How The Drought Is Affecting Spring Gardening In San Diego County

THIS IS KPBS MIDDAY EDITION I'M MAUREEN CAVANAUGH. IT ALMOST SEEMS LIKE WE HAVE BYPASSED SPRING ALTOGETHER AND GONE STRAIGHT TO SUMMER. THE CALENDAR SAYS SPRING ACTUALLY ARISE AT THE END OF THE WEEK. WITH THIS UNSEASONAL, SOME MIGHT SAY, BIZARRE WEATHER WE'VE BEEN HAVING IT'S HARD TO FIGURE WHAT TO DO WITH SPRING GARDENING THIS YEAR. LUCKILY MAN STURMAN IS HERE TO HELP US FIGURE OUT. MAN STURMAN IS A GARDEN DESIGNER, AUTHOR, BOTANIST, AND HOST OF KPBS TELEVISION SERIES A GROWING PASSION. IT'S SO GOOD TO SEE YOU. NICE TO SEE YOU. THANK YOU FOR INVITING ME. CINDY SPARKS JOINS US A RETIRED AEROSPACE ENGINEER WHO IS A MASTER GARDENER AND SHE IS LEADING A LECTURE AT THE MASTER GARDENER SPRING WORKSHOP SATURDAY ON USING GRAY WATER IN YOUR GARDEN. WELCOME TO THE PROGRAM GREAT TO BE HERE. I WANT TO LET EVERYONE KNOW WE HAVE SOME TIME TO TAKE YOUR CALLS. SO IF YOU HAVE A SPRING GARDENING QUESTION, CALL US NOW AT 1888-895-5727 IF YOU'RE CURIOUS ABOUT WATER USE OR WHAT TO DO ABOUT WHAT TO DO ABOUT THE HOT WEATHER, WHETHER IT IS THE TYPICAL SPRING GARDENING OR YOU WILL HAVE TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT, GIVE US A CALL AT 1-888-895-5727. MAN, WHAT IS THIS EXCEPTIONALLY WARM WEATHER BEEN DOING TO BURNSVILLE SAN DIEGO NEXT MET HIS THEN DRYING THEM. AND IT SEEMS TO ME, CINDY, I THINK THINGS ARE BLOOMING EARLIER, COMING TO THE END OF THEIR BLOOM EARLIER. DON'T YOU THINK? YES, THEY ARE THE POPPIES IN MY GARDEN ARE POPPED AND USUALLY THEY ARE THERE FOR MY PARTY 1 APRIL. SO I KNOW IT'S EARLY. IS APPARENTLY ONE OF THE WARMEST WINTERS WE HAVE EVER EXPERIENCED. NAN IS THAT GOOD FOR THE GARDEN ? WELL, GOOD IS A VALUE JUDGMENT. WHO KNOWS? WE CAN'T SAY THIS GOOD OR BAD BUT WE KNOW IT -- WE HAVEN'T HAD MUCH RATE FOR A SECOND REALLY DRY WINTER IN A ROW. LAST WINTER WAS A LITTLE BIT DRYER. BUT THERE IS THAT WHOLE ISSUE OF PLANTS THAT EKED IT THROUGH LAST YEAR MAY NOT MAKE IT THROUGH THIS YEAR. AND AS SAYS -- THAT IT IS TO HAVE THEM DIE, PART OF ME SAYS MAYBE WE JUST NEED TO LET THEM GO. LET THEM GO BECAUSE -- BECAUSE THEY NEED MORE WATER THAN WE CAN AFFORD TO GIVE THEM. AND THE FACT THAT IT IS SO WARM, THAT JUST EXACERBATES THE FACT THAT THERE IS SO LITTLE WATER RIGHT ? YES. WHEN IT GETS HOT, PLANTS LOSE MORE WATER INTO THE ATMOSPHERE AND TO REPLACE IT TO HAVE TO PULL IT UP FROM THE ROOTS TO THE GROUND. IF IT'S NOT IN THE GROUND, WHETHER DO THEY GET IT FROM AND THAT'S WHEN THEY WELDED TO THE POINT OF NOT RECOVERING. WHAT SHOULD YOU NORMALLY DO IN YOUR GARDEN AT THE BEGINNING OF SPRING ? WELL, WHAT I USUALLY DO THE BEGINNING OF THE SPRING IS I START VEGETABLES FOR MY SUMMER GARDEN. THAT AM STILL DOING, STARTING TOMATOES AND PEPPERS AND ALL OF THE BASIL AND SEATS FOR MY EARLY SPRING AND INTO SUMMER GARDEN. IN TERMS OF PLANTING, DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU ARE, ORNAMENTAL PLANTING, DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU ARE IN THE COUNTY, THE MORE COASTAL YOU ARE, BECAUSE THE WEATHER IS MILDER, YOU CAN PLANT SAFELY, MUCH LATER INTO THE YEAR THEN YOU CAN IN THE VALLEYS. WHEN IT GETS TOO HOT, IT'S REALLY STRESSFUL ON THE PLANS AND THAT'S WHEN YOU CAN STILL PLANT BUT YOU GET MORE PLANTS MORTALITY IF YOU DO NOT WATER ENOUGH AND SINCE WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH WATER, YOU GET THIS CATCH-22. EVEN THOUGH THE AIR TEMPERATURES SO TO SPEAK IS REALLY, REALLY HOT HAS BEEN FOR THE LAST FEW DAYS AT LEAST, HOW IS THE GROUND TEMPERATURE? IS IT JUST AS HARD? IS IT LIKE SUMMERTIME? OR IS IT MORE LIKE SPRING ? CINDY IS AN ENGINEER BUT I WILL TELL YOU WHAT I THINK. [ LAUGHTER ] IT ALWAYS TAKES THE GROUND LONGER TO WARM UP INCLUDE OUT THAN IT DOES THE AIR. IT SHOULD BE MUCH COOLER IN THE SOIL THAN IT IS IN THE AREA. BECAUSE IT WAS A WARM WINTER, I AM NOT SURE IF THE SOIL COOL DOWN TO ITS NORMAL TEMPERATURE. CINDY, ANY IDEA ? I DON'T THINK IT HAS. IT IS MODERATED BY THE FACT THAT WE HAD A RAIN NOT TOO LONG AGO. I WAS WORKING IN THE YARD YESTERDAY AND REALIZED THE SOIL IS STILL GOOD AND DAMP. EVEN IN THE HOT AREAS. SO THAT WILL TEND TO KEEP IT COOLER THAN IT MIGHT BE IF WE HADN'T HAD A RAIN IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS. BUT YOU ARE RIGHT, MAUREEN. WHAT DETERMINES WHAT YOU CAN PLANT NOW HAS TO DO WITH THE SOIL TEMPERATURES AS MUCH AS -- IF NOT MORE SO THAN THE AIR TEMPERATURE BECAUSE THE AIR TEMPERATURE CHANGES. THINK ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE HEAT OF THE DAY AND THE NIGHT. BUT IS THE SOIL TEMPERATURE THAT DETERMINES WHAT SPROUTS AND WHAT DOESN'T. I WANT TO LET EVERYONE KNOW WE ARE TAKING YOUR CALLS AT ONE-888-895-5727. IN SPEAKING WITH NAN STERMAN AND CINDY SPARKS TALKING ABOUT SPRING GARDENING. THE NUMBER ONCE AGAIN 1-888-895-5727. CINDY IS LEADING A LECTURE AT THE METHOD LEARNING SEMINAR THIS WEEKEND USING GREAT ABOUT USING GRAY WATER IN YOUR GARDEN. FIRST OF ALL, WHAT IS CONSIDERED GRAYWATER ? WELL, ACTUALLY, MARVIN, THE STATE HAS TOLD HER WHAT GRAYWATER IS. GRAYWATER ACCORDING TO THE STATE IS WHAT COMES FROM THE BATHROOMS MINUS THE TOILET AND YOUR LAUNDRY. IT DOES NOT INCLUDE KITCHEN WATER. WHAT I WILL TALK ABOUT ON SATURDAY DOES ADDRESS SOME -- ADDRESS KITCHENWARE BECAUSE THIS WATER IN THE KITCHEN AS WELL AND SOME IS USEFUL. THE STATE REGULATES GRAYWATER USE ISN'T THAT RIGHT ? THEY DEFINE IT AND ENCOURAGE US TO USE IT. BUT WHAT CAN YOU DO AND WHAT CANNOT YOU DO WITH IT ? YOU CAN USE IT ON PLANTS THAT ARE NOT EDIBLE OR YOU CAN USE IT ON EDIBLE PLANTS THAT DO NOT TOUCH WHERE THE EDIBLE PART DOESN'T TOUCH THE SOIL SUCH AS THE FRUIT TREE. YOU CANNOT STORE IT APPEARED YOU DON'T WANT TO LET IT HANG AROUND BECAUSE THE BACTERIA IN IT. IT ALWAYS HAS BACTERIA WILL DOUBLE EVERY HOUR. QUICKLY YOU CAN GET YOURSELF IN TROUBLE. WE HAVE SOME CALLERS ON THE LINE RIGHT NOW. JUDY IS ON THE LINE FROM SAN DIEGO. HI, JUDY, WELCOME TO THE PROGRAM. HELLO. THANK YOU FOR HELPING ME. APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORTS AND WHAT YOU'RE WORKING ON A REPRESENTING. I AM UNFORTUNATELY A COMPULSIVE FLOWER GARDENER AND I'M GOING TO HAVE TO CHANGE MY WAYS BUT I'M MY MEANTIME, MY QUESTION IS ABOUT THE NUCLEAR BALLS. I HAVE SEEN THEM TRY TO NOT DRIVE. THEY DON'T GROW AS PROLIFIC AS THEY DO. THERE'S A SECRET TO THAT I HEARD. THE SECRET TO BE SUCCESSFUL BUT THE PERSON WHO TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS ONE COULD NOT REMEMBER WHAT IT WAS. [ LAUGHTER ] YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT WHEN UNGULATES? YES. YOU HAVE TO WHY -- BY TOP-QUALITY BULBS TO START WITH. WHEN IT COMES TO THAT IS THE QUALITY OF THE BULBS YOU START WITH IF YOU BUY THE CHEAP BULBS THEY WILL NOT THRIVE. YOU HAVE TO LOOK FOR THE BEST ONES. THE BIGGEST ONES, FULLEST ONES AND THEY WILL COST YOU MORE BUT THAT REALLY IS GOING TO MAKE MORE DIFFERENCE THAN ANYTHING ELSE. LET ME GO TO ANOTHER CALLER. CANDY FROM OCEAN BEACH. WELCOME TO THE PROGRAM. THIS IS VERONICA. WHAT IS YOUR QUESTION ? YES, I WANTED TO KNOW IF IT WAS TOO LATE THAN IN THE SEASON I HAVE A CENTURY IN THE POT AND IT IS IN A LOUSY POSITION AND I WANT TO PUT IN A BETTER SPOT BUT IT STARTED TO LEAVE A BIT. IT'S NOT -- IT'S GOING TO GO IN A WINDY, DRY AREA ON A HILLSIDE IN OCEAN BEACH. I WAS WONDERING IF IT WAS TOO LATE TO TRANSPLANTED ? NOT AT ALL. GO AHEAD AND DO IT. YOU NEED TO WATER IT, THOUGH. MAKE SURE YOU WATER IT ADEQUATELY WHEN YOU PLANTED AND KEEP IT A BIT DAMP THROUGH THE SUMMER. GO AHEAD AND DO IT IT'S FINE. THEY ARE TOUGH PLANTS. MET ONCE AGAIN, NAN STERMAN AND CINDY SPARKS ARE WITH ME AND WE'RE TALKING SPRING GARDENING. HAVE YOU USE GRAYWATER IN YOUR GARDEN, TRY 12th ABSOLUTELY. IF YOU WATCH SEASON ONE ON WATER WISE GARDENING, YOU WILL SEE MY GRAYWATER SYSTEM. EVERY PLUMPER GRAYWATER AND IT WASN'T UNTIL WE FINISH THE EPISODE OUT AND EXIT FROM MY FRUIT TREES. CITRUS, PINEAPPLE, GUAVA, FAITH IS GREAT. HOW DO YOU GET THE WATER FROM YEARS KITCHEN OR WASHING MACHINE INTO YOUR GARDEN ? FOR THE WASHING MACHINE I AM LUCKY BECAUSE THE WASHING MACHINE IS AT THE TOP OF THE LOT IN THE FRUIT TREES ARE AT THE BOTTOM. SO I LET GRAVITY DO THE WORK. YOU MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO DO THAT IF YOUR SITUATION IS REVERSED. I HAVE A SIMPLE GRAVITY FEED SYSTEM, THE WASHING MACHINE PUMPS OUT THE WATER AND AS LONG AS I HAVE NOT PUT CLOROX IN IT, IT WILL GO RIGHT TO MY ORANGE TREES, CITRUS. SO YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE PVC PIPE. YOU PUMP IT INTO THE PIPE. MAKE SURE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND, CINDY . I'M THINKING PICTURES AND THEY CANNOT SEE PICTURES. I HAD TROUBLE BECAUSE IDAHO'S IN MY SYSTEM AND A HOSTED NOT HAVE A BIG ENOUGH DIAMETER. BECAUSE SOMEONE FROM THE LAUNDRY IN A SMALL HOST AND IT DOES NOT FLOW WELL EVEN GOING DOWNHILL . PVC PIPE FROM THE WASHING MACHINE OR KITCHEN SINK? NO. YOU CAN DO IT FROM THE KITCHEN SINK. YOU HAVE A PVC PIPE TO THE WASHING THE SCENE OUTSIDE AT ONCE OUTSIDE TO CONNECT TO A BIG DIAMETER FLEXIBLE TUBING AND THE TUBING GOES TO EACH TREE. YOU CANNOT USE CHLORINE AND YOU CANNOT USE ANY DISINFECTANT. IN FACT, MY SYSTEM THERE IS A VALVE. IF I HAVE TO ADD SOMETHING LIKE THAT TO MY WASH, I TURN IT SO THAT I HAVE A SEPTIC TANK -- THAT LOAD, THE WATER FROM THE LOGOS TO THE SEPTIC TANK IS THAT OF TO THE FRUIT TREES. FROM THE KITCHEN IT'S A DIFFERENT . FROM THE KITCHEN REMEMBER GRAYWATER ACCORDING TO THE STATE DOES NOT INCLUDE KITCHEN WATER. THERE'S A LOT OF CLEAN WATER IN MY KITCHEN SINK WHEN IT COMES OUT OF THE FAUCET IT IS DRINKABLE. SO I SAVE MY OVERFLOW, WARM UP WATER. I SAVE IT IN A BUCKET AND WALK IT OUT TO THE FRONT PORCH WHICH IS A MERE 10 FEET AND I POURED INTO MY READY-MADE PVC SYSTEM THAT TAKES IT TO MY ROSES AND I WAS SHOW PICTURES SATURDAY THAT SHOW THE ROSES HAVE GONE START CRAZY. WE ARE TAKING YOUR CALLS AT 1-888--- JANE ON THE LINE. WELCOME. I HAVE A TALL LEMON VERBENA THAN I HAVE NEVER TRIMMED WELL OVER 6 FEET TALL. IT GETS WATERED BY MY WASHER, SO I TEND TO IGNORE IT BECAUSE I CAN. I WAS WONDERING IF I COULD TURN IT BACK INTO A 4 FOOT 11 -- LEMON VERBENA ? WHY DO YOU WANT TO SHORTEN A ? BECAUSE IT IS TALLER THAN THE FENCE. AND THAT IS A PROBLEM ? I HAVE LARGE ANIMAL PET THAT LIKES TO NIBBLE ON IT. HE CANNOT REACH ALL OF IT, SO I HAVE AN ANGUS STEER THAT WILL REACH OVER TO GET IT AT TIMES. A STEER SHE SAID? YES. CUT IT BACK, IT'S NOT A BIG DEAL. THE THING TO DO IS TO BE ARTISTIC ABOUT THE WAY YOU CUT IT, DON'T JUST HACK IT. LOOK FOR WHERE THE BRANCHES COME TOGETHER AND ALWAYS CUT IT AT BRANCH JUNCTURE AND LOOK AT THE OVERALL SHAPE. DON'T MAKE IT INTO A BALL OR GOOFY SHAPE THAT IT SHOULD BE. DON'T LEAVE STUBS BEHIND. CUT BACK TO A BRANCHING POINT. McVEIGH FOR YOUR CALL. MAN, YOU ARE LEADING A WORKSHOP AT THE SPRING MASTER GARDENING SEMINAR. I'M THINKING OF ALL THE QUESTIONS WE'VE BEEN ASKED ON THE SHOW, I'VE NEVER HEARD ANYONE SAY THAT BEFORE. THAT STEER LOVE THE LEMON TREE. YOU ARE LEAVING THIS SEMINAR CALLED BYE-BYE GRASS. ARE MORE PEOPLE DECIDING GIVE BLOGS BECAUSE OF THE DROUGHT ? THANKFULLY, YES. FINALLY. WE ARE GETTING PEOPLE TO RECOGNIZE THAT LAWNS DO NOT BELONG HERE. PEOPLE ARE BEGINNING TO BE WILLING TO GET RID OF THEIR LAWNS. IT HELPS THEIR GETTING REBATES FROM DIFFERENT WATER AGENCIES, HELPS MAKE IT MORE AFFORDABLE. WE JUST DON'T HAVE ENOUGH NATURAL PRECIPITATION TO SUPPORT LAWNS. THE WAY WE TEND TO WANT TO GROW LAWNS TAKES A LOT OF WATER. I LEAD GARDEN TOURS AND I HAVE BEEN ALL OVER EUROPE LOOKING AT GARDENS. YOU DON'T SEE LAWNS THE WAY WE HAVE THEM WHEN YOU ARE IN EUROPE. I KNOW WE THINK IT COMES FROM THERE BUT IT DOES NOT. YOU SEE FIELDS OR BIG EXPANSES FILLED WITH GRASSES THAT GROW WITH THE RAINFALL AND WHAT WE CALL WEEDS. THEY CALL THEM WILDFLOWERS THEY LEAVE TO BLUE BECAUSE IT ATTRACTS POLLINATORS FOR THE GARDENS. WHEN IT IS SUMMER AND GETS HOT, OR THE END OF THE SEASON AND THE PLANTS DIE, THEY DIE BACK. A CALLER WITH A QUESTION ABOUT ALONG FROM SAN DIEGO. I HATE ASKED THIS QUESTION, BUT ARE LAWNS ACTUALLY DONE BECAUSE OF THE WINTER WE HAD AND I DON'T HAVE A CHOICE BUT TO REPLACE. WE ARE RENTING AND THE LANDLORD INSISTS THAT IT BE A LAWN EVEN THOUGH I HAVE PLEADED NOT TO MAINTAIN IT AS A LAWN. SO I AM AT THE POINT WHERE I HAVE TO DECIDE IF I RESIDED OR MAYBE DO SOMETHING WITH SEEDS. WOULD YOU SUGGEST ? JAMIE, I SUGGEST YOU TALK TO YOUR WATER AGENCY AND FIND OUT HOW MUCH YOUR LANDLORD WILL HIT A REBATE FOR CONVERTING THEM WANT TO SOMETHING ELSE AND TELL YOU LANDLORD BECAUSE THE GRASS IS DEAD, THERE IS NOT MUCH DEMO TO DO. IT'S THE CHEAPEST TIME THEY WILL EVER HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REPLACE IT WITH SOMETHING DIFFERENT. I WOULD TELL THEM THAT YOU WILL DO WHATEVER YOU CAN TO MAKE IT POSSIBLE TO GO WITH SOMETHING OTHER THAN LAWN. GIVE IT YOUR BEST SHOT. THANK YOU, JAMIE. THERE IS THIS PROBLEM OF PEOPLE WHO DO NOT OWN THEIR OWN PROPERTIES OR ARE IN COMPLEXES, CONDO/COMPLEXES. THE A CHILLY SOMETIMES BASICALLY SAYS YOU HAVE TO HAVE A LAWN. THAT IS NO LONGER LEGAL. THEY CANNOT DO THAT ANYMORE. THEY CAN NO LONGER DO THAT. I JUST FINISHED INSTALLING A NEW GARDEN IN THE FAIRBANKS RANCH AREA IN AN HLA. IT'S THE FIRST ONE IN THIS HONORABLE A THAT IS NOT COMPLETELY LAWN AND IT WAS UNNERVING BECAUSE I REALIZED AT SOME POINT WHAT HAPPENS IN THE FUTURE WHEN THEY ARE DEPENDENT ON HOW THIS WILL LOOK BUT THE HONORABLE REALIZES THAT NOT ONLY CAN THEY NOT INSIST PEOPLE HAVE GRASPED THEY CANNOT SUPPORT THE LANDSCAPE IN THE COMMON AREAS. IT IS A PRACTICAL DECISION ON THEIR PART TO NOT LOOK AT THIS . WE SAY IT IS CLIMATE APPROPRIATE GET WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE AMOUNT OF RAINFALL AND TEMPERATURES, IT IS CLIMATE APPROPRIATE TO FIND SOMETHING ELSE THAT IS PERFECTLY HAPPY AND DRIVE 80° WEATHER THAT IS THE THEME OF THIS MASTER GARDENING SEMINAR, EARTH FRIENDLY PLANTS, RIGHT ? THAT'S RIGHT. WE USED TO SAY SUSTAINABILITY. THAT'S A SIX SYLLABLE WORD THAT PEOPLE DON'T RELATE TO. SO WE STARTED CALLING IT EARTH FRIENDLY. IT IS MORE EARTH FRIENDLY. IT MEANS WHAT WE ARE DOING WE CAN CONTINUE TO DO FOR THE LONG RUN WITHOUT RUNNING THROUGH THE BANK ACCOUNT OF THINGS LIKE WATER AND AQUIFERS AND NITROGEN FERTILIZER. FOR GROWING PASSION WE ARE DOING AN EPISODE ON THE PATH OF WATER. HOW WATER GETS TO FARMS AND GARDENS. SO I HAVE BEEN AT LAKE ORACLE WHICH IS WHERE ALL OF THE SNOWMELT FROM THE SIERRA NEVADA IS OPPOSED TO COLLECT A COME DOWN TO US IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. IT LOOKS LIKE A BATHTUB RING. THERE IS NOTHING THERE. IT IS TERRIFYING. REALLY. WE CANNOT IGNORE THIS ANY LONGER. I WAS GOING TO SAY -- 11 CALLER. VERONICA ON THE LINE. WELCOME TO THE PROGRAM. I JUST WANTED TO MENTION THERE IS AN OLD TECHNOLOGY CALLED AUREA IRRIGATION WHERE YOU BURIED IN THE GROUND AND YOU FILL WITH WATER AND PLANT AROUND AND THE ROOTS CREATE THE PRESSURE TO GET THE WATER IN IT SAVES MORE WATER THAN IRRIGATION TECHNOLOGY. PEOPLE ARE JUST BEGINNING TO RELEARN ABOUT THIS TECHNOLOGY IT'S BEEN USED FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS AND OTHER PLACES. WE SHOULD AT LEAST PAY ATTENTION TO THIS TECHNOLOGY BECAUSE WE REALLY DON'T HAVE MUCH MORE TIME TO SAVE WATER. THANK YOU VERONICA FOR THE -- OYA IRRIGATION TO LOVE TO GROW -- DEVELOPED TO GROW VEGETABLES IN DESERT AREAS IN THE SOUTHWEST. IT'S GOOD FOR THAT SITUATION. I DON'T KNOW IF IT SAVES MORE WATER THAN DRIP IRRIGATION I'VE NEVER LOOKED INTO THAT. IT WOULD NOT BE A IRRIGATION APPROACH I WOULD USE IN AN ORNAMENTAL GARDEN WHERE YOU HAVE INTENSE PLANTING OF ORNAMENTAL PLANTS BUT IN A VEGETABLE GARDEN I THINK IT WOULD BE GREAT. PROBABLY LESS EVAPORATION BECAUSE THE A Y A IS BELOW THE SURFACE. WE HAVE BEEN APPROXIMATING THAT WITH A PVC PIPE THAT HAS HOLES DRILLED IN. IT IS NOT CLAY BUT THE HOLES LET THE WATER OUT SO THAT IT HAS BEEN AVAILABLE. I'M INTERESTED EARLIER IN THE CONVERSATION SINCE WE ARE GOING TO ANOTHER YEAR OF DROUGHT AND IT'S BEEN SUCH A DRY WINTER THAT SOMEPLACE WILL NOT COME BACK IN A SET IS THAT IS THAT MAYBE THE WAY WE SHOULD LEAVE IT BECAUSE PLANTS ARE NOT SUITABLE FOR THE PLANTS. WHAT KIND OF PLANTS ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT ? GARDENIAS, AZALEAS, HYDRANGEAS, SOME KINDS OF ROSES. THERE'S A LIST. THERE ARE THINGS PEOPLE ASK ABOUT TROPICAL PALMS. THERE ARE DRY GROWING PALMS BUT THE PONDS WITH THE MOST LANDSCAPES ARE NOT DRY GROWING THEY ARE MOSTLY TROPICAL AND DO NOT BELONG HERE. THERE'S A LOT OF PLANTS LIKE THAT THAT WE HAD IN OUR LANDSCAPE YEAR BECAUSE THERE WAS A LONG PERIOD OF TIME WHEN WE DIDN'T RECOGNIZE THAT WATER WAS AS LIMITED AS IT IS AND WE WASTED IT. FRANKLY WE JUST WASTED IT. WE CANNOT AFFORD TO DO THAT ANYMORE. SO WHILE THEY ARE BEAUTIFUL PLANTS, ENJOY THEM IN THE AREAS WHERE THEY ACTUALLY WILL THRIVE. THIS IS NOT FLORIDA. GO TO FLORIDA AND ENJOY THEM, THE TROPICS BUT NOT HERE. THE MASTER GARDENERS SEMINAR TAKES PLACE THIS SATURDAY 7:30 AM-3:30 PM AT THE COUNTY OPERATIONS CENTER IN KEARNEY MESA. YOU NEED TO PREREGISTER SO PLEASE GO ONLINE TO THE MASTER GARDEN SEMINAR COUNTY OPERATIONS CENTER IN KEARNEY MESA. I'VE BEEN SPEAKING WITH CINDY SPARKS GRAYWATER EXPERT GARDEN DESIGNER NAN STERMAN HOST OF THE KPBS TELEVISION SERIES THE GROWING PASSION . IT DEBUTS NEXT THURSDAY NIGHT. SIGN UP FOR THE SEMINAR BY TOMORROW NOON BECAUSE REGISTRATION CLOSES THEM. IQ. -- THANK YOU.