The Enduring History of Dumbarton House

By Taylor Edwards

Nestled in Georgetown in Washington, DC, lies Dumbarton House, which carries a deep-rooted heritage and close ties to the early history of the United States. The estate, which is the national headquarters of the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America (NSCDA), has exclusive perks for members, such as access to the museum, programs, and more.

Carol Cadou, the executive director of Dumbarton House, gave us an inside look into the mansion’s rich legacy, the NSCDA, and what grows in Dumbarton’s public gardens.

The History of Dumbarton House

The name Dumbarton comes from Ninian Beall, the founder of Georgetown.

According to Cadou, the 700-acre land was initially named the Rock of Dumbarton after a famous rock outcropping in Scotland.

A man named Samuel Jackson created the house for Washington elites to enjoy. After the Jackson family moved out of the house, Joseph Nourse moved in from Philadelphia with his family. He was the first registrar of the Treasury, managing the accounts of the early federal government. After he left, several congressional representatives and military officers lived there for a short period of time and used the house for purposes such as dinners after congressional sessions.

“What’s interesting about the house to me is that it was, very early on, identified as a national headquarters for one of the nation’s oldest women’s organizations, and that is the NSCDA,” said Cadou.

After being formed in 1891, the organization decided to focus on historical preservation in response to many of America’s historic sites being torn down during industrialization. In 1928, they decided to move their headquarters to DC and officially named the mansion Dumbarton House. Cadou shared a fun fact about how the house was not in its original spot, fronting on Q Street, and had been moved back about 100 feet.

“Over the course of several months, some records say it was just with one horse that it moved an inch a day,” Cadou said with a light laugh. “I find it hard to believe that one horse could pull it an inch a day.”

To restore the museum to its colonial glory, the NSCDA hired professionals, including Fiske Kimball. The museum is reminiscent of what the house would have looked like for the Nourse family and has been updated from what the staff discovered in the archives over the years.

The Dumbarton House Gardens and Grounds

Kimball was a well-known preservation architect and was responsible for restoring residences such as Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello. He designed a garden niche in Dumbarton’s back garden that was inspired by the Georgian era in Europe because of its symmetry and central walkway. It is called a colonial revival garden. In the backlot, there is a miniature version of where the outbuildings would be in the back of the mansion. Here, there would be stables, carriage houses, washhouses, and a dairy where slaves and indentured servants would have worked.

With the help of the Georgetown Garden Club, the house gained another garden that the public has open access to. The club helped put in plants that were representative of what would have grown in the 19th century. For example, women used the garden to grow herbs for healing and medical purposes. It was designed by Meade Palmer. The garden received a refresh from advisory board member Guy Williams, who is now at DCA Landscape Architects. It was decided not to have a garden in the front of the house because, in the past, that space was used for carriages to arrive.

According to Tucker Broadbooks, marketing and communications manager, upkeep of gardens was important to the original inhabitants of the house. Joseph Nourse kept a journal on how to raise plants where he admitted that he copied farming techniques from a neighbor because he noticed that their crops were growing better than anyone else’s.

The gardens are open to the public during normal business hours. A local landscape service manages the general upkeep. Kathy and Joe Clare are two dedicated garden volunteers that come one morning a week for about five hours from spring to November. Kathy, a horticulturist, has been caring for the garden for 20 years. She said that a friend encouraged her to volunteer at the house. After 17 years, the friend moved to South Carolina and Joe has been helping out ever since.

Kathy described the East Park as having an assortment of plants such as daffodils, peonies, daylilies, lambs ear, and lycoris.

“The North Garden has quite extensive beds on either side of the North Garden Niche and is a work in progress. Meanwhile, we are kept busy just keeping the Lenten roses, daylilies, catmint, iris, false indigo, hosta, peonies, and cranesbill geraniums looking neat and tidy, and there are always the ever-present weeds to deal with,” said Kathy.

A few historical trees were planted on the grounds, such as the Magnolia in front of the house. Some plants around the property are listed on their website: American Holly, chaste tree, witch hazel, and more. The herb garden was designed by Williams after he researched the types of plants used in the Federal period. These include basil, chamomile, yarrow, sage, rosemary, and more.

Events and Museum

The house hosts a variety of events to engage with the local community. Dolly Days is reminiscent of Dolly Madison stopping by the house in her escape when the White House burned in 1814. There are programs catered specifically to Girl Scouts, where troops can sign up for museum tours that coincide with their fall and spring schedules. One of the programs is called the Growing Gardener Program.

The organization has started a series called Community Conversations that center on discussing history, such as how to research and fill in the gaps of those who lived in the house or Georgetown in general. The house is a famous spot for Jane Austen’s movie showings because of its similar period atmosphere. Weddings are the house’s most popular event, with two to three weddings on average per weekend in warmer months such as April, May, and June.

The museum has several collections that show what living would look like in the Federal period. Cadou and Broadbooks provided a quick tour of what each room in the house represented. In the breakfast room, women would use watercolors as a pastime. In the next room is a drawing by a local gardener of what residents would have seen looking out into the garden, which was more agricultural than the urban environment that appears today.

Confusing the Two Dumbartons

Many tourists confuse Dumbarton Oaks and Dumbarton House when they visit Georgetown. When the NSCDA first acquired the house, it was called Bell Vue. They renamed it to Dumbarton so it wouldn’t be confused with other Bell Vues in the area. Years later, Harvard University established the museum and gardens at Dumbarton Oaks.

“It was their attempt to avoid a common name and mix-up when [it] in fact has just contributed to it. It gives us a wonderful opportunity to have a good relationship with our colleagues at Dumbarton Oaks on everything from sharing visitors to occasionally sharing misdirected pieces of mail or packages,” said Cadou.

“And the occasional April Fool’s joke on Instagram,” said Broadbooks. o Taylor Edwards is a rising senior majoring in journalism with a minor in Black Women’s Studies at the University of Maryland. She is a native of Waldorf, MD, and an intern this summer with Washington Gardener.

Be Wary of Low-Acidity Vinegar Options When Preserving Food at Home

Pickled vegetables in a mason jar. Homemade salsa. Craft ketchup. Each summer, people use a variety of home food preservation methods to make their garden harvests last all year, and many of them involve acidifying food with vinegar.

But with low-acidity vinegars becoming increasingly prevalent, consumers can’t grab just any bottle from the shelf. They need to check the label carefully, according to Virginia Tech food safety experts Melissa Wright and Lester Schonberger, because any vinegar with less than 5 percent acidity cannot be used in home food preservation.

“There has been a recent increase in the number of questions we’ve been getting about the presence of 4 percent acidity vinegars in the marketplace and if these can be used to safely preserve foods at home,” said Schonberger, associate Extension specialist in the Department of Food Science and Technology. “No, they cannot.”

While vinegar comes in many varieties, including distilled, white, apple cider, balsamic, red wine, malt, and more, all contain acetic acid and should be labeled with their contents’ percent acidity. Schonberger said, consumers should avoid buying any that don’t for their home canning needs.

“Some labels may also bear the concentration in grains, where 10 grain is equal to 1 percent acidity, so you’d want to look for 50 grain vinegar,” said Wright, director of the Food Producer Technical Assistance Network in the Department of Food Science and Technology. “Vinegars with less than 5 percent acetic acid concentration should never be used in home food preservation, as they can lead to unsafe pH levels and spoilage.”

Vinegars with greater than 5 percent acidity are an acceptable substitute when 5 percent isn’t available as long as consumers don’t use less vinegar than a recipe calls for, and it should be assumed that all non-specific recipes refer to an at least 5 percent acidity product—5 percent is the standard for recipes.

“A food scientist knowledgeable in acidified foods or a local Extension agent would be good resources to help with answering questions about a recipe,” she said. “When in doubt, reach out.”

For questions about where to get good food-safe recipes, home canners can consult the National Center for Home Food Preservation, the USDA Complete Guide to Home Canning, or a Cooperative Extension System such as Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE). o

Mothballs Are a Pesticide Controlling pests outdoors is a common summer activity for gardeners, but it’s also important to know how to safely and effectively protect against an insect that feeds indoors and can ruin clothing.

Mothballs, one of the most common methods to control clothes moths, must be recognized as a pesticide that can be harmful to humans or animals when misused, according to Tim Stock, Extension integrated pest management education specialist and director of the OSU Extension School IPM Program.

“People often use mothballs in inappropriate sites and against incorrect pests,” said Stock, who co-authored “Mothballs: Proper Use and Alternative Controls for Clothes Moths.” “The only recommendation that counts is the product label, which is a legal document whose instructions must be followed—particularly on where mothballs may be used and which pests they will control.”

Mothballs should not be used in attics, crawl spaces, gardens, trash cans, or vehicles, Stock said.

“Unfortunately, mothballs are used in these locations to control pests other than clothes moths, including squirrels, skunks, deer, mice, rats, dogs, cats, raccoons, moles, snakes, pigeons, and a variety of other animals,” Stock said. “Any such use is illegal and can be harmful to human health. A relatively common mistake is placing mothballs in an attic to repel squirrels. This will almost always result in a persistent and noxious odor throughout the home.”

Mothballs—which come in cakes, crystals, tablets, bars, and flakes—contain either naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene as active ingredients. Never mix these two types of mothballs, Stock said. Following the label instructions will limit exposure to these chemicals and control the moths most effectively.

“Both chemicals are fumigants, meaning that their volatile chemicals will vaporize at lower temperatures, such as room temperature,” Stock said. “Naphthalene has been associated with adverse health effects such as headache, nausea, dizziness, and difficulty breathing. Paradichlorobenzene is also a potential hazard, although typically less [dangerous] than naphthalene.”

Mothballs must be used in an airtight space, such as an airtight garment bag or other containers labeled as airtight, and never in an open closet or plastic garbage bag. Once vapors enter the home, their odor can be detected at a few parts per billion in the air.

Alternative ways to control clothes moths are available for those who prefer not to use chemical treatments. The best way to protect at-risk (animal-fiber) clothing from clothes moths is by keeping clothes clean and storing them in airtight containers.

“For existing infestations of clothes moths, you must do more,” Stock said. “Vacuum drawers and closets using a HEPA vacuum cleaner. Also, vacuum furniture and other places that provide food sources such as lint, pet hair, and human hair.”

After vacuuming, promptly dispose of the vacuum bag. Boric acid dust can be used to treat cracks and crevices once the infested articles have been removed and cleaned. But Stock cautioned people to always follow label requirements when applying boric acid dusts.

“For stored clothing that is not kept in airtight containers, place the clothing in the dryer or in the sun once or twice a month to destroy larvae,” Stock said. “Shake the clothes or brush them before putting them back in the drawer or on the hanger. This will help dislodge remaining eggs and larvae.” o

New Plant Spotlight

Rudbeckia x ‘Sweet as Honey’ PP#34,972 and Rudbeckia x ‘Green Eyed Lady’ PPAF

In the wake of their award-winning introductions of Rudbeckia x ‘American Gold Rush’ and ‘Glittters like Gold’, Intrinsic Perennial Gardens introduces two new Rudbeckias.

Rudbeckia ‘Sweet as Honey’ (pictured above) reaches 18 inches in height, with an upright habit. Yellow flowers are held on branched hairy stems starting in July through September. Basal foliage is extrathin, giving this plant resistance to Septoria, the fungus that affects ‘Goldsturm’. ‘Sweet as Honey’ makes a great container plant. Full sun and well-drained soil are best.

Rudbeckia ‘Green Eyed Lady’ PPAF (pictured below) reaches 30 inches in height. Yellow flowers emerge with green eyes turning toward yellow and are held on upright hairy stems starting in July through September. Basal foliage is extra-thin, and resistant to Septoria. Full sun and well-drained soil are best.

For more information about these new plants, contact Brent Horvath, Intrinsic Perennial Gardens at BrentH @intrinsicperennialgardens.com. o

Quick Links to Recent Washington Gardener Blog Posts

• Zucchini Trials

• Adaptive Gardening

• Pickerel Weed Plant Profile

• Potato Harvest

See more Washington Gardener blog posts at WashingtonGardener.blogspot.com o

August—September Garden Task To-Do List

• It is harvest time and a good time to start taking stock of what worked well for you this season and what didn’t.

• Buy raspberries and peaches at a local pick-your-own farm or visit a local farmer’s market.

• Let the lawn go dormant for now; it will green back up in the coming rains.

• Check your local garden center for end-of-summer bargains.

• If your pond water gets low from prolonged drought, top it off with tap water and add a dechlorinator according to package instructions.

• Wash out birdbaths weekly with a diluted bleach solution.

• Water thoroughly, especially if you receive no rain for more than seven days.

• Turn your compost pile weekly and don’t let it dry out.

• Start shopping for spring bulbs.

• Divide and cut back Bearded Iris and Peonies.

• Check your pond pump for debris and clean it out every few weeks.

• Watch for slug damage and set out traps or Sluggo bait.

• Check for mosquito breeding grounds. Dump out any water that sits stagnant for more than three days.

• Weed and weed some more.

• Cut back any leggy Asters or Mums.

• Take garden photos and make notes in your garden journal.

• Start collecting plant seeds for next year and for trading.

• As the days get cooler, plant hardy Mums.

• Prune evergreens to get them in shape for fall/winter.

• Hand-pick or cut out any bagworm cocoons.

• Harvest your herbs often and keep them trimmed back to encourage leafy growth. Dry them indoors if you can’t use them right away.

• Bring Christmas Cactus and Poinsettias indoors if you took them out for the summer, in preparation for holiday blooming. Fertilize them and put them where they’ll get 10 hours’ bright light per day.

• Inspect for powdery mildew. If seen, prune back perennials to create needed circulation. Discard properly (i.e., not in your compost bin).

• Clean your hummingbird feeders and add new sugar-water every three days.

• Renew your container plantings, which may be looking a bit ragged at this point. Pinch back overgrown plants. Pull out any spent ones and pop in some substitute annuals or Mums. Keep them well-watered and add a little liquid fertilizer every few weeks to keep them going through early autumn.

• Switch your deer-deterrent spray.

• Start seeds for fall annuals, such as Pansy, Calendula, and Kale.

• Plant fall crops such as Chinese Cabbage, Lettuce, Radish, Mustard, Broccoli, Kohlrabi, Cauliflower, Turnips, and Beets.

• Order Garlic, Onions, and Shallots for fall planting.

• Attend a county fair and enter some of your garden bounty.

• Preserve gourds and dry flowers for display in the fall.

• Apply grub control to your lawn.

• Divide Hostas and Daylilies.

• Deadhead Garlic Chives before they go to seed. They make nice cut flowers. o

Classes, Events, and Plant Shows/Sales

• Daily through August 30

Garden Photo Show

Washington Gardener invites you to the view the 2023 garden photo show at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens in Vienna, VA. You may see the photos any time during the normal Visitor Center hours through August 30.

• Every Tuesday until August 29.

Twilight Tuesdays

Enjoy Ladew Topiary Gardens in Monkton, MD, in the magical early evening hours during Twilight Tuesday. Guests can enter the gardens any time and stay through the evening to enjoy sunset views, blooms, music, and specialty café offerings. See details at https:// ladewgardens.com/.

• Fall 2023

CCBC Horticultural Classes

Sign up now for horticulture classes at the Community College of Baltimore County’s (or CCBC’s ) Sustainable Horticulture Program. Registration is open for fall horticulture classes at CCBC Dundalk, Hunt Valley, and Catonsville. Contact Winny Tan for more information: wtan@ccbcmd.edu or call her office at 443-840-3787.

• Thursday, August 24, 6—8pm

River Farm Anniversary Picnic

The American Horticultural Society celebrates 50 golden years at its beloved River Farm headquarters with the River Farm Anniversary Picnic, featuring live music from the band, Soulfire. Guests are encouraged to pack a blanket and picnic basket with food and beverage favorites; find a comfortable spot on River Farm’s welcoming lawn; and relax and enjoy the music, stunning gardens, and spectacular views overlooking the Potomac River. The BYOB outdoor community picnic is FREE and open to the public. Registration is available through Eventbrite.

• Friday August 25, 6:30—8:30pm

Foodie Fridays: The People’s Medicine

Plants have been used in medicine for thousands of years. Today, they can be found in 40% of prescription drugs in the Western world. Yet, many consumers are unaware of this deeply rooted connection. Explore the intersection between traditional and holistic wellness practices, land stewardship, and home herbalism with Rhiannon Smith, founder of a Takoma Park-based herbal apothecary. Held at Josiah Henson Museum and Park. Fee: $10. Admission includes light refreshments. Register at https://montgomeryparks.org/events/ foodie-fridays-the-peoples-medicine/.

• Saturday, August 26, 10am–12n

Tomato Tasting

Join Washington Gardener Magazine at the FreshFarm Market in downtown Silver Spring, MD, for a celebration of everything tomato. Free.

• Sunday, August 27, 1:00pm

Vegetables to Plant Now

Get the scoop on the best vegetables to plant now for a fall harvest, including easy vegetables for beginners, fast-growing vegetables, frost-tolerant veggies for the longest growing season, and more. Tawnya Bair, Merrifield plant specialist, will help customers pick out their veggies to get their fall gardens growing, including lettuces, cooking greens, broccoli, root vegetables, and more. This class will take place in the Annuals House at the Gainesville, VA, store. Details at www.merrifieldgardencenter.com/classes/.

• Wednesday, August 30, 7–8pm

Garden Tool Clinic

Your garden tools work better, last longer, and are safer with proper care. Learn how from an experienced gardener. Held at the Arlington Central Library. Free, no registration required. Details at https://mgnv.org/events/.

•Thursday, August 31, 3pm

Climate-Smart Agriculture & Who’s in the Garden Webinar

Learn from experts from USDA and beyond who will share planting tips and resources that benefit community gardens. On-the-ground stories will be shared of gardens making a difference by growing fresh, nutritious food for their communities. Free. Register for the Zoom link at https://www.usda.gov/ peoples-garden/webinars.

• Sunday, September 10 DC State Fair

Held at Franklin Park in downtown Washington, DC. See dcstatefair.org.

• September 12–15

Urban Tree Summit 2023

Montgomery Parks and Casey Trees host the summit, showcasing work by leading experts in the diverse field of urban forestry. Sign up to learn virtually about the need for increased tree protections in the built environment, how public gardens play a key role in urban forests, best practices for climbing arborists, and more. Or meet outside for expert-led tree tours through the U.S. Capitol Grounds and the Accredited Arboretum at Arlington National Cemetery, and learn about historic champion trees in the Montgomery County area. See schedule and register at https://caseytrees.org/urban-tree-summit-2023/.

• Saturday. September 16, 10am

Groundcovers Talk

Kathy Jentz, editor of Washington Gardener magazine and host of the GardenDC Podcast, will talk about her most recent book, Groundcover Revolution. Held at My Dead Aunt’s Books. Copies of the book will be available for purchase. Details at https://www.hyattsvillehorticulture.org/.

Looking Ahead

• September 21 and 22

Annual Boxwood Symposium

The 2023 Annual Boxwood Symposium will be held this year in Pottersville, NJ. The symposium will include educational lectures on the care and health of boxwood by specialists in the field, and tours of some fantastic private and public landscapes that would normally be difficult to access. Details at americanboxwoodsociety.org.

• Saturday, September 23

AHS 50th Gala at River Farm

The Gala will be the perfect opportunity to show your support for the American Horticultural Society and River Farm: visit the treasured headquarters; connect with fellow supporters; and enjoy a magical evening of good food, drink, entertainment, and conversation. See https://ahsgardening.org/.

• September 30 to November 12

Chrysanthemum Festival at Longwood Gardens

From tiny pom-poms to oversized blooms, more than 5,000 chrysanthemum plants in rich colors of yellow, orange, lavender, maroon, and more transform Longwood’s grand conservatory into an autumnal dream. This amazing display is also Longwood’s most challenging exhibition, combining art and horticulture to bring an ancient artform practiced throughout Japan and China to the gardens. Details and tickets at https://longwoodgardens.org.

• Sunday, October 1, 1–3pm Urban Agriculture Month October Urban Agriculture Month in Arlington County, VA, shines a spotlight on the significant role urban agriculture plays in the regional and local food system. The event takes place at the Central Library (1015 N. Quincy St.) with speakers and demonstration sessions. For more information, visit: https:// arlingtonurbanag.org/2023-urban-agriculture-month/.

• Saturday, October 28, 11am–2pm Garlic Planting Party & Poetry Slam Fall planting, crafts, and a youth poetry competition in Washington Youth Garden at the U.S. National Arboretum. Details coming soon.

Event Listing Updates

See updated event listings on the Washington Gardener discussion list. Join by emailing WashingtonGardenersubscribe@googlegroups.com

How to Submit Events

To submit an event for this listing, email washingtongardenermagazine@gmail. com with “Event” in the subject line. Our next deadline is September 5 for the September 2023 issue, for events taking place after September 15. o

The Urban Garden: 101 Ways to Grow Food and Beauty in the City is all about small-space gardening solutions!

By Kathy Jentz and Teresa Speight

Published by Cool Springs Press/Quarto Homes

Order it today at: https://amzn.to/3yiLPKU

GardenDC Podcast

The GardenDC podcast is all about gardening in the greater Washington, DC, and Mid-Atlantic area. The program is hosted by Kathy Jentz, editor of Washington Gardener Magazine, and features guest experts in local and national horticulture. The latest episodes include interviews with experts on Wild Bees, Planting by the Signs, and Adaptive Gardening. You can listen online at https:// washingtongardener.blogspot.com/ or on Spotify, Apple, etc. o