Washington Gardener Enews June 2010 by Kathy J

JUNE 2010 Welcome to the Washington Gardener Enewsletter! This enewsletter is the free 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. Without your support, we cannot continue publishing this enewsletter. Our magazine subscription information is on page 6 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 this free enewsletter as well using the form on page 6 of this enewsletter to subscribe to our print magazine. 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/washington.gardener • Washington Gardener Web Site: www.washingtongardener.com Sincerely, Kathy Jentz Editor/Publisher Washington Gardener Magazine

Reader Contest

For our June 2010 Washington Gardener Reader Contest, Washington Gardener is giving away one bottle of Honey Glow Natural Products Goat’s Milk lotion with Lavender (a $15 value). Honey Glow (www.honey-glow.com) is a local company based in College Park, MD. They believe that they can make a difference in our environment and the world. Their mission is to operate an earth-friendly business that provides the highest quality, all-natural ingredients in our products at affordable prices. This lotion is excellent for eczema, psoriasis and other skin problems. The goat’s milk helps balance the pH of your skin allowing for better delivery of nutrients and moisture. To enter to win the lotion, send an email with “Honey Glow” in the subject line to WashingtonGardener@rcn.com by 5:00pm on Wednesday, June 30. In the body of the email please include your full name, email, mailing address, and your favorite way to pamper yourself after a hard day out in the garden. The winner will be announced and notified by July 2. Some of the entry responses may be used in future online or print articles.

Current Issue

Our Spring issue cover story is on Community Gardens. I spent the last year gathering resources for the cover story. Community gardening is so popular right now and the supply of plots is nowhere close to the demand. I’m hoping this story will inspire more local governments to install gardens and give more gardeners the basis to demand them in their own community. I’m hearing many compliments already from readers saying, “Best issue ever!” and like. Many are enjoying the feature stories including a profile of filmmaker Cintia Cabib, whose documentary “A Community of Gardeners” will make you laugh and cry and think. Also in this issue is the Edibles column, “Magical Beans” by Cindy Brown. She shares her tips on how to grow these legendary legumes here in the Mid-Atlantic and the best varieties for our area. Our Daytrip is to American University in NW, Washington, DC. Did you know they were a certified arboretum now? You’ll also find in this issue: • a plant profile feature on Dwarf Iris • a how-to article on Building a Raised Growing Bed • a short piece on planting Bare Root Roses • a round-up of our 17 Photo Contest Winners • our InsectIndex column focuses on Bugs that Attack Broccoli and related greens • a club meeting with the Gesneriad Society (African Violets and such) To subscribe, see the page 6 of this newsletter for a form to mail in or go to our web page and use our PayPal link.

June Garden To-Do List

Spotlight Special

Whetman® Dianthus Early Bird™ Series Key Features: • Standout early season fragrant double blooms. • Repeat blooming. • Unique compact habit, ideal for early season planters. Characteristics: Genus & Species: Dianthus hybrida USDA Zone: USDA Zone 5. (-20°F). Bloom: Early season wonderfuly fragrant double blooms. Repeat blooming. Bloom Period: Early season – fall. Foliage: Glaucous, blue green foliage. Habit: Compact mounding habit 6” x 4”. Culture: Full sun, well-drained soil. Additional Comments: No vernalization required for blooming. Flower stems are sturdy and do not flop. Dead headed and fed regularly to encourage fast repeat blooming. Attracts bees and butterflies. Uses: Containers, Borders, Mass Landscape Planting. Pictured from top to bottom: DIANTHUS Fizzy DIANTHUS Chilli DIANTHUS Radiance

Here is our comprehensive garden task list for gardens in the greater DC metro region for June 16-July 15. Your additions to this list are most welcome: If you started seeds last month, thin them and start the hardening off process. • Water newly planted trees and shrubs weekly or as needed. • Contact a certified arborist to have your trees’ health inspected. • Check on your container plants daily and keep them well watered. • Watch for insect and disease problems throughout your garden. • Mow in the early evening and cut off no more than one-third of the grass height at one time. Leave grass clippings on the ground to provide nutrients. • Add barley straw to your pond to improve water clarity. • Take cuttings from azaleas and roses to start new plants. • Harvest herbs to use in salads and summer dishes. • Try a few new tropical plants on your patio. • Shape your evergreens and hedges. • Look for slug trails in the early morning and put out slug bait as needed. • Tie-up climbing roses and other wandering vines. • Fill in bare spots in the garden with annuals. • Deadhead spent flowers to encourage reblooming. • Prune flowering shrubs as their flowers fade. Last chance to do so for fall blooming camellias. • Spray roses with Neem oil every two weeks. • Start a sunflower patch with help from a few kids. • Harvest strawberry beds daily. • Cut a few flowers to enjoy at your workplace. • This is the perfect time to apply grub control. • Change the water in your birdbath daily and throw a mosquito dunk (or bits) into any standing water. • Put in supports for tomatoes and tall-blooming plants such as dahlias. • Order spring flowering bulbs to arrive for planting this fall. • Take photos and update your garden journal. • Inspect your garden hose for leaks and tighten all connections. • Weed. • Sow beets, beans, cucumbers, pumpkins, and squash for fall harvest. • Prune boxwoods. • Sharpen your lawnmower blade. • Avoid pesticides or any chemicals near your water garden. • Make hummingbird food by boiling two cups sugar in four cups water. • Turn your compost pile. • Clean up fallen fruit and berries. • Cover berry bushes and fruit trees with bird netting. • Dig up garlic when the tops turn brown. Let dry in the sun then braid and store. • Fertilize your azaleas and rhododendrons and monitor them closely for any lacebug damage. • Sow heat-tolerant greens like Swiss Chard and mustard greens in part-shade. • As the heat and humidity move in, take it easy by working in the morning or early evening to avoid intense sun and humidity. Leave the big projects for this fall. For now concentrate on maintaining the beds you’ve already established and nurturing your new plantings. • Have a wonderful 2010 growing season!

Quick Links to Recent Washington Gardener Blog Posts • Hurray for Red, White, and Blue! • Photo Show Moves to Meadowlark in VA • Just Around the Corner... Plot • Our “Wood” Anniversary • When I Grow Up I want to be... See more Washington Gardener Blog posts at WashingtonGardener.Blogspot.com. 2

Divine Annual Vines By Kathy Jentz

Use them to hide an unsightly view, cover an ugly fence or wall, fill in an arbor while your perennial vine takes hold and grows. They can provide quick, cool shade when training over an arbor or pergola. Used on a south-facing wall, they even act as an insulator to keep put the hottest rays of the sun from your home. Many vines can even be planted on a slope or over a retaining wall to spread and trail over the edge. Annual vines are also beloved by wildlife. Many attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds to your garden and their prolific flowers. Most all annual vines need full sun, good drainage, and of course, something to climb on, Try a trellis, balcony railing, light pole. No need to fertilize them. On the contrary, once established most of the vines thrive on neglect and just need watering spring hot, dry spells. Start from seed by direct-sowing them now and by mid-summer you’ll have a terrific vine bursting with blooms. Some vines will need assistance. To get the climbing starting – put a twig next to the base of the seedling to guide it up to whatever support you have chosen. You may need to tie some vines up (a great way to recycle old pantyhose cut into strips). You may have to just coax and train it from spreading to wear you do not want it to go. A couple of fair warnings, most of the annual vines form seed pods which are quite attractive and decorative if let on in the fall. You may want to collect most these however if you want to control self-seeding in future years and to save the seeds for sowing yourself next year where you’d like them to grow. Keep in mind that many annual vines likely grow in your vegetable patch such as cantaloupes, cucumbers, tomatoes, etc. You can train them upwards or let them trail on the ground as well. You may also consider having the less attractive edible vines share a trellis with one or two of the more lovely annual flowering vines to dress them up. Why not try a few of these Annual Vines in your garden this summer? • Balloon Vine • Black-Eyed Susan Vine • Cardinal Climber • Climbing Gloxinia • Cup-and-Saucer Vine • Cypress Vine • Hyacinth Bean • Mandevilla • Moonflower • Morning Glory • Nasturtiums • Scarlet Runner Bean • Snail (Corkscrew) Vine • Spanish Flag • Sweet Pea

DC-Area Gardening Calendar ~ Upcoming Events June 16-July 15, 2010 Brookside Gardens 1800 Glenallan Avenue Wheaton, MD 20902 301.962.1400 www.brooksidegardens.org

• Display runs through Sunday, September 19, 10:00am-5:00pm SUMMER DISPLAY: SUMMER OF FOOD Continuing with Brookside’s year-long theme of food, its importance, and how we plan to highlight it throughout the gardens, the North House of the Conservatory will display edible sub-tropical plants from Central and South America and large parts of Asia including bananas, Coffea Arabica, Agave tequilana, Colocaia esculenta Taro, Butia capitata- Jelly palm-fruits and Elleteria cardamomum. Information will be available about the native region of each of these plants along with a description of what parts of the plant are used. FREE; Brookside Gardens Conservatory. • Saturday, June 26, 12:30-5:00pm and Sunday, June 27, 9:00am-4:00p, POTOMAC LILY SOCIETY LILY SHOW The Potomac Lily Society (PLS) will hold its 49th annual lily show at Brookside Gardens, 1800 Glenallen Ave., Wheaton, Maryland. Admission is free and the show is open to the public. There will be a number of horticultural and design exhibits on display. The PLS is a nonprofit organization established to promote and encourage interest in the cultivation, propagation and improvement of the genus Lilium in its many forms and hybrids among the membership, other plant and horticultural groups, and the public, and is affiliated with the North American Lily Society and the National Capitol Area Federation of Garden Clubs, Inc. For additional show information visit www.PotomacLilySociety. org. • Saturday, July 10, 5:00am-10:00am MEET & SHOOT SUNFLOWER FIELDS Join Josh Taylor, Archiphoto Workshops, for a photo shoot at McKee-Beshers Wildlife Management Area near Seneca, Maryland. Spend the morning photographing acres of blooming sunflowers. Learn how to capture stunning images and get the best possible pictures of sunflowers from basic photo equipment. Participants should have working knowledge of their camera to get the most from the photographic opportunity. Sunflowers are finicky and there is a slight chance of rescheduling to July 17, depending on bloom time. Notice will be given to each participant a week in advance if the date will change. Fee includes instruction and 4 hours of photo shooting; participants are responsible for transportation. Course number 102649; Fee: $89; registration required at www. parkpass.org. 4

Congressional Briefing Longworth House Office Building, Room 1302, NW Washington, DC

• Thursday, June 24, 3:30pm NATIONAL POLLINATOR WEEK Members of both parties of the US House of Representatives announced the formation of the first Congressional Pollinator Protection Caucus (CP2C) urging colleagues to join them in preserving pollinators. CP2C plans to ensure that accurate information is available to legislators and staff across a broad spectrum of land issues. Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-FL) and Rep. Tim Johnson (R-IL) are co-chairing CP2C and are launching the caucus as part of National Pollinator Week. In conjunction with the CP2C launch, Members of Congress, staff, and the public are invited to a briefing (program at www. pollinator.org/briefing.htm) by pollinator experts on Thursday, June 24 at 3:30 PM at Longworth House Office Building, Room 1302. As a special pollinator treat, pollinator supportive companies Häagen-Dazs Ice Cream and Burt’s Bees will provide ice cream and lip balm for attendees. Both Burt’s Bees and Häagen-Dazs Ice Cream are committed to the health of the honey bees that are instrumental in their products and in the well-being of plants, people and animals.

Green Spring Gardens 4603 Green Spring Road Alexandria, Virginia 22312 703.642.5173 www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/gsgp/

• Tuesday, June 22, 10am-3pm SUSTAINABLE LANDSCAPING FOR PROFESSIONALS Come to Green Spring Gardens to receive practical information on storm water management practices and permeable surfaces that helps our environment and gives you a marketing edge. Prerequisites for the classes are basic experience with landscape design and the ability to read an engineering and architectural scale. $65. Lunch available for $10 additional. Specify vegetarian or non-vegetarian. Call 703-642-5173 to register. • Wednesday, June 23, 10am-3pm RAIN GARDEN DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION FOR PROFESSIONALS Come to Green Spring Gardens to receive practical information on rain garden design and construction that helps our environment and gives you a marketing edge. Prerequisites for the classes are basic experience with landscape design and the ability to read an engineering and architectural scale. $65. Lunch available for $10 additional. Specify vegetarian or non-vegetarian. Call 703-642-5173.

• Saturday, July 10, 9:30-11:30am BOTANY FOR GARDENERS Enhance your ability to identify plants. Under Mary Olien’s guidance, we will use lectures and live samples to explore basic concepts of plant classification and plant anatomy, key elements in plant identification. $18. Call 703-642-5173 to register. • Saturday, July 10, 9am-4:30pm NATIONAL CAPITAL DAYLILY SHOW AND SALE Come in to see these summer beauties: singles, doubles, “spiders” and unusual flower forms will dazzle your senses. The hard part is in deciding which kind to buy to light up your own summer garden. Free.

Historical Society of DC 801 K Street NW Washington, DC. www.historydc.org

• Sunday, June 27, 2:00-3:30pm CHILDREN AND FAMILIES URBAN GARDENING: ‘PLANTING MEMORIES’ This special session of Family Urban Gardening is designed to cultivate young gardeners with a hands-on, interactive session with City Blossoms! Children and families are invited to discover easy activities to make gardening a part of the family tradition. From digging in a hole to stirring in a bowl, City Blossoms will demonstrate how gardening together as a family builds healthy, sustainable and innovative green spaces that promote stewardship, wellbeing and environmental consciousness for children and adults alike. Participants will learn about all of the wiggly wonders that can be found right outside their doors and take home fun garden-arts projects. Learn how to make your own natural recycling center with a worm bin or compost pile, or create funky garden decorations to attract people and beneficial creatures. Rebecca Lemos and Lola Bloom began gardening with children at a Columbia Heights community center as a response to local gang violence and apathy in 2000. Once the two realized the impact that gardening and community beautification had on the children and their attitudes, they decided to continue volunteering and gardening with children every summer. As their passion for the project grew, Rebecca and Lola established the name City Blossoms and began creating an organization that works with schools and community centers to produce and maintain lively green spaces. Presented by Washington Gardener Magazine and the Historical Society of Washington D.C. One adult-per-child, space is limited. Reserve your place today by emailing rsvp@historydc. org or call 202-383-1828. FREE.

DC-Area Gardening Calendar ~ Upcoming Events June 16-July 15, 2010 • Wednesdays, June 23, June 30, and July Tudor Place Historic Viette Farm & Nursery 7, 6:30-8:30pm Fishersville, VA House and Garden www.daylilyandwinefestival.com PLANTING DESIGN FOR HOMEOWNERS 1644 31st Street, NW Washington, DC 20007 202.965.0400 www.tudorplace.org

• Friday, July 2, 10:00am-3:00pm FOURTH OF JULY ICE CREAM SOCIAL Celebrate Independence Day with America’s First Family! Take a tour of one of America’s most historic houses. Highlights of the tour include over 150 George and Martha Washington artifacts. After the tour, enjoy one of George Washington’s favorite treats, ice cream! Visitors create ice cream sundaes in Tudor Place’s enchanting gardens. The family fun continues with children’s games and crafts. All visitors will receive a copy of George Washington’s 1775 letter to Martha Washington. Member Children: $10 Nonmember Children: $12 Adults: $8 Blue Star Military Families: Free

United States Botanic Garden Conservatory (USBG) 100 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 202.225.8333 www.usbg.gov

• Mondays, June 21, 28, July 5, 12, 19, 26 August 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, 5:30-6:30pm EVENING TOUR OF THE USBG NATIONAL GARDEN Susan Olling, USBG Volunteer Stroll through the National Garden to see trees and shrubs of the Mid-Atlantic region. Enjoy stories surrounding them and learn which ones would grow well in your lawn and/or garden. Please note: This tour is held outdoors. We suggest wearing sunscreen and protective clothing, and bringing water. The tour is canceled if it rains. FREE • Wednesday, June 23, 1:00-2:30pm PLANT PROPAGATION: REPRODUCTION OF THE GREEN KIND Monika Saxton, USBG Gardener Leaf cuttings, stem cuttings, or seeds – which are the best method for propagating that beautiful plant that your friend is growing? What type of soil should you use? What time of year should you try to propagate different plants? Learn the techniques and secrets of plant propagation through this hands-on workshop. Students will get to take home the cuttings they start in class. Friends: Free. NonMembers: $5. Pre-registration required. Visit www.usbg.gov or call 202.225.1116.

Cheryl Corson, Landscape Architect Once your basic landscape structure is established, creating a planting plan is the next step. In this three-week class, we will observe the many plantings around the U.S. Botanic Garden to help you select and arrange perennials and shrubs for microclimate, size, color, texture, period of bloom, wildlife value, and more. Be ready for late-season plant sales and early fall planting! Friends: $85. Non-Members: $95 Pre-registration required. Visit www.usbg. gov or call 202.225.1116.

•Friday, June 25, 12:00noon-1:00pm WORLD FLAVORS AND ESSENTIAL HERBS Holly Shimizu, USBG Executive Director Come and explore flavors from around the world as USBG Executive Director Holly Shimizu gives a tour of the World Flavors garden in this season’s Thrive! From the Ground Up Terrace show. Learn about Native American flavors, spices, spice blends, and essential herbs from the Mediterranean, India, and Asia. FREE: Pre-registration required Visit www.usbg.gov or call 202.225.1116. • Wednesday, June 30, 1:00-3:00pm CREATING HYPERTUFA CONTAINERS Monika Saxton, USBG Gardener Have you ever wanted to create your own container to use on your porch or in your garden? Spend the afternoon with Monika as she takes you through the steps of creating a hypertufa container. Hypertufa containers are lightweight and easy to make. Once you know how, you can make them at home. Each participant will make one 12-inch x 12-inch container to take home. Friends: $20. Non-Members: $25 Pre-registration required. Visit www.usbg. gov or call 202.225.1116.

US National Arboretum 3501 New York Avenue, NE Washington, D. C. 20002-1958 202.245.2726 www.usna.usda.gov

• Saturday, July 24, 12:00-4:00pm WASHINGTON YOUTH GARDEN FRIENDS + FAMILY FUN DAY Enjoy some fresh, healthy snacks from the garden. Meet their new honeybees. Ring in the new Nature Explore Classroom. Listen to live music and tour the garden. Please visit www.washingtonyouthgarden. org for details and directions. Donations benefit programming at the Washington Youth Garden. Project of the Friends of the National Arboretum. Rain date is Sunday, July 25, same time.

• Saturday-Sunday, July 17-18 THE DAYLILY & WINE FESTIVAL If your idea of a great time is enjoying fine food and spirits, learning about gardening, listening to music, and relaxing in a beautiful setting with family and friends, then put these two days on your calendar! The Daylily Festival is fun for the whole family! ~ Join horticultural and culinary experts in the seminar tents and learn new tips on gardening, landscaping, and cooking. ~ Taste wines from many of Virginia’s award winning wineries ~ Sample some of the finest brewed beers ~ Browse through a diverse range of artisans & crafters ~ Enjoy live music while feasting on a wide variety of foods offered by local restaurants ~ Stroll through the nationally renowned Viette gardens and enjoy over 6 acres of beauty! ~ Don’t forget the kids! They will enjoy a variety of fun activities in the Children’s Tent. Adult ticket at the Gate (21 + years) are $20.00, Under 21 tickets at the gate are $5.00. 3 and under are Free. Cal for details: 540-949-8203.

Event Listing Notes

For even more area garden event notices than we can’t possibly squeeze in here, become a member of our free online discussion group. To join the email list serv, just send an email to: WashingtonGardener-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. To submit an event for this listing, please contact: Wgardenermag@aol.com and put “Event” in the email subject head. Our next deadline is July 12 for the July 15 edition of this enewsletter featuring events from July 16-August 15.

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Magazine Excerpt: Building a Raised Bed by KathyJentz

Why go to the trouble of putting in raised garden beds? The most common reason is for growing edibles and having an easy-to-maintain area to do so. A raised bed is easier to weed and reach into, especially for those who have trouble kneeling or bending. But there are many other benefits to growing in raised beds. Chief among them is having total control of the soil you are gardening in. Throughout DC and the surrounding suburbs, we have a lead and heavy metal problem. This is not so much a problem with lead being taken up into the plants you eat, as it is a problem in that every time you dig and work in the contaminated soil, you are stirring up those elements, which you then breathe in or that coat your exposed skin. Better safe than sorry. Perhaps your soil was recently coated with pesticides or herbicides, or maybe you are unsure of its previous exposure; a raised bed will give you piece of mind. Raised beds are a huge asset for those of us with heavy clay soils as the beds allow better drainage and are not compacted by being walking on. Further, raised beds heat up faster in the spring than surrounding ground soils; that means you can plant in them a week or so earlier in the season.

Before You Raise the Bed

Observe the sun exposure. If your raised beds are for growing edibles, then you want a space with full direct sun (at least six to eight hours). Next, you need to measure your space. Most of us have a comfortable reach of about three feet, so beds should be no wider than that. The length can vary, though most either do a square 3x3 ft or a long 3x6 ft. Really, you can do any shape you like. I have seen raised beds in the form of a sundial, a pyramid, and even a yin-yang symbol. Many gardeners are disciples of the “Square-Foot” hyper-intensive gardening technique popularized by Mel Bartholomew, so they use his grid measurements. The height of the bed is up to you, as well. A minimum of six inches is recommended and a foot high is fairly average. Some like their raised beds to be surrounded by a “kneeling wall” where you can sit comfortably.... Want to learn more about Building Raised Beds? Read the rest of this GardenBasics column in the Spring 2010 issue of Washington Gardener Magazine.

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Live Butterﬂy & Caterpillar Exhibit

May 1 through Sept. 19, 2010 10 am to 4pm daily $6.00 ages 13 and up $4.00 ages 3 — 12 Hotline: 301-962-1453 NEW! Purchase your

FREQUENT VISITOR PASS and enjoy unlimited return visits this season!