Peg’s Picks: September 2017 Gardening Events in the Washington DC Metro Area

More than 80 gardening events in the Washington DC Metro Area this September!

2, Saturday, Beginner Hands-On Bonsai Class, 2:00 to 4:00 pm, fee and registration required. Behnke Nurseries Garden Center, 11300 Baltimore Avenue, Beltsville, MD. http://www.behnkes.com

2, Saturday, Orchid Diagnostic and Repotting Clinic. 9:30 am to 4:30 pm. Free but fee to re-pot an orchid. Behnke Nurseries Garden Center, 11300 Baltimore Avenue, Beltsville, MD. http://www.behnkes.com

3, Sunday, Wolf Trap’s Native Meadow: A Backstage Tour, presentation by Phil Goetkin on the Wolf Trap Native Meadow and Sustainability Practices. Sponsored by the Friends of Wolf Trap. Free. 1:00 to 3:00 pm. Wolf Trap, 1551 Trap Road, Vienna VA. More information on the Friends of Wolf Trap page on Facebook.

6, Wednesday, Cover Crops for Healthy Soil, Wednesdays in the Garden Series, 7:00-8:00 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. http://www.library.arlingtonva.us. http://www.mgnv.org

6, Wednesday, Potowmack Chapter of the Virginian Native Plant Society sells native plants from their propagation bed at Green Spring Gardens, 4603 Green Spring Road, Alexandria, VA, on the first Wednesday of the month, April through October, 10:00 am to noon. http://www.vnps.org and http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/greenspring

7, Thursday, Let’s Talk Gardens, 12:15-12:45 pm, Free. Meet at the East Walk of the Smithsonian Enid A. Haupt Garden and join Smithsonian Garden horticulturist for series of free lunch time talks on Thursdays. Today’s topic: Fall Turf Tips. http://www.gardens.si.edu/whats-happening/lets-talk-gardens.html

7, Thursday, Introduction to Sustainable Landscaping by Nan McCarry, a facilitator with Landscape for Life. 7:00 to 8:00 pm. Free and open to the public. Hosted by the Master Gardeners of Loudoun County. Rust Library, 380 Old Waterford Road, NW, Leesburg, VA. http://www.loudouncountymastergardeners.org

7, Thursday, Lecture: Tyler Balderson: Tree Planting and Maintenance, 7:00 pm. Free and open to the public. St. Anne’s Parish Hall, 199 Duke of Gloucester Street, Annapolis, MD. Sponsored by the Annapolis Horticultural Society. http://www.annapolishorticulture.org

8, Friday through 10, Sunday. Fall Open House and Native Plant sale, Friday 10 to 6, Saturday 10 to 4, Sunday noon to 4: Adkins Arboretum, 12610 Eveland Road, Ridgely, MD. http://www.adkinsarboretum.org

9, Saturday, Fall Lawn Care, 10: 30 am to noon, free and advance registration requested. Hosted by Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia. Fairlington Community Center, 3308 S. Stafford Street, Arlington, VA. http://www.mgnv.org

9, Saturday, Lecture: Prepare for your best lawn ever! 10:00 to 11:00 am, free. Demonstration Garden, 94 Ida Lee Drive, NW, Leesburg, VA. Hosted by Master Gardeners of Loudoun County. http://www.loudouncountymastergardeners.org

9, Saturday, Free lectures at 10:00 am at various locations of Merrifield Garden Center, no registration necessary. See website for street addresses. http://www.merrifieldgardencenter.com

• Merrifield: Seasonal Foods You Can Grow at Home
• Fair Oaks: Turf Tips: Fall Lawn Care
• Gainesville: Fabulous Fall Container Garden

9, Saturday, Heritage Harvest Festival at Monticello, all day. Admission fee but not required to register in advance (there are more in-depth workshops on Friday, September 8). Parking at David M. Rubenstein Visitor Center at Monticello, VA. http://www.heritageharvestfestival.com

9, Saturday, Paw Paw Festival, noon to 4:00 pm. Admission fee. Meadowside Nature Center, 5100 Meadowside Lane, Rockville, MD. http://www.meadowsidenature.org

9, Saturday, Fall Herb Faire, free admission, parking, classes and tours. Lavender Fields Herb Farm, 11300 Winfrey Road, Glen Allen, VA. http://www.lavenderfieldsfarm.com ,

9,Saturday, Green Spring Gardens Fall Garden Day plant sale and more. 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. Free admission. Green Spring Gardens, 4603 Green Spring Road, Alexandria, VA. http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/greenspring

9, Saturday 10 to 3; 10, Sunday 9 to noon, Friends of Brookside Gardens Fall Plant sale, held at Brookside Gardens, 1800 Glenallan Avenue, Wheaton, MD. http://www.friendsofbrooksidegardens.org/plant-sale-2017

9, Saturday, Earth Friendly Floral Design, 1:00 to 2:00 pm. Fee and must register, Adkins Arboretum, 12610 Eveland Road, Ridgely, MD. http://www.adkinsarboretum.org

9, Saturday, Class: Trees 101, Free but must registered. Casey Trees, 3030 12^th Street NE, Washington DC. http://www.caseytrees.org

9, Saturday, Saturday in the Garden, Rain check! Rain barrels, Downspout Disconnectors, and Irrigation Tips plus Vegetable of the Month and Plant Sale. 9:00 am to noon. Presented by Master Gardeners of Prince William County. Teaching Garden at St. Benedict Monastery, 9535 Linton Hall Road, Bristow, VA. http://www.mgpw.org

10, Sunday, Free lectures at 1:00 pm at various locations of Merrifield Garden Center, no registration necessary. See website for street addresses. http://www.merrifieldgardencenter.com

• Fair Oaks: Mastering the Four Season Garden
• Gainesville: Ornamental Grasses and their Companions

10, Sunday, Organic Vegetable Demonstration Garden annual taste and tour, 1 to 4 pm. Free, no registration necessary. Potomac Overlook Regional Park, 2845 N. Marcey Road, Arlington, Va.  Hosted by Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia. http://www.mgnv.org

10, Sunday, Lavender: Crafting and Growing. Fee and should register; walk-ins accepted, 2-4 pm. The Barn Series at Belle Grove Plantation, hosted by the Northern Shenandoah Valley Master Gardeners. Belle Grove Plantation, 336 Belle Grove Road, Middletown, VA. http://www.bellegrove.org  and  http://www.nsvmga.org

10, Sunday, Workshop: Creating Beautiful Autumn Containers, 10:30 to 12:30. Free but must register. Will bring a container home. U.S. Botanic Garden, 245 First Street, SW, Washington DC. http://www.usbg.gov

11, Monday, Lecture: Plant Natives at Home, 7:00 to 8:30 pm. Free and no registration necessary. Hosted by Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia, in partnership with Alexandria Beautification Commission. Mt. Vernon Recreation Center, 2701 Commonwealth Avenue, Alexandria, VA. http://www.mgnv.org

12, Tuesday, Simpson Gardens Stroll, 11:00 am to noon. Free and no registration necessary. Hosted by Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia. Simpson Park Demonstration Gardens, 420 E. Monroe Street, Alexandria, VA. http://www.mgnv.org

12, Tuesday, Lecture: Planting for the Future by Kelly D. Norris, Director of Horticulture, Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden. 7:30 to 9:00 pm. Open to the public, no registration necessary. Prior to lecture there will be a plant and seed swap from 6:30 to 7:15. Admission fee for non-HSM members; members are free. Hosted by Horticultural Society of Maryland. Vollmer Center, Cylburn Arboretum, 4915 Green Spring Avenue, Baltimore, MD. http://www.mdhorticulture.org

13, Wednesday, Extend the Growing Season, Wednesdays in the Garden Series, 7:00-8:00 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. http://www.library.arlingtonva.us. http://www.mgnv.org

14, Thursday, Chanticleer Gardens day trip, which departs from Green Spring Gardens at 7:00 am and returns at 7:00 pm. Fee and must register. Green Spring Gardens, 4603 Green Spring Road, Alexandria, VA. http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/greenspring

14, Thursday, Let’s Talk Gardens, 12:15-12:45 pm, Free. Meet at the East Walk of the Smithsonian Enid A. Haupt Garden and join Smithsonian Garden horticulturist for series of free lunch time talks on Thursdays. Today’s topic: Returning Bulbs. http://www.gardens.si.edu/whats-happening/lets-talk-gardens.html

14, Thursday through Saturday, 16. Fall Plant Fest, no admission for the fall plant fest but regular admission fee for the botanical garden. Thursday 4-7, Friday 9-5, and Saturday 9-3. Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, 1800 Lakeside Avenue, Richmond, VA. http://www.lewisginter.org

15, Friday, Garden Talk: Featuring Twigs, Bark and Berries, 2:00 to 3:00 pm. Fee and must register, presented by Master Gardeners, Green Spring Gardens, 4603 Green Spring Road, Alexandria, VA. http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/greenspring

15, Friday, Chanticleer day trip, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. Fee and must register, meet at Visitors Center Entrance, Brookside Gardens, 1800 Glenallan Avenue, Wheaton, MD. http://www.brooksidegardens.org

16, Saturday, Monarch Fiesta Day, 11:00 am to 3:00 pm. Free. Black Hill Nature Center, 20926 Lake Ridge Drive, Boyds, MD. http://www.montgomeryparks.org/parks-and-trails/black-hill-nature-programs/

16, Saturday, Facts You Need to Know About Fall Planting, Pruning and Garden Clean Up. 2:00 pm. Free. Behnke Nurseries Garden Center, 11300 Baltimore Avenue, Beltsville, MD. http://www.behnkes.com

16, Saturday, Pollinator Meet-up: Hands-On Monarch Tagging Made Easy, 10:00 to 11:00 am. Free but must register. Homestead Gardens, 743 West Central Avenue, Davidsonville, MD. http://www.homesteadgardens.com

16, Saturday, Free lectures at 10:00 am at various locations of Merrifield Garden Center, no registration necessary. See website for street addresses. http://www.merrifieldgardencenter.com

• Merrifield: Plan and Plant for Spring: Bulbs
• Fair Oaks: Attracting Pollinators to your garden
• Gainesville: Fall Garden Party, with several speakers, from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm

17, Sunday, Free lectures at 1:00 pm at various locations of Merrifield Garden Center, no registration necessary. See website for street addresses. http://www.merrifieldgardencenter.com

• Fair Oaks: Using Companion Plants to Create the Wow Factor
• Gainesville: Fall Garden Tour

17, Sunday, Cactus and Succulent Society of Maryland Plant Show and Sale, 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. Vollmer Visitor Center, Cylburn Arboretum, 4915 Green Spring Avenue, Baltimore, MD. http://www.cylburn.org

17, Sunday, Autumnfest! 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. Free family event with min workshops and plants for sale. Hosted by Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia. Glencarlyn Library Garden, 300 S. Kensington Street, Arlington, VA.  http://www.mgnv.org

17, Sunday, McCrillis Gardens Sunday Walks, 2:00 to 3:00 pm. Free but registration required via Brookside Gardens. Meet at McCrillis House, 6910 Greentree Road, Bethesda, MD. http://www.brooksidegardens.org

20, Wednesday, Monarch Waystations: Creating a Butterfly Garden. 1:00 to 3:00 pm. Fee and must register, Brookside Gardens, 1800 Glenallan Avenue, Wheaton, MD. http://www.brooksidegardens.org

20, Wednesday, Planting and Care of Fruit Trees, Wednesdays in the Garden Series, 7:00-8:00 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. http://www.library.arlingtonva.us. http://www.mgnv.org

21, Thursday, Weeds: Getting to Know Your Closest Neighbors, 7:00 to 8:30 pm. Free and advance registration requested. Hosted by Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia. Fairlington Community Center, 3308 S. Stafford Street, Arlington, VA. http://ww.mgnv.org

21, Thursday, Let’s Talk Gardens, 12:15-12:45 pm, Free. Meet at the East Walk of the Smithsonian Enid A. Haupt Garden and join Smithsonian Garden horticulturist for series of free lunch time talks on Thursdays. Today’s topic: Let’s Talk Hops. http://www.gardens.si.edu/whats-happening/lets-talk-gardens.html

22, Friday, Guided Tour of Tudor Place Gardens, 10:30 to 11:30 am. Free for members, fee for non-members and walk-ins are welcome but can register in advance. Tudor Place, 1644 31^st Street, NW, Washington DC.  http://www.tudorplace.org

23, Saturday, Annual Paw Paw Festival at Long Creek, noon to 5:00 pm. Tickets required. Long Creek Homestead, Frederick MD. See website for parking instructions.  http://www.ecologiadesign.com/2017/02/03/paw-paw-festival-longcreek-homestead/

23, Saturday, Lecture: Vita Sackville-West: Garden Guru and Inspiration. 1:30 pm. Free.  Behnke Nurseries Garden Center, 11300 Baltimore Avenue, Beltsville, MD. http://www.behnkes.com

23, Saturday, Orchid Diagnostic and Repotting Clinic. 9:30 am to 4:30 pm. Free but fee to re-pot an orchid. Behnke Nurseries Garden Center, 11300 Baltimore Avenue, Beltsville, MD. http://www.behnkes.com

23, Saturday, Free lectures at 10:00 am at various locations of Merrifield Garden Center, no registration necessary. See website for street addresses. http://www.merrifieldgardencenter.com

• Merrifield: Turf Tips: Restoring Your Lawn
• Fair Oaks: Festival Fall Containers
• Gainesville: Patio Perfect Container Workshop

23, Saturday, Gardening with the soil food web, 10:00 am to 11:30 am. Biologist Paulette Royt will explain the basic of soil science for gardeners.  Fee and must register, Green Spring Gardens, 4603 Green Spring Road, Alexandria, VA. http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/greenspring

23, Saturday, Fall is Here! Preparation in the Vegetable Garden, 1:00 to 3:00 pm, free. Hosted by the Master Gardeners of Loudoun County. Purcellville Library, 220 E. Main Street, Purcellville, VA. http://www.loudouncountymastergardeners.org

23, Saturday, Brookside Gardens Saturday Walks, 10:00 to 11:00 am. Free guided walk of Brookside but must register. Brookside Gardens, 1800 Glenallan Avenue, Wheaton, MD. http://www.brooksidegardens.org

23, Saturday, Class: Trees 201. 9:00 am to 2:00 pm. Free but must register. Hosted by Casey Trees but the class will be at Howard University, 2400 Sixth Street NW, Washington DC. http://www.caseytrees.org

23, Saturday, The life and Gardens of Beatrix Farrand, 2:00 to 4:00 pm. Emmy Award winner Karyl Evans screens her new documentary film about Beatrix Farrand. The screening is followed by Q&A with the filmmaker and refreshments on the lawn of the Farrand-designed landscape at Green Spring, fee and must register. Green Spring Gardens, 4603 Green Spring Road, Alexandria, VA. http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/greenspring

23, Saturday, Celebrate the National Garden, a day long festival with activities. 10:00 to 4:00 pm, free. U.S. Botanic Garden, 245 First Street, SW, Washington DC. http://www.usbg.gov

23, Saturday, Northern Alexandria Native Plant Sale, 9:00 am to 2:00 pm, free admission.  The Church of St. Clement, 1701 N. Quaker Lane, Alexandria, VA. http://home.earthlink.net/~sknudsen/

23, Saturday through October 29, Saturday, from 11 to 6 and Sunday from 11 to 4.  Fall Festival. Homestead Gardens, 743 West Central Avenue, Davidsonville, MD. http://www.homesteadgardens.com

23, Saturday (starting Saturday and every weekend in fall), Fall Festival, 10:30 to 5:00 pm. Admission fee, Green Street Gardens, 391 West Bay Front Road, Lothian, MD. http://www.greenstreetgardens.com

24, Sunday, Orchid Diagnostic and Repotting Clinic. 9:30 am to 4:30 pm. Free but fee to re-pot an orchid. Behnke Nurseries Garden Center, 11300 Baltimore Avenue, Beltsville, MD. http://www.behnkes.com

24, Sunday, Free lectures at 1:00 pm at various locations of Merrifield Garden Center, no registration necessary. See website for street addresses. http://www.merrifieldgardencenter.com

• Fair Oaks: Photography Workshop: Capturing Your Garden
• Gainesville: Native Plants that Support Wildlife

24, Sunday, Earth Sangha open house and plant sale (native plants), 10:00 to 2:00 pm, free, Cloud Drive, Springfield, VA. http://www.earthsangha.org/wpn

24, Sunday, Garden Program: Winter Edible Garden, 2 to 3 pm. Fee and must register. Green Spring Gardens, 4603 Green Spring Road, Alexandria, VA. http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/greenspring

24, Sunday, Fall Open House at Simpson Park Demonstration Gardens with a focus on making gardens more hospitable to wildlife and getting home gardens certified as Audubon Wildlife Habitats. Free, no registration necessary. Hosted by Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia. Simpson Park Demonstration Gardens, 402 E. Monroe Street, Alexandria, VA. http://www.mgnv.org 

25, Monday, Tree Selection for Small Urban Landscapes, 10:30 am to noon. Free and advance registration requested. Hosted by Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia. Fairlington Community Center, 3308 S. Stafford Street, Arlington, VA. http://www.mgnv.org

25, Monday, Composting and Vermiculture. 7:00 to 8:30 pm. Free and advance registration requested. Hosted by Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia. Beatley Library, 5005 Duke Street, Alexandria, VA. http://www.mgnv.org

26, Tuesday, Lecture: The Human Gardener: Nurturing a Backyard Habitat for Wildlife by Nancy Lawson, author of same book. 7:30 pm, free, registration not required, and open to the public. Hosted by Maryland Native Plant Society. Kensington Park Library, 4201 Knowles Avenue, Kensington, MD. http://www.mdflora.org

27, Wednesday, International Flavors from the Garden, Wednesdays in the Garden Series, 7:00-8:00 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. http://www.library.arlingtonva.us. http://www.mgnv.org

27, Wednesday, Lecture: Welcoming Bees to your Backyard and Garden by Alison Gillespie. 7:30 pm. Free and open to the public. Hosted by Beltsville Garden Club. James E. Duckworth School, 11201 Evans Trail, Beltsville, MD http://www.beltsvillegardenclub.org

28, Thursday, Create and Sip Terrarium Workshop, 6:00 to 8:00 pm. Fee and registration required. Enjoy a complementary glass of wine and snacks while creating a terrarium. Merrifield Garden Center, 6895 Wellington Road, Gainesville, VA. http://www.merrifieldgardencenter.com

28, Thursday, Let’s Talk Gardens, 12:15-12:45 pm, Free. Meet at the East Walk of the Smithsonian Enid A. Haupt Garden and join Smithsonian Garden horticulturist for series of free lunch time talks on Thursdays. Today’s topic: Mulch 101. http://www.gardens.si.edu/whats-happening/lets-talk-gardens.html

28, Thursday, Day Trip to North Creek Nurseries with Claudia West. Sponsored by the Annapolis Horticulture Society. http://www.annapolishorticulture.org

29, Friday, Garden Talk: Replace Old Shrubs, 2:00 to 3:00 pm. Fee and must register. Green Spring Gardens, 4603 Green Spring Road, Alexandria, VA. http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/greenspring

30, Saturday, Lecture: This Fall, Think Spring: Planting Bulb for Big Spring Color, 2:00 pm. Free. Behnke Nurseries Garden Center, 11300 Baltimore Avenue, Beltsville, MD. http://www.behnkes.com

30, Saturday, Floral Design Workshop: Fall Floral, 9:30 to 11:00 am. Professional floral designer Betty Ann Galway will show you how to make a fall design to take home. Fee and must register. Green Spring Gardens, 4603 Green Spring Road, Alexandria, VA. http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/greenspring

30, Saturday, Garden Program: Start a Garden Journal, 10 to 11 am. Horticulturist Judy Zatsick will show you how to keep a garden journal to stay organized. Fee and must register. Green Spring Gardens, 4603 Green Spring Road, Alexandria, VA. http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/greenspring

30, Saturday, Lecture: Life with Special Roots (Legumes), 10:30 to noon. Free but must register, U.S. Botanic Garden, 245 First Street, SW, Washington DC. http://www.usbg.gov

30, Saturday, Lecture: Cool Season Edibles, 10:00 to 11:30 am. Fee and must register. Brookside Gardens, 1800 Glenallan Avenue, Wheaton, MD. http://www.brooksidegardens.org

30, Saturday, Free lectures at 10:00 am at various locations of Merrifield Garden Center, no registration necessary. See website for street addresses. http://www.merrifieldgardencenter.com

• Merrifield: Creating a Lush Scene with Groundcovers and Ferns
• Fair Oaks: Fantastic Foliage Shrubs
• Gainesville: Plan and Plant for Spring: Perennials