The Garden Lady - Episode 45

By C.L. Fornari

Published November 8, 2025 at 3:08 PM EST

We begin with a postcard from Gingko trees, talking about how deciduous trees drop their leaves at different rates in the fall. Then C.L. Fornari welcomes Ellen Zachos, author of Mythic Plants, and a houseplant expert. They discuss the role that quince fruit plays in Greek Mythology, and why Ellen is the hoya plant’s biggest fan girl. Plus listener calls on topics from fruit to flora.

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C.L. Fornari

C.L. Fornari is the author of eight books, including Coffee for Roses and The Cocktail Hour Garden. She’s a professional speaker, the former host of GardenLine on WXTK, and co-host of the Plantrama podcast. She is a frequent speaker to groups nationwide, and has worked for a family-owned independent garden center for 25 years. C.L. grows vegetables, flowers, shrubs, trees and numerous other plants at Poison Ivy Acres on Cape Cod. In 2015 C.L. launched the Cape Cod Hydrangea Festival, a ten-day regional celebration of gardens that typically raises over $100,000.00 for local non-profits every year and draws public attention to Hydrangeas and gardening.

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