Spring Native Plant Sale - May 14th

The Potowmack Chapter of the Virginia Native Plant Society will be holding their Spring Native Plant Sale this Saturday, May 14th, from 9 a.m.  to 3 p.m.

More than 40 vendors of rare and unusual plants will be on hand, offering ferns, perennials for sun and shade, trees and shrubs  from the propagation area behind the Horticulture Center at Green Spring Gardens.

All money raised supports the chapter's educational and conservation efforts!

Green Spring Gardens is located at 4603 Green Spring Road – Alexandria, Virginia 22312

For directions: www.greenspring.org

10 Things You (Probably) Didn't Know About Honey Bees

Ahhhh, there is nothing quite like a little bit of coffee and chocolate to brighten the day!

As I sip and nibble, delighting in the heady aroma and sweet, savory flavors, my mind always wanders to the birds and the bees. Why? Because both chocolate and coffee are two of the 1000+ plants that depend on visits from the birds and the bees (and other pollinators) to help spread the love, or in their case, pollen, from flower to flower.

I love wandering through my garden and hearing the buzz of the visiting bees. But bees have many more talents that just pollinating our plants.

Here is a list of 10 Things You (Probably) Didn't Know About Honey Bees, which I collected from the Health Benefits of Honey Blog:

1) Bees tongues can help sniff out bombs – A company called Inscentinel Ltd. has developed Vapor Detection Instrumentation, which is scientific speak for a couple of bees taped to a piece of foam. The bees stick out their tongues when they smell an odor they have been trained to detect.

2) Honey bees can recognize faces – the honey bee, with a brain barely bigger than a pin head, can remember human faces for days after seeing them.

3) Bees are the only insects that produce edible food for humans (did you know that honey is actually bee puke? Ugh)

4) Some working bees can lift (in addition to their own bodies) 100% of their body weight.

5) Bees have been around (100 million years) much longer than humans (7 million years).

6) The queen bee lives up to 40 times longer than a worker bee.

7) The ONLY purpose in life, for the male bee, is to "service" the queen bee — and then he dies.

8) 3400 honey bees were taken on a NASA space flight.

9) Honey bees only use their stinger on vertebrates. When the bees are up against an invertebrate (such as a wasp) the worker bees will cluster around the insect and literally flex their muscles until the resulting heat kills the intruder. And if the heat doesn’t kill them, the lack of oxygen surely will.

10) The origin of the word honeymoon – In days of old, newlyweds were given a month’s worth of mead – a honey based booze – which they were to drink daily. The tradition was believed to promote matrimonial happiness and pregnancy… both things alcohol is very good at. We’ve been honeymooning ever since.

Stop back by on Monday when we'll have a post on How to Attract Pollinators to Your Garden

Here's a sharp idea! Get your garden tools in shape for the season - May 14th

Keeping your lawn mower blade sharpened is good for your lawn and good for the planet. According to experts at the Virginia Cooperative Extension, "The quickest way to improve lawn quality AND turf health is to clip it with a sharp blade, and a sharp blade will also improve fuel-use efficiency and extend engine life."

Sharpened blades are especially important during mid to late Spring, when cool-season grasses in the area form tough seedheads. Tall fescue, perennial ryegrass, Kentucky bluegrass and the fine-leaf fescues are all producing flowers and seed during this time of year in response to temperature, day length, and moisture. These tough seedhead stalks are designed for support and are much tougher to mow.

Clipping grass with a dull mower usually results in turf that initially has a ‘whitish’ cast (from the shredded leaf and seedhead tips) that ultimately becomes a ‘brown or tan’ cast as the damaged tissues slowly age and die. So, one way to immediately improve quality for most is to simply sharpen the blades. How often should one sharpen the blades? On average, most homeowners in Virginia should plan on sharpening their blades at least 3 times during the growing season.

With that in mind, I wanted to pass along this message I saw on a local gardening message board:

Back By Popular Demand - Saturday Morning John Vecciarrelli Will Offer Sharpening Services Next to Takoma DC Branch Library - 6900 Block of 5th St. N.W.

John Vecciarrelli's father Tony made his living sharpening knives, lawnmower blades, handmower blades and other tools all around the city. When John retired a few years ago, he began driving his dad's workshop in an old green step van to events around town, offering the same sharpening services.

Responding to requests from folks who couldn't come to last month's visit, this Saturday, May 14, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., John will again be parked on the 6900 block of 5th Street NW, between Cedar and Butternut, next to the Takoma DC branch library. If your mower hasn't been sharpened in years, or you've never known the joys of digging with a sharpened spade or trowel, you may want to come on over.

For more information, contact Dodie Butler, 202-643-6343.

Anacostia Watershed Tree Planting Event - May 14th

On Saturday, May 14, 2011, The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments  DEP is hosting a tree planting with the Maryland-National Capital Park & Planning Commission – Prince George’s County, in Riverdale, MD from 9:00 A.M. to Noon.

We have 150 trees to plant and mulch and could use your assistance.  This is an especially great opportunity for students to gain community service credit hours while learning about the environment in their region.

Come and get some exercise to start your Saturday and learn about the Anacostia Watershed and Chesapeake Bay Restoration efforts.

The planting site is located off Oglethorpe Street in the M-NCPPC  Riverside Neighborhood Park, next to the Northeast Branch.

To RSVP and for more information, contact Aubin Maynard, (202) 962-3233

Beneficial, drought tolerant plants for the Metro DC Area - Perennials, grasses, etc.

Beneficial Native Plants for the Metro DC Area Plants marked with an * were selected as Favorite Native Plants by local experts See code to abbreviations at bottom of list
Scientific Name	Common Name	Type	Light	DT	Bi	Bu	Hu	Fl	Fr
Achillea millefolium	Common yarrow	Perennial	Su	X	-	X	X	X	-
Amsonia tabernaemontana	Blue star	Perennial	PS	X	-	-	-	X	-
Andropogon gerardii	Big bluestem	Grass	Su-PS	X	X	X	-	X	-
Andropogon ternarius	Split bluestem	Grass	Su-PS	X	X	-	-	-	-
*Aquilegia canadensis	Wild columbine	Perennial	Su-FS	X	H	X	-	X	-
*Asclepias tuberosa	Butterflyweed	Perennial	Su-PS	X	-	X	-	X	-
Baptisia tinctoria	Wild indigo	Perennial	Su	X	-	X	-	X	-
*Campsis radicans	Trumpet creeper	Vine	Su	X	H	X	-	X	-
Chamaecrista fasciculata	Partridge Pea	Annual	Su-PS	X	X	X	-	X	-
Cimicifuga racemosa	Black cohosh	Perennial	PS-Sh	X	-	X	-	X	-
Clitoria mariana	Maryland butterfly pea	Vine	Su-PS	X	X	-	-	X	-
Coreopsis lanceolata	Lanceleaf coreopsis	Perennial	Su- PS	X	-	X	-	X	-
Coreopsis verticillata	Tickseed	Perennial	Su-FS	X	-	X	-	X	-
Delphinium tricorne	Dwarf larkspur	Perennial	PS	X	-	X	-	X	-
Echinacea purpurea	Purple coneflower	Perennial	Su-PS	X	-	X	X	X	-
Eragrostis spectabilis	Purple lovegrass	Grass	Su	X	X	-	-	-	-
Eupatorium hyssopifolium	Boneset	Perennial	Su	X	X	-	-	X	-
Gaillardia pulchella	Firewheel, Indian Blanket	Perennial	Su-PS	X	-	X	-	X	-
Geranium maculatum	Wild geranium	Perennial	PS-Sh	X	X	-	X	X	-
Helianthus divaricatus	Woodland sunflower	Perennial	Su-Sh	X	X	X	-	X	-
Heliopsis helianthoides	Oxeye sunflower	Perennial	Su	X	-	X	-	X	-
Heuchera Americana	Alumroot	Perennial	PS-Sh	X	-	-	-	X	-
Iris Cristata	Dwarf crested iris	Perennial	PS-Sh	X	H	-	-	X	-
Liatris spicata	Gayfeather	Perennial	Su	X	-	X	-	X	-
Lobelia siphilitica	Great blue lobelia	Perennial	Su-FS	X	H	-	-	X	-
Lonicera sempervirens	Coral honeysuckle	Vine	Su, PS	X	H	X	-	X	-
*Mertensia virginica	Virginia bluebells	Perennial	PS-FS	X	-	-	-	X	-
*Monarda didyma	Red bergamot, beebalm	Perennial	Su-FS	X	H	X	X	X	-
*Monarda fistulosa	Wild bergamot	Perennial	Su-PS	X	H	X	X	X	X
*Monarda punctata	Horsemint	Perennial	Su	X	H	X	X	X	-
Oenothera biennis	Evening primrose	Biennial	Su-Sh	X	H	X	X	X	X
Oenothera fruticosa	Sundrops	Perennial	Su	X	X	X	-	X	-
*Panicum vigatum	Switchgrass	Grass	Su	X	X	-	-	-	-
Passiflora incarnata	Passionflower vine	Vine	Su-PS	X	X	X	X	X	-
Phlox divaricata	Wild blue phlox	Perennial	Su-PS	X	-	X	-	X	-
Pityopsis graminifolia	Golden aster	Perennial	PS	X	-	X	-	X	-
Polemonium reptans	Jacob's Ladder	Perennial	Su-FS	X	-	-	-	X	-
Polygonatum biflorum	Solomon’s seal	Perennial	PS-Sh	X	X	X	X	X	-
Pycnanthemum incanum	Hoary mountain mint	Perennial	Su-PS	X	-	X	-	X	X
*Rudbeckia hirta	Black-eyed Susan	Perennial	Su-PS	X	-	X	-	X	-
Salvia lyrata	Lyre-leaved sage	Perennial	Su-Sh	X	H	X	-	X	-
Schizachyrium scoparium	Little bluestem	Grass	Su-PS	X	X	X	-	X	-
Silphium perfoliatum	Cup plant	Perennial	Su	X	H	X	-	X	-
Solidago rugosa	Goldenrod	Perennial	Su	X	X	X	-	X	-
Tradescantia virginiana	Virginia spiderwort	Perennial	Su-Sh	X	-	X	-	X	-
Trillium grandiflorum	White trillium	Perennial	Su-Sh	X	-	-	X	X	-
Vernonia noveboracensis	Ironweed	Perennial	Su	X	X	X	-	X	-
Viola pedata	Bird’s foot violet	Perennial	PS-Sh	X	X	X	-	X	-

** Note: this list was created for the Metro DC Lawn and Garden Blog and may not be copied without permission. However, please feel free to link to this page and to subscribe to the blog for future lists.

Light: FS=Full Su, S=Su, Sh=Sh

Su	Full Su: direct sulight at least six hours a day.
PS	Partial Sh: direct sulight between three to six hours.
Sh	Sh: less than three hours of direct sulight a day.

Benefits: W=Wildlife Value; Bi=Attracts birds; Bu=Attracts Butterflies; Hu=Human Value, edible or medicinal; Fr=Fragrant, Fl=Fowers

H in bird column signifies Hummingbirds. Plants which an X in the butterfly column are ofter HOST plants for specific butterfly species.

Sources: Xeriscaping and Conserving Water in the Landscape (PDF) – Maryland Cooperative Extension

Drought Tolerant Plants for the Mid-Atlantic Region (pdf) download from Charlottesville Water

Plant lists from: Native Plants for Conservation, Restoration and Landscaping, Virginia DCR

Most of the plant benefits were obtained from the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Org. Native Plant Database

Drought tolerant native plants for Virginia

Drought Tolerant Perennials (PDF) – Clayton Virginia Native Plant Society

Another Great Plant list - Plants for the Chesapeake Bay Area - hyperlinked

If you have lived in the Metro DC area for very long, you have probably heard of Bayscapes or Bayscaping.

In 1992, the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, created the program that is now nationally known as BayScapes. The vision was to create an educated citizenry dedicated to the use of native, non-invasive plants in their landscapes to attract wildlife and reduce the amount of pollutants going into the Chesapeake Bay.

There is a ton of information on the Bayscapes website, including information about why, how and where to choose native plants. They even have some great lists of native plants for the Chesapeake Bay area, you just have to hunt around a little bit to find them.

You can find lists here in pdf format. Unfortunately, the pdf lists provide limited information and no photos. If you dig a little further, you can find plant information pages for ferns, grasses, herbaceous plants, herbaceous emergents, shrubs, trees, and vines. (Yes, I wish I had found those before I went to all of the work to create my lists of native, drought tolerant trees and shrubs, and perennials.)

But wait! I kept looking and I found this online list of 422 plants that they have created on the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower website to go along with Bayscapes! Oh joy, joy! Online, clickable links to 422 Bay friendly plants!

And if that isn't exciting enough, it looks like they are in the process of putting their guide, "Native Plants for Wildlife Habitat and Conservation Landscaping: Chesapeake Bay Watershed"(by Britt E. Slattery, Kathryn Reshetiloff and Susan M. Zwicker. 2003, 2005, 2009) online.

I recently received an email that said:

The Alliance and the Service BayScape partnership is back at work with the creation of an online version of this guide. The current prototype includes:

a searchable database of the native plants of the region; 

a geo-locator feature to identify plants that are suited to a precise site; 

an online network to interact with other BayScape enthusiasts; and 

a design feature that will allow users to create a personal virtual garden is in the works. 

Although the full version will not be available until 2012, the initial phase should be on the street in late spring or early summer 2011.

I just LOVE all the great eco-friendly information that is finding its way online. Kudos to the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Roland Park Native Plant Sale - May 14th

The Roland Park Native Plant Sale is Saturday, May 14th at Roland Park Elementary/Middle School (5207 Roland Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21210) beginning at 8am.

Sponsored by the Roland Park Civic League, 75 species of native flowers, ferns, grasses, trees, and shrubs will be available. All the plants are native to Baltimore, which means they are "ecologically excellent" in addition to being attractive. Many of the plants are grown from local seed sources.

For more information email info@rolandparknative.org, call 443-682-1331, or visit http://rolandparknative.org/web/Main.html where species lists are posted.

In addition to the native plant sale, the Roland Park Civic League has many other events planned for the weekend including a native garden tour hosted by Blue Wate Baltimore, a Garden Party for kids at the school organized by the PTA, a sustainability expo, and a ciclovia. For more information about these free events, visit http://www.rolandpark.org/SevenGenWeekend

Get Rid of old garden chemicals, get free compost - May 7th

DC DPW TO HOLD MONTHLY HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE DROP-OFF

SAT., MAY 7, AT FT. TOTTEN TRANSFER STATION

Residents also may pick up free compost.

The DC Department of Public Works  will hold its monthly household hazardous waste/e-cycling/document shredding drop-off Saturday, May 7, 8 am to 3 pm, at the Ft. Totten Transfer Station, 4900 John F. McCormack Road, NE.*

“It’s spring,” said DPW Director William O. Howland, Jr.  “People are cleaning out their garages and basements, getting rid of insecticides, old cleaning solutions and paint solvents and oil-based paint.  The best place to take these and other toxic items is the household hazardous waste drop-off, where they will be disposed of properly.”

Director Howland added that most paint sold today is latex, which is not hazardous, and can be dried out by adding some kitty litter to the can, then put in the trash after it’s dry.

District residents may bring up to five, medium-size boxes (no larger than the standard District recycling bin, which is approximately 20” x 14” x 14”) of personal documents to be shredded. Only paper (staples, paper and binder clips on the paper are okay) and credit cards will be accepted.  No business or commercial material will be accepted.

The remaining 2011 HHW/e-cycling/shredding drop-off dates are June 4, July 2, August 6, September 3, October 1, November 5, and December 3.

For a list of all household hazardous waste and e-cyclables accepted by DPW, please click on the HHW link at www.dpw.dc.gov.

*Directions to Ft. Totten:  Travel east on Irving Street, NW, turn left on Michigan Avenue, turn left on John F. McCormack Road, NE and continue to the end of the street.

Smithsonian Garden Fest - May 7th

Smithsonian Gardens presents Garden Fest  for people of all ages on  Saturday May 7th from 11am to 3pm.

Musical entertainment will be provided  by Cuttin' Grass, a traditional Bluegrass band, and Swing Dixie who perform Dixieland Jazz.

Activities will include beneficial insect releases, a "historic" photo booth, creating a garden gnome plant stake, mural painting, creating your own seed packets and more!

Gardening experts will be on hand to discuss topics ranging from sustainable lawns and heirloom vegetables to growing orchids.

Full program information is available online at http://gardens.si.edu/gardenfest/.

Plant More Plants - For Mother's Day

The Maryland Department of the Environment urges everyone to pay tribute to Moms — and Mother Earth — by planting more plants.

The Chesapeake Club's "Plant More Plants" campaign encourages consumers to celebrate the holiday by giving the gift of a tree, shrub, or perennial – "gifts that keep on growing."

Potted plants, shrubs, and trees can be planted in Mom's yard, ultimately improving stormwater absorption and contributing to cleaner waterways. Stormwater runoff is the fastest-growing source of Chesapeake Bay pollution and contributes about 20 percent of Maryland's nitrogen load to the Bay. The campaign provides an online listing of native, "bay-friendly" plants. Its website also includes two videos, "Wage War on Runoff" and "Keep Up With The Joneses."

 Here are some simple, "bay-friendly" basics from the Plant More Plants campaign to help you and Mom "grow some good" while benefiting the Bay — any time of year:

• Plant more plants! Not only do plants — including trees — make for a more attractive, healthier landscape, their canopies and expansive root systems also help filter stormwater runoff and minimize erosion, keeping our local waterways cleaner. Examples of flowering perennials ideal for growing conditions in D.C./Northern Virginia and Baltimore include wild bleeding heart, wild geranium, black-eyed Susans, wild columbine, and mistflower. For a comprehensive list of plants, trees and shrubs native to the Chesapeake Bay Watershed visit the Plant More Plants website.  
• Go au natural. Natural landscaping reduces the need for excessive yard maintenance and fertilizer use, conserves water and minimizes erosion and stormwater runoff. Native plants and grasses require less water and fertilizer. They grow well together and are adapted to local conditions such as weather and insects. For a list of plants native within the Chesapeake Bay watershed, click here.   
• Choose the right grass. Select a grass that is well-adapted to your region. Cool-season grasses (such as bentgrass, Kentucky bluegrass, rough bluegrass, red fescue and perennial ryegrass) are ideal for homes across much of Washington D.C./Northern Virginia and Baltimore.
• Test your soil first. It may need less fertilizer than you think. Results should give you a good indication of the nutrients your lawn needs, as well as prevent over-fertilization, which can lead to phosphorus-rich soils. When it rains, that excess phosphorus is washed into storm drains and can enter Bay waterways. Homeowners can get an inexpensive and easy-to-use soil test kit by contacting their Cooperative Extension Agents in Maryland.  
• Don't bag your clippings. The extra bonus – less work for you! Leaving them on the lawn provides a natural source of nitrogen fertilizer. Be sure to spread them across your lawn – away from your storm drain – for optimum benefit. Also consider using them as compost.
• When should you fertilize? This depends on the grass varieties you have. For warm-season grasses, late spring through the summer months are best. If you have cool-season grasses, fall is optimal. Fertilizing during the proper times promotes root growth and results in a healthier, drought-tolerant lawn.  
• If you fertilize… Use a phosphorus-free formula. Most lawns already have sufficient phosphorus to meet their needs. In addition, check for options like "slow-release," which promotes a steady, uniform growth and is less likely to wash away as runoff. Also, sweep and pick up excess fertilizer off sidewalks, driveways, and other hard surfaces to prevent runoff. Don't fertilize when rain is in the immediate forecast and never fertilize when the ground is frozen.
• Don't forget to pick up after your pets. If left untouched, the nutrients in pet waste can infiltrate stormwater runoff and make their way into creeks, rivers, and ultimately the Bay. This results in increased nutrient loading, which threatens the integrity of our aquatic ecosystem. Furthermore, the presence of pet waste in runoff poses a threat for potential fecal bacteria contamination — a risk to ecological and human health.

In addition, consider building a rain garden with Mom using these simple, downloadable landscape plans offered on the campaign's website. Rain gardens, a shallow lawn depression filled with a variety of plants that collect water draining from roofs and driveways, are a fun and easy way to filter stormwater runoff, preventing it from entering nearby waterways.

For more information on landscaping tips and best practices, as well as a list of resources and professionals who provide "bay-friendly" landscaping services, please visit Plant More Plants. Here, you'll also find a $25 coupon towards the purchase of a tree at participating nurseries and garden centers through the Marylanders Plant Trees program