GREEN AND GROW #10
August 19, 2006
Guest Host: Steve Bender of Southern Living Magazine
What do George Constanza and Steve Bender have in common? They both hide under their desks so that people 'think' they are off working! Steve is a Senior Writer for Southern Living and has been with the magazine since 1983. He received a B.A. in History from Washington College in Chestertown, Maryland and a certificate in Ornamental Horticulture from the Institute of Applied Agriculture at the University of Maryland. He is a popular speaker and gives talks on a wide variety of gardening topics all over the country. His articles inSouthern Living, which often poke fun at the foibles of gardeners, have won many writing awards. His first book, Passalong Plants, was named the best-written garden book of 1994 by the Garden Writers Association of America. A sequel is currently in the works. In 1996, he wrote Callaway Gardens -- Legacy Of A Dream, which chronicles the efforts of Cason and Virginia Callaway to transform played-out cotton fields in southeast Georgia into a sanctuary for native plants. In 1998, he edited the best-selling Southern Living Garden Book, which describes more than 5,000 plants suited for Southern gardens. He followed that up in 1999 with the Southern Living Problem Solver, which helps gardeners identify and control hundreds of common garden insects, diseases, weeds, and critters. The third book of the series, The Southern Living Landscape Book, deals with garden design for average homeowners. His latest work is a completely revised and updated edition of the Southern Living Garden Book that describes more than 7,000 plants. Born in North Carolina and raised in Maryland, Steve makes his home in Hoover, Alabama, where he lives with his wife, Judy, and their son, Brian. He currently sits on the board of Aldridge Botanical Gardens in Hoover, Alabama. In 2005, the American Horticultural Society presented him with the prestigious Horticultural Communication Award.
Steve and I had the best time! He was so charming and funny. We talked about the
trends he’s seeing to how to pick out the best sprinkler. And everything in-between.
We discussed his book _The Southern Living Garden Book’ which is such a great
reference and _The Southern Living Problem Solver”. He took calls. He made my job
so easy.
Heavy Petal, our plant pick of the week: Eleanor Craig of Fern Ridge Farm
Nursery.
Eleanor’s pick - evergreen ferns for the landscape. Autumn fern was her number one
choice. Then the Holly fern. Eleanor’s nursery offers so many you really should check
her out. But she’s not just a fern nursery. She also offers rare and native perennials as
well. to find out more go to Fern Ridge Farms http://www.fernridgefarms
395 Old Vandiver Rd.
Canton, GA 30014
770-479-6996 (call before you go)
Retail and Wholesale
Product of the week: Nance Sturm of Atlas Glove Company and owner of
Clearwater Alpaca Farm.
If your a gardener than you’ll want to try Atlas Glove Co. gloves. It’s hard for me to
wear gloves but these breath and I feel what I’m weeding. Nance also has her own
company Clearwater Alpaca Farm where they make the most exquesite socks!
They feel like cashmere but aren’t as delicate. And no matter the temperature your
feet won’t sweat! For more information go to Creekwater Alpacas 2742 Centerville Rosebud
Rd. Snellville, GA 30039 1-877-465-5181 and email:
cwalpacashop@bellsouth.net
Special organic segment: Alice Rolls Director of Georgia Organics
www.georgiaorganics.org -
Steve and I talked with Alice about the importance of buying locally and
buying organic. Georgia Organics is an organization I fully, with all my heart,
believe in. If you care about what you and your family consume than please
join GO. Check out their web-site for more information
Recipe of the week with culinary expert Virginia Willis: Okra
http://virginiawillis.com