Thursday, September 04, 2025
Meet the New Interns
Tuesday, September 02, 2025
September 2025 issue of Washington Gardener Magazine: Gaura, Fungi Farm, Food Forests, False Hellebore, and much more…
The September 2025 issue of Washington Gardener Magazine is now out.
Inside this issue:
- Gorgeous Gaura
- Maryland’s Fungi Frontier
- A New Food Forest
- Time to Plant Fall Lettuce
- Creeping Cucumber Weed
- Native False Hellebore
- Dealing with Southern Blight
- Harvest Time Produce Safety Tips
- Spooky Blooms for Halloween
- Garden Book Reviews and Reader Contest
- Rewilding the Garden
- Meet Ranger Vince Vaise
- and much more…
Note that any submissions, event listings, and advertisements for the October 2025 issue are due by September 10.
>> Subscribe to
Washington Gardener Magazine today to have the monthly publication sent
to your inbox as a PDF several days before it is available online. You can use
the PayPal (credit card) online order form here: https://www.washingtongardener.com/index_files/subscribe.htm
Monday, September 01, 2025
Saturday, August 30, 2025
GardenDC Podcast Episode 254: The New American Gardener
In this episode of GardenDC: The Podcast about Mid-Atlantic Gardening, we talk with Rochelle Greayer of the American Horticultural Society, about her vision for the American Gardener magazine. The plant profile is on Korean Angelica 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 Apple Orchard Antics by Christy Page of GreenPrints
If you liked this episode, you may also enjoy listening to:
~ GardenDC Podcast Episode
40: Botanical Latin and Labels
https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2021/04/gardendc-podcast-episode-54-flower.html
~ GardenDC Podcast Episode
6: Spring-Flowering Trees and Shrubs with David Ellis
https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2020/04/gardendc-podcast-episode-6-spring.html
~ GardenDC Podcast Episode
9: All Things Azalea
https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2020/05/gardendc-podcast-episode-9-all-things.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/3ICuVwx0YzZR34wEHxmeRB?si=032ef0a05cde479a
Show Notes will be posted after 9-6-2025.
- Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/
podcast/gardendc/id1502631179 - Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5AsWArNpQo8OlzHoMDMSI8?si=3ebaddb186214fc6
- RadioPublic: https://radiopublic.com/
gardendc-G2ql5V - iHeartRADIO: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-gardendc-73615877/
- aCast: https://play.acast.com/s/gardendc
- Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/776561ca-75d6-4c63-833b-7dafedf57a72/GardenDC
- Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/GardenDC-Podcast/B08JJNZBMX
- Breaker: https://www.breaker.audio/
gardendc - Bullhorn https://www.bullhorn.fm/gardendc
- Chartable: https://link.chtbl.com/GardenDC
- Castbox: https://castbox.fm/channel/GardenDC-id2691161?country=us
- Deezer: https://www.deezer.com/us/show/5587897
- GoodPods: https://goodpods.app.link/u3gtlpybILb
- Headliner: https://play.headliner.app/podcast/37086
- Himalaya: https://www.himalaya.com/courses/gardendc-1747568
- Ivy: https://ivy.fm/podcast/gardendc-940013
- Listen Notes: https://lnns.co/VIfcBjWRnw6
- Pandora: https://www.pandora.com/
podcast/gardendc/ - PocketCasts: https://pca.st/9phvd8bk
- Podcast Addict: https://podcastaddict.com/podcast/2629285
- Podfollow: https://podfollow.com/GardenDC
- Podlink: https://pod.link/GardenDC
- Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/gardendc-1137444
- Overcast: https://overcast.fm/
itunes1502631179/gardendc - Reason: https://reason.fm/podcast/gardendc
- TuneIn: http://tun.in/pj7Sb
- Vurbl: https://vurbl.com/station/gardendc/
- YouTube: https://youtube.com/washingtongardenermagazine
Friday, August 29, 2025
Fenton Friday: Colin’s Cucumbers and Zucchini
![]() |
Colin Davan and cucumbers. Photo by Ian Ferris. |
Guest Blog by Colin Davan
With a pile of seeds spread across the table, I was left with some tough decisions. After my fellow summer interns Miguel and Ian had picked their tomatoes and peppers, I was tasked with four seed packs: two kinds of cucumbers and two types of zucchini plants.
However, these were not just any vegetable plants. Each brought their own unique challenges and tasks. Starting with the cucumbers, I had one pack of Slicing Cucumber and another of Japanese Climbing Cucumber, which required a tomato cage surrounding it, hence the name.
Moving to the zucchini, I was in charge of the Nimba Squash Zucchini and Dark Star Zucchini.
The summer plot got off to a hot start with
Miguel and Ian planting their tomato and pepper seedlings. In my first week, I spent my
time thoroughly weeding and clearing out the section of the plot I was given.
Since these vegetable plants required so much space, I delayed my seed sowing until
the second week.
The second week, I returned and formed the four small mounds spaced out a couple of feet from one another. After I planted the seeds in each mound, topped them with compost, and surrounded them with straw, I protected them with small wire pieces (hardware cloth), so the urban pests would not come to take my special seeds or baby seedlings. I stood back and took a picture of the dirt mounds. I began to wonder: what will come of these seeds? Will I find any success in the garden this summer?
After returning the following week, a glimpse of success began to push out from the mounds. Small green seedlings had begun to arise with a few pesky weeds around them. I tended to my four small mounds and returned the following week.
When I returned, I saw an increase in seedlings
that were beginning to flourish. Both of the cucumber plant mounds exploded as each
had several small seedlings that I would eventually thin down to two
each. However, I was not seeing close to the same progress with my zucchini
plants.
Photos from top down: Thriving 'Nimba' Squash Zucchini, Climbing Cucumbers, and failed 'Dark Star' Zucchini.
I would come to find later on that my zucchini plants would ultimately give me problems all summer. The Dark Star never produced a seedling and the Nimba Squash grew much more slowly than my cucumbers. However, that did not deter my garden grind. We planted a different zucchini squash variety (' Zucchini 'Black Beauty') in Dark Star's former spot and gave extra care to my zucchini each week.
As the blazing hot weeks in the garden went on, my Nimba Squash and both cucumbers would grow at exponential rates. Powerful rainstorms all throughout July, hot sunny days, and a little bit of fish fertilizer created the perfect mix for results.
By late July and early August, I had begun to see flowers and small cucumbers, but no actual zucchini yet. A bit of concern began to creep in as the deadline for submissions in the Montgomery County Fair was quickly approaching, and I did not have enough similar-looking cucumbers or zucchini ready to submit an entry.
I was able to harvest many cucumbers from my Japanese Climbing plant and ended up submitting them to the DC State Fair (results TBA). While the zucchini plants struggled, I was able to get a nice zucchini, which I used in a chocolate zucchini cake. (Thanks Kathy for the recipe!)
At the end of my Fenton journey, I realized this experience was not only about producing cucumbers and zucchini, but also of overcoming obstacles and strengthening my patience. I am so incredibly grateful for the opportunity with the Washington Gardener Magazine this summer, as I got to enhance my journalistic skills while also being on the Fenton plot working in a nice community garden.
About the Author:
Colin Davan is an intern this summer session with Washington Gardener. He is a rising senior at the American University in Washington, DC, studying journalism with a minor in history. He grew up just outside of Boston in two towns (Hopkinton and Framingham), both with backyards always filled with a wide variety of flowers, herbs, vegetables, and fruits.
Monday, August 25, 2025
Monday Thoughts: "How sociable the garden was. We ate and talked in given light. The children put their toys to grass All the warm wakeful August night." ~ Thom Gunn
"How sociable the garden was. We ate and talked in given light. The children put their toys to grass All the warm wakeful August night." ~ Thom Gunn
Sunday, August 24, 2025
Tomato Taste Results: Citrine Shines Through
- Citrine from The Farm at Our House
- Sun Gold from Mock's Greenhouse
- Purple Cherry from Mock's Greenhouse
- Dixieland Gold (Dixie Golden Giant?) from Ben's Produce
- Cherry Bomb from The Farm at Our House
- Cherokee Purple from Ben's Produce
- Juliet from Quaker Valley Orchards
- Spiral Sweet Grape Tomato from Spiral Path Farm
- Sweet Treats from The Farm at Our House
Do take a minute to click on the photo link here to view the Facebook album of photos from the event. I think you will agree that the market tomatoes are absolutely gorgeous and very photogenic -- and so are the market patrons!
Big thanks to Chef Sara Hayden of Vita Cooking School who joined us this year and shared her Gazpacho recipe and to Dimitri Olive Oil for the Balsamic Viniagrette we used on additional tomato tasting samples (and they donated a couple more bottles for the prize package!).
In addition to the tastings, many people stopped by to create colorful tomato art and to pick up the free tomato seeds, growing tips, and recipes that we gave out.
We gave out a gift bag full of gardening goodies, tomatoes, and market money to one of the tomato taste voters. Congratulations to EJ! Her parents told us she is a HIGE tomato fan and was thrilled to win.
Most of the taste attendees were local, though we also had many who came quite a distance. About two-thirds live in Silver Spring. Another third live close by in Washington, DC or the neighboring towns of Takoma Park, Chevy Chase, Hyattsville, etc. A few are from far outside of the area, we even had votes from Illinois, South Carolina, and New Hamshire!
Thank you to all who came and participated. Thanks to the farmers for growing great tomatoes and to FreshFarm Markets staff for hosting us. Special thanks also to our interns (Colin Davan, Ian Ferris, and Miguel Zarate) and volunteers (MD Smith and Alexandra Jentz) for helping with all the tomato sample cutting, vote tallying, and helping greet all the tasters in the short, but jam-packed two-hour event!
Saturday, August 23, 2025
GardenDC Podcast Episode 253: The Farm-to-Vase Movement
In this episode of GardenDC: The Podcast about Mid-Atlantic Gardening, we talk with Alex Mudry-Till of Quince Blossom Ridge, all about cut-flower farming. The plant profile is on Patrinia 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 Travels with Iris by Christy Page of GreenPrints.
If you liked this episode, you may also enjoy listening to:
~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 54: Flower Farming with Lisa Mason Ziegler
https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2021/04/gardendc-podcast-episode-54-flower.html
~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 104: Dahlias
https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2022/05/gardendc-podcast-episode-104-dahlias.html
~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 19: Floral Design with Holly Heider Chapple
https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2020/07/gardendc-podcast-episode-19-floral.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/0UmKbt3r9piKWEepxGAdyZ?si=yJRyOe29TsqqXZucvhjdFQ
Show Notes will be posted after 8-26-2025.
- Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/
podcast/gardendc/id1502631179 - Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5AsWArNpQo8OlzHoMDMSI8?si=3ebaddb186214fc6
- RadioPublic: https://radiopublic.com/
gardendc-G2ql5V - iHeartRADIO: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-gardendc-73615877/
- aCast: https://play.acast.com/s/gardendc
- Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/776561ca-75d6-4c63-833b-7dafedf57a72/GardenDC
- Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/GardenDC-Podcast/B08JJNZBMX
- Breaker: https://www.breaker.audio/
gardendc - Bullhorn https://www.bullhorn.fm/gardendc
- Chartable: https://link.chtbl.com/GardenDC
- Castbox: https://castbox.fm/channel/GardenDC-id2691161?country=us
- Deezer: https://www.deezer.com/us/show/5587897
- GoodPods: https://goodpods.app.link/u3gtlpybILb
- Headliner: https://play.headliner.app/podcast/37086
- Himalaya: https://www.himalaya.com/courses/gardendc-1747568
- Ivy: https://ivy.fm/podcast/gardendc-940013
- Listen Notes: https://lnns.co/VIfcBjWRnw6
- Pandora: https://www.pandora.com/
podcast/gardendc/ - PocketCasts: https://pca.st/9phvd8bk
- Podcast Addict: https://podcastaddict.com/podcast/2629285
- Podfollow: https://podfollow.com/GardenDC
- Podlink: https://pod.link/GardenDC
- Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/gardendc-1137444
- Overcast: https://overcast.fm/
itunes1502631179/gardendc - Reason: https://reason.fm/podcast/gardendc
- TuneIn: http://tun.in/pj7Sb
- Vurbl: https://vurbl.com/station/gardendc/
- YouTube: https://youtube.com/washingtongardenermagazine
Featured Post
Holiday Gifts for Gardeners ~ Top Gardening Gifts ~ 21+ Cool Gardening Gift Ideas
The holiday season is here and I bet you have a gardener on your gift list, so we've updated our annual a Holiday Gifts for Gardener...

Most Popular Posts
-
UPDATE! You have until May 26 to pledge and qualify for this year's prize drawing -- after that date, you can still pledge and you will ...
-
Do you swoon at the scent of lilacs? It is a favorite floral scent for many and a flowering shrub that others cherish for their childhood me...
-
We had more than 300 people come to today's Washington Gardener Magazine 15th Annual Tomato Taste at the FreshFarm Silver Spring Mark...