Saturday, January 14, 2023

GardenDC Podcast Episode 133: New Plants and Products for 2023

In this episode of GardenDC: The Podcast about Mid-Atlantic Gardening, we talk with horticulturist Leslie Harris all about the new plants and products we discovered at MANTS 2023. The plant profile is on Boxwood 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 garden designer and host of Better Lawns & Gardens Teresa Watkins, who shares the Last Word on Mulch.

BTW, YOU can become a listener supporter for as little as $0.99 per month! See how at: https://anchor.fm/gardendc/support.

Show Notes: 01:27 Meet horticulturist Leslie Harris! 05:16 MANTS: the horticultural trade show for the East Coast. 06:59 “It’s a lot of walking… a lot of trying to be heard.” 07:29 Harris was a high school Spanish teacher until 2014. 13:07 “I was talked into it by our buddy…” 14:08 Feeling cool with press passes. 15:19 “I didn’t really know he was famous.” 16:14 Whatever Stephanie Cohen says to buy or grow, you buy or grow. 16:44 Private Jet from Bloomin Easy. 17:21 The smaller the plant, the more it will acclimate to your yard. 19:12 “I’m just getting tired of dragging out the ladder.” 20:14 The dreaded word: Deer. 20:41 Popstar – Endless Summer hydrangeas. 24:03 Kathy’s experience with Endless Summer. 25:34 We don’t need another hydrangea, but we want one. 27:37 “I’d rather grow a vine than even have that black plastic.” 29:04 Pest Wizard: invasive spotted lanternfly. 31:17 The spotted lanternfly is beautiful in all stages, but you have to kill it. 32:28 Sticky cards could kill more than just the spotted lanternfly. 34:11 “Some people put out Hershey bars… that got my attention.” 34:33 Mossify. 39:46 “You’ll stop me with an Almond Joy.” 40:27 Vole King: Protect your roots. 41:41 Plant your shrubs in metal mesh. 43:42 Does it work for tulip bulbs? 45:24 Tree trunks fit through the wires. 46:28 Flawn: flower lawns! 48:09 Total Worms – worm organic matter. 48:54 “I was really only looking for Reese’s cups, I’m sorry.” 52:04 Plant cleaning gloves. 52:42 “You’re not going around petting your plants every day.” 57:36 “Sporticulture.” 59:06 MANTS is worth your time, especially for people new to the industry, because of networking. 1:01:07 Boxwood: this week’s Plant Profile! 1:03:38 Garden updates: Snowdrops are blooming! 1:03:49 Upcoming events: Native Plant Symposium; Spring into School Gardening; Friends of the National Arboretum Plant Fair and Garden Sale; Today’s Horticulture Symposium; Pursuit of Houseplants. 1:05:51 “The Urban Garden” by Kathy Jentz and Teri Speight 1:06:51 “Groundcover Revolution” by Kathy Jentz. 1:08:00 The Last Word on Mulching by Better Lawns & Gardens’ host Teresa Watkins.

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

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 41: New Plant Introductions with Dr. Allan Armitage

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2021/01/gardendc-podcast-episode-41-new-plant.html

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 93: Pruning Tips

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2022/02/gardendc-podcast-episode-93-pruning-tips.html

This episode is archived at:
 

We welcome your questions and comments! You can leave a voice mail message for us at: https://anchor.fm/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: Jessica Harden

PIN THIS FOR LATER!


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Monday, January 09, 2023

Monday Thoughts: “I have seen women looking at jewelry ads with a misty eye and one hand resting on the heart, and I only know what they're feeling because that's how I read the seed catalogs in January.” - Barbara Kingsolver

“I have seen women looking at jewelry ads with a misty eye and one hand resting on the heart, and I only know what they're feeling because that's how I read the seed catalogs in January.”

 - Barbara Kingsolver

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Saturday, January 07, 2023

GardenDC Podcast Episode 132: Moss Gardening

In this episode of GardenDC: The Podcast about Mid-Atlantic Gardening, we talk with Annie Martin of Mountain Moss all about gardening with moss. The plant profile is on Orange Cosmos 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 Kim Roman of Square Foot Gardening 4 U, who shares the Last Word on Culinary Herbs.


BTW, YOU can become a listener supporter for as little as $0.99 per month! See how at: https://anchor.fm/gardendc/support.

Show Notes: 01:15 Meet Annie Martin of Mountain Moss. 01:54 You don’t need a green thumb for moss. 04:42 “I have to admit, I’m just a mosser.” 07:20 Moss is immune to the cold! 08:56 Deer won’t pass through and feast on your moss garden. 09:49 “It could be a delicacy for someone today if they wanted to.” 10:30 Annie’s passion is to rescue moss from areas where it will be destroyed. 11:21 “If you’ve ever been in the South, that sounds a whole lot like a cuss word to me.” 12:39 Unethically and illegally harvested moss. 14:01 How to rescue moss. 15:29 Roof shingles aren’t damaged after Annie removes moss colonies. 16:35 What conditions do mosses need to be in after being rescued from the roof? 19:36 Rooftop mosses are exposed to the harshest conditions and still survive. 21:33 All about the benefits of moss! 21:49 “Part of the reason we create these landscapes is to make our hearts smile.” 22:07 Mosses watched the dinosaurs come and go. 24:38 Environmental benefits of moss. 26:06 Peatlands are being destroyed. 27:16 Moss lawns are better. It’s a fact. 30:00 Mosses eat through their leaves, not roots. 31:25 “They have sex better when they have water too.” 33:07 How is it even possible that moss survived Clorox? 34:15 All about Hedwigia Ciliata Moss. 35:58 Moss reproduction. 38:23 Since moss is slow growing, how do you convert to a moss lawn? 41:45 Choosing moss species based on microclimates. 43:55 Wait, I’m supposed to plant moss on the coldest days? 47:42 You don’t have to blend up your moss. 51:57 The three Ws: Water, Walking, and Weeding. 54:06 Moss doesn’t care about the nutrients in the soil. 54:40 Supplemental watering is the key to success. 55:55 Walk on, sit on, and hammer your moss. 56:38 Annie karaoke. 57:42 Keep debris off your moss. 58:26 Critter damage: how to fix it. 1:00:25 Critter deterrents. 1:03:03 Orange Cosmos: this week's Plant Profile! 1:04:59 Garden updates: Winter Jasmine and Oregon Grape Mahonia 1:05:41 Upcoming events: Photo contest, seed exchanges, book club meeting, spotted lantern fly, winter tree ID walk, learn to grow and use a dozen herbs. 1:09:27 “Groundcover Revolution” by Kathy Jentz. 1:10:37 “The Urban Garden” by Kathy Jentz and Teri Speight
1:11:36 The Last Word on Culinary Herbs from Kim Roman.

Annie is the author of The Magical World of Moss Gardening. (This is an Amazon affiliate link.)

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

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 130: Groundcovers versus Ground Covers

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2022/11/gardendc-podcast-episode-130.html


We welcome your questions and comments! You can leave a voice mail message for us at: https://anchor.fm/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: Jessica Harden

PIN THIS FOR LATER!


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Wednesday, January 04, 2023

SEED EXCHANGE REGISTRATION NOW OPEN

UPDATE!

We've closed the online registration for our 2/4 Seed Exchange event - but you can still register at the door starting at 12noon. Just come to our check-in table inside the Horticulture Center at Green Spring Gardens.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Washington Gardener Magazine presents the 
18th Annual Washington Gardener Seed Exchanges
on Saturday, January 28, 2023, 12:30–4:00pm 
National Seed Swap Day!
at Brookside Gardens in Wheaton, MD
 Registration is now open at 
and 
on Saturday, February 4, 2023, 12:30–4:00pm
at Green Spring Gardens in Alexandria, VA
Registration is now open at 
WGSeedEx2023.brownpapertickets.com*
(*Scroll down to pick the February 4 date.)

Join us for:
Seed Swapping
Door Prizes
Planting Tips
Expert Speakers
Goody Bags
Indoor Plant Cuttings Table

Overview:
Washington Gardener Magazine, the publication for DC-area gardening enthusiasts, is hosting the 17th annual Washington Gardener Seed Exchange at Brookside Gardens and Green Spring Gardens. These seed swaps are in-person and face-to-face. You bring your extra seeds and swap them with other gardeners. Everyone will leave with a bag full of seeds, new garden friends, and expert planting advice.

Where:
We are holding a duo of Seed Exchanges one week apart on opposite sides of the Washington Beltway. We urge you to attend the one closest to you.
   One exchange will be held at Brookside Gardens, 1800 Glenallan Ave., Wheaton, MD. The other will be at Green Spring Gardens, 4603 Green Spring Road, Alexandria, VA.

How to Register:
   Register online atWGSeedEx2023.brownpapertickets.com for the 1/28/23 event OR for the 2/4/23 one. Be sure you are registering for which event you plan to attend. 
    Registration fee is $20 per person. Friends of Brookside members, Friends of Green Spring members, and current Washington Gardener subscribers receive a discount rate of $15 per person.
We strongly urge you to register in advance. There is a limited enrollment of 100 participants at each location!

We are GREEN!!!
We also have a Garden Book and Seed Catalog Exchange table. Seed Exchange attendees are encouraged to bring their used or new garden books and seed catalogs to swap and share at this year’s event. 
   We also ask you to bring your own water bottle or reusable mug and a home-made nametag. We will have a“best nametag” contest, so get crafty!

COVID POLICY: We request that all attendees wear masks.

Event Hashtags #GardenDC and #SeedSwapDay

If You Have Seeds to Bring and Swap:
Please package them in resealable plastic zipper or wax sandwich baggies. Put an average of 20 seeds per baggy — more for small seeds like lettuce, fewer for large seeds like acorns. Label each baggy with a white sticker (such as Avery standard 5160 address label sheets) giving all the information you have on the seeds. If known, include the plant's common and scientific names; its soil, sun, and watering needs; and, its origins — where and when you collected the seeds. If you don't know all the information, that is okay; just provide as much as you can.
   Yes, you can bring unused or opened commercial seed packs.
   We also have table for houseplant cuttings and starts. We encourage everyone to bring your cuttings labeled and packed in individual baggies to share.
   You can also bring bulbs/corms, cover crop seeds, etc.


What If You Don't Have Any Seeds to Swap?
Come anyway! Even if you don’t have any seeds to trade, you are welcome to attend. We'll have plenty of extra seed contributions on hand and many attendees will be there just to learn, network, and prepare for next year's seed collecting.

Education Program
Expert speakers from the local gardening community will give short talks on seed collection and propagation tips. There will be ample time for individual Q&A throughout the program with the featured speakers, and invited experts as well.

Schedule
(Note: This schedule is subject to change.)
12:00-12:30 Registration check-in
12:30-12:40 Introductions
12:40-1:20 Gardening talk
1:20-1:55 Gardening talk
2:00-2:15 Snack break and room reset
2:15-2:30 Seed Swap preview time
2:30-3:00 Seed Swap
(3:00-3:30 Photo Contest winners - at Green Spring event only)
3:30-4:00 Door prizes and closing talk

How Do We Swap?
As you check in, staff will collect your seeds and place them at the appropriate seed category tables.
You will be assigned a random seed swap number. There will be a short period for attendees to preview all the seeds brought in and available for swapping. You will be called in by your number to pick a seed pack from each of the category tables (if desired).
After the initial seed swap is complete, attendees are free to take any of the left over seeds and to trade seeds with each other. Dividing of packets is encouraged and extra baggies with labels will be on hand for that purpose.

What Types of Seeds?
Seed swap categories will include natives, edibles, herbs, exotics, annuals, perennials, and woodies (trees/shrubs). If you can pre-sort your seeds in advance into which of these seven major categories fits best, that would help us speed up the process on the swap day.


Door Prizes! Goodie Bags!
Each attendee will receive a goodie bag at the seed swap. The bags include seeds, publications, and garden items donated by our sponsors. In addition, we have some incredible door prizes to give away especially for area gardeners.
   If your organization would like to contribute seeds or garden-related products for the goodie bags and door prizes, contact Kathy Jentz by January 22.

Charitable Donations:
Extra seeds from the swap are donated to local, nonprofit gardening groups.
A donation from part of the event proceeds will be made to the Seed Savers Exchange.
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Monday, January 02, 2023

Monday Thoughts: "The gardening season officially begins on January 1st, and ends on December 31st." - Marie Huston

 

"The gardening season officially begins on January 1st, and ends on December 31st."

 - Marie Huston

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