Garden Dilemmas, Delights & Discoveries

Mushrooms are the fruit of valuable spores that decay organic material and recycle nutrients into the soil, which is good for plants. However, in volumes, they're unsightly in the garden. In this episode, we review the icky fungi that can develop in mulch (you may wish to put down your sandwich while tuning in — Ha!) And, we discuss how to prevent and fix the plethora of Fun

This episode discusses Companion Plants for your Vegetable Garden to control pests, encourage beneficial insects and pollinators, and increase yields. We share an overview of Three Sisters Gardening, the origin of companion plantings from Native Americans.We wrap up with a reflection on when the podcast logo switched from Miss Ellie to now Jolee and how life changes like the season

Have you ever considered Broadleaf Plantain, the flat-leaved weed that invades your lawn, a beneficial plant? It is, as are my favorite Dandelions.In this episode, we chat about the benefits of both and I share Koleen Garland's hilarious childhood memory of making dandelion wine sure to entertain. I hope you enjoy the story.Related Stories and Helpful Links: Benefits of Broadl

Thomas Jefferson's birthdate recalls visiting Monticello, considered a Lab for Plants. We chat about the fascinating history of the plantation and Jefferson's Garden Book, which is filled with trials and tribulations. One is his remarkable Castor Bean Plants. We chat about Castor Bean Plants overcoming the concern of toxicity in the garden and how I used them to "Hid

The episode starts with a fun little ditty about Bumbershoots (umbrellas) and a chat about Spacing Plants to avoid having to prune them. Plus, the reasons to prune are similar to those for caring for ourselves and our families. We discuss Smokebush, with its splendid features (and cautions), and other shrubs you can rejuvenate-prune in spring.Then wrap up with inspiration on revita

I look forward to sharing a sequel to Early Spring Transplants with a story about Root Pruning that relates to our lives. But before that, I share a personal journey of recovery and growth. Then we chat about the how-too's of Root Pruning and the benefits. And wrap up with encouragement to assess our roots and perhaps make room for new feeder roots in our lives. I hope you enj

Early spring is an ideal time to transplant most woody plants. In this episode, we feature large cherry trees a farmer transplanted five years ago and the outcomes with updates that hopefully inspire others to treat animals with respect and kindness. We wrap up with hilarious early Spring Garden Honey-dos. I hope you enjoy the story. Related Stories and Helpful Links: Early Spring

Being kind and relocating honeybees in an old olive tree right outside Linda's front door comes with twists and turns but a happy ending. We chat about how to relocate honeybees and tips on how you can help protect our pollinators. I hope you enjoy the story.Related Stories and Helpful Links: Relocating Honeybees – Being Kind - Blog PostLink to Beekeeping Associations In Nor

In this episode, we tour the makings of an Alpine Garden atop massive boulders in Sparta, NJ. You'll enjoy the lineup of highly deer-resistant perennials, creating movement cascading down the boulders. We wrap up with a lineup of spring flowering bulbs, one with a skunk smell, leading to a lesson of acceptance of Canada Geese, not Canadian Geese as many call them. I hope you e

In this episode, we learn about the fascinating history of St. Patrick and the Legend of Clover, also called Shamrocks, featured on St. Patrick’s Day. We wrap up with a story of the good luck lady, a kind gal who finds four-leaf clovers to share with others. I hope you enjoy the story.Related Stories and Helpful Links: St. Patrick and the Legend of Clover- Blog Post March Folklor