December 6, 2025 • 45 mins
As Stacey says, real gardening starts once you’re not afraid to make mistakes. Sure, taking risks can be scary, but it can also be so rewarding! Whether you try to push the limits of spacing or hardiness, stepping out of your comfort zone is a big part of gardening. We discuss ways to push the boundaries in the landscape and the potential benefits of doing so. Featured shrub: Just Chill Red Tip camellia.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
Broadcasting from Studio A Here at Proven Winners, Color Choice Shrubs.
It's time for the Gardening Simplified Show with Stacy Hervella, me,
Rick weisst and our engineer and producer Adrianna Robinson. Today's
show is about pushing the boundaries. Love this topic. I've
always pushed the boundaries. You can start by asking yourself
(00:25):
who sets the boundaries? For example, maybe the USDA and
their plant Heartiness zone map. But do we pay attention
to it or do we put plants in the ground
that maybe push the envelope a little bit. I mean,
for me, in my life, the magic words have always
(00:47):
been if someone looks at me and says you can't
do that, those are the magic words. It's like step
back now you just did it. I'm going for it.
You know. I'm similar age to Tom Cruise, And just
like Tom Cruise, I do all my own stunts. I
believe it, not necessarily always intentionally, but I do all
(01:10):
my own stunts. Are you risk averse? Are you risk averse?
In the garden? For example, pushing the boundaries could mean
extending the season from early in the season with minor
bulbs and hellebores too late in the season. As a
matter of fact, I took some pictures the other day
of Paisley pop dog hobble poking through the snow in
(01:34):
my landscape so beautiful, or the Native witch hazel and
full bloom in November. But trying to get the most
out of the season you can. William Albert Allard, he
was a photographer, an American documentary photographer for National Geographic,
(01:55):
and he always said, as it related to his photography,
you got to push yourself harder. You got to start
looking for pictures nobody else could take. You got to
take the tools you have and probe deeper. And I
love that because taking a picture is just like your landscape,
with an opportunity to push the boundaries. And in my opinion, Stacey,
(02:18):
it's in three areas. You push the boundaries with a subject.
Plant material. Oh I'm not supposed to say plant material.
Speaker 2 (02:25):
Oh, I mean, I don't have a problem with that.
I'm not going to give you hard times flump people out.
Speaker 1 (02:30):
There, composition and color. So when it comes to a subject,
there's so many opportunities with plant introductions, That's what the
show is all about. All year long. We're talking about
new plants, great plants for your landscape, plants on trial
and in a few weeks will unveil the plants of
(02:52):
the Year for twenty twenty six. But like my friend
Bridget Behe she was a professor at Michigan State Universe City,
always says to me, people buy what they know, And
I'm like why because I look at hydrangees like Incredible
storm Proof or Little Line Punch, and I wonder how
I ever lived without them.
Speaker 2 (03:15):
Well, they're still familiar to you. That's a concept known
as maya most advanced yet acceptable where you have and
it's penned by this brilliant industrial designer. But anyway, it's
a relation of a plant that you already kind of know,
(03:35):
so you're not really stepping out of your comfort zone,
but you're also getting doing something that's different enough. So
that's kind of like the perfect area. But like you
know it probably for someone else it might have taken
a little bit of a leap of faith to try
Paisley popped Dog. Of course you already knew.
Speaker 1 (03:52):
It right right exactly, So I love that aspect of it.
So as it relates to subject or it can be
a plant, yes that's been around for a long time.
I have some video to show you on YouTube of
my banana tree when I cut it down this fall
and then mulch the area, hoping that hardy banana comes
up again next year. You can see the pseudo stem.
(04:16):
It's a false trunk made of tightly rolled leaf sheets.
I'm hoping it comes back next year. But that's kind
of pushing the envelope, so to speak. And of course,
pushing the envelope was an aeronautical phrase that they would
use in aeronautics, but then eventually became something that was
(04:39):
just accepted in regards to just about anything else, including art.
Pushing the envelope seeing how far you can push it.
Speaker 2 (04:47):
Well, I kind of. I mean, I have to say.
I know we have listeners all over the country, but
for our local listeners, I don't think we can ignore
the elephant in the room, which is that nature has
been pushing our boundary. Oh my word, here in Michigan
little bit so over this last week we've had about
two feet of snow here in West Michigan. Earliest I
(05:07):
can ever remember having any like appreciable snow, but certainly
two feet.
Speaker 1 (05:12):
Yeah, and I took a picture just for you, Stacy
of my Dwarf Alberta spruce. Oh yeah, one of your favorites.
Oh yeah, loaded with Christmas lights and covered in snow.
Speaker 2 (05:23):
Oh that's a good look. I mean, that is the
one thing that dwarf Alberta spruce is good for is
Christmas lights. I will absolutely positively give it that. So yeah,
so we are definitely when we're thinking about all of
the heartiness boundaries that we pushed, all those other boundaries
that we pushed back a month ago. Now we're kind
(05:43):
of like, WHOA did not see this coming?
Speaker 1 (05:46):
It has been something else. Snowing, snowing, snowing. We can
push the envelope on composition, our shows on layering and
pushing the limits of spacing rules plant combinations. For example,
color blaze colius is now used in sunny combinations in
ways colius was never used before. Same thing with heart
(06:08):
to heart kalladiums or fastigit plants like arborvide or Althea's.
Speaker 2 (06:15):
And then I'm glad you brought up the kalladiums because
here we are in December, and I think that the
proven Wnterer's heart to heart kalladiums are a great example
of pushing the boundaries because for years people really only
thought of kalladiums as strictly a summer outdoor in the
shade exactly you could pick white, red, or pink. That
was it. And they have not only pushed the boundaries
(06:35):
on what's possible within a kalladium, but they also are
selling them as Christmases because of all of those great red, green, bright,
vivid colors, and that's a whole new way to think
about them. And they look amazing. I mean points outs
are equally as tender. So why not colladiums a Christmas?
Speaker 1 (06:53):
I agree, it's exciting. And then, of course color pushing
the envelope as far as color is concerned for polychromatic
riot to less conventional colors, and we've talked about that
on the show, using black as a backdrop or the
color orange in a landscape. So don't mail it in.
(07:14):
And my opinion still is don't copy your neighbor. Now,
some folks have told us, I'm I love it when
my neighbors copy me, and that's great, but let's try
some things that surpass the normal limits, so to speak.
And sometimes it's just about being stubborn. I mean it
(07:36):
is for me. For our YouTube viewers have a couple
of pictures here for you of my blue Atlas cedar. Now,
I practice what I preach, Stacy, and I move plants
in fall, and this tree needed to be moved. It
was in the way. Tried to get a contractor with
a loader to help us move it. They were too busy,
(08:00):
could not do it, and I wanted it move this fall.
In addition, again practice what I preach. I called missdig.
They came out, they flagged the area right underneath the
tree is a gas line leading to the house. So
I had to hand dig all around this cedar tree.
And once I had hand dug the roots out, then
(08:24):
I recruited a couple of neighbors and we dragged that
tree up a hill and replanted it.
Speaker 2 (08:30):
So that's how you've repaid your debt, is helping them
to shovel out of this storm.
Speaker 1 (08:34):
Right, Yes, exactly, of course. Also, I did want to
mention when we're pushing the envelope new varieties of plants.
I found it interesting, Stacy, that on proven Winter's website
there's a link there where if you have a plant
that you think is worthy to be looked at, because
(08:57):
the work that goes into bringing a new plant to
market is amazing, the legal issues, the costs, the work.
Speaker 2 (09:06):
The time time for sure, definitely the time.
Speaker 1 (09:08):
But if somebody has a plant, there's a link there
where you could reach out and say, hey, I think
I've got something. By the way, are you a person
like me who kind of pushes the envelope when it
comes to USDA hardiness zones?
Speaker 2 (09:26):
Oh? Yes, that's my favorite thing to push in the garden. Well, spacing,
of course is also something that I push in the garden,
but definitely hardiness. Yeah. I mean, I'm going to talk
a lot about it and plants on track. No spoilers,
all right.
Speaker 1 (09:39):
All right, good, let's save it for that now. Twenty
twenty six, next year is going to mark my fiftieth
year in the garden center industry. And I think back,
and you recall this Tuesday. See this garden center called
Frank's Nursery. Oh okay, they started in nineteen fifty seven,
four stores. They we went out of business in two
(10:02):
thousand and four. I believe it was something like that.
But the reason I bring up Frank's Nursery and Crafts
is because for the industry, they're the ones who started
the plant guarantee. You buy a plant, they give you
a guarantee for a year. If the plant dies, you
bring it back. That is a struggle for me and
(10:25):
for a garden. You know, you'll see some greenhouses where
there's a sign in the entrance that says, hey, our
plants are great, they're great quality. We take great care
of our plants. Once you buy it, it's yours. Yeah,
take care of.
Speaker 2 (10:36):
It, right, yeah, I mean it does say something that
Franks did go out of business. Let's not forget that.
But I will say that the combination garden center craft
supplies concept is one that is due for a revival.
I would love that.
Speaker 1 (10:52):
I think so too. I do too. So risk taking?
Are you risk averse? Risk take making with no guarantees?
I think about those nursery guarantees at garden centers. And
here's this week's limb a rick. I don't need a
plant guarantee or a Bachelor of Science degree with my plants.
(11:14):
I take chances regardless of circumstances. Determination is my warn tea.
If for me, you establish a border, you can't do that.
You order watch this better yet, remember don't forget to
film me with your camcorder. Plants on trial. Coming up
(11:38):
next here on the Gardening Simplified.
Speaker 2 (11:41):
Show, beautify your home and community with proven Winner's Color
Choice Shrubs with over three hundred and twenty five unique
varieties to choose from. There's a flowering shrubber evergreen for
every taste and every space. Just look for the distinctive
white container your local garden center or learn more at
(12:02):
Provenminar'scolour Choice dot com. Greeting's gardening friends, and welcome back
to the Gardening Simplified Show, where we're talking all about
pushing the boundaries. Now. Of course, we are about as
far away from gardening season as you can get. We've
completely finished the at least here in Michigan. The tail
end of the twenty twenty five season. Twenty twenty six
(12:22):
season is a ways away. So all of this is
just for you to kind of store away and consider
as we approach spring, because I think a lot of
the boundaries that we're talking about pushing are things that
you would normally do in spring. Sure, you know, not
necessarily right now, but before we took a break, you
mentioned Frank's nursery and crafts. Definitely something that will ring
(12:43):
a bell for any Michigander, and I will tell you
I don't think I'm alone in this. I cannot hear
the words Frank's Nursery and Crafts without smelling it. Yes,
I smell those words. Yes, it had such a distinctive
smell to that store.
Speaker 1 (12:58):
Especially this time of the year Christmas should walk in
the door. It smelled like cinnamon pine cones mixed with
fertilizer and chemicals.
Speaker 2 (13:08):
See, all I remember is that this is the fertilizer. Yeah,
and I think it was twelve so like it. But
they all smelled like that, and no matter I went
to multiple Francs when I was a kid with my
mom or my grandma.
Speaker 1 (13:19):
It sticks with and uh yeah.
Speaker 2 (13:21):
And if someone says that it's just like the smell
is the first thing. And then the second thing, of
course is their jingle Francs nursoreen crass. So anyway, if
Frank's brings up a smell to you, please do leave
us a comment on YouTube. We would love to know
that we are in good company.
Speaker 1 (13:41):
Thanks Frank.
Speaker 2 (13:44):
But anyway, pushing the boundaries, I do think that you
know you become a gardener when you start to push
the boundaries. And this can look a lot of different ways.
Pushing the boundaries is another way of being able to
say that, another way of saying that you're willing to
make a mistake. Yes, because when you push the boundaries,
(14:04):
you don't necessarily know what's on the other side. You
may fail, But the great thing about gardening is if
you quote unquote fail, you've still learned something. And so
I think that pushing boundaries is a really important step
for gardeners to take in their gardening journey. And it
doesn't have to be a big, huge risk. I mean,
we're not saying, like, you know, go out and spend
(14:27):
you know, eighty dollars on a banana plant and then
plant it and hope it comes back. You know, it
can be a small risk.
Speaker 1 (14:33):
I agree, And that's why I say when someone says
to me, you can't do that, the way I look
at it is you're not telling me what my limits are.
You're showing me what your limits are. Yeah, step back,
I'll show you.
Speaker 2 (14:48):
Yeah, you know. I it's funny that you bring that
up because I when I was in horticulture school, we
did a seed like in an early propagation class. We
did a seed experiment where we grew hot peppers, like
decorative hot peppers from seed, and I was like about
to take it home and the instructor tore it out
of my hands. He goes, that will never grow outside
(15:09):
of here, and he threw it away in front of
me and wouldn't even let me take it home to
see what happened. What, Yeah, I know, didn't want to
push the boundaries, I guess.
Speaker 1 (15:16):
Problem.
Speaker 2 (15:17):
So anyway, here I am. The other thing that I
think is so important about pushing the boundaries, especially when
it comes to hardiness. And when we talk about pushing
the boundaries with hardiness, what we're saying is, you know,
if you look at a plant tag or you read
write a plant online and it says, you know, hardy
this zone to that zone. If you like that plant,
(15:37):
you can potentially, depending on how far this difference is
between your zone and where it's believed to be hardy,
you can potentially find out that it is hardier than
people have expected. And I think it's so important for
everyone to realize that the vast majority of hardiness zones
that we all of us in the industry and as
(15:59):
gardeners are working with come from a time where information
was not so easy to come by, and it was
really just you know, the so called experts who put
out a book or you know, an ortho guide or
something like that, and that stuff kind of stuck. So
we're in such a different environment now where not only
(16:23):
are are we all able to share information, any of
us can share information and it spreads really quickly, so
we don't necessarily have to be bound by the same
beliefs about plant hardiness that were operational fifty years ago.
You know, there's absolutely no reason for that now. Of course,
there is an element of you know, basic awareness here.
(16:44):
If something is you know, native to I don't know,
Puerto Rico, no, it's probably not going to be hardy
here in Michigan. But there are still a number of plants.
If you look at certainly most plants in Asia, and
even in some climates that are really unexpected, like in
South Africa, you can actually grow those things in the
(17:06):
right conditions in other areas that you would never expect.
And the only way to find that out is to
do it.
Speaker 1 (17:12):
Exactly, use it as a guide, not as a limitation exactly.
Speaker 2 (17:17):
So when I give tours of our trial garden here
in West Michigan, one of the things that I'm always
of course, I point out all of the proven winners
color Choice shrubs, because the garden is full of them,
but I always point out the numerous things where Dale
the owner, has really pushed the limits and pushed the
hardiness own. You know, he has a number of absolutely
(17:39):
beautiful Japanese cryptomeria in his garden and you barely see
cryptomeria anywhere in Michigan because again, for decades, people just
assumed it wasn't hardy. But they're thriving. They are, you know,
fifty forty fifty feet tall. In his garden, we have
grown distillium, which is considered a Southern plant Cuba Japanese
(18:01):
occupa grows spectacularly. Here another plant that you would look
at it and think there's no way that thing's going
to grow survive winter in Michigan, and yet it does,
and it does so beautifully. And today's plant on trial
is such a plant. It is just chill red tip camellia.
Speaker 1 (18:19):
Love it.
Speaker 2 (18:19):
I love camelias so much, and I know for our
listeners in warm climates, they're just like camelias, okay, you know,
because they're a diamad doze and if you live in
California or if you live in the South, they are
so popular, and for good reason, because they are really
one of the showiest flowering shrubs on earth. They are
(18:40):
a broad leaf evergreen in case you tuned into our
broad leaf evergreen show last week, beautiful, handsome, dark green, leathery,
glossy foliage, and the flowers are not just spectacular, but
they appear at a time when you need them most,
which is to say, for Camelia japanica, which is the
queen of them all in my opinion, winter. So this
(19:00):
thing is just in full glorious bloom in February when
everything else is just you know, dormant and doing nothing.
This planet is just like, oh, I got this. And
then there are also fall blooming camellias, and just chill
is one of these fall blooming camelias. And that's notable
because of this heartiness issue, because for two reasons. Number one,
(19:21):
the fall blooming camelias do tend to be more cold
tolerant than those winter blooming Camelia japonicas, So that kind
of ability to survive winter a little bit better is
already built into fall blooming camellias, like are just chill series.
And the other thing about the Chamelia japonica is typically
(19:42):
because they bloom in winter, our winters are just way
too cold for that to ever happen, and the cold
lasts so long that it damages all the flower tissue.
Whereas because just chill blooms in fall, we can actually
get a couple good weeks of blooming starting in you know,
depending on what the weather it was like some time
in October and going into November again is long. It
(20:04):
can take some frost, that's not really the issue, although
any open exposed petals will definitely get nipped, and that's
just as true for Familia chaponica in the South as
it is for fall blooming camellias up here. So that
combination of increased tardiness and the fall blooming can make
this a good choice to push the boundaries and get
(20:25):
a camellia here in Michigan, and they have had excellent
survival in our trial garden. Now, of course I need
to couch this in the terms that we are pretty
close to the lake and we're still planting these in
protected areas. You can't just put this out on your
easement where it's gonna get pelted with snowplow way, consalt
and everything and expected to do okay. But if you
(20:47):
are able to plant it near your house or protected
from the worst of the winter weather by some neighboring plants,
as we have with Just Chill Red Tip, it can
actually survive. And so we've had great, great results.
Speaker 1 (21:00):
Pushing the envelope many times means micro climate.
Speaker 2 (21:04):
Yes, that's a very good point, definitely, So you find
those microclimates. And of course you have to plant in spring.
This is not a plant that you would you know,
or anytime you're pushing the hardiness boundaries, you always want
to plant it as early as possible in the season
so it has that whole time to get habituated and
established before the worst weather comes. Now just Chill Red Tip,
(21:26):
we do have four varieties in the just Chill line,
but I am recommending just Chill Red Tip as the
one for those of you who are pushing the boundaries
because it has beautiful single pink flowers that are very
showy and very attractive. But even if you miss those
blooms some years because the weather doesn't cooperate, it has
red new growth. That's where the name just Chill red
(21:48):
tip comes from so as the plant grows during the season,
and believe me, the foliage is attractive enough to grow
this plant just as a foliage plant, even if you
never do get flowers, which you will get some flowers
some years may be better than others. But the new
growth emerges this beautiful dark burgundy that just makes it
so attractive and so interesting all year long. So we
sell this as hardy to USDA Zone seven, so right
(22:10):
on the border. But again we've had great success here
in USDA Zone six P sun tolerant, shade tolerant, although
you get more flowers if you at least give it
some sun and you're resistant too. Love it, so many
reasons to push the envelope with a just chill red
tip amelia. Put it on your spring planting list. We're
going to take a little break and when we come back,
we're opening up the mailbag. It's s sety tuned at
(22:39):
proven winners color choice shrubs. We know that a better
landscape starts with a better shrub. Our team of experts
tests and evaluates all of our flowering shrubs in evergreens
for eight to ten years to ensure they outperform. What's
already on the market for easy care, reliable, beautiful shrubs
to accentuate your home and express your personal style. Look
for proven Winner's Shrub in the distinctive white container at
(23:01):
your local garden center, or learn more at proven Winner's
Color Choice dot com. Reading's gardening friends, and welcome back
to the Gardening Simplified Show, where it is our opportunity
to answer your gardening questions. And I know it's December
and some gardening questions are probably few and far between
unless they involve Pointsetta's or Christmas cactus or houseplants or
(23:23):
something along those lines. But you know, you'd never know
if something pops into your mind. You can always reach
us at Gardeningsimplified on air dot com. There's a contact
form right there and you can reach us there and
you don't have to ask a question. You can send
us a comment like, for example, if you also remember
the smell of Frank's nursery and crafts, or if you
have something else to share with us, and listener Jerry
(23:47):
took the time to share with us to respond to
something that I said a couple episodes ago. I had
talked about one of my funniest spelling errors in corresponding
with a fellow gardener as they were asking, of course,
why didn't there hydrangel bloom? It was a small hydrangea,
And I said, or perhaps deer or rabbis ate the flowers.
(24:08):
I meant rabbits, but I misspelled it, and upon reading
my reply, realized that I said perhaps deer or rabbis
ate the flowers. You said, there's a joke in there somewhere. Yeah,
and so listener Jerry took it upon himself to find
said jokes. Oherry, here's what Jerry sent. A deer, a rabbi,
and a rhododendron walk into a bar. The rabbi turns
(24:29):
to the deer and said, can I treat you to
a drink? The deer, gazing over at the rhododendron, answered no, thanks,
I'll just have a bud.
Speaker 1 (24:39):
This bud's for you, Jerry, Way to go. You know,
it's the time of year we think about cold drafts
as far as plants are. Jerry, not like that. You
have a sense of humus. I love that.
Speaker 2 (24:52):
Yes, So thank you very much Jerry for finding the
joke when we uh when we couldn't. So what do
we got in oh?
Speaker 1 (25:01):
Let's see, Leslie, as I planted milkweed purchased from a
garden center this summer, and within two weeks, both plants
were covered with these bugs that I've never seen before
and hope to never see again.
Speaker 2 (25:17):
So she says, these curtis only one of the milkweed.
The plants were encrusted and not happy. Shall I pull
the plants out before spring? Give them another go, burn
down the whole garden. No, do not burn down the
whole garden. What Leslie has is aphids on her milk
weed and milkweed and aphids are like cereal and milk. Yes,
maybe not quite so positive, but they go together hand
(25:39):
in hand. And I think that milkweed coming from the
garden center is going to be especially prone to have
aphids for two reasons. Number one, because they should not
be treating that milkweed with any kind of chemicals to
control pests, because that would obviously harm the monarchs in
their larvae, which is the main reason that people are
(26:00):
buying and planting milkweed. And number two, you know, milkweed
is one of those plants, and there's a list of
these plants somewhere. I don't actually have it at the
top of my head. But I could make it. It
would be an ongoing list of plants that just don't
like the nursery environment. You know, milk weed is a
tap rooted plant. It is quite difficult to grow in
a nursery situation, and that is why if you go
(26:22):
to buy a milk weed, you might be like, Ooh,
I don't want that plant that looks sickly. It will
be fine once it gets into your yard. But they
do not appreciate sort of the nursery environment, and they
really struggle to grow there. So between those two things,
it's natural that that stress would cause aphis to explode. Now,
the best thing to do if you have a severe
(26:43):
case of aphids, which Leslie certainly did, is to simply
cut the plants back and throw them away. Throw away
the parts you cut off. I mean, of course, you
may want to give it a once over. For any
monarch eggs, they are pretty easy to spot if you
know what you're looking for. Chances are though they're not
gonna lay their eggs on something is that infested with
aphids for a reason. I'll get to in just a moment.
(27:06):
Just cut them back, don't you know, Leave the base there,
and they will actually regrow, that will re sprout. And
there are some people out there who advocate for pruning
even healthy milkweed after its initial bloom in early summer
because that gives a fresh flush of growth for the
later season. Monarchs to lay their eggs on tests like
the chop a little chelsea chop. Yeah, so you can
(27:28):
cut them back. It's not a big deal. Now. The
reason that you might want to actually do this rather
than just kind of leave nature to its course is
Number one, the aphids they secrete. They basically are sucking
the plant juices out and they're going right out the
other end, and that causes this big, gross, sticky mess
all over the plants, which attracts flies, and it can
(27:49):
attract wasps, and a lot of wasps will actually prey
upon butterfly larva. They are predatory, so those environments can
kind of encourage them, and it's also just kind of nastyly. So,
most aphids are plant specific. So the reason you didn't
see these bugs pop up on anything else in your
garden is because there are generalist aphods out there, but
(28:11):
very often the different types of aphids will really stick
to one plant they aren't just going to get on
one plant and then spread through your garden like wildfire.
They will just be like, hey, I'm a milkweed aphid.
I'm staying on the milkweed. So not really a huge
Custer concern. I think that growing now in your garden,
they should be absolutely fine. But it's always best if
(28:32):
you can avoid stress. As someone who does very minimal
watering in my garden, if we have a really dry season,
like we certainly did last season, milkweed can get kind
of stressed out, and that can make it more susceptible
to insect infestations like this. But overall, if you keep
it happy, I don't think you're gonna have any problems
seeing them. You're not going to see them this year,
(28:53):
and your monarchs will be very happy.
Speaker 1 (28:55):
Yeah, and I agree with you. Odds are that thereafter
the succulent new growth, at least that's usually how it starts.
Speaker 2 (29:02):
Yeah. They like the Yeah, the new soft new growth.
They love that. They don't like the hard stuff.
Speaker 1 (29:07):
Margaret writes to us, I have trumpet vine everywhere up
by my house in the garden beds. I can't seem
to get rid of it. Oh, Margaret, what you need
is a rabbi and some divine intervention. Yeah, but yeah,
she can't get rid of it.
Speaker 2 (29:24):
I mean, that's a tough And of course, I think
a lot of people who have planted trumpet vine because
they love the flowers and they attract hummingbirds, which they
do and that's wonderful, don't know just how vigorous and
aggressive this plant can actually be. But I wanted to
address Margaret's concern in this episode because there's still plenty
of time until spring. And I know different people have
(29:45):
different comfort levels with herbicide, but I think very often,
when you're dealing with such an aggressive plant, sometimes you're
gonna I mean, unless you really want to be out
there every day digging up every single little sprout that
comes up, you might consider using an herbicide. And the
time to do that is going to be early spring,
as soon as that new growth starts to come out
of the ground. It is soft, it is tender, it
(30:08):
hasn't yet developed a cuticle, and it's a cuticle that
if you put on some kind of herbicide is going
to make it less effective because it can't penetrate down
into the leaf tissue. So the best time to treat
it is right when it starts coming up in spring.
You can treat it very carefully with like a foam brush.
You don't need to spray and worry about overspray. But generally,
(30:29):
I would say, if you are serious about managing an
aggressive woody weed or an aggressive woody plant, it might
be a situation where, even if you're normally not an
herbicide user, you consider bringing out the big guns, as
they say, and.
Speaker 1 (30:44):
In early spring, just like you know later in the
year when we have the maple samaras that helicopters, they
come off the tree, popping up in beds everywhere. If
you're able to whipper snipper the tops off them, take
the foliage off. Any times they'll start to give up.
Trumpet vine's a tough one. The botanical name is Campsus
(31:06):
radikins for a reason. As a matter of fact, as
I was when I was a kid in summer, I
was sent to camps Campus radic Now.
Speaker 2 (31:14):
Forget the campsustics.
Speaker 1 (31:18):
That explains a lot, but no, and with the trumpet
vine on larger trunks, of course, you could cut them
at the base and brush on brush killer just directly.
That will work and then you don't have to be
out there spring.
Speaker 2 (31:32):
And that's a good idea too. Yes, so you need
to manage the main trunks. But also this is a
plant that puts up little runners everywhere it can, so
you'll need to manage those runners as well. Not to
say you can't be successful with the trumpet vine, but
it is a plant that needs an abundance of caution
inciting it good.
Speaker 1 (31:50):
Stacy Tam wrote to us in early November. I know
that planting late in the season is very common. Generally
recommendations to plants six be four weeks before first frost.
But I just saw a landscape crew planted a ton
of hyghdranges and bud leon a new roundabout. I wonder
is there a benefit or harm for planting this late?
(32:13):
How about the six week rule I've been hearing about.
I'm in Zone six B West Michigan, Zone six B.
I'm in Zone six B on the lake shore, and
I put my last plant in the ground I think
a week ago.
Speaker 2 (32:29):
Oh wow, Well at least she got it before the snow.
Speaker 1 (32:31):
Before the snow, so yeah, I thought.
Speaker 2 (32:34):
TAM's question was interesting. Obviously, the planting season is well
over here. In Michigan with two feet of snow on
the ground, but a couple of things. It's not necessarily
it's six weeks before the ground freezes, not the first frost.
That's a very difficult date to predict. I don't even
know if it happened right now, because now this two
feet of snow could have just offered insulation and the
(32:54):
ground isn't going to freeze until much later. I would
not have recommended anyone to plan big leaf hydro angea
and buddly late and fall in Michigan. So it's not
just a matter of the time that you're planting. It
is also a matter of what you're planting. But I
think the bottom line here, Tam for Tam and anyone
else who's wondering these things, just because someone is out
(33:17):
there doing something professionally does not necessarily know mean they
know what they're doing. As we have all seen from
the epidemic of multipol canoes. Yes, you know, one landscaper
comes in does a multiple cano around a tree, and
everyone says, well, hey, shoot, that guy was a professional landscaper.
Guess he knows what he's doing. And next thing you know,
the multiple canoes have spread. So sometimes people have to
(33:39):
do things out of necessity. That's certainly the case with
a landscape contractor planting buddly a late in the season
like that. But hey, if they were told to do it,
they got to go out and do it.
Speaker 1 (33:48):
You know, at least the soil's warm, right ye, air
temperatures called soils warm. Plants will maybe a little bit
of a struggle next spring.
Speaker 2 (33:57):
But well, hopefully these same contractors, if they're the ones
who are going to come back and do the spring cleanup,
are aware that everything's going to need a little bit
more time to recover before they just write it all off.
So thanks so much everyone for your questions. We're going
to take a little break and then we'll continue our
conversation on pushing the envelope. So stee tuned. Thanks for
(34:20):
listening to the Gardening Simplified Podcast, brought to you by
Proven Winners Color Choice Shrubs. Our award winning flowering shrubs
and evergreens are trialed and tested by experts with your
success in mind. Learn more at Proven Winners color Choice
dot com.
Speaker 1 (34:35):
Welcome back to the Gardening Simplified Show. You know, Stacey,
I've got to admit to you throughout my life, I
really have not been risk averse. I've done a lot
of crazy things in my life, from running a marathon
to repelling off a tall building and the variety of
things that I've when I look back things that I've
(34:56):
done in my life and challenging myself on I am
risk of verse. I have to admit when it comes
to money, I'm not a gambler and I'm more of
an investor. And I think that that ties into the
whole plant thing too, as it relates to what we
talked about with plant guarantees and buying a plant with
(35:21):
a plant guarantee, because obviously the retailer is looking to
give the consumer some confidence going in, you know, and
I know how people a number of people at least
throughout the years watching them in the garden center where
they'll buy a plant and then they'll put it in
the ground, and then they'll forget about it, and then
(35:41):
next year miraculously it comes up, which is, you know,
really cool. I've always said it's like finding an onion
ring in your order of French fries, a very cool thing. Also,
the USDA heardiness Zone and pushing that envelope. So I'm
zoned six B, and I wanted to ask you about
this stacy because a plant that I would never have
(36:06):
put in my landscape again because I'm risk averse when
it comes to money, would have been crape myrtle. And
you've introduced to all of us over this past year,
and I've had a chance to see it in the
trial garden also center stage. Crape myrtle. It's a plant
that I wouldn't have considered a number of years ago.
(36:27):
But now, just like the camellia that you mentioned in
Plants on Trial this week, I'm going to be willing
to stick my neck out and try something like that.
Speaker 2 (36:36):
Well, you know, that's an interesting case. I mean, I'm
glad you brought it up because one of the factors
that has kind of changed the way people think about
crape myrtle and that crape myrtle might actually be much
harder than they expected is the introduction of these shrubby types.
So for years and years and years, all there were
were these big, beautiful tree like crape myrtles that you
(36:56):
can see when you go to Atlanta or New Orleans,
just beautiful plants. But you know, if you get a
tree like that and something happens to it, it's pretty
much done. You know, you've got a real problem, and
even trying to get it to that point would be
a problem. Whereas with these shrubby crate myrtles that like
center stage, because they are multi stemmed, you can treat
(37:18):
them a bit more like a butterfly bush or a carryopteris,
which is to say, almost like a perennial. They can
dive back to the ground and they will come back,
whereas that single stemmed treelike one wouldn't necessarily So the
shrubby form, combined with some you know, increasing awareness about
some surprising hardiness in crate myrtle, has really changed it,
(37:41):
and now it's starting to be planted in a lot
more different places. But you know, that's also another interesting
sort of conundrum for those of us who are willing
to push the boundaries on hardiness. You're not going to
find those plants in the local garden center because of
the guarantee that so many garden centers offer. You know,
they're not going to offer something that is likely to die.
(38:03):
So you may find yourself either traveling to a garden
center when you're on vacation in a warmer climate, or
you know, utilizing mail order so that you're getting a
plant that what you wouldn't normally find. And that's the
real challenge is I want to push the boundaries, but
I don't know where to start, because everything that is
at my garden center, you know, with the exception of
houseplants and annuals, and that's type of thing is selected
(38:25):
because it survives in your area.
Speaker 1 (38:27):
Yeah, very true. And that's the interesting thing about the
psychology of this whole guarantee thing too. I'm sorry for
being stuck on this, and I've got the fragrance of
Frank's Nursery and Crafts filling my nostrils right now. But
the psychology of the guarantee, again, having been in the
(38:47):
garden center industry for fifty years, someone buys a plant,
it dies the following spring, there bringing it back. Some
people won't bring the plant back even though it's guarantee teed,
because they're like, uh, I killed it. Yeah, I'm not
bringing it back. There are a lot of people like that.
There are other people who will show up and spring
(39:09):
there's lines that check out. The place is busy, and
they roll in with four shopping carts full of dead
herber vitis. I mean you'll see that.
Speaker 2 (39:17):
Yeah, it's like, no, not all of those harporviding he
died because I did something wrong.
Speaker 1 (39:24):
It's a fascinating psychological thing, do you know?
Speaker 2 (39:27):
I agree with you, And I would also say that
these same people who will you know again march up
to the garden center and saying all of these Harprovid's
that you sold me your bunk, they all died. That's
like basically going to the grocery store buying a stake,
taking it home, burning it to the point that it's unedible,
and then taking it back to the grocery store. I mean, really,
(39:48):
there's barely a difference between those situations. Yeah, well, I
don't know, just saying.
Speaker 1 (39:53):
It's a marketing approach that was all started back then
in the nineteen fifties by Frank's Nursery and crect.
Speaker 2 (40:01):
What confidence is so important, and that's what we aim
to provide is giving you the information to be confident.
But like, ultimately, I feel like plants are most plants
are pretty easy if you just get them home and
do a little basic care.
Speaker 1 (40:17):
Well, and the point being with the new cultivars that
are available today, like proven Winner's color choice, shrubs, all
the work that's put into developing these new varieties. There's
a real focus on the part of plant breeders for
drought resistance, ability to stand up to heat, and that
sort of thing. So that's just an exciting thing. This
(40:41):
in today's day and age compared to fifty years ago.
Another thing to think about as it relates to pushing
the boundaries are the physical boundaries. Now again, I'm one
of these people who's more than willing to dig in.
I'm out there working in miserable weather and that kind
(41:01):
of thing. I'm crazy, I get it. As a matter
of fact, it was one of our YouTube viewers that
said we should put rick on trial as opposed to
plants on trial. I kind of got a kick out
of that. But physical boundaries, and I'm thinking about something
that I'm thinking about getting. I am amazed at the
advances as far as electric tools are concerned, whether it's
(41:26):
leaf blowers, lawnmowers, whatever it may be. One of my
neighbors was using an electric snowblower, this monthing nice. You know,
we got fifteen inches of snow overnight and he's out
there with his electric snowblower. What I'm thinking about doing
as far as rechargeable equipment is concerned, I'm thinking about
getting a powered wheelbarrow. Wow, because everything I do in
(41:52):
my landscape is uphill. I'm landscaping the whole back dune,
and so I'm always going uphill, whether it's mold which
whatever it is, dirt plants. I'm thinking about getting one
of these electric powered wheelbarrows. These things are really cool.
Speaker 2 (42:08):
I think you should get one. I mean, honestly, the
thing is when it comes to work and effort and
of course preserving your physical health and mental health for
that matter. Really, if you can, you should invest in
things that make gardening easier. If you don't, you will
start to resent it, and you will start to you
(42:28):
will start to not do things that you should or
want to do because it's just too much effort. So
if there is a simple solution like a power wheelbarrow,
I mean, and it's also one of those things that like,
you don't even know what you're capable of once you
have a power wheelbarrow. Until you have the power wheelbarrow,
you'll be mad with power wheelbarrow.
Speaker 1 (42:48):
It's like blindfold archery. You don't know what you're missing. Yeah,
they are are it's something else right, Well, I.
Speaker 2 (42:54):
Am in full support and I think our listeners would
love to learn more and about your ventures with a
power wheelbarrow. So I hope that your family knows that
this is number one on your Christmas list.
Speaker 1 (43:07):
It's going to happen, and Adriana will put a link
out there right and on YouTube. But I think this
is a great thing. As a matter of fact, I
have a link to Popular Mechanics rating of these wheelbarrows
because I'm thinking about getting one.
Speaker 2 (43:21):
Very exciting.
Speaker 1 (43:22):
Another thing with Christmas coming up, good shovels. You got
to have good shovels, and if you're going to push
the boundaries, the shovel weight and sharpening of the shovel
is important. I was on a website for forestry suppliers
and you can get these zinc plated aircraft tubing mainshank
tubular steel, incredible shovels that will cut through anything, cut
(43:46):
through roots, and they even give you a rubber foot
pad that can be bolted to either side of the blade.
Speaker 2 (43:53):
Will they monogram it for you?
Speaker 1 (43:55):
I'm going to ask.
Speaker 2 (43:56):
I feel like that would be the definitioning touch on this.
This sounds like a very serious shovel. It is it
is can you lift it?
Speaker 1 (44:05):
I need one?
Speaker 2 (44:06):
Can you lift it? That sounds heavy. I'm just saying
light weight is also an important factor at a shovel.
Speaker 1 (44:13):
True. True. And of course, when we're pushing the envelope.
Over this pasture, we talked about moving plants in your landscape,
something that I love to do. I encourage people to
do it as opposed to just living with a plant
in a certain location. I mentioned earlier in the show
The Blue Atlas Cedar that we moved out of necessity,
(44:36):
but moving plants, and you know, are you a person
that has to have everything in place and everything in
order or do you get an idea and you jump
in feet first and then figure it out as you go.
And I've always been that way. Yes, there have been
some disasters, but it's a fun way to go in.
(44:59):
I am encourage people to do it. You learn a
lot in the process, and it keeps you from stepping
back and saying I can't do that. Give it a shot.
I'm just trying to encourage you to do it.
Speaker 2 (45:11):
I like it.
Speaker 1 (45:12):
Yeah, yeah, so there you go. So let's get out
there and push the envelope. We've got a new Year
coming up, resolutions coming up.
Speaker 2 (45:20):
Yeah, right now, you might only be pushing the snow shovel,
I'm afraid to say.
Speaker 1 (45:26):
Thanks Stacy, Thanks Rick, Thanks Adriana, Thanks to you. Remember
we're on YouTube. You can find us wherever you get
your favorite podcasts and of course on radio. Also, have
a great week.
Broadcasting from Studio A Here at Proven Winners, Color Choice Shrubs.
It's time for the Gardening Simplified Show with Stacy Hervella, me,
Rick weisst and our engineer and producer Adrianna Robinson. Today's
show is about pushing the boundaries. Love this topic. I've
always pushed the boundaries. You can start by asking yourself
(00:25):
who sets the boundaries? For example, maybe the USDA and
their plant Heartiness zone map. But do we pay attention
to it or do we put plants in the ground
that maybe push the envelope a little bit. I mean,
for me, in my life, the magic words have always
(00:47):
been if someone looks at me and says you can't
do that, those are the magic words. It's like step
back now you just did it. I'm going for it.
You know. I'm similar age to Tom Cruise, And just
like Tom Cruise, I do all my own stunts. I
believe it, not necessarily always intentionally, but I do all
(01:10):
my own stunts. Are you risk averse? Are you risk averse?
In the garden? For example, pushing the boundaries could mean
extending the season from early in the season with minor
bulbs and hellebores too late in the season. As a
matter of fact, I took some pictures the other day
of Paisley pop dog hobble poking through the snow in
(01:34):
my landscape so beautiful, or the Native witch hazel and
full bloom in November. But trying to get the most
out of the season you can. William Albert Allard, he
was a photographer, an American documentary photographer for National Geographic,
(01:55):
and he always said, as it related to his photography,
you got to push yourself harder. You got to start
looking for pictures nobody else could take. You got to
take the tools you have and probe deeper. And I
love that because taking a picture is just like your landscape,
with an opportunity to push the boundaries. And in my opinion, Stacey,
(02:18):
it's in three areas. You push the boundaries with a subject.
Plant material. Oh I'm not supposed to say plant material.
Speaker 2 (02:25):
Oh, I mean, I don't have a problem with that.
I'm not going to give you hard times flump people out.
Speaker 1 (02:30):
There, composition and color. So when it comes to a subject,
there's so many opportunities with plant introductions, That's what the
show is all about. All year long. We're talking about
new plants, great plants for your landscape, plants on trial
and in a few weeks will unveil the plants of
(02:52):
the Year for twenty twenty six. But like my friend
Bridget Behe she was a professor at Michigan State Universe City,
always says to me, people buy what they know, And
I'm like why because I look at hydrangees like Incredible
storm Proof or Little Line Punch, and I wonder how
I ever lived without them.
Speaker 2 (03:15):
Well, they're still familiar to you. That's a concept known
as maya most advanced yet acceptable where you have and
it's penned by this brilliant industrial designer. But anyway, it's
a relation of a plant that you already kind of know,
(03:35):
so you're not really stepping out of your comfort zone,
but you're also getting doing something that's different enough. So
that's kind of like the perfect area. But like you
know it probably for someone else it might have taken
a little bit of a leap of faith to try
Paisley popped Dog. Of course you already knew.
Speaker 1 (03:52):
It right right exactly, So I love that aspect of it.
So as it relates to subject or it can be
a plant, yes that's been around for a long time.
I have some video to show you on YouTube of
my banana tree when I cut it down this fall
and then mulch the area, hoping that hardy banana comes
up again next year. You can see the pseudo stem.
(04:16):
It's a false trunk made of tightly rolled leaf sheets.
I'm hoping it comes back next year. But that's kind
of pushing the envelope, so to speak. And of course,
pushing the envelope was an aeronautical phrase that they would
use in aeronautics, but then eventually became something that was
(04:39):
just accepted in regards to just about anything else, including art.
Pushing the envelope seeing how far you can push it.
Speaker 2 (04:47):
Well, I kind of. I mean, I have to say.
I know we have listeners all over the country, but
for our local listeners, I don't think we can ignore
the elephant in the room, which is that nature has
been pushing our boundary. Oh my word, here in Michigan
little bit so over this last week we've had about
two feet of snow here in West Michigan. Earliest I
(05:07):
can ever remember having any like appreciable snow, but certainly
two feet.
Speaker 1 (05:12):
Yeah, and I took a picture just for you, Stacy
of my Dwarf Alberta spruce. Oh yeah, one of your favorites.
Oh yeah, loaded with Christmas lights and covered in snow.
Speaker 2 (05:23):
Oh that's a good look. I mean, that is the
one thing that dwarf Alberta spruce is good for is
Christmas lights. I will absolutely positively give it that. So yeah,
so we are definitely when we're thinking about all of
the heartiness boundaries that we pushed, all those other boundaries
that we pushed back a month ago. Now we're kind
(05:43):
of like, WHOA did not see this coming?
Speaker 1 (05:46):
It has been something else. Snowing, snowing, snowing. We can
push the envelope on composition, our shows on layering and
pushing the limits of spacing rules plant combinations. For example,
color blaze colius is now used in sunny combinations in
ways colius was never used before. Same thing with heart
(06:08):
to heart kalladiums or fastigit plants like arborvide or Althea's.
Speaker 2 (06:15):
And then I'm glad you brought up the kalladiums because
here we are in December, and I think that the
proven Wnterer's heart to heart kalladiums are a great example
of pushing the boundaries because for years people really only
thought of kalladiums as strictly a summer outdoor in the
shade exactly you could pick white, red, or pink. That
was it. And they have not only pushed the boundaries
(06:35):
on what's possible within a kalladium, but they also are
selling them as Christmases because of all of those great red, green, bright,
vivid colors, and that's a whole new way to think
about them. And they look amazing. I mean points outs
are equally as tender. So why not colladiums a Christmas?
Speaker 1 (06:53):
I agree, it's exciting. And then, of course color pushing
the envelope as far as color is concerned for polychromatic
riot to less conventional colors, and we've talked about that
on the show, using black as a backdrop or the
color orange in a landscape. So don't mail it in.
(07:14):
And my opinion still is don't copy your neighbor. Now,
some folks have told us, I'm I love it when
my neighbors copy me, and that's great, but let's try
some things that surpass the normal limits, so to speak.
And sometimes it's just about being stubborn. I mean it
(07:36):
is for me. For our YouTube viewers have a couple
of pictures here for you of my blue Atlas cedar. Now,
I practice what I preach, Stacy, and I move plants
in fall, and this tree needed to be moved. It
was in the way. Tried to get a contractor with
a loader to help us move it. They were too busy,
(08:00):
could not do it, and I wanted it move this fall.
In addition, again practice what I preach. I called missdig.
They came out, they flagged the area right underneath the
tree is a gas line leading to the house. So
I had to hand dig all around this cedar tree.
And once I had hand dug the roots out, then
(08:24):
I recruited a couple of neighbors and we dragged that
tree up a hill and replanted it.
Speaker 2 (08:30):
So that's how you've repaid your debt, is helping them
to shovel out of this storm.
Speaker 1 (08:34):
Right, Yes, exactly, of course. Also, I did want to
mention when we're pushing the envelope new varieties of plants.
I found it interesting, Stacy, that on proven Winter's website
there's a link there where if you have a plant
that you think is worthy to be looked at, because
(08:57):
the work that goes into bringing a new plant to
market is amazing, the legal issues, the costs, the work.
Speaker 2 (09:06):
The time time for sure, definitely the time.
Speaker 1 (09:08):
But if somebody has a plant, there's a link there
where you could reach out and say, hey, I think
I've got something. By the way, are you a person
like me who kind of pushes the envelope when it
comes to USDA hardiness zones?
Speaker 2 (09:26):
Oh? Yes, that's my favorite thing to push in the garden. Well, spacing,
of course is also something that I push in the garden,
but definitely hardiness. Yeah. I mean, I'm going to talk
a lot about it and plants on track. No spoilers,
all right.
Speaker 1 (09:39):
All right, good, let's save it for that now. Twenty
twenty six, next year is going to mark my fiftieth
year in the garden center industry. And I think back,
and you recall this Tuesday. See this garden center called
Frank's Nursery. Oh okay, they started in nineteen fifty seven,
four stores. They we went out of business in two
(10:02):
thousand and four. I believe it was something like that.
But the reason I bring up Frank's Nursery and Crafts
is because for the industry, they're the ones who started
the plant guarantee. You buy a plant, they give you
a guarantee for a year. If the plant dies, you
bring it back. That is a struggle for me and
(10:25):
for a garden. You know, you'll see some greenhouses where
there's a sign in the entrance that says, hey, our
plants are great, they're great quality. We take great care
of our plants. Once you buy it, it's yours. Yeah,
take care of.
Speaker 2 (10:36):
It, right, yeah, I mean it does say something that
Franks did go out of business. Let's not forget that.
But I will say that the combination garden center craft
supplies concept is one that is due for a revival.
I would love that.
Speaker 1 (10:52):
I think so too. I do too. So risk taking?
Are you risk averse? Risk take making with no guarantees?
I think about those nursery guarantees at garden centers. And
here's this week's limb a rick. I don't need a
plant guarantee or a Bachelor of Science degree with my plants.
(11:14):
I take chances regardless of circumstances. Determination is my warn tea.
If for me, you establish a border, you can't do that.
You order watch this better yet, remember don't forget to
film me with your camcorder. Plants on trial. Coming up
(11:38):
next here on the Gardening Simplified.
Speaker 2 (11:41):
Show, beautify your home and community with proven Winner's Color
Choice Shrubs with over three hundred and twenty five unique
varieties to choose from. There's a flowering shrubber evergreen for
every taste and every space. Just look for the distinctive
white container your local garden center or learn more at
(12:02):
Provenminar'scolour Choice dot com. Greeting's gardening friends, and welcome back
to the Gardening Simplified Show, where we're talking all about
pushing the boundaries. Now. Of course, we are about as
far away from gardening season as you can get. We've
completely finished the at least here in Michigan. The tail
end of the twenty twenty five season. Twenty twenty six
(12:22):
season is a ways away. So all of this is
just for you to kind of store away and consider
as we approach spring, because I think a lot of
the boundaries that we're talking about pushing are things that
you would normally do in spring. Sure, you know, not
necessarily right now, but before we took a break, you
mentioned Frank's nursery and crafts. Definitely something that will ring
(12:43):
a bell for any Michigander, and I will tell you
I don't think I'm alone in this. I cannot hear
the words Frank's Nursery and Crafts without smelling it. Yes,
I smell those words. Yes, it had such a distinctive
smell to that store.
Speaker 1 (12:58):
Especially this time of the year Christmas should walk in
the door. It smelled like cinnamon pine cones mixed with
fertilizer and chemicals.
Speaker 2 (13:08):
See, all I remember is that this is the fertilizer. Yeah,
and I think it was twelve so like it. But
they all smelled like that, and no matter I went
to multiple Francs when I was a kid with my
mom or my grandma.
Speaker 1 (13:19):
It sticks with and uh yeah.
Speaker 2 (13:21):
And if someone says that it's just like the smell
is the first thing. And then the second thing, of
course is their jingle Francs nursoreen crass. So anyway, if
Frank's brings up a smell to you, please do leave
us a comment on YouTube. We would love to know
that we are in good company.
Speaker 1 (13:41):
Thanks Frank.
Speaker 2 (13:44):
But anyway, pushing the boundaries, I do think that you
know you become a gardener when you start to push
the boundaries. And this can look a lot of different ways.
Pushing the boundaries is another way of being able to
say that, another way of saying that you're willing to
make a mistake. Yes, because when you push the boundaries,
(14:04):
you don't necessarily know what's on the other side. You
may fail, But the great thing about gardening is if
you quote unquote fail, you've still learned something. And so
I think that pushing boundaries is a really important step
for gardeners to take in their gardening journey. And it
doesn't have to be a big, huge risk. I mean,
we're not saying, like, you know, go out and spend
(14:27):
you know, eighty dollars on a banana plant and then
plant it and hope it comes back. You know, it
can be a small risk.
Speaker 1 (14:33):
I agree, And that's why I say when someone says
to me, you can't do that, the way I look
at it is you're not telling me what my limits are.
You're showing me what your limits are. Yeah, step back,
I'll show you.
Speaker 2 (14:48):
Yeah, you know. I it's funny that you bring that
up because I when I was in horticulture school, we
did a seed like in an early propagation class. We
did a seed experiment where we grew hot peppers, like
decorative hot peppers from seed, and I was like about
to take it home and the instructor tore it out
of my hands. He goes, that will never grow outside
(15:09):
of here, and he threw it away in front of
me and wouldn't even let me take it home to
see what happened. What, Yeah, I know, didn't want to
push the boundaries, I guess.
Speaker 1 (15:16):
Problem.
Speaker 2 (15:17):
So anyway, here I am. The other thing that I
think is so important about pushing the boundaries, especially when
it comes to hardiness. And when we talk about pushing
the boundaries with hardiness, what we're saying is, you know,
if you look at a plant tag or you read
write a plant online and it says, you know, hardy
this zone to that zone. If you like that plant,
(15:37):
you can potentially, depending on how far this difference is
between your zone and where it's believed to be hardy,
you can potentially find out that it is hardier than
people have expected. And I think it's so important for
everyone to realize that the vast majority of hardiness zones
that we all of us in the industry and as
(15:59):
gardeners are working with come from a time where information
was not so easy to come by, and it was
really just you know, the so called experts who put
out a book or you know, an ortho guide or
something like that, and that stuff kind of stuck. So
we're in such a different environment now where not only
(16:23):
are are we all able to share information, any of
us can share information and it spreads really quickly, so
we don't necessarily have to be bound by the same
beliefs about plant hardiness that were operational fifty years ago.
You know, there's absolutely no reason for that now. Of course,
there is an element of you know, basic awareness here.
(16:44):
If something is you know, native to I don't know,
Puerto Rico, no, it's probably not going to be hardy
here in Michigan. But there are still a number of plants.
If you look at certainly most plants in Asia, and
even in some climates that are really unexpected, like in
South Africa, you can actually grow those things in the
(17:06):
right conditions in other areas that you would never expect.
And the only way to find that out is to
do it.
Speaker 1 (17:12):
Exactly, use it as a guide, not as a limitation exactly.
Speaker 2 (17:17):
So when I give tours of our trial garden here
in West Michigan, one of the things that I'm always
of course, I point out all of the proven winners
color Choice shrubs, because the garden is full of them,
but I always point out the numerous things where Dale
the owner, has really pushed the limits and pushed the
hardiness own. You know, he has a number of absolutely
(17:39):
beautiful Japanese cryptomeria in his garden and you barely see
cryptomeria anywhere in Michigan because again, for decades, people just
assumed it wasn't hardy. But they're thriving. They are, you know,
fifty forty fifty feet tall. In his garden, we have
grown distillium, which is considered a Southern plant Cuba Japanese
(18:01):
occupa grows spectacularly. Here another plant that you would look
at it and think there's no way that thing's going
to grow survive winter in Michigan, and yet it does,
and it does so beautifully. And today's plant on trial
is such a plant. It is just chill red tip camellia.
Speaker 1 (18:19):
Love it.
Speaker 2 (18:19):
I love camelias so much, and I know for our
listeners in warm climates, they're just like camelias, okay, you know,
because they're a diamad doze and if you live in
California or if you live in the South, they are
so popular, and for good reason, because they are really
one of the showiest flowering shrubs on earth. They are
(18:40):
a broad leaf evergreen in case you tuned into our
broad leaf evergreen show last week, beautiful, handsome, dark green, leathery,
glossy foliage, and the flowers are not just spectacular, but
they appear at a time when you need them most,
which is to say, for Camelia japanica, which is the
queen of them all in my opinion, winter. So this
(19:00):
thing is just in full glorious bloom in February when
everything else is just you know, dormant and doing nothing.
This planet is just like, oh, I got this. And
then there are also fall blooming camellias, and just chill
is one of these fall blooming camelias. And that's notable
because of this heartiness issue, because for two reasons. Number one,
(19:21):
the fall blooming camelias do tend to be more cold
tolerant than those winter blooming Camelia japonicas, So that kind
of ability to survive winter a little bit better is
already built into fall blooming camellias, like are just chill series.
And the other thing about the Chamelia japonica is typically
(19:42):
because they bloom in winter, our winters are just way
too cold for that to ever happen, and the cold
lasts so long that it damages all the flower tissue.
Whereas because just chill blooms in fall, we can actually
get a couple good weeks of blooming starting in you know,
depending on what the weather it was like some time
in October and going into November again is long. It
(20:04):
can take some frost, that's not really the issue, although
any open exposed petals will definitely get nipped, and that's
just as true for Familia chaponica in the South as
it is for fall blooming camellias up here. So that
combination of increased tardiness and the fall blooming can make
this a good choice to push the boundaries and get
(20:25):
a camellia here in Michigan, and they have had excellent
survival in our trial garden. Now, of course I need
to couch this in the terms that we are pretty
close to the lake and we're still planting these in
protected areas. You can't just put this out on your
easement where it's gonna get pelted with snowplow way, consalt
and everything and expected to do okay. But if you
(20:47):
are able to plant it near your house or protected
from the worst of the winter weather by some neighboring plants,
as we have with Just Chill Red Tip, it can
actually survive. And so we've had great, great results.
Speaker 1 (21:00):
Pushing the envelope many times means micro climate.
Speaker 2 (21:04):
Yes, that's a very good point, definitely, So you find
those microclimates. And of course you have to plant in spring.
This is not a plant that you would you know,
or anytime you're pushing the hardiness boundaries, you always want
to plant it as early as possible in the season
so it has that whole time to get habituated and
established before the worst weather comes. Now just Chill Red Tip,
(21:26):
we do have four varieties in the just Chill line,
but I am recommending just Chill Red Tip as the
one for those of you who are pushing the boundaries
because it has beautiful single pink flowers that are very
showy and very attractive. But even if you miss those
blooms some years because the weather doesn't cooperate, it has
red new growth. That's where the name just Chill red
(21:48):
tip comes from so as the plant grows during the season,
and believe me, the foliage is attractive enough to grow
this plant just as a foliage plant, even if you
never do get flowers, which you will get some flowers
some years may be better than others. But the new
growth emerges this beautiful dark burgundy that just makes it
so attractive and so interesting all year long. So we
sell this as hardy to USDA Zone seven, so right
(22:10):
on the border. But again we've had great success here
in USDA Zone six P sun tolerant, shade tolerant, although
you get more flowers if you at least give it
some sun and you're resistant too. Love it, so many
reasons to push the envelope with a just chill red
tip amelia. Put it on your spring planting list. We're
going to take a little break and when we come back,
we're opening up the mailbag. It's s sety tuned at
(22:39):
proven winners color choice shrubs. We know that a better
landscape starts with a better shrub. Our team of experts
tests and evaluates all of our flowering shrubs in evergreens
for eight to ten years to ensure they outperform. What's
already on the market for easy care, reliable, beautiful shrubs
to accentuate your home and express your personal style. Look
for proven Winner's Shrub in the distinctive white container at
(23:01):
your local garden center, or learn more at proven Winner's
Color Choice dot com. Reading's gardening friends, and welcome back
to the Gardening Simplified Show, where it is our opportunity
to answer your gardening questions. And I know it's December
and some gardening questions are probably few and far between
unless they involve Pointsetta's or Christmas cactus or houseplants or
(23:23):
something along those lines. But you know, you'd never know
if something pops into your mind. You can always reach
us at Gardeningsimplified on air dot com. There's a contact
form right there and you can reach us there and
you don't have to ask a question. You can send
us a comment like, for example, if you also remember
the smell of Frank's nursery and crafts, or if you
have something else to share with us, and listener Jerry
(23:47):
took the time to share with us to respond to
something that I said a couple episodes ago. I had
talked about one of my funniest spelling errors in corresponding
with a fellow gardener as they were asking, of course,
why didn't there hydrangel bloom? It was a small hydrangea,
And I said, or perhaps deer or rabbis ate the flowers.
(24:08):
I meant rabbits, but I misspelled it, and upon reading
my reply, realized that I said perhaps deer or rabbis
ate the flowers. You said, there's a joke in there somewhere. Yeah,
and so listener Jerry took it upon himself to find
said jokes. Oherry, here's what Jerry sent. A deer, a rabbi,
and a rhododendron walk into a bar. The rabbi turns
(24:29):
to the deer and said, can I treat you to
a drink? The deer, gazing over at the rhododendron, answered no, thanks,
I'll just have a bud.
Speaker 1 (24:39):
This bud's for you, Jerry, Way to go. You know,
it's the time of year we think about cold drafts
as far as plants are. Jerry, not like that. You
have a sense of humus. I love that.
Speaker 2 (24:52):
Yes, So thank you very much Jerry for finding the
joke when we uh when we couldn't. So what do
we got in oh?
Speaker 1 (25:01):
Let's see, Leslie, as I planted milkweed purchased from a
garden center this summer, and within two weeks, both plants
were covered with these bugs that I've never seen before
and hope to never see again.
Speaker 2 (25:17):
So she says, these curtis only one of the milkweed.
The plants were encrusted and not happy. Shall I pull
the plants out before spring? Give them another go, burn
down the whole garden. No, do not burn down the
whole garden. What Leslie has is aphids on her milk
weed and milkweed and aphids are like cereal and milk. Yes,
maybe not quite so positive, but they go together hand
(25:39):
in hand. And I think that milkweed coming from the
garden center is going to be especially prone to have
aphids for two reasons. Number one, because they should not
be treating that milkweed with any kind of chemicals to
control pests, because that would obviously harm the monarchs in
their larvae, which is the main reason that people are
(26:00):
buying and planting milkweed. And number two, you know, milkweed
is one of those plants, and there's a list of
these plants somewhere. I don't actually have it at the
top of my head. But I could make it. It
would be an ongoing list of plants that just don't
like the nursery environment. You know, milk weed is a
tap rooted plant. It is quite difficult to grow in
a nursery situation, and that is why if you go
(26:22):
to buy a milk weed, you might be like, Ooh,
I don't want that plant that looks sickly. It will
be fine once it gets into your yard. But they
do not appreciate sort of the nursery environment, and they
really struggle to grow there. So between those two things,
it's natural that that stress would cause aphis to explode. Now,
the best thing to do if you have a severe
(26:43):
case of aphids, which Leslie certainly did, is to simply
cut the plants back and throw them away. Throw away
the parts you cut off. I mean, of course, you
may want to give it a once over. For any
monarch eggs, they are pretty easy to spot if you
know what you're looking for. Chances are though they're not
gonna lay their eggs on something is that infested with
aphids for a reason. I'll get to in just a moment.
(27:06):
Just cut them back, don't you know, Leave the base there,
and they will actually regrow, that will re sprout. And
there are some people out there who advocate for pruning
even healthy milkweed after its initial bloom in early summer
because that gives a fresh flush of growth for the
later season. Monarchs to lay their eggs on tests like
the chop a little chelsea chop. Yeah, so you can
(27:28):
cut them back. It's not a big deal. Now. The
reason that you might want to actually do this rather
than just kind of leave nature to its course is
Number one, the aphids they secrete. They basically are sucking
the plant juices out and they're going right out the
other end, and that causes this big, gross, sticky mess
all over the plants, which attracts flies, and it can
(27:49):
attract wasps, and a lot of wasps will actually prey
upon butterfly larva. They are predatory, so those environments can
kind of encourage them, and it's also just kind of nastyly. So,
most aphids are plant specific. So the reason you didn't
see these bugs pop up on anything else in your
garden is because there are generalist aphods out there, but
(28:11):
very often the different types of aphids will really stick
to one plant they aren't just going to get on
one plant and then spread through your garden like wildfire.
They will just be like, hey, I'm a milkweed aphid.
I'm staying on the milkweed. So not really a huge
Custer concern. I think that growing now in your garden,
they should be absolutely fine. But it's always best if
(28:32):
you can avoid stress. As someone who does very minimal
watering in my garden, if we have a really dry season,
like we certainly did last season, milkweed can get kind
of stressed out, and that can make it more susceptible
to insect infestations like this. But overall, if you keep
it happy, I don't think you're gonna have any problems
seeing them. You're not going to see them this year,
(28:53):
and your monarchs will be very happy.
Speaker 1 (28:55):
Yeah, and I agree with you. Odds are that thereafter
the succulent new growth, at least that's usually how it starts.
Speaker 2 (29:02):
Yeah. They like the Yeah, the new soft new growth.
They love that. They don't like the hard stuff.
Speaker 1 (29:07):
Margaret writes to us, I have trumpet vine everywhere up
by my house in the garden beds. I can't seem
to get rid of it. Oh, Margaret, what you need
is a rabbi and some divine intervention. Yeah, but yeah,
she can't get rid of it.
Speaker 2 (29:24):
I mean, that's a tough And of course, I think
a lot of people who have planted trumpet vine because
they love the flowers and they attract hummingbirds, which they
do and that's wonderful, don't know just how vigorous and
aggressive this plant can actually be. But I wanted to
address Margaret's concern in this episode because there's still plenty
of time until spring. And I know different people have
(29:45):
different comfort levels with herbicide, but I think very often,
when you're dealing with such an aggressive plant, sometimes you're
gonna I mean, unless you really want to be out
there every day digging up every single little sprout that
comes up, you might consider using an herbicide. And the
time to do that is going to be early spring,
as soon as that new growth starts to come out
of the ground. It is soft, it is tender, it
(30:08):
hasn't yet developed a cuticle, and it's a cuticle that
if you put on some kind of herbicide is going
to make it less effective because it can't penetrate down
into the leaf tissue. So the best time to treat
it is right when it starts coming up in spring.
You can treat it very carefully with like a foam brush.
You don't need to spray and worry about overspray. But generally,
(30:29):
I would say, if you are serious about managing an
aggressive woody weed or an aggressive woody plant, it might
be a situation where, even if you're normally not an
herbicide user, you consider bringing out the big guns, as
they say, and.
Speaker 1 (30:44):
In early spring, just like you know later in the
year when we have the maple samaras that helicopters, they
come off the tree, popping up in beds everywhere. If
you're able to whipper snipper the tops off them, take
the foliage off. Any times they'll start to give up.
Trumpet vine's a tough one. The botanical name is Campsus
(31:06):
radikins for a reason. As a matter of fact, as
I was when I was a kid in summer, I
was sent to camps Campus radic Now.
Speaker 2 (31:14):
Forget the campsustics.
Speaker 1 (31:18):
That explains a lot, but no, and with the trumpet
vine on larger trunks, of course, you could cut them
at the base and brush on brush killer just directly.
That will work and then you don't have to be
out there spring.
Speaker 2 (31:32):
And that's a good idea too. Yes, so you need
to manage the main trunks. But also this is a
plant that puts up little runners everywhere it can, so
you'll need to manage those runners as well. Not to
say you can't be successful with the trumpet vine, but
it is a plant that needs an abundance of caution
inciting it good.
Speaker 1 (31:50):
Stacy Tam wrote to us in early November. I know
that planting late in the season is very common. Generally
recommendations to plants six be four weeks before first frost.
But I just saw a landscape crew planted a ton
of hyghdranges and bud leon a new roundabout. I wonder
is there a benefit or harm for planting this late?
(32:13):
How about the six week rule I've been hearing about.
I'm in Zone six B West Michigan, Zone six B.
I'm in Zone six B on the lake shore, and
I put my last plant in the ground I think
a week ago.
Speaker 2 (32:29):
Oh wow, Well at least she got it before the snow.
Speaker 1 (32:31):
Before the snow, so yeah, I thought.
Speaker 2 (32:34):
TAM's question was interesting. Obviously, the planting season is well
over here. In Michigan with two feet of snow on
the ground, but a couple of things. It's not necessarily
it's six weeks before the ground freezes, not the first frost.
That's a very difficult date to predict. I don't even
know if it happened right now, because now this two
feet of snow could have just offered insulation and the
(32:54):
ground isn't going to freeze until much later. I would
not have recommended anyone to plan big leaf hydro angea
and buddly late and fall in Michigan. So it's not
just a matter of the time that you're planting. It
is also a matter of what you're planting. But I
think the bottom line here, Tam for Tam and anyone
else who's wondering these things, just because someone is out
(33:17):
there doing something professionally does not necessarily know mean they
know what they're doing. As we have all seen from
the epidemic of multipol canoes. Yes, you know, one landscaper
comes in does a multiple cano around a tree, and
everyone says, well, hey, shoot, that guy was a professional landscaper.
Guess he knows what he's doing. And next thing you know,
the multiple canoes have spread. So sometimes people have to
(33:39):
do things out of necessity. That's certainly the case with
a landscape contractor planting buddly a late in the season
like that. But hey, if they were told to do it,
they got to go out and do it.
Speaker 1 (33:48):
You know, at least the soil's warm, right ye, air
temperatures called soils warm. Plants will maybe a little bit
of a struggle next spring.
Speaker 2 (33:57):
But well, hopefully these same contractors, if they're the ones
who are going to come back and do the spring cleanup,
are aware that everything's going to need a little bit
more time to recover before they just write it all off.
So thanks so much everyone for your questions. We're going
to take a little break and then we'll continue our
conversation on pushing the envelope. So stee tuned. Thanks for
(34:20):
listening to the Gardening Simplified Podcast, brought to you by
Proven Winners Color Choice Shrubs. Our award winning flowering shrubs
and evergreens are trialed and tested by experts with your
success in mind. Learn more at Proven Winners color Choice
dot com.
Speaker 1 (34:35):
Welcome back to the Gardening Simplified Show. You know, Stacey,
I've got to admit to you throughout my life, I
really have not been risk averse. I've done a lot
of crazy things in my life, from running a marathon
to repelling off a tall building and the variety of
things that I've when I look back things that I've
(34:56):
done in my life and challenging myself on I am
risk of verse. I have to admit when it comes
to money, I'm not a gambler and I'm more of
an investor. And I think that that ties into the
whole plant thing too, as it relates to what we
talked about with plant guarantees and buying a plant with
(35:21):
a plant guarantee, because obviously the retailer is looking to
give the consumer some confidence going in, you know, and
I know how people a number of people at least
throughout the years watching them in the garden center where
they'll buy a plant and then they'll put it in
the ground, and then they'll forget about it, and then
(35:41):
next year miraculously it comes up, which is, you know,
really cool. I've always said it's like finding an onion
ring in your order of French fries, a very cool thing. Also,
the USDA heardiness Zone and pushing that envelope. So I'm
zoned six B, and I wanted to ask you about
this stacy because a plant that I would never have
(36:06):
put in my landscape again because I'm risk averse when
it comes to money, would have been crape myrtle. And
you've introduced to all of us over this past year,
and I've had a chance to see it in the
trial garden also center stage. Crape myrtle. It's a plant
that I wouldn't have considered a number of years ago.
(36:27):
But now, just like the camellia that you mentioned in
Plants on Trial this week, I'm going to be willing
to stick my neck out and try something like that.
Speaker 2 (36:36):
Well, you know, that's an interesting case. I mean, I'm
glad you brought it up because one of the factors
that has kind of changed the way people think about
crape myrtle and that crape myrtle might actually be much
harder than they expected is the introduction of these shrubby types.
So for years and years and years, all there were
were these big, beautiful tree like crape myrtles that you
(36:56):
can see when you go to Atlanta or New Orleans,
just beautiful plants. But you know, if you get a
tree like that and something happens to it, it's pretty
much done. You know, you've got a real problem, and
even trying to get it to that point would be
a problem. Whereas with these shrubby crate myrtles that like
center stage, because they are multi stemmed, you can treat
(37:18):
them a bit more like a butterfly bush or a carryopteris,
which is to say, almost like a perennial. They can
dive back to the ground and they will come back,
whereas that single stemmed treelike one wouldn't necessarily So the
shrubby form, combined with some you know, increasing awareness about
some surprising hardiness in crate myrtle, has really changed it,
(37:41):
and now it's starting to be planted in a lot
more different places. But you know, that's also another interesting
sort of conundrum for those of us who are willing
to push the boundaries on hardiness. You're not going to
find those plants in the local garden center because of
the guarantee that so many garden centers offer. You know,
they're not going to offer something that is likely to die.
(38:03):
So you may find yourself either traveling to a garden
center when you're on vacation in a warmer climate, or
you know, utilizing mail order so that you're getting a
plant that what you wouldn't normally find. And that's the
real challenge is I want to push the boundaries, but
I don't know where to start, because everything that is
at my garden center, you know, with the exception of
houseplants and annuals, and that's type of thing is selected
(38:25):
because it survives in your area.
Speaker 1 (38:27):
Yeah, very true. And that's the interesting thing about the
psychology of this whole guarantee thing too. I'm sorry for
being stuck on this, and I've got the fragrance of
Frank's Nursery and Crafts filling my nostrils right now. But
the psychology of the guarantee, again, having been in the
(38:47):
garden center industry for fifty years, someone buys a plant,
it dies the following spring, there bringing it back. Some
people won't bring the plant back even though it's guarantee teed,
because they're like, uh, I killed it. Yeah, I'm not
bringing it back. There are a lot of people like that.
There are other people who will show up and spring
(39:09):
there's lines that check out. The place is busy, and
they roll in with four shopping carts full of dead
herber vitis. I mean you'll see that.
Speaker 2 (39:17):
Yeah, it's like, no, not all of those harporviding he
died because I did something wrong.
Speaker 1 (39:24):
It's a fascinating psychological thing, do you know?
Speaker 2 (39:27):
I agree with you, And I would also say that
these same people who will you know again march up
to the garden center and saying all of these Harprovid's
that you sold me your bunk, they all died. That's
like basically going to the grocery store buying a stake,
taking it home, burning it to the point that it's unedible,
and then taking it back to the grocery store. I mean, really,
(39:48):
there's barely a difference between those situations. Yeah, well, I
don't know, just saying.
Speaker 1 (39:53):
It's a marketing approach that was all started back then
in the nineteen fifties by Frank's Nursery and crect.
Speaker 2 (40:01):
What confidence is so important, and that's what we aim
to provide is giving you the information to be confident.
But like, ultimately, I feel like plants are most plants
are pretty easy if you just get them home and
do a little basic care.
Speaker 1 (40:17):
Well, and the point being with the new cultivars that
are available today, like proven Winner's color choice, shrubs, all
the work that's put into developing these new varieties. There's
a real focus on the part of plant breeders for
drought resistance, ability to stand up to heat, and that
sort of thing. So that's just an exciting thing. This
(40:41):
in today's day and age compared to fifty years ago.
Another thing to think about as it relates to pushing
the boundaries are the physical boundaries. Now again, I'm one
of these people who's more than willing to dig in.
I'm out there working in miserable weather and that kind
(41:01):
of thing. I'm crazy, I get it. As a matter
of fact, it was one of our YouTube viewers that
said we should put rick on trial as opposed to
plants on trial. I kind of got a kick out
of that. But physical boundaries, and I'm thinking about something
that I'm thinking about getting. I am amazed at the
advances as far as electric tools are concerned, whether it's
(41:26):
leaf blowers, lawnmowers, whatever it may be. One of my
neighbors was using an electric snowblower, this monthing nice. You know,
we got fifteen inches of snow overnight and he's out
there with his electric snowblower. What I'm thinking about doing
as far as rechargeable equipment is concerned, I'm thinking about
getting a powered wheelbarrow. Wow, because everything I do in
(41:52):
my landscape is uphill. I'm landscaping the whole back dune,
and so I'm always going uphill, whether it's mold which
whatever it is, dirt plants. I'm thinking about getting one
of these electric powered wheelbarrows. These things are really cool.
Speaker 2 (42:08):
I think you should get one. I mean, honestly, the
thing is when it comes to work and effort and
of course preserving your physical health and mental health for
that matter. Really, if you can, you should invest in
things that make gardening easier. If you don't, you will
start to resent it, and you will start to you
(42:28):
will start to not do things that you should or
want to do because it's just too much effort. So
if there is a simple solution like a power wheelbarrow,
I mean, and it's also one of those things that like,
you don't even know what you're capable of once you
have a power wheelbarrow. Until you have the power wheelbarrow,
you'll be mad with power wheelbarrow.
Speaker 1 (42:48):
It's like blindfold archery. You don't know what you're missing. Yeah,
they are are it's something else right, Well, I.
Speaker 2 (42:54):
Am in full support and I think our listeners would
love to learn more and about your ventures with a
power wheelbarrow. So I hope that your family knows that
this is number one on your Christmas list.
Speaker 1 (43:07):
It's going to happen, and Adriana will put a link
out there right and on YouTube. But I think this
is a great thing. As a matter of fact, I
have a link to Popular Mechanics rating of these wheelbarrows
because I'm thinking about getting one.
Speaker 2 (43:21):
Very exciting.
Speaker 1 (43:22):
Another thing with Christmas coming up, good shovels. You got
to have good shovels, and if you're going to push
the boundaries, the shovel weight and sharpening of the shovel
is important. I was on a website for forestry suppliers
and you can get these zinc plated aircraft tubing mainshank
tubular steel, incredible shovels that will cut through anything, cut
(43:46):
through roots, and they even give you a rubber foot
pad that can be bolted to either side of the blade.
Speaker 2 (43:53):
Will they monogram it for you?
Speaker 1 (43:55):
I'm going to ask.
Speaker 2 (43:56):
I feel like that would be the definitioning touch on this.
This sounds like a very serious shovel. It is it
is can you lift it?
Speaker 1 (44:05):
I need one?
Speaker 2 (44:06):
Can you lift it? That sounds heavy. I'm just saying
light weight is also an important factor at a shovel.
Speaker 1 (44:13):
True. True. And of course, when we're pushing the envelope.
Over this pasture, we talked about moving plants in your landscape,
something that I love to do. I encourage people to
do it as opposed to just living with a plant
in a certain location. I mentioned earlier in the show
The Blue Atlas Cedar that we moved out of necessity,
(44:36):
but moving plants, and you know, are you a person
that has to have everything in place and everything in
order or do you get an idea and you jump
in feet first and then figure it out as you go.
And I've always been that way. Yes, there have been
some disasters, but it's a fun way to go in.
(44:59):
I am encourage people to do it. You learn a
lot in the process, and it keeps you from stepping
back and saying I can't do that. Give it a shot.
I'm just trying to encourage you to do it.
Speaker 2 (45:11):
I like it.
Speaker 1 (45:12):
Yeah, yeah, so there you go. So let's get out
there and push the envelope. We've got a new Year
coming up, resolutions coming up.
Speaker 2 (45:20):
Yeah, right now, you might only be pushing the snow shovel,
I'm afraid to say.
Speaker 1 (45:26):
Thanks Stacy, Thanks Rick, Thanks Adriana, Thanks to you. Remember
we're on YouTube. You can find us wherever you get
your favorite podcasts and of course on radio. Also, have
a great week.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark
My Favorite Murder is a true crime comedy podcast hosted by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark. Each week, Karen and Georgia share compelling true crimes and hometown stories from friends and listeners. Since MFM launched in January of 2016, Karen and Georgia have shared their lifelong interest in true crime and have covered stories of infamous serial killers like the Night Stalker, mysterious cold cases, captivating cults, incredible survivor stories and important events from history like the Tulsa race massacre of 1921. My Favorite Murder is part of the Exactly Right podcast network that provides a platform for bold, creative voices to bring to life provocative, entertaining and relatable stories for audiences everywhere. The Exactly Right roster of podcasts covers a variety of topics including historic true crime, comedic interviews and news, science, pop culture and more. Podcasts on the network include Buried Bones with Kate Winkler Dawson and Paul Holes, That's Messed Up: An SVU Podcast, This Podcast Will Kill You, Bananas and more.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com