Organic Gardening Legend John Dromgoole

The Horticulturati

John Dromgoole wears a lot of hats. Sun hats mostly, but also figurative ones: founder of the Natural Gardener, former host of the long-running garden call-in radio show Gardening Naturally on Newsradio KLBJ, regular TV presenter on PBS’ Central Texas Gardener and KXAN’s The Weekend Gardener; the list goes on. On this episode, your hosts (both former employees of the Natural Gardener), sit down with John to hear his story, from his early adventures in Laredo (exporting bell bottoms into Mexico and booking one of ZZ Top’s first shows) to his long career in Austin as a media personality and nurseryman. An early proponent of organic gardening, John discusses butting heads with conventional horticulturists, proving his point with demonstration gardens, and learning from his mentor, Malcolm Beck. We chat about designing with native plants, “the art of watering,” and the influence of the Natural Gardener as a training ground for countless plant people in Austin.

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