At the end of the month, I list the gardening events for the next month in the Washington DC metro area. Last year, in 2019, there were more than 1,000 events and exhibits, which is an average of 90 per month or 3 per day. We have a lot of botanical activity in the Capital Region! I have just posted the March 2020 events and there are more than 100 events. The number increases as the gardening season warms up. To be in the know, you can either check my “Monthly Events” tab or you can subscribe to Pegplant’s Post, my free newsletter, to have the link to the Monthly Events sent to your e-mail box at the end of the month. This is a great resource for planning your social calendar. It also enables you to reserve your spot in advance — some events are so popular they sell out fast. Plus my list is cumulative, thus serving as a resource if you are a garden club member looking for a speaker or a speaker looking for a venue. To give you an example, below are the activities for the upcoming 2 weeks. For the rest of March, click here.
Local Gardening Events from March 1-15, 2020
1, Sunday, Timeless Fragrance Gardening, Gainesville location, 1:00 pm and free. Merrifield Garden Center. http://www.merrifieldgardencenter.com
1, Sunday, Sunday Funday House Plant Care Clinic, 11:00 am, free, sponsored by Rock Paper Plant and held at Femme Fatale popup shop, 401 Massachusetts Avenue NW Washington DC. http://www.rockpaperplant.com/
1, Sunday, Garden Bed Planning Workshop, Fair Oaks location, 10:00 am, fee and must register. Merrifield Garden Center. http://www.merrifieldgardencenter.com
2, Monday, Bus Trip to Philadelphia Flower Show, 10:00 am to 10:00 pm, fee and must register. Also offered on Wednesday, March 4. Green Spring Gardens, 4603 Green Spring Road, Alexandria, VA. http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/greenspring
3, Tuesday, Bus Trip to Philadelphia Flower Show, 10:00 am to 9:00 pm, fee and must register, Adkins Arboretum, 12610 Eveland Road, Ridgely, MD. http://www.adkinsarboretum.org
3, Tuesday, Stop! Smell and Touch Our Plants, 1 to 2:30 pm, free and registration required. Also offered on Saturday, March 7, at 10:30 am. U.S. Botanic Garden, 100 Maryland Ave. SW, Washington DC. http://www.usbg.gov
3, Tuesday, Gardener’s Focus: An Orchid-Filled Greenhouse, 11:00 am or 1:00 pm, included in suggested donation to enter Hillwood. Also on many other days in March, check website for specific times. Hillwood Estate, Museum and Gardens, 4155 Linnean Avenue, NW Washington DC. https://www.hillwoodmuseum.org/
3, Tuesday, Bus Trip to Philadelphia Flower Show, 8 am to 8 pm, fee and must register. Also offered on Thursday March 5, 9:00 am. Brookside Gardens, 1800 Glenallan Avenue, Wheaton, MD. http://www.brooksidegardens.org
3, Tuesday, Bus Trip to Philadelphia Flower Show, 8:00 am to 9:00 pm, fee and must register. Homestead Gardens, 743 West Central Avenue, Davidsonville, MD. https://homesteadgardens.com/
3, Tuesday, Bus Trip to Philadelphia Flower Show, via Alexandria or the Lothian store, fee and must register, Greenstreet Gardens, see website for times. https://greenstreetgardens.com/events/
3, Tuesday, Eat, Sleep, Garden: Top Annuals for Your Cut Flower Garden, 11:30 to 12:30 pm. Fee and must register. Greenhouse classroom, Cylburn Arboretum, 4915 Green Spring Avenue, Baltimore, MD http://cylburn.org/
3, Tuesday, Microgreens: What Are They, Why They Are So Fabulous, and How to Grow Them, 7 to 8:30 pm. Free and registration requested. Barrett Branch Library, 717 Queen Street, Alexandria. Sponsored by Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia. http://www.mgnv.org
4, Wednesday, Lecture: Horticulture and Women in History with Martha Keen. 7:00 pm, free, open to the public. Annapolis Horticulture Society, St. Anne’s Parish Hall, 199 Duke of Gloucester Street, Annapolis, MD. http://annapolishorticulture.org/lectures/
5, Thursday, Roots and Reflections: Orchids, 2 to 3:30 pm, free and registration required. U.S. Botanic Garden, 100 Maryland Ave. SW, Washington DC. http://www.usbg.gov
5, Thursday, Political Appetites: Culinary Activities in the Early Republic with Nancy Siegel, 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm, fee and must register. U.S. Botanic Garden, 100 Maryland Ave. SW, Washington DC. http://www.usbg.gov
5, Thursday, Tour: Medicinal Plants Yesterday and Today, 1:30 to 2:30 pm, free and will be offered again on March 12, same time. U.S. Botanic Garden, 100 Maryland Ave. SW, Washington DC. http://www.usbg.gov
5, Thursday, Spring House Plant Swap, 6:30 pm, fee and must register. Sponsored by Rock Paper Plant and held at Femme Fatale popup shop, 401 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC. http://www.rockpaperplant.com/
5, Thursday, Bus Trip to Philadelphia Flower Show, 9:00 am to 9:00 pm, fee and must register. Also offered on March 3, Tuesday, 8:00 am. Brookside Gardens, 1800 Glenallan Avenue, Wheaton, MD. http://www.brooksidegardens.org
5, Thursday, Lecture: The Gardens of Spain, 7:00 pm, free. Rust Library, 380 Old Waterford Road, NW Leesburg, VA. Sponsored by the Loudoun County Master Gardeners. http://loudouncountymastergardeners.org/
5, Thursday, Grow What You Eat! 7 to 8:30 pm, free and registration requested. Arlington Mill Community Center, 909 S. Dinwiddie Street, Arlington. Also offered on Sunday, March 8. Sponsored by the Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia. http://www.mgnv.org
6, Friday, HOAs and Condo Association: Sustainable Solutions to Landscaping Headaches, 9:30 am to 1:00 pm, free but must register. The Forum Meeting Room, Richard J. Ernst Community Cultural Center Building, Northern Virginia Community College Annandale Campus, 8333 Little River Turnpike, Annandale. Sponsored by Plant NOVA Natives, register at https://www.plantnovanatives.org/symposiums-for-hoa-and-condo-assoc-
6, Friday, Invasive Plant Workshop, 1 to 5:00 pm, fee and must register. Sponsored by the Blue Ridge Prism and held at Blandy Experimental Farm in Boyce, VA. https://www.facebook.com/events/202662360920681/?active_tab=about
http://blandy.virginia.edu/home
7, Saturday, Plot Against Hunger 7th Annual Spring Garden Kick Off, 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, free but should rsvp. Arlington Central Library, 1015 N. Quincy Street, Arlington VA. https://afac.org/afac-events/plot-against-hunger-spring-garden-kick-off-2020/
7, Saturday, First Saturday Guided Walk, 10:00 am, free for members, free with admission for non-members. Adkins Arboretum, 12610 Eveland Road, Ridgely, MD. http://www.adkinsarboretum.org
7, Saturday, The Science of Spring Blooms, Merrifield location; Common Plant Problems and Solutions, Gainesville location; From Seed and Stem to Nursery, Fair Oaks location. All 10:00 am and free. Merrifield Garden Center. http://www.merrifieldgardencenter.com
7, Saturday, Gardening in the Valley Symposium, 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, fee and should register. Shenandoah University, Hester Auditorium, Henkel, 1460 University Drive, Winchester, VA. Sponsored by the Northern Shenandoah Valley Master Gardener Association. http://nsvmga.org/events/symposium/
7, Saturday, Stop! Smell and Touch Our Plants, 10:30 am to noon, free and registration required. Also offered on Tuesday, March 3, at 1:00 pm. U.S. Botanic Garden, 100 Maryland Ave. SW, Washington DC. http://www.usbg.gov
7, Saturday, U.S. Botanic Garden Production Facility Open House, fee and must register, will be at various times and will be at the facility. See website for details. U.S. Botanic Garden, 100 Maryland Ave. SW, Washington DC. http://www.usbg.gov
7, Saturday, Vegetable garden series (topic is managing pests, vegetable profiles, food safety). Part three of three topics, free but seating is limited so register at master_gardener@pwcgov.org. Other dates were February 1 and 15. Sponsored by Prince William Master Gardeners. Held at Bull Run Library, 8051 Ashton Avenue, Manassas, VA. https://www.pwcgov.org/government/dept/vce/Pages/Horticulture-Classes.aspx
7, Saturday, The Basics of Gardening, Session Three: Rain Gardens, Insects, and Diseases and IMP. This is part three of a three session series, other sessions were on February 29 and March7. Free but space is limited, register at pwcgov.org/grow or e-mail master_gardener@pwcgov.org Sponsored by Prince William Master Gardeners. Held at Haymarket Gainesville Community Library, 4870 Lightner Road, Haymarket, VA. https://www.pwcgov.org/government/dept/vce/Pages/Horticulture-Classes.aspx
7, Saturday, Great Shrubs for Home Gardens, 10 to 11:30 am, fee and must register. Green Spring Gardens, 4603 Green Spring Road, Alexandria, VA. http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/greenspring
7, Saturday, Nine Ways You Can Help Bee and Other Pollinators at Home, 9:00 am to 10:00 am, free but make reservations. Loudoun Wildlife Conservatory. Held at Wild Birds Unlimited, 44110 Ashburn Shopping Plaza, Ashburn, VA. http://www.loudounwildlife.org
7, Saturday, Grow Your Own Microgreens, 11:00 am to noon, fee and must register. Cultivate the City, 910 Bladensburg Road Northeast, Washington DC. http://www.cultivatethecity.com
8, Sunday, Bon-Chi! Learn and Practice the Art of Bonsai Using Edible Plants, 1 to 2:00 pm, fee and must register. Cultivate the City, 910 Bladensburg Road, NE Washington DC. At the H Street Farms at W.S. Jenks and Sons. http://www.cultivatethecity.com
8, Sunday, The Art of Pruning Workshop at Fair Oaks location, 1:00 pm, fee and must register. Merrifield Garden Center. http://www.merrifieldgardencenter.com
8, Sunday, Grow What You Eat! 3 to 4:30 pm, free and registration requested. Beatley Central Library, 5005 Duke Street, Alexandria. Also on Thursday, March 5, sponsored by Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia. http://www.mgnv.org
8, Sunday, Create and Sip: Succulent Potting Party at Gainesville location, 1:00 pm, fee and must register. Merrifield Garden Center. http://www.merrifieldgardencenter.com
8, Sunday, through 10, Tuesday. Full Moon Hikes, 7:30 pm, fee and must register. Sponsored by the Friends of the National Arboretum, at the U.S. National Arboretum, 3501 New York Avenue, Washington DC. https://www.fona.org/fullmoonhikes/
8, Sunday, through 10, Tuesday, Full Moon Forest Bathing, 7:30 pm, fee and must register. Sponsored by the Friends of the National Arboretum, at the U.S. National Arboretum, 3501 New York Avenue, Washington DC. https://www.fona.org/fullmoonhikes/
9, Monday, Selecting Native Plants for your Home Garden, 7 to 8:30 pm, free, registration requested. Westover Branch Library, 1644 N. McKinley Road, Arlington. Sponsored by Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia. http://www.mgnv.org
10, Tuesday, Lecture: Botanical Bullies with Carole Bergmann, 7:30 to 9:00 pm, free for members, fee for nonmembers, and open to the public. Vollmer Center Auditorium, Cylburn Arboretum. Sponsored by the Maryland Horticultural Society. https://mdhorticulture.org/
11, Wednesday, Seed Starting and Plant Propagation. 7:00 pm, free. Bluemont Room, Arlington Central Library, 1015 N. Quincy Street, Arlington. Sponsored by the Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia. http://www.mgnv.org
https://afac.org/plot-against-hunger/pah-events/
11, Wednesday, Not in Our Backyard: How to Fight Spotted Lanternfly, 7 to 8:30 pm, fee and must register at Sustainability Matters Facebook page. Sponsored by Sustainability Matters and will be at the Blandy Experimental Farm, 400 Blandy Farm Lane, Boyce, VA.
https://www.facebook.com/events/808773166253213/
http://blandy.virginia.edu/home
12, Thursday, Turf Talk: How to Have a Healthy Lawn, 7:00 to 8:30 pm, free and registration requested. Fairlington Community Center, 3308 S. Stafford Street, Arlington. Sponsored by the Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia. http://www.mgnv.org
12, Thursday, Workshop: Hypertufa Containers and Desert Plantings, 6:30 to 8:30 pm, fee and must register. U.S. Botanic Garden, 100 Maryland Ave. SW, Washington DC. http://www.usbg.gov
12, Thursday, Mounted Orchids, 6:00 – 8:00 pm, fee and must register. Sponsored by Rock Paper Plant and held at Steadfast Supply (Navy Yard), 301 Tingey Street, #120 SE, entrance on water street, Washington DC. http://www.rockpaperplant.com/
12, Thursday, Piecing Together Nature’s Puzzle with Alonso Abugattas, 7:30 to 9:00 pm, free. Hosted by Potowmack Chapter of Virginia Native Plant Society. Held at Green Spring Gardens, 4603 Green Spring Road, Alexandria, VA. https://vnps.org/potowmack/events/natures-puzzle-the-interconnectedness-of-our-world-depending-on-plants-with-alonso-abugattas/
13, Friday, Houseplant Haven Grand Opening, 6:00 to 9:00 pm, free. Homestead Gardens, 743 West Central Avenue, Davidsonville, MD. https://homesteadgardens.com/
14 and 15, Saturday and Sunday, Homestead Gardens Spring Kick Off, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, free. Homestead Gardens, 743 West Central Avenue, Davidsonville, MD. https://homesteadgardens.com/
14, Saturday, Propagation and Cloning Workshop, 11:00 am to noon, fee and must register. Cultivate the City, 910 Bladensburg Road NE Washington DC, at H Street Farms at W.S. Jenks and Sons http://www.cultivatethecity.com
14, Saturday, Winter Pruning for Woody Plants, 1 to 2:30 pm, free and advance registration requested. 4029 N. Tazewell Street, Arlington. Rain date March 21. Also offered on March 29. Hands on training and outside. Bring your own tools. Sponsored by Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia. http://www.mgnv.org
14, Saturday, Lecture: Exploring Orchid Evolution, Ecology, and Biogeography with Todd Brethauer, 2 to 3:30 pm, free and registration required. U.S. Botanic Garden, 100 Maryland Ave. SW, Washington DC. http://www.usbg.gov
14, Saturday, Lawn Care Q&A, Merrifield location; and Planting Herbs and Vegetables in Ground and in Containers, Fair Oaks location, both at 10:0 am and free. Merrifield Garden Center. http://www.merrifieldgardencenter.com
14, Saturday, Workshop: Growing Vegetables in Containers, 2 to 3:00 pm. Fee and must register, space limited. The Greenhouse Classroom, Cylburn Arboretum, sponsored by the Maryland Horticultural Society. https://mdhorticulture.org/
14, Saturday, Orchid 101: How to Get Your Orchid to Rebloom, 10:00 am to noon, fee and must register. Also offered on 15, 20, 28, and 29. Check website for specific times. Hillwood Estate, Museum and Gardens, 4155 Linnean Avenue, NW Washington DC. https://www.hillwoodmuseum.org/
14, Saturday, Orchid Workshop: To Repot or Not? 2:00 to 4:00 pm, fee and must register. Also offered on 15, 27, and 29. Check website for specific times. Hillwood Estate, Museum and Gardens, 4155 Linnean Avenue, NW Washington DC. https://www.hillwoodmuseum.org/
14, Saturday, How to Get Your Orchid to Rebloom, 1 to 2:30 pm, fee and must register. Brookside Gardens, 1800 Glenallan Avenue, Wheaton, MD. http://www.brooksidegardens.org
14, Saturday and 15, Sunday, Friends of Brookside Gardens Orchid Festival at Brookside Gardens, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm on Saturday and 10:00 am to 3:00 pm on Sunday. Brookside Gardens, 1800 Glenallan Avenue, Wheaton, MD. http://www.brooksidegardens.org
14, Saturday, St. Patrick’s Day Floral Arrangement, 11:00 am, fee and must register. Willow Oak Flower and Herb Farm, 8109 Telegraph Road, Severn, MD. http://www.willowoakherbs.com
15, Sunday, Orchid Family Day, 1 to 4:00 pm, free and no registration required. U.S. Botanic Garden, 100 Maryland Ave. SW, Washington DC. http://www.usbg.gov
15, Sunday, Hydroponics and Vertical Gardening, 1 to 2:00 pm, fee and must register. H Street Farms and 910 Bladensburg Road NE Washington DC. Cultivate the City. http://www.cultivatethecity.com
15, Sunday, Native Plant Picks for Spring, Gainesville location, and Lawn Care Q&A at Fair Oaks location, both at 1:00 pm and free. Merrifield Garden Center. http://www.merrifieldgardencenter.com