Washington Gardener Enews ~ October 2012

ENEWSLETTER

OCTOBER 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 October 2012 Washington Gardener Reader Contest, we are giving away red t-shirts (size XL) and garden clippers from Corona Tools.

An authentic American brand, Corona tools were born in the orange groves of California in the 1920s. Since then, generations of agriculturists, gardeners, landscapers, arborists, and construction professionals have turned to Corona to find high-quality tools that work as hard as they do. They know that Corona’s iconic red handles are an immediate symbol of quality and long-lasting durability. Learn more about CoronaTools at http:// coronatoolsusa.com/.

To enter to win a Corona T-shirt and garden clippers, send an email with “Coronoa” in the subject line to WashingtonGardener@rcn.com by 5:00pm on Tuesday, October 30. In the body of the email please include your full name, email, mailing address, and tell us: “Your Favorite Gardening Tool and Why.” The winners will be announced and notified by November 2. Some of the entry responses may be used in future Washington Gardener online or print articles.

Summer 2012 Issue

Our Summer 2012 magazine issue is now out and the Fall 2012 is in the works. To subscribe today and make sure you start with this issue, see page 9 of the enewsletter.

The cover story is on Tropical Gardens — from hardy exotic plants to native look-a-likes. You can create a cool paradise in your own yard.

You’ll also find in this issue: • Watermelon Growing Tips • Canna Plant Profile • Do Gardens Convey?

• Diagnosing Southern Blight on Sage • An Interview with City Blossom’s Lola Bloom and Rebecca Lemos • Deer Deterrent Tips • A DayTrip to an Historic Treasure: Gunston Hall in Virginia • How to Simplify in the Garden • Columbine Leaf Miner • False Solomon’s Seal • Before-After of a Plant Collector’s Garden Sale • 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 • Too Many Tomatillo • Sensitive Fern • Garden Pet Peeves • Presidential Visits • Seed Swap Video See more Washington Gardener Blog posts at WashingtonGardener.Blogspot.com.

October Garden To-Do List

Spotlight Special October Magic™ Dawn Camellia sasanqua ‘Green 99-012’ PP#20453

The October Magic™ camellias are a new release from the Southern Living® Plant Collection. Large rose-form flowers are a blend of pinks resembling Camellia japonica flowers. Dark foliage on an upright, dense, conical form. Use as a specimen or intermediate hedge.

Also in the new collection is the October Magic™ Snow Camellia pictured below.

Features: Foliage: Evergreen Hardiness: USDA Zones 7-9 ~ Hardy to 5°F Exposure: Full sun to part shade. Best bloom performance in light shade Bloom Season: Fall Dimensions: 4-6' H x 3-4' W Growth Rate: Slow to moderate Water: Regular water Soil Type: Rich, acidic, moist, well-drained soil Fertilize: Early spring Pruning: Shape in early spring Planting instructions: Water before planting, dig hole 3X the width of pot, backfill and plant 1-2" above soil level, water and add more soil, if needed mulch plants.

For more information on this introduction, visit http://southernlivingplants.com.

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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 © 2012 Washington Gardener Magazine. All rights reserved.

Growing Moss Gardens and Lawns

By Kathy Jentz More and more people are turning to moss as a groundcover to replace turf grass or English Ivy. Not only is it the greener thing to do as moss requires no mowing, regular watering, or fertilizer, but it is also the smart thing to do when confronted with a deep shade situation where turf grass just won’t fill in.

If you have a spot under tall trees that moss tends to form in and little else grows. Why fight Mother Nature? Instead go with the flow and encourage the moss to spread.

“We’ve been in business for several years now and for the last couple have seen a pretty significant up-tick in interest in moss gardening,” commented Al Benner, Moss Acres in Honesdale, PA. Moss Acres sells moss mail-order and on the web by the square foot and an average order is about 50 sq. ft. While there are 15,000 species of moss, they focused on selling just four varieties — Fern Moss, Cushion Moss, Hair Cap Moss, and Rock Cap Moss — all of which are native to our Mid-Atlantic region. They chose them because they are resilient, commonly found here, and would survive shipping and transplanting.

Iris Moss grows quickly and will provide the landscape area with lush, green carpeting for years to come. Photo courtesy of Stepables®.

Another company that offers moss locally is Stepables, which sells 4-inch pots of Scotch Moss and Irish Moss through local garden centers. This moss can be used in topiary or containers as well as for establishing between pavers and along path edges.

To establish a moss lawn or garden, you have to have shade advises Al Benner. “It helps to have a mister or sprinkler system to establish it, but that is optional,” adds Al. “You don’t want to over-water it either. Moss does not like standing pools of water.”

“Moss can go dormant for weeks or months on end,” explains Al. “We actually ship it to customers dry so it doesn’t get moldy.”

“You can also encourage moss by spreading Aluminum sulfate or straight sulfur powder that you mix with water to spray it for even coverage,” Al explains. “Do not overdo though it so you don’t shock it.”

“The key to moss success is to keep the leaves off that can smother it,” Al says. “We suggest use a leaf-blower on low setting to clear it off damp moss. Or put a ¼-inch black netting down to catch and discard the leaves much as you would with your water garden.”

“Moss is an ideal groundcover,” comments Al. “It likes crummy, sandy-clay soil. It just needs good surface contact as it has no true roots and gets all its nutrients and moisture from the air.”

You will have to weed the moss to keep grass and other plants out. Once the moss fills in, weeds will be blocked. You can also use a weed-whacker to level any weeds down to less than an inch in height to create a nice, green, lush effect.

With such a care-free, easy alternative, why not give over a corner or more of your yard to a moss lawn or garden. Then slip off your shoes and walk barefoot on your own luxurious, green carpet.

Kathy Jentz is Editor/Publisher of Washington Gardener Magazine.

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

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TOP AREA GARDENING EVENTS DC-Area Gardening Calendar ~ Upcoming Events ~ October 16 - November 15, 2012 •Wednesday, October 24, 3-7PM NoMa Fall Festival and Market The NoMa Fall Festival and Market runs on Wednesday at the NoMa Metro Station, at Second and N Streets, NE. Enter a raffle to get a FREE THANKSGIVING TURKEY! Sample charcuterie from the Three Little Pigs and sausage from Groff’s Content. Heritage apples from Kuhn Orchards. 18 varieties of cheese to try and buy from Peachy Family Dairy Ice cream and hot chocolate from Trickling Springs Creamery (a Union Market vendor). FREE pumpkin carving and face painting for kids.

Get your knives sharpened at DC Mobile Sharpening (also a Union Market vendor).

Mushroom seminars from Sharondale Farms: Learn how to grow mushrooms in a city stick (logs are hard to find), and buy the mushrooms and tools necessary to get started Come talk to Kathy Jentz from Washington Gardener Magazine on urban gardening in small spaces.

Full schedule at www.nomabid.org/ market.

•Wednesday, October 24, 7:15PM DC Tree Talk he Chevy Chase Citizens Association Garden Club’s meeting is about growing and caring for street and homeowners’ trees with Casey Trees, Pepco, The Urban Forestry Admin., and Bartlett Tree Experts. At the Chevy Chase Community Center, 5601 Conn. Ave. NW. WDC. Topics include the status of the tree canopy, keeping trees healthy, planting fruit trees, identifying diseases, what’s Pepco’s role vs. the DC Urban Forestry Administration. For more details, email BBaldwing@yahoo.com.

Everyone is welcome.

• Friday, October 26, 6-8PM History Haunt (adults 21+) Join us for a haunted evening at Tudor Place, animated by the spirit of six generations of one family who lived here.

Stay close to your guide as you wander five acres of ghostly gardens to hear tales of the dearly departed. Retreat for chilling cocktails and refreshments in Tudor Place’s historic outbuildings and 4

gardens. Tours offered every half hour.

Members: $10 ~ Non-Members: $15 REGISTRATION: http://tudorplacehistoryhaunt.eventbrite.com/ • Saturday, October 27, 11AM-1PM City Blossoms’ Third Annual Bulb Bash At Marion Street Intergenerational Garden (1519 Marion Street NW WDC).

- DJ MESS will be pumpin’ the hits all through the event.

- We will plant over 1,000 tulip, daffodil, crocus, and garlic bulbs all over our Shaw neighborhood, thanks to donations from Eco-Tulips and American Plant.

- A feast of fall-themed dishes, including treats from Whole Foods P Street and Bistro Bohem.

- The debut of “Bounty of Marion St,” a wide range of gourmet pickles and hot sauces made by none other than our neighborhood chefs Dan O’Brien of Seasonal Pantry and Sam Hiersteiner.

- Pick-your-own herbs - City Blossoms’ first-ever scarecrowbuilding contest!

- and more fun kid-and-adult activities for everyone, FREE!!!

Wanna share a dish for our potluck?

Come and get your hands dirty with us?

Email info@cityblossoms.org or call Lola 202.870.8158.

• Monday, November 5, 7-9PM The Four Seasons Garden Club Pamela Harper, famous gardener, garden designer, author, and photographer, will talk about the Harland Hand garden in CA. A rock garden—but the stones are concrete, and there is a magnificent plant palette. his is limited to Four Seasons members, but walk-in memberships (half calendar year, $7.50) are accepted. Brookside Gardens, 1800 Glenallan Ave., Wheaton, MD 20902.

• Thursday, November 8, 6-8:30PM Soil Remediation Workshop Join UDC CAUSES for an exciting evening learning about the earth beneath us — soil! Led by Josh Singer (Master Gardener, 2011) and Bahiyyah Parks, this comprehensive overview will give you all the information you ever wanted to know about your soil--from soil types

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

to soil remediation with composting.

The evening will end with a live demonstration of vermiculture (composting with worms). Make sure to bring your soil questions! At the UDC, Van Ness Campus, 4200 Connecticut Ave., NW, WDC. Building 41, Room A03 Cost: Free! Please contact Mary Farrah (mfarrah@udc.edu) to register.

• Friday, November 9:30AM-12:00PM The Smithsonian Greenhouses and How They Grow Daytime Tour The Smithsonian Gardens greenhouse facility is situated on 10 acres in Suitland, MD, and serves as the permanent home of Smithsonian Gardens’ Greenhouse Nursery Operations. Completed in 2010, the greenhouses provide plant material for the gardens and horticultural exhibits throughout the Smithsonian Institution. The facility includes the Smithsonian Orchid Collection, tropical plant specimens, interior display plants, and a greenhouse devoted to nectar plants used for the Butterfly Pavilion at the Natural History Museum.

In a behind-the-scenes tour, discover what it takes to keep the many gardens and interior plant displays looking their best all year round. Learn how staff care for the acres of annual bedding plants destined for the Smithsonian gardens as well as the huge tropical specimens returning for their winter hibernation at the greenhouses. Get a close-up look at the thousands of plants that make up the Smithsonian Orchid Collection, and delight your senses with their various fragrances, colors, sizes, and shapes. Get a sneak peak at the colorful poinsettias growing for the musuems’ upcoming holiday displays and find out about the various environmental control systems needed to nurture the many plants in the Smithsonian Gardens. Program setails at: smithsonianassociates.org.

NOTE AT PRESS TIME: This program session is sold out. Please call 202.

633.3030 to get on the Wait List. Additional tickets may become available or additional sessions may be added.

• Saturday, November 10, 1:30-3:30PM Founding Gardeners: Lecture and

TOP AREA GARDENING EVENTS DC-Area Gardening Calendar ~ Upcoming Events ~ October 16 - November 15, 2012 Book Signing This beautifully illustrated talk looks at the lives of the founding fathers and how their attitude to plants, gardens, nature and agriculture shaped the American nation. In a unique retelling of the creation of America, award-winning historian and author of Founding Gardeners and Brother Gardeners, Andrea Wulf will show how plants, politics and personalities intertwined as never before. Book-signing and reception to follow. Register on-line at www. greenspring.org or call Green Spring Gardens at 703.642.5173.

Code: 290 483 0901. Fee: $20.

• Tuesday, November 13, 7:30PM Native Plants and Habitats in the Suburban Garden A lecture by Connie Schmotzer (Penn State Extension in York County PA), hosted by Maryland Horticultural Society, Fee: $10 Held at Cylburn Arboretum, Baltimore. Information 410.821.5561.

• Thursday, November 15, 8AM-5PM First Annual Trees Matter Symposium: Trees and the Built Environment Trees are invaluable; they cleanse and cool our air, stabilize our soils, provide wildlife habitat and beautify our urban and suburban streets. Given what we know about the importance of trees, we must do all that we can to ensure their survival in our built environment. Attend the first annual Trees Matters Conference to learn from some of the country’s leading experts about innovative efforts to plant, protect and preserve trees in urban and suburban settings.

This year’s speakers include Paul Meyer of the Morris Arboretum and Eric ‘T’ Fleisher of Battery Park City Parks Conservancy. Trees Matter 2012 is ideal for landscape industry professionals, homeowners, designers, engineers and project managers. Course number 213051 Fee: $75; registration required. Held at Silver Spring Civic Building, 1 Veterans Place, Silver Spring, MD. Details at http://montgomeryparks.org/.

• Thursday, November 15, 7:30-9PM Potomac Rose Society Meeting

Open to all. Free. Light refreshments.

Information: 301-869-4948. (Topic and location not yet available).

• Thursday, November 15, 7:30-9PM How are mountain wildflowers and pollinators responding to a changing climate?

The Potowmack Chapter of the Virginia Native Plant Society invites you to Green Spring Gardens, 4603 Green Spring Road, Alexandria, VA; 703.642.5173. VNPS programs are free and open to the public. No reservations are necessary.

Dr. David Inouye is a biology professor at the University of Maryland, and has done research each summer for 42 years at the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory in Colorado. His work focuses on how the timing and abundance of flowering by about 100 species of wildflowers has been responding to the changing climate, and how those changes are affecting the population biology of the flowers as well as their interactions with pollinators such as hummingbirds, bumble bees, and hover flies.

Further details at www.vnps-pot.org and www.vnps.org.

• Now through Sunday, November 25 Fall Harvest Chrysanthemum Display Fall is a wonderful, colorful time to visit Brookside Gardens! The Conservatories will be open from 10:00AM-5:00PM daily, with peak display in early November.

Brookside Gardens, 1800 Glenallan Avenue, Wheaton, MD 20902 301.962.1400. Details at http://www. montgomeryparks.org/brookside/.

SAVE THE DATE: • US Botanic Garden Annual Holiday Exhibit, November 22-January 1.

• Brookside’s annual Conservatory Winter Display and Train Exhibit will be on view from November 24-January 7.

• Saturday, February 2, 12:30-4PM 8th Annual Seed Exchange Washington Gardener, the publication for DC- area gardening enthusiasts, is

co-hosting the eighth annual Washington Seed Exchange at Green Spring Gardens. This event includes lectures, face-to-face seed swap, and more. You bring your extra seeds to swap with other gardeners. Everyone will leave with a bag full of seeds, new garden friends and expert planting advice.

Fee includes lectures, goody bag, and seed swap. Fee: $15/person $10 for Washington Gardener subscribers and Friends of Green Spring.

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

Advanced Landscape Plant IPM PHC Short Course January 7-10, 2013 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 © 2012 Washington Gardener Magazine. All rights reserved.

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YOU CAN REQUEST A SINGLE COPY OF BACK ISSUES FOR $6 EACH OR, ANY 6 BACK ISSUES, FOR $24 OR ALL 30+ BACK ISSUES FOR JUST $100. PRICE INCLUDES POSTAGE AND HANDLING. PLEASE SPECIFY THE ISSUE DATE(S). ORDER MUST BE PREPAID BY CHECK OR MONEY ORDER. SEND YOUR ORDER TO: WASHINGTON GARDENER, 826 PHILADELPHIA AVE., SILVER SPRING, MD 20910

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 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

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

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

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)

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

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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

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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!

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Are you trying to reach thousands of gardeners in the greater DC region/Mid-Atlantic area? Washington Gardener Enews goes out on the 15th of every month and is a free sister publication to Washington Gardener magazine. Contact wgardenermag@aol.com or call 301.588-6894 for ad rates.

The ad deadline is the 10th of each month. Please submit your ad directly to: wgardenermag@aol.com.

In Our Next Issue...

FALL 2012 Great Garden Soil Smithsonian Gardens

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

Garden Tour Season Wrap-Up Dealing with Weeds Lawn Renewal

WINTER 2010 • Paths and Walkways • Edgeworthia • Kohlrabi

If your business would like to reach area gardeners, be sure to contact us by October 1 so you can be part of the next issue of our growing publication!

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

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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

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

Send a check or money order for $20.00 payable to Washington Gardener magazine to: Washington Gardener 826 Philadelphia Ave. Silver Spring, MD 20910

Magazine Excerpt: Knights in Muddy T-Shirts: A Garden Rescue

by Jim Dronenburg

Charlie Bowman was a good gardener. He had a quarter-acre on Flower Avenue in Silver Spring, MD, and, over the years, he filled all but a tiny patch in the front with plants. Aside from a tiny patio and some two-foot-wide paths, the entire back and sides were completely filled with plants as well. Not a square inch of bare ground showed. The entire neighborhood loved the garden.

Charlie died unexpectedly last October. His heirs, living out of town, contacted a Realtor (Donna Kerr of Pure Energy Real Estate Team) this spring to sell the house. Donna realized that the sheer intensity of the totally gardened lot would make the house less widely saleable. On the other hand, she recognized that it would be criminal to bulldoze the plants, not to mention expensive. She was also in a time crunch, before the hot summer set in.

She considered her options and then contacted me, as event coordinator for the Four Seasons Garden Club (FSGC). The FSGC has more than 80 members and as good a collection of screaming plant fanatics as any you’ll find in the region. Four of us met with her and cobbled out a plan. The Four Seasons would first dig out a 10-by-10 foot patch of bananas right at the street (which obscured the house and blocked being able to see the street from the driveway), and then dig out the area within an essentially circular perimeter path in the back, creating a 45' diameter circle for a lawn, and sod it. This would leave the perimeter plantings intact. (Since Charlie was a divide-the-clump-and-plant-the-bits type, the perimeter plantings were essentially the same as the plants that were removed....

Want to learn more about how this garden rescue turned out? Read the rest of this BeforeAfter column in the Summer 2012 issue of Washington Gardener Magazine. See the subscription information below.

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