So many gardening events in February, this list is too long!
2/6, Saturday, Washington Gardener Magazine Seed Exchange 12:30-4 pm. Washington Gardener Magazine is co-hosting the Seed Exchange at Green Spring Gardens with lectures, face-to-face seed swap and more. $15 for verified Friends of Green Spring members (FROGS) and WG subscribers; $20 for other guests. Green Spring Gardens, 4603 Green Spring Road, Alexandria, VA 22312. Register at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/greenspring using code 290 101 3301 for FROGS and WG subscribers and code 290 101 3302 for all other guests or call 703-642-5173.
2/6, Saturday, Sustainable Vegetable Gardening Series, presented by the Virginia Cooperative Extension of Prince William County. Chinn Library, 13065 Chinn Park Drive, Woodbridge, VA 22192. 2/6, 2/13, and 3/5, 10:30 am to 1:00 pm. Classes are free but limited to 60 people; register in advance, e-mail master_gardener@pwcgov.org or call (703) 792-7747. Taught by Master Gardener Cook’s Garden Team. http://www.pwcgov.org/government/dept/vce/Pages/ENR-Program-Information.aspx.
2/6, Saturday, Lecture: Ignite Your Garden with Spring Wildflowers, by Rick Lewandowski, Director of Shangri La Botanical Gardens and Nature Center, 10:30 am to noon. Free but must register. In Conservatory Classroom at U.S. Botanic Garden, 245 First Street SW, Washington DC 20024; (202) 225-8333. http://www.usbg.gov
2/6, Saturday, Lecture: The Allure of Native Shrubs and Trees for the Garden, by Rick Lewandowski, Director of Shangri La Botanical Gardens and Nature Center, 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm. Free but must register. In Conservatory Classroom at U.S. Botanic Garden, 245 First Street SW, Washington DC 20024; (202) 225-8333. http://www.usbg.gov
2/7, Sunday, Lecture: Natives in Containers, 1:30-2:30 pm. Plantswoman Julie Borneman shows you how to beautify and increase the wildlife value of any space by container gardening with native plants. $10/person for advance registration ($12 for out-of-county registrants) or $12 at the door. Green Spring Gardens, 4603 Green Spring Rd, Alexandria, VA 22312. Register online at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/greenspring using code 290 182 1901 or call 703-642-5173.
2/9, Tuesday, Vegetable Gardening: Planning and Seeding 7:00 to 8:30 pm, Senior Lounge, Walter Reed Recreation Center, 2909 16th Street South, Arlington 22204. Free, register in advance. Taught by VCE Master Gardeners. Same topic presented on 2/16 and 2/20. (703) 228-6414 or e-mail mgarlalex@gmail.com. http://www.mgnv.org
2/11, Thursday, Cooking Demonstration with Ancient (Heirloom) Beans by Adrienne and Danielle Cook, 12:00 to 12:45 and repeated at 12:45 to 1:30 pm. Free, no pre-registration required. Same presentation/times on Wednesday 2/17. Conservatory Garden Court at the U.S. Botanic Garden, 245 First Street SW, Washington DC 20024; (202) 225-8333. http://www.usbg.gov
2/12, Friday, Garden Talks with Master Gardeners: Herb Gardening, 1:30-2:30 pm, Master Gardeners give advice on choosing the best herbs and how to make them flourish in your garden or container. $10/person. Green Spring Gardens, 4603 Green Spring Road, Alexandria, VA 22312. Register online at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/greenspring using code 290 182 2701 or call 703-642-5173.
2/13, Saturday, Starting From Scratch with Seeds, 9:30-11 am. Green Spring propagator and horticulturist Judy Zatsick will discuss potting mixes, containers, seed treatments, lighting, fertilization, watering, seed sources and timing. Take home a few seeds to start your own collection. $22/person. Green Spring Gardens, 4603 Green Spring Road, Alexandria, VA 22312. Register online at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/greenspring using code 290 187 4201 or call 703-642-5173.
2/13, Saturday, Basic Landscape Design, 10 to 11:00 am. Free; must pre-register, e-mail Misty Kuceris at misty@burkenursery.com or call (703) 323-1188, Burke Nursery and Garden Centre, 9401 Burke Road, Burke VA 22015. http://www.burkenursery.org
2/16, Tuesday, 7:00 to 9:30 pm Seed Starting for the Vegetable Garden by Gordon Clark, owner of Montgomery Victory Gardens. Fee and must register for class #8022, at Visitor Center Adult Classroom, Brookside Gardens, 1800 Glenallan Avenue, Wheaton, MD 20902. http://www.brooksidegardens.org.
2/16, Tuesday, Vegetable Gardening: Planning and Seeding 7:00 to 8:30 pm, Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library, 717 Queen Street, Alexandria, VA 22314. Taught by VCE Master Gardeners. Same topic presented on 2/9 and 2/20. Free; register in advance, call (703) 228-6414 or e-mail mgarlalex@gmail.com. http://www.mgnv.org
2/17, Wednesday, Cooking Demonstration with Ancient (Heirloom) Beans, free, no pre-registration required, Conservatory Garden Court, 12:00 to 12:45 and repeated at 12:45 to 1:30 (same presentation/times on Thursday 2/11). U.S. Botanic Garden, 245 First Street SW, Washington DC 20024; (202) 225-8333. http://www.usbg.gov
2/18, Thursday, Spring Ahead with Cool Season Flowers presented by Lisa Ziegler. A Horticultural Magazine webinar at 2:00 pm ET. Free; register at http://hortmag.com
2/19, Friday, Everything You Wanted to Know About Pruning (But Were Afraid to Ask!) by Jim Deramus, Brookside Gardens staff. 1:00 to 2:30 pm. Fee; must register for class #8023. Visitor Center Adult Classroom, Brookside Gardens, 1800 Glenallan Avenue, Wheaton, MD 20902. http://www.brooksidegardens.org
2/20, Saturday, The Basics of Gardening: A Series of Classes for the Serious Gardener presented by the Virginia Cooperative Extension of Prince William County. 2/20, 2/27, and 3/12, 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. Powell’s Creek, McCoart Administration Building, 1 County Complex Court, Woodbridge, VA 22193; $5/class or $10 for series of three classes, includes light refreshments and materials. Register in advance, e-mail master_gardener@pwcgov.org or call (703) 792-7747. Taught by Master Gardeners. http://www.pwcgov.org/government/dept/vce/Pages/ENR-Program-Information.aspx
2/20, Saturday, Eco-Savvy Symposium: Water-Wise Gardening, 9 am-4 pm. Learn practical, water-wise gardening techniques and creative solutions to conserve, capture, contain and sustain this precious natural resource. Fee and must register. Green Spring Gardens, 4603 Green Spring Road, Alexandria, VA 22312. Register online at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/greenspring using code 290 188 5501 or call 703-642-5173.
2/20, Saturday, Pruning Class, 1:30 to 3:30, taught by Rachel Habig-Meyers. Hosted by the Virginia Cooperative Extension of Prince William County. In the Teaching Garden at St. Benedict Monastery, 9424 Linton Hall Road, Bristow, VA. Classroom and hands on, dress for weather, free; register in advance, space is limited. E-mail master_gardener@pwcgov.org or call (703) 792-7747. http://www.pwcgov.org/government/dept/vce/Pages/ENR-Program-Information.aspx
2/20, Saturday, Vegetable Gardening: Planning and Seeding 10:30 am to noon, Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library, 4701 Seminary Road, Alexandria, VA 22304. Taught by VCE Master Gardeners. Same topic presented on 2/9 and 2/16. Free; must register in advance. (703) 228-6414 or e-mail mgarlalex@gmail.com. http://www.mgnv.org
2/20, Saturday, Designing a Sustainable, Manageable Yard, 9:00 am to 12:30 pm, Fairlington Community Center, 3308 S. Stafford Street, Arlington VA 22206. Taught by VCE Master Gardeners. Free; must register in advance. (703) 228-6414 or e-mail mgarlalex@gmail.com. http://www.mgnv.org
2/20, Saturday, 2016 Spring Gardening Conference: “Exploding the Myths: Fascinating Facts to Help You Avoid Common Gardening Mythstakes! 8:30 am to 2:30 pm. University of Maryland Extension Montgomery County Office, 18410 Muncaster Road, Derwood, MD 20855. Presented by the Montgomery County Master Gardeners. For more information, contact Terri Valenti at mc.growit@gmail.com. Fee and must register at http://mcmgconference.eventbrite.com. Snow date is February 27. https://extension.umd.edu/growit/montgomery-county-vegetable-gardening-classes-and-events
2/20 & 2/21, Saturday and Sunday, Plants to Support Wildlife, Behnke Nurseries, 2:00 pm, free and must register. Behnke Nurseries, 11300 Baltimore Avenue, Beltsville, MD (301) 937-1100. http://www.behnkes.com
2/21, Sunday, Lecture: Mt. Cuba Plant Trials, 1:30-2:30 pm. Hear about Mt. Cuba Center’s ongoing trials of native plants and their related cultivars from the center’s education and research director, Eileen Boyle. Learn about the center’s partnership with Dr. Doug Tallamy to test the ecological value of the trial plants. $10/person for advance registration ($12 for out-of-county registrants) or $12 at the door. Green Spring Gardens, 4603 Green Spring Road, Alexandria, VA 22312. Register online at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/greenspring using code 290 182 1801 or call 703-642-5173.
2/21, Sunday, Planting in a Post-Wild World: Designing Plant Communities for Resilient Landscapes, presented by Thomas Rainer, co-author of book, “Planting in a Post-Wild World: Designing Plant Communities for Resilient Landscapes,” 2-4 pm. Books will be available for sale and book signing will occur after the presentation. Manassas Park Community Center, 99 Adams Street, Manassas, VA 20111; free; must register in advance, hosted by the Virginia Cooperative Extension of Prince William County. E-mail master_gardener@pwcgov.org or call (703) 792-7747. http://www.pwcgov.org/government/dept/vce/Pages/ENR-Program-Information.aspx
2/25, Thursday, Gorgeous Superhero Flowering Shrubs and Groundcovers for Right-Size Flower Gardens, by Kerry Ann Mendez, 2:00 pm EST. A Horticulture Magazine webinar, free, register at http://hortmag.com
2/26, Friday, Garden Talks with Master Gardeners: Small Space Veggie Gardening, 1:30-2:30 pm. Master Gardeners will demonstrate how to grow vegetables in limited space. $10/person. Green Spring Gardens, 4603 Green Spring Road, Alexandria, VA 22312. Register online at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/greenspring using code 290 184 5401 or call 703-642-5173.
2/27, Saturday, Don’t Waste Space: Small Scale Vegetable Garden for Everyone, Behnke Nurseries, 2:00 pm, free and must register. Behnke Nurseries, 11300 Baltimore Avenue, Beltsville, MD (301) 937-1100. http://www.behnkes.com
2/27, Saturday, Beginning Beekeeping, 11 am-12:30 pm. Discover what it takes to begin beekeeping from Mount Vernon’s beekeeper, John Ferree. Class takes place indoors as well as outdoors at Green Spring’s beehives. $12/person. Green Spring Gardens, 4603 Green Spring Road, Alexandria, VA 22312. Register online at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/greenspring using code 290 102 2601 or call 703-642-5173.
2/27, Saturday, RootingDC, 9:00 am to 4:30 pm, free all day gardening forum (but a $10 donation is suggested). Wilson High School, 3950 Chesapeake Street NW, Washington DC 20016. Hosted by DC Greens. Can register in advance or walk in. http://www.rootingdc.org
2/27, Saturday, “Perennially Inspired,” a day-long seminar with five horticultural experts, 8:45 am to 4:00 pm. Hosted by the Perennial Plant Association and the Horticultural Society of Maryland. Sheppard Pratt Conference Center, 6501 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21204. Fee; must register online or mail at http://www.mdhorticulture.org
2/27 & 2/28, Saturday and Sunday, The Basics of Creating Compost and Using Fertilizer to Improve Your Garden, Behnke Nurseries, 11:00 am, free and must register. Behnke Nurseries, 11300 Baltimore Avenue, Beltsville, MD (301) 937-1100. http://www.behnkes.com
2/28, Sunday, Choosing the Right Gardens Tools and How to Keep Them for Life, Behnke Nurseries, 2:00 pm, free and must register. Behnke Nurseries, 11300 Baltimore Avenue, Beltsville, MD (301) 937-1100. http://www.behnkes.com
2/28, Sunday, Lecture: Garden Design from Nature, 1:30-2:30 pm. Thomas Rainer and Claudia West, leaders in ecological landscape design, reveal how plants fit together in nature and how you can use this knowledge to create a home landscape that is resilient, beautiful, and diverse. Book signing follows lecture. $10/person for advance registration ($12 for out-of-county registrants) or $12 at the door. Green Spring Gardens, 4603 Green Spring Road, Alexandria, VA 22312. Register online at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/greenspring using code 290 182 2201 or call 703-642-5173.
Two series of three beekeeping classes hosted by Greenstreet Gardens and presented by Azure B LLC. First series is at the Greenstreet Gardens Lothian store, 391 West Bay Front Road, Lothian, MD, on Saturday 2/6 and 2/13. 10:30 to 1:30. Third class is at the apiary on Saturday March 26 10 to 1:00 pm at Azure B LLC in Marbury, MD (the apiary). $80 for all three classes; register with Greenstreet Gardens. Second series is at the Greenstreet Garden store at 1721 Braddock Road, Alexandria, VA, on Sunday, 2/21, and 2/28, 1:00 to 4:00 pm. Third class is at Azure B LLC in Marbury, MD (the apiary) on March 26, 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. http://www.greenstreetgardens.com
Merrifield Garden Center has Saturday seminars at their three locations, all starting at 10:00 am. The three classes that were scheduled for January 23 were rescheduled for Saturday February 6 at 2:00 pm (Delicious Landscapes at Merrifield location; Winter Vignettes at Fair Oaks; and Indoor Gardening at Gainesville). Free, no need to register in advance. http://www.merrifieldgardencenter.com
2/6: Designing a Garden for Children, Merrifield (M), 8132 Lee Highway, Merrifield VA 22116; Low Maintenance Gardening, Fair Oaks (FO), 12101 Lee Highway, Fairfax, VA 22030; Seed Starting, Gainesville (G), 6895 Wellington Road, Gainesville, VA 20156
2/13: Great Plant Combinations, M; Just for Kids, FO; Landscape Renovations, G
2/20: Using Stone in the Landscape, M; Boxwood and Flowering Shrubs, FO; Gardening for the Birds, G
2/27: Prune Like a Pro Part 1, M; Gardening with Native Plants, FO; Creating Real Curb Appeal, G
