Monday, May 12, 2025

Monday Thoughts: “Oh, soon with heaping measures The spring will bring her treasures To gladden every breast; The sky with warmth a-beaming, The earth with love a-teeming — In life itself new zest!” ~ John Burroughs


“Oh, soon with heaping measures The spring will bring her treasures To gladden every breast; The sky with warmth a-beaming, The earth with love a-teeming — In life itself new zest!” ~ John Burroughs
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Saturday, May 10, 2025

GardenDC Podcast Episode 240: Top Urban Trees

In this episode of GardenDC: The Podcast about Mid-Atlantic Gardening, we talk with Robert Shaut, Director of Tree Operations at Casey Trees, about the best choices for Urban Trees. The plant profile is on Basil 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 Great Tomato Adventure by Christy Page of GreenPrints.

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

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 181: Invasive Plants with Casey Trees

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2024/08/gardendc-podcast-episode-204-natural.html

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 204: Natural Tree Care

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2024/08/gardendc-podcast-episode-204-natural.html

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 87: Winter Tree Care

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2022/01/gardendc-podcast-episode-87-winter-tree.html

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 187: Mad About Mulches


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.

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

This episode is archived at: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/gardendc/episodes/Top-Urban-Trees-e32g5ej

Show Notes will be posted after 5-13-2025.

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: Skylar Drew
Music: Let the Sunshine by James Mulvany

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Friday, May 09, 2025

Fenton Friday: Growing My First Salad

Guest Post by Skylar Drew

This semester at Washington Gardener, I finally got down in the dirt and learned the basics of edible gardening. After so many years of watching the adults in my childhood neighborhood constantly planting and weeding, my turn had come!

In early March, I planted 'White Globe' Turnips,  'New Zealand' Spinach, and 'Frosty' Peas in the community plot and anxiously awaited their sprouts. Unfortunately, my spinach never made an appearance, but seeing the tiny green leaves peeking out from the turnip and pea rowss filled me with awe. We eventually planted Carrots, Radish, Lettuce, Onions, Arugula, and Cilantro in the following weeks to make for a more plentiful harvest. The turnips grew ferociously, and a few (returning) potato plants even sprouted in the same bed! (We harvested a few mid-sized turnips on my final visit to the plot. The peas are still growing and may be ready to harvest in a month.)

I was shocked to find how simple it can be to grow your own food, especially since I was often only in the garden once a week. Still, I have plenty to learn. The vegetables really took off during April and on the first of this month, we were able to harvest some of the Lettuce and Arugula! Bringing it home to make a small salad was one of the highlights of my semester, and I was so proud to have helped raise something from seed into sustenance.

Even on the days where I felt I was dragging, I was always excited to see how much each plant had grown from the last time I had been there to weed or water.

As spring closes in on summer, I’m looking forward to beginning my own garden back at home with the knowledge Washington Gardener editor Kathy Jentz has given me. I’m especially excited to one day start a small pollinator garden. I’ve always known gardening to be extremely important, but it’s one thing to know and another to do. I’m so grateful that I was able to have this experience of growing something myself, and I see myself in a long line of people to spread the word: plants are life!

What are you growing in your edible garden this week?

About the author: Skylar Drew is an intern this spring semester with Washington Gardener. She is a senior journalism major at the UMD College Park. She is from Bel Air, Maryland, where she watched her mom grow her garden.

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, May 07, 2025

Fleabane Plant Profile

Fleabane Plant Profile

Fleabane (Erigeron species) are a daisy-like wildflower that pop up in disturbed areas. They are considered a “pioneer species” and can act like an annual or biennial.

The common name fleabane comes from the belief that dried flower clusters of this plant could rid your home of fleas.

Erigeron annuus (formerly Aster annuus),is known as  the annual fleabane, daisy fleabane, or Eastern daisy fleabane. It is native to North America and Central America. It blooms from June to October and grows to about 3 feet tall.

Eastern daisy fleabane is hardy to USDA zones 2 to 9. It  grows well in full to part sun sites and. it is tolerant of a wide range of soil conditions.

Erigeron acris (previously known as Erigeron philadelphicus) is commonly known as Philadelphia Fleabane, Bitter Fleabane, and Blue Fleabane.

Philadelphia Fleabane is native to most of the United States and blooms from April to June. It is hardy to USDA zones 2 to 9. It  grows well in full to part sun sites and. it is tolerant of a wide range of soil conditions.

Erigeron pulchellus known commonly as Robin's plantain is a biennial or short-lived perennial  that is native to eastern and central US. It has lavender-blue to white flowers that bloom  from April to June. IT is hardy to USDA zones 3 to 8. 

Fleabane flowers are pollinated by a variety of bees,; as well as flies, wasps, small butterflies, and other insects.

They are deer-resistant and drought-tolerant.

Fleabane: You Can Grow That!

 

The video was produced by Washington Gardener Magazine.

Audio, Photos, and Text by Kathy Jentz

Video and Editing by Madison Korman

 

➤ 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, May 05, 2025

Monday Thoughts: "In all things of nature, there is something of the marvelous." ~ Aristotle

"In all things of nature, there is something of the marvelous." 

~ Aristotle

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Saturday, May 03, 2025

GardenDC Podcast Episode 239: DOGE Cuts and Your Garden

In this episode of GardenDC: The Podcast about Mid-Atlantic Gardening, we talk with Thomas Christopher, horticulturist, author, and podcaster, about Department of Government Efficency (DOGE) impacts on gardening. The plant profile is on Trillium 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 Types of Pruning Shears by Christy Page of GreenPrints.

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

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 117: Environmentally Friendly Gardening

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2022/08/gardendc-podcast-episode-117.html

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 145: Everything is Politics, Even Gardening

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2023/04/gardendc-podcast-episode-145-everything.html


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.

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

This episode is archived at: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/gardendc/episodes/DOGE-Cuts-and-Your-Garden-e32b76c

Show Notes will be posted after 5-6-2025.

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: Skylar Drew
Music: Let the Sunshine by James Mulvany

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Friday, May 02, 2025

Fenton Friday: Salad Harvest

This week we also added Marigold seeds to the rebooted the pollinator garden strip on the exposed corner of our community garden. The two varieties are 'Siam Gold' and 'Primrose Flame'.

We also planted a dozen 'Stuttgart' Yellow Onions. It is late in the season to be doing so, but the onion sets were given to our community garden by HarvestShare to grow for suporting their food for the hungry programs. I'm not an onion fan, but I figured we'd give it a try and I found a spot for them by the Garlic bed.

We weeded and watered -- it has been a very dry and warm week. I pray for some real rain tonight.

I havested some more Asparagus, but am now letting the rest grow up tall to collect energy for the roots and have a bigger crop next year.


We were also able to harvest the Arugula and Lettuce. The Cilantro (shown above -- in between the two salad greens) can be cut soon too.

Nice heads are forming on our Broccoli plants (shown at top). I plan to leave them in for a few more weeks to see if I can get even larger heads to harvest -- call me greedy.


The Radishes, Beets, Turnips (shown above), Spinach, Dill, Potatoes, Blackberries, and Carrots are all still several weeks from being ready to harvest.

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 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, April 30, 2025

Dill Plant Profile

Dill Plant Profile

Dill (Anethum graveolens) is an annual herb that is native to Eurasia and the Mediterranean. Dill is used in pickling and in such dishes as potato salad, sauerkraut, and fish preparations. It has beautiful ferny foliage and pretty yellow flowers.

In addition to its culinary uses, Dill attracts beneficial insects. It is a host plant for the caterpillar of the black swallowtail butterfly. It was named Herb of the Year in 2010.

Grow it in full sun and in well-draining soil--protected from strong winds. It is hardy to USDA zones 2 to 11.

Dill is best started by direct-sowing seeds in the ground. It can also be grow in containers. (It has a long taproot, so it doesn’t like to be moved or transplanted.) To have a continual supply of dill, sow a new row of seeds every few weeks.

You should occasionally weed around the plants and thin out the new seedlings once they are a few inches high. Pinch off the flower heads to encourage fuller leaf growth, which is the main part you will harvest for use in cooking.

Once the dill plant has 5-6 leaves on it, you can start harvesting them. To harvest the leaves, pinch or snip them off with kitchen scissors. Select the older leaves first.

Towards the end of the season, let the dill flower and form seedheads. Collect the seeds for use in cooking and to plant some for next year. If you let the seeds fall where they are growing, they will often self-sow next season.

It is deer-resistant and makes a charming addition to a cut-flower bouquet.

Dill: You Can Grow That!

The video was produced by Washington Gardener Magazine as part of our Plant Profile series for Mid-Atlantic USA gardeners.

Audio and text by Kathy Jentz

Video and editing by Madison Korman

➤ 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 enjoyed this Plant Profile, check out:

~ Borage Plant Profile

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

~ Bronze Fennel Plant Profile

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

~ Yarrow Plant Profile

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2023/06/yarrow-plant-profile.html

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