Most of my time in the recent past has been occupied by the Green Cup of Polo being held this Saturday at 12:00pm at the Capitol Polo Club in Poolesville, MD. If you’ve got the time and a bit of resistance to the hot and humid skies of the mid-Atlantic US, come out. I hope to see you there.

*Money raised from this event will benefit ACORE , EPIC and EarthEcho.

Me (and my dog), Not Catching Trout

Riddle me this: What is both a food and a drug and not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)?
Answer: A potherb.

Wild Peppermint

Okay, that might have been a lame riddle – but it’s the only thing I could think of as an introduction to the wild world of WEEDS. Actually, the reason why I’m even on this subject is because of a West Virginia camping trip to Seneca Creek/ Rock/ Spruce Knob. While I was canoeing and trout fishing in the Potomac River there, I came across a corn field. And on the side of this cornfield (which I was browsing through on a bathroom break) were stems upon stems of wild peppermint plants. I knew they were potherbs (or weeds) for the corn farmer because he looked like he’d previously taken a huge effort to keep them out of his fields. So, I helped myself to 9 plants (roots and all) and planted them after my return from the river.

Most people know that wild peppermint and cultivated peppermint are used for their oils and to reduce the feelings of irritated bowel syndrome (IBS). But other weeds along the mid-Atlantic east coast may be less known but are just as useful and even more nutritious. So nutritious, they could even be added to ..hmm…say canning recipes! (note: I’ll have to experiment.)

Some of the most widely known and easily accessible weeds that can keep you from going hungry if you live on the mid-Atlantic east coast are: 1. chickweed, 2. dandelion, 3. lambsquater, 4. nettle, 5. purslane, and 6. violet. Most of these weeds contain vitamin C and possess other healthy benefits. They are also easily identifiable.

For more information on edible weeds and other herbal health, check out the spring 2009 edition of Edible Chesapeake or Kim Lynch and her site about cultivating health at www.Cultivating-Health.com.

First Tomatos of the Year (2009)

Four out of the five tomato plants growing each have at least one tomato on the vine. This, already, is exceptionally more productive than last year where only one 6ft plant bore fruit at the end of the summer.

What I think has been most helpful in this year is the amount of rain we’ve gotten here in Northern Virginia this spring/ summer. Between May 23rd and May 30th (today) alone we have had between four and eight inches of mosquito friendly rain.

Rain, May 23rd to May 30th, 2009

In addition, I’ve been making sure that the soil pH stays close to 7.0, never reaching above 7.5. I’m also trying a method of removing some (not all) of the larger leaves from the vines once the fruit has started to grow.

Tomato Leaf

This should hopefully route more water to the fruits of the plants rather than to the leaves…hopefully resulting in a juicy, plump tomato. If you plan on using this in your garden – don’t clip too many larger leaves. Some leaves are needed in order to shade the tomatoes and keep them from drying out or burning. I try and keep a decent equilibrium but the true results of this method will come at the end of the growing season.

American Hazel and Bur Oak Trees

For all of the residents of Nauck who participated in the Arlington Trees for Residents Program thank you so much for your enthusiasm and support! To further assist any residents in their process of tree planting I have decided to make planting instructions as well as tree/ shrub specific information available through this post, below. Feel free to share any of your planting tips, questions, or concerns for your trees/ shrubs by commenting to this blog post.

Planting Instructions (information from Arlington County)

Digging the Hole

• Dig the hole approximately the same width as the root spread of the tree
• Hole should not be too deep. First look at the arrangement of the roots and dig the hole appropriately.

Removal, Spreading of Roots, Placement

• Remove the stem carefully.
• Carefully spread the roots while backfilling with the soil that is in the container.
• Make sure you can see the “flare” (where tree is slightly larger) at the base of the tree.
• The flare should be 2” above the hole (don’t plant too deep).

Finishing the Job

• Place tree in the middle of the hole.
• Check that you can see root flare 2” above hole and that the trunk is straight.
• Backfill with native soil and lightly tamp down to eliminate air pockets.
• Do not compress the soil.
• Create a water holding basin.
• Mulch w/shredded mulch in a 3’ circle, 2” deep, 4” away from trunk.

Watering, Mulching

• Trees MUST be watered weekly for first 1-2 years.
• Slow, 1-2 hour trickle best.
• If we get 1” of rain/week, that should be okay.

Pruning

• ONLY prune dead, dying, or rubbing/crossing branches in first year.

Structural/aesthetic pruning best in winter when tree is dormant.

American Hazel, American Filbert

DescriptionA large, deciduous, rhizomatous, thicket forming shrub from 3′-10′ tall.Leaves 3″-5″ long, Fruit an acorn-like nut enclosed in two leafy bracts, Trunk straight, with spreading, ascending branches, Habitat Along streams, hedgerows, meadows, woodlands, roadsides, and forest margins, Grows best on rich, moist, well-drained soils, Shade tolerant, it can grow under a light intensity of 15% or less; even as low as 1%.

Bur Oak

Attributes: In addition to its notable strength, Bur Oak has other attributes that make it a splendid tree for urban landscapes. It provides food for squirrels, dense shade, and is resistant to air pollution and heat stress. Its generally slow growth is compensated by longevity that may exceed 200 to 300 years. Description: Tolerant of a variety of moisture and soil conditions, adapts well to urban settings. Its fringed acorns are food for wildlife. A very long-lived tree. Prefers full sun. Grows 70′ to 80′, 80′ spread. (zones 3-8) Wildlife Value: Bur oak acorns are at the top of the food preference list for wood ducks, wild turkeys, whitetail deer, rabbits, mice, squirrels and other rodents.