00:57
Stacy and Rick introduce the topic—'Birds and Berries'—discussing how the winter season offers unique opportunities to spot and attract birds with the absence of foliage and an increased reliance on berries and fruits for survival.
01:01
They mention various birds seen in the landscape such as Cedar Wax Wings, Cardinals, and Robins, and share that some birds, like Robins, don't all migrate and can adapt to eat fruits and berries in addition to insects.
02:04
Discussion about the importance of berries to wild birds' survival in winter, and Stacy mentions the tendency for birds to prefer certain "ice cream berries" or more appealing berries, while other berries may be left until later in winter when food is scarce.
02:42
Stacy explains the birds' preference for berries that have undergone freeze-thaw cycles, such as holly berries, which soften and become more edible for birds over the winter season.
03:38
They talk about the attractiveness to birds of various shrubs and trees, like Juniper, which has berries and evergreen foliage that provide excellent cover and food sources for birds throughout winter.
04:08
Stacy introduces a specific Juniper variety called 'Gin Fizz' known for its heavy berry set, which is beneficial for birds.
06:01
Ellen provides insight into an interesting avian fact; fish eggs can pass through a duck's digestive tract and survive, meaning birds can help spread fish to bodies of water where they were previously absent.
07:20
A conversation ensues about observing birds like Cedar Wax Wings feeding on viburnum berries in flocks and the communal behavior some birds exhibit while feeding.
09:33
Rick and Stacy segue into the "Plants on Trial" segment, teasing a discussion about a particular tree with beautiful berries useful for feeding birds—'Sweet Sugar Tyme' Crabapple.
10:33
The "Plants on Trial" segment focuses on the 'Sweet Sugar Tyme' Crabapple, which is selected for its resistance to withering, maintaining plump and colorful berries throughout the winter, which is unusual for many crabapple trees.
14:01
Stacy shares the history of 'Sweet Sugar Tyme' Crabapple and its development by Jim Zampini to have persistent, attractive fruit right into the following spring.
18:53
After the break, they introduce the "Gardener's Mailbag" segment to answer questions from gardeners, starting with Jeffrey asking whether it's too late to plant bulbs he forgot to plant earlier.
21:00
Bruce queries about appropriately pruning a 'Temple of Bloom' heptocodium, with Stacy advising removal of a side shoot for the plant's long-term health and aesthetics.
28:45
The show switches to an interview format with Emmy award-winning meteorologist Ellen Bacca to clarify the difference between astronomical and meteorological seasons, discussing the technical reasons and implications for gardeners and meteorologists.
32:51
Ellen explains the practicality of meteorological data for comparing climate data accurately and observing changes in climate patterns, mentioning an example of how snow patterns have shifted from December to January in her local region.
37:03
The importance of understanding the lag between the shortest daylight periods and the coldest seasonal temperatures for plant care and environmental planning is explained by Ellen.
38:21
Closing remarks thanking Ellen for her time and insights, with a reminder for viewers to tune in next week and to check out gardening content online.
