In episode 144 of the Garden Question podcast, host Craig McManus interviews Marianne Wilburn, a garden writer and expert.opinion columnist for the American Horticultural Society's The American Gardener (https://ahsgardening.org/gardening-resources/gardening-publications/the-american-gardener/) and is a contributing editor at GardenRant.com (https://www.gardenrant.com/).She authored the exciting book, Tropical Plants and How to Love Them (https://www.amazon.com/Tropical-Plants-How-Love-Them/dp/0760368945/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=tropical+plants+and+how+to+love+them&qid=1603462224&sr=8-2), and her first book, Big Dreams and Small Gardens (https://amzn.to/349YNid). Marianne's work has been featured in the New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and Better Homes and Gardens. In this episode, we talk about challenging the norms that may be holding you back in your gardening endeavors.Wilburn shares her insights on gardening and breaking free from conventional norms and constraints. They discuss dealing with garden centers' choices, HOA regulations, and the controversial norm of only using native plants.Wilburn encourages listeners to embrace gardening as a transformative and creative experience and urges them to question the norm, understand the dynamics of ecosystems, and learn the adaptation of environmental changes.They delve into the importance of visualizing the garden, nurturing it slowly, and using the trial-and-error process, further discussing how patience plays a critical role in cultivating a successful garden.Wilburn also emphasizes the significance of nurturing real-world relationships with other gardeners, learning from them, and sharing knowledge and experiences.