Compost Confidential

joegardener's Daily ComPost adds Audio

Listen to a more organic, one-take version of this post by double-clicking on the audio icon at the the bottom of this entry. 

The longer I'm away from it, the more I miss my radio days.  As much as I love writing about gardening and related stories, I love talking about it even more.  So, I think I've found a way to appease myself and add a new dimension to my written blog, The Daily ComPost. 

Over the last year or so, I've become aware of just how popular audio blogging has become.  I love listening to shows VIA my computer on NPR and being able to download my favorite series on demand.  Think of it as Tivo for your computer.

Now although a three minute audio blog like this one is no substitute for a great radio show, it's a toe in the water as I learn this new technology and familiarize myself with how to produce a great gardening show that you can listen to on your computer or ipod, any time you want.  These shows are referred to as podcasts in case you didn't know and it seems like a perfect 'joegardener' application.   

I did some checking around, bought a few books on creating audio blogs and podcasts and realized it's not all that complicated.  Even better, you really don't need any special equipment to get started either.  In fact, I already had everything I needed to try it out.  I think I'm ready to at least get something out there.  Short of producing a full-blown podcast, these audio blog posts seem like an easy way to ease into the sometime soon-to-be-released podcast show called "The Weekly Compost". 

So for now, with every written blog entry, an audio version will accompany it.  The audio version will be a bit more casual, conversational and impromptu.  Let me know what you think about this or if you have any ideas or preferences for the upcoming blog show.   In the near future, I'll add The Weekly Compost Podcast, built largely around some ideas I have for the show but while incorporating your ideas as well.   I'll look forward to hearing from you.  You can post a comment right on this Daily Compost blog page.

JL

Park Seed's Open House - Opens Hearts & Minds too

This past Saturday, I had the pleasure of speaking to a friendly crowed of enthusiastic gardeners at the Park Seed open house in Greenwood, SC.  This event is an annual pilgrimage for many that attend and now I see why.

I imagine on any given day of the year, the grounds of their corporate headquarters would be spectacular, but I can’t imagine it looking any better than on the day of the open house, when several thousand people arrive to acres of fabulous display gardens, educational lectures and great deals on plants!

I realize that not everyone in attendance is there by choice.  There are plenty of spouses and kids, likely dragged along by their gardening spouse or parent.  But what I found after simply observing and talking to many of the attendees, was that even the non-gardening spouses and reluctant teenagers, were having a great time.

And why not?  Being surrounded by beautiful gardens, friendly people (gardeners always are) and a festive atmosphere, with plenty to eat and drink and lots of shady trees to relax under for a bit of rest from the warmth of this bright sunny day, can work wonders on even the most rebellious souls.

No doubt, days like the open house at Park Seed are a great way for gardeners to sharpen their skills.  Hundreds of display beds and containers set up with the latest and greatest plants, all in full bloom and perfectly healthy, provides the perfect opportunity to see these plants in their natural environment, and gives us gardeners hope that these plants really do grow like the ones we see in the pictures!

And for those non-gardeners that happened to have the good fortune to be dragged along…well, I didn’t see anyone complaining.  Gardens seem to possess a magical way about them, one that seems to disarm or relieve the tension in just about everyone I’ve ever known.  Come to think of it, some people are like that too.  In fact, most of them are gardeners.  Imagine that.  Today was a great example of both.
JL 

Poison Ivy Ponderings

Do you remember the biblical account of when Lot’s wife was turned into a pillar of salt, simply for looking back at Sodom as they left the city?  Granted, she was warned ahead of time.  But the fact remains, something terrible happened merely by casting a gaze!  Well, I think I’ve found the modern day equivalent. 

I suffer from severe reactions to poison ivy, whenever I as much look in its direction!  Can you really have an allergic reaction that easily?  In reality, I’ve learned that it usually takes multiple exposures over time to actually build up a reaction to it.  That explains why my first allergic reaction was not until a few years ago.  A massive backyard cleanup project included hauling away armloads of English Ivy.

Hidden within that lush ivy was the ivy of a more sinister type.  Two nights later at 2: am, in desperation, I drove myself to the emergency room for some relief.

The diagnosis -- contact dermatitis, aggravated by an extreme allergic reaction to urushiol, the sticky, oily sap contained within the entire poison ivy plant.  I was treated and released with the embarrassing distinction of having Piedmont hospital’s worst care for the year. 

My next memorable encounter occurred compliments of my cat, Booty.  By now I had an eagle eye trained to detect and avoid poison ivy from great distances.  But it’s impossible to know when your family pet or even a child’s ball has come in contact with it.  The oil is so sticky, it will attach to anything that brushes against it.  Although animals are generally immune, they are the number one reason for outbreaks in humans. 

When I awoke the next morning, a red, itchy rash covered my neck and cheek.  Where did this come from?!?  I mentally retraced my steps.  It looks like poison ivy, feels like poison ivy but I wasn’t anywhere near poison ivy that weekend.  Then it became clear.  Booty, the family cat, that I had lovingly caressed and hugged the day before, was a urushiol carrier!  (Note to self: keep cats away from neck and face!)

Most recently, I was cleaning out an area of my backyard in the home we recently moved to in North Carolina.  Knowing there was poison ivy in the area, led me to be extra cautious.  I was sure I had avoided it this time.  I was wrong.

Once again, the next day proved how sensitive I am to an outbreak.  My arms were covered in it.  Although it was uncomfortable, of more concern was that it was unsightly – especially for a live appearance on the Today Show later that week.

On Saturday morning, I’d be doing hand-held demonstrations on live network television.  My wrist was a red, bubbling, oozing mess.  It was bad!  I had three choices.  Try to conceal it with a large band-aid (too obvious), address it as a common plague of gardeners (too gross)… or, let their make-up artist work her magic.

I opted for the latter.  Their skilled make-up artist sprayed over my wrist with an airbrush and powder that might as well have been flesh-toned paint.  The oozing red rash all over my wrist disappeared before my eyes.  It was amazing.  No one at NBC or in T.V land ever knew.

That latest encounter is just about healed up now.  I haven’t returned to my backyard project since.  I have another Today Show appearance in two weeks.  There’s no point any taking any chances now!!!
JL

A Good Finish to a Busy Week

After too short a time at the beach with my family, it was time to get back to work.  This past week was catch up time and as I found out, the best laid plans rarely come to pass.  That was certainly the case for me.

The week started out with major computer problems that took the better part of the day to resolve -- at least to the point of being able to get online.  Losing a day of productivity in a week that is already over committed isn’t a great way to start out. 

Even with a company like mine that is all about gardening communication, there are many details that bog you down and can keep you from the best part of your work.  Thankfully, the week wrapped up nicely with the highlight being able to photograph in Ryan Gainey’s garden, an Atlanta- based garden designer, known and respected around the world.

I’ve been to Mr. Gainey’s garden many times now.  However, most of the time, it’s during a large garden tour and I am sharing the pathways with many dozens of people.  As beautiful as his garden is in a crowd, there is no substitute for having it all to yourself.

Such was the case this past Thursday.   Mr. Gainey was nice enough to allow me to show up at 6:45 am to shoot some photos I needed for the website and other business related matters.   I’m happiest in any garden at dawn but being in the midst of one of my all time favorites, with no one else around, still gives me goose bumps.   

What I thought would be a shoot of 90 minutes turned into a half day event as Mr. Gainey welcomed me into his home for some great conversation and a tour behind the scenes.  I was humbled by his horticultural knowledge and his gift for design. 

As with any real gardener, you never leave empty handed.  True to form, Mr. Gainey sent me home with several bags of transplants.   Somehow I get the strong feeling my garden will never compare to his but it is a thrill to have plants in it from memorable places and famous gardens. 

The Today Show: A High-tech, High-risk Segment

After multiple Today Show appearances, the routine has become quite comfortable and familiar to me.  I guess you could say I’m not a network morning show rookie anymore, and yet, the segment I just completed on Saturday was the most nerve wracking so far.

The topic was called “The High Tech Garden”.  It was a very cool segment to talk about and lots of neat gadgets to show.  And therein lies the problem.  The ‘cool stuff’ has micro-chips and electronics.  To fully show off those gadgets on live network television, they must work on demand. 

Several of the featured items in fact would only be visually dramatic if they were operational when the camera went to them as I was providing the features and benefits.  After all, the reason these devises were on stage was to see them in action.

For example, one of the technology stars this day was a robotic lawnmower called the LawnBott.  At a price of $2500, it is very expensive for a small mower but also amazing to see in operation.  Unfortunately, I had never even held the remote control that runs it until the live segment began.  Just to be on the safe side, I had the company representative, John Tarvin fly in to make sure the set up of the robotic mower was complete and all systems were ready for live television.

Having John there provided much comfort and yet when I pushed the button to activate this mower when the cameras were rolling, there was that moment of heart stopping anticipation.  The panic begins to set in somewhere between pushing the button and the LONG eight second delay when it finally wakes up!

Eight seconds on live television seems like a lifetime when you’re waiting for something to happen.  To my relief, I heard the faint sound of the battery operated mower begin to engage and then a moment later, start into its demonstration.  Whew! 

I wish I could have said the same about my brand new video ipod I brought along.  It was there to demonstrate the use of portable, on-demand instruction that you can take to the garden.  Although the download was ready and waiting to respond on que, it failed to bring up the video during the live segment.

This could have easily been another moment of panic.  Fortunately, the smart directors and camera folks had shot extreme close ups of the video and action beforehand so they could cut to that scene as I was describing it.  Thank goodness!  I think I was the only one who knew my devise wasn’t working at that moment.

All said, the four minutes of this segment flew by.  Thanks to everyone involved, it was a successful and entertaining demonstration.

Next month, I’m back with another topic, “the eco-friendly garden”.  I don’t see this one being as challenging, at least from a technology standpoint.  But then again, you never know about these things.  Anything could happen.  I’ll give you an update afterwards.
JL