Philly Flower Show Update

Garden Writers:

Anyone going to the Philly Flower Show this weekend or located within driving disatnce of Philly, we are meeting INFORMALLY for breakfast and networking this Sat morn 2/27 from 9-11am at the Reading Terminal -- first one there please grab the closest tables to Philbert the Pig statue. I'll bring a GWA logo sign so we can recognize each other. See: Reading Terminal Market for photo of Philbert and address/directions. We promise to tweet and post pics forthose who can't make it.

PS For those considering going up to the show net Wed 3/3 with us, Cheval has informed me today that only 10 seats are left on our coach. See our Philly Trip blog post for more details and sign up soon if you want to join us. Contact Cheval at gardentours (at) gmail (dot) com to reserve a spot.

The Forgotten Annuals and an Old-Fashioned Seed Swap

This event is a kind-of "make up" for our Seed Exchanges on January 30 that did not get canceled, but did have lower attendance due to the nuisance snow storm that day. Who knew that the following weeks would bring us so much worse?

Save the date for:
The Forgotten Annuals and an Old-Fashioned Seed Swap
Part of the The DC Urban Gardening Talk 2010 Series
Presented by Washington Gardener Magazine and the Historical Society of Washington, DC
Sunday March 28 2:00-3:30pm
at the Auditorium of the Historical Society of Washington, DC
801 K Street, NW at Mount Vernon Square Washington, DC 20001

Janet Draper (pictured here), Horticulturist of the Mary Livingston Ripley Garden at the Smithsonian Institution, will discuss: "What Happened to Growing Thing From Seed? The Forgotten Annuals." She will describe those wonderful self-sowing and easy-to-start annuals many of us remember from our grandmother's gardens. From Columbine to Nasturtium to Zinnias, Janet will walk us through each flowers' attributes and the best ways to start them from seed.

Janet's talk will be followed by an old-fashioned seed swap. Bring your new, un-used, or self-collected seed packs for a fun seed trading session. Please fully label all your seeds and be sure that none are on the Mid-Atlantic invasive plants list. Be prepared to say a little about the seeds you have brought.

Speaker Bio:
Janet Draper is Horticulturist of the Mary Livingston Ripley Garden at the Smithsonian Institution. For about a decade now, Janet has been refining the Ripley garden and also maintaining the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden plantings, along with the numerous security planters along Independence Avenue. Janet’s training includes what she refers to as her ‘Pedigree’ in Horticulture from Purdue University, but her real hands on training came from internships after college where, she says, the real education began. Her first stop was at Mt Cuba Center for the Study of Native Piedmont Plants in Delaware, then on to Maryland to learn ornamental grasses and perennials at the nursery of Kurt Bluemel. The next stop for the Indiana farmgirl was at the Staudengartnerei Grafin von Stein-Zeppelin (Perennial Nursery of Countess von Stein-Zeppelin) in Germany’s famed Black Forest. She was then accepted to work at the nursery of Beth Chatto, one of England’s Victoria Medal of Honor holders. Janet still considers Beth Chatto’s garden to be one the most inspiring gardens she has ever had the opportunity to see. After her time in Europe, Janet returned to the US and worked in numerous nurseries before beginning a residential design business and started putting plants into the ground instead of little black nursery pots.

This event is FREE and open to the public.
Seating is limited to 150 and it is on a first-come basis.

Washington Gardener Enews Feb '10 issue

Washington Gardener Enews Feb '10 issue

How did you survive the blizzard?

Many stories of tree and shrub destruction are surfacing as the snow thaws. Evergreens, Boxwoods, and Magnolias seem to be the worst-off victims. Some of those who have greenhouses were impacted badly as well. Dorothy Cichra of Beltsville Garden Club writes:

"Thought you might like to know that the greenhouse at Duckworth School that the Beltsville Garden Club uses to grow plants collapsed last weekend during the snow. A picture is attached. We do not know yet what will happen. Bill Koppes is exploring the possibility of us using the greenhouse at High Point. Bob Pecatchek is pricing a replacement. It will depend on what the school wants to do and what can be done - was it insured in some manner? We have obviously lost our stock plants and the plants which we had been growing to sell. We have not been able to get in it much because of the snow and the danger from the hanging glass to see if any of the perennials survived - the heat was still on so there is a chance some survived."
 
The photo tells the whole story. So how did your garden do during the Mid-Atlantic blizzard(s)?

Snow-blown Garden Blogger Bloom Day

It is Garden Blogger Bloom Day again. Several feet of snow and ice is on the ground outside still and more flakes are coming down as I type this. All my winter bloomers are covered in thick layers of snow and it will be at least another two weeks before I see them again. I hate snow. I hate being cold and wet. I have to shovel it. Sure it is "pretty," but that lasts how long on our urban streets? Maybe for five seconds. Yes, I'm grumpy and can't wait for the big thaw. Indoors, I'm forcing many spring bulbs. They are all a few days away from blooming. So I'm sharing the only thing I have in really full bloom now, my violets. And yes, that is a touch of sunshine coming in the window this morning.

Wall Street Journal Visits Our Seed Exchange

The Wall Street Journal sent a photographer to our Washington Gardener Magazine Seed Exchange last month and the article with the slideshow of our event is up now. Here are the links (up for about a week): slideshow and related article. I'm a bit disappointed it is referred to on the slides as "the Wheaton swap" and leaves out our magazine's name or link though.

Washington Gardener Magazine BLIZZARD Back Issue Sale!

UPDATE: DUE TO MORE SNOW IN THE FORECAST TODAY, THE SALE IS EXTENDED THROUGH SATURDAY, 2/20.

Washington Gardener Magazine BLIZZARD Back Issue Sale!　

Normally, you can request a single copy of back issues for $6 each or any 6 back issues for $24 or ALL 28 back issues for just $100 (price includes postage and handling).
For the BLIZZARD, we are making that $4 each or any 6 back issues for $20 or ALL 28 back issues for $90 and yes, all prices include postage!

This offer expires on 2/15/10.
Please specify/circle the issue date(s) you are ordering. Order must be prepaid by check or money order. Don't forget to include a note saying where to send the order!
Send your order to: Washington Gardener, 826 Philadelphia Ave., Silver Spring MD 20910


BACK ISSUE LISTING:


March/April 2005

• Landscape DIY vs. Pro

• Design an Herb Garden

• Prevent Gardener’s Back

• Ladew Topiary Gardens

• Dandelions

• Cherry Trees


May/June 2005

• Stunning Plant Combinations

• Turning Clay into Rich Soil

• Wild Garlic

• Wisteria

• Keeping a Garden Journal

• Strawberries



July/August 2005

• Water Gardens

• Poison Ivy

• Disguising a Sloping Yard

• Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens

• Edible Water Plants

• Water Lilies


September/October 2005

• Container Gardens

• Clematis Vines

• Make Herbs & Vinegars

• Sponge Gardening/Rain Gardens

• 5 Insect Enemies of Gardeners

• Chicory: Weed or Wildflower


NOV/DEC 2005

• Backyard Bird Habitats

• Hellebores

• Building a Coldframe

• Gardening as Exercise

• Bulb Planting Basics



JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2006

• Garden Decor Principles

• Primroses

• Tasty Heirloom Veggies

• U.S. Botanic Garden

• Start Annuals from Seed

• Meet Andre Viette



MARCH/APRIL 2006

• Top 10 Small Trees and Large Shrubs

• Azaleas

• Figs, Berries, & Persimmons

• Oak Diseases

• Basic Pruning Principles



May/June 2006

• Using Native Plants in Your Landscape

• Crabgrass

• Peppers

• Secret Sources for Free Plants

• Alternatives to Invasives



July/August 2006

• Hydrangeas

• Theme Gardens

• Agave

• Canada Thistle

• Find Garden Space by Growing Up



September/October 2006

• Shade Gardening

• Hosta Care Guide

• Fig-growing Tips and Recipes

• Oatlands Plantation

• Native Woodland Plants



NOV/DEC 2006

• Horticultural Careers

• Juniper Care Guide

• Winter Squash Growing Tips and Recipes

• Weed-free Beds with Layer/Lasagna Gardening

• Secret Sources for Great Plants



JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2007

• Indoor Gardening

• Daphne Care Guide

• Asparagus Growing Tips and Recipes

• Houseplant Propagation

• Gotelli Conifer Collection

• Easy Care Orchids



MARCH/April 2007

• Stormwater Management

• Dogwood Selection & Care Guide

• Early Spring Vegetable Growing Tips

• Perfect Plants for Ponds & Puddles

• Franciscan Monastery Bulb Gardens



MAY/June 2007

• Roses: Easy Care Tips

• Native Roses & Heirloom Roses

• Edible Flowers

• How to Plant a Bare-Root Rose

• A Trip to Bon Air Memorial Rose Gardens

• Creating a New Garden



JULY/AUGUST 2007

• Groundcovers: Alternatives to Turfgrass

• How to Pinch, Prune, & Dead-head

• A Trip to William Paca House & Gardens

• Fire Ants in Virginia

• Plant an Urban Community

• Hardy Geraniums



September/October 2007

• Succulents: Hardy to our Region

• Drought-Tolerant Natives

• Southern Vegetables

• Seed Saving Savvy Tips

• The National Garden on its First Anniversary

• Building a Bay-Friendly Garden



November/December 2007

• Gardening with Children

• Holiday Crafts with Native Plants

• Kid-Friendly Vegetables

• Indoor Bulb Forcing Basics

• National Museum of the American Indian

• Versatile Viburnums



JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2008

• Dealing with Deer

• Our Favorite Garden Tools

• Indoor Bulb Forcing Basics

• Delightful Daffodils



MARCH/APRIL 2008

• Patio, Balcony, and Rooftop Container Gardens

• Our Favorite Garden Tools

• Coral Bells (Heucheras)

• Brookside’s Phil Normandy

• Japanese-style Garden



MAY/JUNE 2008 — Almost Sold Out!

• Growing Great Tomatoes

• Glamorous Gladiolus

• Seed Starting Basics

• Flavorful Fruiting Natives

• Build a Better Tomato Cage

• Restored Gardener’s House at Mount Vernon



JULY/AUGUST 2008

• Landscaping with Ornamental Grasses

• Edible Grasses to Graze On

• Slug and Snail Control

• Sage Advice: Sun-Loving Salvias

• How to Weed

• Richmond’s Treasure — Maymont’s Gardens



SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2008

• Autumn Edibles — What to Plant Now

• Ladybug Lore

• Beguiling Barrenworts (Epimediums)

• The Best Time to Plant Spring-Blooming Bulbs

• A Daytrip to Meadowlark Botanical Gardens

• 5 Steps to Amazing Fall Rose Blooms

• 14 Dry Shade Plants Too Good to Overlook



NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2008

• Outdoor Lighting Essentials

• How to Prune Fruiting Trees, Shrubs, and Vines

• 5 Top Tips for Overwintering Tender Bulbs

• Harry Lauder’s Walking Stick

• Emerald Ash Borer: A Serious Threat

• A Daytrip to Tudor Place

• Bringing Nature Home with Doug Tallamy



JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2009

• Compost Happens: Nature’s Free Fertilizer

• Managing Stormwater with a Rain Garden

• Visiting Virginia’s State Arboretum

• Grow Winter Hazel for Gorgeous Winter Color



MARCH/April 2009

• 40+ Free and Low-Cost Local Garden Tips

• Spring Edibles Planting Guide for the Mid-Atlantic

• Cutworm Control

• Testing Your Soil for a Fresh Start

• Redbud Tree Selection and Care

• A Condo-Dweller’s Cantilevered Herb Garden

• Best Local Viewing Spots for Virginia Bluebells



MAY/JUNE 2009

• Top 12+ Easy Summer Annuals for DC Heat

• Salad Table Project

• Grow and Enjoy Eggplant

• How to Chuck a Woodchuck from Your Garden

• Aphid Alert



SUMMER 2009

• Grow Grapes in the Mid-Atlantic

• Passionflowers

• Mulching Basics

• What’s Bugging Your Tomatoes

• Growing Hops


FALL 2009

• Apples

• How To Save Tomato Seeds

• Persimmons

How Bad is the Blizzard?

Hope you all are safe and warm! Check in here after the storm and all the snow melts so we can assess our tree/shrub damages.

Think Spring! 8 reasons to join us for Philly Flower Show Trip

Washington Gardener Magazine has partnered again with Cheval Force Opp’s Garden Tours company to take local DC gardeners up to the Philadelphia Flower Show on Wednesday, March 3, 2010. What sets this tour apart from all the others? 8 Great Reasons!

1. We feed you! That's right, lunch is included on the way up as well as a hearty snack on the way back

2. We entertain you! We'll have garden-related DVDs to view, flower trivia contests, prizes for bests (dressed, on time, etc.), and just plain silly games for your day off work.

3. We'll hold a lively show preview talk! Cheval and I will be at the show on Sunday-Monday and get a behind-the-scenes tour with the show management. We'll pass on any tidbits we learn to you.
4. We are going up later and arriving later then all the other crack-of-dawn folks! That means you'll hit the exhibit hall when it is at its least crowded and have some time to sleep in on the morning of your day off.
5. We take care of the details! Cheval will be your acting "den mother" for the day and you can just concern yourself with all the great things you will see. You can leave the driving, directions, and parking hassles to our coach transport. We also provide you with a packet of show information so you can arrive ready to hit the Flower Show running.
6. We leave from a convenient location! Downtown Silver Spring's Starbucks on Ellsworth Drive is our start and stop point so you can take the metro, train, or metrobus to Silver Spring metro or have a friend drop you off or drive yourself and park in the many downtown parking garages for the day. Many who live in the area can just walk or bike on down.
7. We let you pick your seat-mate! Yes, no worry of being stuck with some weird-o on the Greyhound or of getting separated from your friend. If you are traveling with someone and want to sit together, just let us know and we'll place you together in our handy seating chart.

8. We set a great price! Whether you go by train or drive yourself - by the time you add up all the costs (gas, toll, parking, meals, etc.) and the price of the show ticket, you'll see we are a terrific bargain. Not only that, but we are giving Washington Gardener subscribers $5 off our fee. And yes, you can sign up for the trip and subscribe at the same time to get the discount.

Complete registration information and form can be downloaded here. Register soon as we are half-full at this point and expect a sell-out. Potentially, we can add a second bus, but we'd need to do that in the next week or so.

Drumroll please... And the Photo Contest Winners are...

CORRECTION: Richard Paul Weiblinger's name is spelled incorrectly. He placed three times in the Garden Creatures category. Please note the correct spelling.

Thanks for the Bumps

We've gotten some really nice press and coverage lately. Thought I'd collect a few links here and share. I shall refer back to this post on my darker, "why am I doing this again and working 100+ hours a week" days.

~ WAMU 88.5 FM American University Radio
Metro Connection Friday January 29, 2010. Gardening with Kathy Jentz: The 2010 Seed Exchange. Listen to me online anytime (also linked in previous post)

~ Mike McGrath has been Garden Editor for WTOP radio talked on-air a week or so back about "Seed Starting and Grubs" including: "You'll have the chance to do it all and more when the Washington Gardener Magazine helps celebrate National Seed Swap Day on Saturday, Jan. 30. ..." Full text here

~ Susan Reimer talks about our event here at Weblogs.baltimoresun.com and gives one of our featured speakers, Barb Melera of D Landreth Seeds, a much deserved plug here.

~ Stephanie Cohen, the Perennial Diva, wrote on my FaceBook wall:
"Dear Kathy-A healthy and a happy!!!!! I love your magazine. Everyone in your area take note. It is excellent."

~ Crystal, a local garden blogger, says: "What a wonderful great local gardening source! The magazine is put together so extremely well and is a verifiable goldmine of useful information, with loads of ideas & tips all throughout. Best of all, the magazine is tailored precisely to a local audience of passionate gardeners like me. I am so happy to have discovered this gem..."
http://sweetgardenescapes.blogspot.com/2009/12/washington-gardener-magazine.html