<Narrator>: Making it Grow is brought to you in part by certified South Carolina is a cooperative effort among farmers retailers And the South Carolina Department of Agriculture to help consumers identify foods And agricultural products that are grown harvested or raised right here in the Palmetto State.

The Boyd Foundation supporting outdoor recreational opportunities, the appreciation of wildlife, educational programs, And enhancing the quality of life in Columbia, South Carolina And the Midlands at large.

McLeod Farms in McBee South Carolina family owned And operated since 1916.

This family farm offers seasonal produce, including over 40 varieties of peaches.

Additional funding provided by the South Carolina Farm Bureau Federation And Farm Bureau Insurance And BOONE HALL FARMS.

♪♪ <Amanda>: Good evening And welcome to Making it Grow.

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

I'm Amanda McNulty, a Clemson Horticulture Agent.

And I get to come over here on Tuesdays And have what I call continuing education.

Because we have people who remember all the stuff that I once to knew And they know even more than I once knew, it's just, it's wonderful.

And we have such a good time.

I hope you enjoy learning as well, Terasa Lott who's the Master Gardener coordinator for the state And Terasa our master gardeners are so much of a help as giving research based information in a way that people can understand.

They just kind of double And triple And quadruple our Hort.

Agents don't they?

<Terasa>: They sure do.

There is always it seems like far more questions And more people needing help than we could tackle alone.

So what a great model that was started 50 years ago to train volunteers that then can help us increase our reach.

<Amanda>: Yes, it is.

And of course you are so wonderful to be the co host And do so much to help us with the show every week.

<Terasa>: Happy to be here.

Thank you.

<Amanda>: Yes, yes, yes.

And also Terasa for those of you don't know it's a marvelous cook.

And um, we've been getting cakes race recently from a place here in town that has great cakes, but she stopped bringing us cookies And treats.

So Terasa I'm just gonna put you on notice that we might.

<Terasa>: I guess I'm gonna hold me accountable since this is now broadcast.

<Amanda>: Terasa is a marvelous marvelous Baker of which I think we're gonna give Nan credit for.

<Terasa>: Oh, yes, I recently dug up a picture.

I think maybe I was three years old And I'm at the kitchen we had a butcher block countertop And I'm there with the beaters in my hand And she's spraying some pans.

It looked like we were making some kind of Bundt cake or something very early in the morning.

<Amanda>: Isn't that fun.

Ok Stephanie Turner a you are the mast... You are the horticulture agent up in Greenwood.

And you also have a wonderful group of Master Gardeners up there because you bring bring them down to us sometimes.

And I'm And I think within the community, they are very, very active.

<Stephanie>: Yes, our local group is a Lakelands master gardeners And they're super active in our community.

They have all a wide variety of passions, And they tend to different gardens And interact with schools And all different parts of the community.

And it's really a great group to work with.

<Amanda>: Well, I think you get a good bit of credit for that because you're enthusiastic And enthusiasm is contagious.

A little bit.

Tom Nelson, do you think her enthusiasm is contagious?

<Tom>: Absolutely.

It is.

<Amanda>: And of course you are one of the Lakelands Master Gardeners.

Yeah.

And you've been with us before And we are so thrilled to have you back.

<Thank you.> Yeah, yeah.

And did you spend most of your career in Greenville?

I mean, in in Greenwood?

<Tom>: Yes I did most of my working career.

<Amanda>: But I think that you've traveled so we may find out a little bit about that later.

Because I like I don't have to travel too much.

I might as well pick somebody else's brain And enjoy vicariously where they have been And Jimmy Mack And Bill McNulty usually [Laughter] McNutty is what I generally get you're with the Horticulture Department for the city, but you came to that kind of late I think it's an interesting process by how you ended up doing that.

Jimmy: I Did came at it from being a master gardener.

I was a member of us well I still am a member of Lakeland master gardeners And came at from being a master gardener And volunteering with the city.

The city took over the topiaries.

And when they took them over, they offered me a job <Isn't that fun?> And now I'm going back to school to get my horticultural degrees.

<Where are you going to school?> Piedmont Technical College?

<Amanda>: Okay.

And um, you given pretty good instruction over there?

<Yes.

Wonderful.> I'm delighted hear it.

There are Greenwood is a pretty special place.

<Yes.> Okay.

Well, thank you so much for joining us today.

Great to have you with us.

Well, Terasa, usually we start off with something before we talk about problems or that kind of stuff with something happy And pleasant.

So let's do that.

<Terasa>: Oh, right.

Let's go to the gardens of the weekend.

You said something about living vicariously And that's sort of what we can do.

When we take our virtual field trip And see what your you're doing in your yard or your garden or with your houseplants.

Maybe you've just visited a beautiful space in South Carolina.

Today we begin with Georgia Ormand, who sent us a clivia showing out for spring such beautiful orange color in that photo.

From Sandra Mclendon.

Tulips that she had to bring inside because of forecasted freezing temperatures.

So she got to enjoy their beauty in a vase inside.

Keith And Rachel Gaines submitted their first iris of the season.

We must have a Clemson theme going on we have the orange clivia And now we have a Purple Iris from Carol Mohr.

She sent us a house plant And it's a native of the Philippines where it grows very similarly to epiphytic orchids, And this particular one is called Royal Intenz Medinilla Magnifica.

So it's not one that I was familiar with.

But it looks beautiful.

And she says More people should try it as a houseplant.

<Okay.> And then Marie Johnston wraps us up today with dewdrops on rose leaves.

And I thought this was just such a simple picture.

But it reminds me that we should always admire And stop And think about the beauty that surrounds us all the time, if we just kind of take that moment to look around us.

So thanks to all of you for sharing your photos with us.

Do remember, this is just a small selection.

And you can view all the submissions on our Face book page.

<Amanda>: Thank you.

And thank you for reminding us to stop And just look for something small, that can be quite lovely.

<Terasa>: Life gets so busy.

But beauty is all around us good.

<Amanda>: And we are going to share with y'all later.

It is that we took to the goatery, which was really a lot of fun.

And also, my fellow Calhoun County gardener Erline Wiles, has sadly passed away.

And we're going to show you once again, what she created in her garden.

Not with although she had other people helping her Erline was out there, usually everyday by seven in the morning And out there for hours every day until she was 94 years old.

So pretty remarkable person.

Good inspiration for the rest of us.

Well, now we've done the fun stuff.

Let's talk about problems people are having And how we might help them Terasa.

<Terasa>: That is what we are here for.

And you know, we receive a lot of questions via telephone electronic methods like email or Face book page.

But this one, we actually got a package in the mail.

And this came from Annie in Estill, South Carolina And I went ahead And opened the bag.

So she's having a problem with pecans or pecans, whichever you prefer to say, And she sent us a letter, please help.

These are nuts from our tree in Hampton County.

As you can see there is a scale on the meat of the nut, which gives it an off flavor.

I watch Making it Grow faithfully if you could get some of your guests to look at this And help me.

And so I took a look And we'll put it here but I think we'll get some close up shots.

Some of the pecans you wouldn't even be able to notice but this one is particularly useful it it's not scale, like we would think of like a scale insect but there's almost like a little fuzzy coating on the outside.

<Amanda>: That horrible brown stuff that if you ever get in your mouth, it's just the worst thing in the world.

<Terasa>: So you can relate to off taste.

<Amanda>: I mean for something as fabulous as a Pecan And you know And then if you ever get into that brown stuff, it's just like, oh.

<Terasa>: Turn your mouth inside out.

So I should not try one of these.

(laughter) <Stephanie>: I mean, yeah, if you shell it, And it's stuck on there.

Yeah.

(laughter) <Amanda>: Well, since you have experienced that I agree with me.

What do you what do you think may be going on?

And what do you have a recommendation?

<Stephanie>: Yeah, so we have a great fact sheet about the pecans on on our web site at HGIC.

And so it'll, it'll explain basic care And maintenance for pecans And for best fruit production.

And I think that's what's going on here.

We had, we had a long, kind of droughty, summer last year.

And so a lot of folks didn't really think to give that supplemental irrigation to their trees, And they can really suffer from that, on top of which, if, if she hasn't done the soil test in a while, you know, obviously, she could do a soil test And, you know, add some fertility, according to that.

Pecans can be very sensitive to a lack of zinc.

And so the test will indicate that especially will code it for nut bearing trees And it'll indicate that And so those things alone should help her improve her crop.

And you know, it'll fill out a better nut And it'll mature properly.

And so that skin that coating will remove from the meat of the nut properly.

<Amanda>: We Terasa of our house, as you know, is older than dirt.

And there were good many pecan trees when we moved there Tom.

And I'm sure they're well over 100 years old, but some of them are still produce.

I mean, usually younger trees produce better, but you know, generally I don't pick them up because the scab that gets on them is just, you know, it's always there.

And this year, interestingly, where we were, I guess, because of the rains we didn't have any trouble with.

I mean, we had a bumper crop with no scab isn't that interesting.

So it just kind of varies.

And the zinc it used to be that our local stores had pecan special fertilizer that he contain zinc.

I've since heard some of the other agents say that people who really it's mostly it's better absorbed foliarly.

And so big pecan growers have people come in with a helicopter or something.

And of course, so my thing is, because it's, you know, we've got a thing that picks them up, And my husband goes out And picks them up, And then you gotta crack them And you eat half of them.

And then when you get on the scale is, you know, not much fun if you eat all those pecans.

But, you know, we know that agriculture so important in South Carolina, And we have some companies here in South Carolina that grow And harvest pecans And can do all the things necessary to get a great quality nut.

And, um, you know, I just I wish we did more marketing because, for instance, almonds have to take a huge amount of water, And you have to truck all the bees out there, which is hard on the honey bees And pecan trees generally, from what I can tell, a well established tree can get most of the water it needs.

And, And then And then fertilize, you know, they're wind pollinated.

So I think And besides, they taste better, at least to me, And I have a great pecan pie recipe that makes for pecan pies that my friend Pam Phillips gave me.

And if anybody wants to know I will share it with you And you can put it on our Face book page.

<Terasa>: We need to sample it so.

<Amanda>: I will I'll bring (laughter) <Amanda>: And I'll do that.

<Terasa>: That's right yeah, you talked about me being into desserts I think you should bring us some too.

Any important for for Miss Amy or anyone to know that this is not a disease it's just poor nut development.

And so normally in a good year then that nut would grow larger expand further the fuzz would be stuck to the shell And so it it would be very time consuming but if you got rid of that Kernal fuzz that the nut should taste normal, but we just do the best that we can there are I think some varieties that are more prone to having this same thing with like there are some that are resistant to scab And some that are known to really get scab So, but if you don't have a great year, like you said we have wonderful local suppliers.

Yes.

<Amanda>: And that's supporting South Carolina agriculture.

What can be better?

Okay.

Whom can we help now?

<Terasa>: Well, it seemed you know, we don't get a lot of questions about ferns.

Sure, another group of of organisms, but I think Tom was telling me that he has a rather unusual fern that he might like to share with our guests.

<Amanda>: Well, Tom, what is this one?

Tom: This is a quite unusual fern And it looks like any other fern but in terms of light requirements.

What do we usually think of when we think of light requirements for ferns?

<Amanda>: Well, we think I've missed kind of woodland plants And shade, Yeah.

Tom: This is the Eastern Marsh Fern And it is a sun lover.

<Amanda>: Oh my goodness.

<Tom>: It absolutely thrives in the sun.

<Amanda>: Now Marsh makes me think that it wants a moist soil.

Tom: It does.

It prefers a moist or damp soil And in the sun it's the place that I got this was sort of loamy and well mulched.

<Amanda>: Ah, so soil it's holding moisture well.

Tom: Exactly.

But they form primarily by rhizomes, And form, really quite dense mats of ferns.

There are herbaceous perennials that will die back in the winter time.

And then, of course, this year with the freezes, I was not able to get much of a larger sample than this, because they... <Amanda>: I see there's one getting ready to unfurl as... Tom: They came out of the ground.

And then we had the freezes And they all browned up.

So I was fortunate to be able to collect this particular fern, for coming here, so that they are if they're happy, And you have a plot of these, you'll probably need to thin them out about every other year.

<Amanda>: Sean told me that you might bring this one And I was reading about it some.

And it said that often they're, they can actually be in standing water, And be very, very happy there And make, as you said, a very dense colony.

And for that reason, apparently, they're important for some ground nesting birds, And they give shelter to certain animals.

Right.

Um, which would just be wonderful.

Yeah.

And what did we call the unfurled thing that people up north might have take?

Fiddlehead, And Terasa, I was going to ask you, since you, y'all never went out And collected fiddlehead's I've tried to do it with ferns in South Carolina that I've gotten a my husband's family's property, And they didn't taste very good, but understanding.

I'm just but I think a lot of people really look forward to that time of year.

It must be the maybe a certain fern that grows up in the more northern states.

<Stephanie>: have that kind of taste like that, like dandelions have that kind of taste?

That's kind of... <Amanda>: I think you have to pull them.

You have to unfurl them And wash them.

Put them in some olive oil or butter And maybe throw in a little garlic like that.

I've always thought it'd be fun to try them.

I guess nowadays, you could probably have shipped your house from someplace.

<Stephanie>: They sell them in cans.

<Amanda>: Sell them in cans at the grocery store?

<Stephanie>: Well they did where I was.

Yeah, I grew up in Connecticut.

Oh.

<Tom>: Yeah.

The whole foods, whole foods, sells, everything.

Yeah, there you go.

<Amanda>: Well, And when I was little they people used to go out And collect poke, poke salad.

And it used to be canned in South Carolina, And in some of the stores.

So I guess it's regional preferences.

Well, I just think that's wonderful that you brought it in And shared it with us.

Thank you so very, very much.

<Very welcome.> Okay.

Alright Terasa.

<Terasa>: Our next question came in from my area of the woods from Nancy in Darlington.

She said, <Amanda>: Oh, gosh, that's, you know, trees are so important to an individual landscape.

And sometimes there's something if you get on it early that you can do to help that tree retain its health.

What do you think they should do?

Jimmy: Need to call an arborist.

Okay.

Go ahead.

That way they could look at the tree And determine if it is actually something with the tree.

If it's something in the landscape itself, it can be something that was sprayed, or something that was treated on the lawn.

<Amanda>: Oh, like pre emergence over And over And over?

Yes.

Jimmy: It could be fertilizer.

There's so many other factors that could be affecting the tree.

<And how> <Terasa>: would one go about finding you said call an arborist.

So is there a resource such tool we can use to find an arborist Jimmy: There's South Carolina chapter of ISA.

They can go or you can call the extension office And usually they'll give you a list of arborist in your area.

<That's the certified arborist certified,> <Amanda>: certified arborist.

Okay.

And that's a national organization, I think, but we have ones within the state so you can find someone who's received the proper training.

It's easy just to have cards printed And say you're an arborist, I understand Jimmy: as far as I'm sure it's all your extension office And they'll tell you if there's a certified arborist in your area.

<Stephanie>: And there's a web site so you can go there.

It's called.

treesaregood.org .

And yeah, they have a good link on there to search for arborists.

<Amanda>: Okay.

Well, thank you so very much now.

Are you taking some courses in that at your school?

Jimmy: I'm in the middle of it right now.

Hopefully by May I will be certified.

<Amanda>: And are you learning how to throw the rope over the tree limb And climb?

Jimmy: I tried that two weeks ago.

That is an experience.

Found out quick like I should have done it when I was 20.

Not when I was 56.

<Amanda>: I think you have a few years on some classmates.

It's Jimmy: 20 year olds went up that tree.

It took me a little while longer.

Exactly.

Yeah.

<Amanda>: Yeah, yeah, the journey is half And half of the experience.

Okay, okay.

Well, we just had an incredible time at the goatery.

I had heard the little baby goats were getting ready to come and that's a very special time of year And everything about going to the goatery was just an absolute joy.

♪♪ I'm at John's Island And petting Apple, <Apple.> Apple, And apple's the reason we're here this is a goat farm.

But it's so much more than a goat farm.

And let me back up And say that this is the Kiawah River Organization, which is a development, <Yes.> But instead of having a golf course or something like that, they have decided to make a farm community.

The focus of the development, which I think is stunningly wonderful.

And you are a part of that farm community.

Missy: Yes, correct.

One out of eight.

<Amanda>: And so this animal And her kin are the main reason for this.

And what what's the main product that you will have from a goat farm?

Missy: At this farm we were also a creamery.

We're going to produce cheese soaps produce milk, And all other goat based products here on site.

<Amanda>: okay.

And goats I have heard, are tremendously susceptible to parasites.

And you have this wild conglomeration of animals here that helps to manage the property And also can even help with that.

So what's the reason for this wide diversity of animals that's here?

Missy: Diversity is always good to the land.

And so we call this little piece of heaven are BioDome.

Each animal does something special for the next animal in conjunction with each other.

So every animal has a purpose here.

And it also helps build up the land so that it doesn't get overused by one animal as well.

<Amanda>: So pigs will eat anything?

Yes.

And goats often have parasites in their poop.

And the pigs come And eat the goat poop.

Missy: Yes, they maintain certain types of parasites that get in the poop.

They'll control it.

<Amanda>: And then when the pigs poop, they're fertilizing the land.

Absolutely.

Yeah.

Gotcha.

So or something.

And then we've also got donkeys here.

What are the donkeys doing?

Missy: our donkeys?

They're beautiful creatures.

They are our security force here at the farm.

They keep everybody nice And protected.

They are the original heritage herd protector.

So they do a very good job here.

<Amanda>: And I believe that they keep deer from coming in.

And deer carry certain parasites that can be damaging to the animals that we want here.

Missy: Correct.

They keep everything on the that we don't want on the inside.

On the outside of the fence.

That's their job.

<Amanda>: All the chickens are called Nelly with a zillion of them.

And we're about to have more.

And I believe egg production is a part of your scheme for making this a profitable business.

Missy: Absolutely.

So our thing is called the farm touch.

That's what we focus on here.

I want people to come get their own eggs have that experience because to me that's also going to preserve the farming culture here in JOHN'S ISLAND.

<Amanda>: You occasionally are going to have male goats born.

And of course goats are they feed the world I mean, it's probably the most consumed animal overall so but your male goats now are being involved in something that I think is remarkably interesting.

Missy: So we actually have a contract with the National Park Service contractor who brings our male goats to different national Parks from Virginia, Tennessee And South Carolina State Parks are also included in that.

To help with underbrush, maintenance, And that and plus cemeteries And solar farms And other organizations like that benefit from the landscaping these animals do.

<Amanda>: goats or grazers rather than grass eaters, for the most part, is that correct?

Missy: That's correct.

They are meant to eat up so they browse up in the trees.

But their biggest claim to fame is that they can eradicate poison ivy without having to put any type of chemical on it.

Amanda: What type of goats do you have?

Missy: So I have LaMancha, Alpine And Nubian goats.

And together that blend makes for that really nice creamy goat cheese that everybody loves.

<Amanda>: You like to let the baby goats nurse from their mothers for a while.

And so tell me how long they will nurse from the mothers.

And is there a time when you will like separate them a little bit And still let them go to see their mothers occasionally.

So that because you need to start milking, if you're going to have cheese.

Missy: We do we do a process here, which is we put the babies to bed at night And separate the moms.

Everybody goes to sleep I get here in the morning, I milk And then they return back out to their babies.

And that way the babies will build their strength And be strong because they'll be on mother's milk for six to seven months.

<Amanda>: And what's the process of making cheeses it real complicated.

Missy: Cheese begins with the treatment of these animals.

Things like cortisol And fear hormones play a big role in the milk.

And if they're happy, And they're healthy, they produce good milk.

And for that reason, this is where the work is is really with the animal, once the milk makes it into the line is a game of patience.

But the real complication is is in the maintenance of the animals.

<Amanda>: And I love goat milk, I imagine that just goat milk will be something that you'll offer people who come to visit as well.

Missy: Well, our lovely state of South Carolina allows us to produce raw milk.

And raw milk is something that a lot of people are starting to really get excited about.

So doing nothing probably has his greatest gain as far as the community wanting a product.

<Amanda>: The Kiawah River Farm Community with just kind of the basis of their organization And their development is still going to have other clients, I believe our dear friends, Louise Bennett And Salam house are going to move their farms down here.

And so you don't have to worry about having a place to that staffed by someone, because you'll be able to offer your products right there.

Missy: Yeah, we are super excited.

We have Edisto honey that's out here.

And we also have common joy.

And common joy is loofahs.

So we grow our own loofahs here, which is wonderful.

Plus, we'll have access to the restaurants that are coming here to the neighborhood as well.

<Amanda>: This has just been such a delight.

And I think that when people come down to this area to South Carolina from away, they get to see really what was the basis And still is the main basis of South Carolina's economy, which is agriculture And agriculture being practiced in such a remarkable And sustainable way.

I just feel like I've almost died And gone to heaven got to come down here today.

Maybe I'll be one of those volunteers.

But I must say I've learned that goats can get out of almost anything.

And so I have to learn how to operate the fences because that's part of the process.

Missy: Yes ma'am.

But we'll take you.

<Amanda>: It's just been a real treat.

Thank you so much for what you're doing And I'm making this little piece of joy And happiness in South Carolina Missy: Thank you And a thank you to you too.

♪♪ <Amanda>: Well, Danny at the goatery got me down there because he said the baby goats are almost ready to come And there's nothing in the world as adorable as a baby goat And then Missy taught me how to milk And goat milk is just marvelous.

I can't wait to go back And get some cheese.

It was quite an experience.

I did not get to do the goat yoga, but that is something that they do so check that out if you're interested in doing goat yoga.

Ah goodness, it was so much fun.

Oh my hat well, Terasa the cover crops are good And so in my garden which been and kind of Abandoned, but I tried, you know, to get back in shape I'm trying to assist is like a quarter of an acre.

And so I put out a cover crop of brassicas, you know, just tossed out by hand yellow.

I don't Yeah, I just put it threw out by hand.

And some of them were the daykon, daikon radishes And other things just, I mean, I don't know what they were, you know, but we go out And collect the leaves And cook them up And then, but um, anyway, so the yellow ones, of course, look kind of like collards And turnips that are blooming.

And a lot of people think, you know, they cut those back early, but they're really attractive to pollinators.

<Terasa>: They are so even if you're finished harvesting, if you don't plan to put anything there, if you can leave them in the ground, you'll have some additional benefits for bees And things.

<Amanda>: Yeah, especially kind of early on before other things Come on.

I thought that was fun.

And then I've also got Oh, yeah, I went to Brookgreen gardens.

What a treasure for South Carolina.

brookgreen is I went down there to see an exhibit they had And my sister by marriage Joy brought me some hyacinth's that was so you know, that she had gotten at the store.

And then on the way to work today, I saw some black lotus Blokus blooming on the side of the road.

So I put my blinker on And tried to turn And somebody got mad at me for wanting to do that.

And this is a very important stop that I'm making.

Because black locust is a beautiful native And, um, it can take wet areas, which is a great thing.

Not everything can take a wet area.

And it's just a beautiful, beautiful plant.

And again, something that you know, is going to attract pollinators.

So, just a fun plant to know all about, huh.

Anyway.

So, Terasa, I think you have another question that we will try to answer for someone.

<Terasa>: I do.

This one comes in from gradient Spartanburg And I share this sentiment Grady said it's really hard to get the spacing right when I'm planting seeds.

<Amanda>: Oh, I know what some of the seeds are so tiny.

<Terasa>: Yes, you can I think there are sometimes options for pellet ed seed, right.

So that will make it a little bit easier.

<Amanda>: Well, Stephanie, do you have any ideas of something else we could do?

<Stephanie>: Yeah.

So there's a product called the seed tape that you can buy commercially, or you can, or you can make yourself I brought some stuff here today to show us how to make your self.

Yeah.

And all you have to do to be in your bonnet And you have to do it, you have to do it.

If you want it to do it yourself, you can do it yourself the perfect day to get out the garden.

Yes.

And the rainy days when you know you're inside And you can't get new yard, you can go make yourself some seed tape And mostly stuff you have at home probably already.

Amanda: I would think most people do have toilet paper.

Stephanie: You have some of this.

And then just whatever your seed is, this is a really good method to see tape to spread them out.

So you don't have to go back in And thin out seedlings right.

And it's also kind of nice if you have something like if you have something like Zinnias, And you want to be really precise about you know, mixing your colors.

So you want to there are those kinds of things.

Yes, I know.

Yeah.

So you can buy a packet of seeds that has mixed colors already, right, or you can get a packet of seed that has single colors.

And then you can make sure that you're distributing your colors correctly throughout your garden.

Or if you want to do like bands of certain colors, that would be a good way to do it, you can do that.

So basically, you just need some toilet paper, that's gonna be your tape.

And then I've just made like a glue with some flour And water.

So you're just going to take And dab some flour And water you make like a little paste out of your flour And water.

And you're just going to dab it at the the interval the interval that you want to use.

And it just depends on what you're sowing.

So you want to read your seed packet, follow the instructions, as far as spacing is concerned.

And then you can get your seeds stick them on your glue dabs there.

And if it's a bigger seed, you can probably do it easily by hand smaller seeds.

Sometimes I'll take a pencil And use the tip of the pencil, dip it in water And I could pick you can pick up the seed with the tip of the pencil.

<Amanda>: It was seem to me And I'm just gonna ask if they were real small that you could just scatter them with your hand And then have a piece of paper under that And kind of And it was stick to the glue.

And then the ones that weren't stuck to the glue.

Oh, but maybe two maybe more than one would stick to the glue.

That wouldn't be good.

<Stephanie>: I mean, it's it's really not highly technically... so technical.

So you can you know, experiment see what works best for you.

You can even just use water Just a spray bottle of water to kind of glue it together.

And you're just gonna let it sit And dry.

After you place all your seeds, you can you can fold it up, you can fold it kind of strip, fold it, one lie that way, And one way this way.

So they're embedded in there, like that, And then let it dry, because you know that little bit of wetness is kind of going to tear on the toilet paper.

So leave it on the counter somewhere where you can let it dry, write on it, you know, with your pen or something, what it is, so you don't forget.

And then you can fold it up And cart it out into the garden, once it's dry, And fold it up, cart it out to the garden to where you're gonna make yourself a furrow.

And lay it in there.

And then, you know, be careful not to bury it too deeply.

You want to follow again, the package instructions is almost on the surface of...

Yes.

So then you don't want to you know, bury it too deeply.

And then you want to water it.

And so it sets in there And doesn't blow away.

You may want to put if it's windy, put a little rock on either side or something like that to kind of keep it in there.

It's a very cool idea.

Yeah.

And you can do all kinds of different things, vegetables, flowers, whatever.

It's fun to do with kids.

And yeah, yeah, <Amanda>: I just think that's wonderful.

I want to thank you so much.

And yeah, we're now that toilet paper is available again.

(laughter) <Stephanie>: And it's good for you know, if you have a bad back, you don't want to spend all your time.

Take forever.

Yeah, <Amanda>: yeah, but I just think you've really taught us a great cool.

It's fun.

You can do it at night, you know when you can get a head start on.

Yeah, because when you get ready to go out there, instead of seeing spending two hours trying to get the seeds And just the right place, you can just whip out that toilet paper.

<Stephanie>: Again, your neighbors might think you are... For throwing out toilet paper alright.

(laughter) <Amanda>: Maybe it's time to move on.

(laughter) Tom, I believe maybe you have a show and tell for us.

I'm afraid to ask what it might be.

(laughter) <Tom>: This is a corkscrew rush And I actually cheated.

I can't always remember the scientific name is junicus effuses spiralis.

Okay.

And I'm gonna hold it sort of out so you can see it.

<Amanda>: Because it's corkscrewing a little bit.

Tom: This is a small one.

Yes.

And you can't see as easily this the corkscrews but it we were talking about plants that like water rushes love water, this one can also live in... <Amanda>: Well, bull rushes, I mean, most are bull rushes.

Yeah.

Tom: But in fact, this one was an adopted plant by me.

And what I intend to do with it is use it either as a filler.

When when we use pots, we do a thriller.

Filler, thriller and a spiller.

Use this as a thriller, or use it as a sort of a focal point in the yard, my yard is wet.

So I'm always looking for, for plants that can take lots And lots of water.

<Amanda>: Is this evergreen?

Tom: It is evergreen.

Amanda: And so you can have a really handsome patch of that.

Tom: You could And it will spread.

Sometimes if you want to try to keep it from spreading, you can put it in a pot with the lip just a little bit above the ground level.

And that will keep it from getting too invasive.

<Amanda>: Um, I was interested, when you got here this morning, And you showed me what you brought And looked it up a little bit.

And it said that junicus because whatever it is, Dr. John says if you spell it right, it's okay.

And I think that's what's pretty easy to spell.

But that it's almost Cosmopolitan that in North America, South America, Europe, And parts of Asia, And that in not this particular cultivar.

So I think it's a subspecies or whatever the Spiralis is, but the regular junicus that in Japan, it's used to make a certain kind of mat And you had actually had a night where you had to toss And turn a lot sleeping on one of those mats.

What is the mat called?

Tom: Tatami mat, it's a reed mat that's used in Japan a lot And I had gone to Japan with a college classmate to see A college classmate we lived in Japan.

And if my memory serves me correctly, there was one of the slept on a bed And the other.

<You drew the short straw.> Well, I slept on the tatami floor, I think at least once.

<Amanda>: Well, Jimmy, I think you recently through Piedmont Technical College had an interesting experience.

Jimmy: Did we went to Starkville, Mississippi for the National Collegiate landscape competition.

Piedmont Tech.

Was the only school from South Carolina to compete.

We took 6 students And it that there were schools from all over the country.

Four year colleges And two year colleges competing in irrigation.

Competing in landscape install landscape design, both hand drone And computer.

Competing in pest identification.

Perennial identification, hardwood identification.

<Amanda>: I'm exhausted just thinking about it.

How did y'all do?

Jimmy: We in our interior landscape design came in third.

<Amanda>: Wow, from around the whole country around the country And got some other placements as well.

Jimmy: We have several in the top 10 <Amanda>: Well, aren't you shouldn't Jimmy: we already planning for next year?

<Amanda>: That's wonderful.

Um, there was one thing you did with a skid or something.

Jimmy: Drove a skid steer.

<A skid steer?> Yes.

It's like a forklift to set you stand on it.

And control it with a joystick.

Okay, like a video game.

<Amanda>: So you are great at it.

You young, I'm too old.

And I wish you luck next year when you go.

Erline Wiles, as I said earlier was a friend And a resident like me of Calhoun County.

And what a remarkable life she had.

And she leaves a legacy of a beautiful, beautiful garden we're going to show you when I went to visit her several years ago, the incredible beauty that she's created.

♪♪ We're visiting with my friend Erlin Wiles in Fort Motte, South Carolina.

Fort Motte is a wonderful farming community.

To which you were brought as a young bride 1949.

Erline: That's correct.

<Amanda>: You grew up in a family down in Barnwell y'all farmed.

You helped your mother some.

Erline: I did.

And yeah.

And I guess, I guess we're kind of born with that instinct of loving flowers And working with flowers.

And I think that I've had it on my life.

<Amanda>: When you came here, there was a neighbor who encouraged you who was that Erline.

Erline: That was Miss Ethel Keefe.

And she was a hard worker And such a nice lady.

And she had beautiful flowers.

And she helped me so much getting started with my garden.

And she had access to a place that you could buy the azaleas very cheap And she got me about 100.

Of course, they were not very big, but they grew to be very big.

<Amanda>: That was quite a gift, I guess.

Erline: That's right.

And from there, I just kind of started doing little beds And putting things here And there.

<Amanda>: I love the story of how you branched out into roses.

Erline: Would you like me to tell?

<Yes.> Well, one day, the salesman came by to talk to my husband And he was trying to sell him some grain bins.

And we told him I'm not interested in grain bins.

I really got enough right now.

And he says, Well, if I can't sell you some grain bins how about let me sell you some rose bushes.

And of course J.D.

had been a farmer.

He was not into flowers.

So he said, Well, I'm not interested.

We'll go by the house And my wife might like to have some.

So he came by the house And talked to me And told me to come to Columbia And he had some at the co-op.

So I went to Columbia And he helped me pick out Some, And I planted them in a bed, And I fell in love with them.

No doubt about it.

<Amanda>: And eventually that led to a very formal part.

And one of the first things that you really had, I think formalized, it was to pick it from town came to help you lay out the rose bed, which had a Brick border.

And now it's a feature as you drive in.

That's right.

That's right.

But tell me how that evolved into more of the mixed aspect that that rose garden has now Erline.

Erline: Well, they weren't to me, I just had roses And nothing else in the Rose bed.

But I had a trip to England And I saw how they had mixed the perennials And things with the roses And how pretty it looked.

So I got back home And I started putting perennials And I love the perennial flocks.

And I've put a lot of those in all kinds of different perennials And things in it.

And people loved it.

<Amanda>: And although you don't like invasive plants, there are a couple of things that you make an exception for the larkspur And Queen Anne's lace.

Erline: That's right, that comes up from seed every year.

And I just leave a lot of it.

But what I do, if I don't want a lot of it, I take the bushes out after they have seeded.

And I just scatter a few the seed about.

So that I won't have a tremendous amount of it coming up in the bed, because I do love it.

And it's so pretty in flower arrangements.

<Amanda>: And although we might think that those sheep are out there, in lieu of lawn mowers, I believe those sheep represent some things that you enjoyed bringing back from your trips to England And Scotland.

Is that correct?

Erline: That's correct.

When I went to England, we saw so many sheep.

And we're not used to seeing just pastures of sheep And ever well here like you do in England.

And it kind of impressed me.

So when I got back, I had a catalogue that I saw them in it in ordered a pair.

And then I went to Ireland a couple of years ago, And I saw so many sheep.

And they had so many of them that had the black heads And the black feet.

And so I had to get a set of those too.

<Amanda>: Brought a little of English, Great Britain home with you.

<That's right.> Erline, And you have beautiful hydrangeas, what an incredible array of colors.

And I think you've rooted a good many of them.

Erline: I do.

Hydrangeas are very easy to root.

And they grow pretty fast.

And they have new ones now that will bloom all summer.

And a lot of them can take more sun than the older varieties.

<Amanda>: One thing I love though, is the way you've got them tucked under the pine trees it's hot in South Carolina And you are not somebody who thinks it's got to be a blazing meadow.

I think the hydrangeas in the back of the house under those pines, And you've unified them with things like hostas And ferns.

Erline: And I also have Azaleas back there that then some camellias that bloom early.

And then the hydrangeas come in And gives you color a little longer.

<Amanda>: And then across the way after Hugo when there was that all that destruction, you kind of opened up a whole new area.

Goodness, I would have been so glad to relax at that point.

But there's a big beautiful new garden over there.

And you've got a lot of large shade trees there Erline.

Erline: I do.

I do And they grow real fast.

<Amanda>: you've got some that are unusual.

You've got a wing nut.

Erline: Yeah.

And I love that tree.

Beautiful going to where it came from.

<Yeah.> It came from the zoo.

In Colombia.

They used to have plant sale in the spring And in the fall in one year I was there And they had this tree for sale And I bought it And everybody loves that tree.

It is so pretty.

<Amanda>: And a willow tree that seems to have almost a twistedly a weeping willow Erline: Weeping Willow.

Yeah, that's, that's nice for flower arrangements.

<Amanda>: But also you've got a lot of structure over there that comes from I think some viburnum you believe in structure And why have you been attracted to the viburnum's?

Erline: Because of the blooms And the foliage is very attractive, very easy to grow the cold doesn't hurt them.

And so it's a nice plant to have.

<Amanda>: It's been so much fun to look at the plants today And see the insects on them And the coneflower just seems to be a magnet.

Erline: I've walked out there this morning kind of early And I've never seen so many more butterflies on those coneflowers.

And those things out there, they were just fantastic.

<Amanda>: And you said you don't take the heads off and you leave them for the birds for the birds.

Erline: Birds love the seed And And if you want some to plant yourself you better get on then go ahead And scatter them or what ever, because the birds are gonna eat every one of them.

<Amanda>: Of course we're here in the glory of the garden And you just had your 90th And a half birthday on Friday.

So a great party to celebrate the garden.

But you've made sure that things all throughout the year by trees And other shrubs And how about crape myrtles And Japanese maples And things?

Erline: Oh, yes, I love those too.

There's not many flowers I don't love.

<Amanda>: And they have unusual colors And they do And spring fall And spring.

And you have conifers And different things to use the plant material the leaves is color.

Erline: Well I like the contrast in the flowers And the conifers And different leaves on the plants.

I think they complement each other.

<Amanda>: Your husband J.D.

Wiles was premier farmer in South Carolina.

And although he didn't come out And pull weeds with you, you credit J.D.

with supporting you in your garden.

Erline: I certainly do.

He was not good with a hoe And a rake.

But anytime in my equipment, And he provided me with good equipment to work with sprayers And hoes And rakes.

And he made a wonderful box like trash pickup for me.

And we can just go to a pile of trash And put that trash in there.

And then it picks up And goes to the truck to take it off.

And he was good at inventing those kinds of things.

And anytime a sprayer or the lawn mower or anything broke down, he fixed it for me.

And so he was a big part of this garden <Amanda>: Erline for this birthday party, you realize that the need wanted to do for me to yours as if you didn't have enough garden says a new garden.

So let's end our conversation by discussing the new garden.

Erline: Well, I've had this in my mind for years, but I just had not got to implement it.

So when we will have this party I decided to do something special in remembrance of it.

And I had had in my mind what I wanted to do.

And I happen to be at a very nice nursery in Colombia And I saw the two parts that I had envisioned for years.

And they were on sale.

So that of course it made me that much more anxious to get them And start my bed.

And I had a wonderful man that helped me do the work, but I've designed it.

And I think it's turned out really pretty.

And I've had a lot of compliments on it.

And we enjoyed doing it.

<Amanda>: Erline when I come back for the next birthday party I want to see that native honeysuckle twining all the way.

Erline: Well I hope you will hope you will but early And one thing about <Amanda>: this garden is you haven't been in a hurry And it shows many years of devotion And care And thank you for sharing it with us.

Erline: It's been my pleasure Amanda really has thank you you have a very nice show And enjoy it And I'm sure so many other people do.

<Amanda>: Well thank you for your kind words.

♪♪ Some people enjoy And this is perfectly fine if that's what they want to do, of going out And maybe having a plan ahead of time And handing it to people And saying this is what I want.

Erline actually went out everyday about seven in the morning during the when the when the sun had risen by then And worked with other people who she always gave credit to in her garden herself And well into her 90s Right before her death And she took joy in the process.

Her husband was a farmer And she was a major partner of his in farming And she took joy in the process of putting the seed in the soil And providing what it needed And seeing it grow.

She's just a remarkable, remarkable woman And I feel fortunate to have known her.

Thank you Erline for the memories that you have left us with.

Gosh, well it's been so much fun.

Teresa And Stephanie And Tom And Jimmy we watch out a comeback soon.

Will you do it?

Yes.

Okay.

Invite now we'll say good night.

See you next week.

Bye bye ♪(Thanks for watching.

)♪ ♪(Captioned by: SCETV)♪ ♪♪ <Narrator>: Making it Grow is brought to you in part by certified South Carolina is a cooperative effort among farmers retailers And the South Carolina Department of Agriculture to help consumers identify foods And agricultural products that are grown harvested or raised right here in the Palmetto State.

The Boyd Foundation supporting outdoor recreational opportunities, the appreciation of wildlife educational programs, And enhancing the quality of life in Columbia, South Carolina And the Midlands at large.

McLeod Farms And McBee South Carolina family owned And operated since 1916.

This family farm offers seasonal produce, including over 40 varieties of peaches.

Additional funding provided by the South Carolina Farm Bureau Federation And Farm Bureau Insurance And BOONE HALL FARMS.