WEBVTT 1 00:00:02.720 --> 00:00:06.200 Hello, my friends. Broadcasting from Studio a at Proven Winners, 2 00:00:06.240 --> 00:00:11.759 Color Choice Shrubs. It's The Gardening Simplified Show with Stacy Hirvella, me, 3 00:00:12.000 --> 00:00:16.440 Rick weisst and our engineer and producer Adrianna Robinson. Well, 4 00:00:16.679 --> 00:00:20.559 you know, I think annuals. Flowering annuals to me, aren't 5 00:00:20.679 --> 00:00:24.559 an investment like a tree. They're more of an opportunity. 6 00:00:24.679 --> 00:00:29.719 They're an event. Investment is traditionally defined as the commitment 7 00:00:29.760 --> 00:00:33.520 of resources to achieve later benefits, and the key word 8 00:00:33.560 --> 00:00:37.399 here is later. See with flowering annuals, we can fill 9 00:00:37.479 --> 00:00:42.560 gaps in our landscape, have instant impact, season long color. 10 00:00:43.320 --> 00:00:48.000 Many annuals are edibles. Of course, pollinators love them. It's 11 00:00:48.000 --> 00:00:51.880 a great way to teach kids, and shopping for them 12 00:00:52.000 --> 00:00:57.000 is an adventure in spring. Just ask Stacy and her month. 13 00:00:57.200 --> 00:00:59.439 Indeed, it's one of my favorite things that I do 14 00:00:59.520 --> 00:01:01.920 all your life. You know, I think of annuals. It's 15 00:01:01.920 --> 00:01:04.599 interesting that you bring up the investment thing. I don't 16 00:01:04.640 --> 00:01:07.359 know exactly how to classify them, but they're akin to 17 00:01:07.400 --> 00:01:11.280 a party, you know, like going all out with decorations 18 00:01:11.319 --> 00:01:14.480 and food and yeah, sure, it's kind of like a 19 00:01:14.640 --> 00:01:20.359 condensed you know, short term payoff, but it's so worth it. 20 00:01:20.799 --> 00:01:23.200 You have to take advantage of the summer, well you can. 21 00:01:23.879 --> 00:01:27.000 And yeah, shopping for annuals I think is honestly one 22 00:01:27.040 --> 00:01:28.680 of the most fun things. It's even more fun if 23 00:01:28.680 --> 00:01:30.079 you can do it with someone like your mom or 24 00:01:30.079 --> 00:01:33.560 someone that you really love. But it's just it's a delight. 25 00:01:33.640 --> 00:01:34.040 I love it. 26 00:01:34.159 --> 00:01:36.400 Yeah, I love it too, and I agree an event 27 00:01:36.680 --> 00:01:39.239 or an opportunity. And then if you think about it, 28 00:01:39.319 --> 00:01:42.879 you know, it used to be we had Decoration Day, 29 00:01:43.680 --> 00:01:46.719 and of course Mother's Day. We can thank Anna Jarvis 30 00:01:47.000 --> 00:01:52.000 and Woodrow Wilson years ago they designated the second Sunday 31 00:01:52.120 --> 00:01:55.319 in May to be Mother's Day. And then of course 32 00:01:56.560 --> 00:02:00.159 we had Decoration Day, which became Memorial Day, with which 33 00:02:00.239 --> 00:02:04.560 became the fourth Monday in the month of May. So 34 00:02:04.640 --> 00:02:08.400 you take those holidays and you throw into the mix 35 00:02:08.439 --> 00:02:13.000 that it's the last projected frost date for many people 36 00:02:13.000 --> 00:02:17.599 in the United States. Throw all those three together and wow, 37 00:02:17.680 --> 00:02:19.280 it becomes a flower festival. 38 00:02:19.400 --> 00:02:24.159 Yes, a very condensed like four week flower festival, but yeah, 39 00:02:24.240 --> 00:02:25.280 what a great time it is. 40 00:02:25.439 --> 00:02:27.159 It is a fantasic killing. 41 00:02:26.960 --> 00:02:28.240 Me over here, it's so far away. 42 00:02:28.759 --> 00:02:34.240 I go, well, you know, uh, from the perspective of 43 00:02:34.400 --> 00:02:37.800 the garden center industry. We used to years ago, when 44 00:02:37.840 --> 00:02:40.400 I first started out in the industry, we would sell 45 00:02:40.479 --> 00:02:44.120 annuals big time during the month of May and June. 46 00:02:44.520 --> 00:02:48.560 Now I'm finding it is an April to October thing. 47 00:02:48.759 --> 00:02:52.919 The party goes on for the entire spring, summer, and 48 00:02:53.159 --> 00:02:57.560 fall period, and that's what makes annuals so great. All right, 49 00:02:57.639 --> 00:03:01.400 the envelope please, twenty twenty five National Annual of the 50 00:03:01.479 --> 00:03:08.520 Year is super Tunia Mini Vista yellow petunia, What cheerful blooms. 51 00:03:08.599 --> 00:03:11.439 And I have to say they must have consulted with 52 00:03:11.560 --> 00:03:14.120 Stacy on this one, because Stacy, I know how much 53 00:03:14.159 --> 00:03:15.960 you love yellow in your landscape. 54 00:03:16.000 --> 00:03:18.080 I do love yellow, and I think it is an 55 00:03:18.080 --> 00:03:21.960 interesting choice for the annual of the year because I 56 00:03:22.000 --> 00:03:26.319 think very few people when they think of petunias, yellow 57 00:03:26.400 --> 00:03:29.680 is probably not even remotely part of their mental image, 58 00:03:30.000 --> 00:03:33.680 part of the conversation. People don't really think of yellow petunias, 59 00:03:33.759 --> 00:03:36.400 sure at all. But I have actually grown I haven't 60 00:03:36.400 --> 00:03:39.719 grown this particular one, but I did grow the Supertunia, 61 00:03:39.800 --> 00:03:44.159 saffron finch petunia and beauty, yeah, just beautiful. And I 62 00:03:44.159 --> 00:03:47.800 think it's high time that people start thinking of petunia's 63 00:03:47.840 --> 00:03:50.199 is an opportunity for you. They're not like a Namby 64 00:03:50.240 --> 00:03:53.120 Pamby yellow, not that there's anything wrong with that. They're 65 00:03:53.159 --> 00:03:56.120 like a good, bold, beautiful yellow, and I love it 66 00:03:56.199 --> 00:03:56.560 they are. 67 00:03:56.759 --> 00:03:59.240 They are sunshine, And of course I love the mini 68 00:03:59.319 --> 00:04:03.639 vista syria of supertunias. They bloom their heads off. They 69 00:04:03.680 --> 00:04:06.919 can handle the heat. Last year I took some many 70 00:04:07.039 --> 00:04:11.599 vistas that were in hanging baskets. Just overflowing the hanging baskets. 71 00:04:11.840 --> 00:04:15.439 I popped the hanging baskets off and plunged them into 72 00:04:15.520 --> 00:04:17.600 the ground. They were fantastic. 73 00:04:17.720 --> 00:04:19.879 Yeah, they are one that you can grow in the ground. 74 00:04:19.879 --> 00:04:22.680 A lot of people get confused sort of about what 75 00:04:22.720 --> 00:04:26.600 the difference between supertunias and super bells are. One is 76 00:04:26.600 --> 00:04:29.000 a petunia, one is a Caliber CoA. Superbells is a 77 00:04:29.040 --> 00:04:32.480 Caliber CoA. But the Caliber Coas they don't recommend putting 78 00:04:32.480 --> 00:04:34.399 in the ground because they need such good drainage. They 79 00:04:34.399 --> 00:04:37.319 were made for containers, whereas a supertunias, Yeah, put them 80 00:04:37.319 --> 00:04:39.639 in the ground, make them into a flower filled ground 81 00:04:39.680 --> 00:04:41.199 cover and party it up. 82 00:04:41.519 --> 00:04:45.040 The wonderful thing about many vista supertunias, or in this case, 83 00:04:45.560 --> 00:04:49.199 the plant of the year. The flowering annual plant to 84 00:04:49.319 --> 00:04:54.120 the year is the fact that they're self cleaning, really 85 00:04:54.199 --> 00:04:55.199 no maintenance. 86 00:04:55.319 --> 00:04:56.399 So you don't have to worry. 87 00:04:57.199 --> 00:04:57.399 You know. 88 00:04:57.439 --> 00:04:59.720 This is one of those things that I think people 89 00:04:59.720 --> 00:05:02.920 who petunias back in the day are just like, oh, 90 00:05:02.959 --> 00:05:06.040 I'm not growing petunias. You have to deadhead them. It's smelly, 91 00:05:06.240 --> 00:05:10.560 it's sticky, it's horrible. I'm never growing petunias again. But 92 00:05:10.759 --> 00:05:12.759 you know, honestly, and I don't even say that because 93 00:05:12.759 --> 00:05:14.680 I work here, but proven winners really did change all 94 00:05:14.720 --> 00:05:17.680 of that with the supertunias. It's a whole new way 95 00:05:17.720 --> 00:05:20.160 to look at petunias. And if you have been holding 96 00:05:20.240 --> 00:05:23.439 back from growing petunias for those reasons, you have those 97 00:05:23.800 --> 00:05:27.399 you know, bad memories, It's high time that you rethink 98 00:05:27.439 --> 00:05:30.800 it and bring some petunias into your annual plantings. 99 00:05:30.879 --> 00:05:36.079 It's flower power Supertunia Mini vista yellow petunias. The Kalladium 100 00:05:36.160 --> 00:05:40.879 of the Year envelope please heart to heart, Blushing Bride 101 00:05:40.920 --> 00:05:44.839 and Stacy for kalladiums. I love the fact that many 102 00:05:44.879 --> 00:05:48.160 koladiums now are both sun and shade. They're not just 103 00:05:48.480 --> 00:05:51.519 relegated to the shade. In this case, a strap leaf 104 00:05:51.680 --> 00:05:59.439 kualladium with elongated foliage. That and it's ruffled also, And 105 00:05:59.519 --> 00:06:02.480 so you see these bright pink leaves edged in a 106 00:06:02.519 --> 00:06:06.360 bright green border with patches of white. Can handle sun 107 00:06:06.519 --> 00:06:09.040 or shade, although if you're growing them in the south, 108 00:06:09.199 --> 00:06:12.720 probably better off in shade. But here in the Midwest 109 00:06:12.800 --> 00:06:17.279 or north, sun or shade. Just love kalladiums and the 110 00:06:17.279 --> 00:06:20.959 fact that they're so heat and humidity tolerance. 111 00:06:21.279 --> 00:06:24.360 You know, Kaladiums are another great example of a plant 112 00:06:24.360 --> 00:06:26.800 that has come so far from where it was. Now. 113 00:06:26.800 --> 00:06:28.839 I know you're going to remember this, but do you 114 00:06:28.879 --> 00:06:32.360 remember back in the day when you ordered kalladiums, your 115 00:06:32.439 --> 00:06:37.160 choices were green, white, pink, or red. There was no variety, 116 00:06:37.399 --> 00:06:40.360 there was no series. You had no idea what you're getting, 117 00:06:40.439 --> 00:06:43.560 just the color. And now it's just what has happened 118 00:06:43.600 --> 00:06:46.639 in the kalladium breeding world, between Heart to Heart and 119 00:06:46.680 --> 00:06:49.199 everything else out there. It's truly extraordinary, and I think 120 00:06:49.240 --> 00:06:52.720 it just really makes people rethink again this plant. And 121 00:06:53.319 --> 00:06:55.240 they do take sun, especially if you live in a 122 00:06:55.240 --> 00:06:59.399 colder climate. But I think especially for gardeners who have 123 00:06:59.519 --> 00:07:02.439 a lot of shade and want to have fabulous containers, 124 00:07:02.920 --> 00:07:05.800 this is a choice that should not be overlooked. You 125 00:07:05.800 --> 00:07:08.519 can stop thinking about, you know, feeling bad that you 126 00:07:08.560 --> 00:07:11.920 don't get flowers. Just pile on these kalladiums. You'll have 127 00:07:12.000 --> 00:07:15.399 tons of color, tons of texture. They are absolutely beautiful. Now, 128 00:07:15.839 --> 00:07:18.199 I unfortunately am having a little pity party over here 129 00:07:18.199 --> 00:07:20.759 since we're talking about parties, because I have tried to 130 00:07:20.800 --> 00:07:24.120 grow heart to heart kalladiums and the deer had other intentions. 131 00:07:24.920 --> 00:07:27.800 So unfortunately these are not very dear resistant. I've never 132 00:07:27.800 --> 00:07:30.120 had any trouble with them eating petunias. I don't think 133 00:07:30.120 --> 00:07:33.800 they like that, you know, kind of stickiness either. But yeah, 134 00:07:33.839 --> 00:07:37.720 I unfortunately is they have actually climbed my front steps 135 00:07:37.759 --> 00:07:42.399 to get to the kalladiums. So just a little word 136 00:07:42.439 --> 00:07:44.360 of warning for those of you who also have to 137 00:07:44.360 --> 00:07:46.480 deal with deer. But if you don't, and you have 138 00:07:46.519 --> 00:07:49.519 shade and you're looking for something just fabulous and interesting, 139 00:07:50.240 --> 00:07:53.120 you can't really do much better than hard to heartkalladiums. 140 00:07:52.800 --> 00:07:55.120 I agree. Coming up in segment four, we're going to 141 00:07:55.160 --> 00:07:59.439 talk to Noah dear Ohanian. He is the director of 142 00:07:59.480 --> 00:08:02.560 product management with Proven Winners. We're going to talk more 143 00:08:02.639 --> 00:08:05.879 about some of these fabulous varieties that are coming out 144 00:08:05.879 --> 00:08:09.480 this year. Exciting varieties and of course recipe of the 145 00:08:09.639 --> 00:08:14.560 year also for flowering annuals. This year it's Ireland, Champagne, 146 00:08:14.560 --> 00:08:19.079 Toast and Vista View. Now, Stacey, I love the recipe 147 00:08:19.120 --> 00:08:24.800 Ireland because to me, it looks like the flag of Ireland. 148 00:08:24.839 --> 00:08:29.439 You've got goldilocks, rocks, bidens, you have super bells, over 149 00:08:29.600 --> 00:08:34.919 easy Calibrica and then a favorite of many people luscious basket, 150 00:08:35.080 --> 00:08:39.279 tangiglow a Lantana. Now you put all those together, that 151 00:08:39.360 --> 00:08:42.159 recipe almost looks like the flag of Irons. 152 00:08:41.759 --> 00:08:44.000 And it's a lot of color. Now for our listeners 153 00:08:44.039 --> 00:08:46.360 who maybe aren't familiar with it, proven winners every year 154 00:08:46.360 --> 00:08:50.559 puts out creates these different recipes of combinations of annuals. Now, 155 00:08:50.799 --> 00:08:54.039 for me personally, combining annuals is my favorite thing about 156 00:08:54.039 --> 00:08:56.360 growing annuals. But there's a lot of people who just 157 00:08:56.440 --> 00:09:00.679 want that ready made, fool proof opportunity, and for them, 158 00:09:00.879 --> 00:09:04.000 I think that you know the recipes, whether it's the 159 00:09:04.039 --> 00:09:06.080 recipes of the Year or just one of the many 160 00:09:06.120 --> 00:09:09.399 recipes on the website, it just makes a great starting 161 00:09:09.399 --> 00:09:10.679 point for designing your plants. 162 00:09:10.799 --> 00:09:14.720 Yeah, these recipes and combinations too, are not a recipe 163 00:09:14.799 --> 00:09:17.639 or a combination where someone's sitting at their desk thinking, oh, 164 00:09:17.720 --> 00:09:21.919 this would be cool. No, these are proven, tested and tried, 165 00:09:22.080 --> 00:09:24.519 and so you know these recipes are going to work 166 00:09:24.559 --> 00:09:28.039 for you. Now. In addition to the annuals of the year, 167 00:09:28.159 --> 00:09:31.200 there are many new introductions this year. We're going to 168 00:09:31.200 --> 00:09:34.360 talk to Noah about it. In segment four. There's a 169 00:09:34.440 --> 00:09:39.320 totally tempted Kufia, which I'm very excited about. Aero Magica 170 00:09:39.440 --> 00:09:43.320 purple heliotrope. This one's fantastic because a lot of people 171 00:09:43.360 --> 00:09:47.240 have heliotrope melt out on them in the heat of summer, 172 00:09:47.320 --> 00:09:51.600 but this one is a fabulous cultivar, and so I 173 00:09:51.720 --> 00:09:56.720 recommend that. And then Stacy, I loved Scavola before it 174 00:09:56.799 --> 00:10:00.440 was popular to love Scavola. And now we have star Diva. 175 00:10:00.559 --> 00:10:04.000 So as opposed to the hand or fan shaped flowers 176 00:10:04.039 --> 00:10:07.879 that were used to we now have star shaped flowers. 177 00:10:07.919 --> 00:10:11.799 So there are so many great new annuals coming down 178 00:10:11.799 --> 00:10:15.519 the line this year. I can't wait for frost free days. 179 00:10:15.639 --> 00:10:18.320 I know me too. More color, a little less white, 180 00:10:18.320 --> 00:10:20.399 little more color would would not be a bad thing. 181 00:10:20.960 --> 00:10:24.279 It's coming, folks. Hang on, we'll get there. Plants on 182 00:10:24.360 --> 00:10:27.399 Trial is next. Let's see how Stacey ties this all 183 00:10:27.440 --> 00:10:30.399 together here on the Gardening Simplified Show. 184 00:10:35.759 --> 00:10:39.519 Beautify your home and community with Proven Winner's Color Choice Shrubs. 185 00:10:39.639 --> 00:10:42.279 With over three hundred and twenty five unique varieties to 186 00:10:42.360 --> 00:10:45.600 choose from. There's a flowering shrubber evergreen for every taste 187 00:10:45.720 --> 00:10:48.759 and every space. Just look for the distinctive white container 188 00:10:48.840 --> 00:10:51.559 your local garden center or learn more at Proven Winner's 189 00:10:51.559 --> 00:10:56.559 Color Choice dot com. Greeting's gardening friends, and welcome back 190 00:10:56.600 --> 00:10:59.600 to the Gardening Simplified Show. We're talking the Annual of 191 00:10:59.639 --> 00:11:01.120 the Year. We've been through the shrub of the Year, 192 00:11:01.480 --> 00:11:03.720 we've been through the Perennial of the year, and now 193 00:11:03.759 --> 00:11:06.360 it is time for the Annual of the Year. And 194 00:11:06.440 --> 00:11:09.080 like we've said in previous shows, the plants of the 195 00:11:09.159 --> 00:11:13.039 Year from the Proven Winner's brand are selected by industry experts. 196 00:11:13.840 --> 00:11:16.639 Were each of the partners that does perennials, shrubs and 197 00:11:16.639 --> 00:11:19.120 annuals does it in a slightly different way. The way 198 00:11:19.120 --> 00:11:21.000 that we do it for shrubs is we have some 199 00:11:21.039 --> 00:11:23.600 of the biggest growers in the US vote on that. 200 00:11:23.639 --> 00:11:26.279 Because of course, the important thing and what's really great 201 00:11:26.679 --> 00:11:29.039 about the Plants of the Year is that they're going 202 00:11:29.080 --> 00:11:31.000 to be easy to find. And you know, there's so 203 00:11:31.039 --> 00:11:33.320 many proven winners plants out there that a lot of 204 00:11:33.399 --> 00:11:35.519 times you'll fall in love with something and it can 205 00:11:35.600 --> 00:11:38.159 be hard to find. And so the great thing about 206 00:11:38.200 --> 00:11:41.360 the annuals and perennials and shrubs of the year is 207 00:11:41.399 --> 00:11:43.679 that everybody's on board. They've known about this for a 208 00:11:43.679 --> 00:11:45.600 couple of years. You're only hearing about it right now, 209 00:11:45.879 --> 00:11:47.600 but the industry has known about it for a while, 210 00:11:47.679 --> 00:11:50.399 so the supply is going to be there for you 211 00:11:50.679 --> 00:11:53.360 to actually use and incorporate in your garden. And it's 212 00:11:53.360 --> 00:11:56.039 also just I think, a nice guideline for trying new 213 00:11:56.080 --> 00:11:56.679 things every year. 214 00:11:56.759 --> 00:11:59.000 Yeah, I love that, you know, and probably a little 215 00:11:59.039 --> 00:12:02.759 easier with as than it is, let's say with perennials 216 00:12:02.879 --> 00:12:06.159 or shrubs. But that's why we see so many new 217 00:12:06.200 --> 00:12:07.559 introductions every year. 218 00:12:07.360 --> 00:12:08.960 In annuals, right, And that's what we try to do 219 00:12:09.080 --> 00:12:10.559 is just to get people to focus on one thing 220 00:12:10.600 --> 00:12:12.919 because we do have so much great stuff. I mean, 221 00:12:12.919 --> 00:12:15.000 it's hard for me to focus on one plant every 222 00:12:15.000 --> 00:12:17.480 week for plants on Trial because we do have so 223 00:12:17.519 --> 00:12:20.799 many great plants. So that's why I always try to 224 00:12:20.840 --> 00:12:24.120 tie it to whatever our theme of the episode, is, 225 00:12:24.840 --> 00:12:28.600 and you know, thinking about this week's as you already said, Rick, 226 00:12:28.840 --> 00:12:32.919 I love yellow and the garden, and I have found 227 00:12:32.960 --> 00:12:35.480 that yellow in the garden for me is not necessarily 228 00:12:35.519 --> 00:12:39.360 something that I personally select. It's just something that has happened. 229 00:12:39.720 --> 00:12:42.600 And it's partly because I do grow, you know, a lot, 230 00:12:42.759 --> 00:12:46.639 not all, but mostly native plants, and a great number 231 00:12:46.720 --> 00:12:50.320 of North American native flowering perennials and shrubs for that matter, 232 00:12:50.559 --> 00:12:54.279 do happen to have yellow flowers. So by virtue of 233 00:12:54.480 --> 00:12:56.919 you know, sort of a natural selection, I've ended up 234 00:12:56.919 --> 00:12:59.320 with quite a lot of yellow in my garden. 235 00:12:59.440 --> 00:13:02.600 And I think when spring arrives, to celebrate, we should 236 00:13:02.639 --> 00:13:05.240 do a show where we're both wearing yellow. I'll go 237 00:13:05.279 --> 00:13:09.039 out and find something yellow when the landscape came all. 238 00:13:09.000 --> 00:13:11.639 Right, it's a deal, okay, all right. So, and I 239 00:13:11.679 --> 00:13:13.120 do have a lot of yellow clothes too, because I 240 00:13:13.159 --> 00:13:15.159 love I love yellow that much. I'm wearing yellow earings 241 00:13:15.200 --> 00:13:17.440 right now. You just can't see him under the headphones. 242 00:13:17.919 --> 00:13:19.720 But the cool thing about yellow in the garden is 243 00:13:19.720 --> 00:13:22.360 I was thinking about it, is that yellow is truly 244 00:13:22.480 --> 00:13:25.840 a seasonless color. I think a lot of other colors 245 00:13:25.840 --> 00:13:28.039 in the garden you know, you think of them as 246 00:13:28.080 --> 00:13:30.799 just being very associated with a season, like you aren't 247 00:13:30.799 --> 00:13:33.639 really seeing like a lot of red flowers or red 248 00:13:33.639 --> 00:13:36.840 stuff outside of summer and fall, and pink is highly 249 00:13:36.879 --> 00:13:40.399 associated with, you know, summer, and purple is highly associated 250 00:13:40.399 --> 00:13:42.639 with that sort of at least in my garden, that 251 00:13:42.759 --> 00:13:45.600 late spring early summer transitional period when you've got your 252 00:13:45.679 --> 00:13:47.879 neepata and your selvia and all of that stuff flowering. 253 00:13:48.440 --> 00:13:50.679 But yellow really is a seasonless color. In the spring, 254 00:13:50.720 --> 00:13:53.960 you've got your daffodils and you're in your forsythia. Of course, 255 00:13:54.600 --> 00:13:56.639 you know summer, as we've just been through all sorts 256 00:13:56.639 --> 00:13:59.960 of stuff. In fall, I mean, of course, so much 257 00:14:00.159 --> 00:14:02.399 yellow in fall, whether you're talking about a ginko or 258 00:14:02.440 --> 00:14:03.399 you know what plants can. 259 00:14:03.559 --> 00:14:05.279 My favorite yellow ginko. 260 00:14:06.000 --> 00:14:08.879 It's a great choice. And then on top of all 261 00:14:08.879 --> 00:14:11.480 those yellow flowers, there's also tons of yellow foliage. 262 00:14:11.679 --> 00:14:13.639 Yes, as a matter of fact, I know where you're 263 00:14:13.679 --> 00:14:17.159 going with this segment. You're going to talk about spyria, right, Spyria. 264 00:14:17.240 --> 00:14:19.039 I am not going to talk about spyria today. We 265 00:14:19.120 --> 00:14:23.679 do have yellow leaved spyria, but I am talking about 266 00:14:23.720 --> 00:14:28.320 a plant that people aren't used to seeing with yellow foliage, 267 00:14:29.120 --> 00:14:32.360 the mystery thickens, and I won't keep you in suspense 268 00:14:32.399 --> 00:14:36.080 any longer. This week's plant on trial is sky do 269 00:14:36.480 --> 00:14:37.720 gold blueberry. 270 00:14:37.799 --> 00:14:38.879 What a gorgeous plant. 271 00:14:39.000 --> 00:14:42.960 It is a very unique plant. So if you live 272 00:14:43.000 --> 00:14:45.639 in West Michigan, of course, blueberries are no stranger to you. 273 00:14:45.639 --> 00:14:47.440 You see them all the time. You kind of can't 274 00:14:47.440 --> 00:14:50.799 not see them if you're driving anywhere around here. But 275 00:14:51.000 --> 00:14:55.440 the homegrowing blueberries are different. You know, they're smaller, they're 276 00:14:55.440 --> 00:14:57.480 more garden friendly, They're not like the big, you know, 277 00:14:57.559 --> 00:15:00.120 six feet tall plants that you'll see out in the 278 00:15:00.240 --> 00:15:05.679 actual blueberry farms. So skydew gold is a gold leaf 279 00:15:06.200 --> 00:15:09.799 ornamental blueberry. And through the show you're gonna hear me 280 00:15:09.879 --> 00:15:12.600 talk about it as an ornamental blueberry, and you might 281 00:15:12.600 --> 00:15:14.600 be thinking, like, well, what exactly does that mean? Does 282 00:15:14.639 --> 00:15:17.120 that mean it doesn't have fruit? And the fact is 283 00:15:17.159 --> 00:15:19.240 it does set fruit, it does flower, and it does 284 00:15:19.279 --> 00:15:21.960 have fruit, and that fruit is edible. But this is 285 00:15:22.000 --> 00:15:26.799 a blueberry that was selected specifically for its looks in 286 00:15:26.879 --> 00:15:28.360 the garden or landscape. 287 00:15:28.399 --> 00:15:30.039 And I can see why. When we were in the 288 00:15:30.120 --> 00:15:34.600 trial garden, Adriana, you and myself, I saw it in 289 00:15:34.679 --> 00:15:37.799 the distance and Stacy, I was drawn towards it, like 290 00:15:37.879 --> 00:15:38.919 what is that? Right? 291 00:15:39.039 --> 00:15:41.480 And I have had the same experience in our trial 292 00:15:41.480 --> 00:15:43.919 garden too, where you know, Adrian and I'll be walking 293 00:15:43.960 --> 00:15:46.639 around going to make videos and something will catch your 294 00:15:46.679 --> 00:15:48.399 eye and I'll be like, oh my gosh, what is that? 295 00:15:48.960 --> 00:15:51.639 And we'll go over there, and sure enough it's a sky. 296 00:15:51.720 --> 00:15:54.320 It's happened to us more than once in different spots 297 00:15:54.360 --> 00:15:57.480 in the garden because it is just such a showy plant. 298 00:15:57.519 --> 00:16:01.600 So this is a gold leaf blueberry, and the foliage 299 00:16:01.600 --> 00:16:03.519 starts out kind of green in the spring, with that 300 00:16:03.639 --> 00:16:06.399 kind of pinkish red flush that is common for blueberries. 301 00:16:06.799 --> 00:16:09.440 But then as that foliage expands and starts to mature, 302 00:16:10.000 --> 00:16:14.879 starts to you know, photosynthesize, it creates these bright golden 303 00:16:15.000 --> 00:16:17.720 pigments and those are going to stay present on the 304 00:16:17.720 --> 00:16:20.960 foliage basically from you know, mid to late spring, all 305 00:16:21.000 --> 00:16:23.600 the way until full when the plant then starts to 306 00:16:23.639 --> 00:16:27.399 turn red and yellow. And you know, the interesting thing 307 00:16:27.440 --> 00:16:29.759 to me about this plant, or one of the many things, 308 00:16:30.320 --> 00:16:34.320 is that it's a very vivid and very eye catching 309 00:16:34.360 --> 00:16:39.159 gold yellow. But it's not unnatural looking, you know, and 310 00:16:39.360 --> 00:16:41.840 I think so you know, I think sometimes people want 311 00:16:41.840 --> 00:16:44.679 a really colorful landscape, and there's a lot of plants 312 00:16:44.679 --> 00:16:46.679 out there with colors that were maybe not really used 313 00:16:46.720 --> 00:16:49.720 to seeing in nature where we live or whatever. And 314 00:16:49.759 --> 00:16:53.320 this has all of that pizazz and eye catching, you know, 315 00:16:53.440 --> 00:16:56.120 dazzling kind of look, but not in a way that's 316 00:16:56.200 --> 00:16:59.720 like garish or gaudy, like it's getting all your attention. 317 00:16:59.759 --> 00:17:03.200 It's really bright, it's very interesting and pretty in the landscape, 318 00:17:03.480 --> 00:17:05.720 but it doesn't feel out of place, like it doesn't 319 00:17:05.759 --> 00:17:08.759 feel like you're trying to like scream, it's just like 320 00:17:08.799 --> 00:17:14.599 you're trying to, you know, give a sassy winking something 321 00:17:14.680 --> 00:17:19.319 like that. So, like I said, we call it an 322 00:17:19.400 --> 00:17:23.039 ornamental blueberry because it was selected again for these ornamental characteristics, 323 00:17:23.039 --> 00:17:26.480 not edible characteristics. And when you're going for a blueberry 324 00:17:26.599 --> 00:17:29.559 that you want to produce fruit, you're saying, like, hey, 325 00:17:29.599 --> 00:17:33.000 does this produce earlier late? Are the are the fruits large, 326 00:17:33.000 --> 00:17:35.839 are they smaller? They juicy? Or are they tasty? You're looking 327 00:17:35.880 --> 00:17:38.599 for the qualities of edibility. Now, this does produce fruit, 328 00:17:38.640 --> 00:17:41.319 and the fruits are perfectly delicious, but that was not 329 00:17:41.400 --> 00:17:44.519 our primary selection criteria. That's what makes it a little 330 00:17:44.519 --> 00:17:47.160 bit different than other blueberries. But if you already have blueberries, 331 00:17:47.200 --> 00:17:49.240 you can certainly add this for some pizaz in your 332 00:17:49.279 --> 00:17:52.599 blueberry planting or in your landscape, and other blueberries will 333 00:17:52.599 --> 00:17:55.160 pollinate it and you'll get fruit. So it's kind of 334 00:17:55.160 --> 00:17:57.200 like an added bonus. So for this plant, you should 335 00:17:57.240 --> 00:17:59.960 really think about the fruit. That is the main reason, 336 00:18:00.039 --> 00:18:02.079 and you're growing it, but kind of as a little 337 00:18:02.079 --> 00:18:04.880 added bonus there if you want to have it or 338 00:18:05.039 --> 00:18:06.680 leave it to the animals or whatever you want to 339 00:18:06.680 --> 00:18:07.960 do with it, always a benefit. 340 00:18:08.039 --> 00:18:11.400 Now do we need lots of sunshine and drainage for 341 00:18:11.440 --> 00:18:14.960 this like we do with blueberries here in Michigan. 342 00:18:15.160 --> 00:18:18.480 Yes, So everything that you would normally need for properly 343 00:18:18.599 --> 00:18:21.359 sighting a blueberry plant is going to be equally true 344 00:18:21.960 --> 00:18:25.039 for skyd gold. Okay, you're going to want acidic soil. 345 00:18:25.079 --> 00:18:28.200 Of course, this is non negotiable. And a lot of people, 346 00:18:28.240 --> 00:18:31.240 I think, do think of blueberries as high maintenance plants. 347 00:18:31.240 --> 00:18:32.960 And I'm going to get to pruiting in just a second, 348 00:18:33.000 --> 00:18:36.480 but I think, as with everything in the garden, people 349 00:18:36.519 --> 00:18:38.839 tend to think of things as high maintenance when they 350 00:18:38.880 --> 00:18:41.880 are not sighted properly and therefore need a lot of 351 00:18:41.880 --> 00:18:45.200 attention to do what you want them to do. But 352 00:18:45.279 --> 00:18:48.799 with skyde gold blueberry or any other kind of blueberry, 353 00:18:49.160 --> 00:18:51.279 if you plant it in full sun, and this is 354 00:18:52.400 --> 00:18:55.440 cold tolerant down to usdas on four, heat tolerant through 355 00:18:55.519 --> 00:18:57.839 USDA Zone eight, so the warmer your climate, the more 356 00:18:57.880 --> 00:18:59.480 shade it can take. But if you're down there in 357 00:18:59.559 --> 00:19:02.240 zone four five, definitely gonna want full sun for this 358 00:19:02.400 --> 00:19:04.839 for the best color, best fall color, and of course 359 00:19:04.880 --> 00:19:07.160 best flowering and fruiting if you do want some of 360 00:19:07.160 --> 00:19:11.759 those fruits. Acidic soil, well drained soil, super crucial. Blueberries 361 00:19:11.880 --> 00:19:14.240 don't really like wet so they can take moist soil, 362 00:19:14.599 --> 00:19:17.079 but you don't want like the soggy soil that can 363 00:19:17.160 --> 00:19:21.400 lead to all sorts of issues for them. And the 364 00:19:21.440 --> 00:19:24.119 great thing, because this is an ornamental blueberry and not 365 00:19:24.359 --> 00:19:27.319 a production blueberry, you don't have to worry about pruning 366 00:19:27.319 --> 00:19:30.039 at all, you know, overall, if you're trying to grow 367 00:19:30.039 --> 00:19:32.799 blueberries for backyard fruit production, you do need to be 368 00:19:32.839 --> 00:19:35.079 quite careful with the pruning. You need to, you know, 369 00:19:35.119 --> 00:19:37.880 remove the oldest growth, make sure that it has lots 370 00:19:37.920 --> 00:19:40.839 of young, healthy growth for the best flowering and fruiting. 371 00:19:41.240 --> 00:19:44.480 Timing is really crucial. It's a lot to remember. Whereas 372 00:19:44.640 --> 00:19:47.039 with skydew gold, you don't have to prune it at 373 00:19:47.039 --> 00:19:49.000 all if you don't want to. In fact, it reaches 374 00:19:49.119 --> 00:19:51.160 just two to four feet tall and three to four 375 00:19:51.200 --> 00:19:54.039 feet wide, so it's really the perfect size for home 376 00:19:54.119 --> 00:19:57.000 landscaping and you won't need to prune it, you know, 377 00:19:57.240 --> 00:19:59.279 for any reason at all, if you don't want to it. 378 00:19:59.400 --> 00:20:03.279 It sounds like the plant for me, no work, easy 379 00:20:03.319 --> 00:20:06.680 to grow, and giving you a sassy wink. 380 00:20:07.319 --> 00:20:09.279 If you do want a sassy wink in your landscape, 381 00:20:09.319 --> 00:20:14.920 then yes, this would definitely be a good choice. So overall, 382 00:20:14.960 --> 00:20:20.319 you know, blueberries are not the most deer resisted, they're 383 00:20:20.359 --> 00:20:22.920 not highest up on the list of plants that deer 384 00:20:22.960 --> 00:20:25.480 want to eat, but they will eat them, and they 385 00:20:25.519 --> 00:20:29.680 will particularly eat the young growth in spring, which is 386 00:20:29.680 --> 00:20:32.240 going to be where all those flowers are. It's going 387 00:20:32.279 --> 00:20:33.920 to be soft. They tend to eat it in spring 388 00:20:33.960 --> 00:20:36.359 because of course, you know, they're hungry. They've kind of 389 00:20:36.400 --> 00:20:39.599 exhausted the food supplies out in natural areas. So if 390 00:20:39.599 --> 00:20:42.920 you do have deer, I would definitely protect this plant 391 00:20:42.920 --> 00:20:45.759 with maybe a repellent or some netting, especially for its 392 00:20:45.799 --> 00:20:49.559 first couple of years, and then you know, you should 393 00:20:49.599 --> 00:20:52.599 be okay overall, people don't, you know, Like the blueberry 394 00:20:52.599 --> 00:20:54.599 growers around here, there's plenty of deer and they don't 395 00:20:54.640 --> 00:20:56.440 usually have to worry about them. So the woodier and 396 00:20:56.480 --> 00:21:00.000 more mature they get, the less appealing they are too deer. 397 00:21:00.000 --> 00:21:01.680 But it's something you're definitely going to want to protect 398 00:21:02.079 --> 00:21:04.000 for at least the first couple of seasons. 399 00:21:04.119 --> 00:21:06.400 I'll bet. On the positive side, the birds love them. 400 00:21:06.440 --> 00:21:09.119 The birds absolutely love them. Yeah, and so do pollinators. 401 00:21:09.160 --> 00:21:12.599