Fenton Friday: Time to Plant More Green

The weather has cooled off so I spent an hour sorting through my seed packs and seeing what greens I wanted to plant in my community garden plot. I decided in Cilantro (Coriander), Parsley, a Romaine mix, and a Mesclun mix. I'm not a big salad fan, but these greens are great additions to other dishes that I enjoy.

I considered Kale and Swiss Chard, but after having a raw Kale salad at a RootingDC planning meeting last night, I just cannot summon much enthusiasm for it. It just feels like such a chore to eat and frankly, life is too short to suffer through tough, tasteless greens. Maybe I'll change my mind and add some later.

What greens are you growing in your garden this fall?

Video Wednesday: "Less Lawn, More Life" Garden Tour

This video posted by "nestboxer" to Youtube is of the recent  garden tour of homes in the Greenbelt, MD,  meant to showcase the beauty and value of lawn alternatives. Greenbelt is a National Historic Landmark planned community built in 1937 as part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal. Greenbelt was designed as a cooperative garden suburb that would be a model of modern town planning in America.

Fenton Friday: Pepper Envy

So the only pepper I planted at my Fenton Community Garden plot this year was an ornamental one (pictured above). It is one of the series related to 'Black Pearl.' It is doing very well covered in black and red peppers and dark foliage marking the front boundary of my plot. As it is ornamental, it is technically edible, but likely hot but tasteless.

Judging from how well it did and looking around at other plot garden neighbors, I definitely missed the boat and should have planted some sweet peppers. I had tried them last year and not had much luck, so I decided to give them a pass this year. I love sweet peppers though and the can be quite pricey, so I have learned my lesson and will try again next year.

Meanwhile, I'll consider bringing this ornamental in as a houseplant this winter if I have the window space left from all my other over-wintering plants, forced bulbs, and coleus cuttings.

What do you regret not planting this season?

Video Wednesday: How to Make a (Mini) Green Roof

In this fun, educational tutorial you can learn how to make your very own green roof out of materials that you have at home. "Guaranteed fun for the entire family." This educational video was produced by the National Building Museum and sponsored by the Institute for Museum and Library Services.

Win Passes to the DC Green Festival

For our September 2013 Washington Gardener Reader Contest, we are giving away several passes to the upcoming DC Green Festival.

   On Saturday, September 21 and Sunday, September 22, join Washington Gardener in Booth 709 and hundreds of others at the 2013 DC Green Festival. Held at the Washington Convention Center, the Green Festival is the nation’s largest and most diverse sustainability event.

The 2013 DC Green Festival features: Passionate speakers. Hands-on DIY workshops, Cooking demonstrations, Organic beer and wine garden, and the Green Marketplace featuring products and services from local, regional, and national green and sustainable businesses and organizations

   To enter to win a set of two passes, send an email with “Green” in the subject line to WashingtonGardener@rcn.com by 5:00pm on Wednesday, September 18. In the body of the email please include your full name, email, mailing address, and tell us: “What would be your dream garden splurge if money were no object?” The winners will be announced and notified by September 19. Some of the entry responses may be used in future Washington Gardener online or print articles.

Bamboo Anew: Take a Closer Look at this Versatile Grass ~ The Washington Gardener Enews ~ September 2013 Issue Now Out!

The Washington Gardener Enews ~ September 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-sept13.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

~ Bamboo Anew: Take a Closer Look at this Versatile Grass

~ Top Local Garden Events Calendar for September-October

~ Magazine Excerpt: Beguiling Abelia

~ Mid-Atlantic Garden To-Do List for September-October
~ Reader Contest: Win Passes to the DC Green Festival

~ Washington Gardener's Recent Blog Post Highlights
~ Spotlights Special: Lavender ‘Phenomenal’

~ 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: Late Summer is Fading Out

 It is Garden Blogger's Bloom Day again! On the 15th of each month, we gardeners with blogs share a few bloom photos from our gardens. Here is the Mid-Atlantic USA (USDA zone 7) on the DC-MD border, we ha a very dry and cool August, this a week of high heat, then finally rain! This month I thought I'd just share a few blooms that are unusual or caught my eye.

Mountain Mint

Pink Hardy Aster

Pomegranate Tree Seedling

Torenia

Petunia