It’s that time again! Applications for the 2025 Tennessee Extension Master Gardener (TEMG) Program are now available and are being accepted through July 12, 2024. If you possess a passion for learning about horticulture as well as a desire to share that knowledge with others, then this program is for you! The Shelby County Master […]

Cicadas are known for their vociferous buzzing sound. A rare phenomenon involving these creatures will occur in the United States. Two broods of about a billion cicadas will emerge simultaneously. The last time this occurred was in 1803 and will not happen again for 221 years. These two broods are the 13- and 17-year cycles […]

Last month, I visited the Dixon Gallery and Gardens to learn their methods for preparing beds for planting. I met with Dale Skaggs, Director of Horticulture and Kyle McLane, Grounds Manager to observe how they prepped the Dixon soils for plant materials. They both stressed that incorporating mycorrhizae into the soil is a key component […]

Spring is in the air! Now is the time that our thoughts turn to new plantings in the garden. At last month’s Master Gardeners Present at Lichterman Nature Center there was a great deal of enthusiasm about pollinator gardens.  A pollinator garden incorporates plants designed to attract and aid pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and […]

February is Black History Month. This month is used to recognize Black  men and women who contributed to the advance of human civilization. Carter G. Woodson is known as the “Father of Black History”. He wanted to celebrate Black life and history. In honor of Black History Month, I would like to take this opportunity […]

Happy New Year! The New Year brings new opportunities and new ideas in the garden. It is the time to experiment with new plants, new garden methods or a new landscape design. You may be looking through garden catalogs for new plants to try in the garden. Fortunately, there is a new USDA Plant Hardiness […]

As the days start to cool and shorten, many will venture out into the yard to tidy it up a bit. This usually includes raking leaves and cutting back dead or dying plants. Is this the right thing to do for the pollinators that overwinter in the garden? We think of species of birds and […]

In February of 2021, I wrote an article about the spotted lanternfly. It is an invasive pest that has been creating problems for our friends across the Northeast. The adult spotted lanternfly is beautiful but deadly. It is becoming increasingly more difficult to control. It is known to feed on the tree of heaven (Ailanthus […]

In autumn, nothing rivals the beauty of tree leaves changing colors.  Though temporary, it is certainly a magnificent sight.  The multi-colored leaves will fall and accumulate in and around your landscape. What should you do with those fallen leaves?  Utilize this valuable natural resource! Do not send them to the dump. Leaves can serve as […]