READERreactions

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.

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.

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

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