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>> HI THERE, I'M TOM SPENCER. THIS WEEK ON CENTRAL TEXAS GARDENER, MEET
THE MUSHROOMS THAT POP UP AFTER RAINFALL. FIND OUT WHAT'S GOING ON AND HOW THEY BENEFIT
OUR SOIL AND PLANTS. ON TOUR VISIT A NATIVE DESIGN THAT INVITES
ATTENTION EVEN IN WINTER. DAPHNE TELLS US WHAT HAPPENS TO PLANTS IN
A HARD FREEZE. AND ON BACKYARD BASICS, SEE HOW TRISHA CONTROLS
RAMBLING PLANTS. SO LET'S GET GROWING, RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW.
>> SUPPORT FOR CENTRAL TEXAS GARDENER COMES FROM GEOGROWERS OFFERING CUSTOM SOIL BLENDS
FOR LAWNS, GARDENS, XERISCAPING AND OTHER LANDSCAPING DESIGNS.
MORE INFORMATION AT GEOGROWERS.NET. >>>
THE BEST GARDEN ISN'T JUST IN SPRING AND FALL, IT'S AN ONGOING INVITATION TO OUR VISUAL SENSES
AND THE WILDLIFE EVEN IN WINTER. SEE HOW LYNNE AND JIM WEBER ENJOY THEIR NATURE
WATCH ALL DAY LONG. >> LYNNE AND JIM WEBER, TEXAS MASTER NATURALISTS
AND NATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION WILDLIFE STEWARDS, ARE ALWAYS ON PATROL TO SPOT NATIVE
AND MIGRATORY WILDLIFE AT HOME AND AROUND TOWN.
IN THEIR GARDEN THEY LOOK BEHIND SPRING ROMANCE WITH PLANTS THAT HARBOR AND NOURISH WILDLIFE
EACH IN WINTER. THEIR BOOK "NATURE WATCH AUSTIN," TRACKS PLANT
AND WILDLIFE ACTIVITY IN A MONTHLY DIARY. ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS EXTENDS TO THEIR GREEN
BUILT HOME. >> BUT THE YARD WE FOCUSED TOTALLY ON NATIVE
PLANTS AND NO TURF GRASS SO THAT WE WOULD HAVE NO ONGOING MAINTENANCE.
AND SO THAT WE WOULD NEED A LITTLE LESS WATER, FERTILIZER, PESTICIDES.
WE GET A LOT MORE WILDLIFE IN THE YARD AS A RESULT, A LOT OF BIRDS, BUTTERFLIES, LIZARDS,
OTHER INSECTS AND LITTLE ANIMALS THAT VISIT OUR YARD AND WE LOVE HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY
TO SEE THEM. >> THAT'S MORE IMPORTANT TO THEM THAN A DESERT
OF LAWN. >> I THINK THERE'S TWO REASONS.
I THINK ONE IS IT GIVES ME A SENSE OF PLACE. THE MORE I KNOW ABOUT WHERE I AM THE MORE
I FEEL AT HOME THERE. AND I THINK NUMBER TWO, IT'S A SENSE OF WONDER.
AND IN SIMPLEST TERMS IT MAKES ME FEEL LIKE A CHILD AGAIN TO BE ABLE TO DISCOVER SOMETHING
NEW, SEE SOMETHING I HAVEN'T SEEN BEFORE OR TO NOTICE SOMETHING AND REALLY LEARN SOMETHING
MORE DETAILED ABOUT IT. SO IT'S LIKE THOSE CAREFREE TIMES WHEN YOU
WERE A CHILD AND YOU WOULD ROMP OFF INTO THE WOODS OR INTO A MEADOW OR A FIELD AND EVERYTHING
WAS NEW. AND I FEEL THAT WAY AGAIN HERE.
WHEN YOU HAVE THE PLANTS, WHEN YOU RESTORE THE ECOSYSTEM, WHEN YOU HAVE THE DIVERSITY,
YOU BRING SO MUCH MORE TO YOUR YARD AND THERE'S SO MUCH MORE FOR YOU TO DISCOVER.
>> IT ALL STARTED WITH THEIR INTEREST IN BIRDS. >> WE HAD FOCUSED INITIALLY MOSTLY ON BIRDS
AND WE HAD STARTED GETTING INTERESTED IN NATURE A FEW DECADES AGO MORE ON BIRDS, BUT AS WE
SAW A LOT MORE WHILE YOU'RE OUT LOOKING AROUND YOU SEE OTHER THINGS THAN BIRDS.
WE SAW BUTTERFLIES AND THEN YOU START NOTICING PLANTS AND DIFFERENT ASSOCIATIONS BETWEEN
BUTTERFLIES AND PLANTS, WHETHER IT'S FOR HOST PLANTS OR NECTAR SOURCES.
AND PRETTY SOON THEN YOU START SEEING OTHER INSECTS AND DRAGON FLIES AND YOU FIND LIZARDS
IN THE YARD AS WELL. >> THEIR BACKYARD IS HUGE, BORDERING THE BALCONES
CANYONLANDS, RESTORING THE EIGHT ACRE PARCELS 'PLANTS AND ADDING NEW ONES.
>> IT'S BEEN AN AWESOME BANK FOR US. IT'S A DIVERSE HABITAT.
THERE'S A PERENNIAL STREAM IN THERE AND A GOOD VARIETY OF NATIVE PLANTS IN THERE AS
WELL AND GOLDEN CHEEKED WARBLERS ON THAT PIECE. WE'VE GONE THROUGH AND REMOVED MANY, MANY,
MANY NON NATIVE PLANTS OUT OF THERE, MOSTLY LIGUSTRUM, BUT THERE'S A CHINA BERRY AND A
FEW OTHER THINGS WE'VE TAKEN OUT OF THERE. WE'VE SPENT MANY HOURS RIDDING OF IT NON NATIVE
PLANTS. >> THEIR FRONT YARD IS COMPACT, BUT INCLUDES
EVERYTHING A DIVERSE WILDLIFE AUDIENCE APPRECIATES. >> IN ORDER TO CREATE A GOOD WILDSCAPE YOU
HAVE TO HAVE FOOD, YOU HAVE TO HAVE WATER, YOU HAVE TO HAVE COVER AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE
PLACES TO RAISE YOUNG. AND I THINK THE HARDEST OF ALL THOSE THINGS
ESPECIALLY IN TEXAS IS WATER PIECE. SO WE KNEW THAT WE WANTED MOVING WATER, MOVING
WATER WILL ATTRACT A LOT OF WILDLIFE JUST FROM THE SOUND.
AND WE DIDN'T HAVE THAT NATURAL IN OUR PROPERTY. NOT MANY PROPERTIES DO.
SO WE BROUGHT IN A LANDSCAPER WHO SPECIALIZED IN WATER FEATURES.
AND THAT WAS RUSSELL WOMACK, CAPITAL LANDSCAPING. >> WE PUT IT IN THE FRONT YARD MAINLY BECAUSE
WE HAVE KIND OF A DIFFICULT YARD FROM A SLOPE POINT OF VIEW.
AND IT ENDED UP BEING JUST A GOOD USE OF THE NATURAL SLOPE OF THE FRONT YARD TO PUT ONE
IN THAT LOCATION. THERE WERE SOME BIG STONES THERE ALREADY THAT
COULD BE FEATURED AROUND THE WATER. AND IT'S REALLY NICE TO BE ABLE TO SEE IT
WHILE WE'RE SITTING IN THE STUDY TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THE VIEW OUT THE FRONT WINDOW THAT'S
THE WATER. AND WE HAVE A LOT OF BIRDS AND SMALL ANIMALS
THAT COME TO GET A DRINK OR TAKE A BATH DURING THE DAY.
>> THAT'S ANOTHER REASON TO DIVERSIFY FOR EVERY SEASON.
AN ONGOING CYCLE OF FLOWERS, BERRIES AND SEEDS MEANS A WILDER AUDIENCE SINCE EVERY CREATURE
HAS ITS FAVORED DIET. THE WEBERS AREN'T THE FIRST TO PRUNE WHEN
WINTER CHANGES THE SCENERY. >> THE BIRDS WILL APPRECIATE THE SEEDS OUT
OF THE FLOWER HEADS AS THEY DRY UP. WE LIKE THE LOOK OF THE DRIED FLOWERS AS WELL
AS THE NEW ONES. AND SO WE WON'T CUT THOSE BACK.
AND IT'S ALSO GOOD SHELTER FOR THEM. THE BUSHES, THE SHRUBBY PLANTS BEING LEFT
UP BECAUSE IT HIDES THEM AS THEY COME IN TO GET A DRINK OF WATER.
>> EVERYBODY LOVES FLOWERS, LOVES THINGS BLOOMING, LOVES SPRING, BUT YOU FIND THAT THE OTHER
SEASONS HAVE BEAUTY TOO AND YOU CAN LEARN A LOT ABOUT THE LIFE CYCLE OF PLANTS, OF INSECTS,
OF OTHER ANIMALS. AND YOU SEE THAT MORE WHEN THE SEASONS CHANGE
AND WHEN YOUR GARDEN CHANGES. WE USED TO BE SO MUCH MORE CONNECTED TO THOSE
NATURAL CYCLES AND NOW THAT WE LIVE IN AIR CONDITIONED AND HEATED SPACES, WE MISS OUT
ON THAT. AND A CHANGING GARDEN BRINGS THAT ATTENTION
BACK IN MY LIFE AND I REALLY ENJOY IT. >> JIM'S ATTENTION LED TO PHOTOGRAPHY TO RECORD
THEIR OBSERVATIONS AND TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THEM.
>> UNLESS YOU HAD CAUGHT IT AND LOOKED AT IT UNDER HAND BASICALLY, YOU WON'T SEE THE
DETAIL YOU WILL GET IN A PICTURE. IT ONLY TAKES, YOU KNOW, A SECOND AND YOU'VE
GOTTEN AN IMAGE THAT YOU CAN GO STUDY FOR HOURS WITH THREE OR FOUR FIELD GUIDES AND
TRY TO, YOU KNOW, MAKE SURE YOU CAN TELL EXACTLY WHICH ONE IT IS.
AND IT'S A GOOD RECORD IN CASE IF THERE WERE SOMEONE WHO MAY WANT TO KNOW WHEN AND WHERE
YOU SAW THIS THING. >> THE RECORDS INSPIRED THE BOOK THAT STARTED
WITH A NEIGHBORHOOD NEWSLETTER TO PROMOTE RECOGNITION AND UNDERSTANDING OF OUR FELLOW
INHABITANTS. >> OUR GOAL WAS THAT WE WANTED THE PEOPLE
THAT LIVED IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO APPRECIATE SOME OF WHAT WAS GOING ON IN THE BALCONES
CANYON LAND PRESERVE PROPERTY THAT SURROUNDS THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO THE IDEA OF THE NEWS LETTERS WAS TO TAKE THE TOPIC OF SOMETHING THAT MIGHT BE HAPPENING
IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AROUND THAT TIME OF YEAR. WE WANTED THE PEOPLE TO APPRECIATE WHAT WAS
AROUND AND NOT BE SO FOCUSED ON GEE, I HEARD A COYOTE OR WHERE'S MY A DEER EATING MY FLOWERS
OR THE OTHER KIND OF NEGATIVE ASPECTS TO LIVING NEXT TO A LARGE PRESERVE SYSTEM.
WE RUN IN THE MORNING VERY EARLY, LYNNE AND I, AND WE LOVE WHEN WE HEAR A COYOTE OR AN
OWL IN THE MORNING WHEN WE'RE OUT RUNNING. IT'S JUST MAKES FOR A REALLY GOOD DAY.
>> ALTHOUGH THEY'VE GIVEN THEIR UP FRONT GARDEN STRUCTURAL DESIGN INTENDED WITH KINDLY MAINTENANCE,
THEY ALLOW IT TO BE AN ACTIVE PARTICIPANT. >> MAYBE THAT'S JUST REACTION TO MOST OF OUR
LIVES BEING SO SORTED OUT, BUT MAYBE THIS IS A RESPONSE TO THAT SUBCONSCIOUSLY WE'VE
LET THIS BE MORE FREE FORM AND NATURAL. AND IT'S SORT OF EVOLVED.
EVERY YEAR IT'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT. SOME THINGS DO WELL.
WE DECIDE WE WANT TO ADD OR CHANGE THINGS YEAR TO YEAR.
IT'S BEEN SORT OF A WORK IN PROGRESS. AND SOME OF IT IS NATURALIZED IN ITS OWN WAY
AND WE JUST SORT OF LET IT KIND OF GO IN THE DIRECTION IT WANT TO GO.
>> AND I THINK AGAIN THAT GIVES YOU A SENSE OF PLACE, A SENSE OF WHAT WORKS AND WHAT DOESN'T
AND WHAT THE CYCLES ARE. AND THAT'S VERY RELAXING.
>> THANKS FOR SHARING YOUR GARDEN WITH US. NOW WE'LL BE TURNING TO A TOPIC THAT I THINK
A LOT OF YOU WILL HAVE FUN WITH, BUT UNEXPECTED FUN.
WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT MUSHROOMS AND THE FUNGI THAT GROW AMONG US OUT THERE IN OUR GARDENS.
I'M JOINED BY ASHLEY MCKENZIE. AND ASHLEY THIS, A TOPIC THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE
OUT THERE ARE VERY WARY OF. THEY SEE A MUSHROOM OR SOMETHING GROWING IN
THEIR GARDEN, THEY THINK INSTANTLY DANGER, WARNING, SOMETHING POISONOUS OR SOMETHING
BAD IS HAPPENING. WHY ARE YOU INTERESTED IN MUSHROOMS?
>> I'VE BEEN INTERESTED IN MUSHROOMS EVER SINCE I LEARNED THAT MY GREAT GRANDMOTHER
FROM LITHUANIA DID FORAYS OUT IN THE WILD FORESTS.
AND I JUST WAS KIND OF INTRIGUED BY THAT, STARTED READING AND CAME TO FIND OUT HOW BENEFICIAL
MUSHROOMS REALLY ARE FOR THE SOIL, FOR RECYCLING TOXINS AND WASTE OUT OF OUR ENVIRONMENT.
AND THEY'RE ACTUALLY QUITE NICE TO EAT IN CERTAIN VARIETIES.
I THINK THE GENERAL FEAR COMES FROM THE FACT THAT THERE ARE POISONOUS MUSHROOMS AND THAT
WHEN YOU'RE DEALING WITH CHILDREN OR ANYBODY ELSE YOU DON'T EVER WANT TO LET ANYTHING BAD
HAPPEN SO YOU JUST SAY END UP, MUSHROOMS ARE DANGEROUS.
>> CAUTION IS ALWAYS ADVISED. NOW, IT'S INTERESTING THAT YOU COME FROM THE
EASTERN EUROPEAN BACKGROUND BECAUSE THERE MUSHROOM HUNTS ARE A BIG PART OF THE CULTURE
ACTUALLY. >> YES.
>> SO I CAN SEE BEING INTRIGUED BY YOUR OWN HERITAGE.
NOW, YOU'RE INVOLVED IN A GROUP THAT ACTUALLY GETS TOGETHER AND STUDIES MUSHROOMS AND TRIES
TO IDENTIFY THEM. DESCRIBE THE GROUP.
>> WE'RE ON LYDOS.COM. WE'RE ENTITLED TEXAS WILD MUSHROOMING GROUP.
AND WHAT WE DO IS WE JUST PICK NATURE TRAILS HERE IN AUSTIN, CENTRAL TEXAS, AND AFTER RAINS
WE SCHEDULE A FLASH FORAY AND GO OUT AND TAKE A NICE NATURE HIKE, PICK WHAT WE SEE, AND
THEN GO BACK AFTER THE HIKE, USE GUIDE BOOKS TO TRY TO IDENTIFY THE SPECIES.
AND WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR IS ACTUALLY CULINARY CHOICE EDIBLE MUSHROOMS THAT WE CAN USE IN
RECIPES. >> SO THERE'S A NATIONAL GROUP THAT GOES OUT
AND IDENTIFIES THESE THINGS. I GUESS IT'S A LITTLE HARD DURING THE DROUGHT.
I SUPPOSE YOU HAD HAD TO THE WAY A LONG TIME BETWEEN THE FLASH FORAYS.
>> WE HAVEN'T BEEN VERY ACTIVE LATELY. WE PRAY FOR RAIN EVERYDAY.
AS SOON AS THERE'S RAIN, USUALLY THE SPRINGTIME IS OUR MORE ACTIVE TIME.
>> THERE ARE ALL SORTS OF THINGS OUT THERE IN THE GARDEN.
WHAT MAKES A MUSHROOM A MUSHROOM? >> A MUSHROOM IS ACTUALLY THE FRUITING BODY
OF AN UNDERGROUND NETWORK CALLED A MYCELIUM MATT.
AND THIS MAT IS INTERSPERSED AMONG ALL HABITATS F YOU EVER PICK UP THE SOIL AND YOU SEE KIND
OF A COB WEB LIKE STRUCTURE, THIS IS THE MATT. AND THE MUSHROOM IS LIKE THE APPLE OF THE
TREE. IT'S THE FRUIT WHEN THE CONDITIONS ARE RIGHT.
>> NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH A LOT OF OTHER THINGS OUT THERE, MOLD AND OTHER THINGS THAT
ARE IN THE GARDEN. THEY'RE THEIR OWN FAMILY.
>> THEY ARE. THEY'RE FUNGI.
>> AND WE SEE THEM IN WAVES. YOU SAY YOU WAIT FOR RAIN.
OBVIOUSLY MOISTURE IS THE TRIGGER. ARE THERE OTHER TRIGGERS FOR MUSHROOMS?
>> THERE ARE, THERE ARE SEVERAL CATEGORIES OF MUSHROOMS.
SOME DECOMPOSE WOOD SO MANY GARDENERS MAY SEE THE MUSHROOMS POP UP ON A WOOD BED OR
MULCH BED. THERE ARE PRIMARY, SECONDARY AND THIRD DECOMPOSERS
OF THESE THINGS SO THAT'S WHY YOU MIGHT SEE THEM IN A WAVE.
THEY COME THROUGH AND THEY KIND OF ACT ON EACH OTHER'S PROGRESS.
AND MORE SO IN THE SOIL THERE'S A CLASSIFICATION CALLED MICRORISAL MUSHROOMS AND THEY ACTUALLY
THEY INTERACT WITH THE ROOTS OF PLANTS AND TREES AND ACTUALLY BECOME AN EXTENSION OF
THE ROOTS. SO WHEN YOU SEE MUSHROOMS YOU CAN BE SURE
THAT IT'S A SIGN OF YOUR HEALTHY SOIL AND THAT THE ROOT SYSTEM OF YOUR PLANTS ARE ACTUALLY
RECEIVING MORE NUTRIENTS THROUGH THESE. >> AND I THINK THAT'S A CRITICAL POINT.
OFTEN ON MY RADIO PROGRAM PEOPLE WILL CALL AND SAY HELP.
I HAVE MUSHROOMS IN MY YARD. WHAT DO I DO? HOW DO I KILL THEM?
>> YOU DON'T WANT TO KILL THEM. I WOULD SAY AT THE VERY LEAST JUST WATCH THEM
AND LET THEM DECAY WHICH THEY WILL DO IN A MATTER OF DAYS, AS SOON AS THE SUN RETURNS
AND THE DRY CONDITIONS BECOME OR THE HEAT COMES AS CENTRAL TEXAS KNOWS.
THEY WILL IMMEDIATELY DISAPPEAR BUT THE MY CELIA MAT IS STILL IN THE SOIL PROVIDING THE
NUTRIENTS FOR THE PLANTS. >> VERY BENEFICIAL.
>> VERY, VERY. >> I UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN YOU GO OUT COLLECTING
SOMETIMES YOU ACTUALLY TRY TO PROPAGATE, COLLECT HEM TO PROPAGATE.
HOW DO YOU DO THAT? >> A VERY KEY IDENTIFYING CHARACTERISTIC IS
TO TAKE SOMETHING CALLED A SPORE PRINT. SO IF YOU HAVE YOUR TRADITIONAL CAPPED MUSHROOM
YOU WOULD CUT THE STALK OFF TAKE THE CAP WITH THE GILL SIDE DOWN, PUT IT ON A PIECE OF PAPER
AND WAIT FOR THESE THINGS CALLED SPORES TO COME OUT ON THE PAPER.
AND THEY CAN BE A VARIETY OF COLORS, THEREFORE BEING ONE OF THE KEY IDENTIFYING FACTORS.
>> OKAY. >> THEN YOU WOULD IF YOU WANTED TO PROPAGATE
YOU COULD TAKE THESE SPORES AND MAKE SOMETHING CALLED MAYBE A SPORE SLURRY BY MAYBE PUTTING
THEM INTO WATER WITH SALT AND POURING THEM ON THE GROUND.
YOU COULD TAKE THE SPORES AND THEN DO SOMETHING MORE SCIENTIFIC AND LIKE INOCULATE A PETRI
DISH AND WATCH THEM GROW THAT WAY. >> SO LOTS OF DIFFERENT WAYS TO DO IT.
>> LOTS OF METHODS, YES. >> SO IN TERMS OF PARTICULAR SOILS OR SITUATIONS
IN A GARDEN SETTING I ALWAYS THINK OF THEM AS GROWING, YOU KNOW, IN SHADE, IN MOIST SETTINGS.
WILL HEAVILY MULCHED OR COMPOSTED AREAS IS THAT TYPICAL?
>> YEAH, IT'S TYPICAL. MANY OF THE CULINARY MUSHROOMS WE'RE LOOKING
FOR ACTUALLY GROW OFF OF WOOD. SO IF YOU WANTED TO PROPAGATE, HAVING A FRESHLY CUT WOOD CHIP
OUT OF, SAY, OAK, AND TRYING TO INKNOCK DUE LATE THIS FRESH WOOD WITH THE SPORES COULD
PROVIDE YOU WHAT YOU WANTED. AND YOU CAN FIND SPORES VIA WEBSITES ONLINE.
THERE'S ALSO PEOPLE WHO TAKE LOGS AND DRILL LITTLE HOLES INTO THE LOGS AND PROPAGATE MUSHROOMING
LIKE THIS, FOR INSTANCE. >> DO THEY SURVIVE COURTESY OF THE SPORES?
DO THE SPORES HAVE A LONG LIFETIME? I'M THINKING, FOR EXAMPLE, LIKE IN OUR DROUGHT
SITUATION WE MAY GO MONTHS NOW BETWEEN PERIODS WHERE YOU FIND A MUSHROOM ACTUALLY GROWING
IN THE GARDEN? >> THE SPORES, IF YOU HAVE THE SPORES YOU'VE
TAKEN THEM FROM THE MUSHROOM AND YOU KEEP THEM, SAY, IN A REFRIGERATED, SEALED CONDITION,
THEY WILL LAST AND THEN YOU CAN REINTRODUCE THEM AT THAT POINT.
ONE OF THE SAYINGS IN THE INTEREST IS KEEP THE MYCELIUM RUNNING.
SO IF YOU SAW MUSHROOMS APPEAR AT SAY THE EDGE OF A WOOD BED AND YOU DIDN'T ADD WOOD
THE NEXT YEAR, THE MYCELIUM NETWORK UNDER THE GROUND HAS NOWHERE TO GROW, SO YOU HAVE
TO HAVE THE WOOD FOR IT TO RUN THROUGH THE SOIL AND THE NEXT TIME THERE'S RAIN AND YOU
SOAK YOUR WOOD BED AND AS LONG AS THE TEMPERATURE WAS ACTUALLY LOWER THAN YOU WOULD SEE SOMETHING.
>> SO YOU ACTIVELY CULTIVATE THE MUSHROOMS. YOU WATER THEM AND YOU FEED THEM.
>> YOU CAN WATER THEM AND ESSENTIALLY FEED THEM, YES.
>> SO I FIND IT ALL REALLY FASCINATING. AND OF COURSE WE DO WANT TO URGE CAUTION WHEN
IT COMES TO EDIBLE MUSHROOMS. PEOPLE NEED TO BE VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE BEFORE
THEY GO OUT AND START POPPING MUSHROOMS DOWN. BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE'S A WIDE VARIETY
THAT YOU CAN ACTUALLY GROW IN OUR AREA FOR CULINARY PURPOSES.
>> THERE ARE. I WOULD SAY WITH THE HEAT LATELY IT'S BEEN
LIMITING, BUT IN THE FALL AND SPRING AND WINTER MONTHS YOU CAN DEFINITELY CULTIVATE A VARIETY
OF MUSHROOMS. >> SO SOMETHING FOR PEOPLE TO BE THINKING
ABOUT. I WOULD IMAGINE THAT YOUR MEET UP GROUP IS
PROBABLY ONE OF THE BEST PLACES TO GO IF YOU WANTED TO EXTEND YOUR KNOWLEDGE.
>> YEAH. WE WOULD LOVE FOR MEMBERS TO JOIN AND WE HAVE
A DISCUSSION BOARD WHERE PEOPLE CAN POST QUESTIONS. WE'VE HAD SEVERAL MEMBERS POST THEIR EXPERIENCES
WITH GROWING AND OUR COMMUNITY KIND OF HAS PROVIDED A BACKDROP TO HEY, I FOUND THIS ONE
OR I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON HERE, AND THEN WE CAN BE A RESOURCE IN IDENTIFYING BEFORE
ANYBODY EATS THE WRONG THING AND ENDS UP IN THE HOSPITAL OR, WORSE, DEAD.
>> SO AGAIN CAUTION. DANGER, WARNING WILL ROBINSON, RIGHT?
SO BEWARE OF WHAT YOU'RE DOING OUT THERE. LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT SOME OF
THE ACTIVITIES OF THE GROUP. A CULINARY RECIPES AND THINGS LIKE THAT AS
WELL, TRADING, ALL THAT SORT? >> YES.
WE'RE LOOKING FOR CULINARY RECIPES. IT'S PRETTY LIMITED TO FIND PEOPLE WHO EXPERIMENT
WITH MUSHROOM RECIPES, ESPECIALLY OF THE WILD VARIETY, SINCE PEOPLE ARE SO LIMITED IN ACTUALLY
HAVING THEM. >> RIGHT.
>> WE'RE INTERESTED IN THE RECIPE SHARING, WE'RE INTERESTED IN PROPAGATION SHARING, DIFFERENT
METHODS. AT THIS POINT I'M CONNECTING WITH SOME MEMBERS,
NOT MEMBERS OF OUR GROUP, BUT AUSTINITES AT LARGE ARE BECOMING MORE ACTIVE IN MICOLOGY
AND JUST MUSHROOMS IN GENERAL AND I'M REALLY EXCITED FOR HOW THAT WILL PLAY OUT IN THE
FUTURE. >> WELL, IT'S A FASCINATING TOPIC AND ONE
THAT I'M EXCITED TO LEARN ABOUT FOR THE MOST TIME ACTUALLY.
SO I'M SO GLAD THAT YOU CAME ON THE PROGRAM. WE'LL EXTEND WHEN I GO OUT INTO THE GARDEN
NOW I'LL LOOK AT IT IN A VERY DIFFERENT KIND OF WAY.
>> EXCELLENT. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING OUR GUEST.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, TOM. >> REAL PLEASURE.
COMING UP NEXT, OUR FRIEND DAPHNE. >> HI.
I'M DAPHNE RICHARDS. OUR QUESTION THIS WEEK IS WHY IS IT BEST TO
PRUNE TREES IN THE WINTER? AND THE BEST ANSWER IS BECAUSE WINTER IS THE
LEAST STRESSFUL TIME TO DO SO. YOU CAN DEFINITELY PRUNE *** PLANTS AT OTHER
TIMES OF YEAR, BUT PRUNING IN WINTER TAKES ADVANTAGE OF THE TREE'S NATURAL GROWTH CYCLE
AND ENCOURAGES FASTER, MORE COMPLETE HEALING. DID HE SAID JUST TREES, WHICH MOST OF OUR
LANDSCAPE TREES ARE, GO DORMANT IN WINTER AND EVEN STUDYING EVERGREEN SPECIES LIKE LIVE
OAK DON'T DIFFICULTLY GROW WHEN IT'S COLD OUT.
THE SAP ISN'T ACTIVELY FLOWING AT THIS TIME OF YEAR.
THIS MEANS THE WOUND WOULDN'T HAVE SAP GOING TO IT AS IT WOULD IN THE SPRING.
A BIT OF SAP FLOW IS ACTUALLY A VERY GOOD THING, LEADING TO NATURAL HEALING OF THE WOUND.
SHORTLY AFTER BEING CUT, THE TREE WILL START TO FORM CALLOUS TISSUE WHICH WILL AT FIRST
LOOK LIKE A SMALL DONUT RING AND WILL EVENTUALLY, PERHAPS AFTER MANY YEARS GROWING, TO COVER
THE ENTIRE CUT SERVICE. AND BECAUSE YOU WANT A LITTLE SAP FLOW, BUT
NOT TOO MUCH, THE LATE WINTER WHEN PLANTS ARE STILL ASLEEP, BUT GETTING READY TO WAKE
UP, IS THE BEST TIME IN THE PLANT'S NATURAL GROWTH CYCLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS STRATEGY.
THIS IS ESPECIALLY TRUE WHEN PRUNING OAK TREES, SO AS TO AVOID THE POSSIBILITY OF GETTING
OAK WILT, WHICH IS INSECT VECTORED. MOST INSECTS THAT VEHICLER OAK WILT ARE NOT
ACTIVE IN THE WINTER, SO THERE'S LITTLE CHANCE OF INFECTION IF YOU PRUNE IT AT THIS TIME.
IT'S VISIBLE TO PAINT THE PRUNING CUTS ON OAK TREES, BUT THIS ISN'T RECOMMENDED ON OTHER
SPECIES SINCE THE PRUNING PAINT ACTUALLY INHIBITS THE NATURAL PEELING PROCESS.
OUR PLANT OF THE WEEK IS PLANTING PEA. THIS MAKES AN EXCELLENT GROUND COVER IN SUNNY
SPOTS IN THE LANDSCAPE. THE LEAVES ARE SMALL AND THE DELICATE PURPLE
FLOWERS ARE EACH SMALLER. IT CREATES A NICE THICKET AND GIVES A BIG
*** FOR YOUR BUCK. IT GROWS ABOUT TWO FEET TALL IN MY GARDEN
AND SPREADS ABOUT THREE FEET WIDE SO GIVE IT PLENTY OF ROOM.
IT DOES WELL IN PART SUN AND SHADE. BUT IF THERE'S TOO MUCH SHADE IT WILL BE TALLER
AND LANKIER AND ALSO HAVE FEWER FLOWERS. WELL DRAINED SOIL IS BEST.
THE MOUNTAIN PEA ISN'T LISTED AS VERY DROUGHT TALL RANT, BUT MY SURVIVED THE TERRIBLE HEAT
AND DROUGHT OF 2010 WHEN BEING ONLY WATERED ON MY LEGAL DAYS SO IT DOES JUST FINE WITH
A LITTLE CARE T DO IN YOUR GARDEN THIS WEEK DON'T FORGET TO TURN THE COMPOST PILE OR CONSIDER
TURNING A NEW ONE. COMPOST IS EASIER THAN YOU THINK, BUT DURING
THE WINTER IT MAY BE HARDER TO PROCURE ENOUGH MATERIALS TO PROCEED CUE A NICENIZE PILE AND
KEEP IT GOING. THERE'S A NEW GROUP IN TOWN, THE GROUND TO
GROUND INITIATIVE WHICH AIMS TO HAVE COFFEE SHOPS WITH PEOPLE WHO NEED IT.
I'M PROUD TO SAY THAT WE AT THE TEXAS A&M AGRILIFE EXTENSION SERVICE IN TRAVIS COUNTY
HAVE PARTNERED WITH THE COMPOST COALITION AND URBAN PATCHWORK NEIGHBORHOOD FARMS TO
BRING THIS PROGRAM TO LIFE. TO GET MORE INFORMATION GO TO THE WEBSITE
AT COMPOST COALITION.COM OR GIVE US A CALL AT THE EXTENSION OFFICE.
WE WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU, SO PLEASE VISIT KLRU.ORG/CTG TO SEND US YOUR QUESTIONS
OR PLANTS OF THE WEEK FROM YOUR GARDEN. >> THANKS, DAPHNE.
NOW LET'S CHECK IN WITH TRISHA SHYRY FOR BACKYARD BASICS.
>> HI, I'M TRISHA SHIREY. AND BACKYARD BASICS IS HERE AT LAKE AUSTIN
SPA AND RESORT SPA GARDENS TODAY. AND I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT GARDEN STRUCTURES.
NOT ALL OF US HAVE FENCES TO WORK WITH IN OUR GARDENS AND SOME PLANTS REALLY APPRECIATE
THE EXTRA SUPPORT, BUT YOU CAN PROVIDE IT WHERE YOU WANT IT.
ONE OF MY FAVORITE TECHNIQUES IS TO USE T POSTS AND THEY COME IN VARIOUS HEIGHTS AND
SIZES. AND LIVESTOCK PANEL.
THIS LIVESTOCK PANEL COMES WITH A FOUR BY FOUR OPENING OR A FOUR BY SIX OPENING.
YOU WANT A FAIRLY LARGE OPENING SO YOU CAN GET YOUR HAND IN TO COLLECT THAT BIG JUICY
TOMATO OR CUCUMBER. SO DON'T USE A SMALLER OPENING THAN FOUR BY
FOUR. THE PANELS CAN BE CUT TO SIZE.
YOU CAN USE THEM TALL FOR THINGS LIKE GREEN BEANS.
YOU CAN PUT THEM SIDE WAYS FOR CUCUMBERS. YOU CAN EVEN GROW CANTALOUPES ON THESE PANELS
IF YOU USE A LITTLE BIT OF SUPPORT. I'LL USE PANTYHOSE TO HOLD UP THE CANTALOUPES
AS THEY START TO GET LARGER SO THEY BECOME A GREAT VEHICLE FOR GROWING POLE BEANS AND
MANY OTHER THINGS AND YOU CAN MOVE THEM AROUND IN THE GARDEN EVERY YEAR, DEPENDING ON WHERE
YOU WANT TO ROTATE THOSE PLANTS. NOW, I'VE FOUND THE TOMATO GAUGE THAT I ABSOLUTELY
LOVE. THIS IS THE TEXAS TOMATO GAUGE AND IT'S GALVANIZED
SO IT DOESN'T RUST. AND THE NICEST THING ABOUT IT IS IT FOLDS
FLAT FOR STORAGE SO I CAN PUT THE ENTIRE GARDEN'S WORTH OF CAGES IN A VERY SMALL AREA TO STORE
THEM. THEY DON'T RUST AND THEY ARE VERY STURDY.
THEY COME IN VARIOUS SIZES SO I USE THE SMALLEST SIZE FOR MY PEPPERS AND EGG PLANT.
THERE IS A LARGER TOMATO CAGE FOR INDETERMINATE TOMATOES AND THEN I USE THE SMALLER ONES FOR
DETERMINATE TOMATOES. I USUALLY HAVE TO PUT STAKES ON MY CAGES TO
KEEP THEM STURDY IN HIGH WINDS, BUT YOU MAY NOT NEED TO COULD THAT.
I USE BAMBOO STAKES OR REBAR OR EACH COPPER TUBING TO HOLD THOSE INTO THE GROUND.
NOW, I ALSO USE BAMBOO STAKES FOR OTHER THINGS. THE CUCUMBERS WILL CLIMB ON TOP OF THE BAMBOO.
YOU CAN ALSO USE BAMBOO IN A TEEPEE TO GROW GREEN BEANS ON AND IT'S PRETTY LONG LASTING.
YOU CAN USUALLY GET TWO GARDEN SEASONS OUT OF IT.
AND IT'S VERY INEXPENSIVE. MOST PEOPLE WHO HAVE BAMBOO WOULD BE HAPPY
FOR YOU TO CUT IT. NOW, I ALSO USE REBAR IN MANY WAYS IN THE
GARDEN. REBAR HOOPS MADE WITH THE THREE EIGHTHS REBAR
ARE VERY USEFUL ALL WINTER LONG. I CAN PUT MY ROW COVER OVER TO KEEP THE PLANTS
WARMER AND I USE SPRING CLAMPS TO HOLD THE COVERS ON IN PLACE.
IN THE EARLY GARDEN SEASON I HAVE THE LIGHTWEIGHT ROW COVER OVER THE PLANTS TO KEEP THE SQUASH
VINE BORES OFF OF MY SQUASH. WHEN A PLANT SQUASH, THE ROW COVER GOES ON
AND STAYS ON UNTIL THE PLANTS ARE STARTING TO HAVE THE MALE AND FEMALE FLOWERS AND THEN
I TAKE THE COVER OFF AND OPEN IT UP TO THE POLLINATORS.
AND BYE BYE THAT TIME THE SQUASH HAS GROWN QUITE LARGE AND IT'S READY TO BE PRODUCING
AND IT CAN OUT GROW THE SQUASH VINE BORES IN THEY DO COME.
SO THE REBAR HOOPS ALSO COME IN HANDY FOR PUTTING THE DEER NETTING OVER THE PLANTS IF
YOU HAPPEN TO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH DEER OR RABBITS OR EACH BIRDS ATTACKING YOUR PLANTS.
YOU CAN USE THOSE SAME HOOPS TO PUT THE NETTING OVER ATTACHED WITH CLAMPS AND YOU CAN LIFT
THE CLAMPS AND GET TO YOUR PLANTS. SO ALL OF THESE THINGS CAN PROVIDE GREAT STRUCTURE
FOR YOUR GARDEN AND HELP YOU OUT WITH KEEPING YOUR PLANTS HAPPY.
FOR BACKYARD BASICS, I'M TRISHA SHIREY. THANKS FOR JOINING US.
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