Fenton Friday: Bunny Alert

This baby bunny (look closely at the photo above) and I scared the hell out of each other when I went to check on the Fenton Community Garden's pollinator garden. I had scattered assorted sunflower seeds in hopes some might fill in the blank spots for late-season flowers. The bunny shouldn't do much damage to the pollinator plants, but he can easily fit through our fencing so am sure is finding plenty to eat in our plots.

There is not much else to report from the plot this week as we had 4 days of 101+ degree temps (actual temps!) and again hardly any rain, so I only go over to water and weed a tiny bit before leaving due to the high heat. Not much is ripening and everything is just kind of in a holding pattern. Luckily, we got a humidity and heat break today, that might give the tomatoes a chance to ripen.

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).

July 2024 issue of Washington Gardener Magazine – Yarrow, Container Peppers, Terrariums, and much more…

 

The July 2024 issue of Washington Gardener Magazine is out.

 

Inside this issue:

·         Amazing Yarrow

·         What’s Eating My Crape Myrtle

·         Common Grackle

·         Coverings to Reduce Pest Problems

·         Museum of the Bible’s Rooftop Garden

·         Classic Pimm’s Cup Cocktail

·         Great Gardening Books Reviewed

·         Holly Expert Sue Hunter

·         Gorgeous Gladioli

·         How to Make a Terrarium

·         Top 5 Heirloom Peppers for Containers

·         and much more…

 

Note that any submissions, event listings, and advertisements for the August 2024 issue are due by August  5.

 

>>  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

GardenDC Embroidered Patches

Our GardenDC patches are here! I’ve already added one to my own patch collection jacket. 

You can get yours by being a supporter of the GardenDC podcast for as little as $0.99 per month! See how at: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/gardendc/support. 

Once you have filled out the support form, send an email to KathyJentz@gmail.com with your mailing address and we'll send you your patch.

Monday Thoughts: “No garden truly blooms until butterflies have danced upon it.” ~ Kristen D’Angelo

“No garden truly blooms until butterflies have danced upon it.” ~ Kristen D’Angelo

Garden Photo Show Opening Reception 2024

UPDATE: The Garden Photo Show is extended to 10/15.

You are invited to view the winning images of the 18th annual Washington Gardener Photo Contest at an art show at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens in Vienna, VA. All 17 stunning photos were taken in DC-area gardens. Both inspirational and educational, this show represents the best of garden photography in the greater DC metropolitan region.

The photo show reception is Sunday, August 4 from 2:00-3:30pm in the Meadowlark Visitor Center's lobby. The opening reception is open to the public and is free to attend. You may also come by and view the photos any time during the normal Visitor Center hours (10am-7pm daily). The photo show runs through August 31 October 15.

Please RSVP at our Facebook Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/share/3PBtFSXJAo9ZpsvU/

Washington Gardener Magazine is already announcing the 19th Annual Washington Gardener Photo Contest. Start gathering your images now and throughout this year. Most of the entry rules will remain the same as this year’s contest. Photos need to be taken during the 2024 calendar year in a garden-setting in the greater Washington, DC area. We will accept the entries during the first three weeks of January 2024.

Washington Gardener Magazine (http://www.washingtongardener.com/) is the gardening publication specifically for the local metro area — Washington DC and its suburbs. Washington Gardener Magazine’s basic mission is to help DC area gardens grow better. The magazine is written entirely by and for local area gardeners.

Meadowlark Botanical Gardens (www.nvrpa.org/park/meadowlark_botanical_gardens) is a park of beauty, conservation, education, and discovery. Throughout the year at this 95-acre complex are large ornamental display gardens and unique native plant collections. Walking trails, lakes, more than 20 varieties of cherry trees, irises, peonies, an extensive shade garden, native wildflowers, gazebos, birds, butterflies, seasonal blooms, and foliage create a sanctuary of beauty and nature. Meadowlark is part of Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority.

GardenDC Podcast Episode 201: Watering Tips

In this episode, we talk with Andrew Bunting, Vice President of Horticulture at the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, about garden watering tips. The plant profile is on Alstroemeria and we share what's going on in the garden as well as some upcoming local gardening events and this week's garden tasks in the What's New segment. We close out with the Last Word on Garden Yoga from Christy Page of Green Prints.

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.

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

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 112: Summer Garden Refresh

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2022/07/gardendc-podcast-episode-112-summer.html

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

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

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 121: Gold Medal Plants

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2022/09/gardendc-podcast-episode-121-gold-medal.html

This episode is archived at: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/gardendc/episodes/Watering-Tips-e2m0crk

Show Notes: 1:12 Welcome Andrew Bunting with the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society 2:03 What has Andrew been up to? The Philadelphia Flower Show and selecting gold metal plants 4:21 Andrew talks about his gravel garden and his vegetable garden 7:32 How does Andrew maintain his gravel garden? 9:19 How to tell when your plants need water (Let the plants be the indicator) 11:05 Some plants look like they’re wilting, but do not actually need water 13:26 What have the weather conditions been this summer in Philadelphia? 15:30 Andrew uses rain gauges and containers to tell how many inches of rain fell 18:57 Kathy uses Cocorahs to find hyper-local precipitation numbers 19:38 What time of day is best for watering? Andrew believes early morning 22:25 Andrew shares where on the plant he waters and what hoses to use 28:30 Andrew uses Flexogen and Dramm hoses and explains why 33:38 Kathy uses hoses that compact themselves which saves time wrapping up the hose 35:57 What watering cans does Andrew use indoors and outside? 40:05 Philadelphia’s rain barrel program and the benefits of rain barrels 42:45 How leaving your leaves or mulch can help keep moisture in your garden 48:12 Products that hold moisture in the soil - such as Soil Moist 51:45 Andrew shares his favorite drought-tolerant plants 57:30 To contact Andrew and learn more about the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, go to phsonline.org and read Andrew’s article How to Water Plants While Away 1:00:17 Plant Profile: Alstroemeria 1:01:48 What’s new in the garden this week? Pollinators are visiting the monarda and sunflowers and Kathy’s harvesting onions, basil, and tomatoes. 1:02:07 This week’s garden tip are on tomato issues 1:02:38 GardenDC won the Best Podcast HORTI Award! 1:03:10 Upcoming events in the Maryland, D.C., and Virginia area – The sunflowers at the McKee-Beshers Wildlife Management Area are at their peak in Poolesville, MD. Woody Plant Conference on July 19th at the Scott Arboretum. The Takoma Park Garlic Festival at the Takoma Park Farmers Market is now on July 21st. 1:05:01 Check out Groundcover Revolution by Kathy Jentz for low-maintenance alternatives for lawns on Amazon.com and Bookshop.org 1:07:23 Christy Page from GreenPrints on Garden Yoga, a story by Kay Flowers

Links:

~ Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network: https://cocorahs.org/

~ DRAMM Water Breaker Nozzle: https://amzn.to/4bGMbOM*

~ How to Water Plants While Away and Sustain a Summer Garden (phsonline.org)

*Amazon affiliate link. Any purchases made from the link may add a few pennies to the GardenDC account, but will not impact the prices you pay.

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• Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/GardenDC-Podcast/B08JJNZBMX
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• Deezer: https://www.deezer.com/us/show/5587897
• Headliner: https://play.headliner.app/podcast/37086
• Himalaya: https://www.himalaya.com/courses/gardendc-1747568
• Ivy: https://ivy.fm/podcast/gardendc-940013
• Listen Notes: https://lnns.co/VIfcBjWRnw6
• Pandora: https://www.pandora.com/podcast/gardendc/
• PocketCasts: https://pca.st/9phvd8bk
• Podcast Addict: https://podcastaddict.com/podcast/2629285
• Podfollow: https://podfollow.com/GardenDC
• Podlink: https://pod.link/GardenDC
• Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/gardendc-1137444
• Overcast: https://overcast.fm/itunes1502631179/gardendc
  
• Reason: https://reason.fm/podcast/gardendc
• Samsung: search for GardenDC on the Sampsung app
• TuneIn: http://tun.in/pj7Sb
• Vurbl: https://vurbl.com/station/gardendc/
• YouTube: https://youtube.com/washingtongardenermagazine

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
Interview Edit and Show Notes: Josh Panepento

Music: Let the Sunshine by James Mulvany

PIN THIS FOR LATER!

Fenton Friday: Accidental Onion Harvest

 

FINALLY we had a bit of rain after another HOT and dry and windy week. It isn't much to combat our prolonged drought, but at least I got to skipping the daily watering of seedlings in the plot and that saved me some time to work on other things today.

While weeding earlier this week, I accidentally pulled out some of the white onions we planted from seed "sets" in April. They actually look pretty decent (see image above), though I plan to leave in the rest at least until our next harvest for the hungry collection. I'm not a big onion fan myself and had only planted them for the growing experience and to donate afterward. I had heard from a local food pantry and soup kitchen chef that they are always short on onions.

A volunteer Tomato plant turned out to be a Sun Gold-type with small yellow cherry fruits. We picked and ate the first few off of it this week. I had assumed this volunteer plant was a Red Currant, as those are the ones that are the most prolific self-seeders in my plot previously.

It may be time soon to harvest the Potatoes we planted in a big grow bag. The tops of the plants have yellowed and died back indicating that it is about time to dig them. I hope to enter some of them into the county fair, so will leave them buried for another week or so before we dig and cure them.

Three tiny Zucchini seedlings have emerged and the rest of the plot is growing at pace.

In the pollinator/herb garden I planted some short sunflowers to fill in a few empty spots and another plot gardener donated Bachelor's Button seeds to do the same.

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).

Garlic Festival

Join us for the annual Garlic Festival on Sunday, July 21 from 10:00am-12:00noon at the Takoma Park Farmers Market. Just harvested and cured garlic is the star of the market and is available for sale at vendor stands. It's the perfect match to all of the market's fresh seasonal produce.

The event includes special guests Tony "The Garlic Guru" Sarmiento, who is a CKC Board Member, and Kathy Jentz, GardenDC Podcast host and Washington Gardener Magazine editor. Members of the Takoma Horticultural Club will also be on hand with gardening tips for the home gardener.

Plus, Chef Peter Andros of Gourmet and Gourmand will serve up some garlic-based tastes with recipes to share!

Free and open to all!

Look for the specially marked "Garlic Booths" at the market to purchase your locally-grown garlic.

Monday Thoughts: “However big or small your garden is, if you allow nature to touch your spirit, gardening will bring returns of peace, satisfaction, and well-being for as long as you continue to wander the garden path.” ~ Norman Hansen

“However big or small your garden is, if you allow nature to touch your spirit, gardening will bring returns of peace, satisfaction, and well-being for as long as you continue to wander the garden path.”  

~ Norman Hansen

We WON the Horti!

We received great news this week that we won the first-ever BEST PODCAST Horti Award held by GardenComm! Thanks to all who voted for GardenDC and congratulations to all the other Horti Award winners and to the Laurel Award silver medal winners.

BTW, I didn't enter the GardenDC Podcast in the Laurels this year, since we won a Gold Laurel last year and I really hoped we'd get this People’s Choice Horti Award, as these new Horti Awards are the gardening media equivalent to a hall of fame for publications, products, and other communication platforms in our industry -- similar to the Toy Foundation™’s Toy of the Year® (TOTY®) Award -- it is voted on by the people who purchase and/or use them.

NOTE that GardenDC: the award-winning podcast about Mid-Atlantic Gardening is taking a short summer break and will be back with new episodes soon. While there is no new episode today, we recommend you re-listen to a past favorite or catch up on some that you might have missed. We also have the following suggestion of an episode of another gardening podcast that we think you will enjoy:

The Joe Gardener Show: Episode 372

Groundcover Solutions for Difficult Spaces and Turf Lawn Reduction
https://joegardener.com/podcast/groundcover-solutions-difficult-spaces-turf-lawn-reduction/

BTW, YOU can become a GardenDC listener supporter 

for as little as $0.99 per month! 

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

The GardenDC podcast is available on -

• Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/gardendc/id1502631179
• Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/gardendc
• RadioPublic: https://radiopublic.com/gardendc-G2ql5V
• iHeartRADIO: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-gardendc-73615877/
  
• aCast: https://play.acast.com/s/gardendc
  
• Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/776561ca-75d6-4c63-833b-7dafedf57a72/GardenDC
• Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/GardenDC-Podcast/B08JJNZBMX
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• Headliner: https://play.headliner.app/podcast/37086
• Himalaya: https://www.himalaya.com/courses/gardendc-1747568
• Ivy: https://ivy.fm/podcast/gardendc-940013
• Listen Notes: https://lnns.co/VIfcBjWRnw6
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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!