As I pour my cup of coffee on a lazy Saturday morning, I grab my pen and paper to jot down creative tidbits of information. It is not the same show I remember from the 70’s.

Now it has design suggestions, tours of internationally renowned gardens, practical discussions of flamboyant perennials and shrubs, unique stonework and water features, as well a cooking segment featuring the seasonal vegetable of the week.   Here are some great ideas.

• In designing landscapes, provide for the winter garden first; next fall, then summer and lastly spring- because spring gardens always look beautiful no matter what you do.
• For the summer garden, try pine straw under your squash to keep it from rotting.
• Stress actually changes the internal structure of plants (just like people, right?); the optimal conditions for growth are a benign environment.
• Attach tilandsia air plants to wooden or stone columns with fishing line for a summer Caribbean look.
• For Design…. Create your own piece of art- then plug in the horticulture, as in the Getty Museum Garden.



• When cooking greens (kale, arugala, spinach, chard), splash some olive oil in a pan on low heat, add red pepper flakes, then a handful of greens.  Let the greens sit in the saucepan without stirring them (a surprise there!), then flip them gingerly in one flip. Wait till you hear the water stop sizzling, and then throw on garlic powder or garlic slivers. Lastly splash with a bit more water and cover for 30 seconds.

Let’s compare notes after you get a chance to tune in!

Christie lives in Manakin Sabot , Virginia where she manages a 3 acre garden. Her blogs are written from her 35 years as a personal and professional gardener.