Washington Gardener Enews May 2013 by Kathy J

ENEWSLETTER

MAY 2013

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 May 2013 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 features 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 “Wings2013” in the subject line to WashingtonGardener@rcn.com by 5:00pm on Friday, May 31. In the body of the email please include your full name, email, mailing address, and tell us: What Local Nursery/Garden Center You Shop at the Most and Why. The pass winners will be announced and notified by June 2. Some of the entry responses may be used in future online or print articles.

A Special Note to Our Loyal Readers... Some of you may be aware, but most of you are not, that my father went into hospice care with Colorectal Cancer last fall and passed away in the winter. I suspended publication of the magazine for those two quarters. The Spring 2013 issue is in production and will go out shortly. I sincerely apologize for the delay. Current subscribers have had their records adjusted to extend their subscriptions by two additional issues. New subscribers will start their subscription with the Spring 2013 issue and will receive a full year of issues. I am working on catching up and getting “welcome” notices out to all of you. During this time, I have tried to ensure that this monthly enewsletter and all other aspects of the Washington Gardener brand (bus tours, book club, seed exchanges, blog posts, garden talks, etc.) were without interruption. I am grateful for the support and friendship of so many of you in the local gardening world and from family and friends. Sincerely, Kathy Jentz Editor/Publisher Washington Gardener Magazine

Quick Links to Recent Washington Gardener Blog Posts • May Blossoms for Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day • Video: Unexpected Frost • Cool Beans in my Community Garden Plot • Washington’s Wild Plants • Lungwort: You Can Grow That! See more Washington Gardener Blog posts at WashingtonGardener.Blogspot.com.

May Garden To-Do List

Spotlight Special First Editions® Chapel View™ Cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) A beautiful evergreen for small space gardens.

The compact stature of First Editions® Chapel View™ Cedar make it an excellent evergreen choice for smaller yards. This tree keeps the traditional pyramid shape, but in a more petite form, and is easily pruned to maintain the perfect size. Developed by Plant Introductions, Inc. and Sarah P. Duke Gardens, Chapel View’s deep blue-green needles are resistant to winter bronzing, providing a wonderful jade green backdrop to the cool season garden. First Editions® Chapel View™ Cedar Cryptomeria japonica ‘PIICJ-I’ Plant Facts: Location: Full sun to partial shade Width: 4- to 8-feet Zone: 6-8 Foliage: Bright blue-green Height: 5- to 10-feet Look for First Editions Chapel View Cedar in the purple pot at garden centers this spring. For more information visit www.firsteditionsplants.com, or check us out on Facebook at www.facebook.com/First.Editions.Plants.

Here is our comprehensive garden task list for gardens in the greater DC metro region for May 16-June 15. Your additions to this list are most welcome: If you started seeds last month, thin them and start the hardening off process. • Cut back spent tulip and daffodil blooms, but not the foliage! • Divide and replant crowded daffodils. • Feed your roses and new plantings with slow-release fertilizer sparingly. • Provide supports for fast-growing perennials such as delphiniums, peonies, and lilies. • Tie up clematis and other fast-growing climbing vines. • Hose off aphids, white flies, or spider mites on your roses or other perennials. • Deadhead spent blooms on your annuals and perennials to encourage re-flowering. • Water your newly planted shrubs, trees, and perennials. • Weed regularly. • Go on a local house and garden tour to see what plants are thriving in other’s area home gardens. • Pinch back mums, salvias, and other late season bloomers to encourage bushy not leggy growth. • Check pots and containers daily for water needs. • Plant dahlias, gladioli, caladiums, and cannas. • Direct sow annual flower seeds. • Thin vegetable seeds sown directly in the garden. • Move your houseplants outdoors for a summer vacation on your porch. • Put out slug traps around your vulnerable edibles and hostas. • Prune back forsythia, spirea, and other early spring blooming shrubs. • Check for black spot on your roses -- remove and discard and affected leaves in the trash, never back into your garden or in your compost -- apply a fungicide with neem oil every two weeks during the growing season. • Cut some flowers to enjoy inside -- make a small arrangement for every room. • Sow squash and melon seeds. • Plant seedlings (or direct-sow) sweet potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants. • Fertilize azaleas and rhodos, if needed. • Divide crowded perennials and share them. • Turn your compost pile. • Start a water garden or re-new yours for the season. • Mark and photograph your bulb plantings now, while they are still visible. • Keep a sharp eye for fungal diseases and pests. • Replace cool-season annuals with heat-loving ones. • Be vigilant for mosquito breeding spots, any standing water from a bottle-cap to blocked gutters, and clean them out immediately. Ask your surrounding neighbors to do the same. Put Mosquito Dunks or Bits in any areas that accumulate water. • Plant tomatoes and peppers. To get them started off right, put cages/stakes in at same time as you plant them, so that you are not disturbing their roots later. Place a collar (cardboard tube or cat food can) around the tender plants to prevent cut worms. Put crushed eggshells first in the planting hole of tomatoes for extra calcium and mix lime in the soil you surround the plant with to prevent blossomend rot. Fertilizes with kelp extract or fish emulsion. • Hand pick cabbage worms from cabbage and broccoli.

The Turnip Point

Growing and Cooking This Tasty Brassica By Elizabeth Olson

If you like cabbage, mustard, and radishes, then turnips are a logical choice for your kitchen garden. Turnips are members of the same plant family and have the scientific name Brassica rapa, var. rapifera. The vegetable is most familiar for its delicious roots, but the greens, too, are edible and tasty. Turnips are nutritious and easy to grow. At its best, the texture of turnip roots is firm and fine-grained. Roots grown to optimum size keep well and have been an important cool season crop in American kitchen gardens for hundreds of years. There is a broad spectrum of culinary uses for turnips, and they can be eaten fresh or cooked. The flavor ranges from spicy-sweet to a mustard-like spiciness, depending on the cultivar. Turnips harvested after the nights are cool in autumn have a more pronounced sweet flavor. The cooked flavor is richer and blends well with a variety of seasonings. Fresh turnips can be sliced and added to salads or served as crudités. Turnips can be sautéed, stirfried, simmered, steamed, baked, mashed, oven-roasted, or pickled. Peeled and chunked turnip roots make a fine addition to soups and stews. Many dishes that call for mixed oven-roasted or mashed vegetables can be easily adapted to include turnips. Young greens can be steamed, sautéed, stir-fried, or pickled. Recipes that have turnips as the main ingredient are on page 5.

Timing, Tips, and Techniques

Autumn is the best time for growing the majority of turnip cultivars. Turnips can also be grown between late winter and mid-spring, but most roots produced at this time should be harvested when they are small to ensure acceptable flavor and texture. A few cultivars are adapted for growing in warmer weather and this needs to be indicated on the seed packets and in catalog descriptions. Turnips are subject to pests and diseases that affect other members of the cabbage family and should be part of the same crop rotation schedule. Grow turnips in full sun and keep the area free of weeds. The soil must drain well — preferably in a raised row or bed — be free of rocks and debris, and be enriched with compost. Start plants by sowing seeds directly in the garden. Seeds can be planted every 10 to 14 days to provide a continual harvest. There are two common spacing options. Some gardeners broadcast the seeds and thin the seedlings later. Other gardeners space the seeds. In either case, the most important thing is to provide enough room between the seedlings for the roots to grow when they start to enlarge. Turnips grow quickly to harvesting size. As the fleshy roots enlarge, the tops protrude from the soil. The colorful band that many cultivars have develops above the soil line. Small turnip plants that are thinned can be eaten as greens. All cultivars require a consistent supply of water, about an inch per week. Supplement rainfall by using a watering wand to apply water around the base of the plants, and avoid overhead watering. Turnips only need moderate amounts of nitrogen, and organic fertilizers work well. A floating row cover can be used to help prevent problems with pests. Autumn-grown turnips reach optimum size when they are two to four inches in diameter, depending on the cultivar. Carefully lift the plants from the soil. Remove and sort the leaves and consume them within a few days. The roots can either be used as soon as they are harvested or stored in a refrigerator crisper drawer. WASHINGTON GARDENER ENEWS © 2013 Washington Gardener Magazine. All rights reserved.

You can stretch the spring growing season by using a row cover on very hot days and by harvesting them as “baby” vegetables. Small or baby-sized turnips can be grown in as little as 35 to 40 days and must be used soon after harvesting.

‘Early Flat White’ turnip photo courtesy of Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Co. See RareSeeds.com.

Cultivars

The standard turnip is ‘Purple Top White Globe,’ an heirloom with a globe-shaped root, white flesh, and skin with the combination of a purple band on top and a white bottom (pictured on page 3.) It is available from many seed companies and it is the turnip cultivar found most often on the seed racks at garden centers. There are also some cultivars that are grown only for their superior greens. The traditional Japanese cultivar ‘Nozawana’ and the heirloom ‘Seven Top’ are two of these. Additional turnip cultivars that are primarily grown for their roots are briefly described in the two following lists. The first list contains open-pollinated selections. Many are heirlooms. The second list features F1 hybrids; they are not genetically engineered. Some of these hybrids are less prone to bolting in warm weather. Similar cultivars are grouped together, and alternate names are included. The roots of these turnips are globe-shaped or semi-globe-shaped and have white-flesh, unless otherwise stated. The leaves are green and may develop some reddish coloration as the plants mature. Cultivars with heavy amounts of reddish coloration in their leaves are noted.

Open-pollinated:

• ‘Amber Globe,’ a.k.a. ‘Yellow Globe’ has white skin and light yellow flesh. • ‘Bianca Lodigiana’ has white skin. It is a cultivar from the province of Lodi in northern Italy. 4

• ‘Boule d’Or,’ a.k.a. ‘Gold Ball,’ ‘Golden Ball,’ and ‘Orange Jelly’ has yellow skin and golden-yellow flesh. • ‘Des Vertus Marteau’ originated in France. It has a long club shape and white skin and is recommended for slicing. • ‘Golden Globe’ has light green shoulders and a golden bottom. The flesh is light golden yellow. The shape can vary from globe to tapered, depending on the strain. • ‘Hinona Kabu’ has a long, thin carrot shape, purple shoulders, and a white bottom. The leaves have red ribs. • ‘Mezza Lunga Bianca Colletto Viola’ has an elongated, club-shaped root that can easily grow to four inches long. Its purplish shoulders stretch halfway down the root. The bottom is white. This is an Italian cultivar and it is recommended for slicing. • ‘Ohno Scarlet,’ the reselected ‘Scarlet Ohno Revival,’ and the similar ‘Red Round’ have red skin and some red streaking on the white flesh. The color will bleed across slices as they are marinated for fresh pickles. The leaves are green with red ribs. • ‘Shogoin’ has white skin. Both the roots and leaves can be pickled, used fresh in salads, or prepared in soups or stir-fried dishes. The leaves are broad and can grow to 20 inches tall. • ‘Tennouji Kabura’ is a traditional Japanese cultivar dating to the 17th century. It has white skin and large leaves. It is recommended for pickling and drying. • ‘Tokyo Market’ has white skin. Recommended for both autumn and early spring planting. This cultivar is also noted for the delicious flavor of its young leaves. • ‘Violet Top from Milan,’ a.k.a. ‘Di Milano A Colletto Viola’ is an Italian cultivar. It has bright violet shoulders and a white bottom. • ‘White Egg,’ similar or identical to two cultivars named ‘Snowball.’ Egg-shaped with white skin that can develop a light green tint on the shoulders.

Non-GMO F1 Hybrids:

• ‘Hakurei’ and the similar ‘Oasis’ have white skin. Both are recommended for salads. ‘Hakurei’ is ready to harvest in 35 to 40 days. ‘Oasis’ is ready to harvest in about 50 days. • ‘Hidabeni’ has scarlet skin. This cultivar is recommended as a fresh addition to salads and for pickling.

• ‘Tokyo Cross’ was designated an All-America Selections Winner in 1969. This cultivar has white skin, matures early, is slow to bolt, and can grow to a large size before it loses texture. • ‘Tsugaru Scarlet’ has scarlet skin. The leaves are green with red ribs. The flesh has a notably sweet flavor. • ‘White Lady’ has white skin. It grows best in cool weather, but can be grown for turnips that are harvested at a small size in warmer weather.

Fun Fact

Turnips make excellent carved vegetable flowers, including chrysanthemums, that are beautiful and edible additions to the dinner plate. Pictured here is ‘Tokyo Cross’ from Kitazwa Seed Co.

Seed Sources: • Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds (www.RareSeeds.com) • W. Atlee Burpee Co. (www.Burpee.com) • Fedco Co-op Garden Supplies (www.FedcoSeeds.com) • High Mowing Organic Seeds (www.HighMowingSeeds.com) • John Scheepers Kitchen Garden Seeds (www.KitchenGardenSeeds.com) • Kitazawa Seed Co. (www.KitazawaSeed.com) • Seeds from Italy (www.GrowItalian.com) • Southern Exposure Seed Exchange (www.SouthernExposure.com) • St. Clare Heirloom Seeds (www.StClareSeeds.com) • Stokes Seeds (www.Stokeseeds.com) • Sustainable Seed Co. (www.SustainableSeedCo.com) • Victory Seeds (www.VictorySeeds.com)

About the Author

Elizabeth Olson is a Maryland Certified Professional Horticulturist. She is also an avid home gardener who is fascinated by the stories behind the plants that she grows. She can be contacted through Washington Gardener Magazine. ‘Purple Top White Globe’ photo on page 3 is courtesy of Elizabeth Olson. It was taken at the Emmanuel United Methodist Church Community Garden located on site at the Behnke Nurseries Garden Center at Beltsville, MD. The turnips pictured at right are the carrot-like ‘Hinona Kabu’ from Kitazawa Seed Co.

TASTY TURNIPS Turnips Simmered in Wine

Recipe by Elizabeth Olson. Used with permission • Home-grown turnips, 10 to 14 small globe-shaped roots with leaves still attached. The roots should be evenly sized, about 1¼ inches to 1½ inches in diameter • Dry red wine, such as Beaujolais Nouveau or Merlot, 1 to 1½ cups • Yellow sweet onion, 1 medium to large size • Whole black peppercorns, 1 rounded Tbs • Whole yellow or brown mustard seeds, 2 tsp • Unsalted butter • Sea salt, regular 1. Trim the turnip leaves short, leaving a one-inch-long handle of stems attached to the turnip roots. Reserve the leaves for another cooked vegetable dish. 2. Carefully wash the turnips and trim all root ends short. Allow the turnips to air dry. 3. Keep the peppercorns and mustard seeds whole. 4. Peel and cut the onion into ½-inch-thick slices. 5. Place the peppercorns, mustard seeds, and onion slices in a medium to large, non-reactive skillet. Add enough wine to cover the bottom of the skillet. Place the lid on the skillet and slowly heat the wine until it starts to simmer. 6. Continue simmering until the onion is translucent. Turn off the heat and place the skillet on another surface to cool down. Slightly angle the lid so that steam can escape. 7. After the wine sauce has cooled, halve the turnips lengthwise. Place the turnips, one layer thick and cut side down, in the skillet with the sauce. Add small dabs of butter to the spaces between the turnips. Note: Peeling is usually not necessary because the peels of small turnips are tender. 8. Simmer the turnips until they are tender, but firm. Turnips release moisture as they simmer, but add more wine to the sauce if necessary. 9. Remove the turnips and onion slices from the skillet and place them in a covered, non-reactive serving dish. Arrange the turnips cut side up. Add some of the sauce to the bottom of the serving dish. Optional: The peppercorns and mustard seeds can be strained from the sauce before adding the sauce to the serving dish. 10. Place a pat of butter on top of each turnip and let it start to melt. Sprinkle a small amount of sea salt on top of each turnip and cover the dish. Serve immediately.

Caramelized Turnips

Recipe from Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Company • 3 cups diced, peeled turnips • ¼ cup water •1 cube chicken bouillon •1 tablespoon butter, or more as needed •2 tablespoons white sugar 1. Place the turnips into a skillet with the water and chicken bouillon cube over medium heat; simmer until the water has evaporated and the turnips are tender — about 15 minutes. 2. Stir in the butter and let melt. 3. Sprinkle on the sugar. 4. Gently cook and stir the turnips until the butter and sugar cook into a brown, sticky coating on the turnips — about 10 minutes. Serve hot. WASHINGTON GARDENER ENEWS © 2013 Washington Gardener Magazine. All rights reserved.

TOP AREA GARDENING EVENTS DC-Area Gardening Calendar ~ Upcoming Events ~ May 16 - June 15, 2013 • Saturday, May 18, 9am-3pm Spring Garden Day More than 40 vendors of rare and unusual plants descend on Green Springs Gardens to fill your spring gardening needs! Friends of Green Spring (FROGS) receive 10% off plants in the Garden Gate Plant Shop. Don’t miss this exciting tradition. Free Admission! Green Spring Gardens, 4603 Green Spring Road, Alexandria , VA. www. greenspring.org.

and originality. The tour continues to be a self-guided tour to allow visitors to view the gardens at their leisure during the allotted tour hours. Tickets are $15 per person. Tickets can be purchased the day of the tour at the ticket kiosk in front of Shepherd Elementary School at the corner of 14th Street and Kalmia Road, NW starting at 1:30pm. For more information and to view photos of past tours go to http://www.shepherdpark. org/garden.html.

• Saturday, May 18, 10am-5pm Maryland House & Garden Tour in Charles County The final tour on the statewide Maryland House and Garden Pilgrimage (MHGP) of historic homes and gardens takes place in Charles County on Saturday, May 18th. There are eight properties on display, many of them with fascinating War of 1812 history. Profits from this tour go to Historic Oldfields Chapel, Hughesville. The Caleb W. Jones Skipjack will be docked in Benedict. One of only a handful of operating Skipjacks in the world, local historians will be on hand to discuss the life of watermen on the Bay and 1812 history. Another outstanding attraction is the Manor of Truman’s Place in Waldorf with its War of 1812 history. A catered bus tour is a unique option offered by the Charles County Garden Club (www.charlescountygardenclub.org). Lunch ($15) will be offered at Oldfields Episcopal Church, Hughesville with advance reservations. The tour is $30 in advance and $35 on the day of the tour with tickets available in each of the homes on tour. Ticket’s and information at mhgp.org or 410821-6933.

• Monday, May 20, 8:00 pm, Eat Your Roses: Edible Flowers Find out what edible flowers you can cultivate to add a bit of color and flavor to your cooking. The featured speaker is author Denise Schreiber. This talk is hosted by the Silver Spring Garden Club. Doors open at 7:30pm. This event is Free. It is open to the public. Held at Brookside Gardens, Visitors Center/ Education Building, 1800 Glenallan Avenue, Wheaton, MD. For directions: http://www.montgomeryparks.org/ brookside/

• Sunday, May 19 , 2-5pm From Gloom to Bloom -- 9th Annual SPCA Garden Tour The gloom of winter finally gives way to the bloom of spring. The Shepherd Park Citizens Association will sponsor their annual garden tour. Year after year, the gardens of Shepherd Park, Colonial Village and North Portal Estates continue to amaze, surprise and wow visitors with their superb combination of natural beauty, creativity, elegance 6

• Wednesday, May 22, 7:30pm Garden Tools Talk The Beltsville Garden Club will meet on in the cafeteria of the James E. Duckworth School, 11201 Evans Trail, Beltsville, MD. Montgomery County Master Gardener and retired engineer, Joe Ginther, will present a talk entitled “Garden Tools: A General Discussion of Types, Uses, Maintenance, and Sharpening.” When surveying your garden tools, have you ever said to yourself “there must be a better way?” Mr. Ginther will present a variety of garden tools and talk about their uses. He will demonstrate and discuss how to maintain garden tools, including sharpening materials and techniques. Refreshments will be served after the meeting. Bring a plant, or plant related material for the club’s door prize table. The public is welcome and admission is free. For additional information visit our website at www. beltsvillegardenclub.org. • May 25–June 2, 10:00am-4:00pm Satsuki Bonsai Azaleas of Old Japan Don’t miss these stunning bonsai,

miniature in form, but covered with multicolored, full-sized flowers. Late-blooming Satsuki azaleas have been hybridized in Japan for hundreds of years; many of the museum’s azalea bonsai were started from cuttings collected in Japan in the last century. This annual exhibit showcases our most spectacular examples in a formal display. Free. National Arboretum, Washington, DC. Details at www.usna.usda.gov. • Saturday, June 8, 9am-3pm Garden Party at Behnke Nurseries Beltsville, MD Love to garden? Want to meet area garden clubs, plant societies and garden vendors, while you buy raffle tickets to benefit Friends of Brookside Gardens? Then you must join the Garden Party at Behnke’s Nurseries, Beltsville on Saturday, June 8, from 9 to 3:00. Come celebrate gardening! Behnke’s is hosting this all-day event for gardeners and garden lovers. There will tables filled with garden clubs, plant societies, vendors and Master Gardeners to answer your gardening questions. Bring a labeled plant to swap by 9:30 for the Plant Swap at 10:30. Carol Allen will give a garden talk at 11:30. There will be food for sale, and a wine tasting presented by Old Line Fine Wine, Spirits & Bistro, plus live music to entertain while you mingle, shop and buy raffle tickets. Questions? Call 301.937.8150 or visit behnkes.com. • Saturday, June 1, 12noon-5:00pm and Sunday, June 2, 12noon to 5:00pm Secret Garden Tour The historic Hammond-Harwood House is sponsoring the annual Secret Garden Tour. The event is rain or shine. This popular event will feature a dozen private gardens, seldom seen by the public, in the neighborhood surrounding the Hammond-Harwood House in historic downtown Annapolis. The different and unique styles of the featured gardens will inspire those who have a passion for gardens. Tickets are good for both Saturday and Sunday. They are $25 in advance, or $20 when purchasing five or more. Tickets will be available for $30 on the weekend of the tour. Tickets

TOP AREA GARDENING EVENTS DC-Area Gardening Calendar ~ Upcoming Events ~ May 16 - June 15, 2013 are available at the advance ticket price online, in person at Hammond-Harwood House, or by calling 410.263.4683 x10. Free parking is available on weekends in the Bladen Street Garage, at Bladen and Calvert Streets. For more information or to purchase tickets, go to www. aachs.org. • Saturday, June 1, 3:00-6:00pm Backyard Habitats for DC Residents The District Department of the Environment is offering two backyard habitat workshops in June. The first workshop will be on Saturday, June 1 from 3:006:00 p.m., in partnership with City Blossoms at their Marion Intergenerational Garden in Shaw. The second workshop will be held on Saturday, June 8 from 10:00am-1:00pm in partnership with Common Good City Farm at their farm in LeDroit Park. Both workshops will include instruction on gardening with native plants, how to attract pollinators and beneficial insects, and using edible native plants in your yard or garden. Participants will be planting a garden with these qualities at each workshop. Attendees will receive a book (Bringing Nature Home by Douglas Tallamy) a native plant guide, a birdhouse kit, a gardening tool set, and live plants. The workshop are free and open to all District residents. To register, send an email to backyardhabitat@dc.gov with “City Blossoms Workshop” or “Common Good City Farm Workshop” in the subject line and the names of the attendees in the body of the email. Directions and other instructions will be sent to all registrants a few days before each workshop. • Saturday, June 8, 10am-3pm Strawberry Festival The Ann Arrundell County Historical Society will host its 23rd annual Strawberry Festival at the Benson-Hammond House, 7101 Aviation Boulevard in Linthicum, MD. The festival is celebrating the rich agricultural history of Anne Arundel County in the production of fine strawberries for market. Hand-churned strawberry ice-cream will be made for kids of all ages to see and enjoy. Other highlights include freshly made

strawberry shortcake and hand-dipped chocolate-covered strawberries. The Societies private label strawberry jams, strawberry butter, relishes as well as strawberry wine will be available. Local crafters will offer their wares along with those selling home baked goods. Folk singer Ed McDade will perform. Free admission and parking. Information at 410.267.6611 or www.aachs.org and Facebook page. • Sunday, June 9, 2-3pm The Story Behind UNDERSTORY Tour Led by Jackie Bailey Labovitz, Artist. “Lady’s slippers,” writes Jack Sanders author of The Secrets of Wildflowers, “are among those special wildflowers whose locations are whispered only to trusted people.” Without a whisper, Jackie Bailey Labovitz began her relentless search for the rare exotic woodland orchids. Join Jackie as she tours UNDERSTORY and shares tales of what happened along the way, hiking day in and day out, with one lens and one camera, in natural light just beneath the forest canopy. Location: Conservatory East Gallery, US Botanic Garden on the National Mall. Washington, DC. FREE: Pre-registration required: Visit www.usbg.gov • Thursday, June 13, 7:30-9:00pm Plant Roots and their Fungal Partners The underground view of plant communities. Living organisms within the soil decompose and recycle organic matter as they build good soil structure and promote growth of healthy plants. Of paramount importance in this living community are fungi that form a symbiotic relationship with plant roots. Via this symbiosis, called mycorrhiza, plant roots provide sugars to the fungi as the fungi transfer nutrients and water to the plant. In addition, the mycorrhizal fungi promote resistance to plant disease as they improve soil and plant quality. How to best garden with the mycorrhizae will also be presented, as will contributions the mycorrhizae make to plant community structure. Held at Green Spring Gardens, 4603 Green Spring Road, Alexandria, VA. VNPS programs are free and open to the public. No reservations

are necessary for lectures. Hosted by the Potowmack Chapter of the Virginia Native Plant Society, www.vnps-pot.org and www.vnps.org. • Saturday, June 15, 11:00am Washington Gardener Magazine’s 5th Annual DC PLANT SWAP Come with plants to swap or a snack to share if you are plant-less. Free and open to anyone to attend. Meet at the H Street FreshFarm, Farmers Market in NE Washington, DC. Look for the “Washington Gardener” banner. • Saturday, June 15, 11am-2pm 20th Annual Hillcrest Garden Tour The tour features “the original Hillcrest” Meet at: 33rd and Camden St SE, Washington, DC. Tickets: $12 if purchased in advance, $15 if purchased day of the tour. Children under 12: are free. Details at http://www.hillcrestdc. com/announce.htm#gtour.

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 27-28, 2013. 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.

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

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MARCH/APRIL 2005 • Landscape DIY vs. Pro • Prevent Gardener’s Back • Ladew Topiary Gardens • Cherry Trees

MAY/JUNE 2007 • Roses: Easy Care Tips • Native Roses & Heirloom Roses • Edible Flowers • How to Plant a Bare-root Rose

MAY/JUNE 2009 • Top Easy Summer Annuals for DC Heat • Salad Table Project • Grow and Enjoy Eggplant • How to Chuck a Woodchuck

MAY/JUNE 2005 • Stunning Plant Combinations • Turning Clay into Rich Soil • Wild Garlic • Strawberries

JULY/AUGUST 2007 • Groundcovers: Alternatives to Turfgrass • How to Pinch, Prune, & Dead-head •William Paca House & Gardens • Hardy Geraniums

SUMMER 2009 • Grow Grapes in the Mid-Atlantic • Passionflowers • Mulching Basics • What’s Bugging Your Tomatoes • Growing Hops

JULY/AUGUST 2005 • Water Gardens • Poison Ivy • Disguising a Sloping Yard • Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2007 • Succulents: Hardy to our Region • Drought-tolerant Natives • Southern Vegetables • Seed Saving Savvy Tips

FALL 2009 • Apples • How To Save Tomato Seeds • Persimmons

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2005 • Container Gardens • Clematis Vines • Sponge Gardening/Rain Gardens • 5 Insect Enemies of Gardeners

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2007 • Gardening with Children • Indoor Bulb Forcing Basics • National Museum of the American Indian • Versatile Viburnums

WINTER 2009 • Battling Garden Thugs • How to Start Seeds Indoors • Red Twig Dogwoods • Unusual Edibles to Grow in Our Region

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2005 • Backyard Bird Habitats • Hellebores • Building a Coldframe • Bulb Planting Basics

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2008 • Dealing with Deer • Our Favorite Garden Tools • Indoor Bulb Forcing Basics • Delightful Daffodils

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

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

SUMMER 2010 • Fragrance Gardens • Watering Without Waste • Lavender • Potatoes

MAY/JUNE 2008 — ALMOST SOLD OUT! • Growing Great Tomatoes • Glamorous Gladiolus • Seed Starting Basics • Flavorful Fruiting Natives

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

JULY/AUGUST 2008 • Landscaping with Ornamental Grasses • Edible Grasses to Graze On • Slug and Snail Control • Sage Advice: Sun-loving Salvias

WINTER 2010 • Paths and Walkways • Edgeworthia • Kohlrabi

MARCH/APRIL 2006 • Top 10 Small Trees and Large Shrubs • Azaleas • Figs, Berries, & Persimmons • Basic Pruning Principles MAY/JUNE 2006 • Using Native Plants in Your Landscape • Crabgrass • Peppers • Secret Sources for Free Plants JULY/AUGUST 2006 • Hydrangeas • Theme Gardens • Agave • Find Garden Space by Growing Up SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2006 • Shade Gardening • Hosta Care Guide • Fig-growing Tips and Recipes NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2006 • Horticultural Careers • Juniper Care Guide • Winter Squash Growing Tips and Recipes • Layer/Lasagna Gardening JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2007 • Indoor Gardening • Daphne Care Guide • Asparagus Growing Tips and Recipes • Houseplant Propagation MARCH/APRIL 2007 • Stormwater Management • Dogwood Selection & Care Guide • Early Spring Vegetable Growing Tips • Franciscan Monastery Bulb Gardens

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 Viewing Spots for Virginia Bluebells

SPRING 2010 • Community Gardens • Building a Raised Bed • Dwarf Iris • Broccoli

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 SPRING 2012 • Pollinator Gardens • Brunnera: Perennial of the Year • Growing Yacon SUMMER 2012 • Tropical Gardens • Captivating Canna • Icebox Watermelons

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Magazine Excerpt: Eastern Hemlock Threatened

BY CAROL ALLEN The Eastern Hemlock (Tsugacanadensis) possesses a majesty found in few other trees. Visiting an old growth hemlock forest is like walking into a cathedral. The air is noticeably cooler and your steps are hushed on the thick layer of decades of needle fall. As hemlocks are usually found in ravines or on stream banks with their roots constantly moist, I associate hemlock forests with the sound of rushing water. The trees can tower well over 100 feet in the air. The state champion in Maryland is 12’ in circumference, 134‘ high, and is estimated to be over 300 years old. One of the most devastating personal losses from the Derecho winds of this last summer was the loss of three 60 year old, 70’ high Eastern Hemlocks. They were probably planted when the house was built in the mid-1950s and acted as a wind break on the northwest side of the house. I cherished those trees and lavished them with special care: extra water during drought and oil sprays for their most serious threat — Hemlock wooly adelgid. So as I replant and recover from the Derecho, I must seriously consider which trees I plant for those who will come after me. Do I replace those missing trees with hemlocks, or do I plant a different native tree with lower maintenance requirements? What exactly is the nature of this pest and why does it figure so heavily in my decision? Hemlock wooly adelgid is an imported pest that appeared on the west coast in 1920 and on the east coast in 1951 when it was found in a park in Richmond, Virginia. It is assumed that the pest came in on imported hemlocks from Japan. By the 1980s, it had spread to native hemlock forests, destroying thousands of acres of trees. It has few natural enemies in eastern North America and our native hemlocks are neither resistant nor tolerant to the adelgid... Want to learn more about this threat to Eastern Hemlocks? Read the rest of this InsectIndex column in the Spring 2013 issue of Washington Gardener Magazine now printing and mailing soon. See how to subscribe below to start with this issue. Hemlock Wooly Adelgid photo courtesy of Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station Archive, Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, Bugwood.org.

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