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Vol. 2, No. 1 ??” January 15, 2006
In This Issue:
Volunteering at Public/Historic Gardens
Garden Photography Tips
January To-Do List
Spotlight Specials
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.
If this enewsletter does not display properly in your email browser, please click above on ???Read This Issue Online??? option.
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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If you know of any other Washington DC area gardeners, please forward this email to them so that they can subscribe to this free enewsletter as well using the form at the bottom of the enewsletter or by visiting www.WashingtonGardener.com.
If you are not interested in receiving future issues of the enewsletter, simply follow the Unsubscribe directions also at the bottom of this enewsletter.
Our January/February 2006 issue is now out and we are available at all area Border's, Barnes & Noble, and B. Dalton book stores. We are in high-gear now for our upcoming seed exchange (more details on that below) and hope to see all of you there. The seed exchange is open to all ??” even if you don't have any seeds to trade! We hope to make this an annual event with the U.S. National Arboretum and a good turn-out will guarantee that. Sign up early and note that Washington Gardener subscribers get a 20% discount off the entry fee.
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Volunteering at Public/Historic Gardens
Most gardeners will be asking, "Why volunteer? I have more than I can handle at my own home garden!" Well, consider the following benefits to volunteering:
- If your garden spaces are small or nonexistent, the public garden can fulfill your gardening ambitions.
- Almost all public gardens have training and ongoing education for their volunteers.
- You can add the experience to your resume and most volunteer positions require no prior experience.
- Public gardens often offer tours at other gardens exclusively for their volunteers.
- You can meet new people and make new gardening friends.
- Many public gardens offer their volunteers discounts or free access to their programs and events.
- You will have access to the expert staff for your gardening questions.
- A number of area public gardens work together and share volunteer benefits.
- You may evaluate whether you'd like to pursue the volunteer activity as a full-time job.
- It's just plain fun and good for you. Get out of the house, get exercise, and expand your mind!
The greater DC region has a bounty of volunteer opportunities. From small estates to large educational institutions, most every garden you visit is in desperate need of a few more helping hands. If you visit a public garden you especially like, by all means, inquire about their docent or volunteer programs. Here are a few to get you started:
At Meadowlark Botanical Gardens in Vienna, VA, volunteers work in many areas of Meadowlark Botanical Gardens. At the Visitor Center, volunteers help staff the gift shop, greet the public, and organize the library. The gardens blossom with endless possible projects. With the horticultural staff, volunteers may help mulch, weed and plant an existing garden or establish a new one. While some volunteers prefer to work on a variety of tasks, others enjoy tackling specific projects. Dedicate your efforts to specific collections such as the Potomac Valley Native Plant Garden or oversee the development of a particular database.
The Meadowlark Botanical Gardens staff encourages "pride of ownership" through specific volunteer projects and provides an enthusiastic environment of discovery and public service. Volunteers are recognized for their contributions in garden publications and at special events during the holidays. Other benefits include invitations to participate in staff field trips and programs at other gardens, free admission to Meadowlark Botanical Gardens and free quarterly newsletters. You can establish your volunteer role at Meadowlark Gardens by calling 703.255.3631.
Historic London Town and Garden in Edgewater, MD, needs volunteers to give their time and talent freely to explore, preserve, and interpret the history of one of Maryland's earliest seaports. London Town's volunteers work side by side with Anne Arundel County archaeologists unearthing the ancient seaport town of London. They help preserve and interpret the National Landmark William Brown house. They help maintain the beautiful eight acre woodland garden, work in London Town's new historical horticulture program and present educational programs such as Living History and Science in the Garden.
Both historical and horticultural gardens could not be maintained without the volunteer staff. Volunteers are also needed to help with special events such as public lectures, teas, plant sales, and living history programs. To find out more or to volunteer, call 410.222.1919.
The United States Botanic Garden in Washington, DC, is taking reservations now for Volunteer Orientation Day, to be held at the USBG Conservatory on
Saturday, January 21, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Interested individuals may choose from a variety of volunteer positions, including tour guide, gardening aide, discovery cart
assistant, children's activities leader, and visitor information aide. For information call
the USBG volunteer coordinator at 202.226.1047.
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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Washington Gardener magazine's first annual Seed Exchange
January 28, 12:30-4:00pm
US National Arboretum, Admin. Building main auditorium, 3501 New York Avenue, NE, Washington, DC
Washington Gardener magazine is holding its first ever "live" seed exchange in partnership with the U.S. National Arboretum. Expert speakers. Generous goodie bags for all attendees. Fabulous door prizes. Planting and growing tips. Save your seeds and save the date!
Fee: $15* ($12 FONA/WG) in advance; $20* ($16 FONA/WG) at the door. *FONA members and Washington Gardener subscribers receive a 20% discount. Registration is required.
For more information: call 202.245.2726 or www.usna.usda.gov
Green Roofs
February 1, 6:00-8:30pm
Cathedral College Library at the corner of South and Woodley Roads, NW, Washington, DC
This lecture is the third in a series entitled Dominion Over All the Earth: Examining Theology and Ecology sponsored by All Hallows Guild, the Cathedral College, and National Cathedral Association.
When the Cathedral completes its underground parking garage, its roof will be green. But what does it mean to have a green roof, and why are these green roofs becoming more and more popular?
Barbara Deutsch, Loeb Fellow at Harvard University??™s School of Design, will introduce us to the green roof phenomenon??”what??™s happening across the globe, what a green roof is, and why it is beneficial. Joining her will be landscape architect Katrin Scholz-Barth who has designed numerous green roofs in the metropolitan area and who will discuss those projects, what plants do well, and other details of successful green roofs. Peter Johnson will close out the program with a description of the commercial green roofs project he manages for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.
Fee: $50 includes dinner or $25 for lecture alone. Preregistration is required.
For more information: call 202.537.2937 or email: emullen@cathedral.org.
Photographing Orchids
Saturdays, February 4, 11, 18, 25, and March 4, 8:00-11:00am
United States Botanic Garden Conservatory, 100 Maryland Avenue, SW, foot of the U.S. Capitol
This five-session workshop is designed for photo enthusiasts at all levels. The class, led by Josh Taylor, will emphasize composition, light, choosing a background, and close-up
photography. Class time will include instruction, instructor critiques, and personal attention. Students may use either black and white, color, or slide film for this class. Students are responsible for their own film
development. A supply list will be mailed after registration.
Fee: $150. Preregistration is required.
For more information: call 202.226.4082 or www.usbg.gov
Washington Home & Garden Show
February 9-12
Washington Convention Center Halls A & B, 801 Mt. Vernon Place, NW, Washington, DC
All on one floor and under one roof, visitors will wander the miles of aisles and find everything for the home and garden from the rare and exotic to the latest gadgets. Dozens of full sized gardens filled with glorious flowers and delicate flowering trees all forced into perfect bloom, burbling brooks and roaring waterfalls greet visitors to the show.
The show has everything for decorating; remodeling or furnishing your existing house plus expert advice, great ideas and hot new products. And everything for the garden, from the latest landscaping ideas by Washington??™s best to exotic garden treasures to buy and take home. It??™s fun for the whole family with giveaways, prizes and seminars.
Fee: $10 adults. Preregistration is not required.
For more information: call 703.823.7960 or www.washingtonhomeandgardenshow.com
MD and PA
Plant Galls Fields, Forests, Yards
January 22, 2:00-3:00pm
Bowman's Hill Wildflower Preserve, 1635 River Road, 2.5 miles south of New Hope, PA
Have you ever wondered about those peculiar growths that you've seen on leaves, twigs and stems of trees and other plants? They might be hairy, fuzzy, or just little bumps; some are brightly colored or strangely shaped. If you were to look inside these growths, known as galls, you might be surprised to find insect eggs or developing larva and wonder how they got there. This presentation will focus on the fascinating world of insect- and mite-induced galls and the wide variety of galls and gall-makers that you might encounter in fields, forests ??“ and even in your own backyard.
Fee: $10. Registration is recommended.
For more information: www.bhwp.org or call: 215.862.2924.
College Level Horticulture Classes
Semester starts January 23
Montgomery County, MD
Montgomery College at Germantown and at Brookside Gardens in Wheaton offers a variety of horticulture courses that are beneficial to the suburban homeowner, the landscape professional, and those interested in continuing education classes. Topics include: Plant Materials, Landscape Graphics, Landscape Management, Interior and Greenhouse Plants, and a Landscape Technology Internship.
Cost depends upon residency and credit hours per course. Registration is required.
For more information: www.montgomerycollege.edu or call 301.353.7803.
A New Take on the Mixed Bouquet
February 8, 10:30am-12:00noon and again at 7-8:30pm
Brookside Gardens, Visitor's Center, 1800 Glenallan Ave., Wheaton, MD
Learn to improve the look of a mixed bouquet of fresh cut flowers using European techniques of hand tying
and color blocking. All materials provided. The instructor is Karen Nelson Kent of Floral Diversity.
Fee: $38. Registration is required.
For more information: 301.962.1400 or www.brooksidegardens.org.
VA and WV
Art Exhibit
January 11 through March 15, Mon-Fri, 9:00am-5:00pm
George Washington??™s River Farm, 7931 East Boulevard Dr., Alexandria, VA
An art exhibit featuring the works of folk artist Patricia Palermino. Using vibrant colors and a cast of playful characters, Palermino creates an array of magical scenes that combine a whimsical spirit with a hint of nostalgia. Each of her pieces is created in her Alexandria studio and proudly reflects the character and charisma found in many of the United State??™s most popular cities and landmarks. The happy and detailed images entice viewers of all ages, evoking smiles and pleasant memories.
Palermino has been publishing her unique collection of originals, prints, note cards and posters for 15 years. Her works are sold in numerous galleries and are in many private and public collections including the White House and the American Museum in Bath, England.
Fee: $0/free. Registration is not required.
For more information: www.ahs.org or call 703.768.5700.
17th Annual Maymont Flower & Garden Show
February 9-12
Greater Richmond Convention Center, Richmond, VA
Fresh, fun, and full of new features, the 17th annual Maymont Flower & Garden Show celebrates Valentine??™s Day with an intimate ???Table for Two??? in every lush garden rendezvous. Experience fuller landscapes with more plants, height, and creativity than ever. Discover inspired additions like ???Streetscapes,??? and fall in love with flower-filled exhibits and displays, the bountiful Great Garden Marketplace and spectacular speakers including Rebecca Cole of Discovery Channel??™s ???Surprise by Design.???
Fees range from $7-$22. Registration is not required.
For more information: www.maymont.org or call 804.358.7166.
Hands-On EnviroYard Workshop
March 18, 9:30am-1:30pm
Arlington Central Library, 1015 North Quincy St., Arlington, VA
Plan ahead for in-class sessions on controlling invasive plants, landscaping with native plants, and creating rain
gardens and wildlife habitats. Then practice your newly learned skills by helping remove English Ivy from landscaping beds at Arlington??™s Central
library and replanting the beds with native plants. Pizza lunch included. Come dressed to work.
Fee: $0/Free. Registration is required.
To register, email jferriga@vt.edu or call 703.228.7636.
To submit an event for this listing, please contact: editor@washingtongardener.com.
Our next deadline is February 12 for the March 15 edition of this enewsletter.
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Spotlight S
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This new column for our enewsletter will highlight the newest plant introductions from local plant growers along with sales and specials at local garden centers and other area stores.
This past week, Washington Gardener staff attended MANTS, the tradeshow for MidAtlantic plant nurseries. So many wonderful things are coming your way this year we are itching to share them all with you! Of particular note was a new initiative from Proven Winners?®.
The new line, Spring Magic?®, is in limited release and will be carried at Homestead Gardens in Davidsonville, MD, among other local garden centers. Spring Magic bridges the gap between the harsh late winter and the traditional spring planting season. No need to wait until after the last frost to add color to your garden beds and containers.
Included in the line are: Alyssum montanum'River of Gold,' Aquilegia hybrida 'Pagoda' in various colors, Erysimum 'Lemon Zest,' Euphorbia hybrids, Leucanthemum hosmariense 'Spring Silver,' and several more choices for the early spring.
Pictured here is Pulmonaria 'Gaelic,' which is suitable for partial to full shade locations.
Also in the collection are various Primulas (primroses). We profile this wonderful plant in our current issue and our local scouts have spotted them on sale at Safeway and other local supermarkets for just $2.00 or $2.50 per pot. So stock up now to color-up your indoors, then plant them in the ground this March.
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What's
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Some blooms seen around town, especially in the Capitol Hill area include violas, snowdrops, pansies, cabbages, and camellias. We had a rather warm second-half of December, but the start of January has put us back in the deep-freeze again.
Jim Dronenburg of Knoxville, MD, reports:
Sarcococca confusa (tall sweet box, Z7), Daphne xtransatlantica 'Summer Ice'- this is a continuous bloomer, just about all year; two witch hazels, the last of Hamamelis virginiana, the fall witch hazel, and then the first of H. vernalis New Years Gold; pansies; Helleborus foetidus (nothing on any of the others), Elaeagnus pungens - in bloom since October; and Chimonanthus praecox. One tiny spot of red on a camellia bud, but I can't call it "in flower." Berries on Nandina, winterberry, beautyberry, Ilex 'Nellie Stevens,' and others; and on Ruscus, the butcher's broom. That last is cheating - it's still in the pot I bought it in, in April. Good winter green color out of Arum italicum, the various hellebores, trachelospermum-jasmines, Euphorbia
robbiae. That last particularly, is deep, deep green and about 15" high. There aren't even sprouts on the snowdrops, and the Rijnveld's Early Sensation daffodils that were in bloom in early January last year aren't even showing their noses above ground yet. The catkins on Harry Lauder's walking stick aren't growing yet, and nothing out of the aconites. No leftovers on the fall camellias or C. 'Lady Clare,' no foolhardy individual flowers on the Abeliephyllum, forsythia, or Japanese quinces. Nothing on the Iris unguicularis, although it's quite green and healthy - it just sits there and laughs at me. It's a lean year this year.
Ursula Sukinik of North Bethesda, MD, has: Callicarpa D. ???Issai??? (berries), Ilex opaca, Hydrangea 'annabel' dried heads, Hydrangea quercifolia bark, Hypericum perforatum (berries), and Sedum ???Autumn Joy??™ flower heads.
In your editor's own garden in my Silver Spring/DC/Takoma Park border site: Beautyberry, Juniper berries, bulb foliage emerging in most beds, lots of seedheads such as Black-eyed Susan and Echinacea. Only outdoor blooms were from Pansies. Indoors: orchids, paperwhites, and primroses.
Let us know what is blooming or of particular interest in your garden during the week of February 5. Please include your name, city, state, and plant list. You may also send low-res digital images. Send to editor@washingtongardener.com by February 12 and we??™ll note it in our February 15 issue.
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Washingon Gardener Gear Sales Special: Get $2 off orders of $20 or more until 1/19/06!
Use Coupon Code: JAN2 for T-shirts, totes, mugs, calendars, hats, mouse pads, and more!
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January To-Do List
We've now completed a whole year of garden to-do lists for our region. Last year's January list can be found in our January 2005 issue. Here are a few more tasks and ch
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revious listing:
- Use leftover holiday greens and trees to mulch beds and create wind-breaks.
- Do not step on frozen soil in flower beds or lawns.
- Keep houseplants out of drafts and away from heat vents.
- Use de-icer sparingly or use a nonchemical substitute such as sand or kitty litter.
- Volunteer at a local public or historic garden.
- Paint a few terra cotta pots in spring-like colors.
- Pot-up any leftover bulbs that did not make it into the ground by now and force them for indoor blooms.
Have you made your New Year's gardening resolutions?
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Garden
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Did you get a new digital camera for Christmas that you are just itching to try out? Or has yours been sitting unused because you think it is too complicated to use?
Take a few minutes now to familiarize yourself with the camera and look over the enclosed user's manual. Then start testing it out by taking shots around your home. If you have digital camera, one of the best features is that you can take hundreds of photos and then wipe then out in just a few seconds. You can feel free to experiment and not have to worry about using up expensive film. In addition, you have instant feedback since you do not have to wait for it to be developed to view the results.
Garden and flower photography is a much-loved hobby that you will enjoy for years to come. Follow these tips to get started off right:
- The best garden photos are taken in the early morning or late afternoon. Even better still is an overcast day. At these times the colors are the most intense and not washed out by the sun.
- Get up close to your plants. Use your macro feature. (If your camera does not have one, exchange it for one that does. This is the only way to get those sharp, clear close-ups.)
- Look for the unusual in your subject matter. Try different angles and settings. Go from above, the side, and underneath.
- Remember to also take some wide shots of whole garden beds and views. Look especially for unique color combinations. You'll be grateful for this photographic record in future planting years.
- Carry your own "background." A piece of heavy, black paper can be placed behind a bloom to block out a busy background or isolate a unique feature.
- Store and index your photos with detailed titles and file names. It is very frustrating to seek out that one photo among your thousands with only numbered names to guide you.
- Have fun with digital technology and inexpensive color printers. Use your photos to create greeting cards, scrapbook pages, t-shirts, and more.
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Next Issue
The February issue of Washington Gardener Enews will cover Growing Violets.
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Edited by Kathy Jentz
Contact: editor@washingtongardener.com or 301.588.6894.
?©Washington Gardener 2006
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