Washington Gardener January 2020 by Kathy J

JANUARY 2020 VOL. 14 NO. 11

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the magazine for gardening enthusiasts in the Mid-Atlantic region

A Giant Among Native Shade Plants: True Solomonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Seal

Tropical Milkweed: Monarch Butterfly Friend or Foe? How a Warmer Winter May Be Affecting Your Plants

8 New Garden Trends for 2020 What To Do in the Garden This Month

Helenium for the Mid-Atlantic

DC-MD-VA Gardening Events Calendar

Latest Research to Help Plant Nurseries Reduce Nutrient Runoff

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RESOURCESsourc

Need a Garden Club Speaker?

Washington Gardener Magazine’s staff and writers are available to speak to groups and garden clubs in the greater DC region. Call 240.603.1461 or email KathyJentz@gmail.com for available dates, rates, and topics.

Green Spring Gardens

www.greenspring.org

A “must visit” for everyone in the metropolitan Washington, DC, area. It’s a year-round goldmine of information and inspiration for the home gardener. It’s an outdoor classroom for children and their families to learn about plants and wildlife. It’s also a museum, a national historic site that offers glimpses into a long, rich history with colonial origins. Located at 4603 Green Spring Rd., Alexandria, VA. Information: 703-642-5173.

RARE AND EXCEPTIONAL PLANTS FOR THE DISCRIMINATING GARDENER AND COLLECTOR Barry Glick Sunshine Farm and Gardens 696 Glicks Road Renick, WV 24966, USA Email: barry@sunfarm.com

www.sunfarm.com

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Contact kathyjentz@gmail.com or call 301.588.6894 for ad rates. The ad deadline is the 10th of each month. Please submit your ad directly to: KathyJentz@gmail.com.

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FEATURES and COLUMNS

Researcher Jake Shreckhise collects drainage water from columns containing pine bark-growing media to determine how dolomite and micronutrient fertilizer amendments affect different forms of phosphorus. Photo by Alex Niemiera.

Win passes to the Seed Exchange. See contest details on page 5.

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The common name Great Solomon’s Seal (Polygonatum canaliculatum) hits the mark with this tallboy. In the perfect location, these giants can get raise their heads over 6 feet. Pendulous, greenish-white flowers are produced in early spring and turn to dark berries as the seasons flow to autumn. Plant in part-sun to full-shade with moist, rich soil for optimum growth.

The bumblebee-yellow flowers of Helenium ‘Kugelsonne’, translated as “sunball,” strongly resemble those of Helenium ‘Kanaria’. Exuberant floral displays are produced during the latter half of August, making up for its slightly shorter-than-average bloom period. Although derived from Helenium autumnale, ‘Kugelsonne’ has wider, outwardly held petals that contribute to a showier inflorescence than usual for the species. The limegreen color of its buds and unopened disc florets adds another dimension to the display of this top-performing cultivar.

BOOKreviews 16 Moss Ball Bonsai, Urban Arboreal, Japanese Gardens GOINGnative 22 Giant Solomon’s Seal INSECTindex 18-19 Milkweed and Monarchs NEWPLANTspotlight 11 Brunnera ‘Jack of Diamonds’ PETgardens 19 Sustainable Spokescat PHILLYflowershow 17 Flower Show Trip Details PHOTOcontest 9 Garden Photo Competition PLANTprofile 6-8 Helenium SEEDexchange 20-21 2020 Registration Details SPECIALfeature 14-15 8 Garden Trends for 2020 TIPStricks 10 Warm Winter Affects Plants, Nursery Nutrient Runoff

DEPARTMENTS

ADVERTISINGindex BLOGlinks EDITORletter GARDENcontest LOCALevents MONTHLYtasklist NEXTissue RESOURCESsources

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ON THE COVER Helenium ‘Flammenspiel’ photo courtesy of Mt. Cuba Center. Hockessin, DE. In our February issue: Lessons from the Plot Photo Contest Winners and much more . . .

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EDITORletter

Credits Kathy Jentz Editor/Publisher & Advertising Sales Washington Gardener 826 Philadelphia Ave. Silver Spring, MD 20910 Phone: 301-588-6894 kathyjentz@gmail.com www.washingtongardener.com Call today to place your ad with us! Ruth E. Thaler-Carter Proofreader Cover price: $4.99 Back issues: $6.00 Subscription: $20.00

They’re Baaaack!

I was starting to feel really down about the state of my garden and how little I had gotten done in 2019, when the utility crews came out this week to again dig up the streets surrounding my home. They brought it all back to me, including why I had not ventured out, but instead spent so many days of perfect planting weather shut inside with ear-plugs in. When I did go out to see what damage had been done, from flattened rose bushes to flooded beds, it was never pretty. I practiced my deep-breathing exercises and retreated back inside. Like my own personal horror movie, the utility crews that plagued me day-in and day-out for most of last year’s growing season are back at it again as I write this. I had almost forgotten about the daily onslaught of house-shaking, drilling, and pounding. First, one crew digs up the street in back of my house, then a second utility contractor digs up the one in front. Sometimes, they both are there working simultaneously for weeks on end. Then, one mercifully moves on up the street. Relief? Not quite! The temporary covers left after their work are large, steel plates that rumble like thunder whenever a car or bus rolls over them. I have talked to the work crews on occasion and have convinced them not to lay their heavy equipment on top of living plants. This has earned me the nickname of “the butterfly lady” because I pointed out the Monarch larvae on one of the milkweeds as a reason to please be more careful. One day soon, I hope, this work shall be completed and my surrounding streets will be back to normal and I can get out into the garden again. Happy gardening,

Kathy Jentz, Editor/Publisher, Washington Gardener KathyJentz@gmail.com 4

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• Washington Gardener Blog: www.washingtongardener.blogspot.com • Washington Gardener Archives: http://issuu.com/washingtongardener • Washington Gardener Discussion Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ WashingtonGardener/ • Washington Gardener Twitter Feed: www.twitter.com/WDCGardener • Washington Gardener Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/Washington GardenerMagazine/ • Washington Gardener Youtube: www.youtube.com/ washingtongardenermagazine • Washington Gardener Store: www.amazon.com/shop/wdcgardener • Washington Gardener is a womanowned business. We are proud to be members of: · GardenComm (GWA: The Association for Garden Communicators) · Green America Magazine Leaders Network · Green America Business Network Volume 14, Number 11 ISSN 1555-8959 © 2020 Washington Gardener All rights reserved. Published quarterly. 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.

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Local Gardening Calendar

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Each month includes a list of what to do in the garden for local DC-MD-VA and MidAtlantic gardeners, along with a gorgeous photo of a seasonal flower from a local public garden collection in our area. Go to: http://www.lulu.com/shop/kathyjentz/washington-gardener-calendar/calendar/product-24317409.html to order this calendar for gifts and to treat yourself. This calendar is a keeper that you can use for years!

Y ou Can Make a Difference. . . by

Sharing Your Harvest

Plant an extra row in your garden and deliver the harvest to a local food bank or shelter. The need is great! With your help, PAR can continue to make a difference for America’s most vulnerable. Call our toll-free number (877.GWAA.PAR) or visit our website at www.gardenwriters.org/par for more information.

Reader Contest

For our January 2020 Washington Gardener Reader Contest, Washington Gardener is giving away two passes to the Washington Gardener Seed Exchange at Green Spring Gardens in Fairfax, VA. (A prize value $40). The 15th Annual Washington Gardener Seed Exchanges, hosted by Washington Gardener Magazine, take place on January 25, 2020, at the Brookside Gardens in Wheaton, MD, and on February 1, 2020, at Green Spring Gardens in Fairfax, VA. You have a choice of which side of the DC Beltway you want to visit! Seed Exchange attendees trade seeds, exchange planting tips, hear expert speakers, and collect goody bags full of gardening treats. The event also includes such “green” features as the garden book and catalog swap. Everyone will leave with a bag full of seeds and loads of gardening inspiration for the upcoming growing season. We will have a “best nametag” contest, so get crafty. See event details on pages 20–21 of this issue. Seed Exchange attendees are encouraged to bring their used or new garden books and seed catalogs to swap and share at this year’s event. We also ask you to bring your own water bottle or reusable mug and a home-made nametag. To enter to win the Seed Exchange Passes, send an email to WashingtonGardener@rcn.com by 5:00pm on Thursday, January 30, with “Seed Swap” in the subject line and in the body of the email. Tell us what you will be growing from seed in your garden this year. Please also include your full name and mailing address. The pass winners will be announced and notified on Friday, January 31. o JANUARY 2020

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PLANTprofile

The genus Helenium, native to the Americas, has a rich history of cultivation in Europe but, interestingly, has been underused in gardens of the United States. Helenium are also widely known as sneezeweeds. While this common name conjures up images of allergies caused by windborne pollen, Helenium actually rely on insects for pollination. The true origin of the name is derived from the historical use of dried and ground Helenium plant parts that are inhaled through the nose for medicinal purposes by Native Americans and as a substitute for tobacco snuff by early European colonists. Due to the misleading connotations of the word sneezeweed, American horticulturists have attempted to rebrand Helenium with the alternate common name of Helen’s flower, in reference to the beauty of Helen of Troy. European horticulturists have cultivated, hybridized, and named Helenium cultivars since the first plants were brought across the Atlantic in the 18th century. Breeding work began in earnest in the 1930s-’60s, with many hybrids produced by the famous German plant breeder Karl Foerster. He reportedly produced 73 cultivars, touting their improved durability and drought resistance. In a recent, the Mt. Cuba Center evaluated several of Foerster’s introductions, including Helenium ‘Zimbelstern’, ‘Königstiger’, and ‘Kanaria’. Continued breeding work, primarily in Germany and the Netherlands, resulted 6

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Helenium ‘Flammendes Kätchen’

Helenium for the Mid-Atlantic

By Sam Hoadley and George Coombs

in a wide array of colors and forms of Helenium that fill diverse niches in garden design. Unfortunately, there is little to no paper trail to describe how these hybrids were created and to what extent different species were involved, but it is known that the majority of breeding efforts focused on Helenium autumnale and Helenium bigelovii. These two species, as well as Helenium flexuosum, were included in our trial to represent the breeding history of this genus and potentially to help identify the origins of some cultivars. The natural distribution of Helenium autumnale is widespread, with populations occurring in almost every state and province in the U.S. and Canada, while the native range of Helenium bigelovii is restricted to southern Oregon, California, and parts of Arizona. Helenium flexuosum is native to the eastern United States and can be observed growing locally in natural areas of the Mid-Atlantic region. One major difference between these three species is their bloom time. H. bigelovii flowers first in June, followed by H. flexuosum in July, and H. autumnale in August. Hybrids between these species result in a wide range of blooming periods, but all contribute a riot of fiery colors to the landscape.

Cultivation and Habit

The habitats where Helenium species are found offer clues to cultural conditions that are necessary for successful garden cultivation. Many species are found in wet meadows, along stream

and river banks, and even in bogs. In these settings, the upper foliage receives full to partial sun, while the roots remain shaded and have consistent access to moisture. By siting Helen’s flower in garden locations with moist to average soil, gardeners can best mimic the conditions in the wild where the plants thrive naturally. Rain gardens can be particularly well-suited for cultivating this genus. Aside from their aversion to dry soils, Helenium are tough and adaptable perennials when properly sited. Many Helen’s flowers, particularly cultivars that can trace their lineage back to Helenium autumnale, are very coldtolerant and able to withstand temperatures of -30 to -40 degrees Fahrenheit. The hardiness of other cultivars, particularly those that are derived from the western native, Helenium bigelovii, may be less-tolerant of these temperature extremes. Although not examined in this trial, the experience of other gardeners suggests that periodically dividing Helenium can increase their longevity.

Growing Challenges

Helen’s flowers are generally not tolerant of prolonged dry periods. In the Mt. Cuba trial garden, supplemental irrigation is rarely provided beyond the first year of establishment. Mt. Cuba Center’s trials are designed to mimic minimal care in typical landscape conditions and allow environmental stressors to help identify durable and adaptable cultivars. Improved drought tolerance was a primary goal in Karl Foerster’s

PLANTprofile breeding efforts, so it might not be a coincidence that Helenium ‘Kanaria’ and H. ‘Zimbelstern’, two of his hybrids, are the top-performing cultivars in our trial. Helenium showed significant susceptibility to powdery mildew and aster yellows in our trial. Plants clearly infected with aster yellows were removed to prevent the spread of the disease. Powdery mildew either caused or contributed to the loss of lower leaves and sometimes resulted in near-complete defoliation. However, bare lower stems are easily hidden by other plants, allowing the impressive late summer floral display to be appreciated by both gardeners and insect pollinators. Aster yellows probably were a significant and under-recognized problem in our trial. This systemic disease manifests in sneezeweed as sickly yellow foliage and abnormal, clustered growth. In many other susceptible genera, green malformed flowers are a telltale indication of aster yellows; however, they are rarely observed in Helenium. This makes visual diagnosis challenging and infected plants can remain undetected. Aster yellows is caused by infectious microorganisms called phytoplasmas that are typically spread by leafhoppers. These highly mobile insects feed on infected plants with piercing and sucking mouthparts, and then transmit the disease through subsequent feedings on uninfected hosts. Once the plant is infected, it will act as a reservoir for the pathogen, enabling leaf hoppers to spread it to neighboring plants. Since no treatment or cure is available, prompt removal of symptomatic plants is the most-effective method to prevent the continued spread of this disease. Although aster yellows affects many plant families, the trial garden’s density and volume of plants in the aster family probably exacerbated the frequency of this pathogen. Powdery mildew appears as a white, dusty film on the surfaces of leaves, stems, and sometimes flowers of Helenium. While this fungal disease is often a cosmetic issue that has few adverse effects on overall plant health, severe infestations can compromise plant vigor and survivability. Favorable conditions for the proliferation of powdery mildew

Powdery mildew damage.

include warm, dry days and cool, humid nights. Some of the worst infections occur in shaded locations near the base of plants, as well as garden locations with poor air circulation. It is difficult to fully eliminate powdery mildew, but it can be managed through the selection and use of resistant cultivars or species, planting in areas with good air circulation, and prompt removal and disposal of infected material. During the first two years of evaluation, powdery mildew was severe and, in some cases, caused heavy defoliation. Tall plants like Helenium typically grow in a community of plants that support each other, literally. Without this neighborly reinforcement, sneezeweeds often flop in the garden, especially in stormy weather. We observed that flopping was further aggravated by profuse flower production in some popular selections. Although they are not factors in the trial garden, conditions such as nutrient-rich soils, overfertilization, and inadequate sunlight can also contribute to poor form in cultivated plants. Floppy habits were one of the primary reasons for poor ratings of the majority of Helenium in this trial. To improve their appeal and bolster an upright habit, we investigated several methods to create sturdier plants and provide supplemental support for Helen’s flower. Cutting back perennials in mid- to late spring is a practical method for reducing the height of tall or leggy perennials in the garden. This practice is often called the “Chelsea Chop,” which refers to the Chelsea Flower Show held in the United Kingdom. When the show starts in May, gardeners are reminded that it is time to cut back late-blooming perennials. This keeps the plants more compact and stimulates branching. In 2018, a cutback experiment was performed on each Helenium accession, when two

of the five plants were reduced to a height of 12" in early May. The resulting Helenium were more compact and generally bloomed a week or two after unpruned plants. One unexpected benefit was that cut-back plants were generally more resistant to powdery mildew than their taller counterparts. While the Helen’s flowers that were given the Chelsea Chop did seem more sturdy initially, they ultimately flopped during stormy weather.

Pollinator Magnet

Helenium provide a welcome source of nectar and pollen for bees and wasps in the late summer months. To determine the species and cultivars that attracted the most pollinators, Mt. Cuba Center’s Pollinator Watch Team maintained rigorous observational records of the Helenium in the trial. A single plant in each selection was observed for one minute, twice weekly, through the growing seasons of 2017 and 2018. The totals from these two seasons were averaged to determine the top 15 most-visited Helenium. Helenium autumnale accumulated the most pollinator visits (162), with H. ‘Zimbelstern’ following closely behind (151).

Best Perfomers

The best-performing Helenium of the 44 cultivars in our trial for the MidAtlantic region are shown on page 8. Through our evaluation, we endeavored to shed new light on an undeservedly overlooked group of plants and determine how Helenium, including those that have been selected in Europe, perform in a Mid-Atlantic climate. The diversity of Helen’s flowers in today’s market was represented in our trial by 44 Helenium species and cultivars. Some of these selections were imported from Europe and may not be readily available in the United States. Several challenges played a significant role in this trial and resulted in the loss of a large percentage of the planting, including dry soil conditions and diseases such as powdery mildew and aster yellows. Flopping was another significant issue; most Helenium benefit from staking or other forms of supplemental support. The following cultivars are the top performers in our trial and will make excellent garden additions. JANUARY 2020

WASHINGTON GARDENER

PLANTprofile vigor and disease resistance. Powdery mildew was not observed throughout the duration of the trial.

A dense conflagration of flowers continues the spectacle for five weeks before concluding in mid-September. This cultivar is another 5' tall Helenium that contributes a statuesque presence in the garden, making it a perfect addition to the back of the border. ‘Flammenspiel’ is a tenacious plant with excellent resistance to disease and defoliation. Bare lower stems that are characteristic of many Helen’s flowers are not a concern for this cultivar.

1. ‘Kanaria’

Helenium ‘Kanaria’, or “Canary,” is one of the many hybrids of Karl Foerster’s prolific Helenium breeding efforts in the mid-20th century. As the top-performing selection, this cultivar displayed superior disease resistance; sturdy stems; and deeply saturated, canary-yellow flowers. At the apex of its lengthy sixweek bloom, plants were completely enveloped in a blanket of flowers similar in color to those of Helenium autumnale. However, ‘Kanaria’ improves on the floral characteristics of the species with wider and brighter ray petals that are held horizontally, as opposed to the more reflexed form of H. autumnale. H. ‘Kanaria’ grows to 5' in height, but requires less support than other cultivars with a similar stature.

3. ‘Can Can’

Helenium autumnale ‘Can Can’ is an exceptionally vigorous, floriferous, and disease-resistant cultivar generated from the breeding efforts of Peter zur Linden in the late 1990s. ‘Can Can’ has a slightly shorter-than-average bloom time for Helenium, but compensates with a notably dense display of giltedged, crimson inflorescences in late August. There is some discrepancy in the trade about the true identity of ‘Can Can’. Some plants, like those n this trial, display deep-red petals with a picotee edge similar to Helenium ‘Königstiger’. Other sources describe ‘Can Can’ as having orange-flushed, yellow flowers resembling H. ‘Zimbelstern’. While we always try to ensure the accurate identity of our trial plants, we were unable to determine which color form is the true cultivar. Of course, other color variants sold as ‘Can Can’ may not perform similarly.

2. ‘Zimbelstern’

Helenium ‘Zimbelstern’, literally translated as “cymbal star,” is the second top-performing cultivar bred by Karl Foerster. The apricot-streaked, yellow petals contrast beautifully with the cinnamon-brown cone. This color combination sets ‘Zimbelstern’ apart from the yellow cones and petals of Helenium ‘Kanaria’, H. ‘Kugelsonne’, and H. ‘Tijuana Brass’. Masses of flowers are held on robust 5’ stems beginning in early August. This cultivar has excellent 8

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4. ‘Flammenspiel’

‘Flammenspiel’, or “dancing flame,” is the perfect name to describe the dramatic fiery-red flowers that put on a show beginning in the middle of August.

5. Helenium autumnale

This species is a parent to many Helenium hybrids and cultivars. Its influence on floral display and vigor is seen in several of the top-performing Helen’s flowers, including H. ‘Kanaria’, H. ‘Kugelsonne’, and H. ‘Tijuana Brass’. While these cultivars exhibit petals that are held horizontally, the petals of Helenium autumnale droop. This gives the radiant, butter-yellow inflorescence the overall appearance of a badminton birdie. The flowers themselves are not only highly esteemed by gardeners, but command the attention of insects as well. Mt. Cuba Center’s Pollinator Watch Team observed that Helenium autumnale attracted the highest number of wasps and bees, based on data collected in 2017 and 2018. Vigorous stems clad with narrow, blue-green foliage also provide interest when plants are not in bloom. o Sam Hoadley is Mt. Cuba’s manager of horticultural research. George Coombs is Mt. Cuba Center’s director of horticulture. Mt. Cuba Center is a botanical garden in Hockessin, DE. Mt. Cuba Center’s gardens are open to visitors. Visit mtcubacenter.org for details. See the complete listing of evaluated Helenium’s online at https://mtcubacenter.org/ trials/helenium/. All photos on pages 6–8 are courtesy of Mt. Cuba Center.

You’ve seen those gorgeous garden photos published in magazines and newspapers. Enter this year’s competition and have a chance of getting your images published, too! Whether you take the photos in your own backyard, a nearby public garden, or while visiting friends and family in their local gardens, there are so many photographic opportunities to be found. Let’s show off the best in DC-area gardening! This contest offers an opportunity for all photographers to present their best shots of gardens in the greater Washington, DC, area. Contest entries will be judged on technical quality, composition, originality, and artistic merit. More than $500 in prizes will be awarded! Winning images will be published in Washington Gardener magazine, displayed during the Washington Gardener Seed Exchange, and appear in a local photo exhibit.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

Each entrant is limited to a total of 10 images. Each electronic file must be identified with your last name and entry category. For example, GardenCreature1-Jones.jpg or SmallWonders8.-Smithjpg. All photographs should accurately reflect the subject matter and the scene as it appeared in the viewfinder. Nothing should be added to an image and, aside from dust spots, nothing should be removed. Cropping and minor adjustments to electronic images to convert RAW files are acceptable. If an image is selected as a finalist, a high-resolution digital file might be required before finalizing our results. Digitally captured images should be taken at the camera’s highest resolution (3 megapixels or larger). For preliminary judging, digital files must be submitted in JPEG format sized to 1,000 pixels on the longest side at 300 dpi. If photos are taken with a film camera, they must be scanned in and submitted in JPEG format sized to 1,000 pixels on the longest side at 300 dpi. Contest entries can be submitted via email to DCGardenPhotos@aol. com. Use the subject line “WG Photo Contest” and include an entry form for each image in your email’s text field.

13TH ANNUAL PHOTO CONTEST Entries can also be sent as a CDROMs. Please verify their integrity by making sure they are readable and not damaged. We reserve the right to disqualify any disk that is unreadable or defective. Please check your CDs with the latest virus-detection software. We will disqualify any disk that appears to contain a virus or a suspicious file. Label each CD and case with your full name. We strongly suggest mailing CDs in protective cases. We are not responsible for disks damaged during shipping. No CDs will be returned, but they can be picked up after judging. Send your entries and entry fee to: Washington Gardener Photo Contest, 826 Philadelphia Ave., Silver Spring, MD 20910. Mailed entries must be received by January 22, 2020. You can print out blank entry forms from the Washington Gardener blog (WashingtonGardener.blogspot.com) or from our Facebook page. We will verify all entries so please ensure your email address is included on all items. Entrants must not infringe on the rights of any other photographer, landowner, or other person. Photos involving willful harassment of wildlife or destruction of any property are unacceptable. The entrant must have personally taken the photo. By entering, you state this is your work and it is free of copyright elsewhere. Failure to comply with any contest guidelines will lead to disqualification.

category or submit all 10 in one category. Photos must have been taken during the 2019 calendar year in a garden located within a 150-mile radius of the Capitol Building in Washington, DC. • Garden Views: Beautiful, dramatic, or unusual perspectives of a garden landscape, including wide shots showing the setting. Subject can be a private or public garden. • Garden Vignettes: Groupings of plants in beds or containers, unusual color or texture combinations, garden focal points, and still scenes. Subject can be photographed in a private or public garden. • Small Wonders: Tight close-up images or macro shots of single flowers, plant parts, fruits, vegetables, etc. Subject can be photographed in a private or public garden. • Garden Creatures: Images of insects, birds, frogs, pets, etc., in a private or public garden setting.

CONTEST ENTRY FEE

Your entry to this contest constitutes your agreement to allow your photographs and your name, city, state, and photo description texts to be published in upcoming issues of Washington Gardener and used for other related purposes including, but not limited to, Washington Gardener Photo Contest promotions and online, live presentations, and gallery exhibits. Entrants retain ownership and all other rights to future use of their photographs.

CATEGORIES

Each entrant is limited to a total of 10 images. You may submit a few in each

PRIZES

Prizes include gift certificates to area camera stores, gardening tools, new plant introductions, and much more! If you would like to be a prize donor or sponsor, contact us today.

WINNERS’ OBLIGATION

Photo contest winners will need to provide high-resolution versions of their images for publication and an 11x14 print suitable for framing. Winners may be asked to provide additional information for press and media coverage. The entry fee is $20.00 or $15.00 for current Washington Gardener Magazine subscribers. The fee includes up to 10 total image submissions per entrant. Please send a check or money order made out to “Washington Gardener” or send a payment via www.PayPal.com to DCGardenPhotos@aol.com.

DEADLINE

Entries are due by midnight on January 22, 2020.

QUESTIONS?

Please call 301.588.6894 or email DCGardenPhotos@aol.com. o JANUARY 2020

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TIPStricks

How a Warmer Winter May Be Affecting Your Plants

In much of the eastern half of the U.S. this year, typical frigid temperatures and snow were swapped out for sunny skies and warm weather throughout late fall and early winter. Weather reports declared that some areas broke dayrecord high temperatures. While you may not think the warmer weather calls for complaint, it’s a different story for your plants, according to the Davey Tree Expert Company. Spring-blooming plants may have opened into partial or full flowers due to unusually warm weather in December and January. Some woody plants may also have grown fresh leaves. If your plants have experienced untimely growth through the warm winter, there are a few things to keep in mind.

• Plants may not experience spring growth.

The unseasonable weather has tricked some plants into blooming prematurely. If plants budded during late fall and early winter, this means no blooming in the coming spring season. Some plants may have only partially bloomed in the above-average temperatures; however, this growth will still reduce the quantity and quality of the plant’s spring bloom.

• Weather shifts leave long-term effects.

Shifting from a period of warm temperatures to the teens and single digits could injure susceptible plants. Plants that have partially leafed out or budded can be stricken with dead or dying tips due to the drastic change.

• Not all plants are affected equally.

Many factors influence plant injury in unusual weather conditions. Plants can experience different outcomes based on plant species, cultivar, health, location and exposure. Although nothing can be done to prevent or reverse premature blooming, the onset of the spring season will reveal how specific plants have been affected. For more information about tree health and scheduling an arborist appointment, visit Davey.com. o 10

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Helping Plant Nurseries Reduce Nutrient Runoff

You may have heard how excess nutrients, such as phosphorus, can run off crop fields. This can cause harm when the nutrients end up in rivers and lakes. However, there are other sources of excess nutrients you might not think of, such as the pots that nursery plants come in. Before being shipped to farmers and garden centers, many tree crops and ornamental plants are grown in pots at nurseries. The growers apply fertilizer with nutrients, including phosphorus, to the plants in containers. Phosphorus runoff, including that from container-grown plants, can be harmful to water quality. Because of this, researchers are looking into ways nurseries can keep phosphorus where it belongs—in the pots. Jacob Shreckhise of the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service has been looking into this problem. “Specialty crops, including ornamental plants, small fruits, and fruit trees, may spend all or a part of their life in a pot or container,” said Shreckhise. “Growing plants in containers saves space, helps with shipping and handling, and requires no arable land. These containers are usually filled with peat or bark instead of soil. Because peat and bark provide very little nutrients, plants are given fertilizer that release nutrients slowly over time.” However, little research has previously been done to determine what additions to the peat or bark might help keep the phosphorus in the containers. To help answer this question, he and other researchers performed a laboratory study on pine bark-based potting medium and two ingredients nurseries often add to it: dolomite and micronutrient fertilizer. “It’s important to remember that the growing media used to produce nursery crops in containers are totally different from the field soils other crops are grown in,” said Shreckhise. “Bark- and peat-based growing media can’t stop the phosphorus from moving around as easily, so it’s free to drain from the containers when they are watered. That’s what we are trying to prevent.” For their lab experiment, they filled

columns with the potting material, a fertilizer, and ingredients thought to help with keeping phosphorus around. Then, they watered the columns and collected the drainage water to analyze. They found that the two additives—dolomite and micronutrient fertilizer—reduce the concentrations of a particular form of phosphorus by an average of 70%. The additives work because of complex chemistry. Phosphate, a form of phosphorus that plants can use, has a negative charge. This means it likes to stick to things with a positive charge, such as dolomite and micronutrient fertilizer. This research shows that in addition to improving plant growth, these amendments help keep phosphorus in the pot. Shreckhise and his team also studied how long dolomite and micronutrient fertilizers help retain phosphorus in containers. Their next step is seeing if that retained phosphorus is in a form that plants can use. Phosphorus runoff is becoming a bigger and bigger problem for the environment. Farms, including nurseries, must continue to combat it. “This research shows that we should continue exploring the use of amendments to help reduce the phosphorus that washes away from the containerized plants,” said Shreckhise. “This research was just the first step toward understanding the phosphorus chemistry occurring in these pots,” he says. “Since plants were not involved in this study, we cannot make specific recommendations to growers based solely on this research. The general public should know that nursery growers routinely add these amendments to the potting medium. This is a step in the right direction toward keeping the green industry ‘green.’” Read more about this work in the Soil Science Society of America Journal. This research was partially funded by the Hatch Program of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Horticultural Research Institute, and Virginia Nursery and Landscape Association. These tips were compiled by Kathy Jentz, editor of Washington Gardener.

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January–February Garden To-Do List New Plant Spotlight

Brunnera macrophylla ‘Jack of Diamonds’ PPAF CPBRAF This shade perennial can best be described as a giant version of the classic ‘Jack Frost’—with a twist. The huge 9–10" leaves overlap dramatically at the base, giving it a shape similar to a snail shell. Overall, the foliage is circular from a distance. The leaves have a heavy silver overlay with a vivid, wide, dark-green veining pattern. From mid- to late spring, baby-blue, forget-me-nottype blossoms are held in clusters above the foliage. Brunneras are classic perennials that are treasured for their shade tolerance and lovely blooms. They are a woodland plant that should be grown in full shade in consistently moist soil. Little care is needed once they are established. Cut back the old foliage in the spring rather than in the fall; this will help to protect the crown during the winter. A winter mulch is also recommended. They make a fantastic groundcover, although the variegated forms may be slower to spread than the species. They are also reliably deer-resistant. o

Brunnera photos courtesy of Walters Gardens.

• Prune any dead or diseased wood from your small trees and shrubs. • Plant frost-tolerant trees. • Cut off the flower stalk on your amaryllis once flowers fade. Leave foliage to grow. • Keep poinsettias in a well-lit area, but out of direct sun and away from drafts. • Buy a few new houseplants. • Fertilize only your winter-blooming houseplants, such as violets. • Give your houseplants a quarter turn every few weeks. • Build a compost bin. • Repair your shed and repair/paint your fences. • Clean out your cold frame or build a new one. • Collect large plastic soda bottles to use as cloches. (A cloche is a clear, bellshaped cover used to protect tender plants from frost.) • Clean and refill bird feeders. • Wash and refill the birdbath or set out a shallow bowl of water in icy weather. • Check on stored summer bulbs and seeds. Discard any that have rotted. • Buy seeds and order plants from the new garden catalogs. • Prune summer bloomers such as Hydrangeas, Rose of Sharon, Crape Myrtles, and Butterfly Bushes. • Till and add organic matter to annual/vegetable beds. • Weed—especially check fast-growing vines such as honeysuckle, autumn clematis, bittersweet, wild grape, Virginia creeper, and poison ivy. • Place a floating ball or small plastic soda bottle filled two-thirds with water and a tablespoon of salt in your pond to stop it from icing over entirely, especially if you have fish. If ice forms, remove the ball by pouring hot water on it. • Insulate outdoor containers with bubble wrap or landscape fabric. • Check that newly planted trees, shrubs, and perennials have not been heaved out of the ground due to freezing-and-thawing cycles. • Take hardwood cuttings from willow and dogwood to propagate them. • Look for evidence of pest or fungal damage throughout your garden. • Clean out your greenhouse and wash those windows. • Set out your live potted evergreens from holiday decorating in a protected outdoor space to harden them off before planting them. • If we do get more snow in the DC area, gently dislodge snow from trees and shrubs with a broom to prevent damage to branches. • Start hardy herbs, onions, cabbage, pansies, and perennials. • Clean and tidy up pots and seed trays to get a good start in February. • Use leftover holiday greens and cut-up tree branches to mulch beds and create windbreaks. • Do not step on frozen soil in flower beds or lawns. • Keep all houseplants out of drafts and away from heat vents. • Use de-icer sparingly or a nonchemical substitute such as sand, grit, fireplace ashes, or non-clumping kitty litter. • Volunteer at a local public or historic garden. • Paint a few terracotta pots in spring-like colors. • Pot up any leftover bulbs that did not make it into the ground by now and force them for indoor blooms. o JANUARY 2020

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TOP AREA GARDENING EVENTS DC-Area Gardening Calendar ~ Events ~ January 18–February 16, 2020 • Wednesday, January 22, 7:30pm Behnke’s and Beyond Stephanie Fleming will share a brief history of Behnke Nurseries—the journey of her grandparents, Albert and Rose Behnke, as they created a muchloved, local garden center. Hosted by the Beltsville Garden Club at the Duckworth School, 11201 Evans Trail, Beltsville, MD. Free and open to all. See http://www.beltsvillegardenclub.org/. • Thursday, January 23, 7–8:30pm Fairlington Community Center 3308 S. Stafford St., Arlington, VA OR Monday, January 27, 7–8:30pm Arlington Mill Community Center 909 S. Dinwiddie St., Arlington, VA Selecting and Starting Seeds Jump-start your vegetable garden! Get the scoop on seed selection—hybrid vs. heirloom, which seeds to start indoors, and what’s required to get them growing. Learn to make your own starter pots and how to bring sunshine inside with simple lighting systems. Germination is complex, but seed starting is reassuringly simple. Free. Advance registration requested at mgnv.org. • Opening Friday, January 24 Habitat Exhibition: The Great Indoors Smithsonian Gardens’ newest addition to its Habitat exhibit will be inside the Kogod Courtyard at the National Portrait Gallery. It features houseplants and is free and open during museum hours. See https://gardens.si.edu/. • Saturday, January 25, 12:30–4pm Washington Gardener Magazine’s 2020 Seed Exchange—DC/MD Held at Brookside Gardens. See pages 20–21 for details. Start saving, packing, and labeling your seeds! • Sunday, January 26, 2pm Integrated Management Strategies for Sustaining Rose Health The Potomac Rose Society’s monthly meeting features Jody Fetzer, plant health horticulturist for Montgomery County parks. She will share details and data about what has worked for her as a plant health manager to 12

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achieve balance between pests, beneficials, nutrients and diseases in public rose gardens. Held at the Long Branch Library, 8800 Garland Ave, Silver Spring, MD. Free and open to the public. Details at http://potomacrose.org/. • Monday, January 27, 8pm Butterfly Gardening The Silver Spring Garden Club hosts this talk by Marie Rojas. Butterflies and moths pollinate 8% of the world’s flowering plants, Unfortunately, with habitat fragmentation and too many deer over-browsing the understory, some butterfly species are really struggling. With a bit of planning and a few simple tweaks, you can transform your patch of the world into a haven for butterflies. Whether you garden in a container or on several acres, you can make a difference. Free and open to all. Held at Brookside Gardens, 1800 Glenallan Avenue, Wheaton, MD. See details at www.silverspringgardenclub.com. • Tuesday, January 28, 1pm Brookside Gardens Winter Tour Take the Brookside Gardens’ Winter Tour with Phil Normandy to see what makes up the bones of the garden without the distraction of leaves or flowers. You will appreciate the architectural elements of evergreens and woody plants, in addition to how hardscapes shape the gardens. Register now: http://ow.ly/ sYSN30q4o7q. • Saturday, February 1, 12:30–4pm Washington Gardener Magazine’s 2020 Seed Exchanges—VA/DC Held at Green Spring Gardens. See pages 20–21 for details. Start saving, packing, and labeling your seeds! • Saturday, February 1, 10am APLD DC-MD-VA Winter Lecture Garden Design with acclaimed, British designer Jo Thompson. Held at the Silver Spring Civic Center. Details at https://dcmdva-apld.org. • Saturdays, February 1 to May 17, 9am (No class on March 21) Creating Gardens in a Digital Age Introduces students to residential gar-

den designs as well as current ecologically influenced trends, such as sustainable landscaping and native landscaping designs through digital media software (Dynascape®) from landscape architect Jeff Server. This class can be taken for credit or audit. Held at the Montgomery College Germantown Campus. For further information, contact Stephen Dubik 240-567-7803. Steve. dubik@montgomerycollege.edu. Register: www.montgomerycollege.edu. • Sunday, February 2, 1:30–2:30pm Building a Piet Oudolf Meadow Join horticulturist Gregg Tepper as he shares the engaging tale of building a Piet Oudolf designed meadow garden. With every great project and large planting, there is a story, and Gregg shares the background, the details, and all the behind-the-scenes magic that made this garden a reality. Fee: $10 per person. Register online at www.fairfaxcounty. gov/parks/parktakes (code D7A.7D99) or call Green Spring Gardens at 703642-5173. • Wednesdays, February through May, 6:30–8:30pm, and two Saturdays, May 2 and May 8, 10am–12pm DPR Urban Gardener Certification Course This course will be taught by local experts and cover a variety of topics about urban gardening in the District of Columbia from garden design, organic management, critter-proof composting, cooking what you grow, food justice, and many more. After the completion of this course, each participant will receive a certificate and the knowledge and experience to create and manage a large variety of urban gardening projects. Must plan to attend all classes. Classes are held at Columbia Heights Rec Center, 1480 Girard St. NW, WDC. For furthers details, contact Josh Singer at Joshua.singer@dc.gov. • Wednesday, February 5, 12:45pm Preparing for Spring in the Greenhouse at Hillwood Robby Adams, greenhouse grower, shares a preview of Hillwood’s fabulous spring and summer blooms on

TOP AREA GARDENING EVENTS DC-Area Gardening Calendar ~ Events ~ January 18–February 16, 2020 this 20-minute behind-the-scenes tour of Hillwood’s production greenhouse. Enjoy the warmth of the greenhouse while getting a sneak peak of plants being grown for Hillwood’s beautiful spring and summer garden displays. Tickets are distributed at the visitor center upon opening each day. A limited number of tickets may be reserved by phone by Hillwood members. Meet in the visitor center conservatory. Details at www.hillwoodmuseum.org. • Wednesday, February 5, 7–9pm Amaze Your Friends and Impress Your HOA with Native Plants Any home landscape can incorporate native plants; why not yours? At this Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy program, they will discuss why we need to use more native plants at home to help troubled bird and insect populations and how to wow your friends and neighbors. A Plant NoVa Natives guide (Native Plants for Northern Virginia) will be a great tool to bring along—we will also have copies for sale at the talk. Details at loudounwildlife.org. • Friday, February 7 Today’s Horticulture Symposium Sponsored by Longwood Gardens, Mt. Cuba Center, and the Chanticleer Foundation, the daylong conference features nine speakers addressing contemporary topics for the horticulture professional, landscape designer and architect, passionate gardener, and student of horticulture. The onsite symposium fee ($149 and $75 for Professional Gardener Alumni Association Members) includes admission to Longwood Gardens, all lectures, plant sale, and a buffet lunch. For more information and to register for either the in-person event or the free webcast: longwoodgardens. org/todayshorticulture. • Saturday, February 8, 11am Dealing with Deer and Other Garden Mammals Kathy Jentz, editor of Washington Gardener, will describe humane tactics for keeping wildlife from devastating your gardens. Hosted by Homestead Gardens, 743 Western Central Ave., David-

sonville, MD. See details at https:// homesteadgardens.com/.

• Saturday, February 15 through Monday, February 17 (President’s Day) National Capital Orchid Society Annual Show and Sale Free and open to the public, this show features educational programs, orchids for sale from many vendors, and awardwinning orchid displays. Held at Homestead Gardens, 743 Western Central Ave., Davidsonville, MD.

• Wednesday, March 4, 10am-10pm. Washington Gardener Magazine’s Philadelphia Flower Show Getaway Departing from downtown Silver Spring, MD. See page 16 for details. We expect to sell out quickly, so act fast.

•Saturday, February 15, 10:30am Best Shrubs for Your Cut Flower Garden Bushy perennials can add so much to your garden bouquets. Join Laura Beth Resnick, owner of Butterbee Farm, to learn which shrubs will take your cutting garden to the next level, from foliage plants like ninebark and smokebush to bloomers like mock orange and deutzia. You’ll learn varieties to grow, harvesting techniques, and tips for success. Held at the U.S. Botanic Gardens. Free. Preregistration required, visit www.USBG. gov/Programs.

• Friday, March 6 HOAs and Condo Associations: Sustainable Solutions to Landscaping Headaches Speakers will address topics of native plant and wildlife habitat conservation; legal aspects of HOA governance; and examples of community association properties that model innovative sustainable landscape practices, conservation, and design. Other land management and conservation experts will be on hand at information tables with specific information and to answer questions. Held at Northern Virginia Community College, Annandale Campus. Details and registration: https://www. plantnovanatives.org/symposiums-forhoa-and-condo-assoc-.

Save These Future Dates

Still More Event Listings

• Saturday, February 29 12th Annual Rooting DC Rooting DC is a free, all-day urban gardening forum that provides education about urban agriculture and food systems, cultivates health and protection of the environment, and builds community. Held at Ron Brown Prep, 4800 Meade St. NE, WDC. Register at https://www.rootingdc.org/.

See even more event listings on the Washington Gardener Yahoo discussion list. Join the list at http://groups.yahoo. com/group/WashingtonGardener/.

• Saturday, February 29, 8am–4pm 2020 Mid-Atlantic Regional Symposiun: Perennially Inspired The Perennial Plant Association and the Horticultural Society of Maryland present a one-day program with four topnotch speakers and lots of opportunities to mingle with fellow perennial lovers. This year’s program also includes a private screening of “Five Seasons: The Gardens of Piet Oudolf.” Held at the Conference Center at Sheppard Pratt. 6502 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD.

How to Submit Local Garden Events To submit an event for this listing, email washingtongardenermagazine@gmail. com with “Event” in the subject line. Our next deadline is February 5 for the February 2020 issue, for events taking place after February 15. o

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Contact kathyjentz@gmail.com or call 301.588.6894 for ad rates. The ad deadline is the 10th of each month. Please submit your ad directly to: KathyJentz@gmail.com.

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8 SPECIALfeature

By Katie Dubow

Garden Trends for 2020

For years, the Garden Media Group has identified shifts in habits and growth that affect both consumer and professional horticulture. From the way we design our cities to the people who work in them, the green industry will be at the forefront of urban growth and development in 2020. Technology and data have revolutionized many industries over the last century, including gardening. As the world moves to a more-urbanized focus, with some estimating that 70 percent of the world’s population will live in cities by 2050, Central Recreational Districts are on the rise as people search for new and more-effective green infrastructure opportunities. This year’s trends are reinventions from a bygone era—helping to reconnect us with nature, rejuvenate the soil, and move toward a more thoughtful approach to life. Certainly, times have changed, but if we can combine the wisdom of the past with the science and technology of today, our future could be very bright. The 2020 trends also emphasize the role that sustainability will play in consumerism and the green industry, from regenerative gardening to a circular economy. According to Accenture, a circular economy could generate $4.5 trillion in new output by 2030. In addition, the millennial “plant parent” movement only continues to grow, moving beyond simply plants in apartments to creating relationships and introducing a new demographic to gardening. Plant swaps are the new garden clubs. Here are the highlights of the Garden Trends Report. To access the full report, download it from: http://grow.gardenmediagroup.com. o Katie Dubow is creative director at Garden Media Group, a women-owned and -run public relations firm specializing in the home and garden industry and celebrating its 30th year in business. Dubow lives and gardens in West Chester, PA, with her husband, two daughters, one dog, and six chickens. Find her in the garden with her children, practicing yoga, or dancing to Zumba. Her goal is to convince people that brown thumbs can, in fact, be turned green. Photo sources from Unsplash.com: Green building photo by Victor Garcia. Solar panel photo by Andreas Gücklhorn. Soil photo by Dylan de Jonge. Mushroom photo by Manuel Barroso Parejo. Houseplants photo by freddie marriage. Frog photo by Jared Evans. Hydrangea photo by Tomoko Uji.

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Cities of the Future

With 70% of the world’s population living in cities by 2050, we can expect to see more green infrastructure in our urban environments. There will be more buildings with plant walls and forests growing in city settings in 2020 and beyond. Trees are a best-management strategy for controlling stormwater runoff, urban heat islands, and air pollution. Central Recreational Districts (CRDs) are the new Central Business Districts. CRDs are urban areas to escape the hustle of the city, with parks, historic places, landmarks, and tourist destinations. Regulation and zoning will frame changes to highway buffer zones, urban forestry, green roofs, pollinator habitats, community gardens, and new parks.

Circular Economy

A circular economy uses nature as a template. With the help of green infrastructure, we can create new business models. It minimizes waste, makes the most out of resources, and replaces planned obsolescence with restoration. This is forecasted by Accenture to generate $4.5 trillion in new output by 2030. The days when items were made to last and be mended when worn out, are long gone. Only 9% of materials consumed globally are reused today. Big companies such as GM, Annie’s, and Unilever are getting on the circular bandwagon. Unilever’s sustainable brands grew 46% faster than the rest of their business in 2018. The circular economy does more with less and ensures our products have a second life, where possible. For example, some plant nurseries are sanitizing and reusing their plastic pots up to five times before they are discarded.

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Green Collar Jobs

Urban growth creates a demand for “green collar” workers. Garden spending is expected to reach $49.3 billion by 2023, yet horticulture jobs already outnumber grads by 2 to 1. Diversity in education is the key. While many important jobs in horticulture and green industries require higher learning, many green jobs require less college education—perhaps an associate degree or on-the-job training. The jobs are there, from horticultural therapy to the boom in aquaponics. Baby boomers are looking for even more personal services from vacation watering to garden coaching.

Endangered Soil

Soil is our great green hope. Erosion and deforestation have already washed away one-third of our topsoil. If we continue on this course, we will lose it all by 2050, warns the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization. Regenerative gardening practices, which build on organic gardening, aim to improve and restore the soil. Practices include no-tilling, composting, and pasture cropping. People will spend up to $150 billion on sustainable products by 2021. Half of U.S. consumers would buy a brand if it is committed to the environment. A new “regenerative organic certification” is being launched as a response to customer demand.

Not Just Some Fungi

Mushrooms are a superfood that are also fun to grow and good for the planet. According to world-renowned mycologist Paul Staments, fungi could solve some of the world’s most pressing problems, such as plastic use in our industry. In 2012, Yale students discovered the Pestalotiopsis microspora, a mushroom from the Amazon that loves to eat plastic and can live without oxygen. It could clean up landfills from the bottom up. Katharina Unger at Utrecht University in the Netherlands found other mushrooms ate plastic and reportedly tasted good afterward, too. Mushrooms are also useful in preventing and treating more than 200 conditions and have 100 beneficial effects on the human body.

Thinking Outside the House

The houseplant trend is having its moment, with no end in sight. As younger generations find themselves with less space, time, and money, they are turning to indoor plants for benefits, such as cleaning the air, reducing stress, bringing life to a room, enhancing creativity, and connecting people with nature. “Plant Parents” are causing a greater percentage growth in houseplant sales than perennials, shrubs, or trees. The largest portion of houseplants being sold are succulents. Taller indoor plants are also popular. Meet-and-greets with plant influencers allow people to interact with their favorite Instagram celebrities and find other plant buddies. Pub crawls and plant swaps help draw a diverse group of mostly young women to connect over plants.

The Frog Whisperer

Gardens filled with amphibians indicate balance and a healthy ecosystem. Frogs and toads are an effective, natural form of pest control. Unfortunately, amphibians are going extinct at an alarming rate. FrogWatch USA says habitat destruction, pesticide use, pollution, increased UV radiation, and climate change, all play a part in population decline. We will see increased awareness and interest in frog-friendly backyards such as ponds and other water garden features. Water gardens that include marginal plants to hide animals and submerged plants for cover from above will provide a frog-friendly space in your garden.

Indigo

Natural shades of blue are the colors of the year in 2020. Blue has a calming effect in the home and garden. Plants with blue flowers are always best sellers. Think of blue hydrangeas, salvia, and lavender. Natural dyes are available to buy or you can grow your own plants to create fabric dyes at home. According to Generations on the Move, 74% of people value experiences over things, so the art of indigo dying is making a comeback. Shibori—the Japanese technique of creating patterns on fabric—is a trendy workshop for all ages. JANUARY 2020

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BOOKreviews

Moss Ball Bonsai: 100 Beautiful Kokedama That are Fun to Create By Satoshi Sunamori Publisher: Tuttle Publishing List Price: $15.99 Order Link: https://amzn.to/2Ra5hGZ Reviewer: Kathy Jentz Moss Ball Bonsai is full of ideas for those interested in creating unusual kokedama displays. The book is not a comprehensive how-to guide. The “how” is glossed over in short order and a beginner to moss-ball creation would be left without important information such as the exact soil formula to grow a moss ball successfully. What this is, at its heart, is a gallery of 100 kokedama using plants that are far beyond the usual terrarium ferns most moss balls are made with. The author offers page after page of stunning photos of creations using plants as varied as a Katsura tree seedling to begonia cuttings. I recommend this book for those gardeners who have created a few moss balls already and are looking to try some fun variations on the art form. Kathy Jentz, editor of Washington Gardener.

100 Japanese Gardens: The Best Gardens to Visit in Japan (100 Japanese Sites to See) By Stephen Mansfield Publisher: Tuttle Publishing List Price: $15.99 Order Link: https://amzn.to/2RB1cuJ 16

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Reviewer: Jim Dronenburg This book should have been reviewed with The Art of the Japanese Garden in the July 2019 issue of Washington Gardener. It is totally a tourist guidebook, six and a half inches or so square, not a garden book. It is arranged geographically—Kyoto and Nara, Tokyo, and lastly, Regional Gardens. The book does not go into garden styles, but details the gardens’ arrangements and features. Particularly useful (if one goes there) are the city maps showing where the gardens are in the cities. It cites the long points of each garden and the history of each. This is, again, not a gardening book. It does not give the “why,” only the “what.” It would be well worth having if you were going to Japan to view gardens, or as a companion book to The Art of the Japanese Garden, where many of the same gardens are presented, with a slightly different take from which something might be learned. But read by itself, it will give the reader little in the way of being able to bring elements of a Japanese garden in general, or any one garden in particular, to their own properties. Urban Arboreal: A Modern Glossary of City Trees By Michael Jordan Illustrated by Kelly Louise Judd Publisher: White Lion Publishing/The Quarto Group List Price: $26.00 Order Link: https://amzn.to/2Rb52eI Reviewer: Jim Dronenburg Urban Arboreal lists 70 trees used in city plantings, in alphabetical order by their Latin names. There is a page of

text for each one (the left-hand page as the book is opened), with Latin binomial, English common name, and (a) city where the tree is used, on the upper left above the text proper. On the right is a filled-in outline of the shape of the tree. The right-hand pages are drawings of the tree. Not botanical illustrations per se, but art, ranging from the quite realistic to the fanciful. The art may (or may not) contain leaves, flowers, seeds, branches, or an overall representation of the trunk. The trees selected are certainly not all for planting in the Washington, DC, area; examples of these are Podocarpus sp. and Eucalyptus sp. There are also the plant-‘em-andpray trees; examples are Norfolk Pine (Araucaria sp.) and the Strawberry Tree (Arbutus unedo)—both whiffy at absolute best, here. The cities that are mentioned with these, of course, are in climes far, far removed from here: South America, Australia. You get the idea. And to give you an idea of the selection of the trees/cities, our native Magnolia grandiflora (called Laurel Magnolia in the book, the author is British) is mentioned with the city of Barcelona. There is a glossary in the back, and an index. The glossary lists elementary items—in fact, the perfect place for this book is an elementary school library. I would not recommend it for adult reading. o Jim Dronenburg is a retired accountant and now gardens full-time in Knoxville, MD.

14th Annual Washington Gardener Philadelphia Flower Show Tour Organized by Washington Gardener Magazine Wednesday, March 4, 2020, 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 2020 “Riviera Holiday”—an immersion into Mediterranean gardens. 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 service. 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 4, a snow date of Friday, March 6th is tentative.



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 _______________________________________________________

Registration deadline: March 1, 2020

Full refund if canceled by February 7. $40 refunded until February 28. No refunds after March 1.

Questions? Kathy Jentz kathyjentz@gmail.com www.WashingtonGardener.com

Brought to you by:

Code 3/4 Silver Spring

Fee: $125.00 each $120.00 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

If you’ve never been to the Philadelphia Flower Show, this is your opportunity to escape from the last of winter’s cold winds and experience a garden paradise. Walk through floral wonderlands, take notes at one of the many workshops, enjoy new plants on display, and shop the vendors’ tempting array of goodies. JANUARY 2020

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INSECTindex

Bloodflower: A Monarch’s Friend or Foe? By Carol Allen Bloodflower (Asclepias curassavica) photo by J.M.Garg [CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)].

Monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) have gotten a lot of attention in the last few years. For instance, in 2014, a legal petition was filed requesting protection under the Endangered Species Act. That petition is currently under review and a decision is expected in December of this year (2020). Whatever its legal status, the Monarch is a strikingly beautiful butterfly and is even more amazing due to the long migrations that some populations make every spring and fall. Those migrations have been studied since 1937 by zoologist Fred Urquhart, who dedicated his career to the study and mapping of the Monarch migrations. Although controversial, some conservationists believe there has been a decline in the monarch butterfly population since 1990 and numerous organizations have formed to tag, count, and support Monarch butterflies. One such avenue of support is the creation of Monarch Waystations. Monarch Waystations are a citizen effort to create gardens providing the Monarch butterfly with larval host plants and nectar sources along their migration routes. Monarchs lay their eggs and the larvae grow by eating plants in the family Asclepiadaceae, also known as milkweeds. The butterfly’s distinctive orange-and-black coloration serves as a warning to predators that the butterflies’ bodies contain 18

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toxic steroids, known as cardenolides, that are ingested from the milkweeds they feed on. A Monarch Waystation should contain members of the milkweed family, as well as plants of many other families that provide nectar in succession from spring through late fall. Native plants of the region are best, because those plants will support not only Monarch butterflies, but other beneficial insects as well. The bigger and the more biodiverse the “waystation,” the better. Herein lies the conundrum. Imagine that you do not have a well-appointed nursery within an hour’s drive. Do you order plants online? Do you plant seeds? Where do you find out what you should be planting and how? Many online resources will tell you what native plants are appropriate for your region. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center (https://www.wildflower.org/), National Wildlife Foundation (https:// www.nwf.org/nativeplantfinder/), and Plant Native.org. (http://www.plantnative.org/reg_pl_main.htm) are a few, but they don’t prioritize or cross-reference to soil type or sun/shade needs very well. Seed companies have gotten better about offering seeds for native milkweeds. I found both Swamp milkweed (A. incarnata) and Butterfly weed (A. tuberosa) online, but it used to be that all you could find was Bloodflower (A.

curassavica). Bloodflower, also known as Tropical Milkweed or Mexican Butterfly Weed, and is easy to germinate and grow, is treated as an annual from zone 8 and north, and a perennial zone 9 and south. It is native to the Monarch overwintering sites in Mexico because it is found from the Rio Grande south and throughout northern South America. Monrovia, whose brand plants are found in many big-box stores, offers Bloodflower in a 3-gallon pot. Hard to resist when it is full bloom! What is the big deal? For our area, there isn’t one. Any Bloodflower planted from seed or bought as a plant will die with the frost. No Monarchs will be tempted to linger here through the winter. The possible issue is in the Gulf states were Bloodflower has naturalized. Some researchers feel that this still-blooming and evergreen milkweed will cause some East Coast migrants to stop, reproduce, and not continue their migration. This has not been adequately substantiated and is still a subject open to discussion. Further research has to be done. Interrupted migration is only part of the controversy. Monarch butterflies, like all other organisms, have predators and parasites. One parasite in particular has been of concern: Ophryocystis elektroscirrha (OE). This is a protozoa and it does not live outside the body of the host butterfly, but does form reproductive spores at the end of its life cycle. The spores are ingested by the Monarch larva when it eats its egg capsule or an infested leaf. Inside the body of the butterfly during the pupa stage, the protozoa completes its life cycle and then reproduces. Spores are found on the wing scales of the eclosing butterfly. The spores can be transmitted in three ways. In vertical transmission, the spores are distributed when the female mates or lays her eggs. Generally, heavily infested Monarchs do not live long enough to reproduce, but Monarchs with low levels of infestation do reproduce and the parasite moves from generation to generation. Also, since heavily infested Monarchs are not strong enough to complete their migration, these individuals and their spores are weeded out of the population.

GARDENps Horizontal transmission is the movement of the spores from butterfly to butterfly in crowded roosting areas such as the winter roosts in Mexico. The third route is environmental and includes all three of these routes being involved at different times, which results in a very effective parasite. Spores can persist in the environment for several months, though their ability to infect decreases with time. Spore viability and numbers decrease with UV exposure, wind, rain, and harsh conditions. As the Monarch breeding season progresses, more and more viable spores will persist and will be found on any milkweed where the butterflies lingered. There are a couple of important points about the concentration of OE in the environment. There were fewer OE spores where Asclepias sp. were widespread, like in the natural environment: considerably higher numbers were found in gardens. What about the villain of our story? Aren’t there more OE spores on Bloodflower than on native species? No! Absolutely not. Many studies look at female Monarch host plant preferences and the condition of the resulting offspring. Female Monarchs will gravitate toward A. currassavica, if given a choice. Bloodflower has much higher levels of cardenolides than other milkweeds. Some researchers hypothesize that female Monarchs sense that and those higher levels are of benefit. The larvae grow bigger and the resulting adults are larger and more robust. OE spores are smaller and are fewer in populations that feed on Bloodflower, so plant which ever milkweed your little heart desires! Do you wonder how misinformation moves through our society? I do! Is it lazy reporting? I make a habit of researching a subject before I believe anything written in the popular press. Try it sometime, it is eye-opening! o Carol Allen describes herself as a committable plant-a-holic. She has more than 25 years’ experience in the horticulture industry, with a special interest in plant pests and diseases; is a Licensed Pesticide Applicator in the state of Maryland; and is an ISACertified Arborist. She can be contacted at carolallen@erols.com.

This is Haym, the Sustainable Spokescat. He speaks for himself. Haym says, “I’m a cat with a career: official spokescat for Sustainability Matters, an organization that creates educational and community events in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley and Piedmont. I birdwatch, I garden, I pose tirelessly for Sustainability Matters’ Facebook page and the local pawparazzi. My eco-commitment is real, as long as the treats keep coming. “As a feral drifting from farm to farm, I was shot by a jerk who got off on hurting cats. It hurt so much, and the bullet’s still in my leg.” You can follow Haym, the Sustainable Spokescat, online at: https://twitter.com/ spokescat.

This is an occasional column in Washington Gardener Magazine featuring photos of pets in gardens. Submit your photos to KathyJentz@gmail.com and use the subject line “Pets in Gardens.” Tell us a bit about the animal and your garden as well. JANUARY 2020

WASHINGTON GARDENER

Join us for: Seed Swapping Planting Tips Expert Speakers Goody Bags Door Prizes Washington Gardener Magazine presents the

15th Annual Washington Gardener

Seed Exchanges

on Saturday, January 25, 2020, 12:30–4:00PM

National Seed Swap Day! at Brookside Gardens in Wheaton, MD Registration is now open at WGSeedExchange-BR.brownpapertickets.com

and on Saturday, February 1, 2020, 12:30–4:00PM at Green Spring Gardens in Alexandria, VA Registration is now open at WGSeedExchange-GR.brownpapertickets.com

NEW THIS YEAR! A Houseplant Cuttings and Divisions Table

Space is limited, so act today! Washington Gardener Magazine subscribers get $5 off the $20 attendee fee!

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JANUARY 2020

Overview

Washington Gardener magazine, the publication for DC-area gardening enthusiasts, is hosting the 15th annual Washington Gardener Seed Exchange at Brookside Gardens and Green Spring Gardens. These seed swaps are in person and face to face. You bring your extra seeds and swap them with other gardeners. Everyone will leave with a bag full of seeds, new garden friends, and expert planting advice.

When

On Saturday, January 25, 2020, in MD and on Saturday, February 1, 2020, in VA from 12:30–4:00PM (Foul weather that day? Call 240.603.1461, for updates about possible snow/ice delay.)

Where

We are holding a duo of Seed Exchanges one week apart on opposite sides of the Washington Beltway. We urge you to attend the one closest to you. One exchange will be held at Brookside Gardens, 1800 Glenallan Ave., Wheaton, MD. The other will be at Green Spring Gardens, 4603 4603 Green Spring Road, Alexandria, VA.

How to Register

Register online at WGSeedExchangeBR.brownpapertickets.com for the 1/25/20 event and WGSeedExchangeGR.brownpapertickets.com for the 2/1/20 one. OR you can fill out the form on the opposite page. Send the form, along with payment, to Washington Gardener, 826 Philadelphia Ave., Silver Spring, MD 20910, Attn: SE Registration. Please make checks out to “Washington Gardener.” Registration fee is $20 per person. Friends of Brookside members, Friends of Green Spring members, and current Washington Gardener subscribers receive a discount rate of $15 per person. We strongly urge you to register in advance. There is a limited enrollment of 100 participants at each location!

We are GREEN!!! Garden Book and Seed Catalog Exchange

Seed Exchange attendees are encouraged to bring their used or new garden books and seed catalogs to swap and share at this year’s event. We also ask you to bring your own water bottle or reusable mug and a home-made nametag. We will have a “best nametag” contest, so get crafty!

Hashtags #GardenDC and #SeedSwapDay

Washington Gardener Magazine’s 15th Annual

Seed Exchange Details

If You Have Seeds to Bring and Swap

Please package them in resealable plastic zipper or wax sandwich baggies. Put an average of 20 seeds per baggy—more for small seeds like lettuce, fewer for large seeds like acorns. Label each baggy with a white sticker (such as Avery standard 5160 address label sheets) giving all the information you have on the seeds. If known, include the plant’s common and scientific names; its soil, sun, and watering needs; and, its origins—where and when you collected the seeds. If you don't know all the information, that is okay; just provide as much as you can. Yes, you can bring unused or opened commercial seed packs.

What If You Don't Have Any Seeds to Swap?

Come anyway! Even if you don’t have any seeds to trade, you are welcome to attend. We’ll have plenty of extra seed contributions on hand and many attendees will be there just to learn, network, and prepare for next year’s seed collecting.

Education Program

Expert speakers from the local gardening community will give short talks on seed collection and propagation tips. There will be ample time for individual Q&A throughout the program with the featured speakers, and invited experts as well.

Schedule

(Note: This schedule is subject to change.) 12:00-12:30 Registration check-in 12:30-12:40 Introductions 12:40-1:20 Gardening talk 1:20-1:55 Gardening talk 2:00-2:15 Snack break and room reset 2:15-2:30 Seed Swap preview time 2:30-3:00 Seed Swap 3:00-3:30 Photo Contest winners 3:30-4:00 Door prizes and closing talk

How Do We Swap?

As you check in, staff will collect your seeds and place them at the appropriate seed category tables. You will be assigned a random seed swap number. There will be a short period for attendees to preview all the seeds brought in and available for swapping. You will be called in by your number to pick a seed pack from each of the category tables (if desired).

After the initial seed swap is complete, attendees are free to take any of the leftover seeds and to trade seeds with each other. Dividing of packets is encouraged and extra baggies with labels will be on hand for that purpose.

What Types of Seeds?

Seed swap categories will include natives, edibles, herbs, exotics, annuals, perennials, and woodies (trees/shrubs). If you can pre-sort your seeds in advance into which of these seven major categories fits best, that would help us speed up the process on the swap day.

Door Prizes! Goodie Bags!

Each attendee will receive a goodie bag at the seed swap. The bags include seeds, publications, and garden items donated by our sponsors. In addition, we have some incredible door prizes to give away especially for area gardeners. If your organization would like to contribute seeds or garden-related products for the goodie bags and door prizes, contact Kathy Jentz at 301.588.6894 by January 21.

15th Annual Washington Gardener Seed Exchange Advance Registration Form

Please ﬁll out this form and mail with your check/money order to: Washington Gardener Magazine, 826 Philadelphia Ave., Silver Spring, MD 20910

Name:____________________________________________________________________________________ Street Address:____________________________________________________________________________ Email:____________________________________________________________________________________ Seed Exchange Date and Location:  Jan. 25 at Brookside Gardens  Feb. 1 at Green Spring Gardens (We will only use your email address for Seed Exchange notices and will never share them with anyone else.) Seed Exchange Attendee Fee: $20.00 __________ Discount (if eligible*): -$5.00 __________ Optional: Washington Gardener Magazine Annual Subscription: $20.00 __________ TOTAL_____________ *The following groups are eligible to pay the discount attendee rate of $15.00; please CIRCLE if one applies to you: • Washington Gardener Magazine subscribers • Friends of Brookside Gardens members • Friends of Green Spring Gardens members A portion of the event proceeds will go to beneﬁt Native Seeds/SEARCH for conserving crop genetic resources. JANUARY 2020

WASHINGTON GARDENER

GOINGnative arching stem. On the underside of the stems, in most of the axils, two greenish-white, pendulous, bell-shaped flowers are produced. These flowers turn to blue-black berries over the growing season. Polygonatum canaliculatum is quite similar in most respects, but looks like Polygonatum biflorum on steroids. It typically grows on roadside banks and is normally 36–72", but we’ve had some attain heights of over 96". There are also up to 10 flowers in each axil as opposed to only two in P. biflorum. Both plants are easy to grow and propagate. The rhizomes produce a new joint every year. If you dig them up every few years, you can easily multiply them. You can also easily grow them from seeds: Just wash the pulp away under running water and sow them outside. It takes several years to raise a mature plant from seed. The name of the genus, Polygonatum, breaks down as follows. Poly means many and gonu means knee joint, a

A True Giant Among Plants: Polygonatum canaliculatum By Barry Glick

If you’ve read any of my past diatribes, you know that I favor scientific, botanical nomenclature above common names. That’s caused many of my readers to come to think of me as a snob or know-it-all. Not the case! But, I’m going to save the plant name discussion for a later date; I just want to inform you that I have no problem with common names, although sometimes they don’t tell you anything about the plant or don’t seem to make any sense. Here’s a definite exception to that rule. Giant Solomon’s Seal (Polygonatum canaliculatum) is a remarkable plant that’s native to every state in the U.S., except for eight Western states. This plant is indeed a “giant,” in more ways than just its size. If you’re not familiar with this plant, I’ll bet you know its little cousin, the true Solomon’s Seal (Polygonatum biflorum). It’s native to the 22

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JANUARY 2020

same area. The common name distinguishes it from False Solomon’s Seal (Maianthemum racemosum, formerly Smilacina racemosa), although I’m not fond of that common name. If you must use a common name for it, try Solomon’s Plume. Polygonatum is a genus of plants that has a hard time with familial relationships. I always known it as a member of the Liliaceae (Lily) family, but now, depending on who you’re talking to, it could be in the Convallariaceae or Asparagaceae family. Let’s get back to Polygonatum canaliculatum and talk about the differences between these two kinfolk. Typically, Polygonatum biflorum—biflorum because it produces two flowers at each axil—grows to about 12–36" high, depending on age, soil fertility, moisture, etc. It flowers from May to June, with a graceful,

reference to the joints on the rhizome. The common name of Solomon’s Seal is usually thought to refer to those knee joints on the rhizome, but some older writings have been found to indicate that Solomon’s Seal refers to the woundhealing properties of the rhizome. The specific epithet, canaliculatum means grooved or channeled in reference to the grooves on the leaves.

The starchy, edible rhizomes were consumed by Native Americans, who shared them with the early settlers. Members of this genus have a multitude of other medicinal uses: It has been used in the treatment of indigestion, profuse menstruation, lung ailments, general debility, etc. It is also a folk remedy for piles, rheumatism, and skin irritations. A poultice or decoction of the fresh roots can be applied to cuts, bruises, etc. In the garden it’s a welcome guest. There are a multitude of shade-loving plants that you can plant under it. I’ve even planted Polygonatum biflorum under the Polygonatum canaliculatum. The richer the soil—the more organic matter and moisture— the more robustly they’ll grow. They have a use in every shade garden, native plant garden, and wild garden. I’ve even seen them used in rain gardens. 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.

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MARCH/APRIL 2005 • Landscape DIY vs. Pro • Prevent Gardener’s Back • Ladew Topiary Gardens • Cherry Trees

MAY/JUNE 2007 • Roses: Easy Care Tips • Native Roses & Heirloom Roses • Edible Flowers • How to Plant a Bare-root Rose

MAY/JUNE 2005 • Stunning Plant Combinations • Turning Clay into Rich Soil • Wild Garlic • Strawberries

JULY/AUGUST 2007 • Groundcovers: Alternatives to Turfgrass • How to Pinch, Prune, & Dead-head • William Paca House & Gardens • Hardy Geraniums

JULY/AUGUST 2005 • Water Gardens • Poison Ivy • Disguising a Sloping Yard • Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2007 • Succulents: Hardy to our Region • Drought-Tolerant Natives • Southern Vegetables • Seed Saving Savvy Tips

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2005 • Container Gardens • Clematis Vines • Sponge Gardening/Rain Gardens • 5 Insect Enemies of Gardeners

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2007 • Gardening with Children • Indoor Bulb-Forcing Basics • National Museum of the American Indian • Versatile Viburnums

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2005 • Backyard Bird Habitats • Hellebores • Building a Coldframe • Bulb Planting Basics

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2008 • Dealing with Deer • Our Favorite Garden Tools • Delightful Daffodils

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

SUMMER 2009 • Grow Grapes in the Mid-Atlantic • Passionflowers • Mulching Basics • Growing Hops

MARCH/APRIL 2008 • Patio, Balcony, Rooftop Container Gardens • Our Favorite Garden Tools • Coral Bells (Heuchera) MAY/JUNE 2008 D SOL • Growing Great Tomatoes UT! • Glamorous Gladiolus DO L O !S • Seed-Starting OUT Basics •SFlavorful OLD Fruiting Natives

! OUT

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

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2007 • Indoor Gardening • Daphne Care Guide • Asparagus Growing Tips and Recipes • Houseplant Propagation

MARCH/APRIL 2009 ! OUT Tips D • 40+ Free and Low-cost Local Garden SOL ! T • Spring Edibles Planting Guide OU LDfor a Fresh Start • Testing YourSO Soil ! Selection and Care UTTree • Redbud O LD Viewing Spots for Virginia Bluebells • SOBest

MARCH/APRIL 2007 • Stormwater Management • Dogwood Selection & Care Guide • Early Spring Vegetable Growing Tips • Franciscan Monastery Bulb Gardens

MAY/JUNE 2009 • Top Easy Summer Annuals for DC Heat • Salad Table Project • Grow and Enjoy Eggplant • How to Chuck a Woodchuck

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 • Dwarf 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 • Onions SUMMER 2011 • Ornamental Edibles • Urban Foraging • Amsonia/Arkansas Blue Star • Growing Corn in the Mid-Atlantic FALL 2011 • Herb Gardens • Toad Lilies • Sweet Potatoes • Cool Weather Cover Crops WINTER 2011/EARLY SPRING 2012 • Green Roofs and Walls • Heaths and Heathers • Radishes SPRING 2012 • Pollinator Gardens • Brunnera: Perennial of the Year • Growing Yacon SUMMER 2012 • Tropical Gardens • Captivating Canna • Icebox Watermelons SPRING 2013 • Great Garden Soil • All About Asters • Squash Vine Borer SUMMER/FALL 2013 • Miniature/Faerie Gardens • Beguiling Abelias • Growing Great Carrots WINTER/EARLY SPRING 2014 • Ferns for the Mid-Atlantic • Chanticleer Gardens • Beet Growing Basics

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.

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Jentz Prints

Antique Botanical Prints for the decorator, collector, connoisseur, and art lover. Jentz Prints can be purchased on most Saturdays at the Eastern Market, and most Sundays at the Georgetown Flea Market.

Antique prints are affordable — most in the $10-$30 range — and they are the perfect gift idea for that plant lover in your life. And don’t forget to buy a few for yourself! For more information, to make a private appointment, or to get a detailed show schedule, please contact Jentz Prints by email at UllrichJ@aol.com. You can also find Jentz Prints on eBay.com under the seller ID: printyman. 24

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