Recent Volunteer Gardener Clips

Seed Collection/Storage

July 20, 2023

Seed collecting costs nothing, and you'll find you have plenty to share. April Moore explains what plants are suitable, the best time to harvest, how to separate the seed from plant debris, and also how to store seeds to keep them viable.

The allure of daylilies

July 20, 2023

Since the early 1930s, hybridizers have made great improvements in daylilies. From the color range, to the patterns, to the form, there's a lot to love. Annette Shrader visits Bluebird Springs Farm where the daylilies are blooming, and taking center stage.

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Color Garden Inspiration

July 13, 2023

If you are looking for a big impact in the landscape, it's hard to beat the eye-catching color that annuals provide. Tammy Algood gets inspired by the great combination of annuals featured in the color garden at the Botanical Garden of Tennessee - Knoxville.

Cost of a nursery plant

July 13, 2023

What determines the price of a potted perennial, or a mature field-grown tree? Troy Marden visits with Matt Dawson, the owner of Samara Farms wholesale plant nursery, to gain insight into what costs are incurred from acquisition to consumer. It goes beyond the nursery pot, media, fertilizer, and infrastucture.

Propagating blueberries

July 13, 2023

Jeff Poppen harvests blueberries from Southern highbush plants that are 5th generation from ones he purchased 40 years ago. He demonstrates how to propagate from root runners, and how to plant for the best chance of success.

Fall/Winter crops for the home garden

July 06, 2023

No doubt that the summer harvest in Tennessee is plentiful. There are so many vegetables that grow well here. But a fall garden can produce a big bounty too. Tammy Algood is at Red Thread Farm in Franklin Tennessee to learn what varieties of carrot, radish, and kale they grow in their high-yielding garden.

Mosquito bucket of doom

July 06, 2023

Here's a tip on how to eliminate mosquitoes from the yard without the use of harmful chemicals. It targets mosquitoes in a larval stage.

Downsizing without sacrificing style

July 06, 2023

A backyard doesn't have to be large to grow a variety of trees, shrubs, perennials and vegetables. Sheri Gramer tours a beautiful space that has border beds all along the house foundation and fence line. There are some stunning specimens.

Squash Woes

June 29, 2023

To avoid problems with growing squash, Jeff Poppen employs the principles of farming developed long ago. This includes an emphasis on soil drainage, and the liberal use of compost.

Success growing lupines

June 29, 2023

The showy spires of lupines are not an easy flower to grow in the South, but this gardener accepted the challenge. And boy, did she achieve. Troy Marden is eager to learn about her methods that have her garden bed graced with these beauties.

Simply Native: A Living Landscape

May 18, 2023

Learn what it means to have a living landscape. Host Rita Venable introduces us to a dedicated couple who have spent many years eradicating the exotic invasive plants from their property. Those have been replaced with native perennials, trees and shrubs. Some have even sprouted up on their own! Pollinators and wildlife are now flourishing.

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Tranquility Garden

May 11, 2023

Tammy Algood is at the UT Gardens in Knoxville to enjoy the Tranquility Garden featuring more than 500 varieties of hosta. Good garden design is on display here as other shade loving plants are combined with the hosta throughout the garden which makes each plant noticeable.