Dec 7, 2017 | podcast
Ep 027 – It’s a good thing that we start this episode with winter cocktails because after that the conversation moves onto mice and a slight disagreement about Poinsettias. Do you love this holiday plant as C.L. does? Or do you agree with Ellen that they are a waste of money? And how about those spray-painted plants? C.L. thinks they are fun in a rock-and-roll kind of way, but Ellen says they are “crimes against horticulture.” Listen and weigh in with your opinion!
Nov 23, 2017 | podcast
Ep 026 – Ellen and C.L. talk about what’s on a forager’s and gardener’s winter table, how to tell if you have a Thanksgiving cactus or Christmas cactus (and how to make them bloom again) and offer our suggestions for holiday gifts.
Nov 9, 2017 | podcast
Ep 025 – This episode helps you to decide if you need to wrap shrubs in burlap for winter protection, discusses why crabapple trees are so appealing and useful, explains which greens and nuts you can harvest in November and answers a question about annoying fruit flies that have appeared to drive Robbie crazy.
Oct 26, 2017 | podcast
Ep 024 – Have you ever wondered if you could eat black walnuts? Or maybe you’re undecided about using a winter protective mulch on your perennial garden…do our plants really need a down blanket to keep them warm? And in our Eat/Drink/Grow segment we talk about the science, art and dinner of pumpkins.
Oct 12, 2017 | podcast
Ep 023 – We’re pleased to take you into the world of garden communicators and garden tourism in this episode. Fresh out of the GWA annual meeting and trade show, Ellen and C.L. share what they’ve learned about new plants and products for the home landscape. We talk about how GardenWalk Buffalo is a model for other regions when it comes to tourism dollars and community development. We talk about new plants and products that we discovered at the Garden Writers Association meeting. And we answer a listener’s question about bringing Meyer lemons indoors.
Sep 28, 2017 | podcast
Ep 022 – In this episode we talk about how to tell if winter squash is ripe and how to preserve it. We discuss saving annuals from year to year, and give the pros and cons of fall yard cleanups. Ellen and C.L. also invite you to become inspired by the artist Andy Goldsworthy.
Sep 14, 2017 | podcast
Ep 021 – 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/ )
Aug 31, 2017 | podcast
Ep 020 – 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!
Aug 17, 2017 | podcast
Ep 019 – 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.
Aug 3, 2017 | podcast
Ep 018 – 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.
