Down The Garden Path Podcast

Welcome to the jungle, everyone! It's houseplant month on Down The Garden Path. In this week's episode, Terry Kennedy of the Southern Ontario Orchid Society joins us to discuss how to successfully grow orchids in your home.

Terry lives in Vandorf, Ontario, with her husband Doug. During the cold and snowy winter months, they grow thousands of orchids in their greenhouse. Terry's love of orchids began nearly 50 years ago when she and Doug stumbled across a meeting of the Southern Ontario Orchid Society while visiting a botanical garden. Over the years, they've grown nearly every genus of orchid and have exhibited their plants in numerous orchid shows from coast to coast.

Throughout their orchid journey, Terry has been an active member of the Southern Ontario Orchid Society. She has served as their past-president and director for many years as well as serving on the organizing committee of the annual orchid show since its inception over 35 years ago. She is the immediate past chair of the Toronto Judging Center, the first American Orchid Society outside of the U.S.

Terry joins us to discuss a variety of noteworthy topics:

• The Orchid Show & Sale -- held February 8-9th at Toronto Botanical Gardens
• Great orchid choices for beginners
• Growing conditions homeowners need to be successful with orchids
• Are you a waterer or neglectful house parent? How knowing your plant personality can help you grow the appropriate orchid in the appropriate growing medium!

For more information, visit www.orchidsinourtropics.com, www.soos.ca and www.canadianorchidcongress.ca.

Houseplants & Orchids is just the beginning! Our houseplant theme continues for all of February. Join us later this month for more helpful houseplant podcasts on Succulents & Cacti, Air Plants, and Bonsai.

Remember to check out Down the Garden Path on your favourite podcast app and subscribe.

In this week's episode of Down The Garden Path, Natalie Carmolli of Spring Meadow Nursery joins us to discuss the new varieties of flowering shrubs for 2020.

Natalie is rooted in horticulture. When she was six years old, her family moved to a farmhouse on 40 acres in Michigan. This house was unique in that it had a full-sized glass greenhouse in the side yard. So, of course, her mother started a small seasonal business selling spring bedding plants, which quickly turned into a full-service flower shop.

Natalie grew up working in that shop, learning floral design and customer service. She'd take these skills with her to college where she continued working in the floral industry while earning her degree in performing and fine arts. So how does one combine a fine art and theatre degree with a lifetime immersed in horticulture? As public relations specialist for Spring Meadow Nursery, Natalie puts the communication skills she learned in the theatre to express herself clearly and confidently when talking about one of her favorite subject, the art of gardening using Proven Winners® ColorChoice® flowering shrubs!

• Winecraft Gold Smoke Bush
• Rose of Sharon - Chiffon Series has expanded
• Pieris Interstella
• Fothergilla Legend of the Fall
• Dandy Man series of Rhododendron
• Plus a few more landscaping favourites!

You'll also learn more about Spring Meadow Nursery, their acres of greenhouses and how they choose their selections each year.

Click here for the Proven Winners® ColorChoice® Flowering Shrubs 100-page magazine. If you'd prefer a free hard copy, email your mailing address to Joanne Shaw at [email protected] or Natalie at [email protected].

Remember to check out Down the Garden Path on your favourite podcast app and subscribe.

In this week's episode of Down the Garden Path, we're looking ahead to 2020!

Each week on Down the Garden Path, professional landscape designers Joanne Shaw and Matthew Dressing discuss down-to-earth tips and advice for your plants, gardens and landscapes. We do our best to bring you interesting, relevant and helpful topics to help you keep your garden as low maintenance as possible.

In the leadup to Down the Garden Path's five-year anniversary show last November, we looked into ways to serve you better in 2020. One of the biggest issues we tackle head-on this year stems from the frustration we felt when we'd run out of time doing a deep dive on a topic. To address this, we've organized 2020's Down the Garden Path shows into a more structured format. Moving forward, we've planned each month out into themes.

For example, in February, we'll focus on houseplants. In March, we'll discuss seed-starting and growing veggies. And then in April, well focus on lawn care -- from lawn care 101 to artificial turf and other lawn alternatives. You get the idea!

Also in this week's episode:

• We offer advice on Amaryllis bulbs now that they have finished blooming. Learn what to do to care for them if you want them to rebloom next year.
• Are you considering getting a landscape design or doing any landscaping this year? Now is the perfect time to reach out to a landscape designer in your area. You can also reach out to us here on Down the Garden Path.

We appreciate that you tune into our show each week for advice and guidance and hope you'll enjoy our new format.

In this week's episode of Down The Garden Path, Katie Dubow from Garden Media Group joins Matthew to discuss 2020 Garden Trends.

Garden Media has once again put together its garden trends report. This highly anticipated annual report is one of the most widely read in the industry. We're thrilled to welcome Katie back onto the podcast this week.

Katie Dubow is Creative Director at Garden Media Group, a women-owned and run public relations firm specializing in the home and garden industry. It's currently celebrating its 31st year in business. Author of the annual Garden Trends Report, Dubow travels the world scouting and presenting garden trends to audiences from Italy to Chicago.

Dubow is a guest host on QVC for Cottage Farms, judge at the Philadelphia Flower Show, and the inaugural recipient of the Emergent Communicator Award from the Association of Garden Writers. She also serves as vice-chair of the Pennsylvania Landscape and Nursery Association. She is also an awarded member of the 2018 Forty Under 40 from Greenhouse Product News.

Download your copy of the 2020 Garden Trends Report here.

Join us each week as we take you for a walk Down the Garden Path. Landscape designers and gardeners themselves, Joanne Shaw and Matthew Dressing think it is important and possible to have great gardens that are low maintenance. They want to help you make it happen! In each episode, Joanne and Matt bring you interesting, relevant and helpful topics you can use in your own. We learn right along with you, from each other, from our research and from the guests that join us.

In this week's episode of Down the Garden Path, we're talking all about Christmas!

'Tis the season to give and receive holiday plants. But how do you care for them? In this podcast, we provide an in-depth overview of some of the most popular plants of the season including Christmas Cactus, Cyclamen, Poinsettia, Amaryllis and Norfolk Pines to name a few.

Here are some of the questions Joanne and Matthew tackle in this week's episode of Down the Garden Path:

• How often do I need to water my Christmas urn?
• Is a cut Christmas tree more environmentally friendly than an artificial tree?
• What is the best way to care for my real tree?
• How do I take care of the potted tree I'm using inside as my Christmas tree?
• How can I get the most out of my indoor live greens?
• Do you have any suggestions for caring for my centrepiece? How long will it last?
• Is there anything I can use to extend the life of my Christmas greens?

Each week on Down the Garden Path, professional landscape designers Joanne Shaw and Matthew Dressing discuss down-to-earth tips and advice for your plants, gardens and landscapes. We do our best to bring you interesting, relevant and helpful topics to help you keep your garden as low maintenance as possible.

With the holidays fast approaching, it's sometimes hard to find that special gift for the gardener in your life. What do they already have? Are they missing anything? What do they want for their garden? In this week's episode of Down The Garden Path, we take a look at some gift ideas and garden must-haves for the garden enthusiast in your life. Joining the conversation is Kristin Beane Sullivan, Executive Managing Editor of Garden Gate magazine.

In her 23 years at Garden Gate magazine, Kristin Beane Sullivan has been lucky enough to meet hundreds (if not thousands) of gardeners. In fact, she has toured and photographed countless gardens and learns something from every single gardener she meets. Kristin comes from a long line of farmers and gardeners. Today, she tends an ever-expanding urban garden with her husband and three teenagers, who she admits are a lot more help in the garden than she was at their age.

Garden Gate magazine is one of the most widely distributed magazines devoted strictly to gardening in North America, arriving in readers' mailboxes and on newsstands six times each year. It offers expert advice on garden design, how-to plant information, inspiring backyard projects plenty of reader-shared garden tips both in print and through its website and social media channels.

Read Garden Gate's favorite gardening products.

Website: www.gardengatemagazine.com Facebook: @gardengatemagazine Instagram: @gardengatemagazine Twitter: @gardengatemag Pinterest: Garden Gate Magazine YouTube: Garden Gate Magazine

Remember to check out Down the Garden Path on your favourite podcast app and subscribe.

As the days get shorter and the temperature drops, it's only natural that we begin to focus more on the inside of our homes. In this week's episode of Down The Garden Path, Trish John of Your Spiritual Connection joins us to give us an introduction to Feng Shui and how we can use it in all areas of our home.

Trish John is an Inspired Feng Shui (pronounced FUNG SHWAY) Practitioner and Professional Organizer. She has been studying Feng Shui for over 20 years and she is the founder of Your Spiritual Connection. She has been helping people get their homes and offices organized and Feng Shui'd since 2005.

Trish's passion in life is to help people make connections in their life through Feng Shui. For that reason, she teaches her clients and the participants at her classes and workshops its benefits in their indoor and outdoor environments.

• Can you give us a brief overview of Feng Shui?
• Decluttering, minimalism and Marie Kondo are all the rage right now. Why do you feel Feng Shui and decluttering our homes are important for our lives?
• This time of year, whether we are decorating or decluttering for the new year, what are some basic principles that we should consider?
• Without giving all your secrets away, what are some basics we should think about at the front of our house?
• How does one start when you consider the whole house? A little in each room or start with a specific room?

Trish offers consultations to fit everyone's budget, as well as classes and workshops throughout Durham Region. Similarly, she can even help with virtual consultations.

To learn more about the services that Your Spiritual Connection has to offer, please check out www.yourspiritualconnection.ca. To book a consultation, please contact Trish at [email protected] or call or text her at 905-391-8801.

You can find Trish on Facebook at www.facebook.com/YourSpiritualConnection.

Remember to check out Down the Garden Path on your favourite podcast app and subscribe.

On this week's episode of Down The Garden Path, we're joined by Patrick DuChene of DuChene Design Solutions to discuss the importance of design in landscape projects.

Patrick is the owner of DuChene Design Solutions, located in Ocean City, Maryland. His company provides landscape design, 3D visualization and consulting for landscape contractors in the design-build industry.

Their 3D design renderings allow landscape designers to provide their clients with realistic views of a project before it has even begun. The renderings easily communicate the design thoughts that went into its creation.

Patrick has over 25 years in the industry and experience managing multi-million-dollar landscape design-build divisions. This has equipped him with the sales, estimating and construction experience necessary to provide a dynamic and design service for his clients.

Tune into this week's podcast to hear Patrick's answers to these questions:

• What is the importance of design for any sized project?
• How do you feel about landscapers doing free quotes?
• What should a homeowner look for in a design?
• Why do you feel it is important for homeowners to choose a contractor who can provide them with a design?
• What should a contractor look for in a design?
• What should homeowners be wary of when interviewing a contractor or landscape designer?

You can find DuChene Design Solutions online at www.duchenedesignsolutions.com and on Instagram at www.instagram.com/duchenedesign.

Each week on Down the Garden Path, professional landscape designers Joanne Shaw and Matthew Dressing discuss down-to-earth tips and advice for your plants, gardens and landscapes. We do our best to bring you interesting, relevant and helpful topics to help you keep your garden as low maintenance as possible.

Oh, the weather outside! Snow came early to southern Ontario last week and put an abrupt end to many of our gardening chores.

Each week on Down the Garden Path, professional landscape designers Joanne Shaw and Matthew Dressing discuss down-to-earth tips and advice for your plants, gardens and landscapes. We do our best to bring you interesting, relevant and helpful topics to help you keep your garden as low maintenance as possible.

Here are some of the topics Joanne and Matthew tackle in "Oh, the Weather Outside," this week's episode of Down the Garden Path:

• With the sudden change in weather, what do I still have to do in my garden?
• The snow is covering leaves on my lawn. Should I be worried?
• The leaves haven't fallen off my tree yet and there's snow. What does it mean?
• How can I protect the evergreens that I haven't wrapped?
• Is it too late to apply a dormant spray to any of my trees?
• What should I look for now that I brought in all my houseplants?
• Is it too early to put out my Christmas urns and wreaths?
• How do I get my winter planters ready for the year?
• Do I have time to plant the trees/shrubs/perennials that I haven't yet?
• How do I overwinter plants I haven't planted yet?

Thanks for joining us here! Remember to check out Down the Garden Path on your favourite podcast app and subscribe.

The Down the Garden Path podcast is five years old this month! In this special "Ask Us Anything" episode, Joanne and Matthew celebrated by inviting listeners to write or call in with their gardening, landscape design or podcast-related questions.

Some of the topics they covered include:

• whether it's safe to plant trees in the fall or should it wait until they are dormant and plant in the winter.
• solutions for a listener who didn't want to take the pump of their pond. Can a heater be used to prevent the pond from freezing?
• if it's still okay to apply fall fertilizer on our lawns.
• the best ways to protect roses for the winter.

Thanks to everyone who called or wrote in with questions and well-wishes. In the spirit of celebration, each listener who reached out was entered to win a prize and five prizes were awarded.

Each week on the Down the Garden Path podcast, professional landscape designers Joanne Shaw and Matthew Dressing share tips and to-dos for your garden, answer listener questions and share with you what's happening in the garden centre and in their own gardens.