Monday, August 11, 2025

Monday Thoughts: “I must have flowers, always and always.” ~ Claude Monet

“I must have flowers, always and always.” ~ Claude Monet

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Sunday, August 10, 2025

Win a Kodiak® Red Diervilla shrub in the July-August 2025 Washington Gardener Reader Contest

For our July-August 2025 Washington Gardener Reader Contest, we are giving away a Kodiak® Red Diervilla shrub from the Proven Winners ColorChoice Flowering Shrub Collection. The prize value is $24.

   This deep-red foliage will draw the eye all throughout the growing season. Kodiak Red 2.0 Diervilla bursts onto the scene in spring with vibrant coloring, produces dramatic warm rouge-tipped foliage for the entire summer, and lights up in the fall. It’s the kind of constant beauty any garden could benefit from. While the foliage is beautiful, it’s also useful: It feeds pollinator larva! The equally useful summer-long display of flowers feeds adult pollinators. Knowing that your plant is providing a service to the ecosystem as well as your eyes is a great comfort to any gardener.

   To enter to win the Kodiak® Red Diervilla, send an email by 5:00pm on Sunday, August 31, to WashingtonGardenerMagazine@gmail.com with “Kodiak Red Diervilla” in the Subject line and in the body of the email. Tell us what your favorite article was in the July-August 2025 Washington Gardener issue and why. Please include your full name and mailing address. Winners will be announced and notified on/about September 1. Replies might be published. 

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Saturday, August 09, 2025

GardenDC Podcast Episode 251: Soil Care Basics

In this episode of GardenDC: The Podcast about Mid-Atlantic Gardening, we talk with Debra Knapke, known as the Garden Sage, all about soil care basics. The plant profile is on Globe Amaranth 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 Max, Mia, and the Sunflowers by Christy Page of GreenPrints.

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

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 187: Mad About Mulches

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2024/03/gardendc-podcast-episode-187-mad-about.html

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 71: Soil Health

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2021/08/gardendc-podcast-episode-71-soil-health.html

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 136: Home Composting

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2023/02/gardendc-podcast-episode-136-home.html

BTW, YOU can become a listener supporter/subscriber at: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/gardendc/subscribe

Visit https://shop.kathyjentz.com/ to browse our new online store!

This episode is archived at: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5wQL2pxljESO4tuyiTFb7q?si=TkZCJo52Q2q0RV5BQOH5_g

Show Notes will be posted after 8-12-2025.

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
Interview Edit & Show Notes: Colin Davan
Music: Let the Sunshine by James Mulvany
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Friday, August 08, 2025

Fenton Friday: First Zucchini

This past week brought in cooler temps and lower humidity -- it was glorious! We didn't get any real rain, so I watered a few times, but the ground seems damp enough a few inches down that I can skip a few days.

The Zucchini is finally producing (see pic above) and is covered in blossoms that I hope also develop fruit soon.

We are preparing out county fair entries this week, though we won't have 5 equal-sized cucumbers and enough of the several other category entries that I'd hope for... the fair seems too early for a lot of our produce to be ripe and some rules require 15 identical examples of an item or a full quart, which makes it tough for a plot gardener to enter. Still, I'll have plenty of cut flowers and can do at least one pepper and one tomato entry.

The rabbits seem to be giving the Cow Peas and Green Bean plants a rest this week, so they are setting flowers and we may actually be able to harvest some in a few weeks.

I made fresh pesto with our Basil and cured Garlic. 

We also tackled more weeding and tying up wayward Cucumber vines as well as reining in the now-tall Asparagus.

Everything else is humming right along...

What are you growing and harvesting in your edible garden this week?

About Fenton Friday: Every Friday during the growing season, I'll be giving you an update on my community garden plot at the Fenton Street Community Garden just across the street from my house in zone 7 Mid-Atlantic MD/DC border. I'm plot #16. It is a 10 ft x 20 ft space and this is our 14th year in the garden. (It opened in May 2011.) See past posts about our edible garden by putting "Fenton"  into the Search box above (at the top, left on this blog.)

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Wednesday, August 06, 2025

Gaura Plant Profile


Gaura Plant Profile

Gaura (Oenothera lindheimeri previously Gaura lindheimeri)) is an herbaceous flowering plant with a floppy, weeping habit that looks good in a cottage garden or planted in containers. It has star-shaped blooms in shades of pale pink and white that flower from late summer into fall.

It is also known as Butterfly Gaura, Lindheimer's Beeblossom, Indian Feather, and Wand Flower. The flowers  attract bumblebees, long-tongue bees, and butterflies.

Though it is reportedly hardy to USDA Zones 5 to 9, it is an annual or tender perennial (also known as temperennial) in our region – depending on your zone and how harsh and wet the winter weather is each year and how heavy your clay soil is. As an extra measure to winter them over, you can add straw mulch around the base to insulate them.

Gaura grows best in full sun and well-draining soils. It is native to Louisiana and Texas.

Cut it back after it finishes flowering and divide the large clumps in mid-spring. You can take cuttings in the fall to propagate them indoors

A few Gaura cultivars to try include 'Siskiyou Pink' and ‘Whirling Butterflies’.

Gaura: You Can Grow That!

 

The video was produced by Washington Gardener Magazine.

Audio, Photos, Video, and Text by Kathy Jentz

Editing by Ian Ferris

 

➤ 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:

~ Blazing Star Plant Profile

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2022/07/blazing-star-plant-profile.html

~ Black Cohosh Plant Profile

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2025/07/black-cohosh-plant-profile.html

~ Fleabane Plant Profile

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2025/05/fleabane-plant-profile.html

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Monday, August 04, 2025

Monday Thoughts: “I guarantee that gardening with nature is easier than gardening against it.” ~ Becky Searle

“I guarantee that gardening with nature is easier than gardening against it.” 

~ Becky Searle

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Saturday, August 02, 2025

GardenDC Podcast Episode 250: Garden Hacks

In this special 250th episode of GardenDC: The Podcast about Mid-Atlantic Gardening, I let the interns take over the show and ask me their gardening questions. I share my best garden tips and hacks for solving problems ranging from pruning hydrangea to choosing organic fertilizers. This episode was also videoed so you can watch it on YouTube and other platforms that offer video podcasts.

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

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 100: Behind the Scenes

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2022/04/gardendc-podcast-episode-100-behind.html

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 200: Secrets of a Gardening Podcast

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2024/06/gardendc-podcast-episode-200-secrets-of.html

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 142: Hydrangea Care and Pruning

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2023/03/gardendc-podcast-episode-142-hydrangea.html

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 51: Companion Planting Strategies

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2021/03/gardendc-podcast-episode-51-companion.html

BTW, YOU can become a listener supporter/subscriber at: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/gardendc/subscribe

Visit https://shop.kathyjentz.com/ to browse our new online store!

This episode is archived at: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3CauHImB6havSOafQqiyPY?si=WPOBR8BmTECiuY6IB5PQrA

Show Notes will be posted after 8-5-2025.

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 Interns: Colin Davan, Ian Ferris, and Miguel Zarate
Interview Edit & Show Notes: Ian Ferris
Music: Let the Sunshine by James Mulvany

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Friday, August 01, 2025

Fenton Friday: Rinse and Repeat

This past week was more heat and more storms following by more rampant vine growth. This weekend promises to be some weather relief and maybe we can catch up on some weeding then.

We were able to pick several Cucumbers and Cherry Tomatoes plus a few Blackberries. We are leaving the Peppers in place in hopes we can gather enough next week for our fair entries. The Zucchini plants continute to bloom with no fruits forming -- yet.

Some bunny has once again munched on the Cow Peas and Green Bean plants.

I cut more Dahlias, Lisianthus, Zinnias, and Marigolds to enjoy in indoor vases.

This is the week I plan to cut the Basil to make fresh pesto and to get that Brussels Sprout seedling into the ground.

Everything else is pretty much a holding pattern waiting for those larger tomatoes to ripen...

What are you growing and harvesting in your edible garden this week?

About Fenton Friday: Every Friday during the growing season, I'll be giving you an update on my community garden plot at the Fenton Street Community Garden just across the street from my house in zone 7 Mid-Atlantic MD/DC border. I'm plot #16. It is a 10 ft x 20 ft space and this is our 14th year in the garden. (It opened in May 2011.) See past posts about our edible garden by putting "Fenton"  into the Search box above (at the top, left on this blog.)

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Wednesday, July 30, 2025

Pagoda Dogwood Plant Profile


Pagoda Dogwood Plant Profile

Pagoda Dogwood (Cornus alternifolia) is an understory tree that is native to central and Eastern North America. The branches are held parallel to the ground and have an architectural tiered look that give it its common name.

It has four-season interest with small white flowers in spring that turn into dark berries in the summer. The foliage is solid green and turns burgundy in fall. There are also variegated cultivars such as ‘Golden Shadows’ and ‘Argentea’.

The berries are loved by birds and small mammals. It is a host plant for the Spring and Summer Azure butterflies.

It is up to 25 feet tall and 30 feet wide at maturity.

It is hardy to USDA zone 3-7

Pagoda Dogwood grows best in part sun to part shade and planted in moist, but well-draining soils.

This is a low-maintenance plant that does not require fertilizing or pruning. You can mulch lightly around its root zone with leaf compost annually.

You can propagate it by rooting stem cuttings or by sowing its seeds. Note that it can seed itself around naturally, so cull any saplings, if you do not want a small colony to form.

Pagoda Dogwood: You Can Grow That!

 

The video was produced by Washington Gardener Magazine.

Audio, Video, and Text by Kathy Jentz

Editing by Colin Davan

 

➤ 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:

~ Sweetgum Plant Profile

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2023/12/sweetgum-plant-profile.html

~ Stewartia Plant Profile

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2022/06/stewartia-plant-profile.html

~ Dogwood Plant Profile

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2018/05/plant-profile-dogwood-trees.html

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Monday, July 28, 2025

Monday Thoughts: “No matter the result, there was nothing like the feeling of my hands in the soil, the sweetness of the fresh strawberries, and the pride of my first home grown salad.” ~ Debbie Millman

“No matter the result, there was nothing like the feeling of my hands in the soil, the sweetness of the fresh strawberries, and the pride of my first home grown salad.” ~ Debbie Millman

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Saturday, July 26, 2025

GardenDC Podcast Episode 249: Community Gardening

In this episode of GardenDC: The Podcast about Mid-Atlantic Gardening, we talk with Michelle Nelson, Montgomery Park's Community Garden Program Manager all about community gardens. The plant profile is an update on our previous one on Lavender 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 Corn in Small Spaces by Christy Page of GreenPrints.

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


BTW, YOU can become a listener supporter/subscriber at: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/gardendc/subscribe

Visit https://shop.kathyjentz.com/ to browse our new online store!

This episode is archived at: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1cWyZhU95ae5wEuCFDWtW2?si=r4y4_byvRVqLTaQcF_mCxA

Show Notes will be posted after 7-29-2025.
Michelle Nelson's profile in the September 2024 issue of Washington Gardener Magazine.
Montgomery Park's community gardens conditions of use are posted here.

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
Interview Edit & Show Notes: Miguel Zarate
Music: Let the Sunshine by James Mulvany

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