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.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> Well, good evening and welcome to Making Grow.

We're mighty glad that you can join us tonight.

I'm Amanda McNulty.

I'm a Clemson Extension agent.

Horticulture agent.

And I'm Terasa, I always feel like this is kind of continuing education, which you used to do in your previous job.

You would see that the Master Gardeners did that and now you're learning a whole new continuing education skill.

Terasa> I sure am, in my new position as Midlands District Director, but I'm still excited to be here on the show and I hope that I learn something new from our panelists and that our viewers do as well.

Amanda> You are a proponent of native plants and have helped us learn a lot of them.

And Governor McMaster, the governor of our state, the great state of South Carolina, agrees with you.

And, you know, he had a proclamation that April is native plant month for the whole state of South Carolina.

Terasa> That is very exciting because we've had native plant weeks and now we've elevated to a month.

Amanda> Isn't that exciting?

And I hope that more people will try to do that.

It can make such a difference.

Terasa> It really can.

Amanda> Okay.

Tom Nelson here you are coming down from Greenwood with the Lake- and you are a representative of the Lakeland Master Gardeners, is that right?

Tom> Correct.

Amanda> Okay.

And you all stay busy.

Tom> We do.

We have probably between 50 and 60 members.

Lots of fun to be around.

And they represent so many different personal interests.

You know, some people like vegetable gardening, some rose gardening, some... Amanda> houseplants.

Tom> Yeah.

One thing or another.

So it's...it's a very diverse group of people with diverse interests.

Amanda> Well, and you are such a wonderful one, and we're glad that you're with us today.

Tom> Thank you very much, Amanda.

Amanda> And Stephanie Turner.

You're responsible for keeping all those people corralled up there, I think, because you're the Clemson Extension Agent Stephanie> Sure.

Yes.

Officially, I'm the master gardener coordinator for Greenwood County, but I think they help me, keep me straight.

So there's lots of projects in Greenwood that are worthy and need some attention and they jump right in Amanda> Isn't that just wonderful?

Stephanie> Yeah.

Amanda> It really is.

Yeah.

And it's a lovely community.

It's kind of far.

(laughs) Stephanie> Yeah.

We are not next to an interstate, so it can be a little bit different to get to, but definitely worth a trip.

Amanda> But the back roads are so pretty to see.

Don't you think?

Stephanie> Oh, definitely.

Amanda> Yeah.

Okay.

And Daniel Greenwell, you are the I have to put it right.

You're the department head of Horticulture and Agriculture.

at Piedmont Technical College, and you've had a pretty happy year ...with your students.

Daniel> Yeah, we've had a lot of fun this year doing all sorts of different activities, lab activities, field trips.

We love to go on field trips.

We just got back from a field trip to the Bartlett Tree Research Lab in Charlotte, which is their national hub for the Bartlett Tree Expert Company.

And they do research and diagnostics there, very similar to what extension does actually.

I think they model it in a lot of ways after Extension.

So they'll do disease samples insect samples and diagnose those and send them back to their offices all around the country.

Amanda> We were able to go one time as Extension agents up there, and it was stunning to me, Daniel> It is.

Amanda> how cutting edge they are.

>> Absolutely.

Amanda> Pretty wonderful place.

Well, I'm glad you got to go.

>> Thank you.

We are too.

Amanda> I think you've had some pretty cool things going on the new campus, too.

>> Yes, we have.

So one of the exciting things we're working on right now is this starting this year.

Our program, our horticulture facility area will be a All-America Selection Garden Display Garden, which that program is exciting.

They trial plants just put them through just kind of rigorous conditions to see how they perform, anything new exciting about the plant.

And so we're not on the trialing portion, but we'll display it after those plants have been received, essentially the seal of approval, the All-America selection seal of approval, and we put them on display for other people to come in and look at and learn about those plants.

We're really excited that.

Amanda> Sometimes we get pictures of them and, you know, updates on things, but there's nothing like seeing it in person.

Daniel> Exactly.

Amanda> Yeah.

Isn't that something for y'all?

Y'all have got it going up there, don't you?

Okay.

Well, we are also going to be happy to show you later on an interview with Jennifer Kendall, who is the state bat person, which is pretty cool.

And then we're also going to go our wonderful friend Mary Vargo.

We're going to go see her garden.

So lots of fun things happening.

Well, Terasa and I bet they're fun things happening with gardens across the state.

Terasa> There sure are.

The Gardens of the Week.

Is your opportunity to show us what's going on in your yard, your garden, landscape, or maybe you've visited a beautiful place in the great state of South Carolina.

Let us take a look.

We begin with Kelly Thomas, who shared her backyard vegetable garden where she grows a little bit of everything, including 15 types of tomatoes.

Lucinda Corbett shared her American wisteria.

So that's Wisteria frutescens that is just starting to flower.

From Rainey Underwood, Trillium and May Apple.

Both of these are ephemeral species.

So we see them only for a short period of time because their lifecycle synchronizes with the deciduous woodland species from Ann Barbara, the arching stem of Solomon's Seal with a hosta leaf hiding in the bottom right corner.

And last but not least, we're rounding things out with Glennis Cannon, who shared a sea of purple provided by her chocolate chip, Ajuga.

And that's a dwarf spreading groundcover.

Well, many thanks to everyone that submitted their photos.

We only are able to show a small sampling, but you can see all of them on our Facebook page.

And don't be shy when you see us ask for gardens of the week.

Just post your photo in the comments.

Amanda> Thank you for assembling those and share them with us.

We appreciate it.

Terasa> My pleasure.

Amanda> Okay.

Tom, I think you've got a show and tell for us.

Tom> I do.

I have brought a angel wing begonia, and I'm going to start with a story about plants of personal significance.

And this is one for me.

In fact, I have a forsythia growing in the yard and it was gifted to me, and I wanted it because it reminded me of my father who loved forsythia, although I think he might have loved to say the word forsythia more than he liked the plant itself.

(laughing) Amanda> Forsythia Tom> He loved to say, forsythia.

Amanda> It's a spring bloomer Tom> Yes.

Amanda> And kind of unfettered too.

Tom> You know, we choose plants for all sorts of reasons.

And this plant came to me from a person who came to eat dinner at the house one night.

She brought some cuttings.

Amanda> Yes.

Tom> And the...the plant, the mother plant belonged to her Aunt Polly, who lived in Greenville.

So this plant, I didn't, I didn't know Aunt Polly, but I know Despina and this plant, I've had probably for, four or five years.

And each year I take a cutting.

Amanda> Yes.

That's got some nice roots on it.

Tom> These are so easy to root.

Just put in water and trim them or prune them, put them in water.

They make a wonderful arrangement for inside the house.

Amanda> I was going to say, it's got some flowers on it.

From something that it was in the container with on the way down.

So that's not part of the system.

(laughing) But Amanda> Not hormones.

(laughing) Tom> So this plant is special to me because I know, I know Despina and I know how much she loved her Aunt Polly.

And the fact that she gave this to me and I have now been able to continue to grow this year after year.

So, Amanda> That's sweet and it's a beautiful, a beautiful plant.

Obviously, you see the classic Angel Wings.

And these are particularly pretty as they mature.

If you look on the very back of them, they have this beautiful maroon ruby red color.

It deepens as they mature and get more sun.

This one obviously needs more sun.

Amanda> But when you're rooting it, it's probably good not to have it in too much sun.

Tom> Right.

Right.

Yeah.

And then, of course, I didn't point out, I don't think that the small polka dots on the front side of the leaf So this is a plant of significance to me and I enjoyed growing it year round.

Really.

Amanda> Well, that's delightful.

We'll have to learn more about Aunt Polly.

Won't we?

Tom> Yes.

Amanda> I know more about her.

Terasa> We often get calls from clients about special plants and they need to propagate it or save it or help me.

I got this houseplant from somebody.

It was my aunts or my cousins, my grandma's You've got to keep it alive.

Tom> You've got a special plant too, plant of significance, don't you?

Stephanie> Yeah, I have one of those like Empress Queen of the Night.

You know, it's a cutting focus from my grandma, my mother and her plant.

And so.

Amanda>...you've lost your mother recently.

>> And think about... you think about that special person, everytime you see that special plant.

Amanda> Okay.

All righty.

Well, Terasa, what's next?

Terasa> Let's see what we have.

It appears that Lilian in Mauldin has a question for us.

She wrote in, I have a dry, shady area that I'd like to landscape, but I don't know where to start.

I can understand that feeling.

Can you give me some ideas?

Amanda> Well, that can be a challenge.

Stephanie, do you have some thoughts?

Stephanie> Yeah, definitely.

That's a common question we get.

And actually most people want to know how they can grow grass in that place.

Amanda> I bet you can't.

>> You can't.

No lawn... in that situation.

But there are lots of great perennials.

But you could incorporate.

I brought one with me today to show everybody.

This one is a Christmas fern and it will take that dry, shady location, it's a native plant.

So appropriate for Native Plant Month.

Amanda> Yes.

Stephanie> And I love the Christmas fern because it's evergreen.

So it's.

It's a nice.... Amanda> Spot It doesn't leave you with a blank spot Stephanie> Always present.

Yeah.

And we had a location, a dry shade location right in front of our extension office.

And so some of our master gardeners adopted that spot and they have planted out a lovely little small but very impactful garden on the entrance of our Extension building.

And so it has things like ferns.

You could also use things like Heuchera, Solomon's seal, the Lenten roses.

Amanda> Of course.

>> Yeah, there's a lovely Brunnera that's like a variegated with blue flowers blooming, right?

Amanda> So this dry shade garden doesn't have to be boring.

Stephanie> It does not have to be boring.

It can be all sorts of different colors and then things that bloom in the spring and also a lot of your spring blooming bulbs... can be situated within these dry shade areas like, you know, daffodils and such because they won't be so shaded if it's a deciduous tree Amanda> That's true, okay.

And so, you know, it's easy to go in and plant something and it's hard to maintain it.

And so it's nice that this is a group project of the Lakelands Master Gardeners because if somebody, you know, isn't able to do it anymore, they I'm sure that new people are coming in, get involved in this group project and then it will continue.

Stephanie> Yeah.

And it gets to be like a little playground for the master Gardeners so they can try and share.

And several of the plants that are in that garden came from donations from their personal gardens that they installed there.

And so, yeah, I really appreciate their work and their, their creativity and, in creating that little space for us.

Amanda> Okay, Stephanie> It's a good demonstration for the public as well.

Amanda> Yes.

Terasa> Well, that reminds me, Stephanie about Tom talking about plants with personal significance and now that has even carried over into that little demonstration area.

Stephanie> Yes.

Shared and passed along plants.

Terasa> That's sweet.

Okay.

Well, Terasa.

Terasa> Let's see what else we have.

David wrote to us from 96.

She said we planted to Crape Myrtles about ten years ago.

They are doing well, but one is much larger than the other.

Why might this happen?

Terasa> Well, Daniel, you teach landscape design and horticulture up there, So tell us what your thoughts are.

Daniel> Yeah.

So it's without knowing all the details, it's hard to say entirely, but in a situation like that where you have two plants that are planted at the same time, it would be good to know that if there's any differences in the soil conditions where they're planted.

I know I can think of a situation on our campus right now where we planted some Crape Myrtles actually, about three years ago to two different places on campus.

One of them was near our building where we had amended the soil and we installed a drip irrigation system and we fertilize it annually.

And the other location was in a parking lot island.

It has substantial room.

So you right away, you think it's terrible, but it's a fairly large parking lot.

But it's still an island, right?

It's very hot.

It doesn't have irrigation.

And so they're drastically different in size.

Just over the course of three years, They started the same exact size.

The one planted by our building is about 2 to 3 inches in caliper and diameter, and the one in the parking lot island is about three quarters of an inch.

so the take away from that with me being in that situation and knowing the differences is just how big of an importance the soil makes and the soil conditions.

So water, nutrients, poor space, porosity in the soil makes a huge difference.

And oftentimes that I think is the difference between kind of a languishing or a struggling plant and a thriving and a happy plant of the same, you know, same variety or same species.

Amanda> You know, the roots, if it's you know, it's all compacted and very dense.

I mean, they've just got to force their way through it.

And...and then again, the extra heat in that situation so, okay, well, that sounds like a pretty good answer.

Appreciate it.

All right.

Bats are an indicator species, which means if they're doing well, your environment that they're in is doing well.

And bats have been suffering some lately.

And so we asked Jennifer Kendall, who is the state bat person for Department of Natural Resources, to come down and share some of her ideas on bats and what we might do to help them.

Well, I am so excited.

I'm talking with Jennifer Kendall and she's the bat specialist at the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources.

And Jennifer, I just love bats.

Jennifer> And we are so lucky that you love bats.

Amanda> I just do.

I do.

But why are bats important?

Why should we all embrace bats, at least?

>> Well, bats do a lot for us whether or not we realize it.

So they really benefit us in terms of eating insects and keeping insect populations down.

So our agricultural industry really relies on bats.

Amanda> People say they eat all the mosquitoes.

From what I've heard, that's not a huge part of their diet.

But I have heard that, you know, I thought they had to go good things that were flying.

But I've heard that in an agricultural setting, they actually can take the insects off the plant.

Jennifer> Yes.

Amanda> And they do a tremendous amount.

And that's, you know, like millions and millions and millions of dollars.

Jennifer> Yes, exactly.

Yeah.

So it depends on the bat species.

So little brown bats actually do eat a lot of mosquitoes.

But we've got and so they'll eat 150 mosquitoes every 10 minutes.

Amanda> Whew.

Jennifer> Which equals about 6000- 8000 insects in an evening made a especially... Yeah, so So but big brown bats do either beetles and other larger insects and so they'll eat What was it like 150 big brown bats can eat 1.5 million pests per year and prevent 33 million larva from hatching.

We've also got Brazilian free-tailed bats, which of course, is the fastest flying animal on the planet, Amanda> Is it?

Jennifer> Yes.

And it's...it's a very common bat that we have in attics and, unfortunately but also that use bat boxes and those can eat the corn worm.

I think it's called the the corn earworm moth.

They eat a lot of those so that really helps a whole lot of things Amanda> How about that?

Yeah they're, depending on the species they eat different kinds of things.

So it's nice to have a lot of species.

We have 15 different species here, which is pretty exciting.

Amanda> Didn't you just find a new one that is documented in South Carolina?

Jennifer> Yes.

We were really excited to find the gray bat, which is an endangered species that actually seems to be doing well.

I think one of the reasons is still considered endangered is because their populations are and they like to...

They're a colonial rooster that come together in big caves.

So there's only so many caves that they exist in right now.

And so, you know, a natural disaster could potentially wipe them out, unfortunately.

But they seem to be doing well and they're not their populations aren't declining from white nose syndrome, which is nice.

Yeah.

So in any case, we found them just in a Blue Ridge eco region of South Carolina this fall, roosting in little crevices of bridges.

So it took us about four years to find them.

But we tried a lot of different things as a whole story, and we're really excited to finally add them to our list.

Amanda> Well, and we had a nurse colony in our attic.

Jennifer> Yeah.

Amanda> And they went in a soffitt, whatever a soffitt is.

But we- in the afternoon we'd go out and watch them emerge and we have clampboards and they look like mercury.

Jennifer> Yes.

>> And then they just kind of ...flow out like mercury and then they just take off.

Jennifer> Totally.

It's just so fun to watch, right?

because like, like you said, it's a great description.

They're just like falling out and, and you know, it's really fun to watch them emerge from that boxes.

It's kind of the easiest, most relaxing way to survey for an animal.

I think as you'd sit back in a in a chair with your favorite drink and, you know, just watch them come out and estimate their numbers.

While, the sun's setting and it's really fun.

And then you're watching them eat all the insects around you, too.

So.

Amanda> They're considered an indicator species.

So they're kind of, the health of the bat population in your area is somewhat indicative of the health of your ecosystem.

Jennifer> That's right.

Yes.

So bats do bio accumulate chemicals just like birds do and other creatures.

So one thing I always tell people is they're the natural predator of insects.

And so when you're spraying pesticides, you're, you end up hurting the natural predator of the things you're trying to kill.

So keeping an eye on... Amanda> Because they can't wash their food.

Jennifer> Right.

Exactly.

Yes.

Yes.

And so.

So yeah.

So, so some of the numbers and I guess I didn't I didn't say those.

But in terms of what bats save the Ag industry, it's $23 billion dollars, they save the Ag industry for the US every year.

And then in South Carolina, it's $115 million dollars.

that bats save our agricultural industry.

So it's a lot of money.

And they, yeah, they really help out our farmers.

So if you know, I know a farmer in Georgia who had pecans, put up bat boxes and because their bats protect pecans as well.

And so eating all the insects that destroyed pecans and so they were able to stop using pesticides because they put up a few bat boxes and had thousands of... Brazilian free-tailed bats.

Amanda> Good heavens.

Jennifer> Those things.

Yes.

So, I'm like yes.

That's such a great story.

Amanda> Because it's native to this part of the world.

And then the bats, gosh, it just all fits together beautifully.

Jennifer> It does.

Yeah.

Amanda> Jennifer, people are always concerned about bats and rabies, and rabies is an extraordinarily serious concern, but how often are bats carrying rabies and what's the protocol and what do you know about that?

Jennifer> Yes.

So bats are not riddled with disease as...as people do think sometimes.

So less than 1% of natural bat populations have rabies.

But as you said, rabies is scary.

So it's important to understand it and what you can do around bats.

So for example, any...any bat that's down on the ground is on the ground is probably not doing very well.

So it's always good to, you know, teach your kids and other adults never touch a bat, a downed bat because it's probably not healthy.

So if you get a bat in your house, for example, you know, the first thing you need to do is once you see it in the house, make sure you isolate it, get everyone out of that room and isolate the bat and then call DHEC because they will walk you through the three potential exposure scenarios.

And if you're not, if none of those three things happen, then you can go ahead and let the bat out.

But if they had, they'll...they'll talk to you about what the next steps are.

Amanda> Okay.

Jennifer> And so those three things are if you wake up with a bat in your room, it's possible a bat could have bit you without you knowing it.

So that's potential exposure.

The other is if you have you know, if you've picked up a bat or touched a bat with your bare hands, that's potential exposure that could have bit, you maybe would have known.

And then the third, of course, is if you have pets or children or anyone who might not be able to tell you that they've gotten bit by a bat.

So that's the third potential exposure.

So... Amanda> So, don't open the window and shove, you know, skew it off, wait, call DHEC and then do.

Jennifer> Yes, perfect.

I know it's the first reaction, but just isolate it first.

Amanda> No, we want to be careful.

Jennifer> Yeah, because that way they'll be able to test the bat.

And if it's negative, then you don't have any worries at all.

And if you do, if it is, if it is positive, then they'll help you learn more about getting the... the vaccine.

Amanda> what you need to do... Jennifer> Yeah.

Exactly.

Yeah.

Save your life.

You know, I said, I had a nurse colony of bats up in a soffitt in the attic somewhere and I just didn't worry about it.

And but I understand that...that probably wasn't the best response.

I needed to leave them as long as the babies were there, because, I mean, I didn't want to have to do something and not let the moms be able to get back to the babies or the babies when they could fly leave.

But so, but you said you can call wildlife pest management.

Jennifer> Yeah.

Wildlife control operators, they know all about all the details for what to do.

So they will come in, look, look at your house to see where the bats are entering and exiting and then they'll put up, they'll close off some of those areas and put up a device that lets the bats out but not go back in.

Amanda> If I, but in my case, if I already had the babies, they could make certain that the bats couldn't come down in the part of the house that we were living in.

Jennifer> Exactly.

Amanda> And then they would have on their calendar when to come back, when the babies would all be gone and they could put something up to keep them from coming back the next year.

Jennifer> Exactly.

Amanda> And I, you could put up a bat house in your yard which would be a better place for them to live.

Jennifer> Very good.

Yeah, exactly.

So, yeah, timing is key on that.

So you can learn more on our website.

But a good time to exclude is during early spring and during the fall.

Amanda> I am always trying to tell people to be less tidy in their yards.

I'm trying to promote Ptolemy's home grown national park movement and all that.

And so I love Palmetto Trees, which are not a tree, but it is our state tree.

Jennifer> Yeah.

Amanda> So many people grow up there and tidy them up and tidy them up and tidy them up.

And I understand that some of our bats like to take shelter or roost under those old fronds that are hanging down.

Jennifer> Yes, exactly.

Yes.

So we had this beautiful bat called the northern yellow bat.

That's a very rare coastal bat.

And it's actually one of our largest bats and it loves to use those dead palm fronds, so it'll roost underneath those for protection.

So that's a good reason to leave them is, is you might have this very rare bat using, using the palm fronds.

Amanda> Since I love bats, I'd like to put maybe some bat boxes up if they're- Are they often used by bats?

If I put one up, you think eventually I'll have some bats in?

Jennifer> Yes.

If you do it right.

So you have to put them up a certain amount of distance from the ground so they can fall out and catch the air.

to like 12 feet high.

It's a little challenging to get those up.

But once you do, they also well, they also need to have sun.

That's like 6 hours of sunlight.

Amanda> All right.

Jennifer> Probably closer to four on the coast because it gets pretty toasty, but that keeps the pups warm also.

That's which is really important.

So if you do all the right things and the bats need the habitat, they will use it.

But sometimes it can take up to three years before they start.

Amanda> There's someone in Traveler's Rest who just has been doing all kinds of wonderful things.

Jennifer> Yes.

Yes.

John Gillespie is the Batman of Traveler's Rest, and he has eight... Oh gosh, eight or nine boxes now on this old historic building that he was trying to keep the bats out of originally, which he did.

And then...then the bats were like, great, we love these boxes.

And so there's like, there's a thousand, a thousand plus bats that end up coming out of all those boxes.

So he...he is an amazing guy and he builds bat boxes and we have a celebration of...of bats the end of October for that bat colony there.

So you can come see you can come see them any time, but they'll come out of the boxes.

Amanda> Now I guess there are bats everywhere, except Antarctica.

I don't know.

Jennifer> Yeah, right, exactly.

Yep.

They're worldwide.

Amanda> And lots of them are pollinators.

Jennifer> Yes.

Amanda> Some of them are big.

Some of them are fruit eaters.

Jennifer> Oh, my goodness.

Amanda>Tell me a bit about them.

Jennifer> Okay, so... We have over 1400 species of bats in the world and we have our Insectivorous bats here, which is the little guys.

But there are bats called flying foxes, which are amazing.

If you take a look, you will see on the internet a six foot wingspan is the biggest Amanda> That's huge.

Jennifer> And I like it...

It's scary when you first look at it.

But, but understand they are fruit bats and they help by pollinating and spreading seeds.

So, when we release... Amanda> Spread the seeds.

Jennifer> Yes, yes.

And so we really benefit from them even though they don't live here in that they pollinate things like the agave plants.

So we can thank them for tequila.

They also pollinate banana plants so... you can thank them the morning with your ...your breakfast banana.

And then they also spread the seeds of cocoa.

So also, think you can thank them for chocolate and they spread the seeds with pepper and I think 500 other...other species.

So they do a lot.

And then they also protect a lot of our crops, as we mentioned before.

So they'll protect cotton and corn and rice and coffee.

Amanda> Golly Jennifer> So yeah, you can spend a full day eating things that bats provide, help provide you between bananas and coffee and chocolate and tequila depending on your day.

Okay.

Amanda> And so I imagine you've probably got a page on your website, DNR, about bats.

Jennifer> Yes, And we do...do, And we have a lot on there.

So feel free to check it out.

But there's...there's some information about our Bat Watch program, which is a citizen science program.

If you know, if you have bats in a box and you want to count them, you can do that twice a year and put the number of.

Amanda> Like the great American bird count.

>> Yes.

Yes.

So that's pretty fun.

And then, yeah, a lot of information about, you know, different species we have here.

Amanda> Reasons to love bats.

Jennifer> Yes, so many reasons to love bats.

Amanda> Jennifer, I want to thank you so much.

I hope that people will realize that these creatures were here before we were and that we have to make room for them in our...in our lives and that they can bring you a lot of joy.

Jennifer> They really can.

I mean, you would be surprised if you go out and watch bats coming out of a box.

You might be like, okay, that's kind of cool.

Amanda> Well, it was cool of you to come down and tell us.

Thanks so much.

Jennifer> Thank you for having me.

Appreciate it.

Amanda> I hope that some of you will take some suggestions from Jennifer and find ways that you can encourage bats to feel at home in your yard.

They really are... the more you learn about them, the more fascinating they are.

Well, hats, hats, hats Terasa.

And this one is actually out of my yard, not Hank and Ann's if you can believe that.

And it's I have baptisia and then I have a lilac and you have told me baptisia... and so it could be baptisia or baptisia.

I guess there are different ways of pronouncing it?

Terasa> Ummm hmmm.

Amanda> But you've told me that when you were young, lilacs were just gloriously prolific and smelled wonderful.

Terasa> So, yes.

I can still close my eyes.

And see the path up the hill from the house toward the garage that was lined with white flowered and lilac colored flowered lilacs.

And.... and when I close my eyes and see it, I can also just take in the very intoxicating fragrance.

So that's something that I miss about because most of the lilacs just don't perform very well.

Although I understand there are some that do a little bit better here.

Amanda> Well, this little teeny, tiny flowered thing and I don't know how big the flowers are on the lilacs that you all had.

Terasa> Larger than that and more densely packed, I guess you could say.

Amanda> Well, anyway, this is fuller.

Years and years and years ago.

This is one that was advertised as being good for Southern Gardens, Ms Kim.

And it has slowly gotten to be maybe about this big and has a tiny bit of fragrance.

But...

I think there are other things that perhaps would fill that spot more gloriously.

But anyway, so today we have some lilacs and whenever, whenever it comes into bloom, it reminds me of what you've told me.

And I have never been around blooming lilacs, you know, this jungle gardenia perfume and all these things like that.

So I kind of know, we know what gardenias, but I don't know if there's a lilac perfume, so we'll have to find out.

Terasa> Yeah, I don't know.

I don't know.

Amanda> Isn't that fun?

Because I've never gotten to smell one.

Anyhow.

Well, I think you have a story for us.

Tom> I do.

And we had touched on earlier the projects of the Lakelands Master Gardeners, and I'd like to highlight one that is a really good example of how master gardeners across the state extend Extension and how we engage with the community in ways that perhaps...Stephanie, for example, Amanda> Wouldn't have time.

Tom> Couldn't do.

We, the Lakelands master Gardeners are a group of them have an edible garden in one of the city... uh... gardens in the uptown area, and we began our seeds in the city greenhouse and we'd go out and plant.

But this year... Amanda> Another example of how integrated y'all are.

Tom> Yes, exactly.

This year we were working in the greenhouse, preparing for the... planting seeds and preparing for the planting season, and we learned that there was a group of 17 students from Greenwood Christian School who were working with the city as well.

So, in conversation with the horticulture department, the Lakelands Master Gardeners actually were able to work with the students and the teacher who by happy coincidence... Amanda> Yes.

Tom> Zhitong Greenwell, Daniel's wife.

Amanda> Come on.

she teaches the, a horticulture class there at Greenwood Christian School.

Amanda> That's pretty cool.

Tom> So there's...some of the things that we have done.

We began with the students in early February and we have actually worked at the Garden with the students.

They've helped install some ...some... Amanda> Hands on... Tom> Hands on, but we... we would separate the 17 students into four groups, four, four, four and five, and we would rotate those students through various planting activities as well as educational activities.

And I have a little cheat sheet because I couldn't remember all the things that we had talked about, but we actually talked about and did vegetative propagation of plants.

We started some seeds.

We did composting and mulching.

We discussed and planted strawberries at the market.

We discussed crop rotation.

And then, in one case, we actually in several of the garden beds within that area, there is a fig bush, an olive tree, a pear tree, a peach tree and rosemary.

And we had the students identify those plants in the garden.

So that was a lot of fun.

Amanda> So it was a mini master gardener course... Tom> It was.

Amanda> for these kids.

That's really.. Tom> then one of the, one of the things that was a lot of fun for us is that we turned the tables on the students and they actually gave presentations to us in their classroom about and I'll give you a few of the topics, the effects of different soil types on vegetable growth, soil types, organic versus conventional gardening, spring and summer, vegetable gardening pests and beneficial insects.

Amanda> Glad you brought the beneficials in.

Tom> Yes, managing fire ants.

We have a, a nice little infestation in our garden and also growing herbs.

And one of the...when we went to the classroom, one of the master gardeners actually made food items to take with us to the classroom.

Amanda> How wonderful.

>> that we were growing in the garden.

(laughs) So we've... Amanda> What an experience.

>> We've had just a wonderful time with Zhitong's students and with her as well.

And in fact, I have a few pictures of the students working in the garden with the Master Gardeners as well as a photograph of the entire class, since not all the students got in all the pictures.

Amanda> Well, that's just delightful.

Tom> It was wonderful.

Amanda> Did you hear about some of these activities?

Daniel> Oh...uh (laughing) Amanda> That really is... that's charming.

And I'm so glad to see the outreach that can happen.

Not just going to tell somebody, but problems... to identify problems in someone's yard, but really creating the future of... of people who are going to be fascinated by gardening and then we'll care about the environment.

Tom> Exactly.

Amanda> Okay.

Okay.

Stephanie?

Stephanie> I brought a show and tell.

Oh, my goodness.

It's heavy.

Amanda> Gracious.

Stephanie> And it's covered in blue.

Amanda> It certainly is.

Just gorgeous.

Stephanie> This is a lovely blueberry.

It's called Rosa's blush and it's the species is darrowii.

So it's Vaccinium darrowii and it's an evergreen and it will grow to about 2 to 3 feet high, 2 to 3 feet wide.

And it's just a gorgeous blooming spring plant.

Amanda> Covered with flowers Stephanie> Covered with flowers.

It does make a small, dark berry, edible berry.

Amanda> Yeah.

Stephanie> But it's really a good landscape plant.

It's a native and sort of like a pine sandy pine, barren kind of area.

And so it does prefer like a well-drained sandy soil, but it can be a good garden plant.

Amanda> Well, if you're...people who are growing blueberries for backyard fruit production, this.

Stephanie> This is not it.

Yeah.

Amanda> I mean they have to prune and do all kind of stuff.

This one is just carefree.

Stephanie> Yeah.

It's not as much pruning.

It will stay a manageable size.

Amanda> It's kind of a bluish grayish green color.

It's really great.

Stephanie> Yeah.

The foliage, and, and that's the other selling point to it, it has a beautiful fall foliage color.

So, reddish orange, fall.

And so it's a nice landscape component, but then it has that extra interest of being a blueberry.

And, you know, maybe you're feeding the birds more than you are yourself.

But yeah, fun thing, yeah.

Amanda> We're always interested in feeding the birds.

Terasa> You can see where the blush comes from because if you look carefully at the flowers, they do have that pink hue or blush tint to them.

Stephanie> Yeah, they are definitely a blush tone.

Amanda> And stays about like so.

Stephanie> 2 to 3 feet.

Yeah.

And kind of spreading, mounding.

Amanda> Okay.

It's perfectly lovely.

Thank you for telling us.

Yeah.

All right.

Okay.

Daniel have you got some news for us too.

Daniel> Yeah.

So we've been doing something really exciting new this spring that we haven't done in the past in our urban tree care class.

Amanda> Yes.

Daniel> It's probably one of the students' favorites for the spring semester.

We are climbing.

So that sounds strange, possibly.

but we're teaching the students how to climb trees just like an arborist would climb a tree.

So not, you know, free hand climbing, but using ropes and so the other students have been learning how to tie arborist knots and how to use personal protective equipment, how to climb safely is ...is paramount.

Amanda> Absolutely.

Daniel> But, you know, learning how to climb and it's always really exhilarating and exciting to get to the top of the tree and you can look out and see everything.

And I'm sure many people might be wondering, why would you climb from a horticultural standpoint?

And some of the reasons that you would climb as an arborist would be to install a lightning protection system.

If you have a historical tree or a tree of some sort of significance to protect it.

Cabling, and bracing, if you have any tree potential failures in the tree, and also just to perform a tree risk assessment, a closer tree risk assessment to make sure that there's no structural defects and the tree is not going to fall on your house or a car or anything like that.

So it's a good skill to have one that most people don't have.

So we are excited to be able to share that with them and put that in their tool belt if they choose to go into that.

Amanda> So did you have to demonstrate everything first or...?

Daniel> Yes, So I climb... (Amanda laughs) No, no secret there.

I really enjoy it.

It's like I said, it's a lot of fun.

So we do demonstrations, we'll watch videos and teach them how to get up there in the tree.

Stephanie> And the students competed with that, too.

Daniel> Yes.

So that was one of the events that our students competed in, the National Collegiate Landscape competition several weeks ago.

And...we had two students compete in that.

One student competed in the throw line, which is where they throw a especially way of beanbag up into the tree so that they can get the climbing line under the tree.

And then we had one student compete in the climbing portion of it where they climb the tree and they have to ring a bell up a tree to simulate.

Basically, they don't trust the students with a handsaw, which is, you know, probably a good call.

So they... they let them ring a bell to kind of simulate doing tree work up in the tree.

Amanda> I think that's just lovely.

What a fun thing to have happen on campus.

I mean, we just grew up climbing trees.

Every time we got a chance, there's nothing more fun.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

It's a different way of seeing the world, so.

Daniel> Yeah, for sure.

Amanda> Okay.

Terasa> Good for our viewers to know the role of an arborist.

So if someone has an overall question about the health of their tree or like a hazard, is this tree going to be a safety issue?

They can contact a certified arborist.

And so they go, there's a website, treesaregood.org, I believe and can find a local ISA certified arborist in their area.

Amanda> Okay.

Terasa> Maybe it will be one of Daniel's students.

Amanda> Thank you so much because that really is a great place to get in touch with someone who's had the correct training to come and do things for you.

Well, Mary Vargo is always fun when she comes down here and is on the panel with as much fun as you all.

And she is now at the South Carolina Botanical Garden, but at home she gardens a lot.

So let's go see what she's got going on at her house.

♪ I'm in Piedmont, South Carolina, sitting in the wonderful, wonderful garden of Mary Vargo, your passion is having a wild cacophony, definitely of pollinators and all sorts of plants.

This is just a joy.

Mary> Yeah, I mean, this is kind of my lab, my experimental zone where I've try new plants, seed, learn something new about a new pollinator and then share it with Master Gardeners and share it with the public in Greenville County.

So, it's really fun and now you're Amanda> Now sharing it with our people.

Mary> I'm so excited about it.

Amanda> I'm looking across the street at an old J.P. Stevens looking over the fence, Stevens plant.

and this was a mill village house.

So two families lived in this house.

and fortunately, there's not a homeowner's association because I don't think they'd like it.

Mary> I would be kicked out for sure.

I can't Yeah, I couldn't be in that rigid set of rules.

So thank God there's none here.

Amanda> But starting on the front yard.

You do have steps going up to the house, but then it's just...it's a meadow of...it looks like nature planted it but I think you made a lot of decisions about what went in there.

So let's talk about some of your favorite things that we see on the front and what are some things you've done to give some structure to it?

Mary> Definitely.

So when I first started, it was a lot of herbaceous annuals and perennials.

and then I realized in the winter when all that dies back, I don't really have a whole lot of structure.

So I started this garden has been a work in progress for three, four years.

So each winter, when something dies back, I'm kind of able to evaluate, I see what's left, I see what's still giving some sort of ornamental component to the garden.

So I added in woodies later on.

So, you'll see there's a succession of plants, and still, they're really small stages, some are mature.

A lot of my favorites are flowering right now, like Monarda.

Lots of Rudbeckia, have lots of butterfly bushes that all the pollinators love and having such a big variety of plants, too, I see almost a new insect every day, which is really cool for me.

Amanda> What are, out front, what are some of the more unusual plants that you have?

Can you remember?

Mary> Let's see.

I have some interesting lilies.

I have several types of Pycnanthemums.

So I have three different species of Pycnanthemum which is really kind of hard to find.

Usually you just find the muticum species widely available, but that's kind of fun to have different species of certain plants.

So that's kind of my favorite.

Clary Sage is something I grew for the first time.

I started it in the fall over winter and it's flowered for me now, and I'm totally obsessed with it.

So that's new to me.

So that's kind of my new obsession.

Artemesia is that I've that I've propagated, and gosh, lots of different grasses and there's so much in there.

I think I forget what I planted in there until it blooms.

And then I'm surprised.

Amanda> And then there's succession there because you've got things that start blooming in the fall and summer things start to, to fade away.

Mary> Yep.

Amanda> The backyard looks in spots, like a more traditional suburban backyard kinda sorta.

Your wonderful husband, Daniel has made some terrific furniture giving you a greenhouse, which is great.

and I've never seen such a fancy grill.

So that's kind of fun.

Mary> It's nice.

I don't have to cook.

That's a plus for me.

Amanda> And a swimming pool for you to jump into.

Mary> Absolutely.

Amanda> But you have borders here with plants, and um, and again, I think you've tried to get some structure to make everything kind of settle in.

So let's talk a little bit about the things here.

Mary> Yeah so I'm constantly evaluating, try to see what's working spring summer, tried to have some kind of bloom maybe if it's not blooming, it's giving me some sort of foliage interest or texture or its structure you know, that's important too in gardens.

So right now most of this is spring, summer blooming.

I'm trying to add more fall bloomers in here and there when I see something kind of on the way out the bachelors button is starting to go out that's a cool season annual.

So I know I'm going to have to replace that so I have mums in the greenhouse that I'll just pop in their place and that will be my fall bloomers.

I've got you know Kiwi vine in the corner.

It's kind of sited in the wrong spot.

It usually it should be protected to get zapped every winter.

I just planted a Calycanthus 'Aphrodite' that I'm really excited about growing.

I love those huge flowers.

Got an interesting spirea that I planted the other day, constantly adding something, constantly trying to see what works.

Amanda> Why are the little cactus stuck around here and there.

Mary> Yeah, the cactus are for my dogs they love to get in my garden bed.

So I kind of put cacti in certain areas where they might get in and maybe they'll get a poke and I don't have to have that problem with them trampling in my beds anymore, but it works sometimes, not all the time.

Amanda> Mary, you have a fenced area that looks like that one wasn't designed for beauty that was designed for purpose.

Mary> Yeah, absolutely.

I started growing back there before I feel they the beds back here.

Now it's sort of a stock plant generator, I take things that receded put them in other beds.

So it's a nice way for me not to have to buy plants or start seeds.

Amanda> I don't think the dog can get in.

Mary> And the dog can't get in which is really nice.

So it's totally gated off.

So now I've kind of just let it reseed.

It provides like I said plants for other areas of the yard that I might want to replant.

I've got lots of hollyhocks in there that reseed the giant... giant, giant plants.

I leave a lot of weeds are considered a bunch of people but I love the structure either in the spring something like dock, which has really interesting seed has when it pops up in the spring and then as it fades into the summer and fall It's left with like a bronze sort of purpley color seed head that looks great in arrangements.

Amanda> Yeah, I was going to say because you like to use flowers and that's not necessarily a flower.

I mean, it's the dried seed head but it would be fabulous component to those sorts of things.

and then when you're not picky, you don't say it has to be a native or it has to be this.

Mary> Definitely not.

If there's a problem with a non native maybe it's spreading a little too aggressively or it's getting a disease repeatedly.

I am responsible and try to take that out of my garden but it's a free for all I don't discriminate when it comes to a plant in my garden.

I'm really inspired by the shapes and forms and flower types and the types of pollinators they attract.

So if it, if it works for them and works for me, I keep it.

Amanda> Have you had some neighbors who have said could I have a little starter of things?

Are you spreading?

Mary> Absolutely.

I have a neighbor across the street that's really been getting into plants and a couple other people down the street that I'll lay plants out and tell them that they're welcome to have, you know, free plants, those kind of things.

but for the most part, not everybody keeps up their yard.

I'm definitely the... you can tell what yard is mine when you pull on my street, I guess you could say, but it's a fun thing.

but people I like to see people drive real slow when they're maybe driving by looking at all the plants, and that's a good feeling that they're enjoying it as well.

Amanda> They're the inside of your house, thanks to your wonderfully capable husband has been changed from what was originally in one room is kind of Mary's room for when you need to settle in and maybe focus.

and tell me some of the things you do there.

It was quite fascinating.

Mary> Yeah I love not only do I garden, but I'm somewhat of an artist too.

I love to press...flowers, foliage from my garden from other people's garden.

and it really works well.

As you know, I think your friend does pressed flower cards for people.

So if it's a red holiday or birthday, I can kind of make a little gift and give them and share my garden in that aspect.

I'll kind of keep track of my garden through pressings.

So I'll write the month what's flowering, and then I try to press everything that's maybe flowering in that month or that week.

So then it's a really good way to go back and look and have those special specimens to look back on when there's not much blooming.

Amanda> And then the way that you think every day, um, take some time to take some of the things that you've pressed, and make a display of them and share with people on social media, I believe.

Mary> Absolutely.

Yeah, I tried to do that.

It's a great way for me to be present, kind of get grounded again.

Like as we were talking about earlier, It's a really good way to just study plants and learn botany, you know, maybe you're seeing that a leaf is more serrated than others or you learn specific botanical terms when you're seeing that over and over again.

So I find it's a really nice practice.

Amanda> Especially when you're inside and looking at a plant individually instead of outside here with everything.

There's always a pollinator, this taking your eye away from what we are talking about.

Mary> Definitely.

Less distraction.

So when you isolate it in there, and you're able to get it alone, you become more intimate with that plant.

Amanda> Well, I have just been thrilled to be here with you today, and everybody on the crew has been it was hard to get them to get started because the pollinators are just so fascinating because unless you have a variety of things, you don't realize that different plants, attract different pollinators.

I think that's one of the wonderful things about having this kind of a yard, Mary.

Mary> Definitely.

That's how I learned constantly too.

I'm not I wasn't super into entomology when I did my horticulture training.

So this is a way that I've really learned and I've grown in my job and, and throughout growing different plants is just seeing what visits what and taking notes and pictures.

Amanda> Well we know that insects have remarkable.

Whatever goes on in their brains.

and I'm sure that the next generation is going to remember that this was here.

Mary> Yeah, they overwinter a lot in my landscape.

So they revisit.

Amanda> Yeah, so here...

So this is the place that's on anybody's trip that comes through Piedmont.

Thanks Mary.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Amanda> A great visit to Mary's Garden.

And we hope we can go back and see the new things.

She'll be adding.

Terasa, It looks like something's getting ready happen here.

I think it will be exciting.

This is my Anthurium that I brought, and I'm hoping that Tom and Stephanie will demonstrate how you can take cuttings and propagate.

Okay.

All right.

Tom> I was delighted that Terasa brought in her Anthurium I've got one that needs to be re-potted, and I told her I'd be delighted to practice on hers.

Anyway, I have cut off one of the larger pieces here, and you can see the roots... on the outside of the plant.

You don't need to put any sort of rooting hormone on it or anything like that.

You can trim off all of the lower...leaves.

And then, Stephanie, if you want to plant that in our medium.

And if I might ask Stephanie, the reason you don't have to use the hormone is because this plant already has those roots coming in, it's one that's very easy to propagate.

Stephanie> Yeah, and I think I want to cut that a little bit more because it's kind of long we're going to end up blending again.

Tom> And plant it good and deep.

Stephanie> Will stick it in there and make sure your soil is moist when you're trying to root something new so you're not stressing out that plant too much.

Amanda> In this case, did you all use a loose soil, since these plants are traditionally epiphytes, Stephanie> Yes, this is a cactus mix.

So, you want something that's a well draining mix, plenty little bark.

Tom> Orkin mix.

Stephanie> Well, Orkin mix is probably too chunky we need a little bit more small particles in there.

But yeah, and then you want to keep it well watered and watch for that.

You can even you can even take smaller sections if you want just one or two leaves, make a lot of little babies and you could take this plant pot it up in a bigger pot, bury it a little bit deeper so it'd be a little bit less leggy.

Amanda> Well, Terasa, I guess you've got it ready to take home.

Terasa> It looks like it.

Amanda> And you've got a spare.

Yes.

And I plan to make a few additionals and repot that main plant so it's not looking so leggy.

Our viewers at home should know this is one of the easier plants or probably one of the easiest plants to propagate.

Not all are this easy, but if they've never tried, this would be something that would be a good start.

They'll be successful.

It's pretty much cut it, stick it, pay a little bit of attention.

And you're good to go.

Amanda> Yeah, that's going to be fun.

You'll have to bring that one back and show us that they really did the right thing.

Okay.

Yeah.

Not that we don't have complete... (All laugh) Okay.

Well, thanks so much for being here, y'all, and thank you for being with us at home.

We'll see you next week.

Night.

Night.

♪ closing music ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ 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.