The Evergreen Thumb

Clean Plant Center Northwest: Protecting Fruit Trees, Grapes, and Hops

What does it take to protect important crops from harmful plant pathogens? In this episode of The Evergreen Thumb, we explore the work of the Clean Plant Center Northwest

Bulb Season: Setting Up Your Garden for Colorful Spring Blooms

Fall may feel like the end of the gardening season, but for many spring-flowering plants, it's just the beginning. In this episode of The Evergreen Thumb, Erin explores

Cover Crops: The Easy Way to Improve Your Soil

Cover crops can protect and improve garden soil during the time of year when our gardens are resting. In this episode, Erin talks with Twinflower Wilkie, a WSU Extension

Research-Based Gardening Advice: What Does It Mean?

Every gardener has encountered advice that promises amazing results, from family traditions passed down through generations to the latest trend making the rounds on socia

How to Clean Up Your Fall Garden to Support Overwintering Insects

In this episode of The Evergreen Thumb, Erin Hoover chats with Julie Banken, a Master Gardener with a background in entomology, about creating pollinator-friendly gardens

Garden Mistakes and Lessons Learned Over Time

Every gardener has decisions they would make again…and a few they probably wouldn't. In this episode, Erin Hoover reflects on the gardening choices that paid off, the o

How to Keep Gardening Fun and Safe As We Age

Gardening changes as we do. Tasks that once felt easy may take more planning, different tools, or a new approach. In this episode of The Evergreen Thumb, we talk about pr

Gardening When Water is Scarce with Lisa Taylor

In this episode, Lisa Taylor returns to share tips on saving water while gardening. Lisa focuses on how being intentional with water use improves soil health, efficient w

From Tubers to Blooms: A Practical Guide to Growing Dahlias

In this episode of The Evergreen Thumb, we talk with Master Gardener Ed Adams about growing dahlias in Western Washington, including what it takes to manage a large colle

The Hidden World of Insect Collections and Native Bees

In this episode of The Evergreen Thumb, we talk with Dr. Joel Gardner from the WSU M.T. James Entomological Collection about native bees, including Dialictus sweat bees,

How to Make Gardens More Accessible In Every Sense with Monica Meyer

Explore the development of a sensory garden designed to be accessible and therapeutic for neurodivergent individuals, veterans with PTSD, and others with sensory sensitiv

Mastering Slug Control: Strategies for Gardeners in the PNW with Diana Wisen

Slugs and snails are a constant frustration for gardeners in Western Washington, but trying to eliminate them completely isn't the goal, and it's not realistic. In this

Emerald Ash Borer: The Truth About A Hidden Threat to Washington's Forests

In this episode, Patrick Schults, WSU Extension forester, discusses the threat of emerald ash borer, an invasive insect that poses a significant risk to Washington's fore

Top 10 Gardening Tips for 2026

In this solo episode, Erin shares her top 10 gardening tips for 2026. These are practical shifts that can make your garden easier to manage while helping plants handle st

Free Public Gardens of Washington: Yakima Area Arboretum

In this conversation, Colleen Adams-Schuppe, the executive director of the Yakima Area Arboretum, shares her journey and the history of the arboretum, highlighting its un

Native Bees in Your Yard Are Doing Important Work

Most gardeners recognize honey bees, but in Washington, there are over 600 species of native bees doing much of the pollination work in our landscapes. In this conversa

How to Think Like a Vegetable Gardener

Good vegetable gardens aren't built by following rules; they're built by paying attention. In this episode, we step back from prescriptive advice and focus on how experie

Free Public Gardens of Washington: Bellevue Botanical Garden

What does it take to steward a public garden in the middle of a growing city? This episode explores how Bellevue Botanical Garden blends design, ecology, and community pa

Vegetable Crop Rotation Secrets to Save Time and Soil

Are you looking to boost your vegetable garden's productivity while keeping soil healthy and pests under control? In this episode, Erin dives into practical crop rotation

A Short Holiday Interlude

We're taking a break from the podcast this week for the holidays.  We'll be back on January 6 with a new episode on vegetable crop rotation.  Happy New Year!