GardenDC Podcast Episode 220: The Age of Lichens

In this episode, we talk with Serenella Linares, mycologist and Facility Director at Mount Rainier Nature Center, all about Lichens. The plant profile is on Blue Vervain 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 Cultivating Chaos from Christy Page of Green Prints.

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

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 132: Moss Gardening

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2023/01/gardendc-podcast-episode-132-moss.html

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 106: Ancient Plants

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

This episode is archived at: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/gardendc/episodes/The-Age-of-Lichens-e2rck2e

Show Notes: 01:18 - Welcome Serenella Linares, mycologist and Facility Director at the Mount Rainier Nature Center 01:43 - Serenella talks about her childhood gardening experiences 03:30 - Where did Serenella grow up? 04:25 - What led Serenella to a career with plants? 05:53 - Serenella discusses being able to share her love of nature with others in the community 07:02 - Serenella talks about her geography and growing conditions in Mount Rainier, MD 09:34 - Is the Mount Rainier Nature Center part of the Prince George’s County Parks and Recreation Department? 10:21 - Serenella shares some of the goals and initiatives of the Mount Rainier Nature Center 12:07 - What is a lichen? 14:08 - How do the three different organisms of a lichen come together? 15:09 - Should you panic if you see a lichen on your trees or shrubs? 17:04 - What makes lichens more likely to appear on certain trees? 20:38 - The different colors that lichens come in 21:12 - Are lichens beneficial to our ecosystem? 25:15 - Are lichens edible? 26:01 - Do other species besides humans consume lichens? 27:11 - Serenella shares some of her favorite lichens 27:22 - Mealy rosette lichen 28:40 - Serenella discusses how lichens reproduce 30:03 - Cladonia 32:01 - Bird’s nest fungi 35:19 - Devil’s matchstick lichen 36:32 - What are some common lichens in this area? 36:37 - Beard lichen 38:35 - Serenella discusses using iNaturalist 39:02 - Are there other guides that Serenella uses to ID lichen? 39:36 - Urban Lichens: A Field Guide for Northeastern North America 40:14 - Delmarva Lichens: An Illustrated Manual 40:52 - Do lichens in your garden mean that you have a healthy garden and good air? 43:14 - Where to contact Serenella? (www.pgparks.com/facilities/mount-rainier-nature-center) (mawdc.org) 46:32 - Who are Serenella’s personal horticultural or botany heroes? 52:17 - Blue Vervain Plant Profile 53:54 - What’s new in the garden this week? Cool temperatures have moved in along with some much needed rain, and foliage on the fothergilla shrubs is looking beautiful 54:40 - Garden tips of the week: Check your evergreens for bagworms and dispose of them in the trash, don’t compost them. Also, you can sow native perennial seeds on a snow day. 55:04 - Gladiator II review 56:27 - Upcoming local gardening events: Brookside Gardens’ Garden of Lights, U.S. Botanic Garden’s “Season’s Greetings” Holiday Display, and Homestead Gardens’ Holiday Bus Trip to Longwood Gardens 58:47 - Cultivating Chaos: Confessions of an Accidental Gardener 1:00:46 - Thank you for listening! Become a supporter

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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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