Episodes
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Gourds: Growing and Crafting
Master Gardener, Soozi Pline, talks with Aloha LeRouge - a gourd grower and artist and member of the Huntsville Gourd Patch. Gourds originated from Asia and Africa thousands of years ago where they were mostly grown as utensils for eating and drinking or carving masks, musical instruments, and...
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All About Butterflies
Master Gardener Emily Clem talks with Regional Extension Agent, Allyson Schabel, about the life cycle of butterflies. They discuss different species, their host plants, and how to attract more butterflies to your garden. Common butterflies in the Southeast include swallowtails, brush-footed,...
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The Art of Bonsai
Master Gardener, Emily Clem, speaks with Phil Terry, President of Living Art Bonsai for fourteen years. With over 50 trees, he talks about the art of growing small trees in pots and the techniques he's learned over the years to create these living plant sculptures. An ancient gardening practice...
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Herbalist Nancy Williams: Herbs and Teas
Master Gardener, Soozi Pline, speaks with local herbal practitioner, Nancy Williams. Nancy grew up on her family's farm in Marion County and began learning about herbs and natural remedies as a child. She studied with Phyllis D. Light - 4th generation herbalist and health educator in North…
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Earthworms: Nature's Soil Engineers
Master Gardener, Emily Clem, talks with earthworm expert, Jacob Zammito, about the role earthworms can play in your garden by improving soil structure. He talks about native worms, invasive worms, worm behavior, and how to attract and keep worms in your garden. Earthworm gardening encourages a...
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Invasive Species
Master Gardener, Emily Clem, and Extension Agent, Kathy Terry-Warner, dig deep on the subject of invasive plants. Many of the invasives were originally planted for their ornamental look (think Wisteria, Nandina, Bradford Pear, English Ivy, etc.) but have since taken over and now threaten our…
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Sun and Shade Mapping
Master Gardener Emily Clem talks with County Extension Agent, Lilly Oaks, about sun and shade mapping your garden. Proper planning is the key to a thriving yard and mapping is the first step. Identifying which spaces have the most sun, shade, drainage, and wind exposure is essential to know which...
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Houseplant Gardening
Master Gardener Emily Clem welcomes MG Anita Reeves to talk about houseplants. With over 100 plants in her collection, Anita shares her tips on soil, lighting, potting, fertilizing and more. She talks about the benefits of using LED lights and cautions against overwatering. She advises…
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Winterizing Your Garden
Master Gardener Emily Clem talks with Urban Regional Extension Agent, Marcus Garner, about how to winterize your garden. Topics include pruning, mulching, and frost protection covers for plants during hard freezes. He also stresses the importance of tool maintenance and storage during the winter...
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Roses
Master Gardener, Emily Clem, talks with fellow Master Gardener and rose expert, Barbara McFarlen, about the selection and care of roses. Topics include watering, pruning, mulching, and fertilizing. She also gives details on specific fungicides and their proper use to treat black spot, rose…
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Foraging: Return to the Wild
Master Gardener Emily Clem talks with Jesse Akozbek who has both a passion and encyclopedic knowledge of food foraging. He introduces the concept of eco-culture, a blend of foraging and gardening. From acorns, hickory nuts, cone-flowers, American lotus and more, Jesse gives a step-by-step guide…
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Weeds: The Good and The Bad
Master Gardener Emily Clem talks with ACES Extension Agent, Brian Brown, about beneficial and non-beneficial weeds. He stresses that many weeds, often seen as nuisances, are actually beneficial. Clover, for example, adds vital nitrogen to the soil and attracts pollinators. In controlling invasive...
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Managing Pests In Your Garden
Master Gardener Emily Clem talks with Urban Regional Extension Agent, Marcus Garner, about garden pest management. He talks about specific pests (aphids, hornworms, fire ants, Japanese beetles, deer) and how to control them using organic methods. From soap and water, oils, hand picking methods,...
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Irrigation
Master Gardener Emily Clem talks with North Alabama Extension Agent, Brian Brown about plant irrigation. Alabama gets 50-60 inches of rain yearly, but not always when plants need it. Brian covers both spray and drip irrigation systems and recommends smart controllers. Drip irrigation helps…
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Plant Propagation
Master Gardener Emily Clem talks with Extension Agent, Allyson Shabel, about plant propagation. They discuss the different ways gardeners can get new plants from their already established home or neighbor gardens. Highlighting the technique of plant cuttings, seeds, and plant layering, Allyson...
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The Library Garden
Master Gardeners Emily Clem and Kathy Cook give a tour of The Library Garden. Designed by landscape architect, Carol Lambdin, the garden includes raised beds, a butterfly garden, a wet area, and shaded sections. Now three years old, the garden is full of native trees, plants and edibles, and...
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All About Composting
Master Gardeners Emily Clem and Kathy Cook talk about the benefits of composting. Gardeners with clay soil know it needs a lot of amendment for growing plants. Kathy gives easy to follow, step by step instructions for both new and experienced growers. A great way to recycle kitchen scraps and…
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The Value Of Oaks
Master Gardener Emily Clem has a conversation with Toby Gray about the value of oak trees. As the Plant Recorder for the Huntsville Botanical Gardens, Toby talks about the variety of oaks and their place in the ecosystem. With the newer trend in landscaping encouraging native plants and wildlife,...
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Hummingbirds in North Alabama
Master Gardeners Emily Clem and Melissa Kirkindall talk about hummingbirds. Melissa has years of experience studying hummingbirds and talks about the different species, their migration, habitats, feeding, and what plants attract them to backyard bird enthusiasts. With nests the size of a walnut,...
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Alabama's Endemic Plants
Master Gardener Emily Clem talks with horticulturist, Katrina Mitchell, from the Huntsville Botanical Gardens about Alabama's endemic plants. With its diverse ecosystem of mountains, plateaus, valleys, rivers and glades, Alabama boasts over 3000 native plant species. Among those are over 28…
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All About Pruning
Master Gardener Soozi Pline talks with Jayne Luetzow, Regional Agent for Northwest Alabama Cooperative Extension office, about pruning. Step by step pruning techniques, including when to prune, why to prune, and what tools to use. A master class in pruning trees and shrubs with specific mentions…
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Beekeeping 101
Master Gardener Emily Clem talks with Master Beekeeper Bud Rogers about backyard beekeeping for the hobbyist. These busy pollinators are masters of efficiency and can make an amazing difference in the output of your backyard garden. They talk about how bees make honey and tips to avoid getting...
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North Alabama Land Trust Pollinator Gardens
Kate Gribbin, Recreation Manager, along with Hallie Porter, Development Director, and Jennifer Johnson, Master Gardener, highlight the new pollinator gardens of the North Alabama Land Trust. Started in 1987 as a means to keep development off Monte Sano Mountain, the Land Trust now covers 10...
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Herbarium Library of Alabama A&M University
Master Gardener, Emily Clem, welcomes Lynne Wenineger from Alabama A&M University. The curator of the herbarium at A&M, Lynne talks about the importance of collecting and preserving plants for study in the plant library. From gathering specimens in the field, to pressing, and cataloging, Alabama…
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Whooping Cranes in North Alabama
Master Gardener, Emily Clem, welcomes Travis Roddy of the International Crane Foundation. They talk about the cranes that winter here in North Alabama, including sandhill cranes and the endangered whooping cranes. Links: https://www.aces.edu/ (Alabama Cooperative Extension)...
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Native Plants That Thrive In North Alabama
Limestone County Master Gardeners Emily Clem and Soozi Pline talk about native plants that grow well in the North Alabama region. They identify plants, season by season, that bloom and provide food for pollinators all year long. In the process of naturalizing their own home properties, Emily and...
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Homegrown Shiitake Mushrooms!
Limestone County Master Gardener, Emily Clem, talks with Rhonda Britton, Former Home Grounds Agent with the Alabama Cooperative Extension and current Campus Engineer at Auburn University's Research and Innovation Campus in Huntsville. Rhonda gives a step by step guide to growing shiitake…
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Edible Landscaping With Native Plants: food for you and the pollinators!
Limestone County Master Gardener, Emily Clem, talks with Kerry Steedley, Regional Extension Agent for Forestry, Wildlife, and Natural Resources. They discuss which native fruit and nut plants you can grow to produce food for both you and the Pollinators! Books discussed in this episode and...
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Talkin' Dirty: April and May Gardening Tips
Springtime in the garden! Master Gardeners give planting and pruning guides for April and May. From flowers, grasses, and shrubs to veggies, fruits, and nuts, find out when to plant as well as how to fertilize and deter pests. Garden Tip: It's better to water deeply and less frequently to…
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Talkin' Dirty: February and March Gardening Tips
Everything you need to know about what to do in your garden as we transition from winter to spring! Master Gardeners Diane and Heronda give planting and pruning guides for February and March. Tip: After getting some long-awaited nice weather days, don't be fooled into planting early because it…
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Talkin' Dirty: December and January Gardening Tips
If you think of winter as a dormant time in your garden, think again! Winter is prime time to plant trees and shrubs. Master Gardeners Janis and Janet talk about what to do during December and January to keep your garden in top shape. Topics include weed control, soil testing, hardy annuals, and...
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Talkin' Dirty: October and November Gardening Tips
Fall is planting time! Master Gardeners Carol and Jay talk about how to winterize your garden and what to plant to enhance winter curb appeal. They also give tips on fall veggies, spring bulbs, and perennials for both sun and shade. Bonus: Jay goes in depth on caring for knock out roses and crepe...
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Talkin' Dirty: August and September Gardening Tips
Master Gardeners Emily and Diane talk about native plants as a lawn substitute, small ornamental trees for your front yard, and foundation plants that resist disease. Also, how to rake your leaves in the fall. Spoiler alert: Don't! August and September garden tips. Links https://www.aces.edu/...
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Talkin' Dirty: June and July Gardening Tips
Master Gardeners of Limestone County, Alabama talk about how to care for your garden in June and July. They answer questions from local growers about plant and lawn care, weeding, mulching,and the importance of choosing the right plant for the right place. Links: https://www.aces.edu/...
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Talkin' Dirty: Pest Management, What's Bugging Your Garden!
Limestone County Extension coordinator, Chris Becker, and Master Gardener, Janis Dill, talk about environmentally conscious ways to control pests in gardens in Limestone County, Alabama. Links https://www.aces.edu/ mg.aces.edu https://www.alcpl.org/ If you have gardening questions, please submit…
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Talkin' Dirty: Master Gardener Program
The Master Gardeners of Limestone County, Alabama talk about ways they are engaging the community in how to grow better gardens and cultivate healthy lifestyles with their programs. Links www.aces.edu mg.aces.edu www.alcpl.org If you have gardening questions, please submit to [email protected]
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Talkin' Dirty: Limestone County Extension Program
An overview of the Limestone County Extension program and the ways its outreach impacts one in three Alabamians with programs in agriculture; forestry, wildlife, and natural resources; family and consumer sciences; economic and community development; 4-H and youth development; and urban affairs....
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Talkin' Dirty: Pruning
Limestone County Extension coordinator, Chris Becker, talks about pruning and knowing when and how to prune to promote healthy growth on plants and trees in Limestone County, Alabama. Links www.aces.edu mg.aces.edu www.alcpl.org If you have gardening questions, please submit to...
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Talkin' Dirty: Soils (not dirt)!
Limestone County Extension coordinator, Chris Becker, talks about the importance of soil testing and how to amend it for the best plant and vegetable produce in gardens of Limestone County, Alabama. Links www.aces.edu mg.aces.edu www.alcpl.org If you have gardening questions, please submit to...
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Talkin' Dirty: Native Plants
Master Gardeners of Limestone County, Alabama identify native plants that you can plant to attract birds and bees and beneficial bugs to your home garden. They offer tips on where to buy plants and how to landscape with native species. Links www.aces.edu mg.aces.edu www.alcpl.org If you have...
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Talkin' Dirty: Invasive Species
The Master Gardeners of Limestone County Alabama talk about how to rid your garden of invasive species and introduce native plants that are environmentally friendly and easier to grow. Sources and links mentioned in the podcast: Nonnative Invasive Plants of Southern Forests: a field guide for...