Recent Volunteer Gardener Clips
A Grand Collection of Conifers
July 11, 2024
Conifers are trees and shrubs that bear cones. But beyond that common characteristic, they can vary greatly in mature size, foliage type, foliage color, and growth habit. Annette Shrader showcases a variety of beautiful specimens as she tours a private collection belonging to a couple who are conifer enthusiasts.
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Evolution to lower maintenance
July 11, 2024
We tour the island beds and border beds of a long-time gardener in Murfreesboro, TN. She's looking to make the maintenance of the grounds more manageable. Plant selection is part of the plan. Another part is getting down a layer of mulch for weed control. We look at some dependable plants, including peonies, allium, ferns, trillium and hosta.
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Let nature be nature in the home landscape
June 27, 2024
We're introduced to a couple who have planted their yard in native plants that nurture wildlife, yet the landscape fits well in the subdivision setting. The front yard is more uniform with colors of white, purple and pink blooms. A newly planted border bed along the side of the house features shade plants. The largest space, the backyard, features bordered vegetable beds and vignettes filled with pollinator-friendly plants.
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Daffodil Field of Dreams
June 27, 2024
When we heard there was a person in Sparta TN that had taken steps to make a planting dream come true, we had to find out from the source. Sheri Gramer introduces us to Tracy, who set out to plant 5.000 daffodil bulbs in the half acre in front of her front porch. With the help of lots of family and friends, this is now a reality that is sure to increase in the 'wow' factor each and every year.
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Residential Composting System
May 23, 2024
Compost is one of the best things to add to the garden. Marty DeHart shows off a simple design for a backyard cool weather composting system that features 3 connected bins with wood slats. Garden waste and vegetable scraps are the important elements that get transformed within this type of composting system.
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Pollinator Pathway
May 23, 2024
There's a beautiful native plant experience on the plaza adjacent to the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga. Several garden beds highlight this large space, and each is brimming with native perennials, shrubs, and vines. Each plant was selected for what in can offer particular pollinators.
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Planting for Pollinators
May 16, 2024
What a treat to visit the home garden of a horticulture power couple! Rita Venable is amazed by all the great plants that support pollinators in a very long border bed. Also on the property is a utility right-of-way that they are transitioning into a beneficial plant palette. In the 4 years of garden transitions,, the goal is to continue to shovel out plants of an invasive growth habit, and replace with environmentally beneficial trees, shrubs and perennials. Plus, we'll be introduced to a new and unique spot in the garden they call the 'loggery'.
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Mid-summer blooming perennials
May 16, 2024
The mercury climbs in mid-summer, but so can the beauty in your garden. April Moore profiles some of her favorite perennials that have colorful blooms to admire, and attract hummingbirds and pollinators. Among these great plants are salvias, lobelias, rudbeckia and phlox.
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Amaryllis: Culture and Care
May 02, 2024
Hippeastrum, commonly referred to as amaryllis, is in the grass family and is native to South America. Bulbs can remain viable for many years with the correct care. When dormant, they only need watering once a week. When the bulb starts producing a shoot, watering should be more frequent.
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Plantings for a public space
May 02, 2024
There's a new use for the 185 acres campus where Lakeshore Mental Health Institute once operated. The picturesque setting overlooking the Tennessee River is now a recreational public park welcoming 1 million visitors annually. We learn from the landscape architect about the plant choices for the park, and see how they are used.
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Greenhouse Operations
April 25, 2024
April Moore visits the greenhouse at Andrew Jackson's Hermitage to learn about their propagation efforts. In the fall, most of the propagation is from cuttings. Then in January they begin propagating from seed. The new plants are used both in the landscape beds onsite, and also for the annual plant sales.
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The plan, the infrastructure, then the plants
April 25, 2024
This home garden features a variety of annuals, perennials, shrubs and trees that flow nicely through multiple beds. But this wasn't by happenstance. This garden took a lot of planning and prep work before the first plant went in. First the hardscape was laid, then the electrical support went in along with drainage and irrigation elements. This garden is pretty during the day, and beautiful at night.