Seed Exchange 2026 Speakers Announced

UPDATE: Our online registration ends at 5pm on 2/6 for the 2/7 Green Spring Gardens event, but we still have a few spots left!
    If you'd like to join us after the online registation ends, come to the registration desk just inside the visitor center at Green Spring Gardens starting at 12noon on Saturday. The speakier program gets started at 12:30pm - we can take onsite sign-ups until the swapping starts about 2:30pm.

See the full event details at 

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2025/12/seed-exchange-registration-now-open.html.

-----------------------------------------------

Here are the speakers for the upcoming Washington Gardener Seed Exchanges 2026. Seed Exchange attendees trade seeds, exchange planting tips, hear expert speakers, and collect goody bags full of gardening treats.

Talk 1 on 1/31 at the WG Seed Exchange at Brookside Gardens:

"Grow Great Lettuce All Year"

Speaker: Debby Ward of Prior Unity Garden  

Debby says, "One of my absolute favorite things to grow is lettuce." There are so many different varieties that I end up growing over 30 in the fall garden. Lettuce can be started indoors in summer for larger transplants or direct seeded once temps cool down a bit. Debby will share her tips and tricks for growing greens all year round.

Talk 2 on 1/31 at the WG Seed Exchange at Brookside Gardens:

"Grow the Cutting Garden of your Dreams - One Seed At A Time! "

Speaker: Alex Mudry-Till of Quince Blossom Ridge

Have you ever wanted to grow a garden full of flowers, but felt too overwhelmed at a nursery or just didn't want to spend the money on lots of seedlings? Sowing your own flowers is an easy way to get lots of bang for you buck and there are lots of different ways to approach this growing technique. Alex will teach you the various ways she grows from seed for her flower farm, Quince Blossom Ridge. The talk will review the different types of seed, how best to sow them and multiple ways to start your seeds (including plug trays, soil blocks, bulk sowing, winter sowing, and if/when to direct sow). Whether a novice or a pro, you'll be sure to learn new tips and tricks for great germination, healthy seedlings, and happy transplants to grow a bountiful array of flowers, filler, and foliage. 

Talk 1 on 2/7 at the WG Seed Exchange at Green Spring Gardens:

“Cucumbers Love Sunflowers: Companion Planting for the Home Garden"

Speaker: Linda L. Jones, owner, Elements of Nature

Companion Planting is a method of growing plants in proximity to each other because of their ability to enhance or complement the other's growth or attract beneficial insects or repel insect pests. Companion planting includes techniques such as trap cropping, spatial protection, beneficial habitat, and nurse cropping.

    Linda L. Jones is a certified master gardener and owner of Elements of Nature - Botanicals and Farmaceuticals, Clinton, Maryland . She focuses on growing flowers and herbs and gardening education. She is an avid seed collector and has a collection of over 500 varieties of open-pollinated and heirloom, annual, perennial and herb seeds.

   She has presented on several diverse gardening topics and has led workshops throughout the DMV since 2010, beginning as a master gardener intern.
   She often incorporates tips on creative, effective and alternative ways to maximize growing potential and space. In addition she uses her knowledge of growing, food, herbs and flowers and incorporates them into designer and exotic loose leaf teas, lotions and other home arrangements and into her natural products and skin care line - all of which are available at www.elementsofnatureusa.com
   She believes that “Through saving and sharing seeds we are all helping to spread hope and enrich lives across the world”

Talk 2 on 1/31 at the WG Seed Exchange at Green Spring Gardens:

"Grow the Cutting Garden of your Dreams - One Seed At A Time! "

Speaker: Alex Mudry-Till of Quince Blossom Ridge

Have you ever wanted to grow a garden full of flowers, but felt too overwhelmed at a nursery or just didn't want to spend the money on lots of seedlings? Sowing your own flowers is an easy way to get lots of bang for you buck and there are lots of different ways to approach this growing technique. Alex will teach you the various ways she grows from seed for her flower farm, Quince Blossom Ridge. The talk will review the different types of seed, how best to sow them and multiple ways to start your seeds (including plug trays, soil blocks, bulk sowing, winter sowing, and if/when to direct sow). Whether a novice or a pro, you'll be sure to learn new tips and tricks for great germination, healthy seedlings, and happy transplants to grow a bountiful array of flowers, filler, and foliage. 

 

21st Annual Washington Gardener Seed Exchanges

on Saturday, January 31, 2026, 12:30–4:00pm 

National Seed Swap Day!

at Brookside Gardens in Wheaton, MD

 Registration is now open at 

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/21st-annual-washington-gardener-seed-exchange-on-saturday-jan-31-2026-tickets-1976404850110?aff=oddtdtcreator

and 

on Saturday, February 7, 2026, 12:30–4:00pm

at Green Spring Gardens in Alexandria, VA

Registration is now open at 

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/wg-seed-exchange-272026-in-virginia-tickets-1976406722711?aff=oddtdtcreator

Garden Speakers Available

Looking for somebody to speak on gardening or related topics? Kathy Jentz, editor of Washington Gardener Magazine is available to speak in-person or virtually at your garden center, the next garden club meeting, master gardener group, horticultural events, etc. Contact Kathy at: http://greatgardenspeakers.com/listing/kathy-jentz-4c818b5cdacc5.html. We can also refer you to garden subject area specialists who write for Washington Gardener Magazine, from insects to native plants to edible gardening.

Garden Speaker

Looking for somebody to speak on something gardening or plant related? Learn more about me and what I could possibly do for your garden center, the next garden club or civic meeting, etc., at: http://greatgardenspeakers.com/listing/kathy-jentz-4c818b5cdacc5.html.

Local Gardening 101

Guest Blog by Racquel Royer

Gardener, speaker, and editor-in-chief of Washington Gardener Magazine Kathy Jentz shared her tips for finding and taking advantage of local gardening resources at a talk for Knowledge Commons DC in Dupont Circle last week. Knowledge Commons is a “free school for thinkers, doers, and tinkerers – taught anywhere, by anyone, for everyone.”

“All gardening is local,” Jentz says.

Her first step was to “start with your soil.” That means getting a soil test to discover what your soil needs to help plants grow. In doing so, it’s important to let those testing the soil know what your plans are so that they can specify what you might need. Soil test kits can be purchased and mailed in to a lab like the one at Penn State. The next step is to amend the soil with aged manure and leaf compost. Kathy shared many local and free sources of both.

After taking care to prepare your soil, local plants can be obtained at garden club swaps, garden centers, public garden plant sales, and by posting on group lists like DC Urban Gardeners and DC Metro Plant Swap. There are so many gardening clubs and groups to join and most welcome new gardeners. A few good local plant swaps Jentz mentioned are those held by the local chapter of the Rock Garden Society, Takoma Horticultural Club, and the Four Seasons Garden Club. A few of Jentz’ favorite area nurseries and garden centers include Homestead Gardens, Merrifield, Behnke, and Meadows Farms among others.

If you’ve started growing your plants and encounter problems, Jentz advised to reach out to places like the UMD HGIC online, in-person at Master Gardener clinics, and to submit questions for the Washington Gardener’s “Ask the Expert” column.

Another great way to get involved in the local gardening community is to attend garden tours like the ones held by Brookland Garden Club and Virginia Garden Week, or to join  local garden clubs. If you’d like to do some local garden adventuring on your own, some great, lesser-known public gardens to visit and get inspired by include the Franciscan Monastery, Tudor Place, Oatlands, and the Bishop’s Garden at the National Cathedral.

Happy local gardening!

About the Author

Racquel Royer is a senior studying broadcast journalism in the Philip Merrill College of Journalism at the University of Maryland, College Park. She is from Tampa. FL. This summer, she is an editorial intern at Washington Gardener.

Need a Great Garden Speaker?

As a garden club president myself, I know how hard it can be to find a speaker who is knowledgeable about local gardening and who can present that knowledge in an interesting, well-organized, and concise way.  My aim is to be that great, local, garden speaker. My personal mission is to turn black thumbs green and to inspire a love for gardening in my audience.

I am booking talks now through the end of 2019 and am available for garden club meetings, conferences, workshops, panels, and other special events.  

Posted here is my speaker one-sheet (click on it to see it at full size and right-click on it to save the file), which gives you some idea about my most popular talk topics and experience. Even if you don't have a speaker opening right now, please keep it on file for when you do need one and feel free to also share it with your fellow garden club leaders.

In addition, you can read my audience reviews at the Great Garden Speakers web site: http://greatgardenspeakers.com/listing/kathy-jentz-4c818b5cdacc5.html.

Whenever you have a garden speaking opportunity, keep me in mind. Call 240-603-1471 or email KathyJentz@gmail.com for my available dates, rates, and a complete list of talk topics.

SEED EXCHANGE 2018 SPEAKERS ANNOUNCED

HERE ARE THE SPEAKERS FOR THE UPCOMING WASHINGTON GARDENER SEED EXCHANGES 2018. SEED EXCHANGE ATTENDEES TRADE SEEDS, EXCHANGE PLANTING TIPS, HEAR EXPERT SPEAKERS, AND COLLECT GOODY BAGS FULL OF GARDENING TREATS. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE EXCHANGES AND HOW TO REGISTER, GO HERE: http://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2017/12/seed-exchange-registration-now-open.html.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 27 AT BROOKSIDE GARDENS, WHEATON, MD

"Planning and Organizing this Winter for Quicker Planting this Spring"

Grab a calendar, your seed packets, and a sharpened pencil! Right now is the perfect time to make your plans, prepare, and organize your seeds for a quick and easy garden progression. Learn what you can start indoors for later transplanting and what needs go straight into the garden in a few weeks. Kim will take you from spring into summer and straight through into fall planting and even give you a few hints on what to do if we get an unexpected cold snap.

Speaker: Kim Roman is a Square Foot Gardening Certified Instructor, trained by SFG creator, Mel Bartholomew and currently serves as the SFG Foundation’s Public Relations Director. In addition to SFG, Kim loves to teach other methods of small-space, organic vegetable gardening and works with schools, churches, homeless shelters, nursing homes, refugee centers, etc. to help them plan and implement their garden projects. Based in Glen Burnie, she’ll travel to your location for talks, classes, lunch & learns or consultations. Contact: sfgkimroman@yahoo.com or find her on Facebook at Square Foot Gardening 4 U. 

and

"Cool Season Cover Crops”

Where to source cover crop seeds, when/why to use them, and what varieties do best here in the Mid-Atlantic.

Speaker: Elizabeth Olson is a Maryland Certified Professional Horticultur­ist with the Maryland Nursery, Landscape and Greenhouse Association. She is also a Certified Judge with the Maryland Association of Agricultural Fairs & Shows. Her areas of expertise include Farm & Garden, Flowers & Plants, Vegeta­bles, Fruits & Nuts, Herbs & Vinegars, Food Preservation, and Photography. Elizabeth is the Edible Harvest columnist for Washington Gardener Magazine, for which she has written kitchen garden articles on topics ranging from garlic to Brussels sprouts. She belongs to GWA: The Association for Garden Communicators and has made presentations on various subjects such as getting ready for spring, planting schemes, and how to prepare entries for the county fair to garden groups and Master Gardeners since 2008.

and a bonus mini-session:

“Quick Seed Saving Tips”

A primer of how to save, store, and label seeds from various plants.

Speaker: Kathy Jentz is editor and publisher of Washington Gardener Magazine, based in the Washington, DC region. A life-long gardener, Kathy believes that growing plants should be stress-free and enjoyable.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10 AT GREEN SPRING GARDENS, ALEXANDRIA, VA

“Introduction to Local Vertical Farming”

Vertical Farming uses stackable growing containers and community-based farming to activate underused urban spaces, including rooftops, balconies, abandoned lots, or front yards. This session covers using vertical farming methods for higher yields, selecting to most suitable varieties for vertical growing, nutrient management, integrated pest management, and harvest techniques.

Speaker: Niraj Ray founded Cultivate the City (CTC) in 2015 to inspire healthy and sustainable living by empowering local communities with the tools, training and resources for urban agriculture and vertical farming. CTC currently manages over 25 locations around DC, including a rooftop farm at the Washington Nationals Stadium, 4 school gardens, Gallaudet University's school farm and a rooftop retail garden center with a 500 sq ft. hoophouse featuring vertical aquaponic systems. In 2017, CTC cultivated and distributed more than 8000 lbs of produce- food grown by CTC provides for a 45+ member CSA, restaurant sales, cooking classes and community festivals with their school gardens.  Niraj holds a B.S. in Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology from the Ohio State University and a M.S. in Integrated Environmental Science from Bethune-Cookman University. He is a 2013 National Wildlife Federation Emerging Leader Fellow and formerly worked with the US EPA - Office of Water.

and

“Providing Blooms Year-Round for Honey Bees”

Planning and planting flowers all months of the year to provide for honeybee pollen and nectar. Year-round blooms will be make your garden a true pollinator habitat.

Speaker: Elizabeth Olson is a Maryland Certified Professional Horticultur­ist with the Maryland Nursery, Landscape and Greenhouse Association. She is also a Certified Judge with the Maryland Association of Agricultural Fairs & Shows. Her areas of expertise include Farm & Garden, Flowers & Plants, Vegeta­bles, Fruits & Nuts, Herbs & Vinegars, Food Preservation, and Photography. Elizabeth is the Edible Harvest columnist for Washington Gardener Magazine, for which she has written kitchen garden articles on topics ranging from garlic to Brussels sprouts. She belongs to GWA: The Association for Garden Communicators and has made presentations on various subjects such as getting ready for spring, planting schemes, and how to prepare entries for the county fair to garden groups and Master Gardeners since 2008.

and a bonus mini-session:

“Quick Seed Saving Tips”

A primer of how to save, store, and label seeds from various plants.

Speaker: Kathy Jentz is editor and publisher of Washington Gardener Magazine, based in the Washington, DC region. A life-long gardener, Kathy believes that growing plants should be stress-free and enjoyable.

For more information on the exchanges and how to register, go here: http://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2017/12/seed-exchange-registration-now-open.html. .

Video Wednesday: Kathy Jentz, Garden Speaker

Kathy Jentz is editor and publisher of Washington Gardener Magazine, based in the Washington, DC region. A life-long gardener, Kathy believes that growing plants should be stress-free and enjoyable. Her philosophy is inspiration over perspiration.

To book her for a garden talk, see: http://greatgardenspeakers.com/listing/kathy-jentz-4c818b5cdacc5.html

ADVERTISER OF THE WEEK: GreatGardenSpeakers.com

The goal of GreatGardenSpeakers.com is to provide a better way for garden clubs, botanical gardens, and other venues to easily find and book speakers. "We noticed
 that program chairs of garden clubs and other venues have a hard time finding excellent speakers, and we see this as a useful service to the gardening and horticulture community. If you are planning a workshop, symposium, conference, or panel discussion involving plants and the natural world, we are your one-stop shop for premier speakers."

ADVERTISER OF THE WEEK Details:
Every Thursday on the Washington Gardener Magazine Facebook page, Blog, and Yahoo list we feature a current advertiser from our monthly digital magazine. To advertise with us, contact wgardenermag@aol.com today.

ADVERTISER OF THE WEEK: GreatGardenSpeakers.com

The goal of GreatGardenSpeakers.com is to provide a better way for garden clubs, botanical gardens, and other venues to easily find and book speakers. "We noticed
 that program chairs of garden clubs and other venues have a hard time finding excellent speakers, and we see this as a useful service to the gardening and horticulture community. If you are planning a workshop, symposium, conference, or panel discussion involving plants and the natural world, we are your one-stop shop for premier speakers."

ADVERTISER OF THE WEEK Details:
Every Thursday on the Washington Gardener Magazine Facebook page, Blog, and Yahoo list we feature a current advertiser from our monthly digital magazine. To advertise with us, contact wgardenermag@aol.com today.