Washington Gardener Enewsletter July 2011

JULY 2011 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: Starting with our August 2011 issue, this enewsletter will no longer be sent out via email to nonsubscribers. Without your support, we cannot continue publishing this enewsletter nor Washington Gardener Magazine! 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 our print magazine using the form on page 9 of this enewsletter. 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 July 2010 Washington Gardener Reader Contest, Washington Gardener is giving away a 32-ounce bottle of Messina Wildlife’s Deer Stopper spray (a $14 value). Messina Wildlife’s Deer Stopper products come in a variety of ready-to-use and concentrate sizes, as well as a revolutionary, proprietary pre-treated barrier ribbon. These highly effective products prevent deer, elk, and moose from bedding down, rubbing, and foraging damage to all shrubs, flowers, edible crops, forest areas, fruit trees, and turf areas. Safe for use around fruits and vegetables, made of organic ingredients. These pleasant to use products all dry clear and odor-free, and they work by smell, taste, and feel. Concentrates make 10 times their size in ready to use material. 32oz. trigger bottle will cover approximately 1,000 sq. ft. To enter to win the Messina Wildlife’s Deer Stopper spray, send an email with “Deer” in the subject line to WashingtonGardener@rcn.com by 5:00pm on Sunday, July 31. In the body of the email please include your full name, email, mailing address, and tell us your favorite deer-resistant plants. The spray winner will be announced and notified by August 2. Some of the entry responses may be used in future online or print articles.

NEW Summer 2011 Issue

Our Summer magazine issue is now printing and mailing, If you are a current subscriber, it will be in your mailbox soon. The cover story is on Ornamental Edibles. From swiss chard to artichokes, how to mix attractive edible plants into your ornamental garden landscape. To subscribe or renew today, see page 9 of this enewsletter. You’ll also find in this issue: • A DayTrip to Nemours Estate and Gardens in Delaware. (See an excerpt from that story on page 9 of this enewsletter.) • Amsonia aka Arkansas Bluestar Three Seasons of Color • Growing A-Maize-ing Corn — the best techniques and varieties for success in our region • East Native Summer Bluet • Fertilization Facts • Urban Foraging: the Ultimate Revenge Against Weeds! • Cucumber Beetles • Summer Love for Your Garden • A “Magical” Garden Before and After Transformation • Casey Tree’s Summer Almanac • Famed Landscape Architect Florence Everts of Washington, DC tells her personal garden story • An Interview with Linna the Locavore 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 • Video Wednesday: Sunflowers! • Garden Blogger Bloom Day: Bling • Weekend Storm Uproots Tree in Bartholdi Park • Favorite Pollinator-Attracting Plants • Fenton Friday: First Tomato See more Washington Gardener Blog posts at WashingtonGardener.Blogspot.com.

July Garden To-Do List

Spotlight Special Crocosmia Twilight Fairy™ Crimson and Gold

Terra Nova Nurseries, of Canby, OR, introduced a new series of plants — Crocosmia Twilight Fairy™. The new series consists of two new plants to date, boasting bronze-colored foliage and hotcolored flowers on short, well-branched spikes. These new compact plants come in two beautiful and vibrant colors, crimson red (Crimson) and bright yellow-orange (Gold).

Plant Details:

USDA Hardiness Zone(s): 7-9 Habit: Clumping Size (W/HT/FL HT): 14”/14”/16” Bloom Time(s): June, July, August Soil: Well drained, moist, organic soils preferred with pH: 5.6-6.8 Exposure: Full Sun Additional Attributes: Attracts Butterflies and Hummingbirds, Good Cut Flower, Deer-Resistant, Drought-Tolerant, The compact size, showy foliage and flowers make this a natural for mixed containers, smaller garden, or in front of the border in the large garden. Forms multiple crowns quickly for container gardening. To find out more, visit, www. terranovanurseries.com. 2

Here is our comprehensive garden task list for gardens in the greater DC metro region for July 16-August 15. Your suggestions and additions to this list are most welcome: • The heat of summer is here. Time to start doing chores during early morning or evening. Take a break during the hottest parts of the day. • Prune Wisteria. •If your pond water gets low from prolonged drought, top it off with tap water and add a dechlorinator according to package instructions. • Cut back spent stalks on common daylily. • Pinch back any annuals that may be growing leggy. • Divide and cut back bearded iris. • Check your pond pump of any debris and continue to clean it out every few weeks. • Weed. • Cut off bottom, yellowed foliage on tomato plants. • Stake and tie-up any tall-growing perennials such as phlox or delphiniums. • Wash out birdbaths weekly with diluted bleach solution. • Water thoroughly especially if you receive no rain for more than 5-7 days. • Take cuttings from azaleas, boxwoods, and camellias to start new plants to share. • Check your local garden center for mid-summer bargains. • Hand-pick Japanese Beetles or shake a branch over a bucket of dishwater. Early morning is a good time to catch them while they are still drowsy. • Re-pot the houseplants you’ve moved outdoors for the summer. • Pick blueberries at a local pick-your-own farm or visit a local farmer’s market. • Pinch back any straying strawberry runners. • Deadhead perennials for a second flush of blooms later this summer. • Thin out small trees and cut off any suckering branches growing from the bottom root ball. • Inspect your garden for powdery mildew. If seen, prune back perennials to create needed circulation. • Annuals are now hitting their peak. Keep them well-watered and add a little liquid fertilizer every few weeks to keep them going through September. • Check your plants at night with a flashlight for any night-feeding insects like slugs. • If you find slug damage, set out beer traps or Sluggo pellets. • Pinch back mums so they grow bushier and won’t flower until autumn. • Holding off on planting new trees and shrubs until the summer heat has passed. • Caulk and seal your outside walls to prevent insect entry into your home. • Harvest regularly from your vegetable garden to prevent rot and waste. • Put up a hammock or a garden bench to enjoy your views. • Turn compost pile. • Check out gardening books from your local library to read on vacation. • Check for any stagnant water mosquito breeding grounds, especially your gutters. Dump out any water that sits stagnant for more than three days. • Add Mosquito Dunks to any standing water in your yard such as birdbath, downspouts, plant saucers, and gutters. • Gather roses to enjoy indoors and make sure to make the cut just above a fiveleaf unit. • Harvest onions when tops die back. • Sow seeds of fall crops such as broccoli, turnips, cauliflower, etc. in late July. • Have a wonderful 2011 growing season!

 

 

 

                      

                    

UT!   ~ Thursday, April 21    LD O SO         ! D ANCELLE ~ Saturday, July 16 C

             ~ Wednesday, September 21

     

 

  ~ Thursday, December 15

                                      

 

                                                                                                                                                         

         

     

  

     

    

    

            

  

            

                                                                             

  

                       

TO REGISTER TODAY for one or more of the tours:

Go online at www.shop.behnkes.com.    Click on Behnke Garden Tours Bus Trips.     fee to  There is a $3.00/person handling pay     online.     OR mail a registration form to: Garden Tours, 8000 N. Park St., Dunn Loring, VA  22027     Please make check payable to  Cheval’s 2nd Act.      

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DC-Area Gardening Calendar ~ Upcoming Events ~ July 16 - August 15, 2011 The Accokeek Foundation

Put into practice the techniques of sustainable design, without compromising aesthetics using techniques like grouping plants with similar cultural requirements. Course # 130800 Fee: $10, FOBG: $5.

• Saturday, July 23, 10:00am-12:30pm ORGANIC GARDENING WORKSHOP: PLANTING FOR FALL Gardening doesn’t have to end with the summer. This course–part of our seasonlong Organic Gardening Workshop Series geared toward backyard gardeners–will provide you with the information needed to plant a fall garden. We will discuss what plants can tolerate cooler temperatures and how to time your fall planting schedule, as well as how to extend the growing season. In the Education Center, Members $20, Non-Members $25.

City Blossoms

3400 Bryan Point Rd. Accokeek, MD 20607 301.283.2113 www.accokeekfoundation.org

• Saturday, August 13, 9:00am-3:00pm GROW IT, EAT IT, PRESERVE IT! FOOD PRESERVATION WORKSHOP Grow It, Eat It, Preserve It! This Food Preservation Workshop will cover safe, nutritious, and cost-effective methods of preserving your garden harvest. University of Maryland Extension Educators Cassandra Corridon, Rebecca Davis, and Lynn Little will discuss food preservation equipment, food safety, and water bath and pressure canning. This workshop will feature two hands-on activities in which participants will learn how to process a low- and highacid food using water bath and pressure canners. Participants will be able to take their canned foods home, and will receive a copy of So Easy to Preserve. This book includes in-depth information for both the new and experienced food preserver, featuring tested recipes and instructions for water bath and pressure canning, making jams and jellies, pickling, and freezing and drying. Space is limited to 15 participants and registration is required in advance. Registration deadline: August 1, 2011. In the Education Center, $70 for non members, $65 for members.

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

• Friday, August 5, 9:00am-5:00pm Saturday, August 6, 9:00am-4:00pm CACTUS SHOW Sponsored by the National Capital Cactus and Succulent Society In the Visitors Center Auditorium. • Thursday, July 28, 11:30am-1:00pm LANDSCAPE FOR LIFE SERIES: HOW SHOULD I DESIGN MY SUSTAINABLE LANDSCAPE? 4

Marion Street Intergenerational Garden 1519 Marion Street NW Washington, DC 443.854.1669 www.cityblossoms.org • Saturday July 30, 7:30pm CITY BLOSSOM’S BASIL BONANZA CONTEST AND POTLUCK Come ahead of time during open times and harvest your basil on Tuesdays or Thursday 5:00-7:00pm and Saturdays 4:00-6:00pm. Create a yummy basil-themed dish at home. Your dish should feed at least 5 people. Dishes can be in the form of main dishes, appetizers, side dishes, desserts, or whatever! Send your recipe to info@cityblossoms.org. Bring your finished dish and appetite (and a copy of your recipe if you forgot to pre-send it!) to the event for the contest. Stay afterwards for a movie brought to you by Banished? Productions at 9:00pm. $10-20 suggested donation to support Banished? Productions. For more info, check out http://www.facebook.com/ event.php?eid=236977769657463 Questions? Contact info@cityblossoms. org or 443.854.1669. Please RSVP with contact information.

Eco City Farms and Centro Ashé Eco City Farms 4913 Crittenden Street Edmonston, MD 20781 240.581.0484 www.centroashe.org

• July 29, 6:00-9:00PM COMMUNITY SEED EXCHANGE Live music ~ Demos ~ Potluck ~ Bring non-gmo open-pollinated seeds to share ~ Please label the type and variety of seed ~ Bring potluck dish to share and byobeverages Please RSVP to info@centroashe.org or 240.581.0484.

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

• Saturday, July 30, 9:30-11:30am WORKSHOP: BEADED GARDEN SPARKLER Need a little pizzazz in your garden or flower pot? A beaded garden sparkler would

do just the trick. We’ll provide the materials and show you how to make your own bead and wire garden art that will wow your friends. $36. Register on-line at fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/gsgp or call Green Spring Gardens at 703-642-5173. • Saturday, August 6, 9:30am-12noon FLOWERING SHRUB ID FOR SUMMER AND FALL If you’ve asked, “What shrub is that?” this class will help you learn shrub identification. Mary Olien uses both botany and horticulture to guide you through the process. $30. Register on-line at fairfaxcounty.gov/ parks/gsgp or call Green Spring Gardens at 703-642-5173. • Saturday, August 13, 9:30-11:30am WORKSHOP: SAVING YOUR TREASURES Tired of spending money on tender perennials that die when a frost hits the garden? Learn simple, successful propagation techniques from Green Spring horticulturalist, Nancy Olney and take home some of our treasures! Your new talent will save you money in spring! $22. Register on-line at fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/gsgp or call Green Spring Gardens at 703-642-5173.

Meadowlark Botanical Gardens

9750 Meadowlark Gardens Court Vienna, VA 22182 703.255.3631 http://www.nvrpa.org/park/meadowlark_ botanical_gardens • June 11-August 9

Washington Gardener Magazine Photography Exhibit The show features the 17 winners of the 2011 Washington Gardener Magazine Garden Photo Contest.

Neighborhood Farm Initiative

ww.neighborhoodfarminitiative.org • Thursday, August 11, 6:30-9:00pm URBAN AGRICULTURE ON THE MOVE: A FILM AND FOOD EVENT Please join the Neighborhood Farm Initiative for their 3rd annual film fundraiser, an evening of film, local light fare and wine, and live music! They will present the humorous and whimsical documentary, Truck Farm, about the adventures of a New Yorker who is determined to grow his own food New York City’s concrete jungle, and his creative solution: a mobile farm in the back of his old pickup truck. Following the movie, NFI will be joined by Robert Egger, Joelle Johnson, and Karli Hurlebaus from DC Central Kitchen to discuss different ways urban agriculture brings fresh food to city-dwellers - including a peek at DC’s very own truck farm!

DC-Area Gardening Calendar ~ Upcoming Events ~ July 16 - August 15, 2011 Representatives from the Neighborhood Farm Initiative will also be on hand to discuss the ways they’ve reclaimed underutilized green spaces in DC. At the Letelier Theater on 3251 Prospect Street, Suite 500, NW, Upper Courtyard, Washington DC. Tickets $20. Details and presale tickets available online at http://www.brownpapertickets. com/event/187781. Cash and checks accepted at the door if seats/tickets are still available. All proceeds will benefit the Neighborhood Farm Initiative, a DC-based non-profit serving as an educational resource for adults and teenagers, working to engage in small-scale food production in Washington, DC.

Prince William Cooperative Extension www.pwcgov.org/vce/enr

• Saturday, August 13, 9:00am-12noon FALL LAWN CARE & FROM FLOWER TO VASE - THE CUTTING GARDEN. Children’s Program: Learn about leaves with leaf BINGO. Taught by VCE - Prince William Master Gardener Volunteers At the Teaching Garden at St. Benedict Monastery, 9535 Linton Hall Road, Bristow, VA 20136. All programs are free. A Children’s program is offered concurrently with each Saturday in the Garden program. Please register separately for the children’s program at 703.792.7747.

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

• Thursdays, July 28 and Thursdays, August 4, 25, 5:30-6:30pm EVENING TOUR OF THE NATIONAL GARDEN Susan Olling, USBG Volunteer Stroll through the National Garden to see trees and shrubs of the Mid-Atlantic region. Enjoy stories surrounding them and learn which would grow well locally in your lawn and/or garden. Please note: This tour is held outdoors. We suggest bringing sunscreen, protective clothing and water. The tour is canceled if it rains or during times of extreme heat (heat index of 95 degrees or higher/Code Red weather alert). Location: National Garden Lawn Terrace FREE: No Pre-registration required.

• Friday, July 29, 12noon-1pm GREEN GENES TALK & TOUR SERIES: MARVELOUS MALVACEAE Kyle Wallick, USBG Botanist Join Kyle for a botanical talk and tour of the Mallow family, a fascinating group of plants with several economically important members, including cotton, cacao and okra. This summer series delves into the plant family tree featured in our Terrace exhibit, Green Genes: Mapping the Plant World. Location: Conservatory Classroom & Terrace. FREE: Pre-registration required: visit www.usbg.gov or call 202.225.1116. • Friday, August 12, 12noon-1pm GREEN GENES TALK & TOUR SERIES: FABULOUS FABACEAE Kyle Wallick, USBG Botanist Join Kyle for a talk of this familiar group of economically important plants, looking at the unique flowers of the bean family while touring the summer terrace show. This summer series delves into the plant family tree featured in our Terrace exhibit, Green Genes: Mapping the Plant World. Location: Conservatory Classroom and Terrace. FREE: Pre-registration required: visit www.usbg.gov or call 202.225.1116.

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

• Sunday, July 31, 1:00-3:00pm (Rain date August 7, 1:00-3:00pm) LECTURE AND TOUR: ALL ABOUT CRAPE MYRTLES Meet in the Visitor Information Trailer Crape Myrtles provide brilliant, long-lasting color in summer gardens, and many also feature attractive fall foliage and striking bark color, making them a beautiful and versatile shrub or small tree. Discover their diverse sizes, shapes, and flower colors so that you can appreciate and choose the best variety for your landscape. Learn how they became so popular in the U.S., and the role that the National Arboretum has played in their development. After the lecture, join a curator for a walking tour through more than 30 varieties of mature trees in peak bloom. Get expert cultural information on how to keep your trees healthy and beautiful. 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 August 12 for the August 15 edition of this enewsletter featuring events taking place from August 16-September 15.

Magazine’s 4th Annual

Tomato Tasting

at the Silver Spring FreshFarm Market It’s ‘Big Boy’ vs. ‘Mortgage Lifter,’ hybrid vs. heirloom, the tomato wars have just begun. Everyone is sure that their tomato pick is the tastiest. Join Washington Gardener Magazine at the FreshFarm Market in downtown Silver Spring, MD, on Saturday, August 20 from 10AM-12NOON for a Tomato Tasting. Best of all, this event is FREE! Farmers at the market will contribute their locally grown selections — from super-sweet ‘Sungold’ to notso-pretty ‘Cherokee Purple’ — and we’ll explore which tomatoes make the short list of favorites. We’ll have tomato growing tips, tomato recipes, tomato activities for kids, and much more — all to celebrate one of summer’s greatest indulgences — the juicy fresh tomato.

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Crape Myrtles By Kathy Jentz Is it crape myrtle, crepe myrtle, or crapemyrtle? However, you spell it, this glorious tree/shrub is an essential addition to your late summer garden. Not only does it flower profusely while the rest of your garden wilts in the dog days of the DC-area summer, it also blesses us with beautiful peeling bark and sculptural trunk forms in the otherwise dull late winter season. Practically carefree and hardy in adverse growing conditions, this little tree fits in anywhere from the urban streetscape to a mixed border plantings to compact suburban townhouse yard. Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica) is a native to Asia that was first introduced to the US in 1747. In the 1950s, the Japanese crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia faurei), was brought in as part of an extensive breeding program at the U.S. National Arboretum (USNA) conducted by Dr. Don Egolf. According to Clemson University, “The goal of the breeding program was to combine the trunk attributes and powdery mildew resistance of the Japanese crape myrtle with the variety of flower colors of the common crape myrtle. Dr. Egolf introduced over 30 of these hybrids into the horticultural industry of which the variety ‘Natchez’ has become the most notable selection.” Since the USNA is right in our own backyard, I went straight to the source for expert advice on growing crape myrtles in the greater Washington region -- Margaret Pooler, Research Geneticist at USDA/ARS/USNA. Margaret recommends that area gardeners “make sure that crape myrtles are planted in full sun so that they will produce the fullest and longestlasting bloom. The plants will live in partial shade, but will not bloom optimally.” She says six-eight hours of blazing hot, afternoon sun is what this plant loves. Margaret cautions, “Although our area seems to be warming up, there are still locations in the northern suburbs where crape myrtles might have marginal cold hardiness. Most crape myrtles are root hardy to USDA Zone 6, but are top-hardy only to Zone 7. So, if you live in a colder climate, you can grow them as perennials since they produce flowers on new growth, and hope that they don’t die back during the winter. There are also some of the newer miniature varieties that can be grown in containers and protected in the winter.” The best crape myrtle for your garden is a healthy one. “I always recommend that gardeners use cultivars developed at the USNA because these were bred specifically for resistance to powdery mildew. You can recognize these because they are all named after Native American tribes,” says Margaret. “One of the most important considerations is the ultimate size and shape -- you want to use a plant that is the right size for your landscape so that you don’t have to do radical pruning,” adds Margaret. “At the National Arboretum, we are working on breeding new flower colors (especially deep reds and purples) and novel plant habits, especially slow-growing and miniature types.” For more information on crape myrtle varieties and care, visit the USNA’s Crapemyrtle Quick Guide Chart at http://www.usna.usda.gov/PhotoGallery/CrapemyrtleGallery/ CrapeTable.html.

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MARCH/APRIL 2005 • Landscape DIY vs. Pro • Prevent Gardener’s Back • Ladew Topiary Gardens • 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 • Water Lilies SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2005 • Container Gardens • Clematis Vines • Sponge Gardening/Rain Gardens • 5 Insect Enemies of Gardeners NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2005 • Backyard Bird Habitats • Hellebores • Building a Coldframe • Bulb Planting Basics JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2006 • Garden Decor Principles • Primroses • Tasty Heirloom Veggies • U.S. Botanic Garden MARCH/APRIL 2006 • Top 10 Small Trees and Large Shrubs • Azaleas • Figs, Berries, & Persimmons • 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 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2007 • Gardening with Children • Kid-Friendly Vegetables • Indoor Bulb Forcing Basics • National Museum of the American Indian • Versatile Viburnums

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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 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 • 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 WINTER 2010 • Paths and Walkways • Baltimore’s Cylburn Arboretum • Edgeworthia • Kohlrabi SPRING 2011 • Cutting-Edge Gardens • Final Frost Dates and When to Plant • Bleeding Hearts • Onions

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!

In Our Next Issue... FALL 2011 Herb Gardens

A DayTrip to the Biltmore Estate An Intriguing Personal Garden Story

Tomato Taste Results

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Magazine Excerpt: Nemours Mansion and Gardens by Cheval Force Opp

The Industrial Revolution — think steam engine, sewing machines, auto assembly lines — gave rise to the “Country Place Era.” How ironic is that? Yes, all those new factories, warehouses, and mechanical innovations fueled wealth for the 1800s barons of business. Enjoying that lifting money tide was the du Pont family, which is even now ranked eighth-richest at $15 billion (give or take a billion), and continues as one of the longest-running family fortunes in American history. Alfred Irénée du Pont, swimming in money in the 1800s, had ample means to escape the city noise, factory, and warehouse pollution. Alfred commissioned the firm Carrere and Hastings to design a baronial 3,000-acre “Country Place,” now a mere 300 acres, in the Delaware countryside. Carrere and Hastings were favorites of many wealthy patrons wanting lavish country houses integrated into pristine natural surroundings. Nemours’ layout is based on Petit Trianon, Marie Antoinette’s nature retreat on the grounds of Versailles. The property is organized in classical French lines, with symmetrically arranged gardens, fountains, statues, and urns. Alfred borrowed the name Nemours from the town in France where his great-great-grandfather was an official. As the largest mansion ever built in Delaware, it is truly a place deserving its own name. This glittering estate, originally costing $2 million, has been brought back to grandeur in a recent three-year restoration project. The effort is only the first part of a multiphase, 10-year, $39-million endeavor. The 77-room mansion, literally “one acre under one roof,” is formidable and fascinating. Bring your walking shoes when you visit; the tour takes visitors on three of the mansion’s five floors. In true factory fashion, functionality was integral to the mansion’s design. Indoor plumbing was not common back then, but, for Nemours, guest bath suites include walk-in showers and soaking tubs. The mansion’s bowling alley converts to a home movie theater and, in case you need more to amuse, is adjacent to the shuffleboard room. Comfortable cork flooring, also a novelty then, was used in the kitchen as well as around the billiard room’s tables. The mansion was furnished over time by Alfred with Jessie Dew Ball, Alfred’s third wife. The du Ponts collected ... Want to learn more about Nemours? Read the rest of this DayTrip column in the Summer 2011 issue of Washington Gardener Magazine. See the subscription information and details below.

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