The Garden Question

The Garden Question episodes:

• 06.20.2024

  167 - The Untapped Potential of Grasses & Sedges - Shannon Currey

  In this episode of The Garden Question Podcast, host Craig McManus interviews Shannon Currey, a horticultural educator and consultant with Izell Native Plants. They delve into the distinctions between ornamental grasses and turf grasses, and the ecological benefits...

  
• 06.13.2024

  166 - Crafting Gardens that Thrive Ecologically - Preston Montague

  In Episode 166 of The Garden Question Podcast, host Craig McManus interviews landscape architect Preston Montague about creating impactful ecological landscapes. Preston discusses using plants from diverse regions, the importance of understanding ecosystem relationships, and integrating native plants to...

  
• 06.06.2024

  165 - Maverick Gardeners Breaking Garden Rules - Felder Rushing

  In this episode of The Garden Question podcast, host Craig McManus interviews Felder Rushing, a celebrated horticulturalist and garden communicator.   The episode delves into the concept of 'Maverick Gardeners'—those who follow their own unique gardening practices regardless of...

  
• 05.30.2024

  164 - Creating New Fun Plant Varieties: the Art and Science of Breeding – David Roberts

  Welcome to another exciting episode of The Garden Question. Today, we're venturing into the captivating realm of plant breeding, a topic that's as fascinating as it is innovative. We all relish the joy of designing our own gardens, but have...

  
• 05.23.2024

  163 - Developing Your Strategy for This Year's Bugs - Susan Mulvihill

  Susan Mulvihill is passionate about growing vegetables! Her organic growing methods and pest control have yielded some mighty good eating. She and her husband, Bill, live and garden on 5 acres in Spokane, Washington. Their large raised-bed garden where they grow...

  
• 05.16.2024

  162 - Cultivating Your Epic Tomatoes - Craig LeHoullier

  Craig LeHoullier is known for many things in the tomato world. Some know him as the NC Tomatoman. Some know him as the fellow who named the very popular heirloom tomato Cherokee Purple. To others, he is the author of...

  
• 05.09.2024

  161 - Embracing the New Perennial Movement in the South - Sarah Carter

  Sarah Carter and her team have brought the New Perennial Movement to the south on a large scale. The new Entrance Garden’s large sweeps of grasses, perennials, native plants presented in a naturalistic style welcomes you to the Atlanta History...

  
• 05.02.2024

  160 - The Soil Solution: Unlocking Your Garden’s Potential - Bryce Lane

  What can you do to improve your garden’s soil to reduce failures? In this episode 160 - The Soil Solution: Unlocking Your Garden’s Potential with Bryce Lane, we discover how understanding soils influences abundant plant growth. This is a remix...

  
• 04.25.2024

  159 - Antique Roses for Today’s Garden - Jason Powell

  Jason Powell declares the queen of the garden to be antique roses. Who could argue with old garden roses that exude excellent fragrance, shape, disease resistance and low maintenance?  We talk about how these fragrant flowering shrubs make a huge...

  
• 04.18.2024

  158 – Smart Water Practices and Your Garden - Jenny Rose Carey

  In this episode Jenny Rose Carey, a seasoned horticulturalist, shares how her garden thrives with her smart water-wise practices. Despite 45 inches of rain annually, she emphasizes harmony with natural weather patterns, practical tips and personal anecdotes. She offers valuable...

  
• 04.11.2024

  157– Exploring Field Style Planting: A New Approach to Annuals and Perennials – C.L. Fornari

  In this episode we delve into the fascinating world of gardening with none other than C.L. Fornari. We explore innovative approaches to plantings that challenge traditional gardening norms and embraces the beauty of nature's design. C.L. is an accomplished...

  
• 04.04.2024

  156 - Roots of Revitalization: The Transformative Power of Memphis Garden Walks - Kim Halyak

  This episode of the Garden Question podcast, hosted by Craig McManus, features Kim Halyak, the co-founder of Experience Memphis Gardens. They discuss the impact of garden walks on community connections, local economies, and neighborhood aesthetics. Kim shares her...

  
• 03.28.2024

  155 – Savoring Edible Flowers in Cooking and Gardening - Denise Schreiber

  Exploring the vast culinary experiences of edible flowers offers an explosion of flavors, colors, and textures. I had the pleasure of speaking with Denise Schreiber, an aficionado in the field of edible flowers, to unearth the inspirations, insights, and practices...

  
• 03.21.2024

  154 - Cultivating Relationships with Tropical Plants in Your Not So Tropical Garden – Marianne Willburn

  In this episode we explore gardening using tropical plants, with Marianne Willburn. Marianne shares insights on how to successfully incorporate tropical and subtropical plants into your not so tropical garden. She breaks down the gardening process into relational categories such...

  
• 03.14.2024

  153 - Choosing and Growing the Right Summer Bulbs for Your Garden – Brent Heath

  In this episode we talk with Brent Heath of Brent and Becky's Bulbs exploring the vibrant world of summer-blooming bulbs. He guides us through making the most out of our gardens with these colorful gems taking center stage. We cover...

  
• 03.07.2024

  152 - Growing Winter Citrus – Donna Balzer

  In this episode we welcome Donna Balzer, an award-winning horticulturist, keynote speaker, and author with over three decades of experience in gardening. Donna's journey from her roots as a farmer's daughter with an agriculture degree to her current role as...

  
• 02.29.2024

  151 – American Roots: A Conversation with Nick McCullough

  In this episode we talk with award-winning garden designer Nick McCullough. He has developed a distinctive style he calls Midwest Modern, one that relies on a balance of natural paving and innovative perennial plantings.  Based in Ohio, he and...

  
• 02.22.2024

  150 – Gardening with Kids and Reaping the Benefits – Em Shipman

  Gardening is not just for adults. In fact, getting kids involved in gardening can have a multitude of benefits for their physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Gardening has the power to transform children's lives and instill in them a love...

  
• 02.15.2024

  149 - The Maximum Abundance Plan for Your Mini Garden Space - Christy Wilhelmi

  Christy Wilhelmi shares valuable insights for building and maintaining an organic home food garden. Up to 80 percent of her family's produce comes from less than 300 square feet of her own garden. We discuss her approach to designing gardens...

  
• 02.08.2024

  148 - Square Foot Gardening: Growing More Food with Less Space - Steve and Laura Bartholomew

  For 40 years the Square Foot Gardening method has been transforming traditional gardening practice around the world. It is known as a highly efficient method of growing food in small spaces. In this episode of The Garden Question Podcast, we...

  
• 02.01.2024

  147 - Resolving the Bee Keepers and Gardeners Dilemma - Charlotte Ekker Wiggins

  In today's enlightening discussion, Charlotte Ekker Wiggins takes us on a journey through the fascinating intersection of beekeeping and gardening. She breaks down the perceived barriers between these two practices and highlights their inherent connections. Get ready to explore the...

  
• 01.26.2024

  146 - Growing Herbs for Health, Wellness, Cooking, and Crafts - Kim Roman

  Herbs have been around forever, but how well do you understand them? In this episode we have a conversation with Kim Roman. Kim Roman shares her expertise, derives from her forthcoming book "Growing Herbs for Health, Wellness, Cooking, and...

  
• 01.18.2024

  145 - Creating Dry Shade Gardens and Other Adventures at the Longleaf Botanical Gardens - Hayes Jackson

  Dry shade is often a challenge in creating a successful garden. Such conditions require careful plant selection and insights. Hayes Jackson believes "there's a plant that loves that spot no matter how bad or how difficult you think it is."...

  
• 01.11.2024

  144 - Breaking the Garden Mold: A Conversation on Garden Constraints and Adaptation - Marianne Willburn

  In episode 144 of the Garden Question podcast, host Craig McManus interviews Marianne Wilburn, a garden writer and expert. opinion columnist for the American Horticultural Society's The American Gardener and is a contributing editor at GardenRant.com. She authored the exciting...

  
• 01.04.2024

  143 - Gardening for Stress Relief: Exploring Wellbeing in Nature - Perla Sofía Curbelo Santiago

  In this episode of The Garden Question Podcast, host Craig McManus chats with Perla Sofía Curbelo Santiago, a professional gardener and communicator from Puerto Rico. They discuss the transformative power of gardening for stress relief, mental health, and overall physical...

  
• 12.28.2023

  142 - Crape Murder Season - Craig McManus

  In this episode of the Garden Question podcast, the host, Craig McManus, explores the practice of 'crepe murder'. He emphasizes the damage improper pruning can cause to crape myrtle trees, detaching their natural beauty and weakening their growth potential. ...

  
• 12.21.2023

  141 - Cultivating Change: The Power of Gardens - Jennifer Jewell

  Host Craig McManus discusses the transformative power of gardening and the incredible impact they have on our lives with guest Jennifer Jewell. Jennifer is a garden advocate, author, and award-winning podcast and radio host, shares examples of how gardens influence our...

  
• 12.14.2023

  140 - Nurturing a Garden: Adventures, Wisdom, and Insights from Cox Arboretum and Garden - Tom Cox

  Starting a garden isn't just about planting seeds and tending greens. It's a compelling journey that goes beyond the soil – a tale that’s not only visually enthrall but emotionally connect. To learn more about this horticultural expedition, we turned...

  
• 12.07.2023

  139 - The Unexpected Journey of Poinsettias from Mexico to our Living Rooms - Jim Faust

  The vibrant red and green foliage of the poinsettia are familiar sights in homes around the world during the Christmas holiday season. But have you ever wondered how this exotic flowering plant from Mexico became a quintessential symbol of Christmas?...

  
• 11.30.2023

  138 - The Stories and Magic of Real Christmas Trees - Mel Koelling

  We had the unique opportunity to interview Dr. Mel Koelling, a seasoned expert in the Christmas tree industry. With Christmas season on the horizon, there is no better time to learn about the fascinating world of Christmas tree farming and...

  
• 11.23.2023

  137- Cultivating Gratitude: A Thanksgiving Special in the Garden

  In this Thanksgiving special episode of the Garden Question Podcast, host Craig McManus brings together a variety of influential guests from previous episodes to talk about what they are thankful for, both in the garden and in life. The episode...

  
• 11.16.2023

  136 - Harvesting Hope: Nurturing the Soul in Your Garden - Shelley S. Cramm

  Today's episode is an enlightening conversation with Shelley S. Cramm, the insightful author of "My Father is the Gardener." She writes regularly for her Devotions Blog at GardeninDelight.com, and speaks enthusiastically to garden clubs and faith groups about plants of...

  
• 11.09.2023

  135 - Roots & Ramblings: Cultivating Harmony in the Garden - Molly Hendry

  Join us in this episode as we explore the harmonious blend of beauty and functionality in gardens. Molly Hendry is a Birmingham native whose expertise as a horticulturist and landscape architect has taken her across the globe. We'll...

  
• 11.02.2023

  134 - The Garden Journey, Mystery, and Discovery – Dan Benarcik

  In this episode passions collide and creativity blossoms with Dan Benarcik. A seasoned expert whose life has been a vibrant tapestry of horticulture, art, teaching, and design. Growing up surrounded by the aroma of blooms and saw dust, Dan inherited...

  
• 10.26.2023

  133 – Unveiling the Art and Science of Plant Breeding - David Roberts

  Welcome to another exciting episode of The Garden Question. Today, we're venturing into the captivating realm of plant breeding, a topic that's as fascinating as it is innovative. We all relish the joy of designing our own gardens, but have...

  
• 10.19.2023

  132 – Plant Bulbs Harvest Smiles - Brent Heath

  Welcome to another fantastic episode. "Planting Bulbs, Harvesting Smiles," I'm your host, Craig McManus. Today we're diving into the vibrant world of bulbs with the one and only Brent Heath from Brent and Becky's Bulbs. Brent Heath is not just...

  
• 10.12.2023

  131 – Water, Food, Healing: The Transformative Power of Gardening – Heidi Heiland

  Heidi Heiland has been diligently leading and artfully expanding her landscape gardening company, Heidi’s Lifestyle Gardens as the CEO. That’s Chief Experience Officer since 1979.  With the help of her expert team, they create award winning ecoscapes and nourishing encounters...

  
• 10.12.2023

  131 – Water, Food, Healing: The Transformative Power of Gardening – Heidi Heiland

  Heidi Heiland has been diligently leading and artfully expanding her landscape gardening company, Heidi’s Lifestyle Gardens (https://www.growhausmn.com/) as the CEO. That’s Chief Experience Officer since 1979. With the help of her expert team, they create award winning ecoscapes and nourishing encounters...

  
• 10.05.2023

  130 - Cultivating the Perfect Garden with Effective Goal Planning – Jeff Rugg

  You will be happy that you listen to this episode before you plant your first plant. It begins with setting garden goals.  Jeff Rugg is an educator at heart. For over 33 years he has written the weekly nationally...

  
• 09.28.2023

  129 - Gardeners Never Retire: Overcoming Challenges in Your Senior Years - Duane Pancoast

  In this episode we talk about adapting to various gardening challenges. We explore making tough decisions in gardening through the later seasons of life. Also, having the best attitudes toward tough decisions. Mobility restrictions began taking a toll on 84-year-old...

  
• 09.21.2023

  128 – The Monarch Crusader - Carol Pasternak

  Carol Pasternak lives by the motto “It’s Gotta Be Fun”. That is what she brings to this episode. Have you ever thought about having a caterpillar as a pet? You will want to after listening to her. Egg hunts are...

  
• 09.14.2023

  127 - Mr Plant Geek’s Botanical Adventures – Michael Perry

   In this fresh episode we are talking with Michael Perry also known as Mr. Plant Geek a multihyphenate in the plant world. You know he is adept at many roles in horticulture. Michael is a TV presenter, speaker, hortpreneur and...

  
• 09.07.2023

  126 - Branches and Boundaries: Navigating Tree Legalities – Lea Clark

  Have you ever wondered about your neighbor’s tree branch hanging over your house? Or thought who really owns that tree on my property line. Is ignoring the questionable tree in my backyard a good idea? Well in this episode we...

  
• 08.31.2023

  125 - Cultivating History: Exploring George Washington's Mount Vernon Garden - Dean Norton

  Dean Norton feel in love with the Mount Vernon Estate Gardens 53 years ago and never left. After receiving a degree in horticulture from Clemson University he began his horticultural career as the estate’s boxwood gardener.  The historical gardens of...

  
• 08.24.2023

  124 - Sculpting Nature: The Legacy of Frederick Law Olmsted - Kirk R. Brown

  It’s been over 200 years since he was born. People still absorb his parks and public gardens in more than 5,000 communities across the North American continent.   The goal is to “give the common man in this New World the...

  
• 08.17.2023

  123 – How to Create a Moss Garden - Annie Martin aka Mossin’ Annie

  Have you got a shady location where nothing else will grow? Are you tired of mowing grass? Do you have problem  with soil erosion? How about a desire to avoid chemical fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides? In this episode Annie Martin,...

  
• 08.10.2023

  122 - Preserving Heritage Apple Trees: Rooted Legacy -Josh Fuder

  Josh Fuder’s search to identify the old apple trees growing at his newly purchase home ignited a path to discovering and recovering lost apple varieties of Georgia. In this episode 122 we look into why lost apple varieties are important....

  
• 08.03.2023

  121- Secrets of Wildflowers and Native Plants - Carol Hight

  Carol Hight is a native plant and wild flower advocate. She is a prolific writer for local publications and is a very in demand speaker for wildflowers. Her blog is BloomingBeautiful.com She is a 30-year retired 5th grade science teacher....

  
• 07.27.2023

  120 - Discover the Pillars of a Great Garden; Your Guide to a Stunning Landscape – Jay Sifford

  Jay Sifford’s passion for crafting immersive gardens that are full of magic and story guide his garden designs. In this episode we will discover how Mary Poppins inspires and nurtures a space where reality and fantasy collide. Sifford explains how...

  
• 07.20.2023

  119 – The Cherokee Garden Library: Unearthing Ancient Gardening Wisdom – Staci Catron

  Staci L. Catron has one of the coolest jobs ever. She gets to live gardening in the past, in the present, and influence gardens of the future. As the Director of the Cherokee Garden Library within the Kenan Research Center...