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>> HI THERE, I'M TOM SPENCER. THIS WEEK ON CENTRAL TEXAS GARDENER, FILL
YOUR VASE WITH LOCALLY GROWN FLOWERS. AUTHOR DEBRA PRINZING EXPLAINS WHY SLOW FLOWERS
AND THE 50 MILE BOUQUET JOIN THE SLOW FOOD MOVEMENT.
ON TOUR VISIT RITA ANDERS AT HER FLOWER GARDEN WHERE PEOPLE, NOT MACHINES GROW AND MARKET
LOCALLY. DAPHNE RICHARDS ANSWERS YOUR TOP QUESTION
AND MAKES HER PICK OF THE WEEK AND JOHN HAS YOUR BACKYARD BASIC TIPS.
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 ORGANIC
LANDSCAPING SUPPLIES. MORE INFORMATION AT GEOGROWERS.NET.
ΒΆΒΆ >>
BUYING LOCAL FOOD HAS BECOME A PRIORITY FOR MANY OF US, BUT WHAT ABOUT CUT FLOWERS?
LET'S HEAD OUT TO WEIMER FOR A FLESH LOOK AT FLOWERS GROWN AND MARKETED BY HAND, NOT
MY MACHINES. >> HAVE YOU EVER MISSED THE PERFECT MOMENT
TO PICK A FLOWER? >> THE STAGE YOU WANT TO PICK IT AT IS JUST
A LITTLE BIT OLDER THAN THIS, BUT IT'S NOT SHEDDING.
YOU DON'T WANT TO PICK IT HERE. SEE HOW IT SHEDS OFF OF HERE?
WE PICK LAST WEEK AND WE NEED A BUNCH FOR A WEDDING THIS WEEK.
LET'S SPRAY THIS WITH HAIR SPRAY AND IT WILL STOP IT FROM SHEDDING.
>> RITA KNOWS THE TRICK FOR CUT FLOWERS, STARTING AT GROUND LEVEL.
FROM HER CUTS OF COLOR FARM IN WEIMER TEXAS, SHE AND HER ASSISTANTS BUNDLE UP PACKETS OF
JOY FOR WEDDINGS AND EVERY SPECIAL OCCASION. >> MY GRANDMOTHER WAS A FLOWER PERSON.
I LOVED GROWING FLOWERS, SO I HEAD HECK, I'M GOING TO CHECK THIS OUT.
>> RITA USED TO GROW TOMATOES YEAR ROUND IN GREENHOUSES, STARTED WITH ONE INHERITED FROM
HER GRANDPA DOWN THE ROAD. EVEN THOUGH SHE STILL PROVIDES HERBS FOR RESTAURANTS
LIKE THIS ONE IN HOUSTON, SHE SWITCHED CROPS IN 2004.
SHE HAD SEEN THE GROWING DEMAND FOR LOCALLY GROWN FLOWERS THAT ARRIVE AT THEIR DESTINATION
SOON AFTER CUTTING. >> TAKE, FOR EXAMPLE, A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO
I DID A WEDDING AND ALL OF MY FLOWERS WERE IN THERE WITH SOME ROSES.
GUESS WHAT DIED FIRST? THE ROSES.
THEY ALL WENT PTFF FIRST. EVERYTHING ELSE WERE BEAUTIFUL.
THE ROSES WERE DEAD. >> TO FILL HER CUSTOMER'S ORDERS YEAR ROUND,
RITA GROWS IN THE GROUSES AND THE FIELDS. >> WE SEED THEM IN THERE AND WHEN THEY'RE
ABOUT THAT TALL WE START TRANSPLANTING THEM OUT HERE.
A LOT OF PEOPLE DIRECT SEED THEIR SUN FLOWERS AND WE ARE DOING SOME THIS YEAR TOO, BUT NORMALLY
WE TRANSPLANT EVERYTHING WE GROW. WE GROW IT IN THE GREENHOUSE AND THEN WE PUT
IT OUT HERE. THAT'S ONE WAY WE GET A JUMP ON EVERYTHING
TOO. >> WE'RE SEEN CONSTANTLY.
PROBABLY EVERY MONTH WE DO MAJOR CROPS LIKE THE ZINNIAS AND THE FILLER ITEMS, BUT WE DO
SUN FLOWERS EVERY WEEK, LIKE 1500 EVERY WEEK. AND WE DO BUY IN A LOT OF PLUGS TOO FOR A
LOT OF OUR FALL STUFF THAT STARTED IN THE FALL WE GET IN PLUGS.
>> IT'S ALL ABOUT TIMING, ESPECIALLY FOR WARM WEATHER PLANTS THAT GO INTO THE FIELDS AND
SPRING. BUT OVERNIGHT NATURE CAN THROW A SPIN INTO
CAREFULLY LAID PLANS. >> WITH HE LOST A BED AND A HALF OF ZINNIAS
THAT WE THOUGHT WAS OKAY. WE PUT IT OUT MARCH 10th AND THOUGHT IT WOULD
BE OKAY. I LOOKED AT THE WEATHER FORECAST AND WE WEREN'T
SUPPOSED TO GET A FREEZE, BUT WE DID. >> EVEN THE GREENHOUSES AREN'T IMMUNE. WHEN
A TORNADO CAME THROUGH RITA MET THE CHALLENGE THE WAY HER FAMILY ALWAYS HAS.
>> MY GRANDPA WAS A FARMER, MY DAD WAS A FARMER. MY SON'S A LANDSCAPER.
IT'S IN OUR BLOOD, I GUESS. BUT YOU HAVE SO MUCH FREEDOM TO DO WHAT YOU
WANT TO DO, PLANT WHAT YOU WANT TO PLANT, TELL TO WHO YOU WANT TO SELL TO.
IT'S FREEDOM. NOBODY IS TELLING YOU WHAT TO DO.
AND YES, THERE'S STRESS, BUT IT'S ONLY THE STRESS I CREATE ON MYSELF WHEN I TRY TO DO
TOO MUCH. >> SHE DOES GET HELP, CURRENTLY FROM CAITLIN
AND AMY. SHE'S KNOWN THEIR HUSBANDS SINCE THEY WERE
BABIES. IN LATE APRIL THEY WERE CUTTING FLOWERS FOR
CENTRAL MARKET ALONG WITH WEDDING FLOWERS FOR RITA'S NIECE BRIDGET, WHO IS IS LIKE HER
SECOND DAUGHTER. RITA PLANTED THE BRIDE'S CHOICE OF COLORS
AS SHE WILL DO FOR ANY BRIDE. BRIDGET HAS WORKED ON THE FARM TOO SINCE SHE
WAS OLD ENOUGH TO PUT STICKERS ON TOMATOES. SOME PLANTS THAT CAN GROW OUTSIDE IN WINTER
GET GREENHOUSE PROTECTION TO GET THEM PICTURE PERFECT WITH NETTING TO KEEP THEM STRAIGHT.
>> OTHERWISE THEY GO DOWN ON THE GROUND AND THEN THEY USUALLY CAN'T USE THEM BECAUSE THEY
GO CURVY AND THEY'RE REALLY HARD TO WORK INTO BOUQUETS.
>> OTHER PLANTS MOVE OUTSIDE IN SPRING UNDER SHADE PROTECTION.
SUN LOVERS GO TO THE FIELDS. WHEN THE SOIL HAS WARMED UP RITA ALSO SEEDS
SUMMER ANNUALS A THOUSAND AT A TIME. SHE RIGGED UP A WAY TO SAVE HER BACK.
>> PRETEND THIS ROW IS EMPTY, BUT I PUT THE PIKE DOWN ON THE GROUND AND I DROP THE SEED
IN AND IT LAYS ON TOP OF THE GROUND AND I DO ALL THE SEEDS OUT FIRST ON ONE ROW AND
THEN I COME BACK AND I JUST TAKE THIS EMPTY BROOM HANDLE STICK AND I BARELY PUNCH IT IN
THE GROUND AND COVER IT UP A LITTLE BIT. >> RITA COMPANION PLANTS FOR BOUQUETS IN EVERY
SEASON. >> THESE ARE EARLY TIER DAFFODILS.
WE PLANTED THESE LIKE THREE YEARS AGO AND WE HARVEST OFF OF THEM IN FEBRUARY, MARCH.
THEN WE LET THEM DIE BACK. AND WE GO AHEAD AND WAIT UNTIL THEY'RE DONE,
BROWNED OUT, AND WE MOW THEM OVER AND I MULCH THE BED AND I COME BACK AND PLANT CELOSIA
PLANTS ON TOP OF THEM. AND WE GROW CELOSIA UNTIL THE WINTERTIME UNTIL
IT FREEZES AND THEN WE PULL OFF THE CELOSIA, CLEAN IT UP AND THEN THE EARLY ONES COME BACK
AND WE HAVE ANOTHER CROP. >> WE GROW LILIES, ABOUT 25 TO A CRATE.
AND WE START PICKING THEM WHEN THEY GET TO BE LIKE THIS, WHEN THESE TWO OF THE BUDS ARE
COLORED UP, WE GO AHEAD AND CUT LILIES OFF. AND WHEN THE BULB IS DONE GROWING WE TURN AROUND
AND WE GO AHEAD AND PLANT SALAD GREENS ON TOP OF THEM AND WE START HARVESTING THEM UNTIL
LIKE NOW. BECAUSE NOW THE LILIES ARE STARTING TO COME
BACK FROM YEAR AND WE'LL STOP THE HARVESTING OF THE GREENS AND LET THEM GROW BACK.
>> PATRONS AT HOUSTON RESTAURANTS TUCK INTO HER FRESHLY GROWN FOOD EVERY WEEK.
DILL AND FENNEL WORK FOR RECIPES AND FILLERS. ANOTHER EASY GROWER IS THIS ONE.
ARTICHOKE LEAVES MAKE DRAMATIC FILLERS STATIS IS A TRADITIONAL FAVORITE.
>> THESE ARE TABLE SCAPES WE'RE GOING TO A LITTLE WEDDING AND WE'RE DOING THEM IN GALVANIZED
TINS AND THEY HAVE DRAINAGE AT THE BOTTOM AND SO DO THE BOXES THAT ARE MADE OUT OF REALLY
OLD WOOD FROM HOUSES. >> SHE KEEPS YOUR TABLE CLOTH IN MIND.
>> YOU CAN TELL HOW HOLD A SUNFLOWER IS BY THE RINGS OF POLLEN INSIDE.
THIS ONE HERE HAS HARDLY ANY FLORETS OF POLLEN HAVE OPENED UP, WHEREAS THIS ONE HERE THERE'S
SEVERAL AROUND THAT LITTLE CIRCLE. >> WE CUT INTO VERY CLEAN BUCKETS.
WE WASH THEM ALL WITH CHLORINE. WE CUT INTO FRESHWATER.
>> WHAT'S HER ADVICE FOR CUSTOMERS ONCE THEY GET THEM HOME?
>> ANY VASE YOU PUT YOUR FLOWERS IN HAS TO BE VERY, VERY CLEAN.
YOU PUT FLOWERS IN A DIRTY VASE AND YOU'RE KILLING THEM.
I ALWAYS TELL THEM TO RECUT THEM JUST A LITTLE BIT AND I GIVE THEM A PACKET OF FLOWER FOOD
AND I TELL THEM NOT TO USE IT ALL USE IT ALL
AT ONE TIME. I SAY HALF AND THEN IN THREE ON ARE FOUR DAYS
RECLIP AND PUT THEM BACK IN WITH FRESHWATER. AND THE PEOPLE WHO DO THAT THE FLOWERS LAST.
I JUST PUT THEM IN THE VASE AND LEAVE 'EM. >> WHAT ABOUT ARRANGING YOUR OWN CUT FLOWERS?
>> I USED TO GO IN ONE'S, THREE'S, FIVE'S. I NEVER DO TWO OF ANYTHING.
YOU WON'T PUT TWO SUN FLOWERS IN A BOUQUET, ONE OR THREE OR FIVE, ODD NUMBERS.
AND THEN TEXTURES AND VARIETY. JUST TRY TO GET DIFFERENT COLORS, DIFFERENT
BUT THEN GONE MONOCHROME IS IN TOO BUT YOU CAN DO DIFFERENT FLOWERS IN THE SAME COLOR.
SO IT'S JUST IT'S WHAT YOU LIKE. THERE'S REALLY NOT A RIGHT AND A WRONG.
AND AS YOU TAKE BEAUTIFUL STUFF AND PUT IT TOGETHER, IT WILL BE BEAUTIFUL.
>> ALONG WITH GROWING SPECIALTY ORDERS AND MAKING ARRANGEMENTS FOR WEDDINGS AND OTHER
EVENTS, RITA SELLS DIRECTLY FROM THE FARM, BUT PREFERS A CALL IN ADVANCE.
THEY'RE USUALLY THERE ON WEDNESDAYS, CUTTING AND PACKAGING FLOWERS TO DELIVER TO CENTRAL
MARKETS IN HOUSTON ON THURSDAY MORNING. MANY FLOWERS LIKE POPPIES CAN BE CUT AND KEPT
IN THE COOLER FOR A FEW DAYS UNLIKE BASE I WILL THAT CAN'T BE REFRIGERATED.
>> IT TURNS BLACK. YEAH.
IT'S JUST LIKE WHEN YOU'RE GROWING IT IN THE GARDEN, ONCE YOU START GETTING 40 DEGREE TEMPERATURES,
IT DOESN'T LIKE IT. AND WE DON'T PUT OUR ZINNIAS IN THE COOLER
EITHER. WE HAND PACKAGE EVERYTHING HERE, BUT IN THE
BIG WHOLESALE PLACES EVERYTHING IS DONE PRETTY MUCH BY MACHINES.
>> ALONG WITH SUPPORTING THE LOCAL ECONOMY AND ITS FAMILIES, RITA IS SATISFYING A HUNGER
FOR SIMPLY FRESH BEAUTY. HER LONG LASTING IMPACT STARTS RIGHT AT HOME.
>> IT'S RITA. SHE DOES EVERYTHING HANDMADE.
AND MY SOPHOMORE YEAR I TOOK A FLORAL DESIGN CLASS.
SO I GOT TO LEARN ALL THE ASPECTS OF WHAT SHE DOES, AND I'D HAVE TO SAY THAT LEARNING
ABOUT IT MAKES US APPRECIATE HER JOB SO MUCH MORE BECAUSE IT IS SO TEDIOUS AND SHE DOES
IT FANTASTIC JOB. >> WITH THAT WONDERFUL STORY OF RITA'S FLOWERS
GROWN AND MARKETED BY HAND RIGHT HERE IN TEXAS, NOW LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THE GROWING NATIONWIDE
SENSITIVITY ABOUT CUT FLOWERS. WE'RE JOINED BY DEBRA PRINZING, AN AUTHOR
WHO HAS WRITTEN A BEAUTIFUL BOOK ABOUT THIS WHOLE PHENOMENON CALLED THE 50 MILE BAYOU
KAY AND HER BOOK, FOUR SEASONS OF LOCALLY GROWN BOUQUETS.
WE'RE ALSO JOINED BY RITA ANDERS, WHO IS CUTS OF COLOR FROM WEIMER, TEXAS, WHO IS ACTUALLY
ONE OF THE LOCAL GROWERS WHO IS PROVIDING US WITH MAGICAL AND BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS IN OUR
OWN BACKWARD YARDS. IT'S GREAT TO HAVE YOU HERE.
DEBRA, I WANT TO START WITH YOU. LET'S TALK ABOUT THIS PHENOMENON.
THERE'S A GROWING RECOGNITION THAT THERE'S KIND OF A DARK SIDE TO THE FLORAL INDUSTRY.
AND LOCAL AND SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES ARE COMING BACK TO THE FLORAL INDUSTRY, LARGELY THANKS
TO FOLKS LIKE RITA. BUT YOU'VE BEEN A CHAMPION AT THIS.
THANK YOU FOR THAT. >> ABSOLUTELY.
I FEEL LIKE FLOWER FARMERS ARE THE NEW ROCK STARS IN THE FLORAL WORLD.
AND THE I THINK WHAT'S BEHIND IT IS VERY MUCH A PARALLEL WITH THE FLOW OF FOOD INDUSTRY.
WE WANT TO KNOW THE FOOD WE'RE EATING. CHEFS HAVE POPULARIZED THEIR VENDORS, THE
PURVEYORS, AND THAT STORYTELLING REALLY DRAWS US IN AND MAKES US APPRECIATE THE WORK OF
GROWING FOOD. SIMILARLY, IT'S HAPPENING AGAIN IN THE DOMESTIC
FLOWER INDUSTRY. AND IT'S REALLY EXCITING WHEN WE CAN MAKE
THAT CONNECTION WITH WHO IS GROWING OUR FLOWERS. >> YEAH.
IT'S A WAY OF REWEAVING COMMUNITY REALLY. YOU KNOW, BOTH THE FOOD GROWERS AND THE FLOWER
VENDORS AS WELL BECAUSE YOU'RE SUPPORTING YOUR NEIGHBORS.
>> ABSOLUTELY. AND IT'S JUST SO GENERIC WHEN WE'RE BUYING
FLOWERS IN A PLASTIC SLEEVE SAY SUPERMARKET AND WE HAVE NO IDEA THEY'RE NOT EVEN IN SEASON
AND WE DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY CAME FROM. AND WE
>> WHAT IS BEYOND. THAT WAS THE CONCERN TO ME.
>> HOW THEY WERE TREATED. WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF A DISCONNECT WHEREAS
WHEN WE KNOW THE FARMER AND WE CAN MEET THE FARMER FACE TO FACE OR WE HEAR THEIR STORIES
WE'RE SUPPORTING AN AMERICAN FARMING INDUSTRY. >> EXACTLY.
NOW, YOU MET RITA AT ACTUALLY A CONFERENCE, RIGHT?
>> YES. THE GRADE ASSOCIATION, ASSOCIATION OF SPECIALTY
CUT FLOWER GROWERS AND THERE ARE FARMERS IN EVERY STATE AND THEY'RE REALLY EXPERTS IN
THEIR REGIONAL UNIQUENESS OF WHAT GROWS WHEN AND WHERE.
AND SO WE MET AT A CONFERENCE AND I GOT TO COME VISIT HER FARM.
>> OKAY. AND RITA, CUTS OF COLOR AGAIN IN WEIMER, TEXAS,
OUT NEAR LA GRANGE. AND HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED IN GROWING FLOWERS?
I'M CURIOUS. >> I PRETTY MUCH INHERITED THE LOVE OF FLOWERS
FROM MY GRANDPARENTS. AND I JUST KEPT GROWING IT FROM THERE.
AND I USED TO RAISE VEGETABLES AND I WANTED TO DO SOMETHING MORE FUN.
I STILL RAISE VEGETABLES, BUT I LOVE GROWING FLOWERS AND I LOVE MAKING PEOPLE HAPPY.
I LOVE PEOPLE CALLING, SAYING HEY MAKE THIS ARRANGEMENT FOR SO AND SO.
I WANT TO BRIGHTEN HER DAY. THAT'S THE ONES I REALLY LOVE.
AND THEN I DO LOVE TAKING FLOWERS INTO HOUSTON TO MY MARKET AND SELLING THEM THERE.
AND JUST HEARING THE STORIES OF HAPPY PEOPLE. >> YEAH.
THAT'S PART OF THE MAGIC OF IT ALL, ISN'T IT?
>> YES. >> I CAN SEE IT REALLY LIGHTS YOU UP, WHICH
IS AWESOME. AND YOU MADE THIS TRANSITION FROM GROWING
PRODUCE TO FLOWERS AND FOUND IT TO BE REALLY REWARDING AND SUCCESSFUL.
>> YES. BUT I STILL DO PRODUCE TOO.
>> OKAY. SO YOU'RE COVERING ALL THE BASES. >> YEAH.
>> THAT'S GREAT. SO I WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT KIND OF THE
BOOK AND SOME OF THE STORIES BEHIND IT. NOW, I'M PARTICULARLY CURIOUS ABOUT THE NEW
BOOK. IN THIS YOU'VE CREATED A BOUQUET OF LOCALLY
GROWN FLOWERS EVERY YEAR, JUST TO SHOW PEOPLE THIS IS POSSIBLE AND YOU CAN HAVE THIS WONDERFUL
DIVERSITY, RIGHT? >> RIGHT.
AND TOM, WHAT HAPPENED WAS I WAS WORKING ON THE 50 MILE BOUQUET AND DOING LOTS OF FLORAL
ARRANGING WITH THE GREAT PRODUCTS I BRING FROM FARMS.
AND IT WAS NOVEMBER AND THERE WAS A LOT OF PUSH BACK, LIKE YOU CAN DO LOCAL AND SEASONAL
IF YOU LIVE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, BUT YOU CAN'T DO THAT IN SEATTLE WHERE I LIVE BECAUSE
WE HAVE TWIGS AND CONFER IN THE WINTER. AND I SAID LET ME SEE WHAT I CAN DO EVERY
WEEK. AND I USED REALLY UNUSUAL INGREDIENTS FROM
MY OWN GARDEN AND FROM FRIENDS. THEN I STARTED BUYING WHAT THE FARMERS HAD
AND THE GROWERS I'VE GOTTEN TO KNOW LIKE RITA, THEY ALWAYS HAVE SOME SECRET LITTLE THING
THEY'RE TRYING. THEY'LL SAY CHECK OUT THIS COOL FOLIAGE, DEBRA,
OR THIS UNUSUAL BULB. AND I WAS THRILLED TO SEE THAT YOU CAN HAVE
A BOUQUET REAR ROUND AND HAVE IT BE SEASONAL AND LOCAL.
>> I THINK THE CONSUMERS ARE MORE AND MORE AWARE THAT THESE CHOICES MATTER.
>> ABSOLUTELY. AND THE WEDDING MARKET IS REALLY PUSHING THE
RETURN TO LOCAL BECAUSE BRIDES BECOME SO INVOLVED IN THEIR SELECTION OF THEIR COLORS AND THE
SEASONS AND THE FLOWERS THAT MAYBE REMIND THEM OF GRANDMOTHER OR WHATEVER, AND THESE
ARE FLOWERS THAT CAN'T BE SHIPPED FROM TWO CONTINENTS AWAY.
THEY'RE MORE DELICATE AND EPHEMERAL AND THEY NEED THAT LOVING CARE OF A LOCAL GROWER WHO
IS GOING TO JUST GROW THEM WITH ATTENTION LIKE GOURMET COUTURE DETAIL.
>> IT'S DIFFERENT WHEN YOU'RE SELLING SOMEBODY YOU KNOW AS OPPOSED TO SHIPPING THEM OFF TO
MARKET. >> YES.
>> AND I THINK THAT'S PART OF THE REWARD OBVIOUSLY FOR YOU.
>> THE BIGGEST REWARD IS THE BRIDES THAT I DO.
WHEN THEY COME IN AND EITHER I DELIVER THEIR FLOWERS OR THEY COME PICK THEM UP AND TAKE
THEM OUT TO THEIR WEDDING SITE, AND THE LOOK IN THEIR FACES JUST WARMS YOUR HEART THAT
THEY'RE SO HAPPY TO GET THOSE FLOWERS. AND THEN YOU GET ALL THE COMMENTS.
AND IT'S JUST LIKE YES, THAT WAS WORTH IT! ALL THAT HARD WORK.
>> THAT'S WONDERFUL. THAT'S WONDERFUL.
AND WHAT I'M ENJOYING SO MUCH IS JUST YOUR PASSION FOR THIS BECAUSE IT'S EVIDENT AND
I CAN SEE WHERE YOU'RE CUSTOMERS PROBABLY LOVE THAT AS WELL.
NOW, BEYOND JUST THE ECONOMY OF THIS, AND THE PERSONAL JOY, THERE ARE OTHER REASONS
WHY WE SHOULD BE GROWING FLOWERS. THERE ARE BENEFITS JUST TO HAVING FLOWER GARDENS.
DO YOU GO INTO THAT IN YOUR BOOKS AT ALL? >> YEAH.
THE WHOLE IDEA OF THE 50 MILE BOUQUET IS KIND OF A PLAY ON THE 100 MILE DIET, WHICH WE'VE
HEARD ABOUT IN THE FOOD WORLD, BUT REALLY IT'S LOOKING AT THE FACT THAT FLOWERS ARE
PERISHABLE, THEY'RE ALSO MAYBE SOME PEOPLE CONSIDER LUXURY GOODS.
I DON'T NECESSARILY. >> THE BEES DON'T.
THEY NEED 'EM! >> RIGHT.
IF YOU GO SO FAR ON THE PENDULUM TO EDIBLES, THEN YOU DON'T HAVE NECTAR SOURCES FOR YOUR
POLLINATORS. SO THAT'S AN ARGUMENT FOR KEEPING FLOWERS
IN YOUR GARDEN. THE ARGUMENT FOR KEEPING IT LOCAL IS REALLY
THAT IT'S GOOD FOR THE PLANET AND YOU'RE NOT USING JET FUEL TO HAVE FLOWERS FLOWN TO YOU
OR TRUCK FUEL TO HAVE THEM DRIVEN TO YOU. IT'S POSSIBLE TO HAVE A FIVE STEP BOUQUET
EVEN IN YOUR OWN BACKYARD WHERE YOU JUST HAVE A LITTLE CUTTING GARDEN.
EVEN IN POTS. YOU HAD NUSTRUSTRUM.
I THOUGHT THAT WOULD BE THE BEST THING FOR POTS AND TO USE THEM FOR COOKING.
>> RIGHT. AND AGAIN, GREAT BENEFIT TO THE GARDENER AS
WELL AS TO THE PLANET REALLY IN A SENSE OF GROWING ALL THESE THINGS.
AND THE JOY OF IT, THE HEALING KIND OF QUALITY OF HAVING A GARDEN.
NOW, DOING ALL THIS REALLY CHANGES THE RELATIONSHIP THAT PEOPLE HAVE WITH FLOWERS IN A WAY.
>> YES. >> AND SOMETHING I KNOW THAT YOU WANT TO EXPLORE
A LITTLE BIT. >> WELL, I THINK THERE IS SORT OF A SPIRITUAL
QUALITY TO BEING CLOSE TO YOUR GARDEN. AND WHEN WE OBSERVE WHAT WE'RE GROWING WE
STOP AND THINK ABOUT IT AND WE MAYBE HAVE A GREATER APPRECIATION THAN SOMETHING THAT
IS JUST AS I SAID, A GENERIC BUNCH OF FLOWERS. AND FOR SOME PEOPLE THE BEAUTY OF BRINGING
THEM INDOORS AND SHARING THEM ON THEIR DINING TABLE OR GIVING THEM AS GIFTS, IT'S AN ANCIENT,
TIMELESS PRACTICE. AND SO WE'RE JUST KIND OF RECLAIMING IT.
>> RIGHT. AND THE ARRANGEMENT IS AN ANCIENT AND BEAUTIFUL
PRACTICE AS WELL. A GENUINE ART FORM.
AND I CAN TELL THAT YOU DELIGHT IN THAT SO THAT IT'S PARTICULARLY JOYFUL FOR ME TO BE
WITH YOU ON THAT. BUT WE HAVE COME TO THE END OF OUR TIME, BUT
THANK YOU BOTH SO MUCH FOR BEING OUR GUEST ON CENTRAL TEXAS GARDENER.
>> THANK YOU. >> YES.
BEST WISHES IN YOUR ENDEAVORS. >> THANK YOU.
>> AND COMING UP NEXT IT'S OUR FRIEND DAPHNE. >> HI, I'M DAPHNE RICHARDS AND THIS IS AUGIE.
THIS WEEK'S QUESTION IS ANOTHER ONE THAT WE GET ALL THE TIME, WHY DO LEAVES TURN YELLOW
AND FALL OFF OF OTHERWISE HEALTHY LOOKING PLANTS?
THIS IS ONE OF THOSE QUESTIONS THAT IS NOT EASY TO ANSWER SINCE THERE ARE SO MANY POSSIBLE
REASONS FOR THIS SYMPTOM. WHEN I GET THIS QUESTION I ALWAYS FEEL LIKE
A DOCTOR WHO CAN'T GIVE YOU A DEFINITIVE ANSWER FOR WHY YOU HAVE A PERSISTENT COUGH.
YOU DON'T HAVE A COLD, YOU DON'T HAVE THE FLU, SO IT MIGHT BE ALLERGIES, MIGHT BE YOUR
SINUSES, IT MIGHT BE ANY NUMBER OF THINGS. SO YOU WILL JUST HAVE TO WAIT IT ON OUT UNTIL
THE SYMPTOMS PASS. I ALWAYS FEEL FRUSTRATED BY THIS RESPONSE
WHEN I VISIT THE DOCTOR UNTIL I REMEMBER THAT OFTEN I HAVE THE SAME ANSWER FOR PEOPLE WITH
PLANT QUESTIONS. SOMETIMES IT'S JUST IMPOSSIBLE TO PIN DOWN
A SPECIFIC REASON FOR PARTICULAR SYMPTOMS. IN THE CASE OF YELLOWING LEAVES, IT MIGHT
BE THAT THE PLANT IS GETTING TOO MUCH WATER OR IT MIGHT BE JUST THAT THE LEAF IS OLD.
IT COULD ALSO BE THAT THE PLANT IS LACKING IN NUTRIENTS SO THE PLANT DECIDES TO SACRIFICE
THE LEAVES AND NO LONGER WASTE PRECIOUS RESOURCES TRYING TO KEEP IT ALIVE.
IF A LEAF IS NOT GREEN, IT'S LACKING IN CHLOROPHYLL AND UNABLE TO DO ITS JOB, WHICH IS TO PERFORM
PHOTOSYNTHESIS AND PROVIDE THE PLANT WITH CARBOHYDRATES FOR GROWTH.
THE REMEDY IN THIS INSTANCE WOULD BE TO FERTILIZE THE PLANT, BUT IF THE PLANT IS GETTING TOO
MUCH WATER, OBVIOUSLY THE SOLUTION IS TO CUT BACK ON WATERING.
YOU CAN TELL IF THE PLANT NEEDS WATER BY PRESSING YOUR FINGER DOWN INTO THE SOIL AS FAR AS YOU
CAN. THAT'S ABOUT TWO INCHES AND YOU DON'T NEED
TO WATER IF THE SOIL IS NOT DRY AT THAT DEPTH. IF THE TOP TWO INCHES NEVER DRY OUT THE SOIL
BELOW THAT DEFINITELY DOESN'T. TO CONFUSE YOU EVEN MORE ANOTHER REASON FOR
HEALTHY PLANT TO DEVELOP YELLOWING LEAVES AND DROP THEM MIGHT BE NOT ENOUGH WATER.
SO THE KEY TO SOLVING WATER ISSUES IS GOING TO BE WATCHING THE SOIL AND CHECKING THE MOISTURE
LEVEL QUITE OFTEN FOR AWHILE. IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA TO PURCHASE A MOISTURE
METER. YOU CAN FIND VERY AFFORDABLE HOUSING ONES
AT MOST NURSERIES AND THERE'S NO NEED TO BUY AN EXPENSIVE ONE.
THE GOOD NEWS IS OVERALL YELLOWING OF OLDER LEAVES IS NOT A SIGN OF A DISEASE AND IS RARELY
A SIGN OF INSECT ISSUES. MY BEST ADVICE IS TO REMOVE THE YELLOW LEAVES
AND JUST PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO YOUR PLANT'S GROWING ENVIRONMENT.
AS WITH THAT PERSISTENT COUGH, THIS SYMPTOM WILL USUALLY RUN ITS COURSE WITH VERY LITTLE
EFFORT ON YOUR PART. OUR PLANT THIS WEEK IS PHLOX PANICULATA.
YOU MIGHT SEE THIS PLANT LISTED AS DID HE SAID JUST, BUT I FOUND THAT IT PERFORMS BETTER
WHEN TREATED AS A PERENNIAL, MEANING YOU WILL SHEAR IT TO THE GROUND, FORCING IT TO PRODUCE
ALL NEW GROWTH FROM THE ROOTS. PHLOX WILL LOOK FULLER AND HEALTHIER AND HAVE
MORE FLOWERS IF YOU DO. IT SHOULD BE PLANTED IN A SHADY SPOT THAT
RECEIVES BRIGHT, BUT INDIRECT SUNLIGHT. AS WITH MOST SHADE PLANTS IT NEEDS EXTRA WATER,
BUT DON'T OVERWATER WHICH WILL CAUSE IT TO ROT.
IN MY GARDEN, PHLOX WILL HAVE LEAVES WITH YELLOW LEAVES THAT STILL HAVE GREEN VEINS.
THAT'S BECAUSE IT PREFERS SOIL THAT'S SLIGHTLY MORE ACIDIC THAN OURS HERE IN CENTRAL TEXAS.
THIS PROBLEM IS EASILY REMEDIED BY USING A FERTILIZER WITH A LITTLE IRON IN IT.
FERTILIZER PRODUCTS THAT ARE DESIGNED FOR ACID LOVING PLANTS WILL CLEAR UP THE PROBLEM
IN NO TIME. WE HAVE ANOTHER GREAT VIEWER PHOTO THIS WEEK
FROM KATHIE WHO USES TRISH'S RECIPES FOR FERTILIZER T.E.A.S ON HER CONTAINER PLANTS.
NICE BALCONY KATHIE. OUT IN YOUR GARDEN IF YOU HAVE FRUIT TREES
THAT HAVE BECOME OVERGROWN IN THE CENTER, PRUNE OUT SOME OF THE BRANCHES SO THE REST
WILL BE HEALTHIER. WE LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU, SO PLEASE VISIT
US AT KLRU.ORG/CTG WITH YOUR QUESTION AND PLANTS OF THE WEEK FROM YOUR GARDEN.
>> THANKS, DAPHNE. NOW LET'S CHECK IN WITH BACKYARD BASICS.
>> HELLO, GARDENING FRIENDS, WELCOME TO BACKYARD BASICS.
YOU MAY HAVE PLANTED SOME FLOWERS IN THE SPRING AND IF YOU DIDN'T IT'S A GOOD TIME TO PUT
SOME IN FOR THE FALL. AND I LIKE TO TALK ABOUT BUTTERFLIES AND PRETTY
FLOWERS AND THESE KINDS OF THINGS. COSMOS IS GREAT IN THE SUMMERTIME.
IT GETS RATHER LARGE, BLOOMS LIKE CRAZY, AND IT'S A WONDERFUL FLOWER ALSO.
PERIWINKLES, YES, THESE LITTLE RED ONES AND THERE'S WHITE ONES, MANY DIFFERENT TYPES,
THEY DO VERY WELL IN THE HEAT. THEY NEED A GOOD, WELL DRAINING SOIL.
THEY DON'T LIKE TO HAVE THEIR FEET WET. SO MAR GOLDS ANOTHER COMPANION PLANT FOR TOMATOES.
I LIKE TO BUY THEM WHEN THEY'RE REALLY TIGHT. YOU NEED TO SEE A LITTLE BIT OF THE COLOR.
USUALLY IT'S ON THE TAGS, BUT WHEN THEY'RE TIGHT LIKE THAT, THEY BLOOM LONGER.
I THINK YOU GET A MUCH MORE TIME OUT OF THEM WHEN YOU JUST START OUT WITH THEM TIGHT.
LIKE ANY FLOWER JUST ABOUT. AND SO GOOD IN POTS AND GOOD IN BEDS ALSO.
THE OTHER PLANTS THAT I LIKE TO PUT OUT THERE WOULD BE ZINNIAS.
ZINNIAS ARE WONDERFUL. THEY COME KNEW THESE LITTLE YELLOW ONES THAT
ARE NICE BORDER PLANTS. SOME OF THE PINK ONES, GREAT COLOR.
AND THEN THERE'S SOME TALLER ONES ALSO FOR CUT FLOWERS.
NOTHING BETTER THAN CUT FLOWERS IN THE SUMMERTIME AND IN THE FALL BECAUSE THESE GUYS LOOK REALLY
GREAT IN THE FALL. PERENNIALS CAN BE GROWN IN TOO.
THIS COULD BE A GOOD TIME TO PUT PERENNIALS IN THE GARDEN AND SOME ATTRACT BUTTERFLIES,
LIKE THIS DAISY. THEY VISIT THIS ONE ON THE ROUTE BACK HOME
OR GOING NORTH, EITHER ONE. ANOTHER GREAT ONE FOR ATTRACTING BUTTERFLIES
TO THE GARDEN WOULD BE THE LANTANAS. NOW, THE DAISY AND THE LANTANA DON'T HAVE
TO HAVE A REAL RICH SOIL. THEY LIKE THE NATIVE SOILS IN MANY OF THESE
AREAS. SO I WOULD CONSIDER THOSE.
AND IF YOU WANT THE LANTANAS TO CONTINUE BLOOMING, GO AHEAD AND DEADHEAD THEM, TAKE THE FLOWERS
OFF OF THERE ONCE THEY'RE FORMING SEEDS AND I THINK THAT YOU WILL SEE THAT THEY CONTINUE
TO BLOOM OVER AND OVER THROUGHOUT THE SEASON. NOW, THE WHITE MIST FLOWER OVER HERE, THAT'S
AN EXCELLENT ONE FOR THE FALL BUTTERFLIES THAT ARE MIGRATING THROUGH OUR AREA.
IT JUST GETS FULL OF COLOR. IT'S A BEAUTIFUL PLANT.
AND I THINK YOU WOULD ENJOY THAT ONE, ESPECIALLY WHEN THESE LITTLE JEWELS COME FLYING THROUGH
IN THE FALL. THEY'RE GOING TO VISIT YOUR YARD A LOT MORE
THAN THEY USED TO. AND SO THIS IS A GOOD ONE.
YOU KNOW, ALL OF THESE PLANTS, SOME OF THEM LIKE A BETTER SOIL AND OTHERS LIKE THESE NATIVES,
DON'T HAVE TO HAVE SUCH A RICH SOIL. THEY'RE GROWING VERY EASILY IN THE POORER
SOILS. I THINK MAYBE THEY NEED A LITTLE BIT OF AN
AMENDMENT WHEN THEY GET STARTED, BUT NOT NECESSARILY A RICH GARDEN SOIL.
ESPECIALLY THE FOREIGNER DAISY. NOW I'D LIKE TO PUT IN SOME SEEDLINGS ALSO.
YOU CAN START SEEDS. THAT'S VERY EASY.
ONE OF THE THINGS I LIKE TO GERMINATE THEM IN IS A MIX THAT MAY HAVE EARTHWORM CASTINGS
IN IT. AS A MATTER OF FACT, IT SHOULD HAVE SOME EARTHWORM
CASTINGS IN THERE. AND THEN THE SEEDS WOULD BE GOING IN DIRECTLY
AND SOME OF THESE TRAYS HAVE A LOT OF PLACES TO PUT SEEDS IN.
SO YOU CAN PUT A WIDE VARIETY OF THE DIFFERENT SEEDS AND THEN THERE YOU GO.
THIS IS A GOOD WAY TO START SOME OF THESE FLOWERS BECAUSE MANY OF THESE ARE NOT AVAILABLE
IN THE NURSERIES. AND SO THERE'S SOME THAT YOU MIGHT LIKE AND
YOU MAY AS WELL JUST START THEM YOURSELF. IT'S VERY EASY.
SOMETIMES WHEN YOU DIRECT SEED IN THE GARDEN, THE PILL BUGS WILL BE DOING A LOT OF DAMAGE
AND SO IT WILL BE EASIER TO GET THESE OTHERS STARTED, KEEP THEM NICE AND STURDY, KEEP THEM
EVENLY MOIST IN THE BEGINNING. THEY REALLY NEED THAT FOR THE GERMINATION
AND THEN THEY'RE ON THEIR WAY. I'D LIKE TO PUT A LITTLE BIT OF ROCK PHOSPHATE
IN THE HOLE. IT MAKES A LOT OF DIFFERENCE.
AND THEN I WILL USE THE LIQUID SEAWEED SPRAYS ALSO AS A DRENCH OR AS A SPRAY.
THIS IS VERY HELPFUL IN THOSE REALLY HOT MONTHS OF THE SUMMERTIME.
WHEN AUGUST IS COMING AROUND, THAT SEAWEED SPRAY WILL MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE IN THE
WORLD. SO SOAKING THEM IN WHEN YOU TRANSPLANT OR
GO AHEAD AND I DO THEM AS A FOLIAR, YOU WILL SEE THAT THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST WAYS TO ENSURE
THAT CROP OF YOURS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY GET OFF WITH A GOOD START.
AND DON'T FORGET TO MULCH THEM TOO. MAY MULCHING MAKES A GREAT DIFFERENCE WHEN
USING THE DIFFERENT PLANTS IN THE GARDEN. SO FOR BACKYARD BASICS, I'M JOHN DROMGOOLE.
I'LL SEE YOU LATER IN THE SUMMER. >> FIND OUT MORE AT KLRU.ORG/CTG AND JOIN
US ON FACEBOOK. NEXT WEEK GET READY FOR FALL VEGETABLES.
UNTIL THEN I'LL SEE YOU IN THE GARDEN. >> TO LEARN ABOUT TODAY'S PROGRAM, WATCH ONLINE
AND FOLLOW CTG'S BLOG, CHECK OUT KLRU.ORG/CTG.