 |
The WildStory: A Podcast of Poetry and Plants by The Native Plant Society of New JerseyAuthor: Native Plant Society of New Jersey
The Wildstory: A Podcast of Poetry and Plants by The Native Plant Society of New Jersey, is hosted by Ann E. Wallace, Poet Laureate of Jersey City. Art and nature intercept in each episode to bring listeners inside the world of poetry about the natural world and to introduce them to other well-known voices from the world of ecology. It is an independent project of The Native Plant Society of New Jersey, a state-wide nonprofit organization dedicated to the appreciation, protection, and study of the native flora of NJ. Learn more at npsnj.org. Language: en-us Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
Listen Now...
Episode 27: Poet Han VanderHart, Visual Artist Mare McClellan and Benjamin Vogt, Author of Prairie Up
Thursday, 18 December, 2025
In the season three finale of The WildStory, poet Han VanderHart (0:2:29) joins Ann to discuss their collection Larks, which was published in 2025 by Ohio University Press. Han and Ann talk about the uncertainty and mutability of knowledge and the ordering of the natural world, and about the poet’s work of observation—not only of what we can see and hear, but of all that we can’t.In the Ask Randi segment (0:29:05), Dr. Randi Eckel, owner of Toadshade Wildflower Farm, answers a question from Rikki and takes a deep dive into native versus non-native wisteria, explaining why invasive wisteria overwhelms ecosystems, resists competition, and is notoriously hard to remove. She closes with practical resources for controlling invasive vines.Kim then talks with Mare McClellan, (0:39:15) artist and nursery manager at Gino’s in Newtown, PA about her upcoming spring show of multi-media artwork at Morpeth Contemporary. Mare shares how the Dogbane Tiger Moth caterpillars sparked her imagination and how she keeps a quiet promise to a Cecropia moth, whose emergence you can watch on Instagram.Hyalophora Cecropia, Cecropia Giant Silk MothDogbane Tiger Moth, Delicate Cycnia, and their larval host plant, Dogbane, Apocynum cannibinumCecropia, Giant Silk Moths, emerged from their cocoons on June 20,2025To close the season, Kim and Ann talk with Benjamin Vogt, (0:58:04) author of Prairie Up about how social and cultural pressures and affordability shape our gardens and landscapes. Ben reflects on the “happy accidents” that have guided his work, talks about his forthcoming Timber Press book, Unlawning America, and offers advice for navigating weed management, local ordinances, and the design of public space.Thank you for joining us during season 3 of The WildStory. We look forward to bringing you a brand new season in 2026.
