Saturday, January 13, 2024

GardenDC Podcast Episode 177: New Plants and Products for 2024

In this episode of GardenDC: The Podcast about Mid-Atlantic Gardening, we talk with Peggy Riccio of PegPlant.com all about the new plants and products we saw at MANTS 2024. The plant profile is on Tillandsia 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 If at First, You Don't Succeed, Try, Try Again by Christy Page of Green Prints.

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

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 133: New Plants and Products for 2023

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2023/01/gardendc-podcast-episode-133-new-plants.html

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 163: Plant Geekinees and Must-Have Plant Picks
https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2023/09/gardendc-podcast-episode-163-plant.html

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

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

This episode is archived at: 


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.

Show Notes: 01:07 - Welcome Peggy Riccio of PegPlant.com 01:52 - Peggy talks about how she got into gardening 02:57 - Peggy discusses her time with the American Horticultural Society 04:15 - Kathy talks about GardenComm 04:58 - Peggy and Kathy share their thoughts on the 2024 Mid-Atlantic Nursery Trade Show (MANTS.com) 07:03 - What does Peggy look for first at MANTS? 09:49 - Peggy talks about David Culp of Brandywine Cottage 11:34 - Peggy discusses meeting LaManda Joy, award-winning Master Gardener 13:16 - Kathy talks about Buddy Lee of Encore Azaleas 14:48 - Kathy and Peggy discuss some of the products they saw at MANTS 15:00 - Rosy Soil (RosySoil.com) 16:40 - KnowingNature (KnowingNature.com) 18:39 - OASIS Forage Products (OASISForageProducts.com) 19:54 - Crescent Garden’s self-watering planters (CrescentGarden.com) 22:36 - Magic Gardener’s Mycorrhizal Powder (Mycorrhizae.com) 24:52 - FOOP Foliar Spray (TheFoop.com) 26:12 - Flourish Plant Food (FlourishPlant.com) 27:32 - Peggy and Kathy discuss the plants that they saw at MANTS 27:58 - Waverly Farms’ finished hedges (WaverlyFarm.com) 29:52 - Better Boxwood (BetterBoxwood.com) 30:44 - Butterfly Candy’s Buddleia (ButterflyCandy.com) 32:28 - Autumn Moonstruck Azalea (https://encoreazalea.com/) 33:52 - Colocasia Pharaoh’s Mask and Colocasia Redemption 35:25 - Proven Winners’ Fire Ball Seedless Burning Bush (ProvenWinnersDirect.com) 38:20 - Proven Winners’ Art & Sol Mangave Collection (ProvenWinners.com) 39:27 - Optimara’s Verdant Flame (Optimara.com) 41:24 - Plants Nouveau’s Itoh Peonies (PlantsNouveau.com) 42:30 - Bailey Nurseries (BaileyNurseries.com) 45:36 - Star Roses and Plants’ Mahonias (StarRosesAndPlants.com) 47:55 - Must Have Perennials’ The Rockies Helleborus (MustHavePerennials.com) 49:18 - Where to contact Peggy? (PegPlant.com) 49:45 - Air Plant (Tillandsia) Plant Profile 51:09 - What’s new in the garden this week? Winter jasmine in bloom and hellebores peaking out 51:37 - Garden tips of the week: Fill in your grade issues and pathways with fill soil and walk your fence line 52:50 - Upcoming local gardening events: Roses to the Rescue and upcoming seed exchanges 53:56 - 18th annual Washington Gardener Magazine Garden Photo Contest 55:08 - Groundcover Revolution by Kathy Jentz (https://amzn.to/4dZDrEA) 57:43 The Urban Garden by Kathy Jentz and Teri Speight (https://amzn.to/4dZ3fki) 58:43 - Third Time? Not the Charm by Jan Spencer 1:01:14 - Thank you for listening! Become a supporter

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: Zachary Intrater

PIN THIS FOR LATER!

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Monday, January 08, 2024

Monday Thoughts: "Winter is the time when nature takes a well-deserved nap, and we can find beauty in the stillness of the world." - Unknown

"Winter is the time when nature takes a well-deserved nap, and we can find beauty in the stillness of the world." - Unknown

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Sunday, January 07, 2024

Top Garden Books of 2023

Here is a list of the best gardening books that were reviewed in 2023 in the Washington Gardener Magazine. These 10 selections are listed below in no particular order.

Buy a few of these for yourself and for the plant geeks, garden lovers, and horticultural nerds in your life! 
(Note that if you click on the links, it takes you to the book's Amazon page and we get a few pennies if you order it from there through our affiliate link. We have also included the Bookshop.org link from our account for those who do not use Amazon.)

1. Gardening Can Be Murder: How Poisonous Poppies, Sinister Shovels, and Grim Gardens Have Inspired Mystery Writers

Author: Marta McDowell

Publisher: Timber Press

List Price: $29.00

Order Links: https://amzn.to/3QoAN2U and https://bookshop.org/a/79479/9781643261126

Reviewer Beth Py-Lieberman wrote, "With murderous precision and the exhaustive art of a detective’s pursuit, McDowell is on the trail in her new book, Gardening Can Be Murder. But don’t mistake this tiny tome with its sinister black cover—the backdrop for a gorgeous rendering of deadly nightshade—as a playful light read. McDowell’s packed pages are a spell-binding timeline detailing how the garden provides key clues across a landscape of classic to contemporary mystery novels."

2. The Ecological Farm: A Minimalist No-Till, No-Spray, Selective-Weeding, Grow-Your-Own-Fertilizer System for Organic Agriculture

Author: Helen Atthowe 

Publisher: Chelsea Green Publishing

List Price: $44.95

Order Links: https://amzn.to/3RqUiIT and https://bookshop.org/a/79479/9781645021810

Reviewer Marsha Douma wrote, "The Ecological Farm builds on the ideas that came before it. How fortunate we are to have so many good books to choose from in advocating organic, sustainable growing practices. Who will find this particular book valuable? Any gardener. Even for the reader who is familiar with organic gardening practices, the extensive second part of the book, about how to organically grow and trouble-shoot a wide selection of crops, is a valuable, carefully researched reference to have on hand."

3. How to Forage for Wild Foods Without Dying: An Absolute Beginner’s Guide to Identifying 40 Edible Wild Plants

Author: Ellen Zachos

Publisher: Storey Publishing, LLC

List Price: $16.99

Order Links:https://amzn.to/3Nvl5AR and https://bookshop.org/a/79479/9781635866131

Reviewer Christine Folivi wrote, "Throughout the book, there are beautiful photographs of each plant, but what I personally liked the most and thought was most useful was the author showing us the “dangerous look-likes” for many edible plants. This handy book helps people avoid these doppelgangers when they are foraging, which will save you from deadly results."

4. The Climate Change Garden: Down to Earth Advice for Growing a Resilient Garden

Authors: Sally Morgan and Kim Stoddart   

Publisher: Cool Springs Press/Quarto

List Price: $26.99

Order Links: https://amzn.to/3lk3HDZ and https://bookshop.org/a/79479/9780760379486

Reviewer Andrea F. Siegel wrote, "The authors call for this: Besides changing gardening practices on the outside, gardeners should reconsider their mindset. The individual gardener’s personal resourcefulness and a recognition that gardening has to change from the practices on European estates centuries ago will help them deal with new challenges.."

5. The Vegetable Garden Problem Solver Handbook: Identify and Manage Diseases and Other Common Problems on Edible Plants

Author: Susan Mulvihill 

Publisher: Cool Springs Press/Quarto

List Price: $28.99

Order Link: https://amzn.to/3YsdQND and https://bookshop.org/a/79479/9780760377482

Reviewer Erica H. Smith wrote, "...let me assure you that this book will not, well, lead you down the garden path to unverified, nonscientific solutions. Mulvihill knows her stuff, and she knows how to present it. This is a well-written, encouraging guide to making your garden the best it can be."

6. Shade Gardening for the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic: A Guide to Planning the Ultimate Shade Garden

Author: Lee Miller

Publisher: Independently published

Order link: https://amzn.to/3UzMKD4

Cost: $31.91

Reviewer Marsha Douma wrote, "The combination of a picture on just about every page with relevant and clear symbols makes this a useful and attractive book. It would be a good companion to take along to the local nursery because it quickly and easily provides the information gardeners need before buying a plant. It is also a useful general reference providing essential information about plants you might already have in your garden"

7. The Color of Roses: A Curated Spectrum of 300 Blooms

Author: Danielle Dall’armi Hahn 

Photographer: Victoria Pearson

Publisher: Ten Speed Press

List Price: $35.00

Order Links: https://amzn.to/3rsWnZU and https://bookshop.org/a/79479/9781984861160

Reviewer Teri Speight wrote, "This carefully curated book about roses is written as a guide for learning what roses to choose from when looking for specific characteristics. It would also be quite useful as a non-intimidating resource for the care and use of one of the world’s most-loved flowers."

8. Field Guide to Outside Style: Design & Plant Your Perfect Outdoor Space

Author: Ryan McEnaney 

Publisher: Cool Springs Press

List Price: $30.00

Order Link: https://amzn.to/46U76wA and https://bookshop.org/a/79479/9780760372999

Reviewer: Taylor Edwards wrote, "The Field Guide to Outside Style is an easygoing guide to decorating any outdoor space. The author invites readers to think about what the ideal garden looks like to them by exploring personal choice and style. This book has a good balance of instructions and pictures throughout to provide some inspiration. Take your time reading through it, because it has a lot of information to digest.."

9. The First-Time Gardener: Container Food Gardening

Author: Pam Farley

Publisher: Cool Springs Press

List Price: $26.99

Order Links: https://amzn.to/44tzLHp and https://bookshop.org/a/79479/9780760378137

Reviewer Marissa Yelenik wrote, "The First-Time Gardener: Container Food Gardening is a great resource for its intended audience of beginner gardeners. With charts to hammer down exactly the ideal conditions for each edible plant and photo resources to explain how to go about certain tasks, the book works to truly simplify edible container gardening for those who have never touched a plant before."

10. A Gardener’s Guide to Botany: The Biology Behind the Plants You Love, How They Grow, and What They Need
Author: Scott Zona
Publisher: Cool Springs Press/Quarto
List Price: $32.00
Order Links: https://amzn.to/3vjawL1 and https://bookshop.org/a/79479/9780760374450

Reviewer Marsha Douma wrote, "It has been many years since I read a biology book cover to cover, but Scott Zona’s clearly and expertly written, as well as beautifully arranged book was worth the effort. It is filled with fascinating photographs of plants from around the world to illustrate his points. Truly, every page is worthwhile, which is a claim not easy to make for a textbook. Even a cursory reading of the book will leave the reader in awe of how exquisitely plants have evolved to adapt and thrive no matter what environment they inhabit."

And one BONUS SELECTION:

We had to include our own book here, which we are extremely proud of and hope you will consider purchasing. GROUNDCOVER REVOLUTION is by Kathy Jentz (Publisher: Cool Springs Press, List Price: $26.99, Order Links: https://amzn.to/3IlYHYL or https://bookshop.org/a/79479/9780760378151) Garden writer C.L. Fornari of GardenLady.com said, “Groundcover Revolution is the must-have book for anyone who is interested in having less lawn, fewer weeds, and reduced mulching. The properties charts will save the reader time and money, the pictures provide inspiration, while the detailed plant portraits give the focused information needed for creating beautiful, functional landscapes.”

Here are our past year's listings of our Top Garden Books:

- The Top 10 Garden Books of 2020 are here
- The Top 10 Garden Books of 2019 are here
- The Top 10 Garden Books of 2018 are here
- The Top 10 Garden Books of 2017 are here
- The Top 10 Garden Books of 2016 are posted here

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Saturday, January 06, 2024

Thanks for Listening to the GardenDC Podcast: Check Out Our Top 10 List of 2023

Thank you to all of our GardenDC Podcast listeners, supporters, guests, and contributors! We had a great fourth year and are looking forward to much more educational and informational fun in 2024--including winning a Gold Laurel Award for Best Gardening Podcast! While we are on holiday break, now is a great chance to jump in and catch up on any of the 176 episodes that you may have missed or re-listen to your past favorites.

Here are our Top 10 episodes from our fourth season in order of number of listens:


2. Wildscaping 
3. Sourcing Native Plants

4. Hydrangea Care and Pruning

5. Gardening for Wild Bees

8. Nature's Best Hope


10. Flowering Cherry Trees 

  • You can see the Top 10 List from our first season (2020, episodes 1-40) here.
  • You can see the Top 10 List from our second season (2021, episodes 41-86) here.
  • You can see the Top 10 List from our third season (2022, episodes 87-131) here.

Note that the GardenDC podcast is taking a break for the holiday season and will be back later in January. 

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.

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!
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Thursday, January 04, 2024

SEED EXCHANGE REGISTRATION NOW OPEN

UPDATE: the online registration closes at 6pm today (2/2) -- we may have a few spots for folks to register onsite starting at 12noon tomorrow at Green Spring Gardens.

Washington Gardener Magazine presents the 
18th Annual Washington Gardener Seed Exchanges
on Saturday, January 27, 2024, 12:30–4:00pm 
National Seed Swap Day!
at Brookside Gardens in Wheaton, MD
 Registration is now open at 
and 
on Saturday, February 3, 2024, 12:30–4:00pm
at Green Spring Gardens in Alexandria, VA
Registration is now open at 

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 18th 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 for the 1/27/24 event OR for the 2/3/24 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 24.

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 01, 2024

Monday Thoughts: New Year’s Resolutions: 1. Gardening 2. Gardening 3. Gardening ~ Anonymous

New Year’s Resolutions: 

1. Gardening 

2. Gardening 

3. Gardening 

~ Anonymous

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