Plantrama - Plants, Landscapes, & Bringing Nature Indoors

I'm hoping that you'll try the barbecued chard recipe we talk about in this episode - even non-vegetable eaters and kids often love this dish! We also give you several ways to preserve the bounty from your garden. Whether you dry or can it, as Ellen prefers, or roast and freeze it as C.L. does, you'll enjoy your garden-grown or foraged harvest through the winter with these methods. We also speak about your firepit plantings, and give our favorite "secret six" tools that will make your outdoor adventures easier. (Link to barbecued chard: http://coffeeforroses.com/barbecued-chard/ )

Ellen and C.L. give you ideas for making the most delicious, fresh pesto on earth...and then move on from great taste to horrible smells! Yes, after talking about garden-grown pesto we discuss stinkhorn fungi...a creepy and spooky fungus that smells like dead meat. After a trip to the all together ooky we move on to the practical: how to water your outdoor containers. And as always we answer a listener's emailed question. Art, Science and Dinner: it's all in your own backyard!

In late-August it's time to relax and celebrate the end of the summer season. Ellen and C.L. start this party off with suggestions for snacks and garden hors d’oeuvres. The second segment offers ways that you benefit from an outdoor office, and no, it's not the low rent. Our main segment suggests ways you can spruce up (horticultural pun intended) your yard and gardens for summer gatherings. Whether you're holding a simple barbecue, birthday celebration, rehearsal dinner, cocktail party or other event, here are ideas for hiding eyesores, improving what you've got and adding color. Our fourth segment addresses a plant noob's question: "Will this plant will come back to life or is it dead?" We end with an email from a listener who asks about end-of-year bargain plants.

In this episode C.L. and Ellen celebrate plants in summer. They begin by suggesting ways you can add color, flavor and fragrance to your beverages and food with flowers, foliage and herbs from your own backyard. Next we consider flowers that are wilted or dead and offer suggestions for why these should be taken out of the garden. (Deadheading: why, how, and "Do I have to?") In the main segment we consider how plants are watered. Sprinklers? Soaker hoses? Drip irrigation? Hand-watering from a hose? And as often happens, Ellen and C.L. may not agree... We end by talking about adding plant experiences into your trips and vacations, and offer two tips for our garden/plant destinations of choice.

Is there a way to repel insects from your outdoor office? Ellen has a short answer for this question...and we discuss the down-and-dirty truth. We also sing the praises of sending houseplants to summer camp and help you sort out problems you might be having with your tomato plants. Ellen offers Insider Information about getting started with foraging, and the program ends with a question from a listener about plants that attract flies.

What's for dinner? In this episode Ellen and C.L. begin by discussing summer squash, aka zucchini. We mention the use of organic fungicides for controlling powdery mildew, and the variety Zephyr for continued production even after the plant has mildew. For The Plant Noob: Next, we discuss the ways to get an accurate identification of a plant. Eat, Drink, Grow: In this segment we talk about growing blueberries and blackberries. Insider Information: In section discusses an article from Garden Design Magazine. We finish off the program by answering an email about daylily maintenance. Learn more about Garden Design Magazine by going to https://www.gardendesign.com

Ellen and C.L. both love arugula, and C.L. talks about how easy it is to grow from seed. But Ellen prefers to forage for her greens, so in this episode it's Arugula vs. Garlic Mustard! For the plant noob we offer information about the type of plants you'll find in the landscape, and begin our series about Your Outdoor Office. Finally, we are inspired by the article about peach recipes in the summer issue of Better Homes and Gardens, and offer some insider information about growing your own delicious fruit. An email about "blooming on old wood" finishes up this episode.

Ellen and C.L. start celebrating the planting season by talking about herbs in containers. Next they answer the question, "What the heck are hardiness zones?" In the main part of the podcast the topic is planting. Does your planting have to be done by a certain date? Do you really have to add peat moss to a planting hole? And what about removing that burlap or wire basket? All of these planting questions are answered, followed by a Sunflower Story and an email from a listener. It's planting season...let's play in the dirt!

In this episode we disagree about how to pronounce "Plantrama" which leads to a discussion about the pronunciation of plant names. We also talk about successfully growing herbs by the kitchen window, and answer a listener's emailed question.

In this episode we talk about two lovely self-seeding annuals, being worried that a plant problem will spread, and growing random acts of kindness.

In this episode C.L. gives a tip for growing strong seedlings under lights, we talk about dealing with weeds in the yard (spoiler alert: Ellen wants you to eat them!) and we share some of our favorite "What's for dinner?" plants.

In this episode we talk about two of our favorite plants for fragrance, rant a bit about the practice of putting rocks and shards in the bottom of pots, and discuss the pros and cons of heirloom plants.

What's for dinner? In the fall, the answer might be mushrooms and eggplant. We begin by talking about growing and cooking eggplants and foraging for mushrooms. Next we talk about aphids on plants and then move on to discussing planting for privacy.

Did you grow succulents in your window boxes or strawberry jar this year because they are drought tolerant and just look so cool? If so, you might be wondering if you can keep them for next year. This episode explains the hows and whys of saving succulents. We also talk about an under appreciated plant, moss, and ask each other, "What's for dinner?"

Fall is the time for planting bulbs, but how deep should you plant them? And how can you prevent the squirrels (aka, those bastards!) from digging them up? In this episode we talk about bulbs, why evergreens just might have "better clothing" and keeping container grown plants through the winter.

The combination of plants commonly sold as dish gardens or gift baskets usually need the plants to be separated and repotted after a month or so. Today Ellen and C.L. talk about this, and explain how to know if your seeds from previous years are still good to grow. We also talk about insects and why it's good to know about their different mouth parts.

Sometimes the preconceptions that we come to the landscape with don't do us any favors. For instance, did you know that the leaves that come down from the trees in the fall are GOLD for your garden? Have you considered that the lowly dandelion might be a desirable plant? And if you've been told that Epsom Salt is the cure for just about everything, we're here to ask you to think again...

Like you, Ellen and C.L. love good food. So part of today's program is about what's for dinner. We also look at why diversity in a landscape is important, and put a special focus on one of the most treasured flowers for the cutting garden: dahlias. Ellen explains why you might want to think about dahlias for your dinner table, not just for the centerpiece.

Looking for a plant that will impress everyone who comes to your yard or garden? Do you wonder why your plants have dried up even though it seemed like last week was so rainy? Perhaps you've heard that many acorns foretell a long, cold winter. Ellen and C.L. discuss these topics, along with story time and a listener's question.

Take a deep breath because today we're talking about one of our favorite herbs, lemon verbena. We'll also discuss fertilizers and making beverages from your garden.