Narrator> "Making It Grow" is brought to you in part by Certified South Carolina.

This cooperative effort among farmers, retailers and the South Carolina Department of Agriculture helps consumers identify foods and agricultural products that are grown, harvested or raised right here in the Palmetto State.

McLeod Farms in McBee, South Carolina, family owned and operated since 1916.

This family farm offers seasonal produce, including over 40 varieties of peaches.

Wesley Commons, a full service continuing care retirement community located on more than 150 wooded acres in Greenwood, South Carolina.

Additional funding provided by the South Carolina Farm Bureau Federation and Farm Bureau Insurance and Boone Hall Farms.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Amanda McNulty> Well, good evening and welcome to "Making It Grow".

We sure are happy you could be with us tonight.

I'm Amanda McNulty, and I'm a Clemson horticulture agent.

And I'm here with my good friend and co-host Terasa Lott, who is also a Clemson employee, who's, kind of looking over the Midlands district, I think.

Terasa> That's right.

I supervise nine county extension offices from Lancaster down to kind of Orangeburg and around to Richland and Lexington.

But my job is not the important job.

It's all of our extension agents, like "Abi", that do the hard work, and get the research based information from the university and deliver it to folks like our viewers.

Amanda> Okay.

Well, I think they do a wonderful job, and I don't.

I don't think you do anything to impede their ability.

I think you encourage them with and every step.

Terasa> I try.

Amanda> Yeah, I know, you do.

Well, Abigail Taylor, you're the urban horticulture agent up in Chester, Lancaster and York, and I think you're a new person on the job.

Abigail> I am.

I graduated this past May, and I started working probably three days after I graduated over in York County.

So.

Amanda> But you had spent some time with Corey Tanner, who's the head of the hort team.

So you were used to having hearing what people called in about and all.

Abigail> Yeah, I helped I oversaw the Master Gardener class a little bit, and I helped with some blog posts and some fact sheets.

So it wasn't all new.

Amanda> Okay, okay.

You liking it?

Abigail> I am.

It's been really great.

Amanda> Okay.

I'm delighted.

It's fun.

Yeah.

All righty.

And Andy Cabe is the director of horticulture at Riverbanks Zoo and Garden.

And, y'all every time you turn around, you'll have something new to do.

And you, many, lots of work and not as many hands.

Y'all are busy, busy people over there.

>> Yeah, we've got a lot going on, Amanda.

We've got some new things coming up, over the next few years.

Some exciting things.

One pretty new, exciting thing is the Saluda Sky ride that will be opening very, very soon.

It's an aerial gondola that will take you from the zoo to the garden and back and forth.

Takes you over the Saluda River, so it'll be a nice scenic ride.

Amanda> Over the river.

Andy> It'll cut, cut down a little bit on people waiting on trams and things like that to get from point A to point B. Amanda> And you're planning some areas too, aren't you?

Andy> Yeah.

We're actually under, under the gondola area where we've cleared for the gondolas.

<Oh!> We're actually doing pollinator plantings.

We're trying to create a pollinator habitat.

So it should be really amazing.

We're looking forward to the spring and summer next year to see how it's get how it's gotten started.

Amanda> Well, if you wanted to see the pollinators in action, can you walk and see them?

Or do you have to just be on the gondolas?

Andy> No.

You'll be able to see see some of that from the bridge.

You won't be able to actually get up close to this area, but you will be able to see it from a distance.

If it works out well, you'll be able to see it from I-126, probably coming into town.

Yeah, so.

Amanda> Okay.

Andy> So yeah, we're really excited about it.

We'll have a couple of years till it's to the planting is fully grown in, but it should start looking like something in the spring.

Amanda> Wonderful.

Gosh, y'all are busy bees, I tell you.

Goodness, goodness, goodness.

Well, we're going down to Microledon Farms in Conway, and we had a really good time there and then Terasa, I think you had a talk with somebody.

Terasa> I sure did, in the Gilbert area.

And we learned about how to perform a tree health assessment from a certified arborist.

Amanda> And apparently, he grew up watching the show, which is kind of fun to hear.

Terasa> A big fan of the show.

Yes.

Amanda> Yeah.

Okay, great.

Well, we'll be happy to see that, And then I think we have some gardens of the week.

Anybody send anything this time?

Terasa> We do.

And, you know, this time of the year, I feel like it could be a little more difficult to find things ...that look nice, but our viewers came through, you always show off parts of your yard, your garden, maybe indoor plants or beautiful places in the state.

Amanda> That's true.

It doesn't have to be, at your house.

It can be something you saw that was just spectacular.

Terasa> Sure, sometimes people visit some special events and share photos of those as well.

Yes.

So first we have James Todd who shared Plumbago.

And if you look closely, you'll see it is being visited by a bee.

From Patty Martin, the Limelight hydrangeas, she said, are really showing off this year in West Columbia.

From Jennifer Ard, it looks like, Dipladenia So that's similar to Mandavilla, but it has a more shrub like growth habit.

Theresa Goewey shared the first figs of the season from her husband's grandmother's tree, and she said his grandmother, Mattie Wimberly Kellett, was the aunt of your husband?

Amanda> Yes.

Terasa> What a small world, huh?

Amanda> Well, she, I remember the old house we lived in, Blanche, Inez and Mattie, had written their names in chalk on one of the, sills of the house, and I had to go under it, when it was so cold and cut the, drain the house every night, and then cut the water back on in the mornings.

So, I saw that all the time.

That's fascinating.

That's right.

Terasa> Brings back memories.

Amanda> Yes.

Terasa> From Becky Spears.

We have purple cone flower that is thriving in the upstate.

And last but not least, Norma Clayton shared a perennial bed beside her front steps.

Again, we always appreciate the photos that you share with us.

Remember, this is just a ram...random sample of what has been shared.

Anytime you see us make a post for "Gardens of the Week", you're welcome to put your photos right there in the comments and they may just appear on air.

Amanda> Yeah, we do appreciate people doing that.

And the nice thing is you have the rest of your yard could be a mess.

But if you got one thing that's great, you could just send the picture of that.

Terasa> That's right.

Take a nice close up.

Amanda> I'm sure all of their yards are perfectly lovely and tidy in every way.

Okay, well, let's see what we can do to help some people with some questions.

Terasa> Well, I'm hoping, you know, Andy always brings such amazing things.

So we're going to start off with a pretty show, and tell.

Amanda> That's always fun.

Andy> All right.

Amanda> Ooh, goodness.

Terasa> Look at that.

Andy> All right.

Trying to see behind it.

All right.

So this is a pitcher plant.

We actually have a number of different pitcher plants.

Amanda> If we could turn it a little bit, maybe we could see the underneath of the underside of the flower.

Other way up towards me.

There you go.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Andy> All right.

Amanda> Okay.

Andy> All right.

So, yeah, this is a pitcher plant.

Pitcher plants are carnivorous plants.

We actually have a number of species that are native to South Carolina.

<Yes.> This is actually a hybrid.

This is one called Dixie Lace.

So, the hybrids have become pretty popular.

People have been hybridizing them, getting, you know, new coloration on the pitchers.

You know, certain species have this venation on the pitchers.

Amanda> I see the lace... Andy> So they're, they're breeding trying to breed that to get those veins in there.

So not only, is it, you know, does it attract insects and catch insects, but it's a beautiful ornamental garden plant and lots of people.

So I'm going to do.. Amanda> And they're hardy.

Andy> They're perfectly hardy.

So this is one of the pitchers.

<Yes> I pulled it off.

And this is actually a modified leaf.

Yeah.

So people think it's so ornate looking, lots of times you might just go, oh, yeah, that's a weird looking flower.

But over here, these are actually the flowers.

They flower in the spring- Amanda>and they're interesting about how they get pollinated, too.

Andy>-the flowers, the way they nod down, super interesting too.

So we grow a lot of pitcher plants in our bog garden area.

And they're great for kids.

Kids love carnivorous plants.

They love the thought of plants eating something.

Lots of times, I'll open up the pitcher Amanda> And see what's in there.

Andy>...and see what's in there.

The kids love that.

Amanda> One time, it was fire ants, you said.

Andy> Yes.

Yes, Amanda> Not what you wanted.

Andy> No, I did that on live news one time and it had fire ants in it and it wasn't pleasant.

Amanda> Let's see who's in this.

Andy> All right.

I'll maintain composure.

<Okay> Normally I have my pruners or a knife or something, but let's see here what we got down in here.

Amanda> It may have not eaten.

Andy> Oh, now we got something.

Amanda> Oh.

We do?

Andy> There's something.

I'm not sure what it is, Amanda> but because it's been partially...digested Andy> Yeah, it's been digested, Amanda> -but chopped up.

Andy> I think some of that used to be some insect in there.

Amanda> How about that.

Isn't that fun?

Andy> Yeah.

So there are these little hairs in there in the pitchers that when the insect goes down in there, the hairs are pointing down and they can't get back out of there.

So no.

Good for the pitcher plant, bad for the insect.

Amanda> And it's fascinating, people think, you know, that they have to get all the nourishment, but I think the soils they grow in that are damp, it's very difficult to get nitrogen out- Andy> Yeah, they it's so poor, such poor soil.

So they get nitrogen and other minerals from, from the insect and it dissolves in there and they absorb it that way, Amanda> but they photosynthesize plenty too.

<Yep> Okay.

Amanda>And it's nice that people now are being very careful not to collect them in the wild, <Yeah.> not to get them from- Andy> That's been a huge problem with carnivorous plants.

They're so interesting.

People will see them in the wild.

They'll dig them up, want to bring them home, plant them in their yard, or people will dig up a whole bunch and try to sell them.

Luckily, there are a lot that are sustainably grown now, sustainably propagated, and so there's no reason to go harvest from the wild anymore.

Amanda> Yes.

Do not do it.

Yeah.

Okay.

Well, I'm glad you brought that beauty in to share with us.

Andy> My pleasure.

Amanda> Whew!

Well, Terasa!

Terasa> Now we'll try a question.

This one is from Paul in Lancaster, who shared a photo and asked, What are these white bugs on my crape myrtle?

Amanda> Oh my goodness.

Well, Abigail, what are those white bugs on the crape myrtle?

Or insects, maybe?

Abigail> Yeah, you might look at these and be like, oh, they kind of look like mealybugs because these do kind of appear like mealybugs.

It's actually crape myrtle bark scale, which is another scale insect that is, it looks just like it.

And they perform kind of the same way, but they're going to nest in those like parts of the bark of the crape myrtle, like the branch collar where it's been pruned.

And they will, release, honeydew all the time.

And this can exacerbate sooty mold and will hurt the crape myrtle even further.

A lot of these times, you're going to want to prevent this by just keeping the crape myrtle healthy in the first place, making sure that there's proper air circulation and you're pruning everything correctly.

Don't talk to crape myrtle in the springtime because that will ruin it's disease resistance.

But they're, it's crape myrtle bark scale.

There's some chemical treatments you can do, but normally it's best to probably just prevent this from happening in the beginning.

Amanda> Well, I wish that it were true that, that topping them, I mean, topping them doesn't seem to hurt them, although people sadly people still seem to do it all the time.

I see ones that are topped all the time and they're they've they're pitiful looking, but, they seem to be healthy.

Bless their hearts.

(laughs) Oh goodness.

Okay.

Well, thanks.

<Yeah> Terasa> Ready for another question?

<Yes> Terasa> This one comes in from Glen in Columbia.

And he said, what is going on with all the Century plants around Columbia?

I've seen a bunch of them, and they look like they might be blooming.

Amanda> Aha!

Okay, Andy, what's going on around Columbia?

Andy> They are indeed blooming.

And I have seen a lot blooming around Columbia this year, Amanda> There's one blooming in Saint Matthews.

Andy> There's one blooming, on the road, going through the neighborhood on the way to my office.

<Come on> I've got two blooming in the parking lot at work.

So it's not.

It's not rare to see a Century Plant bloom.

I think it's a little unusual to see this many blooming at one time.

Amanda> Maybe it's because of the synchronous fireflies.

Andy> There you go, but, but, you know, Century Plant is given the name Century Plant because the old adage was it took a hundred years to bloom.

That's not true.

You know, 10 or 15 years, probably for a lot of them.

And it's more, I think, of a size and bulk thing on the size of the Century Plant, which it reads as blooming size.

But the interesting thing, when it blooms it, the plant will die, but- Terasa> But Andy> But, the plant could, could- you know, a plant's goal is to reproduce.

And so, agaves can reproduce through seed.

Sometimes you will see actually shoots like living plants on the actual flower stalk.

And then it's got all the pups that come out at the base of it.

So it's doing all of these things.

Amanda> It's making darn sure.

Andy> It's making darn sure that it's going to last.

But, you know, it sends up these giant stalks, you know, maybe 20 feet tall.

Sometimes they look like giant asparagus spears, and then they start to branch off and the flowers start to open.

It's a really cool thing to see.

It's disappointing that the plant is going to die, but like we said, there's enough that you can, you know, replant and do small ones.

And I think just having it bloom and that impressive of a bloom is cool enough, you know, to say, all right, well, the plant's going to die.

But I got to see this really cool bloom so, it was worth it.

Amanda> And I don't know if they attract pollinators or not when they bloom.

Has anybody ever looked into that?

Andy> I'm sure it is.

Yeah I haven't - Amanda> I mean I just hadn't looked.

I can't look.

Andy> It's so far up you know.

<Yeah.> Terasa> It reminds me of Jack and the Beanstalk.

I mean, that was supposedly a beanstalk, but that's just what I imagined in my head.

Amanda> We'll have to find out.

That'd be kind of fun to find out, wouldn't it?

Terasa> That would be, Amanda> Because we can't get the ladder out and look.

Yeah.

Now everybody has those drones, I guess, but.

Andy> But, you know, speaking of ladders, that's how.

That's what how people do crosses to create hybrids.

You know, they'll get in the garden, some of them with a 15 - 20 foot ladder and little paint brushes or whatever, and taking pollen from one and doing it to the other.

I mean, it's a, it's a real thing.

(Amanda laughs) Amanda> People certainly, enjoy reproduction, don't they?

Andy> They do.

(Amanda laughs) Amanda> Well, on that one, we'll, we'll segue.

Come on down to Conway and seeing Microledon Farm.

We had a real good time down there.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Amanda> We're in Conway, South Carolina, and I'm talking to Oscar Chavez.

And we are at Microledon Farm.

That's kind of a strange name for a farm.

Where does that come from?

Oscar Chavez> Sure is.

You know, if it keeps you guessing what our name is, that's always a good thing.

But, micro is from our scale, so we're a small scale farm, so micro and then -leadon comes from the word cotyledon because, you know, as you know, with the plant, the cotyledon is that first leaf that come out of the soil wants to seed germinates.

And then after that it evolves into what you find, well everybody's familiar with.

Right.

So that's kind of how our farm started.

Amanda> And, you didn't have a background in agriculture, but you had a background in marketing, I believe.

Oscar> Right.

So I didn't grow up in a farm, environment.

You know, it was in the DNA, though.

My grandparents and my mom, they all grew up, and dad.

But I never got a taste of that.

So for me, you know, growing up in Miami, it was a little different.

So I decided marketing was, the was the way to go for me.

So I went to college for marketing, got a marketing degree, and I wasn't even thinking farming at the time.

But, you know, it's funny how you know, God has a way of shifting your, your goals and your visions.

Amanda> And your wife has a candle shop here.

I believe in Myrtle Beach.

And so, y'all were kind of looking around, what can we do here?

And you've come up with a very interesting way of growing plants on a small scale and marketing them very specifically, I believe.

Oscar> Yes.

So everything for us, because we were such a small scale, it had to make sense to be profitable, to be able to expand the farm.

So we do a lot of, tight plantings.

We don't have a riding tractor of any kind.

So our beds are designed around human skin.

And so like in something like our high tunnel here, we'll use certain hand tools to make the process, you know, easier for us.

I mean, I can't say easier.

There's still a lot of work involved.

<Yes> Oscar> But it's for our scale.

We can move around better in here.

Amanda> There's a lot of lettuce.

And I didn't know you could grow lettuce year round, but you managed to do it.

Oscar> It is very tricky.

But yes, you can, with the right selections of varieties and certain techniques to keep them cool, because that's the main thing in this area.

It gets pretty hot and humid.

So proper irrigation is always, it's nice to keep them cool.

Amanda> And a quick turnaround, Oscar> and a quick turnaround.

So you know you're looking at anywhere from 60 days.

You know, some could be even shorter than that at 50 days.

Amanda> And we're down here where they're just lots and lots of restaurants and lots of people who are interested in food.

And so you've got ways to reach a lot of those people.

Let's talk, first of all, I think the restaurant business is a large part, and they particularly like microgreens, I believe.

Oscar> So when we started, because that's the majority of what we focus on, because we could do it indoors when we didn't have a farm.

So we started with microgreens, growing them on a vertical system.

So, we supplied restaurants in the area, and, I about, knocked on the door for six months, bugging the heck out of the guy until they finally said, okay, fine, grow this for this and this.

And so they gave us a try.

Amanda> And, it was so fun to be in there because I got to taste all kinds of things.

You let me taste one that was like cantaloupe.

And I got this wonderful kind of undertone of cantaloupe.

And then what was that pink thing?

That was the strangest thing I've ever seen.

Oscar> So the cantaloupe is very nice.

It's very refreshing.

It has that note of cantaloupe, but it's not sweet.

But people are always taken aback by that one.

Now, the pink one that you're talking about is the garnet amaranth.

It's beautiful, you guys.

Fuchsia color, super bright pops on a plate.

It really is impressive to, to just look at.

But even the flavors are nice too.

Amanda> And then you've got the regular things like basil and, you know, you know, cilantro and all those things.

But, but when the harvested so young, they, the flavors are often less pronounced and easier for people to adjust to, I believe.

Oscar> You know, it's funny.

Some, yes.

And then some are the opposite.

<Ah!> Yes.

So, like, for instance, broccoli.

Broccoli is super, super good for you, right?

<Sure> It's a, it's full of sulforaphane which is very high.

Very high.

And the problem is that people cook it out.

So with the microgreens you're eating it raw, but it doesn't have that strong flavor that you find with when you have the full size and you're cooking it.

<Ah!> So a lot of people tend to, you know, gravitate towards the micro because it's easier for them to consume it.

And then, then going to others like the cilantro, now that, the flavors are right there.

<Yeah.> The explosion in your mouth, it's, it's such a small footprint.

Amanda> And because of the different selections, it's so decorative for the restaurant for the chef to use on the plates, I think.

Oscar> Absolutely.

So, so they use it on top of these dishes.

But our goal is not like overshadow the creation that they're doing.

But we like to highlight the dish and bring out certain accents of flavors.

And that's what people are capable of achieving.

Amanda> And then also, you do sometimes make those available to people also, I believe.

Oscar> Oh, absolutely.

So not only do we supply to restaurants in the area, but we're also supplying at our local farmers' market for our community.

So, we do two farmers' markets and, and there are some times where people just can't make it to the market.

So we started offering a CSA program where we had farm shares or farm subscribers that will go ahead and get delivery sent to them either once a week or every other week.

right to their home, or they can pick up at some of our local drop offs, too.

Amanda> And you also, make an effort to encourage people to come out and learn how to do things I believe.

Oscar> Absolutely.

So we do encourage, you know, groups to come out and take a look at what we're doing because it is different.

It's not the conventional way of farming that most people are used to with tractors.

Amanda> But this is something people can do on such a limited amount of space.

Oscar> You can do it in your home garden too.

Absolutely.

So that's the beauty of what we do here.

You know, obviously, you know, we grow a specific set of crops to make it profitable for our farm.

We're really trying to be more of a niche kind of a boutique farm.

So when we work with our chefs, which really excites me because I feed off this energy just like they do.

And so we, we really are more of a custom grower.

Amanda> I was happy to come and see you had cherry tomatoes.

It's so hard to grow other kinds of tomatoes and you've got a fascinating collection of these.

Things I'd never seen.

Oscar> We really, pride ourselves on having different colors so that things pop out and it looks desirable to eat, you know, because I have two little ones, too.

And so for me, anything fun and interesting for them is going to help them eat their veggies.

So we like to do the same for our chefs too.

Amanda> What was that fun one that you let me taste when I came in?

Oscar> So that was the indigo cherry.

So the indigo cherry is a purple tomato with a little bit of red.

Once it starts blushing, it's really pretty.

Amanda> Gosh, I've just been having the best time.

Also, I'll tell you who else is having a great time, the pollinators.

Boy, they are in absolute pollinator heaven.

Oscar> Absolutely.

Like if you were just to stop and just, just listen, you can hear the buzzing going on, on the farm.

It's fantastic.

And it's funny because I get a lot of people to ask me, hey, do you ever think about getting bees out here?

I said, I do have bees out here.

I have tons of bees out here.

Amanda> Yes, you do.

Oscar> And it's because of the diversity too, that we're doing.

We're not just doing lettuce, we're also doing edible flowers.

So the flowers are a very big draw for these little guys.

<Yeah> but we are looking to do more installments of other pollinating areas too.

So, because we really are trying to be more of a regenerative farm, as well, Amanda> And the edible flowers are so much fun.

They taste good.

(laughs) And they're so pretty.

Oscar> You know, I never knew that you could eat a flower when I first started this, until I started doing more research.

And it's amazing some of the things that you can, you could eat these days.

There's a beautiful flower that we grow, once the summer starts coming in.

It'll be producing more, but it's called the butterfly pea.

<Whoa.> Oscar> Yes.

And it's very pretty.

It's a royal blue flower.

It's actually used in some countries as a form of a food dye.

So like in Thailand, they'll cook rice with it and it makes the rice blue.

Amanda> Come on.

Oscar> Oh, yeah.

If you had a little bit of an acid to it, like it could be citrus or it could be like, any type of acid, really, it'll actually turn it into like a lavender pink.

Amanda> Gosh.

You're having a great time learning all this stuff.

Oscar> I feel, I feel like a little scientist here working in my lab.

Amanda> And I think recently y'all have decided that, you're going to cook for people out here?

Oscar> Yes.

We've, we've decided to jump off the deep end on the pool on that one.

So, we started with one dinner that we did in collaboration with a local restaurant called Tasting Room.

<Of course> And so after that, it gave us the, well, the encouragement to know that we could do something like this and plus it really it really drove home to our, our original goal was to bring the community here, so they could see where their food is being grown.

And actually also because we're collaborating with chefs that we supply to it gives them a chance to connect, as well, on a deeper level around food.

Amanda> And I think that's one of the reasons that you like to go in person to as many things as possible, so that people will feel comfortable if they want to learn more.

Oscar> Absolutely.

And so, you know, we want to take the farm to them as much as we can, but it's hard to do that when you have so much going on here that we can't just rip out of the ground.

Right.

So, the next goal is to be able to bring, you know, young kids out here and bring the school the local elementary school to bring them out here so they can learn about the different methods of growing.

But, you know, in the meantime, till that happens, we are out at the farmers' markets and we're educating customers <Yeah> on what we do and the different types of produce that we have.

Amanda> And our, and families come to farmers markets.

So you get to meet all those people.

Oscar> So I get to watch the little ones grow up.

It's been, it's been beautiful.

We've been, working with farmers' markets for the last six years now.

And so I've watched kids from stroller to six years old, and it's been really a very, very gratifying to watch that Amanda> So many people come now and don't know their neighbors.

And so one of the things you're trying to do is help people learn to know their neighbors.

And I think you've got a fun neighbor that you've now started collaborating with.

Oscar> I like to say they're my adopted parents because everybody thinks they are...

They always say, "Where are your parents?"

So, you're doing the same with me, right?

But, they ask me where my parents are.

But anyways, So.

Yes.

So John and Cindy have been, very sweet.

Our family's down in, in Florida, so we don't get to see them too much.

We don't have any family here, So they gravitated towards us.

We gravitated towards them.

John works here on the farm, and his wife just retired and said, hey, you know what?

I'd like to grow some flowers.

And I was like, well, we can't do it here right now, but hey, why don't we get you set up.

So, literally right around the corner from me is a beautiful flower farm where John and Cindy operate.

And they supply to the farmers market through our farm.

So it's been, it's been beautiful to watch them grow too.

And it just, it's, it's nice to see the love grow in her heart too, every time she's out in the fields.

Amanda> And I think also, they're wonderful substitute grandparents for these two little boys who are running around here.

Oscar> They sure are.

I'm very grateful.

I thank God every day that I have them in my life.

Amanda> And so, if people want to get in touch with you and learn more about this, what's the best way to do that?

Oscar> Well, you can follow us on all the social pages, just like, you know, Instagram, Facebook.

You can also go to our website at www.microledonfarm.com.

And of course you can give me a call.

My information's on there.

I'm, I'm the one that answers the phone, So feel free to call any questions you have.

Amanda> We've had a wonderful time.

I think you've got some kind of weird flower that I might taste.

Oscar> I do, I do got something for you.

Amanda> Tell me about this flower.

It's not.

Most of the edible flowers are very easy to, to, to taste and eat.

Oscar> Oh, absolutely.

Yeah.

They all have their different flavors, like the Bulrush plant that's next to you there that tastes like a cucumber, for instance.

Right?

Well, I have this one particular plant that's called the, the, scientific name is Spilanthes, but it also goes by two other names, too.

So it's got the toothache plant, and buzz button.

(Amanda laughs) Amanda> So, it actually looks like a little gumdrop, a little buzz drop.

And so this is the, this is the plant right here.

<Okay.> So now the neat thing about this and I will, I will say, try a little bit.

Amanda> Oh.

Don't pop the whole thing in my mouth?

Oscar> Don't pop the whole thing in your mouth.

I mean, you can, but just so you know, it's, it's got a very unique characteristic about it.

Amanda> Okay.

♪ Whoa.

Whew!

My tongue is just tingling away.

All kinds of crazy stuff is going on.

So woo, woo, woo, woo.

Oscar> It's very citrusy.

Yeah, it's very citrusy, at first.

And then slowly, what it ends up doing is it starts to numb the mouth.

Amanda> Ah!

What fun!

Oscar> Oh it is.

<Yeah.> So some of the bartenders that we supply, they'll use this in certain cocktails, just a little bit, right, you know, just enough to accent a drink or anything like that or, or just to accent a meal, but it's very beneficial, as well.

I mean, you can also, put it in your teas.

It's high in antioxidants.

Very interesting, isn't it?

(Amanda laughs) Amanda> It's great fun.

Everything's been such a, such a delight.

Thanks again.

Oscar> You're welcome.

Thank you for coming.

♪ ♪ Amanda> I came home with a lot of fun little containers of microgreens and put them in salads.

And honestly, it's tasty.

Yeah.

And apparently, like the broccoli, when if you have to eat a whole spear of broccoli to get the same amount of nutrients that you'd get out of, like just a couple of tablespoons of the broccoli microgreens.

So, it's a good way to get broccoli down your children, right?

Terasa> It can be produced a lot faster than having to wait for the head to... Amanda> Probably, with a great deal more ease in the summertime.

Yeah.

Okay.

Well, hats, hats, hats So, I have some, vitex and, I got some of the, ones that have past blooming and are setting seeds, which I think is kind of interesting and vitex is just fascinating That's the blue flower.

And they smell wonderful.

And I probably told y'all all this before, but, people used to put their laundry on them.

Edward's mama used to do that to give the laundry an interesting smell, and I know it's not a native but gosh, I'm just going to talk about pollinator magnet.

Vitex really, really, really is.

It doesn't have any problems.

Kind of a cool plant.

Terasa> Our viewers might know it as Chase, Chase tree.

Amanda> Thank you.

Yes.

Yeah, yeah.

I think it was supposed to, if you something, it would, you know, prevent, you know, teenagers from doing what teenagers shouldn't do if you did some kind of concoction with it, made a tea or something perhaps, instead of iced tea.

Terasa> It reminds me a little bit of lilac and, you know, lilacs, most of them don't do so well here.

But did very well back home in New York.

Amanda> Where you're from.

Yeah.

Terasa> So whenever I see them I'm like, oh, that reminds me of home.

Amanda> Yeah, yeah.

But anyway, and then I've got, some pencil cactus, but it's not a cactus.

Tell me what it was.

Andy> It's in the Euphorbia.

Amanda> Yeah.

And you warned me that it was going to drip some sap.

Andy> Yeah, It'll drip some sap on your hair, but you know, Amanda> It's not.

Yeah, no big deal.

I used to put you know, china berries in my hair.

Anyway.

And, then, I've also got some Gomphrena and, in Flat Rock, they had a bridge that would have been abandoned, and the Master gardeners up there had, made it into a flower garden, and they had a discard pile, and you could get some from and Ann, Hank and Ann, where all my things came from.

She got a piece from the discard, discard pile, and now she has it all over her yard.

And it's just wonderful.

Isn't that fun?

Terasa> Today, it must be literary day because I talked about Jack and the Beanstalk, but that reminds me of something you'd see in Dr. Seuss, right?

Like the little puffy... Amanda> It does, doesn't it?

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

What fun stories that he had, You know...

Anyway, so there you go.

Well, let's see where we are now.

Okay.

I guess we're trying to help some people Terasa.

Terasa> I think so let's see if we can help.

Vivian in Chester, she said, can you tell me what's wrong with our weeping cherry?

It looks sick with holes in the leaves.

And we do have a photo to accompany that.

Amanda> Oh, goodness.

A weeping cherry.

Goodness gracious.

It sounds like it'd be pretty when it was in good shape and flowered.

What's happening to this one?

Is it going to recover?

Abigail Taylor> So I would not think it's going to recover.

In this picture, when you have those little holes, it looks like cherry slot hole disease.

It's pretty characteristic to have.

It kind of looks like you took a B-B gun and like shot through the leaves on the cherry.

Amanda> Yeah?

Abigail> Yeah.

It's normally caused by a fungus.

And, you will prevent this by again, just taking good care of the cherry tree.

With a weeping cherry like this, you can have a lot of crossing branches.

You want to make sure that you prune it correctly.

Amanda> That can help with airflow.

<Abigail> Yeah.

the airflow's going to prevent a lot of the bacteria and fungus.

Amanda> And I'm sure just the environmental conditions too.

Yeah.

You know, wet you know, humid, you know, time that can make it worse.

Okay.

So not the end of the world, Amanda> No, not the end.

Well, okay.

Ought to flower next year, just fine.

Because it had hopefully plenty of time to photosynthesize.

Yeah, we hope so.

<We hope so> Yeah.

Okay.

Well, thank you so much, Andy.

What you got for us?

Andy> All right.

So right here is our perennial plant of the year for 2025.

The Perennial Plant Association comes up with a- Amanda> And it should be.

Andy> with a perennial plant every year.

This is Mountain Mint.

<Yeah.> Mountain Mint is a native.

The one thing I will say it is very aggressive.

Amanda> It will happily do its business.

Andy> It will cover.

It will cover a space very nicely.

Amanda> Put it over here between us, if you don't mind.

Andy> All right.

Yeah.

Amanda> And they're so more different, varieties.

Andy> I mean, yeah, this is Pycnanthemum Muticum.

It's a pretty common one, but you can smell it, can't you?

Amanda> Golly, Pete.

What fun.

Andy> So.

But, the bees.

It's a great pollinator plant.

The bees absolutely love it.

Now, you guys, you grow, you've grown some of this, right?

You said y'all just planted some.

Abigail> We just planted some outside our office.

I've noticed a lot of wasps, too, really going towards it, and it did grow very vigorously.

We put it in a raised bed so that it wouldn't overtake everything, but gave it some limitations.

Andy> Yes.

Yeah.

So I mean, raised bed or a container, or maybe you have a spot where you just- Amanda> You can bury a container in the soil.

Andy> Yeah.

You could do all sorts of things.

Yeah.

But if you're really encouraging trying to encourage pollinators, this is a great one.

A little goes a long way.

So if you want to take over a big space, you don't need a whole lot of plants.

If you're looking to cover, you know, cover a barren area, this is a good way to do it, but Mountain Mint.

Amanda> and it doesn't just grow in the mountains.

It's, you have them everywhere.

Andy> No.

It grows, I think, from Florida all the way up the East coast, pretty much, maybe even Texas and, you know, places like that.

But you know, I see it lots of times, you know, in the mountains of North Carolina, you'll see it growing.

And it just, it's a nice roadside plant.

It's pretty easy to spot from a distance, but very fragrant and just very interesting looking.

Like I said, the pollinators absolutely love it.

Terasa> It looks like the newer leaves have, sort of a silvery.

Andy> It's definitely has a little hue to it.

Oh, powdery silvery look... Amanda> It's just lovely.

And, Oh, gosh.

Yeah.

And even if you're not a pollinator, the fragrance of the crushed leaves and all, it's just very refreshing.

Don't you think so?

Terasa> It is, I can't remember.

I don't think I have Muticum.

I have one of the Mountain Mints, and scoliid wasps, seem to, to flock to it.

And, that's one that, you know, people really don't need to be worried about.

It's not typically going to be an aggressive wasp.

So I've been out there and just watched them just doing their business.

And they don't seem to even know that I exist.

Andy> You know, I actually had to remove a bee off of one of these flowers this morning.

It was like still sleeping on it.

I said, well, you're not going to go with me.

So I had to help them on to another flower.

Amanda> Okay.

Great fun.

Thank you very, very much.

Well, Terasa?

Terasa> Well, let's see what else we can do.

We're going to move over to York.

Billy wrote us and sent us a picture and said, can you identify these bugs on my muscadines?

Amanda> Oh goodness, goodness, goodness.

There's wonderful things that we can grow in the South.

Not wine grapes, but, Oh, some people, but anyway, they're so wonderfully easy most of the time.

<Yes.> Abigail> On these muscadines, we see some Japanese beetles, which is a big problem, especially in the South.

A lot of people always call the office about how to get rid of them and what they are.

Amanda> Yeah.

Abigail> I have just been knocking them.

We have some muscadines outside the office.

I've just been knocking them off of the plants with the hose, and that seems to help a little bit.

But also, we've tried to encourage a lot of lizards to come outside in the garden, and they've been eating some of the Japanese beetles, which is really great.

Amanda> Have you, have you encouraged lizards?

Abigail> We have a lot of, biodiversity outside, so we have a lot of different kinds of birds.

We just planted a lot of different kinds of plants, some more stuff.

Amanda> And you see the little green nanodes?

Really?

<Yes.> Amanda> And they go up there and eat them.

Abigail> Yeah.

They have been, they've been like guarding on top of the grapevines, just hanging out up there.

Amanda> Super, Super.

Terasa> So I mean that's a great point though.

Diversity really is key, right.

The more species you can include, the more things that are going to come to the garden and then the less issues you potentially have.

If a disease happens to come through and, and you've only got one thing planted and that's what it affects, it's just wiped everything out.

Amanda> Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Good, good.

And, I think also if you want to try to capture them, they're real smart.

As soon as you, you get a bucket of water or something and, you know, but they start dropping into the ground when you go out there too.

So they're just a huge nuisance.

But anyway, but you can pinch of between your fingers and that's somewhat satisfying, (laughing) Terasa> A little messy, but yeah.

Amanda> Yeah.

But they kind of crunch, and it serves you right.

Whatever.

Terasa> And you know people sometimes talk about the pheromone traps.

But of course that's you know, attracting them.

So probably not the best idea.

Yeah.

Amanda> Or if you have a neighbor.

Terasa> Send them over to your neighbor's yard.

Amanda> Yeah, yeah.

And it's just they're just a part of life, sadly.

But they sure, we sure are sorry that they came over.

Terasa> Yeah, but try to encourage.

Amanda> Yeah.

Well, thanks for telling us that.

Terasa> ...other things to come in.

Amanda> Okay, well, Andy, I bet you're going to show us something else.

Andy> I might as well show you one more thing.

<Please> Andy> All right.

Terasa> Look at that.

This is...this is an elephant ear, This is called Remusatia vivipara, and this is the hitchhiker elephant ear.

So what's interesting about this is this elephant ear actually prefers to grow in the shade.

<All right> We have this planted in our shade garden.

Yeah.

Amanda> Brightens up it's corner.

Andy> Yeah.

So it's called hitchhiker elephant ear.

Let me see if I can see any on here.

It sends up these little spikes.

<Yes.> And it has, like, almost like a sand spur.

<It looks like a little spur on it.> Yeah.

So.

And there might still be some stuck to me from earlier when I was in the nursery getting this, this morning at work.

I got in the car and I felt stuff all over me, and that's a way of reproduction.

So these little spurs... they're not like sand spurs.

They don't.

They won't stick to you, but they don't hurt, but these are called little tubercles, like little tiny baby tubers.

And we sow them.

We, sow them like, we would a seed.

We put them on the ground, put them on our mist.

You know, about a month later, they started to germinate.

These are only...<Come on.> Gosh, four months old maybe.

Yeah.

Amanda> No.

Andy> So... Amanda> From one of these little Andy> One of those little tubercles.

Yeah.

Amanda> Come on.

Andy> Maybe six months.

I can't remember when I did it, Amanda> Still, that's pretty dramatic.

Andy> But significantly less than a year.

It will die down, after the freeze.

Amanda> Sure.

Andy> Just cut it back.

And we were talking earlier about elephant ears and some... some elephant ears when you cut them back, like you're cutting the stem and you get any of any of the liquid from inside the juice from inside the stem, it can really irritate your skin.

So if you've got, you know... And at work, when we cut back elephant ears, we're cutting back sometimes hundreds of elephant ears.

So, you know, it's definitely, you know, wear some long sleeves that day, you know, wash your arms off.

I mean, Amanda> Are those more likely to be the ones that are upward facing?

Andy> I typically, it seems like the upright ones, the Alocasias, are the ones that get me the worse.

But I don't know, you know, I can't recall getting really irritated from, from any of these, but I think the Alocasia is the one.

Amanda> You know, we used to do flower arrangements and all that was a great thing to take, because they're very dramatic if you had a big event.

But, I know one time I was like, what in the world is going on?

And then I found out, sure enough.

But, I mean, it wasn't life threatening or anything.

No, no, no, it it's annoying Amanda>...to have it happen.

Yeah, well, that is just the coolest thing I've ever heard.

Andy> They've got such cool, got such deep, glossy leaves.

Amanda> Yeah.

Terasa> They're really large leaves.

Sometimes people will do leaf casting.

Andy> Oh, yeah.

Terasa> So you can try it.

Right?

Amanda> Right.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Andy> This would be a good one for it.

Amanda> And you could make stepping stones and all kinds of things.

Yeah.

Goodness gracious.

Isn't that fun?

Well, thank you so much for bringing the, the hitchhiker one.

All righty.

Well, Terasa, I think you've got something to share with us.

Terasa> Indeed.

So sometimes trees suffer from ailments.

And you might need to know, is the, is this something that can be remedied, or is the tree potentially a hazard tree?

So join us now as we learn more with Jamie Gunter about how to perform a tree health assessment.

Terasa> Trees provide numerous benefits like erosion protection, shading and cooling, and providing wildlife habitat, but like any other living thing, they can suffer from various ailments.

Joining me is Jamie Gunter with the Lexington Soil and Water Conservation District to shed some light on tree health, common problems and solutions.

Thank you Terasa.

Jamie Gunter> I've been involved in the tree care business for many years.

Started out kind of in high school, you know, agriculture classes, FFA, things like that.

Was able to obtain a forest resource management degree and been doing that professionally for over 20 years, primarily focusing in forest resource management, tree care in the landscape industry, things of that nature.

Terasa> So you've got a lot of experience and education to draw from.

Jamie> Yes, yes.

Terasa> So let's start at the beginning.

What are some reasons someone might have a tree health assessment performed?

Jamie> There are a couple different reasons.

One of the main reasons, you know, trees are an investment.

A lot of people, they spend money planning it out, having the landscape designed, picking a nice tree, having it installed.

So you want to protect that investment.

And, you know, a health assessment is a good way to do that.

Another reason could be, like I mentioned earlier, you know, trees are an investment.

If you have an issue with one tree, you want to keep it contained and not spread to other trees.

Terasa> Ah, that's right, if it's something that could potentially be, contagious, so to speak.

Jamie> Correct, correct.

And also, you know, people acquire property for the first time.

They may not be aware of what type of vegetation is on their property.

They may have nice native trees.

They could have an invasive species that needs to be controlled, as well.

So just to get a good idea of what you are responsible for on your property is, is a reason to get a tree health assessment.

Terasa> Well, let's talk about the steps involved.

So there is, a tree behind us.

What would be the first thing that we need to know about this tree if we're going to perform a health assessment?

Jamie> Well, one of the first things to do is identify the tree.

Make sure you know what type of tree you're looking at, so you know what, characteristics to look out for.

What, What tree may be susceptible to a certain type of disease versus another?

One way to find that out is talk to the property owner.

You know, depending on the property, it could be a person that's on that property for many years.

They may have planted that tree themselves.

They may be able to tell you the day or the occasion it was planted.

You know, try to save yourself a little bit of that legwork, if the property owner can tell you that.

And once you've identified the tree and can obtain your preliminary information on it, I would start out just, just do an overall ocular assessment.

I call it ground the crown.

Terasa> I like that terminology.

Now, we know that this is a silver maple.

We can tell that from a number of factors.

Sometimes if you get familiar with the species, you can just recognize it.

But there's bark and form, <Correct> leaf structure.

Jamie> Yes.

And again on this silver maple, like I said, I've, I've worked around them for many years.

I can, you know, from a distance you can spot a maple.

But the silver maple, you can tell it's got, five distinctive lobes on the leaves.

And if you flip the leaf over on the back side, it does have a noticeable silvery color to it.

and it's got a lighter color petial, which is the the attachment from the leaf to the actual twig of the plant.

Terasa> So our first step is done.

We know we've got a silver maple.

Now let's tell me a little bit about what you see on that crown, to ground inspection.

Jamie> Well, that tree, starting out, we noticed it's got a nice layer of pine straw around it.

It's not too deep.

It's not too thick.

You can still see a root flare on the tree, which means the tree is growing at the right depth of how it needs to be for those top feeder roots to uptake the water that's stored in that pine straw mulch.

But you don't go too far up that tree and you start, you start seeing some things going on.

One of the first things we notice on it is a co-dominant stem.

And a co-dominant stem is like it sounds it's, it's co-dominancy.

You have two main stems coming off of that leader from the ground.

And they're constantly competing with one another to dominate, you know which side of that tree.

So that's, that's an issue with nutrient uptake into the stems.

And another product of those co-dominant stems is is included bark.

That's where the stems actually kind of roll together.

They're trying to heal their self off.

And you can see the layer of bark that's actually protruding a little bit.

in the intersection of those two stems.

Not too far above that, we've got some holes exposed from, looks like some pruning from, years in the past, that's not been able to, to fully heel over.

It's got some rot in there.

You can just do a depth check on there and see that there's soft wood in there.

It's holding some excess moisture.

Terasa> So moving up the tree we see numerous small holes, that seem to be arranged in a pattern.

Jamie> Yes.

Those holes are caused by a sapsucker.

And a sapsucker is a bird, and in the woodpecker family.

And they feed off of the tree, suck the sap out of it.

That's how they get their name.

And that is common to see in a lot of landscape trees and shrubs.

And if it's excessive, it can put an extra strain on the tree to try to heal all of those wounds that, that sapsucker causes.

And in this tree we have here, it's I would consider that excessive.

That's another issue that's going to cause rotting wood.

That's an open wound for excess moisture to get in.

You know, airborne fungi can get in the tree, and it's, it's not good in all cases.

Terasa> And then further up it looks like we have some branches that are dead and even some decomposition going on.

Jamie> Yes we do.

And again like the tree.

Like I said earlier, the ground, the crown.

I mean, it starts from the roots when the roots uptake, they're trying to push the, the water and minerals up through the tree.

And when you have rotten wood, it's not going to accept that.

So the tree will push it up as far as it can and it just kind of quits.

And that causes the crown of the tree not to receive the water and nutrients it needs, and it's going to die back.

Terasa> We've identified a number of problems in the tree.

Now what's the next step?

Jamie> The next step is to take the information that we received from the assessment, give us an idea.

If we can reduce the hazards of the tree, if it can be repaired, or does it need to be replaced or removed?

Terasa> And that's, you mentioned the word hazard.

So are all ailing trees, hazard trees?

Jamie> Not necessarily.

An ailing tree is what it says.

It's a tree that's got some issues, some things you need to look at.

But a hazard tree has the same type of ailments, but it also has to have a target.

If that tree were to fail, would it cause harm to property?

You know, people in the yard, traffic, roadways.

So, you know, a hazard tree has to have a defect and a target, and then an unhealthy tree that, if it failed, wouldn't cause any great harm, its just an unhealthy tree.

Terasa> Well, Jamie, what's your final assessment for this tree?

Jamie> I would recommend to remove the tree.

It's not a huge hazard, but it does pose a hazard to the home here.

And there's also a power line next to it, and there's not really anything you could reasonably do to repair that tree or prolong the life of it.

I would recommend removing it and replace it with a more suited tree.

Terasa> So, in the event removal is the course of action, how do our viewers find qualified professionals?

Jamie> One way they can find them, go to the Internet, or go to the International Society of Arboriculture website.

They have a link that's, Find and Arborist.

You can also go to Trees are Good and they have a find an arborist link, as well.

And you can punch in your zip code or your city.

And it would be a nice list of folks that would be glad to come out and talk to you about your trees, Terasa> And we can count on them that they have received credentials.

They are trained and experienced in that line of work.

Jamie> Yes, yes, part of being an ISA Certified Arborist is an application process.

It's an exam and it's continuing ongoing credits to make sure that the arborists are aware of the changes in the industry and the latest practices and standards for the industry.

Terasa> Well, thank you so much.

It's been really fun talking trees.

Jamie> Yeah.

Thank you.

Amanda> Well Terasa, thank you so much for that.

And Andy, I think you have been strolling somewhere where you are allowed to pick flowers.

Andy> That's right.

Well, I'm allowed to pick flowers there, right.

Amanda> Yeah, that's true.

Andy> So I took a little stroll through the botanical garden this morning at Riverbanks, and this is about 5 to 8 minutes worth of flowers here.

It didn't take long to get a lot, but I just kind of wanted to get a representative of, you know, kind of what goes on in, you know, toward the end of summer.

There's a lot going on.

You know.

Amanda> In our home gardens, that's not necessarily the case.

No, but, you know, I think part of the key is just planting such a variety of things that, you know, there are some things that just, you know, by the middle of July, they've melted and, you know, but then that's when you've got to kind of balance it and find some, find some things for later season.

You know, one thing that I really love, they really start, the first ones for us started in March and April.

That's the Crinum lily.

Riverbanks has a huge collection of Crinum lilies, so.

Amanda> And they're not boring like they were 50 years ago.

Andy> No, there's a lot there's a lot of different ones now, you know, these two are, you know, they're different.

These are different varieties.

You see a little bit of difference in the flower shape or the color may be the same, Amanda> or the, the size of the flower, Andy> Right.

The size of the flower.

This one's got a little more spidery appearance.

This is one called Fascination.

Terasa> Even the stalk of that one has kind of that reddish hue.

Andy> Well, then, if you want to, if you really want to get into flower stalk color, here we go.

This is Crinum erubescens.

Amanda> Whoa!

Andy> This is kind of our swamp Crinum.

We have our native to the United States Crinum American, which looks very similar to Crinum erubescens, which is the South American native.

But, you know, the Crinum erubescens has that more reddish, Amanda> Erubesc- it really is.

Andy> It has more of that reddish, skin.

Amanda> Dang.

Andy> So.

<Whoa> And look at these.

Terasa> Well, I feel left out over here.

Andy> Okay... would you like to hold a Crinum?

I'm sorry.

This one didn't, didn't do as well... Amanda> Look at the color of the stamens.

Andy> Oh, here's a here's a nicer Crinum, you can hold.

Terasa> Thank you.

Amanda> I'm going to pass this down because look at the color of the stamens.

Andy> Everybody needs to hold a Crinum.

You know, might as well hold a White Corydalis, too.

(laughing) Surprise lily.

Now, this right here, Amanda> I'll stick something more like.

Andy> Let's imagine this about like this, where you can't even see it.

That's how you know these are 6 or 7 feet tall in the garden.

This is a Lilium formosanum the Formosa Lily.

The cool thing about this lily, is it blooms.

within, like, a year from seed.

So it'll, it'll form seed and then really quickly bloom.

Yep.

Terasa> Look at pollen.

It.

<Yes.> And Amanda has done it right there.

And you make a mistake of.

Let me smell that.

Yeah.

And you end up with a nose like Amanda's.

Amanda> And then if you're going to use some, in flower arrangements in the house.

You want to take this out or otherwise it'll end up staining your, you know, <You're right.> your grandmama's linen table cloth, Andy> And you can look at the inside of the flower, and it's, you know, the pollen, is staining, the inside of the flower, too.

So, so definitely be careful with white shirts, be careful with the, with white shirts and, you know, if you're going to smell it.

Amanda> And I think also, with these you need I think that cats these are toxic to cats.

So be careful if you bring them in- Andy>-Well, that's good to know Amanda> -that cats, you know, with your precious little new kitten.

Andy> That's right.

I do have a new kitten.

Terasa> Is this Joe Pye weed?

Andy> That is Joe Pye weed.

Yeah.

<Love it.> Got a lot of... Zinnia are blooming Amanda> Let's everybody... let's share the Joe Pye weed.

Andy> All right, sorry.

Terasa> We added Joe Pye weed to our yard this year.

Amanda> Did you get one of the big ones or did you get a little Joe?

Terasa> I have a little Joe.

You know, I can't remember.

Andy> There are a blue million different Joe Pye weeds that have come out now.

They're, you know, they'll you know, it'll be Little Joe, then it'll be like Medium Joe.

Nah, but there's like Amanda> Teenage Joe.

Andy> Adolescent Joe.

But there are so many that they're becoming such popular- Amanda> -But, it's a great pollinator plant Andy> Great pollinators.

Amanda> And a native.

Andy> Yeah, yeah.

And they're becoming so popular.

That's why they're all these new cultivars Amanda> And nothing bothers it.

I mean, somebody ate a tiny bit of this.

<Yeah> I mean, shoot.

Andy> Yeah, but I mean, they hold up so well.

Well, nice, nice sturdy stems Terasa> And not just beautiful flowers, but you have some herbs there too.

I think I see some fennel.

Andy> Yeah.

So, so this fennel, I think has been pretty well decimated by something, you know, you still have some leaves.

That's great.

But yeah.

Bronze Fennel right here, you know.

Great, you know, great for pollinators.

Amanda> And also for us.

Terasa> And anything in that Apiaceae family you're going to have probably swallowtail caterpillars.

<Yeah.> And the taste on the leaves.

Amanda> Tasty.

I like them.

All right.

We still have time for maybe one more.

Andy> All right.

One more.

Okay.

Let me find a good one.

All right.

Cuphea micropetala, everybody can hold a Cuphea.

Amanda> Okay.

Andy> Everybody, Everybody except me, maybe, Amanda> Micropetala.

Andy> Micropetala, called sometimes called cigar plant, cigarette plant, because, you know, it looks like you a little, little stoogies on the end there.

But it's a great perennial, late blooming starts blooming, you know, into July, into August.

Bloom up until probably, you know, September, maybe into the first frost.

Amanda> How nice.

Andy> Just a great.

And that's the thing in South Carolina and a lot of places you got to stage, stage your blooms and you got to have your early spring things and you've got to have your fall things, you know?

<Okay.> Andy> So, just try to create a diverse garden with- Amanda> Look at the different colors on this as you move down towards the base.

Isn't that fun?

Terasa> Reminds me of a sunrise or sunset.

Amanda> Yeah.

Oh, fun, fun, fun.

Gosh, I'm glad you took that stroll.

Andy> All right.

Amanda> I'm glad you were with us today.

I'm glad you were with us, too.

I hope that, glad y'all were with us at home.

I hope you'll be with us next week.

Night.

Night.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Narrator> "Making It Grow" is brought to you in part by Certified South Carolina.

This cooperative effort among farmers, retailers and the South Carolina Department of Agriculture helps consumers identify foods and agricultural products that are grown, harvested or raised right here in the Palmetto State.

McLeod Farms in McBee, South Carolina, family owned and operated since 1916.

This family farm offers seasonal produce, including over 40 varieties of peaches.

Wesley Commons, a full service continuing care retirement community located on more than 150 wooded acres in Greenwood, South Carolina.

Additional funding provided by the South Carolina Farm Bureau Federation and Farm Bureau Insurance and Boone Hall Farms.