Upside Down Tulips - A Garden Podcast

Fallelujah!  A pretty darn good year in the garden. No hail, no frost, no covering – yet. Edith grew ground cherries.  Christy grew zinnias.  We both grew a lot of tomatoes.  Edith might have killed her peach tree.  Christy mysteriously killed her cabbage.  We both killed our rosemary.  Aphids chewed, Japanese beetle chewed, mildew took up residence.  So, it all resulted in a lot of learning, we hope you can learn, too!  Why you should keep your compost a little drunk.  Why it’s never too late to plant. Or too early. What seeds need to be fresh as a carrotWhat plant can benefit from calcium tabletsShould you get a Japanese Beetle Trap?How much work do you really have to do this fall? And some humor with all this education!  We’ve got two NEW pod plays to keep you and all the lilac bushes in good humor.  And some inspiration to last the upcoming Persphone Period.  So, pick up a rake, do a little harvesting or put your weary feet up with a cup of cider and enjoy this season’s fun and informative episode! Oh – and stick around past the end credits for a little easter egg.

Our gardens are  doing great!  So far.  If you don’t count the heat, the Japanese beetles… and the murders! Life is growing fast and furious in our gardens and we are applying water like we are applying for a job. Edith loves her loveage. Christy is at peace with her peace rose. Edith is plum crazy about her plum tree.  Christy is thinks Edith’s peach tree harvest is going to be… peachy keen.  :) Our summer gardens are a potpourri of marvels, questions and fun tips. To shell or not to shell peas?Is it possible for gardeners to be psychopaths?When should you trim back your tomatoes?Where does the term potpourri come from?How can Windex be a tool in your garden?How to get the most blooms from your geraniums?Why is July 27 an important gardening date?Which mite might help you control bindweed?Why you shouldn’t name plants after people you know. If you want some fun Brand New pod plays, we got ‘em.  If you want some inspiration, we got it.  If you want some moist soil – it’s there.  We sure had fun recording this episode – and hope you can join in the laughter, while learning a thing or two.  So put on your headphones, head out into your garden and enjoy!

Spring is back! We are back!  Edith is back!  Our sore backs are back!  And we have lots to share! Find out what is growing in our gardens and what we have killed this SpringWhat is the safest non-organic vegetables to buy in the grocery store? Edith has all the deets and beets.We spill the beans on our favorite mistakes from last year: Which plant only produced one solitary veggie? And which plant produced WAY too much?Discover what new plants we are growing this year and why one new seed packet will make bath time lots of fun.Learn a bunch of our favorite and easy Spring garden tips.Enjoy TWO NEW POD PLAYS Plus:  Letters from the Mail Bag (Ring! Ring!), a beautiful inspiration, and a shout out to “moist”.  A “humorfull” and informative episode for sure! Thanks so much to the Garden Party - we couldn't do Upside Down Tulips without you! Support UDT by joining our Garden Party and get fun rewards! How is your garden doing? - click here to write to us!  Get a UDT Coffee Mug or other cool Merch! Visit our website for pix, good info and Upside Down Dictionary Learn How to Winter Sow! Don't Know Your Zone? Find it HERE Find Your Last and First Frost Date

It's almost Spring!  And don't worry,  Upside Down Tulips will be back soon with an all new episode that celebrates our favorite mistakes of last year and our dreams for this year's garden.  PLUS:  Christy and Edith are gathering their best tips and tricks for your Spring Garden.  Until then, here is a little something for all you gardeners out there: A little Pod Play about the adventures of the LIttle Seed Pot.  Enjoy! Thanks so much to the Garden Party - we couldn't do Upside Down Tulips without you! Support UDT by joining our Garden Party and get fun rewards! How is your garden doing? - click here to write to us!  Get a UDT Coffee Mug or other cool Merch! Visit our website for pix, good info and Upside Down Dictionary Learn How to Winter Sow! Don't Know Your Zone? Find it HERE

We have put down our hoes and, like our garden, are settling down for long winter’s nap. BUT! Before we are carried off to a deep hibernation filled with dreams of next year’s garden, we wanted to spread some holiday cheer and share with you our favorite holiday pod plays just for the gardener, the wanna-be gardener and anyone who considers well-aged manure a thoughtful gift.   An inspiring “Night Before Christmas”The kookiest “Gift of the Magi”A funny solution to all your holiday cookingA Gardener's Christmas CarolThe perfect rom-com movie12 Days of crazinessA New Year’s parade of wine! Happy Holidays and see you in 2024! Support UDT by joining our Garden Party and get fun rewards! Get a UDT Coffee Mug or other cool Merch! Visit our website for pix, good info and Upside Down Dictionary Click here to write to us!  Learn How to Winter Sow! Don't Know Your Zone? Find it HERE Find Your Persephone Period

The garden is wrapping up for the year, pumpkins have been turned to jack o’ lanterns, green tomatoes are in the attic and onions are a’ walkin. So, let’s celebrate all the garden good news stories of the year! Christy and Lindsey share good news about: Updates on Lahaina Banyan TreeThe benefits of urban gardeningThe discovery of a holly tree in BrazilA gardener who has created over 300 community gardensA pear tree that refuses to die,A whole new spin on rooftop gardeningHow mushrooms can protect treesAnd what renewable resource is working great in Ireland Plus we have pod plays that take you to the depths of the underworld and the heights of leaf piles! Thanks to you all for joining us in our 2023 gardens! Find Your Persephone Period Want to see Lindsey in a play? Coal Country at Boulder Ensemble Theatre Company Thanks so much to the Garden Party - we couldn't do Upside Down Tulips without you! Support UDT by joining our Garden Party and get fun rewards! How is your garden doing? - click here to write to us!  Get a UDT Coffee Mug or other cool Merch! Visit our website for pix, good info and Upside Down Dictionary Learn How to Winter Sow! Don't Know Your Zone? Find it HERE

It’s the most wonderful time of the year!  Kathryn and Christy get in costume to celebrate Halloween and the end of the garden season!  We dig into our herb book and get witchy with it! We share natural witchy herbal remedies from our gardens commonly used to offer some relief as we head into flu and cold season.  Learn how to make all kinds of soothing tea  from basil to echinacea to oregano to thyme!  Why is garlic so prized in the healing world? And why we putting stuffed turkeys in our bathtub? Pod Plays? Yup, we have stuffed this Halloween special with all the fan favorites that we only play during Halloween: The Killing Frost,  Stranger Garden Things, Ichabod Grain and Silence of the Lamb’s Ear.  The Squirrel is back destroying our pumpkins! And we have a BRAND NEW Halloween Pod Play just for the gardener. A very special episode with shout outs to moist, mucus and intestinal worms.  Just the way we like it.  And we hope you do, too – Halloween is not the same if we can’t be witch you!  (Insert cackle here!) Want to know mor about BASIL? Click here! Want to know more about GARLIC?:Click here! Thanks so much to the Garden Party - we couldn't do Upside Down Tulips without you! Support UDT by joining our Garden Party and get fun rewards! How is your garden doing? - click here to write to us!  Get a UDT Coffee Mug or other cool Merch! Visit our website for pix, good info and Upside Down Dictionary Learn How to Winter Sow! Don't Know Your Zone? Find it HERE

Asters and marigolds are blooming, finches are enjoying sunflowers - and the harvest is finally coming in.  We welcome Fall!  And we scheme how to squeeze in a few extra weeks before Mother Nature decides to fully blanket us in snow.  So, Kathryn and Christy have curated some of our favorite tips and tricks to fool Mother Nature.  And not just in the Fall, but in ALL four seasons. How watering helps when Jack Frost is a’comin?The ins and outs of covering: What materials? When? Why uncover? How to anchor?What are the best plants to snatch away from Mother Nature – and how?How to fool Mother Nature in the winter with used milk jugs?Build a wall of water in early spring to get a head start!Don’t let Mother Nature hail on your parade in the summer. Plus: A Squirrel Lawyer send Upside Down Tulips a cease and desist letter. Christy did it again and forgot about produce in the attic. Edith makes a surprise appearance. Mailbag (Ring, Ring!) delivers a letter and gives us hope and Alex Trebek schools us all. Lots of fun and info! OnHilarious. Dynamic. Shocking. See Kathryn Gray, Michael Moore and Karen Slack in THE MINUTES directed by Christy Montour-Larson at Curious Theatre Company! A Tapestry of Great Hits! See Leslie O'Carrol and Linsday Pierece in BEAUTIFUL, THE CAROL KING MUSICAL at the Arvada Center! Thanks so much to the Garden Party - we couldn't do Upside Down Tulips without you! Support UDT by joining our Garden Party and get fun rewards! How is your garden doing? - click here to write to us!  Get a UDT Coffee Mug or other cool Merch! Visit our website for pix, good info and Upside Down Dictionary Learn How to Winter Sow! Don't Know Your Zone? Find it HERE

Hello pumpkin season!  Who has the guts to go there?  Karen and Christy do!  We pumpkin spice things up with an episode all about pumpkins: how to plant ‘em, how to take care of ‘em, how to use ‘em, how to cook ‘em, how to make your jack o’ lantern last longer… And how to get engaged?!  Karen is harvesting tomatoes and cooking them with a pig jaw. Christy is enjoying her fall flowers and can’t find her cucumbers.  Karen can’t grow green beans and Christy can’t grow roma. Johnny Hardscribble returns to share his love of sunflowers.  Laura from Denver tells us how her sunflower circle turned out. And a great solution for squirrels!  Fun, info, laughs and know-how just for the gardener.  And wanna-be gardener! Hilarious. Dynamic. Shocking. See Kathryn Gray, Michael Moore and Karen Slack in THE MINUTES directed by Christy Montour-Larson at Curious Theatre Company! A Tapestry of Great Hits! See Leslie O'Carrol and Linsday Pierece in BEAUTIFUL, THE CAROL KING MUSICAL at the Arvada Center! Thanks so much to the Garden Party - we couldn't do Upside Down Tulips without you! Support UDT by joining our Garden Party and get fun rewards! And if you have some thoughts on Who Killed Rosemary - click here to write to us!  Get a UDT Coffee Mug or other cool Merch! Visit our website for pix, good info and Upside Down Dictionary Learn How to Winter Sow! Don't Know Your Zone? Find it HERE

Hungry?  Great!  Karen joins us and we have a bunch of recipes perfect for the gardener! Ratatouille: A wonderful harvest stew to serve with some crusty bread.Eggplant Parmesan: Karen’s Italian accent makes this recipe sound so mouthwatering!Roasted Tomato Soup: Find out what Christy’s secret ingredient is!Acorn Squash Gnocchi: You won’t believe how easy this recipe is.Gazpacho: A very special recipe from one of our favorite restaurants.Tomatillo Salsa: The coolest plant makes the most delicious salsa verde!Sauerkraut: All you need is cabbage, salt and squeezing. You know you want to try it yourself! Plus:  Find out how are gardens are surviving after the hailstorm. Who has amazing broccoli but terrible cabbage?  Who has amazing cabbage but terrible broccoli? And what’s going on with Karen’s guinea pigs?! Mail bag brings TWO letters from folks who didn’t plant very much and are either only feeding fairies or have to beat back the City and County folks. A beautiful inspiration from Karen shows how much food reveals our connection with the Earth. Oh, and we’ve got some Pod Plays!  Christy’s strange journey planting zucchini is brought to life with Karen as the cutest little zucchini of all time - in a brand-new pod play!  Enjoy, dear gardeners! Hilarious. Dynamic. Shocking. See Kathryn Gray, Michael Moore and Karen Slack in THE MINUTES directed by Christy Montour-Larson at Curious Theatre Company! A Tapestry of Great Hits! See Leslie O'Carrol and Linsday Pierece in BEAUTIFUL, THE CAROL KING MUSICAL at the Arvada Center! Thanks so much to the Garden Party - we couldn't do Upside Down Tulips without you! Support UDT by joining our Garden Party and get fun rewards! And if you have some thoughts on Who Killed Rosemary - click here to write to us!  Get a UDT Coffee Mug or other cool Merch! Visit our website for pix, good info and Upside Down Dictionary Learn How to Winter Sow! Don't Know Your Zone? Find it HERE

It's everybody's favorite true crime garden podcaster, Misty Contour, and her quest to find out who killed Edith's rosemary plant. For the first time ever, our excellent, yet enigmatic engineer has pulled together ALL the episodes of Who Killed Rosemary and assembled them for your listening enjoyment. Including some great great garden tips! Journey back with us to the beginnings of the death of Rosemary and the ever growing list of suspects: The Squirrel?  The Yard Nazi?  The Hair Stylist?  Or what about June O’Hallorin, Master Gardener?  Enjoy the talents of some of the best actors in Denver: Edith Weiss, Karen Slack, Emma Messenger and Lindsey Pierce! And if you live around Denver and want to see some of your favorite Upside Down Tulips friends in some wonderful theatre, check out the link in the show notes.  Hilarious. Dynamic. Shocking. See Kathryn Gray, Michael Moore and Karen Slack in THE MINUTES directed by Christy Montour-Larson at Curious Theatre Company! A Tapestry of Great Hits! See Leslie O'Carrol and Linsday Pierece in BEAUTIFUL, THE CAROL KING MUSICAL at the Arvada Center! Thanks so much to the Garden Party - we couldn't do Upside Down Tulips without you! Support UDT by joining our Garden Party and get fun rewards! And if you have some thoughts on Who Killed Rosemary - click here to write to us!  Get a UDT Coffee Mug or other cool Merch! Visit our website for pix, good info and Upside Down Dictionary Learn How to Winter Sow! Don't Know Your Zone? Find it HERE

In this Encore Episode, we discuss the things that can happen to your tomatoes, the ‘risks’ as it were:  blossom end rot, blossom drop, not setting fruit, not ripening, Septoria, early blight, late blight, middle aged blight (just kidding on that last one). We tell you how to fix what can be fixed and when to throw in the trowel and not beat yourself up about it. Cause it’s probably not your fault!   Plus, we weave in some special, fun Pod Plays all about tomatoes.  Warming:  May involve squirrels.  Enjoy our gentle listeners and gardeners! Support UDT by joining our Garden Party and get fun rewards! Get a UDT Coffee Mug or other cool Merch! Visit our website for pix, good info and Upside Down Dictionary Click here to write to us!  Learn How to Winter Sow! Don't Know Your Zone? Find it HERE

Our gardens are looking great for June.  Except it is August?!  Ah well. Christy and Edith are eating lettuce. Lettuce is bolting. We prevent bolting with a lawn chair. We are harvesting garlic. We are trying new ways to peel garlic. Edith is planting onions.  Christy forgot she planted onions. Plus, we celebrate what is reblooming and ponder where are all the Japanese beetles? Then we jump in a fun topic:  Veggies and flowers with more than one use. Find out the unique uses for other parts of garlic, chives and leeks.What plants are we growing that we purposely let go to seed?Don’t forget some plants you can eat more than the bottom – you can eat the tops, too!Did you know other parts of raspberry bush are edible?Are you eating stems and massaging your kale? You should! Who the heck is Euelle Gibbons?We are not done! Roses, Calendula, Lavender, Nasturtium & Marigolds A Special Treat:  Barbie and Robert Oppenheimer show up in a new pod play! Support UDT by joining our Garden Party and get fun rewards! Get a UDT Coffee Mug or other cool Merch! Visit our website for pix, good info and Upside Down Dictionary Click here to write to us!  Learn How to Winter Sow! Don't Know Your Zone? Find it HERE

Hail Yeah - Edith is here! She is making tea from Linden trees, compost from coffee and mulch from grass.  Christy gets her delivery of bindweed mites and surprises some beetles enjoying Afternoon Delight. Edith and Christy share our heart break and hope after a devestating hail storm. Find out what was stripped, shredded, pounded, vaporized, smashed and went splat. What got knocked out of the pod? Will we ever grow successful zucchini again? Will we get a ripe tomato before Labor Day?   What should you do if your garden gets damaged from hail?  We will give you practical tips. How can you protect your garden from hail?  We’ve got some ideas. And we have some fun with NEW pod plays to lighten the mood, the world’s shortest Mail Bag. Big Lessons of the Day: Give peas a chance. Store your basil by a counter appliance and don’t take it all so seriously. As the French say, “Je’men Foutisme”. Support UDT by joining our Garden Party and get fun rewards! Get a UDT Coffee Mug or other cool Merch! Visit our website for pix, good info and Upside Down Dictionary Click here to write to us!  Learn How to Winter Sow! Don't Know Your Zone? Find it HERE

This episode has all the feels: INSPIRING:  Learn all about native plants.  What are they?  Why are they good for your garden?  How can you find some? Why does Lindsey only have one? HORROR: Christy reveals what terrible thing happened in her garden this week. It’s bad, folks - like out of a scary movie. So, grab some popcorn and hold your veggies close. LAUGHTER:  Of course, we have some fun, too!  And have prepared for you some brand new, hand-crafted pod plays that will make you smile.  And bad jokes to make you groan! :) Find Native Plants In Your State Find Native Plant Nurseries in Your State Support UDT by joining our Garden Party and get fun rewards! Get a UDT Coffee Mug or other cool Merch! Visit our website for pix, good info and Upside Down Dictionary Click here to write to us!  Learn How to Winter Sow! Don't Know Your Zone? Find it HERE

We are overly Pesto-mistic this episode! Lindsey returns with updates on her hydroponic garden.  Does she dare pot up her rosemary that she germinated from seed?  Christy finally got her veggie garden in.  Can it survive the morning glory invasion?  Then we get into basil basics and IT'S EASY:  We share with you all about how to plant it, grow it, harvest and eat it!  Plus some fun trivia and witchy uses.  Why you should curse and yell when you plant basil.  How to keep your basil seeds from floating away. What is the number #1 you should never do with basil.  And we have fun BRAND NEW Podplays, a well-timed letter from the mail bag (Ring! Ring!) and a beautiful inspiration. From our hearts to yours: Enjoy dear gardeners!  Lindsey's Recipe! Get rid of bindweed in Colorado! Support UDT by joining our Garden Party and get fun rewards! Get a UDT Coffee Mug or other cool Merch! Visit our website for pix, good info and Upside Down Dictionary Click here to write to us!  Learn How to Winter Sow! Don't Know Your Zone? Find it HERE

Let’s talk tomatoes 2023! First, find out what’s new in tomato news:  Why grape growers in Italy are switching to growing tomatoes.What scientists have learned about the secret screams of tomatoes.How to pick the best starter plants from the nurseryWhat companion plants are best to buddy up with tomatoes and which to plant far, far away. Then learn what varieties Karen and Christy are growing each year.  HINT:  One is Better, one is Bigger and one is Super Fantastic.  Karen shares a great recipe! And we have two tomato themed Pod Plays – hand crafted just for the gardener’s funny bone. And lots to share about what is happening in our gardens:  Sunflowers, celery, cannabis, chives and sewer repair. Christy gets a bindweed mite that might be the organic solution we have all been searching for!  Mailbag (Ring Ring) delivers a letter from Patrick that gently reminds us we can all do better next year. Nice! Get rid of bindweed in Colorado! Support UDT by joining our Garden Party and get fun rewards! Get a UDT Coffee Mug or other cool Merch! Visit our website for pix, good info and Upside Down Dictionary Click here to write to us!  Learn How to Winter Sow! Don't Know Your Zone? Find it HERE

Greetings Bad-Ass Backyard Gardeners! The ever-witty and future pop-star Karen returns to UDT and we chat about what’s blooming our gardens, what’s died, and what is just being plain pokey. Plus, find out the unique way Karen aerates her lawn, how Christy made an unintended birdfeeder, and why bears are like cats. Then, we take our grubby hands and dig into the beautiful bug everyone loves to hate.   Founder of Phyllom Bio Products and ever-wise, John Libs, comes back to continue our ever-growing series on organic Japanese Beetles mitigation. Learn all about this garden enemy and why Spring is a great time to plan your attack. Then we discuss the benefits of soap & water, neem oil, milky spore, traps and grubGONE!  So, unless you want to hope for a flock of crows to descend into your yard at just the right moment, this is the podcast for you. Surprise! Edith sent a letter to Mailbag (Ring Ring!) and we giggle at all her updates – and sympathize why sometimes, despite our best efforts, things just don’t grow. Ah well, we have laughs, joy and inspiration to help!  Let’s all smell like dirt, OK? Check out grubGONE! & beetleGONE! Support UDT by joining our Garden Party and get fun rewards! Get a UDT Coffee Mug or other cool Merch! Visit our website for pix, good info and Upside Down Dictionary Click here to write to us!  Learn How to Winter Sow! Don't Know Your Zone? Find it HERE

What Ho! This week Leslie and Christy try to class up the joint with their take on a Shakespearian Garden.  From Romeo and Juliet to Hamlet to A Midsummers Night’s Dream, we give you some beautiful verses from the Bard of Avon -  and some tips and tricks on some of the flora and fauna from his plays. We cover familiar plants like roses, pansies, daisies, lavender, mint, parsley, bachelor buttons, and marigolds.  And then we gift you with the knowledge of rue, crow flowers, woodbine, musk rose, oxlips, and eglantine. Oh – and we have fun Shakespearean Pod Plays, too!  And some really bad Shakespearean Puns. You are gonna feel so much smarter and joyful! And we have updates on Leslie’s first attempt at Winter Sowing, Christy’s Forsythia - and what is growing the best so far.  Spoiler:  It’s Weeds.  Fortunately, we have a great garden inspiration from Henry IV, Part 2 about weeding. Good cheer, dear gardeners! Support UDT by joining our Garden Party and get fun rewards! Get a UDT Coffee Mug or other cool Merch! Visit our website for pix, good info and Upside Down Dictionary Click here to write to us!  Learn How to Winter Sow! Don't Know Your Zone? Find it HERE

Do you want to learn an easy method of starting seeds outside and getting a jump start on flowers, herbs and veggies?  Have you often wondered what is this thing we call “Winter Sowing” and think you might have missed the boat this year? Well, Leslie has the same questions and joins us for a fun demonstration on how to “Winter Sow” in the Spring. So, if you have an itch to start some tender annuals like zinnias, cosmos or marigolds.  Or herbs like basil, dill and cilantro, join us! Plus, we celebrate World Naked Gardening Day, mourn the loss of one of Christy’s favorite shrubs, reveal the mysteries of which of Leslie’s houseplants are still alive, get some advice on how to keep Leonardo DiCatrio from out of the plants and marvel on how Leslie is one degree from Kevin Bacon! Will we say "moist?"  Maybe. Support UDT by joining our Garden Party and get fun rewards! Get a UDT Coffee Mug or other cool Merch! Visit our website for pix, good info and Upside Down Dictionary Click here to write to us!  Learn How to Winter Sow! Don't Know Your Zone? Find it HERE