Washington Gardener December 2015 by Kathy J

DECEMBER 2015 VOL. 10 NO. 10

WWW.WASHINGTONGARDENER.COM

WASHINGTON WAS W WASHINGTO ASHINGTO

ggardener

the magazine for gardening enthusiasts in the Mid-Atlantic region

Carol and Leon Carrier

Local Cut-Flower Growers Wild Tulips for Tough Spots Your Garden Tasks To-Do List Show Shrubs for the Mid-Atlantic Local Gardening Events Calendar

A Visit to Woodend Nature Sanctuary Native Yellow Root 7 Beautiful College Arboretums in our Region

GoGardeners Garden Coaching

Elise Stigliano Garden Coach elise@gogardeners.com • 301-518-8333

www.gogardeners.com

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RESOURCESsourc

Need a Garden Club Speaker?

Washington Gardener Magazine’s staff and writers are available to speak to groups and garden clubs in the greater DC region. Call 301.588.6894 or email wgardenermag@aol.com for available dates, rates, and topics.

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

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

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Green Spring Gardens

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WASHINGTON GARDENER

DECEMBER 2015

A “must visit” for everyone in the metropolitan Washington, DC, area. It’s a year-round gold mine of information and inspiration for the home gardener. It’s an outdoor classroom for children and their families to learn about plants and wildlife. It’s also a museum, a national historic site that offers glimpses into a long, rich history with colonial origins. Located at 4603 Green Spring Rd., Alexandria, VA. Information: 703-642-5173.

INSIDEcontents

o Woodend Nature Sanctuary includes a serene wildflower meadow, a native garden, and meandering trails. This nature sanctuary is minutes outside the nation’s capital in Montgomery County, MD.

FEATURES and COLUMNS

According to the website tulipsinthewild.com, these beauties thrive on neglect. Ironic as it may seem, many of these rugged blooms are easily killed with kindness. Tulipa clusiana ‘Tubergen’s Gem’ photo courtesy of Colorblends.

BOOKreviews 16-18 Walnut Hill, Wildlife Gardening with Kids, General George Washington in the Garden, Landscape Sketchbook, Essential Perennials DAYtrip 6-8 Woodend Nature Sanctuary GOINGnative 19 Yellow Root NEIGHBORnetwork 20-21 Leon and Carol H. Carrier PHILLYflowershow 12 Trip Details and Sign-up Form PHOTOcontest 9 Rules for 2016 Submissions SEEDexchanges 14-15 2016 Dates and Details TIPStricks 10 Beautiful College Arboretums, Showy Flowering Shrubs, Wild Tulips for Tough Garden Spots

DEPARTMENTS

ADVERTISINGindex BLOGlinks EDITORletter GARDENcontest LOCALevents MONTHLYtasklist NEXTissue RESOURCESsources

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ON THE COVER

Plantmasters’ Leon A Carrier and Carol Heitmuller Carrier inside a growhouse at their home and business .

In our January 2016 issue:

Indoor Citrus

Meet Holly Shimizu and much more...

Dried flower bunches ready for market are among the many offerings of Plantmasters cut-flower farm in Laytonsville, MD. They also grow Hydrangea, Lisianthus, Dahlia, Sunflowers, Zinnia, Cosmos, Sedum, Butterfly Weed, Flowering Quince, Pussy Willows, and 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!

Be sure you are subscribed to:

Click on the “subscribe” link at http://washingtongardener. blogspot.com/ DECEMBER 2015

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EDITORletter

Credits Kathy Jentz Editor/Publisher & Advertising Sales Washington Gardener 826 Philadelphia Ave. Silver Spring, MD 20910 Phone: 301-588-6894 wgardenermag@aol.com www.washingtongardener.com Call today to place your ad with us! Ruth E. Thaler-Carter Proofreader Joelle Lang Intern Cover price: $4.99 Back issues: $6.00 Subscription: $20.00 Your editor making and decorating holiday wreaths in her garden. Photo by Joelle Lang.

Beginning to Look Like Christmas? Zinnias and Sunflowers are still flowering, the Papyrus is green and untouched by any frost in my water garden, and even a container tomato plant that I never bothered to yank out has set new blossoms. It has been a mild fall and now a fairly warm December as well. I am loving it! After the last two years of unrelenting cold for six months straight, we deserve a bit of a break and so do our garden plantings. Sure, a few things are off-schedule and blooming earlier than usual, like my Winter Jasmine, but most things are just hanging around until we get a real hard freeze to kill them off. Marginally hardy plants like Fuchsias, Salvias, and Dianthus are all looking wonderful at the moment. I am so glad I procrastinated and did not pull out these “summer” annual plants too early. I do regret, though, letting the last two brutal winters scare me away from planting more cool season crops in my community garden plot. I could have had a marvelous bounty of Sugarsnap peas and another round of carrots. Ah, well, such is gardening — we always look back at the last season with “could have beens” had we only known in advance how hot/old and wet/dry they would be in the MidAtlantic. The fact is that we cannot predict the seasonal weather any more accurately than our ancestors did and we just have to make our planting decisions based on past experience and our own risk comfort levels. Some of us dare a late frost to touch their newly set-out peppers in April, while others cannot stand the thought of losing any seedlings and keep them protected indoors until that last possible frost date passes. For many of you, I bet that pushing the seasonal calendar forward or back has less to do with risk aversion and more to do with overloaded and busy schedules that dictate when you have time to plant bulbs (or not) and whether you get those shrubs pruned (or not). This mild, long autumn has at least given us all more time to get our last winter prep chores done without long johns and scarves on! Happy gardening (and reading)!

Kathy Jentz, Editor/Publisher, Washington Gardener, wgardenermag@aol.com 4

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DECEMBER 2015

Address corrections should be sent to the address above. • Washington Gardener Blog: www.washingtongardener.blogspot.com • Washington Gardener Archives: http://issuu.com/washingtongardener • Washington Gardener Discussion Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ WashingtonGardener/ • Washington Gardener Twitter Feed: www.twitter.com/WDCGardener • Washington Gardener is a womanowned business. We are proud to be members of: · Garden Writers Association · Think Local First DC · DC Web Women · Green America Magazine Leaders Network · Green America Business Network To order reprints, contact Wright’s Reprints at 877.652.5295, ext. 138. Volume 10, Number 10 ISSN 1555-8959 © 2015 Washington Gardener All rights reserved. Published quarterly. No material may be reproduced without prior written permission. This magazine is purchased by the buyer with the understanding that the information presented is from various sources from which there can be no warranty or responsibility by the publisher as to legality, completeness, or technical accuracy. All uncredited photos in this issue are © Kathy Jentz.

READERcontt

Reader Contest

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For our December 2015 Washington Gardener Magazine Reader Contest, we are giving away a hot-off-the-press 2016 Local Gardening Task Calendar. Each month includes a list of what to do in the garden for local DC-MD-VA and Mid-Atlantic gardeners, along with a gorgeous photo of a seasonal flower or scene from a local DC-area public garden’s collection. You can order one for yourself and more as gifts for your favorite local gardeners by going to: http://www.cafepress.com/washgardener. or go directly to the item page here: http://www.cafepress.com/washgardener.1436102069 (Note that you can select the calendar to start with whatever month you choose.) To enter to win a Local Gardening Task Calendar, send an email to WashingtonGardener@rcn.com by 5pm on Wednesday, December 30, with “Local Gardening Task Calendar” in the subject line and in the body of the email. Tell us which was your favorite article in this December 2015 issue of the magazine and why. Please also include your full name and mailing address. The calendar winner will be announced and notified by January 1. November Garden To-Do List

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• Switch your deer deterrent spray, if you’ve been using the same one for several months. Re-apply after heavy rains. • Have your soil tested at least once every three years. • Cover carrots and other root crops with straw to extend the harvest season. • Deadhead spent mums and plant them (if still in pots). • Leaf drop on established evergreen shrubs and rhododendrons is normal this time of year. • Bulb foliage already starting to surface? Don’t fret. It is also normal and will not affect next year’s blooms. • Check for vole problems and set out traps. • Caulk and seal your home to prevent wildlife from coming indoors. • Protect fig trees from freezing by piling up leaves around them. • Clean the leaves of your indoor houseplants to prevent dust and film build-up. • Collect plant seeds for next year’s planting and for trading. • Turn off outdoor water valve and store hoses. • Store terra cotta pots in a shed or protected areas. • Prune and mulch hybrid tea roses. • Harvest the last of your vegetables and till compost into the beds. • Plant garlic for harvest next spring. • Force spring bulbs for indoor blooms this January by potting them up, watering thoroughly, and placing them in your vegetable crisper for about 10 weeks. • Remove this year’s fruiting raspberry canes down to the ground. • Clean out your ponds and compost annual plants. Move hardy plants to deeper water. Cover with netting to block falling leaves. • 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. • Vacuum up any ladybugs that come in the house. • Rotate houseplants to promote even growth. • Pot up Paper Whites and Amaryllis for holiday blooming. • Water evergreens and new plantings to keep them hydrated this winter. • Fertilize your lawn and re-seed if needed. • Transplant trees and shrubs. • Continue to divide and transplant perennials. • Rake leaves, shred, and gather in compost piles. • Start feeding birds to get them in the habit for this winter. • Attend a local garden club meeting. • Turn your compost pile weekly and don’t let it dry out. Work compost into your planting beds. • Plant evergreens for winter interest. • Weed. • Take a break from holiday stress to enjoy your garden. • Do not place live wreaths or greenery in-between your door and a glass storm door, especially if the doorway is facing south. This placement will “cook” the arrangement on a sunny day. • Sign up all your friends and family for garden magazine subscriptions as holiday gifts.

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Local Gardening Calendar

Each month includes a list of what to do in the garden for local DC-MD-VA and Mid-Atlantic gardeners, along with a gorgeous photo of a seasonal flower from a local public garden collection in our area. Go to http://www.cafepress.com/ washgardener to order this new calendar for gifts and to treat yourself! Be sure to note on your order what month you want the calendar to start with. This calendar is a keeper that you can use for years!

Caption Contest We asked our Facebook page followers: What are these two figures by the campfire at Brookside’s Garden of Lights saying to each other? Look for more monthly caption contests at the Facebook.com/WashingtonGardenerMagazine page.

Winning Captions: “Why exactly did you think we should wear white pants to sit on the ground?” “I already told you, the pants match the trim on our hoodies.” “Well. I hope you realize you’re going to be the one Campfire figures from Brookside Gardens. Photo by Kathy Jentz. trying to get the grass stains out.” “It was a dark and stormy night....” ~ Mallory Kane ~ Sherry Leigh Rhodes “I just love our enlightening conversations.” “These new light bulb jackets sure are bright, ~ Betty Jackson Truax but they’re not as cozy as our old fur ones.” “C’mon, Baby, light my fire!” ~ Ruth Rogers Clausen ~ Carol Heitmuller Carrier “When did you say Godot was coming?” ~ Eddie Chang “That was some hot toddy!” ~ David Hobson “You said you would pay the gas bill — but NOOOO!” ~ Anne Hardman

“Was it too much to ask that you bring just one box of graham crackers? Now what can we do with this nice fire, Hershey bars, and marshmallows?” ~ Elaine M Dynes DECEMBER 2015

WASHINGTON GARDENER

DAYtrip

Woodend and Rust: Two Nature Sanctuaries

Text and Photos by Cheval Force Opp

Refusing to allow a broken bone in my foot to slow me down, I asked my editor Kathy Jentz to suggest a small, walkable garden in the local area. She immediately recommended Woodend Nature Sanctuary. Managed by the Audubon Naturalist Society (ANS), this 40-acre Chevy Chase, MD, sanctuary is crowned by the 1920s-era Woodend Mansion. The mansion is an iconic Georgian Revival home designed by John Russell Pope, architect for the Jefferson Memorial and National Gallery of Art. It’s fun to enter through the ornate portico and take in the elegant architectural details on the first floor. The mansion houses offices, events, and a gift shop. Audubon Naturalist Shop at Woodend is a series of rambling rooms filled to the rafters with goodies. My friend Carolyn Mullet tells me this is her go-to 6

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DECEMBER 2015

place for special people holiday gifts. I was amazed at the selection: natural history books, children’s books, naturethemed notecards, birdwatching supplies, high-quality birdseed, birdfeeders, birdhouses, birdbaths, binoculars, spotting scopes, tripods, and shade-grown coffee. A senatorial Black Walnut greets visitors on the steep hill drive up to the mansion. My first stop was the Blair Native Plant Garden, which hugs the south corner of the mansion. A walking path allowed me to hobble in my castboot and enjoy the late autumn colors of native plants. The garden was dedicated in the fall of 2010, funded by Jane Blair in memory of her husband, William D. Blair, Jr, former ANS board president. The Blairs’ daughter, Liz Jones, continues to lead the volunteer team that manages the

native garden. The narrow garden curves gently, allowing good views of all the plants. It is easy to see it as an addition to a home yard. The initial plan, developed by Jane Collins Landscape Design, included plants from three physiographic regions of the Chesapeake Bay watershed: Coastal Plain, Piedmont, and Mountain. Plants are grouped by region, as they grow in the wild, with many of species growing naturally in more than one zone. Plant species were also selected for those with minimal supplemental watering and general lowmaintenance needs. The garden has thrived; plants compete for light and space, but are fenced to protect from deer. Volunteers intervene to maximize diversity and transplant over-abundant plants to prevent plant coups. No herbicides, pesticides,

DAYtrip or even bagged mulch are needed in the garden. Blair Garden now contains more than 80 species of wildflowers, grasses, ferns, and shrubs. A surprise microenvironment under the extant white pine tree has allowed the ground covers, wild stone crop, and the partridge berry plants to thrive. Wildlife visitors to the garden include native bees and butterflies, as well as birds looking for shelter, seed heads, and water. Rubythroated hummingbirds feed on the Cardinal flowers. Butterfly eggs abound, to include Spicebush Swallowtail eggs on Spicebush shrubs and Zebra Swallowtail eggs on Paw Paw trees. The Paw Paw trees were a startling acid yellow for fall the day I was there. Volunteers have been delighted to find a box turtle overwintering in a fallen log. I was inspired by this garden to review my flowerbed plants for next year. The Woodend website (audubonnaturalist.org) provides a plant list for this very doable native plant garden and staff are always glad to provide more information and suggestions. I am going to increase the native plants at my house.

hotspot, critical for diversity in our environment. The project began when Larry Weaner, a horticulturist specializing in native plant gardens and meadows, identified plants appropriate to the upland, lowland, and shaded areas of the meadow, mixing in a large proportion of deerresistant species. With an estimated 33 deer on Woodend’s 40 acres, the small meadow’s native plants cannot survive the herd’s browsing of native plants, so natural deer repellent is sprayed on the entire area during the growing season. The more native plants in the meadow, the more diversity, as documented by such experts as Douglas Tallamy in his book, Bringing Nature Home How Native Plants Sustain Wildlife in Our Gardens.

Meadow Restoration

Looking out from the Blair Garden the view rolls down toward the sanctuary entrance on Jones Mill Road. Here, a restored meadow unfolds between treed boundaries. The restoration, began in 2013 and covers .2 acres, the size of a suburban lot. Why restore a meadow? Meadows support unique communities of plants and animals that cannot survive under the forest’s shade. Meadows are the hunting grounds for predators such as foxes, hawks, and owls looking for small mammals like mice, shrews, voles, and snakes. Song birds gather to pluck bugs from the soil and seeds from the grasses, and perform aerial maneuvers. Pollen and nectar in meadow flowers feed all manner of insects; Ants, Bees and Wasps (Hymenoptera), Flies (Diptera), Beetles (Coleoptera), Butterflies and Moths (Lepidoptera), Lacewings and Antlions (Neuroptera), True Bugs, Aphids and Cicadas (Hemiptera), Grasshoppers and Crickets (Orthoptera), and my least favorite, Earwigs. In short, meadows are a biological

spraying deer repellent, inventorying species, and mowing in February and May. This dedicated crew volunteers for two work days per month at two or three hours each — one day to weed and on the second day to conduct an inventory of sample plots in the meadow to document what is growing. Alison Pearce, manager of volunteer programs, is available to answer questions about the meadow. She, like the volunteers, is excited about the success of the meadow and curious to learn how it will evolve in the future. Been thinking about adding a meadow to your yard? This is the place to see what it looks like.

Notable Trees

Tree identification walks are offered at Woodend in all seasons, and the sanctuary protects several record-holding trees. Pick up a map of the site in the gift store; it shows the location of four prize trees: native Black Walnut (Juglans nigra), Blue Atlas Cedar (Cedrus atlantica) — a Maryland champion, English Oak (Quercus robur), and Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum). The trails in the sanctuary lead visitors through a diverse range of environments, including two unique groves of single native species. What a treat to walk in the Hemlock grove between the mansion and Jones Mill Road, and the Tulip Poplar grove south of the mansion.

Rust Nature Sanctuary, Woodend’s Sister Site In October of 2013, some 50 volunteers set out and dug in 3,000 plants and re-seeded the meadow with native sedges, and forbs — herbaceous flowering plants that are not graminoid (grasses, sedges and rushes). The following spring, the volunteers were rewarded with native plants blooming among grasses and a new variety of fauna. Some deer browse occurred, but most species, and the meadow overall, were unharmed. Studies to determine the increase in the meadow’s rising diversity are ongoing. Volunteers and staff continue to maintain the area, removing invasive plants,

Rust Sanctuary is tucked away just outside Leesburg, VA, and, in its 68 acres, offers several miles of trails, numerous habitats, and many types of regional native plants and wildlife. The Rust Manor House was built in 1910 by Henry Harrison, a descendant of the first European recorded as visiting Loudoun County, for his wife, Anne Lee, who was a cousin of Robert E. Lee. The property passed from owner to owner until 2000, when the house and surrounding 68 acres were donated to the Audubon Naturalist Society in memory of Margaret Dole Rust.

A Flock of Programs

Both sanctuaries have impressive lists of activities and programs during the DECEMBER 2015

WASHINGTON GARDENER

DAYtrip year. Home gardeners interested in native plants can join any of the several programs led by knowledgeable naturalists and gardeners. If identifying trees gets you up early, there are hikes and walks in DC, Virginia, and Maryland. Kid programs are a big component of services, focusing on fun while educating about the many aspects of a healthy outdoors. All these programs depend on volunteers. Blair Native Plant Garden volunteers meet twice monthly. Master Gardeners have a “help desk” Saturdays, April to September, outside the Woodend shop. Conservation efforts engage a wide range of experts and volunteers. The water quality monitoring program, begun in 1994, monitors more than 50 streams in the Washington region with volunteers. ANS also has an organized networks of civic and environmental groups to fight for local watershed protection.

Upcoming Programs

• Native Plant Gardening for Homeowners, Winter Walk: Wednesday, January 6 (10am-12n). Explore the Blair Native Plant Garden with the senior naturalist. Find out about the values of gardening with native plant species. • Going Native at the Blair Garden: Held four times a year. Two-hour class, 10am-12n. Lead by Stephanie Mason, senior naturalist and champion of the Blair Garden native plant focus.

• Winter Walks along the Canal: Wednesdays (10am-12n). Join the senior naturalist for walks along the C&O Canal. Identify birds and wildlife, and practice winter botany skills. Enjoy the expansive views along the Potomac River. Environmental education is offered at Rust Sanctuary through elementary school programs, after-school workshops, summer camps, and birthday party hosting. The Audubon eNews is a free resource delivered monthly right to your inbox. Learn about the latest in conservation and what you can do to make a difference. You’ll also find great nature classes, programs, and events. Sign up at http://ow.ly/Ucdcq. The Audubon Naturalist Society’s Facebook is also very informative. The best way to check and register for programs is on the website calendar. http://www.audubonnaturalist.org/ index.php/about-ans/sanctuaries/woodend-chevy-chase-md.

Visiting Woodend and Rust Sanctuary

• Woodend Nature Sanctuary is free to visit and trails are open daily from dawn to dusk. No dogs or pets are allowed in the sanctuary. Please leave your pets at home. It is located at 8940 Jones Mill Road, Chevy Chase, MD. Phone: 301-6529188. Office hours: 9am-5pm Monday-Friday. Shop hours: 10am-5pm

Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm Saturday, and 12n-5pm Sunday. • Rust Nature Sanctuary has walking-friendly trails and dogs on leashes are welcome. Nature hikes explore the abundant life found in this area. Contact Audubon at Susanne. Ortmann@anshome.org. Rust Manor House at Rust Sanctuary is a partnership between the Audubon Naturalist Society and the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority. The website provides activity information. http://www.audubonnaturalist.org/ index.php/sanctuaries/rust-leesburg-va. Rust is located at 802 Children’s Center Road, Leesburg, VA. Phone: 703-6690000. Rust Sanctuary is open all year during daylight hours. o Special thanks to Kelli Holsendolph, director of communications and marketing, and Alison Pearce, manager of volunteer programs, for all their help. Thanks also to Susanne Ortmann, program manager at Rust and GreenKids Loudoun County coordinator, for providing information on the two sanctuaries. A special thanks to Carolyn Mullet, garden designer, who advised me on native plants as we enjoyed a warm fall day in the native garden. Cheval Force Opp lives in Dunn Loring, VA, with her husband, Dana, and corgi, Marzipan. Currently, she is shrinking her gardens to an arthritis-manageable size, but she has not curtailed her travels, which always include gardens. You can contact Cheval at gardentours@gmail.com.

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DECEMBER 2015

You’ve seen those gorgeous garden photos published in magazines and newspapers. Enter this year’s competition and have a chance of getting your winning 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, JonesGardenCreature1.jpg or SmithSmallWonders8.jpg. 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. Before sending us your CD-ROMs, 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

10TH ANNUAL PHOTO CONTEST check your CDs with the latest virusdetection software. We will disqualify any disk that may 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, 2016. Contest entries can also 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. You can print out blank entry forms from the Washington Gardener blog, Facebook page, or at www. WashingtonGardener.com. We will verify all entry receipts 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. Photo must have been taken during the 2015 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.

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, 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, please 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 due by January 22, 2016.

QUESTIONS?

Please call 301.588.6894 or email DCGardenPhotos@aol.com. o DECEMBER 2015

WASHINGTON GARDENER

TIPStricks

7 Most Beautiful College Arboretums in our Region

Best College Reviews named the 50 most beautiful college arboretums, including seven universities in our area. • American University — The Arboretum and Gardens consist of 10 different gardens located throughout the campus. There are more than 2,500 trees, and the mission is to serve the local community and visitors to the nation’s capital. • Salisbury University — The Salisbury University Arboretum houses more than 2,000 plant species. It is located on the Delmarva Peninsula and the climate lends itself to mild temperate zone plants. • University of Delaware — Beginning in the 1950s, the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources started what has become a vibrant 15 acres with 12 different gardens. Since the ’50s, the gardens have grown and evolved in size, scope, and mission into the University of Delaware Botanic Gardens, home to more than 3,000 species of plants. • University of Pennsylvania — The History of the Morris Arboretum goes back to 1887. The Morris family began cultivating the land that is now home to a gorgeous 92-acre arboretum with more than 12,000 labeled plants. • University of Virginia — The Orland E. White Arboretum occupies 172 acres and is primarily maintained for environmental research and education. The arboretum contains more than 8,000 trees and woody shrubs and represents over 1,000 species. • West Virginia University — The Earl L. Core Arboretum began in 1948 when Professor Earl Lemley Core, chairperson of the Biology Department, convinced the university president to set property aside for the study of biology and botany. It is now a 91-acre arboretum of mostly old-growth trees along the Monongahela River flood plain. • Haverford College — The Haverford College Arboretum is the oldest planned college landscape in the country. Haverford College, founded in 1833, was landscaped by English gardener William Carvill, who sought to transform the college grounds. Trees line roadways and frame open spaces. Several of the original oak trees still stand. o 10

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DECEMBER 2015

Showy Flowering Shrubs for the Mid-Atlantic

Virginia Cooperative Extension recently released a new e-book, Selecting Plants for Virginia Landscapes: Showy Flowering Shrubs, to provide home and landowners options for planting small, medium, and large shrubs with showy flowers in Virginia and the Mid-Atlantic states. This publication features small, medium, and large flowering shrubs (five of each category) with photos. There are at least eight shrubs from each category noted in a table (without photos) at the end of this publication. All shrubs — featured or in the table — are landscape-worthy and are especially suited to landscapes in Virginia and the MidAtlantic states. Shrubs are important features of a landscape. Shrubs, as woody plants with persistent above-ground shoot systems, serve several key functions in the landscape. Two of the more critical functions are the roles they play in creating architectural spaces and beautifying the landscape. In terms of the architectural function, shrubs serve as the walls, ceilings, and floors of a landscape, thereby creating outdoor spaces or “rooms.” They also serve esthetic functions via their size, form, texture, and showy plant parts, such as flowers, fruit, foliage, and fragrance. While all woody plants have flowers (or flower-like structures for gymnosperms), only a subset of these plants has somewhat attractive or very showy flowers. We enjoy the beauty of showy flowers, yet showy flowers exist in nature as advertisements and attractants for insect visitation and subsequent pollination. In contrast, many plants with inconspicuous, “non-showy” flowers are wind-pollinated. Despite their beauty, this publication does not cover roses because the topic of roses merits a separate publication. The publication can be accessed at https://pubs.ext.vt.edu/HORT/HORT84/HORT-84.html via Kindle, Nook, Sony Reader, and Apple hand-held devices and serves as a guide to home gardeners in the Mid-Atlantic states who want to create habitats that promotes pollination by insects via flowering shrubs. o

Wild Tulips for Tough Spots

Colorblends (www.colorblends.com) horticulturist Christian Curless suggests planting wild tulips this fall-winter in those areas in the garden where it just seems hard to grow anything. Despite their diminutive, delicate-looking flowers, wild tulips are as tough in a garden as they are in harsh native environments. Plant them in the right spot, and it’s easier to kill them with kindness than it is with neglect. The right spot is one with full sun, good soil drainage, no foraging animals, and no sprinklers or soaker hoses over the summer. So situated, wild tulips have the capacity to settle in, sometimes coming back to bloom in the spring for several years. With petals that open wide in the sun, wild tulips show brightly against the spring landscape. Bloom time varies from early to late spring. For best effect, plant them in scattered clusters in rock gardens, along fences, or along walks — even in gravel patios. Avoid planting them in pampered beds of thirsty plants or among taller perennials. Late fall is the time to plant wild tulips and other spring-blooming bulbs. The bulbs of species tulips are smaller than regular garden tulips; bury them just four inches deep. For best rooting, plant once average night temperatures drop to the 40-45°F range and before the ground freezes hard. Don’t bother to fertilize or add compost. Like all spring-flowering bulbs, wild tulips go dormant several weeks after flowering. The leaves yellow, dry up, and eventually disappear as the bulbs enter their summer hibernation. It’s important to allow them to die back naturally. Don’t cut, tie, or mow the leaves, which are recharging the bulbs below with the energy required for flowering the following spring. The good news: Most wild tulips have narrow, unobtrusive foliage that is unlikely to attract much notice as it yellows and withers. o Tips compiled by Joelle Lang, a senior at the University of Maryland, College Park. She is a multi-platform journalism student in the Philip Merrill College of Journalism. This autumn, she is also an editorial intern for Washington Gardener Magazine.

GARDENnews

Quick Links to Recent Washington Gardener Blog Posts

• Wreath Decorating Care and Tips • Native Spotlight: American Holly • Bulb Planting Basics • DIY: Cinnamon-Apple Ornaments See more Washington Gardener blog posts at: WashingtonGardener.Blogspot.com o

New Plant Spotlight Amsonia tabernaemontana ‘Storm Cloud’

Native perennials are trending, and Bluestar is the classic North American perennial. Amsonia is a new genus to the Proven Winners® perennials lineup, and ‘Storm Cloud’ is a very exciting new variety that performs well for both northern and southern growers. In spring, new stems emerge nearblack with leaves that are very dark green with silver veins. The stems stay dark throughout spring. Light periwinkle blue, star-shaped flowers completely cover the foliage in late spring, and rebloom for many weeks afterward. Although the main interest for this plant is in spring, it maintains a great garden presence throughout the summer and fall. Its wide, mounded habit lends itself well to be used in place of shrubs in the landscape. Younger plants will have more of a vase-like habit, but make sure to give this plant some space for when it reaches its mature size. This easy-care, heat- and humiditytolerant, deer-resistant perennial is an excellent choice for gardeners looking for low-maintenance or native perennials. Amsonia ‘Storm Cloud’ was bred and introduced by Walters Gardens, Inc. It will be available in retail in spring 2016. o

December-January Garden To-Do List

• 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. DECEMBER 2015

WASHINGTON GARDENER

10th Annual Washington Gardener Philadelphia Flower Show Tour Organized by Washington Gardener Magazine Wednesday, March 9, 2016, 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 2016 is “Explore America.” It will celebrate the centennial of the National Park Service and our country’s majestic landscapes, rich history, cherished monuments, and vibrant culture. From Acadia to Yellowstone, the beauty and glory of American parks will serve as inspiration for exhibits created by the nation’s premier floral and garden designers. Join us for a visit to magnificent displays, special programming, and newer attractions like the interactive Butterfly Experience and a huge Train Garden. The Flower Show attracts non-gardeners as well as die-hard green-thumbed people of all ages. Foodies of all tastes will love the Garden to Table Studio. Participate in the Lectures and Demonstrations series, Gardener’s Studio, and the “Make & Take” workshops. 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 nearby restaurants for dinner on your own at the show 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



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, 2016

Full refund if canceled by February 7. $40 refunded until February 28. No refunds after March 3.

Questions? Kathy Jentz Wgardenermag@aol.com www.WashingtonGardener.com

Brought to you by:

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.

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DECEMBER 2015

Code 3/9 Silver Spring

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

TOP AREA GARDENING EVENTS DC-Area Gardening Calendar ~ Upcoming Events ~ Dec. 16, 2015–Jan. 15, 2016 • Tuesday, December 22, and 29, 11-11:30am; Friday, December 18, 1111:30am; Saturday, December 19 and 26, 11-11:30am Gardener’s Focus: Bones of the Winter Garden Get an intimate look at Hillwood’s gardens with the experts! Bill Johnson, horticulturist, highlights the bones of the winter garden on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays in late December. This tour is included in the suggested Hillwood admission donation. Tickets are distributed at the Visitor Center upon opening each day. A limited number of tickets may be pre-reserved by Hillwood members. This tour is limited to 10. Details at www.HillwoodMuseum.org. • Now through January 3, 2016. Yuletide at Winterthur The annual exhibition celebrating the holiday traditions of Henry Francis du Pont and his family at Winterthur, with a special tribute to the 30th anniversary of the beloved Dried Flower Tree, this year more majestic than ever. Immerse yourself in inspiring holiday décor and enchanting displays on three exquisitely decorated floors of the nine-story museum. Enjoy concerts, caroling, jazz, and wine throughout the season with Winterthur’s special Yuletide programming. For more information on Yuletide at Winterthur tours and programming, including updates, visit the Winterthur website, winterthur.org, or call 800.448.3883. • Wednesday, December 23 7–9pm Seeds of the New World: A Conversation with Ira Wallace An evening of food and conversation with communard, entrepreneur, organizer, and seedsperson Ira Wallace. We will be exploring the role that egalitarian communes do, and can play in the wider struggle for social justice and a more compassionate sustainable society. We will be delving into Ira’s decades of experience and wisdom around how to start and sustain a successful commune and how to keep it focused on the great work of transforming the world. Hosted by Point A DC. RSVP directly to gpaul@frompointa.

org or at: https://www.facebook.com/ events/866035316828563/. • January 1, 2016 FirstDayHikes Kick-start your New Year’s resolution to keep in shape with an invigorating First Day Hike at a state park near you! All 50 states are participating in the fourth annual national event, which invites families to celebrate the New Year with guided outdoor adventures. Last year, more than 27,000 people covered around 66,000 miles on 885 hikes in state parks across the country. Details about each state’s hikes, including locations, length, and starting times, are located at www.naspd.org. All participants are encouraged to log their adventures on social media with #FirstDayHike. • Saturday, January 9, 9:30am Pruning Workshop Come learn the fundamentals of pruning young trees using hand tools to encourage healthy structural development at the National Park Service’s American Elm Nursery, 50 Marina Drive, Alexandria, VA. Register at caseytrees. org/events/category/class/. • Sunday, January 10, 12–2:30pm Shiitake Log Inoculation Class Michael Weese, mycology operations manager of Chesapeake’s Bounty and owner of Mushroomlife (http://mushroomlife.com/), will lead a hands-on workshop exploring the process of preparing, inoculating, and caring for shiitake logs. Weese will bring homemade shiitake plugs and will also give a presentation on how he created his own plugs in a home lab setting. Held at the Fox Haven Organic Farm and Learning Center, 3630 Poffenberger Rd, Jefferson, MD. Space is limited. Fee: $25. Contact Lacey Walker to register: lacey@foxhavenfarm.org.

Save These Future Dates: Washington Gardener Photo Contest Entry Deadline is January 22, 2016. See details on page 9.

Washington Gardener Seed Exchanges • January 30, 2016, at Brookside Gardens in Wheaton, MD • February 6, 2016, at Green Spring Gardens in Alexandria, VA See details on page 14-15. Philadelphia Flower Show Trips 2016 with Washington Gardener Magazine • March 9, 2016, depart from downtown Silver Spring, MD • March 10, 2016, depart from Behnke Nurseries in Beltsville, MD

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, please contact: Wgardenermag@aol. com — put “Event” in the subject line. Our next deadline is January 10 for the January 15 issue, featuring events taking place from January 16 - February 15, 2016. o

Advanced Landscape Plant IPM PHC Short Course January 4–7, 2016 For registration information, contact: Avis Koeiman Department of Entomology 4291 Fieldhouse Dr. University of Maryland College Park, MD 20742 Tel: 301-405-3913 Email: akoeiman@umd.edu  DECEMBER 2015

WASHINGTON GARDENER

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

Washington Gardener magazine, the publication for DC-area gardening enthusiasts, is hosting the seventh annual Washington Seed Exchange at Behnke Nurseries and Green Spring Gardens. These seed swaps are inperson 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 30, 2016, in MD and on Saturday, February 6, 2016, in VA from 12:30–4:00PM (Foul weather that day? Call 240.603.1461, for updates about possible snow/ice delay.)

11th Annual Washington Gardener

Where

on Saturday, January 30, 2016 National Seed Swap Day! from 12:30–4:00PM

How to Register

Seed Exchange at Brookside Gardens in Wheaton, MD AND

on Saturday, February 6, 2016 from 12:30–4:00PM

at Green Spring Gardens in Alexandria, VA

Registration is now open at www.washingtongardener.com.

Space is limited, so act today!

Overview

Washington Gardener Magazine subscribers get $5 off the $20 attendee fee!

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DECEMBER 2015

We are holding dual 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. 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 in advance. Friends of Brookside (FOB) members, Friends of Green Springs 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 and we expect both to sell out, so be sure to register early!

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!

Washington Gardener Magazine’s 11th 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 presort your seeds in advance into whichever 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, please contact Kathy Jentz at 301.588.6894 by January 21.

11th Annual Washington Gardener Seed Exchange Advance Registration Form

Please ﬁll out this form and mail with your check/money order by January 25, 2016, to: Washington Gardener Magazine, 826 Philadelphia Ave., Silver Spring MD 20910

Name:____________________________________________________________________________________ Street Address:____________________________________________________________________________ Email:____________________________________________________________________________________ Seed Exchange Date and Location:  Jan. 30 at Brookside Gardens  Feb. 6 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 • Friends of Green Spring Gardens **A portion of the event proceeds will go to beneﬁt Save Our Monarchs Foundation for planting Milkweed seeds.** DECEMBER 2015

WASHINGTON GARDENER

BOOKreviews

On Walnut Hill: The Evolution of a Garden By Kathy Hudson Publisher: Hillside Press List Price: $50.00 Reviewer: Jim Dronenburg Some books you discover by pure, blind luck. Kathy Jentz and I were at a holiday party and Kathy was given this book in a Secret Santa type exchange. I immediately said, “Do you want me to review it?” And discovered a remarkable coffee-table book. On Walnut Hill is the story of the Hubbards and their garden just north of Baltimore, from 1969 to the present. Over 46 years, the garden started, grew, evolved, and matured (along with the Hubbards’ children and grandchildren) into a nationally known garden. This is, for the most part, a picture book of the garden, arranged by season, with interspersed vignettes of the Hubbards’ growth in the garden and the various projects as they happened. There is no gardening information per se in the text; do not expect this to be a how-to book. Instead, look to the pictures for ideas, especially if your own garden is on sloping ground. As an additional bonus, the Hubbards are in, essentially, the same climate as Washington. This means that any plant they can succeed with, you can succeed with. Granted, this is a two-acre property. Granted, the Hubbards have had resources to throw at the garden, especially in the later years. But they started out doing the work by themselves, with an essentially bare, exposed house on a hill, and the lessons gleaned from the photographs — beautiful, gemlike photos of gemlike settings — are applicable in gardens of any size. At the very back of the book are lists of resources (nurseries and organizations, many in 16

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DECEMBER 2015

Baltimore and available to area gardeners), and two pages of “advice” (on design, planting, maintenance, pests, and education) and Mrs. Hubbard’s favorite gardening tools. The Hubbards do have help, especially with the larger projects involving tons of earth and stone, but they are highly hands-on, daily gardeners and have done/still do a lot of the work themselves. The education advice column is classic: “Start a garden library…Read garden catalogs and blogs…Visit gardens… Seek out a community of gardeners, join a garden club. Expand your horizons.” This is the core wisdom of all good gardening, boiled down to one small column. One thing that the Hubbards had that we cannot have is the continuing advice of Kurt Bluemel, who died in 2014. But the Hubbards themselves are extremely knowledgeable and have planted for all seasons; they started out years ago planting for winter interest, with evergreens and textured/colored barked plants, which the rest of us are still catching up on. And the garden has achieved an incredible sense (as pictured) of serenity. I very much recommend this book, not so much for the text — I repeat, this is not a how-to — but for the pictures and what you can draw from them. Jim Dronenburg is an accountant by day, an Irish harper/singer by night, and a Behnke Nursery weekend warrior to support his expanding gardens in Knoxville, MD.

Landscape and Garden Design Sketchbooks By Tim Richardson Publisher: Thames & Hudson List Price: $60.00 Reviewer: Teri Speight Hand-drawn landscape designs versus computer-aided design — two different methods that achieve the same goal. Two different methods that help to explain a thought process or concept, when designing the garden. While computer-assisted design (CAD) allows one to quickly meet certain criteria, when designers hand-draw or sketch the idea, there is a certain depth and feel or interest in the design. Landscape and Garden Design Sketchbook, shares pages of designs

from several hand-picked designers, that are relatively well known around the world. From Ken McCow to Piet Oudolf, one can tell that each landscape plan was created in the manner best suited to the designer. Each designer interpreted the site visually by different means. Ken McCow’s sketches are a much more technical, linear measured approach in comparison with Piet Oudolf’s sketches. Oudolf’s hand-drawn designs include the plant, plant combinations, and more, The reader can tell that Oudolf’s hand in sketching these existing landscapes shows the appreciation of that natural landscape. Landscape and Garden Design Sketchbook is a great tool for understanding the different methods of designing the garden, Whether it is a hand sketched or a computer assisted design, each designer will take a different approach to achieve a similar goal. Essential Perennials: The Complete Reference to 2700 Perennials for the Home Garden By Ruth Rogers Clausen and Christopher Thomas Publisher: Timber Press List Price: $39.95 Reviewer: Teri Speight Having a great, current reference book is like having the perfect Little Black Dress in the closet, ready and waiting for the right moment. Essential Perennials is a book that gardeners dream about and wait for. Ruth Rogers Clausen has taken reference books to new heights for the home gardener. Featuring special details like the most current botanical nomenclature, plant sensitivity, and new care/cultivation tips, this easy-to-read resource is a must-have for the library. Paying attention to the topic of plant sensitivity, Ruth Rogers Clausen advises

BOOKreviews

the reader on whether a specific plant does not enjoy humidity, too harsh sun. or other items that might prove to be a disaster in your perennial garden. It is almost as if Clausen is verbally taking the reader on a plant shopping spree to find the right or the perfect perennial for a specific area of the garden. Trained in England, Clausen shares information including the proper botanical name, along with cultural requirements clearly detailed for each plant; lists newer varieties and companion plants, as well as how to make more plants. This is a great chair-side resource to be used in planning the next season’s garden over the winter months. The phenomenal photos by Alan L. and Linda Detrick, the carefully curated plant society listings, as well as the mail-order directory for resources in the USA, Canada, and the United Kingdom, are all valuable additions to this book. The photographs allow the reader to see what the plant looks like in the garden. Whether you are a new gardener, know of an avid gardener, or just need a more current book on perennials, Essential Perennials offers the latest reference material from a seasoned horticulturist sharing her expertise on perennial plants. Teresa Speight is a native Washingtonian, who resides in District Heights, MD. She owns Cottage in the Court Landscape Consulting. She can be reached at cottageinthecourt@gmail.com.

Touch a Butterfly: Wildlife Gardening with Kids By April Pulley Sayre Publisher: Roost Books List Price: $19.95 Reviewer: Alyce Ortuzar This author is passionate about gardening and children, and her book is filled with wonderful photographs and engaging activities for all ages. The book instructs readers on how to provide what wild creatures need, even and especially in an urban landscape, and how they will find it. The author focuses on how to become a “wildlife magnet” by using what nature already provides “in the most sustainable way possible — with native plants and natural structures that require little maintenance.” In addition to food and water, wildlife habitat includes shelter from predators and suitable spots to safely raise their young. Native plants in a yard or small courtyard can shelter and feed butterflies, lizards, quail, turtles, and a host of other creatures. Vegetation for warming up, bathing, and cooling off will attract even more varieties of these wonderful critters, with more opportunities for observing them. There seem to be no limits to the rewards and benefits from wildlife gardening. Studies document emotional improvements that include self-esteem and overall mood, and feelings of wellbeing, from spending time in natural habitats. Native vegetation that provides what wild critters need to survive and thrive often emerges naturally in most yards and vegetated medians, but they are too often destroyed by mowing. Mowing compacts and dehydrates the soil, and the greenhouse gas emissions from mowers, trimmers, and leaf blowers are enormous — to say nothing of the noise that creates disharmony for humans and wildlife alike. The author cautions against rushing out to buy tools and plants. First observe what plants emerge naturally, what critters are around, and which plants they visit. Whereas a garden is “a layer cake of life” with many benefits to wildlife, a mowed lawn has no layers. Habitat layers such as vines or dense tall shrubs can protect birds from hawks

and cats and can be escape routes from predators for squirrels. In addition, mowing deters and even kills caterpillars and other wonderful creatures, and most people are unaware of the wonderful native tree seedlings deposited by squirrels and birds that are too often destroyed by mowing. The more robust a native bush or tree is permitted to become, the more habitat and food there will be to support even more wildlife — at no additional cost and with little to no maintenance. The height of any remaining turfgrass can be controlled with garden shears or a scythe. The author discourages the use of bug zappers and chemicals (herbicides and pesticides) because they kill beneficials indiscriminately, such as wasps and moths that are also important pollinators. Use bat houses instead and plant flowers that bloom at night to attract and feed the bats. The author also discourages the use of commercial peat because it is mined from wetlands. Peat will often emerge naturally in a dark, damp area in a yard that is not mowed. Native plants are important because they have evolved naturally with birds, insects, and other wildlife for at least tens of thousands of years. Native plants are also more likely to be hardy and enduring even in extreme weather events. The deep roots of these plants develop healthy soil, capture and clean stormwater, and filter pollutants out of septic systems. Many urban trees die from being constantly bumped or cut accidentally by Book Reviews continued on next page DECEMBER 2015

WASHINGTON GARDENER

BOOKreviews grass maintenance equipment or utility companies. Even Eastern European countries find money to put their utility lines underground and spare the trees. The author also discourages the practice of setting out synthetic fabrics and dryer lint for birds to use in nests, because these contain chemical residues and are not biodegradable. In contrast to efforts in the United States to introduce standardized tests in kindergarten and eliminate recess, the author praises forest kindergartens in Germany. The children spend all day outdoors in all types of weather. Inculcating these practices, lifestyles, and values in children that they can then take home to their families and communities could be the most effective way to positively affect the environment and the health of our children and of future generations. This review first appeared in longer form in the Winter 2015 issue of Pathways Magazine. Alyce Ortuzar is a medical and social science researcher, writer, and technical editor whose research focuses on solutions-oriented resources that include sustainable agriculture, nutrition, clean energy, and green communities and infrastructure. She manages the Well Mind Association of Greater Washington, a holistic medicine information clearinghouse, and can be reached at farmparity@gmail.com.

The General in the Garden George Washington’s Landscape at Mount Vernon Edited by Susan P. Schoelwer Publisher: Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association List Price: $35.00 Reviewer: Cheval Force Opp This lushly illustrated book presents thoughtful essays by three authors: Adam T. Erby, J. Dean Norton, and Esther C. White. The thread that runs through the essays is the evolving landscape directed first by George Washington and then by the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association. The authors go beyond the facts of Mount Vernon history to fuse insightful stories with photos, illustrations, and maps. Erby, assistant curator at Mount Vernon, directed the exhibition “Gardens & Groves: George Washington’s Landscape at Mount 18

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Vernon.” He leads the reader through the evolution of Washington’s thinking on his most beloved lifetime project. Illustrations and photographs support the reader’s understanding of the man and his environment. Norton, Mount Vernon’s director of horticulture, continues the reader’s journey into the time after the general passed when the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association rescued the site from deterioration and neglect. Beginning in 1860, the ladies continued the evolution of the estate in an effort to return it the year 1799, the year of Washington’s death. It is a fascinating journey of persistence and percep-

tion that allows the reader to follow the education of the caretakers as interdisciplinary research, archival and archaeological, replaced best guesses. Photos of the gardens during these years provide striking visualization of how much has changed. White, director of historic preservation, provides an interesting essay on the interdisciplinary programs that uncovered the layout and appearance of the 1799 Upper Garden. Following the archaeological evidence in the fiveyear “dig” is a fascinating trip through the garden’s past. The book concludes with a landscape guide by Erby, with luscious photos, paintings, and illustrations. Definitive Plant Lists and a foreword by Andrea Wulf are the icing on the cake. I have enjoyed many books about Mount Vernon, but this is my favorite. Many thanks to all the generations of helping hands and to these authors. o Cheval Force Opp lives in Dunn Loring, VA, with her husband and her corgi, Marzipan. Her favorite adventure is visiting and photographing gardens. She is currently working to make her gardens smaller and easier to maintain, giving her more time to travel. Contact her at gardentours@gmail.com.

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GOINGnative

Yellow Root

by Barry Glick

Well, this short story is not an Aesop’s Fable, but there are a few good takeaway lessons here. Lesson #1: “Keep your eyes open when you take a walk in the woods and visit the same places during different seasons.” I was visiting a friend’s garden in the UK in 1995 and, immediately upon my arrival, noticed that his fence line appeared to be ablaze. Upon closer examination, I concluded that a small understory shrub had colonized along his property line. Dazzled by the brilliant display, I inquired about the unfamiliar plant. After the laughter subsided, I was informed that the plant in question was a gift from me seven years prior. The plant in question was Xanthorhiza simplicissima! It seems that, although I’d been growing Xanthorhiza simplicissima on my farm for many years, I’d never visited the colony in the fall. Xanthorhiza simplicissima, or “Yellow Root” as it’s commonly referred to, is a woody member of the Buttercup (Ranunculaceae) family, a large family that is home to Hellebores, Clematis, Actaea, and so many other genera of desirable, garden-worthy plants. The

diminutive flowers it bears in early spring are an unusual brownish-plum color and are produced in somewhat horizontal sprays. Lesson #2: “This is a nomenclature lesson designed to eliminate all fear of using proper scientific names for the plants we garden with.” Xantho means yellow in Latin and rhiza means root; put them together and what do you have — Yellow Root! The species name simplicissima refers to the fact that the root is unbranched. Lesson #3: “You can grow just about anything, just about anywhere.” In the wild, Xanthorhiza simplicissima usually chooses a damp, shady, slightly acid, well-drained area in the woods as its preferred habitat. I wanted to grow this plant in my display gardens, underplanted in a grove of tall Maples along a meandering path, which didn’t have the plant’s preferred soil condition, so here’s what I did. I made a mix of one part dry leaves, which I shredded in a very inexpensive, useful device made by a tool company called WORX; one part play sand; and one part soil from the garden that I screened through a grid of 1/4" hardware cloth to elimi-

nate rocks and other debris and obtain a nice, smooth texture. Since the pH of the soil in that area of the garden was a bit on the basic side, I added some 21-7-7 acid fertilizer, one tablespoon to a gallon. This may seem like a lot of trouble to go to, but it really isn’t. The result was that I created the perfect habitat for a very appealing, useful plant that has attractive foliage during the growing season and lights up the garden in the fall. A very forgiving plant once established, Yellow Root tolerates occasional flooding and periods of drought equally as well. The key phrase here is “once established.” Different sources list this plant, which seems to have no insect, pest, or disease problems, as 12–36" tall. My colony is a very uniform 18". Propagation of Yellow Root is not rocket science. It’s easily grown from seed collected when ripe in the fall. The seedlings take a few years to mature, but you can definitely raise a large quantity of plants this way. Another easy propagation method is by root division. The roots naturally form new plants as they weave their way around. Xanthorhiza simplicissima has also been used as a yellow dye and as a medicinal plant by Native Americans. Herbally, it is used as an anti-inflammatory and a natural antibiotic. Yellow Root can be used in place of Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis) and is often confused with it in herbal texts. Both plants have similar properties and can be used for the same purposes. o Barry Glick, a transplanted Philadelphian, has been residing in Greenbrier County, WV, since 1972. His mountaintop garden and nursery is a mecca for gardeners from virtually every country in the world. Barry writes and lectures extensively about native plants and Hellebores, his two main specialties, and welcomes visitors with advance notice. He can be reached at barry@sunfarm.com, www.sunfarm.com, or 304.497.2208.

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NEIGHBORnwork

Meet Carol and Leon Carrier Local Cut-Flower Farmers

Interview and photos by Joelle Lange Husband and wife flower farmers Carol and Leon Carrier have been farming for more than 30 years. They created and run Plantmasters, a cut-flower company that grows everything from forced flowering tree branches to zinnias at their home in Laytonsville, MD. The pair sells their products at five farmers markets in the region. We visited their home and garden on a warm, autumn day and toured their operations. Carol Carrier answered our interview questions on behalf of both of them. Q: When did each of you begin gardening and discover a passion for it? A: Leon started to love gardening in high school. His first interest was houseplants, primarily cacti, so much so that he converted his parents, screened porch into a greenhouse. I came from a gardening family, but my passion came later, as we grew more and more beautiful flowers. 20

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DECEMBER 2015

Q: How did you begin to grow your current garden? A: We moved to this house and garden in 1987. We simply needed more garden space. We immediately planted lilacs and peonies; they would need some time to mature. Our first annuals were marigolds, way too many marigolds. It was our best crop of them ever, but we learned the value of diversity. The main garden was planted with sun exposure in mind. The greenhouse was sited for sun and access to our driveway to facilitate loading our truck. The hoop houses ended up in the garden. There’s a lot going on with only two acres. Q: How was Plantmasters born? How has it grown since its creation? A: Plantmasters stated as a farm market stand at the Montgomery Farm Women’s Cooperative Market in Bethesda, MD, open two days a week while Leon was still in college. After we

got married, we had a serious discussion about working a “real job.” It was decided to make this our real job and we have grown to serving five farmers markets. We are at the Montgomery Farm Women’s Cooperative Market on Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday in Bethesda. Thursdays are at the Potomac Village Farmers Market. Saturday we are also at 14th & U Streets Farmers Market as well as Columbia Heights Farmers Market in Washington, DC. Sunday will find us with our partner M&M Plants at the Olney Farmers & Artists Market. We also service interior plantscape accounts in VA/DC/MD. Plantmasters usually provides a few full-service weddings and many DIY weddings per year, as well as providing cut-flowers and plants for our local florists and event designers. On occasion, our property has been used for a few select events like farm-to-table dinners, photo shoots, tours, classes, and cocktail parties.

NEIGHBORnwork Q: What’s the best piece of gardening advice you would offer a beginner gardener? What have you learned in your time running a garden? A: Our advice to beginning gardeners is to work with what you have. Do not feel it’s necessary to go out and buy the latest gadget until you’ve determined your true needs, this will keep you out of debt. We’ve learned the importance of keeping what you need handy and always experimenting with new varieties and skills. We learned to hire great help and listen to their insights. In turn, we have inspired several horticulture students to become arborists, work at public gardens, and become market gardeners. We are still learning how to run a garden! We meet with the Maryland Cut Flower Growers Association, admire greatly the Association for Specialty Cut Flowers Growers, and participate with our county and state extension services. We are practicing replanting immediately after a harvest and extending our season with hoop houses and low tunnels. Q: How does your garden change based on the season? A: The garden differs greatly by season, but we produce local floral material all year! Spring features perennials and bulbs, summer’s focus is annuals, fall product is primarily from our hoop house, and in winter we use our greenhouse, cold frames, and berried branches and evergreens.

flowers! Each one seems prettier than the next and each season brings my next favorite, so I love a full cooler ready with market flowers to share, and I truly enjoy when others love our flowers too. Q: How do you use social media to promote your product? A: We use Facebook at “plantmasters” and Instagram as @plantmasters1 to share what’s happening in the garden right now. We include farmers market

photos, plant and flower shots, customer and bridal arrangements, and just fun on the farm with ourselves and our employees. o Joelle Lang is a senior at the University of Maryland, College Park. She is a multiplatform journalism student in the Philip Merrill College of Journalism. This autumn semester, she is also an editorial intern for Washington Gardener Magazine.

Y ou Can Make a Difference. . . by

Sharing Your Harvest

Q: What is an average day like in caring for the garden? A: Our typical gardening day involves seeding and potting our new crops; cutting flowers for market; making bouquets; loading the truck; and a lot of watering, by hand, by sprinkler, and by drip tape. We take photos as we work for Facebook and Instagram. Q: What is the most challenging part of maintaining your large garden grounds? A: The challenges for gardening on our scale is weed control and planning, and planting the next crop so we always have product available all year. Q: What is your favorite part about gardening? A: My favorite part of gardening is the

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 2015

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DECEMBER 2015

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 UT! • 40+ Free and Low-cost Local D O Garden Tips SOL • Spring Edibles Planting UT! Guide O LD for a Fresh Start • Testing Your SOSoil UT! • Redbud LD O Tree Selection and Care O S • Best Viewing Spots for Virginia Bluebells

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

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Jentz Prints

Antique Botanical Prints for the decorator, collector, connoisseur, and art lover. Jentz Prints can be purchased on most Saturdays at the Eastern Market, and most Sundays at the Georgetown Flea Market.

Antique prints are affordable — most in the $10-$30 range — and they are the perfect gift idea for that plant lover in your life. And don’t forget to buy a few for yourself! For more information, to make a private appointment, or to get a detailed show schedule, please contact Jentz Prints by email at UllrichJ@aol.com. You can also find Jentz Prints on eBay.com under the seller ID: printyman. 24

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