Keeping It Green

Residential landscapers specialize in creating and maintaining outdoor spaces for individual homeowners, focusing on aesthetics and personalized design. In contrast, grounds managers of institutions oversee larger outdoor areas, emphasizing not only aesthetics but also safety and events. Listen to the interview with Hugh Weldon and Dan Bangert as they talk about their humble beginnings, falling of...

The Keeping It Green podcast team takes a dive into the challenges faced during the summer growing season. Maybe the podcast title should have been "The Landscaping Apocalypse" instead of “Summer Wrap-Up?" The group had a realistic discussion about the invasive pests and ecological problems that plagued landscapes during these hot months. We wrap on a positive note, shifting focus t...

Pennsylvania has become a hot spot for tick-borne diseases with the dubious distinction of ranking #1 in the country for the number of Lyme disease cases per year. Amy Korman, a Penn State Educator, joins the podcast team to discuss the complex tick lifecycle, who is at most risk to exposure, and some management techniques. What is an accidental entomologist? And finally, why does Amy like to play...

From her origins in East Germany to her current role as the principal of Phyto Studio, Claudia West's story is intertwined with the significance of North American native plants. Tune in to today's podcast episode to unravel Claudia's remarkable journey and gain insights into her perspective on landscape design. For Claudia, landscape design transcends mere decoration; it serves as a...

So how did a Nebraska farm girl, raised on an animal/row crop operation, become interested in horticulture? And what brought her to the East Coast? Tune in as Erin Kinley talks about her path from the farm to the coordinator of Penn State’s Master Gardener program in Eastern Pennsylvania. Plus, she’ll talk about the training and educational efforts of the 4,000-plus Master Gardener volunteer base....

The team ventures into the regulatory landscape of the horticulture industry with a conversation with Dr. Victoria Smith, the State Entomologist of Connecticut. One of the main roles of Vicky’s position is to address the perennial challenge of invasives. Why are some organisms tough to contain (emerald ash borer, spongy moth, etc.) and others, such as the Asian long-horned beetle, a regulatory suc...

The podcast team gets together to kick around their thoughts on a variety of horticultural topics and asks several deep questions:  Why are there all those planes flying around central Pennsylvania?  What is stressing out the sycamores across the state, causing the leaves to turn ‘crispy’?  And on the hunt for clues in arborvitae branch dieback. Margaret Pickoff, Penn State Extension Tom Butzler,...

The podcast team heads out to the southwest to chat with Tim Vela of United Veterans Construction and Landscape Solutions, Inc. Tim’s early exposure to horticulture started when his mother gave him the ‘keys’ to the push lawnmower and sent him off into the neighborhood to find some lawns that needed cutting. Many years later, he is now involved in the maintenance of commercial developments and col...

The Keeping It Green podcast team joins forces with Penn State Extension’s Fresh Cut Grass podcast crew. Can enthusiasts of woody and herbaceous plants get along with fans of turfgrass? Tune in as the crew talks about some of the most common mistakes that the hosts and guests see in the landscape. Margaret Pickoff, Penn State Extension (host) Tom Butzler, Penn State Extension (host) Tim Abbey, Pen...

Margaret and Tom cover ground with Cat Meholic, a Horticulturist from the Hagley Museum and Library and co-founder of Women in Horticulture . History and horticulture collide as Cat talks about her role in recreating many of the plantings in the former DuPont Estate. While the Hagley Museum and Library grounds are no longer dangerous, how does the Museum acknowledge their explosive history today?...

Today’s podcast is crowded as Margaret and Tim chat with Tim Martinez and Mari Medrano about their career journeys and respective companies. They also delve into their efforts with the National Association of Landscape Professionals to ensure a strong voice for Hispanic landscapers in the industry. Margaret Pickoff, Penn State Extension (host) Tim Abbey, Penn State Extension (host) Tim Martinez, E...

Starting a business in any industry can be daunting and challenging for young adults. But also exciting! The podcast team talks to Tyler Pollock about his early experiences in the tree care profession and his journey to creating his own company. The wide-ranging conversation covers oak wilt treatment, interaction with homeowners, to the influence of his father’s horticulture experience. Margaret P...

The landscape industry has traditionally been male-dominated.  But female participation is increasing, and the benefits of diversity in the workplace can bring new perspectives and skills. But it can also present unique challenges. Jenny and Stephanie are part of the National Association of Landscape Professionals’ Women in Landscape Network which creates a community to connect and empower women i...

Join us for a wide-ranging discussion with the Director of The Arboretum at Penn State , Casey Sclar. Casey talks about the important role of public gardens in our society. He’ll also delve into ideas and efforts to introduce the tradecraft of horticulture to children and young adults. And what does Casey consider the ‘job security shrub’? Sandy Feather, Penn State Extension (host) Tom Butzler, Pe...

Longwood Gardens, a botanical garden outside of Kennet Square, PA, covers over 1,000 acres of land with gardens, meadows, and woodlands. That’s a lot of territory to manage and keep aesthetically pleasing! Meet Rachel, one of the key players that keep the place running and looking good! She’ll also talk about her previous role as Longwood’s IPM manager and use boxwood blight as an example of how t...

Ever want to walk around a field of flowers (for free)? And get a good look at some of the newer cultivars scheduled for release into the market by plant breeders across the world?  Krystal Snyder gives an overview of the Penn State Flower Trials, one of the oldest and largest flower trials in the U.S. She also covers her work with greenhouse growers and the emerging hemp industry. Margaret Pickof...

Margaret and Tom chatted with Rick Bates about the many ‘hats’ he wears as a professor of Horticulture at Penn State. The interview covers his effort and reasons for introducing new species of conifers to diversify Christmas tree farms (research), how he handles students’ use of technology in plant identification courses (teaching), and his travels to address food security issues in Southeast Asia...

Margaret and Tim have a chat with Dr. Mark Brand, Professor of Horticulture at the University of Connecticut’s Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture, on a wide range of horticulture topics. The Pennsylvania  Department of Agriculture has added a number of ornamental plants to its noxious weed list over the past several months (Japanese barberry, burning bush, etc.).  But Connectic...

Jerry is also the former owner of a commercial property landscape company and caretaker of Tyler Arboretum’s Wister Rhododendron Garden. Margaret and Tom have a chat with Jerry O’Dell about his horticulture career. For many individuals, the love of plants runs deep, and even in retirement, the pull is strong. Jerry talks about his start on a local golf course through managing commercial properties...

Margaret and Tim have a conversation with Sara May, Penn State’s Head Diagnostician, and Plant Disease Clinic Manager . What trigger’s one’s interest in studying plant diseases? Sara describes her beginning in a nursery/landscape operation to running a lab that deals with sick and dying plants. A short discussion details the journey of submitted samples, from processing, testing, and reporting. An...

Margaret and Sandy discuss the world of plants in zoo settings with Frank Pizzi, former zoo horticulturist at Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium. Join us as Frank talks about how zoos have transitioned over the past several decades. Where zoo exhibits have gone from concrete and ceramic tile buildings to enclosures that try to mimic the animals' natural habitat. Not only to foster their natura...

Margaret and Tom discuss horticulture adventures with Shari Edelson of the Arboretum at Penn State. What is it like working at a relatively new arboretum (opened in 2009)? How are gardens initiated, funded, and constructed? Maintained? Shari will share her experience and changing role in almost a decade of time at the Arboretum. Plus, we discuss the latest addition to the landscape, the pollinator...

Margaret and Tim discuss plants and more with Jim MacKenzie. The conversation covers a wide range of topics within the nursery industry, starting with his journey from landscape architecture to co-owner of Octoraro Native Plant Nursery . He’ll also give insight into labor issues, sustainability, and philosophy on mentorship within the industry. Margaret Pickoff, Penn State Extension (host)  Tim Ab...

Margaret and Tom talk insects with Dr. Michael Skvarla. We’ll cover his role with Penn State’s Insect ID Lab and the process of identification. Plus, what he sees as the insects that Green Industry professionals could see as our next invasive species in managed landscapes. Margaret Pickoff, Penn State Extension (host) Tom Butzler, Penn State Extension (host) Michael Skvarla, Assistant Research Pro...

Margaret and Tim talk with Kathleen Salisbury about her path to becoming the Director of the Ambler Arboretum of Temple University. The conversation steers towards extreme weather and the effects of the September 2021 tornado that tore through the arboretum. Listen carefully as a bird crashes the interview! Margaret Pickoff, Penn State Extension (host) Tim Abbey, Penn State Extension (host) Kathle...