FROM 2008 to this summer, Jane Perrone was gardening editor for “The Guardian” newspaper in the U.K, where she lives with her husband, who is forced to compete for Jane’s attentions with a lot of insistent, needy houseplants.
Which was our subject ina recent conversation—not the husband but the houseplants, that is. We talked specifically about Jane’s new-ish podcast called “On The Ledge” with its sometime motto, “Saving your houseplants from certain death since February 2017.” I’m having fun listening in to each episode and I’m glad Jane made time to speak with me, just as we officially kick off houseplant season. That’s Jane in her cactus-patterned shirt, below, and one of my oldest houseplants, the wacky Bowiea volubilis, above.
Read along as you listen to the Oct. 9, 2017 edition of my public-radio show and podcast using the player below. You can subscribe to all future editions on iTunes or Stitcher (and browse my archive of podcasts here).
houseplant q&a with jane perrone
Q. Welcome, Jane.
A. You’re absolutely right that my houseplants are competing with my attention for the dog, the husband, the children. So yes. I just actually rearranged my kitchen windowsill for the houseplants today and it was so satisfying, but I’ve now got a load of refugees that I turfed off there that I’m not quite sure where to put so…
Q. Oops.
A. Yeah.
Q. Before we get started, we should tell everyone, this segment’s actually sort of one-half of a podcasting duet because we are visiting each other’s shows this week to talk about houseplants. [Jane’s interview with Margaret is at this link.]
A. Yes.
Q. I visited you, and we’ll give the links to each other’s and so forth with the transcripts and all that kind of good stuff. A quick question also,
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