WPTF Weekend Gardener

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...

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 Blac...

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

The conversation deepens with Patrick McMillan exploring heirloom chrysanthemums and their upcoming show at the NC State Fairgrounds. Listeners hear about the history, diversity, and beauty of these rare mums, along with Patrick’s reflections on horticulture and plant stories that connect to memory and place

Live from the WPTF studio, Mike Raley and Rufus Edmisten welcome special guest Patrick McMillan, retired Clemson professor and noted plantsman. They share stories of fragrant osmanthus, cooking favorites, and Rufus’s gardening memories, setting the tone for a lively and insightful morning

Mike, Phil, and Rufus Edmisten wrap up with listener questions and expert tips on hydrangeas, lawns, and late-summer gardening. The final hour blends plant talk, personal stories, and plenty of laughs from the WPTF Weekend Gardener team.

The hosts continue with stories of resilience, highlighting the Peggy Martin rose that survived Hurricane Katrina and other garden favorites. Conversation turns to Rufus’s memories, pawpaws, figs, and community calls with practical advice.

Mike Raley, Phil Campbell, and Rufus Edmisten open the show with Fred Gaines at Bell’s Carpets and Floors in Raleigh. They talk flooring trends, the return of shag carpet, and seasonal gardening notes, including sweet autumn clematis and early mums.

Mike, Phil, and Rufus wrap up the show with more expert tips and plenty of laughs. From fig trees to community memories, the final hour blends garden know-how with good humor.

The conversation continues with hibiscus, figs, and seasonal lawn care. Rufus adds his signature humor while the team takes questions on shrubs, blooms, and fall planting.

Live from the WPTF studio, Mike Raley, Phil Campbell, and Rufus Edmonston kick things off with late-summer tomatoes, azaleas, and practical advice. Listener calls and stories set the tone for the morning.

Mike, Rufus, and Nelsa wrap up the broadcast from the Farmers Market with guests Judy Montague, Wayne, Richard, and Bart. The final hour brings more market stories, expert advice, and lively listener interaction.

From the State Farmers Market, Mike, Rufus, and Nelsa welcome John Harmuth to the table. Conversation turns to hibiscus, community events, and more practical advice for Carolina gardeners.

Mike Raley, Rufus Edmonston, and Nelsa Cox kick off the show live at the State Farmers Market in Raleigh. They chat with vendors, share seasonal tips, and answer listener questions to start the morning.

In the final part, the team talks with Billy from the local Farmer's Market about the seasonal produce currently available, including butter beans, squash, and figs. They also discuss a hot sauce festival in Oxford and the local pepper grower, Bailey Farms.

The hosts take calls from listeners, providing gardening advice on topics such as caring for crape myrtles and hydrangeas, controlling crabgrass, and attracting pollinators. They also address a listener's tomato problem, sharing a text message solution from "tomato guru" Gerald Adams.

The show opens with hosts Mike Raley and Rufus, along with guest Johnny Coley, introducing special guest Gary Stevenson, the Chief Meteorologist for Spectrum. They discuss the recent delightful August weather and Gary's background, then have a lighthearted "swearing-in" ceremony for Gary to join the crew. The segment concludes with an intriguing mention of the "Chitlin Club," a secretive society f...