Washington Gardener January 2018 by Kathy J

JANUARY 2018 VOL. 12 NO. 11

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tthe magazine for gardening enthusiasts in the Mid-Atlantic region

Chef Gardens: Garden to Table Native Orchid: Aplectrum hyemale Are Asian Ladybugs Bad for Your Gardens? Soils in Winter: What Lies Beneath Share Your Bounty with the Hungry

Your Garden Task List 2018â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Healthy Garden Trends DC-MD-VA Gardening Events Calendar

Best Phlox for the Mid-Atlantic Region

Haven’s Natural Brew Tea conditions the soil so your plant’s root system can better absorb nutrients needed to build a strong, healthy root base. The manure tea can also be applied to compost piles to accelerate the composting process.

Order some today at: www.manuretea.com

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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 301.588.6894 or email KathyJentz@gmail.com for available dates, rates, and topics.

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

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Green Spring Gardens

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WASHINGTON GARDENER JANUARY 2018

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.

INSIDEcontents

FEATURES and COLUMNS

‘Dick Weaver’ is a vigorous cultivar with an abundant floral display throughout July and August. The flowers are strongly fragrant and have a magenta color similar to ‘Robert Poore’. However, ‘Dick Weaver’ differs from ‘Robert Poore’ with a slightly shorter habit. Phlox ‘Dick Weaver’ photo courtesy of Mt. Cuba.

Chef gardens are a growing trend. Gardens are sprouting up at restaurants across the country. Here in the Mid-Atlantic, with our booming culinary scene, we are seeing in increase in restaurants with on-property gardens where chefs pluck ingredients for immediate use in dishes and drinks.

Aplectrum hyemale is native to the eastern United States and Canada. It produces a single leaf in the fall, which stays green throughout the winter. The plant flowers in the spring as the leaf starts to deteriorate.

Phlox were some of the earliest plants discovered by European naturalists in America, and today there are a multitude of species available to gardeners for almost any type of garden environment. Mt. Cuba Center’s trial garden, managed by George Coombs, evaluates native plants and their related cultivars for their horticultural and ecological value. Visitors are welcome at the trial garden.

BOOKreviews 7 Native Trees and Shrubs CHEFgardens 12 Ricciuti’s in Olney, MD GOINGnative 22 Aplectrum hyemale NEWPLANTspotlight 11 Senecio ‘Angel Wings’ INSECTindex 6-7 Asian Ladybugs PHILLYflowershow 19 Trip Details and Sign-up Form PHOTOcontest 15 Rules for 2018 Submissions PLANTprofile 16-18 Phlox SEEDexchanges 20-21 2018 Dates and Details SPECIALfeature 14 Sharing Garden Bounty TIPStricks 10 Soil in Winter; Garden Trends

DEPARTMENTS

ADVERTISINGindex BLOGlinks EDITORletter GARDENcontest LOCALevents MONTHLYtasklist NEXTissue READERreactions RESOURCESsources

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ON THE COVER

Phlox ‘Jeana’ in the trial garden at Mt. Cuba Center, Hockessin, DE.

In our February 2018 issue:

2018 Garden Photo Contest Winners and much more...

If your business would like to reach area gardeners, be sure to contact us by February 10 so you can be part of the next issue of our growing publication! Be sure you are subscribed! Click on the “subscribe” link at http://washingtongardener. blogspot.com/ JANUARY 2018

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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 A group of local members of GWA: The Association for Garden Communicators and your editor (at far right) gathered at the MANTS 2018 press briefing breakfast.

Opening Doors of Communication Someone asked me recently how the 2018 Mid-Atlantic Nursery Trade Show (MANTS) had changed in the past 10–12 years, I mentioned the increase in female decision-makers and the expanding categories of products I’ve seen. Then, after recuperating from the show this weekend, I realized I had not conveyed the biggest change, which was that I used to have to beg for a press pass to it. The show management never heard of that concept. For years, I got the run-around and usually just gave in, paid to register as a “landscape designer” or some such category, and then spent my day explaining to folks who I was and why my badge was wrong. To my knowledge, I was the only media person on the floor for several years. Every year, I pecked at the show team to add a press category, a press room, etc. It felt like I was a tiny voice in the wilderness. Frankly, I found it ridiculous that a trade group was so obtuse when it came to connecting with the media who cover it. What a disservice to the exhibitor businesses who want to get the word out about their plants and products to the home gardening public and other consumers. What a blessing the new management team has been these last few years! They understood and they made it happen. The 48th annual gathering of green industry companies at the Baltimore Convention Center was a record-breaker—again—with more than 11,500 attendees and 300,000 sq. ft. of exhibits.

Call today to place your ad with us! Ruth E. Thaler-Carter Proofreader Cover price: $4.99 Back issues: $6.00 Subscription: $20.00 Address corrections should be sent to the address above. • 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: facebook.com/ WashingtonGardenerMagazine

This year, the members of the GWA: The Association for Garden Communicators had four opportunities to “connect” at MANTS. GWA held its official “connect meeting” after the first day of exhibits at the Lord Baltimore Hotel lobby and bar. The next morning, the show management held a breakfast briefing for the gathered media and GWA members were the majority of that throng.

• Washington Gardener is a womanowned business. We are proud to be members of: · Garden Writers Association · DC Web Women · Green America Magazine Leaders Network · Green America Business Network

Next, there was an informal lunch gathering at a nearby eatery for those who arrived later or just couldn’t get enough networking in at the previous events.

To order reprints, contact Wright’s Reprints at 877.652.5295, ext. 138.

Finally, the GWA booth on the show floor was a popular meeting spot and resource for spreading the word about our member benefits and offerings to green industry businesses.

All of this is to say, change can happen. Little by little. Don’t think you are tilting at windmills—tiny bits of individual progress can eventually bring big community changes! Happy gardening!

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

WASHINGTON GARDENER JANUARY 2018

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.

READERreactions

Our Readers Share Their Thoughts and Ideas December 2017 Issue Very good issue. The thing about plant swaps: They might not be weeds, but they give away all the thugs in their garden and most of us have lots to spare. The no-till method has been used for corn for generations—interesting we are returning to a tried-and-true method. ~ Stephanie Cohen, Collegeville, PA

November 2017 Issue I loved the article on Karyl Evans! I had the joy of seeing her film on Beatrix Farrand and hearing her discussion of making it at Green Spring Gardens earlier this fall. So the article was very interesting to me to hear more about her as a filmmaker. Thanks for continuing to publish this wonderful magazine! ~ Dawn Szelc, Sterling, VA I enjoyed the issue very much! I found the book reviews very informative as they express the authors’ unique approaches to gardening and provide a short appreciation for the perspectives. I think the titles can make great gifts. ~ Anne Vandegrift, Burtonsville, MD As usual, there were many interesting articles. This month, my favorite was the story about a cautionary tale when swapping plants and sharing them. I really learned a lot about Corydalis. I have so many unknown “weeds” in my yard, maybe someday I’ll learn the names of most of them! ~ Lena Iredell, Bowie, MD I have tried growing brussels sprouts, but they did not sprout. So the article about growing them was a good read as well as the event calendar. ~ Sarah Lawler, Hyattsville, MD Very interesting learning about the documentary, The Life and Gardens of Beatrix Farrand, and the challenges Karyl Evans faced making it and the future plans for continuing to document the work of Beatrix Farrand. ~ Michael Kelley, Berwyn Heights, MD I loved the article “New Plant Spotlight” since it described a rose named after

one of my family’s favorite authors, Roald Dahl. That the rose is a beautiful peach color in honor of James and the Giant Peach, which is one of our favorite of our favorites, is a bonus to all of us. Not only was the story very inspiring about roses that have been developed, but the accompanying pictures were luscious and welcome as the fall is ending. Thanks! ~ Robin Yaure, Ijamsville, MD I enjoyed the November issue (as always); however, my favorite part this issue were the introductory editor’s comments in “a hidden world revealed”. Every year I am (equally) amazed by what was unseen during the gardening year and now revealed. ~ Annie Shaw, Greenbelt, MD

October 2017 Issue I enjoyed the entire magazine, but especially appreciated the article about storing garlic. My efforts in the past had not been terrible successful! ~ Lynn Hunt, Sapphire, NC I liked the one on Norfolk Botanical Garden. It’s great to find out about “local” gardens. ~ Mary Alice O’Halloran, Silver Spring, MD My favorite article was on the Design House—a blend of my two interests! ~ Madeline Caliendo, Washington, DC My favorite article was the one about Devin Devine and the stone sphere. I liked reading about the culmination of the year-long effort by Friends of Brookside Gardens to make this happen! ~ Barbara Waite-Jaques, Silver Spring MD “Garlics that Last the Longest in Storage” was my favorite article. This fall was the first time that I planted garlic and I was interested to find out if one of the varieties that I planted would be long-lasting in storage. ~ Carol Yemola, Drums, PA

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Send your reviews, thoughts, suggestions, etc., to Washington Gardener at washingtongardener@rcn.com. o

Reader Contest

For our January 2018 Washington Gardener Reader Contest, Washington Gardener is giving away two passes to either of the Washington Gardener Seed Exchanges (prize value $40). The 13th Annual Washington Gardener Seed Exchanges, hosted by Washington Gardener Magazine, take place on January 27, 2018, at the Brookside Gardens in Wheaton, MD, and on February 10, 2018, 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! 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. We will have a “best nametag” contest, so get crafty! To enter to win the Seed Exchange Passes, send an email to WashingtonGardener@rcn.com by 5:00pm on Thursday, January 25, with “Seed Swap” in the subject line and in the body of the email. Tell us your favorite story in this issue and why. Please also include your full name and mailing address. The pass winners will be announced and notified on Friday, January 26. JANUARY 2018

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INSECTindex

Ladybug, Ladybug, Fly Away Home by Carol Allen

My mailbox is overflowing with highly colored seed catalogs with seductive images of lush purple eggplants, plump ears of corn, and impossibly perfect red tomatoes. Oh, the temptation! We all know that it takes a lot of hard work, persistence, and a bit of luck to achieve those results in our gardens. Preseason questions plague us: Do I need more organic matter? Will the price of mulch go up? Will I run out of compost? Pest control is one of those plaguing questions we all wrestle with throughout the season. Haven’t you wished that a particular pest would just die and go away? …or be eaten (all of them, every one) by some benign organism? That is the appeal and, in some cases, the reality of releasing beneficial insects. You hope that the organism (good bug) that you just introduced into your garden will make it all go away. It is with that hope that we purchase ladybugs or praying mantis egg cases. We hope that somehow these intriguing creatures will take care of some (if not all) of those pesky pests. The reality is somewhat different, of course. Praying mantis species are indiscriminate in their choice of prey. They are just as likely to snag that newly emerged Monarch butterfly, the endangered rusty-patched bumblebee, or one of the ubiquitous European honeybees as feed on a pest. The egg case that you buy is most likely the alien Chinese mantis (Tenodera sinensis) or alien European mantis (Mantis religiosa) and not our native Carolina Mantis (Stagmomantis carolina). All three species are common throughout our region and may be cute, but not terribly help6

WASHINGTON GARDENER JANUARY 2018

ful when it comes to pest control. They are fairly territorial and cannibalistic when young. They have one generation per year. (See more information in the December 2014 issue of the Washington Gardener.) So can you count on your favorite ladybugs for help? Well, maybe! The Maryland Biodiversity Project lists more than 50 different species of lady beetle on record. Almost all are native; a couple are herbivores and the most numerous ones? Alien! How did that happen? The most often encountered is the multicolored Asian lady beetle (Harmonia axyridis). This beetle was introduced by the USDA to control aphid populations on food crops as early as 1916 in California, in the 1960s and 1970s on the West Coast, and in many locations on the East Coast through the 1990s. It is now found throughout the United States and Canada. It is larger in size than our native species. Its color can range from solid orange with no spots to black with only two spots of orange and every combination in between. This highly variable color and pattern can make it very difficult to identify. The best and easiest way is to look right behind the small head to find two large white spots, one on each side of the pronotum. This lady beetle is commonly used for biocontrol on aphids and scale insects, and is

often the species purchased in the garden center. However, there are problems and they are twofold; This insect will consume the eggs and larvae of our native species, and recent research has found that the multicolored Asian lady beetle harbors a microsporidia, a type of tiny fungal parasite. The multicolor Asian lady beetle is immune to this parasite, but the native lady beetles are not. Now researchers know why native populations have been declining rapidly wherever the alien lady beetle has been introduced. Yes, they will assist in controlling aphid populations in your garden, but at what cost? Aren’t there native lady beetles that can do the job? Yes, there are! However, they too are not without issues. The native Convergent lady beetle (Hippodamia convergens) is found throughout North America, but is gathered for commercial purposes in the Sierra Nevada Mountains in California. It is there that the insects aggregate to overwinter in diapause, a hibernationlike state. The “dormant” insects are collected by the millions, packaged, and kept refrigerated until purchased by the end user. When the lady beetles warm up, they disperse. That is a hard-wired behavior, the result of thousands of years of evolution. This means that you could easily lose 90% of your purchase in spite of moistening the foliage in your garden and releasing beetles at night. Studies have shown that collected lady beetles are very poor insect control even if they stay in your garden. It is their voracious offspring that you want. The Convergent lady beetle is not an infinite resource. Its feeding grounds, which are much of California in this case, periodically burn from wildfires and are prone to prolonged drought. These two events can severely decrease lady beetle populations, to the extent that in 2014, there were insufficient lady beetles in the mountains to fill the demand. No studies have been

BOOKreviews done to measure the effects of this constant collection pressure. Lady beetles in their native habitats are part of a complicated food web. Sooner or later, their diminishing population will be felt. In addition to the collection of lady beetles being a non-sustainable practice, wild populations of Convergent lady beetles have been shown to carry several different parasites and other natural enemies. These pests and diseases get shipped to new areas along with the lady beetles. The native lady beetle populations may not have sufficient resistance to these new threats. As native lady beetles populations are diminishing, this introduction of a new group of pests and diseases may be a contributing factor. We want effective bio control in our gardens. Using few/no pesticides allows natural enemies to help keep pests in check, but if importing and releasing bio control is fraught with too many negatives, what is a gardener to do? Create habitat and increase diversity. Wherever possible, include a wide variety of plants in your garden. Even in community garden plots, include a variety of pollen sources. Pollen is a food that lady beetles consume when they are not finding enough aphids and other soft-bodied insects. Let some parsley and carrots go to flower and plant flowers such as yarrow, helianthus, penstemon, and Queen Anne’s lace in your beds. Of course, do not use pesticides, especially as a sprayall cover. That includes sprays that attempt to control mosquitos. Add a birdbath with a partially submerged rock so insects can get water in times of drought. Aphids can be controlled by washing off the plant with a strong spray of water when they are too numerous. But remember that if there is no food, the lady beetles will not visit your garden! A few bad bugs are okay, a lot—not so much! 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.

Essential Native Trees and Shrubs By Ginger Woolridge and Tony Dove Publisher: Penguin Random House List Price: $35.00 Reviewer: Jim Dronenburg I admit at the start to a prejudice in favor of this book because the authors are local, which means that the “personal experience” component of this book is local. That said, the book itself starts with two introductions, one per author, and a “how to use this book” section, which few people will read (they should, though). After that, there is a section on “Site Conditions and Plant Attributes” (that is about organizing plants by category, wet, dry, acid, salt (you get the idea), but then listing all other categories that the plant fits in. This is handy if you are in a hurry and need to narrow a selection down—but I prefer to actually read the book. And I did so, before turning to the categories section. What I read first was “Part Two, Primary Trees and Shrubs.” It is alphabetic by the plant’s Latin name—and included in the index are a lot of common names/Latin names, if you don’t know the Latin. Each plant—for example, the American holly (Ilex opaca)— has a short description of the plant and its major uses. There is a section showing scale relative to the human stature at the age of X years—often, two ages are shown; very useful to those of us, and I live with one, who are not too good at estimating mature size. (I do not speak of

those who willfully plant a young monster thinking they can keep it to a manageable size. I am one of those.) There is a graphic of “seasons of interest,” and then detailed descriptions of color, native range, and culture. Some, not all, cultivars are listed (holly has, at a guess, hundreds; this book lists a dozen). Nevertheless, the selections are carefully chosen for a good spread of size, berry color, and attributes. The book points out that hollies are for the most part dioecious (that is, they are male or female) and lists a good pollinating male. (Other dioecious plants in the book are also identified in their sections. ) As an example of the good information that your reviewer had not known, holly trunks should be pruned up when young—removing large branches can leave unattractive scars and/or harm the tree. These useful comments occur through the book. Part Three (small) features plants that “didn’t make the A list” of Part 2 because of limitations, often from recently introduced exotic pests. This section is, of course, worth reading so you can be on the lookout for said pests, and of course, all the plants here are good plants. The listings are blurbs, not full descriptions, and alphabetical-within-category. There is one caveat, which the book itself makes; a native will not prosper where people have altered conditions grimly from what they should be. Research the plant, and if your conditions fit what it wants, go for it. Otherwise, don’t plant something until you can suit it. Overall, this is a very good book to have, a good read. It belongs in your collection. o Jim Dronenburg is an accountant by day, and an Irish harper/singer by night, to support his expanding garden in Knoxville, MD.

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TOP AREA GARDENING EVENTS DC-Area Gardening Calendar ~ Events ~ January 16–February 15 • Washington Gardener Magazine’s 2018 Seed Exchanges are on January 27 at Brookside Gardens and February 10 at Green Spring Gardens. See pages 20–21 for details or go online to http:// washingtongardener.blogspot.com. • February to November Neighborhood Farm Initiative’s Kitchen Garden Education Program This is a 10-month program beginning in late February, with 12 class lectures that are scheduled on selected Saturday mornings throughout the year, but the bulk of time in the program takes place at times of the students’ choosing; the garden is open from sunrise to sunset, every day. Participants receive a small garden plot along with everything needed to grow. All necessary tools & materials provided, plus instruction & support to grow a wide variety of food crops, over an extended growing season. Mamie D. Lee Community Garden at Fort Totten, NE, Washington, DC. Learn more about the program here: http://neighborhoodfarminitiative. org/adult-garden-education/ or email to Grow@NeighborhoodFarmInitiative.org. • Saturday, January 20, 10am—1pm Annual APLD Winter Lecture: Implementing the Design APLD Award-Winning Designer Nick McCullough is the owner of McCullough’s Landscape and Nursery in New Albany, OH. He has a unique perspective as the owner of both a family-run nursery and a multiple award-winning landscape design firm. He wil share his vision of design excellence as he talks attendees through the process of implementing a design. At Silver Spring Civic Building, 1 Veterans Place, Silver Spring, MD. Fee: $40. More details at www.apld.org. • January 20–March 25 Orchid Extravaganza Enter a dazzling world of orchids as Longwood Gardens transforms its conservatory into an orchid oasis. Orchid blooms cascade down walls, spill from containers, and form towering arches throughout Longwood’s four acres of indoor gardens. Longwood’s award8

WASHINGTON GARDENER JANUARY 2018

winning orchid curtain returns standing 17-feet high featuring 350 Phalaenopsis Kaleidoscope orchids in glorious bloom. Longwood Gardens is located near Kennett Square, PA. Adult admission is $23. Details at www.longwoodgardens.org. • Sunday January 21, 2pm Rose Tourism Part I: Great Gardens of North America ARS Colonial District Vice Director Ray Shipley and his wife Marie have traveled to nearly every state in the country, as well as four Canadian provinces, to visit some of the finest gardens on the continent. Whether you are looking for ideas for your 2018 vacation or your own backyard rose garden, this is a program that you will definitely want to attend. At the conclusion of his presentation, Ray will present a District Consulting Rosarian of the Year Award to a PRS members. Held at Behnke Nursery, 11300 Baltimore Ave. Beltsville, MD. This program is free and open to the public. • Monday, January 22, 8pm Tree Care Basics and Beyond Talk Silver Spring Garden Club invites readers to their January 2018 meeting featuring a talk on tree care. In Montgomery County, 72.9% of the urban forest canopy is located outside parkland. With so much of the canopy depending on management by individual land-owners, it is important for everyone to take care of their trees to preserve the urban forest canopy. Montgomery Parks Urban Forester Andy Driscoll will discuss proper tree care methods, from proper planting to preservation of mature and senescing trees. This talk will include proper mulching, watering, and pruning techniques. Held at Brookside Gardens, 1800 Glenallan Avenue, Wheaton, MD. Free. Open to all. • Wednesday, January 24, 7:30pm Members’ Talk: Mosses to Wildlife Gardens and Photos of Past Club Trips Beltsville Garden Club members will share various subjects from a visit to Kokodera, a world-famous Japanese moss garden in Kyoto, Japan, to photos of a Wildlife Friendly Garden, and a

slide show of past club visits to gardens and arboretums. Held at the James E Duckworth School, 11201 Evans Trail, Beltsville, MD. Free. Details at http:// beltsvillegardenclub.org/. • Thursday, January 25, 3–4pm Marvelous Morphology: Plant-Animal Interactions Tour Ever wonder why flowering plants are so diverse? Plant-animal interactions have driven diversification for more than 90 million years. Join Dr. Susan Pell, USBG Deputy Executive Director on a tour of the garden and discover vegetative, flower, and fruit structures that facilitate plant-animals interactions. Topics such as fruit dispersal, pollination methods, and vegetative adaptations for animals will be explored and explained. Meet , in the center of the Garden Court. Free: Pre-registration required, visit www. USBG.gov/Programs. • Monday, January 29, 1–3pm Starting Seeds Indoors: Getting a Head Start On Your Garden! Learn how to start your garden early, including what seeds are best to use, germination tips, and best bets for seed saving. Find out how to make your own starter pots, and easy-to-create lighting systems to bring the sunlight inside. Free. For more information and registration, go to http://bit.ly/VCESenior or contact LeeAnne Kaniut, 703-2280955. Held at the Walter Reed Community and Senior Center, 2909 S. 16th St., Arlington, VA. • Tueday. January 30, 7:30 PM Life on the Edge Talk The Maryland Native Plant Society hosts this talk by Karyn Molines on edge habitats. These are zones where two different ecological communities interact; for example, where a forest and meadow, or a bay and beach connect. Although these areas have characteristics of both habitats, edges also have their own unique plants. The presentation will include both natural edges, and more-artificial edges created through human disturbances of natural areas. Examples of plants that prefer edges, and the animals that thrive

TOP AREA GARDENING EVENTS DC-Area Gardening Calendar ~ Events ~ January 16–February 15 there, will illustrate ecological functions and services of these habitats. Held at Silver Spring Civic Building, 1 Veterans Pl., Silver Spring, MD. The program is open to the public. Registration is not required. For more information, go to: http://mdflora.org/events.html. • Tuesday, January 30, 7—8:30pm Landscape Design Basics, DIY Sustainable Yard Series Learn how to create a sustainable landscape, building on the unique conditions of your own site and situation. This class will focus on how to make a base map and introduce you to basic design principles you can use to transform your property. Held at the Westover Branch Library, 1644 N. McKinley Road, Arlington, VA. Free. Advance registration requested at mgnv.org. Questions: email mgarlalex@gmail.com. • Saturday, February 3, 10am–3pm 9th Annual Seed Sale Held in the Mary Prangley Room (2nd Floor) at the Hyattsville Municipal Building, 4310 Gallatin St., Hyattsville, MD. The Hyattsville Horticultural Society will be selling seeds, gardening books, garden tools, soup, baked treats, and much more. See details at http:// hyattsvillehorticulture.org. • Saturday, February 10, 9am–12n Plot Against Hunger Spring Garden Kick-Off Attend presentations by local experts on seed starting, irrigation, lasagna & container gardening, transplanting, composting, irrigation, mulching, pest control, smart moves in the garden (taught by a physical therapist), and fruit tree pruning. Exhibit tables on winter gardening, Northern Virginia Extension Service, 4-H in the schools, master gardeners, edible landscapes, and others. Held at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 4000 Lorcom Lane, Arlington VA. • Sunday, February 11, 10am–3pm National Capital Orchid Society Annual Orchid Auction Over 300 rare and unusual blooming (or near-blooming size) orchids from well-known growers coast to coast as

well as private collections. One of the largest orchid auctions in the United States! Held at Behnke Nurseries Co., 11300 Baltimore Ave., Beltsville, MD. Visit www.ncos.us for details. RSVP to: afac.org/spring-garden-kickoff/. • Thursday, February 15 The PLA Seminar Every February, the Piedmont Landscape Association hosts an annual seminar at The Paramount Theater, Charlottesville, VA. This event strives to bring gardening enthusiasts and landscape professionals together in an educational setting. Featured speakers include Peter Del Tredici on “Urban Nature: Human Nature.” He is a senior research scientist at Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University. He’ll explore spontaneous urban ecosystems and the positive contributions they have in making our cities more livable. Registration is online at www.theparamount.net. • Saturday, March 10, 2018 Loudoun County Master Gardeners present the 9th Annual “Let’s Get Growing” Gardening Symposium The event features Doug Tallamy, Ellen Ogden, and Dr. Scott Aker. Get motivated and jump into the spring gardening season with information from the experts. Tickets sales at http://loudouncountymastergardeners.org/events/ annual-symposium/.

Save These Future Dates • Friday, February 23, 8am–4pm Green Matters: Restoring & Renewing Our Urban Landscapes This symposium helps shift the focus beyond sustainability strategies geared toward slowing environmental degradation by emphasizing solutions that heal damaged urban landscapes. Learn from experts about regenerative landscape design and gardening practices that help restore our ecosystems on both small and large scales. Presentations will also explore how to adapt strategies for climate resiliency aimed at preparing landscapes to absorb stresses and maintain functionality in the face of future climate change impacts. Held at

Silver Spring Civic Building, 1 Veterans Place, Silver Spring, MD. Register at ActiveMONTGOMERY.org. • Saturday, February 24, 9am–4pm The Maryland Horticultural Society and the Perennial Plant Association present their winter seminar: Perennially Inspired, a day-long program with horticultural experts discussing perennials. This event will be held in Baltimore, MD. See https://mdhorticulture.org. • Saturday, February 24, 9am–4pm 18th annual Montgomery County Master Gardener Spring Conference The daylong event in Derwood, MD, features multiple workshops, morning snacks, a delicious bag lunch, door prizes, networking with other gardeners, answers to gardening questions, handouts, and reference materials. Participants can attend three of nine concurrent workshops, all taught by Master Gardeners and staff from the University of Maryland and UMd Extension. This year’s focus is “Garden Solutions for Our Changing Environment.” Presentation topics include gardening in a changing climate, building healthy soils, garden bugs, living fences, vegetable and herb gardens, pruning, weed control, and much more. For more details and registration information, go to: http://goo.gl/i4nalm.

Spring officially begins with the Spring Equinox on Tuesday, March 20! Still More Event Listings See even more event listings on the Washington Gardener Yahoo discussion list. Join the list at http://groups.yahoo. com/group/WashingtonGardener/.

How to Submit Local Garden Events To submit an event for this listing, contact kathyjentz@gmail.com — put “Event” in the subject line. Our next deadline is February 10 for the February 2018 issue, for events taking place February 16–March 15. o JANUARY 2018

WASHINGTON GARDENER

TIPStricks

Under Snow, Underfoot: Soils in Winter

Soil is essential to life. One reason is that soil protects plant roots, animals, and microbes from freezing in the winter. As air temperatures drop below 32°F (0°C), water within the top layers of the soil will eventually freeze. This is commonly known as the frost layer. You might think that once the ground is frozen, life stops in the soil, but that’s untrue. What’s going on under your feet is exciting stuff, according to the Soil Science Society of America (www.soils. org). The frost layer can be several feet deep, although many factors influence how far down it goes. If a lot of snow falls on the ground early in the winter, it can serve as a blanket for the soil underneath. Organic matter plays a role in insulating soil, holding in heat stored below ground during the warmer months. The organic matter can be mulch or compost that gardeners add around the plants, or leaves that fall naturally. Dried leaves from plants, if left for spring removal, also provide soil and root insulation. Perennial plants that grow in colder climates, such as many grasses, trees, and shrubs, are able to withstand freezing. They develop root systems below the frost layer. The root systems of these plants perform a number of tasks that protect them from the cold. Roots can release a lot of water from their cells into the surrounding soil. This allows roots to endure colder temperatures without the risk of internal water expanding and damaging root cells. Water within root cells also contains higher concentrations of sugars and salts. They both assist in lowering the freezing point of water inside and between the cells (much like antifreeze!). Many soil-dwelling animals burrow below the frost layer to survive the winter months. These include insects, frogs, snakes, turtles, worms, and gophers. Some will hibernate. Others simply live on the food that they have collected for their long “vacation” deep underground. What is even more fascinating? A great number of soil animals have evolved to withstand temperatures 10

WASHINGTON GARDENER JANUARY 2018

below freezing. At least five frog species in North America make their own natural antifreeze. This allows them to become completely frozen for long periods without suffering any serious damage to the structures of their cells. Even soil microbes—bacteria and fungi that live in the soil year-round— can be active in winter months. Studies in Antarctica show microbial life in permanently frozen ground (permafrost). In North America, once spring comes, the microbes become even more active. This ensures the biodiversity that is so important to keep plant and animal life healthy. Next time you are out braving the cold on a wintery day, try to imagine the root systems and living creatures below ground. We can thank soil for protecting and insulating its inhabitants. Whether they are hibernating or snacking on stored food, they are alive and well. o

2018 Garden Trends: Nature’s Rx for Wellness

In today’s world, it is almost impossible to escape the realities of social media, instant news, 24/7 connectivity, and the mental exhaustion that follows. According to Garden Media Group’s 17th annual Garden Trends Report, nature is the best medicine. The 2018 report introduces seven gardening trends that inspire a cleaner, more-relaxed state of mind. • Climate controlled: Gardeners can no longer rely on historical data to predict the climate in their own backyards. To adjust to these unpredictable times, Garden Media has outlined four climate controlled garden types. From windresistant gardens and desert gardens to rain gardens and freeze-proof gardens, each collection is designed to guide garden centers and gardeners toward successful choices for their climates. Plants that stand up to hot, dry conditions, are essential for desert gardens. • Social network: Just as people use the benefits of networking, plants in gardens benefit from networking among themselves. It’s time to shift from thinking of plants as individuals to thinking of them as a community. Choosing plants that work in harmony allows management of the garden instead of maintenance of each plant,

which makes gardening less stressful. Plant communities, once established, are more for enjoyment and less for yard work. • Imperfect gardening: The ancient Japanese practice of Wabi-Sabi is catching on as a more laid-back way of living. Wabi-Sabi is an appreciation of the imperfections in life and the ability to age gracefully. Applying that perfectly imperfect attitude to the garden encourages an imitation of nature in a way that allows people to relax and appreciate humble and perhaps what was traditionally thought of as unkempt designs and plants. The garden doesn’t have to be perfect all of the time, and that mindset will allow people to enjoy it more. Choose plants that look good, are easy to manage and provide food for pollinators. Allow natural beauty to shine in imperfect design, lawns, and plants, and a peaceful, relaxing mindset will follow. • Breathing room: Take a moment to relax, unwind, and clear the mind in new breathing rooms. Most people spend the bulk of their lives indoors, so the focus has to shift to creating clean air around us. Encourage customers to designate places at home to meditate, unplug, and relax while surrounded by hardworking houseplants. • Make a splash: As more public gardens receive overwhelmingly positive responses to reflective pools and fountains, there’s proof that water is more popular now than ever before. Preparing the garden to embrace storms and excess rainfall will not only help save water by rainscaping, but also help to control storm water runoff. The growing trend of filtering water with plants helps with healthy water management, while still keeping beauty in the garden. • Purple reign: Purple is the color of 2018, mirroring Pantone’s 2017 pallet “Verdure.” Purple goes beyond the vibrant color and often indicates nutrient density and antioxidants in food. Grow purple at home by incorporating colorful plants indoors and out. Purple foods promote mental focus, which is the first step in achieving mental wellness. o

GARDENnews

Quick Links to Washington Gardener Blog Posts • New Year’s Garden Resolutions • DIY: Succulent Wine Cork Planters • Top 10 Garden Books of 2017 • How Plant People Spend the Winter See more Washington Gardener blog posts at: WashingtonGardener.blogspot.com o

January–February Garden To-Do List

New Plant Spotlight

Senecio ‘Angel Wings’ Senecio candicans A new tender perennial bred by Floricultura Novazel S.A. from Lampa, Santiago, Chili, is great for pots, beds, and borders; as a stand-alone plant; or in combination planting. It has an architectural look and can also be used as an indoor plant. It has long, broad, velvety leaves of dazzling matte silver with toothy edges. Easy-to-grow and with gorgeous, striking color, ‘Angel Wings’ is an exciting design option for mixed containers or borders. It reaches approximately 8 to 16 inches high and is hardy in Zones 8 to 10. Plant ‘Angel Wings’ in an acidic, neutral, or alkaline soil. This fast-growing Senecio is drought- and salt-tolerant. Let plants dry between watering. Do not overwater. It is adaptable to full sun to part shade. This plant is on limited availability this spring to local garden centers and select catalogs. It will be much more widely available in spring 2019. o

• 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 house plants. • Fertilize only your winter-blooming houseplants, such as violets. • Give your house plants 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 by wrapping 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 terra-cotta 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 2018

WASHINGTON GARDENER

CHEFgardens

At Ricciuti’s, Farm to Table is Second Nature

By Ana Hurler “We’ve been doing kind of the farmto-table thing for our whole existence before it was really fashionable, but we never labeled ourselves as that kind of restaurant back in the ’90s,” said James Ricciuti, the owner and former chef of Ricciuti’s Italian restaurant. Ricciuti’s is located in the 200-yearold Olney House on one acre of land in the center of town. It is just outside the Montgomery County, MD, Agricultural Reserve, so there are many small farms located within a 10-mile radius of the restaurant. It is a prime location both for the townspeople and for attaining fresh produce. “That gives us access to a lot of very local farms,” Ricciuti said. They also grow their own: Outside the front of the restaurant, three 4-by-16 feet beds are planted with a variety of seasonal produce and herbs. “We decided since we had land available, it’d be nice just to build some gardens here and there, so we could show what farm to table is all about to our customers,” Ricciuti said. “They see us walking out there and bringing in baskets of tomatoes and squash and peppers and whatever’s in season.” Right now, the beds are filled with “the usual suspects: tomatoes, peppers, summer squash, lots of different herbs—basil, parsley, lavender, rosemary,” Ricciuti said. In the fall, the staff plant more root vegetables, such as carrots and beets. As it gets colder, they 12

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will switch to more greens: Swiss chard, lettuces, and kale. Produce from the garden is used in all facets of the restaurant. Ricciuti said they will incorporate tomatoes, squash, and peppers into many summer dinner entrees, while herbs such as lavender and basil are used behind the bar. The fresh ingredients are also used on their wood-fired oven pizzas. “We’ve been doing it so long, it’s definitely second nature to us,” Ricciuti said. “We’re always trying to use the freshest possible products, and when we have something this fresh and this local, we want that to be the star of any dish we’re doing.” Ricciuti mentioned their traditional Caprese salad with mozzarella, tomatoes, and basil as an example of how they use the produce “in its freshest and simplest form when possible” by not manipulating it. While absolutely everything that comes out of the garden is used, the small beds simply cannot supply all of the restaurant’s needs. “It’s more or less of a little showcase garden for the restaurant,” Ricciuti said. “The beds themselves don’t provide nearly enough produce for us, but they do provide some.” For additional produce, Ricciuti’s turns to nearby farms in Montgomery County, such as Blueberry Gardens, the Farm at Our House, and several smaller locations. Ricciuti said he also grows some produce at home on his three acres of land. Besides produce, the res-

taurant also receives fresh local eggs, lamb, and pork. “We have a lot available just in Montgomery County,” Ricciuti said. “It’s really wonderful.” From partnering with many local farms to embracing the Olney House’s longstanding history in the town, Ricciuti’s is a proponent of working for, and with, its community. “We are an independent restaurant,” Ricciuti said. “We’re very communityoriented. We’re staffed with a lot of local kids—high school and college kids. We do a lot of work within the community, and we try to promote the whole gardening thing to everybody—that’s why they come out here. We’re an advocate of the farm-to-table lifestyle.”

Chef Wilder Martinez and owner James Ricciuti

Newly appointed chef Wilder Martinez shared this recipe for using fresh tomatoes and peppers from the garden.

Ricciuti’s Gazpacho

Ingredients: 2 lbs heirloom tomatoes 2 lbs zebra tomatoes 1 lb sweet red peppers 1 whole jalapeño pepper 1 cup celery 1 lb red onion 3 lbs cucumbers 2 cloves garlic 2 oz extra virgin olive oil Directions: Wash all the ingredients. Peel the cucumbers, remove the seeds, and cut the cukes into small dices. Chop the onion and the jalapeño pepper. Put the rest of the ingredients into the food processor until they are very fine and juiced. Lastly, combine everything in the same container and add the olive oil, salt, and pepper. o Ana Hurler, a senior multi-platform journalism major at the University of Maryland, College Park. Ana was an intern with Washington Gardener during summer 2017.

FEB. 23, 2018 | 8:30am - 4:00pm Join Brookside Gardens and industry leaders as they share innovative strategies to design our landscapes in ways that prevent harm to existing ecosystems and regenerate the environment.

SEMINAR TOPICS Biophilic Urbanism â&#x20AC;&#x201C; A New Approach for Creating Sustainable Environments Dr. Timothy Beatley, Teresa Heinz Professor of Sustainable Communities, University of Virginia Creating Healthy Soils Through Regenerative Gardening Practices Jeff Lowenfells, award winning author and columnist Habitat Matters: Restoring Ecosystem Functionality & Biodiversity Heather Holm, horticulturist, biologist, writer and landscape designer Lessons In Landscape Design: Integrating Natural Systems into the Built Environment Kate Hayes, Associate, SCAPE Landscape Architecture DPC, a firm specializing in ecological landscapes

REGISTER ONLINE ActiveMONTGOMERY.org (Course #40522) or call 301-962-1451 EARLY BIRD FEE: $85 p/person until January 12, 2018 STANDARD FEE: $99 p/person begins January 13, 2018 Registration includes continental breakfast & boxed lunch.

BrooksideGreen.org | 301-962-1451 Silver Spring Civic Building 1 Veterans Place | Silver Spring, MD 20910

JANUARY 2018

WASHINGTON GARDENER

SPECIALfeature

By Melinda Myers

Do you always squeeze in an extra tomato plant, another row of beans, or hill of zucchini? It seems like a good idea at the time, until they all start to produce at once. Your family, friends, and co-workers start to hide as you try to pawn off yet another bag of zucchini or tomatoes. Here is a solution that satisfies your gardening obsession and feeds the hungry in your community. Designate some growing space to a Giving Garden and donate the harvest to your local food pantry. Feeding America reports that 41 million Americans struggle with hunger, and many are children and seniors. Gardener’s Supply Company is inviting gardeners to lend a hand and take the “Garden to Give” pledge to grow food to give to those in need. They surveyed food pantries to find out what types of fruits and veggies people most enjoy eating, and those that store well. You’ll find a simple Giving Garden 14

WASHINGTON GARDENER JANUARY 2018

plan for beets, carrots, cabbage, Swiss chard, kale, and winter squash on their website at gardeners.com. Best of all, these late-maturing vegetables will be ready for harvest at about the same time, so you can make your donation in just one trip. Don’t let a lack of space stop you from participating. Plant a row or container of one or more of these vegetables to share; join forces with a neighbor who may have the space, but only limited time to garden; or gather a few friends and rent a community garden plot. Together you can grow fresh produce and memories to share. Get the children in your life involved in growing and giving. Gardening increases focus, decreases stress, and elevates children’s moods. Giving helps children grow into caring well-rounded adults. Plus, if they grow the vegetables, they are more likely to eat them! Be sure to capture a few photographs of your donation to inspire others to follow your lead. Starting in August, you

can enter Gardener’s Supply’s online “Show What You Share,” photo contest for a chance to win a prize for you and your local food pantry. With the “Garden to Give,” program, everyone who participates is a winner. The real prize is making a difference while doing something you love. Once you’ve experienced the benefits of sharing produce with the hungry in your community, you are likely to find yourself making regular donations of garden-fresh fruits and veggies to those in need and feeling great about it, too. o Melinda Myers has written more than 20 gardening books, including Small Space Gardening. She hosts the Great Courses “How to Grow Anything: Food Gardening for Everyone” DVD set and the nationally syndicated “Melinda’s Garden Moment” TV and radio segments. Myers is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine and was commissioned by Gardener’s Supply for her expertise to write this article. Myers’s web site is www.melindamyers.com.

Produce about to be transported to a food pantry in West Philadelphia. Photo : Rob Cardillo.

Grow a Bountiful Garden and Share with the Hungry

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.

12TH 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, 2018. 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 2017 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, 2018.

QUESTIONS?

Please call 301.588.6894 or email DCGardenPhotos@aol.com. o JANUARY 2018

WASHINGTON GARDENER

PLANTprofile

Best Phlox for the Mid-Atlantic Phlox represents a horticultural love affair that dates back to the earliest period of exploration and discovery in America. The showy and often-fragrant flowers are now a staple of European and American gardens. Since discovering phlox centuries ago, horticulturists the world over have been selecting cultivars for improved horticultural traits. Now, with hundreds of phlox to choose from, today’s gardener can be overwhelmed with choices. While many of these selections claim to be diseaseresistant, their performance in the MidAtlantic has never been truly examined. From 2015–2017, Mt. Cuba Center tested the performance of several different species of native phlox along with their related cultivars. Phlox is a large genus that includes more than 60 different species native to a variety of habitats throughout North America. Of those, 17 species can be 16

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found in the eastern United States. Phlox were initially described by European naturalists in colonial Virginia. The first such record comes from British naturalist John Banister, who made detailed drawings of downy phlox (Phlox pilosa) and moss phlox (Phlox subulata) in 1680. The name Phlox, however, was not officially designated until 1737, by the father of modern taxonomy, Carolus Linnaeus. He coined the term Phlox, which is derived from the Greek word for “flame,” referring to the intense pink flower color of many species. Throughout the colonial era, new species of phlox were discovered and sent back to British gardeners. Philadelphia’s famed colonial botanist, John Bartram, is credited with sending the first specimens of Phlox paniculata to Europe in 1744. This species eventually became wildly popular in European and American horticulture. In fact, by 1917,

By George Coombs

a survey of American nurseries counted 584 named selections of Phlox paniculata. Breeding and selecting of new cultivars of Phlox paniculata is still ongoing today. Much of this work is happening in the Netherlands, where breeders are focused primarily on compact, diseaseresistant selections. However, the climate and disease pressures of Europe do not translate equally to the United States. In fact, Mt. Cuba Center found that many of the best selections for the Mid-Atlantic region are plants that were selected in America rather than Europe. This includes most of the top performers whose origin stories often tell a narrative of chance discovery and humble beginnings. While the beauty of phlox has been admired for centuries, today’s gardeners are also falling in love with its ability to attract butterflies. As natural areas

PLANTprofile are lost to development, it is increasingly important to make our personal landscapes more productive for wildlife. Providing nectar sources for butterflies is one crucial step gardeners can take, and there are few plants better to use than phlox. For this reason, Mt. Cuba Center evaluated butterfly preference as well as horticultural performance of Phlox paniculata. The top performers are listed on page 18.

mite populations to increase much faster than the beneficial mites. Active infestations cause yellowing of the foliage and often produce webbing on the undersides of the leaves. Most home gardeners will not see significant outbreaks like what was observed in Mt. Cuba Center’s trial simply because we had uncommonly high numbers of phlox in one garden. If damage does become significant, spider mites can be controlled without chemicals by spraying a hard, steady stream of water upwards at the undersides of the leaves. This knocks down enough mites to keep damage at tolerable levels.

Where to Plant

The most important consideration for healthy phlox is to plant it in the proper site. Most species of phlox, such as P. paniculata, prefer consistently moist, fertile soil. This closely mimics the conditions found along river courses and floodplain edges where these species naturally occur. In a garden setting, when the soil dries out, these species are more likely to develop disease. This is especially true for powdery mildew on P. paniculata. Other species, like P. amplifolia and P. pulchra, can tolerate slightly drier conditions, and while they still prefer moist soil, they don’t require as much consistency as P. paniculata. Phlox pilosa prefers relatively dry, welldrained soil and can rot if grown in soil that stays wet for long periods of time. In terms of sun exposure, all of these above mentioned species do best in full sun to light shade.

Powdery Mildew

Powdery mildew is a disease common to many garden plants and is the main concern gardeners have when growing garden phlox. It is ubiquitous in the environment and only requires proper weather conditions to develop on the leaves and stems of susceptible hosts. Powdery mildew usually first appears when days are warm and nights are cool. Cool nights provide the high humidity that enables spore germination (initiation of new infections) and warm days provide the low humidity for spore dispersal (spreading of existing infections). The disease itself is typically only cosmetic. Lower leaves are the first ones affected and frequently fall off by midsummer. If an infection becomes more severe, the defoliation will extend further up the plant. In extreme cases,

Design

Phlox paniculata ‘Thai Pink Jade’ performed moderately well in the Mt. Cuba Center trial thanks to its excellent floral display and vigorous habit.

plants can lose so many leaves that they are unable to survive the winter. Instances like this were observed in Mt. Cuba Center’s trial; however, this level of severity is unlikely to occur in most home gardens, where there are not hundreds of phlox growing in close proximity. Site selection, as mentioned above, is critical in preventing disease development. However, the easiest way to avoid powdery mildew on Phlox paniculata is to select disease resistant cultivars like ‘Jeana’, ‘Delta Snow’, and ‘David’. The powdery mildew resistance ratings are based solely on observations from our trial. Because of the added disease pressure caused by growing so many phlox in one location, the disease ratings may be more severe than what most gardeners will likely experience.

Spider Mites

Spider mites are small arachnids that feed on plant juices inside the leaves. Phlox paniculata can be prone to spider mite outbreaks, especially when the weather is hot and dry. Natural populations of beneficial mites typically help to control spider mites. However, periods of hot, dry weather can cause spider

When deciding where to plant phlox in your garden, it’s important to think about how tall the plants will be when they bloom and, more importantly, how tall the neighboring plants will be. This is especially valuable since neighboring plants can be used to obscure the loss of any lower leaves due to powdery mildew or drought stress. There are cultivars available in almost any height, so phlox can easily be incorporated into any garden. Fragrance is also an important consideration when designing with phlox. Strongly fragrant selections, such as ‘Robert Poore’, have a scent that is noticeable from several feet away. This can greatly add to the enjoyment you receive while spending time on a patio or sitting area near your planting of phlox.

Maintenance

Phlox is relatively easy to maintain throughout the year, especially when planted in a cool and moist, yet sunny, location. In periods of drought, additional water may be necessary to keep plants healthy and disease-free. Aside from that, phlox can be cut back to the ground in the fall or late winter each year. In the proper location, phlox is reliably hardy throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. o George Coombs is Mt. Cuba Center’s research horticulturist. Mt. Cuba Center is a botanical garden in Hockessin, DE. Mt. Cuba Center’s gardens are open to visitors. Visit www.mtcubacenter.org for details. JANUARY 2018

WASHINGTON GARDENER

PLANTprofile

Top Phlox Garden phlox (Phlox paniculata) is the most popular species of phlox used in today’s landscapes. In fact, of the 94 different types of sun-loving phlox in our trial, 66 are selections and hybrids of P. paniculata. Throughout the trial, we evaluated each selection for floral display, foliage quality, habit, and powdery mildew resistance. Garden phlox did prove challenging to grow in our trial garden, due to powdery mildew infections that were exacerbated by having so many plants in one location. However, several cultivars excelled despite this challenge. The following are the 5 best selections of P. paniculata for the Mid-Atlantic garden.

2. ‘Glamour Girl’

Phlox paniculata ‘Glamour Girl’ is a medium-height cultivar (3' tall) with stunning coral-pink flowers in midsummer. The large blooms begin in early July and last for nearly six weeks. In addition to its gorgeous flowers, ‘Glamour Girl’ also stands out for its vigorous and lush habit. Some powdery mildew was observed throughout the trial; however, it was never severe and did not cause much actual damage to the leaves. In a garden without hundreds of other phlox plants, ‘Glamour Girl’ would probably be exceptionally clean.

1. ‘Jeana’

Phlox paniculata ‘Jeana’ is, without a doubt, the best-performing phlox from the trial. This cultivar was discovered growing along the Harpeth River near Nashville, TN, and named after its discoverer, Jeana Prewitt. Although there were many plants of Phlox paniculata in the area, ‘Jeana’ in particular stood out for its exceptionally mildew-free foliage. This trait carries through to the garden and is one of the main reasons ‘Jeana’ performed so well in the trial. This 5' tall beauty also produces an impressive floral display from mid-July through early September. Interestingly, the individual flowers, or pips, are much smaller than any other garden phlox. However, that does not deter the butterflies that feed on its nectar. In fact, we found ‘Jeana’ attracted more butterflies than any other garden phlox in the entire trial. With a top rank in both horticultural and ecological evaluations, Phlox paniculata ‘Jeana’ is hard to beat.

WASHINGTON GARDENER JANUARY 2018

‘Babyface’ is thought to be a hybrid of Phlox paniculata and Phlox divaricata, which is typically denoted as P. × arendsii. Although this cultivar may have been derived from such a hybrid, it looks and behaves like Phlox paniculata. ‘Babyface’ does develop some powdery mildew, and frequently drops its lower leaves as a result. However, all of that can easily be forgiven thanks to its firstclass floral display. The broadly pyramidal inflorescences are made up of small pink flowers with a darker pink center. The buds are also extremely attractive, thanks to the dark calyx found at the base of each bud. This provides as much as two additional weeks of interest before the flowers open. ‘Babyface’ also has a relatively late floral display that peaks in early August, a few weeks later than most cultivars.

3. ‘Lavelle’

Phlox paniculata ‘Lavelle’ originated in the garden of Jeana Prewitt and is thought to be a seedling of the cultivar ‘Jeana’. Although ‘Lavelle’ is not as disease-free as ‘Jeana’, it still boasts above-average resistance to powdery mildew. ‘Lavelle’ has white flowers with pale-pink floral tubes that are held on 4' tall stems. The floral display is one of the longest in the trial, lasting from early July through late August. ‘Lavelle’ did suffer from being placed next to the sidewalk, which reflected a lot of heat and greatly contributed to spider mite infestations. Despite these challenges, ‘Lavelle’ proved vigorous and resilient and would probably perform even better in a less stressful environment.

See the complete listing of evaluated Phlox online at https://mtcubacenter.org/trials/phlox-for-sun/. Visit mtcubacenter.org/research/trial-garden for other native plant trials. All phlox photos on this page are courtesy of Mt. Cuba. Phlox photos on the front cover and on pages 16–17 by Kathy Jentz. 18

4. ‘Babyface’

5. ‘Delta Snow’

Phlox paniculata ‘Delta Snow’ hails from Mississippi, where it originated as an old pass-along plant, a term used for plants that were loved so much that neighbors shared them freely. Part of the long-standing appeal of this cultivar is its exceptional resistance to powdery mildew. In fact, ‘Delta Snow’ has been recognized as one of the most disease resistant cultivars in several trial programs throughout the United States. Although its claim to fame is disease resistance, ‘Delta Snow’ also produces an incredible number of large inflorescences with white flowers accentuated by a bright-lavender center. o

12th Annual Washington Gardener Philadelphia Flower Show Tour Organized by Washington Gardener Magazine Wednesday, March 7, 2018, 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 2018, “Wonders of Water,” will celebrate the beauty and life-sustaining interplay of horticulture and water. America’s leading floral and garden designers will create tropical jungles, temperate forests, native woodlands, and arid landscapes, showcasing the astounding plants that thrive in each environment, from exquisite orchids and flowering vines to luminescent desert blooms. A new attraction, “America’s Backyard,” will offer smart ideas for outdoor living and conservation tips for the home garden. 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. Listing 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.



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, 2018

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 3/7 Silver Spring

Fee: $100.00 each $95.00 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 2018

WASHINGTON GARDENER

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

13th Annual Washington Gardener

Seed Exchanges

on Saturday, January 27, 2018, 12:30–4:00PM

National Seed Swap Day! at Brookside Gardens in Wheaton, MD Registration is now open at

WGSeedExchange-BrooksideG.brownpapertickets.com

and on Saturday, February 10, 2018, 12:30–4:00PM at Green Spring Gardens in Alexandria, VA Registration is now open at WGSeedExchange-GreenSpringG.brownpapertickets.com

Feeling Crafty? We have a fun Make-it Take-It Seed Crafting Table

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

WASHINGTON GARDENER JANUARY 2018

Overview

Washington Gardener magazine, the publication for DC-area gardening enthusiasts, is hosting the 13th 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 27, 2018, in MD and on Saturday, February 10, 2018, 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 WGSeedExchangeBrooksideG.brownpapertickets.com for the 1/27/18 event and WGSeedExchangeGreenSpringG.brownpapertickets.com for the 2/10/18 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 13th 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 left over 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 22.

13th Annual Washington Gardener Seed Exchange Advance Registration Form

Please ﬁll out this form and mail with your check/money order by January 24, 2018, to: Washington Gardener Magazine, 826 Philadelphia Ave., Silver Spring MD 20910

Name:____________________________________________________________________________________ Street Address:____________________________________________________________________________ Email:____________________________________________________________________________________ Seed Exchange Date and Location:  Jan. 27 at Brookside Gardens  Feb. 10 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 Save Our Monarchs Foundation for planting Milkweed seeds. JANUARY 2018

WASHINGTON GARDENER

GOINGnative

Adam & Eve Go Wild or The First Native American Krazy Glue By Barry Glick

Now that I’ve grabbed your attention with that seemingly bizarre story title, you’re probably wondering what the heck I am talking about. Well, I’m referencing two of the common names of one of the many, many species of native orchids that grow wild in over half of the United States. Typically, when you hear the word “orchid,” you would think of a tropical epiphyte as in a Cattleya hybrid, an orchid mostly found in prom corsages, etc., or a Phalaenopsis hybrid that you may buy in full bloom at your grocery store. An epiphytic plant is a plant that grows on another plant, such as the numerous ferns, bromeliads, air plants, and orchids growing on tree trunks in tropical rainforests, but is not parasitic to the host plant. Our native orchids are not huge and showy like their tropical cousins, but if you look closely at the floral structure, they’re identical members of the same family: Orchidaceae. They’re also terrestrial, not epiphytic. “Adam and Eve” and “Putty Root” are two of the common names for Aplectrum hyemale. If you’ve read any of my previous columns, you know how I feel about common names. Not that I’m a snob trying to impress folks with my pseudo-intellectual grasp of the “dead” language of Latin; that’s beside the point. It’s just that the scientific names of plants usually ensure that two people involved in a conversation about a particular plant can be reasonably sure that they’re talking about the same plant. 22

WASHINGTON GARDENER JANUARY 2018

Back to the orchid, which is really what this story is about; the scientific name tells you something about the plant. The generic name Aplectrum comes from the Latin, A (without) and plectron (spur), meaning that the flowers have no spurs. A spur is an appendage, usually found on the back of the flower as in our native Columbine. The specific epithet or second word, hyemale, means winter and refers to the fact that this orchid has a solitary leaf that persists all winter. This leaf can be up to 10" long and 3" wide, with beautiful parallel silver veining. In the spring, the leaf vanishes and a few weeks later, from bare ground, a very attractive, 12–18" tall, pencil-thick stem with greenish-yellow-purplish orchid flowers appears. In this instance, the common names are quite accurate, since they refer to two interesting characteristics of this unusual plant. Native Americans used the glutinous matter derived from crushing the bulb of the plant to mend broken pottery and fasten objects together. Hence the name “Putty Root” (and the Krazy Glue reference.) “Adam & Eve” is an old biblical reference to the growth habit of the bulbs as the leaf and flower arise from the current season’s growth (Eve), while last year’s bulb (Adam), from which forth sprang Eve, is still present. One way of propagating the plant is to cut “Adam” away from “Eve” with a sharp knife and replant “him.” Aplectrum hyemale usually sets copious amounts of dust-like seeds in attractive-looking, pendulous, light-brown pods. This is one of the easier orchids to grow from seed. You can pour boiling water over a pot of soil to sterilize it, let it cool, sprinkle the seeds over the soil, and cover with a dusting of fine Granite Grit to discourage the growth of lichens, mosses and algae and to prevent slugs from eating your seedlings, set it outside and let nature take its course. The seeds will usually germinate the following spring and in a few years, you will have flowering-size plants. I can’t really recommend companion plants for Aplectrum hyemale because for my tastes, I’ve found that they look best on their own in a natural colony. I’m sure that if space is a problem in your garden, you can use your imagination and find a pleasing neighbor for your plantings of this unusual plant. Unlike some terrestrial orchids, there seems to be no apparent mycorrhizal fungal requirement for these plants to grow happy and healthy in a normal garden environment. Aplectrum hyemale is a woodland plant that, in the wild, can be found in the shade of rich, moist woods. If these conditions exist in your garden, they’ll be very happy there and before long, you will have a nice little colony of these eye-catching plants that’s bound to inspire a conversation among visitors to your garden. You can then impress them with your command of Latin and some interesting plant trivia. 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

MARCH/APRIL 2008 • Patio, Balcony, Rooftop Container Gardens • Our Favorite Garden Tools • Coral Bells (Heucheras) MAY/JUNE 2008 — ALMOST SOLD OUT! • 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

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

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 • 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 on the 15th of every month. Contact kathyjentz@gmail.com or call 301.588-6894 for ad rates (starting from $200). The ad deadline is the 10th of each month. Please submit your ad directly to: kathyjentz@gmail.com.

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Got a gardening question you need answered? Send your questions to KathyJentz@gmail.com and use the subject line “Q&A.” Please also include your first name, last initial, and what city and state you are writing from. Then look for your answered questions in upcoming issues.

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Next deadline: February 10

JANUARY 2018

WASHINGTON GARDENER

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

WASHINGTON GARDENER JANUARY 2018