Down in the Dirt with Diana

On this show I discuss the effect of climate change on our gardens with OSU Extension Agent Brooke Edmunds and how we can help monitor the changes as 'Citizen Scientists"

I continue my visit to the Marion Garden, talking to Carol Horning in the Beneficial Insect Garden, Beth Hussaini in the Native Plant Garden, and Michael Johnson, the caretaker of the grapes.  

I visit the Marion Garden, the demonstration garden for the Marion County Master Gardeners, and talk to Hank Burroughs. Hank is the Master Gardener in charge of planning, planting and tending the vegetable beds there. His focus is on sustainability, resilience, and feeding yourself from your garden all year around.    

I visit Whitman Farms in Salem, Oregon, and talk to Lucille about a few of her specialties -  currants, gooseberries, and mulberries, and a few other plants along the way.  

I visit Alan Thompson and we talk about his beautiful garden nestled at the base of forested hillsides along the North Fork of the Santiam River outside of Lyons, Oregon.

I talk to Gail Langelotto, Associate Professor of Urban and Community Horticulture at Oregon State University, and the Statewide Master Gardener Program Coordinator about  beneficial insects and particularly about spiders and why we should appreciate them and encourage them in our gardens.  

I visit Linda Beutler, curator of the Brewster Rogerson Clematis Collection to talk about spring blooming clematis. then I talk to Vanca Lumsden and learn what makes a savvy plant shopper. 

We tackle the topic of weed control with Weston Miller, OSU extension agent for Clackamas, Washington and Multonomah counties, organic gardening specialist, and host of the XRAY Radio gardening show in Portland, 'Grow PDX'.

Get a behind-the-scenes look at what it is like to create and build a display garden at a big garden show. I talk to Judith Jones and Vanca Lumsden who have been building gardens at the big Northwest Flower and Garden Show in Seattle for over 20 years. Then, for the cat lovers out there, we learn about creating a 'catio' in your back yard - a patio for cats !

I take a walk through the display garden at Dancing Oaks Nursery in Monmouth with owner Leonard Foltz to see what is blooming in early spring.