Saturday, April 08, 2023

GardenDC Podcast Episode 145: Everything is Politics, Even Gardening

In this episode of GardenDC: The Podcast about Mid-Atlantic Gardening, we talk with Dr. Sunil Dasgupta, host of the I Hate Politics Podcast, all about how politics impact gardening and vice versa. The plant profile is on PJM Rhododendrons 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 from Kim Stoddart, co-author of The Climate Change Garden*, on Building Natural Resilience in the Garden.


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: 01:24 Meet Dr. Sunil Dasgupta, host of the “I Hate Politics Podcast.” 02:15 Dasgupta immigrated to the U.S. to go to grad school! 03:41 What does Dasgupta grow? 04:47 “Cilantro doesn’t love our summers, but everything loves to chew on it.” 06:39 Dasgupta is a political science professor at UMBC. 07:12 Why does a political science professor “hate” politics??? 09:26 Politics looks dirty, disgusting, but why? 10:52 “I like to believe that conflict resolution should be renamed politics.” 13:46 Conflict avoidance (and political avoidance) doesn’t solve the problem. 14:32 Urban Adventure Squad: aims at outdoor education in Washington, DC 16:52 Urbanization requires more community gathering and green spaces. 19:45 How to combine gardening with schools. 20:51 “Lots of people want to garden.” 22:16 We can’t separate people from bees. 23:35 “We have built schools to be fortresses, not community places.” 25:09 Farm labor has dropped and most of it is imported in the U.S. 26:15 How much does it cost to rent an acre of land? 30:40 “We are a nation of laws.” 31:20 Do people living in HOAs in Maryland need to follow turfgrass laws? 34:32 If you gather enough people in your neighborhood that support local gardens, you can change the HOA rules. 37:14 HOAs cannot enforce every rule. 39:06 Maintaining the hellstrip (ugh) 44:13 Can we police our neighbors who use harmful chemicals? 47:21 Organize, print t-shirts, and go to county council meetings! 48:34 “We are dependent on gossip…” 51:20 HOAs are political. 55:32 We can already see the impact of climate change in home gardening. 57:25 PJM Rhododendron: This week’s Plant Profile! 59:11 Garden updates: Old fashioned lilacs, tulips, daffodils, grape hyacinths are blooming! Seedlings are up at the community garden! 59:46 Upcoming events: Native Virginia Bluebells; Potomac Rose Society National Gallery of Art; Greener Grasses: Smart Choices for Better Landscapes; Seeking Champion Trees; Leesburg Flower and Garden Fest. 1:02:50 “Groundcover Revolution” by Kathy Jentz. 1:04:12 “The Urban Garden” by Kathy Jentz and Teri Speight 1:05:11 The Last Word from Kim Stoddard, co-author of “The Climate Change Garden*,” on building natural resilience in the garden.

*Amazon affiliate book link: https://amzn.to/3Kkw1Pp

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

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 101: Sustainable Lawn Care

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2022/04/gardendc-podcast-episode-101.html

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 23: Summer Cocktails, a Defense of the Lawn, and Tips for Growing Cucumbers

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2020/08/gardendc-podcast-episode-23-summer.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
Editing and Show Notes: Jessica Harden

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Friday, April 07, 2023

Fenton Friday: Things are Jumping

Daikon radish seedlings

We had some crazy weather this week. For two days in a row, we almost hit 90 degrees and in a few days we have an overnight freeze alert. We got a big thunderstorm last night and high winds earlier in the week. Thank goodness the hail passed us by at least!

The see-saw weather meant that the lettuce, arugula, carrots, and Daikon radishes are up. These will all need thinning this week or next. As most were from old seed packs and we sowed them very thickly.

A few pea seedlings have also finally made an appearance.

The Swiss chard seedlings planted in a container are still very small.


The garlic is getting fairly large for this point in the season.

Most surprising of all is that the thornless blackberry is already starting to flower.

We picked a few asparagus spears and the kale is starting to grow enough that it can be harvested soon as well.

No sign yet of the spinach seedlings or potato plants emerging, but those are both fairly recently planted so I'm not worried about those. 

One of the varieties of arugula that we planted and the 'Easter egg' radish are both no-shows so far and I think we may officially give up on them. I may plant something new in their spots soon.

What are you growing in your edible garden this season?

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 12th 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).

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Wednesday, April 05, 2023

Northern Spicebush Plant Profile

Northern Spicebush Plant Profile

Northern Spicebush (Lindera benzoin) is a deciduous shrub in the Laurel family that is also known as Spicebush (Spice Bush), Wild Allspice, and Benjamin Bush. It is native from southeastern Canada throughout the eastern United States.

It gets its common name from the fact that crushing the leaves releases a spicy fragrance.

In early spring, the plant is covered in small, yellow flowers then it leafs out.

In the fall, the leaves turn an attractive yellow color and red drupes (fruits) appear along its branches. It is dioecious so a female plant needs a male one nearby in order to produce fruit.

It can grow to between 6 and 12 feet high and wide. It is an understory plant that prefers part-shade and moist, rich soils near streambeds and ponds. It is hardy from zones 5 through 9.

The plant supports Spicebush Swallowtail (Papilio troilus) as well as the Palamedes Swallowtail (Papilio palamedes) and other pollinators. The fruits are eaten by migrating songbirds and deer eat its leaves and twigs.

Northern Spicebush: You Can Grow That!

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

Video and editing by Jessica Harden

Audio and text by Kathy Jentz

Photo by Julie Mackin

 

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Tuesday, April 04, 2023

Best Spots for Viewing Virginia Bluebells

Favorite Virginia Bluebell Viewing Spots 

(updated from a previous blog post)

Native Virginia Bluebells are unfurling all over the Mid-Atlantic this week. (Yes, it is not just all about the Cherry Blossom here in the DC area!) Get out to view masses of these special local wildflowers while they are at their peak over these next few weeks.

I asked the folks on the former Native Plants East discussion list for their bluebell peeping suggestions. Here are their combined responses:

~ On Sunday, the Virginia bluebells were blooming at McCrillis Gardens in Bethesda, MD. Not sure about when they peak. - Eric Raun, Silver Spring, MD

~ I was just out at Carderock and in some areas the bluebells are almost fully out. In others they are still in bud... I also go to places on the Virginia side such as Riverbend, Scott's Run, and Turkey Run. These will all be better Easter weekend especially since the orientation of the Virginia side of the Potomac is more northerly, so gets a bit less warming than the Maryland side. But many native wildflowers are out now and 'peeping' is great just about any time.
- Marney Bruce, Montgomery County Master Gardener

~ There are two local Bluebell festivals (Merrimac Farm and Bull Run) that took place last weekend and both parks welcome visitors. - KJ

~ Lovely stands of bluebells occur at BlockHouse Point Park which is also along the Potomac, but further out River Road. If possible park at the second (small) parking area and take the BlockHouse Trail into the woods. - Cheryl Beagle, Conservatory Gardener, Brookside Gardens

~ I've seen them on the C-and-O canal (years ago) near the locks above Swains (like Pennyfield Lock). Not sure how many are still there, and it wasn't a huge field or anything, just patches alongside the towpath. If you can get a bike out there to ride the canal, you can cover more miles to discover more patches. - Cindy Walzcak, Takoma Hort Club member

~ Turkey Run Park (the trail down to the Potomac River from the first parking lot) has wonderful bluebell displays in mid-April. This site mentions Balls Bluff east of Leesburg and also here is a link to bluebells at River Bend. - Mary Ann Lawler, VNPS

~ Last weekend, I saw a lot of bluebell "buds" at Great Falls, on the Maryland side, near the Billy Goat trail. I imagine this weekend they would be in full and glorious bloom! - Paula Jean Harvey

~ I saw Bluebells blooming along the steam in the hosta garden at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens last week. I know they also have them in their Potomac Wildflower collections, but I didn't get to walk through that part of the garden. - Mona Miller, Volunteer, Meadowlark Botanical Gardens, Vienna, VA

~ Turkey Run has bluebells along the Potomac: from parking lot C-1, take zig-zag trail down to the Potomac Heritage Trail ; wander either up or down river from there. Also some nice smaller patches along Woods Trail heading east (north? In the same direction as the river flows) from the Parkway Headquarters Building. - Margaret Chatham, Falls Church, VA, Potomac Gorge Weed Warrior at Turkey Run

~ An anonymous commenter on our previous post said: "McKee Beshers Wildlife Management Area has some great displays. It's off River Road near Seneca Creek State Park. Here's a link to McKee Beshers: 

~ Another tip came in for Dickerson Conservation Park on the border of  Montgomery and Frederick Counties -- along the Potomac River in MD. See more at  https://montgomeryparks.org/parks-and-trails/dickerson-conservation-park/

~ Caledon State Park in King George, VA, was suggested by another tipster 

 ~  Winterthur hosts an annual Azaleas & Bluebells Day. This year it is on May 6, 2023. See details at: https://www.winterthur.org/calendar/azaleas-and-bluebells-day/

Do you have any favorite spots for viewing Virginia Bluebell in the Mid-Atlantic? Please share them in the comments section below.

Click on this photo of the Great Falls Carderock bluebells for an enlarged view. The bluebells are hard to photograph en masse as the light blue tends to blend in with the sky, but I think this one and the close-ups I posted above give you some idea of this plant's beauty.

Be sure to read the companion blog post on how to grow Virginia Bluebells in your own garden!

And see still MORE about growing Virginia Bluebells here.
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Monday, April 03, 2023

Monday Thoughts: “We need to save all the plants, and gardeners are in a better position to do that than anybody.” - Doug Tallamy

“We need to save all the plants, and gardeners are in a better position to do that than anybody.” 

- Doug Tallamy

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Saturday, April 01, 2023

GardenDC Podcast Episode 144: Flowering Cherry Trees

In this episode of GardenDC: The Podcast about Mid-Atlantic Gardening, we talk with Dr. Margaret Pooler, Research Leader for Floral and Nursery Plants at the US National Arboretum, all about flowering cherry trees. The plant profile is on Grape Hyacinths 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 Crabgrass Prevention from Jeff Rugg, author of Greener View Gardening.



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: 01:29 Dr. Margaret Pooler, Research Leader for Floral and Nursery Plants, of the Arboretum, whose work has included 26 years of flowering cherry breeding. Her unit has released four flowering cherries to the trade: Prunus ‘ Dream Catcher’. Prunus x incam ‘First Lady’, Prunus ‘Helen Taft’ Prunus campanulata ‘Abigail Adams’ 03:13 Ornamental cherries are in the same genus as the fruiting cherries and nectarines 03:48 Do ornamental cherry trees produce fruit? 07:28 How does gene editing work? 08:15 Breeding in cherry tree relatives – apples, strawberries, and more! 09:30 Cherry tree growing conditions: sunlight, pests, and soil 11:19 Do NOT over mulch 13:37 Cherry tree lifespans in home landscapes vs. the Tidal Basin 16:36 Pruning and suckers 19:57 Should people graft their own trees? 20:56 Taking cuttings for cherry tree rooting – when’s the best time and what to do with the cutting. 23:23 Supplemental fertilizing – try soil testing. 24:09 We gotta talk about pests (ugh!) 29:26 Cold weather “rarely kills the plant” 31:56 An ancient Japanese art – the use of wooden crutches to support aging cherry tree limbs 34:51 ‘Dream Catcher’ is an early flowering tree 35:40 ‘First Lady’ – “It’s so different than anything else out there” 38:33 ‘Helen Taft’ is “actually pink” 39:32 ‘Abigail Adams’ -- don’t even bother to look for this one, Dr. Pooler warns that this species is not reliably hardy here in Mid-Atlantic region 40:13 The US National Arboretum has hundreds of trees in their trial fields 42:19 Online sources vs. garden centers for cherry tree availability 46:09 Why growing cherry trees are worth it 46:53 Grape Hyacinths: this week’s Plant Profile! 49:07 Garden updates: early tulips are blooming and arugula and lettuce seedlings are up! 49:29 Upcoming events: Maryland Native Plant Society’s monthly program; Arlington National Cemetery Memorial Arboretum walking tour and spring tour. 51:08 “The Urban Garden” by Kathy Jentz and Teri Speight 52:10 “Groundcover Revolution” by Kathy Jentz 53:33 Jeff Rugg, author of “Greener View Gardening,” shares the Last Word on Crabgrass prevention

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

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 119: Crapemyrtles

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2022/09/gardendc-podcast-episode-119.html

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 6: Spring-Flowering Trees and Shrubs

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2020/04/gardendc-podcast-episode-6-spring.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
Editing and Show Notes: Jessica Harden

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