Social Media Reader Contest

For our February 2013 Washington Gardener Reader Contest, Washington Gardener is giving away an assortment of fresh seed packs (prize value of more than $20).
     The seed assortment includes a savory greens mix, fenugreek sprouts, annual flowers, heirloom tomatoes, and much more. The seeds are freshly packed for 2013 and come from a variety of great seed companies including Botanical Interests, Burpee, Renee’s Garden, and Peaceful Valley.
     To enter to win the Seed Assortment, either ‘Like” us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/washingtongardenermagazine and leave a comment on the page posts of photos OR “Follow” us on Twitter at http:/www.twitter.com/WDCGardener and Retweet one of our tweets by 5:00pm on February 28. We will pick a winner at random from among all of our Twitter and Facebook followers. The seed assortment winner will be announced and notified about March 1.

UPDATE:
Our winner chosen at random from among all our Social Media followers on Twitter and Facebook is Joseph Schechter. Congrats, Joe! We' hope you enjoy your seed assortment!

Video Wednesday: Rooting DC 2013

Here are the faces and reflections of the 2013 Rooting DC urban gardening forum. February 23rd, 2013 in Washington, DC. Building community, empowering citizens and sharing information and skills to grow a healthier, happier DC! 

Photos are courtesy of the photo booth volunteers. Participants are Rooting DC 2013 attendees. Music: "Everything is Everything" by Lauryn Hill.

Second Nature Next Washington Gardener Book Club Pick

The next selection of the Washington Gardener Magazine Book Club is Second Nature: A Gardener’s Education by Michael Pollan,

Google review excerpt:
"Chosen by the American Horticultural Society as one of the seventy-five greatest books ever written about gardening, Second Nature has become a manifesto for rethinking our relationship with nature. With chapter ranging from a reconsideration of the Great American Lawn and a dispatch from one man's war with a woodchuck to reflections on the sexual politics of roses, Pollan captures the rhythms of our everyday engagement with the outdoors in all its glory and exasperation."

   I have reserved a meeting room on Wednesday, April 3, 2013, from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM at the Shaw Library at 1630 7th Stm NW, WDC near the Shaw Metro stop.
   The room allows food and drink and you may bring your dinner and/or snacks to share.
   I have made sure that the DC library system and other local library systems currently have several copies available for borrowing of Second Nature. You should also be able to buy it easily used or new.
   The book club meetings are FREE and open to anyone who would like to attend.
   Please RSVP to “WG Book Club” at WashingtonGardener@rcn.com. I will be limiting attendance to 20. If you need to cancel, let me know ASAP so we can give your spot to someone else, should we have a wait-list. 

In case you like to read ahead, the other book club selections for 2013 are:
• Farm City: The Education of an Urban Farmer by Novella Carpenter
• Beatrix Farrand: Private Gardens, Public Landscapes by Judith Tankard
   I will announce the date for the next book club meetings after each previous meeting. We will meet roughly once each quarter. We will move the location around to various DC library locations near public transit for each meeting pending library staff approvals, the location will be confirmed to you when you RSVP.

Video Wednesday: Bishop's Garden Progress

Here is a video by The Agenda News about the damage to and restoration of The Bishop's Garden at Washington National Cathedral.

As Washington Gardener Magazine have read this DC treasure has been through a few ups and downs over the past few years. Here is a link to a past blog post to catch you up:

~ Huge Crane Falls on Herb Cottage and Bishops's Garden at Washington National Cathedral

http://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2012/01/update-on-recent-damage-to-bishops.html

Washington Gardener Enews ~ February 2013 ~ Growing Dwarf Citrus Trees

The Washington Gardener Enews ~ February 2013 issue is now sent to all current Washington Gardener Magazine subscribers. It is also posted and archived online at: http://issuu.com/washingtongardener/docs/wgenews-feb13.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
~ Growing Dwarf Citrus Trees

~ WashingtonGardener Magazine Philadelphia Flower Show Trip Details

~ Magazine Excerpt: How to Get Rid of Deer

~ Mid-Atlantic Garden To-Do List for February-March
~ Reader Contest: Win an Assortment of Garden Seeds

~ WashingtonGardener's Recent Blog Post Highlights
~ Spotlights Special: 'Pink Frost' Purple Anise Tree

~ Top Local Garden Events Calendar for February-March
~ Washington Gardener Magazine Back Issue Sale!
and much more...

You can access it as well as all of the other Washington Gardener Enews back issues online now and anytime in the future at http://issuu.com/washingtongardener/docs/.

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day: Striking February Gold

'February Gold' Daffodil

For this February 2013 Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day in my garden on the Washington, DC/Silver Spring, MD border (solid USDA zone 7), I have the following in bloom:
- Hellebore
- Winter Jasmine
- Heathers
- Viola
- Primrose
- 'February Gold' Daffodils
- Snowdrops
- Crocus are any day now, but not quite yet.
So what is blooming in YOUR garden today?

Happy Valentine's Day!