John Mini Podcast

An educational conversation with the Chris Giovanni at John Mini Distinctive Landscapes.  Chris shares discusses the importance of native plants and their role in the landscape trade. Our conversations ranges from the importance of native plants, a framework for how to categorize native and non-native plants, and the direct and indirect impacts our plant selection has on the environment. We close out the episode with ideas to integrate natives into a client's vision and resources for your ongoing practice.Thank you for taking the time to listen. If you have any questions, ideas for future episodes, or feedback. Please email us at [email protected]. Wherever you consume your podcasts, please give us a like, review or subscribe. Your support is greatly appreciated! 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. 

An educational conversation with the Chief Horticulturalist at John Mini Distinctive Landscapes, Andrew Engel.  Andrew introduces some misconceptions and misuses of Integrate Pest Management (IPM). He provides an overview of what is Integrated Pest Management - mostly from the lens of urban landscape horticulture. We close out the episode with some principles and considerations for an urban horticulturalist.Thank you for taking the time to listen. If you have any questions, ideas for future episodes, or feedback. Please email us at [email protected]. Wherever you consume your podcasts, please give us a like, review or subscribe. Your support is greatly appreciated! 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. 

Welcome back to our 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, thank you to 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. Their vision to nurture and cultivate a cultural hub around this one of kind atrium inspires. Without their vision and support, none of this is possible. Thank you.  In this episode, part four, we sit down with Andrew Engel, the Chief Horticulturalist at John Mini Distinctive Landscapes. Andrew walks us through the maintenance and horticultural practices to keep these trees healthy and thriving.Thank you for taking the time to listen. If you have any questions, ideas for future episodes, or feedback. Please email us at [email protected]. Wherever you consume your podcasts, please give us a like, review or subscribe. Your support is greatly appreciated! 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. 

I’m joined by Matt Wessol, the Director of Outdoor at John Mini Distinctive Landscapes. Matt oversees our outdoor urban landscape operations. His team is responsible for the care of some of New York’s most iconic landscapes. Matt and I reflect on our recent trip to the National Association of Landscape Professionals’ Elevate Conference and Expo. It is the premier event for the outdoor landscape and horticulture trade.  We share highlights and trends from the event, including shifts in the industry’s use of technology and the power of developing professional relationships.Thank you for taking the time to listen. If you have any questions, ideas for future episodes, or feedback. Please email us at [email protected]. Wherever you consume your podcasts, please give us a like, review or subscribe. Your support is greatly appreciated! 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. 

Welcome back to our 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, thank you to 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. Their vision to nurture and cultivate a cultural hub around this one of kind atrium inspires. Without their vision and support, none of this is possible. Thank you.  In this episode, part three, we sit down with Alex Scherba at John Mini Distinctive Landscapes. Alex was the project manager for the 2-week overnight installation. In our conversation, Alex walks us through the unique challenges and what it took to prepare.  We’ll release part four on January 15th. In this final part we discuss the horticultural care and maintenance required for long term success. If you haven't already, give the first two parts of this project spotlight a listen. In part one we discuss the need to replant the trees periodically, the project’s history, and its importance to our industry. In part two, we take the listener through the daring 3 yearlong tree finding and acclimation period. Thank you for taking the time to listen. If you have any questions, ideas for future episodes, or feedback. Please email us at [email protected]. Wherever you consume your podcasts, please give us a like, review or subscribe. Your support is greatly appreciated! 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. 

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, thank you to 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. 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 two of this project spotlight, we sit down with two teammates at John Mini Distinctive Landscapes: Bob Pressner – Product & Project Consultant, and Andrew Engel – Chief Horticulturalist. In our conversation, we reflect on the challenging process of hunting for the Winter Garden trees and the acclimation process that prepares them for a transition to the indoors.In part three the team grapples with the complexities of installing sixteen massive trees in two weeks of overnight work in downtown Manhattan. Finally, in part four we discuss the horticultural care and maintenance required for long term success.If you haven't already, give Part 1 a listen. We provide context on the project including why we replant the trees periodically, the project’s history, and its importance to our industry.  Thank you for taking the time to listen. If you have any questions, ideas for future episodes, or feedback. Please email us at [email protected]. Wherever you consume your podcasts, please give us a like, review or subscribe. Your support is greatly appreciated! 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. 

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 [email protected]. Wherever you consume your podcasts, please give us a like, review or subscribe. Your support is greatly appreciated! 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. 

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 environmentThank you for taking the time to listen. If you have any questions, ideas for future episodes, or feedback. Please email us at [email protected]. Wherever you consume your podcasts, please give us a like, review or subscribe. Your support is greatly appreciated! 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. 

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 [email protected]. Wherever you consume your podcasts, please give us a like, review or subscribe. Your support is greatly appreciated! 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. 

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 [email protected]. Wherever you consume your podcasts, please give us a like, review or subscribe. Your support is greatly appreciated! 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. 

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 productThank you for taking the time to listen. If you have any questions, ideas for future episodes, or feedback. Please email us at [email protected]. Wherever you consume your podcasts, please give us a like, review or subscribe. Your support is greatly appreciated! 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. 

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 [email protected]. Wherever you consume your podcasts, please give us a like, review or subscribe. Your support is greatly appreciated! 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. 

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 [email protected]. Wherever you consume your podcasts, please give us a like, review or subscribe. Your support is greatly appreciated! 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. 

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 [email protected]. Wherever you consume your podcasts, please give us a like, review or subscribe. Your support is greatly appreciated! 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. 

This is our first conversation in a series of episodes that explore the balance of aesthetics, sustainability and functionality in urban landscapes. We sit down with professionals in our field to understand how they balance these three considerations.  The design, construction and maintenance of urban landscapes must consider the intended function, horticulture, the visual appeal and beauty, environmental considerations and more. Rarely are these considerations isolated when developing an urban landscape. They are intertwined and balanced by the professionals who design, build and care for them.  In this episode, we are joined by Liana Hutcheon and Phil Adams from the John Mini Distinctive Landscapes team. Together they have over 17 years of experience working on and providing solutions for urban landscapes indoors and out.  We’ll discuss some of the many functions a landscape can serve. And, we’ll find the conversation gravitating toward sustainability despite it not always being their first or even second consideration when approaching an urban landscape. Thank you for taking the time to listen. If you have any questions, ideas for future episodes, or feedback. Please email us at [email protected]. Wherever you consume your podcasts, please give us a like, review or subscribe. Your support is greatly appreciated! 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. 

In today's episode we sit down with the Chief Horticulturalist at John Mini Distinctive Landscapes, Andrew Engel, to discuss the renewal of indoor landscapes. In the episode we discuss; What is renewal of interior landscapes and why it needs to be considered.The need to renew elements of indoor landscapes, such as planting medium and the plants. How the time frame for renewal varies for each element and site.The difference in planning for renewal of interiorscapes versus a traditional outdoor landscape, while touching on the commonalities between an interiorscape and an urban outdoor landscape.When to start planning for renewal in urban horticulture.Andrew has over 11 years of experience and practice in indoor horticulture and holds a Masters of Horticulture from RHS. His work with the John Mini team includes horticulture care at iconic indoor landscapes such as the Urban Garden Room at One Bryant Park, the Winter Garden at Brookfield Place, the Ford Foundation atrium, and New York's largest indoor living green wall.Thank you for taking the time to listen. If you have any questions, ideas for future episodes, or feedback. Please email us at [email protected]. Wherever you consume your podcasts, please give us a like, review or subscribe. Your support is greatly appreciated! 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. 

Two teammates from the John Mini Distinctive Landscapes team discuss their roles in developing an award-winning landscape project for a client who set out to reimagine the typical office. Liana Hutcheon, Sales & Design lead, and Sam Barrett, Head of Design, walk us through the design development of an innovative indoor landscape for Le Truc, a creative collaborative launched by Publics Groupe worldwide. In this project spotlight, our guests highlight; Multi-disciplinary collaboration in urban horticulture and interior landscaping.How stories support the development of meaningful workspaces and collaborative settings.  Why it's important to stay bold and distinctive in your craft.The commitment required for successful landscape design and the nuances of project execution.You can find pictures and a short description of the featured project here: https://www.johnmini.com/projects/jardin-of-colorThank you for taking the time to listen. If you have any questions, ideas for future episodes, or feedback. Please email us at [email protected]. Wherever you consume your podcasts, please give us a like, review or subscribe. Your support is greatly appreciated! 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. 

In Today's project spotlight, we'll be sitting down with the Chief Horticulturalist at John Mini Distinctive Landscapes, Andrew Engel. Andrew has over 11 years of experience and practice in indoor horticulture and holds a Masters of Horticulture from RHS. His work with the John Mini team includes horticulture care at iconic indoor landscapes such as the Urban Garden Room at One Bryant Park, the Winter Garden at Brookfield Place, the Ford Foundation atrium, and New York's largest indoor living green wall.Andrew walks us through a challenging interior landscape project that features three large Terminalia Buceras trees, also known as Bucida Buceras or Black Olive trees. The trees are part of an indoor atrium and amenity space in a residential building in New York City. In this episode we discuss; The horticultural challenges of Terminalia Buceras  in commercial urban landscaping.The daring role of a horticulturalist who is brought in late in the game to rescue a struggling indoor landscape.  Multi-disciplinary collaboration when designing indoor landscapes.The importance of working with an indoor horticulturalist, not only during maintenance, but also during the design and installation phase of interiorscapes to effectively assess and receive recommendations for environmental needs.Thank you for taking the time to listen. If you have any questions, ideas for future episodes, or feedback. Please email us at [email protected]. Wherever you consume your podcasts, please give us a like, review or subscribe. Your support is greatly appreciated! 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. 

This is an episode to introduce the John Mini Podcast. In a quick 7 minutes, we explain who the team behind the John Mini Podcast is, why we launched this program, what to expect from it, and who might be interested in our future episodes.   If you're interested in horticulture and plants, urban development, gardening, and landscaping please take a listen in and join us on this journey. Thank you for taking the time to listen. If you have any questions, ideas for future episodes, or feedback. Please email us at [email protected]. Wherever you consume your podcasts, please give us a like, review or subscribe. Your support is greatly appreciated! 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.