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 contributi...

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, advis...

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 aro...

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...

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 includ...

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 Gar...

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 au...

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 f...

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 b...

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 th...

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 horticultu...

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 passi...

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 stor...

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 ,...

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 constru...

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 al...

 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...

Pearce Butcher has always known that she is an artist who loves nature and science. In this episode we dissect Landscape Design as a unique combination of art, science, and problem-solving. Pearce loves the challenge of looking at a space, listening to the concerns and dreams of the homeowner, and coming up with beautiful solutions.  She composes absolutely stunning landscape designs for her clien...

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...

082 – David Brown – Designing From The Garden You 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...

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 ga...

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 disappointm...

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 crea...

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...

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,...