Washington Gardener Magazine February 2023

WASHINGTON g a rdener

Native Northern Spicebush

Plant Profile

Great Gardening Books Reviewed

Six Tips for LongLasting Cut Tulips

Seed Potatoes vs. Potato Seeds

“Almost” Native Common Dandelions

Cherry Laurel Substitutes

Two New Tomatoes from Burpee

Butterfly Gardening in the Shade

Meet Martha Pindale, Horticulturist and Instructor

Philly Flower Show Trip Details

GARDEN AND NATURE TOURS

WITH C. COLSTON BURRELL https://gardenandnaturetours.com/

October

June 13 - 20ÑDenver Gardens and Rocky Mountain Wildflowers Post Tour to Vail and Steamboat SpringsÑJune 20 - 24

August 24 - September 7ÑGardens of Art and Architecture: Roberto Burle Marx, Oscar Niemeyer and Brazilian Modernism

Need a Garden Club Speaker?

www.greenspring.org

Green Spring Gardens

Northern Spicebush produces a brightred drupe with a peppery taste and scent. Photo by R.

Got a Garden Question?

Got a gardening question you need answered? Send your questions to KathyJentz@gmail.com and use the subject line “Q&A.” Then look for your answered questions in upcoming issues.

After bringing tulips home, start by putting them in a dark place in water so they can fill up with water and acclimate. Tulip photo courtesy of iBulb. com.

Headquartered in Warminster, PA, Burpee breeds and trials plants at its nearby landmark facility, Fordhook Farm, in Doylestown, PA. Established as W. Atlee Burpee Company in 1876, Burpee is home to the original ‘Iceberg’ lettuce (1894), the first white marigold (1976), and the biggest beefsteak tomato ever bred (2014). Photo of ‘Two Tasty’ hybrid tomatoes provided by Burpee.

ON THE COVER

A. Nonenmacher, CC BY-SA 4.0, https:// creativecommons. org/licenses/bysa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Credits

Kathy Jentz

Editor/Publisher

Washington Gardener

826 Philadelphia Ave.

Silver Spring, MD 20910

Phone: 301-588-6894

kathyjentz@gmail.com

www.washingtongardener.com

Ruth E. Thaler-Carter

Proofreader

Jessica Harden

Intern

Subscription: $20.00

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Sowing Seeds for Life

With both 2023 Washington Gardener Seed Exchanges now over, I can turn my focus to actually starting some seeds of my own. Like every February, I have big plans for starting dozens of varieties of annual flowers and vegetables, but by June, life has typically gotten incredibly busy and I’m lucky to have gotten a handful of them into soil. Will this year be any different?

Even though all my seeds may not get sown. I still feel a sense of accomplishment knowing I grew something each year and always make a point to try raising a few new things. Last year, it was ‘Round Black Spanish’ winter radish. This year, I’ve got my eye on some different colors of cotton and corn, as well as some new dwarf zucchini cultivars and heirloom cowpeas. And, oh, yes, some miniature bok choy.

I love sharing the seeds that garden companies send me to try out, as well as the extras I collect from my own garden. It gives me great pleasure to think of the offspring of my marigolds and celosia growing in others’ gardens all over the region.

It is also a joy to see seeds that were given out at our annual Seed Exchanges being shared on social media and, months later, reading posts about what the attendees actually grew from them.

I attended an online seed summit last weekend that stressed the importance of seed-saving in local communities as a way to ensure food security. Sometimes I think of seeds as these cute little plant packages of happiness, but I forget how urgently important they are to our basic lives and welfare.

Whether you save seeds or not, the act of growing seeds from planting to harvest can have a huge impact on your life outlook and those around you.

Sincerely,

Kathy Jentz, Editor/Publisher, Washington Gardener

KathyJentz@gmail.com

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Volume 17, Number 12

ISSN 1555-8959

© 2023 Washington Gardener

All rights reserved. Published monthly. No material may be reproduced without prior written permission. This magazine is purchased by the buyer with the understanding that the information presented is from various sources from which there can be no warranty or responsibility by the publisher as to legality, completeness, or technical accuracy.

All uncredited photos in this issue are © Kathy Jentz.

Your editor (left) with Susan Eggerton (right) setting up the Washington Gardener Seed Exchange at Green Spring Gardens in Alexandria, VA. Photo by Jessica Harden.

Reader Contest

For our February 2023 Washington Gardener Reader Contest, we are giving away a gift certificate for Logee’s Tropical Plants (value $100).

Logee’s Greenhouses was started by William D. Logee in 1892 in Danielson, CT. It began as a cut-flower business and soon, Logee’s interest turned to tropical and unusual plants. Today, they carry on the family tradition and offer fruiting, rare, and tropical plants, as well as hardy garden plants, easy-to-grow houseplants, begonias, and many more rare and unusual plants to thrill and delight their customers. Logee’s Tropical Plants is online at www.logees.com.

To enter to win the Logee’s Tropical Plants $100 gift certificate, send an email to WashingtonGardenerMagazine@gmail.com by 5:00pm on February 28 with “Logees” in the subject line and in the body of the email. Tell us what your favorite article was in this issue and why. Please also include your full name and mailing address. The winner will be announced and notified on/about March 1. o

Your Ad Here

Are you trying to reach thousands of gardeners in the greater DC region/MidAtlantic area? Washington Gardener Magazine goes out in the middle of every month. Contact KathyJentz@gmail.com or call 301.588.6894 for ad rates (starting from $200). The ad deadline is the 5th of each month. Please submit your ad directly to: KathyJentz@gmail.com.

January 2023 Issue

Thanks for another great issue! My favorite article this month (January 2023) is a toss-up between the article on houseplant care (because I doubled down on my houseplants this winter) and the one on Crocus and Snowdrops (because I just can’t wait to see 2023 start to bloom). And that yellow crocus on page 10 is so vibrant!

~ Johanna Kearns, Washington, DC

I enjoyed reading “Plant Lust.” It was helpful toward planning my garden for this year.

~ Linda Ivko, Waldorf, MD

My favorite article from the January 2023 issue was “Why Do I Have to Share My Milkweed?” I’m excited to plant a few varieties this year in my garden, and the article was very helpful and informative about potential pests I will encounter.

~ Ashleah Younker, Rockville, MD

My favorite article in the January 2023 edition of the Washington Gardener Magazine is on the Milkweed Tussock Moth. I see more Tussock Moth caterpillars on my milkweed plants than Monarchs. Thank you for educating everyone about these overlooked insects.

~ Amy Rembold, Frederick, MD o

Plant a Row for the Hungry (PAR) is an easy program to participate in and really does not take any extra resources than what you may have in your garden. In normal times, about 35 million people wonder where their next meal will come from. Most of these are children. That’s where PAR steps in.

PAR is such a simple program: It urges gardeners to Plant A Row (or a container) dedicated to feeding the hungry, and then take the harvest to someplace or someone that needs it. Once you have donated, send an email to KathyJentz@gmail.com with the total (in pounds and ounces) of what you gave. That is all there is to it. Easy. Effective. Adaptable and Helpful.

By Kathy Jentz

Growing up in her grandparents’ backyard nursery, Martha Pindale had no choice but to be born with a green thumb. As executive director of the American Landscape Institute and 2022 winner of the Maryland Nursery, Landscape and Greenhouse Association (MNLGA) Associate Professional Achievement Award, Pindale has extensive experience in the horticulture industry.

Pindale majored in landscape horticulture at Sand Hills College in North Carolina; worked at gardens in England, Holland, and Germany; and was president of her family’s nursery for 15 years. She also co-chaired the Perennial Plant Association (PPA) MidAtlantic Symposium, served on the Baltimore County Farm Bureau, was the 4-H leader for Baltimore County, and is a member of the MNLGA Board of Directors.

What was your favorite part about growing up in the horticulture industry?

Being outside, watching the seasons change, being surrounded by interesting people who were working at Bluemount Nurseries. They came from all backgrounds and were all ages. To some, it was just a job and to others, plants were their passion. That passion rubbed off on me. In my late teens, I finally became aware that my father, Richard Simon, had some very interesting contemporaries/colleagues

Martha Pindale

Hor�icult�rist and Inst��ctor

By Jessica Harden

who passed through our nursery or were guests at our home, such as Dale Hendricks and Steve Castaroni at North Creek Nurseries; Kurt Bluemel, Wolfgang Oehme, Pierre Bennerup of Sunny Border Nursery; Steve Still of the PPA; Stephanie Cohen, Fred and Maryann McGourty of Hillside Gardens; Alan Bush, Brent and Becky Heath, Andre Viette...the list goes on. The who’s who of the early days of the Perennial Plant Association. It was exciting!

Why did you start working at the American Landscape Institute (ALI)?

In 2015, I was working full time as a gardener for some very wonderful residential clients, but was feeling stagnant. I called George Mayo and told him to keep his ears to the ground about any opportunities that might stretch my mind, not just my muscles. He called me in December 2015 and told me about a new program that he was a part of, to bring new people into the horticulture industry and take horticulture classes while working for a landscape or nursery company. A few days later, I was sitting in a conference room with George, Tim Babikow, John Akehurst, William Verbrugge, Andreas Grothe, Michael Martin, and Marion Mullan. After hearing about their ideas, I agreed to come on board as the executive secretary, which later morphed in being executive director.

Can you tell us about the program at the American Landscape Institute?

Firstly, the name is a bit misleading, it is not an “Institute.” It is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) scholarship program. It’s an “earn and learn” opportunity for someone to work full time in the industry for a company that pays an 80% tuition scholarship for the student trainee to attend college horticulture classes every Friday for two years. The 20% that the student pays each semester is held by ALI in an escrow account. When the students graduate from the Community College of Baltimore

County (CCBC) with their Certificate in Landscape Installation, Maintenance, and Design, ALI gives them a check for the 20% portion that they paid out. It’s about $1,100. Students graduate debtfree and all the while, they were earning a weekly paycheck and learning on the job, building their skill set.

Just to clarify, CCBC is the actual institute of instruction. The ALI students are really CCBC students. ALI is the employment piece of the program and the employers (various landscape companies and nurseries) are the 80% scholarship piece of the program.

What makes this program unique in comparison to other landscape and horticulture programs?

Everything! Students graduate debtfree with on-the-job experience and a résumé, unlike students graduating from a four-year college. Those students graduate with huge debt that needs a big salary to pay down, yet they haven’t been working and have little on their résumé.

What is your typical day like as executive director of the ALI?

I work from home. My days could include any of the following: answering emails and phone calls from current students, their employers, or prospective students, ALI Board members, the faculty at the CCBC Sustainable Horticulture Program. I do a lot of posting about the program on Facebook and Instagram. I visit high schools to talk to students.

What is the most rewarding part of your role?

Helping students—100% that is my favorite part! Knowing that through the ALI/CCBC program, they are learning a lot and forging (ideally) long-lasting friendships and connections in the horticulture industry. Being a part of the ALI/CCBC Program should serve them well throughout their green careers.

Who are your personal heroes?

Tracy DiSabato-Aust for writing the first-ever book about perennial garden maintenance; Vanessa Finney of the Maryland Nursery, Landscape, and Greenhouse Association (MNLGA) for her tireless promotion of the horticulture industry in Maryland; and Carrie Engel for being such a supportive person to me and so many other women in the Maryland horticulture scene.

Who has influenced your career?

My father Richard Simon and all his contemporaries, who I was lucky enough to be around a lot and soak up their knowledge. My husband, of course, for all his support over the 30plus years we have been together.

What kinds of plants do you have in your own gardens?

Perennials mostly! I do some veggie gardening when I can. We have a “hell bank” that runs along our 300-footlong driveway—full baking sun and the bank is subsoil. Lots of different Juniperus species and surprisingly, Microbiota. Many groundcover Sedums and tons of Euphorbia palustris and Solidago. It’s a hot mess.

What do you do in your free time when you’re not working? Free time? What is this word? I am not familiar with it.

Is there anything else that you want to add that you think would be of interest to our magazine readers?

I have an amazing husband and two wonderful sons, ages 23 and 27. Not in horticulture, but I still love them.

How can our readers get in contact with you for more information?

Check out the ALI website at http:// www.americanlandscapeinstitute.com/ and the CCBC Sustainable Horticulture page on CCBC’s website, https://www.ccbcmd.edu/Programsand-Courses/Schools-and-AcademicDepartments/School-of-Mathematicsand-Science/Sustainable-Horticulture. You can also email me at martha@ americanlandscapeinstitute.com.o

Jessica Harden is a junior journalism major minoring in law and society, with a concentration in criminal law, at the University of Maryland, College Park, MD. She is an intern this semester with Washington Gardener and is from San Antonio, TX.

The Urban Garden: 101 Ways to Grow Food and Beauty in the City IS OUT NOW!

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 Home Composting, Moss Gardening, and Forcing Bulbs. You can listen online at https:// washingtongardener.blogspot.com/ or on Spotify, Apple, etc o

Ask the Expert

By Miri Talabac

for flower nectar. These include ripe or rotting fruits that have cracked or fallen off a tree, oozing sap (including from Yellow-bellied Sapsucker wells), and even animal scat. (Yes, eww…but that provides nutrients they likely can’t get elsewhere.) While most fruits are grown in full sun, both Pawpaw (Asimina triloba) and American Persimmon (Diospyros virginiana) will fare well in varying degrees of shade.

Butterfly Gardening

Q: I want to garden for butterflies but my yard is mostly shaded. How can I attract them? So many of the plant lists I find are for sunny areas.

A: Most butterflies forage in sunny habitats, and many of the top-performing plants for attracting other pollinators are similarly sun-loving, both of which may be reasons such lists focus on species for sun.

There are some pollinator-attracting plants you can try, though, as long as your other yard conditions suit them (soil drainage, deer-browsing issues, etc.). As with many shade-tolerant species, an exposure with some dappled sun or a few hours of direct sun will promote more bloom and denser growth than one with heavy shade. Here are some ideas among native species:

• White Wood Aster (Eurybia divaricata) and Blue Wood Aster (Symphyotrichum cordifolium)

• Zigzag Goldenrod (Solidago flexicaulis)

• Blue Mistflower (Conoclinium coelestinum)

• Scullcap (Scutellaria, several species)

• Pussytoes (Antennaria, several species)— host plant for the American Lady

• Bugbane (Actaea racemosa)—not for nectar, but as a host plant for the Appalachian and Summer Azures

• Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica)

• Woodland Sunflower (Helianthus divaricatus)

• Allegheny Spurge (Pachysandra procumbens)

• Wild Blue Phlox (Phlox divaricata)

• Swamp Azalea (Rhododendron viscosum) and several other deciduous species

• Summersweet (Clethra alnifolia)

Some butterflies that prefer woodland habitats use other sources of nourishment to supplement or substitute

Some butterfly adults will also mudpuddle, where they use damp spots or their own saliva to extract minerals from soil, akin to a salt lick for mammals. If you have a patch of exposed soil in the garden (such as an area attractive to our native ground-nesting solitary bees), you may draw the attention of a passing butterfly. If you’re worried about weed takeover or erosion, you could try making a mud puddle of sorts in a birdbath so it’s contained. Clay-heavy soils are probably more useful to mud-puddlers than sandy soils because they retain more nutrients.

Cherry Laurel Substitutes

Q: I’m getting tired of holes in my Cherry Laurel leaves, which I’ve learned is an infection. I hear they can get scale outbreaks, too, which sounds daunting. What substitutes can I try?

A: We definitely over-plant this shrub, and while nothing is going to look exactly like Cherry Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus) in all aspects, there are several alternatives to try. In any application where this shrub has proven popular (hedging, screening, foundation planting), using a mix of species instead of a single type will give the planting more resilience in the face of potential pests, diseases, or harsh weather. No plant is immune to problems, but with varied vulnerabilities, no single issue is likely to cause an eyesore or necessitate treatment in a mixed-species planting.

Candidates for replacement will depend on your goals for the planting and what the site conditions are like. While Cherry Laurel are adaptable to full sun or mostly shade, other species might not be that forgiving of such a range in light. If you don’t need the plants to be completely evergreen, your options will broaden.

If you want a relatively compact evergreen for a partially or predomi-

nantly shady spot, consider Leucothoe (Leucothoe axillaris, L. fontanesiana, and Agarista populifolia). Several similar-looking species and cultivars are commonly available, with a few blushing maroon-red in winter and others boasting variegation. Deer generally avoid browsing them, and they will tolerate soil with more dampness than Cherry Laurel would. A new variety of an Asian species, Leucothoe keiskei, has been entering the market recently, although I have not heard of any concerns about invasiveness.

Of rising prominence at some area nurseries (especially in Northern Virginia) is Distylium, a non-native Witch Hazel cousin with matte evergreen foliage. Several have a squat growth habit quite similar to ‘Otto Luyken’ Cherry Laurel. The caveat: They are marginally cold-hardy here, and a cold snap or harsh winter could cause winterburn on the foliage or potentially some branch dieback. Locations taking advantage of a favorable microclimate (like siting near a sun-warmed wall) can provide enough of a buffer to avoid the brunt of the damage.

Other ideas: Illicium (several species and hybrids; also cold-sensitive, but great in shade with deer); Glossy Abelia (Linnaea x grandiflora; long-blooming but not reliably evergreen); Holly-leaf Osmanthus (Osmanthus heterophyllus; fragrant blooms and avoided by deer); and Inkberry Holly (Ilex glabra; densest in full sun and best unsheared), plus a variety of other hollies. o

Miri Talabac is a Certified Professional Horticulturist who has worked as a horticulture consultant for the University of Maryland Extension Home and Garden Information Center since 2019. To ask a gardening or pest question, go to http://extension.umd. edu/hgic and scroll to “connect with us.” Digital photos can be attached.

“Almost” Native Common Dandelion Taraxacum officinale

By Barry Glick

Sometimes the title for an article comes to me well before the idea for that story materializes, and that was the case here. I was watching one of my all-time favorite movies, “Almost Famous,” quite the engaging coming-ofage flick that I’ve watched on multiple occasions, when for some unexplained reason, I thought of Taraxacum officinale. The thought that entered my mind was: “Here’s a plant so ubiquitous that it’s ‘almost’ native.” I know you’re familiar with the plant and honestly, probably hate it, but perhaps when I tell you more than you already know about it, that relationship will morph from pure hate into a forgiving love/hate relationship.

The plant as you know it commonly is, “Dandelion,” was not endemic to this continent when the Mayflower pulled into Plymouth Harbor some 403 years ago. I don’t know if there were any specimens on that particular voyage, probably, but if not, the plant did arrive shortly thereafter. I’m also not sure how those early European settlers knew that it didn’t grow here, but it was so valuable to them in their native homelands, that they brought some with them on their long journey, just to be safe.

Now, you’re probably wondering what

they treasured about this plant that you curse at every spring when the monotone of green grass on your lawn is interrupted by gazillions of bright-yellow dots. The answer, in a word—lots!

Let’s take Vitamin A, for example. My mother always told me that if I ate my carrots, I would have x-ray vision like Superman. That’s because, as everyone knows, carrots are exceedingly high in Vitamin A, right? A 100 gram sample of carrots contains 10,000 International Units of Vitamin A. Guess how much a 100 gram sample of Dandelion greens has? You’re not gonna believe this: 14,000 International Units. And fiber— don’t get me started on fiber: lots more. This info comes straight from the USDA!

I’m not going to give up my morning espresso, but in wartime and during coffee shortages, besides Chicory (Cichorium intybus), dried and ground Dandelion roots were used as a coffee substitute.

I thought I was hallucinating last winter when I saw fresh Dandelion greens bundled for sale in the produce section at our local grocery store. I haven’t noticed them since, but you have to give Kroger credit for the attempt.

There are so many medicinal benefits listed for Dandelion, you would think

that every doctor would carry a bottle in their little black bag. (Do doctors still carry little black bags?) During the years 1831–1926, it was actually listed in the U.S. Pharmacopoeia. A friend of mine swears that a cup of tea made from fresh Dandelion flowers cured him of night blindness.

The roots of Dandelion have been used for treating joint sprains, cirrhosis, gallstones, hepatitis, jaundice, and swollen liver, to name a few ailments. But please folks, this is not an endorsement for using Dandelion for any medicinal needs; consult an accredited herbalist first.

By the way, there are almost 30 species in the genus Taraxacum, but none native to North America.

I hope that this short treatise has given you a new respect for one of America’s most hated weeds and that you’ll be sipping some Dandelion tea or Dandelion wine soon. (I think you can safely do that without consulting an herbalist.)

Oh, yeah, the name, Dandelion: Where did that come from? Well, you can thank the French for that moniker, and anyone with a vague knowledge of Latin or any of the other Romance languages could figure it out. The French saw in the leaf a resemblance to a lion’s tooth, so they called it “Dent de Leon,” the “Tooth of the Lion” and by the time it arrived here on our shores, it had morphed into Dandelion. o

Barry Glick, a transplanted Philadelphian, has been residing in Greenbrier County, WV, since 1972. His mountaintop garden and nursery is a mecca for gardeners from virtually every country in the world. He writes and lectures extensively about native plants and Hellebores, his two main specialties, and welcomes visitors with advance notice. He can be reached at barry@sunfarm.com, www.sunfarm.com, or 304.497.2208..

Photo by Greg Hume, CC BY-SA

3.0

<https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons.

Seed Potatoes and Potatoes from Seed

Barbara Melera of Harvesting History (https://harvesting-history.com/) explains that “certified seed potatoes” are potatoes that are harvested young, usually when they are quite small, but some varieties are very large when they are harvested, so size is not an absolute determining factor. The “certified seed potatoes” are then stored for a number of weeks in a room with a constant temperature of around 40 degrees Fahrenheit.

When they are removed from that room, Melera said, they can then be sold as “Certified Seed Potatoes.” The process of harvesting young and then storing at a constant temperature somehow encourages budding in the tubers. The more buds you get, the more plants you can grow.

“We sell a lot of seed potatoes, but we do not sell potato seed, but in the course of selling seed potatoes, the most frequently asked question is, ‘Is there such a thing as a potato seed?’,” said Melera.

The answer is quite complicated, she said. Some potato plants do produce a round, green fruit on their stems (above ground), but this fruit contains solanine, so it is quite toxic. It also contains seeds (from 100-400 seeds, depending upon the cultivar), and potato plants will grow from these seeds and eventually produce tubers (potatoes). Not all potato plants will produce fruit. The seeds in the fruit often do not produce potatoes that are anything like the parent plant, and often, the potatoes taste quite “nasty.”

Seeds harvested from fruit in late summer or early fall can be dried and planted the following spring. The seeds can be started indoors. The seeds produce weak, stringy potato plants that

then produce tiny tubers (potatoes). These tubers can be harvested and planted to produce a stronger plant that may produce standard-sized potatoes. Often this process takes two years, but if you start early enough in the season, it can take about eight months.

The photo is of potato seed in the fruit that a potato plant may produce. The sliced fruit shows the seeds from which potatoes grow. They are roughly the size of tomato seeds.

The reason that most potatoes are grown from tubers today is that it is the only way to achieve consistency. Melera said, “There are foodies who argue that consistently growing potatoes by ‘cloning’ (replanting tubers) is weakening the potato vegetable. This is a valid argument, but for every good potato produced from seed, there are 100 (maybe more) nasty ones produced from the same seed source.”

There are companies now selling True Potato Seed (TPS). If you want to experiment, it is probably best to start with their seed. Mother Nature is always so very interesting.

Standard potatoes have a varied and often unjustified nomenclature. They are intermittently known as Russets, Burbank, Baking, Idaho, etc., potatoes. Morphologically, they differ from fingerling potatoes in that they are larger and fatter, taking on a round or oblong shape. Idaho potatoes are so named because they are grown in Idaho. Burbanks are usually varieties that were created from cultivars developed by Luther Burbank. Russets and baking potatoes are the same. In general, standard potatoes are used for baking, boiling, steaming, mashing, and everything else you might do with a potato. They come in many sizes, many colors, and a few shapes.

“Potatoes are the most important food crop in terms of sustainability and feeding a world population that is exploding in numbers,” said Melera. An acre of potatoes can produce two to four times the food quantity of grain crops, and potato plants are extraordinarily efficient consumers of water—up to seven times more efficient in using water than grain crops—and produce more food per unit of water than other major food crops. o

Six Secrets to Enjoying Long-Lasting Cut Tulips

Tulips are one of the best-loved flowers. They are iconic eye-catchers that bring spring into our homes. But how do you make sure that you can enjoy these seasonal flowers for as long as possible? Here are six tips.

1. Fresh

It is best to buy tulips that show some color, but whose buds are still closed. If the buds are already open when you buy them, flowering has already been set in motion and there is a chance that you will enjoy them for less time. The freshest tulips are grown locally, so it’s best to ask your vendor about their origin.

2. Transport

When you buy a beautiful bunch of tulips, make sure to have it wrapped properly in paper or newspaper. This protects the flowers and leaves from knocks and bumps. Paper wrapping will also protect the flowers against temperature differences between indoors and outdoors.

3. Cutting

Your tulips will have been out of water for a while after buying them, which may cause the bottom of the stems to dry out. Therefore, trim an inch off the bottom of the stems with a clean knife. Cutting them at an angle helps the flowers absorb water more easily.

4. A Clean Vase

Use a vase with plenty of room for the stems. Flowers are sensitive to bacteria. Therefore, clean your vase thoroughly with soap and rinse with water. Fill the vase with fresh tap water at room temperature. Change the water regularly to keep it clear and clean.

5. Add Sugar

Add cut flower food or a teaspoon of sugar to the water to prolong the vase life of the flowers.

6. The Right Spot

Once your tulips are shining in a beautiful vase, it’s important to pick the right spot to display them. This means avoiding direct sunlight and the vicinity of fruit. Fruit produces ethylene, a gas that makes flowers and leaves wilt more quickly.

Would you like to know more about growing and caring for bulb flowers? Go to www.ilsysays.com. o

Potato fruit and seed photo courtesy of Harvesting History.

New Plant Spotlight

Two New Tomatoes from Burpee Burpee introduces several brand-new trailblazing innovations for the 2023 season. Here are two.

‘Vivacious’ Hybrid Tomato (pictured above): This Burpee-bred super-fruit breakthrough is a feast for the eyes. ‘Vivacious’ spent five years in development before its debut this year. This superstar tomato’s luscious, orange-scarlet fruits are prodigies of magical color; meaty texture; sweet, balanced flavor; and out-of-this-world nutrition. These oval-shaped fruits are power-packs of Vitamin A (betacarotene). Each ‘Vivacious‘ tomato delivers:

• 40% of daily intake of Vitamin A in one tomato

• 70 bright, beautiful fruits per plant for both fresh eating and cooking

• Meaty yet juicy with balanced sweetness and acidity

‘Two Tasty’ Hybrid Tomato (pictured on page 3): This two-bite cherry tomato stands out for its virtuoso flavor. The fruits’ color matrix of sweet rich-red and savory purple-black notes imparts a third bonus flavor, unlike any other large cherry tomato. It yields clusters of firm, juicy, round, 1 ½-2” tomatoes and was voted best-tasting tomato out of hundreds rated by Burpee interns. o

Quick Links to Recent Washington Gardener Blog Posts

• Into the Heart of the Garden with Maria Rodale

• Boxwood Plant Profile

• Meet the New Intern

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

February–March Garden To-Do List

• Cut some branches (Forsythia, Quince, Bittersweet, Redbud, Willow, etc.) for forcing indoors.

• Put out suet for birds.

• Keep birdfeeders filled and provide a source of water.

• Check outside plants and trees for animal (deer) damage.

• Mist indoor plants and set up pebble trays to increase humidity.

• Rejuvenate Holly bushes and Boxwood with a hard pruning.

• Plan landscape design projects.

• Check evergreens for signs of desiccation.

• Start seeds of cool-season vegetables and flowers.

• Keep ice-melting chemicals away from garden beds. Use coarse sand instead.

• Prune any dead or diseased wood off trees and shrubs.

• Fertilize trees, shrubs, and evergreens.

• Prune roses.

• Begin tilling beds (when the ground is dry enough to work, but not muddy) and work in compost.

• Plant or transplant trees or shrubs, including berries, roses, and evergreens.

• Apply pre-emergent weed control such as corn gluten.

• Protect tender plants by covering them with some type of cloth material, if an unusually cold day/night is in the forecast. Be sure to uncover when it warms up.

• Weed.

• Trim ornamental grasses such as Liriope, Mondo, and Pampas.

• Divide overgrown or crowded perennials such as Daylilies and Shasta Daisies.

• Scan houseplants for insect activity.

• Dust house plants with a slightly damp cloth.

• Clear perennial beds of any dead plant parts and debris.

• Clean and organize the garden shed.

• Clean, sharpen, and oil tools, if not already done last fall.

• Walk your yard to check for heaving plants and bulbs, and place them back in the ground as needed. Cover with more mulch to prevent further heaving.

• Apply dormant oil spray to ornamentals and fruit trees before dormancy breaks.

• Check and tune up power equipment (mowers and trimmers).

• Build garden furniture.

• Spread new gravel on paths.

• Mulch bare areas.

• Design new beds and gardens.

• Pick up new gardening books and magazines for inspiration.

• Start seedlings indoors under grow lights. Some good choices to start early are Peppers, Artichokes, Onions, Beets, Turnips, Cabbage, Kale, and Leeks.

• Put up trellises and teepees for Peas and Beans to climb on.

• Direct-sow early, cool-season crops as soon as ground soil can be worked. Good choices are Peas, Lettuces, Mustards, Onion sets, Kale, and Cabbages.

• Start or turn your compost pile.

• Do an annual soil test and amend soils as recommended.

• Check for snow damage. Gently brush off snow weight, if you must, but it’s better to let snow melt on its own. o



The Annual Washington Gardener Philadelphia Flower Show Tour

Organized by Washington Gardener Magazine

Wednesday, March 8, 2023, 10:00AM-10:00PM

Leaving and returning from downtown Silver Spring, MD

The Philadelphia Flower Show is the oldest and largest indoor flower show in the world. The theme for 2023 is “The Garden Electric!” That spark of joy that comes while giving or receiving flowers—this is the moment captured by this year’s PHS Philadelphia Flower Show.

The Flower Show attracts non-gardeners as well as die-hard green-thumbed people of all ages. First-time and returning riders will enjoy the welcoming, custom details of our coach ser vice.

Schedule for the day:

• 10:00AM Coach leaves downtown Silver Spring with lunch, games, and DVD viewing en route

• 12:45-7:15PM Explore Philadelphia Flower Show ~ dinner on your own

• 7:30PM Coach departs Philadelphia Convention Center with snacks, games, and DVD showing onboard

• 10:00PM Coach arrives at downtown Silver Spring

This tour package includes:

1. Charter Passenger Coach ~ reserved seating, storage under the bus

2. Choice of Gourmet Box Lunch on the way up to the show

3. Snacks for the return trip

4. Suggestions of restaurants near the show for dinner on your own

5. Information package on the show to assist in prioritizing your day

6. Two Garden DVD showings

7. Admission to the show & driver tip

8. Convenient drop-off and pick-up at downtown Silver Spring, MD

9. Lively show and garden discussions led by Washington Gardener ’s Kathy Jentz

10. Surprises and prizes.

• If inclement weather occurs and our coach bus service determines it is unsafe to travel on March 8, our snow date is Friday, March 10th. To register, please use the form below. (One form per person.)

Name _______________________________________________________________

Address______________________________________________________________

Phone number________________________________________________________

Email________________________________________________________________

Name of seatmate

We will try to seat groups together, but cannot guarantee group seating.

Name of group

$155.00 each for Washington Gardener Magazine subscribers

Check/money order #_______ ~ Please make payable to “ Washington Gardener ”

Send this registration form along with your payment to: Washington Gardener, 826 Philadelphia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910

Registration deadline: March 1, 2023*

(*Note we usually sell out early,) Full refund if canceled by February 7. $40 refunded until February 28. No refunds after March 1.

Questions?

Kathy Jentz

kathyjentz@gmail.com

Brought

you by:

Classes, Events, and Plant Shows/Sales

• Friday, February 17, 9:30am–4pm GreenScapes Symposium: Designing With Purpose

This is a live zoom event hosted by Brookside Gardens. Take advantage of this learning opportunity to effect positive environmental change whether in your home garden or through professional work. Explore the latest advancements in landscape design strategies to achieve a range of goals, from public gardens that engage diverse audiences to landscapes that reduce carbon footprints and are resilient to climate change. Speakers will also explore innovative design and maintenance practices that bring visual order to naturalistic gardens, making them recognizable assets to neighbors and HOAs. Fee: $55. Register using ActiveMontgomery. org (Activity # PBG0057) or call 301962-1407.

• Opening February 17

“Discover the World of Orchids” Exhibit at U.S. Botanic Garden

The 27th annual joint orchid exhibit between the United States Botanic Garden (USBG) and Smithsonian Gardens will be on display in the USBG Conservatory from February 17 through April 30. The exhibit will share stories of the diversity of orchids and how technology advances their conservation. The garden will offer orchid-themed educational opportunities, including online programs about orchid care and cultivation, lectures on orchid conservation, in-person experts answering visitors’ orchid questions, and more. Learn more and plan a visit at www.USBG.gov.

• Sunday, February 19, 2–4pm Stars for Your Garden from Star® Roses hosted by the Potomac Rose Society

Tyler Brown, territory manager for Star® Roses and Plants in the Mid-Atlantic region, will share information about upcoming and recent introductions of roses from some award-winning disease-resistant rose breeders. He will describe Star® Roses production facilities and how a new rose progresses

from breeder to market. Finally, he will share Star® Roses’s assessment of roses that rate highly for Washington, DC; Maryland; and Virginia, with emphasis on superior performance in hot, humid conditions. This program is free and open to the public, but you must register at https://potomacrose.org/ event-5119938 for the Zoom link.

• Friday, February 24, 1:30–2:30pm

Virtual Floral Design: Winter Wonderland

Hosted by Hillwood Estate, Museum, and Gardens. Bring some winter wonderment into your home while the snow dances outside. Create an arrangement inspired by the season’s color palette, full of white and blue blooms with silver accents. Ami Wilber helps you create a beautiful arrangement with step-bystep guidance and plenty of time to ask questions. Supplies are not included. Fee: $12 with optional materials fee of $70. Register at hillwoodmuseum.org.

• Monday, February 27, 7:30–9pm DIY Microgreens

The Silver Spring Garden Club hosts a talk about microgreens. They are both nutritious and delicious! You can easily grow a wide array of microgreens in your very own home all year round. Find out the tips and tricks of growing these tiny crops. Carol Allen has been involved in many aspects of gardening and horticulture since childhood and likes to describe herself as a committable plant-a-holic. Doors open at 7:00pm at Brookside Gardens Visitors Center/Education Building, 1800 Glenallan Avenue, Wheaton, MD. This program is free and open to the public. Details at https:// www.silverspringgardenclub.com/.

• Friday, March 3, & Saturday, March 4 Galanthus Gala 2023

This year, the event is a hybrid event with options for attending in person at the Downingtown Friends Meetinghouse, Downingtown, PA, and online. Register for all or parts of the program for $29–$99. Details at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/galanthus-gala-2023-march-3-4-tickets513133565307?aff=efb.

• Saturday, March 4, 10am–12pm Virtual EcoSavvy Symposium: FeelGood EcoSavvy Gardening Green Spring Gardens hosts the 19th annual EcoSavvy Symposium, presented by VCE Green Spring Master Gardeners. Understand how gardening affects your physical, mental, and spiritual health and learn sustainable gardening techniques using green plants to reclaim contaminated soil and groundwater. A Zoom link will be emailed before the start of event. $24 per person. Register online at http:// www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/parktakes or call Green Spring Gardens at 703642-5173. Code GRF.K8L9.

Looking Ahead

• Saturday, March 25

Davidsonville Green Expo

Homestead Gardens in Davidsonville, MD. See https://homesteadgardens. com/upcoming-events/.

• Saturday, March 25

Lahr Native Plant Symposium & Native Plant Sale

The symposium is hosted by the U.S. National Arboretum. The Native Plant Sale is hosted by FONA. See details at https://www.fona.org/.

• Saturday, April 15 & Sunday, April 16

Leesburg Flower & Garden Festival

The downtown festival boasts 125+ vendors, including landscapers, gardening suppliers, plant sellers, outdoor living businesses, and more. The festival is free and open to the public. Held in the historic town of Leesburg, VA. See details at https://www.leesburgva.gov/.

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 March 5 for the March 2023 issue, for events taking place after March 15. o

17TH ANNUAL PHOTO CONTEST DETAILS

Here are the 17 winners in the Washington Gardener Magazine 17th Annual Photo Contest. More than 200 photos were submitted in this year’s contest from 23 entrants. As usual, the quality of entries was high and our judge had an especially difficult time winnowing the images down to the best of the best! It was great to see several first-time entrants place highly. Many of these photos are of the photographers’ own home gardens, while the majority of the rest of the images were taken at public gardens in our region.

Congratulations to the 2023 DC Garden Photo Contest winners and thank you to all who entered.

WHERE TO SEE THE PHOTOS AT THEIR FULL QUALITY

Winning images will be displayed during the Washington Gardener Seed Exchanges and appear in a local photo exhibit this summer at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens in Vienna, VA. We will announce the exact show dates this spring.

THANK YOU TO OUR JUDGE

Elizabeth Olson, certified photography judge with the Maryland Association of Agricultural Fairs & Shows (MAAFS).

THANK YOU TO OUR 2023 PRIZE SPONSORS

• Capital Photography Center, LLC

• Fiskars Tools

Additional prizes supplied by Washington Gardener Magazine

Grand Prize Winner (on the cover)

Jeanne Markowski

“Antoinette Tulip”

Location: Photographer’s home garden in Ellicott City, MD

“In the fall, I plant unique spring bulbs for deck containers,” said Markowski. Taken using a Canon R6, EF100mm macro, natural light, ISO 2000 100 mm f/5.6 1/160 sec. Markowski is an amateur photographer with nine years’ experience.

Garden Creatures Category

First Place

Bob Galvin

“Jumper”

Location: Sterling, VA

A female Canopy Jumping Spider (Phidippus otiosus) staring straight into the camera lens Photo taken with Fujifilm X-T3 camera body, Laowa 65 mm 2x macro lens, Godox V-F1 flash, ISO 80, 1/250, f/11 Galvin is an amateur photographer with 4 years’ experience.

Third Place

Stefanie Boss

“Ladybug”

Location: Chambersburg, MD

Ladybug on a sunflower. Taken with an iPhone8. Boss is an amateur photographer with 10–15 years’ experience.

Second Place

Ilenia Alvarez

“Flower Kingdom”

Location: Green Spring Gardens, Alexandria, VA

“I was focused on this flower, waiting for a hummingbird, but a monarch stopped by instead,” she said. Taken with a Canon EOS 6D Mark II. ISO 1000. Focal Lens 600 mm f/6.3 1/3200 sec. Alvarez is an amateur photographer with 10 years’ experience.

Images of insects, birds, frogs, domestic pets, wild animals, etc., in a private or public garden setting.

Garden Vignettes Category

Groupings of plants in beds or containers, unusual color or texture combinations, garden focal points, and still scenes.

First Place

Stefanie Boss

“Poppies”

Location: Chambersburg, MD

“Wild” Poppies along the road in Hagerstown, MD. Taken with an iPhone8. Boss is an amateur photographer with 10–15 years’ experience.

Second Place

Mike Whalen

“Made in the Shade”

Location: Photographer’s home garden in Fairfax Station, VA

Japanese ferns near the front door. Taken using a Sony A1 with Sony 100-400 mm f/4.5-5.6.

Settings: 400 mm, f/8, 1/500 sec, ISO=500. Whalen is an amateur photographer with 16 years’ experience.

Third Place

Nicole Nies

“A Walk in the Garden”

Location: Photographer’s home garden in Cheverly, MD

“A daytime view of our side garden that we built in 2022,” said Nies. Taken using an iPhone. She is an amateur photographer with 10 years of experience.

Small Wonders Category

Tight close-up or macro image of a single flower, plant parts, leaves, fruits, etc.

First Place

Karin Melinda Reber

“Gone Fishing”

Location: Falls Church, VA

“This adorable lone Trout Lily (Erythronium americanum) picked quite a habitat for itself: looking out above a local creek and nestled in cozy leaves and moss. Perhaps it was looking for a good fishing spot to compare its beautiful leaf markings to the brook trout this ephemeral was named after,” said Reber. Taken using a Google Pixel 6 Pro ƒ/1.851/636.81 mm ISO39. Reber is an amateur photographer with 20+ years’ experience.

Second Place

Phyllis Kimmel

“Allium Spikes“

Location: The Bishop’s Garden, National Cathedral, Washington, DC

“Spiky shapes of allium plants make for a fascinating vignette,” said Kimmel. Taken using a Fuji XT4, Fuji 80 mm macro (“I have been renting different cameras to try out this year!” noted Kimmel.), ISO 160, f/5.6/. Kimmel is an amateur photographer with 15+ years’ experience.

Third Place

Howard Clark

“Succulent in Rain”

Location: Photographer’s home garden in Montgomery Village, MD

A green and red succulent with water. Taken using a 70-300 mm Canon DO lens. Clark is a professional photographer and educator with 59 years of experience behind the lens.

Garden Views Category

First Place

Phyllis Kimmel

“Dumbarton Stairway“

Location: Dumbarton Oaks Gardens, Washington, DC

“Looking down a stone stairway, enjoying the forsythia leading to cherry blossoms in the background,” said Kimmel. Taken using a Canon 7D, Canon 24-105, ISO125, f/10. Kimmel is an amateur photographer with 15+ years’ experience.

Third Place

M. Paula Neumann

“After the Storm”

Location: Photographer’s home garden in Alexandria, VA

After the January 2022 snowstorm Taken using an iPhone 11S in natural light. Neumann is an amateur photographer with 15 years of experience.

Second Place

Leslie Landerkin

“Tranquility”

Location: Maymont Garden, Richmond, VA

A quiet scene of seats cradled by tree branches. Taken using a Leica M10 Monochrome camera with a 35 mm Summilux lens in natural daylight. Landerkin is an aspiring professional photographer with eight years of experience.

Beautiful, dramatic, or unusual perspectives of a garden landscape, including wide shots showing the setting.

Honorable MentionGarden Creatures

Mike Whalen

“The Climber”

Location: Photographer’s home garden in Fairfax Station, VA

Bumble bee on Blazing Star. Taken using a Sony A1 with Sony 100-400 mm f/4.5-5.6. Settings: 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/800 sec, ISO=2500. Whalen is an amateur photographer with 16 years’ experience.

Honorable MentionSmall Wonders

Jeanne Markowski

“Flowering Crabapple”

Location: Photographer’s home garden in Ellicott City MD

“Crabapple tree in my front yard,” said Markowski. Taken using a Canon R6, EF180 mm macro, natural light, ISO 2000 180 mm f/8 1/200 sec. Markowski is an amateur photographer with nine years’ experience

Honorable MentionGarden Vignettes

Georgette Grossman

Honorable MentionGarden Views

Ilenia Alvarez

“Stroll in the Park”

Location: Green Spring Gardens, Alexandria, VA

“I was focused on photographing hummingbirds until I noted this gentleman walking his dog.,” Alavarez said. Taken with a Canon EOS 6D Mark II. ISO 500. Focal Lens 168 mm f/5.6 1/3200 sec. Alavarez is an amateur photographer with 10 years’ experience.

“Neighborhood Daffodils”

Location: Dunn Loring, VA

“A planting of daffodils at the base of a large tree in our neighborhood common area,” said Grossman. Taken with a Fuji X-T3 camera with Fuji 80 mm lens, f/16.0, 1/60 sec, ISO 320; using natural light. Grossman is an amateur photographer with 17 years’ experience.

Beginner’s Houseplant Garden: Top 40 Choices for Houseplant Success & Happiness

Author: Jade Murray

Publisher: Creative Homeowner

List Price: $19.99

Order Links: https://amzn.to/3RVLZmo and https://bookshop.org/ a/79479/9781580115933

Reviewer: Jessica Harden

This book is perfect for total houseplant beginners, or anyone who wants to learn more about growing specific types of houseplants.

The book is split into six chapters: really easy indoor plants, air-purifying plants, humidity-loving plants, heat-tolerant plants, plants to help with pests, and diva plants. There are also short sections in the back of the book that cover photographing plants for social media and taking care of your indoor garden during the winter months.

Every plant mentioned in the book includes a short description, photos, and instructions for positioning the plant for lighting, watering, soil mix, feeding, humidity, and pests. The book ranges from social media favorites like Monstera deliciosa and Pothos to succulents and Venus Fly Traps.

In the introduction, Murray says she believes everyone has green fingers; they just need to learn how to tap into them. Because she grew up in the city with a small house and limited garden space, Murray had to learn to grow her garden oasis indoors. Over time, she learned that with the right conditions, it’s possible to grow pretty much any

type of plant indoors, and her book will help beginners do just that.

Jessica Harden is a junior journalism major minoring in law and society, with a concentration in criminal law, at the University of Maryland, College Park, MD. She is an intern this semester with Washington Gardener and is from San Antonio, TX

The Climate Change Garden: Down to Earth Advice for Growing a Resilient Garden

Authors: Sally Morgan and Kim Stoddart

Publisher: Cool Springs Press/Quarto

List Price: $26.99

Order Links: https://amzn.to/3lk3HDZ and https://bookshop.org/ a/79479/9780760379486

Reviewer: Andrea F. Siegel Change is in the air—climate change, that is.

A new book, The Climate Change Garden: Down to Earth Advice for Growing a Resilient Garden, aims to help gardeners navigate the rising waters, volatile weather, and the rest of the stressors that climate change is expected to bring to gardens and landscapes.

The authors, Sally Morgan and Kim Stoddart, say climate change is here (readers of their book likely would agree with the premise or they wouldn’t be reading the book) and now is not too soon to strengthen gardens and landscapes against the effects of warming climates and erratic weather.

Morgan is an environmental, farming, and food writer, and Stoddart writes about garden topics and teaches resilient garden techniques; both are in the UK.

This book, which includes facts, figures, and photos, has 11 chapters that cover a lot of issues, including which vegetables are likely to be more resilient; how to garden in longer, hotter, and probably buggier growing seasons; and how to help much-needed shade trees.

Readers of this guide will find the chapters organized logically. The chapter about too much water, for example, offers ways to manage, as much as possible, effects of storms using drain fields, water storage tanks, permeable surfaces, raised beds, and the like.

The tips, case studies, and lessons from history embedded in the chapters make for interesting features.

Warmer and wetter (or drier) climates will encourage undesirable pests and diseases as well as some insects, plants, and wildlife people favor; if the result of change is a dearth of certain plants and habitats (think of oaks that offer shade and support more than 400 other species), all those other species would suffer, too.

Of special interest to gardeners is this: Resilient gardening will mean having well-draining soil rich in organic matter; considering using no-till practices, rain gardens, green roofs, living walls, and garden walls; preventing some plants from getting too much sun and heat; and dealing with the insects and weeds that accompany climate change.

What are the best ways to shield plants from excessive heat and winds? How can gardeners help wildlife? What plants are likely to be more resistant to changes in climate? These are among the concerns addressed. The sections on vegetable, fruit tree, and ornamental selections will aid many a gardener. Seed-sowing and outdoor planting dates will continue to change, the authors note.

The “safe planting” or last frost date—around Mother’s Day is the traditional but increasingly unreliable date in the Washington, DC, area—is giving way to a common-sense approach based on gardeners’ observations.

Some readers will be familiar with certain practices suggested in the book. Mulching, composting, having gardens and habitat to support pollinators, etc., are long accepted. Rain gardens and other sustainable drainage

mechanisms are now a part of land-use planning, the authors note.

Although the book focuses on gardeners, a reader need not be one. The roles of swales, berms, windbreaks, and trees, for example, may draw wider interest.

The book is a not a how-to manual of step-by-step illustrated instructions for numerous projects. However, it does provide instruction for such projects as how to create a sunken bed for drought-resistant growing, how to build a Zuni-style waffle garden, and more, as it guides leads readers through forward-looking practices.

The authors call for this: Besides changing gardening practices on the outside, gardeners should reconsider their mindset. The individual gardener’s personal resourcefulness and a recognition that gardening has to change from the practices on European estates centuries ago will help them deal with new challenges. o

Andrea Siegel is a master gardener in Maryland.

The Vegetable Garden Problem

Solver Handbook: Identify and Manage Diseases and Other Common Problems on Edible Plants

Author: Susan Mulvihill

Publisher: Cool Springs Press/Quarto

List Price: $28.99

Order Link: https://amzn.to/3YsdQND and https://bookshop.org/ a/79479/9780760377482

Reviewer: Erica H. Smith

When Susan Mulvihill’s previous book, The Vegetable Garden Pest Handbook, came out a couple of years ago, my review gushed that I’d been waiting for this book all my gardening life, so I had high expectations for this new volume. I’m glad to say it does not disappoint.

It’s a big job, helping gardeners identify and ideally solve the issues plaguing their vegetable beds—I mean, this is our food we’re talking about. Frankly, I can’t imagine a book that would do it better, unless it was a multi-volume encyclopedia. Here we have a trim 224 pages that manage to cover most of what’s needed for the task. Let me explain, as an experienced vegetable gardener who’s read a lot of gardening

books, what’s particularly terrific about this one.

First, it doesn’t try to do everything. It doesn’t tell you how to plant, grow, and harvest crops, or anything about how to establish and maintain your garden except where that’s relevant to the problems it covers. Mulvihill has already written a book about insect and other arthropod pests, so aside from a couple of pages showcasing the most common of those, she doesn’t shove in an excerpt here; instead, she sensibly refers the reader to her other book. (That’s also a great way to sell more books, but in this case, I am all for i.)

This is a guide for gardeners who are already growing vegetable plants and need to figure out why things aren’t going as planned. It covers vegetables—not fruits, not herbs, not flowers. It has a job to do, doesn’t reach beyond it, and therefore doesn’t need to skimp on its subject matter so it can also help you make compost or deal with your excess zucchini harvest.

Second, it’s beautifully organized. I love a good chart, and this book has several of them, but charts in themselves aren’t useful if you can’t figure out how to access them. Maybe your cucumber plant has a disease, or you’re pretty sure it’s a disease, but you don’t know the name of it so paging through the disease descriptions isn’t going to help you. And you don’t know if it’s caused by virus, fungus, or bacteria, so the categorized list following the discussion of those pathogens won’t help, either. But look—there’s a chart organized by crop.

Look up cucumbers, find the symptoms that seem to fit, and then turn to the section on that disease for more

detail. There’s plenty of information there to confirm your guess, and you’re also provided with ideas for what to do next. Every angle or approach is covered, including additional information about organic strategies that work against many problems, and you’re led through the process easily and clearly.

I also love the order in which the information is presented. The book opens with general advice about giving your plants what they need to be healthy, and then starts on the obstacles that get in the way. It’s natural when you see an unhappy plant to assume that a bug or disease is at fault, but most plant damage is actually caused by environmental effects or management errors. These abiotic issues include weather (sun, rain, wind, hail, temperature extremes, etc.), germination or pollination failure, nutrient deficiencies, physiological complications, and so forth. Mulvihill covers these potential problems upfront so they can be eliminated first. The disease section is next, and finally non-insect pests (animals and birds) are covered thoroughly in their own space.

This is also an attractive book, with clear text and lots of photos, a surprising number of which are pretty, given the subject matter! The Pest Handbook has kind-of-adorable insects on the cover, and this one features some glowing cherry tomatoes that have a definite cracking issue, but still make you think of summer. Lower down, the not-so-gorgeous diseased leaf and fruit are balanced by a cute little bunny. Not that aesthetics are more important than good information, but you won’t consult your vegetable problem handbook if it makes you want to throw up.

And because information is important, let me assure you that this book will not, well, lead you down the garden path to unverified, nonscientific solutions. Mulvihill knows her stuff, and she knows how to present it. This is a well-written, encouraging guide to making your garden the best it can be. o

Erica H. Smith is a Montgomery County Master Gardener whose volunteer activities include the MG Demonstration Garden, and regular posts on the Maryland Grows blog. She is the author of several novels; visit her website at ericahsmith.wordpress.com.

Northern Spicebush

By Kathy Jentz

It gets its common name from the fact that crushing the leaves releases a spicy fragrance.

In early spring, the plant is covered in small, yellow flowers, then it leafs out.

In the fall, the leaves turn an attractive yellow color and red drupes (fruits) appear along its branches. It is dioecious, so a female plant needs a male one nearby to produce fruit.

It can grow to between 6 and 12 feet high and wide. It is an understory plant that prefers part-shade and moist, rich soils near streambeds and ponds. It is hardy from USDA Zones 5 through 9.

The plant supports Spicebush Swallowtail (Papilio troilus), as well as the Palamedes Swallowtail (Papilio palamedes) and other pollinators. The fruits are eaten by migrating songbirds and deer eat its leaves and twigs. o

Northern Spicebush (Lindera benzoin) is a deciduous shrub in the Laurel family that is also known as Spicebush (Spice Bush), Wild Allspice, and Benjamin Bush. It is native from southeastern Canada throughout the eastern United States.

Kathy Jentz is the editor and founder of Washington Gardener

Photo by R. A. Nonenmacher, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, Wikimedia Commons.

BACK ISSUE SALE!

WASHINGTON GARDENER, 826 PHILADELPHIA AVE., SILVER SPRING, MD 20910

MARCH/APRIL 2005

• Landscape DIY vs. Pro

• Prevent Gardener’s Back

• Ladew Topiary Gardens

• Cherry Trees

MAY/JUNE 2005

• Stunning Plant Combinations

• Turning Clay into Rich Soil

• Wild Garlic

• Strawberries

JULY/AUGUST 2005

• Water Gardens

• Poison Ivy

• Disguising a Sloping Yard

• Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2005

• Container Gardens

• Clematis Vines

• Sponge Gardening/Rain Gardens

• 5 Insect Enemies of Gardeners

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2005

• Backyard Bird Habitats

• Hellebores

• Building a Coldframe

• Bulb Planting Basics

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2006

• Garden Decor Principles

• Primroses

• Tasty Heirloom Veggies

• U.S. Botanic Garden

MARCH/APRIL 2006

• Top 10 Small Trees and Large Shrubs

• Azaleas

• Figs, Berries, & Persimmons

• Basic Pruning Principles

MAY/JUNE 2006

• Using Native Plants in Your Landscape

• Crabgrass

• Peppers

• Secret Sources for Free Plants

JULY/AUGUST 2006

• Hydrangeas

• Theme Gardens

• Agave

• Find Garden Space by Growing Up

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2006

• Shade Gardening

• Hosta Care Guide

• Fig-growing Tips and Recipes

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2006

• Horticultural Careers

• Juniper Care Guide

• Winter Squash Growing Tips and Recipes

• Layer/Lasagna Gardening

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2007

• Indoor Gardening

• Daphne Care Guide

• Asparagus Growing Tips and Recipes

• Houseplant Propagation

MARCH/APRIL 2007

• Stormwater Management

• Dogwood Selection & Care Guide

• Early Spring Vegetable Growing Tips

• Franciscan Monastery Bulb Gardens

MAY/JUNE 2007

• Roses: Easy Care Tips

• Native Roses & Heirloom Roses

• Edible Flowers

• How to Plant a Bare-root Rose

JULY/AUGUST 2007

• Groundcovers: Alternatives to Turfgrass

• How to Pinch, Prune, & Dead-head

• William Paca House & Gardens

• Hardy Geraniums

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2007

• Succulents: Hardy to our Region

• Drought-Tolerant Natives

• Southern Vegetables

• Seed Saving Savvy Tips

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2007

• Gardening with Children

• Indoor Bulb-Forcing Basics

• National Museum of the American Indian

• Versatile Viburnums

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2008

• Dealing with Deer

• Our Favorite Garden Tools

• Delightful Daffodils

MARCH/APRIL 2008

• Patio, Balcony, Rooftop Container Gardens

• Our Favorite Garden Tools

• Coral Bells (Heuchera)

MAY/JUNE 2008

• Growing Great Tomatoes

• Glamorous Gladiolus

• Seed-Starting Basics

• Flavorful Fruiting Natives

JULY/AUGUST 2008

• Landscaping with Ornamental Grasses

• Edible Grasses to Graze On

• Slug and Snail Control

• Sage Advice: Sun-Loving Salvias

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2008

• Autumn Edibles — What to Plant Now

• Beguiling Barrenworts (Epimediums)

• Best Time to Plant Spring-blooming Bulbs

• 14 Dry Shade Plants Too Good to Overlook

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2008

• Outdoor Lighting Essentials

• How to Prune Fruiting Trees, Shrubs, Vines

• 5 Top Tips for Overwintering Tender Bulbs

• Harry Lauder’s Walking Stick

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2009

• Compost Happens: Nature’s Free Fertilizer

• Managing Stormwater with a Rain Garden

• Visiting Virginia’s State Arboretum

• Grow Winter Hazel for Winter Color

MARCH/APRIL 2009

• 40+ Free and Low-cost Local Garden Tips

• Spring Edibles Planting Guide

• Testing Your Soil for a Fresh Start

• Redbud Tree Selection and Care

• Best Viewing Spots for Virginia Bluebells

MAY/JUNE 2009

• Top Easy Summer Annuals for DC Heat

• Salad Table Project

• Grow and Enjoy Eggplant

• How to Chuck a Woodchuck

SUMMER 2009

• Grow Grapes in the Mid- Atlantic

• Passionflowers

• Mulching Basics

• Growing Hops

FALL 2009

• Apples

• How to Save Tomato Seeds

• Persimmons

WINTER 2009

• Battling Garden Thugs

• How to Start Seeds Indoors

• Red Twig Dogwoods

• Unusual Edibles to Grow in Our Region

SPRING 2010

• Community Gardens

• Building a Raised Bed

• Dwar f Iris

• Broccoli

SUMMER 2010

• Fragrance Gardens

• Watering Without Waste

• Lavender

• Potatoes

FALL 2010

• Vines and Climbers

• Battling Stink Bugs

• Russian Sage

• Garlic

WINTER 2010

• Paths and Walkways

• Edgeworthia

• Kohlrabi

SPRING 2011

• Cutting-Edge Gardens

• Final Frost Dates and When to Plant

• Bleeding Hearts

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Jentz Prints

Antique Botanical Prints for the decorator, collector, connoisseur, and art lover.

Jentz Prints can be purchased most weekends (weather-dependent) at the world-famous Eastern Market

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