Tinisha Spain welcomes Ella Maxwell and Karen Ruckle for a wide ranging winter gardening conversation that proves February is anything but quiet in the garden.

The Climbing Onion

Ella introduces a striking plant known as the climbing onion. Native to South Africa, it looks like a bulb sitting on top of the soil with delicate vines stretching upward. Despite its name, it is not an onion at all. It is a succulent with a scaly bulb and it requires very little maintenance. It goes dormant, needs watering only about once a month, and thrives on a bit of neglect.

Valentine's Day Bouquet Arrangements 

With Valentine’s Day approaching, the conversation turns to cut flower care. Karen shares practical advice for keeping bouquets fresh. Stems should be cut immediately when you bring flowers home, and yes floral food makes a difference.

Snow Damage

Winter weather brings its own challenges. Snow covered branches can look beautiful, but heavy accumulation can damage evergreens and shrubs. The panel discusses ways to protect plants from heavy snow loads, including gently removing excess snow and even wrapping vulnerable shrubs to prevent breakage.

Forcing Spring Flowering Branches

The show also explores forcing spring flowering branches indoors. Magnolia, witch hazel, redbud, lilac, and flowering dogwood branches can be cut and brought inside to bloom early. Stems should be pounded slightly to improve water uptake, placed in water, and covered loosely with plastic to maintain humidity.

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