Monthly Archives: November 2015

Butler's Orchards, Germantown, MD

November Gardening Tips

Hello Fellow Gardeners,

The leaves are changing colors and we are enjoying the fall fruits and vegetables and preparing for the holidays! Below are some gardening tips, instructional videos, recipes, and events for November.

General Maintenance:

Flowers and Groundcovers:

  • Continue removing diseased leaves.
  • Mulch or compost healthy leaves.
  • Continue planting hardy, spring flowering bulbs.pansies
    • Plant pansies for fall-winter and early spring color – do it very soon to assure that their roots get established for overwintering. (Washington Gardener Magazine)
  • After blooming, cut mums back to 6 inches above ground.
  • Mums that are planted this late should be treated as an annual. Fall-planted asters, however, will become established. Ornamental kale and cabbage produce a nice show of foliage but usually decline by February. This is a good time to save the seed from annual flowering plants like cleome, zinnias, cosmos, celosia and butterfly weed. (Home and Garden Information Center)
  • Clean out and store containers.
  • Cut back perennials that have turned to mush. Leave others with seed heads for birds.
  • Pests to watch for: Voles
  • See UMD’s HGIC’s November Flower tips for more details.

Trees and Shrubs:

  • Trees and shrubs can be planted until ground freezes.
  • Dig hole now if you will be planting a “live” Christmas tree.
  • No more fertilizing for the year. But planting is still OK.
  • Water slowly and deeply if weather is very dry.
  • If your space is limited, consider a dwarf (slow-growing) conifer (Birds and Blooms)
  • Brookside Gardens, National Arboretum, Dumbarton Oaks, … (Washingtonian)
Herbs, Veggies, and Fruit:

 

Lawns:

  • Fertilize tall and fine fescues and bluegrass with 1/2 lb. Nitrogen per 1000 square feet.
  • Fertilize grasses in the fall.
  • Native Ground Cover for East Coast Shade: Barren Strawberry
    Native ground cover for deep shade where no grass will grow.
  • Compost | University of Maryland Extension
    • ” Fall is a good time to start a compost pile by mixing together spent leaves, grass clippings, and many other organic materials.”
  • See HGIC’s November Lawn Tips for more details.

Indoors/Houseplants:

  • Mid-month, pot amaryllis for winter holiday bloom.
  • Do not fertilize until January.
  • Deadhead flowering plants.
  • How to Re-pot an Orchid (YouTube Video)
  • Pest to watch for: Whiteflies, spidermites, mealybug
  • See HGIC’s November Houseplants Tips for more tips.

Indoor/Outdoor Insect  and Wildlife Tips:

Support our Local Farmers – Participate in the Buy Local Challenge!buy_local

Please support our local farmers by visiting one of Montgomery County’s Farmers Markets and purchasing local fresh produce.  See below for a  listing of local farmersʼ markets and farms in your area.

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

Upcoming Events and Educational Opportunities:

See below for highlights of upcoming events on our calendar. Check out our Events Calendar for a complete list of upcoming events for all ages!

11/07/2015 – 11/8/2015 Blacksmiths & Friends: Traditional Arts Show

Saturday – Sunday, November 7-8 @ 10:00 am4:00 pm

blacksmiths arts show 2015

Blacksmiths, silversmiths, coppersmiths and other artisans will demonstrate their art at this FREE event! Featuring: Hands-on instruction for children Demonstrations Metal gifts & art for sale Hayrides & food Held rain or shine at the beautiful Agricultural History Farm Park. Presented by the Friends of the Agricultural History Farm Park and Montgomery Parks.

11/07/2015 – 11/08/2015 Maryland Emancipation Day Celebrations 2015 – Days 2 & 3

November 7-8 @ 9:00 am5:00 pm

Emancipation Day Banner

Enslaved people living in Maryland were freed by a new state constitution on November 1, 1864. Please join us November 6-8, 2015 in celebrating Maryland Emancipation Day in our parks!

Hike the Underground Railroad, tour a slave cabin, visit an African American history museum, enjoy living history demonstrations and eat great food! Most Saturday and Sunday Park events are FREE.

Visit HistoryInTheParks.org for details.

NOTE: In the event of severe weather, please call ahead to make sure the parks will be open. On Saturday mornings, please call 301-650-4373 and a recorded message will advise you of the park hours.

Friday, November 6

SOLD OUT – Underground Railroad Experience Trail Special Night Hike

“Voices of the Underground Railroad”
7 – 9:30 pm – $5 | Register at ActiveMONTGMERY.org
Woodlawn Manor Cultural Park
16501 Norwood Rd., Sandy Spring, MD 20860

Saturday, November 7

Underground Railroad Experience Trail Hikes
Woodlawn Manor Cultural Park
16501 Norwood Rd., Sandy Spring, MD 20860

Sandy Spring Slave Museum & African Art Gallery Open House
18524 Brooke Rd., Sandy Spring, MD 20860

Sandy Spring Museum Open House
17901 Bentley Rd., Sandy Spring, MD 20860

Oakley Cabin African American*
Museum & Park | Live Music &
Demonstrations*
3610 Brookeville Rd., Olney, MD 20832

Harper Cabin at Brookside Nature Center
Tours & Demonstrations
1400 Glenallen Ave., Wheaton, MD 20902

Sunday, November 7

Josiah Henson Park*

Open House*
11420 Old Georgetown Rd.
N. Bethesda, MD 20852

Harper Cabin at Brookside Nature Center
Tours & Demonstrations
1400 Glenallen Ave., Wheaton, MD 20902
Admission Free – Purchase tickets onsite for
cider tastings, crafts, and other activities

*American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters will be available.

11/20/2015 – Fall Garden Harvest Scavenger Hunt

November 20 @ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Have some Fall season fun throughout the gardens. Start at the Visitors Center and follow the colorful leaf trail leading you to the Conservatory and back again. Along the way hunt for seasonal clues and participate in fun activities, exercises and crafts. Guided garden walks leave on the half hour beginning at 10:00am. Last walk leaves at 11:30am. An adult must accompany each child.

Ages 2 to 7

Brookside Gardens 1800 Glenallan Ave., Wheaton, MD 20902 Wheaton, 20902

Phone: (301) 962-1400

Website: http://www.montgomeryparks.org/brookside/

11/21/2015 – Holiday Wreaths

November 21 @ 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm

$22

Join Volunteer Naturalists to make your own holiday wreath using natural materials. All materials will be provided. Meet at the parking area next to the greenhouse, across from the Park Office on Lake Ridge Drive. Please register and pay for each person who wants to make a wreath.

Ages 10 & up

Black Hill Regional Park 20930 Lake Ridge Dr, Boyds, MD 20841 Boyds, MD 20841 United States

Phone: (301) 528-3492

Website: http://www.montgomeryparks.org/team/npld.shtm

Become a Master Gardener:

Registration Deadline: December 18, 2015 Montgomery County Master Gardeners logo

Master Gardeners are trained volunteers of the University of Maryland Extension dedicated to helping County residents by educating them about safe, effective and sustainable horticultural practices that build healthy gardens, landscapes and communities. Participants in the 2016 Montgomery County Master Gardener volunteer training program will learn environmentally sound gardening practices and after qualifying as Master Gardeners have many opportunities to help and teach others.

Classes meet on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday of each week from January 26, 2016, to March 11, 2016, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.at the Montgomery County Extension, Agricultural History Farm Park, 18410 Muncaster Road, in Derwood, MD. Cost is $325. The deadline to register is Friday, December 18, 2015. Class size is limited and filled on a first-come, first-served basis.

For more details: https://extension.umd.edu/…/Mon…/2016%20training%20class.pdf

 

Garden of Lights: Winter Garden Walk Through Holiday Light Display

November 27, 2015January 3, 2016

GardenOfLightsTemp

Open Nightly from November 27, 2015 – January 3, 2016 (closed December 24 & 25)
Hours: Sunday – Thursday: 5:30 – 9:30 PM | Friday – Saturday: 5:30 – 10:00 PM

Make a new holiday tradition at the Garden of Lights Walk Through Holiday Light Display

Step into a magical winter wonderland illuminated with more than one million dazzling colorful lights shaped into hand-crafted, original art forms of flowers, animals and other natural elements. Stroll from garden to garden enjoying twinkling tree forms, fountains, sparkling snowflakes overhead and more. The Garden of Lights celebrates its 18th season as a Baltimore/Washington, DC area family holiday tradition.

The night wouldn’t be complete without a visit inside the Conservatory to enjoy watching G-Scale model trains wind through a seasonal landscape. Afterward, warm up inside the Visitors Center while you sip hot cocoa and listen to one of the nightly musical performances. The Conservatory Winter Display and Garden Railway Exhibit is open daily from 10 AM to 5 PM beginning Friday, November 27, 2015 – Sunday, January 3, 2016.

$25 per car/van (Monday-Thursday) | $30 per car/van (Friday-Sunday)
$25 advanced tickets available beginning November 1, 2015
Cash only at entrance | Call for info on fees for buses, vans and limos.

top-mistletoeMill Creek Towne Garden Club

cordially invites you to our

Mill Creek Towne Garden Club's Season's Nursery Holiday Fundraiser, December 11, 12, 13, Friday - Sunday

Please support Mill Creek Towne Garden Club’s community projects through our Season’s Nursery Sale. Proceeds help defray the costs for landscaping and maintenance of the MCT entrances. The sale is on Friday–Sunday, December 11th–13th, 2015. Season’s Nursery will donate 5% back to the MCT Garden Club from the Gift Shop, nursery, firewood—EVERYTHING. To participate, you must mention “MILL CREEK TOWNE GARDEN CLUB” when you make your purchase.

Fri–Sat 8:00 am-6:00 pm | Sun 9:00 am-5:00 pm

Season’s Nursery

8135 Snouffer School Rd.

Gaithersburg, MD 20879

301-990-6689

http://seasonsnurseryinc.com/

*Donations to MCT Garden Club are gratefully accepted*

Happy Holidays!

bottom-mistletoe

MCTGC Season's Nursery sale-v2 flyer-web