Monday, November 04, 2024

Monday Thoughts: “Autumn teaches us the beauty of letting go. Growth requires release—it’s what the trees do.” ~ Ka’ala

“Autumn teaches us the beauty of letting go. Growth requires release—it’s what the trees do.” 

~ Ka’ala

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Saturday, November 02, 2024

GardenDC Podcast Episode 217: Weeding Techniques

In this episode, we talk with Anna Mische John, Vegetation Maintenance Supervisor with the City of Takoma Park, MD, about weeding techniques. The plant profile is Gaura and we share what's going on in the garden as well as some upcoming local gardening events and this week's garden tasks in the What's New segment. We close out with the Last Word on Ways to Pickle from Christy Page of Green Prints.

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

See how at: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/gardendc/support.

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

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 103: Weeding and Mulching

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2022/05/gardendc-podcast-episode-103-mulching.html

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 198: Rats and Other Destructive Critters

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

This episode is archived at: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/gardendc/episodes/Weeding-Techniques-e2qep4l

Show Notes: 01:17 - Welcome Anna Mische John, Vegetation Maintenance Supervisor with the City of Takoma Park, MD 01:55 - Anna talks about her childhood gardening experience 03:46 - What did Anna go to school for? 04:24 - What brought Anna to Takoma Park? 05:14 - Anna discusses Takoma Park’s geography and growing conditions 07:15 - Kathy and Anna talk about the Takoma Horticultural Club 08:45 - Anna discusses the gardening dynamic between her and her partner, Josh Singer 10:07 - Anna shares her specific tasks as Vegetation Maintenance Supervisor 11:52 - What is Anna’s overall philosophy when dealing with weeds on city property? 12:55 - Anna and Kathy discuss recent research which says to cut weeds off at the soil level 15:14 - Anna talks about Takoma Park’s methods for not leaving bare soil 18:02 - Does Takoma Park get plants introduced into their public spaces by local citizens and visitors? 19:43 - Anna and Kathy talk about plant stealing 20:56 - Does Takoma Park have Weed Warrior volunteers? 21:26 - How does Takoma Park keep areas clear after invasive removals? 23:36 - Anna talks about erosion control 24:46 - Anna discusses solarizing 27:59 - Anna talks about spraying techniques 30:54 - Does Takoma Park do any open burns? 32:43 - Does Takoma Park use pre-emergents? 33:30 - How to make weeding less of a chore? 36:16 - Anna and Kathy discuss some common weeds 36:44 - Ficaria (Lesser celandine) 37:42 - Mugworts (Artemisia vulgaris) 39:06 - Vining plants 40:24 - Kudzu 41:41 - What does Takoma Park do with all the weed debris that they collect? 42:10 - Purple Fountain Grass 42:36 - Handling Weed seed heads 43:33 - Are there any native plants that are considered problem plants? 45:16 - Where to contact Anna? Gardens@takomaparkmd.gov 45:38 - A few bonus weeds/weeding techniques 47:15 - Dealing with Landscape Fabric 50:14 - Gaura plant profile 51:52 - What’s new in the garden this week? Late reblooms on spring and summer plants 52:27 - Garden tips of the week: Ways to reuse your Halloween pumpkins, turn off non-essential lights, and November is National Pepper Month 53:19 - Upcoming local gardening events: Firsthand Experience: Plant Portraits, and Autumn Arts of Nature: Bonsai, Stones, and Mums 55:06 - How to Pickle 1:00:25 - Thank you for listening! Become a supporter

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 and Show Notes: Zachary Intrater
Music: Let the Sunshine by James Mulvany

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Friday, November 01, 2024

Fenton Friday: Basil Bye-Bye

Mild temps continued this week (an unheard of 83 degrees F on Halloween!) and the Broccoli, Cauliflower, and Brussels Sprouts are still growing well.

We have had NO rain for a whole month now! I hand-water all the seedlings plus Brassicas about every other day. However, now our cistern is empty and we can no longer fill it due to turning in our water meter for the winter. I pray we get real rain soon.

We thinned the seedlings for Radish 'Cherry Belle'. The seeds of the  Radish 'Round Black Spanish' and the Carrots we planted at the same time are still not up.

We pulled out the Peppers, Zucchini, and Eggplant. I also yanked out the last of the Basil (pictured above) and made pesto.

I ended up hacking back several branches of the thornless Blackberries even though it is still producing flowers and berries. It is likely the exact wrong time to do so, but the rampant growth was encroaching on the nearby pathways.

I have yet to cut back the Asparagus as it is still fully green. When it starts to turn yellow, I'll trim it all off.

The pods on the Cotton plants are starting pop open -- I'll likely cut those to hang and dry in a protected space.

The Dahlias, Cosmos, and Zinnias are still pumping out tons of flowers. I won't pull those out until a real frost/freeze hits them. I gather a nice bouquet from them every few days. 

Normally, I'd be planting Garlic already, but think I'll do so next week.

What are you growing 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 13th 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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Monday, October 28, 2024

Monday Thoughts: “An addiction to gardening is not all bad when you consider all the other choices in life.” - Cora Lea Bell

 

“An addiction to gardening is not all bad when you consider all the other choices in life.” 

- Cora Lea Bell

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Saturday, October 26, 2024

GardenDC Podcast Episode 216: Fierce Flora

In this episode, we talk with Susan Pell, Executive Director of the U.S. Botanic Garden, about plants that fight back. The plant profile is on Holiday Cactus (Schlumbergera spp.) and we share what's going on in the garden as well as some upcoming local gardening events and this week's garden tasks in the What's New segment. We close out with the Last Word on 12 Things to Grow in Your Greenhouse from Christy Page of Green Prints.

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

See how at: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/gardendc/support.

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

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 33: Flinging with the Garden Tourist

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2020/10/gardendc-podcast-episode-33-us-botanic.html

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 77: Goth Gardening

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2021/10/gardendc-podcast-episode-77-goth.html

This episode is archived at: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/gardendc/episodes/Fierce-Flora-e2q5e21

Show Notes: 01:20 - Welcome Susan Bell, Executive Director of the U.S. Botanic Garden 01:37 - Susan updates what’s been going on with her since the 200th anniversary of the U.S. Botanic Garden in 2020 03:09 - A bit about the U.S. Botanic Garden and their new exhibit, Fierce Flora (www.usbg.gov/visit/exhibits/fierce-flora-tales-survival-and-demise) 04:36 - The location/setting of Fierce Flora 05:24 - Susan discusses how the exhibit connects to our everyday lives 06:21 - Susan talks about the multi-sensory aspect of Fierce Flora 07:11 - Is Fierce Flora appropriate for all ages? 07:47 - Susan discusses how Fierce Flora appeals to all people, even those who aren’t huge plant fans 10:10 - Selfie stations at the exhibit help educate people on plant identification 11:31 - Susan discusses the importance of understanding different plants and their benefits/purposes 12:41 - Differences between spines/spikes/thorns/prickles 14:20 - Susan discusses glochids 16:19 - Susan talks about plant hairs 17:38 - Susan discusses pointy features on seeds 19:37 - How burrs inspired the creation of Velcro 20:08 - Plant defenses against herbivores 21:20 - Kathy and Susan talk about dark leaves 24:33 - Susan discusses how plants defend themselves against other plants 26:15 - Susan talks about Carnivorous plants 29:04 - Venus fly trap 29:59 - Bladderwort 31:40 - Susan talks about toxic plants 34:10 - Kathy and Susan discuss Jimsonweed 35:35 - Autumn crocus and colchicine 35:59 - Kathy and Susan discuss the importance of knowing which plants are safe to have around babies and pet 37:02 - Dispelling the misinformation around Poinsettias and Aroids 38:41 - Plants with oxalate that have a sour taste 40:09 - Kathy and Susan talk about eating hot peppers 41:29 - Susan discusses plants in the Nightshade family 42:50 - Pokeweed 43:02 - Susan talks about the Cashew tree 44:31 - Susan discusses rashes that people get from plants 46:45 - The importance of plant identification 47:55 - How can listeners find out more about the U.S. Botanic Garden or contact Susan? (www.usbg.gov/) 50:47 - Schlumbergera (Holiday Cactus) Plant Profile 53:01 - What’s new in the garden this week? Beautiful color on the Pink Muhly grass and picking the last of the zucchinis and peppers 53:30 - Garden tips of the week? Use bulb augers to speed up your planting and pot your spring bulbs up now for earlier indoor blooms 54:17 - Washington Gardener October issue is out! (washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2024/10/) 55:07 - Upcoming local gardening events: Gardener’s Focus Program on Specialty Mums, Eco-savvy Gardening Fair, and Fall Colors Tram Tour 56:30 - 12 Things to Grow in Your Greenhouse this Winter 1:00:33 - Thank you for listening! Become a supporter

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 and Show Notes: Zachary Intrater
Music: Let the Sunshine by James Mulvany

PIN THIS FOR LATER!




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