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.  

To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:

·       Facebook

·       Instagram

·       email Marlene at [email protected]

Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

Believe it or not, spring is around the corner.  Here in NorCal, it is still wet with periods of cold, so one does have to be careful with working soil and protecting from potentially freezes.  LOTS of prep to do for the upcoming season.

It is time to plant:

·       Broccoli

·       Cabbage

·       Carrots

·       Cauliflower

·       Collards, swiss chard

·       Kale

·       Leeks

·       Loose leaf lettuce

·       Peas

·       Potatoes….late in the month

Chores include:

·       Sow tomatoes inside

·       Start flowers (sunflowers, strawflower, zinnias, etc)

·       Direct sow sweet peas

·       Plant bare-root (roses, fruit trees, asparagus, strawberries, rhubarb, berries)

·       Spray fruit trees

·       Fertilize

·       Compost

·       Clean up, cut back

·       Prune roses, fruit trees

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 [email protected]

Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

It’s here – the last To Do list of the year.  So far it has been a mild winter, with regards to both temperature and moisture.  It is the time to plant another round of winter vegetables, work on pest management, and start planning for your spring garden.  We are at the apex of short days, so time to work is limited.  Episode includes Listener Q&A, with topics listed below. 

It is time to plant:

·       Asparagus

·       Bok choy

·       Kale

·       Onion sets

·       Radish

Chores include:

·       Cut back garden, clean up

·       Watch for cabbage aphids, loopers

·       Spray for peach leaf curl, dormant sprays

·       Order seeds for spring

Listener Q&A section.  Topics covered include:

·       Waterless amaryllis – can it be planted in a pot?

·       Banana plant – do they need to be brought inside for winter?  If not, should be wrapped for protection from cold weather?  At what age will they duplicate and produce fruit?

·       Can fallen leaves in the garden be used to cover garden beds containing flowers?

·       Butterfly bush – should the significant new growth be cut back in order to optimize growth in spring?

·       Pineapple plant – have had for 2.5 years….when should a pineapple be expected?

·       Bromeliads – how to care for them after the flower blooms and subsequently dies?

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 [email protected]

Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

How do we ensure the next generations become stewards of the land? Of course exposing them to nature and getting them outdoors but also having conversations and reading with them. I talk with author, Collin Pine, about his children’s book ‘The Garden Next Door’ and how its message is more important than ever.

Collin’s latest book is called “The Garden Next Door’”

Collin can be found at:

·       Instagram:  @collin.pine

·       River Horse Books

To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:

·       Facebook

·       Instagram

·       email Marlene at [email protected]

Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

Gardening can be murder... that is what a lot of people who claim to have a brown thumb think. But in this case, I’m discussing murder mystery books and their links to gardening. Author, Marta McDowell, joins me to discuss her new book “Gardening Can Be Murder: How poisonous Poppies, Sinister Shovels and Grim Gardens Have Inspired Mystery Writers’. We discuss historical detectives who a passion for plants, methods of murder as well as my favorite topic… poisonous plants!

Marta’s latest book extensively covers the topic discussed today.  It is called “Gardening Can Be Murder: How Poisonous Poppies, Sinister Shovels, and Grim Gardens Have Inspired Mystery Writers”

 Marta can be found at:

·       Website:  martamcdowell.com

·       Facebook:  @marta.mcdowell.5

To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:

·       Facebook

·       Instagram

·       email Marlene at [email protected]

Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

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 [email protected]

Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

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 [email protected]

Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

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 [email protected]

Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

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 [email protected]

Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

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:

•         Facebook
•         Instagram
•         email Marlene at [email protected]

Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook