Monday, February 02, 2026

Monday Thoughts: "...there has been no greater love in my life than flowers and gardens. And specifically, their ability to impart eloquent tidings to us, and to heal and nurture us in so many ways." ~ Teresa H. Sabankaya

"...there has been no greater love in my life than flowers and gardens. And specifically, their ability to impart eloquent tidings to us, and to heal and nurture us in so many ways." 

~ Teresa H. Sabankaya

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Sunday, February 01, 2026

Meet the New Spring 2026 Interns


This winter/spring session, I have taken on two editorial interns. Look for their author byline in upcoming Washington Gardener Magazine issues and on this blog -- as well as on the Washington Gardener YouTube videos and GardenDC Podcast. As a first assignment, I've asked them to write a short introduction to our readers so you can get to know them.

My name is Aicha Bangoura (pictured at right) and I'm currently a senior studying journalism in
Philip Merrill College at the University of Maryland. After freelancing diverse stories for several
publications, including the Montgomery County Sentinel, I finally landed a role as a copyeditor for
a student-run digital publication called Stories Beneath the Shell, which I still work for. With my
experience, I plan to show and tell stories about the beauty of the ecosystem and the people
who contribute to it. In my earlier school days, I took classes that involved planting and I
enjoyed the process and anticipation. I’m ready to start a brand new journey as an intern at the
Washington Gardener Magazine.

Hi! My name is Lauren Bentley (pictured at left) and I am currently a senior studying at the University of Maryland. I am a double major in journalism and criminology and criminal justice. I've written all throughout high school and college. Most recently, I worked at the Howard Center for Investigative Journalism, part of the university's Capital News Network. In my free time, I enjoy running, reading, baking, and hanging out with my friends. I am so excited to be working for the Washington Gardener this upcoming spring, and hope to expand my knowledge and skill-level in gardening. 

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Saturday, January 31, 2026

GardenDC Podcast Episode 271: Camouflaging with Plants --Hiding the Ugly Stuff

In this episode of GardenDC: The Podcast about Mid-Atlantic Gardening, we talk with a Peggy Singlemann, host of Virginia Home Grown, all about using plants and other solutions to hide ugly landscape features. The plant profile is on Star Anise (Illicium) 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 "Being a Serial Seedling Killer" 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 228: Reducing Runoff with Rain Gardens

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2025/02/gardendc-podcast-episode-228-reducing.html

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 235: Spring Pruning Tips

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2025/04/gardendc-podcast-episode-235-spring.html

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 12: Shrubs & Hedges

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2020/05/gardendc-podcast-episode-12-eva-monheim.html


Show Notes wil be posted after 2/7/2026.

This episode is archived at: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6hNAWcaijmJyZChznJip3a?si=LFm3fAPyTTKBTunv8d23LQ

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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Monday, January 26, 2026

Monday Thoughts: "Winter forms our character and brings out our best." ~ Tom Allen


"Winter forms our character and brings out our best." 

~ Tom Allen

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Saturday, January 24, 2026

GardenDC Podcast Episode 270: Creating a Biblical Garden

In this episode of GardenDC: The Podcast about Mid-Atlantic Gardening, we talk with author Shelley S. Cramm about creating a Bible-inspired garden. The plant profile is on Ligularia 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 "Fresh Beginnings" 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 137: Into the Heart of the Garden

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2023/02/gardendc-podcast-episode-137-into-heart.html

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 127: Unusual and Specialty Flower Bulbs

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2022/11/gardendc-podcast-episode-127-unusual.html


Shelley's book, My Father is the Gardener, is available at https://amzn.to/3ZhGwex (note this is an affiliate link and we may earn a few pennies when you click on it.)


Show Notes wil be posted after 1/31/2026.

This episode is archived at: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2lxQQkdrBUdOz9Pg21S8Un?si=sZPDcDk_R5CdWvtHAjmLTw

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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Monday, January 19, 2026

Monday Thoughts: "The plant of freedom has grown only a bud and not yet a flower." ~ Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

"The plant of freedom has grown only a bud and not yet a flower." 

~ Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

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Sunday, January 18, 2026

Seed Exchange 2026 Speakers Announced


UPDATE: Our online registration has ended for the 1/31 Brookside Gardens event, but we still have a few spots left.
    If you'd like to join us, come to the registration desk just inside the Auditorium at Brooksde Gardens starting at 12noon on Saturday. The program gets started at 12:30pm.
(Or sign up for next week's event at Green Spring Gardens on 2/7. See the Eventbrite ticket order links below for that one at the bottom of this post.)

See the full event details at 

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2025/12/seed-exchange-registration-now-open.html.

-----------------------------------------------

Here are the speakers for the upcoming Washington Gardener Seed Exchanges 2026. Seed Exchange attendees trade seeds, exchange planting tips, hear expert speakers, and collect goody bags full of gardening treats.


Talk 1 on 1/31 at the WG Seed Exchange at Brookside Gardens:
"Grow Great Lettuce All Year"
Speaker: Debby Ward of Prior Unity Garden  
Debby says, "One of my absolute favorite things to grow is lettuce." There are so many different varieties that I end up growing over 30 in the fall garden. Lettuce can be started indoors in summer for larger transplants or direct seeded once temps cool down a bit. Debby will share her tips and tricks for growing greens all year round.



Talk 2 on 1/31 at the WG Seed Exchange at Brookside Gardens:
"Grow the Cutting Garden of your Dreams - One Seed At A Time! "
Speaker: Alex Mudry-Till of Quince Blossom Ridge
Have you ever wanted to grow a garden full of flowers, but felt too overwhelmed at a nursery or just didn't want to spend the money on lots of seedlings? Sowing your own flowers is an easy way to get lots of bang for you buck and there are lots of different ways to approach this growing technique. Alex will teach you the various ways she grows from seed for her flower farm, Quince Blossom Ridge. The talk will review the different types of seed, how best to sow them and multiple ways to start your seeds (including plug trays, soil blocks, bulk sowing, winter sowing, and if/when to direct sow). Whether a novice or a pro, you'll be sure to learn new tips and tricks for great germination, healthy seedlings, and happy transplants to grow a bountiful array of flowers, filler, and foliage. 

Talk 1 on 2/7 at the WG Seed Exchange at Green Spring Gardens:
“Cucumbers Love Sunflowers: Companion Planting for the Home Garden"
Speaker: Linda L. Jones, owner, Elements of Nature
Companion Planting is a method of growing plants in proximity to each other because of their ability to enhance or complement the other's growth or attract beneficial insects or repel insect pests. Companion planting includes techniques such as trap cropping, spatial protection, beneficial habitat, and nurse cropping.
    Linda L. Jones is a certified master gardener and owner of Elements of Nature - Botanicals and Farmaceuticals, Clinton, Maryland . She focuses on growing flowers and herbs and gardening education. She is an avid seed collector and has a collection of over 500 varieties of open-pollinated and heirloom, annual, perennial and herb seeds.
   She has presented on several diverse gardening topics and has led workshops throughout the DMV since 2010, beginning as a master gardener intern.
   She often incorporates tips on creative, effective and alternative ways to maximize growing potential and space. In addition she uses her knowledge of growing, food, herbs and flowers and incorporates them into designer and exotic loose leaf teas, lotions and other home arrangements and into her natural products and skin care line - all of which are available at www.elementsofnatureusa.com
   She believes that “Through saving and sharing seeds we are all helping to spread hope and enrich lives across the world”

Talk 2 on 1/31 at the WG Seed Exchange at Green Spring Gardens:
"Grow the Cutting Garden of your Dreams - One Seed At A Time! "
Speaker: Alex Mudry-Till of Quince Blossom Ridge
Have you ever wanted to grow a garden full of flowers, but felt too overwhelmed at a nursery or just didn't want to spend the money on lots of seedlings? Sowing your own flowers is an easy way to get lots of bang for you buck and there are lots of different ways to approach this growing technique. Alex will teach you the various ways she grows from seed for her flower farm, Quince Blossom Ridge. The talk will review the different types of seed, how best to sow them and multiple ways to start your seeds (including plug trays, soil blocks, bulk sowing, winter sowing, and if/when to direct sow). Whether a novice or a pro, you'll be sure to learn new tips and tricks for great germination, healthy seedlings, and happy transplants to grow a bountiful array of flowers, filler, and foliage. 
 
21st Annual Washington Gardener Seed Exchanges
on Saturday, January 31, 2026, 12:30–4:00pm 
National Seed Swap Day!
at Brookside Gardens in Wheaton, MD
 Registration is now open at 
and 
on Saturday, February 7, 2026, 12:30–4:00pm
at Green Spring Gardens in Alexandria, VA
Registration is now open at 
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Saturday, January 17, 2026

GardenDC Podcast Episode 269: The Future is Nuts

In this episode of GardenDC: The Podcast about Mid-Atlantic Gardening, we talk with Michael Judd of Ecologia Design about all the nut-bearing trees. The plant profile is on Azaleas 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 "What to Grow with Beets" by 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 95: Willows

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2022/03/gardendc-podcast-episode-95-willows.html

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 25: Paw Paws

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2020/08/gardendc-podcast-episode-25-michael.html

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 187: Mad About Mulches

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

PawPaw Fest 2026: https://ecologiadesign.com/paw-paw-festival-longcreek-homestead/

SilvoCulture - Nuts for the Future: https://www.silvoculture.org/

Plantra Tree Tubes: https://www.plantra.com/

Show Notes wil be posted after 1/21/2026.

This episode is archived at: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0D5t3r8C3UkODdapGhNmzd?si=ADeHfx5FSpykM1QPydzsUA

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!

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