July 2025 Episodes
July 3, 2925
Jen Nelson & Chuck Voigt drop by the studio to beat the heat and to discuss some of the fun things they've been growing in their gardens this year.
July 10, 2025
This week we're popping in at a small family owned flower farm in Seymore, Illinois where you can get your daylily fix in a big way! The Blooming Idiot is a lily lover's dream offering hundreds of different and unique daylilies in every shade and size you can imagine. Ben Montez brought his dream to life a little over 10 years ago when he opened this farm. We'll tell you when, where and how to plant and care for this low-maintenance beauties so you can enjoy them in your landscape for years to come!
July 24, 2025
This week on Mid American Gardener, we're heading out to Sola Gratia Farm in Urbana, IL! Join us as we explore what’s growing on the farm this season—from juicy tomatoes and crisp greens to sweet blackberries, beans, and more. We’ll show you how to harvest herbs at their peak, learn how to grow melons vertically on a trellis, and discover the magic of creating a sunflower teepee! Plus, we’ll hear from the folks behind the farm about their mission, community impact, and sustainable growing practices.
July 31, 2025
This week on Mid-American Gardener, host Tinisha Spain welcomes longtime panelists John Bodensteiner and Jim Appleby into the studio to discuss late summer gardening. John shows off his show-stopping perennial hibiscus that’s as big as a dinner plate, and delves into his latest bonsai project using elephant bush. Later, Jim tackles insect issues, including damage to small shrubs caused by nymphs, and Jim also discusses herbicide drift and you might be surprised how far those chemicals can actually travel. Later, advice on pest prevention, plant care, and the joys of growing native species like buttonbush.
