Tag Archives: Open House

Peg’s Picks: December 2016 Gardening Events in the Washington DC Metro Area

The holidays are here: visit public gardens to see winter lights, conservatories to see orchids and poinsettias, and historic estates to see mansions decorated with greens. Register for wreath making workshops, attend indoor gardening lectures, and pop into a few open houses for hours of holiday merry making.

1, Thursday, Gardener’s Focus: Seasons Greetings, 12:45 to 1:15 pm, free but limited tickets available. Tour of mansion’s holiday décor by staff horticulturist on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays in December. Hillwood Estate, Museum and Gardens, 4155 Linnean Avenue, NW Washington DC http://www.hillwoodmuseum.org

2, Friday, Gardener’s Focus: Seasons Greetings, 12:45 to 1:15 pm, free but limited tickets available. Tour of mansion’s holiday décor by staff horticulturist on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays in December. Hillwood Estate, Museum and Gardens, 4155 Linnean Avenue, NW Washington DC http://www.hillwoodmuseum.org

2, Friday, Illuminated London Town, 6:00 to 9:00 pm. Fee and register in advance, dress for weather, also offered on December 9 and 16. Historic London Town and Gardens, 839 Londontown Road, Edgewater, MD.  http://www.historiclondontown.org

2, Friday, Fabulous Wreaths Workshop, 10:00 am to noon and 1:00 to 3:00 pm. Fee and must register. Also offered on Saturday, December 3 and Sunday, December 4. Hillwood Estate, Museum and Gardens, 4155 Linnean Avenue, NW Washington DC. http://www.hillwoodmuseum.org

3, Saturday, Fabulous Wreaths Workshop, 10:00 am to noon and 1:00 to 3:00 pm. Fee and must register. Also offered on Friday, December 2 and Sunday, December 4. Hillwood Estate, Museum and Gardens, 4155 Linnean Avenue, NW Washington DC. http://www.hillwoodmuseum.org

3, Saturday, Winter Wreath Workshop, 10:00 am to noon, fee and must register. Green Spring Gardens, 4603 Green Spring Road, Alexandria, VA 22312; (703) 642-5173. http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/greenspring/

3, Saturday, Deck the Halls: A family at Christmas, 1:00 to 4:00, Fee and must register. Tudor Place, 1644 31st Street, NW Washington DC. http://www.tudorplace.org

3, Saturday, Fresh Greens Workshop, Merrifield Garden Center, Fair Oaks location, 12101 Lee Highway, Fairfax, VA. 10:00 am, Free. Learn how to make holiday wreaths, garlands and arrangements with fresh flowers, pine, holly, cedar, boxwood, magnolia and adornments. http://www.merrifieldgardencenter.com

3, Saturday, Wreath Workshop, 10:00 to noon, fee and register in advance. Historic London Town and Gardens, 839 Londontown Road, Edgewater, MD. http://www.historiclondontown.org

3, Saturday, Wreath Workshop, Merrifield Garden Center, Gainesville location, 6895 Wellington Road, Manassas, VA. 10:00 am. Fee and must register. http://www.merrifieldgardencenter.com

4, Sunday, Fabulous Wreaths Workshop, 10:00 am to noon and 1:00 to 3:00 pm. Fee and must register. Also offered on Friday, December 2 and Saturday, December 3. Hillwood Estate, Museum and Gardens, 4155 Linnean Avenue, NW Washington DC. http://www.hillwoodmuseum.org

4, Sunday, Gardeners Holiday Open House, noon to 4:00 pm, free admission and puppet show for kids, advance registration for puppet show recommended, Green Spring Garden, 4603 Green Spring Road, Alexandria, VA 22312; (703) 642-5173. http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/greenspring/

6, Tuesday, Lewis Ginter: Garden Fest of Lights, bus trip to Lewis Ginter in Richmond, 2:00 to 10:45 pm. Fee and must register. Green Spring Garden, 4603 Green Spring Road, Alexandria, VA 22312; (703) 642-5173. http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/greenspring/

6, Tuesday, Candlight Tour, 6:30 to 7:30 pm, Fee and must register. Also available on December 8, 20, and 21. Tudor Place, 1644 31st Street, NW Washington DC. http://www.tudorplace.org

7, Wednesday, Lecture: Deer Resistant Plants by Ruth Rogers Clausen, 7:00 pm, St. Anne’s Parish Hall, 199 Duke of Gloucester Street, Annapolis, MD. Annapolis Horticultural Society, free and open to the public. http://www.annapolishorticulture.org

7, Wednesday, Tudor Nights: Home for the Holidays, 6:30 to 8:30 pm. Fee and must register. Tudor Place, 1644 31st Street, NW Washington DC. http://www.tudorplace.org

7, Wednesday, Wreath Making Workshop, 11:00 am, Fee and reservation required. Also on December 9 and 12. (Mansion decorated for the holidays). Oatlands Historic House and Gardens, 20850 Oatlands Plantation Lane, Leesburg, VA. http://www.oatlands.org

8, Thursday, Candlight Tour, 6:30 to 7:30 pm, Fee and must register. Tudor (also available on December 6, 20 and 21). Tudor Place, 1644 31st Street, NW Washington DC. http://www.tudorplace.org

8, Thursday, Gardener’s Focus: Seasons Greetings, 12:45 to 1:15 pm, free but limited tickets available. Tour of mansion’s holiday décor by staff horticulturist on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays in December. Hillwood Estate, Museum and Gardens, 4155 Linnean Avenue, NW Washington DC http://www.hillwoodmuseum.org

9, Friday, Gardener’s Focus: Seasons Greetings, 12:45 to 1:15 pm, free but limited tickets available. Tour of mansion’s holiday décor by staff horticulturist on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays in December. Hillwood Estate, Museum and Gardens, 4155 Linnean Avenue, NW Washington DC http://www.hillwoodmuseum.org

9, Friday, Wreath Making Workshop, 11:00 am, Fee and reservation required. Also on December 7 and 12. (Mansion decorated for the holidays). Oatlands Historic House and Gardens, 20850 Oatlands Plantation Lane, Leesburg, VA. http://www.oatlands.org

9, Friday, Illuminated London Town, 6:00 to 9:00 pm. Fee and register in advance, dress for weather, also offered on December 2 and 16. Historic London Town and Gardens, 839 Londontown Road, Edgewater, MD.  http://www.historiclondontown.org

10, Saturday, Candlelight Tours of Mansion, 6:00 to 8:00 pm, Fee but reservation not required. Also on December 11, Sunday, and December 17 & 18. Oatlands Historic House and Gardens, 20850 Oatlands Plantation Lane, Leesburg, VA. http://www.oatlands.org

10, Saturday, Wreath Making Workshops: herbal wreaths from 10 to noon and pine cone wreaths from 1:30 to 3:30. Fee and must register. Tudor Place, 1644 31st Street, NW Washington DC. http://www.tudorplace.org

10, Saturday, Natural Holiday Ornaments Workshop, 9:30 to 11:30 am, fee and must register, Green Spring Garden, 4603 Green Spring Road, Alexandria, VA 22312; (703) 642-5173. http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/greenspring/

10, Saturday, Holiday Open House, 10:00 am to 3:00 pm, American Horticultural Society’s River Farm, free. Also from December 1-23 is the Indoor Holiday Display at River Farm, 7931 East Boulevard Drive, Alexandria, VA. http://www.ahs.org

11, Sunday, Candlelight Tours of Mansion, 6:00 to 8:00 pm, Fee but reservation not required. Also on December 10, Saturday, and December 17 & 18. Oatlands Historic House and Gardens, 20850 Oatlands Plantation Lane, Leesburg, VA. http://www.oatlands.org

11, Sunday, Floral Workshop: Creating a Williamsburg Centerpiece, 2:00 to 3:30, fee and must register. Green Spring Garden, 4603 Green Spring Rd, Alexandria, VA 22312; (703) 642-5173. http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/greenspring/

12, Monday, Wreath Making Workshop, 11:00 am, Fee and reservation required. Also on December 7 and 9. (Mansion decorated for the holidays). Oatlands Historic House and Gardens, 20850 Oatlands Plantation Lane, Leesburg, VA. http://www.oatlands.org

13, Tuesday, Lecture: The Art of Gardening by William Thomas, executive director and head gardener at Chanticleer Gardens, 7:30 pm. Hosted by the Horticultural Society of Maryland, lecture is free for HSM members, non-members pay fee at door. Vollmer Center Auditorium, Cylburn Arboretum, 4915 Greenspring Avenue, Baltimore, MD (410) 821-5561. http://www.mdhorticulture.org

13, Tuesday, Holly Daze, 7:00 to 9:00 pm, Enjoy the Garden of Lights and then come inside for paired wine and cheese, create festive holiday air plant ornaments to take home. Fee includes refreshments, air plant ornament, and admission to Garden of Lights. See last paragraph for information about Brookside Gardens’ Garden of Lights. Fee and must register. http://www.brooksidegardens.org

13, Tuesday, Gardener’s Focus: Seasons Greetings, 12:45 to 1:15 pm, free but limited tickets available. Tour of mansion’s holiday décor by staff horticulturist on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays in December. Hillwood Estate, Museum and Gardens, 4155 Linnean Avenue, NW Washington DC http://www.hillwoodmuseum.org

14, Wednesday, Festive Fresh Greens, 10:00 to 11:30 am, fee and must register. Also offered on December 15, Thursday. Brookside Gardens, 1800 Glenallan Avenue, Wheaton, MD. http://www.brooksidegardens.org

15, Thursday, Festive Fresh Greens, 10:00 to 11:30 am, fee and must register. Also offered on December 14, Wednesday, Brookside Gardens, 1800 Glenallan Avenue, Wheaton, MD. http://www.brooksidegardens.org

15, Thursday, Gardener’s Focus: Seasons Greetings, 12:45 to 1:15 pm, free but limited tickets available. Tour of mansion’s holiday décor by staff horticulturist on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays in December. Hillwood Estate, Museum and Gardens, 4155 Linnean Avenue, NW Washington DC http://www.hillwoodmuseum.org

16, Friday, Gardener’s Focus: Seasons Greetings, 12:45 to 1:15 pm, free but limited tickets available. Tour of mansion’s holiday décor by staff horticulturist on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays in December. Hillwood Estate, Museum and Gardens, 4155 Linnean Avenue, NW Washington DC http://www.hillwoodmuseum.org

16, Friday, Wreath Making Workshop using boxwood, is offered in partnership with the Georgetown Presbyterian Church, 10 to noon and 1:30 to 3:30, fee and must register with Tudor Place, 1644 31st Street, NW Washington DC. http://www.tudorplace.org Workshop is one block away from Tudor at Georgetown Presbyterian Church, 3115 P Street NW Washington DC

16, Friday, Illuminated London Town, 6:00 to 9:00 pm. Fee and register in advance, dress for weather, also offered on December 2, and 9. Historic London Town and Gardens, 839 Londontown Road, Edgewater, MD. http://www.historiclondontown.org

17, Saturday, Candlelight Tours of Mansion, 6:00 to 8:00 pm, Fee but reservation not required. Also on December 10 & 11 and December 18. Oatlands Historic House and Gardens, 20850 Oatlands Plantation Lane, Leesburg, VA. http://www.oatlands.org

17, Saturday, Wreath Workshop, mixed greens, 10 to noon and 1:30 to 3:30. Fee and must register. Tudor Place, 1644 31st Street, NW Washington DC. http://www.tudorplace.org

17, Saturday, Gardener’s Focus: Bones of the Winter Garden, 11:00 to 11:30 am, free walking tour but limited tickets available. Tour given on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. Hillwood Estate, Museum and Gardens, 4155 Linnean Avenue, NW Washington DC. http://www.hillwoodmuseum.org

18, Sunday, Candlelight Tours of Mansion, 6:00 to 8:00 pm, Fee but reservation not required. Also on December 10 & 11 and December 17. Oatlands Historic House and Gardens, 20850 Oatlands Plantation Lane, Leesburg, VA. http://www.oatlands.org

20, Tuesday, Gardener’s Focus: Bones of the Winter Garden, 11:00 to 11:30 am, free walking tour but limited tickets available. Tour given on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. Hillwood Estate, Museum and Gardens, 4155 Linnean Avenue, NW Washington DC. http://www.hillwoodmuseum.org

20, Tuesday, Candlight Tour, 6:30 to 7:30 pm, Fee and must register (also available on December 6, 8, and 21). Tudor Place, 1644 31st Street, NW Washington DC. http://www.tudorplace.org

21, Tuesday, Candlight Tour 6:30 to 7:30 pm, Fee and must register (also available on December 6, 8, and 20). Tudor Place, 1644 31st Street, NW Washington DC. http://www.tudorplace.org

23, Friday, Gardener’s Focus: Bones of the Winter Garden, 11:00 to 11:30 am, free walking tour but limited tickets available. Tour given on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. Hillwood Estate, Museum and Gardens, 4155 Linnean Avenue, NW Washington DC. http://www.hillwoodmuseum.org

24, Saturday, Gardener’s Focus: Bones of the Winter Garden, 11:00 to 11:30 am, free walking tour but limited tickets available. Tour given on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. Hillwood Estate, Museum and Gardens, 4155 Linnean Avenue, NW Washington DC. http://www.hillwoodmuseum.org

27, Tuesday, Gardener’s Focus: Bones of the Winter Garden, 11:00 to 11:30 am, free walking tour but limited tickets available. Tour given on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. Hillwood Estate, Museum and Gardens, 4155 Linnean Avenue, NW Washington DC. http://www.hillwoodmuseum.org

30, Friday, Gardener’s Focus: Bones of the Winter Garden, 11:00 to 11:30 am, free walking tour but limited tickets available. Tour given on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. Hillwood Estate, Museum and Gardens, 4155 Linnean Avenue, NW Washington DC. http://www.hillwoodmuseum.org

 

And there is more…….

Hillwood Estate, Museum and Gardens has a new attraction this season in addition to its holiday decorations and events. The contemporary American artist and filmmaker Philip Haas has large sculptures in the garden inspired by the series The Seasons by Guiseppe Arcimboldo (1526-1593). These will be on exhibit through March 31, 2017. Haas’s re-creations transform Arcimboldo’s intriguing works, greatly enlarging the scale, altering the materials, and adding dimensionality to shed a contemporary perspective on the popular paintings.  Arcimboldo, an Italian renaissance painter born in Milan, created the series The Seasons comprising spring, summer, autumn and winter. These portraits depict faces composed of plants associated with each season. Admission fee. http://www.hillwoodmuseum.org

U.S. Botanic Garden’s Season’s Greenings: National Parks and Historic Places is open until January 2, 2017. Immerse yourself in the sights, scents, and sounds of the season with wreaths, garland, trees, and thousands of blooms from exotic orchids to a showcase of heirloom and newly developed poinsettia varieties. Throughout the Conservatory, the U.S. Botanic Garden will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service and the 50th anniversary of the National Historic Preservation Act. In this year’s model train show, the trains will chug around, below, through, and above re-creations of iconic national parks and sites in the National Register of Historic Places. See the Grand Canyon, the Gateway Arch, Old Faithful Inn and Geyser, Mount Vernon, Mount Rushmore, a 7-foot-tall Statue of Liberty, and many more representing 48 different national parks and historic sites, all made from plants and other natural materials. 100 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington DC. Free. http://www.usbg.gov

Winter Walk of Lights at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens is open until January 18, 5:30 to 10:00 pm. Admission fee and dress for weather, tickets are sold online or at door but best to buy online for timed entrance. 9750 Meadowlark Gardens Court, Vienna, VA.  http://www.novaparks.com/parks/meadowlark-botanical-gardens

Garden of Lights at Brookside Gardens is a winter walk-through light display open until January 1, but closed December 24 and 25. Open on Sunday through Thursday 5:30 to 9:00 pm and Friday and Saturday 5:30 to 10:00 pm. Cash at entrance or advance sale tickets. Garden of Lights info line is (301) 962-1453. Brookside Gardens also has a garden railway exhibit and a winter display in their conservatory. 1800 Glenallan Avenue, Wheaton, MD. http://www.brooksidegardens.org

Peg’s Picks of December 2015 Gardening Events in the Washington DC Metro Area

Peg’s Picks of December 2015 Gardening Events in Washington DC Metro Area

The public gardens, nurseries, and historic homes are decorated for Christmas. Many have wreath making classes, open houses, and gift shops full of goodies. Here is a short list of December gardening events in the Washington DC metropolitan area. Don’t forget to look at tabs “Nurseries” and “Public Gardens” for more places to contact.

American Horticultural Society at River Farm, December 12 Saturday Holiday Open House from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm (mansion will be decorated for Christmas), free and open to the public. 7931 E. Boulevard Drive, Alexandria, VA 22308; (703) 768-5700. http://www.ahs.org

Annapolis Horticultural Society, December 2, Wednesday, lecture, Paul Westervelt will speak on “Perennials for Multiple Seasons” at the St. Anne’s Parish Hall, 199 Duke of Gloucester Street, Annapolis, MD; free and open to the public. info@annapolishorticulture.org. http://www.annapolishorticulture.org

Brookside Gardens, The Garden of Lights, a winter walk-through holiday light display, is open from November 27 through January 3, hours and fee vary by day/time, check the web site or call (301) 962-1453. Other events and workshops are at Brookside Gardens in December, including a Tuesday, December 1, road trip to Maymont and Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden to check out their holiday decorations. Must register and pay in advance for this “Richmond Holiday Adventure.” 1800 Glenallan Avenue, Wheaton, MD 20902; (301) 962-1400. http://www.montgomeryparks.org/brookside/

Green Spring Gardens, on Sunday, December 6, Gardeners’ Holiday Open House is from noon to 4:00 pm, free but must register and pay for puppet show and trackless train ride. 4603 Green Spring Road, Alexandria, VA 22312; (703) 642-5173. http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/greenspring/

Hillwood Museum and Gardens is decorated for Christmas and every Tuesday, Friday and Saturday, staff horticulturist Bill Johnson gives a 20-minute tour focusing on the “bones” of the winter garden. Fee and register in advance for the Winter Garden tour. 4155 Linnean Avenue, NW, Washington DC 20008; (202) 686-5807.  http://www.hillwoodmuseum.org

Homestead Gardens has a bus trip to Longwood Gardens to see their holiday light extravaganza on Tuesday, December 8, fee and must register in advance. 743 West Central Avenue, Davidsonville, Md 20135; (410) 798-5000. http://www.homesteadgardens.com

Horticultural Society of Maryland, lecture on Tuesday, December 8, at 7:30 pm. “Beautiful evergreens for the garden and holiday cuttings” with David Thompson of Foxborough Nursery. Before and after the lecture author Kathy Hudson will sign her book, “On Walnut Hill: The Evolution of a Garden.” Lecture is free for members and $10 for non-members. Vollmer Center Auditorium, Cylburn Arboretum, 4915 Greenspring Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21209; (410) 821-5561 or programs@mdhorticulture.org. http://www.mdhorticulture.org

U.S. Botanic Garden has its annual holiday exhibit in the conservatory from November 26 through January 3, free and open to the public.  The conservatory boasts a tropical paradise; one of the largest indoor decorated trees in Washington, DC; a showcase of poinsettias; and a miniature train display. Also, there will be a Pollination Station where one can see oversized flowers, bees, and butterflies in this year’s scenic wonderland. Landmarks such as the Capitol, Lincoln Memorial, and the Washington Monument, all made from plants, will be on display in the Garden Court. Check the website for times. 245 First Street SW, Washington DC 20024; (202) 225-8333. http://www.usbg.gov

And speaking of the U.S. Botanic Garden, just around the corner is the 6-week, Landscape for Life gardening course developed by the Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center and the U.S. Botanic Garden. Learn how to transform home landscapes and public places into healthy refuges that benefit birds, pollinators, and other wildlife including the community and the Chesapeake Bay. Classes are Tuesday mornings 10:00 am to 12:30, January 12 through February 16, (snow date February 23), at the Crossroads United Methodist Church, 43454 Crossroads Drive, Ashburn, VA. Fee, $60, and must register, for more information e-mail landscapeforlifeclass@gmail.com.

Learn to Grow Edibles at Grow It Eat It Open House

Next year, make plans to attend one of the Grow It Eat It Open Houses at the Agricultural History Farm Park in Derwood, Maryland. Grow It Eat It is Maryland’s Food Gardening Network, sponsored by the University of Maryland Extension. Managed by the Montgomery County Master Gardeners, all volunteers, the Grow It Eat It Open Houses are a great way to learn how to grow edibles in the Washington, DC, metropolitan area. This year, there was an Open House in March, May, and on Saturday, last weekend.

Cherokee Trail of Tears bean plant

Cherokee Trail of Tears bean plant

salad table in demonstration garden

salad table in demonstration garden

For this particular Open House, there were three concurrent “tracks.” One track was a series of presentations by Master Gardeners or Extension staff. I attended the first presentation entitled “Keeping Your Animals Out of Your Garden” in the conference room for an hour. Master Gardeners Erica Smith and Terri Valenti had an excellent powerpoint presentation and a very informative handout but what really added value was the fact that they have years of experience growing edibles despite many different animals in their area. They could answer questions easily, offer lessons learned, and were more than willing to spend time talking to people afterwards. Erica is responsible for many of the unique vegetables in the Master Gardener Demonstration Garden and writes for the Grow It Eat It blog. Terri has many years of experience growing a wide spectrum of edibles, including fruit trees. The second presentation was “Low Tunnels—How to Build and Use” by Master Gardener Gordon Clark. Gordon showed us how to erect a low tunnel, which is a method of erecting plastic over a garden bed to extend the growing season of small vegetables. Because he had been growing greens in the winter with this method, he was able to relate his experience and show us the materials he used. Starting from scratch, he pounded the rebars in the ground, erected the PCV pipes, and covered them with plastic in no time. It was easy to understand and easy to relate to the relatively low cost. I missed the third presentation on “Pests and Diseases” by Pat Lynch because I spent too much time in the Master Gardener Demonstration Garden looking at new veggies to try next year and talking to Master Gardeners. According to the brochure there was a presentation on food preservation by Faculty Extension Assistant Karen Basinger (the only presentation that had a fee and required registration), but I also wanted to hit a few farms on the Montgomery County Farm Tour and Harvest Sale so I had to leave early.

Gordon Clark bending pipe

Gordon Clark bending pipe

Concurrent to the other tracks, “Everything Tomatoes,” was attracting attention in a conference room/kitchen down the hall. Tomato enthusiasts were cutting many different types of tomatoes so people could taste and rate their favorite tomatoes. People were invited to share seeds, tomatoes, and recipes, sample tomatoes, learn how to save tomato seeds, and listen to cooking demonstrations all morning long.

Raising plastic over pipes to create a low tunnel

Raising plastic over pipes to create a low tunnel

The last track took place outside in the Master Gardener Demonstration Garden. The gardens themselves were very informative, people took time to make sure most of the plants were clearly labeled (which I always appreciate), and some signage had large timelines and photos depicting the plant’s growth. There were vegetables in containers, in beds, climbing up nets, and sprawling across arches; herbs in pots and in the ground; fruit shrubs; intensively planted beds; salad tables; straw bale gardening; flowers and bees and butterflies everywhere. A Master Gardener answered questions about composting; staff from the Montgomery County Recycling Center offered free compost bins and thermometers; and people demonstrated how to make trellises from bamboo. There were tables set up for Master Gardeners to distribute information on pollinators, gardening tools, starting seeds, and diagnosing plant problems. We had great weather and I came home with lots of handouts, ideas, and new veggies to try next year.

up close shot of ripe mouse melon

up close shot of ripe mouse melon

tromboncino squash

tromboncino squash