Nick Ternes of Botanophilia: Hostas, Shade Gardening, Trees & Plant Hybridizing

<p>This week on <em>Hosta La Vista: The Friendship Plant Podcast</em>, Betsy and Mandy welcome <strong>Nick Ternes</strong>, owner of <strong>Botanophilia LLC</strong>, hosta hybridizer, nursery owner, garden educator, speaker, and self-described plant geek. Known throughout the gardening world for his deep knowledge of <strong>hostas</strong>, <strong>shade gardening</strong>, <strong>trees</strong>, <strong>shrubs, and rare plants</strong>, Nick has spent decades helping gardeners create landscapes that are both beautiful and sustainable.</p><p>In this episode, Nick shares the story behind Botanophilia, his journey from passionate plant collector to respected nursery owner, and what he&#39;s learned through years of growing, breeding, and evaluating plants. We discuss <strong>hosta hybridizing, selecting the right trees for the landscape, designing gardens that work as complete ecosystems, and why some of the most exciting plants in the garden aren&#39;t hostas at all.</strong></p><p>Whether you&#39;re a hosta enthusiast, shade gardener, plant collector, tree lover, or simply looking for inspiration from one of horticulture&#39;s most knowledgeable voices, you&#39;ll find plenty of practical advice, favorite plants, and fascinating stories in this conversation.</p><p><strong>Topics include:</strong></p><ul><li>Hosta hybridizing and breeding</li><li>Shade garden design</li><li>Companion plants for hostas</li><li>Trees and woody plants for northern gardens</li><li>Rare and unusual plants</li><li>Running a specialty plant nursery</li><li>Gardening education and public speaking</li><li>Building a garden instead of a collection</li></ul><p>Questions or guest suggestions? Email us at <a href="" rel="noopener">hostalavistapodcast@gmail.com</a> and follow <em>Hosta La Vista</em> on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and wherever you listen to podcasts. </p><p>This title and description should rank well for searches involving <strong>Nick Ternes</strong>, <strong>Botanophilia</strong>, <strong>hostas</strong>, <strong>hosta hybridizer</strong>, <strong>shade gardening</strong>, and <strong>trees</strong>, while still sounding natural to listeners.</p>