MARCH 2016 VOL. 11 NO. 1
WWW.WASHINGTONGARDENER.COM
WASHINGTON WAS W WASHINGTO ASHINGTO
ggardener
the magazine for gardening enthusiasts in the Mid-Atlantic region
Growing Colossal Cabbages Your Monthly Garden Tasks To-Do List Behind-the-Scenes at the Smithsonian Garden Greenhouses
Key Ways to Prevent Catching the Zika Virus The One Handsaw You Need Local Gardening Events Calendar
Raising Arugula Meet Plant Mapper Bill Blevins
7Stress-free Perennials
that Work Hard for You
RESOURCESsourc
o oo ooo 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.
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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.
Barry Glick Sunshine Farm and Gardens 696 Glicks Road Renick, WV 24966, USA Email: barry@sunfarm.com
www.sunfarm.com
Specializing in Garden
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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 gold mine of information and inspiration for the home gardener. It’s an outdoor classroom for children and their families to learn about plants and wildlife. It’s also a museum, a national historic site that offers glimpses into a long, rich history with colonial origins. Located at 4603 Green Spring Rd., Alexandria, VA. Information: 703-642-5173.
INSIDEcontents
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o Bill and Tracy Blevins founded PlantsMap.com, a community for anyone interested in plants, gardens and green spaces.
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The staff at the Smithsonian Gardens Greenhouse at Suitland, MD, produce and maintain all of the plant material for the gardens, grounds, and horticultural exhibits including these stunning orchids.
FEATURES and COLUMNS BOOKreviews 18–19 Microgreens, Seeing Seeds, Shakespeare’s Gardens, Rescuing Eden DAYtrip 14–16 Smithsonian Greenhouses EDIBLEharvest 22 Arugula HORThappenings 23 Rooting DC, NBM Landscape Photos, USBG Mediterranean Room, Flower Show Trips NEIGHBORnetwork 20–21 Bill Blevins, Plant Mapper NEWPLANTspotlight 11 Begonia ‘Autumn Ember’ PLANTprofile 6–7 Low-maintenance Perennials PRODUCTreview 8 Silky Handsaw TIPStricks 10 Urban Soils for Urban Trees, Growing Colossal Cabbages, Preventing Zika Virus
DEPARTMENTS
ADVERTISINGindex BLOGlinks EDITORletter GARDENcontest LOCALevents MONTHLYtasklist NEXTissue RESOURCESsources
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ON THE COVER
Echinacea in the late summer at Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD.
In our April 2016 issue: Mosquito Control Growing Kohlrabi and much more...
o The Oxford English Dictionary dates the first appearance of “arugula” in American English to a 1960 New York Times article by food editor and prolific cookbook writer Craig Claiborne. Whether you call it Rocket or Arugula or by its Latin name Eruca sativa, this tasty green is easy to grow and makes a wonderful addition to pizza, sandwiches, omelets, and salads.
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If your business would like to reach area gardeners, be sure to contact us by April 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/ MARCH 2016
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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 Daisy-Nelly Nji Seema Vithlani Interns
Spring Predictions In early March every year, I attend the National Cherry Blossom Festival’s press gathering at the Newseum to hear the predicted peak bloom dates of our beloved Cherry trees around the Tidal Basin. I love attending this event since I minored in Japanese language and culture, and it is treat to rub elbows with the Japanese ambassador to the United States and talk to my Japanese press counterparts. Very few of them have any general gardening interest or knowledge, but all have become educated over the years on all the minutiae about the Prunus ‘Okame’ blossoms. Everyone mulls over what the early swelling buds mean for the festival dates and whether the mild December will ruin the mass flowering effect. This kind of devotion to one plant is inspiring. Maybe, if someone plants a flowering tree in their own home landscape, they will add spring bulbs around it in the fall, then some more shrubs and perennials in subsequent years. Are the Cherry trees a “gateway drug” for gardening in general? I pray this is so. What first got you hooked on gardening? My fellow garden communicators and I are trying to foment a #gardeningrevival. Not that gardening has not always been one of the top hobbies in our country—almost everyone has done it at some point in their lives. Yet, it has never been part of the in-crowd thing to do like the recent knitting and adult coloring books trends. I see signs, though, that a paradigm shift is happening. First Lady Michelle Obama is making gardening front-page news by visiting DC-area gardens and surprising fellow planters with backyard-worthy swag. Elsewhere, Oprah, Lady Gaga, and Taylor Swift are filling their Instagram feeds with photos of flowers and plants that they are growing. Can a prime time gardening reality show be far behind? This spring, I hope you look around and reach out to a budding gardener in your life. Perhaps a young person or a neighbor who has admired your plants and would welcome a cutting and some care instructions. Most of us started our love of gardening under the mentorship of another passionate gardener, it is time to pass that love along to the next generation. Happy gardening (and reading)!
Kathy Jentz, Editor/Publisher, Washington Gardener wgardenermag@aol.com 4
WASHINGTON GARDENER
Cover price: $4.99 Back issues: $6.00 Subscription: $20.00 Address corrections should be sent to the address above. • Washington Gardener Blog: www.washingtongardener.blogspot.com • Washington Gardener Archives: http://issuu.com/washingtongardener • Washington Gardener Discussion Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ WashingtonGardener/ • Washington Gardener Twitter Feed: www.twitter.com/WDCGardener • Washington Gardener is a womanowned business. We are proud to be members of: · Garden Writers Association · Think Local First DC · DC Web Women · Green America Magazine Leaders Network · Green America Business Network To order reprints, contact Wright’s Reprints at 877.652.5295, ext. 138. Volume 11, Number 1 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.
MARCH 2016
READERcontt
Reader Contest
For our March 2016 Washington Gardener Reader Contest, Washington Gardener is giving away three Streptopus roseus plants to one lucky winner, courtesy of Sunshine Farm & Gardens, based in Renick, WV, and online at www. sunfarm.com. (Total prize value of $25). Rosy-twisted stalk (Streptopus roseus) is hardy to Zones 3 to 10. It has supple, medium-green, arching, Solomon’s Seallike foliage. Its pendulous pink flowers turn to deep-red berries and persist until autumn. It is a perennial that is native to the eastern half of the United States. The arching stems are 8–12" long and a mature plant is about 12" around. It prefers full shade to dappled sunlight with average to moist soil. There are no insect, pest, or disease problems; amazingly, it is 100 percent deer-proof. It is also known as Rosybells, Rose Mandarin, Scootberry, Liverberry, and Rose-bellwort. To enter to win the Streptopus roseus plants, send an email to WashingtonGardener@rcn.com by 5:00pm on March 31 with “Rosy-twisted stalk” in the subject line and in the body of the email. Tell us what your favorite article was in this March 2016 issue and why. Please also include your full name and mailing address. Winners will be announced and notified on April 1.
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Local Gardening Calendar
Each month includes a list of what to do in the garden for local DC-MD-VA and Mid-Atlantic gardeners, along with a gorgeous photo of a seasonal flower from a local public garden collection in our area. Go to http://www.cafepress.com/ washgardener to order this calendar for gifts and to treat yourself! Be sure to note on your order what month you want the calendar to start with. This calendar is a keeper that you can use for years!
Caption Contest
We asked our Facebook page followers to caption this photo. What are these potted daffodils at the U.S. Botanic Garden entrance vestibule thinking? Look for more monthly caption contests at the Facebook.com/WashingtonGardenerMagazine page.
Winning Captions: “Look at them, wandering lonely as a cloud.” ~ David Hobson “Welcome Sunshine!” ~ Amie Wheeler “I am not named Narcissus for nothing—stop and worship me!” ~ John Jacobs “I symbolize rebirth and new beginnings, think they will compost me when I’m done?” ~ Janet Saldge “My scent is intoxicating and my bulb can cause paralysis, but I’m just a harmless little flower, keep on moving *wink*.” “I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy; Down in my heart; Down in my ~ Hillary Coins heart to stay. Now everybody, I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy...” ~ Anne Humphries MARCH 2016
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PLANTprofile
7 Low-Maintenance
Powerhouse Perennials for our Region
of these new hybrids are also repeat bloomers or re-bloomers, meaning they will continually shoot up scapes (flower stalks) with multiple buds over several months during the summer. By removing the dead flowers and cutting back the scapes on your daylilies, you will promote new growth and new blooms throughout the season. Daylilies are among the most versatile perennials for the landscape. They are very drought-tolerant once established and can handle the scorching full sun in the summer and survive our cold winters as well. They are also pollutionresistant, so they can handle street-side winter salt-spraying conditions.
Echinacea
by Kathy Jentz Time in the garden is precious. Use yours to enjoy it more and work less. Here are seven hard-working perennial plants that are low-maintenance. They all give several seasons of garden interest and will return for years in your landscape with little care or intervention from you.
Phlox Groundcover
Phlox stolonifera, also known as Creeping Phlox or Carpet Phlox, is in bloom all over the region in early spring. The rest of the year, it is a green, low-growing groundcover. A great way to use it is as a cover for a bare patch at the front of a flowerbed or border. It also works well on a slope or over-hanging a retaining 6
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wall. It prefers part-shade conditions, but can tolerate full sun as well. Give it good drainage and it should do well for you.
Dayliliy
Daylilies are not your grandmother’s yellow and orange summer flowers growing out by the mailbox anymore. The genus Hemerocallis (Daylilies) has gone through tremendous hybridization in the past decade. Many of the daylily species produced for today’s gardeners have been manipulated by adding sets of chromosomes (Tetraploid) to the plant, which aids in producing a full array of colors, larger bloom size, and a much more vigorous plant. Most
The Echinacea perennial (commonly called ‘Coneflower’) is a member of the daisy family. Native Echinacea are found growing in moist to dry prairies and open wooded areas in eastern and central North America. Native Americans have used this perennial for more than 400 years as a general “cure-all” to treat infections and wounds. Due to new breeding introductions, these once all-purple cone flowers have exploded in popularity -- offering a diverse selection of flower colors, shapes, and sizes. They are used as a wonderful summerblooming perennial in the landscape. These great perennials come in a wide choice of colors ranging from bold shades of orange and yellow, radiant hues of purple, soft whites, and pretty hues of pink. The selection of colors is only one of the things we love about coneflowers; their unique flower forms are just as incredible. These perennials are not only beautiful; they are very easy to grow. Give these perennials a spot in full sun and enjoy their fabulous color year after year. These sturdy perennials will bloom from early summer until frost. Echinacea is a very low-maintenance perennial that attracts butterflies and makes incredible cut flowers. They are rarely troubled by pests or disease and will perform best in full sun to partial shade. Deadheading (or removing the past-bloom flower spikes) will promote re-blooming for your coneflowers throughout the summer and into the fall, but leave some up to go to seed
PLANTprofile over the winter—birds (especially goldfinches) love them and they are very pretty against a snowy background.
Black-eyed Susan
The Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia spp.) is the Maryland state flower and a native North American wildflower. It has one of the longest bloom periods of any perennial and can flower from July through September and beyond. Deadheading will extend the bloom time. Rudbeckia is an excellent cut flower and can be used dried in arrangements as well. It prefers full sun, but can thrive and flower in part-sun situations as well. It is quite hardy and drought-tolerant once established and is not picky about soil types. Rudbeckia forms clumps and can spread by runner or by re-seeding. It grows to about two feet wide by two feet high. Butterflies and other wildlife are big fans of this flower. Leave the seedheads up for winter garden interest and to feed the birds. Attractive in back of borders, massed, or in a woodland garden, it pairs well with Echinacea, Yarrow, and ornamental grasses. There are many lovely cultivars of the Rudbeckia species and more being introduced every year.
planted in groups to give a mass effect. The taller, upright varieties of Sedum typically develop large flower heads in mid-summer and bloom from late summer through fall. All varieties of Sedum require well-drained soil and are extremely drought-tolerant. Sedums are an easy perennial for even the novice gardener. They are very low-maintenance, requiring virtually no pruning to shape. They make good cut flowers, attract butterflies, and are a great addition to any landscape. You will be able to find the right sedum for any sunny spot in your yard since there are a number of varieties of groundcover and upright Sedum.
Asters
Sedum
There are many varieties of Sedum (also known as stonecrops) that are excellent summer-fall perennials. Sedum is a large genus of flowering plants in the family Crassulaceae, which have succulent leaves and therefore hold moisture and require very little water once established. Sedum perform excellent in full sun locations and thrive through summer’s dry heat. Sedum have become a very versatile perennial in the landscape due to the diverse growing habits of this sun-loving plant. There are groundcover varieties that grow only a few inches in height and are perfect for rock gardens. Some of these varieties endure foot traffic as well and work wonderfully in between rock pavers or planted down winding pathways. Most of the low-growing Sedum bloom in the spring or summer. The taller varieties of sedum work well as border perennials or can be
are good to go for the rest of the year. The hybrids that have been developed in recent years have an extensive array of colors, shapes, foliage types, and blossom sizes. Heucheras will bloom from early June until the end of August, but the foliage is the most eye-catching aspect of these perennials. Most varieties do best in part shade with some morning sun, but thanks to breeders, there are varieties that flourish from full sun to full shade. Heucheras have also been crosshybridized with another shade perennial called Tiarella to produce: Heucherella, which has added even more fantastic colors and textures to this extraordinary line of perennials. My personal favorite varieties are Heucherlla ‘Sweet Tea,’ Heuchera ‘Stainless Steel,’ and Heuchera ‘Southern Comfort.’
Heuchera (Coral Bells)
This incredible perennial species has been one of the breeder’s favorite plants for the last 15 years and for good reason. Heuchera are native to all of North America and, therefore, perform great in everyone’s own backyard. They are drought-tolerant and prefer soil to be a little more alkaline than acidic (clay). It is necessary to add some gardening soil when transplanting into the ground for best results. They flourish in stone containers and pottery, as shown in the photo above. Heuchera form large, symmetrical mounds, and do not require any pruning or special attention. Trim off any tattered foliage in early spring and they
Asters are a hardy perennial that blooms in late summer and autumn. The flowers are daisy-like in shape and come in shades of white, pink, lavender, and blue with a yellow center. The most popular variety is the New England Aster (Aster novae-angliae). It is pictured on the opposite page, as used in the garden of a local landscape designer. Their use in the garden is mostly as a filler plant in borders. They tend to flop, so often must be staked or placed next to a plant they can lean on. Look for some of the shorter, bushier new cultivars to avoid the flopping. You can also try to “pinch” or cut them back in late June to control their height. Asters prefer full sun and welldrained soil. Once established, they are drought-tolerant. They attract butterflies and make good cut flowers as well. Asters are native to Europe and North America. There are over 600 species in the Asteraceae family. Bonus: They are deer-resistant. o Kathy Jentz is editor of Washington Gardener Magazine and is a long-time DC-area gardening enthusiast. A different version of this article appeared previously on the DC Ladies group blog at www.thedcladies.com.
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PRODUCTreview
Smooth as Silk
by Louise Clarke One of the essential tools in any serious gardener’s kit is a sharp pruning saw. For optimal shrub and tree care, a razor=sharp saw will allow you to make precise, clean cuts, like a surgeon. The handsaw in my scabbard is a Silky brand Gomtaro, recommended to me by the Morris Arboretum’s arborists. Made in Ono, Japan, these are among the best available, incorporating centuries of Japanese metalworking skill into a rust-resistant, hard yet flexible, longwearing blade that slices like a samurai through sushi. Available in two sizes, the Gomtaro is offered with a 9½" (240 mm) or 12" (300 mm) blade, each sharing the same cutting edge features. The 12" Prosentie model gives you extra cutting length for larger pruning tasks, such as reducing bulky branches. Making smooth, “silky” cuts, the saw is well-balanced and a joy to use, weighing in at just over 5 ounces—about the weight of a smartphone. Silky’s proprietary alloy steel blades are impulse-hardened, meaning that the laser-cut teeth are harder than the rest of the blade. This manufacturing technique imparts exceptional tensile strength and great flexibility without breaking. I find my saws stay sharktooth sharp and serviceable for about a year before needing replacement. Unlike a shark, though, I’ve never seen Silky saws lose teeth. The gleaming, chrome-plated, stainless steel blade resists clogging by tree resins, like 8
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sticky pine sap, allowing it to be wiped clean. Cutting live wood is always easier than cutting dead, dry wood, and my Silky saw handles either situation with grace. The combination of fine and coarse taper-ground teeth, seven per inch, allows you to cut effortlessly on the pull stroke. The blade’s rounded nose makes cutting at various angles fluid and minimizes potential damage to adjacent branches. To avoid personal injury when pruning, you should always wear eye protection and gloves. All Silky saws are fitted with brightly colored, durable, rubber-like handles that are ergonomically shaped and comfortable to hold. From delicate geisha hands to sumo wrestler mitts, the surface offers a sure grip wet or dry, with or without gloves. This allows you to work longer without fatigue, and lessens the chance of injury. Take my word for it, I’ve found my Silky cuts through nylon ripstop fabric, denim, and bare flesh with alarming ease. The custom-designed plastic scabbard is easy to spot, same as the saw itself, in geranium red or marigold yellow, and has a clip designed to slip over a belt for secure carry. When fully sheathed, the saw locks in place for added insurance. In my case, one is mounted to my work cart, ready as
pruning opportunities arise, and never leaves its sheath during bouncy rides over rough terrain. Good practice in caring for your pruning saw includes carefully cleaning the teeth and wiping the blade dry before storage. Dragging it through soil can dull the teeth of any saw, creating a surface that snags rather than slices. If your blade becomes pinched when sawing a large branch, don’t bend it side to side in trying to release it. Rocking it in the same direction as your cut will emancipate your blade. Silky blades will take sideways flexing better than others, but if your blade is pinched close to its narrow nose, it may snap, as my interns have found out. For snappy sawyers, replacement blades are available and easily changed out with a screwdriver. I always write the replacement date on the blade’s tang so I can track its lifespan. With normal homeowner use and care, you should see several years of service in the garden before replacement. I typically replace my blade yearly, due to almost daily use. If you are using an old saw that is rusty (gasp!) or hasn’t seen a sharpening stone in recent memory, do your woody plants a favor—cease and desist. Make the investment in a quality hand saw. After all, you’ve invested money in your woody plants, so why would you skimp on their care? The yen spent on a Silky will repay you by saving time, and stimulating plant health by executing precision cuts. You will discover increased enjoyment of the zen of pruning. Any horticultural Samurai would be proud to brandish a Silky. o Louise Clarke is a degreed horticulturist employed by the Morris Arboretum in Philadelphia, PA, where she tends more than 1,200 woody plants and two green roofs, as well as leading workshops, writing, and lecturing on horticultural topics. As a zonedenial gardener, after hours, she tends Halcyon, her lush home garden, a mixture of tender tropicals, bulbs, perennials, unusual annuals, and vines. She rarely has time to admire the garden while seated in her tiki hut, made from repurposed materials.
G R E E N M AT TE R S SY M P O S I U M 2 016
a Garden G AT E WAY
Environmentally friendly landscape design and construction
Friday, April 8 �� 8:30am - 4pm Using Brookside Gardens’ recent Garden Gateway project as a springboard, the 2016 Green Matters Symposium will focus on elements of a successful, environmentally friendly landscape construction. From thorough planning and design to the use of hardscape materials, native plants, and local artistry, the symposium will inspire and offer practical suggestions on how you can design and construct a unique, beautiful and sustainable landscape. www.BrooksideGreen.org
FE AT U R E D S P E A K E R S
Lori Arguelles, Executive Director of the Alice Ferguson Foundation Gennadyi Gurman, Head of Interpretation at Queens Botanical Garden
Mary Pat Matheson, Director of Atlanta Botanical Garden
R EG I ST E R O N LI N E
Course #14881 at ActiveMONTGOMERY.org Or call 301-962-1451 Fee: $85 through February 29, then $99 CEUs available for APLD, CPH, and Master Gardeners
Stephanie Oberle, Director, Brookside Gardens (M-NCPPC)
Thomas Rainer, Landscape Architect and Author of Planting in a Post-Wild World
MARCH 2016
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TIPStricks
Key Ways to Prevent Catching the Zika Virus
Virginia Tech Researchers Find Urban Soils that Can Help Urban Trees Thrive
Virginia Tech researchers have developed a soil rehabilitation method that can help fix the compacted, rock-hard soils left behind by land development and building construction. Susan Day, an associate professor of urban forestry, and her colleagues lead the research team that discovered “Soil Profile Rebuilding.” Previous observation shows that soil rebuilding decreases soil compaction, increases carbon sequestration, and increases the rate at which water moves through the soil, thereby improving stormwater capture. The rebuilding method uses compost and a special subsoiling technique to create pathways through the soil for root and water penetration. A backhoe with a tined bucket breaks up the compacted soil and incorporates compost to a depth of two feet. Then four inches of topsoil are applied and rototilled six to eight inches underground. Finally, trees or shrubs can be planted, their roots will help the soil continue to develop. The researchers evaluated five tree species over six years and found that soil rebuilding resulted in 77 percent greater trunk cross-section area growth after one year. Trees planted in rehabilitated soil have an 84 percent greater canopy than those in untreated soil, according to Day. Unlike many previous approaches to alleviating soil compaction, the effects of rebuilding method persevere “because the technique doesn’t just break up the soil physically; it also affects biological activity in the soil,” Day explained. Pictured at top, a street tree planting site in Arlington County, VA, David Mitchell uses a specialized probe to extract a column of soil one meter deep. Soil carbon was analyzed at sites with and without remediation. o 10
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Growing Colossal Cabbage
The National Bonnie Plants Cabbage Program held its annual cabbage growing competition for kids across America. This year, the Maryland state program winner is Noah Cusack. The cabbage he grew was selected by the Maryland Agriculture Department. Cusack’s prize is a $1,000 saving bond toward education. The Bonnie Plants Cabbage Program also provides tips on how you and your kids can grow your own colossal cabbage. Growing a colossal cabbage may seem like a giant undertaking for young kids, but it’s easier than you think. All you need to do is: • Let the Sunshine In—Cabbages need at least six hours of full sunlight, more if possible. • Survey Your Space—Bonnie O.S. cabbages need at least three feet on each side to spread out. If you don’t have that much space, use a large container. • Supplement Soil—Work some compost into the soil since cabbages love nutrient-rich soil. • Feed Your Food Plant—Start your cabbage off right with an all-purpose vegetable plant food. Follow label directions to keep it growing strong. • Water Wisely—Your cabbage needs at least one inch of rainfall each week. If it doesn’t rain, use a watering can or garden hose to gently water your plant at soil level. • Tend To Trouble: Keep weeds out of the cabbage patch—they compete for the food and water your cabbage needs. Be on the lookout for brown or white moths—these come from worms that love to munch on cabbage. If you see any, get rid of them right away. Cold weather can damage your cabbage. If the weather gets below 32°F, cover your cabbage with a bucket or clothe covering. • Hefty Harvest—In just 10 to 12 weeks, you should have a huge head of cabbage you can be proud of. o
The key to disease prevention for the Zika virus is controlling mosquito breeding grounds and preventing mosquito bites. Follow these tips to do that. • Reduce Mosquito Breeding Sites: Mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water. To reduce mosquito breeding grounds, dispose of cans, plastic containers, old tires, and other items that can collect water. Turn over wheelbarrows and empty children’s wading pools. Clean clogged roof gutters, which can become prime mosquito-breeding pools. Dump out plant saucers. • Kill Mosquito Larvae with Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (BTI): To prevent mosquitoes from breeding in places where water collects, such as ponds, bird baths, and animal watering troughs, use a mosquito control product that contains BTI to kill mosquito larvae. BTI is a bacterium that naturally kills mosquito larvae before they can grow up to become adults. Even though BTI is deadly to mosquito larvae, it is harmless to people, plants, pets, fish, wildlife, and beneficial insects. • Neighborhood Solutions: Mosquitoes in your neighbor’s yard can easily travel into your yard, so it is important to get your neighbors to be as vigilant in eliminating and controlling mosquito breeding grounds as you are. • Reduce Mosquito Exposure: Reduce the chances of getting mosquito bites by limiting your outdoor activities during the times of day when mosquitoes are most active, which is an hour before and after dawn and an hour before and after dusk. Wear pants and longsleeved shirts to keep as much of your skin covered as possible. Wear light-colored clothing, because mosquitoes are attracted to darker colors. By reducing exposure to mosquitoes, limiting breeding sites, and using the most effective types of mosquito control products, you can greatly reduce your chances of being bitten by diseasecarrying mosquitoes. o Complied by Daisy-Nelly Nji, a senior journalism student at the University of Maryland. She is a multi-platform journalism major at the Philip Merrill College of Journalism. This spring, she is an editorial intern at Washington Gardener Magazine.
GARDENnews
Quick Links to Recent Washington Gardener Blog Posts
• Spring has Sprung for Bloom Day • Local Business: Urban Farm Plans • DIY: Seed Start Pots from TP Rolls • Rooting DC 2016 Video Wrap-up • Kale: You Can Grow That! See more Washington Gardener blog posts at: WashingtonGardener.Blogspot.com o
March-April Garden To-Do List New Plant Spotlight Begonia ‘Autumn Ember’
This new begonia boasts colorful foliage. If you don’t have any garden space at all, then ‘Autumn Ember’ is the perfect choice for adding color to your apartment. ‘Autumn Ember’ is a new hybrid named for its brilliant orange leaves that emerge with a blast of color. It is a Logee’s hybrid that is in the process of being patented and is now available worldwide. When the plant receives good light exposure, the leaves maintain their distinctive autumn hues as they mature. When grown with other houseplants, ‘Autumn Ember’ literally glows in comparison. From afar, the mass of orange leaves nearly jump off the plant to catch the attention of all who gaze upon it. The compact nature of ‘Autumn Ember’ keeps the growth habit tight and brings a unique color statement to any windowsill. Light-pink flowers dance above the foliage in winter. Like all rhizomatous begonias, ‘Autumn Ember’ appreciates a chance to dry out between waterings. Planting it in clay pots will ensure that it dries quickly and doesn’t get mildew. No pruning is required, but its tips should be pinched back to encourage a full, bushy form. Maintain an indoor temperature of 60 degrees or higher. It can go out on your deck or patio after all frost danger has passed, but bring it in before any chance of an autumn frost occurs. Begonia ‘Autumn Ember’ is available in a 2.5-inch pot from Logee’s at 888330-8038 or www.logees.com. o
• 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 comes 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. MARCH 2016
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TOP AREA GARDENING EVENTS DC-Area Gardening Calendar ~ Upcoming Events ~ March 16–April 15, 2016 • Saturday, March 19, 10am–12n Rose Pruning Demos Arlington Rose Foundation will host hands-on pruning demonstrations. Bring your bypass pruners. Wear garden shoes. Learn from experts. National Cathedral in the Bishop’s Garden, corner of Wisconsin and Massachusetts Ave., Washington, DC. Call 703-3719351. Also, on the same date from 2–4pm at Bon Air Memorial Rose Garden, Corner of Wilson and N. Lexington Blvds. in Arlington, VA. • Saturday, March 19, and Sunday, March 20 Gesneriad Show and Sale National Capital Area Chapter (NCAC) of the Gesneriad Society is having its annual show and sale at Behnke Nursery. Come to see some beautiful Gesneriads. There will also be plants for sale to add to your collection of indoor plants. Details at http://behnkes.com/ files/2016/Show-Sale_poster_2016.jpg. • Saturday, March 19, 9–4pm Taking Care of Your Fruit and Nut Trees Talk Held at Colmar Manor Community Center, 3701 Lawrence Street, Colmar Manor, MD. Sponsored by the Port Towns Community Health Partnership and the Town of Colmar Manor, this class will give you all of the tools you need to plant, grow, and care for your fruit and nut trees. This includes selecting hardy varieties, companion plants that attract beneficial insects and deter pests, and pruning. The cost is $20 per person. To register, go to http://tinyurl. com/fruittreeclass. For more information, contact placematterspgc@gmail. com or call 240-366-7542. • Sunday, March 20, 1:30–4:30pm Azalea Society Meeting The Northern Virginia Chapter of the Azalea Society of America will meet at Kirkwood Presbyterian Church, 8336 Carrleigh Parkway, Springfield, VA. Martha Brettschneider, Fairfax County Master Gardener, author, blogger, and award-winning photographer, will speak on “The Garden as Mindfulness Mentor: How Digging in the Dirt Brings Focus 12
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to Mind, Spirit, and Camera.” She will weave together her passions for gardening, photography, and mindfulness along with practical tips to take your garden photography to the next level. There will also be a free plant exchange and light refreshments. Newcomers welcome and encouraged to attend. More information: barb_kirkwood@hotmail. com, http://nv-asa.org/home for the ASA, or http://www.marthabrettschneider.com about the speaker. •Sunday, March 20, 1:30–2:30pm Lecture: Growing Summer Bouquets Learn how to grow a small cutting garden for a season full of gorgeous cut flowers. Flower farmer Lisa Zeigler shares the secrets behind a successful cutting garden: keeping it small, productive, and low-maintenance. She covers choosing the location, soil preparation, flower varieties, how to grow without chemicals, and how to keep the garden producing all summer. Book signing to follow lecture. $10/person for advance registration ($12 for out-of-county registrants) or $12 at the door. Green Spring Gardens, 4603 Green Spring Road, Alexandria, VA. Register online at www. fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/greenspring using code 290 182 4501 or call 703642-5173. • Monday, March 21, 8:00pm The Best of Flavor and Fragrance Hosted by the Silver Spring Garden Club at Brookside Gardens. Have you ever been confused as to which is the best mint, oregano, thyme, lavender, or basil to choose from among the large selection of plants available to buy? When we select plants for our garden, we hope to get premiere plants that have long growing seasons, superior flavor, unique tastes, and distinctive aromas. It can be overwhelming to know which ones are the right ones for your needs. In her talk, Holly Shimizu, a nationally recognized horticulturist, will emphasize the best plants to select, as well as how to grow them, parts to use, seasons of interest, and where to place them in the garden. This event is FREE and open to the public. No RSVP required.
• Wednesday, March 23, 7:30pm Planting in a Post-Wild World Talk The Beltsville Garden Club will meet in the multi-purpose room of the Duckworth School, 11201 Evans Trail, Beltsville, MD. This January program has been re-scheduled for March. Thomas Ranier will present “Planting in a PostWild World: Designing Plant Communities for More Resilient Landscapes.” This ground-breaking talk presents a powerful alternative to traditional horticulture-designed plantings that function like naturally occurring plant communities. Mr. Rainer will have copies of his just-published book on this subject available for signing after his talk. The public is welcome and admission is free. Refreshments will be served. • Thursday, March 31, 2–4pm Dealing with Deer and Other Mammal Pests in Your Garden Kathy Jentz, Editor/Publisher, Washington Gardener Magazine, talks on mammal pest control. Bambi may be cute, but he and the rest of the herd are very hungry and would love to make a feast of your garden. Learn some proven and humane tactics to keep your edible and ornamental gardens safe from deer, rabbits, rats, groundhogs, and other warm-blooded creatures. Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD. Fee: $22/20. See http://www.montgomeryparks.org/ brookside/. • Saturday, April 2, 8:30am–2pm Native Plant Sale Streamline your spring plant shopping at this one-stop native plant sale on the National Arboretum grounds. A collection of several regional nurseries offers an extensive selection of locally grown native plants, and growers will be on hand to provide gardening information. Sponsored by the Friends of the National Arboretum. Open to the public. Free admission. U.S. National Arboretum 3501 New York Ave. NE, Washington, DC, www.usna.usda.gov. • Saturday, April 2, 9am–4pm 7th Annual Spring Garden Party at Community Forklift The Garden Party has become a local
TOP AREA GARDENING EVENTS DC-Area Gardening Calendar ~ Upcoming Events ~ March 16–April 15, 2016 tradition to welcome the spring gardening season; gathering gardeners, artists, farmers, and families from around the DC region. It includes the sale of landscaping and gardening equipment and supplies, seeds, and seedlings. Free gardening workshops and live music will be taking place throughout the day; and a farm-to-fork food truck will be on hand for lunch. Numerous vendors and exhibitors will be showcasing the variety of sustainable gardening, landscaping, and clean eating options available throughout the DC region. Community Forklift is located at 4671 Tanglewood Drive, Edmonston, MD. For more information, go to: http://communityforklift.org/news-events/7th-annualgarden-party-and-spring-sale/. • Starts April 6, 2–4pm; continues first Wednesdays; through November Art in the Garden Beginning and advanced artists alike will find inspiration in the historic gardens of Tudor Place, tucked away in the urban heart of Georgetown. Join director of gardens and grounds, professional botanical artist, and horticulturist Kellie Cox, to explore a variety of subjects, media, and locations in the historic garden. Registration required. Details at http://www.tudorplace.org/ programs/4/art-in-the-garden/. Members: $50 per session/$350 for 8part series | Non-Members: $65/$455 Classes meet rain or shine. Location and media subject to change. All art supplies provided; participants bring their own stools. • Friday, April 8, 8:30am–4pm Green Matters Symposium Learn about the importance of environmentally friendly landscapes from experts in the field of horticulture. For details, go to www.BrooksideGreen.org. • Through April 17 Orchids in Focus The U.S. Botanic Garden (USBG) presents this annual orchid exhibit, in partnership with Smithsonian Gardens, highlighting the world’s largest plant family and the USBG’s most extensive plant collection. During Orchids
in Focus, the U.S. Botanic Garden will offer orchid-themed programs and activities for adults and children, including art and photography workshops, and lectures on orchid diversity, conservation, and care. Visit www.USBG. gov/programs for a calendar of events. The USBG, working with the North American Orchid Conservation Center, is offering Orchid-gami (kirigami paper folding) templates onsite and available for download on the exhibit’s webpage www.USBG.gov/OrchidsinFocus.
Save These Future Dates: • April 23-30 Historic Garden Week Each spring, visitors are welcomed to over 250 of Virginia’s most beautiful gardens, homes, and historic landmarks during “America’s Largest Open House.” Hosted by the Garden Club of Virginia. See http://www.vagardenweek.org/.
• Friday, April 29 and Saturday, April 30 FONA Garden Fair & Plant Sale This annual spring gardening event features at the U.S. National Arboretum boasts an extensive selection of unusual plants, garden supplies, books, art, family activities, food, and more. Sponsored by the Friends of the National Arboretum. Free admission.
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: Wgardenermag@aol.com—put “Event” in the subject line. Our next deadline is April 10 for the April 15 issue and events taking place from April 15–May 15. o
Visit DCGardens.com for: Photos of 16 Major Public Gardens by Month and Where to Buy Plants Where to Connect Local Garden Media Where to Volunteer Youth Gardens
Where to Find Designers
Tours and Events
Where to Learn to Garden MARCH 2016
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Behind-the-Scenes at the Smithsonian Greenhouses
Text and Photos by Cheval Force Opp Dark clouds hovered as the Smithsonian bus pulled up in front of the Castle. I climbed on board with friends for a tour of the Smithsonian greenhouses on a raw, cold February day. The halfday tour is offered only once a year and I was delighted to finally get it on my calendar. Leading our tour was Vickie DiBella, greenhouse nursery operations manager. DiBella is a 24-year Smithsonian veteran, a manager born with green in her blood. Her father owned a Silver Spring, MD, landscape business where she and her eight siblings grew up knowing hard work and long hours.
Greenhouse Staff
The 10-acre site in Suitland, MD, has 14 interconnected greenhouses totaling 53,000 sq. ft. (a football field is 57,600 sq. ft.), each costing about a million dollars. All are climate-controlled with a computerized environmental system keeping them a toasty 60 degrees and 60% humidity. The first stop after leaving the bus was the commodious potting room that supports all 14 green14
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houses. Watching dozens of plastic pots being filled automatically with potting medium (no soil), I realized this is where the Smithsonian garden’s magic begins. DiBella deserves praise for her dedication and oversight of the small, but hard-working, greenhouse staff of 16. Two staff members maintain the grounds at the Suitland campus, which included this year three overnights on cots in the greenhouses to keep the walks and roads shoveled clear of snow. Three staff members maintain the interior plant program in the museums. This leaves eight staff members to care for all the rest of the greenhouse treasures.
Divas and Natives
Orchid collection specialist Sarah Hedean escorted us through the two orchid greenhouses where 40 years of collecting has grown from five to more than 8,000 orchids today. One greenhouse is devoted to the showy orchid hybrid divas. These commercially available orchids are displayed
year-round in exhibits, special events, and at Smithsonian information desks. Even with the computerized climate control, microclimates still matter in this polycarbonate-roofed empire. Hedean places sun-lovers like Dendrobiums and Epidendrums in the back of the greenhouse for needed southern exposure. Shade-craving orchids like Paphiopedilums (Lady Slipper orchids) crowd the evaporative cooler panels at the northern exposure. The orchid collection in the second greenhouse is gathered from every corner of the tropical world. These orchids are seldom cultivated as profusely as the hybrids, but are treasured for quality, educational value, rarity, contribution to the overall collection, and, of course, beauty. Tom Mirenda, orchid collection specialist, entertained us with orchid lore. These exotic blooms are pollinated by the usual suspects—bees, moths, and butterflies—but also wasps, flies, fungus gnats, and birds. Did you know orchid is derived from the Greek orkhis, meaning literally “testicle”?
DAYtrip A new focus for the collection is the more than 300 orchids native to the United States and Canada. More than half of these orchid species are endangered or threatened. The North American Orchid Conservation Center was established by the Smithsonian Institution and the U.S. Botanic Garden to assure the survival of all native orchids in the U.S. and Canada. Missing on our visit was a selected group of rare and flamboyant orchids carefully transported to star in the annual orchid exhibit co-sponsored every year by Smithsonian Gardens and the U.S. Botanic Garden. This year, the show theme is “Orchids in Focus” and it runs until April 17. This is a must-see display at the U.S. Botanic Garden’s Conservatory Garden Court and East Gallery with thousands of greenhouse flowers in supporting roles for the over 300 extraordinary orchids.
stroll among free-flying tropical butterflies and moths in a climate-controlled indoor garden. The 400 rainbow-hued plants that complete this wonderland are kept “selfie” perfect by the staff. Horticulturist Deborah Austin noted that, while 30-plus flowering species are grown for nectar production—food for the captive insects, the plants must also provide attractive color, pleasing form, and durability. Among the showy blooms of Pentas and Ixora, we were surprised to see tomato plants. They serve as host for raising Tomato Hornworms which, after gorging on the plants, will morph into large moths with four- to six-inch wingspans in colors ranging from brown and gold to pink and grey. To ensure that non-native butterflies do not escape, plants that might tra-
Public Beauty
ditionally be used for egg-laying are excluded from the exhibit. Also, all plant material is frozen for 24 hours before disposal in plastic bags. In 13 of the greenhouses, the plants are all hand-watered. That means that every day of the year, a staff member is in each greenhouse, going by each plant and giving it the water it needs to thrive—not too much and not too little. As someone who has killed more windowsill plants than I care to admit, that thought is mind-boggling. During the peak growing season, that can total over 65,000 assorted plants.
Next Seasons Stars
An important part of a Smithsonian visit is the stunning interior plant displays. Shannon Hill, biological science technician, is one of the Interiors Section staff dedicated to providing plants for tropical plant exhibits, flower arrangements, tabletop dish gardens, holiday decorations, and the annual Orchid Exhibit. Each composition is carefully contrived to complement the museum exhibits. One of my favorite treats for out-of-town guests is a walk outside the stunning National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) to enjoy the thoughtful plantings reflecting our country’s native heritage. Coming later this year are new plant exhibits at the NMAI and the National Museum of American History, both with educational interpretation.
Tender Tropical Giants
Amid towering palms and bare plumaria trees, horticulturist Matt Fleming introduced our group to some of his cosseted tropical plants. Many of these temperate-zone and tropical plants started out small and inexpensive, but over the years, they have grown majestic and too valuable to discard at the end of the season. One such giant, a tree-size Gardenia with a cloud of glossy green leaves floated just under the 14-feet transparent roof, its pot weighing at least 1,500 pounds. Other examples include Brugmansia ‘Charles Grimaldi,’ a yellow Angel’s Trumpet show-stopper; the exotic Aristolochia and Passiflora vines; and various Amorphophallis. Soon these sensitive giants will get an early morning wake-up to be carted to the Smithsonian gardens and grounds surrounding the National Mall. This is not a job for the faint of heart. To avoid traffic and tourist, the move is made in the wee hours and takes forklifts, brawny backs, and a gentle touch to keep pots and plants intact. A tough job that will be repeated in reverse in the fall when they return to the greenhouse.
Butterfly Food
The Butterfly Pavilion in the Natural History Museum delights visitors as they
The last greenhouse we visited is the smallest, but the most automated, with a six-zone misting system. Each zone can be individually programmed with a start and end, the time each day, the length of time for the mist to run, and interval length between misting. We were treated to a demonstration of part of the automatic system that runs the length of the ceiling. The mechanical carousel high above our heads gently moved enormous basket plantings, giving each a prescribed dose of water and fertilizer. In this greenhouse, the staff starts MARCH 2016
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DAYtrip acres of public areas containing 25 acres of stunning display gardens around the 14 museums. Every season, I have walked the gardens, taken pictures and admired the Smithsonian Gardens. This coming season, I will remember my visit to the gardens behind the scenes with renewed appreciation of the expertise it takes to give us the magic in these gardens. Thanks to all of the Smithsonian staff for some of the most beautiful gardens in the world.
Upcoming Programs
The Smithsonian Gardens website is extensive, very social media-savvy, and the best source of upcoming programs. Next year’s greenhouse tour will be announced on the website at http:// www.gardens.si.edu/. Visiting the Smithsonian Gardens are always a treat. The displays of new plants and designs change with the seasons. From mid-April through September, there are weekly garden tours (weather permitting). Think you would like to work at the Smithsonian? Internship opportunities are open. There is a wide variety of positions for interns, ranging from grounds management to landscape architecture, greenhouse nursery production, horticulture education, and collections management. See http://www. gardens.si.edu/get-involved/internships.html. How about volunteering? Volunteers are essential to the mission of connecting people with plants. Each year, volunteers donate 3,500 hours of their time to help in virtually every area of the Smithsonian Gardens. To apply to be a volunteer, go to http://www.gardens. si.edu/get-involved/volunteers.html. o plants from seed, sets up rooted cuttings, and grafts specimens. In addition to propagation, this is a winter home for stock plants, unusual varieties, and tender specimens. There is also space for trial plants, small batches of unusual or rare varieties, dish gardens, and trained forms such as topiaries and espaliers. I wondered how in the world the staff kept track of so many plants, some new, some being rejuvenated, and some ready for composting. Technology 16
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has stepped in by way of a handheld device and barcodes. Every collection plant has a unique plastic barcoded tag which can be read by the handheld device. This allows for quick management of the comings and goings of the thousands of valuable plants in the greenhouses. As we climbed back onto the comfortable bus to return to the Smithsonian Castle, a new season was beginning for the staff. Under their care are 180
Cheval Force Opp lives in Dunn Loring, VA, with her husband, Dana and corgi, Marzipan. Currently she is shrinking her gardens to an arthritis-manageable size, but she has not curtailed her travels, which always include gardens. You can contact her at gardentours@gmail.com. Special thanks to Cindy Brown, Vickie DiBella, and all the Smithsonian Gardens staff for answering questions and factchecking my article. It was an honor to peek backstage and see all the time and energy devoted to the Smithsonian Gardens.
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BOOKreviews
Seeing Seeds: A Journey into the World of Seedheads, Pods, and Fruit Text by Teri Dunn Chace, photography by Robert Llewellyn Publisher: Timber Press, List Price: $29.95 Reviewer: Erica H. Smith This is a gorgeous book. The cover, a brilliant close-up of Red Maple seeds (samaras), seduces you into picking it up, and the interior continues to intrigue. Most people will buy this book for Llewellyn’s photographs, intimate portraits of seeds and other plant parts created with an image stacking technique that produces leap-off-the-page pictures, but if you’re looking for a wellwritten account of how seeds do what they do, and why, Chace’s introductory chapters and accounts of individual species also satisfy the lay reader. This isn’t a science textbook, but supplies ample information for the average gardener. The Definition, Form, and Function chapters that begin the book discuss seed biology, including pollination, germination, diversity of seed type, dispersal, maturity, dormancy, and in general all the stages in a seed’s life and the reasons it looks and functions as it does. The chapters are illustrated with carefully chosen photos that help explain: this is how dicots germinate; this is why one plant forms large seedheads, another makes pods, another hides its seeds inside a fruit; here are dandelion seeds floating away on their plumes and demonstrating efficient dispersal. Each photo also has an informative caption. The rest of the book consists of stud18
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ies of particular plant species (or, in some cases, genera), divided into categories: garden flowers; weeds and wildflowers; herbs, spices, fibers, and medicine; fruits and vegetables; and shrubs and trees. Each species is illustrated by one or several photos, and the text also focuses on the plant’s seeds: production, appearance, function, distribution, and sometimes edibility (or toxicity!) and other uses. This isn’t really a gardening book, but common questions of gardeners are often answered: Will this plant selfsow? Excessively? Is it likely to come true from seed, or is propagation usually accomplished another way? Do birds, animals, or people like to eat the seeds or the fruit surrounding them? What’s the distribution of the species (e.g., can I grow it?)? Obviously, the book barely touches on the huge number of plant species out there—maybe 100 are covered—but breadth of scope isn’t the point. Illustrating the many different forms of seeds, and the range of their physiology, is more important—and also more attractive to a casual but eventually fascinated reader. There’s a lot to learn here. The endless (and apparently pointless) variations of Calendula seed shape, the tricksy seed-producing habits of Violets and Dandelions, the weird biology of Strawberries and Figs, and the slightly scary close-ups of Southern Magnolia, Tamarind, Nutmeg, and Hellebore: All these and much else make this book a great browsing experience, or a read to dive into on a winter afternoon. In conclusion, it’s beautiful; it provides useful information; it would make a great gift (for someone else or yourself). And wow, would those maple samaras glow on your coffee table. Erica H. Smih is a Montgomery County Master Gardener, runs the Grow It Eat It blog for the University of Maryland Extension, and grows vegetables in her own community garden plot and in the MG Demonstration Garden in Derwood, MD. She is the author of several novels; visit her web site at ericahsmith.wordpress.com.
Shakespeare’s Gardens By Jackie Bennett, photography by Andrew Lawson Publisher: Francis Lincoln/Quarto
Publishing Group USA List Price: $40.00 Reviewer: Daisy-nelly Nji Shakespeare’s Gardens takes an interesting angle on the world of the renowned writer and poet. The book examines gardens that have some relationship to Shakespeare, whether they be gardens he lived by, gardens that influenced his writing, or gardens that were popular during that time period. The author, Jackie Bennett, is meticulous in her research, giving readers detailed information on gardens that surrounded Shakespeare. Bennett manages to tell the story of the writer’s life using the gardens as building blocks that piece together different aspects of it. For example, the reader learns details of “Anne Hathaway’s Cottage” the birthplace of Shakespeare’s wife. Bennett gives a brief history of the famous cottage and a biography of Hathaway’s childhood, and how the garden shaped her. Bennett also writes about different flowers unique to each garden. While most of the book is written in a straightforward, informative style, Bennett sprinkles flowery quotes from Shakespeare throughout to keep with the Shakespearian theme. Along with the text, vibrant photos entice the reader to actually plan a trip and visit one of these gardens. Andrew Lawson, the photographer, captures the timeless beauty of the scenery. It was interesting to learn new information that I wasn’t taught in school about Shakespeare. After reading the book, I definitely wanted to take a trip
BOOKreviews to England and see the gardens firsthand. This is a nice read for people interested in gardening, or people who like to find interesting traveling destinations. Daisy-Nelly Nji is a senior journalism student at the University of Maryland. She is a multiplatform journalism major at the Philip Merrill College of Journalism. This spring, she is an editorial intern at Washington Gardener.
lasting up to one week at most if refrigerated (although some, like basil, may experience chilling damage). One great tip the author offered—because this is something I never know how to do—is to store the greens in zippered baggies or plastic containers with lids. The books details 28 different crops to grow as microgreens, including mustard, peas, corn, flax, kale, cress, and basil. It also provides a section for teaching children to grow microgreens, an easy introduction to gardening because the plants grow so quickly. My favorite part is the recipes section, providing a variety of healthy and delicious options, most of which allow for the use of any microgreens of the reader’s choice. I particularly liked the “grilled vegetable stack (including eggplant, zucchini, tomato, mozzarella, and more) with microgreens,” the “pear, avocado, and microgreen salad,” and “strawberries with basil microgreens.” Seema Vithlani is a Washington Gardener intern for spring 2016. She is a junior multiplatform journalism major and French minor at the University of Maryland.
Microgreens (Second Edition) By Fionna Hill Publisher: Firefly Books Ltd. List Price: $19.95 Reviewer: Seema Vithlani As an amateur gardener, I was particularly attracted in the past year to the idea of gardening for a healthier lifestyle. Growing up, my mother and I would occasionally plant tomatoes and eggplants, and I wanted to continue to expand this practice. In keeping with the health trend, Microgreens was an easy and highly informative read for gardeners of my ability level. The book describes how to choose, grow, care for, and prepare microgreens. Microgreens, which are grown in soil or a soil substitute and require plenty of light, are a safer alternative to sprouts, according to the book. They are nutritious and flavorful, and they are cheaper to raise yourself than to buy. The book provides instructions for planting in various containers and in the ground. It also gives tips for handling different seeds and solving plant problems. Microgreens have a short shelf life,
Recuing Eden, Preserving America’s Historic Gardens Text by Caroline Seebohm, photography by Curtice Taylor Publisher: The Monacelli Press List Price: $50.00 Reviewer: Cheval Force Opp This photo-generous book explores 30 American gardens, created from the 1840s to 1890s, all rescued from extinction and now open to the public. The locations span the nation from the Garland Farm in Bar Harbor, ME, to The Kampong in Miami, FL, to the Alcatraz Gardens in San Francisco, CA, to Pearl Fryar Topiary Garden in Bishopville, SC. Gardens in the book from our region, which I have been honored to visit and review are the William Paca House and Garden and Ladew Topiary Gardens. I was delighted to discover four more “DayTrip”-worthy
gardens to put on my list to visit. The first is Greenwood Gardens in Short Hills, NJ. Five full-page color photos entice the reader with views of the house and fountains. The garden hardscape includes a cascade terrace positioned to view the formal allee of plane and maple trees. A short history of the house and its recovery, leading to a public opening in April of 2013 completes the glimpse into this 1800s estate. Just down the road is a second destination, Untermyer Park and Gardens. A highlight of this garden is the spectacular views of the Hudson River and Palisades. Created by a wealthy Virginian, the garden is being restored with the help of local organizations. Closer to home is the Anne Spenser Garden in Lynchburg, VA. This jewel of a once-private garden was created by a gardener, poet, civil rights activist, and teacher. Adopted by the Hillside Garden Club in 1983, it has been revitalized using archival photographs and local memoirists. One photo of lush roses adorning a robin’s egg blue pergola gives the reader an intimate sense of this garden’s careful restoration. Finally, the fourth garden added to my list is Montrose in Hillsborough, NC, a late-19th-century house on 61 acres that was first restored and then expanded by gardener Nancy Goodwin. My favorite garden books remind me of gardens visited and explores gardens that I have yet to visit. This handsome 213-page book satisfies on both counts. A delightful, informative book that deserves a space on every garden lover’s shelf to inspire garden visits. o Cheval Force Opp lives in Dunn Loring, VA, with her husband, Dana and corgi, Marzipan. Currently she is shrinking her gardens to an arthritis-manageable size, but she has not curtailed her travels, which always include gardens. You can contact Cheval at gardentours@gmail.com.
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NEIGHBORnwork this time, I also picked up square-foot gardening. I built four beds and, for several years, we enjoyed growing peppers, tomatoes, and a few other vegetables. By late 2012, my Dawn Redwood had grown to more than 20 feet tall! I was hooked. I joined the American Conifer Society and starting reading everything about conifers. I have been building and running large Internet companies since 1999. In 2012, one of my clients who built mobile apps convinced us to move back to Virginia to help grow their business. That first year back, we planted more than 350 plants. How did you come to start Plants Map?
Meet Plant Mapper Bill Blevins by Seema Vithlani
Bill Blevins and his wife, Tracy, are two creators of PlantsMap.com, a website that helps gardeners organize and share notes and pictures of their plants. Washington Gardener staff kept running into this fun couple at local garden events and we wanted to share what we learned about their background and exciting new company. Tell us about your background. How did you get into gardening? My parents and both sets of my grandparents always had gardens. I particularly remember blueberries, apples, straw flowers, roses, marigolds, potatoes, beans of all types, and tomatoes being the signs of summertime. When I bought my first house in the early 1990s, I built a water garden, complete with lotus flowers in the koi pond. I wasn’t very knowledgeable about plants and gardens at the time. In 2000, I married Tracy and she 20
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began gardening and landscaping our yard at our first house in Spotsylvania, VA. I would help dig holes and haul mulch when I wasn’t trying to figure out how to keep the voles away from her plants. We moved to Birmingham, AL, in 2004 and Tracy became certified as a Master Gardener. We had a beautiful garden at our home in Birmingham. Again, I was the mulch hauler and hole digger, but this time it was between attempts at keeping deer away from her flowers and shrubs. We bought a house in Rochester, NY, in 2007 and I planted “my” first tree—a 12-inch-tall Dawn Redwood. Tracy again became certified, as a New York Master Gardener, and volunteered with a group of foresters at Durand Eastman Park on Lake Ontario. I again helped with digging holes for sun and shade gardens, and I still helped haul mulch around the yard, but
Tracy and I always made our own DIY tags for her plants. She kept journals and gigs of photos from her iPhone on her computer. At the end of each year, she would make a binder of her notes and photos from that year’s garden. In 2013, after I planted so many conifers, I couldn’t remember the details about everything I had planted. I had made homemade plant tags and kept a spreadsheet, but I couldn’t see myself going to the trouble of doing this year after year. I decided I needed to make an online database to store my information so I could just add my photos and plant information from my phone. PlantsMap.com is a free website where anyone can keep a list of their plants and store their notes and photos on an individual web page for each plant. The optional interactive plant tags have a code that can be scanned with a smartphone to open the page for that plant and the gardener can quickly add information while out in the garden. We launched the site in early 2014 and quickly found out that not only individual gardeners wanted to use the site, but also users from organizations that have plant collections. Now more than 250 different organizations and thousands of individual users across the country use PlantsMap.com. What are some of the best features of this website? There are several answers to this, depending on which type of user you might ask.
NEIGHBORnwork For me, as an individual user who collects and grows plants in my garden at my house, the thing that makes me smile every single time is when I scan a Plants Map tag, the page opens, and I can add my photos to my plant web page in just a few seconds. I hear from a lot of users that Plants Map really helps them tell the story of their garden and their plants. We have a lot of users who want to educate people about a certain type of plant, like pollinator gardens or plants for green roofs or champion trees from each state or something very specific, like the benefits of growing milkweed for the Monarch butterfly. Tracy regularly says she likes to have her “garden in the palm of her hands” when she is out working with her plants. She keeps all of her notes about when something was fertilized or which type of fertilizer she uses for a particular plant. Any other useful features? There is a feature on the site where, when you find someone on the site who has interesting plants, you can follow them, and when they post, your “Home” page shows their updates. There is also a feature where users can “Connect” with organizations. This feature is also used if an organization has multiple people who want to add and edit content for the organization profile. What is a typical work day like for you? Our team of about 20 spans multiple time zones. I normally wake up at 6:00AM to have a Skype conference with our team in India, and then I head to the office. My office is in the Rappahannock Area Goodwill Industries headquarters in Fredericksburg. The workers there run the equipment that makes our interactive tags and signs, and they handle our inventory and shipping related to the plant tags we make. Usually by mid-day, I’m somewhat caught up, and then I can talk with the sales and marketing team on the West Coast; we sync schedules and make plans for reaching out to new businesses and organizations to share our story.
When I get home at night, I try to give some good attention to my two border collies and then have dinner, and it’s back to work for an hour or two to catch up on emails before a little bit of sleep. We are a startup, so there are no set hours. All hands on deck are required at some times. My main goal is to keep PlantsMap.com growing and to make sure our users are very happy. What advice would you give to gardeners in the greater DC-area using your website? We are asked a lot about where people can go to download our app. There is no app. PlantsMap.com is a website you can use on your computer, laptop, tablet, or smartphone. Think of the things you already record about your plants and your garden during the growing season. Most gardeners keep notes or take photos of their plants, trees, and flowers, and a majority save the tags that come on their plants. All of those things can now be stored on plant web pages for each of your plants, and you can keep all your photos organized in the cloud with your notes and create a journal that you can continually edit over time. Don’t feel overwhelmed about adding your whole garden. Just add a few plants with a few photos and a story about why a given plant is important to you. Make a note about the fertilizer you used. Record where you bought the plant and make notes to remember if you would buy more. Save the links to websites you used when you were looking up information on the plant. Then, after a month or so, you’ll want to show someone your garden photos or share some information about your plant and you’ll have it right there on your phone! You can also create a collection for your wish list and put in the plants you are researching or on the lookout for next time you are out shopping. Where will you go from here? Any coming changes to your website? New ideas? We have a lot of development in the
pipeline. We are launching a new section called Resources, through which someone can bring you a load of mulch or come aerate your lawn. You’ll be able to find nurseries that sell plants online and you can go visit their sites. Up until now, we’ve only had the ability for people to add plants and collections. The Resources section will let people add gardening and landscape products and services. We are also launching an Events section. Organizations can map and post events to their profiles for their members and promote their meetings, open houses, garden tours, plant sales, etc. to the broader Plants Map community. A project that we internally call “Plant Managers” is being tested now for Iris collectors. People who collect a particular plant often record details in their journals that don’t apply to other types of plants. We’ve built a new “tab” on our plant pages where we can turn on those specific fields just for that type of plant. We have a “Trees” tab for groups who manage urban forests and it includes about 70 fields specific to their work. What plants are your favorite to use in your home garden? I like to find unique plants that aren’t in most garden centers. For instance, I just purchased a Japanese Apricot Tree (Prunus mume) that is common in Asia, but not found around here until about 20 years ago. I also am a member of the American Conifer Society. I watch for their Collector Conifer of the Year list to come out and have purchased a lot of those for my landscape. Two that have been spectacular in my yard are Pinus nigra ‘Moseri’ and Pinus virginia ‘Wate’s Golden.’ How can your readers reach/contact you? Email me at bill@PlantsMap.com or call 540.424.7577. You can also follow me at http://PlantsMap.com/bill-blevins. o Seema Vithlani is a Washington Gardener intern for spring 2016. She is a junior multiplatform journalism major and French minor at the University of Maryland.
MARCH 2016
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EDIBLEharvt
Raising Arugula
by Joelle Lang On September 30, the first day of my internship with the Washington Gardener Magazine, I was confronted with a difficult decision—what did I want to grow? As part of my internship, I was to plant something and monitor its growth over the course of the autumn semester. While I can’t remember what my options for seeds
were that day, I do remember that I chose to plant Arugula because I use it at least four times a week in salads and was excited to be eating something I planted from scratch. I planted the Arugula seeds that day in editor Kathy Jentz’s community garden plot, in the ground and in a raised pot. I planted two longs rows in both
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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. 22
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spots, sprinkling the seeds up and down, covering them with some soil, watering them with a little bit of water, and hoping for the best. Exactly one week later, on October 7, I checked on the seeds and was extremely happy to see that they had actually began to sprout. The plant grew faster in the ground than in the pot. I held off on cutting them just yet, so they could grow a bit taller. The next time I checked them was on October 19, I was pleased again at the rate of their growth. Once again, I held off on cutting the plants, but I did nibble on some leaves and they were delicious! On November 2, I was finally able to cut leaves from my plants because of the rapid rate at which they were growing. I did note that the container plants grew at a slower pace than the ones planted directly in the soil. I made myself an amazing Arugula salad for dinner and bragged about my green thumb to my friends and family. I came back to cut the plants one week later and the plants in the soil had re-grown to an impressive height! I cut those down and enjoyed another salad and bragging session. However, the container-grown arugula continued to lag slightly behind. I returned to my plants on November 18 to find that the container plants had begun to sprout dark-purple leaves and tasted a little peppery. After experiencing some rain and gloomy weather, I checked my plant again on December 14 for the last time and saw that the in-ground plants grew enough to make another nice salad and the container plant had also filled in—though they grew more slowly and showed purple and red leaves. I cut both sets of plants back and said a tearful goodbye. I will definitely plant Arugula in the future because of how simple it was to care for and how leaves sprouted and re-grew so quickly. o Joelle Lang, a senior at the University of Maryland, College Park, is a multiplatform journalism student in the Philip Merrill College of Journalism. This past autumn, she was also an editorial intern for Washington Gardener Magazine.
HORThaenings diversity of the nation’s flora protected within national parks. The show will be held in the USBG’s Conservatory and will run through October 2, 2016.
Rooting DC 2016
Philadelphia Flower Show
Washington Gardener Magazine hosted two trips to the Philadelphia Flower Show twice this month, on Wednesday, March 9 and Thursday, March 10. The Philadelphia Flower Show is the oldest and largest indoor flower show in the world. The theme for this year was “Exploring America.” Guests discovered a variety of horticulture across the national landscape. The Flower Show had exhibits inspired by the nation’s monuments such as Independence National Historical Park, Lincoln’s birthplace, and Liberty Island. The Flower Show used these monuments to tell diverse stories that forged the United States. Both of the trips were sold out and guests raved that they had a fabulous time. The magazine is looking forward to next year’s Flower Show and its theme, “Holland.”
Flora Show at USBG
The United States Botanic Garden (USBG) opened their “Flora of the National Parks” art exhibit on Thursday, February 18. The new exhibit showcases plants, species, and communities found throughout more than 400 national parks. Artworks by 78 artists from across the country were chosen from hundreds of entries to showcase a diverse representation of North American flora in national parks. The artworks include iconic flora such as Giant Sequoias, Bald Cypresses, Saguaro Cacti, Mangroves, Ghost Orchids, and Magnolias. This exhibit also celebrates the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service and the
The hallways of Woodrow Wilson High School were filled on Saturday, February 27, as gardeners gathered to peruse exhibits, collect seeds, learn tips, and meet locals for the 9th annual Rooting DC. More than 60 local green businesses, urban farm collectives, and nonprofits attended to share information and seeds. The event included workshops, demonstrations, and panel discussions on garden basics, food preservation and nutrition, sustainable growing techniques, and more to promote healthier food systems in the area. The free event attracted more than 1,200 individual attendees from across the city and its suburbs.
Luminous Landscapes
On Saturday, February 20, the National Building Museum opened its exhibition, “Luminous Landscapes: Photographs by Alan Ward,” images taken mostly in black-and-white. By denying us the familiar green lawns and foliage, colored blooms, and surfaces, Ward’s dramatic photographs challenge us to see the landscape around us with new eyes. The exhibition illustrates the process of making these images, including the panoramic and 4x5 cameras used to capture them. Ward’s photos recall a time before digital technology, when photography emphasized the chemistry of capturing light; the photographs began in the darkroom as developed negatives, test prints, and enlargements. His photographs have been in numerous exhibitions on both historic and contemporary landscape design, including the award-winning exhibition “Built Landscapes: Gardens of the Northeast,” which circulated nationally for several years. “Luminous Landscapes” is on view through September 5, 2016.
New Mediterranean Room Exhibit at USBG
The United States Botanic Garden (USBG) opened a new permanent conservatory room that focuses on plants that grow in the Mediterranean region
on Friday, March 4. The new room features plants native to or commonly cultivated in Mediterranean climates, including Olive, Lemon, Fig, Pomegranate, Lavender, Rosemary, Mandarin Orange, Bougainvillea, Chilean Wine Palm, and many more. The USBG created a 53foot watercolor mural of plants, land, and seascapes from the Mediterranean area to showcase in the conservatory room. Along with the mural, there are also tiled, tiered steps and a fountain that evoke a traditional Mediterranean garden. This is the first time a room has been re-themed since the conservatory reopened in 2001 after renovation. The USBG is planning programs and activities related to food, agriculture, conservation, and plants of the Mediterranean regions.
Exploding Gardening Mythstakes Conference
The Montgomery County Master Gardener’s Conference for spring 2016, “Exploding the Myths: Fascinating Facts to Help You Avoid Common Gardening Mythstakes,” was held Saturday, February 20. The five-hour event consisted of three sessions in which attendees could register for one of three lectures, including talks about garden design, herbs, soil usage, native plants, and more. The event included lunch, during which there were two lectures about garden beds and tool maintenance. Door prizes were awarded at the end. o Compiled by Daisy-Nelly Nji, a senior journalism student at the University of Maryland, and Seema Vithlani, a junior multi-platform journalism major and French minor at the University of Maryland. Both are Washington Gardener interns for spring 2016. MARCH 2016
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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 MARCH/APRIL 2008 • Patio, Balcony, Rooftop Container Gardens • Our Favorite Garden Tools • Coral Bells (Heucheras)
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2006 • Garden Decor Principles • Primroses • Tasty Heirloom Veggies • U.S. Botanic Garden
MAY/JUNE 2008 — ALMOST SOLD OUT! • Growing Great Tomatoes • Glamorous Gladiolus • Seed-Starting Basics • Flavorful Fruiting Natives
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 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
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
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JULY/AUGUST 2008 • Landscaping with Ornamental Grasses • Edible Grasses to Graze On • Slug and Snail Control • Sage Advice: Sun-Loving Salvias
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2009 • Compost Happens: Nature’s Free Fertilizer • Managing Stormwater with a Rain Garden • Visiting Virginia’s State Arboretum • Grow Winter Hazel for Winter Color
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2007 • Indoor Gardening • Daphne Care Guide • Asparagus Growing Tips and Recipes • Houseplant Propagation
MARCH/APRIL 2009 UT! • 40+ Free and Low-cost Local D O Garden Tips SOL • Spring Edibles Planting UT! Guide O LD for a Fresh Start • Testing Your SOSoil UT! • Redbud LD O Tree Selection and Care O S • Best Viewing Spots for Virginia Bluebells
MARCH/APRIL 2007 • Stormwater Management • Dogwood Selection & Care Guide • Early Spring Vegetable Growing Tips • Franciscan Monastery Bulb Gardens
MAY/JUNE 2009 • Top Easy Summer Annuals for DC Heat • Salad Table Project • Grow and Enjoy Eggplant • How to Chuck a Woodchuck
WASHINGTON GARDENER
MARCH 2016
SUMMER 2009 • Grow Grapes in the Mid-Atlantic • Passionflowers • Mulching Basics • Growing Hops FALL 2009 • Apples • How to Save Tomato Seeds • Persimmons WINTER 2009 • Battling Garden Thugs • How to Start Seeds Indoors • Red Twig Dogwoods • Unusual Edibles to Grow in Our Region SPRING 2010 • Community Gardens • Building a Raised Bed • Dwarf Iris • Broccoli SUMMER 2010 • Fragrance Gardens • Watering Without Waste • Lavender • Potatoes FALL 2010 • Vines and Climbers • Battling Stink Bugs • Russian Sage • Garlic WINTER 2010 • Paths and Walkways • Edgeworthia • Kohlrabi SPRING 2011 • Cutting-Edge Gardens • Final Frost Dates and When to Plant • Bleeding Hearts • Onions SUMMER 2011 • Ornamental Edibles • Urban Foraging • Amsonia/Arkansas Blue Star • Growing Corn in the Mid-Atlantic FALL 2011 • Herb Gardens • Toad Lilies • Sweet Potatoes • Cool Weather Cover Crops WINTER 2011/EARLY SPRING 2012 • Green Roofs and Walls • Heaths and Heathers • Radishes SPRING 2012 • Pollinator Gardens • Brunnera: Perennial of the Year • Growing Yacon SUMMER 2012 • Tropical Gardens • Captivating Canna • Icebox Watermelons SPRING 2013 • Great Garden Soil • All About Asters • Squash Vine Borer SUMMER/FALL 2013 • Miniature/Faerie Gardens • Beguiling Abelias • Growing Great Carrots WINTER/EARLY SPRING 2014 • Ferns for the Mid-Atlantic • Chanticleer Gardens • Beet Growing Basics
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