Year of the Celosia

By Kathy Jentz

Celosia (Celosia argentea) is an annual flowering plant in the Amaranth family that is also known as Woolflower or Feather Cockscomb. Depending on the variety, the flowers can be bright yellow, orange, deep red, purple, or pink. They have a long season of bloom, from June until heavy frost.

They originate in East Africa and are hardy to USDA Zones 10 and 11, so in most areas, they are started by direct-sowing seeds or transplanting seedlings after the threat of frost is gone in spring. Celosia will selfsow and return year after year in the same spot, if you let them.

There are three major forms of Celosia blooms. The spicata are very narrow and candle-like, the plumosa are flame-like, and the cristata are broader and can form into interesting shapes like coral or fans.

Celosia make sturdy and long-lasting cut flowers and can be dried easily—although they lose their bright coloring and fade after time.

The foliage of Celosia can be bright green or dark red. The leaves are edible and should be gathered when young and tender (before the flowers emerge). They are traditionally boiled or steamed as a side dish that tastes similar to spinach.

Celosia grows best in full sun and well-draining soils. They can be grown in containers or in beds. They may require staking if they grow too tall or top-heavy. o

Spring Seedling Giveaway & Vendor Fair

By Taylor Edwards

The Prince George’s Soil Conservation District and MD-National Capital Parks & Planning Commission hosted their second annual Spring Seedling Giveaway & Vendor Fair on June 3 at Darnell’s Chance House Museum in Upper Marlboro, MD, where free seedlings were provided and vendors sold seeds, books, teas, and more.

The seedlings, provided by the Ujamaa Cooperative Farming Alliance and grown by the Maryland-National Capital Park & Planning Commission, included ‘Black Cherry’ tomatoes, autumn bell peppers, and sweet basil.

Ciara O’Brien, one of the attendees, came to the event because she loves to grow foods sustainably.

“I’m a gardener. I live in PG County and I love coming out to events in my own community,” said O’Brien.

Kathy Anderson and Karen Bowlding, twin sisters and authors, presented books that they’ve written both separately and together. Two of their collaborative works were on display: Fern and Ginger Dandelions and Watermelons and Fern Foraging in the Forest. They grew up foraging and were inspired by their great-grandmother.

The workshops were presented by some vendors. The first was called “Conversation with Black Farmers” with Kimani Anku, accompanied by Darrelynne Strother. Together, they talked about their plant processes and gave tips about plants such as tomatoes, beekeeping, and developing Strother’s farm.

Toward the end of the workshop, Anku talked about his upcoming summer camp, “Melanated Earthling Explorers,” in August. He said the purpose of the camp is to get Black and brown kids back into nature through the connection with their ancestral roots. Some of the activities include beekeeping, hydroponic gardening, and creating a soundtrack.

“Some kids will be on one side of the farm and do a call and response … and then they’ll also work with those producers to create a soundtrack with all the videos that they learn from all week,” Anku said.

Linda Jones of Elements of Nature presented an “Herbal Tea Workshop,” which featured different herbs and how to take care of them. She explained winter sowing as putting seeds in milk jugs and setting them out in the cold to grow. Throughout the presentation, she passed around anise hyssop and hibiscus for the audience to smell. o

Taylor Edwards is a rising senior majoring in journalism with a minor in Black Women’s Studies at the University of Maryland. She is a native of Waldorf, MD, and an intern this summer with Washington Gardener

The Urban Garden: 101 Ways to Grow Food and Beauty in the City is all about small-space gardening solutions!

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 Clematis, Heritage Seeds, and Native Plant Sourcing.

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