Saturday, March 21, 2026

GardenDC Podcast Episode 278: Reviving Your Garden After a Harsh Winter

In this episode of GardenDC: The Podcast about Mid-Atlantic Gardening, we talk with Kira Silvestri, a horticulturist with Burpee, about assessing and repairing our gardens after a tough winter. The plant profile is on Dusty Miller 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 "A Stick in the Mud" 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 277: Revolutionary Tomato Growing Tips

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2026/03/gardendc-podcast-episode-277.html

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 165: Gardening and the Weather

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2023/09/gardendc-podcast-episode-165-gardening.html

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 184: Spring Garden Prep

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2024/02/gardendc-podcast-episode-183-spring.html

Show Notes will be posted after 3/31/2026.

This episode is archived at: 
https://open.spotify.com/show/5AsWArNpQo8OlzHoMDMSI8?si=370f7a1815b44158

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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Friday, March 20, 2026

Fenton Friday: Spring Has Sprung

We are back at the Fenton Street Community Garden for another growing season!

This winter has been so frigid and wet, that I ddnn't step into the plot until last week. I was happily surprsed to see that under a covercloth the cut-and-come again Lettuce and Cilantro had survived (pictured above and below respectively). Also returning were agressive (and not entirely welcome) patches of garlic chives and yarrow. 

The Garlic we planted in the fall is up and the Blackberries are starting to leaf out too. The Brussels Sprouts were mush, so I yanked those out and composted them. I have not seen any sign yet of the Asparagus, but I'm sure it will pop up soon.

The interns planted rows of Lettuce and Kale. I planted two types of Peas -- 'Mammoth Melting' Podded Pea and 'Sugar Ann' Sugar Snap Pea as well as a 'Knee-Hi Mix' of ornamental Sweet Pea. I've only had luck with Sweet Peas once before,m but figured, "what the hey" might as well try them again.

In coming weeks, I plan to plant Radish and Carrots along with some cool-season herb and flowers.

In the pollinator strip, we planted California Poppies and a Wildflower Mix. I see some of the perennials, such as Mountain Mint, are starting to emerge. I will give them a few weeks to come up and see where we might need to replace or fill things in.

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 15th 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, March 18, 2026

Wallflower Plant Profile

Wallflower Plant Profile

Wallflowers (Erysium spp.) are cool-season annuals, perennials, or biennials depending on where they grow. They have low, mounding foliage and flower from late spring to early summer.

The blooms are fragrant and are dense, colorful clusters of four-petaled flowers in shades of yellow, orange, red, pink, or purple.

Wallflowers are in the Brassicaceae family with 150 different species and the garden varieties are native to Southern Europe and the Mediterranean. Several species are native to the United States, including the western wallflower (E. asperum), sanddune wallflower (E. capitatum), and shy wallflower (E. inconspicuum).  They are generally found in rocky areas, cliffs, and slopes. 

They are hardy to USDA Zones 5 to 11.

Wallflowers do best in full sun and thrive well-drained, sandy, or rocky soils.

They are drought-tolerant once established and should not be overwatered.

Wallflowers are deer- and rabbit-resistant due to their strong scent and, sometimes, bitter taste.

They are low-maintenance. Trim back flower stems after blooming to encourage further blooming or prevent self-seeding. Avoid too much fertilizer, as wallflowers are not heavy feeders, and too much fertilizer can lead to leggy growth.

Wallflowers are excellent for pollinator gardens, attracting hummingbirds, bees, butterflies, and moths.

They are ideal for covering rocky, sunny, or poor-soil areas that other plants cannot tolerate.

They are often used in containers, rock gardens, along paths, and in raised beds.

Propagate wallflowers by taking semi-ripe cuttings in early summer. They can also be grown from seed sown in summer for flowers the following spring

Wallflower: You Can Grow That!

 

The video was produced by Washington Gardener Magazine.

Audio, Video, Photos, and Text by Kathy Jentz

Editing by Aicha Bangoura

 

➤ 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:

~ Astilbe Plant Profile

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2021/06/astilbe-plant-profile.html

~ Daylily Plant Profile

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2019/07/video-plant-profile-daylily.html

~ Bletilla Plant Profile

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2023/05/bletilla-plant-profile.html


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Tuesday, March 17, 2026

What is Folicision?

A few years ago, I observed this phenomenon of emerging bulb foliage punching right through leaves and asked our social media followers for a name for this phenomenon. @katmoonblue on Instagram suggested “folicision”and I think she nailed it — new horticultural term is born! Shown here is one examples from my garden yesterday of folicision. Do you have any examples of folicision in your garden?

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Monday, March 16, 2026

Monday Thoughts: "Daffodils, that come before the swallow dares, and take the winds of March with beauty." ~ William Shakespeare

"Daffodils, that come before the swallow dares, and take the winds of March with beauty." 

~ William Shakespeare

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Saturday, March 14, 2026

GardenDC Podcast Episode 277: Revolutionary Tomato Growing Tips


In this episode of GardenDC: The Podcast about Mid-Atlantic Gardening, we talk with horticulturist Frank Hyman all about tomato growing tips*. The plant profile is on Hepatica 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 Surprise Potato" from Christy Page of GreenPrints.

*You can order Ripe Tomato Revolution at https://amzn.to/4lsDiic
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 4: All About Tomatoes

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2020/03/gardendc-podcast-episode-4-all-about.html

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 26: Heirloom Tomatoes

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2020/08/gardendc-podcast-episode-26-heirloom.html

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 68: Summer Vegetables

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2021/07/gardendc-podcast-episode-68-summer.html


Show Notes will be posted after 3/21/2026.
Frank Hyman's Substack is at https://frankhyman.substack.com/subscribe

This episode is archived at: 
https://open.spotify.com/episode/6e7MBnSjPlOguGmR30f1r0?si=9F-x7hsfS8OGL3KXM7HkPw

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!
*You can order Ripe Tomato Revolution at https://amzn.to/4lsDiic
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, March 11, 2026

Sundrops Plant Profile

Sundrops Plant Profile

Sundrops (Oenothera fruticosa) are a perennial plant. They are also known as the Narrow-leaf Evening Primrose and are a day-flowering cousin of the Common Evening-Primrose (Oenothera biennis L.)

Sundrops flowers are yellow cups of golden sunshine that bloom from late spring into summer.

They are native to the Eastern half of North America and were named a North Carolina Wildflower of the Year.

They are hardy to USDA zones 4 to 8.

They grow up to 1 to 2 feet tall. They do best in part- to full-sun conditions. Sundrops do well in poor soils.and they need no fertilizing.

Sundrops attract pollinators and can be visited by hummingbirds.

They are easy to propagate from division. They can also spread prolifically by seed, so deadhead the flowers after they finish blooming for the season if you want to prevent that.

Sundrops are fairly drought-tolerant once established and are said to be deer-resistant.

Sundrops: You Can Grow That!

 

The video was produced by Washington Gardener Magazine.

Audio, Video, and Text by Kathy Jentz

Editing by Aicha Bangoura

 

➤ 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:

~ Shasta Daisy Plant Profile

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2023/08/shasta-daisy-plant-profile.html

~ Golden Ragwort Plant Profile

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2023/05/golden-ragwort-plant-profile.html

~ Lyreleaf Sage Plant Profile

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


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Monday, March 09, 2026

Monday Thoughts: "It’s not just the seeds. It’s the stories and places that they come from." ~ Ira Wallace

"It’s not just the seeds. It’s the stories and places that they come from." 

~ Ira Wallace

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Saturday, March 07, 2026

GardenDC Podcast Episode 276: How to Botanize

In this episode of GardenDC: The Podcast about Mid-Atlantic Gardening, we talk with authors Ben Goulet-Scott and Jacob S. Suissa all about botanizing. The plant profile is on Peas 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 "Dancing with Marigolds" from Christy Page of GreenPrints.

*You can order Let's Botanize at https://amzn.to/4u9gfgp
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 43: Galanthus

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2021/01/gardendc-podcast-episode-43-galanthus.html

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 219: Native Ferns

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

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 106: Ancient Plants

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2022/05/gardendc-podcast-episode-106-ancient.html


Show Notes will be posted after 3/17/2026.

This episode is archived at: 
https://open.spotify.com/episode/0DRArGZLnDVDI7dGcoFm8c?si=8AP0QnItRa2IO-hbfG7-XA

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!
*You can order Let's Botanize at https://amzn.to/4u9gfgp
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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