Flower Power Garden Hour (Marlene Simon)
Explore every episode of Flower Power Garden Hour
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| 25 Jun 2019 | Flower Power Garden Hour 42: Pollinators for fruits and vegetables | 01:05:10 | |
Bees, butterflies, beetles, oh my. These are just some of the important pollinators needed to achieve great fruit and vegetable set in your garden. Find out which plants are best at attracting pollinators, as well as tips and tricks on hand pollinating when pollinators go MIA. Learn why your strawberries and squash are malformed, as well as how to plant corn to achieve high quality. This episode covers all things pollination! To ask questions for future shows, submit them at Flower Power Garden Hour Facebook page, The Plant Lady Facebook page, or Instagram. You can also email Marlene questions, future show topic requests and feedback at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com | |||
| 19 Oct 2019 | Flower Power Garden Hour 50: Listener Q&A…potpourri | 00:53:33 | |
Marlene answers a variety of listener submitted questions this week -- grab bag of questions.
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at Marlene The Plant Lady Facebook page, or Instagram. You can also email Marlene questions, future show topic requests and feedback at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com | |||
| 26 Aug 2023 | Flower Power Garden Hour 184: Passion vines and houseplant care, with Justin Hancock of Costa Farms | 01:25:18 | |
You can say that my guest, Justin Hancock, is passionate about passion vines! But he is also passionate about anything that grows. As a horticulturalist for one of the top nurseries, Costa Farms, he gets to surround himself with all types of plants. We discuss, of course, passion vines as well as houseplant care. Justin and Costa Farms can be found at: · Instagram: justinwhancock · Website: costafarms.com · Instagram: costafarms · Facebook: Costa Farms · Twitter: @CostaFarms · YouTube: @CostaFarms · TikTok: costa.farms
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at: · email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com | |||
| 04 Aug 2024 | Flower Power Garden Hour 199: Mitigating HEAT issues | 00:34:56 | |
This episode is sponsored by bewatersmart.info. The heat getting to you? There’s a good chance it’s also impacting your plants. I discuss various heat related plant issues and ways to mitigate them. To ask questions for future shows, submit them at: · email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
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| 28 Nov 2021 | Flower Power Garden Hour 126: Orchids, with Shawn Shumaker | 01:13:06 | |
Orchid grower Shawn Shumaker breaks down all the do’s and dont’s to successfully grow orchids inside your home… including the number one tip to get yours to rebloom. Plus -- is the ice cube watering method good or bad, what planting media should you use and what should be done to control pests. If you are looking to expand your collection, Shawn discusses other species that can be grown inside just as easily as Phalaenopsis. You can follow Shawn at:
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
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| 04 Sep 2021 | Flower Power Garden Hour 115: Sunset Lake CBD | 00:48:23 | |
What does it take to grow healthy CBD with organic regenerative practices? I talk to founder of Sunset Lake CBD, Sam Bellavance and farmer/grower Caitlin Silber to hear about how they produce the most beautiful plants in Vermont. We discuss how they feed the soil, prevent most pest and disease problems and what they use to treat powdery mildew. Plus -- we talk about all their wonderful products and uses.
Sunset Lake CBD can be found at:
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
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| 24 Dec 2023 | Flower Power Garden Hour 192: December To Do, Listener Q&A | 00:42:04 | |
It’s here – the last To Do list of the year. So far it has been a mild winter, with regards to both temperature and moisture. It is the time to plant another round of winter vegetables, work on pest management, and start planning for your spring garden. We are at the apex of short days, so time to work is limited. Episode includes Listener Q&A, with topics listed below. It is time to plant: · Asparagus · Bok choy · Kale · Onion sets · Radish
Chores include: · Cut back garden, clean up · Watch for cabbage aphids, loopers · Spray for peach leaf curl, dormant sprays · Order seeds for spring
Listener Q&A section. Topics covered include: · Waterless amaryllis – can it be planted in a pot? · Banana plant – do they need to be brought inside for winter? If not, should be wrapped for protection from cold weather? At what age will they duplicate and produce fruit? · Can fallen leaves in the garden be used to cover garden beds containing flowers? · Butterfly bush – should the significant new growth be cut back in order to optimize growth in spring? · Pineapple plant – have had for 2.5 years….when should a pineapple be expected? · Bromeliads – how to care for them after the flower blooms and subsequently dies?
Help support feral cat rescue/spay-neuter/finding good homes by contributing at Flower Power Garden Hour Patreon. To ask questions for future shows, submit them at: · email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
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| 16 Feb 2022 | Flower Power Garden Hour 135: Listener Q&A | 00:27:48 | |
A wide range of topics addressing questions submitted by listeners. Including:
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
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| 04 Mar 2023 | Flower Power Garden Hour 171: March To Do & Listener Q&A | 00:13:58 | |
It is the March To Do List, and we are still in the heart of winter with lots of cold and wet days. Not just cold and wet – we have had very low elevation snow throughout California…crazy. Spring looms though, and preparation is paramount.
It is time to plant: · Vegetables: Broccoli, beets, cabbage, cauliflower, chive, collards, swiss chard, kale, lettuce, potatoes, radish · Start tomato, eggplant, and (maybe) peppers inside · Annual flowers · Dahlias & summer bulbs (like gladiolas)
Chores include: · Prune roses · Check irrigation · Transplant actively growing plants · Cut back dying foliage of bulbs
We finish up with a Listener Q&A section. Topics covered include: · Can roses be trimmed in Dec/Jan before the budding starts? · Tomato questions: o When is the best time to start planting? o Is it better to start them in the ground or a container? o When I plant tomatoes, are there other vegetables (certain peppers?) that can be planted at the same time? · Is it too late to plant bulbs? Are there any particular varieties that can be planted in late Feb/March? · African violets that have not bloomed in a very long time – any recommendations about how to get them to bloom?
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at: · email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
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| 16 May 2021 | Flower Power Garden Hour 100: Common spring garden pests and diseases | 00:16:41 | |
Spring is a time of growth in the garden ... but that can also mean proliferation of pests and diseases. In this mini-episode, I address a few of the most common problems and how to counteract them... peach leaf curl, powdery mildew, aphids and more. To find Marlene on social media or ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
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| 30 Oct 2020 | Flower Power Garden Hour 78: Soil Amendments – how to figure out what to buy | 01:06:41 | |
Something that is always confusing is the massive number of soil amendment options found at nurseries. They have a multitude of similar names, and it is very hard to know which is appropriate for what you are doing. This episode is a deep dive on how to take the confusion out of the marketing language behind these products, and guide you what to look for. I categorize the amendments in these buckets:
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
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| 19 May 2020 | Flower Power Garden Hour 66: Pests…their damage & how to control | 00:47:37 | |
Visit our show sponsor – Wild Foods Co – at wildfoods.co. Wild Foods is a nutrition company with a strict mission on utilizing real foods sourced globally from small growers. They have a vast range of products – including my favorite Keto bars to a variety of mushroom extracts to extremely clean protein powders (including plant based options). Use code ADHD12 at checkout to get 12% off your entire order.
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
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| 11 Apr 2020 | Flower Power Garden Hour 63: Gardening for (and with) kids | 00:19:17 | |
Visit our show sponsor – Wild Foods Co – at wildfoods.co. Wild Foods is a nutrition company with a strict mission on utilizing real foods sourced globally from small growers. They have a vast range of products – including my favorite Keto bars to a variety of mushroom extracts to extremely clean protein powders (including plant based options). Use code ADHD12 at checkout to get 12% off your entire order.
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
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| 04 Oct 2023 | Flower Power Garden Hour 188: October To Do, Listener Q&A | 00:38:59 | |
It is the October To Do List, and that means it is a very busy time in the garden. Clean up from summer vegetables and prepping for fall and winter. The days are cooler, but shorter – which means you have to work efficiently and hard. Episode includes Listener Q&A, with topics listed below.
It is time to plant: · Fava beans · Beets · Bok choy · Carrots · Celery · Swiss chard · Collards · Garlic · Kale · Kohlrabi · Leeks · Lettuce · Onions · Peas · Radish · Spinach · Turnips · All perennials, bulbs
Chores include: · Clean up vegetable beds (prevent diseases), mess from fruit trees · Collect seeds · Divide plants such as grasses, iris · Compost
Listener Q&A section. Topics covered include: · What to do about aphid infestation on large trees · Lemon tree – producing fruit, but leaves are very pale · Succulents – fertilizer? · Best time of year to prune cherry tree · Tomato plants – to compost or not?
Help support feral cat rescue/spay-neuter/finding good homes by contributing at Flower Power Garden Hour Patreon.
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at: · email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
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| 13 Nov 2021 | Flower Power Garden Hour 125: Listener Q&A | 00:31:33 | |
Listener Q&A episode. Topics include:
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
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| 16 Feb 2018 | Flower Power Garden Hour 1: Gardening Q&A | 01:08:58 | |
Intro to podcast and Marlene the Plant Lady answers questions submitted by listeners. To ask questions for future shows, submit them at Flower Power Garden Hour Facebook page, The Plant Lady Facebook page, or Instagram | |||
| 27 Oct 2020 | Flower Power Garden Hour: Giant Pumpkins, with Brian Myers | 01:19:39 | |
Ever wonder how the heck a 2,000 pound pumpkin is grown? Even if you don’t want to grow a 2,000 pounder -- but one slightly smaller -- Brian Myers from California Pumpkin Growers goes through the steps to get you the Jack O’ Lantern of your dreams. Our conversation starts with the history of pumpkin weigh offs and the heaviest pumpkin ever recorded. We then go into growing techniques focusing in first on choosing the correct seed and seed genetics followed by very important growing techniques. Listen in to be prepared for next year’s Halloween season.
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
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| 16 Mar 2019 | Flower Power Garden Hour 36: Listener Q&A….Vegetable Focus | 01:17:12 | |
A listener questions episode this week focusing on vegetables:
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at Flower Power Garden Hour Facebook page, The Plant Lady Facebook page, or Instagram. You can also email Marlene questions, future show topic requests and feedback at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com | |||
| 11 Feb 2021 | Flower Power Garden Hour 90: February To Do List | 00:22:31 | |
This continues my series of what garden tasks should be on your to-do list for each month. Here I cover the cold and wet February. Tasks include:
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
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| 29 Dec 2019 | Flower Power Garden Hour 55: Listener Q&A | 00:51:05 | |
Marlene answers a variety of listener submitted questions this week. It’s a grab bag of topics this time, including:
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at Marlene The Plant Lady Facebook page, or Instagram. You can also email Marlene questions, future show topic requests and feedback at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com | |||
| 11 Apr 2021 | Flower Power Garden Hour 96: April To Do List | 00:31:43 | |
Spring is in full swing and there is a lot to do in the garden. I’ll address which veggies you can plant now and which ones you should hold off on for a bit longer. I’ll also discuss peach leaf curl, weeds, perennial planting and discuss my annoyance with finding a perfect weed eater. To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
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| 11 Dec 2021 | Flower Power Garden Hour 127: December To Do List | 00:16:39 | |
In this episode, I discuss December garden To-Do tasks. Winter is in full swing, and lots to do.
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
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| 11 Jan 2019 | Flower Power Garden Hour 32: Roses Deep-Dive, Part 1 | 00:55:34 | |
This is part 1 of 2 that comprises a comprehensive breakdown of anything and everything about roses, with a focus on bare-root. Here Marlene covers: Types of roses: Old English, ramblers, climbers, hybrid teas, grandifloras, floribundas, moss rose Purchasing: What to look for when buying bare-root roses Planting: Bare-root, actively growing roses, grafted versus non-grafted, soil, temperature range, drainage tolerance, sun requirements, when to plant, techniques of successful planting Pruning: When to prune depending on type and area, techniques, preventing disease transfer To ask questions for future shows, submit them at Flower Power Garden Hour Facebook page, The Plant Lady Facebook page, or Instagram. You can also email Marlene questions, future show topic requests and feedback at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com | |||
| 13 Apr 2018 | Flower Power Garden Hour 10: Eric Cendejas, Orchid Expert | 01:02:29 | |
Orchidelerium anybody? It was during the Victorian era that Orchidelerium took hold. Rich socialites & aristocrats hired their own plant hunters to gather and bring back as many different orchids as they could find. While poaching of rare orchids such as the Ghost Orchid still happens, the frenzy has died down. The ability to clone orchids from meristematic tissue has made these once hard to come by flowers as easy as grabbing one on the way out from the grocery store. In this episode Marlene & guest orchid exert Eric Cendejas touch upon the most commonly grown orchids & issues. What do you do once your Phalaenopsis stops blooming? How do I know when to divide my Cymbidiums? These questions along with pest, disease & fertilizing To ask questions for future shows, submit them at Flower Power Garden Hour Facebook page, The Plant Lady Facebook page, or Instagram
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| 17 May 2019 | Flower Power Garden Hour 39: Plant Cuttings | 00:54:57 | |
In this episode Marlene delves into making softwood cuttings in order to propagate clones of parent plants. Taking cuttings is a fast and reliable method of obtaining numerous plants from a small amount of source material. Marlene covers:
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at Flower Power Garden Hour Facebook page, The Plant Lady Facebook page, or Instagram. You can also email Marlene questions, future show topic requests and feedback at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com | |||
| 22 Nov 2018 | Flower Power Garden Hour 31: Listener Q&A….Cold Weather Prep | 01:01:12 | |
A listener questions episode this week featuring:
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at Flower Power Garden Hour Facebook page, The Plant Lady Facebook page, or Instagram. You can also email Marlene questions, future show topic requests and feedback at msimon@marlenesimon.net | |||
| 11 May 2018 | Flower Power Garden Hour 13: Spanish Peppers….a story of gardening tips and the history of this pepper in Gloria Lopez’s family | 00:55:09 | |
Gloria has been growing the same lineage of peppers since her family brought them over from southern Spain in 1920. Following her grandfather & father, Gloria has kept this strain alive and vibrant. Whereas most Spanish immigrant families stopped growing or lost track of the seed, Gloria has been able to keep the tradition alive. Each year she starts 1,000 of these sweet peppers in her small greenhouse & gives away most. Her list of people who want them grows each year. In her own garden, she plants hundreds of them & selects the perfect ones to dry & harvest the seed from, furnishing the seeds to grow from the following year – sustainable agriculture at its finest. This pepper represents the long history Spanish immigrants have with agriculture in the Winters area and in California Agriculture. To chronicle this history Gloria interviewed hundreds of immigrants & their families complying their unique stories into a book and documentary, An American Paella: Becoming American while Staying Spanish
You can find Gloria’s book and documentary at her website To ask questions for future shows, submit them at Flower Power Garden Hour Facebook page, The Plant Lady Facebook page, or Instagram | |||
| 15 Jan 2023 | Flower Power Garden Hour 169: January To Do & Listener Q&A | 00:41:22 | |
It is the January To Do List, and we are in the rainiest season out wet in a very long time. Temperatures have moderated a bit, however. Tough to get out in the garden with this much rain, but there are things that need to be done during the dry periods. It is time to plant:
Chores include:
We finish up with a Listener Q&A section. Topics covered include:
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
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| 22 Jan 2021 | Flower Power Garden Hour 87: Building healthy soil, with Melinda Cordell | 00:44:12 | |
Focus on your soil and your garden will thank you. I talk to ‘Stay Grounded: Soil Building for Sustainable Gardens’ author Melinda Cordell about the steps to a healthy soil. How exactly do earthworms help your soil? Can you really compost drywall and levi jeans? These are just some of the topics we touch upon.
To find Marlene on social media or ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
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| 20 Sep 2020 | Flower Power Garden Hour 74: Fungi, with Dr Gordon Walker | 01:08:48 | |
Fascinated by Fungus? Then you will love Dr. Gordon Walker… the “Fun-Guy” behind the popular Instagram feed “Fascinated by Fungi”. Gordon and I talk about the amazing world of fungi including stinkhorns, dog vomit fungus and the complexity of fungi in general. He also gives helpful tips on how to eradicate fungi in your yard and reasons why you just might not want to do so. Gordon can be found on Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and TikTok by searching @FascinatedbyFungi Website: Fascinatedbyfungi.com
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
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| 15 Mar 2025 | Flower Power Garden Hour 206: Purple tomato development with Norfolk Healthy Produce | 00:44:11 | |
A truly purple tomato - this is what Norfolk Healthy Produce has achieved. With beauty also comes big health benefits. Listen in as I talk to CEO Dr. Nathan Plumpton and head horticulturalist Ian Baker on what the process was to make this happen and how snapdragons are involved.
You can find Norfolk Healthy Produce at:
Help support feral cat rescue/spay-neuter/finding good homes by contributing at Flower Power Garden Hour Patreon. To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
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| 11 Oct 2018 | Succulents and Unique, Rare Plants | 01:15:15 | |
Brendan Wilce is a UCD graduate with a BA in Environmental Horticulture & Urban Forestry. He is a nursery industry veteran, currently working at El Dorado Nursery in Shingle Springs, CA. Brendan is a longtime friend and colleague, and has an amazing collection of succulents (Pachypodium, Stapeliads, Aloes, Agaves, dwarf Cactus), maples, oaks, woodland perennials, & rhododendron species. He is an amazing resource of knowledge in the above and has a relentless interest in anything rare, unique, or simply odd. Check out his collection & plant photos at theplanimal on Instagram. To ask questions for future shows, submit them at Flower Power Garden Hour Facebook page, The Plant Lady Facebook page, or Instagram. You can also email Marlene questions, future show topic requests and feedback at msimon@marlenesimon.net | |||
| 12 May 2022 | Flower Power Garden Hour 142: May To Do List | 00:16:09 | |
This episode is the garden To Do list for the month of May. It has been unseasonably cool, but nights are not getting TOO cold. Lot’s of planting and garden prep this month. Vegetables to plant:
Flowers to plant:
Garden tasks:
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
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| 01 Apr 2018 | Flower Power Garden Hour 8: Tomato Gardening Deep Dive | 01:05:00 | |
This episode is a deep dive into tomato planting – how to set your spring/summer vegetable garden up for success. The first half of the episode focuses on the tactical aspects…when to plant, what & where to plant (containers versus native soil), soil amendments (fertilizer & compost), pruning & training, and tomato varieties (ie heirloom, roma, cherry). The second half of the show turns attention to the most common tomato questions – diagnosis and treatment of diseases, pest infestation & environmentally controlled health problems. To ask questions for future shows, submit them at Flower Power Garden Hour Facebook page, The Plant Lady Facebook page, or Instagram Ask your question about: general gardening, specific tree care/health, specific flower/plant recommendations or issues, vegetable and fruits | |||
| 11 Sep 2021 | Flower Power Garden Hour 116: September To Do List | 00:20:30 | |
In this episode, I discuss September garden To-Do tasks. There is a big variety with a lot on the list, including:
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
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| 03 Aug 2023 | Flower Power Garden Hour 182: Replace your lawn with a cacti/succulent garden, with Gianluca Bacci | 01:02:13 | |
Want to replace your lawn with a cacti/succulent garden? Here’s how. My coworker and succulent grower extraordinaire, Gianluca Bacci, joins me to discuss succulent growing tips. We talk about major do’s and don’ts of succulent care plus why the saguaro cacti of Arizona are dying. Gianluca can be found at: · Instagram: marinsect_gianluca
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at: · email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
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| 06 Aug 2022 | Flower Power Garden Hour 151: August To Do & Listener Q&A | 00:48:14 | |
Lots of tasks during the hot summer season, including:
A wide variety of listener questions are addressed, including:
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
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| 08 Dec 2019 | Flower Power Garden Hour 53: Listener Q&A…grab bag | 00:48:57 | |
Marlene answers a variety of listener submitted questions this week -- grab bag of questions.
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at Marlene The Plant Lady Facebook page, or Instagram. You can also email Marlene questions, future show topic requests and feedback at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com | |||
| 22 Oct 2018 | Flower Power Garden Hour 27: Plant Communication and Defense, with Dr. Richard Karban | 00:38:02 | |
Dr. Richard Karban is a researcher at UC Davis, where he is an expert in the field of plant defenses and plant-insect interactions. His studies with sagebrush and how they “communicate” to decrease herbivore predation has been groundbreaking. Plant communication has been a hotly contested discussion for the better part of a decade. Although the general consensus in the scientific community now is that plant communication DOES occur, the mechanism(s) by which this happens is not well known or agreed upon. Watch Dr Karban’s TED-Ed talk on Plant Communication here Check out Wired Magazine’s article on Dr Karban here Find Dr Karban’s book Plant Sensing and Communication here To ask questions for future shows, submit them at Flower Power Garden Hour Facebook page, The Plant Lady Facebook page, or Instagram. You can also email Marlene questions, future show topic requests and feedback at msimon@marlenesimon.net | |||
| 04 May 2018 | Water Wise Gardening – Lawn Transformation and native drought tolerant plants with Taylor Lewis | 00:51:14 | |
Taylor Lewis, UC Davis Arboretum Teaching Nursery Manager, discusses water-wise, drought tolerant, California native gardening. Removing a lawn can be back-breaking…..Taylor shares his detailed methodology for transforming a lawn into a water-wise garden, with minimal intense physical labor. Taylor’s method makes lawn removal a much less daunting task. Additionally discussed is maintenance of soil after lawn transformation, low water usage irrigation types and technique, and ideal plants & flowers for water-wise gardening. Marlene loves Mediterranean gardening for this purpose. You can reach Taylor at tclewis@ucdavis.edu To ask questions for future shows, submit them at Flower Power Garden Hour Facebook page, The Plant Lady Facebook page, or Instagram Check out past all past episodes and contact Marlene at marlenesimon.net | |||
| 24 Mar 2021 | Flower Power Garden Hour 94: Jan Johnsen – Landscape Designer & Author | 01:14:52 | |
Award winning landscape designer Jan Johnsen has been creating magical landscapes for years. She has taken her vast knowledge/eye for design and has written an educational book entitled ‘Floratopia’. I talk to Jan about which flowers are fail-proof in containers, how to use texture/color and her years of designing all around the world. Check out her new book as well as others she has written -- ‘Floratopia’, ‘Gardentopia’, ‘The Spirit of Stone’, and ‘Heaven is a Garden’. She can be found on social media at the following places:
Website: Johnsenlandscapes.com Instagram: @johnsendesign Facebook: serenityinthegardenblog Facebook: heavenisagarden Jan’s newest book, ‘Floratopia’, can be found here. To find Marlene on social media or ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
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| 25 Sep 2022 | Flower Power Garden Hour 158: Joe Lamp’l -- aka “Joe Gardener” – Raised beds, from Why to How | 01:13:33 | |
Joe Lamp’l – from “Joe Gardener” fame – is America’s gardener. Given that his public television show Growing a Greener World is shown in 38 countries, Joe is more appropriately the WORLD’s gardener. He has an illustrious, long career spanning television, print, podcasting, and video content. Above all, Joe is an educator – his gardening passion is infectious, and his communication ability to make challenging concepts simple is a strength. He has taken this to the masses in his Online Gardening Academy, offering a growing (pun intended) curriculum of classes available to the public at affordable prices. In this episode, we cover a range of topics, but our focus is on raised beds – from the “why” to the “how”. Joe’s content can be found at:
Joe’s Online Gardening Academy (online classes) can be found at:
Joe’s social media can be found at:
To ask questions for future FPGH shows, submit them at:
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| 22 Apr 2021 | Flower Power Garden Hour 97: Permaculture, with Greg Peterson of The Urban Farm | 01:02:13 | |
Permaculture. It is a word that most gardeners have heard but what is it really? I talk to Greg Peterson, host of the very popular Urban Farm Podcast, who has been practicing permaculture for over 30 years. Whether you are growing vegetables or ornamentals, permaculture is a philosophy of gardening that encompasses the entire system of nature around you. Greg details the steps to implement permaculture best practices in your garden to create a much more balanced and healthier garden (ie less work for you!). Greg can be found at:
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
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| 27 Mar 2020 | Flower Power Garden Hour 62: Money Saving Gardening Hacks | 00:19:49 | |
Visit our show sponsor – Wild Foods Co – at wildfoods.co. Wild Foods is a nutrition company with a strict mission on utilizing real foods sourced globally from small growers. They have a vast range of products – including my favorite Keto bars to a variety of mushroom extracts to extremely clean protein powders (including plant based options). Use code ADHD12 at checkout to get 12% off your entire order.
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
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| 06 Jul 2018 | Flower Power Garden Hour 19: Begonias – properties and growing/propagating techniques | 00:53:58 | |
All things Begonia this week. Paul Tsamtsis (lifetime Begonia gardener & expert) & Mike Tentis (lifetime gardener with a more recent Begonia fetish) join Marlene to discuss one of her favorite undervalued flowers - Begonias. Both are active members of the Sacramento Begonia Society, a chapter of the American Begonia Society. The gamete of topics are discussed:
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at Flower Power Garden Hour Facebook page, The Plant Lady Facebook page, or Instagram. You can also email Marlene questions, future show topic requests and feedback at msimon@marlenesimon.net | |||
| 11 Mar 2023 | Flower Power Garden Hour 172: Don Shor of Redwood Barn Nursery, Fruit Tree Troubleshooting | 00:55:13 | |
Peach leaf curl, fire blight, citrus issues, and more. Don Shor, owner of Redwood Barn Nursery and horticulturist extraordinaire, joins me to discuss issues that may arise on your fruit trees this spring and summer. Don and Redwood Barn Nursery can be found at:
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at: · email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
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| 10 Jul 2019 | Flower Power Garden Hour 43: Dr. Matt Amicucci – not all carbs are created equal | 00:51:43 | |
Growing a cover crop is a great way to incorporate nitrogen into the soil, but what exactly does this mean? What are the best plants for it and what are the steps to getting the most out of the cover crop. I sit down with Dr. Matt Amicucci, owner of Calyxo Biosystems, and discuss nitrogen fixation. We then veer into his involvement in the research and discovery of a native Oaxacan corn that makes enough nitrogen that the local farmers have never fertilized their soil! We then go into more detail into Matt’s PhD work…. how not all carbs are created equal. Matt’s research took over 1,000 fruit and vegetables and broke down every carb and sugar to map out what exactly we eat and how it affects our health. A fascinating discussion about our preconceived notions regarding certain foods, gut biome and potential applications of the research. Matt can be found at @farmforageferment on Instagram To ask questions for future shows, submit them at Flower Power Garden Hour Facebook page, The Plant Lady Facebook page, or Instagram. You can also email Marlene questions, future show topic requests and feedback at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com | |||
| 30 Aug 2020 | Flower Power Garden Hour 73: Listener Q&A | 00:45:05 | |
Listener Q&A episode -- Marlene answers listener submitted questions this week. Topics include:
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
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| 16 Feb 2018 | Flower Power Garden Hour 2: Barry Rice | 00:54:50 | |
Barry Rice is an astrobiologist, carnivorous plant and succulent researcher, 4th degree Kempo karate black belt and self-proclaimed agnostic Trekkie/Trekker. He is an astronomy professor at Sierra College, and is world renown for his work with Carnivorous plants. Barry can be found at sarracenia.com and his YouTube pages. | |||
| 28 Jul 2019 | Flower Power Garden Hour 44: Cacao, with Cru Chocolate | 01:11:18 | |
How did two engineers become chocolate makers? As we discuss the process of making chocolate with Karla McNeil and Eddie Houston, owners of Cru Chocolate, it becomes clear that chocolate making is not only an art but part chemistry and engineering. This episode covers the history of cacao, its importance in many South American cultures and the steps to make beans to bar. Additionally, we dive into the challenges of being a company with a culture focused on sustainability and ensuring the success of their South American partners. Cru Chocolate can be found at: www.cruchocolate.com. Locations to purchase and partners can be found here.
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at Flower Power Garden Hour Facebook page, The Plant Lady Facebook page, or Instagram. You can also email Marlene questions, future show topic requests and feedback at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com | |||
| 28 Aug 2021 | Flower Power Garden Hour 114: Treating and preventing weeds | 00:45:29 | |
A plant out of place… this is a universal definition of a weed. Weeds are many gardeners' biggest nemesis. If left unchecked they can cause numerous issues in a garden. I breakdown how weeds get to your garden, how to control them and the single most important task to prevent an inundation. | |||
| 27 Oct 2024 | FPGH 202: Elaine Fitzgerald, Be Water Smart #summerstrong competition | 00:40:39 | |
Elaine Fitzgerald is one of the winners of the Be Water Smart #summerstrong competition. Winners of the competition transformed their once water loving lawns/gardens into yards that are water efficient as well as beautiful. Listen in to hear how Elaine went from grass to a pollinator heaven. Help support feral cat rescue/spay-neuter/finding good homes by contributing at Flower Power Garden Hour Patreon.
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
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| 16 Jun 2019 | Flower Power Garden Hour 41: Listener Q&A…Summer Vegetable Gardening | 00:51:04 | |
An episode dedicated to answering questions submitted by listeners. Topics this week include:
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at Flower Power Garden Hour Facebook page, The Plant Lady Facebook page, or Instagram. You can also email Marlene questions, future show topic requests and feedback at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com | |||
| 12 Nov 2022 | Flower Power Garden Hour 163: Bulbs, with Peggy Anne Montgomery | 01:11:12 | |
Every gardener – no matter how long you have been gardening – gets excited for the first shoots of spring emerging bulbs. Bulbs are incredibly easy to grow, and for many they naturalize and multiply year after year, creating a no-fuss flower show. I talk to bulb expert Peggy Anne Montgomery about growing bulbs and how to incorporate them into your lawn…..yes, your lawn. She has tips on how to dig holes, what to incorporate when planting, how to implement the lasagna method, and which bulbs rodents will avoid. Peggy Anne and additional information about bulbs can be found at:
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
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| 21 Oct 2023 | Flower Power Garden Hour 189: Trees, with Arborist Pamela Sanchez of the Sacramento Tree Foundation | 01:03:08 | |
Trees -- we all know how important they are. But what are the best trees for zone 9? How exactly do you properly plant, stake and water a new tree? Pamela Sanchez -- Certified Arborist and Education Programs Manager for the Sacramento Tree Foundation -- joins me to discuss these topics and more.
Pamela and the Sacramento Tree can be found at: · Website: sactree.org · Instagram: @sactree · Facebook: @Sacramento Tree Foundation
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at: · email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
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| 16 Jan 2022 | Flower Power Garden Hour 131: Listener Q&A | 00:34:13 | |
A wide range of topics addressing questions submitted by listeners. Including:
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
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| 20 Nov 2022 | Flower Power Garden Hour 164: Compost, with Kevin Marini | 01:20:45 | |
Compost…this is music to most gardener’s ears. FREE compost is even better. Many people think that expensive compost makers, tons of space, and ample time is required – this is NOT the case. In this episode I welcome back master composter Kevin Marini to discuss everything compost. Do you know the difference between hot and cold compost, the optimal size and temperature of a pile, and what unusual items can be placed in your compost? Trust me…..Kevin has heard it all through his composting Rot Line!
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| 23 Dec 2019 | Flower Power Garden Hour 54: Hoyas, with Jonathan Robbins of Flori-Culture | 01:08:25 | |
Hoyas produce some of the most beautiful flowers, and the fact they can do so as a houseplant is a win-win. I sit down with the owner of Flori-Culture nursery, Jonathan Robbins, and we discuss the care and cultivation of Hoyas and other not-as-common houseplants. Included in this are the epiphytic cacti Rhipsalis, Dischidias and even the much sought after Selenicereus wittii. Learn Jonathan’s propagation tips, soil recommendations and watering techniques. Jonathan can be found at: Wesbite: Flori-Culture.com Instagram: flori.culture.orchid.supplies Facebook: Click here Email: sales@flori-culture.com
If you live in or are visiting Northern California, be sure to visit Flori-Culture nursery at: 7621 Fair Oaks Blvd Carmichael, CA 95608 | |||
| 27 May 2018 | Flower Power Garden Hour 15: Horticulture Fake News -- Gardening Myths Debunked | 00:57:24 | |
We all know of common gardening hints and tips. Sometimes these are passed on through family generations, and sometimes they seem to pop up in the social media world. Some are based in solid principles, and some are based in logic that belongs deep in the sewer. This episode covers some of the more popular “garden myths” and whether they have any merit or are the fake news of the horticulture world. Lots of focus on vegetable and fruits. To ask questions for future shows, submit them at Flower Power Garden Hour Facebook page, The Plant Lady Facebook page, or Instagram. You can also email Marlene questions, future show topic requests and feedback at msimon@marlenesimon.net | |||
| 04 Dec 2022 | Flower Power Garden Hour 165: San Francisco Conservatory of Flowers, with Kristen Natoli & Sarah Sawtelle | 00:55:17 | |
What is it like to work in the oldest greenhouse conservatory in the US? I talk to the San Francisco Conservatory of Flowers Kristen Natoli (Collections Manager) and Sarah Sawtelle (Engagement Manager) about the ins and outs of this historic collection and building. With such an amazing collection of plants – where do they source them from? How do they decide what is kept and what to get rid of? And of course, we talk about the Giant water lilies, corpse plant and bat flower. The SF Conservatory of Flowers can be found at:
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
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| 10 Jul 2021 | Flower Power Garden Hour 108: July To Do List | 00:27:42 | |
Summer is in full swing, and oppressive heat is dominating the western US. Even with that, believe it or not this is the time of year I start thinking about my plan for winter vegetables. In this episode, I discuss this as well as all other July garden to-do tasks including…vegetables to plant, summer fruit tree pruning, pruning hydrangeas, and lavender and blueberry care.
To find Marlene on social media or ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
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| 03 Apr 2021 | Flower Power Garden Hour 95: Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens | 01:06:55 | |
Located along the bluffs of Mendocino is a botanical gem…the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens. I speak to horticulturalists Jim and Jaime about a few of the stand-out plants the garden is known for -- Rhododendrons and Camellias. Jaime discusses the history of the gardens and the overall growing techniques of the plants. Former Rhododendron nursery owner Jim shares his years of growing expertise propagating and growing Rhododendrons. The Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens can be found on social media at: Instagram: @mendocinocoastbotanicalgardens Facebook: Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens Website: gardenbythesea.org
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
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| 02 Jun 2020 | Flower Power Garden Hour 67: Listener Q&A | 00:39:29 | |
Visit our show sponsor – Wild Foods Co – at wildfoods.co. Wild Foods is a nutrition company with a strict mission on utilizing real foods sourced globally from small growers. They have a vast range of products – including my favorite Keto bars to a variety of mushroom extracts to extremely clean protein powders (including plant based options). Use code ADHD12 at checkout to get 12% off your entire order.
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
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| 09 Oct 2021 | Flower Power Garden Hour 120: October To Do List | 00:22:50 | |
In this episode, I discuss October garden To-Do tasks. There is a big variety with a lot on the list, including:
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
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| 06 Feb 2022 | Flower Power Garden Hour 133: February To Do List | 00:10:52 | |
This episode is the garden To Do list for the month of February – actually quite a busy month.
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
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| 10 Dec 2020 | Flower Power Garden Hour 83: December To Do List | 00:33:17 | |
This continues my series of what garden tasks should be on your to-do list for each month. Here I cover the cold and blustery month of December.
To find Marlene on social media or ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
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| 21 Feb 2018 | Flower Power Garden Hour 3: Gardening Q&A | 00:48:05 | |
Q&A with listener submitted questions. Topics include:
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at Flower Power Garden Hour Facebook page, The Plant Lady Facebook page, or Instagram Ask your question about: general gardening, specific tree care/health, specific flower/plant recommendations or issues, vegetable and fruits | |||
| 20 Feb 2024 | Flower Power Garden Hour 194: Aroids, with Bruce Ritter | 01:10:42 | |
Dieffenbachia, ‘pothos’, Monstera… a great majority of houseplants are in the Araceae family which most people shorten to just say Aroids. I discuss this broad family with UC Davis Botanical Conservatory volunteer extraordinaire Bruce Ritter. He has revamped our collection and he shares all his tips and tricks with us. Help support feral cat rescue/spay-neuter/finding good homes by contributing at Flower Power Garden Hour Patreon. To ask questions for future shows, submit them at: · email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
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| 18 Aug 2022 | Flower Power Garden Hour 154: Pollination, with Tora Rocha of Pollinator Posse | 01:30:57 | |
Over 80% of plants need pollinators to reproduce -- this includes a majority of crops humans eat. To say that pollinators are important is an understatement. The founder and CEO of the non-profit Pollinator Posse, Tora Rocha, joins me to discuss what we can do on our part. She gives tips on how to create a pollinator friendly garden, plants that are both food and host plants, and how to create a Monarch habitat. We learn how many native California bee species there are…. it’s a lot. Tora can be found at:
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
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| 05 Jan 2020 | Flower Power Garden Hour 56: Bonsai, with Jimmy Jet Black of Snail Trail 4x4 | 01:48:39 | |
What do you do when you inherit several decades-old bonsai? For my guest it was easy… become a bonsai grower yourself. Now over 10 years in, those inherited bonsai (some as old as 50) are thriving…in addition to many more Jimmy Jet Black has added. In this episode I talk to Jimmy about the fundamentals of bonsai and what his tips and tricks are including:
Jimmy Jet can be found at: To ask questions for future shows, submit them at Marlene The Plant Lady Facebook page, or Instagram. You can also email Marlene questions, future show topic requests and feedback at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com | |||
| 21 Nov 2020 | Flower Power Garden Hour 81: Listener Q&A...cold season prep | 00:49:16 | |
Listener Q&A episode -- Marlene answers listener submitted questions this week. Topics include:
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
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| 02 Apr 2023 | Flower Power Garden Hour 173: Glenn Dickerson, Begonia Collection Curator at Fort Worth Botanic Garden | 01:50:33 | |
Begonias are like potato chips, you can’t stop at one. In this episode I’m talking with Glenn Dickerson, Begonia collections curator at the Fort Worth Botanic Garden, about all his tips and tricks to keep their massive collection healthy and thriving. We discuss soil, fertilizer, types of Begonias, problematic Rex varieties and more. Glenn and some fantastic begonia resources can be found below:
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
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| 09 Mar 2024 | Flower Power Garden Hour 195: Montana gardening, with Theri Vasina L’Hirondelle | 00:48:25 | |
If I was picked up and dropped into a gardening zone relatively different than mine, it would be a huge steep learning curve. I love talking to gardeners from zones different than my zone 9b and it doesn’t get much different than zone 3. I have a fun and educational chat with Theri Vasina LHirondelle who grows amazing flowers and veggies in Montana.
Theri can be found on Instagram at @backyard.impressions
Help support feral cat rescue/spay-neuter/finding good homes by contributing at Flower Power Garden Hour Patreon. To ask questions for future shows, submit them at: · email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
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| 23 Apr 2019 | Flower Power Garden Hour 38: Listener Q&A | 00:44:10 | |
Marlene answers a variety of listener submitted questions this week. It’s a grab bag of topics this time, including:
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at Flower Power Garden Hour Facebook page, The Plant Lady Facebook page, or Instagram. You can also email Marlene questions, future show topic requests and feedback at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com | |||
| 29 Oct 2022 | Flower Power Garden Hour 161: Birds, with Tammy Poppie | 01:03:49 | |
Watching birds go about their lives in your garden is one of the many benefits of gardening. Besides the joy of watching them, they are also busy eating pests and helping to keep a balanced ecosystem. I talk to bird expert Tammy Poppie about ways to create a healthy, safe and inviting environment for birds. Tammy and additional information about birding and their interaction with plants can be found at: To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
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| 09 Jul 2022 | Flower Power Garden Hour 148: Trees, with arborist John Lichter | 01:15:23 | |
We all know the importance of trees… oxygen, shade, habitat, food, beauty and more. And we all know they can live centuries beyond us. But they can also have difficulties growing in urban settings. I talk to consulting arborist, John Lichter, on what you can do to ensure that your trees are healthy and vibrant in your lifetime as well as for future generations. We discuss how to properly water both young and established trees, what to look out for in diseased trees and where you can find the best tree selection for your yard. John can be found at: Website: treeassociates.net
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
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| 22 Aug 2020 | Flower Power Garden Hour 72: Tara Beaver-Coronado of Beaver Vineyards | 01:11:57 | |
Tara Beaver-Coronado grew up on a farm -- but never thought she would become a farmer. After years of living away, the pull of the soil soon took over and she began Beaver Vineyards. I sit down with Tara to discuss her journey on starting her farm, trials and tribulations, the stresses and the anticipation of her very first harvest. Little did I know when we were talking that she was scheduled for heart surgery the following week. This just demonstrates the true grit of the American farmer.
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
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| 14 Feb 2019 | Flower Power Garden Hour 34: Tomato Expert, Brad Gates | 01:12:09 | |
A highly anticipated episode, featuring world renown tomato expert, Brad Gates. Based in Napa Valley, Brad owns Wild Boar Farms where he fastidiously spends years creating new varieties of exotic tomatoes, optimized to be “stunning looking tomato varieties with extreme flavor.” To bring a new variety to market, it takes Brad on average 6-7 years of breeding for the desired traits and selecting the strongest plants each season to begin the following generation. Using fully organic and sustainable farming techniques, Wild Boar is 100% not GMO. Landscape/construction by trade, plant geneticist by proxy – Brad is known for his spectacular tomatoes such as Brad’s Atomic Grape, Black Beauty, Dark Galaxy and Blue Gold. Over 60 varieties of Brad’s tomato seeds can be purchased at Wild Boar Farms, and plants can be purchased seasonally at select Northern CA nurseries (see website for detail) Brad can be found on Instagram @wildboarfarms and Facebook To ask questions for future shows, submit them at Flower Power Garden Hour Facebook page, The Plant Lady Facebook page, or Instagram. You can also email Marlene questions, future show topic requests and feedback at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com | |||
| 31 Oct 2021 | Flower Power Garden Hour 123: Growing Succulents, with Gianluca Bacci, Part 2 | 00:47:02 | |
Want to grow your succulents to perfection? Want to venture into growing more difficult ones? Or how about just not wanting to kill them? Then this episode is for you. Gianluca Bacci -- expert succulent grower -- joins me to discuss soils, watering, Lithops, Welwitschia and more. Gianluca can be followed at: Instagram: @marinsect_gianluca To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
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| 23 Aug 2022 | Flower Power Garden Hour 155: Fire-wise landscaping, with Master Gardener education specialist, Kevin Marini | 01:00:56 | |
Sadly fire is becoming a way of life in California and the greater west. It’s important to maintain a healthy landscape for wildlife habitat, but there are key tasks homeowners can do to mitigate fire danger. I talk to Master Gardener education specialist, Kevin Marini, all about fire-wise landscaping. Learn about the different zones around your house and how to plant and maintain them. Learn what planting in islands means and the “safest” mulch for your plants. Further fire-wise landscape information can be found at:
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
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| 06 May 2021 | Flower Power Garden Hour 99: May To Do List | 00:25:27 | |
Spring is in full swing. In Zone 9 all summer veggies can be planted, perennials should go in the ground before the heat comes and summer bulbs should be planted. I discuss these as well as all other May garden to-do tasks To find Marlene on social media or ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
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| 28 Oct 2018 | Flower Power Garden Hour 28: Winchester Mystery House, with Delmar Duldulao | 00:59:59 | |
Delmar Duldulao was the Head Gardener at the Winchester Mystery House in San Jose, CA for over 20 years. The Winchester House is an 161 room estate in the heart of Silicon Valley, originally built by Sarah Winchester in the early 1900’s. Originally on 160 acres of fruit orchards, the house still sits on 4.5 acres, with 2 being manicured gardens. The Winchester House is where I had my first job and introduction into gardening, where I worked with Delmar as Assistant Gardener in my late teenage years. Delmar was the perfect teacher – a genius at mixing science & art applied to the incredible variety of plants we worked with. Here we discuss the unique plants, challenges & history of the gardens at the Winchester House. Delmar owns The Garden Samurai, a landscaping companying in Silicon Valley. To ask questions for future shows, submit them at Flower Power Garden Hour Facebook page, The Plant Lady Facebook page, or Instagram. You can also email Marlene questions, future show topic requests and feedback at msimon@marlenesimon.net | |||
| 27 Jan 2022 | Flower Power Garden Hour 132: Biochar, with Dr. Deborah Page-Dumroese | 00:57:44 | |
Biochar. You may have heard of it or it may be a new term for some of you. I was doubtful of its claims until I had the pleasure of listening to USDA Senior Soil Scientist Dr. Deborah Page-Dumroese present a talk. She was kind enough to join me on this episode and discuss everything biochar. She discusses her years long research on the use of it for improving forest and farm soils. She then dives into its value and use in home gardens and how you can make your own biochar. Debbie and her work can be found at: https://www.fs.fed.us/rmrs/people/ddumroese
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
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| 28 Feb 2021 | Flower Power Garden Hour 92: Byron Martin of Logee’s | 01:15:55 | |
Houseplants are very “in” right now and Logee’s knows houseplants. They have been around since the first houseplant craze of the Victorian Era! But in addition to houseplants, they have a marvelous diverse selection of all sorts of plants…edibles, ornamentals and unique varieties of all kinds. I talk to third generation owner Byron Martin about the history of Logee’s and of course all the plants they propagate and sell. Byron and Logee’s can be found at: Instagram: @logeesplants Website: logees.com Facebook: logeestropicalplants Twitter: @logees YouTube: logeesplants
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
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| 01 Mar 2025 | Flower Power Garden Hour 204: March To Do List | 00:24:28 | |
It’s spring! LOTS of prep to do for the upcoming season. Time to sow seeds and prep beds for planting.
It is time to plant:
Chores include:
Help support feral cat rescue/spay-neuter/finding good homes by contributing at Flower Power Garden Hour Patreon. To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
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| 11 Sep 2023 | Flower Power Garden Hour 186: Firesafe and water wise gardening, with Soleil Tranquilli of Tranquill Gardens | 01:10:31 | |
As a plant person with minimal design skills, I’m in awe of people with both skill sets. In this episode I talk to Soleil Tranquilli about how she combines her artistic design ability with her wealth of plant knowledge to create firesafe, water wise and tranquil gardens. She is the owner of Tranquill Gardens as well as being a Certified watershed Wise Landscape Pro and the president of the Sacramento Association of Professional Landscape Designers. Soleil and Tranquill Gardens can be found at: · Website: Tranquill Gardens · Website: Association of Professional Landscape Designers · Facebook: Tranquill Gardens
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at: · email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
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| 14 Jul 2018 | Flower Power Garden Hour 20: Listener Q&A….Potpourri | 00:51:46 | |
A listener questions episode this week featuring:
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at Flower Power Garden Hour Facebook page, The Plant Lady Facebook page, or Instagram. You can also email Marlene questions, future show topic requests and feedback at msimon@marlenesimon.net
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| 12 Aug 2018 | Flower Power Garden Hour 22: Listener Q&A….Fruit Focus | 00:58:56 | |
A listener Q&A episode this week featuring:
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at Flower Power Garden Hour Facebook page, The Plant Lady Facebook page, or Instagram. You can also email Marlene questions, future show topic requests and feedback at msimon@marlenesimon.net | |||
| 23 Jan 2019 | Flower Power Garden Hour 33: Bees – How to start and maintain a colony | 01:53:12 | |
This is a much requested and anticipated episode with a deep dive on bees. Bee expert Dave Watson joins the show to share best practices for successfully raising bees. Dave provides a step by step process on how to set up your hive (including terminology/equipment), proper maintenance, location considerations, how to smoke bees, how to split colonies, pest/disease control, and much more (including hive social dynamics). Dave is a fantastic teacher – this show serves as the How-To guide for those looking to get into beekeeping or seasoned beekeepers looking to expand their existing knowledge. As part of his business, Dave helps people by removing bee swarms. This unique phenomena is discussed near the end of the podcast, with Dave sharing some of his best stories. Check out Dave’s Facebook @ DRWatsonapiaries Dave sells his NorCal Gold Country honey at The Golden Gecko, where he also teaches beekeeping classes Other valuable resources are the Sacramento Area Beekeepers Association and their Facebook page (here) To ask questions for future shows, submit them at Flower Power Garden Hour Facebook page, The Plant Lady Facebook page, or Instagram. You can also email Marlene questions, future show topic requests and feedback at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com | |||
| 02 Sep 2023 | Flower Power Garden Hour 185: September To Do, Listener Q&A, Horticulture News | 00:43:54 | |
It is the September To Do List – believe it or not, we are in full Fall prep time. Lots of cool weather vegetables to start planting, and tons of clean up and pruning. Summer may have been easy in the garden, but it’s time to get the gloves on and get to work. Episode includes Listener Q&A and a discussion around current published articles in the horticulture world.
It is time to plant:
Chores include:
Listener Q&A section. Topics covered include:
Help support feral cat rescue/spay-neuter/finding good homes by contributing at Flower Power Garden Hour Patreon. To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
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| 11 Nov 2020 | Flower Power Garden Hour 80: Farouche Peppers | 01:24:18 | |
Eight foot tall peppers? Yep -- this is how Jeremy from Farouche Peppers grows his amazingly beautiful peppers. Not only does he breed gorgeous, tasty peppers -- but he knows how to grow for production. Learn how his sustainable, organic approach arose from his need to feed the soil on a budget. I talk to Jeremy about what it takes to breed peppers, what his ultimate pepper goal is and what his tips are for growing for a large bounty. Definitely follow Jeremy’s Instagram for incredible peppers images – out of this world! And you can buy these unequaled, unique peppers on his Etsy page. With names like these, you can't go wrong: Castrophany, Peach Scorpion, 7 Pot Panther, Pockmark Peach, Ghost hybrids, Sugar Rush, Dark Olive Nagabrain, Pink Tiger, Pink Submarine, Carolina Reaper, Ghor-Pion habanero, Chihuacle Negro, 7 Pot Ghost, Peach Gum Tiger, Yellow Submarine, BubbleGum Nagabrain, Purple Tiger.... Instagram: farouchepeppers Etsy: Farouche
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
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| 24 Dec 2022 | Flower Power Garden Hour 167: Christmas Plants Wrap Up | 00:53:40 | |
| 04 Mar 2022 | Flower Power Garden Hour 136: From Seed to Spoon gardening app & Park Seed, with Dale and Carrie Spoonemore and Kelly Funk | 00:55:10 | |
Wanting to ensure their children were eating safe, healthy vegetables, Dale and Carrie Spoonemore began to garden back in 2015. Frustrated with having to pick through the internet’s web of information, Dale had an idea to create a one stop garden app… From Seed to Spoon. Fast forward to 2022 and Park Seed, a company that has been on the pulse of gardening since 1868, knew they could take this app to the next level. I speak to Dale, Carrie and Park Seed President and CEO Kelly Funk about the app, how it can help new and experienced gardeners. From Seed to Spoon:
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| 19 Jun 2023 | Flower Power Garden Hour 178: June To Do & Listener Q&A | 00:43:09 | |
It is the June To Do List, and here in Zone 9 it seems that summer has arrived. Hot weather is becoming the daily norm, and everything is quickly drying up from a very wet winter. At this point in the garden a lot of the hard prep work has been done and we now begin summer maintenance mode.
It is time to plant:
Chores include:
We finish up with a Listener Q&A section. Topics covered include:
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
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| 02 Nov 2022 | Flower Power Garden Hour 162: November To Do & Listener Q&A | 00:43:57 | |
It is the November To Do List, and we are in the throes of winter garden prep. Weather is starting to cool rapidly, and (hopefully) out west we start seeing moisture soon. It is time to plant:
Chores include:
We finish up with a Listener Q&A section. Topics covered include:
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
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| 30 Jun 2021 | Flower Power Garden Hour 107: Listener Q&A | 00:52:05 | |
Grab bag listener Q&A episode – vegetables, flowers, trees, pests….
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
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| 06 Aug 2020 | Flower Power Garden Hour 71: Listener Q&A…potpourri | 00:40:20 | |
Listener Q&A episode -- Marlene answers listener submitted questions this week. Topics include:
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
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| 02 Oct 2019 | Flower Power Garden Hour 49: Terrariums | 01:26:04 | |
Terrariums are a great way to grow a landscape on a miniature scale. I sit down with expert terrarium builders Kyle Shankle and Eric Cendejas to discuss building a terrarium from container up. Learn what soil is best, water-proofing techniques, drainage, how to build features, which lighting system to choose and of course all the plants that will reward you with your own mini-jungle. Eric can be found @aroiddaddy on Instagram To ask questions for future shows, submit them at Marlene The Plant Lady Facebook page, or Instagram. You can also email Marlene questions, future show topic requests and feedback at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com
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| 25 Aug 2022 | Flower Power Garden Hour 156: Tomatoes, with Brad Gates of Wild Boar Farms | 00:56:31 | |
Brad Gates, owner of Wild Boar Farms, joins me again to discuss problems gardeners may be encountering with their tomatoes. We also discuss the process that goes into him finding the next new variety… some are by chance, others are by purposeful breeding. Plus, he let’s us in on the new varieties to be released in the near future. Brad and Wild Boar Farms can be found at:
To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:
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| 01 Dec 2019 | Flower Power Garden Hour 52: Plant Defenses | 01:39:47 | |
Poisons, spines and secondary metabolites….plants have numerous ways of ensuring they are protected and dispersed. I sit down with botanist Jonathon Holguin and we discuss some of our favorite ways plants protect/disperse themselves. Why does Stevia taste sweet, what are the compounds in stinging nettle and what happens when you get Euphorbia sap in your eye? Some of these defenses we encounter often while hiking, and others we hope to never experience -- such as Giant cow parsnip or Monkshood poisoning. Others are essential in our everyday life… such as coffee and chocolate. To ask questions for future shows, submit them at Marlene The Plant Lady Facebook page, or Instagram. You can also email Marlene questions, future show topic requests and feedback at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com | |||