Flower Power Garden Hour

It is the January To Do List, and we are in the rainiest season out wet in a very long time.  Temperatures have moderated a bit, however.  Tough to get out in the garden with this much rain, but there are things that need to be done during the dry periods.  It is time to plant: Bareroot trees, roses, shrubs Radishes Lettuce Onions Bok choy Fava beans Chores include: Protect from frost. Watch weath...

We are all familiar with the iconic southern magnolia and possibly even the show stopping saucer magnolia…but there are many more beauties in this genus.  I had the pleasure of talking with Andrew Bunting -- the Vice President of Horticulture at the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society and author of  " The Plant Lover's Guide to Magnolias ".  We discuss everything from range of habitat, to care and...

It is the December To Do List, and we are in the middle of winter garden season.  Weather is COLD, and so far it has been relatively wet.  It is time to plant: Asparagus Fava beans Bok choy Broccoli rabe Garlic Kale Loose leaf lettuce Mustard Onion sets Radish Do not plant yet: Bareroot trees Roses Berries Chores include: Protect succulents from water Frost protection Clean up – but leave some deb...

What is it like to work in the oldest greenhouse conservatory in the US?  I talk to the San Francisco Conservatory of Flowers Kristen Natoli (Collections Manager) and Sarah Sawtelle (Engagement Manager) about the ins and outs of this historic collection and building.  With such an amazing collection of plants – where do they source them from?  How do they decide what is kept and what to get rid of...

Compost…this is music to most gardener's ears.  FREE compost is even better.  Many people think that expensive compost makers, tons of space, and ample time is required – this is NOT the case.  In this episode I welcome back master composter Kevin Marini to discuss everything compost.  Do you know the difference between hot and cold compost, the optimal size and temperature of a pile, and what unu...

Every gardener – no matter how long you have been gardening – gets excited for the first shoots of spring emerging bulbs.  Bulbs are incredibly easy to grow, and for many they naturalize and multiply year after year, creating a no-fuss flower show.  I talk to bulb expert Peggy Anne Montgomery about growing bulbs and how to incorporate them into your lawn…..yes, your lawn. She has tips on how to di...

It is the November To Do List, and we are in the throes of winter garden prep.  Weather is starting to cool rapidly, and (hopefully) out west we start seeing moisture soon. It is time to plant: Fava beans Bok choy Celery Swiss chard Garlic Kale Kohlrabi Lettuce Mustard Onions Peas Radish Shallots Spinach Perennials (except frost sensitive) Spring blooming bulbs Cover crops: Fava beans, Crimson clo...

Watching birds go about their lives in your garden is one of the many benefits of gardening.  Besides the joy of watching them, they are also busy eating pests and helping to keep a balanced ecosystem.  I talk to bird expert Tammy Poppie about ways to create a healthy, safe and inviting environment for birds.  Tammy and additional information about birding and their interaction with plants can be...

Fall is THE time to prep for a wonderful spring/summer garden.  I talk to Andrew Bunting -- Pennsylvania Horticultural Society's Vice President of Horticulture -- all about planting bulbs, soil prep, what to plant, what to watch out for and how to create habitats for beneficial insects, bees and birds.  Andrew and resources from the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society can be found at: Website: Penn...

As California and the west continue to suffer the effects of drought, it is more important than ever to be water-wise in the garden.  I talk to Greg Bundesen – Sacramento Water Conservation Supervisor – about what you can do as a homeowner and gardener to use less water but still maintain a green space.  We discuss grey water, mulch, converting sprinklers to drip, and where you find ample water sa...

Joe Lamp'l – from "Joe Gardener" fame – is America's gardener.  Given that his public television show Growing a Greener World is shown in 38 countries, Joe is more appropriately the WORLD's gardener.  He has an illustrious, long career spanning television, print, podcasting, and video content.  Above all, Joe is an educator – his gardening passion is infectious, and his communication ability to ma...

Water-wise gardening is more important than ever in the west, and part of this includes irrigating properly. Don Smith, Water Management Coordinator for the City of Folsom, joins me to discuss everything irrigation. He covers which sprinklers are best if you do have a lawn, how to lay out your drip irrigation for optimal coverage, and are "smart" controllers worth it? Plus, he reviews how to conve...

Brad Gates, owner of Wild Boar Farms,  joins me again to discuss problems gardeners may be encountering with their tomatoes. We also discuss the process that goes into him finding the next new variety… some are by chance, others are by purposeful breeding. Plus, he let's us in on the new varieties to be released in the near future. Brad and Wild Boar Farms can be found at: Instagram: @wildboarfarm...

Sadly fire is becoming a way of life in California and the greater west. It's important to maintain a healthy landscape for wildlife habitat, but there are key tasks homeowners can do to mitigate fire danger. I talk to Master Gardener education specialist, Kevin Marini, all about fire-wise landscaping. Learn about the different zones around your house and how to plant and maintain them. Learn what...

Over 80% of plants need pollinators to reproduce -- this includes a majority of crops humans eat. To say that pollinators are important is an understatement. The founder and CEO of the non-profit Pollinator Posse, Tora Rocha, joins me to discuss what we can do on our part. She gives tips on how to create a pollinator friendly garden, plants that are both food and host plants, and how to create a M...

5 foot tall pepper plants? Yes, your peppers can get this large. Chad Iman, owner of Sky High Scoville Pepper Farm breaks down step by step how to grow the best most productive peppers possible. He shares his secret recipe for seed starting mix, transplant techniques and how to overwinter your plants. Plus we talk about the beautiful hot peppers he grows. Chad and Sky High Scoville Pepper Farm can...

Producing your own honey and having your own bees can be a fun and rewarding backyard hobby. But how do you go about starting -- do you need to buy bees or can you catch your own swarm?  I talk to professional beekeeper, Blake Dacy and backyard hobbyist/host of Good Day Sacramento Tina Macuha all about bees. We discuss how bees go about building a hive, what they require, how to treat for mites an...

Lots of tasks during the hot summer season, including: Plant cabbage, carrots, beets, celery, kale, onion seeds, potatoes, mustards, chard, collards, leeks Deadhead flowers Hose off whiteflies, sticky traps Clean up old fruit on trees, ground Still time to summer prune fruit trees Order fall bulbs Support melons on the ground or on vines Continue to deep water young, newly planted trees Deadhead,...

Who doesn't love flowers, and they are even better when you can pick and make a bouquet out of them. I talk with the Mendocino Coast Botanical Garden's horticulturalist, Wyatt Emig, about his process of growing flowers. He shares his must have seed trays, soil conditioning tips and favorite flowers to grow. Wyatt can found at: Website:   gardenbythesea.org Instagram:   @wyatt.emig Instagram: @mend...

Every great garden starts with healthy soil. But what exactly is "healthy" soil, how do you achieve this and what is soil really. Robert Pavlis, author of "Soil Science for Gardeners" and of "Garden Myths" fame joins me once again to talk everything soil. We discuss micronutrients versus macronutrients, can you add sand to clay soils, how to test your soil for texture and a lot more. Robert can fo...

We all know the importance of trees… oxygen, shade, habitat, food, beauty and more. And we all know they can live centuries beyond us. But they can also have difficulties growing in urban settings. I talk to consulting arborist, John Lichter, on what you can do to ensure that your trees are healthy and vibrant in your lifetime as well as for future generations. We discuss how to properly water bot...

July gardening is actually one of the less busy months in terms of number and volume of tasks.  There is a lot of maintenance, but no major, backbreaking work. We combine the July list on this episode with a deep dive into listener Q&A – with a focus on tomatoes.  If you have questions or need advice on tomato growing, this is a must listen.     To ask questions for future shows, submit them at: F...

Melinda Price waited years to fulfill her dream of being a farmer. And once she bought her historic farm in Northern California -- the work was only just beginning. Thinking outside the box, she and her partner Simon decided they would try their hand in saffron... the most expense herb on the market. Fast forward 5 years and Peace and Plenty Farm is a thriving organic oasis and so much more than j...

This episode is the garden To Do list for the month of June.  Summer suddenly feels like it is in full swing, with a rapid to transition to HOT weather.  Time to get your garden tasks done early in the morning.  Vegetables to plant: Tomatoes Eggplant Peppers Squash Watermelon Zucchini Corn Beans Cucumbers Melons Okra Pumpkins Watermelon Swiss Chard   Garden tasks: Shade peppers Pinch off basil flo...