Registration has opened for over 50 garden workshops, sponsored by the Washington DC Parks and Recreation (DPR). These are free but must register, see link below. Workshops are from April to September this year. Check out this amazing variety of urban gardening topics taught by leaders of Washington DC’s urban garden movement.
https://dcdpr.asapconnected.com/Courses.aspx?CourseGroupID=11845
Posted in Events
Tagged DC Parks and Recreation, free, garden workshops, gardening, learning, urban gardening, Washington DC
I just updated my website’s Books page about gardens and gardening in Virginia, Maryland, and Washington DC, from the year 2000 to the present. There are 35 books. Below is the updated text in the Books page.
The public library is a great resource–not only are the books free but if the branch does not have a particular title, they can get it for you from another branch or through interlibrary loan. Most libraries have gardening magazines; you can borrow past issues. The reference section has non-circulating gardening books that are great resources. Local bookstores have plant and gardening books and many have web sites for searching or ordering books. Don’t forget Amazon.com and check your phone book for the used bookstores. Many of the public gardens have non-lending libraries; some are open when the gardens are open, others are by appointment only. Public gardens also have books for sale in their gift shops. Brookside Gardens and Green Spring Gardens have reading libraries. For extensive research, try the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Library, Abraham Lincoln Building, 10301 Baltimore Avenue, Beltsville, MD 20705; (301) 504-5755; http://www.nal.usda.gov.
Below are local books with the most recently published listed first through the year 2000:
All the Presidents’ Gardens: Madison’s Cabbages to Kennedy’s Roses: How the White House Grounds Have Grown with America by Marta McDowell, Timber Press, 2016
Mid-Atlantic Gardeners Handbook: Your Complete Guide: Select, Plan, Plant, Maintain, Problem Solve by Katie Elzer-Peters, Cool Springs Press, 2016
Gardens of Georgetown: Exploring Urban Treasures, text by Edith Nalle Schafer and photos by Jenny Gorman, Georgetown Garden Club, 2015
Maryland’s Public Gardens and Parks by Barbara Glickman, Schiffer Publishers, 2015
Mid-Atlantic Month-by-Month Gardening: What to Do Each Month to Have a Beautiful Garden All Year by George Weigel, Cool Springs Press, 2015
Chesapeake Gardening and Landscaping: The Essential Green Guide by Barbara W. Ellis; photographs by Neil Soderstrom, University of North Carolina Press in association with the Adkins Arboretum, 2015
Maymont: An American Estate (Richmond, VA) by Dale Cyrus Wheary, Scala Arts Publishers in association with the Maymont Foundation, 2015
Mid-Atlantic: Getting Started Garden Guide: Grow the Best Flowers, Shrubs, Trees, Vines and Groundcovers by Andre Viette, Mark Viette, and Jacqueline Heriteau, Cool Springs Press, 2015
The General in the Garden: George Washington’s Landscape at Mt. Vernon by Susan P. Schoelwer, editor, Mt. Vernon Ladies’ Association, 2015
Native Plants for Northern Virginia by the Virginia Native Plant Society, available via the Society, http://www.vnps.org, 2015
Great Perennial Plants, Vines, and Bulbs Guide for the Mid-Atlantic Garden by Donna Williamson, self-published, electronic and available via Amazon, 2014
The Mid-Atlantic Garden: An Insider’s Guide to a Successful Lower Maintenance Garden by Donna Williamson, self-published, electronic and available via Amazon, 2014
Thomas Jefferson’s Revolutionary Garden at Monticello by Peter J. Hatch, Yale University Press, 2014
Take Our Advice: A Handbook for Gardening in Northern Virginia by Margaret Fisher, Student Peace Awards of Fairfax, 2014
The Timber Press Guide to Vegetable Gardening in the Southeast by Ira Wallace, Timber Press, 2013
Mid-Atlantic Fruit and Vegetable Gardening: Plant, Grow, and Harvest the Best Edibles: DE, MD, PA, VA, DC, and WV by Katie Elzer-Peters, Cool Springs Press, 2013
Vegetable Gardening the Colonial Williamsburg Way: 18th Century Methods for Today’s Organic Gardeners by Wesley Greene, Rodale Press, 2012
American Grown: The Story of the White House Kitchen Garden and Gardens Across America by Michelle Obama, Crown Publishing Group, 2012
Capital Splendor: Parks and Gardens of Washington DC by Valerie Brown, Barbara Glickman Countryman Press, 2012
A Guide to Smithsonian Gardens by Carole Otteson, Smithsonian Books, 2011
Historic Virginia Gardens: Preservation Work of the Garden Club of Virginia by Margaret Page Bemiss, University of Virginia Press, 2009
Virginia’s Historic Homes and Gardens by Pat Blackley and Chuck Blackley, Voyageur Press, 2009
The Virginia’s Garden Companion: An Insider Guide to Low Maintenance Gardening in Virginia by Donna Williamson, Morris Book Publishing, 2008
Garden Walks in the Southeast: Beautiful Gardens from Washington to the Gulf Coast by Marina Harrison, Lucy Rosenfeld, Rowman and Littlefield Publishers, 2006
Garden Walks in the Mid-Atlantic States: Beautiful Gardens from New York to Washington DC by Marina Harrison, Lucy Rosenfeld, Rowman and Littlefield Publishers, 2005
The American Horticultural Society Guide to American Public Gardens and Arboreta: Gardens Across America, Volume 1, East of the Mississippi by Thomas S. Spencer and John J. Russell, Taylor Trade Publishing, 2005
A City of Gardens: Glorious Public Gardens In and Around the Nation’s Capital by Barbara Seeber, Capital Books, 2004
Month by Month Gardening in the Mid-Atlantic by André and Mark Viette and Jacqueline Hériteau, Cool Springs Press, 2004
Selecting, Growing and Combining Outstanding Perennials: Mid-Atlantic and New England Edition by Teri Dunn, André Viette, Mark Viette, Jacqueline Hériteau, Cool Springs Press, 2003
Mid-Atlantic Gardener’s Guide by André and Mark Viette and Jacqueline Hériteau, Cool Springs Press, 2003
Barnes & Noble Complete Illustrated Guidebook to Washington, D.C.’s Public Parks and Gardens, published by Silver Lining Books, 2003
Complete Illustrated Guide to Washington DC’s Public Parks and Gardens by Richard Berenson, Silver Lining, 2003
The Virginia Fruit and Vegetable Book by Felder Rushing and Walter Reeves, Cool Springs Press, 2002
Virginia Gardeners Guide by Jacqueline Heriteau, Cool Springs Press, 2001
The New York/Mid-Atlantic Gardener’s Book of Lists by Bonnie Lee Appleton, Cooper Square Press, 2001
Posted in Books
Tagged books, gardening, gardens, Maryland, public gardens, Virginia, Washington DC
Emerald Creeper is not something that grows in my Northern Virginia garden but I was lucky to see it flower last week so I just had to share these photos with fellow gardeners on Garden Bloggers Bloom Day. Known for its turquoise colored flowers, which is an extremely rare color in the plant world, Emerald Creeper produces dozens of long pendent trusses, also called pseudoracemes, with claw-shaped flowers. In fact, the only way I was able to see such an exquisite flower was by visiting the U.S. Botanic Garden’s Conservatory in Washington DC. Few botanical gardens have the Emerald Creeper, which is rapidly becoming an endangered species. Native to the Philippines, this tropical vine lives in rainforests that are being decimated.
A member of the bean family, Emerald Creeper produces pea pods about 2 inches long but these are even rarer to see. The vine is pollinated by bats that hang upside down on the inflorescences to drink the nectar. Because there are no bats in glass houses, staff would have to mimic the way the bats enter the flower in order to hand pollinate.
The botanical name intrigued me. Strongylodon macrobotrys comes from the Greek word “strongylos” which means “round,” and “odontus” which means “tooth” and refers to the rounded teeth of the calyx. In the specific epithet, the Greek word “macros” means “large” and “botrys” means “grape-like clusters.” I can see all of that but “grape” escapes me!
Here are Peg’s Picks for September 2015 gardening events focusing on edible gardening in the Washington DC metropolitan area.
Arlington Central Library hosts the “Garden Talks” series of free presentations every Wednesday evening at 7:00 pm. 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/
3, Thursday, Using Fresh Herbs in Summer Cocktails, 6 to 8 pm with a rain date of September 4, 6 to 8 pm, National Herb Garden, U.S. National Arboretum. Must register via e-mail, fee is $59 or $47 if a FONA member. Fee includes food and drinks, a garden tour, and demonstrations. 2400 R Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002. http://www.usna.usda.gov
11, Friday, Garden Talk: Edibles: Mix It Up. Green Spring, 1:30 to 2:30 pm. Must register; $10 fee.4603 Green Spring Road, Alexandria, VA 22312. (703) 642-5173. http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/greenspring/events.htm
12, Saturday, Fall chores in the garden: clean up, plant division, soil preparation, fall cover crops in the cooks garden, MGPW plant sale, 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
12, Saturday, 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. (301) 962-1435. http://www.friendsofbrooksidegardens.org
12, Saturday, Fall Herb Faire, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. Free admission, parking, classes and tours. Lavender Fields Herb Farm, 11300 Winfrey Road, Glen Allen, VA 23059; (804) 262-7167; http://www.lavenderfieldsfarm.com
14, Monday, through October 5, Landscape for Life (sustainable gardening practices), Monday evenings 6:30 to 9:30 pm with a field trip on October 3. Crossroads United Methodist Church, 43454 Crossroads Drive, Ashburn, VA 20147. $60 and must register, call Sharon Hines (703) 729-5100 to register or e-mail instructor Nan McCarry at landscapeforlifeclass@gmail.com for more information. http://www.landscapeforlife.org
19, Saturday, Fall Garden Day & Plant Sale at Green Spring, 9:00 am to 3:00 pm, 4603 Green Spring Road, Alexandria, VA 22312. (703) 642-5173. http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/greenspring/events.htm
26, Saturday, Hot! New! Plants! Walking tour. 9:00 to 10:30 am, meet in visitor center at the U.S. National Arboretum. Hot: thrive in hot humid weather; New: creative designs include new cultivars; Plants: incorporated into striking designs. Free but registration recommended. Call (202) 245-2708 to register. 3501 New York Avenue, NE, Washington DC 20002. http://www.usna.usda.gov
9th Annual Heritage Harvest Festival, September 11-12, at Monticello, Charlottesville, Virginia
The 9th Annual Heritage Festival is presented by the Thomas Jefferson Foundation at Monticello in partnership with the Southern Exposure Seed Exchange. 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 Thursday, September 10, from 1 to 4: pm, there is a special presentation with Craig LeHoullier author of Epic Tomatoes; Nan Chase, author of Drink the Harvest; and Ira Wallace, author of the Timber Press Guide to Vegetable Gardening in the Southeast. Afterwards, there will be questions and answers, book signings, and a tomato tasting. For more information, including ticket information, see http://www.heritageharvestfestival.com.
Posted in Events
Tagged Arlington VA, gardening events, Green Spring, Herb Garden, lectures, National Herb Garden, September, Washington, Washington DC, workshops
Peg’s Picks for June 2015 Gardening Events in the Washington DC Metro Area, with an emphasis on edibles
3, Wednesday, 10:00 to 11:30 am or 4, Thursday, 10:00 to 11:30 am, Herb Container Garden, fee and must register, Brookside Gardens, 1800 Glenallan Avenue, Wheaton, MD 20902; http://www.brooksidegardens.org
6, Saturday, 10:00 am to noon, Saturdays in the Garden: Keep Your Garden Growing Strong, presented by the VCE Loudoun County Master Gardeners, free. Outside at the Loudoun County Master Gardeners demo garden, Ida Lee Park, Leesburg, VA. http://www.loudouncountymastergardeners.org
6, Saturday, Joe Yonan, food/dining editor at the Washington Post and author of “Eat Your Vegetables,” will talk on eating and growing vegetables, 2-3 pm. The U.S. Botanic Garden, 100 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington DC; (202) 225-8333; free but must register. There are many more events and exhibits; check out the USBG’s calendar on their web site, http://www.usbg.gov
6, Saturday, Behnke Nurseries’ Annual Garden Party, 9:00 am to 3:00 pm, Behnkes, 11300 Baltimore Avenue, Beltsville, MD; (301) 937-1100. http://www.behnkes.com
6 & 7, Saturday and Sunday, Virginia Herb Festival, hosted by the Sunflower Cottage Garden Center; admission fee required.150 Ridgemont Road, Middletown, VA 22645; (540) 869-8482. http://www.virginiaherbfestival.com
12, Friday, 8:00 am to 2:00 pm, A Permaculture Homestead, spend a summer morning at local author and permaculture expert Michael Judd’s homestead. Fee and must register, meet at Wheaton Regional Park, 11715 Orebaugh Avenue, Wheaton, MD, for van transportation, register via http://www.parkPASS.org
13, Saturday, 9:00 am to noon, Saturday in the Garden: A Walk Through the Native Bed and tips and tricks used in the Drought Tolerant Bed. Taught by VCE Prince William Master Gardeners at the teaching garden at St. Benedict Monastery, 9535 Linton Hall Road, Bristow, VA 20136. Free but must register. E-mail master_gardener@pwcgov.org or call 703 792-7747
13, Saturday, 11:00 am, 8th annual DC plant swap hosted by The Washington Gardener at the U.S. National Arboretum, R Street parking lot, Washington, DC 20002. For more information & instructions on how to do a plant swap, check out “events” on http://www.usna.usda.gov
18, Thursday, 7:00 to 8:30 pm, “Managing Pests and Diseases in the Landscape.” Presented by the Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia at the Fairlington Community Center, 3308 S. Stafford Street, Arlington, VA 22206. Offered again on Saturday, June 20, 10:30 to noon at Burke Branch Library, 4701 Seminary Road, Alexandria. Free but must register. http://www.mgnv.org
19, Friday, Todd Brethauer, USBG science education volunteer, will talk about “The Right Soil and Fertilizers,” noon to 1:00 pm. The U.S. Botanic Garden, 100 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington DC; (202) 225-8333; free but must register. http://www.usbg.gov
27, Saturday, Under the Arbor: In Love with Lavender, at the National Arboretum’s National Herb Garden, presented by the Potomac Unit of the Herb Society of America, 1:00 to 4:00 pm, free. 3501 New York Avenue, NE, Washington DC 20002. http://www.usna.usda.gov
The Arlington Central Library hosts the “Garden Talks” series of free, one-hour presentations every Wednesday evening from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm starting in mid-March through the end of October. The web site lists the topics and also serves as a resource for gardening in the area. 1015 N. Quincy Street, Arlington, VA; (703) 228-5990. http://library.arlingtonva.us/events/garden-talks/
The DC Department of Parks and Recreation is offering over 50 free garden workshops from May through September, taught by the leaders of DC’s urban garden movement. Each class is 2 hours long, on Monday or Wednesday evening, and there are various Saturday field trips. Free but must register online at http://www.dcdpr.asapconnected.com. For a full list of classes and locations, check out http://dpr.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/dpr/publication/attachments/SummerGardenWorkshopSeries2015.pdf
For further questions, contact the DPR community garden specialist, Joshua Singer, e-mail: Joshua.singer@dc.gov. Here is a sample of June topics:
In addition to these April gardening events, the Garden Club of Virginia’s Historic Garden Week will take place from April 18 to 25 across the Commonwealth. For more information, read my article posted March 29.
Saturday April 4, 11:00 and Sunday April 5 1:00 Garden Talk: Your Edible Garden, Behnkes Nursery; free but must register; 11300 Baltimore Avenue, Beltsville, MD; (301) 937-1100; http://www.behnkes.com
Friday, April 10, noon to 1:00 pm, Helen Yoest speaking on Plants with Benefits, U.S. Botanic Garden Conservatory, 245 First Street SW, Washington DC 20024; (202) 225-833. free but must register. http://www.usbg.gov
Friday, April 10, Garden Talk: Edibles & Ornamentals, 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. fee and must register. Also Saturday, April 11, 9 am to 1 pm, Grand Opening of the Garden Gate Plant Shop, Green Spring Gardens, 4603 Green Spring Road, Alexandria 22312 (703) 642-5173 http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/greenspring
Friday through Sunday, April 10-12, Colonial Williamsburg’s 69th Garden Symposium; (757) 565-8937, fee and must register; http://www.history.org/conted april 10-12
Saturday, April 11, 9-noon, Saturday in the Garden: Companion Planting, taught by VCE Prince William Master Gardeners Teaching Garden at Benedictine Monastery, 9535 Linton Hall Road, Bristow, VA 20136, free but must register (703) 792-7747; e-mail master_gardener@pwcgov.org. http://www.mgpw.org
Friday, April 10, 10 to noon open to AHS members and open to the public noon to 6:00 pm, Saturday, April 11, 10 to 6 pm open to the public, American Horticultural Society’s Spring Garden Market, 7931 East Boulevard Drive, Alexandria, VA 22308; (703) 768-5700; http://www.ahs.org, free but $5 parking if not an AHS member
Saturday, April 11, 10 to noon, Tomato Grafting Demonstration, $15 or $12 if FONA (Friends of the National Arboretum) member, Register at FONA site; class at the National Arboretum, 3501 New York Avenue, NE, Washington DC 20002; e-mail lrietkerk@fona.org or call (202) 544-8733 for more information. http://www.fona.org and http://www.usna.usda.gov
Wednesday, April 15, 7:30 to 9:00 pm, Mighty Microgreens by Wendy Kiang-Spray, Takoma Horticulture Club, 7328 Carroll Avenue, Takoma Park, MD; free and open to the public http://www.takomahort.org
Saturday, April 18, 10 to 6 and Sunday, April19, 10 to 5, 25th Annual Leesburg Flower and Garden Festival in Historic Downtown Leesburg, VA; (703) 777-1368; $3.00 suggested donation http://www.flowerandgarden.org
Saturday, April 18, Montgomery County Master Gardeners’ Grow It Eat It Open House 9:00 to 1:30, Agriculture History Farm Park, 18410 Muncaster Road, Derwood, MD 20855; free, mc.growit@gmail.com and http://www.extension.umd.edu/growit
VCE Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia host a series of classes, free but must register (703) 228-6414 or e-mail mgarlalex@gmail.com; http://www.mgnv.org
Friday, April 24, 10-1 FONA members only and 1-4 pm, open to the public. Saturday, April 25, 9-4 pm, open to the public. Friends of the National Arboretum (FONA) Garden Fair and Plant Sale, National Arboretum, 3501 New York Avenue, NE Washington DC 20002. http://www.fona.org and http://www.usna.usda.gov
Saturday April 25, Northern Alexandria Native Plant sale, 1701 N. Quaker Lane, Alexandria, VA 22302; 571-232-0375; http://www.northernalexandrianativeplantsale.org
Saturday, April 25, 9-6; Sunday, April 26, 8-4 Herb and Plant Sale with garden tours on Saturday at 11 am and noon, Franciscan Monastery, 1400 Quincy Street, NE, Washington, DC 20017; free. http://www.fmgg.org.
Wednesdays in the Garden, led by Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC) volunteers and VCE Master Gardeners, these gardening sessions are Wednesdays,7:00 to 8:00 pm at the Arlington Central Library, 1015 N. Quincy Street, Arlington VA; (703) 228-5990, free. http://www.library.arlingtonva.us/events/garden-talks
Merrifield Garden Center, free lectures on weekends at Fair Oaks (FO), Gainesville (G), and Merrifield (M). http://www.merrifieldgardencenter.com
Posted in Events
Tagged Alexandria, April, events, local gardening events, National Arboretum, Washington DC
A colleague asked if I could recommend books related to edible gardening. I quickly replied that I have a Books Page on my site but afterwards realized that those books are about gardening in general but specific to the Virginia, Maryland, Washington DC area. Over the past few years, I have become much more interested in growing edibles rather than ornamentals and have read many books, most are specific to this area. I typed up a short, 2-page list to give to her and thought I would post my recommended list here in case any one is interested in growing their own veggies, herbs, and fruits in the Washington DC metropolitan area. These are in alphabetical order.
American Grown: The Story of the White House Kitchen Garden & Gardens Across America, Michelle Obama
Attracting Beneficial Bugs to Your Garden, Jessica Walliser, and her other books
Backyard Berry Book, Stella Otto
Cool Season Gardener, Bill Thorness (and his other book, lives in WA)
Designing the New Kitchen Garden: An American Potager, Jennifer Bartley
Eat Your Yard, Nan Chase
Edible Front Yard, Ivette Soler
Edible Heirlooms, Bill Thorness (and his other book, lives in WA)
Edible Landscaping, Rosalind Creasy (new edition and any of her other books)
Edible Landscaping with a Permaculture Twist, Michael Judd (lives in Frederick MD)
Four Season Harvest, Eliot Coleman and his other books
Good Bug/Bad Bug, Jessica Walliser and her other books
Groundbreaking Food Gardens, Niki Jabbour and her other books
Grow a Sustainable Diet, Cindy Connor
Grow Great Grub, Gayla Trail (You Grow Girl)
Guide to Year Round Vegetable Garden in the Southeast, Ira Wallace
Homegrown Herb Garden, Ann McCormick and Lisa Morgan
How to Grow More Vegetables, John Jeavons
How to Grow Perennial Herbs, Martin Crawford
Incredible Vegetables from Self-Watering Containers, Edward Smith (and any of his other books)
Landscaping Fruit, Lee Reich and any of his other books
Mid-Atlantic Fruit and Vegetable Gardening: Plant, Grow, and Harvest the Best Edibles: DE, MD, PA, VA, DC, and WV, Katie Elzer-Peters
Paradise Lot: Two Plant Geeks, One Tenth of an Acre, Eric Toensmeier (and any of his other books)
Perennial Vegetables, Martin Crawford
Perennial Vegetables from Artichoke to “Zuiki’ Taro, Eric Toensmeier (and any of his other books)
Rodale’s Illustrated Encyclopedia of Herbs, Claire Kowalchik, William Hylton, and other Rodale books
Square Foot Gardening, second edition, Mel Bartholomew, and his other books
Starter Vegetable Gardens, 24 No Fail Plans for Small Organic Gardens, Barbara Pleasant (and any of her other books, lives in VA)
Take Our Advice: A Handbook for Gardening in Northern Virginia, Margaret Fisher
The Bountiful Container, Rosemarie Nichols McGee and Maggie Stuckey (good for minimum depth of container to grow veggies)
The Four Season Farm Gardener’s Cookbook by Eliot Coleman and Barbara Damrosch (and any of their other books)
The Sustainable Vegetable Gardener, John Jeavons
The Veggie Gardener’s Answer Book, Barbara Ellis
The Virginia Fruit and Vegetable Book, Felder Rushing and Walter Reeves
The Winter Harvest Handbook, Eliot Coleman, and his other books
The Year Round Vegetable Gardener, Niki Jabbour (and her other book)
Thomas Jefferson’s Revolutionary Garden at Monticello, Peter J. Hatch
Fruits for Every Garden, Lee Reich (and any of his other books, lives in NY)
Vegetable Gardener’s Container Bible, Edward Smith (and his other books)
Vegetable Gardening the Colonial Williamsburg Way: 18th Century Methods for Today’s Organic Gardeners by Wesley Greene
Vegetables, Herbs, and Fruits, Matthew Biggs and Jekka McGiver
Week-by-Week Vegetable Gardener’s Handbook, Ron Kujawski and Jennifer Kujawski
What’s Wrong with my Vegetable Garden, David Deardorff and Kathryn Wadsworth, they have a series of “What’s Wrong” books
75 Exciting Vegetables, Jack Staub, has an “exciting” series – herbs, vegetables, and fruits, lives in PA
This list could go on plus there are books focused on particular types of plant/vegetables. Other sources are public or botanical gardens such as Greensprings in Virginia and Brookside Gardens in Maryland; both have non-lending libraries. One can look at publishers’ web sites such as Chelsea Green Publishing, St. Lynn’s Press, Timber Press, Story, Rodale Press, and Cool Springs Press.
Posted in Books, Edibles, herbs, landscape edible, plants
Tagged books, edible gardening, fruits, herbs, Maryland, vegetables, Virginia, Washington DC, Washington DC metropolitan area
You know spring is around the corner when there are so many gardening events, lectures, and shows in March that I can list only a sample below. Check out the organization’s web site for more and don’t forget the Philadelphia Flower Show from February 28 to March 8, see previous article posted on January 24 (http://www.pegplant.com/2015/01/24/philadelphia-flower-show-in-five-weeks/
Saturday, February 28 to Sunday, March 1 and Friday, March 6 to Sunday, March 8. Maryland Home and Garden Show, Maryland State Fairground, Timonium, MD. Admission fee http://www.mdhomeandgarden.com
Saturday, March 7, 1:00 to 2:00 pm, Worm composting, Greenstreet Gardens, 1721 West Braddock Road, Alexandria, VA 22302 (703) 998-3030. Free http://www.greenstreetgardens.com
Saturday, March 7, 10:00 to 5:00 pm Arlington Home Show and Garden Expo, Thomas Jefferson Community Center, 3501 2nd Street, South, Arlington, VA 22204; free http://www.columbia-pike.org/ArlHomeShow
Monday evening, March 9 through April 13, (except March 23), 6:30 to 8:00 pm. Local gardening talk series of five classes on Capitol Hill by Kathy Jentz, owner of Washington Gardener magazine. Hill Center at the Old Naval Hospital, 921 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE Washington DC 20003; (202) 549-4172; Fee and must register, http://www.hillcenterdc.org
Sundays, Harry Allen Winter Lecture Series at Green Spring Gardens,1:30 to 2:30. After lecture, meet presenter and enjoy refreshments. Can register for individual topics or for all; fee. http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/greenspring
Saturdays Sessions at Merrifield Garden Center, free lectures at 10:00 am in three locations. http://www.merrifieldgardencenter.com.
Vegetable Gardening Series, three-part series (first part already occurred in February), hosted by the VCE Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia, at Fairlington Community Center, 3308 South Stafford Street, Arlington, VA. Free but must register, (703) 228-6414; e-mail: mgarlalex@gmail.com. Register at http://www.mgnv.org
Also by VCE Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia: Monday, March 16, 7:00-8:30 pm, Introduction to Sustainable Gardening at Fairlington Community Center, 3308 S. Stafford Street, Arlington; and Monday, March 23, Herb Gardening, 7:00-8:30 pm, Burke Branch Library, 4701 Seminary Road, Alexandria, free but must register at http://www.mgnv.org (see above).
Wednesdays in the Garden, led by Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC) volunteers and VCE Master Gardeners, these gardening sessions are Wednesday evening from 7:00 to 8:00 or 9:00 pm, from mid-March through mid-October, at the Arlington Central Library, 1015 N. Quincy Street, Arlington VA; (703) 228-5990, free. In addition, Saturday, March 21, is the AFAC Spring Garden Kickoff. http://www.library.arlingtonva.us/events/garden-talks
Saturday, March 21, Annual Gardening Symposium, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, Loudoun County Master Gardeners, Ida Lee Recreation Center, 60 Ida Lee Drive, Leesburg, VA 20176; fee and must register. http://www.loudouncountymastergardeners.org/events/annual-symposium
Garden Talks at Behnkes Nursery, free, also, Saturday, March 21 is Behnke’s Spring Open House, 11300 Baltimore Avenue, Beltsville, MD; (301) 937-1100; http://www.behnkes.com
Tuesday, March 24, 6:00 to 7:30 pm, Introduction to Organic Food Gardening, Brookside Gardens, 1800 Glenallen Avenue, Wheaton, MD 20902; (301) 962-1400; fee and must register. http://www.montgomeryparks.org/brookside
Saturday, March 28, the 29th Annual Lahr Symposium, 8:30 am to 3:30 pm. “Native Plants: Making Connections.” U.S. National Arboretum, 3501 New York Avenue, NE, Washington DC 20002; (202) 245-4521. Fee and must register (native plants will be for sale and entrance to the plant sale is free; one can buy plants even though one is not registered for the symposium). http://www.usna.usda.gov
You would be surprised at how many gardening events occur in February, there are a variety of workshops, lectures, and symposiums. February events also will be on the “Classes, Events” Page of http://www.pegplant.com
Sundays, Harry Allen Winter Lecture Series at Green Spring Gardens, Sundays in January, February, and March from 1:30 to 2:30. After lecture, meet presenter and enjoy refreshments. Can register for individual topics or for all; fee. See http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/greenspring for topics and speakers.
Sunday, February 1, 1:00 pm, Garden Talk: Your Edible Garden, Behnke Nurseries, 11300 Baltimore Avenue, Beltsville, MD. Free but must register. (301) 937-1100; http://www.behnkes.com
Monday through Wednesday, February 2-4, Garden Club of Virginia gardening symposium in Williamsburg. Fee and must register. Contact is Ann Heller, GCV Communications Coordinator (804) 643-4137 or communications@gcvirginia.org and http://www.gcvirginia.org/symposium/speakers.cfm
Saturday, February 7, the 10th Annual Washington Gardener Magazine Seed Exchange, at Green Spring Gardens in Alexandria, VA. This event includes two lectures on two different topics, the seed swap, and a “goody bag” of freebies. 12:30 to 4:00 pm. Must register and fee, for more information call Kathy Jentz, (301) 588-6894. http://www.washingtongardener.blogspot.com
Saturdays, February 7 & 21, 10:30 to 1:00 pm Sustainable Vegetable Gardening series, VCE-Prince William Master Gardeners, Chinn Park Regional Library, 13065 Chinn Park Drive, Woodbridge, VA; free but must register; (703) 792-7747; http://www.mgpw.org
Saturdays, February 7, 14 and 21, Merrifield Garden Center, free lectures at 10:00 am in three locations
In addition, on February 7, 2:00 pm, Fair Oaks will have a seminar to introduce children to gardening, activity targeted to children ages 6-12 years to complete, adult must be present, sign up online. (703) 560-6222. http://www.merrifieldgardencenter.com
Vegetable Gardening Series, three-part series, hosted by the VCE Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia, at Fairlington Community Center, 3308 South Stafford Street, Arlington, VA.
Free but must register, (703) 228-6414; e-mail: mgarlalex@gmail.com. Register at http://www.mgnv.org
Wednesday evenings, February 11 to March 25, 6:00 to 8:00 pm, (first one till 8:30 pm), plus one field trip on Saturday 3/21. Organic food gardening winter class. Fee and must register in advance. Neighborhood Farm Initiative. 1525 Newton Street, NW, Washington DC; (202) 505-1634; http://www.neighborhoodfarminitiative.org
Saturday, February 21, the 11th Annual Eco-savvy Symposium: Evolving Landscapes 8:30 to 4:00 pm at Green Spring Gardens, fee and must register in advance, (703) 642-5173; http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/greenspring
Friday, February 27, Green Matters Symposium, 8:30 am to 4:00 pm. Theme is “Protecting our Pollinators,” an annual symposium at Brookside Gardens but this year will take place at Silver Spring Civic Building at Veterans Plaza. Fee and must register. (301) 962-1451
http://www.montgomeryparks.org/brookside/green_matters_symposium.shtm#schedule
Saturday, February 28, RootingDC Forum, an all-day, free gardening forum with many lectures and vendors, from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm (a ten dollar donation is suggested). Registration started January 15. Wilson Senior High School, 3950 Chesapeake Street, NW, Washington DC. http://www.rootingDC.org
Saturday, February 28, Middleburg Horticultural Symposium, 8:30 am to 3:15 pm, sponsored by the Fauquier and Loudoun Garden Club at the Salamander Resort and Spa, 500 North Pendleton Street, Middleburg, VA. Fee and must register. E-mail elaineburden1@aol.com or call (540) 687-6940. www.flgardenclub.org
Saturday, February 28, 1:00 pm, Garden Talk: Discouraging Deer in Your Garden, Behnke Nurseries, 11300 Baltimore Avenue, Beltsville, MD. Free but must register. (301) 937-1100; http://www.behnkes.com
