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Vol. 1, No. 8 ?? August 15, 2005
In This Issue:
Local Agricultural Fairs
Kitchen Garden Day
August To-Do List
What's Blooming
Local Gardening Events
Welcome to the
Washington Garden Enews!
This is the free sister publication of Washington Gardener magazine.
Both the magazine and enewsletter share the same mission and focus ?? helping Washington DC area gardens grow ?? but our content is different.
In this monthly enewsletter, we will:
address timely seasonal topics and projects; post local garden events; and, include a monthly reminder list of what you can be doing now in your garden.
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We encourage you to subscribe to Washington Gardener magazine as well for in-depth articles, inspirational photos, and great garden resources for the Washington DC area gardener.
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Local Agricultural Fairs
Our September/October issue of the magazine is just off to the printer. We've squeezed in some great stuff on beautiful autumn container combinations, avoiding nasty insect bites in the yard, and creating an eco-savvy rain garden. We're very proud of this one and hope you will enjoy it as much as we enjoyed putting it together! By the way, if you have not already subscribed to the magazine, we urge you to do so today. Treat yourself or a friend to a year??s worth of DC gardening for just $18. Please see the Subscription information at bottom of this newsletter.
This past Saturday morning I attended the Montgomery County Agricultural Fair. I was part of Behnke Nurseries?? Garden Gurus radio show broadcasting live on WMET1160AM from the fairgrounds. What a kick out to meet the fair king and queen, piglet racer Cody Boger, and the county master gardeners.
The Montgomery County Master Gardeners are on hand at the farmer's triangle and at the co-operative extension's booth to answer your gardening questions. They have a beautiful demonstration garden this year which includes an extensive herb bed as well as hypertufa containers. (One whimsical hypertufa display is pictured here.) The Master Gardeners have hand-outs on how to make a hypertufa container yourself, the many uses for herbs in your kitchen, dealing with Japanese Beetles, and much more.
On a lark I decided to grab some flowers from my garden that morning and enter them into the fair competition. It was free, easy, and took just a couple of minutes. I won??t know if my black-eyed susans, roses, or cosmos won any ribbons until I check back later this weekend ?? but the prize doesn??t interest me so much as the process. Meeting the volunteers and judges was a treat. Everyone of them exuded enthusiasm for the agricultural arts. We could have talked for hours about the various flower and produce examples coming through the door.
While preparing my entries, a five-year-old girl arrived with her mother and they excitedly unpacked her home-grown tomatoes. The girl was so proud of her ???big red monster??? and you could tell she took a lot of care and time in growing it. What a thrill to see a love of gardening being passed down to the next generation. I hope she wins!
The Montgomery County Ag Fair continues through August 20. Here is a good listing of local DC area fairs: County Fairs. Also, the Washington Post printed a comprehensive guide to local fairs in the July 29, 2005 Weekend section.
Happy Growing!
Kathy Jentz
Editor/Publisher
Washington Gardener
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Local Gardening Events
Here is a selection of upcoming events in the DC area of interest to gardeners:
DC
Big Ugly Tomato Contest
August 20, 8am-12:00noon
Frager's Hardware, 115 Pennsylvania Ave., SE, Washinton, DC
As part of Frager??s 85th anniversary celebration, enter your homegrown tomato to win an $85 gift certificate for the biggest, ugliest, heaviest tomato, or the one that most resembles Mr. Ed. Drop off your tomato between 8-10am, tomatoes will then be on display for the rest of the morning with awards announced at 12 noon.
Fee: $0. Preregistration not required.
For more information: call 202.543.6157 or capitalcommunitynews.com
Longing for Longans and Loquats: Some Unusual Tropical Fruits
August 26, 1-3:00pm
United States Botanic Garden Conservatory, 100 Maryland Avenue, SW, foot of the U.S. Capitol
Join us for an exploration of tropical fruit botany. We will get to taste and experience some of the more unusual fruits of the world. Would you like to try a lychee? Will you be brave enough to sample the durian? A short tour of the USBG??s tropical fruit plants will be included in the workshop.
Fee: $5. Preregistration required.
For more information: call 202.226.4082 or www.usbg.gov
Chinese Autumn Moon Festival
September 17
US National Arboretum's National Bonsai & Penjing Museum Lecture/Demonstration Center, 3501 New York Avenue, NE, Washington, DC
The festival will include tram tours of the arboretum with narratives in both English and Chinese, Chinese food, gourmet tea and moon cakes, performances, and films throughout the evening. The festival also will feature moon viewing, music from Chinese zithers, calligraphy, art displays, stone viewings and lectures on Chinese herbs.
For more information: call 202.245.2726 or www.usna.usda.gov
White House Garden Tours
September 17, 8am-2pm
Garden Tours will begin at Sherman Park, just south of the US Treasury Building
Visitors to the gardens will be able to view the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden, Rose Garden, Children's Garden and the South Lawn of the White House.
Free. Timed ticket required and limited supply. Ticket distribution starting at 7:30 am on day of tour.
For more information: call 202.208.1631 or www.whitehouse.gov.
MD and PA<
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A Taste of Maryland at Behnke
August 20, 11:00am??5:00pm
Behnke Nurseries' Beltsville, MD location
Spend a wonderful day sampling treats from local restaurants while you stroll down Behnke's Main Street of local craft artisans and meet Washington Gardener editor, Kathy Jentz, at the magazine's booth. You can buy back issues, purchase gift subscriptions, and "stump the staff" with your gardening questions.
Free. Registration is not required.
For more information: www.behnkes.com or call 301.937.1100.
Native Plant Seminar and Sale
August 20, 9:30am??1:00pm
Irvine Nature Center, 8400 Greenspring Avenue, Stevenson, MD
14th Annual Native Plant Seminar and Sale features three dynamic speakers who are noted experts in their field. This seminar provides an opportunity for nursery and landscape professionals, land managers, garden club and native plant society members, environmental educators, homeowners, and others to increase their knowledge about native vegetation, sustainable practices, and the conservation of our native landscapes.
Fee: $50 for members; $60 nonmembers. Registration is required. Plant sale open to public.
For more information: www.explorenature.org or call 410.484.2413.
Wildflower Farm Tour
August 20, 3pm (rain date August 27)
Davidsonville, MD
Dr. Tangren will lead a tour through the wildflower production fields of the Carr family's farm in Davidsonville, MD. The warm season grasses will be bolting and flowering. Purple lovegrass should be in early bloom. Other warm season grasses you will see are little bluestem, broomsedge, purpletop, Indian grass, splitbeard bluestem, Elliott's beardgrass, bushy beardgrass, and Florida paspalum. The cool season grasses Virginia wild rye, slender wild rye and bottlebrush, should all be in seed. The blue sedge and wool grass are also beautiful. Flowers in bloom include hyssop thoroughwort, Culver's root, blue curls, shaggy blazingstars, orange coneflower and gray goldenrod. It's an excellent time of year to see butterflies and their caterpillars. Monarch caterpillars will be free to those willing
to provide a good home. Jeff White will lead a tour of our expanding woody plant area. A selection of native flowers, grasses, and woody shrubs will be available for sale.
Free. Registration required.
For more information: 301.580.6237 or visit www.chesapeakenatives.com.
Festival of Fountains
September 4 and 10, 8:45pm
Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, PA
Fabulous Fountains! Come experience Longwood's famous illuminated fountain display as the gardens burst with the summer bloom and stunning waterlilies. Enjoy outdoor concerts, casual dining, and summer fun. Don't miss the specially ticketed fireworks shows. Unforgettable!
Fee: $22 adults, $10 children under 15. Add $3 is purchsing ticket three days or less before the event.
For more information: 610.388.1000 ext.100 or visit longwoodgardens.org.
VA and WV
Art In The Garden
September 4, 1-3:00pm
Green Spring Gardens Park, 4603 Green Spring Rd., Alexandria, VA
Members of the Springfield Art Guild present their works at Historic Green Spring and the Horticulture Center from August 30-October 31. Join the artists for an Opening Reception.
Fee: $0. Registration is not required.
For more information: www.greenspring.org or call 703.642.5173.
Mind, Body & Spirit Weekend Retreat
September 9-11
Buffalo Springs Herb Farm, Raphine, VA
It??s easy to keep on going at today??s busy pace and not find time to take a break, sit back and allow some special time for yourself. Get in touch with your inner self . . . this retreat will give you the chance to unwind and relax during a peaceful break in the country. Enjoy a weekend of outstanding seminars, entertainment, food, and self-enrichment.
Buffalo Springs Herb Farm is located in Rockbridge County, VA, an inspiring area of natural beauty. Located in the Shenandoah Valley, it offers spectacular mountains and views at its heart, quiet, verdant valleys and unique towns and villages, it is the perfect place to treat yourself to some quality time.
With pamper breaks, keynote speakers like James Duke, Ph.D., Ethnobotonist, and healthy meals our Mind, Body and Spirit weekend retreat will put the spring back in your step.
Fee: $275 includes all activities and meals listed. Registration is required.
For more information: www.buffaloherbs.com or call 540.348.1083.
Gardening with Butterflies
September 10, 10:00am
Meadowlark Gardens, Beulah Road between Route 7 and Route 123, Vienna, VA
Laurie Short, Horticulturist, will talk about Meadowlark's Butterfly Garden, its function, and why certain plants grow in this area. (Butterflies are an important part of Meadowlark's conservation program). Participants will receive tips to help increase the butterfly population visiting their properties, what to grow, and proper upkeep of the plants.
Fee: $5. Registration is required.
For more information: meadowlarkgardens.org/ or call 703.255.3631.
To submit an event for this listing, please contact: editor@washingtongardener.com.
Our next deadline is September 12 for the September 15 edition of this enewsletter.
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What's Blooming
The DC summer is not as harsh as people think. I expected that my garden was pretty spent at this point, but after listing my "in bloom" plants I was pleasantly surprised to see I had so many. Following are lists submitted by some of our readers of blooms during the week of August 7 working our way from north to south.
Ursula Sukinik of North Bethesda, MD, has: Acleopisa, Ajuga burgundy glow, Agastache Foeniculum, Alcea rosea, Anenmone Japonica, Begonia 'Dragon Wing Red,' Belamcanda chinensis, Calendula, Callicarpa D. Issai, Canna x generalis, Chrysanthemum leucanthemum "Becky," Clethra alnifolia ???Hummingbird,?? Coreopsis verticillata 'Moonbeam,' dianthus- sweet William, Dicentra eximia, Echinacea purpurea, Eucomis autumnalis, Eupatorium dubium, Fringed Bleeding Heart (Dicentra eximia), Geranium maculatum & ???max frei,?? Helianthus tuberosus, hosta, Hydrangea 'annabel,' Hydrangea quercifolia, Hypericum perforatum, Impatiens, Itea little henry, Japanese Bleeding Heart (Dicentra spectabilis), Lantana, Lobelia syphilitica, Mazus reputans, Nicotiana ???Sylvestris,?? Nicotiana alata 'Lime Green,' Otocanthis
???Caribbean Blue,?? Oxalis regnellii 'Triangularis,' Pentas spp, Persicaria microsephala ???red dragon,?? Plumbago auriculata, rosa 'knock out,' Salvia guaranitica 'Black and Blue,' Sedum ???Autumn Joy,?? tiarella 'black snowflake,' Trumpet honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens), Zantedeschia aethiopica.
In your editor's own garden in my Silver Spring/DC/Takoma Park border site are: Alyssum, Anise Hyssop, Aster Monch, Balsam, Black-eyed Susan, Buddlea, Campanula, Cleome, Coreoposis ?? tall, Coreopsis ?? Moonbeam, Cosmos, Echinacea, Forget-Me-Nots, Gallardia, Geranium ?? annual, Goldenrod, Hollyhocks, Hosta, Impatiens, Lamium pink, Lavender Hidcote, Liatris, Marigolds, Monarda bee balm, Nicotiana, Obedient Plant, Petunias, Pickerel weed, Phlox - pink, tall, Pumpkin squash, Rhododendron (second wave), Rose Campion, Rose of Sharon, Rose ?? mutabilis, Rose -- miniature yellow, Rose ?? meidiland white, Rose ?? meidiland rosa, Russian sage, Salvia, Snapdragon, Trumpet Vine, Verbena on a stick, Vinca ?? annual, Water Hyacinth (pictured), Water Lily ?? white and pink hardy, Yarrow, Wiegelia
(second wave).
Jan Shea in southeast Washington, DC, has: Basil, Bleeding heart, Crepe Myrtle, Hydrangeas, Impatiens, Salvia, Sunflowers, and Tomatoes, not exactly blooming but...gorgeous.
Troy Force working in her daughter's garden in Dunn Loring, VA, near Tyson's reports: Asteromoea Mongolica, Kalimeris; Buddleia davidii ???Peakeep; Caryopteris divaricata, Bluebeard; Echinacia purpurea, Shasta Daises; Echinacia purpurea; Gerber daises; Hibiscus Syriacus, Diana; Hydrangea macrophlla, All Summer Beauty; Indigofera dielsiana (Yunna Indigo); Lagerstroemia, Crepe Myrtle; Lysimachia clethroides, Gooseneck Loosestrife; Lysimachia punctata 'Alexander'; Monarda didyma, Bee Balm; Petunias; Rebecia; Rudbeckia laciniata, Green Headed Coneflower; Scabiosa columbaria 'Butterfly Blue'; Vinca; and Zinnias.
Let us know what is blooming in your garden during the week of September 4. Please include your name, city, state, and plant list. You may also send low-res digital images. Send to editor@washingtongardener.com by August 12 and we??ll note it in our September 15 issue.
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August To-Do List
It is harvest time and also a good time to start taking stock if what worked well for you and what didn't. Take a
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to jot some notes down for next year's garden.
- Pick raspberries and peaches at a local pick-your-own farm or visit a local farmer's market.
- Check your local garden center for end-of-summer bargains.
- If your pond water gets low from prolonged drought, top it off with tap water and add a dechlorinator according to package instructions.
- Wash out birdbaths weekly with diluted bleach solution.
- Water thoroughly especially if you receive no rain for more than 5-7 days.
- Plant cabbage, broccoli, kohlrabi, radishes, and cauliflower.
- Turn your compost pile weekly and don't let it dry out.
- Start shopping for spring bulbs.
- Divide and cut back bearded iris.
- Check your pond pump for debris and clean it out every few weeks.
- Watch for slug damage and set out traps or Sluggo.
- Check for mosquito breeding grounds. Dump out any water that sits stagnant for more than three days.
- Weed.
- Take garden photos and make notes in your garden journal.
- Start collecting plant seeds for next year and for trading.
- At the end of the month, plant hardy mums.
- Prune evergreens to get in shape for fall/winter.
- Handpick or cut out any bagworm cocoons.
- Apply grub control to your lawn.
- Harvest your herbs often and keep them trimmed back to encourage leafy growth.
- Bring Christmas cactus and Poinsettias indoors if you took them out for the summer in preparation for holiday blooming. Fertilize them and put them in a place where they'll get just 10 hours bright light per day.
- Inspect for powdery mildew. If seen, prune back perennials to create needed circulation.
Your containers may be looking a bit ragged at this point. Pinch back overgrown plants. Pull out any spent ones and pop in some substitute annuals or mums. Keep them well-watered and add a little liquid fertilizer every few weeks to keep them going through early autumn.
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Kitchen Garden Day is August 28. It is an annual, decentralized celebration of delicious foods produced on a human scale. It is an opportunity for people around the world to gather in their gardens with friends, family, and members of their local communities to enjoy the multiple pleasures and benefits of home-grown, hand-made foods.
Kitchen Garden Day is coordinated by Kitchen Gardeners International (KGI), a 501c3 nonprofit organization based in the US with friends and supporters in over 40 countries. KGI??s mission is to celebrate home-grown, home-cooked foods in their many international forms and to promote their role in bringing about a healthier, more sustainable, and more pleasurable food system.
???With gas prices hovering at record highs and consumer confidence in industrial, processed foods at an all-time low, the case for eating foods of local and known origin has never been stronger,??? says Roger Doiron, founder of KGI. "Kitchen Garden Day is about celebrating the bounty and diversity of delicious foods coming from our own backyards, both literally and figuratively."
For more information about Kitchen Garden Day, see: www.kitchengardeners.org.
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Next Issue
The September issue of Washington Gardener Enews will cover Local Garden Clubs.
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