Washington Gardener Enews - June 2011

JUNE 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 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 June 2010 Washington Gardener Reader Contest, Washington Gardener is giving away 5 sets of passes to the Brookside Gardens Wings of Fancy live butterfly exhibit (each set has two passes and is a $12 value).

Running daily through mid-September, from 10:00AM to 4:00PM, Brookside Gardens South Conservatory will feature live butterflies. Come witness the butterfly life cycle as tiny eggs hatch into crawling, chewing caterpillars, which then encase themselves in jewel-like chrysalides and emerge as sipping, flying adult butterflies. Learn about the best annual and tropical plants, and hardy shrubs that are used as nectar sources to attract butterflies to your own garden.

To enter to win one of the 5 pairs of passes, send an email with “Wings” in the subject line to WashingtonGardener@rcn.com by 5:00pm on Thursday, June 30. In the body of the email please include your full name, email, mailing address, and your favorite pollinator-attracting plant. The pass winners will be announced and notified by July 2. Some of the entry responses may be used in future online or print articles.

Current Issue

Our Spring 2011 magazine issue is now printed, out, mailed, and in area book stores such as the USNA Arbor House.

To subscribe today and start with this issue, see page 9 of the enewsletter.

The cover story is on Cutting-edge Garden Design. We explore what garden trend are on the horizon and what factors are impacting those changes.

The cover photo is the Grand Prize winner of our annual Garden Photo contest. Inside, you’ll find the other 16 winners and information on the photographers. From beginning amateur to accomplished professional, all levels were represented in this fine grouping.

You’ll also find in this issue: • A DayTrip to Dumbarton Oaks in Washington, DC • Bleeding Hearts • Final Frost Dates and Just WHEN to Plant in Our Area • 10 Top Tips for Growing Great Onions • Native Cutleaf Toothwort • DC Design House Before-and-After • Battling Asparagus Pests • Weeding Out Field Pennycress • Spring Bulb Care Tips • A Profile of the local Landscape Designers Group • Best Cutting Garden Flowers • An Interview with Red Wiggler Farm’s Woody Woodruff 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: Succulent Gardens at Meadowlark • Garden Blogger Bloom Day: Purple Reign • My Favorite Gardening Task: Containers!

• Urban Foraging for Serviceberries and Mulberries • Fenton Friday: Watering and Weeding See more Washington Gardener Blog posts at WashingtonGardener.Blogspot.com.

June Garden To-Do List

Spotlight Special Centaurea montana ‘Black Sprite’

AKA: Hardheads, Knapweed, Cornflower, Perennial Bachelor Button A new color form of a classic old-time favorite. Exotic, silky, burgundy black flower petals form a spidery starburst against a gray green, silvery-leaved backdrop.

Height: 14 Inches Spread: 24 Inches USDA Hardiness Zone: 3-9 Deer Resistant: Yes Native: No Benefits: • Bloom time: May-Jun • Exposure: full sun • Uses: ideal in beds and borders, good cut flower Very easy to grow. Prefers well-drained soil and is drought tolerant once established. Water moderately. Prune lightly to maintain shape. Centaurea is a good cut flower; some are used in dry arrangements too.

2

Here is our comprehensive garden task list for gardens in the greater DC metro region for June 16-July 15. Your additions to this list are most welcome: If you started seeds last month, thin them and start the hardening off process.

• Water newly planted trees and shrubs weekly or as needed.

• Contact a certified arborist to have your trees’ health inspected.

• Check on your container plants daily and keep them well watered.

• Watch for insect and disease problems throughout your garden.

• Mow in the early evening and cut off no more than one-third of the grass height at one time. Leave grass clippings on the ground to provide nutrients.

• Add barley straw (in a bale or ball) to your pond to improve water clarity.

• Take cuttings from azaleas and roses to start new plants.

• Harvest herbs to use in salads and summer dishes.

• Try a few new tropical plants on your patio.

• Shape your evergreens and hedges.

• Look for slug trails in the early morning and put out slug bait as needed.

• Tie-up climbing roses and other wandering vines.

• Fill in bare spots in the garden with annuals.

• Deadhead spent flowers to encourage reblooming.

• Prune flowering shrubs as their flowers fade. Last chance to do so for fall blooming camellias.

• Spray roses with Neem oil every two weeks.

• Start a sunflower patch with help from a few kids.

• Harvest strawberry beds daily.

• Cut a few flowers to enjoy at your workplace.

• This is the perfect time to apply grub control.

• Change the water in your birdbath daily and throw a mosquito dunk (or bits) into any standing water.

• Put in supports for tomatoes and tall-blooming plants such as dahlias.

• Order spring flowering bulbs to arrive for planting this fall.

• Take photos and update your garden journal.

• Inspect your garden hose for leaks and tighten all connections.

• Weed.

• Sow beets, beans, cucumbers, pumpkins, and squash for fall harvest.

• Prune boxwoods.

• Sharpen your lawnmower blade.

• Avoid pesticides or any chemicals near your water garden.

• Make hummingbird food by boiling two cups sugar in four cups water.

• Turn your compost pile.

• Clean up fallen fruit and berries.

• Cover berry bushes and fruit trees with bird netting.

• Dig up garlic when the tops turn brown. Let dry in the sun then braid and store.

• Fertilize your azaleas and rhododendrons and monitor them closely for any lacebug damage.

• Sow heat-tolerant greens like Swiss Chard and mustard greens in part-shade.

• As the heat and humidity move in, take it easy by working in the morning or early evening to avoid intense sun and humidity. Leave the big projects for this fall. For now concentrate on maintaining the beds you’ve already established and nurturing your new plantings.

• Have a wonderful 2011 growing season!

WASHINGTON GARDENER ENEWS © 2011 Washington Gardener Magazine All rights reserved.

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 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

     

  

     

    

    

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

  

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

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

  

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

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.      

WASHINGTON GARDENER ENEWS © 2011 Washington Gardener Magazine All rights reserved.

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DC-Area Gardening Calendar ~ Upcoming Events ~ June 16 - July 15, 2011 The Accokeek Foundation 3400 Bryan Point Rd. Accokeek, MD 20607 301.283.2113 www.accokeekfoundation.org

• Saturday, July 16, 12:00-1:00pm

All My Dreams Are of Indian Corn

National Colonial Farm, Free Nothing was more important to the colonial diet than corn. Join us as we take you through the many uses of this remarkable plant and the labor that went into its cultivation. This month’s menu will include Baked Indian Meal Pudding, Johnny Cakes, and Native Succotash.

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

* Sunday, June 26, 10:00am–12:00noon

Mosaic Bird Baths

Release the artist within and make some wonderful garden art while helping the environment! Make a 12” x 12” square birdbath from recycled glass ceiling light covers. Choose from a large selection of decorative items to incorporate into your mosaic. Go for the natural style with stones and earth tone ceramics, whimsy and glitz or choose sweet pastels and flowers for an English cottage look. All mosaics, adhesives, grout and hardware are provided.

Course number 134899 Fee: $72, FOBG: $65 • Sunday, July 10, 1:30-5:00pm

Daylily Show

Sponsored by the National Capital Daylily Club - Inside Visitors Center • Sunday, July 10, 11:00am until sold out

Daylily Sale

Outside the Visitors Center

Casey Trees

3030 12th Street NE Washington, DC 20017 202.833.4010 www.caseytrees.org • Saturday, June 25, 9:00AM-12:00 PM

Class: Trees 101

Casey Trees Headquarters Instructors: Shawn Walker, Urban Forestry Instructor, Casey Trees, and Priscilla Bocskor, Education Coordinator, Casey Trees Get to know Washington’s trees. This course provides a foundation in tree anatomy, tree identification and an overview of how trees function to provide the benefits we enjoy in the urban forest. The session will culminate with a street tree identification walk led by Casey Trees staff.

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A light breakfast will be provided. Continuing Education Units (CEUs) will be offered for ISA certified arborists.

City Blossoms Harvard & 11th Streets Washington, DC 20009

• Thursday, June 23, 6:30-8:30 PM

3rd Annual Proper Topper Garden Fiesta Fundraiser

In The Garden ~ Put on your best hats (homemade or store-bought) for a chance to win an infamous City Blossoms award (highly-sought-after) or even a membership to an Herb CSA. Enjoy delectable treats created by Chef James Forsythe, and some lucky friends will be leaving with dinner plans at delicious local restaurants, massages, and even original, personalized poems from our raffle!

To RSVP, email info@cityblossoms.org or search for City Blossoms on Facebook and visit the Events page. A donation of $15 at the gate supports our efforts of creating community green spaces with urban youth.

Eat Local First DC www.thinklocalfirstdc.com • Friday, July 15, 3-8PM

Edible Urban Garden Tour

Explore city spaces and residential gardens that will open their doors and gates for the public to see what growing good food in our own backyards, front yards, rooftops, and empty lots is all about. It’s a chance to ask questions, learn from and hear what inspires some of DC’s best gardeners.

The tour will start at the beautiful, plant-filled garden shop named Old City Green and stretch through the revitalized neighborhoods of Shaw, Bloomingdale and Ledroit Park. Plus, see for yourself and learn more about Common Good City Farm the community garden that Prince Charles recently toured as part of his inspiring Future of Food visit to DC. A map of tour locations will be distributed on the day of the event at Old City Green. The tour is self-guided and will cover several miles so a bike or a car is recommended.

Support the “grow your own” movement and create a community event designed to be a resource for so many local residents interested in finding ways to grow their own food. For questions, please send an email to Bettina@loulies.com.

Tickets: To purchase tickets for this event, visit www.loulies.com. Tickets are $20 each, with a portion of the proceeds to support Eat Local First DC.

Green Spring Gardens 4603 Green Spring Road Alexandria, Virginia 22312 703.642.5173

WASHINGTON GARDENER ENEWS © 2011 Washington Gardener Magazine All rights reserved.

www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/gsgp/ • Saturday, June 18, 9:30-11:30am

Covering Shady Ground: Ground Covers for Shade Are you looking for just the right plants to cover a barren patch of soil, control erosion on a hillside or create a new garden under a tree, now is the time to act. Learn how to use ground cover plants to pull your garden design together and solve a multitude of problems. Mary Frogale, horticulturalist at Green Spring, shares her favorite plants for shade. $15. Register by calling 703-642-5173 or on-line at fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/gsgp/education.htm.

• Thursday, June 23, 1-3pm

Garden Stroll & Tea

Take a docent-led stroll through the demonstration gardens and enjoy afternoon tea at the Historic House. Hear about the mission and history of Green Spring Gardens, one of the preeminent places for horticulture in the Washington, D.C. area.

Individuals and groups welcome. $27. Call the Green Spring Historic House at 703941-7987 to register.

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.

Potomac Lily Society www.PotomacLilySociety.org.

• Saturday, June 25, 12:30-5:00PM and Sunday, June 26, 9:00AM-4:00PM

Potomac Lily Society Lily Show

The Potomac Lily Society (PLS) will hold its 50th annual lily show at Merrifield Garden Center, Fair Oaks Location, 12101 Lee Highway, Fairfax, ViA. There will be a number of horticultural and design exhibits on display. The PLS is a nonprofit organization established to promote and encourage interest in the cultivation, propagation and improvement of the genus Lilium in its many forms and hybrids among the membership, other plant and horticultural groups, and the public, and is affiliated with the North American Lily Society and the National Capitol Area Federation of Garden Clubs, Inc. For additional show information visit www.PotomacLilySociety.org.

DC-Area Gardening Calendar ~ Upcoming Events ~ June 16 - July 15, 2011 for planting and maintaining containers at Tudor Place Historic *SPECIAL EVENT* home.

House and Garden emPower magazine, in partnership with Location: Conservatory Terrace FREE: 1644 31st Street, NW Washington, DC 20007 202.965.0400 www.tudorplace.org

Pre-registration required: Visit www.usbg. gov or call (202) 225-1116

• Saturday, June 18

Plant Propagation: Reproduction of the Green Kind

Garden to Table: Edible Flowering Plants for the Garden

Join Tudor Place Director of Gardens and Grounds, Suzanne Bouchard, and lifelong “foodie” and owner of Just Simply...Cuisine, Chris Coppola Leibner for a series of garden-to-table workshops inspired by the historic gardens at Tudor Place.

Make your own potted herb garden to take home. After the hands-on workshop at Tudor Place about growing sustainable organic foods in your own backyard, participants will cook their own lunch using ingredients talked about in the morning session.

Just Simply...Cuisine depends on local grocers, farm markets, butchers, fishmongers, bakeries and dairies to inspire students. Basic through advanced skill levels are addressed while a variety of kitchen skills and techniques are integrated throughout each session.

Fee: $90 per Workshop for Members of Tudor Place/ $95 for nonmembers or $260/$275 for the series of three cooking workshops.

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

• Friday, June 17, 12:00-1:00pm

Green Genes Talk & Tour Series: Liliaceae Kyle Wallick, USBG Botanist Join Kyle for a talk about Liliaceae and a tour of this ever-changing and popular group of plants. Look at the “old” lily family and how gene sequencing has changed this group. 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 • Wednesday, June 29, 1:00-2:00pm

Demonstration: Creating Containers that Make a Statement Beth Ahern and Margaret Atwell, USBG Gardeners You don’t need a lot of room to grow plants! Try growing your favorite flowers, herbs or vegetables in containers. Spend the afternoon with Beth and Margaret as they demonstrate the proper techniques

• Thursday, June 30, 1:00-2:30pm

Monika Saxton, USBG Gardener Leaf cuttings, stem cuttings or seeds – which are the best method for propagating that beautiful plant your friend is growing?

What type of soil should you use? What time of year should you try to propagate different plants? Learn the techniques and secrets of plant propagation at this handson workshop. Students will get to take home the cuttings they start in class.

Location: Conservatory Classroom Friends: Free; Non-Members: $5 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

• Saturday, June 18, 1:00-4:00pm

Demonstration: Under the Arbor: Good Scents

National Herb Garden Herb Society members demonstrate the art of creating a “tussie mussie”, or nosegay. Popular in Victorian times, this small bouquet of fresh, fragrant herbs and flowers was useful for various tasks ranging frommasking unpleasant odors to conveying romantic messages. Presented by members of the Philadelphia Unit of the Herb Society of America. Free • June 25 – August 28, 10:00am-4:00pm

Exhibit: Becoming a Bonsai

National Bonsai & Penjing Museum Special Exhibits Wing How do they do that? This exhibit demonstrates the steps involved in creating a bonsai, and shows the process that transforms a common crape myrtle into a charming bonsai through pruning, wiring, and repotting. Artifacts from the museum’s collection will also be displayed, including tools used by renowned bonsai masters Toshio Kawamoto, John Naka, and Yuji Yoshimura. Free.

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 July 12 for the July 15 edition of this enewsletter featuring events taking place from July 16-August 15.

Washington Gardener Magazine is hosting an emPower HAPPY HOUR at Tabaq Bistro.

Each month, emPower holds a Happy Hour event in support of a different non-profit organization in the Washington DC Metropolitan Area.

The July Non-Profit emPower HAPPY HOUR Recipient: Washington Youth Garden. The Washington Youth Garden’s Mission: Using the garden cycle as a tool, the mission of the Washington Youth Garden at the U.S. National Arboretum (WYG) is to inspire children and families to engage in self-discovery, explore relationships with food and the natural world, and contribute to the health and well-being of their communities. The primary goals of our programs are to: a) educate youth and families about the relationship between food, its origins, nutrition, and health; b) connect children (and adults) to the natural world as a place of wonder, exploration and resource for their personal growth; c) develop interpersonal skills, awareness of civic responsibility, and land stewardship; and d) expand interest and public awareness of urban gardening and gardening with children.

Attendees can give in two ways: • By drinking (10 percent of the beverage proceeds will go to the non-profit) • By bringing non-monetary donations (depending on the needs of the organization) Non-monetary Donations: ~ Cookbooks (gently used) ~ Garden Gloves ~ Trowels ~ Pruners ~ Spices (sealed) ~ Olive Oil (sealed) ~ Honey (sealed) ~ Vinegar (sealed) Date: THURSDAY July 7, 2011 Time: 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM Place: TABAQ Bistro is located at 1336 U St NW, Washington, DC -- a few blocks from the U St-Cardozo metro stop.

Admission: Free Please RSVP at either: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ event.php?eid=137456319662112 OR Eventbrite: http://empowermagazine. eventbrite.com/

WASHINGTON GARDENER ENEWS © 2011 Washington Gardener Magazine All rights reserved.

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Making YOur Garden into a Hummingbird Habitat When I wanted to talk “hummingbird gardens” I went straight to the expert, Bill Hilton Jr., Executive Director of the Hilton Pond Center in York, SC, and the force of nature behind Operation RubyThroat: The Hummingbird Project. The first thing Bill, a science educator and nature writer, straightened me out on was that hummingbird “habitat” was a more appropriate goal. While a garden full of the hummingbird’s favorite nectar plants would be terrific, Bill urges home gardeners to also provide the thumb-sized birds with shrubs for protection from predators, water features that help attract small insects hummingbirds need for fats and proteins, and trees to nest in.

In our Mid-Atlantic area, the earliest hummingbirds we’d see would be the first week of April. So Bill advises gardeners to put up one feeder by April 1. “No need to have it full,” says Bill. “Just a quarter to half full is fine at that point. Then have two or three up later on.”

The height of ruby-throated hummingbird season for us is in late summer for us -- mid-August to early September. We see the last of them usually by October 1.

Some local birders and gardeners have noted fewer hummingbirds in their gardens in the last few years. “Don’t panic,” soothes Bill.

“It’s just a low cycle year and we really won’t know till the end of migration whether the numbers are truly down or not. It was a slow start this year, but now my counts are up to average. One reason could be the cool spring we had across the Southeast and a late frost that may have caused early eggs loss. On the other hand, this trumpet creeper blooming year is the best I’ve ever seen and that is the single most important nectar source for them so they should benefit from that.”

Male Ruby-throated Hummingbird in Takoma Park, MD. © Dudley Warner, 2010

On Bill’s web site, www.rubythroat.org, he lists the Top 10 Native Hummingbird Plants. Trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans) tops the list. Followed closely by Beebalm (Monarda didyma), Trumpet Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens), Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis) and Spotted Jewelweed (Impatiens capensis). Hummingbirds are particularly drawn to the red-orange color range that contrasts most with green. “It is easiest to see against the background of nature,” notes Bill. “And red-orange flowering plants carry the heavy nectar loads that require hummingbird pollination. Plant natives when possible, the hummingbirds evolved with them.”

I asked Bill what we, as home gardeners, could avoid doing while trying to attract hummingbirds to our yards. “No pesticides!” Bill exclaimed. “They kill the small insects that hummingbirds need for protein, vitamins, and minerals.” He continued, “If you have feeders, don’t let the sugar water go bad. Change it twice a week in hot weather, if they don’t drain it.

There is no need to buy commercially mixed sugar water. Make your own and avoid the artificial red dye. We are not for sure that the chemical dye is harmful, but it certainly has no benefit and most all feeders have red on them in any case, so it is not needed to attract the birds.”

If you are interested in interacting up close with hummingbirds, Bill hosts an annual trip to Costa Rica in late winter. Each year they band and observe hundreds of hummingbirds to track and find where they migrate to and from. To find out all about hummingbirds, visit www.rubythroat.org.

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WASHINGTON GARDENER ENEWS © 2011 Washington Gardener Magazine All rights reserved.

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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 • 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 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

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• 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 WINTER 2010 • Paths and Walkways • Baltimore’s Cylburn Arboretum • Edgeworthia • Kohlrabi

WASHINGTON GARDENER ENEWS © 2011 Washington Gardener Magazine All rights reserved.

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...

SUMMER 2011 Ornamental Edibles

Spring Garden Tour Wrap-Up An Inspirational Before & After

Amsonia: Perennial of the Year

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Magazine Excerpt: Dumbarton Oaks by Cheval Force Opp

If you visit only one garden in the Capital Region, make it Dumbarton Oaks. It delights with every visit in every season. Beatrix Farrand and Mildred Bliss transformed the rambling farm perched on Georgetown’s highest point into one of the great 20th-century gardens, and much of the original garden has been preserved. Patrick Taylor in The Oxford Companion to the Garden states what other garden historians confirm: “Dumbarton Oaks is the only major garden on the east coast, other than the Rockefeller Eyrie Garden on Mount Desert Island in Maine, to retain the character and details of Beatrix Farrand’s design.”

The mansion built in 1800 had many owners, the most famous of whom was Vice President John C. Calhoun (elected in 1824 with President John Quincy Adams). Diplomat Robert Woods Bliss and his wife, Mildred Barnes Bliss, purchased it in 1920 for their Washington residence. The couple, part of the Gilded Age rich and famous, spent 13 years abroad before finally returning to America to live at Dumbarton. All the while, they corresponded with Farrand, collaborating on the house renovation, refining the terraced gardens, and shipped over garden adornments.

It’s hard to believe, but the couple only lived at Dumbarton Oaks from 1933-1940. Lucky for us, in 1940, they donated their collections, together with the house and its upper 16 acres, to create the Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection, managed by the trustees of Harvard University. The institution’s focus is on Byzantine and Pre-Columbian studies, as well as Garden and Landscape Histories. The Garden and Landscape Studies collection began with the personal library of Mrs. Bliss. Holdings now include 27,000 books and pamphlets covering the history of gardens and landscape design. The largest emphasis has been on gardens of the Western world, especially the United States and Europe, but collecting in recent years has included gardens of the Islamic world, China, Japan, and Australia. Many of the volumes are located in the Rare Book Collection. Mildred Bliss continued to oversee the garden, a favorite obsession, until her death in 1969.

Beatrix Farrand’s (1872-1959) collaboration with Bliss at Dumbarton Oaks started in 1922 and continued for 30 years. A landscape trailblazer, Farrand is still studied for her exceptional designs. Farrand, self-described as “Landscape Gardener,” ...

Want to learn more about Dumbarton Oaks? Read the rest of this DayTrip column in the Spring 2011 issue of Washington Gardener Magazine. See the subscription information and details below.

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WASHINGTON GARDENER ENEWS © 2011 Washington Gardener Magazine All rights reserved.