Garden Photo Show Opening Reception 2019

You are invited to view the winning images of the 13th 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, June 30 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 July 30.

To RSVP and for updates, visit our Facebook event page at:

https://www.facebook.com/events/1732870763525544/

Washington Gardener Magazine is already announcing the 14th 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 2019 calendar year in a garden-setting in the greater Washington, DC area. We will again accept the entries during the first three weeks of January.

Washington Gardener Magazine (http://www.washingtongardener.com/) is the gardening publication specifically for the local metro area — zones 6-7 — 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.


This event is a part of the Click DC celebration of photography.

Fenton Friday: Summer Begins

This week we managed to plant eight tomatoes ('Firefly', 'Torch', "White', 'Celebrity', 'White Currant', 'Rutgers', 'Sungold', and 'SunSugar.') and five kinds of Basil, including Holy Basil (forgot to jot down the rest of their names). We also planted three Calendulas and a few trial Marigolds.

I soaked some 'Red Burgundy' Okra seeds and planted three seeds in each of three different holes. We'll see if they all come up.

I still have a cover cloth over the lettuces, though most have bolted by names, and the brassicas. Shockingly, I can see a cauliflower head forming - I might have something decent from those yet.

The peas are done and just a few strawberries are left. I let the asparagus go a few weeks back and it is already several feet tall.

I want to get some beans and melons in next week. We'll see if that happens.

What is 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 FentonStreet 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 8th year in the garden. (It opened in May 2011.) See past posts about our edible garden by putting "Fenton" into the Search box above.

Intern Intro: Meet Sasha

This summer, we have just one editorial intern. As a first assignment, I asked her to write a short introduction to our readers...

Hello, everyone! My name is Alexandra Marquez, although most people call me Sasha. I am a rising junior journalism and anthropology major at the University of Maryland and I’ll be working as an intern for Washington Gardener Magazine through August. I am a Silver Spring, MD, local and my mother is a gardening enthusiast, so I grew up with a beautiful backyard filled with colorful flowers and delicious fresh herbs and vegetables. I already have an appreciation for local gardening, but I’m excited to learn even more! I previously covered science and technology for The Diamondback at the University of Maryland, so I’m incredibly excited to expand my writing skills by covering all things gardening! My high school newspaper, Silver Chips, also served the local Silver Spring and Takoma Park communities, so I’m excited to connect with people from my hometown again as well. All in all, I’m hoping to have a great summer growing tomatoes, learning about gardening and writing to serve the great Washington Gardener community. I’m looking forward to meeting you all at different events and gatherings throughout the summer and I hope you’ll come introduce yourself if you happen to see me!

DIY: Painted Garden Gloves

I go through garden gloves like toilet tissue. I have tried every kind of glove, from dollar-store cheap to ridiculously expensive. Some last longer than others, but I have learned that I bust through the right-hand thumb and index finger first and the rest of the glove starts to go soon after. So, I buy several pairs of cheaper ones to have in rotation depending on the gardening task of the day.  

For fun, I get out my box of fabric paints and decorate them. This can be as simple as painting on your initials to as complex as a watercolor landscape. 

This is a suitable project for doing with children or with your garden club. 

Materials:

-

- Plain Cotton Canvas Garden Gloves

- Acrylic Paints or Fabric Paints

- Brushes (optional)

- Glitter and Other Accessories, as desired

Instructions:

Step 1-  Wash the gloves and thoroughly dry them. Lay out newspapers on your work surface. Get out your paints and supplies and decide on a design.

Step 2 - Start painting. You can use either fabric paint or craft acrylics. Use a foam brush for base coats, then moving to finer brushes for painting finer details. (Note that with fabric paint, you will not be able to clean and re-use the brushes.) One trick I learned is to draw your design with a pencil then outline it in black, then fill in.

Step 3 - Add glitter, buttons, sequins, scrap fabrics--whatever you like!

Step 4 - Hang them to dry for 24 hours to make sure the paint cures completely. 

Step 5 - Wear them!

TIPS:

• You can use stencils to decorate them, if free-hand painting is not your strong suit.
• This craft can be as complex or simple as you desire. Stop when you are happy with it or keep going and adding to it as you like.

This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a few pennies from Amazon.

This is a monthly blog series on DIY projects for the beginning home gardener. Look for the other installments in this DIY blog series by putting "DIY" in the search box here at washingtongardener.blogspot.com.