Washington Gardener December 2017

DECEMBER 2017 VOL. 12 NO. 10

WWW.WASHINGTONGARDENER.COM

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tthe magazine for gardening enthusiasts in the Mid-Atlantic region

Charming Chamaecyparis Native American Bulb: Camassia Lessons Learned in the Vegetable Plot Testing Seed Sprouting Kits Bees Find Unlikely Homes in the City

Your Garden Task List 8 Tips for Winter Rose Care DC-MD-VA Gardening Events Calendar

Meet Kaifa Anderson-Hall of Plants and Blooms Reimagined

Tregaron Conservancy Historical Woodland Renaissance

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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 KathyJentz@gmail.com for available dates, rates, and topics.

RARE AND EXCEPTIONAL PLANTS FOR THE DISCRIMINATING GARDENER AND COLLECTOR

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Barry Glick Sunshine Farm and Gardens 696 Glicks Road Renick, WV 24966, USA Email: barry@sunfarm.com

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www.sunfarm.com

Green Spring Gardens

www.greenspring.org

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Contact kathyjentz@gmail.com or call 301.588.6894 for ad rates. The ad deadline is the 10th of each month. Please submit your ad directly to: KathyJentz@gmail.com.

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WASHINGTON GARDENER DECEMBER 2017

A “must visit” for everyone in the metropolitan Washington, DC, area. It’s a year-round goldmine of information and inspiration for the home gardener. It’s an outdoor classroom for children and their families to learn about plants and wildlife. It’s also a museum, a national historic site that offers glimpses into a long, rich history with colonial origins.

Located at 4603 Green Spring Rd., Alexandria, VA. Information: 703-642-5173.

INSIDEcontents

FEATURES and COLUMNS

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Tregaron’s preservation owes thanks to the neighborhood, who fought to save this heritage landscape, and the volunteers who are bringing it back to life. Walking in Tregaron’s tranquil leafy slice of woodland, visitors experience Ellen Biddle Shipman’s “perfect” woodland, where naturalistic plantings and man-made features populate sunlit meadows and canopied woodland.

Her art defines the legacy of a “wild garden,” and in any season, a walk infuses you with nature’s balm.

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The wood and other aerial parts in the Chamaecyparis genus exhibit termite- and rotresistance, are antifungal and antimicrobial.

Hinoki essential wood oil, extracted through steam distillation, is currently being tested as a possible nontoxic insecticide.

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In the spirit of St. Francis, a small group of beekeepers has tended bees with care in a small apiary on the grounds of the Franciscan Monastery since 2006. Besides the honey—unique to the area—and other hive products, the bees also provide service to the Monastery gardens and the surrounding area through the pollination they perform.

BOOKreviews 12-13 Florilegium; Garden Myths; Prick; Build a Vegetable Garden DAYtrip 15-17 Tregaron Conservancy EDIBLEharvest 30 Lessons Learned in the Plot HORThappenings 22 USBG Holiday Display; Bulb Planting; Brookside Lights NEWPLANTspotlight 11 Virginian™ Arborvitae NEIGHBORnetwork 5-7 Kaifa Anderson-Hall PHILLYflowershow 27 Trip Details and Sign-up Form PHOTOcontest 23 Rules for 2018 Submissions PLANTprofile 24-26 Chamaecyparis PRODUCTreview 20-21 Sprouting Kits SEEDexchanges 28-29 2018 Dates and Details SPECIALfeature 18-19 Bees Find Homes in the City TIPStricks 10 Winter Rose Tips; Curb Boxwood Disease; Native Camassia Bulbs

DEPARTMENTS

ADVERTISINGindex BLOGlinks EDITORletter GARDENcontest LOCALevents MONTHLYtasklist NEXTissue RESOURCESsources

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ON THE COVER

A stone path at Tregaron. Photo

by Jennifer Packard.

In our January 2018 issue:

Chef Gardens of DC New Plants for 2018 and much more...

If your business would like to reach area gardeners, be sure to contact us by January 10 so you can be part of the next issue of our growing publication!

DECEMBER 2017 WASHINGTON GARDENER

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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 kathyjentz@gmail.com www.washingtongardener.com Your editor speaking about social media at the Virginia Urban Agriculture Summit 2017.

Logging Offline

The publishers of Medium.com recently asked: “What happens when we take a detox from the digital world?” What a cheeky question from a service that depends on online subscriptions! As someone who spends a great deal of my waking hours on the computer, writing and editing this magazine, blog posts, etc., and then engaging in social media, I know I probably fall in the “addicted” category. What form would a detox take and what does that even mean?

Most detoxes start with a cleanse of some kind—a clearing of accumulated toxins. Some programs describe an initial fasting period and others prescribe a weaning off.

I plan to take a break from social media for the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day. I don’t think I will go cold turkey, but will just try to stay offline as much as possible to work on some long-neglected projects.

To deal with the withdrawal symptoms, I am lucky to have a garden to retreat into.

Although the temperatures will be cold, I can still get a lot done. (Like the box of tulip bulbs still not in the ground yet!) Here are the ways I plan to pursue a nature cleanse: 1. Go forest-bathing. When the weather permits, I’ll take off my shoes and put my bare feet on the soil.

2. Do yoga outdoors. On a sunny day, I will take my mat outside and do my usual morning stretches under the bare arms of a big White Oak tree.

3. Weed. When getting down on my knees and pulling out the Bermuda grass, roots and all, I often enter a Zen-like state. Time passes without noticing and then there is that satisfying pile of detritus to show for the effort.

4. Pick herbs. I will collect herbs for drying and process the ones I have already hung to dry this past year. I will smell their scents and add them to my cooking.

5. Plan next year’s vegetable garden. I will get out an actual piece of graph paper and a pencil and chart plot—complete with seasonal transitions.

6. Clean the tools and shed. On a chilly day, I can bring a bunch of neglected tools inside and sharpen, then oil, them. Then I will clean out the shed so they can be stored properly and not be in such sad shape again.

7. Re-pot some houseplants. The root-bound and those with depleted soils are crying out for attention, and I will finally give it to them.

8. Share my bounty. I will bring some extra plants to upcoming garden club meetings to encourage beginner gardeners and make room for new plants.

9. Turn the compost pile. Somewhere at the bottom of that heap is black gold, and I intend to unearth it and add it to some garden beds.

10. Meditate. I will sit and breathe in the garden. I will take time to simply enjoy it and not photograph it, journal it, tweet it, or work in it.

After the detox comes a slow reintroduction back to the old routine, ideally refreshed and renewed. Ready for the new year to come.

Happy gardening!

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

WASHINGTON GARDENER DECEMBER 2017

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Volume 12, Number 10 ISSN 1555-8959 © 2017 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.

NEIGHBORnwork

Meet Kaifa Anderson-Hall

By Uyen Nguyen

Kaifa Anderson-Hall is the creator of Plants and Blooms Reimagined (PBR), an organization that provides underresourced, marginalized groups and residents in the DC area (such as (senior and assisted living communities, nursing home residents, and differently abled adults) with indoor plants and cut flowers. This is done by recovering and repurposing arrangements from weddings, galas, etc., and plant and flower donations from florists, designers, markets, and more. PBR also provides educational and therapeutic activities and programs.

We recently caught up with Kaifa at Brookland Manor Community Center engaging seniors in a centerpiece making session.

Tell us about yourself and your background. Are you from the DC area?

Even though I was born in Brooklyn, NY, I’m a “native” Washingtonian at heart—

having been raised here since the age of 2. I attended DC public schools and local universities, and established my professional career here. I’m a DC Master Gardener and served as program director of the Washington Youth Garden (WYG) for six years. Being tapped for that position was an amazing twist of fate. I would be returning to serve and champion the same program that I had the opportunity to be a part of as a fifth- and sixth-grade student. It goes without saying that this was a life-altering experience—seeding my love and appreciation for plants and gardening for a lifetime.

The richness of this experience would be magnified by the fact that it took place on the grounds of the U.S. National Arboretum (where the WYG has operated for all of its 46 years).

Being on the grounds of the Arboretum introduced me and connected my spirit to all of the wonders of nature. It was

like discovering and being home with my true self.

Even with these formative experiences as a youth, my initial course of study and career path was not that of horticulture education, but of social sciences. [Being] a social service professional, working as a counselor and a school social worker where I was rooted in advocacy and systems change and personal and community empowerment—all of which underlie my present work of providing collaborative leadership in advancing community and school garden development and accessibility for all, urban agriculture and sustainability, and the practice of horticulture therapy.

How and why did you start Plants and Blooms ReImagined?

Two years ago, I responded to a routine siting of the Children’s Hospital Blood Mobile by inexplicably transposing the DECEMBER 2017 WASHINGTON GARDENER

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NEIGHBORnwork “d” in blood to an “m,” reading Bloom Mobile rather than Blood Mobile. I immediately knew my next course of action: Take plants and flowers to those facing barriers in accessing gardens and other natural environments as a means to facilitate nature connections.

Thus, Plants and Blooms ReImagined was born!

I had a glimpse of the potential impact that a plant delivery experience might have, particularly for home-bound seniors, when, after several years of delivering meals as part of a Holiday Cheers for Seniors ministry, I decided to add the gift of a poinsettia. The unsuspected gift of the poinsettia would always be received with surprise, great joy, and deep gratitude.

The “how” involved cultivating an accessible source of plant material, as well as forging partnerships with community organizations and providers serving vulnerable and under-resourced groups. The plant source would be predicated on the growing appreciation and practice of “rescuing” and repurposing post-event arrangements, non-market sells, and other gleaned floral materials.

I started out working with one of DC’s premiere florists and wedding designers, Sidra Forman, whose desire it was to find an alternative to discarding her post-wedding “orphans.” I celebrated this as the beginning of creating a fruitful recovery and repurposing operation in the DC region.

Comparable to the plan for acquiring cut flowers was my vision for indoor plant donations and recoveries. I was very fortunate to have had an established relationship (as a volunteer and horticulture therapy intern) with Melwood, which for all of its 50-plus years has had plant cultivation as a core tenet of therapy and workforce development for differently abled adults. During this initial phase, they’ve donated a number of indoor plants as source of propagation and as wonderful giveaways.

Similarly, I was fortunate to be introduced to Seabury Resources for Aging (one of the lead agencies of the DC Office on Aging) by a dear friend who was both a client and volunteer. Before formally rolling out PBR, I had begun 6

WASHINGTON GARDENER DECEMBER 2017

Plants and Blooms ReImagined

volunteering with him on Sunday afternoons at one of Seabury’s Home First group home residences for low-income seniors. After my friend’s unfortunate passing, I was asked to continue the plant activities. I ultimately had the chance to share the PBR vision with the executive director, who gave her unwavering support. As with the pairing with the one wedding designer, the partnership with this first service provider opened the door to what was possible.

What motivates you to keep Plants and Blooms ReImagined running?

As I continue to plant the seeds of PBR, I remain motivated by PBR’s primary premise: that one’s connection to nature is a prescription for wellness and that indoor plants and cut flowers are both accessible expressions that can enrich lives of marginalized communities disconnected from nature.

I’m excited for the many forthcoming collaborations with florists, floral designers, retailers, wholesalers, market vendors, venue and hotel managers, bridal couples, and more that will help raise awareness and collectively facilitate a sustained commitment to socially impactful end-of-use practices that will benefit many. It’s the many who are the greatest motivation!

Tell us about the projects (events, activities, educational programs) that Plants and Blooms ReImagined holds for the community.

Plants and Blooms ReImagined has

had the opportunity to take part in two senior health fairs, championing the therapeutic applications, specific benefits, and nature-based connections of plants and cut flowers for senior communities. I look to expand PBR’s presence at more health fairs and am excited to have been asked to provide curbside propagation and flower arranging demonstrations as part of select farmers markets next season.

What mistakes and/or triumphs have you encountered in your work?

I would not say that mistakes have been made, but rather that there’ve been lessons learned. The most instructive at this stage of PBR’s evolution is that everyone will not, and need not, share your vision. The show will and must go on.

As for successes, I consider the partnership with Seabury to be significant as it’s the breadth of service delivery for older adults that’s afforded me the greatest application of PBR thus far, including the incredible experience of working with blind and visually impaired seniors. Imagining and piloting PBR’s Bee Friendly…Bloom to Share! initiative was also a major success.

What is a typical day like for you?

A PBR day can take on many forms, from post-event recovery (which can occur almost any time during the day, including very late night/early morning), other donation pick-ups (from florists, designers, markets, grocers), inventory

NEIGHBORnwork and first-stage restoration and ongoing preservation, to delivery and/or program facilitation, to partnership cultivation, volunteer coordination, and management of Bee Friendly…Bloom to Share!

What is the best part about working on Plants and Blooms ReImagined?

I’m particularly excited about growing the web of engagement with more service providers, designers, florists, growers, event managers. Yet, the most rewarding part about the work of PBR is hearing the question “When will you be back?” from a lively group of seniors at a day program [after they] created their own arrangements, or from a home-bound senior having her visiting nurse strategically place her delivered arrangement on her food tray, or from the activities director at a nursing facility after having delivered plants to 50 residents on a unit.

What are the benefits of repurposing flowers and plants? And how would you recommend the average home gardener get involved (either with your organization or on their own)?

As shared previously, the benefits of repurposing flowers and plants are extending their use to provide readily accessible, life-enhancing nature connections for those in need.

The average home gardener can be involved in several ways. When you RSVPs to attend an event that uses extensive floral arrangements, ask about their post-event destination.

Spread the word on championing the importance of recovery and socially impactful post-uses. Inquire of your favorite florist or market vendor if there’s ever surplus inventory (flowers or live plants) or slightly past prime inventory destined for disposal. Inform all about the PBR alternative.

As a gardener, in the spirit of Planting a Row for the Hungry, one can take part in PBR’s Bee Friendly…Bloom to Share! initiative. This community-supported garden initiative engages neighborhood and school gardeners in planting “extra rows” of flowers to expand pollinator nurturing habitat and to share a portion as cut flowers, providing an additional source to support the work of PBR. See

plantsandbloomsreimagined.org for more details.

Tell us about any ongoing projects or upcoming events.

Continue to grow the Bee Friendly…

Bloom to Share! initiative and participate as part of the Rooting DC 2018 information marketplace. I’ll be signing up those wanting to be a part of the initiative at our Rooting DC table.

What is your goal for the future of Plants and Blooms ReImagined?

My future goal for PBR is to create a thriving recovery and repurposing operation representing a socially conscious community that will result in a sustainable source for plant and floral recovery and donations that will grow PBR’s capacity to serve and engage many other marginalized groups, while advancing the awareness and appreciation among them, as well as among the organizations and agencies that serve them, as to the documented benefits of indoor plants and cut flowers as lifeenriching, accessible connections to nature. Also, I look to be able to provide workforce development opportunities for special needs young adults transitioning post-graduation.

Anything else you want to add or think would be of interest to our magazine readers?

One additional way readers can support PBR is to help it achieve its additional goal of acquiring its very own “Bloom Mobile,” which will serve as a recovery, delivery, and outreach mobile unit.

Donate to PBR’s Indiegogo Generosity campaign: https://www.generosity. com/projects/plants-and-bloomsreimagined/payments/new. Any and every donation makes a difference!

Lastly, I must acknowledge the other VIPs who have fervently embraced PBR’s vision and have showered their support: Beet Street Gardens, the Share Fund, the Community Services Foundation, volunteers: Baiyina Abadey and Treasure McClain, Bee Friendly...

Bloom To Share pilot partners: DC Bilingual and SEED Public Charter Schools and Owl’s Nest Farm, and Crystal Flowers and Gift Shop, Highway To Hills Designs, and Potomac Wholesale Flowers. Thank you all! o Uyen Nguyen is a senior multiplatform journalism major at the University of Maryland.

This autumn, she is an editorial intern at Washington Gardener Magazine.

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.

DECEMBER 2017 WASHINGTON GARDENER

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TOP AREA GARDENING EVENTS DC-Area Gardening Calendar ~ Upcoming Events

Reader Contest

For our December 2017 Washington Gardener Reader Contest, Washington Gardener Magazine is giving away several passes to the Garden of Lights at Brookside Gardens in Wheaton, MD. Each pass admits a car-load-full of visitors and then you walk around the garden light displays.

(Prize value is $30.)

Step into a magical winter wonderland illuminated with more than 1 million dazzling colorful lights shaped into hand-crafted, original art forms of flowers, animals, and other natural elements. Stroll from garden to garden enjoying twinkling tree forms, sparkling fountains, and whimsical winter scenes. The Garden of Lights celebrates its 19th season as a Baltimore/Washington, DC-area family holiday tradition.

The night wouldn’t be complete without a visit inside the conservatory to enjoy watching G-scale model trains wind through a seasonal landscape. Afterward, warm up inside the Visitors Center while you sip hot cocoa and listen to one of the nightly musical performances.

The Garden of Lights runs through January 1, 2018 (except December 24 & 25). Find out more at http://www.montgomeryparks.org/ brookside/garden_lights.shtm To enter to win a pass that admits one car-load of guests to the Garden of Lights, send an email to WashingtonGardener@rcn.com by 5pm on Friday, December 22, with “Lights Show” in the subject line. In the body of the email, tell us your new year’s resolution for your garden.

Please also include your full name and mailing address. The pass winners will be announced and notified

by December 24. o 8

WASHINGTON GARDENER DECEMBER 2017

• Thursday, December 27, 6–7:30pm Succulents with Sparkle Class Take a creative break this holiday season at the Catylator Makerspace in the basement level of the World Building in downtown Silver Spring, MD. Make a glass terrarium with succulents and adding a touch of sparkle to it. All materials are included, as well as care instructions to keep your succulent happy and thriving. No prior gardening experience required—beginners welcome! (Must be 10 years old and over to attend.) Light snacks will be served.

See details and register at: https://bpt.me/3172229.

• Through December 30 Christmas at Oatlands Oatlands Mansion in Leesburg, VA, is decorated for Christmas and open for walk-through tours through the end of December. Guides will be posted in the mansion to welcome visitors. Come see Oatlands decked in fabulous holiday style. Arrive at the Carriage House Visitor Center, purchase your tickets, and proceed to the mansion. No need to wait for scheduled tours. While you’re there, find the perfect gift at the Historic Carriage House Shop, and don’t forget to visit the formal terraced garden, beautiful in every season. See details at www.oatlands.org.

• Through January 1 (closed 12/25) Adaptation/Migration in the Anthropocene This immersive installation at the National Zoo features artistic interpretations of insects that have migrated across the globe to the United States— many in shipping containers transporting goods—and become conservation threats in their new habitats. Local artist Maggie Gourlay’s work incorporates visual and auditory reminders of the symbiotic relationship between people and nature, and explores how these insects adapt to and thrive in warmer environments. At an interactive station in the mobile gallery, visitors can create and take home an original invasive insect print made from a special-edition stamp of one of Gourlay’s “bug portraits.” Free.

• Through January 7, 5:30–10pm Winter Walk of Lights Experience one of Northern Virginia’s favorite holiday events—the light display at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens in Vienna, VA. The garden is transformed into a half-mile walk of lights. See fees and details at https://www.novaparks. com/events/winter-walk-of-lights.

• Monday, January 8, 7–8pm Microgreens: What Are They, Why They Are So Fabulous, and How to Grow Them Microgreens—you’ve probably seen them, but what makes them so good for you? Join us to learn their many benefits, and some simple ways to grow these delicious, nutritious, and inexpensive baby plants and sprouts in your own home. Plus, they provide supplies for you to plant your own container, so come prepared to get a bit dirty while you make your own microgreen garden in class. Free. Held at the Barrett Branch Library, 717 Queen St., Alexandria, VA. Held a second time on Saturday, January 13, 10:30am, at the Westover Branch Library, 1644 N. McKinley Road, Arlington, VA. Advance registration requested at mgnv.org.

• Every Wednesday from 6—9pm, starting January 10 Beginning Farmer Training Program While there is no simple step-by-step method to become a farmer, ECO City Farm’s Growing Urban Farms and Farmers program is designed to help an aspiring, new, or beginning farmer learn the information and practice the skills needed to farm—from the ground up.

Held at 6010 Taylor Road, Riverdale, MD. See: http://www.ecoffshoots.org/ education/beginning-farmer-trainingprogram/.

• January 10-12 Mid-Atlantic Nursery Trade Show (MANTS) MANTS will hold its 2018 show at the Baltimore Convention Center in Baltimore, MD. MANTS is where the industry comes to buy, shop, meet, see, and be seen every January. See MANTS.com to register.

TOP AREA GARDENING EVENTS DC-Area Gardening Calendar ~ Events ~ December 16, 2017–January 15, 2018 • Thursdays, January 11, 12–12:45pm Winter Pick-Me-Ups Cooking Demo Led by Adrienne Cook, gardening and cooking writer, and Danielle Cook, MS, nutritionist and cooking instructors.

From teas, to broths, to soups and stews, there are so many ways to inject feel-good and do-good ingredients that help chase away the winter blahs. The Cook Sisters bring you ideas to liven up and power up ordinary foods and beverages in a one-of-a-kind program.

Conservatory Garden Court of the U.S. Botanic Garden. FREE: No pre-registration required.

• Now through July 14, 2019 Beautiful Blooms: Flowering Plants on Stamps This exhibition at the Smithsonian’s National Postal Museum highlights the variety of flowering plants commemorated on U.S. postage stamps during the past 50 years and explores artistic themes that emerged during this period. For example, the artwork portrays a variety of flowering plants found in gardens and public spaces throughout the United States and explores the symbiotic relationship between flowering plants, bees, birds, and butterflies. The exhibit displays at least 30 pieces of developmental and final artwork used to produce at least 28 flora stamps. The use of stamp art in various phases of development enables visitors to understand the role design artwork plays in the production of postage stamps. The artwork is borrowed from the renowned Postmaster General’s Collection, which is on a long-term loan. Free.

Save These Future Dates • Washington Gardener Magazine’s 2018 Seed Exchanges are on January 27 at Brookside Gardens and February 10 at Green Spring Gardens. See pages 28–29 for details.

• Thursday, February 15 The PLA Seminar Every February, the Piedmont Landscape Association hosts an annual seminar at The Paramount Theater, Charlottesville, VA. This event strives to bring gardening enthusiasts and

landscape professionals together in an educational setting. Featured speakers include Peter Del Tredici on “Urban Nature: Human Nature.” He is a senior research scientist at Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University. He’ll be exploring spontaneous urban ecosystems and the positive contributions they have in making our cities more livable. Registration is online at www.theparamount.net.

• Friday, February 23, 8am–4pm Green Matters: Restoring & Renewing Our Urban Landscapes This symposium helps shift the focus beyond sustainability strategies geared toward slowing environmental degradation by emphasizing solutions that heal our damaged urban landscapes.

Learn from experts about regenerative landscape design and gardening practices that help restore our ecosystems on both small and large scales.

Presentations will also explore how we adapt strategies for climate resiliency aimed at preparing our landscapes to absorb stresses and maintain functionality in the face of future climate change impacts. Held at Silver Spring Civic Building, 1 Veterans Place, Silver Spring, MD. Early bird fee: $85 until January 12 at ActiveMONTGOMERY.org.

• Saturday, February 24, 9am–4pm The Maryland Horticultural Society and the Perennial Plant Association present their winter seminar: Perennially Inspired, a day-long program with horticultural experts discussing perennials.

This event will be held in Baltimore, MD. See https://mdhorticulture.org.

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/.

How to Submit Local Garden Events

To submit an event for this listing, contact kathyjentz@gmail.com — put “Event” in the subject line. Our next deadline is January 10 for the January 2018 issue, for events taking place January 16–February 15. o

Advanced Landscape Plant IPM PHC Short Course January 8–11, 2018

For registration information, contact: Short Course Assistant University of Maryland Department of Entomology 4112 Plant Sciences Building 4291 Fieldhouse Drive College Park, MD 20742 Tel: 301-405-3911 E-mail: umdentomology@umd.edu

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Visit DCGardens.com for:

Photos of 16 Major Public Gardens shown in each month of the year and

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

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DECEMBER 2017 WASHINGTON GARDENER

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TIPStricks

8 Winter Rose Care Tips

The National Garden Bureau (ngb.org) shared these tips to keep your roses healthy through the winter season and have them ready for the next growing season.

1. Stop fertilizing about six weeks before your area’s first predicted frost to protect any tender new growth from being damaged by frost and the freeze.

2. Winter winds damage the canes of roses in addition to the roots, so trim roses that have grown tall, by a third, to prevent wind from catching the rose bush.

3. Clean your garden beds of debris, especially any diseased leaves that fell from your roses. Never discard diseased rose leaves in your compost bin; remove them altogether from your garden’s space. Fungal diseases overwinter, so this is a preventative measure that will help eliminate future problems in spring.

4. Apply dormant spray once the temperature regularly falls below freezing to start off the new year with a diseasefree rose bed. Sprays such as lime sulfur kill fungus on contact, so spray some on the ground and on every inch of the bush.

5. Let your roses form hips. Hips provide color in the garden and are a source of vitamin C for birds. Like many plants that produce fruit, the formation of rose hips relays a signal to the rose to go dormant for the season.

6. Re-apply mulch. In colder seasons, roses may need additional protection, so gathering mulch around the base of the rose bush will help retain heat.

Mulch keeps weeds down and holds moisture in at the base of the plant throughout the year.

7. Fall is a great time to remove any roses that are not healthy. Roses are a hardy plant; remove a particular shrub if it is diseased or requires a lot of care so you can have a happy and healthy garden.

8. Brainstorm for next season! Roses thrive in plant hardiness zones 5–8, so in zone 7, you can plant roses in the fall or early spring. Some of the bestsuited roses for the Mid-Atlantic region are “Hybrid Tea”, “Floribunda”, “Grandiflora”, climbers, miniatures, and shrub roses. o 10

WASHINGTON GARDENER DECEMBER 2017

How to Curb the Spread of Boxwood Disease through Holiday Greenery

Many of us decorate with festive greenery as we approach the holiday season.

However, the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services warns that holiday greenery may contain boxwood clippings that came from plants infected with boxwood blight, and greenery containing infected plant material can spread the disease to other boxwood plants.

Boxwood blight is caused by a fungal pathogen that creates leaf spots and widespread defoliation of boxwood plants in wet conditions. It is known to spread through infected nursery stock and is commonly found in holiday greenery. The clippings in wreaths and garlands can spread this disease, which has the potential to harm English and American boxwood populations.

Even though the majority of gardens and nurseries are boxwood blight-free, the disease is difficult to get rid of once it is introduced to the landscape, but there are measures to take to avoid spreading the blight. To mitigate the spread of this disease, you should carefully inspect boxwood greenery for symptoms, only purchase the healthiest looking decorations, and regularly prune existing plants.

When taking your own boxwood cuttings, sanitize your pruning tools. To disinfect tools, use a 1:10 dilution of any household bleach or Lysol containing 70-100 percent ethanol or isopropanol, or either Consan 20 or Physan 20 containing 0.5–1.5 percent quaternary ammonium.

When inspecting, look for symptoms including leaf spots, leaf browning, defoliation, and black streaks on stems.

Any greenery that has these symptoms should be double-bagged and discarded in a landfill immediately. Infected greenery should never be used in compost.

In addition, all greenery that contains boxwood plant material should also be double-bagged and placed in your trash pick up (landfill) at the end of the holiday season.

For more information on Boxwood blight, visit https://ext.vt.edu/agriculture/commercial-horticulture/boxwoodblight.html. o .

North American Native Bulb Varieties: Camassia

Of the North American native bulbs, Camassias are probably the best known and most widely grown, according to Harvesting History (https://harvestinghistory.com). It was once a vital source of food for the Native Americans of the Pacific Northwest; they would boil or roast the roots to eat them. The name Camassia originated from the Native American word “camass.”

One of the most fascinating features of Camassias is that they can grow easily from seed because the bulbs take a long time to multiply. When cultivating a drift of Camassias, it is best to begin with about 10 bulbs and then let them re-seed throughout the desired area.

Both Camassia quamash and Camassia cusickii thrive in moist—not saturated—soil. If planted in drier areas, the bulbs should be placed in partial shade.

Camassias have quite the extensive history. C. quamash used to grow in groups across several acres in its native Pacific Northwest and C. cusickii is native to Oregon. Both were collected and identified by the Lewis and Clark expedition of 1804–1806. C. quamash was sent to Philadelphia, PA, to be developed and introduced to the commercial market in 1837, and C. cusickii became commercially available in 1888 after being exported to a few firms in Europe, such as the Dutch firm Van Tubergen, that developed and introduced several cultivars in 1900.

C. cusickii and C. quamash are described as “cousins,” yet sometimes it’s hard to believe that the two are related. C. quamash’s bulbs are round and smaller than an inch in diameter, while C. cusickii’s bulbs are upward of 3 inches long. They have an oblong shape, with one rounded end and one pointed end.

C. quamash reaches a height of 20– 24 inches and yields either white, pale blue, or deep blue flowers. C. cusickii can grow up to 3 feet high and produces delicate, pale blue flowers. o Tips column compiled by Nicole Reisinger.

She is a senior multiplatform journalism major and history minor in the University of Maryland Philip Merrill School of Journalism.

This autumn, she is an editorial intern at Washington Gardener.

GARDENnews

Quick Links to Washington Gardener Blog Posts • DIY: Okra Santa Ornament • Turnip Lessons Learned • Camellia Plant Profile • Jim Duke In Memoriam See more Washington Gardener blog posts at: WashingtonGardener.blogspot.com o

December–January Garden To-Do List

New Plant Spotlight

Virginian™ Arborvitae Thuja plicata x standishii ‘Virginian’ PP#26684 P3 ‘Virginian’ Arb from plantsman Frank Case of Suffolk, VA, is a sport out of and replacement for the popular ‘Green Giant,’ but it is more narrow, shorter, and faster-growing than its parent.

Plant Facts Height & Spread: 14.5′ h x 6.5′ w Shape: Conical Flower: N/A Fruit: N/A Zone: 5 Foliage: Dark green, dense and feathery Features: • Narrow, shorter ,and faster-growing • Wonderful hedge and privacy screen • Requires no pruning • Provides superior barrier to wind and sound • Tolerant of Southern heat and humidity • Christmas tree potential.

‘Virginian’ is being introduced to the market by UpShoot LLC and will be available at local independent garden centers in spring 2018 in limited quantities. o Photo courtesy of Frank Case of Plantations Spring Nursery, Suffolk, VA.

• Keep watering your poinsettias and give them plenty of light. Ensure they are away from drafts and that the pots drain freely.

• Last chance to plant bulbs or, if you have waited until the ground is frozen, pot them up for forcing indoors.

• Gather holiday greens. Some, like holly and boxwood, benefit from being pruned by growing thicker.

• Feed birds and provide them with a fresh water source.

• Check houseplants, and any plants you brought indoors for the winter, for insects.

• Provide some special protection to tender or early-flowering plants like Camellias.

• Stake newly planted large trees or shrubs to protect them from winter winds.

• Check any tropical or summer-blooming bulbs, corms, tubers, and bare root plants in storage for rot or desiccation.

• Apply scale and dormant oil treatment to evergreens.

• Spread ashes from wood fires on your vegetable beds.

• Keep succulents and cacti on the dry side.

• Water your cut Christmas tree daily.

• Gently remove layers of snow from outdoor evergreens with a broom.

• Start organizing your pile of incoming garden catalogs.

• Keep an eye out for bark damage from rabbits and deer.

• Spray broadleaf evergreens with anti-desiccant to prevent dehydration.

• Use the branches from your Christmas tree as bedding mulch or as a windbreak.

• Keep watering newly planted trees and shrubs as needed.

• Cover strawberry beds with straw or pine needles.

• Prune stone fruit trees like cherries, plums, and peaches.

• Clean, sharpen, and store your garden tools.

• Reduce fertilizing of indoor plants (except Cyclamen).

• Set up a humidifier for indoor plants, or at least place them in pebble trays.

• Continue to rotate houseplants to promote even growth.

• Attend a local garden club meeting.

• Start new indoor plants from cuttings — try an easy one such as violets.

• Check the plants under tall evergreens and under the eaves of the house to see that they have sufficient moisture.

• Weed. Weed. Weed.

• Pick a budding gardener on your gift list to give some inspirational garden books and magazines; then watch the new gardener blossom.

• Store your fertilizer and seeds in rodent-proof containers.

• Do any filling and grading around your yard. The soil will settle during the winter months.

• Vent cold frames on sunny days.

• Avoid walking in frozen planting beds.

• Remove and destroy gypsy moth egg masses.

• Clean your gutters.

• Prune maples, dogwoods, birch, elm, and walnut — if needed.

• Some alternatives to de-icing salts include sand, beet juice sugars, light gravel (grit), or non-clumping kitty litter. Using de-icing salts around driveways and sidewalks can harm your garden plants and turf. o DECEMBER 2017 WASHINGTON GARDENER

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BOOKreviews

Joseph Banks’ Florilegium

By Mel Gooding, David Mabberley, and Joe Studholme Publisher: Thames & Hudson List Price: $85.00 Reviewer: Jim Dronenburg On August 25, 1768, the ship Endeavour sailed from England. Its mission was to go to Tahiti, there to observe the transit of Venus across the sun, and from there to search for the great Southern Continent that was supposed, at that time, to exist. The voyage lasted for three years.

The young (and fabulously rich) Joseph Banks (later president of the Royal Society and advisor to King George on the Botanic Gardens at Kew) was on that voyage. On the voyage, he had a staff, artists, a library (!) of natural history, and everything that could be provided for a naturalist’s explorations and collections. Besides taking herbarium specimens, the artists executed sketches and watercolors of what was collected (not always plants)—sometimes completely finished from the life, sometimes finished later from preliminary sketches and notes of colors, and transferred to engraving plates.

Banks intended, upon his return to England, to publish these as a Florilegium. No one to that date had ever returned with such a wealth of previously unknown plants. But things fell apart. Banks had wanted a second expedition to occur but took an approach that displeased the Admiralty—and the project was put off 12

WASHINGTON GARDENER DECEMBER 2017

for 200 years. This book is a selection from the full, published Florilegium.

The book, published in two centuries’ retrospect, is much more than pretty pictures, although you could certainly buy it for the prints alone, and it certainly is a coffee-table-sized book. But the first part (14 pages) is text and pictures related to the subject, first describing Banks, his staff, the ship, crew, captain, and the voyage from start to finish. For anyone with any interest in botany or history, it is a fascinating read. The second part (pages 21–295) is the plates themselves. Each has a description with it: Latin genus and species, native name, English common name, description of the plant and where it grows, quotes from the various journals of the voyage where applicable, uses of the plant, and a quick run-through of the plant’s botanic name and any changes. Very well annotated, too.

The second part begins with a description of the original collections, and the printing plates. The plates themselves are not just “pretty pictures.” Although they are amazingly beautiful, they are first, foremost, and last, botanical drawings, with no background to distract the viewer. Each plate shows leaf, flower, fruit, branch, sometimes flower and seed detail as separate sketches within the overall plate. As an aside, the original plates were all life-sized. The reproductions in this current book, selected from an enormously greater quantity, are threequarters the size of the original plates.

The third part of the book is the making of the modern Florilegium, starting with Banks and the artist Parkinson (the chief artist of the voyage). From there it passes to the aborted publication in the 1970s (the studio burned; the plates were saved) to the 1990 publication of the Florilegium by the Alecto/British Museum. That publication was intended to be a selection, but it morphed into publication of the entire collection of engravings, in 35 volumes! This, needless to say, is not a purchase for the general reader.

The book under review is a selection from it. The last pages of the book detail the printing process, in as much depth as the rest of the book.

This is expensive, but a great present to yourself. It is a great gift for any gardener you know. I intend to get this book for myself.

Jim Dronenburg is an accountant by day, and an Irish harper/singer by night, to support his expanding garden in Knoxville, MD.

Garden Myths: Book 1 By: Robert Pavlis Publisher: CreateSpace Price: $14.99 Reviewer: Maeve Dunigan In Garden Myths Book 1, Robert Pavlis encourages readers to “learn the truth behind urban legends and horticultural mysteries.” This is the perfect manual for gardeners who want to dig deeper into the myths they may have confronted regarding gardening techniques.

With this book, Pavlis ensures that any garden mysteries are exposed and explained clearly.

Pavlis is also the author of Building Natural Ponds, a helpful book that teaches readers how to add a pond to a backyard area. Pavlis has more than 40 years of gardening experience, which he uses in publishing his gardening blogs: gardenmyths.com and gardenfundamentals.com. Pavils is also the owner and head gardener of Aspen Grove Gardens, a large, private botanical garden in south-western Ontario, home to 3,000 varieties of plants. Aside from his private gardening endeavors, Pavlis is also a well-known

BOOKreviews speaker and educator.

“Every hobby I have ever been involved in had one thing in common, the information presented by the so-called experts was only partially correct,” writes Pavlis in the book’s introduction. “Gardening is no different.

I wrote Garden Myths for the gardener who wants to know the truth about their hobby.”

Garden Myths Book 1 includes a plethora of information on garden urban legends. The book lists more than 100 myths, in areas of gardening, including science, gardening practices, soil, fertilizer, composting, mulching, vegetables, the care of specific plants, trees and shrubs, houseplants, insect pests, animal pests, diseases, winter protection, and ponds. Each myth includes a list of “best practices” to put into place when dealing with the problem, Often, Pavlis also includes helpful information on further reading should you want to learn more about that particular topic.

The book is incredibly organized and can be read front to back or simply used as a manual to consult when pondering the realities of a garden myth you have heard. Clear and informational paragraphs accompany each section, and Pavlis is quick to explain any difficult concepts or more-scientific language.

Although the book could benefit from a photo element, the information presented is a triumph in and of itself.

Any myth, ranging from “Molasses is a good amendment for soil,” to “Don’t mulch until after the ground is frozen,” to “Houseplants remove toxic chemicals from the air,” is covered within the pages of Pavlis’ work.

Overall, Robert Pavlis’ Garden Myths Book 1 is a perfect and easily readable tool for anyone who wants to learn more about the realities behind garden myths and urban legends.

Maeve Dunigan is a senior multiplatform journalism major at the University of Maryland, College Park. Her on-campus positions include being a Senior Staff Writer for The Diamondback and a Student Ambassador for the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center. This autumn, she is an editorial intern at Washington Gardener Magazine.

Build a Better Vegetable Garden: 30 DIY Projects to Improve your Harvest

By Joyce Russell Photography by Ben Russell Publisher: Frances Lincoln List Price: $24.99 Reviewer: Uyen Nguyen Have you ever thought about making your own garden structures but decided against it? Build a Better Vegetable Garden: 30 DIY Projects to Improve Your Harvest lists several reasons why you should: You can customize the structures to your liking; you will get the most out of your harvest from using them; do it yourself (DIY) projects are cheaper than carpenter-built ones; handmade items always make for better, more beautiful gifts; and the projects are beginner- and family-friendly.

The projects are fairly easy to make, plus they are creative and innovative.

Each one comes with a supply and tool list, numbered instructions, difficulty level, and even an estimated completion time. The gardening tips and advice prove to be a nice touch, displaying the author’s well-versed background.

Husband and wife Joyce and Ben Russell—who are based in West Cork, Ireland—collaborated on this book, which is full of straightforward and practical tips. Build a Better Vegetable Garden is written by Joyce Russell and the photography is by Ben Russell. This is their second practical gardening book together.

Joyce Russell is a monthly writer for Kitchen Garden Magazine and a former

writer for Organic Gardening magazine.

It’s obvious her harvesting experience contributed a great deal to the making of this book and the tips she provides.

Ben Russell is a photographer, photography trainer, and craftsman.

His pictures are what make this book unique. They are mostly of Joyce Russell building the structures stepby-step, in what looks like a very spacious garden. The photographs give the instructions a homey touch, I felt like the duo was inviting me into their own garden.

The miniature greenhouse is great for small, urban gardens, and the slugproof salad trays are three cute and simple ways to keep slugs away from your salad crops. These are my favorite projects and I would definitely try to make them if I had a garden space.

Some other projects include: a drying cabinet, a hanging shelf to protect seedlings and strawberries from pests, a covered hotbed for peppers and cucumbers, and a double compost bin.

As the holidays roll around, the wooden garden caddy would make a timeless and thoughtful gift, considering it would take six hours to build.

Joyce Russell sums up what you can expect from this book: “This book comes from a passion for gardening combined with a passion for making things.”

The idea of gardening can feel overwhelming at times, especially if you are an organizer or a perfectionist, like Ben Russell, so I recommend picking up a book like this one. It’s perfect for a gardening beginner or a DIY beginner who wants to improve their garden.

Uyen Nguyen is a senior multiplatform journalism major at the University of Maryland.

This autumn, she is an editorial intern at Washington Gardener Magazine.

Prick: Cacti and Succulents: Choosing, Styling, Caring

By Gynelle Leon Publisher: Mitchell Beazley List Price: $19.99 Reviewer: Nicole Reisinger Cacti and succulents are the new rage, but this trend is here to stay. Gynelle Leon, author of Prick, a wittily titled guide to everything cacti and sucBook Reviews continued on page 21 DECEMBER 2017 WASHINGTON GARDENER

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BROOKSIDE GARDENS PRESENTS THE

NOV 24, 2017 - JAN 1, 2018 CLOSED DECEMBER 24 & 25

Sun - Thurs | 5:30 p.m. - 9 p.m.

Fri & Sat | 5:30 p.m. - 10 p.m. �

$25 Advanced Sale Tickets

(available from the Gift Shop starting Nov.1)

$25 per car/van (Sun-Thurs) � $30 per car/van (Fri-Sat) �

* For safety reasons, pedestrians will not be admitted. * Last car admitted 30 minutes before closing time. * Visit our website for admission prices for buses, vans and limos and call 301-961-1451 for required reservations.

BROOKSIDE GARDENS

1800 Glenallan Avenue, Wheaton, MD 20902

BrooksideGardens.org | 301-962-1453 14 WASHINGTON GARDENER DECEMBER 2017

DAYtrip

Tregaron Conservancy Historical Woodland Renaissance

Text by Cheval Force Opp Photos by Jennifer Packard Tregaron began in the 1880s as part of a 50-acre estate bordering Rock Creek Park, owned by Gardiner Greene Hubbard, founder of the National Geographic Society. The Hubbards’ daughter inherited 20 acres of the estate, which was subsequently purchased by James and Alice Maury Parmelee. The Parmelees commissioned architect Charles Platt to design a Beaux Arts estate in 1912. The formal gardens and outlying woodlands were designed by Ellen Biddle Shipman, Platt’s protégée. Shipman (1869–1950) was a prominent landscape architect from the years of grand estate building.

The estate was renamed “Tregaron” by the subsequent owners, lawyer and American diplomat Joseph E. Davies and his wife, heiress and socialite Marjorie Merriweather Post. It means village of three wells, honoring Davies’ ancestral Welsh birthplace.

Today, Tregaron borders a narrow extension of Rock Creek Park along Klingle Road. The landscape, featuring two steep ravines and two streams, is owned by the nonprofit Tregaron Conservancy.

Landscape Jewel

Tregaron is a rare landscape jewel.

Shipman’s design gilded the site’s already idyllic elements: trickling streams, mature native trees, and a bridle path. Her additions to the woodland included flowering trees, shrubs, groundcovers, and flowering bulbs.

Judith B. Tankard’s book, The Gardens of Ellen Biddle Shipman, notes, “Photographs of the woodland design suggest a different tone from most of her others, although planting plans record a complex scheme that, as in other designs, mixed drifts of ornamental exotics with indigenous varieties. Period images show a woodland overstory shadowing large clumps of rhododendron and opening to sundrenched clearings. A rare sense of ease emanates from these garden pictures.”

Over the years, the Tregaron landscape became the last significant privately owned, undeveloped tract in northwest Washington, DC. Heirs of Joseph Davies sold it in 1980 for $4.6 million to an international developer.

The Washington International School, residing in the stone-columned Davies mansion since 1972, retained six acres. The developer planned construction of clusters of courtyard townhouses with “tree views” on the remaining 14 acres.

The Cleveland Park neighborhood rallied, forming the Friends of Tregaron and joining like-minded supporters battling to preserve the legacy landscape.

The leafy DC neighborhood, named in honor of President Grover Cleveland, who owned a home there, is a pleasant 30-minute walk between its east and west icons of Rock Creek Park, and the National Cathedral. Tregaron curves along the lower southern edge.

Resolutely, the neighborhood coalition resisted the development of Tregaron. In 1979, the entire estate, including the landscape, was designated a Landmark of the District of Columbia. In 1986, it was listed as a contributing feature of the Cleveland Park Historic District and in 1989, it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. Tregaron was designated an at-risk “Landslide” site by The Cultural Landscape Foundation in 2006. The goal of Landslide® is to draw immediate and lasting attention to threatened culturally significant landscapes.

Finally, in 2016, the developer agreed to donate 13 of its 14 acres to the Tregaron Conservancy, with the one remaining acre sold for residential development.

Reclaiming the Jewel

After 25 years of wrangling, the neglected jewel of Tregaron was nearly obliterated under invasive plants, fallen trees, trash, pond muck, eroded paths, and flood silt covering stone stairs and walls. Where to begin?

To guide their work, the conservancy consulted with the District’s Historic Preservation Office and the Cultural Landscape Report (CLR) prepared for Tregaron by Heritage Landscapes. The CLR, completed in 2007, identified six “character areas” of the landscape from the Platt/Shipman era and their key defining features, offering recommendations for the landscape restoration and rehabilitation of those areas.

Reading this 60-page CLR document, the enormity of the proposed work is daunting. I wondered how much of the wild woodland garden could be left.

How do you begin to regain Shipman’s wild gardens?

Two years ago, the conservancy’s executive director, Lynn Parseghian, engaged preservation landscape architect Glenn Stach to advise the Conservancy. Stach works exclusively with historically significant landscapes, including the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC, and several Civil War battlefields. Parseghian and the conservancy’s Landscape Committee engaged Stach to prepare a multi-decade planning report. The October 2017 report updates and extends the recommendaDECEMBER 2017 WASHINGTON GARDENER

15

Native Grass and Wildflower Meadow

tions in the CLR. Stach gave me insight into the process and logic for the ongoing work.

Why is it essential to save Tregaron?

Tregaron is one of the few remaining examples of a naturalistic garden

by Shipman, an early preeminent American woman landscape architect.

It is one of only three existing collaborations between Shipman and Platt.

Tregaron is also the most extensive wild garden Shipman ever attempted.

Shipman’s documented work on the estate began in 1914 with the formal gardens; she returned to design naturalistic wild gardens beginning in 1915.

Shipman remained in contact with the Parmelees and revised planting concepts for the Macomb entrance in 1927.

What should we call the ongoing work: restoration, reconstruction, or rehabilitation?

In the preservation community, the term “restoration” carries specific weight as it is one of four treatment categories espoused by the Secretary of Interior Standards (Preservation, Restoration, Reconstruction, and Rehabilitation). The work at Tregaron is a hybrid of restoration and rehabilitation, as the Conservancy seeks to protect what it has inherited while making contemporary decisions about future use and form based on original intent.

I consider the effort to be a “renewal” of the Shipman landscape. It may seem like we are splitting hairs, but the terms carry significance for preservationists.

What is an example of the renewal process?

16

WASHINGTON GARDENER DECEMBER 2017

We look at both structures and plants. For example, the causeway drive/bridge leading to the residence recently underwent extensive repair.

The century-old bridge is a signature feature, but was built for wagons and had been weakened by heavy trucks and constant traffic. In addition to structural reinforcement, the original mortar had to be analyzed for the correct color and texture. The sweeping arc of the bridge would be marred if this seemingly minor detail resulted in harsh mortar color changes.

The Conservancy’s landscape design team takes Shipman’s original planting plans into account in designing new wild gardens. The focus is to interpret past planting in light of today’s knowledge. That means we may not use the exact plant specified by Shipman, but instead opt for a substitute that meets today’s constraints. Is the plant available, is it invasive, or does it have other habits that will give us problems in the future? How much maintenance will the planting require? Within today’s constraints, we hope to specify plants that achieve the visual appeal of Shipman’s art.

What has surprised you about Tregaron?

The integrity of the spaces remains compelling. Despite years and years without any tending of the original Shipman intent, a wild woodland interspersed with sunlit open areas still impresses the visitor. The hillsides, the bridle path that wraps around the estate, the sunlit glade for the pond, all have a pure visual strength. It has good bones.

Until recently, Tregaron’s two major turf areas were edged by large swaths of invasive grasses, vines, and woody plants. I spoke with Tamara Belt (of Hawthorne Garden Design), Landscape Committee chair, about the Native Grass and Wildflower Meadow Restoration project launched by the conservancy to celebrate Tregaron’s tenth anniversary.

What are your goals for this meadow?

We know that Shipman designed formal gardens around the mansion, but her design included “wild gardens” with color in the distance. My challenge is to keep her spirit alive, giving visitors the color and texture Shipman intended but with flowers and shrubs that need less maintenance. The original property was cared for by at least a dozen full-time gardeners. We have a modest maintenance crew and volunteers. Our new native meadows, when established, require less weeding and replanting. I try to balance her vision and what works with today’s climate, visitor traffic, and deer deterrence.

What gives you unexpected satisfaction?

In the beginning, our goals included massive clean-up and invasive removal.

Now, as decades of leaves and silt are removed, we are discovering small bridges and stairs not shown in the original plans. Shipman did not detail all aspects of the “wild garden.” When we find stone features having the same structure, mortar, and stones as Shipman’s era, we are so excited! We feel like archeologists finding treasure.

What future goals are you contemplating?

The garden is finding its beauty again. I hope we can bring more national visitors to join our neighborhood and local visitors. Tregaron has immediate appeal as one of three existing Shipman gardens. It is a beautiful moment in our city, and we want to share it.

Volunteers Creating History

The conservancy’s progress in implementing the CLR’s key recommendations is impressive. Walking the network of paths, visitors enjoy restored

DAYtrip century-old stone stairways, bridges, and walls. The restored lily pond sparkles serenely, surrounded by a Shipman-inspired aquatic plant design.

A handsome black iron gate graces one of the woodland entrances, and historically accurate iron fencing surrounds the property.

I spoke with Ann Brooke, a volunteer who has a local landscape practice (Ann Brooke Landscape Design LLC) about her volunteer work.

What drew you to volunteering at Tregaron?

I live next to Tregaron and walk there most days. One morning, I saw several large dogs romping in a bed of new plantings. After mentioning it to the executive director, I was invited to join as a volunteer, and I immediately accepted.

What types of projects do you work on?

I enjoy helping to supervise installation of the plantings. Using Shipman’s original plans as a guide, we adjust the types and numbers of plants for specific areas. When the DC Department of Transportation’s Klingle Valley Trail project was nearing completion, I worked to integrate our plant installation into the District’s planting, so we have well-defined trails ensuring visitors stay on the trails and do not trample through new plantings.

What are your challenges for installations?

I find the invasive plants a big issue.

We were planting a wild garden of ferns, creeping phlox, and mahonia next to the bridge, but decided to reduce the planting area, installing fewer plants to avoid competition with invasive plants like English ivy. There is still, after so much work, a continuous need to remove invasive plants.

What have you enjoyed most about working at Tregaron?

I have only been there for a year, but I can see enormous improvements. The staff and volunteers are tireless, and we see it daily with increased traffic on trails and visitors’ comments about the gardens.

Executive director Lynn Parseghian is delighted to have expert landscape architects and designers guiding the conservancy’s project work. She recent-

ly launched a new volunteer “zone gardener” program. Working with guidance from the conservancy, volunteers adopt one or more of Tregaron’s wild gardens as prime caretakers. This group of volunteers (along with the conservancy’s regular “weed warriors”) will meet to share ideas and training. The conservancy hopes to expand the program by bringing in more volunteers and building more expertise. Parseghian notes, “We are fortunate to have dedicated volunteers who truly love Tregaron. We want them to feel their work is rewarding. Their enthusiasm and hard work touch every aspect of Tregaron.”

From Obscurity to Recognition

The combined efforts of the Tregaron Limited Partnership team, Friends of Tregaron, and Washington International School received a District of Columbia 2006 Mayor’s Award for Excellence in Historic Preservation for the Tregaron Agreement forged to preserve this valued heritage property.

As landscape historian Thaisa Way and Steve Callcott, now deputy Historic Preservation officer for the District of Columbia, noted in 2009, “The rehabilitation of woodlands and wild gardens is a relatively new area for landscape preservation…. The challenge” for the Tregaron Conservancy “[lay] in conserving the plantings, restoring the circulation systems and aesthetic experience, rehabilitating ecologies, and interpret-

ing the place as a designed/wild garden.”

The conservancy’s initial preservation and stewardship work have also garnered national attention. Shipman expert Judith Tankard has lectured on her work at Tregaron. The conservancy has hosted tours and workshops for the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the National Building Museum.

The conservancy has received several grants, including a 2016 grant from the Dorothea de Schweinitz Fund for preservation planning work, with a focus on sustainability.

The Tregaron landscape is open to the public every day, free of charge.

It is a place of serene respite and historical resonance in a busy urban setting. Pedestrians and leashed dogs are welcome to enjoy the park any time of day. The Washington International School maintains an adjacent campus that is closed to the public.

The park has two entrances: • Macomb Entrance, 3100 Macomb Street NW: gate located just east of the Washington International School’s driveway, one block west of Connecticut Avenue NW (near Cleveland Park Metro Station). Follow signs up the driveway to the woodland trails.

• Klingle Entrance, 3000 block of Klingle Road, NW: gate located just east of the intersection of Klingle and Woodley Roads NW. Tregaron relies on the support of generous donors and volunteers to restore, rehabilitate, and maintain this beautiful landscape in the heart of Washington, DC. If you would like to volunteer, visit www.tregaronconservancy.org/getinvolved/. o Special thanks to Tregaron Conservancy executive director Lynn Parseghian for hosting my visit, and to everyone I interviewed: Ann Brooke (Ann Brooke Landscape Design LLC); Glenn Stach (RLA, Leed AP, Preservation Planner); and Tamara Belt (of Hawthorne Garden Design), Landscape Committee chair.

Cheval Force Opp lives in Dunn Loring, VA, with her husband and her corgi, Marzipan.

Visiting gardens all over the world is her favorite activity. Her own gardens are in constant change to meet the challenges of too many deer and not enough time.

DECEMBER 2017 WASHINGTON GARDENER

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SPECIALfeature

Bees Find Unlikely Homes in the City

By Nicole Reisinger

It looked like something straight out of a science fiction movie: uniform rows of buildings neatly spread along the banks of the Potomac River, with round chrome tanks dotting the landscape. The wind whipped furiously and carried with it a pungent sulfuric scent. An alien-like setting, yet common for a wastewater treatment plant.

Atop North America’s largest wastewater treatment plant at the edge of Washington, DC, are four buzzing hives containing nearly 40,000 honeybees.

The honeybee population is in decline and suffering worldwide due to manmade and natural irritants. An urban setting like DC is a difficult location for bees to prosper because there is often too much bustle and commotion and not enough natural surroundings. DC Water at Blue Plains Wastewater Treatment plant decided to do something about it by partnering with the DC Beekeepers Alliance to provide a place for bees to thrive.

In urban environments, invasive development and troublesome pests, such as mites, are detrimental to the overall 18

WASHINGTON GARDENER DECEMBER 2017

health of hives, subsequently affecting the pollination process.

The goal is to “create an environment for bees to flourish,” said DC Water spokesperson Vincent Morris.

Considering Blue Plains’ industrial and geographical challenges, this project serves as an experiment to see whether bees can survive in an unorthodox setting.

“Blue Plains is likely the most-extreme big beekeeping setting possible in Washington, DC,” said Toni Burnham, president of the DC Beekeepers Alliance. “You’re seeing the ultimate test.

It’s also an important lesson because if you’re pushing the envelope further than the bees can go, you’re just torturing bees.”

After their hives were moved multiple times to various locations on the roof due to extreme winds, the bees have settled into their new spot.

The 150-acre campus is the most industrial site in DC, according to Burnham. As it turns out, DC Water’s campus is not a bad place to be if you’re a bee. It’s bordered by the Potomac River

on one side and has Oxon Hill Farm on the other, providing an ample supply of water and vegetation.

Newest DC Bee Laws

About 300 hives are registered in DC, according to the Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE), which made private beekeeping legal in the District back in 2014 as part of the Sustainable Urban Agriculture Apiculture Act. The act requires all colonies in the District to be registered and requires a beekeeper to obtain a permit from the DOEE to move any colony, comb, hive, or other apiary appliance into or out of DC. Every colony must be maintained in a hive that has removable combs and adequate space to prevent overcrowding and swarming.

The act makes beekeepers responsible for providing a proper source of water for the bees and forbid keeping more than four hives on a single property unless it is larger than a quarter of an acre. Unless other conditions are met, a hive must be located at least 15 feet from a property line.

SPECIALfeature Beekeepers are also held responsible for remediation of bee swarms and nuisance. The addition of beehives to the rooftop of the Central Maintenance Facility did not come without hesitation. Employees at Blue Plains were initially unsure about how the regulations applied to their project.

“Naturally, people were unsure,” Morris said. “We came up with a solution where there was no risk.”

“There was talk to unions, talk to insurers, talk to (human resources); a lot of voices had to be consulted and heard and spoken to,” Burnham said.

Back in 2009, Michelle Obama established the first beehive at the White House and earlier this June, Karen Pence installed a beehive at the vice president’s residence on the U.S. Naval Observatory campus.

According to White House statistics, there were 6 million honeybee hives in the U.S. during the 1940s, and now there are only about 2.5 million today.

Honeybees in Jeopardy

From blueberries in New Jersey and cranberries in Massachusetts to citrus in Florida and almonds in California, these pollinators are essential to producing a third of the country’s food.

According to the Bee Informed Partnership, a nonprofit collaboration initially supported by the United States of Agriculture and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, almost 40 percent of DC’s 108 bee colonies were lost during the 2016-2017 winter.

Factors such as the widespread use of pesticides, climate change, the presence of foreign pests, diseases,

poor nutrition, and rapid habitat loss create the perfect storm that threatens the national bee population. Based on the 2016–2017 Colony Loss Survey, beekeepers nationwide lost 33 percent of bees last year, resulting in the second-lowest rate of annual colony loss recorded over the last seven years.

While honeybees are not endangered in the sense of their population numbers, “the honeybee is endangered in the sense that its viability is getting less and less year to year,” Burnham said.

“We can look down that path and see very, very big problems in the future.”

munities and younger generations about the importance of bees.

In 2006, Burnham teamed with Joe Bozik, lead beekeeper at the Franciscan Monastery in the Brookland neighborhood of NE DC, to establish an apiary at the monastery. With more than a dozen hives that help pollinate the gardens throughout the monastery grounds, the Franciscan Monastery Garden Guild uses these hives to promote awareness and stewardship of the environment. A sweet and sticky bonus is all the local honey they are able to harvest and sell in their gift shop.

“We’re doing our best to be with this organism, to live with, to partner with. This is humanity’s only insect partner,” Burnham said.“The bees have not made any enemies since they got there.” o Nicole Reisinger is a senior multiplatform journalism major and history minor in the University of Maryland Philip Merrill School of Journalism. She grew up maintaining gardens with her family and has experience working with a premier floral designer in Annapolis, MD. This autumn, she is an editorial intern at Washington Gardener.

DC BeeKeepers Maintain Hives across the City

Burnham tends to about 20 colonies, including her own, within the DC area.

Her main apiaries are at her private residence, Congressional Cemetery, the Franciscan Monastery, and the Washington Youth Garden.

Burnham’s colonies are centered around the mission of educating com-

DECEMBER 2017 WASHINGTON GARDENER

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PRODUCTreview

Sprouts without Doubt

by Louise Clarke Seed-starting season is a few months away, but I recently acquired a seed sprouter kit from Botanical Interests to tide me over. As a dedicated seed propagator, I’m used to waiting patiently for seeds to germinate, but this is definitely more fun, since the seeds sprout in a few days and I get to eat the sprightly sprouts.

Available directly from Botanical Interests (https://www.botanicalinterests.com/); other Internet retailers, like Amazon.com; and independent garden centers, my kit came with everything I needed to get growing, except seeds.

Botanical Interests seeds are readily available at my local independent garden center or the Internet, source of all things.

My seed sprouter consisted of a drain base into which two stackable, slottedbottom growing trays nested. Each tray came with a divider, which could be inserted to partition the trays to hold up to four types of seeds. To top it off, a slotted water-diffusing lid with a raised lip fit snugly into the tray. At 6" by 6", the unit was compact and took up little counter space in my kitchen.

The enclosed seed sprouting instruction booklet clearly explained assembly, how to care for the sprouter, sprout-growing directions, recipes, and a useful table detailing how many tablespoons of each of the dozen seed varieties Botanical Interests offers are 20

WASHINGTON GARDENER DECEMBER 2017

needed to fill half a tray. Among the Botanical Interests seeds I tried were ‘China Rose’ radish, broccoli, alfalfa, and sandwich mix. All are certified USDA-organic.

Somehow I missed the instructions to presoak my seeds for 8–12 hours before spreading them into the growing trays. Instead, I put the specified tablespoonsful of dry seed directly from the packets into the tray, reassembled, and gently watered. After soaking them with about 6 cups of cool water, I returned the drained seed trays to the base and put the unit on my kitchen counter. I did follow the instructions to rinse the seeds twice daily to keep them moist.

There are no special light or temperature requirements; 70º F is ideal.

Within two days, voilà, I had sprouts!

Each of the seed varieties I tried showed some germination. I continued to rinse twice daily, watching my seedlings grow. After four days, my trays were crowded with sprouts jostling cotyledon to cotyledon for growing room.

On the Botanical Interests website, look for the Sprouting Seeds Measurement chart, which lists days to harvest and what characteristics to look for, i.e., when leaves turn green or roots are up to 1". I then started my taste tests.

Let me say I’m not a big radish fan.

The ‘China Rose’ radish sprouts were nicely crunchy with a zingy flavor and definite radish bite. No mistaking I was

eating radishes. The broccoli sprouts also commanded my taste buds’ attention with a sharp, mustardy flavor. The alfalfa sprouts were tamer, with a fresh green taste and nutty overtones; definitely my favorite, so far. The sandwich mix had radish, alfalfa, and red clover

Day 1

seeds, resulting in a nice, crunchy mix with piquancy.

After five days, I continued to rinse the sprouts to keep them moist, but transferred them, after draining, to the refrigerator for slow growth. At this point, I removed the sprouts and bagged them—so I could clean the trays, which are top-rack dishwashersafe.

The instruction booklet included recipes, among them one for Asian lettuce wraps with ginger sesame dress-

BOOKreviews

Day 2 ing, which sounded appetizing. I first embellished salad greens with sprouts.

While munching them, I headed over to the Botanical Interests website, where I found coloring pages based on their seed packet art. That was an unexpected find, which made me smile and motivated me to get out my colored pencils.

For a small household such as mine, I’d recommend using less than a tablespoon of seeds; perhaps a teaspoon, as the seeds germinated rapidly. By using a tablespoon of each of the varieties, I felt like I was drowning in sprouts.

Otherwise, my initial sprouting experience was easy-peasy, trouble-free, and completely successful.

The Botanical Interests Seed Sprouter kit would make a great gift for that person who has everything, a unique housewarming gift, or a fun way to introduce kids to growing their own food that will give them quick, tasty results. For those of you who are longing to grow something during the off-season, you can easily supplement your fresh food intake. Sprout with confidence. o Louise Clarke is a degreed horticulturist employed by the Morris Arboretum in Philadelphia, PA, where she tends more than 1,200 woody plants and two green roofs, as well as leading workshops, writing, and lecturing on horticultural topics. As a zonedenial gardener, she tends Halcyon, her lush home garden—a mixture of tender tropicals, bulbs, perennials, unusual annuals, and vines. She rarely has time to admire the garden while seated in her tiki hut, made from repurposed materials.

Day 4

culents, claims this is simply a resurgence of an age-old interest in these plants as a result of their “enduring popularity.”

Current interior design trends perpetuated by social media platforms such as Pinterest and Instagram rely heavily on these spiky, spiny, and thorny plants for a pop of artistic creativity.

Cacti and succulents come in a plethora of different shapes and colors, and their low-maintenance reputation is the cherry on top. These plants are extremely easy to care for, and their longevity makes for a desirable and sustainable design accent for any home.

Leon is an Royal Horticulture Societyaward-winning plant photographer and founder of London’s only boutique dedicated entirely to cacti and succulents.

The shop is the namesake of her book, in which she includes the profiles and entomology for more than 80 species of cacti and succulents so the reader can be equipped with the know-how to choose the perfect plant for their needs.

Prick is a modern and fashionable guide that provides straightforward advice on how to choose, style, and care for your houseplants.

In the plant gallery section of Prick, Leon showcases the many rustic and charming varieties of cacti and succulents. I was feeling a little inspired after thumbing through these pages, so I headed to Home Depot and walked straight into the gardening

section. I ended up leaving with a Gymnocalycium mihanovichii v. friedrichii ‘Rubra’, also known as a lollipop cactus. This spiky fellow adds the perfect splash of color to my bookshelf.

In Leon’s chapter on styling ideas to display your plants, she suggests developing negative spaces in your home, such as empty fireplaces or in front of a door, by including a cactus or succulent with plenty of height and an interesting texture. She also recommends transforming an empty bookshelf or lackluster wall with cacti or succulents in hanging pots, unique vessels, or bowls to cultivate an eclectic feel.

Leon’s styling tips and advice are plainly written; her simple guidance is inspirational and makes creating a calmer and brighter space achievable.

In addition to her styling tips and plant gallery, Leon’s care guide to help your cacti and succulents thrive is extremely thoughtful and well-informed.

From scorching, disfiguration, discoloration, wrinkling, and overwatering, Leon covers all the bases on what to and not to do.

The book itself is attractive, with an abundance of cacti and succulents engulfing the cover. Leon’s beautiful photography makes her work feel like more of a coffee table book than a how-to guide. Don’t judge a book by its cover, though, because the knowledge and information tucked alongside each picture is just as expert.

Prick is a perfect gift for all plant lovers who want a burst of style. o Nicole Reisinger is a senior multiplatform journalism major at the University of Maryland. This autumn, she is an editorial intern at Washington Gardener Magazine.

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. To join the Washington Gardener Volunteer Reader Panel, please send an email with your name and address to: KathyJentz@gmail.com. o DECEMBER 2017 WASHINGTON GARDENER

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HORThaenings animals, and other natural elements.

Visitors can stroll through the gardens and enjoy all of the whimsy around them.

Visitors also can visit the conservatory and watch model trains drive through a seasonal landscape. Nightly musical performances and hot cocoa top off this fantastic winter event.

USBG Holiday Display

This year’s U.S. Botanic Garden (USBG) holiday exhibit; “Season’s Greetings: Roadside Attractions,” opened to the public on Thanksgiving day and will run through January 1. This year, visitors are prompted to take a trip across America as they gaze at a holiday show featuring roadside attractions including, Texas’ Cadillac Ranch, Colorado’s hot-dog-shaped Coney Island Hot Dog Stand, South Dakota’s Corn Palace, New Jersey’s Lucy the Elephant, and many more. Each one is made from plants or other natural materials.

The USBG is vibrant throughout the holidays with the sights, scents, and sounds of the season. Wreaths, garland, trees, and thousands of blooms from exotic orchids to a showcase of heirloom and newly developed poinsettia varieties adorn the conservatory.

The USBG is open to the public, free of charge, every day of the year from 10am to 5pm. On Tuesdays and Thursdays in December, the conservatory is open until 8pm for live seasonal music concerts and after-dark holiday exhibit viewing.

Friend of Brookside Annual Meeting

The Friends of Brookside Gardens held their Fall Membership Gathering on the afternoon of November 12. The meeting started with light refreshments and the group was encouraged to watch the story of the creation of Brookside’s new 22

WASHINGTON GARDENER DECEMBER 2017

stone sphere.

Carla Adam, Friends of Brookside Gardens Board president, welcomed everyone to the meeting. This was followed by reports and comments from Founding President Joan O’Rourke, Deputy Director of Parks Operations John Nissel, stone artisan and creator of the sphere Devin Devine, and director of Brookside Gardens Stephanie Oberle. Suzanne Carbone and Gloria Sherman then gave a presentation, followed by the delivery of the 20th anniversary gifts to longtime volunteers and supporters. The meeting concluded with the awarding of door prizes and a visit to the new stone sphere in the garden to take photos.

Brookside Garden of Lights The Garden of Lights at Brookside Gardens is celebrating its 19th season as an area family holiday tradition. Visitors are encouraged to explore a magical winter wonderland, illuminated by more than 1 million colorful lights shaped into hand-crafted art forms of flowers,

Silver Spring Garden Club Planting in Jesup Blair Park On November 11, Veteran’s Day, the Silver Spring Garden Club planted hundreds of daffodil bulbs in Jesup Blair Park on the Washington, DC/Maryland border. Almost 75 years ago, the club planted bulbs there to honor Word War II veterans, and this past month’s planting was a re-creation of that endeavor.

In the last few years, the club planted more than 1,400 bulbs at this location.

The large planting included all kinds of daffodil varieties and it is expected to naturalize in a few years. The public is encouraged to visit next April to see an amazing floral display. o This issue’s “HortHappenings” were compiled by Maeve Dunigan. She is a senior multiplatform journalism major at the University of Maryland, College Park. In the past, she has worked in science journalism and as an intern for the University of Maryland’s Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center, and studied media abroad at The Hague University of Applied Sciences in The Netherlands. This autumn, she is an editorial intern at Washington Gardener Magazine.

See many more photos from events listed here, as well as many more photo albums of recent local garden events, at the Washington Gardener Facebook Page: facebook. com/WashingtonGardenerMagazine. Recent albums include pictorials from the events listed on this page. Click on the PHOTOS tab, then select from the ALBUMS.

You’ve seen those gorgeous garden photos published in magazines and newspapers. Enter this year’s competition and have a chance of getting your images published, too! Whether you take the photos in your own backyard, a nearby public garden, or while visiting friends and family in their local gardens, there are so many photographic opportunities to be found. Let’s show off the best in DC-area gardening!

This contest offers an opportunity for all photographers to present their best shots of gardens in the greater Washington, DC, area. Contest entries will be judged on technical quality, composition, originality, and artistic merit.

More than $500 in prizes will be awarded! Winning images will be published in Washington Gardener magazine, displayed during the Washington Gardener Seed Exchange, and appear in a local photo exhibit.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

Each entrant is limited to a total of 10 images. Each electronic file must be identified with your last name and entry category. For example, GardenCreature1-Jones.jpg or SmallWonders8.-Smithjpg.

All photographs should accurately reflect the subject matter and the scene as it appeared in the viewfinder.

Nothing should be added to an image and, aside from dust spots, nothing should be removed. Cropping and minor adjustments to electronic images to convert RAW files are acceptable.

If an image is selected as a finalist, a high-resolution digital file might be required before finalizing our results.

Digitally captured images should be taken at the camera’s highest resolution (3 megapixels or larger). For preliminary judging, digital files must be submitted in JPEG format sized to 1,000 pixels on the longest side at 300 dpi.

If photos are taken with a film camera, they must be scanned in and submitted in JPEG format sized to 1,000 pixels on the longest side at 300 dpi.

Contest entries can be submitted via email to DCGardenPhotos@aol. com. Use the subject line “WG Photo Contest” and include an entry form for each image in your email’s text field.

12TH ANNUAL PHOTO CONTEST Entries can also be sent as a CDROMs. Please verify their integrity by making sure they are readable and not damaged. We reserve the right to disqualify any disk that is unreadable or defective. Please check your CDs with the latest virus-detection software. We will disqualify any disk that appears to contain a virus or a suspicious file.

Label each CD and case with your full name. We strongly suggest mailing CDs in protective cases. We are not responsible for disks damaged during shipping. No CDs will be returned, but they can be picked up after judging.

Send your entries and entry fee to: Washington Gardener Photo Contest, 826 Philadelphia Ave., Silver Spring, MD 20910. Mailed entries must be received by January 22, 2018.

You can print out blank entry forms from the Washington Gardener blog (WashingtonGardener.blogspot.com) or from our Facebook page.

We will verify all entries so please ensure your email address is included on all items.

Entrants must not infringe on the rights of any other photographer, landowner, or other person. Photos involving willful harassment of wildlife or destruction of any property are unacceptable.

The entrant must have personally taken the photo. By entering, you state this is your work and it is free of copyright elsewhere.

Failure to comply with any contest guidelines will lead to disqualification.

category or submit all 10 in one category.

Photos must have been taken during the 2017 calendar year in a garden located within a 150-mile radius of the Capitol Building in Washington, DC. • Garden Views: Beautiful, dramatic, or unusual perspectives of a garden landscape, including wide shots showing the setting. Subject can be a private or public garden.

• Garden Vignettes: Groupings of plants in beds or containers, unusual color or texture combinations, garden focal points, and still scenes. Subject can be photographed in a private or public garden.

• Small Wonders: Tight close-up images or macro shots of single flowers, plant parts, fruits, vegetables, etc.

Subject can be photographed in a private or public garden.

• Garden Creatures: Images of insects, birds, frogs, pets, etc., in a private or public garden setting.

COPYRIGHT NOTE

CONTEST ENTRY FEE

Your entry to this contest constitutes your agreement to allow your photographs and your name, city, state, and photo description texts to be published in upcoming issues of Washington Gardener and used for other related purposes including, but not limited to, Washington Gardener Photo Contest promotions and online, live presentations, and gallery exhibits. Entrants retain ownership and all other rights to future use of their photographs.

CATEGORIES

Each entrant is limited to a total of 10 images. You may submit a few in each

PRIZES

Prizes include gift certificates to area camera stores, gardening tools, new plant introductions, and much more!

If you would like to be a prize donor or sponsor, contact us today.

WINNERS’ OBLIGATION

Photo contest winners will need to provide high-resolution versions of their images for publication and an 11x14 print suitable for framing. Winners may be asked to provide additional information for press and media coverage.

The entry fee is $20.00 or $15.00 for current Washington Gardener Magazine subscribers. The fee includes up to 10 total image submissions per entrant.

Please send a check or money order made out to “Washington Gardener” or send a payment via www.PayPal.com to DCGardenPhotos@aol.com.

DEADLINE

Entries are due by midnight on January 22, 2018.

QUESTIONS?

Please call 301.588.6894 or email DCGardenPhotos@aol.com. o DECEMBER 2017 WASHINGTON GARDENER

23

PLANTprofile

Charming Chamaecyparis

By Judith Mensh

‘Fernspray Gold’ provides a shining example of the fecundity of Hinoki Cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa) in spinning off countless cultivars of merit.

It has been revered, held sacred, tended to, and used in Japan for centuries to build temples, shrines, emperors’ caskets, and soaking tubs, as well as medicinally for its essential oils. Hinoki Cypress, like Ginkgo, Vitex, and Cedar, links us to the past. Its distinctive beauty and assets, handed down through the generations, represents well our innate human connection to nature.

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The Chamaecyparis species provide us with a wide canopy of positive qualities—evergreen winter interest, foliage colors when we need them—with many variety choices in greens, yellows, and blues, and as accent, specimen, focal point, or hedge.

Know Your Cypress

The traditional common name “False Cypress” derives from being a member of the same family as Cupressaceae, the true cypress of the genus Cupressus. Same family, different genus. Visu-

al similarities, such as reddish-brown, exfoliating bark; small globose cones; and flat leaf spray create confusion. It can be difficult to tell apart from Thuja (Arborvitae). It exhibits the unusual quality of having a distinctly different look as a juvenile than as an adult.

These monoecious conifers bear small, round cones, produced at the tips of the leaves, that are green or bluish, turning brown as they ripen; quite unlike the familiar pine cone.

With its looser, asymmetric sometimes spiral look, its pendulous tips,

PLANTprofile and graceful swaying in the wind, the Chamaecyparis’ soft texture provides contrast to the stiff, rigid, dark presence of hollies and pines.

Most often propagated from cuttings, rather than by seed. Due to a devastating attack of phytophthora suffered by the species Port Orford Cedar, on the West Coast, in the ’90s, research and development have produced the disease-resistant rootstock that is used for grafting today.

Four Key Species

There are four species used in the landscape: Port Orford Cedar (C. lawsoniana); Hinoki Falsecypress (C, obtusa); Sawara Falsecypress (C. pisifera); and, Atlantic Whitecedar (C. thyoides). These are all beautiful trees with close human interaction over centuries and multiple purposes as lumber for construction, utensil making, rope, cloth, and medicine. The subject is so vast that even taking on the Hinoki cypress and its groups could be a lifelong pursuit.

The Hinoki Cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa), known and revered by the Japanese for 1,000 years, is a 19thcentury introduction to English and American horticulture. Once it arrived, it took hold, and began its global journey.

It is now planted in the civic landscape worldwide. In Japan, Hinoki are partnered with Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria sp.) and both are beloved by the citizens. The combination of pollens has resulted in mass pollinosis (hay fever) among the citizens—one unintended consequence of overplanting species.

The Golden Hinoki Cypress (C. obtusa ‘Aurea’) is a full-size, golden version (cultivar) of the species, with fresh, golden foliage turning to green, and foliage to the ground. C. obtusa ‘Cripsii’ is a well-reviewed large cultivar.

C. pisifera contains some of the mostappealing cultivars, including C. pisifera filifera and its many variations, such as ‘Golden Charm’, a slowly growing selection that reaches 6' x 8' over a decade or more.

Found naturally in the forests of Japan, Taiwan, northwest coastal USA, and eastern coastal USA, it’s wood is highly valued for its strength, rot-resistance, beauty, and aromatic characteristics.

The dwarf versions abound—like this ‘Nana Lutea’ at the U.S. Botanic Garden—and are popular and widely available.

All four species share one trait with the true cedars (Cedrus sp,. family Pinaceae): the organoleptic characteristic of aromatic essential oils in the wood and the leaves. Its use in aromatherapy is described as calming, relaxing, and grounding—evoking a walk through the forest. To experience it, add a couple drops of the essential oil, available online, to your next bath or use it in a diffuser.

Due to the plants penchant for producing a proliferation of intriguing sports, the horticulture industry has worked extensively with C. obtusa and C. pisifera to create a broad spectrum of cultivars. This is true for our two native species as well, both notable landscape plants in their own right.

Ancient History

The curious fact of the Chamaecyparis genus being found only on the east and west coasts of North America and in Japan and Taiwan is a case study of disjunct phylogeography: the phenomenon of finding the same genus of plant in disparate, unconnected locations, e.g., East Asia and the North American coast line. Cornus, Calycanthus, and Rhododendron are also in this category.

Through the combination of phylogeny, ecology, and paleontology, this intercontinental phylogeographic disjunction appears to suggest that a geographic separation at some point caused these plants to be found only in E. Asia and

North America. They may have been separated, and possibly separated again, yet survived when they found themselves in a suitable location, like they were used to back home. Some things survived both places, but with adaptations.

On this continent, both native Chamaecyparis were known to and used by the native peoples, in traditional medicine, for carving, and for building.

Because of thoughtless heavy logging over hundreds of years, Hinoki cypress are grown in plantations now. What seemed endless began to be depleted by the 17th century, when some restraints on use went into place.

The beautiful, pendulous Weeping Alaskan Falsecypress, once classified as Chamaecyparis nootkatensis, is now classified as Xanthocyparis nootkatensis (separate genus, same family).

Alternatively, in some circles, it is proper to call it Cupressus nootkatensis, its original 1824 designation. This change is not reflected in the marketplace.

The east coast American species, Atlantic White Cedar (C. thyoides), has the distinction of being represented among the American Forests Champion Trees (http://www.americanforests.org).

The largest known example of the species, in Burlington, NJ, has a circumference of 210', height of 88', and crown spread of 22'.

Atlantic White Cedar is the larval host for Hessel’s Hairstreak Butterfly (Callophrys hesseli).

Growing Tips

The recommended planting time is spring or fall. Humid air and moist soil suit it well (think hillside forest floor).

These are plants that are hardy up to zone 4. It can handle full sun, but in our area, it is merciful to avoid planting it in a western aspect. It does well under trees with a high canopy, lots of light, but sheltered from drying winds, with plenty of mulch (never up against the trunk), and with watering deeply every week through year one, then supplemental water while dry conditions prevail.

Moist soil. but not standing water, can be delivered through soaker hoses and timers. For the first year, it is essential if DECEMBER 2017 WASHINGTON GARDENER

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PLANTprofile the terrain does not naturally supply the moisture.

Since the species C. thyoides is found in swamps and wetlands along the East Coast, it’s an exception to the rule of Chamaecyparis genus: While moist soil is best, wet spots do not suit. If you have a wet spot with space for trees, this conifer, or its cultivars, could be well-sited there.

Heat-tolerance is an essential trait here, so if you order from a non-local source, be sure to note this. Both increased heat-tolerance and cold-hardiness have been part of the focus of commercial development over the decades.

Prune to remove any die-back and, if necessary, cut back new growth only, trying to avoid cutting into the old growth, which can cause permanent harm.

Allowing these conifers to take their natural shapes is part of the pleasure of planting them.

Of course, some of the cultivars will send out sports or revert to species.

In this case, it is appropriate to prune these renegades off.

Both Hinoki and C. pisifera have the reputation of being generally pest-free and dependable plants. They are deerresistant, but not immune to some browsing.

Expect to see some brown inner foliage in late fall. Shake these unsightly sheddings off the tree and inspect it for scale, which is not uncommon. This cycle of yearly shedding is normal to many conifers, but leaves on the outside of the plant turning brown or yellow and dropping is a cause for concern and proactive research.

Companion Plants

Plant it with each other—so many varieties, and varieties of varieties are available that it can combine endlessly.

Try Ilex verticillata, full of red berries in the winter, massed against a group of Chamaecyparis obtusa cultivars. This offers the birds immediate cover as they feast on the bounty, Robins love these berries in the snow. Both red and 26

WASHINGTON GARDENER DECEMBER 2017

yellow Cornus provide unexpected contrasts. Coral Bark Maples are stunning.

Azaleas, Rhododendron, and Blueberries all require similar pH and make good neighbors for each other. Clematis allowed to grow through it has been recommended as value-added.

Driving through our region, it’s the C. pisifera ‘Gold Mops’ that seems to represent the genus, similar to the widespread use of Nandina—when in doubt, plant this. It speaks to its reputation as a hardy survivor with low maintenance.

Paired with contrasting evergreens or dark brick or stone, they are pleasing.

Many of these are stand alone plants or specimen trees, and need a large space around them to fill in over the years. In this case, they need to be correctly sited, but do not need companions.

Chamaecyparis belong in rock gardens, woodland gardens, and Asianinspired ones. They work nicely as corner plants and foundation plants.

Many are small with a sculptural look and need to be in a context, grouped together, in containers, or along a walkway, to be seen close up.

Locally Suitable Cultivars We are lucky to have so many choices and local availability. I highly recommend you buy in threes, if you can fit them into your landscape.

Check out the full inventory of Chamaecyparis species at our local garden centers. There will always be the tried-and-true, but with the current renewed interest in expanding the vocabulary of this genus in our landscapes, the new and different arrive each year.

The selections available locally include some dwarfs traditionally used for Bonsai, but great for the container garden, including C. lawsoniana ‘Barabits Globe’; C. obtusa ‘Well’s Special’; Golden Charm Thread Branch Cypress; and, C. Pisifera filifera ‘Golden Charm’.

Consider a Chamaecyparis as an

alternative to Dwarf Alberta spruce.

C. pisifera ‘Boulevard’ is a favorite and is known to tolerate creative shaping.

Since the debacle with the Port Orford Cypress, the other native American Chamaecyparis (Chamaecyparis thyoides) has come into focus. It is available at Nature by Design, in Alexandria, VA.

Sources for Purchase and Information

If you want to explore options outside our area, there are nurseries that specialize in conifers. The Iseli Nursery in Oregon is wholesale-only, but its web site is open to the public, with excellent photos and descriptions of Chamaecyparis species and cultivars.

The American Conifer Society (www. conifersociety.org), which includes a ConiferBase, is recommended as the go-to resource for all things conifer.

An Atlas of the World’s Conifers, an Analysis of their Distribution, Biogeography, Diversity, and Conservation Status, by Aljos Farjon and Denis Filer, 2013, provides up to date information.

To see thriving examples of the Hinoki Cypress, visit the Gotelli Dwarf and Slow Growing Conifer Collection at the U.S. National Arboretum. The Arnold Arboretum in Boston and Morton Arboretum in Philadelphia also include Hinoki, some of which have earned some age.

Once you learn the look of this conifer, you will begin to recognize them in the environment. They are a popular plant worldwide. Evergreens are significant members of our landscapes and our gardens. Providing saturated color throughout the year and taking the eye off the dormant winter ground, blank and bleak after its cleanout.

Because they are potentially longlived, setting up a small grove of them in an area that may remain undisturbed can eventually yield a mature set of trees in your landscape that are of value to your house and environment.

Bonsai, conifer collections, rock gardens, specimen evergreen conifer: adopt Chamaecyparis and you have a pursuit for life. o Judith Mensh is a local horticultural consultant. She is available to walk your yard with you and identify plants and possibilities.

She can be reached via email at JudithMenshNurtureNature@gmail.com.

12th Annual Washington Gardener Philadelphia Flower Show Tour Organized by Washington Gardener Magazine Wednesday, March 7, 2018, 10:00AM-10:00PM Leaving and returning from downtown Silver Spring, MD

The Philadelphia Flower Show is the oldest and largest indoor flower show in the world. The theme for 2018, “Wonders of Water,” will celebrate the beauty and life-sustaining interplay of horticulture and water. America’s leading floral and garden designers will create tropical jungles, temperate forests, native woodlands, and arid landscapes, showcasing the astounding plants that thrive in each environment, from exquisite orchids and flowering vines to luminescent desert blooms. A new attraction, “America’s Backyard,” will offer smart ideas for outdoor living and conservation tips for the home garden. The Flower Show attracts non-gardeners as well as die-hard green-thumbed people of all ages. First-time and returning riders will enjoy the welcoming, custom details of our coach service.

Schedule for the day: • 10:00AM Coach leaves downtown Silver Spring with lunch, games, and DVD viewing en route • 12:45-7:15PM Explore Philadelphia Flower Show ~ dinner on your own • 7:30PM Coach departs Philadelphia Convention Center with snacks, games, and DVD showing onboard • 10:00PM Coach arrives at downtown Silver Spring This tour package includes: 1. Charter Passenger Coach ~ reserved seating, storage under the bus 2. Choice of Gourmet Box Lunch on the way up to the show 3. Snacks for the return trip 4. Listing of restaurants near the show for dinner on your own 5. Information package on the show to assist in prioritizing your day 6. Two Garden DVD showings 7. Admission to the show & driver tip 8. Convenient drop-off and pick-up at downtown Silver Spring, MD 9. Lively show and garden discussions led by Washington Gardener’s Kathy Jentz 10. Surprises and prizes.



To register, please use the form below. (One form per person.)

Name _______________________________________________________________ Address______________________________________________________________ Phone number________________________________________________________ Email________________________________________________________________ Name of seatmate_____________________________________________________ We will try to seat groups together, but cannot guarantee group seating.

Name of group _______________________________________________________

Registration deadline: March 1, 2018

Full refund if canceled by February 7. $40 refunded until February 28.

No refunds after March 1.

Questions?

Kathy Jentz kathyjentz@gmail.com www.WashingtonGardener.com

Brought to you by:

Code 3/7 Silver Spring

Fee: $100.00 each $95.00 each for Washington Gardener Magazine subscribers

Check/money order #_______ ~ Please make payable to “Washington Gardener” Send this registration form along with your payment to: Washington Gardener, 826 Philadelphia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910

If you’ve never been to the Philadelphia Flower Show, this is your opportunity to escape from the last of winter’s cold winds and experience a garden paradise. Walk through floral wonderlands, take notes at one of the many workshops, enjoy new plants on display, and shop the vendors’ tempting array of goodies.

DECEMBER 2017 WASHINGTON GARDENER

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Join us for: Seed Swapping Door Prizes Planting Tips Expert Speakers Goody Bags Washington Gardener Magazine presents the

13th Annual Washington Gardener

Seed Exchanges

on Saturday, January 27, 2018, 12:30–4:00PM

National Seed Swap Day! at Brookside Gardens in Wheaton, MD Registration is now open at

WGSeedExchange-Brookside.brownpapertickets.com

and on Saturday, February 10, 2018, 12:30–4:00PM at Green Spring Gardens in Alexandria, VA Registration is now open at WGSeedExchange-GreenSpring.brownpapertickets.com

Feeling Crafty?

We have a fun Make-it Take-It Seed Crafting Table

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Space is limited, so act today!

Washington Gardener Magazine subscribers get $5 off

WASHINGTON GARDENER DECEMBER 2017

Overview

Washington Gardener magazine, the publication for DC-area gardening enthusiasts, is hosting the 13th annual Washington Gardener Seed Exchange at Brookside Gardens and Green Spring Gardens. These seed swaps are in-person and face-to-face. You bring your extra seeds and swap them with other gardeners. Everyone will leave with a bag full of seeds, new garden friends, and expert planting advice.

When

On Saturday, January 27, 2018, in MD and on Saturday, February 10, 2018, in VA from 12:30–4:00PM (Foul weather that day? Call 240.603.1461, for updates about possible snow/ice delay.)

Where

We are holding a duo of Seed Exchanges one week apart on opposite sides of the Washington Beltway. We urge you to attend the one closest to you.

One exchange will be held at Brookside Gardens, 11800 Glenallan Ave., Wheaton, MD. The other will be at Green Spring Gardens, 4603 Green Spring Road, Alexandria, VA.

How to Register

Register online at WGSeedExchangeBrooksideG.brownpapertickets.com for the 1/27/18 event and WGSeedExchangeGreenSpringG.brownpapertickets.com for the 2/10/18 one.

OR you can fill out the form on the opposite page. Send the form, along with payment, to Washington Gardener, 826 Philadelphia Ave., Silver Spring, MD 20910, Attn: SE Registration. Please make checks out to “Washington Gardener.”

Registration fee is $20 per person.

Friends of Brookside members, Friends of Green Spring members, and current Washington Gardener subscribers receive a discount rate of $15 per person.

We strongly urge you to register in advance. There is a limited enrollment of 100 participants at each location!

We are GREEN!!!

Garden Book and Seed Catalog Exchange

Seed Exchange attendees are encouraged to bring their used or new garden books and seed catalogs to swap and share at this year’s event. We also ask you to bring your own water bottle or reusable mug and a home-made nametag. We will have a “best nametag” contest, so get crafty!

Hashtags #GardenDC and #SeedSwapDay

Washington Gardener Magazine’s 13th Annual

Seed Exchange Details

If You Have Seeds to Bring and Swap

Please package them in resealable plastic zipper or wax sandwich baggies. Put an average of 20 seeds per baggy — more for small seeds like lettuce, fewer for large seeds like acorns. Label each baggy with a white sticker (such as Avery standard 5160 address label sheets) giving all the information you have on the seeds. If known, include the plant's common and scientific names; its soil, sun, and watering needs; and, its origins — where and when you collected the seeds. If you don't know all the information, that is okay; just provide as much as you can.

Yes, you can bring unused or opened commercial seed packs.

What If You Don't Have Any Seeds to Swap?

Come anyway! Even if you don’t have any seeds to trade, you are welcome to attend.

We'll have plenty of extra seed contributions on hand and many attendees will be there just to learn, network, and prepare for next year's seed collecting.

Education Program

Expert speakers from the local gardening community will give short talks on seed collection and propagation tips. There will be ample time for individual Q&A throughout the program with the featured speakers, and invited experts as well.

Schedule

(Note: This schedule is subject to change.)

12:00-12:30 Registration check-in 12:30-12:40 Introductions 12:40-1:20 Gardening talk 1:20-1:55 Gardening talk 2:00-2:15 Snack break and room reset 2:15-2:30 Seed Swap preview time 2:30-3:00 Seed Swap 3:00-3:30 Photo Contest winners 3:30-4:00 Door prizes and closing talk

How Do We Swap?

As you check in, staff will collect your seeds and place them at the appropriate seed category tables.

You will be assigned a random seed swap number. There will be a short period for attendees to preview all the seeds brought in and available for swapping. You will be called in by your number to pick a seed pack from each of the category tables (if desired).

After the initial seed swap is complete, attendees are free to take any of the left over seeds and to trade seeds with each other.

Dividing of packets is encouraged and extra baggies with labels will be on hand for that purpose.

What Types of Seeds?

Seed swap categories will include natives, edibles, herbs, exotics, annuals, perennials, and woodies (trees/shrubs). If you can pre-sort your seeds in advance into which of these seven major categories fits best, that would help us speed up the process on the swap day.

Door Prizes! Goodie Bags!

Each attendee will receive a goodie bag at the seed swap. The bags include seeds, publications, and garden items donated by our sponsors. In addition, we have some incredible door prizes to give away especially for area gardeners.

If your organization would like to contribute seeds or garden-related products for the goodie bags and door prizes, contact Kathy Jentz at 301.588.6894 by January 22.

13th Annual Washington Gardener Seed Exchange Advance Registration Form

Please fill out this form and mail with your check/money order by January 24, 2018, to: Washington Gardener Magazine, 826 Philadelphia Ave., Silver Spring MD 20910

Name:____________________________________________________________________________________ Street Address:____________________________________________________________________________ Email:____________________________________________________________________________________ Seed Exchange Date and Location:  Jan. 27 at Brookside Gardens  Feb. 10 at Green Spring Gardens (We will only use your email address for Seed Exchange notices and will never share them with anyone else.)

Seed Exchange Attendee Fee: $20.00 __________ Discount (if eligible*): -$5.00 __________ Optional: Washington Gardener Magazine Annual Subscription: $20.00 __________ TOTAL_____________ *The following groups are eligible to pay the discount attendee rate of $15.00; please CIRCLE if one applies to you: • Washington Gardener Magazine subscribers • Friends of Brookside Gardens members • Friends of Green Spring Gardens members A portion of the event proceeds will go to benefit Save Our Monarchs Foundation for planting Milkweed seeds.

DECEMBER 2017 WASHINGTON GARDENER

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EDIBLEharvt

Lessons Learned Throughout my time with Washington Gardener Magazine, two other interns and I got the opportunities to plant, water, weed, and harvest our very own vegetables with editor and publisher Kathy Jentz. We each grew them separately in Kathy’s plot in the Fenton Community Garden in Silver Spring, MD. Growing up, I loved eating daikon radishes—usually pickled or in soups. I never tried any other kinds of radishes, even though there are way too many to name, so this semester I chose to grow four different types of radishes: ‘White Icicle’, ‘French Breakfast’, ‘Cherry Belle’, and ‘Roxanne F1’ (a 2015 AllAmerica Selections winner).

Before we planted them, Kathy told me radishes are easy to grow in the fall because they are cool-season vegetables and mature very fast, but I never imagined how right she’d be—the ‘French Breakfast’ and ‘Roxanne’ radishes were ready to be harvested in just a month (planted September 10, harvested October 11).

The ‘White Icicle’ were last to be harvested, but they grew the longest.

I think these were my favorite to eat because they were less spicy. They were definitely my favorite to pull because of the gratification I got from seeing the almost 5-inch beauties. I put these radishes in my soup and they added tons of flavor to my dish.

Things I learned from my experience: • Radishes aren’t spicy the way jalapeno peppers are spicy, but they give you the same “nose-tickle” that follows when biting into something spicy.

• Radish greens are edible! When handling them, be careful of their tiny prickles. The greens have a delicious spinach-like flavor when cooked.

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WASHINGTON GARDENER DECEMBER 2017

• Gardens are like an outdoor classroom — it’s fun to plant vegetables, even if you are not a typical gardener, because the care you put into your plot makes you appreciate the food you eat even more. ~ Uyen Nguyen (top-right) Throughout my fall internship with Washington Gardener Magazine, I was able to experiment with growing two different vegetables. Although neither attempt yielded particularly successful results, the experience still proved a fulfilling one that I learned a lot from.

My first attempt was back in September when I planted a ‘Gangbusters’ variety of spinach. I planted two rows of seeds and followed the directions on the packet by ensuring the seeds were spaced well apart and about an inch deep in the soil. Unfortunately, after about two weeks, the spinach still had not shown any growth. There were small green sprigs, but they were very hard to differentiate from the surrounding weeds. Editor Kathy Jentz suggested that I turn over the small plot and re-plant with some broccoli ‘Artwork’ seedling plants.

Planting the broccoli was fairly easy.

Although the soil was a bit hard to dig through, due to cold and lack of rain, I was able to dig out six holes, one for each of my broccoli plants. To ensure that these plants were protected from pests, we covered them with a protective row-cover blanket.

Unfortunately, the pests still managed to sneak in. About a week after planting the broccoli, we realized that slugs had been chewing on some of the leaves.

After checking to make sure it wasn’t harmful to use around edible plants,

Kathy applied Sluggo, a slug and snail killing bait, around the plants.

Overall, this experience taught me a lot about the trials involved in growing edibles during the fall season. I am hopeful that the broccoli I planted eventually produces some sort of yield, or, at the very least, does not become another meal for the slugs. ~ Maeve Dunigan (center) This season, I chose to grow ‘Seven Top’ turnips, ‘Purple Top White Globe’ turnips, and turnip greens. I had never grown turnips before, let alone eaten them, so I was excited to try something new. They are very similar to growing radishes—a plant I’ve only ever needed to grow for a science project in middle school—so I was not too intimidated.

I was so excited to finally see something sprout out of the ground after almost two weeks of waiting (granted, my patience could use a little practice).

The ‘Seven Top’ and ‘Purple Top White Globe’ turnips sprouted at the same time while the greens trailed about a week behind.

My biggest faux pas when growing my turnips was not thinning them enough.

I dug the holes 3 inches apart and put about three seeds in each hole. Thinking natural selection would allow the seeds to duke it out underground, I did not follow the thinning process as well as I should have. It is recommended to thin the seedlings 4 to 6 inches apart when they are 4 inches high. If I had followed this instruction, I would have probably yielded turnips larger and wider than my pinky toe. Thankfully, I was able to salvage a few plants and managed to end up with a few that actually resembled turnips.

I picked some ‘Purple Top White Globes’ turnips from the plot so I could give my family a little tasting for our Thanksgiving dinner. The few I gathered were not big enough to serve by themselves, so I cut them into small chunks along with some beets and carrots. I tossed the veggies in olive oil, sea salt, pepper, fresh thyme, and a tad of brown sugar, and spread them on a sheet pan to roast in the oven for about 40 minutes at 400 degrees. In the end, these three root vegetables looked pretty, displaying their fall colors on the table. ~ Nicole Reisinger (top-left)

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YOU CAN REQUEST A SINGLE COPY OF PRINT BACK ISSUES FOR $6 EACH OR ANY 6 BACK ISSUES FOR $24, OR ALL 40+ PRINT BACK ISSUES FOR JUST $100. PRICE INCLUDES POSTAGE AND HANDLING. PLEASE SPECIFY THE ISSUE DATE(S). ORDER MUST BE PREPAID BY CHECK OR MONEY ORDER. SEND ORDERS TO: WASHINGTON GARDENER, 826 PHILADELPHIA AVE., SILVER SPRING, MD 20910

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

MAY/JUNE 2007 • Roses: Easy Care Tips • Native Roses & Heirloom Roses • Edible Flowers • How to Plant a Bare-root Rose

MAY/JUNE 2005 • Stunning Plant Combinations • Turning Clay into Rich Soil • Wild Garlic • Strawberries

JULY/AUGUST 2007 • Groundcovers: Alternatives to Turfgrass • How to Pinch, Prune, & Dead-head • William Paca House & Gardens • Hardy Geraniums

JULY/AUGUST 2005 • Water Gardens • Poison Ivy • Disguising a Sloping Yard • Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2007 • Succulents: Hardy to our Region • Drought-Tolerant Natives • Southern Vegetables • Seed Saving Savvy Tips

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2005 • Container Gardens • Clematis Vines • Sponge Gardening/Rain Gardens • 5 Insect Enemies of Gardeners

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2007 • Gardening with Children • Indoor Bulb-Forcing Basics • National Museum of the American Indian • Versatile Viburnums

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2005 • Backyard Bird Habitats • Hellebores • Building a Coldframe • Bulb Planting Basics

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2008 • Dealing with Deer • Our Favorite Garden Tools • Delightful Daffodils

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2006 • Garden Decor Principles • Primroses • Tasty Heirloom Veggies • U.S. Botanic Garden MARCH/APRIL 2006 • Top 10 Small Trees and Large Shrubs • Azaleas • Figs, Berries, & Persimmons • Basic Pruning Principles MAY/JUNE 2006 • Using Native Plants in Your Landscape • Crabgrass • Peppers • Secret Sources for Free Plants JULY/AUGUST 2006 • Hydrangeas • Theme Gardens • Agave • Find Garden Space by Growing Up SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2006 • Shade Gardening • Hosta Care Guide • Fig-growing Tips and Recipes NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2006 • Horticultural Careers • Juniper Care Guide • Winter Squash Growing Tips and Recipes • Layer/Lasagna Gardening

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

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2007 • Indoor Gardening • Daphne Care Guide • Asparagus Growing Tips and Recipes • Houseplant Propagation

MARCH/APRIL 2009 !

OUT Tips D • 40+ Free and Low-cost Local Garden SOL !

T • Spring Edibles Planting Guide OU LDfor a Fresh Start • Testing YourSO Soil ! Selection and Care UTTree • Redbud O LD Viewing Spots for Virginia Bluebells • SOBest

MARCH/APRIL 2007 • Stormwater Management • Dogwood Selection & Care Guide • Early Spring Vegetable Growing Tips • Franciscan Monastery Bulb Gardens

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

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

Are you trying to reach thousands of gardeners in the greater DC region/MidAtlantic area? Washington Gardener Magazine goes out on the 15th of every month. Contact kathyjentz@gmail.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: kathyjentz@gmail.com.

Want Your Club Profiled?

Got a Washington, DC-area garden group, plant society, or neighborhood club that you think should be profiled here? Send the full details to KathyJentz@gmail.com or call 301.588.6894.

Got a Garden Question?

Got a gardening question you need answered? Send your questions to KathyJentz@gmail.com and use the subject line “Q&A.” Please also include your first name, last initial, and what city and state you are writing from. Then look for your answered questions in upcoming issues.

Advertising Index A big THANK YOU to all of our Washington Gardener advertisers. Please tell them you saw their ad in Washington Gardener!

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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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WASHINGTON GARDENER DECEMBER 2017