Hello Friends, Neighbors, Fellow Gardeners,
Happy Summer! Here are some garden tips, educational opportunities, and videos for June. Some upcoming events/resources include Natives at Noon: Lunch & Learn Webinar Series, Maryland House & Garden Tours in Kensington and Frederick, Heritage Days, Montgomery Parks – Events: Agricultural History Farm Park: Hiking Histories, Brookside Gardens: Native Plant Solutions: Perennials That Work in Deer Territory, Cultivation & Canvases: Gardening and American Impressionism, Birding in the Garden, Pop-Up Exploration Cart – National Pollinator Week, Locust Grove Nature Center: Birding for All; Seneca Creek State Park June Programs; Montgomery College: Lifelong Learning Home and Garden Classes – Summer 2026, Fall 2026 Environmental Horticulture classes, and more! A lot of gardening events are announced on Facebook as well as on our website. These events will be hosted as online or in-person events.
Planning Tips
- Start or update your garden journals.
- Check out plants going on sale!
- Peruse fall bulb catalogs.
- Plan who is going to water plants during your vacation.
- Plan where fall bulbs to go.
- Plan landscape design projects.
- Design new beds and gardens.
- Clean, sharpen, and store your garden tools.
- Repair your shed and repair/paint your fences.
- Check out gardening books from your local library to read.
- Pick up new gardening books and magazines for inspiration.
- Volunteer at a local public or historic garden.
- Plan for 2026 with these Free resources: Landscaping with Native Plants by the Maryland Native Plant Society, Plant Invaders of Mid-Atlantic Natural Areas by the National Park Service, Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia Reading Room. Visit our Online Gardening Resources page for more helpful online resources.
- Buy a good gardening book or magazine subscription for a gift for your favorite gardener.
- Have a question about gardening? Check the University of Maryland Extension’s New Maryland Grows blog for garden tips.
MCT Garden Club Farewell Gathering for Sandy Ceely
The MCT Garden Club recently had a farewell gathering for one of our longtime members, Sandy Ceely, a Mill Creek Towne resident, who is moving to Florida to be closer to family. Sandy has been in the club for 50+ years! On behalf of our garden club, Beth Gianone, President of Mill Creek Towne Garden Club, presented an ABCD Award to Sandy Ceely for being such a dedicated, hardworking member of our Mill Creek Towne Garden Club since 1978 serving as Treasurer, Vice President, President, Secretary, Federation Delegate, Roslyn caretaker, and longtime Membership Chairperson, along with a going away gift, as well as an honorary lifetime membership in the Mill Creek Towne Garden Club.
In addition to enjoying our company and delicious food, Beth shared old photos from our albums with pictures of Sandy and the garden club members throughout the years. Past events included holiday parties, luncheons, boat cruises, National Capital Area Federation of Garden Club Flower Shows, an Edible Centerpiece Demonstration by Emily Chiswell, as well as many years of taking care of the Mill Creek Towne entrances! Our garden club was established in 1968, and we also salute Linda Settlemyer, a continually active member serving our club for 50 years! Although it was bittersweet as we bid a longtime member farewell, we will miss Sandy but hope she enjoys spending time with her family in Florida!
See photos from our gathering and from past events:
About the Mill Creek Towne Garden Club
Established in 1968, the objective of the Mill Creek Towne Garden Club is to stimulate and increase knowledge and interest in all facets of gardening among amateurs, establish an active community beautification program and encourage civic beautification, and foster group activities for the benefit of the members and the community. The garden club also landscapes and maintains the Mill Creek Towne entrances and common areas.
Donations to pay for landscaping and maintenance of the Mill Creek Towne Entrances and our garden-related programs at our community meetings are greatly appreciated and accepted year-round! Contact us if you have questions or if you are interested in joining us.
Join Mill Creek Towne Garden Club!
- Are you interested in gardening? Perhaps you’re a beginner, looking to learn more, or an experienced gardener interested in sharing your experiences and learning from others?
- Are you interested in making your home and community a more beautiful place to live?
- Are you interested in getting more involved in your community and getting to know your neighbors better?
Visit Our MCT Garden Club Website for Gardening Resources
- Local Gardening Resources: Looking for a Master Gardener as a guest speaker, need gardening advice, or want to learn about resources in or near Mill Creek Towne? Visit our Resources page for details.
- MCTGC Blog: Check our monthly blog for garden tips and local/online garden-related events.
- Gardening Books: Looking for a gift for your favorite gardener? Visit our Gardening Books Resources page for holiday gift ideas.
- Local Gardens: Visit our Local Gardens page to learn about local gardens in our area.
- Montgomery County Farmers’ Markets: Support our local farmers. Check this page to learn about local farmers markets in our area or join a CSA and get fresh local produce year-round!
- Online Gardening Resources: Looking for gardening apps or online resources to help with your gardening? Check out our Online Gardening Resources page for some apps for your smartphone and online gardening resources focused on the DMV area.
- Recipes: Looking for a recipe for your home-grown veggies and fruit? Check our Recipes page for ideas.
Maryland Grows Blog
In weekly posts on MD HGIC’s blog, learn about pollinator conservation, growing native plants and food, and how to solve plant pest and disease problems.
Featured Article
It’s too Darn Hot: Garden Schemes for Sweltering Days
Principal Agent Associate Annette Cormany shares garden tips for excessive heat.
Other Timely Topics
MD HGIC Video Tips
Our Extension experts are sharing one-minute video tips to help you in the garden this summer. We’re talking about pest management in the vegetable garden, tree and lawn diseases, native plants, mowing lawns, and more!
For more information, please visit:
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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):
https://extension.umd.edu/mg/locations/plant-clinics
UMD Home and Garden Information Center: Ask a Master Gardener
Do you have a gardening question? Our Certified Professional Horticulturists, faculty, and Master Gardener Volunteers are ready to answer – year-round!
See below to ask a master gardener a question on the UMD Extension website:
Buy Fresh Produce and Support Farms at County Farmers Markets
The 9th season of the Derwood Farmers Market is here! Come enjoy fresh produce, live music, friends & food trucks.
16501 Redland Rd, Rockville, MD 20855
SATURDAYS, 9AM – 1PM
May 2 to October 10, 2026
Visit the Derwood Farmers Market on Saturdays and enjoy the amazing flavors our food and beverage vendors are bringing to the table! Whether you’re planning your market brunch, stocking up on fresh-baked treats, or cooling off with a smoothie, there’s something delicious waiting for you. Our market participates in nutrition assistance programs including eWIC & matching dollars for SNAP. The Derwood Market also collects food scraps for composting through a partnership with the Department of Environmental Protection.
Ready to plan your first taste adventure? See the full list of vendors here:
www.milkladymarkets.org/derwood-market
We can’t wait to see you! Let’s celebrate fresh flavors, good company, and our amazing community together.
Maryland’s Best Native Plant Program
The Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) in partnership with University of Maryland Extension, the Department of Natural Resources, and the Maryland Native Plant Society is proud to introduce the MDA’s Maryland’s Best Native Plant Program.
This program aims to bring education, awareness, and recognition to consumers and producers about the importance of native plants by:
- creating a Commercial Maryland Native Plant List to help nurseries and consumers choose the most attractive and best plants for the environment
- recognizing retailers, wholesalers, and growers who are selling native plants via a tiered (bronze, silver, gold), voluntary certification program, and helping consumers know where to buy native plants
- providing marketing materials- including a MD Native Plant logo- to help consumers identify what’s native to Maryland
Check out the revised list of Mid-Atlantic native plants for pollinators and beneficial insects, from the Xerces Society.
Weed control is best managed mechanically when it is young. Remove it by hand, hoe or tillage in early fall or early spring before it sets seed.
For more information on Spring weeds – https://extension.umd.edu/resource/spring-weeds/
Flowers and Groundcovers
- Remove spent lilac and rhododendron blossoms.
- Cut back spent tulip and daffodil blooms, but not the foliage!
- Replace cool-season annuals with heat-loving ones.
- Put out slug traps around your vulnerable hostas.
- Feed your roses and new plantings with slow-release fertilizer sparingly.
- Tie-up clematis and other fast-growing climbing vines.
- Hose off aphids, white flies, or spider mites on your roses or other perennials.
- Deadhead spent blooms on your annuals and perennials to encourage re-flowering.
- Pinch back mums, salvias, and other late-season bloomers to encourage bushy, not leggy growth.
- Check pots and containers daily for water needs.
- Direct-sow annual flower seeds.
- Transplant spring flowering bulbs after flowering.
- Plant summer flowering bulbs.
- Fertilize summer flowering bulbs.
- Put in supports for tall-blooming plants such as dahlias.
- Divide perennials.
- Edge garden beds.
- Mulch beds with a light hand.
- Hand-pull visible weeds to avoid disturbing newly formed roots.
- Plant and prune roses.
- Look for evidence of pest or fungal disease throughout your garden.
- Check for black spot on your roses – remove and discard any affected leaves in the trash, never back into your garden or in your compost – apply fungicide with Neem oil every two weeks during the growing season.
- Inspect for powdery mildew. If seen, prune back perennials to create needed circulation. Discard properly (i.e., not in your compost bin).
- Rake up weeds and their seedlings, especially look for fast-growing vines such as honeysuckle, autumn clematis, bittersweet, wild grape, Virginia creeper, and poison ivy.
- Pests to watch for: Aphids, spidermites, whiteflies, snails, slugs, deer, voles
- Diseases to watch for: Blackspot on roses; powdery mildew, rust, bacterials diseases
- See UMD’s HGIC Garden Tips for more details.
- For a list of native plant resources, visit: https://extension.umd.edu/hgic/topics/native-plant-resources
5 Million Trees Initiative
Maryland’s goal is to plant and maintain 5 million native trees by 2031. There are various ways you can get involved – plant trees and register them — or volunteer! A number of tree-planting assistance programs are available at the municipal, county, and state levels.
THIS is the SUPERPOWER of YOUR KEYSTONE NATIVE PLANTS.
- No exotic plant could ever achieve this.
- Want butterflies? Feed the caterpillars with keystone plants!
- Exotic plants will never support as many different species of caterpillars as the Keystone Natives can.
- Find your keystone native plants here by zip code.
If your zip code doesn’t give you enough information try zip codes of the nearest larger town or city. LINK: https://www.nwf.org/NativePlantFinder/
Trees and Shrubs
- Contact a certified arborist to have your trees’ health inspected.
- Take soft wood cuttings of plants to propagate.
- Shape your evergreens and hedges.
- Directly after blooming, prune flowering shrubs and vines.
- Prune boxwoods.
- Get a soil test.
- Plant or transplant trees or shrubs that have finished blooming, including berries, roses, and evergreens.
- Prune flowering shrubs such as forsythia, lilacs, azaleas when they finish blooming.
- Prune long shoots on shrubs to keep plant neat looking.
- If you must mulch: Remove old mulch, then add 2″ – 3″ shredded pine or pine needles, keeping 3″ away from trunk.
- Remove Ivy, Pachysandra, and other vine-like groundcover from underneath shrubs.
- Clean your gutters.
- Do not fertilize newly planted or transplanted plants the first year.
- Check often and water newly planted trees if they don’t pass the finger test (stick your finger deep into soil – dry? Water!)
- Prune foundation shrubs and trees to be no closer than 1 foot from the house.
- Fertilize trees, shrubs, and evergreens.
- Prune broken, dead, diseased, or damaged branches.
- Keep an eye out for bark damage from rabbits or deer.
- Check for vole problems and set out traps.
- Spray broadleaf evergreens with anti-desiccant to prevent dehydration.
- Use fallen leaves for mulch or compost.
- Weed – especially look for fast-growing vines such as honeysuckle, autumn clematis, bittersweet, wild grape, Virginia creeper, and poison ivy. Remove Ivy, Pachysandra, and other vine-like groundcover from under shrubs.
- Mulch or compost healthy leaves.
- Continue to remove fallen, diseased leaves.
- Put diseased leaves, pesticide-laden grass clippings and weed seeds in your trash — not your compost pile.
- Turn your compost pile weekly and don’t let it dry out. Work compost into your planting beds.
- Apply scale and dormant oil treatment before dormancy breaks to decrease pest infestations.
- Remove dead and dying trees.
- Pests to watch for: Adelgids, aphids, azalea lacebug, caterpillars, deer, gypsy moths, Japanese beetles, leafminers, sawfly, scale, spidermites, voles, and webworms.
- Diseases to watch for: Apple scab, Cedar-apple, hawthorn or quince rust, Verticillium wilt, Oak leaf blister.
- For more tips, see UMD’s HGIC Garden Tips for more details.
Herbs, Veggies, and Fruit
- Remove finished plants.
- New fruit plants – keep watered their first spring, summer, and fall.
- Plant tender transplants; tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, okra, sweet potato. Sow seeds of: beans, melons, cucumbers. Put cages/stakes in at the same time you plant them, so you are not disturbing their roots later. Place a collar (cardboard tube or cat-food can) around the tender plants to prevent cut worms. Put crushed eggshells first in the planting hole of tomatoes for extra calcium and mix lime in the soil you surround the plant with to prevent blossom-end rot. Fertilize with kelp extract or fish emulsion.
- Hand-pick cabbage worms from cabbage and brocolli.
- Keep all transplants watered deeply for 2 – 3 weeks.
- Thin vegetable seeds sown directly in the garden.
- Cover berry bushes and fruit trees with bird netting.
- Gently clean up the garden, add 1 inch of compost.
- Build a raised bed for vegetables. Add lots of manure and compost.
- Turn over cover crop when soil has warmed enough and is not too wet.
- Start herbs from seed or cuttings.
- Divide perennials and herbs.
- Put up trellises and teepees for peas and beans to climb on.
- Clean and organize the garden shed.
- Till and add organic matter to annual/vegetable beds.
- Pick peas often to encourage the plants to produce more.
- Spread ashes from wood fires on your vegetable beds.
- Store your fertilizer and seeds in a rodent-proof container.
- Apply dormant oil spray to fruit trees.
- Pests to watch for: Asparagus beetle, aphids, birds, cabbage worms, corn borer, corn earworm, cutworms, rabbits, deer, and tomato hornworm.
- Diseases to watch for: Apple scab, Cedar-apple rust. fungal, bacterial, and viral diseases.
- Here are some more UMD’s HGIC Garden Tips.
Lawns
- Mow in the early evening and cut off no more than one-third of the grass height at a time. Leave clippings on the ground to improve water clarity.
- Mow grass at 3 inches and leave the clippings on the lawn.
- Mow zoysia grass at 2″.
- Fertilize turf only if week. Apply 1 lb. N/1000 sq. ft.
- Calibrate your spreader before fertilizing!
- Control wild onions in warm season turf with broadleaf weed control.
- To control crabgrass, apply pre-emergent herbicide to lawn (when forsythia blooms drop).
- Do soil preparation – add lime, compost, etc. as needed.
- Clean yard of leaves and other debris.
- Mulch bare areas.
- Check and tune-up power equipment (mowers and trimmers).
- Apply grub control to your lawn.
- Sharpen your lawnmower blade.
- Check and tune-up power equipment (mowers and trimmers).
- Turn your compost pile.
- Diseases to watch for: brown patch, and red thread
- Pests to watch for: Grubs
- See UMD’s HGIC Garden Tips for more details.
Indoors/Houseplants
- Move your houseplants outdoors for a summer vacation on your porch.
- Repot root-bound houseplants and start fertilizing them when new growth begins.
- Repot larger plants that are going outside for the summer.
- Mist indoor plants and set up pebble trays to increase humidity.
- Deadhead flowering plants.
- Scan houseplants for insect activity.
- Maintain moisture in pots, but do not overwater!
- Give your houseplants a quarter turn every few weeks.
- Keep all houseplants out of drafts and away from heat vents.
- Keep succulents and cacti on the dry side.
- Check on your container plants daily and keep them well-watered.
- Remove old leaves, damaged stems.
- Dust your houseplants with a slightly damp cloth to prevent dust and film build-up.
- Pests to watch for: aphids, spider mites, mealybug, scale, stinkbugs, and whitefly.
- See UMD’s HGIC Garden Tips for more information.
Read and follow label instructions on all pesticides and herbicides.
Start the year off by minimizing your #risk to #pesticides and always #ReadTheLabel! Learn more here: http://npic.orst.edu/health/readlabel.html
Questions about your label? Call us! 800-858-7378 M-F 8am-12pm PST
Indoor/Outdoor Insect and Wildlife Tips
- Provide nesting materials for birds (try dryer lint) as well as bird houses for the start of their family season.
- Be vigilant for mosquito breeding spots – any standing water from a bottle-cap to blocked gutters – and clean them out immediately. Ask your surrounding neighbors to do the same. Put Mosquito Dunks in any areas that accumulate water.
- Look for slug trails in the early morning and put out slug bait as needed.
- This is the perfect time to apply grub control.
- Keep cutworms off newly planted edible seedlings by surrounding the seedlings with a collar cut from a plastic bottle or cardboard tube.
- Ticks are very active now.
- Caulk and seal your outside walls to prevent insect entry into your home.
- Check indoors for termites and ants.
- Put up birdhouses.
- Put suet out for birds.
- Keep bird feeders clean and filled and provide a source of water.
- Wash out birdbaths daily with diluted bleach solution.
- Switch your deer deterrent spray. Re-apply after heavy rains.
- Set out traps for mice, moles, and voles.
- Watch for: eggs, larvae, carpenter ants, flies, stink bugs, termites, rabbits, raccoons, groundhogs, deer, mice, moles, snakes, squirrels, and voles.
- For more information, see UMD’s HGIC Garden Tips.
Source: University of Maryland’s Home and Garden Information Center (HGIC) and the Washington Gardener.
See more tips from HGIC:
Natives at Noon: Lunch & Learn Webinar Series
| Hello! I’m your host, Lisa Kuder, from UMD Extension. Join us on the first Wednesday of each month from noon to 1 as we delve into various topics related to native plants. Whether you’re a novice or a seasoned professional, this series provides an opportunity to expand your knowledge and engage with experts in the field. Master Gardeners and Master Naturalists, these sessions are an excellent way to earn Continuing Education Units. Although the presentations are free of charge, registration is required to attend. Don’t miss this chance to enhance your understanding of native plants while enjoying your lunch. Register to attend one or more of the live only sessions: |
| June 3rd—Non-native Earthworms and Their Effects on the Soil Ecosystem July 1st—From Wasteland to Wonder: Easy Ways We Can Help Heal Earth in the Sub/Urban Landscape | Aug 5th—Timing is Everything: The Phenology of Native Plants in a Changing World Sept 2nd—Saving Ash for Future Forests Oct 7th—Sacred Grounds: Moving from Behavior to Action by Growing Joy Nov 4th—Creating Food Forests |
June 3rd—Non-native Earthworms and Their Effects on the Soil Ecosystem
Wednesday, June 3rd
12pm – 1pm EST
Katalin Szlavecz is a soil ecologist and Research Professor at the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore MD. Her research focuses on how past and present human activities affect the soil’s physical, chemical and biological properties. She conducts field studies in temperate forests, agricultural fields and on the diverse urban landscape. As Research Associate at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, she has been studying the effect of invasive earthworms on forest soils. At JHU she teaches courses on global environmental change, general ecology, and soil ecology.
Maryland House & Garden Tour
Town of Kensington
The Town of Kensington Tour will take place on Sunday, June 7, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., rain or shine. This self-guided special event features access to exclusive properties that are open only on the day of the tour.
Frederick County
The Frederick County Tour will take place on Saturday, June 13, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., rain or shine. This self-guided special event features access to exclusive properties that are open only on the day of the tour.
Heritage Days
Saturday, June 27 & Sunday, June 28, 2026, 12 p.m. – 4 p.m.
This year marks the 27th annual Heritage Days weekend – a countywide festival offering programs, activities, and tours appealing to visitors of all ages and interests and will take place June 27 and 28.
In addition to Civil War and agricultural history, the stories of local railroads and trolleys, African American communities, life along the C&O Canal, astronomy, and much more are featured.
Explore local history and culture during the 27th Annual Heritage Days weekend from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday, June 27, and Sunday, June 28. More than 30 museums, parks, and historic sites will offer free admission, exhibits, live music, demonstrations, and family‑friendly activities highlighting the people and places that shaped Montgomery County.
Montgomery Parks – Events
Hiking Histories
Tuesday, June 9 | 11 am to 2 pm | All Ages | $12 |
Agricultural History Farm Park
18400 Muncaster Road
Redland Maryland 20855
Come explore the Farm Park’s unique trails while uncovering its rich past with Hiking Histories! This 2–3 hour guided hike takes participants along the Farm Park’s 5.5 miles of trails, blending outdoor exploration with engaging historical insights. As we hike through meadows, woodlands and historic landscapes, you’ll learn about the people, places and events that shaped the area – bringing local history to life in a vivid and memorable way. Perfect for curious hikers and history enthusiasts alike, Hiking Histories offers a refreshing mix of exercise, discovery and a deeper understanding of the land beneath your feet.
We’ll meet in front of the big red barn on the historic side of the Farm Park – just follow the gravel road up toward the barn and park in the grassy lot marked “Visitor Parking.” Be sure to dress for the weather, wear sturdy footwear, and bring water.
Creek Crawl: Friday, June 5 | 11 am to 12 pm | Ages 5+ | $7
Predators and Pastries: Saturday, June 6 | 12 to 12:45 pm | All Ages | $7
Toddler Time – Pond Life: Wednesday, June 10 | 10 to 11 am | Ages 2 to 4 | FREE
Leaf Boat Float: Tuesday, June 16 | 11 am to 12 pm | Ages 6+| $7
Shakespeare in the Parks – “As You Like It”: Saturday, June 20 | 6:30 to 8:30 pm | All Ages | FREE
Soaring Solstice: Sunday, June 21 | 4 to 5 pm | All Ages | $7
Crafting for Animals: Thursday, June 25 | 12:30 to 2 pm | Ages 7+ | $7
Campfire Cooking Series: Friday, June 26 | 4:30 to 6 pm | Ages 7+ | $15
Campfires at Black Hill: Saturdays, May 30 and June 20 | 7:30 to 8:30 pm | Ages 1+ | $7
Lake Tour by Kayak: Various Days until August 23 | Various Times | Ages 12+ | $30
Bats & Beavers Pontoon Boat Cruise: Monday, June 1 | 7 to 8:30 pm | Ages 6+ | $8
Fishing with the Lil Ones: Thursday, June 4 | 9 to 10:30 am | Ages 3 to 6 | $8
Play Day in the Park: Friday, June 5 | 11 am to 12 pm | Ages 3 and Under | FREE
Beginner Recreational Kayaking: Various Sundays from 8 to 10 am | Various Wednesdays from 6:30 to 8:30 pm | Ages 12+ | $60
Various Sundays from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm | Various Wednesdays from 4 to 6 pm | Ages 55+ | $60
Pride Lake Tour by Kayak: Thursday, June 11 | 6:30 to 8 pm | Ages 18+ | $30
55+ Early Morning Pontoon Cruise: Wednesday, June 17 | 9:30 to 11 am | Ages 55+ | $10
Pride on the Pontoon: Thursday, June 18 | 7 to 8:30 pm | Ages 18+ | $8
Wild About Water Camp: Monday, June 22 to Friday, June 26 | 9 am to 3:30 pm | Ages 9 to 12 | $350
Early Morning Pontoon Cruise: Wednesday, June 24 | 8 to 10 am | Ages 18+ | $15
Black Hill Bookworms – “The Backyard Bird Chronicles”: Thursday, June 25 | 6 to 7:30 pm | Ages 16+ | FREE
Birding for Beginners: Saturday, June 27 | 9 am to 12 pm | Ages 16+ | $12
55+ Lake Tour by Kayak: Various Days until August 23 | Various Times | Ages 55+ | $30
Open Daily | 9 am to 3 pm | All Ages | $15.99 for Ages 13+, $10.99 for Ages 3 to 12 (includes $1.99 service charge), FREE for ages 2 and Under | Brookside Gardens
Immerse yourself in a world of fluttering wings at Brookside Gardens! Now through September you and your loved ones can enjoy butterflies from around the world while learning the important roles these pollinators play in a variety of ecosystems and how to ensure these beautiful insects thrive in our own gardens.
Native Plant Solutions: Perennials That Work in Deer Territory
Wednesday, June 10 at 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.
Fee: $15 or $12 for FOBG members
Instructor: Shannon Currey, Izel Native Plants
Location: Zoom lecture (recording available to registrants)
When deer belly up to your garden buffet, it’s enormously frustrating. This session focuses on deer-resistant perennials and strategies to coexist in their presence. From phytochemicals to structural adaptations, many plants have evolved strategies to minimize browsing. No plant is completely off limits with the hungry hordes, but there are species that rarely make the menu. Join us for a look at native perennials that will give you beauty and ecological benefits even if you’re gardening in deer territory.
Cultivation & Canvases: Gardening and American Impressionism
Thursday, June 18 at 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.
FREE / Registration required
Speaker: Marta McDowell, Author, New York Botanical Garden Instructor and Historian
Location: Zoom lecture (recording available to registrants)
Join New York Botanical Garden instructor and historian Marta McDowell for this engaging lecture. At the turn of the 20th century, cultivating flowers came into fashion. Enter a group of painters who stepped into the garden for inspiration and subject matter. Join us in this engaging lecture as we explore how landscape history, horticulture, and art converged in the vibrant movement we now call American Impressionism.
Birding in the Garden
Sunday, June 14 at 9:00 to 9:45 a.m.
Fee: $7 / Ages 3 to 9 with an adult
Location: Meet at Visitor Center Entrance
Take a bird walk with an expert instructor and learn the basics of using binoculars, listening for bird calls, using field guides and digital tools, and looking carefully in all directions. Stop at the spots in the garden that are most attractive for local birds and learn more about them. Borrow a pair of our binoculars or bring your own (optional). Meet in the Visitor Center and dress for the weather.
Pop-Up Exploration Cart – National Pollinator Week
Daily from Monday, June 15 to Thursday, June 18 and Monday, June 22 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
FREE / All ages / No registration required
Location: Children’s Garden
Celebrate National Pollinator Week with us and learn more about pollinators, their importance, and the plants they love. Enrich your garden visit with a fun pollinator scavenger hunt. Just stop by the Exploration Cart next to the Children’s Garden any time between 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Spring Forest Bathing: Saturday, June 20 | 10 am to 12 pm | Ages 18+ | $10
Birding for All: Saturday, June 20 | 4:30 to 6 pm | Ages 6+ | FREE
Full Moon Fridays: Friday June 26 | 6:30 to 8 pm | Ages 5+ | $8
Seneca Creek State Park June Programs
Seneca Creek State Park
11950 Clopper Road
Gaithersburg, MD 20878
Here’s a link to Seneca Creek State Park’s June Programs. Featured events for June include Pontoon Tours, Weekday Hikes, Father’s Day Hike, Mindfulness Hike, Miles for Maryland Challenge Hike, Take Me Fishing, and more! These events are provided by The Friends of Seneca Creek State Park.
About Friends Of Seneca Creek State Park (FOSCSP)
The only State Park entirely in Montgomery County, featuring Hiking, Disc Golf, Boating, Fishing, Peony Display Garden, Recycled Tire Playground, and Winter Lights display from Nov. 27th through December 31st. Entrance is free from November through March.
The Friends of Seneca Creek State Park collect dues and donations that are used to support the visitor experience in the park. We are a 501(c)(3) designated charity, so all donations, including dues, are tax deductible as allowed by law.
Montgomery College
Lifelong Learning Home and Garden Classes – Summer 2026
See Schedule of Summer Classes below:
| Course | Course Title | Start Date | End Date | Day(s) | Time | Location |
| LLP152 | Annuals and Perennials for Mid-Atlantic Landscape | 7/21 | 7/28 | T | 6:30-9 p.m. | RC |
| LLP043 | Easy Care Houseplants | 8/4 | 8/11 | T | 6:30-9 p.m. | SR |
| LLP273 | Garden Design | 7/16- | 8/6 | R | 6:30-9 p.m. | RC |
| LLI022 | Orchids: How To Grow and Bloom | 8/18 | 8/18 | T | 6:30-9:30 p.m. | SR |
Fall 2026 Environmental Horticulture
The courses described below are being offered by the Environmental Horticulture program at Montgomery College for the Fall term. In-county tuition rates are available for business/industry employees. Tuition waivers are available for senior citizens. For more information on the program of courses, contact steve.dubik@montgomerycollege.edu.
Let’s Talk Gardens
Thursdays 12 to 1 p.m.
Smithsonian Gardens
“Grow” your gardening know-how! Our free online gardening program, Let’s Talk Gardens, covers a wide range of topics presented by our own professional staff, as well as guest speakers.
And we encourage you to watch videos in our Let’s Talk Gardens Video Library.
FOG 
