In this episode C.L. and Ellen celebrate plants in summer. They begin by suggesting ways you can add color, flavor and fragrance to your beverages and food with flowers, foliage and herbs from your own backyard. Next we consider flowers that are wilted or dead and offer suggestions for why these should be taken out of the garden. (Deadheading: why, how, and “Do I have to?”)

In the main segment we consider how plants are watered. Sprinklers? Soaker hoses? Drip irrigation? Hand-watering from a hose? And as often happens, Ellen and C.L. may not agree…

We end by talking about adding plant experiences into your trips and vacations, and offer two tips for our garden/plant destinations of choice.

Is there a way to repel insects from your outdoor office? Ellen has a short answer for this question…and we discuss the down-and-dirty truth. We also sing the praises of sending houseplants to summer camp and help you sort out problems you might be having with your tomato plants. Ellen offers Insider Information about getting started with foraging, and the program ends with a question from a listener about plants that attract flies.

In this episode Ellen and C.L. begin by discussing summer squash, aka zucchini. We mention the use of organic fungicides for controlling powdery mildew, and the variety Zephyr for continued production even after the plant has mildew. Next, we discuss the ways to get an accurate identification of a plant. In our “Eat, Drink, Grow” segment we talk about growing blueberries and blackberries, and our “Insider Information” section discusses an article from Garden Design Magazine. We finish off the program by answering an email about daylily maintenance.