Jennifer Brennan: Translating Plant Science for Everyday Gardeners

Jennifer Brennan has spent her career helping gardeners succeed—and proving that horticulture can be both educational and fun. In this episode of I Dig Your Story, host Ellen Wells talks with horticultural consultant Jennifer Brennan about her journey from a college greenhouse job and a dorm room overflowing with plants to becoming one of the most trusted gardening educators in the Chicago area. Along the way, Jennifer shares how she helped introduce Hello Kitty to the United States, why she returned to horticulture after a detour into sales, and how she built a career translating plant science into practical advice for everyday gardeners. Jennifer also discusses the biggest mistakes gardeners make, the challenge of combating misinformation on social media, and why listening skills are just as important as plant knowledge. In this episode: • How a greenhouse job for extra pocket money sparked a lifelong love of plants • The surprising career detour that eventually led back to horticulture • Why watering is the most misunderstood gardening skill • The importance of chemistry and science in plant care • How to handle social media’s unfortunate gardening advice • The reward of helping gardeners succeed Connect with Jennifer Brennan: [email protected]