Saturday, February 28, 2026

GardenDC Podcast Episode 275: Garden Pests and Friends

In this episode of GardenDC: The Podcast about Mid-Atlantic Gardening, we talk with illustrator and author Halsey Berryman, all about her new book, Pests & Other Friends*. The plant profile is on Wallflowers and we share what's going on in the garden as well as some upcoming local gardening events in the What's New segment. We close out with the Last Word on "Growing Kale in Pots" from Christy Page of GreenPrints.

*You can order Halsey's book, Pests & Other Friends, at https://amzn.to/4r0m1hF 
This link is to our Amazon affiliate accounts and we may earn a few pennies from their sales, but this does not impact your purchase price.

BTW, YOU can become a listener supporter for as little as $0.99 per month! 

See how at: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/gardendc/subscribe


If you liked this episode, you may also enjoy listening to:

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 198: Rats and Other Destructive Critters

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2024/06/gardendc-podcast-episode-198-rats-and.html

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 174: Wildscaping

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2023/11/gardendc-podcast-episode-174-wildscaping.html

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 50: Deer-Resistant Native Plants

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2021/03/gardendc-podcast-episode-50-deer.html


Show Notes will be posted after 3/10/2026.

This episode is archived at: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7DbopQr5esMgj59V08ECtO?si=qs5l69t2R36T6QS5gRLYjg

We welcome your questions and comments! You can leave a voice mail message for us at: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/gardendc/message Note that we may use these messages on a future episode.

And be sure to leave us a 5-star review on your favorite podcast platform plus share us on social media with #GardenDC, so other gardeners can find us too!

Episode Credits:
Host and Producer: Kathy Jentz
Music: Let the Sunshine by James Mulvany

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*You can order Halsey's book, Pests & Other Friends, at https://amzn.to/4r0m1hF 
This link is to our Amazon affiliate accounts and we may earn a few pennies from their sales, but this does not impact your purchase price.
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Wednesday, February 25, 2026

Skunk Cabbage Plant Profile

Skunk Cabbage Plant Profile

Eastern Skunk Cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus) is a herbaceous perennial plant. It is also known as swamp cabbage, clumpfoot cabbage, meadow cabbage, foetid pothos, West Virginia Hosta, or polecat weed). It has huge leaves, that when bruised smell like – well – skunk or some say overcooked cabbage, mustard, or garlic.

The purplish flower, which is called a spathe, looks a lot like its smaller cousin -- the Jack-in-the-Pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum). It attract flies, gnats, and beetles for pollination. 

It is native to the eastern half of the United States and is hardy to USDA zones 4 to 7 . There is also Western Skunk Cabbage and an Asian cousin.

The plant emerges from the ground in late winter to early spring. Amazingly, it generates enough heat to melt the snow around it as it emerges.

Eastern Skunk Cabbage is typically found in very wet soil such as stream valleys, bogs, and marshes, and that is the best place to plant it in your garden. Note that it does go dormant around early summer if it is planted in drier soils, but in wetter locations, it persists into autumn.

It prefers to grow in part- to full-shade.

It can reach 3 feet tall and 4 feet wide during years of heavy rainfall. Once established, they are very difficult to transplant because the root system can be larger than the plant above ground.

Seed is the best way to propagate Skunk Cabbage, but you must sow the seeds immediately when ripe, as they are very ephemeral.

The foliage contains heavy amounts of oxalic acid so it is deer- and pest-resistant. According to the National Wildlife Federation, bears will eat the berry-like fruit. They also eat the roots after emerging from hibernation because the roots act as a laxative.

Skunk Cabbage: You Can Grow That!

The video was produced by Washington Gardener Magazine.

Audio and Text by Kathy Jentz

Video, Photos, and Editing by Aicha Bangoura

Additional Photos by Barry Glick and Miri Talabac

Video footage collected on the campus natural areas of the University of Maryland Arboretum & Botanical Gardens.

 

➤ If you enjoy this video, please give it a thumbs up and subscribe to our Youtube channel (thank you!)

➤Remember to TURN ON notifications to know when our new videos are out

➤ FIND Washington Gardener Magazine ONLINE

~ WashingtonGardener.blogspot.com

~ http://twitter.com/WDCGardener

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~ Facebook.com/WashingtonGardenerMagazine

~ Podcast: GardenDC


If you liked this video, you may enjoy these other plant profiles:

 Virginia Bluebells Plant Profile

 https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2018/04/plant-profile-virginia-bluebells.html

 Baptisia Plant Profile

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2023/07/baptisia-plant-profile.html

 Spring Beauty Plant Profile

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2020/04/plant-profile-spring-beauty-claytonia.html


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Monday, February 23, 2026

Monday Thoughts: "What really truly inspires me is nature. I like to bring the outdoors inside." ~ Debora Moore

 

"What really truly inspires me is nature.  I like to bring the outdoors inside." 

~ Debora Moore

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Saturday, February 21, 2026

GardenDC Podcast Episode 274: Philadelphia Flower Show's Past, Present, and Future

In this episode of GardenDC: The Podcast about Mid-Atlantic Gardening, we talk with Janet Evans, Associate Director, McLean Library & Archives, at the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS), all about the fascinating history of the Philadelphia Flower Show. The plant profile is on California Poppy and we share what's going on in the garden as well as some upcoming local gardening events in the What's New segment. We close out with the Last Word on "Brewing Success in the Garden" from Christy Page of GreenPrints.

Janet Evans
Photo Credit: Morgan Horell

BTW, YOU can become a listener supporter for as little as $0.99 per month! 

See how at: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/gardendc/subscribe


If you liked this episode, you may also enjoy listening to:

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 230: Secrets of the Philadelphia Flower Show

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2024/11/gardendc-podcast-episode-220-age-of.html

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 121: PHS Gold Medal Plants

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2022/09/gardendc-podcast-episode-121-gold-medal.html

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 260: Orchids of the First Ladies

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2025/10/gardendc-podcast-episode-260-orchids-of.html

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 226: Designing Your Natural Garden with Kelly D. Norris

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2025/02/gardendc-podcast-episode-226-designing.html


Show Notes will be posted after 3/1/2026.

This episode is archived at: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3VadcDa7oBXMsKA6zbX02o?si=yPCReyNHQ_23afDp3oOQrA

We welcome your questions and comments! You can leave a voice mail message for us at: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/gardendc/message Note that we may use these messages on a future episode.

And be sure to leave us a 5-star review on your favorite podcast platform plus share us on social media with #GardenDC, so other gardeners can find us too!

Episode Credits:
Host and Producer: Kathy Jentz
Music: Let the Sunshine by James Mulvany

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Wednesday, February 18, 2026

Creeping Jenny Plant Profile

Creeping Jenny Plant Profile

Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia) is an evergreen perennial with small, rounded leaves on long trailing stems that grow across the surface of the ground taking root wherever a node touches the soil surface. This groundcover creates a true low-growing carpet that is ideal for the front of beds, along walkways, and in damp areas of your landscape. It is also known as Moneywort and Herb Twopence. It is native to Europe and is hardy to USDA Zones 4 to 9. In summer, upright bright-yellow flowers appear along its stems. The more sun it is in, the better the flowering, but it will even bloom sporadically in part shade. In hot climates, place it out of direct afternoon sun as the foliage can become scorched by the intense rays. It prefers moist, well-draining locations such as along a streambed, ditch, or where a rain gutter spills out. It doesn’t like to ever completely dry out. This plant loves wet so much that in can also be used in water gardens. It is very shallow-rooted and it is easy to pull up a section to transplant it. Propagate it by rooting it in water and then planting the sections in damp soil. Plant it in early spring so that it is well-established by the heat of summer. Space each plant about 18 inches apart and it will fill in quickly. Creeping Jenny is not troubled by deer or other pests. It is generally disease-free, but can get fungus or rust if sitting for long periods in hot, humid environments. Like moss, Creeping Jenny doesn’t like to be smothered by leaves in the fall, so rake them off to allow the tendrils to get sunlight. It can tolerate light foot traffic and is extremely low-maintenance. It needs no fertilizer or annual pruning, simply cut out any dead or wandering stems as you notice them. Creeping Jenny: You Can Grow That! This profile was excerpted from the book Groundcover Revolution by Kathy Jentz. Order it today at https://amzn.to/4aDHN4u (affiliate link). The video was produced by Washington Gardener Magazine. Audio, Photos, and Text by Kathy Jentz ➤ If you enjoy this video, please give it a thumbs up and subscribe to our Youtube channel (thank you!) ➤Remember to TURN ON notifications to know when our new videos are out ➤ FIND Washington Gardener Magazine ONLINE ~ WashingtonGardener.blogspot.com ~ http://twitter.com/WDCGardener ~ https://www.instagram.com/wdcgardener/ ~ Facebook.com/WashingtonGardenerMagazine ~ Podcast: GardenDC If you liked this video, we think you will like these other Plant Profiles:

~ Lyre Leaf Sage Plant Profile

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2025/04/lyreleaf-sage-plant-profile.html

~ Hosta Plant Profile

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2025/06/hosta-plant-profile.html

~ Sarcococca Plant Profile

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2023/03/sarcococca-plant-profile.html

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Monday, February 16, 2026

Monday Thoughts: “Contemplation about nature, and in nature, allow us to redirect inward to deeper knowledge." ~ Teresa H. Sabankaya

"Contemplation about nature, and in nature, allow us to redirect inward to deeper knowledge."

~ Teresa H. Sabankaya

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Saturday, February 14, 2026

GardenDC Podcast Episode 273: Mushrooms Are Everywhere

In this episode of GardenDC: The Podcast about Mid-Atlantic Gardening, we talk with Dr. Jessica Allen, lead mycologist at NatureServe, all about the world of mushrooms. The plant profile is on Prairie Smoke (Geum triflorum) and we share what's going on in the garden as well as some upcoming local gardening events in the What's New segment. We close out with the Last Word on "The Unwritten Garden Journal" from Christy Page of GreenPrints.


BTW, YOU can become a listener supporter for as little as $0.99 per month! 

See how at: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/gardendc/subscribe


If you liked this episode, you may also enjoy listening to:

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 220: The Age of Lichens

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2024/11/gardendc-podcast-episode-220-age-of.html

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 132: Moss Gardening

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2023/01/gardendc-podcast-episode-132-moss.html

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 219: Native Ferns

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2024/11/gardendc-podcast-episode-219-native.html

Show Notes will be posted after 2/21/2026.

This episode is archived at: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3DAiHCpBy05pt4J49yIKCC?si=kPuz37-AT2SML6vhpc4_AQ

We welcome your questions and comments! You can leave a voice mail message for us at: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/gardendc/message Note that we may use these messages on a future episode.

And be sure to leave us a 5-star review on your favorite podcast platform plus share us on social media with #GardenDC, so other gardeners can find us too!

Episode Credits:
Host and Producer: Kathy Jentz
Music: Let the Sunshine by James Mulvany

PIN THIS FOR LATER!
Images courtesy of Jessica Allen.
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