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PAS Garden Home: Inspiring Green

In today's show we are going to focus on making green choices, choices that are environmentally friendly and good for the planet.  We’ll visit the headquarters of Heifer International and the rooftop garden at the Clinton Library, learn how to plant a succulent wreath and try some organic pest control solutions.

Contruction Update
Heifer International
When researching green building techniques the headquarters for Heifer International was a great resource and it’s only a few minutes away from my house.   Ray White discusses some of the environmentally friendly aspects of the building and surrounding landscape.

Friends in the Garden
Presidential Library Rooftop Garden
Debbie Shaw takes us on a tour of the rooftop garden at the Clinton Presidential Library.  The garden not only insulates the building, but it also collects and uses rain water, reducing run off.  Drought tolerant native plants keep the maintenance requirements low.

Hands on Gardening
Succulent Wreath
California artist Margee Rader creates some whimsical topiary with succulents.

Garden How To
Bt
Bacillus thuringiensis, or Bt, is a concentration of bacteria and you can find it in most garden centers.  The active ingredient in BT is actually a toxin produced by the bacteria that kills caterpillars. But it won't harm other beneficials to the garden such as bees and earthworms. It's best to spray as soon use you see or suspect any damage and it may require several applications before you get them under control.

Featured Plants
Cabbage
Alaska Nasturtium
Rainbow Chard

Pets in the garden
Ladybugs
You know, sometimes being green can be downright fun, like releasing lady bugs in the garden. You can order lady bugs from a catalog. When you receive them in the mail the best practice is to immediately release them in the garden. However, if time or the weather gets in the way they can be stored in a cool, dark place like your refrigerator for a couple of weeks. You just want to make sure the temperature is in the 40's.  Lady bugs are good bugs that feed on bad bugs.   They eat the aphids, asparagus beetle larvae and thrips.  They will also eat the worms from grape root worms and the larvae of the Colorado potato beetle. They will go after just about any soft bodied insect. Just release them in the garden and they’ll find the pests.  Now, what's great about using these beneficial insects is of course we cut down on the use of any kind of chemicals in the garden. And another thing that's really great about these little guys is that kids love them. It's a wonderful way to teach children stewardship in the garden.