Garden & Nature, Southwest

Episode 13

Native trees are essential part of habitat for insects, birds and other wildlife. Many of us may not be familiar with how elderberry and dessert willow can create a beautiful garden and also invite wildlife including birds. 

Scientific plant names mentioned in this episode

1) Mexican Elderberry : Sambucus nigra ssp. cerulea OR Sambucus cerulea OR Sambucus mexicana

2) American Elderberry: Sambucus nigra ssp. canadensis

3) Desert Willow: Chilopsis linearis

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Episode 12: Starting seeds indoors.

In this episode: 

• Why and when to start seeds indoors
• Growing near window with natural light. When would you need grow lights
• Ways to reduce use of plastic & alternatives to using plastic seed starting trays
• Soil blocks
• Alternatives to buying humidity dome for growing seeds
• What type of soil/seed mix to use for seeds indoors 

Check out the image gallery for this episode on the website: https://www.gardenandnaturesouthwest.com/starting-seeds-indoors/

Seed companies mentioned in this episode:

• Baker Creek Heirloom seeds :   https://www.rareseeds.com
• Tomato grower supply company : https://tomatogrowers.com
• Sandia Seed company : https://www.sandiaseed.com
• Chili pepper institute, New Mexico State university : https://cpi.nmsu.edu 

https://chilepepperinstitute.ecwid.com

Soil block maker : Johnny’s selected seeds : https://www.johnnyseeds.com/search/?q=soil+block+maker&search-button=&lang=en_US

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The best way to keep pests in check is creating a garden that has a healthy, balanced ecosystem. 

Here are some of the issues addressed in this episode

• Why not to use chemical pesticides
• What is the harm in using organic pesticides and homemade sprays for pest control such as garlic spray, chili pepper spray, oil or soap sprays etc. 
• What does a good garden ecosystem consist of?
• Various elements of garden ecosystem - soil, plants, wildlife, microbial life, water/irrigation, wind, sun etc. 
• What plants to grow
• Companion planting
• Diversity of plants

Episode 11

Date published : Oct 29, 2024

Host: Vani Shukla

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Creating and maintaining healthy soil ecosystem is essential to easy gardening specially in harsh climates. Learn about the basics of soil ecosystem in any type of garden. Also some specific situations are addressed such as growing vegetables and other edibles in hot, desert climates. I am also addressing a few common questions about adding amendments to soil, adding nutrients and microorganisms to enrich the soil and concerns associated with these type of amendments. 

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How can we make the best of  spring bird migration time. How can we help at an individual level. Make your garden rest stop for migratory birds

Resources (websites and apps mentioned in the episode)

Apps

eBird (app by Cornell Lab)

Merlin (app by Cornell Lab)

Audubon Bird Guide (App by Audubon) 

Websites

https://birdcast.info/    

https://www.fws.gov/partner/migratory-bird-program-administrative-flyways

Book

Audubon Field guide to the Southwestern states

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We forget about the benefits nature has on our wellbeing when most of our modern lifestyle is designed for indoors.  In this episode I want to highlight some important effects nature has on our brain health, sleep and cognition. I also share some tips on increasing outdoor time without making it another "task for the to do list" 

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• How can you use the knowledge about sun exposure and direction in your gardening and design decisions (outdoor and indoor living)
• Some suggestions for if you are stuck with a particular direction of sun exposure
• What is the best side for a patio or seating area
• Shade options for  garden & patio
• What side is best for winter gardening 
• Windows for bright interiors

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DIY frost protection for plants - sharing some winter memories from the past. How I created efficient, easy to maintain system for patio and vegetable patch.  
In this episode:

• Frost protection for container plants in the patio and vegetable patch
• Creating a system that is easy to maintain 
• A system that worked for few days even in less than 0°F

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Hummingbird feeder good or not,  feeder  microbes, nutrients in floral nectar, scientific facts and best practices to feed hummingbirds in our gardens

Microbial communities in hummingbird feeders are distinct from floral nectar and influenced by bird visitation

https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspb.2018.2295

Sweet Solutions: Nectar chemistry and quality

https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rstb.2021.0163#:~:text=Most of the nutritional value,from phloem to nectary tissue.

Winter range expansion of a hummingbird is associated with urbanization and supplementary feeding

https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspb.2017.0256

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Episode # 4 : Where to find locally native plants.   Collecting plants/seeds from wild - legal or not, right or wrong. Learning about local natives and invasive species.

Plants and websites mentioned in this episode:

• Verbena (large genus with more than 100 species of  plants )
• Paper flower (Psilostrophe tagetina) 
• Jewel flower (Streptanthus carinatus)

• iNaturalist - App to identify plants
• Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower center  

 https://www.wildflower.org/

• Borderlands Restoration Network

https://www.borderlandsrestoration.org/shop.html

• Native American seeds 

https://seedsource.com/

• Invasive Plant Atlas of United States

https://www.invasiveplantatlas.org/index.cfm

• Also look at your nearby state parks’ and national parks’ websites for list of invasive plants 

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