Keeping It Green: Recent Episodes
Penn State Extension
Our landscapes have many functions; they add beauty to our surroundings, provide a place to recreate, reduce stress, and clean and cool the surrounding environment. They also provide pollen and nectar for pollinators and provide habitat for birds. Keeping It Green is a weekly podcast in which Penn State extension educators talk with ornamental plant professionals and enthusiasts who add beauty and function to our landscapes. Topics will range from design, installation and maintenance, plant selection, pests, and other current horticulture topics.
In this episode of Keeping It Green, the team sits down with Jeff Jabco, Executive Director of the Scott Arboretum and Gardens, to explore his horticulture journey and the evolution of the Swarthmore Arboretum and Gardens. Jeff shares how the Scott Arboretum began as the Scott Foundation—established in 1929 by Swarthmore College alumni Mr. and Mrs. Scott to showcase exceptional plants for Delaware Valley home gardeners—and how it transformed into a dynamic space that blends curated plant collections with thoughtfully designed garden environments. He explains why “Gardens” was added to the name and how it better reflects the Arboretum’s mission to connect with the public. Jeff also discusses his deep ties to Penn State, where he earned his horticulture degree, launched his career with Penn State Extension, and later collaborated on research involving growing degree days and green roof systems. And what exactly is “Peony Palooza”? Tune in to find out.
Episode Hosts/Speakers:
Margaret Pickoff, Penn State Extension (host)
Sandy Feather, Penn State Extension (host)
Jeff Jabco, Executive Director of Scott Arboretum and Gardens
Photo Credit: Becky Robert
Keeping It Green has an email: keepingitgreen@psu.edu
Do you have a suggestion for a future episode? Want more information on something we talked about? Send us your questions and comments, or just say hello! We would love to hear from you!
Check out Penn State Extension's Green Industry Team website!
Wendy’s journey into entomology began with outdoor adventures alongside her dad—hunting, fishing, and exploring nature. That foundation deepened during a unique high school program located inside a zoo. That experience sparked a growing interest in insects, which she carried through undergraduate into graduate school at Michigan State University to a quantitative ecology lab rich with butterfly data. In this episode, she explores how volunteers—many trained through grassroots efforts—have contributed tens of thousands of hours to monitoring butterfly species, helping build one of the most comprehensive insect datasets in the country. The conversation touches on population trends, habitat needs, and the role of land use in shaping insect communities.
Episode Hosts/Speakers:
Margaret Pickoff, Penn State Extension (host)
Tom Butzler, Penn State Extension (host)
Tim Abbey, Penn State Extension (host)
Wendy Leuenberger, graduate student at Michigan State University’s Zipkin Quantitative Ecology Lab
Photo caption – butterfly on Aesculus parviflora (bottlebrush buckeye), photo Tom Butzler
Keeping It Green has an email: keepingitgreen@psu.edu
Do you have a suggestion for a future episode? Want more information on something we talked about? Send us your questions and comments, or just say hello! We would love to hear from you!
Check out Penn State Extension's Green Industry Team website!
In this episode of Keeping It Green, the team explores the healing power of plants with guest Kelly Warnick—founder and owner of Horticulture 4 Health and President-Elect of the American Horticultural Therapy Association. Kelly shares her journey from working in greenhouse production and retail garden centers she starts to observe the connection between people and plants. She opens up about a personal experience involving a family member and their encounter with a healing garden. Backed by science, Kelly highlights the therapeutic benefits of plants—from speeding up recovery times and boosting serotonin levels to lowering blood pressure. She also walks us through the essential elements of a therapeutic garden, emphasizing the importance of sensory-rich plants: soft textures like lamb’s ear, fragrant herbs like lavender, vibrant colors, and even the soothing sounds of grasses swaying in the breeze.
Episode Hosts/Speakers:
Margaret Pickoff, Penn State Extension (host)
Sandy Feather, Penn State Extension (host)
Tim Abbey, Penn State Extension (host)
Kelly Warnick, founder and owner of Horticulture 4 Health and President-Elect of the American Horticultural Therapy Association
Caption – photo provided by Tom Butzler
Keeping It Green has an email: keepingitgreen@psu.edu
Do you have a suggestion for a future episode? Want more information on something we talked about? Send us your questions and comments, or just say hello! We would love to hear from you!
Check out Penn State Extension's Green Industry Team website!
The Keeping It Green team travels to Oregon’s Willamette Valley to interview Leigh Geschwill, Owner and Sales Manager of F & B Farms and Nursery. Leigh offers a behind-the-scenes look at her family’s third-generation business, which includes a wholesale greenhouse operation producing annuals, organic herb and vegetable starts, potted flowers, fall décor, and poinsettias for the Pacific Northwest.
On the farm side, F & B also manages commercial hop production and runs a small, seasonal garden center serving the local community.
Leigh, a past president of both the Oregon Association of Nurseries and the Horticultural Research Institute (HRI), shares her leadership journey and explains HRI’s role in funding critical research—from plant disease resistance to consumer behavior—through a $20 million self-funded endowment and strategic government partnerships.
The conversation also touches on labor shortages in the ornamental plant industry, compares the collaborative nature of Oregon’s ag groups with Pennsylvania’s more fragmented structure, and explores how to inspire the next generation to pursue careers in horticulture.
Episode Hosts/Speakers: Sandy Feather, Penn State Extension (host)
Tim Abbey, Penn State Extension (host)
Leigh Geschwill, Owner and Sales Manager of F & B Farms and Nursery
Caption – The Willamette Valley’s growing conditions, mild and moist winters with dry summers make for great seed production and harvesting conditions. This is a picture of one of the research facilities that looks at qualities and disease resistance. Photo: Tom Butzler, Penn State
Keeping It Green has an email: keepingitgreen@psu.edu
Do you have a suggestion for a future episode? Want more information on something we talked about? Send us your questions and comments, or just say hello! We would love to hear from you!
Check out Penn State Extension's Green Industry Team website!
Join the Keeping It Green team as they sit down with one of Penn State Extension’s newest hires, Kelly Piccioni. Kelly shares her family's deep-rooted history in horticulture, starting with her great-grandfather, who bought Christmas trees by the railcar and sold them during the Great Depression—eventually leading the family into nursery production. A graduate of Delaware Valley College, Kelly has explored a wide range of horticulture fields, from teaching high school students to diving into floral design, which sparked a creative side hustle. She also shares her thoughts on engaging young adults in horticulture and the future of the industry.
Episode Hosts/Speakers:
Margaret Pickoff, Penn State Extension (host)
Sandy Feather, Penn State Extension (host)
Kelly Piccioni, Penn State Extension
Caption – photo provided by Kelly Piccioni
Keeping It Green has an email: keepingitgreen@psu.edu
Do you have a suggestion for a future episode? Want more information on something we talked about? Send us your questions and comments, or just say hello! We would love to hear from you!
Check out Penn State Extension's Green Industry Team website!
Join the Keeping It Green team as they chat with one of Penn State Extension’s newest hires, Patricia Prade. She studied forestry within the Brazilian university system with no interest in insects—until something changed. We'll explore what sparked her newfound fascination, her research on the invasive Brazilian pepper tree in Florida, and the role of classical biological control in managing invasive species.
Episode Hosts/Speakers:
Margaret Pickoff, Penn State Extension (host)
Sandy Feather, Penn State Extension (host)
Patricia Prade, Penn State Extension
Picture credit: Marcelo Vitorino
Keeping It Green has an email: keepingitgreen@psu.edu
Do you have a suggestion for a future episode? Want more information on something we talked about? Send us your questions and comments, or just say hello! We would love to hear from you!
Check out Penn State Extension's Green Industry Team website!
Join the Keeping It Green team as they chat with Tom Bechtel, owner and CEO of Heritage Lawn and Landscape. Tom shares insights into the wide range of services his company provides across three counties in south-central Pennsylvania. He also delves into his strategies for building a strong workforce, focusing on employee retention through education and empowerment. Plus, discover how a chance meeting with Canadian provincial foresters in Algonquin Provincial Park sparked Tom's lifelong passion for horticulture.
Episode Hosts/Speakers:
Margaret Pickoff, Penn State Extension (host)
Tim Abbey, Penn State Extension (host)
Tom Butzler, Penn State Extension (host)
Sandy Feather, Penn State Extension (host)
Tom Bechtel, owner and CEO of Heritage Lawn and Landscape
Keeping It Green has an email: keepingitgreen@psu.edu
Do you have a suggestion for a future episode? Want more information on something we talked about? Send us your questions and comments, or just say hello! We would love to hear from you!
Check out Penn State Extension's Green Industry Team website!
Join us as Alyssa shares her journey in horticulture, which began with childhood greenhouse visits alongside her great-grandmother. In this episode, she talks about how her passion blossomed through school, eventually leading her to study horticulture at Penn College. Alyssa's career took root at Hershey Gardens, where she started as the Children’s Garden caretaker and, over 15 years, grew into the role of Horticultural Manager. Now, she oversees popular spaces like the Rose, Sensory, and Japanese gardens and leads a partnership with Penn State, testing new plants at Hershey Gardens.
Episode Hosts/Speakers:
Margaret Pickoff, Penn State Extension (host)
Tom Butzler, Penn State Extension (host)
Alyssa Hagerman, horticultural manager at Hershey Gardens
Photo credit: Tom Butzler, Penn State Extension
Keeping It Green has an email: keepingitgreen@psu.edu
Do you have a suggestion for a future episode? Want more information on something we talked about? Send us your questions and comments, or just say hello! We would love to hear from you!
Check out Penn State Extension's Green Industry Team website!
In this episode, we chat with Andrew Bunting, vice president of Horticulture at the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS). Andrew discusses the history of PHS and its four main priorities: creating healthy living environments, increasing access to fresh food, expanding economic opportunity, and building meaningful social connections. He also reviews some of their major programs, such as the Gold Medal Plants and the Philadelphia Flower Show. Most intriguing is their vacant lot program. This initiative uses gardening and landscaping to clean, green, and maintain vacant lots in 13,000 lots to develop green spaces in urban areas. PHS partners with contractors and community groups to turn vacant lots into public green spaces, creating lasting benefits such as improved mental health.
Episode Hosts/Speakers:
Margaret Pickoff, Penn State Extension (host)
Tim Abbey, Penn State Extension (host)
Andrew Bunting, Vice President of Horticulture at the Pennsylvania Horticultural Association
Photo credit: Pennsylvania Horticulture Society
Keeping It Green has an email: keepingitgreen@psu.edu
Do you have a suggestion for a future episode? Want more information on something we talked about? Send us your questions and comments, or just say hello! We would love to hear from you!
Check out Penn State Extension's Green Industry Team website!
In this episode, we sit down with Jennifer Shaffer, Director of the Organic Land Care Program at the Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA). Jennifer discusses how NOFA's mission of sustainable farming extends to their Organic Land Care Program, which aims to bring organic farming principles to landscapes. This program is designed for landscaping professionals and offers the only internationally recognized accreditation for organic land care. Jennifer shares insights into how the program educates land care providers on organic practices and sets industry standards, and highlights the program’s expansion from the Northeast to regions across the United States, including the Southeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Midwest.
Episode Hosts/Speakers: Margaret Pickoff, Penn State Extension (host)
Tim Abbey, Penn State Extension (host)
Jennifer Shaffer, Director of the Organic Land Care Program at the Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA)
Caption – Photo: Tim Abbey, Penn State
Keeping It Green has an email: keepingitgreen@psu.edu
Do you have a suggestion for a future episode? Want more information on something we talked about? Send us your questions and comments, or just say hello! We would love to hear from you!
Check out Penn State Extension's Green Industry Team website!
Join the Keeping It Green podcast as they explore the role of a generalist in horticulture education with Penn State extension horticulturist Emelie Swackhamer. For decades, Emelie has been helping farmers, growers, homeowners, and landscapers with plant issues. In this episode, she shares her expertise on problems like the spotted lanternfly and delves into the challenges facing our native beech tree, particularly beech leaf disease, including the life cycle of the disease and how nematodes are spread. The discussion expands to address invasive species, pondering how to deal with them amidst ongoing trade and the movement of firewood. Are we destined for constant invasions of pests in the future? The crew philosophizes on the topic, exploring potential solutions and the realities of invasive management. And how does Emelie pass the time during her long walks from Maine to Florida?
Episode Hosts/Speakers: Margaret Pickoff, Penn State Extension (host)
Sandy Feather, Penn State Extension (host)
Emelie Swackhamer, Penn State Extension
Picture caption: Symptoms of beech leaf disease include darkening and thickening of the tissue between leaf veins that are most visible when viewed against the light sky. Photo: Emelie Swackhamer, Penn State
Keeping It Green has an email: keepingitgreen@psu.edu
Do you have a suggestion for a future episode? Want more information on something we talked about? Send us your questions and comments, or just say hello! We would love to hear from you!
Check out Penn State Extension's Green Industry Team website!
Weeks of rain and several days of warm weather have sparked an array of color and growth in Pennsylvania's landscapes. On the latest episode of The Green Industry podcast, our team examines the changes in plant and insect life occurring statewide. We delve into the prevalence of invasive species and wonder if there is connection between the uptick in 'mulch volcanoes' and social media.
Episode Hosts/Speakers:
Margaret Pickoff, Penn State Extension (host)
Tom Butzler, Penn State Extension (host)
Tim Abbey, Penn State Extension (host)
Sandy Feather, Penn State Extension (host)
Caption – A mulch volcano around the trunk of a shade tree. Photo courtesy of Tom Butzler
Keeping It Green has an email: keepingitgreen@psu.edu
Do you have a suggestion for a future episode? Want more information on something we talked about? Send us your questions and comments, or just say hello! We would love to hear from you!
Check out Penn State Extension's Green Industry Team website!
Little Swatara Creek Flowers was born when Christine Williams decided to grow the flowers for her daughter's wedding on their family farm. This choice led to a shift, with cut flowers gradually taking over parts of the land traditionally dedicated to livestock and crops. Join us as we dive into how this business came to life, highlighting the importance of soil health and the knowledge Christine acquired to kickstart her journey into cut flower farming.
Margaret Pickoff, Penn State Extension (host)
Tom Butzler, Penn State Extension (host)
Christine Williams, owner of Little Swatara Creek Flowers
Image: Sunflowers are just one of the crops grown by Little Swatara Creek Flowers. Photo courtesy of Tom Butzler
Keeping It Green has an email: keepingitgreen@psu.edu
Do you have a suggestion for a future episode? Want more information on something we talked about? Send us your questions and comments, or just say hello! We would love to hear from you!
Check out Penn State Extension's Green Industry Team website!
The Green Industry podcast team jumps into mid-west horticulture with Michelle Catania, the Green Industry Outreach Coordinator at Morton Arboretum. This interview offers a journey through time, exploring the legacy of the Morton family, pivotal in the inception of Arbor Day and the establishment of the sprawling 1800-acre Morton Arboretum. The interview extends beyond the Morton family, exploring the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 and its impact on urban soil. The discussion addresses challenges beyond Chicago's boundaries, focusing on the hurdles prairie soils pose in nurturing tree growth. And what does a boat anchor have to do with planting trees?
Margaret Pickoff, Penn State Extension (host)
Tim Abbey, Penn State Extension (host)
Michelle Catania, Morton Arboretum’s Green Industry Outreach Coordinator
Image: Urban soils can be tough on trees in cities throughout the US. Vinnie Cotrone, Penn State Extension
Keeping It Green has an email: keepingitgreen@psu.edu
Do you have a suggestion for a future episode? Want more information on something we talked about? Send us your questions and comments, or just say hello! We would love to hear from you!
Check out Penn State Extension's Green Industry Team website!
Join us as Art and Abe Van Wingerden delve into their upbringing within the greenhouse business their parents pioneered. What began as a modest venture has blossomed into a sprawling enterprise spanning 450 acres across two locations, complemented by over 50 grower partners. Their conversation ranges from labor dynamics, where they prioritize fostering a world-class employee experience, to their commitment to sustainability practices like water retention and innovative energy solutions (ever wondered how they heat the largest single-story building in the US?). They also discuss their decision-making process regarding crop selection, facilitated by public and private trial gardens, and a relationship with plant breeders and consumers. But it's not all business; basketball emerges as both a stress reliever and a way to strengthen family bonds.
Margaret Pickoff, Penn State Extension (host)
Tim Abbey, Penn State Extension (host)
Art Van Wingerden, owners of Metrolina Greenhouses
Abe Van Wingerden, owners of Metrolina Greenhouses
Image: Spring plants and hanging baskets are nearing readiness for shipment from Metrolina Greenhouses. The hanging baskets are currently undergoing automated watering on a conveyor system. Photo by Krystal Snyder
Keeping It Green has an email: keepingitgreen@psu.edu
Do you have a suggestion for a future episode? Want more information on something we talked about? Send us your questions and comments, or just say hello! We would love to hear from you!
Check out Penn State Extension's Green Industry Team website!
Join the Keeping It Green podcast team as we talk with Sam Hoadley, the Manager of Horticultural Research at Mt. Cuba Center. Discover how a small organization makes a significant impact! During our conversation, we delve into their research trials, where the team assesses native plants and associated cultivars for their horticultural and ecological significance. And how many young children realize their passion for the plant world early on? Listen to Sam's unique journey and insights.
Episode Hosts/Speakers:
Margaret Pickoff, Penn State Extension (host)
Tim Abbey, Penn State Extension (host)
Sam Hoadley, Manager of Horticultural Research at Mt. Cuba Center
Image: The Mt. Cuba Center conducted a four-year trial assessing the horticultural characteristics, robustness, and suitability of 70 various species and cultivars of Carex plants. Carex muskingumensis ‘Oehme’ was rated among the top performers of this evaluation. Photo of Carex muskingumensis ‘Oehme’ by Tom Butzler, Penn State Extension
Keeping It Green has an email: keepingitgreen@psu.edu
Do you have a suggestion for a future episode? Want more information on something we talked about? Send us your questions and comments, or just say hello! We would love to hear from you!
Check out Penn State Extension's Green Industry Team website!
Join the podcast team as we trace Nancy Knauss' fascination with plants from an early age to leading horticulture tours across the world with her company, Xylem Excursions. Her philosophy is that these horticulture tours are a gateway to history, food, culture, and the connections that plants weave into our daily lives.
Episode Hosts/Speakers:
Margaret Pickoff, Penn State Extension (host)
Sandy Feather, Penn State Extension (host)
Nancy Knauss, Xylem Excursions
Image: 2023 Horticulture tour at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. Nancy Knauss, Xylem Excursion
Keeping It Green has an email: keepingitgreen@psu.edu
Do you have a suggestion for a future episode? Want more information on something we talked about? Send us your questions and comments, or just say hello! We would love to hear from you!
Check out Penn State Extension's Green Industry Team website!
Is it possible to talk about brown tree snakes, Creedence Clearwater Revival, owls, swimming pools, Guam, bees, and Furby stuffed animals in one podcast? The Keeping it Green podcast team pulled it off with the assistance of Penn State Entomology Postdoctoral Scholar Nash Turley. Join us as we talk to the globe-trotting ecologist Nash Turley and his adventures in the world of ecological research. We’ll also spend some time on his effort with the Pennsylvania bee monitoring program.
Margaret Pickoff, Penn State Extension (host)
Tom Butzler, Penn State Extension (host)
Tim Abbey, Penn State Extension (host)
Nash Turley, Penn State Entomology Postdoctoral Scholar
Image: Nash Turley explaining the finer points in netting bees. Photo: Val Sesler, Penn State Extension
Keeping It Green has an email: keepingitgreen@psu.edu
Do you have a suggestion for a future episode? Want more information on something we talked about? Send us your questions and comments, or just say hello! We would love to hear from you!
Check out Penn State Extension's Green Industry Team website!
Listeners are invited to explore disc golf courses' basic design and maintenance principles. With disc golf’s surging popularity, Penn State Extension Educator Glen Bupp discusses the unique aspects distinguishing disc golf courses from traditional ball golf counterparts. The team also looks at the pivotal issue of invasive species, showcasing how the management of disc golf courses serves as an opportunity to promote environmental stewardship and biodiversity.
And how can a simple sunflower seed spark a lifelong pursuit in horticulture?
Margaret Pickoff, Penn State Extension (host)
Tom Butzler, Penn State Extension (host)
Glen Bupp, Penn State Extension
Image: Disc golf basket, Hole #1, at Deer Lakes Disc Golf Course in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. Leaves can add beauty to the landscape even when not on the tree. Glen Bupp, Penn State Extension
Keeping It Green has an email: keepingitgreen@psu.edu
Do you have a suggestion for a future episode? Want more information on something we talked about? Send us your questions and comments, or just say hello! We would love to hear from you!
Check out Penn State Extension's Green Industry Team website!
Join the podcast team as they journey to Connecticut to chat with Mark Sellew of Prides Corner Farms. Mark shares the intriguing story of transitioning from greenhouse tomatoes to ornamentals 44 years ago. With four locations in Connecticut, the farm now cultivates 3,000 plant varieties and employs 700 during peak seasons. Mark unveils secrets to the operation's success, including insights into a Black Swan event. Tune in to what challenges Mark off the farm.
Margaret Pickoff, Penn State Extension (host)
Tim Abbey, Penn State Extension (host)
Mark Sellew, Prides Corner Farms
Image: Colorful sugar maple leaves can add beauty to the landscape even when not on the tree. Photo: Tom Butzler, Penn State Extension
Keeping It Green has an email: keepingitgreen@psu.edu
Do you have a suggestion for a future episode? Want more information on something we talked about? Send us your questions and comments, or just say hello! We would love to hear from you!
Check out Penn State Extension's Green Industry Team website!
Residential landscapers specialize in creating and maintaining outdoor spaces for individual homeowners, focusing on aesthetics and personalized design. In contrast, grounds managers of institutions oversee larger outdoor areas, emphasizing not only aesthetics but also safety and events. Listen to the interview with Hugh Weldon and Dan Bangert as they talk about their humble beginnings, falling off dump trucks and life in Ireland, and their journey managing institutional grounds. The two also explain the benefits of The Professional Grounds Management Society. And how does battery-powered equipment fit into their operations?
Margaret Pickoff, Penn State Extension (host)
Sandy Feather, Penn State Extension (host)
Hugh Weldon, Grounds Manager with Villanova University
Dan Bangert, Grounds Team Leader with Pennsylvania Hospital
Image: Maturing fruit of spicebush (Lindera benzoin) by Tom Butzler, Penn State Extension
Keeping It Green has an email: keepingitgreen@psu.edu
Do you have a suggestion for a future episode? Want more information on something we talked about? Send us your questions and comments, or just say hello! We would love to hear from you!
Check out Penn State Extension's Green Industry Team website!
The Keeping It Green podcast team takes a dive into the challenges faced during the summer growing season. Maybe the podcast title should have been "The Landscaping Apocalypse" instead of “Summer Wrap-Up?" The group had a realistic discussion about the invasive pests and ecological problems that plagued landscapes during these hot months. We wrap on a positive note, shifting focus to some of our favorite fall activities. (What is the Phantom Fall Fest?)
Margaret Pickoff, Penn State Extension (host)
Tom Butzler, Penn State Extension (host)
Tim Abbey, Penn State Extension (host)
Sandy Feather, Penn State Extension (host)
Photo: Over 300,000 acres of state-owned land in Pennsylvania were sprayed to manage spongy moth populations in 2023. Image courtesy of Tom Butzler, Penn State Extension
Keeping It Green has an email: keepingitgreen@psu.edu
Do you have a suggestion for a future episode? Want more information on something we talked about? Send us your questions and comments, or just say hello! We would love to hear from you!
Check out Penn State Extension's Green Industry Team website!
Pennsylvania has become a hot spot for tick-borne diseases with the dubious distinction of ranking #1 in the country for the number of Lyme disease cases per year. Amy Korman, a Penn State Educator, joins the podcast team to discuss the complex tick lifecycle, who is at most risk to exposure, and some management techniques. What is an accidental entomologist? And finally, why does Amy like to play in a really terrible orchestra?
Margaret Pickoff, Penn State Extension (host)
Tom Butzler, Penn State Extension (host)
Tim Abbey, Penn State Extension (host)
Amy Korman, Penn State Extension
Image: Each dot represents one case of Lyme disease. Note the concentration in Pennsylvania. Image courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Keeping It Green has an email: keepingitgreen@psu.edu
Do you have a suggestion for a future episode? Want more information on something we talked about? Send us your questions and comments, or just say hello! We would love to hear from you!
Check out Penn State Extension's Green Industry Team website!
From her origins in East Germany to her current role as the principal of Phyto Studio, Claudia West's story is intertwined with the significance of North American native plants. Tune in to today's podcast episode to unravel Claudia's remarkable journey and gain insights into her perspective on landscape design. For Claudia, landscape design transcends mere decoration; it serves as a conduit to amplify biological diversity. By seamlessly melding aesthetics with ecological richness, she perceives each design as an avenue to reintroduce people to the wonders of nature. And what is her favorite North American native plant?
Tim Abbey, Penn State Extension (host)
Tom Butzler, Penn State Extension (host)
Claudia West, Penn State Master Gardener, Co-Author of Planting in a Post-Wild World: Designing Plant Communities for Resilient Landscapes
Image: A curved walkway with benches allows visitors to the Pollinator and Bird Garden to cross over the pond in the Penn State Arboretum. The planting design was created by Claudia West with Phyto Studio. Photo by Patrick Mansell, Penn State
Keeping It Green has an email: keepingitgreen@psu.edu
Do you have a suggestion for a future episode? Want more information on something we talked about? Send us your questions and comments, or just say hello! We would love to hear from you!
Check out Penn State Extension's Green Industry Team website!
So how did a Nebraska farm girl, raised on an animal/row crop operation, become interested in horticulture? And what brought her to the East Coast? Tune in as Erin Kinley talks about her path from the farm to the coordinator of Penn State’s Master Gardener program in Eastern Pennsylvania. Plus, she’ll talk about the training and educational efforts of the 4,000-plus Master Gardener volunteer base. And what is the difference between a garden club and Master Gardener?
Margaret Pickoff, Penn State Extension (host)
Tom Butzler, Penn State Extension (host)
Erin Kinley, Penn State Area Master Gardener Coordinator
Master Gardener Manual
American Society for Horticultural Science National Award Winner!
In full color and with nearly 600 photographs, this 800-page hardback book provides basic horticultural knowledge in botany; plant propagation; soil health and fertilizer management; plant pathology and diseases; entomology; integrated pest management; lawn care; vegetable gardening; indoor, herbaceous, woody, and native plants; tree fruit and small fruit; weeds and invasive species; and pruning.
Order yours today!
Keeping It Green has an email: keepingitgreen@psu.edu
Do you have a suggestion for a future episode? Want more information on something we talked about? Send us your questions and comments, or just say hello! We would love to hear from you!
Check out Penn State Extension's Green Industry Team website!
The team ventures into the regulatory landscape of the horticulture industry with a conversation with Dr. Victoria Smith, the State Entomologist of Connecticut. One of the main roles of Vicky’s position is to address the perennial challenge of invasives. Why are some organisms tough to contain (emerald ash borer, spongy moth, etc.) and others, such as the Asian long-horned beetle, a regulatory success? One of the bread-and-butter plants for landscapes is boxwoods. Vicky talks about the devastation of boxwood blight to their nursery industry and how they recovered and emerged stronger on the other side. Plus, what insect keeps her and other regulatory officials up at night?
Keeping It Green has an email: keepingitgreen@psu.edu
Do you have a suggestion for a future episode? Want more information on something we talked about? Send us your questions and comments, or just say hello! We would love to hear from you!
Check out Penn State Extension's Green Industry Team website!
The podcast team gets together to kick around their thoughts on a variety of horticultural topics and asks several deep questions:
- Why are there all those planes flying around central Pennsylvania?
- What is stressing out the sycamores across the state, causing the leaves to turn ‘crispy’?
- And on the hunt for clues in arborvitae branch dieback.
Margaret Pickoff, Penn State Extension
Tom Butzler, Penn State Extension
Sandy Feather, Penn State Extension
Tim Abbey, Penn State Extension
Photo: Tom Butzler, Penn State Extension
Keeping It Green has an email: keepingitgreen@psu.edu
Do you have a suggestion for a future episode? Want more information on something we talked about? Send us your questions and comments, or just say hello! We would love to hear from you!
Check out Penn State Extension's Green Industry Team website!
The podcast team heads out to the southwest to chat with Tim Vela of United Veterans Construction and Landscape Solutions, Inc. Tim’s early exposure to horticulture started when his mother gave him the ‘keys’ to the push lawnmower and sent him off into the neighborhood to find some lawns that needed cutting. Many years later, he is now involved in the maintenance of commercial developments and colleges. Tim is also involved with the National Association of Landscape Professionals’ Veterans in Landscape Network. Tim chats about how it’s a win/win for everyone involved, from the companies that hire veterans to the veterans themselves.
Margaret Pickoff, Penn State Extension (host)
Tim Abbey, Penn State Extension (host)
Tim Vela, United Veterans Construction and Landscape Solutions, Inc., and member of the National Association of Landscape Professionals’ Veterans in Landscape Network
Photo: Tom Butzler, Penn State Extension
Keeping It Green has an email: keepingitgreen@psu.edu
Do you have a suggestion for a future episode? Want more information on something we talked about? Send us your questions and comments, or just say hello! We would love to hear from you!
Check out Penn State Extension's Green Industry Team website!
The Keeping It Green podcast team joins forces with Penn State Extension’s Fresh Cut Grass podcast crew. Can enthusiasts of woody and herbaceous plants get along with fans of turfgrass? Tune in as the crew talks about some of the most common mistakes that the hosts and guests see in the landscape.
Margaret Pickoff, Penn State Extension (host)
Tom Butzler, Penn State Extension (host)
Tim Abbey, Penn State Extension (host)
Sandy Feather, Penn State Extension (host)
Jeff Fowler, host of Penn State Extension’s Fresh Cut Grass podcast
Tanner Delvalle, host of Penn State Extension’s Fresh Cut Grass podcast
Fresh Cut Grass podcast
Photo: Tom Butzler, Penn State Extension
Keeping It Green has an email: keepingitgreen@psu.edu
Do you have a suggestion for a future episode? Want more information on something we talked about? Send us your questions and comments, or just say hello! We would love to hear from you!
Check out Penn State Extension's Green Industry Team website!
Margaret and Tom cover ground with Cat Meholic, a Horticulturist from the Hagley Museum and Library and co-founder of Women in Horticulture. History and horticulture collide as Cat talks about her role in recreating many of the plantings in the former DuPont Estate. While the Hagley Museum and Library grounds are no longer dangerous, how does the Museum acknowledge their explosive history today? Finally, Cat Meholic explores the beginning and purpose of Women in Horticulture.
Episode Hosts/Speakers:
Margaret Pickoff, Penn State Extension (host)
Tom Butzler, Penn State Extension (host)
Cat Meholic, Horticulturist from the Hagley Museum and Library and co-founder of Women in Horticulture
Photo: Tom Butzler, Penn State Extension
Keeping It Green has an email: keepingitgreen@psu.edu
Do you have a suggestion for a future episode? Want more information on something we talked about? Send us your questions and comments, or just say hello! We would love to hear from you!
Check out Penn State Extension's Green Industry Team website!
Today’s podcast is crowded as Margaret and Tim chat with Tim Martinez and Mari Medrano about their career journeys and respective companies. They also delve into their efforts with the National Association of Landscape Professionals to ensure a strong voice for Hispanic landscapers in the industry.
Margaret Pickoff, Penn State Extension (host)
Tim Abbey, Penn State Extension (host)
Tim Martinez, Executive Vice President of LandCare’s West Division
Mari Medrano, Human Resources Director for CoCal Landscape Services, Inc.
National Association of Landscape Professionals’ Latino Landscape Network
Photo: Tom Butzler, Penn State Extension
Keeping It Green has an email: keepingitgreen@psu.edu
Do you have a suggestion for a future episode? Want more information on something we talked about? Send us your questions and comments, or just say hello! We would love to hear from you!
Check out Penn State Extension's Green Industry Team website!
Starting a business in any industry can be daunting and challenging for young adults. But also exciting! The podcast team talks to Tyler Pollock about his early experiences in the tree care profession and his journey to creating his own company. The wide-ranging conversation covers oak wilt treatment, interaction with homeowners, to the influence of his father’s horticulture experience.
Margaret Pickoff, Penn State Extension (host)
Tom Butzler, Penn State Extension (host)
Tim Abbey, Penn State Extension (host)
Tyler Pollock, Dendro Tree & Landscapes LLC
Photo: Tim Abbey, Penn State Extension
Keeping It Green has an email: keepingitgreen@psu.edu
Do you have a suggestion for a future episode? Want more information on something we talked about? Send us your questions and comments, or just say hello! We would love to hear from you!
Check out Penn State Extension's Green Industry Team website!
The landscape industry has traditionally been male-dominated. But female participation is increasing, and the benefits of diversity in the workplace can bring new perspectives and skills. But it can also present unique challenges. Jenny and Stephanie are part of the National Association of Landscape Professionals’ Women in Landscape Network which creates a community to connect and empower women in the landscape industry. Join in as we hear their backgrounds, journeys, perspectives, and stories.
Margaret Pickoff, Penn State Extension (host)
Sandy Feather, Penn State Extension (host)
Jenny Girard, RM Landscape
Stephanie Leveling, BOSS
National Association of Landscape Professionals’ Women in Landscape Network
Photo: Tom Butzler, Penn State Extension
Keeping It Green has an email: keepingitgreen@psu.edu
Do you have a suggestion for a future episode? Want more information on something we talked about? Send us your questions and comments, or just say hello! We would love to hear from you!
Check out Penn State Extension's Green Industry Team website!
Join us for a wide-ranging discussion with the Director of The Arboretum at Penn State, Casey Sclar. Casey talks about the important role of public gardens in our society. He’ll also delve into ideas and efforts to introduce the tradecraft of horticulture to children and young adults.
And what does Casey consider the ‘job security shrub’?
Sandy Feather, Penn State Extension (host)
Tom Butzler, Penn State Extension (host)
Tim Abbey, Penn State Extension (host)
Casey Sclar, H.O. Smith Endowed Director of The Arboretum at Penn State
The Arboretum at Penn State
Lead photo: A simulated limestone cave at the Childhood’s Gate Children’s Garden within the Arboretum at Penn State.
Photo credit: Tom Butzler, Penn State Extension
Keeping It Green has an email: keepingitgreen@psu.edu
Do you have a suggestion for a future episode? Want more information on something we talked about? Send us your questions and comments, or just say hello! We would love to hear from you!
Check out Penn State Extension's Green Industry Team website!
Longwood Gardens, a botanical garden outside of Kennet Square, PA, covers over 1,000 acres of land with gardens, meadows, and woodlands. That’s a lot of territory to manage and keep aesthetically pleasing! Meet Rachel, one of the key players that keep the place running and looking good! She’ll also talk about her previous role as Longwood’s IPM manager and use boxwood blight as an example of how they manage pest issues.
And what is a night gardener?
Margaret Pickoff, Penn State Extension (host)
Tom Butzler, Penn State Extension (host)
Tim Abbey, Penn State Extension (host)
Rachel Schnaitman, Associate Director of Horticulture Operations at Longwood Gardens
Boxwood Blight Insight Group 2021 Annual Report
Lead photo: Margaret Pickoff, Penn State Extension
Check out Penn State Extension's Green Industry Team website!
Ever want to walk around a field of flowers (for free)? And get a good look at some of the newer cultivars scheduled for release into the market by plant breeders across the world? Krystal Snyder gives an overview of the Penn State Flower Trials, one of the oldest and largest flower trials in the U.S. She also covers her work with greenhouse growers and the emerging hemp industry.
Margaret Pickoff, Penn State Extension (host)
Tom Butzler, Penn State Extension (host)
Tim Abbey, Penn State Extension (host)
Krystal Snyder, Penn State Extension (guest)
Penn State Flower Trials on Instagram:
@pennstateflowertrial
Penn State Flower Trials website
You can see each plant's ratings to determine if this plant will succeed in your garden!
Lead photo: The Penn State Flower Trials at the Southeast Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Manheim, PA. Photo credit: Tom Butzler, Penn State Extension
Meet Penn State Extension Green Industry Team members and join them for their 2023 winter meeting season. We have in-person events and webinars!
Turf and Ornamentals Conferences and Webinars, Various dates & locations until 3/22/2023.
Doing business in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania Sales Tax and the Green Industry
Margaret and Tom chatted with Rick Bates about the many ‘hats’ he wears as a professor of Horticulture at Penn State. The interview covers his effort and reasons for introducing new species of conifers to diversify Christmas tree farms (research), how he handles students’ use of technology in plant identification courses (teaching), and his travels to address food security issues in Southeast Asia (extension).
Margaret Pickoff, Penn State Extension (host)
Tom Butzler, Penn State Extension (host)
Dr. Rick Bates, Professor of Horticulture, Penn State Plant Science Department
Lead photo: Dr. Rick Bates with treatment study of Rhabdocline needlecast on Douglas-fir. Photo credit: Tom Butzler, Penn State Extension
Meet Penn State Extension Green Industry Team members and join them for their 2023 winter meeting season. We have in-person events and webinars!
Turf and Ornamentals Conferences and Webinars, Various dates & locations until 3/22/2023.
Doing business in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania Sales Tax and the Green Industry
Margaret and Tim have a chat with Dr. Mark Brand, Professor of Horticulture at the University of Connecticut’s Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture, on a wide range of horticulture topics.
The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture has added a number of ornamental plants to its noxious weed list over the past several months (Japanese barberry, burning bush, etc.). But Connecticut started addressing this issue many years ago and has been at the forefront of invasive ornamentals. Listen as Mark Brand discusses these issues and his research effort to search for cultivars of invasives that might work in the industry. Also, hear from Mark on his horticulture interactions with Hollywood and movie making.
Margaret Pickoff, Penn State Extension (host)
Tim Abbey, Penn State Extension (host)
Dr. Mark Brand, Professor of Horticulture, Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture, University of Connecticut
Lead Image: The edible berries of black chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) have both health benefits and nutritional value (nutraceuticals). Photo: Tom Butzler, Penn State Extension
Meet Penn State Extension Green Industry Team members and join them for their 2023 winter meeting season. We have in-person events and webinars!
Turf and Ornamentals Conferences and Webinars, Various dates & locations until 3/22/2023.
Doing business in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania Sales Tax and the Green Industry
Jerry is also the former owner of a commercial property landscape company and caretaker of Tyler Arboretum’s Wister Rhododendron Garden. Margaret and Tom have a chat with Jerry O’Dell about his horticulture career. For many individuals, the love of plants runs deep, and even in retirement, the pull is strong. Jerry talks about his start on a local golf course through managing commercial properties. But his interest in plants kept him very busy in retirement and opened his eyes to the world of rhododendrons. Finally, how does one come to grips with planting ornamental pear decades ago? Jerry had a plan.
Margaret Pickoff, Penn State Extension (host)
Tom Butzler, Penn State Extension (host)
Jerry O’Dell, President of the Valley Forge Chapter of the American Rhododendron Society
Meet Penn State Extension Green Industry Team members and join them for their 2023 winter meeting season. We have in-person events and webinars!
Turf and Ornamentals Conferences and Webinars, Various dates & locations, 1/10/2023 to 3/22/2023
Estimating and Bidding for Landscape Installation: Allegheny County, PA: 2/8 and 2/9/2023
Margaret and Tim have a conversation with Sara May, Penn State’s Head Diagnostician, and Plant Disease Clinic Manager. What trigger’s one’s interest in studying plant diseases? Sara describes her beginning in a nursery/landscape operation to running a lab that deals with sick and dying plants. A short discussion details the journey of submitted samples, from processing, testing, and reporting. And speaking of the journey, how can plant samples be packaged, so they are not a bag of mush by the time they arrive at the Plant Disease Clinic?
Penn State Plant Disease Clinic
Margaret Pickoff, Penn State Extension (host)
Tim Abbey, Penn State Extension (host)
Sara May, Penn State’s Head Diagnostician, and Plant Disease Clinic Manager
Lead photo: Amy Duke, Penn State. Creative Commons
Meet Penn State Extension Green Industry Team members and join them for their 2023 winter meeting season. We have in-person events and webinars!
Turf and Ornamentals Conferences and Webinars, Various dates & locations, 1/10/2023 to 3/22/2023
Estimating and Bidding for Landscape Installation: Allegheny County, PA: 2/8 and 2/9/2023
Margaret and Sandy discuss the world of plants in zoo settings with Frank Pizzi, former zoo horticulturist at Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium. Join us as Frank talks about how zoos have transitioned over the past several decades. Where zoo exhibits have gone from concrete and ceramic tile buildings to enclosures that try to mimic the animals' natural habitat. Not only to foster their natural behavior but to educate the public of the world’s wild places. While many homeowners and plant professionals wrestle with animal damage from rabbits, groundhogs, and deer in the landscape, Frank had to manage and protect the plants against the likes of rhinos, gorillas, and giraffes. And what does a zoo do with all that manure? Get a glimpse of IPM in a zoo setting. And finally, what is Frank’s favorite zoo animal?
Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium
Margaret Pickoff, Penn State Extension (host)
Sandy Feather, Penn State Extension (host)
Frank Pizzi, Former Zoo Horticulturist at Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium
Lead photo: Sandy Feather, Penn State Extension
Meet Penn State Extension Green Industry Team members and join them for their 2023 winter meeting season. We have in-person events and webinars!
Turf and Ornamentals Conferences and Webinars, Various dates & locations, 1/10/2023 to 3/22/2023
Estimating and Bidding for Landscape Installation: Allegheny County, PA: 2/8 and 2/9/2023
Margaret and Tom discuss horticulture adventures with Shari Edelson of the Arboretum at Penn State. What is it like working at a relatively new arboretum (opened in 2009)? How are gardens initiated, funded, and constructed? Maintained? Shari will share her experience and changing role in almost a decade of time at the Arboretum. Plus, we discuss the latest addition to the landscape, the pollinator garden. And what is up with the dead trees in the new garden? Finally, Shari mentions she is the outgoing director and gives details on her future endeavors (Hint – some of it can be found at https://thetrek.co/author/shari-edelson/).
Margaret Pickoff, Penn State Extension (host)
Tom Butzler, Penn State Extension (host)
Shari Edelson, Outgoing Director of Operations at the Arboretum at Penn State
Lead photo: Tom Butzler, Penn State Extension
Meet Penn State Extension Green Industry Team members and join them for their 2023 winter meeting season. We have in-person events and webinars!
Turf and Ornamentals Conferences and Webinars, Various dates & locations, 1/10/2023 to 3/22/2023
Greenhouse Growers Day, 1/26/2023
Estimating and Bidding for Landscape Installation: Allegheny County, PA: 2/8 and 2/9/2023
Margaret and Tim discuss plants and more with Jim MacKenzie. The conversation covers a wide range of topics within the nursery industry, starting with his journey from landscape architecture to co-owner of Octoraro Native Plant Nursery. He’ll also give insight into labor issues, sustainability, and philosophy on mentorship within the industry.
Margaret Pickoff, Penn State Extension (host)
Tim Abbey, Penn State Extension (host)
Jim MacKenzie, President, and Co-owner of Octoraro Native Plant Nursery
Lead photo: Tom Butzler, Penn State Extension
Meet Penn State Extension Green Industry Team members and join them for their 2023 winter meeting season. We have in-person events and webinars!
Turf and Ornamentals Conferences and Webinars, Various dates & locations, 1/10/2023 to 3/22/2023
Greenhouse Growers Day, 1/26/2023
Estimating and Bidding for Landscape Installation
Bucks County, PA: 1/19 and 1/20/2023 and Allegheny County, PA: 2/8 and 2/9/2023
Margaret and Tim talk with Kathleen Salisbury about her path to becoming the Director of the Ambler Arboretum of Temple University. The conversation steers towards extreme weather and the effects of the September 2021 tornado that tore through the arboretum.
Listen carefully as a bird crashes the interview!
Margaret Pickoff, Penn State Extension (host)
Tim Abbey, Penn State Extension (host)
Kathleen Salisbury, Director of the Ambler Arboretum of Temple University
Lead photo: Tom Butzler, Penn State Extension
Meet Penn State Extension Green Industry Team members and join them for their 2023 winter meeting season. We have in-person events and webinars!
Green Industry Conference, 1/4/2023
Turf and Ornamentals Conferences and Webinars, Various dates & locations, 1/10/2023 to 3/22/2023
Greenhouse Growers Day, 1/26/2023
Estimating and Bidding for Landscape Installation
Bucks County, PA: 1/19 and 1/20/2023 and Allegheny County, PA: 2/8 and 2/9/2023
Margaret and Tom talk insects with Dr. Michael Skvarla. We’ll cover his role with Penn State’s Insect ID Lab and the process of identification. Plus, what he sees as the insects that Green Industry professionals could see as our next invasive species in managed landscapes.
Margaret Pickoff, Penn State Extension (host)
Tom Butzler, Penn State Extension (host)
Michael Skvarla, Assistant Research Professor of Arthropod Identification, Penn State University
Lead photo: Tom Butzler, Penn State Extension
Meet Penn State Extension Green Industry Team members and join them for their 2023 winter meeting season. We have in-person events and webinars!
Green Industry Conference, 1/4/2023
Turf and Ornamentals Conferences and Webinars, Various dates & locations, 1/10/2023 to 3/22/2023
Greenhouse Growers Day, 1/26/2023
Estimating and Bidding for Landscape Installation
Bucks County, PA: 1/19 and 1/20/2023 and Allegheny County, PA: 2/8 and 2/9/2023
Margaret and Tim talk with Dr. Margaret Hoffman about the components, benefits, and issues with natural swimming pools. We’ll cover a few of the workhorse plants in this system. We also discuss Margaret’s journey from undergrad to landscape design owner to program coordinator of Penn State’s Landscape Contracting major.
Margaret Pickoff, Penn State Extension (host)
Tim Abbey, Penn State Extension (host)
Margaret Hoffman, Penn State University
Lead photo: Margaret Hoffman, Penn State University
Meet Penn State Extension Green Industry Team members and join them for their 2023 winter meeting season. We have in-person events and webinars!
Green Industry Conference, 1/4/2023
Turf and Ornamentals Conferences and Webinars, Various dates & locations, 1/10/2023 to 3/22/2023
Greenhouse Growers Day, 1/26/2023
Estimating and Bidding for Landscape Installation
Bucks County, PA: 1/19 and 1/20/2023 and Allegheny County, PA: 2/8 and 2/9/2023
Margaret and Tom talk with Vinnie Cotrone about his role and journey within Penn State Extension’s Urban Forestry program. The discussion looks at how the perceptions of urban trees have changed over the decades and some of the ecosystem services these trees provide to communities. Plus, what are some of the biggest stressors trees face in urban environments?
Margaret Pickoff, Penn State Extension (host)
Tom Butzler, Penn State Extension (host)
Vinnie Cotrone, Extension Educator, Urban Forestry, Penn State University
Lead photo: Tim Abbey, Penn State Extension
Meet Penn State Extension Green Industry Team members and join them for their 2023 winter meeting season. We have in-person events and webinars!
Green Industry Conference, 1/4/2023
Turf and Ornamentals Conferences and Webinars, Various dates & locations, 1/10/2023 to 3/22/2023
Greenhouse Growers Day, 1/26/2023
Estimating and Bidding for Landscape Installation
Bucks County, PA: 1/19 and 1/20/2023 and Allegheny County, PA: 2/8 and 2/9/2023
Meet four of Penn State’s Green Industry team members in this first episode of the Keeping It Green podcast. Each host shares their background, interests, and the things they encounter throughout their work day. This episode introduces the Keeping It Green podcast, and the hosts discuss Penn State Extension, what it is, what the educators do, and how they serve the horticulture industry.
Hosts:
Margaret Pickoff, Penn State Extension
Tom Butzler, Penn State Extension
Tim Abbey, Penn State Extension
Sandy Feather, Penn State Extension
Lead photo: Tom Butzler, Penn State
Meet Penn State Extension Green Industry Team members and join them for their 2023 winter meeting season. We have in-person events and webinars!
Green Industry Conference, 1/4/2023
Turf and Ornamentals Conferences and Webinars, Various dates & locations, 1/10/2023 to 3/22/2023
Greenhouse Growers Day, 1/26/2023
Estimating and Bidding for Landscape Installation
Bucks County, PA: 1/19 and 1/20/2023 and Allegheny County, PA: 2/8 and 2/9/2023