The holidays are here, your garden may be buried in snow and the family is restless.  Everyone could benefit from a little horticulture relief.  Get easy and affordable ideas for indoor gardening projects for the whole family.  Build a terrarium, start seeds, or create colorful plant markers and more.  And I will give you a recipe for peanut butter suet, talk about the benefits and concerns of using coffee grounds in your garden, and uncover the mysteries of the 3-month-old flocked and the sprouting cut Christmas tree.  Visit www.bottlebiology.org for more fun affordable hands-on and educational projects for the kids.

Holiday plants like poinsettias and cyclamen are the focus of this podcast. Then I answer gardeners’ questions on non-bearing bittersweet and winter protection for rhododendrons. Next Kristin Gies joins me for tips on ridding your holiday plants of fungus gnats. I finish off with tips on using Oasis foam for your holiday floral arrangements.

So much to do and so little time to do it.  In this podcast I'll offer tips on how to reduce winter damage and lighten the work load for next spring.  I'll touch on storing pesticides and fertilizers, animal protection, winter rose protection, storing tools, winter mulch and fall landscape chores.  I then answer a gardener's question on overwintering geraniums. I'll then discuss yellow leaves on plants that have been moved indoors for the winter.  I wrap things up with the sweet stevia plant.

Extending the beauty of your holiday tree with proper care leads off this podcast. I answer gardeners' questions on poinsettia care and preventing snow damage to arborvitaes.

I'll offer tips on how to create an outdoor party with the help of colorful plants and containers. Then I answer a gardener's question on lupine seedlings.  I'll talk strategies for dealing with rose slug. I finish with container ideas from Proven Winners and Ball Seed Company.

I give tips on creating and delivering the perfect holiday cut flower arrangement. Then I answer a gardener's question on mushrooms growing in a lawn. Next Kristin Gies joins me for tips on protecting your pets from poisonous holiday plants. I finish by recommending a wonderful catalogue, Logee’s for unique garden gifts.

In this podcast I'll share great lawn tips, solutions to common problems and discuss how to be more eco-friendly. I answer a gardener's question about rust on dwarf Alberta spruce. I'll talk about Martha Washington geranium (Pelargonium x domesticum) a great plant to know and grow. Then I outline the differences between crabgrass and quackgrass. I'll finish with some recommended lawn care guides: The Lawn Guide - Midwest Series by Melinda Myers,  The Lawn Guide - Southern Series by Steve Dobbs and The Florida Lawn Guide by Tom McCubbin.

In this podcast I'll be focusing on the larger group of evergreen shrubs and selecting the right cultivar that fits in your landscape. Then I'll answer gardeners' questions on ground ivy in the lawn, ant hills, using vermiculite in square foot gardening and building a raised spiral herb garden. My pest tip centers on pine needle scale. I'll finish with a tip on growing a vertical garden.

Tips on creating festive holiday decorations from your own backyard. With time and budget restraints we are all looking for ways to enjoy the holidays and stay within our budget. The answer is in your own backyard. Tips on creating wreaths, arrangements and luminaries from landscape prunings. Plus, recommendations on caring for a ficus tree and a gift good for gardeners and the environment. For more information on this holiday gift, visit the American Forests website.

I'll quell some popular garden myths including: evergreen needles making soil too acidic, removing tomato leaves, maple and oak leaves are bad for compost. I'll answer gardener's questions regarding yellow hibiscus leaves, Johnny Jump-ups and surprise lilies.  The focus of my pest tip is squash vine borer.  I finish with information on Bayer Advanced for Japanese beetle control on fruit trees, citrus and some vegetables.

Are you overwhelmed about starting a new garden? I'll offer five easy steps to make this gardening season a snap! Then I'll answer a gardener's question on moving daffodils. I'll finish with information on European pine sawfly.

Gift giving ideas for the holidays from the American Forest Association is the focus of this podcast. Then I answer a gardener's question on hollyhock seeds. Next Kristin Gies joins me for tips on great kids nature gifts from NatureStore.com and Discovery Channel Store. I finish off with a favorite product, the Hori-Hori garden knife.

In this podcast I discuss growing a nutritional garden. Then I answer gardeners’ questions on getting rid of ferns and what to plant under evergreens. Next Kristin Gies joins me for tips on herbicide damage. I finish by recommending a few favorite websites for ordering unique and fun fruits and vegetables: Johnny's Selected Seeds, The Cook's Garden, and Renee's Garden.

I discuss creating beautiful bouquets, holiday gifts, and making lasting memories of your summer garden by harvesting and drying flowers. I answer gardener’s questions on First Blush Euphorbia (Euphorbia epithymoides) and tomato plants with yellow and brown leaves. I talk about problems and solutions regarding the unpleasant situation of poison ivy. Lastly I suggest a book on pounding flowers that’s a very useful resource.

Over the past year I have tried to incorporate ideas for family fun.  In this podcast I'll remind you of a few of these and other ideas for homemade holiday gifts.  Then I'll answer gardeners' questions on moving Black Hills spruce and rust on Pricilla hollyhocks.  I then offer tips on Christmas tree care.  I'll finish by discussing self watering systems for you Christmas tree.

I'll once again focus on gardeners' questions in this podcast. I cover concerns about dwarf Alberta spruce, Corinthian cherry, holly, lilac, river birch, hibiscus, and the orchid-like weed helleborine.

I'll discuss the history and legend behind Christmas trees, holly and mistletoe, the three most popular holiday plants. Then I'll offer tips for woes on Norfolk Island pine and keeping pets safe. For a list of what plants are toxic, visit the ASPCA website at aspca.org and keep your pets safe throughout the holiday and years to come.

In this podcast I discuss how to select a healthy Christmas tree. Then I answer gardeners’ questions on getting kalanchoe to re-bloom for the holidays. Next Kristin Gies joins me for tips on managing salt build-up on your indoor plants. I finish off interviewing Kenneth Helphand author of Defiant Gardens, a great new book and the perfect holiday gift.

Some basic tips on planting and designing your garden this coming season. I'll answer gardeners' questions concerning Norfolk pine and forcing bulbs. Pest tip: dealing with vole damage. Garden tips: How to hire a professional.