The Garden Question Craig McManus

A podcast for people that love designing, building and growing smarter gardens that work.
Listen in as we talk with successful garden designers, builders, and growers. Discovering their stories along with how they think, work, and grow.
This is your next step in creating a beautiful year-round, environmentally connected, low maintenance, and healthy thriving outdoor spaces!
It doesn’t matter if you’re a beginner or an expert there will always be something inspiring when you listen to “The Garden Question” podcast.
Host Craig McManus.

Mike and Judy Cunningham are the founders of Country Gardens Farm (https://countrygardensfarm.com/). They have been teaching people how to grow, cook, and preserve good organic food for over 10 years.
Mike's plant love began in high school when his father helped him build a greenhouse in the back yard. After a degree in horticulture and a few years as a store manager with Pike Nurseries (https://www.pikenursery.com/) he began Southern Perennial Growers and Country Gardens Nursery. In 2011 the focus changed to growing organic vegetables to sell directly to the public through a CSA subscription model.
Country Gardens Farm (https://countrygardensfarm.com/) grows a wide assortment of year-round vegetables on 3 acres of the third-generation family farm by using greenhouses in the winter.
Mike with lots of input from Judy authored his book "Seven Steps to an Organic Vegetable Garden" (https://countrygardensfarm.com/product/seven-steps-to-an-organic-garden-the-basic-steps-to-make-anyone-a-green-thumb-gardener/)
You will hear Mike's openness in sharing his successful methods for growing good food in our inaugural episode 001 of "The Garden Question" Podcast.

Gail Woody is an expert at enticing a Butterfly kaleidoscope   to her garden. She knows what they like and how to keep them happy year-round.
She has been studying these fly jewels for many years and regularly attracts up to 38 different species of butterflies to her garden.
Monarch butterflies are regular visitors twice a year on their migration treks between Mexico and Canada. In this episode Gail will also tell us how to attract and keep all the local butterflies coming to you place. Some with 6” to 8” wing spans and stories about giant 6” to 8” caterpillars.
Gail has been gardening for over 30 years. She creates the perfect eco system that includes butterflies, hummingbirds, native plants, water features and more. Her passion for gardening is contagious! After listening to this episode there will be no excuses not to start building your own butterfly paradise!
Gail Woody is an ISA Certified Arborist and a seasoned advanced Master Gardener. She speaks and writes on Butterflies, Hummingbirds, and native plants among other garden subjects
If you want to learn how to attract your personal Butterfly kaleidoscope then today’s podcast is perfect for you!

 
Rick Smith is the pruning guru. In today episode your deepest pruning fears are comforted with Rick’s interesting and high impact stories.

He explains why Smart landscape design matters and how to avoid the not so smart design mistakes.
After listening you will appreciate how he protects his client’s garden investment for the long run and why they trust him with their extraordinary gardens.
In this episode of “The Garden Question” you will know why garden plants do better when they stay closer to their natural size, form, and texture. Avoiding any signs of over-pruning or under-pruning.
Rick reveals healthy plant management practice along with how his proven knowledge and experience helps prevent common pest and disease problems. 
He lectures throughout the southeastern United States to horticulture college students, garden clubs, landscape companies and horticultural trade associations.
He is featured in the University of Georgia green industry Super Crew training video and has appeared on PBS’s Growing a Greener World with Joe Lamp’l.
Rick is the chairperson of the Georgia Certified Landscape Professional advisory board and also served on the Board of Directors and as President of Metro Atlanta Landscape & Turf Association
His company The Pruning Guru was founded in 2002 after 15 years of developing  his knowledge and skills with the landscape trail blazing company Post Properties.
 
 

 
Tara Dillard is a nationally recognized garden designer, author, and speaker. She has hosted her own CBS television program, The Better Gardening Show.
After earning degrees in engineering and horticulture she began designing and installing low-maintenance organic landscapes. Her designs emphasis the balance between home, garden, and life.
An award-winning author of 5 books, including Garden Paths and Stepping Stones, Beautiful by Design, and The Garden View. (http://garden-writer.blogspot.com/2009/02/garden-paths-stepping-stones-by-tara.html)
Tara writes a newspaper column; magazine articles and maintains a popular blog on her website: Tara Dillard.com (http://www.taradillard.com/)
Based in Atlanta, GA, she lectures nationally, spreading the message that creating a beautiful landscape will create a beautiful life.
Host: Craig McManus
 

Gail Woody knows Hummingbirds and how to attracts them by the hundreds each day. Her garden is a must stop for thousands of hummers on their migration journey from and to Central America.
She talks about her feeding strategies and nectar producing plants. Successful water attracting tactics. Growing proven reproduction habitat . Why insects are important to Hummingbird health.
You are probably familiar with Gail Woody from our first interview on The Garden Question episode 002 How to Attract Butterflies.
Gail has been gardening for over 30 years. She creates the perfect eco system that includes butterflies, hummingbirds, native plants, water features and more. Her passion for gardening is contagious! After listening to this episode her excitement will inspire you!
Gail Woody is an ISA Certified Arborist and a seasoned advanced Master Gardener. She speaks and writes on Butterflies, Hummingbirds, and native plants among other garden subjects
If you want to learn how to attracting Hummingbirds to your garden large or small this episode is perfect for you!