Washington Gardener October 2018 by Kathy J

OCTOBER 2018 VOL. 13 NO. 8

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gardener

tthe he magazine for gardening enthusiasts in the Mid-Atlantic region

5 Deer-proof Tulips for Your Gardens Autumn’s Beautiful Bulbs: Colchicum

How to Harvest and Cure Sweet Potatoes Mucking About Garden Boots Meet Smithsonian’s Rosarian Shelley Gaskins Why, When, and How to Prune Perennials A Cool, New Cosmos

Glenstone and Larry Weaner:

The Art of Meadows

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

Order some today at: www.manuretea.com

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RESOURCESsourc

Need a Garden Club Speaker?

Washington Gardener Magazine’s staff and writers are available to speak to groups and garden clubs in the greater DC region. Call 301.588.6894 or email 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

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INSIDEcontents

FEATURES and COLUMNS

Acres of wildflower meadows surround the Jeff Koons’ SplitRocker and other outdoor sculptures at the Glenstone Museum in Potomac, MD.

o Autumn crocus in the Smithsonian’s Haupt Garden are a charming surprise in the fall landscape. They are native to Europe, North Africa, and Asia.

Good footwear is essential in the garden for safety and comfort. Our product reviewer tries out Muck Boots.

BOOKreviews 6-8 Chilies; Houseplants; Garden Wisdom; Humane Critter Control; Wrestling with Angels DAYtrip 16-18 Glenstone Museum EDIBLEharvest 19 Harvesting Sweet Potatoes HORThappenings 10 DC Plant Swap; DC State Fair; Biophilia DC Meeting; Brookside Greenhouse Opening NEIGHBORnetwork 20-21 Shelley Gaskins NEWPLANTspotlight 11 Xsenia Cosmos PLANTprofile 12-13 Autumn Crocus PRODUCTreview 22 Muck Boots TIPStricks 9 Deer-resistant Tulips; How to Prune Perennials

DEPARTMENTS

ADVERTISINGindex BLOGlinks EDITORletter GARDENcontest LOCALevents MONTHLYtasklist NEXTissue RESOURCESsources

23 11 4 5 14-15 11 3 2

ON THE COVER

Meadow by Larry Weaner.

In our November issue:

Adaptive Gardening: Tools and Tips for Aging or Disabled Gardeners and much more . . .

If your business would like to reach area gardeners, be sure to contact us by November 1 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/ OCTOBER 2018

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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! Ashley O’Connor Intern Ruth E. Thaler-Carter Proofreader Cover price: $4.99 Back issues: $6.00 Subscription: $20.00 Your editor’s back on a recent garden tour in Annapolis, MD. Photo by Clint Albin.

Spreading the Gardening Message One thing that happens when you are elected to the board of any gardening organization, big or small, is that you quickly realize part of your essential mission is to promote and nurture the love of gardening to the general public. Of course, that is what this magazine’s mission has always been, but it takes on a special urgency when you are given a hard look at the actual numbers and future trends. The number of active members in garden clubs and plant societies seems to be dropping rapidly. Public gardens are reporting a decrease in people visiting and attending talks or programs. Garden centers and nurseries are having to diversify their inventory to home decor and holiday items to support themselves. It is not all bad news. Many younger folks are coming to gardening through food, houseplants, and flower arrangements. Take a look at Instagram and you will see a flood of succulent terrariums, floral headpieces, and farmer’s markets selfies. How can we translate these quick, discrete green experiences into a lifetime gardening passion? I wish I had the quick solution. As a national director of the GWA: The Association for Garden Communicators, we are particularly struggling with the future of horticulture as a profession and the drop in garden media in particular. Horticultural degree programs are in jeopardy across the nation. The relatively low pay in this field is a big factor in that trend and has to be addressed for us to attract and retain talent. Then there is the lack of job security, insurance, and benefits. Are we, as consumers, willing to pay more for plants and skilled garden labor? This is something we should give serious thought to when looking at the future of horticulture. Happy gardening!

Kathy Jentz, Editor/Publisher, Washington Gardener, KathyJentz@gmail.com Correction: In our story last issue on the Potomac Rose Society tour of the Katherine Dulin Folger Rose Garden, the highlighted roses used are part of the Earth-Kind® program by the Texas AgriLife Extension Service. 4

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Address corrections should be sent to the address above. • Washington Gardener Blog: www.washingtongardener.blogspot.com • Washington Gardener Archives: http://issuu.com/washingtongardener • Washington Gardener Discussion Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ WashingtonGardener/ • Washington Gardener Twitter Feed: www.twitter.com/WDCGardener • Washington Gardener Facebook Page: facebook.com/ • Washington Gardener Youtube: www.youtube.com/washingtongardenermagazine

• Washington Gardener Store: www.amazon.com/shop/wdcgardener

• Washington Gardener is a womanowned business. We are proud to be members of: · GWA: The Association for Garden Communicators · Green America Magazine Leaders Network · Green America Business Network Volume 13, Number 8 ISSN 1555-8959 © 2018 Washington Gardener All rights reserved. Published quarterly. No material may be reproduced without prior written permission. This magazine is purchased by the buyer with the understanding that the information presented is from various sources from which there can be no warranty or responsibility by the publisher as to legality, completeness, or technical accuracy. All uncredited photos in this issue are © Kathy Jentz.

READERcontt

Reader Contest

For our October 2018 Washington Gardener Reader Contest, we are giving away a gift card to Behnke Nurseries, known as Washington’s premiere plant and garden center weekly sales and special offers on plants and gardening products. (The card value is $25.00.) The story of Behnke Nurseries is the epitome of the American dream. A young man from Germany immigrated to the United States to seek a better life for himself while carrying on the family tradition. Now a local landmark, Behnke Nurseries began over 75 years ago in Beltsville, MD, through the hard work and determination of that young man, Albert Behnke, and his wife Rose. Behnke gift cards are the perfect gift for the finicky plant lover in your life. They can spend it now or wait until spring. The possibilities are endless with the Behnke gift card. The amount you select could grow into a new tree, window box garden, or a beautiful rose bush, not to mention a garden bench or decorative statue. Purchase online (http://shop.behnkes.com/product/behnke-gift-card/) or call the store and order over the phone at 301-937-1100. Email WashingtonGardener@rcn.com by 5:00pm on October 30 with “Behnke Nurseries” in the subject line and in the body of the email. Include your full name and mailing address. Tell us which was your favorite article in this issue and why. The gift card winner will be announced and notified on November 1. o

Advanced IPM PHC Short Course January 7–10, 2019 Location: University of Maryland, College Park, MD Contact: Amy Yaich, Admin. Assist. II, 301-405-3911 Email: umdentomology@umd.edu Information: https://landscapeipmphc.weebly.com/ Recertification credits will be posted on the website Recertification page as awarded by participating states.

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SAVE THE DATE!

Trees and the Built Environment

Learn from the country’s leading experts about innovative efforts to plant, protect, and preserve trees in urban and suburban settings.

ActiveMontgomery.org $85 early bird registration opens September 14th

LOCATION

Silver Spring Civic Center 1 Veterans Place Silver Spring, MD 20910

SYMPOSIUM DATE

Wednesday, November 14, 2018 SPEAKERS

Jessica Vogt, Ph.D. Assistant Professor in the Department of Environmental Science and Studies at DePaul University Dan Staley Principal at Arbor Drone, LLC Greg Levine Co-Executive Director and Chief Program Ofﬁcer at Trees Atlanta Sam Droege Wildlife Biologist at the U.S. Geological Survey, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center Mike Galvin Director, The Consulting Group at SavATree

WWW.MONTGOMERYPARKS.ORG/TREES-MATTER-SYMPOSIUM OCTOBER 2018

WASHINGTON GARDENER

BOOKreviews

Houseplants: The Complete Guide to Choosing, Growing, and Caring for Indoor Plants By Lisa Eldred Steinkopf Publisher: Cool Springs Press List Price: $30 Reviewer: Andrea F. Siegel Houseplants are trendy these days— enjoying a resurgence of popularity— and everything from cactus gardens to rainforest specialties, from tiny terrariums to big-leaf statement-makers, is in garden centers and on interior decorators’ lists. In these scary times, we’re finding comfort in indoor greenery. Unless, of course, the plants don’t return the love. Here’s where Houseplants: The Complete Guide to Choosing, Growing, and Caring for Indoor Plants by Lisa Eldred Steinkopf comes in. It does more than try to rescue us from being bad or ignorant plant parents who overwater, underwater, improperly fertilize, watch creeping things suck the life out of leaves, scorch shade-lovers in bright sun, and wring our hands as a small plant overgrows into a jungle. It’s a how-to resource book. The author clearly tells us that we have to meet our houseplants’ needs if they are to thrive. She advises us on how to do just that, so we can reap the health and other benefits of having houseplants. The first third of the book takes readers through must-knows of planting, potting medium, watering, fertilizing, overall environment, humidity, light 6

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(especially electric, crucial for plant owners who have insufficient sun exposure) troubleshooting common insects, and the like. Propagation may be irrelevant to some readers, but Steinkopf, a houseplant writer whose love for her plants is apparent, shows many techniques, from those nearly guaranteed to develop new plants quickly to the more-advanced methods that require extra effort and patience. Her book offers guidance for all houseplant lovers, down to the horticulturally challenged or first-timer houseplant owners. Nearly all of the rest of the book is devoted to helping readers make wise plant selections: There are more than 125 profiles of common houseplants. They are a helpful showcase for plant lovers, as between new cultivars and changing tastes in houseplants, Steinkopf obviously can’t feature all houseplants. Each plant profile page has a small photo of the plant; some are close-ups of leaves and others depict the entire plant, but none are large photos. However, there are some full-page plant pictures in the book, and tags on those photos refer readers to the profile page for information. Steinkopf arranges the profiles in three sections: easy-to-grow houseplants, moderately easy, and “challenging,” which I think is code for so needy or finicky that you’d rather admire them in someone else’s home. The details the author presents in each plant profile—size and growing conditions—provide vital guidance. She advises readers to understand a plant’s complete profile to help create successful matches between us and our indoor plants. She’s encouraging all of us to include houseplants in our homes—to enhance not only our décor, but in our lives. o Andrea Siegel is a Master Gardener and freelance writer in Maryland.

Garden Wisdom: 365 Days By Cheryl Wilfong Publisher: Hearth Path Press List Price: $19.97 Reviewer: Ashley O’Connor Wilfong’s book is a compilation of short stories and reflections, one for each day of the year. The book stemmed from Wilfong’s daily blog, www.

TheMeditativeGardener.blogspot.com. She is a Master Gardener/Composter and also teaches meditation at Vermont Insight Meditation Center. The stories correspond to the seasons, beginning in spring; on March 21, to be exact. This first reflection talks about the season change as a kind of “revolution.” In April, she talks about patience while waiting for an amaryllis to bloom. She connects this small lesson to all aspects of life. She writes: “Patience with your meditation. Patience with your nearest and dearest. Patience with your aging parents and co-workers.” During the summer passages, she revels in the simple pleasure of eating strawberry shortcake at the peak of strawberry season. In October, Wilfong talks about “the ripples of generosity”—how sharing squash seedlings between neighbors spreads to a stronger sense of community. She expresses living in the moment by “smelling the roses—and the manure,” while topping off compost bins for the winter. Wilfong’s observational writing style includes seemingly mundane tasks like raking leaves, but her gracious attitude treats every interaction with nature as one to be cherished. Readers can feel as though they’re listening to the birds on a porch beside the author. Wilfong’s packed so much reflection and spiritual analysis into Garden Wisdom, I’d dare call it a self-help book. Will it help readers improve their gardening skills? No, but it can help gardeners develop a different kind of relationship with their passion and inspire gardening novices to begin. Combining gardening and meditation seems bizarre at first, but the shared

BOOKreviews themes of transformation and growth become completely clear after reading Wilfong’s book. Anyone lacking bliss and gratitude in their life will benefit from reading these short essays. o Ashley O’Connor is a senior multi-platform journalist at the University of Maryland. This autumn, she is an editorial intern at Washington Gardener.

The Guide to Humane Critter Control: Natural, Nontoxic Pest Solutions to Protect Your Yard and Garden By Theresa Rooney Publisher: Cool Springs Press List Price: $19.99 Reviewer: Erica H. Smith It seems like every week, we’re dealing with a new pest in our gardens, whether it’s moles tunneling up the lawn, aphids sucking the life out of a prized plant, or deer discovering the hostas we thought we’d hidden from them. We plant squash only to have them succumb to vine borers; a squirrel takes one bite out of a tomato and leaves it on the doorstep; rabbits girdle our baby trees over the winter. It’s easy to think they’re out to get us. But, of course, all they’re doing is living their lives and feeding themselves. Can’t we just get along? Theresa Rooney wants us to try. The theme of this book is coexistence: ways to exist alongside the animals and insects we’ve designated as pests, to deter or distract them from destructive behavior, and ideally to see them as fellow creatures with goals we might redirect or even take advantage of. Her methods don’t include killing pests directly except under extreme circumstances, although in some cases, the best solution for a pest problem is to invite in predators. This book is part of a recent turn toward sustainable gardening solutions, proposing ways to make our gardens and local environmental more friendly places. The title even echoes Nancy Lawson’s The Humane Gardener [reviewed in our June 2017 issue] and has similar themes to Tammi Hartung’s The Wildlife-Friendly Vegetable Gardener [reviewed in our June 2015 issue]. If you don’t already own one of those books (and maybe if you do), this is a good addition to your gardening

library. Rooney considers a broad range of pests throughout the landscape, and covers lawns, vegetable patches, ornamental beds, container plantings, and more. The book is nicely organized, with a broad introduction about pest identification, including a damage chart, and discussions of pest control methods (including improving the health of your soil), attracting beneficial insects and animals, and details about many specific pests, including pets and fellow humans. (And another chart in the appendix. I love charts.) Now, I admit to the occasional objection while reading, along the lines of “Well, that isn’t going to work” or “Why isn’t she talking about stink bugs?” Gardeners in different places have different experiences; no one book can cover every possible pest or problem, and deer, in particular, are bolder in some regions than others. Although there are lots of great ideas here that I plan to try in my own yard, I wouldn’t look at this book as a one-stop solution for everything. What appeals to me about it is the attitude, the turnthe-problem-on-its-head approach that starts with understanding the critters that are keeping us from our perfect gardens. Maybe if we let ourselves think this way, we’ll also reconsider what a perfect garden is, and if sharing our spaces might be better for us all. o Erica H. Smith is a Montgomery County Master Gardener whose volunteer activities include the MG Demonstration Garden, the Grow It Eat It program, and speaking engagements on food-growing topics.

Wrestling with Angels and Singing with Dragons By William H. Frederick Jr. Publisher: Cedar Tree Books List Price: $79.00 Reviewer: Jim Dronenburg This is a sad review. Mr. Frederick and his wife (and children and grandchildren) spent 45 years making a showplace garden of Ashland Hollow in Hockessin, DE. At the end of reading the book for review and thinking to see more online, I found the site in a real estate listing. Do Google “Ashland Hollow.” The listing will still be there, I’m sure, and cheap at the price ($1.6 million). I would buy it myself, if I could scrape up the price of purchase and upkeep. There is a photo gallery; the pictures of the interior (not the point of the book) are stunning, and the pictures shot from a drone outside are instantly recognizable from having read the book. The book is a finely detailed history of the estate from the ground up, the building of the house, and then the building of the garden on the property, with everything described in the most minute detail—they kept exquisite records, apparently, up to when this book was finished, including fantastic photographs. The early ones, of course, were not that spectacular by today’s standards, and I found the book slow to start off. Then I got into the pattern the author was trying to set. He took each area of the property as a separate entity, from start to present, as opposed to taking the property as a whole chronologically. He also realized that a lot of people might not get the verbal descriptions, so there are multicolored maps of each area. In a gardening book, you would expect details on the various plants and all of them have some such detail. Your reviewer found it—amusing is not the right word—unusual? engaging?—to hear, as often as not, the details expressed negatively, as the reasons for something having to be removed. Or how one projected vignette had to be changed, nature doing the initial changing. A massive amount of land sculpting was done; this was not a poor man’s property. A “head gardener,” and an OCTOBER 2018

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BOOKreviews view that the story of its creation is worth buying the book, even though we will probably never be able to go there. (Indeed, much of it may not even be there, once the property has changed hands.) Certainly, both as a thing of beauty and a model of landscape description, the book is a work of art itself. o Jim Dronenburg is a retired accountant and now gardens full-time in Knoxville, MD.

unknown number of staff under him, worked on it. It should be mentioned here that Frederick was a landscape architect by profession, and the founder of Millcreek Nursery, which grew unusual things (and large things). Water from springs was diverted, collected, and sent where the owners wanted it to go; the house was deliberately built as a bridge over the property’s stream. One idea in particular sprang to my eyes when they described a pond that was made, and later revamped with a “dry” stone wall underwater, for the bank edge to come over the top of and still stay stable, rather than schlumping into the pond over time. “Dry,” in this case, meant “laid without mortar,” which allowed the bank behind it to stay constantly moist. A wonderful trick, if one has the resources. There was massive planning, and things (like for instance, Torreya trees) were grown at the nursery area from cuttings, for eventual use later, when they had grown to a size to plant. This was the long view, and then some. Each step is detailed, each area represented in pictures. There was some container gardening, but for the most part the estate is tranquil. Unusual plants were used; usual plants were used; plants were used that your reviewer wants to get. One, again, that leaped out was a thornless Osage orange. Your reviewer loves the fruits on the female Osage orange trees, but the thorns are deadly…. In sum, this is a magnificently detailed picture of the creation of a work of art. You can take the point of 8

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An Anarchy of Chilies By Caz Hildebrand Publisher: Thames & Hudson List Price: $29.95 Reviewer: Peter Frandsen The hand-drawn artwork sets this chili guide apart from other chili (or chile or chilli, as you prefer, or just pepper) reference books. The 100 chilies profiled here have been chosen to represent the plant’s polymorphic fruit, with its incredible range of shapes, colors, flavors, fragrances, and heats. Rather than using traditional photography to illustrate, the author employs “a contemporary light-touch graphic design style and technique inspired by the four-color process printing.” Layering only the four primary colors allows the author-artist to depict each chili’s unique “vibrancy and shape for both depth and transparency.” Perhaps we would say the artwork is abstract; nonetheless, the distinctive shape and color of most chilies is recognizable in a dramatic and different way. In common, however, with other chili reference works, each chili gets a narrative with brief history, if known, special or unique characteristics, and some famous or historical uses of that particular chili. The heat range is from mild and incredibly useful to the ridiculous metal-melting levels of capsaicin, which serve no purpose and are dangerous to even handle. The book is oriented toward using chilies in the kitchen and tend to the warm side. The author draws from cuisines and gardens around the world as appropriate to show the many uses of the chili. There are a few closing pages about general culinary use, growing, storage, and seed sources. There is a clever heat index incorporated along the fore edge of the

text block of the book. If you carefully feather the pages, a vertical bar chart appears. As you go deeper into the book, the bars rise ever higher, corresponding to the increased heat of the chilies depicted. This is certainly a colorful and useful book to have in the kitchen or the garden library. It promotes this edible native of South American of the genus Capsicum that you can easily grow yourself in a sunny summer backyard and enjoy. o Peter Frandsen is a longtime member of the Silver Spring Garden Club and is known locally as “Mr. Pepper.”

Love Reading?

These books were reviewed by volunteer members of the Washington Gardener Reader Panel. We are looking for a few additional volunteers who live in the greater Washington, DC, region to serve on our Reader Panel. Reader Panelists may also be asked to review new gardening plants, tools, and seeds. To join the Washington Gardener Volunteer Reader Panel, send an email with your name and address to: KathyJentz@gmail.com. We look forward to having you be a vital part of our local publication and its gardening mission. o

TIPStricks 5 Deer-resistant Tulips

Pruning Perennials: Why, When, and How

Pruning perennials gives them light and space. Early spring is the time to do this; think of it as giving your perennials a spring cleaning. But don’t worry: it’s as easy as pie. • A Helping Hand Pruning is nothing more than getting rid of last season’s dead stems and leaves. Some plants have already lost them. Others, such as Barrenwort (Epimedium) and Hardy Jerusalem Sage (Phlomis), will need a helping hand. Use hedge trimmers or pruning shears to trim dead stems and leaves. • Pruning Rules Choosing the right time to prune is important with perennials. Leave the foliage undisturbed in autumn; this will protect the plant from bad weather in winter. The best time to prune begins in March; just be sure that it’s not going to freeze. Also be wary of damaging new shoots. These little sprouts will produce mature plants—often larger than ever before! If the foliage has no signs of disease, leave it on the ground so it can break down and enrich the soil. • Getting Started Evergreen plants that still look good don’t need pruning. Ferns and ornamental grasses can turn unattractive and require cutting to about 4 inches above the ground. Remove ugly leaves from plants like Christmas Rose (Helleborus orientalis) and Elephant-Eared Saxifrage (Bergenia) to refresh their appearance. Ivy (Hedera) can be pruned any time of the year, even with an electric hedge trimmer if necessary, but be aware it will grow more densely after pruning. Lavender (Lavandula) should be pruned down to just above the bare, woody stems in late March/ April. Leaves will emerge on the green shoots after. You can find more advice and practical pruning tips at www.perennialpower. eu. o

According to Barbara Melera at Harvesting History (www.harvesting-history. com), the greatest feature about these five species tulips is that for some reason, unknown to mankind, the deer are not interested in eating them and the moles and voles seem to leave them alone as well. (Note, though, that when deer are stressed enough, they will eat anything and everything.) • Sylvestris Some plants you grow for their stunning beauty, others for their unforgettable fragrance, and once in awhile, you grow a plant because it is so darned entertaining. For that reason, try growing the Woodland Tulip (Tulipa sylvestris). As it emerges from the soil, the blossom stem arches in a graceful, but fragile, curve. When planted in a drift of at least 10 bulbs, the plants appear beautifully windblown. The plant reaches a height of 12 inches. It is best planted in drifts of 10 bulbs or more. The bulbs should be planted 5–6 inches deep and 4–6 inches apart. They will return year after year and double in number about every two years. • Clusiana The Lady Tulip (Tulipa clusiana) species was collected from the wild more than 500 years ago. Clusiana var. chrysantha appears to be indigenous to the high altitudes of Afghanistan, Kashmir, the Himalayas, and Tibet. Plant in drifts of at least 25 because the small buds are easy to miss. Each bud produces a splatter of yellow, and when included in a drift of 25, they create an ocean of color. The plant reaches a height of 6–8 inches. The bulbs should be planted 5– 6 inches deep and 3–4 inches apart. If planted in a protected area, it will return year after year and double in number about every two years. • Turkestanica The Dwarf Tulip (Turkestanica) is native to Central Asia, growing on rocky slopes at altitudes of 5,000–7,500 feet. It is a vigorous little tulip. Grow Turkestanica as a spring groundcover or border plant because each stem produces multiple flowers—as

many as seven per stem. The flowers are small with pointed cream petals that fade into a subtle yellow at the base of the blossom. This is one of those wonderful plants that you can plant and then forget about. The plant reaches a height of 8–10 inches and is hardy from Hardiness Zones 4–8. It is best planted in drifts of 5–10 bulbs or more. The bulbs should be planted 5–6 inches deep and 4–6 inches apart. It multiplies rapidly, doubling in number yearly. • Humilis For such a tiny tulip (5 inches), this little guy makes a huge statement in your garden. The striking purple base can be easily seen as the blossom’s pure-white petals unfold. The contrast of the purple against the white is simply stunning. Tulipa humilis is actually a group of tiny wild tulips whose colors range from the deepest burgundy to the dazzling white of ‘Alba Coerulea Oculata’. They are known to inhabit the areas above 10,000 feet in the Hamadan Province of Iran. ‘Alba Coerulea Oculata’ is an early bloomer. Bulbs are difficult to find and available only in small quantities. It should be planted 4–6 inches deep and 2–3 inches apart. This tulip will return each year and will multiply—doubling in number about every three years. It is a treasure from the tulip kingdom’s ancient past. • Humulus Violacea The Red Crocus Tulip (Humilis violacea) is a must-have! They don’t create tulips any smaller than this one (3–5 inches at most). They should be planted in drifts of no less than 25 bulbs. They also make lovely container plants because of their short height and intense color. The plant reaches a height of 3-5 inches. It is best planted in drifts of 25 bulbs or more. The bulbs should be planted 5–6 inches deep and 2–3 inches apart. It multiplies rapidly, doubling in number of bulbs yearly. o Tips column compiled by Ashley O’Connor, a senior multi-platform journalist at the University of Maryland. This autumn, she is an editorial intern at Washington Gardener. OCTOBER 2018

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HORThaenings

Brookside Production Greenhouse Opening

Local leaders and residents came out to see the opening of the Joan and John O’Rourke Greenhouse at Brookside Gardens in Montgomery County on September 24. Joan O’Rourke, a philanthropist and long-time volunteer at Brookside, conceived and donated $1 million to the project. Stephanie Oberle, director of Brookside Gardens, said she hoped the facility can be an inspiration to guests and a way to help them develop gardens at home. The 11,500-square-foot space will host educational “Green Thumb” programs and help the community get greener. To host the different kinds of plants Brookside needs for its exhibits, the greenhouse is broken up into different climate growing zones.

DC State Fair

Rainy weather couldn’t stop a large turnout for the 9th Annual DC State Fair on Sunday, September 23, in SW DC. In collaboration with Knowledge Commons DC, editor and publisher of Washington Gardener Kathy Jentz discussed floral arrangements for an audience of 40. Jentz explained the fundamentals of arranging flowers, including some master tips for the perfect arrangement: Cut the stems of your flowers at an angle to increase water absorption and flow. Be sure to place your cut flowers directly into water after cutting to prevent the pores of the stem from clogging. Try to be mindful of where your arrangement is going to be; if it’s in the center of a table, work your way around the entire bunch. If it’s resting in front of a wall, you only have to focus on the front portion of the arrangement. Jentz also passed around flowers during her tutorial, and invited everyone to make their own arrangements at the end of the class. A bride-to-be was especially eager to learn the basics and make a beautiful practice arrangement.

DC Biophilia Symposium

The DC Department of Energy and Environment hosted “The Nature Health Connection: Biophilic Practices for a Healthy, Livable DC” at the University of the District of Columbia. 10

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Attendees were updated on everything from policy recommendations to understanding district mapping at the on October 2 event. To increase Biophilic design elements on roofs, they were encouraged to leverage the Green Area Ratio. Other talking points included increasing biodiversity in the city, protecting nature from overuse, and proposing solutions for areas in DC that have already experienced overuse. Takeaways included “demonstrating a city-wide commitment” to creating a city-owned nature and wildlife center. Education is key. One proposal is to create a backyard habitat program for people to visit and learn from. However, “groups promoting Biophilia must be sensitive to the need to protect natural areas for wildlife.” In other words, not every green space should be open to the public. On the topic of food security and urban gardening, they urged master gardeners to engage in educational programs, so more residents can contribute agriculturally.

Green Spring Fall Sale

On September 29, Washington Gardener participated in the Green Spring Gardens plant sale in Alexandria, VA. Live music played all day as gardeners from across the DMV shopped for the perfect plants to add to their landscapes. A silent auction was conducted inside, as well as a bake sale. Families found their way to the kid-friendly garden area, complete with fun painted sculptures and tot-sized entryways. The Washington Gardener booth held a free paw-paw tasting for attendees. Most people loved the taste, comparing it to a mango/banana flavor. Kids enjoyed them, too!

DC Plant Swap

Despite some parking lot traffic jams, the 9th Annual DC Plant Swap brought out plenty of passionate gardeners looking for a trade-up. On the sunny afternoon of September 30, Washington Gardener hosted a couple dozen attendees at the U.S. National Arboretum (USNA) in NE DC. Before the event began, Lucas and

Martin, two young helpers, set up the stations and directed traffic (safely). Flower cupcakes and paw-paws were served as people mingled in anticipation of the swap. The plants were divided by section: sun perennials, shade perennials, woodies, annuals, edibles/herbs, and others. Plants ended up in every category, including Black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia hirta) and even Passionfruit (Passiflora edulis). After participants described what they brought, there were three rounds of swapping, which gave everyone a fair shot at the plants they wanted. After the swap, USNA Horticulturist Bradley Evans gave a tour of the arboretum introduction gardens, including a behind-the-scenes koi fish feeding.

Garden Writers Tour

On September 20, 15 members of GWA: the Association for Garden Communicators toured Cylburn Arboretum in Baltimore, MD, and five private gardens. The group was also treated to a shopping spree at Babikow Greenhouses and complimentary lunch. Besides getting to talk about plants with fellow garden lovers, attendees were shown 200 acres of nature, gardens, and trails. They toured the historic mansion grounds, where Patricia Sherman, head gardener, emphasized the new tropical collection. Kathy Hudson, author of On Walnut Hill: The Evolution of a Garden, and Penney Hubbard and A.C. Hubbard, owners of Walnut Hill, talked about how they drew inspiration from the late Kurt Bluemel to grow their garden. Hudson, Hubbard, and Carol Macht described terracing on their hillside properties. o This issue’s “HortHappenings” were compiled by Ashley O’Connor, a senior multiplatform journalist at the University of Maryland. This autumn, she is an editorial intern at Washington Gardener. 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 tours of Glenstone and Historic London Town. Click on the PHOTOS tab, then select from the ALBUMS listed.

GARDENnews

Quick Links to Washington Gardener Blog Posts • Cool-season Edible Garden Tips • Chatting with the Vegetable Gardening Show • DIY: Flower Crowns • Purple Autumn Bloom Day See more Washington Gardener blog posts at: WashingtonGardener.blogspot.com o

October–November Garden To-Do List

Cosmos photos courtesy of Kitchen Garden Seeds.

New Plant Spotlight

‘Xsenia’ Cosmos Genus species: Cosmos bipinnatus A new, exciting look for Cosmos from Dutch breeder Rob van der Voort. ‘Xsenia’ flowers flaunt muted peach petals edged in rose-pink surround a mustardyellow center. The petal colors change as the sunlight shifts during the day and the orange tones deepen as the flowers age. Like all Cosmos, it responds well to direct-sowing and makes a great mid- to late-summer cut flower. The plants are compact and versatile. Height range: 18" to 24". Seeds are available this spring from John Scheepers Kitchen Garden Seeds (www.kitchengardenseeds.com). o

• Cover pond with netting to keep out fallen leaves and debris. • Harvest sweet potatoes. • Plant garlic. • Force the buds on Christmas Cactus by placing in a cool (55–60 degree) room for 13 hours of darkness. • Apply deer deterrent spray. • Prevent the spread of disease by cleaning up all infected plants and disposing of them in your trash—not your compost pile. • Plant cover crops in your vegetable gardens and annual beds (i.e., rye, clover, hairy vetch, winter peas). • Set up a cold frame, then plant lettuces, radishes, and carrots from seed. • If you have a water garden, clean out the annual plants and compost them. Cut back the hardy plants and group them into the deepest pond section. • Leave seedheads on Black-eyed Susans, Echinacea, Goldenrod, Sunflowers, and Thistles for the birds to enjoy over the winter. • Check for bagworms; pick off, bag, and dispose of them. • Dig up and store potatoes in a cool, dark spot. • Continue to divide and transplant perennials. • Rake leaves and gather in compost piles. • Pick pumpkins at a local pick-your-own farm or visit a local farmer’s market. • Cut garden herbs and hang to dry in a cool, dry place indoors. • Start feeding birds to get them in the habit for this winter. • Attend a local garden club meeting. • Mulch strawberry beds for winter. • Turn your compost pile weekly and don’t let it dry out. Work compost into your planting beds. • Plant evergreens for winter interest. • Weed. • Plant spring-flowering bulbs. • Sow wildflower seeds, such as California Poppies, for next spring. • Collect dried flowers and grasses for an indoor vase. • Clean, sharpen, and store your garden tools. • Lightly fertilize indoor plants. • Pot up Paper Whites and Amaryllis for holiday blooming. • Check that all vines are securely tied against winter’s cold winds. • Collect plant seeds for next year’s planting and for trading. • Pull out spent summer annuals. • Plant hardy mums and fall season annuals. • Water evergreens and new plantings to keep them hydrated this winter. • Fertilize your lawn and re-seed if needed. • Dig up bulbs from your Gladioli, cut off foliage, dry for a week, and then store for the winter. • Transplant trees and shrubs. • Gather seeds and label them carefully. Store in dry location. • Keep an eye out for the first frost date and insulate plants as needed. In Zone 6, it is expected between September 30–October 30; in Zone 7, it is predicted between October 15–November 15. o OCTOBER 2018

WASHINGTON GARDENER

PLANTprofile

Autumn Crocus

Colchicum autumnale By Kathy Jentz

The Autumn Crocus (Colchicum autumnale) is a lovely touch of spring in the fall garden. These bulbs are actually in the Lily family and are no relation to the spring crocus. (True crocus have three stamens and the Colchicum have six.) If planted well before frost, they can have good root establishment and will then return and multiply in future years to form a nice-sized patch. Like the fanciful, tall Lycoris bulbs of late summer, the foliage comes up in spring and disappears. Then the Colchicum blooms pop up out of the soil without any foliage, earning them the nicknames “naked bulbs” or “sonbefore-the-father.”

WASHINGTON GARDENER OCTOBER 2018

These are delicate flowers that fade after just a few weeks. Give them a protected, showcase spot at the front edge of a border and place a small stone or marker near their spot so you don’t accidentally plant over them or dislodge them. They are drought-tolerant and welcome deciduous shade under mature oak trees. You can also try them sprinkled in a turf lawn, but wait to mow them back in the spring until the foliage starts to yellow. If you want to share them or move them around the garden, dig and divide them when they go “dormant” in the summer.

One bonus of these late bulbs is that they are poisonous. The plant contains an alkaloid known as colchicine (hence, the Latin name Colchicum). Interplanting them in garden beds can priovide a natural way to repel deer, mice, and squirrels. If you need yet another reason to try these often-overlooked flowers, Barbara Melera of HarvestingHistory.com comments, “They are simply breathtaking and bring new life to the tired autumn garden.” o Kathy Jentz is editor of Washington Gardener and is collecting and trialing fall-blooming bulbs in her own garden.

PLANTprofile ‘Lilac Wonder’

‘Waterlily’ ‘Album’

‘Pleniflorum’

‘The Giant’

Colchicum photos by Kathy Jentz and Ashley O’Connor. Colchicum ‘Album’ by Meneerke bloem [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)

OCTOBER 2018

WASHINGTON GARDENER

TOP AREA GARDENING EVENTS DC-Area Gardening Calendar ~ Events ~ October 16 to November 15, 2018 • Friday, October 19, 5:30–7:30pm DC Food Recovery Week Happy Hour Casual gathering of anyone interested in food waste and recovery. Come meet and exchange ideas with fellow composters, food rescuers, and food waste warriors while sipping delicious cider. Location: ANXO Cidery and Pintxos Bar, 300 Florida Ave. NW, Washington, DC. The first floor pintxos bar and the patio have a happy hour from 5:00 to 6:30 with half off select cider, beer, wine, cocktails, and vermouth. Register at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/dcfood-recovery-week-happy-hour-tickets50807781442. • Saturday, October 20, 10am–12n Plant Selection and Breeding Learn about the process of introducing new cultivars, including hybridization and selective breeding. Joel Cooke, Merrifield plant specialist, will discuss the history and creation of popular and trending cultivars and how they were introduced to nurseries. Free. Held at the Merrifield Fair Oaks location. Details at www.merrifieldgardencenter.com. • Saturday October 20, 10am–4:30pm; Sunday October 21: 10am–2:30pm White House Fall Garden Tours Free, timed tickets will be distributed at a National Park Service tent near the corner of Constitution Avenue and 15th Street NW beginning at 8:30am on each tour day. Tickets are first-come first-served. Only one ticket per person, so everyone in your group (including small children) has to be in line to receive a ticket. See: whitehouse.gov1. info/visit/white-house-garden-tour.html. • Sunday, October 21, 2–4pm Josephine—The Empress Gardener Her legendary love of roses stopped a war, cost a fortune, set explorers to sail, and started a floral industry that endures today. Join the Potomac Rose Society at the Long Branch Library, 8800 Garland Ave., Silver Spring, MD, as we welcome garden writer and historian Lesley Parness to learn about the remarkable life and work of Empress Josephine. Free and open to all. See http://potomacrose.org/. 14

WASHINGTON GARDENER OCTOBER 2018

• Wednesday, October 24, 10:30am Phenomenal Plants: Tour the USBG Medicinal Plants Collection Join Chelsea McKinley, gardener of the Medicinal Plants house, on a tour of this fascinating collection at the U.S. Botanic Garden. Learn about a variety of different species used for medicinal purposes that are currently on display at the USBG Conservatory. Topics to be discussed include plant-derived compounds used in pharmaceuticals, species that have been used for hundreds of years in traditional medicine, and plants that can be found in the ingredients of over-the-counter products. Free: pre-registration required. Visit www. learn.usbg.gov • Wednesday, October 24, 7:30pm Beltsville Garden Club October Meeting “Grow Your Own Microgreens” Speaker Kayla Agonoy will explore how to grow microgreens in the home setting, to include creating the right growing conditions, sources for supplies, maintenance, and harvesting. Microgreens are easy to grow and packed with nutrients. Samples of ECO City Farms’ microgreens will be available for tasting. The meeting is free and open to the public. Bring a plant or plant-related item for the door prize table. Refreshments will be served after the meeting, and refreshment contributions are appreciated. Held at the James Duckworth School, 11201 Evans Trail, Beltsville, MD. See beltsvillegardenclub.org. • October 25–November 18 Chrysanthemum Festival Experience Longwood’s most-intensively cultivated display of the year during the Chrysanthemum Festival. The festival is a showcase of the traditional Asian art of cultivating chrysanthemums into artistic shapes, including spirals, cascades, and pagodas. The display features thousands of colorful Chrysanthemum blooms flourishing in the conservatory, including the one-of-akind Thousand Bloom Chrysanthemum, a single plant that over 10 months grows to nearly 12 feet in diameter and boasts more than 1,400 perfectly uniform blooms, making it the largest

chrysanthemum outside Asia. New this year, a traditional fan form takes center stage. Spanning 7 feet, the fan features white Chrysanthemum x morifolium ‘Yamanoha-no-Kumo’ surrounding a striking red Chrysanthemum x morifolium ‘Kurume’ circle in the center of the fan, symbolizing the Japanese flag and, ultimately, the origin of the chrysanthemum display. Admission fee. Longwood Gardens is on US Route 1 near Kennett Square, PA. For information, visit longwoodgardens.org. • Saturday, October 27, 8am–3pm Violet Club Fall Sale The Baltimore African Violet Club will be holding their annual fall event at the Joppatown Flea Market, 1000 Joppa Farm Road, Joppa, MD. Hundreds of beautiful African violets and other exotic houseplants will be offered for sale, plus leaves, cuttings, soil mix, plant rings, self-watering pots, and much more. Admission is free. For details, send email to bshuffman2@aol.com or call 301-854-2021. • Saturday, October 27, 10–11:30am Poisonous Plants Garden Tour How deadly does your garden grow? A master gardener docent tells tales of wicked plants hiding in plain sight, showcasing obvious culprits, and some surprises. Learn which to weed out and which we can live with. Enjoy refreshments at the Historic House, including edible flowers. Ages 13 to adult. Fee $15/person. Register online at www. fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/parktakes using code 290 483 2001 or call 703642-5173. Held at Green Spring Gardens in Alexandria, VA. • • Saturday, October 27, 8am–4pm OAKtoberfest Fall festival at the U.S. National Arboretim that includes a 5K fun run, treeclimbing for kids and adults, workshops, sales by local food and craft vendors, and a beer garden with live music. See www.FONA.org. • Sunday, October 28, 2–4pm Heirloom Apple Tasting Event Join Takoma Park-Silver Spring Co-Op

TOP AREA GARDENING EVENTS DC-Area Gardening Calendar ~ Events ~ October 16 to November 15, 2018 and local farmer Mike Tabor to learn about and taste heirloom apple varieties. The event will include family fun, cider tastings, music, and food trucks. Held at the city parking lot next to 201 Ethan Allen Ave., Takoma Park, MD. See http://tpss.coop/.

with Jennifer Park. You will learn how to transplant, and discover what the art of bonsai is all about as you create your very own bonsai to take home. This is a fully inclusive class. Registration required. Fee: $65—all materials provided. See http://behnkes.com/.

• Tuesday, October 30, 10am–3:30pm Champion Tree Tour There is a nominal fee and you must pre-register. The fee includes charter bus and drinks; bring your own lunch. See champion trees in the region. Departing from Brookside Gardens, 1800 Glenallan Avenue, Wheaton, MD. https://www.montgomeryparks.org/ parks-and-trails/brookside-gardens/

• Saturday, November 10, 6–9pm Friend of Brookside Gardens Annual Silent Auction Held at Brookside’s Visitors Center. A wonderful evening with light food and live music, all to benefit the gardens. Visit www.friendsofbrooksidegardens. org/auction for details and to register.

• Thursday, November 1, 6:30–8pm Fall Garden Book Club Meeting We will discuss: America’s Romance with the English Garden by Thomas J. Mickey. Also at this meeting, we will discuss 2019 garden book club choices, so bring your suggestions. We will meet at Soupergirl, right next to the Takoma Metro stop. RSVP to washingtongardener (at) rcn.com or on this event page: https://www.facebook. com/events/546449572444286/. The Washington Gardener Magazine’s Garden Book Club is free and open to all. • Friday, November 1, 1–2:30pm Getting Your Garden Ready For Winter Beginner and intermediate gardeners are often overwhelmed by the long seasonal to-do lists of garden tasks. Kathy Jentz, Editor/Publisher, Washington Gardener Magazine, will show you what chores are essential and which you can safely skip as you prepare your garden for winter. Discover cost-saving tips and tricks, and how to “batten down the hatches” in case we have a really bad winter. Held at #BrooksideGardens Fee: $20/$22. Register at https://apm. activecommunities.com/montgomerycounty/Activity_Search/getting-your-garden-ready-for-winter/49883. • Saturday, November 3, 2–4pm Beginner Hands-on Bonsai Class With a focus on care and maintenance, learn all the basics of bonsai design

• Wednesday, November 14, 8am–3pm 7th Annual Trees Matter Symposium Montgomery Parks and Casey Trees present the 7th Annual Trees Matter Symposium at the Silver Spring Civic Building, Silver Spring, MD. Learn from respected industry professionals about recent and innovative trends in urban and suburban landscaping, as you connect with industry colleagues. Continuing education credits and exhibitor opportunities for this event are available. For more information and to register, go to MontgomeryParks.org.

Save These Future Dates • November 22, 2018–January 6, 2019 A Longwood Christmas Thousands of poinsettias, towering Christmas trees, and fragrant flowers transform the conservatory into a warm holiday wonderland. Outdoors, more than 500,000 decorative lights glitter in the trees and colorful fountain displays set to music enchant visitors. Evening choral concerts, strolling carolers, and organ sing-alongs fill the gardens with the festive sounds of the holidays. For information, visit longwoodgardens.org.

• Tuesday, November 27, 2–4pm Traditional Holiday Wreaths In this hands-on workshop, craft a traditional, one-of-a-kind holiday decoration of hearty evergreens to enliven your home. Your finished wreath will be approximately 16 to 18 inches wide and can be hung indoors or out. All materials are included. Payment is required in advance due to materials fees, and is non-refundable. This program is limited to 10 people, and must have a minimum of four participants to take place. Other dates/times available. Held at Hillwood, 4155 Linnean Avenue, NW, Washington, DC. Details at hillwoodmuseum.org. • Sunday, December 2, 12n–4pm Gardeners Holiday Open House Treat yourself to a day of holiday fun in the garden featuring decorations and seasonal displays, live music, holiday breads and ornaments for sale, and free refreshments. This festive day at Green Spring Gardens in Alexandria, VA, is for gardeners of all ages. Bring the children to a holiday puppet show by Bob Brown Puppets at 1pm and 3pm ($5/person; advance registration recommended). Register online at www.fairfaxcounty.gov.

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 November 1 for the November 2018 issue, for events taking place November 16–December 15, 2018. o

Your Ad Here

Are you trying to reach thousands of gardeners in the greater DC region/MidAtlantic area? Washington Gardener Magazine goes out on the 15th of every month. Contact KathyJentz@gmail.com or call 301.588-6894 for ad rates (starting from $200). The ad deadline is the 10th of each month. Please submit your ad directly to: KathyJentz@gmail.com. OCTOBER 2018

WASHINGTON GARDENER

DAYtrip

Glenstone: Landscape of Contrasts By B y Cheval Force Opp Our region now boasts a privately owned art museum larger than the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York. Glenstone’s $200 million expansion opening this month invites visitors to park and take a walk to view the post-World War II art collected over the past 12 years by Mitchell and Emily Wei Rales. Winding paths lead visitors from the parking lot to the new 200,000square-foot museum building called the Pavilions. The stroll envelopes you in a rolling landscape dotted with mammoth sculptures by Felix Gonzalez-Torres, Ellsworth Kelly, Richard Serra, and more. Jeff Koon’s colorful Split-Rocker perched on a hillock looks humorously down on visitors as they walk to the new arrival center, cross a bridge, and pass through a grove of trees to the Pavilions—a group of tall, pale-white cubes. Earlier this year, I met with the fulltime horticulturist, Chris Ryan, who, with the help of a cherry picker, tends the 240,000 flowering annuals that spend their short lives blooming on the 37-foot-high Split-Rocker. Pictures of this thick-set metal superstructure of steel pipes and potting soil-filled compartments do not convey the silly humor of the work. It is a delight and, like a grinning Rose Bowl float, requires constant maintenance. 16

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Split-Rocker is framed by the surrounding meadows stretching to a horizon ringed by trees, which invite solitary walks. Glenstone’s vistas are the result of Adam Greenspan and Peter Walker of PWP Landscape Architecture re-grading various parcels of land into 230 acres of landscaped meadows and woods threaded by streams.

Curator of Meadows

Glenstone’s meadows look deceptively simple, but with a new landscape like this, I wondered how they were being planted and managed. I was delighted to learn Larry Weaner, author of Garden Revolution, was cited as “curator of meadows.” Weaner graciously agreed to an interview. Q. Did you know your title at Glenstone is “curator of meadows”? A. I did not, I do manage the work and “curator of meadows” is a better title than some I have been given. It is a great project. We are still working on it, and Glenstone is a fun place to be working. Q. How did you become involved in the landscape project at Glenstone? A. PWP Landscape Architecture, based in Berkeley, invited us to participate as a sub-consultant. We have worked with Peter Walker on other projects. We were recruited in December 2015 and started design early 2016.

Q. Glenstone is located on 230 acres. How many are you working? A. The actual areas to be planted in meadows were determined by PWP. We are responsible for two planted areas, one 24 acres, and one 12 acres, both of which we seeded and, for some, added live plants. For Glenstone, I would say “meadows” is a loose terminology, because some of the planting areas were under new trees. In the 24-acre plot are meadows where re-grading and construction had occurred, so there was no vegetation, just bare soil. The 12-acre field, named the Residence Meadow, is planted in European pasture grass. We are converting that over time to a native meadow, which means we are gradually seeding in native species that include Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), Purpletop (Tridens flavus), Beaked Panicgrass (Panicum anceps), Splitbeard Broomsedge (Andropogon ternarius), Tufted Hairgrass (Deschampsia caespitosa), and Slender Woodoats (Chasmanthium laxum). We are not just killing the European grass and reseeding the entire field. Q. Between the 24 acres of bare soil and the 12 acres of existing grass, which is easier to convert to meadows? A. The 24 acres are easier because there is no competition for what you

DAYtrip are seeding. If the bare soil is rich, the management issue is not growing the meadow plants, but that rich soil also supports a wide range of weeds, which puts more pressure on the meadow plants. If the bare soil is infertile or dry, there are many native plants that do well in those conditions, so you have less competition from weeds. In poor soil, there are fewer weeds that will grow, and those weeds will also grow slower, giving the meadow plants time to take hold. Another extreme condition is very wet areas, either from low land or poor drainage. That extreme condition prohibits many weeds, but we select the plants that thrive in those conditions. Extremes give our selected meadow plants a better chance at growing and thriving. Q. What are the unique challenges in the meadows you manage for Glenstone? A. Our two plots are at the entry experience and the new buildings. Both needed to be ready for opening day, yet building construction was staggered, giving us varying planting timelines. Yet, we wanted the fields to have a sameness. We used cover crops to “pause” the planting in some cases. The other issue was “color.” In a perennial meadow, we usually do not get flower colors until the second year, so we added in some annuals, lightly, to give the green a few pops of color. Those annuals will drop out next year, and the perennial plants that are little seedlings now will express themselves, giving color next year. Q. It is interesting that your meadows are surrounding the Split-Rocker sculpture, which is very different planting. A. Yes, I think that is really cool. I think that artwork gives visitors a drama on the hill. In some ways, the landscapes are polar opposites in concept. You see flowers and grasses in the wild and then the looming formal form defined by annuals. Many times, because I use primarily native plants, people think that I have some antipathy to formality. I do not. In fact, I enjoy and have worked with other designers, incorporating formal with the wild landscape. It is a powerful combination that I enjoy working with,

and it can be very dramatic, as it is at Glenstone. Q. What happens when you get unwanted weeds? A. The Glenstone project is being managed organically. No herbicides are being used for weed control. We have protocols to weed out weeds. There is more thinking when you do that, you cannot just go out and kill whatever pops up that you do not want. Instead, you must “out think” it. Take actions that distress the undesirables, yet not stress the desirables, and let that play out over time. It is a mental exercise, and I welcome the challenge to outmaneuver plants. I did not get into this business to use herbicides. When we use them, we use them very sparingly and selectively. My preferred action is to fine-tune the techniques, so we become smarter over time in the elimination of unwanted plants and the plants just stop growing in the area. For instance, in the Residence Meadow, we are trying to eliminate the existing European pasture grass with seeded-in native grasses. The prairie plants that we are planting are most active in the summer, the European grasses grow mostly in the spring. We mow the area several times in the spring, forcing regrowth, stressing the existing grass. However, the native grasses and flowers have not started growing in the spring, so they are not

stressed. This converts the field over time to more native grasses and flowers. This does not happen in just a year, but over time. We also applied sulfur to the field. That lowers the pH of the soil, making it less rich. Sulfur binds the soil nutrients, slowing the growth of the European grass, which needs high nutrients. The native plants, in contrast, grow well in poor nutrient soil. The first year, we saw few of the planted species mixed into the European grass, but now in the second year, we are seeing many more of the planted native species showing up. I enjoy this process, as opposed to the cataclysmic process of removing everything and starting from scratch. It is a management puzzle. What can I do to this environment that will favor the plants we want over time? In general terms, there are plants you want and plants you do not want. What are the growing differences between the plants that can be exploited? It is those differences that form the protocols for the plantings. In the Residence Meadow, the different growing season between the cool season grass and the warm season grass gave me a way to exploit the weakness of the warmseason European grass. Q. So your clients need to be patient? A. An organic meadow is an exercise in patience. Typically, for a meadow planting, it is not until the third year or the

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WASHINGTON GARDENER

DAYtrip fourth year that you have flowers, there is diversity, and you feel the composition is fitting together. The plants at that stage begin to be complementary, each holding onto a specific niche. They settle in and look more meadowlike. Q. I notice from your book that you are not using just native plants in meadow projects. A. Correct. Most of the time, native species will have the characteristics for a specific landscape, but there are times when a non-native plant will fill a gap that needs to be filled. I am not dogmatic, but the vast majority of the plants I am using are native. In most cases and in this case, we have an esthetic parameter that we wanted this meadow to express; however, we must prioritize plant adaptability. First, we come up with a list of plants that will thrive on the site. Then, from that list, which ones will best express the esthetics requested for that site, as opposed to traditional design, where the first list is what plants will give us the esthetics we want and then perhaps looking at plants that might thrive in the landscape. There is no question we think long and hard about the esthetics, but a plant that will not survive, will get out-competed in the ground, does not fit our mission. It disappears after a few years. Q. You talk about reduced maintenance over time for these plantings. A. I do have data that support the reality that over time, there is less watering, less fertilizing, certainly less mowing, but every project is different. The maintenance reduction is real. A meadow is the easiest and least-expensive to maintain over time, but the early years take time to ensure the plants you want are part of the mix, and that mix has the look you want. If you have a field that you mow once a year, never water, and fertilize, the maintenance is lower than a field that you are constantly mowing, weeding, fertilizing, and watering to keep green and lush. But over time, a meadow will require less maintenance, use fewer resources. Q. What is the oldest meadow you are managing? A. Most of the meadows we follow 18

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up with for a few years, but then they become stable, a few years go by, and some customers will call us back to consult, but most are taken care of by the customer. We are still involved with a three-acre meadow that began in 1987, which had scattered white baptisia. I returned recently, and it was wallto-wall white baptisia. This meadow will continue to evolve, but much more slowly than in the early years. Some plants take many years to become a significant part of the composition, and some plants drop out early. Q. For small-yard owners, say a 4x10 bed, is this something they can try? A. Sure. On that scale, they would be better off planting with live plants than with seed because seed planting in such a small plot looks much too rough-and-tumble than a field measured in acres. You must take care which plants are included. A large, robust bush on several acres looks good, but not in a smaller plot. I do not think there is a minimum size for a meadow. I think of a meadow as an herbaceous-dominated, sunny landscape that has a dense intermingling and layered composition of herbaceous species. A meadow and a perennial garden are both herbaceous, but in a meadow, the density and intermingling of plants are different. Unlike the perennial garden, where each plant has its own space, even if the plants are touching, forming a solid cover, you do not have creeping plants under bushy plants or tall stalky things poking through them. You may see a square foot with five different plants co-existing. You may think that is a mess, but it is not, because each plant is growing within a different level, so the competition is reduced, and that is how the composition evolves over time. The plants did not meet just yesterday; they grew into their space over time, just as we see it in nature. When you pull plants from South Africa and the northwest, and New England, they do not know how to co-exist, they look uncomfortable together. Q. What question have you wished people would ask you when they call you about your book? A. Interestingly, while one might not

gather it from the title of the book, Garden Revolution, my motivation for following this route throughout my career is not to save the world, although I am gratified that my work contributes to better ecology. However, my prime motivation since the beginning in the early â&#x20AC;&#x2122;80s is that the work interested me. Pretty darn cool, watching the plantings interact, having some control but not all the control. My landscapes are interactiveâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;nature is making some decisions, and I am making some decisions. I enjoy this interaction, and the landscapes are beautiful. I think for a long time, doing landscape for wildlife habitats and various ecological reasons, you were stuck with a bitter esthetic pill and I do not believe that is the case now. There is no reason that anyone should feel that they are sacrificing esthetics to plant these wild landscapes. Esthetics are subjective, so someone might like a significant formal part of this landscape and some might want to feel lost in the wildness, and my job for my customers is to express that. I want my clients to enjoy living with the plantings. I am happy that what I do is good for the world, but I do it because I just love doing it. I do remember that when I began this work, I felt like the man on the moon.

Visiting Glenstone

Glenstone is at 12100 Glen Road, Potomac, MD. Visits are by appointment and admission is free. See ticketing details at www.glenstone.org. o Cheval Force Opp gardens in Dunn Loring, VA, where she lives with her husband Dana and corgi Marzipan. As a passionate garden tourist, she is always searching for new gardens to visit. Let her know if you have a favorite garden to share at gardentours@gmail.com. Thanks to Larry Weaner, who made time to talk about meadows, and Abebi Crooms, his project support assistant for follow-up and photos. Thanks also to Glenstoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Emily Grebenstein, communications manager, who hosted an early morning visit and directed my queries and to Chris Ryan, Horticulturist, who gave me a great SplitRocker adventure.

EDIBLEharvt

How to Harvest and Cure Sweet Potatoes by Kathy Jentz

Sweet potatoes are relatively easy to grow in our region. They grow almost too well—if you let them, they can easily take over a small edible garden. The trick for us comes at the end of the growing season, when we run out of warm days for curing them. Harvest them when the ends of the leaves start to yellow or just before our first fall frost (usually mid- to late October). Proper curing makes a big difference in how sweet the potatoes are and how well they store. Here are the basic steps. 1. To give yourself room and a better view for digging up your sweet potatoes, you can cut back the vines. (Note that the greens are edible either raw or cooked. Try sautéing them in place of spinach or adding them to stir-fries.) 2. Next, use a garden fork or spade and start loosening the soil a good couple of feet back from the crown of the mound. I made the mistake last year of going in too close and stabbing a bunch of good tubers; mea culpa. 3. Work your way around the mound and gently pry up the tubers. 4. Brush off (gently!) as much of the soil as possible. 5. Use clean pruners to snip off a large root hanging off them. Otherwise, leave the small whiskers and such on them. 6. Lay out a layer of newspaper in a warm, humid, and dim space. I use my sunporch with the blinds drawn. You do not want them to get cold, though, so try to have the space be at least 80 degrees, even at night. A greenhouse space works great for this. 7. Leave alone for 7–10 days. 8. Now they are cured and ready for cooking or storing. o Kathy Jentz is editor of Washington Gardener. She grows a variety of edibles in her 10x20 community garden plot.

OCTOBER 2018

WASHINGTON GARDENER

NEIGHBORnwork

Meet Smithsonian Rosarian: Shelley Gaskins By Ashley O’Connor

Capitol Hill resident Shelley Gaskins is the lead horticulturist at the Katherine Dulin Folger Rose Garden, part of the Smithsonian Gardens, The rose garden is in front of the Arts and Industries Building on the National Mall. I met Gaskins on a Potomac Rose Society tour of the newly renovated gardens, where she shared her passion for roses with us. Q. Tell us about yourself. A. I’m from Waldorf, MD. My parents were raised on farms, so they were gardening from home as much as people who work full-time can. And it occurred to me kind of late in life that not everyone had a yard like we had. We had a vegetable garden with berries, grapes, and peach trees; I think there 20

WASHINGTON GARDENER OCTOBER 2018

was some canning going on. But that’s where my roots were—what you grow in your yard, you eat. I didn’t realize until much later that not everybody had that. Q. What influenced you to pursue the horticulture industry? A. Honestly, it was just that I’d be doing something positive for the Earth. I love the environment and I love being outside. I first started working at a garden center when I was 16–18 years old. That particular garden center was family-owned, so the family was around, the dogs were around—after work, we’d eat watermelon. It was just ideal. And it was physical; it felt healthy. Q. What’s a typical day like for you? A. Well, the beauty of this job is that

there isn’t a typical day. I’ve been here 18 years, and that’s because no day is the same. I’ve never been bored a minute in my life here. We start with a morning meeting and then it’s just a free-for-all from there in that I work in the rose garden and the Enid A. Haupt Garden. I also get to do tours and educational programming. I get to do the interpretive signs and then plan plantings. If it was a day where I was doing gardening, we’d have the morning meeting and then I’d get out to water, try to get all the hard physical labor done in the early hours, but there’s so much to do, it happens all day long. But really, every day is very different and that appeals to me. I like the flexibility, as long as I keep my areas up to par.

NEIGHBORnwork Q. What’s the best part about your job? A. The people—that includes my team, because they’re hilarious, and that also includes talking to the visitors, because we are here for them. These gardens are here for them and I love sharing with them. If they want to stop and tell me about their garden, I am honored to listen. If they have questions, I am happy to give them the answers that I can, and if I don’t know the answer, then I will find an answer for them. And it’s always appreciation, you know—everyone here is positive. I used to work at a pharmacy and all my visitors were sick. Our visitors here are on vacation, they’re here for learning and they absorb it. It’s nice. Q. What do people misunderstand about roses? A. The misconceptions would be that they are hard to take care of, that they’re finicky, that they require too many chemicals, and that they don’t smell any more. And the reasons for those things are because of what man has done to the rose. All of our breed-

passion. At the start, I just didn’t hate them, and now I love them. But I never intended to be the “rose lady.” Q. What’s next for you?

ing to get something specific, like trying to breed a blue rose, or a rose with a high center and long stem; all that bred out the garden hardiness and resilience. It bred in the weakness. Some people believe that only heirloom roses have disease-resistance, and new roses can’t have it, but it’s a gene. As long as the gene exists, it’s possible for new roses (to be diseaseresistant). I wanted this rose garden to debunk those myths. Even within the horticulture field 15 years ago, people didn’t want to work with roses and I was like, ‘I’ll do it. What’s wrong with roses?’ They remind me of my grandmother they remind me of my mother, and now, 15 years later, they’ve become my

A. We started this new rose garden in 2016, and I’ve been trying to get it stabilized, fill in gaps, getting rid of the roses that aren’t up to snuff. But then. I want to spend more time sharing it with people, i.e., writing articles, pushing it out a little bit more. Because that is the point of it; right now, people happen upon it, but I just want to push it out to a larger audience. Q. Anything you’d like to tell our readers? A. Change your mind about roses! Give them another chance, especially the modern roses. o Ashley O’Connor is a senior multi-platform journalist at the University of Maryland. This autumn, she is an editorial intern at Washington Gardener. Responses edited for length and clarity.

OCTOBER 2018

WASHINGTON GARDENER

PRODUCTreview

Mucking Around the Garden: These Boots are Made for Digging

by Louise Clarke Sometimes it’s fun to kick off your shoes and frolic barefoot through the grass. For a robust day of gardening or outdoor chores, flip-flops might not be the answer. Jumping on shovels or operating small power equipment requires something more substantial and protective. For wet weather gardening, waterproof shoes or boots are a plus. The Original Muck Boot Company® Muck Boots are designed to be comfortable in messy and tough conditions. In my work, I’ve worn the Women’s Scrub mid-height style for several years. A flexible, stretchy, and breathable neoprene shaft that protects my lower leg tops the olive-green, natural rubber bottoms. I’ve slogged through mud that can suck off shoes to bushwhack wet meadows in cold, slushy winter weather without complaint. A quick hosing down cleans them for future use. New this year is the women’s Muckster II mid boot, an all-purpose boot/shoe that is lightweight and easypeasy to don or doff. Its rear pull-tab is actually large enough to slip a finger into. The breathable air mesh lining that wicks away perspiration makes them comfortable in all but the hottest weather. These also are made with a natural 22

WASHINGTON GARDENER OCTOBER 2018

rubber outsole and self-cleaning, grippy treads—great for most conditions. Made with a women’s last, these are designed for women’s feet. The fun feature is the neoprene shaft, which can be folded down to expose the floral- or tomato-print fabric. I’ve been trialing these in my home garden and at work, and find them extremely comfortable for all-day use. I’ve worn them with the print shaft rolled down in hot weather and recently raised them to mid-calf height to work in wet conditions, tucking in my pant legs to keep them dry. I recently wore the Muckster mid-boots to volunteer at an indoor conservatory, where I deadheaded, weeded, and watered. When surfaces were wet (polished concrete, slick bricks, and slate), my footing was unsteady. I found the shallow grooves of the tread didn’t grip as well as they did in outdoor conditions on terra firma. Other models in the Muckster II range include the slip-on Muckster clogs for women and men. There is minimal waterproof protection for the heel area, so depending on your gardening activities, they might be just right for mostly dry days. They’d be the coolest option for summer wear.

The Muckster II low offers heel protection, and is available for both sexes. Described as a water shoe, this waterproof come in solid black, two-tone green, black/pink, and black/purple options. Sizing for all men’s and women’s Muck Boots is in whole increments, no half sizes. Wearing socks takes up any excess room in the boot if you’re a half size, since you’d order the next whole size up. The Muckster II range, for men and women, is the only gardening footwear endorsed by the Royal Horticultural Society. From the land where gardening is a competitive sport, RHS approval is testament to quality, utility, and prestige. Overall, these are my go-to boots for year-round gardening. 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, 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 home-made tiki hut.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

MARCH/APRIL 2008 • Patio, Balcony, Rooftop Container Gardens • Our Favorite Garden Tools • Coral Bells (Heucheras) MAY/JUNE 2008 — ALMOST SOLD OUT! • Growing Great Tomatoes • Glamorous Gladiolus • Seed-Starting Basics • Flavorful Fruiting Natives JULY/AUGUST 2008 • Landscaping with Ornamental Grasses • Edible Grasses to Graze On • Slug and Snail Control • Sage Advice: Sun-Loving Salvias SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2008 • Autumn Edibles — What to Plant Now • Beguiling Barrenworts (Epimediums) • Best Time to Plant Spring-blooming Bulbs • 14 Dry Shade Plants Too Good to Overlook NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2008 • Outdoor Lighting Essentials • How to Prune Fruiting Trees, Shrubs, Vines • 5 Top Tips for Overwintering Tender Bulbs • Harry Lauder’s Walking Stick JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2009 • Compost Happens: Nature’s Free Fertilizer • Managing Stormwater with a Rain Garden • Visiting Virginia’s State Arboretum • Grow Winter Hazel for Winter Color

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

MARCH/APRIL 2009 ! 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

SUMMER 2009 • Grow Grapes in the Mid-Atlantic • Passionflowers • Mulching Basics • Growing Hops FALL 2009 • Apples • How to Save Tomato Seeds • Persimmons WINTER 2009 • Battling Garden Thugs • How to Start Seeds Indoors • Red Twig Dogwoods • Unusual Edibles to Grow in Our Region SPRING 2010 • Community Gardens • Building a Raised Bed • Dwarf Iris • Broccoli SUMMER 2010 • Fragrance Gardens • Watering Without Waste • Lavender • Potatoes FALL 2010 • Vines and Climbers • Battling Stink Bugs • Russian Sage • Garlic WINTER 2010 • Paths and Walkways • Edgeworthia • Kohlrabi SPRING 2011 • Cutting-Edge Gardens • Final Frost Dates and When to Plant • Bleeding Hearts • Onions SUMMER 2011 • Ornamental Edibles • Urban Foraging • Amsonia/Arkansas Blue Star • Growing Corn in the Mid-Atlantic FALL 2011 • Herb Gardens • Toad Lilies • Sweet Potatoes • Cool Weather Cover Crops WINTER 2011/EARLY SPRING 2012 • Green Roofs and Walls • Heaths and Heathers • Radishes SPRING 2012 • Pollinator Gardens • Brunnera: Perennial of the Year • Growing Yacon SUMMER 2012 • Tropical Gardens • Captivating Canna • Icebox Watermelons SPRING 2013 • Great Garden Soil • All About Asters • Squash Vine Borer SUMMER/FALL 2013 • Miniature/Faerie Gardens • Beguiling Abelias • Growing Great Carrots WINTER/EARLY SPRING 2014 • Ferns for the Mid-Atlantic • Chanticleer Gardens • Beet Growing Basics

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Jentz Prints

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

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

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