So….Mike McGrath is one of my gardening idols. He’s kind of like Pennsylvania’s Monty Don, right? I have listened to his show off and on for years…long before I knew there was a Monty Don, truthfully (Sorry Monty!)
Anyway, if you follow their Facebook page for You Bet Your Garden With Mike McGrath you get all sorts of fun stuff to check out and learn…just like by listening to his shows.
So I saw that post I screenshot above and thought what the heck and sent the show an email expressing interest in calling in. And O.M.G. Mike McGrath e-mailed me himself!! (Yes, the inner and outer gardener start to geek out simultaneously.)
So today I spent time chatting with Mike McGrath (inner gardener and outer gardener are completely geeking out now all hope is lost!) Yes ME. Ordinary rabid gardener ME.
He is SO cool. He is every bit as welcoming and nice as he sounds on the air when you listen. Having had a rather different experience this week when I was on a local talk radio show after being asked to call in, this was a welcome change. It was like he was sitting at my kitchen table having coffee.
So we talked about growing tomatoes and I learned something new which was super cool . And we talked about my closed gardening group Chester County Ramblings Gardening Group.
Now I did not get to get his advice on Bishops Weed and ask whether or not there are actually true red cyclamen or if growers just feed pink ones dye. I did not get to tell him about my favorite seaweed feed Irish Organic Fertilizer…. Which is a bummer.
I admit I kind of did a wee short circuit like a teenage fan girl of David Cassidy or something. Dork city in other words. BUT nevertheless apparently I am on the show they will air on February 23.
If you have never checked out his show – you should – here are the times:
Saturdays at 10am
Mondays at 3pm
Wednesdays at 5pm
Episodes Available On:
Stitcher
Where can you listen to YBYG?
Click here to find your local station.
He is one of what I like to call my garden influencers. Here are the others:
Jenny Rose Carey Senior Director at the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society’s Meadowbrook Farm
Glorious Shade is her book and every gardener should have a copy!
Suzy Bales who passed away in 2016 – two books in particular Down to Earth Gardener: Let Mother Nature Guide You to Success in Your Garden, The Garden in Winter. My unexpected pen pal for a short time when I wrote to say thank you for her garden writing. Her books can be found with used book dealers on Amazon and other places.
David Culp – The Layered Garden – I have a layered garden in places so his book was invaluable. Haven’t seen Brandywine Cottage in Downingtown would love to – here is his website.
Monty Don – Gardener’s World Magazine and BBC show. Author of a whole slew of books. I own Down to Earth and The Complete Gardener.
Gene Bush – Shade Garden Expert. Visit his website. (you’ll be glad you did)
Other influencers? Some of the growers and nursery folks I know. And gardens I have visited and gardens I have had. My current garden is a little bit of all of those.
Also another treat for you today? People I buy plants from…yes….plant resources:
Black Creek East Earl PA Mennonite owned, Facebook page and sort of a website 11 E Black Creek Rd East Earl, Pennsylvania 17519
https://www.facebook.com/Black-Creek-Greenhouses-163960706964555/
Black Creek is my spot for herb plants, vegetable plants, old fashioned perennials and annuals that no one else has and much more. They also sell supplies and tools fairly reasonably. They are the only place I will buy a pre-made hanging basket from. The best times of year to go? Spring until full-on summer hits and then the fall. The greenhouses are PACKED with plants.
Yellow Springs Farm Chester Springs PA (amazing native plants and the best goat cheese ever) https://www.yellowspringsfarm.com/
Yellow Springs Farm is owned by Catherine and Al Renzi. Native plants organically grown and I have planted with them through three gardens. Catherine helped me do my first sort of riparian buffer. And they raise goats for award winning goat cheese.
Go Native Tree Farm in Lancaster County PA https://www.gonativetrees.com/
Go Native is so cool. The owner literally forages in woods all over including places like West Virginia for seed and seedlings. I have bought Chestnut and Burr Oaks from them and they have a micro species called an “Amish Walnut” which when cut has a tiger grain – it is a natural cross between a walnut and I forget what but you only find them in Lancaster County.
Rhododendrons Direct in Oregon http://oregonrhododendron.com/ Yes you can visit if you go across the country. The guy who owns it is named Jim. He had all my crazy red rhododendrons I wanted. His shipping is impeccable and plants are flawless.
RareFind Nursery in NJ https://www.rarefindnursery.com/ Mail order and in person – native plants – amazing
Brent and Becky’s Bulbs https://www.brentandbeckysbulbs.com/ Mail order. Best bulbs
Camelia Forest Nursery https://camforest.com/ Ok in NC and you can visit I have only done mail order. There was a winter hardy Camelia created by Morris Arboretum years ago I wanted they grow Sochi tea plants.
Applied Climatology at the West Chester Growers Market appliedclimatologyllc@gmail.com -they are on Facebook and in season you find them Saturdays at West Chester Growers Market https://www.facebook.com/AppliedClimatologyLLC Chris Sann is a walking encyclopedia of plant interesting – he is like my gardening father. And I have gotten some amazing plants from him. He gets me to go out of my comfort zone and try new things like green Japanese peonies.
Morningstar Daylilies in Woodstown NJ http://www.morningstardaylilies.com/ Mary Burgents. Open Farm days and mail order. And she manages Delaware Valley Daylily Society. LOVE her daylilies
Crownsville Nursery and Bridgewater Gardens for hostas and some woodland perennials https://www.crownsvillenursery.com/ in person and mail order in Virginia – I only use mail order – awesome plants
New Hampshire Hostas https://www.nhhostas.com/ in person and mail order – only have used mail order – also great plants. Unusual cultivars and old favorites.
Pickering Valley Feed on Gordon Drive in Exton. They have a Facebook Page. Plants, Supplies, and more….love them
West Chester Agway. Matlack Street in West Chester. They are so awesome and great plants, garden ornaments, supplies, garden carts and more. They also have a Facebook Page.
Uhler’s Feed & Seed Lancaster Ave Malvern. Plants. Supplies. Bird seed. Love them. They have a Facebook Page.
Somerset Nursery – Two locations to blow your mind Glenmoore and Zionsville.
Please note I list the resources I have used as a regular customer. I am not compensated for my opinion.
Bye now! (I have a cake to bake)