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This podcast is designed to give English students extra practice by discussing events, history, culture and language.
Spring is in the air, and it’s planting season – at least in the Western Hemisphere. And Coach Jessica is visiting the VivaLing podcast today. Listen to Jessica talk about her spring plans and pay attention to the vocabulary you can use to talk about spring planting.
Kari: Welcome, Jessica. We’re so glad to have you here with us today. How’s your day going? Jessica: Thank you for having me, and I´m feeling so great today because spring has officially started, and that means warm weather is on the horizon and no more dreary winter!
Kari: Oh, right! I didn't realize it was already spring. It still seems pretty chilly outside. Hey, when did it start anyway?
Jessica: Mmm …. March 20th was the official date this year, but I guess depending on where you live, you might get warmer weather, or you might not.
Kari: Yeah, I guess you´re right. So, what do you like so much about spring anyway? Going to the park? Starting to play sports outside…or what is it for you?
Jessica: Well, for me it´s gardening. I love the planting season. I don't just go out and buy flowers…like these pre-grown annuals that just die at the end of the season. I really like to save my seeds or buy seeds from a catalogue and watch the whole process unfold!
Kari: That is really cool, but, you know, I´m not much of a gardener at all. I´m not even sure what an annual is to be honest.
Jessica: Oh, yeah. It´s a type of flowering plant that a lot of people buy because they tend to be showy, with beautiful spring colors, but they only survive one season if you live in a cold climate, and then you end up throwing out all these plants when the growing season is over.
Kari: Oh, yeah. That sounds kind of wasteful. But what exactly is showy?
Jessica: Yeah, I think it’s wasteful, too. But showy means that they have a really great appearance. It makes people stop and look at them. But anyway, I´m looking forward to growing my plants from the seeds I saved last season because it's always exciting to see which ones will sprout, you know, begin to be a plant, and which are duds.
Kari: What do you mean?
Jessica: Well, some of the seeds just never sprout; those would be the duds.
Kari: All right. And what, in your opinion, is the secret to growing an amazing garden?
Jessica: Well, for sure you need to learn a bit about your plants: what kind of soil they like, how much sunlight and water they need. It takes research and asking around, getting plenty of advice. You need to know how to avoid different plant diseases. You have to think about how to protect your tiny sprouts from different animals like rabbits or birds, for example. It’s not as easy as you think. It’s taken me some time to get better at.
Kari: Oh, that sounds like too much for me, quite honestly, but how did you learn it all?
Jessica: We´ll, to be honest, I´m don’t naturally have a green thumb!
Kari: Wait, wait. Green thumb?
Jessica: Yeah. You know, good at growing things. I don’t have a green thumb. I have an app on my phone, and I ask anybody who seems into gardening for advice whenever I get a chance, but I do have one little secret, and you´re going to think I´m nuts.
Kari: Nuts? You mean like crazy?
Jessica: Yeah, like crazy.
Kari: Okay. Try me.
Jessica: Well, it’s really important for me that I talk to my plants. Every day, I greet them. I ask them how they are. I ask them if they need anything. And sometimes I sing to them or tell them stories.
Kari: What? That does sound a bit nuts.
Jessica: Yeah, I know! But I saw a few articles last year that said that scientists were able to record sounds from plants…sounds they make when they don't have enough water or are injured, for example, and they were actual sounds. Humans don't have the ability to hear them, though.
Kari: So, then, you can't actually hear them respond, right?
Jessica: Well, no, no. But knowing they are trying to communicate has helped me to pay closer attention. I think I´ve gotten better at knowing when my plants are thriving and when they need help. It´s made me more observant.
Kari: Well, that´s interesting, but what's the point of singing to them? That seems a bit out there.
Jessica: Yeah, you´d think. But there are studies that show that plants grow better with beautiful music, respond more to a female voice than a male voice, strangely, and also thrive, you know, do really well in their environment, when nice things are said to them, as opposed to insults. I can send you the links! Seriously! Just check it out for yourself.
Kari: I believe you! I mean, you learn something new every day, right? I’ll have to check out your new garden, and I promise to treat your plants respectfully and be full of compliments when I meet them.
Jessica: You better. Absolutely! Enjoy the great weather at out there, and yeah, I'll invite you over soon!
Kari: Great, looking forward to it! Just make sure one of your plants actually produces a snack for me.