Episodes

  • The Winter Garden Palms Part 1: A Case Study on the Possibilities of Indoor Landscapes
    Nov 1 2024

    Welcome to this four-part project spotlight on the famous Winter Garden Palm trees. The Winter Garden is an iconic atrium in downtown New York City within Brookfield Place. The project centers on sixteen 37’ Washingtonia Robusta palm trees and their journey across the country, a project over 3 years in the making.

    First and foremost, we thank our client Brookfield Properties, and in this case, specifically Brookfield Place and their partner CBRE. Brookfield invests in what has become an iconic and beloved space, the Winter Garden. And their vision to nurture and cultivate a cultural hub around this one of kind atrium is inspiring. Without their vision and support, none of this is possible. Thank you.

    In part one of this project spotlight, we sit down with three teammates at John Mini Distinctive Landscapes: Jack Harris – VP of Sales & Design, Bob Pressner – Product & Project Consultant, and Andrew Engel – Chief Horticulturalist. We’ll provide context, share some of the project’s history, and discuss the project’s importance to our industry.

    In part two, we’ll reveal the challenging process of tree finding and acclimatation.

    In part three the team grapples with the complexities of installing sixteen massive trees in two weeks of overnight work.

    And, in part four we'll discuss the horticultural care required for these trees in the Winter Garden.

    Thank you for taking the time to listen. If you have any questions, ideas for future episodes, or feedback. Please email us at Podcast@JohnMini.com.

    And a big thank you to all our clients at John Mini Distinctive Landscapes. You allow us to make our passion our profession.

    A special shout out to Keith Behringer, teammate at John Mini Distinctive Landscapes, for producing our podcast’s theme music.

    Till next episode, if you are looking for some urban landscape inspiration, be sure to explore our website and portfolio at www.johnmini.com.

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    44 mins
  • The Role of Annual Plants in the Urban Landscape
    Oct 2 2024

    We sit down with Scott Ahlborn, Sales & Design Representative, and Matt Wessol, Director of Outdoor. They are urban landscape professionals from the John Mini Distinctive Landscapes team in New York and together bring over 40 years of experience to the table.

    Scott and Matt discuss the role of annual plants in the urban landscape.

    In our conversation we cover;

    • How they think about annuals in landscape design
    • When and how to use annual or seasonal plants
    • The emotional connections annual plantings evoke
    • How annuals need to be balanced with consideration for urban life and the environment

    Thank you for taking the time to listen. If you have any questions, ideas for future episodes, or feedback. Please email us at Podcast@JohnMini.com.

    And a big thank you to all our clients at John Mini Distinctive Landscapes. You allow us to make our passion our profession.

    A special shout out to Keith Behringer, teammate at John Mini Distinctive Landscapes, for producing our podcast’s theme music.

    Till next episode, if you are looking for some urban landscape inspiration, be sure to explore our website and portfolio at www.johnmini.com.

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    39 mins
  • The Role of Renderings in Urban Landscape Design
    Sep 16 2024

    In this project spotlight we sit down with Matt Spencer, designer at John Mini Distinctive Landscapes. Matt walks us through the design process of a rooftop garden in New York City.

    Our conversation is focused on the role of images and renderings in the development of urban landscapes. We’ll discuss the types of graphics and renderings he developed for the project and what software he utilized. We’ll cover some pros and cons of renderings to communicating landscape design.

    Our conversation also features fun digressions such as how constraints breed creativity and the importance of nurturing customer relationships to receive candid feedback.

    Here is a link to the project discussed, which includes pictures of the renderings and the rooftop after garden installation. Project Spotlight: From Rending to Reality.

    Thank you for taking the time to listen. If you have any questions, ideas for future episodes, or feedback. Please email us at Podcast@JohnMini.com.

    And a big thank you to all our clients at John Mini Distinctive Landscapes. You allow us to make our passion our profession.

    A special shout out to Keith Behringer, teammate at John Mini Distinctive Landscapes, for producing our podcast’s theme music.

    Till next episode, if you are looking for some urban landscape inspiration, be sure to explore our website and portfolio at www.johnmini.com.

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    51 mins
  • Ornamental Horticulture Drought Experiment Part 1
    Aug 15 2024

    We sit down with the Chief Horticulturalist at John Mini Distinctive landscapes, Andrew Engel.

    This is part one of a two-part episode. Andrew will walk us through an upcoming experiment with practical relevance to the world of urban horticulture and landscaping.

    Andrew will be testing four products and their efficacy in supporting urban plants through moments of drought.

    In this part, he explains how the experiment will be set up, introduces the products he'll be testing, and the potential impact of the results.

    The second part of this episode will be recorded upon completion of the experiment. We’ll do an overview of the results.

    Thank you for taking the time to listen. If you have any questions, ideas for future episodes, or feedback. Please email us at Podcast@JohnMini.com.

    And a big thank you to all our clients at John Mini Distinctive Landscapes. You allow us to make our passion our profession.

    A special shout out to Keith Behringer, teammate at John Mini Distinctive Landscapes, for producing our podcast’s theme music.

    Till next episode, if you are looking for some urban landscape inspiration, be sure to explore our website and portfolio at www.johnmini.com.

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    44 mins
  • Live from London with Plant Designs
    Aug 1 2024

    Today, I sit down with two colleagues from Plant Designs - a London, UK based interior landscaping firm. Jodie Sinclair and Callum Garner share their perspective on interior landscaping.

    This episode was recorded in London at the end of a 3-day long program developed by John Mini Distinctive Landscapes and Plant Designs. As global leaders in interiorscaping, we meet annually to learn from each other in an endeavor to elevate the craft of indoor landscaping worldwide.

    In our conversation we discuss;

    • How they found a career in interiorscaping.
    • The role of indoor landscapes in cities and how these spaces have the potential to reconnect people with nature
    • Shifts in why clients invest in interior landscapes and how awareness of mental health is driving this investment.
    • The fun challenges of working with a live product

    Thank you for taking the time to listen. If you have any questions, ideas for future episodes, or feedback. Please email us at Podcast@JohnMini.com.

    And a big thank you to all our clients at John Mini Distinctive Landscapes. You allow us to make our passion our profession.

    A special shout out to Keith Behringer, teammate at John Mini Distinctive Landscapes, for producing our podcast’s theme music.

    Till next episode, if you are looking for some urban landscape inspiration, be sure to explore our website and portfolio at www.johnmini.com.

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    57 mins
  • Why are indoor landscapes important - Part 1
    Jul 15 2024

    In this recurring episode we sit down with professionals in our field to hear their perspective on the importance of indoor landscapes and horticulture in the built environment.

    We are joined by Liana Hutcheon and Jack Harris from the John Mini Distinctive Landscapes team. Together their experience working on interior landscapes is just shy of 50 years.

    They’ll share why indoor landscapes are important and the many roles an interiorscape can serve. We’ll discuss shifts over past decades, how indoor plants moved beyond a trend and into an integral part of interior design, an indoor landscape’s connection to the concept of biophilia, and how interiorscapes speak to a client’s brand and values. This latter point is a particularly interesting take.

    In our conversation we reference the theory of biophilia. As discussed in the episode, we want to accurately reference when and who developed this theory. The term ‘biophilia’ was first used by the social psychologist Erich Fromm. However, the hypothesis of biophilia was later popularized in Edward O. Wilson’s book ‘Biophilia’, published in 1984.

    Thank you for taking the time to listen. If you have any questions, ideas for future episodes, or feedback. Please email us at Podcast@JohnMini.com.

    And a big thank you to all our clients at John Mini Distinctive Landscapes. You allow us to make our passion our profession.

    A special shout out to Keith Behringer, teammate at John Mini Distinctive Landscapes, for producing our podcast’s theme music.

    Till next episode, if you are looking for some urban landscape inspiration, be sure to explore our website and portfolio at www.johnmini.com.

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    46 mins
  • What is your favorite tool in the craft of urban landscaping and horticulture?
    Jul 1 2024

    Have you ever thought intimately about the tools you use? The selection, care, and purpose of each tool? This deep thought is a sign of someone who is passionate about their work.

    In this recurring episode we highlight the importance of paying attention to the details in the craft of urban horticulture. The passionate always optimizes their process by having a clear reason why they make each decision.

    We sit down with Matthew Wessol, the Director of Outdoor at John Mini Distinctive Landscapes. Matt discusses his favorite tool in urban landscaping, revealing the depth of thought in improving his craft.

    Matt has practiced outdoor urban horticulture for nearly ten years. He’s worked hard from the ground up, beginning his career as an assistant foreman in landscape installations. In his early years, he transitioned to the horticultural service side of the business where he served as a Foreman, Supervisor and Account Manager in New York City. Today, he oversees the entire outdoor division at John Mini.

    Thank you for taking the time to listen. If you have any questions, ideas for future episodes, or feedback. Please email us at Podcast@JohnMini.com.

    And a big thank you to all our clients at John Mini Distinctive Landscapes. You allow us to make our passion our profession.

    A special shout out to Keith Behringer, teammate at John Mini Distinctive Landscapes, for producing our podcast’s theme music.

    Till next episode, if you are looking for some urban landscape inspiration, be sure to explore our website and portfolio at www.johnmini.com.

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    26 mins
  • Why are outdoor urban landscapes important - Part 1
    Jun 15 2024

    This is our first installment exploring the importance of outdoor urban landscapes. This will be a recurring conversation where we sit down with professionals in our field to understand their perspective on the importance of outdoor landscapes and horticulture in cities.

    In this episode, we are joined by Keith Behringer and Phil Adams from the John Mini Distinctive Landscapes team. Together they have a combined 28 years of experience working on and providing solutions for urban landscapes. They’ll walk us through some of their early days in their career, share personal convictions on the importance of urban landscaping, and highlight shifts in construction and the market that impact the world of urban landscaping.

    In our conversation we reference a report by the global firm, Gensler. Here are the clarifications from our conversation. We were referencing Gensler’s ‘U.S. Workplace Survey 2022’. The report shows that ‘Outdoor Workspaces’ rank in the tops for a worker’s experience and a space’s effectiveness. Workplaces with ‘Outdoor Workspaces’ appear to have significant positive impact on a worker’s experience and the space’s effectiveness when compared to workplaces that do not have this amenity.

    At one point in our conversation, we touched on the biodiversity of New York City. If you want to geek out, here’s a pretty awesome resource from the American Museum of Natural History by Erik Kiviat & Elizabeth A. Johnson: Biodiversity Assessment Handbook for New York City.

    Thank you for taking the time to listen. If you have any questions, ideas for future episodes, or feedback. Please email us at Podcast@JohnMini.com.

    And a big thank you to all our clients at John Mini Distinctive Landscapes. You allow us to make our passion our profession.

    A special shout out to Keith Behringer, teammate at John Mini Distinctive Landscapes, for producing our podcast’s theme music.

    Till next episode, if you are looking for some urban landscape inspiration, be sure to explore our website and portfolio at www.johnmini.com.

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    37 mins