Blooms and Beyond
This is a podcast that explores plant history, culture and management through the lens of science, unfolding plant power through horticultural anecdotal stories and impressive management practices. Each episode features an interview with an expert in horticulture, bringing you the most enchanting stories behind the scenes, the pioneering research shapes the future, and the hidden power enriches our lives. Whether you are a commercial professional looking for management best practices, students in search of horticultural career opportunities, someone questing after plant-related stories, or anyone in between, you will find content that resonates with you.
Science Translators on the Front Lines: Urban Extension in Metro Atlanta with Gabrielle LaTora and Eric Marlowe
title: “Show Notes: Science Translators on the Front Lines — Blooms and Beyond, S01E11” author: “Dr. Ping Yu, UGA Department of Horticulture; Gabrielle LaTora, UGA Extension Fulton County; Eric Marlowe, UGA Extension Gwinnett County” subject: “Show notes for Blooms and Beyond podcast episode on Extension agents, the land-grant university system, and urban agriculture in metro Atlanta” keywords: “extension agents, land-grant university, urban agriculture, Fulton County, Gwinnett County, Morrill Acts, cooperative extension, Master Gardeners, Blooms and Beyond, podcast, horticulture, UGA Extension” lang: en cssclasses:
accessible-printScience Translators on the Front Lines: Urban Extension in Metro Atlanta with Gabrielle LaTora and Eric Ma...
Botrytis Blight: Gray Mold, Calcium Shields, and Building a Better Box with Dr. Jim Faust
Blooms and Beyond - Season 1, Episode 10
Episode Title:
“Botrytis Blight: Gray Mold, Calcium Shields, and Building a Better Box”
Episode Description
What if the key to fighting one of floriculture’s most persistent enemies isn’t a fungicide — but a nutrient you can buy for $2 an acre? In this episode, host Dr. Ping Yu sits down with Dr. Jim Faust of Clemson University to tackle botrytis blight, the gray mold that haunts greenhouses and shipping boxes alike. Jim brings eight years of hands-on botrytis research and a passion for poinsettias that’s turning in...
Hopping Into Action: Clemson Scientists Tackle the Two-Spotted Cotton Leafhopper with Drs. Zee Ahmed and Tom Bilbo
Blooms and Beyond - Season 1, Episode 9
Episode Title:
“Hopping Into Action: Clemson Scientists Tackle the Two-Spotted Cotton Leafhopper”
Episode Description
What happens when a tiny, five-millimeter insect from the Old World shows up uninvited across the American Southeast — and starts hammering everything from cotton fields to backyard hibiscus? In this urgent and information-packed episode, Dr. Ping Yu sits down with two Clemson University entomologists — Dr. Zee Ahmed and Dr. Tom Bilbo — to break down one of the most pressing pest threats facing the green industry, vegetable growers, and cotton producers right now: the t...
Mite Watch: Spider Mite Management Secrets from 45 Years in the Greenhouse with Dr. Lance Osborne
Blooms and Beyond - Season 1, Episode 8
Episode Title:
“Mite Watch: Spider Mite Management Secrets from 45 Years in the Greenhouse with Dr. Lance Osborne”
Episode Description
What do you get when you combine 45 years of greenhouse research, a PhD on whiteflies, and an unstoppable curiosity about every tiny creature crawling through Florida’s ornamental industry? You get Dr. Lance Osborne—one of the true icons of greenhouse pest management.
In this episode, Dr. Ping Yu sits down with her former colleague at the University of Florida’s Mid-Florida Research and Education...
Beyond the Blue Jacket: FFA, Service & Growing the Whole Student with Renee' Martin
Blooms and Beyond - Season 1, Episode 7
Episode Title:
“Beyond the Blue Jacket: FFA, Service & Growing the Whole Student with Renee’ Martin”
Episode Description
What do chainsaw safety, cricket flour brownies, and a grandmother’s unwavering belief in her grandson’s potential all have in common? They’re all part of the extraordinary world of FFA — and in this episode, Renee’ Martin brings that world to life with warmth, wisdom, and a heart as big as the program itself.
Join host Dr. Ping Yu and guest Renee’ Martin — former agriculture teacher, current PhD...
The Queen of Flowers: From HVAC Engineer to Peony Scientist with Dr. Emily Zhou
Blooms and Beyond - Season 1, Episode 6
Episode Title:
“The Queen of Flowers: From HVAC Engineer to Peony Scientist with Dr. Emily Zhou”
Episode Description
What happens when an HVAC engineer falls in love with plants and earns a PhD studying one of the world’s most beloved flowers? In this episode, Dr. Ping Yu sits down with Dr. Emily Zhou, assistant professor at the University of Central Missouri, to explore her remarkable journey from engineering in China to pioneering peony research in the United States.
Peonies have captivated cultures for ov...
The Plant Hunter: Inside the World of International Plant Exploration with Judson LeCompte
Blooms and Beyond - Season 1, Episode 5
Episode Title:
“The Plant Hunter: Inside the World of International Plant Exploration with Judson LeCompte”
Episode Description
Ever wonder how the plants at your local garden center made their way from a breeder’s field in Japan or a mountain in China to your backyard? In this episode, Dr. Ping Yu sits down with Dr. Judson LeCompte, Product Development Manager at Spring Meadow Nursery and international plant hunter for Proven Winners Color Choice. Judson shares the fascinating—and often hilarious—realities of traveling the globe to discove...
IPM Basics: Building Your Pest Management Toolbox with Dr. Erich Schoeller
Blooms and Beyond - Season 1, Episode 4
Episode Title:
“IPM Basics: Building Your Pest Management Toolbox with Dr. Erich Schoeller”
Episode Description
What if the secret to healthier plants isn’t reaching for the spray bottle, but building a smarter system? In this episode, Dr. Ping Yu sits down with Dr. Erich Schoeller, an entomologist and IPM specialist at the University of Georgia, to break down the fundamentals of Integrated Pest Management. From the IPM pyramid to parasitoid wasps, from banker plants to predatory mites, Erich walks us through the science-based strategies that c...
Inside the Green Industry: A Lifelong Journey in Horticulture with Dr. Michael Martin
Blooms and Beyond - Season 1, Episode 3
Episode Title:
“Inside the Green Industry: A Lifelong Journey in Horticulture with Dr. Michael Martin”
Episode Description
What does it take to turn a childhood love of plants into a lifelong career? In this episode, Dr. Ping Yu sits down with her dear friend and colleague Dr. Michael Martin, Science Research and Regulatory Programs Director at American Hort and the Horticultural Research Institute (HRI). From sticking azalea cuttings at age five to becoming the ultimate “matchmaker” between growers and researchers, Michael shares the winding path that led...
Growing Together: Inside AFE's Mission for Floriculture with Laura Barth
Blooms and Beyond - Season 1, Episode 2
Episode Title:
“Growing Together: Inside AFE’s Mission for Floriculture”
Episode Description
What happens when a music major moves to North Carolina and falls in love with plants? In this episode, Dr. Ping Yu sits down with Laura Barth, Research Coordinator for the American Floral Endowment (AFE), to explore how this nonprofit organization supports the entire floriculture industry—from funding research to awarding scholarships.
Discover what AFE does for growers and researchers, why the floriculture industry is “surprisingly friendly,” and how trends like AI, drones...
Planting Seeds: How One Horticulturist Found Her Way to the Plant Jungle
Blooms and Beyond - Season 1, Episode 1
Episode Title:
“Planting Seeds: How One Horticulturist Found Her Way to the Plant Jungle”
Episode Description
Welcome to the very first episode of Blooms and Beyond! Join host Dr. Ping Yu, PhD student Yan Zhang, and producer Rich Braman as they introduce you to a podcast that explores plant history, culture, and management through the lens of science. In this inaugural episode, discover the personal journeys that led two people into the wonderful world of horticulture - from a childhood gardenia propagation competition in rural Chin...
