Janet Draper gets to play in the dirt and talk to people from around the world.

This is her 25th year as the sole horticulturalist for Smithsonian’s Mary Livingston Ripley Garden.

This tiny 1/3 of an acre garden is located on the National Mall and in Washington, DC. The garden is open to visitors 24 hours a day. 

Due to the nearly constant events occurring within a stone’s throw, and major construction on aging buildings, the challenges of keeping the gardens looking good can be daunting.  

Janet goal is to make the garden interesting day to day by creating displays that educate and stimulate people to go outside and plant something.

00:00 Introduction to The Garden Question Podcast

00:42 Meet Janet Draper: Horticulturist at Smithsonian's Ripley Garden

01:07 The Unique Challenges of Maintaining the Ripley Garden

03:15 The History and Accessibility of the Ripley Garden

07:15 Innovative Plant Displays and Horticultural Techniques

09:56 Logistics and Seasonal Planning in the Ripley Garden

16:47 The War on Mulch: Best Practices and Misconceptions

19:37 Spontaneous Garden Design and Seasonal Decorations

23:14 Lessons from Failures

23:29 Finding Inspiration

24:15 Perennial Plant Association

26:05 Adventurous Gardening

26:30 Challenging Garden Myths

27:47 Earliest Garden Memories

28:49 Pursuing Horticulture

29:30 Funny Garden Stories

31:09 Influential Mentors

33:53 Valuable Garden Mistakes

35:11 New Horticultural Discoveries

36:20 Life in the Garden

37:29 Community and Gardening

40:09 Current Plant Obsessions

42:30 Connecting with Janet Draper

43:18 Conclusion and Podcast Info

This episode of The Garden Question podcast features an in-depth discussion with Janet Draper, the horticulturalist of the Mary Livingston Ripley Garden in Washington, D.C. Host Craig McManus and Janet explore the unique challenges and opportunities of maintaining this small but rich garden space on the National Mall. They discuss its history, the plant varieties used, and Janet's creative approach to garden design. Janet shares her insights on creating year-round interest, the importance of horticultural education, and her personal experiences, including her inspiration, influential mentors, and memorable stories from her career.