Nature Calls: Conversations from the Hudson Valley

Episode 12: Holiday Plants

Holiday Plants are the topic of conversation with Rachael Ashley from Story’s Nursery in Freehold, NY. She discusses the wide range of gift plants that are available throughout the year, from Valentine’s Day through the year-end holiday season. Then tune in for a great description of the Harris Conservation Area by Heidi Bock (Trekking the Trails), as she talks about amphibians including wood frogs and spotted salamanders. This episode concludes with a great insight from Jean Thomas (It’s All Greek) about the use of color in botanical names. Enjoy!

Hosts: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas

Guest: Rachael Ashley

Episode 11: Seed Starting

Seed Starting is a very timely topic for this podcast episode.   Briana Davis, from Greene Bee Greenhouse ltd. located in Cornwallville, NY,  joins hosts Jean Thomas and Tim Kennelty, for a wonderful overview of the ‘behind-the-scenes’ process used to grow a wide variety of vegetable and perennials, including ~40 tomato cultivars.  Then stay tuned for the Veggie Patch, with Teresa Golden, where she discusses how to determine and improve the quality of your soil to grow a healthy garden.  Finally, stay tuned for The Hum of the Hive with Linda Aydlett where the focus shifts to the role of the House Bee.  Fascinating indeed! 

Hosts: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas

Guest: Briana Davis

Resources and Transcript

Episode 10: Wildflowers and Foraging

In this episode, join Master Gardener Volunteers in a fascinating conversation with Tracey Testo of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Columbia and Greene Counties. She discusses the many wildflowers and woodland foraging opportunities that can be found in the forest. Tracey brings her passion and an amazing wealth of information that inspires us to take a fresh look at the world around us. Then stay tuned for Pests and Pathogens featuring Dede Terns-Thorpe and Jackie Hayden who discuss beetles, both good and bad. Finally, Joan Satterlee (Tools of the Trade) tells us how the Audubon Native Plant database can help you choose just the right native for your landscape.

Hosts: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas

Guest: Tracey Testo Smith

Episode Nine: Perennials

Get ready for planting season with a informative and wide-ranging discussion about perennial plants with Joe Behn from Behn's Best Perennials. Learn about the wide range of options available to add color and interest to your landscape. Monarda and Japanese Stiltgrass are the focus of the Good Plant/Bad Plant segment with Tim Kennelty.  And Wooly Bears are the star of Hits and Myths with Devon Russ.

Hosts: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas

Guest:  Joseph Behn

Resources and Transcript

Episode Eight: Maple Syrup

Join us in an informative conversation with Tracey Testo from Cornell Cooperative Extension of Columbia of Greene Counties. She discusses the history of maple syrup in New York as well as how you can tap trees to make your own. Then Linda Levitt (Flower Power) will talk about the beautiful and versatile Lantana plant. The episode concludes with a new segment (Cover Up) with Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas discussing their favorite ground covers and vines. Today they focus on Ajuga and Trumpet Vine.

Hosts: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas

Guest: Tracey Testo

Resources and Transcript

Episode Seven: Getting to Know Your Woodlands

Listen to Pammi Price, from Cornell Cooperative Extension of Columbia and Green Counties, in a fascinating discussion about Getting to Know Your Woodlands. Learn how to explore your property to discover its history and how to steward it towards a healthy future. Then join us with Heidi Bock (Trekking the Trails) to discover the wonderful variety of birds that you can find at the Ooms Conservation Area In Chatham, NY. Jean Thomas (It’s All Greek) concludes this episode with insights into the origins and naming conventions associated with botanical names.

Hosts: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas

Guest: Pammi Price

Resources and Transcript

Episode Six: Food Preservation

Intro

In this episode, Rebecca Polmateer, from CCE, sets us straight on the ins and outs of Food Preservation. Learn about freezing, canning, dehydrating, pickling and fermentation. Then listen to Teresa Golden talk about how to decide what to plant in your vegetable garden. This episode concludes with a fascinating conversation about the role of the queen bee in The Hum Of The Hive. Tune in and enjoy!

Hosts: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas

Guest: Rebecca Polmateer

Resources and Transcript

Episode Five: Understanding Seed Catalogs

In this episode, join Master Gardener Volunteer and this podcast co-creator, Jean Thomas, in an informative conversation about seed catalogs. Learn about their history, their changing content and how to read them. This will be followed by a new segment, Pests and Pathogens, featuring Dede Terns-Thorpe and Jackie Hayden who discuss how to diagnose plant problems. The episode concludes with Joan Satterlee, who provides insights into Tools of the Trade, focused on a plant identification tool, iNaturalist. Listen in!

Resources and Transcript

Episode Four: Plants for Winter interest

Eli Joseph-Hunter is the featured guest on this episode of Nature Calls: Conversations from the Hudson Valley. As proprietor of the Greene Bee Greenhouse, Ltd, listen to his discussion with CCE Master Gardeners as we learn about Plants for Winter Interest. Then stay tuned for the first segment of Good Plant/Bad Plant where Tim Kennelty will talk about oak trees and Japanese Knotweed. This episode concludes with a discussion by Devon Russ (Hits and Myths) about the science associated with planting by the phases of the moon. Enjoy!

Hosts: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas

Interview Guests: Eli Joseph-Hunter

Photos: see attached (pick your favorite!)

Resources and Transcript

Episode Three: Feeding Birds in Winter

Join Master Gardeners in an informative conversation with Kathryn Schneider, an author and educator about all things birds. Learn what to feed birds in winter, the best feeders, and how to keep squirrels and bears away from them. Then, dream about your summer garden as Linda Levitt (Flower Power) will explain the difference between annuals, perennials, and biennials. Tune in for a winter treat!

Hosts: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas

Interview Guests: Kathryn Schneider

Resources and Transcript