Spring has a way of showing up all at once, and suddenly, the garden is calling. Whether you’re planting a backyard garden or a few containers on a patio, this episode of Cultivating Curiosity will help you start the season with confidence.

We’re joined by Heather Kirk-Ballard, assistant professor in the University of Georgia Department of Horticulture and UGA Cooperative Extension specialist in sustainable urban landscapes, for a quick Q&A packed with practical tips to help you get growing.

From what to do the moment you step outside to prepping your soil, choosing the right plants, watering wisely and staying ahead of weeds and pests, Kirk-Ballard shares simple, research-backed guidance you can put to work right away.

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Choosing the right flowers and knowing how to care for them can make the difference between a bouquet that fades fast and one that lasts.

In this episode of Cultivating Curiosity, Julie Campbell, an assistant professor in the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, shares practical, research-based advice on selecting long-lasting varieties, caring for bouquets at home and extending their usefulness beyond the vase. From budget-friendly flowers to simple techniques for drying, pressing and repurposing blooms, Campbell offers approachable tips that help flowers go further.

She also discusses her recent research on how buying and receiving flowers can boost well-being and reduce stress, offering scientific backing for something many of us have experienced.

Whether you’re building a bouquet for a special occasion or buying flowers just because, this episode may convince you that you should absolutely buy yourself flowers.

Content from CAES:

• Buying flowers may boost well-being, reduce stress
• Petal pushers: UGA researchers give insight into the minds (and carts) of American flower buyers
• UGA study finds that age plays a major role in flower purchases
• UGA horticulture course teaches fundamentals of floral design

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Radon doesn’t smell. You can’t see it. And most people don’t realize it’s in their home until someone tells them to look.

January is National Radon Action Month. In this episode of Cultivating Curiosity, Rebecca Cantrell, radon educator for University of Georgia Cooperative Extension in the College of Family and Consumer Sciences, discusses why this invisible gas is a serious and often overlooked public health issue.

Cantrell explains what radon is, why it’s the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S., and why no home in Georgia is exempt from risk. She walks listeners through:

• How often to test
• How Extension helps residents make sense of their results
• What to do if results come back elevated
• How education around radon empowers residents to keep their homes and families safe

Learn more about how to protect your family from the health effects of radon at radon.uga.edu.

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Follow CAES on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn and check out UGA Extension on on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn for the latest updates.