>> THAT IS WHAT I LIKE ABOUT IT.

MY NAME IS ANNA TAVERAS, I AM A REGISTERED NURSE.

WHEN I COME INTO WORK, I CHECKED THE BOARD, SEE WHERE I AM HEADED .

IT COULD BE VASCULAR NEUROLOGY, PEDIATRICS, WHATEVER IT IS.

I JUST GO.

>> I FEEL LIKE THIS IS A GREAT WAYS TO WORK, IT IS A LEARNING EXPERIENCE.

YOU ARE ABLE TO GROW HERE.

♪ >> TONIGHT ON RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY.

>> LIKE SO MANY OF UKRAINE'S CITIES, CIVILIANS ARE PAYING THE PRICE FOR VETERAN PRUNES WERE.

>> YOU ALMOST WANT TO BE OVER THERE, YOU WANT TO BE OVER THERE PROTECTING CHILDREN, PROTECTING PEOPLE.

AND THE INABILITY TO DO SO, IT IS ANOTHER SOURCE OF FRUSTRATION FOR MANY OF US.

>> INSIDE THE CITY, EVEN EARLY IN THE MORNING, IT IS QUARTER TO SIX IN THE MORNING HERE.

SO HOPEFULLY I WILL MAKE IT INSIDE THE AIRPORT TODAY.

>> ON THE WAY GETTING THERE, WE SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE GOING BACK AND FORTH AND PEOPLE WERE COMING FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.

THEY HAD GOTTEN WORD THAT THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES ARE EVACUATING PEOPLE.

PAMELA: GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY.

I'M PAMELA WATTS.

DAVID: AND I AM DAVID WRIGHT.

MOST OF THE U.S. HAS WATCHED IN HORROR AS RUSSIA WHICH IS A SAVAGE WAR IN UKRAINE.

PAMELA: FOR ONE COMMUNITY, THE FAITHFUL AT ST. MICHAEL'S ORTHODOX CHURCH, THE TRAGEDY HITS CLOSE TO HOME.

TONIGHT, WE INTRODUCE YOU TO THE PARISHES PASTOR, A UKRAINIAN BORN PRIEST WHO IS COMFORTING NUMBERS OF HIS FLOCK AS THEY STRUGGLE TO COPE WITH THE WAR WHILE HELPING THOSE FIGHTING TO DEFEND HIS HOMELAND.

♪ >> I AM FATHER BORIS AND I AM THE PASTOR AT MICHAEL'S ORTHODOX CHURCH.

WHAT HAPPENED ON THE 24TH OF FEBRUARY, WHEN THE INVASION ACTUALLY TOOK PLACE, I, AS WELL AS MANY OTHER PEOPLE, WHO LIVE IN THE DIASPORA HERE AND ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY, WE WERE IN SHOCK.

IT WAS NOT EXACTLY UNEXPECTED, BUT IT IS ONE THING TO KNOW THAT SOMETHING MAY HAPPEN AND ANOTHER THING TO ACTUALLY HAVE IT HAPPEN.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE LIVES OF NOT JUST OUR COUNTRYMEN AND BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CHRIST, BUT FOR MANY OF US, OUR FAMILY MEMBERS.

>> I AM FROM UKRAINE, WHICH IS CENTRAL UKRAINE.

I LEFT UKRAINE IN 1988, BEFORE THE FALL OF THE IRON CURTAIN.

AND TO SEE THE CITIES WHERE I GREW UP, THE CITIES WHERE I WALKED WITH MY PARENTS, THE CITIES WHERE MY GRANDMOTHER TOOK ME TO PARKS, TO SEE BOMBS EXPLODING THERE AND PEOPLE DYING IN THE STREETS AND PEOPLE'S HOMES BEING DESTROYED, IT'S MORE THAN HEARTBREAKING.

IT WAS SURREAL.

IT SEEMED TO ME THAT THIS WAS NOT REALLY HAPPENING AND THIS MUST BE SOME KIND OF A NIGHTMARE THAT I AM GOING TO WAKE UP FROM AT ANY MOMENT.

BUT UNFORTUNATELY, IT WAS NOT A DREAM, IT WAS NOT A NIGHTMARE.

IT WAS VERY MUCH REAL.

I CANNOT SAY THAT I HAVE COME TO GRIPS WITH IT YET IT IS STILL VERY MUCH OUTSIDE OF THE REALM OF THAT WHICH I COULD LIVE WITH OR CONSIDERED TO BE NORMAL.

>> LIKE SO MANY OF UKRAINE'S CITIES, THE CIVILIANS ARE PLAYING THE -- PAYING THE PRICE FOR VLADIMIR PUTIN'S WORK.

>> YOU ALMOST WANT TO BE OVER THERE.

YOU WANT TO BE OVER THERE PROTECTING CHILDREN, PROTECTING PEOPLE.

AND THE INABILITY TO DO SO, IT IS ANOTHER SOURCE OF FRUSTRATION FOR MANY OF US.

OUR CHURCH IS DOING A LOT TO HELP PEOPLE IN UKRAINE.

WE HAVE COLLECTED, SINCE THE CONFLICT BEGAN, OVER $30,000.

THAT JUST SHOWS THE OUTPOURING OF SUPPORT THAT WE HAVE HAD HERE IN THE STATES.

OUR COMMUNITY HERE IN RHODE ISLAND HAS STEPPED UP TO THE PLATE AND HELP.

ON A PERSONAL LEVEL, TRYING TO HELP MY FRIENDS IN THE MILITARY ATTAIN THE EQUIPMENT THAT THEY NEEDED TO BE ABLE TO PROTECT THE COUNTRY.

>> MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE AND DISTINCT HONOR OF PRESENTING TO YOU THE PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE, ZELENSKYY.

>> I DID NOT EXPECT TO BE AS OVERWHELMING AS THE SUPPORT HAS BEEN.

I KNOW THAT MOST AMERICANS LIKE TO SUPPORT THE UNDERDOG.

BUT NOT ONLY SUPPORT AN UNDERDOG, BUT AMERICANS HAVE A VERY GOOD MEMORY AS IT PERTAINS TO THE CRIMES OF THE SOVIET UNION.

AND THE CRIMES OF COMMUNISM AND MANY AMERICANS SEE UKRAINE IS FIGHTING AGAINST THE VERY SAME IDEOLOGY.

AND THEY ARE RIGHT.

RIGHT NOW, THE UNITED STATES IS DOING A LOT TO HELP UKRAINE, SO TO CRITICIZE ANY ADMINISTRATION, WHETHER IT IS THIS ADMINISTRATION OR EVEN THE LAST ADMINISTRATION, I WOULD NOT DO THAT.

THEY HAVE TRIED TO HELP US WITH WEAPONS.

THEY HAVE TRIED TO HELP US PASS CERTAIN RESOLUTIONS, OF COURSE SANCTIONS.

THE UNITED STATES HAS BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT OF LEAVING THAT CHARGE.

BEFORE PUSHING FOR AMERICAN BOOTS ON THE GROUND, WE WERE NOT ASKING THE AMERICAN PEOPLE TO FIGHT OUR WAR FOR US.

WE WERE ASKING THE AMERICAN PEOPLE TO SUPPORT US, GIVE US WEAPONS, BOTH LIGHT WEAPONS AND HEAVY WEAPONS, WHICH ARE NOW FINALLY BEING GIVEN.

THAT IS MY ONE CRITICISM, THAT IT TOOK A LITTLE BIT OF TIME.

HAD WE HAD THEM IN THE BEGINNING, BEFORE THIS LATEST INVASION, BEFORE 2014 EVEN, PERHAPS VLADIMIR PUTIN WOULD BE MORE HESITANT TO SEND HIS TROOPS IN, BECAUSE HE WOULD KNOW THAT UKRAINE HAS THE ABILITY AND THE RESOURCES TO DEFEND OURSELVES.

>> IF HE WAS INSANE HE WOULD BE EASIER TO DISMISS.

HE IS VERY MUCH SAME.

HE VERY MUCH KNOWS WHAT HE WANTS TO DO.

NOW, YOU CAN ARGUE THAT HIS TAKE ON REALITY IS SKEWED, THAT HE HAS, FOR EXAMPLE, OVERESTIMATED HIS OWN ABILITY TO ACCOMPLISH HIS GOALS.

YES, YOU CAN MAKE THAT CLAIM.

BUT TO MAKE A CLAIM AND SAY THAT HE IS INSANE, THAT ALSO WOULD EXCUSE HIS ACTIONS.

IF YOU CAN JUST WRITE HIM OFF AS BEING CRAZY, AS BEING INSANE, HEY, I COMPLETE INSANITY.

I DO NOT THINK IT IS RIGHT TO THINK HE IS INSANE.

I THINK IT IS RIGHT TO SAY HE IS AN EVIL MAN, BUT INSANE, NO .

>> CAN A MAN LIKE VLADIMIR PUTIN BE FORGIVEN?

>> THAT IS A VERY GOOD AND EXTREMELY DIFFICULT QUESTION.

NOT ONLY VLADIMIR PUTIN, WHO HAS NOW COMMITTED WAR CRIMES AND ATROCITIES, CAN WE FORGIVE?

FORGIVENESS IS A PROCESS.

FORGIVENESS IS A JOURNEY.

YOU DO NOT WAVE A MAGIC WAND OR SNAP YOUR FINGERS AND EVERY SIN IS FORGIVEN.

HE IS STILL BOMBING OUR CITIES.

IS FORGIVENESS POSSIBLE?

ABSOLUTELY.

THE ONLY SIN WHICH CANNOT BE FORGIVEN IS SIN THAT IS NOT CONFESSED.

AS HE CONFESSED?

IS HE REPENTANT?

HAS HE STOPPED BOMBING OUR PEOPLE?

THE ANSWER TO THOSE QUESTIONS IS NO.

>> WAR IS ALWAYS TO BE AVOIDED.

BUT THERE IS SUCH A THING UNFORTUNATELY AS A NECESSARY WORK.

AND OUR PEOPLE, OUR NATION, OUR COUNTRY, OUR ANCESTRAL HOMELAND IS FIGHTING A WAR THAT IS NECESSARY.

>> IN THE ORTHODOX CHURCH, WE DO NOT HAVE THE IDEA OR THEOLOGY OF A JUST WAR.

IN OUR VIEW, NO WAR IS JUST.

WAR IS ALWAYS EVIL, WAR IS ALWAYS DEATH.

WAR ALWAYS FORCES INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE INVOLVED IN THE CONFLICT TO DO HORRIBLE THINGS ON BOTH SIDES.

HOWEVER, AS I SAID DURING THE SERVICE, SOME WARS ARE ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY.

THIS WAR THAT MY PEOPLE ARE FIGHTING, THEY ARE FIGHTING TO DEFEND THEIR NATION.

THEIR LAND.

THEIR CHILDREN.

THEY'RE FORCED TO TAKE UP ARMS.

THAT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE WANTED TO DO.

I AS A PASTOR AND UKRAINIAN ORTHODOX PRIEST FULLY SUPPORT THEM AND PRAY FOR THE UKRAINIAN ARMY ON A DAILY BASIS.

WE ARE NOT IN RUSSIA BOMBING RUSSIAN CITIES.

UKRAINIAN TANKS ARE NOT ROLLING THROUGH MOSCOW.

IT IS RUSSIAN TANKS AND THEIR BOOTS THAT ARE TRAMPLING OUR GROUND.

OUR SOIL.

♪ ANYBODY THAT CLAIMS TO KNOW EXACT WHAT IS GOING TO GO ON, I THINK THAT THEY ARE FULLY THEMSELVES AND GIVING YOU INDIRECT INFORMATION.

YOU DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

ONLY GOD KNOWS.

ONLY ONE PERSON AT THIS POINT CAN STOP THE CONFLICT AND THAT IS VLADIMIR PUTIN.

I KNOW THAT UKRAINE CAN BE VICTORIOUS.

ABSOLUTELY.

>> >> NOW WE TURN TO A REPORT ABOUT ANOTHER CONFLICT AND THE HARROWING JOURNEY OUT OF AFGHANISTAN.

LAST SUMMER, WHEN THE TALIBAN TOOK CONTROL OF THE COUNTRY, A FORMER COMBAT INTERPRETER AND HIS FAMILY WERE AMONG THE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF AFGHAN CITIZENS EVACUATED BY THE UNITED STATES .

AMIN WAS DETERMINED TO START LIFE AGAIN IN RHODE ISLAND.

HE SAT DOWN WITH SENIOR PRODUCER JUSTIN KENNY LAST JANUARY AND SHARED HIS FAMILY'S DRAMATIC ESCAPE FROM THE CALLING COUNTRY.

>> MY NAME IS AMIN, I AM FROM AFGHANISTAN.

>> THE FIRST OF ABOUT 250 AFGHAN REFUGEES HAVE MADE IT TO RHODE ISLAND.

THEY LANDED AT THE AIRPORT SATURDAY NIGHT.

>> I HAD TO LEAVE BECAUSE I WAS WORRIED FOR MY LIFE AND FOR MY CHILDREN'S LIFE.

I WAS WORRIED THAT THE TALIBAN WOULD HARASS US AND THEY WOULD HARM US.

I WAS SCARED FOR MY LIFE.

I WORKED FOR THE U.S. GOVERNMENT IN AFGHANISTAN AS AN INTERPRETER.

I WORKED WITH SOLDIERS, I WORKED WITH AFGHAN SOLDIERS I WORKED WITH UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES.

>> SHOOT THEM, SHOOT THEM.

>> TALIBAN FORCES ENTERED THE HEART OF THE AFGHAN CAPITAL TODAY.

THE CULMINATION OF A RAPID ADVANCE AND RETAKING OF CONTROL, ALMOST EXACTLY TWO DECADES AFTER THEY WERE OUSTED FROM POWER.

>> NOW THE TALIBAN ARE OUT IN FULL FORCE.

THEY TOOK OVER THE PRESIDENTIAL PALACE.

AFGHANISTAN'S PRESIDENT FLED THE COUNTRY.

>> THE GOVERNMENT WAS OVERTHROWN AND OVER 100,000 AFGHAN SOLDIERS HAD DIED.

AND YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY FROM THEIR FAMILIES HAD LOST THEIR LOVED ONE.

THE U.S. MILITARY MADE A LOT OF SACRIFICES, THEY BUILT THIS COUNTRY IN THE LAST 20 YEARS.

THEY SPENT TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

I BLAME THE POLITICIANS, I BLAME THE PEOPLE IN POWER, I BLAME IT PEOPLE IN POWER ALL OVER THE WORLD.

-- I BLAME PEOPLE IN POWER ALL OVER THE WORLD.

>> IT TOOK A LONG TIME FOR ME TO GET HERE.

IT WAS A LONG JOURNEY, I HAD TO GO THROUGH A LOT OF CHAOTIC SITUATIONS, A LOT OF UPSETTING MOMENTS IN TIME.

THEY WORKED FOR NINE HOURS.

-- WALKED FOR NINE HOURS, JUST MY KIDS WITH THE SUITCASE.

MY SIX-YEAR-OLD, FOUR-YEAR-OLD, EIGHT-YEAR-OLD AND 10-YEAR-OLD AND MY SPOUSE.

>> MY KIDS ARE WITH ME HERE.

[GUNSHOTS] >> AND THE TALIBAN WERE DOMINATING.

THEY WERE LETTING PEOPLE KNOW THAT WE ARE HERE AND WE ARE THE GOVERNMENT NOW.

THEY WERE SHOOTING ALL OVER THE PLACE.

THEY WERE FIRING, THERE WERE FIRES, MACHINE GUN FIRES, ARTILLERY FIRES ALL OVER THE CITY.

MY BROTHER, HE WAS AT THE AIRPORT.

HE CALLED ME AND HE SAID EARLY IN THE MORNING, LEAVE YOUR HOUSE, FIND A CAB FROM THE EVENING TIME AND THEN LET THE TABLET COME PICK YOU UP.

>> THIS IS AMIN, WE HAVE LEFT FOR THE AIRPORT TO MY KIDS ARE HERE WITH ME.

SO WE ARE MAKING OUR WAY TO THE AIRPORT.

IT LETS GIVE IT A TRY, SEE IF WE CAN GET IT.

THERE ARE SOME GUYS WITH THE MARINES, SOME OF MY FRIENDS ARE THERE WITH THEM.

SO HOPEFULLY THESE GUYS WILL LET ME IN.

INSIDE THE CITY, EVEN EARLY IN THE MORNING, IT IS QUARTER TO SIX IN THE MORNING HERE.

SO HOPEFULLY, I WILL MAKE IT INSIDE THE AIRPORT TODAY.

ON THE WAY, GETTING THERE, WE SEE A LOT OF TALIBAN.

A LOT OF PEOPLE GOING BACK AND FORTH AND PEOPLE WERE COMING FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.

THEY HAD GOTTEN THE WORD THAT THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES ARE EVACUATING PEOPLE.

>> AFGHANS ARE THRONGING TO KABUL'S AIRPORT, DESPERATE TO GET ON PLANES AND LEAVE THE COUNTRY AT ANY COST.

>> WE SELL EVERYTHING, WENT DOWN AND MY KIDS WITNESSED SHOTS FIRES.

MY KIDS WITNESSED PEOPLE BEING SHOT OUTSIDE WHEN WE WERE GETTING INSIDE.

IT WAS NOT EASY.

PEOPLE WERE LITERALLY SHOOTING EVERY SECOND.

>> I'M OUT HERE AT THE AIRPORT, PEOPLE ARE ON THE RUNWAY AND ALL AROUND THE PLACE.

BIG AIRPLANES ARE HERE.

THE MARINES ARE INSIDE THE WIRE.

I'M GOING IN TO TALK TO A MARINE.

LET'S SEE IF HE TALKS TO ME.

>> WE GOT ON A C-130 AND IT WAS -- THE SOLDIERS AND MARINES WERE DOING A GOOD JOB, RESPECTING PEOPLE, GIVING WATER AND FOOD TO PEOPLE ON THE PLANE.

PEOPLE WERE SAD, PEOPLE WHERE NOT TALKING TO EACH OTHER, THEY WERE JUST THERE.

WHO WOULD WANT TO LEAVE THEIR COUNTRY IN SUCH A CHAOTIC WAY?

WE WERE FEELING FANTASTIC.

I MEAN, WE WERE WARMLY WELCOMED.

EVERYBODY CAME TO THE AIRPORT FROM THE NEWS AND MY FRIEND.

SO IT FELT GREAT.

IT FELT LIKE WE HAD ARRIVED TO OUR LAST DESTINATION.

SO FAR, RHODE ISLAND HAS BEEN AMAZING.

PEOPLE HAVE TREATED ME WITH RESPECT AND PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SO GENEROUS.

I AM BEING HOSTED BY A.

GENEROUS AND KIND FAMILY.

THEY HAVE GIVEN ME EVERYTHING.

MY KIDS NEEDS AND EVERYTHING I NEED.

SO IT HAS BEEN VERY POSITIVE.

MY KIDS, THEY WERE NERVOUS AND YOU KNOW, THEY SAY WHAT IS GOING TO HAVE BEEN?

WHAT IS GOING TO BE THERE?

THEY WERE NOT ALWAYS EXPECTING GOOD THINGS, SO I SAID THIS IS THE UNITED STATES.

THIS IS THE LAND OF THE FREE SO PEOPLE ARE GOING TO LOVE YOU GUYS.

THEY ARE VERY HAPPY NOW.

THEY ARE GROWING UP AND I SEE THEM GROW UP AND I SEE THEM COOPERATE WITH PEOPLE ON A DAILY BASIS.

THEY ARE GETTING TO LEARN ENGLISH AND IT IS JUST -- IT HAS BEEN AMAZING FOR THEM.

HERE IN RHODE ISLAND, I WORK FOR LAW AND ASSOCIATES.

IT IS HELPING WITH HUMANITARIAN PAROLE.

I'M VERY HAPPY I GOT THAT JOB BECAUSE I AM STILL GETTING TO WORK WITH MY PEOPLE, WHO HAVE APPLIED.

I AM TRYING TO TALK TO THEM THROUGH EMAILS, GET THEIR DOCUMENTS, PROCESS THEIR DOCUMENTS FOR HUMANITARIAN PAROLE.

SO THEY COULD COME TO SAFETY IN THE UNITED STATES.

I AM ALL ABOUT HELPING THE COMMUNITY NOW.

I AM ALL ABOUT BEING A ROLE MODEL TO OTHER PEOPLE.

I AM TRYING TO ADVOCATE FOR REFUGEE LIVES NOT JUST FOR AFGHAN REFUGEES, BUT REFUGEES FROM AROUND THE WORLD.

I WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND MY GRATITUDE TO OTHER SETTLEMENT AGENCIES OPERATING IN THE UNITED STATES, FOR HELPING ME AND MY PEOPLE, AFGHAN REFUGEES, WHO LEFT THE COUNTRY IN A VERY TRAUMATIC WAY.

AND I WANT TO THANK THE U.S. MILITARY FOR TAKING CARE OF MY PEOPLE.

I AM VERY GRATEFUL AND I AM VERY APPRECIATIVE OF EVERYTHING.

DAVID: HIS WIFE DID NOT APPEAR IN OUR STORY.

APPARENTLY, SHE WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF HER FAMILY BACK IN AFGHANISTAN.

THIS WEEK, THE FORMER TRANSLATOR TOLD US THAT HIS OLDEST THREE NOW HERE IN PROVIDENCE.

PAMELA: FINALLY TONIGHT A SPRING STORY.

IN THE COMING WEEKS, MANY OF OUR AREAS FLOWERS WILL BE IN PEAK BLOOM, PRODUCING TAKING BEAUTY IN LARGE -- YARDS ACROSS THE STATE.

NOT ALL GARDENS HOWEVER ARE CREATED EQUAL.

AS MICHELLE SAN MIGUEL FIRST REPORTED LAST APRIL, ONE EXIT OR COUPLE HAS BEEN UPPING THEIR FLORAL AGENCY AND DAZZLING VISITORS WITH THEIR WICKED TULIPS.

>> WE REALLY WANT IT TO BE ABOUT BEING IN NATURE AND JUST SLOWING DOWN, TAKING A BREATH, AND SMELLING THE TULIPS.

MICHELLE: HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF TULIPS THROUGH THE FIELDS OF SOUTHERN RHODE ISLAND.

HUES OF PINK, RED, YELLOW, PURPLE.

>> TULIPS ARE A GEOMETRICAL FLOWER I THINK, BUT IT MIGHT BE THE ONLY FLOWER THAT BRINGS THIS MUCH HAPPINESS.

IT IS IN THE EARLY SPRING AND SO COLORFUL.

MICHELLE: CARRIE AND AND URAN HAVE BEEN AT WORK FOR MONTHS TURNING THIS INTO A TULIP MECCA.

THEY STARTED PLANTING THEIR JUDGE IMPORTED TULIP BULBS IN OCTOBER.

IT TOOK ABOUT TWO MONTHS TO GET 800,000 VOLTS IN THE GROUND, BETWEEN THE RHODE ISLAND AND PRESTON CONNECTICUT LOCATIONS.

THE PROCESS IS METICULOUS.

>> WHEN WE PLANT THEM IN OUR ROSE, WE WANT THEM TO BE PRETTY.

WE WANT THEM TO HAVE CONSECUTIVE BLOOMING, SO THAT IT LOOKS GORGEOUS ALL THE TIME.

AND SO YEAH, WE'RE LIKE ALL RIGHT, LET'S DO THIS.

DEEP PINK AND THIS WHITE AND HIS DARK PURPLE, THAT WILL POP.

MICHELL: CARRIE AND ADMITS SHE DID NOT KNOW MUCH ABOUT HIS COLORFUL FLOWERS UNTIL SHE MET URAM IN 2008.

SHE WAS LIVING IN VIRGINIA, WORKING AS A MORTGAGE BROKER WHEN HE RESPONDED TO HER AD FOR A ROOMMATE.

IT WAS NOT LONG BEFORE MORE THAN TULIPS WERE IN BLOOM.

WHAT WAS THAT CONVERSATION LIKE WHEN HE TOLD YOU I'M A TULIP FARMER?

>> I WAS LIKE WHAT YOU DO?

AND HIS STEPDAD SAYS DON'T LAUGH.

I AM A TULIP FARMER.

AND OF COURSE, I LAUGHED.

MICHELLE: AT THE TIME HE DID NOT KNOW ANY TULIP FARMERS?

>> NO, I BARELY DID ANY GARDENING.

MICHELLE: HE COMES FROM A LARGE FAMILY OF TULIP FARMERS.

THIS HOME-VIDEO UP 1979 SHOWS HIS FATHER WORKING AT THEIR FAMILY FARM IN HOLLAND.

TWO OF HIS BROTHERS NOW RUN THE FAMILY'S 150 ACRE OPERATION.

HIS OTHER BROTHER RUNS A YOU PIG FARM IN ITALY.

BUT HE DID NOT HAVE HIS EYES SET AND STAYING IN THE FAMILY BUSINESS.

>> WE ALL WORKED A LOT ON THE FARM AND DEFINITELY MY TEENAGE YEARS AT FIRST, LIKE NO WAY, I WILL NEVER DO THIS TYPE OF STUFF BECAUSE AS A TEENAGER, JUST IT SEEMED LIKE A LOT OF WORK FOR NOT THAT MUCH RETURN.

MICHELLE: EVENTUALLY, HE FOUND HIS WAY BACK TO THE SPRING BLOOMS.

WHEN HE BROUGHT CARRION TO HOLLAND TO MEET HIS FAMILY, CARRIE AND WAS AWESTRUCK WHEN SHE SAW THE TULIP FARM.

AS FAR AS THE EYE COULD SEE, THERE WERE FLOWERS.

SHE ASKED HIM IF SHE COULD PICK ONE.

>> I SAID YOU CONVICT AS MANY AS YOU WANT.

>> AND THEN I JUST LOOKED AT HIM.

I LITERALLY SWOONED.

I WAS LIKE REALLY?

AS MANY AS I WANT?

AND I JUST STARTED PICKING.

I HAVE THEM IN MY BACK POCKET.

AND I AM PICKING THEM AND IT BROUGHT ME SUCH JOY.

AND THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WHEN WE STARTED TALKING ABOUT DOING THE YOU PICK THAT WE WANTED TO BRING BACK.

IT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WE HEARD FROM PEOPLE.

I CAN'T BELIEVE WE CAN TAKE THESE.

MICHELLE: SHORTLY AFTER, THEY OPENED THEIR FIRST TULIP FARM IN VIRGINIA.

IN 2015, THEY MOVED TO RHODE ISLAND AND OPENED WICKED TULIPS FLOWER FARM.

A PLACE FOR GUESTS TO STROLL THROUGH ROWS OF TULIPS AND PLUCKED THE ONES THEY WANT.

IF IT WAS A BUSINESS MODEL THAT THEY HAD NOT SEEN PLAY OUT IN HOLLAND.

>> YOU PICK IS NOT A VIABLE OPTION IN HOLLAND, BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY TULIPS THAT IT'S JUST NOT THAT INTERESTING TO WALKING AFIELD A FIELD AND PICK FLOWERS.

>> WHEN WE STARTED, PRETTY MUCH EVERYBODY SAID THERE IS NO WAY YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE A LIVING FROM THIS.

HOW ARE YOU GOING TO SURVIVE NO ONE IS GOING TO COME, THEY ARE NOT GOING TO PAY.

THIS IS NOT GOING TO WORK.

AND WE JUST KEPT PROVING THEM WRONG.

MICHELLE: THIS IS THEIR SIXTH SEASON IN THE STATE.

THEY HAVE AMASSED A LARGE FOLLOWING IN THAT TIME.

FAMILIES THAT COME BACK YEAR AFTER YEAR.

>> IT IS REALLY SPECIAL AND I LOVE SEEING THE PICTURES OF THE KIDS FROM YEAR-TO-YEAR THAT THEY HAVE BEEN COMING SINCE WE OPENED.

MICHELLE: AS YOU ARE GOING AROUND THE STATE DO PEOPLE SAY YOU ARE THE TULIP FARMERS?

>> YES SOMETIMES.

IT IS PRETTY FUNNY.

THEY'RE LIKE OH WE DON'T WANT TO BOTHER THEM.

AND IT'S LIKE OH IT'S OK. MICHELLE: WHY DO YOU THINK THIS BUSINESS MODEL HAS BECOME SO SUCCESSFUL?

>> IT BRINGS HAPPINESS.

THEY GET TO PICK.

WHEN YOU GET TO GO TO ANY GARDEN, YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO PICK.

AND THEN EVERYONE USED TO CALL THEM HAPPY HORMONES.

THEY JUST START FLOWING.

AND ALSO, IT IS JUST SO CALLED OUT HERE AND GETTING BACK TO NATURE IN SUCH A BEAUTIFUL WAY.

MICHELLE: YOU'LL FIND ABOUT A HUNDRED VARIETIES OF TULIPS HERE.

FLOWERS WITH NAMES LIKE RED EMPEROR AND WHITE PRINTS.

THEIR LEASING 20 ACRES HERE, BUT RIGHT NOW, THEY ARE ONLY GROWING TULIPS ON FIVE OF THEM.

EVERY YEAR, THEY NEED TO ROTATE WHERE THE FLOWERS GROW.

THAT IS BECAUSE WANTS TO LIVE SEASON IS OVER, THEY HAVE TO DIG THE BULBS OUT OF THE GROUND AND LET THE SOIL REST FOR THREE YEARS TO PREVENT THE ATTACK OF A FAST SPREADING FUNGUS.

>> YOU CAN HAVE COMPLETE CROP FAILURE IF YOU GET THIS DISEASE IN THERE.

THEY CALL IT THE TULIP FIRE.

BECAUSE IT SPREADS LIKE FIRE.

>> YOU'LL SEE DOTS ON THE PEDALS AND ON THE LEAVES AND THEY DIE SOONER.

MICHELLE: RHODE ISLAND SCHOOL CLIMATE MAKES IT IDEAL FOR GROWING TULIPS.

WHAT THEY WERE NOT EXPECTING WHERE ALL OF THE ROCKS THEY DUG UP WHEN THEY WENT TO PLANT THEIR BOLTS.

>> PLANTING SEEDS FROM HOLLAND ARE NOT USED TO ROCKS.

SO IF YOU HAD THESE TYPES OF ROCKS, THEN YOUR PLANTING A SEED .

MICHELLE: THE ROCKS WERE NOTHING COMPARED TO THEIR BIGGEST OBSTACLE YET, THE CORONAVIRUS.

THEIR BUSINESS RELIES ON VISITORS COMING TO THE TULIP FARM.

WHEN THE PANDEMIC HIT LAST YEAR, THEY DID NOT KNOW IF THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO OPEN THE FOLLOWING MONTH.

>> SO WE STARTED BRAINSTORMING.

HOW CAN WE SALVAGE THIS?

HOW CAN WE SAY THIS?

AND THEN CROSS YOUR FIGURES -- FINGERS HOPING THE GUIDELINES WILL CHANGE FOR THE TIME WERE READY TO OPEN BECAUSE WE ARE ONE OF THE FIRST -- NOTHING ELSE IS BLOOMING.

MICHELLE: CURBSIDE PICKUP GAVE NEW MEANING TO IF YOU PLANTED, THEY WILL COME.

>> THERE WERE SOME PEOPLE THAT BOUGHT, THEY CAME BACK FIVE TIMES TO GET NUMEROUS BOUQUETS.

YOU KNOW, THEY DID NOT NEED TO DO THAT.

IF THEY DID THAT TO BE SUPPORTIVE.

>> YEAH, THAT WAS REALLY AWESOME TO FEEL THE LOVE BACK.

MICHELLE: THEY DONATED TULIPS TO NURSING HOMES DURING THE START OF THE PANDEMIC.

NOW, THEY ARE LOOKING AT WAYS TO SPREAD THE TULIP LOVE YEAR-ROUND.

HE IS CONSIDERING SETTING UP GREENHOUSES WHERE HE CAN TEACH PEOPLE HOW TO GROW TULIPS.

>> IT IS FOR ME VERY HARD TO -- THE HAPPIEST PLACE OF RHODE ISLAND AND THE OTHER WEEKS THE CLOSED AND PREPARE, PREPARE, PREPARE.

I WANT TO GIVE MORE TULIP LOVE TO PEOPLE I THINK.

MICHELLE: THEY ALSO SELL A VARIETY OF BULBS AND WANT TO INSPIRE OTHERS TO GROW THEIR OWN TULIPS.

DO YOU HAVE MOMENTS WHERE YOU LOOK AT EACH OTHER AND JUST SAY GOSH, I CANNOT BELIEVE YOU GET TO DO THIS TOGETHER?

>> YES.

SOMETIMES WERE LIKE GOSH, I WISH WE WEREN'T DOING THIS TOGETHER.

MICHELLE: IT CAN'T BE EASY BEING A HUSBAND AND WIFE IN WORKNG TOGETHER?

>> NO, IT HAS BEEN TOUGH BECAUSE WHEN YOU'RE MAKING DECISIONS, IT GETS REAL PERSONAL REAL QUICKLY.

MICHELLE: ONE OF THEIR FAVORITE PARTS OF THE BUSINESS IS SHARING THEIR LOVE OF TULIPS WITH THEIR THREE-YEAR-OLD SON.

HE IS QUICKLY GETTING THE HANG OF THE FAMILY BUSINESS.

>> YEAH, YOU DID IT.

MICHELLE: WHAT DOES YOUR SOMETHING ABOUT ALL OF THIS QUESTION MARK >> HE WANTS TO BE A TILL A FARMER.

MICHELLE: REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THEIR SON GROWS UP TO BE A TULIP ARMOR, CARRIE AND AND URAM WANT THEIR SON AND EVERONE WHO COMES TO THEIR FARM TO TAKE AWAY ONE SIMPLE THING.

>> WE ALWAYS JUST HOPE THAT WHEN THEY COME THEY CANNOT LET OUT THAT BREATH AND PUT ON A SMILE AND REALLY JUST FEEL THE HAPPINESS.

AND FEEL HAPPY WITHIN THEMSELVES AND JUST FORGET ABOUT EVERYTHING FOR A WHILE.

DAVID: THE WICKED TULIPS FLOWER FARM WILL BE OPEN FROM APRIL 29 THROUGH MAY 20.

THAT IS OUR BROADCAST THIS EVENING.

I AM DAVID WRIGHT.

PAMELA: I'M HIMMLER WATTS.

IT WILL BE BACK NEXT WEEK WITH ANOTHER ADDITION OF RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY.

NTIL THEN, YOU CAN VISIS ONLINE TO SEE ALL OF OUR STORIES AND PAST EPISODES AT RIPBS.ORG /WEEKLY.

OR LISTEN TO OUR PODCAST, AVAILABLE ON ALL OF YOUR FAVORITE AUDIO STREAMING PLATFORMS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

AND GOOD NIGHT.

♪ [CAPTIONING PERFORMED BY THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE, WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS