Scratch that gardening itch by starting your summer garden indoors now. Whether you're growing flowers or vegetables, starting from seed allows you to expand your garden pallet. Many more cool and unique varieties of plants are available to you in the form of seed. In this podcast I'll walk you through sowing to setting out in the garden. I'll offer tips on germination, thinning, lighting and hardening off. I'll explain how to avoid damping off of seedlings and strategies to keep your seedlings happy and healthy. I finish with a mention of a spring favorite of mine, the early blooming Hellebore, and more specifically a wonderful new introduction, 'Pink Frost' Hellebore. For photos and more information on this plant follow the link here to the National Garden Bureau website. Photo: National Garden Bureau

In this podcast I'll walk you through shrub pruning. Whether you have a lilac, dogwood or spirea, I'll discuss the different types of pruning and offer pointers on when the time is right to prune. I go on to answer a gardener's question on repellents. I'll finish with a new product to sooth skin exposed to poison ivy, Zanfel.

In this podcast I'll cover the 2011 All-America Selection winners. I'll also tell you about some other great additions to the garden including the Perennial Plant of the Year and the Hosta of the Year. For more information visit All-America Selections, Perennial Plant Association, and Morton Arboretum.

Follow along with me as I narrate the Winter Wonderland Virtual Tour! Get ideas for incorporating winter interest into your yard. Take a look at winter beauty provided by the bark, form and fruit of trees and shrubs as well as seed heads of perennials and ornamental grasses. You’ll come away with creative ideas and design solutions to add interest to your winter landscape.