Mid-American Gardener

Mid-American Gardener is the podcast companion to Illinois Public Media’s television program of the same name. The podcast, hosted by Tinisha Shade-Spain and featuring experts from Illinois Extension and elsewhere, dives deeper into viewer/listener questions about flower gardening, vegetable gardening, fruit trees, shrubs and landscaping, pest control, tools and structures, coping with climate change, and much more. While the primary garden zones served are 5-6, this podcast offers useful and entertaining conversation that can be enjoyed by gardeners or the garden-curious in all zones.

Latest Episodes:

Late-Summer Garden Bounty: Dahlias, Vegetables and Beautiful Blooms Sep 03, 2026

Show notes

Shane and Chuck join Tinisha with an abundance of garden produce and beautiful blooms. And Kelly stops by to discuss caring for mums.

We Visit Tranquility…A Backyard Garden Inspired by the Beauty of Japan Aug 17, 2026

Show notes

Tour a peaceful Champaign garden where Japanese design, bonsai, maples, and hundreds of hostas come together in a landscape more than 25 years in the making.

Propagating a Storm-Damaged Jade Plant and Solving Zucchini Problems Aug 17, 2026

Show notes

Jennifer demonstrates how to propagate a jade plant damaged by severe weather, while Chuck shares some beautiful wild flowers.

Plants for Dry Sunny Areas and Vegetables You Can Still Grow Aug 17, 2026

Show notes

John and Martie discuss groundcover options and plants that thrive in dry, sunny locations

Propagation, Hail Recovery & Summer Garden Tips Jul 09, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of Mid-American Gardener, Tinisha is joined by horticulturists Karen Ruckle and Ella Maxwell for hands-on advice on how to keep your garden thriving all summer!

The Herb Gardens at Kennekuk County Park, Danville Jul 09, 2026

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Take a walk through one of east-central Illinois' hidden treasures as Mid-American Gardener visits the Bunker Hill Herb Garden at Kennekuk County Park.

A Visit to Meadowbrook Community Garden Jul 08, 2026

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This week we get out of the studio and into the sunshine at Meadowbrook, one of Urbana’s oldest and largest organic community gardens, where folks have been growing since the mid-1970s.

Exploring the Idea Garden in Urbana Jul 08, 2026

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We finally get out of the studio and take a trip to the Idea Garden in Urbana, a public “demonstration garden” designed to inspire everyone from seasoned horticulturists to casual lunchtime visitors.

Spring Has Sprung - May 2026 Wrap-Up Jul 08, 2026

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Spring is in full swing but you don’t have to put everything in the ground just yet…The MidAmerican Gardener crew spent the month of May getting you ready for the planting season!

Early Spring Recap of MidAmerican Gardener Jul 08, 2026

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In late March and April, the MidAmerican Gardener crew headed back into the studio to help get you ready for the planting season and talk all things early-season gardening, including finding out how to balance tidiness with supporting pollinators and beneficial insects.

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