Washington Gardener Magazine July 2022

JULY 2022 VOL. 17 NO. 5

WWW.WASHINGTONGARDENER.COM

WASHINGTON

gardener

the magazine for gardening enthusiasts in the Mid-Atlantic region

Welcoming Mourning Doves

Growing Tomatillos Will My Pollinator Garden Attract Ticks?

How Leaf Mold Compost Benefits Urban Gardens Great Gardening Books Reviewed

Rooting DC Recap A Visit to the Well at Oxon Run Meet the Roaming Stone Tool Sharpening Business DC-MD-VA Gardening Events Calendar

Zinnia Pizzazz

A Rewarding Annual Flower

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

www.sunfarm.com

Specializing in Garden

Renewals & Renovations Yard By Yard Makeovers, LLC 7304 Carroll Avenue, #229 Takoma Park, MD 20912 301-270-4642 yardmakeovers@yahoo.com www.yardmakeovers.com

We can reshape and beautify neglected yards.

o oo o oo

RESOURCESsourc

Need a Garden Club Speaker?

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

Summer Creek Horticultural Soil Mixes HiDra2-Seed Starter MultiMix2–Raised Bed Mix Organic - Local – Sustainable – Pro Grade Most sustainable horticultural mixes available.

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Green Spring Gardens

Ask Maryland’s Garden Experts extension.umd.edu/hgic

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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

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Mourning Doves happily share our yards and gardens.

This is one avian species that has benefited from human changes to the landscape.

o

Got a Garden Question?

Got a gardening question you need answered?

Send your questions to KathyJentz@gmail.com and use the subject line “Q&A.” Then look for your answered questions in upcoming issues.

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According to the book, A History of Zinnias: Flower for the Ages, Zinnias are one of the top 10 garden annuals grown in the United States today. They were also one of the first plants to flower in space when, in January 2016, U.S. astronaut Scott Kelly announced that a Zinnia had bloomed on the International Space Station.

Tomatillos are high in vitamins A, C, and K. They contain several antioxidants with cancerpreventing properties. They are also low in sodium and rich in potassium.

BIRDwatch 22 Mourning Doves BOOKreviews 18-20 Inside Your Japanese Garden, Flower Gardener’s Handbook, Sustainable Gardening DAYtrip 16-17 The Well at Oxon Run EDIBLEharvest 14-15 Tomatillos EVENTreport 8-9 Rooting DC 2022 Recap INSECTindex 21 Ticks and Pollinator Gardens NEIGHBORnetwork 6-7 Eduardo Pineda, co-owner of the Roaming Stone NEWPLANTspotlight 11 Hydrangea ‘Pop Star’ PLANTprofile 12 Zinnia TIPStricks 10 How Leaf Mold Compost Benefits Tomato Plants Growing in Urban Soils

DEPARTMENTS

ADVERTISINGindex BLOGlinks EDITORletter GARDENDCpodcasts LOCALevents MONTHLYtasklist NEXTissue READERreactions RESOURCESsources

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ON THE COVER

A Swallowtail butterfly visits a Zinnia flower in Damascus, MD.

In our August issue: Perennial Favorites Garlic Fest Local Garden Tours and much more . . .

Be sure you are subscribed!

Click on the “subscribe” link at washingtongardener.com JULY 2022

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EDITORletter

Credits Kathy Jentz Editor/Publisher Washington Gardener 826 Philadelphia Ave. Silver Spring, MD 20910 Phone: 301-588-6894 kathyjentz@gmail.com www.washingtongardener.com Ruth E. Thaler-Carter Proofreader Jamie Oberg Victoria Vandergriff Interns Subscription: $20.00

Your editor with Joe-Pye Weed at the Mt. Cuba Center by Carrie Engel.

Is This Short Enough?

“Too long.” That is what some of the online reviewers are saying about my recent book about urban gardening with Teri Speight. They don’t mean the overall book length, they mean the individual topic entries, which are all between 400–500 words each. I had thought the entries were super-short, but maybe I’m a fastreader? So I looked it up and found that “the average reader will read 450 words in 1.5 minutes.” That’s right: 90 seconds per topic is too long for many readers these days!

This was a revelation to me. Our publisher had stressed the importance of short entries and had set the 500-word limit. I thought that was a bit arbitrary, but now I see what they (and probably most other book publishers) are dealing with. People want to read books, but they don’t actually want to “read” them. Skimmable text with lots of lists, subheads, photos, and bullet points are how we read online, so now that is how we want to digest our books.

As most professional writers know, it is much easier to write lengthy articles than to distill a topic into a shorter one. Boiling a topic down to just the few relevant points in a clear, concise way can be a challenge. One of my first jobs out of college was excerpting longer newspaper stories for a business news service and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I like writing limits and enjoy the challenge, but there are still times when a subject is far too complex for a short article.

I thought this photo of me from a recent trip to the Mt. Cuba Center outside of Wilmington, DE, with the Ladies in the Landscape group was the perfect illustration for this point, because the foreshortening effect makes my torso look oddly longer than my legs, when I’m actually fairly average in both height and leg length.

So, dear readers, what is the perfect article length? It depends. We’ll always strive to keep our writing tight while giving the subject the full attention it deserves.

Sincerely,

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

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• Washington Gardener Blog: www.washingtongardener.blogspot.com • Washington Gardener Archives: http://issuu.com/washingtongardener • Washington Gardener Discussion Group: https://groups.google.com/g/ washingtongardener/ • Washington Gardener Twitter Feed: www.twitter.com/WDCGardener • Washington Gardener Instagram: www.instagram.com/wdcgardener • Washington Gardener Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/ WashingtonGardenerMagazine/ • Washington Gardener YouTube: www.youtube.com/ washingtongardenermagazine • Washington Gardener Amazon Store: www.amazon.com/shop/wdcgardener • Washington Gardener BookShop: bookshop.org/shop/WDCgardener • Washington Gardener Podcast: https://anchor.fm/gardendc/ • Washington Gardener is a woman-owned business. We are proud to be members of: · GardenComm (GWA: The Association for Garden Communicators) · Green America Business Network · National Garden Bureau · One Montgomery Green · Ladies in the Landscape · Perennial Plant Association

Volume 17, Number 5 ISSN 1555-8959 © 2022 Washington Gardener All rights reserved. Published monthly.

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

All uncredited photos in this issue are © Kathy Jentz.

READERcontt

Reader Contest

For our July 2022 Washington Gardener Reader Contest, we are giving away a Long Straight Snip from Corona Tools. The prize value is $14.

The Long Straight Snip has a long, straight, pointed blade for a wide range of applications. Corrosion-resistant stainless steel blades and pivot to prevent rusting, are easier to clean, and reduce germ build-up. It also has an unobtrusive leather strap lock.

An authentic American brand, Corona Tools were born in the orange groves of California in the 1920s. Since then, generations of agriculturists, gardeners, landscapers, arborists, and construction professionals have turned to Corona to find high-quality tools that work as hard as they do. They know that Corona’s iconic red handles are an immediate symbol of quality and long-lasting durability. Learn more about Corona Tools at http://coronatoolsusa.com/.

To enter to win a pair of Corona snips, send an email by 5:00pm on July 30 to WashingtonGardenerMagazine@gmail.com with “Corona Snips” in the Subject line and in the body of the email. Tell us what your favorite article was in this issue and why. Please include your full name and mailing address. Winners will be announced and notified on/about August 1. o

Your Ad Here

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

READERreactions

Reader Feedback My attention was originally caught by the photo of Astilbe on the cover [of the June 2022 issue], since I have recently started planting some Astilbe in shady spots in my garden, but that article wasn’t very long, so I didn’t learn anything new about the plant. (Although I was vastly amused at the idea of spraypainting the flowers! Love it!)

My favorite article was the “Solar Power Recharges the Smithsonian Gardens” one—what a wonderful idea and article! Our world needs to make more use of solar power—a wellestablished alternative power source, but so few people know anything about it. This kind of installation, that lets people personally use that power source, will do a lot toward normalizing the widespread use of solar power. I was especially pleased that information on the recyclability of the panels was included in the article. Green from start to finish! ~ Maureen Wynn, Berwyn Heights, MD The article of top interest for me in the June 2022 issue is the profile of Astilbe. We have a large shady spot in our garden and I’m looking for options for that space! Loved the idea of using floral paint to give the dried flowers color. ~ Jacquie Pfeffer Merrill, Takoma Park, MD My favorite article [of the June 2022 issue] is “Growing Peanuts in a Container.” I picked up some seed peanuts at this year’s Washington Gardener Seed Exchange, but I haven’t planted them yet. I better get started as I need 110 days! Thanks for the timely article. ~ Jennifer Whalen, Silver Spring, MD

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

Most of these are children. That’s where PAR steps in.

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

That is all there is to it. Easy. Effective. Adaptable and Helpful.

I found the article on Malabar Spinach interesting [in the May 2022 issue].

I have been growing it for years and agree it is very versatile. I use it in salads and cooking. I have not had any insect problems, but have had to protect the lower part from rabbits. I was surprised that the article did not mention its sliminess (like okra). I usually save some seeds and it often selfseeds. I also add the flowers to salads. ~ Dorothy Cichra, Silver Spring, MD “What are Grubs and How to Control Them?” was my favorite article [in the May 2022 issue]. They are ruining my lawn. Very informative. ~ Edward Yemola, Drums, PA o JULY 2022

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NEIGHBORnwork

Eduardo Pineda Co-Owner of the Roaming Stone Tool Sharpening Service

By Tori Vandergriff Eduardo Pineda is one of three owners of the Roaming Stone, a mobile tool sharpening business. He was born in Arlington, VA, to immigrant parents from El Salvador. He was raised in Falls Church, VA, but returned to Arlington in 1996. Pineda relocated to Middletown, MD, in 2021 and currently resides there.

Pineda went to Northern Virginia Community College after high school before transferring to George Mason University, where he received his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering.

He currently works at a transportation engineering firm in Fairfax, VA, in addition to helping to run the Roaming Stone.

What kind of work does the Roaming Stone do?

The Roaming Stone is a mobile tool sharpening service. The customer books an appointment online or over the phone and one of our sharpeners will go out to their location and sharpen their tools right outside their home or This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

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business. We sharpen knives, garden tools, axes, mower blades, and pizza and paper cutters. Just about anything with a blade we will sharpen.

How did you become involved in the Roaming Stone?

Matt, Sam, and I own property together and Matt one day told us about a business he had started in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and it was the Roaming Stone. Sam and I thought it was a genius idea. Matt let us buy into the company in 2020 and we haven’t looked back since. Matt was a chef, and he was having a hard time finding places that could sharpen his knives to his liking and that is what sparked the idea for the Roaming Stone.

What does an average day for you look like?

Monday through Friday, I work from 9 to 5. In the evenings is where I focus on marketing: I respond to customers’ questions or requests. I coordinate upcoming events and make sure that we have coverage for them. On

the weekends, I go out and visit the farmers markets that we attend and make sure that everything is running smoothly. On occasion, I must cover for sharpeners if they can’t attend their markets. If we do have an event, I will cover the front desk, so the sharpeners can focus on sharpening.

What does your role as partner entail?

My role is keeping our sharpeners busy.

That involves marketing in their areas so they have appointments. Reaching out to local HOAs and neighborhoods to get events set up—this helps us get the word out about the Roaming Stone. But if I can sum up what my goal as a partner is, it’s to keep our sharpeners busy and our customers happy.

What would you be doing if you weren’t working with the Roaming Stone?

Prior to the Roaming Stone, my dream was to buy and flip homes, so I imagine I would be doing something in that world.

NEIGHBORnwork Do you work at farmers markets often? How do they work?

Yes, we do. Currently, we attend around nine farmers markets in Northern Virginia; Kensington, MD; and Chelsea, MI. We usually attend them either every Saturday or Sunday—rain or shine. For every market, we have a 10' x 10' canopy that we set up under.

Customers will bring their knives and garden tools and we have them fill out our login sheet. They can then go home or continue shopping and when we are done sharpening their items, we give them a call so they can come pick up their items. All the items you bring to the market will be sharpened that day.

What do you like to do in your free time when you’re not working?

I am spending time with my pregnant wife and prepping for the new baby.

I enjoy running with my Australian Shepherd and working out. I visit my mother and other family members regularly. I like watching cooking shows.

Any fun stories or anecdotes from your time at the Roaming Stone?

Something cool that we recently

did was we sharpened a decorative Samurai sword. It wasn’t meant to be sharp—it was just a display piece, but the customer wanted it sharpened and we were able to get it very sharp.

Is there anything else you’d like to add that you think would interest our readers?

I would ask that your readers reach out to the Roaming Stone if they would like to set up an event or help us get the word out that we sharpen garden tools.

We keep hearing from very satisfied customers because their gardening has become easier with sharp garden tools.

We believe that sharp garden tools will make gardening experience that much more satisfying. You can contact us by email at celeste@roamingstone.net or call 877-516-0352. o Victoria Vandergriff is originally from Baltimore, MD, and is finishing up her senior year at the University of Maryland as a journalism major with a history minor.

She currently work as a barista at Zeke’s Coffee of DC at several farmers markets in the DMV. Tori is an intern this summer session with Washington Gardener.

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

By Kathy Jentz and Teresa Speight Published by Cool Springs Press/Quarto Homes Order it today at: https://amzn.to/3yiLPKU

GardenDC Podcast

The GardenDC podcast is all about gardening in the greater Washington, DC, and Mid-Atlantic area. The program is hosted by Kathy Jentz, editor of Washington Gardener Magazine, and features guest experts in local and national horticulture. The latest episodes include interviews with experts on lavender, mulching, and frugal gardening.

You can listen online at https:// washingtongardener.blogspot.com/ or on Spotify, Apple, etc. o JULY 2022

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EVENTreport

By Jamie Oberg and Tori Vandergriff On Saturday, June 25, Rooting DC’s 15th annual event brought together urban farmers and gardeners for free workshops, networking events, and discussions about mid-Atlantic gardening and food production. The event was held virtually this year through the Whova app.

The Whova app allowed attendees to remotely join each session based on a schedule released before the event.

Speakers were given designated time slots so people could tune in to whichever sessions they were most interested in. Some sessions were recorded, so attendees could listen to the talks after the event had ended. This aspect made the event more inclusive of attendees’ busy schedules and enabled people to go back and listen to a session over again.

Rooting DC is made possible by DC Greens, City Blossoms, and a rotating selection of nonprofit partners and government exhibitors. According to DC Greens, it garners about 1,200 attendees.

Rooting DC was originally held in 2008, by a group of volunteer organizers hoping to share resources with gardeners in the DC area while building 8

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relationships. It has since grown and the event has hosted more than 700 free workshops over the years. Expecting 25 attendees at its first event, the 125 who lined up foreshadowed the growth that was to come. In 2009, 600 attendees arrived, with the number growing steadily each year. By 2017, every ward of Washington, DC, alongside its Virginia and Maryland neighbors, was represented.

This year’s event included six workshops and four round tables “meant to facilitate connection and conversation.”

Josh Singer, DC Parks and Rec community garden specialist, gave a virtual tour of Lederer Gardens during his session at Rooting DC 2022. Lederer Gardens is located in northeast DC and was started in the 1970s. It has seen difficulties in the past decade due to flooding, according to Singer, but has seen a recent upturn.

Lederer Garden was restored and transformed into a communal farm where people can get hands-on gardening experience and the garden staff even does a weekly vegetable giveaway to members of the community. Lederer Gardens strives to alleviate food insecurity specifically in DC’s senior popula-

tion, which is why their biggest veggie giveaways are during the weekdays.

Singer brought the tour to one of the gardens’ greenhouses, where he conducted a workshop about propagating berries. He highlighted fresh raspberries and strawberries as easily propagated plants. He also gave tips for pruning sweet basil, tilling for better drainage in a garden, harvesting collard plants, and trellising tomatoes.

Singer’s tour was highly informative and captivating because he was physically in the garden demonstrating all of his tips and tricks. This session was recorded, allowing attendees to fast-forward, rewind, and rewatch Singer’s tour based on their needs. Singer’s tour was an effective session used to introduce people to Lederer Gardens and provide advice for at-home gardening.

Kathy Jentz, editor and publisher of the Washington Gardener Magazine, gave a talk entitled “A Local Obsession: Growing Tomatoes.” Her talk was lecture-esque because she provided informative slides for each talking point.

She provided the basic ground rules for growing tomatoes, including soil testing, raised beds, and providing the plant with full sun. She also gave planting tips

EVENTreport emphasizing the importance of burying the plant deep up the stem and/or on its side in a trench while placing supports at the same time as the seedling plants.

Jentz discussed pruning, fertilizers, watering, and harvesting tips, and even trouble-shooting tomato plants that might not look the way you want.

She displayed all of her knowledge and time-tested wisdom about growing tomatoes in this enlightening session.

Jentz even provided her top 12 favorite tomato varieties and all of their best uses, from snacking to canning.

Carly Mercer is the director of garden programming at Love & Carrots, a company that creates and maintains vegetable gardens in Maryland and Virginia. They have designed and installed more than 1,000 gardens and maintain about 150 on a biweekly basis. For Rooting DC, Mercer addressed common spacial setbacks gardeners have and how to work around them, especially in this area.

“Gardening in Challenging Spaces” focused primarily on how to work with smaller and/or shadier areas. Mercer showed examples of vegetable gardens growing in a variety of spaces, from porches to a barely 2-feet wide box.

In this area, soil amendments and compost are a must due to the prominence of heavy clay soil. Mercer said the easiest way to do amendments is through raised beds, which give plants more ability to create root systems.

Raised beds also assist with drainage and overall have lower maintenance requirements than planting in the ground.

Mercer also recommends pots or containers for space efficiency. The important thing to remember with pots is the bigger the better. Larger pots circumvent roots becoming bound and hold moisture better than smaller planters. Moisture is important, given this area can be very dry in the summer for weeks at a time, making irrigation a great investment. Still, hand-watering is possible as long as it is done consistently.

When it came to actual plants, Mercer recommended a variety of crops to address different space challenges.

Continual harvest plants, like tomatoes

and herbs, are much better for small spaces than low-yield plants. Vertical gardening also uses space optimally, making crops like pole beans, climbing cucumbers, and malabar spinach great choices. Mercer recommended increasing production in these small spaces through consistent thinning and undersowing.

For shady spaces, Mercer recommended different crops based on how shady your space actually is, making a site evaluation necessary. With five to six hours of sun, smaller fruiting plants work well. For four to five hours, crops with edible leaves are ideal. In the three to four-hour range, plants will grow slower and smaller, but greens and herbs are still possible with some dedication.

Mercer rounded out her discussion with an overview of the most common pests gardeners struggle with. She suggested fixes for slugs, cabbage worms, and aphids to help with maintenance of the small or shady garden along with creating it.

With ideas for the layout of gardens in challenging spaces, lists of workable crops for each condition, and tips for how to get the most out of your harvest, Mercer’s presentation greatly increased the accessibility of growing edible plants with Mid-Atlantic gardeners in mind. Whether you have a large backyard that the sun doesn’t hit or just a small balcony, Mercer provided the information needed to grow your own food.

Felice Hodge Denison spoke about growing plants for personal care in a panel called “Growing Good Looks.”

Denison is the CEO of the plant-based hair and skin care company Primo Noir Botanicals. She is a native Washingtonian with decades of gardening experience who became a Maryland Master Gardener this year. “‘Growing Good Looks,’ for me, is about identifying plants and the opportunities they offer for us to maximize our experience as humans,” Denison said.

Denison made sure to keep things accessible, highlighting different lowcost ways of obtaining seeds, such as collecting them from food you eat and participating in seed exchanges. She made sure beginner gardeners were not

left behind, discussing fundamentals like soil quality, water sources, and equipment and apparel she recommends. She even went over gardening options for those with lower physical activity abilities.

Denison stressed the importance of creating a harvest plan ahead of time due to the wide range of temperatures experienced in the Washington metropolitan area. She suggested researching the requirements and typical harvest times, whether with the internet or from the back of seed packets, for each plant you want to grow.

The planning didn’t stop at harvesting times. Denison explained the necessity of having uses for plants in mind before growing them through an anecdote about having “more mint than [she] knew what to do with.” Predetermined uses for each plant help decide how much of each is needed before any are planted, reducing wasted plants and growing space.

“You want to plan for success,” she said.Some of the potential uses that Denison went over for plants included health functions such as purifying air and water, increasing energy levels and stamina, detoxifying the bloodstream, increasing or decreasing metabolism, and improving cell repair. There are also ample beauty functions such as aiding in hair growth, eliminating scars, and improving cellulite and skin elasticity.

For concrete examples, Denison listed her top 10 plants for hair, body, and health benefits. She called spearmint the “ultimate toner,” recommended lemon peels for cuticles, and praised the many health benefits of melons.

With many gardeners and gardening resources focused on growing either edible or ornamental plants, Denison’s presentation was a unique look into what else can be done with plants. o Jamie Amadea Oberg is a rising senior at the University of Maryland (UMD) and an intern this summer session with Washington Gardener.

Victoria Vandergriff is finishing up her senior year at the University of Maryland as a journalism major with a history minor.

She is an intern this summer session with Washington Gardener

JULY 2022

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TIPStricks

Leaf Mold Compost Benefits Tomato Plants in Degraded Urban Soils Many urban gardeners know that adding ingredients like compost and mulch to their soil has great benefits, but it can be difficult to know what to add and why. Researchers at Purdue University gathered scientific evidence about one specific soil addition—leaf mold compost—and how it benefits tomato plants.

Degraded soils often found in places like towns and cities can lead to vegetables growing poorly and not producing as much food. In addition, these communities produce many kinds of waste that can be composted. In this study, the researchers used “leaf mold” compost from deciduous tree leaves, a common waste stream found in urban areas.

“Leaf mold compost differs from traditional compost in that it is not stirred as much,” says Lori Hoagland, a professor of soil microbial ecology at Purdue University. “This slows down the time it takes to create compost, but is claimed by growers to generate a higher-quality, or more ‘disease suppressive,’ compost. In particular, leaf mold compost is expected to promote greater colonization by beneficial fungi, which we evaluated in this trial.”

The study was published in Urban Agriculture & Regional Food Systems Journal, a publication of the American Society of Agronomy, and Crop Science Society of America.

The researchers tested whether leaf mold can help tomato plants produce more tomatoes. They also evaluated whether fungal inoculates, often sold to increase tomato yields, get a boost from leaf mold.

Their results showed that the leaf mold compost they applied improved many important soil properties that influence the health and productivity of plants. The plants that received leaf mold compost produced many more tomatoes and has less disease. The compost also increased the survival of the beneficial microbial inoculant that can help plants withstand disease pressure. Although they grew tomatoes in this study, the researchers say they 10

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This mixture is three-year-old leaf mold compost. Leaf mold compost has been found to generate a higher quality, or more “disease suppressive,” compost. Photo by Kyle Richardville, courtesy of Agronomy, Crop, and Soil Science Societies, sciencesocieties.org.

suspect many other crops could benefit from leaf mold compost.

“Our recommendation is that compost generated from urban waste streams can improve urban soils and increase plant productivity,” Hoagland says.

“However, it is important to remember that while compost improves soil and can provide supplemental nutrients for crops, it should not be substituted as a fertilizer. This is because overapplication of compost as well as fertilizers can lead to problems such as the build-up of too much phosphorus.”

Hoagland adds that it is important for gardeners to get their soil tested as well. Most standard tests for total organic matter and major nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus are inexpensive, often $10–$20 per sample. Moredetailed tests can be more expensive but also useful. If a gardener is worried about their soil, they can also get it tested for heavy metals, such as lead, to know that it is safe.

How can you make and use leaf mold in your own urban garden? According to growers, gardeners can simply pile leaves and stir them occasionally, even only once per year. Nature does the rest of the work by slowly decomposing the leaves. In mid-summer, consider putting

a tarp over the leaf pile to build enough heat to kill weed seeds. Avoid putting diseased plant material in the pile.

Compost can be used once the leaves have broken down.

According to Hoagland, many cities lack urban composting programs, so valuable wastes like leaves end up in landfills rather than soil. People can petition their cities to start a program or find a way to compost their own. Home gardeners can also compost their own leaves, as well as food scraps like coffee grounds, to produce valuable soil amendments.

“What makes the study unique is that we were using local waste streams within a city to help ‘close the loop,’” Hoagland explains. “Using urban waste streams in this way can not only help promote urban agriculture, but will reduce municipal costs and protect the environment by keeping this ‘waste’ out of landfills.”

Funding for this work was provided by the United States Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture and NIFA-OREI program, grant number 2019-5130030245, as part of the Tomato Organic Management and Improvement (TOMI) project. o

GARDENnews

Quick Links to Recent Washington Gardener Blog Posts • Flower Combinations • Rose Campion Plant Profile • Harvesting Carrots • Short Summer Break See more Washington Gardener blog posts at: WashingtonGardener.blogspot.com o

July–August Garden To-Do List New Plant Spotlight The Latest Endless Summer Hydrangea: Pop Star

Endless Summer® Pop Star™ Hydrangea is a breeding breakthrough in compact garden hydrangeas. It is a prolific rebloomer, genetically compact, easy to grow, and versatile to use in the outdoor space. Pop Star™ is coming to retail in Spring 2023.

Pop Star™ is the quickest to rebloom in production, with new buds appearing in 4 weeks after a hard cutback, which is 2-4 weeks sooner than comparison plants.

Pop Star™ is genetically compact, with short internodes and a tight, strong habit, holding its blooms at the canopy. This, plus its strong stems, prevents a floppy plant.

Because of its genetically compact habit, it requires little to no plant growth regulators in production. Also, Pop Star™ has thick leaves, which helps it stand up to heat in warm climates.

It does well in containers, too.

See more growing details at www. baileynurseries.com. o Pop Star Hydrangea photos courtesy of Bailey Nurseries.

• The heat of summer is here. Time to start doing chores during early morning or evening. Take a break during the hottest parts of the day.

• Prune Wisteria.

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

• Cut back spent stalks on common daylilies.

• Pinch back any annuals that may be growing leggy.

• Divide and cut back Bearded Iris.

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

• Weed.

• Cut off bottom, yellowed foliage on tomato plants.

• Stake and tie up any tall-growing perennials, such as phlox or delphiniums.

• Wash out birdbaths weekly with diluted bleach solution.

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

• Take cuttings from azaleas, boxwoods, and camellias to start new plants.

• Check your local garden center for mid-summer bargains.

• Hand-pick Japanese Beetles or shake them off over a bucket of dishwater.

Early morning is a good time to catch them, while they are still drowsy.

• Re-pot the houseplants you’ve moved outdoors for the summer.

• Pick blueberries at a local pick-your-own farm or visit a local farmer’s market.

• Pinch back any straying strawberry runners.

• Deadhead perennials for a second flush of blooms later this summer.

• Thin out small trees and cut off any suckering branches growing from the bottom below the root flare.

• Inspect your garden for powdery mildew. If seen, prune back perennials to create needed circulation.

• Annuals are now hitting their peak. Keep them well-watered and add a little liquid fertilizer every few weeks to keep them going through September.

• Check your plants at night with a flashlight for any night-feeding insects like slugs.

• If you find slug damage, set out beer traps or Sluggo pellets.

• Pinch back mums so they grow bushier and won’t flower until autumn.

• Hold off on planting new trees and shrubs until the summer heat has passed.

• Caulk and seal your outside walls to prevent insect entry into your home.

• Harvest regularly from your vegetable garden to prevent rot and waste.

• Put up a hammock or garden bench for enjoying your views.

• Turn compost pile.

• Check out gardening books from your local library to read on vacation.

• Check for any stagnant-water mosquito breeding grounds, especially your gutters. Dump out any water that sits stagnant for more than three days.

• Add Mosquito Dunks to any standing water in your yard, such as birdbaths, downspouts, plant saucers, and gutters.

• Gather roses to enjoy indoors—be sure to make the cut just above a five-leaf unit.

• Harvest onions when tops die back.

• Sow seeds of fall crops such as broccoli, turnips, cauliflower, etc., in late July. o JULY 2022

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PLANTprofile

Zinnia

By Kathy Jentz

Zinnias are colorful summer annuals that are practically care-free and a great choice for beginner gardeners. They are native to Mexico and were named after a German botanist, Johann Gottfried Zinn. The zinnia is a rewarding plant, especially for those who have never started flowers from seeds before.

Rewarding is an understatement, actually! In a typical summer, I have picked 10 bouquets of flowers from my small zinnia patch by early July. The bees and butterflies love them, too. I am often cutting my blooms right out from under the insects with a quick “Sorry” as I run off to put them in a vase.

To start zinnias from seed, clear off a patch of soil in a sunny area of your garden. Here in the humid Mid-Atlantic U.S., good wind circulation is a must because zinnias are vulnerable to powdery mildew, so make sure they are out in the open and not next to a brick wall or tall shrubs. Scratch a few lines in the ground and then sow your seeds according to the package instructions. Water them in well.

If it doesn’t rain consistently, you may have to give them supplemental water, but usually they are fine without it.

The only other care note is to have your floral snips handy, because once they start blooming, you will want to pick them practically daily. The more you cut, the more flowers they produce.

And it is not too late for this growing season! Last year, I did not start zinnia seeds until early August and I was picking flowers by the end of September and they kept on producing through October. o Kathy Jentz is the editor and founder of Washington Gardener.

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TOP AREA GARDENING EVENTS Classes, Events, and Plant Shows/Sales • Friday, July 22, 10–11:30am What’s Eating My [Cucumbers, Tomatoes, Eggplant, Beans, Squash]?

Insect Pest Management for the Vegetable Garden and How to Succeed Without Losing It All! Join Kirsten Conrad, Agriculture/Natural Resources Extension Agent for Arlington and the City of Alexandria, for a class about recognizing common injurious insects in your vegetable garden. Learn how to attract and encourage beneficial insects to assist you in fighting off these pests. Conrad will cover tips and tricks for limiting and even preventing damage from insect pests on your vegetable crops. Held via Zoom and free to all. Register at https://mgnv. org/events/.

• Sunday, July 24, 10am–2pm Garlic Festival Held at the Takoma Park Farmers Market. Just-harvested garlic is the star of the market and available for sale at vendor stands. It’s the perfect match to all of the market’s fresh seasonal produce. The event includes special guests Tony “The Garlic Guru” Sarmiento, and Kathy Jentz, GardenDC Podcast host and Washington Gardener Magazine editor. Members of the Takoma Horticultural Club will be on hand with garlic-growing tips for the home gardener.

Chef Sorangel will serve up some garlic-based chimichurri sauce and peach dressing for market shoppers to taste and recipes to share, Free and open to all. Look for the special “Garlic Booths” at the market. See www.facebook.com/ events/791573942277841.

• Through July 31 2022 Kenilworth Annual Lotus & Water Lily Festival Enjoy Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens in Washington, DC, with daily ranger-led talks, viewing of the lotus and waterlily blooms, crafting, and scavenger hunts.

See more at https://kenaqgardens. org/.

• Through July 31 2022 Sunflower Festival Admission includes access to 13 acres of beautiful sunflowers, four blooms free to cut (each addition is $3), live music from local artists, a hayride, kid activities (slides, corn pits, etc.), food trucks, vendors, and more. Hosted by Sunflowers of Lisbon in Woodbine, MD. Purchase tickets online at https:// thesunflowersoflisbon.ticketspice. com/sunflowers-of-lisbon and see more details at https://sunflowersoflisbon. wordpress.com/.

• Friday, August 5, 12noon–1pm Seasonal Summer Eats (Online Cooking Demonstration) Join sisters Danielle and Adrienne Cook for two peak-of-summer recipes: one sweet, one savory, and both delicious.

The Tomato Trifecta with Bucatini Pasta and Basil Drizzle recipe showcases vine-ripe tomatoes. Summer’s Peak Crostada highlights stone fruits such as peaches and plums. Learn about growing and selecting summer bounty for optimal flavor, substitutes, optional additions, and much more. Hosted by the U.S. Botanic Garden. Free with preregistration required at https://www. usbg.gov/programs.

• Saturday, August 6, 11am–12noon Grow Your Own Microgreens!

Check the menu of a fine restaurant or the produce section of a specialty grocery store, and you’re likely to spy microgreens: tiny, delicate greens that add color, texture, and flavor to a variety of foods as a garnish or an ingredient.

Big on nutrition and flavor, microgreens can be expensive to purchase, but they can also be grown cost-effectively at home, in a tiny space, and with simple supplies. All you need is a sunny windowsill or a well-lit area, along with one of our microgreen growing kit, and you’ve got all the essentials for growing your own microgreens. This is a great crop for urban gardeners with limited space. The $10 ticket includes takehome microgreen seeds. The $25 ticket includes a microgreen kit of three types of greens to grow at home. Hosted by Cultivate the City. See more at www. facebook.com/cultivatethecity/events.

Looking Ahead • Thursday, August 25, 6:30–8pm Garden Book Club We will discuss Garden Variety by Christy Wilhelmi. (You can order it new or used at our Amazon link: https://amzn.to/31jvN8V or at our Bookshop store: https://bookshop.org/ a/79479/9780063113480.) To join us on Zoom, pre-register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIlcuqprD4jEtBQCPV_ EZL8MMC7hsSyUXFu The Washington Gardener Magazine’s Garden Book Club meets quarterly via Zoom and is free and open to all.

• Sunday, September 4, 12:30– 1:30pm Garden Photo Show Opening Washington Gardener invites you to the opening reception of our garden photo show at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens in Vienna, VA. • Saturday, September 24, 1–4pm Uncommon Evergreen and Deciduous Azaleas Plant Sale Conducted by the Northern Virginia Chapter of the Azalea Society of America (NV-ASA). All sales will be outside the Kirkwood Presbyterian Church, 8336 Carrleigh Parkway, Springfield, VA. See details at www.nv-asa.org/sale.

Event Listing Updates See updated event listings on the Washington Gardener discussion list.

Join by emailing WashingtonGardenersubscribe@googlegroups.com.

How to Submit Events To submit an event for this listing, email washingtongardenermagazine@gmail. com with “Event” in the subject line.

Our next deadline is August 5 for the August 2022 issue, for events taking place after August 15. o

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EDIBLEharvt

Tomatillo Tips:

Growing the Tantalizing Mexican Husk Tomato

By Barbara Melera Tomatillos, like their cousins the Ground Cherries and the ornamental Chinese Lanterns, are members of the Physalis family of plants that produce their fruit in husks known as calyx. Like tomatoes, eggplants, and potatoes, tomatillos are members of the Nightshade family. Ground Cherries and Tomatillos produce edible fruit. The fruit of the Chinese Lantern is not edible.

Tomatillos are Physalis ixocarpa.

They are distantly related to tomatoes and peppers. Tomatillos are native to Central and South America, where they grow wild and abundantly. An early discussion of Tomatillo ‘Toma Verde’ was included in the writings of Elie-Abel Carriere (French botanist, 1818–1896) in 1882.

The name Physalis comes from the Greek word for bladder and refers to the husk, which surrounds and protects the fruit. These plants are very, very old, having been grown by indigenous peoples for millennia. The Tomatilla fruits were used in sauces.

The husk fruits are often overlooked in the garden and this is a shame, because they offer great beauty and scrumptious flavor—two assets we gardeners seek aggressively.

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They are an annual even in their native habitats, but they self-seed so prolifically from decaying fruit that many believe them to be perennials. The varieties that we grow today are thought to have come from a wild, large fruited variety that was native to central Mexico. The cultivated varieties available today are purple or green.

Tomatillo Types

Tomatillo ‘Toma Verde’ is a green Tomatillo. The fruit can be quite large for a Tomatillo, 1–2 oz. The flavor is deliciously tart with only a hint of sweetness.

The plants can grow easily to 3–4 feet even in a container.

For maximum productivity (50–100 fruits per plant), two plants should be planted, but no more, and they do not have to be close to one another.

This is the closest relative to the

ancient tomatillo. The plants have an arching, umbrella-like shape that is quite lovely. From the stems dangle fruit in their lime-green husks, leaving the impression of dozens of parachuting golf balls floating to Earth.

Tomatillo ‘Purple’ is a descendant of a wild tomatillo that grows in the cornfields of Mexico known as milpas. The 3–4 foot plants are strikingly ornamental with green stems laden with fruit whose husks have deep-purple veins.

The fruit itself is bi-colored—purple and lime green and 1–2 inches in diameter.

The purple tomatillo is slightly sweeter than the green variety. Tomatillos picked fresh and eaten immediately have such a rich sweet-tart taste that they can hardly be compared to the fruits available from a grocery store.

They make a great salsa, but are also delightful as a condiment for salad greens.

The plants are shaped much the same as ‘Toma Verde’. They easily produce 50–100 fruit in a growing season.

I love tomatillos and always have two in my garden. I have found that they are much more likely to produce fruit in cool, cloudy summers than tomatoes, so if I don’t get tomatoes, I will always have tomatillos!

Tomatillo Growing Tips

Start tomatillos at the same time that you start your tomatoes: approximately 6 weeks before you transplant outside.

Do not start earlier or the seedlings will become leggy and suffer from lengthy transplant shock.

Seeds should be planted in average soil and covered with ½ inch of soil.

The soil should be very warm, and placing a heating pad underneath the pots is recommended.

Before transplanting into the garden, harden the seedlings off by placing them outside during the day for 5–7 days. For an additional 3–5 days, leave the seedlings outside both day and night.

EDIBLEharvt the stem. The ring of bonemeal will be approximately 12 inches in diameter.

Third, Tomatillos are somewhat susceptible to blossom end rot, which is a calcium deficiency. The bonemeal effectively cures this problem.

Fourth, unlike Tomatillos grown in the garden, container-grown Tomatillos must be fertilized at least every other week with full-strength fertilizer that is rich in phosphorus. Tomato plant food does a good job. Plants that are not fed in this way will have limited fruiting.

These plants are so easy to grow, vigorous, and adaptable to less-than great growing environments. Generally, they are forgiving of mistreatment, poor soil, and drought. This makes them great

candidates for the novice gardener.

Tomatillo Tastes

This August, indulge yourself by making an incredible salsa from the deliciously sweet-tart Tomatillos you harvested from your own garden, and this winter, on a dreary cold day, after a week of sunless days, bask in the memories of last summer’s sun-filled warmth with a warm bowl of a stunningly flavorful Tomatillo Soup. o Barbara Melera is the president of Harvesting History (www.harvesting-history.com), a company founded in 2016 to provide horticultural and agricultural products, largely of the heirloom variety, along with garden tools and equipment.

Before digging the holes for your seedlings, cover the surface of the soil with a dusting of bone meal. Dig a hole deep enough to bury the seedling up to its leaves, not covering the leaves, and water thoroughly. Plants should be separated by 2–3 feet in rows 3 feet apart.

Keep the soil moist, but not drenched.

Tomatillos do not need rich soil to flourish and they don’t require fertilizing. Harvest the Tomatillos when the fruit has fully filled the husk and even broken out of the husk.

Tomatillos also grow exceptionally well in containers. Follow the above instructions for starting the seeds indoors and hardening the seedlings off, then use these container-growing tips.

First, Tomatillos should be grown in pots that are at least 14 inches in diameter and 14–16 inches deep (we believe 18-inch pots are the ideal size): one plant per container. Most Tomatilloes require staking, so plant the stake when you plant the seedling.

Second, on the day you plant the seedling, place a generous ring (1/2–3/4 cup) of bonemeal around the seedling, approximately 6 inches from JULY 2022

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DAYtrip

The Well at Oxon Run

By Jamie Oberg “It’s a resource and it’s a healing space,” says farm manager Kenneth Bridgers. “People come in with things that they need to let go and they leave with the things that they needed to have fulfilled.”

The Well at Oxon Run is 50,000 square feet with 20,000 square feet of growing area powered by DC Greens, an organization dedicated to creating a stronger food system in DC. It’s at the intersection of Congress Heights, Washington Highlands, and Bellevue in the Ward 8 area of Southeast Washington, DC. The Well aims to build “a channel for resources to flow into this community…so that neighbors have what they need to define and create wellness on their own terms,” according to the DC Greens website (https://www.dcgreens. org/thewell). Food accessibility and education is their goal.

An area of The Well is set aside to be a permanent market stand where food can be given out. While The Well currently travels to various markets and areas, they are hoping to use this stand to host things like “Meatless Mondays” and “Soul Food Sundays.”

On “Wellness Wednesdays,” people can come by and pick up however much free produce they need and eventually the stand will aid in this process.

“Our main focus with the food right now is as long as we can harvest, we actually promote [the food] as free produce,” said coordinator Melanie Guerrero.

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The Well’s front entrance, also known as the ceremonial entrance, is anchored by a large sycamore tree where libations are poured at seasonal changes. The tree, called the “Memory Tree” for the years of things it has seen in this neighborhood, sits right outside the entrance. The first thing inside the gates is a meditation garden.

When construction first started on The Well, a “ground opening” ceremony was performed at the meditation garden. Bridgers tilled the grass while children gathered water from Oxon Run Creek. A symbolic planting proved the land was fertile when the expired seeds used that day led to a harvest.

“You normally have shovels and hardhats [at a ground opening]. It’s a very violent thing that happens. We try to be very intentional and deliberate with everything that we do here,” said director Jaren Hill Lockridge.

Originally, the meditation garden was meant to be outside of the gate along with the tree, but was brought inside after the importance of the ground opening was seen. Now, the area serves as a place to ground oneself before continuing into The Well.

Across from the meditation garden is one of the farm’s garden beds. This bed features a method of companion gardening indigenous peoples on this continent called Three Sisters Gardening. Each plot has corn, beans, and squash. The corn grows tall with sturdy roots, the beans use the corn

as a trellis and provide nitrogen to the soil, and the squash use the corn and beans as shade. “[It] maximizes growing space and food efficiency,” said Lockridge.

Other plants are grown traditionally in different plots across the farm, including melons, pumpkins. and okra. Each month, The Well chooses a theme such as “food is fuel” and “food is community.” This month is “food is medicine” and the okra teaches this through its use in managing diabetes and fatigue.

To further education, The Well includes an outdoor classroom and raised gardening beds for children to learn about growing their own food. The outdoor classroom has a blackboard filled with colorful chalk drawings in the unmistakable penmanship of children and strong tomato plants filling the garden beds. Waders are set aside in a shed so children can explore the nearby creek.

In the middle of The Well is a large netted area. Inside are 12 trees, mostly figs. Eventually, Lockridge hopes to have butterfly releases and a “gallery in the garden” event under the net that shields the fruit trees from birds.

While Lockridge considers most of the plants at The Well to be her children, she calls those in the net her adopted children, because each of the trees originated at DC Greens’ first farm.

Before The Well, DC Greens ran a farm on K Street, about 15 minutes from the current location. The farm closed in 2018 after eight years to make room for a Pepco substation, kicking off the long process of finding a new location.

A large portion of this process was spent gaining community trust.

Community leaders like Absalom Jordan of Friends of Oxon Run, who eventually helped the farm come into existence, originally met the plan with skepticism. Some residents neighboring the farm’s location were also antagonistic to the new area, but Lockridge said they were able to win them over.

“It was four years of building trust.

A lot of community committee vision meetings [were had] outside the gates,” said Guerrero. “A lot of families came and a lot of elders and commu-

DAYtrip nity members really took part in creating the space.”

When the farm was on K Street, Bridgers dreamed of two things: farming 10 minutes from his house and chickens running around in the city.

The first dream has already become a reality. The second is well on its way.

Nestled beneath the netted trees— which Lockridge has named after the Jackson 5 (or the Temptations, “depending on what day it is”) and Destiny’s Child, along with Duke Ellington and Marvin Gaye—is a chicken coop. Lockridge said as soon as they are able, avian flu permitting, it will be filled.

Right outside of the trees is a large board. In the center is The Well’s logo surrounded by wooden leaves. Each leaf contains the name of a person or organization that contributed to The Well’s creation.

“This is the wall that showcases how many hands make light work,” said Lockridge.

While The Well is powered by DC Greens, it was made in partnership with The Green Scheme, The Friends of Oxon Run, Soul of the City, and the DC Department of Parks and Recreation. Directly working the land is a team of five, each with their own specific expertise: Lockridge, Bridgers, Guerrero, Andrea Talhami, and Abby Bluestone. With each citing The Well as their dream job, Lockridge calls them the “dream team.” Alongside them is a dedicated crew of volunteers.

“It’s not light work, but we love the work and it’s a blessing to be in this kind of space because we know what it means to have this in the community,” said Guerrero.

It is impossible to fully capture The Well through words. There is an atmosphere of serenity and passion carried by both the land and every person working it.

The Well currently hosts three classes: yoga in the garden, chi gong, and touch therapy. They also give tours of the area and are open to bigger events such as field trips. If you are able to visit, the experience is incredible.

Still in its first season, The Well is actively changing. Things are being added, better ways of doing things are

Ward 8’s community farm and wellness space is finally open to the public after years of planning and construction. being found, and what will happen in the winter is still a mystery.

“No day is like the day before. If nature teaches us nothing, it’s that everything changes,” said Lockridge.

Even with the uncertainties, the impact of The Well is already more than apparent. It brings a versatile space of peace to its community and increased access to that which should be given to everyone: fresh food and the land, resources, and knowledge to grow it.

“It’s a combination of inner strength and outer resources. The community has never lacked the inner strength.

It’s the outer resources that have been a bit of a challenge. And so we unapologetically use this as a conduit for resource transfer,” Lockridge said.

The Well is a project that Lockridge, DC Mayor Bowser, and most involved

hope to expand to other cities and states, but for now, it will serve its community to the best of its ability. “[The Well] means generational wealth. It means abundance. It means a legacy piece,” said Ronell Wellman.

“This farm is going to be here for the rest of time.” o Jamie Amadea Oberg is a rising senior at the University of Maryland (UMD) and an intern this summer session with Washington Gardener.

There is an atmosphere of serenity and passion carried by both the land and every person working it.

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BOOKreviews

Inside Your Japanese Garden: A Guide to Creating a Unique Japanese Garden for Your Home Authors: Sadao Yasumoro and Joseph Cali Publisher: Tuttle Publishing List Price: $24.99 Order Link: https://amzn.to/3o6nF3h and https://bookshop.org/ a/79479/9784805316146 Reviewer: Jamie Oberg Inside Your Japanese Garden is a collaboration between Sadao Yasumoro and Joseph Cali. Cali, a writer and designer who graduated from Rhode Island School of Design and has been an interior and graphic designer in Japan for more than 30 years, records Yasumoro’s over 60 years of experience in designing and building Japanese gardens. Hironori Tomino rounds out the team with stunning photography alongside illustrated garden diagrams by Yasumoro.

The introduction to this guide is a brief biography of Yasumoro that allows the reader to see gardening through his eyes. This impressive outline of his credentials leads into an explanation of how to get started with garden design for the layperson, with Yasumoro asserting “that you should develop your own approach to the Japanese garden, not rely too much on the ideas in a book.” I found this to be an interesting and honest approach for a guide book, immediately intriguing me.

This section also lists explanations of Japanese design elements such as 18

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meisho (a reference to literature or a real place), a preference for odd numbers and asymmetry, spirit vs. technique (“Spirit comes first. Technique will follow.”), miekakure (hide and reveal), and mitate (double meanings).

Although it is essentially a glossary, this section filled me with awe at how deeply Japanese gardens are thought out.

The book goes through 20 different gardens in Japan created by Yasumoro.

Included are the garden of a NASA astrophysicist, a garden made with the help of birds, a garden in the middle of an urban jungle, and a Buddhist mountain retreat. The gardens are organized by themes separated by chapter and each is accompanied by breathtaking photographs.

The first of these chapters is focused on entrances and automobiles. In Japan, garages are uncommon, so cars are usually left visible in front of one’s home. “In other words, the car becomes part of the architecture,” Cali and Yasumoro write before explaining how to design a house entrance where cars and nature can live alongside each other. It is a great introduction to how culture and design can intermingle.

Chapter Two moves from the front of the house to the back, discussing how the purpose of a backyard affects its design. The most extreme example of this is a garden made from a landslide.

Since the main purpose was preventing the land from sliding further, the design incorporated large piles of stones, concrete curbs, terracing, and a place for water runoff. The real-life application of this landslide garden is incredibly impressive, with Yasumoro noting that several other designers passed over the project because of its danger and difficulty. This chapter also includes multiple temple gardens as examples.

Chapter Three scales things down to look at smaller gardens. The small side of things focuses on tsubos and tea gardens. Tsubos refer to miniature gardens, as well as small courtyards within a particular structure of Japanese houses. In both meanings, there is a connotation of intimacy. Teahouses and tea gardens are a large part of Japanese culture that have deep historical roots, but Yasumoro provides his

own interpretations. Especially when compared to the larger gardens in this book, which go up to 9,500 square feet, the smaller gardens featured that are as little as 26 square feet sound miniscule. Still, Yasumoro is able to inject a remarkable amount of nuance into each that inspires those with even the littlest of gardening spaces.

The last chapter is a guide to working with different materials. Along with vocabulary, it includes different projects that can be made with stone. The first few projects are different types of walls and walkways. From there, the chapter explores bridges, water basins, arrangements, gutters, and more.

This chapter also goes into working with mud and bamboo. Mud is primarily used for walls and floors, while bamboo is for fences. The guide explains how to mix different materials with clay for different projects. It also outlines the process of working with bamboo, from cleaning to cutting to “tying, nailing, and screwing.” It is a more practical chapter, but no less important or thought-provoking than the others.

This book also includes detailed instructions for varying projects, from smaller builds such as an earthen bridge to more intimidating works such as the amigasa mon (a type of garden gate often associated with a teahouse).

While much of the guide is geared more toward inspiration than strict directions, these sections provide concrete projects for the reader.

Inside Your Japanese Garden is a unique garden design guide. It teaches about an entire culture, with a snapshot into its history and customs, through gardening. It feels as inspirational as, yet more educational than, the average garden design book because of this deeper breadth of information. The gardens throughout are beautiful and the Japanese garden conventions explained allow readers to think about design in an entirely different way.

If you have any interest in Japanese aesthetics and culture, or just want a new way to view your garden, Inside Your Japanese Garden is sure to fill you with inspiration through detailed explanations, extensive garden design experiences, and belief that “[a] good

BOOKreviews garden will continue to show you something new every time you look at it—just as nature does.” o Jamie Amadea Oberg is a rising senior at the University of Maryland (UMD). Jamie is an intern this summer session with Washington Gardener.

The Old Farmer’s Almanac Flower Gardener’s Handbook Editor: Janice Stillman Publisher: Old Farmer’s Almanac/ Yankee Publishing List Price: $17.95 Order Links: https://amzn.to/3Pa6YQm and https://bookshop.org/ a/79479/9781571989284 Reviewer: Tori Vandergriff The Flower Gardener’s Handbook from the folks at the Old Farmer’s Almanac is an “all-new planting guide that gets to the root of growing a flower garden that’s as lovely to behold as it is easy to maintain,” according to the official press release for the book. This book contains the profiles of 32 of the most popular flowering plants throughout the United States and Canada.

The Old Farmer’s Almanac is an employee-owned company in Dublin, NH, providing expansive knowledge about plants, soil, climate patterns, and more. If you’re looking for it, the Almanac has it. The Flower Gardener’s Handbook was released earlier this year and is intended to provide gardeners at all skill levels with the information they need to create and maintain healthy flower gardens.

I was immediately drawn to this book because of the vibrant photos of various flowers adorning the front cover.

The word “handbook” in the title also intrigued me since it signaled that this would be a “How To” for all things flowers. If I could only choose one plant to garden for the rest of my life, it would easily be flowers (simply for cutting purposes), so it only made sense that I’d review this book for the month of July.

Simply put, this review is for my own selfish gardening purposes.

The Flower Gardener’s Handbook completely delivered on its promise to be an all-knowing guide on how to create a thriving flower garden at home.

The book opens with a note from the editor, warmly welcoming readers and outlining the contents of the text.

The first section of the book is

“Ground Rules” and discusses topics such as native versus non-native plants, how to start seeds and soil types. This portion is extremely helpful for beginning gardeners who don’t know where to start and a great refresher even for seasoned gardeners.

The next portion was my personal favorite: flower profiles. The handbook gives extremely in-depth information about 32 different flowers, such as delphinium, lilies, hydrangeas, lilacs, hollyhocks, and many, many more. Each profile includes the Latin name for the flower, the history of the plant, how to care for and harvest them, and even recommended varieties of the flowering plant. I found this section really cool and unique because it lays out everything someone could possibly need to know about the flower in an easy-toread format with pictures included. The “Flower” section is definitely the highlight of the handbook and makes the entire book worth the read.

After the profiles section are the “Inspiration,” “Growing Concerns,” and “Lore and More” parts of the book.

These portions answer all the questions that could pop up after the flowers have bloomed, including what to do about diseases, what’s perennial in specific regions, and how to care for cut flowers. This is another very informational section with an interesting and eye-catching layout.

The most personal aspect of the book is the use of sections entitled “Journal Pages.” Here, readers can log their own garden information in the book, including soil pH, color inventory, pest records, and more. These pages are sporadically placed throughout the book where they make the most sense. For instance, the “Native in My Garden” log page is placed after the book describes native versus nonnative plants. Here, readers can log their own garden information. I love this aspect of the book because it allows readers/gardeners to learn from the pages, then add their own experiences by physically taking the book into the garden with them! It’s a super-cool way to encourage beginning gardeners to keep track of their gardens’ conditions and allows expert gardeners to stay organized.

The Flower Gardener’s Handbook is an interesting and unique read that also serves an important purpose:

record-keeping. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in gardening with flowering plants or even as a gift for the flower lover in your life. An almanac will never go out of style and this one is definitely here to stay for the gardening world. o Victoria Vandergriff is finishing up her senior year at the University of Maryland as a journalism major with a history minor.

She is an intern this summer session with Washington Gardener

Sustainable Gardening: Grow a “Greener” Low-Maintenance Landscape with Fewer Resources Author: Vincent Simeone Publisher: Cool Springs Press/Quarto List Price: $24.99 Order Links: https://amzn.to/3IKkeJ8 and https://bookshop.org/ a/79479/9780760370360 Reviewer: Jim Dronenburg This book tries to touch every aspect of sustainability, and therefore tends to gloss over these aspects rather than going into great detail. Sustainability, per the book, is “the capacity to endure…long-term care and maintenance of the world around us…(and) must include the idea that what we do today should not negatively affect future generations.” This may be Note: These book reviews include links to Amazon.com and BookShop. org for ordering them. Washington Gardener Magazine may receive a few cents from each order placed after you click on these links.

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BOOKreviews

approached in several ways at once, including using less in the way of chemicals/fuels/pesticides; not fighting the nature of one’s garden—instead, putting in plants to suit the conditions present; reducing the size of your lawn; or using more ecological practices on that lawn (and anywhere else).

Where the book bogs down is in the details. One example that comes

to mind is the caption (p. 12) stating, “Even small actions, such as growing some of your own food…can add up to a big reduction in your carbon footprint.” The picture is of a raised bed of rather substantial lumber and soil that looks very like pure compost, holding what appears to be four clumps of chives, eight red lettuces. and about a dozen of some other lettuce-like thing.

On the face of it, rather a spectacular use of resources for a small return.

On page 25, there is a picture of a person putting things in the ground, with the caption, “When planting new trees and shrubs, be sure to properly space them to keep them from being crowded when they’re mature.” The accompanying text says that too often, things are planted with an eye to what they look like right now, with no consideration of the long term. That is totally true, and something to avoid (not that your reviewer hasn’t fallen into the same trap). But on the next page, the author gives the “One Half Rule,” which is to find a plant’s eventual size and assume it will get to half of that in your lifetime, and plant it in that half of the eventual space. At best, this is encouraging what page 25 is telling you not to

do. At worst, it’s leaving a spectacular mess for someone else to clean up after you’re gone.

The book does make some very good points, chief among them that you should establish priorities and have a short- and a long-term plan before charging in, to avoid mistakes and re-dos. You should use resources wisely, and recycle/compost what you can. Start composting within the first six months, and keep it up. Try to plan any hardscape at the start, and put it in as close to the start as you can.

The book mentions wise use of water, including ways to minimize that use.

There are sections about workhorse trees (9), shrubs (13), perennials (13), and grasses (7), and a one-page list of 12 workhorse annuals/bedding plants (which makes sense; they are a use of resources to replace each year). This batch of short lists succeeds about as well as any list that short would.

The book mentions “The Pros and Cons of Going Organic.” Of this, two photos take up one-and-a-half pages.

Other subjects are treated in a similarly “gloss” fashion.

In short, this book seems to be for those who have not gardened before, and who, for their own protection, should read more detail elsewhere on any subject in it. o Jim Dronenburg is a retired accountant and now gardens full-time in Knoxville, MD.

Visit DCGardens.com for Photos of the 16 Major Local Public Gardens in the Washington, DC Region shown in each month of the year.

And local resources like...

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Where to Buy Plants Where to Connect Local Garden Media Where to Volunteer Youth Gardens Where to Find Designers Tours and Events Where to Learn to Garden

Love Reading?

These books were reviewed by volunteer members of the Washington Gardener Reader Panel. To join the Washington Gardener Volunteer Reader Panel, send an email with your name and address to: KathyJentz@gmail. com. We look forward to having you be a vital part of our local publication and its gardening mission. o

INSECTindex

Will My Pollinator Garden Attract Ticks?

By Carol Allen

The simple answer to whether a pollinator garden will attract ticks is no, not to a degree that should prevent you from supporting your local pollinators.

However, we can take steps as gardeners to decrease tick-favoring habitats and vectors while keeping our pollinator-friendly gardens.

In the DC metro area, one can encounter six different tick species: the American dog tick, blacklegged tick or deer tick, brown dog tick, lone star tick, and—more rarely—Gulf Coast tick or Asian longhorned tick. All of these animals can transmit diseases to humans.

They each prefer slightly different habitats. More information is here: https:// extension.umd.edu/resource/ticksmaryland.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends: • Clear the tall grasses and brush from around the home and at the edge of the lawn.

• Place a 3-foot-wide barrier of wood chips or gravel between lawns and wooded areas, patios, and play equipment. This will restrict tick migration into areas of human activity.

• Mow the lawn frequently and keep leaves raked* • Stack wood neatly and in a dry area to discourage rodents. White-footed deer mice are an alternate host and like to nest in wood piles.

• Keep areas of human recreation in sunny spots if possible, and out from under overhanging trees.

• Remove trash and discarded furnishings that ticks may hide in. *This point is debatable if you use

leaves as mulch. We know that a bareearth approach increases erosion and stormwater run-off that leads to flooding.

A lot of the CDC advice sounds quite reasonable—unless you live in a forested area with no sunny spots. (We know better than to cut down trees, because trees are integral to preventing stormwater run-off). Or if we like to fill our surroundings with flowers and green plants. Or if we like to increase the ecosystem services our little plot of land can offer, as well as increase its biodiversity.

To control tick exposure by removing all the vegetation is a short-sighted approach that does not address the biggest issue: the animals that support the tick life cycle. Our most common deer tick feeds alternately on whitetailed deer and the white-footed deer mouse. Controlling those animals—the vectors of our common ticks—is a strategy to embrace.

Fence out deer wherever possible.

No, it is not expensive when you consider loss of income and quality of life living with Lyme disease. Small rodents can be more difficult to control, but controlling young ticks who feed on them is easier than you think.

Rodents like to use soft, fibrous material to line their nests. Providing nesting material that is infused with pyrethrin or a synthetic pyrethroid is a good way to kill the young ticks while they are cohabitating with mice. A product like Tick Control Tubes (Amazon affiliate link: https://amzn.to/3yNzeRL) can be placed around the yard. The

mice will use the infused cotton to line their nests and the juvenile ticks will die. Place the tubes in the shed, garage, firewood pile, or any other place mice reside.

If the price of the readymade tick tube puts you off, consider a hack.

There are several videos and blogs that outline the procedure, but this is what I did. I saved the cardboard rolls from toilet paper and paper towels. The paper towel roll I cut into one-third pieces. I spray-painted them black, both for concealment and to give the paper some protection from moisture.

I bought cotton balls at the drugstore (some hackers save up their dryer lint).

Working outside, I fluffed up the cotton balls and then liberally powdered them with pyrethrin. A lot of the hacks use a liquid preparation. They both work. Be sure to wear gloves and eye protection.

Wearing a mask would also be a good idea. Washing your hands afterward is also advisable.

Fill the tubes with the pesticideinfused lint or cotton and place where mice frequent. Do they work? I would say yes. I have observed a significant decrease in ticks in my garden. It is suggested they be placed outside in late spring when last year’s juvenile ticks start feeding, then again in summer when the new larvae hatch and take their first blood meal on a rodent.

Note that some invasive plant species can aid in the spread of ticks.

Studies have found barberry (Berberis thunbergii) offer safe harbor for small rodents and higher numbers of ticks are found in association with those bushes. Also, Amur honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii) seems to afford white-tailed deer with safe hiding places, so a higher number of ticks are found in those areas as well. There is another good reason to remove invasive plant species from your property. 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.

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BIRDwatch

Mourning DovE

By Cecily Nabors

If you walk into a somewhat-secluded natural area and are startled by a flock of birds bursting up from almost under your feet, you probably just met some Mourning Doves. These brownish-gray birds, Zenaida macroura, may seem boring when more brightly colored birds are visible, but look again. Small, elegant heads; slender bodies; long, tapered tails that flare to white-edged fans; and pink feet! Look even closer for the iridescence on their necks and the turquoise ring around those big eyes.

What should you listen for? First, the bird’s common name does not imply that there’s also an Afternoon Dove. It comes from their mournful call: ooh-aaahh, cooo, coo, coo. People often think they’re hearing a daylight owl.

Another dove sound is easy to mistake.

When a Mourning Dove does a rapid takeoff, it makes a distinctive whistling whirr not by its voice but with its wings.

These “common” birds are really quite special!

Mourning Doves like open habitats, so farms, fields, open woods, and suburban areas suit their needs. They are ground-foragers and frequent visitors to our yards and gardens. Doves are with us all year, but the birds we see in summer may not be the same ones we saw in winter. They tend to hang out in flocks after breeding season.

In terms of nest-building, Mourning Doves are almost infinitely adaptable.

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They’ll build nests in trees, shrubs, vines, or even on the ground. They always lay two eggs at a time, and may have several broods in a season, raising their twins in flimsy nests that look like they’ll fall apart (and occasionally do). Mourning Doves sometimes use elements of human habitation as nest supports. Our editor says they nest (inconveniently) above her back door.

Once, a dove nested on the basketball hoop mounted on a friend’s carport. The female brooded her eggs imperturbably above the racket of a carport attached to a house with four teenagers. (Yes, the kids did stop shooting hoops for the weeks of brooding and feeding youngsters.)

Like other birds in the pigeon family, both male and female Mourning Doves feed their young with a regurgitated white fluid called “pigeon milk” or “crop milk.” It’s made from cells that line the parent birds’ crops and is rich in protein and fat. Older youngsters are also fed seeds and insects.

Seeds are the bulk of a dove’s diet.

The birds will readily come to bird feeders, especially platform feeders or seed scattered on the ground. Favorite feeder foods are white millet, cracked corn, hulled sunflower seeds, and safflower seeds.

Besides providing feeders and seedproducing plants, you can draw doves to your yard with a birdbath, especially in hot weather. They need water to drink and also for cooling. A birdbath’s shallow water heats up quickly, and the water can get grungy pretty fast. Do change the water every day and add ice to it occasionally; birds are fine with the ice and it slows down algae growth.

According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Mourning Doves are the continent’s most popular game bird: hunters may shoot more than 20 million each year. If hunters shoot that many, how is it that Mourning Doves didn’t follow the Passenger Pigeon to extinction? The answer is complex, but one component is doves’ prolific rate of breeding: they start in February and may still be making nests into October. Another aspect is that while hunting is allowed by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, populations are now monitored and hunting is controlled by licenses and permits. For example, Maryland and Virginia maintain dove management areas and designate several weeks in the autumn and winter for dove hunting in those areas only.

No hunting is allowed in the District of Columbia.

It’s nice to know that the world is safer for Mourning Doves. Although their song sounds like a soft lament, the birds are thriving. o Cecily Nabors is a retired software manager who has been watching and counting birds for much of her life. She publishes the GoodNatured Observations blog at cecilynabors.com.

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