Homestead Garden Show

Davidsonville, MD, March 22, 2009: The New York Times recently reported the cancellation of several annual garden shows. They thought this mostly a result of the current economy but failed to notice the rise of the destination garden centers, which have become year-round garden shows. Indeed, Homestead Gardens has its own spring garden show.

A rain garden, and a basket of lettuces:











A bog garden:
A pond in a pot, and a "bay friendly" beach:











A vegetable garden with raised beds:
A salad garden, tomatoes in a pot:










Art in the garden:

Spring Tool Sharpening

It’s spring--time to sharpen your tools and knives.

Come to the alley behind 116 10th Street, SE, on Saturday morning (about 9:30-10:00), 28 March, and bring them to the tool man, John Vecchiarelli, who will sharpen them for reasonable prices.

Lawn mowers, clippers, loppers, knives, scissors, etc. All are welcome.

Jim Shelar Receives District I Award of Honor

March 12: Former Capitol Hill president Jim Shelar received the Award of Honor from District I, National Capital Area Garden Clubs, Inc. for his work for, and achievements in, the Capitol Hill Garden Club and the Capitol Hill community. Vickie Godwin, presently second vice president of NCAGC, presented the award to a surprised Jim Shelar.
Capitol Hill is one of 21 clubs in District I. [Unlike Gaul, NCAGC is divided in four parts.] Each year, each district selects one garden club member for the Award of Honor.

Also, at the District I Awards Meeting, Capitol Hill president Elvira Sisolak, on behalf of Capitol Hill, accepted award and achievement certificates for:
*Oustanding Garden Club (over 60 members)
*Outstanding Community Project
*Work at Historic Sites
*Education and Youth Programs
*NCAGC Plus One Membership
*Financial Supporters

Tropical Plants for the Mid-Atlantic

March 10: "Boca" Joe Seamone of Germantown, MD and "Panama" John Saia of the Virginia Palm Society evangelized the incorporation of tropicals--elephant ears, cannas, bananas and palms--into local landscapes at the club's March meeting.

David (l) introduced Panama John and Boca Joe (r):

Seamone said tropicals thrive in area summers and showed photos of plants growing from 12 inches in May to over 12 feet by September. He said they required soils with lots of organic matter and lots of water (though not more water than a typical perennial/annual bed). They recommended fertilizing with Milorganite (it's 5-2-0).

To obtain a tropical look, Seamone recommended planting "taros, cannas and bananas" 6-8 inches apart. He suggested underplanting with impatiens or geraniums.

Saia recommended the Dwarf Palmetto (Sabal minor) and the Needle Palm (Rhapidophyllum hystrix), which he said were native to this area before "the last ice age." They showed a photo of the now two-story Windmill Palm (Tracycarpus fortunei), that has thrived in Sterling, VA since 1994. Saia said these palms planted in this area needed to be winter protected for only the first three or four years and afterwords could fend for themselves.

An Early Spring

Washington, March 7: The first bloom:
At the Spring Antiques Show:












On the Hill: Daphne and crocus:

Bella Italia in Philadelphia

Philadelphia, March 6: The 2009 theme of the Philadelphia Flower Show was "Bella Italia." The entrance was Rome which was circled by Venice, San Remo, Milan, Tuscany, Florence and the Lake Region.

In Rome, the forum was re-imagined as the Villa D'Este:






























and with opera singers (play video to listen):

Venice featured an actual gondola on a canal:









and the interior of a palazzo:









Milan featured couture: flowery dresses:












Hats and perfume:









And (best of show) the shoes:


















Tuscany was sunny:









For Florence, the Duomo was turned into a gazebo:












Astilbe and wisteria bloomed in the Lake District:












San Remo was all palmettos, orchids and topiary bougainvillea:









Even "Italian" South Philly was represented:












Painting with pressed flowers caught our attention:












We liked these water features:









There was a kitchen garden and arbors:









A flower garden and a painted tree:












HORTICULTURE: It's a flower show, so some of the stars are individual plants!

Titan arum and Dasylirion longissimum:












Mammilaria and the orchid Masdevallia copper angel "Highland":









Lots and lots of orchids:









The orchid Dendrobium smilleaia and the Kohleria "Carnival":














Flower arranging and floral design:












Bare bulbs blooming:









Photographer and editor with green wall: