Washington Gardener Enews June 2012

ENEWSLETTER

JUNE 2012

Welcome to the Washington Gardener Enewsletter!

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

We encourage you to subscribe to Washington Gardener Magazine as well for indepth articles, inspirational photos, and great garden resources for the Washington DC area gardener.

IMPORTANT NOTE: This enewsletter is only sent out as a PDF via email to current subscribers. Without your support, we cannot continue publishing this enewsletter nor Washington Gardener Magazine! Our magazine subscription information is on page 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 Twitter Feed: www.twitter.com/WDCGardener • Washington Gardener Pinterest boards: http://pinterest.com/wdcgardener/ • Washington Gardener Discussion Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WashingtonGardener/ • Washington Gardener Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/washingtongardenermagazine • Washington Gardener Youtube channel: http://www.youtube.com/WDCGardener • Washington Gardener Web Site: www.washingtongardener.com Sincerely, Kathy Jentz Editor/Publisher Washington Gardener Magazine

Reader Contest

For our June 2012 Washington Gardener Reader Contest, Washington Gardener is giving away a stunning Black Rose Necklace from Minou Bazaar (a $26 value).

What a dramatic and moody necklace! A vintage black acrylic rose dangles darkly from an exotic gold-plated scrolled design. The back of the rose is flat. The pendant is strung on a 17" black-coated chain, which is secured by a vintage brass lobster clasp. The necklace is created by Minou Bazaar: www. minoubazaar.etsy.com. Minour Bazaar is a local woman-owned business based in Alexandria, VA, that makes handmade, Indian-inspired jewelry using vintage and contemporary materials.

To enter to win the necklace, send an email with “Black Rose” in the subject line to WashingtonGardener@rcn.com by 5:00pm on Saturday, June 30. In the body of the email please include your full name, email, mailing address, and tell us: What is your favorite summer edible? The necklace winner will be announced and notified

by July 2. Some of the entry responses may be used in future online or print articles.

Spring 2012 Issue

Our Spring 2012 magazine issue is now out to all current subscribers. To subscribe today and make sure you start with this issue, see page 9 of the enewsletter.

The cover story is on Pollinator Gardens from butterflies to birds to bees.

You’ll also find in this issue: • A DayTrip to the Brent and Becky’s Bulb in Gloucester, VA • Perennial Plant of the Year: Brunnera • Carrot Rust Fly • Garden Photo Contest Winners • An English Garden Story • How to Make a Seed Tape • Profile of a Tulip Farmer • Precautions about Hazardous Chemicals in our Garden Tools • Mosquito Season Tips • A Wrap-Up of Local Gardening Events • Before-After of a Balcony Garden • 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

Spotlight Special Raspberry Palette Expands

With its two newest raspberry releases, “Big Red” Cornell University is going gold and crimson. “Double Gold” and “Crimson Night” offer small-scale growers and home gardeners showy, flavorful raspberries on vigorous, disease-resistant plants.

Double Gold produces a deeply blushed, golden champagne-colored fruit with a distinctive conical shape, earning the “double” in its name for its two harvests per season.

The first year of planting, the initial crop is produced in the fall on the tips of that year’s canes, and a second crop is produced farther down the same canes the following summer. According to Courtney Weber, Cornell small fruits breeder and associate professor of horticulture, none of the golden raspberries already on the market combine excellent flavor, peachy blush color, a conical shape, and the ability to bear two crops per season.

“Over eight years of testing it has been consistently vigorous and disease resistant,” said Weber. “Specifically, we have observed it to be resistant to Phytophthora root rot as well as most of the common leaf diseases.”

Crimson Night caught Weber’s eye for its heavy fall crop and dark, shiny fruit. Grown in a commercial high-tunnel system that offers protection from the elements, it is vigorous and productive. Grown outdoors without protection, Crimson Night is more compact, making the dark purple canes a particularly attractive ornamental for container gardening or a backyard raspberry plot.

“The berries are medium large with excellent flavor,” said Weber. “Although the color is considered too dark for wholesale markets, the shiny, conical fruit are very attractive in a container at a farm stand.”

According to Jessica Lyga, plant varieties and germplasm licensing associate for the Cornell Center for Technology Enterprise and Commercialization, both varieties have been licensed to North American Plants LLC., a propagator that sells to nurseries and growers across the United States. Small quantities will be available late this summer, and North American Plants expects to have enough plants to meet the anticipated demand of each variety by the spring of 2013. Plant patents will be filed later this year. See Cornell Fruit: www.fruit.cornell.edu.

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• Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day: Hydrangea Heaven • My First Carrot!

• High Speed Garden Re-Do video • What Plant Do You Regret?

• Smithsonian’s Butterfly Habitat Garden video See more Washington Gardener Blog posts at WashingtonGardener.Blogspot.com.

June Garden To-Do List

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: • Direct sow annual flower and vegetable seeds.

• 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 2012 growing season!

WASHINGTON GARDENER ENEWS © 2012 Washington Gardener Magazine All rights reserved.

WASHINGTON GARDENER ENEWS Š 2012 Washington Gardener Magazine All rights reserved.

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Planting and Maintaining Wildflowers

By Russ Nicholson Planting wildflowers can be an easy way to enhance a landscape, particularly meadows and border gardens, with a range of colors and textures. Given proper care and maintenance, wildflowers also can be relatively low maintenance. Here are 10 tips to tackle planting like a pro this season: 1. Know Your Wildflowers: Annual wildflowers live one year and grow quickly, while perennial wildflowers returns each year from the same colony of roots and some may eventually build a community of flowers.

2. Plan Ahead When Planting: Annuals bloom quickly. Once planted, they will likely fade before other wildflower species.

Perennials can be planted during any time of the year, best in early spring or fall, but most need a winter before blooming.

When planting a mix of annuals and perennials, you should plant in the spring or fall for the annuals to bloom the first year and perennials the second year.

3. Select the Right Varieties: For optimal performance and beauty, it’s best to select varieties based on your specific climate and landscaping needs. To take the guesswork out of mix selection, Pennington introduced a new line of wildflower seed varieties designed around the unique needs of growing environments and needs, with mixes such as Hummingbird & Butterfly Garden, Southern Garden and Northeast Garden.

4. Find a Suitable Planting Bed: It’s important to choose a planting area where water does not stand after rain. This ensures seed health during the critical phases of germination and establishment.

5. Test the Soil: A soil test is used to evaluate soil condition and nutrient levels, namely pH, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. A soil’s pH determines how well plants are able to access the nutrients they need. Homeowners can purchase a home soil test kit or have their soil tested by their local extension service. Because soil pH tends to change over time, you should test regularly, about every other year.

6. Correct pH Issues in Soil Before Planting: Depending on the results of your pH test, apply a soil amendment, such as lime or gypsum, to correct any issues in the soil. This will create a better environment for roots to grow and may improve nutrient uptake. If desired, you can also add compost to the soil to improve the overall health, or tilth, of the soil.

7. Conserve Water: You should strive for a landscape that is more water efficient, utilizes less water over time and is healthier. Along with being more resilient, plants receiving proper nutrition have healthier, larger root systems that make best use of available water. This allows your wildflowers to remain bright and colorful during periods of drought.

8. Monitor for Weeds: Frequently monitor flower beds, especially in the early stages, and keep brush away from beds to prevent weed or grass encroachment. If weeds become an issue, it’s best to spot treat with a weed control product as needed.

9. Combat Plant-Damaging Insects: The best defenses from problem insects are healthy, actively growing, well-maintained plants. Healthy plants have an enhanced ability to thrive under stress, including damage caused by insects, with no adverse, long-term effects.

10. Remember to Stop and Smell the…: In following these steps, everyone from enthusiasts to master gardeners can take more time to enjoy their beautiful wildflower gardens and landscapes each year.

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WASHINGTON GARDENER ENEWS © 2012 Washington Gardener Magazine All rights reserved.

What wildflowers are most appropriate for the Mid-Atlantic?

For the Mid-Atlantic, the Pennington Hummingbird & Butterfly Garden Mix (assorted nectar-producing annual and perennial varieties, such as Larkspur and Cosmos) would be ideal.

The Northeast Garden Mix (Blue Flax, Forget Me Not and other popular regional varieties) would also be appropriate for most northern areas, while the Southern Garden Mix (Black-Eyed Susans and other popular regional varieties) would be suitable for most southern areas.

What are some of the best ways to combat insects that damage planting beds?

An essential aspect of planting bed maintenance is insect control. Problem insects can affect the vigor of plants and landscapes, either through disease, insect feeding or other destructive activities. With the recent mild winter across the U.S., insect activity is occurring even earlier this year. This means there is a greater chance that gardens and planting beds will be infested by pests, such as ants, caterpillars, mites, and Japanese beetles.

1. Use a botanical insecticide: With a special formulation that contains Pyrethrins, a botanical insecticide naturallyderived from Chrysanthemum flowers, the new line of GardenTech Worry Free Brand Insecticides is ideally suited to protect ornamental plants (roses, flowers, shrubs, etc.), as well as edibles (fruits, vegetables, etc.). The line provides fast-acting control of more than 250 crawling and flying pests, and serves as a less hazardous alternative to conventional synthetic insecticides.

2. Combat insects with essential nutrients: One of the best defenses from problem pests is a strong, actively growing, well-maintained plant. Fertilization is essential to maintaining landscape beauty and plant development, helping sustain optimum plant growth and resistance to insects, diseases and environmental stresses. When fertilized, plants are supplied with the essential nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium) they need for strength and growth.

When is the best time to fertilize?

Traditionally, where non-slow release fertilizers are being used, there tend to be two growing periods in Northern regions, including the Mid-Atlantic. The first is after the garden’s return from winter dormancy. The second is during the early fall when temperatures moderate and extreme heat spikes are over.

Russ Nicholson is the senior agronomist for Pennington Seed, Inc., (www.penningtonusa.com) and a Certified Professional Agronomist (CPAg) with more than 35 years of experience

WASHINGTON GARDENER ENEWS Š 2012 Washington Gardener Magazine All rights reserved.

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TOP AREA GARDENING EVENTS DC-Area Gardening Calendar ~ Upcoming Events ~ June 16-July 15, 2012 •June 18-24 6th Annual National Pollinator Week This June, celebrate the first day of summer by taking part in the 6th Annual Pollinator Week, an international celebration of the valuable ecosystem services provided by bees, birds, butterflies, bats and beetles.

The week of June 18-24th will spotlight a unique opportunity to learn about some fascinating and fundamental animals – the pollinators. Often overlooked or misunderstood, pollinators are in fact responsible for 1 out of every 3 bites of food that we eat. In the U.S. bees alone undertake the astounding task of pollinating over $15 billion in added crop value, particularly for specialty crops such as almonds and other nuts, berries, fruits, and vegetables. Beginning in 2006, pollinators started to decline rapidly in numbers. Participating in Pollinator Week can help save these important animals.

Organized by the Pollinator Partnership, National Pollinator Week is a project of the North American Pollinator Protection Campaign (www.nappc.org). Established in 1997, the Pollinator Partnership (P2) is the largest 501(c) 3 non-profit organization dedicated to the health, protection, and conservation of all pollinating animals. For information on events taking place during Pollinator Week and to download free materials to create your own event, visit www.pollinator.org/ pollinator_week_2012.htm or simply visit www.pollinator.org to donate.

• Wednesday, June 20, 5-8pm The Greenhouse At Oatlands Celebrates 201 Years The birthday party, complete with cake and balloons is free and open to the public. Oatlands staff will be on hand to provide information about the agricultural operations of 18th and 19th centuries. This event will feature vendors and concessions. Representatives from Willowcroft Farm Vineyards will also be providing tastings and selling wine by the glass.

The greenhouse at Oatlands is the second oldest extant greenhouse in the United States, and the oldest in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Built in 1810 by George Carter, the unique brick structure was state-ofthe-art. It featured a sophisticated heating system that combined the radiant heat from a central compost pile, fireplaces and the southern exposure of a glass roof. The advanced heating system allowed Carter to grow vegetables and fruit, such as bananas and strawberries, out of season.

For more information about the greenhouse at Oatlands and the celebration for its 201st birthday, visit www.oatlands.org.

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• Wednesday, June 20, 2-6pm and on Thursday, June 21, 10am-1pm The Garden Club of Virginia’s 70th Annual Lily Show The show is sponsored by The Garden Club of Fairfax. The theme is: Where the Past and the Present Intersect. The Lily Show is one of three premier statewide flower shows (daffodil, lily, and rose) that are presented each year by The Garden Club of Virginia, a Richmond-based umbrella organization.

The Garden Club of Virginia is widely recognized for its annual Historic Garden Week event.

The 70th Annual Lily Show features flower arrangements whose styles reflect the history and urban growth of Fairfax County, vivid horticultural sections, educational opportunities and a shopping boutique.

The Lily Show will take place in the exhibit hall at the Church of the Good Shepherd, Burke, Virginia. Admission is free. Details at www.gcvirginia.org.

• Thursday, June 21, 6-9pm Solstice in the City Porch Party Join the Cylburn Arboretum in Baltimore, MD, for the Solstice in the City Porch Party in the candlelit gardens surrounding the historic Cylburn Mansion. Thanks to our generous sponsors, Woodberry Kitchen, DARCARS, Bare Hills Racquet and Fitness Club and Boordy Vineyards, the longest evening of the year will be filled with the sounds of the Jody West Band, the delicious aroma of Woodberry Kitchen’s fare, and the clink of (compostable!) glasses filled with Boordy wine and local beer. Tickets are $20 and include light hors d’oeuvres and 2 drinks.

Please call 410-367-2217 or visit cylburn. org to purchase tickets. Tickets are limited, so don’t delay! Tickets $20 each.

• Thursday, June 21, 6:30pm-9:00pm City Blossoms’ Mustache Masquerade Every June we like to celebrate the successes of the spring and the upcoming summer with a themed garden fiesta. We are excited to announce that this year will be the Mustache Masquerade. Come flaunting your most impressive mask or mustache and enjoy an enchanting evening in the garden, under the stars. There will be scrumptious delights, colorful cocktails, juicy raffle items, and a photo booth to capture all nights best and brightest.

At the corner of Harvard & 11th Streets, NW WDC 20009. A $15 donation, RSVP to info@cityblossoms or http://www.facebook. com/events/419347988083340/ All proceeds support City Blossoms’ summer programming. Interested in sponsoring

WASHINGTON GARDENER ENEWS © 2012 Washington Gardener Magazine All rights reserved.

or donating to the fiesta fund? Contact rebecca@cityblossoms.org • Through Monday, June 25 New Art Exhibit at River Farm Mark Dorman is the featured artist at River Farm, the headquarters of the American Horticultural Society, for the months of April, May, and June 2012. His exhibit, “Color in Nature” will be on view beginning April 2 through June 25. Dorman is a professional artist, journalist, and art critic. He studied drawing and painting with Manlio Guberti in Rome, studied at Atelier, Le Grande Chaumiere in Paris, the Corcoran Museum School, and at the Maryland Institute of the Arts. He has won numerous awards for his oil paintings, watercolors, and pastels, both abstract and representational. His colorful postimpressionist landscapes are reflective of a wealth of experience abroad. More details are at www.MarkDorman.net.

The exhibit will be on view in River Farm’s main house during operating hours: Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Admission is free. For more information, please contact: MarkDorman@att.net.

• Saturday, June 30, 2-5pm Wildlife Habitat Workshop The District of Columbia Department of the Environment and the District of Columbia Takoma Library are partnering to host a FREE educational, hands-on workshop to help property owners create unique and important habitat for wildlife on their own land. The workshop will include presentations on conservation landscaping and gardening for wildlife, plant selection, general landscape design principles and how to do a site assessment. Participants will help plant a demonstration garden at the workshop site, and will receive a habitat kit at the conclusion of the workshop. The kit will contain a native plant guide, an invasive plant booklet, a book on wildlife gardening, a birdhouse kit and live plants. At Takoma Library, 416 Cedar Street, NW. WDC. To register for the workshop, send an email to backyardhabitat@dc.gov with “Takoma Workshop” in the subject line. Include the names and email addresses of the participants in the text of the email.

• Saturday, June 30, 12:30-5:00pm and Sunday, July 1, 9:00am-4:00pm Potomac Lily Society Lily Show The Potomac Lily Society (PLS) will hold its 51st annual lily show at Brookside Gardens, 1800 Glenallan Avenue, Wheaton, Maryland (BrooksideGardens.org). The show is open

TOP AREA GARDENING EVENTS DC-Area Gardening Calendar ~ Upcoming Events ~ June 16-July 15, 2012 to the public. 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 more information: www.PotomacLilySociety.org.

bamboo tuteur – the perfect support for sweet peas or any other climbing ornamental or vegetable plants, using bamboo splitters and some gardening ingenuity. Bring a vehicle large enough to transport a finished tuteur or take it home as a kit to construct in the garden. Course number 187349; Fee: $28, FOBG: $25; registration required at www.ParkPASS.org; for more information, call 301-962-1400 or online at www.brooksidegardens.org. Brookside Gardens, 1800 Glenallan Avenue, Wheaton, MD 20902.

• Tuesday, July 3, 1-3pm Independence Day Ice Cream Social FREE TO MILITARY FAMILIES! George Washington loved ice cream, and the founders of Tudor Place loved and revered their forebear George Washington.

So it’s fitting to bring American history and this summertime favorite together to celebrate our nation’s birthday at a family event!

We’ll start with a special, family-friendly mansion tour focusing on its many George and Martha Washington connections. Then, make your own ice cream sundaes in the garden, and enjoy children’s games and crafts. All participants will receive a special copy of a rare, personal letter from Washington belonging to the Tudor Place archives.

One of just three such notes in existence, it is his affectionate note to his wife as he took up command of the Continental Army.

Member Child: $5; Non-Member Child: $10; Adult: $5; Military: FREE. REGISTRATION: http://independenceday2012.eventbrite.com/

• Saturday, July 14, 9:30-10:30am Smart Gardening Gardeners develop a sentimental attachment to certain plants that can blind them to alternatives. Discard those sentiments and discover plants that produce more with less. Karen Rexrode, local horticulturist leads you to smarter gardening. At Green Spring Gardens, 4603 Green Spring Rd., Alexandria, Virginia 22312, (703) 642-5173 www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/greenspring Code: 290 388 3901 $18/person

• Saturday, July 7, 9am-12noon Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC) Plot Against Hunger Garden Tours Free morning tour of eight local Arlington gardens that donate their harvests to the Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC).

Find out how local gardeners in a variety of settings (schools, churches, community gardens, private residence) help AFAC provide fresh vegetables for our food pantry clients and get some great growing ideas for your own garden — large or small spaces, containers, raised beds, and tilled soil! Full map online at: http://plotagainsthunger. afac.org.

• Saturday, July 7, 1:00-2:30pm Bamboo Garden Tuteur Workshop Cindy Brown, Smithsonian Gardens We gardeners tend to have a love/hate relationship with bamboo. Learn all about this garden thug, from the differences between running and clumping forms to how to prevent it from taking over the world. Then, learn a technique for creating a beautiful

• Saturday, July 14, 9:00am-Noon What’s Buggin’ My Plant & Composting Inside and Out. Children’s Program: Eat Your Garden!

Taught by VCE - Prince William Master Gardener Volunteers in the Teaching Garden at St. Benedict Monastery, 9535 Linton Hall Road, Bristow, 20136.

All programs are free. Registration is requested. A children’s program is offered concurrently with each Saturday in the Garden program. Space is limited. A registration form is required to complete registration for children’s programs • VCE Master Gardener Plant Clinics ~ VCE Horticulture Help Desk Fairlington Community Center 3308 S. Stafford St., Arlington 703-228-6414 9 a.m. to noon Monday through Friday year-round ~ Arlington County Central Library 1015 N. Quincy St. Thursdays, 6:45 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. Late April through Mid-November Arlington Farmers’ Market N. 14th St. & N. Courthouse Rd. Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Late April through September ~ Alexandria Farmers’ Market Market Square, Old Town Saturdays, 6:30 a.m. to 9 a.m.

May through September ~ Del Ray Farmers’ Market Oxford St. and Mt. Vernon Ave., Alexandria (across from St. Elmo’s Coffee Pub) Saturdays, 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. May through September

SAVE THE DATE: •Washington Gardener Magazine is proud to be a sponsor of the annual Parade of Ponds weekend in the DC-MD on July 28-29, 2012. Participants can tour private gardens in the area that include ponds, water features, and water gardens for inspiration and enjoyment. They can visit all the gardens over the weekend in any order they desire or just visit a few. Donations are requested from tour-goers and all proceeds go to support Shepherd’s Table in Silver Spring, MD, which provides food and services to the needy. For more information, visit: http://www.premierpond.com/paradeof-ponds.html.

• Kathy Jentz, editor of Washington Gardener Magazine, will moderate a panel of DC-area gardening communicators speaking on the Dirty Secrets of Garden Writers. The panel will take place on August 14, 2012 at the American Women Writers National Museum, 1275 K St NW, Washington, DC. For more information, visit: www.americanwomenwritersnationalmuseum.org.

Still More Event Listings See even more event listings on the Washington Gardener Yahoo discussion list. Join the list at http://groups.yahoo. com/group/WashingtonGardener/.

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

Gardener’s Paradise: Beautifully restored 1837 manor house and separate guest house inhabit a worldclass horticultural site of 27+ acres in Northeastern Montgomery County. Includes stunning vistas, stone-walled English garden, majestic native trees, spectacular specimen plantings, historic spring house with modern garden water system. Horse field and trails. www.springdaleacres.com.

WASHINGTON GARDENER ENEWS © 2012 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 • Strawberries JULY/AUGUST 2005 • Water Gardens • Poison Ivy • Disguising a Sloping Yard • Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens 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 • Basic Pruning Principles MAY/JUNE 2006 • Using Native Plants in Your Landscape • Crabgrass • Peppers • Secret Sources for Free Plants JULY/AUGUST 2006 • Hydrangeas • Theme Gardens • Agave • Find Garden Space by Growing Up SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2006 • Shade Gardening • Hosta Care Guide • Fig-growing Tips and Recipes NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2006 • Horticultural Careers • Juniper Care Guide • Winter Squash Growing Tips and Recipes • 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 • 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

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• Our Favorite Garden Tools • Coral Bells (Heucheras) MAY/JUNE 2008 — ALMOST SOLD OUT! • Growing Great Tomatoes • Glamorous Gladiolus • Seed Starting Basics • Flavorful Fruiting Natives JULY/AUGUST 2008 • Landscaping with Ornamental Grasses • Edible Grasses to Graze On • Slug and Snail Control • Sage Advice: Sun-loving Salvias SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2008 • Autumn Edibles — What to Plant Now • Beguiling Barrenworts (Epimediums) • The Best Time to Plant Spring-blooming Bulbs • 14 Dry Shade Plants Too Good to Overlook NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2008 • Outdoor Lighting Essentials • How to Prune Fruiting Trees, Shrubs, and Vines • 5 Top Tips for Overwintering Tender Bulbs • Harry Lauder’s Walking Stick JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2009 • Compost Happens: Nature’s Free Fertilizer • Managing Stormwater with a Rain Garden • Visiting Virginia’s State Arboretum • Grow Winter Hazel for Gorgeous Winter Color MARCH/APRIL 2009 • 40+ Free and Low-cost Local Garden Tips • Spring Edibles Planting Guide for the Mid-Atlantic • Testing Your Soil for a Fresh Start • Redbud Tree Selection and Care • Best Local Viewing Spots for Virginia Bluebells MAY/JUNE 2009 • Top 12+ Easy Summer Annuals for DC Heat • Salad Table Project • Grow and Enjoy Eggplant • How to Chuck a Woodchuck from Your Garden SUMMER 2009 • Grow Grapes in the Mid-Atlantic • Passionflowers • Mulching Basics • What’s Bugging Your Tomatoes • Growing Hops FALL 2009 • Apples • How To Save Tomato Seeds • Persimmons WINTER 2009 • Battling Garden Thugs • How to Start Seeds Indoors • Red Twig Dogwoods • Unusual Edibles to Grow in Our Region SPRING 2010 • Community Gardens • Building a Raised Bed • Dwarf Iris • Broccoli SUMMER 2010 • Fragrance Gardens • Watering Without Waste • Lavender • Potatoes FALL 2010 • Vines and Climbers • Battling Stink Bugs • Russian Sage • Garlic WINTER 2010 • Paths and Walkways • Edgeworthia • Kohlrabi SPRING 2011 • Cutting-Edge Gardens • Final Frost Dates and When to Plant • Bleeding Hearts • Onions SUMMER 2011 • Ornamental Edibles • Urban Foraging • Amsonia/Arkansas Blue Star • Growing Corn in the Mid-Atlantic FALL 2011 • Herb Gardens • Toad Lilies • Sweet Potatoes • Cool Weather Cover Crops WINTER 2011 - EARLY SPRING 2012 • Green Roofs and Walls • Heaths and Heathers • Radishes

WASHINGTON GARDENER ENEWS © 2012 Washington Gardener Magazine All rights reserved.

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In Our Next Issue...

SUMMER 2012 Tropical Gardens

A DayTrip to an Historic Treasure

How to Simplify in the Garden Columbine Leaf Miner

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Magazine Excerpt: Yields from Yacon by Elizabeth Olson

The inhabitants of the Andes Mountains began cultivating yacon more than 1,000 years ago for its copious yields of naturally sweet, succulent, and refreshing tubers. Yacon is now also in cultivation in a number of countries, including New Zealand, the Czech Republic, Japan, Korea, and the United States. Its popularity has been increasing in recent years in part due to health claims for the vegetable.

Yacon tubers are most often used more like a fruit and consumed fresh, but they can also be used in stir fries and other cooked dishes. The flavor is delicious, variously described as a cross between jicama and an Asian pear or a cross between celery and an apple. Yacon has a high water content, and a crisp texture, and holds its moisture well when cooked. It can be substituted for apples or pears in many fresh salad recipes, including Waldorf salad. Yacon recipes are featured on page 18 of this issue.

Commercial products made from yacon include syrup and canned chunks.

A fact sheet for yacon tubers can be obtained at www.cipotato.org/roots-and-tubers/yacon. The fact sheet is produced by the International Potato Center (CIP), which studies and promotes root crops native to South America. CIP includes yacon along with potatoes, sweet potatoes, and oca on its web site. CIP’s nutritional table for yacon shows that, in every 100 grams of peeled fresh tubers, there are 14 to 22 kcal, 85 to 90 grams of water, and 1.5 to 4 grams of simple sugars, as well as 6 to 12 grams of FOS, short for fructooligosaccharide, a complex sugar that is low in calories.

The tubers are also commonly called roots or storage roots. The National Academy of Sciences uses the term tubers in discussing yacon in its book Lost Crops of the Incas (© 1989), but offers the clarification in the first footnote that the tubers are really “an integrated mass of root and stem.”... Want to learn more about growing Yacon in our region? Read the rest of this EdibleHarvest column in the Spring 2012 issue of Washington Gardener Magazine. See the subscription information below.

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WASHINGTON GARDENER ENEWS © 2012 Washington Gardener Magazine All rights reserved.