The Garden Question

082 – David Brown – Designing From The Garden

You will often find David Brown studying plants in the gardens at Hills and Dales Estate.

He seeks to acquire the perfect cutting for his amazing indoor arrangements. In our conversation he tells us how you may accomplish the same with your garden plants.

Before coming to Hills & Dales Estate, David taught high school horticulture for 30 years and then was an adjunct instructor at Southern Crescent Technical College for 8 years.

On top of all that he and his wife also owned and operated their own floral shop.

David has a BS degree in Horticulture and Agriculture Education from Purdue University.

Now he is the Greenhouse Manager and Floral Designer for Hills & Dales Estate where he is always applying his wealth of knowledge and creative expertise.

This episode is a remix of 030 

In this episode Troy B. Marden tells us about the terrifying event that began his horticultural adventures.

As an accomplished garden designer, he shares the vision of fellow gardeners in his clients, writings, television show and worldwide tours.

He seeks to help you discover the inspiration found in garden cultures around the globe and domestically.

Also, today Troy smashes a couple of common garden myths.

Troy’s love for gardening began on the Kansas plains.

At the age of 14 he began his horticultural career working at the local Blueville Nursery.

His unique passion for plants and gardening lead to college internships at two of the country’s most esteemed public gardens, Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain, Georgia and the world-renowned Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania.

He has called Nashville home for over the past 25 years.

Where he grew a successful business in garden and floral design, special events, garden photography, writing, public speaking, and television.

For over 20 years he has been a part of Nashville Public Television’s hit gardening show, Volunteer Gardener.

Troy’s passion for seeing the world’s most beautiful places burns brightly. He now curates and leads small group adventures around the world through Troy B. Marden Travel.

He seeks to share his many loves of gardening, food, wine, art, architecture, design, nature, photography, and history with each adventure.

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In this episode Preston Montague talks about how to achieve positive ecological impacts with plants from all over the globe with structural elements that serve animals, insects and people.

It’s not just about native plants.

Understanding the relationships that compose an ecosystem and the keystone species that is important.

Learn how to back into landscape design and avoid the ultimate disappointments in a Static landscape.

Preston Montague is a landscape architect and artist who developed a passion for the natural world while growing up in the rural foothills of Virginia.

Currently, he lives in Durham, North Carolina working on projects that encourage stronger relationships between people and the natural world.

You will be surprised how much your day-to-day gardening helps save our endanger plant species.

In this episode Jennifer Ceska is determined to make native plants regular.

How to wake up native plants already on your land and learning to love the untidy.

She explains why connecting people and grasses is essentials and why grasslands are so important.

Weaving as much diversity as we can get to create as much resilience we can get in the habitat

Jennifer Ceska is accredited Public Service and Outreach Faculty at the University of Georgia and has served since 1995 as Conservation Coordinator in the Science & Conservation Program of the State Botanical Garden of Georgia, Athens.

She received her masters at UGA in horticulture with an emphasis on plant conservation.

Her specialty is creating project driven professional networks and facilitating projects for endangered species recovery.

She has consulted with 14 states in developing their own conservation networks.

Jennifer serves as project manager for the Georgia Plant Conservation Alliance, coordinating over 60 organizations contributing recovery actions to 105 critically imperiled plant species in Georgia.

Links for things talked about ---

 State Botanical Garden of Georgia

 Connect to Protect

Connect to Protect Garden Guide

US Forest Service Gardening for Pollinators

National Wildlife Federation, Plant with a Purpose, gardening page

Georgia Plant Conservation Alliance

Center for Plant Conservation, Rare Plant Academy

Baptisia arachnifera, Hairy Rattleweed profile

Rhus michauxii, Dwarf Sumac profile

Do you often find it a challenging to grow perennials in the heat and humidity of the south?

In this episode we talk with Kata Kress Wallace about the best ways to overcome those challenges.

It’s no secret that perennials love the full sun, but what about those dry shady gardens? She’ll shed some light on that.

Kata shares some simple low maintenance techniques that will be well worth your efforts and she also throws in a deer reptant fun fact.

Living in Durham North Carolina Kata has the opportunity to interact with thousands of gardeners as the southeastern product manager for Walters Gardens.

She has been closely tied to the nursery industry all throughout her life. Her father owns a nursery in Austria named Sarastro Stauden that specializes in unique and rare plants.

Kata came to the United States interning at Plant Delights Nursery with Tony Avent after earning a master’s degree in Geography and Spanish.

She also led international crews at Hoffman Nursery as Garden Coordinator and production Supervisor responsible for producing millions of grass liners.

In 2019 she received the Young Professional Award from the Perennial Plant Association and was named to the Greenhouse Product News 40 Under 40 Class of 2020.

Mike Cunningham believes that having a salad every day is probably one of the healthiest things you can do for yourself.

In this episode we will discover how simple, easy, and quick growing greens can keep your salad bowl full all winter.

Fresh tasty nutritional eating right from your deck, patio, or backyard sounds great to me.

Mike and Judy Cunningham have been teaching people how to grow, cook, and preserve good organic food for over 10 years.

Country Gardens Farm is a third-generation family farm growing a wide assortment of organic year-round vegetables they sale to the community from their 3 acres.

This episode 077 - Growing Baby Salad Greens all Winter with Mike Cunningham

Mike’s blog post Baby Salid Greens with video on how to plant in a bed.

Judy’s Recipes

Facebook: Country Gardens Farm

Instagram: MikeCunningham1529

Website: Country Gardens Farm

00:00 Introduction to The Garden Question Podcast

00:42 Meet Mike Cunningham: Growing Greens Expert

01:59 Why Grow Baby Salad Greens?

03:46 How to Grow Baby Salad Greens

04:57 Succession Planting and Container Tips

06:18 Soil and Fertilizer Mix for Greens

15:29 Harvesting and Post-Harvest Handling

18:44 Exploring Microgreens

24:15 Seasonal Growing Tips

28:27 Additional Crops for Your Garden

30:39 Connecting with Country Gardens Farm

33:16 Conclusion and Podcast Information

Are you ready to try something new? Then grasses and sedges could be your next garden adventure.

You will find the opportunities for creating a rich layered interesting garden that serves more than an ornamental function.

Developing the whole ecological package. Improving the soil and developing a more aesthetically functionating garden are in your future.

We all need better solutions for suppressing weeds and gardening under trees. 

This is episode 076 – Growing & Understanding Grasses & Sedges - Shannon Currey

Shannon is a horticultural educator and consultant with Izel Native Plants.

She began her work life as a social scientist and then changed her career pursuit to horticulture at North Carolina State University.

Shannon joined Hoffman Nursery, a wholesale grower specializing in grasses, sedges, and other graminoids.

She has shared her advanced knowledge of graminoids in articles published nationally.

You will often find her speaking across the country to professional organizations, community groups, and at public gardens.

Shannon currently serves on the Perennial Plant Association’s Board of Directors and is on the North Carolina Plant Conservation Scientific Committee.

She was honored in 2020 with the Libby Wilder Award from the North Carolina Nursery & Landscape Association.

In 2022 she joined Izel Native Plants to expand their education and outreach efforts.

Izel’s unique sales model brings native plant wholesale growers’ inventories directly to the end consumer.

00:00 Welcome to The Garden Question Podcast

01:11 Introduction to Episode 76: Grasses and Sedges

01:18 Meet Shannon Curry: Horticultural Expert

02:29 Understanding Ornamental vs. Turf Grass

03:19 Exploring Sedges and Their Ecological Value

06:19 Warm Season vs. Cool Season Grasses

11:23 Grasses and Sedges in Garden Design

19:39 Practical Tips for Growing and Dividing Grasses and Sedges

24:47 Adapting Northern Gardening Principles to the Southeast

27:35 Mulch and Weed Management

27:52 Choosing the Right Plants for Your Climate

28:49 Starting Small and Learning from Examples

29:54 The Unique Qualities of Grasses and Sedges

30:18 Design Elements of Grasses

32:16 Seasonality and Maintenance of Grasses

34:05 Ecological Benefits of Grasses

34:57 Cutting Back and Dividing Grasses

37:33 Planting and Managing Grasses and Sedges

41:36 Common Garden Myths and Mistakes

42:03 Personal Gardening Experiences

50:16 New Horticultural Adventures

52:15 Final Thoughts and How to Connect

Sarah Roberts 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 Center.

The garden has settled in and in this episode Sarah explains the details that makes it successful.

It is a creation perfect for insects, small mammals, birds and people.

Sarah Roberts is the Olga C. de Goizueta Vice President of the Goizueta Gardens and Living Collections at the Atlanta History Center

A college internship in curation at the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University sparked Sarah’s career path in public horticulture.

During her undergraduate studies at Berry College, she spent a year on scholarship in  the United Kingdom studying historic gardens as part of her honors degree in Horticulture.

The next five years were spent as Curator of Herbaceous Plants and Outdoor Gardens at the New York Botanical Garden.

She then returned to England, completing a Diploma in Garden Design from the UK’s Garden Design School.

Upon Sarah’s return to the US, she began consulting for the Atlanta History Center which led to her current position as Vice President of Goizueta Gardens.

She leads the development, curation and preservation of the 33-acre public garden with three historic houses.

Sarah has written for numerous publications, been featured on Martha Stewart Radio, the Canadian Broadcast Corporation, GardenSmart TV series and the podcast Stuff You Missed in History Class.

Jason Powell declares the queen of the garden to be antique roses.

Who could argue with old garden roses that exudes excellent fragrance, shape, disease resistance, and low maintenance.

We talk about how these fragrant flowering shrubs make a huge impact in your garden when pairing them with some surprise companion plantings.

Jason and his wife Shelley partner with Jason’s Mom and Dad to produce heirloom plants at their nursery Petals from the Past.

Their mission is to educate and grow “tough plants for southern gardens”.

Jason earned a Bachelor degree in Horticulture from Auburn University and a Master degree in Horticulture from Texas A&M University.

He is a proud member of the infamous Texas Rose Rustlers where they scouted and rescued thousands of antique roses all over the southeast.

Jason insider’s look at The Peggy Martin / Hurricane Katrina Rose survival story will amaze you. 

Mike and Judy Cunningham are harvesting the last summer crops at Country Gardens Farm.

Fall gardening is just beginning. Mike takes a break to talk about his favorite time of the year in the garden.

Some of the things you will discover in this episode are the best practices Mike implements for soils, plant selections, and timing. All important for a successful fall harvest.

Mike and Judy Cunningham have been teaching people how to grow, cook, and preserve good organic food for over 10 years.

Country Gardens Farm is a third-generation family farm growing a wide assortment of organic year-round vegetables they sale to the community from their 3 acres.

Mike with lots of input from Judy authored his successful "Seven Steps to an Organic Vegetable Garden"

You will remember Mike's openness in sharing his successful methods for growing good food in our inaugural episode 001 of "The Garden Question" Podcast.

This episode 073 “Fall Organic Vegetable Gardening” an edited and remix version of episode 017 with Mike Cunningham. 

In this episode of The Garden Question podcast, host Craig McManus speaks with Mike Cunningham about the fundamentals of fall organic vegetable gardening.

The discussion covers best practices for soil management, plant selections, and timing, crucial for successful fall harvests.

Mike shares insights on protecting plants from cold weather, the differences between summer and fall crops, and the importance of soil nutrition.

Additionally, the episode highlights the benefits of cover crops and practical tips for container gardening. Listeners will also learn about managing pests organically and how Mike and his wife Judy teach their community to grow, cook, and preserve organic food at their third-generation Country Gardens Farm in Georgia.

00:00 Introduction to The Garden Question Podcast

00:41 Meet Mike and Judy Cunningham

02:02 Why Plant a Fall Vegetable Garden?

03:17 Protecting Plants from Cold Weather

04:30 Differences Between Fall and Summer Crops

05:04 Planting Onions and Garlic for Spring Harvest

07:26 Understanding Days to Maturity (DTM)

09:01 Growing Broccoli, Cauliflower, and Brussels Sprouts

14:41 Carrots: A Sweet Winter Treat

16:11 Container Gardening Tips

17:27 Growing Leafy Greens in Containers

19:50 Fall Gardening: Brassicas and More

23:12 Dealing with Pests in the Fall Garden

26:38 Safe Insect Control with BT

27:31 Dealing with Aphids and Other Pests

28:29 Protecting Your Garden from Deer and Rabbits

29:37 The Importance of Soil Health

31:06 Using Organic Fertilizers

34:27 Planting and Caring for Transplants

38:05 Winter Cover Crops and Soil Maintenance

40:28 Handling Plant Debris and No-Till Methods

42:20 Farm Events and Seasonal Activities

45:06 Learning and Growing with Nature

47:55 About Country Gardens Farm

49:49 Conclusion and Podcast Information