Certified arborist David Story from Barlett Tree Experts talks to Mike and Peggy about serviceberries, boxwood diseases and winter tree care. Jessica Chipkin, founder of Crate Free Illinois, joins Josh Richards from The Humane League to promote a screening of the film documentary Eating Animals.

Horticulturist Lisa Hilgenberg from the Regenstein Fruit and Vegetable Garden at the Chicago Botanic Garden offers advice on choosing and starting seeds for the spring garden. Pam and Lan Richart, co-directors of the Eco-Justice Collaborative (EJC), report on their continuing effort to keep coal ash deposits from leaking into the Middle Fork of the Vermilion River in central Illinois.

Commissioner Debra Shore of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Great Chicago (MWRD), returns to the program to talk about last November's elections, the status of Deep Tunnel and the outlook for keeping Chicago's water safe as climate change poses new challenges. Susan Martin of Gardener Sue’s News and Ohio State University professor Laura Deeter, preview their talks for the Perennial Plant Association symposium "Back to Basics" at The Morton Arboretum.