Washington Gardener Enews - Dec 09 by Kathy J

DECEMBER 2009 Welcome to the Washington Gardener Enewsletter! This enewsletter is the free sister publication of Washington Gardener Magazine. Both the magazine and enewsletter share the same mission and focus — helping DC-MD-VA region gardens grow — but our content is different. In this monthly enewsletter, we will: address timely seasonal topics and projects; post local garden events; and, include a monthly reminder list of what you can be doing now in your garden. We encourage you to subscribe to Washington Gardener Magazine as well for indepth articles, inspirational photos, and great garden resources for the Washington DC area gardener. Without your support, we cannot continue publishing this enewsletter. Our magazine subscription information is on the last page of this enewsletter. If you know of any other gardeners in the greater Washington, DC-area, please forward this email to them so that they can subscribe to this free enewsletter as well using the form on the back page the enewsletter to subscribe to our print magazine. You can also connect with Washington Gardener online at: • Washington Gardener Blog: www.washingtongardener.blogspot.com • Washington GardenerDiscussion Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WashingtonGardener/ • Washington Gardener Twitter Feed: www.twitter.com/WDCGardener • Washington Gardener Web Site: www.washingtongardener.com Sincerely, Kathy Jentz Editor/Publisher Washington Gardener Magazine

Reader Contest

For our December 2009 Washington Gardener Reader Contest, Washington Gardener is giving away 5 sets of passes for two people to the Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardenfest of Lights. A holiday tradition in Richmond, VA! The walkthrough show features more than a half million lights arranged in botanical themes throughout the Garden. Visitors can also marvel at displays in the Garden’s Conservatory and decorations in the Visitors Center and the Education and Library Complex. GardenFest includes family-friendly activities, botanical decorations, model trains, a bonfire (weather-permitting) and mazes of lights in the Children’s Garden, holiday dining, music and more! The show runs November 27, 2009 - January 11, 2010 (with the exception of December 24-25). The hours are 4:00 to 10:00pm. To enter to win a set of two passes to the Lewis Ginter Gardenfest of Lights, send an email with “Lewis” in the subject line to WashingtonGardener@rcn.com by 5:00pm on Monday, December 21. In the body of the email please include your full name, email, and mailing address. The pass winners will be announced and notified by December 22.

Current Issue

The Fall 2009 issue of Washington Gardener Magazine’s theme includes apple-growing tips for the Mid-Atlantic, a trip to Green Spring Gardens, and dealing with invasive bamboo. In this issue is our PlantProfile on Japanese Anemone, a fall favorite. We also cover Saving Tomato Seeds (yes, you can do-it-yourself), visit the USDA People’s Garden, spotlight the Eastland Gardens Flower Club, and focus on the Native Meehan’s Mint. We share tips on battling Apple Tree Pests, stopping Squash Vine Borer, and propagating Sweet Potato Vine. Do your tastes run to the more exotic? You’ll love our EdibleHarvest column on growing Persimmons, which includes a guide to the best Persimmon varieties. In the “Did You Know” category, we share the latest research on a link between visiting public gardens and senior health. We also share a study on the rapid spread of invasive weeds in western Maryland that points the finger at roadside maintenance crews. Finally, we interview Michael Twitty, an heirloom gardener and expert in local Afro-American foodways. He helps dispell the myths and misconceptions many people have about traditional African-American gardens. To subscribe, see the last page of this newsletter for a form to mail in or go to our web page and use our PayPal order form.

Next Issue Out

Our Winter 2009-10 issue is in production now to be mailed by December 25. It features Garden Thugs, Red Twig Dougwoods, Unusual Vegetables, and much more!

December Garden To-Do List

Spotlight Special

The Carmine Jewel Dwarf Cherry, first available in the U.S. from Gurney’s® Seed & Nursery, is considered a breeding breakthrough by industry experts, Carmine Jewel combines the traits of the best cherries into a low-maintenance, manageable-sized bush that can be grown just about anywhere. The Carmine Jewel was achieved with more than 50 years of breeding work to combine the genetics of Mongolian cherries (for their shiny leaves, dwarf growing habit and cold tolerance) with improved tart cherries (for their flavor, fruit size, pigment, and self-pollination). Carmine Jewel’s strong sugar content balances a complement of acids, for a sweet-tart cherry that’s not entirely tart and perfect for fresh eating. Its flavor, texture and large size — 3.5 grams on average — are unmatched in bush cherries. Home gardeners are finding that the Carmine Jewel’s flavor beats out the blander flavor of sweet cherries when it comes to fresh eating. This self-pollinating cultivar produces full-sized fruit, unusual for a dwarf cherry, and practically unheard of for a selfpollinating cultivar. Huge yields of 15 pounds of fruit by its fourth year, and between 20 and 30 pounds in its fifth year rival that of full-sized cherry trees. The Carmine Jewel’s dark pigmented flesh is unique for a tart cherry. Most tart cherries have light-colored flesh, and red food coloring is often added to cherry pie filling. Carmine Jewel’s beautiful, purple-red flesh is naturally pigmented. Earlybird Cardinal™ at a glance: • Zones: hardy to 2b • Height: 6 ½ ft • Spacing: 5-7' • Sun/Shade: full sun • Pollinator: Self-pollinating 2

Here is our comprehensive garden task list for gardens in the greater DC metro region for December 16-January 15. Your additions to this list are most welcome: • Keep watering your poinsettias and give them plenty of light. Ensure they are away from drafts and that the pots drain freely. • Last chance to plant bulbs or if you have waited until the ground is frozen, pot them up for forcing indoors. • Gather holiday greens. Some, like holly and boxwood, benefit from being pruned by growing thicker. • Feed birds and provide them with a fresh water source. • Check houseplants and any plants you brought indoors for the winter, for insects. • Provide some special protection to tender or early flowering plants like Camellias. • Stake newly planted large trees or shrubs to protect them from winter winds. • Check any bulbs, corms, tubers and bare root plants in storage for rot or desiccation. • Apply scale and dormant oil treatment to evergreens. • Spread ashes from wood fires on your vegetable beds. • Keep succulents and cacti on the dry side. • Water your cut Christmas tree daily. • Gently remove layers of snow from evergreens with a broom. • Start organizing your pile of incoming garden catalogs. • Keep an eye out for bark damage from rabbits and deer. • Spray broadleaf evergreens with anti-desiccant to prevent dehydration. • Use the branches from your Christmas tree as bedding mulch or as a wind-break. • Keep watering newly planted trees and shrubs as needed. • Cover strawberry beds with straw or pine needles. • Prune stone fruit trees like cherries, plums, and peaches. • Clean, sharpen, and store your garden tools. • Reduce fertilizing of indoor plants (except Cyclamen). • Set up a humidifier for indoor plants or at least place them in pebble trays. • Continue to rotate houseplants to promote even growth. • Attend a local garden club meeting. • Start new indoor plants from cuttings -- try an easy one such as violets. • Check the plants under tall evergreens and under the eaves of the house to see that they have sufficient moisture. • Weed. Weed. Weed. • Pick a budding gardener on your gift list to give some inspirational garden books and magazines then watch them blossom. • Store your fertilizer and seeds in rodent-proof containers. • Do any filling and grading around your yard. The soil will settle during the winter months. • Vent cold frames on sunny days. • Avoid walking in frozen planting beds. • Remove and destroy gypsy moth egg masses. • Clean your gutters. • Prune maples, dogwoods, birch, elm, and walnut -- if needed. • Bonus Tip: Some alternatives to de-icing salts include sand, beet juice sugars, light gravel (grit), or non-clumping kitty litter. Using de-icing salts around driveways and sidewalks can harm your garden plants and turf. Have a wonderful 2009 holiday season!

Quick Links to Recent Washington Gardener Blog Posts • Best and Worst 2009 Film Gardens • Crocus Sativus - producer of saffron, the most expensive spice in the world • Buy, Listen, and Visit Local in DC • Homegrown Thanksgiving Feast Round-Up • How to Gather Seeds and other Winter Prep Chores See more Washington Gardener Blog posts at WashingtonGardener.Blogspot.com.

You’ve seen those gorgeous garden photos published in magazines and newspapers. Enter this year’s competition and have a chance of getting your winning images published, too! Whether you take the photos in your own backyard, a nearby public garden, or while visiting friends and family in their local gardens, there are so many photographic opportunities to be found. Let’s show off the best in DC-area gardening! This contest offers an opportunity for all photographers to present their best shots of gardens in the greater Washington, DC area. Contest entries will be judged on technical quality, composition, originality, and artistic merit. More than $500 in prizes will be awarded! Winning images will be published in Washington Gardener magazine, will be displayed during the Washington Gardener Seed Exchange, and will appear in a local photo exhibit. By popular demand a NEW category has been added for this years contest! “Garden Vignettes” is for those garden scenes that are in-between tight closeups and sweeping landscape vistas.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

Each entrant is limited to a total of 10 images. Each electronic file must be identified with your name and phone number. All photographs should accurately reflect the subject matter and the scene as it appeared in the viewfinder. Nothing should be added to an image and, aside from dust spots, nothing should be removed. Cropping and minor adjustments to electronic images to convert RAW files are acceptable. If an image is selected as a finalist, a high-resolution digital file might be required prior to finalizing our contest results. Digitally captured images should be taken at the camera’s highest resolution (3 megapixels or larger). For preliminary judging, digital files must be submitted in JPEG format sized to 1000 pixels on the longest side at 300 dpi. If photos are taken with a film camera, they must be scanned in and submitted in JPEG format sized to 1000 pixels on the longest side at 300 dpi. Before sending us your CD-ROMs, verify their integrity by making sure they

4TH ANNUAL PHOTO CONTEST are readable and not damaged. We reserve the right to disqualify any disk that is unreadable or defective. Please check your CDs with the latest virus detection software. We will disqualify any disk that may contain a virus or a suspicious file. Label each CD and case with your full name. We strongly suggest mailing CDs in a protective case. We are not responsible for disks damaged during shipping. No CDs will be returned but they can be picked up after judging. Send your entries and entry fee to: Washington Gardener Photo Contest, 826 Philadelphia Ave., Silver Spring, MD 20910. Mailed entries must be received by January 22, 2010. Contest entries can also be submitted via email to DCGardenPhotos@aol. com. Use the subject line “WG Photo Contest” and include an entry form for each image in your email’s text field. You can print out blank entry forms from www.WashingtonGardener.com. We will verify all entry receipts so please ensure your email address is included on all items. Entrants must not infringe on the rights of any other photographer, landowner, or other person. Photos involving willful harassment of wildlife or destruction of any property are unacceptable. The entrant must have personally taken the photo. By entering, you state this is your work and is free of copyright elsewhere. Failure to comply with any contest guidelines will lead to disqualification.

Your entry to this contest constitutes your agreement to allow your photographs and your name, city, state, and photo description texts to be published in upcoming issues of Washington Gardener and used for other related purposes including, but not limited to, Washington Gardener Photo Contest promotions, online, live presentations, and gallery exhibits. Entrants retain ownership and all other rights to future use of their photographs.

CATEGORIES

Each entrant is limited to a total of 10

images. You may submit a few in each category or submit all 10 in one category. Photo must have been taken during the 2009 calendar year in a garden located within a 150-mile radius of the Capitol Building in Washington, DC. • Garden Views: Beautiful, dramatic, or unusual perspectives of a garden landscape, including wide shots showing the setting. Subject can be a private or public garden. • Garden Vignettes: Groupings of plants in beds or containers, unusual color or texture combinations, garden focal points, and still scenes. Subject can be photographed in a private or public garden. • Small Wonders: Tight close-up images or macro shots of single flowers, plant parts, fruits, vegetables, etc. Subject can be photographed in a private or public garden. • Garden Creatures: Images of insects, birds, frogs, domestic pets, etc. in a private or public garden setting.

PRIZES

Prizes include gift certificates to area camera stores, gardening tools, new plant introductions, and much more! If you would like to be a prize donor or sponsor, please contact us today.

WINNERS’ OBLIGATION

Photo contest winners will need to provide a high-resolution version of their image for publication and an 11x14 print suitable for framing. Winners may be asked to provide additional information for press and media coverage.

CONTEST ENTRY FEE

The entry fee is $15.00 or $10.00 for current Washington Gardener Magazine subscribers. The fee includes up to 10 total image submissions per entrant. Please send a check or money order made out to “Washington Gardener” or send a payment via www.PayPal.com to DCGardenPhotos@aol.com.

DEADLINE

Entries due by January 22, 2010.

QUESTIONS?

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

Containers to Get You Through the Winter Doldrums By Kathy Jentz

This is the time of year where leaves are falling, frost is on your windows, and your planting beds are looking a bit bare. When that cold snap hits and kills off your summer annuals, you don’t have to abandon your containers and give into the winter blahs. Instead use this transitional period to put in some hardy plants now that will get you through until the spring thaw. There are two schools of thought on containers. Some advocate the one-plant-for-one-pot look. You then mass the pots in groupings. The other technique is to cram-and-jam at least three kinds of plant in one large pot (one tall, one bushy, one trailing). Both styles have their use and appeal depending on the effect you want. In dead winter though, I prefer the one plant/ one pot approach it is just easier to substitute out any failures and will look less “skimpy.” Choose containers that are gorgeous such as glazed pottery. In fall/winter, plants are less full so the containers you use are more important than other seasons. Group together pot that are of the same materials or of coordinating colors. Use props and fillers to give the illusion of fullness in your plantings. Try pots filled with dried seed heads, squash, and gourds. Stack hay bales, wooden crates, and nice rocks/fossils. Display antique wood and iron pieces, hypertufa spheres, and stone figures. Add white lights or holiday décor as seasonally appropriate. Keep your winter containers only in high traffic areas (i.e. near entrances). Do this not only because they are the only place people will see them but also because in winter’s cold you won’t want to be out more than a few seconds to maintain them. Stuff the bottom of containers with filler such as styrofoam chips or lava rocks to ensure good drainage. This is even more crucial in winter than the rest of the year. The freezing rains we get in the DC area in late winter can be brutal to any planting. Containers need extra fertilizer, but don’t overdo it in winter. Cut back on watering as well -- especially if rains are fairly frequent -- only water if the container is under a roof or ledge. Top off container plantings with an insulator -- mulch, pea gravel, peat moss, bark mulch, etc. They provide protection from the cold and keep the soil from drying out. They can also disguise plastic planting pots if you just pop them inside more decorative containers. Consider planting a layer of bulbs now as you pot up your containers. They will pop up next spring and are a low-cost, easy step. When choosing plants, combine textures and colors. Consider a display of three, five, or seven different kinds of boxwoods. Try newer boxwood varieties like Green Pillow next to Elegantissimo. Try a sculptural display of twisted willow or other interesting branches. Just twist up chicken wire into a cage in the bottom of your pot to support the sticks. Twist ivy throughout them to create an interesting effect. Another striking winter container idea is a golden holly in topiary standard form, surrounded at its base by pinecones spray-painted gold. Lastly, remember that containers are ideal because they can be moved! If a hard freeze comes in and you have some “borderline” or less hardy items planted, you can move them indoors or into a sheltered area for a few days.

Your Ad Here

Are you trying to reach gardeners in the greater DC region/Mid-Atlantic area? Washington Gardener Enews goes out on the 15th of every month and is a free sister publication to Washington Gardener magazine. The ad rate is $250 per issue or $1,000 for five issues. The ad deadline is the 10th of each month. Please submit your ad directly to: washingtongardener@rcn.com. 4

Fall/Winter Container Plant List Tall Grasses Sedges Evergreens Small trees Redtwig dogwood Twisted willow Harry Lauder’s walking stick Bushy/Full/Filler Flowering kales and cabbages Plumbago Nandina Boxwood Evergreens/conifers Barberry Cypress Sedums Mums Asters Heuchera Dianthus Primula/primroses/polyanthus Violets/pansies Bergenia Salvia Ajuga Pachysandra Cotoneaster Lavender Skimmia rubella Heather Convolvulus cneorum/Bush Morning Glory/Silverbush Holly/golden holly Trailing Periwinkle/vinca Ivy Creeping jenny Bacopa Sweet alyssum

4th Annual Washington Gardener Philadelphia Flower Show Tour Organized by Garden Tours Wednesday, March 3, 2010, 10:00AM-10:00PM Leaving and returning from downtown Silver Spring, MD

The Philadelphia Flower Show, the oldest and largest indoor flower show in the world, theme for 2010 is “Passport to the World,” Join us for an exotic journey to dozens of destinations around the globe. Stroll through Showcase Gardens transporting visitors to an elaborate Indian wedding; a blooming Dutch street scene; the natural and tribal wonders of South Africa; the Amazon jungle of Brazil; the botanical gardens of Singapore; and the rugged beauty of New Zealand. Participate in Lectures and Demonstrations series, Gardener’s Studio, All-Star Culinary Presentations and daily entertainment performances. First-time and returning riders will enjoy the extra details of our coach ride. We are looking forward to seeing you! Schedule for day: • 10:00AM coach leaves Silver Spring Metro with lunch, games, and DVD viewing en route • 12:45-7:15PM Explore Philadelphia Flower Show ~ dinner on your own • 7:30PM Coach departs Philadelphia Convention Center with snacks, games, and DVD showing onboard • 10:00PM Coach arrives at Silver Spring Metro This tour package includes: 1. Charter Passenger Coach - reserved seating and storage under the bus 2. Choice of Gourmet Box Lunch on the way up to the show 3. Snacks for return trip 4. Listing of nearby restaurants for dinner on your own at the show 5. Information package on the show which will assist in prioritizing your day 6. Two Garden DVD showings 7. Admission to the show 8. Convenient drop-off and pick-up at Silver Spring and Dunn Loring Metros* 9. Lively show and garden discussions led by Washington Gardener’s Kathy Jentz 10. Surprises and prizes.



Registration deadline: March 1, 2010

Full refund if canceled by February 5. $40 refunded until February 26. No refunds after February 28.

Questions? Cheval Opp at 703.395.1501 Gardentours@gmail.com www.WashingtonGardener.com

To register please use the form below. (One form per person.) Name _______________________________________________________________ Address______________________________________________________________ Phone number________________________________________________________ Email________________________________________________________________ Name of seatmate_____________________________________________________ We will try to seat groups together, but cannot guarantee group seating. Name of group _______________________________________________________

$90.00 each or $85.00 each for Washington Gardener subscribers

Check/money order #_______ ~ Please make payable to “Cheval’s 2nd Act” Send this registration form along with your payment to: Garden Tours, 8000 N Park St, Dunn Loring VA 22027

arden Gtours

Brought to you by:

If you’ve never been to the Philadelphia Flower Show, this is your opportunity to escape from the last of winter’s cold winds and experience a garden paradise. Walk through floral wonderlands, take notes at one of the many workshops, enjoy new plants on display, WASHINGTON and shop GARDENER at the vendors tempting ENEWS © with 2009 Washington Gardenerarray Magazineof All goodies. rights reserved.

DC-Area Gardening Calendar ~ Upcoming Events November 16-December 15, 2009 AHS River Farm

Casey Trees

• Through January 4, 2010, 9:00am5:00pm, Monday through Friday “Eyes on Nature” Art Show Display Fifteen area artists will be displaying their work at the American Horticultural Society’s River Farm beginning August 31, 2009. The show, titled “Eyes on Nature: Botanical Artists Bring their Views to River Farm,” features artwork gleaned from the natural world. Orchids, peonies, arrays of spring bulbs, and other exquisitely rendered flowers will be on display, along with trees, herbs, fruits, vegetables and the occasional butterfly or moth. These will be portrayed in watercolor, graphite, colored pencil, or gouache (an opaque watercolor medium). All of the artists in this juried show are members of the Botanical Art Society of the National Capital Region. BASNCR is an incorporated nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting public interest in botanical art and serves over 70 members, the majority of whom live in Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia. Many of its members also belong to the American Society of Botanical Artists (ASBA), the premier botanical art association in the United States. Thirteen of the 15 artists exhibiting in the “Eyes on Nature” show are also members of the ASBA.

• Saturday, December 19, 2009m 10:00 am-12:00noon North Portal Estates Tree Tour Guide: Casey Trees staff Location: North Portal Estates, Kalmia Road NW at 16th Street NW. A winter treasure hunt in the Portal Estates residential neighborhood on the edge of Rock Creek Park. Learn to identify common DC-area trees with winter interest using seeds, bark, buds and twig structure. Get a bare-bones look at the importance of trees in a urban residential neighborhood. FREE For questions, call 202.349.1907 or email cherwig@caseytrees.org.

7931 East Boulevard Drive Alexandria, VA 22308-1300 703.768.5700 www.ahs.org

Brookside Gardens 1800 Glenallan Avenue Wheaton, MD 20902 301.962.1400 www.brooksidegardens.org

• Thursday, December 17, 4:30-6:00pm Boxwood Holiday Tree Using boxwood clippings, arrange a miniature holiday tree then decorate with festive ornaments.Led by Lynn Richard, Brookside Gardens Staff. Ages: 7-12. Fee: $20; registration required at www.parkpass.org. • Wednesday, January 13, 12-1:30pm Cooking with Unusual Grains By popular request the Cook sisters, Adrienne Cook, garden and food writer, and Danielle Navidi, caterer, are exploring ways to use unusual grains to bring a new taste and texture to the table. This class will include Roman Barley Soup, Quinoa Vegetable Medley, a not-so-traditional Tabbouleh, and a Japanese Black Rice Salad. Samples available. Fee: $25; register at www.Parkpass.org.

1123 11th Street NW, Ste. 3 Washington, DC 202.833.4010 www.caseytrees.org

Green Spring Gardens 4603 Green Spring Road Alexandria, Virginia 22312 703.642.5173 www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/gsgp/

Basic Gardening Series During this three program series, Green Spring Master Gardeners share gardening tips and time-saving techniques, clarify simple steps and debunk horticulture myths. Sign up for the entire series or for individual workshops. $33/3-part series or $12/session • Friday, January 8, 1:30-2:30pm: Bring EcoSavvy Gardening Inside: House Plants • Friday, January 22, 1:30-2:30pm: The Basics of Pruning Trees and Shrubs • Friday February 5, 1:30-2:30pm: Spring Garden Maintenance Landscape Design Series or Homeowners Instructor: Amy Knotts Neiberline, Adjunct Professor at George Washington University’s Landscape Design Program Are you designing a new garden? Do you want to polish the look of a mature garden? This workshop series helps you design your garden, develop your garden’s framework, produce a plan and estimate the costs. It includes the “Landscape Design Lectures” and expands upon them with individual attention during afternoon workshops. The workshops focus on the design process: using site analysis techniques, learning drawing skills, selecting plants and estimating. With the instructor’s assistance, create a design that integrates your garden areas into a coherent whole.

Choose the format that fits your time and gardening needs – the whole workshop package (3 lectures + afternoon workshop) or individual lectures! Call 703642-5173 to register. Landscape Design Lectures plus workshops 9:30am-2pm (with lunch break) $185 Limit 10 participants Individual Design Lectures (no workshop) 9:30-11am $16/lecture Workshop: Saturdays: January 9, 16 and 23 following the “Landscape Design Lectures” • Saturday, January 9 The Design Elements of Planting Design: Line, Form, Texture and Color Discover how the elements of planting design influence the overall arrangements of plant combinations and garden spaces. • Saturday, January 16 Biology of the Garden Site and Drawing the Plan: An Intro Learn how soil, climatic zone, sun quality, and moisture interact to create a better garden ecosystem, and how to draw the plan to get the proper plant quantities for a design. • Saturday, January 23 Design and Execution of Planting Design Participate in an in-depth lecture on successful plant combinations and developing the plant list for varying site requirements. We will also discuss installing and pricing the final planting design.

Maryland Native Plant Society http://www.mdflora.org/

• Sunday, December 20, 2009, 11:00am3:00 pm Winter Solstice Walk at Chapman Forest, Charles County Leader: Rod Simmons The old-age section of Chapman Forest is always a great place to celebrate the winter season and see a remarkable diversity of native trees, including many species of oaks, 4 hickory species, 2 hackberry species, basswood, white and pumpkin ash, ancient sassafras, Virginia hop-hornbeam, bladdernut, wafer ash, southern bayberry, and many others. Directions: Take Indian Head Highway (Rt. 210) south from Capital Beltway (495) for app. 15 miles. Continue on Rt. 210 past Bryans Rd intersection and start looking for Chapman Landing Rd on right. Take half right on Chapman Landing Rd and proceed a couple of miles to entrance to Mount Aventine on right. Park and meet in parking lot. Bring: Wear sturdy shoes. Bring lunch, snacks, and water. Note: Moderate walk, mostly on trails. Cancelled in the event of pouring rain, sleet, or snow. Contact: Rod, cecropia13@msn.com.

DC-Area Gardening Calendar ~ Upcoming Events November 16-December 15, 2009 The two-hour walk over hilly and uneven US National Arboretum Montgomery County terrain is more of a brisk hike than a tour 3501 New York Avenue, NE Sierra Club so wear good walking shoes and dress for Washington, D. C. 20002-1958 Rockville Library 21 Maryland Avenue Rockville, MD http://maryland.sierraclub.org/ montgomery/calendar.html.

• Sunday, January 10, 2010, 2:00–3:30pm Rainscapes, Rain Gardens, and Conservation Talk Presenter Ann English is a Rainscapes Program Planning Specialist with the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection. Rainscapes, such as rain gardens and conservation landscapes, beautify and improve environmental health as they help to solve the technical stormwater management problems caused by too much stormwater runoff. This talk will highlight examples of creative and beautiful Rainscapes and present information on how to design and plant these types of landscapes on residential properties. Information about the techniques used in the innovative Montgomery County Rainscapes program and the incentives available to property owners in the County will also be discussed. FREE

United States Botanic Garden Conservatory (USBG) 100 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 202.225.8333 www.usbg.gov

• November 26, 2009 through January 10, 2010, 10:00am–5:00pm Holiday Magic The U.S. Botanic Garden’s National Mall and fanciful garden-train exhibits have become a beloved Washington tradition, and this year we’re serving up even more magic with larger and more amazing displays made of plant-based natural materials. You’ll find an enchanted storybook garden with trains popping in and out of a landscape that now includes Snow White’s cottage and the Owl and the Pussycat’s beautiful pea green boat. Our exhibit of the National Mall landmarks is up to date this season with the Obama children’s swing set and another new addition: the National Museum of the American Indian. Again this year, one of Washington’s largest indoor holiday trees will tower over pools of colorful poinsettias and other holiday plants. The whole family will enjoy the children’s plant hunt, which will take visitors through our collections in search of particularly “magical” plants. FREE.

202.245.2726 www.usna.usda.gov

• January 29, 8:00-10:00 pm Full Moon Hikes for Groups The popular Full Moon Hikes are now available for your group. Gather a group of friends, family, co-workers, and others to enjoy this unique experience that is considered by many to be one of DC’s best outings. This four-mile-long, mildly strenuous hike is a magical trip through moonlit gardens, meadows and woods. Discover how the striking landscape of the arboretum changes under the moon and stars of the night sky. Your guide will share points of special interest and seasonal highlights.

the weather. Not recommended for children under 16. Maximum 25 per group. Fee: $550.

Event Listing Notes

For even more area garden event notices than we can’t possibly squeeze in here, become a member of our free online discussion group. To join the email list serv, just send an email to: WashingtonGardener-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. To submit an event for this listing, please contact: Wgardenermag@aol.com and put “Event” in the email subject head. PLEASE NO ATTACHMENTS! Our next deadline is January 12 for the January 15 edition of this enewsletter featuring events from January 16-February 15,

Outdoor Walk-Through Display

Nov. 27, 2009 – Jan. 3, 2010 (open every night except December 24 & 25)

Hours: 5:30pm – 9:00pm Last car admitted at 8:30pm

Admission: cash only $15 car/van (Mon.– Thurs.) $20 car/van (Fri.– Sun.)

Conservatory Train Exhibit Open every night

New Year’s Eve Celebration

Crafts and give-a-ways for the kids Open until 9pm Visit our Gift Shop and receive

10% OFF

on merchandise only. Expires Jan. 3, 2010 Not valid with any other discounts. WG09

1800 Glenallan Ave., Wheaton, MD 20902 Show Info Line: 301.962.1453 • www.brooksidegardens.org

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

5th Annual Washington Gardener

Seed Exchange on Saturday, January 30, 2010 National Seed Swap Day! from 12:30 – 4:00PM

at Brookside Gardens in Wheaton, MD OR Green Spring Gardens in Alexandria, VA Full details inside this issue and online at www.WashingtonGardener.com.

Registration is now open at www.washingtongardener.com.

Space is limited, so act today! Washington Gardener Magazine subscribers get $5 off the $15 attendee fee! 8

Overview

Washington Gardener magazine, the publication for DC-area gardening enthusiasts, is hosting the fifth annual Washington Seed Exchange at Brookside Gardens and Green Spring Gardens. These seed swaps are in-person and face-to-face. You bring your extra seeds and swap them with other gardeners. Everyone will leave with a bag full of seeds, new garden friends, and expert planting advice.

When

On Saturday, January 30, 2010 from 12:30 – 4:00PM

(Foul weather that day? Call 240.603.1461, for updates about possible snow/ice delay.)

Where

This year, we are holding dual Seed Exchanges at the same time on opposite sides of the Beltway. We urge you to attend the one closer to you. One exchange will be held in the Visitor’s Center Auditorium of the Brookside Gardens, 1800 Glenallan Ave., Wheaton, MD. The other will be at Green Spring Gardens 4603 Green Spring Road Alexandria, VA.

How To Register

Fill out the form on the opposite page. You can go to www.washingtongardener.com to print out additional registration forms. Send the form in along with payment to Washington Gardener, 826 Philadelphia Ave., Silver Spring, MD 20910, Attn: SE Registration. Please make checks out to “Washington Gardener.” Registration fee is $15 per person in advance. Friends Of Brookside (FOB) members, Friends of Green Springs. and current Washington Gardener subscribers receive a discount rate of $10 per person. We strongly urge you to register in advance. There is a limited enrollment of 100 participants at each location and we expect both to sell-out, so be sure to register early!

We are GREEN!!! Garden Book and Seed Catalog Exchange

Seed Exchange attendees are encouraged to bring their used or new garden books and seed catalogs to swap and share at this year’s event. We also ask you to bring your own water bottle or reusable mug.

Washington Gardener Magazine’s 5th Annual

Seed Exchange Details

If You Have Seeds to Bring and Swap

Please package them in resealable plastic zipper or wax sandwich baggies. Put an average of 20 seeds per baggy — more for small seeds like cleome, fewer for large seeds like acorns. Then label each baggy with a white sticker (such as Avery standard 5160 address label sheets) giving all the information you have on the seeds. If known, include the plant's common and scientific names; its soil, sun, and watering needs; and, its origins — where and when you collected the seeds. If you don't know all the information, that's okay, just try to provide as much as you can. Yes, you can bring unused or opened commercial seed packs also.

What If I Don't Have Any Seeds to Swap?

Come anyway! Even if you don’t have any seeds to trade, you are welcome to attend! We'll have plenty of extra seed contributions on hand and many attendees will be there just to learn, network, and prepare for next year's seed collecting.

Education Program

from each of the category tables (if desired). After the initial seed swap is complete, attendees are free to take any of the left over seeds and to trade seeds with each other. Dividing of packets is encouraged and extra baggies with labels will be on hand for that purpose.

Schedule

What Types of Seeds?

Expert speakers from the local gardening community will give short talks on seed collection and propagation tips. There will be ample time for individual Q&A throughout the program with the featured speakers, and invited experts as well. (Note: This schedule is subject to change.) 12:00-12:30 Registration check-in 12:30-12:40 Introductions 12:40-1:20 Heirloom Seed talk 1:20-1:40 Gardening talk 1:40-2:00 Gardening talk 2:00-2:15 Snack break and room reset 2:15-2:30 Seed swap preview time 2:30-3:00 Seed swap 3:00-3:30 Photo Contest winners 3:30-4:00 Door prizes and closing talk

How Do We Swap?

As you check-in, staff will collect your seeds and place them at the appropriate seed category tables. You will be assigned a random seed swap number. There will be a short period for attendees to preview all the seeds brought in and available for swapping. Then, you will be called in by your number to pick a seed pack

Seed swap categories will include natives, edibles, herbs, exotics, annuals, perennials, and woodies (trees/shrubs). If you can presort your seeds in advance into whichever of these seven major categories fits best, that would help us speed up the process on the swap day.

Door Prizes! Goodie Bags!

All attendees will receive a goodie bag at the seed swap. The bags include seeds, publications, and garden items donated by our sponsors. In addition, we have some incredible door prizes to give away especially for area gardeners. If your organization would like to contribute seeds or garden-related products for the goodie bags and door prizes, please contact Kathy Jentz at 301.588.6894 by January 25.

5th Annual Washington Gardener Seed Exchange Registration Form

Please ﬁll out this form and mail with your check/money order by January 21 to: Washington Gardener Magazine, 826 Philadelphia Ave., Silver Spring MD 20910

Name:____________________________________________________________________________________ Street Address:____________________________________________________________________________ Email:____________________________________________________________________________________ Seed Exchange Location ~ MUST CHOOSE ONE:  Brookside Gardens  Green Spring Gardens (We will only use your email address for Seed Exchange notices and will never share them with anyone else.) Seed Exchange Attendee Fee: $15.00 __________ Discount (if eligible*): -$5.00 __________ Optional: Washington Gardener Magazine Annual Subscription: $20.00 __________ TOTAL_____________ *The following group members are eligible to pay the discount attendee rate of $10.00, please CIRCLE if one applies to you: • Washington Gardener Magazine subscribers • Friends of Brookside Gardens • Friends of Green Spring Gardens WASHINGTON GARDENER ENEWS © 2009 Washington Gardener Magazine All rights reserved.

Magazine Excerpt: Apples by C.S. Walsh

During my career working with apples, I’ve noted a deep-seated desire in the American gardener to grow that wonderful fruit in the backyard. Maybe it comes from John Chapman (also known as Johnny Appleseed) and our frontier roots. That love has also been nourished over the years by the saying, “as American as apple pie.” Whatever drives the desire, apples are a favorite selection for homeowners. Try as I might to convince local homeowners to grow something easier, like strawberries, our conversations eventually turn to apples. Unfortunately, we learn the hard way that apples are not an easy crop to grow. Looking through nursery catalogs during the cold winter months seems to whet the appetite for producing fruit. If you choose to try apples, spending time selecting the right cultivar (or variety) is probably the best use of your time and will save you a lot of problems in the long run. First of all, purchase an apple tree grafted onto a size-controlling, or dwarfing rootstock. These rootstocks will require staking with a pole for support, but they can reward you with a hatful of fruit in the year after planting. The magic of these rootstocks is that they force the tree to flower sooner, reduce pruning time, and keep tree height to about eight feet. Properly maintained, a dwarf rootstock will let you begin picking full crops of apples in the third or fourth year after planting your tree. Commercial fruit growers have been planting trees budded onto Malling 9 (M. 9) for generations in this area, and we have learned they are fairly well-adapted to conditions in the United States. M. 9 would be an equally-good apple rootstock choice for our region’s gardeners. Unfortunately, it’s not so easy to find the right cultivar (or scion variety) of apple to recommend. While we think of the apple fruit as an American icon, its center of origin is in the forests of Asia, in mountain regions of Kazakhstan, and in western China. Apple fruits and seeds moved with traders from their native home in Asia to Europe. Trees of European varieties were imported in the 17th century for planting in local plantations. With all this time and distance from their center of origin, trees have lost much of their tolerance for insects and diseases present in their wild ancestors... Want to learn more about Apples, the best varieties for our area, and their growing needs? Read the rest of this CoverStory article in the Fall 2009 issue of Washington Gardener Magazine.

Washington Gardener Magazine Subscription Form If you are a DC-area gardener, you’ll love Washington Gardener ! The magazine is written entirely by local area

gardeners for local area gardeners. They have real-world experience with the same problems you experience in your own gardens from drought-resistant plants to dealing with deer.

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YOUR local area gardening magazine! Gardening tips that apply speciﬁcally to your climate and weather zone.

Subscribe to WashingtonGardener magazine today!

WashingtonGardener is the gardening magazine published speciﬁcally for Washington DC and its MD and VA suburbs — zones 6-7. Come grow with us! The cover price is $4.99. Our regular annual subscription rate (for 4 issues) is $20 for home-delivery of a year of great garden articles! Name _____________________________________ Email address_______________________________ Address____________________________________ City _______________________________________ State____________________ Zip_______________ Send a check for $20.00 payable to Washington Gardener magazine along with this form today to: Washington Gardener 826 Philadelphia Ave. Silver Spring, MD 20910

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