Master Gardener, Emily Clem, and Extension Agent, Kathy Terry-Warner, dig deep on the subject of invasive plants. Many of the invasives were originally planted for their ornamental look (think Wisteria, Nandina, Bradford Pear, English Ivy, etc.) but have since taken over and now threaten our native plants and wildlife. ACES (Alabama Cooperative Extension System) has designated 2026 as the Year of Invasive Plants! They encourage both education and eradication and are hosting a number of events for the public to participate in getting rid of these unruly plants in communities and backyard landscapes.

Links:
https://www.aces.edu/
https://mastergardeners-limestonecountyalabama.org/
https://www.alcpl.org/

https://www.aces.edu/blog/topics/forestry-wildlife/2026-year-of-invasive-plants/
https://www.weedwrangle.org/
https://northalabama.wildones.org/events/

Have questions about this episode? Email askalibrarian@alcpl.org
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Master Gardener Emily Clem talks with County Extension Agent, Lilly Oaks, about sun and shade mapping your garden. Proper planning is the key to a thriving yard and mapping is the first step. Identifying which spaces have the most sun, shade, drainage, and wind exposure is essential to know which plants will work in your landscape. Lilly highlights tools like the ShadeMap app to track the sun at your location. She also recommends North Carolina State Extension's plant tool to identify plants for specific conditions. Bottom line: knowing your yard's sun and shade positions can save you time, money, and effort in gardening.

Links:
https://www.aces.edu/ (Alabama Cooperative Extension)
https://mastergardeners-limestonecountyalabama.org/
https://www.alcpl.org/

https://shademap.app/
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/

Have questions about this episode? Email askalibrarian@alcpl.org
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Master Gardener Emily Clem welcomes MG Anita Reeves to talk about houseplants. With over 100 plants in her collection, Anita shares her tips on soil, lighting, potting, fertilizing and more. She talks about the benefits of using LED lights and cautions against overwatering. She advises researching plants before you buy and then give them time to adapt to their new surroundings. Indoor houseplant gardening is rewarding and less physically demanding than outdoor gardening, boosting both mood and air quality.

Links:
https://www.aces.edu/ (Alabama Cooperative Extension)
https://mastergardeners-limestonecountyalabama.org/
https://www.alcpl.org/

Have questions about this episode? Email askalibrarian@alcpl.org
Music by Pixabay