Washington Gardener Magazine December 2023

DECEMBER 2023 VOL. 18 NO. 10

WWW.WASHINGTONGARDENER.COM

WASHINGTON

gardener

the magazine for gardening enthusiasts in the Mid-Atlantic region

Heartleaf, Native Wild Ginger

Haworthia, the Low-light Succulent Growing Heirloom Eggplants Sweetbox Groundcover 2023 Photo Contest Call for Entries Seed Exchange 2023 Details Great Gardening Books Reviewed Mistletoe: Is the Holiday Plant Friend or Foe? How to Keep Houseplants Moist

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RESOURCESsourc

Need a Garden Club Speaker?

Washington Gardener Magazine’s staff and writers are available to speak to groups and garden clubs in the DC region and ONLINE! Call 240.603.1461 or email KathyJentz@gmail.com for available dates, rates, and topics.

RARE AND EXCEPTIONAL PLANTS FOR THE DISCRIMINATING GARDENER AND COLLECTOR Barry Glick Sunshine Farm and Gardens 696 Glicks Road Renick, WV 24966, USA Email: barry@sunfarm.com

www.sunfarm.com

Green Spring Gardens

Ask Maryland’s Garden Experts extension.umd.edu/hgic Your Ad Here

Are you trying to reach thousands of gardeners in the greater DC region/Mid-Atlantic area? Washington Gardener Magazine goes out on the 15th of every month. Contact KathyJentz@gmail.com or call 301.588-6894 for ad rates (starting from $200). The ad deadline is the 10th of each month.

Please submit your ad directly to: KathyJentz@gmail.com.

2 WASHINGTON GARDENER DECEMBER 2023

A “must visit” for everyone in the metropolitan Washington, DC, area. It’s a year-round goldmine of information and inspiration for the home gardener. It’s an outdoor classroom for children and www.greenspring.org their families to learn about plants and wildlife. It’s also a museum, a national historic site that offers glimpses into a long, rich history with colonial origins.

Located at 4603 Green Spring Rd., Alexandria, VA. Information: 703-642-5173.

INSIDEcontents

FEATURES and COLUMNS

16

Native to India and the Far East, eggplants have been a critical part of the Asian diet for millennia.

In Europe and America, they have not enjoyed that popularity except in Italian and Spanish cuisine. ‘Ping Tong Long’ is a Taiwanese heirloom introduced into the U.S. in the mid-20th century.

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Got a Garden Question?

Send your questions to KathyJentz@gmail.com and use the subject line “Q&A.” Then look for your answered questions in upcoming issues.

10

American mistletoe (Phoradendron leucarpum), also called eastern or oak mistletoe, is native to our region.

Clusters of mistletoe can grow as large as several feet across if left unchecked. Texas A&M AgriLife photo by Michael Miller.

ASKtheExpert 15 Keeping houseplants moist, dark spots on pine needles BOOKreviews 19-21 Raised Bed Gardening, Du Pont Gardens, Forage for Wild Foods, Discovering Moths EDIBLEharvest 16-17 Heirloom Eggplants GOINGnative 22 Heartleaf, Wild Ginger INDOORgarden 18 Haworthia NEWPLANTspotlight 11 Winter Jewels Hellebores PHOTOcontest 8 PLANTprofile 14 Sweetbox SEEDexchanges 6-7 TIPStricks 10 Mistletoe: Friend or Foe?

DEPARTMENTS

ADVERTISINGindex BLOGlinks EDITORletter GARDENDCpodcasts LOCALevents MONTHLYtasklist NEXTissue READERcontest READERreactions RESOURCESsources

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ON THE COVER

A view of the U.S. Capitol building from the U.S. Botanic Garden’s edible gardens in Bartholdi Park.

22

The East Coast native herbaceous wild ginger has long been a favorite in many a shade garden.

Curious flowers produce lots of seeds to soon make an impenetrable mat of snaking rhizomes that will exclude even the most pernicious weeds.

In our January issue: 2024 Garden Trends Local Gardens Garden Design Tips and much more . . .

Be sure you are subscribed!

Click on the “subscribe” link at washingtongardener.com DECEMBER 2023 WASHINGTON GARDENER 3

EDITORletter

Credits Kathy Jentz Editor/Publisher Washington Gardener 826 Philadelphia Ave. Silver Spring, MD 20910 Phone: 301-588-6894 kathyjentz@gmail.com www.washingtongardener.com Ruth E. Thaler-Carter Proofreader Christine Folivi Intern Subscription: $20.00

Your editor at the Local Authors Book Fair at Busboys & Poets in the Takoma neighborhood of Washington, DC.

The Next Generation In this issue is the first entry of another new column. This is one I’d tried to start up a few times during the last few years, but the potential columnists I had in mind were either too busy or not up to the task of writing a regular column about houseplants.

It was during one of those serendipitous conversations that I often have on social media messaging that reconnected me with Savannah Scollar. She has started her own houseplant business and I offered her the column, which she has taken on with gusto. See her first one on page 18 of this issue.

Let me tell you a bit about Savannah. I first met her many years ago when she and her mother attended one of our Seed Exchanges. She was a pre-teen at the time and by far the youngest attendee in the place. She was not just there as a tagalong—it quickly became clear she was there as a serious plant enthusiast.

Over the years, I have gotten to know her and her mother. I saw her many times at our annual Seed Exchanges, as well as on our trips up to the Philadelphia Flower Show. Occasionally, we’d run into each other at area gardening events, plant sales, and festivals.

She is an accomplished young woman and I cannot wait to see where her career in horticulture leads her. My experience in watching her grow up, along with having many college-aged interns at the magazine, has assured me that the generation coming of age now is one we can feel good about passing the future world onto.

Sincerely,

Kathy Jentz, Editor/Publisher, Washington Gardener, KathyJentz@gmail.com

• Washington Gardener Blog: www.washingtongardener.blogspot.com • Washington Gardener Archives: http://issuu.com/washingtongardener • Washington Gardener Discussion Group: https://groups.google.com/g/ washingtongardener/ • Washington Gardener Twitter Feed: www.twitter.com/WDCGardener • Washington Gardener Instagram: www.instagram.com/wdcgardener • Washington Gardener Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/ WashingtonGardenerMagazine/ • Washington Gardener YouTube: www.youtube.com/ washingtongardenermagazine • Washington Gardener Amazon Store: www.amazon.com/shop/wdcgardener • Washington Gardener BookShop: bookshop.org/shop/WDCgardener • Washington Gardener Podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/ show/gardendc/ • Washington Gardener is a woman-owned business. We are proud to be members of: · GardenComm (formerly GWA: The Association for Garden Communicators) · Green America Business Network · National Garden Bureau · One Montgomery Green · Ladies in the Landscape · Potomac Rose Society

Volume 18, Number 10 ISSN 1555-8959 © 2023 Washington Gardener All rights reserved. Published monthly.

No material may be reproduced without prior written permission. This magazine is purchased by the buyer with the understanding that the information presented is from various sources from which there can be no warranty or responsibility by the publisher as to legality, completeness, or technical accuracy.

All uncredited photos in this issue are © Kathy Jentz.

4 WASHINGTON GARDENER DECEMBER 2023

READERreactions

Reader Comments I very much appreciated reading about the new USDA Plant Hardiness Zones in the November 2023 issue—both because it inspired me to check out to see how my own zone has changed, and got me thinking about [what] aligns with my own experience gardening in a changing climate... it also got me thinking about what this means for next year’s garden! ~ Melissa Varga, Washington, DC The Butterfly Pea Cocktail was my favorite article in the November 2023 issue. I’ve been experimenting with Butterfly Pea Flower powder in my soaps (Matcha Matcha). Excited to try the cocktail. ~ Dawn Carroll Ellis, Washington, DC I liked Miss Florabunda and also all the other interesting articles in the in

READERcontt the November 2023 issue. ~ Joanna Protz, Lynch Station, VA Loved the October 2023 issue of Washington Gardener! My favorite was the article about pumpkins. ~ Christy Little My favorite article in every issue is the to-do list. It helps me to keep my garden healthy and up to date ~ Earl R. Simmons, Bowie, MD Thank you for another fabulous Seed Exchange! I can’t imagine the amount of work and effort that goes on in providing us with relevant speakers, an opportunity to get our questions answered, the camaraderie of fellow garden enthusiasts, plus many of the seeds for our gardens. Thank you again for doing this for us. It is the highlight of my year! ~ Claudia Fraser o

Your Ad Here

Are you trying to reach thousands of gardeners in the greater DC region/MidAtlantic area? Washington Gardener Magazine goes out in the middle of every month. Contact KathyJentz@gmail.com or call 301.588.6894 for ad rates (starting from $200). The ad deadline is the 5th of each month. Please submit your ad directly to: KathyJentz@gmail.com.

Plant a Row for the Hungry (PAR) is an easy program to participate in and really does not take any extra resources than what you may have in your garden. In normal times, about 35 million people wonder where their next meal will come from.

Most of these are children. That’s where PAR steps in.

PAR is such a simple program: It urges gardeners to Plant A Row (or a container) dedicated to feeding the hungry, and then take the harvest to someplace or someone that needs it. Once you have donated, send an email to KathyJentz@gmail.com with the total (in pounds and ounces) of what you gave.

That is all there is to it. Easy. Effective. Adaptable and Helpful.

Reader Contest

For our December 2023 Washington Gardener Reader Contest, Washington Gardener is giving away two passes to either of the Washington Gardener Seed Exchanges (prize value $40).

The 19th Annual Washington Gardener Seed Exchanges, hosted by Washington Gardener Magazine, take place on January 27, 2024, at the Brookside Gardens in Wheaton, MD, and on February 3, 2024, at Green Spring Gardens in Fairfax, VA. You have a choice of which side of the DC Beltway you want to visit!

Seed Exchange attendees trade seeds, swap planting tips, hear expert speakers, and collect goody bags full of gardening treats. The event also includes such “green” features as the garden book and catalog swap. Everyone will leave with a bag full of seeds and loads of gardening inspiration for the upcoming growing season. We will also have a “best name-tag” contest, so get crafty.

See event details on pages 6–7 of this issue. 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.

To enter to win the Seed Exchange Passes, send an email to Washingto nGardenerMagazine@gmail.com by 5:00pm on Thursday, Sunday, December 31, with “Seed Swap” in the subject line and in the body of the email.

Tell us what you will be growing from seed in your garden this year. Please also include your full name and mailing address. The pass winners will be announced and notified on January 1, 2024. o DECEMBER 2023 WASHINGTON GARDENER 5

Join us for: Seed Swapping Planting Tips Expert Speakers Goody Bags Door Prizes Washington Gardener Magazine presents the

19th 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

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/seed-exchange-brookside-gardenswheaton-md-tickets-780501058677?aff=oddtdtcreator

and on Saturday, February 3, 2024, 12:30–4:00PM at Green Spring Gardens in Alexandria, VA Registration is now open at

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/seed-exchange-green-spring-gardens-alexandria-va-tickets-780506585207?aff=oddtdtcreator

COVID POLICY We request attendees to wear masks.

Space is limited, so act today!

Washington Gardener Magazine subscribers get $5 off the $20 attendee fee!

6 WASHINGTON GARDENER DECEMBER 2023

Overview

Washington Gardener magazine, the publication for DC-area gardening enthusiasts, is hosting the 19th 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.

When

Two Seed Exchanges will be held: Saturday, January 27, 2024, in MD and Saturday, February 3, 2024, in VA from 12:30–4:00PM

(Foul weather that day? Call 240-603-1461, for updates about possible snow/ice delay.)

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

You can easily register online at Eventbrite.com. Be sure to select the correct date and location for the Seed Exchange you are going to be attending.

You can also fill out the form on the opposite page. Send the form, along with payment, to Washington Gardener, 826 Philadelphia Ave., Silver Spring, MD 20910, Attn: SE Registration. Please make checks out to “Washington Gardener.”

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 limit of 100 participants at each location!

We are GREEN!!!

Garden Book and Seed Catalog Exchange

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!

Hashtags #GardenDC and #SeedSwapDay

Washington Gardener Magazine’s 19th Annual

Seed Exchange Details

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 about 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.

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 about 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* 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 leftover 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 the seven major categories that fit the best, that would help us speed up the process on the swap day.

Door Prizes! Goody Bags!

Each attendee will receive a goody 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 goody bags and door prizes, contact KathyJentz@gmail.com by January 25. *See photo contest details on page 8.

19th Annual Washington Gardener Seed Exchange Advance Registration Form

Please fill out this form and mail with your check/money order to: Washington Gardener Magazine, 826 Philadelphia Ave., Silver Spring, MD 20910

Name:____________________________________________________________________________________ Street Address:____________________________________________________________________________ Email:____________________________________________________________________________________ Seed Exchange Date and Location:  January 27 at Brookside Gardens  February 3 at Green Spring Gardens (We will only use your email address for Seed Exchange notices and will never share them with anyone else.)

Seed Exchange Attendee Fee: $20.00 __________ Discount (if eligible*): -$5.00 __________ Optional: Washington Gardener Magazine Annual Subscription: $20.00 __________ TOTAL_____________ *The following groups are eligible to pay the discount attendee rate of $15.00; please CIRCLE if one applies to you: • Washington Gardener Magazine subscribers • Friends of Brookside Gardens members • Friends of Green Spring Gardens members A portion of the event proceeds will go to benefit Native Seeds/SEARCH for conserving crop genetic resources.

continued on page 16

DECEMBER 2023 WASHINGTON GARDENER 7

You’ve seen those gorgeous garden photos published in magazines and newspapers. Enter this year’s competition and have a chance of getting your images published, too. Whether you take the photos in your own backyard, a nearby public garden, or while visiting friends and family in their local gardens, there are so many photographic opportunities to be found. Let’s show off the best in DC-area gardening!

This contest offers an opportunity for all photographers to present their best shots of gardens in the greater Washington, DC, area. Contest entries will be judged on technical quality, composition, originality, and artistic merit.

More than $500 in prizes will be awarded. Winning images will be published in Washington Gardener Magazine, displayed during the Washington Gardener Seed Exchange, and appear in a local photo exhibit.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

Each entrant is limited to a total of 10 images. Each electronic file must be identified with your last name and the entry category. For example, BeeJonesGC1.jpg or JoeSmith-SW2.jpg.

All photographs should accurately reflect the subject matter and the scene as it appeared in the viewfinder.

Nothing should be added to an image and, aside from dust spots, nothing should be removed. Cropping and minor adjustments to electronic images to convert RAW files are acceptable.

If an image is selected as a finalist, a high-resolution digital file might be required before finalizing our results.

Digitally captured images should be taken at the camera’s highest resolution (3 megapixels or larger). For preliminary judging, digital files must be submitted in JPEG format sized to 1,000 pixels on the longest side at 300 dpi.

If photos are taken with a film camera, they must be scanned and submitted in JPEG format sized to 1,000 pixels on the longest side at 300 dpi.

Contest entries can be submitted via email to DCGardenPhotos@aol. com. Use the subject line “WG Photo Contest” and include an entry form for each image in your email’s text field.

8 WASHINGTON GARDENER DECEMBER 2023

18TH ANNUAL PHOTO CONTEST Entries can also be sent in on a CDROMs. Please verify their integrity by making sure they are readable and not damaged. We reserve the right to disqualify any disk that is unreadable or defective. Please check your CDs with the latest virus-detection software. We will disqualify any disk that appears to contain a virus or a suspicious file.

Label each CD and case with your full name. We strongly suggest mailing CDs in protective cases. We are not responsible for disks damaged during shipping. No CDs will be returned, but they can be picked up after judging.

Send your entries and entry fee to: Washington Gardener Photo Contest, 826 Philadelphia Ave., Silver Spring, MD 20910. Mailed entries must be received by January 21, 2024.

You can print out blank entry forms from the Washington Gardener blog (WashingtonGardener.blogspot.com) or from our Facebook page.

We will verify all entries, so please ensure your email address is included on all items.

Entrants must not infringe on the rights of any other photographer, landowner, or other person. Photos involving willful harassment of wildlife or destruction of any property are unacceptable.

The entrant must have personally taken the photo. By entering, you state this is your work and it is free of copyright elsewhere.

Failure to comply with any contest guidelines will lead to disqualification.

category or submit all 10 in one category.

Photos must have been taken during the 2023 calendar year in a garden within a 150-mile radius of the Capitol Building in Washington, DC. • Garden Views (GV): Beautiful, dramatic, or unusual perspectives of a garden landscape, including wide shots showing the setting. Subject can be a private or public garden.

• Garden Vignettes (Vig): Groupings of plants in beds or containers, unusual color or texture combinations, garden focal points, and still scenes. Subject can be photographed in a private or public garden.

• Small Wonders (SW): Tight close-up images or macro shots of single flowers, plant parts, fruits, vegetables, etc.

Subject can be photographed in a private or public garden.

• Garden Creatures (GC): Images of insects, birds, frogs, pets, etc., in a private or public garden setting.

COPYRIGHT NOTE

CONTEST ENTRY FEE

Your entry in this contest constitutes your agreement to allow your photographs and your name, city, state, and photo description texts to be published in upcoming issues of Washington Gardener and used for other related purposes including, but not limited to, Washington Gardener Photo Contest promotions and online, live presentations, and gallery exhibits. Entrants retain ownership and all other rights to future use of their photographs.

CATEGORIES

Each entrant is limited to a total of 10 images. You may submit a few in each

PRIZES

Prizes include gift certificates to area camera stores, gardening tools, new plant introductions, and much more.

If you would like to be a prize donor or sponsor, contact us today.

WINNERS’ OBLIGATION

Photo contest winners will need to provide high-resolution versions of their images for publication and an 11x14 print suitable for framing. Winners may be asked to provide additional information for press and media coverage.

The entry fee is $20.00 or $15.00 for current Washington Gardener Magazine subscribers. The fee includes up to 10 total image submissions per entrant.

Please send a check or money order made out to “Washington Gardener” or a payment via www.PayPal.com to DCGardenPhotos@aol.com.

DEADLINE

Entries are due by midnight on January 21, 2024.

QUESTIONS?

Call 301-588-6894 or email DCGardenPhotos@aol.com. o

Discover the Netherlands Garden Tour with Kathy Jentz Experience the beauty of Dutch gardens and horticulture on our Discover the Netherlands Tour from April 17–26, 2024!

Join Washington Gardener Magazine editor Kathy Jentz on this once-in-alifetime garden adventure. We will visit private and public gardens, nurseries, test gardens, flower shows, and more.

Highlights include the Keukenhof Gardens, Hortus Botanicus Leiden, and the FloraHolland Flower Auction.

Accommodations are in 4-star hotels, and most meals are included.

• Space is limited to the first 20 guests who sign up.

• Pricing starts at $4,985 per person.

• For full details and registration, go to: https://tinyurl.com/HollandTourwithKJ

DECEMBER 2023 WASHINGTON GARDENER 9

TIPStricks

Mistletoe: Is the holiday plant friend or foe?

Mistletoe may be a welcome holiday sight when hung over a doorway if a loved one is near, but it can be an unwelcome intruder when found in your trees, according to a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service horticulturist.

“Mistletoe is a hemiparasite—a semiparasitic plant,” said Allison Watkins Schwarz, AgriLife Extension horticulturist for Tom Green County. “It makes its food from photosynthesis, but the roots grow into the host tree, sucking water and minerals out from the sap.”

In other words, you probably do not want to see mistletoe growing on your favorite shade tree or prized ornamental. Once it inhabits the tree, it can survive as long as the tree lives, meaning some mistletoe alive today may still be around in 100 years.

The plant has been used in various cultures throughout history for everything from warding off demons from entering a doorway to protecting babies from fairies stealing them from their cribs in the night.

And although it is called the kissing plant, its name may have originated from Old English for the words for twig and dung. How’s that to get you in the romantic holiday spirit?

One type of mistletoe commonly used as decoration over the holidays is in the family Phoradendron, which appropriately translates to “thief of the tree” in Greek.

Schwarz explained that mistletoe causes tree stress and can make a tree more susceptible to diseases and insects. Although unlikely to kill a healthy tree, it can cause limbs to die and can be especially hard on trees during drought.

As birds eat the mistletoe berries, they spread the seed from limb to limb and tree to tree through their feces. The seeds are exceptionally sticky and may also hitchhike on birds’ feet and beaks.

Certain species of mistletoe can also shoot out their own seeds at speeds around 60 mph once the berry bursts like an overfilled water balloon.

Although birds and wildlife eat the berries, they aren’t something you want your family members, including pets, to ingest, because some mistletoe is poi10 WASHINGTON GARDENER DECEMBER 2023

Mistletoe is a semi-parastic plant that can be harmful to its host plant. Texas A&M AgriLife photo by Michael Miller.

sonous, so it is always wise to use care when handling the plant. Different parts of the plant and different species have varying levels of toxicity.

Mistletoe is most easily spotted in winter when many of the host trees lose their leaves to reveal clusters of the evergreen mass. The spherical shape can be as large as several feet across.

Since birds like to perch in the tops of high trees, mistletoe is most often found in mature trees near the crown. A tree branch may be enlarged where the plant has attached itself.

Mistletoe plays a positive role in many woodland and range ecosystems. For example, its white flowers provide nectar and pollen for native bees and honeybees. Several types of butterflies and moths rely solely on mistletoe species as host plants for their caterpillars.

Birds and squirrels will eat the berries, and deer and porcupines will eat the plant itself, especially during times of food scarcity.

Many animals nest in clumps of mistletoe, especially when the plant causes its host tree to form witches’ brooms, which are dense masses of distorted branches. Mistletoe and the corresponding witches’ brooms are used for shelter by tree squirrels, flying squirrels, and a variety of birds, from tiny chickadees to raptors like Cooper’s hawks.

The damage done to trees by mistletoe can also provide homes for cavitynesting species of birds, bats, insects, and small mammals.

“Even if you remove mistletoe from a tree, the root-like structure remains

embedded in the tree, meaning it will grow back,” Schwarz said.

No herbicide can kill mistletoe without harming the tree, but one plant growth regulator called ethephon, Florel Fruit Eliminator, is registered in the U.S. to control the growth of mistletoe on deciduous trees, she said.

The only way to eliminate mistletoe from a tree is to prune the branch it is on. Keep in mind that it takes two to three years to mature, so the sooner you can remove the infected branch, the better you can control the spread.

The smaller the branch that must be removed, the less stress on the tree.

“In most well-maintained landscapes, there may be mistletoe here or there, but it’s probably not something to worry about too much,” Schwarz said.

The stress from over-pruning could be more damaging than the mistletoe itself, she said. She offered these tips if you do decide to prune.

Light pruning can be done any time of the year, but more significant pruning is best done in the winter when the tree is dormant. Prune no more than one-third of a tree’s canopy. Dead branches can be removed at any time.

To avoid spreading oak wilt, oak trees should not be pruned from February to June. December and January are the ideal time to prune oaks—just make sure the cut wood is not transported to other areas because that can spread oak wilt disease and unwanted pests.

Visit Forest Health: Mistletoe by Texas A&M Forest Service for more at https:// tfsweb.tamu.edu/Mistletoe/. o

GARDENnews

Quick Links to Recent Washington Gardener Blog Posts • My Intern Experience • 2024 Garden Trends • Collard Greens Plant Profile • Herstory of DC Gardens

See more Washington Gardener blog posts

at WashingtonGardener.blogspot.com o

New Plant Spotlight

December–January Garden To-Do List

Winter Jewels® Hellebore (Helleborus × hybridus) Little Prince of Oregon Nursery of Aurora, OR, has welcomed Winter Jewels® Hellebores to their lineup, carrying on the legacy of Ernie and Marietta O’Byrne. The O’Byrnes have been growing, selecting, and improving this line of seed-grown Hellebore hybrids for more than 30 years through Northwest Garden Nursery.

‘Peppermint Ice Improved’ is shown above. Other additions include ‘Jade Tiger Improved’.

Winter Jewels Hellebores are seedgrown with exacting standards to ensure steady improvement in features, include ‘Jade Tiger Improved.’

Features include: • Upright stems with gently nodding flowers (to ensure a long-lasting, colorful display and protect the integrity of the breeding line) • Interesting coloration on the backs of tepals for enjoyment from all angles • Double flowers with evenly spaced tepals that look beautiful from above • Fine foliage that complements, rather than overwhelms, the flowers • Deep, saturated, and even color in flowers See the grower’s website at https://littleprinceplants.com. o Hellebore photo credits: Ernie and Marietta O’Byrne.

• Keep watering your poinsettias and give them plenty of light. Ensure they are away from drafts and that pots drain freely.

• Last chance to plant bulbs or, if you have waited until the ground is frozen, pot them up for forcing indoors.

• Gather holiday greens. Some, like holly and boxwood, respond to being pruned by growing thicker.

• Feed birds and provide them with a fresh-water source.

• Check houseplants, and any plants you brought indoors for the winter, for insects.

• Provide some special protection to tender or early-flowering plants like Camellias.

• Stake newly planted large trees or shrubs to protect them from winter winds.

• Check any tropical or summer-blooming bulbs, corms, tubers, and bare root plants in storage for rot or desiccation.

• Apply scale and dormant oil treatment to evergreens.

• Spread ashes from wood fires on your vegetable beds.

• Keep succulents and cacti on the dry side.

• Water cut Christmas trees daily.

• Gently remove layers of snow from outdoor evergreens with a broom.

• Start organizing your pile of incoming garden catalogs.

• Keep an eye out for damage to tree bark from rabbits and deer.

• Spray broadleaf evergreens with anti-desiccant to prevent dehydration.

• Use the branches from your Christmas tree as bedding mulch or a windbreak.

• Keep watering newly planted trees and shrubs as needed.

• Cover strawberry beds with straw or pine needles.

• Prune stone fruit trees such as cherries, plums, and peaches.

• Clean, sharpen, and store your garden tools.

• Reduce fertilizing of indoor plants (except Cyclamen).

• Set up a humidifier for indoor plants, or at least place them in pebble trays.

• Continue to rotate houseplants to promote even growth.

• Attend a local garden club meeting.

• Start new indoor plants from cuttings—try an easy one, such as violets.

• Check the plants under tall evergreens and under the eaves of the house to see that they have sufficient moisture.

• Weed. Weed. Weed.

• Pick a budding gardener to give some inspirational garden books and magazines, then watch the new gardener blossom.

• Store your fertilizer and seeds in rodent-proof containers.

• Do any filling and grading needed around your yard. The soil will settle during the winter months.

• Vent cold frames on sunny days.

• Avoid walking in frozen planting beds.

• Remove and destroy gypsy moth egg masses.

• Clean your gutters.

• Prune maples, dogwoods, birches, elms, and walnuts—if needed.

• Consider using alternatives to de-icing salts, such as sand, beet juice sugars, light gravel (grit), or non-clumping kitty litter. De-icing salts around driveways and sidewalks can harm your garden plants and turf. o DECEMBER 2023 WASHINGTON GARDENER 11

INNOVATIVE DESIGNS FROM THE FIELD FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16 , 2024 | 9 AM–4 PM Join industry experts as they share scalable lessons from the field that fill in the gap between sustainable design theory and practice. We’ll explore the latest research from the University of Delaware, including case studies from award-winning public gardens and museums. Lectures will reimagine traditional landscapes with native plants and offer the latest in ecologically focused management strategies.

SEMINAR TOPICS � Lessons from Stoneleigh: Reimagining Traditional Landscapes with Native Plants

Ethan Kauffman, Director, Stoneleigh

� How Field Research Is Informing Sustainable Design and Maintenance Practices

Dr. Susan Barton, professor and extension specialist, Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Delaware

� The Masterpiece of Glenstone: From Suburbia to Organic Oasis

Paul Tukey, Director of Environmental Stewardship, Glenstone Museum Jennifer Corlett, Senior Associate, PWP Landscape Architecture

� The Inside Scoop: Naturalistic Planting Design Lessons from Industry Innovators

Austin Eischeid, landscape designer and owner, Austin Eischeid Landscape Design GreenScapes will be offered as a series of live online lectures using Zoom with audience Q&A incorporated into the program.

Registration includes access to watch recordings of each session after the event.

BrooksideGreen.org 301-962-1451 12 WASHINGTON GARDENER DECEMBER 2023

R E G I S T R AT I O N I N F O R M AT I O N E A R LY B IR D FE E: $50/person until Jan 12, 2024

S TA N DA R D FE E: $60/person starting Jan 13, 2024

Register using this link ActiveMontgomery.org (Course PBG0057) or call 301-962-1451.

TOP AREA GARDENING EVENTS Classes, Events, and Plant Shows/Sales • Every night through December 31, 2023, except on December 24–25, 2023.

Brookside Gardens Garden of Lights The Garden of Lights display transforms Brookside Gardens into a magical winter wonderland. Stroll through the half-mile outdoor walk-through exhibit and enjoy the twinkling lights and glimmering one-of-a-kind displays in the flowerbeds and grounds throughout the 50-acre horticultural gem in Wheaton, MD. Tickets are $10 per person, age 5 and older, and are only available to purchase online at Eventbrite.com. Garden of Lights is an outdoor, rain or shine event. Dress accordingly.

• Daily through January 1, 2024 Season’s Greenings at USBG The popular annual holiday display at the U.S. Botanic Garden (USBG) will run through New Year’s Day, January 1, 2024; closed on December 25. G-gauge model trains will run between 10:00am and 5:00pm each day in the gated outdoor gardens, and the Conservatory will feature poinsettias, holiday decor, and DC landmarks made from plants.

Throughout the outdoor gardens, discover trees and shrubs lit with string lights, festive evergreens and decorations, and six large plant-based sculptures of pollinators on display. Tickets are not required to view the trains or any part of the USBG. Plan your visit at www.USBG.gov/SeasonsGreenings.

• Daily through January 7, 2024 Longwood Gardens Celebrates a Very Retro Christmas This holiday season, it’s a riot of retro, a bevy of bright, and nostalgic moments at every turn during “A Longwood Christmas,” on view through January 7, 2024, at Longwood Gardens. Marvel at holiday trees draped in everything from shimmering tinsel to throwback baubles to childhood-favorite toys. The radiance of retro spills outdoors as more than half-a-million shimmering lights—including some super-sized surprises—adorn nearly 100 trees while carolers stroll

the Gardens and outdoor firepits invite guests to gather in their warm glow.

Timed tickets to “A Longwood Christmas” are required and available now at longwoodgardens.org.

• Daily through January 14, 2024 The Holidays at Hillwood As always, the gardens at Hillwood reveal the beauty of the holiday season.

Conifers such as the blue atlas cedar and false cypress show off their evergreen boughs, while holly and witch hazel provide bright spots of color.

Pine trees adjacent to the mansion are lighted to lead the way into the holiday splendor. Details at https://hillwoodmuseum.org/events/holidays-hillwoodmaking-spirits-bright.

• January 10–12, 2024 MidAtlantic Nursery Tradeshow MANTS is one of the largest private trade shows serving the horticulture industry. Held at the Baltimore Convention Center in Baltimore, MD. Registration is now open at MANTS.com.

• Tuesday, January 23, 1pm History of Natural Medicines Have you ever thought of using herbal medicines? Growing your own? Are you interested in the history of medicine? Come hear a fascinating expert in the field of herbal medicines and their history. Find out the best practices and cautions of using herbs for medical needs. Dr. Greg Susla presents the history of natural medicines, early medicinal gardens around the world, types of medicinal preparation, the history of Pry House near Frederick, MD, and his restoration of the Civil War Medicinal Garden there. He also discusses considerations needed when growing and making your own herbal medicinal preparations. Susla is a Doctor of Pharmacy, worked at the National Institutes of Health in the Intensive Care Unit, and is also certified as a Frederick County Master Gardener. The meeting will be held at the Holiday Park Senior Center, 3950 Ferrara Dr., Silver Spring, MD. Free and open to all.

• Saturday, January 27, and Saturday, February 3, 2024, 12:30–4pm Washington Gardener 19th Annual Seed Exchanges Washington Gardener Magazine is cohosting two annual seed exchanges, one at Brookside Gardens and the other at Green Spring Gardens, with lectures and a face-to-face seed swap. Bring your extra seeds to swap and leave with a bag full of seeds, make new garden friends, and get expert planting advice.

Fee: $20 ($15 for verified Friends group members and Washington Gardener subscribers). See details on pages 6–7.

• Friday, February 16, 2024, 9am–4pm GreenScapes Symposium Join Brookside Gardens for a day of virtual lectures as industry experts share valuable lessons from the field of creating sustainable landscapes. Lectures will reimagine traditional gardens with native plants and offer the latest in ecologically focused management strategies. Take advantage of the early bird fee of $50 that ends on Friday, January 12 (after that, it is $60 to register). All sessions will be recorded and made available online to registrants. For more information and to register online, visit https://mocoparks.org/3lWVVus.

Looking Ahead • April 16–25, 2024 Discover the Netherlands Tour See details on page 9.

• May 20, 2024 First Annual Reduce Your Lawn Day! See details soon at reduceyourlawnday. com.

Event Listing Updates See updated event listings on the Washington Gardener discussion list.

Join by emailing WashingtonGardenersubscribe@googlegroups.com.

How to Submit Events To submit an event for this listing, email washingtongardenermagazine@gmail. com with “Event” in the subject line.

Our next deadline is January 5 for the January 2024 issue, for events taking place after January 15, 2024. o DECEMBER 2023 WASHINGTON GARDENER 13

PLANTprofile

Sweet Box

By Kathy Jentz

Sweet Box (Sarcococca spp.) is a small evergreen shrub or groundcover that is hardy to USDA zones 6 to 8. It is native to China and is virtually maintenance-free.

It thrives in shade, even dry shade, and is deer- and rabbit-resistant.

This easy-to-grow plant can be propagated by semi-hardwood cuttings in late summer.

Christmas Box (Sarcococca confusa) has small, white flowers in late winter that send out a sweet, vanilla-like fragrance that gives this plant its name. The red berries appear in fall and then turn black. They are enjoyed by birds. It can be pruned to a low hedge of about 3 feet wide and high.

Himalayan Sweet Box (Sarcococca hookeriana var. humilis) grows to only about a foot high and spreads by underground roots to cover an area about 3 feet wide.

The flowers are not as sweet as the Christmas Box and the berries or drupes are black.

Sweet Box (Sarcococca ruscifolia) is very similar to Christmas Box except that the berries stay red and the plant is somewhat larger, reaching 4 feet high and wide at maturity. o Kathy Jentz is the editor of Washington Gardener.

14 WASHINGTON GARDENER DECEMBER 2023

KNOWitall

Ask the Expert

hydathodes, which are the pores on the leaf margins where guttation moisture is emitted. This process helps plants relieve water pressure when evaporation from leaf stomate pores isn’t enough.

By Miri Talabac

Techniques to Keep Houseplants Moist

Q: I’ve been misting my houseplant foliage to try to keep them happy, but it doesn’t seem to be enough. What else can I try?

A: Maintaining humidity at the level most tropical plants prefer during a winter indoors is challenging. As you noticed, misting foliage, despite how commonly the practice is recommended, is not sufficient and does little to boost humidity. Plus, the frequent wetting of leaf surfaces can make it easier for pathogens like fungal or bacterial spores to enter leaf tissue.

Humidity trays, like pebble trays (using stones or LECA, the clay balls, to keep pots above the water level), might suffice in an enclosed environment, but in an open room, this won’t help much, either. Instead, it can easily grow algae or mold, and who wants one extra thing to clean regularly?

Try a room humidifier instead. Okay, it’s more costly and does still need cleaning, but it can at least support human health and comfort at the same time by boosting ambient humidity of the overall space, especially if plants are grouped together in that room.

For compact plants like terrarium miniatures or any young specimens, you could give them an enclosure to retain the natural humidity put out by their leaves and potting mix. I cultivate a lot of short-growing or small-leaved species, and find that even a simple pair of clear, deep plastic saucers, placed atop one another to create a dome, holds enough humidity with the addition of damp sphagnum moss to keep most plants thriving. It’s a great setup to start cuttings, which stand a better chance of rooting well when they have high humidity to limit water loss.

I’ve even had sphagnum regrow with this method, presumably from spores embedded in the dried strands, since it also enjoys humid conditions.

You can repurpose other clear plastics as well. (Glass is fine, but heavier and, of course, riskier to use if it’s going to get bumped into.) I like clean-

Concerned About Black Cuttings kept humid as they root into moss. Photo by Miri Talabac.

ing-out and using salad greens boxes, bakery clamshells, and even deli or take-out containers. Any eyesore labels on the lids or those shading plants from grow lights can usually be taken off with adhesive-removing sprays, setting them aside to soak for a bit for those really stubborn and hard to peel.

Such containers have held up well for me and supported generations of cuttings and terrarium plants that I haven’t managed to actually put into a display enclosure yet.

With the imminent restocking of seed-starting supplies at nurseries this time of year, be on the lookout for domed seed-starting trays. You can use these for any indoor plant that will fit under the taller domes (maybe 7 inches max) and many have vents built in to help you adjust air exchange.

Need to squeeze in a taller plant or two that aren’t very bushy? Just stand the covered tray up on its end, and use masking tape or a plant clip or two, if needed, to secure the lid. This is a great acclimation chamber in a pinch for imported plants or impulse purchases you haven’t made space for yet that have been used to luxuriating in greenhouse or Florida levels of humidity.

Intrepid houseplant lovers have also retrofitted glass-and-metal display cabinets as a way to retain some humidity around taller plants or a larger collection. If you can fit one, I suggest including a small fan to keep air circulating and to even out temperature zones (LED grow lights can still be a bit warm), plus to keep leaf surfaces from staying wet. Even if you’re not misting leaves, it’s normal for some plants to exude water droplets from leaf margins or tips, especially if freshly watered in a high-humidity environment. This is called guttation, and aroids are a group that commonly do this. Here’s another Scrabble word to go with it:

White Pine Aphid eggs on pine needles. Photo by Beatriz Moisset, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Lines on Pine Needles

Q: We like fresh-cutting a pine for our holiday tree and noticed for the first time there are lines of small black oblong lumps on some of the needles.

When we put our tree outside for composting and to shelter birds after the season, is this something to worry about?

A: These are the eggs of the White Pine Aphid. Normally, aphids give birth to live young, but they can also lay eggs (especially for overwintering). This type of aphid is so large that their eggs will also be pretty big, at least by aphid standards. I can’t predict whether they’ll stay warm enough for long enough to hatch while the tree is still indoors, but you can pluck them off to avoid that risk if you prefer. The aphids won’t cause any plant damage once outside and will merely be a nuisance to remove with a vacuum if they do hatch before the tree is removed after the holiday. o Miri Talabac is a Certified Professional Horticulturist who has worked as a horticulture consultant for the University of Maryland Extension Home and Garden Information Center since 2019. To ask a gardening or pest question, go to http:// extension.umd.edu/hgic and scroll to “connect with us.” Digital photos can be attached.

DECEMBER 2023 WASHINGTON GARDENER 15

EDIBLEharvt

Heirloom Eggplants

By Barbara Melera Eggplants originated in China and India and have been cultivated there for thousands of years. The Spanish Moors introduced the eggplant into southern and eastern Europe, where it became very popular. The early explorers of the New World introduced eggplant into the Americas in the 1500s, but the plant never caught on. For many years, Americans were suspicious of the plant because it belonged to the Nightshade family. Tomatoes and potatoes also belong to this family and many Americans thought the vegetables were poisonous.

In a mid-1800s, American seed catalog, listed two varieties: ‘Large Purple’ and ‘Early Purple’. At that time, eggplant, or melongena as it was called, was described in the following way: “This vegetable is a native of Africa; hence the name Guinea Squash by which it is designated in the southern states. Of late years, it has become of very general use, and large numbers of them are grown for the Philadelphia market; they are used in stews and soups, and cut in thin slices and fried.

In the latter mode, they closely resemble oysters similarly cooked.”

In the 1960s, some of the smaller 16 WASHINGTON GARDENER DECEMBER 2023

Japanese varieties were introduced for home gardeners. Only recently has America embraced the extensive varieties of Indian, Italian, Japanese, and Chinese eggplants.

The eggplant family is one of the largest and most diverse of the vegetable plant families. The size and shape of the plants and of the fruits vary tremendously, but all eggplants were originally tropicals. They love and require heat. It can almost be said “the hotter, the better.” It is this requirement for heat that makes the eggplant an ideal container vegetable. Every eggplant that we know of will grow in a container and produce prolifically. They love the heat coming off a brick, stone, or concrete wall on a patio.

Heirloom Varieties

Here are a few heirloom varieties that grow well in our region.

• ‘Black Beauty’ ‘Black Beauty’, introduced in 1902, produces the largest (1–3 lb.) eggplants grown today. The 6- to 9-in. long by 3- to 6-in. wide fruit is a magnificent deep purple. The flesh has an excellent sweet flavor. Plants produce four to six fruits, at most.

• ‘Ping Tong Long’ In America, eggplants were grown largely for their ornamental value, but were not a common culinary vegetable.

In the late 1800s, when Asian immigrants began populating the U.S., they brought with them other eggplants. One of the most popular was the long, thin, purple eggplant from Taiwan known as ‘Ping Tong’. This is an exceptional eggplant with sweet, pleasant-tasting flesh.

The plants are incredibly prolific and produce throughout the entire season.

They are more disease-resistant than other eggplants.

• ‘Black Egg’ ‘Black Egg’ (pictured at left) is one of the most beautiful vegetable plants grown today. It has deep-purple to burgundy stems with striking green leaves.

An old Japanese heirloom, the plant produces six to eight 4–6 in., 6–8 oz. pear-shaped fruit. The fruit is dark, almost black, purple. The flesh is very sweet. Pick them young. A good shortseason eggplant, ‘Black Egg’ matures in about 65 days compared to 80–125 days for most other eggplants.

• ‘Rosa Bianca’ ‘Rosa Bianca’ (pictured on page 17) is one of the most popular eggplants grown today. Introduced in the U.S. in the early 20th century by Italian immigrants, the round (4–6 in. diameter), 12–16 oz. fruits are rosey lavender and white with sprays of pink. The flesh is mild, sweet, firm, and delicious—the true eggplant parmigiana eggplant.

Plants only produce two to four fruit per plant.

• ‘Apple Green’ ‘Apple Green’ is truly an American heirloom, but not a native American plant.

This eggplant was developed in 1964 by famed plant breeder Elwyn Meader of the University of New Hampshire Agriculture Experimental Station. Meader was a highly respected and prodigious developer of plant varieties for shortseason climates. During his career, he introduced more than 60 different plants, including the ‘Fall Gold’ raspberry and the ‘Royalty Purple Pod’ bush bean.

‘Apple Green’, like ‘Rosa Bianca’, produces one to three huge, round, green fruits per plant that weigh approximately 1–2+ pounds per fruit. Unlike

EDIBLEharvt the Asian eggplants, ‘Apple Green’ fruits are slightly sweeter and more flavorful.

The plants are known to set fruit when the nighttime temperatures are in the low 70s to high 60s. The fruits mature in approximately 70 days from planting the seedling.

Growing from Seed

Because eggplants require a long growing season, usually 120 days or longer, eggplants should be started indoors in flats, 8 to 12 weeks before the last frost date in spring. Starting seed too early may produce leggy plants that suffer severe transplant shock and are, in general, weak throughout the growing season. Try to start your seeds in paper pots or disintegrating pots. When you transplant the seedling, you will plant the pot with the seedling in it. This significantly reduces transplant shock.

Place two seeds in each little pot and cover with ¼–½ inch of soil. Soak the soil and place the flat in a very warm area of your home. You do not need sunlight to get the seeds to germinate.If you have a seed-starting mat (a flat, heating pad-type mat), use it when starting eggplant seeds. They love bottom heat. Remember, it could take 21 days for seed to germinate. Keep the soil slightly moist until the seeds germinate.

Once the seeds germinate, remove the flat to an area that receives indirect sunlight until the plants have produced their first two leaves. Then move the plants to a south- or west-facing window or place them directly under a grow light. Adjust the grow light so it is no more than 3 inches above the seedlings. When the plants are 2 inches high, choose the strongest seedling and remove the others. Continue to adjust the grow light as the seedlings grow, keeping the grow light approximately 3 inches above the plants.

Transplant the seedlings to the garden or container about three weeks after the last frost date, when the soil has warmed to a depth of at least 3 inches. Plant the seedlings 18–24 inches apart in rows spaced 36 inches apart. Eggplants thrive in rich, sandy

loam soil, but they are not finicky about soil and will also do well in average soil. Eggplants do not like to be overwatered. Apply fertilize lightly about once a month. Once the nighttime temperatures are above 70 degrees, the plants will set fruit continuously as long as ripened fruit is routinely harvested.

Harvest the fruits regularly or the plants will cease to bloom.

And yes, they do get attacked by insects; in particular, flea beetles. The best organically approved insecticides are Neem oils and insecticidal soaps like Safer Soap.

Eggplants in Containers

As many of you know, I think tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants grow best in containers. If you are going to grow eggplants in containers, there are a few rules to follow. Eggplants should be grown in pots that are at least 14 inches in diameter and 14–16 inches deep, with just one plant per container. Most eggplants require staking, so plant the stake when you plant the seedling.

The absolutely best soil mix for containers is 60% crummy backyard soil, 20% peat moss, and 20% dehydrated cow manure or, even better, compost. If you cannot access backyard soil, then purchase topsoil (not potting soil, special soil mixes, or premium soil). Mix the ingredients together and pour into a pot.

Container-grown eggplants must be fertilized every three weeks with fullstrength fertilizer that is rich in phosphorus. Tomato plant food does a good job for this. Plants that are not fed in this way will have limited fruiting.

Eggplants, because of their natural beauty, add a dimension to the garden that few vegetable plants can. Even if you don’t like eating eggplant (and many people don’t), they are a joy to have in the vegetable garden or as a patio plant. o Barbara Melera is president of Harvesting History (www.harvesting-history.com), a company that sells horticultural and agricultural products, largely of the heirloom variety, along with garden tools and equipment.

The Urban Garden: 101 Ways to Grow Food and Beauty in the City is all about small-space gardening solutions!

By Kathy Jentz and Teresa Speight

Published by Cool Springs Press/Quarto Homes

Order it today at: https://amzn.to/3yiLPKU

GardenDC Podcast

The GardenDC podcast is all about gardening in the greater Washington, DC, and Mid-Atlantic area. The program is hosted by Kathy Jentz, editor of Washington Gardener Magazine, and features guest experts in local and national horticulture. The latest episodes include interviews with experts on Figs, Fall Perennials, and Scent in the Garden.

You can listen online at https:// washingtongardener.blogspot.com/ or on Spotify, Apple, etc. o DECEMBER 2023 WASHINGTON GARDENER 17

INDOORgarden

Haworthia The Low Light Succulent

By Savannah Scollar

I don’t know about you, but my window sills are totally booked. I mean, where else am I gonna keep my collection of mystery succulents? Those guys are picky! I needed a cute little plant for the middle of the table—bonus points if my cats wouldn’t mistake it for a salad.

This was the desire that sent me down a rabbit hole, one teeming with sturdy and star-shaped succulents. There were plants in every color of the rainbow, decorated with spots, stripes, and stained-glass windows—haworthias are a dream come true!

Now, it’s really common to see Haworthiopsis sp. falsely labeled as “haworthia.” Up until 2013, they were considered a part of the haworthia genus as well. With DNA testing, they’ve been given a name of their own—sorta. Funnily and accurately, this new Latin name, “haworthiopsis” just means “haworthia-looking.”

How do you spot the difference?

Haworthiopsis grows longer, skinnier leaves, in deeper shades of green, with white spots. True Haworthia is chubbier and tends to feature transparent leaf windows to let some extra light in.

Like other succulents, these guys store a nice supply of water in their leaves, but don’t be fooled! They’re not really the desert plants you’d expect them to be. Haworthia and friends grow wild in Southern Africa: hanging out in the shade of trees, shrubs, cliffsides, and tall grasses.

Haworthiopsis has a high concentration of chlorophyll, giving it an emeraldtoned appearance. Chlorophyll acts as a plant’s solar panels, so having plenty of the stuff can really come in handy.

Haworthia trends toward more of a camouflage look—opting to match the colors of stones and cliffsides, for a subtle “please don’t eat me” aesthetic.

The windows in its leaves help it to take in as much light as possible, rising 18 WASHINGTON GARDENER DECEMBER 2023

to the challenge of the shady circumstances.

Still, “low light-tolerant” doesn’t equal “no light-tolerant.” These plants should be directly across from a window: either on the windowsill itself, or on a piece of furniture a few feet away.

Alternatively, you can keep them within a couple feet of a typical grow light. If you do choose to grow your Haworthia or Haworthiopsis in brighter light, they’ll develop a red, pink, or purple tone. It’s a special pigment that many plants develop as sunscreen. Clever!

Like most of my houseplants, I grow Haworthia and Haworthiopsis in repurposed glass containers—no drainage holes and no pebbles. By doing this, I can keep an eye on soil moisture and water accordingly. The real key for succulents is “potting small.” You want the depth of the soil to match the depth of the roots.

The spaghetti-thick roots of these star-shaped succulents get gobbled up by fungi and bacteria if they’re kept soggy. Haworthia and company want periodically moist soil with a good flow of oxygen—not a pot full of mud. Using a small amount of indoor gardening soil, things dry a lot faster and your plant stays safe from root rot (an indoor gardener’s worst nemesis). A small pot of regular soil functions similarly to a larger pot of cactus and succulent soil, and saves you some space and money, too.

I water my Haworthia (et cetera) once every week or two. It’s not exact, but the volume of water I use tends to be around half the mass of the leafy part of the plant.

Still, if you’re busy or forgetful, no worries! These plants are droughttolerant, so you can really wait up to a month between waterings if you need to. If your pot has holes at the bottom, you can bottom-water with a very small dish, keeping in mind how much water you’re using. Soil can hold quite a bit more water than it generally should, so measuring matters.

If you’re like me, you’ll want more and more of these adorable plants, plenty to decorate with. Well, you’re in luck. Both Haworthia and Haworthiopsis spread by growing baby plants or “pups” on the sides. These can be separated and put into their own little pots or left in place to form a big cluster.

Getting really into it, you’ll discover the fancy haworthias with beautiful and unique markings. These plants are very popular in Japan and China. The particularly fancy ones are valued at more than $1,000 for a 2-inch plant!

Although my Haworthia tend to stay in the under $10 range, I think they’re quite cute and well-behaved little plants. They’re some real stars, for sure: sturdy, low light-tolerant, and nontoxic, too. o

Haworthiopsis tortuosa—the flowering stem is so long.

Savannah Scollar opened Easy Little Plants in July 2023 at age 21. It’s a super-cute houseplant shop in Olney, MD. Savannah loves doing research, teaching private workshops, decorating with houseplants, and arranging adorable terrariums. Contact her through her website: easylittleplants.com.

BOOKreviews

The First-Time Gardener: Raised Bed Gardening-All the Know How You Need to Build and Grow a Raised Bed Garden Author: CaliKim Publisher: Cool Springs Press List Price: $26.99 Order Links: https://amzn.to/47ZtW6l and https://bookshop.org/ a/79479/9780760372753 Reviewer: Teri Speight There are many types and methods of raised bed gardening. CaliKim has written an easy-to-read book for the DIY gardeners who want to try something new. This book uncovers new reasons to experiment, with a few suggested options when considering raised bed gardening.

CaliKim has a large following from her YouTube channel, as well as her extensive online gardening library and blog. This book complements her first one, Organic Gardening for Everyone: Homegrown Vegetables Made Easy.

As a backyard gardener, CaliKim knows how rethinking your space can increase the planting possibilities.

Raised beds offer much-needed options for accessibility and provide an environment of controlled growing. In a raised bed, the soil warms up faster than in in-ground gardens, allowing earlier planting and extending the gardening growing seasons.

CaliKim encourages the reader to determine a few critical decisions, such as why you should grow your own food. Considering how much space is required, how much time will be

invested in taking care of the raised bed, as well as the projected budget for the garden. Among the other items the author considers important is how to position the garden for optimal lighting and successful growing.

The materials that are available when building a raised bed are plentiful, from blocks, wood, composite wood, hügelkultur, and more. Metal as well as recycled fiber pots offer numerous options for anyone who considers raised bed gardening.

CaliKim is quite handy, so there is even a chapter on building assorted climbing structures such as tomato cages, trellises, and more.

Building raised beds with this book as a roadmap from CaliKim is a great way to jump-start the next garden season. o Teri Speight is a proud native Washingtonian. She is the former head gardener for the City of Fredericksburg, Virginia, and currently an estate gardener, speaker, writer, and podcaster. Her website is https:// cottageinthecourt.com/.

Du Pont Gardens of the Brandywine Valley Author: Neil Lucas Publisher: Timber Press List Price: $50.00 Order Link: https://amzn.to/3RLp92s and https://bookshop.org/ a/79479/9781580936033 Photographer: Larry Lederman Contributing Author: Marta McDowell Foreword by Charles A. Birnbaum Publisher: The Monacelli Press Order Link: Amazon List Price: $60.00 Reviewer: Marsha Douma Du Pont Gardens of the Brandywine Valley presents, in one gorgeous volume, the beauty and unique character of the Hagley, Nemours, Winterthur, Mt. Cuba, and Longwood estates and gardens.

Individually, these are certainly some of the loveliest gardens in our Mid-Atlantic Piedmont region, with Longwood Gardens reliably listed as one of our country’s most beautiful gardens. That these magnificent gardens are all only about two hours from the Washington, DC, region is certainly an added incentive to see them all, which

any reader of this beautiful and inspiring book will want to do. Visiting the ones I have not yet been to will certainly be on my to-do list this spring.

But this book is so much more than a “where to go and which gardens to visit travel book” of our region. This is a garden book to savor. The photographer, Larry Lederman, visited the gardens every two weeks, and spent two to three days on each visit, for 15 months—spanning two springtimes and the months between them—to fully capture their essence in pictures. A reminder in our fast-paced world, for those who want to step off that treadmill, even for a short while, of how our gardens can be the perfect antidote to slow us down, since the natural world functions on its schedule, not ours.

All of these gardens started out as part of the private residences of various Du Pont family members, starting in the early 19th century and continuing through to the late-20th century.

The families were serious gardeners and stewards of the land they lived on.

In a letter from 1803, upon settling in the Brandywine Valley, the first Du Pont wrote, “Being without a garden was the greatest deprivation, and it is the first thing that occupied my time.” The particulars of how each of these unique places, which differ from each other in major design ways, came to be is fully explained in the book, because each garden has its own chapter.

Starting in the late-19th century, many families who amassed great wealth from the industrialization of our young country—for example the Rockefellers, Fords, Carnegies, Morgans, and Vanderbilts, to name some of the more prominent famiBook Reviews continue on page 20 DECEMBER 2023 WASHINGTON GARDENER 19

BOOKreviews Book Reviews continued from page 19

lies—seriously embarked on major philanthropic projects that created a cultural landscape that might not have otherwise been built. This also created a tradition of philanthropy by private individuals that continues to this day in various forms. In that same spirit, the Du Ponts embarked on “…a multigenerational landscape patronage (project) on a continuum with historic European precedents.” This book illustrates, in glorious detail, “the Du Pont heritage.”

Du Pont Gardens of the Brandywine Valley would be a wonderful gift, either for yourself or any friend or family member who enjoys beautiful gardens and/or landscape photography. Owning this book will be yet another reason to hope for some snow days this winter. I

can think of no more pleasurable way to spend time than to immerse oneself in this absolutely lovely book. o Marsha Douma is a retired dentist and lifelong gardener who also enjoys swimming, tennis, and playing the piano. She lives in Rockville, MD.

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 Before reading this book, I immediately thought how funny the title was, but it

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20 WASHINGTON GARDENER DECEMBER 2023

is needed. This activity has not been done on a regular basis for most people, so you do need to be careful when you forage for food.

After reading it, I found that the book was very insightful by taking us back to our natural state and connecting us back to the Earth. The book also mentions that when you forage, you must leave stuff behind for animals, which creates an equality among all living things.

Author Ellen Zachos is an expert forager and longtime foraging instructor. She is the author of six books, including The Wildcrafted Cocktail and Backyard Foraging. She is co-host of the Plantrama podcast and can be found online at backyardforager.com.

The book is also beginner-friendly.

It teaches people about the roots, the stems, and the leaves of plants and which parts are edible. The author describes when plants are ready to be eaten or used in cooking. Usually, all we think about is plants that produce fruits and vegetables, but there are more edible parts to many plants.

From knives to bypass pruners to hand pruners, the book also does a great job of letting people know the tools needed to forage and how to do it properly. You can’t always just rip things out of the ground or off a plant without seriously damaging it (or even yourself) in the process. Using tools keeps things clean and proper.

Zachos’ book informs people about where to find certain edible plants. For example, it talks about the dandelion

BOOKreviews flower—where it grows in the U.S. and how to locate it.

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 looklikes” for many edible plants.

This handy book helps people avoid these doppelgangers when they are foraging, which will save you from deadly results. o Christine Folivi is a senior at the University of Maryland College Park. This fall, she is an intern at Washington Gardener Magazine.

Discovering Moths: Nighttime Jewels in Your Own Backyard, Eastern North American Species Author: John Himmelman Publisher: Stackpole Books List Price: $24.95 Order Links: https://amzn.to/3tl7khl and https://bookshop.org/ a/79479/9780811772112 Reviewer: Carol Allen Who knew moths were so fascinating? John Himmelman does, and in this second edition of Discovering Moths, Nighttime Jewels in Your Own Backyard, he leads the reader through 11 chapters of baiting (yes baiting!) and attracting them. He introduces the notable “Moth People” of both history and today. There is a chapter about collecting—pros and cons—and moth grow-

ing for those who wish to deviate from rearing butterflies.

Himmelman’s prose is engaging and informative. He describes himself as not a scientist, but a naturalist and writer. This is evident because the book easily captures the reader’s attention.

Still, he is attentive to the taxonomy.

Both Latin binomials and common names are given for each moth he introduces and his descriptions are rich with detail.

The book opens with a description of a nighttime trail walk to find moths that ideally were attracted to tree trunks baited with a sugary solution. The group he leads includes both children and adults. It is easy to see from his description that this is a kid-friendly activity. The children in the group are soon pressing on to the next tree, playing their flashlights ahead to catch the glow of moth eyes. As Himmelman says, “welcome to the night.”

The book is 260 pages long with many line drawings by the author There are two sections of color photographs.

The body of the book is augmented by a glossary, a bibliography, and an index.

The book is accessible and a good choice for those interested in these beautiful insects. o

GROUNDCOVER REVOLUTION IS OUT NOW!

By Kathy Jentz

Published by Cool Springs Press

Order it today at: https://amzn.to/3IlYHYL

“Groundcover Revolution is 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.” ―C.L. Fornari, GardenLady.com

Carol Allen describes herself as a committable plant-a-holic. She has more than 25 years’ experience in the horticulture industry, with a special interest in plant pests and diseases; is a Licensed Pesticide Applicator in the state of Maryland; and is an ISACertified Arborist. She can be contacted at carolallen@erols.com.

Love Reading?

These books were reviewed by volunteer members of the Washington Gardener Reader Panel. To join the reader panel, please send an email with your name and address to: KathyJentz@gmail.com. We look forward to having you be a vital part of our local gardening publication. o Note: These book reviews include links to Amazon.com and BookShop. org for ordering them. Washington Gardener Magazine may receive a few cents from each order placed after you click on these links.

“Inspire. Connect. Grow.”

The National Garden Bureau is a nonprofit organization that exists to educate, inspire, and motivate people to increase the use of garden seed, plants, and products in homes, gardens, and workplaces by being the marketing arm of the gardening industry. Our members are experts in the field of horticulture and our information comes directly from these sources. Find out more at https://ngb.org/ DECEMBER 2023 WASHINGTON GARDENER 21

GOINGnative

Largeflower Heartleaf

Wild Ginger

By Barry Glick

Hexastylis virginica

If ever you had the want, need, or desire to cover a large, shady area quickly, one of the first plants that comes to my mind is our native Wild Ginger (Asarum canadense). Most folks, when they hear the term groundcover, think of a very low-growing, ground-hugging plant like our native Stonecrop (Sedum ternatum) or Meehania cordata, a viney, short ground-hugger in the mint family. Both of these plants would make great groundcovers. But if you don’t mind a little height, and I’m only talking about 8–12 inches, I’d like to put in a good word for our native “Wild Ginger.”

I put that word in double quotes, because I didn’t want to confuse you with Zingiber officinale, the ginger of trade that is used in everything from ginger ale to almost every Chinese and Indian culinary dish. That is a tropical plant that you can buy root sections of at the supermarket and grow as a patio plant or houseplant.

The large, bold leaves of Asarum canadense, and I’ve seen them get up to almost a foot wide in good, rich, moist, humusy soil in deep shade, make a stunning display in any garden. I like massing them around trees and have used them as an edging plant along a border bed.

Asarum species make their home 22 WASHINGTON GARDENER DECEMBER 2023

in the Aristolochiaceae family or Birthwort family. The reason they call it “Birthwort” goes back to the “Doctrine of Signatures,” which is a romantic notion that the shape of the flower or look of the plant tells us something about the medicinal use of the plant. I could write pages about that belief here, but we’ll save that for another story.

Simply stated, it is because the shape of the flower is reminiscent of a uterus and birth canal, which is reflected in

the scientific name of Dutchman’s Pipe (Aristolochia sp.), aristos meaning best; lochos meaning childbirth or birth. The plant that takes the genus name from the family name, Aristolochia durior, also known as Aristolochia macrophylla, is a native vine that can climb to great heights in the forest and has large leaves, somewhat similar in shape to its ground-loving cousins, Asarum and Hexastylis.

Anyway, back to the garden. Asarum canadense is a totally herbaceous plant that disappears in the winter. We also have, in our area, an evergreen ginger that botanists have separated into a separate genus, Hexastylis. Virginia Heartleaf (Hexastylis virginica) is a beautiful, slow-growing plant with superbly marbled, supple, waxy-looking evergreen foliage.

You can expect a mature plant of this long-lived perennial groundcover to spread to about 12" in just a few years.

For a cool surprise, look closely under the leaves in early to mid-spring for the unique little flowers that grow close to the ground. o Barry Glick, a transplanted Philadelphian, has been residing in Greenbrier County, WV, since 1972. His mountaintop garden and nursery is a mecca for gardeners from virtually every country in the world. He writes and lectures extensively about native plants and Hellebores, his two main specialties, and welcomes visitors with advance notice. He can be reached at barry@sunfarm.com, www. sunfarm.com, or 304.497.2208.

Asarum canadense

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MARCH/APRIL 2005 • Landscape DIY vs. Pro • Prevent Gardener’s Back • Ladew Topiary Gardens • Cherry Trees

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MARCH/APRIL 2008 • Patio, Balcony, Rooftop Container Gardens • Our Favorite Garden Tools • Coral Bells (Heuchera)

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MARCH/APRIL 2007 • Stormwater Management • Dogwood Selection & Care Guide • Early Spring Vegetable Growing Tips • Franciscan Monastery Bulb Gardens

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DECEMBER 2023 WASHINGTON GARDENER 23

Jentz Prints

Antique Botanical Prints for the decorator, collector, connoisseur, and art lover.

Jentz Prints can be purchased at the Downtown Holiday Market through Saturday, December 23.

Antique prints are affordable—most in the $10-$30 range—and they are the perfect gift idea for that plant lover in your life. And don’t forget to buy a few for yourself!

For more information or to get a detailed show schedule, please contact Jentz Prints by email at UllrichJ@aol.com.

24 WASHINGTON GARDENER DECEMBER 2023