Flower Power Garden Hour

To smell and see a Titan Arum in bloom is pretty spectacular, but what really fascinates me is the evolution and incredible diversity within the entire Amorphophallus genus. In this episode, I'm joined by Amorphophallus expert and plant explorer Derek Carwood, who shares his deep knowledge and stories from the field. We dive into the strange beauty, unique adaptations, and surprising variety of these remarkable plants -- perfect for anyone who loves the truly unusual side of the plant world. 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:        Facebook        Instagram        email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com   Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

Not sure if it's time to plant tomatoes or if you can squeeze in another round of broccoli? Bruce and I will break down what garden tasks could and should be done in March. Plus we answer your questions. What exactly are those bumps on trees?! Hmmmm. 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:        Facebook        Instagram        email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com   Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

Looking to add a fragrant touch to your bedroom window or entry way? Bruce and Marlene each give their top 10 favorite fragrant plants. Will yours be on the list?  And we also reveal our most obnoxious smelling plants.   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:        Facebook        Instagram        email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com   Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

There are many benefits for starting plants from seeds. But what are the best techniques for success. Bruce and Marlene go into detail on the basics and discuss more advanced seed starting requirements.  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:        Facebook        Instagram        email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com   Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

Believe it or not, spring is around the corner.  It has been very dry in NorCal so far – sometimes we get Spring rain, so still TBD.  LOTS of prep to do for the upcoming season. It is time to plant:        Broccoli        Cabbage        Carrots        Cauliflower        Collards, swiss chard        Kale        Leeks        Loose leaf lettuce        Peas        Potatoes….late in the month   Chores include:        Sow tomatoes inside        Start flowers (sunflowers, strawflower, zinnias, etc)        Direct sow sweet peas        Plant bare-root (roses, fruit trees, asparagus, strawberries, rhubarb, berries)        Spray fruit trees        Fertilize        Compost        Clean up, cut back        Prune roses, fruit trees   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:        Facebook        Instagram        email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com Find M

Kill every houseplant you try to grow? Not anymore. Bruce and I share our top 10 easiest houseplants that are guaranteed to thrive in your home… even if you are convinced you have a brown thumb.   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:        Facebook        Instagram        email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com   Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

Welwitschia mirabilis is one of the most unique plant species and on this episode we dive into everything about it. Succulent extraordinaire, Gianluca Bacci of rareplantcatalog.com, joins me in discussing its care, morphology, propagation and more.  Gianluca can be found at:        Retail website:  rareplantcatalog.com        Retail Nursery:  Boojums, 1505 Echo Park Ave, Los Angeles        Instagram:  @rareplantcatalog, @boojumstudygroup   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:        Facebook        Instagram        email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

It is the January To Do List – lots of fog in the California Central Valley recently, so a good amount of moisture even without significant rain.  Temperatures have been on the lower side, but no major freezes.  Even though it's the heart of winter, there are things that need to be done during the dry periods.   It is time to plant: Asparagus plants Bareroot trees, roses, shrubs Radishes Lettuce Kohlrabi Peas Onions Bok choy Fava beans  Chores include: Protect from frost.  Watch weather report for potential frost days Don't work wet soils --- very important Spray for peach leaf curl and other fungal diseases Can prune fruit trees – but listen to the caveats in the episode   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:        Facebook        Instagram        email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com   Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram a

Tired of getting a holiday plant just to have it die on you. Don't worry, Bruce and Marlene, share tips on how to prevent your plants from ending up in the compost bin after the New Year. Topics covered: getting Christmas cactus to bloom, the truth about paperwhites coming back, soil suggestions and more.   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:        Facebook        Instagram        email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com   Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

It is the December To Do List, and we are in the middle of winter garden season.  Weather is moderately cold, foggy, and so far it has been pretty dry.  We finish up with a Listener Q&A.   It is time to plant: Asparagus Fava beans Bok choy Broccoli rabe Garlic Kale Loose leaf lettuce Mustard Onion sets Radish   Do not plant yet: Bareroot trees Roses Berries   Chores include: Protect succulents from water Frost protection Clean up – but leave some debris remaining Spray dormant trees (peach leaf curl) Plant bulbs   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:        Facebook        Instagram        email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com   Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

Fall is a great time to plant California natives. Brendan Wilce of the California Native Plant Society joins me to give his 10 top favorite natives. This episode is sponsored by BeWaterSmart. The Brendan and the California Native Plant Society can be found at:        Website: calscape.org        Instagram:  @theplanimal 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:        Facebook        Instagram        email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

Want to take over that neglected school garden but need some inspiration? Listen to Shelley and Christy of @betweentwoshrubs discuss their story of creating a successful school garden program. Plus -- we talk about their new YouTube channel, which is exploring local gardens, talking to the gardeners, and all things garden-adjacent.  Very fun and informative, with frequent new content.  This episode is sponsored by BeWaterSmart. Between Two Shrubs can be found at:        YouTube: @BetweenTwoShrubs        Instagram:  @betweentwoshrubs

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.   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:        Facebook        Instagram        email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

Fall is a great time to plant a shade tree and our guest, Kayden Rsenbauer, certified arborist with the Sacramento Tree Foundation has all the info you need. Bruce and I talk to him about proper planting techniques, watering for young and established trees and we go over his list of favorite shade trees. This episode is sponsored by BeWaterSmart. Sacramento Tree Foundation can be found at: Website:  sactree.org Facebook:  @Sacramento Tree Foundation Instagram:  @sactree YouTube: @SacTree   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:        Facebook        Instagram        email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

Truly one of the bizarre looking and growing plants out there. Bruce and Marlene discuss everything related to the Genus Platycerium. How to propagate from spores and divisions, what species grow the best in zone 9, unusual species and more.   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:        Facebook        Instagram        email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

Planting, tasks and to do’s that should take place in September for a beautiful fall garden.   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:        Facebook        Instagram        email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

Want to feel like you are in the tropics but without the expensive plane ticket or large amounts of water?  Bruce and Marlene each give their top 10 plants that grow with low water but give you the vibe of being in a far away destination   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:       Facebook        Instagram        email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com   Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

If you garden in a water conscious State like California, you may be able to recite a list of plants and practices to reduce water in your landscape. But often vegetable gardening gets left out of water-wise conversations. Our guest -- the one and only --Fred Hoffman, discusses ways to employ water saving techniques for your veggies without sacrificing taste. What is the crop that consumes the most water? What are the most water efficient watermelons? We dive into this and more. This episode is sponsored by BeWaterSmart. Farmer Fred can be found at: Podcast:  Garden Basics with Farmer Fred Substack:  Beyond The Garden Basics with Farmer Fred Website:  farmerfred.com, gardenbasics.net Facebook:  @Get Growing with Farmer Fred Instagram:  @farmerfredhoffman Twitter: @farmerfred YouTube: @farmerfredhoffman 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:        Facebook        Instagram

It is the August To Do List – it has been a great, cool summer in NorCal.  Bruce and I talk about current gardening work, and do a detailed dive into listener questions across a variety of topics.    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:        Facebook        Instagram        email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com   Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

Summer heat getting to you? Add some cool to your yard. Bruce and I talk to award winning landscape designer, Cheryl Buckwalter, on how to create a cool oasis with some simple landscape tips.  http://bewatersmart.info 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:        Facebook        Instagram        email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook