Washington Gardener Enews September 2012

ENEWSLETTER

SEPTEMBER 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 September 2012 Washington Gardener Reader Contest, we are giving away several passes to the upcoming DC Green Festival.

On Saturday, September 29 and Sunday, September 30, join Washington Gardener and hundreds of others at the 2012 Green Festival. Held at the Washington Convention Center, the Green Festival is the nation’s largest and most diverse sustainability event. The 2012 DC Green Festival features: Passionate speakers.

Hands-on DIY workshops, Cooking demonstrations, Organic beer and wine garden, and the Green Marketplace featuring products and services from local, regional, and national green and sustainable businesses and organizations To enter to win a set of two passes, send an email with “Pet Peeve” in the subject line to WashingtonGardener@rcn.com by 5:00pm on Monday, September 24. In the body of the email please include your full name, email, mailing address, and tell us: “What is your gardening pet peeve?” The winners will be announced and notified by September 26. 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 printing and mailing. 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 • OKRA - You Can Grow That! video • Top 10 Hottest Gardeners in the DMV • Tomato Taste 2012 Results • Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day - September 2012 • Eggplant Ethics See more Washington Gardener Blog posts at WashingtonGardener.Blogspot.com.

September Garden To-Do List Spotlight Special ‘Garnet Fire™’ Loropetalum

Named for the brilliant, deep red gemstone, Garnet Fire™ Loropetalum is an ideally-sized evergreen shrub due to its outstanding, shiny, dark burgundy foliage. Colorful deep maroon-red leaves persist throughout the year in zones 7-11, and add a blaze of color to the winter landscape.

Known as Chinese Fringe Flower, hundreds of garnet-red, tassel-like flowers with narrow, fringe-like petals envelop the plant in late winter through spring. Individual flowers persist for weeks thus keeping the plant in bloom for months and beginning with sporadic flowering the previous fall. Honey bees appreciate the early pollen source and the flowers attract butterflies. Other common names for the genus Loropetalum include Chinese Loropetalum, Fringebush and Chinese Witch Hazel. Garnet Fire™ is a seedling selection of Loropetalum chinense ‘Zuzhou Fuchsia’ originated by Ted Stephens who is a member of the Garden Debut® consortium of breeders, growers, retailers, and marketers.

The multi-faceted, luminous shrub reaches a useful 4-5 feet in height and tolerates direct sun to partial shade for versatile landscape placement. Use Garnet Fire™ as a specimen or accent plant, in the border, in front of the foundation plantings, as a container plant, for massing or as a screen.

It is striking when planted next to pastel flowers, or beside yellow- or silvery- blue foliage that emphasize the burgundy foliage.

Garnet Fire™ Loropetalum is a tough plant that tolerates heat, humidity, deer, rabbits, and slopes.

Traditionally, garnets were popular as a talisman and protective stone believed to light up the night and protect their bearers from harm. Like its namesake, Garnet Fire™ Loropetalum lights up the garden and protects landscapes from the monotony of too many green shrubs. Anyone who loves what is pure, natural, and having the deep color of garnets will be fired with enthusiasm for Garnet Fire™ Loropetalum.

For more information on this introduction, visit www.greenleafnursery.com.

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Here is our comprehensive garden task list for gardens in the greater DC metro region for September 15-October 16. Your additions to this list are most welcome: • Keep an eye out for the first frost date. In Zone 6, it is expected between Sept 30 and Oct 30 and in Zone 7 it is predicted between Oct 15 and Nov 15.

• Divide and transplant perennials — in particular, peonies, and iris.

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

• Pot up rosemary and chives for over-wintering indoors.

• Take cuttings from your coleus and begonia to propagate and over-winter indoors.

• Look out for any Poison Ivy vines which will turn crimson in the fall and be easy to distinguish from other vines.

• Check your local garden center for end-of-summer bargains.

• Put netting over your pond to prevent the accumulation of leaves and debris.

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

• Attend a local garden club meeting or plant exchange.

• Pick mature tomatoes and peppers to ripen on your window sills.

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

• Remove rotting fruits from fruit trees and compost them.

• Plant evergreens for winter interest.

• Weed.

• Plant garlic bulbs.

• Collect plant seeds for next year’s planting and for trading at the 6th Annual Washington Seed Exchange on January 28, 2011.

• Plant hardy mums and fall season annuals.

• Fertilize your lawn and re-seed if needed.

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

• Transplant trees and shrubs.

• Harvest your herbs often and keep them trimmed back to encourage leafy growth.

• Bring in house plants if you took them out for the summer.

• If your conifers start shedding their needles or your spring bulb foliage starts peaking out of the ground, don’t worry. This is normal for our Autumn cycle.

• Leave hummingbird feeders out until October 15.

• Start bulb plantings of early spring bloomers at the end of the month.

• Watch your pumpkins and squash for harvest when their rinds fully • Divide ornamental grasses.

• Cut herbs and flowers for drying indoors.

• Plant strawberries in a site with good drainage for harvest next spring.

• Look out for slug eggs grouped under sticks and stones – they are the size of BBs and pale in color.

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

• Begin conditioning the Christmas Poinsettias and Christmas cactus to get them ready for the upcoming holiday season • Bring Amaryllis indoors before a hard freeze. Repot every other year at this time.

Store in a cool, dark place and do not water until the flower buds or leaves emerge.

• Your summer annuals will be reviving now with cooler temps and some rain. Cut back any ragged growth and give them some fertilizer. They should put on a good show until the first hard frost.

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

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It’s Garlic Time!

By Elizabeth Olson Garlic planting season is almost here. We shared garlic planting tips, preferred varieties, and lore in the Fall 2010 issue of Washington Gardener Magazine. In this Washington Gardener Enews update, we wanted to give you an advisory about a garlic crop problem that may impact sourcing for this upcoming garlic growing season.

Garlic Disease Alert

Iowa-based Seed Savers Exchange (SSE) added a Phytoplasma Alert to its web site’s garlic listings page at the beginning of August.

According to SSE, “Some of the Seed Savers Exchange 2012 garlic crop appears to have been impacted by…phytoplasma....”

Symptoms of phytoplasma in garlic plants include yellowing of the leaves, disruption of the maturing process, and reduction of garlic head size. The disease is transmitted by leafhoppers. It is not yet known whether the disease can overwinter in garlic.

Phytoplasma is a very small pathogen that is diagnosed by sensitive and specific DNA testing. One laboratory that routinely screens for phytoplasma is the University of Minnesota Plant Disease Clinic. It charges $95 to $110 for each phytoplasma test.

SSE relied on visual inspection while culling defective garlic heads from its 2012 stock of softneck types (Allium sativum, variety sativum) and hardneck types (Allium sativum, variety ophioscorodon). Test results have since confirmed the presence of phytoplasma in garlic samples that SSE submitted to a laboratory in Iowa. SSE is selling seed garlic from its reduced inventory.

This is current as of going to press. The SSE web site, www.

SeedSavers.org, should be checked for updates.

Selecting Seed Garlic

Gardeners always need to be careful when selecting sources for seed garlic: • First, there are many diseases that can affect garlic. Purchase garlic from reputable seed companies. Find out where the garlic was grown.

Gardeners who want to minimize the risk of buying possibly tainted seed garlic can consider sources outside of areas currently known to have garlic disease problems.

• Second, a seed garlic listing should be clear that the garlic is intended for planting. It is much more expensive than food grade garlic. Seed garlic can also be described by other terms including garlic for planting or planting stock. It is primarily available from late summer through autumn.

• Third, never plant garlic that A) has been grown in a home garden other than your own, or B) is purchased from a grocery store, or C) is labeled as food or for table use. Garlic heads or cloves from these sources run the risk of being symptomless carriers of plant disease.

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

Sources for Seed Garlic

Supplies of seed garlic may be limited this year. Place your order early to ensure availability.

Some gardeners have favorite garlic cultivars that they enjoy growing every year. Other gardeners like to try different garlic cultivars. In either case, it may sometimes be necessary to find alternative sources for seed garlic.

When I consider additional seed garlic sources, I research seed companies by studying their web sites and talking with knowledgeable company staff members. I ask a number of questions, including those related to: 1) Where the garlic is grown; 2) The standard to which the garlic is grown, i.e., sustainable, certified organic, etc.; 3) Any current or recent crop problems due to disease.

I also try to find relevant, substantive reviews posted by other gardeners who have purchased and grown garlic from these companies.

This year, I am obtaining seed garlic for the first time from The Garlic Store and the Sustainable Seed Company. Here is some information on these two companies: • THE GARLIC STORE www.TheGarlicStore.com This seed company is based in Colorado. It is a certified organic handler and sources most of its seed garlic from the Pacific Northwest. The rest is grown in other areas of the United States.

The vast majority of GS seed garlic is certified organic. A small amount is sustainably grown.

• SUSTAINABLE SEED COMPANY www.SustainableSeedCo.com Sustainable Seed is a small family-run company that offers 100% certified organic seed garlic sourced from its own farm in Mendocino County, California.

The company offers seed garlic in the size range of 1⅞-inch or larger diameter heads.

Following is a list of companies from which I have previously purchased very good seed garlic that produced bountiful harvests.

If I purchase any more seed garlic this year, it will be from one of these sources. At press time, all of the following still had seed garlic in stock.

• D. LANDRETH SEED CO. www.LandrethSeeds.com The Landreth catalog has excellent cultivar descriptions. An eclectic selection of specialty heirloom seed garlic is available in small packages, ¼-lb. to ½-lb. sizes. The garlic is grown to sustainable or higher standards in Washington.

• FILAREE GARLIC FARM www.FilareeFarm.com Founded by Ron L. Engeland, author of the well-regarded book Growing Great Garlic. Filaree Garlic Farm has a huge selection.

It offers 100% certified organic cultivars of all named categories of seed garlic: Artichoke, Asiatic, Creole, Porcelain, Purple Stripe, Rocambole, Silverskin, and Turban. Package sizes vary, depending on the cultivar. Most Filaree Garlic Farm garlic is grown in Washington state; additional garlic is grown in Oregon, Idaho, and Montana.

• GOURMET GARLIC GARDENS www.GourmetGarlicGardens.com Gourmet Garlic Gardens serves as an online farmers market for independent small-scale specialty seed garlic growers from across the United States.

The companies are either certified naturally grown or certified organic. Growers are profiled on the web site and the locations of the farms are listed. Last autumn, I used Gourmet Garlic Gardens to obtain ‘Romanian Red,’ a fiery-hot porcelain cultivar from Afternoon Zephyr Farm of Oregon. I had a terrific harvest this year. The Gourmet Garlic Gardens web site also has a list that sorts seed garlic cultivars by mild, medium, and hotter/stronger flavor groups.

• HIS SUNNY SLOPE GARLIC FARM www.HisGarlicFarm.com This family-run farm in Washington state produces certified naturally grown seed garlic.

Try ‘Siciliano,’ a vigorous cultivar of artichoke garlic. ‘Siciliano’ is moderately hot and slightly sweet. Orders can be paid by check or money order sent by U. S. mail after arrangements are made by email with the company. Each seed garlic cultivar is available in a 1-lb. package.

His Sunny Slope Garlic Farm can also make larger size packages, as well as ½-lb. packages, upon special request.

• NICHOLS GARDEN NURSERY www.NicholsGardenNursery.com Nichols Garden Nursery is a reliable and economical source for elephant garlic (Allium ampeloprasum, variety ampeloprasum), a bulbing leek that has a mild garlic flavor. Elephant garlic makes great garlic chips and is excellent in soups or stews or when oven-roasted with other root crops.

The cloves are huge and should be planted 12 inches apart to ensure large-size heads. The heads can weigh more than a half pound each and can store well for up to one year. Nichols Garden Nursery also offers Egyptian walking onions (Allium x proliferum) and regular garlic cultivars. A 1½-lb. sampler of regular seed garlic is available. The elephant garlic, Egyptian walking onions, and all of the regular seed garlic cultivars are sustainably grown in Oregon.

• SEEDS FROM ITALY www.GrowItalian.com Heads of seed garlic are directly imported from Italy. The featured selections this year include one creole cultivar, ‘Rosso di Sulmona,’ one type of hardneck, ‘Aglio Bianco,’ and two artichoke cultivars, ‘Bianco Francese’ and the gorgeous, violet-tinted ‘Viola Francese.’ All are fumigated per USDA import regulations. The expected arrival date for the garlic is later this month. o

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.

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

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TOP AREA GARDENING EVENTS DC-Area Gardening Calendar ~ Upcoming Events ~ September 16 - October 15, 2012 • Wednesday, September 19, 12-1:30PM Fig Fiesta High in nutrients and deliciously sweet, once-rare fresh figs are everywhere these days. Take advantage of the abundance with four new recipes from the Cook Sisters.

Walk in registrations accepted. Course # 211801. Fee $32.00, FOBG members$28.00. Brookside Gardens, 1800 Glenallan Ave., Wheaton, MD 20902. Visit www.

BrooksideLearning.org.

only; tables for 10 and individual tickets are available. Tickets cost $275 per individual or $2,500 per table for 10 people. All proceeds from the gala benefit the stewardship of River Farm and the American Horticultural Society’s outreach and educational programs.

For more information about the gala or to purchase tickets, please contact Joanne Sawczuk at (703) 768-5700 ext. 132 or email jsawczuk@ahs.org.

• Thursday, September 20, 2-3PM Gardening 101-Session 1: Local Resources New Lecture Series: Gardening 101- Local Edition Whether you are new to the area, new to gardening or just looking to increase your local gardening knowledge, this lecture series is for you. Kathy Jentz, Editor/Publisher, Washington Gardener Magazine, will lead you through the basics and share the success secrets of veteran local gardeners.

You’ll learn from the experiences of others what to do and not to do to avoid costly mistakes in your own garden. Session 1: Local Resources Course number 213114 Thursday, September 20, 2:00-3:00pm Fee: $18, FOBG: $15; registration required, Visitors Center Adult Classroom, Brookside Gardens, 1800 Glenallan Ave., Wheaton, MD 20902.

Visit www.BrooksideLearning.org.

• Saturday, September 22, 9am-3pm Fall Garden Day Green Spring Gardens is in its glory in the late summer and early fall. Come see for yourself and support one of Virginia’s most innovative and exciting public gardens. The Fall Garden Day is a FROGS (Friends of Green Spring) sponsored fundraiser filled with an expanded plant and craft sale, gardening information, children’s activities and music. Proceeds help acquire plants for the garden and add to Green Spring’s educational efforts. Check it out. Free admission, For more information call Green Spring Gardens at 703.642.5173 or visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/greenspring.

•Saturday, September 22, 6PM American Horticultural Society’s 2012 Gala The American Horticultural Society’s Board of Directors will hold its 19th annual gala, “Garden Delights: An Evening by the River,” at the Society’s River Farm headquarters in Alexandria, VA. With 25 acres of lawn, meadows, woodland, and formal gardens overlooking the Potomac River, River Farm is a place of natural year-round beauty and a perfect showcase for the unique history of American horticulture.

This year’s honorary chair is Kurt Bluemel, a renowned plantsman, nurseryman and designer who has championed the use of ornamental grasses and herbaceous perennials in the American landscape. His 40-year-old landscape design company, Kurt Bluemel., Inc., works with Fortune 500 companies, zoos, theme parks, and businesses across the US and overseas. Trained in Germany and Switzerland, Bluemel is past president of the Perennial Plant Association and lectures to gardening groups and organizations around the world.

This elegant evening include a formal dinner, live music, silent auction, and online auction (which can be accessed by visiting www.bluetreemarketing.com/AHS). Attire is black-tie optional. Advance reservations 6

• Saturday, September 22, 11AM -5PM DC State Fair The DC State Fair is happy to join The Barracks Row Fall Festival to celebrate DC residents’ talents! The festival takes place on 8th Street, Southeast, below Pennsylvania Avenue. DC State Fair’s contest entry drop-off and judging schedule is now available! There will be two judges’ booths judging contests concurrently, followed by announcements of the winners of the Homebrew, Sewing, Knit/Crochet, Pickled Foods, and Biggest Vegetable Contests, and a reading of poetry from the Kids’ Poetry Contest winners. Find out more at http:// dcstatefair.wordpress.com/.

• Saturday, September 22, 5:00PM Garden Party at Daffin House To benefit Hammond-Harwood House Association, Inc. Held at the Daffin House, Hillsboro, MD. Daffin House was built around 1780 by Charles Daffin. It was adjacent to the farm owned by Richard Loockerman, who lived at Hammond-Harwood House.

Details at http://hammondharwoodhouse. org/.

• September 22, 10:30AM-12:30PM Workshop: Beekeeping ? Winterizing the Bees The hive and bees must prepare for the winter. This workshop will demonstrate how to best care for the hive and the bees living

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

within before the winter arrives. Remember, Jon will continue to work with anyone interested in apiaries even after the summer is over. Cost $15. Common Good City Farm, V Street NW, between 2nd and 4th Streets NW. Washington, DC 20001, URL for Registration and more information: http:// commongoodcityfarm.org/civicrm/event/ info?id=81.

• Sunday, September 23, 2-3PM Plants of the Urban Forest Meadowlark Botanical Gardens’ Manager Keith Tomlinson will lead this hike at Potomac Overlook Regional Park in Arlington. We’ll discuss current issues with invasive plants, the survival of native plants, and efforts to maintain ecosystem balance in an urban forest setting. Meet at Potomac Overlook in Arlington. Free. Details at www. nvrpa.org.

• Tuesday, September 25, 6:00-7:30PM Gardener Book Club Washington Gardener Magazine’s first book will be: Founding Gardeners: The Revolutionary Generation, Nature, and the Shaping of the American Nation by Andrea Wulf. Held at the MLK Library (near Metro Center and Gallery Place). So mark your calendars, grab a copy of the book, start reading, and RSVP today to “WG Book Club” at WashingtonGardener@rcn.com.

• Wednesday, September 26, 7:30PM USDA History Talk The Beltsville Garden Club will meet on in the cafeteria of the James E. Duckworth School, 11201 Evans Trail, Beltsville, Maryland. The speaker for this month will be Robert J Griesbach and his topic will be “150 Years of Research at the US Department of Agriculture; Plant Introduction and Breeding.” The USDA was founded in 1862 by Abraham Lincoln, so 2012 is its 150th anniversary. The US Government first became involved in new plant introduction in 1825 when President John Quincy Adams directed US consuls to forward rare plants and seeds to the State Department for propagation and distribution. Refreshments will be served after the meeting. Bring a plant or plant related material for the club’s door prize table. The public is welcomed and admission is free. For additional information contact Louise DeJames at 301.890.4733 or visit www.beltsvillegardenclub.org.

• September 29-30 GreenFest DC Washington Gardener Magazine will have a booth – stop by to subscribe, renew, or buy single issues then at 3pm on Sunday

TOP AREA GARDENING EVENTS DC-Area Gardening Calendar ~ Upcoming Events ~ September 16 - October 15, 2012 – stop by the DIY stage to hear Washington Gardener Magazine’s Editor Kathy Jentz talk on “The Bounty of the Fall & Winter Garden in the Mid- Atlantic.” The Green Fest takes place at the DC Convention Center . www.greenfestivals.org • Saturday and Sunday, September 29 and 30, 10AM -4PM 8th Annual Autumn Apple Festival Bring your family and enjoy hands-on children’s activities, apple tasting, cider pressing, and demonstrations of historic orchard tools. Celebrate the “American Fruit” by making cider in a historic barn, tasting heirloom apples, and viewing varieties of rare fruit provided by the Virginia Tech Alson H. Smith Jr. Agricultural Research and Extension Center. Heirloom apple trees will be available for sale and pre-order during the event. Families are invited to enjoy carnival games and prizes, face painting, crafts, and participate in a good old-fashioned cake walk.

The Event is free with paid admission to the Heritage Farm Museum. Conveniently located off Route 28 and Route 7 in Claude Moore Park, Sterling, VA. Adults, $5.00, Seniors $4.00, Children 2-12, $3.00, Children under 2, Free. Contact 571.258.3800 or visit www.heritagefarmmuseum.org.

• Saturday, September 29, 4PM The Art of Cookery Made Federal & Fancy Enjoy tastings of 1812-era recipes using produce from Riversdale’s garden and orchard and enjoy Franklin’s 1812-inspired brew.

Resident: $23; Non-Resident $28; Advance payment required; capacity is limited. Ages: 21 & up. Riversdale House Museum, 4811 Riverdale Road, Riverdale Park 20737.

Contact 301.864.0420 or visit http://www. pgparks.com/places/eleganthistoric/riversdale_intro.html.

• Saturday, October 6, 12:00N-1:30PM Seed Saving Instructor: Kathy Jentz, Washington Gardener Magazine. Why go to the bother of collecting all those tiny seeds? The first reason is thriftiness. No need for anything in your garden to go to waste. Compost, recycle, and re-use. The second reason is frugality.

Why buy new plants every year when you can grow your own for free? Even further, why buy unproven plants or seeds when you know the ones you are collecting from did well and obviously flourished in your yard.

Location: Neighborhood Farm Initiative, Washington, DC, near Fort Totten metro.

FREE. Advamce registration required at http://knowledgecommonsdc.org/.

• Saturday, October 6 10:00AM-12:30N A Fungi Foray This fall, join biologist Tovi Lehmann at the Accokeek Foundation for a foray into the fascinating world of fungi. In this two-part workshop, Tovi will introduce participants to mushroom life cycles and habitats, as well as the important role that fungi play in the natural world. Tovi will also discuss the basics of mushroom identification. Participants will take a guided trail walk to hunt for fungi. Please wear close-toed shoes and clothing appropriate for the weather. Pre-registration is required by Thursday, October 4, 2012. Register Here: http://accokeekfoundation.org/a-fungi-foray/.

• Monday, October 8, 1-2:30PM Fairies in the Garden Tea & Treats (for children and families) In the house and in the garden at Tudor PLace in Washington, DC, there are fairies everywhere! The way to find them is first to dress like one, choosing the perfect tutu, wand, and wings. Next, fortify yourself with savories and sweets as part of a proper tea, during which a costumed interpreter will show and tell you how early Americans enjoyed this almost magical brew. Now, you are ready to head out into Tudor Place’s enchanting gardens to seek your quarry.

Before you leave, make a special period craft to take home as a remembrance of your special afternoon.

Member child: $20; Non-Member child: $25; Accompanying adult: $10. Register at http://tudorplaceoctfairytea.eventbrite.com.

• Saturday-Sunday, October 13-14, 10AM7PM The Maryland Pumpkin Festival While thousands come to experience Summers Farm’s annual offerings, this is the weekend that celebrates so much more!

The Maryland Pumpkin Festival honors all things pumpkin with a variety of special events including pie-eating contests, live music, free face-painting, and more.

Summers Farm Adventure, 5614 Butterfly Lane, Frederick, MD 21703. Contact 301.788.0704 or visit summersfarm.com.

• Saturday, October 13, 9:00AM-12NOON Grow Your Own Winter Salad! & Preparing Your Landscape for Winter.

Children’s Program: Garden Monster Mash! Make some applesauce Plant Sale proceeds go to Master Gardeners of Prince William Virginia Cooperative Extension. Saturday in the Garden taught by VCE - Prince William Master Gardener Volunteers Teaching Garden at St. Benedict Monastery, 9535 Linton Hall Road, Bristow, VA 20136.

All programs are free. A children’s program is offered concurrently with each Saturday in the Garden program. Space is limited.

A registration form is required to complete registration for children’s programs. Details at www.pwcgov.org/Grow.

• Saturday, October 13, 9:30AM-2PM Maryland Tree Farm & Maryland Forests Association Walking Tours Opening remarks from State Forester Steve Koehn & an informational session with George Eberling, DNR Project Forester for Washington County, and a local DNR Wildlife Biologist. This Tree Farm is a great example of growing your own forest. This tour will provide an opportunity to see and talk about wildlife food plots, forest conservation easements, paulownia, wildlife habitat, managing for forest products (timber, pulp, and firewood), forest recreation (hunting and fishing; bird watching; wildlife photography; cross-country skiing & sledding; exercise & stress relief); and conservation demonstration sites. Cost: FREE w/ lunch provided *LIMITED to 50 people, RSVP BY 10/1 to director@mdforests.org, specify WM in title.

Don & Linda’s Tree Farm (recipients of the Maryland Outstanding Tree Farmer Award 1994) 15717 Spade RD, Washington County, MaD (9 miles west of Hagerstown, MD).

Details at www.mdforests.org.

SAVE THE DATE: • 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 October 12 for the October 15 edition of this enewsletter featuring events taking place October 16 - November 15.

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

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

MAY/JUNE 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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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: Canna: Tropical Plants for Area Gardens

by Judith Mensh

The iconic Canna is a plant that evolves from a small hard seed in March to an 8-foot fabulous foliage and colorful flower-producing adult by July. The Canna has “look at me” élan. It is a dramatic accent, focal point, eye-candy. It bursts into a radiant spectrum of hot colors — reds, oranges, yellows, pinks. The leaves can be green, bronze, burgundy, solid, or striped.

The flowers can resemble an orchid, iris, gladiolus, or lily. No wonder Georgia O’Keefe painted it!

Canna is rich in nectar and pollen. Hummingbirds and butterflies visit by day; bats and moths by night. Humans anytime. Bumblebees haven as well as butterfly heaven, Canna is a midsummer day and night’s dream. Blooming starting in July or August, they go nonstop until frost, many cultivars conveniently self-cleaning and dropping old flowers as new ones develop. They come in pixie, dwarf, medium, and tall, a range from 16" to 10'. A sub-tropical/tropical monoecious monocot in the order Zingiberales, relative of the Musa (banana), Zanzibar (ginger), and Streilitzia (bird of paradise), the Family Cannaceae has a single genus: the Canna. To date, 19 species are recognized. Canna does well in containers and is an excellent patio, deck, or front entrance plant. Cannas are non-toxic for both dogs and cats.

From food, to foliage, to flowers, the Canna has played a role for humans for millenia. A source of starch in Peru and Ecuador since ancient times, the species Canna is more leaf than flower, its mission being to create large rhizomes with the largest starch grains of any plant; their flower production was only functional, for reproduction....

Want to learn more about growing Canna? Read the rest of this PlantProfile column in the Summer 2012 issue of Washington Gardener Magazine. See the subscription information below.

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