Garden Dilemmas, Delights & Discoveries

Related Stories & Helpful Links:Rose Remedies Aphids on Roses Japanese Beetle Time The Irresistible John Cabot RoseMore about the Podcast and Column: Welcome to Garden Dilemmas, Delights, and Discoveries. It's not only about gardens; it's about nature's inspirations, about grasping the glories of the world around us, gathering what we learned from mother nature, and carrying th

What a treat to share a writer friend's story about John Cabot Rose from the Explorer Series. Koleen Garland, from Canada, titled her two-hour writing binge -That Indestructible, Irresistibly Beautiful John Cabot Rose. We wrap up the episode with wisdom from a child I met while volunteering at Comfort Zone Camp (a bereavement camp for kids.) Flora Forever - The young arborist-to-be

I look forward to sharing a few glorious Wonders of Willowwood Arboretum in Chester Township, NJ, as shared by Bruce Crawford, Manager of Horticulture of Morris County Park Commission. I especially adore the wisdom gained from the beauty of the old and declining trees. I hope you enjoy the story.Related Stories :Wandering Willowwood Arboretum — blog post Ep 34. Forest Bathing, Wi

Today's topic hits close to home. Sandy's pine bark nuggets were filled with huge black ants and termites. The close-to-home part is that I was tackling carpenter ants that nested in the screened porch, so Sandy's dilemma was my dilemma, too.In this episode, we share a comical saga about determining the difference between carpenter ants and termites and safe ways to remedy the dile

Mushrooms are the fruit of valuable spores that decay organic material and recycle nutrients into the soil, which is good for plants. However, in volumes, they're unsightly in the garden. In this episode, we review the icky fungi that can develop in mulch (you may wish to put down your sandwich while tuning in — Ha!) And, we discuss how to prevent and fix the plethora of Funky Fu

This episode discusses Companion Plants for your Vegetable Garden to control pests, encourage beneficial insects and pollinators, and increase yields. We share an overview of Three Sisters Gardening, the origin of companion plantings from Native Americans.We wrap up with a reflection on when the podcast logo switched from Miss Ellie to now Jolee and how life changes like the season

Have you ever considered Broadleaf Plantain, the flat-leaved weed that invades your lawn, a beneficial plant? It is, as are my favorite Dandelions.In this episode, we chat about the benefits of both and I share Koleen Garland's hilarious childhood memory of making dandelion wine sure to entertain. I hope you enjoy the story.Related Stories and Helpful Links: Benefits of Broadleaf P

Thomas Jefferson's birthdate recalls visiting Monticello, considered a Lab for Plants. We chat about the fascinating history of the plantation and Jefferson's Garden Book, which is filled with trials and tribulations. One is his remarkable Castor Bean Plants. We chat about Castor Bean Plants overcoming the concern of toxicity in the garden and how I used them to "Hide Uglies." The

The episode starts with a fun little ditty about Bumbershoots (umbrellas) and a chat about Spacing Plants to avoid having to prune them. Plus, the reasons to prune are similar to those for caring for ourselves and our families. We discuss Smokebush, with its splendid features (and cautions), and other shrubs you can rejuvenate-prune in spring.Then wrap up with inspiration on revita

I look forward to sharing a sequel to Early Spring Transplants with a story about Root Pruning that relates to our lives. But before that, I share a personal journey of recovery and growth. Then we chat about the how-too's of Root Pruning and the benefits. And wrap up with encouragement to assess our roots and perhaps make room for new feeder roots in our lives. I hope you enjoy th