Washington Gardener Magazine April 2026 by Kathy J

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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

Barry Glick

Sunshine Farm and Gardens 696 Glicks Road Renick, WV 24966, USA Email: barry@sunfarm.com www.sunfarm.com

www.greenspring.org

Green Spring Gardens

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 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.

“The vast diversity of the species of orchids across the world is kind of like the vast diversity of people.” — Devin Dotson, U.S. Botanic Garden, at the reception celebrating the “More than a Flower: The Connective Power of Orchids” exhibition at the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

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

Investing in good-quality covers or storage solutions in early spring can save time and money in the long run. It only takes a few minutes to cover furniture when not in use, protecting it from rain and extending its lifespan. Image credit: Barker and Stonehouse.

The raised golden-orange crest reminds us that ovenbirds used to be known to ornithologist as the golden-crowned thrush. Photo by Bill Hubick.

Making Connections

Here is a little secret about me: I’m an introvert. That is exactly what drew me to writing and plants, but it is also a handicap when it comes to making connections, networking, and pursuing story leads. I bet many of you are introverts, too, and get your energy from recharging in solitude. After a day of socializing, I feel like all the life force has been sucked from my body and all I want to do is cocoon in my bed with a good book, while my extrovert friends find it invigorating and are ready to turn around and do more.

I’m very good at masking, though, and many folks assume I’m a natural extrovert. It has taken years (decades) to learn how to psyche myself up for events and be the one to make the introductions, reach out for referrals, and invite others along.

It comes with a price: For every day of high-energy interactions, I’m usually recovering for two days, but the effort is worth it. The connections and friends I have made in horticulture are priceless.

Sometimes that means taking on roles that do not come naturally to me. There were times that if I didn’t screw up my courage and start a new group or take on the leadership of an ailing organization, it would not exist today.

If you are a fellow introvert, I urge you to get out of your comfort zone and make those connections, too.

Sincerely,

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

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

Aicha Bangoura Lauren Bentley Interns

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Volume 21, Number 2

ISSN 1555-8959

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.

Orchid enthusiast Terry Richardson (@theblkthumb) and your editor at the recent orchid show reception hosted by Smithsonian Gardens. Photo by Aicha Bangoura.

Seed Exchange 2026

The 2026 Washington Gardener Seed Exchange was an absolutely wonderful experience and as a first-timer, I am so grateful that I was able to go. I learned so much and made new friends!

Thanks for all you and your staff and volunteers did to make this such a positive experience. Right now, there are 47 more days till spring: Can we make it? I’m losing my mind but focusing on some seedlings and my indoor plants and my winter sowing to keep me distracted and get my plant fix!

~ Kathleen Halverson, Olney, MD

GardenDC Podcast

Tremendous episode (GardenDC Podcast Episode 274: Philadelphia Flower Show’s Past, Present, and Future)! Wasn’t planning on rejoining Philadelphia Horticultural Society—time and distance certainly factors. However, after the stellar strategic content in this

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episode, I feel much more equipped as to how to prioritize my time, more motivation as to what I want to see, and how I should go about it.

~ Nancy Williams

YouTube Channel

Whenever I have a question about gardening in the DMV, Washington Gardener Magazine and Kathy Jentz always have the answer I need. Thanks for the many years of work and practical knowledge that has made me a better gardener!

~ @redrobyn769

Bonsai Story Correction

I wanted to thank you for spotlighting Friends of the National Arboretum (FONA) and the U.S. National Arboretum (USNA)’s National Bonsai & Penjing Museum in the March 2026 issue of Washington Gardener. I would like to request a small correction to the article “Bonsai Museum Changes.”

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.

In the third paragraph, the article reads, “....FONA is a separate organization that will now be running museum operations for the arboretum.” USNA has always managed, and will continue to manage operations of the museum. FONA will support USNA efforts and priorities, occasionally through direct operational support at the request of USNA.

~ Jeanne Braha, Executive Director, Friends of the National Arboretum

Weed Warriors Today

Kathy Jentz’ commentary (Editor’s Letter, March 2026 issue of Washington Gardener) about her frustrations being a weed warrior 10 years ago gives me a great opportunity to share the changes that have been put into place in the program. There are now two levels of weed warrior. The first by far the most important is removing nonnative invasive vines from trees. Preservation of trees is critical and having the most weed warriors addressing this goes a long way to that goal.

Programs like in Sligo Creek, where last year we spent almost 3,500 hours in 180 events, are amazing. Importantly, 283 people were introduced to being weed warriors, a number of whom have since been certified. The process for becoming certified has simplified in recent years.

As to the frustration of pulling weeds only to have them come back that is certainly a common issue. Two things to address here: We (Friends of Sligo Creek) work closely with Montgomery Parks to identify particular areas of concern, and also where planting new trees and plants can be coordinated with Parks. Sometimes Parks will use focused herbicides on identified pullresistant plants and later, when safe, plant new native plants and coordinate with weed warriors to limit weed regrowth. Also, the mentioned tree preservation effort by cutting ivy and porcelainberry (and other nonnative vines) is very effective and not terribly difficult, even though it does require monitoring. Finally, people like me who are poison ivy-sensitive and have limited time, can still be helpful with focusing attention on small areas to monitor upcoming weed issues, and helping out where and how we can.

~ Kit Gage, Weed Warrior Level 2, Advocacy Director, Friends of Sligo Creek o

Alex Mudry-Till Cut-Flower Farmer

By Aicha Bangoura

After years of working full-time in the food industry, Alex Mudry-Till, who developed an interest in ﬂowers at an early age, replaced her chef hat and established her own ﬂower farm Quince Blossom Ridge.

Q Tell us about you and your background. Are you a DC native?

A I grew up in Pleasantville, NY, an hour north of New York City. I came to DC for college in 2001 (I studied theater at Catholic University) and then returned to NY in 2008 to attend The Culinary Institute of America (CIA) in Hyde Park. Dan grew up in Northern Virginia (NoVA) and the CIA is where Dan and I eventually met. (He was savory, I was sweet!) After graduating, we moved back to the DMV and have been here ever since. Dan and I worked in restaurants and bakeries for over a decade (I was co-owner of Buttercream Bakeshop in DC.) It wasn’t until we bought our first house in Cheverly, MD, that we fell in love with gardening, flowers, and plants. That was when we built our first garden; learned lots about plants and seed-starting; and found our garden mentor, Monty Don.

Q How did you develop Quince Blossom Ridge?

A Much of my focus at the bakery was designing wedding cakes and making sugar

flowers. I spent a lot of time learning about how the flowers grew to sculpt them out of sugar for wedding cakes, so by default, those were my early steps into horticulture. Once we really got stuck in building our first garden, I really started to notice the deep connection I felt with nature and plants. In 2020, we were forced to temporarily close our shop because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Like many, that forced us to push pause on what was “normal” until that point and think about what else we might want to do. I was really burnt out by that time and just felt like something needed to change, so we started working on the concept of a garden-focused wedding venue and farm, keeping our ties in the wedding market and hospitality but moving us out of kitchens and working at a different pace. While the venue has taken quite a bit longer than we had planned/hoped to develop, we’ve worked on expanding the farm, our sales outlets, and what we want to do with the property in the future. By default, I’ve become a full-time farmer, which was nothing I ever thought would be in the cards for me.

Q What are your favorite experiences at Quince Blossom Ridge?

A We love entertaining and so many of my fondest moments have been having been sharing the farm with friends and family.

We’ve hosted friends for dinner parties, got to give our nephew the thrill of his life by copiloting our tractor with his Uncle Dan… but I think the real gems for me are the times when I’m alone planting or weeding and I get to see a series of praying mantis crawling the beds for a snack or see the way the light makes the grasses in the meadow glow in the late afternoon. It is the peaceful, quiet moments that I think I love the best. They are what ground me and spark wonder that I think was missing in my life.

Q How has the farm evolved?

A When we first purchased the property in late 2021, there was nothing here. No infrastructure, no water, no beds, no deer fence. That first year, we drilled a well, dug and planted our first beds, filled with roses, peonies, and hydrangeas. We had a handful of annual beds of snapdragons, dahlias, and celosia. That was also a first trial of selling to wholesale event florists and starting to learn how to grow things in volume. At that time, we had a temporary deer fence propped up with T-posts and zip ties to protect our crops. By year, we worked on adding our first garden room—the fountain garden—where Dan built up garden beds, arbors, and a pergola for climbing roses and naturally, a fountain. He also added a second shed to the property that we retrofitted to become our flower cooler.

Beyond adding infrastructure (including a full deer fence), we continued to add more beds and more growing spaces, and eventually started selling a CSA-style bouquet subscription (what we call our “Stem Shares”). Toward the end of that year, we started selling at a small farmers market in NoVA. During this time, Dan was working full-time on the farm and I was still full-time at the bakery, as we were due to close at the end of 2023. 2024 was the ﬁrst year I was full-time on the farm and Dan returned to having an off-farm job. We started to partner with a number of small businesses throughout NoVA and DC. We also again doubled our growing space and started to grow more specialty crops like tulips and ranunculus, and expand our fall dahlias and heirloom mums. During our fourth year, we expanded to selling at three farmers markets for the main season, adding specialty forced tulips in winter for Valentine’s sales, adding more growing spaces (now up to around 1 acre), and a number of workshops on and off the farm.

Q What is the most rewarding part of your job?

A I love watching things grow. It really never gets old. See a seedling sprout or a new bud form—or even getting to share my excitement with our customers when they ask about a ﬂower that they’ve never seen before. Getting people to slow down for a moment to ﬁnd wonder in something that isn’t on a screen feels very precious in this day and age.

Q Have you been through hurdles with your business? How have you been able to overcome them?

A Gosh… so many! The biggest is continuing to be the development of the venue. Since we purchased the property, we’ve seen the zoning change four times…each time putting us back at square one, so we’ve just tried to be patient, keep the faith, and keep in mind that if we have to, we can always change course. We know it has the potential to be so special so we keep quietly working on it as we continue to develop our farm offerings. And, well, the other challenge would just probably have to be weather and pests. Just like all gardeners and growers, we struggle with the high humidity, wild temperature swings, and extreme weather. This recent bout of extreme cold/ice/snow has created a lot of challenges, like freezing water in our coolers or having to struggle to clean low tunnels to protect our fall planted crops for spring.

Dan and I have a poster in our office that I had custom-made from a meme I saw ages ago. “Jaws” is one of my favorite movies and the poster is a shot from the final scene when Brody is on the sinking boat (the Orca) and trying to use his last bullets to kill the shark. The style is of those inspirational posters you might see in a guidance counselor’s office. The text underneath says “PERSEVERANCE: Because there may not be a bigger boat.” For those who may not understand the reference, throughout the movie, that character (Chief Brody) is constantly asking for help from others. Constantly asking for experts (scientists, shark hunters, people in higher levels of government) to come in and assist with their shark problem. One of the most famous lines from the movie is Brody saying, “We’re gonna need a bigger boat,” following his first encounter with the massive shark. As in: Someone needs to come out here and help us because we can’t possibly do it ourselves. But that help doesn’t always come

(or doesn’t always come in time) and there are times where you just need to depend on yourself and keep trying. I think that sums up our approach to dealing with challenges in a nutshell.

Q What are the future plans?

A Just keep growing! We are hoping to add a small tunnel this year so we can have a space on the farm to protect and grow more seedlings and plant starts. Also, I’m looking to dial in more of my bouquet mixes (ironically called recipes) so that I can have a clearer idea of what to grow and how much throughout the year for my planning. I am very excited about growing some newer-to-us ﬂowers like dutch iris, different alliums, specialty scabiosa, and a lot of new varieties of dahlias and heirloom chrysanthemums.

Q What makes you passionate about ﬂowers?

A Each one, when you take the time to notice, is its own unique experience. From petal shapes and colors, to texture and scents and how they grow. I just love that they surprise me each and every year.

Q Could you describe the transition from being a baker to a farmer?

A Well…my working efficiently and knowing how to move quickly to work in volume definitely helps here for the day-to-day production. I have many days where I miss the camaraderie of the kitchen and sometimes the wild crush of an early Saturday morning, packing boxes of treats or wedding orders. Now, there is still an early morning rush on weekends, but now my Subaru is filled with flower buckets instead of tiered wedding cakes!

Q Who would you say are the greatest supporters or inﬂuences in your career path?

A Dan has always been my biggest supporter since the beginning. Whether baking, decorating, archery, or whatever I decide on, he always encourages me to try. My grandmother was a huge inﬂuence on so many parts of my life. She was an incredible gardener, ﬂower enthusiast, canning master, seamstress, and all-around wonder. Sadly, she passed long before I even met Dan, but I think she would be proud of what we have done. Both my parents and Dan’s have been incredibly supportive along the way as we’ve hatched our wild plans of changing from regular college pursuits to culinary school to owning a farm.

Q How are you continuing the Quince Blossom Ridge mission?

A We look at each interaction with our customers (our flower friends, as we call them) as a chance to help them find their way to connect with nature. Whether that is sharing a tip about a unique flower in their bouquet or a favorite recipe in our newsletter, we hope each of these moments helps people find their own connection to nature and to slowing down to appreciate the joys of the world around them.

Q Do you garden in your leisure time; if so, what do you like to grow?

A Sort of? I have fallen off having a proper veggie plot the last few years (and am a little spoiled with lots of gorgeous produce, since we sell at the farmers markets each week during the main season), but this year, I’m adamant I’m just going to chuck in some veg into some of the beds at the farm. I love being able to go to the back yard, pick a handful of salad leaves or a squash and a handful of tomatoes to make a quick dinner. I hate how much plastic gets used in grocery stores, so the more I can avoid that, the better! In my dream version/next garden hobby, I’d love to take up bonsai.

Q What do you think is the biggest misconception about ﬂower gardening?

A Flower farming isn’t gardening. That may not be the actual question, but that’s a misconception that happens a lot. The same way people think owning a bakery means I spent the whole day making a cake or two. It’s a lot of physical labor, repetition, physical and emotional stress. To make it pay the mortgage, there’s a lot of planning, planting, and refining of our plans on a very large scale. For flower gardening specifically, I think people make it much harder than it needs to be. To learn how to grow something…you kind of need to kill it a few times. When that is a rose that you bought at a premium price, that hurts a lot, but if it’s just a small packet of seeds you tried growing in a pot, the pressure is a lot less but the reward can be phenomenal.

Q How can our readers contact you?

A Our website, quinceblossomridge.com, has a direct line to our online store, where we offer our subscriptions, seedling sales, and ﬂowers. o

Aicha Bangoura is an intern this semester with Washington Gardener Magazine.

A Blue-Ribbon Experience: Judging at the Philadelphia Flower Show

By Louise Clarke

The Philadelphia Flower Show, first held in 1829, is produced by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS) as its annual fund-raiser. From its humble beginnings as a one-day show, it has blossomed into a ten-day event drawing more than 250,000 visitors annually, and ranks as one of the top three flower shows worldwide, along with London and Singapore.

Unique to the Philadelphia show is the Horticourt, where home gardeners can enter their plants in friendly competition. There are more than 300 classes—one for every imaginable type of plant—and competitors range from

growers with greenhouses and staff to individual windowsill gardeners. One need not be a PHS member to enter, there are no age restrictions, and there is no entry fee. The Exhibitor’s Guide, published yearly by PHS, is the exhibitor’s “bible” and judges’ reference for all things flower show. Horticourt judging occurs on three days, and savvy competitors may switch plants in and out or leave them to be judged all days.

Flower Show judges are invited by the Judges’ Committee and serve without compensation. National and international judges bring expertise in a wide range of horticulture and floriculture. In

the Horticourt, judging panels may be assigned broad categories like bulbs, succulents, begonias, bromeliads, foliage plants, etc. Special Panel Judges, like me, are invited who have more nuanced expertise in certain types of plants, such as cacti, orchids, or rock garden and alpine plants.

Three members of the Delaware Valley Chapter of the North American Rock Garden Society (NARGS) are chosen to serve as Special Panel Judges for the rock garden classes. I have been fortunate to have served as a judge for the last six years.

On judging days, judges assemble in the Judges’ Room to meet each other and their clerks. Clerks scout the Horticourt for class locations before judging, and receive all judging paperwork they will complete that day. Once PHS staff give the go-ahead, the Special Panels follow their clerks to the show floor. Judges inspect the entries in each class they’ve been assigned, and refer to the Horticulture Scales of Points chart in the Exhibitor’s Guide. Scales vary by class, and typical criteria include cultural perfection, distinctiveness, difficulty, rarity, and blooms. Judges may not touch the plants or turn the pots. Pots usually have a chalk mark on them to denote the back, so plants are staged with the chalk mark hidden. This may cause us to bend, stoop, tiptoe, crane necks, use a flashlight, or otherwise scrutinize the entry from as many angles as possible. Judging qualities highly ranked by my Special Panel in rock gardens include the rarity of the plant, difficulty in growing it, cultural appearance, its blooms and potential blooms if applicable, and how well the container compliments the plant(s).

Spirited debate often occurs between us. Hair-splitting may come down to the condition of the container. We take photos for reference for future judging, since they are helpful memory refreshers.

Once all plants in all rock garden classes have been inspected, we deliberate about which are worthy of awards; persuasive debates between judges continue. For the rock garden classes, up to four ribbons per day can be awarded, and two ribbons per day specifically for primulas. Most plants

are entered as “Enter All Days,” so we know we’ll see those same plants every time we judge. Some flowering plants will look better later in the show, so our phone pictures help us decide whether a flowering plant deserves a ribbon that day or perhaps later in the week. Our clerk then writes up the paperwork for winners, adds judges’ comments, and has us sign the forms.

Later that day, the volunteers of the cards and ribbons committee place ribbons and/or rosettes on each winning Horticourt entry per each panel’s judging decisions after they’ve been tabulated. They also remove and store the awards on future judging days so judges, who may be the same or different individuals, see each entry without bias. At the show’s end, all awards are returned to the exhibitors.

On the final judging day, my Special Panel decides which entry wins the Doretta Klaber Award for the ”outstanding entry encompassing all rock garden classes over the course of the show.” This is the coveted rosette for which all who enter the rock garden classes vie, myself included. Entries may have been in the show all week, or entered that morning, as happened this year.

The Horticulture Judging Panels, separate from the Special Panels, also judge the rock garden classes, usually with strikingly different results. It’s not unusual to see entries ranked in the exact opposite order, which perplexes me, since all judges are given the same judging metrics. There is where the expertise of judges differ; the General Panel judges aren’t as familiar with the plants or cultural requirements of the rock garden entries and seem,

in my opinion, to be primarily looking for pretty flowers. These panels may also ribbon every entry in a category; as multiple second place, third place, and honorable mention ribbons can be awarded. The rock garden Special Panel is not so generous—we award firsts only. While judging is ongoing, the show is open to visitors. On busy days, this means politely asking visitors to step back to let my three-person panel examine the plants. Curious visitors want to know what we’re doing and sometimes ask questions of us. One year, I was asked where I’d bought the boots I was wearing! The larger general judging panels may have six or seven judges, their clerk, a data recorder, and two barrier aides who hold a long, colored plastic ribbon reminiscent of crime scene tape on either side of the judging group to prevent visitors from interrupting them. Our Special Panel scoffs at this because “we don’t need no stinkin’ ribbon!”

Should you visit the Philadelphia Flower Show’s Horticourt and see the rainbow of ribbons on a judging day, you’ll have an appreciation of how that process unfolded and the pride of gardeners whose lovingly tended plants have ribboned. The Horticourt is an egalitarian arena for all plant devotees. Remember, anyone can enter, as I did for the first time this year, and I won multiple ribbons. You could be next! o

Louise Clarke is co-principal of Verdant Earth Educators, a green industry consulting and education firm. As a horticulturist emerita from the Morris Arboretum in Philadelphia, she is a Certified Arborist® holding credentials from the International Society of Arboriculture, as well as a certified green roof professional. She teaches Botany and Garden Appreciation courses at the Barnes Arboretum School of Horticulture at St. Joseph’s University, Philadelphia, as well as workshops and lectures for Longwood Gardens, Mt. Cuba Center, Tyler Arboretum, and other venues.

Photos by John Krill.

The Azalea Society offers membership to anyone with an interest in azaleas, from home gardeners, collectors and students to plant professionals. The Azalea Society website (azaleas.org) is the source of information about azaleas.

IS OUT NOW! By

Kathy Jentz

Published by Cool Springs Press Order it today at: https://amzn.to/3IlYHYL

“Groundcover Revolution is a 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

Ribbons are awarded to Hamilton Horticourt entries at the annual Philadelphia Flower Show. Photo by Louise Clarke.

Fibermaxxing Starts in the Garden with these High-Fiber Gardening Tips

Fibermaxxing is trending on social media, and more people than ever are looking to boost the amount of healthy fiber in their diets.

According to the American Heart Association, only 5 percent of Americans get enough daily fiber. The good news is that fiber-rich produce can be surprisingly easy to grow in home gardens across our region —and now is the time to plant them.

“For gardeners who are used to starting plants from seed, sweet potatoes are a fun and interesting crop to try, and they are well-adapted to our hot, dry climate,” said Stephanie Romelczyk, Virginia Cooperative Extension agriculture and natural resources Extension agent in Westmoreland County, VA.

Sweet potatoes are high in fiber and particularly exciting and rewarding for gardeners. In the warmest parts of the Mid-Atlantic, sweet potatoes can be planted beginning in late April. Those in the coolest parts of the state should wait until May.

“You start by planting a slip, which is a small cutting of the plant,” Romelczyk said. “With some water, it will begin to produce roots and vines that trail along the ground. At the end of the summer, you have the great surprise of digging up your sweet potatoes to see your harvest.”

Cole crops such as cauliflower, kale, and broccoli are another popular choice for those on high-fiber diets, and they are easy to grow at home. Beginners and the space-confined may find crops like collards and kale especially economical to grow because you can harvest from a single plant multiple times.

“These are cold-weather crops, so they can be planted in early spring for a harvest by summer, and then again in the late summer for a fall harvest,” said

Romelczyk, who added that brussels sprouts are an exception and should only be planted for a fall harvest. “Leafy cole crops like kale and collards can be harvested multiple times throughout their growing season by simply cutting a few leaves, which makes them a good choice for beginners or for those with limited space.”

High-fiber raspberries and blackberries can also be grown throughout the area, although Romelczyk said selecting the proper variety for your region is key.

“Blackberries come in thornless versus thorny varieties and with sprawling versus more upright growing habits,” she said. “It’s most important to find a variety that will do well for your climate. People in warm, humid areas have different considerations than those in dry, cooler areas.”

Home gardeners interested in trying these high-fiber crops can consult Virginia’s Home Garden Vegetable Planting Guide (https://www.pubs.ext. vt.edu/426/426-331/426-331.html) to learn appropriate techniques and timing for starting their vegetables. For additional assistance and guidance, including a home soil test kit, reach out to your local Extension office. o

Garden Furniture

Cleaning Tips for Spring

One of the most important ways to prep your outdoor space for spring, is to clean your garden furniture. Magdalena Gierasinska, Head of Product and Displays at Barker and Stonehouse, explains why it’s important to maintain garden furniture.

Gierasinska said, “Garden furniture is constantly exposed to the elements, which can cause significant wear and tear if not properly maintained. Rain, wind, sun, and temperature fluctuations all take their toll on materials, leading to deterioration over time. Storing furniture in a dry space during winter, cleaning it regularly, and using protective covers can ensure it remains a functional part of your outdoor space for years.”

Gierasinska added, “Caring for your garden furniture isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s about longevity and sustainability. Wooden furniture is particularly susceptible to moisture, which can cause rot, warping, or splitting, while metal pieces are at risk of rust

and corrosion if they aren’t protected. Consider applying a weatherproof sealant to preserve its durability, while metal items may benefit from a protective coating to prevent corrosion.

“Knowing when to replace your garden furniture is crucial to maintaining a safe and comfortable outdoor space. Signs that it’s time to invest in a new set include visible rot or soft spots in wooden furniture, which indicates water damage and weakened structural integrity. For metal furniture, any sign of rust, especially if it has penetrated the surface, can lead to instability and further deterioration.”

Give outdoor furniture a deep clean, Gierasinska said: “A deep clean with soapy water or specialist cleaner takes just an hour or two, but will prevent mould, mildew, and dirt buildup, keeping your furniture looking its best all season.”

She explained that cleaning wooden furniture requires care. “For wooden garden furniture, start with a simple brush-down to remove any loose dirt or debris. If you’re working with teak, use just water and a soft brush for general cleaning, and invest in a proper teak cleaner once or twice a year to tackle built-up grime. Avoid using a power washer, as it can damage the wood’s surface. If you’ve got Polywood, a lumber alternative made from recycled high-density polyethylene plastics, it’s wonderfully low-maintenance, and just warm soapy water will do the trick, then rinse and leave to dry naturally.”

For metal furniture, she suggested, “Metal furniture benefits from a wipe down with a damp cloth and rust treatment for any problem spots. Rattan and plastic can be washed with a mild detergent and a hose; just avoid pressure washers, as they can weaken the material over time.”

She added, “You should always test cleaning products on an inconspicuous area first, or check with the manufacturer if you’re unsure. Avoid siliconebased furniture polish, as it can create a build-up that affects the finish. Instead, stick to soapy water and a soft cloth for gentle yet effective cleaning.”

To find out more about how to care for the furniture in your home, visit https://www.barkerandstonehouse. co.uk/care-guides. o

Photo by Devon Johnson for Virginia Tech.

New Plant Spotlight

‘Sugar Basket’ Red Tomato

A standout cherry tomato with bright fruit and wonderful flavor, this mounded, trailing tomato is ideal for hanging baskets and patio containers. Excellent plant habit, with multiple branches bearing a constant supply of new fruit.

Plant the tomato in a sunny area in well-draining soil. Water regularly. It requires at least 6 hours of full sun and grows to 12–18 inches tall.

There is also an orange version in the ‘Sugar Basket’ tomato series (shown below).

It is available exclusively from Burpee (www.burpee.com). It is new for 2026 and is part of the national Burpee Home Gardens assortment through The Home Depot and at other independent stores offering the Burpee plant brand. ‘Sugar Basket’ is not part of the Burpee Seed Catalog; instead, started plants will be found in stores when it’s safe to plant tomatoes in our regions (midMay). o

Quick Links to Recent Washington Gardener Blog Posts

• How and When to Prune Hydrangeas

• Cherry Blossom Viewing Alternatives

• Kale and Poppy Seedlings are Up!

• Dusty Miller Plant Profile

• How to Botanize

See more Washington Gardener blog posts at WashingtonGardener.blogspot.com o

April–May Garden To-Do List

• If you started seeds last month, thin them and start the hardening-off process.

• Start some more seeds—especially flowering annuals like impatiens, marigolds, nasturtium, and petunias.

• Do not set out seedlings or tender annuals until after Mother’s Day (traditional last frost-free date for our entire area).

• Water shrubs and trees deeply during any dry spells.

• Prune winter damage on evergreens.

• Make compost tea and use on seedlings.

• Turn your compost pile.

• Sharpen tools.

• Prune flowering shrubs, such as forsythia and azaleas, when they finish blooming.

• Repot and fertilize houseplants.

• Set aside a few hours each weekend for attending garden shows and tours. (You may have to do this virtually for the immediate future.)

• Weed by hand to avoid disturbing newly forming roots.

• Prepare your soil—add lime, compost, etc., as needed.

• Walk your garden and look for early signs of fungal disease.

• Divide perennials and herbs. Pot up extras to give away at plant swaps.

• Fertilize new growth.

• Plant and prune roses.

• Transplant small trees and shrubs.

• Buy or check on your stored summer bulbs (such as dahlias and caladiums). Pot them and start to water to give them an early start on the season.

• Build a raised bed for vegetables. Add lots of aged manure and compost.

• Buy an indoor plant to liven up your office space. Try an Orchid or African violet.

• Start/keep fertilizing your indoor plants.

• Cut back and clear out the last of your perennial beds and ornamental grasses.

• Mulch beds with a light hand.

• Feed birds and provide nesting materials (try pet hair), as well as houses, for the start of their family season.

• Sow beans and corn directly outdoors.

• Start carrots, turnips, and parsnips in well-draining beds or deep containers.

• Keep cutworms off newly planted edible seedlings by surrounding the seedlings with collars cut from a plastic bottle or cardboard tube.

• Pick peas often to encourage the plants to produce more.

• Ensure new seedlings do not dry out by installing a drip-irrigation system.

• Start herbs from seed or cuttings.

• Edge garden beds.

• Remove Ivy, Pachysandra, and other vine-like groundcover from under shrubs.

• Work in dry, not wet, soil to keep the ground from compacting.

• Hand-pick cabbage worms from broccoli and other cabbage-family plants.

• Put row covers over vulnerable crops—remove covers to allow for pollinating once they set flowers.

• Thin lettuce seedlings and plant more seeds in new rows. (You can eat the seedling greens you pull.)

• Plant a tree for Arbor Day or Earth Day. o

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 Tomato Growing and Hydrangea Pruning.

You can listen online at https:// washingtongardener.blogspot.com/ or on Spotify, Apple, etc o

Classes, Events, and Plant Shows/Sales

• April 10–11

2026 Spring Garden Market

The popular garden market will take place at River Farm, AHS headquarters, Alexandria, VA. Tickets on sale now. Details at https://ahsgardening.org/ spring-garden-market/.

• Friday, April 17, 12n–3pm

Garden Supply Pop-Up Shop

Community Forklift’s annual Garden Supply Pop-Up Shop at 4671 Tanglewood Drive, Edmonston, MD. Stop by their reuse warehouse to browse deals on garden tools, pots, décor, and other outdoor essentials while supplies last. The Garden Pop-up afternoon includes Herbal Mocktails crafted by Kimani Anku of Gardening and Beats; a Plant Swap: seeds, seedlings, or cuttings; free native plant seed giveaway by Prince George’s County Department of Parks & Recreation; and a garden book signing and plant chat: with Kathy Jentz, editor of Washington Gardener Magazine. Connect with other plant enthusiasts, save money, and find salvaged supplies for your next project. See more details at communityforklift.org.

• Friday, April 17

Movie Opening: “The Gardener” “The Gardener” is a visually rich, emotionally rooted drama starring Radha Mitchell that explores how time in the garden can help us heal, rebuild, and rediscover ourselves. See more at : https://www.thegardenermovie.com/,

• Saturday, April 18, 10am–6pm and Sunday, April 19, 10am–5pm Leesburg Flower & Garden Festival

Transforming the streets of historic Downtown Leesburg, VA, the festival showcases flowers, plants, and landscaping along with the best of gardening and outdoor living products and services. The rooftop beer and wine garden, landscape display contest, three stages of entertainment, festival food, and Garden Patch children’s area mean there is something for everyone. The festival is open to the public, free, and goes on rain or shine.

• April 18–25

Garden Club of Virginia’s Historic Garden Week

Regional member clubs will coordinate garden tours throughout the state of Virginia. Local events include tours through the gardens of Old Town Alexandria. Times and prices depend on location. See https://gcvirginia.org/historic-garden-week/.

•Saturday, April 25, 9am–3pm Azalea Plant Sale

The Northern Virginia Chapter of the Azalea Society of America will hold its spring plant sale at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens. The rain date is April 26. See details at https://nv-asa.org/.

• Saturday, April 25, 9am–4pm Garden Fair & Plant Sale

Celebrate spring at the National Arboretum. Shop from thousands of plants, browse dozens of local vendors, and enjoy free family activities. FONA members get early admission to the Plant Sale. Details at FONA.org.

Looking Ahead

• Saturday, May 9, 9am–1pm GardenMart Plant Sale

Silver Spring Garden Club’s annual plant sale fundraiser, GardenMart, is back again at Brookside Gardens in Wheaton, MD. Vegetables, herbs, annuals, and perennials. Rain or shine. Cash or check only. More details soon at www.silverspringgardenclub.com.

• May 20, 2026

Third Annual Reduce Your Lawn Day! Register your pledge to reduce your turfgrass lawn and be automatically entered for a chance to win a prize package. See 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 April 15 for the May 2026 issue, for events taking place after May 5 o

Ovenbirds: Poppin’ fresh in April

By Rick Borchelt

There is a singer everyone has heard, Loud, a mid-summer and a mid-wood bird, Who makes the solid tree trunks sound again.

Robert Frost knew his birds, and he nails both the ID and behavior of one of spring’s most distinctive songsters in his 1921 poem, “The Oven Bird.” He knew that most of us will hear this stocky understory warbler from April through June, when their song clock finally runs down for the season. Frost also tells us much in what he doesn’t say: He doesn’t tell us that everyone will see it!

Truth to tell, ovenbirds (Seiurus aurocapilla) are common in woods in the DC region in spring and summer. But they are also skulky and secretive. If you do hope for an ovenbird sighting, Frost pinpoints its habitat with precision: midwoods. Ovenbirds are creatures of the

Eastern deciduous forest; they prefer the interiors of large tracts of beech, oak, and maple. where the humidity is high and the light is low. It’s here that the male ovenbird finds a perch 6 to 10 feet up, hidden by leaves, to broadcast his energetic and clearly enunciated TEA-cher, TEA-cher, TEA-cher at volumes loud enough to echo off the trunks of the tall trees. Very lucky birdwatchers may catch a second, more warblerish twittering night song, delivered as he launches into the sky above the trees on warm spring nights.

For warblers, ovenbirds are odd ducks indeed. For one thing, they spend most of their time hopping around on the forest floor, flipping leaves and pieces of bark to find the arthropod life underneath: They have an inordinate fondness for ground beetles, apparently. They’re also pretty chonky birds, tennis-ball plump and more rounded than their warbler tribesfolk. Ovenbird plumage looks more like that of a thrush than a warbler, olive-brown and russet upper sides over a heavily spotted white breast. Their eyes are large for the size of their heads, an adaptation to the dim and shadowy forest floor. A bold white eye-ring gives ovenbirds a permanent air of surprise.

Scientists have only recently begun to untangle the ovenbird’s relationship to the wider world of warblers. Genetic studies confirm that the ovenbird stands alone in genetics, as well

as form and habit; it is monotypic, in scientific terms—the only member of its genus.

That genus name Seiurus translates to something like “wag-tail,” which refers to another uniquely ovenbird trait of holding its tail half-cocked over its back most of the time. It also raises a golden crest on its head, from which the species name—aurocapilla, or “golden head”—derives. In fact, writers of the 19th century called this bird the goldencrowned thrush or golden-crowned wagtail, despite its being neither a thrush nor a wagtail—or anything but a member of the warbler family, Parulidae

The name ovenbird refers not to any physical attributes of this bird but rather to its remarkable nest. While most of our warblers choose nest sites in trees or shrubs, the female ovenbird finds a spot on the forest floor soon after she arrives in spring, usually near a forest path or fallen log, and sets about clearing a small patch of earth. Over the next week, she will construct an elaborate, kiln-shaped domed nest for her four to five white eggs that will be spotted with hazel, lilac, and brown.

Before she sets down to home construction after flying in from the tropics, the female usually spends a few days

The spotted breast on a white belly often leads novice birders to confuse ovenbirds with thrushes. The bold white eye-ring always lends them an air of surprise.

Photo by Russ Ruffing, via iNaturalist.

The elaborate domed ovenbird nest bears a resemblance to a kiln or pizza oven.

Photo by Matt Maloney.

getting the lay of the land and chowing down on a special diet in the leaf litter: calcium-rich snail shells, which she eats for the calcium she needs to produce strong eggshells for her clutch. Nest construction and incubation duties are the female’s alone, although the male may sometimes bring food to her while she sits on the eggs.

Ovenbirds are a favorite subject for researchers studying the impact of fragmentation on forest ecosystems. When forests are chopped into smaller and smaller pieces, by roads, subdivisions, bike trails, and the like, the woods become drier and less likely to harbor the moisture-loving arthropods and snails that ovenbirds need to survive. Moreover, fragmentation exposes the ground-based nests to roaming cats and dogs. (Dog walkers, be sure to keep your canine friends on a leash!)

Forest fragmentation also benefits cowbirds, which lay their eggs in other birds’ nests and leave parental care to the unwitting foster parents. Cowbirds typically haunt the edges and roadsides of woods for nests to suborn; ovenbirds wisely make their nests 60 feet or more from forest margins. Cowbirds are especially fond of parasitizing warbler nests, and if the nest is off the ground, as in a tree, the large bully of a cowbird chick will push all its warbler nestmates out to their death and monopolize the parents’ attention—and food. On the ground, however, there’s no way for the cowbird to evict the young ovenbirds, and many ovenbird nests successfully fledge their own young and an interloper cowbird, too.

This ability to tolerate cowbird parasitism is one reason why ovenbirds are faring better than many other forest dwelling birds and ensures they are still rather common birds in Washingtonarea gardens and homes that border our woodlands.

A drive along Rock Creek in spring is sure to reward poets and birders alike with the overbird’s unmistakable song— and maybe a fleeting glimpse of one in the forest gloom! o

Rick Borchelt is a science and natural history writer, field naturalist, and garden and botany enthusiast. Reach him with questions about this column at rborchelt@gmail. com.

Foxglove

By Kathy Jentz

(Digitalis purpurea) is a biennial or short-lived herbaceous perennial. The flowers resemble long, tubular bells running along a tall stem and are commonly found in shades of pink and purple. The foliage is a clump of coarse leaves covered in fine hairs.

It is native to Western Europe and is hardy to Zones 4 to 9.

Foxglove prefers full sun to light shade and soils with lots of organic matter and good drainage, although it can grow in most soil conditions.

During the first year of growth, the leaves form. In the second year, the tall flower stalks emerge in late spring or early summer.

The flowers are visited by many pollinators, including hummingbirds.

The flower spikes make good cut flowers.

Exercise caution, though, because all parts of the plant are toxic if eaten and the leaves can irritate sensitive skin. This also makes them deer- and rabbit-resistant.

To get a jumpstart on the two-year cycle, sow Foxglove seeds in late summer and they should then bloom for you the following spring.

You can deadhead it after flowering or discard the whole plant. If you want to collect seeds or let it reseed itself in your garden, then allow a few spent flower stalks to remain until the seeds disperse. o

Kathy Jentz is the editor of Washington Gardener

Foxglove

More than a Flower: The Connective Power of Orchids

By Aicha Bangoura

Since 1995, Smithsonian Gardens and the U.S. Botanic Garden (USBG) have presented the annual orchid show to celebrate National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC)’s 10th year anniversary, the organizations collaborated for this year’s exhibit: “More than a Flower: The Connective Power of Orchids.”

Staffers reflected on this year’s orchid show, which marked the first time it was held at the NMAAHC. “Together, we have ensured that the landscape reflects and enhances the museum’s key messages of hope and optimism, resilience, and spirituality,” Rebecca Martin, Associate Director of Collections, Programs, and Engagement at Smithsonian Gardens.

On March 18, the Smithsonian Gardens, USBG, and NMAAHC hosted a reception celebrating the orchid show. The evening event had about 100 attendees and took place starting in the museum’s lobby entrance area.

Justin Kondrat, lead horticulturist for Smithsonian Gardens, spoke about the exhibition’s success, “I think being the 30th annual exhibition in collaboration with the U.S. Botanic Garden, it is really monumental, and a testament to community and passion and bringing people together across all disciplines.”

The orchid show has been held at various Smithsonian museums. Kondrat said how neat it is being centered at NMAAHC this year. “This was our dibble into African American history and culture. In the past, orchid shows focused on topics related to science and art, and now we’re focusing on culture.”

Kondrat also shared thoughts about the reception among visitors. “It’s been really wonderful. It’s really great to see visitors see themselves in the collection of orchids, and also demystifying orchids—that they are really for everybody—and making people feel comfortable to dip their toe into growing orchids.”

Joy Columbus, director of Smithsonian Gardens, said she recommends all people attend the orchid show. “I think orchids are just such a magical plant family, and I would encourage everyone to come out and see the diversity and the variety. They’re just a great way to enjoy beautiful time together with family and friends,” she said.

After cocktails in the NMAAHC lobby, people were directed downstairs to view a program at the Oprah Winfrey Theater. The presentation consisted of several speakers who spoke about their gratitude of the three institutions’ partnership and acknowledged people who had inﬂuenced their gardening and horticulture history.

Abra Lee, a historian and horticulturist, introduced the crowd to members of Our Garden Club Group of Philadelphia and Vicinity (OGCPV), which is the oldest African American garden club in the U.S. This event was held 87 years since OGCPV was established.

Lee acknowledged some of the prominent women from the organization, who were shown on a big screen, such as Harriet Wright Hines, the club’s founder and ﬁrst president, and Bertha Perry Rhodes, whom Lee referred to as a “media royalty.” Rhodes’ family founded The Philadelphia Tribune, the nation’s oldest continuously published newspaper reﬂecting the African American experience.

The audience was shown a glimpse of Rhodes’ Gardening Gems column, which she penned for The Philadelphia Tribune, and gave tips on how to care for plants, including orchids. “Essentially, what I’m saying is that we ain’t new to this, we true to this,” Lee said.

Later, Lee highlighted the current members of the OGCPV, such as Wilfreta Baugh and Lillian Harris Ransom. “The OGCPV has a history and legacy of building self-expression, leadership, and community through beauty. Beauty, mainly through ﬂowers, is their ministry,” Lee said.

“Orchids are more than a ﬂower. I’m sure we can all agree that the OGCPV is more than a garden club. They are indeed garden club OGs.”

The program included a posthumous awards ceremony for Bernice Johnson Reagon, who was a music curator at the Smithsonian Institution.

Reagon started working at the Smithsonian in 1969 after she was invited to develop and curate a 1970 festival program was called “Black Music Through the Languages of the New World,” according to the Smithsonian.

“From that ﬁrst moment, she brought her social justice ethics home through civil rights activism and deep community engagement,” Dwandalyn Reece, a former fellow music curator at the Smithsonian said. “She didn’t simply join an institution. She transformed

it, humanizing the Smithsonian and reshaping its relationships for the communities it was meant to serve.”

Tuliza Fleming, a curator of visual arts at the Smithsonian, presented Bernice Johnson Reagon’s daughter Toshi Reagon with a plaque in her mothers honor, which commemorated Bernice Johnson Reagon with the orchid Phalaenopsis bellina that was named for her.

“In this way, it is a ﬁtting tribute to Dr. Reagon, a life and legacy that continues to bloom across generations—elegant, powerful, and impossible to overlook,” Fleming said.

Toshi Reagon sang a snippet of the song “I Remember, I Believe” before she thanked the Smithsonian and NMAAHC. “I know Mom is loving this,” she said.

After the presentations, attendees were invited to a reception and to visit the orchid exhibit.

Alexes Haggins, a Washington, DC, native, was invited to attend the orchid show reception and spoke about her impression. “The program was just so amazing and heartfelt, and just to see the different type of orchids that I’ve never seen before, and the beauty in the ﬂower—I can appreciate it, because I love all ﬂowers, even the ugly ones,” she said.

Haggins reﬂected on the upcoming 10 year anniversary since NMAAHC opened. “I can remember when they were building it. I think it’s amazing. I’m happy that it’s here. I’m looking forward

to another 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 years and beyond,” she said. “It’s a beautiful place, and I can appreciate it because it preserves our history.”

This was also Haggins’ ﬁrst time viewing the orchid show exhibit and she spoke about the importance of attending. “We see orchids every day at the grocery store that you can buy, but if you come here, there are orchids that you don’t see in a grocery store, and you won’t appreciate the beauty unless you see it in person,” she said.

The exhibit runs through April 26 on the second ﬂoor of the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Featuring hundreds of orchids from both the Smithsonian Gardens and U.S. Botanic Garden collections, the exhibition examines the cultural, historical, and artistic connections inspired by the Orchidaceae family. The orchids are switched out regularly as they go in and out of bloom, so repeat visits are encouraged.

Visitors can explore stories of prominent African American orchid collectors, view orchid-inspired artworks, and participate in daily orchid discovery activities. Timed entry passes are required and may be reserved through NMAAHC’s website. Same day passes are available at the entrance. o

Aicha Bangoura is an intern this semester with Washington Gardener Magazine.

Photos courtesy of Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of African American History and Culture.

A “Common” Azalea Caterpillar

By Carol Allen

Hidden deeply in the leaves of a densely foliated azalea, I spotted a weird shape—a pointed tail! That was my first introduction to the azalea sphinx (Darapsa choerilus). Besides azaleas, they can be found feeding on blueberries, black gum, viburnums, spiderwort, and others. Their preferred host plant is more often viburnum or mountain laurel. They range throughout eastern North America, with occasional occurrence in the Pacific Northwest (British Columbia).

The azalea sphinx moth can have many broods in the deep south, but have only one brood per year in its northern range. The Maryland Biodiversity Project shows it found throughout Maryland with two peak flights: May and then again from June through early August.

Adults fly at night, are attracted to lights, and feed on nectar. They have been observed nectaring on Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica), bladder campion (Silene latifolia), snakeroot (Eupatorium spp.), spiraea (Spiraea spp.), and goldentop (Euthamia spp.) They can have a hovering type of flight

when nectaring like a hummingbird and they are considered valuable pollinators. An interesting fact: They are capable of flying in cooler temperatures by vibrating their wings muscles to warm

with a wingspan between 2 to 2.25 inches. The color is shades of rusty brown, and they have the typical sphinx swept-back wing shape.

The late instar larvae can be observed in one of two possible color forms—shades of green or rusty brown. They sport the characteristic horn-like tail appendage thought to deter predators. They do not sting nor are they harmful to humans. The late instar larvae also have faded white vertical stripes on their sides that begin on a segment behind the head, repeat down the body, and sometimes include the tail. If alarmed, they will rear the front part of their bodies up in the air tucking their head, which is called “sphinxing.”

The larvae are solitary and early instars are light-green to green. The caudal horn is slender and black at those stages. The young larvae tend to be found resting on the midrib of the host plant. They are solitary, so there are no references considering these to be pests. Their damage is probably minimal. The pupa is encased in a silk cocoon found among leafy debris on the ground. They overwinter in the pupal stage—another good reason to leave the leaves. o

up their thorax. This looks like shivering. As they have large bodies, they require substantial energy and high muscle temperatures to fly. They can beat their wings 80 times per second to facilitate this rise in temperature. Their rapid wingbeats also increase their agility when nectaring. They are larger moths

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.

Darapsa choerilus photo by Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

The Complete Guide to Home Permaculture: How to Transform Your Yard into a Thriving and Productive Ecosystem

Author: Brandy Hall

Publisher: Cool Springs Press

List Price: $30.00

Order Links: https://amzn.to/4cfLShq and https://bookshop.org/ a/79479/9780760398807

Reviewer: Aicha Bangoura

The Complete Guide To Home Permaculture by Brandy Hall is designed for the well-being of our environment.

The book opens up with an introduction of Hall’s evolution into permaculture. As the founder and CEO of Shades of Green Permaculture, she writes about how her company has worked with thousands of clients and students to regenerate various areas.

While Hall acknowledges that permaculture can be daunting, she rejects claims that it’s complicated or strict. Hall says when we consider our land management studies, it can be simple.

We get some background story on Hall’s journey to her work, which began from youth. You get the idea that Hall was an outdoorsy kid, and it’s bittersweet when she recalls a serious moment in time where her mom and stepdad experienced health problems because of exposure to pesticides.

While I was relieved to read the positive outcome, it was insane to learn the kinds of physical effects that followed because of these chemicals.

Hall said this event made a huge impact on her view of the world.

The book is written for people at any stage of their landscaping journey.

After explaining what permaculture is in great detail, Hall introduces us to the “Three Pillars of a Regenerative landscape”—water, soil, and plants, all of which are interdependent on each other.

In Chapter 5, Hall does not hold back about proper care for your soil. This part could save many gardeners from making dire mistakes.

However, if landscaping isn’t really your thing, Hall also provides steps about how to grow mushrooms or make compost tea. These two were interesting eye-openers for me. I never would have realized how accessible the materials were if it weren’t for this book.

Hall also introduces several property case studies that she and her team worked on. The passage contains images of spaces before and after renovations, as well as site analysis maps. It’s incredible how they transformed people’s yards by identifying the challenges and the solutions the areas entailed.

Hall lets readers in on the consequences that “conventional landscaping” could bring. If you want to avoid methods that negatively affect the “ecological function,” this might be the right book for you.

This book is more than just vanity; it’s also about health. I admire how Hall took her bad experiences and turned them into a way to change other people’s gardening lives. It’s filled with a lot of information, and the helpful tips are still worth the read.

If I soaked up anything from this book, it is to be thoughtful of biodiversity. Gardeners’ actions affect every living organism and we need to be aware of our footprints. I’m moved by this book and I hope everyone who reads it will be, too.

I would recommend this book to anyone who doesn’t want to hire professional landscapers and is willing to put in the effort to make their garden a place of efficiency. o

Aicha Bangoura is an intern this semester with Washington Gardener Magazine. She is a senior studying journalism in the Philip Merrill College at the University of Maryland.

Pests & Other Friends: Discover the True Nature of the Most Maligned Animals

Author: Halsey Berryman

Publisher: DK Publishing List Price: $24.99

Order Links: https://amzn. to/4dkAi5O\and https://bookshop.org/ a/79479/9780760398807

Reviewer: Lauren Bentley

Pests and Other Friends by Halsey Berryman is an illustrated book that sets out to illuminate the truth of socalled “pests.” Berryman more than accomplishes this goal because her book outlines the intentions and motives behind many animals automatically deemed inconvenient.

Berryman starts the book off with an introduction detailing the tendency to label certain animals as “pests” over time. The very term, originally derived from the Latin root meaning plague, evolved to include animals that involve themselves with agriculture, she said.

“Over millennia, we have learned to perceive wild animals solely as impediments to human progress,” Berryman says, “...losing our sense of them as partners, co-inhabitants, and fellow citizens of Earth whose presence is critical to maintaining ecological balance for all of us.”

She moves on to explain that humans focus on creating a world and environment curated to exactly fit our every need. The problem with that, however, is that all species’ needs are inextricably linked, according to Berryman. The progress we make often increases Book Reviews continued on page 20

our stigmatization of pests and other animals, she says.

The book highlights the fact that animals deemed as “pests” are much less likely to garner much human sympathy than others. This creates a problem in which humans often assume that nature, and particularly these animals, are meant to be kept separate from us.

As someone who often does find myself frightened or annoyed by the very “pest-like” animals mentioned in the book, I found that Berryman’s words allowed me to take a deeper look at why I feel this way.

Upon retrospect, it relates to many of the things discussed in her introduction, such as the vast stigma many humans have against these animals. Thus, I believe that I came out of Berryman’s book a more open-minded and patient person regarding these animals. The book also creates an immense sense of positive curiosity, which I think will be a delight to readers.

After Berryman’s main introduction, a large majority of the book goes over the details of some of a gardener’s most common and unlikable pests. It is structured by six regions of the country, including “Ubiquitous Pests.”

The various sections highlight another strength of this book, which is that it is applicable to every gardener and person, despite where they might live. Berryman spares no details—you can find profiles from javelinas to golden eagles and domestic cats.

Wherever you garden, this book is guaranteed to cover an animal that you’ll encounter.

Ultimately, Pests and Other Friends will provide gardeners with a new perspective and appreciation for some of the animals they might encounter on a regular basis. You’ll probably learn to appreciate the true history and intentions of many animals many would otherwise deem as “pests.”

Berryman combines her knowledge, passion, and experience with animals to create a uniquely helpful gardening book. I would recommend that anyone who is curious about typical garden animals pick up this book. o

Lauren Bentley is an intern this semester with Washington Gardener Magazine.

The Old Farmer’s Almanac Garden Guide 2026

Publisher: Yankee Publishing Inc

List Price: $18.95

Order Links: https://amzn.to/4bHLVSZ

Reviewer: Marsha Douma

I have enjoyed various publications from The Old Farmer’s Almanac for years. This current garden guide is no exception. The description and subtitle of their flagship Almanac is “Useful with a pleasant degree of humor.” This guide is very much in keeping with that tradition, and I found it a delightful read.

It is designed for the average gardener and the publisher claims this garden “companion” is the “only growing guide you need.” While, of course, that is not entirely true, it does provide ample and accurate information about the primary aspects of gardening in an easy-to-read format. The guide is filled with beautiful and helpful photographs to show the reader exactly what all the recommended plants look like, plus essential growing details. It is printed at about the same size and format of a magazine and is on sale at newsstands. The guide opens with a short essay about the magic of gardens. Then more toward the middle, it provides suggestions about plants and other items needed to create a real fairy garden. Wedged between these is a more practical section that continues with “exciting garden picks for 2026” and “gardening trends.” This section includes spring bulbs, ornamental

grasses, blueberry bushes, red twig dogwood, sedum growing in gravel, some unique new vegetable varieties, pickling cucumbers, plants to attract hummingbirds, general plant propagation techniques, a nod to carnivorous plants, and how to use row covers, among other topics. This section illustrates the wide variety of plants available to grow, emphasizing that there is something for everyone in the wide world of gardening.

While that first section has short articles about a myriad of garden subjects, it also includes a more complete discussion of sunflowers. It explains that sunflowers are heliotropic plants, starting the morning facing east, following the sun during the day slowly changing to face west, then after sunset, facing east again to wait for the morning sun. After they have fully grown, they only face east to get the morning warmth and be there for the pollinators.

There are useful articles about the joys of growing and eating beans, plus how to save their seeds as well as seeds from other plants. Peppers are a featured vegetable, and there are the winning recipes from the 2025 spinach recipe contest. A growing guide meets the mainstays of the agricultural fair in this section.

There is a section suggesting easy-togrow houseplants, how to grow a miniature forest, and a helpful section about the most common invasive plants and how to get rid of them. It concludes with trees and shrubs that provide fire protection plus an interesting and useful glossary of what they term “a collection of oft-mistaken identities.”

Compared with a traditional book, since the Garden Guide covers so many garden topics, it feels more similar to a walk down the gardening equivalent of memory lane, remembering the golden oldies, while learning a lot of the new tunes as well. It is a fun garden book to have. If you have a train or plane trip coming up, it is a perfect book to bring along. o

Marsha Douma is a retired dentist and lifelong gardener who also enjoys swimming and playing the piano. She lives in Rockville, MD.

The Tomato Grower’s Handbook: Everything You Need to Know, from Seed to Harvest and Beyond

Author: Holly Farrell

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing List Price: $22.99

Order Links: https://amzn.to/4bTAJS6 and https://bookshop.org/ a/79479/9781526697523

Reviewer: Andrea Siegel Tomatoes are the most popular plants to grow in home vegetable gardens, and they’re considered fairly easy to grow. However, there is more to growing them than what’s printed on a seed packet or plant label.

The Tomato Grower’s Handbook offers a lot for both inexperienced and experienced gardeners, with the basics geared for newcomers to vegetable gardening (tomatoes botanically are fruits, but we treat them and eat them as vegetables), and valuable information to entice experienced gardeners as well. This is a slim, illustrated book that packs plenty into its 144 pages. It is set for publication in early May, before most gardeners in the Washington, DC, area are putting young plants outdoors but still can benefit from its help in raising this year’s crop.

This guide is a nice starting place for newcomers, organized well, full of encouragement, and easy to follow. Instructions are broken down into clear steps with explanations that lead readers through the growing process, what they should do, and when to do it—

pinching, fertilizing, and more—so they can look ahead to a harvest of tasty tomatoes. All gardeners can find advice here that is practical and up to date.

The book’s author is Holly Farrell, a British horticulturist who has written extensively about gardening.

Among her book’s notable features is the attention paid to growing tomato plants in limited spaces. Nowadays, an increasing number of people garden in containers, including grow bags and raised beds. Others are turning to growing tomatoes in pots indoors and home greenhouses outdoors. Greenhouses, well-liked in Britain and elsewhere, have gained popularity in recent years in North America, according to reports.

Farrell advises readers about how to meet the specific needs of tomato plants in these confined spaces so the result is thriving, healthy plants and a good yield. She explains that some tomato varieties are better suited for growing in containers and planters.

Farrell has readers in numerous climates, so her book guides gardeners through cultivating according to their climate, plant growth, and more.

The handbook is designed to help every reader understand the importance of such necessities as the different types and sizes of tomatoes and their use, the difference between determinate and indeterminate plants, the pros and cons of heirlooms and hybrids, requirements of space and sun, and similar details that help

decide what type of tomato grow and where.

Farrell takes readers on a journey through the nitty-gritty of tending to the plants and having a good yield, including step-by-step instruction about how to grow from seed and from purchased young plants. Particularly valuable are sections about dealing with diseases, how to save seed, and what tomatoes to try and why. She also includes a resource list.

The journey is always forward-looking: May is a bit late to start tomatoes from seed in the Mid-Atlantic area, although not unheard of, but it’s not late for saving seed, using this season’s yield in the batch of recipes in the handbook, and consulting Farrell’s tomato list for next year’s garden. o

Andrea Siegel is a Master Gardener in Maryland.

Note: The books for these reviews were provided free from their publishers. These book reviews include links to Amazon.com and BookShop.org for ordering them. Washington Gardener Magazine might 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/

Reporting on Rooting DC 2026

By Lauren Bentley

Rooting DC brought a vibrant mix of urban farming and gardening organizations to Eastern Senior High School on Saturday. The local garden gathering had tables for many area organizations and provided several workshops with expert speakers.

The annual event originally started as a small gathering of about 150 urban gardeners in 2007. Now, it has grown into an event that sees more than 1,000 attendees every year. This was the 19th annual event and the organizers are looking forward to celebrating its 20th anniversary next year.

The goal is to provide an educational, community-centered event about food systems, urban agriculture, and environmental well-being.

The expert workshops, open and free to all, covered myriad topics pertinent to Rooting DC’s main goals. The subjects covered included crop production, food preparation, and preservation, food waste management, and agroecology as a source of education and art.

The 20+ workshops were held in four separately timed sessions. Some took a more traditional lecture style, while others had interactive, hands-on activities for guests to participate in.

Many of the classrooms were standing-room-only—regular attendees know to get to the sessions early to get a good seat. Session notes and handouts can be found online at https://doee.dc.gov/ service/rooting-dc.

Washington Gardener Magazine’s editor Kathy Jentz presented a talk about “Seed Saving” and gave out samples of various seedheads to attendees so they could see how to collect the seeds themselves in their home gardens.

A workshop, titled “Remembering the Lost Gardens of DC” was presented by Yuki Kato, an associate professor of sociology at Georgetown University.

There, Kato presented two of her current research projects along with two students.

Kato has attended the event for the past 10 years, about half the time as a presenter and the other half as a guest speaker.

“I am a researcher and not a grower,” Kato said. “I truly appreciate the eclectic mixture of workshops and sessions being offered, and the variety of organizations at the exhibitor’s table.”

The exhibitor’s tables wrapped around the high school cafeteria. Each organization had their own space that they used to hand out pamphlets, business cards, and other items pertinent to their organizations.

The tables gave patrons an opportunity to learn more about local gardening and agriculture resources. The gathering also provides a way for many with shared passions to connect.

Tony Sarmiento, an event attendee, has also attended Rooting DC for the past 10 years. “As a board member for the Koiner Conservancy for Urban Farming, the only urban farm in Montgomery County, MD, I am always charged up for the spring by connecting with others at Rooting DC,” he said.

Sarmiento’s favorite part of the day was getting to meet Kato and learn about her research and lost gardens project, he said.

Kato shared a similar sentiment about connecting with others and learning new things even as a workshop host.

“I received several very helpful suggestions for where to look for archival data or to find long-term residents who could share their knowledge,” Kato said.

The event took up most of a wintry Saturday. Guests lined up outside before entering at 9am and the final round of workshops ended at 4pm. Lunch was also available for guests to purchase from several local food trucks stationed at the back of the school.

Rooting DC provided numerous ways for local businesses and organizations to connect with their community members and provide a free educational opportunity. Ultimately, the event is truly the “District’s central meeting ground for District residents, nonprofits, businesses, and government entities looking to grow gardens and a healthier food system in the nation’s capital.” o

Lauren Bentley is an intern this semester with Washington Gardener Magazine. She is a double major in journalism and criminology and criminal justice at the University of Maryland.

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MARCH/APRIL 2005

• Landscape DIY vs. Pro

• Prevent Gardener’s Back

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• Cherry Trees

MAY/JUNE 2005

• Stunning Plant Combinations

• Turning Clay into Rich Soil

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JULY/AUGUST 2005

• Water Gardens

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SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2005

• Container Gardens

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• 5 Insect Enemies of Gardeners

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2005

• Backyard Bird Habitats

• Hellebores

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JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2006

• Garden Decor Principles

• Primroses

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• U.S. Botanic Garden

MARCH/APRIL 2006

• Top 10 Small Trees and Large Shrubs

• Azaleas

• Figs, Berries, & Persimmons

• Basic Pruning Principles

MAY/JUNE 2006

• Using Native Plants in Your Landscape

• Crabgrass

• Peppers

• Secret Sources for Free Plants

JULY/AUGUST 2006

• Hydrangeas

• Theme Gardens

• Agave

• Find Garden Space by Growing Up

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2006

• Shade Gardening

• Hosta Care Guide

• Fig-growing Tips and Recipes

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2006

• Horticultural Careers

• Juniper Care Guide

• Winter Squash Growing Tips and Recipes

• Layer/Lasagna Gardening

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2007

• Indoor Gardening

• Daphne Care Guide

• Asparagus Growing Tips and Recipes

• Houseplant Propagation

MARCH/APRIL 2007

• Stormwater Management

• Dogwood Selection & Care Guide

• Early Spring Vegetable Growing Tips

• Franciscan Monastery Bulb Gardens

MAY/JUNE 2007

• Roses: Easy Care Tips

• Native Roses & Heirloom Roses

• Edible Flowers

• How to Plant a Bare-root Rose

JULY/AUGUST 2007

• Groundcovers: Alternatives to Turfgrass

• How to Pinch, Prune, & Dead-head

• William Paca House & Gardens

• Hardy Geraniums

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2007

• Succulents: Hardy to our Region

• Drought-Tolerant Natives

• Southern Vegetables

• Seed Saving Savvy Tips

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2007

• Gardening with Children

• Indoor Bulb-Forcing Basics

• National Museum of the American Indian

• Versatile Viburnums

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2008

• Dealing with Deer

• Our Favorite Garden Tools

• Delightful Daffodils

MARCH/APRIL 2008

• Patio, Balcony, Rooftop Container Gardens

• Our Favorite Garden Tools

• Coral Bells (Heuchera)

MAY/JUNE 2008

• Growing Great Tomatoes

• Glamorous Gladiolus

• Seed-Starting Basics

SUMMER 2009

• Grow Grapes in the Mid- Atlantic

• Passionflowers

• Mulching Basics

• Growing Hops

FALL 2009

• Apples

• How to Save Tomato Seeds

• Persimmons

WINTER 2009

• Battling Garden Thugs

• How to Start Seeds Indoors

• Red Twig Dogwoods

• Unusual Edibles to Grow in Our Region

SPRING 2010

• Community Gardens

• Building a Raised Bed

• Dwar f Iris

• Broccoli

SUMMER 2010

• Fragrance Gardens

• Watering Without Waste

• Lavender

• Potatoes

FALL 2010

• Vines and Climbers

• Battling Stink Bugs

• Russian Sage

• Garlic

WINTER 2010

• Paths and Walkways

• Edgeworthia

• Kohlrabi

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SPRING 2011

• Cutting-Edge Gardens

• Final Frost Dates and When to Plant

• Bleeding Hearts

• Onions

• Flavorful Fruiting Natives

JULY/AUGUST 2008

• Landscaping with Ornamental Grasses

• Edible Grasses to Graze On

• Slug and Snail Control

• Sage Advice: Sun-Loving Salvias

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2008

• Autumn Edibles — What to Plant Now

• Beguiling Barrenworts (Epimediums)

• Best Time to Plant Spring-blooming Bulbs

• 14 Dry Shade Plants Too Good to Overlook

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2008

• Outdoor Lighting Essentials

• How to Prune Fruiting Trees, Shrubs, Vines

• 5 Top Tips for Overwintering Tender Bulbs

• Harry Lauder’s Walking Stick

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2009

• Compost Happens: Nature’s Free Fertilizer

• Managing Stormwater with a Rain Garden

• Visiting Virginia’s State Arboretum

• Grow Winter Hazel for Winter Color

MARCH/APRIL 2009

SUMMER 2011

• Ornamental Edibles

• Urban Foraging

• Amsonia/Arkansas Blue Star

• Growing Corn in the Mid- Atlantic

FALL 2011

• Herb Gardens

• Toad Lilies

• Sweet Potatoes

• Cool Weather Cover Crops

WINTER 2011/EARLY SPRING 2012

• Green Roofs and Walls

• Heaths and Heathers

• Radishes

SPRING 2012

• Pollinator Gardens

• Brunnera: Perennial of the Year

• Growing Yacon

SUMMER 2012

• Tropical Gardens

• Captivating Canna

• Icebox Watermelons

SPRING 2013

• Great Garden Soil

• All About Asters

• 40+ Free and Low-cost Local Garden Tips

• Spring Edibles Planting Guide

• Testing Your Soil for a Fresh Start

• Redbud Tree Selection and Care

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• Squash Vine Borer

SUMMER/FALL 2013

• Miniature/Faerie Gardens

• Beguiling Abelias

• Best Viewing Spots for Virginia Bluebells

MAY/JUNE 2009

• Top Easy Summer Annuals for DC Heat

• Salad Table Project

• Grow and Enjoy Eggplant

• How to Chuck a Woodchuck

• Growing Great Carrots

WINTER/EARLY SPRING 2014

• Ferns for the Mid-Atlantic

• Chanticleer Gardens

• Beet Growing Basics