The 2025 Bulb of the Year is...

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:01):
Good morning everybody, Welcome back. I'm Ron Wilson, and you
are in the garden here on news Radio six' TEN
wtv and talking about yarning on this Final saturday In
may twenty twenty. Five can't believe that fast that one went.
Through and AS i, promised our ball specialist just. BACK
i love talking with this young. Lady she knows more
about bubs and bulbs know about. Bulbs as a matter of,

(00:22):
fact today we're going to talk about the twenty twenty
Five bulb of The year and a whole lot. More
you know What i'm talking. About peggy And montgomery the
website flowerbub dot. Edu good, morning. Ma'am good And. MORGAN
i CAN'T i can't do that like you do. THAT
i just can't do it. Practice in, fact, YEAH i

(00:44):
still do the but that you told me that was,
different Right, Morgan.

Speaker 2 (00:49):
Yeah that's More German Dutchess, Morgan Jullian.

Speaker 1 (00:53):
Morgan got. It. Yeah, anyway good, morning good to have
you on a. Show always always. Fun before we talk
about the twenty Twenty bulb of The, year which is
absolutely one of my favorites and we should be planting
more and. More it's been around. FOREVER a couple questions for.
You how did your all your stents and plottings come
out this? Year?

Speaker 2 (01:12):
Oh they were. Beautiful we planted a stints and garden
in our front yard and it bloomed from Early february
until Into. May so we're just letting the last of
the tulip foliage die back and then we're going to
cut it.

Speaker 1 (01:28):
Back, now you said that you did that In New.
York so do you mow the grass at all around
any of? That you just let it?

Speaker 2 (01:34):
Go you know WHAT i? Do, RON i kept like
a three foot path all the way around it because
that way it looks, intentional and so it looks neat
for our. Neighbors and it also allows me access into
all the other, borders SO i can get in there
and do some weeding and some other.

Speaker 1 (01:51):
Work got. It got? It so when it comes to
spring feeding spring flowering, bulbs is there a better time
during the spring season to do? It like right? Now
can we still feed those spring flowering, bulbs two of,
staffodils all of? Those?

Speaker 2 (02:03):
Sure you? Bet you. KNOW i would use an organic.
Fertilizer there's organic bulb fertilizer which would be. Great and
that's just going to help, them you, know beef up that.
Bulb you know they're already bringing you, know the foliage
is going down and they're they're soaking that all. Up
so a little bit extra sure wouldn't.

Speaker 1 (02:20):
Hurt so anytime during the, spring whether it's when they
first started to come up or when they're dying back,
down doesn't. Matter so how about that compared to feeding
them in the. Fall can you do it at that
time as? Well?

Speaker 2 (02:31):
Absolutely and AGAIN i think it's especially important while you're.
Planting AND i use some organic bulb fertilizer When i'm
planting bulbs that put a little bit right in the,
hole just because you, know it's a it's an investment
in your time and an investment in the, bulbs AND
i just want to make sure they get off to

(02:51):
the very best. Start, WELL i don't know.

Speaker 1 (02:53):
About, you BUT i use This spoma's bulb tone me, Too,
okay just want to make. Sure SEE i do that
BECAUSE i, do because you. DO i follow in your.
Footsteps oh, yeah, yeah.

Speaker 2 (03:04):
That's a great. Product and then you, know when you're
using organics, too you're not like you to burn anything.
People you, know sometimes we'll be a little heavy handed
with fertilizer because they think a little more is a little.
Better but actually you can you can get into some trouble,
there so organics are always. Safest.

Speaker 1 (03:22):
Yeah and, again, yeah you could spill that whole bag
on the top of them and kind of just kind
of break it, up AND i don't think it would
cause any. Problems, so but it's if you're, right that's
you know What i've always told folks of, them even
though it's all, natural all Organic aspollma line of, fertilizers
even if they, WEREN'T i still would use them BECAUSE
i like what they. Do So i'm not doing it

(03:43):
just because they're all, natural all. ORGANIC i believe in
what they do and the way they, feed AND i
enjoy that slow, release easy, feed perfect. SETUP i love.
It a little bit of a little bit of bone
meal in there as. WELL i remember everybody used to
use bone meal all the time and then as a
little bonemeal in it as. Well but that's a good
one to. Use so you're telling us you can do

(04:04):
it anytime during the, spring and you can also do
it in the fall as. Needed.

Speaker 2 (04:08):
Yeah, Absolutely AND i think you know the big thing
today is people are realizing you should be feeding your
soil all the. Time feed your, soil your soil will
feed your.

Speaker 1 (04:18):
Plants, yeah no. Doubt that's WHY i always you know,
what you probably do this all the, time BUT i
always tell, folks if you don't have a compost, pile
you should always have a couple bags of like pine,
fines the cow bag, compost something like, that some kind
of organic, matter so that no matter what you're doing
in the, soil you can always add organic matter to the,

(04:39):
soil whether it's on the, top whether you're, Planning always
put organic matter back in the soil because your earth
worms are going to love you for. It and if
the earth worms love you for, it your plants are
really going to love you for.

Speaker 2 (04:49):
It that's absolutely. True and that's SOMETHING i. Do we
get a lot of leaf mold out, here which is,
great and that's already started to, rot and that rots
right back into your. Soil And i'm still a believer
in good old cow.

Speaker 1 (05:04):
Manure oh, yeah, well there's a there's a product called
the cow and it's a bag. Manure it's a compost of.
MANURE i just think it's DOES i mix that with pine,
fines it's one of my favorite mixes to use When
i'm planting and, all and it's just adding organic. Matter
you can't beat, it no doubt about. It let's talk
about what we wanted to talk about. Today, SORRY i
got you distracted. There The National Garden bureau puts together

(05:25):
Their plants of The year and they have a Whole
they several, categories And Diane blaizeks typically comes on and
talks to about. Those. Well the twenty twenty Five bulb
of The year this year is absolutely one of my
most favorite, annuals next to, colias and of course they
grow into kind of the same conditions for the most,

(05:45):
part and that would be. Kolladiums and kalladiums have been
around a long, time but you look today at the
variety of kladiums that are on the. Market of course
strictly known for their, foliage their outstanding. Foliage there are
a ton of combination of colors on kalladium.

Speaker 2 (06:02):
Leaves oh my, gosh it is. Unbelievable it's like every
combination you could think. Of it's not just whites and
greens and. Pinks there's, reds there's some we planted some this.
Year my husband put them in a big hanging basket
that are like an orangish. Red it's just. Crazy it

(06:23):
really attracts, attention, now you.

Speaker 1 (06:25):
Know and you say the hanging, basket AND i don't
Think i've ever used. KOLLADIUMS i have in, containers but
not in a hanging. Basket That's do you have other
things in the basket?

Speaker 2 (06:35):
Too, oh, yeah it's a, basket and so we use
even like some of our houseplants we bring out in the,
summer there's a big monstera in, there there's the. Kalladium
there's some magnificent bogonias that are, yellow but the back
is kind of, red so that picks up that. Color,
yeah it's it's packed full of. Stuff so when we talk.

Speaker 1 (06:58):
About, kalladiums and again they've been around for it and
used to be you can only get kalladiums by the.
Ball so you went to your local garden center and
they sold assortment of kladium, bulbs and you know they're
they're correct me If i'm wrong. Here very temperamental when
it comes to soil and air, temperatures when it comes
to planting in the.

Speaker 2 (07:17):
Spring, absolutely these are tropical plants and they do not
like the. Cold they will really set them. Back AND
i know it's hard to be, patient at least it
is for, me BECAUSE i want to buy these beautiful
THINGS i see at the garden center and get them.
Outside but, honestly they you really need temperatures in the
seventies for a consistent amount of time for them to be.

(07:40):
Happy they'll just kind of stall out if it gets too.

Speaker 1 (07:43):
Cold, WELL i know you're a big basil, lover and
basil's kind of the same.

Speaker 2 (07:46):
Way basil is the same. Way my basil looks. Terrible
ron If i'm In delaware and we have had a
very cool and wet, spring and my basil's not, happy
and kalladiums are just kind of sitting, there just kind
of hanging in.

Speaker 1 (08:03):
WAIT i you know, WHAT i used to do a lot.
OF i still do, some but not as much AS
i used to. Do mixed herb planters and call them herb,
gardens AND i used to use them for demonstrations that
garden talks and, all AND i would plant those up,
early BUT i would always leave the blank spot for.
BASIL i didn't put any basil in those things untill you,
know we got into the mid the latter part Of

(08:25):
may UNTIL i knew it was really starting to warm.
Up and of course this year has been kind of
unusual for all of us cooler and. Wet so, YEAH
i understand where you're coming. From but kladiums do like
they like the warm, soils they like the warmer. Temperature
so when we got those, bulbs you had to kind
of start them inside and then hang on to. It
but nobody ever grew koladiums and containers because you had

(08:46):
to heat them, early you, know warm them, up et,
cetar et. Cetera, well now today a lot of these
are grown In florida and then brought, here so By
Mother's day weekend they're already up six eight inches tall
and showing some great. Colors and the cost of come
DOWN i think a lots from way back when as.

Speaker 2 (09:02):
Well oh, absolutely they're really reasonably, priced you, know and
when you compare them to, like like you, know A
pw annual or, something you know that's seven or eight,
Bucks so they're really cheap enough to be used as an.
Annual you can try to keep them. Over i've not
always been very. Successful i've got actually some bulbs THAT

(09:25):
i planted and it's too cold they're barely picking. Up
BUT i bought some at the garden center. Already i'll
leased out and boy you get you, know you get
another month or. So it is entertainment out of them
when you do.

Speaker 1 (09:37):
That oh, yeah no. Doubt and of course talking about,
kalladiums and they're the twenty twenty five ball of the,
year perfect for the. Shade they love the. Shade they'll
take a little bit of morning that morning sund's. Good
won't take that hot afternoon. Sun but from WHAT i,
understand plant breeders are working on developing some kaladiums that'll
take a little bit more.

Speaker 2 (09:55):
Sun, yeah that's, right you. Know kalladiums have always, been,
like you, know the perfect plant for this. Shade they
bring a lot of light and color into shady. Areas
AND i guess folks with a lot of some got
jealous because now the ones that are coming out really
can take some. Sun so be careful or not be,
careful but just make sure you read the label and

(10:16):
make sure which kind you're.

Speaker 1 (10:17):
Buying everybody's putting up with deer and rabbits in their.
Gardens how do kalladiums hold up with deer in?

Speaker 2 (10:22):
Rabbits they're. Fine they don't like. Them and believe, ME
i have a lot of rabbits And i've tested that.
Theory it is actually a poisonous. Plant so you want
to be careful around you, know your, kids and you
and your house. Pets although it isn't usually much of a,
problem but no deer and rabbits will leave them, alone thank.

(10:42):
Goodness and you told me this ron WHICH i thought
was really, interesting is squirrels don't even dig up the.

Speaker 1 (10:49):
Bulbs, YEAH i, mean same. Thing it's like. Daffodils you
know that that toxicity is. THERE i guess they detect
that and so they stay away from. It and again
it's more of a mouth throat eer. Hat it's not
a killing toxic, ball but but it can cost some
some gets you makes you sick. Anyway so if the
something got some of the pets got a hold of,
it or the kids chewed on, one WHICH i would

(11:11):
don't doubt they would, do but it. Could and it's
always fun interesting to know. That talking With peggy And,
montgomery the website is flowerbulb dot. Eu quick, break we
come back talking about. Kalladiums what's your favorite? Colors they
come in so many we'll talk about that and, uh
what you, know how do we feed? Them how do
we take care of? Them here on News radio six
ten wtvn ow mmm mm.

Speaker 2 (11:35):
HMMM i love.

Speaker 1 (11:37):
It in the, podcasts nobody can hear the, music so
they just hear. You they hear me singing and making, noises,
right so they can't do. That that's. Great ill NOW
i won't do that. Anymore talking your ardening here on
News radio six n W tv and our special guests this,
morning our ball Expert peggy And. Montgomery great website flowerball dot.
Eu SEE i kind Of peggy AND i sing to

(11:59):
make noises to the. Songs that's for the bumper. Music
and then when they do the, podcast the bumper music isn't.

Speaker 2 (12:05):
THERE i think that's.

Speaker 1 (12:07):
Funny that's all they hears. Me, wow NOW i know
why nobody listens to the podcast. Anymore so are we
talking about? Kalladiums and, uh that's the a bulb of
the year and absolutely. Gorgeous do you have a favorite?
COMBINATION i, MEAN i still like the white and green.

Speaker 2 (12:26):
Ones you, KNOW i love the white and green. Ones
call me, crazy but they are still my. Favorite and
one THAT i know you like is frogging and, blender,
yes which is all kinds of greens and. Whites it's.
GORGEOUS i love that.

Speaker 1 (12:42):
One AND i always tell people don't google frog in
a blender because there are people that actually have done
that and you don't want to see, that so don't do.
It but but, yeah take take my word for. It
but it's pretty. Popular it's been out for several. Years
but it's a great combination of greens and a little
bit of white and there as, well but frog and.
Blender but there are so many great, ones pinks and

(13:03):
Like peggy was sand, before pinks and reds and whites
and greens all. Together and these heart shaped leaves are absolutely.
Outstanding every now and THEN i get an email from
folks that, SAY i planted the caladiums for the first
time and this thing sticks up out of it that
looks like a? Flower what is? It and it actually
is a calladium. Flower how often you see them? Flower very?

Speaker 2 (13:24):
Often you know they can and you, know certainly later
in the season or if they're a little bit. Unhappy
if a plant isn't doing, well it wants, to you,
know pro create and make new. Plants SO i have
one outside right now and it's too cold and it
doesn't like it very. Much so she just threw up a.

Speaker 1 (13:46):
Flower really, yeah so if somebody, does if you have
one that does. That you, know in some cases where
plant's grown for the foliage rather than the, flower Like
colius for, instance you has pins those out all the.
Time is that something we should pinch? Out or do
you just leave it?

Speaker 2 (14:02):
Alone you, KNOW i really don't want the plant putting
any energy into doing, that and SO i just cut
it off a little while ago and it can just
put it to energy into bringing me some more beautiful
leaves as soon as it warms up here later this.

Speaker 1 (14:19):
Week, See i'm with you on that one. TOO i
even do that with hostas, sometimes if that's not a
very attractive, FLOWER i just get rid of, them don't
even let them do their, thing so they put all
that energy into the. Foliage talking With peggy And, montgomery
we're talking about the ball of the year is, kalladiums
and if you're not familiar with, them get out to
your LOCAL nip in the garden center That i'm sure
they've got them right now and you can take a
look and see what we're talking. About you will love

(14:41):
them shade garden morning, sun afternoon, shade hanging, baskets containers
in the, ground and what about using it as a?
Houseplant can you take those? Indoors?

Speaker 2 (14:51):
Absolutely and they're really, beautiful and you, KNOW i think
the people have kind of forgotten that you can grow them.
Indoors my grandma used to grow kaladium indoors AND i
remember as a child thinking they were just such extraordinary
colors and shapes and. Stuff it. Was they were kind
of miraculous to.

Speaker 1 (15:11):
Me, yeah, oh no. Doubt you know what's. Interesting AND
i don't know if you were At Cultivating. COLUMBUS i
think it was last, year BUT i and one of
the brands of the, plants AND i don't it may
have been proven, Winners i'm not, sure but they introduced
their series of. Kaladiums it has to do with The
christmas holiday and they are the reds and greens and,

(15:31):
whites and they had those like under A christmas tree
in presents and all introducing them as possibly a holiday
plant to. Use i'm so used to the kaladium and
the shape of the leaf of being outside in the,
SUMMER i kind of to look at it for a,
while but the colors and all that actually worked pretty.

Speaker 2 (15:50):
Well you, know you really got me thinking BECAUSE i
think how pretty that would look With, ammarillis you, know
a Red amarillis with that right red in the.

Speaker 1 (16:00):
Foliage, well and that's what they. Did they did have
other holiday plants there to show you how it would blend.
TOGETHER i guess my only, Thing and of course ponseti
is can be sensitive to cold weather as, well but
kladiums are, too so obviously transporting them from the garden
center to your home you have to protect, them put
them in a heated car and all of that type of.

(16:20):
Thing but, MAN i could the MORE i stood and
looked at that with those holiday, COLORS i mean it's
right on with the right, colors and they were. Bright
this particular series really stood. Out but maybe something we
see coming down the, road just like The Jacob's Linton
roads with the white you know working in it as
a holiday.

Speaker 2 (16:38):
PLANT i think it's a terrific. Idea and we have
a big, table so we usually do something like some
kind of a live, plant you, know, centerpiece And i'm
going to try that this. YEAR i think that they
would be so pretty LIKE i often like or kids
That Trader joe's and. Stuff they're not terribly. Expensive and

(17:00):
putting those all together with some lenten roses and those,
KOLLADIUMS i think that would be really striking and a
real surprise for the.

Speaker 1 (17:08):
Guests, oh no doubt about. It talk With peggy And
montgomery talking about. Kalladiums they are the twenty twenty five
ball of the. Year are they high? Feeders do we
have to whether they're in the, ground, containers, Whatever do
we have to feed them a? Lot or are they?

Speaker 2 (17:22):
Not?

Speaker 1 (17:22):
Really you, KNOW i kind of.

Speaker 2 (17:25):
DO i do feed my container plants because of Course
i'm asking them to live in you, know a limited
amount of. Room SO i usually do feed all of
my container, plants AND i generally do grow them in
containers AND i don't grow as many in the. Ground so,
yeah some, food it would be. Great and like all, bolts
they like moist, soil but not. Wet they will rot

(17:46):
in wet, soil so make sure that you plangement an
area that does you, know never have standing, water even
with a big, rain and you're.

Speaker 1 (17:54):
Right to be in a really dry. Situation they like
some good even. Moisture, yeah, yeah, Sure peggy And montgomery
always a. Player, Oh i'm always going to ask you
real quick BEFORE i say. Goodbye when you AND i
were talking together the last, time we were talking about summer.
Balls one of them that we kind of skipped, over
AND i really love this thing is cro. Cosmia.

Speaker 2 (18:17):
OH i love that AND i wish more people would grow.
IT i don't know why they. Don't it like comes
on in late summer into fall when a lot of
things have stopped. Blooming the colors are. Outstanding hummingbirds love,
them butterflies love. Them it is one of the best plans.
Around and it's also really pretty, cold. Hardy i've seen

(18:39):
those growing up In.

Speaker 1 (18:39):
Wisconsin, yeah and you know IT'S i think that those and,
glads aren't they kind of in the same same, family
same genus or. Whatever BUT i don't, know but they
are hardy. Enough you have zone, six maybe zone, Five,
yeah but zone six five is a little bit of
mulch on top should come through the winter for. YOU
i know they do like well drained. Soils but that's

(19:01):
one that's got that nice strapping. Foliage but that flower
when those come out with all those flowers and open
from the bottom to the, top, right they started at
the bottom and work their way to the. TOP i
Think lucifer is the ONE i like the. Most that really,
orange you red just. Illuminates, yeah. Unbelievable we forgot to, well,

(19:24):
yeah but there's the key grow enough because you hate
cutting them off of there because they're, like oh my,
GOSH i don't want to cut. That it looks great
in the. Garden but you're. Right when you get a
good patch of them, going they make an excellent cut
flower as. Well but it's called, crocosmia and we forgot
to talk about that because That's i'm with. YOU i
think it's one that is way underused as a container

(19:46):
plant and as a as a perennial in the garden as.

Speaker 2 (19:49):
Well, absolutely all, Right peggy And.

Speaker 1 (19:52):
Montgomery always a. Pleasure the website flowerball dot. Eu have
a great rest of your. Spring all, right all, right take,
care quick, break we come. Back phone. Lines we're open
for you at eight two to one W, tvn eight
hundred and six TEN. Wtvn here on news radio six
TEN wtvn eight two to ONE, wtvn eight hundred and

(20:13):
six to TEN. Wtvn those are our numbers. Talking you're
aready here on News radio six to TEN. Wtvn then
uh uh, Boy i'll tell you what the weather looks.
Like maybe is it gonna. Break we're gonna get out
of this cooler and wet, weather finally starting to getting
into a little bit more of the warmer. WEATHER i
think it's a it's around the. Corner it's, inevitable it's
going to. Happen BUT i think the thing that we've

(20:34):
got to keep in mind here as we, transition and
this happens every, year but maybe even more so this.
Year we've had these cooler, Temperatures we've had excessive. RAINFALL i,
mean we've had great moisture in the. Ground hasn't been
enough that we're rotting things out or whatever for the most,
part but it's been you, know good, moisture even moisture cooler.
Temperatures let's face, it the grass is growing like a.

(20:56):
Weed plants are growing like. Weeds everything's gone more leaves
probably than it normally does for the most, part trees
and that out. There so they really have taken advantage of.
THIS i like what we've had this spring with the
cooler tempts and the. Moisture a little frustrating at times
when we want to do something and it starts to.
Rain but, nevertheless we're going to get out of this

(21:19):
pattern more than likely we usually do and didn't get
into a more dryer and a warmer situation as we
get Into june And july And, august and that transition
period can always be kind of, tough From may Into
june and into the. Summer And i've always said over
all these, years Sometimes june is kind of one of

(21:39):
the worst months because when we make this transition, period
we start to see all kinds of leaf, Spots we
see leaf, Diseases we see plants that start to turn
yellow and start to drop leaves because they don't have
the moisture they had. Before because it's a lot, warmer
they can't support what they put out in the, springtime
so they shed. LEAVES i use river birch is an.

(22:00):
Example you, know you can almost, always depending on where it's,
planted count on a river birch shedding starting to shed
leaves in the in the In, june as we transition
because of the lack of, moisture it starts to dry,
out and you know underneath the river, Birch thus the
name river. Birch the rooting is right at the top

(22:22):
of the. Ground it's like a mass, plant a massive
massing of roots as sucking up all the moisture that they.
Can it falls into. There when we don't get the extra,
moisture what. Happens it starts to shed leaves on the
inside and you think you're losing the tree and you're.
Not they go through that every, year but looking for the,
moisture so they have to shed those leaves because they
can't support. It so we're going to go through. That

(22:44):
but having as much as we had to have the,
spring with the cooler, weather we may see it even more.
So so point being is keep this in mind over
the next two or three weeks as we begin to
transition through the month Of june into the summer, season
that a lot of plants are going to do, that
and don't overreact and start watering or start spring with

(23:05):
fungicides or insecticide if you think it's an insect because
a lot of times it's if, anything it's a. Disease
but you, know don't start spraying things unless you you,
know do your, homework do some detective, work try to
diagnose what's going. On have send me, pictures take samples
to the local garden, center whatever it may, be but you,
know find out what you think is going on before you.

(23:27):
Overreact it's amazing how many people sometimes especially for newly
planted trees and, shrubs, hydranges especially newly planted and even
when they've been, established they'll will down when you get
into the full day of. Sun you, know we're in
the summertime and that sun's beaten down and they get
sun all day or all, afternoon and you know they've

(23:48):
got a lot of, folage and the next thing you,
know the thing is willed down and you're like. Whoa
and you get the water hose, out especially if it's newly,
planted and you water it every day and you're, like you,
KNOW i don't get. It i'm watering it and it's
got good, moisture but it's just wilding down every. Day
and the next thing you, know guess what you. Did
you watered so much and kept it so wet that
the root starts to rotten decay and you lose the.

(24:10):
Hydrangea so not only was it not what's happening is
is that the limited root, system it's not able to
take up as much moisture to replace the moisture as
being lost in the stems and the. Leaves hydrangea hydra
water they, like they do like some good even, moisture
so that. Happens so, again if you just watch those

(24:33):
look at, them you, know like at nine o'clock at
night or at six o'clock in the, morning if they're
perked up and they look normal at those times of the,
day they've got enough moisture in the. Ground they just
can't take up enough to replace what's going on in
the in the. Daytime so you make sure they've got
good moisture but not overly, wet and you don't have

(24:54):
to water every. Day but that's what's going. On so,
again we're just using detective. Work but you, know don't
just overreact and start overwatering underwatering spring with. Things it's
a natural transition. Period if you're not, sure check with
the local garden, center take, samples take, pictures email me.
Pictures we'll try to help you out as much as we,

(25:15):
can AND i think we'll SEE i think, anyway we'll
see some of this as we go from this particular
spring into the summer, season assuming that we will get
back into the, hot dry sunny, days Which i'm sure
that we will eight two to one W tv in
eight hundred and six to N wtv in another break
we come. Back i've got more tips to, share and
of course taking your calls here on news radio six

(25:37):
to EN. Wtvn not gonna do. It but now ah
me talking yarding here on news radio six'.

Speaker 2 (25:49):
Ten.

Speaker 1 (25:49):
Wtvn yeah UH now i want to sing. That song
ah seeze a. Break anyway uh, you know we were
talking about the kids garden by, the WAY and i
got real myself a note you're during. The break one
thing that you could you could do if the kids
don't want to get involved with doing their own gardening,
or whatever but get a twelve, inch pot fourteen inch
container and plant a. Milk weed? Did it do the

(26:11):
tu barosa if you can find the, tropical ones and
a lot of garden centers are now selling the tropical milkweed.
As well put one of those, in there like the
there's a. Variegated one it's, a white red and. Green
leaf it's. Pretty cool starts flowering. Right now so what's
interesting about these tropical milk weeds is that they. Grow
quickly it's an annual and they, flower early so they're

(26:34):
an early source of pollen, for pollinators, including butterflies and
the butterflies will use that as a host plant as
well for. Their larvae and then do, the tubarosa which
is the monarchs love that one in the back of.
The plot so you got two, of them so the
tropicals kind. Of cool then you got the, other one
and there's. Tu barosa takes a while, to grow get

(26:55):
some size and start the, flour later, you know mid.
Late summer so do both of them and. A container
and what that'll do is we'll bring pollinators, to it
but then it'll start to bring the monarchs to it
eventually and. Other butterflies and what she will wind up
A getting i talked about dinner and. A show not
only do you have the great looking plants and the
flowers and, some pollinators but if the butterflies come to

(27:16):
it and they lay their eggs on those plants and
they feed on. THOSE plants i have seen them actually
go and do the crystalist underneath the lip of the of,
the pot or, you know somewhere. Close by so the
kids watched the whole process of. THE butterflies i gave
a friend of mine, of ours a couple of several,
years ago a container of just the, two arosa and

(27:40):
they were just getting they, would retire but getting more
into gardening and. Container GARDENING and, i, said look just
set this on. Your patio it's a planet and they,
will come. Trust me and it grew all summer and,
looked good finally started, a flower, look good and all
of A sudden i got these pictures. From her, she
said you're not going to. Believe this, she said look
at the monarchs, on it first, of all and then she, she,
Said look I've got i've. Got babies and he had

(28:02):
little larvae growing all, over it a little. Monarch caterpillars
and then she had the crystals and they were like
hanging under the side of the air conditioning unit and
on the side of the fence and on the lip of.
The pot and not only were she and her husband
getting a kick out of this, whole thing so were,
her grandkids and so were the. Neighborhood kids and they were.

(28:22):
Loving it and this was just planted in. A container
so again that's those are the types of things you
can do. For kids that's a. Great, project again during
the summer you'll get the other pollinators that enjoy those flowers.
As well and then of course that we can catch
those monarchs uh doing their. Thing great and by, THE
way i sometimes will get the people, questioning us us

(28:43):
beaning us in the industry growing and selling. Tropical milkweed
it's an. Annual uh the and and the question comes
up is where this grows? Further south it doesn't, die
back and it continues, to flower and there's speculating that
it makes the monarch hold up a, little bit, gets
confused doesn't migrate like it's. Supposed to it hangs around

(29:07):
because this thing's still, in flour, you know the whole.
Nine yards and that may happen in. The south if
you plant it, down there you should cut, it off,
you know Sometime, in september so you don't make to
have the monarchs even have a chance of. Hanging around
well in, our area by the time you get to
the End, of september they're usually starting to look kind
of rough and you take them, out anyway or the

(29:27):
first frost takes them out and then. They're done so
we don't worry. About them they don't seem to be an,
issue here so don't worry about using the tropical. Ones
Here but i'm telling you that's another great one for
you or for, the kids the grandkids. Or whatever is
a great project for the pollinators for the butterflies is
planting milkweed in containers and do a regular like the

(29:48):
tuberosa and use one of the tropicals because they're really
cool looking and they do everything. Early on, they're fast,
quick source. Early source as the other one is starting
to take of and it. Does work. It's great one
OTHER thing i wanted to bring, up TODAY and i
talk about this, a lot, all right but it's still

(30:09):
out there and we've got to keep preaching and, keep
preaching and hopefully the word continues. TO spread i, talk about,
you know if you look in your yard right now
and you have grass growing up to, your tree not a.
Good thing shame, ON you i. Always say and you
should go out and you should remove the grass four
six eight foot circle around the base of those trees and.

(30:30):
Mulch it and there are so many benefits and why
you want to, do that. It's crazy we talk about
it all. The time we also talk about the fact
that you don't want to overmulch one to three, inches
deep never put it up against the trunk of. The tree.
All right we talk about that, a lot and we
still see the mult up against the trunks of, the
trees and we still see the volcanoing where they pile

(30:50):
the mult up, six eight ten inches twelve inches high
on the sides of trunks. AND trees i still don't get.
That one that's been preaching about for, so long but
yet it still happens from so called professional. LANDSCAPE firms
i don't, get it but. They do the other thing
we've been talking about and really trying to push the
last two or three years is show me. The flare

(31:11):
show me the root flare Where that and that's if
you look at a tree growing in, the woods naturally
planted by seed, or whatever what do you see at?
The base you see those that, curve out that's the.
Root flare like those feet are the legs coming off
the trunk of that tree out into. The soil that's the.
Root flare and when you plant, a tree whether it's

(31:32):
in a container or, baldon burlapped you should make sure
you pull the soil off the top of that pot
or off the top of that root ball until you
see those roots that are, flaring out and that should
be at soil level or a little. Bit above so
every time you plant, a tree you should be asking,
yourself self show me the, Root flare show me, the

(31:53):
flare make sure that that thing is up. High enough,
and still so many trees get planted, too deep and
a lot of times they wind up being too deep
in containers or too deep in the nursery because so
get shoved up on top of them a little bit when,
they're cultivating or a little bit of too much potting
mix goes on top as they're planning them up as

(32:14):
a small liners and growing them. In containers you've got
to take the time to shave that off and find that,
root flare and that's the top of. The root all
you got to. Do that so you show me, the
flare and then you one to three inches max around
mulching and never put it around the trunk of. The
tree went out to look at A and i'm running
out of time and we're not to look at a

(32:34):
dogwood that some folks had planted for their daughter passed
unfortunately lost. Their life i'm ten or twelve. Years old
planeted a dogwood a grave site and we're having troubles with,
the dogwood and it, was declining had likings, on it
which like as tells you that the, top's declining, et cetera.
Et cetera and they had planted a dogwood, for her

(32:56):
but they had also over the years have planted flowers
around the base of. The dogwood and where they were
planting the flowers around the base of dogwood has turned
into a six inch deep, planting area a combination of
soil but mostly compost. And mulch and it was up
against the trunk of. The TREES when i, GOT there i.

(33:17):
DUG down i went down six and a half seven
inches down the side of the tree just to get that,
a weight and that's how deep. It was AND then
i pulled the soil away from the trunk of, the
tree which had turned black and it was causing it
to crack and causing it. To decay and there were
air roots already coming off of the trunk of the
tree trying to root out into that mulch in, that

(33:37):
compost which you do. Not want that creates also. Girdling
roots so the problem is it was way. TOO deep
i understand what they, were doing BUT what i and
it can do whatever. They want BUT what i had
suggested was you've got to get rid of all that
extra soil and mults that you've piled up over the years.
Planting FLOWERS and i understand what, you're doing but it's

(34:00):
not going to work for the dogwood. Over time and
that's exactly what. Is happening the dogwood's hanging. In there
it's doing everything. It can it's. Been stunted the. New
growth there's only an inch or two long, every year
but it's. Still there leaves, are small but it's not going.
To work it does. Not work and there was a
prime example of what we talk about this what it
will do. Over time and, SO unfortunately i suggested they

(34:24):
take the, flowers out take that back down to the,
root flare and maybe plant flowers and containers or do.
Something else but you can't do that and expect that tree.
To live it just. Doesn't work, so again when you're,
planting trees new trees, out there show me. The flare
make sure you've promised that that flare is at the
top of. The ground promise me that you'll malt it

(34:46):
one to three, inches deep and that you will put
a maltring around all. Those trees grass will not grow
up against, the trees and you'll keep it away from
the trunk of the tree so it looks like, a
DOUGHNUT and i keep it out three or four inches
away from the trunk all the. Way around so all
you got. To do and you can look down to
that one into three inches deep of mulch and see
the soil and see the root flare at the bottom

(35:07):
of that, open donut center of. That donut that's what
you should be able to see when you look. Down
there if, you don't, over time it will cause problems for.
Your trees and that was a prime example of what's
happened over several years of them, building up, building up.
Building up that's what, it happened and it started to
root out in it. As well not what. You want
so please, do that show me the root flare and plant,

(35:31):
those properly please for long term longevity of those. Those,
Trees please thanks, our colors thanks, Our sponsors Thanks to la,
our producer Because, without ella none of this stuff. Would Happen,
so ella thank you so much for all that. You
do now do yourself, a favor keep planting. Those trees
keep planting those, native plants get the kids involved with.
The planting pamper your worms by by, all means pamper,

(35:52):
those worms, coffee grounds whatever it. Can be ad organic
matter back to. The soil keep. Them happy if, they're
happy your plants are going to be happy. As well
and by, all means go out and making the best
weekend of. Your. Life siam