Latest / The Beanstalk : A Podcast for Gardeners / Episode 46 – Globemallow – Fiery, Fearless, and Resilient

Transcript

Episode 46 – Globemallow – Fiery, Fearless, and Resilient · The Beanstalk : A Podcast for Gardeners

0:28
Welcome back to the Beanstalk, fellow beans.
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My name is John, your neighborhood garden buddy.
0:36
And today, we're heading into the dry side of the garden to
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talk about a plant that thrives where others throw in the towel.
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Globe Mallow. If you've ever looked at a hot,
0:50
sunny, gravelly patch of soil and thought nothing's going to
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survive there, this plant is about to change your mind.
1:00
Globe Mallow is bold, drought tough and absolutely electric in
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color. It's one of those natives that
1:08
doesn't just tolerate harsh conditions, it seems to enjoy
1:12
them. And if you're building a water
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wise or pollinator friendly landscape, this is 1 you'll want
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to know. Why grow globe mallow?
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First, let's talk about impact globe mallow, especially the
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species most commonly grown in the West.
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It produces waves of cup shaped flowers in blazing shades of
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orange, apricot, salmon, and sometimes even soft pink
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depending on the variety. The silvery Gray foliage adds
1:54
contrast and gives the whole plant a tough, almost desert
2:00
sculpted look. It's a magnet for native bees
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and other pollinators, especially in early summer when
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bloom cycles can be unpredictable in arid climates.
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Beyond that, it's incredibly drought tolerant once
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established. We're talking minimal
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supplemental water in many regions.
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If you're trying to reduce irrigation, lower maintenance,
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or design A landscape that mirrors native ecosystems, globe
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mallow pulls its weight. It's one of those plants that
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proves tough can still be stunning.
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How to grow globe mallow starts with understanding that it
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prefers lean conditions. This is not a plant for heavily
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amended compost rich soil. In fact too much fertility can
3:04
cause it to flop or grow leggy. It thrives in well drained, even
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sandy OR gravelly soils. Full sun is non negotiable.
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It needs at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight to really
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perform. When starting from seed, it
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benefits from scarification, which simply means gently
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nicking or rubbing the seed coat to help water penetrate.
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Some gardeners soak the seeds overnight before planting
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direct, so in spring after danger of frost, or start
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indoors and transplant carefully, keeping in mind it
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develops A taproot and doesn't love being disturbed once
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mature. Once established, watered deeply
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but infrequently, overwatering is far more dangerous than
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underwatering. Pruning it back by about 1/3
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after a heavy bloom cycle can encourage a second flush of
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flowers and keep the plant compact.
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Harvesting glow mellow depends on your intention.
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Most gardeners grow it for ornamental and ecological value,
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but you can harvest blooms for dried floral arrangements.
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Cut stems when flowers are just beginning to open and hang them
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upside down in a dry, shaded space.
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If you're collecting seed, wait until the small cheese wheel
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shaped seed pods dry on the plant.
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They'll turn brown and brittle. Collect them before strong winds
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scatter them across the landscape.
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Gently break apart the pods to release the seeds and store them
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in a cool, dry place until next season.
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Now let's get into common pests and problems.
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One issue you may encounter is root rot, which is usually the
5:37
result of poor drainage or overwatering.
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Root rot is caused by soil borne fungi that thrive in saturated
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conditions. You'll notice yellow leaves
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wilting despite moist soil and eventual collapse of the plant.
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The reason it happens is simple. Globe mallow evolved in dry
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environments and its roots are not designed to sit in water.
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The best solution is prevention. Plant in well drained soil,
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avoid heavy mulches that retain moisture against the ground and
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water deeply but infrequently. If root raw sets in, it's often
6:32
difficult to reverse, so removing the affected plant and
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improving soil drainage is key. Another problem can be rust
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fungus. Rust appears small orange or
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brown pustules on the undersides of leaves.
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It can cause leaf drop and reduce vigor if severe.
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Rust thrives in conditions where there's humidity combined with
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limited airflow. While globe mallow is generally
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adapted to dry climates, unexpected wet seasons can
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trigger outbreaks. Pruning to improve air
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circulation, removing infected foliage, and avoiding overhead
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watering can help manage it organically.
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In most cases, healthy plants will recover once conditions dry
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out. Grasshoppers can also be an
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issue, especially in drought years when other food sources
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are scarce. These chewing insects can
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skeletonize leaves and damage flower buds.
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Their outbreaks often correlate with dry conditions followed by
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warm weather. Physical barriers like
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lightweight row covers during establishment can protect young
8:11
plants. Encouraging birds and beneficial
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predators in the garden also helps keep populations in check.
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In many cases, mature Globe Mellow plants can tolerate some
8:28
chewing without long term damage.
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Companion planting with Globe Mellow is about creating a
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cohesive, drought tolerant ecosystem.
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It pairs beautifully with Yarrow, penstamon, sage, rabbit
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brush and ornamental grasses. The silvery foliage contrasts
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well with deep greens and purples and its bright flowers
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pop against cooler toned plants. When designing a bed, think in
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terms of water zones. Group globe mellow with other
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low water plants so you're not over irrigating it while trying
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to keep thirstier species alive. It thrives in rock gardens,
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xeriscapes and sunny borders where other plants might
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struggle. Seed saving is straightforward
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and rewarding. After flowering, Globe Mellow
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forms small, round seed capsules that resemble miniature wheels
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of cheese. Let them dry fully on the plant.
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When they turn brown and begin to crack slightly, collect them
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in a paper bag. Break apart the capsules to
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release the seeds and remove any plant debris.
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Store the seeds in a labeled envelope in a cool dark place.
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Remember the light scarification before planting next season can
10:21
improve germination rates. Looking at the pros and cons,
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the pros are impressive. Globe Mallow is drought
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tolerant, pollinator friendly, low maintenance and incredibly
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striking in color. It thrives in poor soils and hot
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conditions, making it ideal for challenging landscapes.
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The cons It can look a bit wild or leggy if not pruned
11:01
periodically. In wetter climates, it may
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struggle with fungal issues, and because of its taproot,
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transplanting mature plants is tricky.
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But if you plant it in the right spot from the beginning, it's
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remarkably reliable. And now for the best part, the
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recipe. While globe mallow itself isn't
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typically used in modern cooking, we're going to
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celebrate its desert roots with a SW apricot and citrus grain
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bowl inspired by those fiery flower tones.
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You'll need One Cup of uncooked quinoa, 2 cups of vegetable
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broth, 1 cup of chopped dried apricots, 1 red bell pepper
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diced, One Cup of roasted corn kernels, 1/2 cup of chopped
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fresh cilantro, 1/4 cup of toasted pumpkin seeds, and 1
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avocado sliced. For the dressing, whisk together
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3 tablespoons of olive oil, one tablespoon of fresh lime juice,
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one teaspoon of honey, 1/2 teaspoon of ground cumin, and a
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pinch of salt and black pepper. Rinse the quinoa and cook it in
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the vegetable broth according to the package instructions, about
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15 minutes. Then let it cool slightly.
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In a large bowl, combine the cooked quinoa, apricots, bell
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pepper, roasted corn and cilantro.
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Drizzle with the dressing and toss until evenly coated.
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Top with pumpkin seeds and avocado slices before serving.
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It's bright, hearty, and full of bold flavor that mirrors the
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energy of a desert bloom. Here are some fun facts about
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globe mallow. First, many species belong to
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the genus Spherosia, a name that refers to the spherical shape of
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the seed capsules. Second, globe mallow has
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historically been used in traditional herb practices by
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indigenous peoples for soothing skin irritations. 3rd, its
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silvery leaves are covered in tiny hairs that help reflect
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sunlight and reduce water loss, which is part of its drought
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survival strategy. Fourth, different species vary
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in size from compact 2 foot mounds to taller 3 or 4 foot
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forms, depending on growing conditions. 5th, its deep
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taproot allows it to access moisture far below the soil
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surface, making it incredibly resilient during prolonged dry
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spells. And 6th globe mallow often
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rebounds stronger after being cut back, responding to pruning
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with renewed vigor and bloom. Welcome to the garden nerd
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corner, fellow beans. Globe mallow is a fantastic
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example of xerophytic adaptation, meaning it has
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evolved specific traits to survive in dry environments.
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The fine hairs on its leaves, known as trichomes, reduce
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transpiration by trapping a thin layer of air near the leaf's
15:28
surface. Its taproot system anchors it
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deeply while searching for underground moisture.
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The vibrant orange pigments in its flowers come from
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carotenoids, which also help protect plant tissues from
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intense solar radiation. In ecological restoration
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projects across the western United States globe, mallow is
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often used to stabilize soils and reintroduce native plant
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diversity. It's not just ornamental, it's
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functional at a landscape scale. Next time on the Beanstalk,
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we'll be talking about rabbit brush.
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This late season bloomer lights up the landscape with golden
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color when many other plants are fading out.
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We'll explore how it supports pollinators heading into fall
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and why it deserves more respect in both wild and cultivated
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spaces. If you're building a garden that
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thrives in tough conditions, you won't want to miss this one.
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Thanks again for hanging out with me today on the Beanstalk,
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Fellow Beans. If you want to keep the
16:58
conversation going, we've got a growing community over at the
17:01
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17:05
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17:09
little deeper into all things that grow together.
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From our patch to yours, keep on climbing.