Monday, June 01, 2026

Monday Thoughts: "The pleasures of spring are available to everybody, and cost nothing." ~ George Orwell

"The pleasures of spring are available to everybody, and cost nothing." ~ George Orwell

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Saturday, May 30, 2026

GardenDC Podcast Episode 288: Growing Roses Naturally

In this episode of GardenDC: The Podcast about Mid-Atlantic Gardening, we talk with Rita Perwich, consulting rosarian and author of Natural Rose Gardening*, about growing roses organically. The plant profile is on Larkspur 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 "Summer Squash Companions" from Christy Page of GreenPrints.

***Please Vote for our show the GardenDC Podcast at

https://bestof2026.washingtoncitypaper.com/ under Arts & Entertainment > Best Local Podcaster

The deadline to vote is June 10, 2026. Thank you in advance! ***


*You can order Rita Perwich's book Natural Rose Gardening at https://amzn.to/4nV1Rpj
This link is to our Amazon affiliate account and we may earn a few pennies from these sales, but it wil not impact your purchase price.

Rita will be speaking to the Potomac Rose Society in January 2027. Be sure to join the society at https://potomacrose.org/.

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 13: Heritage Roses with Connie Hilker

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2020/05/gardendc-podcast-episode-13-connie.html

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 111: Flower Combinations

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2022/07/gardendc-podcast-episode-111-flower.html

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 285: Thomas Jefferson's Flowers

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2026/05/gardendc-podcast-episode-285-thomas.html

Show Notes will be posted after 6/15/2026.

This episode is archived at: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4GYz8DYyIzu70HVOi0LeLk?si=9ESpz-f8SZGutiWlFrofCA

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!
You can order Rita's book at https://amzn.to/4nV1Rpj
This link is to our Amazon affiliate account and we may earn a few pennies from these sales,
but it wil not impact your purchase price.


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Friday, May 29, 2026

Fenton Friday: Paltry Scapes


This might be most pathetic Garlic scape harvest ever (see pic above) -- which gives me very little hope for the actual garlic bulb harvest in a few weeks. It has been a rough winter and tough spring, so I'm not that surprised. 

This week was a rainy one! Boy, did we need it! Today is sunny and breezy. It will be blue skies with temps in the high 70s predicted for most of the next week. It should be really nice weather to tackle some of the rampant weeds brought on by the rains and to get our summer crops planted.



I have one set of Pea vines protected by a wire cage that is finally starting to climb -- I may harvest some peas yet this season!

The Romaine Lettuce and Kale are getting really large under their respective cover cloths so I will pull them soon.

The Blackberries are starting to ripen and I need to get a mesh covering over them before the birds get them all  as the few Strawberry fruits I had are already gone - perhaps to the birds or rabbits or squirrels.

The Dill is now getting way too big as is the Cilantro - but I'm letting that go to seed to collect the Coriander. The Asparagus needs tying up soon too.

In the pollinator strip, I planted three Cornflower seedlings that were given to me by the Capital Area Food Bank's urban gardener when I spoke about growing tomatoes there this past Wednesday. The flowers are really starting to pop now -- the Common Milkweed is already blooming and smells like honey, the Marigolds are filling in nicely, and the wildlower mix we planted earlier this spring has resulted in some really pretty blue flowers that I still need to ID. I'll try to share pics and names of those in next week's post. 

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).

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Monday, May 25, 2026

Monday Thoughts: "Despite the forecast, live like it’s spring." ~ Lilly Pulitzer

 

 "Despite the forecast, live like it’s spring." ~ Lilly Pulitzer

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Saturday, May 23, 2026

GardenDC Podcast Episode 287: The Itty Bitty Mosquito Committee

In this episode of GardenDC: The Podcast about Mid-Atlantic Gardening, we talk with Michelle Mingrone, founder of the Itty Bitty Mosquito Committee, about mosquito prevention tactics. The plant profile is on Sweet Potatoes 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 "Cherry Trees from Pits" from Christy Page of GreenPrints.


***Please Vote for our show the GardenDC Podcast at

https://bestof2026.washingtoncitypaper.com/ under Arts & Entertainment > Best Local Podcaster

The deadline to vote is June 10, 2026. Thank you in advance! ***


You can order Mosquito Dunks and Bits at: https://amzn.to/4fAjngr 
This link is to our Amazon affiliate account and we may earn a few pennies from these sales, but it wil not impact your purchase price.

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 255: Expert Advice for Tick-Free Gardening

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2025/09/gardendc-podcast-episode-255-expert.html

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 115: The Dreaded Spotted Lanternfly

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2022/08/gardendc-podcast-episode-115-dreaded.html

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 198: Rats and Other Destructive Critters

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2024/06/gardendc-podcast-episode-198-rats-and.html

Show Notes will be posted after 6/11/2026.

This episode is archived at: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0pZddO8GkSaHtC7ABszyWD?si=SkwMO0OuRc-rgzyDyZZcpA

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!
You can order Mosquito Dunks and Bits at: https://amzn.to/4fAjngr 
This link is to our Amazon affiliate account and we may earn a few pennies from these sales,
 but it wil not impact your purchase price.
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Friday, May 22, 2026

Fenton Friday: Lettuce for Days


This week was a hot one! Record temps of 96 degrees followed by a big drop in temps and finally some blessed rains. It is supposed to rain even more over the next several days and I'm thrilled.



I harvested Asparagus, Cilantro, and various Lettuces (pictured above). This was my last Asparagus harvest and I'll let the spear grow up now and collect energy for the rest of the growing season. 

Someone left some Romaine Lettuce seedlings for free at our garden gates, so I took 4 and planted them ain a pot where the Peas failed to grow (or were eaten by baby bunnies). I put a covercloth over them, so hope that protects them.

The Blackberries are starting to color up and the Strawberries are setting fruits -- though I think I may have lost a few already to rabbits or squirrels.

The Dill seedlings are really taking off and I need to thin them out again -- anyone need any?

The Garlic is just starting to for its scapes, but the plants are also starting to turn yellow. I fear they may need to be dig early and may not have much of a harvest this year.

After weeks of no sign of the Dahlia plants returning, this week I noticed one plant was back and putting on some good growth so they were not a total loss to the harsh winter afterall. 

Gardening friend Tony S. dropped off some coffee grounds and we had a nice compost delivery from the county parks folk. I plan to amend the beds with those after the rains clear and before we plant our Tomato and Pepper seedlings in a few weeks.

In the pollinator strip, I weeded a bit and planted Marigolds and Zinnias (donated by the local Ace Hardware) as well as Mrs. Burn's Lemon Basil (donated by the Silver Spring Garden Club). I also put in the label signage for the returning Milkweed, Mountain Mint, and Sunchokes. Brazilian Verbena, Borage, and Calendula that reseeded there is also returning.

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).

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Wednesday, May 20, 2026

Reduce Your Lawn Day: Start Small and Build on Little Victories

Last year for Reduce Your Lawn Day, I replaced about 6x6 feet of my hellstrip (the turf between the sidewalk and the street) where my recycling and trash bins go for our weekly collection day. It is a really tough spot to keep any plants alive there due to the bins, daily foot traffic, and bikes/scooters/cars that don't always stay in their lane. I seeded in Red Clover from American Meadows and it took awhile to establish, but now looks great. (Here is a link to what it looked like last year when it was new.) I took the photo shown above this morning. Notice in the background is my two-year-old Reduce Your Lawn Day sign still looking pretty new. 

For this year's Reduce Your Lawn Day project, I am seeding another part of my hellstrip with American Meadows' Monarch Highway Native Wildflower Seed Mix. I hope by the end of the summer that most of the perennial pollinator plants in the mix are up and blooming. I'll try to circle back with an update to this post then.

My brother and sister-in-law also shared with me a Reduce Your Lawn Day project of their own. Shown below are the steps they took to put in a new vegetable bed -- from sod removal to leveling the site to the final planting. I think they did a great job!





You can learn more about Reduce Your Lawn Day and its origins by listening to our GardenDC Podcast episode here.

This post is part of the #GardenBloggersChallenge sponsored by GardenComm for the month of May. You are invited to join in and can see more details at gardencomm.org
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