9 episodes
What the Heck is in my Garden? Zac Arkley-Smith
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A sporadically timed and produced podcast that will cover the omnipresent question of: what the heck is in my garden. Now of course not everyone will have a garden, but they might have a front lawn, a balcony with potted plants or even a slightly withering succulent hidden away at the back of the desk. Obviously, there are alot of things in a garden ranging from ants to zebra slugs, acacia to zinnia, from A to Z, which is why we will be dedicating each episode to one particular species or group of organisms from our backyards.
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9: Dandelions (Taraxacum officinale)
In this episode of What the Heck is in my Garden? We cover possibly one of the most recognisable plants across Earth's surface: the Dandelion.
Could this weed be nothing more than an unassuming yellow globe? If you ate it would you die? How did a key component of dandelion pave the way for the modern tire industry? And are your garden dandelions protecting you from wayward witches?
All this and more on this episode of What the Heck is in my Garden? Dandelion
Music Acknowledgements:
Jar of Flies - My Life
Kevin MacLeod - Backed Vibes Clean
Axletree - The Silent Grove
Latché Swing - Hungaria
SCP-x5x - Kevin MacLeod
Ethereal Relaxation - Kevin MacLeod -
Episode 8: Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus)
In the 2023 return of What the Heck is in my Garden? We cover the perfect accompaniment to a Sunday Roast: Rosemary.
From its humble origins in the Mediterranean, rosemary is as home in the kitchen as it is in ancient Roman temples, fighting off-snake bites and protecting gardeners from wicked fairies.
But how can one plant be so versatile? And more importantly, do the claims of rosemary-induced miracles hold up to modern-day investigation?
All this and more on this episode of What the Heck is in my Garden? Rosemary
SHOWNOTES:
References
Music Acknowledgements:
Jar of Flies - My Life
Kevin MacLeod - Backed Vibes Clean
Axletree - The Silent Grove
Latché Swing - Hungaria -
Episode 7: Wasps
This month on What the Heck is in my Garden? We ask what the Heck is a Wasp?
Are they simply serial bee killers? or are they important and irreplaceable members of our ecosystem? Are wasps cruel killers or just doing what it takes to survive in the wild?
What makes a wasp sting so painful? What was up with that talk of Murder Hornets? Is a Crypt-Keeper wasp a mausoleum real estate agent or a creature capable of piloting other wasps like a mech suit to make a more comfortable home?
All this and more on this month’s episode: Wasps!
Show Notes: https://docs.google.com/document/d/16Orodvt5Rjw4c4bj2SLf-lHjvVGGUlaT-lkTL99fauc/edit?usp=sharing
Music Acknowledgements:
Jar of Flies - My Life
Kevin MacLeod - Faster Does It
Kevin MacLeod - Backed Vibes Clean
Axletree - The Silent Grove
Axletree - Drops of Melting Snow (after Holst, Abroad as I was walking) -
Episode 6: Nightshade (Solanceae)
This month on What the Heck is in my Garden? We look at the dark and conniving history of the nightshade family!
With a royal list of poisonings, secret ingredients in medieval witches flying ointment and the answer to the question we’ve always wanted to know; how many potatoes can I eat in one sitting before I become violently ill.
All this and much much more on this month’s episode of What the Heck is in my Garden!
Music Acknowledgements:
Jar of Flies - My Life
Kevin MacLeod - Faster Does It
Kevin MacLeod - Backed Vibes Clean
Axletree - The Silent Grove
Axletree - Drops of Melting Snow (after Holst, Abroad as I was walking)
Links:
Jam Recipe
https://vitalveda.com.au/learn/kakamachi/
Nightshade Episode References
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1DSj4ICUmX2Rmyu1i6ovE5I4dTyemIa5wdCKqBlTEIBo/edit?usp=sharing -
Episode 5: Myna/Miner Bird (Acridotheres/ Manorina)
This week on What the Heck is in my Garden? We cover the airborne menace that is the miner bird, or is the mynah bird? Noisy or common? Is there any difference?
Do these populous birds deserve the title of ‘cane toads of the skies’ or are they deserving of a more dangerous title?
Can miner birds kill cows?
All this and much much more will be answered on today's episode of What the Heck is in my Garden?
Links:
ABC Survey of greatest pest:
https://web.archive.org/web/20121109021837/http://www.abc.net.au/tv/wildwatch/results/award.htm
Mynah derived from Madana:
https://www.encyclopedia.com/literature-and-arts/biographies/asian-and-middle-eastern-art-biographies/mynah-birds
Aggressive enough to attack cows:
https://www.step.org.au/index.php/item/60-the-noisy-miner-a-friend-not-a-pest
Noisy miner birds deemed too populous:
https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/ockhamsrazor/sue-taylor-cull-noisy-miner/7418506
Canberra Miner bird cull:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/may/15/indian-mynah-bird-australia-cull
Woodland Miner Bird cull:
https://www.nespthreatenedspecies.edu.au/news-and-media/latest-news/to-cull-or-not-to-cull-quieting-the-noisy-miner
Same fine for killing miner birds as wedge tailed eagles:
https://www.smh.com.au/environment/conservation/tougher-penalties-likely-for-illegal-killing-of-wildlife-20210211-p571ig.html#:~:text=In%20NSW%2C%20corporations%20are%20liable,the%20illegal%20killing%20of%20wildlife. -
Episode 4: Honey Bee (Apis mellifera)
On our first animal episode of What the Heck is in my Garden? We in investigate the rather debaucherous life of one of the world’s most popular insects; the honey bee. We’ll take a look into the antics of the hive, royal hierarchy and the roles each bee has.But we’ll also check up on what the Queen gets up to on her first night out on the town and answer the ever-present question; can a bee hold its liquor?
All this and more on what makes our first animal and bee episode of What the Heck is in my Garden?
Bee Episode Show Notes:
Gene Recombination Explainer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlnUNmfGn7I
Why Unfertilized queens only can only birth male eggs: https://www.honeymell.com/en/bees/25-reproduction-of-honey-bees
Bee Waggle Dance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12Q8FfyLLso