Garden Talk

We warm up a cold winter weekend by talking about how to care for orchids and other tropical plants. Our guests from the Olbrich Botanical Gardens also tell us about the new orchid display in the garden’s conservatory.

Botanical gardens are wonderful additions to any community. We talk about how the Green Bay Botanical Garden got started and where it’s headed. We also look at the importance of sustainability and how it relates to green space.

Winter is the ideal time to prune most trees and shrubs. We talk with our expert about the best techniques and tools for the job. And we look at how to correctly plant a tree.

The right tools for the job can make a big difference. We talk with a gardening expert about the tools that make her job easier. We also talk about new plants and seeds to try in this season’s garden.

Many gardeners are embracing naturalistic plantings based on wild spaces. We talk with the director of the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden about designing and growing landscapes that are true to nature.

We discuss compact plants and how their small stature can help solve garden problems, especially when space and time are limited. Suggestions include edibles, flowering and fruiting trees and shrubs, evergreens and perennials.

The right amount of light is key to healthy houseplants. We talk about how to figure out the type of light you have and what plants are best for that environment. We also look at how to enhance the light you have and how to water, fertilize and pot them correctly.

Our gardening expert shares a list of gift ideas for holiday giving. They include the practical, the new and the unusual.

Whether you’re a novice or an experienced gardener, you can always learn new things. We talk about the educational opportunities available through the UW-Extension’s Green Thumb Gardening Classes.

Poinsettias have been the plant of Christmas for many years. We talk about the history of this holiday staple, how to care for them and why there are so many colors with our guest, a Wisconsin grower.