Beware the Spotted Lanternfly
Source: http://www.invasivespeciesva.org/species/spotted-lanternfly
A quick PSA before we get to the pod:
The spotted lanternfly has been spotted (ha!) in Albemarle county. This Chinese invasive is quite a menace, striking fear in the hearts of all farmers and gardeners. Please keep your eyes peeled for these guys—they’re not hard to identify given their striking spots. If you come across a spotted lanternfly, please follow these simple steps:
Kill it (Sorry, it’s a harsh world out there, folks!)
Report it here
Plant of the Week
Begonia grandis is the perfect share plant. Also known as the hearty begonia, this perennial is a noninvasive native of China. It spreads by seed, although I’ve seen little bits survive in my compost pile just like a choleus might. It grows in zones 6-7, which seems narrow, but given the C-shape of the zone, this includes the Northeast down to the Carolinas, Tennessee, over to Arizona and even parts of the Pacific South West. I like Begonia grandis for its good-looking foliage—pale olive green and heart-shaped leaves. Don’t let “grandis” fool you, its flowers aren’t big or bombastic, but rather subtle and sophisticated small pink flowers. It will accommodate wet or dry soil, and anywhere from partial sun to full shade. Very easy to edit and share, keep an eye out for Begonia grandis at your next plant swap.
Guest
This week, writer and gardener Marianne Wilburn joined me on the pod. She is a monthly columnist for the American Gardener Magazine, as well as a writer for Garden Rant. You can also find her personal blogs here. We talk about all things plant marketing, plant sharing, even the native vs. nonnative debate and the oh-so-controversial Lawn. I found her article “In Defense of Plants without Press” to be particularly inspiring. In the world of plant patents and marketing campaigns, what happens to those older plants without a publicity team? Wilburn and I discuss what is at stake in this new marketplace, and how we can preserve fantastic cultivars and species by being mindful consumers.
We also discuss these two of her more controversial takes: “In Defense of Inclusive Biodiversity” and “In Defense of Lawn.” We debate whether vilifying nonnatives and lawns and moralizing gardening can deter would-be gardeners from participating, leading to less biodiversity and less food for our precious pollinators. Is perfect the enemy of the good, here? Listen in and decide for yourself!
I had SO much fun chatting with Marianne Willburn. I could’ve talked to her for hours (really), but I spared you all.
Find Marianne on Instagram @smalltowngardener and on Facebook at The Small Town Gardener. Oh, and do go and check out her books Big Dreams, Small Gardens and Tropical Plants and How to Love Them.
The Play List
I’ve got one thing and one thing only to say to you: Order your spring bulbs RIGHT NOW!
This is not a drill, they are running out as we speak! I recommend the Colorblends bulb catalogue. I like them for their nifty bulb collections and the fact that they use plain english, my favorite kind of english. I also like Brent & Becky’s Bulbs.
Listen
Speaking of Brent and Becky, Brent Heath joined Joe Lamp’l on episode 224 of the Joe Gardener Show. Here are some of the highlights:
Order your bulbs now (seriously guys!)
Don’t forget you can plant in pots. Your tulips will be safer from hungry deer on your porch than in your yard.
Plant bulbs among perennials to hide the browning foliage.
Plant in full sun if you want your plants to perennialize.
Treat tulips as annuals and you’ll never be sad, only pleasantly surprised.
Listen in!