We’re pulling on those heart strings for this episode—much to Steve’s chagrin. That’s because we’re talking about plants in our gardens that make us of think of something, someone, or some moment in time that makes us happy. Maybe it’s a plant that was passed down through the family or a shrub that reminds you of your kids because they always got stuck in it while trying to retrieve a soccer ball. For us these plants include specimens smuggled through airports and divisions shared by friends as housewarming presents. It’s a different sort of episode today, but it reminded us of why we garden—not just so our landscapes can look good, but because they can make us feel good too.

Expert testimony: Genevieve Schmidt is the owner of North Coast Gardening, a landscape design and maintenance firm in Northern California.

Danielle’s Plants

Pink lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis var. rosea, Zones 2–7)

Mexican speckled tinantia (Tinantia pringlei, Zones 6–10)

‘Wissel’s Saguaro’ Lawson’s cypress (Chamaecyparis lawsoniana ‘Wissel’s Saguaro’, Zones 5–7)

Tatarian aster (Aster tataricus ‘Jindai’, Zones 4–8)

Steve’s Plants

Bleeding heart (Lamprocapnos spectabilis, Zones 3–9)

Oyama magnolia (Magnolia seiboldii, Zones 6–8)

Grape hyacinth (Muscari aremeniacum, Zones 4–8)

Japanese maple (Acer palmatum cv., Zones 5–9)

Expert’s Plants

Black-eyed Susan vine (Thunbergia alata, Zones 9–10)

New South Wales waratah (Telopea speciosissima, Zones 8–11)

‘The Third Harmonic’ Peruvian lily (Alstroemeria ‘The Third Harmonic’, Zones 8–10)

‘Champagne’ Peruvian lily (Alstroemeria ‘Champagne’, Zones 8–10)