Spring is on the horizon—even if the weather can’t quite make up its mind. In this episode of the Good Growing Podcast, Chris and Ken do a little spring dreaming, sharing the flowers, plants, and woodland scenes they look forward to every year as the growing season begins.

From early bloomers like crocus, daffodils, and spring ephemerals to peonies, magnolias, and everything in between, we flip through a mental (and visual) photo album of spring favorites. Along the way, we talk about why these plants matter to us, how they fit into home landscapes and natural areas, and how Midwest spring weather—from false summers to surprise snow—keeps things interesting.

This is a picture‑heavy episode. Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/dGihbSjXDi8

Skip to what you want to know:
00:45 Hey Ken!
02:14 Rollercoaster late winter weather. From 80 degrees to 10 degrees!
05:06 Ken's favorite spring-blooming plants he looks forward to every year.
   05:27    Bleeding heart
   06:25    Dutchman's breeches
   06:58    Columbine
   09:01     Crocus
   10:00    Daffodil
   11:29    Peony
   13:04    Spring beauty
   14:57    Tulips
   17:03    Common blue violet
   19:11    Virginia bluebell
   20:05    Wild ginger
22:12 Chris' favorite spring blooming plants
   22:23    Daffodil 
   23:57    Woodland walk through Dutchman's breeches, mayapples, and trillum
   27:09    Lilac and snow in spring
   29:23    Saucer magnolia
   30:43    Virginia bluebells
   31:50    Foamflower
   32:30    Lungwort
   33:09    Blueberry flowers
   33:43    Rhubarb season
   34:04    Tulip 'World Peace'
   34:32    Unfurling ferns
   34:56    Bloodroot
   35:55    Peonies at the Illinois Veterans Home in Quincy, IL
38:51 Thank yous and see you next week!

Spring beauty video https://youtu.be/i9JVP9wEM_M 

Contact us! 
Chris Enroth: [email protected]
Ken Johnson: [email protected] 

Like what you see? Subscribe for more gardening tips, plant talk, and seasonal inspiration from University of Illinois Extension.
Check out the Good Growing Blog: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowing
Subscribe to the weekly Good Growing email: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowingsubscribe

Any products or companies mentioned during the podcast are in no way a promotion or endorsement of these products or companies.

Barnyard Bash: freesfx.co.uk 

--
Prefer audio? You can find us on most podcast platforms.  
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Crocuses may be small, but their world is anything but simple! Check out this week’s Good Growing Podcast, as we dive into the big, colorful world of Crocus. Learn about identifying crocus, how to grow them in your landscape, some of the commonly grown spring and fall-blooming species, and more!  

Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/rX7QUDstn9E

Skip to what you want to know:  

  02:26 – 'Crocus' that aren't Crocus

  06:33 – What do 'real' Crocus look like? - flowers

  11:31 – What do 'real' Crocus look like? - leaves

  13:33 – What do 'real' Crocus look like? - corm

  17:41 – Categorizing crocus

  22:49 – General guidelines for growing crocus

  28:32 – When should crocus be planted? 

  30:15 – Propagating crocus

  35:49 – Fun fact - contractile roots

  37:24 – A few last planting tips, rodents, fertilizers, and mulch

  42:48 – Commonly grown species of Crocus

    43:53 - Snow/golden crocus (C. chrysanthus)

    47:54 - Dutch yellow/yellow crocus (C. flavus) 

    48:46 - Tommies (C. tommasinianus)

    52:57 - Dutch/giant/spring crocus (C. vernus) 

    54:01 - Tuscan crocus (C. etruscus) 

    55:22 - Sieber’s crocus (C. sieberi) 

    56:51 - Cloth of Gold crocus (C. angustifolius) 

    57:58 - Corsican crocus (C. corsicus) 

  59:17 – Some fall-blooming Crocus

    59:32 - Saffron/autumn crocus (C. sativus) 

    1:02:44 - Autumn crocus (C. kotschyanus), Hairy crocus (C. pulchellus), and Showy/Bieberstein’s crocus (C. speciosus) 

  1:04:17 - Can Crocus be grown in pots? When should they be divided?

  1:06:03 - Pests

  1:07:27 – Wrap-up, what’s up next week, and goodbye!

More information:

Crocuses: A Complete Guide to the Genus by Janis Ruksans

National Garden Bureau – Year of the Crocus: https://ngb.org/year-of-the-crocus/

Contact us! 

Chris Enroth: [email protected]

Ken Johnson: [email protected]

Check out the Good Growing Blog: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowing

Subscribe to the weekly Good Growing email: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowingsubscribe

Any products or companies mentioned during the podcast are in no way a promotion or endorsement of these products or companies.

Barnyard Bash: freesfx.co.uk

--

You can find us on most podcast platforms.  

iTunes - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/good-growing/id1446630377     

Tunein - https://tunein.com/podcasts/Gardening/Good-Growing-p1187964/  

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Vurbl - https://vurbl.com/station/good-growing-4pljnNlUtyG/    

Listen notes - https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/good-growing-chris-enroth-cHLPMWpvEOG/    

Ivy - https://ivy.fm/podcast/good-growing-167902    

Castbox - https://castbox.fm/channel/Good-Growing-id4302614?country=us

Get ready to kick off the 2026 gardening season with the Good Growing team as we unveil this year’s Grow Along plant list. In this episode, University of Illinois Extension horticulture educators Chris Enroth, Ken Johnson, and Emily Swihart walk through the selection process and describe the six unique crops chosen for the 2026 Grow Along program.

Register for the Grow Along: https://go.illinois.edu/GrowAlong2026

Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/XUGiBe3RrFw

Skip to what you want to know:
1:21 Decision-making process for choosing the 2026 Grow Along seeds
6:55 Rebel Starfighter Prime
11:45 Poppy ‘Amazing Gray', 'Shirley Supreme', and 'Black Swan'
20:18 Sweet Pepper ‘Nadapeno’
24:41 Cucumber Mexican Sour Gherkin/Mouse Melon
28:24 Ground Cherry
35:15 Savory ‘Summer Compact'
41:46 When/where can you sign up and when will seeds be shipped?

Contact us! 
Chris Enroth: [email protected]
Ken Johnson: [email protected] 
Emily Swihart: [email protected]

Check out the Good Growing Blog: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowing
Subscribe to the weekly Good Growing email: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowingsubscribe

Any products or companies mentioned during the podcast are in no way a promotion or endorsement of these products or companies.

Barnyard Bash: freesfx.co.uk 

--
You can find us on most podcast platforms.  
iTunes - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/good-growing/id1446630377     
Tunein - https://tunein.com/podcasts/Gardening/Good-Growing-p1187964/  
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/202u3siWExE1tTqrVgtmCR    
Vurbl - https://vurbl.com/station/good-growing-4pljnNlUtyG/    
Listen notes - https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/good-growing-chris-enroth-cHLPMWpvEOG/    
Ivy - https://ivy.fm/podcast/good-growing-167902    
Castbox - https://castbox.fm/channel/Good-Growing-id4302614?country=us

Curious about adding something a little different to your backyard orchard? On this week’s Good Growing Podcast, we dive into the flavorful world of lesser-known fruits you can grow right here in Illinois. From early‑ripening honeyberries and fall-bearing primocane blackberries to compact bush cherries and Illinois-born PRI apples, we explore unique fruit crops that offer exciting alternatives to the usual. 

Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/XAVtrBFKB40 

Skip to what you want to know:  

  01:30 – Welcome, Grant McCarty! Illinois Beginning Orchard Academy.

  03:22 – Some not-so-successful crops for Grant in northern Illinois. 

  07:35 – Where in Illinois can we reliably grow/harvest peaches?

  09:53 – Honeyberries. How to grow and what do they taste like? 

  14:52 – Are honeyberries problematic like many other honeysuckles? 

  17:32 – Primocane fruiting blackberries.

  21:38 – Is the care of primocane blooming blackberries different than other blackberries?

  23:45 – Is there a link to Illini Hardy blackberry?

  27:20 – Bush cherries. How are they different than cherry trees?

  33:57 – Apples. What are PRI apples?

  38:51 – High-density apples

  44:31 – Any PRI resources out there?

  48:10 – Wrap-up, what’s up next week, and goodbye!

More information:

Overview of Honeyberry from University of Minnesota

Haskap/Honeyberry, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Haskap/Honeyberry-University of Saskatchewan Resources

The PRI Apple Breeding Program

Contact us! 

Chris Enroth: [email protected]

Ken Johnson: [email protected]

Grant McCarty: [email protected]

Check out the Good Growing Blog: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowing

Subscribe to the weekly Good Growing email: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowingsubscribe

Any products or companies mentioned during the podcast are in no way a promotion or endorsement of these products or companies.

Barnyard Bash: freesfx.co.uk

--

You can find us on most podcast platforms.  

iTunes - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/good-growing/id1446630377     

Tunein - https://tunein.com/podcasts/Gardening/Good-Growing-p1187964/  

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Vurbl - https://vurbl.com/station/good-growing-4pljnNlUtyG/    

Listen notes - https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/good-growing-chris-enroth-cHLPMWpvEOG/    

Ivy - https://ivy.fm/podcast/good-growing-167902    

Castbox - https://castbox.fm/channel/Good-Growing-id4302614?country=us

Join University of Illinois Extension horticulture educator Chris Enroth on a winter walk through the prairie as he demonstrates how to overseed an existing native prairie by hand. 

Learn why winter is the perfect time for prairie overseeding, how they select their seed that is spread, and how to mix seed with a carrier for even spreading. Chris explains practical tips for seed collection, hand sowing methods, using locally sourced seed from community seed shares, and how overseeding supports long-term prairie health. 

Perfect for native plant lovers or anyone curious about hands-on conservation work that can be done in the winter. Tune in, learn the process, and discover how hand-sown prairie seeds can transform local landscapes over time.

Watch on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nF6gGjGbjxU

Rezab Mix
Golden Alexander - Zizia aurea
Hairy Mountain Mint - Pycnanthemum pilosum
Foxglove beardtongue - Penstemon digitalis
Grass-leaved goldenrod - Euthamia graminifolia
Slender Mountain Mint - Pycnanthemum tenuifolium
Showy goldenrod - Solidago speciosa
Rattlesnake Master - Eryngium yuccifolium
Missouri Ironweed - Vernonia missurica
Rigid Goldenrod - Oligoneuron rigidum
Prairie Coreopsis - Coreopsis palmata
Tall Coreopsis - Coreopsis tripteris
Virginia Spiderwort - Tradescantia virginiana
Yellow Crownbeard - Verbesina helianthoides
Wild Senna - Senna hebecarpa
Black-eyed Susan - Rudbeckia hirta 
Evening Primrose - Oenothera biennis
False Sunflower - Heliopsis helianthoides
Purple Coneflower - Echinacea purpurea

Contact us! 
Chris Enroth: [email protected]
Ken Johnson: [email protected] 

Check out the Good Growing Blog: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowing
Subscribe to the weekly Good Growing email: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowingsubscribe

Any products or companies mentioned during the podcast are in no way a promotion or endorsement of these products or companies.

Barnyard Bash: freesfx.co.uk 

--
You can find us on most podcast platforms.  
iTunes - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/good-growing/id1446630377     
Tunein - https://tunein.com/podcasts/Gardening/Good-Growing-p1187964/  
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/202u3siWExE1tTqrVgtmCR    
Vurbl - https://vurbl.com/station/good-growing-4pljnNlUtyG/    
Listen notes - https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/good-growing-chris-enroth-cHLPMWpvEOG/    
Ivy - https://ivy.fm/podcast/good-growing-167902    
Castbox - https://castbox.fm/channel/Good-Growing-id4302614?country=us

Feeling a little low this winter? You’re not alone. This week on the Good Growing Podcast, Family Life Educator Tessa Hobbs‑Curley joins us to discuss Seasonal Affective Disorder. Learn about what it is, how it differs from the usual winter blues, coping strategies, and more.

Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/NdOQ8xNM9aI

Skip to what you want to know:  

  03:14 – What is Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)? How is it diagnosed?

  06:14 – How is SAD different from just feeling bummed about the weather?

  10:11 – How is fall/winter SAD different than spring/summer SAD?

  12:35 – Do certain groups, such as farmers or gardeners, experience SAD differently?

  19:42 – What about children and SAD?

  22:46 – How does less green in our environment affect mental health?

  32:31 – What are some strategies to help us cope with SAD?

  45:56 – Resources to learn more about SAD

  47:56 – A little more on light therapy

  51:04 – Wrap-up, what’s up next week, and goodbye!

More information:

Mao Clinic: Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)

National Institute of Mental Health: Seasonal Affective Disorder

Illinois Extension: How to manage the winter blues

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: Seasonal Affective Disorder

Mental Health America: Seasonal Affective Disorder

Contact us! 

Chris Enroth: [email protected]

Ken Johnson: [email protected]

Check out the Good Growing Blog: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowing

Subscribe to the weekly Good Growing email: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowingsubscribe

Any products or companies mentioned during the podcast are in no way a promotion or endorsement of these products or companies.

Barnyard Bash: freesfx.co.uk

--

You can find us on most podcast platforms.  

iTunes - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/good-growing/id1446630377     

Tunein - https://tunein.com/podcasts/Gardening/Good-Growing-p1187964/  

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/202u3siWExE1tTqrVgtmCR    

Vurbl - https://vurbl.com/station/good-growing-4pljnNlUtyG/    

Listen notes - https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/good-growing-chris-enroth-cHLPMWpvEOG/    

Ivy - https://ivy.fm/podcast/good-growing-167902    

Castbox - https://castbox.fm/channel/Good-Growing-id4302614?country=us

How do trees survive freezing temperatures without turning into popsicles? Well, they do kind of turn into popsicles, but they control which part freezes. In this Gardenbite of the Good Growing Podcast, horticulture educator Chris Enroth breaks down the fascinating science behind how trees and other plants make it through harsh winter conditions.

Whether you’re a gardener, nature lover, or just curious about the secret life of plants, this episode gives you a clear and engaging look at what happens inside trees during winter—and how you can help prepare your landscape plants to survive cold stress.

You’ve probably seen Ficus in living rooms, lobbies, or maybe even grown one yourself, but how much do you really know about these iconic houseplants? Check out this week’s Good Growing Podcast as we explore the surprisingly diverse world of Ficus. From weeping figs and rubber trees to creeping figs and giant banyans, we dive into their history, care, different species, and more! 

Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/2hx5VXZrJmg

Skip to what you want to know:  

  00:41 – There are a lot of ficus species!

  02:12 – Ficus species native to the United States, and what are strangler figs.

  07:08 – What are Ficus?

  12:25 – General care of Ficus houseplants.

  22:23 – Common Ficus houseplants

    23:38 – Ficus benjamina (weeping fig)

    27:14 – Ficus elastica (rubber tree)

    33:15 – Ficus lyrata (fiddle leaf fig)

    36:03 – Ficus benghalensis (banyan, Ficus Audrey)

    42:35 – Ficus maclellandii (banana/long leaf fig, Ficus Alli)

    45:31 – Ficus microcarpa (Ginseng ficus, Chinese banyan, Indian laurel)

    49:09 – Ficus pumila (creeping fig)

  53:08 – Ficus propagation

  56:37 – Less commonly encountered ficus houseplants

  59:12 – Wrap-up, what’s up next week, and goodbye!

More information:

National Garden Bureau

Ficus: Trees and Vine of Florida (University of Florida)

Gods and Monsters: The Genus Ficus (Brooklyn Botanic Garden)

Contact us! 

Chris Enroth: [email protected]

Ken Johnson: [email protected]

Check out the Good Growing Blog: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowing

Subscribe to the weekly Good Growing email: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowingsubscribe

Any products or companies mentioned during the podcast are in no way a promotion or endorsement of these products or companies.

Barnyard Bash: freesfx.co.uk

--

You can find us on most podcast platforms.  

iTunes - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/good-growing/id1446630377     

Tunein - https://tunein.com/podcasts/Gardening/Good-Growing-p1187964/  

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/202u3siWExE1tTqrVgtmCR    

Vurbl - https://vurbl.com/station/good-growing-4pljnNlUtyG/    

Listen notes - https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/good-growing-chris-enroth-cHLPMWpvEOG/    

Ivy - https://ivy.fm/podcast/good-growing-167902    

Castbox - https://castbox.fm/channel/Good-Growing-id4302614?country=us

Welcome back to the Good Growing Podcast! In today’s episode, we’re sharing a special throwback conversation with Dr. Michael Ward, ornithologist at the University of Illinois. We’re answering real homeowner questions about backyard birds—everything from bird feeders to territorial cardinals to preventing window collisions.

If you’re wondering what to feed birds, how to clean feeders, why birds hit windows, or how to attract more colorful birds to your yard, this episode is packed with expert insights to help you create a healthier, more bird‑friendly backyard.

Watch this on YouTube https://youtu.be/jKHrH_eeGFo

The full conversation with Dr. Ward https://youtu.be/HxZ3HiI69hs 

Skip to what you want to know:
01:30 How do we discourage barn swallows from building nests underneath overhangs?
03:52 Should we feed birds bread, crackers, and other human food?
05:10 Is there anything we can do to stop birds from hitting our windows?
07:33 What can we do about a territorial cardinal? 
08:47 Should we feed birds all year? When is the best time to feed birds?
10:33 I only get sparrows at my feeders. How do I attract more types of birds?
12:22 Do we need to provide birds with water in the winter, or do they use snow?
13:18 How often and with what should we clean birdfeeders?

Contact us! 
Chris Enroth: [email protected]
Ken Johnson: [email protected] 

Check out the Good Growing Blog: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowing
Subscribe to the weekly Good Growing email: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowingsubscribe

Any products or companies mentioned during the podcast are in no way a promotion or endorsement of these products or companies.

Barnyard Bash: freesfx.co.uk 

--
You can find us on most podcast platforms.  
iTunes - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/good-growing/id1446630377     
Tunein - https://tunein.com/podcasts/Gardening/Good-Growing-p1187964/  
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/202u3siWExE1tTqrVgtmCR    
Vurbl - https://vurbl.com/station/good-growing-4pljnNlUtyG/    
Listen notes - https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/good-growing-chris-enroth-cHLPMWpvEOG/    
Ivy - https://ivy.fm/podcast/good-growing-167902    
Castbox - https://castbox.fm/channel/Good-Growing-id4302614?country=us

It’s a new year, which means a new gardening season will be here before we know it. Check out this week’s Good Growing Podcast as we look back on our most popular episodes and standout moments from 2025. From battling mosquitoes to celebrating pollinator plants like milkweed and mountain mint, we revisit the topics that sparked the most conversation. Plus, we share some of our plans for 2026, from expanding native plantings to growing food and flowers for community donation, and more!

Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/-1T-xDTG_W0

Skip to what you want to know:  

  01:30 – Most popular podcasts of 2025

  09:07 – Our favorite episodes and things we learned

  17:43 – Reflecting on the 2025 growing season

  30:53 – Looking ahead to the 2026 growing season

  46:41 – Wrap-up, what’s up next week, and goodbye!

Popular episodes and videos:

Clustered Mountain Mint - Perennial Plant of the Year

Get to Know Asclepias (Milkweed) 2025 plant of the year

Gardenbite: The life and bites of buffalo gnats

Summer Mosquito Control: What Really Works to Keep Bites Away

Vegetable gardening in small spaces

Compost your way: Passive and active composting styles

Chamomile: Discover 2025's herb of the year

Peonies: Beauty, history, and backyard blooms

The cranberry story: Native roots and modern agriculture

Discovering Dogwoods: From trees to shrubs and even groundcovers!

Answering your spring gardening questions

Fall gardening questions answered

Spring beauty in the landscape

Contact us! 

Chris Enroth: [email protected]

Ken Johnson: [email protected]
Emily Swihart: [email protected]

Check out the Good Growing Blog: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowing

Subscribe to the weekly Good Growing email: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowingsubscribe

Any products or companies mentioned during the podcast are in no way a promotion or endorsement of these products or companies.

Barnyard Bash: freesfx.co.uk

--

You can find us on most podcast platforms.  

iTunes - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/good-growing/id1446630377     

Tunein - https://tunein.com/podcasts/Gardening/Good-Growing-p1187964/  

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/202u3siWExE1tTqrVgtmCR    

Vurbl - https://vurbl.com/station/good-growing-4pljnNlUtyG/    

Listen notes - https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/good-growing-chris-enroth-cHLPMWpvEOG/    

Ivy - https://ivy.fm/podcast/good-growing-167902    

Castbox - https://castbox.fm/channel/Good-Growing-id4302614?country=us