The Backyard Naturalists
Welcome to The Backyard Naturalists, the show about anything and everything connected with nature. In this episode of The Backyard Naturalists, hosts Debbie and Laurie sit down with Angie Gadda, the passionate owner of Barn and Bee Botanicals. Angie shares her inspiring journey from struggling with health issues to discovering the healing power of natural ingredients, which led her to create her own line of skincare and body care products. Using ingredients sourced from her farm in rural North Carolina, including goat’s milk, tallow, and various herbs, Angie crafts everything from...
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Thanks for listening to The Backyard Naturalists, the podcast about anything and everything connected with nature. We love to engage with our listeners and have a few fabulous prizes we’d love to share with you. As a part of helping us grow our social media and online presence, we’re giving you an opportunity to score a few of them we talk about in this week’s show. This week, Debbie and Laurie share a few neat little items designed to make your natural life, just a little easier. These are products to help deter mosquitoes, feed hummingbirds, clean your bird bath and keep you...
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Welcome to The Backyard Naturalists, the show about anything and everything connected with nature. One of the questions folks have for the team at Backyard Birds is how to keep those pesky squirrels away from their bird feeders. In this week’s episode, Debbie and Laurie off a few affordable solutions and ideas to keeps our little bushy-tailed friends away from your bird food. While recording the Backyard Naturalists podcast, Debbie and Laurie enjoy coffee provided by the Good Cup Coffee Company in Matthews, North Carolina. Follow Good Cup Coffee on Instagram and look for...
info_outlineThe Backyard Naturalists
Thanks for listening to The Backyard Naturalists, the podcast about anything and everything connected with nature. We love to engage with our listeners and have a few fabulous prizes we’d love to share with you. As a part of helping us grow our social media and online presence, we’re giving you an opportunity to score a few of them we talk about in this week’s show. Monica Macoubrie makes a return trip to our podcast this week to discuss a few of the many mental and physical benefits from being outdoors, in nature. Monica works with to allow their “diverse constituents to...
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Welcome to a special episode of The Backyard Naturalists podcast! We are thrilled to share that our podcast has been recognized by the readers of The Matthews Mint Hill Weekly as their favorite, earning us the honor of being an award-winning podcast. We are incredibly grateful for the support of our listeners, as we now reach audiences in all 50 states and over 100 countries worldwide. In this week's episode, your hosts Debbie and Laurie are joined by a special guest, Nick Lund, also known as "The Birdist". Nick, with his extensive background as the Advocacy and Outreach Coordinator for...
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Welcome to The Backyard Naturalists, the show about anything and everything connected with nature. In this encore episode of The Backyard Naturalist podcast, Debbie and Lori dive into the world of mosquitoes and share practical tips for controlling these pesky insects. Did you know that mosquitoes are more attracted to people with type O blood, high metabolism, and those wearing dark colors? Tune in to learn more fascinating facts about mosquito attraction and the risks they pose to pets and wildlife, such as heartworm in dogs and West Nile virus in birds. Discover effective...
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Welcome to The Backyard Naturalists, the award-winning podcast about anything and everything connected with nature, heard in 115 countries, 50 states, and all throughout the Carolinas. Honored with the Best of the Weeklies podcast award by the readers of the Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly, we bring you engaging and educational content each week. In this episode, hosts Lori and Debbie are joined by Christopher Page for an enlightening discussion about light pollution and its impacts. Christopher reminisces about his childhood in North Carolina when the night sky was filled with stars, but...
info_outlineThe Backyard Naturalists
Welcome to The Backyard Naturalists, the award-winning podcast about anything and everything connected with nature, heard in 115 countries, 50 states, and all throughout the Carolinas. Honored with the Best of the Weeklies podcast award by the readers of the Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly, we bring you engaging and educational content each week. In this episode, your hosts, Debbie and Laurie delve into the crucial topic of ticks and tick-borne illnesses. Beginning with personal observations from their own backyards, such as baby bluebirds in a birdbath, they transition to explaining that...
info_outlineThe Backyard Naturalists
Welcome to The Backyard Naturalists, the award-winning podcast about anything and everything connected with nature, heard in 115 countries, 50 states, and all throughout the Carolinas. Honored with the Best of the Weeklies podcast award by the readers of the Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly, we bring you engaging and educational content each week. In this episode, Debbie and Laurie sit down with Brittany Smith, the inspiring founder of Flora and Fauna Festivities. After leaving her teaching career, Brittany realized that not all kids have access to nature, which led her to start this...
info_outlineThe Backyard Naturalists
Welcome to The Backyard Naturalists, the award-winning podcast about anything and everything connected with nature, heard in 115 countries, 50 states, and all throughout the Carolinas. Honored with the Best of the Weeklies podcast award by the readers of the , we bring you engaging and educational content each week. In this episode, Debbie and Laurie visit the for the third consecutive year. Join them as they have a delightful conversation with Jessica Thomas, the Market Manager. Matthews Community Farmer’s Market is the largest and most diverse producer-only farmers' market in the...
info_outlineWelcome to The Backyard Naturalists, the show about anything and everything connected with nature.
A. UNCC – 4/11-4/13 – 4/11 is for members
1. Plant sale proceeds and membership fees enable the Gardens to continue to offer free admission to our gardens and greenhouse and discounted programming for all.
2. native wildflowers, butterfly and hummingbird plants, azaleas, hydrangeas, fruiting shrubs, ferns, colorful annuals, unusual ornamental and native trees & shrubs, carnivorous plants, banana plants, elephant ears, succulents, herbs, heirloom vegetables, and more! Sometimes water plants
3. All the Gardens’ staff and many knowledgeable long-term volunteers will be on-site to answer questions and suggest plants for your particular conditions!
4. Location: Lot 5, Martin Village Road, UNC Charlotte, Free parking is available adjacent to the sale (look for roped off area)
5. PRO TIP: sometimes extend sale – check for updates on their site
B. NC State Extension Master Gardener/Union County
1. 5/4/24 – 9-noon - Come early for best selection
2. Agriculture Center – Greenhouse; 3230 Presson Rd., Monroe, NC
3. variety of vegetables, herbs, native perennials, annuals, container trees and shrubs.
4. Rain barrels available for same day pickup
5. Cash or credit
D. Wing Haven – 4/10 – members, 4/11, 4/12, 4/13
1. wide variety of local favorite and unusual plants, Wing Haven legacy plants, trees and shrubs
2. assisted by our knowledgeable staff and volunteers.
3. All proceeds benefit Wing Haven gardens, programs and educational outreach.
4. Admission to Wing Haven’s gardens is free during the plant sale—donations accepted and appreciated! Enjoy the beautiful spring weather with a stroll through the gardens after shopping plant favorites.
E. NC Botanical Garden – 5/4/24
1. Purchase southeastern native plants from the North Carolina Botanical Garden and other local nurseries in our annual Spring Native Plant Sale.
2. Chapel Hill, NC
3. Also features a Daily Plant Sale!
4. Plant Sales - North Carolina Botanical Garden (unc.edu)
1. Shop by zip code
2. shipped to your home at the appropriate planting time
3. guaranteed for one year,
4. all native
5. take the easy Quiz which will direct you to the right plants for the right spot!
G. SC Botanical Gardens at Clemson – 4/5 (members), 4/6 – public, 4/20 second chance sale
1. Clemson, SC
2. Catalog of plants available about 2 weeks before sale
H. GA Native Plant Society
1. Spring Plant Sales 2024 - GNPS
2. 23 sites listed across state!
I. Lisa Tompkins, Carolina Heritage Nursery
1. Matthews Farmers Market starting April 13
2. every other week into June
If you have ideas for topics that you'd like us to pursue, send us a message either on our Facebook page or our website. We would really like to hear from you.
Connect with the Backyard Naturalists on the Web, Facebook and Instagram.
Please visit and support our presenting sponsor, Backyard Birds at http://www.thebirdfoodstore.com/. A mecca for bird lovers and bird watchers, Backyard Birds is an independent family-owned business located in Matthews, NC (next to Dairy Queen), just southeast of Charlotte.
Thanks for listening to The Backyard Naturalists. We hope you have a day filled with the wonders of nature. Get outside and take a walk on the wild side! Please don’t forget to leave a 5-star review for The Backyard Naturalists podcast.
Production services for The Backyard Naturalists podcast are provided by Downtown Podcasting. To start a conversation on how you can have a podcast, simply send an email to [email protected].