Washington Gardener June 2019

JUNE 2019 VOL. 14 NO. 4

WWW.WASHINGTONGARDENER.COM

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the magazine for gardening enthusiasts in the Mid-Atlantic region

9 Ways to Mosquito-proof Your Yard

Public Gardens Spruce Up for APGA Visit Beautyberry Plant Profile 10 New Rain Gardens in Downtown DC How Do We Get Seedless Fruit?

DC-MD-VA Gardening Events Calendar

8 Tips for Growing Great Pumpkins

The Gardens of Bunny Mellon: A Private Space Now Public

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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 greater DC region.

Call 301.588.6894 or email KathyJentz@gmail.com for available dates, rates, and topics.

Green Spring Gardens

www.greenspring.org

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.

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

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Contact kathyjentz@gmail.com or call 301.588.6894 for ad rates. The ad deadline is the 10th of each month. Please submit your ad directly to: KathyJentz@gmail.com.

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WASHINGTON GARDENER JUNE 2019

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FEATURES and COLUMNS

The Beautyberry shrub (Callicarpa sp.) adapts well to various growing conditions, from part shade to full sun, from moist soil to dry. The native form has a deeppurple berry, but newer cultivars come in pink and white as well.

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Win Passes to Brookside Gardens’ Wings of Fancy.

See contest details on page 5.

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A detail of the trompe l’oeil paintings on the walls of Bunny Mellon’s famous greenhouse at Oak Spring Gardens by the French artist Fernand Renard.

These cabinet murals detail gardener’s tools and favorite objects that Mellon admired or collected, as well as references to her extensive botanical library collection.

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Plants can have multiple sets of chromosomes, which is called polyploidy. Many of your favorite fruits and vegetables are polyploids, and this makes them even more delicious.

Two good examples of this are wheat and strawberries.

Wheat is a hexaploid, which means it has six sets of chromosomes, and strawberries are octoploids with eight sets.

ASKtheexpert 16 Peach Blobs, Cherry Laurel Holes, Coffee Grounds, New Tree Watering BOOKreviews 14-15 Sprout Lands, Nature Play, Art of Vegetable Gardening DAYtrip 6-9 Bunny Mellon’s Oak Spring Gardens Foundation HORThappenings 22 DC Rain Gardens, APLD/LDG Tour, Gardencomm in Potomac INSECTindex 21 Mosquito-proofing Tips NEWPLANTspotlight 11 Begonia ‘Martha Stewart’ PLANTprofile 20 Beautyberry SPECIALfeature 12-13 APGA Visits DC Public Gardens TIPStricks 10 Seedless Fruits, Pumpkin Tips

DEPARTMENTS

ADVERTISINGindex BLOGlinks EDITORletter GARDENcontest LOCALevents MONTHLYtasklist NEXTissue READERreactions RESOURCESsources

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ON THE COVER

Oak Spring Garden’s flower borders in early June.

Bunny Mellon once said, “Too much should not be explained about a garden. Its greatest reality is not reality, for a garden, hovering always in a state of becoming, sums its own past and its future. A garden, like a library, is a whole made up of separate interests and mysteries.”

In our July issue: Garden Tour Wrap-up and much more . . .

Be sure you are subscribed!

Click on the “subscribe” link at washingtongardener.com JUNE 2019

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EDITORletter

Credits Kathy Jentz Editor/Publisher & Advertising Sales Washington Gardener 826 Philadelphia Ave. Silver Spring, MD 20910 Phone: 301-588-6894 kathyjentz@gmail.com www.washingtongardener.com Call today to place your ad with us!

Your editor taking a brief break on a recent trip to Denver with the Garden Bloggers Fling.

Lessons from a Semi-arid Climate

My apologies for the delay in getting this issue out. I attended the annual Garden Bloggers Fling in Denver, CO, with 80+ other garden communicators. I had been in Denver previously for work and to visit a childhood friend, but those trips were a lifetime ago. This time, I went with my gardener’s eyes open and laser-focused.

The first thing I noticed stepping off the plane was the lack of humidity. Next, as we emerged from baggage claim into our ride, was the intense sunshine. Being one mile closer to the sun is no joke.

Before I left, I read up on Denver’s climate and saw on Wikipedia that, “Denver receives more precipitation than most locations with semi-arid climates, but still features a semi-arid climate due to its high evapotranspiration.” Those last two words did not sink in at the time, but boy, do they now. I drank several bottles of water each day and still woke up during every night feeling like a dried-up, ancient mummy. The lip balm and hand lotions were in constant use. This place sucks moisture out of you like a thirsty kid with a Krazy Straw.

Over the five-day event, we visited numerous private and public gardens. Many of the gardens had xeric landscapes and water-wise plantings. Several of them had underground cisterns, rain barrels, and other features for holding water in the landscape. This was a big change from my last Denver visits, when it was still against the law to capture or divert rain on your own land.

There were gardens with amazing uses of large rocks and boulders to create drama and height that are out of my budget. There were native Colorado plants that I coveted and know I cannot grow (well) here. Most of my trip photos, though, were of the plethora of uses of color and whimsy—something I know we can all apply and use more of here in our DC-area gardens.

A highlight of the trip was visiting the headquarters of the Botanical Interests seed company. They have always been so generous with us for our annual Seed Exchanges and it was a thrill to see how they produce their beautiful packaging and source such high-quality seeds.

I also got to visit again with that childhood friend mentioned earlier and attend a potluck gathering in her community garden. At the event, a beekeeper was prepping the gardeners for what to expect when a hive was installed in the back of their garden space in coming weeks. How exciting for them!

My flight out was during a rainstorm and so was my return flight. The humidity hit us as soon as we entered the jetway. How glad I am to be back in my own climate and sleeping in my own bed again!

Happy gardening,

Kathy Jentz, Editor/Publisher, Washington Gardener, KathyJentz@gmail.com 4

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Alexandra Marquez Intern Ruth E. Thaler-Carter Proofreader Cover price: $4.99 Back issues: $6.00 Subscription: $20.00 • Washington Gardener Blog: www.washingtongardener.blogspot.com • Washington Gardener Archives: http://issuu.com/washingtongardener • Washington Gardener Discussion Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ WashingtonGardener/ • Washington Gardener Twitter Feed: www.twitter.com/WDCGardener • Washington Gardener Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/Washington GardenerMagazine/ • Washington Gardener Youtube: www.youtube.com/washingtongardenermagazine

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• Washington Gardener is a womanowned business. We are proud to be members of: · GardenComm (GWA: The Association for Garden Communicators) · Green America Magazine Leaders Network · Green America Business Network Volume 14, Number 4 ISSN 1555-8959 © 2019 Washington Gardener All rights reserved. Published quarterly.

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.

READERreactions

May 2019 Issue My favorite article was “Practical Tips for Mixed-Border Design with English Roses.” I am working on our backyard to enhance the basic landscape and found these tips useful. ~ Lisa Titus, online My favorite article was “Joe Bozik, Dedicated Monastery Volunteer.” This interested me because it went behind the scenes at a local garden landmark and planted a seed in my mind as a potential future volunteer opportunity.

On a practical level, “Tips for Creating Native Plant Container Gardens” was helpful, especially the notion of planting many plants in a pot and letting them duke it out. I like that kind of unstressed gardening philosophy. ~ John Rebstock, Cheverly, MD My favorite article was on “Zinnia-growing Secrets.” Zinnias are beautiful and workhorses of the cutting (and pleasure) garden. ~ Madeline Caliendo, Washington, DC My two favorite articles were the ones on native plants in containers and “Pet Gardens.” I am always interested in natives and containers, but intrigued by the story of the white Persian cat! ~ Barbara Waite-Jaques, Silver Spring, MD

Past Issues

READERcontt

Reader Contest

For our June 2019 Washington Gardener Magazine Reader Contest, Washington Gardener is giving away five sets of passes to the Brookside Gardens Wings of Fancy live butterfly exhibit in Wheaton, MD (each set has two passes and is a $16 value).

It runs Monday, July 1—Saturday, August 31, from 10am–1pm Monday–Friday; 10am—5 pm Saturday and Sunday, and then, Sunday, September 1—Sunday, September 22, from 10am—5pm daily.

The Brookside Gardens South Conservatory features live butterflies. Come witness the butterfly life cycle as tiny eggs hatch into crawling, chewing caterpillars, which then encase themselves in jewel-like chrysalides and emerge as sipping, flying adult butterflies. Learn about the best annual and tropical plants, and hardy shrubs, to use as nectar sources to attract butterflies to your own garden.

Note: The exhibit is in a greenhouse, which is usually 10 degrees warmer than the outside temperature and more humid. If there is a thunderstorm in the forecast or a code-red day, the exhibit may close.

See more details at https://www.montgomeryparks.org/parks-and-trails/ brookside-gardens/wings-fancy-live-butterfly-caterpillar-exhibit/.

To enter to win passes, send an email to WashingtonGardener@rcn.com by 5pm on Sunday, June 30, with “Wings” in the subject line and in the body of the email.

Tell us which was your favorite article in this issue and why. Please include your full name and mailing address. The pass winners will be announced and notified on July 1.

Y ou Can Make a Difference. . . by

Sharing Your Harvest

My favorite article in the October 2018 issue was on Autumn Crocus. I had never heard of that flower before and was amazed at how beautiful it was. My flower beds are kind of drab this time of year and I am happy to have found a plant that would add a splash of color to them. ~ Carol Yemola, Drums, PA My favorite article in the September 2018 issue was “Transforming Your Backyard Into a Wildlife Haven.” After personally experiencing the positive effects from gardening for wildlife, I have become an advocate and appreciate the benefits of this approach to gardening. I am pleased that this article was included in this issue, and by doing so, you are spreading the message, too! ~ Cindy Haney, Falls Church, VA

Plant an extra row in your garden and deliver the harvest to a local food bank or shelter. The need is great!

With your help, PAR can continue to make a difference for America’s most vulnerable.

Call our toll-free number (877.GWAA.PAR) or visit our website at www.gardenwriters.org/par for more information.

JUNE 2019

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DAYtrip

Oak Spring Garden:

A Private Space Now Public

By Cheval Force Opp

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DAYtrip

Driving to Upperville, Virginia, to visit the Oak Spring Garden Foundation (OSGF), the light rolls over billowing green hills. The dry-stacked stone walls are splotched in lichen blooms, dark wood rail fences stitch between fields, and blue mountains hem the horizon.

This is vintage Virginia countryside.

OSGF’s 700 acres, in a sweet spot between Bull Run and the Blue Ridge Mountains, was the home of philanthropists Paul Mellon (1907–1999) and Rachel “Bunny” Lambert Mellon (1910–2014). Bunny lived to the age of 103 and spent most of her last 12 years on this land she called her “farm.”

Bunny’s farm hosts one- and twostory whitewashed stone buildings, which appear to be strewn casually in gently sloping meadows, but Bunny obsessed over every stone, flower, and meticulously trimmed tree. This was her private space, and she believed perfection must feel effortless.

A Quilted Garden

Bunny’s mastery of garden design is enjoyed locally in the White House Rose Garden, Jacqueline Kennedy Garden, and Arlington National

Cemetery’s John F. Kennedy Grave—all formal public spaces kept static.

In contrast, Bunny’s private Oak Spring garden is a patchwork quilt of herbs, flowers, trees, vines, and stretches of lawn and vegetables interspersed with terraces, water features, a wishing well, and a bowling green.

Bird feeders are kept full and seats are positioned for visitors to enjoy all the colors and textures that change with the sun, season, and weather.

Bunny’s joy in stitching and re-stitching her garden together allowed her endless experiments, giving her expertise reflected in the other gardens she designed, including John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Boston; Trinity Episcopal Church, Virginia; Chateau du Jonchet, Eure-edLoir; and Potager du Roi, Versailles.

Her garden is surrounded by her home, with an assortment of six whitewashed stone buildings connected by a sixfoot whitewashed stone wall. The wall anchors the most-striking garden element a 127-foot-long allée that stretches from the garden compound to a greenhouse.

The greenhouse’s central pavilion is a dazzling art gallery with floor to ceiling storage doors painted in trompe l’oeil murals by Fernand Renard. The life-like objects were Bunny’s favorites: pruning shears, denim hat, red geranium, the French flag, and sapphire wedding bands, to name a few.

The allée’s metal arches have 60 pleached ‘Mary Potter’ crabapple trees trained in a crisscross pattern, creating a sun-dappled tunnel over the walkway to the greenhouse. Every season envelopes walkers in changing colors. Spring’s pink buds turn to translucent white blooms that flutter down like snow on the boxwood-edged

flowerbeds bordering the walkway.

Fall dapples the allée’s dark summer green, leafy bower with ruby crabapples. Winter edges the trees’ latticed dark branches in sparkling snow icing.

Bunny’s living artwork delights as much as the greenhouse trompe l’oeil.

Biography of the Land

Planning for future land use, OSGF President Sir Peter Crane commissioned a Landscape Management Report covering history, ecology, and management of Bunny’s “farm.”

Ecologist Michael Gaige’s informative illustrated report begins with an ancient geologic history and moves through time into the present, to the natural communities found throughout this Virginia Piedmont landscape.

The level of detail is engrossing, and I am sure Bunny would have been delighted. The listings of trees with age estimates drew quick interest. The oldest tree cited is an approximately 400-year-old hollow Black Gum. Nyssa sylvatica is a species recognized as the longest-living hardwood trees in North American. Black Gum, Gaige elaborated in a discussion, does not look dramatic, so it often goes unnoticed,

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DAYtrip despite its long life. He identified several other grizzled veterans on properties near Spring Oak and wondered at their age.

The report’s coverage of the 75 stone outcrops gives insight into the value of these geological mile markers, which serve as a talisman for so many other critical aspects of the landscape: geology affecting the fertility of the soil, shelter for burrowing animals such as groundhogs and foxes, and perches for raptors. As hiking trails are developed, traffic needs to be sensitive to both animals and unique xeric plants.

Pre-Civil War chestnut rail fences and dry-stacked stone walls ribbon the edges of Oak Spring fields.

Four billion American Chestnuts (Castanea dentata) towered in the eastern forests a century ago, but these giants have all but disappeared, decimated by a fungal disease: chestnut blight. Virginia trees were infected beginning in 1914, which leads to the realization that these three to five miles of iconic three-rail fences were constructed more than 100 years ago; a resource to be valued with smart maintenance.

Equally venerable are two miles of stone walls. The stones, culled from fields during farming activities, have been maintained and new walls created by the Mellons. Gaige noted, “...a stone wall is a serious investment since a good stone mason can only dry stack 20 feet of wall in a day, even with the stones available near the wall.” Oak Spring deed records document “stone walls” beginning in 1810, giving support to Gaige’s estimate that the stones have demarked the fields for over 200 years.

Through the Digital Door

The white-painted local fieldstone library displays Spartan angles outside, but inside, visitors immediately feel at home. The large main room, sunlit by skylight, is scattered with comfortable vintage and antique furniture, including a large work table. Bookcases and artwork adorn every wall surface.

Tony Willis, the librarian, who began working for the Mellon family in July of 1980, reminisced about Bunny and 8

WASHINGTON GARDENER JUNE 2019

her library collection. “She wanted her library to be warm and open, an environment where you could be energized to learn; where you could take a walk around the building and be inspired by the beauty of the landscape, and then return to the inside to study. She believed inspiration and learning went hand in hand.”

Bunny’s love of garden books, manuscripts, and botanical art began at an early age, and by her twenties, collecting was well underway. Her lifetime collection of more than 16,000 objects dates back to the 14th century and includes items of horticulture, landscape design, botany, natural history, voyages of exploration, architecture, decorative arts, and classical literature.

Willis noted, “All of these volumes were her bibles, helping her to learn and appreciate the natural world. Even on busy days, she would stop to peruse a favorite book or manuscript. She would say quite often that ‘nothing is ever finished, and one thing leads to another.’”

The collection has always been open to visiting scholars, and now,

OSGF’s goal is to make the collection accessible to the general public.

OakSpringGarden.org offers a digital door to not only individual items but also exhibits on display all over the world. A searchable database of the complete library collection, as well as a selection of 162 digitized manuscript records, is accessible online at osgf. org. The library staff is partnering with the Google Cultural Institute to share some of the most-compelling stories and items from the library in a curated online environment. The in-house digitizing lab allows the staff to handle the material and control the quality, honoring Bunny’s attention to details. The plan is to continue to both acquire more works and digitize those works for public viewing. One surprise resulting from open access is sometimes a clarification of attribution or a new attribution for one of the works.

My current favorite digital exploration is the 2018 video of Oak Spring’s Red Book about Armley House with narration by Jeremy Irons. The video was produced by the Garden Museum in London as part of an exhibit that included four of OSGF’s Humphry Repton (1752– 1818) “Red Books.” It delights me to use today’s video technology to view this famous landscape artist’s detailed watercolor “before and after” landscapes. Repton used his book “technology” to sell clients large-scale upgrades to their estate landscapes.

To celebrate the bicentennial of Repton’s death, the Garden Museum in London mounted an exhibition, “Repton Revealed: The Art of Landscape Gardening.” This exhibition gathered Red Books and watercolor paintings, many never publicly displayed before.

The 23 Red Books, so named by Repton for his favored red leather bindings, have not been shown together for 25 years.

The Oak Spring Garden Library has published four catalogs that are now freely accessible digital e-books, with hard copies available for purchase through the website. An Oak Spring Sylva (1989), An Oak Spring Pomona (1990), An Oak Spring Flora (1997),

DAYtrip and An Oak Spring Herbaria (2009) highlight some of the most extraordinary and unusual pieces in Bunny’s collection about trees, fruits, flowers, and herbs.

or special opportunity. Details of the types of public activities are posted at www.osgf.org.

A few lucky garden clubs were selected in a lottery this year to tour Oak Spring and the property may be open for next year’s Virginia Historic Garden Week.

If you are interested in working with OSGF, they are accepting proposals for conferences, workshops, and short courses from institutions that are promoting work or study related to OSGF’s programming. For more information, visit www.osgf.org/conferences. o

A Mission to Share

OSGF’s goal is to inspire and facilitate scholarship; public dialogue; and consequential action related to plants, gardens, and landscapes. Activities and program goals are structured to leverage Bunny’s passions, including her gardens, library, home, and land.

Bunny’s enduring passions for gardens, landscape, and books are melded for visitors at Oak Spring Gardens. OSGF is actively stewarding the land, already protected by the Mellons as part of a conservation easement, to one day exemplify sustainable land management practices and provide ample opportunities for horticulture, arboriculture, and agriculture.

It was an honor to learn about Bunny Mellon’s life, walk in her garden, and see her library. Protecting the beauty of this landscape and the land is a gift

for future generations. If you can participate or contribute to the activities at OSGF, do not hesitate to make time to do so.

How to Visit Oak Spring

The Oak Spring Garden Foundation isn’t open to the public for visits or tours other than by invitation to a conference

Special thanks to Michael Gaige, consulting ecologist and educator; Tony Willis, OSGF librarian; and Max Smith, OSGF multimedia production and communications associate for their assistance.

Cheval Force Opp gardens in Dunn Loring, VA, where she lives with her husband Dana and corgi Marzipan. A passionate garden tourist, she is always searching for new gardens to visit. Let her know if you have a favorite garden to share.

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TIPStricks

Even Wonder How We Get Seedless Fruit?

It’s quite possible that you have seen a commercial for “23 and Me,” advertising an ancestral DNA test. The “23” represents the DNA in a human being, which is contained in 23 chromosomes.

This number is misleading, because humans have two sets of chromosomes, one from the mother and one from the father.

It should come as no surprise that plants are weird and different, even when it comes to their chromosomes.

Plants can have multiple sets of chromosomes, which is called polyploidy, according to Christine Bradish on the sustainable-secure-food-blog.com.

(This blog is written by members of the American Society of Agronomy and Crop Science Society of America.) Polyploidy can occur naturally, when wild species “add together” their DNA. Plant breeders intentionally develop polyploids with desirable traits—for example, seedless watermelons. Normally, watermelons are diploid, with only two sets of chromosomes, and have seeds. By using chemicals, such as colchicine, plant breeders can double the number of chromosomes in a plant. Then, the tetraploid (four sets of chromosomes) watermelons are crossed with a standard diploid watermelon to make triploid watermelon seeds.

Seedless watermelon seeds are more expensive, because it costs a lot of money to maintain tetraploid lines and produce triploid seeds every year.

In addition to seedless watermelons, bananas are probably the most common triploid food you eat. The next time you eat a banana, look for the small black specks in the middle of the fruit— these are the sterile seeds. Farmers do not have to buy new banana seeds every year because the banana fruit grows on a plant that sends up a new shoot each season.

Polyploidy is one more tool that scientists can use to learn about the genetics of crop plants. Polyploidy can be challenging because there are so many more chromosomes to work with, but it is another tool in our plant-breeding toolbox that we use to grow the mosthealthy, delicious plants! o 10

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Eight Growing Tips for the Year of the Pumpkin

For many, pumpkins are associated with autumn, sweet desserts, and holiday festivities.

Pumpkins and other crops in the Cucurbitaceae family originated in Central America, where Native Americans would either roast and consume strips of pumpkin flesh, or dry the skins and weave them into mats. Today, pumpkins are a staple for fall decorations and recipes, and the National Garden Bureau (ngb.org) is celebrating the plant with their Year of the Pumpkin.

Here are their top tips for growing and eating pumpkins.

1. To have mature pumpkins for use in autumn, plant seeds between late May and mid-June after all risk of frost has passed. Seeds can be direct-sown or started indoors and should be planted at a depth of 1" into well-drained soil that has warmed to 70°F. To ensure fruit set and yields, allow sufficient space between each plant. Give small pumpkins a 12 ft. area, large pumpkins a 24 ft. area, and giant pumpkins a 3648 ft. area per plant.

2. Pumpkins perform best when they are fertilized throughout the growing season, and fruit set will be strongest if the flowers are pollinated by bees.

If pumpkin flowers are not pollinated completely, the fruit will start growing but will abort before full development.

3. When the pumpkins have matured, the stem holding the fruit will begin to dry. Harvest the pumpkin by carefully cutting the vine on each side of the fruit stem, leaving a nub at the point where the stem meets the vine.

This will encourage the stem to maintain strength as it dries down and will minimize infection by microbes that can cause decay.

4. To keep longer-lasting pumpkins, wash the fruits in a diluted bleach solution, allow them to dry, and place them in a cool shady spot after harvest. Then they’ll be ready to carve, decorate, or use in the kitchen.

5. When selecting a pumpkin for cooking, it is best to choose a “pie pumpkin” that has dense, sweet flesh. The sugars and lower moisture of these types hold up best in cooking. ‘Pik-A-Pie’ is a go-to favorite! The sugars and lower moisture

Pumpkin ‘Naked Bear’ by Garden Trends.

Year of the Pumpkin photo courtesy of the National Garden Bureau.

of these types hold up best in cooking.

6. To ensure a pumpkin with the tastiest edible seeds, choose a nakedseeded pumpkin with seeds that do not have to be hulled before eating.

The variety ‘Naked Bear’ is an excellent all-around choice for cooking, edible seeds and making pumpkin seed oil.

‘Pepitas’, an All-America Selections Winner (AAS), has a strong handle and beautiful golden-orange rind with dark-green streaks. The pumpkin is delicious, with nutritious flesh and bountiful naked tender, succulent, nutty seeds for roasting.

Eating pumpkin provides numerous health benefits: They are high in fiber; potassium; iron; and vitamins A, B, and C. while being low in calories, fat, and sodium. Pumpkin is excellent in baked goods, soups, pasta, and sauces.

7. When selecting pumpkins for carving and fall decoration, choose varieties that suit your style. Traditional carving pumpkins are medium to large in size, deep orange, and lightly ribbed with a strong handle. Some standards are ‘Gladiator’, ‘Magic Lantern’, and ‘Howden’.

8. For painting, look for a small pumpkin with a strong handle and a smooth surface. An excellent choice is AAS Winner ‘Hijinks’. o These tips were compiled by Alexandra Marquez. She is a rising junior journalism and anthropology major at the University of Maryland. She is an editorial intern at Washington Gardener this summer.

GARDENnews

Quick Links to Washington Gardener Blog Posts • Intern Intro: Meet Sasha • DIY: Painted Garden Gloves • Strawberry Season • Summer Begins

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

June–July Garden To-Do List

New Plant Spotlight

Begonia ‘Martha Stewart’ Not everyone gets a plant named in their honor, but Martha Stewart isn’t just anyone. The maven of home and garden is a frequent visitor at Logee’s Greenhouses in Danielson, Connecticut. During one of her visits, Martha personally selected the new begonia that would become her namesake.

This new begonia hybrid is a robust plant that grows well in normal indoor conditions. The elegant Begonia ‘Martha Stewart’ has deeply spiraled leaves in soft tones of tan, chartreuse, and bronze, with small chocolate markings on the leaf edges.

During the long days of summer, the older leaves turn a deep shade of orange-bronze. A halo of small pink flowers rises above the foliage during the winter months when color is such a welcome treat.

‘Martha Stewart’ is a compact grower that reaches 6–8 inches tall and fits nicely on a tabletop. Plants are available from www.logees.com.

Plant Care Facts:

• Hardiness zone: 10 • Preferably 50% or higher humidity.

• Minimum temperature indoors: 60 • Light: partial sun, an eastern or western exposure.

• Bring soil to a state of visual dryness between waterings.

• Fertilize with ¼ tsp. of fertilizer per gallon of water once a week during the summer or when actively growing. Use a balanced fertilizer like a 15-15-15.

• Pinch the tips of young plants to encourage branching. o

• Direct-sow annual flower and vegetable seeds.

• Water newly planted trees and shrubs weekly or as needed.

• Contact a Certified Arborist to have your trees’ health inspected.

• Check on your container plants daily and keep them well-watered.

• Watch for insect and disease problems throughout your garden.

• Mow in the early evening and cut off no more than one-third of the grass height at one time. Leave clippings on the ground to provide nutrients.

• Add barley straw (in a bale or ball) to your pond to improve water clarity.

• Take cuttings from azaleas and roses to start new plants.

• Harvest herbs to use in salads and summer dishes.

• Try a few new tropical plants on your patio.

• Shape your evergreens and hedges.

• Look for slug trails in the early morning and put out slug bait as needed.

• Tie up climbing roses and other wandering vines.

• Fill in bare spots in the garden with annuals.

• Deadhead spent flowers to encourage reblooming.

• Prune flowering shrubs as their flowers fade—last chance to do so for fallblooming camellias.

• Spray roses with Neem oil every two weeks.

• Start a sunflower patch with help from a few kids.

• Harvest strawberry beds daily.

• Cut a few flowers to enjoy at your workplace.

• This is the perfect time to apply grub control.

• Change the water in your birdbath daily and throw a Mosquito Dunk (or bits) into any standing water.

• Put in supports for tomatoes and tall-blooming plants such as dahlias.

• Order spring-flowering bulbs to arrive for planting this fall.

• Take photos and update your garden journal.

• Inspect your garden hose for leaks and tighten all connections.

• Weed.

• Sow beets, beans, cucumbers, pumpkins, and squash for fall harvesting.

• Prune boxwoods.

• Sharpen your lawnmower blade.

• Avoid using pesticides or any chemicals near your water garden.

• Make hummingbird food by boiling 2 cups sugar in 4 cups of water.

• Turn your compost pile.

• Clean up fallen fruit and berries.

• Cover berry bushes and fruit trees with bird netting.

• Dig up garlic when the tops turn brown. Let dry in the sun, then store.

• Fertilize your azaleas and rhododendrons, and monitor them closely for any lacebug damage.

• Sow heat-tolerant greens like Swiss Chard and mustard greens in part- shade.

• As the heat and humidity move in, take it easy by working in the morning or early evening to avoid intense sun and humidity. Leave the big projects for this fall. For now, concentrate on maintaining the beds you’ve already established and nurturing your new plantings. o JUNE 2019

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SPECIALfeature

Washington, DC, Region Plays Host 1,100+ Public Garden Professionals

By Kathy Jentz The best way to create incentive to spruce up your house and garden is to invite company over. With that deadline looming, you start to notice all the small and large things that need fixing and upgrading. You finally get to those longdelayed tasks, like touching up your front door paint or potting up some colorful porch containers.

Now, imagine that the company coming over are your colleagues. They all work at public gardens. There will be 1,100 of them.

That is the situation faced this month by the DC-area public gardens that hosted the American Public Gardens Association (APGA) annual meeting from June 17–21 in Washington, DC. You might have noticed this spring that your favorite public gardens were tackling new projects and looking extra-spiffy.

Having APGA in town was a boon for all of us who love visiting these gardens and was a wonderful opportunity to show off the best of what local gardening has to offer to visiting garden professionals.

Ready

This is a great time for locals to explore new gardens and old favorites, and an opportunity to see each of these spaces at their best.

“It is always exciting to have professionals from the field visit River Farm.

We have a beautiful site along the Potomac River, and there is nothing like

I asked the staff at several local The U.S. Botanic Garden’s new exhibit public gardens to tell me how “Gardens Across America” will be on display through October 1, 2019. they felt about the event and were preparing for the APGA visit.

Daniel Scott, associate director at AHS River Farm in Alexandria, sharing our hard work with other garVA, said, “This is a wonderful opportudeners who can truly understand what nity for members of the public garden it takes to make a public garden shine. community to experience the eclectic “As every local gardener knows, we diversity and rich history of Washington, are experiencing a very wet period right DC’s garden scene. Our region is burstnow and many plantings have suffered, ing with gardens of all types, historical including some of our beautiful trees. and contemporary, large and small, That, however, is the nature of gardenpublic and private, naturally managed ing, and is part of what keeps us on our and exquisitely manicured; the list goes toes, year in and year out. on. Gardens around the area are doing “Add in a healthy dose of deer-browse all that they can to bring their ‘A’ game. and the perpetual lack of time, and 12

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there is no shortage of things that I wish we had time to complete.

“All that considered, I am very proud of what our horticulture staff and volunteers have been able to accomplish this season, and am proud to be able to share River Farm with our visitors.”

Set

Josh Meyer, director of buildings, gardens, and grounds at Tudor Place Historic House & Garden in the Georgetown neighborhood of DC, said, “I’m looking forward to peer feedback and perspective, as many non-locals may only be able to visit these spaces every decade or so. It’s nice to hear the context of how the garden changes and evolves over time through an expert lens.

“Our beautiful English landscape-style South Lawn was torn up this spring to install 30,000-gallon cistern tanks in the ground. The irrigation was just fully restored this week, so the grass looks less than ideal with many bare patches,” but he said he wasn’t too worried about the APGA visit, “Our peers are the best audience for being transparent about the realities of maintaining public spaces and living collections.”

Meyer spent the weeks leading up to the APGA event weeding, edging, planting more container arrangements, and mulching.

Go

Saharah Moon Chapotin, executive director of the U.S. Botanic Garden (USBG) on the National Mall, said, “We are both excited and anxious! The 2019 APGA conference is on track to be the largest ever, and that means there could be up to a thousand of our peers visiting the Garden. We are so excited to share our collections and exhibits

SPECIALfeature with colleagues from across the United States and the world. But, of course, there are always ways we could continue to improve our garden, and it’s hard not to focus on those. As a co-host and organizer for the conference, we also want the entire week to be a great experience for everyone, and that’s a lot of pressure.”

Jim Adams, director of horticulture at the USBG, added, “We have been preparing the gardens for a while—starting with some projects as far back as two years ago—to make sure we put our best foot forward. The most-special touch has been the coordination and effort to have gardens from around the country show off their own gardens in our ‘Gardens Across America’ exhibit.

[Staff at] the other gardens were very excited to display a little piece of themselves here at the base of the U.S. Capitol, and we are excited to showcase them.”

Adams added that, “We’ve had good rainfall and a lot of good time for planting. I wish we had more time between the completion of our roof project (first of May) and the installation of the 20 different displays in the ‘Gardens Across America’ exhibit (started in the same area that same week). That was a little too close for comfort. There are areas of our gardens that could have benefitted from more time and care after the construction walls came down, and it would have been nice if we had more time to have them settle in.”

Chapotin said that there was one project they decided not to tackle pre-APGA: “We have been planning to replace the bridge that serves as a connector through the Tropics room in the Conservatory with a wider, more-beautiful bridge and had hoped to complete that project this past winter. It ended up being a complex project and we didn’t want to risk having construction on the project still underway during the conference, so we opted to postpone until after the conference.”

Above, the Washington Youth Garden at the U.S. National Arboretum puts out a spread for the APGA visitors.

Below, the Smithsonian Gardens new “Habitat” features 14 exhibits and will run through December 2020.

Over

This year’s APGA attendance beat the previous record set when they went to Disneyland in 2018.

Next year, the APGA annual meeting will be in Portland, OR. Find out more at https://www.publicgardens.org. o JUNE 2019

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BOOKreviews

Sprout Lands: Tending the Endless Gift of Trees

By William Bryant Logan Publisher: W. W. Norton and Company List Price: $27.95 Order Link: https://amzn.to/2J4ZCgq Reviewer: Alexandra Marquez In his new book, Sprout Lands: Tending the Endless Gift of Trees, William Bryant Logan, an arborist working in New York City, explores the history of growing and pruning trees in an attempt to understand and inform his landscaping work in the heart of New York City.

He sets out on his mission to learn about historic tree-pruning and care after he’s assigned to plant and train 92 trees outside the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The goal of his tree installation is to create aerial hedges, with fancy branch patterns in the winter and shady spots to sit under in the summer.

Through ornamental pollarding, a system of pruning trees that cuts off upper branches and encourages them to grow in certain directions, he hopes to achieve the artwork he’s looking for.

Logan admits, though, that this system of tree-pruning isn’t the most popular nowadays and even he isn’t very experienced in it.

The next 300 pages of the book delve into his exploration of historical pruning and pollarding as he travels through space and time to learn 14

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whether there are still any contemporary arborists who know how to pollard trees correctly.

He examines how trees themselves evolved to have branches, twigs, and leaves, and learns about how early humans cohabitated with trees as assets and pruned them in healthy ways.

His narrative style of writing doesn’t leave you with a guide to how to grow, prune, and pollard your own trees, but rather gives you an appreciation of the trees all around us, many of which are decades or centuries older than we are. Through his tales of learning about the history of trees, you’re left with an understanding and respect for the trees that normally go unnoticed all around you, with their complex budding and root systems and the processes that go on inside them that are key to their survival.

Sprout Lands isn’t a typical, mustread book for gardeners, but it’s a valuable journey into the history of trees and their importance to humans.

It will leave you with an appreciation for those giant plants that we may not tend to every season like our hydrangeas or squashes, but that are just as integral to our lives as the plants we do tend to dearly. o Alexandra Marquez is a rising junior journalism and anthropology major at the University of Maryland. She is an editorial intern at Washington Gardener this summer.

Nature Play at Home: Creating Outdoor Spaces That Connect Children with the Natural World

By Nancy Striniste Publisher: Timber Press List Price: $24.95.

Order Link: https://amzn.to/2X05T6D Reviewer: Andrea F. Siegel No matter who we are or where we live, we human beings seem genetically wired to look to connect with other life forms, be they trees or tadpoles.

Many children lack opportunities to be immersed in nature; explore it; play in it; and reap the emotional, physical, and mental health benefits that come from spending time in it.

And so, Nancy Striniste—with a background in landscape design and early childhood education, who is founder of

an Arlington, Virginia-based child-friendly outdoor design company—advocates creating outdoor, natural spaces where children can make that connection.

To help grown-ups fashion these playand-learn-scapes, Striniste has written a how-to book, Nature Play at Home: Creating Outdoor Spaces That Connect Children with the Natural World, for parents, teachers, and caregivers.

It first explains, how children innately want to enjoy and experiment with what Mother Nature offers, and second, delves into how adults can help create outdoor nature play spaces that encourage that behavior, giving children opportunities to forge relationships with the environment that help reduce stress and develop confidence.

This may include unusual paths, recycled xylophones nailed into old logs, tree cookies for play, and boulders for climbing. Youngsters also can, with guidance, paint gourds for birdhouses, and build mazes of fragrant herbs and stones.

The book’s nine chapters include an informative introduction. Among chapters are “Arranging Spaces,” which features peek-a-boo fences, living tunnels, and shaded seating on stumps; “Inviting Nature,” where kids learn from rainwater and the colors of blossoms and bugs; and “Building Confidence,” which is about “loose parts” that may be natural or manufactured and are available for unstructured, imaginative play and construction. Obviously, every outdoor natural space for children is different; there are so many elements here to consider, and one typical suburban yard couldn’t fit them all.

BOOKreviews More than a dozen projects are featured. They include those with adults working with youngsters, such as making decorative pavers in pizza boxes and colorful butterfly cutouts—but also construction geared for adults, such as creating children’s climbing areas from sections of downed trees.

Creating pollinator gardens and insect hotels teaches everything from gardening to bug habitat needs to collaboration. Children can also concoct their own mud patty recipes. Striniste’s book even has many potential reuses for that bamboo you want to cut down.

Helpful are the photos and drawings, plus resource, materials (including an alphabet of native plants), and reference lists. A chapter on how to design, fund, and build a shared play space is aimed at community and institutional groups. There are discussions of risk and safety.

Maybe creating a respite from the electronic gizmo culture isn’t your focus, but reading this book just might send you out to the natural spaces that nourish us, reinvigorate us, soothe us, and open worlds within worlds to us. o Andrea Siegel is a master gardener and freelance writer in Maryland.

Mastering the Art of Vegetable Gardening

By Matt Mattus Publisher: Cool Springs Press List Price: $30.00 Order Link: https://amzn.to/2L6I85W Reviewer: Erica H. Smith In the yearly crop of vegetable gardening books, this one stands out to me, kind of like a striking, purple-streaked tomato or an unusual type of radish.

Maybe it’s just me, but I like books that don’t try to be everything to all people, or the only volume you need on a subject, because they inevitably fail.

This is a really good book about how to grow vegetables, focusing on the vegetables themselves. It doesn’t include separate sections about how to lay out your beds, amend your soil, identify pest insects, make compost, choose tools, water your garden, etc., etc. By eliminating all those topics, which are things you need to know, but can find out elsewhere, Mattus is able to provide more detail from his extensive

growing experience with each of the plants he profiles.

Besides, it’s not that you won’t learn about amending soil; you’ll learn about amending soil for broccoli, specifically.

Or for corn, or beets, or tomatoes.

There’s no chapter on starting seeds; instead, you find out how to start seed for each crop, or decide if it’s a good use of money to buy seedlings.

This approach allows the reader to go directly to the plant rather than flip pages back and forth gathering generalized information that may not be relevant. It also means there are multiple pages about most of the crops. Each entry covers not just planting, growing, harvesting, and potential problems, but often historical and other background notes about the vegetable. There’s not much about eating, but again, this is a gardening book; it’s not trying to be a cookbook, too.

After a short introduction, the book dives directly into chapters organized by types or families of vegetables— mostly the latter, although perennials like asparagus, rhubarb, and artichokes are together, and for some reason, okra is in the bean chapter, presumably because it has pods. Within the entry for each specific vegetable, you can learn about varieties Mattus recommends (sometimes this is a long list and sometimes very short). Some of the vegetables included, such as celtuce (stem lettuce), bitter gourd, and ground cherry, go beyond the standard Euro-American catalog, which is nice to see, but Mattus isn’t trying to be

comprehensive; he’s describing what has worked well for him over the years, and inviting you to make your own choices. “Treat your vegetable garden as your own private fantasy supermarket,” he says in the introduction: a fun approach.

A couple of caveats: Mattus grows in central Massachusetts, which is in a different climate zone from the MidAtlantic region and is bothered by different pests. Always consult your local extension office for specific growing information. Also, if you wish to (or are required to) use entirely organic methods, you’ll have to adjust some of his advice about fertilizers, but that’s not hard to do.

Mastering the Art of Vegetable Gardening is a trove of advice from a gardener who’s sharing the results of many successes and failures. It’s a deeply useful book for gardeners—and the gorgeous full-color photos remind us that vegetables are pretty, too! o Erica H. Smith is a Montgomery County Master Gardener whose volunteer activities include the Master Gardener Demonstration Garden in Derwood, MD, the Grow It Eat It program, and speaking engagements on food-growing topics. She is the author of several novels; visit her website at ericahsmith.wordpress.com.

Note: These book reviews include links to Amazon for ordering them. Washington Gardener may receive a few cents from each order placed through the link.

Love Reading?

These books were reviewed by volunteer members of the Washington Gardener Reader Panel. We are looking for a few additional volunteers who live in the greater Washington, DC, region to serve on our Reader Panel. Reader Panelists may also be asked to review new gardening plants, tools, and seeds.

To join the Washington Gardener Volunteer 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 publication and its gardening mission. o JUNE 2019

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KNOWitall

Ask the Expert

provide nitrogen, but am concerned that they will make the soil acidic.

by Debra Ricigliano

Peach gummosis photo courtesy of HGIC, Ask an Expert.

The peaches hanging on my peach tree have clear, gelatinous blobs on them.

Is this serious and how do I prevent it from happening again?

This is called gummosis. Peaches can do this for a number of reasons. It can be a response to environmental stress or can indicate an insect infestation such as Oriental fruit moth, tarnished plant bug, or plum curculio.

Cut open one of the affected peaches and look for larvae inside.

This would indicate Oriental fruit moth.

Diseases such as brown rot or peach scab also cause gummosis.

As you can see, peaches are subject to a large number of disease and insect problems in Maryland. It would be advisable to begin a preventive spray schedule next year in early spring to ensure an edible crop of fruit.

Coffee Grounds in Soil

I am trying to do the most-natural things possible in my vegetable garden.

Is there any truth that using coffee grounds as a side dressing is beneficial to plants? I was reading that they 16

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Watering New Trees

How much water is necessary for newly planted trees? I planted an oak, maple, dogwood, and redbud last fall. I understand that I need to keep them watered until they become established. What does that mean?

Watering newly planted trees is the most-important cultural practice that a homeowner can perform to keep trees healthy. Regular irrigation will encourage root development.

Supplemental water should be provided as needed during the first two growing seasons unless we are getting sufficient rainfall. It takes about two years for roots to grow beyond the root ball into the surrounding soil.

Apply water directly to the root system by using a soaker hose or letting your hose trickle slowly at the base. Let the water run until the ground is uniformly moist around the base of the trees. You can check soil moisture by gently probing the area about 6 inches down with a screwdriver or trowel. Water about once a week during the hottest, driest part of the summer. It is also good to water your trees in the fall if it is dry, until the ground freezes.

Holes on Cherry Laurels

My landscaper planted five Otto Luyken cherry laurels in the front of our house two years ago. They seem to be doing

Cherry laurel is a popular evergreen, deer-resistant shrub for home landscapes. From your description, it sounds like they have a disease called cherry shot hole. The causal pathogen affects members of the Prunus genera. Some examples of edible and ornamental plants that are susceptible include cherry, nectarine, peach, and plum.

The disease starts out as small spots on the leaves, buds, and shoots. The centers eventually turn brown and drop out, causing the holes. Sometimes the leaves turn yellow and cause premature defoliation.

In most cases, this disease is cosmetic on cherry laurel and treatment is not necessary. Prune out the damaged areas. New growth will fill in the bare spots. Rake up and dispose of any fallen leaves. o Cherry shot hole on cherry laurels. Photo Credit: Bugwood.

Gel Blobs on Peaches

Coffee grounds are an excellent nitrogen source. Instead of using them directly in your garden, the best use of them is as a “green” addition to a compost pile along with other kitchen scraps. They should be mixed with “brown” materials like leaves, straw, wood chips, or sawdust. The finished compost will have a neutral pH and will not lower the soil pH.

pretty well. Recently, I noticed that some of the leaves have multiple holes.

Some of the holes are tiny, but there are larger ones, too. Is there some type of beetle or caterpillar that eats them?

Debra Ricigliano is a Certified Professional Horticulturist. She has worked as a horticulture consultant for the University of Maryland Extension Home and Garden Information Center since 1997. She is a graduate of the Institute of Applied Agriculture at UMCP. To ask a gardening or pest question, go to http://extension.umd.edu/hgic and click on “Get Help.” Digital photos can be attached.

L I V E

B U T T E R F L Y

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C A T E R P I L L A R

E X H I B I T

BROOKSIDE GARDENS SOUTH CONSERVATORY 1500 Glenallan Avenue, Wheaton, MD 20902 | $8 Adults | $5 Children

April 17 - June 30, 2019 | 10 AM To 5 PM Daily July 1 - August 31, 2019 | 10 AM To 1 PM Mon-Fri; 10 AM To 5 PM Sat-Sun September 1 - 22, 2019 | 10 AM To 5 PM Daily

Information Line: 301-962-1453 | BrooksideGardens.org JUNE 2019

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TOP AREA GARDENING EVENTS DC-Area Gardening Calendar ~ Events ~ Through July 16, 2019 • Tuesday, June 25, 2–3:30pm Water in the Landscape: Creating a Garden Oasis Talk Water features and water gardens can be magical additions to your landscape.

Water can be stimulating or calming, depending on how it is used. There are numerous uses for water gardens, from sustaining native wildlife to masking ambient noise. This class explains the basics of installing and maintaining a water feature of any size in a garden.

It also highlights water garden plant choices appropriate for our region.

Held at Brookside Gardens. Fee: $25 or $22 for Friends of Brookside Gardens (FOBG) members. Sign up now at: https://apm.activecommunities.com/ montgomerycounty/activity_search/ water-in-the-landscape-creating-a-garden-oasis/58479.

• Wednesday, June 26, 2:45pm • Thursday, June 27, 2:45pm • Friday, June 28, 2:45pm Gardener’s Focus: Summer Designs Get an intimate look at Hillwood’s gardens—and the creative design process— with the experts! Part of the magic of Hillwood’s is the constantly changing seasonal plant displays. Each season features new and exciting plants paired in unique combinations. Learn about the design process that went into creating these beautiful displays including firsthand stories of practical gardening lessons. Tickets are distributed at the visitor center upon opening each day. A limited number of tickets may be prereserved by phone by Hillwood members. This 40-minute tour is limited to 20 and meets in the visitor center conservatory. See details at https://www. hillwoodmuseum.org.

• Friday, June 28, 12n Terrific Tillandsia & Superb Succulents Presented by Smithsonian Gardens at the Golden Triangle BID’s day-long outdoor experience, Farragut Fridays, at Farragut Park (Connecticut Ave & K Street). Free. See goldentriangledc.com.

• Saturday, June 29, 9:30—11am Terra-cotta Succulent Container Workshop 18

WASHINGTON GARDENER JUNE 2019

Pot up a tabletop terracotta container with eye-catching succulents for your garden. A Green Spring horticulturalist shows you how to mix balance, scale, proportion, contrast, and rhythm to make dynamic container designs for these fascinating plants. Learn about best soil types and how to care for your new container. The cost is $39/person for the program and $25/person for the supply fee. Register online at https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/ parktakes/ using code D46.BA22 or call Green Spring Gardens at 703-6425173.

3:30pm. There will also be fun activities and crafts for all ages. At 4201 Knowles Avenue, Kensington, MD. Free.

See https://montgomerycountymd.gov/ library/branches/kensingtonpark.html.

• Saturday, June 29, 10am—12n Medicinal Plants and Intro to Herbalism (Herban Lifestyles program series) Medicinal plants are all around us, with their gifts ready to be shared. If you know what to look for. Join Niraj Ray, founder of Cultivate the City, and learn how to use a diversity of plants for both food and medicine. Some of these amazing plants grow wild and are native to our area, while others will require a little more care to flourish in our homes and gardens. Participants will learn plant identification techniques, growing and harvesting methods as well as tips about how to cook, preserve or use them (think salves, tinctures, infusions, and teas.) Some of the plants to be discussed include Indian mint, Vick’s plants, Echinacea, tulsi, mint, aloe, Moringa, and much more. You will get a chance to try/taste some of the products made from those grown or foraged right here in Washington, DC, and each participant will have the option to take home their own medicinal plant and fabric planter bag. Fee: $15. Preregistration required. Held in the Visitor Center auditorium of the U.S. National Arboretum. See https://www.usna. usda.gov/visit/events-calendar/.

• Wednesday, July 3, 9:15pm 2019 Fireworks & Fountains Show Star Spangled Spectacular at Longwood Gardens. Well-known patriotic music abounds as we celebrate America, featuring such songs as “The Olympic Fanfare,” “The Winds of War,” “The Stars & Stripes,” and more. See the night sky in a new light with the astonishing Fireworks & Fountains Shows. Fireworks fly, fountains dance, and music sets the tone during these captivating evenings.

Register at https://longwoodgardens. org/events-and-performances/events/ fireworks-fountains-shows.

• Saturday, June 29, 2—6pm Garden Dedication at Kensington Park Library Celebrate the brand-new beautiful garden courtesy of the Friends of the Library at Kensington. They will have a dedication ceremony at 2:15pm and a steel drum performance from 2:30—

• Sunday June 30, 2–3:30pm Garden Photo Show Reception Come view the 17 winners of the DC Garden Photo Contest Meadowlark Botanical Gardens in Vienna, VA. Free.

You may also come by and view the photos any time during the normal Visitor Center hours (10am–7pm daily).

The photo show runs through July 30.

• Saturday, July 6, 10am—12n Summer Cool-Off Explore fun—and sustainable—ways to stay cool all summer long. Dash through mist, enjoy a cool iced tea in the shade, decorate a paddle fan, and try your hand at ice painting. Beat the heat in the Tudor Place garden. This outdoor event will take place rain, shine, or heat. Please dress for the weather.

Tudor Place Member child: $10 | Nonmember child: $15 | Adult chaperone: $5. Register at www.tudorplace.org.

• Saturday, July 6, 11am and 12n Garden Tour of Franciscan Monastery Learn about the beautiful gardens, the friars who designed them and the history and shrines of the Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land in a garden tour led by trained volunteers of the Franciscan Monastery Garden Guild. Meet in front of the Visitor Center. Free. Details at http://www.fmgg.org/.

TOP AREA GARDENING EVENTS DC-Area Gardening Calendar ~ Events ~ Through July 16, 2019 • Sunday, July 7, 12—4pm Celebrate International Chocolate Day at the U.S. Botanic Gardens Come see the beautiful Theobroma cacao tree in bloom and learn how the arborist hand-pollinates its flowers. Participants will learn about the process from flower to fruit and fruit to chocolate. A local chocolatier will be on site to ensure everyone gets a taste. At the U.S. Botanic Gardens’ Conservatory Garden Court. Free: no pre-registration required. See https://www.usbg.gov/ programs.

• Thursday, July 11 The Care and Handling of Butterflies Brookside Gardens invites visitors age 18-plus to learn more about the Lepidoptera family of butterflies and how to raise butterflies at home. Discussion will cover parasites and diseases, along with rearing techniques used in conservation. Butterfly and plant relationships in the garden will also be observed and discussed so students will better understand how butterflies behave in every season and survive from year to year in our area. Cost is $25; $22 for Friends of Brookside Gardens (FOBG) members.

Sign up at https://apm.activecommunities.com/montgomerycounty/Activity_Search/care-handling-of-butterfliesin-your-garden/58481.

Cinema at Farragut Park (Connecticut Ave & K Street). The movie starts at sunset. Free. See the movie series details at goldentriangledc.com.

• Saturday, July 13, 9:30am—3:30pm Watercolor Workshop: Monet & Waterlillies Monet contributed to the art world with his monumental waterlily paintings.

Be inspired by Monet’s style and create your own waterlily paintings using techniques like glazing, dry-brush, wet on wet, washes, and more with the help of instructor Dawn Flores. Supply list emailed before class. The cost is $93/ person. Register online at https://www. fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/parktakes/ using code 7A1.D2F2 or call Green Spring Gardens at 703-642-5173.

• Friday, July 12, 9:30am Brookside Gardens 50th Anniversary Celebration Gather in the Gude Garden for a short presentation commemorating Brookside Gardens’ 50th Anniversary with light refreshments to follow. Join community members and leaders to commemorate this milestone anniversary. Then, engage with the Gardens on a selfguided stroll, soaking in the beauty and serenity of the landscapes and water features. See https://www.montgomeryparks.org/events/brookside-gardens50th-anniversary-celebration/. Free.

• Saturday, July 13, 10am—12n Workshop: Wall-mounted Tropical Plants with B.Willow Join the U.S. National Arboretum and Baltimore florists B.Willow for a special class on crafting wall-mounted tropical plants. The Wall-mounted Tropicals Workshop includes mounting a tropical plant of the attendee’s choice on repurposed treated wood from Oak Hill Sawmill, which is owned and operated by a local woodworker. There typically is a selection of staghorn ferns, trailing philodendron, pothos, maranta, bromeliad, and other ferns and epiphytic tropicals for attendees to choose from. This class includes an explanation of the tropical plants to be worked with and demonstration of craft, and every participant will make and bring home their own wall-mounted tropical plant. At the end of the workshop, presenters will go over care instructions and answer any other questions attendees may have.

Fee: $66 ($55 FONA members). Preregistration required. Held in the Visitor Center classroom of the U.S. National Arboretum. See https://www.usna. usda.gov/visit/events-calendar/.

• Friday, July 12, 7:30pm Make a Flower Crown Create your own flower crown, then watch “Mary Poppins Returns: at BID’s free outdoor movie program, Golden

• Saturday, July 13, and Sunday, July 14, 10am—5pm 2019 Lotus and Waterlily Festival Celebrate nature, culture, and community at the annual Lotus and Waterlily

Festival at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens.

This two-day festival features performances from cultures around the world, family fun games, arts and crafts, and ranger-led programs. Come enjoy the beautiful lotuses and waterlilies in full bloom. Free. Details at https://www. nps.gov/keaq/planyourvisit/2019-lotusand-water-lily-festival.htm.

• Sunday, July 14, 10am—2pm Garlic Fest Day at TP Farmers Market Hosted by Main Street Takoma and Takoma Horticultural Club, starring Tony “Mr. Garlic” Sarmiento. Free.

Save These Future Dates • Wednesday, July 24, 6:30–8pm Garden Book Club, Summer 2019 We will discuss Onward and Upward in the Garden by Katherine S. White. Held at Soupergirl, right next to the Takoma Metro stop. RSVP at facebook.com/ WashingtonGardenerMagazine, The Washington Gardener Magazine’s Garden Book Club is free and open to all.

• Satuday, July 27, 11am–12n How to Make a Plant Love You Join Summer Rayne at Homestead Gardens for a plant “Show & Tell” discussion of how to read the leaves, stems, and roots of plants and intuit their care indoors. Guests will engage in a plant-related activity and see some interesting plants up close. This event also features a brief reading/talk, Q&A, and signing of Summer Rayne’s book.

Fee: $30. Held at Homestead Gardens in Davidsonville, MD. See https://homesteadgardens.com for details.

Still More Event Listings

See even more event listings on the Washington Gardener Yahoo discussion list. Join the list at http://groups.yahoo. com/group/WashingtonGardener/.

How to Submit Local Garden Events

To submit an event for this listing, contact kathyjentz@gmail.com with “Event” in the subject line.

Our next deadline is July 5 for the July 2019 issue, for events taking place after July 15, 2019. o JUNE 2019

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PLANTprofile

Beautyberry

By Kathy Jentz

Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) is a shrub that is native to our MidAtlantic area and throughout the southeastern United States, Beautyberry adapts well to various growing conditions from part shade to full sun, from moist soil to dry. It reaches 4–6 feet in height and width.

Japanese beautyberry (Callicarpa japonica) and Chinese beautyberry (C. dichotoma and C. bodinieri) are a little less heat-tolerant than American beautyberry and are generally smaller shrubs with smaller berries, although the berries are less hidden in the foliage.

It is a show-stopper in late summer/early fall when the brilliant purple berries adorn the branches. Birds and other wildlife are fond of the berries as a food source, so you may find your berry display stripped sooner than you would like.

The shrub itself is a bit awkward in growth habit—throwing out a long branch here, then there. Careful placement is a must so you can both enjoy the berries and not be constantly fighting its wayward limbs. I planted mine in the back corner of a garden bench near a fence, and that allows me to drape and arrange it as needed. In early spring, you should do a rejuvenation pruning—meaning cut it all back to about 6".

The crushed leaves are said to be an excellent mosquito repellent, and scientists are currently testing that beautyberry benefit with promising results. I tried it out myself and did not find it effective, but your mileage may vary.

The shrub is famous for its amethyst-purple berries. Recent introductions also include white and pink berry versions. There is a small trial garden at the U.S. National Arboretum in Washington, DC, that is worth visiting in October to view the different cultivars and decide which ones you’d like to add to your home garden. o Kathy Jentz is the editor and founder of Washington Gardener.

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INSECTindex

9 WAYS TO MOSQUITO-PROOF YOUR YARD Mosquito photo by Stephen Ausmus, USDA-ARS.

It seems like pesky mosquitoes are ubiquitous throughout the summer, and they really might be everywhere this month, after the wettest year on record, according to NOAA (noaa.gov), but there are ways to discourage them from bugging your yard. Ryan Larsen, also known as “Dr. Drainage,” is a civil engineer from NDS, Inc. (ndspro.com). He has nine ways you can enjoy time outside this summer with less of a chance of getting bitten.

1. Eliminate standing water wherever it occurs: Getting rid of standing water in your yard and garden is one of the most-important things you can do to prevent mosquitoes. From watering your yard and plants to those sporadic summer downpours, your property can quickly accumulate a lot of still, stagnant water, which makes it the perfect environment for insects. This is why it’s important to keep gutters clear of debris; check at least once a week for any discarded cans, buckets, pots, overturned children’s toys, and anything that can hold water; cover trash containers; change water in outdoor pet dishes daily; and change water in bird baths several times a week.

2. Move potted plants indoors: Potted plants tend to fill up with excess water, which can make them the perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes. Be sure remove potted plants from your yard and keep them indoors during the muggy summer months.

3. Place herbs and scented oils

around your backyard: Certain plant herbs and essential oils can repel mosquitoes naturally. For instance, the scents of citronella, lemongrass, and chrysanthemum are non-toxic and keep mosquitoes at bay. Scented oils and candles placed on your outdoor tables will keep any bugs away from food, not to mention provide some evening ambiance. These products can be found at many home improvement or outdoor furniture and garden stores.

4. Scatter coffee grounds: A simple at-home solution for mosquito repellent is coffee grounds. All you need to do is sprinkle coffee grounds wherever you discover standing water in your yard, which will kill any mosquitoes before they hatch and prevent them from breeding further.

5. Grow insect-repellent plants: Discourage pesky flies with plants like lemon balm, mint, chrysanthemums, marigolds, basil, garlic, eucalyptus, lavender, rosemary, and more. Luckily, these herbs and plants are loathed by mosquitoes.

6. Install a drain in planter boxes: If you want to keep your beautiful flowers outside for all to see, consider using a drainage solution in planter boxes like a catch basin connected to a drainage pipe. Excess water enters the basin through a raised atrium grate, which prevents leaves, mulch, and other debris from entering the system, and connects to a drain pipe where the water can drain to a safe location.

7. Install insect-repelling lights around your yard: Consider installing mosquitorepelling lights, such as yellow bug lights or LED lights, in your backyard to deter those irritating bugs away from your barbeque. All-in-one outdoor lighting and mosquito-repellent fixtures can be purchased at several home goods stores and large retailers.

8. Hire a professional to spray your yard with an organic treatment: Using an insect-controlling yard spray is an effective way to get rid of mosquitoes.

However, many sprays contain toxic chemicals that can harm your health and the health of the environment. Nontoxic bug control solutions can work wonders and will kill off fleas, ticks, and other insects, while not harming the family pet. Choose products labeled natural or organic and pet-friendly, and follow the manufacturer’s instructions completely.

9. Install a French drain: Another common solution for eliminating standing water around your home is with drainage solutions that can be purchased at your local home improvement or hardware store.

A French drain is a popular choice, consisting of a slightly sloped trench filled with gravel surrounding a perforated pipe. It provides an easy channel for water to flow through, collecting water over the entire length of the drain instead of one particular spot and redirecting the surface and groundwater away from your home. o JUNE 2019

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HORThaenings

City Officials and Golden Triangle BID Break Ground on Rain Gardens and Expanded Tree Boxes Along 19th Street NW in Washington, DC The Golden Triangle Business Improvement District (BID) broke ground on Thursday, June 20, on 10 new rain gardens and nine expanded tree boxes along 19th Street NW in Washington, DC. The project will add more than 4,000 square feet of green space, lining two full blocks of one of the most-vibrant corridors in the central business district.

The initiative is made possible through a unique public-private partnership.

Funding comes from the Golden Triangle BID, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the DC Department of Energy & Environment. Additional support is provided by Pepco, Rockrose, the Tower Companies, Carr Properties, OTO Development, Wawa, and Population Services International.

“Creating sustainable public spaces through our Gold Is Green program is a priority for us,” said Leona Agouridis, executive director of the Golden Triangle BID. “Studies show that parks, gardens,

and urban green spaces support human health and wellness. We are thrilled to celebrate the groundbreaking for the new rain gardens today and look forward to seeing our vision for a model sustainable street come to life.”

The rain gardens reduce pollution to waterways by capturing stormwater and filtering it naturally before sending the excess that cannot be soaked up by the soil and plants into the sewer system.

The filter capacity is 43,000 gallons (the equivalent of about 4,100 five-minute showers) of runoff per storm.

While contributing to the environmental sustainability of the metropolitan area, the project will also enhance the beauty of 19th Street for thousands of workers and residents, and millions of visitors, to enjoy.

The rain gardens and expanded tree boxes will be added to both sides of 19th Street NW between K and M Streets. They will hug four existing rain gardens at the corners of 19th and L Streets, installed by the BID in 2014.

The project will add abundant green space, native plants, and biodiversity to a vibrant, pedestrian-friendly street with broad sidewalks and considerable outdoor café seating.

This initiative is the latest in the BID’s history of green infrastructure projects through the Gold Is Green program.

Since 2012, the BID has built six rain gardens and converted 12,000 square feet of asphalt and concrete to green space.

Garden Communicators Meeting in Potomac, MD

LDG/APLD Spring Tour

The third annual spring tour of the Landscape Designers Group and the local chapter of the Association of Professional Landscape Designers took place on June 1 in and around Leesburg, VA. The first stop was the historic Marshall House. Next was a lunch and shopping for native plants at Watermark Woods. Finally, the tour group visited award-winning native gardens of designer and podcaster John Magee.

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On May 24, several members of GardenComm and guests met for a day of garden tours and education, including stops at Glenstone; McCrillis House Gardens; Up Top Acres at Pike & Rose; the peony collection at Seneca Park; and Susanna Farms. The day ended with champagne cocktails at Lilypons Water Gardens, followed by crabcakes and conversation at a nearby restaurant.

GardenComm (gardencomm.org), formerly GWA: The Association for Garden Communicators, is an organization of professional communicators in the green industry, including book authors, bloggers, freelance writers, photographers, speakers, radio and television hosts, landscape designers, and more.

Mosquito GAT Trap Demo

On May 16, a group of neighbors gathered at the Shepherd Park Christian Church in NW DC to learn how folks in Sligo Park Hills in Silver Spring, MD, greatly reduced their mosquito population last year using the new “BG-GAT,” a passive trap against egg-laying Asian tiger mosquitoes. The trap is now being tested and evaluated in area yards. o This issue’s “HortHappenings” were compiled

by Kathy Jentz.

See photos from events listed here at the Washington Gardener Facebook Page: facebook.com/WashingtonGardenerMagazine.

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

MAY/JUNE 2007 • Roses: Easy Care Tips • Native Roses & Heirloom Roses • Edible Flowers • How to Plant a Bare-root Rose

MAY/JUNE 2005 • Stunning Plant Combinations • Turning Clay into Rich Soil • Wild Garlic • Strawberries

JULY/AUGUST 2007 • Groundcovers: Alternatives to Turfgrass • How to Pinch, Prune, & Dead-head • William Paca House & Gardens • Hardy Geraniums

JULY/AUGUST 2005 • Water Gardens • Poison Ivy • Disguising a Sloping Yard • Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2007 • Succulents: Hardy to our Region • Drought-Tolerant Natives • Southern Vegetables • Seed Saving Savvy Tips

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2005 • Container Gardens • Clematis Vines • Sponge Gardening/Rain Gardens • 5 Insect Enemies of Gardeners

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2007 • Gardening with Children • Indoor Bulb-Forcing Basics • National Museum of the American Indian • Versatile Viburnums

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2005 • Backyard Bird Habitats • Hellebores • Building a Coldframe • Bulb Planting Basics

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2008 • Dealing with Deer • Our Favorite Garden Tools • Delightful Daffodils

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2006 • Garden Decor Principles • Primroses • Tasty Heirloom Veggies • 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

SUMMER 2009 • Grow Grapes in the Mid-Atlantic • Passionflowers • Mulching Basics • Growing Hops

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

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U MAY/JUNE 2008 DO SOL • Growing Great Tomatoes UT! O • Glamorous Gladiolus LD ! SO • Seed-Starting OUT Basics D L •SFlavorful Fruiting Natives O

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

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2007 • Indoor Gardening • Daphne Care Guide • Asparagus Growing Tips and Recipes • Houseplant Propagation

MARCH/APRIL 2009 !

OUT Tips D • 40+ Free and Low-cost Local Garden SOL !

T • Spring Edibles Planting Guide OU LDfor a Fresh Start • Testing YourSO Soil ! Selection and Care UTTree • Redbud O LD Viewing Spots for Virginia Bluebells • SOBest

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

MAY/JUNE 2009 • Top Easy Summer Annuals for DC Heat • Salad Table Project • Grow and Enjoy Eggplant • How to Chuck a Woodchuck

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 • Dwarf 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 SPRING 2011 • Cutting-Edge Gardens • Final Frost Dates and When to Plant • Bleeding Hearts • Onions 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 • Squash Vine Borer SUMMER/FALL 2013 • Miniature/Faerie Gardens • Beguiling Abelias • Growing Great Carrots WINTER/EARLY SPRING 2014 • Ferns for the Mid-Atlantic • Chanticleer Gardens • Beet Growing Basics

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Next deadline: July 5 JUNE 2019

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Jentz Prints

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

Jentz Prints can be purchased on most Saturdays at the Eastern Market, and most Sundays at the Georgetown Flea Market.

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, to make a private appointment, or to get a detailed show schedule, please contact Jentz Prints by email at UllrichJ@aol.com. You can also find Jentz Prints on eBay.com under the seller ID: printyman.

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WASHINGTON GARDENER JUNE 2019