Washington Gardener July 2016 by Kathy J

JULY 2016 VOL. 11 NO. 5

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WASHINGTON WAS W WASHINGTO ASHINGTO

ggardener

the magazine for gardening enthusiasts in the Mid-Atlantic region

When and How to Harvest Sweet Potatoes Your Monthly Garden Tasks To-do List DC’s Public Gardens via Public Transit Gain More “Legroom” in the Garden Local Gardening Events Calendar

Fabulous Flowering Tobacco

Growing a Cutting Garden in the Shade Meet Community Gardening Guru: Pat Lynch Summer Watering Tips Safer Gardening in Polluted Urban Soils

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.

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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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

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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.

JULY 2016

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Are you trying to reach thousands of gardeners in the greater DC region/Mid-Atlantic area? Washington Gardener Magazine goes out on the 15th of every month. Contact wgardenermag@aol.com or call 301.588-6894 for ad rates (starting from $200). The ad deadline is the 10th of each month. Please submit your ad directly to: wgardenermag@aol.com.

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FEATURES and COLUMNS

Nicotiana ‘Starmaker Appleblossom’ from Ball Seed attract bees and butterflies with their fragrant flowers. This variety is shade-tolerant, compact, and low-maintenance.

Valentine and Chelsea live with Cathy Jamieson and Fred Edwards in Arlington, VA. They are a few of the pets in gardens our readers recently shared with us. To submit your photos send an email to wgardenermag@aol. com with the subject line “Pets in Gardens.” Tell us a bit about the animals, yourself, and your garden as well.

The National Cathedral’s grounds are among the easier DC-area public gardens to reach via transit. Photo source: DCGardens.com.

BOOKreviews 17-19 Grow for Flavor; Following Wild Bees; Hand-built Outdoor Furniture; Garden Compendium DAYtrip 20-21 Accessing DC’s Public Gardens via Public Transit EDIBLEharvest 22 Sweet Potato Harvest Tips GARDENbasics 8 Cutting Gardens in Shade NEIGHBORnetwork 6-7 Pat Lynch, Montgomery Parks Community Garden Coordinator NEWPLANTspotlight 11 Celosia ‘Asian Garden’ PETgardens 16 Several Canines and Friends in Local Gardens PLANTprofile 14-15 Flowering Tobacco (Nicotiana) TIPStricks 10 Summer Lawn Watering Tips; Safer Gardening in Polluted Soils; Milkweed’s Many Benefits

DEPARTMENTS

ADVERTISINGindex BLOGlinks EDITORletter GARDENcontest LOCALevents MONTHLYtasklist NEXTissue RESOURCESsources

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ON THE COVER

Several varieties of Nicotiana grow in Jim Hughes’s garden in University Park, MD.

In our August 2016 issue: Best Baptisias for the Mid-Atlantic Region

Growing Peaches and much more...

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

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EDITORletter

Credits Kathy Jentz Editor/Publisher & Advertising Sales Washington Gardener 826 Philadelphia Ave. Silver Spring, MD 20910 Phone: 301-588-6894 wgardenermag@aol.com www.washingtongardener.com Call today to place your ad with us! Ruth E. Thaler-Carter Proofreader Jacqueline Hyman John Powers Interns Cover price: $4.99 Back issues: $6.00 Subscription: $20.00 Address corrections should be sent to the address above. Your editor at the recent Kenilworth Waterlily and Lotus Fest. Photo by John Powers.

Hot Enough for You? This summer has been hot and humid ,and the next few week’s look like there is no relief in sight. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining! Sure, I look like a wet rag in the photo above, after a day spent at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, but I much prefer the heat to the freezing temps, gray skies, and brown gardens of dreary DC winters. Give me sun over snow any day. Have you noticed that, at this time of year, the best parking spot is determined by shade instead of distance? Yet, electric utilities and homeowners keep chopping back (or out-right killing) all those wonderful shade-giving trees! The shady spots of your garden are the little pools of oasis for gardener and plants alike. I notice that even my “sun-loving” perennials like Obedient Plant start sending out underground stolons toward the shadows of nearby shrubs. Seriously, though, I’m among the 10% in our region that live without air-conditioning, so I’m acclimated to the heat. I still take lots of precautions and avoid anything strenuous outdoors on days of over 90 degrees or poor air-quality code. I was in my community garden a few weeks ago along with Pat Lynch, who is profiled in this issue. Some student documentary filmmakers had come by to take footage of the plants and talk to some of the gardeners. (I did a brief interview with them as well. The final product will be under five minutes long, so I doubt I’ll make the final cut, but it was fun to participate in it.) The heat was unbearable and one of the students was overcome by heat exhaustion. Thank goodness Pat had ice packs and cold water on hand for her. She is fine now, but that is a good warning to all of us to take extra precautions in this heat-wave season. Happy gardening and stay cool! Kathy Jentz, Editor/Publisher, Washington Gardener wgardenermag@aol.com

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• Washington Gardener Blog: www.washingtongardener.blogspot.com • Washington Gardener Archives: http://issuu.com/washingtongardener • Washington Gardener Discussion Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ WashingtonGardener/ • Washington Gardener Twitter Feed: www.twitter.com/WDCGardener • Washington Gardener is a womanowned business. We are proud to be members of: · Garden Writers Association · Think Local First DC · DC Web Women · Green America Magazine Leaders Network · Green America Business Network To order reprints, contact Wright’s Reprints at 877.652.5295, ext. 138. Volume 11, Number 5 ISSN 1555-8959 © 2016 Washington Gardener All rights reserved. Published quarterly. No material may be reproduced without prior written permission. This magazine is purchased by the buyer with the understanding that the information presented is from various sources from which there can be no warranty or responsibility by the publisher as to legality, completeness, or technical accuracy. All uncredited photos in this issue are © Kathy Jentz.

READERcontt

Caption Contest

We asked our Facebook page followers to caption this photo. Below are the winning responses. How would you caption write a caption for this bee-themed street planting on Connecticut Avenue in NW Washington, DC? Look for more caption contests at the Facebook.com/WashingtonGardenerMagazine page.

Winning Captions: “Once again, Steve took things too literally when he attempted a knot garden.” ~ Julie Blackwell “Busy businesspersons ignore busy bees on busy thoroughfare.” ~ Allie Benson “Once again, roped into feeding the bees....” ~ Alison Gillespie “They’re making a bee-line to this garden!” ~ Rosanne Hull “Keep out; there’s a huge, tidy spider in here.” ~ David Hobson

Reader Contest

For our July 2016 Washington Gardener Magazine Reader Contest, Washington Gardener is giving away two pounds each of the new Natural Start by GreenView All Purpose Plant Food and Natural Start by GreenView Tomato, Vegetable & Herb Food (an $18 value). Natural products are from GreenView (www. GreenViewFertilizer.com.)

To enter to win the set of both fertilizers, send an email to WashingtonGardener@rcn.com by 5pm on Friday, July 29, with “Natural Start” in the subject line and in the body of the email tell us which was your favorite article in this issue and why. Please also include your full name and mailing address. The winner will be announced and notified by August 1. JULY 2016

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NEIGHBORnwork

Pat Lynch: Community Garden Coordinator for Montgomery Parks

by John Powers I recently met with Pat Lynch at the Fenton Urban Garden, which is under her jurisdiction as the community garden coordinator for Montgomery Parks. When I first entered the fenced-in green space, I was met with a hearty smile and a firm handshake, as Lynch introduced herself. We sat down at a picnic table so we could keep the tranquility of the garden around us as we spoke. The conversation felt more like a friendly chat than an interview, although I had never met Lynch before that day. Tell me about yourself and your gardening experience. “I’m originally from Long Island, NY. I’ve been in this area at least 35 years. My parents were both city dwellers in apartments and, before I was born, they moved out to Long Island. In the suburbs, you’re supposed to have grass and trees and flowers, and somehow or other, it ended up my job early on. I learned a few things from my mother and I was experimenting on my own. “I always tried to garden in some way. Sometimes it was just a pot on a window in graduate school because that’s 6

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all there was time for. I had little gardens on patios and on balconies, or just houseplants, but plants have always been a part of my life. When I worked at the NIH (National Institutes of Health), they nicknamed me ‘plant protective services,’ because I would intervene and say, ‘Water that please, now.’” How did you end up in your current position? Was that a natural transition from your work at NIH? “My training is in health education. I’m a public health person and I worked in communications offices. I retired from the federal government in 2008, and one of the smarter things I ever did was apply to the Master Gardener Program. In Montgomery County, MD, those classes start toward the end of January. I retired in early January, did a little closet cleaning, decided this was no job for a grown woman, and then started taking the Master Gardener classes, which was a wonderful transition. I had always been interested in the program, but I couldn’t do it while I was working. I met lots of new folks and got to study new things and volunteer in different gardens.

“I was doing that for a while and I tried to help the person who had my job before me, because this is a part-time position but it’s a huge job. We were trying to get Master Gardeners to be consultants for community gardens, sometimes more successfully than others. “When Ursula Sabia-Sukinik, who started the Community Gardening Program for Montgomery Parks, retired, I applied for the job; that was five years ago and here I am today. It was probably a more natural transition from my Master Gardener training, though the public health training comes in handy because I’m a fiend about standing water. Gardening with mosquitoes is no fun nor the diseases they can cause.” Does your position focus on finding land for more plots, or is it more garden maintenance? “It’s a little bit of both. This program is extremely popular. I’m about to open garden number 12 in Germantown. In the early days, it was looking for spaces on park land. Not everybody wanted a community garden in the beginning. Some areas wanted a community garden. Other areas were not as enthusiastic. The first garden was in Takoma Park, and the others came afterward. Finding land for community gardens is a challenge. Parks serve many different needs and communities, so I don’t think anyone says ‘Wow, community gardens, what a bad idea,’ but maybe they’d rather have a playground, tennis courts, a dog park, or a skate park. “There are a lot of competing goods, shall we say. We’re trying to figure out what best meets the needs of the community. Most of the gardens are downcounty, but there is a huge need upcounty. A lot of the upper county is on well water, and we water our gardens with fire hydrants. Green space is a little hard to come by. We actually have a garden that is land is subleased from a property manager who rents out most of the space for a 7-11. That’s 27 more plots. We try to be creative and figure out where we can do things. Right now, one of the limitations is that this is a part-time job. This program started on a shoestring, but now we’re hoping to hire a full-time coordinator. This program needs more hours than I have.”

NEIGHBORnwork How do you keep track of all the different plots? “I make time for garden inspections. I would rather have more time for garden teaching than (deal with) administrative issues, but I walk around with my camera and make sure people are doing what they agreed to do, like weeding their plots, or avoiding standing water. “We have so many rules, it’s scary. When I started, I thought, ‘I should be able to cut down the number of rules.’ No. It turned out the rules have been focused on specific gardening issues that we’ve encountered. With all our technology, sitting down and carefully reading the rules before they sign the rental agreement is not something many people do.” What specifically about your job makes you feel the most satisfied? “When your training is in health, the idea that you can provide and support and place where people can grow their own food and can learn more about what it takes to learn more about food means people are eating in a healthier way. They are feeding their children in a healthier way. It’s an opportunity to get outside and exercise. Most people when they started said they wanted to know where their food came from. As time passes, people say it is a much better family activity. The data says children who grow food are more likely to try different foods and eat vegetables, which is pretty compelling for me. Also, we have gardeners from all over the world: Asia, all across Africa, all over the United States. I get to meet these people and I get to see what is important for all these different cultures. To be able to grow something from where your family came from is beautiful.” What is special about having a garden in an urban area? “When people are gardening, they tend to stop noticing the traffic. You’re concentrating on what you’re doing, but you often have passersby complimenting the plots. There’s a little bit of sanctuary that takes over. This is where people live, and the closer a garden space is to where people live, the more likely it is to be successful. People can come and pick their dinner. Lots of people can walk to this garden—that’s a huge

advantage—and the neighborhood is just more open. It’s where gardens are needed. People often ask, “Oh, you can grow that in the city?” Well, yeah. We try to arrange harvest days, so if there’s excess produce, it can go to people who are hungry. In Montgomery County, the estimate is that around one-third of the kids in public schools are eligible for free or reduced lunch. That means there isn’t a lot of good food available for them. “Mostly, I want to see that there isn’t produce from these gardens going to waste and that it goes to your co-workers, family, or friends. One year, we had a man who dropped his wife off at the Metro every day and left a box out for extra produce. He would take it to Shepherd’s Table every day on his way back home. It was picked up almost every day. This is a relatively inexpensive gardening program. All of the soup kitchens and all of the (food) pantries will tell you that what they don’t have is fresh fruits and vegetables, so it’s great to share with them.” Once we were finished, Lynch walked me around the garden, pointing out the various do’s and don’ts of community gardening, making a point to show me

plots overgrown with weeds, but also plots that were filled with plant life, in the form of vegetables, herbs, and flowers alike. As I was leaving, her real work began. She had to check each plot to verify that the gardeners were following the regulations set forth by Montgomery Parks. If not, a stern, but friendly, reminder email would soon be coming their way. Lynch’s work allows for the gardening program in Montgomery County, MD, to operate smoothly, and she is excited to share the opportunity to have a plot with everyone she has space for. Read more about the program at http://www. montgomeryparks.org/permits/find/ community_gardens_program.shtm. o John Powers is a rising senior multi-platform journalism major and environmental economics and policy minor at the University of Maryland. He has worked as a staff writer for “Stories Beneath the Shell,” an online publication at UMD, and currently works on the copy desk of The Diamondback, the university’s official newspaper. He has spent a summer working as a farmhand back in his home state of Massachusetts. He is an intern with Washington Gardener Magazine this summer.

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. JULY 2016

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Growing a Cutting Garden in the Shade by Kathy Jentz

Previously in this magazine, we have shared how to grow your own cutting garden. However, many folks inside the Beltway and in older neighborhoods lack full sun for their yards, so much of the traditional cutting garden selections are out of the question. Here is a listing of seven flowering plants that you can grow successfully in shade or partshade that are great for cutting. • Hydrangea From mophead to oakleaf, hydrangeas of all kinds will flower prolifically in the shade and are wonderful, long-lasting cut flowers. • Black-eyed Susan This sun-loving perennial sneaks off and seeds itself in shady spots in my garden and still blooms away. The more you cut it, the more it will re-bloom for you, so be sure to gather the flowers early and often. • Hellebore (Lenten Rose) Lenten Rose is a very popular cut flower 8

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in Europe and should be used more here, where it grows so well. The flowers on this hardy plant are perfect when cut and floated in a bowl of water. I have had them last that way for more than a month. • Astilbe This plant loves moist shade and has a long bloom period. Even after the flowers have dried on the stems, they look good and can be used in arrangements. Some people even use floral dye spray on them for a colorful effect. • Lady’s Mantle This lovely plant is a great shade groundcover and the airy branches of flowers it sends up are terrific when gathered in bouquets. The blooms can be background for more delicate ones. • Hosta We grow hosta for its foliage, but the flowers can be equally as rewarding. The old-fashioned Plantain Lily variety, in particular, is a great cut bloom with

its tall wands of white flowers in late summer that give off an intoxicating fragrance, • Toadlily This autumn bloomer is a show-stopper. It has orchid-like blossoms on tall stems and is perfect in a bud vase or mixed with other fall flowers. Of course, you can always supplement your cutting garden arrangements with flowers, grasses, and branches cut from other plants in your gardens. Try Ferns, Caladiums, and Solomon’s Seal—all offer dramatic foliage that can be added to a bouquet or be used in a vase on their own. o Kathy is working her way through her own long garden to-do list, including adding a new bed to grow more flowers from seed for cutting this year. She is the editor of Washington Gardener Magazine and a long-time DC-area gardening enthusiast.

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TIPStricks Compiled by Jacqueline Hyman

5 Watering Tips for Summer Lawncare

With summer in full swing, it’s time to think about reducing water use while maintaining a beautiful lawn. Grass Seed USA, a national coalition of grass seed farmers and academic turf specialists, offers five water management tips that will keep your lawn healthy. 1. Don’t overwater “The most common mistake people make is to excessively water their lawn. However, your lawn only needs to be watered once or twice a week during the summer months,” said Grass Seed USA executive director Bryan Ostlund. “When done correctly, cutting back on irrigation can actually strengthen your lawn.” Fewer, longer waterings encourage roots to grow deeper, strengthening the lawn against drought. Overwatering can lead to over-saturation of the lawn. 2. Go inch-by-inch The absence of rainfall in the latter half of the summer means you will need to apply about one to two inches of water per week to maintain a healthy yard. 3. Be cool Always water your turf during the cooler hours of the day, either early morning or evening. Watering during the heat of the day allows water to evaporate before reaching the roots. 4. High times Set your mower to cut grass at a higher level. Keeping grass between two and three inches in the summer can reduce water evaporation by providing shade to the roots and soil. 5. Wake up and smell the routine Whatever watering routine you choose, stick with it. Grass does best with a consistent watering schedule, and changing a watering pattern can stunt your turf’s growth. Source: Grass Seed USA is a national coalition of grass seed farmers and academic turf specialists experienced in studying, growing, and harvesting grass and grass seed. The coalition seeks to inform and educate residential and commercial customers about the benefits of grass and best practices for growing and maintaining healthy turf. For more information, visit www. weseedamerica.com. o 10

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Safer Gardening in a Polluted Paradise

The proximity of pocket soils in urban gardening to pollution and industry can increase levels of harmful compounds, but some scientists have found that the risks associated with gardening in these soils are not too high. Researchers at Kansas State University studied how vegetables absorb soil contaminants and which gardening practices best reduce this uptake. The researchers grew tomatoes, collard greens, and carrots in the soils. They studied arsenic and compounds called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which are potentially cancer-causing. The group found low levels of the contaminants in almost all of the vegetables grown in the soils. However, root crops, such as carrots, take up levels of lead at or slightly above the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization and World Health Organization’s joint safety standards. KSU scientist Ganga Hettiarachchi said these results should not keep people from planting urban gardens. “It’s important to know how these safety levels are calculated,” she said. “A person isn’t going to be eating those carrots for every meal, 365 days a year.” As a precaution, she said, concerned gardeners can grow carrots in containers filled with clean soil. Lead gets into soil through leaded gasoline and lead-based paint use. Arsenic can get into soil from arsenicbased pesticides and wood preservatives. Burning fossil fuels and creosote can cause buildup of hydrocarbons. “To those worried about possible soil contamination, we say to get your soil tested and avoid directly ingesting it,” Hettiarachchi said. Researchers also tested different cleaning methods on the vegetables. “Soap isn’t even really necessary if you wash all of the visible soil off with water in your kitchen,” Hettiarachchi said. They also found that adding compost or clean soil to soil in urban gardens could lower levels of contaminants. Hettiarachchi and her colleagues’ work is published in the Journal of Environmental Quality and funded by the Environmental Protection Agency. o

One Milkweed Plant = Vast Food Web

Helping pollinators adds benefits that extend to your garden’s entire ecosystem. This all promotes a healthier garden with a balance of good bugs and bad. To attract pollinators, “aim for at least three plants blooming per season,” wrote Rhonda Fleming Hayes, Minneapolis horticulturist and author, in an email. Hayes suggests using a variety of colors and shapes to attract numerous species. Among the suggested plants is milkweed, which attracts many pollinators and beneficial insects. Additionally, it is important because “it is the only host plant that monarch butterfly larvae can eat,” Hayes wrote. Hayes said milkweed is adaptable and hardy, but different varieties of the plant suit certain situations. Common milkweed, she said, is better for a bigger property because it spreads, while butterflyweed is better for perennial borders and small spaces. “People who are anxious about it spreading too much can simply snip off the flowers once they are done blooming (and) before seeds set,” wrote Hayes. Numerous insects, such as honeybees and wild bees, butterflies, ladybugs, lacewings, spiders, and dragonflies, feed either directly from the nectar of the milkweed plant or indirectly on the insects that the plant attracts. Birds and frogs feed on these insects as well. Many plants other than milkweed attract pollinators, such as Virginia bluebells, salvia, and native sunflowers. However, Hayes believes that milkweed is a “great start” because of its popularity with so many insect species. “You will be surprised and delighted at all the wonderful creatures buzzing and fluttering around,” Hayes wrote. “A garden without insects is boring; bring on the bugs!” o Jacqueline Hyman is a junior journalism and English major at the University of Maryland. She is the editor-in-chief of the Mitzpeh, an independent Jewish newspaper at UMD. In addition, Jacqueline enjoys musical theater, and teaches piano and voice at Guitar Center. She is excited to be interning this summer for the Washington Gardener.

GARDENnews

Quick Links to Recent Washington Gardener Blog Posts

• Sunflower Fields at McKee-Beshers WMA • Invasive Species Spotlight: English Ivy • Smithsonian’s Pollinator Garden • Golden Streets of DC See more Washington Gardener blog posts at: WashingtonGardener.Blogspot.com o

July-August Garden To-Do List New Plant Spotlight Celosia ‘Asian Garden’ 2017 AAS Flower Award Winner

This spiked beauty claimed victory in North America’s trial sites to become the first ever All-America Selections (AAS) Winner from Japanese breeding company Murakami Seed. The judges gave this entry high marks in the greenhouse for its good branching, almost bushy growth habit, and early-to-bloom flower spikes. In the garden, ‘Asian Garden’ celosia continued to bloom on sturdy stems, keeping the bright-pink color all summer long, holding up even through some of the first frosts of the season. The AAS Judges commented on the fact that this celosia was a pollinator-magnet, making this AAS Winner a sure bet for pollinator-friendly gardens.

Plant Characteristics

Type: Annual Hardy to Zone: Zone 9 Light Needs: Full sun Water Needs: Dry to Normal Dead Heading Recommended: No Staking Required: No Foliage Color: Dark green Plant Habit: Upright Plant Height: Tall; over 24" Garden Spacing: 12–15 inches Bloom Time: Late Spring, Summer to Frost Bloom Color: Rose Bloom Color Pattern: Solid Bloom Size: Diameter 0.6 inches, length 1.5 inches Fragrance: None Weather Tolerance: Drought, Heat Pollinator Friendly: All Tip: Be careful not to let roots dry out until the plants are established. o

• The heat of summer is here. Time to start doing chores during early morning or evening. Take a break during the hottest parts of the day. • Prune Wisteria. •If your pond water gets low from prolonged drought, top it off with tap water and add a dechlorinator according to package instructions. • Cut back spent stalks on common daylilies. • Pinch back any annuals that may be growing leggy. • Divide and cut back bearded iris. • Check your pond pump for any debris — clean it out every few weeks. • Weed. • Cut off bottom, yellowed foliage on tomato plants. • Stake and tie-up any tall-growing perennials such as phlox or delphiniums. • Wash out birdbaths weekly with diluted bleach solution. • Water thoroughly, especially if you receive no rain for more than seven days. • Take cuttings from azaleas, boxwoods, and camellias to start new plants. • Check your local garden center for mid-summer bargains. • Hand-pick Japanese Beetles or shake them off over a bucket of dishwater. Early morning is a good time to catch them, while they are still drowsy. • Re-pot the houseplants you’ve moved outdoors for the summer. • Pick blueberries at a local pick-your-own farm or visit a local farmer’s market. • Pinch back any straying strawberry runners. • Deadhead perennials for a second flush of blooms later this summer. • Thin out small trees and cut off any suckering branches growing from the bottom root ball. • Inspect your garden for powdery mildew. If seen, prune back perennials to create needed circulation. • Annuals are now hitting their peak. Keep them well-watered and add a little liquid fertilizer every few weeks to keep them going through September. • Check your plants at night with a flashlight for any night-feeding insects like slugs. • If you find slug damage, set out beer traps or Sluggo pellets. • Pinch back mums so they grow bushier and won’t flower until autumn. • Hold off on planting new trees and shrubs until the summer heat has passed. • Caulk and seal your outside walls to prevent insect entry into your home. • Harvest regularly from your vegetable garden to prevent rot and waste. • Put up a hammock or a garden bench for enjoying your views. • Turn compost pile. • Check out gardening books from your local library to read on vacation. • Check for any stagnant-water mosquito breeding grounds, especially your gutters. Dump out any water that sits stagnant for more than three days. • Add Mosquito Dunks to any standing water in your yard, such as birdbaths, downspouts, plant saucers, and gutters. • Gather roses to enjoy indoors—be sure to make the cut just above a five-leaf unit. • Harvest onions when tops die back. • Sow seeds of fall crops such as broccoli, turnips, cauliflower, etc., in late July. o JULY 2016

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TOP AREA GARDENING EVENTS DC-Area Gardening Calendar ~ Upcoming Events ~ July 20–August 20, 2016 • Thursday, July 21, 11—11:45am Tour: Exploring the Tropics Join Angela Weber Hetrick, US Botanic Gardens staff, for a talk and walk on the “wild side” as you explore the Tropics in the USBG Conservatory. Discover some of the many plants found on our diverse planet, from the Amazon Rainforest to the Yucatan Peninsula, as you trek through our canopy walk and view some spectacular bloomers. Come for a 45-minute tour and learn about a new plant or two. Tour meets in the Conservatory Garden Court. FREE: Pre-registration required at www.usbg.gov. • Thursday, July 21, 6:30–8pm Garden Book Club Discuss “Planting in a Post-Wild World” with Washington Gardener Book Club For our Garden Book Club Summer 2016 Meeting, we will be discussing Planting in a Post-Wild World: Designing Plant Communities for Resilient Landscapes by Thomas Rainer and Claudia West. Meet at Soupergirl, right next to the Takoma Metro stop. Free and open to all. • Saturday, July 23 and Sunday, July 24 2016 Farm Tour and Harvest Sale Montgomery County, MD, celebrates its agricultural heritage by promoting local farms, and inviting our residents to indulge in seasonally fresh food during the 27th Annual Farm Tour and Harvest as well as throughout the entire growing season. Many of the farms that participated in the annual farm tour are open throughout the growing season. Go to http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/AgServices/agfarmtour.html to download a brochure as a guide to use to visit Montgomery County Farm’s throughout the growing season. • Saturday, July 23, 1–3pm Rooftop Farm and Garden Workshop Series at H St. Farms Learn the basics of gardening in an interactive workshop with a few drinks and friends. For this meetup, you’ll be learning all about tomatoes, which is way more fun over a couple of Bloody Marys. Each ticket comes with two drinks, a plant to take home, and a 12

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gardening lesson. You will harvest fresh tomatoes from the rooftop plants and learn how to make Bloody Marys like a pro. 21 and up. Please remember to bring your ID; no exceptions. H St. Farms is the rooftop of W.S. Jenks and Son at 910 Bladensburg Rd. NE DC. Register: https://www.eventbrite. com/e/drinks-and-dirt-urban-farming-and-handcrafted-cocktails-tickets26307431235. • Saturday, July 23, 5–7pm Lotus Jazz Night Enjoy the lotus blooms in the evening hours and enchanting sounds of DC native Akua Allrich and her 6-tet jazz band. Bring a blanket, picnic, and your favorite people to Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, 1212 Quincy St. NW, WDC. Free, no reservations needed. See www. friendsofkenilworthgardens.org. •Saturday, June 25, 11am–1pm Garden Party Potluck Washington Youth Garden’s second event commemorating their 45th anniversary is celebrating the garden in the garden itself. For more information on what to bring, visit their web page at www.washingtonyouthgarden.org. •Tuesday, August 2 and 9, 12:45pm Thursday, August 4 and 11, 12:45pm Friday, August 5 and 12, 12:45pm Hillwood Gardener’s Focus: Japanesestyle Garden Join Frances Vandenbroucke, Hillwood gardener, for a behind-the-scenes look at the intricately manicured, yet “naturally wild” Japanese-style garden. Note: This tour is limited to 10. Tickets are distributed at the Visitor Center upon opening each day. A limited number of tickets may be pre-reserved by Hillwood members. Tour price included in suggested donation. Hillwood is at 4155 Linnean Avenue NW, Washington, DC. Details at www.HillwoodMuseum.org. • Saturday, July 30, 10am Arboretum Crapemyrtle Talk and Tour Hot hot summer heat can’t keep the crapemyrtles down. Join U.S. National Arboretum staff for a talk on the arboretum’s successful breeding program,

then enjoy a tour to see more than 30 varieties of mature trees in peak bloom. Tour leader and USNA horticulturist George Waters says this is the summer to see the blooms as 2016’s rainfall makes for beautiful colors. Register at crapemyrtletour.brownpapertickets.com. • Saturday, August 6, 9am—3pm National Capital Daylily Club Sale at Maryland Farm Bureau Most daylilies will be sold as bareroot double fans for $5. Newer and potted daylilies will be slightly more. Auction at 12noon of club plants. Bid on new and unusual daylilies grown by club members at the auction inside the airconditioned building. For more information, contact Faith and Jerry Bange at 410-798-9207 or GeraldBange@aol. com. Maryland Farm Bureau is at 3358 Davidsonville Road, Davidsonville, MD. • Saturday, August 6, 9am-1pm (some programs start earlier/later). University of Maryland, Montgomery County Grow It Eat It Open House Celebrating the year of the tomato with an amazing line-up of speakers, demonstrations, children’s programs, garden projects, plant advice, tomato tasting, and inspiration. Stroll through the garden and get ideas of what to plant at home. Bring your plant and tomato problems to our two plant clinics. Don’t forget to bring your tomatoes for the tomato tasting. There will be prizes for the prettiest, ugliest, and tastiest tomatoes. Come purchase plants from vendors, including Chesapeake Natives, garden products, Fall vegetable plants, local honey and honey products, rain barrels, local pottery, and products for caring for chickens. Grab your picnic blanket, bring your lunch (or purchase one from us at the event). The event is free and does not require registration unless otherwise noted. Agricultural History Farm Park, 18400 Muncaster Rd, Derwood, MD. Details and schedule at https://extension.umd.edu/growit. • Sunday, August 7, 2:00–3:30pm 10th annual Washington Gardener Photo Contest Opening Reception All 17 stunning photos were taken in

TOP AREA GARDENING EVENTS DC-Area Gardening Calendar ~ Upcoming Events ~ July 20–August 20, 2016 DC-area gardens. Both inspirational and educational, this show represents the best of garden photography in the greater DC metropolitan region. The photo show reception is at the Meadowlark Botanical Gardens in Vienna, VA. The opening reception is at the Visitor Center’s lobby. It is open to the public and is free to attend. You may also come by and view the photos any time during the normal Visitor Center hours (10am–7pm daily). The photo show runs through September 21. • Saturday, August 13, 10:30am–12n Fall & Winter Vegetable Gardening: Extending Your Harvest Join us for a session on fall gardening: what to plant when and simple tips for success at the Burke Branch Library, 4701 Seminary Rd., Alexandria, VA. Think healthful greens like kale, collards, bok choy, and a wealth of lettuces. Fall is a delightful time to garden, with cool autumn days and waning pest populations. Learn inexpensive techniques to extend your harvest and even how you can enjoy some of your crops in the dead of winter. Also covered will be end-of-season clean up, putting your garden to bed, and tool care to give you a head start for next spring. Advance registration requested at mgnv.org. Questions, 703-228-6414 or email mgarlalex@gmail.com.

to pick is the tastiest. Join Washington Gardener Magazine at the FreshFarm Market in downtown Silver Spring, MD, on Saturday, August 27, from 10am– 12noon for a tomato tasting. Best of all, this event is FREE! Farmers at the market will contribute their locally grown selections — from super-sweet ‘Sungold’ to not-so-pretty ‘Cherokee Purple’ — and we’ll explore which tomatoes make the short list of favorites. We’ll have tomato gardening tips, tomato recipes, tomato activities for kids, and much more. All to celebrate one of summer’s greatest indulgences — the juicy fresh tomato. Tip: Your tomato taste voting ballot is also your entry in our prize drawing for a basket full of gardening goodies. The drawing is at 12noon, so be sure to fully fill out your ballot by 11:45am and then stick around for the prize announcement, since you must be present to win.

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

Still More Event Listings

See even more event listings on the Washington Gardener Yahoo discussion list. Join the list at http://groups.yahoo. com/group/WashingtonGardener/. Events are also posted on the Twitter feed (@wdcgardener) and Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ WashingtonGardenerMagazine.

How to Submit Local Garden Events

To submit an event for this listing, contact: Wgardenermag@aol.com—put “Event” in the subject line. Our next deadline is August 10 for the July issue (due out about August 15), listing events taking place from August 20–September 15. o

• Saturday, August 13, 3pm Garden Tour and Ice Cream Social Stroll Green Spring Gardens vibrant summer gardens with a master gardener docent. Then come into the Historic House for an ice cream social, a traditional gathering dating back to the 18th century. Enjoy a variety of delicious ices, served with toppings, garnishes and a touch of nostalgia. Fee: $14. Register at http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/ greenspring/ed-adult.htm.

Where to Buy Plants Where to Connect

Save These Future Dates:

Local Garden Media Where to Volunteer

• Washington Gardener Magazine’s 9th Annual Tomato Tasting It’s ‘Big Boy’ vs. ‘Mortgage Lifter,’ hybrid vs. heirloom, the tomato wars have just begun. Everyone is sure that their toma-

Youth Gardens

Where to Find Designers

Tours and Events

Where to Learn to Garden

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

JULY 2016

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PLANTprofile

Flowering Tobacco

By Judith Mensh

of about seven colors. This past spring saw the local availability of the new Starmaker series in white, pink, lime, and bi-color. It was developed by the Ball Horticultural Group.

First, a Few Warnings

As members of the nightshade family (Solanaceae), all Nicotiana contain toxic alkaloids, specifically the poison nicotine, in varying degrees. Although nicotiana leaves were traditionally used to make a tea to spray on aphids, we realize now that nicotine is poisonous to beneficials as well. Try the strong jet of water technique instead. This is not a plant for use around children and pets; even the modern hybrids contain some poisonous nicotine. Wear gloves when handling nicotiana, as any skin contact can cause irritation. This is also not a kitchen garden plant—more like a witch’s garden plant, attracting nighttime pollinators, that in turn attract nocturnal insectivores such as bats, which also eat mosquitoes. Do not plant near other members of the nightshade family—definitely not the edible ones, nor in containers reachable by children, cats, or dogs. Also, be aware of the tobacco mosaic virus, which causes leaves to yellow and new growth to be distorted. Remove and destroy any infected plants. This is not considered an issue for ornamental nicotiana, but it can be carried by it to other members of the family.

History and Uses Cruising among the ocean of begonias, geraniums, lantana, marigolds, pentas, petunias, portulaca, salvia, and vinca, at the garden center, we are surrounded by colorful summer annuals, the stalwarts of our hot, sunny, and humid summers, all dependably available through most of the summer; even after Independence Day, the traditional end of the annuals planting season. Early in the spring season, after the last frost, look for flats of flowering tobacco (Nicotiana spp.). They make a fleeting appearance in the annuals section, then disappear until next spring. These five-petaled, star-shaped flowers on the end of a tube are easy to overlook on the retailers’ tables. Pretty little flowers—in whites, limes, 14

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reds, pinks, and purples—they are easily out-competed for attention by their loud cousins, the petunias (also nightshades of South American origin). One local garden center manager tells me that he asks the growers every year for the old-fashioned heirloom nicotiana—the tall, fragrant, night-blooming classics—and is told, “No, not available, too difficult to truck without stems breaking.” Whether short and stout or tall and gangly, Nicotiana spp. is sadly not used much today. Yet, it can be a welcome addition in many gardens. The available cultivars work well as bedding plants. These 20th-century hybrids are short (12-18"), compact, self-cleaning, and open during the day, in a palette

Named by Linnaeus after Jean Nicot of France, who introduced tobacco to Europe in the 16th century, Nicotiana comes to us from Brazil, Argentina, and Bolivia. Flowering tobacco is not to be confused with smoking, medicinal, and sacred tobacco—Nicotiana tabacum and N. rustica. By the way, smoking tobacco is among the oldest of the human/plant connections. The jasmine-scented flowers of the ornamental nicotiana came into the American and European garden in the 19th-century, during a period of botanical exploration of the southern hemisphere. Historically, flowering tobacco is associated with fragrance, particularly night-time fragrance. The species Nicotiana alata, from

PLANTprofile which most hybrids arise, is a delightful plant, beckoning us to the garden late in the day. In Victorian times, windows stayed open at night and fragrances could waft through the house. Fragrant plants were planted by the windows and walkways, and walking in the moonlight was preferred to exposure to the sun. The presence of nicotine in the roots, leaves, and nectar of this genus has protected the plant from herbivores and many pollinators as well. The night time moth, Mantuca sexta, called the hummingbird moth, evolved an adaptation allowing it to metabolize the poison, and benefit from the plentiful nectar. The flower colors are adapted to specific pollinators as well. The red ones are not scented because they are only to be seen by hummingbirds, while the pale colors and whites are highly scented, to lure their special pollinators, the moths, to seek their nectar. Thank you, South America, for your fecund selection of plants that have benefited our lives over many generations, including—along with nicotiana— cosmos, zinnia, verbena, calibachoa, and nemesia.

well with cleome, cosmos, other tubular flowers like the native honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens), and night-time bloomers such as moonflower (Ipomoea alba), and four o’clocks.

species and hybrid, to inspire you, with names like ‘Avalon Bright Pink’ and ‘Baby Bella Antique Red.’ N. alata is the best-known species of flowering tobacco as garden plants. Beyond N. alata, other species names to look out for are N. langsdorfii, N. mutabilis, and N. sylvestris. N. sylvestris—‘Only the Lonely’—is a definite must-try plant for the adventurous. If you prefer started seedlings, purchase them early in the spring season and purchase many. You won’t see them again on the garden center tables until next year. Plant abundantly and expect occasional unpredictable loss—a beautiful plant suddenly sags and turns brown and dry, the root system compromised. Growing Nicotiana species supports our pollinators. Perhaps it is not the easiest summer flower to maintain, but remember that it’s more than just a pretty face, it Nicotiana ‘Starmaker Rose Morn’ from BallSeed. contains nectar, which attracts the moths, which attract the bats that eat Sources and Cultivars the moths (so they don’t get a chance Nicotiana became the object of hybridto turn into tobacco hornworms), and izers in the 20th-century. Fragrance also the mosquitoes (ideally Zika ones). was lost as convenience factors were Support our pollinators. Connect to gained. Please consider the wide range the past. Connect the past to the presof choices beyond the local garden cenent. Grow heirloom plants from seed; Growing Tips ter, choices for the most part available design garden areas best enjoyed in Nicotiana is best established early in in the form of seeds, and from heritage the evenings sans electric lights; try the season, while there is still some seed companies. Baker Creek and JL the soft, stored sunlight of solar lamps. cool air. Yes, full sun tolerance is in its Hudson, both on the Internet, come to Sitting outside in the evening is not the DNA, but in our area, it benefits from mind. Keeping the old, pre-20th-century common pastime it once was; most of afternoon shade or even light shade all varieties available requires gardening us are plugged into our temperatureday. Rich soil and consistent moisture that goes beyond the low-maintenance, controlled space, quite content with our is ideal. Nicotiana has fuzzy leaves, tried-and-true mantra, and requires the media of choice filling the evening. sometimes sticky, and sometimes sowing of seeds and the staking of tall Vespertine fragrance, stronger at attractive to the usual garden creatures plants. night, connects us back through the and pests. When first planted, it is best This is a good opportunity to delve ages and forward into the cosmos to water it regularly until it is well-estabinto one heirloom flower graced with as well. Stop and smell the flowering lished. beauty and fragrance or to introduce tobacco. o As with most annuals, for best effect, yourself to the world of heirloom seeds Judith Mensh is a local horticultural consulnicotiana should be planted in groups. and growing from seed. tant. She is available to walk your yard with Hiding their foliage, which can get Nicotiana offers the bonus joy of you and identify plants and possibilities. ragged, is key. being a self-sower, which is a simple She can be reached via email at Species nicotiana are tall plants, so way for it to become a permanent JudithMenshNurtureNature@gmail.com. they need space and staking, and look member of your garden family. Just let best at night or when foliage is hidthe flowers go to seed and don’t mulch Your Ad Here den and only the lovely flowers hover that area. Often, finches will find these Contact wgardenermag@aol.com above. Traditionally, they were back-ofseeds and help scatter them about for or call 301.588.6894 for ad rates. the-border plants, sharing space with you. The ad deadline is the hollyhocks, foxglove, zinnia, and other Investigate seed catalogs and you 10th of each month. members of the cutting garden. They go will find a selection of nicotiana, both JULY 2016

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PETgardens Readers of Washington Gardener Magazine are encouraged to share photos of their pets (and other visiting creatures) in gardens. Please submit your photos to wgardenermag@aol.com and use the subject line “Pets in Gardens.” Tell us a bit about the animals, yourself, and your garden as well. Last issue, we shared a bunch of felines. Now for a few canines and their garden pals. This photo is not really of my “pet.” But it is a photo of “my” regular foxes that show up every morning. They cruise through the yard early in the morning to check out what’s going on. And one of the favorite spots for them to perch and watch the birds and squirrels is at the top of the little “hill” by the birdbath. It’s up high and they have a clear view of the yard and patio—where the squirrels are coming to eat birdseed. They will rip and run all over the yard; they especially like running through the impatiens below the birdbath. I’ve even caught one “fertilizing” the flowers. ~ Brenda Johnson, Boyds, MD

The dog (at far left) is my Australian Shepherd, Dutchie. He tiptoes his way through my gardens without damaging anything, I think he just likes to look pretty among the flowers! The cat (at left) is my cat Scotch. He was sitting in the birdbath looking up at the bird feeder. ~ Kathy Guenterberg, Gaithersburg, MD

Valentine and Chelsea have the run of the garden, but they’re “encouraged” to stay out of most planting beds and the pond by low fences. They also enjoy working out on their agility course. ~ Cathy Jamieson and Fred Edwards, Arlington, VA [See an additional photo of Valentine and Chelsea on page 3.]

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BOOKreviews

Grow for Flavor By James Wong Published by Firefly Books List Price: $29.95 Reviewer: Jamie Moore In Grow for Flavor, Kew-trained botanist and self-proclaimed “hort geek” James Wong invites readers to “grow the Wong way” to coax maximum flavor with a minimum labor from home grown crops. He claims most standard gardening advice aims to maximize yield, which often results in produce with watered-down flavor. Wong reviewed more than 2,000 scientific studies to formulate evidence-based best practices for growing flavorful food. Despite his reliance on scientific data, his presentation style is not dry. Instead, he spoon-feeds research findings to the reader with chatty prose sprinkled liberally with photographs, diagrams, and drawings. Wong begins by outlining several “Flavor Factors”—general cultural practices which influence the flavor of all crops. The meat of the book provides individualized recommendations for specific crops. He covers both common and esoteric plants (skirret, anyone?). He adds a chapter on herbs, spices, and nuts that can be grown in the home garden. He concludes with a chapter on food preservation techniques to capture the flavor of home-grown produce. Scattered throughout the book are recipes for using your flavor-charged food and simple, yet effective, kitchen techniques. Most of his suggestions are easy to implement, but he also

includes more-challenging proposals, such as instructions for growing truffles. This book encompasses a wide range of horticultural practices that can be employed in the home garden. There is an abundance of good ideas in this book, and even seasoned gardeners will find something new to try. I have referred back to it multiple times and applied several of his recommendations with success. My plants do appear healthier since I sprayed them with a dilute aspirin spray, which mimics plant stress hormones and stimulates their immune systems. I am waiting to see how my tomatoes will enjoy their new biochar mulch. Love-in-a-mist (Nigella damascena) seeds are a new favorite spice at my house and taste great sprinkled over fruit. The idea of growing electric daisies is intriguing. However, some of the products he recommends are a little hard to track down. Despite his assertion that molasses is “widely marketed in the U.S. as a general-purpose fertilizer,” it took me a bit of time to find affordable (livestock grade) molasses at a feed store. I was unable to find biochar locally, but it is available online. Overall, I have thoroughly enjoyed adopting techniques from this book. Grow for Flavor makes the latest horticultural research accessible to the home gardener. Bursting with ideas, it invites frequent returns and sparks further adventures in gardening. 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.

Following the Wild Bees By Thomas D. Seeley Published by Princeton University Press List Price: $22.95 Reviewer: John Powers Following the Wild Bees combines thorough instructions with intriguing biological information to form an easy,

informative read. What author Thomas D. Seeley does best in this book is combine the more dry elements of his writing—the methods, calculations, and measurements—with personal anecdotes of his own experiences with the practice of honey bee hunting. Seeley’s writing effectively lists instructions for the reader to follow if they so choose and, although it is not directly applicable to gardening, it maintains its status as an informative and interesting read. The title has the potential to mislead, however, since the hunting that Seeley describes is not supposed to end with the hunter finishing off the prey. The sport of bee hunting lies entirely in tracking down the colony. Although some bee hunters take the hunt a step further, Seeley strongly discourages tampering with bee colonies for ethical and scientific reasons. The book has several “biology box” sidebars throughout its eight chapters, each detailing a biological phenomenon involved with bee behavior. One of these boxes describes the different dances that a bee will perform to communicate the direction and distance of a food source for the colony. The dance factors in angle, position, and duration to effectively explain the location; this and many other fascinating behavioral trends of bees are featured throughout JULY 2016

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BOOKreviews the biology box sidebars. The book carefully explains each advancement the hunter must make attempting to track down the elusive bees. The process starts not in the wilderness but in the woodshop, with the construction of the bee box, the central tool of bee hunting. This contraption includes three sliding panels that create compartments to hold the bees temporarily as the hunter attempts to track down the honey bees’ home. The theme of preparation comes through consistently as Seeley emphasizes the importance of using the correct equipment, finding the right area of wilderness at the right time, and understanding what you are getting into. The measurements required include exact times for a bee to travel back and forth from the syrupy-honeycomb bait that the hunter must lay to the colony of the bee, and the angle at which the bee leaves the premises. Seeley does more than pull from his own experiences; he references Henry David Thoreau’s bee hunting expeditions. Seeley also pulls quotations and pieces of wisdom from George Harold Edgell’s book, The Bee Hunter. He calls Edgell’s work a “small masterpiece” and it functions as Seeley’s introduction to bee hunting as well as his bible, often quoting the book in the manner that one would retell a parable. This book functions well as a beginner’s guide to bee hunting, which seems to be Seeley’s intention. With a close reading of this book, a careful collection of equipment, and an understanding of the measuring principles that Seeley lays out, anyone who reads this book could become a beginner-level bee hunter on their first attempt.. John Powers is a rising senior multi-platform journalism major and environmental economics and policy minor at the University of Maryland. He has worked as a staff writer for “Stories Beneath the Shell,” an online publication at UMD, and currently works on the copy desk of The Diamondback, the university’s official newspaper. He has spent a summer working as a farmhand back in his home state of Massachusetts. He is an intern with Washington Gardener Magazine this summer. 18

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Hand-Built Outdoor Furniture By Katie Jackson Published by Timber Press List Price: $19.95 Reviewer: Jacqueline Hyman For people already attuned to woodworking, this book has great project ideas. For people interested in picking up a woodworking hobby, this book gives the tools and basic knowledge to learn new skills. But for those looking to simply create one cool project, this book is probably not the best pick. In part one of the book, author Katie Jackson explains everything to readers assuming they are beginners, which is a good practice for a do-it-yourself book. The descriptions of tools and instructions on what kinds of lumber to buy will surely make a beginner feel more comfortable with the prospect of woodworking. Jackson also mentions useful tips here and there, such as in the “Staying Organized” section on page 24, in which she suggests labeling the name of each board, “such as backrest, armrest, or leg.” Her tip on page 41 about using a “sacrificial board” is helpful in protecting a workspace, and something she refers to often in her projects. While these tips may seem small and perhaps even obvious, someone beginning a hobby in woodworking may be thinking about so many other things that receiving this advice could be a saving grace. Part two of the book consists of projects Jackson has done, with a step-bystep guide on how to create, complete with picture for most steps. Each project begins with a description and photo of the finished project, as well as a list of materials and tools needed. While all of the projects look well-put together when completed, the following projects in particular stood out while reading the book: • The first project, Jackson’s Shaker Pegboard Shelf, is a simple design that seems easy to create. This is definitely good as a first project for a beginner to complete, but at the end is still pleasing to the eye and functional. Additionally, Jackson shows alternative ways to create the pegboard that may appeal to different peoples’ tastes. • The Stair Box Planters are, as

Jackson describes them, “sleek” and “simple.” While they are fairly easy to create, they still have a very nice look when placed on the stairs as shown on page 66. This project could enhance anyone’s garden without being too difficult or time-consuming to create. • The Garden Swing is a really nice touch for anyone with a large backyard. Kids and adults alike could enjoy this swing, which is only one board attached to a tree with rope. However, the installation of the swing does seem quite tricky; even though Jackson provides step-by-step pictures, it still looks like something that may take a few frustrating tries. • Lastly, all of the sectional furniture in the book is extremely tasteful, and would work very well as a set or as separate pieces. This is a project, however, that seems more advanced and should be completed after one has built other pieces. The issue with only creating one project from this book is that Jackson builds up the projects in a way that assumes the reader is interested in creating a hobby. Someone looking to do one small project will not have the patience to learn to use all the tools and create each component of a project as Jackson does. Additionally, Jackson often uses terminology that may confuse a reader who doesn’t remember her previous explanations. For this reason, a glossary in the back of the book would have been extremely helpful. Overall, the book is a very satisfying do-it-yourself guide with tasteful and varied projects, but could intimidate

BOOKreviews those who may find the prospect of simply screwing in all the slats to a bench perfectly straight a little daunting. It should be highly considered as a project book for anyone looking to add some character to his or her yard or garden. Jacqueline Hyman is a junior journalism and English major at the University of Maryland. She is the editor-in-chief of the Mitzpeh, an independent Jewish newspaper at UMD. In addition, She enjoys musical theater, and teaches piano and voice at Guitar Center. She is excited to be interning this summer for the Washington Gardener.

A Gardener’s Compendium, Volume 1, Gardening with Life: Gardening in a Twitter World in 140 Characters or More By Teresa Watkins Published by Xulon Press List Price: $27.99 Reviewer: Andrea F. Siegel This is the time of the garden season when Washington’s wilted gardeners seek refuge from the beastly weather in air-conditioned spaces, making it the perfect moment to ponder the more spiritual and poetic aspects of the garden. That is exactly what the first volume of garden writer Teresa Watkins’ A Gardener’s Compendium reminds us to do. In it, a reader can swap the sweat for musing about what plants and gardens represent, comparisons between the lives of plants and people, and our emotions about traveling the journey from life to death. The author created a collection of garden quotes, poetry, and anecdotes—not terribly unlike famous American quotation books of a previous generation—based on digital searches and Twitter’s hashtags. The research identifies who said or wrote what and when, but also uncovered incorrect attributions and misquotes. The volume is divided into three sections: Life, Death, and Spirituality. The quotes come from a wide variety of people, dead and alive, including famed Dutch garden designer Piet Oudolf, U.S. actress Goldie Hawn, English poet Robert Herrick and American poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Rabbi and Ukranian founder of the Breslov Chasidic movement Nachman of Brat-

zlav and Mother Teresa of Calcutta, and that doesn’t touch on the historians, authors, lesser-known deep thinkers, and more. Following each quote is the writer’s name, a bit of identifying information, year of the quote, and the hashtags to help find it. For example, in the Death section is this: Tread lightly, she is near Under the snow Speak gently, she can hear the daisies grow. The “she” is identified in a footnote as the writer’s late nine-year-old sister. The writer is Oscar Wilde, his years

of birth and death are there, and he is described as an Irish playwright, author, and poet. The poem is from An Anthology of Modern Verse, published in 1921. Hashtags #death #Ireland #poetry follow. Finding a particular quote or writer or hashtag is made less unwieldy by using the bibliography-resource list, and hashtag and authors indexes— great help for trivia buffs, researchers, speakers, and others looking for just the right quote or sentiment for an occasion. About 20 illustrations break up this volume’s type, but they remain inconsequential. As this is listed as the first of seven volumes, it does not contain every garden- or tree-related saying, although it has hundreds. A casual reader can open it to read a few lines or a few pages, or use it as a distraction from other pursuits or as a reminder of why we garden. In addition, many readers would empathize with the author’s note that “Grieving over my Mom’s death, gardening saved my soul”—as many a gardener gains relief from frustration by yanking weeds or explores emotions while digging in the dirt. o Andrea F. Siegel is a master gardener in Maryland and a freelance writer and editor. She is especially interested in sustainable suburban gardening practices.

Love Reading?

These books were reviewed by volunteer members of the Washington Gardener Reader Panel. We are looking for a few additional volunteers who live in the greater Washington, DC, region to serve on our Reader Panel. This will consist of about two email exchanges per month. Reader Panelists may also be asked to review new gardening books and test out new garden plants, tools, and seeds. To join the Washington Gardener Volunteer Reader Panel, please send an email with your name and address to: wgardenermag@aol.com. We look forward to having you be a vital part of our local publication and its gardening mission. o JULY 2016

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DAYtrip

by Kathy Jentz DC-area residents are blessed with over 100 public gardens in our region, and most all of these are free or very low-cost. The many rewards of visiting a public garden include refreshing your mental, spiritual, and physical being, although not all of these gardens are easily reached by the very populations that would benefit the most from their healing properties. Here are a few that can be reached via public transit.

cational programming and docents give regular tours. One of the most informative tours is hosted by horticulturist Janet Draper at the Mary Livingston Ripley Garden every Tuesday at 2 p.m. throughout October. Getting There: Take Metro to the Smithsonian station or any of the surrounding Metro stops near the Mall. You can also take the Circulator as well as the #70 or #30 Metrobus lines.

prepared to stand in line to view the annual holiday garden railroad display. Getting There: Take Metro to the L’Enfant station or any of the surrounding stops near the Mall. You can also take the Circulator and #30 Metrobus lines, which stop in back of the Botanic Garden. I often take the Metro Red Line to Judiciary Square and walk across the Mall, rather than switch trains.

Smithsonian

U.S. Botanic Garden

If you are avoiding crowds, try the Franciscan Monastery in the Brookland neighborhood of NE DC (http://www. myfranciscan.org/). The monastery grounds are free and open to all. They are known for their fantastic bulb displays, which are timed around Easter, but come back in late May/early June for stunning roses and later in the summer for tropical gardens that include a few palm trees. Getting There: I usually take the Metro to Brookland and walk up the steep hill along Quincy Street to get to it, but a

The easiest to access are the Smithsonian Gardens (http://www. gardens.si.edu/). Yes, there is green space on the National Mall and it is not all lawn! The Smithsonian Gardens are made up of 12 distinct spaces —from a recreation of a World War II vegetable and flower garden with the Victory Garden at the National Museum of American History to the contemporary, sunken Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden. All are free to all visitors. Many of these gardens host edu20

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Also on the National Mall and easily accessible is the U.S. Botanic Garden (http://usbg.gov/). Along with the adjoining National Garden, Bartholdi Park, and Capitol Grounds, it is administered through the Architect of the Capitol and is not part of the Smithsonian as is commonly assumed. It is one of the few tourist sites open on both Christmas and New Year’s Day. That means it is getting more and more crowded on those dates as the secret has spread, so go early and be

Franciscan Monastery

Brookside Gardens in Wheaton, MD. Photo source: DCGardens.com

Accessing the Public Gardens of DC by Public Transit

DAYtrip

National Arboretum

Not far from the monastery is the National Arboretum (http://www. usna.usda.gov). The arboretum was closed three days a week due to the recent sequester and budget cutbacks. Thanks to fundraising by the Friends of the National Arboretum, the grounds are now back open every day of the year except December 25. The arboretum is under the U.S. Department of Agriculture and its mission has been more one of research than of public outreach and education, but the naming of a new director has given local gardeners hope of great things to come. The grounds are large and it would take several visits to see it all. Plan to visit often and in all seasons to see how the gardens change throughout the year. Getting There: A Metrobus route used to serve this garden, but that service was infrequent and then was cut entirely a few years ago. Now, the best way to go is to take the B2 bus and walk in from the R Street entrance. (A bus route from the NoMa-Gallaudet U Metro station would make too much sense to actually ever be implemented, I’m sure.)

Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens

Just across the Anacostia River from the arboretum is the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens (http://www.nps.gov/ keaq/index.htm). If you go on a weekday, you pretty much have the whole place to yourself. This is the true hidden oasis of the city—a former waterlily nursery, now a national park. It is also a wildlife haven. Both photographers and birders frequent the gardens in the early mornings, leaving before the heat of the day. They are missing out, though, as the hundreds of waterlilies and lotus open up in the direct sun and are best viewed at mid-day during JulyAugust. Getting There: You can get there by canoe on the Anascostia River easier than by transit. I usually take the Metro to Deanwood and hoof it over. It is not a bad half-mile walk, except for having to take an elevated pedestrian

bridge over Kenilworth Avenue, which feels like an abandoned set from “The Walking Dead.”

National Cathedral

The Bishop’s Close at the National Cathedral is accessible and open to all. The secluded, walled garden is on the south-facing side of the cathedral and is downhill from it as well, giving it a great perspective on the building. The garden itself is sunny and bright to support the roses and English-style perennial borders, but there are some shady quiet spots for contemplation, quiet reading, and reflection. Getting There: Take one of the many #30 buses that go up and down Wisconsin and get off when you see the looming spires.

Brookside Gardens and Green Spring Gardens

Farther afield, both Brookside Gardens in Wheaton, MD, and Green Spring Gardens in Alexandria, VA, are free and run by their local county parks systems. Both take an effort to access by a combination of Metro and local bus systems, but are worth it for an afternoon outside the city. Better access by transit would increase the usefulness and value of both of these gardens to their surrounding communities. Getting There: Go to Brookside by tak-

ing the Metro Red Line to Glenmont and walking one mile along Glen Allen Road. To get to Green Spring, take the Metro Yellow or Blue lines to King Street and then transfer to the 29N bus towards Vienna. Get off at Little River Turnpike and Green Spring Road. Other transit-accessible public gardens include Tudor Place, Dumbarton Oaks, and Hillwood, which are all within the city of Washington’s borders. The more suburban spots like Meadowlark Botanic Gardens are an effort to reach, but are getting more accessible with the expansion of the Metro’s Silver Line and new bus routes. A new local nonprofit, DCGardens. com, sprang up last spring to bring the profile of local public gardens in the DC-region to the attention of both out-of-town tourists and those who live here but only think of DC garden tourism as a once-a-year trip to see the Tidal Basin’s cherry blossoms in bloom. At DCGardens.com, you can view many of our public gardens month-by-month and learn what events, festivals, and activities are going at each. o An earlier version of this article appeared on the Greater Greater Washington blog. Kathy Jentz is the editor/publisher of Washington Gardener Magazine, the publication for Mid-Atlantic home gardeners. JULY 2016

WASHINGTON GARDENER

U.S. National Arboretum in Washington, DC. Photo source: DCGardens.com

few buses get you closer (the H6 and the 80).

EDIBLEharvt

When and How to Harvest Sweet Potatoes by Kathy Jentz

A few people on our Washington Gardener Yahoo discussion list* have asked about how to dig and cure sweet potatoes for storage. That brought up the topic of just when to harvest them. The short answer is that you can dig them anytime you like. Sweet potatoes can be unearthed as soon as the tubers have reached a suitable size— usually between three and four months after planting the slips. The longer answer is that sweet potato roots will continue to enlarge until frost, so you can keep on checking root size to determine when to harvest. They can get pretty sizable and unwieldy so sooner is better than later. They require special handling so you may want to time your harvest for when you can give them the optimal curing conditions and also when your own schedule accommodates that process. My recommendation is to plant in mid-May and harvest early in September at the latest. 22

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If you procrastinate, just be sure to harvest before frost because cool temperatures can reduce the quality of the potatoes and their ability to keep. Note that once frost blackens the vines, the tubers can rot quickly. Proper curing makes a big difference in how sweet the potatoes are, so I’ll go through the basic steps here. 1. To give yourself room and a better view for digging up your sweet potatoes, you can cut back the vines. Wait for dry weather since it is hard to clean cakedon mud off the tubers. 2. Next, use a garden fork or spade and start loosening the soil a good couple of feet back from the crown of the mound. I made the mistake last year of going in too close and stabbing a bunch of good tubers; mea culpa. 3. Work your way around the mound and gently pry up your tubers. 4. Brush off (gently!) as much of the soil as possible.

5. Snip off with clean pruners if they are attached to a large root. Otherwise, leaves the small whiskers and such on them. Any surface scratches will heal as they cure. 6. Lay out a layer of newspaper in a warm, humid, and dim space. (I use my sun-porch with the blinds drawn.) You do not want them to get cold, though, so try to have the space be at least 80degrees even at night. A greenhouse space works great for this. 7. Leave for 7–10 days. 8. Now they are cured and ready for cooking or storing. Your sweet potatoes can be stored in a cool location (not refrigerated!) for up to six months. *To join our Yahoo discussion group, go to: https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/ groups/WashingtonGardener/info. o Kathy Jentz is the editor/publisher of Washington Gardener Magazine.

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