550 KTRS Inside Out Show October 25th 2011 Plant of the Week AND, Welcome to New Co-Host #1 Ellen Barredo (twitter link) of Bowood Farms

Season’s change, life changes and now the hosting of the Inside Out Show has made some changes. Joining John Shea, of Collier, Thompson and Shea this Sunday was Bowood Farm’s Ellen Barredo, (check this link to see what an idea (l) girl she is for this job) as “co-host of the week”.

Ellen is the first of three female local green industry professionals that will share the show’s “outside” expert position. John will also have Garden Height’s Steffie Littlefield and Greenscape Gardens, Jennifer Schamber

This three person round robin rotation will address the part of KTRS’s Inside Out Show’s focus on gardening, landscaping and turf care (basically the “Out” portion of the show.)

John Shea will continue with his team of experts and industry representatives from the home building industry and hardware retail suppliers as the anchor of the Inside Out Show and as professional advisor for the balance of home owner call in questions.

John Shea excels in all areas of building design, construction and care, so there will be his influence and continuity to carry the show. As before, he introduce the seasonal home care topics and be a representative for the program's many sponsors and advertisers.

With John’s knowledge of new homes and trends, plus all the types of home remodeling options and renovations he has implemented over his many years of experience, he will sure continue to earn his popular pet name as “Mr. Fix-it”.

His house care tips and his timely home upkeep suggestions are second only to his gift for problem solving which he does on air on a weekly basis. I am sure listeners appreciate John's jovial disposition. He finds numerous ways to keep the show energized, even as he sympathizes with callers and their challenging predicaments and issues.

Fair warning girls, his humor is contagious! I expect eventually all of the girls will get a case of silliness from his sometimes unexpected comments. All ready, first week I could hear a few timely giggles from Ellen as John educated / entertained her and his listeners. I hope all of new co-hosts will find my friend John as funny as he is knowledgeable. As a home owner myself, I have found him to be a valuable source of information and a great asset when making my weekly" to do" check list.

The Plant of the Week feature will continue. Ellen and I discussed a cool, “cool season annual alternative” ornamental kale. This is a favorite of mine for container gardening as well as in ground planting for fall! John was out of the loop some but he will catch up! He is sure to learn alot from this crowd!

I have listed a few information links about ornamental kale, the websites of the new co-hosts and the magazine/ resource, Gateway Gardener. All three of the new Inside Out Show’s garden hosts/ experts are wonderful writers and have featured articles published on a frequent basis. KTRS’s website will surely be updated with this new hosting information shortly!

PS Yes, I know Jennifer is soon to deliver her baby so I asked John Shea what the “plan” is for her sub-good news, her dad John Loyet, will hold her slot on the show. Check out this national industry magazine link which featured John, Jennifer and her mom, Sally on the cover! I am so proud of them! Check out their face book link.

Personal Tidbit, my sweetest Holly, mother of my grandbaby has worked for Jennifer for several years. I am so blessed to have her share in my love of my industry. I have had Jennifer her family and her staff in the perimeter of my family life, they have celebrated with me and cried with me.

I have loved watching Holly "grow"with them in so many ways. I am thankful for everyone at Greenscape who has shares in being part of my "extended" family! I so wish Joanne was here too- she would be so excited about Jennifer, the baby and the radio show! What a wonderful job you all are doing!

Here are a few kale plant links!

http://www.thegardenhelper.com/kale.html

http://www.arhomeandgarden.org/plantoftheweek/articles/ornamental_kale.htm

http://gardening.about.com/od/plantprofile1/p/Orn_Cabbage.htm

http://www.finegardening.com/plantguide/brassica-oleracea-ornamental-cabbage.aspx

PSS Not a Bible quote but one that speaks to my heart as a reminder of how far our voices can reach (airwaves to heaven?) and how as close as a whisper is God when I am surrounded by His Creation, God has blessed me!

" I love to think of nature as an unlimited broadcasting station, through which God speaks to us every hour, if we will only tune in." ~George Washington Carver

KTRS 550 Inside Out Show Time Out-What To Do

Despite being off air a couple of weeks and the many changes in the" landscape" of the Inside Out Show, I decided there is no lack of tips and information for me to share.

The upcoming changes with the hosting of 550's Inside Out show signal a transition in more than the weather for all of us who care about the "Inside Out " show and its hosts.

Jim McMillian has retired and it is well deserved. I will miss his banter with John and his teasing about my intentions to take his job-ha ha Jim, I didn't take it!

I do wish the best to the trifecta that is coming along side John to take Jim's place. I wonder how good Jim feels knowing it will take three amazing people to take his place.

I have certainly learned that although no one can do the work of another and that change is unavoidable. I wasn't certain at first how we could possibly go on but now that John has made some rather awesome arrangements, I feel an unexpected excitement and pleasure at the thought of "re"-connecting with some of my past and a few of the best of our local "green girls".

Much has changed with me in the past few years. I am sure life has brought many changes to them as well, I look forward to hearing whatever they have to share and hope they enjoy my continued interest in sharing the passion for plants He has given me! In the mean time here is what I recommend doing in the garden:

To Do List: Make AND Do

Start getting in the habit of disconnecting the hose from the hose bib after watering- but KEEP WATERING!

Take notes, start a journal and make an inventory list of the plants in each bed /landscape area and what activities you know you did and ones you maybe should have done sooner- make your calendar for next year accordingly!

Remove at ground level summer annuals. Take cuttings now if you have a sunny window and desire a cost effective spring planting. Do some research for exact methods as propagating easy annuals such as coleus can be fun. This can be an adventure for the experienced gardener who wish to savory that certain plant or for a newbie who wants to develop a green thumb over winter with minimal effort!

For most annuals, make notes in your journal, especially the ones you wish to repeat, (or not) the numbers you used, how well they spread and filled an area. Start a budget now and maybe even draw a simple plan as a reminder as you shop next spring.

As you cut away all the annual material that is visible, also clean around the crowns of neighboring plants, at the base and under shrubs, and remove any weedy vines such as virginia creeper or bind weed that have infiltrated the structure of the trees and shrubs. Use this material for composting or place in pick up bags.

Remember; leave the still intact roots of the annuals in the ground to decompose. This creates natural air and water ways, releases stored energy back into the ground and allows the neighboring foundation plants a chance to revive and restore themselves for a few good weeks without unnecessary competition as they prepare for the dormant season.

This “leave the roots method” also seems to decreases “winter heaving losses” caused by accidental roots disruption from pulling up the neighboring plants. I have noted it also seems to help prepare the ground to become more “expansion friendly”. It seems the spreading and maturing perennials near by benefit from the improved water and air penetration left behind and can fill the empty space in record time.

Doing a “gentle” clean up now keeps me from having a heavy hand later when plants are more challenging to recognize ( as they might even seem gone). Also walking in the garden late in the season can cause damage from stepping on the tender, less protected crowns. (I recommend creating “care paths” all through the garden. I do this so I can reach and take care of the landscape without walking over roots. It helps all year long but as the wind play hide and seek with my paths, too many plants end up at risk!)

I tend to leave the “still green” material on the perennials and all stems on the semi-shrubs such as butterfly bush and caryopteris till early spring.

I even prefer to do minimal pruning on shrubs and trees at this time because it leaves the pruning cuts exposed to winter’s cold and wet for an extended time allowing moisture to cause expansion and giving disease and insects a foothold.

I prefer to do most formative and controlling pruning for any plant including trees and shrubs as a growth phase begins in late winter so that the wounds can take timely advantage of nature’s normal healing process. The plants recover quickly and my hand on method is less evident and most effective! It also gives me something to do when it is too early to be working in the garden.

On occasion, reseeding is desirable and even intentional. If this is the case, clean up the immediate area of the favorite bloomer and then intentionally hand disperse the ripened flower head’s seeds. Keep in mind success can be variable and think about your time and reality.

Occasionally there are factors and limitations that make managing an excess of plants that are popping up every where next spring more headachy than heartwarming. (Personal note-my lesson was learned with Rudbeckias and relearned with asters, eons ago! What was “picture perfect” one fall quickly became a “nook with the look of neglect” the following spring)

Whatever material remains gets a pass for the winter leaving some cover and protection for the wildlife and the soon to be sleeping landscape.

Knowing that all the majority of the excess material and all the most unsightly or questionable foliage has been removed while it was still fairly easy to identify, examine for problems and access for future plans and care gives me a happy heart knowing I have been a good and Godly steward, hopefully worthy of being a conscientious caretaker of His Garden for one more season!

Blessed With Today…

Re

With my thoughts on water and caretaking, it seemed fitting to reflect on our Lord’s personal promise found in Matthew 5:6

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.”

He tells me that my pursuit of righteousness will lead me to Him. I have come to know Him through Jesus Christ my Savior, intimately as my companion and Lord. I look forward to my daily Walk with Him in His Garden