WASHINGTON GARDENER
in the landscape as an edging, in containers, in mass groupings, and as a single specimen plant. Boxwood can be fast-growing or slow. They also come in many dif- ferent shapes — from upright and columnar to round and full. There are varieties that have longer leaves, variegated foliage, and even min- iature ones. Avoid English boxwood ( Buxus sempervirens ‘Suffruti - cosa’ ), if your nose objects to the strong boxwood scent. The other boxwood species are fairly scent-free. The best time to plant boxwood is in the early spring or early fall. It prefers a neutral soil pH between 6.5 – 7.0. After planting, make sure to water the shrub consistently. However, boxwood hate soggy roots, so don’t plant them in wet areas or near downspouts. Don’t plant boxwood too close to your home’s foundation or right next to sidewalk and driveway edges either. They will need room to spread and grow. They also have shallow root systems and do not like anything planted under them. It is best to mulch lightly and never use stone or marble chips around them. Boxwood is fairly deer-resistant, but has some disease and insect pressures. For a healthier planting, choose a boxwood variety from the newer blight-resistant introductions. You will also need to thin the plant’s interior growth periodically to assure good air circulation and sunlight gets inside. You can see extensive boxwood collections at public gardens in the Mid-Atlantic region, such as the National Boxwood Collection at the US National Arboretum, and the more than 160 boxwood cultivars on display at the Virginia State Arboretum at Blandy . You can find out more about boxwood at the American Boxwood Society’s website: www.boxwoodsociety.org. Paperwhites Paperwhites ( Narcissus
them up as gifts for everyone on your list. I like to place them individually in votive candle holders or heavy-bottom rocks glasses then line them up on windowsills, down the middle of a dining table, along the fireplace mantel, or singly next to the bathroom sink. You can also take a large glass bowl or tall vase and place several bulbs together to make a small “forest” of paper- whites. I have used fishbowls, teapots, and old watering cans; really anything that is water-tight can be used, so look around your home for inspiration. To anchor the bulbs in and prevent them from toppling over as they grow leggy, you can place the bulbs in a variety of decorative media, from aquarium pebbles to glass marbles. (You can always use potting soil to plant them in.) I like to use hydrating water beads you can get from florist supply and craft sources. They come in many shades, but I tend to stick with the classic clear ones. Whatever media you use, keep the water level only up to about the bulb’s bottom hip area, so as not to rot it. If your home is as dry as mine in winter, you will need to top off the water every few days, so keep an eye on that. Once “potted,” place them in a sunny window until the leaves emerge and a stalk with flower buds starts to form (usually about 10 days to 2 weeks); then place them wherever you’d like to display them. After the flowers start to fade, pull the bulbs out of the water and pry off any marbles/stones/glass that you want to re-use next year then throw out the whole plant in your compost pile. In our Mid-Atlantic USA region, they are not winter-hardy, so there is no need to try and plant or save them for next season. Warning! The scent of paperwhite blooms is a love/hate thing. I personally fall on the “not-my-favorite smell” end of things, so I keep paperwhites in well-ventilated rooms and out of any bedrooms. If you really cannot stand the scent, there are paperwhite varieties that are lighter in fragrance than the mass-produced ‘Ziva’ that you find every - where. These include ‘Inbal’ and ‘Galilee.’ continued on page 46
papyraceus ) is a white-flow - ering daffodil relative that is hardy to zones 8-11. Forcing these bulbs into bloom is a great holiday sea- son project for beginning gar- deners and children. These bulbs are of Mediterranean origin and come pre-chilled for you, so they are virtual- ly ready to “pop” into bloom once you place them in wa- ter. They are generally inex- pensive, around $1-$2 each, so you can buy several and pot
Bethesda Therapeutic Massage
Marcia A. Snyder, L.M.T. Director Nationally Certified in Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork Member, American Massage Therapy Association Swedish, Deep Tissue, Myofascial Release, Reiki Practitioner 301-649-4216 www.bethesdatherapeuticmassage.com
PATHWAYS—Winter 23—45
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