Washington Gardener August 2016

AUGUST 2016 VOL. 11 NO. 6

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the magazine for gardening enthusiasts in the Mid-Atlantic region

Introducing the Meatiest, Tastiest Eggplant Ever Your Monthly Garden Tasks To-do List Confessions of a Trash-picker What Causes Deformed Cucumbers?

Where Have All the Native Earthworms Gone?

Massage Therapy’s Role in the Garden

Meet Frank Asher, Old City Farm & Guild Tall, Blue, and Handsome: American Bellwort

Local Gardening Events Calendar

Best Baptisia

for the Mid-Atlantic Region

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

Order some today at: www.manuretea.com

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RESOURCESsourc

Need a Garden Club Speaker?

Washington Gardener Magazine’s staff and writers are available to speak to groups and garden clubs in the greater DC region.

Call 301.588.6894 or email wgardenermag@aol.com for available dates, rates, and topics.

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

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Green Spring Gardens

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WASHINGTON GARDENER

A “must visit” for everyone in the metropolitan Washington, DC, area. It’s a year-round gold mine 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.

AUGUST 2016

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Are you trying to reach thousands of gardeners in the greater DC region/Mid-Atlantic area? Washington Gardener Magazine goes out on the 15th of every month. Contact wgardenermag@aol.com or call 301.588-6894 for ad rates (starting from $200).

The ad deadline is the 10th of each month. Please submit your ad directly to: wgardenermag@aol.com.

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Vibrant blooms and low-maintenance make this plant a great addition to the garden Baptisia, a low-maintenance, drought-tolerant native perennial with profuse flowers that bloom in a variety of colors, is the subject of a newly released report by Mt. Cuba Center’s horticultural professionals. The report details the results of a four-year study of 46 different cultivars of false indigo and rates the overall garden performance of each species.

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Frank Asher owns Old City Farm and Guild in Washington, DC, an urban garden retail center known as the “green beating heart of Shaw.”

FEATURES and COLUMNS

ASKTHEexpert 21 Worms on Willows; Deformed Cucumbers; Wintering over Caladiums; Bitten Coneflowers BOOKreviews 17-19 Little Book of Bonsai; Miniature Garden Grower; Garden Design Bible; Idiot’s Guide: Succulents INSECTindex 21 Native v. Invasive Earthworms GOINGnative 22 American Bellwort HORThappenings 8 DC Plant Swap; City Blossoms Benefit; Flamingo Workshop; Garden Photo Show; Water Fest NEIGHBORnetwork 6-7 Frank Asher, Old City Farm and Guild, Shaw, Washington, DC NEWPLANTspotlight 11 Eggplant ‘Meatball’ PLANTprofile 14-16 Baptisia Trials at Mt. Cuba TIPStricks 10 Flower Survey; Caring for Seasonal Equipment; Massage Therapy for Gardeners

DEPARTMENTS

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ADVERTISINGindex BLOGlinks EDITORletter GARDENcontest LOCALevents MONTHLYtasklist NEXTissue RESOURCESsources

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ON THE COVER

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Baptisia ‘Lemon Meringue’ was a top performer in the Mt. Cuba plant trials.

In our Sept. 2016 issue: Growing Peaches in the Mid-Atlantic Beautiful Abutilon Visit the Simpson Garden and much more...

Campanulastrum americanum is also known as American Bellwort.

If your business would like to reach area gardeners, be sure to contact us

by September 10 so you can be part of the next issue of our growing publication.

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EDITORletter

Credits Kathy Jentz Editor/Publisher & Advertising Sales Washington Gardener 826 Philadelphia Ave. Silver Spring, MD 20910 Phone: 301-588-6894 wgardenermag@aol.com www.washingtongardener.com Call today to place your ad with us!

Ruth E. Thaler-Carter Proofreader Jacqueline Hyman John Powers Interns Cover price: $4.99 Back issues: $6.00 Subscription: $20.00 Address corrections should be sent to the address above.

A dumpster full of garden treasures at Community Forklift in Edmonston, MD.

Confessions of a Trash-picker Confession: I am a trash-picker -- and damn proud of it. I will rescue perfectly fine bouquets of discarded flowers out of trashcans on K Street. I will go into neighbors’ recycling bins on trash day and pull out choice Mason canning jars. And, I have been known to pick up Popsicle sticks off the sidewalk to use for plant labels at garden club benefit sales.

You would not believe the things I have pulled out of our communal compost pile at the Fenton Community Garden. This pile gets carted away every few weeks by the county park’s service, so it is refreshed fairly often. Every once in a while, I throw a bucket of my weeds into it and each time I do, there is something that catches my eye, and makes me pause, step in, and pull out a “treasure.”

Here is a short list of a few of my compost pile finds: branches of dried hot peppers, still-living Celosia seedlings, whole cucumbers, onion bulbs, ripe tomatoes, and wooden plant stakes.

I love going into other gardens and seeing what clever folks have recycled and reused. Some favorite finds include wine corks used as to cap off the pointy ends of agave plants, wine bottles inserted upside-down as bed borders, and beer cans turned into garden luminaries. Hmm, is there a theme here?

Even the clothes I wear to garden are usually second-hand or living a second life after they are no longer “good enough” to wear out in the real world. The errant bleach spot is a happy accident as it converts a sundress into a virtual rag.

Finally, there are the plants themselves. I’ve rescued more than a few from dumpsters and after-holiday trash heaps. The poor things are usually barely green and often down to their last leaves, but I almost always get them to revive and thrive. What about you -- do you “trash pick” for your garden, too?

Happy gardening and stay cool!

Kathy Jentz, Editor/Publisher, Washington Gardener 4

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• Washington Gardener Blog: www.washingtongardener.blogspot.com • Washington Gardener Archives: http://issuu.com/washingtongardener • Washington Gardener Discussion Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ WashingtonGardener/ • Washington Gardener Twitter Feed: www.twitter.com/WDCGardener • Washington Gardener is a womanowned business. We are proud to be members of: · Garden Writers Association · Think Local First DC · DC Web Women · Green America Magazine Leaders Network · Green America Business Network To order reprints, contact Wright’s Reprints at 877.652.5295, ext. 138.

Volume 11, Number 6 ISSN 1555-8959 © 2016 Washington Gardener All rights reserved. Published quarterly.

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

All uncredited photos in this issue are © Kathy Jentz.

READERcontt

Caption Contest

We asked our Facebook page followers to caption this photo of the infamous Corpse Flower being pollinated at the US Botanic Garden in Washington, DC, while surrounded by tourists and the media? Look for more monthly caption contests at the Facebook. com/WashingtonGardenerMagazine page.

Reader Contest

Winning Captions: “Better tag this one before it goes off to join the cast of The Walking Dead.” ~ David Hobson “Put a little love in your.....heart?” ~ Sandy Rittenhouse-Black “Stamen and anther and (plastic) pistil, Oh, My!” ~ Cathy Wilson “I like it. I think I’ll put a ring on it.” ~ Julie Blackwell “I was hoping for the bees.” ~ Sharon Richardson “A little privacy, please!” ~ Joan Hartt “My perfume brings all the boys to the yard...” ~ Bert Ellsworth “Why don’t you take a picture? It’ll last longer!” ~ Carrie Smalls “How about warming up your hands a bit first?” ~ Jim Jeffrey “Ouch, typical men! No foreplay, all business.” ~ Janis Smythe “The start of a new reality show family dynasty!” ~ Cindy Carol “And they call me smelly! These humans need to eat more flies and less garlic and onions!” ~ Jake Errol

For our August 2016 Washington Gardener Magazine Reader Contest, Washington Gardener is giving away a set of new botanical soaps that were inspired by public gardens. (The prize pack is valued at $20.)

There’s nothing quite like the natural smells of garden herbs and flowers. So it’s no surprise that the all-natural, made-in-America soaps from Garden Voyage Botanicals were inspired by long walks through the world-class botanic gardens in the Delaware Valley.

The fragrant soaps from Garden Voyage Botanicals produce a rich, creamy lather than leaves skin feeling clean and rehydrated. The Gardener’s Soap contains cranberry seeds, the essence of the Southern Bayberry shrub (Myrica cerifera) and delicate notes of floral, balsam and spice to provide a pleasant garden aroma.

Lavender Soap contains lavender essential oil (Lavandula angustifolia) to provide a calming, stress-reducing fragrance. Peppermint Soap features peppermint essential oil (Mentha x piperita) to energize both the mind and body. All three soaps contain Shea butter, Certified Sustainable palm oil, and natural botanical ingredients. Gardener’s Soap, Lavender Soap, and Peppermint Soap come in 5-ounce, triple-milled bars that sell for $6.95 each at garden centers and online at www.gardenvoyage.com.

To enter to win the soap set, send an email to WashingtonGardener@rcn. com by 5pm on Wednesday, August 31, with “Garden Soap” in the subject line and in the body of the email tell us which was your favorite article in this issue and why. Please also include your full name and mailing address. The winner will be announced and notified on September 1.

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NEIGHBORnwork do with the building. Some people want to totally tear it down and put up a new school. Some people want to tear [it down] and sell it to some developers and build some condos. We’ll know when we know. If they want to tear it down and put condos in, I know for a fact that they’re going to want as much square footage as possible for retail and living, so we’ll probably be moved out.

Frank Asher, Old City Farm & Guild

by Jacqueline Hyman

Frank Asher, owner of Old City Farm & Guild in Washington, DC, is a lively man who has lived in the District since 1994. His outdoor shop and garden is in front of an abandoned junior high school in the Shaw neighborhood and has a relaxed feel where customers can browse rows of plants and attend concerts and comedy shows. I visited him at Old City Farm & Guild, where we sat at an outdoor table and benches and took a walk around the farm, where countless edible plants grew.

Tell me a little about yourself. Are you a DC native?

I moved here from Southern California.

I didn’t start gardening, I just had [balcony pots] and stuff like that, but then in 2000, I really got tired of seeing all the tree boxes in my neighborhood filled with weeds and dog doo-doo. I started just doing a couple near my house, and then I asked a merchant if he would like his cleaned and he said yes, so they paid me $50 plus supplies to do their tree boxes. People really noticed a difference, so they’d see me working and they’d want a card. I created a name for my landscaping company, which was Fairies’ Crossing, and with that, along with some guerilla gardening here and there, it just kind of took off.

In 2008 … a local politician asked if I’d be open to a green space, and there 6

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was a vacant lot right next to my house. and I said yes, and so I opened Old City Green, which was the beginning of the nursery green space. I actually opened Christmas of 2008. DC had just passed a law that you could get a temporary Christmas tree license for six weeks, and I was the first one to ever get that.

When did you change the business from Old City Green to Old City Farm & Guild?

Well, we lost our lease in 2012, and I started looking for other places and somebody showed me this vacant school that had been closed for eight years. It just immediately all came to mind at what could be here. I changed it to Old City Farm & Guild because I wanted it to be a place where people could come and gather, as well as [where I could] sell plants and produce to the neighborhood [and] also a place for me to actually grow things. We grow produce over here for a couple of local restaurants.

You wouldn’t even know that this was an abandoned building if you didn’t think about it.

Yeah, because it could still be open. I mean, that’s what would be really cool.

This could still be an open place and kids could go right up the back. They don’t even know what they’re going to

What is your mission for serving customers?

Our tagline is “Where people and plants come together,” so our mission really is about offering green space for the neighborhood so people can come here to relax during the day, to hold events during the day … we’ve been the host for D.C. State Fair. We were also a host to the French Festival weekend before last; they had a big circus tent down here in the amphitheater and played music for two days straight. It’s a real community intention; it’s about bringing people and plants together.

What kind of events and acts do you host?

This guy here who built this Tiny House, he brought this in for showcase and he’s been holding Tiny House concerts, people come and just play at night, and we have this whole little stage back here. We also have Funny at the Farm, where every other week, a bunch of comedians come and do stand-up comedy and we also have a farmer’s market now this year. I would say the farmer’s market [has] been really good and we’ve had musicians during the farmer’s market, which has been really nice. The Tiny House concerts did well, and the DC State Fair brought in about 5,000 people here, so that was a really big plus.

What is your favorite thing to plant?

I always love putting something edible in a garden, so it could be a fig tree, it could be a rosemary plant or lavender; it could be a peach tree or nectarine tree. Blueberry bushes are fun. Just stuff that is not only edible for humans, but is good for birds, too. The birds like the native berry bushes and stuff like that, so I try to bring things that are

NEIGHBORnwork native in that help feed the animals.

What’s really good is that things that are more native actually deter rats.

Rats don’t like the scented stuff, so I like scent, I like tasting, I like different textures.

Have you visited any of the public gardens in DC? I haven’t had time. I regret not being able to go out. I haven’t been to Dumbarton Oaks in a couple years. I did go to the U.S. Botanical Gardens about a month and a half ago and walked through, which was nice. [Starting] midMarch until about this time is really busy. I would say April, May, and June are my busy seasons. July starts to slow down a little bit; August is really slow.

Then it starts to pick up again after Labor Day. Selling trees, just that one month from Thanksgiving to the end of the year, I make about 30 percent of my yearly revenue in that one month.

That’s what keeps me living through the winter.

What funny or odd gardening questions have you gotten from customers that really stuck out to you?

The first thing that comes to mind is a client I had early on. I planted this garden and she called me about two weeks later and she said, “Frank, my shrubs are dying, I don’t know what’s going on.” So I went to take a look and I asked her, “Have you watered?” And she went, “Oh.” A lot of people don’t connect to the fact that you really have to tend to plants. They’re living things that you have to really nurture. That’s kind of ironic and funny. People are really disconnected from that nature piece …

Sometimes they want to plant and they want to take care of things, but they don’t know that certain plants are good for certain environments.

We try to promote some native plants in the scheme of things so that helps with their own environment, with “buggage” [sic] and stuff. I love the fact that we sell ladybugs here, and praying mantises. You get a big bag of [about 1,500 ladybugs] in a net bag; you can just spread them all out. Some of them will fly off, but if there are bugs in there

to be eaten, they’ll stay and eat. And they’ll eat aphids and beetles. Praying mantises eat just about anything. I prefer to go that route than to say, “Oh, here’s some pesticide or herbicide.” I try to be organic. A lot of the aerosols are killing the bees and ruining the soils.

Have you recently had any interesting experiences with people commenting about what’s going on in the garden?

I had an event here—the woman rented this whole space back here and I had a live musician and there were about 80 people standing around. It was just perfect. People were just amazed that this was even here; they didn’t know it was here. You know, they’re walking around, and walking through the farm … at 7 or 8 o’clock at night, it’s just so lovely here. The fireflies are starting to happen and people are amazed that this has been created out of nothing.

There was no fence, it was all vacant, it was drug dealers and homeless people, and in exchange for part of my first few months of rent, I offered to clean it all up. I had an arborist come in and take care of the trees. There was human feces everywhere; we had to do a really big clean-up.

Last year was the toughest year we ever had because the power went out, so I had to get a generator, and then the water pipes flooded two days before we were to open last year. I didn’t have any water until September, so I had to put in this cistern, that collected rainwater. And then I would get water from the fire hydrant every six weeks. It was a rough four months there.

In terms of the plants that you sell here, what is your favorite season?

That’s a tough question. I would say it fluctuates between fall and winter. In fall, we bring in lots of pumpkins, we have mums, we have bales of hay. We start harvesting our squash … we’re selling bulbs for people to plant for spring.

And then the Christmas season, this place gets all lit up at night and there seem to be a thousand Christmas trees everywhere, and we put out my cauldron with a fire, we have a fire going and Christmas carols, and we’ll try to

bring in a musician. It’s a holiday event.

Last year, we had artisans in front in tents. Every Saturday they came and sold jewelry and cards, and we had a food vendor and stuff like that.

What do you enjoy most about gardening?

Finding a new plant that I’ve never planted before. I really love when people come in and say, “Oh, I bought such at such and your place and it’s doing really well. I love my garden.”

It’s more about the feelings that are brought up with people when they see all this. It brings life to them.

I’ve been gardening for a long time, but there’s always something new and different out there... all the names are in Latin, as well as common names; I don’t even know some of the Latin names at all. So yeah, there’s always something that I can be like, “Oh, I haven’t planted that yet.” Especially when I’m designing a garden for people, because I have the Fairies’ Crossing, and it’s still running, so I do landscape design and installation.

How much of your time does Fairies’ Crossing take compared to Old City Farm & Guild?

It varies. Sometimes I’m spending more time with Fairies’ Crossing. It depends on the time of year. Right now, I’ve got a really strong crew here at Old City Farm, so I can back off a little bit. It goes kind of back and forth.

What do you enjoy the most about owning Old City Farm & Guild?

Sitting out here at the end of the day when the sun is setting and having a glass of red wine and just looking at all the plants and seeing the fireflies and the birds and knowing that, you know, there’s a green space that’s been brought in. One guy called us the green beating heart of Shaw. o Jacqueline Hyman is a junior journalism and English major at the University of Maryland.

She is the editor-in-chief of the Mitzpeh, an independent Jewish newspaper at UMD. In addition, Jacqueline enjoys musical theater, and teaches piano and voice at Guitar Center. She is excited to be interning this summer for the Washington Gardener.

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HORThaenings could give their flamingos a makeover with the sky as the limit to their creativity. This event was a unique opportunity to bring new life to an old lawn decoration, and all they needed to do was pay a small materials fee of $5. The event was held at Community Forklift in Edmonston, MD, on May 13.

City Blossoms Benefit

City Blossoms, a community garden organization, held its seventh annual summer fiesta in honor of co-founder Lola Bloom on June 10, with the unique theme of “Avant Garden.” Held at D.C. Bilingual, the mid-year fundraising event featured “signature cocktails,” as well as music, hors d’oeuvres made by guest chefs, and a costume contest based on the theme.

The selection of activities was diverse and meant for all ages to participate.

With a $25 suggested donation as the ticket price, the event allowed children free admittance.

DC Plant Swap

The ninth annual DC Plant Swap, hosted by Washington Gardener Magazine on June 11, was an opportunity for local gardeners to exchange plants in many different categories, including edibles, herbs, bulbs, and more. The swap took place at the U.S. National Arboretum, and participants shared information about their plants and gardens while snacking on homemade chocolate banana bread and handpicked serviceberries.

Garden Photo Show Opening Reception Flamingo ReHab Clinic

For those who had a tired and worn yard flamingo, the Flamingo Rehab Clinic was the perfect time to give their feathery lawn ornament friends the attention and maintenance needed to return to their original pristine and majestic form. Additionally, participants 8

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Washington Gardener Magazine hosted its 10th annual photo show reception at the Meadowlark Visitor’s Center in Vienna, VA, on August 7. Photographers took the photos within 150 miles of Washington, DC, and were allowed to submit 10 photos to the four different categories. There were 17 winning photos on display, including the grand

prize winner, a photo of an Allium just about to open. Winning photographers and their guests came to see the photos and Meadowlark visitors happened upon the reception as well. Anyone may come to see the photos at the visitor center through September 21.

Kenilworth Lotus and Water Lily Festival

Featuring everything from face-painting and lantern-making to live music and a fashion show, the Lotus and Water Lily Festival had a full day’s worth of activities. Located at DC’s best-kept secret, the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, the July 16 event allowed visitors to walk the vast gardens while the lilies and lotus flowers were fully open, showing off their beauty to festival-goers. With several stages that had different event to offer and many booths, attendees had no shortage of activities to enjoy.

Golden Triangle Treebox Garden Competition

The Golden Streets competition, in which businesses around the Golden Triangle in DC plant flowers in their tree boxes, took place from June 13 through June 23. Businesses named their boxes based on this year’s theme, which was “Sounds of Summer.” On Thursday, June 23, five judges walked around the Golden Triangle to determine which box would win in each category. The winner of the Best in Design category was “Island in the Sun,” at 1901 L St., and the winner of the Sustainability Award was “Pollinators’ Paradise” at 1200 19th St. NW. Additionally, more than 1,300 people voted and chose “Stars and Stripes Forever”—red, white, and blue flowers planted to look like the American flag—at 1801 K St. NW as the Fan Favorite. o Compiled by John Powers, a rising senior multi-platform journalism major and environmental economics and policy minor at the University of Maryland, and Jacqueline Hyman, a junior journalism and English major at the University of Maryland. Both are Washington Gardener interns for summer 2016.

See many more photos from these events and dozens of other local garden-related happenings under the Photo Album tab at Facebook.com/WashingtonGardenerMagazine.

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Photo by Leonardo Wong from Unsplash.

TIPStricks Compiled by John Powers

Massage Therapy’s Role in the Garden

Gardening consists of back-breaking work, leaning over to weed, water, pick, prune, or just observe the growth of your plants. This makes gardening a pleasant exercise for your whole body, but with that full-body workout comes full-body soreness, according to Elements Massage, a massage therapy company with several studio locations in Maryland and Virginia.

Specific areas that are at risk of becoming sore from working in the garden include the lower back, shoulders, hands, and neck, but the entire body is susceptible because of the vulnerable positions the body is in while gardening.

With all of this muscle pain, a therapeutic massage can be the best and most natural way to relieve these aches and pains. The best time to have this procedure done is the day before you spend a long time in the garden; it can ready your body for the rigors of gardening.

“There is actually massage therapy that is tailored for gardeners,” said owner Amita Mirani. She is a healthcare professional who recommends a “gentle massage” after a day of gardening when the muscles are too vulnerable for a deep massage.

Massages are not the only way to prevent soreness and injury, however.

Element Massage offers up several bits of advice on how to prevent injuries and soreness.

Warming up is an important step in avoiding injury; it will keep your blood pumping and your muscles loose. Using proper gardening tools is important as well. Longer-handled tools will minimize the bending over you need to do.

Stretching and taking breaks is important during gardening, especially if you are working for more than three hours.

Finally, make sure you are hydrated.

Gardening is tough work and your body needs to replenish the fluids you sweat out or else your muscles may tense up and cramp. Don’t forget to cool down and stretch again after a day in the garden. A hot bath afterward is also beneficial to release the toxins built up in the muscles and tissues. o 10

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Flowers Make You Happy

A love of flowers crosses generational barriers, according to a study conducted and released by the American Floral Endowment in partnership with the Society of American Florists that shows that all ages have an appreciation for and enjoy purchasing flowers.

The study found that nearly threefourths of all respondents, reaching across generational boundaries (Baby Boomers, Generation X, and Generation Y), had self-reported high appreciation for flowers, which is a significant increase compared to the findings in a similar 2009 SAF survey.

The study reports that flowers attract people through both their senses and emotional ties. It also reported a low number of people seeing flowers as expensive in the 2016 survey: one-third.

This is compared to about half of the respondents to the 2009 survey who viewed the cost of flowers as a barrier.

About two-thirds of the respondents said they feel special when they receive flowers, finding them to be an emotional gift, and 60 percent said they have a special meaning “unlike any other gift.”

Color is important for the consumers, as 70 percent believe that a significant color can add to the impact of flowers sent as a gift. Just below 70 percent say that the sight and smell of flowers can improve a mood, and 64 percent said that fragrance is important to them as well.

The survey results indicate an increase in the popularity of flowers because of boosts in many categories compared to a 2009 survey with many of the same questions. Either the barrier of cost is dropping or people’s valuation of flowers is rising because people today seem more willing to buy and interested in buying them o

Properly Caring for Seasonal Equipment

While everyone knows to keep the lawnmower handy in the summer and the snowblower ready in the winter, it is not as easy to know what to do with this equipment when you don’t need it.

The Outdoor Power Equipment Institute, an international trade association of mechanical manufacturers, offers three main pieces of advice for managing the fuel of seasonal equipment.

1. Look before you pump.

Ethanol is in most gasoline at levels around 10 percent, which is safe for most equipment. Many gas pumps offer gas with higher ethanol content, ranging from 15 to 85 percent. The blends on the higher end of this scale are not meant to be used in power equipment and have a tendency to go stale over time. Further, this fuel could damage or even break equipment. The OPEI advises avoiding the purchase of more than what you need for 30 days of use.

2. Properly dispose of leftover fuel.

Fuel is an easy thing to forget about when you are not using it. Thus, it is hard to recall how old fuel is, and whether it is in the tank of your equipment or in the back of your garage. Be sure to note when you purchased the fuel and use it or dispose of it within a month.

3. Run the tank dry.

To empty your equipment of fuel, you can run the engine until the tank is empty. An optional step is to first put fuel stabilizers into the tank, and then run the tank dry. This will ensure that any fuel residue in the equipment is properly treated. Another method of emptying the tank is to simply drain it, but the main goal is to make sure the tank is empty when the equipment is stored. ” o John Powers is a rising senior multi-platform journalism major and environmental economics and policy minor at the University of Maryland. He has worked as a staff writer for “Stories Beneath the Shell,” an online publication at UMD, and currently works on the copy desk of The Diamondback, the university’s official newspaper. He has spent a summer working as a farmhand back in his home state of Massachusetts. He is an intern with Washington Gardener Magazine this summer.

GARDENnews

Quick Links to Recent Washington Gardener Blog Posts

• Zinnias: You Can Grow That!

• Invasive Species Spotlight: Devil’s Tail • DIY: Yard Flamingo Facelift • How to Properly Water Orchids See more Washington Gardener blog posts at: WashingtonGardener.Blogspot.com o

New Plant Spotlight New ‘Meatball’ Eggplant

One of home gardening’s unsung heroes, the venerable eggplant, is gleaning a lot of attention for the 2016 season, with the introduction by W. Atlee Burpee Company of a new variety that is an excellent substitute for meat.

According to George Ball, who heads Pennsylvania-based Burpee, the company’s new ‘Meatball’ eggplant is totally different from any other eggplant currently being sold, and the new variety is attracting hordes of home gardeners who, it appears, never before planted an eggplant.

‘Meatball’s meaty texture, overall mouth-feel, and flavor make it an eggplant like no other, explains Burpee’s chairman and chief executive. What makes ‘Meatball’ a game-changer, he notes, is the sweet, succulent, buttery taste, and dense, meaty consistency.

‘Meatball’ overcomes three eggplant gripes, Mr. Ball points out: seeds with a bitter aftertaste, surplus water, and fast-oxidizing flesh that quickly turns brown.

Home gardeners have always been aware of the superior taste and freshness of home-grown vegetables, but with products like the ‘Meatball’ eggplant it appears the activity is now attracting huge numbers of first-timers seeking a viable alternative to a constant diet of meat. This is creating a bit of a problem. Mr. Ball says, as Burpee’s help-lines are inundated with phone calls asking for directions for planting eggplants.

Burpee provides step-by-step instructions on planting eggplants. There are also easy to follow recipes for using ‘Meatball’ eggplant as a substitute for meat. For first-timers Mr. Ball recommends ordering ‘Meatball’ plants rather than seeds. o

August-September Garden Task To-Do List

• It is harvest time and also a good time to start taking stock of what worked well for you this season and what didn’t.

• Buy raspberries and peaches at a local pick-your-own farm or visit a local farmer’s market.

• Let the lawn go dormant for now; it will green back up in the coming rains.

• Check your local garden center for end-of-summer bargains.

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

• Wash out birdbaths weekly with diluted bleach solution.

• Water thoroughly, especially if you receive no rain for more than 5-7 days.

• Turn your compost pile weekly and don’t let it dry out.

• Start shopping for spring bulbs.

• Divide and cut back Bearded Iris and Peonies.

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

• Watch for slug damage and set out traps or Sluggo bait.

• Check for mosquito breeding grounds. Dump out any water that sits stagnant for more than three days.

• Weed and weed some more.

• Cut back any leggy Asters or Mums.

• Take garden photos and make notes in your garden journal.

• Start collecting plant seeds for next year and for trading.

• As the days get cooler, plant hardy mums.

• Prune evergreens to get in shape for fall/winter.

• Hand-pick or cut out any bagworm cocoons.

• Harvest your herbs often and keep them trimmed back to encourage leafy growth. Dry them indoors if you can’t use them right away.

• Bring Christmas cactus and poinsettias indoors if you took them out for the summer in preparation for holiday blooming. Fertilize them and put them where they’ll get just 10 hours’ bright light per day.

• Inspect for powdery mildew. If seen, prune back perennials to create needed circulation. Discard properly (i.e., not in your compost bin).

• Clean your hummingbird feeders and add new sugar-water every three days.

• Renew your container plantings, which may be looking a bit ragged at this point. Pinch back overgrown plants. Pull out any spent ones and pop in some substitute annuals or mums. Keep them well-watered and add a little liquid fertilizer every few weeks to keep them going through early autumn.

• Switch your deer deterrent spray.

• Start seeds for fall annuals such as pansy, calendula, and kale.

• Plant fall crops such as Chinese cabbage, lettuce, radish, mustard, broccoli, kohlrabi, cauliflower, turnips, and beets.

• Order garlic, onions, and shallots for fall planting.

• Attend a county fair and enter some of your garden bounty.

• Preserve gourds and dry flowers for display in the fall.

• Apply grub control to your lawn.

• Divide Hostas and Daylilies.

• Deadhead garlic chives before they go to seed. Makes a nice cut-flower. o AUGUST 2016

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TOP AREA GARDENING EVENTS DC-Area Gardening Calendar ~ Upcoming Events ~ August 20–September 20, 2016 • Thursdays 12:15-12:45pm Smithsonian Gardens Presents “Let’s Talk Gardens” Held at the East Walk of the Smithsonian’s Enid A. Haupt Garden. Join Smithsonian Gardens’ horticulturists for a series of free lunchtime talks and demonstrations of gardening basics. ~ August 25 – Rose Care ~ September 1 – Turf Renovation ~ September 8 – Beneficial Insects ~ September 15 – Fall Soil Preparation See: http://www.gardens.si.edu/whatshappening/lets-talk-gardens.html • Saturday, August 20, 10am–12n National Honeybee Day Celebrate this wondrous insect with free activities and paid crafts for kids and adults at Green Spring Gardens, Alexandria, VA. Meet a beekeeper, see inside a beehive, learn a bee dance, do a bee scavenger hunt, learn how bees are important to our food supply, get tips on growing a pollinator garden, and purchase a pollinator starter garden. http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/ greenspring/downloads/quarterlyprogramguide.pdf.

• Saturday, August 27, 10am–12n Washington Gardener Magazine’s 9th Annual Tomato Tasting Farmers at the market will contribute their locally grown selections for tasting and we’ll explore which tomatoes make the short list of favorites. We’ll have tomato gardening tips, tomato recipes, tomato activities for kids, and much more. All to celebrate one of summer’s greatest indulgences — the juicy fresh tomato. Tip: Your tomato taste voting ballot is also your entry in our prize drawing for a basket full of gardening goodies. The drawing is at 12noon, so be sure to fully fill out your ballot by 11:55am and then stick around for the prize announcement, since you must be present to win.

•Saturday, August 27, 10:30am–12n Lecture: The Sinister Beauty of Carnivorous Plants Join Matt Kaelin for a discussion of his new book, The Sinister Beauty of

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Carnivorous Plants, which portrays the alluring nature of carnivorous plants in a collection of vivid botanical photography. Using images from the book, learn about the cultivation requirements for growing these fantastic specimens; carnivorous plants native to Matt’s home on Long Island, NY; the threats to these plants’ natural habitats; and the conservation organizations that are working to protect them. Free, but pre-registration required at http://www.usbg.gov/ programs-and-events.

• Sunday, August 28, 11am–8pm DC State Fair The seventh annual event will be held at NoMa Junction at Storey Park (corner of 1st and L Streets NE, just outside the NOMA/Gallaudet Metro). This year’s gardening contests include heaviest vegetable, funkiest vegetable, longest vegetable, tastiest tomato, best honey, best cut flower, best flower arrangement, best terrarium, and best compost.

Contest entries are judged by local experts from businesses and organizations in DC. All contest entrants must be DC residents. Contest registration closes August 24. Winners will be announced from the main stage at the Fair. Visit https://dcstatefair.org/contests/ for details and registration.

• Tuesday, August 30, 7:30–9pm Native Plant Production Utilizing Seeds of Local Ecotype The Maryland Native Plant Society is sponsoring a presentation by horticulturist Leslie Hunter Cario. She will share her experience with growing native plants from seed of local ecotypes.

Seeding technique and plant growth requirements will be discussed, along with the basics of seed collection and post-harvest handling. A variety of native seeds will be available as examples. Location: Silver Spring Civic Building, 1 Veterans Pl., Silver Spring. MD. The meeting is open to non-members.

Registration is not required. For information on this event: http://mdflora. org/event-2260956.

• Thursday, September 8, 4–6pm Flora of Virginia Exhibit and Hometown Habitat Film The Library of Virginia’s traveling Flora of Virginia exhibition is coming to the Burke Branch of the Alexandria Library.

Joslin Gallatin, who chairs the Flora Project’s audit and finance committee and sits on its development committee, will provide opening remarks. Following remarks by Gallatin, everyone is invited to see a screening of the new movie Hometown Habitat, Stories of Bringing Nature Home. This documentary, produced by the Meadow Project, shows how and why native plants are critical to the survival and vitality of local ecosystems. RSVP is appreciated to the Potowmack Chapter of the Virginia Native Plant Society, which is cosponsoring with the Plant NoVA Natives campaign and the Virginia Department of Game & Inland Fisheries. See http://vnps.org/ potowmack/.

• Saturday, September 10, 10am–3pm Fall Garden Day: Plant Sale and More Fall is a great time to plant, and Green Spring Gardens is hosting numerous local plant and garden craft vendors to satisfy your gardening needs. A silent auction, bake sale, live music, food, and kids’ table add to the festivities.

Come and support one of Virginia’s most innovative public gardens. Sponsored by Friends of Green Spring.

Details at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/ greenspring.

• Saturday, September 10, 1–3pm Boxwood Primer Learn about boxwood care and maintenance from Stephen Southall, proprietor of English Boxwoods of Virginia. Location: Benedictine Monastery 9535 Linton Hall Rd. in the basement meeting room and on the monastery grounds, weather permitting. Free, but please register at 703-792-7747 or master_gardener@pwcgov.org Ask for directions when you register.

• Saturday, September 10, with preand post-festival events 10th Annual Heritage Harvest Festival at Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello

TOP AREA GARDENING EVENTS DC-Area Gardening Calendar ~ Upcoming Events ~ August 20–September 20, 2016 The Heritage Harvest Festival at Monticello celebrates the legacy of revolutionary gardener Thomas Jefferson, America’s “first foodie,” with more than 100 educational programs, hands-on workshops, garden tours, a bounty of heirloom fruit and vegetable tastings, lessons on seed saving and gardening, an organic, local food marketplace, kids’ activities, and more on the breathtaking West Lawn of Monticello. See www.heritageharvestfestival.com.

• Saturday, September 10, 10am–3pm Annual FOBG Plant Sale at Brookside Gardens The plant list, complete with growing information, is available to view at www. friendsofbrooksidegardens.org. They have quite a selection of sedges and ferns, and other plants that deer avoid.

Also offered are sun and shade perennials, flowering shrubs, natives, woodies, and more, The proceeds benefit Brookside Gardens in Wheaton, MD. • Saturday, September 17, 12n–5pm 1st Annual Paw Paw Fest at Long Creek Homestead, Frederick, MD Celebrating our largest native fruit with tastings, ice cream and jam making, orchard tours, live music, and family fun See www.ecologiadesign.com.

• Saturday, September 17, 9am—12n Plant Propagation Do you wish you had more plants but your budget won’t allow you to purchase everything you want? If you are thrifty, have friends who share, and are willing to do minimal work, your wish may come true. Explore various propagation methods, including cuttings, division, layering, and sowing seeds. Also enjoy timely tips from the Cook’s Garden Team. Pick up some new plants at the Master Gardener Plant Sale. Taught

by VCE - Prince William Staff & Master Gardener Volunteers. Each class held at the Teaching Garden at St. Benedict Monastery, 9535 Linton Hall Road, Bristow, VA. Registration is requested to ensure adequate handouts and notification of weather cancellations, Call 703-792-7747 or email master_ gardener@pwcgov.org.

• Saturday, September 17, 1pm Hyattsville Horticultural Society Celebrates Centennial Anniversary in Conjunction with Hyattsville Environmental Expo The Hyattsville Horticultural Society (HHS) is sponsoring a talk by landscape architect Thomas Rainer. Rainer is coauthor, with Claudia West, of the 2015 book Planting in a Post Wild World, which recently won an American Horticultural Society Book Award. Rainer will address designing landscapes and gardens that provide ecological benefits while satisfying our craving for beauty and interaction with nature. This event is part of the city’s Environmental Expo. The Expo’s theme is “Our Hyattsville Grass Roots.” The event will take place at the Hyattsville City Building and surrounding streets at 4310 Gallatin Street, Hyattsville, MD. All events are free and will take place rain or shine. Contact Susan Hines at susan. e.hines@gmail.com.

• Monday, September 19, 7–8:30pm Tree Selection for Urban Street and Small Yard Plantings, At the Mt. Vernon Recreation Center, 2701 Commonwealth Ave., Alexandria, VA, Sponsored by the Alexandria Beautification Commission, this program will provide participants with criteria and resources for making decisions about “Right Tree, Right Place.” Register to attend by contacting the VCE Horticulture Help Desk at 703-228-6414 or mgarlalex@gmail.com.

• Mondays and Fridays, 5–7pm and Saturdays, 10am–12pm Garden Therapy: Gardening after Work Meetup Help nurture your local community garden and get some garden therapy after a long day at the office. Meet at The Brig and walk next door to the community garden to water the vertical towers full of strawberries, basil, peppers, and more. After the time in the garden grab a cold beer at The Brig for some relaxing time with great people. Root pouch bags filled with squash, cucumbers, and tomato, as

well as multiple varieties of mint will be provided. Over the next two years, this garden will be used as a local Community Supported Agriculture site, so come out and get to know your farmer while getting some garden therapy after work. For any questions, contact Jennifer@Mygrowconnect.org. See: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/gardentherapy-gardening-after-work-meetuptickets-27092048045.

Save These Future Dates: • Saturday, October 15, 9am—12n Beauty in Sustainability Symposium Virginia Native Plant Society’s Laura Beaty and renowned landscape designer Larry Weaner show you how to create stunning gardens that are easier to maintain by echoing the ecological processes in nature. Following the symposium, Weaner will sign his new book, Garden Revolution: How Our Landscapes Can Be a Source of Environmental Change, available for sale in the gift shop. $38/person. Register online at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/ greenspring using code 290 484 7201 or call 703-642-5173.

• Washington Gardener Magazine’s 2017 Seed Exchanges are January 28 at Brookside Gardens and February 4 at Green Spring Gardens.

Still More Event Listings

See even more event listings on the Washington Gardener Yahoo discussion list. Join the list at http://groups.yahoo. com/group/WashingtonGardener/.

Events are also posted on the Twitter feed (@wdcgardener) and Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ WashingtonGardenerMagazine.

How to Submit Local Garden Events

To submit an event for this listing, contact: Wgardenermag@aol.com—put “Event” in the subject line. Our next deadline is September 10 for the September issue (due out about September 15), listing events taking place from September 16 to October 15. o AUGUST 2016

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PLANTprofile

for the Mid-Atlantic Region

By George Coombs

Few perennials can compare to the jawdropping beauty of a false indigo (Baptisia spp.) in full flower. Yet, this lowmaintenance, deer-resistant native is not widely grown in American gardens.

Since young plants are slow-growing, what most people encounter at the garden center are a few wispy stems in an otherwise empty pot. However, those gardeners who are brave enough to take a leap of faith are soon rewarded with year after year of carefree beauty.

This undeserved obscurity, along with a multitude of new cultivar releases, prompted Mt. Cuba Center to take a closer look at false indigo.

From 2012–2015, Mt. Cuba Center evaluated 46 selections, including representatives of 11 different species, to determine which Baptisia selections perform best in the Mid-Atlantic region, as well as to showcase the breathtaking floral display.

False indigo, also known as wild indigo, belongs to the genus Baptisia, which includes 15 species and several naturally occurring hybrids, all of which are found growing east of the Rocky Mountains.

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Historically, Baptisia species were valued for more than just their beauty.

Native Americans and early settlers had several uses for these plants, including the creation of colorful dyes.

In fact, the name Baptisia comes from the Greek word bapto, which means “to dip.” B. australis and several other species in the genus can be used to create yellow, brown, and green dyes depending on the chemical process used to extract the pigments. However, indigo, a desirable and rare color among natural dyes, is the color most often mentioned with Baptisia.

A close inspection of historical documents reveals the indigo dye actually comes from the yellow-flowered species, B. tinctoria, and is made from chemical compounds found in the leaves and stems, not the flowers. Conversations with present-day practitioners further reveal that a vast amount of foliage is required to extract a very small amount of dye from B. tinctoria, making it an impractical dyestuff.

The garden use of false indigo is a more recent development. Although still under-appreciated by the general

public, interest among avid gardeners has been slowly building since the late 1990s and early 2000s, when the first hybrid cultivars of false indigo were released. Baptisia ‘Purple Smoke,’ released in 1996, was the first such hybrid. It was discovered as a chance seedling at the North Carolina Botanic Garden (NCBG) among a field of Baptisia australis var. aberrans. Then in 2002, a pale-yellow-flowered hybrid called ‘Carolina Moonlight’ was also discovered at NCBG. Just a few years later, the Chicago Botanic Garden released the first two cultivars from its Baptisia breeding program - ‘Twilite’ (2006) and ‘Starlite’ (2007).

The excitement surrounding these early cultivars brought some muchneeded attention to false indigo, and today there is an ever-increasing array of colors and sizes available to gardeners, thanks to the continued efforts of the Chicago Botanic Garden, Walters Gardens, and Plant Delights Nursery.

Unique Flower Parts

False indigo is an herbaceous perennial that produces a new flush of

All Baptisia photos in this issue are courtesy of Mt. Cuba.

Best Baptisia

PLANTprofile growth each year. The stems and foliage emerge from the soil each spring and die back to the ground every fall.

False indigo is a particularly long-lived perennial and will continue this cycle for many years.

When new stems begin to emerge through the soil in late April, they actually resemble young asparagus shoots, although the two plants are unrelated.

As the spring days get warmer, the stems grow taller. By the time they start to bloom (mid- to late May), the foliage has fully expanded. The typical Baptisia grows as tall as three or four feet and often just as wide. False indigo has green or bluish-green, compound trifoliate leaves, although a few species have simple leaves. (A trifoliate leaf is a single leaf made up of three smaller leaflets.) Most selections have green stems, but some species and cultivars have gray stems that add greatly to their ornamental appeal even before flowering begins. The gray color often extends to the calyx, providing an added color complement to the flower.

Baptisia stems emerge from the soil with their flower buds already formed at the top. As the foliage starts to expand, the flower buds begin to elongate to form a tall, stalk-like inflorescence with numerous individual flowers rising up along its central axis.

This towering inflorescence is similar to the flower structures of delphinium and lupine.

The individual, pea-like flowers first begin to open at the base of the inflorescence and new buds open sequentially up the inflorescence over the course of two to three weeks. The length of bloom time can vary somewhat from year to year, depending on the weather. Warm spring days cause the flowers to open and fade sooner than they would during cooler weather.

In fact, temperature is capable of causing shifts in blooming of a week or more.

After the flowers begin to fade, small fruit develop wherever an individual flower was successfully pollinated. The fruit continue to swell throughout the summer months and are very attractive in their own right. Each fruit, or pod, is filled with several seeds that produce a rattle-like sound if shaken. When

mature, the pod splits open and the small, kidney-shaped seeds fall to the ground. Once the seed germinates, it can take three to four years to flower.

Garden Culture

Baptisia is best planted in full sun, which is defined as six or more hours of direct sunlight daily. This helps plants remain as compact and sturdy as possible while achieving the best floral display.

False indigos tolerate a variety of soil types. They often do best in average to rich, well-drained soil, but are capable of thriving in dry, nutrient-poor soils ,too. In fact, they are often found naturally in dry, poor soils because this is where they are best able to compete.

Baptisia is slow to form mature clumps of foliage because it puts so much of its energy into deep, extensive root systems. This helps with its adaptability in challenging conditions, but it also makes it difficult to transplant.

Moving a mature false indigo is possible, but is incredibly difficult and the root ball is likely to be too large for one person to move alone. Therefore, it is highly recommended to select your site carefully since it is best to plant false indigo in its permanent home.

Because young false indigo puts most of its energy into its roots, the top growth is often quite sparse. In fact, two- to three year-old plants, the age usually found at a garden center, have only a handful of stems. However, at this age, they begin to increase in size exponentially, and will reach their mature dimensions in just three to four years.

Baptisia is the quintessential lowmaintenance native perennial. Its deep root system enables it to be quite drought-tolerant, and the symbiotic bacteria living in the roots help to supply it with fertilizer. In fact, removing the dead stems in late winter is the only work required. This task is very easy because the hollow stems simply snap off with a good tug.

Top Performers

Mt. Cuba Center evaluated selections for their overall garden performance, which included both floral display and habit quality. While most of the false

indigo selections performed very well, a few rose to the top with truly impressive floral displays and lush, sturdy foliage.

The following plants are the best-performing, moderately sized selections of Baptisia for the Mid-Atlantic region. This list did not include excellent large selections because their habits are likely too wide for the average home garden, and in each case, there is a similar, more appropriately sized alternative among the top performers.

•’Screamin’ Yellow’ Baptisia sphaerocarpa ‘Screamin’ Yellow’ is one of the most floriferous cultivars in our trial. Although it’s difficult to get an accurate count, the center estimates ‘Screamin’ Yellow’ produces as many as 350 inflorescences on a single plant. This overwhelming quantity makes up for its slightly shorter-thanaverage inflorescences. In addition to the floral display, ‘Screamin’ Yellow’ has beautiful, bluish foliage that creates a rounded, medium-sized habit (34"h x 56"w) and remains dense and sturdy all season long.

• ‘Lemon Meringue’ Baptisia ‘Lemon Meringue’ is a vigorous cultivar that demonstrated significant increases in the number of stems and inflorescences year after year. This ability to produce a mature plant faster than other selections is a valuable attribute among a generally slow-growing genus.

‘Lemon Meringue’ has an impressive floral display that lasts for three weeks, with gray stems and flower buds that help accentuate the sunshine-yellow flowers.

The flower color of ‘Lemon Meringue’ is lighter than ‘Screamin’ Yellow,’ ‘Sunny Morning,’ and ‘Anne’ but darker than ‘Carolina Moonlight.’ ‘Lemon Meringue’ is a medium-sized cultivar that measures 38"h x 56"w at flowering and maintains a lush, broadly vase-shaped habit all season.

• ‘Ivory Towers’ Baptisia ‘Ivory Towers’ was consistently one of the standout cultivars throughout the trial, and is easily the best white-flowered selection. The stems emerge with a purplish tinge that slowly fades as they elongate. When in bloom, ‘Ivory Towers’ produces tall inflorescences of pure white flowers that last for three weeks. The flowers give way to AUGUST 2016

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PLANTprofile large, blocky fruit that persist above the foliage throughout the summer and into early fall.

Even though ‘Ivory Towers’ is a large plant (46"h x 54"w), its habit is more upright and vase-shaped, so it doesn’t occupy the same amount of space in terms of width as some of the other large cultivars. The leafless lower portions of the stems also give ‘Ivory Towers’ a graceful-looking silhouette.

Baptisia alba var. alba ‘Wayne’s World’ is a larger (56"h x 62"w), but otherwise similar, cultivar that also excelled in the trial.

• ‘Blue Towers’ Baptisia ‘Blue Towers’ is a large, yet relatively narrow, blue-flowered cultivar.

There are numerous tall, violet-blue inflorescences, and the individual flowers are held so close together on the inflorescence that they almost look like an incredibly tall hyacinth flower. ‘Blue Towers’ is very similar to ‘Ivory Towers’ in habit (58"h x 56"w) with a slender, vase-shaped silhouette and leafless lower stems. The emerging stems are also an attractive dark gray that fades to a lighter gray as they elongate..

• ‘Purple Smoke’ (pictured above) Baptisia ‘Purple Smoke’ is one of the

there is to a red-flowered false indigo.

Vivid maroon buds become a muted rust color as the flowers age. When viewed up close, the color is striking, but when viewed from a distance, the floral display takes on a slightly duller orange tone due the yellow keel (inner portion of the flower) blending with the reddish outer petals. In peak bloom, ‘Cherries Jubilee’ has an impressive 280 inflorescences over its medium-sized habit (36"h x 48"w), creating a truly spectacular display. oldest hybrid cultivars of false indigo, and it still remains one of the best for the home garden. Its charcoal-gray stems are beautiful when emerging from the soil and the gray color persists through flowering, creating a fine complement to the pale-lavender flowers. A unique feature of ‘Purple Smoke’ is its miniaturized leaves, which give the foliage a fine-textured look. These small leaves are inherited from one of its parents, the dwarf-sized Baptisia australis var. aberrans. However, the habit of ‘Purple Smoke’ is slightly larger, yet still compact, at 36"h x 48"w.

• ‘Cherries Jubilee’ Baptisia ‘Cherries Jubilee’ is the closest

Y ou Can Make a Difference. . . by

Sharing Your Harvest

Plant an extra row in your garden and deliver the harvest to a local food bank or shelter. The need is great!

With your help, PAR can continue to make a difference for America’s most vulnerable.

Call our toll-free number (877.GWAA.PAR) or visit our website at www.gardenwriters.org/par for more information.

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About the Trial

The evaluation took place at Mt. Cuba Center, located near Wilmington, DE. The garden is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7a/6b. The center trialed 46 taxa were trialed over a four-year period (2012–2015). Two plants of each taxon were evaluated; however, the final rating for some taxa is based on just one plant due to losses. In all cases, plant loss was attributed to poor establishment due to small plant size and was not considered a reflection of garden performance.

It is normally the center’s policy to replace plants if they die during the first year. However, many of these cultivars were so new in the trade that they were unable to obtain replacements.

Each year, habit and floral display were rated weekly during the months of May and June, followed by monthly ratings for habit quality in July, August, and September. Ratings are based on a scale of 1–5 (1 being very poor and 5 being excellent). Because Baptisia are slow to mature, only the ratings assigned in 2014 and 2015 were used to calculate the final score as they best represent a mature garden plant.

Environmental stresses were rarely observed to affect the plants, and it is important to note that the plants were given no care other than supplemental water during the first year.

To read the full report, go to www. mtcubacenter.org/images/PDFs-andSWFs/Baptisia_Report-_web_version. pdf. o George Coombs is Mt. Cuba Center’s research horticulturist. Mt. Cuba Center is a botanical garden in in Hockessin, DE. Mt. Cuba Center’s gardens are open to visitors.

Visit www.mtcubacenter.org for details.

BOOKreviews

The Little Book of Bonsai: Master the Art of Growing Miniature Trees

By Malcolm and Kath Hughes Published by Mitchell Beazley List Price: $14.99 Reviewer: John Powers The crash course to the art of bonsai in Malcolm and Kath Hughes’ book effectively describes the meticulous detail, intelligent preparation, and careful crafting that come with taking on the project of cultivating a bonsai tree.

The book wastes no time, dispelling common myths and explaining exactly what the term means, to deal with the common confusion that exists about bonsai trees. The first portion of the book is dedicated to everything that the authors feel a bonsai tree grower should know going into the process.

This includes the history and lore of bonsai trees, methods for picking the best tree to turn into bonsai, and tools and skills that will be necessary throughout the process.

The equipment required to participate in bonsai may be more than you would think—there are very detailed requirements for the pots, wires, tools, and feeding of these miniature plants.

They do an excellent job of showing the reader that bonsai is not a type of tree but rather an art form that involves carefully sculpting your living craft. This is perhaps the greatest confusion that exists when it comes to the public perception of bonsai.

In the subsequent section, the book shows the many different styles

in which the reader can shape their bonsai trees. Each has its own subtle details of maintenance and growth, as well as the process that holds all of this together: pruning.

This is where the graphics that cover almost every page come in handy; before-and-after images show the readers exactly what to prune and what to leave, as well as other more advanced shaping methods that involve wiring and carving dead wood into different shapes.

As any plant grows, the potential need for repotting is always present.

This is true even more so for bonsai, since the growth of this plant style is unique and requires detailed care to keep the tree protected from frost, pests, and other dangers.

At this point, the Hugheses give a well-thought-out explanation of how bonsai trees can be grown, starting from the selection process of different species and shapes of trees and moving you towards the final goal of being able to prune, water, feed, and repot your plant to the point that it can be sustained. They then move on to more complex art forms, including the very intriguing concept of group planting: creating a miniature forest of bonsai trees.

The book does an excellent job of describing ways to make the arrangement and the plants themselves more visually appealing.

Perhaps the greatest resource of the book for those who are already familiar with the art of bonsai is the species profile section, which highlights different genera of plants, including junipers, elms, pines, and many more. Each section has tips for the specific growth, care, and management of the various types of plants. The sections also list specific species that lend themselves to becoming bonsai.

The book serves as an excellent introduction to the art of bonsai, and it shows the reader how to begin their hobby of bonsai. While that is the extent of the book’s use, it effectively explains all of the hurdles that come with such detail-oriented living art and engenders a curiosity and excitement for this art form that leaves the reader wanting to try it themselves.

John Powers is a rising senior multi-platform journalism major and environmental economics and policy minor at the University of Maryland. He has worked as a staff writer for “Stories Beneath the Shell,” an online publication at UMD, and currently works on the copy desk of The Diamondback, the university’s official newspaper. He has spent a summer working as a farmhand back in his home state of Massachusetts. He is an intern with Washington Gardener Magazine this summer.

Miniature Garden Grower: Terrariums & Other Tiny Gardens to Grow Indoors & Out

By Holly Farrell Published by Mitchell Beazley List Price: $14.99 Reviewer: Jacqueline Hyman Miniature Garden Grower is the perfect guide to planting creative small gardens in ways that one may have never thought about. The book provides a large amount of variety and is well organized, providing inspiration to the reader. However, the words “miniature garden” can be misleading, since many of the projects do take up more space than would be available in a small apartment.

Each chapter focuses on a different type of miniature garden, such as vertical gardens and terrariums. For each project, a maintenance section explains how to care for the completed garden, including pinching out leaves and pruning mini tree branches. The section does not always specify how much or AUGUST 2016

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BOOKreviews often to water the garden.

There is an entire chapter covering miniature gardening basics, but it comes at the end of the book. It would be better placed in the front of the book so readers are aware that this is a guide as well as a fountain of ideas.

Each project ends with a “Plant File” that suggests certain plants for each project. These are extremely convenient and helpful since they give gardeners an idea of what works well in each specific project and which plants might blend well together. The ‘Plant File’ describes each suggested plant and provides high-quality pictures of some.

Throughout the book, there are graphics and pictures to supplement the explanatory steps of each project. The style of the graphics makes the book edgy and appealing to the eye, keeping the whole guide interesting regardless of the project in question.

Some of the projects, such as the jungles and meadows in pots and the mini lawn, are much too large to keep in an apartment, so if the reader is looking for a space-saver, these are not the best picks. Additionally, some of the projects seem very complicated to create with minimal experience, such as the Air Plant Moon, a wire ball covered in moss. While it’s cool knowing that moss can form shapes on a brick wall (Moss Graffiti), it’s hard to imagine anyone really wanting to go forward with that project.

Most of the projects, though, are very innovative and seem like fun to create.

Here are some favorite projects: • All of the terrariums are small, easy, and perfect for a small spot on a desk in an office or apartment. The idea for a succulent terrarium is especially appealing because the plants are so unique-looking. Once created, closed terrariums require almost no maintenance, so they are great for anyone with a busy lifestyle.

• The hanging gardens would be perfect for herbs hanging from a kitchen ceiling. Imagining plucking fresh basil or cilantro while cooking is so exciting.

• Although I’m not too sure about putting them in a wreath (another way to arrange them is just as plausible), but planting succulents in old wine and champagne corks is an extremely 18

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resourceful use of old materials. Any wine lovers looking to add a little life to their homes should be thrilled to create this project. It’s also a spunky look that enhances the interests of the gardener.

• Lastly, the Strawberry Tower is an amazing prospect for anyone who loves the tasty little berries, because it saves space while having the potential to grow an immense amount of fruit. However, it doesn’t seem like a very neat project to keep in the house, so it’s probably more practical for someone with a porch or balcony.

In addition to these great projects, the book also provides some educational information, such as explaining how a mini water cycle works in a closed terrarium. These lessons make the book an interesting read and something worth having on your shelf for future reference.

If you ever want to create a cool project that will bring some life into your house, this book is definitely a great guide to keep on deck.

Jacqueline Hyman is a junior journalism and English major at the University of Maryland.

She is the editor-in-chief of the Mitzpeh, the independent Jewish newspaper at UMD. In addition, She enjoys musical theater, and teaches piano and voice at Guitar Center.

She is excited to be interning this summer for Washington Gardener.

Garden Design Bible: 40 Great Offthe-Peg Designs—Detailed Planting Plans—Step-by-Step Projects—Gardens to Adapt for Your Space (reissue)

By Tim Newbury Published by Octopus Books/Hamlyn List Price: $19.99 Reviewer: Andrea F. Siegel Knowing something about plants is not the same as knowing something about landscape design. The result: You can have great plants but not great landscaping.

That is where the Garden Design Bible by landscape designer Tim Newbury comes in, by presenting cohesive landscapes that make good use of the space. The book, a paperback, describes and depicts 40 of what he calls “off-the-peg” designs. Among them are themed gardens, from Japanesestyle to creative jungle, from modern Mediterranean to updates of formal

European spaces. Some designs are driven by plants, such as the kitchen and scent gardens; and others by location, such as rooftop and seaside. And there are practical plans, such as the family and easy-care designs.

As varied as the landscape designs are, all have in common: a list of the elements that make the design ideally suited to its named purpose, a description of design features that contribute to that, and a planting plan with recommended plants. A sidebar of sorts with each has suggestions for such things as how to make a fedge (a fence-hedge combination) and tips for adapting designs in the book to different yard shapes. The illustrations are immensely helpful—pretty plant photos and colorful depictions of the spaces—in helping readers visualize how the elements work together.

The mix-and-match list at the end is noteworthy. It can aid amateur designers in deciding about swapping out elements. For example, the reader seeking choices for paths can find different styles and then view the designs that feature them. That opens a window not only on how each kind of path and its materials complement the landscape design in which they’re featured, but also how to evaluate it for the reader’s personal use.

The author makes no judgment on what gardeners choose to mix and match. It’s up to the reader to know that wide deviation from a design in the book may lessen that plan’s distinc-

BOOKreviews tive style—that’s why formal geometric gardens don’t look like rustic cottage gardens—but it may create a landscape that’s perfect for the reader’s taste, use, and available space. A reader should understand that switching from tile to a wood mulch path to the pool is likely to lead to mulch debris drifting in it.

Readers should keep in mind that this is a British book; plants well-suited to the U.K. may be ill-suited to the Washington, DC, area with its quirky weather and persistent insects. You’re on your own here for natives, deer- and bunny-resistant plant suggestions, how to cope with bugs, details on soil needs for the recommended plants, or an idea of how big those plants will get. It would be great to have that all in one place, but that’s not the case here.

However, the book’s value is in its design suggestions, and readers can turn elsewhere for the other information—which is time-consuming, but better than crying later over dead or devoured plants.

Some design elements, not to mention DIY projects with how-to steps, are tempting experiments in self-reliance.

Note to DIYers: Before embarking on a project that includes electricity and digging or major landscaping or hardscaping, contact utilities and also obtain building, fence, and grading permits, if required.

Overall, deciding on a landscape design and selecting the hardscape and plants for it is tough, but this book can be a helpful starting point, whether for ideas to show a landscape designer or for elements to incorporate in an existing landscape.

Andrea Siegel is a master gardener in Maryland and a freelance writer and editor. She is especially interested in sustainable suburban gardening while providing for local wildlfe.

Idiot’s Guides: Succulents

By Cassidy Tuttle Published by Penguin List Price: $21.95 Reviewer: Teresa Speight The simplicity of this book is amazing.

Cassidy Tuttle should recognized for giving the reader step-by-step instruction for successful succulent growing.

Tips on choosing the right succulent for the right place, the care, and feeding of your choices to potential projects—all the information with resources have been compiled into an easy-to-read book.

Succulents provide a sense of confidence to those who grow plants due to their ease of care. From the numerous cultivars, shapes, textures, and bloom types, to the ability for most succulents to thrive with minimal care and in less-

than-optimal conditions.

My favorite chapter focused on using unusual containers. The options are endless, from seashells to dustpans to picture frames—it all will depend on what you want the end result to look like. Allowing the imagination to flow is key, according to Ms. Tuttle.

Another great chapter focuses on potential projects. giving step-by-step instruction for pot types, specific cultivars, and special needs of the succulent when used to make each creative project. An entire chapter focuses on the many types of cultivars readily available on the market today.

I recommend this book if you are envious of all the gorgeous succulent plantings that you might see in local public gardens and in glossy magazines. Cassidy Tuttle has provided us with a simple road map to success in growing succulents. o Teresa Speight is a native Washingtonian, who resides in District Heights, MD. She owns Cottage in the Court Landscape Consulting. She can be reached at cottageinthecourt@gmail.com.

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Love Reading?

These books were reviewed by volunteer members of the Washington Gardener Reader Panel. We are looking for a few additional volunteers who live in the greater Washington, DC, region to serve on our Reader Panel. This will consist of about two email exchanges per month. Reader Panelists may also be asked to review new gardening books and test out new garden plants, tools, and seeds.

To join the Washington Gardener Volunteer Reader Panel, send an email with your name and address to: wgardenermag@aol.com. We look forward to having you be a vital part of our local publication and its gardening mission. o AUGUST 2016

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INSECTindex

Where are the Native Earthworms?

by Carol Allen

As gardeners, we have grown up cherishing an increase of earthworms in our soils. As we add compost and mulch, then appropriately water our gardens and landscapes, we equate seeing a healthy population of earthworms as an indication of a job well done. But did you know that we are not looking at native earthworms? And there are some earthworms that we really don’t want to see increasing? Surprise: not all earthworms are beneficial!

Native earthworm populations vary across the United States. This is in part due to the last glaciation in the Pleistocene Epoch (2.588 million to 11,700 years before present and with many periods of ice). Native earthworms in the north did not survive that event. The Mid-Atlantic states were south of the last ice age and Maryland, for example, enjoys a high number of native earthworms in its natural areas.

However, this is changing with both the introduction of nonnative earthworms and the loss of natural areas.

The first of the imported earthworms came with the European settlers. A current hypothesis is that European ships dumped their ballast of soil and rocks before taking on shipments of tobacco.

John Rolfe (of Pocahontas fame) was notable for introducing a mild, sweet tobacco to European connoisseurs. His efforts contributed to the economic success of Jamestown, VA, but possibly brought the common night crawler (Lumbricus terrestris) and the red marsh worm (Eisenia fetida) to North America.

So what is the big deal? Earthworms are a key part of an ecosystem. Native earthworms that have evolved with their associated plants and animals help to break down leaves and other vegetative debris at an optimum rate to keep the system regenerating. However, current studies are revealing that the nonnative earthworms are now the dominant species in many ecosystems. In forest habitats, the nonnative species can reduce the leaf litter layer at twice the rate of the native species and they change the abundance of soil fungi as well. Both of these factors disturb the rate of tree 20

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seedling growth, with some tree species growing faster (tulip poplar) and some species growing more slowly (red oak). They also change soil respiration, which is the measure of carbon dioxide released by soil organisms and other factors. Soil respiration is a measure of a healthy soil ecosystem and is certainly involved with carbon sequestration. When carbon is stored on Earth (sequestered), it does not build up in the atmosphere as a greenhouse gas.

Whether these changes in soil respiration are of benefit or a detriment is yet to be determined.

The rapid loss of leaf litter in many forest ecosystems also changes the nitrogen cycle, favoring an increase in nonnative, invasive plant species. An abundance of introduced plant species disrupts the ecosystem even more. The physical upheaval of the soil by the burrowing of some of these nonnative earthworms can disturb plant roots.

Spring ephemerals have declined in some areas where nonnative earthworm populations are high—their fine roots make them especially vulnerable.

The loss of leaf litter also increases runoff and loss of top soil due to erosion.

Some of the Damaging Nonnative Species

The common night crawler (Lumbricus terrestris) is widely distributed. This earthworm can be found in hedgerows, gardens, and disturbed-then-regrown forests. Night crawlers feed on decaying vegetation and will pull a leaf petiole into the opening of the burrow to feed on as the leaf decays. Its deep burrowing can move delicate orchid seeds too deep to germinate. You inadvertently buy these worms when you buy plants in a nursery and fishing enthusiasts purchase them for fish bait.

The Eisenia fetida, or red wiggler, is often sold for vermicomposting (a form of composting using earthworms) and as fish bait. This earthworm lives in the top-most layers of organic matter and leaf litter. It can be found in composting manures and, at this time, is not considered invasive, but can be disruptive to some ecosystems in high numbers.

Amynthas agrestis, or crazy snake worm, is an earthworm native to Asia and its first appearance in North America is unknown. It can be distinguished from other earthworm species by its violent thrashing activity when caught. It acts like a baby snake and may even lose its tail in its efforts to escape. It feeds in the soil where the leaf litter meets the top soil and it is able to rapidly break down tougher wood chips as well as leaf litter. A. agrestis can be found in municipal compost piles, mulch, and containerized plants. It is also characterized by the large amount of excrement that it produces.

This earthworm does not survive the winter, but creates overwintering cocoons for the eggs. The eggs hatch out when soil temperatures are above 50°. There may be several generations per year. A. agrestis has been identified as causing the serious loss of undergrowth in the forests of Vermont because of its rapid demolition of leaf litter. It has been given the designation as an invasive species in Wisconsin, where it is illegal to transport, introduce, or purchase it.

At this time, there is no control for nonnative earthworms, but homeowners and fishing enthusiasts can do some things to prevent further introduction of these invasive species.

1. Examine the root balls of and contents of containerized plants for these nonnative species. They can be bagged and allowed to sit in the sun or put in the freezer until dead.

2. Do not release either bait worms or the worms from vermiculture into the wild.

3. Purchase native minnows for fishing instead of earthworms.

4. Remove nonnative plants from your landscape. Studies have found a higher concentration of invasive earthworms in areas with nonnative and invasive plants.

5. Protect natural areas from development and degradation by invasive species. 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, and is a Licensed Pesticide Applicator in the states of Maryland. She can be contacted at carolallen@erols.com.

Please use pesticides safely! Read and heed all label directions!

KNOWitall

Ask the Expert

understanding that neither of these are winter-hardy. Do I actually need to remove these bulbs from the ground before winter or can I mulch the area well with shredded leaves and expect them to make it through the winter?

by Debra Ricigliano

Caterpillar on Willow Oak The leaves of my willow oak that I planted more than 10 years ago are being devoured by a caterpillar. They are black with orange stripes. Over the past few years, we decided not to use pesticides in our yard any more. I do not want to harm beneficial insects. Is there something I can treat this with, with minimal harm to other insects?

You are describing the orange striped oakworm. This is a late-season caterpillar, which has one generation per year; feeds on oak and other deciduous tree species. Mature larvae are about 1½ inches long. They are black with eight yellow-to-orange stripes and two black spines behind the head. Young caterpillars skeletonize leaves; larger ones consume portions of soft tissue, leaving the veins behind. The caterpillars tend to feed in groups on the ends of branches. Prune out the infested branches, if you can reach them, or knock them down into a bucket of soapy water using a pole pruner.

However, this is not a serious pest and control is not necessary unless the tree is newly planted. Beneficial insects like parasitic wasps do help to keep this caterpillar under control.

Deformed Cucumbers

What causes cucumbers to become deformed? They are skinny in the middle and fatter on the ends. Some of them are twisted. Also, I put my tomato plants into the ground mid-May. Although I have fully formed tomatoes on the vine, they have yet to turn red.

Is something wrong?

Twisted or deformed cucumbers may be the result of insufficient pollination, hot temperatures, and too much nitrogen fertilizer. Next year, encourage pollinators to come to your garden by planting pollinator plants close to your garden.

Tomatoes can be slow to ripen, but if the fruit color begins to change, they can be picked and ripened on your kitchen counter and still be flavorful.

Tomatoes fail to ripen because of insufficient ripening time as days become shorter, and due to low sunlight, plant crowding, and over fertilization.

Bites on Coneflowers

For the past couple of weeks, it seems something is eating the petals of my purple and white coneflowers. The plants are healthy and I do not notice any problems with the leaves, but the petals are half-eaten. Who is ruining my flowers?

There are numerous insects active now that are possible suspects. Included in the list are: Oriental beetles, Asian garden beetles, rose chafers, and a caterpillar known as the camouflaged looper. Some of these pests are nocturnal feeders and are difficult to catch in the act. Earwigs are another possibility. To help eliminate earwigs, if they are the culprit, roll up a slightly damp newspaper section or a paper towel and place it on the ground beneath the plants.

They will use the crumpled paper to hide in during the day. Examine the paper daily for earwigs and destroy any that you find.

Wintering over Caladium

For the first time, I planted both caladium and elephant ear bulbs. They have grown well over the summer and added much interest to my landscape. It is my

Yes, it is true that both caladiums and elephant ears are not hardy in zone 7.

They both will need to be dug up and stored in an area that does not drop below 50 degrees F. After we have a frost and the leaves die back, dig up the tubers, cut back the foliage, shake off the soil, lay them on cardboard or newspaper, and allow them to dry in a ventilated, shady area. Discard any tubers that have soft spots in them.

Place them in a crate with openings or a cardboard box in dry peat moss, shredded newspaper, or vermiculite. Do not let the tubers touch each other.

In early spring, you can start them in containers indoors or wait until May and plant them directly outdoors after the soil has warmed up. Keep them watered since they like moist but welldrained soil. o Debra Ricigliano is a Certified Professional Horticulturist. She has worked as a horticulture consultant for the University of Maryland Extension Home and Garden Information Center since 1997. Debra enjoys gardening at her home in Highland, MD. She is a graduate of the Institute of Applied Agriculture at UMCP and a talented, allaround horticulturist. To ask a gardening or pest question, go to http://www.extension. umd.edu/hgic and click on “Ask Maryland’s Garden Experts.” You can also attach a digital photo.

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GOINGnative

Tall, Blue, and Handsome

by Barry Glick

Well, those rascals who call themselves “Plant Taxonomists” have done it again!

They’ve taken a perfectly good plant name that just rolled off the tongue, Campanula americana; roughed it up a bit: threw in an extra syllable; and gave us back Campanulastrum americanum. Now, I’m sure that they could present us with a somewhat legitimate explanation for this new moniker, other than what we suspect is job security for themselves, but let’s not even concern ourselves with that here. Instead, let’s focus on this lovely plant itself.

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Campanulastrum americanum is also known as American Bellwort, Tall Bellflower, or American Bellflower. In spite of the common name and the genus name, derived from the Latin campana (bell), the flowers of this species are usually flat, not bell-shaped as are many others in this family.

It is a reliable native annual or biennial, depending on when the seeds germinate, that provides us with many of the traits that gardeners are always clamoring for, like height, shade tolerance, and a mesmerizing blue color.

Yes, I said mesmerizing, and I’m sure that even Franz Mesmer, the 18th-century German physician who believed that all people, plants, and things are pulled together by a strong magnetic, force, would agree.

If you’re a regular reader of my columns, you may have noticed that all the plants I write about are perennials, so it’s a departure for me to be writing about an annual. This plant is such a dependable self-seeder that I consider the several colonies that are native to my gardens as practically perennial.

The average height of the plant is between 4 and 5 feet, but I’ve had several specimens attain heights of almost 7 feet. Once they’ve finished blooming, they can be cut back for a pretty reliable second bloom later in the season.

They make beautiful cut flowers as well.

Long-tongued bees (including bumblebees and leaf-cutting bees) are the primary pollinators of the flowers. Other visitors to the flowers include hummingbirds, butterflies, and skippers.

Although, I can’t claim to have counted them myself, I’m told by very trustworthy sources that an ounce of the easy-to-germinate, dust-like seeds numbers 170,000. If you sow the seeds in the autumn, they’ll spring up readily, forming a tight little rosette, and will then flower the following summer. You can also sow them in the spring for a bloom the same year.

The Tall Bellwort, another common name for this plant, prefers light to deep shade and average-to-moist soils.

The more moist the soil, the more sun it can handle. Here in the mountains of West Virginia, blooms commence around the beginning of July and can continue until the first frosts. There aren’t many plants I can think of that have such an extended bloom time. o Barry Glick, a transplanted Philadelphian, has been residing in Greenbrier County, WV, since 1972. His mountaintop garden and nursery is a mecca for gardeners from virtually every country in the world. Barry writes and lectures extensively about native plants and Hellebores, his two main specialties, and welcomes visitors with advance notice.

He can be reached at barry@sunfarm.com, www.sunfarm.com, or 304.497.2208.

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MARCH/APRIL 2005 • Landscape DIY vs. Pro • Prevent Gardener’s Back • Ladew Topiary Gardens • Cherry Trees

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MARCH/APRIL 2008 • Patio, Balcony, Rooftop Container Gardens • Our Favorite Garden Tools • Coral Bells (Heucheras) MAY/JUNE 2008 — ALMOST SOLD OUT! • Growing Great Tomatoes • Glamorous Gladiolus • Seed-Starting Basics • Flavorful Fruiting Natives JULY/AUGUST 2008 • Landscaping with Ornamental Grasses • Edible Grasses to Graze On • Slug and Snail Control • Sage Advice: Sun-Loving Salvias SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2008 • Autumn Edibles — What to Plant Now • Beguiling Barrenworts (Epimediums) • Best Time to Plant Spring-blooming Bulbs • 14 Dry Shade Plants Too Good to Overlook NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2008 • Outdoor Lighting Essentials • How to Prune Fruiting Trees, Shrubs, Vines • 5 Top Tips for Overwintering Tender Bulbs • Harry Lauder’s Walking Stick JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2009 • Compost Happens: Nature’s Free Fertilizer • Managing Stormwater with a Rain Garden • Visiting Virginia’s State Arboretum • Grow Winter Hazel for Winter Color

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MAY/JUNE 2009 • Top Easy Summer Annuals for DC Heat • Salad Table Project • Grow and Enjoy Eggplant • How to Chuck a Woodchuck

SUMMER 2009 • Grow Grapes in the Mid-Atlantic • Passionflowers • Mulching Basics • Growing Hops FALL 2009 • Apples • How to Save Tomato Seeds • Persimmons WINTER 2009 • Battling Garden Thugs • How to Start Seeds Indoors • Red Twig Dogwoods • Unusual Edibles to Grow in Our Region SPRING 2010 • Community Gardens • Building a Raised Bed • Dwarf Iris • Broccoli SUMMER 2010 • Fragrance Gardens • Watering Without Waste • Lavender • Potatoes FALL 2010 • Vines and Climbers • Battling Stink Bugs • Russian Sage • Garlic WINTER 2010 • Paths and Walkways • Edgeworthia • Kohlrabi SPRING 2011 • Cutting-Edge Gardens • Final Frost Dates and When to Plant • Bleeding Hearts • Onions SUMMER 2011 • Ornamental Edibles • Urban Foraging • Amsonia/Arkansas Blue Star • Growing Corn in the Mid-Atlantic FALL 2011 • Herb Gardens • Toad Lilies • Sweet Potatoes • Cool Weather Cover Crops WINTER 2011/EARLY SPRING 2012 • Green Roofs and Walls • Heaths and Heathers • Radishes SPRING 2012 • Pollinator Gardens • Brunnera: Perennial of the Year • Growing Yacon SUMMER 2012 • Tropical Gardens • Captivating Canna • Icebox Watermelons SPRING 2013 • Great Garden Soil • All About Asters • Squash Vine Borer SUMMER/FALL 2013 • Miniature/Faerie Gardens • Beguiling Abelias • Growing Great Carrots WINTER/EARLY SPRING 2014 • Ferns for the Mid-Atlantic • Chanticleer Gardens • Beet Growing Basics

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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.

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