A Rich Spot of Earth

Peaches, Biennials, and Herbs

It's August at Monticello. We’ve been grateful for a bit more rain than last month, but the heat continues to challenge us in the garden. On the bright side, August means

Drought, Beneficial Critters, and Olive Dreams

It's July at Monticello, and it’s been exceptionally hot and dry this year. We’ve got some gorgeous flowers in bloom--marigolds, blackberry lilies, globe amaranth, and hi

Roses, Strawberries, Tulip Poplars and Fringe Trees

This month we focus on a classic: the garden rose. We also talk tiny strawberries and look at two native trees that are flowering right now. Featuring Peggy Cornett, Cura

Fruit Grafting and Jefferson's Favorite Garden Nurseries

According to a gardening manual from Jefferson’s time, April is the month to graft fruit trees. So in this episode, we cut into the practice of grafting and explain it's

Gardening Granddaughters, Hyacinths, and Tree Clumps

It's March at Monticello and the natural world is starting to wake up. Bloodroot, Lenten rose, hyacinths, peach and pear trees are all in bloom. As Jefferson put it, "Spr

Gardens of Enslaved Families, Pruning

This month we look at the gardens enslaved families tended for themselves to supplement rations and provide additional income, and discuss how these small gardens figured

Greenhouses, Historic and Modern

The crew from Gardens and Grounds here discusses Monticello's modern, historic, and unrealized greenhouses, and share tips and techniques for caring for your plants durin

Winter Interest, Holiday Decorating, and Wreaths!

Winter not only brings cold weather to Monticello, it offers two special ways to experience the house and surrounding grounds. Our Holiday Evening Tours present rare oppo

Bulbs, Pumpkins, and Woody Plants

You might think November at Monticello would be a quiet time of year in the garden, but far from it. In this episode, we look at planting -- and eating! -- spring-bloomin

Asters, Squash, Fall Foliage, and Wine

It's October at Monticello, and there’s color everywhere, from the reds, yellows and golds of the fall leaves to the pinks and purples of our tall asters to the oranges a

Seed Saving and Fall Planting

It's September at Monticello, and we're still harvesting summer vegetables, like tomatoes and okra. But we're also preparing for fall crops, and soon we'll be seeing shoo

Tomatoes, Shade, and Honey

Jefferson wrote that in the hot Virginia summers, "shade is our Elysium." In this episode of "A Rich Spot of Earth," we look at how Jefferson prized shade, how he used it

Water, Lewis and Clark Plants, American Chestnut

In this episode of "A Rich Spot of Earth" we talk about water: how water was collected and used at Monticello and how to properly water your own plants. We also discuss s

Vining Plants, Weeds, and Summer Flowering Trees

In this episode of "A Rich Spot of Earth" we talk about vining plants, self-sowing annuals, and trees that flower in the summer. We also tackle a less pleasant topic: wee

Bees, Peonies, and Warm-weather Vegetables

The arrival of May this year at Monticello has brought mild weather and decent rain -- perfect conditions for growing plants. In this episode of A Rich Spot of Earth, we

April Tulips and Flowering Trees

April is tulip month at Monticello! In this episode of A Rich Spot of Earth, we celebrate the return of our favorite tulips and share our bulb-planting practices and sour

March Traditions - Bare Root Plants and Spring Ephemerals

This month on A Rich Spot of Earth, we look at the practice of shipping and planting bare root plants, a Monticello March tradition. We also feature three of our favorite

A Rich Spot of Earth — Sowing

This month on A Rich Spot of Earth, we look at seed sowing, the coming of the new growing season, winter bulbs, nematodes, plants that build soil, plants that spoil soil,

Introducing A Rich Spot of Earth — Seeds

Welcome to A Rich Spot of Earth! Monticello's podcast about Thomas Jefferson, gardening, and the natural world. In this inaugural episode, Monticello's gardeners and grou

Amaranths, Garden Pests, and Ginkgos

June in the Monticello gardens offers a rich array of plants in bloom from Bachelors Buttons and Canterbury Bells to Chives and Cardoons. This time on “A Rich Spot of Ear