Growing the Ozarks

Today’s guest is Angie Hutsell, member of the Master Gardeners of Greene County.  Angie is the chair of the upcoming state Missouri Master Gardener Conference to be held in Springfield, June 4-7, 2026.

This is the third time that the Master Gardeners of Greene County will  host the statewide conference in Springfield since the formation of their group in 1985.

The event will include tours of local parks and home garde...

In this episode, Kelly speaks with Caroline Griesemer and Renee Bernskoetter with Master Gardeners of Greene County about their annual plant sale.

The Master Gardeners of Greene County is a volunteer organization through University of Missouri Extension with the educational mission of ‘Helping Others Learn to Grow’. 

Master Gardener members will be on hand at the upcoming annual plant sale to answer questions and hel...

Dairy farms have a rich and interesting history in the Ozarks. Most of today’s farms are still owned and operated by farm families, just as they were in the past. Missouri is home to about 300 dairy farms, and most of them are here in the Ozarks.

In this episode, University of Missouri Extension Dairy Specialist Reagan Bluel discusses the Missouri dairy industry and the laws that ensure your milk is the most delicious and nutr...

In this episode, Kelly speaks with Carol Davit, Executive Director of the Missouri Prairie Foundation, to learn about the work the foundation does around the state, including local stormwater improvement projects involving native plantings. 

Celebrating 60 years, the Missouri Prairie Foundation (MPF) owns and manages 36 properties open to the public to enjoy on foot, including Schuette Prairie and La Petite Gemme Prairie. Both ...

In this episode, Kelly speaks with Springfield Plateau Master Naturalist Gwen Morrison about the growing concerns around microplastics.

Microplastics in the environment have received a lot of attention due to concerns about human, animal, and ecological effects. 

Beyond Plastics Ozarks is a new educational group in Springfield working to share information about the reduced use of plastics and what you can do on a daily basis to ...

This month, Kelly speaks with Master Naturalist Lindsey Anderson about soil. 

Soil isn't just a medium for plant growth - it's the foundation of food systems and our terrestrial habitats and ecosystems.

Soil filters pollutants, septic and the water supply. It provides flood control and mitigation while it supports our infrastructure. 

As an ecosystem, soil isn't an inert substance. It's full of bacteria, fungi, nematodes, mi...

Growing plants isn't something that often comes to mind when we think of the winter season, but with a few tips and techniques, inside gardening can help you grow all year long. 

Options for growing in winter:

Houseplants – houseplants are more popular than ever and they are a great hobby for all ages. Houseplants need a bright window with indirect light or you can use grow lights. Beware of drafty windows in winter and mo...

In this episode, Kelly speaks with Susan Wade, volunteer co-leader of the Victory Garden, which is part of the Springfield Community Gardens. 

Springfield Community Gardens has more than a dozen gardens in the city maintained by volunteers who share the harvest and provide fresh produce for community refrigerators that are free to anyone.

The produce grown at Victory Garden is used for Victory Mission, an organization helping me...

This month, Kelly speaks with the Backyard Naturalist, Loring Bullard, about how plant and maintain a yard for attracting pollinators and reducing water and pesticide use. 

Homeowners have undergone a paradigm shift in the last few years after recognizing the need for pollinator protection and reduced water and pesticide usage. The sustainable home landscape prioritizes more native plants and less turf for a big impact in a sma...

In this episode, Kelly speaks with Ed Kucab, president of the Christian County Master Gardeners, about how to save vegetable and fruit seeds. 

Saving seeds from plants like vegetables, fruit, and even flowers can help save money and preserve unique plant qualities, and make it easy to pass on heirloom plants to others. 

But which plants should be used for saving seeds? Seeds from plants that have performed well during the h...

In this episode, Kelly speaks with John Burns, president of the Master Gardeners of Greene County, about growing tomatoes - one of the top questions received by the MU Extension and the Master Gardeners of Greene County. 

• Choose the right variety for you:
   
  • Determinate vs. indeterminate
•  
  • Taste and characteristics 
• 
  
  • Climate
•  
  • Seeds or plants?
• Choose the right...

Summer nights in the Ozarks are a great time to spend time to spend in nature after dark; all while never leaving the comfort of your favorite outdoor chair!

When the sun goes down, the Ozarks become a symphony of animal calls, songs, chirps and croaks. In this episode, Kelly speaks with Springfield Plateau Master Naturalist Jay Barber about the different insects, frogs, birds and mammals we hear on these summer nights.

Insects

Broad-...

Host Kelly McGowan speaks with Sadia Blattert about using native plants in gardens and landscaping.

Native plants are more popular than ever and they play a crucial part in our native ecosystem. 

Blattert is a Master Gardeners of Greene County member and owner of Pollen to Petal Native Plants and Landscaping. She also oversees the native plantings at the Springfield Botanical Center.

In this episode, Blattert shares information o...

Master Gardener Bill Aldrich shares tips on how to successfully grow roses this summer. 

Roses can be a beautiful part of the home landscape, but sometimes they have a reputation of being difficult to grow. 

When shopping for roses at the garden center, make sure to choose plants that have a solid green leaf color, free from spotting. 

When planting container roses, make sure not to bury the graft union. This is usually...

In this episode of Growing the Ozarks, host Kelly McGowan of the University of Missouri Extension talks with Springfield Plateau Chapter Master Naturalist Lois Zerrer about the invasive Bradford pear.

The Bradford pear (Pyrus calleryana), sometimes known as the Callery pear, first arrived in the U.S. landscape plant industry about 30 years ago. It was originally thought to be the perfect landscape tree. It was fast growing, had a ni...