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Vol. 1, No. 9 ?? September 15, 2005
In This Issue:
Local Garden Clubs
America In Bloom
September To-Do List
What's Blooming
Local Gardening Events
Welcome to the Washington Gardener Enews!
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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.
Magazine subscription information is at the bottom of this enewsletter.
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Join Your Local Garden Club
Our September/October issue of the magazine is now out. We're already getting in rave reviews for the cover story on Fall Containers as well as the stories on creating a rain garden and growing Clematis vines. Also in this issue is a Nursery Survey. You can fill it out and mail it in or you can take it online at: survey.perseus.com. The survey period ends October 1 and one lucky survey respondent gets a gift certificate to "the best" area nursery. 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 year I've attended dozens of local area garden club meetings and events. Some of them have hundreds of members, while others are just a handful of folks. One recent Takoma Horticulture Club garden party I attended in Hyattsville, MD, is pictured here.
Why am I so gung-ho on garden clubs? In one word, garden clubs are community. I mean community in the most basic sense of people coming together. Gardening by its nature is a solitary pursuit. You can also read about it online, in magazines, and online all you like, but there is no substitute for experience and learning from the shared experiences of others. I highly recommend joining at least one local club as a great way to expand your gardening knowledge, not to mention the other great member benefits.
One of my favorite benefits is the plant exchange. You bring your extra plants and trade them for other people's extras ?? an easy and inexpensive way to build a varied garden! Most garden clubs also go on group tours of private and public gardens, hold social events and fund-raisers, as well as host educational meetings. Any one of these events is a great opportunity to meet with and talk to knowledgeable gardeners who have years of local area gardening experience to share.
To find a club near you, start with the National Capital Area Federation of Garden Clubs: gardencentral.org/ncafgc or call 202.399.5958. They can give you a list of area clubs and maybe guidance in forming your own garden club, if you desire. Also look for club meetings listed in your local newspapers. They are usually free to the public and a good way to attend first before deciding whether or not to join a particular group.
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
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Tour Southern Exposure
September 23, 12-1:00pm
United States Botanic Garden Conservatory, 100 Maryland Avenue, SW, foot of the U.S. Capitol
Walk through the Conservatory??s courtyard garden, Southern Exposure, with Bill McLaughlin, a member of the USBG Horticulture staff. Mr. McLaughlin, designer
of the Southern Exposure garden, will share stories and tidbits of information about the North
American native plants featured in the garden. Discover why he chose these plants and how his
knowledge of their natural habitat influenced its design.
Fee: $0/free. Preregistration is requested.
For more information: call 202.226.4082 or www.usbg.gov
Overwintering Your Bonsai
October 2, 1-3:00pm
US National Arboretum's National Bonsai & Penjing Museum Lecture/Demonstration Center, 3501 New York Avenue, NE, Washington, DC
How are you caring for your bonsai this winter? Learn the importance of winter dormancy, air circulation, temperature control, and the role that light plays during this potentially stressful period for your tree.
Fee: $12. Registration is required.
For more information: call 202.245.2726 or www.usna.usda.gov
The Glory of Flowers: Flower Arranging
October 12, 10:30am
St. David??s Episcopal Church, 5150 Macomb St., N.W., Washington, D.C.
Nationally-renowned floral designer Linda Roeckelein, Head of the Flower Guild at Washington National Cathedral, will give a demonstration of flower arranging for both sacred spaces and the home. Roeckelein is well-known for her airy English-style of flower arrangements which have enhanced settings in churches, homes, museums, galleries and public venues.
Fee: $50 includes buffet lunch and one year membership to the National Cathedral Association, reservations required.
For more information: call 202.966.3362 or cathedral.org.
MD and PA
Children's Day and Open Gardens
September 17, 11:00am-4:00pm
Brookside Gardens, 1800 Glenallan Ave., Wheaton, MD
Children's activities and closing weekend of the Butterfly Show.
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: 301.962.1400 or www.brooksidegardens.org.
Autumn Market Day Behnke
October 8, 11:00am??4:00pm
Behnke Nurseries' Beltsville, MD location
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.
Chrysanthemum Show: Golden Jubilee
October 15, 1-5:00pm and October 16, 10am-3:00pm
Brookside Visitors Center, 1800 Glenallan Ave., Wheaton, MD
The Potomac Chrysanthemum Society is celebrating its 50th anniversary and the title of our show is Golden Jubilee.
Fee: $50 for members; $60 nonmembers. Registration is required. Plant sale open to public.
For more information: www.brooksidegardens.org or email cccunnick@hotmail.com.
Fall Native Plant Sale
September 17 & 18, 10:00am-4:00pm
Bowman??s Hill Wildflower Preserve, 1685 River Road (PA Rt. 32) about 2.5 miles south of New Hope, PA, and convenient to I-95
More than 200 species of high-quality native wildflowers, vines, ferns, shrubs and trees. All plants are nursery-propagated; none are gathered from the wild. For many gardeners in the region, deer-resistant perennials are a must. Native plants at the Sale that fit the bill include 'Blue Ice?? bluestar, a spring bloomer; and milkweeds, purple giant hyssop and mountain mints, all summer flowering.
Free. No rehistration required.
For more information: 215.862.2924 or visit www.bhwp.org.
VA and WV
Garden Retrospective and New Paintings
August 29 to November 4
George Washington's River Farm, headquarters of the American Horticultural Society, Alexandria, VA.
Garden Retrospective and New Paintings" by Lida Matheson Stifel will be on display. The exhibit will feature oil painting inspired by nature; several pieces are of scenes from River Farm's grounds and other local garden areas. Stifel is part of the Matheson family, which previously owned River Farm, so she is especially familiar with the location.
Free. Registration is not required.
For more information: www.ahs.org or call 703.768.5700.
Figs: Propagating, Growing and Cooking!
September 24, 10-11:30am
Green Spring Gardens Park, 4603 Green Spring Rd., Alexandria, VA
Easy-to-grow figs add a tropical flair to your garden with their large, odd-shaped leaves and delectable fruit. One of the oldest fruits recorded in cultivation, domestic figs (Ficus carica) add a wonderful tradition and history to any garden. Sybil Mays, owner of Paradise Nursery shares her fig growing experiences, tips, tricks and fig recipes. Enjoy a fig tasting after the lecture featuring recipes prepared by gourmet gardener Cindy Brown. Fig and gorgonzola pizza anyone?
Fee: $18. Registration is required.
For more information: www.greenspring.org or call 703.642.5173.
Parkfairfax Native Plant
October 1, 9:00am-2:00pm
Parkfairfax is located within the I-495 Beltway, directly across I-395 from Shirlington, VA
The sale features many top-quality nurseries from Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia offering beautiful and uncommon native perennials, shrubs, and trees for sun or shade! The sale is entirely organized and run by volunteers. No one makes money from it except the vendors. The goal is to promote native plant gardening in our area by bringing together far-flung growers of native plants--to make it easier for local gardeners to find quality native plants and also to encourage greater demand for natives in the nursery industry.
Free. Registration is not required.
For more information: www.parkfairfax.info or call 703.671.8416.
To submit an event for this listing, please contact: editor@washingtongardener.com.
Our next deadline is October 12 for the October 15 edition of this enewsletter.
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What's Blooming
For the past few weeks, we've been in a serious drought that we hope is ending with today's rain. The deficit of water was caused many local gardens and lawns to go brown, but we still have many blooms hanging on. Following are lists submitted by some of our readers of blooms during the week of September 4 working our way from north to south.
Ursula Sukinik of North Bethesda, MD, has: Agastache Foeniculum, Alcea rosea, Anenmone Japonica, Begonia 'Dragon Wing Red,' Calendula, Callicarpa D. ???Issai??? (berries), Canna x generalis, Caryopteris ???Sunshine Blue,?? Chrysanthemum leucanthemum "Becky", Clemartis paniculata, Coreopsis verticillata 'Moonbeam,' Echinacea purpurea, Eucomis autumnalis, Eupatorium dubium, Helianthus tuberosus, Hydrangea 'annabel,' Hydrangea quercifolia, Hypericum perforatum, Impatiens, Lantana, Mazus reputans, Nicotiana ???Sylvestris,?? Nicotiana alata 'Lime Green,?? Otocanthis ???Caribbean Blue,?? Oxalis regnellii 'Triangularis,' Passiflora ???Star of Surbiton,?? Pentas spp, Persicaria microsephala ???red dragon,?? Physostegia virginiana, Plumbago auriculata, rosa' knock out,' Salvia guaranitica 'Black and Blue,' Sedumn
???Autumn Joy,?? Trumpet honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens), and Zantedeschia aethiopica.
Taffy Turner in the Four Corners section on Silver Spring, MD, reports: My garden is looking pretty crispy these days and I'm about ready to bag the annuals, but there are a few things blooming. My Caryopteris 'Grand Bleu' is looking good with its deep blue/purple flowers (got it last year at the Brookside plant sale). The plantaginea Hostas are still looking great - large white very fragrant flowers. The Japanese anemones are blooming - I have 'Mont Rose' which is a single pale pink and 'Margueritte' is a double dark pink. The Begonia grandis are blooming as is the Kirengeshoma palmate. I have one Geranium that's still going strong - 'Dilys' - a great cultivar for long blooming. Also, my Thalictrum ochebrunianum that was crushed by a big branch that came down in that scary
storm in July is re-blooming which is nice to see.
In your editor's own garden in my Silver Spring/DC/Takoma Park border site are: Alyssum, Anise Hyssop, Anemone, Aster Monch, Balsam, Black-eyed Susan, Buddlea, Caryopteris, Clematis Sweet Autumn, Cleome, Coreopsis ?? Moonbeam, Cosmos, Creoe Myrtle, Delphinium, Echinacea, Four-o-clocks, Gallardia, Goldenrod, Hosta, Impatiens, Lavender, Leptodermis, Liriope, Marigolds, Morning Glory vines, Mums, Nicotiana, Obedient Plant, Petunias, Phlox - pink, tall, Rhododendron (second wave), Rose Campion, Rose of Sharon, Rose ?? mutabilis, Rose ?? meidiland white, Rose ?? meidiland rosa, Russian sage, Salvia, Sedum Autumn Joy, Snapdragon, Sunflowers, Trumpet Vine, Verbena on a stick, Vinca ?? annual, Water Hyacinth, Water Lily ?? white hardy, Yarrow, Wiegelia (second wave), and Zinnias.
Stacey Marien in AU Park, Washington, DC, has: Blanket Flower, Boltonia, Butterfly Bush, Butterfly Weed, California Poppies ?? orange, Caryopteris, a few lingering conefowers, Coreopsis - Sweet Dreams, False Sunflower - Heliopsis Helianthoides, Red Geraniums, Hibiscus ?? Fantasia, Hibiscus - Lord Baltimore, Impatiens, Lavender - Hidcote, Russian Sage, Roses - David Austin, Tess of the D'Urberville, Verbena, Zinnias, and some random gourds that sprung up from compost (pictured here).
Troy Force working in her daughter's garden in Dunn Loring, VA, near Tyson's reports: Asteromoea Mongolica, Kalimeris; Buddleia davidii ???Peakeep; Gerber daises; Hibiscus Syriacus, Diana; Lagerstroemia, Crepe Myrtle; Petunias; Rebecia; Rudbeckia laciniata, Solidago 'Fireworks" ; Vinca; and Zinnias.
Sheryl Hovey of Oakton, VA, lists:
Annuals & Tropicals Alyssum, Sweet - Lobularia maritime, Celosia, Cleome or Spider Flower - Cleome hasslerana, Coleus, Dahlias, dinnerplate and windowbox, Four-o'clocks or Marvel of Perus - Mirabilis jalapa, Fuschias, Gerber Daisies, Impatiens, Jasmine - star and confederate, Mandevilla 'Alice du Pont,?? Marigolds - french, Million Bells ?? Calibrachoa, Moonflower vine - Ipomoea alba, Morning glories, Passionflower - Passiflora caerulea, Petunias, Portulacas, Sunflowers, Tropical hibiscus, Verbenas, Vincas, and Zinnias.
Perennials, Vines & Subshrubs Balloon Flowers, Blue Lobelia, Butterfly Bushes, Clematis, Sweet Autumn - Clematis paniculata, Clematis ?? Violacea, Cone flowers, Coreopsis, Ruby Glow, Crape Myrtle, Hardy Ageratum, Hardy Hibiscus - Hibiscus moscheutos, Hollyhock, Johnny-Jumpups, Phlox, Plumbago, Rudbeckia, Rose of Sharon, Roses - Floribunda, shrub & minature, Monarda/Bee Balm ?? sporadically,
Sedum 'Autumn Joy,?? Tamarix, and Verbena ?? purple.
Let us know what is blooming in your garden during the week of October 2. Please include your name, city, state, and plant list. You may also send low-res digital images. Send to editor@washingtongardener.com by October 12 and we??ll note it in our October 15 issue.
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September To-Do List
The heat and humidity are coming down enough to be able to work more outside and get some more garden
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k a few from the following list to do this weekend.
- Keep an eye out for the first frost date. In Zone 6, it is expected between September 30 ?? October 30 and in Zone 7 it is predicted between October 15 ?? November 15.
- Divide and transplant perennials.
- 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.
- 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 falling leaves and debris.
- Start feeding birds to get them in the habit for this winter.
- Attend a local garden club meeting.
- 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.
- Take garden photos and update your journal.
- Divide and transplant peonies
- Remove rotting fruits from fruit trees and compost it.
- Plant evergreens for winter interest.
- Weed.
- Plant garlic bulbs.
- Collect plant seeds for next year's planting and for trading.
- Plant hardy mums and fall season annuals.
- Fertilize your lawn and re-seed if needed.
- Dig up bulbs from your Gladiolus, cut off foilage, 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.
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America In Bloom
Is your community beautifully blooming? America In Bloom (AIB) is a national campaign and contest, which promotes enhancing communities through beautification. In the friendly competition, communities are matched by population and evaluated on their efforts related to floral displays, urban forestry, landscaped areas, turf and groundcover, tidiness, environmental awareness, heritage conservation and community involvement. Judges visited the communities this summer.
Nearly 50 communities from all regions of the country participated in the fourth edition of AIB. However, there was only one 2005 entry from the DC area: Mount Rainier, MD! The nearest winning community to DC was Lewes, DE, which won in the ???under 5,000??? population category. Reston, VA, was a past winner and also went on to win the international challenge award in Canada's Communities In Bloom contest last year.
Next year they will expand the current Campus category as well as reach out to Business Improvement Districts (BID's).
Let??s get some more of the beautifully blooming communities in the DC area nominated. Benefits include: an increase in civic pride and community involvement, increased economic development, increased property values, and decreased vandalism.
Communities can register to enter at www.americainbloom.org.
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Next Issue
The October issue of Washington Gardener Enews will cover Bulb Planting.
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