Washington Gardener March 2019 by Kathy J

MARCH 2019 VOL. 14 NO. 1

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the magazine for gardening enthusiasts in the Mid-Atlantic region

Timing is Everything: the Science of Phenology A Visit to Blooming Hill Lavender Farm

DIY Natural Bug Spray DC-MD-VA Gardening Events Calendar

Meet a Veteran Composter Creative Design Approaches to Diverse Landscapes Year of the Snapdragon

Grow Your Own

Blackberry Patch

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Green Spring Gardens

www.greenspring.org

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

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

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

www.sunfarm.com

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FEATURES and COLUMNS

Justen Garrity founded Veteran Compost in 2010. However, the path to that point began much earlier. Growing up in Pennsylvania and Maryland, Justen spent his time outdoors camping, hiking, and biking. It was through Scouting that Justen learned to appreciate nature and the need for conservation.

Ancient Greeks recommended lavender to ease insomnia and backaches. The Latin verb lavare, “to wash,” is the basis for lavender’s name. Romans valued lavender oils for cooking, bathing, scenting the air, and antiseptic healing. Women using the herb to wash and dry clothing in Medieval and Renaissance France were called “lavenders.”

The scent of snapdragons is a benefit that is often overlooked. Shoppers walking through a landscape or passing a display of snapdragons in a garden center will be attracted to the fragrant flowers. The fragrance is especially noticeable if snapdragons are planted in mass. Snapdragon Snapshot Plum Blossom from PanAmerican Seed—Year of the Snapdragon —National Garden Bureau.

BOOKreviews 8-9 Mushrooms. Air Plants, Homegrown Flowers, No-Waste Kitchen Gardening DAYtrip 6-7 Blooming Hill Lavender Farm DIYproject 17 Natural Bug Spray EDIBLEharvest 20-21 Thornless Blackberries GREENliving 14-15 Diverse Landscape Designs HORThappenings 22 Rooting DC 2019, Orchid Show, Cherry Blossoms, Rose Society INSECTindex 12 Phenology NEWPLANTspotlight 11 Longwood Clivias NEIGHBORnetwork 16 Justen Garrity, Veteran Compost TIPStricks 10 Snapdragons, iNaturalist App, Tomatoes for Small Spaces

DEPARTMENTS

ADVERTISINGindex BLOGlinks EDITORletter GARDENcontest LOCALevents MONTHLYtasklist NEXTissue RESOURCESsources

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ON THE COVER

Blackberries growing at Rock Hill Orchard in Mount Airy, MD.

In our April issue:

Spring Garden Tours Rose Companions and much more . . .

If your business would like to reach area gardeners, be sure to contact us by April 5 so you can be part of the next issue of our growing publication! Be sure you are subscribed! Click on the “subscribe” link. at washingtongardener.com MARCH 2019

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EDITORletter

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

Your editor’s selfie against a green wall at the Potomac Flower Show in Silver Spring, MD.

Learning New Tricks

March is a month of renewal and rebirth. Spring has sprung and we are all bursting with new energy. It is time to brush up on old skills and learn new ones. In the past few weeks, I have attended a number of talks, classes, and online webinars. From new technology (hosting a podcast) to ancient practices (creating beads from rose petals), I feel like my brain is crammed full of facts and figures for taking on several new projects. Now all I need to do is find time to execute them! One recent event I attended was the annual Potomac Flower Show (not to be confused with the Philadelphia Flower Show). The Potomac one is held practically in my backyard, at the Potomac Floral Wholesale warehouses off Linden Lane in Silver Spring, MD. The event is aimed at local florists and is a bit of an adjustment for a die-hard gardener to attend. I have to hold in my amazement at the arrays of hellebores and cut orchids—would I dare ever sacrifice a like number of mine for a short-lived arrangement? Not hardly! What is great about getting away from my usual garden-obsessed companions and surrounding myself with floral-focused folks is that they see the flowers and plant parts from a very specific point of view. A large leaf to them is a way to create a shape or as an echo of an accent color, while to me, it is an essential part of a plant’s vascular system. A dried seedhead to me is a way to attract wildlife to the garden; to them, an opportunity to pull out a floral spray can and get creative. It is fun to see how few florists know a plant’s Latin (or even common) name when they sure know how to integrate it into a vase with other materials to create visual art. I left the event ready to tackle new techniques using the tricks I’d learned (beaded floral wire is now on my shopping list) and inspired to revamp the plans for my own cutting gardens. May your spring also be full of new ventures and learning! Happy gardening,

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

WASHINGTON GARDENER MARCH 2019

• 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 Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/Washington GardenerMagazine/ • Washington Gardener Youtube: www.youtube.com/washingtongardenermagazine

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• Washington Gardener is a womanowned business. We are proud to be members of: · GardenComm (GWA: The Association for Garden Communicators) · Green America Magazine Leaders Network · Green America Business Network Volume 14, Number 1 ISSN 1555-8959 © 2019 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.

KNOWitall

Ask the Expert by Debra Ricigliano

Mossy Yard

Moss has taken over most of our backyard, leaving little grass. There are many trees producing shade, which I assume is the main reason why this is happening. I was wondering what recommendations you might have to help the situation. Now that spring is here, I would like to do something to make my yard more attractive. Shade is contributing to the moss in your yard, but other factors, like acidic soil, low soil fertility, soil compaction, and moisture also play a role. The grass thins out and the moss moves in. These conditions must be corrected and proper lawn care practices initiated or the moss will continue to grow. Even after doing all the necessary work to sow grass seed, there is no guarantee that it will thrive. In many cases, it is easier to work with what you have instead of planting grass in an area where it does not want to grow, so rethink your yard. Moss itself is a low-maintenance groundcover, and many groundcovers for shade can be planted in islands around the base of the trees or in ornamental beds. Adding hardscaping—think a meandering path—is practical and adds interest. Consider installing a small patio to create a seating space. Use this challenge as an opportunity to design and create a shady outdoor space to enjoy for years to come.

Miniature Rose Care

For my birthday, I received a miniature rose from a friend. She knows that I usually have good luck with houseplants, but the leaves of the rose are yellowing and falling off. What should I do? Miniature roses can be challenging houseplants. They need a minimum of six hours of bright light daily, either from the sun or supplemental lighting. Make sure the plant is in a welldraining container and that the drainage holes are not blocked. Keep the soil moist, but not wet, and when

watering, let the water run through the bottom of the container. Prune off spent blooms and any unhealthy-looking stems and leaves. They are prone to spider mites, so look for tiny yellow or brown spots on leaves, leaf yellowing, poor growth, or webbing. An insecticidal soap labeled for houseplants is the suggested treatment for the pest. A heavily infested plant should be discarded. In spring, transplant the rose to a sunny spot in your garden. It will be much happier outdoors.

Too Early for Veggies?

I am anxious to start planting my vegetable garden. Is it too early to plant my kale, chard, lettuce, and broccoli seedlings in the ground yet? You can plant cool-season vegetables in the ground starting in April. But watch the weather and be prepared to cover them if temperatures are forecasted to go below freezing. Depending on where you live, there is a chance for freezing weather up until about early to mid-May. Floating row cover (a white, lightweight, spun cloth) provides excellent frost protection. Temporarily drape it over the plants until the danger of frost has passed. Use bricks, rocks, or landscape pins to hold the material to the ground.

Boxwood blight

I heard a report about a disease called boxwood blight in our area. Recently, while cleaning up my front landscape

bed, I noticed that the leaves on my boxwood had a reddish tinge to them. Should I be concerned? Yes, it is true that boxwood blight, which is a relatively new disease of boxwood, is found in the MD/DC/VA area. But what you are describing sounds more like winter damage (color), which is a common occurrence on broadleaf evergreen shrubs like boxwood. Causal factors for “winter color” can include extreme low temperatures and brisk winds. The foliage should revert back to its normal color when springtime temperatures arrive and growth begins. Symptoms of boxwood blight include lesions on leaves with a dark border, severe defoliation, and black cankers (streaks) that develop on the green stems. You can find detailed information at http://extension.umd.edu/hgic/ topics/boxwood-blight. o Debra Ricigliano is a Certified Professional Horticulturist. She has worked as a horticulture consultant for the University of Maryland Extension Home and Garden Information Center since 1997. She is a graduate of the Institute of Applied Agriculture at UMCP and a talented, all-around horticulturist. Debra enjoys gardening at her home in Highland, MD. To ask a gardening or pest question, go to http://extension.umd. edu/hgic and click on “Get Help.” Digital photos can also be attached. MARCH 2019

WASHINGTON GARDENER

DAYtrip

Blue Ridge Farmlet:

Blooming Hill Lavender Farm By Cheval Force Opp Cyndie and Peter Rinek planted their first lavender plants in the mid-1980s to give a visual boost to their newly painted purple home. The color was a misstep, which later became a Kensington, MD, neighborhood icon. The Victorian-era home gave the couple many renovation adventures best laughed at in hindsight, but that front yard full of lavender plants sparked a lifetime obsession. I visited Cyndie earlier this year to sit in her cozy kitchen, enjoy lavender tea, and chat about the 25-year-old business Blooming Hill Lavender Farm. What inspired you to move out to Loudoun County? Peter and I knew we wanted some land, but when we started looking in 1991, I was homebound with twins, and places closer to the metro area, like Potomac, were out of our financial reach. We fell in love with the look of the rolling hills along the historic Snickerville Turnpike, where the 180+-year-old Hibbs Bridge still spans Beaverdam Creek. We bought four and a half acres of farmland and started planting before our home was finished. Many of the tall trees, bushes, and topiary boxwood we have now are from runt, lopsided, end-of-season plants Peter scrounged at Meadow Farms. 6

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How did you start to design your lavender gardens? Peter, my “in house” landscape architect/planner, designed a fan garden for me, and I knew it needed lavender blooming in it. On a visit to DeBaggio’s Herb Farm and Nursery in Chantilly, VA, I picked out six plants. At that time, if the plant had an amusing name or luscious blooms or the staff recommended it, I would buy it. For years, I really had no rhyme or reason for my selections. I just kept planting lavender, and Peter kept designing beds. If the plant thrived, I would propagate more of that lavender into our ever-expanding beds. How did you start selling lavender? I started a garden club with other neighborhood newcomers, and one summer, took some 20 sheaves of blooming lavender to sell. The rubber-banded bundles were snapped up in minutes, so I started thinking I might have something I could grow and sell. An invitation in late 1990 to join a club of dedicated gardeners, “The Night Bloomers,” gave me incredible support and encouragement to sell at local fairs. Stocked with lavender bunches or lavender buds at events like the Bluemont Fair, I was selling out. Over time, I started doing larger fairs like the Leesburg Flower

and Garden Festival. When my son graduated from high school, our fields had over a thousand plants, and I wondered what to do with my extra time. When did you believe a lavender farm could be a business? Over the years, we have learned Blooming Hill’s success takes equal parts my determination and Peter’s expertise. By 2009, visitors were starting to ask for plants, not just stems and buds. Peter and I mused about our next step, but Peter was very skeptical. We both had seen other businesses come and go, and the economic downturn was still haunting everyone. Thankfully, people kept coming; garden clubs, parties, and social groups returned year after year. We built the store in 2014 and started our very own Lavender Festival. In 2015, demand increased to the point I started working with a grower to ensure enough plants for customers in the growing seasons. Visitors enjoy walking the fragrant fields full of color and picking plants to fit their garden plans. Who takes care of the lavender? This is a two-person farm. I am crew head and the crew. Peter is head designer with an ear to my suggestions. All year, Peter and I work in the fields especially weeding. I am old school; we

DAYtrip

do not use landscaping cloth—rather, pea-gravel with shredded hardwood mulch in a few of the more formal gardens and borders. Even in December, we bundle up and go out to weed. In March, we start cleaning and creating the beds with an eye to a classic aesthetic look. Luckily, it does not take a lot of equipment to be a lavender farmer—a good rake, a shovel, leaf blower, hedge trimmer. The motorized “gater” helps to cart things up and down the hills. We wait until April to trim back and shape the bushes, so if truly severe weather arrives, the plants have some protection. We open Fridays and Saturdays for the season in April. Late spring, we pot up plants to sell. We only sell varieties that we grow in the fields, and I think that is a draw for customers, especially first-time gardeners. Strolling the blooming beds, customers see what mature plants look like and get advice from Peter or me for their specific planting sites. Mother’s Day is our farmlet’s first event of the season. We use our lavender for blends of lavender-infused teas and lavender ice cream. Throughout the summer, groups reserve talks with visits. We are a favorite destination for people headed to wineries, breweries, or festivals. The best selection for plants is the third week of May until July. In the fall, we sell lavender products, and many people come for giftgiving starting in October. Is it hard to grow lavender plants in our region? I belong to the United States Lavender Growers Association (USLGA) and our regional group jokes about what great gardeners we are; not just any grower can coax healthy laven-

der out of soil heavy with water-hugging red clay. Lavender does well in average to poor soil, but not if the roots get waterlogged. The good news is lavender needs the cold, moist winter weather we have here in Virginia, but our dense soil is a challenge since lavender roots need air. The pea gravel mulch helps aerate the roots. Every year, we work hard to break up the clay and add lime to increase the alkaline soil to 6.5–7.5 pH. What are your current favorite plants? Lavandula angustifolia ‘French Fields’—it’s one of my first bloomers of the season and a beauty to boot. Darkpurple flowers, fragrant, prolific, and it will rebloom sporadically throughout the summer. Origin is probably unknown, but it looks the closest to what is grown in the south of France and the Mediterranean areas around there. I first planted it close to 10 years ago and acquired my first plants from Willow Pond Lavender Farm in Fairfield, PA. Madeline and Tom Wajda were the owners and spent much of their diplomatic career in France before retiring and starting a lavender farm. They retired and sold their place. Sadly, it is no longer a lavender farm. Lavandula x intermedia ‘Gros Bleu’—introduced in France in the late 1990s—is a showpiece with electricblue flowers. It is not very prolific and only blooms once, but it’s a hardy one and makes a great focal plant in a border or herb garden. It is one of my last bloomers of the season with long, elegant, upright stems. Lavandula x chaytorae ‘AnanLuisa’ was introduced by Oregon grower Andy Van Hevelengen. This hybrid is another stunner. It is easy to propagate and

grow—a large, bushy, upright plant with medium to long stems and lilac-purple flowers that are nice and plump. It has beautiful silver foliage. What do you see in lavender’s future? I am surprised at the number of younger people joining the USLGA. These new members, often couples, have high-powered jobs, but they are researching lavender farming for a very different lifestyle in the future. Individuals on the cusp of retiring from a first career are also participating in the organization with thoughts of a second career. I do not see this influx of younger generations in any of my other garden groups. It is energizing. I look forward to watching these creative new members grow the market.

Visit Blooming Hill

Starting April 4, they are open Fridays and Saturdays.The GPS/MapQuest address is: Blooming Hill Lavender Farm and Gift Shop, 19929 Telegraph Springs Road, Purcellville, VA. See more details at bloominghillva.com. June 14–15, 2019, is the 5th Annual Lavender Festival. Pick lavender. Vendors and crafts galore, open-air music, yoga in the field, wine/mead tastings, and beautiful sunshine abound. o Thanks to Cyndie and Peter Rinek for sharing their adventures in the lavender business. Peter, aside from being a landscape architect/planner and arborist with more than 30 years of experience in the design aesthetic for Blooming Hill, is an accomplished artist and craftsman. Cheval Force Opp gardens in Dunn Loring, VA, where she lives with her husband Dana and corgi Marzipan. A passionate garden tourist, I am always searching for new gardens to visit. Let me know if you have a favorite garden to share.

MARCH 2019

WASHINGTON GARDENER

BOOKreviews

How to Grow Mushrooms From Scratch: A Practical Guide to Cultivating Portobellos, Shiitakes, Truffles, and Other Edible Mushrooms By Herbert and Magdalena Wurth Publisher: The Experiment/Workman Publishing List Price: $19.95 Reviewer: Alexa Silverberg The authors of How to Grow Mushrooms From Scratch discuss in detail why you should grow mushrooms; where you can grow mushrooms; and most importantly, how to grow mushrooms. The book begins with information about why the duo are so fascinated with mushrooms. They say that mushrooms have been a part of their family for years, leading to their family business: a mushroom garden in Austria. They introduce mushrooms, explaining fungi, the structure and life cycle of a mushroom, and the importance of mushrooms. The Wurths explain that penicillin is a metabolic product of the mold fungus Penicillium chrysogenum. The Wurths then talk about mushroom cultivation, saying that mushroom spawn is the most important component of mushroom cultivation and that cultivating mushrooms at home requires the right mushroom spawn. The Wurths note that you can grow your own spawn or order it from a supplier, but if you are attempting to make your own, you must pay attention to detail. They also include step-by-step methods for starting your mushroom garden. They emphasize the importance of 8

WASHINGTON GARDENER MARCH 2019

wood and bark quality: Both are essential to success with mushrooms. The Wurths detail extensively the phases of cultivation with helpful tips, including: “Mushrooms can be stored in the refrigerator for up to three days. A layer of mycelium may form on the surface of the caps, because the mushrooms continue to live after harvest. Such mushrooms are still edible. Cut at the base of the stem and remove growing medium if necessary.” They also provide specific mushroom instructions depending on the type of mushroom. For example, the recommended growing medium for shiitake mushrooms’, specifically beech, hornbeam, oak, and birch, and straw, specifically small bales from high-pressure balers is recommended for King Stropharia mushrooms. The Wurths also explain how to cultivate mushrooms indoors. This newer, simpler method for mushroom cultivation uses straw pellets. They also talk about mushroom kits as the perfect way to cultivate in wintertime. Finally, they explain cultivating mushrooms in woodlands and fields, as well as container-grown mushrooms for courtyards, balconies, and patios. The book concludes with recipes for using your home-grown mushrooms. o Alexa Silverberg is a senior broadcast journalism major at the University of Maryland and is from Short Hills, NJ. She is an editorial intern at Washington Gardener this spring semester.

Living With Air Plants: A Beginner’s Guide to Growing and Displaying Tillandsia By Yoshiharu Kashima and Yukihiro Matsuda Publisher: Tuttle Publishing List Price: $17.99 Reviewer: Johnny Moseman Living With Air Plants is a great introductory book to take you step-by-step through how to take care of your air plants. This handbook gives you all the basics from the various types of tillandsia and their characteristics, growth cycles, and environments, maintenance and selection, division and propagation, habitat creation, and even decoration ideas. The guide, split into three parts,

explains in depth everything you need to take care of any air plant you may come across. Part 1 centers around the background of air plants and what they need to thrive in an environment. This section highlights their characteristics and gives you background about how to begin cultivating them in your home through watering and fertilizing them. Part 2 is all about how to display your air plants in unique ways around your home. This creative section provides fun crafts for displaying these plants. Part 3 gives you the all-encompassing guide to all the types of air plants you will encounter for growing and cultivating them in your home. The book gives you the scientific names, availability, sizes, levels of sunlight needed, and characteristics of 48 specific types of air plants that are easy to grow in your home. There are even guides to 70 specialty varieties of air plants at the end. This guide to air plants has all the information you would need and more to successfully grow and display these beautiful plants in your home. o Johnny Moseman is a senior multi-platform journalism major at the University of Maryland from Columbia, MD. He is an editorial intern at Washington Gardener this spring semester.

In Bloom: Growing, Harvesting, and Arranging Homegrown Flowers All Year Round By Clare Nolan

BOOKreviews

Publisher: CompanionHouse Books List Price: $26.99 Reviewer: Jamie Moore In the midst of this gray and dreary winter that never seems to end, I was so excited to receive Clare Nolan’s book, In Bloom. Stunning photographs, which grace almost every page with an ethereal beauty, fill me with dreams of the floral days yet to come. Nolan’s easygoing prose gives me hope that even I can aspire to grow such charming and beautiful blossoms. Nolan, a professional stylist with a life-long interest in gardening, shares her knowledge of growing and displaying homegrown flowers in an engaging, conversational style. She offers simple, practical advice in a direct manner, and provides inspiration for beautifying one’s home throughout the year with homegrown blooms. The first section of the book explains how to accomplish your own floral dreams. Nolan recommends working backward—first imagining the types of displays you would like to create, then thinking about the “ingredients” you will need to realize your vision. Choose a color palette to guide your plant selection, making sure to fill the roles—“heroes, supporting acts, fillers, foliage, and sidekicks”—to balance your arrangements. Next, pause for a “reality check” and modify your plans to fit the available time, space, and budget. Nolan includes short entries about useful tools, plant sources, garden layouts, and timing. The main section of this book

includes individual profiles of Nolan’s favorite cutting-garden plants, organizing them into chapters on annuals and biennials; bulbs; perennials, shrubs, and trees; and foliage and fillers. For each type of flower (or foliage), she includes specific advice on growing, harvesting, and conditioning for the best vase life. The final section of the book instructs the reader in how to maximize enjoyment of homegrown flora. Her arranging techniques are wonderfully simple, such as the “pick and plonk” method. The natural, relaxed look of her finished arrangements is very appealing. I especially like her section about “Curating Still Lifes,” or displaying other objects along with your vase of flowers, such as books and trays, to create an interesting vignette. Nolan has inspired me to start snapdragon seeds along with my usual zinnias, calendulas, and cosmos. I am really looking forward to having tall, oldfashioned snaps, which she assures me are not like the stunted bedding plants offered in box stores. In fact, they just sprouted today (eight days after sowing)! I am also planning on planting more bulbs, trees, and shrubs, as well as trying a few ornamental grasses, which add a fun airiness to arrangements. This book also inspired a successful trip to a local thrift store to beef up my vase collection in anticipation of my new, improved cutting garden. There are several gardening books that I reread annually, to lift my spirits when the winter days are at their coldest and darkest. This book will become one of them. o Jamie Moore gardens in Frederick County, MD. In addition to gardening, she loves to read; cook with local and seasonal produce; hike; and spend time with her husband, three children, and four cats.

No-Waste Kitchen Gardening: Regrow Your Leftover Greens, Pits, Seeds, and More By Katie Elzer-Peters Publisher: Cool Springs Press List Price: $18.99 Reviewer: Andrea F. Siegel Before you throw away—or compost— bits of plants left over from making

salad or soup or sauce or garnishes, stop and think: How can I reuse or regrow this kitchen scrap? Can I get the bottom to sprout salad greens on top? Can I root herb sprigs to grow more plants? Create a new crop of tubers? Start a veggie vine or fruit tree from saved seeds? Horticulturist Katie Elzer-Peters tells us that as we do these things to grow our own fresh food, we save money and reduce kitchen waste. The how-to information is in her new five-chapter book, No-Waste Kitchen Gardening: Regrow Your Leftover Greens, Pits, Seeds, and More. The focus on regrowing, which obviously requires thinking ahead, is part of the no-waste/low-waste lifestyle. It has consumers aiming for a greener way of life, one with less waste and more reuse and recycling. For food, it looks toward, as the author writes, “cooking what you need and eating what you cook, but it also means squeezing every bit of life out of your ingredient list.” Organized thoughtfully and written in a chatty voice, the book opens with an easy-to-understand education on plants, how different ones grow, and what readers need in supplies for indoor and outdoor regrowing. The specifics follow in how-to chapters on regrowing roots and underground stems in soil, regrowing other kinds of Review continued on page 13 MARCH 2019

WASHINGTON GARDENER

TIPStricks St. Mary’s College student Isaac Hersh ‘19 with a summer flounder.

iNaturalist App Snapdragon Potomac Dark Orange from PanAmerican Seed. Year of the Snapdragon. National Garden Bureau.

Year of the Snapdragon

Snapdragons (Antirrhinum majus) have tons of different varieties, from tall plants used in floral arrangements to dwarf and medium types that can be used in containers and garden beds. These plants, native to the Mediterranean region, are usually grown in U.S. gardens as annuals because they’re not very hardy. Since snapdragons can stand to grow in cooler temperatures, they are commonly the first flower you can plant early in the spring. You should stake your tall types to prevent them from falling over or else they will become too top -heavy because of their large flowers, according to the National Garden Bureau (https://ngb.org/). Remove all dead flowers to ensure the flowers keep initiating. If they start to set too much seed, the plants have petered out and you should remove all the old flowers to help prevent gray mold disease. Snapdragons are attractive to pollinators, including hummingbirds, bumblebees, and other larger-size bees. They’re not the best honeybee attractor, because the flowers are a little heavy for those bees to access. It is important to manage water, especially when growing medium to tall types. Due to their fibrous root system, they must be established in the soil or they will fall over, and they should be fertilized like other bedding plants. o 10

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St. Mary’s College students recorded more than 750 species of animals, plants, and fungus around campus this past fall. Using the app “iNaturalist” allows students to record observations available for Citizen Science projects around the world. The app was developed by a visiting professor of biology at St. Mary’s, Seabird McKeon, to document species on and around campus. “Our ability to understand the ecology of an area starts with understanding what species are here, and the only way to do that is to go outside and look—but I didn’t expect my students to find more than 700 species,” McKeon said. Some students have enjoyed going out and finding new species near campus that they have not seen previously. “The app was more interesting than Pokemon Go, and competing with classmates to find the most species was fun,” junior Sarah Schaefer said. “The coolest sighting I had was of a rhinoceros beetle, which was right outside my front door.” The “Biodiversity of St. Mary’s College of Maryland” project on iNaturalist can be found at: https://www.inaturalist. org/projects/biodiversity-of-st-mary-scollege-of-maryland and will be continued by the St. Mary’s Natural History Society’s expedition team in the spring. iNaturalist now has more than 2,100 observations and they are always looking for more people to record their observations in St. Mary’s and Calvert County, MD. The app is available in both the App Store and Google Play. o

Tomato Selections for Small Spaces

If you do not have a lot of space to grow tomatoes in your garden, some varieties are easy to grow in limited-space gardens. If you are looking to grow a plum/ paste tomato in your garden, look for the 4–5 inch ‘San Marzano’ or ‘Orange Banana’. ‘San Marzano’ has a deeply rich and savory flavor and can grow 50– 80 fruits per plant. ‘Orange Banana’ produces 40–50 fruits per plant and the sweet fruit makes for one of the most flavorful sauces possible. For sandwich or slicing tomatoes, look for ‘Eva Purple Ball’, ‘Big Rainbow’ or ‘Stupice’ tomatoes, according to the “Ultimate Tomato Garden Guide” from Harvesting History (https://harvestinghistory.com/). ‘Eva Purple Ball’ is the quintessential tomato for its perfect size, texture, and flavor. This plant produces about 30 fruits per vine and always has a strong flavor. ‘Big Rainbow’ is not as sweet as other fruits but has an intense flavor. It can produce about 20 8–12 ounce fruits per vine. ‘Stupice’ tomatoes are only 1-2 ounces, but they can tolerate cold temperatures. They have a strong, savory flavor, and provide a generous amount of fruit. As for cherry tomatoes, there is only one fruit to grow with limited space and that would be the ‘Sungold.’ ‘Sungolds’ are sweet no matter where they are grown. These half-ounce fruits come from long cascading vines that produce 10–40 orange or deep-golden tomatoes per plant. o Johnny Moseman is a senior multi-platform journalism major at the University of Maryland from Columbia, MD. He is an editorial intern at Washington Gardener this spring semester.

GARDENnews

Quick Links to Washington Gardener Blog Posts • DIY: Rose Beads • Community Gardens of the DMV • Spring has Sprung for Bloom Day • I am GardenComm

See more Washington Gardener blog posts at: WashingtonGardener.blogspot.com o

New Plant Spotlight

Longwood’s Newest Clivia The votes are in, the newest clivia from Longwood Gardens will be called ‘Longwood Winter Green’. The first green clivia released from the world-renowned Longwood Gardens’ breeding program, ‘Longwood Winter Green’ features a beautiful bloom with creamy-green petals that gently cup a throat of deeper green. The blooms are offset by glossy, dark-green foliage, creating a symphony of green, which is a rarity in the plant world. More than 11,000 votes were cast in the online voting, with ‘Longwood Winter Green’ beating out ‘Longwood Hint of Mint,’ and ‘Longwood Green with Envy’. This is the sixth named clivia to be released from Longwood’s clivia breeding program, which began in 1976. Previous Longwood Clivia introductions include the Clivia miniata ‘Longwood Debutante’ in 2011, Clivia miniata ‘Longwood Fireworks’ in 2012, Clivia miniata ‘Longwood Sunrise’ in 2014, Clivia miniata ‘Longwood Chimes’ in 2016, and Clivia miniata ‘Longwood Sunset’ in 2017. The new clivia was on display at the recent Philadelphia Flower Show and also from March 16–17 when Longwood hosted the North American Clivia Society Show. o

March-April Garden To-Do List

• Avoid walking on and compacting wet soil in the garden. • Prune grapevines. • Put up trellises and teepees for peas, climbing beans, etc. • Plant peas, potatoes, beets, turnips, radishes, cabbage, mustard greens, onion sets, carrots, and kale. • Set out traps for mice, moles, and voles. • Get a soil test. • Do soil preparation—add lime, compost, etc., as needed. • Mulch beds with a light hand. • Start or update your garden journals. • Clean out any old debris from last season from your growing beds. • Turn your compost pile. • Repot root-bound houseplants and start fertilizing them. • Clean leaves and debris from your water garden. • Do not be alarmed if your pond turns green from algae bloom—this is natural until your water plants fill the surface area. Add a barley ball to combat it for now. • Cut back ornamental grasses. • Water during dry spells. • Cut your Daffodils for indoor bouquets, but do not combine daffs with other flowers in one vase. They give off a toxic substance that may kill off your other blooms prematurely. • Weed by hand to avoid disturbing newly forming roots. • Walk your garden—look for early signs of fungal disease. • Divide perennials and herbs. • Fertilize new growth. • Plant and prune roses. • Transplant small trees and shrubs. • Buy or check on your stored summer bulbs (such as dahlias and caladiums). Pot them and start to water if you want to give them an early start on the season. • If you started seeds last month, thin them and start the hardening-off process. • Start some more seeds—try flowering annuals like impatiens and petunias. • Prune fruit trees as their buds are swelling. Check for dead and diseased wood to prune out. Cut a few branches for indoor forcing, if desired. • Build a raised bed for vegetables. Add lots of manure and compost. • Buy an indoor plant to liven up your office space. Try an orchid or African violet. • Cut back and clear out the last of your perennial beds. • Feed birds and provide nesting materials (try dryer lint), as well as houses for the start of their family season. • Plant a tree for Arbor Day. Arbor Day falls on different dates in different states. In our area, it is the first Wednesday in April for Maryland. Virginia has it on the second Friday in April, and DC has it on the last Friday in April. In addition, many local groups and towns have their own celebrations. • Read a good gardening book or magazine. • Cut some branches (Forsythia, Quince, Bittersweet, Redbud, etc.) for forcing into bloom and enjoying indoors. o MARCH 2019

WASHINGTON GARDENER

INSECTindex

By Carol Allen

Have you ever wondered why the flea beetles swarm through your garden just when the eggplant is young and vulnerable? Or why the tent caterpillars make their nests at the same time every year? Or why your extension agent says to treat your lawn with a crabgrass preventer when the forsythia blooms? All of those events depend on the accumulating warm temperatures as we move into spring. You may hear a horticulturist refer to this as keeping track of “degree days” (DD) or “growing degree days” (GDD). Tracking degree days is challenging. Watching the flowers bloom is easy and enjoyable. When the flowering events of plants are hooked up to the emergence of insects (usually pests), you are using the science of phenology. That is the basis for your extension agent informing you to apply crab grass preventer when the forsythia is in bloom (35 DD50). Degree days, or the system of measuring the accumulating warmth, is a bit complicated to explain, but it goes 12

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like this (using the averaging method): We start adding up the amount of time that the average temperature rises above a certain base temperature. 50˚F is usually used as the base temperature and we begin counting on January 1. To calculate the degree day heat unit on a particular day, the minimum and maximum temperatures are averaged and the base temperature is subtracted from that figure. For example, if yesterday’s high was 53 and the low was 27, 53–27/2 = 13. If you subtract the base temperature of 50 from that, you get a negative number (-37). That makes sense when you think about it, since we are trying to look at the total number of warm “days” when insects would be active. Although it may have gotten up to 53˚F for a few hours, it was not warm enough to permit insect growth and development. Insects need warm weather to begin their life cycles. When degree days are calculated with a base temperature of 50˚F, the “50” is added to the abbre-

An alate (winged) green peach aphid (Myzus persicae), an important vector of plum pox virus. Photo by Scott Bauer, USDA/ARS.

A Time for Every Season: The Science of Phenology

viation and written as DD50. If you love early spring vegetables like I do, you may be thinking, “but what about my early veggies? That darn green peach aphid comes out pretty darn early, way before the temperature averages 50˚F! How do I look at those degree days so they are meaningful?” Cooler-weather plants and insects are tracked by degree days based on a lower base temperature; in this case, 40˚F. Green peach aphids can be found beginning their activity at 24 DD40. Plants become more active as the days grow warmer and their activity can be tracked by degree days as well. I love my early-blooming witch hazel. They will start to bloom when the degree days reach our baseline of 50˚ (1 DD50)!. My spring allergies start with the red maple bloom at 34 DD50. As you drive around the region, you may notice that crocus and snowdrops bloom in Northwest DC well before they bloom in Columbia, MD; while the ones in DC are just opening, they have been blooming south of Alexandria for over a week. You get the picture! Degree days will be different for all of these locations. How do you find your degree days? Go to: https://www. wunderground.com/history/. Enter your ZIP code or the code of your nearest airport. Scroll partway down the page to find the actual, average historic, and record growing degree day. Many universities have information sites about local pests and will list the degree days for emergence and other life cycle stages. Often phenology is included as more and more IPM practitioners use this handy guide in the effort to stay one step ahead of pests. Start a garden journal and make your own observations of pests and bloom times in your neighborhood. It just might give you the advantage in controlling those pesky pests. o Carol Allen describes herself as a committable plant-a-holic. She has more than 25 years’ experience in the horticulture industry, with a special interest in plant pests and diseases; is a Licensed Pesticide Applicator in the state of Maryland; and is an ISACertified Arborist. She can be contacted at carolallen@erols.com.

READERcontt Book Reviews, continued from page 9

stems in soil, saving seeds and starting plants, and regrowing whole plants and stems in water. In sections about dozens of plants, colorful photos lead readers through step-by-step instructions. Featured are blurbs with facts and tips, also written in a breezy way. For example, we learn that the tops of beets can be regrown in soilless mix for their nutritious leaves—baby leaves for salads and bigger ones sautéed for a side dish. The author tells us what tools we’ll need, how to cut off and replant the tops, how and when to harvest—and to toss the tops in the compost heap once leaves stop coming. A tip advises us to wash hands and countertops immediately after handling red beets—they’re trendy, but stain—since “you don’t want your kitchen to look like a murder scene.” A fact notes the mood-boosting quality of beets. Some efforts, the author notes, are long-term how-tos or kids’ science projects. With many fruit trees grafted using hybridized tops, the fruit eventually harvested may bear little resemblance to the one whose seeds you saved way back when (and you may not recall what variety of apple that was anyway). An avocado is better grown for fun than fruit. Each reader can use this book to weigh whether to delve into no-waste kitchen gardening, and the space and effort toward it (although, face it, you won’t be growing squash in indoor space whether you buy or save seeds). You’ll have the information you need to guide you through that process and enjoy the kitchen scraps you’re reusing. o

Reader Contest

For our March 2019 Washington Gardener Reader Contest, Washington Gardener is giving away three new Gardenia introductions from the Gardener’s Confidence® Collection (gardenersconfidence.com). The Swan Gardenia series was developed for the Gardener’s Confidence Collection to meet the need for better-performing Gardenias with improved cold hardiness and disease resistance, as well as exquisite bloom form, reliable rebloom, and compact habit. Swan Queen™ is a commanding yet lovely presence in the garden, with abundant reblooming double flowers from summer through fall, covering a dense mound of glossy foliage. Her royal breeding shows, with superior pest, disease, and cold tolerance. Swan Maiden’s compact size makes it perfect for containers or small gardens. The handsome, glossy foliage makes a wonderful year-round accent to a shrub border or flowerbed, and the intoxicating fragrance and reliable good looks will create a warm welcome flanking an entryway. Swan Princess™ is a true delight in a petite package, with fragrant double blooms starting early in the season and an excellent amount of reblooming. Darkgreen leaves perfectly offset the snowy white blooms, and her diminutive size will never outgrow her place, even in containers. To enter to win one of the three new Gardenia introductions from the Gardener’s Confidence Collection, send an email to WashingtonGardener@rcn.com by 5:00pm on March 31 with “M Gardener’s Confidence Collection” in the subject line and in the body of the email. Tell us what your favorite article was in this issue and why. Include your full name and mailing address. Winners will be announced on April 1.

Y ou Can Make a Difference. . . by

Sharing Your Harvest

Andrea F. Siegel is a master gardener and writer—and occasional seed-saver—in Maryland.

Your Ad Here

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

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. MARCH 2019

WASHINGTON GARDENER

GREENliving

Garden by Design Creative Approaches to Diverse Landscapes

Green Matters 2019

By Anne Hilliard On February 22, 2019, the Green Matters Symposium took place in Silver Spring, MD. at the Civic Center. The symposium was sponsored by Brookside Gardens, which is celebrating a milestone anniversary this year, 50 years of serving Montgomery County residents. The symposium theme this year was Garden by Design: Creative Approaches to Diverse Landscapes. The 2019 keynote speaker was Douglas Tallamy from the University of Delaware. Tallamy opened his talk by telling us that life as we know it is due to insects, and insects are on the decline, because of natural areas being taken over by cities, suburbs, rangeland, and turfgrass (yards). Bees have been affected particularly hard, with several species on the brink of extinction. Bees pollinate 80% of all plants and 90% of all flowering plants. Native bees need nesting places to overwinter in and we can help them by leaving woody stem plants in our yards over the winter and making “bee hotels” for them to shelter in, Tallamy said. Insects are an important source of food for birds. Birds need 6,000–9,000 caterpillars within a 50 meter radius to feed their chicks. Our yards can provide that habitat if planted appropriately. Caterpillars transfer energy from plants 14

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to other species such as birds. Caterpillars are soft, large, and nutritious (high in protein); have low chitin; and contain carotenoids that are essential to birds. We therefore should try to increase the number of caterpillars in our yards. The biggest problem that we fail to recognize is our deteriorating environment. Mammals eat insects and no insects in a world means a world without biological diversity. This challenges us to live sustainably. Since 85.6% of all land east of the Mississippi is privately owned, land ownership is not a privilege, but a responsibility. We must take care to use plants that support watersheds and the food web. The 21st century must be about restoring insect populations to maintain plant diversity. Things we can do to help insects, according to Tallamy, include: put security lights on sensors so they are not on at all times; add host plants to our yards, such as milkweed for monarch butterflies; leave poison ivy alone when possible; and help restore ecosystem function. One additional thing we can do is decrease meat consumption. The meat industry requires large tracts of land to grow the crops that feed the animals we eat. The second speaker was Jack Sullivan, who spoke on “The Garden City Today: A Design for Healing.” He described early urban design as all about humans. One early exception was in 1903, when the City of Ledgeworth

became a “garden city of tomorrow.” More recently, designers have helped create “Sponge Cities”—cities that absorb water rather than resist it. Other urban designers have taken postindustrial cities and repaired them by putting them back to their pre-industrial state. He then discussed the TKF Foundation’s Sacred Nature Initiative, which creates spaces to enable people to get outside for quiet, restful moments. These are small bits of nature at hospitals and other public spaces. The third speaker, Sandra Y. Clinton, talked about the value of being involved in a project very early and the challenges she encountered when working on local and out-of-town landscapes, and new construction projects. She also discussed using design elements in landscapes to help ensure the safety of pedestrians. The final speaker was Noel Kingsbury, much of whose talk centered on Piet Oudolf’s “10 Garden Ideas to Steal from Superstar Dutch Designer Piet Oudolf.” To learn more, go to the internet and search on Piet Oudolf. In Kingsbury’s talk expanded on the 10 elements that make Oudolf’s gardens spectacular: making a four-season garden; plant in hazy swaths using grasses; follow the 70% rule—70% of the plants are for structure and 30% are for filler; repeat a theme; employ matrix planting, where the background plants are visually quiet with a few visual treats planted within the matrix; support the local or native plants; plant in layers; frame the views—blurring the edges creates depth with plants that intermingle; and learn to love brown—enjoy our garden in all seasons. In addition to the speaker program, there were several exhibits in the lobby area, author book signings, and plenty of time for networking among the more than 400 attendees. Anne Hilliard is the recording secretary of the Silver Spring Garden Club.

Insects in Crisis

By Johnny Moseman During Green Matters 2019, University of Delaware Professor of Entomology Doug Tallamy gave a talk about how to design diverse habitats to support dif-

GREENliving ferent types of animals and insects. He highlighted why insects are so important to have around in our environments. He said humans and nature need to be able to coexist if this planet will be able to thrive in the future. When insects disappear, humans would ultimately disappear as well, because insects are crucial for our plants to live, Tallamy said. A world without insects is a world without biological diversity and ultimately one without humans. Another point he brought up is that humans are winning their war against insects so we are seeing an insect apocalypse today. He said humans are bad at dealing with the long-term risk of losing insects because we are wired to only react to short-term crises. Birds are running out of insects to eat when they are migrating and that is causing their populations to drop. Our ecosystems cannot be restored until the insect population is restored, Tallamy said. To combat this problem, Tallamy listed some solutions that revolve around growing plants that can sustain insect and animal populations. With these diverse habitats, insects and birds can thrive, as long as they are native to that area. Invasive species make it harder for insects and animals to live, so Tallamy urged the audience to do their research and use plants from our region, since plants from other regions cannot support our native insects. Johnny Moseman is a senior multi-platform journalism major at the University of Maryland from Columbia, MD. He is an editorial intern at Washington Gardener this spring semester.

Design for Healing

By Alexa Silverberg Another fascinating discussion was led by Jack Sullivan, associate professor in the Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture at the University of Maryland and senior associate with Campion Hruby Landscape Architects in Annapolis, MD. Sullivan’s session was on “The Garden City Today: Design for Healing.” Sullivan went into detail about urban design and urban landscape. Urban design/landscape differs from traditional architecture. Urban design

Contemporary Planting Design Rules

focuses on designing and shaping the physical features of cities, towns, and villages. Urban design deals in a larger scale, with groups of buildings, neighborhoods, and cities, to try to make urban areas more functional and sustainable. Sullivan then focused on different cities across the world. He showed what a supposedly ideal city looks like: Manhattan. He explained how Manhattan does not have the connection to nature we need. He compared this to the new green infrastructure of Singapore. China and Singapore have had dozens of eco city projects that have been incredibly successful. Sullivan mentioned Kongjian Yu, a Chinese landscaping artist, and credited him for transforming Chinese cities. He is known for his park designs, where he weaves forests with water, creating his own ecosystems through buildings and cities. To wrap up his talk, Sullivan discussed vertical farming, the practice of farming in vertically stacked layers, on vertically inclined surfaces, integrated in other structures. He showed examples of apartment buildings that are covered in greenery from cities around the world. Sullivan said this method is an essential way to heal the Earth’s ecosystem. Alexa Silverberg is a senior broadcast journalism major at the University of Maryland and is from Short Hills, NJ. She is an editorial intern at Washington Gardener this spring semester.

By Kathy Jentz Noel Kingsbury is a British garden designer and writer on gardening, plant sciences, and related topics. His talk focused on the juxtaposition between natural and cultivated landscapes. The modern, naturalistic style of Piet Oudolf is having a large influence in landscape design across the globe. The look is one of benign neglect and happy accidents of complementary plant groupings. For the home gardener, it is an effect that is difficult to achieve and labor-intensive to install and maintain. Kingsbury gave some tips and pointers for incorporating this design into a landscape. First, he recommended taking photos of the property and then converting the digital files to black-andwhite. That way, you can look at the actual bones and structures of what you have and not be distracted by the seasonal colors. Next, to create order in wild-looking space (and appease your neighbors), put in clipped hedges and straight lines along the borders. These anchor the whole design. “It nails it down,” Kingsbury said. “And it says to the garden visitor, ‘this is intentional.’” He suggested using ornamental grasses as formal, background elements as well. They are much fastergrowing and less-expensive than traditional hedges. He emphasized that color doesn’t matter. Pick dramatic plants with longlasting seedheads and spike/spire structures. Choose filler plants that are diffuse and wispy as your connecting elements. Don’t forget about integrating shortseason bulbs and spring ephemerals into your overall designs. Kingsbury said Dutch landscape and garden architect Mien Ruys was a master at using them and urged attendees to study her books and installations. Finally, use rhythm to tie it all together in a cohesive visual unity. That means repeating the same plantings and combinations in several spots. o Kathy Jentz is the editor and founder of the Washington Gardener.

MARCH 2019

WASHINGTON GARDENER

NEIGHBORnwork

Meet Compost Veteran Justen Garrity By Alexa Silverberg

food scraps, so it seemed like a good opportunity. We’ve grown from a one-man operation to a staff of 20. We pick up and compost 20-30 tons of food scraps every day. I try to keep a lot of white space on my calendar and wait to see where I’m needed each day. Sometimes it’s helping the guys bag compost for an order, fill in for a sick driver, or try to fix a piece of heavy equipment at one of our facilities. In the last nine years, no two days have ever been the same. What advice would you give to beginners/amateur gardeners in our area? Getting a soil test in your garden is always the first thing I recommend. That way, you get a baseline on your soil and know what you need to invest in to get your soil chemistry and biology in order. Obviously, I’m partial to amending soil with compost, but any strategy you use to increase the organic matter in your soil will help your garden thrive. Soil tests are inexpensive and more than pay for themselves. What do you do when not working? I often tell people that my time falls into two categories: Billable Hours and Family Time, so if I’m not on the clock, then I’m hanging out with my wife and daughter and the rest of our extended family.

We caught up with Justen Garrity at the recent Rooting DC 2019 event when our table for Washington Gardener was next to the Veteran Compost (www.veterancompost.com) display. Garrity received an ROTC scholarship to attend Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Worcester, MA. He served in South Korea as a platoon leader, in Missouri as a company executive officer, and in Iraq as an Assured Mobility Officer. He received numerous awards and badges during his time in the Army including: Bronze Star Medal, Army Commendation Medal (three times), Army Achievement Medal, Sapper tab, and parachutist badge. Tell us about you and your back16

WASHINGTON GARDENER MARCH 2019

ground. Are you native to the region? I grew up in Columbia, MD. After I graduated from high school, I went to college for Management of Information Systems and then spent 10 years in the Army as a Combat Engineer Officer. How did you get started with Veteran Compost? Where did the idea come from? What is your position/role? What is a typical workday like? I came back from Iraq and found myself unemployed, so I looked around for sustainable businesses that I could start with the money in my pocket. There weren’t any companies in the area permitted to collect and compost

Is there anything else you want to add or think would be of interest to our magazine readers about yourself or your work? If you can find room at home to compost, it’s a great way to help the planet and help your garden. Composting is a pretty magical process—transforming waste into something that your plants love. Oh, and saving the planet at the same time by keeping that stuff out of the landfill. o Alexa Silverberg is a senior broadcast journalism major at the University of Maryland and is from Short Hills, NJ. She is an editorial intern at Washington Gardener this spring semester. Responses edited for length and clarity.

DIYproje

Natural Bug Spray By Kathy Jentz

Last summer, we visited Tusculum Farm in Laytonsville, MD, on the Montgomery County Farm and Harvest Tour. The activities included working with essential oils, and we chose making your own “natural” bug spray to ward off ticks and mosquitoes. Here is the easy recipe. Ingredients: 2 oz. distilled water 2 oz. pure witch hazel or vodka 20 drops lemongrass essential oil 20 drops eucalyptus essential oil 10 drops geranium essential oil 1 4 oz. size empty metal spray container Steps: Add the water and witch hazel to the container, then slowly add in the essential oil drops so you don’t spill or lose count. Screw on the container cap. Make a label and apply it to the container. Shake it up. Spray on ankles and rub in. The verdict is still out on whether the spray is truly effective or not, but it smells good to us! o Kathy Jentz is the editor and founder of the Washington Gardener. MARCH 2019

WASHINGTON GARDENER

TOP AREA GARDENING EVENTS DC-Area Gardening Calendar ~ Events ~ March 16–April 16, 2019 • March 14–24 Environmental Film Festival in the Nation’s Capital (DCEFF) The DCEFF has announced the main slate of films for its 27th annual festival. DCEFF 2019 runs in venues across Washington, DC, and in the suburbs of Maryland. Tickets for this year’s festival will be available to the public soon. See the full schedule at https://dceff.org. • Monday, March 18, 8:00pm Gardening on a Dime: Smart Gardening for the Busy Professional This talk hosted by the Silver Spring Garden Club is free and open to all. Held at Brookside Gardens in Wheaton, MD. • Wednesday, March 20, 7:30pm Modern Methods for Breeding New Plants Today’s breeding process takes many years, acreage for planting out and selecting new plants, and many personhours. The new technique commonly known as CRISPR involves editing a plant’s genes directly, allowing breeders to create new varieties rapidly with positive traits such as disease-resistance; enhanced color, flavor, and nutrition; and even novel architecture. The speaker is Janet Slovin, a plant biologist who works for the Agricultural Research Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Held at Historic Takoma, 7328 Carroll Ave., Takoma Park, MD. This talk is free and open to the public. It is hosted by the Takoma Horticultural Club, www.takomahort.org. • Tuesday, March 26, 7:30pm Emerald Ash Borer Update Maryland’s ash trees are under attack from the emerald ash borer, an Asian beetle. This program will present an overview of the current status of emerald ash borer in Maryland; new projects including treatments, biocontrol, and genetic research; and the long-term outlook for emerald ash borer and ash management. The program, presented by the Maryland Native Plant Society, is free and open to the public. See details at www.mdflora.org.

WASHINGTON GARDENER MARCH 2019

• Wednesday, March 27, 7:30pm It Could Have Been an Embassy: The Past, Present, and Future of the American Horticultural Society’s River Farm Dan Scott will discuss the exciting history of River Farm. Along the way, he will share his favorite plants for the DC region, and tips and tricks for the home gardener from a career spent working in non-profit gardens. Finally, he will share a glimpse of what is to come for River Farm. This talk is hosted by the Beltsville Garden Club and is free and open to all. Held at James Duckworth School, 11201 Evans Trail, Beltsville, MD. • Saturday, March 30, 8:30am–4pm U.S. National Arboretum’s 33rd Annual Lahr Symposium—Native Plants: Advancing Our Dialogue with Nature Learn to look at cues from nature, whether it is pinpointing the best grasses and sedges to control stormwater or combining natives to reduce maintenance. Hear about newly discovered native species, visit an arboretum restoration project, discover how pesky invasives can help produce alluring art, or learn about plants toughing it out in some unexpected places. Registration to open soon. Go to: https://www.usna. usda.gov/visit/events-calendar/. Native Plant Sale in parking lot, open to non-registrants from 9:30am–1pm. • Saturday March 30, 10am–3pm National Capital Orchid Society Annual Orchid Auction More than 300 rare and unusual blooming or near-blooming sizes from well-known growers coast-to-coast and private collections. Pictures of all orchid flowers will be projected. Held at North Chevy Chase Christian Church, 8814 Kensington Parkway, Chevy Chase, MD. Details at www.ncos.us, • Sunday, March 31, 10:30am–12pm The Other Georgia: Springtime in the Caucasus Between the Alps and Himalayas, the Caucasus encompasses elements from both of these great mountain ranges. However, much of the flora here is endemic, containing plants found nowhere else in the world. Join Panayoti

Kelaidis, senior curator and director of outreach, Denver Botanic Gardens. for a lively discussion of a recent collecting expedition focused primarily on bulbs, ephemerals, and much more. Please note: This program is offered in conjunction with the Potomac Valley Chapter of the National Rock Garden Society. Limited seats will be available. Held at the U.S Botanic Garden. Free: Pre-registration required, visit www. USBG.gov/Learn. • Sunday, March 31, 1pm The Beauty & Benefits of Using Native Plants Discover how to add beauty to your garden with native plants while helping to support birds, butterflies, and beneficial insects. Carol Allen, horticulturist, teacher, and ISA-certified arborist, will share plants including trees, shrubs, and perennials that will create an environment to please both you and your favorite critters. Free. Held at Behnke Nurseries, Beltsville, MD. Registration requested. See behnkes.com. • Throughout April Landscape Architecture Month The National Building Museum is celebrating landscape architecture with various events. See: http://go.nbm.org/ site/Calendar/. • Tuesday, April 2, 7–8:30pm Small Space Gardening for Pollinators Research has shown the importance residential gardens play in providing environmental support for wildlife. Learn which plants will attract and fill the needs of our native pollinators even if your garden space is limited to a small yard, patio, or balcony. Best gardening practices for pollinators and special considerations for designing and maintaining successful containers of native plants will also be discussed. This class is offered by Extension Master Gardeners. Free. Advance registration requested at mgnv.org. Held at the Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library, 717 Queen Street, Alexandria, VA. More information at https://mgnv.org/publiceducation-event.

TOP AREA GARDENING EVENTS DC-Area Gardening Calendar ~ Events ~ March 16–April 16, 2019 •Thursday, April 4, 6:30-8pm Discuss Cultivating Environmental Justice: A Literary History of U.S. Garden Writing with the Garden Book Club We will discuss Cultivating Environmental Justice: A Literary History of U.S. Garden Writing by Robert S. Emmett. Meet at Soupergirl, right next to the Takoma Metro stop. Washington Gardener Magazine’s Garden Book Club is free and open to all. • Saturday, April 6, 2–3:30pm Dealing with Deer and Other Mammals in the Gardens Bambi may be cute, but he would love to make a feast of your garden. In this talk by Washington Gardener editor Kathy Jentz, learn proven and humane tactics for gardening with deer, rabbits, rodents, groundhogs, and other creatures that are attracted to both edible and ornamental gardens. $18/person. Register online at https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/parktakes/ using code 27C.63BB or call Green Spring Gardens at 703-642-5173. • Saturday, April 6, 10am–4pm Camellia Show and Sale The Camellia Society of the Potomac Valley will hold its annual judged flower show (in cooperation with the American Camellia Society) and a sale of coldhardy camellia plants at Brookside Gardens in Wheaton, MD. The sale of fall- and spring-blooming cultivars will be from 10am–4pm. The flower show will be open to the public from 1–4pm. Cultivation and landscaping tips will be available. See www.cspv.org. • April 7–12 and April 21–26 Excavation and Landscape Restoration Expeditions: “Unearthing Madison’s Landscape” This unique Archaeology Excavation Expedition will combine the archaeology excavation and landscape restoration of the Madison landscape. This is a week-long, hands-on volunteer and educational experience where you work side-by-side with professional archaeologists excavating original tree plantings and landscape features in Madison’s Pine Alley, and uncovering the different

features and artifacts that have been buried for more than two centuries. You will learn how archaeologists and horticulturalists work together to use archaeological, historical, and botanical information to interpret the visual landscape, and participate in the replanting of trees to restore the historic Madison retirement-era landscape. For more information and to register, see https:// www.montpelier.org/visit/excavate-fieldexpedition. • Friday, April 12, 9–11am Memorial Arboretum Spring Plant Tour Bathe in Arlington National Cemetery’s spring beauty with a stroll through the Memorial Arboretum. Tour a diverse collection of flowering shrubs and perennials. Learn firsthand from the cemetery’s horticulturist about how to identify and grow these spring-blooming treasures. Meet at the Welcome Center Information Desk. Free. • Sat, April 13, 1:30–2:30pm Perennials with Andre Viette Join accomplished author, lecturer, and hybridizer Andre Viette for an inspirational session on all things perennials. He will share ideas you can implement in your own garden. Held at Merrifield Garden Center’s Gainesville, VA, location. Free. See details at www.merrifieldgardencenter.com. • Saturday, April 13 and Sunday, April 14 Daffodil Show The Washington Daffodil Society will hold its spring show at the Alexandria Valley Scottish Rite Temple, 1430 W. Braddock Rd., Alexandria, VA. See: thewashingtondaffodilsociety.org. • On view through October 6 Bloom: Flowers in the Archives of American Art The new exhibition features the work of skilled artists who have taken inspiration from the natural world to present floral works in progress. Put on by the Archives of American Art at the Lawrence A. Fleischman Gallery, 8th and F streets NW, WDC. Free. Details at www. si.edu.

Save These Future Dates • Thursday, April 18, 2–3:30pm Dealing with Dry Shade In our hot and humid summers, a shade garden can be a soothing sanctuary, but dealing with dry shade is a common challenge for many local gardeners. Kathy Jentz, editor, Washington Gardener Magazine, will discuss design choices, soil amendments to increase moisture retention, and proven plant choices that work in these tough conditions. We’ll also examine case studies from local gardeners who have not only conquered dry shade, but made it a rewarding environment to grow in. Fee: $22. Held at Brookside Gardens in Wheaton, MD. Register at https://apm. activecommunities.com/montgomerycounty/Activity_Search/designing-fordry-shade/57596. • Friday, April 26 to Monday, April 29 City Nature Challenge 2019 City Nature Challenge is a friendly competition among 100+ cities worldwide to see who can involve the most people as they photograph wild plants (which includes weeds), animals, and other life forms in the four-day period. Anyone can participate; all you need is a smart phone or a regular camera and internet access to iNaturalist. Details online at citynaturechallengedc.org. • April 27–May 4 Historic Garden Week in Virginia See www.vagardenweek.org. • May 13–19 National Public Gardens Week See www.publicgardens.org.

Still More Event Listings

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

How to Submit Local Garden Events

To submit an event for this listing, contact kathyjentz@gmail.com with “Event” in the subject line. Our next deadline is April 5 for the April 2019 issue, for events taking place after April 16, 2019. o MARCH 2019

WASHINGTON GARDENER

EDIBLEharvt

Growing Thornless Blackberry Plants

By Dennis Hager

I grew up on a farm in the Piedmont region of North Carolina. Wild blackberries were abundant so we never considered planting them. They were large and had great flavor. When I bought a farm on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, there were lots of blackberries, but to put it nicely, they were tiny berries with no flavor. I decided to order plants and in 2014, I ordered from Indiana Berry & Plant Company. When reading and studying up on blackberries, I noted many references to hardiness and winter damage. I have had absolutely no winter damage (Zone 6-7). They are all perfectly hardy with no winter protection. I grow 4 varieties of thornless blackberries: ‘Arapaho’, ‘Apache’, ‘Triple Crown’, and ‘Chester’. I wanted to harvest over a long period and since most varieties have no more than a two- to three-week harvest period, I chose the varieties based on ripening season. They are listed from earliest to latest ripening.

Planting and Care

When I established my planting, it included one thorned variety. Pruning and maintenance of that one is much more difficult and it was slower to establish. There were claims of superior flavor, but after two years, I decided that it had no place in my garden. The most important principle of growing blackberries is that the fruit is 20

WASHINGTON GARDENER MARCH 2019

produced on canes that grew the year before. Once it has fruited, that cane is superfluous and should be removed. Just like roses, blackberries are heavy feeders. Keep them fed (fertilized) and they will produce for many years. A few newer cultivars bear on current season growth (primocane fruiting), but they depend on a very long growing season. Space and siting are important for good production. Growth habit varies from trailing to erect, but all blackberries should be trellised. Erect varieties should be spaced at least 4 feet apart while trailing varieties should be at 8 foot intervals. They need full sun and tolerate many soil conditions, but not standing water. My brother in South Carolina has had birds strip the fruit as it ripens and observed that plantings close to trees are more vulnerable. So far, I have had no problems with birds. Blackberries, like many members of the rose family, are ideal for bare root establishment. They are completely hardy in the Mid-Atlantic and are best planted dormant in early spring. The first growing season is to establish the plant. When planted, it should be pruned to ground level. Intuitively, this is hard to do, but it is important. It assures that every cane will be productive next year. When trellising, keep in mind that the cane you are tying up is going to be coming down next year. If you use

string, I would recommend a natural fiber that you expect to deteriorate in a year. I use a system without tying. It makes cleanup much easier.

When to Harvest

It is not always easy to determine when a blackberry is ripe. The berries go from green to white to red to black, which is when they should be ripe. However, both ‘Arapaho’ and ‘Apache’ are extremely large and reach the ripe color before they are ripe. To get consistent ripeness, the berry should release from the stem when gently pulled or turned. I find that with initial picking of these early varieties, that is a little difficult. In my restaurant, we use them in pie or coulis where sweetness can be adjusted. Both varieties have large seeds, so we prefer to make coulis so the seed can be removed. That’s a little frustrating with ‘Apache’ because the fruit is huge. It is spectacular on the plate as a garnish or part of a salad, but they are difficult to get a consistent taste. ‘Arapaho’ has the same difficulties but it is less pronounced. ‘Chester’ (which was developed in Maryland) is easier to pick with consistent flavor. The fruit maintains firmness with flavor and ships well. I know a commercial grower who prefers ‘Chester’ because of its shelf life.

Pass Up the Popular

When I was selecting blackberry varieties, I was sure that ‘Triple Crown’ would be my favorite. Among plant hucksters, it appears to have taken the market the way that ‘Stella d’Oro’ took the daylily market. ‘Stella d’Oro’ is not my favorite and neither is ‘Triple Crown’. The flavor is good, but the fruit is soft and more fragile. I can live with that. However, it puts out underground runners and can pop up in places you don’t want it. The canes grow quite long. I find that I need to prune current-year growth frequently to keep it under control. If a cane grows to where it touches the ground, it will root in a few days. (See photo on opposite page.) Furthermore, once it roots, the cane can reverse growth direction (I suspect there’s a name for this), quickly establishing a new plant. Other varieties are less likely to do this, instead developing new apical meristem for aboveground growth.

EDIBLEharvt Before harvest season is over, new canes will begin to emerge. The spent canes should be removed. There is debate over the best time to do it. Some argue that the spent cane should be left until frost. I am of the opinion that it doesn’t matter nearly as much as the simple fact that you should do it. It is much easier to train growth for the next harvest if the old cane has been removed. In addition, the longer you put it off, the more difficult it will be. New growth will make it harder to remove the old canes. Once again, because it is so aggressive, ‘Triple Crown’ requires much more maintenance than the other varieties. Spent canes should not only be removed—they should be removed from the site. They may be composted, but they are very slow to compost and there is the risk of carrying over disease. I have the luxury of burning. There’s nothing like a fire to clean up around the place. Although I harvest blackberries over a six-week period. it still isn’t enough. This year, I ordered ‘Von’, a later-ripening variety introduced by NC State. The plants arrived this week. In a few years, I may give another update. o Dennis Hager is a life-long gardener, pharmacist (45 years), restaurateur (11 years), and former mayor (14 years). He gardens on the Upper Eastern Shore of Maryland.

Italian Panna Cotta with fresh, local Blackberry Coulis. Photo by Susan Lucas Hoffman, kingstreetmarketinggroup.com. Flickr Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic.

Blackberry Coulis

This easy fruit sauce recipe can be served over ice cream, pancakes, flourless chocolate cake, or panna cotta. You can spike it by adding a liqueur such as Cointreau to the sauce. Ingredients: • 10 oz blackberries • 2 oz caster sugar • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract Instructions: Put the blackberries in a saucepan mixed with the sugar and bring to a boil. Simmer until the fruit is soft, then stir in the vanilla extract. Let it cool a bit, then strain the sauce through a sieve to remove the seeds. You can serve it warm or chilled. It keeps well in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days, or freeze for up to three months.

Thornless Blackberry Plant Sources • AgriStarts, Inc. www.agristarts.com • Gurney’s Seed and Nursery Co. www.gurneys.com • Indiana Berry & Plant Company www.indianaberry.com • North American Plants www.naplants.com • Nourse Farms www.noursefarms.com • Pense Nursery www.penseberryfarm.com • Stark Bro’s Nursery www.starkbros.com

MARCH 2019

WASHINGTON GARDENER

HORThaenings

Potomac Rose Society Cocktail Hour

About 20 people gathered on Friday, February 22, for a special Potomac Rose Society (PRS) social happy hour. People gathered to talk about roses with new and old friends, and to experience the rose-based cocktail that has the whole city talking. They gathered at the Dirty Habit, the centerpiece restaurant of DC’s Hotel Monaco. Located steps from the Gallery Place Metro in downtown Washington, DC, this Penn Quarter hot spot is known for the Rice n Roses cocktail, a floral and nutty concoction that features a homemade rose syrup. Head bartender Sarah Ruiz prepared the syrup by simmering dried roses into a tea, then adding sugar and lychee. Rose petals act as the final garnish. Virgin Rice n Roses cocktails without alcohol were also available.

Press Conference for 2019 National Cherry Blossom Festival

The press conference for the 2019 National Cherry Blossom Festival took place Wednesday, March 6, at the Newseum. Press from many international outlets filed in that morning to find out when the cherry blossoms are predicted to be in peak bloom. The event began with an incredible live performance by Malik Stewart, who drummed, danced, and scootered, all at the same time. Next followed brief speeches by Diana Mayhew, National Cherry Blossom Festival President; Takehiro Shimada, Minister for Communications and Cultural Affairs, Embassy of Japan; and Greg O’Dell, Events DC. They discussed 22

WASHINGTON GARDENER MARCH 2019

the cultural meaning and economic significance of the festival. The festival is dedicated to promoting the beauty of nature and international friendship. It commemorates the 1912 gift of 3,000 cherry trees from Mayor Yukio Ozaki of Tokyo to the city of Washington, DC, and celebrates the enduring friendship between the people of the United States and Japan. This year, the National Cherry Blossom Festival begins March 20 and ends on April 14. The press conference concluded with the announcement by the National Park Service that the cherry blossoms are predicted to be in peak bloom from April 3 to April 5.

Rooting DC 2019

This year’s Rooting DC was held February 23 at Ron Brown Prep in the Deanwood neighborhood of Washington, DC. Rooting DC is a free, all-day urban gardening forum. Throughout the day, attendees were encouraged to learn about more than 60 green business and nonprofits at tables filled with information, giveaways, and seeds. Dozens of workshops were held about on all things green. This year’s workshops provided education about urban agriculture and food systems, protection of the environment, cooking and food preservation, and panel discussions. This year marked another successful Rooting DC, with attendees lined up waiting for the doors to open. The first Rooting DC was held in 2008. According to the Rooting DC website, “over the past 10 years we’ve offered 450 workshops, mobilized 350 volunteers, and unified voices of residents, farmers, schools, government agencies, the food service industry, and non-profit organizations in a shared goal of protecting and strengthening our regional food system, and empowering individual engagement in food production.”

Orchid Show: Adaptations

The orchid exhibit opening reception was on the evening of Friday, February 22. It was held at the Robert and Arlene Kogod Courtyard of the Smithsonian American Art Museum and National Portrait Gallery. This was an early look at “Orchids: Amazing Adaptations,” which will run until April 28. The orchid exhibit is a joint col-

laboration with Smithsonian Gardens, United States Botanic Garden (USBG), Smithsonian American Art Museum, and National Portrait Gallery. The orchids fill the open courtyard in stunning variety. The installation showcases how orchids have adapted to their many different environments, and can be found on every single continent except Antarctica. At the opening reception, Barbara Faust, director of Smithsonian Gardens, spoke of the great amount of work that went into this exhibit and the beauty of the selected orchids. The evening included food, drinks, and live music that complemented the beautiful event space. Justin Kondrat, a curator for Smithsonian Gardens, said that there are more than 500 collection items in the display. Kondrat said that 200 of the items are from the USBG. He said that given the government shutdown, the exhibit was a challenge, but they were able to adapt and pull it off. o This issue’s “HortHappenings” were compiled by Alexa Silverberg. She is a senior broadcast journalism major at the University of Maryland and is from Short Hills, NJ, and is an editorial intern at Washington Gardener this spring semester. See photos from events listed here, as well as many more photo albums of recent local garden events attended by our staff, at the Washington Gardener Facebook Page: facebook.com/WashingtonGardenerMagazine. Recent albums include pictorials from the recent garden club events and festivals. Click on the PHOTOS tab.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SUMMER 2009 • Grow Grapes in the Mid-Atlantic • Passionflowers • Mulching Basics • Growing Hops

MARCH/APRIL 2008 • Patio, Balcony, Rooftop Container Gardens • Our Favorite Garden Tools • Coral Bells (Heucheras)

U MAY/JUNE 2008 DO SOL • Growing Great Tomatoes UT! O • Glamorous Gladiolus LD ! SO • Seed-Starting OUT Basics D L •SFlavorful Fruiting Natives O

JULY/AUGUST 2008 • Landscaping with Ornamental Grasses • Edible Grasses to Graze On • Slug and Snail Control • Sage Advice: Sun-Loving Salvias SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2008 • Autumn Edibles — What to Plant Now • Beguiling Barrenworts (Epimediums) • Best Time to Plant Spring-blooming Bulbs • 14 Dry Shade Plants Too Good to Overlook NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2008 • Outdoor Lighting Essentials • How to Prune Fruiting Trees, Shrubs, Vines • 5 Top Tips for Overwintering Tender Bulbs • Harry Lauder’s Walking Stick JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2009 • Compost Happens: Nature’s Free Fertilizer • Managing Stormwater with a Rain Garden • Visiting Virginia’s State Arboretum • Grow Winter Hazel for Winter Color

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

MARCH/APRIL 2009 ! OUT Tips D • 40+ Free and Low-cost Local Garden SOL ! T • Spring Edibles Planting Guide OU LDfor a Fresh Start • Testing YourSO Soil ! Selection and Care UTTree • Redbud O LD Viewing Spots for Virginia Bluebells • SOBest

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

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

FALL 2009 • Apples • How to Save Tomato Seeds • Persimmons WINTER 2009 • Battling Garden Thugs • How to Start Seeds Indoors • Red Twig Dogwoods • Unusual Edibles to Grow in Our Region SPRING 2010 • Community Gardens • Building a Raised Bed • Dwarf Iris • Broccoli SUMMER 2010 • Fragrance Gardens • Watering Without Waste • Lavender • Potatoes FALL 2010 • Vines and Climbers • Battling Stink Bugs • Russian Sage • Garlic WINTER 2010 • Paths and Walkways • Edgeworthia • Kohlrabi SPRING 2011 • Cutting-Edge Gardens • Final Frost Dates and When to Plant • Bleeding Hearts • Onions SUMMER 2011 • Ornamental Edibles • Urban Foraging • Amsonia/Arkansas Blue Star • Growing Corn in the Mid-Atlantic FALL 2011 • Herb Gardens • Toad Lilies • Sweet Potatoes • Cool Weather Cover Crops WINTER 2011/EARLY SPRING 2012 • Green Roofs and Walls • Heaths and Heathers • Radishes

Are you trying to reach thousands of gardeners in the greater DC region/MidAtlantic area? Washington Gardener Magazine goes out in the middle of every month. Contact kathyjentz@gmail.com or call 301.588-6894 for ad rates (starting from $200). The ad deadline is the 5th of each month. Please submit your ad directly to: kathyjentz@gmail.com.

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SPRING 2012 • Pollinator Gardens • Brunnera: Perennial of the Year • Growing Yacon

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SPRING 2013 • Great Garden Soil • All About Asters • Squash Vine Borer

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SUMMER/FALL 2013 • Miniature/Faerie Gardens • Beguiling Abelias • Growing Great Carrots WINTER/EARLY SPRING 2014 • Ferns for the Mid-Atlantic • Chanticleer Gardens • Beet Growing Basics

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To advertise with us, please contact KathyJentz@gmail.com or call 301.588.6894 today. Next deadline: April 5 MARCH 2019

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Jentz Prints

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

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

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