From the ground up: Oklahoma Gardening celebrates 50 years of blooming success
Wednesday, May 21, 2025
Media Contact: Sophia Fahleson | Digital Communications Specialist | 405-744-7063 | sophia.fahleson@okstate.edu
As “Oklahoma Gardening” celebrates its 50th season, the program will take viewers back to its roots to explore the history of gardening in Oklahoma and the timeless tips and tricks from hosts throughout the years.
In this season, new memories will be cultivated, and gardeners from around the world can tune in and grow with “Oklahoma Gardening,” said Casey Hentges, 11th and current host.
Hosts from throughout the seasons will be back in the garden to film the new season and reminisce about what they have accomplished, Hentges said.
“Every host has had a different spin on ‘Oklahoma Gardening,’ so we will take a look at what each host has accomplished,” Hentges said. “However, this season is not just to look back but also to look forward.”
Each host brings his or her own personality and uniqueness to “Oklahoma Gardening,” said Ray Campbell, the show’s third host. All have a different focus, which adds so much to the show, Campbell added.
“I was a host in the early years of the show,” Campbell said. “I was a faculty member in the horticulture department when ‘Oklahoma Gardening’ first began, so I was very familiar with it.
“It was a new method of teaching for me and a different way to get out information statewide from a new source,” he added. “It was also a good way for the university to reach more people.”
One of the biggest changes through the years is the technology used to produce the show, Campbell said.
“When I was the host, we just had a camera and basically did tabletop demonstrations,” Campbell said. “There have definitely been a lot of technology advantages and improvements over the years.”
In 1997, Brenda Sanders, the eighth host of “Oklahoma Gardening,” and her crew recorded and produced the show in the same week, Sanders said, which was a big turnaround process.
“You would have a videotape that you could watch, but it wasn’t available to the public yet,” Sanders said. “With the challenges of Oklahoma weather, we had to find ways to record in time to send in the videotape to the Oklahoma Educational Television Authority.”
Gardening has become more of a way of life for people in recent years, Campbell said. People garden because they enjoy it, not because they have to, he added.
“I am excited to see how gardening has become recognized as more of a therapeutic tool and has become more accessible to people who have physical limitations or are limited on space,” Campbell said. “I think we might see more gardening brought indoors.”
This season of Oklahoma Gardening will showcase the growth of the show while also navigating the challenges gardeners face, Hentges said.
The purpose of the show is to provide people with education and empower them, she said. From plant health to unpredictable weather, “Oklahoma Gardening” looks for new ways to overcome gardening challenges alongside viewers, she added.
“We’re facing the same challenges as our viewers,” Hentges said. “We acknowledge when things aren’t working in our own garden without creating a picture of perfectionism.”
The show isn’t about being perfect, Hentges said, but rather about being realistic and providing education.
“I have seen a lot of improvements in people’s confidence in gardening, whether they’re a novice or have been gardening for a while,” Campbell said. “The show has made people much more aware and interested in gardening as a healthy aspect of living.”
Gardening is good for the body and mind, Campbell said.
“It’s exciting to see where gardening in Oklahoma is going,” Sanders said. “More and more people are interested in gardening, and I think it’s because of the show. The outreach is so much wider now, and it’s exciting to see.”
Produced by OSU Extension, “Oklahoma Gardening” airs weekly on OETA and on The Rural Channel in Canada. The show is also available on the “Oklahoma Gardening” YouTube channel.
The growth of “Oklahoma Gardening” during the 50 years of broadcasting is amazing, Sanders said.
Using YouTube and social media have expanded the show’s national and international audience, Hentges said.
“We write the show, present it, and it’s done, but through YouTube, the episodes are still being used,” Hentges said. “It’s nice to know your previous work is still making a difference.”
Although “Oklahoma Gardening” is celebrating this milestone anniversary, organizers are staying true to their origins, Hentges said. The season will still feature how-to tips and help viewers find new and innovative solutions as they change with technology.
“Oklahoma Gardening” is such a striking tradition, offering a legacy passed down from host to host, Hentges said, and today, it remains popular among viewers.
Hosts
- Joe Maxson, 1975
- Raymond Kays, 1975-1979
- Ray Campbell, 1980-1985
- Paul Mitchell, 1986
- Sue Gray, 1987 co-host
- Jim Gallot, 1987 co-host
- Steve Dobbs, 1990-1995
- Brenda Sanders, 1997-2000
- Steve Owens, 2001-2006
- Kin Toscano, 2007-2015
- Casey Hentges, 2015-Present
Fast Facts
- The show airs every Saturday at 11 a.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. on OETA. Full shows and segments can be accessed anytime via Inside OSU or OETA’s website. Viewers can also subscribe to the show’s YouTube channel, “Oklahoma Gardening.”
- The 50th anniversary of “Oklahoma Gardening” is bringing back the Plant-A-Row Challenge. Gardeners are encouraged to donate 50 pounds of their produce to enter a raffle to win a garden tiller.
- This year, youth in 4-H or FFA can submit pictures to be featured on the show.
- To recognize the anniversary of “Oklahoma Gardening,” T-shirts are available for purchase at Eskimo Joe’s. The profits will go toward “Oklahoma Gardening” as well as the Oklahoma State University Student Farm.
Source: OSU Extension
Story by Olivia McGuire | Cowboy Journal