Have a seat at the kitchen table, and let’s have a chat! At least, that’s how it felt to be interviewed last week by Jennifer Ebeling, host of the popular Still Growing Podcast, for an episode about making water-saving gardens that airs today.

Jennifer Ebeling, host of Still Growing Podcast and blogger at 6ftmama (courtesy of Still Growing)

Jennifer and I weren’t really sitting at the table over a cup of coffee — she broadcasts out of Minnesota and I’m in Texas — but her personable, in-depth questions made for a casual, fun conversation with her about, oh, everything: my recent book The Water-Saving Garden; blogging; my family; how the Garden Bloggers Fling got started (hosted this year in Washington DC/Northern VA; register today!); and goodness knows what else.

Listen to my interview on Still Growing here. If you want to zip right to it, my interview starts at the 18:35-minute mark.

And just for fun, here are a few succulent dishes — very waterwise! — I’m enjoying right now. These do need freeze protection, even in my zone 8b garden, but I put them back outside in between our occasional freezes, and they brighten up the patio.

Also, you might have noticed that I got a little behind on my book review posts this week, but I have three more books to share with you very soon — reviews of Gardenista, Hummingbird Plants of the Southwest, and The Cocktail Hour Garden, so stay tuned! For a look back at my recent reviews of Texas Month-by-Month Gardening, Photographing Austin, San Antonio & the Texas Hill Country, and The Garden Bible, just click on the links.

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Digging Deeper: News and Upcoming Events

2/25/17: Come to my talk at the Wildflower Center. I’ll be speaking at the day-long Native Plant Society of Texas Spring Symposium at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin. My talk is called “Local Heroes: Designing with Native Plants for Water-Saving Gardens,” and it’s about creating water-wise home gardens that don’t sacrifice beauty. The symposium is open to the public. Click here for registration. I’ll be offering signed copies of my books, The Water-Saving Garden and Lawn Gone!, after my talk ($20 each; tax is included). I hope to see you there!

Get on the mailing list for Garden Spark Talks. Inspired by the idea of house concerts — performances in private homes, which support musicians and give a small audience an up-close and personal musical experience — I’m hosting a series of garden talks by design speakers out of my home. The first talk with Scott Ogden has sold out, but join the Garden Spark email list for speaker announcements delivered to your inbox; simply click this link and ask to be added.

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