The Garden Question

Jason Reeves knows plants and loves talking about them.He is a research horticulturist and curator for the University of Tennessee Gardens, at the West Tennessee Ag Research and Education Center in Jackson.He evaluates thousands of new and unique plants each year through out his imaginative garden art displays. Jason travels the world speaking at gardening symposiums and serving as a contributing editor to “Fine Gardening” magazine. While growing up on a farm he fell in love with the plant world. He received his Master’s degree in Ornamental Horticulture and Landscape Design from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. His past experiences include work at the Opryland Conservatories, Missouri Botanical Garden, Longwood Gardens in Pennsylvania, and in private gardens in New Zealand. Facebook: Jason Reeves - in the Garden UT Gardens Jackson

How would you like to impact the environment in a positive way with your garden? In this episode we talk with Dr. Andy Pulte about having fun and succeeding in a dynamic ecological vibrant garden.Andy grew up in the nursery industry in Grand Island, Nebraska. He received his Ph.D. in plant sciences from the University of Tennessee.He is now on the faculty in the same department teaching, advising, and coordinating UT’s plant sciences undergraduate program. You will find him feeding his passion for people and plants by traveling extensively and speaking regularly. Over his career he has contributed to a variety of gardening publications and hosted a gardening radio show. He is an internationally certified arborist. Andy gardens with his family in a residential community north of Knoxville TN where he seeks out unusual plants for his home garden to inspire questions from those who visit. The Southeastern Grasslands InstituteDogwood Arts Trails & Garden Learn plant Identification: Plant Sleuth YouTube Plant Sleuth Instagram

Pam Farley talks about what it takes to grow a high yield container food garden in this episode. Her successful methods has produce many a good meal for her family.Since grade school Pam has been gardening and writing. These two interests collided in 2009, when she created the website BrownThumbMama.com. There she has documents her huge list of home and garden tips. Millions of readers from around the world visit her site to learn about vegetable gardening, easy recipes, and making a nontoxic home. Pam is the author of The First-Time Gardener: Container Food Gardening

In this episode we talk with Nancy & Pierre Moitrier about how they approach garden creation as a wife and husband team. Why inspiring your garden soul is important to them as they design and build an outdoor space.Bringing life to your garden by harvesting natural materials to build one-of-a-kind whimsical structures known as French Folly.A whimsical world in the garden will open up to you as they talk about ole world antique troughs. Listen to the scheme of how these lost and forgotten common garden and farm items are artistically applied to the garden.

When Noelle Johnson arrived in the desert she kill every plant she owned. She fancied herself a green thumb, but she wasn’t from around here, the desert.She was determined to succeed and earn her B.S. degree in Urban Horticulture from Arizona State University.For a few years she dodged golf balls from the tees and fairways while designing and caring for the plants around the course. Which included hundreds of trees, shrubs, perennials, and yes, even cactus.Noelle is a horticulturist, landscape consultant, garden instructor, author, and popular speaker who lives and gardens in the Phoenix, AZ area.She is now popularly known as AZ Plant Lady®.Noelle teaches and inspires desert-dwellers of the many opportunities for creating and maintaining a beautiful outdoor space that thrives in a hot, dry climate in her new book Dry Climate Gardening.

Growing organic vegetables is Susan Mulvihill’s passion.She has learned many lessons from her consistent gardening of 5 acres in Spokane, Washington with her husband Bill. Their large raised-bed garden yields some mighty fine edible crops. Always curious and researching answers to their garden challenges. Susan loves sharing her findings through numerous outlets. Her newest book The Vegetable Garden Problem Solver Handbook promises to be another best seller. The book will help you identify and manage diseases and other common problems on edible plants.It is a great companion for her best seller The Vegetable Garden Pest Handbook. She is also the co-author of the Northwest Gardener’s Handbook.Susan and Bill’s Garden has been featured on the popular public television program, “Growing a Greener World” (episode 809 and 1202), hosted by Joe Lamp’l.Helping other gardeners be successful has driven Susan to produce and host over 400 episodes on her weekly YouTube channel Susan in the Garden.She is the longtime garden columnist for the Sunday edition of The Spokesman-Review in Spokane, Washington.Been a Spokane County Master Gardener for over 20 years and is a nationally known Garden Speaker.Her website can be found at SusansintheGarden.com and contains resources for organic pest control along with many other guides designed for gardening success.Susan has been featured previously on The Garden Question Podcast in episode 047 - Developing Your Battle Strategy for This Year’s Bug Wars

Toni Gattone believes there is always another way to get it done with adaptive garden tools and mindset. She believes that gardening is one of the healthiest activities for anyone. In this episode we talk about how being resilient and resourceful are the keys to not giving up on gardening.When to start and who needs Toni’s successful techniques in using adaptive gardening..Toni Gattone is the author of the book: The Lifelong Gardener: Garden with Ease and Joy at Any AgeToni is a passionate gardener and entrepreneur with a passion to help people become resilient in their garden and their everyday lives.She is a Master Gardener and frequently writes and speaks on topics of adaptive gardening and edible landscapes

In this episode we talk about the future of boxwood in the garden, a visit to Bunny Mellon’ Garden, and the return of the Norton Grape to Virginia with Pat Reilly.Pat educates homeowners and landscape professionals. Teaching them how to select, care and thrive the plants of their gardens.She is the horticulture outreach specialist for NewGen Boxwoods and Saunders Brothers, inc. and you’ll also find her at Merrifield Garden Center in Northern Virginia.She has been an active Master Gardener volunteer with Virginia Cooperative Extension since 1995. Pat is happy to be breaking in a new garden where the bulb planter will actually work with her husband and two old rescued Golden Retrievers.She also tells stories and pours wine at a local winery.

In this episode I talk with Kathy Jentz about groundcovers and how they may solve many of your garden issues. We explore how to make wise selections when seeking the perfect groundcover. Kathy is a life-long gardener. She believes that growing plants should be stress-free and enjoyable. Her philosophy is inspiration over perspiration and is on a mission to turn black thumbs green. Kathy’s newest book Groundcover Revolution is a powerhouse of garden wisdom. She also co-authored The Urban Garden: 101 Ways to Grow Food and Beauty. Kathy Jentz is the editor and publisher of the award-winning Washington Gardener Magazine, based in Washington, DC.She also hosts the popular weekly GardenDC Podcast, which was recently named Best DC Podcast.

Today we talk with two plant geeks that meet in a garden. Both are now Directors of two prominent public gardens in North Carolina.Adrienne Roethling is the Director for Paul J. Ciener Botanical Garden in Kernersville, NC.Jon Roethling is the Director Reynolda Gardens of Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, NC.They tell their story and the stories of the amazing gardens they oversee.How they handle garden conflicts at home.Even their vacations are about plants.

At Stoneleigh, Ethan Kauffman is introducing biodiversity to a formal garden.Using sound design reasoning and creative native plants for formal hedges and knot gardens. He is always looking to fill a function and not just an expectation of what a plant should be.Ethan developed his love of the natural world exploring the Susquehanna River hills in southeastern PA. He cultivated his horticultural perspective over two decades of gardening in the Deep South, including as director of Moore Farms Botanical Garden.There he led the transition from a private pleasure garden to a public botanical garden. Drawing on influences from both regions, he currently serves as Natural Lands’ first director of Stoneleigh: a natural garden. A 42-acre former estate located in Villanova, PA that opened to the public in 2018. There he creates a garden experience that inspires others to garden for beauty, biodiversity, and the health of our planet.

In this episode we talk with Jordan Daneker about the little things that bring your outdoor spaces to life.He walks us through the process on how he discovers and builds the perfect outdoor space for you and your family.We explore the artful details used to put together plants, pools, pavilions, hardscapes, lighting and more to yield a unique and quality environment.Jordan’s obsession and passion started as a part time job in 2008 and now he is on a mission “To Get North Carolina Outside”. He is a partner in a landscape company Evolve Design + Build located in Currituck, North Carolina. You can find him on both Facebook and Instagram.He is a licensed North Carolina landscape and general contractor. He holds designations from Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute (ICPI) for concrete pavers and The National Concrete Masonry Association (NCMA) for segmented retaining walls.A remix and encore of episode 035

Paul Chappell grows trees headed to a landscape garden near you. He talks about the fascinating journey your tree might take before finding a home in your garden. Once your tree finds its home, Paul lays out what it takes for you to be a successful tree grower for multiple generations. Paul fell in love with plants and their care over 36 successful years ago. He tells some very interesting stories about his time at Callaway Gardens. The challenges of growing native trees in the nursery. Also, some plant design practices and choices you will want to avoid. Paul is a Georgia Certified Landscape Professional, an ISA Certified Arborist, and a 20 plus years nursery grower of fine trees. This is episode 015 “Where Trees Come From” of The Garden Question Podcast. Our conversation with Paul Chappell of Diversified Trees coming up.This is episode 089 – Your Garden’s Next Tree – Paul Chappell on The Garden Question Podcast.A remix and encore presentation of episode 015.

Jenny Simpson meets people on their gardening journey and helps them grow, bloom, and thrive both in their garden and life!In this episode we talk about how being a student of your garden puts you on a track to success.Jenny & Jerry Simpson are growers and retailer of specialized plants that thrive in the often-challenging climate of the southeastern United States.Their Creekside Nursery, Inc. is an all-hands-on deck family operation located in the serene countryside outside Dallas, NC.As a Proven Winners' Destination Garden Center, they offer the region’s largest selection of Proven Winners' plants. Jenny creates and publishes 5 very informative garden videos a week. You will want to follow Jenny’s family adventures along with 75,000+ followers @GardeningwithCreekside on YouTube.

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.

How did the Poinsettia become the Christmas flower?It is a series of intriguing stories full of human drama, mysteries, secrets, challenges, and world domination.Find out why every poinsettia plant sold today carries a critical pathogen that is a key to its success and is detrimental all other plants.Also, we will learn how to be successful in selecting and growing your poinsettia year-round along with having a few myths squashed.In this episode 086 Jim Faust tells interesting true Poinsettia Stories from their discovery to your own enjoyment at Christmas.One story involves searching out wild poinsettias in the middle of two drug cartel-controlled territories.Jim Faust is a Professor of Floriculture Physiology at Clemson University in South Carolina.He does research on greenhouse production of various flowering crops, teaches hydroponics, and greenhouse production courses.He grew his first poinsettia crop in 1986.I invite you to search for The Garden Question Podcast episode 086 page to see the many interesting images Jim talks about in this episode.

We are at the beginning of Christmas season and it is time to display the Christmas Tree.Dr. Mel Koelling knows Christmas Trees.He and his wife Laurie have grown thousands of trees every year at Tannenbaum Farms in central Michigan.A nationally recognized expert in the Christmas Tree industry, Dr. Koelling taught and served in the Department of Forestry at Michigan State University for over 35 years.Tannenbaum Farms was purchased in 1977 as an extension of Dr. Koelling's professional interests and as a way to establish a college fund for his children. The first planting in 1978 covered three acres. Today, plantings cover approximately 100 acres of the 180-acre farm.I was introduced to Dr. Koelling through the fine folks at The National Christmas Tree Promotion Board. Their campaign It’s Christmas Keep It Real touch me.Christmas trees what a wonderful idea for an episode.It can take over 8 years to grow your tree so there is not really an off season on a Christmas Tree farm. We will hear right from the grower himself how to select and care for your live tree.We will also discover the story behind the first Christmas Tree and how the tradition grew.This episode 085 - Real Christmas Tree Stories - Dr. Mel Koelling. An encore remix presentation of episode 033 on The Garden Question Podcast.

Pearce Butcher has always known that she is an artist who loves nature and science.In thisepisode we dissect Landscape Design as a unique combination of art, science,and problem-solving.Pearceloves the challenge of looking at a space, listening to the concerns and dreamsof the homeowner, and coming up with beautiful solutions. Shecomposes absolutely stunning landscape designs for her clients at Pearce B Designs. Be inspired by her extraordinarydesigns on Instagram @Pearce B Designs.Pearce isa double major in Earth and Environmental Science and Art from Furman University. At George Washington University sheearned a Landscape Certificate while studying at the U.S. National Arboretum.

So much of Charles Daniel’s garden world revolves around camellias. In this episode he talks about how to be successful with Camellias and their surprising history.He shares why Camellias are a key plant for year-round blooms. We also talk about how to overcome garden challenges.This lawyer, banker, and successful business owner “retired” to his new passion for gardening. He reveals his journey that led him to the ongoing development and caring for some of the most unique gardens in Savannah, Georgia area.Charles is a University of Georgia Certified Plant Professional and a Georgia Certified Landscape Professional.This is episode 083 - Where Do Camellias Grow Best with Charles Daniel on The Garden Question Podcast.

082 – David Brown – Designing From The GardenYou will often find David Brown studying plants in the gardens at Hills and Dales Estate.He seeks to acquire the perfect cutting for his amazing indoor arrangements. In our conversation he tells us how you may accomplish the same with your garden plants.Before coming to Hills & Dales Estate, David taught high school horticulture for 30 years and then was an adjunct instructor at Southern Crescent Technical College for 8 years. On top of all that he and his wife also owned and operated their own floral shop. David has a BS degree in Horticulture and Agriculture Education from Purdue University. Now he is the Greenhouse Manager and Floral Designer for Hills & Dales Estate where he is always applying his wealth of knowledge and creative expertise.This episode is a remix of 030

In this episode Troy B. Marden tells us about the terrifying event that began his horticultural adventures.As an accomplished garden designer, he shares the vision of fellow gardeners in his clients, writings, television show and worldwide tours.He seeks to help you discover the inspiration found in garden cultures around the globe and domestically.Also, today Troy smashes a couple of common garden myths.Troy’s love for gardening began on the Kansas plains.At the age of 14 he began his horticultural career working at the local Blueville Nursery.His unique passion for plants and gardening lead to college internships at two of the country’s most esteemed public gardens, Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain, Georgia and the world-renowned Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania.He has called Nashville home for over the past 25 years.Where he grew a successful business in garden and floral design, special events, garden photography, writing, public speaking, and television.For over 20 years he has been a part of Nashville Public Television’s hit gardening show, Volunteer Gardener.Troy’s passion for seeing the world’s most beautiful places burns brightly. He now curates and leads small group adventures around the world through Troy B. Marden Travel.He seeks to share his many loves of gardening, food, wine, art, architecture, design, nature, photography, and history with each adventure.FacebookInstagram

In this episode Preston Montague talks about how to achieve positive ecological impacts with plants from all over the globe with structural elements that serve animals, insects and people.It’s not just about native plants.Understanding the relationships that compose an ecosystem and the keystone species that is important.Learn how to back into landscape design and avoid the ultimate disappointments in a Static landscape.Preston Montague is a landscape architect and artist who developed a passion for the natural world while growing up in the rural foothills of Virginia.Currently, he lives in Durham, North Carolina working on projects that encourage stronger relationships between people and the natural world.Preston is a host on The Native Plant Podcast.

You will be surprised how much your day-to-day gardening helps save our endanger plant species.In this episode Jennifer Ceska is determined to make native plants regular.How to wake up native plants already on your land and learning to love the untidy.She explains why connecting people and grasses is essentials and why grasslands are so important.Weaving as much diversity as we can get to create as much resilience we can get in the habitatJennifer Ceska is accredited Public Service and Outreach Faculty at the University of Georgia and has served since 1995 as Conservation Coordinator in the Science & Conservation Program of the State Botanical Garden of Georgia, Athens. She received her masters at UGA in horticulture with an emphasis on plant conservation. Her specialty is creating project driven professional networks and facilitating projects for endangered species recovery. She has consulted with 14 states in developing their own conservation networks. Jennifer serves as project manager for the Georgia Plant Conservation Alliance, coordinating over 60 organizations contributing recovery actions to 105 critically imperiled plant species in Georgia. Links for things talked about --- State Botanical Garden of Georgia Connect to Protect Connect to Protect Garden GuideUS Forest Service Gardening for Pollinators National Wildlife Federation, Plant with a Purpose, gardening pageGeorgia Plant Conservation AllianceCenter for Plant Conservation, Rare Plant AcademyBaptisia arachnifera, Hairy Rattleweed profileRhus michauxii, Dwarf Sumac profile

Do you often find it a challenging to grow perennials in the heat and humidity of the south?In this episode we talk with Kata Kress Wallace about the best ways to overcome those challenges.It’s no secret that perennials love the full sun, but what about those dry shady gardens? She’ll shed some light on that.Kata shares some simple low maintenance techniques that will be well worth your efforts and she also throws in a deer reptant fun fact.Living in Durham North Carolina Kata has the opportunity to interact with thousands of gardeners as the southeastern product manager for Walters Gardens.She has been closely tied to the nursery industry all throughout her life. Her father owns a nursery in Austria named Sarastro Stauden that specializes in unique and rare plants. Kata came to the United States interning at Plant Delights Nursery with Tony Avent after earning a master’s degree in Geography and Spanish.She also led international crews at Hoffman Nursery as Garden Coordinator and production Supervisor responsible for producing millions of grass liners. In 2019 she received the Young Professional Award from the Perennial Plant Association and was named to the Greenhouse Product News 40 Under 40 Class of 2020.

Mike Cunningham believes that having a salad every day is probably one of the healthiest things you can do for yourself.In this episode we will discover how simple, easy, and quick growing greens can keep your salad bowl full all winter.Fresh tasty nutritional eating right from your deck, patio, or backyard sounds great to me.Mike and Judy Cunningham have been teaching people how to grow, cook, and preserve good organic food for over 10 years.Country Gardens Farm is a third-generation family farm growing a wide assortment of organic year-round vegetables they sale to the community from their 3 acres.This episode 077 - Growing Baby Salad Greens all Winter with Mike CunninghamMike’s blog post Baby Salid Greens with video on how to plant in a bed.Judy’s RecipesFacebook: Country Gardens FarmInstagram: MikeCunningham1529Website: Country Gardens Farm00:00 Introduction to The Garden Question Podcast00:42 Meet Mike Cunningham: Growing Greens Expert01:59 Why Grow Baby Salad Greens?03:46 How to Grow Baby Salad Greens04:57 Succession Planting and Container Tips06:18 Soil and Fertilizer Mix for Greens15:29 Harvesting and Post-Harvest Handling18:44 Exploring Microgreens24:15 Seasonal Growing Tips28:27 Additional Crops for Your Garden30:39 Connecting with Country Gardens Farm33:16 Conclusion and Podcast Information

Are you ready to try something new? Then grasses and sedges could be your next garden adventure.You will find the opportunities for creating a rich layered interesting garden that serves more than an ornamental function.Developing the whole ecological package. Improving the soil and developing a more aesthetically functionating garden are in your future.We all need better solutions for suppressing weeds and gardening under trees. This is episode 076 – Growing & Understanding Grasses & Sedges - Shannon CurreyShannon is a horticultural educator and consultant with Izel Native Plants.She began her work life as a social scientist and then changed her career pursuit to horticulture at North Carolina State University.Shannon joined Hoffman Nursery, a wholesale grower specializing in grasses, sedges, and other graminoids.She has shared her advanced knowledge of graminoids in articles published nationally.You will often find her speaking across the country to professional organizations, community groups, and at public gardens.Shannon currently serves on the Perennial Plant Association’s Board of Directors and is on the North Carolina Plant Conservation Scientific Committee.She was honored in 2020 with the Libby Wilder Award from the North Carolina Nursery & Landscape Association.In 2022 she joined Izel Native Plants to expand their education and outreach efforts.Izel’s unique sales model brings native plant wholesale growers’ inventories directly to the end consumer.Time Line00:00 Welcome to The Garden Question Podcast01:11 Introduction to Episode 76: Grasses and Sedges01:18 Meet Shannon Curry: Horticultural Expert02:29 Understanding Ornamental vs. Turf Grass03:19 Exploring Sedges and Their Ecological Value06:19 Warm Season vs. Cool Season Grasses11:23 Grasses and Sedges in Garden Design19:39 Practical Tips for Growing and Dividing Grasses and Sedges24:47 Adapting Northern Gardening Principles to the Southeast27:35 Mulch and Weed Management27:52 Choosing the Right Plants for Your Climate28:49 Starting Small and Learning from Examples29:54 The Unique Qualities of Grasses and Sedges30:18 Design Elements of Grasses32:16 Seasonality and Maintenance of Grasses34:05 Ecological Benefits of Grasses34:57 Cutting Back and Dividing Grasses37:33 Planting and Managing Grasses and Sedges41:36 Common Garden Myths and Mistakes42:03 Personal Gardening Experiences50:16 New Horticultural Adventures52:15 Final Thoughts and How to Connect

Sarah Roberts and her team have brought the New Perennial Movement to the south on a large scale. The new Entrance Garden’s large sweeps of grasses, perennials, native plants presented in a naturalistic style welcomes you to the Atlanta History Center.The garden has settled in and in this episode Sarah explains the details that makes it successful.It is a creation perfect for insects, small mammals, birds and people.Sarah Roberts is the Olga C. de Goizueta Vice President of the Goizueta Gardens and Living Collections at the Atlanta History CenterA college internship in curation at the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University sparked Sarah’s career path in public horticulture.During her undergraduate studies at Berry College, she spent a year on scholarship in the United Kingdom studying historic gardens as part of her honors degree in Horticulture.The next five years were spent as Curator of Herbaceous Plants and Outdoor Gardens at the New York Botanical Garden.She then returned to England, completing a Diploma in Garden Design from the UK’s Garden Design School.Upon Sarah’s return to the US, she began consulting for the Atlanta History Center which led to her current position as Vice President of Goizueta Gardens.She leads the development, curation and preservation of the 33-acre public garden with three historic houses.Sarah has written for numerous publications, been featured on Martha Stewart Radio, the Canadian Broadcast Corporation, GardenSmart TV series and the podcast Stuff You Missed in History Class.

Jason Powell declares the queen of the garden to be antique roses. Who could argue with old garden roses that exudes excellent fragrance, shape, disease resistance, and low maintenance. We talk about how these fragrant flowering shrubs make a huge impact in your garden when pairing them with some surprise companion plantings. Jason and his wife Shelley partner with Jason’s Mom and Dad to produce heirloom plants at their nursery Petals from the Past. Their mission is to educate and grow “tough plants for southern gardens”. Jason earned a Bachelor degree in Horticulture from Auburn University and a Master degree in Horticulture from Texas A&M University.He is a proud member of the infamous Texas Rose Rustlers where they scouted and rescued thousands of antique roses all over the southeast.Jason insider’s look at The Peggy Martin / Hurricane Katrina Rose survival story will amaze you.

Mike and Judy Cunningham are harvesting the last summer crops at Country Gardens Farm.Fall gardening is just beginning. Mike takes a break to talk about his favorite time of the year in the garden.Some of the things you will discover in this episode are the best practices Mike implements for soils, plant selections, and timing. All important for a successful fall harvest.Mike and Judy Cunningham have been teaching people how to grow, cook, and preserve good organic food for over 10 years.Country Gardens Farm is a third-generation family farm growing a wide assortment of organic year-round vegetables they sale to the community from their 3 acres.Mike with lots of input from Judy authored his successful "Seven Steps to an Organic Vegetable Garden"You will remember Mike's openness in sharing his successful methods for growing good food in our inaugural episode 001 of "The Garden Question" Podcast.This episode 073 “Fall Organic Vegetable Gardening” an edited and remix version of episode 017 with Mike Cunningham. In this episode of The Garden Question podcast, host Craig McManus speaks with Mike Cunningham about the fundamentals of fall organic vegetable gardening. The discussion covers best practices for soil management, plant selections, and timing, crucial for successful fall harvests. Mike shares insights on protecting plants from cold weather, the differences between summer and fall crops, and the importance of soil nutrition. Additionally, the episode highlights the benefits of cover crops and practical tips for container gardening. Listeners will also learn about managing pests organically and how Mike and his wife Judy teach their community to grow, cook, and preserve organic food at their third-generation Country Gardens Farm in Georgia.Time Line00:00 Introduction to The Garden Question Podcast00:41 Meet Mike and Judy Cunningham02:02 Why Plant a Fall Vegetable Garden?03:17 Protecting Plants from Cold Weather04:30 Differences Between Fall and Summer Crops05:04 Planting Onions and Garlic for Spring Harvest07:26 Understanding Days to Maturity (DTM)09:01 Growing Broccoli, Cauliflower, and Brussels Sprouts14:41 Carrots: A Sweet Winter Treat16:11 Container Gardening Tips17:27 Growing Leafy Greens in Containers19:50 Fall Gardening: Brassicas and More23:12 Dealing with Pests in the Fall Garden26:38 Safe Insect Control with BT27:31 Dealing with Aphids and Other Pests28:29 Protecting Your Garden from Deer and Rabbits29:37 The Importance of Soil Health31:06 Using Organic Fertilizers34:27 Planting and Caring for Transplants38:05 Winter Cover Crops and Soil Maintenance40:28 Handling Plant Debris and No-Till Methods42:20 Farm Events and Seasonal Activities45:06 Learning and Growing with Nature47:55 About Country Gardens Farm49:49 Conclusion and Podcast Information

Color excites us more than any design element in the garden because it speaks emotionally to us.In this episode we will dissect and learn how color speaks to us in our garden. Dr. Laura Deeter received her PhD in horticulture from The Ohio State University where she is currently a Full Professor of Horticulture at Ohio State ATI in Wooster, OH.She teaches a multitude of horticulture classes including: Woody and Herbaceous Plant Identification, Landscape Design, Sustainable Landscaping, Plant Health Management, Landscape Construction, and Ecology, to name a few.Twice awarded the OSU Alumni Award for Distinguished Teaching, the Perennial Plant Association Teaching Awardthe American Horticulture Society Teaching Award, Perennial Plant Association Service Award, a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Ohio Landscape Associationand Professor of the Year from Instructure. She travels extensively around the country speaking on a variety of topics ranging from taxonomy and nomenclature to shade gardens, design, color, and specialty gardens and plants. At home she gardens on her tenth of an acre with her hubby, four dogs, 100 pink plastic flamingos and counts her 300+ species of perennials as dear friends.

Naturalistic planting design begins with understanding what roles certain plants play in nature.One of the most useful concepts in a plants’ survival strategy is learning how to classify it on the Grimes Triangle.This is a new concept for me. I don’t remember every hearing about this classification system or how it works. We talk about this and more in this episode 071 – Success with Naturalistic Plantings with our guest Jared Barnes, Ph.D. Dr. Jared started gardening when he was five years old. Since then, he has enthusiastically pursued how to best cultivate plants and cultivate minds. He currently fulfills those passions as an award-winning associate professor of horticulture at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, TX. He obtained his Ph.D. in horticultural science from North Carolina State University in Raleigh, NC. He interned at The Scott Arboretum of Swarthmore College. By traveling around the US and to eleven countries he has gained national and global horticulture perspectives. Jared educates the public with his weekly newsletter Plant-Ed and his monthly podcast Plantastic all found on his website Meristeam. His passion has been recognized by peers in interviews in Organic Gardening, Greenhouse Grower, AmericanHort Connect, Ken Druse’s Real Dirt, and Nursery Management. His articles have appeared in The American Gardener, Fine Gardening and Carolina Gardener.

Whether rain drops are regularly falling in your garden this season or you’ve almost forgot what rain looks like, having a water drainage plan is more Important than a Planting Plan for a happy successful garden.In this episode Host Craig McManus talks about water drainage systems in the garden. What he has seen that works and what is seen that failed. Some principles and truths that every gardener should know.

It’s hummingbird season. Are they swarming in your garden? In this episode Gail Woody reveals her tricks of the garden that attract hundreds of these wonderful creatures.She talks about her feeding strategies and nectar producing plants that make her garden a popular stop for hummingbirds on their migration journey to and from Central America. Knowing the successful water attracting tactics. Providing preferred reproduction habitat. And, attracting the preferred insects are all important to Hummingbird health.Gail has been gardening for over 30 years. She creates the perfect eco system that includes butterflies, hummingbirds, native plants, water features and more. She has a contagious passion for gardening! This episode will inspire you. Gail Woody is an ISA Certified Arborist and a seasoned advanced Master Gardener. She speaks and writes on Butterflies, Hummingbirds, and native plants among other garden subjects.The hummingbirds swarming around my garden inspired me to remix, edited and reintroduce episode 005 for episode 069 - How to Attract Hummingbirds to Your Garden - Gail Woody

In this episode Gail Woody will tell us how to attract more butterflies and then keep them coming to your garden.She has been studying these flying jewels for many years and regularly attracts up to 38 different species to her garden. Monarch butterflies make regular visits to her garden twice a year on their migration treks from Mexico to Canada. She raises and tags new monarchs each year helping increase and study the growing population. Gail has been gardening for over 30 years. Creating the perfect eco system for butterflies, hummingbirds, and native plants. Her passion for gardening is contagious! After listening to this episode there will be no excuses. Building and growing your own butterfly paradise will become a priority!Gail Woody is an ISA Certified Arborist and a seasoned advanced Master Gardener. She speaks and writes on Butterflies, Hummingbirds, and native plants among other garden subjects. This is Episode 068 - Attracting More Butterflies to Your Garden – Gail Woody and is an update and remix from episode 002.Backyard Butterflies – Georgia Department of Natural Resources https://georgiawildlife.com/backyard-butterfliesMonarchs Across Georgia https://www.eealliance.org/monarchs-across-ga.htmlMonarch Butterflies & Georgia Gardeners Brochurehttps://botgarden.uga.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/milkweedinformation.pdfGeorgia Pollinator Partnership https://gapp.org/

It’s no accident insects are a critical part of putting good food on your table. Becky Griffin knows pollinators count. Now she is counting the pollinators in the 2022 The Great Georgia Pollinator Census. Your state could be next.Being a self-confessed “Geeky Kid” with a great love for insects Becky wore out the bee book in her local library. Now Becky is the coordinator of The Great Georgia Pollinator Census taking place this year on August 19th and 20th, 2022. In this episode we will find out how insects and their supporting habitat make a difference. Becky tells us the simple pollinator counting method for collecting important data to be used by the University of Georgia researchers. This valuable data reveals pollinator trends and is needed to conduct economic valuation studies of pollination. This is episode 067 - The Great Pollinator Census - Becky Griffin and is an updated and remix of episode 019.Becky is a Georgia Certified Beekeeper and works with community and school gardeners to increase beneficial insect habitat. She is also part of UGA's Native Plants and Beneficial Insect Working Group .You will want to hear episode 18 “Gardening with Children” when you finish this episode 19 of The Garden Question Podcast.Connect with Becky: Becky Griffin is the Community and School Garden Coordinator for University of Georgia Extension. Website: The Great Georgia Pollinator Census

In this episode Victoria Mininger shares with us how she helps her clients set up simple thriving gardens. Gardens that require less work when you find the right spot.For years Victoria and her husband Brian have owned Bear Creek Outdoor Living a residential construction company focusing on building patios, decks, pergolas and hardscapes. Incorporating edible and perennial gardens has become an expanding part of their offerings. These beautiful and sustainable garden solutions are just what their clients are looking for in their home landscape. Victoria is Permaculture Design Certified and holds a degree in Psychology. Bear Creek Outdoor Living WebsiteBear Creek Facebook Bear Creek Instagram Victoria’s personal website: www.victoriamininger.com

Have you got a shady location where nothing else will grow? Are you tired of mowing grass? Do you have problem with soil erosion? How about a desire to avoid chemical fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides?In this episode Annie Martin, moss landscape designer and Timber Press author of The Magical World of Moss Gardening, talks about how Native mosses can be an excellent horticultural alternative.Annie (aka Mossin’ Annie) is the owner of Mountain Moss in Pisgah Forest, NC,She provides valuable insights on how to transform your outdoor living space into a serene retreat and eco-friendly landscape with verdant mosses.Her how-to tips will help you get started on your own appealing year-round green moss gardening projects.Youtube: Mossin’ AnnieFacebook group: Growing Green with Moss

Dean Norton fell in love with the Mount Vernon Estate Gardens 53 years ago and never left.After receiving a degree in horticulture from Clemson University he began his horticultural career as the estate’s boxwood gardener. The historical gardens of the first president of The United States George Washington became his responsibility in 1980. His promotion to horticulturist allowed him to applying the latest plant science and horticulture management techniques for historical gardens. Dean has devoted considerable time researching 18th century gardens and gardening practices. He has received awards for conservation from the DAR and the Garden Club of America as well as the Garden Club of America’s Elizabeth Craig Weaver Proctor National Medal. He is an honorary member of the Garden Club of Virginia and the Garden Club of Providence.He has been awarded an honorary doctorate from Washington College, serves on several historic property boards and, lectures nationally and internationally.

It’s been over 200 years since he was born.People still absorb his parks and public gardens in more than 5,000 communities across the North American continent. The goal is to “give the common man in this New World the same opportunity to experience creation as any king in his private preserve from the Old World.”Frederick Law Olmsted is prevalently pronounced the father of American landscape architecture.In this Episode 063 – A Word with Fredrick Law Olmsted – (interpreted by) Kirk R. BrownKirk R. Brown is a member of the International Garden Communicator’s Hall of Fame. He is a Green Achiever being recognized with many industry awards.He represented Joanne Kostecky Garden Design as a leader in the design/build industry.At America’s Oldest Garden in Charleston SC, he worked as National Outreach Coordinator. He is a past president of www.GardenComm.com.In the US and Canada, he has delivered hundreds of keynote addresses, guest lectures, teaching symposia, and certified instruction over the past quarter century.He is also known to interpret historic horticulturists and international dignitaries: John Bartram, and Frederick Law Olmsted.With it all, he still finds time to cultivate his own private display garden.Join him now as he unveils his views on Olmsted’s in this Bicentennial year.

In this episode Dan Miller talks about his vision and how he executes his creative garden ideas.Dan is the author of the New York Times best-selling book 48 Days To The Work You Love, No More Dreaded Mondays, Wisdom Meets Passion and An Understanding Heart. He has been a guest on CBS' 'The Early Show,' MSNBC's 'Hardball with Chris Mathews, and the Dave Ramsey Show.Dan has spoken at the White House Christian Fellowship, and is in high demand as an expert on new opportunities in today’s changing workplace. His 48 Days Podcast consistently ranks at the top under Careers on Apple Podcast.The 48DaysEagles.com community is an example worldwide for those seeking to find – or create – work they love.

What can you do to improve your garden’s soil to reduce failures? In this episode 061 Sustainable Soil Success with Bryce Lane, we discover how understanding soils influences abundant plant growth.Bryce discovered his passion for plants, and telling others about them while working at a small Massachusetts garden center through high school and college.After earning his BS and MS degrees in Horticulture, he came to the Department of Horticultural Science at NC State University as an Instructor and Undergraduate Coordinator.He spent 34 years teaching and advising over 20,000 students. Bryce retired in 2014, but still teaches part-time in the department.For 11 seasons, from 2003 to 2014 he hosted and produced a three-time, Emmy winning, UNC TV public television show called “In the Garden With Bryce Lane”.

Melanie Deyton has made a life connecting people to plants through her family’s flower farm Melanie’s Garden.In this episode 060 we talk about successful Cut Flower Gardening. Overcoming the trials and the solutions of developing a whole new flower farm site.You will enjoy learning how Melanie’s practical experience will guide you to becoming a better Cut Flower Grower. Having worked in the floral and gardening industry for over a decade, she has learned that it's best to let nature lead the way.As a mother, gardener and floral designer, she finds joy and beauty in the simplest things growing in her garden and along roadsides. She talks about how nature’s hidden delights become spectacular shared designs.This is episode 060 – Cut Flower Growing - Melanie DeytonMelanie’s Garden FacebookMelanie’s Garden Instagram

Lisa Bartlett is the Garden Manager for Smith-Gilbert Gardens.She is responsible the over 4,000 species collection of plants.This collection ranges from rare herbaceous perennials to rare and unusual trees.The largest collections of Bonsai in the Southeast are also held at the gardens.Lisa created the award-winning Butterfly Exhibit at Smith-Gilbert Gardens and follow up with the first Crevice Garden in Georgia.Lisa has also served on the board of The American Hydrangea Society. One of her current projects is developing what she hopes to be a Nationally recognized collection of Hydrangea.She also hosted a gardening radio show, called Green and Grow. Before her passion for plants Lisa was a talent agent for stand-up comedians.Jeff Foxworthy was once one of her clients!The Penny McHenry Hydrangea Festival

Augustus Jenkins Farmer III is a renaissance plantsman. Born into a family of artists, musicians, and farmers, he fell in love with the natural world early in his childhood. Later he went on to pursue a formal education in Plant and Environmental Sciences at Clemson University and Botanical Garden Design at the University of Washington.For the last twenty years Jenks has led teams responsible for establishing two of South Carolina's major botanical gardens. He's presented lectures for groups such as the North Carolina State Agricultural Faculty, the Smithsonian, Wave Hill, Master Gardener clubs and, of course his grandmother's Allendale Ladies Afternoon Reading Club. His designs for homes, museums, and businesses have received recognition and awards while delighting hundreds of thousands of visitors with the joyful, easy exuberance of hand-crafted gardens.An avid writer, Jenks has been publishing since 1990. His essays have been featured in magazines such as Rodale's Organic Gardening, Fine Gardening, Horticulture, Botanic Gardens Conservation International, and The Public Garden. His stories appear in GreenPrints and Bare Essential Wildlife Journal of Australia.Jenks's books often interweave different facts, lessons, and moments from his life that he combines with the knowledge he's gained over the years.Deep Rooted Wisdom; Stories and Lessons from Generations of Gardeners. 2014 Timber PressFunky Little Flower Farm. 2019 Artisan Creative Group. Crinum: Unearthing the History and Cultivation of the Worlds Largest BulbAs the former director of Riverbanks Botanical Garden and founding horticulturist of Moore Farms Garden, Jenks has a true talent and passion for inspiring people of all ages and from all walks of life to go outside and get their hands dirty.

In this 057th episode with talk with Carol Reese about the Dangers Posed by the Native Purist Movement. Before your eyes pop out of your head take another sip and listen. Carol Reese is a retired Extension Horticulture Specialist.She is a nationally-known speaker delightfully blending equal parts gardening knowledge, natural lore, and quirky humor. Her B.S. and M.S. in Horticulture are from Mississippi State University, and she could also add her Phd. To the mix if she “had ever written that dissertation!” While there she taught classes in Plant Materials and Landscape Design.She written numerous articles for garden publications and served as the Q&A columnist for Horticulture Magazine.For two decades she wrote a weekly gardening and nature column for the Jackson Sun. Carol attributes her love of horticulture to being raised on a farm by generations of plant nuts, including a grandfather who each spring dynamited his garden spot to “break up his hard pan”. Carol’s very personal appreciation of natural lore is at least partially a result of her near daily rambles through the wild areas near her home with her extensive and motley collection of mutts, aka known as the strong-willed breed of “Amalgamations”.

Jay Sifford’s passion for crafting immersive gardens that are full of magic and story guide his garden designs. In this episode 056 Cornerstones of a Great Garden, we will discover how Mary Poppins inspires and nurtures a space where reality and fantasy collide. Sifford explains how he uses psychological, philosophical and spiritual principles to create contemporary, Asian-inspired, and woodland gardens with common plants and authentic materials. His inspiring gardens have been featured in Southern Living, Fine Gardening, and Country Gardens magazines as well as in several books and on Houzz. He writes for Houzz and SouthPark Magazines. In 2021, he was named North Carolina's Most Outstanding Landscape Designer by LuxLife magazine. Additionally, he has won 'Best of Houzz' awards for both design and service in 2020 through 2022. Jay Sifford’s Garden Design Sifford Garden Design on Facebook Jay Sifford Garden Design on Houzz

Mississippi native Felder Rushing is an 11th-generation Southerner. After retiring from Mississippi State University as a consumer horticulturist he spends half his year in his celebrated Mississippi cottage garden and the other half in a small terrace herb garden in Lancashire, England. Felder is a syndicated newspaper columnist, an online contributor for HGTV, and hosts a weekly NPR garden program The Gestalt Gardener.He has also been a writer, photographer, and editor for over a dozen magazines including Horticulture, Fine Gardening, Better Homes and Gardens, Landscape Architecture, Garden Design, and The National Geographic. He is the author or co-author of 32 books, including several national award winners.You will find him regularly lecturing coast to coast and overseas The New York Times has featured Felder three times. Most recently for forming and internationally promoting the all-senses, all-seasons approach of Slow Gardening. Southern Living Magazine featured Felder as one of “twenty-five people most likely to change the South.”Felder has served as a national director of the Garden Writers Association, board officer of the American Horticulture Society and member of the Royal Horticulture Society and the English Cottage Gardening Association.

Trees aren’t just for beauty any more.They provide your community with measurable health, financial, and environmental values.Susan is a ISA Certified Arborist that is on a mission to balance the challenges facing your community's tree canopies. Through her work with the Georgia Forestry Commission Urban Forests program Susan assists communities face the challenges in protecting, maintaining and increasing community tree canopies.In her work she assists local cities with managing their urban forests, public education, tree ordinances, tree protection, and commercial development planning.She also develops initiatives to encourage tree planting on private land and training tree management best practices.Susan also assists cities in identifying potential problem trees that might hamper first responders during weather events. As an instructor she teaches arborist certification prep classes to Georgia Electric Membership Corporation linemen and ROW workers.

Erica Glasener is a plant lover, horticulturist, writer, author and speaker.She is passionate about all things green and is currently the Community Involvement and Events Manager for Piedmont Park Conservancy, the nonprofit that supports Piedmont Park (over 200 acres) in Atlanta, GA. She is fortunate to have traveled throughout the US and to have discovered wonderful gardens and gardeners as the host for “A Gardener’s Diary” for 13 years on HGTV.Recently she worked as the Senior Producer for “Growing a Greener World” which airs on PBS stations across the country. She loves to share her knowledge about plants and gardening with the conviction that the world would be a better place if everyone gardened, no matter where they live or what they believe.

When Southern Living The Grumpy Gardener speaks gardeners listen. For more than 40 years Steve Bender has strived to make gardening fun. His writings about southern gardens and his hands in the dirt experiences are sought after by beginning and expert gardeners. Steve takes great joy in answering your garden questions every day at Southern Living Blog and The Grumpy Gardener on Facebook . Steve is quoted often. Usually in distain tones since he coined the term “Crape Murder”. His book Passalong Plants, co-authored with Felder Rushing, was named the best written garden book of 1994 by The Garden Writers of America His new book, “The Grumpy Gardener,” is an amusing and informative guide to plants culling from a compilation of “Grumpy Gardener” blog posts, selected articles from Southern Living, mixed in with a lot of new stuff.During his tenure at Southern Living, Steve edited a number of gardening books for Southerners, including The Southern Living Garden Book. We’ll celebrate one year of podcasting without missing a single week by bringing you this episode 052 - The Grumpy Gardener Speaks with Steve Bender.