National Public Gardens Day is May 6th - Free admission to some local public gardens

If you are looking for a great way to spend quality time with your mother for Mother's Day, consider taking mom for a walk through one of our great National Public Gardens. Tomorrow, many of them are offering free admission!

May 6, 2011, is  National Public Gardens Day -   a national day of celebration to raise awareness of America’s public gardens and their important role in promoting environmental stewardship and awareness, plant and water conservation, and education in communities nationwide. Free admission to many participating gardens (including the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, the Norfolk Botanical Garden, and the Smithsonia Gardens) is available through an offer at Better Homes and Gardens.

The National Public Gardens Day website lists these things that you can learn from  public gardens. 

Water Conservation – Public gardens utilize efficient watering practices and have industry insight on responsible irrigation systems. Homeowners can learn how to irrigate their own gardens by exploring and consulting with their local public garden.

Native and Adaptable Plants – Choosing native plants or plants that have adapted to a local environment can ensure a garden will be healthy and require less water. Public gardens have huge collections of native and adaptable plants that homeowners can be assured will work in their own gardens.

Landscape Design – Homeowners can find sources of inspiration in botanic gardens from the design of gardens, the types of plants used in particular environments, the selection of plants that do well in particular geographical locations, and the way gardens are displayed, coordinated, and arranged. Landscaping at public gardens can demonstrate what plants bloom at similar times, what arrangements look well together, and how gardens can be beautifully displayed.

Geographical Considerations – Different plants are healthier in different geographical regions and it is difficult to know before purchasing at a nursery, what plants will do well in a homeowner’s garden. Public gardens put on display a broad selection of plants that succeed in a homeowner’s region. Knowing that a plant, tree, or flower grows well in a public garden can assist consumers on knowing what will grow well in their own gardens.

Seasonal Considerations – Public gardens have a selection of plants that are perfect for a variety of seasons. Many plants can still thrive in colder and drier seasons. Additionally, blooms can happen year round if the appropriate types of plants or trees are selected. Keeping a homeowner’s garden beautiful all year can be accomplished by seeing how public gardens arrange their own collection.

Gardening Methods – Public gardens have staff dedicated to botany and are also home to specialists that understand a particular geographical region very well. Homeowners can access these industry experts at their local public garden and receive advise on gardening techniques for plants they have in their own gardens.

Publications – Public gardens have publications available to visitors and members that provide ample resources on gardening and botany. The average consumer can find a wealth of knowledge in member publications and, in addition, often have access to libraries and bookstores within the public gardens as well.

Plants and Supplies – Public gardens will often sell plants, flowers and trees to garden members during annual festivals, providing top quality additions to homeowner’s gardens. With the sale comes professional experience and advice of the sort that cannot be found in nurseries or hardware stores.

There are many great public gardens in the Washington DC area, including the U.S. Botanic Garden, the U.S. National Arboretum and the Smithsonian's National Zoological Park. You can find others from the  American Public Gardens Association website.

Warblers and Wildflowers Along the Patuxent, May 7th

What: Warblers and Wildflowers Walk Along the Patuxent

When: Saturday, May 7th, starting at 8am (for warbler walk) and 10:30 am (for wildflower walk)

Join Howard County Bird Club and Maryland Native Plant Society to explore warblers and wildflowers and other native plants in one of the prettiest areas along the Patuxent, Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission’s Pig Tail Recreation Area.


From 8 a.m. to 10 a.m., Jeff Culler will be conducting the warbler hike. Last year, visitors saw 38 species. From 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., Joe Metzger of Maryland Native Plant Society will be conducting the wildflower tour.

Pig Tail is noted as one of the best spots to see rare wildflowers.

Admission free. Meet at the parking lot at 5600 Green Bridge Road, Dayton, MD.

For more information, call Kim Knox at WSSC. Her phone number is 301-206-8233.

This Mother's Day, plant some memories

My mother loved gardening. So when Mother’s Day rolled around, I wouldn't pick up the phone and dial the local florist. I’d head out to a nursery and buy a new rose bush or a flat of annuals and head over to mom’s house to help her plant them.

No matter what the occasion, if you asked my mom what she wanted most for the holiday, it wasn't anything material. “I’d love to see you,” she’d say.

 What she wanted most was our time and our company. Spending time with her children was always my mother’s greatest pleasure.

 Don’t get me wrong. She loved getting flowers from out of state relatives. She would often have bouquets in her home from her sisters or my out of town siblings.

But for me, who always lived within driving distance of my mother, ordering her a cut bouquet to be delivered by someone else would seem as impersonal as having a Thanksgiving dinner delivered for her to sit and eat alone.

So I’d head to her house and borrow a pair of her gardening gloves and we’d go outside together and plant some memories. We’d share the time planning and digging and planting and for weeks or months or years (depending on the plants) those were always “our” plants. She would call me to rave about the beautiful blooms or we could sit and idly weed together on one of our weekly visits.

I have a lot of memories of my mother that are all wrapped up in gardening.

One of the earliest is when I was a very young child and had picked a bouquet of “wildflowers” and taken them to her when she was still in bed on Mother’s Day. My mother was always highly allergic, and my plant choices had her sneezing before she even got out of bed that day.

Another was when I went to pick her up from the airport after her own mother died. She came off the plane after grandma’s funeral holding a large plastic bag of coleus cuttings from grandma’s garden. "I thought it would help us to keep her alive in our thoughts,” she said.

The truth is that my mother is probably never far from my thoughts when I am in a garden (and its not just because I am usually wearing a pair of her old and well-used gardening gloves). Mom loved nature and gardening and she loved sharing that beauty with others, especially her kids. In fact, when I am outside digging in the dirt and idly weeding my flower-beds, I often think how lucky I am that I “inherited” that hobby from her.

So this mother’s day, before you drop a card in the mail or speed-dial a florist, think of what mom really wants. She really wants some of your time. Whether it’s a nice long call or a personal visit, take the time to plant some memories. Some day, on some future mother’s day, you’ll be glad you did.

May 2, 2011 - A day for pride and reflection

I was sitting peacefully, curled up on my sofa last night when the interruption about “breaking news” came on TV. The president was getting ready to make an announcement that affected National Security. My heart beat and stress levels immediately rose.

For over an hour, I watched and waited as the newsmen and women speculated about what the announcement would be. I looked over at my husband, quietly dozing in his recliner, and wondered if our lives and world were about to change.

When President Obama finally appeared and made his brief announcement, I cried. I wasn’t entirely sure whether they were tears of relief, pride or sorrow. I think they were a combination of all three.

My emotions were still a bit raw this morning and I knew the best place for me was in my garden. My garden has always been a great place for me to get in touch with my emotions. And so early this morning, that is where I went.

After raising the flag on the flagpole that we installed in our yard soon after September, 11, 2001, I took time to be with my emotions.

This is what I felt:

Gratitude: for the many blessings, I have in my life. Health, happiness, friends and family to love.

Admiration: for the people that have helped, and continue to help, protect those blessings.

Respect: for my country.

Dedication: to my beliefs and to my own actions, both large and small, to help make our world a better place.

Emotional: certainly no explanation needed.

Necessary: We all play a role in the future of our country and the future of our planet. We vote, we fight, we love, we heal, we nurture. The only action that doesn’t have a result is inaction.

As I stood and watched the flag waving in the breeze over our property, I saw an American bald eagle soaring, way, way, high overhead. His white head and tail were difficult to see, but I knew that was what he was.

And I knew it was time to go inside. I have work to do, people to call, letters to write. And I feel more inspired than ever to help do my part.

Friends with benefits: native + drought tolerant, part II

There are many ways to save water in the landscape, such as when we water (morning is best), how we water (hand watering and drip irrigation), and adding mulch and rain barrels.

But another great way to save water is by installing waterwise or drought tolerant plants. Drought tolerant plants are plants which are more likely to be able to withstand times of little rain or when watering restrictions require us to cut back on our regular watering routines.
  

                     How do you conserve water in your landscape?

Water in morning/evening
Automatic/Timed sprinkler
Hand watering
Use drought tolerant plants
Install rain barrels

View Results

A few days ago, I posted a list of drought tolerant native trees and shrubs for the Metro DC area. Today I am adding a list of drought tolerant native perennials, grasses and vines.

These lists are by no means complete, but will give you a sampling of choices for an eco-friendly, drought tolerant landscape.

If some of your favorites are missing from these lists, feel free to suggest them. I'll be happy to add them after I verify that they are considered drought tolerant.

Native Plant Sale - May 14 & 15

Hyattsville Elementary School PTA's 2nd Annual

Native Plant Sale

When: Saturday May 14, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday May 15, 8 a.m. to 2 pm (Rain or Shine)

Where: Hyattsville Elementary School, 5311 43rd Avenue, Hyattsville, MD 20781

Details: For pictures and information on available plants and plant list updates, visit their website at www.nativeplantsale.org. Plugs & 1 Gallon pots Available. Prices $3—$15 per plant.

Please bring bags or boxes to carry away what you buy. If you’re interested purchasing large quantities or if you have questions, please contact Christine Williams at ecckwilliams@verizon.net.

Why Use Native Plants?

Native or indigenous plants…

• Naturally occur in the area they evolved
• Are adapted to local soil, rainfall, and temperature conditions
• Have developed natural defenses to many insects and diseases
• Grow with minimal use of water, fertilizers, and pesticides (which is good for our local waterways and the Bay)
• Provide food and habitat for local wildlife species (like butterflies!)
• Are fun and beautiful!

  Some of the plants that will likely be available—

• Allegheny Blackberry
• American Holly
• Arrowwood Viburnum
• Black Cherry
• Black-eyed Susan
• Blackhaw Viburnum
• Blue False Indigo
• Blue Flag Iris
• Blue Vervain
• Butterfly Weed
• Buttonbush
• Cardinal Flower
• Chokecherry
• Cinnamon Fern
• Dense Blazing Star
• Eastern Redbud
• Flowering Dogwood
• Foxglove Beard-tongue
• Highbush Blueberry
• Inkberry
• Ironweed
• Lance-leaved Coreopsis
• New England Aster
• Orange Coneflower
• Ox Eye Daisy
• Purple Coneflower
• Red Twigged Dogwood
• Redosier Dogwood
• Sensitive Fern
• Smooth Blue Aster
• Spice Bush
• Spotted Bee Balm
• Spotted Joe-Pye Weed
• Sweet Viburnum
• Sweetbay Magnolia
• Switch Grass
• Wild Bergamot
• Winterberry
• Witch Hazel
• Wood Geranium
• And more!

Friends with benefits: native + drought tolerant = good friends for the garden

I've done a lot of posts about native plants and have even listed some favorite native plants of local plant experts. Some of our readers have asked for MORE and I am happy to oblige.

So here is the first in a series of lists of Native plants that are ALSO drought tolerant, with live links, so you can view photos and care requirements of all plants.

Beneficial, drought tolerant native plants for the Metro DC area

I have also listed additional benefits of these plants such as whether they provide value for birds, butterflies or humans, and whether they have beautiful and/or fragrant flowers.

As you can imagine, this list took quite a bit of time to pull together, so please let me know if you find it useful and whether you would like to see more.

I've started another list that includes perennials, vines and grasses so be sure and subscribe to this blog to learn more about the great benefits of native plants!

National Herb Day Celebration - May 7th

There is nothing quite like growing herbs in your home garden!

They add spice to your cooking, aromas to your garden walks and (if you want to share) are host plants for visiting butterflies. But many herbs also provide wonderful health and beauty benefits.

The benefits of herbs are so diverse that since 2006, a special day has been set aside  to raise public awareness about them.

The first HerbDay was held on Saturday, October 14, 2006. But due to requests from herb lovers all over the country, HerbDay was officially moved to the spring since  more people in more parts of the country have a larger variety of herbs growing at this time of year than do in fall.

For gardeners who would like to learn more about the wonders of herbs, plan on  attending  Celebrate Herbs at the U.S. Botanic Garden Conservatory,   100 Maryland Ave., SW, Washington, DC, on May 7th from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm.

Discover the significance of herbs in our lives and the many ways herbs can be used safely and creatively for health, beauty and culinary enjoyment. Enjoy demonstrations, activities, discussions and displays. You won't want to miss this amazing opportunity to learn more about herbs!

If you would like to purchase some herbs before the HerbDay event, the Potomac Unit of the Herb Society of America will be having their annual plant sale on April 29-30th in conjunction with the Friends of the National Arboretum Garden Fair.

FONA Garden Fair & Plant Sale - April 29th & 30th

The Friends of the National Arboretum will be holding a plant sale in conjunction with their garden fair this weekend, Friday, April 29 and Saturday, April 30, remainders (if any) sold Sunday, May 1. The event will be held at the US National Arboretum, 3501 New York Ave NE, off Bladensburg Rd.

This annual event from the Friends of the National Arboretum is a long-standing favorite among serious and weekend gardeners alike – with affordable prices and the widest range of plants and vendors of any gardening event in Washington, D.C. Buy new, rare and hard-to-find plants, with offerings from the finest specialty nurseries in the region and more local plant societies than ever before. A great opportunity to get advice from National Arboretum horticulturists, FONA master gardeners, landscape designers and other local experts. Also fun and educational activities for children, music performances, food vendors, and garden accessories.

The fair coincides with the Arboretum's spectacular display of more than 10,000 azaleas, so bring your friends, bring the family, and make a day of it!

HOURS: "Members Only" on Friday, April 29 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (but you can join at the door or in advance at www.fona.org.)

Open to the public on Friday, April 29 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., and on Saturday, April 30 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Any remainders will be sold Sunday, May 1 from 9a.m. to 12 noon.

More information at http://www.fona.org/.

Landscaping for Water Conservation - April 27th

What:  Landscaping for Water Conservation: Xeriscape! – presented by Kimberly Knox

 

When:  Wednesday, April 27 · 7:30pm – 10:30pm

 

Where:  James Duckworth Regional Center, 11201 Evans Trail, Beltsville. MD

Why: Why waterwise landscapes help protect the environment

 

An American family of four can use 400 gallons of water per day, and about 30 percent of that is devoted to outdoor uses. More than half of that outdoor water is used for watering lawns and gardens. Nationwide, landscape irrigation is estimated to account for almost one-third of all residential water use, totaling more than 7 billion gallons per day. As populations increase, demand on our water resources will grow. Conserving water will not only protect our natural resources but can prevent or postpone the expense of building or renovating new water supply facilities. 

 

By making changes to some of our landscaping practices, we can all make a difference in water conservation.

 

The Beltsville Garden Club is having a presentation about creating a water-conserving landscaping.  

The  speaker for this program will be Kimberley M. Knox, Community Outreach Manager for the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) and a member of the Beltsville Garden Club.  Her topic will be "Water Conservation and Gardens".

Kim is the editor of "Landscaping for Water Conservation: Xeriscape!"  She is responsible for coordinating WSSC's demonstration garden, which highlights native plants for birds and butterflies.  She will also speak about the seven basic principles to incorporate into your landscape to ensure that you save water, money and time.

Please come on out  for this informative speaker.  Refreshments will be served after the meeting.  Bring a plant or plant related material for the club's door prize table.  The public is welcome and admission is free.