Mike looks at the recently concluded legislative session in Springfield and how various environmental issues fared. Milo Shammas, a/k/a Dr. Earth, talks about organics in the home garden. Wally Schmidtke from Pesche's Garden Center in Des Plaines and Jennifer Brennan from Chalet in Wilmette and Dig In Chicago offer advice about battling plant insects and diseases in a year that has seen some odd pest problems.

Charlotte Adelman, co-author with her husband Bernard L. Schwartz, talks about their successful book, The Midwestern Native Garden: Native Alternatives to Nonnnative Flowers and Plants, an Illustrative Guide.

Mike rants about a judge's decision to turn over 86 acres of Chicago land to a waste management company. Charlotte Adelman, co-author of The Midwestern Native Garden: Native Alternatives to Nonnative Flowers and Plants, an Illustrative Guide, explains why native plants are important in our landscapes. Steven Pinscuspy from the Chicago Center for Green Technology and Rick Moskovitz from A Plus Pest Control preview the 10th Anniversary celebration of CCGT and talk about current Chicago pest problems.

Mike and Beth Botts talk to Julie Emerick from the Cook County Extension Advisory Council about how the County Board is considering de-funding Cook County Extension, and how devastating that action would be to many programs.