Washington Gardener Magazine is the award-winning publication for Mid-Atlantic USA gardeners by local gardeners.
“I believe a leaf of grass is no less than the journey-work of the stars, / And the pismire is equally perfect, and a grain of sand, and the egg of the wren, / And the tree-toad is a chef-d'oeuvre for the highest, / And the running blackberry would adorn the parlors of heaven.” ~ Walt Whitman
In this episode of GardenDC: The Podcast about Mid-Atlantic Gardening, we talk with garden writer, speaker, and radio host C. L. Fornari* about Hydrangea Tips and Tricks. The plant profile is on Cornflower 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 "Benjy and the Bees" from Christy Page of GreenPrints.
BTW, YOU can become a listener supporter for as little as $0.99 per month!
01:17 Welcome C. L. Fornari, author of “Hydrangea Happiness” (and 8 other books!)
01:47 How C. L. became interested in plants as a child
03:57 C. L. shares her experience as a visual artist before she became a garden writer
04:36 C. L.’s gardening photography and interviewing gardeners after moving to Cape Cod
05:25 The moment C. L. found her first book-publishing opportunity
6:37 C. L.’s radio show “The Garden Lady”
7:06 What plant hardiness zone is Cape Cod in reality?
7:59 C. L.’s favorite plants
8:55 Visiting the annual Cape Cod Hydrangea Festival in July
10:07 Planning your Cape Cod Hydrangea experience
11:29 Why do hydrangeas wilt easily, and how can you prevent wilting?
14:30 How to predict the sizes of hydrangeas and other plants (given inaccurate plant tags)
16:52 Are hydrangeas salt-resistant?
17:17 Climatic factors in hydrangea growth
17:54 Hydrangeas’ vulnerability to herbicide damage
18:47 What can you do to revive hydrangeas that have been damaged by herbicide?
19:35 What are the main pests of hydrangeas?
21:21 Theories as to why deer eat hydrangeas while other animals do not
22:19 How do you repel deer without damaging hydrangeas?
23:34 Common diseases of hydrangeas
25:34 C. L.’s favorite bigleaf hydrangea varieties
27:48 What to know about hydrangea varieties sold in box stores and supermarkets
29:24 Book “Groundcover Revolution” by Kathy Jentz
31:27 Smooth hydrangea varieties
33:40 Which hydrangea varieties have a (mild) fragrance?
34:36 Are breeders looking to develop more fragrant hydrangea varieties?
35:28 Ethical considerations and legal restrictions of hydrangea propagation
38:39 What is the ideal timing for cutting hydrangea blooms?
42:14 Influence of soil acidity and plant maturity on color in certain hydrangea varieties
43:21 Myth #1: Adding coffee grounds to hydrangea soil
45:00 Myth #2: Adding banana water to hydrangea soil
46:52 Myth #3: Adding epsom salt and rusty nails to hydrangea soil
48:53 What can you use to make your soil more acidic?
50:19 Get in touch with C. L. and learn more at her website: https://gardenlady.com/
50:53 C.L.’s favorite hydrangeas
52:49 Book “The Urban Garden” by Kathy Jentz and Teri Speight
54:19 Plant profile: Cornflower (Centaurea cyana)
55:44 What’s new in the garden this week? Blooms, tomatoes, cilantro and coriander
56:08 Garden tips: Early summer garden chores
56:27 Local gardening events
56:30 "Beatrix Farrand’s Legacy” on July 11 in Alexandria
57:05 Register for event at fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/parktakes
57:14 “Edible Flowers for Flavor and Health” on July 22 in Wheaton, Maryland
57:54 Register for event at montgomeryparks.org
58:02 “Waiting to be Discovered” exhibit through Sept 7 at National Bonsai & Penjing Museum
58:18 Learn more at usna.usda.gov
58:34 Christy Page reads “Benjy and the Bees” by Fiona M. Jones
If you liked this episode, you may also enjoy listening to:
~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 279: How and When to Prune Hydrangeas
https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2026/03/gardendc-podcast-episode-279-how-and.html
~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 142: Hydrangea Care and Pruning
https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2023/03/gardendc-podcast-episode-142-hydrangea.html
~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 60: Hydrangea Varieties with Andrew Bunting
https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2021/05/gardendc-podcast-episode-60-hydrangeas.html
What are you growing and harvesting in your 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 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).
Cornflower (Centaurea
cyana) is also known as Bachelor’s Buttons. It blooms in late spring
typically in bright blue – but it is also has varieties with pink, white, or
purple flowers.
The flowers resemble thistles but they are not thorny or
sharp. The blooms are pollinator magnets and are often grown in cut-flower
gardens.
The plants grow to between 1 to 3 feet tall and may need
staking.
Cornflower is
native to Europe and is used in folk medicine as an herbal digestive .
It is hardy to zones 2 to 11.
It is easy to start from seed and can self-sow prolifically.
Deadhead it to limit the seed production, but note that birds love the seeds
and doing this will limit their access to that food source.
Cornflower prefer full sun and well-draining soils.
It is deer- and drought-resistant. It does not need
fertilizing
Cornflower: You Can
Grow That!
The video was produced
by Washington Gardener Magazine.
Audio and Text by Kathy Jentz
Video and Editing by Koree Perry
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If you liked this video,
we think you will like these other Plant Profiles:
~ Larkspur Plant Profile
https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2026/06/larkspur-plant-profile.html
~ Gentian Plant Profile
https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2025/10/gentian-plant-profile.html
~ Spiderwort Plant Profile
https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2026/03/spiderwort-plant-profile.html
PIN THIS LATER!
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"I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down / into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass, / how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields, / … / Tell me, what is it you plan to do / with your one wild and precious life?” ~ Mary Oliver
In this episode of GardenDC: The Podcast about Mid-Atlantic Gardening, we talk with award-winning horticultural author, speaker, and podcaster Eva Monheim* about Summer Tree Care. The plant profile is on Lantana 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 "Planting an Herb Garden" from Christy Page of GreenPrints.
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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
01:22 Welcome horticultural author, speaker and podcaster Eva Monheim
02:46 Eva’s podcast “The Plant a Trillion Trees Podcast”
04:07 About Eva’s first podcast guest, Mindy Maslin of the Pennsylvania Horticulture Society
05:30 Eva’s first podcast episode, about PHS' Tree Tenders
05:45 Eva’s and Tree Tenders’ locations in Pennsylvania
06:11 Eva’s new podcast co-host, Lou Meyer
06:27 Lou was the guest on GardenDC Podcast Episode 87: Winter Tree Care
09:21 Kathy opens the topic of summer tree care
09:50 Preventative power of pruning trees before storms
14:08 Pruning: Consider a tree’s root system
14:59 Harm of adding mulch around the base of a tree trunk
17:20 Pruning: Consider whether a tree is in its natural shape
18:17 Kinetic energy and physics involved in tree care!
21:54 Formative pruning of young trees
22:00 Bringing all this back to natural tree shape
23:20 Limbing up trees without sending them into “shock”
27:21 Book “Groundcover Revolution” by Kathy Jentz
29:19 Harm of tree topping
30:40 How trees heal: Compartmentalization
33:58 How to prevent and treat damage from utility companies’ pruning
35:23 Pollarding: Purpose and process
37:19 Which trees do better with pollarding?
39:20 Protecting trees from insect pests
42:00 Cherry trees and gummation
42:43 Reasons to prune in summertime
44:47 When in summer is it best to prune?
45:26 “Three Ds”: Diseased, dead, damaged
47:47 Connect with Eva: Email evamonheim@gmail.com, YouTube @evamonheim1714
48:26 Eva’s favorite summer interest trees
51:22 Book “The Urban Garden” by Kathy Jentz and Teri Speight
52:46 Plant profile: Lantana
54:30 What’s new in the garden this week? Blooms, tomatoes, garlic, zinnias
54:49 Garden tips: Supporting pollinators
55:14 Local gardening events
55:17 National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden extended hours through Sept. 5
55:56 Summer Harvest Dinner at Common Good City Farm on June 25 in D.C.
56:21 Info at commongoodcityfarm.org
56:25 Garden Talks at Arlington Central Library
56:58 Info at arlingtonurbanag.org
57:26 Christy Page reads “Planting an Herb Garden” by Amanda MacArthur
If you liked this episode, you may also enjoy listening to:
~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 12: Shrubs and Hedges with Eva Monheim
https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2020/05/gardendc-podcast-episode-12-eva-monheim.html
~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 87: Winter Tree Care with Lou Mayer
https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2022/01/gardendc-podcast-episode-87-winter-tree.html
~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 240: Top Urban Trees with Robert Shaut of Casey Trees
https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2025/05/gardendc-podcast-episode-240-top-urban.html
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...
