Tag Archives: plant sales

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

October is a happening month — 100 gardening events in the Washington DC Metro area!

1, Sunday (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

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

1, Sunday, Arcadia Fall Harvest Dinner, 4:30 to 8:30 pm Arcadia at Woodlawn-Pope Leighey, 9000 Richmond Highway, Alexandria, VA. The 4th annual Arcadia fall harvest dinner celebrating the Arcadia Veteran Farmer Program. Fee and must register. http://www.arcadiafood.org

1, Sunday, Tour garden in Bon Air Park, sunny and shade gardens, 2:00 to 4:00 pm, free, no registration required. Hosted by Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia, 850 N. Lexington Street, Arlington, VA. http://www.mgnv.org

1, Sunday, Meadow Ecology, 1:30 to 3:30 pm. Fee and must register and be prepared to walk outdoors. Adkins Arboretum, 12610, Eveland Road, Ridgely, MD. http://www.adkinsarboretum.org.

1, 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: Standout Foundation Plants
  • Gainesville: Screening and Defining with Evergreens

2, October through 13 November, Community Herbalism Class, 6-week course on Monday evenings at Josephine Butler Parks Center, 2437 15th Street, NW, Washington. E-mail littleredbirdbotanicals@gmail.com with any questions. Fee and must register in advance. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/community-herbalism-class-six-week-series-tickets-37898350988

3, Tuesday, 5, Thursday, and 6, Friday, Gardener’s Focus: Fall Design, 2:45 to 3:30, fee is the admission fee to Hillwood. Also offered on October 10, 12, 13, same time. Hillwood Museum and Garden, 4155 Linnean Avenue, NW Washington DC.  http://www.hillwoodmuseum.org

4, Wednesday, Tree Planting Team Leader Training, 6:00 to 9:00 pm. Free but must register, Casey Trees, 3030 12th street, NE Washington DC. http://www.caseytrees.org

4, Wednesday, Garden Series: Extending your growing season, 6 – 8 pm.  Free. Chinquapin Recreation Center, 3210 King Street, Alexandria, VA. https://www.alexandriava.gov/uploadedFiles/News/Recreation_News/GardenSeriesflyer.pdf

4, Wednesday, Arlington County Library Wednesdays in the Garden Series: Fruit from Vines, Brambles, and Shrubs, 7:00 to 8:30 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

4, 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

4, 11, 18, 25, Wednesday mornings at 10:00 am. Monarch Butterflies. The Master Gardener Program of Baltimore County is providing free workshops for the public to learn about monarch butterflies and to take part in ongoing research to help this species survive and thrive. Free, no registration required. Center for Maryland Agriculture and Farm Park, 1114 Shawan Road, Cockeysville. https://extension.umd.edu/events/wed-2017-08-16-1000-monarch-tag-release

5, Thursday and 6, Friday, Third Virginia Urban Agriculture Summit, fee and must register, all day. Arlington Campus, George Mason University, 3351 Fairfax Drive, Arlington https://vafb.swoogo.com/urbanag2017/36853

5, Thursday, Webinar: Fall Gardening with Charlie Nardozzi, 7:00 to 8:30 ET, fee and must register. http://www.gardeningwithcharlie.com/fall-gardening-webinar

5, Thursday, Garden Gulps. Create a terrarium and enjoy wine and appetizers. Fee and must register. 7:00 pm. Historic London Town and Gardens, 839 Londontown Road, Edgewater, MD.  http://www.historiclondontown.org/

5, Thursday. Fall Lecture Series: Candy in the Garden, Ideas and Inspiration to create eye catching drama in any garden setting with Kent Russell, 10:30 am. Fee and must register, Ladew Topiary Gardens, 3535 Jarrettsville Pike, Monkton, MD.  http://ladewgardens.org/

5, Thursday, Lecture: Restoring Streams and Stream Valleys: Finding Balance in Altered Landscapes, 7:00 pm, free and open to the public, Rust Library, Old Waterford Road, Leesburg. Hosted by Loudoun County Master Gardeners. http://www.loudouncountymastergardeners.org

7, Saturday, Harvest Festival, family event with farming and gardening activities, 11:00 am to 4:00 pm, admission fee. Sponsored by the Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission at the Agricultural History Farm Park (Derwood), 18400 Muncaster Road, Derwood, MD.  https://www.montgomeryparks.org/parks-and-trails/agricultural-history-farm-park/

7, Saturday, Lecture: Fall Gardening in the mid-Atlantic, noon to 1:30 pm. Free but register via Eventbrite. Community Forklift, 4671 Tanglewood Drive, Edmonston, MD. http://www.communityforklift.org

7, Saturday, Residential Tree Planting workshop (for homeowners to learn how to plant trees), 10:00 am to 12:30 pm, free but must register, Casey Trees, 3030 12th Street, NE Washington DC http://www.caseytrees.org

7, Saturday, 9:30 to 4:30; 8, Sunday, 9:30 to 4:30, 9, Monday, 9:30 to 3:00 pm, Orchid Diagnostic and Repotting Clinic With Carol Allen, free but for a fee she will repot your orchid. Behnke Nurseries Garden Center, 11300 Baltimore Road, Beltsville, MD. http://www.behnkes.com/

7, Saturday through 9, Monday, National Capital Orchid Society Show and Sale at Behnke Nurseries Garden Center, 11300 Baltimore Road, Beltsville, MD. Free admission. http://www.ncos.us/fallshow.htm

7, Saturday, Beginner Hands-On Bonsai Class, fee and must register, 2:00 to 4:00 pm, Behnke Nurseries Garden Center, 11300 Baltimore Road, Beltsville, MD.  http://behnkes.com/

7, Saturday, Fall is Here: Prepare for Winter, 10:00 to 11:00 am, free and open to the public, in the demonstration garden, Ida Lee Park, Leesburg, Va. Hosted by Loudoun County Master Gardeners, http://www.loudouncountymastergardeners.org

7, Saturday, Pink Day at Meadows Farm to celebrate breast cancer awareness month. Check website for events and locations. http://www.meadowsfarms.com

7, 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: Container Garden for Fall and Winter
  • Fair Oaks: Fantastic Foliage: Trees
  • Gainesville: Build a Low Maintenance Garden

7, Saturday, Lecture: From Now to Wow: Pathways to Good Design, 8:30 to 12:30 pm. Fee and must register. Marianne Wilburn and Pam Beck will teach you how to find your path from the less than ideal yard into the garden you have longed for. Green Spring Gardens, 4603 Green Spring Road, Alexandria, VA. http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/greenspring

8, Sunday, Nature’s Interconnectors: Fall Color, Fruits, Buds, Bark, 1:00 to 2:30 pm. No fee for members, non-members pay the admission fee, be prepared to walk outside. Adkins Arboretum, 12610 Eveland Road, Ridgely, MD. http://www.adkinsarboretum.org

8, 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: Creating a Deer Resistant Garden
  • Gainesville: Perennial Plant Pairings

9, Monday, Lecture: A History of Spices, 10:30 to noon, free and must register, U.S. Botanic Garden, 245 First Street, SW, Washington DC. http://www.usbg.gov

10, Tuesday, Simpson Garden 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. http://www.mgnv.org

10, Tuesday, 12, Thursday, and 13, Friday, Gardener’s Focus: Fall Design, 2:45 to 3:30, fee is the admission fee to Hillwood. Hillwood Museum and Garden, 4155 Linnean Avenue, NW Washington DC.  http://www.hillwoodmuseum.org

10, Tuesday, Dried Flower Wreaths, 10 to noon, fee and must register, Brookside Gardens, 1800 Glenallan Avenue, Wheaton, MD. http://www.brooksidegardens.org

10, Tuesday, The Art of Growing Food, by Ellen Ecker Ogden, 7:30 pm. Vollmer Center Auditorium, Cylburn Arboretum, 4915 Greenspring Avenue, Baltimore, MD. Fee for nonmembers, members of the Horticultural Society of Maryland are free. Hosted by the Maryland Horticultural Society. http://www.mdhorticulture.org

11, Wednesday, Tree Selection, Planting and Care, 7:00 to 8:30 pm, free, no registration necessary. In partnership with the Alexandria Beatification Commission, hosted by the Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia, Mt. Vernon Recreation Center, 2701 Commonwealth Avenue, Alexandria, VA. http://www.mgnv.org

11, Wednesday, Demonstration: Orchid Repotting and Answers to Orchid Culture, 10:30 am to 11:15 am. Free and no registration required. Repeated again at 11:45. U.S. Botanic Garden, 245 First Street, SW, Washington DC. http://www.usbg.gov

11, Wednesdays in the Garden Series: Growing Garlic and its History, 7:00 to 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

12, Thursday, Tour: Operational Behind the Scenes at the USBG Production Facility, 10:30 to 11:30 am, free and must register, (meet at the production facility, address is on usbg.gov website when register)  http://www.usbg.gov

12, Thursday, Fall Lecture Series: Sculpture in the Garden: A Retrospective with Mary Ann Mears, 10:30 am, fee and must register, Ladew Topiary Gardens, 3535 Jarrettsville Pike, Monkton, MD. http://www.ladewgardens.com

13, Friday, Garden Talk: Composting Fall Leaves, 2-3 pm. Fee and must register. Green Spring Gardens, 4603 Green Spring Road, Alexandria, VA. http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/greenspring

14, Saturday, The Birds and the Bees: Cleaning, Housing and Feeding for the Fall/Winter, free, 2:00 pm. Behnke Nurseries Garden Center, 11300 Baltimore Road, Beltsville, MD.  http://behnkes.com/

14, Saturday, Composting and what to do with all that leaf and yard waste, 10:30 to noon, free and advance registration requested. Fairlington Community Center, 3308 S. Stafford Street, Arlington. Hosted by Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia. http://www.mgnv.org

14, Saturday, and 15, Sunday, Arborfest: Fall Festival and Plant Sale (family event). 9:00 am to 4:30 pm each day, admission fee. Blandy (state arboretum of Virginia), 400 Blandy Farm Lane, Boyce, VA. http://www.blandy.virginia.edu

14, Saturday, Chinese Kitchen Garden: Family Recipes, 1 to 2 pm. Wendy Kiang-Spray will show you how to prepare different Asian vegetables for cooking. Fee and must register. Green Spring Gardens, 4603 Green Spring Road, Alexandria, VA. http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/greenspring

14, Saturday, Garden Tour: Our Woods and Ponds, 10:00 to 11:30 am. Fee and must register. Green Spring Gardens, 4603 Green Spring Road, Alexandria, VA. http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/greenspring

14, Saturday, Regional School Garden Summit, 9:00 am to 7:00 pm, free but must register. DC Greens will host the first annual regional school garden summit to nurture emerging regional network of non-profits, schools, and government agencies interested in capacity and network building around school gardens. Ludlow-Taylor Elementary School, 659 G Street NE, Washington DC. http://www.dcgreens.org/summit

14, Saturday, Under the Arbor: Chile Celebration, 1:00 to 4:00 pm. Free. Presented by the Herb Society of America, National Herb Garden at the U.S. National Arboretum, 3501 New York Avenue, NE, Washington, DC. http://www.usna.usda.gov

14, 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: Trees and Shrubs
  • Fair Oaks: Amazing Color with Bulbs and Companion Plants
  • Gainesville: Selecting Shrubs for Fall Foliage

14, Saturday, Growing and Healing with Common Garden Herbs by Shannon Winston, 10:00 to noon, fee and must register, Brookside Gardens, 1800 Glenallan Avenue, Wheaton, MD. http://www.brooksidegardens.org

14, Saturday, Chrysanthemum display at the Brookside Gardens conservatories from October 14 to November 25. 10 to 5 daily and free (South conservatory closed Monday November 13). Brookside Gardens, 1800 Glenallan Avenue, Wheaton, MD. http://www.brooksidegardens.org

15, Sunday, Lecture on Designing for Maximum Curb Appeal, 1:00 pm, free and no registration necessary. Gainesville location of Merrifield Garden Center. See website for street address. http://www.merrifieldgardencenter.com

16, Monday, Putting Your Garden to Bed, 7 to 8:30 pm. Beatley Library, 5005 Duke Street, Alexandria, VA. Free and advance registration requested. Hosted by the Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia. This is being offered again on Saturday, October 21, from 10:30 am to noon at the Fairlington Community Center.  http://www.mgnv.org

16, Monday, Lecture: From Front Yard to Rock Garden: Step by Step by Sharee Solow, owner of Solow Horticultural Designs. 8:00 pm, free and open to the public. Hosted by the Silver Spring Garden Club (which has a Facebook page) at Brookside Gardens, 1800 Glenallan Avenue, Wheaton, MD.

17, Tuesday, Workshop: Herbaceous Perennial Division, 9:00 am. Fee and must register. Ladew Topiary Garden, 3535 Jarrettsville Pike, Monkton, MD. http://www.ladewgardens.com

17, Tuesday, Webinar: Nonstop plants making a 365 garden, with Margaret Roach, 6:30 to 8:00 pm ET. Fee and must register, https://awaytogarden.com/garden-webinars-margaret-roach/

17, Tuesday; 19, 20, 24, 26, 27, and 31. Gardener’s Focus: Specialty Mums at Hillwood, 2:45 to 3:30 pm. admission fee. Hillwood Museum and Garden, 4155 Linnean Avenue, NW Washington DC.  http://www.hillwoodmuseum.org

19, Thursday, Fall Lecture Series: The art of gardening at Chanticleer with Bill Thomas (with book sale), 10:30 am, fee and must register. Ladew Topiary Garden, 3535 Jarrettsville Pike, Monkton, MD. http://www.ladewgardens.com

20, Friday, Perennial Plant Conference, all day. Fee and must register. The Scott Arboretum at the Swarthmore College Campus, PA.  http://www.perennialplantconference.org

20, Friday, Lecture: Orchids in the Office, free and must register, noon to 1:00 pm. U.S. Botanic Garden, 245 First Street, SW, Washington DC. http://www.usbg.gov

21, Saturday, Putting Your Garden to Bed, 10:30 to noon. Free and advance registration requested. Fairlington Community Center, 3308 S. Stafford Street, Arlington. Hosted by the Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia. This is being offered again on Monday, October 16, from 7:00 to 8:30 pm at the Beatley Library.  http://www.mgnv.org

21, Saturday, and 22, Sunday, Loudoun County Fall Farm Tour, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm each day, free, self-guided, see website for map. http://www.loudounfarms.org/farmtour

21, Saturday, Saturday in the Garden: The Right Tree: Planting, Care, and Maintenance, 9:00 to noon. Hosted by the Master Gardeners of Prince William County. Demonstration Garden, 9535 Linton Hall Road, Bristow, VA. https://www.mgpw.org/

21, Saturday, Easy Wreath Making and Porch Pot Basic, Decorating in a Day, 2:00 pm, free. Behnke Nurseries Garden Center, 11300 Baltimore Road, Beltsville, MD. http://www.behnkes.com/

21, Saturday, Soup ‘n Walk: Dazzling fall color guided walk and then a vegetarian lunch (soup). 11:00 to 1:30 pm. Fee and must register. Adkins Arboretum, 12610 Eveland Road, Ridgely, MD. http://www.adkinsarboretum.org

21, Saturday, Master Class Program: Planning Spring, presented by David Culp, 9:15 am to 12:15 pm. Fee and must register. Green Spring Gardens, 4603 Green Spring Road, Alexandria, VA. http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/greenspring

21, 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: Shrubs for Small Spaces
  • Gainesville: Spring Blooming Bulbs

22, Sunday, Oatlands Harvest Festival, 10:00 to 4:00 pm. Admission fee. Oatlands Historic House and Garden, 20850 Oatlands Plantation Lane, Leesburg, VA. http://www.oatlands.org

22, Sunday, McCrillis Gardens Sunday walks with a guide, 2 to 3:00 pm, free. Meet at the McCrillis house, 6910 Greentree Road, Bethesda, MD. Hosted by Brookside Gardens staff, http://www.brooksidegardens.org

22, Sunday, Lecture: Finding Peace of Mind in your Garden, 1:00 pm, free and no registration necessary, Gainesville location of Merrifield Garden Center. See website for street address. http://www.merrifieldgardencenter.com

22, Sunday, Belle Grove Barn Series: Williamsburg Holiday Display. Create Williamsburg style swags and mantel decoration. 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

24, Tuesday, Tour: Rediscover Bartholdi Park, 10:30 to 11:30 am. free and must register, meet at the Bartholdi Park fountain, U.S. Botanic Garden, 245 First Street, SW, Washington DC. http://www.usbg.gov

24, Tuesday, Champion Tree Tour, a bus tour of champion trees in the region, fee includes charter bus transportation and drink, bring a lunch. 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. Fee and registration required. Brookside Gardens, 1800 Glenallan Avenue, Wheaton, MD. http://www.brooksidegardens.org

25, Wednesday, Conservation Landscapes and Rain Gardens, 4 to 7:00 pm, fee and must register. At Brookside Gardens, hosted by the Department of Environmental Protection. Brookside Gardens, 1800 Glenallan Avenue, Wheaton,MD. https://apm.activecommunities.com/montgomerycounty/Activity_Search/33635

25, Wednesday, Webinar: Garden Writing for Everyone, with Margaret Roach, 6:30 to 8:00 pm ET. Fee and must register, https://awaytogarden.com/garden-webinars-margaret-roach/

25, Wednesday, Native Orchids, 1:00 to 2:30 pm. Free for members, non-members pay admission fee. Must register. Adkins Arboretum, 12610 Eveland Road, Ridgely, MD. http://www.adkinsarboretum.org

25, Wednesday, Glory of Fall Garden Tour with Phil Normandy, Brookside Gardens staff. Join Phil for a walking tour of Brookside gardens to see plants that have fall colors or bloom in the fall. 1:00 to 2:30 pm. Fee and must register. Brookside Gardens, 1800 Glenallan Avenue, Wheaton, MD. http://www.brooksidegardens.org

25, Wednesday, Tour: Phenomenal Plants: The USBG Medicinal Plants Collection, 10:45 to 11:30 am, free and must register, U.S. Botanic Garden, 245 First Street, SW, Washington DC. http://www.usbg.gov

25, Wednesday, Lecture: Woody Plants and Plant Explorations by Kevin Conrad, curator at the National Arboretum, 7:30 pm. Free and open to the public. Beltsville Garden Club, James E. Duckworth School, 11201 Evans Trail, Beltsville, MD. http://www.beltsvillegardenclub.org

26, Thursday, Webinar: Kerry Ann Mendez, owner of Perennially Yours, will be talking with guest Dr. Allan Armitage, author of Of Naked Ladies and Forget-Me-Nots, 2:00 pm ET. Fee and must register. https://pyours.com/webinar-allan-armitage

26, Thursday, Native Grasses and Sedges for the Home Garden, 7:00 to 8:30 pm. Free and advance registration requested. Burke Library, 4701 Seminary Road, Alexandria. Hosted by the Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia. http://www.mgnv.org

26, Thursday, Fall Lecture Series: Artificial Nature: Renaissance Rome and the Birth of Garden Design with John Marciari (with book sale). 10:30 am, fee and must register. Ladew Topiary Garden, 3535 Jarrettsville Pike, Monkton, MD. http://www.ladewgardens.com

27, Friday: Garden Talk: Get Ready for Winter, 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

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

28, Saturday, 9:30 to 4:30, and 29, Sunday, 9:30 to 4:30, Orchid diagnostic and repotting clinic with Carol Allen, free but for a fee she will repot your orchid. Behnke Nurseries Garden Center, 11300 Baltimore Road, Beltsville, MD. http://www.behnkes.com/

28, Saturday, Terrarium workshop, 10:00 am to noon, fee and must register. Blandy (state arboretum of Virginia), 400 Blandy Farm Lane, Boyce, VA. http://www.blandy.virginia.edu

28, Saturday, Brookside Gardens walks with a guide, 10:00 to 11:00 am. Free. Brookside Gardens, 1800 Glenallan Avenue, Wheaton, MD. http://www.brooksidegardens.org

28, Saturday, Showy Fall Natives and Companions, 10:30 am. to noon. Take a walk with Green Spring Gardens’ horticulturist, Brenda Skarphol to learn of some of Green Spring Gardens best fall natives, perennials, shrubs, and trees. Fee and must register. Green Spring Gardens, 4603 Green Spring Road, Alexandria, VA. http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/greenspring

28, Saturday, Floral Workshop: Wickedly Wonderful, 9:30 to 11:00 am. Create a festive Halloween floral design with a professional floral designer. Fee and must register. Green Spring Gardens, 4603 Green Spring Road, Alexandria, VA. http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/greenspring

28, Saturday, Two Season Garden Container Workshop, 2:00 to 3:30 pm. Create an outdoor container layered with early to mid-spring flower bulbs and winter interest with horticulturist Susan Eggerton. Fee and must register. Green Spring Gardens, 4603 Green Spring Road, Alexandria, VA. http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/greenspring

28, 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: Good Bug and Bad Bug
  • Fair Oaks: Just for Kids: Halloween Scavenger Hunt
  • Gainesville: Pet Friendly Plants

21, Saturday 1 to 5, and 22, Sunday, 10 to 3, chrysanthemum show at Fair Oaks location of Merrifield Garden Center, free, no registration necessary. See website for street address. Hosted by the Old Dominion and Potomac Chrysanthemum Societies. http://www.merrifieldgardencenter.com

Keep an eye out for

The White House opens up its gardens for tours in the spring and fall but you never know exactly what weekend until the last minute so keep an eye on this link below to find out when in October you can see the White House Gardens, free but timed tour. https://whitehouse.gov1.info/visit/white-house-garden-tour.html

And around the corner

1, November, Trees Matter Symposium, 7:30 am to 4:00 pm, fee and must register, Silver Spring Civic Center, Silver Spring. https://www.montgomeryparks.org/about/divisions/arboriculture/trees-matter-symposium

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 12th 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 31st 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

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

Summer’s here! There are so many gardening events to attend and “million of things” to do in the garden!

1, Thursday, Let’s Talk Gardens Series: Disease Resistance Roses, 12:15 to 12:45 pm. Free; no registration necessary. East Walk of the Smithsonian’s Enid A. Haupt Garden, Smithsonian Gardens, Washington DC. http://www.gardens.si.edu/whats-happening/lets-talk-gardens.html

2, Friday, Annual Garden Fiesta fundraising event and celebration. 6:30 to 9:30 pm. Free and open to the public. Hosted by City Blossoms at DC Bilingual, 33 Riggs Rd., NE, Washington DC http://www.cityblossoms.org

2, Friday, Lecture: Low Maintenance Roses: The Earth Kind Way. Noon to 1:00 pm. Free but must register. U.S. Botanic Garden, 245 First Street, SW, Washington DC. http://www.usbg.gov

2, Friday, open day for private garden in Silver Spring, 5:30 to 7:30 pm, Takoma Horticultural Club, see website for street address and details; will have a different private garden every Friday in June. Free and open to the public. http://www.takomahort.org

2, Friday, Lecture: No Fuss Roses, 10:00 am to noon. Fee and must register. Brookside Gardens, 1800 Glenallan Avenue, Wheaton, MD. http://www.brooksidegardens.org

3, Saturday, Washington Gardener’s annual plant swap. 11:30 am. Free to participate. At the R street parking lot of the U.S. National Arboretum. http://www.washingtongardener.blogspot.com

3, Saturday, Summer Maintenance and Vegetable Garden, 10:00 to 11:00 am. Free. Hosted by the Loudoun County Master Gardeners, Loudoun County Master Gardeners’ Demonstration Garden, Ida Lee Park, Leesburg, VA. http://www.loudouncountymastergardeners.org.

3, Saturday, Pollinator’s Day, 11:00 to 3:00 pm. Free. Talks, tours, and book signing (11:00 am walking tour of what is in bloom, and 2:00 pm talk on planting for pollinators. Behnke Nurseries Garden Center, 11300 Baltimore Avenue, Beltsville, MD. http://www.behnkes.com

3, Saturday and 4, Sunday, Secret Garden Tour in Annapolis. Noon to 5:00 pm. Tickets required. Sponsored by Hammond Harwood House Association. http://www.hammondharwoodhouse.org/secret-garden-tour

4, Sunday, Garden Tour, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Sponsored by the Horticultural Society of Maryland (HSM) HSM members free; non-members pay admission fee. All gardens are private gardens in Annapolis. http://www.mdhorticulture.org

3, Saturday, Belle Grove Plantation Garden Fest, 8:00 am to 3:00 pm. Free admission. Belle Grove Plantation, 336 Belle Grove Road, Middletown, VA. Sponsored by the Northern Shenandoah Valley Master Gardeners. http://www.nsvmga.org and http://nsvmga.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Final_Color_MG_GF2017.pdf

3, Saturday, Iris Culture and Care in the Integrated Landscape. 10:00 to noon. Free but must register. Historic Manassas Courthouse, 9250 Lee Avenue, Old Town Manassas, VA. Sponsored by Prince William County Master Gardeners. http://www.pwcgov.org/grow

4, Sunday, Brookland House and Garden Tour in Washington DC, Noon to 5:00 pm. Tickets required. Hosted by the Greater Brookland Garden Club. http://www.gbgc.org

5, Monday, Waterwise Gardening, 7:00 to 8:30 pm. Free and advance registration required. Sponsored by the Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia. Fairlington Community Center, 3308 S. Stafford Street, Arlington. http://www.mgnv.org

6, Tuesday, In the Garden Series: Tree and Shrub Pruning. Fee and must register, 9:00 am, Ladew Topiary Garden, 3535 Jarrettsville Pike, Monkton, MD. http://www.ladewgardens.com

7, Wednesday, Native Plant Sale, 10 to noon, the Potowmack Chapter of the Virginia Native Plant Society has a Wednesday plant sale at their propagation beds at Green Spring the first Wednesday of the month, also welcomes volunteers to work in the propagation beds. Green Spring Gardens, 4603 Green Spring Road, Alexandria, VA. http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/greenspring

7, Wednesday, Insects: Pests and Beneficials, Wednesdays in the Garden Series, 7:00 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. http://www.mgnv.org

8, Thursday, Lecture and film: Hometown Habitat. Lecture by Catherine Zimmerman. 7:00 pm. Free but registration required; sponsored by Friends of Brookside Gardens and by Maryland Native plant Society. Visitors Center Auditorium. Brookside Gardens, 1800 Glenallan Avenue, Wheaton, MD. http://www.brooksidegardens.org

8, Thursday, Let’s Talk Gardens Series: Small Space Food Gardens, 12:15 to 12:45 pm. Free; no registration necessary. East Walk of the Smithsonian’s Enid A. Haupt Garden, Smithsonian Gardens, Washington DC. http://www.gardens.si.edu/whats-happening/lets-talk-gardens.html

9, Friday, open day for private garden in Silver Spring, 5:30 to 7:30 pm, Takoma Horticultural Club, see website for street address and details; will have a different private garden every Friday in June. Free and open to the public. http://www.takomahort.org

9, Friday, Gilded Age-inspired Garden Party, 6:30 to 8:30 pm. Tickets required. East Terrace of the Enid A. Haupt Garden, Smithsonian, Washington DC. Sponsored by the Smithsonian Libraries and Smithsonian Gardens. http://library.si.edu/event/garden-party

10, Saturday, Festival: You Can Grow It Celebration. 10 am to 4:00 pm. Free. U.S. Botanic Garden, 245 First Street, SW, Washington DC. http://www.usbg.gov

10, Saturday, Growing and Healing with Common Garden Herbs, 10:00 am to noon. Fee and registration required. Brookside Gardens, 1800 Glenallan Avenue, Wheaton, MD. http://www.brooksidegardens.org

10, Saturday, Garden Conservancy’s Open Day in Frederick. 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Tickets required. Visit several private gardens in Frederick on your own, rain or shine. https://www.gardenconservancy.org/open-days

10, Saturday and 11, Sunday, Virginia Herb Festival, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. Admission fee. Sunflower Cottage and Backroom Brewery, 150 Ridgemont Road, Middletown, VA, http://www.virginiaherbfestival.com

11, Sunday, Sunday in the Organic Vegetable Garden, 1:00 to 4:00 pm. Free, no registration necessary. Sponsored by the Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia.  Potomac Overlook Park, 2845 Marcey Road, Arlington. http://www.mgnv.org

11, Sunday, Eastport Home and Garden Tour in Maryland, 1:00 to 5:00 pm. Tickets required. http://www.eastportcivic.org

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

14, Wednesday, Pollination, Pollinators and Flowers, Wednesdays in the Garden Series, 7:00 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. http://www.mgnv.org

15, Thursday, Workshop: Edible Container Gardens. 6:30 to 8:00 pm. Free but must register. U.S. Botanic Garden, 245 First Street, SW, Washington DC. http://www.usbg.gov

15, Thursday, Let’s Talk Gardens Series: Plant for Water Features, 12:15 to 12:45 pm. Free; no registration necessary. East Walk of the Smithsonian’s Enid A. Haupt Garden, Smithsonian Gardens, Washington DC. http://www.gardens.si.edu/whats-happening/lets-talk-gardens.html

16, Friday, open day for private garden in Silver Spring, 5:30 to 7:30 pm, Takoma Horticultural Club, see website for street address and details; will have a different private garden every Friday in June. Free and open to the public. http://www.takomahort.org

17, Saturday, Aquatic Gardening for Everyone, 11:00 am. Free. Behnke Nurseries Garden Center, 11300 Baltimore Avenue, Beltsville, MD. http://www.behnkes.com

17, Saturday, The Most Reliable Perennials for Sun and Shade, 2:00 pm. Free.  Behnke Nurseries Garden Center, 11300 Baltimore Avenue, Beltsville, MD. http://www.behnkes.com

17, Saturday, Talk and Tour: Daylily Daze: Past, Present, and Future of Daylily Breeding, 10:30 am to 12:30 pm. Fee and registration required, meet in Visitor Center, National Arboretum, 3501 New York Avenue, NE, Washington DC. http://www.usna.usda.gov/

17, Saturday, Saturday in the gardens Series Sponsored by the Prince William County Master Gardeners. 9:00 am to noon. Topics will be Your Small Space Garden, Breath-taking baskets and potted posies, and vegetable of the month. Teaching Garden at St. Benedict Monastery. 9535, Linton Hall Road, Bristow, VA. Free but must register and dress for weather. http://www.pwcgov.org/government/dept/vce/pages/saturday-in-the-garden.aspx http://www.pwcgov.org/grow

17, Saturday, Terrarium workshop, either 10:30 to 11:30 or 1:30 to 2:30. Fee and must register. Hillwood Estate, Museum, and Gardens, 4155 Linnean Avenue, NW, Washington DC. http://www.hillwoodmuseum.org

18, Sunday, Mini Mid-Season Native Plant Sale. 10:00 to 2:00 pm. Host by Plant NOVA Native Plants. At Earth Sangha, 6100 Cloud Drive in Franconia Park, Springfield, VA.  http://www.earthsangha.org

21, Wednesday, Summer Pruning and Plant Care, 7:00 to 8:30 pm. Free, no registration necessary. Sponsored by Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia. Mt. Vernon Recreation Center, 2701 Commonwealth Avenue, Alexandria. http://www.mgnv.org

21, Wednesday, Best Practices in the Garden, Wednesdays in the Garden Series, 7:00 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. http://www.mgnv.org

21, Wednesday, Workshop and Lecture: Succulents Container, 10:00 to 11:30 am. Fee and must register. Brookside Gardens, 1800 Glenallan Avenue, Wheaton, MD. http://www.brooksidegardens.org

22, Thursday, Let’s Talk Gardens Series: Invasive Plant Removal, 12:15 to 12:45 pm. Free; no registration necessary. East Walk of the Smithsonian’s Enid A. Haupt Garden, Smithsonian Gardens, Washington DC. http://www.gardens.si.edu/whats-happening/lets-talk-gardens.html

23, Friday, open day for private garden in Silver Spring, 5:30 to 7:30 pm, Takoma Horticultural Club, see website for street address and details; will have a different private garden every Friday in June. http://www.takomahort.org

23, Friday, Special Event Pollinator Party 11:00 am to 11: 45 am. Free; no registration required. U.S. Botanic Garden, 245 First Street, SW, Washington DC. http://www.usbg.gov

23, Friday, Road Trip: Burpee’s Test Gardens: Fordhook Farm, 7:30 am to 5:00 pm. Fee and registration required. Meet at the Visitors Center entrance; bus will take you to Doylestown, PA, for the day. Brookside Gardens, 1800 Glenallan Avenue, Wheaton, MD. http://www.brooksidegardens.org

23, Friday, garden tour of Tudor’s gardens, 10:30 to 11:30 am. Must register and requires the admission fee to the estate. Tudor offers tours on the fourth Friday of the month but people can take self-guided tours other times when the estate is open. 1644 31st Street NW Washington DC. https://www.tudorplace.org/

24, Saturday, Walking Tour: the Best Summer Shrubs and Trees for Birds and Bees. Free. 11:00 am. Behnke Nurseries Garden Center, 11300 Baltimore Avenue, Beltsville, MD. http://www.behnkes.com

26, Monday, Growing Cut Flowers in your Garden. 7:00 to 8:30 pm. Free and advance registration required. Sponsored by the Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia. Burke Library, 4701 Seminary Road, Alexandria.  http://www.mgnv.org

27, Tuesday, Gardener’s Focus: Summer Designs. 2:45 to 3:30 pm. Head gardener highlights summer seasonal plantings. Also offered on Thursday June 29 and Friday June 30. Limited number of free tickets distributed upon opening each day but must pay admission fee to Hillwood. Hillwood Estate, Museum, and Gardens, 4155 Linnean Avenue, NW, Washington DC. http://www.hillwoodmuseum.org

28, Wednesday, Mushroom Growing, Wednesdays in the Garden Series, 7:00 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. http://www.mgnv.org

28, Wednesday, Small Space Gardening in Urban Settings, 6:30 to 8:00 pm. Fee and must register. Brookside Gardens, 1800 Glenallan Avenue, Wheaton, MD. http://www.brooksidegardens.org

29, Thursday, Let’s Talk Gardens Series: Indoor Garden Inspirations, 12:15 to 12:45 pm. Free; no registration necessary. East Walk of the Smithsonian’s Enid A. Haupt Garden, Smithsonian Gardens, Washington DC. http://www.gardens.si.edu/whats-happening/lets-talk-gardens.html

29, Thursday, Gardener’s Focus: Summer Designs. 2:45 to 3:30 pm. Head gardener highlights summer seasonal plantings. Also offered on Tuesday June 27 and Friday June 30. Limited number of free tickets distributed upon opening each day but must pay admission fee to Hillwood. Hillwood Estate, Museum, and Gardens, 4155 Linnean Avenue, NW, Washington DC. http://www.hillwoodmuseum.org

30, Friday, Gardener’s Focus: Summer Designs. 2:45 to 3:30 pm. Head gardener highlights summer seasonal plantings. Also offered on Tuesday June 27 and Thursday June 29. Limited number of free tickets distributed upon opening each day but must pay admission fee to Hillwood. Hillwood Estate, Museum, and Gardens, 4155 Linnean Avenue, NW, Washington DC. http://www.hillwoodmuseum.org

30, Friday, open day for private garden in Silver Spring, 5:30 to 7:30 pm, Takoma Horticultural Club, see website for street address and details; will have a different private garden every Friday in June. Free and open to the public. http://www.takomahort.org

The DC Parks and Recreation has a Summer Garden Workshop Series. Free workshops until September. Focused on practical urban gardening and taught by the leaders of DC urban garden movement. Check out the website for more details:

https://dpr.dc.gov/node/1124742

The Smithsonian Libraries and Smithsonian Gardens present a new exhibit “Cultivating America’s Gardens,” at the National Museum of American History now through August 2018, in Washington DC. The exhibit highlights plant exploration and the establishment of botanical gardens, the rise of the lawn, gardens of the Gilded Age, gardens of World’s Fairs, Victory and school gardens, preservation and documentation of historic gardens, the seed industry and plant breeding, and sustainable gardens of today. The “Cultivating America’s Gardens” features such iconic books as Philip Miller’s The Gardener’s Dictionary (1768) and Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring (1962) as well as World War I posters and leaflets, gardening tools and a 1903 gardening journal from a private estate in Massachusetts designed by the Olmsted Brothers firm. Visitors will view books, trade catalogs, stereographs, lantern slides, illustrations and color photography that played an important role in the dissemination of horticultural and design knowledge and in influencing the American garden as it is known today. The exhibit is made possible through the support of the Burpee Foundation, Inc.

http://www.library.si.edu/exhibition/cultivating-americas-gardens

 

 

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

May has more than 60 gardening events, workshops, lectures, plant sales, and home and garden tours in the greater Washington DC area.

2, Tuesday, Gardener’s Focus: Woodland Path, 2:45 pm. Fee is included in suggested donation, limited tickets.  Also offered on Thursday, May 4, and Saturday May 6 at same time. Hillwood Estate, Museum, and Gardens, 4155 Linnean Avenue, NW, Washington DC. http://www.hillwoodmuseum.org

2, Tuesday, Container and Balcony Gardening, 7-8:30 pm, free but advance registration requested. Presented by VCE Master Gardeners. Fairlington Community Center, 3308 S. Stafford Street, Arlington. http://www.mgnv.org

3, Wednesday, Foraging for Wild Edibles. 7:00 pm. Wednesdays in the Garden Series, led by Arlington Food Assistance Center volunteers and Master Gardeners. Arlington Central Library, 1015 N. Quincy Street, Arlington VA; (703) 228-5990, free and no need to register. http://www.library.arlingtonva.us/events/garden-talks

3, Wednesday, Lecture: A Year in Half Circle Garden, by Dave Leaverton. Sponsored by Annapolis Horticultural Society, 7:00 pm, open to the public, and free. St. Anne’s Parish Hall, 199 Duke of Gloucester Street, Annapolis, MD. http://www.annapolishorticulture.org

4, Thursday, Gardener’s Focus: Woodland Path, 2:45 pm. Fee is included in suggested donation, limited tickets.  Also offered on Tuesday, May 2, and Saturday May 6 at same time. Hillwood Estate, Museum, and Gardens, 4155 Linnean Avenue, NW, Washington DC. http://www.hillwoodmuseum.org

4, Thursday, Getaway: Charlottesville Private Gardens, 7:00 am to 6:00 pm. Coach bus leaves from Green Spring, is an all day trip. Fee and must register in advance at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/parktakes. Green Spring Gardens, 4603 Green Spring Road, Alexandria, VA. http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/greenspring

5, Friday, Lecture: Epic Tomatoes from YOUR gardens: Stories, history and tips for success by Craig LeHoullier, gardening author and lecturer, noon to 1:00 pm, Free and pre-registration required. Conservatory Classroom, U.S. Botanic Garden, 245 First Street, SW, Washington DC. http://www.usbg.gov

5, Friday, Garden Talks with Master Gardeners: Gardening for Birds, 1:30 to 2:30, fee and must register in advance at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/parktakes. Green Spring Gardens, 4603 Green Spring Road, Alexandria, VA. http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/greenspring

5, Friday, 10 to 6; and 6, Saturday, 10 to 5, Flower-Mart at the Washington National Cathedral, 3101 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, Washington DC. Free. http://www.allhallowsguild.org/Flower-Mart/flower-mart/

5, Friday and 6, Saturday and 12 and 13, 9 to 5 pm. Lavender Field Farm Spring Herb Faire. Free admission and parking, rain or shine. 11300 Winfrey Road, Glen Allen, VA. http://www.lavenderfieldsfarm.com

6, Saturday, plant (seedling) sales, 10:00 am to 2:00 pm., Eastern Senior High School, 1700 East Capitol Street NE. Hosted by Mighty Greens. http://cityblossoms.org/mightygreens/

6, Saturday, Gardener’s Focus: Woodland Path, 2:45 pm. Fee is included in suggested donation, limited tickets.  Also offered on Thursday, May 4, and Tuesday, May 2 at same time. Hillwood Estate, Museum, and Gardens, 4155 Linnean Avenue, NW, Washington DC. http://www.hillwoodmuseum.org

6, Saturday, Hanging Basket Workshop, 10:00 am to noon and 1:30 to 3:30. Fee and must register. Hillwood Estate, Museum, and Gardens, 4155 Linnean Avenue, NW, Washington DC. http://www.hillwoodmuseum.org

6, Saturday, Teacup Topiaries, 10:00 to 11:30 am. Fee and must register in advance at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/parktakes. Green Spring Gardens, 4603 Green Spring Road, Alexandria, VA. http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/greenspring

6, Saturday, Ladew Garden Festival: Specialty Plants and Garden Ornaments, 10 to 4:00 pm, free. Ladew Topiary Garden, 3535 Jarrettsville Pike, Monkton, MD. http://www.ladewgardens.com

6, Saturday, 1:30 to 5:00; 7, Sunday,  9:30 to 4:30 pm; 20, Saturday, 1:30 to 5:00 pm; 21, Sunday, 9:30 to 4:30 pm Orchid Diagnostic and Repotting Clinic. Free advice but a fee for repotting. Behnke Nurseries Garden Center, 11300 Baltimore Avenue, Beltsville, MD. http://www.behnkes.com

6, Saturday, Summer Annual Container, 10:00 am to noon, fee and registration required Brookside Gardens, 1800 Glenallan Avenue, Wheaton, MD. http://www.brooksidegardens.org

6, Saturday, Carroll County; and 13, Saturday, Baltimore County/Oella: Maryland House & Garden Pilgrimage, tickets required. http://www.mhgp.org

6, Saturday, Confidential Backyard Composting, 9:00 am to noon. Teaching Garden at St. Benedict Monastery. Hosted by the Prince William Master Gardeners. 9535, Linton Hall Road, Bristow, VA. Free but must register and dress for weather. http://www.pwcgov.org/grow

6, Saturday, Sustainable Landscaping 4: Maintaining the Sustainable Yard, 9:00 am to noon, free but advance registration requested. Hosted by Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia. Fairlington Community Center, 3308 S. Stafford Street, Arlington. http://www.mgnv.org

6, Saturday, Transitioning from a spring to summer vegetable garden, 10 to 11:00 am. Free garden talk followed by a Q&A session, Saturday in the Garden Series hosted by the Loudoun County Master Gardeners, Loudoun County Master Gardeners’ demo garden, Ida Lee Park, Leesburg, VA. http://www.loudouncountymastergardeners.org

6, Saturday, noon to 5:00 pm. May Day Music Festival, Potomac Overlook Park, 2845 Marcey Road, Arlington. Meet the Master Gardeners who maintain the Organic Vegetable Demonstration Garden. They will be available during the festival to answer organic gardening questions. Free, no registration necessary. http://www.mgnv.org

7, Sunday, Glencarlyn Library Community Garden Plant Sale, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., 300 S Kensington St, Arlington, VA. Hosted by the Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia. http://www.mgnv.org

7, Sunday, Takoma Park House and Garden Tour, 1:00 to 5:00 pm. Ticket required. http://www.historictakoma.org

7, Sunday, Spring Open House and Plant Sale (local ecotype plants), 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. EarthSangha Nursery is in Franconia Park, Cloud Drive, Springfield VA. http://www.earthsangha.org

9, Tuesday, Obsession and Exploitation: A Cultural History of Trilliums, presented by C. Colston Burrell, sponsored by the Horticultural Society of Maryland. 7:30 pm. Vollmer Center Auditorium, Cylburn Arboretum, 4915 Greenspring Avenue, Baltimore, MD. members free, nonmembers fee. http://www.mdhorticulture.org

9, Tuesday, 11:00 to noon, Simpson Gardens Stroll at the Simpson Park Demonstration Gardens, 420 E. Monroe Street, Alexandria, free and no registration necessary. Talk with Master Gardeners who maintain the garden. http://www.mgnv.org

10, Wednesday, Gardening with Your Children. 7:00 pm. Wednesdays in the Garden Series, led by Arlington Food Assistance Center volunteers and Master Gardeners. Arlington Central Library, 1015 N. Quincy Street, Arlington VA; (703) 228-5990, free and no need to register. http://www.library.arlingtonva.us/events/garden-talks

11, Thursday, Wings and Wine, 7:00 to 9:00 pm, fee and registration required. Learn about butterflies, sample several wine varieties and enjoy light refreshment as butterflies and music swirl around in the tropical conservatory. Finish off the evening with a decadent desert. Brookside Gardens, 1800 Glenallan Avenue, Wheaton, MD. http://www.brooksidegardens.org

11, Thursday, Behind the scenes at the US. Botanic garden production facility, 10:30 to 11:30 am, meet in the lobby of the production facility, pre-registration required. Also on Wednesday May 24, 10:30 am to noon. U.S. Botanic Garden, 245 First Street, SW, Washington DC. http://www.usbg.gov

11, Thursday, Bethesda Community Garden Club plant sale, 7:00 am to 1:00 pm., Bethesda Farm Women’s Market, 7155 Wisconsin Avenue, Bethesda, MD. http://www.bethesdacommunitygardenclub.org

13, Saturday, Growing a Cutting Garden, 10:00 to 11:30 am, Fee and must register. Brookside Gardens, 1800 Glenallan Avenue, Wheaton, MD. http://www.brooksidegardens.org

13, Saturday, Market Day, 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. admission is free but there is a fee to park, Cylburn Arboretum, 4915 Greenspring Avenue, Baltimore, MD. http://www.cylburn.org

13, Saturday, Beltsville Garden Club Plant Sale, 8:00 am to noon, High Point High School parking lot, 3601 Powder Mill Road, Beltsville, MD, sponsored by the Beltsville Garden Club, http://www.beltsvillegardenclub.org

13, Saturday, Silver Spring Garden Club’s GardenMart plant sale, 9:00 am to 2:00 pm. Brookside Gardens, Visitors Center South Terrace, 1800 Glenallan Avenue, Wheaton, MD http://www.brooksidegardens.org

13, Saturday, Georgetown Garden Tour, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. Tickets required. Headquarters is Christ Church, 31st and O Street NW. http://www.georgetowngardenclubdc.org

13, Saturday, 4:00 to 7:00 pm and Sunday, 14, noon to 5:00 pm. Capitol Hill Restoration Society’s Annual House and Garden Tour. Tickets required. http://www.chrs.org

13, Saturday, Vegetable Gardening Throughout the Year, 2:00 pm, free. Behnke Nurseries Garden Center, 11300 Baltimore Avenue, Beltsville, MD. http://www.behnkes.com

13, Saturday, Container Garden Workshop: Bright Summer Annuals, 10:00 am to 11:00 am or 1:00 to 2:00 pm. Fee and must register. Hillwood Estate, Museum, and Gardens, 4155 Linnean Avenue, NW, Washington DC. http://www.hillwoodmuseum.org

13, Saturday, Great Falls Garden Club plant sale, 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, Great Falls Library, 9830 Georgetown Pike, Great Falls, VA. http://www.gfgardenclub.org

14, Sunday, Small Space Vegetable Gardening 2:00 pm. free. Behnke Nurseries Garden Center, 11300 Baltimore Avenue, Beltsville, MD. http://www.behnkes.com

13 & 14, Saturday (10 to 6) and Sunday (10 to 5), Annual DC Green Festival at the Washington DC Convention Center, Admission fee. https://www.greenfestivals.org/washington-d-c-2017-may-12-14.html#!243

16, Tuesday, Garden Program: Gable Rhododendrons. 7:30 to 8:30 pm. fee and must register in advance at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/parktakes. Green Spring Gardens, 4603 Green Spring Road, Alexandria, VA. http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/greenspring

17, Wednesday, Weeds 101: Keeping Those Weeds at Bay. 7:00 pm. Wednesdays in the Garden Series, led by Arlington Food Assistance Center volunteers and Master Gardeners. Arlington Central Library, 1015 N. Quincy Street, Arlington VA; (703) 228-5990, free and no need to register. http://www.library.arlingtonva.us/events/garden-talks

20, Saturday, Workshop: Growing Dahlias, 2-3:30 pm. Fee and must register, Greenhouse Classroom at Cylburn Arboretum, 4915 Greenspring Avenue, Baltimore, MD. http://www.cylburn.org

20, Saturday, Spring Garden Day — the Big Plant Sale, 9 am-3 pm. Sponsored by Friends of Green Spring. Free admission. Green Spring Gardens, 4603 Green Spring Road, Alexandria, VA. http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/greenspring/

 20, Saturday, Gail Gee’s Peony Garden, 9:30 am to 12:30 pm. Fee, which includes transportation and snack.  Must register. Meet at the Visitors Center at Brookside to visit a Fulton MD garden with more than 400 peonies. Brookside Gardens, 1800 Glenallan Avenue, Wheaton, MD. http://www.brooksidegardens.org

20, Saturday, Herb Garden Container Workshop, 10:00 am to noon or 1:30 to 3:30 pm. Fee and must register. Hillwood Estate, Museum, and Gardens, 4155 Linnean Avenue, NW, Washington DC. http://www.hillwoodmuseum.org

20, Saturday, and 21, Sunday, Loudoun County, VA, Spring Farm Tour, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, free, self-guided tour in Loudoun County, no tickets required. See map and participating farms as well as craft beverages and special events. http://www.loudounfarms.org

20, Saturday, and 21, Sunday, 1:00 to 5:00 pm, Beyond the Garden Gates Garden Tour of gardens in downtown Frederick, MD. Tickets required.  http://www.celebratefrederick.com/events/garden-tour/

 21, Sunday, 2-5 pm, Annual Shepherd Park Citizens Association Garden tour, ticket required. Self-guided tour of gardens in Shepherd Park in Northwest Washington DC. http://www.shepherdpark.org/garden.html

22, Monday, Lawn Substitute: Easy Alternatives for Beauty and Nature. 7:00 to 8:30 pm., free and no registration necessary. Mt. Vernon Recreation Center, 270 Commonwealth Avenue, Alexandria. http://www.mgnv.org

23, Tuesday, Rediscover Bartholdi Park, 10:30 to 11:30 am, Tour meets by the Bartholdi Park Fountain, free, pre-registration required. U.S. Botanic Garden, 245 First Street, SW, Washington DC. http://www.usbg.gov

24, Wednesday, Behind the scenes at the US. Botanic garden production facility, 10:30 to noon, meet in the lobby of the production facility, pre-registration required. Also on Thursday May 11, 10:30 am to 11:30 am. U.S. Botanic Garden, 245 First Street, SW, Washington DC. http://www.usbg.gov

24, Wednesday, Lecture: Franciscan Monastery Gardens, 7:30 pm, free and open to the public. Sponsored by the Beltsville Garden Club, Duckworth School, 11201 Evans Trail, Beltsville, MD. http://www.beltsvillegardenclub.org

24, Wednesday, Garden Structure: Support, Going Vertical and Rabbit and Deer Control. 7:00 pm. Wednesdays in the Garden Series, led by Arlington Food Assistance Center volunteers and Master Gardeners. Arlington Central Library, 1015 N. Quincy Street, Arlington VA; (703) 228-5990, free and no need to register. http://www.library.arlingtonva.us/events/garden-talks

24, Wednesday, Lecture: Nature’s Temples: The Complex World of Old-Growth Forests with Joan Maloof, (author of same book), 7:00 – 9:00 pm. Book signing. Fee and must register, Cylburn Arboretum, 4915 Greenspring Avenue, Baltimore, MD. http://www.cylburn.org

25, Thursday, Mosquitos and Ticks: Identification and Control, 7-8:30 pm, Burke Library, 4701 Seminary Road, Alexandria. Sponsored by Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia. Free and advance registration requested. http://www.mgnv.org

27, Saturday, Baltimore Herb Festival 2017 Year of Cilantro, 9:30 am to 3:00 pm, Leakin Park, 1920 Eagle Park, Baltimore, outdoor rain or shine, fee but free parking, http://www.baltimoreherbfestival.com

27, Saturday, Herb Gardening: From the Everyday to the Unusual, 2:00 pm, free. Behnke Nurseries Garden Center, 11300 Baltimore Avenue, Beltsville, MD. http://www.behnkes.com

28, Sunday, Flowers, Berries, Bark: Designing a Garden for Interest Throughout the Year, 2:00 pm, free. Behnke Nurseries Garden Center, 11300 Baltimore Avenue, Beltsville, MD. http://www.behnkes.com

31, Wednesday, Stormwater Solutions: Conservation Landscapes and Rain Gardens, 4:00 to 7:00 pm. Fee and must register. Brookside Gardens, 1800 Glenallan Avenue, Wheaton, MD. http://www.brooksidegardens.org

31, Wednesday, Top 10 Vegetable Diseases, 7:00 pm. Wednesdays in the Garden Series, led by Arlington Food Assistance Center volunteers and Master Gardeners. Arlington Central Library, 1015 N. Quincy Street, Arlington VA; (703) 228-5990, free and no need to register. http://www.library.arlingtonva.us/events/garden-talks

The DC Parks and Recreation has a Summer Garden Workshop Series. Free workshops until September. Focused on practical urban gardening and taught by the leaders of DC urban garden movement. Check out the website for more details: https://dpr.dc.gov/node/1124742

Right around the corner so make your reservations now!

June 1, Thursday, evening dinner and lecture with Brie Arthur, author of The Foodscape Revolution, 5:00 to 6:45 pm dinner in Café, garden admission included, weather permitting, 7:00 pm lecture in Barn Gallery with book sale. Fee and must register. Ladew Topiary Garden, 3535 Jarrettsville Pike, Monkton, MD. http://www.ladewgardens.com

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

tulipsMay is the time to visit demonstration gardens, attend plant sales, and buy tickets for house and garden tours!

April 30 through May 28, Maryland House & Garden Pilgrimage, in Queen Anne’s, Harford, Talbot, Baltimore, and Charles County, tickets required. http://www.mhgp.org.

1, Sunday, Grow It Eat It Spring Open House noon until 4:00 pm hosted by the Montgomery County Master Gardeners at the Agriculture History Farm Park, 18410 Muncaster Road, Derwood, MD. Free but some classes require registration and fee.

1, Sunday, Glencarlyn Library Community Garden Plant Sale, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., 300 S Kensington St, Arlington, VA. Hosted by the Master Gardeners of Norther Virginia. http://www.mgnv.org

1, Sunday, Organic Vegetable Demonstration Garden Open House, 1 to 4 p.m., held in conjunction with the Open House at Potomac Overlook Regional Park, 2845 Marcey Rd, Arlington, VA. Hosted by the Master Gardeners of Norther Virginia. http://www.mgnv.org

1, Sunday, Takoma Park House and Garden Tour of 14 American Craftsman houses in the Willow-Park-Valley View neighborhood of Takoma Park, MD, 1:00 to 5:00 pm. Ticket required. http://www.historictakoma.org

4, Wednesday, Foraging for Wild Edibles. 7:00 pm. Wednesdays in the Garden Series, led by Arlington Food Assistance Center volunteers and Master Gardeners. Arlington Central Library, 1015 N. Quincy Street, Arlington VA; (703) 228-5990, free and no need to register. http://www.library.arlingtonva.us/events/garden-talks

6, Friday, Garden Fest in the Enid A. Haupt garden (south side of the Smithsonian Castle). 10:00 am to 2:30 pm. Sponsored by the Smithsonian in Washington DC. Free.  http://www.gardens.si.edu/whats-happening/garden-fest.html

6, Friday, 10 to 6; and 7, Saturday, 10 to 5, Flower-Mart at the Washington National Cathedral, 3101 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, Washington DC, (202) 537-2937. Free. http://www.allhallowsguild.org/Flower-Mart/flower-mart/

6, Friday and 7, Saturday and 13 and 14, 9 to 5 pm. Lavender Field Farm Spring Herb Faire. Free admission and parking, rain or shine. 11300 Winfrey Road, Glen Allen, VA (804) 262-7167. http://www.lavenderfieldsfarm.com

7, Saturday, Ladew Garden Festival: Specialty Plants and Garden Ornaments, 10 to 4:00 pm, free. Ladew Topiary Garden, 3535 Jarrettsville Pike, Monkton, MD (410) 557-9570. http://www.ladewgardens.com

7, Saturday, Market Day, 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. free, Cylburn Arboretum, 4915 Greenspring Avenue, Baltimore, MD. (410) 396-0180. http://www.cylburn.org

7, Saturday, Sweet Treat with Chile Heat, learn about chiles. Part of the Under the Arbor Series in the National Herb Garden. Presented by the Tidewater Unit of the Herb Society of America, free, walk in, no registration required. U.S. National Arboretum, 3501 New York Avenue, NE, Washington DC 20002; (202) 245-4523. http://www.usna.usda.gov.

7, Saturday, Silver Spring Garden Club’s GardenMart plant sale, 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. Brookside Gardens, Visitors Center South Terrace, 1800 Glenallan Avenue, Wheaton, MD http://www.brooksidegardens.org

7, Saturday, Georgetown Garden Tour, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. Tickets required. Headquarters is Christ Church, 31st and O Street NW. http://www.georgetowngardenclubdc.org

7, Saturday, 4:00 to 7:00 pm and Sunday, 8, noon to 5:00 pm. Capitol Hill Restoration Society’s Annual House and Garden Tour. Tickets required. Call (202) 543-0425 or visit http://www.chrs.org

7, Saturday, Transitioning from a spring to summer vegetable garden with topics on planting summer veggies, 10 to noon. Free garden talk followed by a Q&A session, Saturday in the Garden Series hosted by the Loudoun County Master Gardeners, Loudoun County Master Gardeners’ demo garden, Ida Lee Park, Leesburg, VA. http://www.loudouncountymastergardeners.org or call (703) 777-0373.

7, Saturday, SpringFest and Plant Sale 9:00 am to 2:00 pm. Admission is free to SpringFest, rest of the grounds are included with regular admission fee. Also on Sunday May 8 is SpringFest and Mothers’ Day Celebration, noon to 4:30 pm. Historic Londontown, 839 Londontown Road, Edgewater, MD (410) 222-1919. http://www.historiclondontown.org

6-8, Friday through Sunday, 12th annual DC Green Festival at the Washington DC Convention Center, times and admission fees vary.
http://www.greenfestivals.org/washington-d-c-2016-may-6-8.html#!1_photo_booth

10, Tuesday, All About Composting, 7:00 to 8:30 p.m., presented by the Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia, Barrett Library, 717 Queen St., Alexandria, VA. Free. Register at mgnv.org. Call 703-228-6414 or send an email to mgarlalex@gmail.com.

10, Tuesday, Superhero flowering shrubs and groundcovers for right size flower gardens, presented by Kerry Ann Mendez, sponsored by the Horticultural Society of Maryland. 7:30 pm. Cylburn Arboretum, 4915 Greenspring Avenue, Baltimore, MD. (410) 821-5561 members free, nonmembers fee. http://www.mdhorticulture.org

11, Wednesday, Mighty Alliums cooking demonstration by the Cook Sisters, noon to 1:30, fee and must register, Brookside Gardens, 1800 Glenallan Avenue, Wheaton, MD. (301) 962-1470 http://www.brooksidegardens.org

11, Wednesday, Critter Control: Worms, Slugs, Bugs, Other. 7:00 pm. Wednesdays in the Garden Series, led by Arlington Food Assistance Center volunteers and Master Gardeners. Arlington Central Library, 1015 N. Quincy Street, Arlington VA; (703) 228-5990, free and no need to register. http://www.library.arlingtonva.us/events/garden-talks

12, Thursday, Mighty Alliums, cooking demonstration with the Cook Sisters, noon to 12:45 and repeated at 12:50 and again on Thursday May 26, free. U.S. Botanic Garden, 245 First Street, SW, Washington DC; (202) 225-8333. http://www.usbg.gov

12, Thursday, Bethesda Community Garden Club plant sale, 7:00 am to 1:00 pm., Bethesda Farm Women’s Market, 7155 Wisconsin Avenue, Bethesda, MD. http://www.bethesdacommunitygardenclub.org

14, Saturday, Spring Garden Day — the Big Plant Sale, 9 am-3 pm. Sponsored by Friends of Green Spring. Free admission. Green Spring Gardens, 4603 Green Spring Road, Alexandria, VA.  Call 703-642-5173 for more information. http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/greenspring/

14, Saturday, Garden Club of Chevy Chase Spring Garden Tour of 7 gardens in historic Chevy Chase, MD. Tickets required. Call (301) 657-1278 or for more information, e-mail gardenclubofchevychase@gmail.com

15, Sunday, Edible Tradition: Creating an Herb Knot Garden with Carol Allen, 11:00 am. At 2:00 pm, Carol will talk about Creating a Kitchen Herb Garden. Free lectures at Behnke Nurseries Garden Center but must register, 11300 Baltimore Avenue, Beltsville, MD; (301) 937-1100. http://www.behnkes.com

18, Wednesday, Growing Food in Small Spaces. 7:00 pm. Wednesdays in the Garden Series, led by Arlington Food Assistance Center volunteers and Master Gardeners. Arlington Central Library, 1015 N. Quincy Street, Arlington VA; (703) 228-5990, free and no need to register. http://www.library.arlingtonva.us/events/garden-talks

19, Thursday, Farm to Fork: A Taste of Locally produced food from Anne Arundel County, 5 to 8 pm. ticket required, must register. Historic Londontown, 839 Londontown Road, Edgewater, MD (410) 222-1919. http://www.historiclondontown.org

21, Saturday, Sweet and Spicy: learn about roses and chiles, 1:00 to 4:00 pm. Part of the Under the Arbor series at the National Arboretum, presented by the Herb Society of America. Free, U.S. National Arboretum, 3501 New York Avenue, NE, Washington DC; (202) 245-4523. http://www.usna.usda.gov

21, Saturday, Beneficial Insects, 10:30 a.m. to noon. Presented by the Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia. Burke Library, 4701 Seminary Rd., Alexandria, VA. Free. Advance registration is requested at mgnv.org. Call 703-228-6414 or send an email to mgarlalex@gmail.com.

21, Saturday, A Year in the Life of a Vegetable Garden, 2:00 pm with Carol Allen. Free lectures at Behnke Nurseries Garden Center but must register, 11300 Baltimore Avenue, Beltsville, MD; (301) 937-1100. http://www.behnkes.com

21, Saturday, Safely Using and Storing Garden Pesticides, Fertilizers and More with David Noto, 11:00 am. Free lectures at Behnke Nurseries Garden Center but must register, 11300 Baltimore Avenue, Beltsville, MD; (301) 937-1100. http://www.behnkes.com

21, Saturday, Herb Garden Container workshop, fee and must register, offered at various times on Saturday. Hillwood Estate, Museum, and Gardens, 4155 Linnean Avenue, NW, Washington DC. (202) 686-5807. http://www.hillwoodmuseum.org

21, Saturday, container garden mania and master gardener plant sale at teaching garden at St. Benedict Monastery, 9:00 am to noon.  Hosted by the Prince William Master Gardeners. 9535, Linton Hall Road, Bristow, VA. Free but must register and dress for weather. Call (703) 792-7747 or e-mail: master_gardener@pwcgov.org

21, Saturday, and 22, Sunday, 1:00 to 5:00 pm, Beyond the Garden Gates Garden Tour of gardens in downtown Frederick and Baker Park, MD. Tickets required. Call (301) 600-2844 for more information.  http://www.celebratefrederick.com/events/garden-tour/

22, Sunday, 2-5 pm, Annual Shepherd Park Citizens Association Garden tour, ticket required. Self-guided tour of gardens in Shepherd Park, Colonial Village, and North Portal Estates in Northwest Washington DC. http://www.shepherdpark.org/garden.html or e-mail alexk@alumni.virginia.edu for more information.

22, Sunday, Why Choose Heritage Vegetables noon presentation with Carol Allen. Free lectures at Behnke Nurseries Garden Center but must register, 11300 Baltimore Avenue, Beltsville, MD; (301) 937-1100. http://www.behnkes.com

22, Sunday in the Organic Vegetable Garden, 1 to 4 p.m., Potomac Overlook Park, 2845 Marcey Rd., Arlington, VA. The garden is located beyond the Nature Center. Sponsored by the Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia. No registration necessary. For questions, telephone 703-228-6414 or email mgarlalex@gmail.com. http://www.mgnv.org

25, Wednesday, Garden Structures; Vertical Gardening. 7:00 pm. Wednesdays in the Garden Series, led by Arlington Food Assistance Center volunteers and Master Gardeners. Arlington Central Library, 1015 N. Quincy Street, Arlington VA; (703) 228-5990, free and no need to register. http://www.library.arlingtonva.us/events/garden-talks

26, Thursday, Mighty Alliums, cooking demonstration with the Cook Sisters, noon to 12:45 and repeated at 12:50 and again on Thursday May 12, free. U.S. Botanic Garden, 245 First Street, SW, Washington DC; (202) 225-8333. http://www.usbg.gov

28, Saturday, Baltimore Herb Festival 2016 year of the pepper, 9:30 am to 3:00 pm, Leakin Park, 1920 Eagle Park, Baltimore, outdoor rain or shine, fee but free parking, http://www.baltimoreherbfestival.com

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
http://dpr.dc.gov/node/1124742

For more info about all DPR Urban Garden Programs click on this link
http://dpr.dc.gov/service/urban-garden-programs

 

Peg’s Picks September Gardening Events Washington DC Area

fallgardenAug2014 018Wow! So many events in September, from plant sales to harvest festivals! Below are Peg’s Picks for local events related to edible gardening except for one big event at Monticello, which I described at the end — it is on my bucket list!

Wednesdays, September 3, 10, 17, 24, Arlington Central Library hosts the “Garden Talks” series of free presentations every Wednesday evening from 7:00 to 9:00 pm starting mid-March through end of October. The website lists the topics and provides gardening resources for gardeners in the area. 1015 N. Quincy Street, Arlington VA; (703) 228-5990. http://www.library.arlingtonva.us/events/garden-talks/

Thursdays, September 4, 11, 18, 25, Food in the Garden: Waterways & Foodways: 1814-2014. Four different presentations on Thursday evenings in September starting at 6:00 pm in the Victory Garden at the National Museum of American History, Washington DC. Register, fee. http://americanhistory.si.edu/events/food-garden

Saturday, September 6, Weeds, Soil Health and Cover Crops, 9:00 am to noon, “Saturdays in the Garden” at the Teaching Garden at St. Benedict Monastery, presentations are given by VCE Prince William Master Gardener Volunteers. 9535 Linton Hall Road, Bristow, VA 20136. Free but must register (703) 792-7747. E-mail: master-gardener@pwcgov.org; http://pwcgov.org/grow

Saturday, September 6 & Sunday, September 7, Managing the 4 P’s: Pollinators, Parasites, Predators and Pests, Saturday, September 6, 2:00 to 4:00 pm and Sunday, September 7, 2:00 to 4:00 pm. (presentation given twice).U.S. Botanic Garden, presentation in the Conservatory classroom. Free but must register. 100 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington DC (202) 225-8333 (general) & (202) 225-1116 (to register for events). http://usbg.gov

Tuesday, September 9, Composting Yard and Kitchen Waste, 6:30 to 8:30 pm. Presented by the Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia. Walter Reed Community Center, 2909 16th Street South, Arlington. Free but must register (703) 228-0949. E-mail: mkot@arlingtonva.us. http://mgnv.org

Saturday, September 13, Fall Garden Day & Plant Sale at Green Spring, 9:00 am to 4:30 pm. 4603 Green Spring Road, Alexandria, VA (703) 642-5173. http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/greenspring/events.htm

Saturday, September 13, Friends of Brookside Gardens annual plant sale, 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. Brookside Gardens Service Hill, follow signs on Glenallen Avenue, Wheaton, MD. call for more information (301) 962-1435. http://www.friendsofbrooksidegardens.org.

Saturday, September 27, “Living Garden Spaces,” Green Spring Gardens’ Garden Symposium, 9:00 am to 3:00 pm, 4603 Green Spring Road, Alexandria, VA (703) 642-5173. Learn about native plants, attracting native beneficial insects, and managing the unwanted wildlife in your garden. Co-sponsored by the Virginia Native Plant Society and Washington Gardener magazine. Must register by 9/19 and fee. http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/greenspring/gsg-symposium.htm

8th Annual Heritage Harvest Festival, September 12-13, at Monticello, Charlottesville, Virginia

The 8th Annual Heritage Festival is presented by the Thomas Jefferson Foundation at Monticello in partnership with the Southern Exposure Seed Exchange. Thomas Jefferson is often called America’s “founding foodie”. He championed vegetable cuisine, plant experimentation, and sustainable agriculture. Each year the Heritage Harvest Festival honors Jefferson’s legacy with this fun, affordable, family-oriented, educational event promoting gardening, sustainability, local food, and the preservation of heritage plants. Participants enjoy tastings, workshops, hands on demonstrations, interpretive walks, and a variety of garden tours and exhibits. Friday and Saturday offer more than 100 programs and workshops, 90 vendors and exhibitors, and sample food from local farms and restaurants. On Friday evening, Aaron Keefer, the culinary gardener of The French Laundry, will offer the keynote speech and there will be a Chefs’ Harvest Dinner on Montalto, Jefferson’s high mountain overlooking Monticello. This year an additional pre-festival program on edible landscaping will be held at Montalto on Thursday, September 11. For more information, including ticket information, see http://www.heritageharvestfestival.com

Jefferson's Monticello, copyright Thomas Jefferson Foundation at Monticello, photography by Robert Llewellyn

Jefferson’s Monticello, copyright Thomas Jefferson Foundation at Monticello, photography by Robert Llewellyn