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

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

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

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

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

♪ Happy music.

♪ <Amanda>: Good evening and welcome to Making It Grow.

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

I'm Amanda McNulty.

I'm a Clemson Extension Agent.

And I'm, I get to learn from all the smart people that come every week.

We've got some fun things for you this week too.

But one that's not fun this this horrendous, horrendous, horrendous, new invasive.

Nematode, that is going to be a real problem for us, I'm afraid.

And then a happy thing food to market with Dr. Kimberly Baker, and, and then we're going to revisit Denver Downs, where we had such a good, good, good time, Terasa Lott is in charge of the Master Gardeners.

And she does so much by she puts wonderful pictures up on Facebook.

And is has such a good relationship with our viewers that they send her pictures.

So that we could have photos of the week and things like that.

<Terasa>: I guess I'm lucky I just ended up in the right place at the right time.

I can't even remember exactly how it happened.

But I think I've been here almost ever since way back when we won't say how long.

<Amanda>: Yeah, you know, it was certainly a happy day for us to tell you that much.

That's for sure.

And then Andy Cabe you are the head horticulturist and Do y'all do both sides at riverbanks Zoo?

<Andy>: Yeah, we do both does all the grounds on the zoo and all the grounds on the Botanical Garden.

<Amanda>: That's a lot.

<Andy>: It is a lot.

<Amanda>: And I've heard that when you cut a tree down people have fights over who gets to use it for their exhibit.

<Andy>: Oh, absolutely.

Yeah, absolutely.

They're Yeah, we were just talking you know, talking earlier about what what food we supply for the animals and, you know, anytime a sweet gum tree comes down, that's that's very popular.

Lots of things like the sweet gum.

So you'll see keepers fighting over, you know, our limbs.

<Amanda>: And I think I remember the turtles, the big turtles like pansies, but have you changed where the turtles are?

If I came out there would be a little different now.

<Andy>: We have a number of different species of tortoise, you were thinking I think about the Galapagos tortoise.

They stayed in the same spot.

But we've we're in the process of renovating our aquarium reptile complex, <Amanda>: I think due to the largess of Susan Boyd, <Yes.> been so wonderful.

<Andy>: So we've kind of changed where the entrance is going to be to the building.

And on each side, there's a boardwalk that will lead you in the building on each side, there's a tortoise yard on each side, we have black, black Burmese tortoise on one side, and then we have radiated tortoise on the other.

So horticulture has been in the process of planting these new tortoise tortoise yards for their exhibits, and you know about you know, sometime this fall, we'll see them out there and the new building will open and it'll be exciting and honestly all the fun horticulture work that involves tortoises, <Amanda>: I believe y'all try to plant things that would seem relatable to what is in the plants, that would be where they these animals are.

<Andy>: You know, it's research to see where they animals are indigenous to and you know, try to figure out alright, what plants grow in this environment.

Number one, what plants can we that we can grow here and if we can't grow it if we can't grow it here, what looks like it and you know try to do some mimicry and things like that.

<Amanda>: I think it's fun to see all this.

It's exciting to know.

<Andy>: It's a very different facet of horticulture that you know, they didn't really talk about in college when you're studying horticulture.

They know it was wasn't widespread.

<Amanda>: Yeah.

Jackie Jordan who is the master garden... to go to court who is in charge... who the horticulturist is for, which?

No, no, yeah, Richland, Kershaw and Fairfield.

I don't remember any of that.

There was nothing that exciting.

But um, you do have a good mini flower farmers I think Tell me a little bit more.

Jackie Jordan: Well we do have several.

We have quite a few cut flower growers in Richland, Kershaw and even in Lexington County.

Growing cut flowers for the industry is really starting to take off and we're seeing a lot of small specialty growers move towards that or our vegetable growers supplement with additional flowers.

So I've got a few in Kershaw, that means mostly produce vegetables, but they also are producing cut flowers.

<Amanda>: Well, you know, it's nice, not everybody is like my friend Anne Nulty and hassle and can have such a beautiful garden.

And it's nice to have some flowers that are the flowers that we grew that our mothers had and their gardens and things like that available.

Jackie Jordan: Yeah, and I think yeah, a lot of people like to know where their food comes, alot of people like to know that their flowers are grown locally as well.

<Amanda>: Well, and, you know, it's all part of the certified South Carolina growing program, really, because it means that you are supporting South Carolina agriculture is just a different form of it.

<Oh, yeah.

Yeah.> really, it is kind of fun.

But thank you for being with us.

Casey Cooper from Cooper's Nursery, which I guess your grandfather started?

<They did.> And y'all are just a family owned business and have grown over the years.

And you think you're you think you're in you think you'll have you got two children I think.

<Casey>: I do.

One's about to turn six and one just turned one, so.

<Amanda>: Now the six year old you said loves to harp Well, yeah, <Casey>: he loves to he loves to be out.

There are Satsuma tangerine at the nursery.

And at my house, he's always pulling off of it every winter eating them.

So he loves being out and around the nursery and just outside.

He's barefoot walking around on the rocks.

So he's got tuff feet.

<Amanda>: Well, we thank you so much for coming in, in addition to people being able to come out and see this wonderful plants, y'all actually go to people's houses and help them at the houses as well.

Which is a wonderful thing, because, you know, so many people make the wrong choices.

And y'all know what the plants are going to be <Casey>: A lot of people just don't know, what the plants need.

Soils are different in Columbia, there's Kailyn clay in some areas, Sand, like you see at the beach, almost in some areas.

So it can really vary.

So it just a lot of different things to think about.

Some people just don't really know what to do.

<Amanda>: So getting a professional involved can be.

And it's not just having a landscape designer, because they just say three big things that are eight feet tall.

I'll go and look at the soil and see what what actually would be three feet tall and maybe grow to be eight feet tall under the certain circumstance.

<That's right.> Yeah.

I appreciate all that.

Okay.

Well, Terasa, The Gardens of the Week.

<Terasa>: Yes, this is so much fun.

I love seeing them come in.

Sometimes they're posted to our Facebook page.

Sometimes they get emailed to me, but it's like a virtual field trip around the state.

And today we begin with Gussie Avant, who shared a night blooming cereus it can be hard to get these flowers when they're open and Gussie said that this one had two blooms that he missed, but he got up at midnight to catch it, catch it flowering and there were six more buds.

So I wonder if he'll get up every night.

<Amanda>: And I've read that people used to have parties.

And you know, the neighbors would all come late at night show I was big party for it back in the day when people didn't watch TV or get excited about flowers.

I didn't mean to interrupt you.

<Terasa>: That's perfectly fine.

From John and Peggy Lewis.

In their photo, they said all of the asparagus ferns that you see and begonias were grown from cuttings of plants that they were able to save previously by keeping them covered close to the back wall of their house during the colder days.

Martha Simons sent us an angel statue peeking through some palladiums.

Louise Cromer reports she loves a good street find and the bench that you see in the photos, she said someone had thrown it away, and she thought it would make a great addition and it fits right in in her landscape.

And finally from Nancy Hanson, some lilies in a vase bringing the outdoors in and she said the lilies had been quite exceptional this year.

Thanks to everyone for sharing your photos.

I always find it just like so invigorating to see what's going on.

<Amanda>: And um, you know, lilies, the pollen, on them stains your hands.

And so, people usually take that off and it gets on your tablecloth if you have a tablecloth, but also it's very poisonous to cats.

Oh goodness.

Oh, so um, so if you have and lilies just Ya... y'all have such beautiful ones out there.

So if you have lilies and you can bring them in, be real careful about that because you know curious cats are especially indoor cats.

<Terasa>: I never could really have any flowers because even if I weren't worried about a toxicity issue, they would just they've knocked them over and make a big mess.

<Amanda>: Yeah.

And also Terasa, I think we've talked very recently about sago palms.

And how if you have dogs in a real small confined space, and you've got a Sago palm and their dogs, especially Labrador Retrievers, I think are going to chew everything up.

And they're also extremely toxic.

<Terasa>: Yes, and the ASPCA is my go to resource for toxicity issues with cats, dogs and horses.

They have a great list there.

<Amanda>: Okay.

All right.

Well, do we have a question we can maybe help a viewer with?

<Terasa>: We do.

You know, we say beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

I'm not sure if anyone loves this particular weed.

We got a question from Leslie in Murrells, Inlet.

And she said, What is this weed in my St. Augustine?

And what can I do to get rid of it?

<Amanda>: Well, Jackie, identification is important.

First of all, so help us with this, please.

Jackie Jordan: This one is dollar weed, and dollar weed looks like kind of like a lily pad.

You've got that round leaf.

And then the stem is at the center at the center.

Okay.

And then there's one that looks very similar.

It's called dichondra.

And that actually has a very roughly leaf, but the stem attaches at one side.

So you've got the stem.

<Amanda>: Identification.

And then, um, so this woman has?

Jackie Jordan: She's got dollar weed.

And dollar weed really likes to be in moist conditions.

So the first thing I would suggest is make sure that you're not over irrigating.

You know, and being down at the coast, they get a lot more rainfall.

So certainly other things that you can do to encourage the lawn to perform best, because really, a lot of times with weeds, it's the weeds are coming in taking advantage of open space.

So if you grow a thick, dense stand of turf, that's going to be your best defense.

So maybe things that you could look at be raising the mowing height, or St. Augustine really could be at four inches, to take most advantage of that and shade out a lot of stuff.

That will also help to reduce water needs for the turf grass.

And then again, going to H G I C calling them for that perfect recommendation for your site for herbicide.

<Amanda>: Well, thank you so very much.

<Terasa>: Yeah, and dichondra people, many people will put it in pots, there's I think it's silver falls or falls.

That's it has that lovely foliage, and you kind of kind of it gives you that spiller look in pots, right.

It's a trailing plant.

Jackie Jordan: And actually both of those, the dichondra in the dollar weed are also called Penny Wort are used as lawn alternatives.

So yeah, if you find that you, you don't want to use the herbicides you can just let that go.

And instead of doing a lawn alternative, they are mostly so we'd really have to get cold for it to be knocked back.

So Poppy would be fine down there.

In Florida, those are both used as lawn alternatives.

<Amanda>: Okay, well, probably up here the way things are.

Okay, um, okay.

Casey, I think you brought something exciting for us to talk about.

<Casey>: Yeah, so this is new, newer has been out for some years now.

miscanthus, called cosmopolitan, nice variegated foliage, got the, the flumes.

And, you know, late summer to fall, good alternative to Pampas grass or other big grasses back in the day.

And also, through the years, I've noticed this one hasn't been invasive like some of the other miscanthuses have that's spreading all along the Carolinas.

And it's attractor for birds also.

<Amanda>: Okay, so I guess y'all had experienced some of this.

<Andy>: We've grown a lot of the new varieties of Miscanthus over the years.

And I remember some of the ones that we said, were some of the ones we were told woudn't seed.

We did see seedlings on some of them.

I can't remember which varieties off the top of top of my head.

But, you know, like Casey was saying, cosmopolitans been out for a while now, <Amanda>: It has a good track record.

<Andy>: Yeah, I think so.

And that's, that's one thing to remember is lots of times new plants are introduced.

And maybe they haven't been vetted quite long enough to really know what they're going to do long term.

And that's what we found, you know, some years ago with some of the Miscanthus that we grew was, some of them are, you see a little bit more than they let on, <but this one seems to seems ?> To be pretty good.

Yeah.

<Amanda>: We feel very comfortable using it.

It's very attractive.

Oh, yeah, here it is.

<Amanda>: Thanks so much.

I really appreciate it.

We got a call from some of our Clemson colleagues, and they wanted us to help spread the word about a really problematic new invasive species of nematode.

And so let's learn about that and what you, as a citizen scientists can do to help.

♪ We are at the door farm outside of Sumter, South Carolina and I'm speaking with William Rutter, who has a doctorate in nematodes and he is a nematologist with the USDA down in Charleston.

Not everybody knows what a nematode is.

So let's start with that.

William: Yeah, nematodes are microscopic roundworms that often reside in the soil.

So there's many different types of nematodes, but many are parasites of either plants or animals.

<Amanda>: And I feel like from my experience that are parts of the state that have less dense soils, sandier soils, is that the preferred soil for nematodes?

William: Yeah, a lot of nematodes, particularly root knot nematodes, prefer sandier soils.

<Amanda>: And I know from growing okra about root knot nematode, and it just seems to be kind of something that you have all the time on certain plants.

And so tell me what the knots that the the root knots do to the plants?

William: Yeah, yeah.

That those galls caused by the swelling, as you see on the roots interfere with normal plant root architecture.

So the plants less able to uptake nutrients and water.

And so you start seeing stunting chlorosis in heavy infected in plants, but oftentimes, you'll see no signs whatsoever, just reduction in yield as a result of this.

<Amanda>: And also other things can cause stunning and chlorosis, too.

I mean, there are so many things that can happen to plants.

William: Exactly, exactly.

So really the way you know you have root knot nematodes is digging up a plant a living plant, and seeing those root nodules, those root galls on the on the roots.

<Amanda>: Now there's a new nematode that's been introduced United States called the guava root knot nematode.

Yeah, yeah.

And I'll let you tell the scientific name please.

William: Yeah, so, Meloidogyne enterolobii is the scientific name.

We've had root knot nematodes in this area for over 100 years.

Mostly southern root knot nematodes.

meloidogyne incognita.

But this nematode, new nematode is just just different enough so that all the crops that used to be resistant, Southern root knot nematode are now susceptible to this new nematode.

<Amanda>: And I think we can just call it the M E nematode To M E that's right.

Yes, and you have gotten there's been a it's so important to agriculture, particularly in the south, that I believe y'all have gotten a grant to do some research.

What are some of the things that y'all are looking for?

William: Well, first thing we're trying to find where, in the southeast, this nematodes actually resides.

One thing, we can't just look at a infected root and say whether or not it's this new M E nematode, or the southern root knot nematode.

So we actually have to take it back to the lab and run DNA test to tell the difference.

So it takes a lot of work and a lot of cooperation, farmers and growers to try that.

<Amanda>: Over the years, our plant breeders have come up with a lot of crops that have some resistance to root knot nematode.

And so when you go to bat tomato, you can look the one that has the in in it and all that kind of stuff.

But this nematode seems to overcome the resistance that has been bred into some of our most important crops.

William: That's right.

Yeah.

So far, none of the resistance gene we have commonly seen in tomato or pepper are effective against this nematode.

<Amanda>: And, sadly, it looks like this nematode multiplies faster and moves more.

William: Yes, yes.

Well, that's what we suspect.

So we still have a lot of research to do.

We're not really sure what all has to change in order to manage this, but we can we know that there needs to be some changes about what we plant and how we plant in order to manage this.

<Amanda>: So you know, we try to rotate all the time.

So if I had grown okra the year before, I might plant tomatoes there the next year, but now that's not gonna help me if my okra had this new kind of nematode on it.

William: Yeah, yeah.

So there's different non host crops for this new nematode that really are better to plant when we found is peanut, corn, sorghum and cereal grains seem to be poor or non host for this nematodes.

So those would be the preferred rotational crops if you know you have this species.

<Amanda>: I mean, we're I am cotton and soybeans are still major crops and apparently, they would be affected so you would potentially have great crop loss.

William: That's true.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Those are not great rotational crops for this nematode.

And just like the tomato situation and tomato, we have root knot nematode resistant cotton and run that nematode, they're just soybean and they're just not effective against this new nematode.

<Amanda>: Well, I think that It spread rather dramatically because it's in soil and root tissue and explain how most people plant sweet potatoes please.

William: Yeah sweet potatoes are a particular legume vector for this because we do have to transplant pieces of the plant in or we have to propagate it in order to make a new plant.

So often this nematode seems to be coming in on infected seed potatoes or slips that have dirt on them, <Amanda>: A lot of us have grown our and sweet potatoes in the kitchen, you know, and cut them off and, and you get a little piece about so big.

And then you put that out and I think in North Carolina, there were all these places that was certified, but we just this came on us so quickly, we didn't know to look for it.

William: Exactly, exactly, you know, certified seed is the best seed you know, they've been certified to be clear and free of this nematode.

And as well number of viruses.

So that is if you buy just a sweet potato out of the store and plant in the ground, you're planting everything that comes along with that.

And that probably came out of another farmer's field that might have had this nematode.

<Amanda>: So if you want to plant sweet potatoes, you can go to the North Carolina website, I don't think we have a certified place yet in South Carolina for people to order plants, but that would be the safest thing.

And even then, do you think it's a good safety measure to In the Kitchen and not outside, wash those roots very carefully.

To get any soil up just in case, William: That would not be a bad idea.

Certainly any soil, anything that has soil or dirt on it has the potential to transport nematodes along with it.

<Amanda>: Y'all want to find out where this is.

And so you want people to go out and look at their crops.

And you can't tell the difference between the two unless you or another expert gets his hands on them or her hands on them.

And so if people have crops and they see that they have nematodes, the root knot nematodes of some sort, either the M E or the regular ones, you would like for them to get in touch with you and possibly submit a sample I believe.

William: Yeah, possibly.

So if if it's a vegetable grower, and they see they have the iconic root knotting, we really like to test and see what species it is.

So they can get in contact with their local Clemson Extension agent, or find us on our website at: <Amanda>: I want to compliment you and your team on trying to find ways that we can continue to have not only those delicious sweet potatoes, but also that huge range of crops that are affected by this new, I'm going to just call it to M E nematode.

Thank you so much.

William: Absolutely.

<Amanda>: You can reach out to your local extension office if you want to submit samples for them.

Because there's going to be quite a problem and makes changes in how the way we garden unfortunately, yet another invasive species.

So I was out in the yard and my heart so bursting with Love was just a bursting away.

And it's just a wonderful native and it's the red one with the little seeds in it.

And mine hasn't seeded down.

And I had hoped it would.

So this year I took the coating off some of the seeds and put them in the ground.

Because I'd like to have a lot more of it.

And then this which is a very tiny portion is called snowy square stem, and that what we came up with.. <We did.> and it's... <Terasa>: Oh, gosh, are you trying to remember the scientific?

<Amanda>: We will come up we'll tell you later.

But anyway, it's a weird, not very attractive, particularly native planet sprawly.

And it just has these tiny flowers but it is beloved by pollinators.

It's not a larval food source, <Terasa>: Melanthera.

<Amanda>: Yeah.

Melanthera namitha.

living there, I don't know.

But I have a lot in my yard and the pollinators do love it and it's late when you're glad to have something that the pollinators like so much.

And then Anne had some Astrers, Anne Nulty.

Anne And Hank had a big area of vitex and it just looked horrible, you know, vitex after a number of years, starts to look and Hank went down then just chain sawed it down and they had a lot of plants around it.

So he didn't notice that.

This been the prettiest thing you've ever seen in your life.

And I think he's just going to do that every year.

And it's had a long bloom longer than usual bloom period which is so nice because although it's not a native it is beloved by pollinators that vitex is so anyway, a confusing hat, that I hope you like anyway.

So, Andy, I think you've got some show and tell because y'all have so many cool things at the zoo.

<Andy>: Yeah, you know, as we're getting here to fall, great little aster.

This one, I believe is pink crush.

And a great thing about a lot of these newer varieties of asters and even mums and things like that, that they're growing as landscape plants.

They're breeding them to have more compact plants, because that's kind of that's been one of the downsides of a lot of the astor's and mums that we've been growing for years.

And this one is huge.

Yeah, they'll sprawl and things like that beautiful, but these varieties are a little more compact.

And, you know, if we grow some of the old fashioned mums and asters, to get them a little tidier, we have to cut them back a couple of times during the growing season.

So it's nice to just have something that is ready made, you don't have to do much with.

<Amanda>: And that was a beautiful color.

What did you say?

<Andy>: I believe it's pink crush.

<Amanda>: It really, really is a pretty one.

And so what's the bloom span on that?

How long when did it start?

<Andy>: You know, it started probably two or three weeks ago, and it will go on till through October at least.

Yeah, <Amanda>: That's really lovely.

Okay, well, thank you so much.

All right, Terasa.

Whom can we try to help now?

<Terasa>: Well, it seems we need to solve a debate.

This one comes in from Linda.

She said every year, my husband and I argue about how to handle our fall leaves.

Can they be left on the lawn?

Or do we need to rake and remove?

<Amanda>: All right, well, maybe there's some in betweens, Jackie.

Jackie Jordan: So if you have a mulching lawn mowers, you can run them over with a mulching lawnmower and break them up into little pieces that breaks down in that organic matter breaks down and actually feeds the soil.

So it can be really a great thing for your lawn.

<Amanda>: And that's kind of like letting your grass clippings Oh, yeah.

Yeah.

Jackie Jordan: Oh, that's just adding nutrients back into the soil.

And we've talked so much about improving the soil, you can leaf it on the lawn.

But if you don't have a mulching lawnmower, I would definitely recommend raking them up.

If you have a decent amount and put them into landscape beds, and then come back with your mulch and put that on top, yeah.

Or add it to your compost pile.

<Amanda>: Because you could you could if you had pine straw, or you could just take, pull that back a little bit, put the leaves and then put pine straw because they're gonna break down pretty quick.

And again, just be a great source of organic matter.

<Exactly.> <Terasa>: Yeah, I wish I had her problem because our yard has.

I mean, we have one tree that we hit.

Maybe a couple but I need more leaves.

For more organic matter.

Yes, especially to add into my compost pile.

<Amanda>: And I used to go and get things that people would put on the side of the road there clippings and all, but I don't do it anymore.

Because I feel like I'm bringing in so many weeds.

<Terasa>: You do have to be careful, <Amanda>: I hate to see them just go to yeah.

the landfill.

But I'm just yeah, there's just too many tiny, tiny weed seeds out there these days are there.

Okay.

We know that a lot of people have favorite family recipes and have decided that they'd love to share them with people.

And in order to do that safely, there are some things you need to know.

And so Dr. Kimberly Baker came to explain the food to Market program to us.

And today I'm speaking with Kimberly Baker, and Kimberly is the director for Clemson of the food systems and Safety Program team.

And y'all have a pretty exciting program that y'all run.

So many people now have, especially when we were at home, and doing so much cooking, and people started developing family recipes for pickles or just coming up with their own recipes and want to start marketing them.

And you all have a program to help people learn what's required and how to safely do that, I believe.

<Kimberly>: Yes, we do.

It's called the food to Market program.

<Amanda>: Well, that sounds perfectly normally named, and what all is involved in that?

<Kimberly>: So we have quite a bit that goes on within that program.

So the first thing about the program is that it really is a place to go to get information about the food safety requirements, the regulations, and also help identify the regulatory authority for a person who wants to produce a food for sale.

<Amanda>: So are there federal and state requirements?

<Kimberly>: Yes, depending on what food product they're wanting to produce and sell, then we're going to understand from them exactly how they want to sell it, who they want to sell it to.

And depending on what that product is, we'll be able to guide them to what state regulations there are, what federal regulations may apply.

We also have trainings that back all those up.

Also, particularly if it's a shelf stable product, so we can leave it in, you know, in a jar, like a canned product, like a barbecue sauce, pickles.

A lot of those products require product testing, like pH testing.

So we have a lab on campus that does the testing, and myself and a couple other colleagues are process authorities.

And so we can write the process control letters for those products that meet the requirements.

<Amanda>: That's wonderful.

So yeah, we'll just cut hang out their trying to haveing to go and find all this information from all these various sources, you can just say, Come with us.

And we will let you know what you have to do to satisfy this requirement of this agency, this requirement of this one, and then we can even help you yourselves, ourselves with some of it.

<Kimberly>: That's correct.

It's really I tell people as a clearing house so that they can go to and get that information.

And we have really close partnership with Department of Agriculture D H E C South Carolina meat and poultry inspection department, and FDA so that when people have questions that maybe we don't have the answer to, then we have that connection to be able to work with them closely to get that information or make a decision sometimes on a product that made these new, you know, that we've not worked with before.

<Amanda>: And so people, a lot of times, they want to do this, just because it's a family recipe, or they're just so excited that they develop something that's tastes so good.

And y'all have found a way that they can get it into the hands of people.

And be sure that they're following all the rules that nobody's going to come and say no, no, no.

And also that the people who take it home can feel assured that it's perfectly safe to eat.

<Kimberly>: That's correct.

And that's exactly what we want to do is to be able to make sure that people who want to sell their food products can have a successful business.

And consumers can enjoy the food that they are getting from that producer and be ensured that it's safe.

<Amanda>: And so I thank you all for this twice a year.

And to find out all we have to do is go to your website for this for this program, and all the information will be right there.

<Kimberly>: That's correct.

You can go to the website to get information.

But also we can help one on one throughout the year when the workshop is not being given.

<Amanda>: Oh, how lovely.

So if somebody's doing this and or even, it has a question about it, they can get in touch with you then.

<They sure can.> Well, you know, that's what we do at Clemson and we serve the public, don't we?

Yes, we do.

Well, thank you for what y'all are doing.

Because I think now, we know that the South Carolina Department of Agriculture has a certified South Carolina grown program, and also just certified products at South Carolina products.

And so we do want to encourage people to shop locally whenever they can.

<Most definitely.> Well, thanks so much for making it easier for people to do that.

<Kimberly>: You're very welcome.

Thank you.

<Amanda>: I want to thank Kimberly Baker for explaining that to us and for helping people to get there.

Either family favorites or something that they've come up with themselves in the hands of the people who can enjoy it as well.

All righty, Terasa's, do you have another question for us, please?

<Terasa>: I do.

We're going to try to help Dan who says we'd like to add some spring flowering bulbs like crocus and daffodils to some of our existing beds.

I think I've seen daffodils in lawns before, almost like a road border.

Do you have any advice or recommendations?

<Amanda>: Oh, well, Andy, I've seen things pop up in lawns a lot of times.

<Andy>: Sure.

I mean, you can kind of put any any bulb you... or you know, any, any sun loving bulb and a sun lawn, you know, shady spot, you know, a shade bulb.

But you know, what I like to typically do is find some of the more diminutive bulbs, some of the smaller ones.

And what I found in the past, and I've done this at my house before, you know, I planted species tulips that might get 10 or 12 inches tall, you know, those are the smaller tulips super easy to plant.

And I just kind of plug them into my lawn made a serpentine pattern through there.

And then you know, come April, they start to bloom.

And it coincided nicely with their bloom time.

When the leaves were starting, and when it was done blooming and the leaves are starting to get a little unattractive.

It was about time to mow the lawn for the first time in the season again, so I was just able to mow the lawn over these tulips and, you know, have the foliage disappear.

And it just worked out nicely.

It was just a nice little added interest to a late winter, early spring lawn.

<Amanda>: And you were using them kind of as an annual, which is the... <Andy>: They came back perennial they came back for years & years.

Because they would have enough time with the foliage up to photosynthesize.

And, you know, even if you did it, then you could do it with things like crocus that are even smaller, you know, maybe six inches tall, and then those that crocus foliage will just blend in with the grass and won't even be obtrusive at all.

So, look for small bulbs, they're small.

There's a great little small Daffodil a little Jonquil called babymoon.

That would work nice.

So look for some of the shorter bulbs, maybe in some ones with some finer foliage.

<Amanda>: Okay.

Well, I think you'll have to send us a picture of them.

<Sure.> <Terasa>: That's a good point about the species tulips because some of the biohybrid to tulips that people are used to aren't really reliable.

<Andy>: They're not that reliable for the South.

And then, you know, a lot of you know a lot of the hybrid tulips if the foliage is going to be this big around by the time it's a big clump because it's going to look kind of funny sitting in the yard, right.

That's why I think some of these some of the smaller varieties of bulbs Yeah, the foliage isn't terribly obtrusive mixed in with the lawn.

<Amanda>: Okay, well was really helpful.

Thank you very much.

Uhm Terasa.

We like to sometimes highlight someone's garden.

Do we have one for this week?

<Terasa>: Yes today it's from my area.

This comes from Clay & Cindy Williams in Florence and I think we recently saw their, their mother in law's yard but Clay and Cindy shared an assortment of photos beginning with Gladiolus that frames our view of the house.

A bright yellow sunflower appears to greet you as you go in or out of that particular entrance.

Now Clay & Cindy are skilled at capturing wildlife and we see here a Katie did on a bright Zinnia Flower.

Next we see a hummingbird approaching abutilon also known as flowering maple, and we see another hummingbird in the next photo as well in the lower left hand corner approaching the Mandevilla.

As we wrap up, we see pumpkins on a stick is the common name for this plant.

And it comes from the fruit which resembles pumpkins and kind of the shape and color.

And they they're green in this photo but they are orange when they're mature.

Interestingly enough, they are not pumpkins, they are in the solanaceae family so they are more closely related to tomatoes and eggplants.

<Amanda>: Goodness gracious, aren't things fun and common names can be confusing for us.

So it's good to have the correct scientific name too.

<Terasa>: It is so Thanks, Clay and Cindy, we appreciate you sharing a little glimpse of your yard with all of us here at Making It Grow.

And the things that they've done to attract wildlife.

Well, I think you've brought another beautiful plant to show us.

<Casey>: Yeah, and birds that also love it.

It's the beauty berry see them growing all over the south.

Just in the wild.

They have the little purple berries, they're pretty little white bloom when they are blooming turn a nice bright yellow in the fall.

Not picky on really where they grow, they pop up all over the place and birds like them.

And just a pretty ornamental plant or just kind of let grow wild.

<Amanda>: Be fun to just cut some and bring into the house with beautiful berries on it too.

That and um, these berries.

Are they a little smaller than you sometimes see.

<Casey>: Yes, a bunch of different varieties.

So some have a little smaller berries have just a regular ones, I have a little bit bigger berries, but this one is so nicely balanced smaller Berry.

And they they all kind of have that.

So real interesting smell to them.

They are technically edible, but it's not something you really want a little bit on, you really wouldn't want to eat.

You know, they're more use for jams and stuff like that.

Amanda: Okay, well that was a lot of fun.

Thank you so very much.

And Andy, I think you have another thing to share with us, I believe.

<Andy>: Yeah, what we're talking about things with berries, this doesn't have any berries on it right now.

But this is actually kind of blueberry.

This was DeRose blueberry.

It is a southeast native.

And this is one we grow.

I mean, it does have edible berries, real, more like there's birds are smaller, but you know, there's, but we grow this more just for the ornamental value of the foliage.

It's great, it's evergreen, so it provides a lot of interest, especially in winter.

So just a good it'll take it in moist soil and we'll take it and kind of dry soil, full sun, a blueberries like acidic soil.

But you know, it's it's pretty easy, pretty easy to grow.

And it just provides a little interest, especially in wintertime.

Well, and the texture of it is kind of nice.

Yes, it's got very, very small leaves.

But they're kind of rigid.

It's got a little bit of a tighter form than a lot of that think of the more commercial blueberries.

<Amanda>: It seems like it would be nice to group perhaps.

<Andy>: we could do them in clumps or we'd like to use these actually in exhibits a lot to give kind of a little naturalistic wild look sometimes.

Just kind of fun.

<Amanda>: Ok well, thank you so very, very much.

We had a visit to Denver Downs and what a wonderful time we had making sand angels and doing all kinds of fun things going on quite a bun... A golf cart ride, and we think that you'll enjoy seeing the things that they have going on up there.

♪ upbeat music ♪ <Amanda> I'm speaking today with Catherine Garrison.

We're right down the road from Clemson at her family farm, Denver Downs.

Catherine.

I'm just tickled pink to be here with you today.

And tell me a little bit about going back in generations and generations how this farm started.

>> Certainly, Amanda, we're so happy to have you here today.

This is a dream come true.

Love having y'all here.

Our great, great grandfather, W.D.

Garrison.

He came back after the Civil War with $1 in his pocket.

So he went to work just like everyone and worked for a local cotton mill and he was a farm manager for many years for a cotton mill.

Back then cotton mills had their own farms and he saved up money and he bought his own farm.

He bought 200 acres on a little dirt road called Old Generals Road.

And fast forward 150 years and it's no longer a little two lane dirt road.

It's a four lane, very busy, Clemson Boulevard, Highway 76.

<Amanda> You're skipping several generations.

Your father came back from the Second World War and he really changed the dynamics of the farm, I think.

So, let's talk about a little bit - the things he implemented.

<Catherine> T.Ed Garrison is my dad and it was my dad.

He passed away in 2013.

He was part of the greatest generation.

So he came back from the war and he moved back to the family farm and he bought six dairy cows.

<Amanda> Six dairy cows.

<Catherine> Six dairy cows, and he built it up over the next 50 years.

And we were one of the largest dairies in Anderson County.

And Anderson was one of the largest dairy counties in the state.

So we had a successful run with being a dairy farm.

<Amanda> But eventually, y'all decided that dairy wasn't really the right mix at that point and so y'all started thinking of other ways to have a successful farm.

So what were some of the things that you did?

<Catherine> Yes, we've always wanted to evolve with the times, starting out as a cotton farm and moving into the dairy farm and then in the 1996.

We did went back to General Purpose farm.

We had Black Angus cattle, hogs, row crops, some produce, and our mother started giving tours of our farm back in the 1960s when we did have a dairy.

So we've had school groups coming for many years; and about 20 years ago, we decided to plant a little corn maze.

From that corn maze, we've just grown and grown each year.

We've turned into an agritourism farm in addition to a regular production.

So we have a Fall Festival with tons of pumpkins and the corn maze and all kinds of fun activities.

In the spring, we have a big Easter egg hunt and that's lots of fun.

While we're open for Easter, we decided to go ahead and be open for spring break.

So families come out and enjoy being at the farm and seeing our little farm animals in the spring for spring break.

And in the summer, we have our South Carolina Sunflower Festival, which this year, a farmer up in Long Creek had been having it at his farm, Pat Williams, and he asked if we would join him with that.

So, we had this past year at our farm and it was a big success.

We have people from all over the country coming to the South Carolina Sunflower Festival.

<Amanda> Right now we're in the Fall Festival and y'all have children coming in the mornings with their teachers and they learn about a little bit about farm life as well as having so much fun, playing on all the different things that somebody has so creatively thought of.

<Catherine> That's right, Amanda.

We've got 35 barnyard activities, so including a hay barn, which we loved growing up and playing in a barn when we were children.

So, it's fun that kids can come out and have fun swinging in the hay barn.

Then we've got things like a jumping pillow and a cow train, because we love riding on the cow train and giant rollers.

They can roll in and giant tricycles a dodgeball court, a ball arcade, which has football, basketball, and baseball.

<Amanda> Rope courses, all kinds of things that my producers are threatening to make me do.

Zip lines and y'all worked so closely and cooperatively with other farmers and industries.

You even, of course, Michelin makes the biggest tires in the world at a factory near here and the ones that aren't suitable, they cut in half and you find ways to turn those into toys, as well.

<Catherine> Those are our little test crops and we've got scarecrows presented in those.

So, it's great to partner with folks around the community.

We love that.

<Amanda> A sliding board that I think is going to give me vertigo if I have to go down it.

We're not going to make you go down it.

That's okay.

<Amanda> And then of course, a corn maze.

<Catherine> Yes.

So this year, we're so excited.

USA Today puts us in the 10 best corn mazes in the US.

So we're real proud about that.

And it's fun for folks to find their way through the maze.

We give them a little map, and there's 12 checkpoints.

They try to go through and find all the checkpoints.

And there's trivia about honeybees on each of the little checkpoints.

<Amanda> Oh, isn't that fun?

Yeah.

And I see that you've got - you've got daisies planted and they've got pollinators on them.

<Catherine> Yes.

<Amanda> Also, before I talk about these beautiful mums that were standing in, I want to talk a little bit about the pig race, because that just sounds - I'm gonna come back up just to see this pig race.

<Catherine> Yes, we call it the Pig Turkey Derby.

We have very talented and fast racing pigs that families love to come out and see them run around as fast as they can.

And there's a secret to our pigs being so fast.

<Amanda> What is that?

We have Oreos waiting for them at the end.

[Amanda laughs] <Catherine> They run for sugar.

They run for the Oreos.

<Amanda> So, they get the pig out at the end.

>> Yes.

They get big.

<Amanda>- too crazy.

In the afternoons, families can come and with their children and have the same wonderful opportunities and activities.

<Catherine> Yes.

<Amanda> Then, I think on weekends, it's kind of geared for people to come and stay a little later.

Yes, we love for people to come out and stay all day.

We're open late on Friday and Saturday nights.

We have live music, which is great to have on local entertainers here performing and people can gather by the bonfires and make s'mores and enjoy hot chocolate or adult beverages.

So, it's a nice little fall fest, tradition that families love to come out and enjoy.

<Amanda> There are opportunities for people to get things to snack on and cold drinks and all while they're here.

So if they want to bring a picnic, they could, but they don't have to.

<Catherine> Yes, we allow picnics during the week.

Then on the weekends, we've got all our concessions, people love that fair food.

They love funnel cakes and corn dogs and barbecue and of course, our fresh squeezed lemonade, and kettle corn.

Got to have kettle corn.

<Amanda> Well, and then this I think, this beautiful palette of colors is a new addition to the Fall Festival.

<Catherine> Yes, this is our first year in the mum business.

So, we're loving planting it.

We planted all these mums, this year in the summer, and they've grown in, just a huge variety of color and we've been irrigating and feeding them well and they're just gorgeous.

<Amanda> They are beautiful.

Well, it just shows that this new way of thinking outside of the box, thinking creatively is the way for farms to stay viable, because we know that most of our farmers are getting older.

I think the average age is in the late 50s, perhaps.

And I think you're way on the other end of that spectrum.

This is still a family farm, because you've got sisters involved and brothers in-laws involved.

I mean, everybody here is involved in working.

It still has traditional farming, but it also has other parts, as well.

The house you lived in, I think, which one time was on a two lane road...was built, I think is where you grew up.

<Catherine> Yes.

It's the house I grew up in and my great grandfather built it in 1880.

<Amanda> In 1880.

<Catherine> So, we are working redoing it and I just feel proud that we're able to live there.

And it's on the national historic registry.

<Amanda> How fascinating.

<Catherine> Yes.

<Amanda> As we look around and drive around the farm, on the old farm parts, we see some things I think there's even a structure that dates back to the 1700s.

<Catherine> Yes, there is a log cabin on the property that's from the 1700s so it predates my family being here.

And we've got an old mule barn that's just beautiful.

There's an old carriage house that was in the late 1800s.

So it's such a unique and important part of our farm heritage that we love having people come and enjoy.

<Amanda> Well, Katherine I know people's curiosity has been piqued by all the facets that go on here at Denver Downs and I think you even have a drive-in movie.

How in the world do you have a drive in movie?

<Catherine> Yes.

We do the Polar Express drive-in movie the first weekend of December.

So, that's a great Christmas tradition for families to come out.

>> Since, there is so much that goes on, what's the best way for families to find out when you're open and all the things that are available.

<Catherine> They can see our website.

It's Denver Downs Farm.com and also check out our Facebook.

It's Denver Downs Farm.

<Amanda> Okay, well I think that, that site's going to be getting a lot of hits.

>> Good.

Y'all come see us.

>> Well deserved tips at that.

This has really been just so exciting.

Thanks a lot.

>> Thanks you so much.

I appreciate y'all coming out.

♪ Happy music ♪ <Amanda>: there's such a lot to do there.

And now they've added a huge slide.

It's like 250 feet.

And we're going to show you a picture that at the end of the show.

Well, Terasa, I think we have another question or two do we?

<Terasa>: We do Kim sent us some photos and she said can you help me understand what happened to this cardinal flower of the three in this bed one looks like something stomped it down in the middle.

It used to look like its neighbors and she sent kind of a you know, here's the damaged plant and here's the happy plants and would you know, I don't I don't know if we can really figure out what might have happened?

<Amanda>: Well, I don't my dog hasn't been up there.

So it's not it's not Blues fault.

Um, Andy.

<Andy>: It is it does appear to be cardinal flower Lobelia cardinalis, it is a native in the southeast, and it looks like something did step on it or lay on it.

I mean, animals love to step on things and lay on things, kids love to step on things.

Even if it's not their kids, neighbor, you know, I have a kid, he loves to step on the neighbor's things, you know, so they, <Terasa>: I'm sure he loves that you're saying that?

<Andy>: Yeah, well, yeah, but But yeah, I mean, it's hard to tell what what did it but it looks like something did lay on top of it or step on it.

I think the best bet to do would be to cut it back from a few inches, you know, a few inches to the ground.

And just let new new foliage shoot back up.

And it should be fine.

You know, we were talking a little bit a minute ago, and you know, they are, they're not super long live plants really to start with.

So, you know, cut it back, see what happens.

Give it a couple of years and it may need some rejuvenation, maybe need a new plant or two added along and along.

<Amanda>: If you will come in and cross them in the wild or they often near a stream bed or something like that.

<Andy>: Yeah, they like moist conditions sometimes considered do aquatic plant nurseries or some time sell them as marginals you know, right on the edge.

So definitely like some moist soil.

Terasa: I saw them along the Lynch's river along you know, not right at the bank edge, but in kind of partially shaded areas.

<Amanda>: Okay, good.

well Casey, this is certainly a colorful plant that you've brought up here.

What have we got?

<Casey>: This right here is your jazz hands, a variegated loropetalum Really cool plant changes a lot of different color schemes throughout the year.

<The year?> Yeah, and, this time of year, they're really colorful.

At the end of the summer, first of fall, that's when everybody seems to jump to them.

And in the winter, wintertime, they look more like you're just regular old purple loropetalum with hints of green in it.

So it gives you a you know, cool, different interests throughout the year.

This one doesn't get massive, it only gets four to six foot.

<Amanda>: So that is considered well controlled.

<Casey>: For loropetalum that's not going to be like the zoo's ours that get you know, turn into trees almost eventually.

And that's good for even you know, some people use the foliage for cuttings to put in vases.

<Amanda>: I can see why I mean it'd be a nice filler.

Don't you think all that pretty color on it?

Yeah.

And I'm, and I'm sure that since it is loropetalum Even though it's not one on steroids.

It wouldn't mind being cut at all.

So do you do a lot of pruning on it to shape it?

<Casey>: Some people like to kind of let them be free flowing.

I have them at my house.

I keep them prune pretty tight and you know, round, roundly the shaped.

Keep them about two and a half three foot tall, they're easy to maintain.

They don't require a ton of pruning.

But they also look good if you want to just kind of have the natural flairing look at the tops.

<Amanda>: Well it is certainly colorful.

I will give it that takes take some variegation to the to the nth degree.

Well, I want to thank everyone for being with us.

Y'all bring so many wonderful plants and so much information for us and I hope everyone at home enjoyed it and I hope that you'll be with us next week.

♪ Happy music.

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

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

McLeod farms in McBee, South Carolina family owned and operated since 1916.

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

Additional funding provided by the South Carolina Farm Bureau Federation and Farm Bureau Insurance.

and BOONE HALL FARMS.