GardenDC Podcast Episode 285: Thomas Jefferson's Flowers

 In this episode of GardenDC: The Podcast about Mid-Atlantic Gardening, we talk with Peggy Cornett, curator of plants at Monticello, about Thomas Jefferson's flowers. The plant profile is on Zizia 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 Planting Day Adventure" from Christy Page of GreenPrints.

BTW, YOU can become a listener supporter for as little as $0.99 per month! 

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

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 24: Monticello's Historic Plant Collection

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2020/08/gardendc-podcast-episode-24-peggy.html

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 13: Heritage Roses with Connie Hilker

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

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 153: An American Garden Story

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2023/06/gardendc-podcast-episode-153-american.html

Show Notes will be posted after 5/15/2026.

This episode is archived at: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2jLWSCOj42amZVcNpbeLLy?si=f52f649513eb4f5c

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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

Your host and Monticello's Love Lies Bleeding...

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Order at https://amzn.to/4tl9tCD*

Fenton Friday: Kale (What I Grew This Semester)

'Rubybor' Kale by Lauren Bentley

Guest Post By Lauren Bentley

Throughout my time at the Fenton Community Plot, I grew two rows of kale. I started them from seed in mid-March. One row was purple kale 'Rubybor' (an All-American Selections winner), while the other was a more traditional green variety -- 'Dwarf Blue Curled Vates'. Given the harsh winter, it was good to pick a cold-weather crop.

I have limited experience with gardening, so I was a little apprehensive that I wouldn’t know exactly what to do, but it was much easier than I thought!

Also, when I have grown something in the past, it has mostly been flowers. I have never had to grow a vegetable to harvest, so I was very excited about seeing the end result.

 'Dwarf Blue Curled Vates' Kale by Lauren Bentley

Over the past few months, there has been very inconsistent weather, which made me worried about how well the kale would sprout. There were a few very hot, 90 degree days, which were the biggest concern. However, the kale ultimately persevered and turned out very well. We put a covercloth over it to insulate from the freezing nights and the hottest days, as well as to keep the insects from chewing on it.

I started to see small leaves after about the first two weeks. I watered on Fridays when I made it down to the plot. When I first spread the seeds, I put a few of them too close together which meant I had to do some thinning throughout the gardening process.

We also did some other work while at the plots, such as decorating the bulletin boards and spreading new woodchips along the garden path in the meantime.

Today, I officially harvested the kale and left with a bag of it. The traditional green kale turned out much better than the purple one, as the leaves were bigger and seemed healthier.

Also, one of the purple kale plants was missing, so I think it might’ve been eaten by an animal (rabbit?). Overall, I’m very happy with how my planting experience turned out.

Kale was a fantastic beginner crop for me, and I highly recommend trying it for anyone who is just beginning their gardening journey, especially in the winter.

What are you growing and harvesting in your garden this week?

About the Author:
Lauren Bentley is an intern this semester with Washington Gardener Magazine. 

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).

May 2026 issue of Washington Gardener Magazine: Kerria, Tomato Leaf Disease, String of Pearls, Vetch, and much more…

The May 2026 issue of Washington Gardener Magazine is now out.

 

It is posted and archived online at:

 https://issuu.com/washingtongardener/docs/washington_gardener_magazine_may_2026_

Inside this issue:

·         Charismatic Kerria

·         How Not to Kill a String of Pearls

·         Meet Sabrathia Draine of ReaLeaf Tea Shop and Herbal Apothecary

·         Preventing Tomato Leaf Disease

·         How to Design a “Fire-Resistant” Garden

·         Tone-on-Tone Bouquet Trend

·         Garden Book Reviews

·         Adding Native Plants with Great Scents

·         America’s State Flowers Exhibit

·         Eco-conscious Gardening Practices to Adopt

·         Edible Landscaping Basics

·         Meet Yuki Kato, Urban Garden Scholar

·         and much more…

 

Note that any submissions, event listings, and advertisements for the June 2026 issue are due by May 15.

 

>>  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

California Poppy Plant Profile

California Poppy Plant Profile

California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica) is a wildflower. They have bright orange, yellow, white, or rose-colored  flowers that bloom in late spring. The foliage is a distinctive  blue-green with a feathery, lacey texture.

They are also known as golden poppy, California sunlight, or cup of gold. They are the official state flower of California and are native to the southwestern U.S. and Mexico. They are hardy to USDA zones 8-10.

They need a location with at least 6 hours of full, direct sun.

California Poppy prefers fast-draining, poor to average soil; avoid heavy, wet clay, which causes root rot.

Direct-sowing is best, as they dislike root disturbance. Scatter seeds on prepared soil. There is no need to cover them with soil or mulch.

In the Mid-Atlantic, we grow them as a cool-season annual. In our region, it is best to direct-sow California Poppy  seeds in late autumn for early spring growth -- or in early spring as soon as the soil can be worked.

Water them sparingly. They are drought-tolerant once established.

They generally do not need to be fertilized as too much fertilizer reduces blooms.

To encourage more flowers, remove the spent blooms, but leave a few up to self-seed for next year. 

They are generally considered to be deer-resistant due to their bitter taste and toxicity. 

California Poppies attract native bees and many other pollinators.

California  Poppy: You Can Grow That!

 

The video was produced by Washington Gardener Magazine.

Audio, Video, Photos, and Text by Kathy Jentz

Additional Video and Editing by Aicha Bangoura

 

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If you liked this video, we think you will like these other Plant Profiles:

~ Borage Plant Profile

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

~ Calendula Plant Profile

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2024/02/calendula-plant-profile.html

~ Yarrow Plant Profile

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

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Win two pairs of tickets to a showing of The Gardener on May 20 in our May 2026 Washington Gardener Reader Contest

For our May 2026 Washington Gardener Reader Contest, we are giving away two pairs of tickets to a showing of The Gardener on Wednesday, May 20, at the Miracle Theater in Washington, DC (a $30 value).

   The Gardener is a fictional movie. A powerful cosmetics heiress retreats to a remote mountaintop garden cottage while fighting to protect her family legacy. An unexpected connection with a mysterious gardener leads her on a soulful journey of healing, self-discovery, and transformation. You can listen to our interview with the film’s director at https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2026/04/gardendc-podcast-episode-281-healing.html.

    As a bonus prize, anyone who buys a ticket to this showing is entered into a drawing to win The Gardener Book and a $100 gift certificate for flower bulbs. See more about the movie at https://themiracletheatre.com/events/the-gardener/.

   To enter to win one of the pairs of tickets, send an email by 5:00pm on Friday, May 15 to WashingtonGardenerMagazine@gmail.com with “The Gardener Movie” in the Subject line and in the body of the email. Tell us about your favorite movie featuring gardens in it. Please include your full name and mailing address. Winners will be announced and notified on May 16. Replies might be published. 

Monday Thoughts: "Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished." ~ Lao Tzu

"Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished." 

~ Lao Tzu

GardenDC Podcast Episode 284: Summer Bulbs

In this episode of GardenDC: The Podcast about Mid-Atlantic Gardening, we talk with horticulturist Peggy Anne Montgomery of the Garden Media Group about Summer Bulbs. The plant profile is on Lamb's Ear 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 Easiest Mushrooms to Grow" from Christy Page of GreenPrints.

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 104: Dahlias

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2022/05/gardendc-podcast-episode-104-dahlias.html

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 127: Unusual and Specialty Bulbs

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2022/11/gardendc-podcast-episode-127-unusual.html

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 233: Buttercups

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2025/03/gardendc-podcast-episode-233-whats-up.html

Show Notes will be posted after 4/7/2026.

Win $100 worth of bulbs from https://flowerbulb.eu/! To enter, go to https://www.youtube.com/washingtongardenermagazine and comment on this podcast episode there. You have until June 12, 2026. to enter. 

This episode is archived at: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6mxrY0MuRJnlwPCewYoEDU?si=289-4RXoRmWZ4KBtT3F3CQ

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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!

Fenton Friday: Dill Seedlings

 
This week was another week of hardly any rain -- a big storm was promised, but we didn't get much here. Temps were cool and windy.

I harvested Asparagus, Cilantro, and Lettuce. I offered bunches of Cilantro on my local Buy Nothing group thinking they might want them for Cinco de Mayo - -so far, no takers!

Pictured at right are the Blackberries that are forming. I checked on the Strawberries and they are settling in.

The intern's Kale and Lettuce plants are doing fine and should be ready to harvest next week. 

The Dill seedlings (shown above) need thinning and I did a bit of weeding, but need to do much more.

I still see no sign of the Dahlia plants, so fear they did not make it through the harsh winter. 

In the pollinator strip, I found Borage and Brazilian Verbena seedlings. I will likely seed in some Marigolds and Zinnias there too.

Tomorrow we have a table at the Greenbelt-Beltsville Gardeb Club Plant Sale -- please come by and see us there!

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).