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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
FPGH 220: Brendan Wilce, of the California Native Plant Society06 Dec 202501:04:24

Fall is a great time to plant California natives. Brendan Wilce of the California Native Plant Society joins me to give his 10 top favorite natives.

This episode is sponsored by BeWaterSmart.

The Brendan and the California Native Plant Society can be found at:

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

FPGH 219: Between Two Shrubs, with Shelley & Christy03 Nov 202500:48:38

Want to take over that neglected school garden but need some inspiration? Listen to Shelley and Christy of @betweentwoshrubs discuss their story of creating a successful school garden program. Plus -- we talk about their new YouTube channel, which is exploring local gardens, talking to the gardeners, and all things garden-adjacent.  Very fun and informative, with frequent new content. 

This episode is sponsored by BeWaterSmart.

Between Two Shrubs can be found at:

Flower Power Garden Hour 210: Top 10 Money Wasters10 Jul 202501:26:39

Want to save money?! Of course you do. As plant lovers we want to spend our money on plants not stuff to maintain them. Bruce and I each give our top 10 money wasters with a large ticket bonus item.  You may be surprised with what you have needlessly spending your money on.

It's peak of summer and it's hot. But believe it or not it is time for tasks to prep for fall. Bruce and I discuss what needs to be done in the garden now plus we answer questions on azaleas, tomatoes and more.

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 121: Dr. Cassandra Quave, The Plant Hunter: A Scientist's Quest for Nature's Next Medicines18 Oct 202100:58:09

Dr. Cassandra Quave is a botanist extraordinaire. I was fortunate to chat about her early life, career path, and her new book "The Plant Hunter: A Scientist's Quest for Nature's Next Medicines."

Book Description:

In The Plant Hunter, Dr. Quave weaves together science, botany, and memoir to tell us the extraordinary story of her own journey. Traveling by canoe, ATV, mule, airboat, and on foot, she has conducted field research in the flooded forests of the remote Amazon, the murky swamps of southern Florida, the rolling hills of central Italy, isolated mountaintops in Albania and Kosovo, and volcanic isles arising out of the Mediterranean — all in search of natural compounds, long-known to traditional healers, that could help save us all from the looming crisis of untreatable superbugs. And as a person born with multiple congenital defects of her skeletal system, she's done it all with just one leg. Filled with grit, tragedy, triumph, awe, and scientific discovery, her story illuminates how the path forward for medical discovery may be found in nature's oldest remedies.

 

"The Plant Hunter: A Scientist's Quest for Nature's Next Medicines" can be found at penguinrandomhouse.com

 

Cassandra can be followed at:

Instagram: @quavesthnobot

Twitter: @QuaveEthnobot

Podcast: foodiepharmacology.podbean.com

Website: cassandraquave.com

 

To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:

 

Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

Flower Power Garden Hour 120: October To Do List09 Oct 202100:22:50

In this episode, I discuss October garden To-Do tasks.  There is a big variety with a lot on the list, including:

  • Continue clean up – pull out dead plants; remove lead, vegetable and fruit debris
  • Use soil sulfur to drop pH
  • Prune non-frost sensitive plants
  • Cover succulents if chance of rain
  • Add beneficial nematodes
  • Plant perennials
  • Buy bulbs…chill tulips 8-12 weeks
  • Plant vegetables – fava beans, beets, bok choy, celery, swiss chard, collards, garlic, kale, kohlrabi, lettuce, mustards, peas, radishes, shallots, turnips
  • Cover crops, including fava beans, clover
  • Consider planting wildflower seeds – CA natives… clarkia, poppies
  • Collect seeds off prior year plants

 

To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:

 

Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

Flower Power Garden Hour 119: ARBICO Organics, with Sheri Herrera de Frey30 Sep 202100:57:24

The backbone of any organic garden are hard working beneficial/parasitic insects. I talk with founder of ARBICO-Organics, Sheri Herrera de Frey, about which ones are a must for gardeners to incorporate. We discuss controls for whiteflies, Japanese and cucumber beetles, gnats, borers and so many more. Plus -- learn why releasing beneficial nematodes should be on your garden to do list. 

ARBICO-Organics can be found on-line below:

Website:  arbico-organics.com

Facebook

Instagram

 

To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:

Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

Flower Power Garden Hour 118: Listener Q&A27 Sep 202100:37:43

Listener Q&A episode.  Topics include:

  • Propagating a String of Pearls
  • Basil infested with caterpillars
  • Mandarin bush – will it produce late in the season
  • Azalea – how to care for
  • Overwintering eggplants & peppers – when to prepare
  • Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow – best time of year & method to transplant

 

To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:

Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

Flower Power Garden Hour 117: September To Do List15 Sep 202101:13:56

Avocados, blueberries and Hydrangeas - 3 plants I get a lot of questions about. In some parts of the world they grow like weeds, but in many locations they can be tricky. I talk to Bruce Ritter -- co-founder of the Sacramento Botanical Garden -- about growing these, as well as how the plan to build a world class garden in Sacramento is going.

 

To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:

Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

Flower Power Garden Hour 116: September To Do List11 Sep 202100:20:30

In this episode, I discuss September garden To-Do tasks.  There is a big variety with a lot on the list, including:

  • Clean up – remove certain vegetables. There are certain ones to leave (peppers, eggplants, etc) as cool temperatures can help them. 
  • Plant Fall/Winter vegetables, including brussel sprouts, cauliflower, broccoli, celery, cabbage, kales, swiss chard
  • Harvest gourds such as pumpkins and squash
  • Plan and purchase bulbs that will be planted in Fall, bloom in Spring
  • Add beneficial nematodes
  • Cut back certain plants, such as pruning hydrangeas
  • Near the end of September -- start dividing irises, planting perennials and natives

 

To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:

Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

Flower Power Garden Hour 115: Sunset Lake CBD04 Sep 202100:48:23

What does it take to grow healthy CBD with organic regenerative practices? I talk to founder of Sunset Lake CBD, Sam Bellavance and farmer/grower Caitlin Silber to hear about how they produce the most beautiful plants in Vermont. We discuss how they feed the soil, prevent most pest and disease problems and what they use to treat powdery mildew. Plus -- we talk about all their wonderful products and uses.

 

Sunset Lake CBD can be found at:

 

To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:

 

Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

Flower Power Garden Hour 114: Treating and preventing weeds28 Aug 202100:45:29

A plant out of place… this is a universal definition  of a weed. Weeds are many gardeners' biggest nemesis.  If left unchecked they can cause numerous issues in a garden. I breakdown how weeds get to your garden, how to control them and the single most important task to prevent an inundation. 

Flower Power Garden Hour 113: Listener Q&A17 Aug 202100:33:19

Grab bag listener Q&A episode – fruit tree pruning, orchids, hibiscus…..topics include: 

  • Old wood chippings – what can I use for?
  • Orchids – how to treat ant infestation
  • Hibiscus – part is green, part is brown….diagnosis?
  • Spotted spurge – how to mitigate this weed
  • Peach tree – how to prune to prevent branch breakage

To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:

Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

Flower Power Garden Hour 112: August To Do List15 Aug 202100:21:13

The dog days of summer are upon us, and heat and smoke from wildfires is everyday life.  In this episode, I discuss this as well as all August to-do tasks, which compared to other months are not as daunting.  These include your fall vegetable planning/prep, summer fruit tree pruning, and some beginning thoughts on water issues.  

 

To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:

 

Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

Flower Power Garden Hour 210: Top 10 Money Wasters10 Jul 202501:26:39

Want to save money?! Of course you do. As plant lovers we want to spend our money on plants not stuff to maintain them. Bruce and I each give our top 10 money wasters with a large ticket bonus item.  You may be surprised with what you have needlessly spending your money on.

It's peak of summer and it's hot. But believe it or not it is time for tasks to prep for fall. Bruce and I discuss what needs to be done in the garden now plus we answer questions on azaleas, tomatoes and more.

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 111: Don Shor, owner of Redwood Barn Nursery01 Aug 202101:11:15

Doing a bit of summer fruit tree care can go a long way for a plentiful, healthy crop the following year.  I talk to Don Shor, owner of Redwood Barn nursery, about the benefits of summer pruning, what you should be fertilizing with, summer pests, how to tell if you watering enough and many more helpful tips. Don and Redwood Barn can be found at:

Website:  redwoodbarn.com

Instagram:  redwoodbarnnursery & don.shor

Facebook:  Redwood Barn Nursery

 

To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:

Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

Flower Power Garden Hour 110: Listener Q&A27 Jul 202100:38:03

Grab bag listener Q&A episode – tree issues and recommendations, vegetables, pests…. 

  • Jade – why is it turning red
  • Thrips – how to mitigate
  • Cucumbers – why very pale in color
  • Limbs dropping on a tree that seems healthy
  • Maple tree – roots are starting to show at the base….should they be covered with soil

To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:

 

Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

Flower Power Garden Hour 109: Sonya Harris, Bullock Garden Project18 Jul 202101:23:47

Sonya Harris is a lifetime educator. Working with kids with special needs she became aware of the importance of alternative learning and began her journey creating a school garden. Sonya's energy and dedication quickly morphed into a bigger mission -- eventually leading to the nonprofit Bullock Garden Project. The mission of the organization is stated below:

We are dedicated to empowering individuals, groups, and organizations, focusing on people within marginalized communities, in creating sustainable agriculture and incorporating garden education through building community sustainability awareness; partnering with community and green industry organizations; strengthening social/emotional development and well-being and nurturing independence through experiential learning and garden-based education; and inspiring future leaders to support green initiatives.

 

Sonya and the Bullock Garden Project can be found at the following:

 

To find Marlene on social media or ask questions for future shows, submit them at:

Flower Power Garden Hour 108: July To Do List10 Jul 202100:27:42

Summer is in full swing, and oppressive heat is dominating the western US.  Even with that, believe it or not this is the time of year I start thinking about my plan for winter vegetables.  In this episode, I discuss this as well as all other July garden to-do tasks including…vegetables to plant, summer fruit tree pruning, pruning hydrangeas, and lavender and blueberry care. 

 

To find Marlene on social media or ask questions for future shows, submit them at:

Flower Power Garden Hour 107: Listener Q&A30 Jun 202100:52:05

Grab bag listener Q&A episode – vegetables, flowers, trees, pests…. 

  • Butternut squash identification 
  • Japanese Maple – what are the white spots on leaves?
  • Hydrangea -- flowers dying prematurely
  • Lavender – why are leaves turning yellow?
  • Tomatoes – what are the small, red insects and webbing?
  • Magnolia tree – limbs have been dying for a few years.  Anything that can be done?

 

To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:

 

Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

Flower Power Garden Hour 106: Jim McKinley of EB Stone Organics21 Jun 202101:06:44

Soils are key to a healthy garden, but it can be a bit confusing when knowing what to buy or add.  Jim McKinley of EB Stone Organics joins me to discuss ways to improve your soil health. Is compost always a good thing? What is a soilless media? What is better… chicken or steer manure and many more questions/topics are discussed.

 

To find Marlene on social media or ask questions for future shows, submit them at:

Flower Power Garden Hour 105: June To Do List10 Jun 202100:23:38

The summer heat is here – or it's at least starting.  With that, vegetables are in full swing – as are an assortment of pests.  I discuss these as well as all other June garden to-do tasks

To find Marlene on social media or ask questions for future shows, submit them at:

Flower Power Garden Hour 104: Natasha McCrary of 1818 Farms07 Jun 202101:33:45

What started out as a passing interest for Natasha McCrary's son has turned into a full fledged farm with the primary mission of promoting and saving baby doll sheep. As the years progressed, the farm has now become a source of cut flowers, essential oil products, farm events and more. I talk to Natasha about how she goes about growing cut flowers in her home state of Alabama. For anyone wanting to venture into the business of cut flowers or if you want to grow your own, she is a wealth of knowledge… from must have varieties, when to plant, when to harvest and more. And of course we learn what baby doll sheep are!

You can find 1818 Farms at the locations below:

 

To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:

 

Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

Flower Power Garden Hour 103: David Wooten, A Quarter Acre & No Mule31 May 202101:16:08

Gardening is a continuous journey of learning, experimenting and cultivating. It doesn't matter how long you have been gardening or how big your garden is, we can all learn from anyone who has put a trowel in the ground. In this episode I talk to photographer David Art about his journey into gardening. As a youth he watched his grandma garden and grow grapes in a small plot in New Jersey. Today he has taken what he soaked in by watching her as well as the experience of his southern heritage to create his own urban garden.

Instagram:  A Quarter Acre & No Mule

Facebook:  A Quarter Acre & No Mule

Website:  Realdavidart

 

To find Marlene on social media or ask questions for future shows, submit them at:

Flower Power Garden Hour 102: DIY Raised Beds26 May 202100:46:39

While growing in raised garden beds is not necessary, it can make gardening easier and be a solution to certain issues (can you say gophers!) Joe and I go over how we built my new ones and ones I've used in the past. We cover:

  • What materials work the best
  • Type of soil to fill them with
  • What sizes work best
  • How to barricade against gophers and more

 

To find Marlene on social media or ask questions for future shows, submit them at:

Flower Power Garden Hour 209: Flowers, with Amber Villarreal of Redhead Flowerbed04 Jul 202500:48:03

Have dreams of becoming a flower farmer or just want to grow flowers for yourself? I talk to Amber Villarreal of @redheadflowerbed all about her journey into the flower growing world. And of course she'll discuss growing tips and her favorite flowers.

 

You can find Redhead Flowerbed at:

 

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 101: All about corn, with Farmer Fred Hoffman20 May 202100:55:25

Many of us have memories of shucking corn on a warm summer evening, but it's even better if that corn is grown in your own garden. I talk to Farmer Fred Hoffman of the Garden Basics with Farmer Fred podcast -- he discusses everything you need to know to grow your own sweet corn and popcorn. As a former popcorn farmer, Fred dives into the primary pests and diseases, how to tell when corn is ripe and the best varieties.

Find Farmer Fred at the locations below:

 

To find Marlene on social media or ask questions for future shows, submit them at:

Flower Power Garden Hour 100: Common spring garden pests and diseases16 May 202100:16:41

Spring is a time of growth in the garden ... but that can also mean proliferation of pests and diseases. In this mini-episode, I address a few of the most common problems and how to counteract them... peach leaf curl, powdery mildew, aphids and more. 

To find Marlene on social media or ask questions for future shows, submit them at:

Flower Power Garden Hour 99: May To Do List06 May 202100:25:27

Spring is in full swing. In Zone 9 all summer veggies can be planted, perennials should go in the ground before the heat comes and summer bulbs should be planted. I discuss these as well as all other May garden to-do tasks

To find Marlene on social media or ask questions for future shows, submit them at:

Flower Power Garden Hour 98: World Carnivorous Plant Day (May 5th), with Kenny Coogan and Carson Drexler02 May 202101:15:38

May 5th  is World Carnivorous Plant Day! I'm joined by carnivorous plant experts Kenny Coogan and Carson Drexler to discuss the online events people can take part in, including talks led by carnivorous plant experts from around the world. And of course -- Carson and Kenny discuss all the tips for growing carnivorous plants. Check out the links below, including ones to Carson's online Sarracenia nursery and Kenny's upcoming book.

Carson Trexler:

Kenny Coogan:

World Carnivorous Plant Day:

 

To find Marlene on social media or ask questions for future shows, submit them at:

Flower Power Garden Hour 97: Permaculture, with Greg Peterson of The Urban Farm22 Apr 202101:02:13

Permaculture. It is a word that most gardeners have heard but what is it really? I talk to Greg Peterson, host of the very popular Urban Farm Podcast, who has been practicing permaculture for over 30 years. Whether you are growing vegetables or ornamentals, permaculture is a philosophy of gardening that encompasses the entire system of nature around you. Greg details the steps to implement permaculture best practices in your garden to create a much more balanced and healthier garden (ie less work for you!).  Greg can be found at:

 

To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:

Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

Flower Power Garden Hour 96: April To Do List11 Apr 202100:31:43

Spring is in full swing and there is a lot to do in the garden. I'll address which veggies you can plant now and which ones you should hold off on for a bit longer. I'll also discuss peach leaf curl, weeds, perennial planting and discuss my annoyance with finding a perfect weed eater.

To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:

Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

Flower Power Garden Hour 95: Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens03 Apr 202101:06:55

Located along the bluffs of Mendocino is a botanical gem…the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens. I speak to horticulturalists Jim and Jaime about a few of the stand-out plants the garden is known for -- Rhododendrons and Camellias. Jaime discusses the history of the gardens and the overall growing techniques of the plants. Former Rhododendron nursery owner Jim shares his years of growing expertise propagating and growing Rhododendrons.

The Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens can be found on social media at:

Instagram: @mendocinocoastbotanicalgardens

Facebook: Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens

Website: gardenbythesea.org

 

To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:

Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

Flower Power Garden Hour 94: Jan Johnsen – Landscape Designer & Author24 Mar 202101:14:52

Award winning landscape designer Jan Johnsen has been creating magical landscapes for years. She has taken her vast knowledge/eye for design and has written an educational book entitled 'Floratopia'. I talk to Jan about which flowers are fail-proof in containers, how to use texture/color and her years of designing all around the world. Check out her new book as well as others she has written -- 'Floratopia', 'Gardentopia', 'The Spirit of Stone', and 'Heaven is a Garden'. She can be found on social media at the following places:

 

Website: Johnsenlandscapes.com

Instagram: @johnsendesign

Facebook:  serenityinthegardenblog

Facebook: heavenisagarden

Jan's newest book, 'Floratopia', can be found here

To find Marlene on social media or ask questions for future shows, submit them at:

Flower Power Garden Hour 93: March To Do List07 Mar 202100:34:06

Spring has sprung…well at least in zone 9 of California. Here is my garden list of tasks to be done or continued in March -- including planting potatoes, summer blooming bulbs and sunflower seeds (along with other annuals). I discus which veggies can be planted and which ones to hold off for a bit. Additionally some pruning tips are provided…which plants must be pruned this time of year and a discussion if it's ok to still prune your blooming stone fruits.

To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:

Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

Flower Power Garden Hour 92: Byron Martin of Logee's28 Feb 202101:15:55

Houseplants are very "in" right now and Logee's knows houseplants. They have been around since the first houseplant craze of the Victorian Era! But in addition to houseplants, they have a marvelous diverse selection of all sorts of plants…edibles, ornamentals and unique varieties of all kinds. I talk to third generation owner Byron Martin about the history of Logee's and of course all the plants they propagate and sell.

Byron and Logee's can be found at:

Instagram: @logeesplants

Website: logees.com

Facebook: logeestropicalplants

Twitter: @logees

YouTube: logeesplants

 

To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:

Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

Flower Power Garden Hour 208: July To Do List01 Jul 202500:56:38

It's peak of summer and it's hot. But believe it or not it is time for tasks to prep for fall. Bruce and I discuss what needs to be done in the garden now plus we answer questions on azaleas, tomatoes and more

 

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 91: Mandarins, with Kelly Krause17 Feb 202100:56:31

For over 125 years, Placer County in California has been producing delicious mandarins that are shipped all over the country. Nine years ago, Kelly Krause got a crash course in growing these tasty fruits when her family bought an established orchard. I sit down and talk with Kelly all about growing Mandarins including when and how to prune, pests and diseases and how they have to harvest to prevent bruising.

 

To find Marlene on social media or ask questions for future shows, submit them at:

Flower Power Garden Hour 90: February To Do List11 Feb 202100:22:31

This continues my series of what garden tasks should be on your to-do list for each month. Here I cover the cold and wet February.  Tasks include:

  • Pruning roses
  • Pruning fruit trees
  • Spraying fruit trees/roses
  • Clean up
  • Plant more winter veggies
  • Start veggie seeds inside

 

To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:

 

Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

Flower Power Garden Hour 89: Bare-root fruit trees, with Farmer Fred Hoffman03 Feb 202100:59:15

There are numerous reasons to plant bare-root fruit trees… greater selection, price and ease of planting. I discuss with Fred Hoffman, host of Garden Basics with Farmer Fred, on all you need to know about selecting, planting and steps to get your tree on its way to producing bumper crops. What are chill hours vs chill units? Why do you paint the tree trunks? How do you keep your fruit tree to a manageable size? And my favorite… the story on how fruit tree trunks began being painted.

 

To find Marlene on social media or ask questions for future shows, submit them at:

Flower Power Garden Hour 88: Listener Q&A31 Jan 202100:45:57

Grab bag listener Q&A episode – some very detailed questions this time, so take notes and put your thinking hat on. 

  • Azaleas – not doing so well, how to make grow better?
  • Blueberry bushes – having difficult time growing, need to move them, water issues
  • Seeds – require air circulation for storage?
  • Miracle berry – leaves turning brown
  • Redwoods – foliage turning brown/orange

 

To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:

 

Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

Flower Power Garden Hour 87: Building healthy soil, with Melinda Cordell22 Jan 202100:44:12

Focus on your soil and your garden will thank you. I talk to 'Stay Grounded: Soil Building for Sustainable Gardens' author Melinda Cordell about the steps to a healthy soil. How exactly do earthworms help your soil? Can you really compost drywall and levi jeans? These are just some of the topics we touch upon.

 

To find Marlene on social media or ask questions for future shows, submit them at:

Flower Power Garden Hour 86: January To Do List13 Jan 202100:29:05

This continues my series of what garden tasks should be on your to-do list for each month. Here I cover the chilly and (sometimes) wet month of January.

  • Pruning – fruit trees (except citrus), ornamentals, roses
  • Plant bareroot
  • Spray liquid copper
  • Vegetables – radishes, loose leaf lettuce, fava beans
  • Weed control
  • Buy seeds for spring

To find Marlene on social media or ask questions for future shows, submit them at:

Flower Power Garden Hour 85: Listener Q&A24 Dec 202000:40:03

Listener Q&A episode -- Marlene answers listener submitted questions this week. Topics include:

  • Roses: Propagate from cut flowers?
  • Egg shells in soil?
  • Christmas cactus: Care and transplanting
  • Boston fern: How best to thin out foliage
  • Crickets/Frogs: How to promote them staying in your garden
  • Staghorn fern: Able to thrive in Northern California?

 

To find Marlene on social media or ask questions for future shows, submit them at:

Flower Power Garden Hour 84: Dahlias, with Kristine Albrecht20 Dec 202000:59:59

Dahlias can be one of the most stunning and rewarding flowers to grow… AND they are not as mysterious and difficult as a lot of gardeners believe they are. I talk to author and expert Dahlia grower Kristine Albrecht of Santa Cruz Dahlias, and we dive into how to grow Dahlias successfully in your garden. We touch on propagation and her passion for breeding them, which she discusses in her new book 'Dahlia Breeding'.

Instagram: @santacruzdahlias

YouTube: kristinealbrecht

Websites:

 

To find Marlene on social media or ask questions for future shows, submit them at:

Flower Power Garden Hour 83: December To Do List10 Dec 202000:33:17

This continues my series of what garden tasks should be on your to-do list for each month. Here I cover the cold and blustery month of December.

  • Spray peaches/nectarines with liquid copper
  • Apply horticultural oil for overwintering pests
  • Plant frost resistance perennials
  • Chard. Kale, fava beans, radishes – all can still be planted
  • Clean up plant debris, especially under diseased or pest infected plants
  • Be prepared for frost with cotton sheets or frost blankets

 

To find Marlene on social media or ask questions for future shows, submit them at:

Flower Power Garden Hour 82: Garden Myths, with Robert Pavlis30 Nov 202001:11:17

Epsom salts, hydrogen peroxide, calcium sprays… these are just some of the topics I cover with Robert Pavlis, author of the popular book series Garden Myths 1 and 2. Robert has made it his mission to bust these myths and help gardeners decipher the science behind each one. We talk about the most common myths and the ones that drive him the craziest. Listen in, and check out his amazing gardenmyths.com blog along with gardenfundamentals.com. All of his books (his newest being Soil Science for Gardeners: Working with Nature to Build Soil Health) can be found on Amazon (links below) or other book outlets.

Books:

Facebook: Garden Fundamentals

YouTube: Garden Fundamentals

Blogs:

 

 

Flower Power Garden Hour 207: June To Do List13 Jun 202501:25:17

It's summer and it's getting hot but there's still plenty to do in the garden. My new co-host Bruce Ritter joins me to discuss what tasks you should be tackling in your garden. And no it's not too late to plant tomatoes. Plus we answer your garden questions.

 

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 81: Listener Q&A...cold season prep21 Nov 202000:49:16

Listener Q&A episode -- Marlene answers listener submitted questions this week. Topics include:

  • Holly bush: How can I propagate it?
  • Succulents: Need to move indoors for the winter?
  • Tuberose: When to stop watering and move inside?
  • Nectarine: Liquid copper for peach leaf curl – what to ask for at the nursery?
  • Rust: Has had rust problem for 5 years – annually attacks dahlias & peonies. How to combat?
  • Papaya: Advice of how to take care of? Currently in a pot

To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:

Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

 

Flower Power Garden Hour 80: Farouche Peppers11 Nov 202001:24:18

Eight foot tall peppers? Yep -- this is how Jeremy from Farouche Peppers grows his amazingly beautiful peppers. Not only does he breed gorgeous, tasty peppers -- but he knows how to grow for production. Learn how his sustainable, organic approach arose from his need to feed the soil on a budget. I talk to Jeremy about what it takes to breed peppers, what his ultimate pepper goal is and what his tips are for growing for a large bounty. Definitely follow Jeremy's Instagram for incredible peppers images – out of this world! And you can buy these unequaled, unique peppers on his Etsy page. With names like these, you can't go wrong:  Castrophany, Peach Scorpion, 7 Pot Panther, Pockmark Peach, Ghost hybrids, Sugar Rush, Dark Olive Nagabrain, Pink Tiger, Pink Submarine, Carolina Reaper, Ghor-Pion habanero, Chihuacle Negro, 7 Pot Ghost, Peach Gum Tiger, Yellow Submarine, BubbleGum Nagabrain, Purple Tiger....

Instagram: farouchepeppers

Etsy: Farouche

 

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Flower Power Garden Hour 79: November To-Do List07 Nov 202000:44:40

Every month has certain things that need to be done to keep your garden vibrant and prepare it for future seasons. I love lists – on this episode I cover my list for what to do in November, including:

  • Plant vegetables -- fava beans, bok choy, swiss chard, garlic, lettuce, onion sets, radish, spinach
  • Cover crops -- fava beans, vetch, clover
  • Clean up plant debris
  • Mulch
  • Spray Liquid Copper for Peach Leaf Curl
  • Plant bulbs
  • Prep bulbs for forcing paperwhites… dark cool room two weeks or until roots
  • Overwintering peppers
  • Sow wildflower seeds
  • Divide plants such as Iris, grasses, daylilies

 

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