The Sam-balam Experience

When the leaves drop, the garden’s structure steps into the spotlight! In this episode, we’re barking up the right tree to discover spectacular bark, colorful branches and two standout evergreens that bring texture, character and beauty to the winter landscape. From peeling and patchwork trunks to year-round foliage, these plants prove the garden can shine—even in the coldest months.

Who says gardens have to be all sunshine, rainbows, and pretty pink petunias? This Halloween, the Shrubby Buddies are embracing their dark side and digging into the wickedly wonderful world of Goth Gardens!We're talking moody foliage, hauntingly beautiful blooms, twisted branches, and plants so dark they look like they've got a little attitude. From nearly black perennials to eerie garden accents, we'll explore how to create a landscape that's equal parts spooky, sophisticated, and downright badass.Whether you're looking to summon some serious curb appeal or just want your neighbors to question your gardening choices, we've got the plants and inspiration to help you bring your dark garden dreams to life.So grab your broomsticks, sharpen your pruners, and join us for a frightfully fun episode. Because sometimes, the best gardens have a little resting witch face.

We’re heading up north! In this episode, we chat about our trip to Michigan, from wandering through botanical gardens and old-growth forests to botanizing at nature preserves. Join us for a laid-back recap of the places we explored, the plants that caught our eye, and the joy of slowing down to see what’s growing around us.

We’re stepping up to the plate with a lineup rooted in America’s pastime! In “Batters Up! Layin’ the Wood with Our Baseball Tree Lineup,” we reveal our starting lineup of trees—and make the case for why they’ve got what it takes to bring home a championship. Join us as we talk baseball and, of course, trees!

This week, we’re all about berries—specifically, the ornamental kind that light up the fall landscape.From bright reds and oranges to purples, blues, and everything in between, we’re talking about plants that bring serious color after the flowers are finished for the year. We’ll cover some of our favorite shrubs and trees for fall berries, what makes them stand out, and how they can add another whole layer of interest to the landscape.Some are beautiful, some are bizarre, and some are basically nature showing off.If your fall landscape could use a little more fruit, color, and attitude, this episode is for you.

You asked. Then someone else asked. Then twelve more people asked. This week, we’re answering the short questions we get all the time in one handy episode. The recurring questions, the quick clarifications, and the things you’ve apparently been wondering about while we were busy talking about something else.We’re covering a little bit of everything, with a few detours and probably more backstory than anyone requested. Come for the quick answers, stay for our inability to keep them quick.

Summer separates the dawgs from the dogs. In this episode, we’re celebrating the plants absolutely crushing it—and calling out the crispy, floppy botanical disasters that have seen much better days. Who’s serving, who’s suffering, and who needs to be put out of their misery? Welcome to the slay and decay of summer.

This week, we’re taking a deep dive into the genus Amsonia—the blue stars of the perennial world. From their soft blue spring flowers to their fine-textured foliage and standout golden fall color, these plants bring a lot more to the garden than most people realize.We’ll break down some of the best species and cultivars, talk about where they grow best, how they perform in the landscape, what makes them such dependable garden plants, and how to use them alongside other perennials and grasses. We’ll also get into the differences between some of the more commonly grown Amsonias and share a few of our favorites.If you’ve ever grown Amsonia—or wondered why you should—this one’s for you.

Rain gardens are more than just a pretty place to put plants that like getting their feet wet. In this episode, we're diving into the dirty details of what makes a rain garden actually work. In this episode we talk about to turn these unique areas into beautiful, functional landscapes.Of course, it wouldn’t be Shrubby Buddies without talking plants. We’ll get into choosing the right plants for the wet, the dry, and everything in between—and why a rain garden definitely isn’t just a hole filled with water-loving plants.So grab your shovel, embrace the moisture, and join us as we get wet, get dirty, and figure out how to make rain gardens work harder in the landscape.https://mtcubacenter.org/trials/baptisia/https://mtcubacenter.org/trials/echinacea-mid-atlantic-region/

Tim went north! This week, we’re recapping Tim’s trip to Michigan for the Perennial Plant Association Symposium, where he spent a few days surrounded by incredible plants, gardens, and some of the best plant people in the business. Tim shares the highlights, favorite stops, standout plants, and a few stories from his PPA adventure.Then we’re joined by Sam the Man for a special interview! We talk plants, horticulture, and Sam’s journey through the green industry—with plenty of laughs, plant-nerd tangents, and classic Shrubby Buddies banter along the way.From Michigan plant adventures to hanging with Sam the Man, this episode has a little bit of everything. Grab a drink, get comfortable, and come get shrubby with us!