I’ve watched and loved this show since its debut over 20 years ago, so when a message appeared in my In Box with the all-caps subject "CBS SUNDAY MORNING CALLING" I was psyched. Would my client and I like to appear with Rita Braver in a segment about personal coaching? You bet your Felcos we would!
And lucky me, the taping would be done at my client’s garden so SHE’D have to make her garden perfect and clean the house. Good deal! Except that after we’d finished up in her garden Rita says "Hey, let’s all go shoot Susan’s garden!" Imagine if you will having your garden on national TV on the spur of the moment, having Rita and her crew descend on your home with no warning. "But my house is dirty," I lamely protested, because Martha Stewart I’m SO NOT.
But for all my kvetching, here’s the result - Rita sitting on MY FRONT PORCH giving the show’s opening come-on: "Coming up on CBS Sunday Morning, personal coaching is blooming." I loved it! And the fact that before R
ita could sit on my porch the crew had to remove my discarded toilet (charming!) only added a soupcon of cringe to this happy scene. (Because she’s a pro and SO NICE, she told me her own discarded-toilet-in-public-view story and I felt much better.) I’m just glad it wasn’t until later that day that I read in her bio about the many hugely famous people she’s interviewed during her illustrious career, or my cringe level could have been crippling.
Many thanks to Kay Meek, who’s been so generous with her garden and her time. And thanks to the Sunday Morning team for a wonderful experience and for making me look not-terrible in the actual broadcast. (Kay and I particularly enjoyed being miked by the charming storyteller kneeling in the photo, but enough said about that.) My only regret? The story aired sooner than we expected and nobody saw it - well, not the hoards of family, friends and readers I’d planned on alerting. I’m hoping their lawyers will consent to at least a snippet appearing on this humble blog. Stay tuned.
UPDATE
Good news - a commenter on GardenRant gave us the video - thanks! It’s
http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/i_video/main500251.shtml?id=3108384n
Group photo by CatAnders Photography.
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Kathy, Washington Gardener 07.30.07 at 11:24 am
Great job - let me know how reaction goes!
Pam/Digging 07.30.07 at 12:14 pm
Congratulations, Susan. I watched the video (missed the show too) and thought your segment was great. In fact, I got a lot of good info out of the whole bit on coaching.
And thanks for sharing the funny story about the toilet on the porch.
Eliz 07.30.07 at 2:01 pm
Finally got to watch this–congrats!! Nice that it is online after all our worrying.
kim 07.30.07 at 3:29 pm
Oh wow, Susan… someday, I can only hope that my garden will appear so charming as yours on the spur of the moment! Nice job promoting gardens and gardening as well.
garden mentor 07.31.07 at 6:34 pm
Very nice! I’m definitely getting traction from the NY Times piece. I haven’t heard much in the Seattle area from this, but I’m sure it will continue to ramp up.