WPTF Weekend Gardener

Mike Raley and Rufus Edmisten end the show in the studio with special guests Paul McKenzie, retired extension agent, and Chad Tyson, Director of Operations at Mitogrow.

Mike Raley and Rufus Edmisten continue the show in the studio with special guests Paul McKenzie, retired extension agent, and Chad Tyson, Director of Operations at Mitogrow.

Mike Raley and Rufus Edmisten open the show in the studio with special guests Paul McKenzie, retired extension agent, and Chad Tyson, Director of Operations at Mitogrow.

The episode wraps up with reflections on plants, nature, and learning from the garden, as Mike, Rufus, and Johnny Coley close the show with perspective, humor, and encouragement for gardeners in winter.

Mike, Rufus, and Johnny Coley dive deeper into gardening science, winter landscapes, and practical advice, mixing personal stories with insight drawn from years of experience.

Mike Raley and Rufus Edmisten are joined by Dr. Patrick McMillan, a retired Clemson University professor, and Gerald Adams, former Curator of the North Carolina Governor’s Mansion grounds. They discuss slug issues, mountain gardening, winter-blooming plants, wild gingers, and hellebores, covering topics from banana slugs and beer traps to native plants and why North Carolina is a hub of plant diversity.

The final hour wraps up with thoughtful gardening advice, plant recommendations, seasonal considerations, and personal reflections from the panel. The show closes with humor, wisdom, and encouragement for gardeners heading into winter.

The in-studio panel continues with a deeper discussion of native plants, edible gardening, family traditions, and how curiosity and observation shape sound gardening practices. Dr. McMillan and Andrea Lane share insights from the mountains, while Rufus and Dave Bolick provide perspective and narratives.

Mike Raley and Rufus Edmisten open the show in the studio with Dr. Patrick McMillan, Andrea Lane of Mitchell County, and North Carolina State Auditor Dave Bolick. The conversation blends gardening science, winter landscapes, plant behavior, and reflections on stewardship, conservation, and learning from the natural world.

The final hour features additional guests from the market, including Dave Parker of Amedeo’s and Brian Christensen of Logan’s, who highlight poinsettias, Christmas trees, and long-running Raleigh food and market traditions. The show wraps with holiday gardening advice, market updates, and reflections on the community that makes the State Farmers Market a seasonal destination.

Mike and Rufus are broadcasting from within the market shops as they talk with Gary Stevenson and Amanda Bratcher. They share holiday stories, food discoveries, Christmas traditions, and reflections on previous shows and guests. The hour also features discussions about holiday plants, such as poinsettias, and emphasizes the importance of supporting farmers and growers during the Christmas season.

Mike Raley and Rufus Edmisten kick off the show from the State Farmers Market in Raleigh, joined by Spectrum News 1 chief meteorologist Gary Stevenson and Lee County Extension agent Amanda Bratcher. The hour will focus on December weather, seasonal gardening reflections, hellebores and Christmas roses, plant hardiness, and the importance of cold weather for plant health.

The crew wraps back at the greenhouse with more guest conversations, mountain region updates, local grower stories, and seasonal gardening and holiday plant advice as the show closes out.

Mike and Ann continue from the nursery before connecting with Billy Howell at the State Farmers Market for an update on Christmas trees, produce, specialty foods, gift items, and weekend crowds.

Mike Raley and Ann Clapp open the show from Campbell Road Nursery with a walk through the Christmas greenhouse featuring poinsettias, cyclamen, Christmas cactus, and conversations with Tom Campbell, Nelsa Cox, Dr. Patrick McMillan, and Rufus Edmisten.

Mike, Rufus, and Nelson welcome Monica Wood to discuss the State Farmers Market report, which includes Christmas trees, produce, wreaths, and holiday crowds. They then cover additional winter preparations and answer caller questions to conclude the show.

Mike, Rufus, and Nelson continue discussing holly problems, lily and crinum questions, pruning guidance, vines, lawns, and a steady stream of listener calls regarding winter garden issues.

Mike Raley, Rufus Edmiston, and Nelson Cox kick off the show in the studio by discussing plant IDs, camellias, bulbs, evergreens, soil questions, and sharing early seasonal garden advice from callers.

Mike, Nelsa, and Rufus take more horticulture questions, revisit garden memories, and play the J.C. Knowles clip requested by caller Larry as they wrap up the show with light weekend chatter.

Mike, Nelsa, and Rufus talk camellias, pruning, plant IDs, and fall garden performance before bringing in Billy Howell with a State Farmers Market update on Christmas trees, wreaths, holiday crafts, and seasonal produce.

Mike Raley, Nelsa Cox, and Rufus Edmisten open the show with parade-morning talk, drought updates, longleaf pine and cryptomeria discussion, and early caller questions about tomatoes, screening trees, and evergreen choices.

Mike, Rufus, Paul McKenzie, and Gary Stevenson finally deliver the long-promised kale taste test as Gary brings in his cooked kale; the hosts sample it live, react, joke, and wrap with State Farmers Market and craft-fair updates.

Mike, Rufus, Paul McKenzie, and Gary Stevenson dive into flying stories, hot-air balloons, peppers, camellias, and fall color, with more kale setups as Gary hints at what he’s cooking for the final hour.

Mike, Rufus, Paul McKenzie, and Gary Stevenson kick off the show with early veggie talk, kale arguments, fall gardening chatter, and in-studio banter that sets up the day’s kale showdown.

Garden Q&A with Johnny Coley and Andrea Lane—camellias in mountain zones, Fraser firs, and more—plus JC Raulston’s Moonlight in the Garden.

Fraud-prevention segment featuring the NC Secretary of State’s office, plus State Farmers Market and local events updates

Broadcast from the Jane McKimmon Center at NC State for the NC 55+ Lifestyle Show, with event highlights and schedule

Monica’s State Farmers Market update on what’s fresh, vendor shout-outs, and weekend notes including the Korean Food Festival.

Listener Q&A on dividing/transplanting, mulch basics, and prepping garden beds and lawns for the cool season.

A tribute to J.C. Knowles with favorite stories, plus fall color picks—pansies, camellias—and how to plant daffodils and other bulbs now.

Warm-season lawn choices and shade (fine-blade zoysias vs. St. Augustine), grub issues in zoysia; hornworms vs. armyworms; when to cut back lantana (after a hard freeze); deer-resistant winter color with snapdragons; and how trimming ligustrum now can cost you spring blooms, with quick spacing notes for future shade trees.

Fall color and drought updates; why autumn is the best time to plant trees and shrubs; fescue seeding and watering; Gerald’s pepper seed-saving and unusual varieties; container tips for church planters (swap oversized ornamental kale for snapdragons or dianthus, use trailing pansies, ensure good drainage); plus camellias and other compact shrubs for small yards.

Fall lawn rescue (centipede vs. rye), deadheading/feeding roses, ginger lilies and collards; listener Q&A and wrap from Womble’s.

Store-floor chat (gear, gas logs); Etheridge on crop prices; callers on rye overseeding and tomatoes; Gary Pierce’s fixes for stressed turf and rose care.

Kickoff from J.E. Womble & Sons in Lillington; Bob Etheridge on drought and NC farmers; Erica Gallion on Youth Legislative Assembly & Super Kids; Gary Pierce begins Q&A on lawns, roses, and fall veggies.

Bradley O’Neill highlights the restored IH tractors, and Chris Massey from C. Massey Plumbing drops by. Amanda Bratcher gives what-to-do-now pruning/planting tips, with a quick State Fair flower show preview from the crew.

Paula Perry shares the 5-acre maze designed by Wayne Batten, the tractor showcase with International Harvester Chapter 37, and donations benefiting Interfaith Food Shuttle. Plus: caller Steve, pumpkin “stackables” for cooking, and quick fall planting notes.

Opening hours from Crossroads Corn Maze. Mike Raley, Rufus Edmisten, and Amanda Bratcher talk fall weather/drought and watering, then Jean Spooner (Umstead Coalition) previews today’s native plant sale at William B. Umstead State Park.

More fall Q&A with Mart Bumgarner: saving seed from summer annuals, why tulips act like annuals here, and why you should leave some stems standing for winter pollinator habitat. We also talk favorite ornamental grasses (hello, muhly and little bluestem) and share PlantFest logistics and highlights. Plus campus notes on JPAC and the Allen de Hart Concert Series. Note: This week’s show runs two hours due to UNC–Clemson football coverage.

Broadcast live from Louisburg College’s Seby B. Jones Performing Arts Center (JPAC), with local historian Mark Pace of the Tar River Center for History & Culture sharing Louisburg stories (Person Place, Gov. Thomas W. Bickett). Former mayor and state representative Lucy Allen joins the conversation. Orange County Cooperative Extension’s Mart Bumgarner previews PlantFest (Sat., Oct. 11) at Blackwood Farm Park off NC-86 near Hillsborough—plus native-plant picks, seed-saving tips, and meadow-garden basics for fall.

Fall color takes center stage: the “banana pudding plant” is blooming now, and Phil lays out cool‑season staples — pansies, mums, and more — for fresh containers and beds. Monica from the State Farmers Market checks in with a full autumn lineup: pumpkins, gourds, straw bales, pansies, and shrubs for seasonal decorating.

Lisa Grele Barrie from Raleigh City Farm joins to talk urban agriculture, community support, and tackling food insecurity. Then Andrew Kren from the National Weather Service updates the tropics — how Humberto’s track could tug Imelda east and what that means for NC. Plus, the crew sorts a roadside “corn-like” mystery plant as a ginger lily (and a few look‑alikes).

Mike Raley, Phil Campbell, and Rufus Edmisten kick off with tomato seed‑saving how‑tos — including Gerald Adams’ OxiClean method and how it compares with the traditional ferment‑and‑strain approach. They also chat fragrant fall standouts like banana shrub/osmanthus and note early dogwood color. Listener calls touch on tiny tomatoes like ‘Coyote’ and heirlooms like ‘Cousin Gladys.’

Mike and Rufus wrap up from Durham with more open house fun, giveaways, and garden talk. Listener calls spark tips on crepe myrtles, Rose of Sharon, and hydrangeas, while the show blends home improvement, horticultural insight, and good humor from the Weekend Gardener team.

The broadcast continues with discussions including the upcoming Fall Plant Sale in Chapel Hill, favorite native plants, fall-blooming flowers like rain lilies and tea olives, and plenty of laughter with callers and community friends

Mike Raley and Rufus Edmisten open the show from the Aluminum Company of NC in Durham with Sammy Hanna. The team celebrates Mike’s birthday, talks company history and home projects, and answers gardening questions on pruning Japanese maples and figs

The conversation continues with listener Steve bringing in daylily photos and plants, sparking talk of weeds, stiltgrass, bamboo, figs, and Roses of Sharon. Bill Mitchell joins to highlight grills, spas, saunas, and games during the store’s renovation expo. The hour wraps with more garden advice, community stories, and a few laughs over hot dogs and foosball

Mike Raley, Phil Campbell, and Rufus Edmisten open the show at Atlantic Spas and Billiards in Raleigh. The team talks fall flowers like swamp daisies, sunflowers, sedums, and zinnias while sharing tips on bog gardens and pollinator favorites. Lively stories and laughter keep the first half moving.

Mike, Rufus, and Patrick wrap up with wide-ranging garden talk — from giant coneflowers to ginger lilies and lessons from Patrick’s time at Heronswood Garden in Washington State. The final hour blends expert advice, botanical history, and plenty of good humor from the Weekend Gardener team