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.
