Washington Gardener Enews - October 2011

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OCTOBER 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: This enewsletter will no longer be sent out as a PDF via email to nonsubscribers. Without your support, we cannot continue publishing this enewsletter nor Washington Gardener Magazine! Our magazine subscription information is on page 9 of this enewsletter.

If you know of any other gardeners in the greater Washington, DC-area, please forward this issue to them so that they can subscribe to our print magazine using the form on page 9 of this enewsletter.

You can also connect with Washington Gardener online at: • Washington Gardener Blog: www.washingtongardener.blogspot.com • Washington Gardener Discussion Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WashingtonGardener/ • Washington Gardener Twitter Feed: www.twitter.com/WDCGardener • Washington Gardener Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/washingtongardenermagazine • Washington Gardener Web Site: www.washingtongardener.com Sincerely, Kathy Jentz Editor/Publisher Washington Gardener Magazine

Reader Contest

For our October 2011 Washington Gardener Reader Contest, Washington Gardener is giving away a Sampler Pack of Manure Tea, which includes one each Cow, Horse, and Alfalfa manure tea bags from Authentic Haven Brand (a $13 value).

Authentic Haven Brand (www.manuretea. com) offers a full line of all-natural, premium soil conditioner teas for the home gardener, landscaper, and farmer. Haven Brand uses only the highest quality manures from livestock that are raised on permanent, native grass pastures at the Haven Family Ranch.

To enter to win Sampler Pack of Manure Tea, send an email with “Manure” in the subject line to WashingtonGardener@rcn.com by 5:00pm on October 30. In the body of the email please include your full name, email, mailing address, and tell us if you garden organically and why or why not. The sample pack winner will be announced and notified by November 2. Some of the entry responses may be used in future online or print articles.

Grow an Herb Garden

NEW Fall 2011 Issue!

Our Fall magazine issue is printing and mailing this week. If you are a current subscriber, look for it in your mailbox soon. The cover story is on Herb Gardens for our Mid-Atlantic region.

Also in this issue is the Edibles column, “Growing Great Sweet Potatoes”

by Cindy Brown. She shares her tips on how to grow them here and the best varieties for our area.

Our Daytrip is to the Biltmore Estate in Ashville, NC. I visited there myself last year and cannot wait to get back next summer for an even longer stay.

You’ll also find in this issue: • Best Cover Crops for Your Vegetable Garden • Earwigs: Beneficial or Nuisance?

• An Interview with an Influential Local Community Gardener •Meeting Up with the Potomac Chapter of the Herb Society of America • Toadlily Plant Profile and Varieties • Before/After of a Former Slave Cabin’s Landscape • An Intriguing Personal Garden Story • Coverage of several local events including our own Tomato Taste • Answers to readers’ questions such as why are some azalea leaves losing color, what is eating the zinnia foliage, 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 NEW GIFT HYDRANGEAS

Introducing ‘Strawberries and Cream’ and ‘Blueberries and Cream,’ two yummy-looking-enough-to-eat new lacecap hydrangeas serving up clusters of fruity-colored blooms surrounding milkywhite centers. Both gift plants, specially bred for long-lasting indoor blooms, will be available this coming spring through Lowe’s, Home Depot and independent garden centers.

The dark-rosy-red-bloomed Strawberries and Cream (available previously in limited distribution) is now readily and widely available, along with a new “flavor” – Blueberries and Cream.

Blueberries and Cream, which offers scrumptious-blue flowers for cool-colored refreshment, will be available primarily in the Northeastern U.S. for the 2012 season, with greater distribution planned for 2013.

“Consider it our second course of juicy-hued gift hydrangeas sure to appeal to your palette,” says Anthony Tesselaar, cofounder and president of Tesselaar Plants.

Both of these gift hydrangeas will bloom for one to two months indoors.

If you’re going to plant them outdoors, says Tesselaar, wait till early summer.

“These plants are specially grown in greenhouses to flower in time for Mother’s Day, and can’t take the cooler spring temperatures,” he explains.

In zones 7 and above (after their initial flowering), Strawberries and Cream and Blueberries and Cream can be planted outdoors in the garden from early summer on for a beautiful show the following year.

If you live in Zone 6 or lower and want to plant them outside for blooms the following year (again, only after their indoor spring flowering), you must give them special care. “Treat them as you would your other subtropical or warmerclimate plants,” says Tesselaar. “Winter protection is essential.”

2

• Video: Super-Easy Seed Saving • Favorite Autumn Perennials of DC-area Gardeners • Tomatillo: Food or Cat Toys?

• My Martha Adventure • DC School Garden Week 2011 Kick-Off See more Washington Gardener Blog posts at WashingtonGardener.Blogspot.com.

October Garden To-Do List

Here is our comprehensive garden task list for gardens in the greater DC metro region for October 15-November 16. Your additions to this list are most welcome: • Cover pond with netting to keep out fallen leaves and debris.

• Harvest sweet potatoes.

• Plant garlic.

• Force the buds on Christmas Cactus by placing in a cool (55-60 degree) room and 13 hours of darkness.

• Apply deer deterrent spray.

• Prevent the spread of disease by cleaning up all infected plants and disposing of them in your trash — not your compost pile.

• Plant cover crops in your vegetable gardens and annual beds (i.e. rye, clover, hairy vetch, winter peas).

• Set-up a cold frame, then plant lettuces, radishes, and carrots from seed.

• If you have a water garden, clean out the annual plants and compost them. Cut back the submerged hardy plants and group them to the deepest pond section.

• Leave seedheads on black-eyed susans, echinacea, goldenrod, sunflowers, and thistles for the birds to enjoy over the winter.

• Check for bagworms, pick off, bag, and dispose of them.

• Dig up and store potatoes in a cool, dark spot.

• Continue to divide and transplant perennials.

• Rake leaves and gather in compost piles.

• Pick pumpkins at a local pick-your-own farm or visit a local farmer’s market.

• Cut garden herbs and hang to dry in cool, dry place indoors.

• Start feeding birds to get them in the habit for this winter.

• Attend a local garden club meeting.

• Mulch strawberry beds for winter.

• Turn your compost pile weekly and don’t let it dry out. Work compost into your planting beds.

• Plant evergreens for winter interest.

• Weed.

• Plant spring-flowering bulbs.

• Sow wildflower seeds, such as California Poppies, for next spring.

• Collect dried flowers and grasses for an indoor vase.

• Clean, sharpen, and store your garden tools.

• Lightly fertilize indoor plants.

• Pot up Paper Whites and Amaryllis for holiday blooming.

• Check that all vines are securely tied for winter’s cold winds.

• Collect plant seeds for next year’s planting and for trading.

• Pull out spent summer annuals.

• Plant hardy mums and fall season annuals.

• Water evergreens and new plantings to keep them hydrated this winter.

• Fertilize your lawn and re-seed if needed.

• Dig up bulbs from your Gladiolus, cut off foliage, dry for a week, and then store for the winter.

• Transplant trees and shrubs.

• Gather seeds and carefully label them. Store in dry location.

• Keep an eye out for the first frost date and insulate plants as needed. In Zone 6, it is expected between September 30-October 30 and in Zone 7 it is predicted between October 15-November 15.

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

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

       ~ Thursday, April 21           ~ 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.      to  There is a $3.00/person handling fee 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 ~ October 16-November 15, 2011 • Monday, October 17, 7:00-10:00 pm “Wicked Bugs” Book Talk and Signing with author Amy Stewart at Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD. Join the Silver Spring Garden Club for their monthly meeting (free and open to the public). Author Amy Stewart shares a darkly comical look at the sinister side of our relationship with the insect world. In this talk based on her latest New York Times best-seller, you’ll meet creatures that infest, infect, and generally wreak havoc on human affairs. From the world’s most painful hornet, to the flies that transmit deadly diseases, to millipedes that stop traffic, to the “bookworms” that devour libraries, to the Japanese beetles munching on your roses, Wicked Bugs delves into the extraordinary power of six and eight-legged creatures. It’s a mixture of history, science, murder, and intrigue that begins--but doesn’t end--in your own backyard. Prior to the talk, Amy’s book will be on sale at Brookside’s gift shop. She will be signing the book before and after the talk.

For more information, contact Kathy Jentz, laserblast@aol.com, 301-588-6894. Directions at www.brooksidegardens.org.

• Tuesday, October 18, 8:30am-12:00noon Building Communities through Gardens: A Workshop for Community Organizations Interested in Gardens at Fairlington Community Center, 3308 S. Stafford Street, Arlington VA 22206.

Learn how to start and manage your organization’s garden. Plan for sustainability and create a program that will work for your organization. Explore different models and hear lessons-learned from other organizations in Alexandria and Arlington that have already been gardening. Take home checklists and resources that will help you hit the ground running!

This workshop is geared for non-profits, schools, churches, libraries, housing and community groups. Sponsored by Virginia Cooperative Extension, and the Alexandria Childhood Obesity Action Network.

Registration is FREE! To reserve your space, contact: Rebecca McLean, Childhood Obesity Action Network, alexcoan@gmail. com, 610-914-9347.

• Thursday, October 20, 7:30-9:30pm Potomac Rose Society October Meeting and Rose Growing Program at the McLean Governmental Center, 1437 Balls Hill Road, McLean, Virginia 22101.

“New Roses for 2012!” Jerry Amoroso, Northeast and Mid-Atlantic Regional Sales Manager for Weeks Roses, will describe hot new roses for 2012, plus classic favorites.

Open to all. Free. Light refreshments. 301869-4948.

• Friday, October 21, 1:30-2:30pm Basic Gardening: Gifts from the Gardener 4

at Green Spring Gardens, 4603 Green Spring Road, Alexandria, Virginia 22312.

Our gardens furnish us the materials: flowers, herbs, bulbs and vegetables, to make unique gifts for the holidays, parties or special occasions. Learn about drying flowers and herbs, forcing bulbs, making relish or chutney, potpourri, and many other techniques. Code: 290 484 5601. Fee: $10. Register on-line at fairfaxcounty.gov/ parks/gsgp/ or call Green Spring Gardens at 703-642-5173.

• Saturday, October 22, 9:00am-12noon Fall Festival at River Farm in Alexandria, VA. Bring a picnic and the family to River Farm to enjoy story time in the garden, arts and crafts projects, a scavenger hunt, and more.

Sponsored by Patch.com, this event is free of charge, though donations are appreciated. Rain or shine (activities will be held indoors in the event of rain). For more details, call (703) 768-5700 ext. 126.

River Farm, headquarters of the American Horticultural Society, is located at 7931 East Boulevard Drive in Alexandria, Virginia, about four miles south of Old Town Alexandria on the GW Parkway. For directions, visit www.ahs.org/river_farm/directions.htm.

• Saturday, October 22, 9:00am-5:00pm Conservation Landscaping Training and Demonstration Garden Installation at IWLA headquarters, 707 Conservation Lane, Gaithersburg, MD 20878.

Homeowners can learn how to manage stormwater runoff from their homes utilizing conservation landscaping techniques.

These landscape features, which include native plants and a substantial mulch layer, can effectively collect and treat stormwater and reduce localized flooding. To effectively manage stormwater, conservation landscapes must be accurately sized and properly constructed. In addition to a lecture portion and hands on installation, this 1-day workshop will present a design segment for sizing and designing a garden and detail proper construction techniques for homeowners.

As a result of this training you will: • Understand why stormwater needs to be managed, • Understand the principles of conservation landscape garden location, design, construction and maintenance, • Be able to select appropriate vegetation, • Select and use design templates, build and plant a conservation landscape garden, and • Help to install a demonstration garden in public place that may help other homeowners decide to utilize this residential stormwater management tool on their own property.

The workshop will include a 3-hour lecture with hands-on design component and then participants will install a conservation landscape garden on the IWLA property.

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

Wear appropriate work clothes and no opentoed shoes. Participants should also dress accordingly for the weather (this event will take place RAIN or SHINE unless severe weather threatens the safety of participants.

Note - if garden installation is disrupted by weather, the garden will be installed on Wednesday the 23rd.) This is a full day course, so bring a lunch and plenty of water for the day.

No fee is charged for this class. To register: http://www.muddybranch.org/event/ conservation-landscaping-training-and-demonstration-garden-installation NOTE: Registration will be on a first-come, first-served basis, and will be limited to 20 participants. Sign-up now to reserve your spot.

• Tuesday, October 25, 7:00–9:00pm Woodlawn and The Pope-Leighey House Lecture Series is pleased to present a lecture and discussion by James Farmer at The Lyceum 201 South Washington Street Alexandria, VA. A vital young voice in the gardening scene who teaches a new generation of Southerners to love gardening and to make it a focal point of their lifestyle. James Farmer teaches respect for the age-old rules of flower and vegetable gardening, in a fresh voice that resonates love of life and entertaining at home. He is also an editor-at-large of Southern Living magazine and featured in the October issue.

James’ new book “A Time to Plant: Southern-Style Garden Living” will be available and he will be happy to autograph your copy.

Admission: $15.00; National Trust members; $10.00. RSVP: Please respond to Woodlawn at 703-780-4000 extension 26327 Woodlawn@nhtp.org or. All major credit cards accepted; checks payable to Woodlawn.

•Tuesday, October 25 and Thursday, October 27, 5:30-7:30pm Introducing Urban Livestock on Your Farm at ECO City Farms and Prince George’s Community College.

ECO City Farms offers a local solution through its Certificate in Commercial Urban Agriculture training program, presented in partnership with Prince George’s Community College. The program is the first of its kind in the region and provides a comprehensive introduction to starting an urban farm. “The local food movement emphasizes the benefits of growing food close to where people live,” said Margaret Morgan-Hubbard, CEO of ECO City Farms. “For heavily populated areas like Prince George’s County, we’ll need a mix of urban and rural farms to provide a variety of local food options. We are working to demonstrate the possibilities of fresh food production inside the Beltway and these courses let us share our knowledge with the goal of empowering others to

DC-Area Gardening Calendar ~ Upcoming Events ~ October 16-November 15, 2011 start urban farms as well.”

A total of six courses (28 hours of instruction) make up the Certificate in Commercial Urban Agriculture. The courses are taught at ECO City Farms, 4913 Crittenden Street, Edmonston, Maryland, 20781 and are taught by ECO City Farms staff. The courses may be taken individually, but the completion of all six is required to receive the Certificate in Commercial Urban Agriculture.

Course descriptions and registration information are available at http://www. ecoffshoots.org/farmers/pgcc/. Registration is online at www.pgcc.edu, click on Owl Link.

• Wednesday, October, 26, 7:30pm The Beltsville Garden Club will hold their general meeting in the Cafeteria of the James E. Duckworth School, 11201 Evan Trail, Beltsville, MD. The guest speaker for this month will be Matt Cohen. His topic will be “Persimmons, Pomegranates, Polygonatums, and other Perennial Food Plants.” He will discuss easy ways to grow edible perennials in the landscape for sunny and shady areas in your garden. Included are plants you might not know you could eat and some which may already be growing in your garden or neighborhood.

Matt, owner of “Matt’s Habitats,” is a professional landscaper based in Takoma Park, Md. He leads nature walks in the DC area with an emphasis on wild edibles. More information is available on his web site, www.mattshabitats.com Please join us to hear this informative speaker. Refreshments will be served after the meeting. Bring a plant or plant related material for club’s door prize table. The public is welcomed and admission is free. For more information, contact Louise DeJames at 301 890 4733 or visit our web site at: www.beltsvillegardenclub.org • Friday. October 28, 10:00-11:30am Ecologist and author Joan Maloof will celebrate and educate in this illustrated lecture at Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD. Hear about her new book “Among the Ancients: Adventures in the Eastern Old-Growth Forests,” in which she gives directions to the forests and in lovely literary prose reflects on what she encountered there.

Her experience led her to develop the OldGrowth Forest Network, a nonprofit which will protect one forest in each county from ever being logged again. Learn about her exciting adventures and plans for the future.

Who knows? You may have a role to play in building the network. Free and open to the public. http://www.montgomeryparks.org/ brookside/xperience.shtm.

• Saturday, October 29, 11:00am-2:00pm Harvest Festival at Common Good City Farm in Washington, DC. Come help us celebrate a successful

growing season! This free event open to the public will offer an afternoon of activities to include: pumpkin carving and painting, costume contest, scarecrow making, face painting and more! Food and drink will be served.

We are partnering with the LeDriot Park Civic Association, which is hosting an Oktoberfest on the same day in the neighborhood. Come for both events!

Location: Common Good City Farm V Street NW between 2nd & 4th Sts NW Washington, DC 20001. Registration details: commongoodcityfarm.org.

• Thursday, November 3, 10am Brilliant Fall Color With Native Plants Woods Walks at Olmsted Woods. Leader: Deanne Eversmeyer, Cathedral Horticultural Manager. This walk will feature native plants such as: American Serviceberry, American Yellowwood, Virginia Sweetspire, Spicebush, Fragrant Sumac and native ferns and grasses. Come stroll through the All Hallows Guild Amphitheater and the Olmsted Woods to admire the brilliant borders of native plants that surround the edges at this colorful time of year. Plants’ ornamental value, folklore and landscape uses will be discussed.

All Hallows Guild at Washington National Cathedral hosts Olmsted Woods Walks and Bird Walks for Fall, 2011. The Guild completed the 10-year Olmsted Woods Restoration Project in 2007. All Hallows Guild was founded in 1916 “to be responsible for the care and beautification of the Cathedral gardens and grounds.”

Specialized Olmsted Woods tours and bird walks are scheduled each Spring and Fall, and group tours are offered with prior arrangement year-round. All tours are free and no reservation (other than group tours) is required. Tours are cancelled in the event of heavy rain. Please wear sturdy waterproof shoes Tour information and group tour reservations are available by calling 202-5372319. Self-guided tour flyers are available in posts along the Pilgrim Way, a path that winds through the Woods. Participants meet at the George Washington statue on Pilgrim Road – south side of the Cathedral. Visitor parking is available in the under-ground garage entered off of Wisconsin Avenue.

• Saturday, November 5, 10:00-11:30am Overwintering Tropicals and Perennials at Green Spring Gardens, 4603 Green Spring Road, Alexandria, Virginia 22312.

Tired of spending money on plants that die when a frost hits the garden? Learn simple, successful techniques for dividing and storing rhizomes, bulbs, tropicals and tender perennials from Green Spring horticulturalist, Nancy Olney. Your new talent will save you money in spring! Code: 290 484 6101.

Fee: $22. Register on-line at fairfaxcounty. gov/parks/gsgp/ or call Green Spring Gardens at 703-642-5173.

• Thursday, November, 10, 6:30-9:00pm Agricultural Options for the Small Landowner at the Old Courthouse, 9246 Lee Street, Manassas VA 20110-5073.

Virginia State University and Virginia Cooperative Extension in Prince William are hosting a panel discussion to explore a range of growing and marketing strategies for small landowners. This workshop is targeted to the new, beginning and part-time farmer who is interested in creating and maximizing profits from their land. A particular focus will be on the availability of resources open to the new grower who is still learning what to grow, how to increase production and how to sell it at a profit.

Register by calling 703-792-7747 or e-mail master_gardener@pwcgov.org. This program is free and open to the public.

• Sunday, November 13 Horticultural Society of Maryland hosts Tovah Martin’s “The New Terrarium Workshop.” Details at: www.mdhorticulture.org/ handsOnworkshops.htm.

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 November 12 for the November 15 edition of this enewsletter featuring events taking place from November 16December 15, 2011.

Advanced Landscape Plant IPM PHC Short Course January 3-6, 2012 For registration information contact: Avis Koeiman Department of Entomology 4112 Plant Sciences Building University of Maryland College Park, MD 20742 Tel: 301-405-3913 Email: akoeiman@umd.edu

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

5

Acorn-ucopia

A Bumper Crop of Oak Seeds Litter Our Local Landscape

By Kathy Jentz If you’ve noticed a bumper crop of acorns littering your yard, sidewalk, and streets this autumn, you are not alone. The neighborhood and gardening online discussion lists are buzzing with observations and notes of this phenomenon. Homeowners are bemoaning the damaging pings on their roofs and acorns filling their gutters.

In Silver Spring, ironically nicknamed “the Big Acorn” in homage to the 170-year-old acorn-shaped gazebo in south Silver Spring’s Acorn Park, the acorn crop has been especially prolific. In neighboring Takoma Park (nicknamed Tree City USA), the acorn over-abundance problem is especially vexing.

One Takoma Park-er commented, “For the past couple of weeks acorns falling out of the trees like little hand grenades.” Another noted, “I don’t remember such an onslaught either. It’s a new sport when I am out walking my dog – acorn dodging.” A few area residents have reported slipping and falling on the ball-bearing like acorns littering every walkway in that tree-filled community.

One area gardener posted, “What is up with the white oaks this year? I have two giant old ones in my yard that for the past month have been raining acorns down on my roof (all night long). It’s finally stopped (although I know the shedding of bark and twigs and leaves are just around the corner). We raked up nearly 10 giant yard waste bags of acorns over the past 2 weeks. I picked some out for the “growing native” collection at my daughter’s school. But here’s the question: why so many acorns this year?”

Good question. Why so many? Because oaks create acorns in varying amounts depending on the amount of rainfall in a given year, but also dependent on the oak tree variety. Some are on an every-two-year cycle, while others can go up to 10 years between crops.

When they are about 20 years old, oak trees start producing acorns, but some can take as long as 50 years for their first acorn crop production. At full maturity, 70 to 80 years old, an oak tree will produce thousands of acorns.

Most oaks alternate years of heavy and light production. Some years’ productions can be especially low if there is a drought, insect damage, or a late spring frost. This year was an especially good year for acorns as we had a mild winter, prolonged wet spring, and no serious area insect infestations.

Acorn Uses and Donations

What to do with all those extra acorns? In acorn “excess” years, when the squirrels are burying acorns everywhere and still leaving hundreds laying on the ground, sidewalk, and driveway, I take a broom and dust pan then sweep up piles of them and bag in newspaper sleeves to go to my friends and relatives in less blessed (aka shady) sections of the DC region. They put them out for their squirrels and at their bird feeders. They also use them for crafts and kid’s projects. I collect a few jars full for autumn decoration as well.

You can also collect them for some reforestation projects. Here are some organizations that will be happy to take your acorns off your hands: ~ Maryland’s Forest Conservancy has been working to perpetuate Maryland’s forest resource for over 50 years. Each fall from mid September through October the Maryland DNR Forest Service collects seeds from various tree species to supply for planting at the state nursery. Students will assist the DNR Forest Service and the Forest Conservancy District Board in identifying collection sites, making appropriate contacts with tree owners, collecting and bagging seed. ~ The Potomac Conservancy runs a volunteer program to collect seeds, including acorns....they want their acorns and other seeds sorted by species, but they take all kinds. They have specific events to go collecting and drop off points as well. See their web site for more details: http://growingnative.org/.

Kathy Jentz is editor of Washington Gardener Magazine and is a long-time DC area gardening enthusiast. Washington Gardener is all about gardening where you live. She can be reached at www.washingtongardener.com and welcomes your gardening questions.

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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 • Water Lilies SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2005 • Container Gardens • Clematis Vines • Sponge Gardening/Rain Gardens • 5 Insect Enemies of Gardeners NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2005 • Backyard Bird Habitats • Hellebores • Building a Coldframe • Bulb Planting Basics JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2006 • Garden Decor Principles • Primroses • Tasty Heirloom Veggies • U.S. Botanic Garden MARCH/APRIL 2006 • Top 10 Small Trees and Large Shrubs • Azaleas • Figs, Berries, & Persimmons • Oak Diseases • Basic Pruning Principles MAY/JUNE 2006 • Using Native Plants in Your Landscape • Crabgrass • Peppers • Secret Sources for Free Plants • Alternatives to Invasives JULY/AUGUST 2006 • Hydrangeas • Theme Gardens • Agave • Find Garden Space by Growing Up SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2006 • Shade Gardening • Hosta Care Guide • Fig-growing Tips and Recipes • Oatlands Plantation • Native Woodland Plants NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2006 • Horticultural Careers • Juniper Care Guide • Winter Squash Growing Tips and Recipes • Weed-free Beds with Layer/Lasagna Gardening JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2007 • Indoor Gardening • Daphne Care Guide • Asparagus Growing Tips and Recipes • Houseplant Propagation MARCH/APRIL 2007 • Stormwater Management • Dogwood Selection & Care Guide • Early Spring Vegetable Growing Tips • Franciscan Monastery Bulb Gardens MAY/JUNE 2007 • Roses: Easy Care Tips • Native Roses & Heirloom Roses • Edible Flowers • How to Plant a Bare-root Rose JULY/AUGUST 2007 • Groundcovers: Alternatives to Turfgrass • How to Pinch, Prune, & Dead-head • A Trip to the William Paca House & Gardens • Hardy Geraniums SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2007 • Succulents: Hardy to our Region • Drought-tolerant Natives • Southern Vegetables • Seed Saving Savvy Tips NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2007 • Gardening with Children • Kid-Friendly Vegetables • Indoor Bulb Forcing Basics • National Museum of the American Indian • Versatile Viburnums

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

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...

FALL 2011 Herb Gardens

A DayTrip to the Biltmore Estate An Intriguing Personal Garden Story

Tomato Taste Results

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Magazine Excerpt: Earwigs: Foe or Friend? by Carol Allen

Earwigs give most folks the creeps and they generally view them with either fear or irritation. To be fair, their appearance does nothing to improve their reputation! But did you know that they are considered a beneficial insect? Earwigs are noted in many pest management publications as being such good predators of aphids that they outcompete Ladybugs in cleaning up some crops!

The most common earwig is the European Earwig (Forficula auricularia) that was accidentally introduced into the United States in the early 1900s. It is interesting to note that several regions claim to have been the first to report this imported “pest.”

On the East coast, Rhode Island is thought to be the first point of entry. It is found throughout the US though its distribution is uneven. There are a total of 22 species of earwigs in the United States. The native most likely to be found in our area is the Striped Earwig (Labidura riparia).

About ¾" in length, Earwigs have a flattened body shape and are reddish-brown in color. Though they do have wings, their usual mode of movement is crawling. Their most fearsome aspect is a pair of nasty looking pinchers attached to their hind parts.

These pinchers are pretty ineffective against people, but are used for defense and the occasional capture of prey. When molested, they can emit a foul smelling odor and will raise their pinchers in a defensive manner.

Earwigs mate in the late summer or early fall. They overwinter in a subterranean tunnel, which will become the female’s nest in the spring. She will lay between 30 to 50 eggs. Unusual in the insect world, she will guard her nest until the nymphs have attained their second molt. Female earwigs have been observed licking and turning their eggs, moving the eggs to better sites, and bringing food to the young. The young take two to three months to mature and the average lifespan is seven months. There is one generation in our region....

Want to learn more about Earwigs? Read the rest of this InsectIndex column in the Fall 2011 issue of Washington Gardener Magazine. See the subscription information and details below.

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