Friday, April 18, 2025

Fenton Friday: Finally Feeling like Spring!


This past week, we had a little more rain along with some chilly nights and very windy days. The forecast for the next 10 days shows lots of sun and warmth, so I think we may be past any more frost/freeze alerts for the season. (Knock on wood!)

Our cistern faucets are still not connected so any watering we do needs to be hauled from home -- not fun. I'm hoping we get some decent rains and we can avoid that chore -- but please no rain on weekend garden festival days!

The cool-season seedlings are all doing nicely (see pic above). They include 'Traditional Chioggia' Beets, Black Seeded, Simpson Lettuce, Cilantro, Arugula, 'Frosty' Peas, and the 'White Globe' Turnips.

We officially gave up on the 'Crispy Colors Duo' Kohlrabi and 'New Zealand; Spinach. In their respective places now is Carrot 'Dragon' and Radish 'Plum Purple' -- both of which I bought from https://seedsavers.org/. I have not grown these varities before and honestly picked them simply because they look gorgeous in the catalog photos. I hope they taste as good!

We did a little weeding and .I was able to harvest a few more Asparagus spears this week. 

The thornless Blackberry is covered in blossoms so I take that as a good indication of lots of fruits this summer. I have also seen a few flowers appearing on our Strawberry plants.

We added a row of heirloom Dill 'Leafy Diana.' I'm not expecting to harvest anything from these plants -- just growing it for the pollinators. Speaking of which, we still need to clean out the Pollinator Garden strip and start more pollinator-supporting flowers from seed in there. I might get to that right after Easter.

What are you growing in your edible 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 13th 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).

Thursday, April 17, 2025

Lyreleaf Sage Plant Profile

Lyreleaf Sage Plant Profile

Lyreleaf Sage (Salvia lyrata) is a perennial plant that is native to the eastern half of the United States. It has pretty lavender-blue flowers in spring.

The basal foliage resembles that of the dandelion, but the leaves have a reddish-purple veining.

Lyreleaf Sage is a member of the mint family. It can reseed itself and establish into a small colony to form a nice groundcover.

It can grow in full sun to part shade and prefers well-draining soils. It is hardy to USDA Zones 5 to 8.

The flowers attract bees, hummingbirds, and butterflies. It is fairly deer-resistant as well.

It is a medicinal herb that was once thought to cure cancer. Lyreleaf Sage is edible and is collected as a wild salad green in the early- to mid-springtime.

Lyreleaf Sage: You Can Grow That!

 

The video was produced by Washington Gardener Magazine.

Audio, Photos, Video, and Text by Kathy Jentz Editing by Madison Korman

 

 If you enjoy this video, please give it a thumbs up and subscribe to our Youtube channel (thank you!)

Remember to TURN ON notifications to know when our new videos are out

 FIND Washington Gardener Magazine ONLINE

WashingtonGardener.blogspot.com

http://twitter.com/WDCGardener

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Facebook.com/WashingtonGardenerMagazine

~ Podcast: GardenDC

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

Trout Lily Plant Profile

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2025/04/trout-lily-plant-profile.html

 Virginia Bluebells Plant Profile

 https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2018/04/plant-profile-virginia-bluebells.html

 Baptisia Plant Profile

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2023/07/baptisia-plant-profile.html

 Spring Beauty Plant Profile

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2020/04/plant-profile-spring-beauty-claytonia.html

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Monday, April 14, 2025

Saturday, April 12, 2025

GardenDC Podcast Episode 236: Forest Bathing

In this episode of GardenDC: The Podcast about Mid-Atlantic Gardening, we talk with author and naturalist Melanie Choukas-Bradley all about forest bathing. The plant profile is on Caladiums 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 by Christy Page of GreenPrints.

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

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 137: Into the Heart of the Garden

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2023/02/gardendc-podcast-episode-137-into-heart.html

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 38: Art in the Garden 

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2020/11/gardendc-podcast-episode-38-art-in.html

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 92: Universal Gardening 

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2022/02/gardendc-podcast-episode-92-universal.html

GardenDC Podcast Episode 224:The Reformation of a Bad Naturalist

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2025/01/gardendc-podcast-episode-224.html


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

See how at: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/gardendc/support.

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

This episode is archived at: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/gardendc/episodes/Forest-Bathing-e31ee33

Show Notes will be posted after 4-15-2025.

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
Show Notes: Skylar Drew
Music: Let the Sunshine by James Mulvany

PIN THIS FOR LATER!

Friday, April 11, 2025

Fenton Friday: A Wet Week

This past week, we had more rain (thank goodness as we are still in a 10+ inch drought deficit) and the temps turned downright chilly, which is not so welcome after last week's warmth. 

How chilly? Well, it dropped near/below freezing for most of us in the DMV-region on Tuesday night. I had a cover cloth still on the Broccoli seedlings so I knew were fine, but all else was on its own as I had no time to run over and cover them as I gave two local garden talks that day. Thanksfully, nothing in the plot seems to have been affected.

The 'Traditional Chioggia' Beet, Black Seeded, Simpson Lettuce, and Cilantro seedlings are up this week to join the  Arugula, 'Frosty' Peas, and the 'White Globe' Turnips seedlings that were already growing well. The Turnips are growing so big and thickly, that they already needed thinning this week.

The two seeds that have not emerged yet are the 'Crispy Colors Duo' Kohlrabi and 'New Zealand; Spinach. Not sure why they have failed, other than likely being dud seeds. We'll replant their spots next week. I had already set some Radish and Carrot seed packs aside for that purpose.

We did a little weeding and between the rain finally got to apply fresh wood chips on the pathways that have gotten a bit bald around our plot.

I was able to harvest a few more Asparagus spears this week. 

I saw that some Calendula seedlings are coming up in the Pollinator Garden strip and another gardener has transplanted some of her prolifically reseeding Bachelor's Button to the strip too. I hope they survive that transfer! We'll get over their this next week or so to clear out the weeds and start more pollinator-supporting flowers from seed in there.

What are you growing in your edible 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 13th 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).

Wednesday, April 09, 2025

Trout Lily Plant Profile


Trout Lily Plant Profile

Trout Lily (Erythronium americanum) is a perennial spring ephemeral plant that is native to eastern North America. It has pretty yellow or white flowers that dangle at the top of 6- to 8-inch high stems.

The foliage is mottled and resembles the brown coloring of a brown trout.  It is also known as fawn lily, Woodland Glory , yellow adder's-tongue, or yellow dogtooth violet.

It prefers to grow in moist, acidic soils under deciduous shade trees. It will form a colony where it is happy.

It is hardy to USDA zones 3-9.

They provide pollen and nectar to early season native bees like Mason Bees and Queen Bumblebees.

Trout Lily are generally deer- and rabbit-resistant.

It can be most easily propagated by digging a clump and dividing it, but it can also be grown from seed or bulb offset.

 The plant is a healing herb that was used in wound care by Native Americans.

Trout Lily: You Can Grow That!

The video was produced by Washington Gardener Magazine as part of our Plant Profile series for Mid-Atlantic USA gardeners.

Audio and text by Kathy Jentz

Video and editing by Madison Korman

If you enjoy this video, please give it a thumbs up and subscribe to our Youtube channel (thank you!)

Remember to TURN ON notifications to know when our new videos are out

FIND Washington Gardener Magazine ONLINE

~ WashingtonGardener.blogspot.com

~ http://twitter.com/WDCGardener

~ https://www.instagram.com/wdcgardener/

~ Facebook.com/WashingtonGardenerMagazine

~ Podcast: GardenDC

If you liked this video, you may enjoy these other plant profiles:

 Virginia Bluebells Plant Profile

 https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2018/04/plant-profile-virginia-bluebells.html

 Baptisia Plant Profile

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2023/07/baptisia-plant-profile.html

 Spring Beauty Plant Profile

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2020/04/plant-profile-spring-beauty-claytonia.html

PIN THIS FOR LATER!

Monday, April 07, 2025

Monday Thoughts: “A garden that is easy to maintain-and easy on the eyes— doesn't happen by accident; it is the product of planning.” ~ Martha Stewart

“A garden that is easy to maintain-and easy on the eyes— doesn't happen by accident; it is the product of planning.” ~ Martha Stewart

Saturday, April 05, 2025

GardenDC Podcast Episode 235: Spring Pruning Tips

In this episode of GardenDC: The Podcast about Mid-Atlantic Gardening, we talk with Peggy Singlemann, host of Virginia Home Grown, all about spring pruning tips. The plant profile is on Horsetail 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 Plant Swap Mishap by Christy Page of GreenPrints.

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

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 228: Reducing Runoff with Rain Gardens

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2025/02/gardendc-podcast-episode-228-reducing.html

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 184: Spring Garden Prep

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2024/02/gardendc-podcast-episode-183-spring.html


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

See how at: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/gardendc/support.

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

This episode is archived at: https://open.spotify.com/episode/20ugHDmyYAzvZj8szPzzFS?si=OK1TRU0JS_ixAbdW6dzbUA

Show Notes: 01:20 Introducing Peggy Singleman 02:45 Kathy and Peggy talk about preparing to prune 04:22 Peggy’s favorite tools 09:40 Peggy’s early spring pruning tips 11:48 “How do you know…if [a shrub or tree] needs pruning?” Kathy asks Peggy 17:04: Sealing vs. Healing 19:13 Peggy talks about “making windows” for sunlight when pruning 20:58 Kathy and Peggy discuss knowing when to stop cutting a plant 26:16 Kathy and Peggy talk about human hedging habits 28:36 “Groundcover Revolution” by Kathy Jentz 32:18 Pruning challenges with Forsythia 34:23 Kathy’s favorite ways to prune and uses for Forsythia clippings 39:07 Peggy talks about pruning Clematis 40:27 Clematis Expert podcast episode 41:08 Peggy talks about distinguishing and pruning Boxwood 45:06 Peggy and Kathy talk about pruning Callicarpa (American Beauty berry) 49:40 Peggy talks about pruning Red Twig Dogwood 51:30 Pruning native hollies 54:19 “The Urban Garden” by Kathy Jentz and Teri Speight 55:13 Horsetail Plant Profile 56:39 What’s new in the garden this week? 59:03 The Last Word by Christy Page: The Great Plant Swap Mishap 01:02:05 How to support the Garden DC Podcast


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
Show Notes: Skylar Drew
Music: Let the Sunshine by James Mulvany

PIN THIS FOR LATER!

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