Hello Friends, Neighbors, Fellow Gardeners,

Spring is almost here!   Below are some gardening tips, educational opportunities, and events to prepare for Spring in March. Events include the Orchid Show at Brookside Gardens, Green Matters Symposium at Brookside Garden, Earth Day events, Gardening Expo in Silver Spring, the Montgomery Park’s Spring and Summer Festival events, a Grow It Eat It Open House in May at Derwood, MD, and more!  Don’t miss our meeting on Tuesday, March 22nd, starting at 7:30 pm with Master Gardener Marie Rojas’ talk about “Bees, Beneficials, and Blooms” on honey bees, native bees, and other beneficial insect pollinators and what to plant for them!

Planning:

• Mark beds outside where new plants are to go.
• See this list of native plants for bees to plan your garden.
  • Reliable Lists of Native Plants for Bees – EcoBeneficial! ®
    Native plants which benefit bees. | EcoBeneficial! ®
• Gardens of Maryland
  Spring brings the best time to visit Maryland’s public gardens.
  Plan ahead to enjoy these gardens!
• Don’t miss this weekend’s Orchid Show and Sale at Brookside Gardens! March 19, 10 – 4 p.m.; March 20, 10 – 3 p.m.
  
  

Flowers and Groundcovers:

• How to use mulch, and problems to avoid. Two info-packed pamphlets: (Virginia Tech)
• Deadhead pansies and bulbs. Plant pansies. Transplant seedlings into individual 3″-4″ pots when crowded.
• Fertilize summer flowering bulbs.
• Divide perennials.
• Cut perennials and over-wintering ornamental grasses to 2 inches above ground.
• Plant and prune roses.
• Start seeds for: Mallow, Dwarf Zinnias, Cosmos, Celosia, Tall Marigolds, Tall Zinnias.
  • How to Grow Plants from Seeds & Cuttings – Empress of Dirt
    Good tips. | Empress of Dirt
• Attracting Hummingbirds (Wildlife Outreach Center)
  How to attract hummingbirds, with a chart of plants and growing time schedule.
• Bad Plants Planted by Good People – Maryland’s Wild Acres
  Not all plants sold at nurseries are good for the environment. Here is a list of species currently sold at nurseries that should be avoided.
• Invasive plants can sometimes be hard to distinguish from natives. | Delaware Department of Agriculture and the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Services. Here is an identification guide for the MidAtlantic region in the US.
• Decline of Pollinators Poses Threat to World Food Supply, Report Says | The New York Times.
  “The first global assessment of the threats to creatures that pollinate the world’s plants world’s plants was released by a group affiliated with the United Nations on Friday in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Without an international effort, a new report warns, increasing numbers of species that promote the growth of hundreds of billions of dollars’ worth of food each year face extinction.”
• Unprecedented scientific report says decline of pollinators a threat to food security
  Protect pollinators… Now. | The Chicago Tribune
• Diseases to watch for: Damping off of seedlings.
• Pests to watch for: Aphids, slugs, snails
• See UMD’s HGIC’s March Flower tips for more details.

Trees and Shrubs:

• Prune out Eastern tent caterpillar egg masses.
• Prune summer-flowering trees, except crepe myrtle.
• Begin planting when soil is not too wet.
• Prune butterfly bush to 8″ – 10″.
• Rejuvenate prune hollies.
• Fertilize plants not getting ready to bloom if needed.
• Diseases to watch for: Fireblight, Phomopsis on new growth of juniper, Cytospora canker on Spruce.
• Test soil pH on some hydrangeas and adjust: pH 5-5.5 = blue; pH 6-6.5 = pink
• Pest to watch for: Easter tent caterpillar
• See HGIC’s March Trees and Shrubs Tips for more details.

Lawns:

• Test soil if you haven’t already!
• Dethatch if necessary and plug aerate BEFORE applying weed control.
• Apply pre-emergent crabgrass and/or broadleaf weed control when forsythia finishes blooming.
• Reseed bare spots or overseed (through early April).
• Lawn Weed Identification | University of Maryland Extension

  Lawn weed ID and control options from UMD Extension.
• See HGIC’s March Lawn Tips for more details.

Indoors/Houseplants:

• Repot larger plants that are going outside for the summer.
• Remove old leaves, damaged stems.
• Pests to watch for: Spidermites, mealybug, scale, aphids
• See HGIC’s March Houseplants Tips for more tips.
  

Indoor/Outdoor Insect and Wildlife Tips:

• Watch for termites, fleas, and carpenter ants. Also, Elm leaf beetle, leaf-footed bugs, Asian ladybird beetles, boxelder bugs, cluster flies, stink bugs  and other species  may wake up during spells of warm weather in March.
• Slugs and Snails | University of Maryland Extension
  Slugs and snails can be a problem in the garden as they feed on a wide variety of plants.

• Save the Honey Bees Lecture. On Thursday, March 31 at 6:30 PM – 9:00 PM, University of Maryland, Bioscience Research Building, Room 1103 | FREE
  Dr. vanEngelsdorp gives a free lecture on efforts to save the honey bees.

• See HGIC’s March Insect Tips for more details.

• Keep bird feeders clean and filled.

• Set out traps for mice, moles, and voles.

• Resistance of Ornamentals to Deer Damage (FS-655) | University of Maryland Extension
  A list of plants classified by level of deer resistance.

• For more information on wildlife management and attracting wildlife see HGIC’s March Wildlife tips.

Source: University of Maryland’s Home and Garden Information Center (HGIC).

March

See below for upcoming local events in March. Don’t miss our meeting on Tuesday, March 22nd, starting at 7:30 pm with Master Gardener Marie Rojas’ talk about “Bees, Beneficials, and Blooms” on honey bees, native bees, and other beneficial insect pollinators and what to plant for them!

MCT Garden Club March Meeting Topic: Bees, Beneficials, and Blooms

Hi Fellow Gardeners and Neighbors!
In March, the Mill Creek Towne Garden Club will have Master Gardener Marie Rojas talk about honey bees, native bees, and other beneficial insect pollinators and what to plant for them.  As always, refreshments will be provided. Please come join us – all are welcome!  Below are the details.

• Date: Tuesday, March 22, 2016 @ 7:30 pm
• Topic: Bees, Beneficials, and Blooms
• Speaker: Marie Rojas, Master Gardener
• Location: Mill Creek Towne Elementary All Purpose Room
• Hostesses: MCT Garden Club members

Dear MCT Friends, Neighbors,

Please help support the Mill Creek Towne Garden Club by participating in our Spring Flower Power Fundraiser. For every purchase made on this site (click on link below for details), Flower Power Fundraising will give 50% back to Mill Creek Towne Garden Club. Flower Power offers top-quality flower bulbs with an absolutely exciting Spring product line-up, which includes Mixed Coneflowers, Stargazer lilies, and many others. All orders ship directly to your home and come with a 100% money-back guarantee. The deadline for orders is Friday, April 15, 2016.

Funds will help defray the costs for landscaping/maintenance of Mill Creek Towne’s main entrances and garden-related educational programs for the Derwood community! Thank you for all your help and contributions!

Mill Creek Towne Garden Club 

www.mctgardenclub.org

Flower Power Page link:

http://www.flowerpowerfundraising.com/campaign?campaign_id=22502

Montgomery Parks Special Events & Festivals

More events are being added regularly. Please check back often!

Egg Hunt at Meadowside Nature Center

Friday, March 25

Times Vary | Meadowside Nature Center $8 | 2-12 years old. Register at ActiveMONTGOMERY.org Search for real eggs in our meadow, then dye and decorate the eggs you find. Enjoy other spring-themed activities throughout the event as well. Fun for the entire family! Don’t forget to bring your basket to collect your eggs. Reservations are required to ensure enough eggs for all!

Register

US Botanical Garden’s Orchids in Focus Exhibit

Orchids in Focus February 27 – April 17, 2016

US Botanical Garden, Washington, DC

Conservatory Garden Court and East Gallery Orchids in Focus, in partnership with Smithsonian Gardens, highlights the world’s largest plant family and the USBG’s most extensive plant collection. Found on every continent except Antarctica, orchids amaze with their diversity of forms and colors. Come see for yourself why these exotic beauties have inspired artists and photographers for centuries. Immerse yourself in a floral paradise of orchids from the forest canopy down to the ground, and focus your own camera on these unique and beautiful plants. Learn more » – See more at: https://www.usbg.gov/exhibits#sthash.DrlBIZSz.dpuf

Find Your Park – Visit Montgomery County – Conference and Visitors Bureau

Get outdoors and enjoy the weather! #FindYourPark | Visit Montgomery

Spring Events 2016 – Visit Montgomery County – Conference and Visitors Bureau

• Spring is approaching! ?Save the date for these upcoming Spring events! Events include activities at Butler’s Orchards, the National Cherry Blossom Festival, Paws in the Park, Montgomery County GreenFest to celebrate Earth Day, and more!

20 Great Walks Around Washington, DC | Washingtonian

• As the weather warms up, here’s a list of some awesome walks in the Washington, DC area.

April

History in the Parks Season Opening Celebrations: Special Night Hikes on the Underground Railroad Experience Trail

Friday, April 1

5:00 pm & 7:30 pm | Woodlawn Manor Cultural Park $5 | Appropriate for ages 10 and up Register at ActiveMONTGOMERY.org Journey back to the 1800s during this special night hike and meet persons of the past.5:00pm Registration | 7:30pm Registration

Guided Cabin Tours and “Celebrating African Rhythms through Dance & Song”

Sunday, April 9

Oakley Cabin African American Museum & Park, 3610 Brookeville Road, Olney, MD 20832
12:00 pm – 4:00 pm | FREE

Join us at Oakley Cabin for an African dance workshop, tours of the 19th century cabin, crafts and games for children. Explore an archaeology dig with Montgomery Parks archaeologists.

More information about all our historic ongoing and special events is online at HistoryInTheParks.org along with information about Group Tours and School Fieldtrips offered throughout the year.

20th Annual Gas & Steam Engine Show

Saturday, April 9 and Sunday, April 10

10am-3pm Free. Montgomery Parks and Friends of The Agricultural History Farm Park invite you to the 20th annual Gas & Steam Engine Show. See gas engines, tractors, antique cars, trucks and steam tractors. The event will feature live country music, hay wagon rides, kiddie tractor pull, crafts and much more! Rain or Shine event! Free parking and plenty of food vendors so you can stay all day!

More Info

Grow Anywhere Gardening Expo, Saturday, April 30th, 10 AM – 2 PM, Silver Spring Civic Building, Veterans Plaza.

Coming April 30 to Silver Spring: the Grow Anywhere Gardening Expo, 10 AM – 2 PM, Silver Spring Civic Building, Veterans Plaza.

The Urban Gardening initiative of the Montgomery County Master Gardeners invites you to our free demonstrations and hands-on activities, including take-home projects. Join us and learn all about container gardens, making self-watering containers (just for kids!), growing herbs, vegetables and microgreens, vertical gardening, creating water gardens for small spaces, sustainable garden design, and healthy houseplants.

2nd Annual Montgomery County GreenFest to Take Place April 30 in Takoma Park

May

Grow It Eat It Open House, May 1, 9:30am-4:00pm at Derwood, MD.

There will be many gardening classes and activities for adults and children. Click here for the full children’s programs flyer: https://extension.umd.edu/…/grow_it_eat_it/childrens%20prog….

The following programs are $12 each:
Discover Bugs, grades 2-3, http://discoverbugs2016.eventbrite.com,
Discover Gardening, grades 2-3, http://discovergardening2016.eventbrite.com,
Discover Flowers, grades 4-5, http://discoverflowers2016.eventbrite.com,
Discover Trees, grades 6-8, http://discovertrees2016.eventbrite.com .

Hello Fellow Gardeners,

Hope you survived the blizzard and are enjoying the warm weather we have while it lasts!   Below are some gardening tips, educational opportunities, and events for February. Don’t miss our meeting on Tuesday, February 23rd, 7:30 pm with a Master Gardener guest speakers, Merikay Smith and Lee Anne Gellety, who will give a presentation on Creating Children’s Gardens: Growing Gardeners!

Planning:

• Select and order fruit plants. Decide on new tree/shrub locations.
• Design new beds and gardens.
  • Read the Washington Post’s Home and Garden article on “From the horticultural greats, garden guidance for all of us” by Adrian Higgins with words of wisdom for gardeners everywhere to get some garden design ideas.
  • Read the Washington Post’s article on “Monet’s ‘other’ masterpiece: His gardens at Giverny” by Anna Hartley to get inspired for designing your garden!

• Read the University of Delaware’s article on “Looking good and doing good”-
  • Looking for native plants that people will want in their gardens. (University of Delaware UDaily)

Flowers and Groundcovers:

• Deadhead pansies.
• Pull out ornamental cabbages and kale.
• Lightly fertilize bulbs when green starts to show.
• Transplant seedlings into individual 3″-4″ pots when crowded. Fertilize transplants with half strength houseplant fertilizer (every 2 weeks).
• Start seeds for: Portulaca, Flowering Tobacco, Ageratum, China Aster, Cleome Dwarf Marigolds, Salvia, Tall Snapdragons, Verbena. Fertilize transplants.
• A Quick Guide to Pruning Clematis (HG107) | University of Maryland Extension
  “Refrain from any hard pruning of vines like clematis until early spring.”
• There are many rare, threatened and endangered plants in Maryland.
  • For a list see Maryland.gov’s Department of Natural Resources list of Rare, Threatened & Endangered Plants.

• How Mold on Space Station Flowers is Helping Get Us to Mars 

   
• Let’s talk dirt: soil terms every gardener should know
  Clear explanation of soil terminology.
• Diseases to watch for: Damping off of seedlings.
• Pests to watch for: Deer
• See UMD’s HGIC’s February Flower tips for more details.

Trees and Shrubs:

• Prune broken, dead, or diseased branches.
  • See Bird and Bloom’s “Guide to pruning” article on how to become a Pruning expert.
  • Become a Pruning Pro | Gardening | Birds & Blooms Magazine
• Spray with dormant oil to decrease pest infestations.
• Prune dead, weak, broken, rubbing limbs of trees—or to open them up to light and air.
• Gently brush snow from evergreen shrubs.
• Begin pruning of summer flowering shrubs.
• Read Plastic New’s article on “Using plastic pavers instead of concrete to save tree roots“.
• Removing a tree can be a difficult decision. Here are some tips…How Do You Decide When to Remove a Tree? | University of Maryland Extension
• Small Versions of Large Favorites
  When space is limited, consider planting a smaller versions of larger trees and shrubs.
• Common Trees of Pennsylvania – As part of the kick-off of the “Year of the Conifer” in the Maryland Native, here is a visual guide to identify local conifers. (Cook Forest Online)
• Native Shrubs to Consider for Ecological Landscapes in the Northeast | Ecological
  Landscape Alliance
  • Native shrubs for songbirds.  (ecolandscaping.org)
• A stubborn, unseen insect devastates D.C.-area parks
  • Emerald Ash Borer is a serious threat to Maryland ash trees.
• Diseases to watch for: Botryosphaeria canker, Black know on Prunus
• Pest to watch for: Voles, scale
• See HGIC’s February Trees and Shrubs Tips for more details.

Lawns:

• Shovel walks and drive before applying ice melt or you will damage lawn.
• Reseed bare spots or overseed (through early April).
• Clean yard of all leaves and other debris.
• See HGIC’s February Lawn Tips for more details.

Indoors/Houseplants:

• Begin to pot up rooted cuttings. Fertilize with half strength houseplant fertilizer every other watering.
• Pests to watch for: Spidermites, Mealybug, Scale
• See HGIC’s February Houseplants Tips for more tips.
  

Indoor/Outdoor Insect and Wildlife Tips:

• Watch for termites, fleas, and carpenter ants. Also, Elm leaf beetle, leaf-footed bugs, Asian ladybird beetles, boxelder bugs, cluster flies, stink bugs  and other species  may wake up during spells of warm weather in February.
• The dozens of insect species that live in your home, in one chart
  • The many species of arthropod found in an average home.  
• Lyme-disease carrying ticks are now in half of all U.S. counties
  “The blacklegged tick has doubled its established range in less than 2 decades.” (AAAS Science Magazine)

• See HGIC’s February Insect Tips for more details.

• Keep bird feeders clean and filled.

• Apply deer deterrent.

• See a map with Bird migration routes around the world!
  

• Find Out Which Butterflies Live In Your Area -Maps, More
  
  Handy map which lists butterflies (and their host plants) in each state. ·

• For more information on wildlife management and attracting wildlife see HGIC’s February Wildlife tips.

Source: University of Maryland’s Home and Garden Information Center (HGIC).

February

See below for upcoming local events in February. Don’t miss our meeting on Tuesday, February 23rd, starting at 7:30 pm with a Master Gardener guest speaker, Merikay Smith and Lee Anne Gellety who will give a presentation on Creating Children’s Gardens: Growing Gardeners!

Winter Festivals in Montgomery Parks

Winter is right around the corner…and we have lots of festivals and events to help you enjoy the season! Check out www.MontgomeryParks.org/festivals for a list of major events happening in late November through February.

Maple Sugaring Days at Brookside Nature Center
Weekends in February
Times Vary | Brookside Nature Center $6/person | Ages 3 & up | Saturday & Sundays in February February is Maple Sugaring Month at Brookside Nature Center. Every Saturday and Sunday you’ll have an opportunity to experience an American tradition: maple sugaring! Watch the whole maple sugaring process from start to finish. See sap drip from trees and taste it. Watch us boil it down into sweet maple syrup, then sample a tasty treat. Join in the fun and activities and learn something new at this family-friendly program! Space is limited so pre-registration is encouraged.
Register

 

Color Maryland Green Contest

COLOR MARYLAND GREEN is an art and poetry contest hosted by the Maryland Departments of Natural Resources (DNR) and Environment (MDE) designed to inspire stewardship and outdoor learning.

Subject matter should demonstrate the student’s appreciation of our natural world, including but not limited to our air, water, land, fish and wildlife.

Deadline:  All entries must be postmarked by March 4, 2016.

Maryland Department of Natural Resources
c/o Color Maryland Green Contest
580 Taylor Avenue, D4
Annapolis, MD 21401

Winners will be announced on or before Earth Day, April 22.

Prizes

A 2016 Maryland Park Passport will be awarded to the best overall entry by age group in each of the drawing/painting, digital illustration, photography and poetry categories. One overall video will be selected. Semi-finalists will also be acknowledged.

For details, please visit: cmg_about

Montgomery Parks Volunteer Opportunity of the Week: 2016 Great Backyard Bird Count at Brookside Nature Center, February 12-15, 2016, 9:00 am and 5:00 pm.

Location:

Brookside Nature Center
1400 Glenallan Ave.
Wheaton, MD 20902

  View map

Help us keep track of the birds that come to our feeders and promote the bird census records compiled at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. The Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) occurs February 12- 15, 2016. Observers are asked to come to Brookside Nature Center between 9 am and 5 pm and observe from our indoor viewing station or from our outdoor viewing ramp, the number and species of birds at our feeders for one or more hours. Your recorded results will be sent to the Cornell data base. This is a great Citizen Science project for bird lovers over the age of 12 or anyone who can accurately identify common bird species, and count over ten!

12 & 13 year olds can also volunteer, but must be accompanied by an adult.

CONTACT: Jennifer to set up a date and time at jmcguire319@gmail.com.

Website:www.brooksidenature.org

Background check required: No

Minimum age of volunteers: 12

Job type: Event (1-7 days)

Volunteer type:  Adult, Family, Senior (55+), Youth, Student Service Learning, Group

2016 Spring Gardening Conference

February 20 @ 8:30 am – 2:30 pm

Agricultural History Farm Park,

18400 Muncaster Rd, Derwood, MD 20855
Derwood, 20855 United States

+ Google Map

Presented by the Montgomery County Master Gardeners EXPLODING THE MYTHS: Fascinating Facts to Help You Avoid Common Gardening Mythstakes! Saturday, February 20, 2016* University of Maryland Extension Montgomery County Office, 18410 Muncaster Rd., Derwood, MD $55 per person or $50 each for two or more, includes lunch Registration closes Febuary 16; no refunds after February 13 *Snow date – February 27, 2016 (In case of inclement weather, we follow Montgomery County Public Schools’ Weekend Activity Policy.) Schedule of Events Registration…

Find out more »

MCT Garden Club February Meeting Topic: Creating Children’s Gardens: Growing Gardeners

February 23 @ 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm

Mill Creek Towne Elementary

17700 Park Mill Dr
Derwood, 20855 United States

+ Google Map

Hi Fellow Gardeners and Neighbors!
The Mill Creek Towne Garden Club is having a Master Gardener presentation presented by Merikay Smith and Lee Anne Gellety in February on Creating Children’s Gardens: Growing Gardeners. Please come join us – all are welcome!  Below are the details.

• Date: Tuesday, February 23, 2016 @ 7:30 pm
• Topic: Creating Children’s Gardens: Growing Gardeners
• Speaker: Merikay Smith and Lee Anne Gellety, Master Gardeners
• Location: Mill Creek Towne Elementary Teacher’s Lounge
• Hostesses: Nancy Brady, Heather Whirley

3rd Annual Waterfowl Festival
Saturday, February 13
Noon – 4 p.m. | Black Hill Nature Programs FREE | All AgesBring the whole family for a day filled with activites, demonstrations, and exhibits to celebrate the wondrous water birds that call Little Seneca Lake home during the winter. Try your hand at carving a decoy. Make a bird bonnet to look like a hooded merganser or a bufflehead. Learn about wood duck nest box Citizen Science initiatives. Join guided excursions to catch a glimpse of marine ducks, swans and maybe even the Black Hill eagles! No registration required for this free event.
Learn More

Black History Month Events
Saturday, February 27 & Sunday, 28
Times Vary | Josiah Henson Park Visit www.HistoryInTheParks.org for updated schedules & information.Celebrate Black History Month by retracing the footsteps of Reverent Josiah Henson from his enslavement to escape on the Underground Railroad to freedom in Canada, watching the Time Team America PBS documentary about archaeology discoveries made at Josiah Henson Park, and participate in a spoken word poetry event. Learn more at HistoryInTheParks.org.
Learn More

 

March

 

How Does Your Garden Grow
Sunday, March 6
Noon – 4 p.m. | Black Hill Nature Programs FREE | All AgesWeather you’re a novice or an expert, all are welcome for a day of garden talk and practice. Naturalists, garden pros, and Master Gardeners will all be on-hand to share their advice and expertise. We’ll have activities for the whole family. No registration needed.
More Info Coming Soon!

 

Philadelphia Flower Show Xcursion
Tuesday, March 8 & Thursday, March 10
7 a.m. – 7 p.m. | Trip leaves from Brookside Gardens $90/person (includes coach transportation & entrance fee) Register at ActiveMONTGOMERY.org Join us for a trip to the Philadelphia International Flower Show. Be inspired as you explore acres of great gardens and learn from the world’s most celebrated growers and florists.
Register