GardenDC Podcast Episode 228: Reducing Runoff with Rain Gardens

In this episode of GardenDC: The Podcast about Mid-Atlantic Gardening, we talk with Peggy Singlemann, host of Virginia Home Grown, VPM/PBS TV, all about Rain Gardens. The plant profile is on Florist's Cyclamen 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 Seeds of Joy from Christy Page of Green Prints.

Reach out to your local Chesapeake Landscape Professional Certified Designers for assistance with designing your own Rain Garden.

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

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 80: Bay-Wise Landscapes

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2021/10/gardendc-podcast-episode-80-bay-wise.html

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 201: Watering Tips

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2024/07/gardendc-podcast-episode-201-watering.html

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 165: Gardening and the Weather with Margaret Roach

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2023/09/gardendc-podcast-episode-165-gardening.html

Visit https://shop.kathyjentz.com/ to browse our new online store!

This episode is archived at: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/gardendc/episodes/Reducing-Runoff-with-Rain-Gardens-e2utpsv

Show Notes: 01:20 Introducing Peggy Singlemann 02:00 Was Peggy born with chlorophyll in her veins and a green thumb? 05:04 Peggy talks about discovering her passion for a career in horticulture 06:50 “After college, what type of positions did you have?” Kathy asks Peggy 09:02 The history of Maymont in Richmond, Virginia 14:20 Maymont’s proximity to the James River 16:11 Peggy talks about her roles as a host and co-producer of Virginia Homegrown 17:15 Peggy’s business, RVA Gardener 21:26 Richmond, Virginia’s location and growing conditions 23:55 Average rainfall in Richmond 25:36 Peggy talks about the rain garden at Maymont 28:15 The first step to creating a rain garden at home 31:39 With the right strategies, rain gardens can be beautiful 32:46 “The Urban Garden” by Kathy Jentz and Teri Speight 34:12 A rain garden misconception, how to choose plants wisely 36:46 Peggy talks about supplemental watering, mulch, and minimizing garden disturbance 40:31 Rain garden maintenance, plant failure, and life span 43:05 Determining a site, percolation testing, and building your rain garden 46:22 Peggy talks about the importance of retaining stormwater and the monoculture of lawns 49:30 Kathy and Peggy talk about rain barrels 50:55 Precautions for your rain garden 52:47 The effects of trees and their roots on a rain garden 53:57 How to contact Peggy 55:43 “Grouncover Revolution” by Kathy Jentz 57:11 Florist cyclamen (Cyclamen persicum) plant profile 59:14 What's new in the garden this week? 1:02:26 The Last Word with Christy Page: “Seeds of Joy” 1:04:39 How to support the GardenDC podcast

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Episode Credits:
Host and Producer: Kathy Jentz

Interview Edit and Show Notes: Skylar Drew

Music: Let the Sunshine by James Mulvany

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Monday Thoughts

Do not fear,

the rain is only here

to help you grow

- jennaececelia

Fenton Friday: Drying Out?

Another 5+ inches of rain this week. Again, I am NOT complaining - just reporting. Anything that saves me from having to water daily in the oppressive summer heat is a blessing.

This weekend looks to be a break in the rains and maybe after a few days of drying things out I can finally get back to planting, weeding, and general clean-up. The wood chip paths have long slid downhill to neighboring plots and the weeds are growing like crazy.

A pretty strawflower plant has popped up (pictured at left). I have never plated any of that kind. It is a nice surprise and a sweet substitute for all my zinnias that the damn rabbits keep eating.

The 'Fish' Peppers and other hot peppers are still in their original 2" pots! I would feel guilty but they are all seemingly doing well. I think it is because they are still in the pots and are sitting in a tray off the ground, which is giving them some nice drainage whereas if they were planted in the soil, they would like have rotted by now.

How is your vegetable garden growing 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. I'm plot #16. It is a 10 ft x 20 ft space and this is our 7th year in the garden. (It opened in May 2011.) See past posts about our edible garden by putting "Fenton" into the Search box above