Washington Gardener Enews by Kathy J

JANUARY 2011 Welcome to the Washington Gardener Enewsletter! This enewsletter is the free 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. Without your support, we cannot continue publishing this enewsletter! Our magazine subscription information is on page 9 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 this free enewsletter as well using the form on page 9 of this enewsletter to subscribe to our print magazine. You can also connect with Washington Gardener online at: • Washington Gardener Blog: www.washingtongardener.blogspot.com • Washington Gardener Discussion Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WashingtonGardener/ • Washington Gardener Twitter Feed: www.twitter.com/WDCGardener • Washington Gardener Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/washingtongardenermagazine • Washington Gardener Web Site: www.washingtongardener.com Sincerely, Kathy Jentz Editor/Publisher Washington Gardener Magazine

Reader Contest

For our January 2010 Washington Gardener Reader Contest, Washington Gardener is giving away a $70 gift certificate for CSN Stores. CSN Stores has over 200 online stores where you can find everything from stylish furniture, leather messenger bags, or great cookware. CSN (www.csnstores.com) has a patio and garden section that includes decor, outdoor furniture, storage, heating, and lighting. To enter to win the gift certificate code (valued at $70), send an email to WashingtonGardener@rcn.com by 5:00pm on January 30 with “CSN” in the subject line and tell us what signs of spring coming you see in your garden now. In the body of the email, please also include your full name and mailing address. The winner will be announced and notified by February 2.

Current Issue

Our Winter magazine issue is now printing and mailing. All subscribers should receive it in the next few weeks. To subscribe today and start with this issue, see page 9 of the enewsletter. The cover story is on Paths & Walkways. We explore the effect and impact of different path styles on your garden and your garden’s visitors. Looking over hundreds of photos of garden paths to pick out our cover image made for a bad case of cabin fever. It was hard not wish spring was here this very minute. You’ll also find in this issue: • A DayTrip to the Cylburn Arboretum in Baltimore, MD • Elegant Edgeworthia (Paperbush) • Create an Easy, Fragrant Indoor Spring Garden with Bulbs • Growing and Cooking Kohlrabi • Native Partridgeberry • Houseplant Repotting Tips • Best Blueberry Varieties for the MidAtlantic • Fighting Scale Insects • A Profile of the 3 Local Chapters of the Azalea Society • 10 Top Plant Picks for 2011 • An Interview with Famed Herbalist Jim Duke and much, much more... To subscribe, see the page 9 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.

Quick Links to Recent Washington Gardener Blog Posts • Barbara Melera on Blue Lace Flowers • 2011 New Year’s Gardening Resolutions • Last Chance to Plant Spring-Blooming Bulbs • What’s New & Exciting at MANTS • Stephanie Cohen on ‘Home Run’ Pink Roses See more Washington Gardener Blog posts at WashingtonGardener.Blogspot.com.

‘Gold Strike’ photo courtesy of Iseli Nursery, Randall C. Smith photographer.

Spotlight Special

Juniperus horizontalis ‘Gold Strike’ The vivid yellow foliage of this spreading juniper creates a bright, cheery spot in the garden throughout the year. In spring, brilliant new growth freshens up the chartreuse interior foliage and continues the sparkling display through fall, when the look gradually softens with coral tones. This low, somewhat mounded, seedling selection from ‘Mother Lode’ performs best grown in moist, well-drained soil and protected from scorching sun. It is hardy to zone 3. It grows three to five inches per year and in 10 years reaches three to four foot in spread. ‘Gold Strike’ is a new introduction from Iseli Nursery (www.iselinursery.com).

In Our Next Issue... SPRING 2011 Cutting Edge Garden Design

Visit to Dumbarton Oaks

An Inspirational Before & After

17 Photo Contest Winners If your business would like to reach area gardeners, be sure to contact us by March 10 so you can be part of the next issue of our growing publication! oooooooooooooooooooooooo

Be sure you are subscribed!

Send a check or money order for $20.00 payable to Washington Gardener magazine to: Washington Gardener 826 Philadelphia Ave. Silver Spring, MD 20910 2

January Garden To-Do List

Here is our comprehensive garden task list for gardens in the greater DC metro region for January 16-February 15. Your additions to this list are most welcome: • Prune any dead or diseased wood off your small trees and shrubs. • Plant frost-tolerant trees. • Cut off the flower stalk on your amaryllis once flowers fade. Leave foliage to grow. • Keep poinsettias in a well-lit area — but out of direct sun and away from drafts. • Buy a few new house plants. • Fertilize only your winter-blooming house plants – such as Violets. • Give your house plants a quarter turn every few weeks. • Build a compost bin. • Repair your shed and repair/paint your fences. • Clean out your cold frame or build a new one. • Collect large plastic soda bottles to use as cloches*. • Clean and refill bird feeders. • Wash and refill the birdbath or set out a shallow bowl of water in icy weather. • Check on stored summer bulbs and seeds. Discard any that have rotted. • Buy seeds and order plants from the new garden catalogs. • Prune summer bloomers such as hydrangeas, rose-of-sharon, crepe myrtles, and butterfly bushes. • Till and add organic matter to annual/vegetable beds. • Weed – especially look for fast-growing vines such as honeysuckle, autumn clematis, bittersweet, wild grape, Virginia creeper, and poison ivy. • Place a floating ball or a small plastic soda bottle filled two-thirds full with water and a tablespoon of salt in your pond to stop it entirely icing over especially if you have fish. When ice has formed, remove the ball/bottle by pouring hot water on it. • Insulate outdoor containers by wrapping with bubble wrap or landscape fabric. • Check that newly planted trees, shrubs, and perennials have not been heaved out of the ground due to freezing and thawing cycles. • Take hardwood cuttings from willow and dogwood to propagate them. • Look for evidence of pest or fungal damage throughout your garden. • Clean out your greenhouse and wash those windows. • Set out your live potted evergreens from holiday decorating in a protected outdoor space to harden them off in advance of their planting. • If we do get more snow in the DC area, gently dislodge snow from trees and shrubs with a broom to prevent damage to branches. • Start hardy herbs, onions, cabbage, pansies, and perennials. • Clean and tidy up pots and seed trays to a get good start in February. • Use leftover holiday greens and cut up tree branches to mulch beds and create wind-breaks. • Do not step on frozen soil in flower beds or lawns. • Keep all houseplants out of drafts and away from heat vents. • Use de-icer sparingly or use a nonchemical substitute such as sand, grit, fireplace ashes, or kitty litter. • Volunteer at a local public or historic garden. • Paint a few terra cotta pots in spring-like colors. • Pot-up any leftover bulbs that did not make it into the ground by now and force them for indoor blooms. • Have a wonderful 2011 growing season! *A cloche is a clear, bell-shaped cover used to protect tender plants from frost.

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

5TH 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 2010 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, 2011.

QUESTIONS?

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

DC-Area Gardening Calendar~Upcoming Events~January 16-February 15, 2011 Brookside Gardens

1800 Glenallan Avenue Wheaton, MD 20902 301.962.1400 www.brooksidegardens.org • Monday, January 17, 8:00pm AFRICAN AMERICAN GARDENWAYS: ROOTS AND ORIGINS OF A TRADITION Silver Spring Garden Club hosts this talk presented by Michael Twitty is a recognized food historian, community scholar and living history professional of African American food and folk culture. What gardening traditions were brought from West and Central Africa? What were the gardens of enslaved people like? What varieties or cultivars can we trace to this heritage? Were there famous African American gardeners before the Civil War? These questions and more are answered in this presentation giving insight into the presence and role of enslaved and emancipated African Americans in early American gardening and food culture. The Silver Spring Garden Club’s meeting is free and open to the public. The Silver Spring Garden Club is just $10 per year. • Thursday, January 27, 6:30- 9:00pm A NIGHT AT THE MOVIES: FOOD, INC. Featuring interviews with forward thinking experts and social entrepreneurs like author Michael Pollan, Stonyfield’s Gary Hirshberg and Polyface Farms’ Joel Salatin, Food, Inc. reveals surprising—and often shocking truths—about what we eat, how it’s produced, who we have become as a nation and where we are going from here. Program number 120622; Visitors Center Auditorium. Join Brookside Gardens for a series of films that reveal some of the mystery behind how our food is produced, where it comes from, and the impact our agricultural industry has on our environment. Thursday evenings in January and February. Light reception preceding film. Fee: $15, FOBG: $12; registration required at www.parkpass.org; Brookside Gardens, 1800 Glenallan Avenue, Wheaton, MD 20902. For more information, please call 301-962-1400 or visit us online at www. brooksidegardens.org. • Saturday, February 5, 10:00am NATIVE ORCHIDS OF NORTH AMERICA Janet Novak, Delaware Valley member and science editor, presents this talk to the Potomac Valley Chapter Rock Garden Society (www.pvcnargs.org). Fee: $10 or become a PVC Rock Garden Society member at the door for $15.00.

Chesapeake Natives, Inc. www.chesapeakenatives.org

•Tuesday, January 25, 8:30am-3:30pm (repeated Wednesday 26) DEATH BY SOIL: KILLING PLANTS S-L-O-W-L-Y Held at the Research Greenhouse Conference Room, University of Maryland. Ever wonder why your plants die in the dirt? Plant Doctors to the rescue. Join us for a one-day gardening intensive led by our team of gardening Doctors Andrew Ristvey, Sara Tangren and Christopher Puttock, and ably assisted by our cadre of Chesapeake Natives volunteers. The Chesapeake Natives team has extensive experience designing, installing, and maintaining native gardens in Maryland. They will share what they have learned over years of working at university gardens and herbaria. Using a breakout workshop format the team will help you to understand your native soils, how your native plants will thrive or suffer a slowly lingering demise, and how to alleviate problems that may seem intractable. Each introductory session is followed by a breakout in which participants will work with their own soil samples. Cost: $40 (covers food, parking, and printed materials). Register via email to: volunteer@chesapeakenatives.org.

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

• Sunday, January 23, 1:30-3pm TREE ESSENTIALS What you always wanted to know about trees, but were afraid to ask. Arborist and author Richard Murray, aided by samples, presents a fresh look at trees. Learn why trees have been so successful and how we can help preserve them. Afterwards meet the speakers and enjoy refreshments. $10. Register online at fairfaxcounty.gov/ parks/gsgp/education.htm; program code: 290 188 3601 or call 703-642-5173 for more information. • Sunday, January 30, 1:30-3pm CHEERY CHERRY TREES Ever wonder why the Japanese flowering cherry trees came to Washington DC? Are you curious about the many varieties of trees and how to care for them? Join National Park Service staff at Green Spring Gardens to learn about the culture and natural history of these beautiful trees. Afterwards meet the speakers and enjoy refreshments. $10. Register online at fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/gsgp/education.htm; program code: 290 188 3701 or call 703-642-5173 for more information.

• Sunday, February 6, 1:30-3pm THE WITCH HAZEL FAMILY Join Scott Arboretum curator Andrew Bunting for an in-depth look at Hamamelidaceae, the witch hazel family. Through classroom discussion and exploration, get a close look at this diverse and beautiful family. Participants receive thorough fact sheets on each plant covered in the class. Take time afterwards to look for witch hazels in the Green Spring collection. Afterwards meet the speakers and enjoy refreshments. $10. Register online at fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/gsgp/education.htm; program code: 290 188 3801 or call 703642-5173 for more information. • Saturday, February 12, 9:30-11am STARTING FROM SCRATCH WITH SEEDS Grow flowers, vegetables and herbs from seed and expand your garden. Mary Frogale, Green Spring’s propagator/horticulturist, discusses topics such as potting mixes, containers, seed treatments, lighting, fertilization, watering, seed sources and timing. Be inspired with seed starting fever! Then take home a few Green Spring seeds to start your own collection. $22. Register online at fairfaxcounty.gov/ parks/gsgp/education.htm; program code: 290 188 5301 or call 703-642-5173. • Sunday, February 13, 1:30-3pm CREATING GARDEN HABITATS, BIG AND SMALL Wildlife habitats are lost to urban development at an alarming rate. Sustainable landscaper, Catherine Zimmerman, shows how you can help solve this problem by creating beautiful and sustainable habitats in your own garden. Book sale and signing to follow. Afterwards meet the speakers and enjoy refreshments. $10. Register online at fairfaxcounty.gov/ parks/gsgp/education.htm; program code: 290 188 3901 or call 703-642-5173 for more information.

GWU Landscape Design Program

GW Alexandria Graduate Education Center Garage entrance at 1925 Ballenger Ave, Suite 250, Alexandria, VA; Street entrance at 413 John Carlyle Street, Alexandria, VA. Located near the King Street metro. http://nearyou.gwu.edu/ •Saturday, January 22, 1-5 pm LANDSCAPE DESIGN CAREER FAIR You will have the opportunity to network with established landscape designers and their firms. Whether you are looking for a job in the near future or are just interested in talking with people who are in the business. Program Info Sessions at 12 PM Exhibition of Organizations at 1 PM Career Panel at 4 PM Free to attend.

DC-Area Gardening Calendar~Upcoming Events~January 16-February 15, 2011 DC Environmental Education Consortium Montgomery County Looking Ahead: Meet DC environmental education providCommunity Home and ers that can help get students learning Montgomery County Master Gardeners’ Remodeling Expo outside and bring the environment into the one-day conference; Conference Center at the Universities at Shady Grove, Rockville. MD www.delmarvahomeshows.com • Saturday, February 12, 10am-7pm and Sunday, February 13, 11am-5pm Vern Yip, HGTV’s Design Star, is the featured speaker. Exhibitors include many local home and garden services. Adults are $5.00, Kids under 12 Free, active and retired Military $4.00.

Tudor Place Historic House and Garden 1644 31st Street, NW Washington, DC 20007 202.965.0400 www.tudorplace.org

• Saturday, February 12, 1:30-3:00pm VALENTINE’S DAY TEA AND CHOCOLATE TASTING Sample period teas and chocolates at a delightful winter tea! Costumed interpreters lead participants in an informative and engaging presentation on the history of tea and chocolate. A variety of 18th and 19th century teas and chocolates will be highlighted. After the tea join docents for guided tour through the 1816 historic mansion. Member: $20 | Nonmember: $25. Register at: http://www.tudorplace. org/calendar.html

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

• Wednesday, January 19, 12:30-1:30pm PARADISE UNDER GLASS: AN AMATEUR CREATES A CONSERVATORY GARDEN Ruth Kassinger will discuss her new book, “Paradise Under Glass: An Amateur Creates a Conservatory Garden.” She was a non-gardener who, starting with no knowledge and a ridiculously brown thumb, built a lush conservatory onto her Maryland home that became a center for family life and her own revitalization after a bout with breast cancer. The inspiration for her endeavor was a winter visit to the U.S. Botanic Garden Conservatory. Kassinger will talk about how she came to build, stock, and care for her small conservatory, in addition to the history of conservatories from Renaissance orangeries to Victorian ferneries to the spectacular Biosphere project in the Arizona desert. • Thursday, February 3, 6:00-8:00pm FOURTH ANNUAL DC TEACHERS NIGHT Hosted by the U.S. Botanic Garden and the

classroom. There will be new exhibitors with hands-on activities and take-away lesson plans. Please note: This event is open to all DC educators. • Monday, February 14. 6:30-8:00pm ROMANCE OF THE FLORAL KIND Begin your special Valentine’s Day evening with a guided walk through the romantic glow of the Conservatory at night. Hidden among the plants we’ll find blushing tales of courtship, deception and mating rituals. A special Valentine’s Day gift for participants concludes the tour. Couples: $20; Singles: $10 • Saturday, January 22 to June 5 ALLAN POLLOK-MORRIS’S CLOSE: A JOURNEY IN SCOTLAND The next stage of the acclaimed 2010 Chicago Botanic Garden Exhibition of large format prints by British garden photographer Allan Pollok-Morris from the book ‘Close: Landscape Design and Land Art in Scotland’ celebrating the important role of these works in international arts and culture. The Washington exhibition will focus on the work of garden makers with spring talks by landscape designers and plants’ people from the ‘close’ collection. More info on www.northfieldeditions.com.

US National Arboretum 3501 New York Avenue, NE Washington, D. C. 20002-1958 202.245.2726 www.usna.usda.gov

• Saturday, January 29, 1:00-3:00pm TALK AND TOUR: PERFECT CONIFERS FOR URBAN GARDENS AND CONTAINERS Meet in the Temporary Visitor Center. Conifers provide striking color and form in your small garden or container during the winter. Learn which ones are perfect for your landscape’s size and style. The arboretum is home of one of the finest collections of dwarf conifers in the world, the Gotelli Collection of Dwarf and SlowGrowing Conifers. USNA horticulturist will start this program with a brief presentation inside and then guide you through the collection, where you will learn about the great diversity of these winter gems and how you can use them in your garden. Rain date February 5. Fee: $12 ($10 FONA) Registration required.

Event Listing Notes

To submit an event for this listing, please contact: Wgardenermag@aol.com and put “Event” in the email subject head. Our next deadline is February 12 for the February 15 edition of this enewsletter featuring events from Feb 16-March 15.

Random Acts of Gardening

Master Gardeners of Montgomery County are offering a one day course that will teach other home gardeners practical and green gardening techniques. The 11th Annual Mini-Conference, “Random Acts of Gardening,” offers numerous workshops on Saturday, Feb. 26, 2011, 8:30 am-3:00 pm. Participants can chose to attend three workshops out of nine options taught by Master Gardeners. Topics include growing fruits, vegetables, and herbs, new trends in horticulture, pruning demonstrations, attracting bees and butterflies, and garden documentation. The event will be held at Montgomery County Office of the University of Maryland Extension, 18410 Muncaster Rd, Derwood, MD. Master Gardeners—a non-profit organization of volunteers trained through the University of Maryland—provides education and advice to encourage environmentally friendly gardening. Advance registration is $50 and includes a box lunch; bring a friend and the cost is $90 for two. For details and application form, visit www.mastergardener.umd.edu/local/Montgomery or email mastergardenconf@gmail.com. The registration deadline is February 16, 2011. Class size is filled on a first-come, first-served basis. There are approximately 300 active members of the Master Gardeners organization in Montgomery County and each person volunteers about 50 hours annually. The non-profit program falls under the auspices of Montgomery County government and the University of Maryland College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. University of Maryland Extension programs are open to all regardless of race, color, religion, age, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, marital or parental status, or disability.

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 (5) issues within one calendar year. The ad deadline is the 10th of each month. Please submit your ad directly to: washingtongardener@rcn.com.

Saving Native Hemlocks by Stephanie Yao, Agricultural Research Service Information Staff

Woody landscape plant germplasm curator Kevin Conrad harvests cuttings of Chinese hemlock, Tsuga chinensis, grown from seed collected in China. Photo by Peggy Greb, USDA-ARS.

Tsuga canadensis, commonly known as the “eastern hemlock” and nicknamed the “Queen of Conifers,” and Tsuga caroliniana, commonly known as the “Carolina hemlock,” are the most commonly encountered hemlocks in the eastern United States. The eastern hemlock grows naturally in the Appalachian Mountains and as far west as Minnesota, while the Carolina hemlock is restricted to the Blue Ridge Mountains in the Carolinas and Virginia. Both play an important role in their native habitats, helping to form stable communities integral to the health of Appalachian forests. Until recently, hemlocks have been very popular for landscape planting. But over the last few decades, the eastern and Carolina hemlocks have been under attack by a small sucking insect called the hemlock woolly adelgid (Adelges tsugae), or HWA. The insect, which is related to aphids, was accidently introduced from Asia and first observed in Virginia in 1951. It has since spread to forests and backyards in 17 eastern states, killing hemlock trees and devastating natural ecosystems. In its native range of Asia, the HWA causes little damage to the hemlock trees it feeds on. This is because hemlocks in that area have evolved with the insect, developing resistance to its attacks. North American hemlocks evolved independently from HWA, which explains their lack of resistance. At the beginning of the breeding project, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA-ARS) scientists obtained exotic species of hemlock from gardens throughout the country. But only two or three hemlock trees from China were available. While these trees were used to produce tolerant hybrids, the scientists needed a more diverse representa6

tion of resistant germplasm to optimize long-term success of the hybridization program. In the early 1990s, ARS and public gardens throughout North America joined forces to create the North American China Plant Exploration Consortium. Together, these institutions made several collecting expeditions to Asia to find resistant hemlocks. The scientists mainly focused their efforts on collecting material from China, searching forests throughout the country. Each institution in the consortium brought back accessions for their respective collections. “At the end of the expeditions, ARS brought back accessions of three Tsuga species: T. chinensis, T. dumosa, and T. forrestii,” says ARS horticulturist Kevin Conrad, who co-led the first expedition in 1996 to collect seeds of these hemlocks. “During one of these expeditions, we also found a species related to hemlock called ‘Nothotsuga longibracteata.’ This is a novel conifer species gardeners might be interested in.” The ARS accessions are housed in the Woody Landscape Plant Germplasm Repository, which Conrad manages. There, Conrad and his colleagues maintain living plants in the field to provide seed and cuttings for scientific studies. Because hemlock seed have a short storage life, scientists must regularly replenish seed to maintain stock. The hemlock accessions are just a few of the more than 1,400 accessions maintained in the genebank. Conrad and his staff also maintain more than 2,800 plants at field sites in Beltsville, MD, and Washington, DC. While not all accessions in the collection are available for distribution, many of them are used in research projects by scientists all over the world. At a field site in Beltsville, MD, rows of native, Asian, and hybrid hemlocks bask in the sun, each possessing a varying degree of tolerance to HWA. Curiously, the scientists could produce hybrids of Carolina hemlock but not of eastern hemlock. Carolina hemlock is a relic species, surviving in a small area and, surprisingly, is more closely related to

the Asian hemlock species than to eastern hemlock. The threatened extinction of natural stands of Carolina hemlock by HWA and its genetic compatibility with its overseas cousins underscores the importance of germplasm preservation. Since the start of the breeding program, the scientists have developed 140 Tsuga hybrids, 108 of which are suitable for testing. In 2006, Olsen and Bentz, along with USDA Forest Service entomologist Michael Montgomery, began a multiyear field trial to test each hybrid’s degree of tolerance to HWA. They artificially infested the hybrids by attaching bundles of HWA-infested branches to the hybrids’ lower branches and secured them to the trees with mesh bags to prevent the insects from escaping. The scientists tested more than 170 trees over the course of the trial. “We found T. chinensis and its hybrids to be the most tolerant to HWA,” says Olsen. “Two types of resistance were observed: fewer adelgids settling on the trees, called ‘antixenosis,’ and slower growth and lower survival of the settled adelgids, called ‘antibiosis.’” Olsen explains that the current hybrids are very appealing, not only due to their tolerance to HWA, but also because of their good vigor and shape. Even so, the scientists still have several years of testing to complete before they can release them to the public. Olsen is preparing to send out the hybrids for long-term evaluation at several research sites in the eastern United States. He and Bentz are also completing their second 2-year study evaluating the hybrids’ HWA tolerance, this time in container-grown trees. They will continue their breeding efforts, hopefully finding a way to incorporate the aesthetic traits of eastern hemlock and the HWA resistance of exotic hemlocks into successful hybrids. Thanks to scientists at the U.S. National Arboretum, we’re one step closer to seeing hemlock trees that can stand up to this pesky pest. Reprinted with permission USDA-ARS.

5th Annual Washington Gardener Philadelphia Flower Show Tour Organized by Garden Tours Wednesday, March 9, 2011, 10:00AM-10:00PM Leaving and returning from downtown Silver Spring, MD

The Philadelphia Flower Show is the oldest and largest indoor flower show in the world. The theme for 2011 is “Springtime in Paris.” Join us for a visit to the beautiful City of Light – the capital of art, fashion, food and love. A blooming “Springtime in Paris” will greet guests with idyllic park scene along the Seine. Flowering trees, lilacs, roses, and borders of lavender will lead visitors through gardens inspired by the Tuileries. In the distance, a daring Moulin Rouge atmosphere will pulse with cabaret performances, spectacular flower sculptures, and carousel topiaries. Participate in the Lectures and Demonstrations series, Gardener’s Studio, and All-Star Culinary Presentations. First-time and returning riders will enjoy the personalized and welcoming details of our coach service. Kathy and Cheval are looking forward to seeing you on our fun ride. Schedule for the day: • 10:00AM coach leaves downtown Silver Spring 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 downtown Silver Spring 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 the 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 downtown Silver Spring, MD 9. Lively show and garden discussions led by Washington Gardener’s Kathy Jentz 10. Surprises and prizes. To register, please use the form below. (One form per person.)

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Name _______________________________________________________________ Address______________________________________________________________ Phone number________________________________________________________ Email________________________________________________________________ Name of seatmate_____________________________________________________ We will try to seat groups together, but cannot guarantee group seating. Name of group _______________________________________________________

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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, and shop the vendors’ tempting array of goodies. WASHINGTON GARDENER ENEWS © 2011 Washington Gardener Magazine All rights reserved.

SAVE THE DATES! BACK ISSUE SALE!

YOU CAN REQUEST A SINGLE COPY OF BACK ISSUES FOR $6 EACH OR, ANY 6 BACK ISSUES, FOR $24 OR ALL 29 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 • Design an Herb Garden • Prevent Gardener’s Back • Ladew Topiary Gardens • Dandelions • Cherry Trees MAY/JUNE 2005 • Stunning Plant Combinations • Turning Clay into Rich Soil • Wild Garlic • Wisteria • Strawberries JULY/AUGUST 2005 • Water Gardens • Poison Ivy • Disguising a Sloping Yard • Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens • Edible Water Plants • Water Lilies SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2005 • Container Gardens • Clematis Vines • Make Herbs & Vinegars • Sponge Gardening/Rain Gardens • 5 Insect Enemies of Gardeners NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2005 • Backyard Bird Habitats • Hellebores • Building a Coldframe • Gardening as Exercise • Bulb Planting Basics JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2006 • Garden Decor Principles • Primroses • Tasty Heirloom Veggies • U.S. Botanic Garden • Start Annuals from Seed MARCH/APRIL 2006 • Top 10 Small Trees and Large Shrubs • Azaleas • Figs, Berries, & Persimmons • Oak Diseases • Basic Pruning Principles MAY/JUNE 2006 • Using Native Plants in Your Landscape • Crabgrass • Peppers • Secret Sources for Free Plants • Alternatives to Invasives 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 • Oatlands Plantation • Native Woodland Plants NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2006 • Horticultural Careers • Juniper Care Guide • Winter Squash Growing Tips and Recipes • Weed-free Beds with 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 MAY/JUNE 2007 • Roses: Easy Care Tips • Native Roses & Heirloom Roses • Edible Flowers • How to Plant a Bare-root Rose JULY/AUGUST 2007 • Groundcovers: Alternatives to Turfgrass • How to Pinch, Prune, & Dead-head • A Trip to the William Paca House & Gardens • Hardy Geraniums SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2007 • Succulents: Hardy to our Region • Drought-tolerant Natives • Southern Vegetables • Seed Saving Savvy Tips

• The National Garden on its First Anniversary • Building a Bay-Friendly Garden NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2007 • Gardening with Children • Kid-Friendly Vegetables • Indoor Bulb Forcing Basics • National Museum of the American Indian • Versatile Viburnums JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2008 • Dealing with Deer • Our Favorite Garden Tools • Indoor Bulb Forcing Basics • Delightful Daffodils MARCH/APRIL 2008 • Patio, Balcony, and Rooftop Container Gardens • Our Favorite Garden Tools • Coral Bells (Heucheras) • Brookside’s Phil Normandy • Japanese-style Garden MAY/JUNE 2008 — ALMOST SOLD OUT! • Growing Great Tomatoes • Glamorous Gladiolus • Seed Starting Basics • Flavorful Fruiting Natives • Build a Better Tomato Cage • Restored Gardener’s House at Mount Vernon JULY/AUGUST 2008 • Landscaping with Ornamental Grasses • Edible Grasses to Graze On • Slug and Snail Control • Sage Advice: Sun-loving Salvias • Richmond’s Treasure — Maymont’s Gardens SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2008 • Autumn Edibles — What to Plant Now • Ladybug Lore • 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 • A Daytrip to Tudor Place 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 • Visit to Riversdale House 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

Washington Gardener Magazine’s 6th Annual Seed Exchanges are: January 29, 2011 at Brookside Gardens in Wheaton, MD and February 5, 2011 at Green Spring Gardens in Alexandria, VA

SAVE THOSE SEEDS! ��

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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!

Advertising Index A big THANK YOU to all of our Washington Gardener advertisers. Please tell them you saw their ad in Washington Gardener magazine! Behnke Nurseries 37 Branches Tree Experts 27 California Builders 37 Classified Ads 7 DayTrip Book 39 Daylight Design Sunstation 37 Green Spring Gardens 37 Jentz Prints 33 Homescapes by Jim Haynes 5 MD HGIC MG Handbook 37 Montgomery County Home Show 9 Plant A Row for the Hungry 17 Premier Ponds 37 Sunshine Farm & Gardens 37 Washington Home & Garden Show 40 Washington Gardener Back Issues 39 Washington Gardener Flower Show Tour 2 Washington Gardener Online Services 35 Washington Gardener Photo Contest 32 Washington Gardener Seed Exchange 20-21 Washington Gardener Speakers Bureau 9 Yard by Yard Makeovers 37

To advertise with us, contact Wgardenermag@aol.com or call 301.588.6894 today. Next deadline is March 10.

Magazine Excerpt: Make Room for Kohlrabi by Cindy Brown

Do you cook because you garden? Or do you garden because you cook? It may be difficult to determine which discipline ignites the passionate coalition, but once the merge is sealed in sweat and steam, the bond solidifies. And then the magic begins. The union stokes the development of each craft; the cook becomes a better gardener, and the gardener refines her culinary skills. Sometimes the partnership begins when a frustrated chef exhausts normal supply sources and decides to grow a hard-to-find edible. More often, an adventurous gardener grows an exotic ingredient and, because pride negates waste, searches for a recipe to highlight the bizarre component. Such was the case after I grew my first crop of kohlrabi. Although it had been available in grocery stores for quite awhile, I never gave it more than a cursory glance. Its leafy, sputnik form intrigued my artistic eye, but the chef in me said, “Huh?” Eventually the kohlrabi won a spot of real estate in the garden because of its incredible, wacky good looks. After all, the kitchen garden should please not only the stomach but also the eye. Beauty may have gotten its root in the dirt, but it earned a perennial position within the garden with its “easy-growing” character. (Note: Kohlrabi is actually a biennial.) Kohlrabi, or in scientific nomenclature, Brassica oleracea Gongylodes group, is just one form in a very large species. You may be more familiar with other members of the species: broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, collards, or Brussels sprouts. Kohlrabi’s sweet nature belies its relationship to its insect-ridden, quick-bolting relatives. Broccoli and its siblings have broken my heart and sullied my green thumb more times than I care to admit. Their gardener-tagged aliases allude to their despicable nature: Bolting Broccoli, Conditional Cauliflower, Cranky Collards, and Caterpillar Cabbage-Head. Even the most stalwart character of the bunch, kale, crawls with harlequin bugs when the weather gets toasty. Perhaps I shouldn’t be so hard on this cold-loving group of vegetables. After all, it would probably be happier back in Europe’s cooler climes, where its roots developed thousands of years ago. The Washington, DC, region’s sweltering summers can be inhospitable to those who prefer.... Want to learn more about growing Kohlrabi in our area? Read the rest of this EdibleHarvest column in the Winter 2010-11 issue of Washington Gardener Magazine.

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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

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

6th Annual Washington Gardener

Seed Exchange on Saturday, January 29, 2011 National Seed Swap Day! from 12:30 – 4:00PM

at Brookside Gardens in Wheaton, MD AND

on Saturday, February 5, 2011 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!

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 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 29, 2011 in MD and on Saturday, February 5, 2011 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 6th 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.

6th Annual Washington Gardener Seed Exchange Registration Form

Please ﬁll out this form and mail with your check/money order by January 22, 2011 to: Washington Gardener Magazine, 826 Philadelphia Ave., Silver Spring MD 20910

Name:____________________________________________________________________________________ Street Address:____________________________________________________________________________ Email:____________________________________________________________________________________ Seed Exchange Location ~ MUST CHOOSE ONE:  Jan 29 ~ Brookside Gardens  Feb 5 ~ 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 © 2011 Washington Gardener Magazine All rights reserved.