This week, we’re all about berries—specifically, the ornamental kind that light up the fall landscape.

From bright reds and oranges to purples, blues, and everything in between, we’re talking about plants that bring serious color after the flowers are finished for the year. We’ll cover some of our favorite shrubs and trees for fall berries, what makes them stand out, and how they can add another whole layer of interest to the landscape.

Some are beautiful, some are bizarre, and some are basically nature showing off.

If your fall landscape could use a little more fruit, color, and attitude, this episode is for you.

You asked. Then someone else asked. Then twelve more people asked. This week, we’re answering the short questions we get all the time in one handy episode. The recurring questions, the quick clarifications, and the things you’ve apparently been wondering about while we were busy talking about something else.

We’re covering a little bit of everything, with a few detours and probably more backstory than anyone requested. Come for the quick answers, stay for our inability to keep them quick.

Summer separates the dawgs from the dogs. In this episode, we’re celebrating the plants absolutely crushing it—and calling out the crispy, floppy botanical disasters that have seen much better days. Who’s serving, who’s suffering, and who needs to be put out of their misery? Welcome to the slay and decay of summer.

This week, we’re taking a deep dive into the genus Amsonia—the blue stars of the perennial world. From their soft blue spring flowers to their fine-textured foliage and standout golden fall color, these plants bring a lot more to the garden than most people realize.

We’ll break down some of the best species and cultivars, talk about where they grow best, how they perform in the landscape, what makes them such dependable garden plants, and how to use them alongside other perennials and grasses. We’ll also get into the differences between some of the more commonly grown Amsonias and share a few of our favorites.

If you’ve ever grown Amsonia—or wondered why you should—this one’s for you.

Rain gardens are more than just a pretty place to put plants that like getting their feet wet. In this episode, we're diving into the dirty details of what makes a rain garden actually work. In this episode we talk about to turn these unique areas into beautiful, functional landscapes.

Of course, it wouldn’t be Shrubby Buddies without talking plants. We’ll get into choosing the right plants for the wet, the dry, and everything in between—and why a rain garden definitely isn’t just a hole filled with water-loving plants.

So grab your shovel, embrace the moisture, and join us as we get wet, get dirty, and figure out how to make rain gardens work harder in the landscape.

https://mtcubacenter.org/trials/baptisia/

https://mtcubacenter.org/trials/echinacea-mid-atlantic-region/

Tim went north! This week, we’re recapping Tim’s trip to Michigan for the Perennial Plant Association Symposium, where he spent a few days surrounded by incredible plants, gardens, and some of the best plant people in the business. Tim shares the highlights, favorite stops, standout plants, and a few stories from his PPA adventure.

Then we’re joined by Sam the Man for a special interview! We talk plants, horticulture, and Sam’s journey through the green industry—with plenty of laughs, plant-nerd tangents, and classic Shrubby Buddies banter along the way.

From Michigan plant adventures to hanging with Sam the Man, this episode has a little bit of everything. Grab a drink, get comfortable, and come get shrubby with us!

The dice are back, the plant knowledge is questionable, and once again, absolutely nothing is planned.

In Part 2 of our plant-name showdown, we’re rolling the Scattergories die and letting the letters decide where the conversation goes. Whatever letter comes up, we rapid-fire plants that start with it—along with random facts, strong opinions, questionable memories, unexpected tangents, and plenty of Shrubby Buddies banter.

No notes. No preparation. Just roll the dice and see what grows.

How many plants can we actually name before our brains completely shut down? Tune in and find out!

Not every plant deserves a spot in your landscape. In this episode, we're swiping left on some of the most overused, overrated, invasive, and downright disappointing plants we see every day. We'll explain why these garden staples no longer make the cut, what problems they create, and—more importantly—the beautiful, tougher, and more ecologically valuable plants we'd choose instead. If you're planning a new landscape or just looking to upgrade an old one, this episode will help you make smarter plant choices without sacrificing style.