Well, my last blog talked about the upcoming Garden Writers Association (GWA) annual symposium to be held here in Indianapolis. I’m sure you are all dying to know if I won the Gold in 2011. As a matter of fact, no, I did not. GWA did not award the Gold in my category this year. Both my competition and I had to settle for Silver. As my friend Scarlet once said, “As God as my witness, I’ll never go hungry again”. Now, what does that statement have to do with this blog? Frankly my dear, not a damn thing. It’s just what came into my head and I have to get those things out of my head right away sometimes. Anyways, I’m quite proud of my Silver Award in Electronic Media Writing.

From all the comments I heard, the symposium was quite a success. From the networking, to the breakfast catered by Nourish, to the gardens visited, to the lectures attended, most seemed very pleased. As is so often the case, they were surprised and delighted at the qualities of our city. The folks at Plants Nouveau (Angela Treadwell Palmer and Jim Martin) were so giddy over being here they got hitched – multiple times I think.

We had not one but two camera crews to film here. One was with Oklahoma Gardening. I saw host Kim Toscano shooting with Chad Franer, Director of Horticulture, about the green roof on the Sutphin Mall.

The other crew was Growing a Greener World (a series on Public Television and online) with Joe Lamp’l. They did a piece with Chad on the Rain Garden. Speaking of the Rain Garden, here’s what one GWA attendee said about ours: “Now THIS is a rain garden!  THIS is what it’s supposed to look like!” Jim and Chad did a fantastic design job on that garden.

We visited gardens four of the five days of the symposium. This was three days split 50/50 gardens and lectures, then a full day post-symposium tour. All in all, we visited one urban vegetable garden, four public gardens, two retail gardens, and ten private gardens. It is a lot to pack into four days. Here are a few details and images.

We started our visit to the Wishard Slow Food Garden in White River State Park with yoga.

The Children’s Garden at Garfield Park was a hit with attendees.

It also won the first Jim Wilson Mentoring Award from the GWA. That included a much needed $1,000.

Here’s the overview of the award from GWA: The Jim Wilson Mentoring Award will be presented to the individual or organization in the area of the Annual Symposium that has demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to sharing their knowledge and enthusiasm for gardening, encouraging others who may not otherwise come outside to experience, learn, and have success in garden.

White River Gardens and the Zoo were big hits as well. White River Gardens grows these Victoria waterlilies from seed every year! Can you imagine?

I forgot to take any pictures while we were at the IMA. I was terribly busy, along with the rest of the Horticulture staff, being a good host.

Avon Gardens was a perfect spot for lunch and shopping.

And then you could drop a few more dollars at Soules Gardens.

But I must tell you, it is the private gardens that gets people’s hearts astirrin’ and minds awhirrin’ with story ideas. The private gardens are why people go on the tours. And I think we really impressed them.

So my first ever experience helping to plan a national symposium is over. I want to thank all involved but especially Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp who had the dream and gumption to make it happen. And likewise a special thanks to all my co-workers in Horticulture. I know you have had to come in on many week-ends this year for programs and this was another one. You worked extra hard to make things look so beautiful and I do so appreciate it. And yes, I know there have been times you thought there was a live hand grenade sitting at the table with you.

But bless you all, you didn’t even say a thing to me. Not even when my head went flying across the garden and hit that brick wall.

And it’s a good thing. I’m in close touch with my inner femme fatale.

I could always talk about the weather.

Trust me, it’s been quite the topic of conversations in my circles. It just saps you dry some days. And when you walk out and you can feel the heated air kinda pushing back at you? Like when you open the oven door? Whew! Mercy, I just want to give it all up. Or I see plants almost laying flat because they are so dry? Makes me a bit envious of those that worship the lawn. Lawn is so much simpler. My Ligularia ‘Britt-Marie Crawford’ was gasping by the time I finally turned on the water at home. Last Friday when it looked like there was at least hope for rain? I set up a sprinkler in my front garden to try to lure the rain in. I got a little. Think I’ll try that again this week.

Yes it is hot. But it was 106 in Nashville this week. Could be worse. Yes, it is dry. But at least it’s only been 6 weeks or so. And we had all that moisture in the “bank” from the wet spring. Could be worse.

We have been working hard to keep the plants hydrated so they remain beautiful and healthy. Well, at least healthy. Some plants no matter what you do eventually begin to suffer when a weather onslaught lasts this long. But I have to say things look really good so if you don’t like what you see at home come on over for a visit. You can always find a shady spot to rest.

If you have evergreens especially keep some water on them. Remember all the dead ones after last year’s heat and drought? Add a second year of that and we are going to start seeing major damage. I would never suggest you water the lawn but spend a few dollars on some water to save the trees in your yard. And if you planted anything this spring or last fall give them some extra TLC. We are fortunate to have our own wells here at the IMA. Not that we are attempting to replace all the missing rain with irrigation but we can usually save things that get in peril – usually. And, you know? That’s the best we can do sometimes. If we lose a few plants it’ll still be alright. We are gardeners. We accept some losses and then get all excited about choosing the replacements. Weather be damned, we will go on gardening.

You know. Let’s turn this ole weather negative into something positive. Everybody get up. C’mon, get up. Now get outside and turn the sprinkler on in – or near – your favorite spot in your garden. Here’s the tricky part. Don’t be intimidated. Don’t be shy. You are hot. You are sweaty. You, yes you, you are a wild and free child of nature. Get yourself into that water. And shake some booty. It’s a heatwave and you are too hot to handle!!!

I’m not so big on the whole New Year’s resolution thingie but I do see the start of a new year as an opportunity to do some things different. “That” didn’t work so well last year so I think I’ll try “this” and see if it is an improvement. And “that” and ‘this” could be a plant, a technique, or an attitude.

If we are talking about changing a plant, I have a few questions to ask. Is the new plant going to be resistant to the disease problems of the old plant? Is it going to be happier in the cultural conditions than the old plant? Most importantly, is it going to be prettier than the old plant?

I may not want to do a complete change-out with something I’ve never grown. Then again, I may. Sometimes you just have to jump in with both feet and take a chance. But other times I like having an opportunity to see the plant growing in real-life, or even grow it myself. I get the chance to trial a few things every year. Unfortunately, that can mean spending my hard-earned cash. If I am lucky there will be some I do not have to buy. These are usually just one or two of a new selection being introduced. I just love trialing these new plants. I’ll have moments of “there are just too many new plants to absorb into the market” quickly followed by “more, I need more plants”. It’s quite the roller coaster.

I’m looking forward to observing some of my trial plants from 2010 as this new year progresses. One of my most anticipated is Hydrangea paniculata Little Lime™ (‘Jane’), a dwarf version of ‘Limelight’ that is a part of the Proven Winners line-up.

Photo courtesy of Proven Winners - www.provenwinners.com

Photo courtesy of Proven Winners - www.provenwinners.com

It’s hard to imagine I will be as enthralled with it as I am of ‘Limelight’, but you never know. I love ‘Limelight’. I have not seen a Hydrangea paniculata cultivar I don’t prefer yet. And there are a ton of them to look at. Proven Winners had Little Lime™ in full lime glory in their booth at the Garden Writer’s symposium in Dallas. I was shocked at how green the flowers were. Almost glowing lime green. Fabulous, fabulous, fabulous. My photo doesn’t do them justice.

This cultivar is supposed to stay down around 3 – 5 feet tall. We’ll see. It’s not like I have any problem with my eight foot tall ‘Limelights’, but I am sure some folks would really appreciate a smaller plant. And even I can see where it would be advantageous to have a wider palette to select from. There are times when a H. paniculata would be ideal, until you realize it really does prefer to be over six feet tall. The simple fact is the paniculatas give you some of the best ornamental value possible from a shrub. Add to that, they are tolerant of a variety of soil and light conditions, plus are super cold-hardy.

As with ‘Limelight’ the green color of Little Lime™ is at the bud and post-bloom stages. The flowers are a creamy white in between and eventually take on the usual pinks and burgundies as they age. Little Lime™ will be excellent for fresh cut and dried floral arrangements, as well. Remember, you can trim all the paniculatas for shaping or size control in late winter/early spring and not affect blooming. Shoot, you can even do it in late spring if you don’t get around to it in a timely manner. This is NOT true of the traditional blue and pink hydrangeas. Never do more than a little tipping back on them. Don’t mix them up, people. I mean it!

Another H. paniculata I’m keen to see in bloom is Mystical® Flame (‘Bokratorch’). This one is from Novalis. Mystical® Flame is supposed to bloom earlier than the average paniculata. My hope is that the post bloom color is as magical and flamboyant as the model promoting this plant at the GWA symposium.

The onset of cooler weather brings on burgundy red color to the blooms.

www.novalis.com

Please, please, please be true. This cultivar is also smaller, averaging only 3 ½ to 4 feet tall. It has multiple things going for it then – smaller size, early bloom, and incredible color. All the culture and desirability points mentioned earlier apply here as well.

You may have noticed I tended to not report everything on these plants as fact. That is because I have not grown them for a full season as of yet. You cannot be sure if the hype is correct, no matter how much you may like the plant or the person presenting it, if you have not seen it mature for yourself.

So, welcome 2011. Welcome Little Lime™. Welcome Mystical® Flame. May the four of us and the rest of the world have a stellar year.

Otherwise, I might only think about the current weather….

Have I grown tired of temperatures 20 degrees below normal? Oh, hell yes. It seems so ridiculous to have so many nights in the single digits and it is only mid-December. I guess it is weather like this that makes those of us living in more northern climates so appreciative when Spring returns. You are just so relieved to not have that Ole’ Blue Northern pummel you anymore. At the same time, the snow makes a very pretty landscape. Here’s the view from my office window.

I captured a few images yesterday with my phone while we were shoveling out from another snowfall. Later in the day, after we got all the luminaria built, laid out, and lit, I ran out with the camera to capture a few other areas. Unfortunately the batteries died before I got far. If you have not been here for one of our two luminaria events every December, please put it on your calendar for 2011. 800-1000 luminaria bring a whole new look to the gardens, especially on snowy nights.

The gardens are beautiful in winter but we don’t clean all the walks. Please use common sense when traveling snowy or icy paths. And remember, a stop at the Greenhouse will give you a chance to warm up on really cold days.

In the meantime, enjoy (or tolerate) the cold as best you can. It’ll be spring before you know it.

If the calendar isn’t sufficient to let you know we are close to Christmas, then the weather should give you a clue. Apparently, nature decided all those above normal temperatures needed to be balanced by some below normal temperatures. Then, just to drive the point home, there was the dusting of snow.

But the cold temperatures aren’t all bad. It’s a great excuse for finding some inside activities after you spend some time outside. For instance, we just finished picking up the lumanaria from last night’s Open House (there is another the 16th) so it is good to be back inside. We got the wreaths and lights up a couple weeks ago when it was pretty good weather.

But enough about me for the moment, what about you? Say for instance you come over to the IMA and walk about the gardens or 100 Acres, then, to warm up, you drop in at the Lilly House to experience Christmas at Lilly. Bradley has outdone all previous years of decorating for the season, in my opinion. This is my favorite of all the ones I can remember. Okay, it is true, I don’t remember that many of them. But this is still my favorite. Here are afew highlights you will find:

The mirror at the top of the entrance stairs has been transformed into a lovely winter scene using construction paper. It’s amazing. The mirror shows through where the windows of the buildings are along with the moon.

It would be reasonably simple to do at home. Maybe start with a small project (bigger than a compact) before you get to that huge mirror over the sofa.

The various arrangements are appropriately sparkly.

Love this green based one.

Nothing, and I do mean nothing, says classy elegant décor like a bowl full of shiny sparkly balls. Anybody can do this and always look like a professional decorator.

I like these three tiered plant stands as well.

The Calamondin oranges have been replaced by ‘Meyer’ lemons this year. The glossy foliage looks great and seasonably appropriate.

There are a few fruits but you could hang faux-lemon ornaments on instead or to enhance.

But my absolute favorite room is the dining room. I stepped into this room and I just became weak in the knees. I’d never seen anything so scrumptiously elegant and gaudy at the same time.

I love blue and silver and white for Christmas and this room’s blue paint pretty much demands that color scheme. The touch of purple just makes everything pop. And the paper bells. Oh my gosh. The paper bells. I love them most of all.

They make the room all Christmasy and June-wedding at the same time. I told Bradley that if I got married this winter I wanted it to be right here in this room. And for the record, he agreed to hosting it there. I think it would be the most glorious place to profess your love before one and all.

Of course you can’t think about getting married without thinking of a song about getting married. And you can’t think about  a song about getting married without thinking about “I’m Getting Married in the Morning”. And you can’t think about “I’m Getting Married in the Morning” without thinking about Lypsinka…

I’d be horribly remiss in not mentioning the other toasty spot to find some respite – our Madeline F. Elder Greenhouse. The plants are gorgeous, the air tropical, the shop welcoming. It’s a great place to warm up before heading home or out for another stroll.

One of the great advantages of living in a temperate climate is the glorious colors displayed by the plant community in the fall. Trees, shrubs, and even some perennials seem to want to throw one last orgiastic Las Vegas-style display before winter slaps everyone upside the face and screams, “Go to sleep! Now!”
The reverie is in sight everywhere here in the gardens and grounds of the IMA, from the contemporary gardens near the around the museum building to Oldfields to 100 Acres. You can find a plant somewhere doing its best hoochie-koochie dance to get your attention one last time. How long will the show last? Hard to say. With the drought this year I think it will be a quick peep then lights-out, leaves fall. But, I could be totally off the mark. Nature’s floor shows can be difficult to predict. Your best bet is to get out there and enjoy whatever performances you can catch.
I’m prone to go on and on about paperbark maple, Acer ginnala. I know, I know, I’m prone to go on about everything. Get your own blog. Paperbark maple is a favorite of mine with its fabulous bark, foliage, and fall color. But I want to mention the paperbark’s slightly more subtle friend, three-flower maple, Acer triflorum. We have a few on the north side of the parking garage.

Beautiful foliage, beautiful bark, and good fall color. All on a tree small enough for most any landscape but big enough to provide some shade.

A more traditional maple for shade is this sugar (Acer saccharum) near Deer Zink.

The uncommon Disanthus cercidifolius and our native spicebush (Lindera benzoin) look wonderful in their fall finery.

With Oldfields being an 80-plus year-old landscape many mature trees can be found there. The red maple, Acer rubrum, in front of Garden Terrace is one of the first to color up.

My eye is always captured by the way this sugar maple glows through the other, still green trees this time of year.

It really looks like each leaf is lit from within.

And from beneath it’s just gorgeous.

The service drive going towards 100 Acres is nice, of course.

And the fall colors always create a neat color echo for the pony-truss bridge across the canal.

Within Alfredo Jaar’s Park of the Laments, the fragrant sumac, (Rhus aromatica ‘Grow-low’) are developing their trademark glossy red colors. The switch grass (Panicum virgatum, at the top,) likewise is getting some burgundy in the leaves to go with the silvery flowering plumes.

By the lake, the gray and white bark of a young sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) makes a great background for the very red foliage of Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia).

Down the road along the lake, mulberries (Morus alba) provide a color echo for one of the pieces in Jeppe Hein’s Bench Around the Lake.

Even some of my tropicals are getting in the act. The Tibouchina grandiflora, princess flower or glory bush, around Sutphin Fountain are taking on simply mouthwatering shades of pumpkin orange.

Great color, great texture, what’s not to love? I mean, who cares if it ever blooms? Okay, I would like the purple flowers with the pumpkin foliage. But you can’t always get what you want.

Now, this here ain’t no dog and pony show. It’s the real deal for us garden writers. The Garden Writers Association (GWA) is a highly respected organization of more than 1,800 professionals communicating about gardening, horticulture and the environment. I’ve been a member of GWA about two years now, joining some months after I started writing my IMA blog entries. Every year the GWA gives out awards covering different types of media for all forms of writing, from on-air personalities to photography. In the spring, GWA announces its Silver Award of Merit winners for the various categories. The Gold Awards are not announced until the night of the banquet at the annual meeting. You have to win the Silver in order to be in the running for the Gold.

When I got the Silver back in April I told myself to be happy with that. If I didn’t win gold I would be fine. And I was. But to be honest, I wanted that gold. Wanted it bad. And I was willing to do anything to get it. Anything. Beyond that, I can’t really say much about the selection process for the Gold Award. Except there are judges involved. A lot of judges. Judges located all over the US and Canada. Judges I was willing to “work” with in order to assure my entry would be thoroughly considered.

I had fellow Indianapolis GWA members there to celebrate with me. Here’s the “G-4” posing after the banquet. From left to right they are Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp, Peggy Ammerman Sailors, Carol Michel, and me.

Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp, Peggy Ammerman Sailors, Carol Michel, and me

We have a very busy year ahead for us (along with some other folks). In August 2011, GWA will hold its annual meeting in Indianapolis with the IMA as the host institution. As many as 600 members can be expected to attend. We have a website and you can find us on facebook and twitter. Here’s the video created by Indianapolis GWA member Karen Kennedy for our booth at the Texas meeting.

My award was based on three blog posts I submitted: Me and Barbie, Bzzz. Bzzz., and Echinacea Nation. I would be most appreciative if you check them out when you get the chance.

Does winning this award change anything? Oh, not really. I still get up in the morning, make some coffee, go to work. I still weed and water and design. I still come home and garden some more. Still fix some supper when I come in for the evening. Still get to bed later than I should.

And yet, everything has changed.

I don’t always have that first cup of coffee by myself.

As I design my gardens for 2011 I’ve got somebody right beside me to bounce ideas off of.

Somebody can help pick the eggplant for supper.

Somebody shares the meal made with the eggplant.

And the other pillow isn’t empty every night.

Yes, it’s all changed since Mr. Media Award has come into my life. The sun’s a little brighter. The moon a little fuller. The sky a little bluer. The clouds a little fluffier. But it ain’t love, not real love. This is real love.

So don’t go expecting any changes in what you see or hear from me. Because really……. I’m still just a simple farmboy that likes shiny sparkly things.

As Irvin so beautifully illustrated last week, winter has arrived. I have had to break out my heavy coat and glove liners for working in the gardens.  At home, I’ve had to light the furnace and there have been “three-cat-nights.”  But if I see one more Snuggie or Dreamie commercial , I’ll scream.

Dreamie (via buydreamie.com)

Particularly as I am a traditionalist when it comes to warmth, sticking with moth-eaten wool blankets, like the all purpose flannel of one of my childhood heroes, Linus van Pelt.

Linus, by Charles M. Schulz (via fanpop)

"It just needs a little love!" (via JKönig)

He is of course correct, our gardens just want to be shown a little loving care.

There are several versions of horticultural “blankets” in the vegetable garden of the Tanner Orchard this winter.  The one I am most pleased with is our “cover crop” or “green manure.”  In mid September, after all the squash, carrots, beets, and onions were harvested, I spaded over those areas to more deeply incorporate the horse manure and compost applied in autumn 2008.  Then spread and lightly tilled a thin layer of new compost and did a dense broadcast seeding a mix of Austrian field peas and barley (Pisum sativum and Hordeum vulgare).  The pea will add nitrogen to the soil, and both help smother fall and spring sprouting weeds. Neither plant is hardy below 20F and will die down and be easy to till under  in spring, adding organic matter.

Green manure cover crop

The strawberries get about two inches of straw as a blanket against damage to buds and crowns by drying winds and temps below 20F.  The straw will be raked off in March, when nighttime temps are consistently out of the mid-20s.

To help the asparagus and rhubarb beds get pumped up during 2010, so that they will be ready for cuttings to eat – finally – in 2011, I’m following a recommendation form the ag extension office at Texas A&M University and applying 2 inches of rotted horse manure.  Rain and snowmelt will carry nutrients into the soil, and act as an insulating mulch protecting the shallow crowns of the rhubarb.

Rotted horse manure on asparagus and rhubarb

Finally, the remainder of the beds have been deeply spaded, to bury crop and weed debris.  Then 3 to 4 inches of leaf compost are being added, too be incorporated in the spring of 2010.

aaaaaaah! mmmm! all snug and comfy.

For more on green manure, check out Johnny’s Selected Seeds. No endorsement by the IMA Environmental and Historic Preservation Dept is implied.

Even though I miss my gaudy tropicals terribly I know their demise means the autumnal show is ready to start. And who doesn’t love a good show?

This year the colors are simply spectacular, the reds super intense like the color of first lust, the oranges brilliant as Vegas showgirl costumes, and the yellows absolutely glowing like so many rhinestones on a Porter Wagner jacket. It’s just been a great year to walk about and soak it all in. And it’s lasting a pretty long time too.

I suspect our cooler wetter summer has something to do with the great color. But did you ever wander why the trees and shrubs especially change color? The fact that the trees produce less chlorophyll allowing the red and yellow pigments (carotenoids) to show is fairly common knowledge. The trees also produce more red-purple pigments (anthocyanins). But is that all there is to it? I get regular e-newsletters from my former boss when I interned at the Cincinnati Zoo, Rob Halpern (thanks for the link Katie). He now has his own design/consulting business (ZHCD) and includes in each month’s newsletter a group of links to interesting and sometimes bizarre plant news. In fact these have been such a hit they now have a website devoted to them, plantworldnews.com. Anyway, one of Rob’s recent newsletters included a link about fall color. One theory suggests the reds in autumn color dates back 35 million years when the trees and their insect pests survived a series of ice-ages. Could it be the trees are warning the aphids “my leaves are about to die don’t lay your eggs on me”? It’s a fascinating story you can read in its entirety here. Let me also just say I really wish Rob would sell t-shirts or something with his logo. It’s brilliant.

Okay, enough chatter about color. Let’s look at some color.
Maples of all forms are great this year.

Cornus kousa are well beyond their usual color.

The always reliable Lindera angustifolia are spectacular. I love the glossy oranges and reds these plants develop. And when the leaves do turn brown they hold on til Spring, providing a nice cover for birds and your neighbors prying eyes.

Hydrangea quercifolia is glorious.

How about Hamamelis virginiana in full fall color and full bloom?

Another large shrub looking great this year is Aesculus parviflora draped in bright golden foliage. This native of the Southeast is perfectly happy in the Midwest. And is perfect with the late blooming Aconitum.

Parrotia persica is a tree I would love to see more often. The fall colors are fantastic. Once the leaves drop you have the added value of beautiful bark all winter that, like men, will just get better and better looking with age.

The Liguidambar styracifula ‘Slender Silhouette’ we put in Nonie’s Garden developed the glorious yellows, reds, and burgundys these trees are famous for. While the species becomes a broad pyramidal tree the cultivar Slender Silhouette remains a narrow 4 to 6 feet wide at maturity. I like the clean modern lines of these very vertical plants against the backdrop of the broad horizontal curves of the Efroymson Entrance Pavillion (which isn’t evident in this photo).

Not every year is good for fall color in hostas, but this year the Hosta sieboldiana ‘Elegans’ in Hosta Curve is beautiful in bright amber shades of gold. Lilies even look good.

Just walk around the gardens and everywhere you look there is a beautiful view.

Now let’s compare that fall color to one of Porter’s jackets. Oh, the tragedy of it all. Listen close.

See? Wasn’t that easy to understand? I bet you are already half way out the door to find a tree to hug. Well go ahead. You can come back later to finish this blog.

Now I could go on and on about how much carbon trees soak up, or how they lower the temperatures especially in urban areas, or how they increase the value of your home. But really, does everything in nature have to do something for us or have economic value as a prerequisite for us to care about it? Can’t we just appreciate the trees for what they are? Do you hug your family and friends so you can get close enough to rummage through their pockets for a few dollars? Really people. I’ll stop ranting now.

A musical interlude to calm my nerves.

National Tree Hugger Day is sponsored by American Forests (a conservation group founded in 1875) and IKEA (a fabulous place to shop founded in 1943). They have been working together on environmental projects since 1998. I have been to forests in America and to IKEA and I can honestly say on both accounts – Loved it!

So now that you have decided you are going to hug a tree where do you find one to hug? I like the idea of hugging one near your own home. You know: Think globally, hug locally. But if you cannot find one near you, or you just can’t stop once you start, then come on over to our trees at the IMA. We have lots of huggable trees. Please be careful not to step on surrounding plants. Bad Tree Hugger! Bad!

We love our trees so much here at the IMA that some of us got an early start this week.

Here Katie hugs a sugar maple by our offices.

Jim hugging an American beech along the horseshoe drive at Lilly House.

Native Hoosier Gwyn with a native Tulip poplar.

Another musical interlude.

Some trees are so large it takes a group to hug them properly. Katie’s out of view. This is our big ash tree near Garden Terrace.

Another group hug on the Sutphin Mall red maples.

So as you can see, one can celebrate National Tree Hugger Day alone or with family and friends. Just be sure to get out there and start hugging.

Of course what tree blog would be complete without this song to get stuck in your head all week-end. Enjoy, my tree hugging friends.