Washington Gardener January 2017 by Kathy J

JANUARY 2017 VOL. 11 NO. 11

WWW.WASHINGTONGARDENER.COM

WASHINGTON WAS W WASHINGTO ASHINGTO

ggardener

the magazine for gardening enthusiasts in the Mid-Atlantic region

Local Gardening Events Calendar

Reducing Stress with Garden Plants 3 New Space-saving Vegetables 2017 Garden Trends

Seed Exchange Registration and Details

A Year in the Edible Garden: When to Plant and Harvest Your Garden Tasks To-do List Naughty Norway Maple

Best Monarda for the Mid-Atlantic Region

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RESOURCESsourc

Need a Garden Club Speaker?

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

RARE AND EXCEPTIONAL PLANTS FOR THE DISCRIMINATING GARDENER AND COLLECTOR

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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

Specializing in Garden

Renewals & Renovations Yard By Yard Makeovers, LLC 7304 Carroll Avenue, #229 Takoma Park, MD 20912 301-270-4642 yardmakeovers@yahoo.com www.yardmakeovers.com

We can reshape and beautify neglected yards.

Green Spring Gardens

Your Ad Here

Are you trying to reach thousands of gardeners in the greater DC region/Mid-Atlantic area? Washington Gardener Magazine goes out on the 15th of every month. Contact 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.

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JANUARY 2017

www.greenspring.org

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.

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FEATURES and COLUMNS

We charted a year in the edible garden. Print this calendar out or copy it into your datebook to know what to plant when and harvest dates.

INSIDEcontents

Many species of insects visit Monarda flowers, but not all of these species are effective pollinators. Some insects, like shorttongued bees, are unable to access the nectar at the base of the long, narrow floral tube. Instead, these bees cut a hole at the base of the flower and simply drink the nectar from its source, completely bypassing the flower’s reproductive parts necessary for pollination. While this may seem like cheating, the nectar robbing strategy does allow Monarda to support a much broader diversity of insects.

BOOKreviews 16-17 Garden Flora; Monarchs and Milkweed; Best of Green Space EDIBLEharvest 6 A Year in the Edible Garden NEWPLANTspotlight 11 Phlox ‘Fashionably Early’ series PLANTprofile 18-21 Monarda PHILLYflowershow 12 Trip Details and Sign-up Form PHOTOcontest 13 Rules for 2017 Submissions SEEDexchanges 14-15 2017 Dates and Details TIPStricks 10 Plants to Reduce Stress; 3 New Small-space Vegetables; 2017 Garden Trends WEEDwatch 22 Norway Maple

DEPARTMENTS

ADVERTISINGindex BLOGlinks EDITORletter GARDENcontest LOCALevents MONTHLYtasklist NEXTissue RESOURCESsources

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ON THE COVER

Monarda ‘Gardenview Scarlet’ in the trial garden at Mt. Cuba Center, Hockessin, DE.

In our February 2017 issue:

Penstemon

Lavender can reduce stress. Use it in sachets, sprinkled into a warm bath, or just hung in bundles in your closet. Other scented plants that can help lower anxiety are chamomile, calendula, rosemary, and roses. Try growing some in your garden this year and drying/preserving them to enjoy indoors next winter.

New Tomato Introductions and much more...

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

Be sure you are subscribed! Click on the “subscribe” link at http://washingtongardener. blogspot.com/

10 JANUARY 2017

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EDITORletter

Credits Kathy Jentz Editor/Publisher & Advertising Sales Washington Gardener 826 Philadelphia Ave. Silver Spring, MD 20910 Phone: 301-588-6894 wgardenermag@aol.com www.washingtongardener.com Call today to place your ad with us! Ruth E. Thaler-Carter Proofreader Jacqueline Hyman Intern Cover price: $4.99 Back issues: $6.00 Subscription: $20.00

Why Treat the Symptoms, not the Cause? I woke one clear winter day last month and look across the street at the little urban park. Much to my shock, the large, beautiful holly trees had been mutilated. All of their lower branches were removed. I thought at first some Christmas thieves had stolen all the limbs they could reach, since the day before, they were loaded with bright-red berries and shiny green foliage. I shot off an email to the park managers and asked if this was theft. The reply was even more chilling. It was planned and deliberate. The park manager wrote: “We greatly appreciate your concern regarding the holly trees at Fenton Park. Naturally, these trees have a form and shape that does not require pruning. However, we have had issues wherein our staff have had to continuously remove clothing, cardboard boxes, and other items that have been hidden at the base of the trees. This has raised many issues regarding safety of park visitors especially during the summer months, moreover, this has become more of a common thread in our parks. We have been in communication with the Park Police about these instances and their recommendation is that there should be clearance to provide a line of sight to help prevent crime. These hollies needed pruning to provide clearance and mitigate any suspicious activities in this urban setting.” So, all of the park visitors and neighbors, along with the park flora themselves, must suffer due to “suspicious activities.” I think this response is backwards and wrong-headed. Note that no real crimes brought this on, just the by-products of urban homelessness. Why treat the symptoms and not the cause? While we cannot cure homelessness overnight, we can certainly work toward that goal. My interim suggestion is to first, give the homeless a safe and secure place to store their belongings during the day. The local public libraries would be a perfect space to provide that. Next, let’s address programming active public space use so more people feel comfortable enough in our urban parks to “reclaim” them. What do you think? Should all of our urban parks be clear-cut in the name of public safety or are there better ways to address this issue? Happy gardening (and reading)!

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

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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 11, Number 11 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.

READERcontt

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.

Visit DCGardens.com for: Photos of 16 Major Public Gardens by Month 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

Reader Contest

For our January 2017 Washington Gardener Reader Contest, Washington Gardener is giving away two passes to either of the Washington Gardener Seed Exchanges (prize value $40). The 12th Annual Washington Gardener Seed Exchanges, hosted by Washington Gardener Magazine, take place on January 28, 2017, at the Brookside Gardens in Wheaton, MD, and on February 4, 2017, at Green Spring Gardens in Fairfax, VA. You have a choice of which side of the DC Beltway you want to visit! Seed Exchange attendees trade seeds, exchange planting tips, hear expert speakers, and collect goody bags full of gardening treats. The event also includes such “green” features as the garden book and catalog swap. Everyone will leave with a bag full of seeds and loads of gardening inspiration for the upcoming growing season! To enter to win the Seed Exchange Passes, send an email to WashingtonGardener@rcn.com by 5:00pm on Wednesday, January 25, with “Seed Swap” in the subject line and in the body of the email. Tell us your favorite story in this issue and why. Please also include your full name and mailing address. The pass winners will be announced and notified on Thursday, January 26.

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EDIBLEharvt

A Year in the Edible Garden: When to Plant and Harvest

by Kathy Jentz

We put together this calendar to help you plan your year ahead in the edible garden. This calendar is tailored to the Mid-Atlantic region. The lists are in chronological order; the latter items should be done later in the month. Some timing may be pushed forward or back depending on the annual weather patterns, but should, in general, be a solid guide for your planning purposes. JANUARY • Order seeds and attend local seed swaps. •Set goals and make plans for your edible garden spaces. • Prune dormant fruit trees. FEBRUARY • Start tomato, pepper, and eggplant seeds in peat pots or trays. • Prune blackberries. • Grow salad greens and herbs indoors in containers. • Sow onions, shallots, leeks, and asparagus indoors in trays. MARCH • Build new raised garden beds and weed the soil in established garden beds. • Perform a soil test in your garden and amend the soil with compost. • Direct-sow broccoli, kale, and beets. • Direct-sow Swiss chard and lettuce. • Sow rosemary and other herb seed indoors. 6

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APRIL • Start pruning apple trees. • Plant spring onions. • Spread mulch to control weeds and conserve water. • Direct-sow husk cherries. • Direct-sow peas and spinach. • Plant bulb onions and shallots. • Direct-sow parsley. • Pull back winter mulch off asparagus. • Harvest asparagus • Direct-sow dill and cilantro. • Plant seed potatoes. • Direct-sow arugula. • Direct-sow radish and carrots. MAY • Direct-sow summer squash and watermelons. • Begin harvesting spring onions. • Direct-sow cucumbers. • Plant sweet potatoes. • Begin harvesting lettuce, peas, and other spring crops. • Direct-sow fennel and bitter melon. JUNE • Transplant out herb seedlings. • Monitor and treat plants for pests. • Transplant out tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants. • Direct-sow green beans. • Promote plant growth with regular fertilizing and watering. • Harvest radishes, carrots, and greens. • Dig and cure garlic.

JULY • Stake or cage tomatoes. • Harvest basil and other herbs. • Direct-sow pumpkins, beets, and winter squash. • Pick blackberries. • Harvest potatoes. • Pick okra, cucumber, and summer squash (including zucchini) daily. • Begin harvesting green beans. AUGUST • Pick, pickle and preserve garden produce. • Begin picking hot peppers, tomatillos, husk cherries, and eggplants. • Direct-sow carrots, radish, and kale. • Preserve herbs by drying and freezing. • Direct-sow brassicas and protect with row cover. SEPTEMBER • Begin harvesting watermelon, and raspberries. • Plant a cover crop. • Harvest bitter melon. • Direct-sow Asian greens. • Harvest fennel. • Direct-sow turnips, kohlrabi, mustard greens, and arugula. • Harvest winter squash and pumpkins. • Start collecting and labeling seeds. OCTOBER • Begin harvesting beets, radishes, and arugula. • Harvest sweet potatoes and cure them. • Plant garlic. • Begin harvesting mustard greens, kohlrabi, and Asian greens. NOVEMBER • Begin harvesting kale and carrots. • Begin harvesting turnips. • Enjoy the bounty of your harvest at Thanksgiving table. DECEMBER • Clean and store garden tools. Seal with gear oil and let dry. •Request garden catalogs. Did we forget anything? Let us know! o Kathy Jentz is the editor of Washington Gardener magazine.

February 24, 2017

8:30 am - 4:00 pm

Join Brookside Gardens and horticultural industry leaders as they share new design and plant trends that address the environmental challenges of climate change. SEMINAR TOPICS

Climate Change – A Threat or Opportunity for Achieving Sustainability? Dan Hinkley, Heronswood

The New Shade Garden – A Solution to Climate Change Ken Druse, Award-winning author & photographer

Design Trends in Sun Gardens Karl Gercens, Longwood Gardens

Panel: Industry Update - Plant Trials & Introductions Richard Hawke, Chicago Botanic Garden I George Coombs, Mt. Cuba Dr. Richard Olsen, National Arboretum I Claudia West, North Creek Nurseries

REGISTER ONLINE ActiveMONTGOMERY.org (Course #23666) or call 301-962-1451 EARLY BIRD FEE: $85 p/person until January 20, 2017 STANDARD FEE: $99 p/person after January 21, 2017 Registration includes box lunch BrooksideGreen.org • 301-962-1451 1800 Glenallan Ave, Wheaton, MD 20902

JANUARY 2017

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TOP AREA GARDENING EVENTS DC-Area Gardening Calendar ~ Upcoming Events ~ January 16–February 15, 2017 • Washington Gardener Photo Contest Entry Deadline is 12 midnight, January 21, 2017. See details on page 13. •January 21 & 22, 28, & 29 and February 18 & 19, 25, & 26, 1–3pm Garden Hand Tool Sharpening This popular event is back at Behnke Nurseries in Beltsville, MD. Bring in up to two hand tools per person and have them sharpened. Cost: $3 each or $5 for two tools: cash only. All proceeds go to Emmanuel United Methodist Church Foodbank. First come, first served. If there is a line, please exercise patience. • Opening Sunday, January 22 The New American Garden: The Landscape Architecture of Oehme, van Sweden Exhibition, Talk, and Tour The photographic exhibition chronicles the careers and influence of the firm’s founding partners, Wolfgang Oehme and James van Sweden. Held at Vollmer Center at Cylburn Arboretum, Baltimore, MD. On Sunday, January 22, at 2pm, OvS Principal Eric Groft will present a talk and give a tour of the exhibition following it. Learn more at http://www. ovsla.com/. • Monday, January 23, 8:00pm Keeping Ahead of the Joneses Silver Spring Garden Club hosts a talk on Plant Collecting. Jim Dronenburg, club member and plantaholic, will talk about “Keeping Ahead of the Joneses.” The Joneses are good people and can be quite good gardeners, but lack a certain imagination, shall we say. Dronenburg will show you how to keep ahead of the Joneses in your planting, by discussing sources for plants—not all of them bought—and methods and ideas to keep you several steps “ahead” of your friends and neighbors. This will be a “pretty plant pictures” lecture, but more importantly, it will give you new food for general thought. Free. Held at Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD. • Saturday, January 28, 12:30-4pm Washington Gardener Magazine’s 2017 Seed Exchange at Brookside Gardens. Start saving and labeling your seeds now! Speakers: Drew Asbury, head 8

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Grower, Hillwood Estate, Museum, & Gardens, on “Growing a Cutting Garden from Seed,” and Kim Roman on “Small Footprint Gardening.” See pages 14–15 of this issue for full details. • Tuesday, January 31, 7:00pm Human Impacts on the Non-native Kudzu and the Native Thicket Bean Homo sapiens has had greater impact on the distribution and diversity of plant life on Earth than any other species, particularly through processes of domestication, dispersal, and habitat remodeling. In particular, the translocation of native species to non-native habitats around the globe has remodeled the biotic composition of regional flora and fauna structures. Humans are also changing the environmental balances of nature, affecting the natural integrity of ecosystems on both the global and regional levels. See http://mdflora.org/. Held at Kensington Park Library, Kensington, MD. • Friday, February 3, 12 –1pm Lecture: Magnolias for the Home Landscape Andrew Bunting, assistant director of the Garden and director of Plant Collections, Chicago Botanic Garden, discusses the breadth of magnolias that can be cultivated in the Washington, DC, area. He will show how magnolias can be used in the landscape and discuss their many attributes, such as fragrance, flower color, evergreen types, native species, great magnolias for small spaces, and how to best grow and cultivate magnolias. Held at the U.S. Botanic Garden. Free: pre-registration: required, www.usbg.gov. • Saturday, February 4, 12:30-4pm Washington Gardener Magazine’s 2017 Seed Exchange at Green Spring Gardens. Start saving and labeling your seeds now! Speakers Sara Tangren, UMD agent associate, on “Native Seed Collecting and Sourcing” and Linda L. Jones, owner, Elements of Nature, on “Winter Sowing.” See pages 14–15 of this issue for full details.

• Sunday, February 5, 1pm The Chinese Kitchen Garden Book Launch Join Maryland gardener and author Wendy Kiang-Spray at Politics & Prose Bookstore as she discusses the inspiration and motivation behind her first book, The Chinese Kitchen Garden. This book weaves her family story along with gardening information, tips and tricks for growing and advice on cooking a wide variety of Chinese vegetables. Details at http://www.politics-prose. com/event/book/wendy-kiang-spraychinese-kitchen-garden-growing-techniques-and-family-recipes-classic. • Thursday, February 9, 7–9pm; Friday, February 10, 7–9pm; Saturday, February 11, 7–9pm Full Moon Hike Take a brisk hike through moonlit gardens, meadows, and woods. Your guide will share specially chosen points of interest and seasonal highlights. The two-hour walk over hilly and uneven terrain is a brisk hike, not a garden tour, so prepare accordingly. No children under 16 or pets. Full Moon hikes fill quickly; register soon to reserve your spot. Go to http://www.usna.usda.gov/ for complete Full Moon Hike details. Fee: $30 ($25 for FONA.) Registration required. Meet in the Visitor Center of the U.S. National Arboretum. • Saturday, February 11, 10am–12n All About the Details: Stone, Wood, & Metal in Landscape Design Join APLD dc/md/va for their Winter Lecture featuring Matthew Cunningham. Held at the Silver Spring Civic Building, 1 Veteran’s Place, Silver Spring, MD. Purchase tickets here: http://bit.ly/2jPqLK3. • Saturday, February 11, 11am–12n Wildflower Ecology: A Naturalist’s Perspective The native woodland wildflowers are more than just a delight for the eye: They have adapted to their environment over millennia and play important roles in the ecology of their region. Join naturalist Carol Gracie and learn the fascinating life histories of spring ephemer-

TOP AREA GARDENING EVENTS DC-Area Gardening Calendar ~ Upcoming Events ~ January 16–February 15, 2017 als. Topics include adaptations for early blooming, pollination, and seed dispersal, and the latest scientific research on the ecology of these beautiful plants. Held at Mt. Cuba Center, Hockessin, DE. Register at http://mtcubacenter.org/. • Sunday, February 12, 10am–4pm National Capital Orchid Society 39th Annual Orchid Auction Plan to join the Valentine’s frenzy. More than 300 rare and unusual blooming (or near-blooming-size) orchids from well-known growers coast to coast and private collections. One of the largest orchid auctions in the United States. Held at Behnke Nurseries in Beltsville, MD. For details, visit www.ncos.us. • Tuesday, February 14, 1:00pm Gardener’s Focus: Preparing for Spring Get an intimate look at Hillwood’s gardens with the experts. Drew Asbury, head grower, shares a preview of Hillwood’s fabulous spring and summer blooms growing in the greenhouse on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays in late February. Tickets are distributed at the visitor center upon opening each day. A limited number of tickets may be pre-reserved by Hillwood members. This 20-minute tour is limited to 10, and meets inside the entrance to the greenhouse. Go behind-the-scenes on this guided tour of Hillwood’s production greenhouse. Enjoy the warmth of the greenhouse while getting a sneak peak of plants being grown for Hillwood’s beautiful spring and summer garden displays. Details at http://www.hillwoodmuseum.org.

Save These Future Dates • Saturday, February 18, 9am–4pm Rooting DC Rooting DC is a free, all-day gardening forum that aims to provide education about urban food production and consumption to cultivate health and preserve the environment. The program includes dozens of interactive workshops, cooking and food preservation demonstrations, and panel discussions focusing on youth gardening, nutrition,

sustainable growing techniques, and healthy food access. Held at Wilson High School. See http://rootingdc.org/. • Saturday, February 18, 9am–1pm 13th Annual EcoSavvy Symposium: Cultivating Biodiversity in the Home Garden Plant and animal life biodiversity is critical to a healthy ecosystem. Learn from renowned public designer Bill McLaughlin of the U.S. Botanic Garden and expert local naturalist and environmental educator Alonso Abugattas how to create a home landscape that provides an oasis for birds, pollinators, and other wildlife through the use of native plants. A panel discussion on the use of native plants in the landscape follows the presentations. $56/person. Details at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/parktakes use code: 290 188 5501. • Friday, February 24, 8:30am–4pm Green Matters Symposium This event will focus on plant solutions in an era of climate change with keynotes by Dan Hinkley of Heronswood and Ken Druse, author and designer. Additional experts from the Chicago Botanic Garden, Longwood Gardens, Mt. Cuba Center, and the National Arboretum will also present on the latest trends in plant hybridizing and trials. Keep in mind that the early-bird registration fee ends on January 20, 2017. For details: www.brooksidegreen.org • Saturday, February 25, 8:30am– 2:30pm Successful Design with Nature in Mind University of Maryland Extension, Montgomery County Office, Montgomery County Agricultural History Farm Park 18410 Muncaster Road, Derwood, MD. For more information, email MCMGConference@gmail.com or go to goo.gl/i4nalm. • Philadelphia Flower Show Trips with Washington Gardener Magazine • March 15, 2017, depart from downtown Silver Spring, MD • March 16, 2017, 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: kathyjentz@gmail.com — put “Event” in the subject line. Our next deadline is February 10 for the February 15 issue, for events taking place from February 16–March 15. o

Garden Book Club

The Washington Gardener Magazine’s Garden Book Club is free and open to all. Please check back on the Washington Gardener blog and Facebook page for schedule updates and announcements. The Washington Gardener Magazine’s Garden Book Club is free and open to all. Here are the rest of our 2017 selections for the Washington Gardener Magazine’s Garden Book Club: • Garden Revolution by Larry Weaner ~ Winter (February) • The Triumph of Seeds by Thor Hanson ~ Spring (April) • Big Dreams, Small Garden by Marianne Willburn ~ Summer (July) • Ghost Image by Ellen Crosby (fiction) ~ Fall (November) We meet quarterly on a weekday evening near a metro-accessible location in the DC-area. We will announce the details of each upcoming meeting about two months in advance. o JANUARY 2017

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TIPStricks

New 2017 Garden Trends

3 Space-saving Vegetable Plants for Small Gardens

Nongardeners often cite lack of garden space and money as barriers preventing them from growing their own food. Three new 2017 All-America Selection vegetable seed varieties may help to change that, announces Park Seed’s brand manager Ginger Long. These delicious new veggies make it possible to grow in less space than ever. Priced at just pennies per plant, they will keep fresh, home-grown food on the table from spring through fall. • Pea Patio Pride Hybrid harvests less than six weeks after sowing, and is so compact that it can be grown in any container 8 inches or more in diameter. A cool-season crop, Patio Pride sets its delectable peas in spring, offering several dozen plump pods per plant. No garden space is needed; this variety grows in pots on urban balconies, along the edges of driveways, and on decks and porches everywhere. If garden soil is available, all the better: As a legume, Patio Pride is a nitrogen-fixing plant, so it can be chopped up and worked back into the soil. • For summer, Mini Love Hybrid Watermelon offers big (7- to 9-pound) striped melons in less space than ever before. This vine reaches just 3 feet wide, but produces generously. Park Seed’s Long considers it a breakthrough in vegetable gardening: “Most gardeners these days just don’t have the time or space to maintain a huge veggie patch, and Mini Love brings a vining plant front and center. If you have enough garden space for a rose, you can grow this watermelon!” • For autumn and beyond, an awardwinning butternut squash delivers mini, single-serving fruit on a plant so compact, it can be grown in containers. Honeybaby Hybrid sets delectable orange squash that store for months after harvest and are so lightweight that they can be grown on a small trellis in a planter or large flowerpot. Ready just three months after sowing, Honeybaby is easy and prolific. More introductions are just around the corner. “The All-America Selection judges recognize the need for compact, low-cost alternatives to traditional vegetable varieties,” Long noted. o 10

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How to Reduce Stress with Plants from Your Garden

Using jasmine or lavender to encourage better sleep is a tangent to the very act of gardening itself. Creating a zen haven … there are many ways to use the garden to de-stress. The folks at Monrovia, a national purveyor of plants, have some suggestions about how stress relief can be found in the garden. • Lavender: There are so many proven benefits from inhaling the scent of this woody perennial—think improvement in short-term memory, anxiety relief, and relaxation. Cut bunches of fresh lavender and use them around the house, add florets to sugar, or infuse olive oil with flowers and leaves to create beauty products. • Jasmine: Need a pick-me-up from the stress of the day? Try jasmine. This can be grown indoors in bright light and plenty of heat, and moved outside in the spring. Uplifiting, stimulating, and deeply romantic; this wonderful scent is an instant mood-changer and has been studied for its confidence-boosting abilities. Place it where you can enjoy the scent—in a kitchen window or heated bath. • Gardenia: If you have the right light (bright and sunny, but not in the direct, hot sun), this is one for the bedroom. Studies indicate that keeping one in your room may help you achieve a better quality of sleep and relieve anxiety. As effective as Valium? Well, jury is out on that, but at least one study has some compelling claims. o

This winter, take some inspiration from the latest garden trends. Which one can you see yourself in? • The Harmony Garden Instead of taking nature for granted, this garden is a tribute to Mother Nature. There’s a good reason why people like to surround themselves with flowers and plants—they’re a source of natural energy. In the harmony garden, you can truly lose yourself and feel completely zen. There are beautiful corners for sitting outside, relaxing hammocks, and the perfect spots for yoga. All that green is bound to take you to a state of complete relaxation. Summer bulbs like African lilies, lilies, begonias, dahlias, and gladioli will gently soothe and stimulate your senses, giving you a sense of nature’s warm embrace. The most important color in the harmony garden is the color green. • The Energy Garden Ever heard of a garden that energizes you but still manages to make you feel relaxed? That’s the Energy Garden. Its combination of fresh green foliage and strong, bold flowers will transform your outdoor area into a place of calm and energy. Bold colors like red and yellow, combined with black and white, help to create real dynamism. The repetition of geometric designs is another central feature of the active garden. The bold colors of summer bulbs like dahlias, lilies, begonias, and crocosmia really make their presence felt. • The Unisex Garden In the Unisex Garden, the boundaries between indoors and outdoors fade away—the two spaces flow seamlessly into one another. Everything that’s growing, whether it’s inside or around the house, is just as important. It’s a place where men and women will both feel comfortable. This is because it combines feminine colors with robust, masculine materials, which, in turn, incorporate elegant and refined surface textures. In the Unisex Garden, everything combines to form one harmonious whole. The perfect summer bulbs for this garden are gladiolus, blazing star, dahlias, lilies, and turmeric. More inspiration and the latest gardening trends can be found at www. bulb.com. o

GARDENnews

Quick Links to Recent Washington Gardener Blog Posts • Seed Swap #PlantChat Video • Speakers Announced for Seed Exchange • Hens and Chicks Succulents: You Can Grow That! • Intern Experience at Washington Gardener Magazine See more Washington Gardener blog posts at: WashingtonGardener.Blogspot.com o

January–February Garden To-Do List Phlox ‘Fashionably Early Flamingo’

New Plant Spotlight Phlox ‘Fashionably Early Flamingo’ PPAF Common Name: Hybrid Phlox Fashionably Early Series

This new Hybrid Phlox blooms earlier than the typical Tall Garden Phlox (Phlox paniculata), starting about two to three weeks earlier than the typical Phlox. ‘Fashionably Early Flamingo’ is a taller variety of Hybrid Phlox that will work best for the middle to back of the border. In addition to being early-blooming, it boasts a long season of color. Perfectly defined panicles of light lavenderpink flowers bloom prolifically well into midsummer, with some rebloom in fall. Broad, thick, bright-green foliage stays beautiful all season. Each member of the Fashionably Early series has exceptional mildew resistance; thick, leathery leaves; and a stoloniferous habit (as opposed to the tightly clumping P. paniculata types). A new plant introduction from Walters Gardens Inc. (https://www.waltersgardens.com). o Phlox ‘Fashionably Early Lavender Ice’

• Prune any dead or diseased wood from your small trees and shrubs. • Plant frost-tolerant trees. • Cut off the flower stalk on your amaryllis once flowers fade. Leave foliage to grow. • Keep poinsettias in a well-lit area, but out of direct sun and away from drafts. • Buy a few new house plants. • Fertilize only your winter-blooming houseplants, such as violets. • Give your house plants a quarter turn every few weeks. • Build a compost bin. • Repair your shed and repair/paint your fences. • Clean out your cold frame or build a new one. • Collect large plastic soda bottles to use as cloches. (A cloche is a clear, bellshaped cover used to protect tender plants from frost.) • Clean and refill bird feeders. • Wash and refill the birdbath or set out a shallow bowl of water in icy weather. • Check on stored summer bulbs and seeds. Discard any that have rotted. • Buy seeds and order plants from the new garden catalogs. • Prune summer bloomers such as Hydrangeas, Rose of Sharon, Crape Myrtles, and Butterfly Bushes. • Till and add organic matter to annual/vegetable beds. • Weed – especially check fast-growing vines such as honeysuckle, autumn clematis, bittersweet, wild grape, Virginia creeper, and poison ivy. • Place a floating ball or small plastic soda bottle filled two-thirds with water and a tablespoon of salt in your pond to stop it from entirely icing over, especially if you have fish. If ice forms, remove the ball by pouring hot water on it. • Insulate outdoor containers by wrapping with bubble wrap or landscape fabric. • Check that newly planted trees, shrubs, and perennials have not been heaved out of the ground due to freezing-and-thawing cycles. • Take hardwood cuttings from willow and dogwood to propagate them. • Look for evidence of pest or fungal damage throughout your garden. • Clean out your greenhouse and wash those windows. • Set out your live potted evergreens from holiday decorating in a protected outdoor space to harden them off before planting them. • If we do get more snow in the DC area, gently dislodge snow from trees and shrubs with a broom to prevent damage to branches. • Start hardy herbs, onions, cabbage, pansies, and perennials. • Clean and tidy up pots and seed trays to a get good start in February. • Use leftover holiday greens and cut-up tree branches to mulch beds and create windbreaks. • Do not step on frozen soil in flower beds or lawns. • Keep all houseplants out of drafts and away from heat vents. • Use de-icer sparingly or a nonchemical substitute such as sand, grit, fireplace ashes, or non-clumping kitty litter. • Volunteer at a local public or historic garden. • Paint a few terra-cotta pots in spring-like colors. • Pot up any leftover bulbs that did not make it into the ground by now and force them for indoor blooms. o JANUARY 2017

WASHINGTON GARDENER

11th Annual Washington Gardener Philadelphia Flower Show Tour Organized by Washington Gardener Magazine Wednesday, March 15, 2017, 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 2017 is “Holland: Flowering the World.” It will celebrate the beauty and ingenuity of Dutch culture, from vivid flower fields to innovative eco-design. The Philadelphia Flower Show will transport guests to the rainbow landscapes of tulips, hyacinths, and daffodils, and through the cut-flower and bulb markets that have shaped Holland’s history and culture. 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, 2017

Full refund if canceled by February 7. $40 refunded until February 28. No refunds after March 8.

Questions? Kathy Jentz kathyjentz@gmail.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.

WASHINGTON GARDENER

JANUARY 2017

Code 3/15 Silver Spring

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

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, 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. 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.

11TH 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 21, 2017. 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 2016 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 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 21, 2017.

QUESTIONS?

Please call 301.588.6894 or email DCGardenPhotos@aol.com. o JANUARY 2017

WASHINGTON GARDENER

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

12th Annual Washington Gardener

Seed Exchanges

on Saturday, January 28, 2017, from 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 4, 2017, from 12:30–4:00PM at Green Spring Gardens in Alexandria, VA Registration is now open at WGSeedExchange-GreenSpring.brownpapertickets.com

NEW This Year: Make-it Take-It Seed Crafting Table

Space is limited, so act today! Washington Gardener Magazine subscribers get $5 off the $20 attendee fee!

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JANUARY 2017

Overview

Washington Gardener Magazine, the publication for DC-area gardening enthusiasts, is hosting the 12th 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 28, 2017, in MD and on Saturday, February 4, 2017, 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 WGSeedExchangeBrookside.brownpapertickets.com for the 1/28/17 event and WGSeedExchangeGreenSpring.brownpapertickets.com for the 2/4/17 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 12th 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.

12th Annual Washington Gardener Seed Exchange Advance Registration Form

Please ﬁll out this form and mail with your check/money order by January 24, 2017, to: Washington Gardener Magazine, 826 Philadelphia Ave., Silver Spring MD 20910

Name:____________________________________________________________________________________ Street Address:____________________________________________________________________________ Email:____________________________________________________________________________________ Seed Exchange Date and Location:  Jan. 28 at Brookside Gardens  Feb. 4 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. JANUARY 2017

WASHINGTON GARDENER

BOOKreviews

Garden Flora: The Natural and Cultural History of the Plants in Your Garden By Noel Kingsbury Publisher: Timber Press List Price: $40.00 Reviewer: Liz McGuinness This large, coffee-table-sized book is another gorgeous publication from Timber Press. The glossy pages are illustrated with not only the usual photos of plants and landscapes, but also horticultural art from across the ages, as well as historical photos and commercial art from plant companies. It’s a pleasure to leaf through it. The purpose of the book, as the title suggests, is to explore the history of garden favorites. Organized by genus, the book summarizes the natural and cultural history of more than 100 genera. The snapshots of each genus provide varied information, ranging from a description of the genus (size, native range, origin of name, and plant forms), the ecology of the members of the genus (preferred habitats, distribution across the globe, and plant survival strategies), traditions and uses of the plant, and the history of its cultivation, including important growers and cultivators. The book answers the questions of who raised hybrids, and where. The material included in each plant description varies from plant to plant. Some focus more on the genus and its cultivation history. For example, the section on Paeonia (peonies) explains the history of the four peony categories, some of which can be traced back 16

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hundreds of years: herbaceous peony hybrids, tree peonies, species peonies, and itoh peonies. The peony has been an important symbol in China for thousands of years, while cultivation of it traces back to the Tang dynasty. Other genus snapshots highlight fun facts about the plant. For example, Alchemilla of the family Rosaceae: The author notes that the shape of the leaves reminded Europeans of a spread cloak, but the original Catholic name “Our Lady’s Mantle” was shortened by Protestantism to “Lady’s Mantle.” For another example, the author informs us that all Alliums are banned from New Zealand as invasive aliens, but he does not tell us where New Zealanders get their garlic from. One of the several interesting approaches in this book is the discussion of important plant cultivators. For one example, Helen Ballard is credited with reviving Helleborus in Great Britain after World War II. She even taught herself German to do this. Organized alphabetically by genus, the book is best read in small portions. The Flora section can be enjoyed by browsing different plant write-ups, in any order. An introduction that begins “Read this first!!” includes explanations and definitions that will help readers understand the entries in the Flora section. The brief and enjoyable History in Cultivation section gives a whirlwind tour of ornamental plant cultivation since the beginning of time, providing a good background for what is to follow. One complaint is that the book does not use common plant names in prominent places. This means that readers looking for a favorite plant by its common name, must look it up in the index. This book represents a considerable accomplishment in terms of the compilation of facts and related art for the selected plants. It will appeal to anyone who loves horticultural art and photos. It will also appeal to gardeners who would like to understand more about the genesis and history of their favorite plants. The survey-type nature of the plant descriptions however will probably leave serious plant geeks wanting. Liz McGuinness gardens in Takoma, Washington DC.

Monarchs and Milkweed: A Migrating Butterfly, a Poisonous Plant, and their Remarkable Story of Coevolution By Anurag Agrawal Publisher: Princeton University Press List Price: $29.95 Reviewer: Jamie Moore In this book, Anurag Agrawal, a professor at Cornell University, explores the reciprocal adaptation of monarch butterflies and their toxic host plant, milkweed. I was surprised to learn that the monarch, the popular posterchild of pollinators, is not an effective pollinator of milkweed. Milkweed does not appear to benefit at all from its association with the monarch, yet milkweed is not a passive victim of very hungry caterpillars. Over time, it has constructed multiple lines of defense against herbivores. One defense is the production of cardenolide toxins, which poison an important enzyme necessary for animal life. The monarch has developed an altered version of this enzyme, which allows it not only to tolerate these toxins in its food source, but to sequester them and then use them as a defense against its own predators. Milkweed-derived cardenolide toxins stored in the monarch’s body are the reason birds vomit after eating these butterflies. Agrawal further explores the chemistry of cardenolide toxins, variants of which are produced by other plants not closely related to milkweed, like foxglove and oleander. Some of these plant-derived toxins (e.g., digoxin) have been used medicinally by humans.

BOOKreviews Agrawal then discusses other milkweed defense strategies and how the monarch copes with them. He summarizes current scientific knowledge of monarchs, including their mating behavior, selective egg-laying behavior, and mechanisms of migration, such as the time-compensated sun compass. Along the way, he clearly explains concepts such as convergent evolution, aposematic coloration, and different types of mimicry (Batesian, Müllerian, and automimicry). He ends by exploring theories about the decline of the monarch population in North America, concluding that lack of milkweed is not a significant factor. It is clear that the author loves his topic. He does a good job of presenting insights from different scientific fields that have contributed to understanding the relationship between monarchs and milkweed. I thought his inclusion of anecdotes about scientists involved monarch research added interest to the book, athough, at times, it was a bit dry and academic. This book is definitely not a light read, but would be a good selection for a college-level science book club or entomology graduate students looking for a thesis topic (the author helpfully points out areas in need of future research throughout the book). Monarch fans who enjoyed the 2012 documentary film “Flight of the Butterflies” and yearn for more profound knowledge of these fascinating insects will also enjoy this book. Reading this book will change the way you view gardens by fostering a deeper awareness of the myriad complex interactions occurring between plants and insects. Jamie Moore has been gardening in Frederick County, MD, for the past three years (before that, she gardened in southern Louisiana for nine years, where she completed the Master Gardener program). Her main gardening interests are edible gardening on a suburban plot; growing old-garden roses, English roses, and heirloom flowers; composting; sustainable practices; and companion gardening. In addition to gardening, she loves to read; cook with local and seasonal produce; hike; and spend time with her husband, three children, and two cats.

Best of Green Space: 30 Years of Composted Columns By Duane Campbell Publisher: B.B. Mackey Books List Price: $16.95 Reviewer: Erica H. Smith Duane Campbell, a syndicated gardening columnist from Pennsylvania, gathered many of his columns into this book, and it’s a fun read. I say that despite having read it wrong. Since I had to produce this review, I swallowed the whole book down at once, but the columns are organized by month, and that’s the way to read them. Even if you don’t usually have time for garden reading in May, you can fit these in, two a week; they’re short and they will be timely. Both the structure of the book and some of the subject matter remind me of the collection One Man’s Garden by the late, great Henry Mitchell of the Washington Post. Mitchell’s writing is more satisfying in a literary sense, but I found the comparison fading from my mind as I read through Best of Green Space and enjoyed Campbell’s own very entertaining style. He has a friendly, light, conversational approach to imparting gardening advice and commentary on his own garden adventures, and is particularly tart and funny while describing his habit of gardening on the cheap, or his inability to turn down plants (“I have this to say:

Ththhhppbbbbbffttt! There is ALWAYS room for one more plant, and one more after that.”), or the way a simple chore somehow takes hours to complete when other tasks get in the way. And his take on the cheap/fast/good triangle is classic (just remember that you can’t have all three at once, and you’ll be fine). There is a lot of intelligent, practical guidance in this book. No one will agree with all of it or want to follow all of it, but that’s the nature of gardeners. On the other hand, everyone will find something here exactly aligned with their interests, whether you grow ornamentals or vegetables, struggle with making compost or envy others their perfect houseplants, or want to learn about the best tools or starting plants from seed or how to fit garden chores in around the football game. You’ll probably discover some new plants to try, along with methods for growing them, and inexpensive ways to support the gardening habit. And you’ll find yourself smiling frequently, which has to be a good thing. The one suggestion I’d make if the book goes to a second edition: Put in headers that tell you what month you’re in, to make browsing easier. The book does have a table of contents listing all the subjects, and an index of plants, objects, and techniques, in case you want to find something again, which you probably will. Erica H. Smith is a Montgomery County Master Gardener, runs the Grow It Eat It blog for the University of Maryland Extension, and grows vegetables in her own community garden plot and in the MG Demonstration Garden in Derwood, MD. She is the author of several novels; visit her web site at ericahsmith.wordpress.com.

Love Reading?

These books were reviewed by volunteer members of the Washington Gardener Reader Panel. To join the reader panel, please send an email with your name and address to: KathyJentz@gmail.com. We look forward to having you be a vital part of our local gardening publication. o

JANUARY 2017

WASHINGTON GARDENER

PLANTprofile

By George Coombs

Monarda, commonly known as bee balm or wild bergamot, has been a standard component of the perennial garden for many decades. Its popularity comes from the large, brightly colored flower clusters that adorn vigorous masses of foliage in the peak of summer. The flowers attract not only gardeners, but many types of wildlife, including hummingbirds, bees, butterflies, moths, and seed-eating birds. Unfortunately, bee balm also has a reputation for contracting powdery mildew, a fungal infection of the leaves that can mar their appearance and even cause defoliation. For this reason, the Mt. Cuba Center trialed 40 different selections of Monarda for factors such as overall growth and vigor, floral display, and powdery mildew resistance to determine which species and cultivars perform best in the MidAtlantic region. The genus Monarda was named for the Spanish botanist Nicholas Monardes, who wrote the first reference book on

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the medicinal value of North American native plants in 1571. The medicinal properties of Monarda were well known to numerous Native American tribes who used the plants to cure ailments such as fever, headache, and cough. Rubbing crushed leaves on the body was also done to alleviate pain, and the common name bee balm probably came from its ability to relieve the pain associated with bee stings. Other historical uses include perfume, food seasoning, and even for protection from ghosts. The first historical record of Monarda being used as a garden plant dates back to 1745 in the garden of Englishman Peter Collinson. He obtained seeds of scarlet bee balm (M. didyma) from Philadelphiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s famed American botanist, John Bartram, who collected the seed in Oswego, NY. It is from this location that M. didyma gets its other common name, Owsego tea. The natives and early settlers in the Oswego area used the leaves to flavor

their drink. In fact, Monarda reportedly became a substitute for traditional English tea in New England after the Boston Tea Party. Another species, M. fistulosa, also has a tea-related common name. It is called wild bergamot because it has a fragrance similar to true bergamot (Citrus aurantium var. bergamia), which is famous for giving Earl Gray tea its distinctive flavor. Today, scientists have named 17 different species of Monarda, all of which are native to North America. However, most garden plants are hybrids or selections of just two species, Monarda didyma and Monarda fistulosa. Because these two species have different colored flowers, red and lavender respectively, most hybrid cultivars available today come in shades of purple, pink, fuchsia, and bright red. For many years, the breeding of new bee balm cultivars took place in Europe, with an emphasis on novel flower colors. Unfortunately, their performance

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

Best Monarda for the Mid-Atlantic Region

PLANTprofile and powdery mildew resistance in North America was largely overlooked. In the 1960s, the Canadian government started a breeding program to create new, disease-resistant cultivars with improved cold hardiness for Canada. The cultivars from this program, such as ‘Marshall’s Delight’ and Grand Marshall™ (‘AChall’) are still commonly sold today. Current breeding efforts from around the world typically focus on compact, disease-resistant selections with larger flowers. Mt. Cuba evaluated some of these new introductions in the trial, and still newer selections are continually being released. Today, people are increasingly aware that their landscapes provide not just beauty, but also a role in improving the environment. With the ability to support a multitude of different pollinators, Monarda is well positioned to capitalize on this growing trend and will continue to be a popular garden plant for years to come. Monarda is a member of the mint family, which is easily characterized by traits like square stems, opposite leaves, fragrant foliage, and a spreading habit. Monarda spreads primarily by underground stems called rhizomes. In spring, the nodes along each rhizome produce a small set of leaves that sit just on top of the ground and form a loose mat of foliage. As the weather warms, the plants grow taller, reaching several inches by late April. By midJune, the plants are typically at their maximum blooming height and will start to flower in a few short weeks. The first flowers open at the center of the flower head and radiate outward. Most Monarda have just one flower head at the tip of each stem; however, a few species have several flower heads stacked on top of one another. A single Monarda inflorescence is a group of many individual flowers that are joined at the base of the calyx, from which the colorful petals emerge. The bracts beneath the joined calyxes are often colorful, too. Inflorescences can measure 2-5" inches in diameter; however, most are 2-3" wide. The larger 4-5" flowers are only found on M. didyma and its cultivars, and are usually pollinated by hummingbirds, while the smaller flow-

M. citriodora stacked inflorescences

ers are pollinated by bees and other insects.The entire floral display typically lasts for three weeks. Many sources indicate Monarda can bloom all summer, although Mt. Cuba did not observe that in the evaluation. The one exception would be the annual species, Monarda citriodora. Once pollinated, small seeds develop inside the persistent calyx and can serve as a food source for birds in late summer and fall. As an herbaceous perennial, the top growth dies back at the end of each season. However, the rhizomes may continue to grow and any basal leaves that are produced at this time will probably persist through the winter months.

Planting and Care Tips

Monarda is best planted in a consistently moist soil that receives full sun to partial shade. In nature, Monarda fistulosa is often found in sunnier and drier habitats than M. didyma. However, it is not recommended to plant even M. fisutlosa in dry soils, since any additional stress will easily lead to powdery mildew and defoliation. Most bee balms available at garden centers are hybrids between these two species and typically prefer full sun to partial shade and moist, well-drained soil. Bee balm is sometimes described as aggressive, or even thuggish, in the gar-

den. Highly fertile soils will almost certainly lead to rambunctious Monarda, but competition with neighboring plants can help keep them in check. Additionally, not all bee balms are equal in their rate of spread. Monarda didyma is the most aggressive species, while others like Monarda fistulosa and Monarda bradburiana are moderate and slow spreaders, respectively. Since bee balm typically spreads via underground stems called rhizomes during the cool weather of early spring and fall, the best time to intervene with an expanding bee balm is spring, just before the stems start to elongate. A shovel can be used to sever the perimeter and prevent expansion. Because Monarda are shallow-rooted plants, they can easily be pulled once severed from the main part of the mass. Depending on how fast a bee balm spreads, it may have to be divided every 3-5 years. Without division, the center of the mass will start to die out, creating a donut-like shape. Monarda can be rejuventated by replacing the original plant with a sizeable mass from the healthy, actively growing portion. The best time for division is late summer or early fall.

Powdery Mildew

Powdery mildew is a common disease of bee balm and many other garden plants, and develops as a whitish-gray fuzz or haze on leaves and stems. This fungus is ubiquitous in the environment and requires only a susceptible host and proper weather conditions to develop. Powdery mildew usually first appears when the days are warm and the nights are cool. The cool nights provide the high humidity that favors spore germination (initiation of new infections) and warm days provide the low humidity that enables spore dispersal (spreading of existing infections). In our evaluation, the first signs of infection typically appeared in July as the plants started to flower. Flowering requires a significant amount of energy and resources, and this stress can make plants vulnerable to infection. It is therefore important to prevent/reduce infections by limiting the amount of stress a plant experiences. For MonarJANUARY 2017

WASHINGTON GARDENER

PLANTprofile

Monarda foliage with powdery mildew.

da, this might be accomplished by providing adequate water during its flowering period. Dividing older clumps every few years may also help to reinvigorate tired and stress-prone plants. If powdery mildew does become unsightly, some experts recommend cutting the plants back to promote a new flush of clean foliage. Mt. Cuba tested different iterations of this philosophy each year and received mixed results. Cutting the plants back to the ground after they finished blooming did not promote much new growth. However, this method was carried out during a particularly dry period, which may have reduced their potential to reflush. Mt. Cuba also tried simply deadheading spent flowers, but this did not have a significant impact compared to the control. The best results, although mild, were obtained from an intermediate approach of cutting the plants back by about half once they finished flowering. Although this did seem to promote an increase in new growth across most cultivars, it was not necessarily enough to make an appreciable difference. Unfortunately, this technique does little to help the plants with little-tono lower foliage, since these leafless stems are very resistant to developing new growth after pruning. If bothersome, these bare stems are best cut back to ground level.

Companion Plants

Monarda are wonderful companion plants for the perennial border, but some popular cultivars can be prone to disease and defoliation. Selecting disease-resistant cultivars, like many of the top performers in our trial, should 20

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be the first tactic used to avoid this problem. However, other design choices can also help—like choosing planting partners that will obscure or distract attention from any late season untidiness. Asters and goldenrods are excellent options for this strategy. Because these plants do tend to spread, it is important to plant them with strong, vigorous neighbors that can stand up to some encroachment. Tall perennials and grasses are excellent choices to maintain their ground against any bee balm. While their tendency to spread may seem like a negative attribute, it can also be their most useful from a design stand-point. Bee balm will truly excel in areas where a lot of space has to be covered or in naturalistic style plantings with other vigorous plants that can match their aggression equally.

Best Selections for the Mid-Atlantic Region

Over a period of three years (2014– 2016), Mt. Cuba Center evaluated the garden merits and ecological value of 40 different selections of Monarda, including seven species native to the eastern United States, as well as their hybrids. The plants were evaluated for floral display, powdery mildew resistance, habit, and vigor. The 10 cultivars selected as top performers are: M. fistulosa ‘Claire Grace,’ M. ‘Dark Ponticum,’ M. ‘Violet Queen,’ M. ‘AChall’ (Grand Marshall™), M. ‘Judith’s Fancy Fuchsia,’ M. ‘Colrain Red,’ M. ‘Raspberry Wine,’ M. ‘Purple Rooster,’ M. ‘On Parade,’ and M. ‘Gardenview Scarlet.’ While there is no bee balm that excels in all measures of the evaluation, these 10 cultivars represent the best selections for the Mid-Atlantic region. In addition to unmistakable beauty, bee balms provide pollen and nectar for numerous types of pollinators, including bees, wasps, moths, butterflies, and hummingbirds. In fact, few plants are as easy to grow that provide such immense rewards to gardeners and wildlife alike. o George Coombs is Mt. Cuba Center’s research horticulturist. Mt. Cuba Center is a botanical garden in Hockessin, DE. Mt. Cuba Center’s gardens are open to visitors. Visit www.mtcubacenter.org for details.

Monarda fistulosa ‘Claire Grace’ (pictured above) ranked highly in the Mt. Cuba trial due to its sturdy, upright habit and prolific floral display. The impressive flower coverage lasts for three straight weeks at nearly 100%. ‘Claire Grace’ is a naturally occurring selection of Monarda fistulosa. It was found by Barb and Michael Bridges, owners of the now-closed Southern Perennials and Herbs, and named for their daughter. Compared to M. fistulosa, ‘Claire Grace’ has a sturdier habit, darker purple flowers, better resistance to powdery mildew, and more attractive, glossy green foliage. Monarda ‘Gardenview Scarlet’ (pictured on the front cover of this issue) is the only true red-flowering cultivar to rate among the top performers. It has large, 4" wide, didyma-like flowers that are great for attracting hummingbirds. ‘Gardenview Scarlet’ shares this and many other traits in common with Monarda didyma ‘Jacob Cline.’ However at 36" tall, ‘Gardenview Scarlet’ is approximately 1' shorter and, in the trial, exhibited more consistent powdery mildew resistance.

PLANTprofile Monarda ‘AChall’ (pictured below) is one of the cultivars developed through the Canadian government’s breeding program and is sold under the trade name Grand Marshall™. Grand Marshall™ has gorgeous, deep-red-purple flowers, a compact habit (28" tall), and excellent resistance to powdery mildew. What really sets Grand Marshall™ apart from other compact cultivars is that its growth habit is still Monardalike, growing in a uniform mass that spreads slowly outward. Many of the newest compact selections are dwarfed to the point of looking artificial and out of place in the landscape. Grand Marshall™ has a habit that better lends itself to blending in with its neighbors in an attractive and natural way.

Monarda ‘Dark Ponticum’ (pictured above) stood out in the trial for its incredibly healthy-looking foliage. The dark, bluish-green leaves give the plant a very lush and attractive appearance throughout the entire season. Powdery mildew can occur on ‘Dark Ponticum,’ but it does not affect the actual health of the foliage. This is especially impressive in late August and September, when bee balm foliage is generally at its worst. ‘Dark Ponticum’ also excels with a floral display that blooms with near 100% flower coverage for three straight weeks. The vast multitude of violetpurple flowers attracts many bees, too. ‘Dark Ponticum’ outperforms a nearly identical cultivar called ‘Blaustrumpf’ (Blue Stocking), which is much more prone to powdery mildew.

Monarda ‘Violet Queen’ (pictured at left) is a prolific bloomer and, at least anecdotally, a favorite among the bees. The flower color is similar, though slightly lighter than ‘Dark Ponticum.’ ‘Violet Queen’ has short, silvery leaf hairs, which give the leaves a dull green appearance comparable to M. fistulosa. While the foliage of ‘Violet Queen’ and M. fistulosa does appear similar, they differ drastically with regard to disease resistance. ‘Violet Queen’ displayed excellent powdery mildew resistance, with only the faintest infections observed over the three-year period, while M. fistulosa was frequently plagued with disease.

Monarda ‘Judith’s Fancy Fuchsia,’ ‘Colrain Red,’ and ‘Raspberry Wine’ (pictured above) are all very similar in habit, flower color, and performance. The 44" to 48" tall plants bloom in early July with an abundance of large, purplish-red flowers. Floral production is identical among these three cultivars, each producing 80% flower coverage at peak bloom. Of the three, ‘Judith’s Fancy Fuchsia’ slightly edges out the other two thanks to its better disease resistance. It received a powdery mildew resistance rating of excellent, while ‘Colrain Red’ and ‘Raspberry Wine’ both were rated as fair. Taking all things into account, these three cultivars are each highly recommended and could be used interchangeably in the landscape. Monarda ‘Purple Rooster’ (pictured below) has the darkest, truest purple flowers of any cultivar in our trial. Its upright, rigid stems create a strongly vertical aesthetic while the dull green leaves have a rough, sand-papery texture. Because of these traits, ‘Purple Rooster’ does have a slightly different look compared to most of the other bee balms. However, the most impressive feature of ‘Purple Rooster’ is that powdery mildew was never observed on its foliage. This cultivar was selected by The Flower Factory in Stoughton, WI, and named by the owners David and Nancy Nedveck.

JANUARY 2017

WASHINGTON GARDENER

Naught� Nor�ay Maple

WEEDwatch

By Jacqueline Hyman

There are many different types of maple trees, and they are often used as ornamental plants because of their attractive leaves. However, the Norway maple (Acer platanoides) is an invasive maple tree that overpowers other native plants and trees. The tree is not native and was first introduced to the U.S. in 1756, marketed for its shade, hardiness, and adaptability to adverse conditions, according to Plant Invaders of Mid-Atlantic Natural Areas. The tree has been reported as invasive throughout northeastern U.S. and in the Pacific Northwest. The plant can grow up to 90 ft. with dark-green leaves. They then flower bright yellow-green in the spring, and the fruits mature in the summer. The Norway maple is invasive because “while native red maple or silver maple have to deal with specific insects and diseases that are pests, the Norway maple doesn’t, which means that it grows faster and creates more seeds than the native trees do, which means that they can’t compete,” said Todd Bolton, Takoma Park, MD, city arborist. 22

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Although other nonnative trees, such as Japanese maples, are planted in the area, the Norway maples grow much larger and are harder to remove. “Japanese maples are not as hardy, they don’t produce as many sprouts, and they don’t grow to full-size canopy,” Bolton said. Many trees are hybridized, Bolton said, to display the more desirable qualities. However, these trees reproduce with the original qualities of their parent plants. “‘Crimson King’ is a Norway maple variety that was hybridized so the leaves are red, like the color of a red Japanese maple except that they get full size, about 50 feet tall,” Bolton said. “So somebody buys a ‘Crimson King’ maple, because it looks good and doesn’t realize that actually it’s a Norway maple.” Bolton said the trees are not being sold as actively as in previous years, but are now coming from trees that were seeded out as early as 30 years ago. “The main problem now is that they’re growing wild,” Bolton said. “Many of those wild trees in the forests in backyards are now Norway maples.”

Bolton said that in Takoma Park, MD, people wanting to remove trees must replace them as part of receiving a permit. “Now, if there was a Norway maple growing in that same place and you were going to build a house,” Bolton said, “you would only have to make one-half of x replacements, because that tree is not as valuable in the ecosystem.” The tree is on the city’s list of undesirables because it grows faster and taller than other plants, draining the native plants’ resources. “They have become endemic and displaced many of our native plants,” Bolton said. o Jacqueline Hyman is a junior journalism and English major at the University of Maryland. She is the editor-in-chief of the Mitzpeh, an independent Jewish newspaper at UMD. She interned this past summer for Washington Gardener. Photo credit: Crimson King Norway Maple during autumn leaf coloration along Terrace Boulevard in Ewing, NJ. Photo by Famartin (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons.

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