Hi, everybody. This is Joe Lampel, the Joe Behind Joe Gardner, and welcome to today's super geeky episode, where we delve into the captivating world of ferns with Dr. Emily Sessa.

Dr. Sessa is the Patrick K. Holmgren, director of the William and Linda Steer Herbarium at the New York Botanical Garden, where she conducts a great amount of research on plant systems and

evolution with a particular focus on ferns. Her journey into botany began in her childhood in upstate

New York, where she developed a strong affinity for plants while exploring the woods. She earned her

BA in Biological Sciences from Cornell University and then a PhD

and botany from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Then her postdoctoral training in plan

genomics at the University of Arizona, followed by a faculty member position at the University of

Florida for nearly a decade. Throughout her career,

Dr. Sessa has been drawn to the underdog plants, such as mosses and ferns, which often receive

less attention than flowering plants. But I think she had a big impact in changing that recently

when she completed a comprehensive field guide on ferns, spike mosses, club mosses, and quill warts

of eastern North America. And if you don't know what the relation is between all of those,

you will in just a few minutes. But this book is incredible. And if you have any interest in

learning more about any of the plants I just mentioned in her title, this field guide is a must

have no matter what your level of experience. So today, prepare to definitely geek out to the

max, as we'll explore Dr. Sessa's insights into fern evolution, their ecological significance,

and practical advice for gardeners looking to incorporate these ancient plants into their own landscapes.

And as we do, thanks to proven winter's color choice for their support of this podcast.

You know, whenever you're in your local garden center and you see those distinctive white containers,

those are the proven winter's color choice shrubs. And those are the plants that I look for because I know

they've been selected based on a very high standard. Before they ever make the lineup, plants being

considered for the proven winner's color choice brand are put through an eight to 10 year trial

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