Ep. 92: Ladybugs & Landscapes: Bugged Out for Earth Month

[00:00:00] [SPEAKER_00] Mall of America, it's home to world-class shopping, great dining and amazing attractions and events. And these are our stories presented by Bloomington, Minnesota Travel and Tourism.

[00:00:12] [SPEAKER_03] Hello everyone and welcome to this episode of So Much More. I'm really excited to be here. I have two amazing people with me joining me as my guest today. It is April. It's Minnesota. It's Earth Month. And we do a lot of really cool things surrounding Earth Month and actually all year round at Mall of America. Many people don't know that Mall of America has no central heating system.

[00:00:35] [SPEAKER_03] We actually heat this building three ways. It's kind of passive solar light. We have eight acres of skylights. It's the heat generated by store lights and fixtures. The key ingredient is body heat from all of our guests. And in fact, because we don't have a central heating plant, that allowed us to build what is now Sea Life Aquarium. That's where that heating plant was originally going to be. And we do a lot of really cool things around Earth Month and to be green friendly all year long.

[00:01:03] [SPEAKER_03] And that's why I brought my two friends together today. So James Everhart. James is a member of our landscaping team here at Mall of America. That's right. What's your official title, James? And I asked you before and I already messed it up. What is it? My official title is Interior Landscaper. Interior Landscaper. And how long have you been here with us? I've been here for a little over three years now. Fantastic. I'm so glad we're going to get into everything that James does.

[00:01:27] [SPEAKER_03] My other guest is Paulette Bonheur. And I think I said that correctly. I've known Paulette now for about two and a half, three years. Paulette is involved with the Girl Scouts. That's how she first became connected with Mall of America. And she has become a friend to me. We've had some wonderful conversations. And Paulette, welcome to the show.

[00:01:48] [SPEAKER_01] Thank you. I'm so excited to be here.

[00:01:50] [SPEAKER_03] I am happy to have you here, too. I've seen you here. They both, the common thread here is on Earth Day every year is that we do this amazing event called Ladybug Release. I'm going to have James. We'll get to that in a little bit. First, James, tell me about your role, what you do, what your team does. And tell me about all the green plants at Mall of America.

[00:02:09] [SPEAKER_02] So what we do as interior landscapers is we care for and maintain all of the live plants that you can find at the mall and in Nickelodeon Universe. And that consists of, you know, watering, trimming, soil remediation. Okay. Pest control. Okay. And just making sure that everything looks alive and good for our guests. And also making sure that our guests aren't impeded by any of the wonderful plants that we have here.

[00:02:35] [SPEAKER_03] And by trimming them and making sure they're just good guest-friendly plants?

[00:02:40] [SPEAKER_02] Yeah. So we do a lot of safety trimming. You know, any plants that kind of impede on the rides, we'll trim those and make sure that guests can't grab them. And our job is also very visual. We want to make sure that our guests can see their friends or family riding the rides and there's not a bush in the way or something, say, a log shoot. A lot of people will stand along the fence to watch their kids come down the log shoot. And we want to make sure that they can get those pictures that they want.

[00:03:02] [SPEAKER_03] I never knew that. That makes so much sense. How many plants and trees do we have at Mall of America?

[00:03:08] [SPEAKER_02] We have over 30,000 live plants within the Mall and Nickelodeon Universe. And we've got probably a couple of hundred trees. Wow. And dozens of varieties of each. We have a lot of subtropical and tropical plants. Okay. Especially in Nickelodeon Universe. Like you mentioned that the eight acres of glass ceiling really makes our jobs easy.

[00:03:28] [SPEAKER_03] It does. And it's just beautiful. One of my favorite things here is in the wintertime. And it was before I even worked here. Coming during the winter and walking around Nickelodeon Universe, all those live plants and the sunshine. And it just feels warm, right? We do something really cool on Earth Day. What is that? Because you're going to lead that effort, don't you, James?

[00:03:49] [SPEAKER_02] Yeah. I've kind of taken the reins on that effort ever since our former supervisor left. We release thousands of ladybugs into the park to help us with a little bit of pest control. And Earth Month is a perfect month to do it because that's when the plants start growing and the bugs start coming out. And we need that extra help. And how do ladybugs help with pest control? I don't get it. So a lot of people might not know, but ladybugs are carnivorous and they'll eat other insects, especially one of their favorite treats is aphids.

[00:04:18] [SPEAKER_02] And right now we're seeing a little bit of an outbreak of aphids in the park. So we're going to bring them in so they can do a little bit of what they love to do.

[00:04:24] [SPEAKER_03] And you're kind of a modest person because I'm in PR as a background. You say thousands of ladybugs. I say 144,000 ladybugs. That's how many we did last year, right?

[00:04:36] [SPEAKER_02] Yes. And it seems like every year we kind of keep bumping that number up because it's gotten so popular.

[00:04:40] [SPEAKER_03] I love it. And one of the groups that has come consistently the last several years, Paulette, you bring a group of very wonderful young girls and women. Can you tell us about that?

[00:04:52] [SPEAKER_01] Yes. But first, I have to agree with you. You're so modest. I'm like, there's so many ladybugs. It's the coolest thing ever. I have to say, I grew up coming to the Mall of America on the bus with my sister and everything here was so cool. But I never thought the plants were real, right? I always thought they were fake and false plants. So since we've been coming since about 2022 with our Girl Scouts troop, now when I come to the mall, it's so different. I look at the plants. I like smile at the plants.

[00:05:21] [SPEAKER_01] And I'm not even a good planter and I don't have a green thumb. But I'm like, oh, look at these. I probably helped put a ladybug in here that didn't eat you. So I am a troop leader for Girl Scouts. We have our troop, BIPOC Mentor Troop 18793. And about four and a half years ago, I got this cool idea with a friend and I'm like, let's just start a Girl Scout troop. We can do it. And she's like, oh, what do you mean? And our group has really taken off. Right now we have 14 girls and we do a lot of programming and fun things throughout the year.

[00:05:50] [SPEAKER_01] One of their absolute favorite things to do is to come to the Mall of America really, really early before school, around 6.30 a.m., sometimes a little earlier, and release bugs into the atmosphere so that they are on plants and that they, like you said, can help with the ecosystem. I was reading that they can eat, is it about 50 bugs a day? Yeah. And maybe 5,000 in their lifetime. So they're pretty busy creatures. They have a big job.

[00:06:18] [SPEAKER_03] Oh, yeah. Big appetites. Yes.

[00:06:19] [SPEAKER_01] Yeah.

[00:06:20] [SPEAKER_03] That's awesome. And your daughter, what is your daughter's name again? Yes. Remind me.

[00:06:23] [SPEAKER_01] My daughter's name is Harper and she has coined herself the Ladybug Queen or the Ladybug Princess, depending on the year. And every year she gets so excited. Mom has to go on the hunt for Ladybug wings so that she can have a different pair every year. And she comes to the mall dressed up like a Ladybug and she says they can speak to her. And so she gently puts them on. Now, some kids need gloves. Not that one. She loves the feeling of them crawling on her. And I'm watching in amusement.

[00:06:52] [SPEAKER_01] I've gotten a lot better over the years. And it's really been so cool to watch the girls learn about what Ladybugs do, how they help the environment, and all this because of the fun that we're having at the Mall of America. So it doesn't seem like learning, but there's a lot of learning that actually takes place.

[00:07:06] [SPEAKER_03] It's a really good educational experience. And that's one of your roles, James, that morning because we're so grateful that you bring your troop here because they are just loyal and consistent. Your daughter is just a joy to be around. But we have other groups come as well. And then you start by kind of giving them some background on why they're here, what the Ladybugs do, how to handle them. Kind of tell me what you tell the children that day.

[00:07:33] [SPEAKER_02] You're right. It's a lot of education. So I tell them, you know, we use these to help us control the bugs that we don't want in the park that hurt our plants. And I also tell them about, you know, Ladybug's role in kind of the environment and how these are native species and they're not the invasive species that you might find around your home. And one of the maybe less direct educational pieces is just inspiring them.

[00:08:03] [SPEAKER_02] Yeah. And kind of releasing some of that fear. I know that every once in a while there are some reluctant, what's the word I'm looking for? Helpers? Yeah. But it's super sweet to see them, you know, kind of a little timid and then they work up that courage and then they start having so much fun.

[00:08:23] [SPEAKER_03] Because the Ladybugs have a tendency as the kids scoop them up and stuff, the Ladybugs have a tendency to kind of crawl along the bodies and in the hair and stuff, right? Yep. And a few kids are intimidated and get a little bit scared at the beginning, but others just absolutely embrace it, don't they?

[00:08:40] [SPEAKER_02] Oh, yes. And that's something that some of the parents and other guests that we have notice about me is they're just crawling all over my face and in my hair and up my sleeves. And I really do that as a kind of example to the kids that they don't really have to be afraid. These are very gentle creatures. And the reason they're climbing up so high is because they think we're trees. Yeah. They think we're plants. And because it's so early in the morning and that first light is starting to come out, they want to go up and reach that light. I did not know that. That's awesome.

[00:09:10] [SPEAKER_03] Okay. So the kids get their Ladybugs. What do they do with the Ladybugs?

[00:09:14] [SPEAKER_02] What do you instruct them to do? So once I hand out the Ladybugs, they all have their little Ladybug pails or bags. And then I instruct them to just go around the park and kind of spread themselves out a little bit, keep some distance from each other, and just gently place the Ladybugs onto the plants or onto the soil where they can crawl up the stems and onto the leaves and find those little bugs that we want them to find. And then they just start going to town.

[00:09:38] [SPEAKER_03] And I have watched Harper do this in the past. And she is very concise in particular. She looks for the right plant. She does. And you're right. And she kind of gently places the bugs. And I love that you said that she says they kind of speak to her because that's what it looks like, right?

[00:09:53] [SPEAKER_01] Yeah. It's so interesting because, you know, we think of our kids as, oh, just do this and just do that. And we give them a lot of directions. But sometimes we have to give them the room to think for themselves, to make critical decisions. Should I put this on this plant? There's a lot on this plant. Maybe I can go throughout the mall. Like, what are some things that I can do while I'm helping to help the mall? So she has a great time. And like I said, we have 14 members in our troop. We usually get, I mean, about 60%, 70% or more of the girls that end up coming.

[00:10:23] [SPEAKER_01] And like you said, there's some girls that are like, oh, it's crawling on me. I've actually been one of those before when I first started. And I'm like, oh, Lord, this ladybug is coming my way. However, when I leave, I'm like, oh, man, I can't wait to come back next year because it is so cool. And like you said, I mean, they play such a huge part in the environment at the mall. And they go unnoticed.

[00:10:41] [SPEAKER_03] Yeah. I mean, it's so much fun. I'm assuming when you get home, sometimes there might be a ladybug or two crawling somewhere. Has that ever happened to you?

[00:10:51] [SPEAKER_01] That has happened multiple years in a row. And I am no longer afraid. I usually look at it and I just take it off. It usually is right around school drop-off time because they go to school right after. And so I'll just take it and I'll put it somewhere, you know, on a plant by me or just somewhere in the environment. And yeah, it's no big deal. Me and the ladybugs are cool now. I love it.

[00:11:11] [SPEAKER_02] James, how about you? Oh, yes. For having that program so early in the morning. On my drive home, there are usually a few flying around inside my car. I love it. It's like, oh man, where have you been all day?

[00:11:22] [SPEAKER_03] How long do the ladybugs last once we place them out? They last a couple of months. Okay.

[00:11:29] [SPEAKER_02] Yeah, they're not here all year round. We don't quite have the environment for that. Although I have seen them kind of go through their entire life cycle. Okay. All the way from adult to egg. So they kind of continue that way. But yeah, usually a couple of months because, you know, they find their way out into the mall. Sure. And get on some of those plants or a bench and, or they tuck themselves into a little corner and hide. And they're kind of safe out there. Yeah, they're kind of safe. But like you said, they go mostly unnoticed.

[00:11:57] [SPEAKER_02] And that's a real big factor for us because, you know, a lot of guests who might not understand what we're doing might have a little bit of an issue with it.

[00:12:05] [SPEAKER_03] Yep. This year, Earth Day is Tuesday, April 22nd. Yes. And we will be doing our ladybug release again at 6 a.m. I believe it. 6 a.m. Sorry, Paulette. But nice and early before school. But we're inviting other folks to come and join us that day as well. And people can go to our website, mallofamerica.com. Look for the Earth Day tab. And there's a place to sign up to bring if you'd like some other kids or if you'd like to bring your school group or another scout group, something like that.

[00:12:34] [SPEAKER_03] Is that correct?

[00:12:35] [SPEAKER_02] Yeah, absolutely. It's more open to the public now. And we love seeing people of all ages. Yep. Because, you know, the parents really get into it. The kids really get into it. But even people who are just kind of fond of insects, they like to get into it as well.

[00:12:47] [SPEAKER_03] Well, one of the things I love about, Paulette, your troop is many parents come with your troop. You always have a really good adult to child ratio. And the parents get involved too, don't they?

[00:12:57] [SPEAKER_01] Oh, they love it. We have our troop dads that love doing it. We have our troop moms that love – I mean, it's become a troop favorite. It's an annual event that we look forward to getting invited to. And you're absolutely right. I think it's so cool. And now that it's opened up to more groups, a lot more folks can experience it. I know last year I met a gentleman and he was a photographer and I can't remember from where, but just wanted to see what it was all about and came and was taking pictures. And I thought, wow, that's so cool.

[00:13:21] [SPEAKER_03] It's very cool to document it. And the photos from that day are absolutely amazing. Paulette, I wanted to talk a little bit about your role at the Girl Scouts. You are the director of Girl Scout Leadership Institute. What does that entail? What does your role do?

[00:13:35] [SPEAKER_01] Oh, my gosh. So just like we say that it's so much more here at Mall of America, Girl Scouting is so much more than cookies, camps, and crafts. Our CEO loves to say that. But people really get to understand what we do. So I come from a 14-year higher education background, love working with college students, and now I'm bringing all those skills to Girl Scouts. I work with high school students, girls in 9th through 12th grade. And so we do college preparation, career development, leadership, mental health. We have a lot of great partnerships.

[00:14:03] [SPEAKER_01] And I still get to work with the younger girls in my role as a volunteer troop leader. So not only do I work with Girl Scouts professionally, but because of my troop and the work that we've been doing and all the fun that we've had, I had to change careers. I love it.

[00:14:18] [SPEAKER_03] Let's say a young girl or lady did not get involved in scouting early on. Can they still join later? Of course. Let's say they're in middle school or something.

[00:14:28] [SPEAKER_01] Yes. That is what I love about Girl Scouting in my role as the director of the Girl Scout Leadership Institute. I help people understand that Girl Scouting actually goes until senior year in high school. And so, for example, we have a partnership with St. Kate's next year. We'll have scholarships and we'll be on their campus a lot more. We meet on college campuses. So it actually goes all the way through 12th grade. And there's a lot of benefits to being in Girl Scouts. And you can do it when you're doing sports. You can do it with everything else. I say it's a good, like a sandwich. It just goes with everything.

[00:14:56] [SPEAKER_03] I love it. And then how do people find out more about Girl Scouts here locally if they're interested?

[00:15:03] [SPEAKER_01] Yeah. So I think one of the biggest thing, a lot of times we talk about our Girl Scouts and they are the forefront of what we do. But we also need adults that are passionate and want to do this work. I mean, come on. Who wouldn't want to get to come with a troop to the Mall of America and hand out ladybugs to the plants? So adults that are caring and just even if you have no experience and then girls that want to join, they can just go to gsrv.org. Girl Scouts River Valleys are our webpage.

[00:15:27] [SPEAKER_03] Okay. And what's amazing is oftentimes a lot of us think of Girl Scouts, as you said, for cookies, right? And cookie sales just kind of wrapped up. And with a granddaughter in Girl Scouts and a couple of neighbors in Girl Scouts, trust me, I bought my fair share of cookies this year. But it's awesome because like when these kids even sell the cookies, it's just a leadership training. It's an entrepreneurship training. I love how they go out and share their story.

[00:15:53] [SPEAKER_01] Exactly. And I think one of the cool things, too, is even when they come to the mall, sometimes at Ladybug release, they're asked to be on camera. And so they have that confidence, courage, and character to say, okay, sure, I can talk about what we're doing. If you asked any of the girls what the ladybugs do, they can explain that same thing that you explained. So it's pretty cool.

[00:16:11] [SPEAKER_03] I love it because the girls were interviewed that morning. We have a lot of media out here. Paulette, sometimes you've been asked to talk a little bit. James, you're asked to talk once or twice, are you not?

[00:16:20] [SPEAKER_02] Yes, I am.

[00:16:21] [SPEAKER_03] I'm usually that guy. You are that guy, which we love.

[00:16:25] [SPEAKER_02] I have to just mention this really quickly. You're also a TikToker. Yes, I do have a TikTok page that highlights all of the happenings with our interior landscaping department here at the mall. So, you know, you go to that page and you'll get to see a lot of background and behind the scenes.

[00:16:40] [SPEAKER_03] Can you give us your handle or how can people find you on TikTok?

[00:16:43] [SPEAKER_02] Yeah, it's called Garden of James.

[00:16:45] [SPEAKER_03] Garden of James. I actually am a follower. I follow your TikTok page. It's awesome. It's so much fun. I have to ask you a couple of questions about some other plants. What's your favorite plant at Mall of America?

[00:16:57] [SPEAKER_02] Oh, boy. That's really hard to decide. We have so many dozens of species of plants. I would say my favorite are maybe the monsteras. Okay. Monstera deliciosa. Those are the ones that have the really, really big leaves with the holes in them.

[00:17:11] [SPEAKER_03] Love it. Over by the east end of the park. Now I'm getting really nitty-picky behind Shredder's Mutant Matcher right next to it. There's some flowering plants right there. Are they azaleas? I'm trying to remember what's over there.

[00:17:25] [SPEAKER_02] Yes, we have some azaleas. They're actually just starting to finish up their blooming. They start blooming about mid-February.

[00:17:31] [SPEAKER_03] They're absolutely beautiful when they're in full bloom.

[00:17:33] [SPEAKER_02] Full bloom is beautiful. I always get compliments on them. And right now, there are a lot of other flowers popping up in the park. Like what? We have camillas, which you can find at Logshoot and Big Rigs. Yep. We have a lot of jasmine bushes, which produce these tiny white flowers, but the best smell. You can definitely come to the mall right now and get that smell of spring. I love it. And do we have any tropical plants that maybe bear fruit? Yes, we do. Like I said, the monstera. Yeah. Monstera deliciosa. Okay.

[00:18:02] [SPEAKER_02] And that deliciosa comes from the fruit that they bear. It's got a really sweet kind of banana-pineapple sort of taste. Okay. I have tasted a lot of the fruit that our trees produce here, and sometimes it's good, and sometimes it's not quite right. Don't take it home with you, right?

[00:18:19] [SPEAKER_03] How can people learn more about the plants here at Mall of America? I think there's signs or something around the park. Is that correct?

[00:18:25] [SPEAKER_02] There are some signs that have QR codes on them, and they have a little bit of a more in-depth description of the plant life at the mall. And also, our team really loves answering questions. I never get tired of guests asking questions or talking to me about my work. And it's really one of my favorite parts of the job, because like you said, a lot of people don't know that the plants are real. And usually a few times a week, I see people see me working, and I say, oh my gosh, the plants are real? I never would have guessed.

[00:18:53] [SPEAKER_03] Because they're gorgeous, right? They're so well-groomed and well taken care of. I love the plants way up on top of the log chute, too. I'm joking. Yeah, I was going to say.

[00:19:03] [SPEAKER_02] You like those?

[00:19:04] [SPEAKER_03] There are like a small handful of plants that are not real at the mall because we can't reach them, essentially. Right, yes. So ignore those plants, right? But everything else is absolutely gorgeous. Like we have some vines in the mall common areas. We have trees in some of the mall hallways. A lot of people don't understand that they're all live as well, correct?

[00:19:23] [SPEAKER_02] Yes, those are all live. And we're actually doing a little bit of a project on the north side right now. We have a couple of trees that are kind of getting towards the end of their days. So we're going to take those planters out and we're going to replace them with something new, something a little exciting.

[00:19:35] [SPEAKER_03] Oh, any hints?

[00:19:38] [SPEAKER_02] Think tropical beach.

[00:19:40] [SPEAKER_03] Oh, okay. I like tropical beach. That sounds kind of cool. I like the teaser, yeah. And what's amazing is I know that there's some new trees right over. We have a new swing ride by the exit to the log chute, Boots Banana Swings. Yes. Those banana trees are amazing looking.

[00:19:56] [SPEAKER_02] Oh, they're always so shiny and they always have bananas on them, which amazes me.

[00:20:02] [SPEAKER_03] Always have fruit on them. For those who have never been to Nickelodeon Universe or seen this new ride, of course, it's not real, but it's awesome looking. Very tropical. Do you like to bring your Girl Scouts out here other times of year as well? Or you and your daughter?

[00:20:17] [SPEAKER_01] Of course. Well, first of all, some folks from our troop, one of our troop leader just brought her kids here over spring break. So that was really fun. I was here last month riding rides just with a group of friends because adults love rides too. And as a troop reward, so you talked about cookie sales and the things that they do with cookie sales is have the opportunity to pick what they want to do. One of the things they picked last year to celebrate their hard work was come to the Mall of America, ride a bunch of rides and eat and just have a blast. And so we had a great time.

[00:20:47] [SPEAKER_03] Oh, I love it. And for people that would like more information, again, give us your Girl Scout website if you would.

[00:20:52] [SPEAKER_01] Yeah, sure. So if you go to Girl Scouts River Valleys online, so you can find out a lot of information there. Our Girl Scouts troop is also on Instagram at Girl Scouts Mentored Troop. Okay. And you can find us there. We post all the fun things and all ladybug happenings when we're at the mall.

[00:21:06] [SPEAKER_03] I love it. And information on our plant life. I know they can go to mallofamerica.com. And you're TikTok again, James. Yes. What is it again? Remind me. Garden of James. Garden of James.

[00:21:16] [SPEAKER_02] And it's the same handle on TikTok and Instagram.

[00:21:19] [SPEAKER_03] Oh, wonderful. So you're in both places. So I'm going to ask a few quick questions here and then we're going to wrap it up for the day. And the quick questions are all going to do with, I'm not even sure what it's going to do, but you can't think about the answers. You just got to give me an answer as fast as you can. Is that right?

[00:21:33] [SPEAKER_02] That sounds good. Favorite store at Mall of America? James. Ooh, favorite store? Maybe Tilly's.

[00:21:40] [SPEAKER_01] Okay. Paulette. Not even a store. Cinnabon. Cinnabon. Okay.

[00:21:44] [SPEAKER_02] That's a good one.

[00:21:45] [SPEAKER_03] I was going to say favorite treat at Mall of America. This is going to be easy for her. Favorite treat? The puffs. The puff pastries. Oh, they're very good. Cinnabon.

[00:21:56] [SPEAKER_01] Cinnabon.

[00:21:57] [SPEAKER_03] You know we have two of them now.

[00:21:59] [SPEAKER_01] I know. You know what? Before I leave here, I'm going to get a Cinnabon. Yesterday was my birthday. Oh, happy birthday. Well, I tell it a birthday recently. So I'm going to have a Cinnabon. Happy birthday. That's awesome. Thank you.

[00:22:09] [SPEAKER_03] Your favorite ride at Mall of America? The Pepsi Orange Streak. Pepsi Orange.

[00:22:14] [SPEAKER_02] Just redid it. They just redid it. It looks amazing now. And that's my favorite because it stretches all over the park. You get to see every corner of the Nicoletti River. You do.

[00:22:23] [SPEAKER_03] And you even go through the Log Chute Mountain. That's probably the coolest part. It is. What's your favorite ride?

[00:22:29] [SPEAKER_01] Swings. Only because my kids love it. We all can do it together.

[00:22:32] [SPEAKER_03] Oh, I love that. And perhaps your favorite memory ever spent at Mall of America?

[00:22:38] [SPEAKER_02] Oh, gosh. Favorite memory. Got to go way back in time now. Back to when it was Camp Snoopy. Okay. That's when I was coming here. Yep. And I would say one of my favorite moments was when the old food court used to be inside the park and just sitting there and you walk up some stairs so you get to kind of have a better view of the park and get to look out, see everybody riding the rides and even more plant life back then. Yep. I love that.

[00:23:04] [SPEAKER_01] I know it's a hard one because I've been coming here my whole life, but I would have

[00:23:21] [SPEAKER_03] my favorite ride is the Mystery Mine Ride, which is no longer here. It was part of Camp Snoopy. I think I remember that. But my son loved the Mystery Mine Ride. And back when it was Camp Snoopy, he loved to pan for gold. Did you know you could find gold? Oh, yes. I remember that as well. You could find gold at Mall of America. I wish he had been better at it because I could be like in Paris right now or something. What is, and one final one, what's your favorite season from a plant life perspective?

[00:23:50] [SPEAKER_03] And not necessarily at work, but just from a plant perspective, what's your favorite season?

[00:23:54] [SPEAKER_02] I would say it's kind of interesting. I don't have an exact favorite season. I really love the transition of seasons. So when things start to bloom or leaves start to fall, that's really when I find myself outdoors more and enjoying nature. And right now at the mall, everything's starting to grow. So it's just kind of perfect for us. That's awesome. What's your favorite season, Paulette?

[00:24:16] [SPEAKER_01] I would have to say it's when everything is in full bloom, bright colors are all over and then the scents are just so amazing. I love when everything is in full bloom.

[00:24:24] [SPEAKER_03] And that's kind of where we are right now inside Nickelodeon Universe. We're very busy right now with spring break. There are a lot of people here, but there's always room for one more. So we encourage everyone to come and join us. Please be sure to, if you have young girls or ladies in your life, check out Girl Scouts and the wonderful work that they do. Paulette is an amazing example of that. Matter of fact, I forgot to mention, I was showing her earlier, our very first coffee

[00:24:52] [SPEAKER_03] we had together, Paulette brought some books. She wrote a book and she and her daughter wrote books. And there's another one here, which are amazing. You gave these to me as gifts three or four years ago now. And I appreciate it so much. And check out James on Instagram and TikTok as well. Learn more about plant life. And when you come visit Mall of America and he's kind of quiet and he's kind of reserved. He's an amazing person. But honestly, he's being very sincere. Walk up and talk to our team.

[00:25:22] [SPEAKER_03] They love to talk about what they're doing. They love to interact with guests. This place is a special place because we have team members like James and the entire landscaping crew. So thank you for doing that. And Earth Day is special because we have people like Paulette and your troop that come and visit with us. We encourage you to join us on Tuesday, April 22nd. It's going to be so much more fun on Earth Day. You can sign up on our website, mallofamerica.com. And we want to thank you for joining us for this.

[00:25:50] [SPEAKER_03] I can't believe it's been a half an hour almost. Can you believe that? That's crazy. Time flies. We're going to do this as a three episode. Keep rolling. I'm kidding. Thank you all for joining us for this episode of So Much More. It's been a delight and a pleasure. Thank you to Paulette. Thank you to James. We hope you like this episode. Subscribe to it. Tell all of your friends. And we will see you soon on So Much More.

[00:26:12] [SPEAKER_00] Thanks for listening to So Much More. A Mall of America podcast. Subscribe wherever you find your favorite podcasts. This show is presented by Bloomington, Minnesota Travel and Tourism.