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Vol. 4, No. 7 — July 15, 2008
In This Issue:
Creating Easy Water Features
Magazine Excerpt: Grasses to Graze Upon
July To-Do List
Spotlight Special: Begonia ‘Metallic Mist’
Reader Contest: Parade of Ponds Passes
Local Gardening Events
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The July/August 2008 Washington Gardener magazine is available now. If you subscribe by August 25, you can start your subscription with this issue. Single copies of this issue can be purchased directly from Washington Gardener. The issue is also on sale at area Borders, Barnes and Noble, and B. Dalton book stores plus many independent stores like the USNA's Arbor House. This issue's cover story is "Landscaping with Ornamental Grasses." It also includes stories on Maymont, Salvias, Morning Glory, Slugs, and, much, much more.
Creating Easy Water Features
Guest column by Jennifer Zuri, Aquascape Designs, Inc.
For people with small backyards or a simple porch, sometimes a container garden is the only way to get their water garden fix. For some, it can lead to the dream of a big yard and a bigger water garden. Luckily, there are several types of small water gardens available to potential water gardeners.
“A tub garden or container water garden is only limited by the actual container you can find, as long as it holds water,” Ed Beaulieu, Aquascape Designs’ Vice President of Field Research, said. “I’ve seen some unique set–ups using bathtubs or even a boat sealed up and planted with aquatics.”
Do–It–Yourself
We’re not suggesting you drag your bathtub out to the yard, but there are many different containers that can work in your garden, if you’d like to make your own. Pails, terra cotta pots, whiskey barrels, and urns can be used, as long as they’re treated with a sealant or have some kind of liner keeping the water in place and, of course, no holes! The bigger the better -- anything that will hold water.
Pick the container, check for holes, put liner or sealant in it, making sure both are fish and plant safe. Next, put the container in a safe spot in your yard. Fill it with water, making sure that you dechlorinate it, so that plants and fish (if you plan on adding them to your garden) will be healthy.
Buy It
If you aren’t the handy type, there are several types of container water gardens on the market today. The mainstream is a whiskey barrel and liner tub that you can get as a kit from virtually any type of garden center or home improvement store. Some of these come with pumps, fountains, tubing, and hardware, and installation is a snap.
Planting Your Feet
You’ll want to go with water plants that you really like and are pleasing to the eye. “A container garden can be nothing more than a giant planter for lotus, which has an awesome look,” Seah said.
If you’re a beginner and just want to get your hands dirty with plants, Seah suggests a more simple approach. “Depending on size, a small, pygmy water lily might be your best bet, although some people will still use a regular water lily,” Seah said. “Mix it up with marginals and a floating plant or two.
This simple combo can easily fill up the entirety of a whiskey barrel–type container garden.”
Fishing for Answers
Will you be able to add fish like you can in a regular water garden? It really depends on the water volume of the container. A 20–gallon container is going to go through extreme temperature fluctuations ... cooling and heating with the night and day.
“A goldfish in a heavily–planted container water garden can suffice as the plants shade 90 percent of the surface area and keep the tub cooler,” Beaulieu said. “A one–foot koi might look a little funny in 15 to 20 gallons of water.” Beaulieu suggests throwing Gambusia (mosquito fish) into your container garden because they can tolerate warm water quite well. Small fantails would also be a good fit for your water garden, and if you happen to have a larger container, you can even consider a comet or shubunkin.
What About Mosquitoes?
While many container gardens do just fine without a filter or fountain, it’s always best to have some circulation in place. A small pump may be attached to a small fountain head or may simply sit at the bottom, shooting a stream of water vertically to give a gentle turbulence at the surface. A sponge prefilter or even an aquarium bubbler may also do the trick to keep your water moving.
You’ll also want to steer clear of still water because of the risk of mosquitoes. If you have some kind of agitation in your water, you will usually have few, if any, mosquito larvae hanging around your container garden. Fish in your container water garden would also take care of any larvae that hatch there.
General Maintenance
When it comes to container gardens, maintenance is as easy or as hard as you want to make it. “Many of the small containers are small enough that you may use a garden hose to top it off,” Beaulieu said. “And if there’s no fish, you may use it to overflow the system for severe cleaning.”
You may not need to clean your container garden, but if debris does accumulate, you can use enzyme–based products. Enzymes quickly reduce the amount of sludge build-up and are gentle on your aquatic life. Remember, you will have to keep an eye on your container garden to watch out for evaporation, especially in warmer climates with high temperatures. Plus, warm water can be as detrimental to your fish as freezing water is if you aren’t careful. If you’re in an area that is prone to heavy rainfall, you’ll also want to watch out for overflowing.
To keep your system healthy, you can add beneficial bacteria, although it isn’t necessary. If algae ever takes a hold of your garden, you can also use a flocculent, a safe and natural product. Chemicals can harm your fish and plants and deter other wildlife from visiting your container aquatic garden.
You can never have too many water gardens or features. Water gardeners everywhere use container gardens to add a little more to their deck or patio and to help them learn about new plants. Container gardens are also a great way to teach kids about nature and can be a great starter pond for any young children interested in water. Prices for container gardens are reasonable and they can be a great pond learning experience for all ages!
Happy Growing!
Kathy Jentz
Editor/Publisher
Washington Gardener
P.S. Start saving your seeds for our Fourth Annual Washington Gardener Seed Exchange on January 31, 2009 at Brookside Gardens.
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Local Gardening Events
Here is a selection of upcoming events (July 16-August 15) in the greater DC area of interest to gardeners:
DC
Green Roofs Lecture and Tour
July 18, 11:00am–1:00pm
U.S Botanic Garden, National Mall, Washington, DC
Planted roofs have been used for thousands of years on houses and public buildings. Join us for a lecture about green roofs and a tour led by the American Society of Landscape Architects’ Nancy Somerville and the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Kate O'Mara. Learn about the various environmental benefits of this low-impact development practice.
Fee: $0/Free. Registration is not required.
For more information: www.usbg.org or call 202.225.8333.
Kenilworth Gardens Annual Waterlily Festival
July 19, 10:00am-2:00pm
Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, corner of Anacostia Avenue and Douglas Street, SE, Washington, DC
Enjoy the gardens and sample Asian arts between garden workshops. View the entries of the garden photo contest. Kathy Jentz, editor of Washington Gardener Magazine, will have a table in the display section. There will be ranger-led tours of the gardens and wetlands. The greenhouse will be open and there is a hands-on Lotus Craft Show.
Fee: $0/Free. Preregistration is not required.
For more information: www.nps.gov/keaq or call 202.426.6905.
White House Summer Garden Tour
August 9, 10:00am to 4:00pm
White House. 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC. Entry for the Garden Tours will begin at Sherman Park located just south of the Department of the Treasury.
The White House Garden Tours have been a tradition since 1972 when Pat Nixon first opened the White House gardens to the public. Visitors are invited to view the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden, Rose Garden, Children's Garden and South Lawn of the White House while military bands perform from a White House balcony.
The event is open to the public; however, a ticket is required for all attendees, including small children. The National Park Service will distribute free, timed tickets at the Ellipse Visitor Pavilion located at 15th and E Streets on both tour days beginning at 8:00am.
Restrictions: Carry-in items will be limited. Strollers, wheelchairs and cameras are permitted.
Details at www.whitehouse.gov or call 202-208-1631.
MD and PA
Composting at Home
July 22, 6:30-9:00pm
Green Building Institute, 7761 Waterloo Road, Jessup, MD
All about composting for your backyard garden and your health. Instructor Michael Snow is farm manager of the Ecosystem Farm at the Accokeek Foundation in Accokeek, MD. He has grown vegetables in Vermont and California, on farms ranging in size of less than an acre to 50 acres, building compost piles out of all sorts of materials (manure, grass clippings, leaves, kitchen scraps and deer guts!).
Fee: $30 nonmembers. Registration is required.
For more information: www.greenbuildinginstitute.org or call 443.733.1234.
Habitat Value of Natives: More than Fashionable Flowers
July 29, 7:30pm
Wheaton Regional Library, 11701 Georgia Avenue, Wheaton, MD
Maryland Native Plant Society monthly meeting is a presentation on the choices homeowners and gardeners have in drawing from our region's natural plant diversity. Compare cultivars of native plants with native species and how these plants relate to the natural communities around us. Join Lou Aronica, a founding member of MNPS and native plant grower, for a presentation on the choices planners, homeowners, and gardeners have in drawing from the region's natural floristic diversity and plant associations, with an aim towards conservation and restoration.
Fee: $0/Free. Registration is not required.
For more information: www.mdflora.org.
Cactus Show
August 2, 9:00am-5:00pm and August 3, 9:00am-4:00pm
Brookside Gardens, 1800 Glenallan Ave., Wheaton MD
Sponsored by the National Capital Cactus and Succulent Society. Different species of cacti and succulents will be on display, and many are on sale.
Fee: $0/Free. Registration is not required.
For more information, call 301.962.1400 or go to www.brooksidegardens.org.
VA and WV
2008 Daylily & Wine Festival
July 19, 9:00am-6:00pm and July 20, 12:00noon-5:00pm
Viette Nurseies, Fishersville, VA
Join horticultural and culinary experts in the seminar tents and learn new tips on landscaping, gardening, and cooking. Taste wines from many of Virginia's award winning wineries. Enjoy live music while feasting on a wide variety of foods offered by local restaurants
Stroll through the nationally renowned Viette gardens and a diverse range of artisans and crafters. Don't forget the kids - they will enjoy a variety of activities in the children's tent.
Fee: $19. Registration is required.
For details, call the Greater Augusta Regional Chamber of Commerce at 540.324.1133 or visit http://www.daylilyandwinefestival.com.
Woody Plant Propagation
July 19, 9:30am-12:00noon
Tufton Farm near Monticello, Charlottesville, VA
Propagating trees and shrubs from seeds or cuttings is one of the most gratifying of the horticultural arts. CHP Nursery Manager Marc McVicker will lead this 2.5-hour workshop at the Center for Historic Plants’ propagating facilities at Tufton Farm. He'll discuss the principles of seed sowing—timing, dormancy, scarification, stratification, soil mediums—and also review the fundamentals of asexual propagation. Bring your pruning shears.
Fee: $10. Registration is required.
For details: visit www.monticello.org or call 434.984.9822.
The Diverse World of Hydrangeas
July 26, 9:30-11:00am
4603 Green Spring Road, Alexandria, VA
Hydrangeas are hot! They have risen from obscurity to become the darling of the garden. Andrew Bunting, Curator of the Morris Arboretum at Swarthmore College, shares his extensive knowledge of the many hydrangea species and cultivars available, covering new trends, care, cultures and pruning to keep you up to date with this vast genus.
Fee: $18. Registration is required.
For more information: www.greenspring.org or call 703.642.5173.
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. PLEASE NO ATTACHMENTS! Our next deadline is August 12 for the August 15 edition of this enewsletter featuring events from August 16-September 15.
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Spotlight Special: Begonia ‘Metallic Mist’
Begonia ‘Metallic Mist’ was recently introduced by Terra Nova Nurseries. Heavily silvered, maple-like leaves on a zone 6 hardy begonia make it a breeding breakthrough. Vigorously grows to form a striking 18" tall specimen. Pink flowers in late summer extend the show.
‘Metallic Mist’ earned a blue ribbon from the American Begonia Society at its national convention. Scoring 96 out of 100 points, ‘Metallic Mist’ ranked first in the field of “New Introduction from a Commercial Grower." It is a hybrid between B. pedatifida and another high elevation Chinese species. Give some protection in cold months to ensure it winters over.
Prefers moist, humus rich, well drained soil with a pH of 6.0-7.0. Good drainage is a must. Dry slightly between waterings. Place in full shade to early morning or filtered sun.
Dies down to the ground in the winter.
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Reader Contest
For our July 2008 Washington Gardener Reader Contest, Washington Gardener is giving out three sets of two passes each (worth $30 per set) to the Parade of Ponds in the Washington, DC metro area. The event runs over the weekend July 26-27, 2008 from 9:00am to 5:00pm daily. It is a self-guided tour of over 35 water gardens, ponds, and water features. The locations include residential and commercial properties.
All ticket sales will benefit Shepherd's Table. Shepherd's Table is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year of serving the community and it is hosting events all year long culminating in its Gala Celebration with an American Acoustic Concert at the Kennedy Center.
To enter to win the Parade of Ponds passes, send an email with "Parade of Ponds" in the subject line to WashingtonGardener@rcn.com by 5:00pm on July 20. In the body of the email please include your full name and address. The pass winners will be announced and notified on July 21.
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July To-Do List
Here is our comprehensive garden task list for gardens in the greater DC metro region for July 16-August 15. Your suggestions and additions to this list are most welcome:
- The heat of summer is here. Time to start doing chores during early morning or evening. Take a break during the hottest parts of the day.
- Prune Wisteria.
- If your pond water gets low from prolonged drought, top it off with tap water and add a dechlorinator according to package instructions.
- Cut back spent common Daylily stalks.
- Pinch back any annuals that may be growing leggy.
- Divide and cut back bearded iris.
- Check your pond pump for debris and clean it out every few weeks.
- Weed.
- Cut off bottom, yellowed foliage on tomato plants.
- Stake and tie-up any tall-growing perennials such as phlox or delphiniums.
- Wash out birdbaths weekly with diluted bleach solution.
- Water thoroughly especially if you receive no rain for more than 5-7 days.
- Take cuttings from azaleas, boxwoods, and camellias to start new plants to share.
- Check your local garden center for mid-summer bargains.
- Hand pick Japanese Beetles or shake a branch over a bucket of dishwater. Early morning is a good time to catch them while they are still drowsy.
- Repot the houseplants you've moved outdoors for the summer.
- Pick blueberries at a local pick-your-own farm or visit a local farmer's market.
- Pinch back any straying strawberry runners.
- Deadhead perennials for a second flush of blooms later this summer.
- Thin out small trees and cut off any suckering branches growing from the bottom root ball.
- Inspect your garden for powdery mildew. If seen, prune back perennials to create needed circulation.
- Annuals are now hitting their peak. Keep them well-watered and add a little liquid fertilizer every few weeks to keep them going through September.
- Check your plants at night with a flashlight for any night-feeding insects like slugs. If you find slug damage, set out beer traps or Sluggo.
- Pinch back mums so they grow bushier and won't flower until autumn.
- Holding off on planting new trees and shrubs until the summer heat has passed.
- Caulk and seal your outside walls to prevent insect entry into your home.
- Harvest regularly from your vegetable garden to prevent rot and waste.
- Put up a hammock or a garden bench to enjoy your views.
- Turn compost pile.
- Check out gardening books from your local library to read on vacation.
- Check for mosquito breeding grounds. Dump out any water that sits stagnant for more than three days.
- Add Mosquito Dunks to any standing water in your yard such as birdbath, downspouts, plant saucers, and gutters.
- Gather roses to enjoy indoors and make sure to make the cut just above a five-leaf unit.
Have a wonderful 2008 growing season!
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Magazine Excerpt: Grasses to Graze Upon by Cindy Brown
Ornamental grasses provide home landscapes with dramatic focal points, quick-growing screens, four-season interest, and striking, vertical accents. Some members of the grass family also have the benefit of being edible.
Lemon Grass
Lemon grass, Cymbopogon citratus, has been used for centuries as the source of an aromatic oil that is used in perfumery, flavorings, and herbal medicine. In the garden, light green blades grow 2-3' tall, then bend earthward; a fragrant chartreuse fountain.
Aromatic blades may tempt gardeners to position the clump close to a path, but, be careful in its garden placement, sharp edges can leave unknowing strollers with “paper-cut” wounds. Happy in sun or part shade, lemon grass can also be gown in large containers. Plants will be more luxurious if fertilized occasionally, but will grow robustly even if fertilizer is never applied.
Originating in Southern India and Ceylon, the tropical grass rarely flowers in temperate climates. Use the quick growing grass as an annual, or dig up the tender perennial in the fall and over winter indoors. After digging, give the blades a light trim off the top, and separate the clump into smaller divisions. Pot up the divisions in a well-draining, soil-less mix and then place in bright light. During its stay indoors be careful not to over water. The plant is in a state of semi-dormancy and will sulk until it is back in the ground basking in warm summer temperatures. If the plant is treated as an annual and left in the winter garden to die, the plant turns a lovely rosy-buff color.
The citrus-scented blades are popular in southeast Asian cuisines; soups, salads, saut?s, sauces, desserts, and beverages are infused with the light lemon taste. More subtle than many other lemon herbs, lemon grass can be used in recipes just like lemons. Lemonade, the traditional Vietnamese soup Tom Yum Gum, chicken, fish, and fruit dishes are brightened by the tangy grass. Harvesting to use in recipes is simple; dig up a clump, separate the sections, and cut off the roots. The light colored tender base is the culinary prize. Pound, chop, or slice the blade’s base to use in recipes. To extend the season, the white, bulbous roots can be wrapped in aluminum foil and frozen for use all year long.
Sugar Cane
Sugar cane, Saccharum officinarum, resembles bamboo with its tall, glossy canes, but it doesn’t have bamboo’s thuggish garden behavior because it is hardy only in zones 9-11. The straight species is a tower of green, but many heirloom cultivars exist with multiple colorations and striking variegations. ‘Pele’s Smoke’ is the cultivar most often offered in catalogs and nurseries. Eight-foot canes have purple-black stems with burgundy-plum leaves. This cultivar is from Polynesia, although the genus originated in New Guinea. It is a tender perennial and it must be dug before the first frost, potted up, and stored in a warm, bright area in the winter. After its winter storage, it is slow to get started in the garden. Once the temperatures start to rise, the plants shake off their slump and
grow to make a stunning presence in the garden.
It is easy to cultivate sugar cane by cutting the canes into sections, laying them horizontally along a bed of sand or potting medium. After roots and new shoots form, place the “babies” in their own pots until they have a root system sturdy enough to survive in the garden. ‘Pele’s Smoke’ is beautiful, but is not as tasty as the straight species. Still, the canes have culinary merit. Canes can be chewed to extract sweetness, used as a kebob stick to grill chicken or shrimp, or used as a swizzle stick in tropical drinks...
Want to learn more about the edible grasses that can grow in the MidAtlantic region? Read the rest of this article in the July/August 2008 issue of Washington Gardener magazine.
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Next Issue
The August 15, 2008 issue of Washington Gardener Enews will describe How to Attract Hummingbirds to your garden.
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Edited by Kathy Jentz
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©Washington Gardener 2008
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