Hello Friends, Neighbors, Fellow Gardeners,
This July there is a lot to celebrate as the growing season really gets underway. Here are some garden tips, educational opportunities, and events for July. Events include Brookside Garden’s Wings of Fancy, History in the Park events at the Agricultural History Farm Park, 28th Annual Farm Tour and Harvest Sale, Canning & Preserving Made Easy Class, and more!
Planning:
- Begin planning for fall plantings.
- Order spring-flowering bulbs to arrive for planting this fall.
- Check your local garden center for mid-summer bargains.
- Check out gardening books from your local library to read on vacation.
- Sunflower season is coming soon. Visit McKee Beshers Wildlife Management Area off River Road in Montgomery County to see them. The best weekend to plan ahead to visit would be July 22-23.
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Support our local farmers! Visit a local farmers’ market near you. Download Montgomery County’s Office of Agriculture Farmer’s Market Flyer to find a farmer’s market near you. Or visit the main Montgomery County Farmers Market website. Don’t miss the 28th Annual Farm Tour and Harvest Sale on July 22-23!
- Go on a local house or garden tour to see what plants are thriving in other’s area home gardens: http://www.visitmaryland.org/list/gardens-Maryland
Flowers and Groundcovers:
- Deadhead spent flowers to encourage reblooming.
- Introduction of native plant varieties for gardening is a long, careful process. | Mt.
Cuba Center - Don’t fertilize plants that slow down in the heat, but keep them watered. Fertilize lightly plants that are blooming heavily.
- Pinch back mums so they grow bushier and won’t flower until autumn.
- Water thoroughly, especially if you receive no rain for more than seven days.
- Check on your container plants daily and keep them well-watered.
- Inspect your garden for powdery mildew. If seen, prune back perennials to create needed circulation.
- Pests to watch for: aphids, spidermites, whiteflies
- Diseases to watch for: Blackspot on roses; powdery mildew, rust, bacterial diseases.
- See UMD’s HGIC’s July Flower tips for more details.
Trees and Shrubs:
- Prune foundation shrubs and trees to be no closer than 1 foot from the house.
- Prune and thin shrubs that have already flowered.
- Water slowly and deeply if summer is very dry.
- Directly after blooming, prune flowering shrubs and vines.
- Water newly planted trees and shrubs weekly or as needed.
- Pests to watch for: adelgids, aphids, azalea lacebug, bagworms, borers, caterpillars, gypsy moths, Japanese beetles, leafminers, scale, sawfly, spidermites, and webworms.
- Diseases to watch for: powdery mildew
- See HGIC’s July Trees and Shrubs Tips for more details.
Herbs, Veggies, and Fruit:
- July is the month for southern blight. Check for this damaging soil-borne fungal disease that attacks a wide range of herbs, tomato, and pepper.
- Cut off bottom, yellow foliage on tomato plants.
- Plant heat-tolerant vegetables (Malabar spinach, Swiss chard).
- Fertilize according to the University of MD recommendations.
- Water deeply when needed. Last week to plant sweet corn and cucumbers.
- Harvest herbs to use in salads and summer dishes.
- Clean up fallen fruit and berries.
- Cover berry bushes and fruit trees with bird netting.
- Watch for insect and disease problems throughout your garden.
- Pests to watch for: asparagus beetle, aphids, cabbage worms, corn earworm, cutworms, and tomato hornworm
- Diseases to watch for: Fungal, bacterial, viral diseases
- Here are some more fruit and vegetable gardening tips for July from UMD’s HGIC.
Lawns:
- Water established lawns deeply but infrequently.
- Mow in the early evening and cut off no more than one-third of the grass height at one time. Leave clippings on the ground to provide nutrients.
- Apply pre-emergent weed control such as corn gluten.
- Turn your compost pile weekly and don’t let it dry out. Work compost into your planting beds.
- Diseases to watch for: brown patch, and red thread
- Pests to watch for: Grubs
- See HGIC’s July Lawn Tips for more details.
Indoors/Houseplants:
- Remove old leaves, damaged stems.
- Monitor houseplants that are outside for insect problems.
- Fertilize houseplants now that they are actively growing again.
- Repot root-bound houseplants and start fertilizing them.
- Pests to watch for: aphids, mealybug, spider mites, whitefly and scale.
- See HGIC’s July Houseplants Tips for more tips.
Indoor/Outdoor Insect and Wildlife Tips:
- Change the water of your birdbath daily and throw a Mosquito Dunk (or bits) into any standing water.
- Caulk and seal your outside walls to prevent insect entry into your home.
- Hand-pick Japanese Beetles or shake them off over a bucket of dishwater. Early morning is a good time to catch them, while they are still drowsy.
- Be vigilant for mosquito breeding spots—any standing water from a bottle cap to blocked gutters and clean them up immediately.
- Put out slug traps around your vulnerable edibles and hostas.
- See HGIC’s July Insect Tips for more details.
- Watch for: carpenter ants, flies, stink bugs, termites, rabbits, raccoons, groundhogs, deer, moles, snakes, squirrels, and voles.
- For more information on wildlife management and attracting wildlife see HGIC’s July Wildlife tips.
Source: University of Maryland’s Home and Garden Information Center (HGIC) and the Washington Gardener.
Please Support the Mill Creek Towne Garden Club
Hello Friends, Neighbors,
Please support the Mill Creek Towne Garden Club! Your donations will help us continue to provide garden-related programs to the community and pay for maintaining and landscaping the Mill Creek Towne main entrances. 
https://www.mctgardenclub.org/donations/
We accept donations throughout the year. Thanks to all of you that have recently donated as well as those of you who have supported us in the past years! Thanks for your continued support of the Mill Creek Towne Garden Club and our community programs!
Mill Creek Towne Garden Club – Derwood, Maryland
https://www.mctgardenclub.org | info@mctgardenclub.org | Like us on Facebook
July
See below for upcoming local events in July.
Montgomery Parks Special Events & Festivals
More events are being added regularly. Please check back often!
Save the dates for these upcoming Summer events! Events include Brookside Garden’s Wings of Fancy, History in the Park events at the Agricultural History Farm Park, 28th Annual Farm Tour and Harvest Sale, Canning & Preserving Made Easy Class, and more!
Master Gardener Plant Clinics
Varied Locations, dates, and times
What can Master Gardeners do for you?
- Help you select and care for annual and perennial plants, shrubs and trees.
- Determine if you need to test your soil.
- Provide you with information on lawn care.
- Identify weeds, beneficial and noxious insects, and plant diseases and remedies.
- Teach you how to use pesticides, mulch and compost.
- Guide you in pruning trees and shrubs.
- Provide you with options for managing wildlife.
- Provide you with gardening resources.
- Help you submit a plant sample for diagnosis
Plant Clinics are held at several sites in the county on a weekly basis and at special events such as garden festivals and the county fair. Regularly scheduled Plant Clinics are located at public libraries and farmers’ markets throughout the county as well as at the Audubon Naturalist Society in Chevy Chase. There are also clinics three days per week at Brookside Gardens. The busiest season is April through September, but some clinics are open year-round. Bring your plant samples and questions to one of these locations in Montgomery County, MD (see link below to find a location near you):
Wings of Fancy
Wednesday, April 26 to Sunday, September 17 | 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. daily
Brookside Gardens South Conservatory, Wheaton
$8 ages 13+; $5 ages 3-12; Free ages 0-2
The seasonal display features hundreds of live butterflies from all over the world. Families, students, nature lovers, and everyone in between can get an up close experience of these brilliant butterflies from North America, Costa Rica, Africa and Asia as they soar among colorful flowers. Visitors can learn about their amazing metamorphosis, the important role butterflies play in having healthy ecosystems, and how to ensure these beautiful insects thrive in our own gardens.
Soulful Supper at Harper’s Cabin!
Sunday, June 11 through August 20
10:00 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Brookside Nature Center, Wheaton
$7
Join us for a taste of African American Heritage as we learn about the history of the Harper’s Cabin. Observe and help with hearthside cooking techniques while learning the history, nutrition and rich culture of African-American foods. Learn how soul food became a dominant theme among African American Family, their church and social gatherings during the 19th century and extending to the end of the 20th century. The program begins with preparing the food and continues until a tasty supper is ready for serving.
Agricultural History Farm Park Open House Thursdays
12:00pm – 4:00pm | June 29th, 2017 to August 17th, 2017
Agricultural History Farm Park
18400 Muncaster Road
Derwood, MD 20855
Phone: 301-650-4373
Visit the Agricultural History Farm Park Thursdays through the summer. Explore the historic farmhouse; help with seasonal chores such as planting, weeding, and harvesting in the World War I Victory Garden; visit with the farm animals; and meet costumed living history interpreters who will tell you all about farm life in Montgomery County in 1917!
Hiking Through History
Wed. July 5th, 2017
9:00pm to 11:00pm
Agricultural History Farm Park
18400 Muncaster Road
Derwood, MD 20855
Phone: 301-650-4373
Each hike will feature a different theme and showcase an aspect of the landscape of the Agricultural History Farm Park. Join historians, archaeologists, master gardeners, farmers, and naturalists to discover all the different facets of the 500- acre park. Hikes are for all ages and will involve easy to moderate terrain. Please wear sturdy, closed toed shoes or hiking boots, dress comfortably, and anticipate occasional mud puddles! Please call up to two weeks ahead for specific hike themes. Contact Lisa Berray, Manager of Interpretation and Visitor Services with questions at 301-467-8273.
Intended for ages All Ages
Fee: $5
http://www.montgomeryparks.org/events/hiking-through-history/
Grow Your Own Bog & Carnivorous Container Garden
Thu. July 6th, 2017
7:00pm to 9:00pm
Brookside Gardens
1800 Glenallan Avenue
Wheaton, MD 20902
Instructor: Michael Szesze, owner of Carnivorous Plant Nursery. Looking for a fun new twist on your typical terrarium? Explore the curious world of carnivorous plants in this engaging workshop that will present practical knowledge about their habitats and how to easily grow them yourself. Participants will make their own carnivorous plant terrarium to take home.
FOBG:$45
Intended for ages 18 & up
This event will be held at Brookside Gardens
Canning & Preserving Made Easy!
Sat. July 8th, 2017
6:30pm to 1:00pm
Brookside Gardens
1800 Glenallan Avenue
Wheaton, MD 20902
Instructor: Lisa Gonzales, Family and Consumer Sciences Agent, UMDWondering what to do with the extra vegetables in your garden or the diversity of seasonal produce at your local farmers? market? You?ll learn the types of canned products that can be safely made at home and the necessary ingredients, equipment, and supplies. The basic steps of water bath canning and food safety considerations will be demonstrated. Included in your registration fee are a take home canned product, handouts and the book, ?So Easy To Preserve,? which includes tested recipes and in-depth information designed for both the new and experienced food preserver.
FOBG:$31
Intended for ages 18 & up
This event will be held at Brookside Gardens
http://www.montgomeryparks.org/events/canning-preserving-made-easy/
Garden After Dark: Full Moon Cocktail Dinner
Sat. July 8th, 2017
7:00pm to 9:00pm
Brookside Gardens
1800 Glenallan Avenue
Wheaton, MD 20902
Looking for a special night out with friends or a loved one? Let Brookside take care of the details! Each fee covers the cost of one person. 21 and up. Enjoy a magical evening in our beautiful new Evening Affair garden filled with fragrant white flowers that glow in the moonlight. Designer Kelley Heim will lead a full moon tour through her garden discussing the design process and pointing out some of the unusual fragrant specimens growing there. Enjoy cocktails created by a mixologist and a light catered dinner under garden lights.
FOBG:$46
Intended for ages 21 & up
This event will be held at Brookside Gardens
http://www.montgomeryparks.org/events/garden-after-dark-full-moon-cocktail-dinner/
Shakespeare In the Garden
Tuesday, July 11
7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Brookside Gardens
FREE
Brookside Gardens
1800 Glenallan Avenue
Wheaton, MD 20902
Pack a picnic, and enjoy a beautiful summer’s night of Shakespeare in the Garden. Come with us as we travel back to the Forest of Arden for Shakespeare’s beloved comedy, As You Like It. Follow Rosalind, Shakespeare’s original feminist heroine, on her quest to seduce handsome and clever Orlando by any means necessary—sneaking around in disguise, hiding love letters in trees, and eliciting help from a strange band of singing shepherd philosophers. Whether this is your first taste of Shakespeare, or you are a practiced pedant, this play has everything you like! Production provided by Prince George’s Shakespeare in the Garden and sponsored by Friends of Brookside Gardens.
The Modern Victory Garden
Thu. July 13th, 2017
7:00pm to 9:00pm
Agricultural History Farm Park
18400 Muncaster Road
Derwood, MD 20855
Phone: 301-650-4373
During World War I and World War II, families were encouraged to grow Victory Gardens to help supplement rations and help those left on the home front stay healthy and strong. Visit the Agricultural History Farm Park to learn about Victory Gardens, explore our on-site demonstration Victory Garden, and learn how to begin using the principles of Victory Gardens in your own backyard to help supplement your own healthy diet!
Intended for ages All Ages
This event will be held at Agricultural History Farm Park
Hiking Through History
Wed. July 19th, 2017
9:00pm to 11:00pm
Agricultural History Farm Park
18400 Muncaster Road
Derwood, MD 20855
Each hike will feature a different theme and showcase an aspect of the landscape of the Agricultural History Farm Park. Join historians, archaeologists, master gardeners, farmers, and naturalists to discover all the different facets of the 500- acre park. Hikes are for all ages and will involve easy to moderate terrain. Please wear sturdy, closed toed shoes or hiking boots, dress comfortably, and anticipate occasional mud puddles! Please call up to two weeks ahead for specific hike themes. Contact Lisa Berray, Manager of Interpretation and Visitor Services with questions at 301-467-8273.
Intended for ages All Ages
Fee: $5
28th Annual Farm Tour and Harvest Sale
July 22–23, Saturday-Sunday
Various Montgomery County Farms
The Farm Tour is an annual event that occurs the 4th weekend in July. During the Farm Tour there are opportunities to enjoy hayrides, pony rides, music, demonstrations, and other fun, planned activities. Come spend a day or two in the country for an educational experience/family outing or just enjoy the scenery. You can also purchase fresh fruits, vegetables, flowers, and more. Visit our website for more details.
2017 Farm Tour Brochure
Contact: Melissa Steed
Phone: 301-590-2810
Email: melissa.steed@montgomerycountymd.gov
Cost: Free
http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/AgServices/agfarmtour.html
Music on the Farm
Sat. July 22nd, 2017 
5:00pm to 8:00pm
Agricultural History Farm Park
18400 Muncaster Road
Derwood, MD 20855
Phone: 301-650-4373
FREE EVENT. NO REGISTRATION REQUIRED. Join us for our popular music series and experience the swinging hot sounds of pre-World War II jazz. Bring your family, friends, a picnic dinner, your dancing shoes and experience the fun of the Farm as the sun sets over the fields! Historic children’s games, friendly farm animals, and s’mores around the campfire make this the perfect summer evening for everyone! Free.
Intended for ages All Ages