Stories from the Garden

Discover the Resilient Beauty of Granvia Strawflowers!
Looking for a garden plant that brings bold color, unique texture, and serious resilience? Meet Granvia straw flowers!
In this episode, Dr. Allan Armitage shares why straw flowers remain a timeless garden favorite—and what makes Granvia stand out. With large, vibrant blooms and impressive tolerance to heat and humidity, Granvia is a great choice for gardeners looking for beauty without a lot of fuss.
Why add Granvia to your garden?
Large, eye-catching flowers

Excellent heat and humidity tolerance

Great for containers

A beautiful choice for spring and fall gardens

Adds color when other plants may be struggling

As summer winds down and fall approaches, it’s a perfect time to give Granvia a try!

What Is a Culver? The Story Behind Culver’s RootDr. Allan Armitage shares the story behind the common name of Culver’s root, a native plant with a surprisingly rich medicinal history. This short episode explains how plant names often carry human stories, and why Veronicastrum virginicum ended up being associated with Dr. Culver rather than its appearance or habitat.

Dr. Allan Armitage shares the story of pokeweed, a fast-growing plant with striking red stems and berries, a complicated place in Southern food history, and a reputation for being both beautiful and dangerous. He also connects the plant to folk knowledge, political misunderstanding, and the song “Poke Salad Annie.”

Fall chrysanthemums get dismissed as “throwaway” plants, but Dr. Allan Armitage makes the case that pot mums are one of the easiest ways to get instant color on your deck, porch, or front door.
If you want a plant that looks great fast, comes in a huge range of colors and container sizes, and basically performs the second you bring it home, this short episode is for you. Dr. A shares why he still buys pot mums, how he uses them in containers, and what to expect if you decide to keep them around after the season.
Perfect for gardeners looking for fast fall container color, low-maintenance seasonal plants, or a straightforward answer to the question of what actually looks good right now. If you’ve ever walked past a rack of mums and wondered whether they’re worth it, this episode gives you the honest answer.

Join Dr. Allan Armitage as he explores his favorite plant, the butterfly bush, highlighting its varieties, growth habits, care tips, and the impact on pollinators. Perfect for gardeners looking for an easy-to-grow, attractive plant for any landscape.
Why butterfly bush is a gardener's favorite
Varieties of butterfly bush: Cascade series, Pugster series, and dwarfer Buzz series
Growing tips: pruning, hardiness zones, sunlight, and size management
Benefits for pollinators, especially butterflies
Cultural and landscape considerations for inclusion in gardens
Dr. Armitage shares his personal experiences and reasons for favoring butterfly bush
Explanation of different species and cultivars, including Budlia dividiae and the Cascade and Pugster series
Tips on pruning for size control and flowering times
Hardiness zone recommendations (zones 5 to 8)
The plant’s adaptability to sun and shade and its pollinator-friendly qualities