The Garden Thyme Podcast

Hello Listener,  In this month's episode, we are chatting about the marvelous relationship between monarch butterflies and milkweed.   Undoubtedly, there is no other butterfly so easily recognized with its orange and black wings fringed with white spots. Their seasonal flight from Mexico through the United States towards Canada is long anticipated for gardeners. Timing : Milkweed and Monarchs...

Hello Listener,  In this month episode, we are chatting about the wonderful world of worms. Yes, worms. Although worms are slimy and wiggly, they play a vital role in our ecosystem. Earthworms increase air and water into the soil horizon, and usually, their presence is an indicator of a healthy soil system rich in nutrients and organic matter. Think of them as tiny tillers that incorporate organic...

Hello Listener,  In this month episode we are speaking with Kerry Wixted, Education and Outreach Specialist for Maryland DNR about Maryland wildlife.   Did you know we have native rattle snake in Maryland?  Learn why possum are so useful to have in your garden?  What can you do to increase the wildlife vaule of your garden.  Here is a link to the MDNR Wild Acres website:   https://dnr.maryland.gov...

 Hello Listener,  In this bonus episode, we chatted with local university legend, entomologist, professor emeritus Dr. Mike Raupp, about the Brood X periodic cicadas.  The Great Northern Brood is emerging from their seventeen-year slumber to feast, socialize, and reproduce. Dr. Raupp answers our questions about what distinguishes this brood from our annual dog-day cicadas, how do they know when to...

Hello Listener,  In this month episode we are talking about herbs. Now there are too many amazing herbs our there to cover them all in one episode so in this episode we are cover:  what is a herb, three common herbs (basil, chives and thyme) and some of our favorite herbs for the garden.   We also have our:  Native Plant of the Month (Wild Ginger) at ~ 27:10 Bug of the Month (Rose Slug Sawfly) at...

Hello Listener,    Spring is here! We are so ready to get in our gardens and hope you are as well.  In this episode, we are joined by Justinian Dispenza, who runs the Eastern Shore Permaculture Institute .   We talked all about what permaculture is and how to incorporate its ideas into our own gardens.   Permaculture is an approach to land management and philosophy that adopts arrangements observe...

Hello Listener,   In this episode, we are joined by the University of Maryland Extension Poultry Specialist Jon Moyle. We invited Jon to give the cockadoddledoo details on raising backyard chickens. Jon covers information such as basic chicken biology, basic needs, and protocol for keeping poultry at home. More importantly, Jon discusses important facts homeowners should consider before taking on...

Hello Listener,  The long cold days of winter are upon us, and even though we might like to dig in and hibernate, there's still plenty of things to do in the garden. In this month's episode, we chatted about winter pruning, adding plants for winter interest, and the "language of flowers"!  Timing: The "language of flowers" (2:10) Winter pruning (8:10) Plants for winte...

Hello Listener,  Happy New Year! It’s hard to believe that we’re already in a new year. After almost an entire year of quarantining, in this month's episode, we took time to pause and reflect on last year's gardening success and failures. Like many of you, the pandemic really threw us for a loop and many of our goals for the previous year took the back burner to more pressing issues. We...

Hi Listener, In this month's episode, we talk about getting ready for winter.  Including putting your garden to bed,  caring for holiday plants (8:25), and some less known native fruits and vegetables (21:25). Native Plant of the Month:  Big bluestem - Andropogon gerardii (33:50) Bug of the Month: Crane Flies (36:05) Garden Tips of the Month:  (40:15) This is our last episode of 2020! We hope...

Hi Listener, It's hard to believe that our little podcast is a whole-year-old this month.  Thank you all for your support.  Since Halloween is a favorite holiday of ours here is a mini-episode with three more spooky scary plants. Thank you all again! - Emily, Mikaela, and Rachel. The music found in this episode is  "Monster Parade" by Loyalty Free Music. Image: Hydnellum peckii, - B...

Hi Listener, In this month's episode, we talk about all things fall. Including Chrysanthemum, some fun facts about pumpkins (10:45), and some fun varieties of gourds and pumpkins you might try growing in your garden next year (16:55). Native Plant of the Month: White Oak - Quercus alba (25:40) Bug of the Month: Orb-weaver spiders (28:25) Vegetable Garden Tips of the Month: Garden clean up, se...

Hi Listener, In this month's episode, we talk about planting trees and shrubs in the fall, fall lawn care (7:25), cover crops (15:25), and preparing your yard for bad weather (24:25). Here are the Virginia Extension Guide to Successful Pruning and the Shrub Pruning Calendar   Native Plant of the Month: Indiangrass (27:30)  Bug of the Month: Royal walnut moth also known as the hickory horned d...

Hello Listener, In this special episode, we invited the University of Maryland Extension-Sea Grant Watershed Restoration Specialist, Jen Dindinger to talk about rain barrels, rain gardens, and stormwater management. Jen gives the how to’s on using and maintaining rain barrels. Here’s a great video on rain barrels and rain gardens . More importantly, Jen walks us through the complex issues revolvin...

Hey Listener,  In this month's episode, we talk with Jon Traunfeld, Principal Agent and Program Director of the fantastic Home and Garden Information Center. Jon is our vegetable specialist, and we are so excited to have him joining us today. Garden Tips of the Month: (31:40) Bug of the Month:  Spider Mites (36:30) Native Plant of the Month: Jewelweed - Impatiens capensis. (42:00) For more in...

Hey Listener, In this month's episode, we talk about Propagating Hydrangeas (4:40), Japanese Beetles (12:00) and preventing ticks (20:50) Native Plant of the Month: Marsh hibiscus ( Hibiscus moscheutos ) (34:20)  Garden Tips of the Month: (37:30) Bug of the Month: Eastern Cicada Killer Wasp(42:50)   For more information about University of Maryland Extension and these topics, please check out...

Hey Listeners, We have a special bonus episode for you this month.  The Gardens Thyme Gals went to Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, to learn more about their yearly orchid exhibit. We were about to sit down with Greg Griffis, senior horticulturist and orchid grower, to ask him all about the exhibit, orchids plants, and get some tips for growing them.    The Orchid Extravaganza is...