WDSE WDSE >> THIS IS CRAWLING WITH BEES.

>> I THOUGHT A PINK ONION, WHY NOT TRY IT?

>> HASTAS DO WELL IN MINNESOTA.

THEY LIKE OUR TEMPERATURES.

>> WE HAVE THINGS BLOOMING FROM EARLY SPRING TO LATE FALL.

>> IT’S FUN TO IMAGINE WHAT THIS PLACE WILL LOOK LIKE IN A FEW YEARS.

>> WE HAVE JUST GOTTEN STARTED.

PAMELA: HELLO AND WELCOME TO GREAT GARDENING.

I AM SIDNEY NELSON.

WE HAVE OUR EXPERTS WITH US, GARDEN PROFESSIONAL DEB BURNS ERICKSON AND HORTICULTURIST AND EDUCATOR BOB OLIN.

WE HAVE PHONE VOLUNTEERS FROM THE ST. LOUIS COUNTY MASTER GARDENERS HERE TO RECEIVE QUESTIONS THIS EVENING.

CALL LOCALLY AT 218-718-2844.

WE ARE TAKING QUESTIONS THROUGHOUT THIS SHOW, SO CALL OR EMAIL US NOW WELL WE BEGIN TONIGHT’S SHOW WITH A LOOK AT THE WEATHER IN OUR REGION.

>> LOOK AT THAT.

>> NICE SHOT.

>> BEAUTIFUL.

>> ISN’T IT BEAUTIFUL FOR APRIL 3?

[LAUGHTER] >> IT IS SOMETHING, ALL RIGHT.

>> VERY PRETTY.

THE SCENERY IS NICER THAN THE ROADS WERE THIS MORNING.

>> CERTAINLY.

>> THIS CHANGES SO FAST THIS TIME OF YEAR.

>> ALL I CAN SAY, IF YOU ARE GARDENING OR FARMING, WE LOVE THE MOISTURE.

WE WILL TAKE IT IN ANY FORM.

>> EVEN SNOW.

FOR NOW.

NOT MUCH LONGER, THOUGH, HOPEFULLY.

>> THE WEATHER IN MINNESOTA KEEPS US ON OUR TOES.

LET’S TAKE A MOMENT TO APPRECIATE SOMETHING GREEN.

WE PAID A VISIT TO THE GIVING GARDEN.

LET’S TAKE A LOOK.

>> THIS IS THE GIVING GARDEN AND WHAT WE DO IS WE RAISE PRODUCE AND WE OFTENTIMES GIVE IT TO THE PATIENTS AT THE V.A.

OUTPATIENT CLINIC AND WE WELCOME COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO COME AND HARVEST HERBS, VEGETABLES OR JUST SIT AND RELAX AND ENJOY THE SURROUNDINGS.

WE CONCEIVED THIS IDEA IN 2022 AND WORKED WITH THE CITY TO FIND THE GARDEN LOCATION THAT WAS ON CITY-OWNED PROPERTY AND ARRIVED AT THE V.A.

OUTPATIENT CLINIC.

OUR FIRST YEAR OF PLANTING WAS IN 2023.

THIS YEAR, IN 2024, WE HAVE BEEN A LITTLE MORE PURPOSEFUL AND THOUGHTFUL ABOUT WHAT WE PLANTED BASED ON WHAT’S BEEN USED IN THE PAST.

WE ADDED OUR GARDEN AND ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE ROTARY CLUB DONATING A PICKING TABLE -- A PICNIC TABLE AND A LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL SHOP CLASS BUILDING US A PERGOLA IN THE FALL.

>> IS THERE ANYTHING LIKE THIS NEARBY?

>> NOT THAT WE KNOW OF, WHICH IS ANOTHER REASON WE DECIDED TO FOCUS ON A GIVEN GARDEN.

WE HOPE IF WE HAVE EXTRA PRODUCE WE CAN CONNECT WITH THE FOOD SHELF.

WE DO SOME EDUCATIONAL THINGS AND HAVE DONATED SOME SEED PACKETS TO THE FOOD SHELF, SO WORKING WITH THEM AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS IS KIND OF A MISSION AS WELL.

WE ARE BASICALLY THE GIVING GARDEN GROUP.

MASTER GARDENER VOLUNTEERS GO THROUGH AN EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA.

IT RUNS FROM JANUARY UNTIL MAY.

YOUR FIRST YEAR AS A MASTER GARDENER VOLUNTEER, YOU ARE EXPECTED TO PUT IN 50 HOURS OF VOLUNTEER WORK ON SOME SORT OF PROJECT, WHICH IS HOW A NUMBER OF US CONNECTED, AND AFTER THAT INITIAL INTERN YEAR, YOU PUT IN 20 TO 25 HOURS OF VOLUNTEER TIME A YEAR, SO THIS IS OUR COLLABORATIVE VOLUNTEER PROJECT.

ONE OF THE AIMS OF THE MASTER GARDENER PROGRAM IS THAT YOU ALSO DO COMMUNITY EDUCATION, SO YOU WILL SEE, AS YOU LOOK AT THE GARDEN, WE HAVE TAGS THAT IDENTIFY ALL OF THE PRODUCE AND PLANTS AS WELL AS QR CODES THAT YOU CAN SCAN WITH YOUR CELL PHONE THAT WILL TAKE YOU TO AN EXTENSION SITE THAT TELLS YOU ABOUT THE VEGETABLE THAT YOU HAVE CHOSEN TO LOOK AT.

WE HAVE NOT OPENED IT UP FOR PEOPLE TO GROW THINGS YET BUT IT IS CERTAINLY A SPACE WHERE PEOPLE CAN COME AND GRAB THINGS.

AT THE END OF THE SEASON, WHEN IT WAS PICKLING AND CANNING SEASON, WE HAD A RUN ON DILL.

PEOPLE WERE RUNNING OUT OF DILL SO THEY HARVESTED DILL FROM US.

THIS YEAR, WE HAVE DOVE IT -- WE HAVE DOUBLED OUR DILL PRODUCTION.

WE TRY TO DO REGULAR SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS ON THE EALY AREA GARDEN SITES TO SAY THIS IS WHAT IS GROWING THIS WEEK AND THIS IS WHAT IS BEING HARVESTED.

BRING YOUR OWN CONTAINERS.

SAVE SOME FOR YOUR NEIGHBOR.

>> WE WILL BE BACK TO VISIT SALLY AND THE ELY GIVING GARDEN LATER IN THE SHOW.

WHAT DID YOU WANT TO SHARE WITH THE AUDIENCE?

DEB: WE HAVE SOME NEW FOR 2025 SLIDES WE CAN GO OVER, AND INFRASTRUCTURE -- OVER, NEW INSTRUCTIONS.

IF YOU ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THEM, THEY ARE A CROSS BETWEEN THE ORIGINALS THAT ARE ALL SHADE, THESE LIKE SEMI SHADE AND THE SON PATIENTS ARE FULL SHADE THIS CAN TAKE A LITTLE MORE SUN THAN THE ORIGINALS AND THEY DON’T NEED AS MUCH SUN AS THE OTHERS.

NEXT TO IT IS THAT SILVER SWIRL.

IT IS A FUZZY FOLIAGE.

SO THEY DO WELL FOR RESISTING DEAR.

DEER GENERALLY DON’T LIKE FOLIAGE LIKE THAT.

THEY CAN ALSO TAKE A LOT OF HEAT.

IT IS IN THE SAME FAMILY.

IT HAS A NICE CEMETERY APPLICATION OR IN AN ARID AREA THAT DOES NOT GET A LOT OF WATER.

THEN WE HAVE ALSO SOME NEW DAHLIAS AND THESE DAHLIAS ARE THE GO-GO SERIES AND THEY ARE GREAT BECAUSE IT’S A TRUE PATIO SERIES.

THEY ALL MATCH IN HEIGHT AND VIGOR.

THEY DO WELL AND HAVE A BEAUTIFUL DOUBLE FLOWER.

IF YOU GET BULBS IN EARLY, YOU START THEM NOW, YOU COULD TAKE CUTTINGS OR GET THEM GOING SOONER AND THAN THEY DO VERY WELL IN THE GROUND.

JUST DO NOT PUT THEM WHERE IT IS TOO HOT.

ONCE AGAINST AUGUST, THEY CAN WILL EASILY BECAUSE THERE’S A LOT OF VEGETATION AND FLOWER ON THEM.

THERE’S A NEW COLORS IN THE SERIES AND THEY HAVE GREAT BULB PRODUCTION.

NOT ALL DAHLIAS HAVE GREAT BULB PRODUCTION.

THE FIREFLY PETUNIA -- EVERYONE IS IN LOVE WITH IT.

IT’S IN DEVELOPMENT BUT IT IS -- IT SHOWS A LOT OF PROMISE.

IT DOES HAVE SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS.

IT NEEDS EIGHT TO 10 HOURS OF SUN.

IT IS KIND OF LIKE ANY SOLAR FIXTURE THAT YOU HAVE.

IT DOES NOT ALWAYS DO GREAT BUT WITH ANOTHER FUS -- ENOUGH SUN IT WILL DO WELL.

I LOVE ANYTHING WITH GOOD FOLIAGE ON IT.

THE AUBERGINE LADY FERN IS BLACK WHEN IT COMES OUT.

IT’S BEAUTIFUL.

IT IS OWN FOUR BUT WITH PROTECTION AND A LITTLE BIT OF CLIMATE CHANGE MAYBE IT DOES WELL.

CORAL BELLS, INTERNAL FLAME.

THERE ARE SO MANY NEW VARIETIES.

WHAT’S GREAT ABOUT THESE THINGS, INCLUDING THAT HOSTA, THEY HAVE GREAT COLOR IN THEIR FOLIAGE SO YOU ARE NOT WAITING ON A FLOURED AND THE HOSTA DOES WELL.

IT COMES OUT WHITE IN GOOD CONTRAST AND THEN IT WILL TAKE ON MORE OF A CLASSIC HOSTA STYLE.

THE LILY POTS ARE GREAT BECAUSE THEY HAVE GREAT COLOR AND GREAT BULB PRODUCTION ALSO.

AND THEN A TREND THAT WE ARE SEEING IS EDIBLE LANDSCAPES OR FOOD ESCAPING -- FOODSCAPING USING CELERY, KALE, LEMON CILANTRO.

IT’S GREAT IF YOU DON’T CARE FOR CILANTRO.

AND SWISS CHARD.

IT’S EVERYWHERE.

WE DID A POST ON THESE PLANS -- THESE PLANTS PIES.

IT’S A NICE CONTAINER.

IT HAS THE THRILL, THE FILL IN THE SPILL ALREADY FIGURED OUT FOR YOU.

IT’S GOT A LOT OF COLOR AND CONTRAST AND FLOWER.

IT’S ONLY ABOUT FOUR INCHES DEEP IN THE NEW POP IT INTO YOUR CONTAINERS AND THEN IT WILL JUST TAKE OFF AND YOU CAN GET IT STARTED A LITTLE BIT EARLY AND THINGS TO GROW -- THINGS SEEM TO GROW BETTER WHEN THEY GET POTTED SOONER.

YOU CAN DO THEM IN SHADE OR SUN OR IN DIFFERENT APPLICATIONS.

BOB: SO MANY GREAT NEW IDEAS.

EVERYBODY IS CONCERNED ABOUT GETTING THAT AND YOU HAVE WORKED IT INTO THE BEAUTY OF ANY KIND OF LANDSCAPE.

SIDNEY: THE CONTAINERS ARE EASY.

DEB: TRYING TO MAKE IT EASY FOR EVERYONE.

BOB: THOSE ARE GREAT IDEAS.

SIDNEY: KEEP EMAILING AND CALLING AND QUESTIONS.

WE WILL GET TO A COUPLE NOW.

STARTING WITH SUE FROM ELY.

SHE SAID SHE HAD A GREAT CROP OF GREEN BEANS LAST SUMMER UNTIL SOMEONE DAMAGED THEM BY CUTTING THE STEMS NEAR THE BASE OF THE PLANT.

IT LOOKED LIKE SOMEONE HAD TAKEN A STRING TRIMMER.

SHE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF IT WAS CHIPMUNKS OR POSSIBLY WHAT SHE COULD DO TO PREVENT THE DAMAGE THIS YEAR.

SIDNEY: THAT’S A GOOD ONE.

IT IS HARD TO TELL FROM THAT PHOTO.

DEB: IT LOOKS LIKE A WEED WHIPPER.

BOB: SHE’S ON GOOD TERMS WITH HER NEIGHBOR.

DEB: CHIPMUNKS OR SQUIRRELS?

BOB: I WOULD GO TO BOTH OF THOSE.

WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE WHAT IS AROUND IT BUT IF THERE’S A LOT OF PINE -- OF COURSE WE ARE LOOKING AT RED SQUIRRELS, CHIPMUNKS -- TOUGH TO CONTROL.

THOSE ARE TWO REAL AGGRESSIVE MAMMALS, PARTICULARLY AT THAT TIME OF THE YEAR.

DEB: ESPECIALLY WITH THAT NICE EDGE FOR THEM TO RUN ALONG AND SAMPLE ALL THE WAY DOWN.

SIDNEY: COULD THEY MAY BE USED CHICKEN WIRE TO COVER UP SOME OF IT?

DEB: I DON’T KNOW IF THIS WORKS OR NOT BUT I HAVE SEEN PEOPLE TAKE PLASTIC FORKS AND PUT IT IN.

I HAVE SEEN YOU PUT A BUNCH OF THEM IN THERE SO THEY CANNOT GET IN THERE.

I DON’T KNOW IF IT WORKS OR NOT.

SIDNEY: CERTAINLY WORTH A TRY.

I HAVE ANOTHER.

SHOULD I PUT COFFEE GROUNDS IN MY FLOWERPOTS?

DEB: OK. WE ARE DIFFERENT THAN ANYONE ELSE BECAUSE WE HAVE OUR OWN SOIL, SO ON BLUEBERRIES, BECAUSE WE ARE NOT AN ACIDIC PEAT, BUT SWEET, SO WE WILL ADD IT TO OUR BLUEBERRIES AND IT SEEMS TO WORK FOR US, ESPECIALLY IN A SMALLER, LESS MATURE PLANT.

BECAUSE WE ARE GROWING IN CONTAINERS SO IT’S A DIFFERENCE WHEN YOU ARE GROWING IN CONTAINERS THAN IN THE FIELD.

BOB: PEOPLE LOOK AT THE COFFEE GROUNDS AND THINK OF THE ASSISTED HE OF -- OF THE ACIDITY OF COFFEE.

THEY ARE PRETTY MUCH NEUTRAL.

IT’S NOT GOING TO DO ANY HARM.

WAKE THE PLANTS UP A LITTLE BIT MAYBE.

GROUNDS ARE FINE ON THE TOP OF YOUR SOIL.

PUT THEM IN THE COMPOST PILE.

THEY WILL NOT CREATE A GREAT DEAL.

SIDNEY: NEXT ONE I HAVE HERE IS FROM GEORGE FROM CHISHOLM.

THE PREVIOUS YEAR, HE PUT MENORAH IN HIS GARDEN AND THAT SHE PUT MANURE IN HIS GARDEN AND THIS YEAR THEY ARE FULL OF WEEDS.

HOW DOES HE GET RID OF THEM?

BOB: THAT IS ONE OF THE PROBLEMS OF MANURE.

IF ANYONE IS PURCHASING IT, IT HAS TO BE WELL ROUTED.

LOOKING AT 5, 6, 8 YEARS TO GET RID OF THAT WEED SEED.

THE GOOD NEWS IS THEY ARE ALL ANNUALS.

GET THEM IN WHEN THEY ARE SMALL AND TAKE THEM OUT.

WE HAVE SEEN MORE PEOPLE THERE DISAPPOINTED.

SOME PEOPLE PAY A GREAT DEAL FOR THIS MANURE.

FOR THE MOST PART, IT WILL COME WITH A LOT OF WEED SEED UNLESS IT’S BEEN THOROUGHLY COMPOSTED FOR A SIGNIFICANT PERIOD OF TIME.

DEB: A HOT COMPOST PILE.

GET IT REALLY HOT AND YOU CAN GET A DESK YOU CAN GET RID -- AND YOU CAN GET RID OF A LOT OF IT THAT WAY.

SIDNEY: DO YOU HAVE SOME TIPS ON GROWING ROOT VEGETABLES?

BOB: ROOT VEGETABLES.

BEETS, CARROTS, MAYBE POTATOES, EVEN THOUGH THAT’S NOT A ROOT.

THAT SYSTEM.

.

TURNIPS THEY ARE ALL PRETTY EASY TO GROW.

WITH ROOTS, MAKE SURE THEY HAVE THE PHOSPHORUS AND POTASSIUM.

POTATOES OBVIOUSLY VERY EASY TO GROW.

WE MIGHT SEE THE BIGGEST PROBLEM WITH POTATOES.

WE HAVE POTATO BUG.

BUGS COME OUT OF THE GROUND FIRST.

GET THEM HUNGRY.

YOU STILL HAVE PLENTY OF SEASON.

A COUPLE THOUGHTS.

SIDNEY: PERFECT.

KEEP THOSE QUESTIONS COMING.

NEXT, WE ARE TAKING A LOOK AT THE LOCAL DIRT.

DO YOU HAVE A GREEN THUMB AND A CAMERA?

GREAT GARDENING WANTS TO SEE WHAT YOU ARE GROWING.

THE LOCAL DIRT IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE YOUR GARDEN WITH THE REST OF THE NORTH LAND.

FROM YOUR BACKYARD TO BLOOMS TO TOMATOES ON THE BALCONY, IF IT’S GROWING IN THE NORTH LAND, WE WANT YOU TO SHARE IT ALL.

ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS SEND YOUR PHOTOS TO ASKPBSNORTH.ORG AND YOU CAN BE FEATURED IN A FUTURE EPISODE.

WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT YOU HAVE GOT GROWING THIS SEASON AND IF YOU HAVE ANY PICTURES FROM LAST YEAR WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE SOME OF THOSE AS WELL ON THE LOCAL DIRT.

WE HAVE MORE GARDENING TO TALK ABOUT.

WHAT DO YOU HAVE IN STORE FOR US THIS EPISODE?

BOB: I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE WILL BE THINKING ABOUT PURCHASING MATERIALS FOR PLANTING.

WE LOOK AT PERENNIAL MATERIALS, MAY BE A NEW APPLE TREE.

THESE BECOME MORE AND MORE VALUABLE.

WE DID SOME WORK ON THAT.

THE SOONER YOU CAN GET THESE VARIETIES IN THE GROUND, THE BETTER OFF YOU WILL BE.

NUMBER ONE IN THIS AREA, HARDINESS.

WE ARE NOT ZONE FIVE.

WE ARE ZONE THREE AND FOUR.

GET THE RIGHT VARIETIES.

YOU WANT TO BUY GOOD LOCAL PRODUCT.

WE HAVE A GREAT SUPPLIER ON THESE MATERIALS.

DON’T BUY CHEAP.

WE SEE A LOT OF STUFF THAT’S GROWN FAST.

EVEN THOSE VARIETIES ARE THE SAME.

YOU OFTEN ARE DISAPPOINTED, SO MAKE THE INVESTMENT.

PAY ATTENTION.

DWARF, SEMI DOOR.

WE WILL PRETTY MUCH ELIMINATE THE DWARF BECAUSE THEY WILL NOT BE PARTY ENOUGH FOR US.

SEMI DWARF AND STANDARD IS WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT.

PICK A GOOD SITE, GOOD SUN.

IF YOU ARE QUESTIONING THE ZONE, LET’S GET IT OUT OF THE WIND.

YOU WANT TO THINK ABOUT IT.

YOU HAVE A BIG INVESTMENT.

YOU HAVE A NEW APPLE TREE YOU ARE PUTTING IN THE GROUND, VERY VULNERABLE TO DEAR.

YOU CANNOT PLANT THE TREE AND EXPECT IT TO BE THERE.

I SWEAR THE DEER ARE WATCHING YOU AND WAITING SO MAKE SURE THE PROTECTION GOES WHEN YOU PUT THE PLANT IN THE GROUND.

THOUGHTS?

DEB: HAVE IT BEFORE YOU EVEN GET THE TREE BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT AN EXPENSIVE.

BOB: IT’S A LONG-TERM INVESTMENT SO GET THAT FENCING AND COLOR READY TO GO SO YOU ARE READY AT THE TIME OF PLANTING.

A LOT OF GOOD INFORMATION ON THOSE TAGS.

JUST WANT TO POINT OUT THIS.

IT’S A SORT OF HARRELSON.

IT’S GOOD AND HEARTY.

I HAVE SEEN THEM UP IN CANADA.

NOTICE THAT TAG.

SWD AT THE BOTTOM.

THAT DOES NOT STAND FOR ONE OF THE PESTS WE HAVE ON OUR RASPBERRY CROP.

THAT’S A SEMI DWARF VARIETY.

FORGET ABOUT THOSE.

IT WILL STILL BE 10 TO 12 FEET.

YOU HAVE A CHOICE BETWEEN SEMI DWARF AND STANDARD, STD.

IT’S ON THE TAG.

IF YOU QUESTION THE SITE -- IN OTHER WORDS, YOU ARE ZONE 3 -- THIS IS A GOOD ZONE THREE VARIETY WERE HONEY CRISP MAY NOT BE FOR YOU.

IF YOU QUESTION THE HARDINESS, GO FOR A STANDARD VARIETY.

SWD, BECAUSE THAT RESTRICTS THE GROWTH, WE DON’T GET THAT VIGOROUS GROWTH.

IT IMPACTS THE HARDINESS IN THE WINTER.

A LOT OF INFORMATION ON THE TAGS.

HERE’S AN EXAMPLE.

IT WILL TELL YOU HOW TO PLANT.

IT WILL TELL YOU WHETHER IT IS IN FACT ZONE THREE.

SO I ALWAYS TELL PEOPLE GO WITH A HEARTY ZONE -- WITH A HARDY ZONE.

HONEY CRISP GETS A LOT OF THE CREDIT BUT IT IS ZONE FOUR.

I THINK IF YOU ARE CONFIDENT AND ALONG THE LAKE AND YOU ARE ZONE FOUR, DON’T HESITATE, BUT IF YOU ARE OVER THE HILL, SO TO SPEAK, YOU DO WANT TO BE CAREFUL AND GO ITS ZONE THREE MATERIALS FOR SURE.

IT HAS TO LAST FOR THE NEXT 50 YEARS.

SIDNEY: ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL TREES OVER THERE.

ALL RIGHT.

WE WILL HEAD BACK TO ELY TO FINISH OUR TOUR OF THE ELY GIVING GARDEN WITH SALLY.

>> SO IT STARTED IN 2022, THE SPRING OF 2022, WHEN AMANDA NELSON, ONE OF OUR MEMBERS, HAD DONE SOME WORK WITH HER NEIGHBOR WHO WAS A VETERAN, AND HE WAS ALSO AN ARTIST, SO SHE TRADED HER GARDEN EXPERTISE AND TAUGHT HIM HOW TO GARDEN.

HE GAVE HER A PIECE OF ART.

SHE WAS HOPING TO EXPAND THAT PROGRAM AND WORK WITH INDIVIDUAL VETERANS.

SHE WAS HAVING DIFFICULTY CONNECTING AND FINDING INDIVIDUAL VETERANS, SO WE HAD HEARD ABOUT IT THROUGH A SOCIAL MEDIA POST, THAT ELY AREA MASTER GARDENERS VOLUNTEERED TO MEET WITH HER.

WE STARTED TO DO SOME BRAINSTORMING AND DECIDED MAYBE WE NEEDED TO DO A GARDEN FOR VETERANS SO THAT THEY DIDN’T HAVE TO GROW THEIR OWN PRODUCE, SO WE BRAINSTORMED A NUMBER OF SITES, TALKED WITH THE CITY PLANNER AND ADMINISTRATOR FOR THE CITY OF ELY.

WE SUGGESTED THIS SITE.

HE THOUGHT IT WAS A GREAT IDEA, VISITED WITH THE V.A.

OUTPATIENT CLINIC STAFF, WHO ALSO THOUGHT IT WAS A GREAT IDEA, AND THE CITY WAS REALLY INSTRUMENTAL IN LEVELING THE SITE, HELPING US GET MULCH, HELPING US RELOCATE THE STOLEN PLANTERS FROM WHERE THEY WERE IN STORAGE, JUST BASICALLY ANYTHING THAT WE NEEDED TO GET GOING, THEY WERE WILLING TO HELP WITH.

WE HAVE A POLLINATOR GARDEN IN THE FRONT AND JOYCE, ONE OF OUR VOLUNTEERS, IS USUALLY THE PERSON WHO PLANS THE POLLINATOR GARDEN IN THE FRONT.

SHE DOES THE ANNUALS.

WE HAVE SOME NATIVE PLANTS THAT ARE PERENNIALS THAT WE TAKE CARE OF AS WELL, SO WE HAVE THE POLLINATOR GARDEN, AND MORE OF THE GIVING PRODUCE HERB SECTION HERE.

WE HAVE KIND OF A DEER PROBLEM IN THE CITY OF ELY AND SO THE FENCES ARE HANDMADE BY ONE OF OUR VOLUNTEERS.

SHE PUTS INTERESTING HANDLES ON TOP.

WE CAN HANG THE QR CODES AND IDENTIFIERS ON THE FENCES.

BUT WHAT THEY DO IS THEY PROTECT FROM DEER AND RABBITS AND OTHER LITTLE CREATURES.

SO THEY ARE EASY TO LIFT OFF, TO WATER, TO WEED, TO HARVEST, AND WE JUST SLIP THEM BACK, WE ARE NOT HERE SO THAT THE DEER ARE NOT HAVING A FEAST.

THE CANOE IS NEW THIS YEAR.

SO, JOYCE, WE ARE BLESSED TO HAVE JOYCE WITH US.

JOYCE IS CONNECTED TO ONE OF OUR VOLUNTEERS, STAN, WHO DOES SOME LANDSCAPING AND HAS HEAVY EQUIPMENT.

SO STAN CAME AND BUILT NOT ONLY ARE HERB GARDEN BUT THIS YEAR DID A BASE FOR OUR CANOE PLANTER AND WE DECIDED, SINCE WE ARE ELY , INTO THE WILDERNESS, BOUNDARY WATERS, THAT A CANOE WOULD BE A GOOD THING TO USE FOR A PLANTER.

WE ARE A VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATION AND DON’T HAVE A LOT OF FINANCIAL SUPPORT, SO FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS ARE ALWAYS ACCEPTED.

WE WILL BE LOOKING FOR MORE CANOES IN THE FUTURE.

PLEASE DO NOT DONATE UNTIL WE ASK.

WE DON’T WANT TO SHOW UP AND HAVE 50 CANOES SITTING HERE.

AND JUST ENJOY AND PICK THE PRODUCE.

IT’S A GOOD WAY TO CONNECT WITH THE COMMUNITY.

IT’S REALLY REWARDING WHEN YOU ARE DOING YOUR WEEDING AND WATERING AND SOMEBODY COMES OUT OF THE V.A.

CLINIC AND THANKS YOU AND TALKS ABOUT HOW WONDERFUL IT IS.

SIDNEY: THAT IS SUCH A GREAT PROJECT THEY HAVE GOT GOING ON.

BOB: I HAVE TO CONGRATULATE SALLY.

I HAVE WATCHED THIS PROJECT EVOLVE.

CONGRATULATIONS.

THEY TOOK A REAL BARREN SITE THAT LOOKED INDUSTRIAL AND TURNED IT INTO THIS WONDERFUL THING OF BEAUTY AND BROUGHT THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER, SO CONGRATULATIONS TO THIS GREAT GROUP OF GARDENERS.

SIDNEY: AND THE CANOES.

BOB: THE CANOES.

I KNOW WHAT TO DO.

I WILL SAY THAT.

SIDNEY: I AM EXCITED TO SEE YOUR CANOE GARDEN.

THERE IS STILL TIME FOR YOU TO CALL OR EMAIL YOUR QUESTIONS.

LET’S ANSWER A COUPLE MORE.

I HAVE LARRY.

HE ASKED WHAT TO PUT UNDER RAISED BEDS TO PREVENT WEEDS FROM COMING UP FROM BELOW.

DEB: FROM BELOW THE RAISED BED?

BOB: WE ARE KIND OF WONDERING.

DEB: HOW TALL IS THAT RAISED BED THAT THERE’S ACTUALLY WEEDS COMING FROM BENEATH IT?

BOB: USUALLY 3, 4 FEET.

SIDNEY: THERE SHOULD BE NO WEEDS FROM BENEATH.

BOB: FROM BENEATH.

LITTLE ANNUALS.

ONE OF THE NICE THINGS ABOUT RAISED BEDS, IT’S TYPICALLY EASY TO CONTROL WEEDS, SO WE ARE NOT SURE WHAT THE ISSUE IS THERE.

SIDNEY: MORE INFORMATION FROM LARRY.

I HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION.

ANY IDEA OF A GOOD PLUM VARIETY TO GROW UP HERE?

BOB: PLUMS.

THERE’S A GOOD ONE.

THERE ARE A NUMBER.

SOME OF THE ITALIANS.

WE MIGHT TAKE A LOOK AT THAT AND GET BACK TO HIM ON THAT ONE.

SIDNEY: FUTURE EPISODE IDEA.

I HAVE WHITE LATEX PAINT ON THE BASE OF A FRUIT TREE EFFECTIVE IN PREVENTING TREETRUNK DAMAGE IN THE WINTER.

HOW SO?

DEB: THEY DON’T HAVE DAMAGE?

THEY ARE PREVENTING DAMAGE OR THEY HAVE DAMAGE?

SIDNEY: IS WHITE LATEX PAINT OR BASE?

DEB: OK. BOB: WE DON’T LIKE IT ON THE WOOD, PERIOD.

WE WANT A NICE CLEAN CUT THE DOES NOT HOLD ONTO ANY MOISTURE.

OFTEN TIMES A LATEX OR OIL-BASED PAINT CAN BE A SUBSTRATE THAT THE FUNGI THAT CAUSE ROT CAN GROW ON.

NICE CLEAN CUT AND BELIEVE THAT.

SIDNEY: THANK YOU.

NO PAINT.

ALL RIGHT.

DOES THE SEED STARTING MIX HAVE NUTRIENTS OR DO I NEED TO FERTILIZE MY SEEDLINGS?

DEB: YOU HAVE TO WATCH BECAUSE SOME OF THEM DO HAVE IT AND YOU HAVE TO BE CAUTIOUS BECAUSE THAT SALT CAN BUILD UP AND IT DEPENDS ON HOW OLD THAT MIX IS.

SOMETIMES IT’S NICE IF YOU MAKE YOUR OWN BLEND IN THEN YOU CAN ADD IN YOUR FERTILITY LATER ONCE THEY GET BIG BECAUSE YOU DON’T WANT IT TURNING SALTY.

YOU DO NOT WANT IT TO BURN THEM.

YOU HAVE TO BE CONSCIOUS.

I WOULD PREFER TO PUT TOGETHER A BLEND.

BOB: NO FERTILITY IN SEATING MIXES.

THE FERTILITY COMES LATER WHEN THE PLANT HAS THREE OR FOUR TRUE LEAVES, NOT A SEATING MIX.

SIDNEY: GREAT ADVICE.

WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO AERATE A VERY LARGE LAWN?

BOB: PLUG AERATORS.

DEB: OK. SIDNEY: DO WE NEED TO?

DEB: I MEAN -- BOB: WHAT YOU DON’T WANT TO DO IS, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN BUY PIECES OF EQUIPMENT THAT PULL THE CORES UP.

WE DON’T WANT TO MAKE MORE IMPACTION’S SO THEY WILL CALL THESE PLUG AERATORS.

THEY PULL A PLUG OF SOIL UP, SPREAD SOIL OUT ON THE LAWN’S SURFACE, AND YOU CAN DRAG SOMETHING BEHIND THE DEBRIS.

WE WANT TO USE A SPECIFIC PIECE OF EQUIPMENT CALLED A PLUG AERATOR THAT PULLS THEM.

ON HEAVY SOILS, CLAY IN PARTICULAR, NOT NECESSARILY SAND, BUT THAT CAN BE A BENEFICIAL PRACTICE.

YOU DON’T WANT ANYTHING THAT IS COMPACTING OR COMPRESSING THE SOIL SURFACE.

SIDNEY: THANK YOU.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING US THIS EVENING ON GREAT GARDENING.

WE HOPE TONIGHT’S EPISODE HAS INSPIRED YOU.

WHETHER YOU’RE PLANNING OR SPRING GARDEN, TRYING OUT NEW TECHNIQUES OR SIMPLY ENJOYING THE BEAUTY OF GARDENS ACROSS THE NORTH PLANT.

THANK YOU TO OUR VOLUNTEERS ANSWERING PHONES TONIGHT AND A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO GARDENING EXPERTS BOB: AND DEB BURNS -- BOB OLEN AND DEB BURNS ARISON.

THANKS FOR WATCHING AND HAVE A WONDERFUL EVENING.

GOOD NIGHT.

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