Thursday, March 28, 2024

Win a tube of Zanfel Poison Ivy, Oak & Sumac Wash in the March 2024 Washington Gardener Magazine Reader Contest

For our March 2024 Washington Gardener Magazine Reader Contest, we are giving away a tube of Zanfel Poison Ivy, Oak & Sumac Wash (prize value $50).

Zanfel® Poison Ivy, Oak & Sumac Wash (http://zanfel.com/) is a safe and effective topical solution for poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac. It removes urushiol, the toxin responsible for the reaction, from the skin after bonding, enabling the affected area to immediately begin healing. After using Zanfel®, the itching and pain are the first things to be relieved, usually within 30 seconds. Zanfel has a 10-year shelf life.

To enter to win a tube of Zanfel, send an email to WashingtonGardenerMagazine@gmail.com by 5:00pm on Sunday, March 31, with “Zanfel” in the subject line and in the body of the email. Tell us what your favorite article was in the March 2024 issue of Washington Gardener Magazine issue and why. Include your full name and address. The winner will be announced after April 1.  

Wednesday, March 27, 2024

Oxalis Plant Profile

Oxalis Plant Profile

Oxalis is the largest genus in the family Oxalidaceae with over 550 species native to every continent except Antartica. They are often referred to as Wood Sorrels and as False Shamrocks.

Some Oxalis species can be grow in as annuals or perennials depending on your climate and zone. Note that in some regions Oxalis are considered invasive.

Oxalis (Oxalis triangularis) is commonly grown as a houseplant and gifted on St. Patrick’s Day because its foliage resembles the lucky shamrock. The Oxalis’ clover-like foliage can be variegated or solid green or burgundy. In addition to its attractive leaves, the plants have delicate flowers.

It will often go winter dormant and then recover when placed in sunlight. Give it an all-purpose houseplant fertilizer about once a month.

It prefers to grow in bright indirect to direct light and temperatures between 65°F-85°F (18°C-30°C) --never below 60°F (15°C).

Water it about once a week and let it dry out part-way between waterings. The most common cause of yellow leaves is over-watering which cause rooting roots.

Oxalis is considered toxic for pets due to its oxalic acid that can cause kidney damage.

Some oxalis are called "butterfly shamrock,” because their leaves fold up at night or on cloudy days and reopen when the sun shines.  They may also stretch out their leaves to reach as much sunlight as possible.

Oxalis: You Can Grow That!

The video was produced by Washington Gardener Magazine.

Audio, Photos, and Text by Kathy Jentz

Video and Editing by Cassie Peo

 

 If you enjoy this video, please give it a thumbs up and subscribe to our Youtube channel (thank you!)

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~ Podcast: GardenDC

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Sunday, March 24, 2024

March 2024 issue of Washington Gardener Magazine – Plum Tomatoes, Violet Syrup Recipe. the Ames-Haskell Azalea Collection, Crows, and much more…

 

The March 2024 issue of Washington Gardener Magazine is out.

It is posted and archived online at:  

 https://issuu.com/washingtongardener/docs/mar24-wgmag_final

Inside this issue:

·         The Ames-Haskell Azalea Collection

·         Meet Dr. Susan Barton: Extension Specialist and Professor

·         Winter-blooming Amur Adonis

·         Homemade Violet Syrup

·         New Freeze Date Tool

·         American Crow

·         Great Gardening Books Reviewed

·         The Secrets to Succulent Success

·         Plentiful Paste/Plum Tomatoes

·         Return of the Cicadas

·         and much more…

 

Note that any submissions, event listings, and advertisements for the April 2024 issue are due by April 5.

 

>>  Subscribe to Washington Gardener Magazine today to have the monthly publication sent to your inbox as a PDF several days before it is available online. You can use the PayPal (credit card) online order form here: https://www.washingtongardener.com/index_files/subscribe.htm

Saturday, March 23, 2024

GardenDC Podcast Episode 187: Mad About Mulches

In this episode of GardenDC: The Podcast about Mid-Atlantic Gardening, we talk with Dr. Glynn Percival about mulching myths and facts. The plant profile is on Flowering Almonds and we share what's going on in the garden as well as some upcoming local gardening events and this week's garden tasks in the What's New segment. We close out with the Last Word on a Quirky Egg Hunt by Christy Page of Green Prints.

If you liked this episode, you may also enjoy listening to:

GardenDC Podcast Episode 103: Mulch and Weeding Tips

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2022/05/gardendc-podcast-episode-103-mulching.html

GardenDC Podcast Episode 72: Low-Maintenance Gardening

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2021/07/gardendc-podcast-episode-68-summer.html

BTW, YOU can become a listener supporter for as little as $0.99 per month! 

SHOW NOTES will be posted around 3-26-2024.

We welcome your questions and comments! You can leave a voice mail message for us at: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/gardendc/message Note that we may use these messages on a future episode.

And be sure to leave us a 5-star review on your favorite podcast platform plus share us on social media with #GardenDC, so other gardeners can find us too!

Episode Credits:
Host and Producer: Kathy Jentz
Interview Edit and Show Notes: Hannah Zozobrado

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Wednesday, March 20, 2024

Senetti Plant Profile

Senetti Plant Profile

Senetti (Pericallis hybrid) is a cool-season annual with colorful flowers resemble daisies in brilliant mauve, purple, and blue tones.  They are prolific bloomers. They were bred by Suntory Flowers in Japan by crossing members of the Compositae and Asteraceae families and are Cineraria relatives.

Senetti can live in temperatures as low as 35 degrees and they stop flowering once it reaches 80 degrees. They are hardy to USDA zones 9 to 12.

Plant Senetti in full- to part-sun conditions with moist, but well-draining soils.  Feed them with liquid fertilizer. Do not let them dry out.

They do well in containers and are great paired with other cool-season annuals such as pansies, snapdragons, alyssum, and African daisies.

After their first blooms are done, cut them back by half and enjoy a second flush of flowers a few weeks later.

Senetti: You Can Grow That!

The video was produced by Washington Gardener Magazine as part of our Plant Profile series for Mid-Atlantic USA gardeners.

Audio and text by Kathy Jentz

Video and editing by Cassie Peo

If you enjoy this video, please give it a thumbs up and subscribe to our Youtube channel (thank you!)

Remember to TURN ON notifications to know when our new videos are out

FIND Washington Gardener Magazine ONLINE

~ WashingtonGardener.blogspot.com

~ http://twitter.com/WDCGardener

~ https://www.instagram.com/wdcgardener/

~ Facebook.com/WashingtonGardenerMagazine

~ Podcast: GardenDC

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Monday, March 18, 2024

Monday Thoughts: “We come and go, but the land is always here. And the people who love it and understand it are the people who own it - for a little while."

“We come and go, but the land is always here. And the people who love it and understand it are the people who own it - for a little while." ~ Willa Cather

Sunday, March 17, 2024

17+ Cherry Blossom Viewing Alternatives in the DC Region

(The 17+ Cherry Blossom Viewing Alternatives in the DC Region listing is one of our most popular and imitated annual blog posts -- we've updated it here for 2024.)

Dumbarton Oaks

It is Cherry Blossom Festival time again in Washington, DC. 

If the crowds are too much for you or you just can't get enough of those fabulous blooms 
-- here are several local alternatives to the Tidal Basin display:

#BlossomCam

The Trust for the National Mall and The National Cherry Blossom Festival hosts the #BloomCam. Go to the live feed here: https://nationalmall.org/bloomcam to view the trees along the Tidal Basin in real time as they bloom.

Petal Porch Parade

Returning this year is the Petal Porch Parade. These are homes decorated to bring the cherry blossom parade feel to your neighborhood. See more about them here and search the map of locations here.

Public Gardens

~ The National Arboretum has a splendid and more varied display and LOTS or parking. Stroll around Fern Valley and the other gardens as well while you are there. Take the Self-Guided Tour: Beyond the Tidal Basin: Introducing Other Great Flowering Cherries to explore the arboretum’s collection of over 2,000 cherry trees representing 600 different cultivars, hybrids, and species of various shapes, sizes, flower colors, and bloom times, including trees that have been created by arboretum scientists. Note: The free self-guided tour covers several miles of arboretum roads, and can be driven, biked, or walked. Pick up a brochure in the Administration Building.

~ The National Gallery of Art on the National Mall in Washington, DC, has an often-overlooked line of cherry trees on the south side of the East Building. They also have cherry blossom artwork on display and programming such as their Flowers After Hours series.

Tudor Place is a lovely place to take a stroll on your own through the spectacular Yoshino Cherry Blossoms during the full bloom. Event and entry fees may apply.

Dumbarton Oaks in Georgetown, WDC, has a marvelous orchard of cherries. There is an admission fee that goes to support the gardens and you will want to make advance reservations. Parking is also a bear in that neighborhood -- I recommend you walk or take the bus. 

Hillwood Estate in NW DC is pleased to celebrate the National Cherry Blossom Festival with short guided tours of Mrs. Post’s Japanese-style garden. Docents will be available to answer questions between the tours. The suggested entry donation to Hillwood is $12 per adult.

Brookside Gardens in Wheaton, MD, also has beautiful cherry blossom trees and many other flowering trees like plum, apricot, magnolias, and quince in bloom right now, and you don’t have to fight the crowds to see them. The gardens are also full of flowering bulbs like hyacinths, tulips, and hillsides of daffodils.

Meadowlark Botanical Gardens in Vienna, VA, has over 100 cherry trees surrounding a lovely lake that you can stroll around. Admission to the gardens is a mere $5

Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens in Richmond, VA, has a ring of Yoshino cherry trees around their lake and Okame cherry blooms throughout the gardens. There is an entry fee of $10 to visit the gardens.

~  River Farm in Alexandria, VA, is a historic 25-acre site on the banks of the Potomac River. River Farm was once part of George Washington’s original five farms, and currently the headquarters of the American Horticultural Society. The grounds offer spectacular river views, a wildlife garden, and delightful children’s areas. 

Green Spring Gardens near Annandale, VA, has several flowering cherry trees in its collection. There is also a wonderful witch hazel collection there.

Neighborhoods and Other Less-visited Spots

~ The Bethesda, MD, neighborhood of Kenwood for their stunning display. Park and walk in for an immersion in cherry tree lined streets.

~ Sarah Lawler suggests The Japanese American Memorial to Patriotism During World War II is a beautiful spot to see cherry blossoms. It is located near Union Station at the intersection of Louisiana Ave., New Jersey Ave. and D Street, NW, WDC. And across the street is a grove on the U.S. Capitol grounds.

~ Foxhall and Reservoir Rds, NW. Washington, DC. The Foxhall Village neighborhood near Georgetown has cherry blossom-lined streets that are known as the best-kept secret among locals.

~ Brenda Lynn shared she always bikes from Arlington, VA, in order to avoid having to park to take metro. It's a beautiful ride, and one could also bike along the GW parkway in VA to view all the blooms along the Potomac River

Oxon Run Park at 1200 Mississippi Ave SE, Washington, DC, has fairly new cherry tree plants and a lot of space to spread out and fly a kite.

National Harbor hosts a Sakura Sunday celebration. See: https://www.nationalharbor.com/events/annual-events/cherry-blossom-festival/

Anacostia Park at 900 Anacostia Drive, SE. Washington, DC. Cherry trees bloom along the Anacostia River at the 1,200-acre park that is one of Washington, DC's largest recreation areas.

~ An anonymous post to my blog, tipped me off that there are several blocks of cherry blossom trees creating an arch above the streets of Garrett Park Estates in Kensington, MD. "Take Strathmore Road near Holy Cross Church, turn onto Flanders and then I think it’s Waycross. The trees span several streets, are lovely, and totally free of crowds!"

~ Adam Bailey let me know that “Stanton Park and Lincoln Park on the Hill — and the Capitol Hill neighborhoods in general — have a good display of blossoms, too.”

~ "Scott Circle, at Massachusetts & 16th, also has some great cherry blossoms," reports John Boggan. 

~ Katie said, "There's a neighborhood off Query Mill in North Potomac, MD, that has streets lined with cherry trees. Not as fantastic as Kenwood, but if you're in the upper Montgomery County, it may be more accessible. Streets include Moran and Bonnie Dale. It blooms a few days later than Kenwood."

~ Casey Trees has an interactive map to find blooming street trees near your location. To try it out, go here: https://caseytrees.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=9e4a0784d72a48a19dc1fdbc9138e2c8

Grow Your Own!

 Ever since getting my weeping ‘Higan’ cherry, I feel no need to rush downtown. I keep a daily watch on my baby tree and celebrate loudly when the buds finally burst open. I highly recommend it. 
   Here is a video we created about growing ornamental cherry trees locally: 
   In addition, in the very first issue of Washington Gardener Magazine, we did a PlantProfile column on the selection and cultivation of cherry trees for our area. 

Got other DC-area Cherry Tree viewing locations? Please share them in the comments below.

>>> Visit our Amazon Store for all your Spring Gardening needs! <<<

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Saturday, March 16, 2024

GardenDC Podcast Episode 186: Planning Your Vegetable Garden


In this episode of GardenDC: The Podcast about Mid-Atlantic Gardening, we talk with Resh Gala about planning your vegetable garden. The plant profile is on Oxalis and we share what's going on in the garden as well as some upcoming local gardening events and this week's garden tasks in the What's New segment. We close out with the Last Word on My Failing Peach Tree by Christy Page of Green Prints.

If you liked this episode, you may also enjoy listening to:

GardenDC Podcast Episode 124: Raised Bed Gardening

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2022/10/gardendc-podcast-episode-124-raised-bed.html

GardenDC Podcast Episode 68: Summer Vegetables

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2021/07/gardendc-podcast-episode-68-summer.html


BTW, YOU can become a listener supporter for as little as $0.99 per month! 

SHOW NOTES will be posted around 3-19-2024.

We welcome your questions and comments! You can leave a voice mail message for us at: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/gardendc/message Note that we may use these messages on a future episode.

And be sure to leave us a 5-star review on your favorite podcast platform plus share us on social media with #GardenDC, so other gardeners can find us too!

Episode Credits:
Host and Producer: Kathy Jentz
Interview Edit and Show Notes: Hannah Zozobrado

PIN THIS FOR LATER!

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