6.25.25

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:01):
Hello, and welcome to Women's World on Radioli. As a reminder,
RADIOI as a reading service intended for people who are
blind or have other disabilities that make it difficult to
read printed material. Today I will be reading from Better
Homes and Gardens magazine dated June twenty twenty five, and

(00:21):
other publications as time allows. Your host today is Rosemary.
Newspaper and magazine articles presented in Women's World. For general
information only. RADIOI does not endure or recommend any of
the subjects mentioned. We start with a gardening piece. Everything

(00:42):
is illuminated. Silver leaf plants come in all sorts of forms,
allowing you to make them the star or utilize them
as an accent in a container or garden bed. Here
are some of our favorite varieties for gun or shade,

(01:02):
and there are ten listed. Number one the licorice plant,
velvety yet tough with the mild annis fragrance. Number two
Jack of Diamonds Brunera leaves grow up to ten inches
and a mounding habit thrives in the shade. Number three

(01:29):
Angel wings Sinikisio, a perfect contrast plant with its large,
soft and silver white foliage. Pick number four picked them
Japanese painted fern. Dark ribs and silver fronds make a
beautiful pairing. Number five silver swirled dusty miller dout drought

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tolerant with waves e edges leaves. Number six Jurassic junior
Arctic twist rex Bogonia iridescent leaves form a spiral at
their base, keep out of direct sun. Number seven silver
mound Artemisia forms a near perfect mound of lacy foliage.

(02:24):
Number eight morey strain Ardemsian. The deeply serrated leaf shape
is an appealing as the silver sheen. Number nine a
Laddin curry plant. Leaves have the similar fragrance to the spice,
but shouldn't be used for cooking. And finally, number ten

(02:49):
silver bouquet lungword modeled silver leaves accent clusters of pink
and violet flowers come spring. Whether the backdrop is a
leafy green garden or a dark fence, a container of
silver plants lights up the landscape. In this full sun

(03:12):
container that's pictured, The BHG test garden manager Sandergirds uses
a Latin curry plants upright form and fine texture leaves
as a foil for two spilling herbs. Tricolor sage with
its purple and silver leaves and delicate silver queen time.

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While the silver foliage draws the eye, once you come closer,
you're struck by the plant's incredible scent. To the way
silver foliage reflects light is not only beautiful, but it
also reduces evaporation and water loss, making the plants more

(04:02):
drought tolerant. Gertie shows off two sides to Silver's personality.
Pictured left, a pot leans dramatic thanks to the contrast
of the scarlet trim silver leaves of Jurassic dino dragon
fruit Rexpagonia, which play off the variegated English ivy and

(04:27):
shrubby everlasting. In the lower container pictured, silver takes on
a softer look and fill with the velvety leaves of
licorice plant, angel wings, Senexio and moory strain Ardemesia. Dainty
pink chable laminum flowers lend a touch of color. The

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top pot is best for shade, while the bottom one
thrives in full sun. Next, watermelon goes savory, the ultimate
hallmark of summer fun. Juicy watermelon shows off its serious

(05:13):
side when paired with smoky and salty flavors. Grilled melon panzanella.
Charred chunks of watermelon elevate this rustic Italian bread and
veggie salad. Grilling a slab of melon alongside the bread

(05:34):
and red onion imparts a smoky flavor that pops against romaine,
fennel and cherry tomatoes. For a shortcut to the same
flavor profile. With lighting up the grill, add a few
drops of liquid smoke to the dill mustard vinagrette. The

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next watermelon item watermelon relish, like a Mediterranean spin on
Pico degaeo. This raw diced relish features melon, cucumber, and
bell pepper and is flavored with fresh mint and sweet
hot aleppo pepper flakes. Served with chips on a fish

(06:21):
taco or spooned over grilled meat or seafood, or spread
over grilled crostini and a shmear of creamy barada. The
next is a chili watermelon salad inspired by the flavors
of Mexican salsamacha. This fruit salad marries watermelon with lime, cilantro,

(06:46):
dried roasted peanuts, and chilis. The melon tames the heat
and plays sweet to the peanuts salt serve this KICKI
salad over grilled salmon, or alongside pajitas, tacos, or even eggs.

(07:07):
The recipe for the watermelon relish start to finish time
ten minutes. The ingredients are one and one half cups
diced seedless watermelon, one cup diced bell pepper, two thirds
cup diced cucumber, two tablespoons finally chopped shallat or shalot,

(07:29):
two tablespoon chopped fresh mint, two tablespoon sherry vinegar, one
teaspoon aleppo pepper, grilled crostine and barada cheese optional in
the directions. In a medium bowl, combined watermelon, bell pepper,
queue cuver, shalad and mint, drizzle with vinegar and two

(07:52):
tablespoon olive oil. Sprinkle with aleppo pepper, and one teaspoon
salt tossed to combine. If you like, serve with crostini
and barata. The recipe makes two cups. And the recipe
for the chili watermelon salad the start to finish time

(08:14):
twenty minutes, and the ingredients are two limes, one fresh
anaheim or banana pepper, thinly sliced about a half a cup.
One fresh holopeno or serrano pepper thinly sliced one fourth cup,
two tablespoons honey, one half teaspoon minced garlic, one clove,

(08:39):
one half teaspoon dried Mexican oregino, crushed, eight cups roughly
chopped seedless watermelon, one fourth cup finally chopped, dry roasted peanuts,
and two tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro. Grilled salmon, shrimp or chicken.
Option and the directions remove two teaspoon zest and squeeze

(09:07):
one fourth cup juice from the limes, and a large
bowl whisked together lime zest, lime juice and one teaspoon
kosher salt until salt dissolves. Stir in chilis, honey, garlic, oregano,

(09:27):
and two tablespoons of olive oil. Stir in watermelon, Top
with peanuts and cilantro, Serve over grilled salmon, and garnish
with additional cilantro if you like. The recipe makes eight cups,
and there's a little side note how to grill melon.

(09:50):
The best way to grill watermelon is to cut a
three four inch thick round out of the melon's metal.
One pound of untrimmed melon yields about one and one
half cups grilled cubes, and finally, our last watermelon recipe,

(10:12):
grilled watermelon panzanella. Start to finish time twenty five minutes
and the ingredients are two one half inch slices of
artisan bread, one three fourth inch slice seedless watermelon rind
on about a pound, one small red onion, quartered core intact,

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five cups chopped or torn romaine lettuce, one cup cherry
tomatoes have one half cup shaved fresh fennel, three tablespoons
red wine vinegar, one tablespoon chopped fresh dill, two teaspoons

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whole grain mustard, one teaspoon honey. Two ounces of ricotta,
salada or kohea cheese crumbled about a half a cup
optional and for the directions. Brush the bread, watermelon in
red onion with one tablespoon olive oil. Grill watermelon, bread

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and onion covered over medium heat, turning once until a
lightly charred. One to three minutes for bread, six to
eight minutes for watermelon, and eight to ten minutes for onion.
Remove and discard the watermelon rind. Cut watermelon and bread

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into one inch cubes. Trim the core from the onion
wedges and separate into bite sized pieces in a large bowl.
Combine watermelon, bread, onion, lettuce, tomatoes, and funnel in a
screw top jar. Combine three tablespoon olive oil, the vinegar, dill, mustard, honey,

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one fourth teaspoon salt, and one fourth teaspoonful ground black pepper.
Cover in shake well pour over salad tossed to combine.
Sprinkle with ricotta salada if using serve immediately. The recipe
serves five. Next, The Aquatic Life. With a coy pond,

(12:39):
a waterfall, and an ultra lush landscape, a Midwestern backyard
is transformed into a tranquil oasis for both people and wildlife.
Some perspective, hambyers are wooed by a move in ready
kitchen or expansive went picture windows. For Mark vander Linden,

(13:02):
the selling point for the Des Moines house he would
wound up buying was a simple coi pond in the backyard.
I just loved the serenity of it, he remembers. Twenty
years later, Mark and his partner Jarrett ak have taken

(13:23):
that serenity and expanded upon it, creating idyllic retreat for
themselves and their little family of fish. The project required
Mark to dive deep into the world of aquatic gardening
with help from pond supply stores. The poguy dot com

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is a favorite. He learned the essentials of maintenance, vigilantly
removing leaves, laying netting to protect koi from predators, and
placing a floating heater in the water each winter to
get the koi through des moines frigid temperatures. Over the years,
the couple have also transformed the pond into a central

(14:08):
design feature of their quarter acre backyard. We like the
modern rectangular shape of the pond, but we also wanted
to soften it a bit with plants. To that end,
they planted a mass of hostas along the top of
the retaining wall and bring in a mix of aquatic

(14:29):
and tropical plants each spring. They also use a section
of the same retaining wall above to create a small
waterfall into the pond. While the plants are removed and
the waterfall is turned off in winter, the pond is
the center of all action. The rest of the year.

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The koi, swim, birds, bathes, and frogs hop amid the water,
while Jared and Mark sit back and enjoy the oasis
they've created. The couple have made efforts to support all
kinds of creatures throughout their garden. Here's how they earn

(15:11):
designation as a certified Wildlife habitat by the National Wildlife
Federation and how you can to the pond's plants create
spots for frogs to lay their eggs and dragonflies to land.
On a smaller scale, you can encourage wildlife to get

(15:32):
cozy and raise their young in a nesting box or
a toad house. To earn certification as a wildlife habitat,
seventy percent of a garden's plants need to be native,
which support pollinators and local insects. Mark achieved this by

(15:52):
replacing the lawn beyond the pond with native plants like
blazing star, butterflyweed and Culver's root. It's just not that
the koi that benefit from the pond. Local birds use
it as a bathing and drinking spot. Adding a bird

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bath or container water garden can be equally beneficial. Just
be sure to change outstanding water often to prevent mosquitoes
and a pond care one oh one. Mark shares his
tips for keeping the pond pristine year round. Number one,

(16:36):
Keep it clean. A pump that recycles and filter's water
is vital to the health of a pond. Mark cleans
their filter every other week to keep it in prime condition.
Because the pond is underneath some large trees, those shade

(16:57):
the fish prefer leaf from has also been an important shore.
Too many leaves can clog upon's filter and even suffocate
your fish. Mark says fight algae. While a sunnish spot
will stimulate faster algae growth than a shady one. Any

(17:19):
aquatic gardener needs to keep aljae in check. Marcus found
success placing a barley straw bail in the water, which
releases compounds that naturally prevent aljae growth. He also regularly
adds a fish safe enzyme called ponzyme to the water

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to remove decating algae, and in spring he deals with
any algae that has built up by applying algaecide and
adding a heavier dose of enzymes. To prep for winter, Yes,
koi can survive even a frigid winter with the right care.

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A pond should be at least two feet deep so
it doesn't freeze solid, with a pond heater to ensure
an area of open water for the fish to get oxygen.
It's also important to stop feeding coy in winter since
their slowing metabolism makes them unable to digest food. Practice

(18:26):
crowd control, fish need personal space two for a happy
coi as well as a clean pond. The general rule
of thumb is to keep one adult coi per two
hundred and fifty gallons of water. Jared and Mark have
three large coy in their pond, which measures thirteen by

(18:50):
five feet, and to protect from predators. After being devastated
by the loss of several fish to a mink years ago,
Mark and Jared learn that a loose but sturdy net
over the pond keeps their coisafe from predators, with the

(19:11):
added bonus of keeping leaves off the surface of the water.
They also think larger fish are less enticing prey than
smaller ones. Mark and Jared fill their pond with plants
that add beauty, help clean the water, and provide shade

(19:31):
for fish. Water hyacinths, water lettuce and water lilies planted
in a pot submerged underwater float on the surface. Purple pickerel, rush,
sweet flag invariegated water celery grow in shallow water along
the pond's edges. Next the new health drinks on the

(20:00):
beverage menu more energy better mood, happier gut. Many drinks
claim to offer health benefits in addition to quenching your thirst,
but do they deliver gut improving sodas? What are they?
Brands like oly Pop and Poppy offer carbonated drinks and

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flavors like cream soda and root beer that contain prebiotics,
a form of fiber that feeds the good bacteria in
your digestive track. What to know. Prebiotics help balance your
gut microbiome, and experts say these sodas can help up
your intake. Most women should get twenty five grams of

(20:48):
fiber per day, but less than ten percent of Americans
meet thats as Hannah Holscher, phdrd, Associate Professor of Nutrition
at the University of the l Annoy or Bana Champagne,
So why we nutritious are always going to prioritize getting
prebiotics from plant based foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts,

(21:12):
and lagomes since they also contained vitamins and minerals. These
sodas can help you bridge that fiber gap. A canna
Oli pop, for example, contains nine grams of fiber, more
than a third of your daily needs. If you're a
regular soda drinker, these can also be a good alternative

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since they lower in calories and sugar. Fast food energy
drinks what are they? Duncan, Sonic and Starbucks now offer
caffeinated beverages in addition to the usual coffee and tea.
What to know These can be fine for some people

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and not so fine for others. With caffeine more as
not always better, too much can cause a racing hard
and anxiety, among other health issues. According to the FDA,
adults should stick to the max of four hundred milligrams
of caffeine daily, and teens twelve to eighteen shouldn't go

(22:20):
over one hundred. Some of these drinks have a large
portion of that daily limit. For example, the Vente Tropical
Citrus iced energy drink at Starbucks has two hundred and
five milligrams of caffeine and the Large Duncan Energy Drink

(22:41):
has one ninety two. These are over the advisable amounts
for teens, but they can fit into adult daily caffeine max.
If you want one of these drinks, factor their caffeine
into your daily intake. Also a good idea to ask
your doc about how much caffeine is okay for you?

(23:07):
And finally, stress relieving beverages what are they? With Ingredients
known as adaptagens, herbs like Gensen and ashwaganda and calming nutrients.
Fizzy drinks and infused waters from brands like Recess Mood
and Moment claim to help you relax. What to know.

(23:33):
Adaptogens are herbs that have been used in traditional Chinese medicine,
which are tauted to help the body cope with stressors.
The research isn't strong on their benefits, and some may
interact with medications or exacerbate health conditions. So read exactly

(23:54):
what's in the drink and check with a health professional
to ensure that it's safe for you. There isn't enough
data to show if these drinks make a difference. Next,
Pet Safety, Protect your pet. It's National Pet Preparedness Months.

(24:16):
Let this be a reminder to get yourself and your
furry family members ready should disaster strike. For fire, If
there's a wildfire and you need to evacuate, your pets
should go with you. This means creating a plan with
potential places to shelter that will take pets. You can't

(24:36):
guarantee all evacuation sites will accept animals, so research now.
If the fire is in your house, however, don't go
back in to grab your pet. As difficult as this is,
said Susan Anderson, Senior Director of Disaster Response at the
American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Consider

(25:00):
adding a pet alert decal to a window so first
responders know of the pets in your home. Never let
your pet near damaged property after a fire and if
air quality is poor, limit time outside and and for

(25:21):
a tornado, if you need to take cover based on
whether alerts and warnings your pet does too. Go to
the lowest level of your home in a room with
no windows. Keep in mind that after the storm, your
pet may experience stress, fear, and disorientation. Familiar sins and

(25:43):
landmarks may have changed. Keep pets away from damaged to
electrical wires and trees, and look for debry on the
ground that could be a hazard. Also, be aware that
wildlife may have taken shelter in your home for hurricane
or flooding. If local officials issue evacuation orders, follow the

(26:07):
same protocol as for a fire. Never tether plans to
a pole, pets to a pole, or a tree or
anything that would prevent them from getting to a safe area.
If you can't evacuate and there's risk of flooding, go
to the highest level of your house after a hurricane

(26:29):
or flood. Don't let your pets drink standing water, it
can be contaminated. For an earthquake, Unlike natural disasters, earthquakes
often happen without warning. It's important to have large furniture
anchored to walls to protect people and animals from falling objects.

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For any disaster, but especially for earthquakes, identify places of
your home where your pet might hide when scared, and
always make sure the pets are microchipped and the info
is up to date. For extreme temperature, if you don't
want to be outside, your pets shouldn't be either in

(27:14):
the cold. Put jackets on small or short haired pets.
In the heat, test walking surfaces with your hands. If
it's too hot for you, it's too hot for them.
Treat an overheated pet with cooling packs or cold water
on the head or armpits. This concludes Women's World for today.

(27:38):
Your reader has been Rosemary. If you have any questions, comments,
or suggestions about this program, please call us at our
Lexington Studios at eight five nine four two two six
three nine zero. Thank you for listening and please stay
tuned for continued programming here on Radio I