. And don’t miss the finale: Julie reveals how you can create her popular Warbler Fall and gives an exclusive sneak peek at the updated Enjoying Bluebirds More, returning this spring after selling over half a million copies.
Next up, Dr. Randi Eckel, owner of Toadshade Wildflower Farm (0:42:02), tackles a listener’s question by demystifying the confusion around Purple Giant Hyssop. She also breaks down the fundamentals of proper plant naming and offers a quick guide to reading nursery labels so you can tell whether you’re choosing a true native species or a cultivar.
In our final segment, we are thrilled to talk with Dr. Lea Johnson (0:53:03), Director of Conservation at the Native Plant Trust, which is celebrating its 125th anniversary this year. A plant ecologist specializing in community ecology, ecological restoration, and urban forestry, Dr. Johnson bridges foundational research with real-world land management and design. Her work brings together multiple disciplines to better understand human-altered environments and to strengthen the science that guides effective ecological restoration in a rapidly changing world.
Questions: Email Thewildstory@npsnj.org