THIS PROGRAM IS MADE BY MPT TO ENRICH ALL OF OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITIES AND IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF OUR MEMBERS.

THANK YOU.

LIVE FROM MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION, THIS IS "DIRECT CONNECTION" WITH JEFF SALKIN.

♪♪] >> JEFF: GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO YOUR "DIRECT CONNECTION."

COMING UP TONIGHT, HOW TO PICK THE PERFECT MARYLAND GROWN CHRISTMAS TREATMENT.

THAT'S AHEAD.

WE BEGIN TALKING ABOUT YOUR HEALTH.

JOINING US IS Dr.

LISA SHULMAN NEUROLOGIST AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND SCHL OF MEDICINE CENTER AND PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND SCHOOL OF MEDICINE.

DOCTOR, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

WE'RE LEARNING MORE ABOUT A LINK BETWEEN HEARING LOSS AND DEMENTIA.

WHAT DOES THE RESEARCH SAY ABOUT THAT?

>> IT IS A PLEASURE TO BE WITH YOU, JEFF.

THERE IS ON ABUNDANCE OF SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE THAT PEOPLE WHO HAVE AGE RELATED HEARING LOSS ARE AT HIGHER RISK FOR MEMORY PROBLEMS AND DEMENTIA.

WE KNOW THAT IT NOT ONLY INCREASES THE RISK OF THESE PROBLEMS, BUT THAT WHEN THINGS ARE DONE TO TREAT THAT SUCH AS USING HEARING RESTORATIVE DEVICE LIKE AIDS OR IMPLANTSES YOU CAN REDUCE THE RISK.

IT IS A VERY CONVINCING STORY.

>> Jeff: WHAT ARE THE POSSIBLE MECHANISMS BEHIND THAT LINK THAT CONNECTION?

>> YOU KNOW IT'S REALLY FASCINATING BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A TOTAL UNDERSTANDING OF IT.

BUT WE DO HAVE A LOT OF NEW CLUES TO THAT.

I MEAN FOR ONE THING, IF YOU CAN'T HEAR WELL, A LOT OF YOUR BRAIN IS BUSY TRYING TO PUT IN LISTEN HING EFFORT.

SO MUCH EFFORT IS PUT INTO LISTENING THAT YOU CAN'T USE YOUR BRAIN FOR THE THINKING PROCESS WHAT YOU WOULD WANT TO BE EDGE GAUGING WITH.

BUT THE IS ALSO A LOT OF IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT HOW THE LACK OF STIMULATION TO THE ON THER TO PATHWAYS TO THE BRAIN CAUSES ATROPHY OFTEN TIME.

AGE RELATED HEARING LOSS IS A PROCESS OF THE INNER EAR.

SO THE LESS YOU CAN HEAR, THE LESS THAT AUTHORRY NERVE AND THE PATHWAYS IN THE BRAIN ARE BEING STIMULATED AND THOSE BEGIN TO WEAKEN THE ONE OTHER PARTS OF THE BRAIN MIGHT WEAKEN WHEN YOU ARE UNABLE TO USE THEM.

>> Jeff: ARE PEOPLE SOMETIMES SLOW TO RECOGNIZE OR ADMIT THAT THEIR HEARING IS STARTING TO GO?

>> VY MUCH SO.

AND THAT IS A REAL PROBLEM.

AND THAT'S WHY, I THINK, IT'S VALUABLE FOR PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT IT HAS MORE SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES THAN THEY MIGHT THINK.

AND ANOTHER PROBLEM IS THAT BECAUSE THEY ARE RELUCTANT TO GO IN FOR AN ASSESSMENT AND FOR CARE, THAT THEY DELAY UTILIZING HEARING DEVICES LIKE HEARING AIDS.

THE ADHERENCE TO PEOPLE WHEN THEY GET HEARING AIDS IS RELATIVELY POOR.

SO THERE ARE A LOT OF REASONS WHY WE NEED TO GET THE WORD OUT TO GET ASSESSMENTS AND TO GET TREATMENT.

>> Jeff: GOOD ARGUMENT FOR MEDICARE COVERAGE OF HEARING AIDS WHICH I DON'T BELIEVE IS THE CASE?

>> YES, YOU ARE INFORMED YOU ARE RIGHT.

MEDICARE DOES NOT COVER HEARING AIDS IT COVERS COCHLEAR IMPLANTS AND THEY ARE IMPORTANT FOR US TO ALL KNOW ABOUT, BECAUSE WHEN PEOPLE HAVE MORE ADVANCED AGE RELATED HEARING LOSS, MODERATE TO PROFOUND HEARING LOSS INCREASING DIFFICULTIES UNDERSTANDING SPEECH AROUND THEM, THE COCHLEAR IMPLANT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED IN TERMS OF THE BEST POSSIBLE MANAGEMENT.

>> Jeff: SO MUCH IS BEING LEARNED ABOUT THE PATHOLOGY OF VARIOUS TYPES OF DEMENTIA INCLUDING ALZHEIMER'S I'M WORRIED SOMEBODY IS WATCHING AND WILL FEEL GUILTY THEY DIDN'T GET A HEARING AID IN TIME WHEN THERE ARE SO MANYTHER POTENTIAL CHEMICAL FACTORS AT WORK, COULD BE FAMILY HISTORY, GETICS, COULD BE VASE USE LAR.

HOW DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT?

>> WELL, IN EARN ITS OF HEARING LOSS, AGE RELATED HEARING LOSS IT IS INCREDIBLE THAT WHEN STUDIES ARE DONE, LOOKING AT ALL OF THE POTENTIALLY MODIFIABLE FACTORS FOR HEARING LOSS OVER TIME AND HEARING LOSS THAT RESULTS IN COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT AND DEMENTIA THE TOP ONE THAT WOULD HAVE THE DWHRATTEST IMPACT -- GREATEST IMPACT IS AGE RELATED HEARING LOSS IT HAS A GREATER IMPACT THAN HYPERTENSION, OBESITY, MANY FACTORS HAVE AN IMPACT AND CAUSE DE34E7B SHAH BUT HEARING LOSS HAS THE GREATEST IMPACT IN TERMS OF SOMETHING BEING REVERSIBLE.

>> Jeff: GENERALLY THERE IS A RANGE OF OPTIONS NOW THERE'S OVER-THE-COUNTER STUFF, SUPER EXPENSIVE CUTTING EDGE, ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE DRIVEN HEARING AIDS.

WOULD YOU SUSPECT THAT ANYTHING THAT IS GOING TO HELP YOU HEAR IS GOING TO POTENTIALLY HELP WITH THE PROCESSES THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT?

>> YES, I AM AAWARE I AM A 234UR ROLL GIFT NOT AN ENT DOCTOR BUT I AM AWARE THAT NONE OF THESE OPTIONS ARE PERFECT.

THEY DON'T DUPLICATE EXACTLY THE SOUND THAT WE ARE USED TO HEARING.

BUT PEOPLE WHO USE THEM REGULAR I WILL, DO BECOME ADAPTED AND ACCOMMODATED TO THEM.

AND THE MAIN THING IS TO CONTINUE TO BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE AND CONNECT WITH OUR ENVIRONMENT.

BECAUSE IT'S LIKE A CASCADE OR A DOMINO EFFECT WHEN PEOPLE CANNOT PARTICIPATE AND THEREFORE THEY BECOME INCREASINGLY SOCIALLY ISOLATED.

WHICH AS YOU KNOW IS UNDERSTOOD AS YET ANOTHER DETRIMENTAL EFFECT.

>> Jeff: OTHER WAYS TO PREVENTED OR STAY AWAY FROM SOCIAL ISOLATION?

I MEAN, WE WANT TO BE IF HEAR SOMETHING AN ISSUE YOU WANT TO BE IN A SITUATION THAT MAYBE A SMALLER GROUP OF PEOPLE MAYBE IT IS A QUIET ROOM.

NOT THE BALL PARK.

WHAT ELSE MIGHT MAKE SENSE?

>> I TALK A L TO MY PATIENTS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING AN EFFECTIVE SELFANAGER.

SOB AN EFFECTIVE SELF MANAGER YOU NEED TO BE AOOD OBSERVER WHAT CONDITIONS WORK BEST FOR YOU AND AVOID CONDITIONS THAT WILL MAKE IT FRUSTRATING AND DIFFICULT TO PARTICIPATE AND TO ENGAGE WITH OTHER PEOPLE.

SO I THINK THAT THAT'S PART OF HAVING ANY HEALTH CONDITION IS UNDERSTANDING THE KINDS OF CONDITIONS THAT WORK BEST FOR YOU AND TO DO YOUR BEST TO EMBRACE THOSE.

>> Jeff: ALL RIGHT.

SO THE BIG TAKEAWAYS ON HEARING AND DEMENTIA NUMBER ONE, THERE IS A LINK AND THERE IS NO DOUBT ABOUT IT, WOULD YOU SAY?

>> NO, THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.

THERE'S SO MANY STUDIES BIG STUDIES, STUDIES THAT HAVE, YOU KNOW, BEEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT INVOLVING MORE THAN 100,000 PEOPLE SOME OF THE STUDIES THEY ARE HIGH QUALITY STUDIES.

I, MYSELF, AM INVOLVED IN A STUDY WHERE WE ARE COMPARING HEARING AIDS TO COCHLEAR IMPLANTS IN PEOPLE WITH AGE RELATED HEARING LOSS AND SEEING IF WE CAN DELAY AND PREVENT COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT.

THERE'S INCREASING INTEREST WHAT WE CAN DO TO REDUCE THE RISK OF DEMENTIA.

>> Jeff: AND THE OTHER BIG TAKEAWAYS ARE THAT IT'S IMPORTANT TO STAY SOCIALLY CONNECTED AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO ACT AS EARLY AS YOU REASONABLY CAN TO DEAL WITH HEARING LOSS?

>> VERY GOOD POINT, BECAUSE THERE WAS A RECENT PAPER THAT SHOWED THAT EVEN VERY MILD HEARING LOSS H AN IMPACT ON THE RISK OF DEMENTIA.

IN FACT, WHEN YOU DO IMAGING STUDIES OF THE BRAIN YOU CAN ACTUALLY SHOW THAT CERTAIN AREAS OF THE BRAIN IN PEOPLE WHO HAVE MILD HEARING LOSS ARE NOT AS THE VOLUME IS REDUCED.

SO THE EFFECTS BEGIN QUITE EARLY.

>> Jeff: WE WERE TALKING BEFORE THE PROGRAM ABOUT YOUR MEDICAL PRACTICE, THE PEOPLE YOU SEE WITH DIFFERENT DEGREES OF COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT AND THE BENEFITS OF NOW HAVING SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN DESCRIBE.

WHAT IS THE CUTTING EDGE THERE?

>> WELL, I THINK MORE AND MORE PEOPLE ARE NOW HEARING THAT OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS OR SO, THE F.D.A.

APPROVED NEW THERAPIES FOR ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE WHICH IS A HUGE DEAL, BECAUSE FOR YEARS WE HAD VERY LITTLE TO OFFER.

THESE THERAPIES WHICH AREN'T NECESSARILY EASY TO USE BECAUSE THEY ARE INTRAVENOUS INFUSIONS EVERY COUPLE WEEKS HOWEVER THE BIG THING ABOUT THEM IS THEY FUNDAMENTALLY ALTER THE MECHANISM INVOLVED IN ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE DEMENTIA.

AS YOU MAY HAVE HEARD, ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE IS INVOLVED WITH HAVING BOTH PLAQUES AND TANK OWLS THE PLAQUES ARE HAD MADE OF AMYLOID AND THE NEW THERAPIES ACTUALLY BREAKDOWN THE AMYLOID AND VIRTUALLY GET RID OF THE AMYLOID IN THE BRAIN.

THE RESULT I A SLOWING DOWN OF THE PROION OF PROGRESSION OF COGNITIVE DECLINE.

IT IS NOT AS ROBUST AS WE'D LIKE IT TO BE.

IT'S A SLOWING DOWN OF ABOUT 30% OVER A PERIOD OF 18 MONTHS.

BUT IT'S STILL A HUGE STEP FORWARD IN THE TREATMENT OF ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE.

>> Jeff: HOW OPTIMISTIC DOES THAT MAKE YOU FOR THE MEDIUM TERM AND THE LONG-TERM?

>> YOU KNOW, WHAT HAPPENS IN EVERY FIELD AND I'VE BEEN WORKING IN NEUROLOGY FOR A LONGTIME NOW, BUT WHEN YOU HAVE A BREAKTHROUGH LIKE THI IN A FIELD WE SAW THIS IN MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS WHEN YOU HAVE A BREAKTHROUGH IT IS A HUGE MOTIVATOR FOR RESEARCH.

AND THE ENGINE OF RESEARCH TO TURN THEIR ATTENTION 0 THIS.

AND LITTLE BY LITTLE, I WOULD EXPECT TO SEE MORE AND MORE PROGRESS AND IMPROVEMENT.

>> Jeff: Dr.

LISA SHULMAN JOINING US FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND SCHOOL OF MEDICINE.

DOCTOR WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> IT'S PLY PLEASURE.

>> Jeff: AND WE -- EU6789D.

>> IT'S MY PLEASURE.

>> Jeff: AND WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> Jeff: WELL,TIES THE SEASON FOR ENCOUNTERING THE COLD AND DARK WITNESS A CHRISTMAS TREE.

THERE ARE A SURPRISING NUMBER OF TREE FARMS AROUND THE STATE AND JOINING US FROM THEIR FARM NEAR DENTON ON THE EASTERN SHORE ARE CHARLES CAWLEY AND AMY CAWLEY.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

AND TELL US ABOUT YOUR FARM?

>> WELL, WE'VE BEEN A FAMILY FARM OPERATION FOR OVER 100 YEARS AS A FAMILY.

GREAT GRANDPA CAME IN 1915.

AND WE HAVE BEEN GROWING TREES SINCE 1996 AND MY DAUGHTER DOES THE WREATHS IT IS A FAMILY OPERATION, MY SONS AND GRANDKIDS ARE HELPING NOW.

>> Jeff: WHAT ARE THE BEST PARTS AND THE HARDEST PART OF THE JOB?

>> WELL, THE BEST PART IS WHEN A CUSTOMERS LEAVE HAPPY WITH THEIR TREE AND WREATHS AND THEY HAD A GREAT TIME WITH THEIR FAMILY.

AND THE HARDEST PART IS KEEPING THE TREES ALIVE AND WITH THE PESTS AND DROUGHT AND DEER PRESSURE THAT WE HAVE HERE AND THE HEAT.

>> IT'S TOUGH TO GROW A TREE ON EASTERN SHORE WE ARE 20 FEET ABOVE THE SEA LEVEL.

DROUGHT AND DISEASE PRESSURE AND JUST IT'S TOUGH TO GROW TREES HERE BUT WE DO DO IT.

>> Jeff: TELL US ABOUT THE VARIETIES.

WHAT D PEOPLE WANT?

YOU WANT SOMETHING THAT LOOKS GOOD THAT THE ORNAMENTS AREN'T GOING TO FALL OFF AND IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN EASILY GROW THERE?

>> THE FAFORT TREE IS THE FRASER FIR.

THERE'S COLORS NEXT TO US WE CAN'T GROW THOSE HERE BECAUSE OF THE CLIMATE WE GROW DOUGLAS FIRS AND PINES AND SPROUSES AND THEY ARE BEAUTIFUL TREES AND SINCE WE GROW OUR OWN THEY ARE FRESH BUT THE EXPERIENCE IS THE FAMILY COMING OUT AND CUTTING THEIR OWN TREE THAT IS WHAT THEY ARE HERE FOR.

>> Jeff: YOU ARE THE CURRENT PRESIDENT OF THE ASSOCIATION OF MARYLAND SEXUALLY CHRISTMAS TRE.

TELL US ABOUT THE GROUP, 75 MEMBERS?

>> WE HAVE 70 MEMBERS SPREAD ACROSS THE STATE.

IT IS A GREAT GROUP.

A LOT OF MA AND POP OPERATIONS DOING THE SAME THING TRYING TO PROVIDE A SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY AND START A TRADITION OR KEEP A TRADITION GOING.

THAT IS HOW WE DID IT.

AND IT'S SOMETHING I'M GLAD TO BE PRESIDENT OF.

AND WE ARE DOING WELL THIS TELEVISION IS GOING TO HELP OUR MEMBERS ACROSS THE STATE.

THE ASSOCIATION HAS A WEBSITE IF YOU NEED TO FIND ONE GO TO THE WEBSITE OR GO TO MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF AG AND THEY HAVE A SEARCH ENGINE TO FIND OUR MEMBERS ACROSS THE STATE OF MARYLAND.

>> Jeff: LET'S HELP YOUREMBERS OUT.

I HAPPEN TO BE IN A HOME GOODS, A LOWE'S STORE THIS AFTERNOON AND THEY SELL CHRISTMAS TREES THERE NOW AND THERE IS A ROW PICKING UP AND PUT IT IN THE TRUCK OR WHATEVER.

WHY IS YOUR EXPERIENCE SO MUCH BETTER?

>> WELL, YOU COME TO A REAL FARM WHERE WE GROW TREES NOT A STORE OR BOX STORE WHERE THEY BROUGHT THEM IN FROM WHO KNOWS WHERE AND OUR TREES ARE FRESH.

YOU ARE CUTTING YOUR OWN TREE AND WE KNOW HOW TO TAKE CARE OF TREES WE BRING IN PRECUT TREES BUT WE CUT EVERY TREE AND DISPLAY THEM IN WATER.

BECAUSE A TREE FARMER WE DON'T WANT TO SELLOUT DRIED OUT TREE AND THE BIG BOX STORES DON'T CARE THEY WANT A SALE.

WE WANT THE EXPERIENCE TO SEARCH FOR THE TREE, THE CUTTING OF THE TREE AND TAKING IT HOME.

>> WE ALSO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR CUSTOMERS.

WE HAD A FAMILY THAT WAS HERE SATURDAY THAT HAD BEEN COMING FOR 13 YEARS THAT RELATIONSHIP THAT WE BUILD WITH THE FAMILIES, IS NOT SOMETHING THAT YOU'LL FIND AT A BIG BOX STORE.

>> Jeff: IT MUST BE A COST DIFFERENCE.

HOW BIG A DIFFERENCE DID IS THERE FOR AN AVERAGE SIZED TREE?

>> COST DIFFERS BETWEEN US AND A BOX STORE?

>> Jeff: I DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY GET THEM, CANADA OR THE CAROLINAS.

BUT THEY ARE DOING IT AT SCALE.

>> THEY ARE BUYING A LOT OF TREES THE BIG BOX STORES AND IN MY OPINION I BELIEVE THEY ARE SELLING THEM AS A LOSS LEADER THEY MIGHT BE SELLING LESS THAN WHAT THEY PAID FOR TO BRING THEM INTO THE STORE.

LIKE DAD SAYS THESE CAME FROM NORTH CAROLINA.

THEY ARE PRICED WHAT WE NEED TO PRICE TO COVER THEIR COST AND BUY MORE PRECUTS NEXT YEAR.

WHEREAS THE BOX STORE MAY SELL THEM $50 I SAW AT THE LOCAL STORE THESE START AT $95 BEHIND US.

>> Jeff: WHAT IS AN ENVIRONMENTAL VIEW OF WHAT YOU GUYS DO ON THE FARM?

I MEAN, IT'S DRIVING AROUND THIS TIME OF YEAR YOU SEE SO MANY VEHICLES WITH A TREE STRAPPED TO THE ROOF IT ALMOST LOOKS LIKE DEER SEASON AND YOU FEEL BAD FOR THE TREES.

THE GOOD THING IS YOU ARE PLANTING MORE TREES FOR EVERYONE YOU CUT?

>> WE'RE PLANTING A COUPLE THOUSAND A YEAR.

YOU LOSE 10% A YEAR.

WE'VE GOT TO LOOK OUT, 10, 12, 13 YEARS IN THE FUTURE.

IT IS NOT JUST A ONE-YEAR DEAL.

THE TREE LOT WE HAVE A PICTURE OF A SLAY AND PHOTO OPPORTUNITIES FOR FAMILIES WE'RE BUILDING MEMORIES IS WHAT WE'RE DOING.

OUR TREES MAYBE MORE EXPENSIVE AND PRECUTS IN THE LOT THEY AREN'T DIFFERENT THAN MOST OF THE BIG BOX STORES.

>> Jeff: YOU MENTIONED THAT YOU LOSE ABOUT 10% A YEAR.

IS THAT FROM THE SEED OR SEEDLING ALL THE WAY TO HARVEST?

AND WHAT ARE THE REAL RISKY POINTS THERE?

>> WELL, THAT IS A GOOD POINT.

IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S EASY PLANT A TREE AND LET IT GROW AND IT DOESN'T WORK THAT WAY.

WE'RE TRYING TO GROW VARIETIES THAT DON'T LIKE GROWING HERE.

WE'RE PLANTING FOUR-YEAR-OLD TREES 2s 2s.

AND THE CANNON FIRS WE PLANT THOSE ON IRRIGATION TO THEY HAVE WATER AND THICK GRASS WE HAVE A DECENT TREE IT IS NOT AN EASY DEAL.

YOU HAVE TO SPRAY THE PESTS THE HARDEST PART IS SHEERING CHRISTMAS TREES IN JULY AND AUGUST AND YOU HAVE TO FERTILIZE THE TREES AND MAKE SURE THEY DON'T DIE.

LAST YEAR, WE ENCOUNTERED 90° TEMPERATURES IN APRIL AND THE TREES HAD BROKEN BUD WE LOST TREES LAST YEAR THAT WE NEVER LOST BEFORE.

IT'S FARMING.

IT'S RISKY BUT WE DO IT BECAUSE WE WANT TO SEE FAMILIES COME OUT AND JUST ENJOY CHRISTMAS AND ENJOY COMING TO A REAL FARM AND GETTING A TREE THEMSELVES ONE THEY PICKED OUT.

OR AMY MOO -- >> Jeff: AMY IF SOMEBODY WATCHING US IS STARTING TO THINK, I COULD PLANT A TREE IN THE BACKYARD AND 10 YEARS FROM NOW WE WILL HAVE AN AWESOME CHRISTMAS WHAT DO THEY NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE STEPS YOU TAKE?

AND TALK ABOUT SHEERING THAT IS MOSTLY FOR THE STYLE OF IT, THE LOOK AND DENSITY?

>> YEAH, THE SHEERING IS TO SHAPE THE TREE AND GET THE SHAPE MOST PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR.

IF YOU PLANT A TREE IN THE YARD AND LEAVE IT OUT WITHOUT LOVE TO GO IT WILL GROW OR IT MIGHT DIE BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT GIVING IT CARE.

IT NEEDS WATER, FERTILIZER, IT NEEDS SUN.

IT NEEDS TO BE KEPT AN EYE ON FOR THE INSECTS DAD IS TALKING ABOUT.

THERE IS AN INSECT THAT WILL EAT ALL THE NEEDLES OFF THE TREE AND IT WILL AFFECT NEIGHBORING TREES TOO.

IT IS NOT EASY WHERE IT'S HOT, SANDY AND DRY.

AND DAD HAS TO HAVE THE FORESIGHT 10 YEARS FROM NOW TO HAVE AN IDEA WHAT HE THINKS CUSTOMERS WILL WANT AND TRYING TO EDUCATE CUSTOMERS WE DIDN'T JUST PLANT THAT TREE I ASKED KIDS HOW LONG DO YOU THINK THAT TREE TOOK TO GROW AND THEY SAID ONE YEAR, TWO YEARS?

AND I SAID, NO ABOUT 10 YEARS THEY WERE BLOWN AWAY.

IT IS A LOT THAT GOES INTO THAT PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE AND I HOPE WE CAN EDUCATE PEOPLE.

IT'S A LONG PROCESS PROBABLY LONGER THAN NORTH CAROLINA BECAUSE OF THE ELEMENTS WE FACE.

>> Jeff: NOBODY HAS COME UP WITH A GENETICALLY MODIFIED CHRISTMAS TREE YET I DON'T KNOW THREE YEARS FROM SEEDLING TO EIGHT FEET TALL?

>> WELL, I TELL HIM HE NEEDS TO GIVE THEIR STEROIDS THAT MAKES THEM GROW FASTER.

>> Jeff: WHAT WITH WHEN PEOPLE GET THEM HOME, SOMETIMES THEY WILL CUT A FRESH BOTTOM ON IT TO LET THE WATER SOAK IN BETTER.

ANY OTHER TIPS TO KEEP IN THE LEAVES GREEN THROUGH HOLIDAY AND FROM A SAFETY STANDPOINT AS WELL?

>> KEEP IT AWAY FROM HEAT AND KEEP IT IN WATER.

DON'T LET IT RUN OUT OF WATER AND KEEP IT AWAY FROM HEAT.

THE TWO THINGS TO KILL A TREE.

>> YOU CAN SPRAY THEM WITH A MIST BOTTLE THE NEEDLES WILL TAKE THE MOISTURE INTO THE LEAVES.

USE A MIST BOLLI AND IT HELPS THE HUMIDITY.

>> Jeff: I READ SOMETHING ABOUT PAINTING TREES IF SOMEBODY WANTS A CERTAIN COLOR AND I'VE WONDERED ABOUT THIS MIGHT HAVE SEEN SOME ON A NONFARM LOT THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN SPRAY-PAINTED A LITTLE BIT TO LOOK GREENER THAN THEY WERE.

IS THAT A THING?

>> IT IS A THING I DON'T DO IT ANYMORE OUR WHITE PINES WILL YELLOW AND BECAUSE OF THE CHANGE IN TEMPERATURE.

AND THERE IS A PRODUCT CALLED GREENS IT, WHICH IS NOT TOXIC BUT YOU CAN DYEING THE TREE A GREEN COLOR AND FUNNY PART IF YOU DO A BLOCK OF WHITE PINES WITH THE GREEN PAINT PEOPLE BUY THOSE BEFORE THEY BUY THE OTHERS.

WE DON'T SELL A LOT OF WHITE PINES.

AND THE BRONZING LOOKS PRETTY WITH LIGHTS ON IT.

YOU WILL SEE MORE AND MORE YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL THE TREE YOU ARE GETTING IS REALLY A GEN TREE.

YOU CAN LOOK AT THE TRUNK TO SEE IF THERE'S DYE ON IT BUT WE DON'T DO THAT HERE ANYMORE.

>> AND ALSO PEOPLE WILL SPRAY THEM WHITE, GREEN, PINK, PURPLE EVERYBODY HAS THEIR OWN TASTE.

>> Jeff: A TALKER.

AMY, IS IT TRUE THAT YOU HAVE SOMETHING IN COMMON WITH TAYLOR SWIFT?

I READ SHE GREW UP ON A CHRISTMAS TREE FARM?

>> I THINK I HEARD SHE HAS A CHRISTMAS TREE SONG OUT WHICH I DID NOT KNOW UNTIL I SAW IT ON A SOCIAL MEDIA PAGE.

YEAH, I AM NOT A SWIFTIE BUT IT'S COOL WE HAVE SOMETHING IN COMMON.

>> Jeff: AND CHARLES BEFORE WE GO, ANYTHING THAT YOU WANT MARYLANDERS TO KNOW FROM THE STANDPOINT OF THE CHRISTMAS TREE GROWERS ASSOCIATION, ANY BUSINESS THAT YOU WANT THE STATE MAYBE OTHER FARMERS TO KNOW ABOUT?

>> WELL, JUST THE GENERAL PUBLIC JUST ME THE EFFORT AND GO TO A LOCAL FARM.

I THINK YOU WILL APPRECIATE THE EXPERIENCE OF GOING AND MAKING LONG-TERM RELATIONSHIPS AT THESE AREA FARMS THAT ARE THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

THAT IS WHAT'S HERE.

WE HAVE PEOPLE COMING BACK YEAR AFTER YEAR AND START A TRADITION.

FROM THE ASSOCIATION THAT IS WHAT THEY DO THEY ARE SPREAD ALL OVER THE STATE.

WE'RE ABOUT PEOPLE AND SERVING PEOPLE AND A LOT OF KIDS.

WE WANT TO SEE THE KIDS COME OUT AND HAVE A GOOD TIME.

>> MAKE MEMORIES THEY CAN CARRY WITH WITH THEIR LIFETIME LIKE I HAVE.

>> Jeff: ANYBODY WATCHING US SITTING NEXT TO THEIR FAKE PLASTIC CHRISTMAS TREE THAT THEY JUST GOT OUT OF THE BOX.

>> IT WILL BE AROUND FOREVER.

>> Jeff: YOU WISH THEM A MERRY CHRISTMAS AS WELL.

>> MY COMPROMISE AND BUY A REAL WREATH.

>> WE STILL WANT YOU TO COME TO THE FARM AND ENJOY THE SMELL OF THE FARM AND THE TREES WE ALLOW PETS.

THE FIRST THING PEOPLE SAY ARE WHERE ARE THE DOGS WE TWO CHOCOLATE LABS, AND THEY DON'T WANT TO KNOW WHERE SANTA IS THEY WANT THE DOGS THAT IS THEIR MEMORY THEY REMEMBER COMING TO A FARM AND THEY GOT SOME OF OUR FARMERS HAVE PETTING ZOOS.

THAT IS WHAT THE KIDS REMEMBER AND WE HAVE THE NEXT GENERATION OF KIDS THAT HAVE KIDS COMING NOW WHICH IS COOL.

>> Jeff: WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

AND WE WISH YOU THE HAPPIEST OF HOLIDAYS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> MERRY CHRISTMAS AND THANK YOU.

>> YEP, MERRY CHRISTMAS.

>> Jeff: FOR MORE INFORMATION ON MARYLAND CHRISTMAS TREE GROWERS TO FIND A FARM IN YOUR PART OF THE STATE VISIT MARYLAND CHRISTMAS TREES.ORG.

OUR THANKS TO THE CAULEY'S.

AND THAT IS "DIRECT CONNECTION" WE'RE BACK FRIDAY FOR "STATE CIRCLE" THE LATEST ON MARYLAND POLITICS JOIN US FRIDAY EVENING AT 7:00 P.M.

YOU CAN SEE PAST EDITIONS OF OUR PROGRAMS ON-LINE AT VIDEO.MPT.TV AND THE FREE PBS APP AND YOU CAN FIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIA AT MPT NEWS.

FOR ALL OF US AT MPT THANK YOU FOR WATCHING "DIRECT CONNECTION" AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

[♪♪]