Washington Gardener Enews Oct 09

OCTOBER 2009 Welcome to the Washington Gardener Enewsletter!

This enewsletter is the free sister publication of Washington Gardener Magazine.

Both the magazine and enewsletter share the same mission and focus — helping DC-MD-VA region gardens grow — but our content is different. In this monthly enewsletter, we will: address timely seasonal topics and projects; post local garden events; and, include a monthly reminder list of what you can be doing now in your garden.

We encourage you to subscribe to Washington Gardener Magazine as well for indepth articles, inspirational photos, and great garden resources for the Washington DC area gardener. Without your support, we cannot continue publishing this enewsletter. Our magazine subscription information is on the last page of this enewsletter.

If you know of any other gardeners in the greater Washington, DC-area, please forward this email to them so that they can subscribe to this free enewsletter as well using the form on the back page the enewsletter to subscribe to our print magazine.

You can also connect with Washington Gardener online at: • Washington Gardener Blog: www.washingtongardener.blogspot.com • Washington GardenerDiscussion Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WashingtonGardener/ • Washington Gardener Twitter Feed: www.twitter.com/WDCGardener • Washington Gardener Web Site: www.washingtongardener.com Sincerely, Kathy Jentz Editor/Publisher Washington Gardener Magazine

Reader Contest For our October 2009 Washington Gardener Reader Contest, Washington Gardener is giving away a one-pound bag of ENCAP’S All-In-One Flower Kit Butterfly & Hummingbird mix (worth $6.95 plus postage) that covers up to 50 sq.ft. We will select one (1) lucky winner at random to receive the bag of seed, mulch and soil conditioner mix.

ENCAP’S All-In-One Flower Kits contain their patented Advanced Soil Technology™ (AST™) that improves soil structure by creating millions of microscopic “spaces” in your soil that will: help water soak in better and stay longer; help seed germination by allowing more sunlight to warm the soil; and, helps soil and nutrients stay in place to enhance root system development. The Seed Watering Technology™ (SWT™) tells you when and how much to water.

Special crystals imbedded in the mixture absorb water and sparkle in the sunlight to tell you when you’ve watered enough.

To enter to win the All-In-One Flower Kit Butterfly & Hummingbird mix, send an email with “Seed Mix” in the subject line to WashingtonGardener@rcn.com by 5:00pm on October 30. In the body of the email please include your full name and mailing address. The seed mix winner will be announced and notified by November 1.

New Issue Out The Fall 2009 issue of Washington Gardener Magazine is now printed and in the mail. This issue’s theme includes apple-growing tips for the Mid-Atlantic, a trip to Green Spring Gardens, and dealing with invasive bamboo.

In this issue is our PlantProfile on Japanese Anemone, a fall favorite. Several of the bloom photos are from your editor’s own garden.

We also cover Saving Tomato Seeds (yes, you can do-it-yourself), visit the USDA People’s Garden, spotlight the Eastland Gardens Flower Club, and focus on the Native Meehan’s Mint.

We share tips on battling Apple Tree Pests, stopping Squash Vine Borer, and propagating Sweet Potato Vine.

Do your tastes run to the more exotic?

You’ll love our EdibleHarvest column on growing Persimmons, which includes a guide to the best Persimmon varieties.

Our Before-After piece is all about a “Sexy and Sustainable” front yard in northwest Washington, DC. In the “Did You Know” category, we share the latest research on a link between visiting public gardens and senior health. We also share a study on the rapid spread of invasive weeds in western Maryland that points the finger at roadside maintenance crews.

Finally, we interview Michael Twitty, an heirloom gardener and expert in local Afro-American foodways. He helps dispell the myths and misconceptions many people have about traditional African-American gardens.

To subscribe, see the last page of this newsletter for a form to mail in or go to our web page and use our PayPal order form.

Quick Links to Recent Washington Gardener Blog Posts • DC School Garden Photo Contest Winners • Plant Your Winter Greens NOW • Decisions, Decisions • Is Your Peace Lily Killing You? • Blog Action Day - What’s Blooming in My Garden See more Washington Gardener Blog posts at WashingtonGardener.Blogspot.com.

Spotlight Special

A new false sunflower (Helianthus x multiflorus) called ‘Sunshine Daydream’ has just been introduced to the market

by Plants Nouveau. This new selection has many, completely double yellow blooms and deep green foliage on a tall, sturdy plant.

Discovered by North Creek’s General Manager Tim McGinty in 2006, Sunshine Daydream was found as a branch sport of ‘Capenoch Star.’

‘Sunshine Daydream’ at a glance: Size: 5 to 6 feet tall by 2 to 4 feet wide USDA hardiness zones: 4-8 Sun/shade: Full Sun Soil: Average garden soil Moisture: moist, but well drained Bloom time: from June to August, flowering continuously Diseases and Pests: This selection is generally free of powdery mildew.

Landscape use: Middle of the border, foundation plantings, mass plantings, butterfly gardens, cutting gardens, and cottage gardens.

Uniqueness: ‘Sunshine Daydream’ has fully double blooms with petals that recurve toward the stem. This selection has been compared to ‘Flore Pleno.’

‘Sunshine Daydream’ has fully rounded, dahlia-like blooms that are larger in diameter and much more numerous in quantity.

In comparison to ‘Loddon’s Gold,’ the blooms of ‘Sunshine Daydream’ have a much more pincushion or dome-like appearance and a much more uniform shape. This selection is also the most golden-yellow of the three.

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WASHINGTON GARDENER ENEWS AUGUST 09

October Garden To-Do List

Here is our comprehensive garden task list for gardens in the greater DC metro region for October 15-November 16. Your additions to this list are most welcome: • Cover pond with netting to keep out fallen leaves and debris.

• Harvest sweet potatoes.

• Plant garlic.

• Force the buds on Christmas Cactus by placing in a cool (55-60 degree) room and 13 hours of darkness.

• Apply deer deterrent spray.

• Prevent the spread of disease by cleaning up all infected plants and disposing of them in your trash — not your compost pile.

• Plant cover crops in your vegetable gardens and annual beds (i.e. rye, clover, hairy vetch, winter peas).

• Set-up a cold frame, then plant lettuces, radishes, and carrots from seed.

• If you have a water garden, clean out the annual plants and compost them. Cut back the submerged hardy plants and group them to the deepest pond section.

• Leave seedheads on black-eyed susans, echinacea, goldenrod, sunflowers, and thistles for the birds to enjoy over the winter.

• Check for bagworms, pick off, bag, and dispose of them.

• Dig up and store potatoes in a cool, dark spot.

• Continue to divide and transplant perennials.

• Rake leaves and gather in compost piles.

• Pick pumpkins at a local pick-your-own farm or visit a local farmer’s market.

• Cut garden herbs and hang to dry in cool, dry place indoors.

• Start feeding birds to get them in the habit for this winter.

• Attend a local garden club meeting.

• Mulch strawberry beds for winter.

• Turn your compost pile weekly and don’t let it dry out. Work compost into your planting beds.

• Plant evergreens for winter interest.

• Weed.

• Plant spring-flowering bulbs.

• Sow wildflower seeds, such as California Poppies, for next spring.

• Collect dried flowers and grasses for an indoor vase.

• Clean, sharpen, and store your garden tools.

• Lightly fertilize indoor plants.

• Pot up Paper Whites and Amaryllis for holiday blooming.

• Check that all vines are securely tied for winter’s cold winds.

• Collect plant seeds for next year’s planting and for trading.

• Pull out spent summer annuals.

• Plant hardy mums and fall season annuals.

• Water evergreens and new plantings to keep them hydrated this winter.

• Fertilize your lawn and re-seed if needed.

• Dig up bulbs from your Gladiolus, cut off foliage, dry for a week, and then store for the winter.

• Transplant trees and shrubs.

• Gather seeds and carefully label them. Store in dry location.

• Keep an eye out for the first frost date and insulate plants as needed. In Zone 6, it is expected between September 30-October 30 and in Zone 7 it is predicted between October 15-November 15.

How To Grow a Giant Pumpkin in the Mid-Atlantic

by Kathy Jentz “Is it possible to grow really big pumpkins in our area?” I wondered. All of the media attention seems to go to those 1,200+ pounders from New England, Long Island, or Pennsylvania, but I knew there had to be some big pumpkin enthusiasts in our Mid-Atlantic region. After all, Maryland is known for its pumpkin fields as they are a mainstay of our local agricultural area. In 2007, Maryland farmers produced 14.8 million pounds of pumpkins on 2,000 acres valued at over $5 million. They grow almost effortlessly (especially for those of us with a sun-lit compost pile and discarded seeds from last years decomposing pumpkins). My search for the great pumpkin led me to the message boards on www.bigpumpkins.com and an appeal to the Mid-Atlantic hobby pumpkin growers who gather to exchange their tips and tricks there.

Andy Edger, who lives in St Mary’s County in Bushwood, MD, responded to my plea. He said, “I began trying to grow giant pumpkins three years ago. My first year, was a disaster, I grew one small pumpkin that weighed five pounds and the pumpkin split in half on the vein. The second year, I grew eight pumpkins, the largest was 300 pounds.” That years crop is pictured above.

Andy says, “I start my soil preparation in the fall, by preparing the soil with compost and testing the soil condition in the spring.

Soil samples are analyzed by a lab, after I receive the results; I amend the soil as needed per the results of the soil analysis. In mid-April, I germinate the pumpkin seeds that I plan to grow for the season. Once the plants are large enough (as least 3 leaves), I plant them in the patch. Next begins the need for a whole lot of luck! Every day, I inspect the plants for damage, insects, and growth. I begin a daily water regimen that includes fertilization and pesticide treatment.”

Mark Fowler of Farmville, VA, says to make sure you have an aggressive fungicide spray program to fight disease. “Here in Virginia we fight powdery mildew at a much larger rate than our fellow growers to the north,” comments Mark. “The reason is the huge amount of humidity we are often plagued with. For this reason I only water with soaker hoses, I never overhead water. Wet leaves and humidity breeds mildew. Once you have it, you will not get rid of it. Starting your spray program in mid-July will save you a lot of heartache in August and September when the mildew really gets rolling. Also, be sure to rotate the fungicide you are using. Diseases become immune to fungicide if use the same one every time. I rotate three different brands.”

Ed Robinette of Hayes, VA, co-founded the Virginia Giant Vegetables Growers Association. Ed advises, “When you set your pumpkin (at least 15 feet out and only one pumpkin per plant) make sure your vine grows away from your pumpkin. This is very important, your pumpkin will grow over the vine and snap off the stem.”

Jim Gerhardt is from Berks County, PA, grew up in Howard County, MD. He says the key is to set a good Atlantic Giant seed with a real pedigree. “We know the fathers and grandparents of our seeds back for generations,” explained Jim. “People can contact me at eastparkrider@yahoo.com, if they wish to request seeds. Seeds in a generic packet from Home Depot will not cut it.”

“Be prepared to water a lot,” Jim continues. “During a good hot dry spell I could water as much as 75 gallons per plant per day.

And limit chemical fertilizers. The salts from these chemicals will build up over time and limit your ability to create a balanced soil.” Jim suggests spraying a good systemic Fungicide like Eagle 20.

William K. Layton of Nelson County, VA, is the record holder for Virginia. “My biggest ever pumpkin was 1138 lbs. in 2007,” says William. “The last two years have been rough with a lot of bad weather. Giant pumpkins do not like a lot of rain or cold.”

Anthony D. Watson of Kensington, MD, who set the Maryland state record in 2008 with a 713.5 pound giant pumpkin says, “We have a great chance of growing big ones in our area. I’m sure we could compete easily with the more Northern growers. We just do not have enough growers trying in this region. I set aside half my yard to vines and I only have a 1/8-acre urban lot. I’d love the competition and am willing to help anybody who needs it.”

W. Bruce Clark of Dayton, VA, is a real inspiration. He told me, “2009 was my first year growing giant pumpkins. I bought a couple books and a video on the subject and the next thing I knew things were happening way to fast. When everything was all said and done my pumpkin weighed 954 pounds, was the second heaviest for 2009, and the largest ever grown in the Shenandoah Valley. Not bad for my first try.”

Finally, Tom Privitera of Poughkeepsie, NY, says, “Don’t try to break the world record, try to grow the biggest you can and have fun, you will learn new tricks every season. Find an experienced grower in your area, or on the net at www.bigpumpkins.com and ask as many questions as you can. Growers will be happy to help you, anyone who spends 4-6 hours a day tending plants doesn’t have the energy to be mean!”

Your Ad Here

Are you trying to reach gardeners in the greater DC region/Mid-Atlantic area? Washington Gardener Enews goes out on the 15th of every month and is a free sister publication to Washington Gardener magazine. The ad rate is $250 per issue or $1,000 for five issues. The ad deadline is the 10th of each month. Please submit your ad directly to: washingtongardener@rcn.com.

IPM Short Course Registration Opens

Advanced Landscape Plant IPM PHC Short Course January 4-8, 2010 For registration information contact: Avis Koeiman, Department of Entomology 4112 Plant Sciences Building University of Maryland College Park, MD 20742 Tel: 301-405-3913 or email: akoeiman@umd.edu AUGUST 09

WASHINGTON GARDENER ENEWS

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DC-Area Gardening Calendar ~ Upcoming Events ~ October 16-November 15, 2009 November 5, 2-3:00pm The Accokeek Foundation •FallThursday, Heritage Farm Museum Conservatory Tour 3400 Bryan Point Road Accokeek, MD 20607 301.283.2113 www.accokeek.org

• Saturday, October 17, 10:00am12:00noon Winter Container Planting Winter may be coming, but that doesn’t mean you can’t grow some of your own food at home. This class will discuss the basics of indoor container gardening as well as protecting and extending the growing season of outdoor container plants.

Participants will have the opportunity to create their own container planting to home after the class. Education Center, Rain or Shine. $35 Non-Members, $30 Members • Wednesday, October 21, 1:00-4:00pm Ecosystem Farm Volunteer Day The Robert Ware Straus Ecosystem Farm is the Accokeek Foundation’s USDA-certified organic vegetable farm. Located on an eight-acre field along the Potomac River in Accokeek MD, the farm is a model for farming for the future. Volunteers are encouraged to arrive early as a brief, dedicated tour will be given promptly at 1 pm.

Volunteers will help by tending to the fields, weeding, planting, and harvesting the farm’s produce. This is an excellent opportunity for individuals or groups with an interest in sustainable agriculture, organic farming, or environmental stewardship. Please be prepared to work in the outdoors wearing appropriate clothing and sturdy shoes. Volunteers are also encouraged to bring work gloves, sunscreen, hats, snacks, and plenty of water. For more information and to sign-up to volunteer please e-mail volunteers@accokeek. org. Every 3rd Wednesday at Ecosystem Farm. FREE

Brookside Gardens 1800 Glenallan Avenue Wheaton, MD 20902 301.962.1400 www.brooksidegardens.org

• Wednesday, November 4, 12-1:30pm Chestnut Heaven Adrienne Cook, garden and food writer, and Danielle Navidi, caterer, give you the whole story on chestnuts from the Cook sisters. Join them in a class that features Chestnut Soup, Chestnut and Proscuitto appetizer, Shrimp and Chestnut Saute, and a Chestnut Cheesecake to finish up.

Samples available. Course number 80850; Fee: $25; registration required at www. parkpass.org.

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WASHINGTON GARDENER ENEWS AUGUST 09

Brookside Gardens’ Conservatory has had a display featuring chrysanthemums every year since 1970, and this year’s display is a compilation of elements from the past four decades of chrysanthemum displays.

Get a behind-the-scenes tour from Kathy Stevens, Brookside Gardens Staff, on how this great display is created. Course number 85853; Fee: FREE; registration required at www.parkpass.org.

• Thursday, November 6, 4:30-6:30pm Decorative Gourd Painting Children will be introduced to a variety of gourds and then use a step by step method of decorative painting to create a leaf motif design on their own birdhouse gourd for the garden or as decoration for the house. Led by Holly Stover, Brookside Gardens Staff. Course number 87600; Ages: 8-12; Fee: $15; registration required at www.parkpass.org; Visitors Center Children’s Classroom.

Green Spring Gardens 4603 Green Spring Road Alexandria, Virginia 22312 703.642.5173 www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/gsgp/

• Saturday, October 17, 9:30-11:30am Shrubs for Fall Color: Lecture and Tour Bring fall color into your own backyard and avoid long trips to the mountains. Richard Bitner, writer, author, and instructor at Longwood Gardens introduces various genera of colorful fall shrubs. A shrub tour of the garden follows the lecture. $18 • Saturday, October 24, 9am-2pm Designing Your Garden for Easy Living . Explore imaginative solutions for designing a garden that is accessible, leaves you time to enjoy the space, and doesn’t break your budget. An “easy-living” garden starts with a plan. Let these landscape designers, authors, and horticulturalists provide a roadmap to lead you to your vision of easy living.

— Designing Your Front Yard Garden-Landscape Designer, Tom Mannion — Designing Your Perennial Garden-Perennial Diva, Stephanie Cohen — Making Choices You Won’t Regret-Horticulturalist, Sandy Flowers Fee: $79 (includes lectures and lunch) • Saturday, November 7, 9:30-11:30am Indoor Gardening with Tropicals and other Unique Plants Time to get excited about indoor gardening again. Mary Frogale, Green Spring horticulturalist, introduces new varieties of old favorites that grow in our Glasshouse and shows you how to grow them in your home. Culture, care, and propagation covered. Take home a Green Spring gem. $25

21668 Heritage Farm Lane Sterling, VA 20164 571.258.3800 www.heritagefarmmuseum.org

• Saturday, October 24, 10:00am-4:00pm 5th Annual Autumn Apple Festival Celebrate the “American Fruit” this autumn at the Heritage Farm Museum of Loudoun County where you can learn about the history of apples and the heritage of apple production through demonstrations of historic orchard tools, educational programs and hands-on activities for families. Help make cider in an historic barn. Watch apple butter bubble in a copper kettle. Taste heirloom apples and view over 120 varieties of rare fruit provided by the Old Time Apple Growers Association and the Alson H. Smith Jr. Agricultural Research and Extension Center. Heirloom apple trees will be available for sale and pre-order. Attractions include live music with Jake and the Burtones and The Polka Dots: Just for Kids Show, cider pressing demonstrations, apple butter demonstration and wagon rides weather permitting.

While you are at the Museum, visit the exhibit “Virginia Apples for Flavor: The Story of Hill High Orchards” and learn about how Hill High Orchards has evolved into an agro-tourism destination and a source for farm-fresh produce from local farmers. Area farmers representing the Loudoun HomeGrown Markets Association and Agro-Depot will sell apples, pumpkins and locally-grown produce. Pick up information on how to buy fresh and shop local for your family with the Piedmont Environmental Council and the Department of Economic Development. Event is FREE with paid Museum admission.

Historical Society of DC 801 K Street NW Washington, DC. www.historydc.org

• Saturday, November 7, 1:00-2:30pm How to Winterize Your Garden Putting your garden to bed for winter is an important task. It can save you hundreds of dollars and many hours in future maintenance and problem prevention. In this final Family Urban Gardening presentation of the year, Kathy Jentz, Washington Gardener Magazine will cover: your last harvest; sowing a cover crop; turning off water sources; saving seeds; cleaning and storing your garden tools; and getting a jump-start on the growing season by easily starting new planting beds using the “lasagna” or layering method. Ages 16 to Adults. No RSVP required.

Presented by the Historical Society of Washington (HSW), DC Urban Gardeners, and Washington Gardener Magazine. FREE.

DC-Area Gardening Calendar ~ Upcoming Events ~ October 16-November 15, 2009 from plants on permanent display in the The Master Peace Viette Farm & Nursery USBG Conservatory. Take a tour with a 994 Long Meadow Road Community Farm knowledgeable guide who will connect at the Center for Educational Partnership 62nd and Sheridan Street Riverdale, MD 20737 301.405.0656 http://engagedu.umd.edu/programs/ cnuf/mpg

the exotic plant world to everyday life. You might see bananas and coffee ripening on the tree, you can watch the Venus flytrap catch its lunch, or you can learn about the next big breakthrough in medicinal plant research. FREE

• Saturday, October 17, 11:00am-2:00pm 3rd Annual Harvest Festival Come and support your community farm.

Serving hot bean soup and salad, both with produce from the farm. Games for kids, and farm tours for families. There will be plenty of tents, sheds, and greenhouses to get out of the rain! This event is FREE and open to the public.

• Saturdays, October 17, 24 Saturdays, November 7, 14 1:00pm-2:00pm Tour of the National Garden Stroll through the National Garden to see native plants of the Mid-Atlantic region.

Hear the folktales and stories that surround these plants. Please Note: This tour is held outside in the garden. We suggest wearing sunscreen and protective clothing, and bringing water. Tour is canceled if it rains. FREE

• Saturday, October 24, 10:30am12:00Noon Composting! How to Turn Garbage into Black Gold Learn how to compost kitchen and garden waste into a free and nutritious fertilizer!

How to build a cheap and easy compost bin — the most effective way to fill a compost bin — how to compost with worms. $5 donation greatly appreciate. Potluck lunch. FREE

TudorPlace Historic House and Garden 1644 31stStreet, NW Washington, DC 20007 202.965.0400 www.tudorplace.org

• Sunday, November 8, 1:30pm Behind the Scenes Tour Explore all the nooks and crannies of Tudor Place. This tour led by Director of Architectural and Landscape Conservation, Tom Taylor will feature a tour of the basement and other areas of the house, which are rarely shown to visitors. Highlights include the Cold War era bomb shelter complete with kitchenette.

Members: $8/Nonmembers: $10 Advanced reservations and payment required.

United States Botanic Garden Conservatory (USBG) 100 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 202.225.8333 www.usbg.gov

• Mondays, October 19, 26 Thursdays, October 22, 29 Mondays, November 16, 23, 30 12:00noon-1:00pm Lunchtime Tour of the Conservatory What do manila folders, Chanel No. 5, vanilla, and fossil fuels have in common? The answer is that they all come

•Saturday, October 31, 10:00am-1:00pm HallowFest Start your Halloween celebration at the Garden. Decorate a pumpkin, attend a Monster Meal cooking demonstration, or create a Creepy Craft. The young and young-at-heart are invited to come in costume to participate in our Halloween parade starting at noon. Prizes will be given for best plant outfit, best costumeadult and best costume-child.

Costume contest at noon. FREE

US National Arboretum 3501 New York Avenue, NE Washington, D. C. 20002-1958 202.245.2726 www.usna.usda.gov

• November 7, 1:00–3:00 pm Lecture and Tour: Overwintering Your Bonsai National Bonsai & Penjing Museum Lecture/Demonstration Center The approach of winter and freezing temperatures is a cause for concern for bonsai enthusiasts. Learn the facts about overwintering your trees and feel confident that you know how to get them through the winter healthy and ready for spring.

Aarin Packard, museum assistant curator, will provide information on the process, including the importance of winter dormancy, how to prepare trees for and bring them out of storage, temperature control, air circulation, watering, and the role that light plays. Take a behind-the-scenes tour of the museum’s winter storage area and see the methods used to overwinter the national collection. Fee $15 ($12 FONA/ NBF) Registration required.

Fishersville, VA 22939 800.575.5538 http://inthegardenradio.com

• Saturday, October 17, 1:30 - 3:30pm Children’s Harvest Day Let your imaginations run wild! Paint pumpkins and trick or treat through the gardens. Many other fun activities are planned for a special unforgettable “funday.” Fee includes two pumpkins, a bag of goodies, refreshments, and “loads of fun.”

Pre-registration required. Fee: $10.00 fee per child, 2 for $15.00.

White House

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 202.456.7041 • Saturday, October 17, 10:00am-4:00pm Sunday, October 18, 10:00am-3:00pm 2009 White House Garden Tours The White House Garden Tours have been a tradition since 1972 when Pat Nixon first opened the White House gardens to the public. Visitors are invited to view the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden, Rose Garden, Children’s Garden and South Lawn of the White House. The Kitchen Garden, a new addition to the South Lawn, will be viewable from a distance along the tour route.

There will be a visual explanation to help educate visitors on the elements of the garden. Tickets: The event is open to the public; however, a ticket is required for all attendees, including small children. The National Park Service will distribute free, timed tickets at the Ellipse Visitor Pavilion located at 15th and E Streets on tour days beginning at 8:00 a.m. Tickets will be distributed -- one ticket per person -- on a first-come, first-served basis. Entry for the Garden Tours will begin at Sherman Park located just south of the Department of the Treasury. Restrictions: Carry-in items will be limited. Strollers, wheelchairs and cameras are permitted.

In case of inclement weather, the Garden Tours will be canceled. Please call the 24-hour information line at to check on the status of the event.

Event Listing Notes

For even more area garden event notices than we can’t possibly squeeze in here, become a member of our free online discussion group. To join the email list serv, just send an email to: WashingtonGardener-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.

To submit an event for this listing, please contact: Wgardenermag@aol.com and put “Event” in the email subject head. PLEASE NO ATTACHMENTS! Our next deadline is November 12 for the November 15 edition of this enewsletter featuring events from November 16-December 15.

AUGUST 09

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Anemone ‘Whirlwind’ photo courtesy of AmericanMeadows.com

Magazine Excerpt: Japanese Anemone by Kate Tyndall

I hope you have some fall blooming anemones in your garden. If not, you are missing out on one of autumn’s great blooming treasures.

These stately ladies rise two to four feet high, bearing silver-dollar-sized (two to three inches) single or almost double flowers in white and shades of pink ranging from blush pink to bright reddish-purple.

Commonly, though erroneously, known as Japanese anemones they actually come from China, the fall blooming anemones found in our gardens are usually hybrids of these three Asian species: A. hupehensis, A. tomentosa, and A. vitifolia. Anemones are often known as windflowers, because the genus name was derived from the Greek word for wind, anemos. The appellation is perfectly understandable once you see an anemone swaying gracefully in the wind on its tall bloom stalk.

In our area, these flowers, members of the buttercup family (Ranunculaceae) are usually to be found blooming from mid-to-late August through October. Some varieties, like A. tomentosa ‘Robustissima’ (that species’ most commonly found cultivar), flower in the earlier part of that bloom cycle and, by planting a variety of cultivars, a gardener can keep the show going for 12 weeks. That’s good news for the fall garden, which is often sadly bereft of flowers as many perennials have retired their colors for the season.

Not only are Japanese anemones good-looking, they are also easy to grow and care for. Give them a spot in partial sun with a bit of moisture and they will reward you with masses of flowers for years. These fall bloomers can even take full sun, as long as you make sure you keep them well-watered.

Now, like just about every other plant on the planet, your fall-blooming anemones would prefer well-drained soil, but they will gamely put up with our heavy clay-based soil and look good doing so. They are rarely bothered by pests, though Japanese beetles are reported to have a predilection for them. Propagation is by division, which is best done in early spring...

Want to learn more about growing Japanese Anemone varieties and growing needs? Read the rest of this PlantProfile article in the Fall 2009 issue of Washington Gardener Magazine.

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WASHINGTON GARDENER ENEWS AUGUST 09