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Past Shows:

Show #13
This week we visit Nashville, Tennessee, home of country music and the
world's largest indoor garden located inside the Opryland Hotel. Water
plants, tropicals and some of the largest trees you can imagine are all
growing happily together in this carefully maintained environment. Ten
acres of gardens anywhere would be beautiful but throw in amazing
waterfalls, put it all under glass and you're talking truly
spectacular. The horticulturist who's been in charge of keeping these
gardens lush for 24 years shares his growing secrets with us and tells
us how to apply those principals to your own home garden.
Ryan Herzberg is with guest relations at the Grand Ole Opry and
welcomes Garden Smart. The Grand Ole Opry began in 1925 when Edwin
Craig started a radio station. It was really basic gospel and country
music at that time and it didn't start becoming popular until an old
time fiddle player by the name of Uncle Jimmy Thompson started playing
at the Opry. This is the 6th house of the Grand Ole Opry. It started on
the 5th floor of the WSM Insurance Building in downtown Nashville. But
so many folks wanted to see the show that the facility couldn't
accommodate them all. The next move was to the Hillsboro Theatre by
Vanderbilt, which was a great place for awhile. The next move was to
the Dixie Tabernacle, east of Nashville. It was a great big building
but the accommodations weren't great - there was sawdust and dirt on
the floor and wooden benches - it just wasn't a great place to see the
Grand Ole Opry show. The next move, in 1939, was to the War Memorial
building in downtown Nashville. In 1943 they moved to the mother church
of country music, the Ryman Auditorium, and spent 31 great years there
developing careers such as Hank Williams, Ernest Tubb and Patsy Cline
as well as living artists such as Jimmy Dickens, Porter Wagner, Bill
Anderson and Dolly Parton. These folks still come around today. On
March 16, 1974 they moved to the current building which seats 4400
folks. They've been here for over 30 years, so you do the math. The 1st
person actually on stage, beside Roy Acuff, was President Richard
Nixon. He opened the show by singing and playing the piano, "God Bless
America," Happy Birthday" (to his wife) and "My Wild Irish Rose."
Although the Opryland Hotel is not as old as the Grand Ole Opry it does
have special features - scenery, plants, etc.
Hollis Malone is the Manager of Horticulture and Pest Control for the
Gaylord Opryland Hotel. Little did Hollis know 24 years into his career
he would be overseeing the largest indoor garden in the world. That's
quite an accomplishment and Hollis provides insight into his past. He
feels he has been one of the most fortunate horticulturists in the
country, especially coming from a small town - Nashville. When growing
up, in his 1st year of college, Hollis got a part time job working for
the Vanderbilt Uniiversity botany department. He fell in love with the
greenhouse business and horticulture in general. From there he went to
the University of Tennessee and obtained a degree in Ornamental
Horticulture and Landscape Design. Between his junior and senior year
he had an opportunity to work at Longwood Gardens as a summer intern
and that had a big influence on him. Little did he know at that point,
after returning home, he would one day have an opportunity to work in
such a wonderful facility. At first he worked in a commercial
greenhouse firm, then he was Cheekwood's first horticulturist and later
started working with the Opryland Theme Park. In 1982 he came on board
at the hotel when they were building the 2nd phase. The building
architect had a great vision of putting a glass room between 2 hotel
wings, as they were adding rooms. His plan was to create a very
tropical garden under glass, one that conventioneers could enjoy. It's
been a great ride ever since because it's been such a learning
experience. Hollis says they've tried a lot of things, many he never
thought would have worked. They've grown things from seed and cuttings,
people have collected things for them and it has been a great
opportunity. Hollis now wants to show us around.
We start with the Magnolias, one of the specimens that most would say
wouldn't grow under glass. These are classic Magnolias, Magnolia
grandiflora, and they're thriving in this indoor environment. It was a
challenge for the architect and Hollis to use southern Magnolias. The
biggest challenge was the fact nobody had done this before. Light was a
big concern, would they survive these conditions. They selected trees
that were about 25 feet tall. The trees were obtained at nurseries in
northern Florida, hoping that because they had grown there they would
be more readily adapted to a warmer environment, like the interior
here. The trees were put in big boxes, brought here on trucks, it took
2 cranes to move and lift the planters, then planted. Bugs posed a
problem and the soil type was of concern. They've utilized IPM
(Integrated Pest Management) successfully. And, they've utilized a soil
media that they use in other gardens, as well. Since then they've kept
the trees pruned and they've grown and flowered well.
Joe and Hollis next talk about the soil medium they use here. It takes
a special mix to accommodate a plant of this size and it's a great
soil. It's about 45% peat moss, has 2 different types of bark (Cypress
bark and Pine bark) for compost, it has some sand in it and Solite
(which is a small rock that helps drainage). This soil was developed by
2 nurserymen with a lot of experience, who work with interior
environments. It's important, inside or outside, to have a good media
or soil. Homeowners could buy this product, it is commercially
available and called Success Soil.
There are real challenges planting a tree this size. When Hollis
planted this tree he had about 6 feet of mix below the ball of the
tree. Although this tree weighed 16,000 pounds it doesn't take a huge
tree for this to happen. The tree settled over 10 years. Because it
settled the gardeners, with good intentions, kept adding more mix.
Hollis shows us where the tree got too deep. They've now taken the soil
back and one can once again see where the roots are starting to flare
out. One wants the root flares to show on trees and shrubs, whether
inside or out. Trees must breathe, covering the flare disrupts this
process, however it is a common mistake many homeowners make. Joe
doesn't see homeowners planting trees this size inside but he does see
the need to focus on providing great soil and he does see the need to
plant trees the proper depth. Make sure that when you squeeze the soil
it retains some moisture but at the same time when you run your fingers
through it that it easily breaks apart, which tells Joe that it drains
very well. Joe also thinks it important to not plant a tree to deeply.
Trees and shrubs can suffocate if planted too deeply, so look for the
flare, plant it right where the trunk flares.
Hollis points out a Mahogany tree that is gorgeous. To move it they
drilled a 2 inch hole through the trunk, then put a car axle through
the hole. That way they were able to lift the tree without damaging the
bark, which is the critical area. Once moved, they removed the axle and
drove in a 2 inch wooden dowel. This transportation method caused less
damage to the tree and it has thrived.
Hollis is very proud of the Palms. There are 8 Palms that are native to
the U.S. and some are in this garden. Two are the Washington Palm,
found in southern California all the way down to the Mexico Baja area
and the Everglades Palm, from Florida and the Everglades National
Forest. It is a swampy palm and grows in water. In this building they
have 63 Palms from all over the world. One is the Sugar Palm, which is
beautiful and large. Many people like to grow palms at home and that
can be easily done. Hollis bought 50 different oddball palms from a
Palm nut/expert in 1985. This expert would go on trips all over the
world collecting Palm seed, bring them back to Miami and grow them.
Hollis bought a small collection in 3 gallon pots, some are quite large
today. The trick to growing Palms inside is to have the right amount of
light. Some like the Kentia Palma or Chamaedorea Palms, the Parlor
Palms are shade growers and they're ideal candidates for the home.
Others like the Butterfly Palm, or Eureka Palm, like full sun and can
be grown outside. Nutrition is important - being able to feed them
regularly, supply them the right kind of moisture is very important to
their success. They need supplemental nutrition because the nutrition
leaches out the bottom. There are a lot of fertilizers that cater to
the Palm grower, so it's easy to buy.
Hollis next shows us a Ficus Tree. Not your typical Ficus tree, like
one would find in Florida. This one comes from the continent of Africa.
It's an unusual tree, but unique. It looks similar to other Ficus trees
but this tree came from a cutting. It was purchased in 1985 from the
Glass Works Factory in Ohio, then shipped to Tropical Ornamentals
Nursery in Del Ray, Florida, grown, then brought here. It has developed
nicely over the years, it's a favorite of the guests. They love the way
it hangs on the rockwork with the roots exposed. These trees have an
architectural look, rather unique. It's aerial roots remind one of
Florida. This typically happens in a humid environment but this
environment isn't humid. Instead there is a large expanse of water and
the roots have a tendency to grow to the water.
Hollis shares his tips on growing Ficus trees inside the house. He
grows them a lot, has them inside his house in the winter and enjoys
them. As he moves them outside in the spring the critical point is to
remember that although they'll grow in full sun, they need to be eased
out slowly. First put them under the porch or under a shade tree
because they need to get used to the sun again. It's like us the first
time out we get sunburned, well the leaves get burned on the tree if
not moved out slowly, they need to get acclimated. Move them gradually,
"acclimate," them is the term Hollis uses. When you move them back in
the winter, do the same thing, ease them back in gradually, they'll
loose some of their foliage anyway because they do like full sun. Joe
thinks that when buying a Ficus tree from a nursery look for one that's
been growing in the shade if you're going to bring it inside, thus a
lower light situation. Don't buy a Ficus tree that's been in a nursery
in full sun, bring it home and take it inside, because it won't
acclimate itself quickly and it will suffer a lot of leaf drop. Try to
match the conditions at the retailer with the conditions in your home
environment.
Eric Johnson has some tips this week for creating interest and focal
points in the garden. Utilize garden art and garden accessories. There
are many exciting pieces to choose from. For example, every garden
should have a garden trellis and a garden arbor. There are wonderful
opportunities to get plants growing on a trellis and show off wonderful
blooming plants. Eric shows us some exciting hanging baskets as well.
These too show off plant combinations very well. These can be used by
hanging from trees or by utilizing garden stakes. One piece adds a
delicate touch to any space. One garden stake is an Iron Hummingbird, a
nice touch. Another is a wrought iron armillary which adds a very nice
touch. These can be moved anywhere in the garden, anywhere one wants a
splash of interest. As you look at your outdoor living spaces think of
creative ways to use garden art and garden accessories to spruce up any
outdoor living space and make it more inviting.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT OUR WEB SITE -- CLICK ON GARDENING TIPS
Joe and Hollis move from the Ficus tree to water plants. Joe is
impressed by the fact that many of the plants here are normally
associated with the landscape, rather than growing in water. For
example a Canna, Tropicanna, is typically used outside. The other
variety of Canna, Bengal Tiger, has rather yellow leaves with some
stripes. Even though one normally sees them outside in flower beds they
adapt quite well to shallow water conditions. Hollis also uses Water
Iris, which normally is a marginal plant, usually found along the edges
of water. As well he uses a lot of regular water plants typically used
in pools in home environments. The feature plant here is the Hardy
Water Lily and it blooms quite well, in fact during the summer it will
bloom for an extended period of time. Then as the light gets lower in
the wintertime it seems to go to sleep, it goes dormant. The majority
of the other plants continue growing. The Lizards Tail, which is
popular, stays in flower throughout the summer in this environment. The
Sagittaria, the Floating Plant or Parrot's Feather will put out roots.
Hollis has used water plants throughout the area to replicate a pond
setting inside. It looks natural but another benefit of water garden
plants or plants growing in water is that they filter out a lot of the
impurities. If you have a small pool and have fish and their waste,
water plants will help clean that up. Their root system takes up
impurities, cleans it up, uses the impurities as a nutrient, the plants
then produce oxygen and at the same time clean the water. Plants do a
tremendous job of that. In fact, a lot of water plants, Water Hyacinth,
for example are used in sewage treatment plants to clean water. Thus,
plants are coming to our rescue in keeping our environment cleaner. Joe
likes the jets of water that cascade from one island to the next. But,
the plants are the star of the show and Hollis says the guests love the
water area.
Joe has noticed Orchids growing throughout the gardens and comments how
Orchids have become popular. Hollis thinks they're easy to grow,
especially the Phalaenopsis. It is probably the best Orchid in this
garden because it does well in this environment. It's a great Orchid
for the homeowner, as well, because it adapts to the temperature and
humidity of the house and they last for a long time. Hollis considers
Phalaenopsis an ever-blooming Orchid. They start blooming in early
spring and bloom into summer. Oftentimes after it gets through blooming
on one spike, if left alone another shoot may develop below the first.
Hollis doesn't cut them back until he really can tell that they've died
back. They're easy to maintain. Keep them evenly moist, water them once
a week if need be. Fertilize them with a quarter strength solution, at
most, every other week. Orchids are easy to take care of. The roots
like light and airy soil. Most are planted in bark or a real coarse
mixture. Some are planted in a lightweight media but most of the time
they're in a soil that drains rapidly. They're epiphytes, they are used
to getting most of their moisture and nutrients out of the air. But in
a hot situation use a coarse medium that water can move through rapidly
so they don't sit in a bog or water for a long period of time. Orchids
are widely available. Hollis utilizes them all over the hotel - in the
lobbies, for special events, in the palms and trees and along the
rockwork. After they bloom, they're reliable about blooming the
following year, both here and at home. Hollis thinks they're great
plants and worth the investment.
Joe notices a falls that looks like something from Jamaica. The
architects visited Dunn's Falls in Ocho Rios and thought it would be
beautiful inside. This is a forty foot manmade mountain. To maintain
the falls they rappel, like they do on cliffs. That is how they prune,
maintain and cleanup the mountain. In addition to cascading water, it
has plants and vines and is framed by 2 large Tupidanthus trees and an
Oleander is in bloom. Hollis is proud of the Bismarkia Palm, a silver
looking palm which requires a lot of light. But the mountain in here
has great light. The tall palm is an Alexander Palm and there are
several here. They bring out the fullness one would see in the Jamaican
mountainside with rich, lush vegetation. There are epiphytes,
bromeliads and orchids. It's a wonderful display of different,
beautiful plant material.
Hollis says he gets as excited today, after 24 years, as he did the
first day. He gets goose bumps, especially when everything is in bloom.
This place is very special. It's a unique idea that came from the
architect and the management of the hotel has carried it out and
they've been able to maintain it all these years and keep the property
in pristine condition. There are many people Hollis would like to thank
for their help throughout the years, for all the information, for all
the education, all the help in acquiring and accumulating these plants,
help in installing the plants and all the good advice over the years
from all the horticulturists from all over the country. Hollis thanks
them all. And Joe thanks Hollis for his time and this tour. It's been
great. Hollis has been a wealth of information, a find himself. Thank
you Hollis.
Links ::
Gaylord
Opryland Resort and Convention Center
Grand Ole Opry
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By GrowJoy
Pollinators are vital to our continued existence. But you may respond - Winter is here, the pollinators are gone. There are quite a few pollinators that overwinter in or near our garden. click here. for an article that will tell you more about how to encourage pollinators in the winter months.
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