GH Squad Podcast

The Squad—Bill, Mason and Seth—get into the Halloween spirit (though sadly Seth's connection drops partway through … but we still love him). Mason recaps a family trip to Disneyland during Oogie Boogie Bash. Then comes a round of rapid-fire Halloween questions and a candy debate that gets heated. (Note: Mason is WRONG.) The hosts also talk about what scares them in the horticulture industry and the episode ends with a spin of the plant wheel that lands on Lantana.Follow The Squad on Instagram: @GHSquadPod

Mason Day and Bill Calkins hold down the fort this week and cover a CRAZY amount of topics—starting with life updates and quickly moving into what the horticulture industry should “double down” on. The double-down centers on three big ideas: plant health and wellness, sensory marketing beyond just visual appeal and stronger support for organizations that build the industry’s future.Bill also brings in the broader career pipeline conversation, arguing that horticulture should be promoted earlier and more aggressively as a real career path. Along the way, they swap stories from conferences, compare notes on mums and poinsettias and somehow end up on minivans, truck failures and the KFC Double Down.Key topics:We discuss the behind-the-scenes reality of the show this week, with Seth out for meetings and Mason and Bill carrying the episode.Mason shares a chaotic week of injuries and travel problems, including a wrist injury from a bee chase, a smashed knee and a truck starter failure on I-94 near Gary, Indiana.Bill recaps the Ohio Floriculture and Nursery Conference at Ohio State, highlighting keynote speaker Dr. Mary Hausbeck and the strength of the event.Mason talks about Grower Connect in South Carolina and the value of talking directly with top greenhouse growers about nutrient needs and industry priorities.They debate whether mums are being overproduced in the Midwest, and Mason pushes back on the idea that mums are “easy,” citing disease pressure, nutrient demands and weather swings.The conversation turns to poinsettias, especially painted poinsettias, and how growers sometimes focus too much on the product and not enough on the customer.Bill’s first major “double down” idea is horticulture as a healthy activity and self-care tool, with emphasis on gardening, watering, shopping for plants and mental health benefits.Mason expands that into sensory marketing, especially scent, arguing that the industry underuses smell, touch and tactile experience in plant retail.Bill adds tough plants as another major focus, arguing that breeding should prioritize environmental resilience, weather tolerance and durability over color and novelty.Mason reinforces the need to support organizations like America in Bloom, Seed Your Future, HRI, AmericanHort and Kids Gardening, framing them as the industry’s real version of a “Got Milk” style movement.Bill makes the case for promoting horticulture as a career much earlier, especially in high school, since the field offers science, art, nature and technology without being easily replaced by AI.The episode closes with a hot take on auto start-stop systems in cars, which Mason blames for his truck starter failure during a family travel nightmare.

Katie Dubow, president of Garden Media Group, joins Bill Calkins, Seth Reed and Mason Day for a lively conversation about green industry trends, trends that will NEVER be discussed, selling plants on television (and Mars), why coffee is the only true hot drink and how to market a game named for a man’s nuts. Read the 2027 Garden Trends Report: https://gardenmediagroup.com/trends/ Follow the Squad on Instagram: @GHSquadPodIn this episode: - Katie shares how she found her way from sports broadcasting and PR into horticulture—and how Garden Media Group grew from her mom’s basement startup.- The group explores Katie’s experience selling plants on QVC, including the role of trusted host, late-night shopping and the surprising volume of plant sales.- Katie reflects on Garden Media Group’s trend report and the ideas that helped shape the industry, including houseplant marketing and native plants.- They discuss trends that missed the mark, from robotic weeders to fake plants and consider sustainability challenges around plastic pots and packaging.- The conversation goes interplanetary: the group imagines which plants might suit Mars, with potatoes, kangaroo paw and mangaves in the mix.- Katie explains how a family game called Jason’s Nuts became a side hustle, prompting a conversation about the return of hands-on games and in-person connection.- The Squad talks fall color, mums, industry research and wrap with a spirited hot take about morning tea drinkers.

This episode explores why volunteering in horticulture organizations matters, what America In Bloom is doing to beautify communities and how plants can inspire civic pride while creating value for local businesses. Bill, Seth, and Mason share perspectives spanning association work, community involvement and hands-on horticulture.The conversation covers how industry involvement builds networks and perspective, alongside highlights from last week’s America In Bloom symposium celebrating the organization’s 25th anniversary. (AIB President) Mason explains how communities, garden clubs and local leaders can use beautification to improve quality of life and increase visibility for horticulture businesses.

Then the Squad spins the Plant Wheel of Excitement—landing on sunflower. They run through shout outs and hot takes and close with the fun banter you’ve come to expect. Learn more about America In Bloom: https://americainbloom.org/ Check out the Wild Mile: https://wildmile.org/Follow us on Instagram: @GHSquadPod

This episode features a special guest! And dang, he’s a good one. This is a conversation with Jerry Schmitt of Stein’s Garden & Home in Wisconsin. Jerry joined The Squad (Mason, Bill and Seth) to add some intelligence and decades of experience to the usual shenanigans. Jerry brings more than 50 years of retail and livegoods experience, offering a fascinating perspective on how independent garden centers have evolved, what still gets shoppers excited and how the industry keeps adapting. They cover Stein’s history, retail strategy, memorable product experiments and the future of the garden center experience. This is a perfect episode for anyone interested in merchandising, trend spotting and how independents stay relevant alongside big-box competition. They also spin the old Plant Wheel of Excitement and land on calibrachoa. Everyone has thoughts on calis. Follow The Squad on Instagram: @GHSquadPod

Although Mason abandoned them this week, Bill and Seth knock it out of the park with this duo cast (after missing last week), then spend most of the show trading rapid-fire “would you rather” questions—personal, professional and just plain crazy.Along the way, they dig into where ideas come from, how to force better audience engagement when giving presentations and why some plant categories feel more useful than exciting (daylilies). This episode is the usual mix of horticulture industry banter, personal preference debates and practical takeaways for just about anyone … or no one. Seth and Bill close with shout-outs for the upcoming Plug & Cutting Conference and friend-of-the-show Marcus’s new job.Follow us on Instagram: @GHSquadPod

This time, The Squad debates what’s overrated in the plant world and beyond. The three fire off hot takes on everything from mulch and verbena to cherry tomatoes, marigolds, big plant tags and strawberry planters. Heck, they even drop the hammer on manicured lawns, hell strips/parkways/treelawns and sidewalks.

Then the crew spins the Plant Wheel of Excitement—landing on hosta. This leads to a deep dive into why hostas are reliable and easy, the beauty of specimen hostas in botanical gardens, the common name “plantain lily” and Mason’s million-dollar concept: Houstas.

At the end, the amazing hosts share listener feedback and industry frustrations, including supplier backorders, hipping damage, customer questions in garden centers, product availability and ordering headaches and the impact of BFG’s bankruptcy on the hardgoods side of the industry.

Follow us on Instagram: @GHSquadPod

In this episode, The Squad (Mason, Seth and Bill) tackles the everyday annoyances, industry gripes and pet peeves that make horticulture such a love-hate business. The three of them trade stories from greenhouses, garden centers and the road while unpacking what really drives growers crazy.

They also discuss the gap between how plants are marketed and how they’re actually cared for, why some industry gripes are fair and others are overblown and which recurring problems seem to unite everyone in horticulture. Along the way, the trio also shares a few personal updates, some school-year chaos and spins the Plant Wheel of Excitement—landing on Angelonia.

Follow The Squad on Instagram: @GHSquadPod

Seth and Bill hold down the fort for this one. Maybe Mason did not care for the numerology of episode 33? The dynamic duo discusses some of their favorite garden centers in America and explains exactly why they’ve both been to hundreds of them over the years. Then they share some boneheaded mistakes they’ve made … and learned from.

Towards the end, they spin the Plant Wheel of Excitement (Echinacea, which made Seth so happy …) and drop a couple shout outs and hot takes before closing it out.

Follow the Squad on Instagram: @GHSquadPod

Better late than never, the Squad finally caught up to discuss events from the past week—Bill and Seth were at Ball Seed Customer Days and Mason was at the Raker trial. They talk about some of the plant highlights, interactions with industry folks and the overall vibes of these events. Then, Mason touches on some big industry “news” from last week and how it impacts growers, retailers and vendors. The Squad then tackles a fantastic topic suggested by a listener—the classic “coffee with your younger self” conversation looking back at ways the guys might have set themselves up for bigger things, reduced mistakes made and what their younger selves would think of how they turned out. It was a fun topic for sure!Then the guys spin the Plant Wheel of Excitement (Zinnia Marylandica) and drop a couple shout outs and hot takes before wrapping the episode at just more than an hour. Follow the Squad on Instagram: @GHSquadPod

This episode, the Squad was psyched to be joined by their friend Kate Terrell (representing the Quad Cities, Wallace’s Garden Center, Boy Scouts of America and Cubs fans around the world) to recap AmericanHort’s Cultivate ’26 event in Columbus, Ohio a couple weeks ago. Kate, Mason and Bill were there—all with different goals and roles—and Seth was not. So, he asked the three of them questions and by the end felt like he didn’t miss a thing, although he’s planning to attend again in 2027.

They discussed new products, strategies for getting done what needed to get done at a show that size, afterhours events, the value of networking, why in-person events are so important, reasons to attend every year and much, much more. #cultivate26

Kate brought the perspective of a garden center and greenhouse owner, attending to find new products and ideas, as well as catching up with peers and fulfilling her leadership roles. Mason discussed the value of being a vendor at the show, as well as representing affiliated groups like America In Bloom, NICH and HRI Leadership. Bill shared how he navigates the show as a media member and representative of a technical services team.

Although this may sound sort of dry, the conversation was anything but! If you know these four, you can only imagine the stories shared and laughter generated!

Then they spun the Plant Wheel of Excitement—landing on Peony—mentioned some important folks in Shout Outs and perhaps dropped a ruthless Hot Take (and one related to #Jimothy, the racoon.)

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In this episode, Mason, Seth and Bill tried to keep it short before traveling to Cultivate but that didn’t happen … The Squad gives their garden updates following weeks of hot weather and spins the Plant Wheel of Excitement. Mason offers a fiery hot take. And the three share reasons why you should plan to attend Ball Seed Customer Days and the Michigan Garden Tour at the end of July and the first week of August.

In this episode, the Squad discusses the harsh realities of trade shows in 2026, industry relevance and strategies for maximizing your presence at iconic events like Cultivate. They also share practical tips for networking, how NOT to carry business cards and ways to get invited to post-show receptions with mini beef Wellington apps. This week’s Plant Wheel of Excitement lands on vegetative petunias and Mason shares a hot take related to AI.

iLandscape Show Episode: https://youtu.be/zmErzJdoHO4

00:00 - Welcome and episode overview

01:22 - Fourth of July experiences and rain in Illinois

07:03 - Preparation for Cultivate trade show: booth setup and key activities

12:08 - How to decide which trade shows to attend—and maximizing ROI

14:03 - The role of education sessions and strategic scheduling at industry events

18:16 - The value of networking, relationship-building and event engagement strategies

22:22 - Practical tips for pre-arranging meetings and avoiding time-wasters

25:20 - Tips for choosing which sessions and speakers to prioritize at Cultivate

28:43 - Exploring new plant varieties and product displays—what's worth your time

33:33 - The significance of industry receptions, special events and how to get invited

39:41 - Best trade show appetizers and social tips for mingling

44:25 - Team dynamics at trade shows: staying connected and approachable

55:40 - Vegetative petunias: trends, pros, cons and landscape use

58:34 - Fertilizer practices for petunias and other annuals

62:14 - The hype and reality of AI in horticulture and plant breeding

64:12 - Closing thoughts: plans for Cultivate recap and upcoming episodes

In this episode of the GH Squad podcast, Seth and Mason detail their trip to five different Illinois greenhouses and garden centers earlier in the week. No, Mason did NOT buy any ladybeetles on the trip, but he did order a bunch of bugs online … The Squad discusses how every store is unique and dives into the dynamics of retail greenhouses during peak season. Expect brilliant takes on industry trends, community engagement and lunch stops. They also spin the Plant Wheel of Excitement and land on Nicotiana (… which is not very exciting but they have some thoughts on this old-school annual.) There are a lot of hot takes this week so be sure to listen all the way to the end. Follow The Squad on Instagram: @GHSquadPod00:00 - Introduction and podcast overview02:00 - The significance of native plant displays and industry commitment07:00 - The benefits and challenges of selling ladybugs and beneficial insects12:00 - Insights from their Illinois garden center tour and different retail formats24:00 - Inventory management during peak season and consumer buying patterns36:00 - Community outreach, local partnerships and innovative marketing ideas45:00 - Travel stories, road trip banter and behind-the-scenes humor58:00 - Weather impacts and seasonal challenges faced by the industry68:00 - Summarizing industry observations, closing thoughts and upcoming plans

The Squad is back after a one-week hiatus to recap last week’s Darwin Perennials Day and share what they’re obsessed with in their own gardens this year. Then the discussion turns to overrated plants and concepts before they spin the wheel of plant excitement and land on Astilbe. Listen all the way to the end for some solid hot takes.

Follow the Squad on Instagram: @GHSquadPod

In episode 26, the Squad discusses how boredom can be a catalyst for creativity, the influence of childhood interests on adult careers and the importance of pursuing passions over expectations. The topic of the week is what careers Seth, Mason and Bill would have if they never decided to get into horticulture. Join the Squad for the usually array of funny stories, brilliant advice and random thoughts that challenge conventional thinking about what drives success and fulfillment. Plus … thoughts on Cosmos, handheld water games, high school theater, public speaking and Bill’s crazy 24 hours.00:00 - The chaos of a busy family weekend and intro00:50 - Childhood summers of parties, farm life, and the freedom of youth02:00 - The shift from carefree summers to organized activities and careers03:07 - The significance of baseball, grad parties, and social adventures in youth04:30 - How boredom and boredom threshold differ across generations05:22 - The importance of intentional boredom to boost curiosity and creativity06:37 - Childhood games like Yahtzee and their nostalgic value07:53 - The impact of screens and technology on modern boredom and patience09:15 - Classic street games and the decline of traditional playgrounds10:09 - Speculative talk on school activities like Hangman and their educational value11:11 - The science behind boredom and mental health benefits12:18 - How childhood hobbies like propagating plants influence adult passions13:00 - Exploring alternative career interests from high school years14:00 - The high pressure of academic success and career projections15:09 - Consideration of careers in engineering, medicine, law, and horticulture16:49 - Reflection on college applications, majors, and the influence of guidance counselors18:00 - The value of exploring careers like pharma, agriculture, and science19:23 - The evolving opportunities for teenagers to choose meaningful paths20:12 - Personal stories about switching majors, career reconsiderations, and the role of passion21:55 - The importance of authenticity in choosing a career and hobbies22:35 - The challenges and rewards of teaching young children vs. teenagers23:27 - The role of extracurriculars like theater and choir in personal development24:44 - The advantages of rehearsing and preparing for presentations and performances28:22 - Public speaking, humor, and the art of engaging an audience29:50 - The craft of storytelling and delivery in professional and personal communication31:15 - Differences in rehearsal styles and authenticity in presentations33:00 - The influence of participating in theater on confidence and social skills35:52 - Sharing musical talents and the importance of pursuing diverse interests37:37 - The vibrant culture of a cappella groups at Cornell and college life39:13 - The adventures of plant variety hunting and the nostalgia for Cosmos41:47 - The historical presence of Cosmos in gardening and wildflower mixes43:00 - Market availability, growth habits, and seed varieties of Cosmos45:04 - Practical tips for planting Cosmos and timing for optimal growth46:30 - Final plant shout-out: Cosmos as a symbol of beauty and resilience47:17 - Upcoming trip and reflections on community and service48:00 - Wrapping up with listener engagement, social media shout-outs, and upcoming topics

In this episode, the Squad discusses unexpected truths they encountered upon entering the horticulture industry and imagine ways to outfox security if trapped in a Costco overnight. They also determine who would be most likely to survive for a week in a botanic garden by foraging and introduce a fun new segment called the "Plant Wheel of Excitement." Then they discuss Seth’s new hairstyle and love of woodies.NICH Webinar Series—Where Plants Come From (Video Playlist): https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1yNe3Yb9E36-oDXE5cUhM5At4TS3-Vtl&si=IGw7bsJds8RDx8UW00:00 - Welcome and episode overview02:07 - The industry’s hidden global supply chains and sourcing insights05:29 - Challenges and surprises: what industry newcomers don’t expect10:02 - The logistics and operational complexity of moving perishable plants13:57 - Surviving in a botanic garden for five days: food and shelter strategies17:07 - Exploring the most consumed meats globally and cultural insights19:59 - Industry revelations: the vast global reach and travel involved in horticulture23:00 - The importance of inter-company relationships and industry camaraderie27:10 - The role of education and outreach, including webinars on where plants come from33:00 - Unpacking the hidden complexity behind plant production processes36:49 - The significance of plant identification skills and industry segmentation44:46 - Growing cucumbers: tips, varieties, trellising, and weed management49:14 - Fun with plant guessing: cucumber plant discussion and rapidfire plant knowledge54:37 - Lighthearted discussion about cats, K-pop, and style trends55:23 - Celebrating milestones: personal shout outs and reflections on graduation57:43 - Wrap-up, feedback, and ways to connect with the show

This episode is all about the rivalry between Ohio and Michigan. But instead of football, Mason and Bill represent their respective states by presenting contributions to horticulture— and sports, culture, industry, number of Amish and covered bridges. They analyze data, crunch numbers, share fun facts and debate which state truly deserves the Midwestern Horticultural Championship Belt.

What do you think? Comment and let us know!

Cleveland's amazing sports weekend—with the Cavaliers advancing to the Eastern Conference NBA championship AND the Guardians winning the coveted Ohio Cup. Then the four discuss the magic of the Philadelphia Flower Show and why other flower shows just don’t compare (with a few exceptions). The group then explores ways to reinvigorate flower shows and possibly put a more local and commercial spin on them.

Plus … Jen’s career as an investigative journalist (getting the inside scoop on a story late-night at Denny’s), old horticultural videos (see the link below), pollinators, Guns ‘N Roses and more!

MUST SEE TV! Plants—More Than Just Pretty Videos (scroll ALL THE WAY down the page!): https://americainbloom.org/resources/videos/

(00:02) - Episode intro and Cleveland pride

(00:10) - Cleveland Cavaliers' playoff success and Guardians Ohio Cup victory

(02:01) - Guest introduction: Jen Polanz, horticulturist and industry expert

(07:28) - Jen’s horticultural journey from childhood to professional

(16:26) - Walk-up song: Guns N' Roses’ "Sweet Child of Mine"

(18:17) - The emotional and visual experience of the Philadelphia Flower Show

(22:27) - The "Cirque du Soleil" of plants and artistic display aspirations

(26:33) - Nature of exhibitor involvement at major flower shows

(31:00) - Most impressive displays, Shakespeare-inspired installations, and floral fashion

(36:02) - Impact of regional shows on local garden centers and influence on consumer decisions

(43:16) - Timing and scope of Chicago, Northwest, and Philadelphia shows

(50:02) - Practical considerations: show dates, location changes, and economic factors

(54:38) – Pettitis’ dominance in Cleveland market and industry trends

(55:53) - Upcoming PlantCon event details and trendsetting industry programs

(72:29) - Pollinator Partnership’s educational programs and retail applications

(77:04) - Educational videos emphasizing plant benefits: air purification, health, and crime reduction

(78:37) - Wrap-up, guest appreciation, and call for audience engagement

In this episode, Mason, Seth and Bill share their deepest darkest horticultural infatuations—like plug trays, trains, animal pests and “pieces.” They also discuss their love of multi-generational businesses, the forgiving nature of plants and the overall “cool factor” of the industry.

Plus, a heartfelt Mother's Day message packed with industry humor, Road House, muskrats and more. #hearmeoutcake

Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction to Mother’s Day weekend & upcoming industry events

02:03 - Creative gift ideas for moms—plants and hanging baskets

03:19 - Terminology: 'garden center,' 'nursery,' regional differences

04:36 - The story behind a Montana garden center and industry naming conventions

06:24 - Field trip to Alsip Nursery & the importance of vendor relationships

07:56 - The role of industry themes and seasonal competitions in store culture

08:34 - The diversity of offerings in a well-rounded garden center (perennials, shrubs, pets)

09:38 - An anecdote about a customer with fertilizer in her car1

0:33 - Building vendor relationships and leveraging product support

16:24 - The power of plug trays in propagation—size, numbers, and awe

17:41 - Cost considerations in plant propagation and grower decisions19:37 - Wildlife encounters—mice, snakes, and unexpected yard visitors

21:32 - The industry’s wildlife problem: armadillos, muskrats, and possums

23:50 - Trains, hobbies, and the surprising coalescence with green industry businesses

27:44 - Trains on the farm and the fun of model trains in garden centers

31:30 - The value of family legacy in horticulture—stories from three generations

34:34 - Industry heritage projects—photos, stories, and family history

37:22 - Pride in family-owned businesses and their cultural significance

40:01 - The interconnectedness of horticulture, landscaping, retail, and beyond43:36 - The fun of plant passion—public perception and industry admiration

45:20 - Plants in airports, on planes, and the joy of sharing horticulture everywhere

48:01 - Industry camaraderie and logistical adventures—plant cargo and travel mishaps

52:16 - Celebrating Mother’s Day properly—wife, mom, kids, and traditions

55:19 - The cost of greeting cards versus plants—lessons learned and industry humor

56:37 - Wrap-up thoughts—community, diversity, and the industry’s charm

57:48 - Final thanks and closing remarks—connect with us & share your Mother’s Day stories