MAY 2021 VOL. 16 NO. 3
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The Many Bonus Radish Harvests Attracting Gray Catbirds Deer-Resistant, Summer-Blooming Bulbs
How Do Nematodes Help Plants and Soils? A Real Pickle: Dealing with Pickleworm Simplify with White Flowers
Loudoun County’s Demonstration Garden Meet the Author of “The Color of Food” DC-MD-VA Gardening Events Calendar
Euphorbia (Spurge)
Summer Creek Horticultural Soil Mixes HiDra2-Seed Starter MultiMix2–Raised Bed Mix Organic - Local – Sustainable – Pro Grade Most sustainable horticultural mixes available. Available at Mom’s, Direct & select ACE Hardware www.summercreekfarm.com - Thurmont, Maryland
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Green Spring Gardens
www.greenspring.org
A “must visit” for everyone in the metropolitan Washington, DC, area. It’s a year-round goldmine of information and inspiration for the home gardener. It’s an outdoor classroom for children and their families to learn about plants and wildlife. It’s also a museum, a national historic site that offers glimpses into a long, rich history with colonial origins. Located at 4603 Green Spring Rd., Alexandria, VA. Information: 703-642-5173.
RARE AND EXCEPTIONAL PLANTS FOR THE DISCRIMINATING GARDENER AND COLLECTOR Barry Glick Sunshine Farm and Gardens 696 Glicks Road Renick, WV 24966, USA Email: barry@sunfarm.com
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FEATURES and COLUMNS
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Did you know that both catbird genders look alike, but only the males sing? Catbirds build deep cup nests and sometimes incorporate human materials like bits of string or paper. You may find items from your household or garden in their nests.
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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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Euphorbia plants can change in appearance from season to season. This cushion spurge (Euphorbia polychroma) has outer bracts that start off a bright yellow, turn a mellower green in summer, and finally become a brilliant orangered in the fall. They provide beauty and contrast to other perennials and can be used in drifts or as a specimen plant.
The Loudoun County Demonstration Garden’s goals and priorities include maintaining and managing the perennial gardens to educate the public about sustainable gardening techniques.
BIRDwatch 22 Gray Catbirds BOOKreviews 18-20 Vegetable Garden Pests, FirstTime Gardener: Flowers, Modern Homestead Garden, Tropical Plants, Secret Life of Bees DAYtrip 6 Loudoun County Demo Garden EDIBLEharvest 16 Bonus Radish Harvests FLOWERpower 14-15 Simple, White Gardens INSECTindex 21 Pickleworm HORThappenings 12 GardenMart, Chevy Chase Gardens, Beltsvile Plant Sale NEIGHBORnetwork 8-9 Natasha Bowens, Native Mountain Farm NEWPLANTspotlight 11 New Blueberries PLANTprofile 7 Euphorbia TIPStricks 10 Nematodes; Deer-Resistant, Summer-Flowering Bulbs
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In our June issue: Garden Tour Season Native Plant Profiles and much more . . .
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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 Khloe Quill Intern Cover price: $4.99 Back issues: $6.00 Subscription: $20.00
Looking Forward and Backward
I came across this bench design at the Brighton Dam Azalea Garden in Brookeville, MD. What is cool about it is that with a slight touch of the hand, you can make the back of the bench slide forward or back, thus creating a bench that either looks towards the pathways or towards the plantings. I chose the side that overlooked the masses of azaleas in bloom that day and the water beyond. (That’s me in the sun hat pictured above.) I noticed that most of the benches in the garden face the pathways. Perhaps the users hadn’t noticed the back was movable? Or maybe they just preferred to sit with their backs to the better view? That made me think about how easy it is for all of us to get stuck in our viewpoints and daily routines. So much of our world today is curated for us—from our local news sources and social media feeds to the selections at our local stores. Some of it is a relief, I admit. Who needs to have 50 choices of mustard? Decisionfatigue is a real and crippling thing. However, there is a downside to letting other people set our parameters for us. Maybe the 51st mustard option would have hit your taste buds in a way that changed your whole world view. Okay, maybe not. But you never know what you never got to be exposed to. If we do encounter something new, do we take the time to examine and experience it, or give it a mere glance and then run off to the next shiny, bright object that comes into our field of vision? Part of this, of course, is our immense time pressure in the modern world. We can get distracted easily and never get the chance to truly delve into a subject. I’ll once again use this space here to urge all of us (and this applies especially to yours truly) to stop and smell the proverbial roses this growing season. We should also pause and appreciate our gardens for everything they give us and for how far they have come through our hard work. Whether you are a novice or veteran gardener, I bet you have accomplished a lot in this past year. Sitting back on the nearest (frontward or backward) bench to take it in is well worth the few minutes’ break in your normal routine to do so. Happy gardening,
Kathy Jentz, Editor/Publisher, Washington Gardener, KathyJentz@gmail.com 4
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• Washington Gardener Blog: www.washingtongardener.blogspot.com • Washington Gardener Archives: http://issuu.com/washingtongardener • Washington Gardener Discussion Group: 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 Store: www.amazon.com/shop/wdcgardener • Washington Gardener Podcast: https://anchor.fm/gardendc/ • Washington Gardener is a womanowned business. We are proud to be members of: · GardenComm (GWA: The Association for Garden Communicators) · Green America Magazine Leaders Network · Green America Business Network Volume 16, Number 3 ISSN 1555-8959 © 2021 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.
READERcontt
Reader Contest
For our May 2021 Washington Gardener Magazine Reader Contest, Washington Gardener is giving 30 Oriental Lily bulbs from flowerbulbs.com to one lucky winner. Oriental lilies, known as the most flamboyant personalities within the world of lilies, are characterized by their immense flowers, intense fragrance, and rich colors. With their tall, colorful blooms, lilies will bring a hint of the exotic to any garden. And fortunately, planting lily bulbs couldn’t be simpler.These elegant ladies combine perfectly with low-growing broad-leafed plants. That’s because lilies like to stand with their heads in the sun and their feet in the shade. Find out more about growing them at https://www.flowerbulbs.com/1034/lilium. To enter to win the box of 30 Oriental Lily bulbs, send an email to Washington GardenerMagazine@gmail.com by 5:00pm on Monday, May 31, with “30 Oriental Lilies” in the subject line. In the body of the email, tell us what your favorite article was in this issue and why. Include your full name and mailing address. The winners will be announced by June 2. o
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READERreactions
Thoughts about the April 2021 Issue My favorite article in the April 2021 issue was the one on deer-resistant native plants because I am trying to plant more native plants in my yard, but there is a problem with deer in our neighborhood. ~ Christopher Pohlhaus, Bowie, MD My favorite article in the April 2021 issue was about what happens to all the plastic pots the plants and seedlings I buy come in. I try to recycle the ones with the appropriate recycling code, but I am still not sure about what happens to them. Sometimes I have so many! I have saved a number of the smaller-sized plant pots to use when I am starting seeds and “potting up,” but I wish I could purchase new plants without so much plastic involved. ~ Lisa Lyon, Bethesda MD I really enjoyed the articles in the April 2021 issue about Brookside Gardens’ crystal installation and the plastic pots discussion. I look forward to seeing the Brookside Gardens crystals in person sometime, and I have resolved to offer the plant pots I cannot reuse to the local Buy Nothing Facebook group. I’m sure there are other gardeners who can use them. Thanks for putting out a great magazine! ~ Stephanie Richard, Rockville, MD My favorite article in the latest issue was “Petal Porches on Parade.” Love all the hope and springtime joy! ~ Stephanie Kubala, Washington, DC
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.
It’s hard to pick my favorite article in the April 2021 issue as so many of them are interesting and informative. I did love the article about Mary Ackley, the founder of Little Wild Things. Partially, I feel a kinship as I am also from the Detroit suburbs and went to the University of Michigan for an engineering degree. A close second is the article about the APLD’s work on plastic pots in the nursery industry, as I always think that we need to do better in our use of plastic pots. The article didn’t mention any alternatives and I was thinking about the vendor I saw at MANTS in 2020 who had cow pots (made of cow dung). I thought that is a great idea, but I’m not sure why it hasn’t caught on! Thanks for all your work! ~ Dawn Szelc, Potomac Falls, VA o MAY 2021
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DAYtrip
Loudoun County Master Gardeners Demonstration Garden By Khloe Quill The Loudoun County Master Gardeners have a demonstration garden and it is gorgeous. Visitors to the Ida Lee Park Recreation Center in Leesburg, VA, have a wide variety of activities to partake in, including swimming, basketball, and walking on numerous paths. They can also rent plots in a community garden that sits adjacent to the demonstration garden, which is a designated planting area used for studying and for teaching visitors about gardening and cultivating certain varieties of plants, particularly in relation to the local environment. At the Loudoun County Master Gardeners Demonstration Garden, visitors can stroll on mulched paths and enjoy shaded sitting areas, while admiring the colorful array of flowers and shrubs. Along with the decorative elements, the garden has raised beds of vegetables and fruits. That’s not all the garden is for, though: It’s also a place for experienced gardeners to try new things and inexperienced gardeners to learn new things. “Master Gardeners experiment with new techniques and plants throughout each growing season. By applying what we learn in the garden, we can better help Loudoun County residents with their gardening problems,” says the brochure for the garden. The demonstration garden is answering questions all the time, often from 6
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people visiting the plot specifically to watch what the Master Gardeners are doing, an act encouraged by those running the garden. By doing this, visitors gain important information about not only the plants, but insects and other problems that come with cultivation of a garden. “Cycles of certain insects, native bees and what they require, or how to control pests, are important topics. We also stress how to recognize if a condition is insect-, fungal-, or disease-related to know how to treat it correctly and that spraying randomly may be harmful, rather than helpful,” said Normalee Martin, a Loudoun County Master Gardener and co-leader of the demonstration garden. Beyond proper preparation and pest control, the garden offers lessons in plant protection, soil-borne diseases, and mulching with straw. Those running the garden place an emphasis on soil health, saying that people need to know that plant health starts with good soil. While Martin has been overseeing the whole garden for seven years now, she managed the demonstration garden’s vegetable area for five years and says that’s where her love of gardening started. It was her mother, now 101 years old, who first pointed out the garden to her and gave her entry to one of their classes as a birthday present in 2007.
“Anywhere I can plant a seed and watch its growth and tend it is wonderful. Learning about all the plants in the garden has been an absolute joy,” said Martin. Community outreach is a cornerstone of this group that goes beyond the demonstration garden. The Loudoun County Master Gardeners educate the local community about sustainable landscape practices, including teaching the community to grow its own food as a source of food security. They also teach natural resource conservation and promote the responsible use and protection of the environment. The Master Gardeners provide a virtual help desk and weekend garden clinics to answer questions about horticultural issues. They offer bi-monthly lectures when requested by public or private entities and hold an annual symposium. The pandemic has been hard on the Master Gardeners. During 2020, work was only allowed in the vegetable area of the garden because they donate their produce to Loudoun Hunger Relief, and, even then, only a handful of socially distanced volunteers were allowed to work. In non-pandemic years, Martin says the biggest obstacle is the weather. This year, they are almost back to normal, and the weather is already hindering them a bit. The gardeners can’t work in the soil when it’s too wet. If it’s too cold or over 93 degrees, they just don’t work. Setbacks like these don’t stop anyone from returning as soon as they’re able, though, because the community is passionate. “Our group of Master Gardeners is a great bunch of people who are always willing to come help maintain the demo garden.” said Martin. For readers wanting to check out the garden for themselves and speak to the Master Gardeners, they are hard at work in the morning on Tuesdays and Thursdays during the active growing season (April–October). The Demonstration Garden is a wealth of knowledge cultivated by a passionate community with years of experience, and they’re very happy to share it. o Khloe Quill is a journalism major at the University of Maryland, College Park, and an intern this semester with Washington Gardener. She is a native of Frederick, MD.
PLANTprofile
Euphorbia By Kathy Jentz
Euphorbia (Euphorbia spp.), also known as spurge, is an easy-care perennial plant that deserves a place in your garden. Aside from being low-maintenance, it is deer-resistant, drought-tolerant, and long-blooming. It is hardy to Zones 4–10. Euphorbia prefers full to part sun and well-draining soils. Some plants are short-lived and can be dug and divided every few years. Euphorbia is also easy to propagate by taking stem cuttings, stripping off the lower leaves, and rooting the cuttings in a soil-less potting mix. The common garden spurge is in the same family (Euphorbiaceae) as poinsettia, croton, castor oil plant, and several kinds of succulents. One thing you will notice that many have in common is they exude a white, milky sap when a stem is broken. Be careful when pruning them because this sap can be a skin irritant and harmful if you get it in your eyes. Like its poinsettia cousin, the spurge’s so-called flowers are actually modified leaves called bracts. These stay on for a long time and lend great color appeal to the decorative plants. Spurge are available in colors ranging from bright chartreuse to deep burgundy. Popular varieties include ‘Ascot Rainbow’, ‘Glacier Blue’, and ‘Polychroma’. o Kathy Jentz is the editor and founder of Washington Gardener.
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NEIGHBORnwork
Natasha Bowens
Native Mountain Far� By Khloe Quill
Natasha Bowens is an author, farmer, and mother who lives in Frederick, MD. She wrote The Color of Food, a book of visual and written stories by Black farmers and farmers of color. Her mission is to connect farmers and farming back to their cultural roots. Bowens started a farm called Native Mountain Farm in 2017 with her mother-in-law, Julie. Together, they grow flowers, herbs, and berries and continue their mission through community outreach and activism. Q: Tell me about your background. A: I’m a 38-year-old stay-at-home mom. I grew up in Florida and have been living in Maryland for the past eight years or something like that, but my people are from Greenville, South Carolina. I talk about it in my book—growing up as a biracial kid and then getting into farming and kind of exploring the intersectionalities of food, food justice farming, and the history of this country with farming and slavery and race issues… as soon as I started farming, all of that came out. Q: How was this background related to your inspiration for your book, The Color of Food? A: That’s what really pulled me to dig deeper and explore all those topics. It’s become my passion, really, other than growing the plants and digging in the soil, I just really love being able to dig into race and equality and discrimination and stories and culture that are around and very alive in our seeds, in our food, and in our land. Being a woman of color led to writing 8
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the book and a lot of the other projects that I work on now, with Soul Street and supporting Black businesses in Frederick. I have also launched another project called the Black Lives Mural. I just can’t stop launching projects, it’s just who I am. I feel very connected to continuing to advocate for these issues and continuing to make space for these conversations. Q: You had a lot of conversations in the making of your book. It was all about collecting those stories. A: Yes, absolutely. That’s what led me to it, other than just being a plant nerd and wanting to grow things. I was apprenticing and moving around the country, working on different farms— once I knew that’s what I wanted to do. And that’s what kind of led me to wanting to go out and collect those stories from other farmers who looked like me or had cultural backgrounds like mine. Q: Did you run into any challenges in making your book or collecting stories for your book? A: I had taken a couple years before I got on the road to plan for the book, so as I was putting the ideas together, I was also falling deeper and deeper into the food justice and food sovereignty movements. First, I started out not knowing any other farmers of color and coming faceto-face with the fact that we have such low percentages of farmers of color in this country. But then, once I started following that thread and seeking out those stories and seeking out those farmers, I was completely surrounded
by other farmers of color and leaders in the food justice and food sovereignty movement,. They really encouraged me and helped support the project. Of course, I met a lot of farmers that way and found a lot of organizations that work directly with Black farmers and Native American farmers. I was already planning out what farms I was going to—kind of scheduling those visits. I was expecting to have a lot more challenges as far as showing up. You know, I’m just this girl with a station wagon, and my camera, asking if I could camp out on the farm and listen to their stories. To my surprise, I didn’t have too many of those challenges, because I’d worked for two years to make those connections or at least have the trust of the organizations I was going through. There definitely were some farms where I showed up and farmers were very modest. It took awhile to get them to open up. But by the end of a day or two, chatting, it became clear that farmers are a wealth of knowledge and beautiful stories. Q: Can you tell me about some of your peers or predecessors you admire in this field? A: Oh yes, absolutely. I was very inspired by a lot of Black farmers centralized in upstate New York. One farm in particular is doing amazing work. When I met them, they were just getting started on this track, and now they’re huge: Soulfire Farm, run by Leah Penniman and her family. It’s near Troy, NY, and they have a BIPOC farmer training program. Farmers from all over the country, even internationally, train on their farm, and they’re teaching farming, but they’re also letting folks from marginalized communities come and have a safe space to dig into the culture and history within these communities—teaching how farming can be an act of political resistance and act of freedom, so they’re huge. Another friend and inspiration for me is Dr. Monica White. She teaches out of Madison UW and she is an expert in Black farmer history. She has dug into the history so deep and she’s been a big inspiration for me. Some other farms are Sweet Freedom Farm run by Jalal Sabur--he
NEIGHBORnwork farms and grows and is also doing work around reforming the prison system. He’s working with a lot of formerly imprisoned Black Panther Party members who teach that food and growing on land is our freedom. He does a lot of work around that. And then locally in DC and Baltimore, there are some really great organizations working now. I’m glad to be back connected with folks here, working with the Black Church Food Security Network. They started the Black farmers Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program. We’re going to bring the produce from their Black CSA to our Soul Street farmers markets, and they work with a lot of other Black farmers in the DMV region. Q: You’ve started another new project, Native Mountain Farm. Tell me more about that. A: When I got done with the book, I settled down here in Frederick and started my family. I was working as the community garden coordinator and youth garden club coordinator for the housing authority of the city of Frederick. I wanted to keep passing on the stories of food and culture and race here in Frederick and did that for three years. Then I had two little ones back to back and it was time for me to stay at home and focus on family. After a decade of wanting my own farm, I finally decided I could start building up this farm. It works out that my husband was born on some land in Boonsboro that had been sitting empty and his mom really wanted to rejuvenate the land and build on the wildflower sector there, so she and I decided to start Native Mountain Farm, expand on the flowers, and start building a little diverse ecosystem there on the land. We grow plants to support the pollinators. We also grow fruit trees, herbs, and medicinal plants because that’s what I’m really passionate about. That was in 2017, so we’re now in our fourth season. Q: You’ve said that family and connecting to your culture and your roots are very important. How do you involve both of those things in Native Mountain Farm? A: What I really wanted to focus on
was plants that grow natively along the East Coast and where my people are from—pulling in some of my own food culture background. The first thing that pops in my head was, “I need to raise pigs.” Pigs are soul food in the South, and I had started learning about running pigs through the woods and raising animals in the way that they’re supposed to be raised. But my motherin-law is a vegetarian Buddhist, so she wasn’t very down with pigs on the land. The next idea was pawpaws, which are a great native fruit. They were a big fruit for Black folks and also for Native Americans, so we planted some of those. We also brought in the plant medicines that I feel call to me and have supported my people in the South and here on this land for generations and generations. I continue to learn more about different herbs and plants from Africa and from different parts of the Appalachian area that maybe aren’t connected to my own culture, but (part of) honoring the land and what has sustained people here for thousands of years. I tried to bring those plants in and carry the stories with them. I’m always sticking in things that you don’t normally see in your flower bouquets and I’d love to start doing more things like that in our workshops, intentionally bringing in more of that storytelling and that cultural relevance. Q: What does the future of Native Mountain Farm look like and what do you think about the future of intersectionality in farming? A: I’m just trying to stay open to what’s being called for. I took on the flowers with a business partner because that’s what she wanted to do. I also wanted to expand on the land, but things are starting to shift organically—especially over the last year, with COVID hitting and the Black Lives Matter movement. Things naturally started pushing Native Mountain Farm toward my ultimate dream of being able to support the community. Not only that, but being able to bring the stories and the cultural relevance of the healing plants that we need right now. Also, being able to be more self-sufficient with our health, being able to reconnect with nature and have the farm be a space
where the community can come and heal and have conversations and get together and dream and build together. The future could look like a lot of different things. That’s pretty vague, but I intentionally kept it vague because right now, I’m just following that calling and seeing what happens naturally. Q: How would you recommend gardeners reading this begin to connect with their own cultural backgrounds? A: I feel like when I started farming, it was really hard to find solidarity, but things have really changed over the past 10 years, which is great. There’s so much reading, so many organizations out there, some great videos... There are also some good groups that are ntentional about keeping people connected because we know how lonely it can be, especially rural farming. I’m always jealous of urban farmers because the communities are much closer. I think it’s also important to grow where you’re at. That’s what I did. I had to turn to my own history and trace my own ancestors and their stories, start really digging into my comfort foods and my cultural foods, and digging into the stories of those foods. Tracing the roots of where they come from and everything that carries. It’s a very personal journey to reconnect with our food and our land, so while there’s a whole wealth of resources out there, I would definitely encourage people to sit with the land, sit with the soil, sit with your favorite plants, and see what messages are there for you. Q: Where can our readers go to keep up to date with you and projects you’re working on? A: On my social media! That’s where everybody is putting out the information these days. My instagram is @browngirlfarming and of course, Native Mountain Farm on Facebook. You can also visit my website, nativemountainfarm.com.o Khloe Quill is a journalism major at the University of Maryland, College Park, and an intern this semester with Washington Gardener. She is a native of Frederick, MD. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. MAY 2021
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TIPStricks
Deer-Resistant, SummerFlowering Bulbs
It’s the age-old tale of the gardener versus wildlife: While many people enjoy most forms of backyard fauna, it is discouraging to wake up and find beloved plants in the garden gone, having been a midnight snack for deer. The struggle of trying to find plants and shrubs that look beautiful in the landscape but will not become dinner for deer and other garden mammals is about to get a little easier. One of the most-common questions garden experts get is, “Is it deer-resistant?” While any experienced gardeners will tell you that most deer will try anything once, there are plants they tend to avoid. According to the Garden Media Group, one solution is planting summer-flowering bulbs. Several species of these bulbs provide a beautiful alternative to more-appetizing plants. While Lilies are true “deer candy,” there is a wide range of bulbs that are not on their menu thanks to a bitter-tasting substance most mammals find unappealing. Many of these varieties have a strong fragrance that is appealing to humans and pollinators but will deter deer from feeding on them. Here is a list of Favorite Deer-Resistant Summer Bulbs from Flowerbulbs.com: • African Lily (Agapanthus) • Ornamental Onion (Allium) • Naked Ladies (Amaryllis belladonna) • Begonias (Begonia) • Canna Lily (Canna) • Swamp Lily (Crinum) • Montbretia (Crocosmia) • Dahlia (Dahlia) • Bleeding Heart (Dicentra) • Sword Lily (Gladiolus) • Summer Hyacinth (Galtonia candicans) • Iris (Iris) • Abyssinian Gladiolus (G. callianthus) • Spider Lily (Hymenocallis) • African Corn Lily (Ixia) • Dense Blazing Star (Liatris spicata) • Star-of-Bethlehem (Ornithogalum) • Polyanthus Lily (Polianthes tuberosa) • Tiger Flower (Tigridia) • Calla Lily (Zantedeschia) Note that there are no true deer-proof plants, and many deer, if hungry enough, may take a bite or two of these, but it is unlikely they will cause severe damage. Deer feeding is the heaviest in fall and winter, so be diligent at those times. If there is a plant or section of the garden that is cherished, you can apply a deer repellent to it. This spring, stick to planting stunning, summer-flowering, deer-resistant bulbs. Pesky deer will steer clear and look for a tastier treat. o 10
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How Do Nematodes Help Plants and Soils?
According to the Soil Science Society of America (SSSA) Soils Matter Blog, nematodes normally get a bad reputation. Yes, some of these miniscule creatures can cause harm in plants and animals, but little is known about the non-parasitic nematodes, which have many beneficial roles, writes Ashley Shaw from the University of Oregon. It might be hard to believe, but you may never have seen the most-abundant animal on Earth: soil nematodes. They represent 80 percent of animal life by number and live in nearly every habitat. They are hard-working and important organisms. Soil-dwelling nematodes are tiny—usually between 1/500th to 1/20th of an inch. (But a nematode that lives inside sperm whales is nearly 30 feet long.) Indeed, some of the best-known nematodes are parasites. There are different nematode parasites of plants and animals. That means they live in or on the plant or animal, cannot survive without them, and sometimes kill their hosts (and then move on). But many more nematodes are free-living. In soils, nematodes live in water films that surround soil particles. Both plant-root parasitic and free-living nematodes play an important role in plant health and plant feedback to soil carbon. An incredible variety of soil nematodes exists at all levels of the soil food web. At the base of the food web, some feed on plants and algae, others graze on microbes (bacteria and fungi). At higher levels in the food web, nematodes that are predators and omnivores eat other invertebrates, protists, and even other nematodes. In some cases, “predatory” nematodes are the “good guys,” keeping populations of parasitic nematodes in check. This food web is important to plant health and soil carbon storage. For example, by feeding on bacteria and fungi, microbial grazing nematodes help return nitrogen to the soil through their waste. This makes the nitrogen available again for plant use, which improves plant growth. Nematodes bring other species into the soil food web, too. Some bacteria survive the nematode gut and are deposited along with nematodes’ waste products. Still more hitch a ride on the outside of nematodes’ bodies. As nematodes move around in soil, they deposit bacteria in new places, spreading them around. The bacteria can contribute to and speed the process of decomposition, returning carbon to the soil for storage. But most good things have a limit: At very high populations, nematodes that feed on
bacteria and fungi can reduce their populations. This can lead to lower decomposition and nutrient turnover rates by bacteria and fungi, even reducing plant growth. Plant-parasitic nematodes attack roots using a piercing tool in their mouths. This “stylet” punctures plant cells so it can suck its carbon-rich juices. Some nematodes release chemicals that cause lesions or tumor-like growths on roots. They drain the plant’s strength above- and belowground. In small populations, plant-parasitic nematodes can stimulate root growth, but in high numbers, they destroy roots, stunt aboveground growth, and cause disease. Lower plant growth (of both roots and shoots) leads to lower return of organic material to soil and eventually, lower soil carbon. While the nematode species responsible for plant diseases have received a lot of attention, far less is known about the nonparasitic part of the soil nematode community, which plays mostly beneficial roles in soil. Ensuring a balance between beneficial and plant parasitic nematode groups is important for plant health and its contributions to soil carbon. Generally, plant-root parasitic nematodes harm plant growth and microbial-feeding nematodes improve it, but other nematodes are also important. For example, predatory nematodes play an important role in regulating populations of plant-parasitic and microbial-feeding nematodes. Through their feeding, they keep populations of plant parasites and microbial nematodes in check, which optimize plant growth. However, predatory nematodes are also highly sensitive to environmental changes. Their populations often decline with soil disturbances such as pesticide use, fertilization, tilling, or soil compaction. Situations where soil is heavily managed often lead to very low predator populations and higher populations of harmful groups. Predators are sensitive to changes in rain and temperature, which can also cause an imbalance toward harmful groups. Compost directly provides nutrients and increases soil water retention, improving plant growth. Compost is also changing the soil food web in ways not seen in some of the other treatments in study plots. The soil organic matter in the compost seems to improve soil habitat for predators, supporting the long and complex soil food webs with abundant predatory nematodes that help keep root-parasitic nematode populations in check. The result is that plant disease and root parasitism has declined, leading to greater plant growth and root carbon inputs under compost treatments, which benefits soil carbon storage. o
GARDENnews
Quick Links to Recent Washington Gardener Blog Posts • Hardy Ferns Plant Profile • DIY: Strawberry Decoy Rocks • Bloom Day Blues • Fava Flowers See more Washington Gardener blog posts at: WashingtonGardener.blogspot.com o
May–June Garden To-Do List
New Plant Spotlight
Photos courtesy of Southern Living® Plant Collection.
Hello Darlin’™ & I Declare™ Blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum) From the Southern Living® Plant Collection are two new blueberries. These low-chill blueberries offer a compact dense habit, attractive green summer leaves, and dark-red leaves in fall. They bloom early, followed by lots of sweet, large berries. Multiple varieties increase fruit. They are hardy to USDA Zones 7a to 9b and grow to 4–5′ H x 3– 4′ W. These blueberries prefer slightly acidic soil to thrive. For a blueberry hedge, you can plant them 3 to 4 feet apart, center-to-center. However, for ease of picking and maximum sunlight exposure, it is best to plant blueberry bushes at least 5 feet apart. Developed by the University of Florida, these blueberries attract birds and butterflies to the garden. For more information, see http:// southernlivingplants.com. o
• If you started seeds last month, thin them and start the hardening-off process. • Cut back spent Tulip and Daffodil blooms, but not the foliage! • Divide and replant crowded Daffodils. • Feed your roses and new plantings sparingly with slow-release fertilizer • Provide supports for fast-growing perennials such as delphiniums, peonies, and lilies. • Tie up clematis and other fast-growing climbing vines. • Hose off aphids, white flies, or spider mites on your roses or other perennials. • Deadhead spent blooms on your annuals and perennials to encourage re-flowering. • Water your newly planted shrubs, trees, and perennials. • Weed regularly. • Go on a local house and garden tour to see what plants are thriving in other area home gardens. • Pinch back mums, salvias, and other late-season bloomers to encourage bushy, not leggy, growth. • Check pots and containers daily for water needs. • Plant dahlias, gladioli, caladiums, and cannas. • Direct-sow annual flower seeds. • Thin vegetable seeds sown directly in the garden. • Move your houseplants outdoors for a summer vacation. • Put slug traps around your vulnerable edibles and hostas. • Prune back forsythia, spirea, and other early-spring blooming shrubs. • Check for black spot on your roses—remove and discard any affected leaves in the trash, never back into your garden or in your compost—and apply a fungicide with Neem oil every two weeks during the growing season. • Cut some flowers to enjoy inside—make a small arrangement for every room. • Sow squash and melon seeds. • Plant seedlings or direct-sow sweet potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants. • Fertilize azaleas and rhododendrons, if needed. • Divide crowded perennials and share them. • Turn your compost pile. • Start a water garden or renew yours for the season. • Mark and photograph your bulb plantings now, while they are still visible. • Keep a sharp eye out for fungal diseases and pests. • Replace cool-season annuals with heat-loving ones. • Be vigilant for mosquito breeding spots—any standing water, from a bottle-cap to blocked gutters—and clean them out immediately. Ask your surrounding neighbors to do the same. Put Mosquito Dunks in any areas that accumulate water. • Plant tomatoes and peppers. To start them off right, put in cages/stakes at same time as you plant them, so you do not disturb their roots later. Place a collar (cardboard tube or cat-food can) around the tender plants to prevent cut worms. Put crushed eggshells first in the planting hole of tomatoes for extra calcium and mix lime in the soil surrounding the plant to prevent blossom-end rot. Fertilize with kelp extract or fish emulsion. • Hand-pick cabbage worms from cabbage and broccoli. o MAY 2021
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HORThaenings
5/17/2021
Beltsville.jpg
By Khloe Quill
Leesburg Flower and Garden Festival
On April 17–18, Washington Gardener set up shop at the Leesburg Flower and Garden Festival, trying to keep our sign from flying away amid early-morning gusts of wind. Vendors sold a variety of goods, from edible seedling plants like tomatoes and kale, to decorative plants like a bonsai ginkgo tree. The event was moved this year to the Ida Lee Park right outside of the usual downtown Leesburg, VA, location, to enable greater social distancing. The festival is always held on the third weekend in April and this year, it was completely sold out in advance, although “sold” may not be the right word since tickets, while limited to specific entry times, were free.
Chevy Chase Garden Club Tour
On May 2, members of the historic Chevy Chase Village community opened their gardens to visitors as part of the Garden Club of Chevy Chase’s annual garden tour. As with most events happening right now, visitors were required to wear masks and tour spots were limited. In fact, the event was sold out. Those lucky enough to purchase a ticket were free to explore six charming, 5/17/2021
private gardens. There was comfortable space in every garden for appropriate social distancing. Each garden offered unique plantings and container designs. There were inspirational and aspirational spaces for entertaining, relaxing, and observing nature. Several of the residences backed on to a nearby golf course and all were within easy walking distance from each other, making the tour an enjoyable and relaxed experience. ChevyChase.HEIC
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1RsR6_giYNAJ0dM-x4xRjoao4Yf4Y9apO
Beltsville Garden Club Plant Sale
On May 1, the Beltsville Garden Club held its annual in-person plant sale at the Roosevelt Center parking lot in Greenbelt, MD. This was a change in location from the club’s normal one at High Point High School after skipping the 2020 plant sale cycle. Melissa Mackey, the club’s president, was thrilled to once again host an inperson event. “Everyone is so passionate about gardening. Beltsville is a big gardening community and we love our members,” said Mackey. Club volunteers operate the nearby Duckworth School’s greenhouse and 1/1 the plant sales provide income for it.
Silver Spring Garden Club GardenMart On May 8, the Silver Spring Garden Club hosted its annual GardenMart at Brookside Gardens in Wheaton, MD. The outdoor sale was packed with (masked) individuals from the start and most plant selections sold out within the first hour. At noon, there was a raffle that included donated prizes such as a Trader Joe’s Italian dinner kit, gift certificates to local businesses, and cicada brood X T-shirts. o Khloe Quill is a journalism major at the University of Maryland and an intern this semester with Washington Gardener. 12
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TOP AREA GARDENING EVENTS Classes and Tours • May 15-23, 9am–8pm Beyond the Garden Gates Garden Tour In lieu of featuring private gardens for a single weekend, this year’s tour will showcase 15 stunning public spaces that can be visited during a week-long, self-guided walking tour of downtown Frederick, MD. See full details at www. celebratefrederick.com/calendar-event/ beyond-the-garden-gates-garden-tour/. • Saturday, May 29, 10am—11:30 am Ground Covers: Great Alternatives to Turf Grass Groundcovers are low-growing plants that serve many purposes in the landscape, from limiting weed growth to stabilizing slopes to adding texture to your garden. Find out more about these beautiful, hard-working plants and the best kinds to use for the Mid-Atlantic region. Fee: $12/FOBG $10. To learn more and to register online, go to: https:// apm.activecommunities.com/montgomerycounty/Activity_Search/102053. • Saturday, June 5 and Sunday, June 6. 12noon–5pm Annapolis Secret Garden Tour The 2021 tour features private gardens in the Historic District. Murray Hill, the area between West Street and Spa Creek, holds a beautiful collection of homes built in various periods and architectural styles. The 130-year-old community with its tree-lined streets is the perfect setting for an afternoon of garden exploration. All the gardens featured in 2021 epitomize the goals of the home gardener: to have a beautiful space filled with flowers, trees, shrubs, grasses, and other garden elements; a space that is a pleasure to live in and inspirational to work in. Tickets for the tour are $30 in advance and $35 the day of the event. Details: https://hammondharwoodhouse.org/event/secretgarden-tour2020/. • Saturday, June 5, 10am–3pm Gardens of Note: Reston Garden Tour Experience the sights, sounds, and aromas of five notable private residential gardens in Reston on the self-guided 2021 Gardens of Note tour, including pop-up musical performances. Present-
ed by The Reston Chorale and the Reston Garden Club. Fee: $20 in advance and $25 on tour day. Tickets and more information at restonchorale.org. • Saturday, June 6, 12n Franciscan Monastery Garden Tour Hosted by the Potomac Rose Society. With more than 1,000 roses, along with many trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals, and herbs, the monastery garden is pure delight for the senses. Enjoy a guided tour of this oasis in the city, just in time to see the roses in full bloom. After the tour, plan to meet up with fellow rose enthusiasts for a socially distanced BYO picnic in Angel Park, directly adjacent to the monastery parking lot. The Franciscan Monastery is located at 1400 Quincy St. NE, Washington, DC 20017. Ample free parking is available. Free and open to the public. RSVP at potomacrose.org. • Saturday, June 12, 11am–12pm Attractive and Lasting Plant Combinations Explore playing with color, form, and texture in the perennial/shrub border with Washington Gardener Magazine publisher, Kathy Jentz. This virtual, image-heavy talk includes tried-and-true combinations, as well as some daring new mixes to experiment with in your own home garden. Take notes and get inspired with the formulas for beautiful plant combinations. A link for the program will be sent via email up to an hour before the program start time. Fee: $18 per person. Register online at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/parktakes (code CDV.0K4P). • Saturday, June 12, 10am—1pm and June 26, 10am—3pm 20th Country Gardens Tour and Perennial Plant Sale The Mountain Laurel Garden Club will present two important events in June. Both events are held rain or shine (no pets). The plant sale is on June 12 in downtown Oakland, MD, (no admission fee) and includes many native plants from members’ gardens that are proven to thrive in western Maryland. The Country Gardens Tour is on June 26, features a farm theme, and includes two unique gardens in farm settings plus one extensive residential
garden. All are within a five-mile radius in the town of Accident in northern Garrett County, MD. Tickets for the tour are $10.00. For tickets and more information, contact Betsy Potts at bhpotts04@hotmail.com.
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 June 5 for the June 2021 issue, for events taking place after June 15. o
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 episode includes an overview of grafting fruit trees and how to grow tropical plants locally. You can become a listener-supporter for as little as $0.99 per month! See: https://anchor.fm/gardendc/ support. You can listen online at https:// anchor.fm/gardendc or at our blog: https://washingtongardener. blogspot.com/. We are available on Spotify, Apple, RadioPublic, Breaker, PocketCasts, Overcast, and Google Podcasts. o MAY 2021
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FLOWERpower
Simplify with a Garden Full of White Flowers
garden look lighter. White is the color of quiet relaxation, and your garden is the perfect place for this! In addition to white annuals and perennials, you could extend the flowering season by planting flower bulbs that will produce white flowers in your garden. You can then start enjoying these beautiful little garden gems as early as January. Flower bulbs that produce white flowers are available in many different varieties and sizes. If you want small, delicate flowers, choose snowdrops (Galanthus). These are the earliest flower bulbs to produce white flowers. They are also a good flower bulb for naturalizing. This means they will produce more flowers every year. In addition to snowdrops, you might want to choose spring snowflakes (Leucojum vernum), white grape hyacinths (Muscari), crocuses (Crocus), and anemones (Anemone blanda). Many flower bulb varieties produce large white flowers. Tulips (Tulipa) are the most popular. There are many kinds of white tulips, too: double-flowered, fringed, and lily-flowered varieties, to name a few. Did you know that not all daffodils are yellow? Some narcissus varieties are white. And then there are the large, white-flowered ornamental onions (Allium), nodding star-of-Bethlehem (Ornithogalum nutans), hyacinths (Hyacinthus), and foxtail lilies (Eremurus); each will make a garden sparkle. See more information about the various flower bulbs that produce white flowers at bulb.com. In addition to bulbs, other white-flowering plants to consider include annuals like alyssum, impatiens, and petunias as well as perennials, vines, and shrubs like peonies, roses, clematis, and iris. Fringe tree and white-flowering Crape myrtles can anchor the design. Finally, mix in variegated foliage plants such as hostas and grasses for a pleasingly harmonious effect. o
Photo credit: iBulb.com
Having so much stuff yet being concerned about our environment is changing our ethical sensibilities, according to the folks at iBulb.com. Accepting our responsibility means leading a simpler lifestyle. If you want simplicity in your garden, start by decluttering for a crisp, clean look. Replace the clutter by choosing flower bulbs in just the right color; the result will be energy instead of stress. Decluttering is a pretty handy term these days. Being surrounded with too much stuff doesn’t make us any happier; in fact, it has an adverse effect on our sense of well-being. Getting rid of what you don’t need is like clearing your head. And not having all those knickknacks around is also better for the environment. So get real and get responsible: Go for a simple, sustainable garden design. The new, uncluttered look will create a sense of clarity and openness. You can then think about recycling items since things you might once have thrown away could actually be attractive. Reusing things can give you more satisfaction than buying something new. A simplified garden without all that stuff has a very relaxing effect. It’s the way to go for an uncluttered look and a feeling of calm. Toss out everything without a practical function or, better yet, give it to someone who needs it. Reuse old bags or plant containers and take a good look at your garden bench— you probably don’t need a new one yet. Green foliage enhances the feeling of serenity, but so do flowers in blue and black tones. White flowers such as daffodils, hyacinths, and spring snowflakes add an extra hint of harmony and simplicity. Plant them in a simple arrangement to get the most enjoyment from them later. Some of us love splashes of color in our gardens, but many others are delighted by the tranquility of white. This is because white actually makes a
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EDIBLEharvt
The “Other” Radish Harvests
By Kathy Jentz
Radishes are the easiest vegetables to grow! This is the edible I recommend to anyone starting off a school garden or introducing their children to gardening. Not only is it super-easy, but it is very quick to germinate and can be harvested in a month or so (depending on the variety). To grow radishes, you start from seeds. Pick a sunny spot in the early spring or early fall. (You can also grow them in containers.) Take a stick and draw a ¼" deep line in the soil, then gently drop your seeds in. Try to space them out as best you can. Seed tape can help with this, but don’t get too obsessive about it. If the seedlings come up too crowded together, then you thin* them to make space for the strongest ones to continue on and grow to full size. Keep the radishes watered, but not overly saturated, if it does not rain regularly. You’ll know when to harvest them when their shoulders start to show above the soil surface, but you can harvest them early and eat them if 16
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you like or leave them in the soil for an extra week or so. Just don’t wait too long because they start to get tough and woody when left in the ground past their peak. It is best to harvest them and store them in your refrigerator where they can last several weeks. I like my radishes straight from the garden—freshly washed and with a dash of salt. Some people like to slather on butter and layer them on a good bread for a radish sandwich. You can also slice them into salads and any stir-fry dish. There are milder forms of radishes, if the classic ‘Cherry Belle’ and ‘French Breakfast’ are too “hot” for you. Try some of the white ‘Icicle’ radish or a ‘Watermelon’ radish. Some people say the more consistently you water and the faster the radishes grow, the milder their taste will be. Your mileage may vary. If your radishes are being chewed on, suspect slugs. Sprinkle some diatomaceous earth or Sluggo (iron phosphate) around them.
Bonus Radish Harvests
Did you know that you can eat the tiny radish seedlings that you thin out? These “thinnings” or micro-greens can be added raw to a salad or thrown on a sandwich. The radish foliage is also edible. I recommend wilting the radish leaves (greens) and sautéing them in oil or butter and garlic to cut some of the sharpness. You can eat them raw, but I find them too strong on their own and prefer to add just a couple leaves to a mixed salad of milder lettuce greens. The seed pods are edible, too! If the radishes “bolt” (go to flower and then to seed), let them. Then collect the seed pods while they are still fresh and green to eat them straight or use them in a stir-fry. They taste like—well, radishes!— although a bit milder and with a hint of cabbage-ness. Many people also pickle them, which I plan to try this year. There are even varieties of radishes that are grown for producing larger seed pods, rather than developing the radishes themselves. Look in seed catalogs for ‘Rat’s Tail’ or ‛Edible Podded’ radish. By the way, the radish flowers can be eaten, too, but don’t harvest too many, because you want plenty of those seed pods to grow and develop as well! You can also collect the dried seeds to eat. Sprinkle them on a cold pasta salad for a bit of nutty crunch. Of course, save some of those extra dried seeds to use for the next growing season. Be sure to label your seeds and keep them in a dry spot, like a small glass jar, to start the process all over again next fall or spring. o Kathy Jentz is the editor and founder of Washington Gardener.
15th Annual Washington Gardener Philadelphia Flower Show Tour Organized by Washington Gardener Magazine Wednesday, June 9, 2021 ~ 10:00AM-10:00PM Leaving and returning from downtown Silver Spring, MD
The Philadelphia Flower Show is the oldest and largest flower show in the world. The theme for 2021 is “Habitat.” Most of the show this year will be OUTDOORS. Our trip is rain or shine and we ask you to be prepared for any kind of possible weather. This is going to be different and a real adventure! Schedule for the day: (Note these are approximate times ~ traffic may affect arrival and departure timing.) • 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 FDR Park 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. Goody bag 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.)
Full refund if canceled by May 25, 2021. $40 refunded until June 1, 2021. No refunds after June 1, 2021.
Questions? Kathy Jentz kathyjentz@gmail.com www.WashingtonGardener.com
Brought to you by:
Code 6/9 Silver Spring
Name _______________________________________________________________ Address______________________________________________________________ Phone number________________________________________________________ Email________________________________________________________________ Name of seatmate_____________________________________________________ We will try to seat groups together, but cannot guarantee group seating. Name of group _______________________________________________________ __ Print and Sign Waiver Form* and attached to this form with payment. __ I have been full vaccinated for COVID-19, *Waiver required. Email kathyjentz@gmail.com for form.
Registration deadline: May 25, 2021
Fee: $105.00 each $100.00 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
Walk through floral wonderlands, enjoy new plants on display, and shop the vendors’ tempting array of goodies. MAY 2021
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BOOKreviews
The Modern Homestead Garden: Growing Self-Sufficiency in Any Size Backyard Author: Gary Pilarchik Publisher: Cool Springs Press List price: $24.99 Order link: https://amzn.to/3w6rRSE Reviewer: Khloe Quill The Modern Homestead Garden is my final book review for my time with Washington Gardener and it’s a fitting closer. This book returns to the roots of gardening once more and lays out the basics so that even the newest gardeners can understand it. Chapter headings when you first open the pages give a good roadmap of the work ahead, allowing the reader to skip back and forth as needed, depending on their comfort level as a gardener. While it may seem similar to previous “beginner” books I’ve reviewed, what makes this one stand out is its matter-of-fact approach to imperfection. Narrative structure flips from formal to informal and includes blurbs that are presumably from the author himself. One example is in Chapter 3, which opens with “I love buying vegetable seeds.” and then a paragraph that lays out what the author does when selecting their own seeds. I like hearing what gardeners have done in their own gardens and modeling what I do after their methods. These first-person accounts help blend together the information I’m digesting and its practical application. Issues discussed in this book include building your first garden with examples of both containers and beds. There are 18
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also multiple chapters about the health and selection of seeds. Something I liked a lot about this book is how many pictures there were, which seems childish, but it’s important when considering the massive visual element there is to gardening. So much of the work draws on knowing whether something “looks right,” so it’s nice to have eye-catching references page after page. Some of the photos serve as guides, while others can be best described as “motivation.”—Just take a look at the cover!—I want my carrots to look that good! Scattered throughout the book are graphics that help to understand certain concepts introduced by each chapter. For example, in the section about container growing, one chart gives appropriate container sizes based on what vegetables you’re growing and then tells the reader the appropriate soil volume to use, along with other tips for growing at that size. Overall, The Modern Homestead Garden has a good message: “Nature designed plants to thrive.” There is an emphasis on the freedom to make mistakes; the text slips in little reminders that gardening isn’t always an exact science. o Khloe Quill is a journalism major at the University of Maryland, College Park, and an intern this semester with Washington Gardener. She is a native of Frederick, MD.
The Vegetable Garden Pest Handbook: Identify and Solve Common Pest Problems on Edible Plants—All Natural Solutions! Author: Susan Mulvihill Publisher: Cool Springs Press List Price: $27.99 Order Link: https://amzn.to/3uUYjay Reviewer: Erica H. Smith Sometimes, a reviewer just has to take a deep breath, stare longingly into a book’s front cover, let out a heartfelt, “WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN ALL MY LIFE?,” and then get on with the review. This book may not be the ideal dream reference guide to insect pests I’ve always wanted, but it is darn close. Just having a book that covers nearly all of the nasty little bugs that attack our vegetable plants, and in fact does more (but not too much more), is fantastic.
It’s not a doorstopper guide to every insect you might find in your landscape no matter where you live in the U.S., which can be useful but overwhelming; it’s also not a guide to growing vegetables that mentions a few pests offhand that somehow are never the ones you’ve encountered in your own patch. It is the just-right Goldilocks find of the garden book world. All right, I should stop staring into the front cover now. It features an adult and larval Colorado potato beetle duo, far larger than life, that are beautifully photographed and actually kind of adorable, getting ready to star in their own Pixar movie, but I do know from experience that they’re trouble. Better flip to the entry on Colorado potato beetles and find out about their life cycle, what they feed on, what damage they do, who their predators are, and what to do to control them. Or, if I know what plant they’re on but not what they are, I could go to the plant chart and look up potatoes, read down the list of potential problems, and identify the pests that way. Or I could go to the mugshot gallery in the back of the book, with photos of all the insects (and relatives) profiled, and skim through that until I recognize the bug I’m looking for. Overall, this book is a guide to organic vegetable gardening methods that focuses on control of insect pests and their “buggy” friends, including arachnids like spider mites, crustaceans like pillbugs, and mollusks like slugs and snails. The bulk of the book covers these pests plus some beneficial insects (also good to be able to
BOOKreviews recognize!), but the beginning section introduces concepts of organic gardening, including cultural practices like soil improvement and crop rotation, integrated pest management without the use of synthetic chemicals, and attracting beneficial insects and birds. This provides appropriate context without going into excessive detail. Later on in the book, a chapter covers organic controls such as diatomaceous earth, kaolin clay, and row covers, with pros and cons plus information about how and when to use them. Another section gives instructions for projects like putting a row cover top over a raised bed, building an insect hotel for beneficials, and making various pest traps. The book describes 32 pests—actually more, since some of the entries cover several related species. That’s not every single pest you might encounter in your garden, but it’s most of them, and after reading the book, you’ll have the tools to investigate and identify others. With veggie garden pests, it’s important to find out early what’s doing the damage and start dealing with the problem before it gets out of control. Sometimes, that means leaving it alone and letting beneficial insects or other helpers take care of it; sometimes it means removing pests by hand; sometimes it may mean spraying a pesticide, but that’s usually the last resort. Prevention is always better than treatment. This book will give you the tools you need to handle all sorts of pest infestations before they overwhelm your garden, and to make your garden healthier overall. If this book had more pages, here’s what I would have liked to see: even more photos, including of egg masses; range maps for the pests, because we only have most of them here in the DMV, not all of them; and references to scientific studies (if they exist) showing that the control methods suggested will actually work. That said, this book is close to perfect and definitely one to recommend to vegetable gardeners at all levels of experience, especially beginners. Encountering pests when you don’t expect them can be so disheartening; here’s a resource that will encourage, educate, and help. o
Erica H. Smith is a Montgomery County Master Gardener whose volunteer activities include the Master Gardener Demonstration Garden in Derwood, MD, the Grow It Eat It program, and speaking engagements on food-growing topics. She is the author of several novels; visit her website at ericahsmith.wordpress.com.
The First-Time Gardener: Growing Plants and Flowers Authors: Sean and Allison McManus Publisher: Cool Springs Press List Price: $26.99 Order Link: https://amzn.to/2RkItY5 Reviewer: Stacey Evers If you have a new or aspiring gardener in your life, hand them Sean and Allison McManus’ book before they can get a trowel in the ground. If you’re the newbie, treat yourself! Promoted as “all the know-how you need to plant and tend outdoor areas using eco-friendly methods,” nearly half of the book is devoted to laying the foundation so budding gardeners can grow successfully once it’s time to press seeds into the soil. In their Spoken Garden podcast and website, the McManuses have developed a simple, direct, and efficient brand that appeals to learners of all types, and they stick to that approach here. Instead of pdfs, videos, and podcasts, though, they use bullet lists; big, clear photos and graphics with clean backgrounds; step-by-step instructions; and boldly framed sidebars to set off hacks and tips. Seven of the eight chapters wrap up with a list of key takeaways from each chapter and directions for how to “dig deeper” by watching a video in the online companion guide. True to its title, the book starts at the very beginning of gardening by answering basic questions: What makes a plant a plant? What’s a perennial? What are the parts of a plant and how does a plant grow? What does a plant need to survive and thrive? Every gardener needs to know the answers to these questions, but some may feel too intimidated to ask them in a workshop or other public forum. From there, the McManuses discuss the “right plant, right place” mantra of good gardening in a chapter about planning and design. Other chapters cover
tools, planting tips, above- and belowground care such as deadheading and creating healthy soil, and how to avoid common garden problems like wildlife and drainage issues. The authors are especially strong when it comes to showing how to do a task. For example, several pages address how to apply mulch. Photos demonstrate each step, from loading and emptying a wheelbarrow to keeping the mulch away from plant tissue. This is exactly what new gardeners need and the next-best thing to having someone stand in their yard to show them how to do it. The photo tutorial is followed by a double-page spread of different types of naturally sourced mulch, like pine needles and straw, and explanations of their benefits. The authors give similar attention to proper pruning methods. Ornamental gardeners seem to be the primary target audience. If you want a veggie garden, though, this book will get you started—and will even let you know which of your weeds you can eat. Throughout, the McManuses emphasize eco-friendliness, including pest control methods where chemicals don’t figure in. Since 2019, this horticulturist and former middle school science teacher have been on a mission to educate others about “smart, sustainable garden care.” Growing Plants and Flowers is a relatively new medium for them, but they know how to use it as effectively as video and speech. o Stacey Evers is director of Grow a Row FC in Virginia and co-chair of the Fairfax Food Council’s Urban Ag Work Group. MAY 2021
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BOOKreviews
Tropical Plants and How to Love Them: Building a Relationship with HeatLoving Plants When You Don’t Live In the Tropics Author: Marianne Willburn Publisher: Cool Springs Press Order Link: https://amzn.to/3ojg68J Reviewer: Jim Dronenburg Disclaimer: the reviewer is a friend of the author, and a reasonably near neighbor. For some of us, the theme of this book is a bitter pill to swallow. That theme is, “Use tropicals, but don’t feel you have to keep every one of them forever.” It does seem wasteful to those of us who are, well, cheap. But for those who want to use tropicals or at least tropical-seeming things in their garden plantings or in containers, the number of available plants has swollen to a great flood. In point of fact, you have to make choices at the end of a planting season. This book points out that quite a lot of our bedding plants (and if it comes to that, quite a few of our annuals) could be carried over from year to year. The question becomes whether you can tide over every tropical thing, and is it, in fact, worth the bother. The book suggests that you categorize your tropical plants into four groups—the Summer Romance, the Long-Term Commitment, the Best Friend, and the High-Maintenance Partner. There is a fifth group, Friends with Benefits, but to your reviewer, the first four are the biggies. Summer Romances are over with the summer. Don’t bother trying to 20
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keep them for another growing season. Think—would you keep all your bedding begonias? Save the effort for other things that are more rewarding. A Long-Term Commitment is a plant that looks great indoors and then over the summer, looks great outside. These are sturdy, can take some abuse, are adaptable to a lower light (even a south window is not the same sort of light as outdoors), and generally take time to mature. Best Friends are plants that can be stored dormant or semi-dormant. Yes, there is work here, but not as much as things that have to be kept growing. High-Maintenance Partners are the challenges. They are not as happy as Long-Term Commitments to be indoors, and will not go dormant. The book gives treatment and/or storage methods and tips for all four categories. It points out that plants die. It’s okay. And perhaps more to the point, you may decide that the thing you have busted buns to keep over years is too big, or needs too much effort for you to indulge it any more. Give it away or let it die. Things change, you change. Guilt is not necessary nor productive here. The concept may be called trite by some—and Willburn says as much—but after fighting the concept for most of the book, your reviewer has to admit there’s truth here. Look at what you can do. Look at the storage methods involved. Admittedly, the author has more land to fill and a house rather than an apartment, but on the other hand, she makes it easy to decide which things can be kept, and if so, how to keep them. The methods work no matter how much, or little, space you have. And, of course, there’s Willburn’s signature writing, with some lovely zingers every so often. Toward the back, there is a small selection about individual plants/genera/families, with hints on how to keep them. It still pays to do your homework, but it’s a good jumping-off point. The section on “Friends with Benefits” describes tropicals you can eat parts of, or use parts of. This book is, perhaps, short on text.
It is not a volume to look up any plant that comes down the pike. But it does give general ideas, and in the back, there are sources of tropicals and a quite-extensive list for farther reading. The pictures, however, are stunning. If it were the pictures alone, it would be a magnificent coffee table book, full of design ideas. Most, if not all, are by the author. The pictures are almost all labeled as to where they were, if not in the author’s garden. Granted, there are a lot from Chanticleer in Pennsylvania. Those people have used tropicals for years in a way that most people need a lifetime to learn. But other gardens, case in point the author’s, are relatively young and get remarkable results despite that “youth.” Tropicals, in fact, give a lot of bang for the buck. There is a lot to learn from this book. It’s well worth getting, if you have any love for the tropical look and have any kind of storage capacity. Well worth reading if you love the look and don’t have storage capacity. And if there’s no way you can keep anything over… see Group One, “Summer Romance.” o Jim Dronenburg is a retired accountant and now gardens full-time in Knoxville, MD.
The Secret Life of Bees Author: Moira Butterfield Illustrator: Vivian Mineker Publisher: The Quarto Group List Price: $19.95 Link: https://amzn.to/3fp5X6g Reviewer: Kathy Jentz This enchanting children’s book is chock-full of honeybee facts and fictional stories from around the world. This is not just one story to sit down and read at bedtime. It is a volume full of everything you ever wanted to know about honeybees, as well as fantasy tales to go to sleep by and dream about later. It is beautifully illustrated and the art is full of little details that remind me of my favorite children’s book artist, Richard Scarry. If you have a youngster in your life who is at all interested in the natural world, this book should find itself into their hands. o Kathy Jentz is the editor and founder of Washington Gardener Magazine.
INSECTindex
In a Real Pickle:
Dealing with Pickleworm
By Carol Allen
First it was cicadas and now it is pickleworm! Will 2021 ever stop? Pickleworm (Diaphania nitidalis) is a tropical moth that can disperse from Florida all the way up to Maine when the weather conditions are right. It may not make it that far every year. It overwinters in Florida, treating that state with about four generations per year. We may see pickleworm in late summer to early fall. Its preferred host plants are cucurbits, as its name suggests. The moths are weirdly handsome and a little over an inch from wing tip to wing tip. Their upper and lower wings are bordered by a wide stripe of dusky brown. The centers are translucent yellow with an iridescent purple cast. Both sexes have “brushy hairpencils” at the tips of their abdomens. This is a cluster of fibers looking very much like a little feather duster. The adults can be seen in the early evening, occasionally coming to outdoor lights. Not only are they sexually active at night, but egg laying is also done at night. They lay their tiny eggs in clusters on the buds, flowers, and growth tips of the host plants. Hatching occurs in about four days and the lar-
vae feed for about 14 days, changing from nearly white to green with black spots to finally a copper color as pupation nears. They are found on summer and winter squash, cucumbers, cantaloupe, and—rarely—watermelon. Their preferred egg-laying location of buds and blossoms makes control difficult. Commercial growers spray just before bloom with pesticides that have
some residual action. Spraying late in the day after the bees have ceased activity is also another strategy. Covering the plants with exclusion fabric will keep out the pollinators, so is not practical for commercial growers. Home growers can capitalize on the daytime activity of bees and the night-time egg-laying activity of the pickleworm. Take off the protective covers during the day, letting the bees pollinate, and cover the plants up at night to prevent the egg-laying. Home gardeners can also apply the entomopathogenic nematode Steinernema carpocapsae as a means of control. Nematodes can die very quickly in dry conditions, so care must be taken in application timing. An early planting of squash can also be an effective means of avoidance. It takes a few months of hot weather before they get this far north. Bring it on, 2021, we are ready for this one! 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. Photo of Pickleworm (Diaphania nitidalis) larvae by Pat Zungoli, Invasive.org. Photo of Diaphania nitidalis adult by Natasha Wright, CC BY 3.0 US, via Wikimedia Commons.
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BIRDwatch
Gray Catbird By Cecily Nabors Is that a bird calling over there at the edge of the garden, or is it a cat? Well, it’s a Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis). When a catbird arrives from wherever they spent the colder months (southern coastal U.S. or Central America), the males begin singing. Related to mockingbirds and thrashers, these members of the mimic thrush family often imitate other birds, but seldom repeats himself. His lively conversational song, interspersed with cat-like mews, makes him a cheerful companion in our yards. “The catbirds have such an attractive song that it is extremely irritating that at any moment they may interrupt it to mew and squeal,” wrote Theodore Roosevelt in his autobiography. I’ll add that it’s often easier to hear the bird’s long, squeaky song than to see the singer. Dressed in shadowy gray with a black cap, the birds often sing from inside shrubs or viny thickets. (Perhaps those safe places of leafy concealment are the real “catbird seat.”) When the birds forage on the ground, they often cock their long tails, revealing chestnut undertail coverts. Catbirds nest in those same viny, tangled thickets or dense shrubs. My Kentucky grandfather always had catbirds nesting in a big lilac on the side of his porch. He claimed it was the same pair every year, but I have my doubts; it was just a perfect place for a secretive bird to nest. Catbirds’ untidy, cup-shaped nests are 22
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made of twigs, weeds, grass, and other greenery, often lined with fine rootlets. The female incubates the eggs; the male brings food or guards the nest while she forages. There are usually three or four chicks in a catbird brood, with two broods in a summer. Both parents bring soft-bodied insects to feed the babies. And let’s hear it for catbird smarts: This is one of only about a dozen species known to recognize cowbird eggs and eject them from the nest—an ability that is learned, not innate, according to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Gray Catbirds can be aggressive in defending their territories against threats. Once, I heard two catbirds fussing loudly. They didn’t flee as I approached the large open bush they were in, but kept hopping about, yelling, fanning their tails, and flaring their wings. When I got closer, I saw the cause: a black rat snake! It was twined in several figure-eights around the bush’s internal branches. The birds danced around the snake, dashing in and trying to peck or claw at it. The snake took no notice for a while, but I saw it flinch occasionally as a bird hit it. Then it apparently decided to vacate, lowered its head, and began to flow down. Catbirds: 1, Snake: 0. What do Gray Catbirds eat? Mostly insects and berries. In early summer, their diet is rich in insects; beetles, ants, caterpillars, grasshoppers, crickets, and
all. This year, a prime feature on the menu will doubtless be cicadas. By late summer and on into their autumn migration, Gray Catbirds will use berries and other fruit as their mainstays. No summer yard is complete without the presence of a catbird. Luring them in is easy. Shelter + Food = Happy Birds. A cluster of shrubs near deciduous trees will provide good places for shelter, and nesting, too. And the food side of the equation? Catbird magnets include native fruitproducers like serviceberry, dogwoods, crabapple, nannyberry, winterberry, and greenbrier. Don’t spray pesticides unless you absolutely must; the birds will decimate the insects for you. Catbirds will also enjoy a suet feeder and a place to take a bath. For me, the Gray Catbird is an eagerly awaited avian migrant that usually arrives in my yard in mid-April. Every birder probably has a different favorite, but for many people, the renewed presence of these birds, their music, and beauty, mean so much after a cold, dark winter. When our blithe companion reappears, we know the great cycle of life is continuing as it should. We are sitting in the catbird seat. 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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MARCH/APRIL 2005 • Landscape DIY vs. Pro • Prevent Gardener’s Back • Ladew Topiary Gardens • Cherry Trees
MAY/JUNE 2007 • Roses: Easy Care Tips • Native Roses & Heirloom Roses • Edible Flowers • How to Plant a Bare-root Rose
MAY/JUNE 2005 • Stunning Plant Combinations • Turning Clay into Rich Soil • Wild Garlic • Strawberries
JULY/AUGUST 2007 • Groundcovers: Alternatives to Turfgrass • How to Pinch, Prune, & Dead-head • William Paca House & Gardens • Hardy Geraniums
JULY/AUGUST 2005 • Water Gardens • Poison Ivy • Disguising a Sloping Yard • Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2007 • Succulents: Hardy to our Region • Drought-Tolerant Natives • Southern Vegetables • Seed Saving Savvy Tips
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2005 • Container Gardens • Clematis Vines • Sponge Gardening/Rain Gardens • 5 Insect Enemies of Gardeners
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2007 • Gardening with Children • Indoor Bulb-Forcing Basics • National Museum of the American Indian • Versatile Viburnums
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2005 • Backyard Bird Habitats • Hellebores • Building a Coldframe • Bulb Planting Basics
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2008 • Dealing with Deer • Our Favorite Garden Tools • Delightful Daffodils
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2006 • Garden Decor Principles • Primroses • Tasty Heirloom Veggies • U.S. Botanic Garden MARCH/APRIL 2006 • Top 10 Small Trees and Large Shrubs • Azaleas • Figs, Berries, & Persimmons • Basic Pruning Principles MAY/JUNE 2006 • Using Native Plants in Your Landscape • Crabgrass • Peppers • Secret Sources for Free Plants JULY/AUGUST 2006 • Hydrangeas • Theme Gardens • Agave • Find Garden Space by Growing Up SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2006 • Shade Gardening • Hosta Care Guide • Fig-growing Tips and Recipes NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2006 • Horticultural Careers • Juniper Care Guide • Winter Squash Growing Tips and Recipes • Layer/Lasagna Gardening
SUMMER 2009 • Grow Grapes in the Mid-Atlantic • Passionflowers • Mulching Basics • Growing Hops
MARCH/APRIL 2008 • Patio, Balcony, Rooftop Container Gardens • Our Favorite Garden Tools • Coral Bells (Heuchera)
T!
U MAY/JUNE 2008 DO SOL • Growing Great Tomatoes UT! O • Glamorous Gladiolus LD ! SO • Seed-Starting OUT Basics D L •SFlavorful Fruiting Natives O
JULY/AUGUST 2008 • Landscaping with Ornamental Grasses • Edible Grasses to Graze On • Slug and Snail Control • Sage Advice: Sun-Loving Salvias SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2008 • Autumn Edibles — What to Plant Now • Beguiling Barrenworts (Epimediums) • Best Time to Plant Spring-blooming Bulbs • 14 Dry Shade Plants Too Good to Overlook NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2008 • Outdoor Lighting Essentials • How to Prune Fruiting Trees, Shrubs, Vines • 5 Top Tips for Overwintering Tender Bulbs • Harry Lauder’s Walking Stick JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2009 • Compost Happens: Nature’s Free Fertilizer • Managing Stormwater with a Rain Garden • Visiting Virginia’s State Arboretum • Grow Winter Hazel for Winter Color
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2007 • Indoor Gardening • Daphne Care Guide • Asparagus Growing Tips and Recipes • Houseplant Propagation
MARCH/APRIL 2009 ! OUT Tips D • 40+ Free and Low-cost Local Garden SOL ! T • Spring Edibles Planting Guide OU LDfor a Fresh Start • Testing YourSO Soil ! Selection and Care UTTree • Redbud O LD Viewing Spots for Virginia Bluebells • SOBest
MARCH/APRIL 2007 • Stormwater Management • Dogwood Selection & Care Guide • Early Spring Vegetable Growing Tips • Franciscan Monastery Bulb Gardens
MAY/JUNE 2009 • Top Easy Summer Annuals for DC Heat • Salad Table Project • Grow and Enjoy Eggplant • How to Chuck a Woodchuck
FALL 2009 • Apples • How to Save Tomato Seeds • Persimmons WINTER 2009 • Battling Garden Thugs • How to Start Seeds Indoors • Red Twig Dogwoods • Unusual Edibles to Grow in Our Region SPRING 2010 • Community Gardens • Building a Raised Bed • Dwarf Iris • Broccoli SUMMER 2010 • Fragrance Gardens • Watering Without Waste • Lavender • Potatoes FALL 2010 • Vines and Climbers • Battling Stink Bugs • Russian Sage • Garlic WINTER 2010 • Paths and Walkways • Edgeworthia • Kohlrabi SPRING 2011 • Cutting-Edge Gardens • Final Frost Dates and When to Plant • Bleeding Hearts • Onions SUMMER 2011 • Ornamental Edibles • Urban Foraging • Amsonia/Arkansas Blue Star • Growing Corn in the Mid-Atlantic FALL 2011 • Herb Gardens • Toad Lilies • Sweet Potatoes • Cool Weather Cover Crops WINTER 2011/EARLY SPRING 2012 • Green Roofs and Walls • Heaths and Heathers • Radishes SPRING 2012 • Pollinator Gardens • Brunnera: Perennial of the Year • Growing Yacon SUMMER 2012 • Tropical Gardens • Captivating Canna • Icebox Watermelons SPRING 2013 • Great Garden Soil • All About Asters • Squash Vine Borer SUMMER/FALL 2013 • Miniature/Faerie Gardens • Beguiling Abelias • Growing Great Carrots WINTER/EARLY SPRING 2014 • Ferns for the Mid-Atlantic • Chanticleer Gardens • Beet Growing Basics
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Jentz Prints
Antique Botanical Prints for the decorator, collector, connoisseur, and art lover. Jentz Prints can be purchased on most Saturdays at the Eastern Market, and most Sundays at the Georgetown Flea Market.
Antique prints are affordable — most in the $10-$30 range — and they are the perfect gift idea for that plant lover in your life. And don’t forget to buy a few for yourself! For more information, to make a private appointment, or to get a detailed show schedule, please contact Jentz Prints by email at UllrichJ@aol.com. You can also find Jentz Prints on eBay.com under the seller ID: printyman. 24
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