Every month, for the past year, I have posted my “Peg’s picks” of local gardening events. I post them on my website in chronological order and in the tab on the site called “classes, events.” I now have an entire year’s worth–June 2015 to June 2016–of events at the “classes, events” page. This is really useful for those who are new to the area or new to gardening as it allows people to see both the annual events and the variety of events in the Washington DC metropolitan area.
1, Wednesday, Summer Sweets, the Cook Sisters provide a cooking class on blueberries and melons, 12:00 to 1:30 pm, fee and registration required, Brookside Gardens, 1800 Glenallan Avenue, Wheaton, MD. (301) 962-1470 http://www.brooksidegardens.org
1, Wednesday, Top 10 Vegetable Plant Diseases, 7:00 to 9:00 pm. Wednesdays in the Garden Series at the Arlington Central Library, 1015 N. Quincy Street, Arlington, VA. Taught by Arlington Food Assistance Center volunteers and VCE Master Gardeners, free, no registration required. Library phone and website: http://www.library.arlingtonva.us (703) 228-5990. http://www.mgnv.org
1, Wednesday, Summer Pruning of Shrubs and Perennials, 7:00 to 8:00 pm. 1724 Hollinwood Drive, Alexandria, VA. Arlington County VCE Horticulture Agent Kirsten Buhls will demonstrate summer pruning techniques in the home landscape. Free and open to the public, advance registration requested at mgnv.org. If have questions, call (703) 228-6414 or e-mail mgarlalex@gmail.com (also offered on June 4 and 6, see below).
2, Thursday, Summer Sweets, the Cook sisters provide a cooking class on blueberries and melons, noon and repeated at 12:45. Free, no need to register. Also offered on June 30. U.S. Botanic Garden, 245 First Street, SW, Washington DC; (202) 225-8333. http://www.usbg.gov
2, Thursday, Lecture by Phil Goetkin and Edgar Deskins on Creating a Native Meadow and Native Woodland Gardens at Wolf Trap, 7:00 pm. Rust Library, 380 Old Waterford Road, NW, Leesburg, VA. Free and sponsored by the Loudoun County Master Gardeners. http://www.loudouncountymastergardeners.org
2, Thursday, Growing, Drying and Freezing Herbs, 12:15 to 12:45 pm. East Walk of the Smithsonian Enid A. Haupt Garden, Smithsonian, Washington, DC. Part of the Let’s Talk Gardens Series hosted by Smithsonian Gardens horticulturists. Free. (202) 633-2220. http://gardens.si.edu
2, Thursday, special 45th Ladew anniversary lecture by Dennis vanEngelsdorp, Ph.D., “For the Love of Bees.” Lecture at 7:00 pm; dinner from 5:00 to 6:45. Fee and must register. Ladew Topiary Gardens, 3535 Jarrettsville Pike, Monkton, MD. (410) 557-9570 ext. 261 or rhebert@ladewgardens.com. http://www.ladewgardens.com
3, Friday, Container Gardening Talk, 1:30 to 2:30 pm. Presented by Master Gardeners. Fee and must register. Green Spring Gardens, 4603 Green Spring Road, Alexandria, VA. (703) 642-5173. http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/greenspring/
4, Saturdays in the Garden, Keep Your Garden Growing Strong (vegetable garden maintenance and problems), 10:00 to 11:00 am. Sponsored by the Loudoun County Master Gardeners, held in the demonstration garden, Ida Lee Park, Leesburg, VA. Free. http://www.loudouncountymastergardeners.org
4, Saturday, Summer Pruning of Shrubs and Perennials, 1:00 to 3:00 pm, 2758 N. Wyoming Street, Arlington, VA. Arlington County VCE Horticulture Agent Kirsten Buhls will demonstrate summer pruning techniques in the home landscape, free and open to the public, advance registration requested at mgnv.org. If have questions, call (703) 228-6414 or e-mail mgarlalex@gmail.com (also offered on June 1, see above, and June 6, see below).
4, Saturday, Behnkes Garden Party, 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. Free. Behnke Nurseries Garden Center, 11300 Baltimore Avenue, Beltsville, MD; (301) 937-1100. http://www.behnkes.com
4, Saturday and 5, Sunday, Annual Secret Garden Tour of Annapolis, 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. Fee and can register in advance or pay on day of. (410) 263-4683 extension 14. http://www.hammondharwoodhouse.org/secret-garden-tour/
5, Sunday, Horticultural Society of Maryland Garden Tour: Roland Park, Guilford, and Tuscany-Canterbury. A walking tour of 7 urban gardens, rain or shine, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Free to HSM members; non-members pay $35 in advance at HSM’s website or $40 at first garden site on day of (see website for first garden’s address). Call (410) 821-5561 for more information. http://www.mdhorticulture.org
5, Sunday, Brookland House & Garden Tour (in Washington DC), noon to 5:00 pm. Sponsored by the Greater Brookland Garden Club. Admission fee. http://www.greaterbrooklandgardenclub.org
6, Monday, Summer Pruning of Shrubs and Perennials, 7:00 to 8:30 pm, Mt. Vernon Recreation Center, 2701 Commonwealth Avenue, Alexandria, VA. Arlington County VCE Horticulture Agent Kirsten Buhls will demonstrate summer pruning techniques in the home landscape. Free, advance registration requested at mgnv.org. If have questions, call (703) 228-6414 or e-mail mgarlalex@gmail.com (also offered on June 1 and June 4, see above).
7, Tuesday, Simpson Gardens Stroll, 11:00 am to noon, 420 E. Monroe Street, Alexandria, VA (by the YMCA). Master Gardeners who maintain the Simpson Park Demonstration Gardens will answer gardening questions and describe what is blooming in the garden, free, no need to register, just drop by. http://www.mgnv.org
8, Wednesday, Getaways: Private Estate Gardens Tour in Pennsylvania and Maryland, 6:15 am to 6:15 pm (all day), fee and must register. Green Spring Gardens, 4603 Green Spring Road, Alexandria, VA. Call (703) 642-5173 for more information. http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/greenspring/
8, Wednesday, Non-Native Invasive Plant Removal, 6:00-9:00 pm. Casey Trees, 3030 12th Street, NE, Washington, DC. Free but must register. This is a two-part class, the first part is in a classroom setting and the second part is the field session (outdoors) on June 11, 9:00 to 11:30 am, at Rock Creek Parkway. (202) 833-4010. http://www.caseytrees.org
8, Wednesdays in the Garden Series: Weeds, Mulches, Tillage, 7:00-9:00 pm. Arlington Central Library, 1015 N. Quincy Street, Arlington, VA. Taught by Arlington Food Assistance Center volunteers and VCE Master Gardeners, free, no registration required. Library phone and website: http://www.library.arlingtonva.us (703) 228-5990. http://www.mgnv.org
9, Thursday, Small Space Food Gardens. 12:15 to 12:45 pm East Walk of the Smithsonian Enid A. Haupt Garden, Smithsonian, Washington, DC. Part of the Let’s Talk Gardens Series hosted by Smithsonian Gardens horticulturists. Free. (202) 633-2220. http://www.gardens.si.edu
11, Saturday, Annual DC Plant Swap, 11:00 am. Co-hosted by Washington Gardener magazine and the U.S. National Arboretum. Free. Held at the R Street parking lot of the National Arboretum, 3501 New York Avenue, NE, Washington DC. http://www.usna.usda.gov http://www.washingtongardener.blogspot.com
11, Saturday and 12, Sunday, Virginia Herb Festival, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm both days. Hosted by the Sunflower Cottage Herb Farm, 150 Ridgemont Road, Middletown, VA. Admission fee. http://www.virginiaherbfestival.com
12, Sunday in the Organic Vegetable Garden at Potomac Overlook Park, 1:00 to 4:00 pm. Potomac Overlook Park, 2845 Marcey Road, Arlington, VA. Master gardeners who maintain the garden will be available to answer question about organic gardening. Free, no registration necessary. http://www.mgnv.org
12, Sunday, Eastport Home and Garden Tour (Annapolis, MD), 1-5 pm. Fee. http://www.eastportcivic.org
14, Tuesday, Seed Saving, 7:00 to 8:30 pm. Barrett Branch Library, 717 Queen Street, Alexandria, VA. Free, advance registration requested at mgnv.org. If have questions, call (703) 228-6414 or e-mail mgarlalex@gmail.com
14, Tuesday, Flower Shrub Care, 9:30 am. Presented by Ladew’s horticulturists. Free for Ladew members; fee for non-members. Must register. Ladew Topiary Gardens, 3535 Jarrettsville Pike, Monkton, MD. (410) 557-9570. http://www.ladewgardens.com
15, Wednesdays in the Garden Series: Insect Pests and Beneficial Pests, 7:00 to 9:00 pm, Arlington Central Library, 1015 N. Quincy Street, Arlington VA. Taught by Arlington Food Assistance Center volunteers and VCE Master Gardeners, free, no registration required. Library phone and website: http://www.library.arlingtonva.us (703) 228-5990. http://www.mgnv.org
16, Thursday, Road Trip: A Delaware Gardens Sample, 7:00 am to 4:00 pm (all day). Fee and registration required. Brookside Gardens, 1800 Glenallan Avenue, Wheaton, MD. (301) 962-1470. http://www.brooksidegardens.org
16, Thursday, Pollinator Gardens, 12:15 to 12:45 pm, East Walk of the Smithsonian Enid A. Haupt Garden, Smithsonian, Washington, DC. Part of the Let’s Talk Gardens Series hosted by Smithsonian Gardens horticulturists. Free. (202) 633-2220. http://www.gardens.si.edu
17, Friday, Ornamental Grasses Talk by Master Gardeners, 1:30 to 2:30 pm. Fee and must register, Green Spring Gardens, 4603 Green Spring Road, Alexandria, VA. (703) 642-5173. http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/greenspring/
18, Saturdays in the Garden: Lessons from the deer resistant garden, the woodland garden and the four season garden, 9:00 am to noon. The Teaching Garden at the Benedictine Monastery, 9535 Linton Hall Road, Bristow, VA. Presented by Prince William County Master Gardeners. Outside, dress appropriate. Free but must register. http://www.mgpw.org
18, Saturday, Growing Edibles in Containers, Burke Branch Library, 4701 Seminary Road, Alexandria, VA. Free, advance registration requested at mgnv.org. Call if have questions (703) 228-6414 or e-mail mgarlalex@gmail.com
21, Tuesday, Invasive Plant ID and Control, 9:30 am. Presented by Ladew’s horticulturists. Free for Ladew members; fee for non-members. Must register. Ladew Topiary Gardens, 3535 Jarrettsville Pike, Monkton, MD. (410) 557-9570. http://www.ladewgardens.com
21, Tuesday, Getaway: Dumbarton Oaks and Tudor Place and enjoy afternoon tea at Tudor Place (Georgetown), 11:15 am to 5:45 pm. Fee and must register. Green Spring Gardens, 4603 Green Spring Road, Alexandria, VA. (703) 642-5173. http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/greenspring/
22, Solar Cooking, Wednesdays in the Garden Series, 7:00 to 9:00 pm. Arlington Central Library, 1015 N. Quincy Street, Arlington, VA. Taught by Arlington Food Assistance Center volunteers and VCE Master Gardeners, free, no registration required. Library phone and website: http://www.library.arlingtonva.us (703) 228-5990. http://www.mgnv.org
23, Thursday, Let’s Talk Hops, 12:15 to 12:45 pm, East Walk of the Smithsonian Enid A. Haupt garden, Smithsonian, Washington, DC. Part of the Let’s Talk Gardens Series hosted by Smithsonian Gardens horticulturists. Free. (202) 633-2220. http://www.gardens.si.edu
27, Monday, Mosquito Control: Gardening in the time of Zika. 7:00 to 8:30 pm. Beatley Central Library, 5005 Duke Street, Alexandria, VA. Free, advance registration requested at mgnv.org. Call if have questions (703) 228-6414 or e-mail mgarlalex@gmail.com
29, Wednesday, Made in the Shade, Wednesdays in the Garden Series, 7:00 to 9:00 pm. Arlington Central Library, 1015 N. Quincy Street, Arlington, VA. Taught by Arlington Food Assistance Center volunteers and VCE Master Gardeners, free, no registration required. Library phone and website: http://www.library.arlingtonva.us (703) 228-5990. http://www.mgnv.org
30, Thursday, Summer Sweets, the Cook Sisters provide a cooking class on blueberries and melons, noon and repeated at 12:45, Free and no need to register. Repeated on June 2. U.S. Botanic Garden, 245 First Street, SW, Washington DC; (202) 225-8333. http://www.usbg.gov
30, Thursday, Top Native Plants for the Home Landscape, 12:15 to 12:45 pm. East Walk of the Smithsonian Enid A. Haupt garden, Smithsonian, Washington, DC. Part of the Let’s Talk Gardens Series hosted by Smithsonian Gardens horticulturists. (202) 633-2220. http://www.gardens.si.edu.
Don’t forget to visit the U.S. Botanic Garden’s exhibit called “Flourish Inside and Out.” Several related lectures will be given throughout the summer. http://www.usbg.gov
Remember the DC Parks and Recreation has a Summer Garden Workshop Series. More than 50 free workshops every Monday, Wednesday and various Saturdays from April 18th to September 28th. Focused on practical urban gardening and taught by the leaders of DC urban garden movement. Monday Classes: 6:30-8:30pm – Deanwood Rec – 1350 49th St. NE; Wednesday Classes: 6:30-8:30pm – Raymond Rec – 3725 10th St. NE; Saturday Classes: 10-12pm – Times and locations vary. Check registration for more details:
http://bit.ly/UrbanGardeningPrograms
A full schedule flyer is at this link
For more info about all DPR Urban Garden Programs click on this link
http://dpr.dc.gov/service/urban-garden-programs
