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Explore every episode of the podcast Flower Power Garden Hour

Dive into the complete episode list for Flower Power Garden Hour. Each episode is cataloged with detailed descriptions, making it easy to find and explore specific topics. Keep track of all episodes from your favorite podcast and never miss a moment of insightful content.

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TitlePub. DateDuration
Flower Power Garden Hour 199: Mitigating HEAT issues04 Aug 202400:34:56

This episode is sponsored by bewatersmart.info.

The heat getting to you? There's a good chance it's also impacting your plants.  I discuss various heat related plant issues and ways to mitigate them.

To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:

·       Facebook

·       Instagram

·       email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com

 

Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

Power Garden Hour 198: Top 10 Favorite Drought Tolerant Plants30 Jun 202400:35:17

This episode is sponsored by bewatersmart.info.

In this episode,  I discuss 10 of my favorite drought tolerant plants. Even if you think you don't have a green thumb, these plants will thrive in your garden with minimal water requirements. Plus, I include pollinator information.

To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:

·       Facebook

·       Instagram

·       email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com

Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

Flower Power Garden Hour 189: Trees, with Arborist Pamela Sanchez of the Sacramento Tree Foundation21 Oct 202301:03:08

Trees -- we all know how important they are. But what are the best trees for zone 9? How exactly do you properly plant, stake and water a new tree? Pamela Sanchez -- Certified Arborist and Education Programs Manager for the Sacramento Tree Foundation -- joins me to discuss these topics and more.

 

Pamela and the Sacramento Tree can be found at:

·       Website:  sactree.org

·       Instagram:  @sactree

·       Facebook:  @Sacramento Tree Foundation

 

To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:

·       Facebook

·       Instagram

·       email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com

 

Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

Flower Power Garden Hour 188: October To Do, Listener Q&A04 Oct 202300:38:59

It is the October To Do List, and that means it is a very busy time in the garden.  Clean up from summer vegetables and prepping for fall and winter. The days are cooler, but shorter – which means you have to work efficiently and hard. Episode includes Listener Q&A, with topics listed below. 

 

It is time to plant:

·       Fava beans

·       Beets

·       Bok choy

·       Carrots

·       Celery

·       Swiss chard

·       Collards

·       Garlic

·       Kale

·       Kohlrabi

·       Leeks

·       Lettuce

·       Onions

·       Peas

·       Radish

·       Spinach

·       Turnips

·       All perennials, bulbs

 

Chores include:

·       Clean up vegetable beds (prevent diseases), mess from fruit trees

·       Collect seeds

·       Divide plants such as grasses, iris

·       Compost

 

Listener Q&A section.  Topics covered include:

·       What to do about aphid infestation on large trees

·       Lemon tree – producing fruit, but leaves are very pale

·       Succulents – fertilizer?

·       Best time of year to prune cherry tree

·       Tomato plants – to compost or not?

 

Help support feral cat rescue/spay-neuter/finding good homes by contributing at Flower Power Garden Hour Patreon.  

 

To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:

·       Facebook

·       Instagram

·       email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com

 

Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

Flower Power Garden Hour 187: Seeds, with Jennifer Jewell of Cultivating Place podcast27 Sep 202300:57:48

Seeds. As gardeners we sow them, order them, harvest them, and sometime try to prevent them. Author and gardener Jennifer Jewell delves even deeper into the science and importance of seeds in her new book 'What We Sow'. We discuss her inspiration for the book and talk about why seeds are so important in our ecosystem, cultures and overall survival as humans.

 Jennifer Jewell, Cultivating Place and her new book 'What We Sow' can be found at:

·       Book:  What We Sow

·       Website:  Cultivating Place

·       Instagram:  @cultivating_place

·       Facebook:  @cultivatingplace

·       Pinterest:    @cultivate_place

 

To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:

·       Facebook

·       Instagram

·       email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com

 

Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

Flower Power Garden Hour 186: Firesafe and water wise gardening, with Soleil Tranquilli of Tranquill Gardens11 Sep 202301:10:31

As a plant person with minimal design skills, I'm in awe of people with both skill sets. In this episode I talk to Soleil Tranquilli about how she combines her artistic design ability with her wealth of plant knowledge to create firesafe, water wise and tranquil gardens. She is the owner of Tranquill Gardens as well as being a Certified watershed Wise Landscape Pro and the president of the Sacramento Association of Professional Landscape Designers.

 Soleil and Tranquill Gardens can be found at:

·       Website:  Tranquill Gardens

·       Website: Association of Professional Landscape Designers

·       Facebook:  Tranquill Gardens

 

To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:

·       Facebook

·       Instagram

·       email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com

 

Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

Flower Power Garden Hour 185: September To Do, Listener Q&A, Horticulture News02 Sep 202300:43:54

It is the September To Do List – believe it or not, we are in full Fall prep time.  Lots of cool weather vegetables to start planting, and tons of clean up and pruning.  Summer may have been easy in the garden, but it's time to get the gloves on and get to work.  Episode includes Listener Q&A and a discussion around current published articles in the horticulture world.

 

It is time to plant:

  •         Beets
  •         Carrots
  •         Broccoli
  •         Brussel sprouts
  •         Cauliflower
  •         Cabbage
  •         Celery
  •         Swiss chard
  •         Collards
  •         Garlic
  •         Leek
  •         Lettuce
  •         Peas
  •         Radish
  •         Spinach
  •         Perennials – towards the end of September when it cools down

Chores include:

  •         Clean up – pull out vegetables which are done, fallen fruit
  •         Prune lavender, hydrangeas
  •         Pests – whiteflies may be setting in…..keep an eye on

 

Listener Q&A section.  Topics covered include:

  •         What are the galls attached to oaks?  Are they harmful to the tree?
  •         When replanting a Venus Fly Trap, does it require a specific soil?
  •         Gardenias – no buds or flowers…..is this a location issue?
  •         Lantana issues

Help support feral cat rescue/spay-neuter/finding good homes by contributing at Flower Power Garden Hour Patreon.  

To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:

 

Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

Flower Power Garden Hour 184: Passion vines and houseplant care, with Justin Hancock of Costa Farms26 Aug 202301:25:18

You can say that my guest, Justin Hancock, is passionate about passion vines! But he is also passionate about anything that grows. As a horticulturalist for one of the top nurseries, Costa Farms, he gets to surround himself with all types of plants. We discuss, of course, passion vines as well as houseplant care.

Justin and Costa Farms can be found at:

·       Instagram:  justinwhancock

·       Website: costafarms.com

·       Instagram: costafarms

·       Facebook:  Costa Farms

·       Twitter:  @CostaFarms

·       YouTube:  @CostaFarms

·       TikTok: costa.farms

 

To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:

·       Facebook

·       Instagram

·       email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com

Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

Flower Power Garden Hour 183: August To Do, Horticulture News, Listener Q&A12 Aug 202301:04:35

It is the August To Do List, and we are having a gorgeous summer that is offering up IDEAL garden conditions.  Vegetable and fruit harvests are bountiful, but there is prep work for fall piling up. 

It is time to:  Plant seeds in ground, including:  beets, cabbage, carrots, turnips, potatoes

Prep garden beds for Fall planting in September:  Weed, compost

Chores include:

  •        Dead-head flowers
  •        Pick up fallen fruit
  •        Cut off suckers
  •        Prevent weeds from going to seed
  •        Collect seeds
  •        Harvest melons
  •        Order fall bulbs (daffodils, tulips, etc)
  •        Deep water trees

 

We finish up with a Listener Q&A section.  Topics covered include:

  •        Are pill bugs good for the soil? 
  •        Do I need to keep "braiding" my plant?
  •        Habanero not blooming – why?
  •        Fig tree only produce dry, inedible figs.  Why?

 

Help support feral cat rescue/spay-neuter/finding good homes by contributing at Flower Power Garden Hour Patreon.  

 

To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:

 

Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

Flower Power Garden Hour 182: Replace your lawn with a cacti/succulent garden, with Gianluca Bacci03 Aug 202301:02:13

Want to replace your lawn with a cacti/succulent garden? Here's how. My coworker and succulent grower extraordinaire, Gianluca Bacci, joins me to discuss succulent growing tips. We talk about major do's and don'ts of succulent care plus why the saguaro cacti of Arizona are dying.

 Gianluca can be found at:

·         Instagram:  marinsect_gianluca

 

To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:

·         Facebook

·         Instagram

·         email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com

 

Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

Flower Power Garden Hour 181: Balcony gardens, with Deborah Holtschlag of PlantTraps29 Jul 202300:47:13

Many of us walk around with ideas/inventions in our head but don't follow through with them for numerous reasons. In this episode, I talk with inventor/founder of PlantTraps, Deborah Holtschlag, about how she came up with an idea and ran with it. We discuss her products that turn balconies into amazing gardens as well as her journey from idea to market.

 

Links below can be found to Deborah and PlantTraps. 

·       Website:  planttraps.com

·       Instagram:  planttraps

·       Facebook:  planttraps

·       YouTube:  @planttraps

 

To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:

·       Facebook

·       Instagram

·       email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com

 

Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

Flower Power Garden Hour 180: July To Do & Listener Q&A16 Jul 202300:39:54

It is the July To Do List, and we are in the HEAT of summer.  Garden work is relegated to morning and (maybe) late afternoon given the blistering temperatures.  Luckily, it is not the busiest time of the year garden wise – hopefully most of your time is spent harvesting vegetables.  Plenty to do still from a maintenance perspective, and believe it or not….some early prep for Fall/Winter.

It is time to:

·       Sow seeds indoors for brussel sprouts, cauliflower, broccoli

 

Chores include:

·       Deep water trees

·       Deep water in-ground plants

·       Mulch

·       Weed

·       HARVEST

·       Snip off flowers of basil, other herbs

·       Keep an eye out for insects – spray, squish

·       Dead-head flowers

 

We finish up with a Listener Q&A section.  Topics covered include:

·       What is a good way to get rid of ants indoors?

·       What are the best cut flower options?

·       Pumpkins turning yellow and rotting before they turn orange – why?

·       Fastest growing shrubs that do well in full sun with minimal water?

 

To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:

·       Facebook

·       Instagram

·       email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com

 

Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

Flower Power Garden Hour 197: The Chocolate Botanist, Derek Haynes15 Jun 202400:55:27

In this episode, I have a great conversation with the Chocolate Botanist, Derek Haynes. Hear about his journey becoming a plant biologist as well about his mission to debunk misinformation on the internet. We discuss his "favorite" myths and how he handles the backlash he receives on social media.

 Derek is a plethora of educational and entertaining information -- links below can be found to his variety of media.

 

To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:

 

Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

FPGH 179. Tomato Myths (& more)30 Jun 202300:49:01
Flower Power Garden Hour 178: June To Do & Listener Q&A19 Jun 202300:43:09

It is the June To Do List, and here in Zone 9 it seems that summer has arrived.  Hot weather is becoming the daily norm, and everything is quickly drying up from a very wet winter.  At this point in the garden a lot of the hard prep work has been done and we now begin summer maintenance mode. 

 

It is time to plant:

  • ·       Perennials, roses, herbs, veggies… beans, corn, cucumbers, tomatoes, watermelon, melons, okra, chard, eggplant, peppers, pumpkins, squash, watermelon, cucamelons

Chores include:

  • ·       Mulch
  • ·       Deadhead roses
  • ·       Rootstock suckers
  • ·       Look for pests
  • ·       Plant flowers

 

We finish up with a Listener Q&A section.  Topics covered include:

  • ·       Fertilizer for dragon fruit?
  • ·       Anything that can be done to help tomato flowers set fruit?

  • ·       Preparation for removing lawn for a water wise landscape.

  • ·       Large, very old female mulberry tree(s) are being removed by the city of Stockton.  What will the impact be on the remaining male mulberry tree?  Will it produce more pollen?  Will it still produce berries? 

 

To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:

 

Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

Flower Power Garden Hour 177: Essential Oils, with Amy Anthony of NYC Aromatica26 May 202301:06:15

For centuries people have been harvesting and obtaining oils from plants. From lavender to Frankincense, researchers know that oils are important compounds in plants for many reasons. In this episode I talk to aromatherapy expert, Amy Anthony of NYC Aromatica, all about essential oils and how you can utilize them in your life. We touch upon distilling flowers, which ones you can grow in your garden and her favorites. And find out which flower I tried to distill but failed at miserably!!

Links below can be found to NYC Aromatica to learn more.

·       Website:  nycaromatica.com

·       Podcast: Essential Aromatica

·       Instagram:  nycaromatica

·       YouTube:  @nycaromatica

·       Facebook:  @NYC Aromatica

·       LinkedIn:  Amy Anthony

 

To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:

·       Facebook

·       Instagram

·       email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com

 

Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

Flower Power Garden Hour 176: May To Do & Listener Q&A07 May 202300:34:14

It is the May To Do List, and the here in Zone 9 the winter weather seems to have finally broken.  Warm days have been persistent, but there is still some cool and wet weather.  Lots to do in the garden as we catch up from a long winter and prepare for spring/summer.

 

It is time to plant:

·       Vegetables:  Tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, beans, swiss chard, corn, cucumbers, okra, melons, squash, watermelon

 

Chores include:

  •        Mulch
  •        Plant everything
  •        Check irrigation/flush lines
  •        Thin stonefruit
  •        Peach leaf curl
  •        Fertilize pots
  •        Transplant succulents
  •        Monitor for pests/prep

 

We finish up with a Listener Q&A section.  Topics covered include:

  •        Hummingbird moths – what plants attract them?
  •        Camelia tree bush – blooms pink every spring, but quickly drops them.  Suggestions?
  •        Bird of Paradise – how to separate and transplant into smaller pots
  •        Wine barrels – got saturated because there were no holes and water did not drain.  Once it does drain, can the soil be reused or should it be replaced?

To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:

·       Facebook

·       Instagram

·       email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com

 

Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

Flower Power Garden Hour 175: Kids Gardening, with Em Shipman, Executive Director of KidsGardening.org15 Apr 202300:49:15

April is Kid's Gardening Month! Joining me to talk about resources to help teachers and parents with activities, grants and lesson plants is Em Shipman, Executive Director of KidsGardening.org . And FYI-  a lot of these lessons are great for grownups!

 If folks want to contribute to our work, donations are 100% tax deductible. We are able to reach 8 more kids with every dollar donated!  Here is the donation link.

Additional useful information discussed in the episode – and links to KidsGardening media – can be found below.

 ·       Website:  KidsGardening; Kids Garden Community

·       Instagram:  kidsgardening

·       Twitter: @Kids_Gardening

·       Pintrest: @kidsgardening

·       Facebook:  KidsGardening.org

·       YouTube:  @KidsGardening.org

·       Activities:

o   Container Gardening

o   Seed Viewer

o   Kitchen Scrap Gardening

o   Learn about Landfills Lesson Plan

 

To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:

·       Facebook

·       Instagram

·       email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com

 

Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

Flower Power Garden Hour 174: April To Do, Asparagus growing tips, & Listener Q&A09 Apr 202300:36:08

It is the April To Do List, and the persistent wet and cold weather is still here in the west.  Nevertheless, we are getting warmer, longer days and spring will soon be in full effect. 

We also spend some time reviewing asparagus growing tips, as it is a popular question amongst listeners.

 

It is time to plant:

  •        Vegetables:  Eggplant, squash, corn, cucumbers, swiss chard, jicama, okra, melons, peppers, sweet potatoes, watermelons
  •        Flowers:  Perennials, dahlias, sunflower seeds

 

Chores include:

  •        Weed
  •        Prune once flowering shrubs
  •        Mulch
  •        Watch for insects

 

We finish up with a Listener Q&A section.  Topics covered include:

  •        Rhubarb – growing tips
  •        What kind of trees will grow well in full sun in the Central Valley/Foothills
  •        Red clover – recommendations for using as nitrogen fixer
  •        Cherry tomatoes – advice on early season transplanting to larger containers, and where/how to move outside (especially if cold still)

 

To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:

·       Facebook

·       Instagram

·       email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com

 

Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

Flower Power Garden Hour 173: Glenn Dickerson, Begonia Collection Curator at Fort Worth Botanic Garden02 Apr 202301:50:33

Begonias are like potato chips, you can't stop at one. In this episode I'm talking with Glenn Dickerson, Begonia collections curator at the Fort Worth Botanic Garden, about all his tips and tricks to keep their massive collection healthy and thriving. We discuss soil, fertilizer, types of Begonias, problematic Rex varieties and more. 

Glenn and some fantastic begonia resources can be found below:

 

To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:

Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

Flower Power Garden Hour 172: Don Shor of Redwood Barn Nursery, Fruit Tree Troubleshooting11 Mar 202300:55:13

Peach leaf curl, fire blight, citrus issues, and more.  Don Shor, owner of Redwood Barn Nursery and horticulturist extraordinaire, joins me to discuss issues that may arise on your fruit trees this spring and summer.   

Don and Redwood Barn Nursery can be found at:

 

To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:

·       Facebook

·       Instagram

·       email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com

 

Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

Flower Power Garden Hour 171: March To Do & Listener Q&A04 Mar 202300:13:58

It is the March To Do List, and we are still in the heart of winter with lots of cold and wet days.  Not just cold and wet – we have had very low elevation snow throughout California…crazy.  Spring looms though, and preparation is paramount. 

 

It is time to plant:

·       Vegetables:  Broccoli, beets, cabbage, cauliflower, chive, collards, swiss chard, kale, lettuce, potatoes, radish

·       Start tomato, eggplant, and (maybe) peppers inside

·       Annual flowers

·       Dahlias & summer bulbs (like gladiolas)

 

Chores include:

·       Prune roses

·       Check irrigation

·       Transplant actively growing plants

·       Cut back dying foliage of bulbs

 

We finish up with a Listener Q&A section.  Topics covered include:

·       Can roses be trimmed in Dec/Jan before the budding starts?

·       Tomato questions:

o   When is the best time to start planting?

o   Is it better to start them in the ground or a container?

o   When I plant tomatoes, are there other vegetables (certain peppers?) that can be planted at the same time?

·       Is it too late to plant bulbs?  Are there any particular varieties that can be planted in late Feb/March?

·       African violets that have not bloomed in a very long time – any recommendations about how to get them to bloom?

 

To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:

·       Facebook

·       Instagram

·       email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com

 

Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

Flower Power Garden Hour 170: February To Do & Listener Q&A11 Feb 202300:38:04

It is the February To Do List, and we are still in the heart of winter with plenty of cold days.  Spring is around the corner though, and preparation has to get started.

It is time to plant:

  • ·       Vegetables:  Broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, swiss chard, collards, kale, lettuce, peas, radish
  • ·       Plant bare-root roses, fruit trees

 

Chores include:

  • ·       Prune roses, fruit trees
  • ·       Start cleaning up garden
  • ·       Start seeds:  Tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants inside
  • ·       Divide plants
  • ·       Buy dahlia bulbs, sweet pea seeds

 

We finish up with a Listener Q&A section.  Topics covered include:

·       Persistent white fly and aphid infestation.  Does all soil in planter boxes need to be replaced to solve this problem?

·       Questions about using chicken manure & alfalfa pellets in the garden:  When & how do they get applied?  Should wood chips be moved before application?  Should organic pellets/manure be used?

·       What is the best way to move a Bird of Paradise?

·       What are the little holes in an apricot tree?  And are they lethal?

·       The best fertilizer for an orange tree?

·       Dragonfruit plant is covered in circular, red spots & appears to be yellowing?  What can be done? 

 

 

To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:

 

Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

Flower Power Garden Hour 196: Soil science, with Robert Pavlis of Garden Fundamentals03 Apr 202400:57:22

Soil science can be a bit confusing. How long does it take for materials to be broken down, is it good practice to add microbes and what exactly are microbes? Robert Pavlis addresses these questions and more. Check out his new podcast Garden Fundamentals plus his impressive list of books including Soil Science for Gardeners and Compost Science for Gardeners. Check out more at his links below.

 Links below can be found to Robert's vast expanse of media.

·       Podcast: Garden Fundamentals (available on Apple & Spotify)

·       Website:  gardenmyths.com

·       Facebook:  @GardenFundamentals

·       YouTube:  @Gardenfundamentals1

·       Books:

o   Soil Science for Gardeners

o   Plant Science for Gardeners

o   Compost Science for Gardeners

o   Microbe Science for Gardeners Book

o   Garden Myths – Book 1 and Book 2

 

To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:

·       Facebook

·       Instagram

·       email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com


Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

Flower Power Garden Hour 169: January To Do & Listener Q&A15 Jan 202300:41:22

It is the January To Do List, and we are in the rainiest season out wet in a very long time.  Temperatures have moderated a bit, however.  Tough to get out in the garden with this much rain, but there are things that need to be done during the dry periods. 

It is time to plant:

  • Bareroot trees, roses, shrubs
  • Radishes
  • Lettuce
  • Onions
  • Bok choy
  • Fava beans

Chores include:

  • Protect from frost. Watch weather report for potential frost days
  • Don't work wet soils --- very important
  • Spray for peach leaf curl and other fungal diseases
  • Can prune fruit trees – but listen to the caveats in the episode

We finish up with a Listener Q&A section.  Topics covered include:

  • How much of a dry period is needed to spray liquid copper on fruit trees?
  • Can a rose stem from a bouquet be rooted? What is the process?
  • When to transplant a Little Ollie olive tree from a plastic pot to the ground?
  • When to prune hydrangeas?
  • What is the process for propagating fig tree cuttings?
  • Can a Boston Fern survive in an outdoor enclosed room?

 

To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:

Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

Flower Power Garden Hour 168: Magnolias, with Andrew Bunting07 Jan 202301:08:59

We are all familiar with the iconic southern magnolia and possibly even the show stopping saucer magnolia…but there are many more beauties in this genus.  I had the pleasure of talking with Andrew Bunting -- the Vice President of Horticulture at the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society and author of  "The Plant Lover's Guide to Magnolias".  We discuss everything from range of habitat, to care and unique species that can be incorporated into your garden. 

Andrew can be found at:


Magnolia sources:

 

Societies:

 

Botanic Gardens and Arboreta:

 

To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:

 

Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

Flower Power Garden Hour 167: Christmas Plants Wrap Up24 Dec 202200:53:40
Flower Power Garden Hour 166: December To Do & Listener Q&A15 Dec 202200:39:20

It is the December To Do List, and we are in the middle of winter garden season.  Weather is COLD, and so far it has been relatively wet. 

It is time to plant:

  • Asparagus
  • Fava beans
  • Bok choy
  • Broccoli rabe
  • Garlic
  • Kale
  • Loose leaf lettuce
  • Mustard
  • Onion sets
  • Radish

Do not plant yet:

  • Bareroot trees
  • Roses
  • Berries

Chores include:

  • Protect succulents from water
  • Frost protection
  • Clean up – but leave some debris remaining
  • Spray dormant trees (peach leaf curl)
  • Plant bulbs

 

We finish up with a Listener Q&A section.  Topics covered include:

  • What are your thoughts on using a moisture meter to determine if plants need water?
  • How often should a yard be watered during the winter?
  • Banana tree – should it be inside or outside during the winter?
  • Putting asparagus plants down for the winter
  • Christmas cactus best practices

 

To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:

Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

Flower Power Garden Hour 165: San Francisco Conservatory of Flowers, with Kristen Natoli & Sarah Sawtelle04 Dec 202200:55:17

What is it like to work in the oldest greenhouse conservatory in the US?  I talk to the San Francisco Conservatory of Flowers Kristen Natoli (Collections Manager) and Sarah Sawtelle (Engagement Manager) about the ins and outs of this historic collection and building.  With such an amazing collection of plants – where do they source them from?  How do they decide what is kept and what to get rid of?  And of course, we talk about the Giant water lilies, corpse plant and bat flower. 

The SF Conservatory of Flowers can be found at:

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Flower Power Garden Hour 164: Compost, with Kevin Marini20 Nov 202201:20:45

Compost…this is music to most gardener's ears.  FREE compost is even better.  Many people think that expensive compost makers, tons of space, and ample time is required – this is NOT the case.  In this episode I welcome back master composter Kevin Marini to discuss everything compost.  Do you know the difference between hot and cold compost, the optimal size and temperature of a pile, and what unusual items can be placed in your compost?  Trust me…..Kevin has heard it all through his composting Rot Line!


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Flower Power Garden Hour 163: Bulbs, with Peggy Anne Montgomery12 Nov 202201:11:12

Every gardener – no matter how long you have been gardening – gets excited for the first shoots of spring emerging bulbs.  Bulbs are incredibly easy to grow, and for many they naturalize and multiply year after year, creating a no-fuss flower show.  I talk to bulb expert Peggy Anne Montgomery about growing bulbs and how to incorporate them into your lawn…..yes, your lawn. She has tips on how to dig holes, what to incorporate when planting, how to implement the lasagna method, and which bulbs rodents will avoid. 

Peggy Anne and additional information about bulbs can be found at:

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Flower Power Garden Hour 162: November To Do & Listener Q&A02 Nov 202200:43:57

It is the November To Do List, and we are in the throes of winter garden prep.  Weather is starting to cool rapidly, and (hopefully) out west we start seeing moisture soon.

It is time to plant:

  • Fava beans
  • Bok choy
  • Celery
  • Swiss chard
  • Garlic
  • Kale
  • Kohlrabi
  • Lettuce
  • Mustard
  • Onions
  • Peas
  • Radish
  • Shallots
  • Spinach
  • Perennials (except frost sensitive)
  • Spring blooming bulbs
  • Cover crops: Fava beans, Crimson clover
  • Spring blooming annual seeds: Natives, sweet peas

 

Chores include:

  • Clean up summer garden
  • Dig up/divide perennials such as: Cannas, agapanthus, grasses
  • Avoid transplanting succulents
  • Order seeds for next year
  • Weed control

 

We finish up with a Listener Q&A section.  Topics covered include:

  • Is it too late to plant sweet pea seeds?
  • Iris bulbs – okay to plant now, or store for next year?
  • How to divide and plant Elephant Ear, Bird of Paradise, and Banana Tree?
  • Brussel sprouts and Romanesco being predated – what is doing it, and how to prevent?
  • Dieffenbachia – how to transplant?
  • Purple Pony Plum infested with caterpillars – how to get rid of?

 

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Flower Power Garden Hour 161: Birds, with Tammy Poppie29 Oct 202201:03:49

Watching birds go about their lives in your garden is one of the many benefits of gardening.  Besides the joy of watching them, they are also busy eating pests and helping to keep a balanced ecosystem.  I talk to bird expert Tammy Poppie about ways to create a healthy, safe and inviting environment for birds. 

Tammy and additional information about birding and their interaction with plants can be found at:

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Flower Power Garden Hour 160: Andrew Bunting, Fall Garden Preparation22 Oct 202201:04:24

Fall is THE time to prep for a wonderful spring/summer garden.  I talk to Andrew Bunting -- Pennsylvania Horticultural Society's Vice President of Horticulture -- all about planting bulbs, soil prep, what to plant, what to watch out for and how to create habitats for beneficial insects, bees and birds. 

Andrew and resources from the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society can be found at:

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Flower Power Garden Hour 195: Montana gardening, with Theri Vasina L'Hirondelle09 Mar 202400:48:25

If I was picked up and dropped into a gardening zone relatively different than mine, it would be a huge steep learning curve. I love talking to gardeners from zones different than my zone 9b and it doesn't get much different than zone 3. I have a fun and educational chat with Theri Vasina LHirondelle who grows amazing flowers and veggies in Montana.

 

Theri can be found on Instagram at @backyard.impressions

 

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Flower Power Garden Hour 159: Greg Bundesen, Water conservation while maintaining a green garden12 Oct 202201:09:57

As California and the west continue to suffer the effects of drought, it is more important than ever to be water-wise in the garden.  I talk to Greg Bundesen – Sacramento Water Conservation Supervisor – about what you can do as a homeowner and gardener to use less water but still maintain a green space.  We discuss grey water, mulch, converting sprinklers to drip, and where you find ample water saving information. 

Further information can be found at:

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Flower Power Garden Hour 158: Joe Lamp'l -- aka "Joe Gardener" – Raised beds, from Why to How25 Sep 202201:13:33

Joe Lamp'l – from "Joe Gardener" fame – is America's gardener.  Given that his public television show Growing a Greener World is shown in 38 countries, Joe is more appropriately the WORLD's gardener.  He has an illustrious, long career spanning television, print, podcasting, and video content.  Above all, Joe is an educator – his gardening passion is infectious, and his communication ability to make challenging concepts simple is a strength.  He has taken this to the masses in his Online Gardening Academy, offering a growing (pun intended) curriculum of classes available to the public at affordable prices. 

In this episode, we cover a range of topics, but our focus is on raised beds – from the "why" to the "how". 

Joe's content can be found at:

 

Joe's Online Gardening Academy (online classes) can be found at:

 

Joe's social media can be found at:



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Flower Power Garden Hour 157: Water-wise gardening & Irrigation, with Don Smith - Water Management Coordinator for the City of Folsom08 Sep 202201:11:43

Water-wise gardening is more important than ever in the west, and part of this includes irrigating properly. Don Smith, Water Management Coordinator for the City of Folsom, joins me to discuss everything irrigation. He covers which sprinklers are best if you do have a lawn, how to lay out your drip irrigation for optimal coverage, and are "smart" controllers worth it? Plus, he reviews how to convert a PVC system to a drip system, and how to know how long to run your irrigation.

More water conservation information can be found at:

 

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Flower Power Garden Hour 156: Tomatoes, with Brad Gates of Wild Boar Farms25 Aug 202200:56:31

Brad Gates, owner of Wild Boar Farms,  joins me again to discuss problems gardeners may be encountering with their tomatoes. We also discuss the process that goes into him finding the next new variety… some are by chance, others are by purposeful breeding. Plus, he let's us in on the new varieties to be released in the near future.

Brad and Wild Boar Farms can be found at:

 

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Flower Power Garden Hour 155: Fire-wise landscaping, with Master Gardener education specialist, Kevin Marini23 Aug 202201:00:56

Sadly fire is becoming a way of life in California and the greater west. It's important to maintain a healthy landscape for wildlife habitat, but there are key tasks homeowners can do to mitigate fire danger. I talk to Master Gardener education specialist, Kevin Marini, all about fire-wise landscaping. Learn about the different zones around your house and how to plant and maintain them. Learn what planting in islands means and the "safest" mulch for your plants.

Further fire-wise landscape information can be found at:

 

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Flower Power Garden Hour 154: Pollination, with Tora Rocha of Pollinator Posse18 Aug 202201:30:57

Over 80% of plants need pollinators to reproduce -- this includes a majority of crops humans eat. To say that pollinators are important is an understatement. The founder and CEO of the non-profit Pollinator Posse, Tora Rocha, joins me to discuss what we can do on our part. She gives tips on how to create a pollinator friendly garden, plants that are both food and host plants, and how to create a Monarch habitat. We learn how many native California bee species there are…. it's a lot.

Tora can be found at:

 

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Flower Power Garden Hour 153: Peppers, with Chad Inman of Sky High Scoville Pepper Farm11 Aug 202201:27:44

5 foot tall pepper plants? Yes, your peppers can get this large. Chad Iman, owner of Sky High Scoville Pepper Farm breaks down step by step how to grow the best most productive peppers possible. He shares his secret recipe for seed starting mix, transplant techniques and how to overwinter your plants. Plus we talk about the beautiful hot peppers he grows.

Chad and Sky High Scoville Pepper Farm can be found at:

 

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Flower Power Garden Hour 152: Bees, with Blake Dacy and Tina Macuha08 Aug 202201:26:57

Producing your own honey and having your own bees can be a fun and rewarding backyard hobby. But how do you go about starting -- do you need to buy bees or can you catch your own swarm?  I talk to professional beekeeper, Blake Dacy and backyard hobbyist/host of Good Day Sacramento Tina Macuha all about bees. We discuss how bees go about building a hive, what they require, how to treat for mites and everything in between. Plus -- Blake and Tina share their fun swarm collecting stories.

 

Blake can be found at:

 

Tina can be found at:

 

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Flower Power Garden Hour 151: August To Do & Listener Q&A06 Aug 202200:48:14

Lots of tasks during the hot summer season, including:

  • Plant cabbage, carrots, beets, celery, kale, onion seeds, potatoes, mustards, chard, collards, leeks
  • Deadhead flowers
  • Hose off whiteflies, sticky traps
  • Clean up old fruit on trees, ground
  • Still time to summer prune fruit trees
  • Order fall bulbs
  • Support melons on the ground or on vines
  • Continue to deep water young, newly planted trees
  • Deadhead, cut back mophead hydrangeas

 

A wide variety of listener questions are addressed, including:

  • How to control Leaf Miners on cucumber
  • What type of milkweed for Monarch butterflies
  • Lawn clippings for mulch?
  • How to get rid of green hornworms
  • Yellowing leaves on mandarins & limes
  • Bubbles from the soil while when watering potted plants
  • Pepper plant with black at the base of stems
  • Do sunflowers stunt the growth of surrounding plants

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Flower Power Garden Hour 150: Cut Flowers, with Wyatt Emig23 Jul 202201:02:31

Who doesn't love flowers, and they are even better when you can pick and make a bouquet out of them. I talk with the Mendocino Coast Botanical Garden's horticulturalist, Wyatt Emig, about his process of growing flowers. He shares his must have seed trays, soil conditioning tips and favorite flowers to grow.

Wyatt can found at:

Website:  gardenbythesea.org

Instagram:  @wyatt.emig

Instagram: @mendocinocoastbotanicalgardens

Facebook:  @MendocinoCoastBotanicalGardens

 

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Flower Power Garden Hour 194: Aroids, with Bruce Ritter20 Feb 202401:10:42

Dieffenbachia, 'pothos', Monstera… a great majority of houseplants are in the Araceae family which most people shorten to just say Aroids. I discuss this broad family with UC Davis  Botanical Conservatory  volunteer extraordinaire Bruce Ritter. He has revamped our collection and he shares all his tips and tricks with us.

Help support feral cat rescue/spay-neuter/finding good homes by contributing at Flower Power Garden Hour Patreon.  

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·       email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com

 

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Flower Power Garden Hour 149: Soils, with Robert Pavlis17 Jul 202201:27:49

Every great garden starts with healthy soil. But what exactly is "healthy" soil, how do you achieve this and what is soil really. Robert Pavlis, author of "Soil Science for Gardeners" and of "Garden Myths" fame joins me once again to talk everything soil. We discuss micronutrients versus macronutrients, can you add sand to clay soils, how to test your soil for texture and a lot more.

Robert can found at:

Websites: 

Facebook: @gardenfundamentals

YouTube:  Gardenfundamentals1

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Flower Power Garden Hour 148: Trees, with arborist John Lichter09 Jul 202201:15:23

We all know the importance of trees… oxygen, shade, habitat, food, beauty and more. And we all know they can live centuries beyond us. But they can also have difficulties growing in urban settings. I talk to consulting arborist, John Lichter, on what you can do to ensure that your trees are healthy and vibrant in your lifetime as well as for future generations. We discuss how to properly water both young and established trees, what to look out for in diseased trees and where you can find the best tree selection for your yard.  

John can be found at:

Website:  treeassociates.net

 

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July To Do List and Listener Tomato Q&A03 Jul 202200:45:11

July gardening is actually one of the less busy months in terms of number and volume of tasks.  There is a lot of maintenance, but no major, backbreaking work.

We combine the July list on this episode with a deep dive into listener Q&A – with a focus on tomatoes.  If you have questions or need advice on tomato growing, this is a must listen.    

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Flower Power Garden Hour 146: Peace and Plenty Farm, with Melinda Price15 Jun 202200:53:18

Melinda Price waited years to fulfill her dream of being a farmer. And once she bought her historic farm in Northern California -- the work was only just beginning. Thinking outside the box, she and her partner Simon decided they would try their hand in saffron... the most expense herb on the market. Fast forward 5 years and Peace and Plenty Farm is a thriving organic oasis and so much more than just saffron.

 

Check out Peace and Plenty Farm at the sites below.  Also, the farm has a GoFundMe page to help with the goal of restoring a historic barn which lies on the site.  They would love to be able to restore it to a safe condition via an old fashioned barn raising.  Check out the link below if you would like to help.

 

Barn Restoration GoFundMe:  gofund.me/dabba524

Instagram: @peaceandplentyfarmer

Facebook:  peaceplentyfarm

Website:  http://peaceplentyfarm.com

 

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