Black-Eyed Susan: A Cheerful Bloom From North Carolina to Norway
Black-eyed Susan may be native to North Carolina, but its golden blooms have found their way around the world—even to the hills of Norway, where I recently spotted them thriving among the snow-capped peaks. Hardy, cheerful, and largely unbothered by pests, this adaptable member of the sunflower family brightens up gardens from summer through fall. It’s beloved not just by gardeners, but by pollinators like bees and butterflies—and come autumn, even finches stop by for a snack. Whether you’re planting in clay or sand, sun or part shade, Black-eyed Susan earns its place with easy care and sunny disposition.… Continue Reading
Wet Nose Wednesday: Meet Frilly and Lola!
Hi there! I’m Frilly, and I’m here to steal your heart with my irresistible charm and endless affection. I’m not just your average cat – I’m a professional cuddle expert who lives for attention and loves making new friends. I’m the kind of kitty who believes life is best enjoyed with lots of interaction and…… Continue Reading
Madison Interviews Hallmark Channel Star Nikki Deloach
It’s Christmas in July! Listen in as Madison chats with Nikki Deloach, star of the new Hallmark Channel docuseries “Christmas at Sea.” Nikki spills the tea on the four-part series, as well as offers advice on how others can make it in the film and television industry. Madison Interviews Hallmark Channel Star Nikki Del |…… Continue Reading
Girls Just Wanna Have Fun: Madison Interviews Superstar Cyndi Lauper
Sit back, relax, and enjoy Madison’s interview with legendary pop music singer and songwriter Cyndi Lauper. In anticipation of her July 22nd concert at Raleigh’s Coastal Credit Union Music Park, Cyndi dishes about the first time she sang on stage, how she’s preparing for her farewell tour, and what she hopes her music legacy will be.…… Continue Reading
Angus Barn Chef Michael Kerill Dishes on How to Cook the Perfect Steak
Listen in as Madison learns how to cook the perfect steak while talking with Angus Barn Chef Michael Kerill. This fun, in-depth discussion covers everything from grill selection and cooking temperatures to how to properly season steaks and how to cook them to sear in juices. Before you fire up your grill, give this one…… Continue Reading
Serviceberry: A little-known native tree that birds (and gardeners) love
RALEIGH, N.C. (WPTF) – Many years ago, my family and I were visiting relatives in Ohio in early April. On the way back home it snowed, although it did not stick to the roads. It stopped snowing as we were coming down Fancy Gap mountain on the Virginia-North Carolina border, just north of Mount Airy. I have vivid memories of a tree with white blooms that caught my eye. It was a Serviceberry (Amelanchier) which is in the rose family. It is also called Shadbush, Shadblow, Juneberry, and Sugarplum. Native to all three regions of North Carolina and I had never seen one, so I read up on it and asked my “WPTF Weekend Gardener” co-host Anne Clapp about this interesting tree.… Continue Reading
Madison Chats with Interior Design Guru Bobby Berk
Listen in as Madison chats with interior design guru Bobby Berk, who is also an author and an Emmy award-winning TV host. You’ll learn about Bobby’s new, Triangle-area home collaborations with Tri Pointe Homes. Plus, hear about a small home interior change you can make that Bobby says will make a huge difference in your home life. …… Continue Reading
Longtime WRAL anchor Charlie Gaddy dies at 93
RALEIGH, N.C. (WPTF) — Charlie Gaddy, one of North Carolina’s most recognizable broadcasters and a longtime anchor on WRAL-TV, has died at age 93. Before beginning his television career, Gaddy worked for a time at WPTF, the flagship station of the North Carolina News Network. In a 2024 interview marking WPTF’s 100th anniversary, he recalled the early days of local radio programming, including a show called Ask Your Neighbor.… Continue Reading
From Ditch Lilies to Showstoppers: Growing Daylilies in North Carolina
Our loyal Weekend Gardener listener and friend Steve is the pot master of the universe when it comes to daylilies (Hemerocallis). You may have heard them referred to as “ditch lilies. These perennials originated in China. I must say though, they just love the climate here in North Carolina. There are over 60-thousand varieties with lots of colors from pale yellow to pink to lavender to maroon. They are extremely popular in North Carolina and there are active daylily clubs all over the state including Raleigh. Our friend Steve’s club meets at the Ralston Arboretum. Once upon a time Rufus entered a daylily from his landscape in the club’s marvelous show and won a blue ribbon. You would have thought he had been handed the Nobel prize.… Continue Reading
Meet Illicium: A Shade-Loving Shrub with Personality
I can remember a time when there were few shade-loving shrubs from which to choose for the North Carolina landscape. In the early years of the “Weekend Gardener,” Erv Evans or those who filled in for him, would primarily recommend: acubas, rhododendrons, azaleas, or hydrangeas. Now there are a plethora of woody plants for the darker areas of your yard. What I am building up to is the world of Illiciums or Illicium parviflorum, illicium floridanum and illicium parviflorum anise shrubs. The leaves of this species have a distinctively pleasant scent when crushed. Most people say it smells like licorice, which is not my favorite. However, I do think it has a unique fragrance. The flowers of the floridanum have another distinctive attribute. They are pretty, a red to maroon color with a raw fishy fragrance. Some say it smells like a wet dog. This odor is not apparent unless the flower is right up to your nose. The plant usually blooms in April and May.… Continue Reading