Nature Calls: Conversations from the Hudson Valley

Episode 163: Tools Retrospective (Part 1)

This episode contains three previously aired segments about a common topic that have been put together for easier listening. Tools of the Trade is a series of descriptions of essential tools that Master Gardeners use to research and answer questions about our natural environment. Master Gardener Volunteer Joan Satterlee provides detailed explanations of each tool including how it is best used.

The topic of the first retrospective segment is iNaturalist, which is a website or app that can be used to identify plants, insects, and animals. Launched in 2008, it uses photographs and artificial intelligence to help you explore your surroundings. Available on iOS and Android operating systems, there is no fee to use it. There is even a version, called Seek, that is an alternative for beginners.

Are you looking to find native plants for your garden? Stay tuned for information about the Audubon Native Plant Database. Once you enter your zip code, you'll find a listing of all the native plants that are from your area. You can organize the search results in many different ways such as type of plant, features, or even the type of bird it may attract. There are lots of search options and filters to get even more information specific to your interests.

The last segment in this episode features a gardener's classic resource for woody plants: the Dirr's Manual of Woody Landscape Plants written by Michael Dirr. Organized by botanical name, this gardening 'bible' also has an index of common names that can be extremely helpful. It provides information about the plant's leaves, bids, flowers, fruit, size, hardiness, and diseases, among other things. It even describes its landscape value. While this manual contains line drawings, if you prefer photographs, consider investing in the Dirr's Encyclopedia of Trees and Shrubs as another potential resource.

Host: Jean Thomas

Guest: Joan Satterlee

Photo by: Teresa Golden

Production Support: Linda Aydlett, Deven Connelly, Teresa Golden, Taly Hahn, Tim Kennelty, Amy Meadow, Xandra Powers, Annie Scibienski, Robin Smith,

Resources

Episode 162: Soil and Water Conservation District

The Nature Calls: Conversations from the Hudson Valley team was honored to meet with Joel DuBois who is the Executive Director at Greene County Soil and Water Conservation District (GCSWCD), as well as chairman of the Greene County Planning Board. and a board member at the Greene Land Trust.

There are 58 Soil and Water Conservation Districts across New York State. Each is focused on an individual county's specific needs. They are all dedicated to the best management of natural resources.

Greene County is located in southeastern NY and is home to the northernmost Catskill high peaks and is bordered on the east by the Hudson River. The GCSWCD has been in existence since 1961. Since its inception, they have developed a diverse conservation program to address local needs, and assist landowners, local municipalities, as well as state and federal agencies in their conservation efforts. One of their focus areas is watershed management, including both policy and programs.

A watershed can be defined as the area or land that separates waters flowing to different rivers, basins or seas. As Greene County (along with Schoharie County) is home to New York City's drinking water supply that serves 9 million people, managing water quality is of prime importance. The watershed is the largest unfiltered water system in the country so maintaining the health of the system saves the expense of building an expensive water filtration system. The only treatment NYC's water receives is some ultraviolet light exposure.

So the Soil and Water Conservation district spends a lot of time reducing any turbidity (cloudiness) of the water typically due to glacial lake clay. Other causes of turbidity include flooding or long term channel migration. The network of roots from the forest trees along the watershed areas helps to stabilize the soil and becomes a natural filter for the water.

But stream water quality is also a focus where they install buffer initiatives. For example, with the landowner's permission, GCSWCD will plant native trees and shrubs in fallow fields up to 300 feet away from a stream.

GCSWCD typically plants over 3,000 trees each year, but they sell another 4,000 annually at their bare root plant sale as a public service. Trees can be ordered in late winter and picked up around Earth Day in April. They come in bundles of 10. Compost, fertilizer, and tree tubes (to protect the seedlings from deer browse) can also be ordered for pickup during the annual sale.

The GCSWCD can be found on Facebook, Instagram, and offers volunteer opportunities to interested residents. Listen in to the good work that is being done to help the entire community today and into the future.

Hosts: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas

Guest: Joel Dubois

Photo By: Tim Kennelty

Production Support: Linda Aydlett, Deven Connelly, Teresa Golden, Taly Hahn, Tim Kennelty, Amy Meadow, Xandra Powers, Annie Scibienski, Robin Smith, Jean Thomas

Resources

Episode 161: Houseplant Care

A houseplant can be defined as a plant that is grown indoors, typically in some kind of a container. Many houseplants are those that are adaptable to the lower light levels usually found indoors. But all plants, including houseplants, require water, light and food. The trick to success with houseplants is to find the right plant for the conditions within your home and practice moderation in taking care of it.

Water is a key to success, but overwatering is often the cause of houseplants that fail to thrive. Wait until the soil is dry to the touch to water them, as most don't like 'wet feet' if the soil is too moist.

Light is another key ingredient. Many plants do best in a window with a southern exposure that maximizes the available light. But others don't like direct sunlight and may prefer a well lit room with filtered light (e.g. through a curtain) or a light from a bulb. Plants that don't get the light they need may not flourish.

Soil is the third key ingredient. The best soil depends on the plant species, so read the labels carefully or do some research to determine the best growing medium.

If you successfully nurture houseplants through the winter, you might be able to move them outdoors for the summer. This helps to build roots and foliage, but be careful when and how you do this. If you care for your houseplants indoors the same way you care for them in the garden, you will maximize your enjoyment of these plants.

Listen to Master Gardener Volunteer Kristin Swanson in a general discussion about houseplants on Nature Calls: Conversations from the Hudson Valley. In addition to talking about basic year-round care, she'll cover considerations when bringing houseplants outdoors in the spring and back indoors in the fall. If you care for your houseplants indoors the same way you care for them in the garden, you will maximize your enjoyment of these plants. Just remember they’re living things, so take care of them the best you can.

Unfortunately Kristin left this world at the end of December 2024, so we pulled this interview from our radio archives from the fall of 2019 when Digging In with Master Gardeners was a radio show on WGXC 90.7 FM. With the permission of the radio station, we've edited the interview to fit our podcast format and are presenting it again for your listening pleasure.

In addition to being a Master Gardener Volunteer, Kristin was a nurse, an educator, a musician (playing the bagpipes and the flute), a volunteer at the New York State Museum and at the Clermont Historic As a dedicated nurse, she was compassionate and always saw the patient as a person first, and strove to recognize their true needs. Drawn to nature, she loved to hike and became a Master Forest Owner volunteer helping others appreciate the natural landscape.She was proud of her military service and passionate about her cats, her ferns, and learning new things. She will forever be remembered for her kindness, sense of humor, intelligence, enthusiasm, sage-like wisdom, strong convictions, and insight. As a Master Gardener, she touched our lives and for that we are forever grateful.

Hosts: Jean Thomas and Teresa Golden

Guest: Kristin Swanson

Photo by: Jean Thomas

Production Support: Linda Aydlett, Deven Connelly, Teresa Golden, Taly Hahn, Tim Kennelty Amy Meadow, Xandra Powers, Annie Scibienski, Robin Smith, 

Resources

Episode 160: Adaptive Gardening

Health challenges, unfortunately, tend to come with age. Gardening is a popular retirement hobby but may require a new approach as we age. Adaptive Gardening means making small changes to accommodate a gardener's physical needs. This approach may help us continue to enjoy this hobby. However, realistically, adaptive gardening applies to gardeners at any age. Think about gardening smarter, not harder.

Examples of some adaptations might include gardening in raised beds, containers, or soft-sided bags. Different gardening tools might also help in the care of plants and even reduce the chance of injury. For example, a balanced watering jug with a wide handle might lessen the tightness of the grip needed to carry it. Once you understand some adaptive considerations, you can get creative implementing gardening techniques.

Three areas typically require some form of adaptation:

• Muscles and Joints,
• Cardiovascular and Cardiopulmonary issues,,
• Visual and Memory problems.

Special tools can make a big difference to help with some of these issues. But the selection of plants can also help. For example, woody plants are easier to care for and don't require the same amount of work as annuals and perennials. Air Plants are a great option indoors.

Life long marketer and gardener, Duane Pancoast, has helped tree, landscape, and lawn care businesses market their services. His passion for gardening started when he studied Landscape Architecture at the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, As mobility restrictions began taking their toll on his own gardening abilities, he decided to share his experience with other senior gardeners, including how he 'adapted'. His blog and book "The Geriatric Gardener 2.0" provide a wealth of information that might be helpful to you too. He joins the Nature Calls: Conversations from the Hudson Valley podcast team to share his insights.

Hosts: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas

Guest: Duane Pancoast

Photo by: Duane Pancoast

Production Support: Linda Aydlett, Deven Connelly, Teresa Golden, Amy Meadow, Xandra Powers, Annie Scibienski, Robin Smith

Resources

Episode 159: Snakes and Turtles

David MacDougall joins Nature Calls: Conversations from the Hudson Valley to talk about snakes, turtles, and other inhabitants of wetlands. Dave is a Certified Wildlife Biologist and a Consulting Biologist who also does site assessments and wetland delineations. Dave also wrote the Field Guide book about the Karner Blue butterfly that can typically be found in a pine barren.

Amphibians are semi aquatic beings, having adapted to inhabit a wide variety of habitats. Their life cycle typically starts as aquatic larvae and they later undergo metamorphosis to become an air-breathing adult with lungs. They are similar to reptiles but do require access to water bodies to breed. Amphibians and reptiles are both ecological indicators to habitat conditions which is why some of them are protected and/or endangered. Reptiles, unlike amphibians, have scales and their skin is dry. They include snakes, alligators, lizards, turtles and tortoises.

Snakes play a critical role in managing the environment including control of rodent, insect, and other invertebrate populations. A single rat snake can consume over 100 rodents a year. Snakes, in turn, are part of the diet of hawks and foxes. New York State is home to 17 different types of snakes, the most being the garter snake and the water snake. Non-venomous snakes also exist in the environment like garter, rat, milk, brown, and green snakes. Others like water snakes, black rat snakes, or black racers can be found in the area. There are only three types of venomous snakes in New York: eastern copperheads, timber rattlesnakes and the massaguas. They don't really want to bite you because if they do, they won't be able to eat for a week. Fundamentally, you're too big to waste their venom!

There are 18 species of turtles in New York State. The snapping turtle and the painted turtle are the most common. Others that can be found include bog turtles, eastern box turtles, wood turtles, and others that are on the list of threatened, endangered, or species of concern.

In this episode, you'll also learn about the Karner Blue butterfly and how climate change and development may be affecting the habitats of some of these species.

Hosts: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas

Guest: David MacDougall

Photo by: Jean Thomas

Production Support: Linda Aydlett, Deven Connelly, Teresa Golden, Amy Meadow, Xandra Powers, Annie Scibienski, Robin Smith

Resources

Episode 158: Beatrix Farrand Garden

The walled garden at Bellefield was originally created by one of America's most celebrated landscape architects, Beatrix Farrand (1872-1959), Renowned for the gardens she designed for some prestigious private universities and colleges, Bellefield represents a prime example of American garden design and one of Farrand's few surviving private commissions.

In 1911, Beatrix was asked to design a garden adjacent to a newly renovated house at Bellefield in Hyde Park, NY. She was influenced by several well-known landscape architects and garden designers early in her career and applied what she learned to this residential design commission located at the Franklin D. Roosevelt Historic Site.

The garden stretches from a terrace attached to the house and is enclosed by a stone wall and a hemlock hedge. The garden is divided into three 'rooms' defined by gravel walks, long planting beds, and areas of open lawn. The garden is laid out in forced perspective so that the sequentially smaller garden rooms further away from the house create the impression of a much larger space.

The planting beds along the gravelled walks and lawn are filled with layers of color with plants spilling over the vertical stone edging and taller plants stand next to the garden walls. The original plans also depicted an outline of a natural or wild garden beyond the walled area that incorporated several existing trees. The vegetation in this area was to serve as a transition to the surrounding lawns and trees.

Bellefield was donated to the National Park Service in 1976 to provide a protective buffer for the adjacent Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site. The garden was carefully put to bed until 1993 when it was restored by the Beatrix Farrand Garden Association in partnership with the National Park Service. The restoration contains a stunning display of composed borders washed in pink, white, blush, cream, grey, mauve and purple. surrounded by vine covered walls and well maintained hemlock hedges.

Karen Waltuch talked with the Nature Calls: Conversations from the Hudson Valley podcast team to discuss more of the history of the Garden, what can be found there, how to visit it, and how to volunteer there. Karen joined the Beatrix Farrand Garden Association in 2018 after working at other public parks and gardens over many years. She is also a professional violist who has a diverse performance career.

After listening to this episode, you'll definitely want to visit this hidden gem in New York's Hudson Valley.

Hosts: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas

Guest: Karen Waltuch

Photo by: National Park Service

Production Support: Linda Aydlett, Deven Connelly, Teresa Golden, Xandra Powers, Amy Meadow, Annie Scibienski, Robin Smith, Jean Thomas

Resources

Episode 157: Garden Fit Season 2

Madeline Hooper rejoins the podcast Nature Calls: Conversations from the Hudson Valley to talk about the second season of GardenFit that is available on PBS. GardenFit is a delightful combination of stunning garden tours and practical tips helping viewers learn how to take care of their bodies while taking care of their gardens. Its fundamental premise is that gardening should be joyful, not painful.

The 13 episodes in Season 2 feature passionate gardeners who are also well-known artists, ranging from painters, sculptors, ceramicists, photographers, musicians, designers and culinary pioneers. Learn how creative artistry is often inspired by nature. Take a journey into how art can also spark a vision for an imaginative garden. The show also provides simple, easy-to-learn practical tips and tune-ups to prevent strain and stress , and like a garden tool, use the body correctly.

Madeline is from upstate New York (Columbia County) who has been a gardener for over 30 years. After an exciting career in public relations, a trustee of the Brooklyn Botanic Garden and then of the Berkshire Botanical Garden, she honed her gardening skills at Rockland Farm, a ten-acre property that she and her husband have developed from scratch over the past 25 years. The Rockland Farm is open a few times a year to benefit the Garden Conservancy’s Open Days program and the Berkshire Botanical Garden’s educational programs. She is very familiar with many aches and pains due to her daily gardening. Her personal trainer has taught her common-sense body movements and self-care to relieve the pains, enabling her to share these tips with us and truly enjoy being in the garden.

Host: Jean Thomas and Taly Hahn

Guest: Madeline Hooper

Photo by: Madeline Hooper

Production Support: Linda Aydlett, Deven Connelly, Teresa Golden, Tim Kennelty, Xandra Powers, Annie Scibienski, Eileen Simpson

Resources

Episode 156: FDR Home Gardens

One thing the pandemic taught us is the importance of our National Parks. The Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site is no exception. With over 300 acres of trails, gardens, Springwood (the FDR Homestead), and the FDR Presidential Library, this is a wonderful place that is worth a visit. Admission is free, but there is a fee if you'd like to tour the house. A home, a farm, and an experimental forestry plantation, Springwood is an enduring memorial to the 32nd and longest serving President of the United States. 33 acres were deeded to the National Park Service with instructions to maintain the house, flower gardens, orchard, and vegetable garden as they were during FDR’s time. The National Park Service opened the land to the public in 1946.

The nearly two acre FDR Home Garden was a central part of life for the Roosevelt family. FDR grew up working and playing in the garden as did his children and grandchildren. It remained important to him long after his childhood. The Home Garden, nearly two acres in size, was a central part of life for the Roosevelt family. Franklin D. Roosevelt grew up working and laying in the garden. It shaped his ideals of sustainability, land stewardship, support of the grow-your-own movement in the 1940s, and the legacy of his presidency.

This garden and the rest of the Springwood estate were managed by FDR’s mother, Sara Roosevelt, and maintained by gardener William Plog. The high quality produce fed the Roosevelt family and their staff. The farm was a prime example of gentleman farming in the Hudson Valley. The current vegetable garden was designed to replicate the Roosevelt’s garden with as much historical accuracy as possible. The heirloom vegetable varieties grown today are cultivated using modern organic practices including composted manure from the horses on the property to fertilize the garden. The garden is maintained with the support of volunteers who help plant, maintain, and harvest the crops. The garden is used for a variety of educational programs and remains free and open for the public to enjoy.

Anna de Cordova joins the Nature Calls: Conversations from the Hudson Valley podcast to talk about the historic site and the home gardens. Anna is a horticulturist with the National Park Service focused on the home gardens in Hyde Park. Prior to her current role, she worked at numerous other historic sites including Locust Park in Poughkeepsie.  She loves the public outreach and volunteer aspect of working at a historic garden site.  She thrives at the intersection of science, art, and history, and has lots to share about the FDR Home Garden.

Listen and learn about FDR’s love of the land, and value for the findings of science, both of which helped to shape the conservation policies and focus on clean water for the country.

Hosts: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas

Guest: Anna De Cordova

Photo by: National Park Service 

Resources

Episode 155: The Cover Up Retrospective (Part 3)

Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas join us once again for the third and final episode of The Cover Up Retrospective, where we’ve grouped some previously aired short segments together for easier access.

In the first segment, Morning Glories are a featured annual vine, but this category also extends to gourd and mini-pumpkin vines, scarlet running beans, and more. Sedums, including Hens and Chicks, are the featured ground covers (and succulents) in this episode. These herbaceous perennials, commonly known as stonecrops, are great options for rock gardens and other areas that are drought prone. Both of these vines and ground covers are low maintenance and relatively easy to grow.

The second segment discusses the benefits of sedges, bearberry, and trailing arbutus as ground covers and vines that support pollinators and provide shelter for insects and birds. Sedges are a good alternative for a ‘native’ lawn. With over 2000 species, mostly low-growing, and many ever green, they can also be used as a living mulch. Bearberry is a great option to plant under oak or pine trees as it thrives in partial to full shade environments. The name, Trailing Arbutus (a.k.a. Mayflower and Plymouth Mayflower), is derives from the fact that the flowers of this plant were the first to greet the pilgrims after their first winter. It is a native perennial subshrub that forms a creeping mat, usually four to size inches high.

The third segment focuses on flowering vines. Passionflower is a beautiful climbing vine with white and purple or blue flowers. There are now hardier varieties that can survive in zone 5. While it blooms from midsummer to early fall, each flower only lasts about one day. The Kiwi vine is another interesting option that can grow up to 33 feet long and has some varieties that are hardy to zone 4. A native of China, it has green heart shaped leaves that are spirally arranged on the stem and a flower that has a slight resemblance to the kiwi bird. Both passionflower and kiwi vine can be fragrant additions to your garden if you can provide the appropriate support for them to climb.

Host: Jean Thomas

Guests: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas

Photo by: Jean Thomas

Production Support: Linda Aydlett, Deven Connelly, Teresa Golden, Xandra Powers, Annie Scibienski

Resources

Episode 154: The Cover Up Retrospective (Part 2)

Welcome to The Cover Up Retrospective Part 2. This conversation features potential ground covers and ornamental vine choices to consider for your own garden. Master Gardener Volunteers Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas share some of their favorites in these three previously aired segments.

The first segment starts with a discussion of Green and Gold (a.k.a. golden star) which is a low-growing, clump-forming herb. It thrives in full sun or part shade with long-blooming yellow flowers. This ground cover is climate resilient, slow-growing, and does not have to be ‘pampered’. Dutchman’s pipe, a relative of wild ginger, is a vine that can grow 15-30 feet in length and width. It’s a great option if you want to create a privacy screen as long as it’s given a strong support to grow on.Its tiny flower even attract hummingbirds.

Purple and white flowers are the theme of the second segment. Wild Geraniums (cranesbill) and native Wisteria are the focus. A cousin of the annual geranium, the native wild geranium is a hardy perennial that comes in a range of cultivars forming mats of foliage that look great planted under shrubs or with spring bulbs. Don’t confuse the native American Wisteria with the invasive variety that can pull down structures and spreads easily. The native version can grow 15-40 feet so it does need a sturdy support. Planted in full sun, it will reward you with fragrant blooms that attract hummingbirds and butterflies.

The final segment features golden ragwort and climbing hydrangeas. Tim likes golden ragwort for its bright yellow flowers as well as its ability to compete with invasive plants like garlic mustard and Japanese stilt grass. It thrives in moist shady locations, naturalizes rapidly and has a long spring blooming period. Spreading via underground rhizomes, it forms clumping colonies and attracts multiple bees, butterflies and moths. Climbing hydrangeas, like other vines, need a sturdy support, like plenty of water, but are not very aggressive. Known for their attractive reddish-brown bark, they are happy in partial shade and produce fluffy white clusters of lace-cap flowers.

Host: Jean Thomas

Guests: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas

Photos by: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas

Production Support: Linda Aydlett, Deven Connelly, Teresa Golden, Xandra Powers, Annie Scibienski

Resources