Homestead Gardens 3rd Annual Annapolis Tomato Festival

Saturday August 27th, 12 pm to 6 pm Davidsonville location

Tickets: Individuals $10. Family of 4 is $25 (children under 10  free)
 
Homestead Gardens is hosting its Third Annual Annapolis Tomato Festival  This family-friendly event will feature three different contests: the Chesapeake Chili Cook-off, the Salsa Competition and the Ledo Fastest Pizza Eating Contest. Registration for all contests is open to the public; restaurants and individuals are welcome to enter the cooking contests. 
 
There also will be samplings of a wide variety of tomatoes as well as different tomato-based foods. There will have live music and cooking demonstrations throughout the day. 
 
A portion of the profits from the Tomato Festival and Chili Cook-off will go to support Save the Coconuts, an Annapolis-based nonprofit organization dedicated to raising funds to fight breast cancer and make life easier for those living with the disease.
 
Schedule of events (subject to change):

12 noon: Doors open to the Third Annual Tomato Festival.

Tomato Sampling: Try them all!

Preserving the Harvest: Tomato Cooking Demonstration with Homestead's own Food Blogger, Rita Calvert

12:30pm-2:30 pm: 2nd Annual Chesapeake Chili Cook-off: Cast your vote for the best chili in the People’s Choice category.

1-3 pm: Live music: The Andy Poxon Band. 

2 pm-4 pm: Salsa Competition Begins: Share your spicy love for this all-time favorite tomato-based concoction.

3 pm: Second Annual Ledo’s Fastest Pizza Eating Contest: Can you eat a large pizza all by yourself? Think you can you eat it faster than everyone else?  If so, prove it!

3:30 pm-6 pm: Live Music The Sly 45 Trio

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Behnke's Nursery

Saturday, 10 a.m. in Beltsville

Canning and Preserving Your Garden’s Bounty, with host Sissy McKenzie: Extend your gardens goodness into the winte. Behnke's Sissy McKenzie explains how to can and preserve your fruits and vegetables to enjoy at a later date. Be prepared to take notes.  Call (301) 937-1100 to reserve your seat. Admission is free.

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Photo credit: Tribune

Homestead Gardens in Davidsonville is hosting its 3rd annual Tomato Festival Aug. 27 and, as part of the festivities, there will be a chili cook-off and a salsa-making contest (the dip, not the dance.)

Monday Aug. 22 is the deadlines for entries, so if you think your chili is cool or that your salsa is hot, register for the competition.

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Summer Saturday in the Valley

Saturday, 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Join the Valley Times staff and the gardening gurus at Valley View Farms for a Summer Saturday of Fun. There will be contests, food, gardening tips, and recipes. Meet gardening wizard Carrie Engel and chow down on the Kitchen Guy's famous barbecue. For more information, call the Valley Times at 410-440-8248.

Baltimore Bonsai Club

Sunday, 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm

The Baltimore Bonsai Club will be at Valley View to display and critique the club's favorite trees. They will then work on their trees. Attendees are welcome to bring their own bonsai from home or buy a tree and club members will help them style and refine it. For more Information, email President Barry Figard at bfigard@verizon.net

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Photo credit: Baltimore Sun/Algerina Perna

Homestead Gardens in Davidsonville

Crapemyrtle Festival.

Friday

8:30 am: Complimentary coffee service before doors open at 9am

6-9 pm: Ladies Night: A night at Homestead Gardens just for ladies!
Enjoy a relaxing evening of live music, shopping and tasty treats.

Bring in two non-perishable food items to donate to the Light House Shelter for homeless prevention in Annapolis and receive $10 in Myrtle Money, which is redeemable for special savings during the weekend!

Saturday
 
10 a.m.: Crapemyrtles 101: USDA/ARS research geneticist Dr. Margaret Pooler discusses this summer tree.

12 p.m.: Which Crapemyrtle for You? Homestead Gardens horticulturist Gene Sumi discusses the many different sizes & colors and which varieties work best in your yard.

1–3 p.m.: Live music with Orlando Phillips

2 p.m.: Sizzling Summer Containers: Homestead Gardens annuals manager, Kerry Kelley shows colorful plant combinations that thrive in the summer months. 

Sunday

11 a.m.: Trees with Flair: Homestead Gardens master gardener Lisa Winters discusses trees that offer more than just shade.

12:30 p.m.: Proper Planting for Trees & Shrubs with Gene Sumi.

12:30 - 2:30 p.m.: Live Music with Annapolis Bluegrass Coalition.

2 p.m.: Natives in the Garden with Carol Jelich of Adkins Arboretum.

Monday

11 a.m.–2 p.m.: Open House at the Llama Barn: Kids of all ages can meet our herd of llamas and enjoy free popsicles & lemonade  

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Behnke Nursery

Saturday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Beltsville

Caribbean Festival

Join Behnke's as the staff welcomes back Caribbean Dance Traditions for a Caribbean Festival.   There will be games, Caribbean music, and Caribbean food, along with a Caribbean Craft Market and demonstrations.

Besides watching the dancers and learning how to dance to Caribbean music, you can sit back, relax and listen to Reggae artist “ROWE” and the sweet sounds of Steel Pan Jam. 

Saturday, 9:30 to 4:00 in Potomac

Orchid Diagnostic and Repotting Clinic with Host Carol Allen

Have an orchid question? Ask Carol! Her vast knowledge of orchids comes from many years of hands-on experience. She would love to answer your questions and, for a minimal fee, she will expertly repot your orchid.

Sunday, in Beltsville

Event: Hosta Bingo Extravaganza with the Potomac Hosta Club

The club will hold a brief meeting, socialize a little and then Bingo until they drop! If you do not already belong to the club, you can pay the club dues at the door and then join the fun.

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Valley View Farms in Cockeysville

Saturday, 9 a.m.: Plants for Purgatory - Jimmy Turner, from the Dallas Arboretum, coined the above title while talking about plants that thrive in summer's heat and arid conditions. While the humans survived last year's 54 days over 90 degrees, some of the plants weren't so lucky. Learn which annuals and perennials can handle Maryland's hot summers. A slide presentation will include photos of the Dallas Arboretum gardens as well as the plant trials held in nearby Lancaster, PA

11 a.m.: Do-it-Yourself Irrigation and Watering Systems - Learn how to install a drip-irrigation watering system for your gardens and containers. The staff will explain how the rain drip irrigation systems work, relieving gardeners of watering by hand day-in and day-out. The garden shop will also show gardeners how to properly use timers, soaker hoses and other watering accessories.

Mt. Cuba Center in Greenville, DE

Mt. Cuba Center is offering summer twilight tours on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 5:30 through July 28. In the cool of late afternoon, take a stroll around the garden ponds and babbling brook. Relax, refresh, and rejuvenate as you enjoy the lilies, azaleas, coneflowers, and coreopsis. If conditions are right, birds will serenade you as they perch on the tulip poplar canopy.  The cost is $5 and you can reserve a spot by visiting the Mt. Cuba website.

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Photo credit: Baltimore Sun/Susan Reimer

This weekend at Valley View Farms in Cockeysville

Saturday

9 a.m.: The Succulent Container Garden -- Succulents thrive in containers with little care. Learn the best pots and planters to use and all about many different types of succulents for relatively care free container gardening possibilities.

11 a.m.: Butterflies and Hummingbirds (kid-friendly) We've become infatuated with butterflies and hummingbirds. Follow the metamorphosis of a butterfly captured through the lens on Marian Andelman and Jan Gannon's cameras and watch a short slideshow. Stroll through the butterfly idea gardens. Lastly, take a look at handouts and signs and learn some of the best practices to attract these petite flyers to the garden. Marian will share her experiences in providing the perfect habitat for hummingbirds and butterflies.

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Tickets are $10 and can be purchased under the tent at the 1600 block of Park Avenue on the day of the walk. Visitors will be given a map and a companion booklet. There will also be some garden-related items for sale, including planters, gardening gloves, planting tools

 For more information visit boltonhillgardenclub.org

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This weekend's garden events include the Perennial Affair at Homestead Gardens in Davidsonville, and I am delighted to be among the line-up of speakers for the weekend.

I will be talking about "Gardening on the Internet" Sunday at noon. And then I am hanging around for Gene Sumi's advice on maintaining my perennial garden and the talk on solar-powered water features. I soooo want a water feature.

Here's a look at the rest of the weekend's events at Homestead.

Saturday

10 am: Wonderful World of Water Bugs: A kid’s guide to aquatic life with water gardening expert Dave Kemon.
($10 fee includes planter; pre-register by calling 410-798-5000)

10 am: If Not Ivy, Then What? Master Gardener Lisa Winters shows effective & attractive solutions using ground cover plants for every type of growing situation.

11:30 am: Native Perennials--Kara Crissey, CPH discusses using native plants. Learn why plants local to the area are an important part of your garden.

1:00 pm: Cooking with Daylilies--Garden designer Tasanee Mack uses the buds of this perennial favorite in a stir fry.

1:30 pm: Dividing & Repotting Aquatic Plants--Dave Kemon demonstrates how to keep your water garden plants healthy.

2:0 pm: Gardening in Small Spaces -- Presented by Washington Gardener Editor & Publisher Kathy Jentz.

Sunday

10:30 am: Low-Maintenance Gardening--Skip the extra work & let Lisa Winters teach you about the right plants & techniques for a beautiful garden that will only look like a labor of love.

12:00 pm: Gardening on the Internet -- Baltimore Sun Columnist Susan Reimer shows the best websites, blogs & online resources for creating a stunning landscape.

12:30 pm: Fires It Up -- Cooking demo with local author and chef Rita Calvert.

1:30 pm: Maintaining a Perennial Garden -- Education Coordinator Gene Sumi reviews a perennial gardener’s to-do list.

2:00 pm: Aquatic Solar Pumps -- Make your water garden come alive with fountains that use the sun’s power.
 

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The Villages of Columbia will present the second annual Columbia Home Tour on Sunday, June 5, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets are $20 each and available at any of the ten Columbia village community centers (www.columbiavillages.org).

With a tour guide book and map, participants will embark on a self-guided tour of five distinct homes nestled in the beautiful Columbia villages.  Docents will welcome you at each location and guide you through the home’s diverse architecture and unique qualities.

The five featured homes include a restored historic mansion in Kings Contrivance, contemporary single family home in Hickory Ridge, unique redesigned townhome in Town Center, beautifully landscaped colonial in Dorsey’s Search and lakeside townhome in Owen Brown.

For more information on this event, please contact Carol Hobelmann at 410-730-3987 or visit wlevents@columbiavillages.org. Join us on Facebook:  “Columbia Home Tour 2011”

Continue reading "Columbia (Md.) Home Tour" »

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Photo courtesy of Brookside Gardens

Behnke Nurseries in Beltsville

Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

First annual Garden Social to benefit Friends of Brookside Gardens. Regional garden clubs will be on hand to describe what they do and answer your plant questions. There will also be a plant swap -- so bring a plant from your garden -- at 11:30 a.m., as well as raffles and a silent auction featuring the services of harpist Jim Dronenburg and photographer Daniel Weil. At 3 p.m., David Culp of Sunny Border Nurseries will lecture on perennials. All proceeds will go to support Brookside, a public garden in Wheaton.

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Photo credit: Patuxent Publishing/Sarah Pastrana

Gail Gee's garden in Fulton, Md., is known for its collection of rare peonies, and she is opening it to visitors Saturday in an event to benefit Brookside Gardens in Wheaton.

For a $35 donation, you can arrive at 9 a.m. and purchase select peony varieites and other signature plants and take a tour of the garden with Gail. For $5, you can tour her garden from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. There will be refreshments.

Registration is required at ParkPASS.org and the event number for the preview party is 138799 and for the public garden tour, 138849. Directions will be provided with registration confirmation.

The rain date is May 28.

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Photo credit: Baltimore Sun/Susan Reimer

Under blue skies and a bright sun, Baltimore officially welcomed spring with the opening of Flower Mart, a city tradition dating back 100 years.

Ladies in hats, babies in strollers and office workers with crab cake sandwiches strolled around Mount Vernon where dozens of booths overflowed with flowers, crafts and food.

Missing, however, was the late William Donald Schaefer, a determined Flower Mart stalwart who missed his beloved event for the first time in something like 60 years.

But his presence was felt at the city’s springtime ritual – and no more so than at the Institute of Notre Dame booth where a picture of the late mayor, governor and comptroller was placed among the flowers.

“He was a good, honest, clean-cut gentleman at all times,” said Sister Hildie Sutherland of IND. She has volunteered at this event for 30 years.

“He did have a temper, but when he cooled down it was over,” she said, a flower bonnet sitting on top of her veil. “I miss him. That’s why his picture is here.”

Continue reading "Baltimore's Flower Mart" »

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Big plants sales this weekend in the Baltimore region -- at Ladew Topiary Gardens in Monkton and at the William Paca House in Annapolis and at Cylburn Arboretum in Baltimore.

William Paca House Plant Sale

Saturday,  10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Sunday,  Noon - 4 p.m.

1 Martin Street
Free Admission

Click here for a plant catalog and pictures of the plants.

All plants are grown by Historic Annapolis volunteers in the William Paca Garden greenhouse, and proceeds support the operation of the site.

Ladew Topiary Gardens

Priority Preview Sale: 8am - 10am; $75 for members, $100 for non-members (you can purchase at the door)
Offers first chance shopping from vendors, continental breakfast, and lecture reservation, (includes Individual Ladew membership for non-members).

General Admission: 10am - 5pm
$15 for sale, $25 for sale & lecture (you can purchase at the door)
Shop from vendors and register for the lecture (lecture tickets, $10, are limited and will be sold on a first come, first serve basis to general admission ticket buyers beginning at 10am.) House tour reservations can be made when you arrive (space is limited). Tour the Gardens, House and Nature Walk.

Lecture: 11 am with Honorary Chair, Marco Polo Stufano, Wave Hill's Founding Director of Horticulture

Cafe Open 7am - 4 pm

You can purchase tickets at the door.

Click here for vendors and plant information.

This event is rain or shine. For more information or to make reservations, call (410) 557-9570, ext. 224.

Continue reading "Weekend Garden Events: Plant Sales!!!" »

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Photo credit: Baltimore Sun/Susan Reimer

Sunday was May Day in Annapolis and for the 55th year, the Garden Club of Old Annapolis held its May basket competition.

Businesses on Main Street at City Dock and residents of the Historic District as well as the Murray Hill neighborhood decorated their doors, gates and entrances with May baskets, and some were beyond clever. Especially this unconventional display by the Annapolis Running Store.

Enjoy the photo gallery Garden Variety shot.

And, no, I didn't have a May basket. I was too busy taking pictures of everyone else's.

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Behnke's Nursery
Beltsville, MD

Scales and Tales, Saturday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.: The Maryland Department of Natural Resources will be on hand with birds and reptiles exhibited in an informative and interactive manner. Naturalists will be on hand to answer questions, and there will be children’s activities. Find out how you can support the department through its Animal Adoption Program.  Free

Mt. Cuba Center
Hockessin, Del.

7th Annual Wildflower Celebration: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Free parking, free admission and free wildflower to the first 500 families
 
 
This year's learning stations include: native azaleas; meadow plants & birds; plants that attract butterflies; moss garden companion plants, and rock garden plants
  
 
Also, follow "The Journey from Caterpillar to Butterfly" for family fun, then take the Wildflower Challenge and win a 2-for-1 tour coupon.

To learn more, visit our website, www.mtcubacenter.org or call 302-239-4244
 
 
Please note that all parking for this event will be at Red Clay Reservation, 1003 Old Wilmington Road, just east of Brackenville Road.  Parking closes at 3:30 pm.

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Historic London Town Public House and Gardens

839 Londontown Road
Edgewater, MD 21037

Annual plant sale: Saturday 8:00 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Annuals, perennials, trees, shrubs and kitchen garden specialties will be for sale. Anne Arundel County Master Gardeners and London Town's new Director of Horticulture, Nathan Powers, will offer advice on plant selection and culture.

Sale features plants that are found in London Town's eight-acre Woodland Garden, including native and exotic plant species, cold-hardy camellias, and new and unusual varieties. Over 50 varieties of heirloom tomatoes will be available, too.

A special Member Preview Sale will be held on Friday, April 29 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Become a member, purchase plants in advance of the Saturday sale, and receive a 10 percent discount.

May Day children's celebrations: Saturday, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Children of all ages will be engaged in the enchanting story of spring with music and songs led by Fairy Princess Ruthanne Emilene Ankney, and her festive troupe of musicians playing hammered dulcimer, mandolin, concertina and fiddle. Maypole ribbon weaving. Spring English Morris garland dances taught on the spot.

Children encouraged to dress up in their fairy garden finest and will be given pixie crowns (boys) and fairly wands (girls) to welcome in the spring in song and verse.

$5 for children under 17, $10 for adults. Free with year-long family membership to Historic London Town and Gardens ($75)

Continue reading "Weekend garden events" »

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The memorial garden to the widow of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. is the first of its kind in the nation, according to organizers. And the youngest daughter of the couple, Dr. Bernice A. King, will deliver the keynote address.

The event, scheduled for noon, is open to the public and there is no charge.

Mrs. King would have been 84 years old this month.

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The Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund, which supports injured servicemen and women and their families, will be the beneficiary again this year of a fundraiser at Homestead Gardens in Davidsonville.

(The fundraiser will occur again next weekend at Homestead's Severna Park store.)

Raffle tickets -- $5 each or 5 for $20 -- will be sold on Saturday and Sunday for a chance to win a $100 gift certificate to Homestead as well as gift cards to local restaurants. In addition, all participants in the fundraiser will receive a coupon good for 25 percent off one regularly priced item.

Or you can contribute by visiting www.semperfifund.org.

Since 2004, the fund has given $39 million to aid injured service members.

Continue reading "Flowers for Marines?" »

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Starbucks in Annapolis is looking for volunteers to help plant the gardens around the new Light House Shelter, built to temporarily house homeless individuals and families.

Starbucks is providing all the plant material, but volunteers are needed to do the digging on Tuesday between 10 and 2 p.m. at the shelter on Hudson Street in the city.

The service project is being supported by all the Starbucks in the Annapolis district and is part of a corporate initiative for community service in April.

Tools will also be provided by Starbucks.

And -- just guessing here -- coffee.

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Homestead Gardens in Davidsonville

Saturday

Growing Fruit Trees in Maryland, 10 a.m. With Terry Freed of Eastern Shore Nursery.

Music by Rob Levit Trio, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Enjoy the smooth jazz, Latin and pop sounds of Annapolis' most popular jazz group, the award-winning Rob Levit Trio.
 
Herbal Remedies for the Gardener, 11:30 a.m. With Catherine Cusack, RN, esthetician and avid gardener.

How to Grow Twice as Much in Half the Space, 1 p.m. With WTOP’s Mike McGrath.

Edible Matchmaking from Roots to Fruits, 2:30 p.m. Lost in a sea of varieties? Homestead Gardens Education Coordinator Gene Sumi hosts a Q&A session to guide you to the best edible plants for your garden.

Sunday

Black Gold, 10 a.m. Gene Sumi teaches the DO's and DON'Ts of composting.

Edibles in the Landscape, 11:30 a.m. Homestead Gardens Annuals Manager Kerry Kelly will discuss incorporating herbs and vegetables in throughout your garden.

Southern Maryland Meats Program, 1 p.m. An introduction to the region’s livestock farmers.

The Grassfed Gourmet Fires it Up, 2:30 p.m. Cooking demo & book signing with Rita Calvert

Herbal food tastings throughout the weekend. All events take place in Davidsonville.

Valley View Farms in Cockeysville

Saturday

Vegetable Gardening in Containers, 9:00 a.m. Not all of us have the room for a half-acre vegetable garden, or even a 100-square-foot garden bed. Maybe you're fighting tree roots or want to garden closer to the house on a balcony or deck. Container gardening may be for you! Learn how to successfully grow ANY vegetable in a pot or planter.

Perennial Trough Gardens, 11:00 a.m. Join David Culp (from Sunny Border Nurseries), the “perennial rock star”, in a talk and demonstration featuring rock garden and alpine plants for troughs and dish gardens.

Vegetable Gardening for Kids, 1:00 p.m. We've read that getting kids involved in growing food leads to better nutrition. Valley View will take time with the children to talk about planning a vegetable garden of their own and have them plant some seeds to get them started.

Continue reading "Weekend Garden Events" »

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Photo courtesy of Adrian Bloom

The Horticultural Society of Maryland will present "An Evening with Adrian Bloom" on Sunday, April 17, from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Vollmer Center at Cylburn Arboretum in Baltimore.

Bloom, internationally recognized for his perennial introductions, will be speaking on plant choices for a year-round garden, the subject of his new book, "Bloom's Best Perennials and Grasses: Expert Plant CHoices and Dramatic Combinations for Year-Round Gardens."

The event is open to the public at a cost of $45 for society members and $60 for non-members, there will be a book signing by Bloom and some of his favorite plants from the book will also be on sale.

Wine and a light supper will be served between lectures.

For reservations, call 410-821-5561 or visiting the Society's web page.

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Valley View Farms in Cockeysville

Create Your Own Bonsai Workshop (kid-friendly), Saturday, 9:00 a.m. Here's your chance to prune, wire and style a Bonsai plant with Martha Meehan and other Bonsai enthusiasts by your side. A Bonsai starter tree, soil, wire, pot and tools will be provided during the class. There will be a $35 fee for supplies to all participants.
 
Lawn Clinic, Saturday, 11:00 a.m.: Join Jonathan Green's lawn expert, Rick Hardie. Whether seeding a new lawn or renovating an old one, Rick will advise participants on the right products and processes to follow for success. Please bring a soil sample to be analyzed by Valley View staff.

Behnke's Nursery in Potomac

Roll Out the Rain Barrel, Saturday, 1 p.m.: Come visit with representatives of a company that sells oak rain barrels that are beautifully retrofitted to help retain rain water and reduce polluted runoff water from our urban and suburban streets that goes into the Bay.

They will provide information on how to install rain barrels, the tax credits associated with them, and landscaping tips on the best use of rainwater.

Homestead Gardens in Davidsonville

Golden Spades with Gene Sumi; Tuesday, April 5, 10 a.m.: "What Can I Plant and What Should I Plant?”

These are the two most often asked questions Gene Sumi gets each year in the month of April. Spring planting time for trees, shrubs, summer-blooming bulbs and perennials will already be here and the time to plant summer-flowering annuals and vegetables will start at the end of the month. 

The April meeting of Golden Spades will discuss the choices and take a lot of your questions about what should you can and should be planting in your garden this year. Gene will be prepared to talk about varieties of plants that are new  this year as well as old stand-bys that have stood the test of time.

Bring a friend and bring lots of questions.

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Garden Variety will be at Behnke's Nursery in Beltsville Saturday at 1 p.m. to talk about Gardening on the Internet: How to learn, plan, chat, shop and otherwise garden without getting your hands dirty."

I will be there as part of Behnke's Spring Open House. And I am free!

Valley View Farms, Cockeysville

Saturday

Growing Vegetables from Seed, 9:00 a.m.: Many vegetables can be directly seeded into gardens and containers. Valley View will discuss beans, lettuces, radishes, peas and many other crops that will do well grown from seed instead of transplants, extending the savings of growing edibles.

Herb Gardening Workshop, 11:00 a.m.: Valley View Farm's Herb Lady, Joann Weber, will discuss planning and planting an herb garden. After her discussion, join Joann in a workshop to create your own strawberry jar herb garden with some of your favorite herbs. There will be a $35 charge for the planter, soil and plants to complete the project.

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It is being called "Stand with Japan Walk," and it is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. (Thursday night) as a show of unity with those suffering from the earthquake and tsunami.

Walkers are asked to meet at the Sylvan Theater at 15th Street and Independence Avenue.

Donations are voluntary and will go directly to the National Cherry Blossom Festival Red Cross fund.

Continue reading "Cherry Blossom Festival begins with "Stand with Japan"" »

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Photo credit: Baltimore Sun/Gene Sweeney

Valley View Farms in Cockeysville

Saturday

Perennial Gardening Calendar, 9:00 a.m.: Perennials benefit from seasonal maintenance to keep them coming back beautifully year after year. Learn proper timing for all sorts of tasks like dividing daylilies and hostas, adding organics into the garden, dead-heading various plants for continual bloom and much more. The speaker will be our own Jan Gannon.

Cool Weather Vegetables and Herbs, 11 a.m.: It's official; spring arrives tomorrow! Cold hardy and perennial vegetables can be planted now. Learn where to place plants and seeds in the garden for optimal harvest come summer. Free Herb and Vegetable Planting Guides will be available at today's seminar. Carrie Engel and Joann Weber will lead today's class.

Homestead Gardens in Davidsonville

Saturday

Tree Care with Master Arborist: Bradley Seay of Bartlett Trees, 10 a.m.

Landscaping for the Average Joe, Noon: Scott Daly, Merchandising Manager and Landscape Designer, discusses the basic necessities for any landscape.

Fairy Gardens, 2 p.m.: Learn how to create these small scale gardens

Sunday

Cool Weather Vegetables 11 a.m.

Cooking with Mediterranean Herbs, noon: Demonstration and tasting with Local Foodie and Homestead Gardens blogger, Rita Calvert.

Care of Statuary and Fountains, 2 p.m.; With Susan Betts of Campania Garden Decor.

Behnkes in Beltsville

Saturday

11 a.m. Garden Rant's Susan Harris, founder of the Lawn Reform Coalition, talks about lawn reform, with a photo history of the conversion of her lawn to a garden. She will also discuss natural lawn care, more sustainable types of turfgrasses

Posted by Susan Reimer at 8:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
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Valley View Farms in Cockeysville.

Gardening for a Healthier Planet, Saturday, 9 a.m. - As gardeners, we are stewards of our environment. Today we will use a checklist provided by the University of Maryland Extension as a guide to determine the best practices to use in gardening to protect our planet and our region.

Your's truly, Garden Variety blog mistress Susan Reimer, will be speaking at 11 a.m. on Gardening on the Internet. I'll take you on a brief tour of the websites that can be a real resource for gardeners. And I am free!

U.S. Botanic Garden, Washington, DC

Saturday:

Production Facility Open House: Only once each year does the USBG invite the public to see its growing facility, the largest greenhouse complex supporting a public garden in the United States.

The site, completed in 1994, includes 85,000 square-feet under glass, divided into 34 greenhouse bays and 16 environmental zones. In addition to foliage and nursery crops, participants will see all of the USBG collection not currently on display, including orchids, medicinal plants, insectivorous plants and rare and endangered species.

Register for one of the tour times to meet the growers, ask questions and wander through this working wonderland of plants.

Tour Times: 10:30 a.m., 11 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 1 p.m. or 1:30 p.m.

Location: USBG Production Facility (directions provided after registration)

Friends: FREE; Non-members: $5

Pre-registration required, visit www.usbg.gov or call (202) 225-1116

Continue reading "Weekend Garden Events" »

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I will be at Valley View Farms in Cockeysville, MD, Saturday at 11 a.m. to talk about all the Internet resources for gardeners.

Please join me! It is free, and, I confess, I will be soooo embarrassed of nobody shows up!

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With apologies to Ricky Nelson....

Fans of the Maryland Home & Garden Show can attend a preview party this Friday, and the cost of the ticket -- $50 in advance and $60 at the door -- will benefit Habitat for Humanity of the Chesapeake.

For the first time, the 19 fully landscaped, live gardens installed for the show will be the scene of a cocktail party from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Maryland State Fairgrounds on York Road.

Live jazz from the Adam Hopkins Quartet and student performers from Habitat partner schools will accompany the event, titled "Symphony of Spring."

Continue reading "Goin' to a garden party..." »

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Valley View Farms in Cockeysville

Pruning Trees and Shrubs: Saturday, 9:00 am. Brian Rhoten is a Certified Arborist with Bartlett Tree Experts working year round managing trees and shrubs in landscapes here in Maryland. Brian will unravel the mysteries of pruning and answer questions attendees may have concerning specific trees and shrubs.

Growing Fruits and Berries: Saturday, 11:00 am. Terry Freed's passion is growing fruits and berries and helping others do the same. He joins us here from Hollybrook Orchards to teach us how to grow apples, blueberries, pears, peaches and many other fruits in our gardens.

Build a Terrarium (kid-friendly): Saturday, 11:00 am. BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND! Terrariums are wonderful and very low maintenance if they are planted correctly and with the right plants. We will demonstrate how to build a terrarium and offer advice to those who would like to build one of their own. Bring your own glass vessel or buy one here. Plants, soil and other “ingredients” will also be available for purchase. Average cost of finished terrarium-$35.00. Special fishbowl terrarium for the kids - $25.00

Homestead Gardens in Davidsonville and Severna Park

Hypertufa: Saturday, 10 am & 2 pm. ($45). Build a fascinating, stonelike container from inexpensive materials that looks hundreds of years old in a style reminscent of a Victorian garden.

Starting from Seed: Sunday, 11 am. ($5). Education Coordinator Gene Sumi shows you the tools and tricks of the trade to make starting plants from seed at home easy, educational and inexpensive.

Herb Wreath: Sunday, 2 pm. ($35). Create a beautiful and functional herb wreath that will look stunning in any kitchen. Make it with fresh herbs to take home to dry. (All materials included; participants should bring scissors.)

Starting from Seed: Sunday, 2 pm (Severna Park) ($5). Education Coordinator Gene Sumi shows you the tools and tricks of the trade to make starting plants from seed at home easy, educational and inexpensive.

Continue reading "Weekend garden events" »

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Blue Water Baltimore

Saturday, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm, Community College of Baltimore County - Catonsville: Become a Maryland Stream Wader. Learn how you can help Stream Waders contribute to Maryland’s statewide water quality monitoring. If you’re a member of a watershed organization and are interested in sampling in an area that’s not on the map, contact DNR to see if they can accommodate you. And of course, if you are not already a member of a watershed group, join up with folks from one or get together with some friends and help assess the health of local streams.  For more information, and to register for an upcoming training, go to the Stream Waders website

Valley View Farms in Cockeysville

Saturday, 9:00 am, Growing Vegetable and Flower Seedlings: Learn tips and techniques for growing seeds into vegetable and flower transplants for the garden. Carrie Engel will discuss grow lights, germination mats, planting media and seed types. This is a great class for the novice or experienced gardener.

Saturday, 11:00 am, Organic Gardening Principles: Learn how to grow plants using sustainable gardening methods. Educators will showcase the many herbicides, fungicides, insecticides and fertilizers available to organic gardeners. Also discussed: the best practices for growing plants organically.

Continue reading "Weekend garden events" »

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Photo credit: Baltimore Sun/Susan Reimer

Valley View Farms in Cockeysville

Saturday, 9:00 am: Houseplant and Orchid Clinic - Bring in your plants and repot them and have any problems diagnosed. Valley View will provide soil and other potting media for orchids, foliage plants, cacti and African Violets. Jan Gannon and Carrie Engel will discuss pruning, propagating and watering houseplants for optimum health as well. One plant per participant please.

Saturday, 11:00 am: Containers - Pots and planters specialists will lead a “show and tell” about the many different containers available for planting. Learn about ceramic, bamboo, plastic and many other materials used to make pots. See how the self-watering containers work. Take a look at specialty planters for orchids, bonsai and African violets. Joe Gover will be the discussion leader today.

Homestead Gardens in Davidsonville

Saturday, 11 am: Glass House of Dreams ($5) - Margaret Haviland Stansbury author of “Glass House of Dreams”, history discussion & booksigning about Baltimore’s Rawlings Conservatory & Botanical Gardens. (glasshouseofdreams.com)

Sunday, 11 am: Bay-Friendly Gardening ($5) – Members of the South River Foundation discuss easy gardening techniques that have helped them preserve the health of the South River.

2 pm: Valentine’s Day Planter ($15) – Kids get to decorate their own terracotta pot and plant a rose in it as a special gift from the heart for mom or grandma.

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Valley View Farms, Cockeysville

Saturday, 9 am: Bonsai Propagation - Learn about various propagation techniques for Bonsai and about soil types and fertilizers for them. Martha Meehan says this is a great class for beginning and experienced Bonsai enthusiasts.

11 am: Build a Terrarium (kid-friendly) Valley View will demonstrate how to build a terrarium and offer advice to those who would like to build one of their own. Bring your own glass vessel or buy one here. Plants, soil and other “ingredients” will also be available for purchase. Average cost of finished terrarium-$35.00. Special fishbowl terrarium for the kids - $25.00

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Photo credit: Baltimore Sun/Susan Reimer

Washington Gardener Magazine is hosting a seed exchange Saturday from 12:30 to 4 p.m. at Brookside Gardens in Wheaton.

This in-person seed swap allows you to meet the gardeners and get planting advice for their seeds. And everybody leaves with a bag of seeds. to try.

Even if you don't have seeds to swap, you are welcome to attend. There will be extra seeds and lots to learn. Experts from the local gardening community will give short talks on seed collection and propagation.

But hurry to register because there are only 100 spots available and the seed swap is expected to sell out. There is a $15 attendee fee, but discounts for Washington Gardener subscribers and friends of Brookside Gardens.

A second day of seed swapping will be helpd Feb. 5 at Green Spring Gardens in Alexandria, Va.

Participants are also urged to bring  new or used garden books and seed catalogs to swap and share at the event. And please bring your own water bottle or reusable mug.

Continue reading "Weekend garden events: A seed exchange" »

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Photo credit: Baltimore Sun/Karl Merton Ferron

Homestead Gardens in Davidsonville

Saturday, 11 a.m.: Owls Native to Maryland ($5) – Andy Brown of Battle Creek Cypress Swamp presents an informative session all about the varieties of owls that call Maryland home and how you can attract these elusive nocturnal hunters to your yard.

2 p.m.: Opening Your Pond ($5) – Water Gardening Specialist Dave Kemon guides you through the steps of getting your pond ready for spring and reviews pumps, containers and vegetation.

Sunday, 11 a.m.: Proper Planting Techniques ($5) (Davidsonville) – Education Coordinator Gene Sumi demonstrates the correct way to plant trees and shrubs that goes beyond just digging the hole. Ways to save your back and give your green investment a great start.

11 a.m.: Gardening in Small Spaces ($5) (at Homestead's Severna Park location) Lisa Winters discusses how to create a beautiful garden even in the smallest of spaces.

2 p.m.: Proper Planting Techniques ($5) (Severna Park) Education Coordinator Gene Sumi demonstrates the correct way to plant trees and shrubs that goes beyond just digging the hole. Ways to save your back and give your green investment a great start.

Behnke's Nursery

Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4:40 p.m. Orchid diagnostics and re-potting clinic with Carol Allen (Behnke's Potomac location) Have an orchid question? Ask Carol. Her vast knowledge of orchids comes from many years of hands-on experience. She would love to answer your questions and, for a minimal fee, she will expertly re-pot your orchid.

Saturday, 11 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. Children’s Workshop: Make a Gourd Birdhouse (Beltsville) ($25)A fun activity! Denise Sharp will show everyone how to create a birdhouse from a gourd and decorate it. Afterwards you will take it home to enjoy. Additional gourds will be available for sale if you would like to make another at home.

Sunday, 1 p.m.: Building a Houseplant Container Garden (Beltsville) ($35) Learn how to combine different plants with similar tastes to create a container garden for inside
your home and build it to take with you at the end of class. All materials included.

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News that a garden had been voted Scotlan's most important work of art, photographer Allan Pollok-Morris spent five years capturing the work of Scottish landscape designers and artists.

The results are on display, beginning tomorrow and continuing until June 5, at the U.S. Botanic Garden in Washington. The collection of large-scale photographs is titled, "Close: A Journey in Scotland."

Among the landscape designers whose work he has photographed are Andy Goldsworthy, Penelope Hobhouse, Charles Jencks, Ian Hamilton Finlay and Arabella Lennox-Boyd.

The works by these designers, captured by Pollok-Morris in his book, "Close: Landscape Design and Land Art in Scotland," help make the case that garden makers so-called "land artists" are part of the art community.

The U.S. Botanic Garden is open to the public, free of charge, every day of the year from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is located at 100 Maryland Ave., SW, on the west side of the U.S. Capitol. Visitors are urged to take Metrobus or Metrorail as parking is limited. For more information, visit the Botanic Garden website.

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Gardening tips in January: Saturday, 10:00 a.m. What? Garden tips now? You bet. Valley View is starting a seasonal series of short meetings where staff will discuss topics from the gardening world. If you have ideas for this or any other month, email Carrie Engel at carrie@valleyviewfarms.com.

Behnke Nursery, Beltsville

Building a Houseplant Container Garden: Saturday 11 a.m. Learn how to combine different plants with similiar tastes to create a container garden for inside your home and build it to take with you at the end of class. $35. All Materials included.

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If you look on the Baltimore Convention Center web site, you won't find a listing for one of its oldest and largest events: the Mid-Altantic Nursery Trade Show.

About a thousand vendors -- of everything from petunias to tractors -- line the convention center floor every January while lawn and garden center retailers look to see what they can sell their customers in the spring.

But the show isn't open to the general public. It isn't a home and garden show. There isn't anything to buy, unless you want to buy a dozen of them.

To keep the public from misunderstanding, storming the convention center and ending up disappointed or angry, MANTS, as it is called, tries to keep the lowest of low profiles.

As a result, I was asked not to write about what I saw there (journalists are admitted) until after the show closed on Friday.

Seems a little over the top to me, but I went along with the request. This is a gardening blog, after all, not a national security blog.

Continue reading "Mid-Atlantic Nursery Trade Show: riot prevention" »

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This is the final weekend of holiday festivities at Winterthur, the historic home of H.F. du Pont located north of Wilmington, Del.

Du Pont owned several houses, but only Winterthur was considered "home," where family and friends gathered each year to celebrate the holidays.

This year, a series of rooms in the main house focuses on the winter of 1937-38 when in addition to all the holiday festivities, the du Ponts were preparing for the wedding of their daughter, Pauline Louise, to Alfred Harrison.

Winterthur is open 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday. Formore information, visit winterthur.org.

Valley View Farms in Cockeysville.

Bonsai Basics Workshop

Saturday, 9:00 a.m.: Attend Valley View's first seminar of the year to learn more about the art and science of Bonsai. Martha Meehan will discuss how to care for a new tree or starter Bonsai.

Learn about pot shapes and how to use them with appropriate Bonsai tree styles. Each month, new Bonsai topics will be discussed.

Valley View's Bonsai classes are held on the first Saturday of most months through 2011. Martha's company, Meehan's Miniatures, has been in business for over 40 years.

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The Mid-Atlantic Nursery Trade Show, known as "The Masterpiece of Trade Shows" comes to the Baltimore Convention Center this week, and retailers who visit will be making decisions about what to have for sale for gardeners this year.

MANTS, as it is called, is here Wednesday through Friday. It features nearly 600 booths and about a thousand vendors -- down from previous years -- and they will be displaying everything from petunias to heavy equipment.

This trade show began in 1970 as a cooperative effort among the Nursery and Landscape Associations of Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia. It moved around for a few years before settling permanently at the Convention Center in 1981 because it had gotten so large.

There is plenty for retailers to see: plants, shrubs and trees, landscape and garden items, heavy and light duty equipment, tools, furniture, fountains, containers, sheds, greenhouses and dozens of other yard and garden products.

But the general public is not invited. Indeed, the event isn't even featured on the Convention Center's web site. (Just as well. There is no shopping.)

But Garden Variety will be there, and I will report back on what looks like it will be hot for 2011.

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Photo credit: Baltimore Sun/Amy Davis

Walking Through a Winter Windowland
 
This year the Conservatory's annual Poinsettia show tries to recreate Baltimore's historic shopping district at Howard and Lexington streets during the holiday season as a backdrop to a beautiful display of hundreds of poinsettias.

A trip to the downtown department stores like Hutzlers was a tradition for families, who would travel from outside the city to wonder at the large and fancy window displays.

Although the stores are now gone, the Conservatory hopes to rekindle some of these old memories while bringing back that magical atmosphere for a whole new generation.

The show in the Druid Hill Park conservatory runs through Jan. 2, Wednesdays through Sundays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The show is free, but a donation is appreciated.

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Photo credit: Baltimore Sun/Amy Davis

At Valley View Farms in Cockeysville

Saturday

11 am- 7 pm: Local Artist Paul DeRemigis Signing & Demonstration. Local artist Paul DeRemigis will sign his regional prints and demonstrate his work. The subject matter of his prints include skip jacks, light houses, Ocean City, M & T Bank Stadium, Camden Yards, Memorial Stadium, Rehobeth Beach, and Fells Point.

At Homestead Gardens in Davidsonville

Saturday

10-4 pm: Visit with Santa
1-3 pm: Carols with Singers Madrigale
2pm: Fresh Greens Wreath Workshop at Davidsonville location.
Decorate your own fresh wreath to adorn your front door for the season. $65 ($58.50 Garden Club) Includes supplies. Participants should bring pruners and gloves. To register call 410.798.5000

Sunday

12-4 pm: Visit with Santa
2-4 pm: Carols with Vocal Express
2 pm: Fresh Greens Wreath Workshop at Severna Park store.
Decorate your own Fresh wreath to adorn your front door for the season. $65 ($58.50 Garden Club) Includes supplies. Participants should bring pruners and gloves. To register call 410.798.5000

Continue reading "Weekend garden events" »

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Photo credit: Baltimore Sun/Susan Reimer

Bolton Hill Garden Club Holiday Greens Sale: 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Saturday; 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Sunday; Brown Memorial Park Avenue Presbyterian Church, 1316 Park Avenue (enter on Lafayette Street). For more information, contact Christian Roth via the ‘Contact Us’ link on the Garden Club’s website.

At Valley View Farms in Cockeysville

Bonsai: Pines: Saturday, 9:00 am - Pines take center stage when Martha Meehan demonstrates heavy pruning and various other techniques while working with them.

Winter Greens and Containers: Saturday, 11:00 am - Join Valley View's Marian Andelman and Pat Sherman for some ideas on how to create container evergreens and displays that will knock your stockings off just in time for holiday decorating outside.

Karla Steinbach Signing: Sunday, 1:00 pm-5:00 pm - Karla Steinbach will be here to sign Steinbach nutcrackers and smokers purchased here since her last visit in 2009. Meet Karla and be inspired by the work of six generations of German artisans now known world-wide.

Local Artist Paul DeRemigis Signing & Demonstration: Sunday, 11:00 am-7:00 pm
 

At Homestead Gardens in Davidsonville

Saturday, December 4
10am-4pm: Visit with Santa
12-2pm: Live Jazz with Rob Levit Trio

Sunday, December 5
11:20am-1:30pm: Live music with Incidental Brass
12-4pm: Visit with Santa

At Homestead Gardens in Severna Park

Friday, December 3
6pm-9pm: Ladies Night in Severna Park (click here for details and a coupon)
Live music with Project Natale

Continue reading "Weekend garden events" »

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At Homestead Gardens in Davidsonville

Saturday, 10-4 pm: Poinsettia Showcase at Homestead Growers. Free round-trip shuttles between the poinsettia growing facility and the Homestead Gardens retail store in Davidsonville.

11-1 pm: Live music with Bayfield Brass

6pm: Grand Illumination Carols with Annapolis Chorale

Sunday, 10 am-4 pm: Poinsettia Showcase at Homestead Growers. Free round-trip shuttles between the poinsettia growing facility and the Homestead Gardens retail store in Davidsonville.

12-3 pm: Live music with Project Natale

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Photo credit: Baltimore Sun/Jed Kirschbaum

At Valley View Farms in Cockeysville.

Department 56 Days
Join Us for "Department 56 Days" - a weekend of celebration. There will be demonstrations, guest speakers, drawings to win special prizes, and a signing. Select pieces and display items will be available at discounted prices. Doors open at 7am - first come, first served.

Saturday, 12:00 p.m. -- Valley View architect, builder and instructor, John Hessler, will be giving a live demonstration on how to build a Department 56 village of your very own.

Sunday, 12:00-4:00 pm
Department 56 artist Tom Bates will be here to talk about the inspiration behind Department 56 village houses and accessories. He will sign any Department 56 pieces purchased at Valley View Farms during this two-day event.

Gardening Tips for Late Fall
Saturday, 10:00 a.m. -- Carrie Engel discusses "putting the garden to bed" today. Be prepared to cover a slew of other gardening topics for Valley Views last tip session of the year.

Ornament Personalization
Every Saturday & Sunday, November 13 - Christmas
Valley View's in-house artist, Carey Wilkerson, will personalize any ornament you purchase at Valley View Farms for free. Carey will be here on the weekends to write the name of a friend, family member, or even a pet to add that special touch to your ornament.

Continue reading "Weekend garden events" »

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Bonsai: Junipers
Saturday, 9:00 a.m. -- Martha Meehan discusses the care and pruning of junipers, winterizing outdoor bonsai material and caring for tropicals in the winter.

Giant Pumpkin Seed Counting Contest
Saturday, NOON -- Valley View Farms cuts open its giant orb, "Rolling Thunder", to see how many seeds are inside. Meteorologist Tom Tasselmyer from WBAL-TV will be the master of ceremonies. The first person to guess the exact (or closest to) number of seeds will win a $300 Valley View Farms gift card. Second prize is a $200 gift card and third prize is a $100 gift card.

At Homestead Gardens in Davidsonville:

Saturday and Sunday: Open House Weekend. Get a preview of the Homestead's holiday treasures.

At the Cylburn Arboretum, Baltimore

Saturday 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Volunteer to help members of the Maryland Rose Society put the roses to sleep. Mulching, pruning and general clean-up work will be the order of the day. Gather around 9:30 in the garden. If interested, please e-mail Karen Goldstein at karen.goldstein@cylburnassociation.org.

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Photo credit: Susan Harris

My friend, fellow garden blogger and pretty-decent photographer Susan Harris had tickets for the White House Fall Garden Tour, which took place Saturday and Sunday in splendid sunlight, and she is sharing her pictures.

Susan, with your permission, I will snag one for here, to tempt Garden Variety readers to see the rest of your photos.

Susan posted more photos at her usual haunt, Garden Rant. Make sure you see those, too.

Nicely done, my friend.

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Photo credit: Baltimore Sun/Barbara Haddock Taylor

At Valley View Farms in Cockeysville.

Saturday, 1:00 pm-3:00 pm: Kathy Woods is a Raptor Rehabilatator with The Phoenix Center for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife. Meet Kathy and a real Great Horned Owl. Be sure to bring your camera.

Saturday,  11:00 am-7:00 pm and Sunday 11:00 am-7:00 pm: Local artist Paul DeRemigis will sign his regional prints and demonstrate his work. The subject matter of his prints include skip jacks, light houses, Ocean City, M & T Bank Stadium, Camden Yards, Memorial Stadium, Rehobeth Beach, and Fells Point to name a few.

At Homestead Gardens in Davidsonville.

Saturday, Oktoberfest:
12 pm: Reptile World
12-3 pm: Sparks, Raymond and McCoy
2 pm: Reptile World

Sunday, Oktoberfest
12-3 pm: Sparks, Raymond and McCoy
1 pm: Magic with Jack Julius

Continue reading "Weekend Garden Events" »

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Photo credit: Associated Press

The White House gardens will be open Saturday from 10 to 4 and Sunday from 9 to 3. Visitors can view the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden, Rose Garden, Children's Garden and the South Lawn of the White House. The Kitchen Garden will once again be accessible to tour guests.

The National Park Service will distribute the free, timed tickets at the Ellipse Visitor Pavilion located at 15th and E Streets on each tour day beginning at 8:00 a.m.

Tickets will be distributed -- one ticket per person -- on a first-come, first-served basis. If the weather is bad, the tours may be cancelled. Call 202-456-7041 to check. (Although this number didn't work for some callers last year.)

Also, during the garden tours, there will be no public tours of the White House itself.

The White House also posted a list of items not allowed on White House grounds. The list is a bit of a hoot, if you think about what is on it.

Continue reading "White House Fall Garden Tours" »

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Photo courtesy of Valley View Farms

This giant pumpkin, weighing in at a scale-busting 1,540 pounds, is on display at Valley View Farms in Cockeysville.

It is the largest pumpkin ever placed on display in the state of Maryland, and is one of the largest pumpkins ever grown anywhere in the world.

The record-setting pumpkin, as well as several other giant pumpkins, will remain on display at Valley View Farms until noon on Saturday, November 6th.

At that time, the largest pumpkin will be cut open, and its seeds will be counted. The first person to guess the correct number of seeds contained in the giant pumpkin will win a $300 Valley View Farms’ Gift Card.

Contest entries can be submitted at any time up until the seed counting begins.
 

Other weekend garden events:

Continue reading "Weekend Garden Events" »

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Saturday at Valley View Farms in Cockeysville:

Bonsai Designing, 9 a.m. Martha Meehan takes a look at how different designs are similar or distinct from one another, and how and why we choose particular styles.

Spring Bulbs with Fall Pansies, 11:00 a.m. Pansies and bulbs are wonderful companions in spring and fall gardens. Valley View's Cindi Fielder will teach us how to plant now for colorful gardens in autumn and again in spring.

The Fall Festival continues this weekend at Homestead Gardens in Davidsonville

Saturday

11-4pm: Chesapeake Woodturners demonstration
1-3pm: Boonetowne Stompers
11-2pm: YMCA Camp Letts

Sunday.

11-4pm: Chesapeake Woodturners demonstration
12-4pm: Chesapeake Cats & Dogs- rescue league
1-3pm: Boonetowne Stompers

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Photo credit: Baltimore Sun/Kenneth K. Lam

Homestead Gardens, Davidsonville, Fall Festival, weekends through Oct. 24. This weekends events include:

Saturday, 1-3pm: Bridgette Michaels children’s musician; 2pm: “Build Your Own Scarecrow” Homestead Gardens provide faces and straw, you bring old clothes to dress him. Fee $10 Garden Club $9. Pre-registration is required at customer service 410.798.5000, no walk-ups permitted. Space is limited.

Sunday, 1-3pm: Bridgette Michaels children’s musician; 2pm: “Build Your Own Scarecrow” Homestead Gardens provide faces and straw, you will bring old clothes to dress him. Fee $10 Garden Club $9. Pre-registration is required at customer service 410.798.5000, no walk-ups permitted. Space is limited.

Valley View Farms, Cockeysville, Saturday, 9 a.m. Fall Garden and Containers Designs. Also, a look at shrubs and trees to add to the landscape now. PLUS Fall Craft Fair, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Cylburn Arboretum, Baltimore, Saturday, 10 a.m. to noon. Maryland Horticultural Society, hands-on tree care seminar. Pruning, pests, diseases and when to call an arborist and what questions to ask. Reservations required. Fee $20 non-members/$10 members.

Maryland Native Plant Society will hold is annual fall conference this weekend at Chesapeake College in Wye Mills on the Eastern Shore. "Biodiversity of Maryland's Eastern Shore." Fee is $65 for non-members/$55 for members. Register by calling 410-286-2929 or on line at www.mdflora.org

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Annual Maryland Honey Harvest Festival, Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Patuxent Research Refuge in Laurel. Learn about bees and other pollinators and enjoy arts, crafts, honey tastings, candle making and refuge tours. Free.

Fall Lawn Clinic, Valley View Farms, Cockeysville, Saturday 9 a.m. Fallis the best time to seed a new lawn or repair an existing one. Scott Anderson will discuss which feterlizers, seed and weed control to use for results now and next spring.

Baltimore Conservatory, Druid Hill Park, Sunday, 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. Plants and People: Story Hour for children 6 and under: songs, a craft and stories.

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The group will examine a new nature theme each week, such as "Amazing Trees" or "Feathered Friends."

 Puppet shows, live animal encounters, nature walks, songs, and art projects are all part of the fun.

 Sign up to discover the wonders of wildlife this fall. Also look for a second session of Tag Along Time later in October.

 Time: 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. Fee: $45 members, $60 non-members

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2004 file photo by Maja Britton, NHBG

Plant sales are the order of the day this weekend.

Historic London Town and Gardens in Edgewater on the South River holds is fall plant sale Saturday from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Offerings include camellias, magnolias, a London Town grown perennial as well as seasonal plants. Master Gardeners will be on hand to assist with plant selection.

Environmental Concern's Fall Native Plant Sale begins Friday in St. Michaels, on the Eastern Shore, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and continues Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. At Environmental Concern, 201 Boundary Lane.

Carrie Engel of Valley View Farms in Cockeysville will present her "Autumn Gardening Tips," Saturday, 10 a.m.

Continue reading "Gardening events" »

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Photo credit: Baltimore Sun/Susan Reimer

This weekend was all about tomatoes.

Homestead Gardens in Davidsonville hosted its second annual Tomato Festival, with a chili cookoff and a salsa contest.

There was tomato tasting, too, and you could buy pounds and pounds of your favorites! I left with Brandywine Pink and Cherokee Purple. Even the names "match."

Meanwhile down the road, Washington Gardener magazine hosted its third annual tomato tasting competition. And the winner, by a single vote, was Lemon Boy. Sungold was second and Cherokee Purple (my fav) was third.

Continue reading "A real tomato weekend" »

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Homestead Gardens, Davidsonville: 2010 Annapolis Tomato Festival: noon - 6pm. Featuring the first annual Chesapeake Chili Cook-Off

Tickets: $10; family of 4, $25; children under 10, free

Tickets may be purchased at Homestead Gardens or call 410.798.5000 for more information.

Continue reading for a schedule of events.

Continue reading "Weekend garden events" »

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Photo credit: Baltimore Sun/Susan Reimer

Saturday, Annmarie Garden, Solomons: Are you a bay-wise gardener? 10 a.m. Learn how you can mitigate your impact on the Chesapeake Bay by using native plants, reducing lawn area and changing other gardening habits. While you are there, visit the new butterfly garden and the new art exhibits in the gallery: Green and Green, Too. Admission is Annmarie Garden is $3 for adults, $2 for seniors and $2 for children.

Sunday, Cylburn Arboretum, Baltimore: Cylburn Highlights Tour, noon and 2 p.m. Walk the grounds with a docent to discover the natural beauty and history of the arboretum.

Daily, U.S. National Arboretum, Power Plants; 8:00 am – 5:00 pm. (Adjacent to the National Herb Garden.) Walk through Power Plants to discover the wide variety of plants that offer alternative energy possibilities. This garden exhibit showcases living plants and provides educational signage about how they can serve as sustainable agriculture-based energy sources (note that during the winter, most of the crops are dormant or, if annuals, gone for the season). A scavenger hunt activity available at the information desk in the administration building will help school-aged children explore the exhibit. Free. No registration required.

Continue reading "Garden events" »

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Photo courtesy of Dorothy Wells/Baltimore City Master Gardeners

Baltimore celebrates its community gardens Saturday with a bike or bus - pick your favorite form of transportation - tour.

The Charm City Garden Tour begins at 2 p.m., and will be followed by a celebration at Duncan Street Miracle Garden, 1800 Duncan Street,  from 5 to 7 p.m.,  with food donated by four restaurants and three bands.

The Baltimore City Master Gardeners have been sponsoring this veggie garden tour for 25 years, so residents can see the transformative power of community gardens.

This year, you can bike (bring your bike or rent one) to the gardens, but you must reserve a spot by calling 410-448-5663, ext 128, in advance. The cost is $15.

If you'd like a spot on the bus for the tour, you must make a reservation by calling Dorothy Wells at 410-529-4692, or mailing Betsey Heuisler at betsheuis@aol.com. The  cost is $20. Meet at Cylburn Arboretum at 4915 Greenspring Ave. to board the bus.

Shuttles will return you to Cylburn from the Duncan Street Miracle Garden celebration.

(There is a $5 suggested donation for those just attending the party.)

What gardens are on the tour?

Continue reading "Charm City Garden Tour" »

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So, what exactly is a native plant?

Continue reading "Going native" »

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It is National Ragweed Day, the pastor announced from the pulpit. And my nose immediately started to itch.

Continue reading "AAAA-choo! National Ragweed Day" »

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Sunday, Aug. 15, Cylburn Arboretum, noon and 2 p.m.: Cylburn Highlights Tour. (This is a regular Sunday event.)

Wednesday, Aug. 18, Cylburn Arboretum, 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.: Early Evening Photography Walk.

Thursday, Aug. 19, Cylburn Arboretum, 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.: Children's Workshop: Build a cactus dish garden.

Thursday, Aug. 19, 11 a.m. Cylburn Mansion: Nature Story Hour. (This is a regular Thursday event.)

Thursday, Aug. 19, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. William Paca House, Annapolis: Summer Concert Series. Barnes-Queene Ensemble. Bring a blanket and a picnic dinner. Cash bar. No outside beverages. $10 in advance, $12 at the door.

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Maryland residents are invited to turn in their old gas-powered lawn mowers on Saturday at Camden Yards for discounted electric mowers at The Great Maryland Lawn Mower Exchange event.

Participants at the Mower trade-in event, who must register in advance, will receive up to 66 percent off a new Neuton CE 5 or CE 6 battery-powered mower for trading in their old gas-powered mower.  The Neuton CE 5 mower is normally priced at $399, and will be $135 with the trade-in.  The Neuton CE 6 is normally priced at $499 and will be $175 with the trade-in.  

Lawn mowers and other outdoor gas-powered equipment account for much of Maryland’s air pollution and impact public health.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, a conventional, gas-powered lawn mower can spew more pollution into our air in a year than a car driven more than 20,000 miles. That is why these organizations have come together to help homeowners and gardeners explore “green” gardening. 

The trade-in event will take place at Camden Yards parking lot C in Baltimore from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday. At the event, Maryland residents can drop off their old mower and pick up their electric mower at one convenient location.

Since there are only 1,000 mowers, people are asked to pre-register for the event at  www.cleanairpartners.net.

The Great Maryland Lawn Mower Exchange is sponsored by the Maryland Department of the Environment, Clean Air Partners, and Neuton Mowers.

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The annual Lotus Blossom Festival will be held Saturday at historic Mount Harmon in Earleville, MD., from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Mount Harmon is a former Tidewater plantation and now is a 200-acre nature preserve.

Visitors will be able to see the rare American Lotus in full bloom.The American Lotus (Nelumbo lutea), a relative of the water lily and the largest wildflower in the United States, is rare in Maryland and neighboring states but abundant at Mount Harmon.

There will also be local artists artisans and authors, a native plant sale, birding and nature walks, live music, food and beverages. There will also be tours of the manor house.

The festival is free for Friends of Mount Harmon and children under 5, $5 for all others.

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Irvine Nature Center, Owings Mills. Saturday, 9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.; Family Bird Watching Fun: Meet a bird of prey, enjoy a summer snack, and learn how to identify birds as you walk through the different habitats of Irvine Nature Center. Fee: $6 members, $10 non-members. Ages 5 & up with adult.

Carrie Engel of Valley View Farms will show you how to build a green-roof birdhouse Sunday on WBAL-TV in Baltimore during the 9 a.m. news segment.

Inspired by a visit to a grower producing plants for a school's green roof, and by the residents of Edenwald, the Baltimore retirement community, who have installed a partial green roof on a terrace, Carrie decided to take the green roof idea to heart and build one for feathered visitors to the garden.

Photo courtesy of Valley View Farms

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Homestead Gardens in Davidsonville hosts its annual Crapemyrtle Festival this weekend, an event designed to show the garden center's appreciation for its customers.

Homestead carries more than 25 varieties of crapemyrtles and the staff has plenty of advice on how to plant and care for them.

Make your you pick up the pink handout with lots of crapemytle information and remember, bring your "crapemyrtle dollars" for discounts. Homestead has also said it will honor any discount coupons you have from other garden centers.

Here is the weekend schedule

Friday,

8:30 a.m. Myrtle Mania Anticipation Complimentary Coffee Service.

9 a.m. Doors open for the Annual Crapemyrtle Festival.

7-9 p.m. Ladies Night.

Saturday

9 a..m. “Pest Control Q&A”  Coffee & light breakfast fare with our Garden Supply experts as they answer your pest-control questions.

10 a.m. “All about Crapemyrtles” Dr. Margaret Pooler of the National Arboretum demystifies the Crapemyrtle.

noon: Rita Calvert shares delicious tips on cooking with local produce.

2 p.m. “Successful Tree Planting” with Bartlett Tree Experts.

1-3 p.m. Live music with Annapolis Bluegrass Coalition.

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Photo credit: Baltimore Sun/Karl Merton Ferron

Butterfly Flowers: Saturday, noon to 2 p.m. Carrie Murray Nature Center, 1901 Ridgetop Road, Baltimore.

Learn the best flowers to grow if you want to attract butterflies and other pollinators to your yard or garden. Find out what plants they eat during all their life stages, and why pollinators are so important. Everyone receives a gift of seeds! Please pre-register.  No pets please.  Admission is $4/adults, $2/children 5 and under. Call 410-396-0808.

Garden and Mural Build: The Alternative Learning Center-West will be installing a garden and painting a mural Saturday, from 8:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. at the Gwynn Oak United Methodist Church at 5020 Gwynn Oak Ave., Baltimore. The students are relying on donations to complete this beautification project for the church. For more information, contact Melissa McDonald at 410-596-7052.

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Photo credit: Baltimore Sun/Amy Davis

Valley View Farms, Cockeysville

Saturday, 9 a.m. Water Garden Installation: Learn to install your own water garden, enhancing your home landscape while creating a delightful place to relax with Valley View's Water Gardens Manager Tim McQuaid.

Saturday, 10 a.m.; Summer Gardening Tips: The staff will go over weed control, good watering practices and other summertime concerns and answer all of your questions.

Saturday, 11 a.m.; Make-and-Take a Culinary Herb Garden: Joann Weber, Valley View's herb specialist, will assist gardeners in planting a themed herb garden-- Salsa Garden, The Herbs of Tuscany, A Tea Lover’s Garden and several others. There will be a materials fee.

A Perennial Affair: Homestead Gardens, Davidsonville

Saturday, 10am: “Kids Club: Aquatic Life Up Close” with Water Gardening Specialist Dave Kemon (Fee: $10, which includes supplies for a frog planter)

10 am: “Grasses for Sun and Shade” with Master Gardener Lisa Winters

12 pm: “Attracting Birds, Butterflies, and Beneficials” with radio gardening guru Mike McGrath

2 p.m.: “Perennial Trends in your Garden” with John Peter Thompson of Bay Friendly Plants

Sunday, 10 a.m.: Early Bird Stepables Demonstration: Enjoy coffee & light breakfast fare while making a delightful container garden filled with Stepables plants to take home. Fee is $50 for all materials / $45 Garden Club members.

12 p.m.: Native Options for your Landscape with Christopher Puttock from Chesapeake Natives

2 p.m.: Planting, Dividing, and Basic Perennial Care with Homestead Gardens Horticulturist Gene Sumi

Continue reading "Weekend garden events" »

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Our friends over at Washington Gardener magazine and blog are hosting a plant swap on Saturday, June 19, and we think it is a brilliant idea!

We're telling you early so you can pot up the plants you want to swap now so they have time to settle in and a better chance at successful transplanting.

The plant swap will begin promptly at 10 a.m. at the H Street Farmers Market at H & 8th -- 624 H Street NE near Union Station -- and should only last an hour.

Hostess Kathy Jentz, founder of Washington Gardener, has a list of instructions that will help you learn as much as you need to know about the plants you acquire. And she is planning to turn this event into quite the garden social hour!

This is a great way to expand your garden or find new varieties. And its free!

Photo credit: Baltimore Sun/Barbara Haddock Taylor

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Sunday is the day for the Columbia Home Tour in Howard County, and ticket holders will tour five distinctive homes in the first four villages constructed in the planned community.

They include a renovated townhouse on the water in Wilde Lake; a contemporary in Harper's Choice; a "green" home in Oakland Mills and a renovated patio home and a two-story brick traditional, both in Long Reach.

The tour begins at the Stonehouse at 8775 Cloudleap Ct. and the homes on the self-guided tour will be open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday

Tickets are $20 each through the Long Reach Community Association. Call 410-730-8113.

All proceeds benefit One Month's Rent Initiative, which helps those who are struggling to find housing.

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This weekend is the 10th anniverary of the Hammond-Harwood House Secret Garden Tour in Annapolis.

More than a dozen gardens will be open from 1 to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, including the historic museum house gardens of the Hammond-Harwood House, for which this tour is a benefit.

The tour begins at the Hammond-Harwood House, a Palladian mansion built in 1774 described as the jewel of Annapolis, with the first floor on view as well as the gardens.

Continue reading "Annapolis Secret Garden Tour" »

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The 23rd annual Baltimore Herb Festival is Saturday in Leakin Park. You, and your wagon, are welcome!

What sets this event apart from similiar festivals, ones that sell jewelry, clothing and just about anything else,  this festival is about herbs and only herbs!

Lectures include: 11 a.m. on edible plants; noon on dill, named "herb of the year;"  1 p.m. on medicinal herbs and 2 p.m. on the Sacred Hopi Labyrinth.

Admission is $5. The festival runs form 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., rain or sine.

There will be music, train rides, an herbal lunch, vendors and demonstrations.

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At Valley View Farms in Cockeysville:

Saturday, 11 a.m.: David Culp’s Favorite Perennials 2010. David Culp of Sunny Border Nursery returns to share his passion and knowledge about perennials he has grown both in his own extensive gardens and at the nursery. Seating will be limited to 50 for the seminar. Please call the store to reserve a seat (410) 527-0700.

And...

Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Azalea sale. Brookeside Gardens, Wheaton. 301-788-3298.

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This weekend's garden events:

The Baltimore Symphony Associates Designer Show House opens Saturday. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. Check out the four gardens as well as the 22 rooms in the house.

Two groups that use Baltimore County’s Cromwell Valley Park as their base – the Cromwell Valley CSA (Community-Supported Agriculture) and Therapeutic Alternatives of Maryland (TALMAR) will hold a plant sale on Saturday and Sunday. CVCSA will be offering a selection of organic vegetable seedlings, while TALMAR will have annuals and perennials, as well as some unusual herbs (including chocolate basil). The sale is set for 9 a.m.-3 p.m. both days at the park’s Sherwood Barn. The park entrance is at 2002 Cromwell Bridge Rd. Information:  410-887-2503 or cromwellvalleypark.org.

Cylburn Arboretum celebrates its 42nd annual Cylburn Market day Saturday. A host of garden clubs, nurseries and other green thumbs will be selling all manner of plants,  including some native tree species cultivated by the Baltimore City Forestry Board. While you’re there, be sure to check out the new 10,000-square-foot visitor’s center, the most visible of the $6 million in improvements that were unveiled at Cylburn’s grand re-opening last week. The arboretum is at 4915 Greenspring Ave. Hours are 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Information: 410-367-2217 or cylburnassociation.org.

The Baltimore African Violet Club will hold a show and sale at The Shops at Kenilworth in Towson Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Hundreds of African violets and other exotic house plants will be offered for sale. Experienced growers will be there to answer questions. Free. Call 301-854-2021 for more information.

The William Paca Garden plant sale will take place on Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday, 12-4 p.m. at the historic home in Annapolis. Volunteers raise hundreds of perennials, annuals, woody plants, and vines in the garden, both heirlooms and brand new introductions. Staff and volunteers are on hand to help you select the right plant for every corner of your garden. Enter at 1 Martin Street. To see the Plant Sale Catalogue, click here. Free admission.

The Brookside Gardens Chapter of the Azalea Society will hold an azalea sale Saturday from 1 .m. to noon at Tilden Middle School in Rockville. Free. Experts will be on hand to answer your questions.

It is National Public Gardens Day on Friday and the U.S. Botanic Gardens has an exhibit celebrating public gardens and their role in environmental stewardship. There will be free sunflower seed packets for visitors and a sneak peak at the Garden's new summer exhibit on potatoes: "Spuds Unearthed." Free, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Continue reading "Weekend Garden Events" »

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For more than half a century, homeowners and storeowners in Historic Annapolis have decorated their doors on May Day with gorgeous and fanciful flower baskets.

Saturday marks the 55th year for this tradition, and The Garden Club of Olde Annapolis Town will again choose the winners.

(For a look at last year's baskets, check out my Flickr photos.)

Dried and artificial flowers are strickly forbidden. And the baskets have to be on display by 10 a.m. so the ladies in hats can see them. Businesses can arrange the flowers in containers that reflect their business, but homeowners must use baskets.

Garden flowers and handmade baskets are given special consideration. And children under 12 can enter their own baskets and receive a pink ribbon and a lollipop.

The adult winners will be invited to the annual May Day Tea.

Continue reading "May Day in Annapolis" »

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Homestead Gardens' 5th Annual Fundraiser for IMSFF       

For the fifth consecutive year, Homestead Gardens is conducting a fundraiser to benefit the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund.

The event will be held this weekend at the Davidsonville location and next Saturday at the new Severna Park store at 522 Ritchie Highway.

Tickets will be sold at $5/each or 5 for $20 for a chance to win a $100 gift certificate to Homestead Gardens and local restaurants.

In addition to raffling of gift certificates from Homestead Gardens and local restaurants, a great cookbook will be available for $10, just in time for Mother’s Day.

The sale of this cookbook, “Family Cookbook – Recipes from Marines, Families and Friends”, has already raised $18,800 for the IMSFF.

For more information call Gladys Rodriguez at 443-607-1946 or 410-212-9541

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At Valley View Farms in Cockeysville:

Thursday, April 22, 7 p.m.: EVENING INTRO SERIES: Introduction to Herb Gardening. The best cooks use the freshest ingredients; many grow their own herbs. VVF's Joann Weber will teach the basics of growing a wide variety of culinary delights.

Saturday, April 24, 9 a.m.: Rose Care. Brad Yoder of Star Roses and Stephanie Darnell of Bayer will discuss growing and caring for roses. Questions about feeding, pruning, and insect and disease control will all be answered during today’s session.

Saturday, April 24, 11 a.m.: Vegetable Gardening for Kids. What better way to introduce kids to nutrition and good eating habits than to let them grow their own? Bring kids of all ages to get them started in the garden!

Photo credit: Baltimore Sun/Gene Sweeney

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Sugarloaf returns to Baltimore's Timonium Fairgrounds this weekend (Friday and Saturday, 10-6. Sunday, 10-5) as part of a tour of cities that continues after more than 30 years.

I still have items I purchased from Sugarloaf in the earliest days of the festival: a hand-painted fireplace screen that resembles a row of townhouses and a very large basket where I keep my blankets!

Continue reading "Sugarloaf Craft Festival returns to Baltimore" »

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Here's a line-up of some of the garden events this weekend:

Tonight and this weekend  at Valley View Farms in Cockeysville:

Thursday evening intro series: Introduction to Vegetable Gardening, 7 p.m. This quick and concise course will teach participants the basics of growing vegetables in Maryland gardens. The class will provide all the resources you need to get a jump start on the kitchen garden.

Saturday at 9 a.m.: How to Grow Tomatoes, Peppers and Other Popular Vegetable Plants. Tomatoes and peppers rank as America’s favorite vegetable plants. Learn to grow them and others successfully during today’s class. We'll discuss favorite varieties to help you decide which are best for your garden.

Saturday, 11 a.m. New Annuals, Perennials and Tropicals for 2010. What’s new? How about new colors of our old favorites, new disease-resistant perennials, longer-blooming tropicals and great choices for hanging baskets and containers? We’ll discuss all of the above in today’s seminar.

At Homestead Gardens this weekend:

Homestead Gardens opens its second location in Severna Park Saturday. The new store is located at 522 Ritchie Highway and will offer the same variety as offered at the flagship store in Davidsonville.

Meanwhile, at the Davidsonville location, Homestead Gardens hosts a radio broadcast Saturday from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. with Andre Viette of Viette's Nurseries, followed by a seminar at 1 p.m.

At the Irvine Nature Center in Owings Mills this weekend:

Friday, 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Spring Night Hike and Campfire. We’ll take a night hike to look for nocturnal animals, listen for frogs calling, and test our senses in the darkness. We’ll end the hike with a campfire and s’mores. Fee: $8 members, $12 non-members. Ages 7 &  up (with adult). Registration deadline: Thursday.

Saturday: 11 a.m. to noon. Grow More in Less Space. Are you short on space? Come learn why carrots love tomatoes and other simple garden techniques that will save you space, time, energy, and money! Topics include square foot gardening, companion crops, and self watering containers. Make your own self-watering container to take home, all supplies included. Fee: $6 members, $10 non-members

Painting Four Seasons in the William Paca Garden, a secluded reconstructed 18th-century garden in Annapolis, continues Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The landscape painting workshop is conducted by Jean Brinton Jaecks, landscape and garden watercolorist. All levels welcome. $60. (This class is full, but now is the time to register for classes in August and October.)

The U.S. National Aboretum is having a moving sale Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Surplus garden-related books and art will be available as the staff prepares for a major renovation. In addition, some of the koi population in the pool will be for sale as the staff thins its numbers. Experts will be on hand. Free admission.  

Photo credit: Baltimore Sun/Doug Kapustin

Continue reading "This weekend's gardening events" »

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On Friday, the Baltimore Urban Agricultural Task Force will host its second annual Urb Ag Gala from 7 to 10 p.m. at 2640 St. Paul St., with local food, live music, art and storytelling, as well as gardening information and resources.   

The Gala will enable those interested in the "growing" movement to become more involved, it will bring growers and eaters together for the new season, and emphasize the impact of locally grown food on families, communities and the planet.

The Baltimore Urban Agricultural Task Force is a coalition of farmers, students, professionals, artists, parents, and concerned citizens organized around locally produced food. The Task Force is finding ways to strengthen communities in Baltimore through agricultural projects and environmental education.

Interested in volunteering for this event? Please email Thao at thaowowwow@gmail.com

A $10 donation is being requested.

Urb Ag Gala will be a waste neutral event.

Contact: urbaggala@gmail.com

http://baltimoreurbanag.org/content/urb-ag-gala 

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Cue Kool & The Gang.

It's Ladies Night tonight (Friday, March 19) at Homestead Gardens in Davidsonville where the spring garden show concludes this weekend. From 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., participants will receive a special one-night-only discount coupon of 25 percent off, and a complimentary strawberry plant in a 4-inch pot will be waiting for the first 250 people!

Seminars continue Saturday and Sunday.

Saturday, 10am: Container Workshop: “Make and Take” Salad Container ($30) Class size is limited.

noon: New Perennials: Author of “The All-In-One Garden” and Editor in Chief of American Horticultural Society’s Encyclopedia of Perennials, Graham Rice introduces you to new perennials from around the world to add year-round interest to your garden.

2pm: Color Combinations For your Garden: Color coordination goes beyond decorating your home. American Horticultural Society President Emeritus Katy Moss Warner explains the intricacies of combining colors for both dramatic flair and subtle effects.

Sunday, noon: Color Combinations for your Garden with Katy Moss Warner
Color coordination goes beyond decorating your home. American Horticultural Society President Emeritus Katy Moss Warner explains the intricacies of combining colors for both dramatic flair and subtle effects.

1pm: Book-signing with Graham Rice at the American Horticultural Society Information Table

2pm: Bed Preparation with Gene Sumi
Spring is here, time to dig in! Not so fast, says garden expert Gene Sumi. Take the time to prepare the bed around your yard for color and edibles to produce the best results!

3:15 pm: New Perennials with Graham Rice
Author of “The All-In-One Garden” and Editor in Chief of American Horticultural Society’s Encyclopedia of Perennials, Graham Rice introduces you to new perennials from around the world to add year-round interest to your garden.

Continue reading "Weekend Garden Events" »

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The blooming of the cherry trees around the Tidal Basin in Washington has come to symbolize the official beginning of spring in this region.

The exact day the trees, a gift from Japan in 1912, will explode into their pink and white blooms depends on the whims of Mother Nature. But now you can keep an eye on things yourself.

The National Park Service has a Web site called "Bloom Watch," and closer to the date the blossoms are expected to emerge, there will be web cam coverage of the trees.

According to the site, the official cherry blossom blooming period begins when 20 percent of the blossoms are open and ends when the petals fall and the leaves appear. The spectacle can last as long as 14 days, peaking when 70 percent of the bossoms are open.

Photo credit: Associated Press

Continue reading "Cherry Blossom time in Washington, D.C." »

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Photo credit: Baltimore Sun/Algerina Perna

Spring garden seminars continue this weekend at Valley View Farms in Cockeysville.

Saturday, 9 a.m., Growing Lettuces and Salad Greens: Maryland Master Gardeners have been promoting their "Salad Table" concept, a fun and unique way to grow lettuces in a small, easy-to-use space. A demonstration on how to make your own.

10 a.m., Garden Tips for Early Spring: Carrie Engel addresses the question “What should we be doing in our gardens now?”

11 a.m., The Earthbox and Raised Beds for Vegetable Gardening: Earthboxes and raised beds can make gardening easier in tough-to-plant places. Learn how to plant, water and fertilize using these above-ground gardens.

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Baltimore Home & Garden Show, Maryland State Fairgrounds, Timonium. Saturday, 10-9, Sunday 1-6.

Maryland Grow It, Eat It Program

Basic Vegetable Gardening, Saturday, 2-4 p.m., Hereford Library, 16940 York Road.

Basic Vegetable Gardening, Saturday, 1-3 p.m., Pikesville Library, 1301 Reisterstown Road.

Growing vegetables in an Urban Setting, Sunday, 2:30 p.m. Home & Garden Show, Green Thumb Theater, Maryland State Fairgrounds.

Valley View Farms, Cockeysville

Bonsai: Suiseki, Saturday, 9 a.m.; Guest host Randy Smith will introduce Suiseki, the collection and displaying of stones selected for their shape, balance, simplicity and tranquility. Stones of great beauty are prized and set on stands or in Suiban to suggest distant mountains, soaring cliffs and other land masses.

Seed Starting: Growing Vegetable and Flower Transplants, Saturday, 11 a.m. Learn how to grow transplants successfully to incorporate in the garden later this season. VVF's Carrie Engel will demonstrate with tomatoes, peppers and other vegetables.

Irvine Nature Center, Owings Mills

Family Movie Night, "Hoot", Saturday 6-8 p.m. Free. 

Animal Tales, Sunday, 1-2 p.m., Animal stories come to life with puppets and live animal encounters. All ages. Fee: $6 members, non-members $10

Continue reading "Weekend garden events" »

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Here's a look at the garden happenings this weekend.

Me? I will be at the Philadelphia Flower Show Saturday for the media preview (try not to be bitter) and at the Pennsylvania Garden Expo in Harrisburg Sunday. I will be posting about both here on Garden Variety, and putting up pictures, too

Valley View Farms, Cockeysville

Growing Fruits and Berries, Saturday, 9:00 a.m.: Add fruits and berries to your kitchen garden. Terry Freed of Eastern Shore Nurseries shares his expertise about growing blueberries, apples, pears, peaches, blackberries and more.

Q & A with a Certified Tree Expert, Saturday, 11 a.m. Brian Rhoten of Bartlett Tree Experts returns this year to field frequently asked questions about trees in your landscape.

Homestead Gardens in Davidsonville.

How to Make  a Hypertufa Planter ($45)  Saturday, at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.  Build fascinating, stone-like containers that look hundreds of years old in a style reminiscent of a Victorian garden.  They’re lightweight and provide great drainage.

Spring-Blooming Trees and Shrubs  ($5) Sunday, at noon.  Lisa Winters will show you the prettiest spring blooming trees and shrubs and reveal the best way to incorporate them into your landscape.

Opening and Maintaining your Pond ($5). Sunday at 2 p.m.  Watergardening specialist David Kemon will answer all of your questions to help you to get your pond ready for spring.

Photo credit: Baltimore Sun/Doug Kapustin

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The snowstorms of the past couple of weeks may mean schedule changes for weekend garden events. As always, it is best to check before you go!

At Homestead Gardens in Davidsonville. Call for 410-798-500 to register

Gene’s Tip: Gardening with Organics ($5)  Saturday, 10 a.m. Gene Sumi talks about the best way to achieve great results in the garden without the use of chemicals.

Practical and Creative Uses for Groundcovers ($5) Saturday, noon.  Shake things up in your yard with groundcovers from Stepables.

Yoga: Back Care for the Avid Gardener ($15). Saturday 2 p.m. Learn practical strengthening and stretching poses to generate a strong, dependable back for gardening chores.  Wear comfortable clothing and bring a yoga mat.

Spring Bulbs ($5) Sunday, noon.  Betsy Winters explains bulb care.

Flower Arranging 101 ($5) Sunday, 2 p.m.  Floral design experts show how to add the finishing touch to your home or event by creating your own fresh floral decor with easy-to-find supplies. 

At Valley View Farms in Cockeysville.

How to Grow Fresh Air! Saturday, 9 a.m., Houseplants are nature’s best air filters for the indoors. Carrie Engel will talk about the many benefits of houseplants and discuss easy tips to keep them healthy and growing.

Easy Terrarium Gardens. Saturday 11 a.m., Plant specialists will help you create a terrarium that requires minimal care. Participants will receive a glass vessel, charcoal, potting soil, moss and plants for each project. Cost: $25.00

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The garden seminar season is underway, even if the gardening season hasn't started yet. 

At Homestead Gardens in Davidsonville this weekend:

Saturday, 10 a.m., Gene’s Tips: common problems and pests. Gene Sumi teaches how to learn from other gardeners’ mistakes to catch disease and pests before they become a problem. Fee: $5

Saturday, noon, Caring for fruit trees and ornamentals. As the mainstay of your garden, prudent tree care is a must. Homestead takes you through the basics of maintaining their health. Fee: $5.

Saturday, 2 p.m., Styling your bonsai. Learn how to tell a story through stylizing your bonsai tree from Martha Meehan, owner of Martha’s Miniatures. Fee: $5

Sunday, noon and 2 p.m., Herb wreath. Learn to create a beautiful and functional herb wreath that will look stunning in any kitchen. You will take your fresh-herb wreath home to dry. Bring your scissors. Fee: $30

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Spring must be right around the corner because the list of weekend gardening seminars is growing longer!

Here's what's up this weekend in the Baltimore area.

Baltimore Green Forum: Sunday, 4:30 to 6:30. Introduction to Permaculture Design with Karen Stupski and Patty Ceglia. At the Maryland Presbyterian Church, Providence Road, Towson. Free, but a donation to the church is appreciated.

 At Homestead Gardens in Davidsonville:

• Saturday at 10 a.m., Gene’s Tips on Gardening Tools.  Homestead Education Coordinator Gene Sumi shows his picks for the top garden tools. (The ones at right are too old to be among them!)
• Saturday at noon,  Composting.  Dr. Frank Gouin of the University of Maryland, a revered expert in composting, talks about the simple process of transforming  kitchen scraps and yard waste into “black gold”.
• Saturday at 2 p.m.,  Planting for Wildlife.  Master Gardener Lisa Winters shows how to bring nature home by selecting the right plants for the backyard.
• Sunday at noon, Cool Weather Vegetables.  Annuals Manager Kerry Kelley introduces great cool-weather crops, including fresh greens, snap peas, and cauliflower.
• Sunday at 2 p.m., Cold Weather Containers.  Learn how to plant a stunning container for pizzazz in even the bleakest winter landscape.

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Acclaimed horticulturist Allan Armitage will be speaking at The Perennial Farm & Manor View Farm in Cockeysville Saturday on native plants for the North American gardener.

The 11th Annual Education Seminar will take place at the Valley Mansion from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m., and includes presentations by Perennial Farm and Manor View experts, Armitage will talk about how plants got their names as well as about plants that perform well in the Mid-Atlantic region.

The fee for the seminar is $75 and includes lunch. (A $20 late fee is now in effect as well).

For more information, phone 410-771-4700

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Photo of "Apple Blossom" amaryllis courtesy of Cylburn Arboretum

Baltimore's Cylburn Arboretum is holding its holiday plant sale this weekend.

Greens, amaryllis and paperwhites will be on sale from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

For more information, call the Cylburn manion house at 4915 Greenspring Ave. at 
410-367-2217

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