1 00:00:00,900 --> 00:00:02,233 - Howdy, I'm John Hart Asher. 2 00:00:02,233 --> 00:00:04,466 This week on Central Texas Gardener, 3 00:00:04,466 --> 00:00:07,633 we'll take a look at the invasive species dilemma. 4 00:00:07,633 --> 00:00:09,533 Matt Turner explores the questions 5 00:00:09,533 --> 00:00:13,133 from his book with Robin Doughty, "Unnatural Texas?" 6 00:00:13,133 --> 00:00:15,800 On tour, Jennifer Edwards restored a weedy lot 7 00:00:15,800 --> 00:00:18,700 into artistic settings, wildlife habitat, 8 00:00:18,700 --> 00:00:20,300 and a backyard orchard. 9 00:00:20,300 --> 00:00:22,200 Daphne answers your questions 10 00:00:22,200 --> 00:00:24,900 and Molly Pikarsky has your backyard basics tip. 11 00:00:24,900 --> 00:00:28,600 So, let's get growing, right here, right now! 12 00:00:28,600 --> 00:00:30,333 - [Announcer] Central Texas Gardener is made possible 13 00:00:30,333 --> 00:00:32,866 by generous support from Lisa & Desi Rhoden. 14 00:00:32,866 --> 00:00:34,033 Thank you. 15 00:00:34,033 --> 00:00:36,566 (upbeat music) 16 00:00:48,700 --> 00:00:50,800 - Jennifer Edwards is an artist at heart. 17 00:00:50,800 --> 00:00:52,666 When she bought her home in South Austin, 18 00:00:52,666 --> 00:00:55,800 she stepped up its persona with creative accents 19 00:00:55,800 --> 00:00:59,066 among plants for wildlife and a backyard orchard. 20 00:00:59,066 --> 00:01:02,200 - My friends would say that I'm not a minimalist. 21 00:01:02,200 --> 00:01:05,233 I'm an artist at heart, so I'm always creating. 22 00:01:05,233 --> 00:01:06,733 - [Woman] So, when Jennifer Edwards bought 23 00:01:06,733 --> 00:01:09,733 her south Austin house, she stepped up its garden persona. 24 00:01:09,733 --> 00:01:14,066 - My front garden originally was dead grass, dead tree, 25 00:01:14,066 --> 00:01:17,233 broken cement sidewalk straight out the door, 26 00:01:17,233 --> 00:01:20,733 so the only time that I ever really invested money 27 00:01:20,733 --> 00:01:23,633 in having someone else do something was bringing in 28 00:01:23,633 --> 00:01:26,833 a crew to jackhammer out the cement 29 00:01:26,833 --> 00:01:29,033 and kind of lay me out the flagstones. 30 00:01:29,033 --> 00:01:30,466 I had the flagstones installed, 31 00:01:30,466 --> 00:01:32,700 and then I just kind of and digging the hole 32 00:01:32,700 --> 00:01:34,200 for the stock tank. 33 00:01:34,200 --> 00:01:36,866 And then, slowly, over time, I've just built it up myself. 34 00:01:36,866 --> 00:01:39,100 The crews built up the stone wall, so originally, 35 00:01:39,100 --> 00:01:41,300 along with dead grass and the dead tree, 36 00:01:41,300 --> 00:01:45,466 the whole front area by the house was bricked 37 00:01:45,466 --> 00:01:47,400 in red brick pavers. 38 00:01:49,366 --> 00:01:54,133 It was a major flood problem because that's the lowest part 39 00:01:54,133 --> 00:01:56,466 in my yard, and it's lower than the street, 40 00:01:56,466 --> 00:01:59,766 so water would run and pool right there. 41 00:02:01,033 --> 00:02:03,400 We pulled all of that out, put the stone up 42 00:02:03,400 --> 00:02:06,566 just to match it, but then put in a French drain and gravel 43 00:02:06,566 --> 00:02:08,533 so that it diverts the water around 44 00:02:08,533 --> 00:02:09,900 to the plants where they need it. 45 00:02:09,900 --> 00:02:13,166 The round cement stones, my friend Steve made. 46 00:02:13,166 --> 00:02:16,800 He had molds, so two cement halves and glue them together. 47 00:02:16,800 --> 00:02:18,266 It just looks pretty when it's raining 48 00:02:18,266 --> 00:02:19,966 because it kind of slows the water down. 49 00:02:19,966 --> 00:02:22,700 I don't have gutters, so the water comes pouring down, 50 00:02:22,700 --> 00:02:25,533 hits those stones, and softens it a little bit, 51 00:02:25,533 --> 00:02:27,866 keeps this gravel from washing away. 52 00:02:27,866 --> 00:02:30,933 Rain chain on the other side, but there's my little pyramid 53 00:02:30,933 --> 00:02:33,866 of stones there to slow the water down off the roof. 54 00:02:33,866 --> 00:02:36,600 - [Woman] To ornament, she upturned a turquoise vase. 55 00:02:36,600 --> 00:02:39,233 At a flea market, she found glass transformers 56 00:02:39,233 --> 00:02:40,766 from old phone poles. 57 00:02:40,766 --> 00:02:43,333 - And they come in all shades of green to turquoise. 58 00:02:43,333 --> 00:02:45,866 I'm always looking for blue-colored glass objects 59 00:02:45,866 --> 00:02:47,566 that are durable, that I can put 60 00:02:47,566 --> 00:02:49,433 in the yard that won't break. 61 00:02:49,433 --> 00:02:51,133 So again I have a kind of have a green 62 00:02:51,133 --> 00:02:55,400 and white and purple to blue, I guess, color palette. 63 00:02:55,400 --> 00:03:00,233 Mardi gras, purple door and kind of cobalts and turquoises. 64 00:03:00,233 --> 00:03:02,066 - [Woman] At the front door, she raised up the view 65 00:03:02,066 --> 00:03:04,966 by planting in a steel saucer tripod container. 66 00:03:04,966 --> 00:03:06,933 - Someone on Craigslist, Westlake, 67 00:03:06,933 --> 00:03:10,266 they were redoing their garden and wanted to get rid of it, 68 00:03:10,266 --> 00:03:12,233 150 bucks you have to haul it away. 69 00:03:12,233 --> 00:03:15,366 The base itself, the bowl is very, very heavy. 70 00:03:15,366 --> 00:03:17,900 It took two strong guys to lift it. 71 00:03:17,900 --> 00:03:19,700 The first thing I realized pretty quickly 72 00:03:19,700 --> 00:03:22,066 is I had to have it on very firm soil 73 00:03:22,066 --> 00:03:24,033 because the first time I set it up, 74 00:03:24,033 --> 00:03:25,633 over the course of an afternoon, 75 00:03:25,633 --> 00:03:27,733 it slowly tipped and tipped and tipped 76 00:03:27,733 --> 00:03:29,233 and then crashed over. 77 00:03:29,233 --> 00:03:31,200 It's sitting on the flagstone pavers, 78 00:03:31,200 --> 00:03:34,366 as opposed to in the gravel because the gravel's too soft. 79 00:03:34,366 --> 00:03:35,833 It's got a drainage hole in it, 80 00:03:35,833 --> 00:03:38,633 so I filled it first with a load of pea gravel, 81 00:03:38,633 --> 00:03:41,166 then decomposed granite, hilled it up a little bit 82 00:03:41,166 --> 00:03:42,700 in the center. 83 00:03:42,700 --> 00:03:46,200 It's all cacti and things that want to be very dry, 84 00:03:46,200 --> 00:03:48,266 drains out fast, really fast. 85 00:03:48,266 --> 00:03:51,700 And, again, it takes a lot of hot, blazing sun. 86 00:03:51,700 --> 00:03:54,666 And then I put glass and stones and interesting things 87 00:03:54,666 --> 00:03:56,966 in there so that year-round there's something nice 88 00:03:56,966 --> 00:03:58,233 to look at. 89 00:03:58,233 --> 00:04:00,233 The way it sits also, from my living room, 90 00:04:00,233 --> 00:04:01,666 it's a beautiful view. 91 00:04:01,666 --> 00:04:04,833 My front garden did start out native grasses, 92 00:04:04,833 --> 00:04:06,366 little rosemary here and there. 93 00:04:06,366 --> 00:04:09,366 It was supposed to be sparse. 94 00:04:09,366 --> 00:04:12,433 And I just realized that's not my style. 95 00:04:12,433 --> 00:04:14,333 I think it's beautiful. 96 00:04:14,333 --> 00:04:15,866 I enjoy it and admire it, 97 00:04:15,866 --> 00:04:18,700 but I can't help but gild the lily a little bit. 98 00:04:18,700 --> 00:04:20,666 I always tuck in a thing here and there, 99 00:04:20,666 --> 00:04:24,266 and next thing I knew, I had a lot going on. 100 00:04:24,266 --> 00:04:26,866 - [Woman] She inherited native spring-blooming spiderworts 101 00:04:26,866 --> 00:04:28,900 that she divides to spread around. 102 00:04:28,900 --> 00:04:30,866 - I've always got larkspurs and poppies. 103 00:04:30,866 --> 00:04:32,366 As I moved around when I was younger, 104 00:04:32,366 --> 00:04:35,466 I'd just gather the seeds and carry them with me. 105 00:04:35,466 --> 00:04:37,966 And then later in the season, a lot of cosmos, 106 00:04:37,966 --> 00:04:40,933 particularly in the front, white and pink. 107 00:04:42,233 --> 00:04:45,133 I try to do a lot, along with the blue theme, 108 00:04:45,133 --> 00:04:48,566 a lot of white flowers, white roses, white lantana, 109 00:04:48,566 --> 00:04:52,466 white cosmos because, looking out my bedroom window 110 00:04:52,466 --> 00:04:54,866 at night, the white really shows up in the dark. 111 00:04:54,866 --> 00:04:56,866 I've never used pesticides or insecticides, 112 00:04:56,866 --> 00:04:58,366 anything like that. 113 00:04:58,366 --> 00:05:00,666 It needed to be something that would be tough because, 114 00:05:00,666 --> 00:05:03,233 except in worst-case scenarios, I'm not gonna water. 115 00:05:03,233 --> 00:05:06,200 I think, at the heart of it all, I'm a lazy gardener. 116 00:05:06,200 --> 00:05:09,133 I want things that are gonna last, 117 00:05:09,133 --> 00:05:12,133 not take a lot of care, be beautiful year after year. 118 00:05:12,133 --> 00:05:15,066 I like my little pond, my stock tank pond that I have, 119 00:05:15,066 --> 00:05:17,100 which brings in a lot of wildlife. 120 00:05:17,100 --> 00:05:19,133 And I've got some solar lights out there. 121 00:05:20,500 --> 00:05:23,300 At night, the white flowers glow in the dark. 122 00:05:23,300 --> 00:05:26,100 The backyard, I call it the farm, and the intention, 123 00:05:26,100 --> 00:05:29,266 short of a rosebush or two, is everything is edible. 124 00:05:29,266 --> 00:05:32,433 That's my overarching theory. 125 00:05:32,433 --> 00:05:34,800 My grandpa had a large almond orchard 126 00:05:34,800 --> 00:05:36,200 in northern California, 127 00:05:36,200 --> 00:05:39,000 so I kind of grew up spending summers surrounded 128 00:05:39,000 --> 00:05:41,000 by an orchard, which, for someone 129 00:05:41,000 --> 00:05:42,266 that likes a lot of organization, 130 00:05:42,266 --> 00:05:44,033 an orchard is like the perfect forest 131 00:05:44,033 --> 00:05:45,933 'cause it's nice and neat. 132 00:05:45,933 --> 00:05:47,433 At his funeral, I took a cutting 133 00:05:47,433 --> 00:05:49,566 of the fig tree that was out by the barn. 134 00:05:49,566 --> 00:05:51,600 Took cuttings, carried them home on the plane wrapped 135 00:05:51,600 --> 00:05:54,800 in wet newspaper, along with some grapevine cuttings. 136 00:05:54,800 --> 00:05:57,733 And carried that little fig tree around in a pot 137 00:05:57,733 --> 00:05:59,833 for years until I had my forever home, 138 00:05:59,833 --> 00:06:02,033 and I felt I could put it in the ground. 139 00:06:02,033 --> 00:06:06,000 It's grown like gangbusters, brings blue jays. 140 00:06:06,000 --> 00:06:09,066 I sit in the window every morning, 141 00:06:09,066 --> 00:06:10,666 putting on my makeup and getting ready for work, 142 00:06:10,666 --> 00:06:13,866 and there's half a dozen blue jays that'll be out there, 143 00:06:13,866 --> 00:06:15,000 enjoying my fruit. 144 00:06:15,000 --> 00:06:15,833 (chuckles) 145 00:06:15,833 --> 00:06:17,066 We have an agreement. 146 00:06:17,066 --> 00:06:18,300 They get the high stuff. 147 00:06:18,300 --> 00:06:19,866 I'm supposed to get the low stuff. 148 00:06:19,866 --> 00:06:20,833 It shades the house. 149 00:06:20,833 --> 00:06:21,766 It's lovely. 150 00:06:21,766 --> 00:06:23,200 And it's a memory of him. 151 00:06:23,200 --> 00:06:24,966 It's kind of been the inspiration for my backyard. 152 00:06:24,966 --> 00:06:28,233 Two peach trees, two apple trees, two fujis, 153 00:06:28,233 --> 00:06:31,133 two plums, my fig tree, and a lemon tree. 154 00:06:31,133 --> 00:06:32,633 I took grape cuttings also. 155 00:06:32,633 --> 00:06:34,866 They turned out to be Thompson seedless. 156 00:06:34,866 --> 00:06:37,666 I didn't know that they would do very well, but they have. 157 00:06:37,666 --> 00:06:40,500 I plant them with blackberries, which my intention was, 158 00:06:40,500 --> 00:06:41,966 by planting them with blackberries, 159 00:06:41,966 --> 00:06:45,200 the thorns would kind of keep birds off a little bit. 160 00:06:45,200 --> 00:06:47,100 In retrospect, I don't know if that was a good idea 161 00:06:47,100 --> 00:06:49,566 because it also makes it very hard for me to work in them. 162 00:06:49,566 --> 00:06:51,933 - [Woman] Jennifer and son Julian framed one section 163 00:06:51,933 --> 00:06:54,700 with a picket fence and rose-covered arbor. 164 00:06:54,700 --> 00:06:56,333 - It's where I get my farm idea. 165 00:06:56,333 --> 00:06:59,466 I knew I wanted to have some raised beds for vegetables, 166 00:06:59,466 --> 00:07:03,900 something that I could keep a little more orderly, 167 00:07:03,900 --> 00:07:05,933 instead of kind of the wild kingdom look. 168 00:07:05,933 --> 00:07:09,433 Over the course of a week, we built it and put it together 169 00:07:09,433 --> 00:07:11,966 and put down the decomposed granite 170 00:07:11,966 --> 00:07:14,300 and built the four beds that I've got. 171 00:07:14,300 --> 00:07:15,433 The idea was it was gonna be 172 00:07:15,433 --> 00:07:17,733 kind of like a federalist style. 173 00:07:17,733 --> 00:07:20,900 It was supposed to be kind of organized and clean and neat, 174 00:07:20,900 --> 00:07:25,100 but it's kind of gone jungle-like, the rest of it. 175 00:07:25,100 --> 00:07:26,533 This time of year anyway. 176 00:07:26,533 --> 00:07:28,000 - [Woman] Jennifer confirmed her philosophy 177 00:07:28,000 --> 00:07:30,000 on hand-painted lumber scraps mounted 178 00:07:30,000 --> 00:07:33,300 on the bamboo that encloses her outdoor shower. 179 00:07:33,300 --> 00:07:35,600 An advocate of community literacy, 180 00:07:35,600 --> 00:07:37,900 she built a little library on the front curb. 181 00:07:37,900 --> 00:07:39,933 - I had saved like a draw pull I'd got 182 00:07:39,933 --> 00:07:41,066 at a garage sale. 183 00:07:41,066 --> 00:07:43,633 Like a lot of us, I had a drawer 184 00:07:43,633 --> 00:07:47,333 full of someday I'll do something with this cool stuff. 185 00:07:47,333 --> 00:07:49,433 I had little odds and ends that I had saved 186 00:07:49,433 --> 00:07:51,333 and put it together, you know, painted it 187 00:07:51,333 --> 00:07:54,866 to match my front door and recycled a garden bench 188 00:07:54,866 --> 00:07:56,200 to set it on. 189 00:07:56,200 --> 00:07:58,266 Some neighborhoods have issues with vandalism 190 00:07:58,266 --> 00:07:59,800 and things like that, so at first it was 191 00:07:59,800 --> 00:08:03,000 just kind of an experiment of not putting in too much money, 192 00:08:03,000 --> 00:08:03,833 just see how it goes. 193 00:08:03,833 --> 00:08:06,166 But it's been lovely. 194 00:08:06,166 --> 00:08:07,000 People take care of it. 195 00:08:07,000 --> 00:08:09,166 People look out for it. 196 00:08:09,166 --> 00:08:12,566 It's been a lot of fun and community, 197 00:08:12,566 --> 00:08:15,533 people walking their dogs stop, take a look at it. 198 00:08:15,533 --> 00:08:17,533 Lots of people stop, take pictures, 199 00:08:18,600 --> 00:08:19,900 come back with their kids. 200 00:08:21,066 --> 00:08:23,466 - Welcome today we've got Matt Turner here 201 00:08:23,466 --> 00:08:24,800 that we're gonna be speaking with. 202 00:08:24,800 --> 00:08:27,966 Matt with The Native Plant Society of Texas. 203 00:08:27,966 --> 00:08:30,400 And you've written two books here 204 00:08:30,400 --> 00:08:32,766 that we have the "Remarkable Plants of Texas". 205 00:08:32,766 --> 00:08:34,133 - Yeah - Of which there are many. 206 00:08:34,133 --> 00:08:35,633 - Yes. - And then of course, 207 00:08:35,633 --> 00:08:39,033 you have a new book out now that's "Unnatural Texas?" 208 00:08:39,033 --> 00:08:40,933 non invasive species. - Yes. 209 00:08:40,933 --> 00:08:43,100 - [John] And you wrote this with Robin Doughty. 210 00:08:43,100 --> 00:08:44,633 - Doughty, yes. - Doughty. 211 00:08:44,633 --> 00:08:46,800 - Okay Professor Emeritus in geography here at UT, yeah. 212 00:08:46,800 --> 00:08:48,066 - What's an invasive species? 213 00:08:48,066 --> 00:08:49,933 - So invasive species has to be two things: 214 00:08:49,933 --> 00:08:52,166 one, it has to be non-native. 215 00:08:53,466 --> 00:08:54,833 Which means a human 216 00:08:54,833 --> 00:08:56,433 had to have brought it in. 217 00:08:56,433 --> 00:08:58,433 Sorry it cannot have existed naturally 218 00:08:58,433 --> 00:09:01,000 or historically and they given ecosystem. 219 00:09:01,000 --> 00:09:02,233 And then secondly, 220 00:09:02,233 --> 00:09:03,533 it has to cause some kind of harm. 221 00:09:03,533 --> 00:09:06,500 The major ones being to the environment 222 00:09:06,500 --> 00:09:10,633 or to human health or to economy. 223 00:09:10,633 --> 00:09:13,866 - Okay, and what about ecosystem health is there? 224 00:09:13,866 --> 00:09:16,100 - Yeah, I think that's the one that's the hardest 225 00:09:16,100 --> 00:09:18,733 to quantify and gets the least. 226 00:09:18,733 --> 00:09:20,866 - [John] It's not tension in the official definition. 227 00:09:20,866 --> 00:09:23,200 - [Matt] Okay, yeah. (Matt laughs) 228 00:09:23,200 --> 00:09:27,100 - And as an example, 229 00:09:27,100 --> 00:09:29,066 some that people that might really be familiar 230 00:09:29,066 --> 00:09:32,333 with the house sparrows and European starlings. 231 00:09:32,333 --> 00:09:34,233 - Yeah, I don't know how many people are familiar with that. 232 00:09:34,233 --> 00:09:35,833 But those are not native birds. 233 00:09:35,833 --> 00:09:38,133 They were brought in intentionally. 234 00:09:38,133 --> 00:09:43,033 Partly, sparrows were at the very beginning in the 1850s. 235 00:09:43,033 --> 00:09:46,966 Because the native bird life in the US city, 236 00:09:46,966 --> 00:09:49,400 especially industrializing cities were vanishing. 237 00:09:49,400 --> 00:09:52,166 They didn't like all the noise and hubbub. 238 00:09:52,166 --> 00:09:54,566 So the cities were rather kind of devoid of bird live, 239 00:09:54,566 --> 00:09:56,500 and there were these inchworms that the birds 240 00:09:56,500 --> 00:09:57,733 were not eating. 241 00:09:57,733 --> 00:09:59,166 And so there was this bright idea. 242 00:09:59,166 --> 00:10:00,300 Let's bring in sparrows. 243 00:10:00,300 --> 00:10:01,466 We all love sparrows. 244 00:10:01,466 --> 00:10:02,400 Let's bring them in. 245 00:10:02,400 --> 00:10:03,400 They'll eat the inchworms, 246 00:10:03,400 --> 00:10:04,866 everyone will be happy. 247 00:10:04,866 --> 00:10:07,866 But there is this notion that we're British for English. 248 00:10:07,866 --> 00:10:09,200 And we like Shakespeare, 249 00:10:09,200 --> 00:10:10,800 and Shakespeare mentions all these birds. 250 00:10:10,800 --> 00:10:13,133 So let's bring in all the birds mentioned in Shakespeare. 251 00:10:13,133 --> 00:10:14,600 It's hard to imagine that now, 252 00:10:14,600 --> 00:10:16,600 but that was a very common idea. 253 00:10:16,600 --> 00:10:19,133 So both sparrows and starlings were brought 254 00:10:19,133 --> 00:10:22,533 over partly just because we were culturally familiar 255 00:10:22,533 --> 00:10:24,366 with them, and we wanted them around us. 256 00:10:24,366 --> 00:10:26,800 - So what brought them over, but what happened? 257 00:10:26,800 --> 00:10:28,166 - So they don't eat the inchworms. 258 00:10:28,166 --> 00:10:29,100 (John laughs) 259 00:10:29,100 --> 00:10:30,533 And they proliferated too much. 260 00:10:30,533 --> 00:10:31,600 And they started taking over. 261 00:10:31,600 --> 00:10:33,033 Well, for a while we love them. 262 00:10:33,033 --> 00:10:34,533 - Right. - And we protected them. 263 00:10:34,533 --> 00:10:38,366 And in fact, Texas made it law not to destroy a sparrow. 264 00:10:38,366 --> 00:10:39,900 It was added to the Penal Code. 265 00:10:39,900 --> 00:10:41,266 But then they went crazy, 266 00:10:41,266 --> 00:10:42,833 and there was too many of them 267 00:10:42,833 --> 00:10:46,366 and they were fornicating and making too much noise 268 00:10:46,366 --> 00:10:48,300 in the streets and people didn't like this. 269 00:10:48,300 --> 00:10:50,333 And they became 270 00:10:50,333 --> 00:10:51,966 to be called British Boulders. 271 00:10:51,966 --> 00:10:54,533 Until there became this sort of Sparrow War 272 00:10:54,533 --> 00:10:57,100 between those who love the sparrows and one of them here, 273 00:10:57,100 --> 00:10:59,633 and those who would just assume make a sparrow pie 274 00:10:59,633 --> 00:11:00,933 out of the them. 275 00:11:00,933 --> 00:11:02,566 They were making pies out of them in New York. 276 00:11:02,566 --> 00:11:04,233 So there was a big controversy. 277 00:11:04,233 --> 00:11:07,800 And so basically, more and more people began to see 278 00:11:07,800 --> 00:11:11,533 for the first time, that maybe we shouldn't be bringing 279 00:11:11,533 --> 00:11:14,700 things all around the world to different countries 280 00:11:14,700 --> 00:11:16,566 without thinking about their repercussions. 281 00:11:16,566 --> 00:11:18,433 - Sure. - And that's what eventually 282 00:11:18,433 --> 00:11:21,566 gave rise to the Lacey Act of 1900, 283 00:11:21,566 --> 00:11:23,233 where, for the first time, 284 00:11:23,233 --> 00:11:25,033 four different species of our likes, 285 00:11:25,033 --> 00:11:26,966 including starlings and sparrows, 286 00:11:26,966 --> 00:11:29,033 were to be forbidden to be brought in 287 00:11:29,033 --> 00:11:31,100 and to be transported between states. 288 00:11:31,100 --> 00:11:33,433 That list has subsequently been amended many times 289 00:11:33,433 --> 00:11:34,966 and includes hundreds of animals now. 290 00:11:34,966 --> 00:11:36,266 So the Lacey Act of 1900 291 00:11:36,266 --> 00:11:37,566 was kind of a sea change 292 00:11:37,566 --> 00:11:39,733 when people realized, wait a minute. 293 00:11:40,900 --> 00:11:45,133 Maybe people shouldn't bring everything, 294 00:11:45,133 --> 00:11:46,666 everywhere all the time, 295 00:11:46,666 --> 00:11:49,466 because the attitude before was it's very anthropocentric, 296 00:11:49,466 --> 00:11:51,033 humans are in charge, 297 00:11:51,033 --> 00:11:53,333 and we can bring whatever we want, wherever we want. 298 00:11:53,333 --> 00:11:54,600 - Sure. - New Zealand 299 00:11:54,600 --> 00:11:56,366 should look like England. - Right. 300 00:11:56,366 --> 00:11:57,833 - America should look like England. 301 00:11:57,833 --> 00:11:59,100 - Right. 302 00:11:59,100 --> 00:12:00,133 - So let's make it look more like that. 303 00:12:00,133 --> 00:12:01,600 'cause we were familiar with it. 304 00:12:01,600 --> 00:12:04,633 - Well, I was reading a little bit about this prepare too 305 00:12:04,633 --> 00:12:06,100 and I noted that, 306 00:12:06,100 --> 00:12:09,566 the starlings have an impact ecologically as well, 307 00:12:09,566 --> 00:12:13,066 they've actually harmed their nest robbers 308 00:12:13,066 --> 00:12:15,833 and they'll actually kill bluebird babies 309 00:12:15,833 --> 00:12:17,500 and pull them out of the net. 310 00:12:17,500 --> 00:12:18,666 - Right. 311 00:12:18,666 --> 00:12:20,166 - The nest and then take that nest 312 00:12:20,166 --> 00:12:22,366 for their own and-- - Right both species 313 00:12:22,366 --> 00:12:24,300 take bluebird babies out of their nest 314 00:12:24,300 --> 00:12:27,566 and so purple Martin defenders are really big about keeping 315 00:12:27,566 --> 00:12:28,700 them out of the nest. 316 00:12:28,700 --> 00:12:30,366 They they're big boulders, 317 00:12:30,366 --> 00:12:33,100 they have big beaks and they kinda just bully 318 00:12:33,100 --> 00:12:34,600 other birds and take over. 319 00:12:35,700 --> 00:12:37,933 Starlings take a grain off the fields, 320 00:12:37,933 --> 00:12:40,566 and they cause some aero plane accidents as well, 321 00:12:40,566 --> 00:12:42,900 'cause they're flock and he's enormous flocks. 322 00:12:42,900 --> 00:12:44,766 - [John] What's the big the dilemma 323 00:12:44,766 --> 00:12:46,833 or the challenge here so to speak into high risk 324 00:12:46,833 --> 00:12:48,066 with your title. 325 00:12:48,066 --> 00:12:49,200 So dilemma, is you have to choose 326 00:12:49,200 --> 00:12:52,500 between two unacceptable alternatives 327 00:12:52,500 --> 00:12:54,466 or undesirable alternatives. 328 00:12:54,466 --> 00:12:56,833 So there's actually several here but one is, 329 00:12:58,333 --> 00:12:59,933 as humans, we're bringing things all over the planet 330 00:12:59,933 --> 00:13:03,333 all the time and the pace of that is getting faster 331 00:13:03,333 --> 00:13:06,233 and faster, and there's nothing we can do to really stop it. 332 00:13:06,233 --> 00:13:08,833 But the repercussions some of these are gonna take off. 333 00:13:08,833 --> 00:13:10,266 And so how do we control 334 00:13:10,266 --> 00:13:12,533 and manage these things that we unavoidable, 335 00:13:12,533 --> 00:13:14,466 are unavoidable to bring in? 336 00:13:14,466 --> 00:13:17,233 And then the choices we make on how to manage them, 337 00:13:17,233 --> 00:13:19,233 each one of them has strong negatives, 338 00:13:19,233 --> 00:13:20,400 do you poison it? 339 00:13:20,400 --> 00:13:21,500 And then maybe poison environment? 340 00:13:21,500 --> 00:13:22,700 Do you burn it? - Sure. 341 00:13:22,700 --> 00:13:24,366 - It's problems with burning? 342 00:13:24,366 --> 00:13:26,033 Or do you bring in another animal 343 00:13:26,033 --> 00:13:27,933 or bio control another animal 344 00:13:27,933 --> 00:13:29,533 to devour the thing you brought in, 345 00:13:29,533 --> 00:13:32,566 but then that has to be in a non native creature as well. 346 00:13:32,566 --> 00:13:33,733 - Right. - Specifically designed 347 00:13:33,733 --> 00:13:35,133 to go after that. 348 00:13:35,133 --> 00:13:37,266 There's all sorts of examples from history 349 00:13:37,266 --> 00:13:39,300 of does going awry as well. - Sure. 350 00:13:39,300 --> 00:13:41,333 - So you have this sort of intractable problem 351 00:13:41,333 --> 00:13:43,066 that we doesn't have easy solutions. 352 00:13:43,066 --> 00:13:45,033 - Right. - So that's sort of the heart 353 00:13:45,033 --> 00:13:45,966 of the dilemma. 354 00:13:45,966 --> 00:13:47,566 - To play devil's advocate here. 355 00:13:47,566 --> 00:13:51,233 There's a lot of people are that take the camp 356 00:13:51,233 --> 00:13:52,833 and there's an author MMAs, 357 00:13:52,833 --> 00:13:56,266 who wrote a book Rambo Scarn who says, 358 00:13:56,266 --> 00:13:57,766 nature is everywhere, 359 00:13:57,766 --> 00:14:00,166 but they're the one thing that's consistent where it is. 360 00:14:00,166 --> 00:14:02,566 That it's not pristine. 361 00:14:02,566 --> 00:14:04,133 We've already messed it up. 362 00:14:04,133 --> 00:14:06,133 So at this point in time, 363 00:14:07,300 --> 00:14:10,900 why are we concerned so much about invasives? 364 00:14:10,900 --> 00:14:12,000 - All right. 365 00:14:12,000 --> 00:14:14,300 Well, yeah, that's, (laughing) 366 00:14:14,300 --> 00:14:16,833 that's sort of the complete defeatist position. 367 00:14:16,833 --> 00:14:19,333 I think the answer is always more nuanced 368 00:14:19,333 --> 00:14:20,700 and somewhere in between. 369 00:14:20,700 --> 00:14:22,700 So part of it is, 370 00:14:22,700 --> 00:14:25,600 many in true invasives do a lot of damage. 371 00:14:25,600 --> 00:14:29,200 They take over huge areas think of kudzu vine. 372 00:14:30,166 --> 00:14:33,966 And they cause a lot of problems. 373 00:14:33,966 --> 00:14:36,033 So, turning a blind eye 374 00:14:36,033 --> 00:14:39,700 to those problems seems silly for for multiple accounts. 375 00:14:39,700 --> 00:14:42,666 Also, I think people want their places to look 376 00:14:42,666 --> 00:14:44,800 like their places that'd be that's been a recent trend. 377 00:14:44,800 --> 00:14:46,733 We went Texans, went Texans to like Texas, 378 00:14:46,733 --> 00:14:48,366 and not like New England. - Absolutely. 379 00:14:48,366 --> 00:14:50,866 - Not like Brazil and not like Asia. 380 00:14:50,866 --> 00:14:51,700 - Right. 381 00:14:51,700 --> 00:14:52,966 We are part of nature. 382 00:14:52,966 --> 00:14:54,800 And we are part of that system. 383 00:14:54,800 --> 00:14:56,266 If that system isn't thriving, 384 00:14:56,266 --> 00:15:00,233 that translates and to us really not thriving, as well. 385 00:15:00,233 --> 00:15:01,700 - Yes, that's true. 386 00:15:01,700 --> 00:15:04,333 - [John] Let's go over a few of these species 387 00:15:04,333 --> 00:15:05,633 that I think you cover in the book. 388 00:15:05,633 --> 00:15:08,033 One of them is the Chinese tallow tree. 389 00:15:08,033 --> 00:15:09,266 - Right. 390 00:15:09,266 --> 00:15:10,766 The Chinese tells you it's from China. 391 00:15:10,766 --> 00:15:12,266 But yes, it was brought in 392 00:15:12,266 --> 00:15:14,500 by none other than Benjamin Franklin, 393 00:15:14,500 --> 00:15:17,033 who was on the outlook for, on the lookout 394 00:15:17,033 --> 00:15:20,133 I should say for plants that would help the colonies. 395 00:15:20,133 --> 00:15:21,666 - [John] right. 396 00:15:21,666 --> 00:15:24,200 - And these, the fruits of Chinese tallow or tallow, 397 00:15:24,200 --> 00:15:26,333 it's very waxy that the outer surface 398 00:15:26,333 --> 00:15:28,966 has a saturated fat and can be used like in Campbell's, 399 00:15:28,966 --> 00:15:32,433 and that the inside the kernel is a linseed type oil 400 00:15:32,433 --> 00:15:34,333 and unsaturated fatty acid. 401 00:15:34,333 --> 00:15:35,733 That's way more critical 402 00:15:35,733 --> 00:15:38,233 'cause it's more it's used in bio diesel. 403 00:15:38,233 --> 00:15:40,166 So it's, it is still to this day, 404 00:15:40,166 --> 00:15:43,033 one of the world's most oil productive trees, 405 00:15:43,033 --> 00:15:45,200 richest in oils of all trees. 406 00:15:45,200 --> 00:15:47,866 And so he was not stupid and bringing it in. 407 00:15:47,866 --> 00:15:49,066 - Right. - And in fact, 408 00:15:49,066 --> 00:15:50,700 he didn't cause really the invasion. 409 00:15:50,700 --> 00:15:52,933 It just took off a little bit on the South Carolina Coast, 410 00:15:52,933 --> 00:15:55,300 but then US government officials, 411 00:15:55,300 --> 00:15:57,566 were spreading it all over and a lot of other people too. 412 00:15:57,566 --> 00:16:00,200 We're trying to constantly make a viable 413 00:16:00,200 --> 00:16:01,666 industry out of this. - Right. 414 00:16:01,666 --> 00:16:02,900 - And to this day, 415 00:16:02,900 --> 00:16:05,866 200 years later, we still haven't got one. 416 00:16:05,866 --> 00:16:07,133 So that's the problem. 417 00:16:07,133 --> 00:16:09,366 You bring something in it looks good on paper 418 00:16:09,366 --> 00:16:10,900 and China was working, 419 00:16:10,900 --> 00:16:13,333 and then it for a number of reasons too hard 420 00:16:13,333 --> 00:16:14,266 to go into here. 421 00:16:14,266 --> 00:16:15,766 It doesn't quite work here. 422 00:16:15,766 --> 00:16:17,533 In the meantime, you have an invasion 423 00:16:17,533 --> 00:16:19,033 and now it's everywhere. 424 00:16:19,033 --> 00:16:21,566 - Okay, another one that's gonna have a huge impact 425 00:16:21,566 --> 00:16:25,833 coming to pretty much all the US is emerald ash borer, 426 00:16:25,833 --> 00:16:27,733 - [Matt] A beautiful little jewel beetle. 427 00:16:27,733 --> 00:16:30,066 We've known it's coming, it was brought in 428 00:16:30,066 --> 00:16:35,066 through packing crates into Michigan in like 2006 or eight. 429 00:16:36,233 --> 00:16:38,066 And it was hidden trees for no one noticed it 430 00:16:38,066 --> 00:16:40,566 until already 1000 trees were dying. 431 00:16:40,566 --> 00:16:44,033 By then it was already spreading throughout the Midwest. 432 00:16:44,033 --> 00:16:46,500 And so Texans have been knowing it's coming 433 00:16:46,500 --> 00:16:48,400 and we've been waiting for it to come. 434 00:16:48,400 --> 00:16:50,033 It goes after ash trees 435 00:16:50,033 --> 00:16:51,866 and there was about eight species of ash in Texas 436 00:16:51,866 --> 00:16:54,066 and unfortunately, there's really no solution. 437 00:16:54,066 --> 00:16:55,200 - Right. - We're probably gonna lose 438 00:16:55,200 --> 00:16:56,966 most of our attributes in Texas. 439 00:16:58,566 --> 00:17:00,000 They were waiting for an East Texas. 440 00:17:00,000 --> 00:17:01,800 And then suddenly it appeared in Fort Worth 441 00:17:01,800 --> 00:17:04,833 on a 10-year olds iNaturalist application. 442 00:17:04,833 --> 00:17:08,133 So that's a little that's a little plug for Inaturalist. 443 00:17:09,233 --> 00:17:10,400 Anyone can put that on their phone 444 00:17:10,400 --> 00:17:11,600 and go start taking pictures 445 00:17:11,600 --> 00:17:12,833 and experts will come in 446 00:17:12,833 --> 00:17:14,266 and identify things that are on there. 447 00:17:14,266 --> 00:17:15,666 - Well, that's a great segue 448 00:17:15,666 --> 00:17:17,500 'cause I'm sure everybody's interested in this. 449 00:17:17,500 --> 00:17:19,966 How, What can we do? - What can we do? 450 00:17:19,966 --> 00:17:22,133 Be alert, be vigilant. 451 00:17:22,133 --> 00:17:24,800 Try to realize when new things are started springing up 452 00:17:24,800 --> 00:17:27,566 everywhere ask what they are, find out what's going on. 453 00:17:28,700 --> 00:17:31,033 Try not to plant too many non-natives 454 00:17:31,033 --> 00:17:32,433 in your yard or at least ones 455 00:17:32,433 --> 00:17:34,833 that you know are gonna say put. 456 00:17:34,833 --> 00:17:36,533 Talk to your nurseries and HOAs 457 00:17:36,533 --> 00:17:38,166 about why they're selling things 458 00:17:38,166 --> 00:17:41,366 that are arguably dangerous like Nan Dena 459 00:17:41,366 --> 00:17:44,733 and ligustrum. - Yeah. 460 00:17:44,733 --> 00:17:46,500 - Even though they're technically not invasive 461 00:17:46,500 --> 00:17:49,033 by state standards, they're acting invasive. 462 00:17:49,033 --> 00:17:50,933 Just be aware that as a human, 463 00:17:50,933 --> 00:17:53,833 you're a vector all the time you're bringing stuff in. 464 00:17:53,833 --> 00:17:56,233 So don't dump your aquarium in any lake. 465 00:17:56,233 --> 00:17:57,866 Don't let your cats roam out at night. 466 00:17:57,866 --> 00:18:00,233 Wipe your shoes when you go from one hiking 467 00:18:00,233 --> 00:18:01,466 spot to another. 468 00:18:01,466 --> 00:18:04,866 Something like 80% of non-native plants 469 00:18:04,866 --> 00:18:07,933 in Enchanted Rock have to ride along the trails. 470 00:18:07,933 --> 00:18:09,400 Why? 471 00:18:09,400 --> 00:18:10,633 Because that's for people who have been walking 472 00:18:10,633 --> 00:18:11,900 somewhere else and brought them in. 473 00:18:11,900 --> 00:18:13,066 Empty your boat and clean it really well 474 00:18:13,066 --> 00:18:14,733 before you go between legs. 475 00:18:14,733 --> 00:18:16,333 The zebra mussels are everywhere now. 476 00:18:16,333 --> 00:18:17,566 - [John] Right. 477 00:18:17,566 --> 00:18:20,333 - So pay attention to what you're bringing in 478 00:18:20,333 --> 00:18:22,433 to your garden in your life and your yard 479 00:18:22,433 --> 00:18:24,066 and what you're carrying around with you. 480 00:18:24,066 --> 00:18:26,133 - Well, Matt, thank you so much for speaking with us today. 481 00:18:26,133 --> 00:18:29,233 This is a very complex issue, 482 00:18:29,233 --> 00:18:33,000 and I think you addressed it quite well. 483 00:18:33,000 --> 00:18:34,233 Can't wait to read the book. 484 00:18:34,233 --> 00:18:35,600 Thank you for coming with us today. 485 00:18:35,600 --> 00:18:37,100 - Thanks, thanks for inviting me. 486 00:18:37,100 --> 00:18:39,433 - And next Daphne will be up to answer all your questions. 487 00:18:39,433 --> 00:18:42,600 (light playful music) 488 00:18:44,066 --> 00:18:47,100 - In San Antonio, Mark Harris spotted this beach-ball sized, 489 00:18:47,100 --> 00:18:49,900 papery-looking nest near the top of a tree, 490 00:18:49,900 --> 00:18:52,466 home to hundreds of flying insects. 491 00:18:52,466 --> 00:18:54,066 Should he be concerned about them? 492 00:18:54,066 --> 00:18:56,766 It's hard to see individual insects here, 493 00:18:56,766 --> 00:18:58,033 but from their behavior, 494 00:18:58,033 --> 00:19:00,733 my entomology colleague Wizzie Brown suspects 495 00:19:00,733 --> 00:19:02,200 Mexican honey wasps. 496 00:19:02,200 --> 00:19:05,733 Wizzie tells us that these wasps are not very aggressive 497 00:19:05,733 --> 00:19:08,033 and often ignore human activity. 498 00:19:08,033 --> 00:19:10,033 They're also beneficial pollinators 499 00:19:10,033 --> 00:19:12,333 and can feed on harmful insects. 500 00:19:12,333 --> 00:19:14,133 You'll most often notice the nests 501 00:19:14,133 --> 00:19:16,966 when deciduous trees lose their leaves. 502 00:19:16,966 --> 00:19:19,933 Writer and Texas Master Naturalist Sheryl Smith-Rodgers 503 00:19:19,933 --> 00:19:22,766 documented the relocation of one beneficial colony 504 00:19:22,766 --> 00:19:25,566 to her Texas Wildscape habitat garden. 505 00:19:25,566 --> 00:19:28,233 If you're looking to add more native plants this year, 506 00:19:28,233 --> 00:19:31,033 it's the perfect time to plant American beautyberry, 507 00:19:31,033 --> 00:19:34,233 a native understory small shrub for part shade. 508 00:19:34,233 --> 00:19:37,833 Deciduous in winter, its late spring flowers attract bees, 509 00:19:37,833 --> 00:19:39,733 butterflies and other pollinators. 510 00:19:39,733 --> 00:19:41,900 And in fall, American beautyberry 511 00:19:41,900 --> 00:19:44,333 provides a plethora of purple or white berries 512 00:19:44,333 --> 00:19:47,100 to feed birds and small mammals, like this one, 513 00:19:47,100 --> 00:19:49,966 shared with us from Agnes Fajkus, in Fayette County. 514 00:19:49,966 --> 00:19:53,033 As we prepare our planting beds for a new season, 515 00:19:53,033 --> 00:19:55,000 should we do a soil test? 516 00:19:55,000 --> 00:19:57,333 Soil tests determine nutrient levels, 517 00:19:57,333 --> 00:19:59,366 so you only need one if you're trying 518 00:19:59,366 --> 00:20:01,333 to decide how to fertilize. 519 00:20:01,333 --> 00:20:03,800 If you have natives or well adapted plants, 520 00:20:03,800 --> 00:20:05,733 you may never need to fertilize them, 521 00:20:05,733 --> 00:20:09,100 in which case, a soil test isn't necessary. 522 00:20:09,100 --> 00:20:11,933 One important note: it's not just soil fertility 523 00:20:11,933 --> 00:20:13,566 but soil type that determines 524 00:20:13,566 --> 00:20:15,800 what will grow successfully for you. 525 00:20:15,800 --> 00:20:17,666 Some plants prefer well-drained, 526 00:20:17,666 --> 00:20:19,533 even rocky locations, 527 00:20:19,533 --> 00:20:21,966 while others need deeper or heavier soil, 528 00:20:21,966 --> 00:20:24,366 for more water-holding capacity. 529 00:20:24,366 --> 00:20:26,200 Be sure you know what type of soil 530 00:20:26,200 --> 00:20:28,866 you have in your landscape before you plant. 531 00:20:28,866 --> 00:20:31,100 Another question we often get. 532 00:20:31,100 --> 00:20:34,500 What's the difference between compost and mulch? 533 00:20:34,500 --> 00:20:37,333 The answer is, mostly time. 534 00:20:37,333 --> 00:20:40,833 Mulch is relatively large aggregate organic matter, 535 00:20:40,833 --> 00:20:43,666 used to protect the soil from evaporation. 536 00:20:43,666 --> 00:20:46,200 Compost is much smaller aggregate organic matter 537 00:20:46,200 --> 00:20:47,866 that has broken down over time, 538 00:20:47,866 --> 00:20:50,233 due to the activity of microbes. 539 00:20:50,233 --> 00:20:52,166 Compost can be used as mulch, 540 00:20:52,166 --> 00:20:54,266 but those smaller particles break down 541 00:20:54,266 --> 00:20:56,233 even further rather quickly, 542 00:20:56,233 --> 00:20:58,666 while mulch will break down more slowly. 543 00:20:58,666 --> 00:21:02,233 It's best to incorporate compost to the soil when planting, 544 00:21:02,233 --> 00:21:05,233 where it assists with water and nutrient-holding capacity. 545 00:21:05,233 --> 00:21:08,500 Or, you can add a thin layer on top of soil each season 546 00:21:08,500 --> 00:21:11,033 underneath any new mulch that you apply. 547 00:21:11,033 --> 00:21:14,633 Many people often wonder about just exactly what I do, 548 00:21:14,633 --> 00:21:16,733 as an Extension horticulturist. 549 00:21:16,733 --> 00:21:18,233 The Extension Service exists 550 00:21:18,233 --> 00:21:21,466 to help educate community residents on various topics, 551 00:21:21,466 --> 00:21:24,733 encouraging the adoption of best management practices. 552 00:21:24,733 --> 00:21:26,200 As a horticulturist, 553 00:21:26,200 --> 00:21:29,000 my focus is to help people with issues surrounding landscape 554 00:21:29,000 --> 00:21:30,566 practices and gardening. 555 00:21:30,566 --> 00:21:34,033 My favorite place to do my job is right here on CTG, 556 00:21:34,033 --> 00:21:36,500 but I also give presentations at various events 557 00:21:36,500 --> 00:21:39,666 and conferences, and organize lectures and workshops. 558 00:21:39,666 --> 00:21:41,933 We also have many online resources, 559 00:21:41,933 --> 00:21:44,166 and we announce all of our upcoming programs 560 00:21:44,166 --> 00:21:46,033 on our various websites. 561 00:21:46,033 --> 00:21:47,700 One of my most intensive programs 562 00:21:47,700 --> 00:21:49,400 is the Master Gardener training, 563 00:21:49,400 --> 00:21:51,866 which I offer at most once a year. 564 00:21:51,866 --> 00:21:54,066 After completion of this eight-week course, 565 00:21:54,066 --> 00:21:55,533 participants spend a year 566 00:21:55,533 --> 00:21:58,100 as Master Gardener Intern volunteers. 567 00:21:58,100 --> 00:22:01,000 And after successful completion of the internship, 568 00:22:01,000 --> 00:22:02,500 participants earn the title 569 00:22:02,500 --> 00:22:04,500 of Travis County Master Gardener, 570 00:22:04,500 --> 00:22:06,866 where they continue to assist me with implementing 571 00:22:06,866 --> 00:22:08,933 my educational programs. 572 00:22:08,933 --> 00:22:11,800 The easiest way to find out more about all of our programs 573 00:22:11,800 --> 00:22:13,033 is to do an internet search 574 00:22:13,033 --> 00:22:15,433 for Travis County Extension Horticulture, 575 00:22:15,433 --> 00:22:17,066 or call our office. 576 00:22:17,066 --> 00:22:18,366 We'd love to hear from you! 577 00:22:18,366 --> 00:22:21,166 Check out centraltexasgardener.org. 578 00:22:21,166 --> 00:22:24,366 to send us your questions, stories and videos. 579 00:22:24,366 --> 00:22:26,200 - Now let's check in with Molly Pikarsky 580 00:22:26,200 --> 00:22:28,766 (upbeat music) 581 00:22:31,666 --> 00:22:33,633 - I'm Molly, flora and fauna manager 582 00:22:33,633 --> 00:22:36,500 at Lake Austin Spa Resort, your rebel horticulturist. 583 00:22:36,500 --> 00:22:38,400 And I'm really happy to introduce the guy 584 00:22:38,400 --> 00:22:39,866 who keeps me out of trouble, 585 00:22:39,866 --> 00:22:41,766 my son Max Pikarsky. 586 00:22:41,766 --> 00:22:43,233 - Hi. 587 00:22:43,233 --> 00:22:45,100 - Today we're gonna talk about using our late winter 588 00:22:45,100 --> 00:22:47,400 and early spring garden goodies to make an easy 589 00:22:47,400 --> 00:22:49,700 and delicious salad that is beautifully colored 590 00:22:49,700 --> 00:22:51,200 and has a spicy crunch. 591 00:22:51,200 --> 00:22:53,200 The whole team at Lake Austin Spa Resort 592 00:22:53,200 --> 00:22:55,533 is so excited about our gardens right now. 593 00:22:55,533 --> 00:22:57,466 Richard, Dustin, and the grounds team 594 00:22:57,466 --> 00:23:00,366 have been wowing everyone with their abundant vegetables 595 00:23:00,366 --> 00:23:03,566 and herbs, and Chef Stefan and sous-chef Anthony 596 00:23:03,566 --> 00:23:05,033 have been using these ingredients 597 00:23:05,033 --> 00:23:07,733 to make some spectacular culinary creations. 598 00:23:07,733 --> 00:23:11,633 We've brought spinach, arugula, rumex, carrots, 599 00:23:11,633 --> 00:23:13,566 and both red and green lettuce. 600 00:23:13,566 --> 00:23:15,300 - Mom, you forgot the radishes. 601 00:23:15,300 --> 00:23:17,466 - Oh yes, we also brought some beautiful red 602 00:23:17,466 --> 00:23:18,666 and purple radishes. 603 00:23:18,666 --> 00:23:20,266 We started these crops in late fall, 604 00:23:20,266 --> 00:23:21,533 but you can take advantage 605 00:23:21,533 --> 00:23:23,333 of this mild winter and plant these now. 606 00:23:23,333 --> 00:23:25,700 I like to plant the greens from transplants 607 00:23:25,700 --> 00:23:28,466 and the radish and carrots work beautifully from seed. 608 00:23:28,466 --> 00:23:31,066 They will continue to grow until it starts to get hot. 609 00:23:31,066 --> 00:23:33,566 If you want to keep them growing, try indoors. 610 00:23:33,566 --> 00:23:35,233 They are great candidates for hydro 611 00:23:35,233 --> 00:23:37,033 or aquaponic systems too. 612 00:23:37,033 --> 00:23:39,633 - And don't forget to add some organic fertilizer 613 00:23:39,633 --> 00:23:42,766 with microbiology in it when you plant. 614 00:23:42,766 --> 00:23:44,766 It makes the plants grow best. 615 00:23:44,766 --> 00:23:45,833 - Absolutely. 616 00:23:45,833 --> 00:23:47,300 Even in this colder weather, 617 00:23:47,300 --> 00:23:48,733 you wanna make sure your garden 618 00:23:48,733 --> 00:23:51,400 is getting organic fertilizer and water that it needs. 619 00:23:51,400 --> 00:23:54,533 Also, it isn't a bad idea to keep some frost blanket handy 620 00:23:54,533 --> 00:23:58,833 just in case we get a central Texas surprise, cold snap. 621 00:23:58,833 --> 00:24:00,900 - We are also going to use pecans, 622 00:24:00,900 --> 00:24:04,466 Parmesan cheese and balsamic reduction that I made myself. 623 00:24:04,466 --> 00:24:07,866 - Max makes a wonderful simple balsamic reduction 624 00:24:07,866 --> 00:24:12,300 using inexpensive balsamic vinegar, sugar or honey and salt. 625 00:24:12,300 --> 00:24:15,666 When making your own balsamic reduction over medium heat, 626 00:24:15,666 --> 00:24:18,600 add the sugar or honey to taste to the vinegar. 627 00:24:18,600 --> 00:24:20,466 Let the mixture simmer until it reduces 628 00:24:20,466 --> 00:24:21,766 to your desired thickness. 629 00:24:21,766 --> 00:24:22,766 As a rebel, 630 00:24:22,766 --> 00:24:24,533 I'm not always a recipe follower. 631 00:24:24,533 --> 00:24:26,066 In fact, really never. 632 00:24:26,066 --> 00:24:28,966 So I encourage you to to add a little sweet element 633 00:24:28,966 --> 00:24:31,433 at a time to the acidic flavor of the vinegar 634 00:24:31,433 --> 00:24:33,866 until you find your perfect balance. 635 00:24:33,866 --> 00:24:37,066 Then salt to taste all things in balance, right Max? 636 00:24:37,066 --> 00:24:38,566 - Yep. 637 00:24:38,566 --> 00:24:40,600 Like how I'm sweet and you're sour and sassy, right, mom. 638 00:24:40,600 --> 00:24:41,800 - Exactly. (chuckles) 639 00:24:41,800 --> 00:24:42,833 Thank you. 640 00:24:42,833 --> 00:24:44,233 So moving along. 641 00:24:44,233 --> 00:24:46,333 After harvesting these wonderful winter 642 00:24:46,333 --> 00:24:47,800 and early spring greens, 643 00:24:47,800 --> 00:24:50,500 we washed them and tore them into bite sized pieces. 644 00:24:50,500 --> 00:24:52,866 Then combine them in the salad bowl. 645 00:24:52,866 --> 00:24:56,333 - Next we will add our pecans for some crunch. 646 00:24:59,833 --> 00:25:01,700 The Parmesan cheese, 647 00:25:03,933 --> 00:25:07,033 and we will also add our carrots. 648 00:25:08,733 --> 00:25:11,266 Carrots, and radishes 649 00:25:11,266 --> 00:25:15,133 that my mom forgot for color and spice. 650 00:25:15,133 --> 00:25:16,600 - Okay. 651 00:25:16,600 --> 00:25:19,800 Once we toss all of these gorgeous ingredients together, 652 00:25:19,800 --> 00:25:21,766 we can add our balsamic reduction. 653 00:25:24,900 --> 00:25:28,066 In this recipe, we're not using any extra oil. 654 00:25:28,066 --> 00:25:30,533 You could certainly add olive oil if you wished. 655 00:25:30,533 --> 00:25:32,733 - You could add chicken or salmon too. 656 00:25:32,733 --> 00:25:34,666 We also had this with some tortellini 657 00:25:34,666 --> 00:25:37,033 with tomato sauce that I made the other night. 658 00:25:37,033 --> 00:25:39,500 - Oh, that was an amazing meal Max. 659 00:25:39,500 --> 00:25:41,566 I like to add a little bit of cracked pepper 660 00:25:41,566 --> 00:25:43,033 and maybe a pinch of sea salt 661 00:25:43,033 --> 00:25:46,033 and you're ready to enjoy this wonderful salad. 662 00:25:46,033 --> 00:25:48,133 For the recipes on growing the vegetables 663 00:25:48,133 --> 00:25:50,700 we have used today, please check out my blog. 664 00:25:50,700 --> 00:25:52,900 This has been Molly, your rebel horticulturist. 665 00:25:52,900 --> 00:25:54,133 - And Max. 666 00:25:54,133 --> 00:25:55,433 - Reminding you to know the rules 667 00:25:55,433 --> 00:25:56,800 so you can break them well. 668 00:25:56,800 --> 00:25:59,033 - Maybe not all of them Mom. 669 00:25:59,033 --> 00:26:00,600 - Bye. 670 00:26:00,600 --> 00:26:02,466 - Find out more and watch online 671 00:26:02,466 --> 00:26:04,833 at centraltexasgardener.org. 672 00:26:04,833 --> 00:26:08,133 Until next time, adopt the pace of nature, 673 00:26:08,133 --> 00:26:10,200 her secret is patience. 674 00:26:10,200 --> 00:26:12,800 (upbeat music) 675 00:26:38,133 --> 00:26:39,866 - [Narrator] Central Texas Gardener is made possible 676 00:26:39,866 --> 00:26:42,366 by generous support from Lisa and Desi Rhoden. 677 00:26:42,366 --> 00:26:43,200 Thank you.