>>> IT IS NOW TIME FOR "THE JOURNAL."

WITH YOUR HOST STEVE KENDALL.

THIS IS WHERE YOUR COMMUNITY MATTERS.

LOCAL PEOPLE, LOCAL ISSUES.

>> HELLO AND WELCOME TO "THE JOURNAL."

I'M STEVE KENDALL.

ONE OF THE THINGS YOU'LL SEE WHEN YOU GO TO THE NEXT GROUP'S WEBSITE IS HEALING ONE YARD AT A TIME.

WE'LL TALK ABOUT HOW THAT HAPPENS.

THEY BEEN PRACTICING EFFORTS HERE IN OUR AREA AS WELL AS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

THE GROUP IS CALLED WILD ONES, NATIVE PLANTS, NATURAL LANDSCAPES AND WE'RE JOINED BY DENISE GEHRING AND JULIA GEHRING.

WELCOME TO "THE JOURNAL."

HEALING THE EARTH, ONE YARD AT A TIME, ONE YARD AT A TIME.

NATIVE PLANTS, NATURAL LANDSCAPING.

TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT THE WILD ONES ORGANIZATION IS AND WHAT ITS GOALS ARE AND THE STRUCTURE AND HOW IT -- WHAT ITS REASON FOR EXISTING IS REALLY.

>> WELL, 40 YEARS AGO, WILD ONES BEGAN WITH MAUREEN OTO, SHE WAS A PRAIRIE ENTHUSIAST AND SHE SAW THE LANDSCAPE CHANGE OVER TIME AND WITH THAT THE WILDLIFE NUMBERS WENT DOWN, THE BUTTERFLIES, THE BEES, THE FISH.

AND SO SHE STARTED A GROUP IN WISCONSIN.

AND NOW IT'S A GROUP OF OVER 4,000 PEOPLE AND 50 CHAPTERS THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES.

AND THE PURPOSE IS TO HAVE PEOPLE ONE YARD AT A TIME, MAYBE ONE FOOT AT A TIME, BRING BACK THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT WITH PLANTS, NATIVE PLANTS, BUT THEY NEED TO BE APPROPRIATE NATIVE PLANTS.

THAT'S PART OF THE MISSION.

BECAUSE WE'RE TRYING TO SUPPORT BIODIVERSITY.

IN EACH OF OUR ECO REGIONS, WE HAVE PARTICULAR SOILS LIKE HERE IN WOOD COUNTY IT IS THE BLACK SWAMP.

IN LUCAS COUNTY, AND ALL THE WAY UP TO MONROE AND FULTON COUNTY WE HAVE THE OPENINGS COMMUNITY.

WE LOOK AT OUR HISTORY OF THE LAND AND WE LOOK AT THE PLANTS THAT LIVE THERE, BEFORE WE PUT IN OUR SUBDIVISIONS OR OUR BUSINESS, OR OUR FARM EVEN.

AND WE BRING THOSE BACK BECAUSE THEY ARE ADAPTED FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS AT 8 TO 10,000 YEARS TO THE CLIMATE, TO THE MOISTURE, TO THE WEATHER CONDITIONS, THEY HAVE DEEP ROOTS.

SO -- AND THEY DON'T NEED FERTILIZATION, THEY DON'T NEED WATER ONCE THEY GET ESTABLISHED.

BUT YOU CAN TREAT THEM LIKE A PERENNIAL, ANNUAL IN YOUR GARDEN, BEAUTIFY YOUR GARDEN AND WHAT THE RESEARCH IS SHOWING, SINCE WILD ONES BEGAN IS THAT IT IS 90% MORE EFFECTIVE TO BRING THE BUTTERFLIES, THE HUMMINGBIRDS, THE BEES, THE NATIVE BEES, ALL THE POLLINATORS WE NEED TO SUPPORT THESE, ALL OF THEM ARE WELCOME.

IT IS PLANTED AND THEY WILL COME.

>> AND JUST TO ADD ON TO THAT, THE REASON THAT WE TALKED ABOUT IN OUR SLOGAN ONE YARD AT A TIME, ONE FOOT AT A TIME, IS IN THE SAME AGE I THINK SOMETIMES IT IS HARD TO KNOW HOW WE'RE MAKING AN IMPACT AND WHAT WE CAN DO AS INDIVIDUALS, RIGHT.

WE'RE CONNECTED TO SOCIAL MEDIA EVERY DAY, AND SEEING WE CAN CONTRIBUTE PHOTOS, TALK WITH ONE ANOTHER, AND HOMEOWNERS HAVE A PROPERTY THEY CAN MANAGE.

THEY CAN PUT GRASS IN AND THERE IS GOOD REASON TO HAVE A NICE TURF GRASS, RIGHT, YOUR KIDS CAN PLAY IN IT OR THROW THE FRISBEE AROUND OR NICE PLACE TO WALK YOUR DOG, BUT EVEN IF YOU JUST PUT IN A SMALL BED, YOU KNOW, TWO CUBIC SQUARE FEET OF WILD PLANTS THAT ARE NATIVE TO THIS AREA, THEY WILL BRING IN THE POLLINATORS, THE HUMMINGBIRDS AND ONE THING THAT I THINK IS REALLY GREAT IS THAT NOT ONLY REVITALIZES THE NATURAL COMMUNITY, BUT IT ALSO INCREASES THE QUALITY OF PEOPLE'S LIVES.

WE ENJOY SEEING THOSE THINGS IN OUR YARD.

IT IS NICE TO TAKE A KID OUT AND LOOK AT BIRDS OR SHOW THEM OUR HONEYBEES, A FLOWER AND TALK TO THEM ABOUT HOW THE PROCESSES INFLUENCE US.

SO WHAT YOU CAN DO ON YOUR PERSONAL YARD OR YOU MENTIONED CORPORATE PARTS, WE WORK ON EDUCATING THEM, IT IS A DIFFERENCE YOU CAN TANKABLY MAKE IN OUR AREA TO CONTRIBUTE NOT ONLY TO YOUR FAMILY, BUT ALSO REVITALIZING THE NATURAL COMMUNITY.

>> I THINK YOU MADE A GOOD POINT TOO, YOU LOOK AT THE IMPACT WE HAVE, WHEN WE PLANT THINGS THAT REQUIRE ADDITIONAL FERTILIZER OR MORE WATER, THOSE SORT OF THINGS, THAT ALL ENDS UP SOMEWHERE ELSE.

THE FERTILIZER ENDS UP IN LAKE ERIE OR THE RIVER.

IT CAN HELP SOLVE A LOT OF ISSUES WE'RE DEALING WITH, SIMPLY BY PLANTING THINGS AND MAINTAINING THINGS THAT ARE ADAPTED TO THIS ENVIRONMENT AS IT EXISTS, NOT TRYING TO FORCE SOMETHING INTO IT.

BECAUSE WE LIKE THE WAY THIS LOOKS VERSUS -- >> RIGHT.

SO I THINK YOU BROUGHT UP TWO GREAT POINTS.

ONE IS ANYBODY GOES AROUND IN 2014 NATIONALLY OR LOCALLY HEARD ABOUT THE WATER CRISIS.

THERE ARE GREAT IMAGES OF A MASON JAR FILLED WITH ALMOST LOOKS LIKE A GREEN SMOOTHIE FROM THE HEALTH FOOD STORE AND THAT'S OUR GREAT LAKES WATER.

AND THE RIVER IS THE LARGEST WATER SHED IN LAKE ERIE.

WOOD COUNTY IS ON THE MONMEE RIVER AND ALL THE WATER GOES INTO YOUR YARD, INTO DITCHES, BECAUSE WE DITCHED ALL THESE AREAS TO HELP WITH OUR AGRICULTURE PROCESS, IT RUNS DOWN INTO THE RIVER WHICH THEN GOES TO LAKE ERIE.

WHAT WE DO WITH THE NATIVE BEDS AND PROBABLY HEARD OF RAIN GARDEN INITIATIVES, WHAT THAT DOES IS IT NOT ONLY INCREASES THE STORAGE CAPACITY FOR WATER, AND WHAT THAT DOES IS IT KEEPS THE WATER THERE FOR A LONGER AMOUNT OF TIME.

BOTTLED WATER THERE ARE NUTRIENTS COMING OFF YOUR YARD OR FROM THE NEARBY FARM, WHICH WE NEED TO SUPPORT OUR FOOD SOURCE.

WHAT IT DOES IS IT ALLOWS OUR NATIVE PLANTS TO ABSORB THE NUTRIENTS AND PUT THEM IN PLANT MATERIAL AND HAVE A POLLINATOR VISIT INSTEAD OF RUNNING OUT INTO LAKE ERIE.

SO EVERYTHING REALLY MATTERS.

AND THERE ARE CONTRIBUTION AGENCIES THAT ARE WORKING ON THIS, NATURAL PARKS, CONSERVANCIES THAT HAVE PROPERTY OWNERSHIPS, THOUSANDS OF ACRES AT A TIME.

YOU LOOK AT OUR WATER SHEDS, THE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF ACRES IN WATER SHED, IT IS AGRICULTURE, RESIDENTIAL, HARD SURFACES, URBAN AREAS, AND THAT'S THE IMPACT WE CAN MAKE THROUGH WILD ONES, WORKING THOSE AREAS WHERE OTHER AGENCIES OR EXPERTS DON'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE THEY DON'T OWN THE LAND.

>> I KNOW WHEN YOU SEE NEW PUBLIC BUILDINGS GO UP NOW, A LOT OF THEM ARE DESIGNED WITH WHAT THEY CALL RATHER LARGE RAIN GARDENS, THERE IS GOING TO BE RUNOFF FROM PARKING LOTS, ROOFS, THAT SORT OF THING.

BUT I KNOW WHEN I GO DOWN TO LUCAS COUNTY ENGINEERING COMPLEX, NEAR SPRING MEADOWS, THEY HAVE ALL OF THEIR WATERS COLLECTED IN RAIN BARRELS, THEY HAVE RAIN GARDENS, SO -- THEY HAVE A LOT OF PAVEMENT THERE, THEY'RE DOING WHAT THEY CAN, AND THEY BASICALLY ADVOCATE THAT TOO.

>> I WANTED TO ADD A COUPLE OF OTHER EXAMPLES THAT ARE RIGHT HERE IN WOOD COUNTY.

THE PEARL STREET FIRE STATION HAS UNDERGROUND TANKS FOR WATER THAT ARE BIG RING BARRELS, UNDER THE GROUND.

>> OKAY.

>> AND THEY HAVE A VERY NICE LITTLE RAIN GARDEN.

>> OKAY.

>> SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT -- >> BOWLING GREEN IS DOING.

>> YES.

AND THEN ALSO AT THE UNIVERSITY, THERE IS A WONDERFUL SHORT GRASS PRAIRIE BEHIND THE PRESIDENT'S HOUSE THAT IS ALL NATIVE PLANTS, ALL LOCAL GENOTYPE PLANTS AND THAT LANDSCAPE WAS GIVEN AN AWARD TO OUR LOCAL WILD ONES CHAPTER IN DECEMBER, ACTUALLY.

>> GREAT THING ABOUT THOSE EXAMPLES IS EVEN IF YOU DON'T LIKE BIRD WATCHING OR DON'T LIKE HIKING, YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T ALL BE OUTDOOR ENTHUSIASTS, WE HAVE OUR OWN DESIRES AND WHAT WE'RE INTERESTED IN.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, THOSE RAIN BARRELS AT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, THE FACT THEY'RE STORING WATER AND CAN REUTILIZE THAT LOCALGácUw OR WITH THE ENGINEERING COMPLEX, ANY WATER THAT DOESN'T GO INTO THE SEWER SYSTEMS SAVES OUR CONSTITUENTS DOLLARS.

WE HAVE TO TREAT THAT WATER BEFORE WE PUT IT BACK OUT.

SO IT HELPS DECREASE YOUR TAXES, IT HELPS MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO USE THOSE FUNDS REGULARLY, JUST IT IS A MONEY SAVING THING AS WELL.

>> SORRY, GO AHEAD.

>> I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY THE PEARL STREET FIRE STATION, ALL THE WATER THAT THEY SAVE GOES BACK OUT ON TRUCKS AND THEN FOR ALL THE GREEN SPACE THAT THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR, THEY WATER IT.

>> THEY RERECYCLE THAT WATER AN USE IT FOR THAT.

EVEN IF YOU'RE NOT A GREEN PERSON, FROM A PURELY ECONOMIC POINT OF VIEW, IT IS TO YOUR BENEFIT TO DO IT.

SO PEOPLE SAY, OH, THAT'S THAT ENVIRONMENTAL STUFF, AND IT MAKES SENSE IN A LOT OF WAYS FROM A PURE FINANCIAL POINT OF VIEW TO DO IT THE RIGHT WAY.

>> I THINK ABOUT THAT DAILY.

JUST BUDGETING IN YOUR HOME LIFE OR WORK LIFE, YOU WANT TO BE EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT WITH THE MONEY THAT YOU HAVE AVAILABLE AND YOUR TIME, SO THAT'S A WAY THAT IT IS A PASSIVE INFRASTRUCTURE, SO YOU'RE NOT REGULARLY MAINTAINING IT.

AND YOU'RE ALSO NOT HAVING TO GO THROUGH THE TREATMENT.

>> WHEN WE COME BACK, LET'S TALK MORE ABOUT THAT AND TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS YOU BROUGHT IN.

AND WHAT IT MEANS TO GO THIS ROUTE.

IT IS NOT AS -- IT IS NOT AS DIFFICULT AS MAYBE SOME PEOPLE THINK IT IS.

>> INCREDIBLY EASY.

AND WE TRY TO HELP MAKE IT EASIER.

>> WE'LL BE BACK IN A MOMENT WITH JULIA AND DENISE GEHRING OF THE WILD ONES HERE ON "THE JOURNAL."

>> THANK YOU FOR STAYING WITH US ON "THE JOURNAL."

OUR GUESTS ARE JULIA AND DENISE GEHRING FROM WILD ONES.

WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT NATIVE PLANTS AND NATURAL LANDSCAPING AND DOING THINGS RIGHT NOT JUST FROM A ENVIRONMENTAL POINT OF VIEW, BUT BENEFICIAL TO US FROM A FINANCIAL POINT OF VIEW.

TALK TO US ABOUT THE THINGS GOING ON LOCALLY.

YOU MENTIONED A COUPLE OF LOCATIONS THAT EVERYBODY IS FAMILIAR WITH.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE OTHER LOCAL ACTIVIIES GOING ON THAT PEOPLE COULD GET INVOLVED IN, OR SHOULD KNOW ABOUT?

>> RIGHT, SO WE ARE HERE FROM WILD ONES, DENISE IS A MEMBER OF OUR NATIONAL BOARD, SHE MENTIONED HOW MANY PARTICIPANTS ARE NATIONALLY, ABOUT 4,000.

LOCALLY, ABOUT 120 ACTIVE MEMBERS FOR THE WILD ONES CHAPTER.

WE HAVE A NUMBER OF EVENTS, WE DO PROGRAMMING, WHERE WE TAKE PEOPLE OUT TO INTERESTING LOCATIONS LIKE GALL WOODS, SOUTHWEST OF HERE, TO LOOK AT THE SPRING WILDFLOWERS.

WE ALSO HAVE STEWARDSHIP ACTIVITIES WHERE WE SUPPORT OUR LOCAL CONSERVATION AGENCIES.

A GOOD EXAMPLE IS THE ATLANTA PARKS SYSTEM, WE HAVE BEEN HELPING THEM TAKE CARE OF THEIR NATIVE BEDS AND PLANTS WHILE GOING THROUGH THEIR NEXT LEVEE RUN.

BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY WHAT WE DO IS WE PROVIDE NATIVE SEED TOURS AND EDUCATION FOR ANYBODY IN OUR COMMUNITY.

SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A MEMBER TO RECEIVE THESE BENEFITS.

SO IN ORDER TO MAKE MORE PROGRESS OUT IN THE LANDSCAPE, GET MORE HOME OWNERS, WE NEED TO PROVIDE THEM WITH SEEDS.

SOME PLANTS ARE IN FRONT OF US.

DENISE IS HOLDING UP A WONDERFUL SEED PACKET.

WHAT WE DO IS -- >> JUST THIS SIMPLE.

BASICALLY THESE ARE -- OH, OKAY.

BLAZING STAR.

>> THAT'S BLAZING STAR, WHICH IS A BEAUTIFUL PURPLE FLOWER, SO WHAT WE DO IS WE WORK WITH LOCAL CONCENTRATION AGENCIES AND GREENHOUSES AND WE'RE HOPEFULLY GOING TO BE EXPANDING INTO MORE OF THE LANDSCAPING INDUSTRY, SO THERE IS EVEN MORE NATIVE PLANTS AVAILABLE.

AND WHAT WE DO IS WE TAKE THE SEEDS AFTER WE CLEAN THEM AND GET TOGETHER, OVER MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY AND HAVE SOME SOUP FOR SEEDS EVENT WHERE WE CLEAN THE SEEDS AND PLANT -- PLANT THEM OUT IN THE TRAY, USUALLY IN WINTER, WE UTILIZE COLD AND DRYING OF THE WINTER AND THEN THEY'LL GERMINATE AND IN THE SPRING, THESE WERE PLANTED IN DECEMBER, BUT ONCE THEY'RE AT ABOUT THIS STAGE, WE'LL ACTUALLY BUMP THEM UP.

THIS IS TYPICAL OF ANY LANDSCAPING.

>> WHAT ARE THOSE?

>> THESE RIGHT HERE ARE SOME OF OUR -- THEY'RE OUR NATIVE -- ONE OF OUR NATIVE MINTS, RUB OUR FINGERS, YOU CAN SMELL IT.

VIRGINIA MOUNTAIN MINT.

SO IF YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH PEPPERMINT OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, YOU CAN USE IT IN TEA AS WELL.

>> MINT JULEP.

>> MINT JULEP, THAT WOULD BE NICE.

>> OKAY.

>> THIS IS DENSE BLAZING STAR.

I THINK TO THE NAKED EYE IT IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE GRASS, RIGHT?

>> THAT'S ONE OF THE QUESTIONS.

HOW DO YOU TELL THE GOOD PLANTS FROM THE BAD PLANTS?

BECAUSE SOMETIMES THE WEEDS ARE ACTUALLY THE GOOD -- LOOK LIKE WEEDS ARE GOOD PLANTS.

>> WHAT YOU THINK OF AS A WEED.

>> TO THE AVERAGE PERSON, THAT'S THE LEARNING EXPERIENCE, I GUESS.

>> THE OTHER THING IS THAT EVERYONE CAN DO THAT IN A TRAY AT HOME.

THESE SEEDS WERE OUTSIDE ALL WINTER.

THEY WEREN'T IN A GREENHOUSE.

>> DIDN'T HAVE TO -- NO HEAVY MAINTENANCE INVOLVED, NATURE TOOK ITS COURSE.

>> WE'RE GIVING YOU A LITTLE SHORT COURSE ON HOW TO PLANT THESE.

>> YOU ASKED, HOW DO YOU IDENTIFY THE SEEDLING THAT COMES UP?

IF YOU GRAB POTTING SOIL FROM ONE OF YOUR LOCAL STORES, GARDEN SUPPLY STORE AND SEE YOU'RE GOING TO SEE EACH INDIVIDUAL PLANT, EACH SPECIES, JUST LIKE HUMANS VERSUS, YOU KNOW, A BIRD OR SOMETHING, THEY LOOK DIFFERENT WHEN THEY'RE YOUNG, RIGHT?

SO SINCE YOU PLANTED, YOU KNOW, SEVERAL HUNDRED SEEDS IN A TRAY, YOU'LL START SEEING THINGS THAT LOOK THE SAME.

IT IS AS SIMPLE AS THAT.

YOU CAN DO IT VISUALLY.

ALSO THE GREAT THING IS WE HAVE A FACEBOOK PAGE, A WEBSITE, AND OUR 120 MEMBER, THE MOST NATIVE ACTIVE PLANT ENTHUSIASTS IN THE AREA, THEY WOULD WELCOME A TEXT MESSAGE WITH A PHOTO, THEY WOULD BE HAPPY IF YOU PUT IT UP ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE, WE RESPOND WITHIN SOMETIMES A COUPLE OF HOURS, A FEW DAYS, WE'RE HERE AS A RESOURCE ALWAYS FOR PEOPLE.

>> WE GO TO PEOPLE'S YARDS ALSO.

ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE THAT ARE MEMBERS, BUT EVEN THOSE WHO ARE NOT MEMBERS, WE'RE HERE TO SERVE THE PUBLIC.

SO WITH A BLAZING STAR, YOU CAN USE JUST SIMPLE TAGS, YOU CAN CUT PLASTIC FROM RECYCLED CONTAINERS AND WRITE ON MILK JUGS WITH SHARPIE MARKERS AND USE YOUR OWN SYSTEM.

WHEN I PLANT THEM IN THE TRAY, I ACTUALLY USE TOOTHPICKS SO I KNOW WHERE THE ROWS ARE, WHAT TO LOOK FOR.

SO WHEN YOU GROW TOMATOES FOR YOUR GARDEN, IT IS THE SAME THING.

ONLY THESE ARE OUTSIDE.

AND THEN YOU PLANT THEM WHEN YOU'RE PLANTING YOUR EARLY SPRING CROPS IN YOUR GARDEN.

>> RIGHT AROUND THIS TIME OF YEAR, THEN, ROUGHLY, A LITTLE BIT INTO MAY, WHATEVER, IN THAT CASE.

>> AND THERE ARE LOCAL PLANT SALES.

WE PROVIDE THESE SEEDS FREE OF CHARGE THROUGH THE TOLEDO SEED SWAP AND THE WOOD COUNTY SEED SWAP.

OUR MEMBERS DID A DAY OF SERVICE ON THE MONDAY OF MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY, WE FEED EVERYBODY WITH HOMEMADE FOOD AND THEN WE PACKAGE THEM UP TOGETHER, AND THEN, YES.

SO WOOD COUNTY WE PASS OUT, IT WAS THEIR FIRST YEAR AT BOWLING GREEN CITY PARKS, 140 PACKETS.

TOLEDO'S WE HANDED OUT 643 PACKETS.

SO PEOPLE CAN -- EARLY ENOUGH THEY CAN START THEIR OWN.

BUT IN MAY, IT'S A BONANZA OF PLANT SALES.

>> RIGHT.

AND THE GREAT THING IS EVEN WITH YOUR VEGETABLE GARDEN, SOME OF US LIKE STARTING FROM SEEDS, RIGHT, SOME OF US LIKE GRABBING THE PLUGS AND PUTTING THEM IN THE GROUND.

UPCOMING IN MAY, WE HAVE GROWN SEVERAL HUNDRED DIFFERENT SPECIES BETWEEN OUR COLLABORATION SO WILD ONES IS PART OF A LOCAL COLLABORATION CALLED THE GREEN RIVER INITIATIVE, BASICALLY TRYING TO CONNECT DETROIT ALL THE WAY DOWN THROUGH WOOD COUNTY WITH GREEN SPACES.

>> REALLY?

OKAY.

>> WITH THAT COLLABORATION WE HAVE A NATIVE PLANT WORKING GROUP, SO WOOD COUNTY PARKS IS GROWING FOR US, TOLEDO BOTANICAL GARDENS, ORLANDO PARK SYSTEM, METRO PARKS, LUCAS COUNTY SOIL AND WATER, ALL THESE PEOPLE YOU THINK REGULARLY TO CONTACT FOR NATIVE PLANTS, WHAT WE DO IS WE GET TOGETHER AND DIVVY UP THE LIST, WE'RE NOT ALL GROWING THE SAME THINGS AND THEN STOCK PLANTS.

>> CAN SHARE IN IT.

BALANCES EVERYTHING OUT.

>> SO WE HAVE TWO PLANT SALES THAT ARE UPCOMING THAT ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

GREAT THING IS THEY'RE INEXPENSIVE TO BUY, THEY'RE CHEAPER THAN THE PERENNIALS, SO WE HAVE TOLEDO BOTANICAL GARDENS MOTHER'S DAY PLANT SALE.

WE HAVE THE BLUE WEEK PLANT SALE, IT IS A CELEBRATION OF THE OAK OPENINGS WE DO EVERY MAY.

A WEEK LONG.

WE DO HAVE A PLANT SALE UPCOMING ON THAT AND ALL THE INFORMATION IS ON WILDONES.ORG.

>> AND WOOD COUNTY PARKS HAS IT THE SATURDAY MORNING OF MOTHER'S DAY WEEKEND, TOLEDO BOTANICAL GARDENS IS THURSDAY FOR MEMBERS, FRIDAY THROUGH SUNDAY, AND THEN ALL THE PLANTS THAT DIDN'T SELL, WE HAVE A SECOND PLANT SALE WHERE WE HAVE WOOD COUNTY PARKS, WE HAVE ORLANDER PARKS AND BOTANICAL GARDEN PARKS AND IT IS AT KITTY TODD PRESERVE, ON OLD STATE LINE.

>> BY THE AIRPORT.

>> RIGHT.

>> YEAH.

AND THEN WE ALSO ARE DOING A POP-UP SALE AT THE OUTDOOR EXPO ON MAY 20th, WHERE THERE IS THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE LEARNING DIFFERENT OUTDOOR SKILLS.

THAT WOULD BE THE QUICKEST WAY, IF YOU WERE BUSY MOTHERS, OUT OF TOWN, DON'T FRET.

BECAUSE WE'LL HAVE HUNDREDS OF PLANTS AVAILABLE BECAUSE OUR CONSERVATION PARTNERS HAVE GROWN MORE TO GET MORE PLANTS OUT.

SO IT IS JUST $5 PER PLANT, AND THE PROCEEDS GO TO EDUCATION.

SO IT GOES BACK TO EVERYBODY.

>> AND SIDE CUTS THERE BETWEEN MONMEE, ON THE RIVER, EASY TO FIND, CONVENIENT TO GET TO, BEAUTIFUL SETTING THERE AS WELL.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE -- WE HAVE A COUPLE OF MINUTES IN THE SEGMENT WHAT ARE SOME THINGS WE'RE LOOKING AT ON THE TABLE HERE?

IN TERMS OF -- YEAH.

>> WHICH PLANTS ARE HERE.

SO WE'RE THINKING MOST OF THE PEOPLE WATCHING THE SHOW TODAY ARE LIVING IN WOOD COUNTY, RIGHT?

WE TRIED TO PICK PLANTS THAT ARE NOT ONLY GOING TO DO WELL IN THAT CLAY SOIL, THE BLACK SWAMP, FARMING IN THE AREA, IT IS BEAUTIFUL, RICH SOIL.

AND WE ALSO BROUGHT SOME MORE SANDY -- JUST IN CASE YOU DOW HAVE A DUNE IN YOUR AREA OR ARE NORTH OF HERE.

WANT TO TALK ABOUT A FEW OF THESE?

>> WE SHOULD PROBABLY START WITH MOUNTAIN MINT BECAUSE YOU SAW THE -- THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE.

IT WILL -- IT WILL BEHAVE LIKE ANY OTHER MINT IN YOUR YARD, SO YOU HAVE TO EITHER PUT IT IN A CONTAINER -- >> IT WILL SPREAD.

>> IT WILL.

>> I HAVE TO CALL THEM AGGRESSIVE.

SO -- >> OR HARDY.

>> OR LOW MAINTENANCE.

>> SO YOU HAVE THAT.

ONLY GROWS A COUPLE OF FEET TALL, WHITE FLOWERS, GREAT FOR SMALLER BUTTERFLIES BECAUSE IT HAS SMALL FLOWERS.

>> OKAY.

>> AND THEN THE BLAZING STAR, YOU WANT TO THINK ABOUT YOUR GARDEN BLOOMING THROUGHOUT THE SEASON.

SO THIS IS -- >> EARLY, SO YOU HAVE COLOR AND ACTIVITY GOING THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER.

>> RIGHT.

THIS BLOOMS AROUND THE SAME TIME AND IT IS GOING TO BE A COUPLE OF FEET TALL.

MANY PEOPLE SEE THIS IN FLORAL ARRANGEMENTS, DENSE BLAZING STAR.

BEAUTIFUL, TALL SPIKE OF PURPLE FLOWERS.

REALLY CHARISMATIC.

>> YOU HAVE TO KNOW HOW TO STAGE ALL OF THIS, SO YOU DON'T HAVE THE TALL STUFF AND SHORT STUFF.

>> WHAT IS NICE IS WHEN YOU COME TO OUR PLANT SALE OR GO TO OUR WEBSITE, THAT INFORMATION IS ON THE TAG.

THE PERSON THAT IS SELLING IT TO YOU WILL TALK YOUR EAR OFF.

>> OKAY.

>> WE ALSO -- LIKE YOU MENTIONED, WE'LL COME OUT AND DO SIGHT VISITS AND HELP YOU DESIGN YOUR YARD, CAN ALSO HELP YOU PICK THE SPECIES.

ONE I WANTED TO MENTION BECAUSE WE DO A LOT WITH MONARCHS, I THINK A LOT OF LOCAL SCHOOLS AND KIDS ARE FAMILIAR WITH WATCHING THE MONARCH GO THROUGH METAMORPHOSIS AND RELEASING IT, WE HAVE A SWAP WHICH IS GREAT FOR THE COUNTY.

IT LIKES IT WETTER CONDITIONS, WITH THE CLAY IN THE SOIL -- >> HOLDS THE MOISTURE IN.

>> HOLDS THE MOISTURE.

YOU'LL SEE LAST YEAR'S STOCK, THIS HAS BEEN IN THE GREENHOUSE, IT IS A PERENNIAL, COMES BACK YEAR TO YEAR, PUTS OUT THIS BEAUTIFUL PINK, BRIGHT, REDDISH FLOWER.

WHICH IS JUST BEAUTIFUL.

AND BUTTERFLIES USE IT AND MONARCHS USE IT AS A HOST PLANT.

>> FOR CATERPILLARS CAN ONLY EAT MILK WEED.

AND SO WITH THE NUMBERS OF MILK WEED IN THE AREA CHANGING OVER DURING FARMING TIMES, WE AS HOMEOWNERS NEED TO BRING BACK MORE MILK WEED NOW.

THIS MILK WEED IS GREAT BECAUSE IT HAS VERY FIBROUS ROOTS.

IT DOES NOT HAVE THE BIG RIZONES SO NOT LIKE COMMON MILK WEED THAT TAKES OVER THE WORLD.

>> YOU'LL SEE THAT ALONG ROADSIDES.

THAT'S YOUR COMMON MILK WEED.

THIS ONE IS GREAT IF YOU DON'T WANT AN AREA OVERCOME WITH IT.

ONE THING, THOUGH, THAT I ALWAYS LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT WHEN WE'RE TEACHING PEOPLE ABOUT NATIVES, AND THIS IS JUST A CHANGE OF PERSPECTIVE FOR SOME PEOPLE, BECAUSE WE'RE USED TO GROWING OUR VEGETABLES, WE DON'T WANT BUGS EATING THEM, RIGHT?

BUT WITH SOME OF THE PLANTS, THEY ARE HOST PLANTS, WHICH MEANS CATERPILLARS ARE GOING TO MUNCH ON THE LEAVES, RIGHT?

WHAT I LIKE TO SAY IS IF YOU WANT A BEAUTIFUL PRISTINE MILK WEED, PUT IT OVER TO THE SIDE AND HAVE A DIFFERENT POT AND PUT ANOTHER POT OUT THERE FOR THE MONARCHS TO EAT SO YOU DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT.

>> AND IT NEEDS TO BE FUNNY.

BUTTERFLIES ARE COLD BLOODED, AND THEY NEED TO BE WARMED UP.

AND FOR THE MIGRATING MONARCHS, IT IS PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT.

WE -- I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE ANY NEW ENGLAND ASTER.

>> WE DO.

IT IS OUTSIDE.

>> WHEN WE COME BACK, LET'S TALK MORE ABOUT THAT.

WE'LL COME BACK AND TALK ABOUT GETTING MORE OF THE MONARCHS HERE AND THE RIGHT TRENDS FOR THAT.

WE'LL BE BACK IN A MOMENT WITH "THE JOURNAL."

THANK YOU FOR STAYING WITH US HERE ON "THE JOURNAL," TALKING ABOUT NATIVE PLANTS AND NATURAL LANDSCAPING, WE HAVE JULIA AND DENISE GEHRING FROM WILD ONES.

WE WERE TALKING ABOUT MAKING SURE WE ATTRACT MONARCH BUTTERFLIES AND SOME OF THE PLANTS THAT WORK WELL WITH THAT.

TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHAT WE HAVE HERE.

EVERYBODY LOVES TO SEE BEAUTIFUL MONARCHS AND IF WE CAN GET MORE OF THEM HERE, BETTER FOR EVERYBODY FOR THAT TO HAPPEN.

>> WE HAVE THREE PLANTS HERE.

WE HAVE A SWAMP MILK WEED THAT THE CATERPILLARS WILL EAT.

>> OKAY.

>> AND THEN WHEN IT GOES TO FLOWER, WE'LL PROVIDE NECTAR FOR MONARCHS AND OTHER BUTTERFLIES AND BEES AND EVERYTHING LOVES THIS MILK WEED.

AND THEN A LITTLE BIT LATER IN THE SEASON, THIS IS ONE THAT WILL GROW WILD ACTUALLY IN THE DITCHES OF -- AND FLOODPLAINS.

AND THIS IS JOPAI WEED, A PLANT THAT HOSTS MAYBE 40 DIFFERENT SPECIES OF POLLINATORS.

>> IT IS A REALLY BEAUTIFUL, TALL FLOWER TOO.

SOMETIMES GET AS TALL AS US.

THEY'RE A GREAT THING TO PUT IN THE BACK OF YOUR GARDEN.

>> YES, IN THE BACK.

AND LATER IN THE SEASON, IN THE FALL, WHEN THE KIDS GO BACK TO SCHOOL, THIS ONE IS NEW ENGLAND ASTER.

THIS IS WHEN THE MONARCHS, THE FINAL GENERATION LOCAL GENERATION IS GETTING READY TO MIGRATE TO MEXICO.

>> SOUTH.

>> AND THEY FLY 26 MILES A DAY, APPROXIMATELY, SO THEY DO A MARATHON EVERY DAY TO GET BACK TO MEXICO OVER WINTER.

THEY REALLY NEED TO FUEL UP.

AND SO THIS WILL HAVE A LOT OFgn FLOWERS.

VERY LATE INTO THE SEASON.

AND THEN IT WILL BE THEIR LAST DRINK IN WOOD COUNTY AND THEN THEY'LL HEAD FURTHER SOUTH.

>> SOUTH FOR THE WINTER.

>> THE LAST PLANT I WANTED TO MENTION WAS THIS IS PARTRIDGE PEA.

THIS TIME OF YEAR A LOT OF US GO OUT AND BUY ANNUALS.

WE WANT THAT BURST OF COLOR.

THIS IS ANOTHER ANNUAL, BUT NATIVE.

A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE FORGET WE HAVE LOCAL PLANTS THAT ARE ANNUALS.

SOMETIMES CALLED SENSITIVE PLANTS BECAUSE THE LEAVES WILL CLOSE UP AT NIGHT.

FUN TO WATCH TOO THROUGHOUT THE DAY.

THIS IS A BIG BEAUTIFUL YELLOW FLOWER.

THIS IS GREAT FOR CABBAGE WHITES AND SULFURS.

ONE THING COMING UP WITH THE SPRING, THESE WILL BE BLOOMING IN EARLY SUMMER, WE HAVE A FEW EVENTS WE WANT TO HIGHLIGHT.

IF YOU SAW US TODAY AND THINK I WANT TO PARTICIPATE OR LEARN MORE, WE HAVE A SCREENING OF A MOVIE CALLED "HOMETOWN HABITATS," REALLY NEED, WE'RE GOING TO BE SCREENING IT IN THE BIG THEATER, THE HISTORIC THEATER ON KONITZ STREET ON APRIL 20th.

WE'LL HAVE A RECEPTION WITH A HOST OF THAT VIDEO, HEATHER HOLMES, AND THAT STARTS AT 5:30.

>> ACTUALLY, IT'S CATHERINE ZIMMERMAN.

>> CATHERINE ZIMMERMAN.

>> SHE'S THE VIDEOGRAPHER.

>> THANK YOU.

>> RIGHT.

>> YEAH.

>> THOSE ARE EVENTS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

>> OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND FREE.

THERE IS, I THINK, 470 SEATS AT THE THEATER.

WE'RE HOPING TO FILL IT.

IF YOU COME, YOU WILL LEAVE WITH A LIVING -- A CALENDAR SCHEDULE, AND THEN ALSO NATIVE PLANT SEEDS, SO GOOD WAY TO GET STARTED.

>> AND ALSO FOR SURE WILD ONES HAS CALLED WILD MONARCHS AND THERE IS PLANTING LESSONS INSIDE.

THAT WILL BE A GUIDE AND IT ALSO EXPLAINS ABOUT THE LIFE HISTORY OF MONARCHS AND IF YOU REALLY GET INTO THIS, YOU CAN HAVE YOUR GARDEN CERTIFIED BY WILD ONES AND MONARCH WATCH.

>> FANTASTIC.

IF PEOPLE WANT TO FIND OUT.

YOU'RE ONLINE, YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA, WHAT IS THE QUICKEST WAY TO FIND OUT MORE IF I GO ONLINE, GO TO YOUR WEBSITE AND WHAT IS THE SIMPLEST WAY TO -- >> I WOULD SAY WILD ONES.ORG IS THE FASTEST WAY TO GET A HOLD OF US.

ON FACEBOOK, WE HAVE AN OPEN GROUP TO THE PUBLIC, WHICH IS OAK OPENINGS WILD ONES CHAPTER.

PUT THAT ONE IN, YOU'LL BE ABLE TO FIND US.

>> FANTASTIC.

THANK YOU, BOTH, FOR BEING HERE TODAY.

JULIA GEHRING, DENISE GEHRING, A LOT OF GOOD INFORMATION, AND FOR THE PERSON WHO ISN'T GOOD WITH THEIR HANDS IN THE YARD WITH PLANTS, YOU MAKE IT EASY TO DO.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> EVERYONE IS WELCOME TO PARTICIPATE, ALL LEVELS OF INTEREST, AND KNOWLEDGE.

AND WE'RE THERE TO CONNECT.

>> GREAT, FANTASTIC.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

YOU CAN CHECK US OUT EACH WEEK AT WBGU.ORG, TWEET US #THEJOURNAL AND WATCH US EVERY WEEK ON WBGU TV PUBLIC TELEVISION.

WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN NEXT TIME.