Hello, and thanks for joining us for another episode of Mid American gardener.

I'm your host Tinisha, Spain.

And joining me in the studio today is one of our old friends, Jen Nelson is here today.

And we're going to be doing some crafting slash planting slash all kinds of stuff she dropped in to teach us how to do a really cool project.

But before that, introduce yourself and tell us a little bit about you.

I'm Jen Nelson, I'm horticulturalists, you can find me in lots of different places.

I am currently teaching 105 at the University of Illinois, but I also have a website ground and growing.com where I share stuff like this.

And that's where this comes from.

And this is a craft for even the non crafty my, I had my sister the non crafty one, test it out.

And she even admitted it was not hard.

Okay, well, we'll put me to the Crafty either.

So tell us a little bit about what it's called.

And just give us a little history.

Okay.

So this is based on a Japanese craft called cookie dharma.

And there's lots of great art in flower arranging and plants and such in Japan.

And so coca dama is a moss covered ball that has a plant planted in it and the pictures that I had seen, they were quite expensive, just for a kit, they were running at the time I saw it was like $30.

And you didn't even get a plant.

And I was like, I immediately see stuff like that think I can do though, can I can I do this and that.

And the picture I saw of them always had a pretty high maintenance plant.

And it's something that was a tropical that needed all the attention, which is, let's be honest, not going to happen at my house.

So I saw a picture of somebody had done one with a succulent and I was like, well, that's cute.

But what if what if I could hang it.

And so this is not not directly true to the tradition, but it's a new kind of riff on it so that it will work at my house.

And I've had these ones that I brought, as examples have been in the state for about six years.

And I just kind of I've kind of picked them up for TV yesterday, because over time, there's moss around the outside and it gets kind of starts break down.

That's what it should do, it should start to kind of turn to soil.

So I added some fresh in here.

And it's honestly not my favorite because it's got this green dye on it, which I think looks too fake.

But over time, it's going to weather and it's going to fade so I'm not so worried about it.

But I have these setups so that I can hang them I was just going to ask so during summer where do these live in the summer these live in our Rose of Sharon that's trimmed like a tree in my yard and they do quite well and they thrive honestly.

And this particular plant String of Pearls is really tough to take care of in the house but it does really well in this setup.

And then this is a little tiny Jade, which is honestly did kind of suffer over the winter but it's starting to really foul she's coming back she's coming back.

And this one is a Kalin ko II, which you might be more familiar there's like a more big leaf variety that is that's commonly sold for its flowers.

This one has flowers too.

And it's it they draped down and they're really pretty this one is kind of worse for wear as well, but it's it's coming back.

It's um, it's these all three of these for a while yeah, for a while, for years, we've been holding out this craft project on us.

Yeah, kinds of crafts, we want to go down that road we can.

So what we're gonna do, and this is again, not really true to the method in the Spirit.

So I wanted I want to encase the roots with moss and I'm using this is called sheet moss and it actually says it on the package sheet loss.

If you start shopping for this stuff, there are so many different versions of moss and different colors and textures.

What I used to try to rejuvenate my old ones was labeled forest moss and it's not quite in a sheet form is like smaller pieces.

So it's way hard to work with and I made a gigantic mess in the kitchen.

And if my mom if I If my mom were observing me she would be having a heart attack, but it's my kitchen.

I can make a giant plant mess if I want your cleaning and I'm so clean.

Yeah, and I didn't put it down to drain Mom, don't worry.

Don't worry.

So this sheet moss comes it's basically like a sheet.

There are versions that have like a papery backing, I wouldn't use that or has kind of like a fibery backing.

I wouldn't use that because you do want this to break down over time and be more natural, but we need a way to keep the the roots together.

So this is just happens to be some newsprint I was packing material in a box, I just saved it.

Because I do stuff like you get to a certain age or like it's great box or it's great.

That's a great yesterday, that's a sign of middle age.

But you could just use plain old newspaper would work to, and I use the pot kind of as a template.

And I want to be able to, we're going to kind of wrap the ball and go all the way around.

Yeah, and I wanted everything before we started so that it didn't just fall apart.

And watch, it'll just fall apart when I want to take it out.

But we're gonna try to gently tease out the root ball.

Yeah, it's not quite as wet as I thought.

I got it this morning.

But we'll make it work.

So all right, so we're gonna put it in the center and Kai this works.

Having having a crafty friend having a crafty friend at hand or a kid that can hold stuff like we were talking being the all purpose daughter holding, folding flashlights for our fathers growing up.

So we're gonna just hit and don't worry if it's sticking up, because once this gets wet, it will be they will mold to whatever way you want to put it, and it'll break down over time.

And that's okay, but the name of the game is just a gift.

Get that around to give you a ball to work with.

So you're going to tie you're going to tie that string around and see this is where you need to have good friends and it doesn't have to be fancy.

Just tie it so that will keep everything from falling apart and tight, fairly tight.

And just not going I've got a scissors we can cut off the extra I don't know if I got it quite tight enough where I was as long as it doesn't fall apart.

Or maybe I need to put a finger there.

There we go.

Teamwork.

Teamwork makes the dream work here.

Okay, got our scissors, you can cut the ends.

So we've got our little our little tiny root ball.

Where are the left handed scissors when you need them?

I used to use them in my left hand.

I'm a lefty too.

Yes, yeah, this is okay.

Okay, so now what we're gonna do is we're going to cover this paper up with the sheet more, so we might have to tear it to fit.

And we're going to at the same time, put wire around it to hold the hold the moss and this is aluminum wire that's coded, it's probably plated in copper.

Over time, it kind of fades.

You see the ones just find this at a craft.

Yeah, there's just at a craft store or you know, your handy dandy online sources.

Gotcha.

I did try to do this we had I don't know where we got it, we had some old actual copper wire from somewhere and it it's a little harder to bend and it's a little less forgiving.

Like if you put a kink in it, it's gonna You can't really straighten it out.

Or the aluminum is pretty soft and easily.

You could even cut it with scissors or just the cutting edge of some pliers.

So I made about a two foot length of the wire and I put a little loop on the end because that's going to be where we attach our handle later.

So this is where I look like I don't know what I'm doing.

And I'm kind of you have to trust the process.

Yeah, so I got to try to make if you any of you are sewers in the in the crowd, you can kind of you're trying to gauge what will fit in you're going to benefit camera can get I'm just trying to cover up the paper.

And it's not going to be pretty to start with.

But I'm going to just start with one wire sticking up once you do one, like the first one I did took well over half an hour to do.

And then once I got the hang of it, I was cranking these things out.

And so fun.

Yeah, and it's, it is a fun gift.

And you're just kind of be an abstract and trying to keep that moss in place.

And maybe I should let you do this Tanisha maybe she'll just watch this, watch, that's fine, but you want to make sure you put some across the bottom and ideally kind of criss cross it if you can, but just some of the some of the extra pieces of moss in place to cover up that paper and you want the moss dry at this tie were put I would do it dry at this time.

It's just easier to work with.

It's gonna be more more bits falling off.

And if if you're in an area that is like, it's really storing up, I would even put a mask on.

There can be stuff in moss that we shouldn't be breathing.

Oh, but we're not we're inside so we're fine.

That's good.

That's good practice with any kind of moss.

Like if you're doing peat moss or spagna moss, there can there can be stuff in it that will make you that you don't want to be breathing.

So I'm just trying to make it look pretty and kind of criss crossed the bottom to hold and it's bending easily, really easily and that's because it's aluminum, or whatever design Yeah, and so I want it to kind of end there.

I'm going to tuck the end in with the pliers.

And then I'm going to do the other piece that I had already lube.

And you can you're gonna adjust this when it's done, but the other end and kind of do, kind of see which part she missed and go back, go back over tighten it up.

It's already queued the magic of crafting.

Now I've got some paper here I will I could trim that off later or you can but now in the summer you said these are outside right.

Then in the wintertime, you bring them in and bring them in and they to water on my just, I soak them in a in a bowl until they are thoroughly wet.

And then in the winter, they stay in a window and I have you can get all kinds of little adhesive hooks and I have some that are just in my kitchen window.

wherever you've got good light, especially with succulents, you want them to have as much light as you can give them over the winter.

And the biggest thing for keeping them alive inside is not to overwater.

And that's where a lot of people make their mistake.

So this is nice.

I don't recommend if you get plants with stuff like this on the soil, I usually say take it off.

But for this setup, it works really nice to keep just the right amount of moisture on the roots even for a succulent and they dry out relatively quickly.

Okay.

And over the winter, I don't wander them more than once a month.

Oh, it all?

I mean, no, mate, very low.

Extremely low.

And yeah.

So you may need to adjust to kind of where that wire is.

But yeah, hold that if they're like you said if there was a tropical or something in here.

Much higher be so fussy to deal with these.

So it's hard to control humidity.

I have a couple of tropicals that I winter.

And you know, it's tough you're trying to get get that balance just right.

And I'm getting humidifiers out for the plants.

Right.

I do that for some of my plants, but I can't.

I also have like kids that want to be fed and house that needs to get cleaned.

So there we go.

And so we kind of will kind of just maybe trim that paper out and we could stick.

Could you add another piece?

They could add another person you can do that.

Add another piece right in that top?

Yep.

Let's put that right in there.

Tuck it down.

And then to water these you said about once a month.

Well in the summer, do you water more frequently?

Yeah, I do.

Okay, because there is so hot out and I have them outside.

If I had them inside I would water a little less.

But generally succulents are actively growing in the summertime.

So just give it a little dunk.

Yeah, give it a dunk.

I think I got in overtime.

This is going to start to fade and look kind of gnarly.

And you're going to want to you can talk extra pieces in at any time or if it's really bad like mine were yesterday.

I unwrap them.

Okay.

Okay.

So let's see other questions I have.

So for these, you said you unwrap those to put these, but you can tuck it in there sometimes if it's not too tight.

Yeah, it's it's not an exact science.

It's definitely like, yeah, figure out what works for you.

And I like those succulents that have more of a trailing habit.

You might like something different.

And so try something different.

And maybe you've got more time and to pay more attention to but yeah, right during baseball season.

I know baseball season, it's at our house too.

But if you wanted to put a tropical in it, and maybe there's some maybe you have a low maintenance one in mind that you think will work or high maintenance one because that's your thing.

Do it.

Try it.

If you've got time for high maintenance go for yes.

And we'll be jealous.

Yes, from afar too.

Right.

So do you have I'm thinking of bigger?

Do you have any larger ones?

I haven't tried that.

But you were showing me a video of a really great big one.

So now maybe my wheels are turned in a little I don't know if I'd hang it but a big one which would be kind of cool and on dish or something nice, very nice.

Aside from tropicals Are there any other recommendations for houseplants that you would maybe tell folks that they could use in here because some folks and we see this an email a lot.

Some folks really struggle with succulents.

Yeah, I agree.

I agree.

And most people if you're tending to kill all your succulent succulents because most people over watered them then maybe a tropical is something you want to try in here IV might look really cool.

I kill all IV that comes in my house dies a slow death.

I can't figure it out.

It's considered to be a beginner plant but not at my house.

No.

But yeah, I would try some of the trailing trailing houseplants maybe some of the trailing philodendrons path those might be that might work really well.

That's a good one too.

Okay, so just to recap, you're going to bend your loops on the hands and start those on either side yeah, so that you've got your hooks.

Windy all around wherever you like.

And that's the part where people have a pebble problem with my No my sister's like well how do I know which way to do it and it's like it doesn't matter how old you might and you're gonna adjust it when you're done don't make sure all that moss is is snugged up and you can even kind of put your hands around it and smoosh it in when you're done.

But that's the that's the art part of it is it doesn't come out the same way twice.

Yes, we met it's okay that right it's okay it is okay.

Any other tips for care any other things we should know?

You know, like pruning dividing.

Don't be afraid to cut things back and look for it like this I thought was a goner.

And I just kind of still kind of looks like a goner.

Let's be honest.

But hey, even the ex even the so called experts have have I think it looks like a Sookie.

We'll see what it looks like at the end of the summer.

If it's really still struggling, maybe I'll, I'll do something different with it.

These make nice indoor bonsai.

So maybe I'll put it in a pot.

Very nice, very nice.

And then just to talk about the moss again, I see Spanish reindeer sheath and forest but you primarily say to stick with the sheet I would say stick with the sheet it is the more expensive one because someone's got to go to the effort to try to keep this all together and grow it in such a way and harvest it to keep it together.

The forest moss is going to be smaller pieces not impossible to work with.

But I wouldn't make that your first try because you're kind of beef probably be frustrated especially with that a second that hey, yeah.

And get your get your kids.

This is a good project with kids get kids involved.

Get your non crafty friends.

Excellent.

All your friends.

Japan was on campus.

Yes.

Japan house is awesome.

Isn't it?

Awesome.

And so today it kind of in the spirit of all things Japan.

We went to Japan House earlier this spring.

And we've just been taking it in.

It's been it's just amazing over there.

I don't know if you followed the cherry blossom saga?

Yes.

I was given an update to my class every year.

Yes.

I was on their Facebook page every morning waiting for the updates.

And so they didn't flower this year.

But that that's what that's what happens sometimes.

So anywho as you know, I work on several different projects here at IPM.

And we went to Japan house and shot a really cool story, focusing on the cherry blossom trees or Sakura, as they are called there and we just shot a really cool piece that we'd like to show you.

So take a look and thank you for coming in.

Thanks anytime.

In Japanese culture, the philosophy of the cherry blossom or Sakura is as deeply rooted as these beautiful trees.

Each spring, people flocked to the mountains of Japan to watch them bloom.

Stateside, you can see these trees putting on quite a show in Washington DC.

But you may not know you can find the blooming cherry blossom right here in central Illinois.

For almost 60 years that Japan house has been preserving and teaching Japanese culture at the University of Illinois.

Its current building was completed in 1998 and is situated inside in Arboretum.

Kimiko Gunji Professor Emeritus of Japanese arts and culture and the former director of the Japan House says the trees represent our lives fleeting, much like the cherry blossom.

It's just like with this concept of impermanence of all things saints nevers days, so everything goes away and comes and goes.

So when it's here, you should enjoy things the most.

That's very much rather you need your fragile Raju yet beautiful.

So people think your life might be shorter.

So then why not enjoy it?

On the 10th anniversary of the New Japan house, Dr. Genshitsu Sen, a 15th generation tea master gave the Japan house a very special gift.

He received honorary doctorate degree.

And when he came, he walks through the pathway.

Nothing there.

So he kind of said well that mean nice to have a cherry blossom around this pathway, I think yes.

But I thought that maybe just talk right and then he went home and soon international field office called thing that doctor sent like, send a hefty Yoshino tree which is one of the beautiful Japanese tuberosum today, Dr. Sen set master landscape gardener katsuo kubo to design the project and oversee the installation of what would be called Sen. Cherry Tree LA.

Each tree was thoughtfully selected by Mr. Kubo.

And then carefully positioned in keeping with the Japanese cultural belief that, like each human, each tree has a personality uniquely its own.

Dr. Sen served in the Japanese Navy in World War Two, post war, he devoted his life to the philosophy of T. The UN ambassador has been honored all over the world and just celebrated his 100th birthday in April.

He came to the United States when he was a young man right after the World War Two.

And then from there on his mission is peace through a boring, you cannot believe you handle your own.

We all say well, maybe because he drinks tea every morning.

That's why he went all over the world.

And also, he donated many Tea House tea room.

So that's what we have here two tea rooms donation by by him based on that this whole house was built.

So it's quite amazing.

Doctor since gifts are a big part of the reason Japan house is still a popular place to visit in central Illinois.

The cherry blossom trees he donated 15 years ago, are still a main attraction in the gardens of Japan house.

Professor Gunji says during cherry blossom season in Japan, the news people tune in for isn't about stocks or the weather.

It's all about soccer, the TV on anything they say, well, so such and such a mountain, it's a sub 3% sub Rooney, such as a mountain, maybe, you know, 50% So when they hear like hip 60%, they drop everything and go go to see that beautiful cherry blossom.

Because cherry blossom is such a type of gorgeous flowers, but in the Flubaroo tend to be stuck falling down very quickly.

very fragile.

So people think well, the work can wait.

But cherry blossom cannot wait.

In spring of 2023, Central Illinois experienced some roller coaster weather that included some very high and very low temperatures that affected the blooms and the delicate flowers that usually blanket the trees are small and scarce.

So whatever outside this secondary thing and some of the things like this, we cannot control.

So instead of saying oh we don't have cherry blossom we cannot do anything.

No, you shouldn't leader, you can think about what you can do with what you have.

blooms are no blooms.

There's a lesson to be learned about the simple beauties in life.

Once we often overlook, and there's a word for that.

We have a Japanese word called wabi sabi.

Beauty in brilliant beauty contrast to that is very quiet plastic beauty.

wabi sabi beauty you find in old man who ate very wisely, so then his surface of skin might be wrinkly.

But when you start talking, he had a wealth of knowledge base.

So that's the beauty of the wabi sabi.

A big thank you to Professor gunji and the folks at Japan house for sharing their culture and their story with us.

And if you like that story, we're planning on going back to Japan house to take part in a traditional Japanese tea ceremony.

So be looking for that.

And that story originally aired on our recently rebooted show prairie fire, you should check it out.

It airs the third Thursday of each month right after min American gardener at 730.

So you're already watching, right?

I'm going to be working on that show as well bringing you unique stories from all over central Illinois.

In fact, a story we're going to be bringing you later this month, involves a gardener who had to overcome a lot to be back out in the garden.

We're going to introduce you to Tony, a lifelong gardener with a doctorate a love of cars and dancing, and an incredible story to tell.

Take a look at this preview.

I'm Tony Becker.

I guess I've been a gardener since the day I said my first word, flower.

My parents always had a garden.

As far as I can remember.

I have gone through school school is relatively easy for me.

I've got my PhD.

And in between getting my PhD, I was a grad student nearby in crop sciences.

But then on my way to my first final exam as a grad student, which is actually the first day I ever miss school, I rolled my truck and I broke my neck.

But I've gotten much I'm better at gardening.

And even though it's not exactly how I want the landscaping, how I want things, I can still do it, I'm still able to do it.

So it'll always be my enjoyment till I can't pick up a tool anymore.

What I love about gardening is the magic of putting a tiny little thing in the ground, having it grow up, become bigger, grow into a flower.

It's just magical and spectacular so be sure to join us to see the rest of Tony's story and another thank you to Jennifer Nelson for this excellent plant crap that she helped us make.

And that's it for us on this episode of mag.

We will see you next time.

Thank you so much for watching.