Washington Gardener Enews December 2012

ENEWSLETTER

DECEMBER 2012

Welcome to the Washington Gardener Enewsletter!

This enewsletter is the sister publication of Washington Gardener Magazine. Both the print magazine and online enewsletter share the same mission and focus — helping DC-MD-VA region gardens grow — but our content is different. In this monthly enewsletter, we address timely seasonal topics and projects; post local garden events; and, a monthly 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.

IMPORTANT NOTE: This enewsletter is only sent out as a PDF via email to current subscribers. Without your support, we cannot continue publishing this enewsletter nor Washington Gardener Magazine! Our magazine subscription information is on page 11 of this enewsletter. If you know of any other gardeners in the greater Washington, DC-area, please forward this issue to them so that they can subscribe to our print magazine using the form on page 11 of this enewsletter. You can also connect with Washington Gardener online at: • Washington Gardener Blog: www.washingtongardener.blogspot.com • Washington Gardener Twitter Feed: www.twitter.com/WDCGardener • Washington Gardener Pinterest boards: http://pinterest.com/wdcgardener/ • Washington Gardener Discussion Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WashingtonGardener/ • Washington Gardener Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/washingtongardenermagazine • Washington Gardener Youtube channel: http://www.youtube.com/WDCGardener • Washington Gardener Web Site: www.washingtongardener.com Sincerely, Kathy Jentz Editor/Publisher Washington Gardener Magazine

Reader Contest

In Our Next Issue... FALL-WINTER 2012 Great Garden Soil Smithsonian Gardens Garden Tour Season Wrap-Up Dealing with Weeds Lawn Renewal If your business would like to reach area gardeners, be sure to contact us by December 25 so you can be part of the next issue of our growing publication! To subscribe, see the page 11 of this newsletter for a form to mail in or go to www. washingtongardener.com/ index_files/subscribe.htm and use our PayPal credit card link.

For our December 2012 Washington Gardener Reader Contest, Washington Gardener is giving away one of our brand new Local Gardening Task Calendar. Each month includes a list of what to do in the garden for local DC-MD-VA and MidAtlantic gardeners, along with a gorgeous photo of a seasonal flower from a local DC-area public gardens’ collection. You can order one for yourself and as gifts for your favorite local gardeners by going to: http://www.cafepress.com/washgardener. Note that you can select the calendar to start with whatever month you choose. To enter to win a Local Gardening Task Calendar, send an email to WashingtonGardener@rcn.com by 5:00pm on December 29 with “Garden Calendar” in the subject line and tell us: what gardening chores you most dread doing and why. In the body of the email, please also include your full name and mailing address. The pass winners will be announced and notified on January 1.

Quick Links to Recent Washington Gardener Blog Posts • Poinsettias at the Smithsonian • Winterthur Museum’s Dried Flower Tree • Spring-Blooming Bulbs Poll • Gifts for Local DC-MD-VA Gardeners! • Out-Jones the Joneses See more Washington Gardener Blog posts at WashingtonGardener.Blogspot.com.

December Garden To-Do List

Spotlight Special Strawberry Purple Wonder™

The first ever purple strawberry was introduced last spring at the Philadelphia Flower Show. The color and flavor is a breeding breakthrough. Incredible purple fruits are extra sweet and delicious. June-bearing plants are tidy and attractive, with beautiful fully-lobed, bright green leaves. Expect bountiful fresh pickings in summer. Because the plants do not produce many runners, they are particularly appropriate for container gardening. A one-of-a-kind strawberry for discriminating berry aficionados. Bred by Dr. Courtney Weber at Cornell University. Patent pending. “Purple Wonder is sweet and aromatic, with outstanding strawberry flavor,” said Courtney Weber, Cornell small fruits breeder and associate professor of horticulture. “But the color is something you won’t be able to find in any grocery store. “The color develops all the way through the fruit, which might surprise consumers accustomed to supermarket fruit with color mostly on the surface,” said Weber. “And letting the fruit ripen on the plant just makes the berries sweeter.” The berries and their purple juice can also be used to produce deep colored preserves and strawberry wine, and Purple Wonder’s high antioxidant content gives them a healthy boost. Available exclusively through Burpee.com.

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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 summer/tropical 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 holiday season!

Garden of Lights

WALK-THROUGH HOLIDAY LIGHT DISPLAY

November 23, 2012 – January 6, 2013 Conservatory Train Exhibit Open every night

Open Sunday – Thursday 5:30 -9:00 pm Friday – Saturday 5:30-10:00 pm (Closed December 24 & 25, and January 1-3)

Open New Year’s Eve until 9:00 pm

Visit our Gift Shop and receive 15% OFF on merchandise only. Expires Jan. 7, 2013 Not valid with any other discounts. WG2012

$20 per car/van (M-Th) • $25 per car/van (F-Su) ADVANCE SALE TICKETS: $20 (good any night) CASH ONLY AT ENTRANCE Last car admitted 30 min. before closing time 1800 Glenallan Avenue, Wheaton, MD 20902 The Maryland-Na�onal Capital Park and Planning Commission WASHINGTON Show Info Line: 301.962.1453 • www.brooksidegardens.org GARDENER ENEWS © 2012 Washington Gardener Magazine. All rights reserved. 3

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

8th Annual Washington Gardener

Seed Exchange on Saturday, January 26, 2013 National Seed Swap Day! from 12:30 – 4:00PM

at Brookside Gardens in Wheaton, MD AND

on Saturday, February 2, 2013 from 12:30 – 4:00PM

at Green Spring Gardens in Alexandria, VA

Registration is now open at www.washingtongardener.com.

Space is limited, so act today!

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Washington Gardener Magazine subscribers get $5 off the $15 attendee fee!

Overview

Washington Gardener magazine, the publication for DC-area gardening enthusiasts, is hosting the seventh annual Washington Seed Exchange at Brookside Gardens and Green Spring Gardens. These seed swaps are inperson 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 26, 2013 in MD and on Saturday, February 2, 2013 in VA 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 one week apart on opposite sides of the Beltway. We urge you to attend the one closest 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. 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 8th 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 Gardening 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 21.

8th Annual Washington Gardener Seed Exchange Advance Registration Form

Please ﬁll out this form and mail with your check/money order by January 21, 2013 to: Washington Gardener Magazine, 826 Philadelphia Ave., Silver Spring MD 20910

Name:____________________________________________________________________________________ Street Address:____________________________________________________________________________ Email:____________________________________________________________________________________ Seed Exchange Date and Location:  Jan 26 at Brookside Gardens  Feb 2 at 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 © 2012 Washington Gardener Magazine. All rights reserved.

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Holly Shrubs and Trees

The Versatile Landscape Beauty by Kathy Jentz

The Holly is one of the most adaptable plants for your landscape. It is a good filler in a shady areas. It attracts birds to your garden. It provides color in the gray winter. It can make a great property line screen or as a trimmed hedge. It can be used as a specimen tree or focal point in your yard. With so many different kinds and new cultivars being constantly introduced, the Holly is a true versatile beauty. If you are choosing a holly for your home landscape, “Natives are among the best choices,” says Bill Kuhl, proprietor of McLean Nurseries on Satyr Hill Road in Baltimore, MD. McLean is a holly lover’s paradise. Kuhl bought the nursery in 1972 from Helen McLean, who the ‘Miss Helen’ holly was named for. Her husband, Stewart McLean, started the nursery in 1946. He recommends the American Hollies (Ilex opaca). Many cultivars originated in Maryland including the aforementioned ‘Miss Helen’ and ‘Satyr Hill’, an famous introduction of McLean Nurseries. “Our holly ‘Satyr Hill’ has got a lot of attention in the nursery world as a fine holly to grow,” Says Kuhl. “It has had very favorable response and is grown in nurseries in North Carolina and New Jersey.” It is especially suited to our Mid-Atlantic climate. Winterberry (Ilex verticillata) is also very popular. Kuhl notes that the aptly named ‘Maryland Beauty’ winterberry does very well for gardeners here. “It is nice because they hold the fruit well into the winter time,” Kuhl explains. McLean Nurseries sells holly plants, but also does a great business in cut greens for the holidays. Kuhl recommends using cut Winterberry branches for simple outdoor seasonal décor. “Just stick them in an outside urn, window box, or planter and they make a nice sculptural display and lasting for several weeks,” he explains. When purchasing new hollies for your home landscape, don’t plant them too deep and don’t plant it right next to the house. Give it space to fill out properly. Know enough about the particular variety to choose the right plant for right location. Kuhl commented, “I just visited a private 6

home in northern Baltimore County with several mature ‘Miss Helen’ hollies which had been growing there for 3035 year. They are doing beautifully and are all in the 20foot range.” When caring for your new hollies, be sure they have adequate water, especially when young. Apply just 2-3 inches of mulch – too much mulch can block off air to the roots and suffocate them. In addition, you don’t want tall grass growing up either inside or at the drip line as it will out-compete the holly’s shallow feeder roots and cause it to decline. If you are growing hollies to enjoy the berries, be aware that Robins love to devour them — which is fine, unless you had planned to use those berries in cut arrangements. Kuhl says the flocks of Robins stay all year long now, whereas a decade ago that was not the case. They generally do not strip the berries until after the holiday season in any case. Despite their deer-resistant reputation, hollies can also suffer extensive deer damage. The new leaf growth and lower branches are nibbled on. The deer rub on the trunks and tear up branches and bark. “You can protect them by fencing or other barriers until the young plant are large enough to withstand the deer browsing and molesting,” instructs Kuhl. “Watch out for vines getting in there,” cautions Kuhl. “As your hollies mature some vines can get inside them and cause damage. Keep an eye out for them and get them out before they get too big.” The biggest complaint that holly owners have is that they produce no berries. To produce a good crop, you must have both female and male hollies in close proximity and they must bloom at the same time. “People get confused because some female holly cultivars have male names,” explains Kuhl. “Females have berries and males have the pollen — preferably of the same species. You need to be a bit more careful with hybrid selection, especially with Winterberries. Some are late bloomers and need to be matched together.” If you are fortunate enough to be near some neighbors with established male hollies or where they are growing wild, then you can just purchase a few female hollies of your choice. Otherwise, you need to purchase at least one male holly for every 10 females. “It can be complicated,” comments Kuhl. “Plan it out first — talk to your local nurserymen, master gardener, or garden center.” For more information on growing hollies, visit the Holly Society of America’s web site at www.hollysocam.org or consult the excellent book, Hollies – The Genus Ilex by Fred C. Galle (Timber Press). Kathy Jentz is editor of Washington Gardener Magazine.

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

7TH 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 21, 2013. 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.

COPYRIGHT NOTE

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 2012 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 21, 2013.

QUESTIONS?

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

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TOP AREA GARDENING EVENTS DC-Area Gardening Calendar~Upcoming Events~December 16, 2012-January 15, 2013 • Tuesday, December 18, 1-3pm Holiday Tea for Adults Celebrate the season and warm wintry hands and hearts with a traditional Victorian tea. Enjoy historic tea blends served with tea sandwiches, scones, and delicious desserts in the stately 1870s Dower Townhouse at Tudor Place. After the tea, join docents for a guided tour through the 1816 National Historic Landmark mansion. Members: $25 | Non-members: $30 Tudor Place, 1644 31st Street NW, Washington DC 20007; 202.965.0400; www.tudorplace.org/calendar.html. • Tuesday, December 18, 10:00am-12:00pm or 1:30-3:30pm Holiday Centerpiece Workshop Join Joan O’Rourke, Friends of Brookside Gardens, to make a long-lasting, festive centerpiece using fresh greens surrounding a candle and adorned with seasonal decorations — make one for yourself and one for a friend. Fee includes all materials for two centerpieces. Course number 211949 Fee: $49, FOBG: $44; registration required. Held at the Visitors Center Adult Classroom; Brookside Gardens, 1800 Glenallan Avenue, Wheaton, MD 20902; 301.962.1400; http://www. montgomeryparks.org/brookside/. • December 27, 28, 29, 7:00-9:00pm Full Moon Hike Four-mile-long, mildly strenuous hike through moonlit gardens, meadows and woods. Your guide will share points of special interest and seasonal highlights. The two-hour walk over hilly and uneven terrain is a brisk hike, not a tour. At the U.S. National Arboretum, 3501 New

Your Ad Here

Are you trying to reach thousands of 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. Contact wgardenermag@aol.com or call 301.588-6894 for ad rates. The ad deadline is the 10th of each month. Please submit your ad directly to: wgardenermag@aol.com. 8

York Ave., NE, Washington, DC 20002; www.usna.usda.gov. Fee $22. Registration required. To register, visit www. usna.usda.gov or call 202.245.4521. • Saturday, January 5, 9:00am-2:00pm Trees 101 This introductory course covers tree anatomy, tree identification, and an overview of the benefits of Washington’s urban forest. Held at Casey Trees, 3030 12th Street NE , Washington, DC 20017; 202.833.4010; caseytrees.org. • Monday, January 7, 12:00-1:00pm Lunchtime Tour of the Conservatory What do manila folders, Chanel No. 5, vanilla and fossil fuels have in common? They all come from plants on permanent display in the USBG Conservatory. Take a tour with a knowledgeable guide who will connect the exotic plant world to everyday life. You might see bananas, cacao and coffee ripening on the tree or learn about the next big breakthrough in medicinal plant research. Held at the Conservatory Garden Court, United States Botanic Garden Conservatory, 100 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20001; 202.225.8333; http://www.usbg.gov. FREE: No pre-registration required. • Wednesdays, January 9, 16 and 23, 6:30 -8:30pm and Saturday, January 19, 9:00-11:00am Small Flowering Trees Mini-Series If you have a small garden, garden room, tight spot, or just want the right plant for the site, then you should check out the University of Delaware Botanic Gardens in January. Dr. John Frett, UDBG Executive Director, kicks off the gardening ‘slow season’ with a lecture mini-series and lab where you can learn the cultural and landscape characteristics of a variety of small flowering trees. The lab provides an opportunity to see living specimens up close. The lectures are on Wednesdays, January 9, 16 and 23 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. and the lab is Saturday, January 19 from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. in 132 Townsend Hall on the University of Delaware’s South Cam-

pus. Registration and pre-payment are required. The cost for UDBG Friends for each lecture and the lab is $25 each, and for nonmembers, $35 each. If you register for all three lectures, the lab is free. For registration and pre-payment, call 302-831-2531 or mail to UDBG, 152 Townsend Hall, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716. For more information on all of UDBGs programs and events, visit http://ag.udel. edu/udbg/. • January 9 - 11 MANTS 2013 MANTS is one of the largest private Green Industry Trade Shows on the east coast with over 300,000 square feet of exhibit space. Registration required. Held at the Baltimore Convention Center, One West Pratt Street, Baltimore, MD. 21201; www.bccenter.org. • Thursday, January 10, 7:30pm Celebrating the Natural Communities of Virginia The Potowmack Chapter of the Virginia Native Plant Society hosts Charles Smith, Manager of the Natural Resources Management and Protection Branch of the Fairfax County Park Authority, will give an exploration of the ecological role of plant communities. Virginia possesses an extraordinary wealth of ecological communities — from maritime forests of the coast to spruce forests and shale barrens in the mountains. In 2013, the Society will celebrate and explore this unique ecological diversity through a series of lectures and field trips. Held at Green Spring Gardens, 4603 Green Spring Road, Alexandria, Virginia 22312; 703.642.5173; www. greenspring.org or www.fairfaxcounty. gov/parks/greenspring. • Friday, January 11, 1:30pm Basic Gardening: Healthy Indoor Plants Did you recently purchase a houseplant from the grocery store? Curious to know how to care for it to avoid yellow leaves, brown leaf tips, and leggy plants? Learn how soil, location and plant selection can give you an array of

TOP AREA GARDENING EVENTS DC-Area Gardening Calendar~Upcoming Events~December 16, 2012-January 15, 2013 easy care plants to brighten and dazzle your home. Held at Green Spring Gardens, 4603 Green Spring Road, Alexandria, Virginia 22312; 703.642.5173; www. greenspring.org or www.fairfaxcounty. gov/parks/greenspring. • Saturday, January 12, 11:00am-1pm Farm Tour with focus on Winter Farming Techniques Accokeek Foundation’s Ecosytem Farm is a certified organic diversified vegetable operation which markets through a CSA, winter farmstand. Additionally, they have been doing farmer training through season-long apprenticeships for almost 20 years. The winter farming model here is a demonstration of a farmers first year winter farming and can be especially applicable to those first starting out winter farming. Cost: $20 per event or $60 for series. Registration is required, register for the whole series or individual visits. Accokeek Foundation’s Ecosystem Farm, 3400 Bryan Point Road, Accokeek, MD 20616; http://accokeekfoundation.org. For more information and questions please contact caes@accokeek.org. • Tuesday, 15 January, 6:45-8:00pm Nature Matters: Beyond Bumblebees - Native Bees, Wasps and Hornets in Maryland Join Montgomery Parks Naturalist Brady Hartley to learn about native bee pollinators, their nesting habits and behaviors, and see an orchard mason bee nesting system you can use in your home garden. Discover the native bees, wasps and hornets you’re most likely to encounter around your garden or local park. Held at Meadowside Nature Center, 5100 Meadowside Ln, Rockville, MD. Register at www.ParkPASS.org. • Wednesday, January 16, 5:30-7pm Capturing your Garden Interest with Pinterest No matter what your passion is, sewing, teaching, cooking or wood working, it is exciting to learn about new tools to use in you endeavors. So it is even with gardening! It is time to take your gardening passion to a new level by using

yes, your computer! Pinterest, the social media web site allows you to organize and share the things you love-even your gardening. Come take this exciting class with local gardening blogger Barb Rosen. She will teach you the basics of Pinterest and show you how addicting and helpful this 21st century tool can be, even while digging in your soil… Adult class. $10/member, $15/ non-member. Held at the Delaware Center for Horticulture, 1810 North Dupont Street, Wilmington DE 19806; 302.658.6262; TheDCH.org.

SAVE THE DATE: • The 8th Annual Washington Gardener Seed Exchange, hosted by Washington Gardener Magazine, takes place on January 26, 2013 at the Brookside Gardens in Wheaton, MD AND on February 2, 2013 at Green Spring Gardens in Fairfax, VA. You have a choice on which side of the DC beltway you want to attend! Seed Exchange attendees trade seeds, exchange planting tips, hear expert speakers, and collect goody bags full of gardening treats. The event also includes such “green” features as the garden book and catalog swap. Participants are encouraged to bring their gently used garden books and mailorder garden catalogs to trade with each other. Any leftover publications at the end of the swap are donated to the National Agriculture Library in Beltsville, MD. The first annual Washington Gardener Seed Exchange was held on January 26, 2006. After that event’s success, seed swaps in other cities across the nation have joined in celebrating National Seed Swap Day each year on the last Saturday in January. Subscribers to Washington Gardener Magazine receive a $5 discount off the admission to the Washington Gardener Seed Exchange. • RootingDC is a FREE Urban Gardening Forum held annually in February. Details to be posted soon at http:// fieldtoforknetwork.org/rootingdc/ for the event on Saturday, February 23, 2013 at Wilson High School in WDC.

• 9th Annual EcoSavvy Gardening Symposium Saturday, February 23, 2013, 8:30am-4pm. Green Spring Master Gardeners are committed to showing homeowners and gardening professionals how everyone can make a difference in the health of our environment. Guest speakers in the fields of science and ecology speak on relevant homeowner topics. Sponsored by Virginia Cooperative Extension. For more information call Green Spring Gardens at 703-642-5173. 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/. Event Listing Submissions To submit an event for this listing, please contact: Wgardenermag@aol. com and put “Event” in the email subject head. Our next deadline is January 12 for the January 15 edition of this enewsletter featuring events taking place January 16-February 15.

Advanced Landscape Plant IPM PHC Short Course January 7-10, 2013 For registration information contact: Avis Koeiman Department of Entomology 4112 Plant Sciences Building University of Maryland College Park, MD 20742 Tel: 301-405-3913 Email: akoeiman@umd.edu 

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YOU CAN REQUEST A SINGLE COPY OF BACK ISSUES FOR $6 EACH OR, ANY 6 BACK ISSUES, FOR $24 OR ALL 30+ BACK ISSUES FOR JUST $100. PRICE INCLUDES POSTAGE AND HANDLING. PLEASE SPECIFY THE ISSUE DATE(S). ORDER MUST BE PREPAID BY CHECK OR MONEY ORDER. SEND YOUR ORDER TO: WASHINGTON GARDENER, 826 PHILADELPHIA AVE., SILVER SPRING, MD 20910

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 • Indoor Bulb Forcing Basics • Delightful Daffodils

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2006 • Garden Decor Principles • Primroses • Tasty Heirloom Veggies • U.S. Botanic Garden

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

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 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2007 • Indoor Gardening • Daphne Care Guide • Asparagus Growing Tips and Recipes • Houseplant Propagation MARCH/APRIL 2007 • Stormwater Management • Dogwood Selection & Care Guide • Early Spring Vegetable Growing Tips • Franciscan Monastery Bulb Gardens

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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) • The 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, and 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 Gorgeous Winter Color MARCH/APRIL 2009 • 40+ Free and Low-cost Local Garden Tips • Spring Edibles Planting Guide for the Mid-Atlantic • Testing Your Soil for a Fresh Start • Redbud Tree Selection and Care • Best Local Viewing Spots for Virginia Bluebells

MAY/JUNE 2009 • Top 12+ Easy Summer Annuals for DC Heat • Salad Table Project • Grow and Enjoy Eggplant • How to Chuck a Woodchuck from Your Garden SUMMER 2009 • Grow Grapes in the Mid-Atlantic • Passionflowers • Mulching Basics • What’s Bugging Your Tomatoes • 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

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Coming Soon!

Washington Gardener Magazine’s DayTrip columns compiled into one handy publication — available soon in both paper and e-book versions. Great gift idea!

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In Our Next Issue... FALL-Winter 2012 Great Garden Soil Smithsonian Gardens

FALL 2010 • Vines and Climbers • Battling Stink Bugs • Russian Sage • Garlic

Garden Tour Season Wrap-Up Dealing with Weeds Lawn Renewal

WINTER 2010 • Paths and Walkways • Edgeworthia • Kohlrabi

If your business would like to reach area gardeners, be sure to contact us by December 25 so you can be part of the next issue of our growing publication!

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

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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

Send a check or money order for $20.00 payable to Washington Gardener magazine to: Washington Gardener 826 Philadelphia Ave. Silver Spring, MD 20910

Magazine Excerpt: Gunston Hall: Home of George Mason by Cheval Force Opp

Driving the 30 minutes to George Mason’s Gunston Hall, I enjoyed watching the urban landscape of highways and shopping malls ease into meadows and woods. The Mason Plantation was the center of a small universe for his close family. Mason; his wife, Ann Eilbeck Mason; their children; and nearly 100 slaves all depended on the plantation for their necessities. Like others in that time, the plantation’s site was chosen in no small measure for access to the Potomac River, since the poor roads made land travel time-consuming and uncomfortable. Had George Mason and his family traveled the 22 miles to visit me in Dunn Loring, VA, the trip would have taken the better part of their day. Of course, since George Mason IV is considered one of our colonial “Founding Fathers,” I would have done the courteous thing and put him, his wife, and nine kids up for the night, along with their driver, servants, and horses! Along with Monticello and Mt. Vernon, Gunston Hall’s landscape was famous in the 18th-century. Unlike Monticello and Mt. Vernon, conservators do not have the advantage of any surviving garden plans. So, without documentation, what guides restoration? Over the last 10 years, researchers have uncovered the original elements of Mason’s vision using archaeology. Supporting their investigations are the writings of George’s son, John Mason. John in his later years wrote “Recollections” describing the plantation remembered from childhood. Like his contemporary, George Washington, Mason was a surveyor and this linear thinking is reflected in the layout of his landscape and house situated on a bluff overlooking the Potomac. His plan fixes the mansion as the dominant element within a formal structure of roads, walkways, gardens, and trees. A twelve-foot-wide carriage road leads straight away from the Palladian... Want to learn more about this fascinating, local public garden? Read the rest of this DayTrip column in the Summer 2012 issue of Washington Gardener Magazine. See the subscription information below.

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