>> PEOPLE LOVE NATURE.
IT'S CALLE BIOPHILIA.
BIOPHILIA IS A INNATE, EMOTIONAL, HUMAN CONNECTIO TO NATURE.
ERIKA: THAT LOVE OF NATURE IS INTENSIFIED IN THE AGE OF COVID AND IS FEEDING AN EXPLOSION OF INTEREST IN GARDENING.
HERE IN SOUTH HAMILTON, FLOWER POWER IS ON FULL BLAST.
>> THIS IS A LOT OF WORK BUT IT IS MY PASSION.
I'M HAPPIEST WHEN I'M HERE.
ERIKA: ROBIN WHIMSICLE HOME GARDEN IS AS STORY BOOK AS THEY COME.
>> STRANGERS WILL SAY I DRIVE BY YOUR HOUSE, IT MAKES ME SO HAPPY.
ERIKA: ANIMALS ARE THE MOTIF, EVEN MINI ONES, WITH THEIR OWN CASTLE AND SWING SET.
THAT'S THE FRONT YARD.
OUT BACK, A PLAYHOUSE INSPIRED BY THE WORK OF RHO DAHL.
>> MY STYLE IS FULL-ON COLOR.
THERE'S NOTHING SUBTLE.
I LOVE TO MIX COLORS.
I'VE BEEN DOING CUSTOM PAINTED FURNITURE.
I DESIGN THINGS FOR EMBROIDERY AND NEEDLEPOINT.
IN THE WINTERTIME, I'M DESIGNING ON PAPER AND FABRIC.
IN THE SUMMER, WITH FLOWERS AND DIRT.
ERIKA: HER FATHER WAS A TOY INVENTOR AND HER MOTHER WORKED IN FASHION.
THEY, TOO, WERE AVID GARDENERS.
>> THE FLOWERS ARE THE SUBJECTS OF MY PAINTINGS.
I LOVE CREATING JOYFUL, BEAUTIFUL THINGS.
AT THE SAME TIME, IT'S CREATING AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE THE BEES AND ALL THE BUTTERFLIES C COME.
ERIKA: DAFFODILS AND FORGET-ME-NOTS MAY BLOOM IN SPRING BUT SHE'S KNOWN FOR SUMMERTIME SHOWSTOPPERS, DAHLIAS.
>> ONE DAHLIA PLANT, I PUT IT AWAY IN THE WINTER AND I CAN GET FIVE TO 10 TUBERS FROM THAT PLANT.
THEY MULTIPLY.
I THINK I HAVE 75 OR 80 DIFFERENT VARIETIES.
I DON'T DO THEM FOR SHOWS.
I REALLY DO IT JUST TO CREATE THIS INCREDIBLE EXPLOSI OF COLOR.
ERIKA: SHE STEERS CLEAR OF CHEMICALS AND ROTATES HER CROPS, INCLUDING VEGETABLES.
>> COMPOST IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING.
I USE TONS OF COMPOST.
I MAKE MY OWN COMPOST.
ERIKA: THE BIGGEST SURPRIS FOREST CRITTERS DON'T STUFF THEIR FACES WITH THE FREE BUFFET.
>> THERE'S A THEORY OF GARDENING WHERE YOU'RE CO-EXISTING WITH NATURE, WITH THE BUGS, WITH THE ANIMALS.
PUT A FENCE AROUND IT IF YOU HAVE RABBITS OR CHIMPMONKS.
OR LEAVE THE CLOVER IN THE GRASS SO THE RABBITS HAVE SOMETHING ELSE TO EAT.
ERIKA: MEET JANIC GOODMAN, FERRY GODMOTHER OF HOUSE PLANTS.
>> PLANTS MAKE PEOPLE HAPPY.
THEY CLEAN THE AIR, THEY REMOVE V.O.C'S.
AND IF YOU CAN'T BE OUTSIDE, YOU CAN HAVE PLANTS AROUND.
ERIKA: GOODMAN IS C.E.O. OF BOSTON-BASED PLANT COMPANY.
SPROUTS IS HER PASSION.
SHE ASSURES WANNA-BE PLANT PARENTS, DON'T BE NERVOUS WITHOUT A GREEN THUMB.
>> THERE ARE EASY PLANTS LIKE A ZEZE PLANT WHICH IS THE ETERNITY PLANT -- LOW LIGHT, LOW WATER THE SNAKE PLANTS -- THEY USED TO CALL THEM MOTHER-IN-LAW'S TONGUE YOU BUT I WOULD NEVER SAY THAT.
JACKIE, I LOVE YOU.
ERIKA: NURTURE PLANTS WISELY.
>> PICK A DAY, WATERING WEDNESDAY.
YOU TAKE CARE OF YOUR PLANTS THAT DAY.
THAT DOESN'T MEAN YOU HAVE TO WATER THEM EVERY WEEK.
IF YOU OVER-WATER, YOU ROT THE ROOTS.
BUT IF YOU UNDER WATER THEM, YOU CAN BRING THEM BACK TO LIFE.
ERIKA: FEEL THE DIRT TO CHECK FOR MOISTURE.
>> YOU NEVER WATER IN THE MIDDLE OR IN ONE SPOT.
YOU HAVE TO WATER THE WHOLE ROOT BALL BECAUSE THERE'S ROOTS THROUGHOUT.
ERIKA: PROTECT FROM PESTS BY CLEANING LEAVES WITH A DAMP CLOTH.
ADD DISH SOAP O ROSEMARY OIL TO WATER AND SPRAY THEM DOWN.
>> THERE'S NO REASON TO USE PESTICIDES.
ERIKA: HERBS ARE EASY TO GRO SAYS RENEE BOLIVAR EXAMPLES INCLUDE SAGE, TIME AND SORREL.
>> THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE PLANTS THAT TASTES LIKE LICORICE ERIKA: HERE RECIPES USE HERBS AND VITABLES TO DRESS UP COCKTAILS.
>> I USE RHUBARB, SUGAR, LET IT SIMMER DOWN AND ADD THIS TO A VODKA BASED DRINK OR EVEN JUST HA A SODA.
ERIKA: BOTH BOLIVAR AND GOODMAN GREW UP GARDENING.
>> YOU'RE OUTSIDE AND GETTING FRESH AIR.
YOU GET HEALTH BENEFITS FROM PLANTS.
YOU CAN'T EXPLAIN THAT TO PEOPLE.
THEY HAVE TO EXPERIENCE IT.
>> YOU ARE NURTURING SOMETHING AND WATCHING IT GROW.
IT'S AMAZING.
ANTHONY: IN ADDITION TO HER PLANT DESIGN COMPANY, JANICE GOODMAN IS CO-OWNER OF UTOPIA, A DESIGN SHOW HELD AT THE BOSTON DESIGN CENTER SCHEDULED FOR NEXT SPRING.
IF YOU WANT TO TRY RENEE'S STRAWBERRY RHUBARB VODKA PUNCH, THE RECIPE IS ON OUR WEBSITE.
CO