AceShowbiz - Zach Galifianakis embraces a surprising new role in his Netflix series This Is a Gardening Show, merging humor with horticulture in an unconventional format.

During a recent conversation, Galifianakis showed a relaxed attitude toward gardening terminology, joking about the confusion between perennials and annuals. "The language is totally off," he said with a laugh. "That's why I just call perennials forever plants." These “forever plants” include hardy kiwi, rhubarb, and asparagus, which serve a larger purpose: attracting more bees to his land.

Though best known for his roles in comedies like the Hangover franchise, Galifianakis has long nurtured a passion for gardening. While both he and the interviewer once lived in Venice Beach, the garden he cultivated there became a local curiosity. Influenced by urban gardening advocate Ron Finley, the actor transformed a public plot, previously strewn with discarded syringes, into a thriving garden filled with ghost peppers, grapes, and raspberries—open for anyone to forage.

Since relocating to rural British Columbia with his wife and two sons, Galifianakis has deepened his commitment to gardening, turning it into more than just a hobby. His goal is to inspire others to grow their own food, a mission he pursues through This Is a Gardening Show, which offers a unique blend of educational horticulture and deadpan humor.

The six-part Netflix series has been described as a hybrid of a PBS-style gardening documentary and a children’s show, with Galifianakis hosting in his characteristic dry style. Each episode carries a subtle urgency, emphasizing a vision of a future that is inherently agrarian. This passion project reflects the actor’s desire to make gardening accessible and appealing to a broad audience.

During a visit to Los Angeles, where he was also promoting his AMC drama The Audacity, Galifianakis discussed his evolving relationship with Hollywood, his preference for rural life, and the nickname he’s earned among agents due to his selective career choices.

Galifianakis welcomed the approach of Earth Day with a touch of humor: "I like that there’s one day that we concentrate on the Earth." He also quipped about America’s odd holiday priorities: "We get one for the Earth, but there are two National Donut Days. Welcome to America!"

Though based in Canada now, Galifianakis has a long history with British Columbia, having visited the region for more than 25 years. He has lived there on and off for nearly a decade and appreciates the land’s connection to gardening traditions. His move away from Los Angeles stemmed from a desire to return to a smaller community atmosphere. "L.A. was never my... I was never going to sit at Norms Diner and retire here," he said.

Regarding his current stance on Hollywood, Galifianakis describes the entertainment lifestyle as incompatible with his personality. He works in the industry but keeps it separate from his personal life. "For me, it’s more healthy that way—to live in it and constantly go to things, that ain’t me," he explained.

Reflecting on his earlier years, he revealed that he worked as a busboy at a strip club in New York until he was 28. "Stringfellows in New York. Not proud of it," he admitted. His unconventional path has shaped a unique, somewhat detached relationship with show business. "I do think my approach has always been a little bit different. I feel like I have a healthy relationship with show business because I am not that into it."

Despite his ambivalence, Galifianakis maintains enthusiasm for his craft. "Always. I wake up in the morning, ready to go to work," he said, though he acknowledged that discussing work can sometimes be taxing. He also reflected on his past struggles with fame, noting that earlier complaints about being recognized publicly no longer resonate with him. Living in a community where fame is irrelevant has helped him shed those concerns.

"The onus put on actors is so silly to me. It’s how we got a celebrity president," he commented, expressing skepticism about society’s obsession with celebrity culture. He has long felt like an outsider in Hollywood, recalling how the first laugh he received during an audition was actually at his expense. Coming from a small-town background surrounded by private school elites, he chose not to engage in the typical Hollywood party scene, a stance that still informs his attitude today.

Agents have affectionately dubbed him "Dr. No" due to his frequent refusals of roles. "I’m a Libra, and I somewhat subscribe to that stuff because I am a big believer in balance," he said. Galifianakis feels he has already given enough of his life to the media and admires those who constantly seek attention but recognizes that this lifestyle isn’t for him.

When asked if his children find him funny, he responded with a typical dry wit. "They used to. I’m their father, so it’s different. But I hope they still do." When pressed about their ages, he jokingly declined to provide details, saying, "I don’t know. I have no idea. You can print that."