In the Garden with UC Master Gardeners

Orange County
  • 5.0 (7)
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An informative garden podcast and weekly radio show on 88.9 FM KUCI Irvine, California, hosted by University of California Master Gardeners of Orange County, California.  Podcasts cover home horticulture, pest management and sustainable landscape practices.  Listen to researched based information on all things gardening.  "In the Garden with UC Master Gardeners" airs Thursday mornings on 88.9 FM KUCI from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m.  

  1. 6d ago

    Truffles

    Send us Fan Mail Not to be confused with the chocolate treat, today on In The Garden with UC Master Gardeners, we are talking about Truffles - the mysterious yet delectable underground fungus. Truffles are mycorrhizal fungi which play an important role in the health of soil.  The truffle/tree relationship is beneficial for both the environment and for the tree.  Because they grow underground, their aroma and flavor are tantalizing to both humans and animals. Today we’ll learn about how truffles are being cultivated and then how to cook and enjoy them.  UC Master Gardener Host Bill Brooks recently spent this episode with his expert guests located across the country - Dr. Tom Michaels, trained as a Plant Pathologist and expert on EVERYTHING Mushroom and Truffle-related. Dr. Michaels will entice the science buff listeners in what is known and NOT known about truffles. Also, joining the program is Susi Gott Séguret, author, chef, fiddler, forager, and Certified Culinary Professional to name a few aspects of her expertise. This episode is one of a kind!

    Truffles

  2. Aug 21

    Monarchs and Milkweed

    Send us Fan Mail Now is your chance to understand the classic example of METAMORPHOSIS! Simply imagined, the word means changing structure, form, or substance. A word which applies to this process could be “supernatural”. We’ll look at the lifespan of the creatures we see during the life cycle that produces, arguably, the most beautiful garden inhabitants in Southern California gardens. Today, Master Gardener Bill Brooks talks to fellow Master Gardener, biologist, and ecologist Tracey Rice and they discuss the magical Monarch Butterfly!  You’ll learn what they eat and why?  Why does a gardener want to plant what they eat?  What else can people do to help sustain the fragile ecosystem of this vulnerable creature? We are calling this episode of In the Garden with UC Master Gardeners “Monarchs and Milkweed”. With that title, look forward to finding out the unbreakable connection between your favorite butterfly and the food it requires.

    Monarchs and Milkweed

  3. Aug 19

    Rooted in Research: The UC Master Gardener Program

    Send us Fan Mail  What does gardening have to do with the University of California? Quite a lot! The latest episode of In the Garden with UC Master Gardeners explores the science, education and community service behind the UC Master Gardener Program.  In “Rooted in Research: The UC Master Gardener Program,” host Bill Brooks talks with Randy Musser, Program Coordinator for the Master Gardeners of Orange County, about the many ways the University of California helps Californians make informed decisions about gardening, agriculture, natural resources and environmental stewardship.  The program highlights the work of UC Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR), the University of California Cooperative Extension, and the UC Master Gardener Program. Listeners will learn how UC research is translated into practical, research-based information that can be used by gardeners, homeowners, schools and communities throughout California.  Musser also discusses what Master Gardeners do, how the program serves the public through workshops and educational outreach, and what it takes to become a UC Master Gardener.  Tune in to discover how a statewide network of university researchers, educators and volunteers is helping Californians grow healthier gardens and communities—while putting science to work right in the backyard.  In the Garden with UC Master Gardeners airs Thursdays from 8:30–9:30 a.m. on KUCI 88.9 FM in Irvine.

    Rooted in Research: The UC Master Gardener Program

  4. Aug 14

    Digging Into Wellness: How Gardening Grows a Healthier You

    Send us Fan Mail Gardening is more than a hobby—it’s a natural way to nourish both the body and mind. Growing your own fruits and vegetables makes it easier to enjoy fresh, nutrient-rich produce picked at its peak, while spending time in the garden connects us with the living world around us.  Healthy garden soil contains diverse communities of beneficial microorganisms, and our interaction with natural environments may support a healthy relationship with the microbes that live around and on us.  Gardening is exercise, too. Digging, planting, weeding, lifting, and walking through the garden build strength, flexibility, balance, and endurance. Reaching, bending, and stretching as we care for plants can keep our bodies moving in ways that feel productive rather than like a workout.  Perhaps one of gardening’s greatest benefits is mental health. Being outdoors, working with plants, watching seeds grow, and enjoying the sights and smells of a garden can help reduce stress, encourage mindfulness, and provide a wonderful sense of accomplishment.  Join Master Gardeners Bill and Artemesia to explore how gardening may be one of the healthiest things you can do - because when you grow a garden, you are growing a healthier you, too.

    Digging Into Wellness: How Gardening Grows a Healthier You

  5. Aug 12

    Seed Starting for the Fall Season

    Send us Fan Mail Where do most plants come from?  Well, SEEDS, of course!  So now is the time to start your cool season garden from seed.  For this topic called “Seed Starting for the Fall Season”, UC Master Gardener Dece Morgan talks to fellow Master Gardener Teena Spindler about the most inexpensive way to start a bountiful vegetable garden.  Some seeds don’t take much to germinate but others may take a little coaxing.  The key is consistent water (soil moisture). Start now to prepare for California’s second growing season coming up!.

    Seed Starting for the Fall Season

  6. Aug 7

    August In the Garden

    Send us Fan Mail This week on “In the Garden with UC Master Gardeners”, it’s ‘This Month in the Garden’ for August. UC Master Gardeners Katrina Kirkeby and Teena Spindler are back to help you get through the heart of summer with tips for your garden. Unless you live right on the coast, Just “Say No” to thoughts of planting most varieties of  permanent landscape plants. BUT … Just “Say Yes” to Bananas!  If you have the space and a good source of water and fertilizer, you can be successful and have your own fruit in a little over a year. Katrina and Teena always have a great time sharing their gardening experience with you every month on the “In the Garden” that always airs on the first Thursday of the month at 8:30 a.m. PST on 88.9 KUCI Irvine if you are in our broadcast area. You can also find our show on this podcast platform or on our website KUCI.org/listen.

    August In the Garden

  7. Aug 3

    Gardens of the World The Getty Villa

    Send us Fan Mail This week on In the Garden with UC Master Gardeners, UC Master Gardener Ann Liu traveled to and interviewed Michael Dehart, Grounds and Gardens Supervisor at the Getty Villa in Malibu, California. Together, they take listeners through a tour of the four gardens: Outer/Inner Peristyles, Herb Garden, and East Garden. You’ll note that this show was recorded before the devastating fires in 2025.  Imagine this!  J. Paul Getty’s inspiration for this site was the Villa of Papyri (Scrolls) near the ancient Vesuvius eruption site . How similar are the consequences between the eruption and the wildfire?  How rich is the Greek and Roman mythology and culture woven into garden design and plant selections.  Imagine how Roman citizens ate many of the same fruits and vegetables we enjoy today.

    Gardens of the World The Getty Villa

  8. Aug 2

    School Gardens

    Send us Fan Mail The most direct way for kids to learn is through play. Kids love to play in the dirt! Right? So what better combination can there be but to pair up school with a garden? This week on In the Garden with UC Master Gardeners, MG and KUCI Staff Host Bill Brooks talks to fellow MG Joanne Byrd about the magic of School Gardens. School gardens are becoming popular in schools lately and many, many benefits have been discovered after connecting a garden curriculum with the student’s academic success. How is that happening? Bill and Joanne will discuss that plus planning/developing, installing, and maintaining the type of garden best suited for the particular school. The big consideration of FUNDING sources will be covered. Tips and tricks for building and sustaining the school garden will round out the program.

    School Gardens
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

An informative garden podcast and weekly radio show on 88.9 FM KUCI Irvine, California, hosted by University of California Master Gardeners of Orange County, California.  Podcasts cover home horticulture, pest management and sustainable landscape practices.  Listen to researched based information on all things gardening.  "In the Garden with UC Master Gardeners" airs Thursday mornings on 88.9 FM KUCI from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m.  

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