Happy Valentine's Day from Washington Gardener Magazine

Video Wednesday: Kent's Favorite Gardening Tools

Maryland Master Gardener Kent Phillips' talks about his favorite gardening tools. Watch what he thinks are the best tools to use in the garden to help your vegetables grow.

Sharing Seeds -- Kickstart the Garden Season!

We had so many seeds leftover from our two recent Washington Gardener Seed Exchanges that we are pleased to announce we will be donating several hundred seed packs to RootingDC and a few other area gardening events and groups. This is part of the reason we tell folks that bringing seeds is not a requirement for attending our seed exchanges, we always have plenty of extra to share!

Rooting DC is a FREE, all-day gardening forum that aims to provide education about urban food production and consumption, to cultivate health and preserve the environment. The program includes dozens of interactive workshops, cooking and food preservation demonstrations, and panel discussions focusing on youth gardening, nutrition, sustainable growing techniques, and healthy food access. The event also hosts 50+ green businesses and nonprofit from throughout the region at an information fair.

In addition to RootingDC, we will be sharing seeds with the Maryland Master Gardeners and librarians of the state at an upcoming conference on seed library creation.

If you are a local nonprofit in the DC-area and would like some seeds to kick off your gardening season, please contact Washington Gardener Magazine at WashingtonGardener@rcn.com with your seed request by April 2. Put "Seed Request" in the subject line. You will need to arrange seed pick-up from our headquarters office in downtown Silver Spring, MD. We have all kinds of seeds -- annual flowers, herbs, and edibles. We will try to fill all the seed requests we can as long as supplies last.

Thank You Seed Exchange Donors and Sponsors!

THANK YOU to the following companies  and organizations that contributed items to our Washington Gardener Magazine Seed Exchanges 2014 goody bags, door prize drawing, and freebies table.

• American Horticultural Society

• American Meadows
• Authentic Haven Brand Moo Poo Tea
• Botanical Interests
• Brookside Gardens 
• Burpee 
• Cobrahead 
• Gardener’s Supply
• Garden Stamps 
• Green Spring Gardens 
• Homemade Soaps by Diane 
• Proven Winners/Spring Meadows Nursery  
• Shambhala Publications  | Roost Books
• Southern Exposure Seed Exchange
• Stadler Nurseries 
• Washington Gardener Magazine
• Zanfel 

 

 

We could not have done it without you!

Video Wednesday: How to Clean Hand Pruners

This short video from Behnke Nuseries shows how to clean the accumulated gunk and rust from your hand pruners. Now is a good time of year to get your tools in top shape before the coming busy season!

A More Beautiful Washington, DC? You Can Grow That!

Washington, DC, IS a beautiful city, but it is far from what it could be potentially. There are many missed opportunities for color and life.With just a few simple steps this city could be a gardener's paradise. I'd like to propose the following pledge for every citizen of the District and its surrounding suburbs. Please feel free to put any additions you have in the comments below.

1. This spring, I will plant at least one container of flowers on my front steps/ porch/deck/balcony and take care of it.

2. Every day I will pick up and dispose of properly at least one piece of trash.

3. I will respect and leave any streetbox and curbside plantings alone. Whether public or private, I will avoid stepping in, sitting on, or otherwise mutilating what other gardeners have tried to add to our shared environment.

4. I will pull weeds from between sidewalk cracks and other public spots when I notice them.

5. I will assist one neighbor, family member, or friend with planting and maintaining a garden this summer. I will pick someone who would have trouble doing this on their own such as a young child or a person with a mobility issue.

A More Beautiful Washington, DC? You Can Grow That!

Garden Bloggers You Can Grow That! Day was started by C. L. Fornari of Whole Life Gardening because she believes “Gardening is one of the most life-affirming things we can do.…We need to thoroughly saturate people with the belief that plants and gardening are worth doing because of the benefits gained.” Garden bloggers who agree post about something worth growing on the fourth day of every month. Read this month’s You Can Grow That! posts.

2014 DC Garden Photo Contest Winners Revealed

Here are the 17 winners in the Washington Gardener Magazine 8th Annual Photo Contest. There were almost 400 photos submitted in this year's contest from 46 entrants. I know our three expert judges had a Herculean task picking out the best of the best.

Note that what you are viewing online here, is a low-resolution version of the photo images. Winning images will be published in Washington Gardener magazine Spring 2014 issue at full, high-res and as large format prints in a local photo exhibit this summer in the Washington, DC region. 

 

The winners were announced live during the Washington Gardener Seed Exchange on Saturday, February 1 at Green Spring Gardens in Alexandria, VA.