Hydrangeas, Peonies and Vegetable Garden Soil

Ellen and C.L. talk about three interesting edibles from the True Leaf Market catalog, explain what they’re working on and catch up with some listener emails. They end by talking about seven seed starting tips offered by our friends at Gardeners Supply Company, and invite listeners to join them at the Northwest Flower and Garden Show in Seattle.   :30 What’s For Dinner: Our top picks from the True Leaf Market catalog 7:23 Eat/Drink/Grow:   What's new with the Plantrama team. 19:46 Insider Information: 7 tips for seed starting

We’re talking about garlic and crabapples, plants that are new to our hearts, and some interesting research on bulbs done at Cornell University. Plus some words of appreciation for all of our listeners…Plantrama people are the best!  See the bulb research information here. :27 What’s For Dinner: What C.L.and Ellen love for tasty meals. 5:14 Eat/Drink/Grow:   New Plants…new to us, that is. 15:21 Insider Information:   Bulb research from Cornell University 23:03 Love Letters and Questions:  We’re entering a dormant period, but here’s our shout out to all of our listeners.

  Learn about turning Hydrangea flowers blue, how to tell if you’re looking at Queen Anne’s lace or the poison hemlock, and not enough room for all these plants! Plus C.L. loves listening to the Audible version of Michael Pollen’s book, This is Your Mind on Plants.   :29  True or False:   To turn Hydrangeas blue, place rusty nails in the ground 3:48 Eat/Drink/Grow:  Queen Anne’s Lace and Poisonous Look-Alikes 15:04 Check This Out:  Michael Pollen’s book “This is Your Mind on Plants” 20:30 Love Letters and Questions: Candace writes: “There isn’t room in my house for all of these plants…not if I want to say married. Help!”    

In this episode Ellen and C.L. discuss some favorite peppers, and answer common listener questions about drought-damaged plants and helping their gardens recover from a hot, dry summer. We share an exciting new plant from Proven Winners, and answer a listener’s question about clover lawns.   :36 What’s For Dinner: Peppers! 10:39 Eat/Drink/Grow:  Recovering From A Hot, Dry Summer   19:45 Insider Information:  Excited about Queen Tut Papyrus 21:35 Love Letters and Questions: Sandy writes:  “Do you like clover lawns?” Link to Queen Tut on the Proven Winners Website:  https://www.provenwinners.com/plants/cyperus/graceful-grasses-queen-tut-dwarf-papyrus-cyperus-prolifer 

In this Encore presentation from 2017, Ellen and C.L. start the end-of-summer 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 end-of-August episode, C.L. and Ellen discuss how to tell why the leaves on your plant are turning yellow. They explain that noticing which leaves are yellowing, and where they are, can help explain why this is happening. Next the Plantrama team explains some botanic terms, and discusses what to forage for or plant in your vegetable garden right now. The episode ends with advice to Sandy about when to bring her houseplants back inside after they have spent the summer out of doors. :38 Plant Noob: Yellow Leaves – how to know what causes this? 9:42 Insider Information: Angiosperm and Gymnosperm – what do these terms mean?   11:26 Eat/Drink/Grow: Fall Planting and Foraging      22:23 Love Letters and Questions: Sandy wonders “when does houseplant summer camp end?”  https://backyardforager.com/rose-hip-soup-recipe-nyponsoppa/ https://rainwand.com/

Ellen and C.L. discuss whether the use of mulch robs the soil of nitrogen, and we take a dive into the Polygonaceae family…smart weeds and knotweeds. We give you the scoop on two informative webinars for anyone interested in growing hydrangeas, and answer a question about the odd, jelly-like forms that a listener has found on some junipers. 1:42  True or False: Mulch robs the soil of nitrogen.      6:21  Eat/Drink/Grow: Is your weed smart or knot?  12:31   Insider Information: Hydrangea webinars given by C.L.     16:33  Love Letters and Questions: Aliens in the juniper!    Thanks to our sponsors at Dramm Rainwands! https://rainwand.com/

In this encore episode, Ellen explains what to make with under-ripe wild grapes and C.L. persuades listeners to combine some creamy brie cheese with those homegrown tomatoes. Next we explain that the end of the summer is the ideal time to propagate everything from woody ornamentals to annuals and perennials. Now that cooler weather is on the horizon, we discuss what can be transplanted in the fall, and answer a listener’s concern about importing bugs into the house when she brings potted houseplants back in for the winter.  :32   What’s for dinner: End of Summer Flavors! Partially ripe wild grapes and home grown tomatoes with creamy brie and fresh basil. 5:48  Eat/Drink/Grow: taking cuttings. If you want to propagate a favorite shrub, perennial or tree, now is the time for making cuttings. 21:22  Did You Know? Fall transplanting. Which plants can be moved early in the fall? 28:02 Love Letters and Questions: bring your houseplants indoors but leave the bugs outside.

What can you pickle this summer? Should you buy a tree that’s tiny? Ellen and C.L. discuss these topics, plus what to do with bare or just unattractive spots in the garden, and whether summer planting makes sense in July.  :29    What’s for dinner:  Pickles. 7:12    Insider Information: Don’t be afraid to start with small shrubs and trees! 12:30   Eat/Drink/Grow:   Dealing with bare areas where plants have died or construction had to happen. 22.52   Love Letters and Questions:  Bailey wrote about moving to a new property in the heat of the summer.  Brought to you by our friends at https://rainwand.com/ 

Have you wondered how, or if, mulch kills weeds? Have you tried to grow a citrus plant from a seed? Ellen and C.L. discuss these topics, and answer Dianna’s question about her kousa dogwood that isn’t doing well. Plus C.L. tells Ellen and our listeners about a robot that weeds in gardens.   :28   Plant Noob:   Does mulch kill weeds?  6:47    Eat/Drink/Grow: Some considerations when growing citrus from Seed. 14:02   Check THIS Out!:    Tertill: a solar-powered, robot weeder. 18:13  Love Letters and Questions    From Dianna: “I purchased a kousa dogwood from a landscaper and they installed it for me.”