Getting Your Garden Ready for Spring

I did another WAMU Metro Connection radio interview last week that aired on Friday and repeated on Saturday. The topic was "Getting Your Garden Ready for Spring." The transcript and audio file are available here - see "April Gardening Tips."

This weekend at the MoCo Home Show was exhausting. I'm not sure if it was the long hours, sparse crowds, or the several trips I made to the Greyhound rescue booth to pet the dogs and warm up my hands. Or maybe it was listening to the featured speakers give the same talk several times. It is funny how the audience, though vastly different in size and composition each time, still managed to ask the same exact questions. Which makes it fairly predictable and easier to give these kind of talks, but sure can be boring. At a certain point I had to bite my tongue not to start heckling the audience members like a baseball player that should've long since retired. "C'mon, I know you know what a deer fence is? Are you kidding me?!" Being by the stage is a good location, but can have its drawbacks.

Tomorrow I'm off to the GWA Regional Mtg in Gloucester, VA (timed for daffodil festival week down there) followed by trips to Maymont and Ginter for tours of both those public gardens in Richmond, VA on Tuesday. This Thursday is the annual Montgomery County Parks Weed Warriors reception at Brookside Gardens. A busy week, but I've set aside all next weekend to finally get me own spring cleaning in the garden done!

Sustainable Gardening

Here is the online link to my Sustainable Gardening article on page R3 in the Real Estate section of today's print edition in the Washington Examiner. You can find the Examiner in the many red street-boxes around town. I saved a screen capture of the listing as a JPG and posted it here -- which you can click on to read at 100%.

The sources and quotes for this piece were gathered at Brookside Gardens’ Green Matters Symposium and the photo was taken in the Regional Garden portion of the USBG’s National Garden.

Hope to see many of you at the PhotoSynthesis opening tonight and at the MoCo Home Show this weekend. You can print out discount coupons to the MoCo Show here.

PhotoSynthesize THIS

Here is the online link to this week's The List: Top Home & Garden Events on page 24 of today's print edition in the Washington Examiner. You can find the Examiner in the many red street-boxes around town. I saved a screen capture of the listing as a JPG and posted it here -- which you can click on to read at 100%.

They used one of the winning images from our 2nd Annual Washington Gardener Photo Contest to illustrate the list and as a teaser in full color on page 22.

Speaking of the photo contest, YOU are invited to attend the Opening Reception for PhotoSynthesis, our 2nd Annual Washington Gardener Photo Contest Winners Show -- 16 incredible images from gardens in the greater Washington region. From dragonflies to dahlias, these winners capture the beauty of our natural world and local environment.

The opening reception of the PhotoSynthesis is Friday, March 28 from 6-8pm at the Adams Bank Lobby in the World Building -- 8121 Georgia Avenue in downtown Silver Spring, MD. The reception is open to the public and is free to attend. After the opening, you may come by and view the photos any time during the normal bank lobby hours (M-F 9am-4pm, Sat 9am-12noon). The show runs through May 22. The winning images are also published in the March/April 2008 issue of Washington Gardener Magazine.

The Capital Beltway Horticulture Shows

Some of you have heard rumors about these new events and we are just starting the publicity machine rolling in earnest for them. We have partnered with Behnke Nurseries to present three unique events for area gardeners this spring -- an Azalea Show, Flower Show, and Perennial Show.

We hope to raise $30,000 for EarthShare. The fundraising will come from $5 raffle tickets which will be chances to win some incredible prizes. (Think in terms of store gift certificates in the $100+ ranges.) Behnkes will also be offering some incredible plant specials and I know many of the event vendors will have some terrific specials as well.

I have just put up a new page on our web site and it will be continually updated as new details come in, so bookmark and visit regularly. Please help spread the word.

Cherry Alternatives

It is Cherry Blossom Festival madness again in DC. This year, the National Park Service has enraged many locals by announcing no parking will be available at the Tidal Basin. Personally, I think the park service plan is smart -- take away the meager 180 spaces that created a traffic-chocking blockade and instead provide a free shuttle from Hains Point. A free shuttle every 10 minutes from the nearby metro stops would be even better though. If you walk from Smithsonian metro, it is a bit of a hike and you must cross several roads and dodge traffic -- many of those drivers are tourists* gawking at the views and not looking at the road.

Here are a few alternatives to the Tidal Basin chaos:

~ National Arboretum has a splendid and more varied display and LOTS or parking. Stroll around Fern Valley and the other gardens as well while you are there.

~ The Bethesda neighborhood of Kenwood for their stunning display. Park and walk in for an immersion in cherry tree lined streets.

~ Dumbarton Oaks in Georgetown has a marvelous orchard of cherries. There is an $8 admission feee that goes to support the gardens. Parking is also a bear in that neighborhood -- walk or take the bus.

~ Grow your own. In the very first issue of Washington Gardener Magazine, we did a PlantProfile column on the selection and cultivation of cherry trees for our area. Ever since getting my weeping 'Higan' cherry, I feel no need to rush downtown. I keep a daily watch on my baby tree and celebrate loudly when the buds finally burst open. I highly recommend it.

I took this cherry blossom photo towards the end of last year's festival.

*I define "tourist" as anyone who does not regularly visit the Mall or downtown DC. No matter what your home zip code may be, if you haven't been down there since last year's blossoms, you are a visitor too and have given up your rights to kvetch about all those annoying out-of-towners.

UPDATE:

I received the following release from Brookside Gardens a few days ago and then went to vsit them myself yesteday. It is free to visit and I can attest that there are many picturesque views and plenty of gorgeous specimens. You may have to wait your turn behind a few bridal parties jockeying for the best photo ops, but it is nothing compared to the Tidal Basin crowds and is well worth a leisurely stroll around the grounds during any season.

>>Brookside Gardens also has beautiful cherry blossom trees and many other flowering trees like plum, apricot, magnolias, and quince in bloom right now, and you don't have to fight the crowds to see them. The gardens are also full of flowering bulbs like hyacinths, tulips, and hillsides of daffodils. If you come this weekend you'll also see one of the largest and oldest daffodil shows on the east coast sponsored by the Washington Daffodil Society. The show runs from Saturday, April 5, 2-5pm and on Sunday, 6, from 9am-4pm. Of course, you won't want to miss our spring conservatory display featuring orchids, jasmine, lilies, camellias, tulips and more, but hurry because the display ends on the 13th. Brookside Gardens, 1800 Glenallan Avenue, Wheaton, MD 20902. For more information, call 301-962-1400 or visit us online at http://www.brooksidegardens.org/.<<

Another good article ruined by Incorrect Plant ID

Reading a good article in the WaPo's Metro section yesterday on the little-known memorial for Henry Marytn Robert, I was once again stopped dead by an incorrect Plant ID. I'm not keeping track, but in my random reading experience I'd say the Metro section writers are zero for 10 this year.

I copied the accompanying photo here -- that "holly bush" is actually the common Nandina and that misidentified "elephant grass" is known locally as "monkey grass" or "Lily turf" or more correctly, Liriope. (Just for clarification, this is elephant grass.) Both Nandina and Liriope are probably the most ubiquitous landscape plants in the DC area -- certainly not anything rare or unique. Nobody is perfect, but I do expect a basic level of plant knowledge in any area resident's brain -- similar to knowing a hot dog from a half-smoke or what times the lane direction's change in Rock Creek Park. You should just know these things.

Happy Easter Weekend!

Here is the online link to this week's The List: Top Home & Garden Events on page 20 of yesterday's print edition in the Washington Examiner. You can find the Examiner in the many red street-boxes around town. I saved a screen capture of the listing as a JPG and posted it here -- which you can now click on to read at 100%.

On Saturday I'm planning to make both event #2 and #4 -- both are within walking distance of my home and both are eco-friendly home/garden tours. I'll have camera and business cards along although I have a strong feeling I'll be seeing the same neighbors and friends I run into all the time at local eco-events. After that I'm going downtown to see a few of the DC EnviroFilm Fest screenings.

Sunday is reserved for Easter with the family. The nieces will get spoiled rotten as usual and I will do my best to eat as many deviled eggs as I can. Despite such an early Easter this year, I did manage to get some decor up and today I get to bring out my "Happy Spring" bunny and set him out. I love that sign so much. I get giddy just thinking about it and the warmer days to come.

Is Arbor Day Too Early?

The Washington Gardener Enews Vol. 4, No. 3 — March 15, 2008 is now out and archived here.

In This Issue:

Early Spring Veggies

Magazine Excerpt: Captivating Coral Bells (Heucheras)

March To-Do List

Spotlight Special: USDA Power Trees

Reader Contest: MoCo Home Show Passes

Local Gardening Events

One minor correction, we listed the area Arbor Day's in the To-Do List and Jeff Miller, Exec Director of the Virginia Green Industry Council, has let me know that, "Virginia's Arbor Day was officially changed by the General Assembly to the 4th Friday in April to coincide with National Arbor Day. So this year, it's April 25."

Thanks, Jeff, for the correct date, but isn't every day Arbor Day? :-) Some have stated that it should be shifted to fall when it makes more sense to be planting new trees. Is Arbor Day just about sticking a new seedling in the ground? I always thought it was about honoring what trees give to us and perhaps we should shift the emphasis of the celebration off of planting new trees to maintaining and caring for old and established trees. I think that is where the knowledge gap lies in the general populace.

Visit from a Masked Stranger

Ranger Rick must've spread the word that I have a raccoon-friendly abode. I came home at 10:30 last night from the Silver Spring Garden Club meeting and this guy (or gal) was climbing up one of my tall oaks making a lot of scritching/scratching noises. I really startled him as he was climbing fast. I ran in and got my camera. He was about 30 ft up by then so this is the best I could do in the dark. You can see his face mask and ears around his glowing eyes if you look really close at full size view.

Top of the Morning - it's Garden Bloggers Bloom Day

It is not morning anymore nor the actual Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day. I'm late on both accounts, but I couldn't resist an Irish greeting on St. Patrick's Day. Though I'm not even one drop Irish, I wore some green. I remember those school day pinchings all too well!





This post's subject line reminds me of Fr. Cronin, pastor of my parish (St. Michael's in downtown Silver Spring, MD) for several years until his untimely death at age 50, used to say "top of the morning" to the congregation and expect "and the rest of the day to you" in response. He'd get it with some gusto from the children in attendance, which seemed to tickle him. He was 100% Irish and I'll never forget his love of bagpipes, his standing-room-only funeral, or the way he described a misty spring morning as "a fine soft day."




Picture here are some of my bloomers. This weekend's sun and rain really accelerated spring. It has definitely sprung in these parts. I have: daffodils, dutch iris, crocus, hellebore, flowering plum trees, forsythia, winter jasmine, primroses, and vinca. No need to go over the inside bloomers this month with so much going on outdoors -- hurray!








BTW you can now posts comments again! I was starting to feel really lonely and think no one was visiting until GardenRanter Susan Harris let me know blogspot had reset my preferences and was only allowing those with Google accounts to post!

Me & Ranger Rick

Here are a few scenes from the past few days at the Washington Home & Garden Show. The show continues tomorrow (Sunday, 3/16) from 11am-6pm. Hope to see you there.

I'm also scheduled to do a short appearance on Channel 9 news tomorrow morning during the 8am broadcast. The rain tonight needs to clear up by then so we can do some nice outdoor shots. It would really be disappointing to have to do the interview inside the studio, but I'm a professional so I'll cope ;-).