Mill Creek Towne Garden Club

MCT Garden Club & Rock Creek Conservancy Extreme Cleanup Training – Mill Creek Stream
2020-02-25 19:30 - 21:00 UTC | Mill Creek Parish United Methodist, 7101 Horizon Terrace, Derwood, MD, 20855
Topic: Extreme Cleanup – Mill Creek Stream Training for Mill Creek Drive / Warbler Lane, Mill Creek Towne, Derwood, Maryland
Tuesday, February 25, 2020 @ 7:30pm
Mill Creek Parish United Methodist
Fellowship Hall
7101 Horizon Terrace
Derwood, MD 20855
Mill Creek Towne Garden Club has invited Samantha Battersby, of the Alice Ferguson Foundation to provide creek cleanup training at our next meeting on February 25, 2020 7:30 PM. Our meeting is open to the public. Samantha is the Program Coordinator, Trash Free Potomac Watershed Initiative for the Alice Ferguson Foundation. During the training, we will do a group activity to determine the length of time trash could remain in the environment if left unattended. Even if you can’t make our clean up event, come and learn the process on how to organize a successful community cleanup, whether it’s along a stream, roadside, or park. Refreshments will be provided.

Join Rock Creek Conservancy, the Alice Ferguson Foundation, National Park Service, Mill Creek Towne Garden Club and Stream Team Leader Susan Yu for our Rock Creek Extreme Cleanup! We will be cleaning up trash from the Mill Creek Stream near the corner of Mill Creek Drive and Warbler Lane on Saturday, April 18, 2020 from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm.
Trash and pollution are among the biggest threats to this small stream, one of the northern most tributaries of Rock Creek. Our goal is a total cleanup of Rock Creek and its tributaries, including the parks and neighborhoods near the creek where trash originates.
We invite you to join us for Rock Creek Conservancy’s 12th Annual Extreme Cleanup to help remove trash and keep this section of Rock Creek clean and healthy. All necessary supplies will be provided; volunteers should dress appropriately for the weather and wear sturdy closed toe shoes and clothes that can get dirty. We hope to see you there!
Please register to participate here:
Register Today!

Maryland National Park and Planning Commission
The Maryland National Park and Planning Commission, Montgomery Parks, Montgomery County, Maryland manages the county park system to meet needs of current and future generations. https://www.montgomeryparks.org/
Rock Creek Conservancy
Rock Creek Conservancy exists to restore Rock Creek and its parklands as a natural oasis for all people to appreciate and protect. Rock Creek Conservancy is the only organization dedicated solely to Rock Creek and its parks. The creek meanders 33 miles through the Washington metropolitan area, crossing federal lands as well as district, city, county, and state boundaries. Although parkland borders much of the creek, the surrounding development threatens the health and beauty of these natural areas. Rock Creek Conservancy is uniquely positioned to foster outreach, education, and efforts to overcome threats to Rock Creek. https://www.rockcreekconservancy.org/
Alice Ferguson Foundation
The Alice Ferguson Foundation’s mission is to connect people to the natural world, sustainable agricultural practices, and the cultural heritage of their local watershed through education, stewardship, and advocacy. The Alice Ferguson Foundation’s educational programs unite students, educators, park rangers, communities, regional organizations, and government agencies throughout the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area to promote the environmental sustainability of the Potomac River watershed. https://fergusonfoundation.org/
Earth Day Celebrates 50th Anniversary in 2020!
Although we are not officially in partnership with Earth Day 2020, we honor the worldwide 50th Anniversary of Earth Day on Saturday, April 18, 2020 from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm, by doing our part to protect and restore our planet, with our cleanup of Mill Creek Stream.
https://www.earthday.org/earth-day-2020/

NOTE: If Montgomery County Schools are closed due to inclement weather, the Garden Club meeting will be cancelled.
RSVP: info@mctgardenclub.org

MCT Garden Club Meeting Topic: Gardening for Bluebirds Tuesday, Jan. 28th @ 7:30pm
2020-01-28 19:30 - 21:00 | Mill Creek Parish United Methodist, 7101 Horizon Terrace, Derwood, MD, 20855
Tuesday, January 28, 2020
Topic: Gardening for Bluebirds
Time: 7:30pm – 8:30pm
Location: Mill Creek Parish United Methodist
Fellowship Hall
7101 Horizon Terrace
Derwood, MD 20855
Speaker: Ed Escalante, Maryland Bluebird Society County Coordinator
Cost: FREE, Donations gratefully appreciated!
Join us on Tuesday, January 28th and learn more about bluebirds, including tips on what gardeners can do to attract bluebirds. Refreshments will be provided. Maryland Bluebird Society (MBS) Ed Escalante, MBS County Coordinator for Montgomery County is the boots on the ground person for MC. He’ll give a talk about bluebirds & answer questions.
NOTE: If Montgomery County Schools are closed due to inclement weather, the Garden Club meeting will be cancelled.
RSVP: info@mctgardenclub.org

Tuesday, October 22nd Meeting Topic: Pruning Your Fall Garden
2019-10-22 19:30 - 20:30 | Mill Creek Parish United Methodist, 7101 Horizon Terrace, Derwood, MD, 20855
Tuesday, October 22, 2019
Topic: Pruning Your Fall Garden
Time: 7:30pm – 8:30pm
Location: Mill Creek Parish United Methodist
Fellowship Hall
7101 Horizon Terrace
Derwood, MD 20855
Speaker: Claire Peterson, Master Gardener
Cost: FREE, Donations gratefully appreciated!
Learn basic principles of pruning your fall garden . Please join us for Claire Peterson’s presentation based on the University of Maryland’s Extension Services’ Best Practices for Master Gardeners. Participants will have a chance to try this out during this session. Wear “yard clothes” if you would like to try this hands-on demonstration! Refreshments will be provided.
NOTE: If Montgomery County Schools are closed due to inclement weather, the Garden Club meeting will be cancelled.
RSVP: info@mctgardenclub.org

Fall Tour at Common Root Farm
2019-10-20 15:00 - 18:00 | Common Root Farm, 18101 Bowie Mill Road, Derwood, MD, 20855
LOCAL. FRESH. ORGANICALLY GROWN.LOCAL. FRESH. ORGANICALLY GROWN.

WE ARE HAVING A FARM TOUR!!
Join us October 20 from 3-6pm for a guided farm tour and potluck at Common Root Farm.
Simply stroll through the farm or take some time to explore production driven regenerative agriculture on a small scale suburban farm. Kids are welcome too!
Guided tours will start at 3:30 and 4:30. Potluck will begin at 5:30. No need to RSVP for the tour, but please let us know if you plan to make it to the potluck so we can plan accordingly.
We will provide vegan chili, a salad, bread, and refreshments.
Address is 18021 Bowie Mill Road, Derwood, MD 20855.
We look forward to seeing you all on the farm!
RSVP: https://www.facebook.com/events/536962466848387/

Common Root Farm
www.commonrootfarm.com
18101 Bowie Mill Road, Derwood, MD 20855
(301) 639.8316

Mill Creek Towne Garden Club Community Meeting: Open House
2019-09-24 19:30 - 20:30 | Mill Creek Parish United Methodist, 7101 Horizon Terrace, Derwood, MD, 20855
Mill Creek Towne Garden Club Open House
Date: Tuesday, September 24, 2019
Time: 7:30pm – 8:30pm
Location: Mill Creek Parish United Methodist
Fellowship Hall
7101 Horizon Terrace
Derwood, MD 20855
Cost: FREE, Donations gratefully appreciated!
Join us for a meeting and get to know the members of the Mill Creek Towne Garden Club. You will find out more about the club and what we do. We’ll be discussing our community projects including restoration of the entrance walls, clean up of Mill Creek, and the Butterfly Bandwagon! Refreshments will be provided.
NOTE: If Montgomery County Schools are closed due to inclement weather, the Garden Club meeting will be cancelled.
RSVP: info@mctgardenclub.org

The Safety and Science of Tree Care
2019-04-23 19:30 - 20:30 | Mill Creek Parish United Methodist, 7101 Horizon Terrace, Derwood, MD, 20855
Tuesday, April 23, 2019
Topic: The Safety and Science of Tree Care
Time: 7:30pm – 8:30pm
Location: Mill Creek Parish United Methodist
Fellowship Hall
7101 Horizon Terrace
Derwood, MD 20855
Speakers: Tim Zastrow and Riley Smith, certified arborists
Cost: FREE, Donations gratefully appreciated!
Trees, trees, trees! Learn how to maintain beautiful, healthy trees, and shrubs. Please join us for Bartlett Tree Services’ presentation by Tim Zastrow and Riley Smith, certified arborists, on the safety and science of tree care. Refreshments will be provided.

Tim Zastrow is a Commercial Arborist Representative serving the Washington, D.C. area.
Growing up in suburban Maryland, Tim first learned to appreciate trees and the world around him from his maternal grandfather who was an avid gardener and amateur naturalist in Syracuse, New York. When Tim was seven, his grandfather gave the family a Butternut seedling from a tree that he had started from a seedling in the 1930s. The young tree was planted with love and lots of compost on his family’s property in Colesville, Maryland. Tim then watched it grow to maturity. While pursing a degree in Entomology at the University of Maryland, he started working in the field of arboriculture in 1985 for TreeMasters. In 2001, Bartlett acquired this company and Tim got the chance to combine his skill and experience with Bartlett’s advanced technical resources and robust safety and training programs. He is a Board Certified Master Arborist, a Maryland Licensed Tree Expert, a Certified Tree Risk Assessor, a Certified Tree Safety Professional, and a member of the American Society of Consulting Arborists. Tim gets great pleasure every day helping people enjoy and care for their trees.
Riley Smith, Arborist Representative works out of Bartlett Tree Service’s Gaithersburg, MD office.
Riley Smith was born in Washington, D.C. and was raised in the surrounding suburbs. His love for the outdoors was stoked at an early age during numerous outings with his family camping, back country hiking and during adventurous canoe trips navigating many of Maryland’s waterways. He spent three years of his childhood living overseas in Japan. While there his adventures didn’t stop. His family continued their exploration and climbed Mt. Fuji, reaching the 12,389 ft. summit. This collection of life experiences led him to attend the University of Tennessee where he obtained a BS in Forestry Wildlife and Fisheries Science. There he gained a deeper understanding of the natural world around him. Upon graduation he took a position with Maryland Dept. of Natural Resources as a watershed forester and rose to the ranks of Forestry Coordinator for the Chesapeake Bay. To broaden his knowledge of trees in the urban environment he decided to branch out into the arboricultural world. Today, Riley is a Certified Arborist Representative. He is a licensed tree expert, ISA Certified Arborist, Qualified Tree Risk Assessor, and Plant Health Care Specialist. He is proud of his achievements and is ready to utilize his knowledge of the urban forest ecosystem to his friends, clients, and coworkers.
NOTE: If Montgomery County Schools are closed due to inclement weather, the Garden Club meeting will be cancelled.
RSVP: info@mctgardenclub.org

Jump On The Butterfly Bandwagon - Easy steps to help you create a beautiful butterfly garden
2019-03-26 19:30 - 20:30 | Mill Creek Parish United Methodist, 7101 Horizon Terrace, Derwood, MD, 20855
Please join us for a Native By Design, LLC presentation by Lauren Hubbard, Derwood resident and Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional, on “Jump On The Butterfly Bandwagon – Easy steps to help you create a beautiful butterfly garden”. Refreshments will be provided.
Topic: Jump On The Butterfly Bandwagon – Easy steps to help you create a beautiful butterfly garden
Date: Tuesday, March 26, 2019
Time: 7:30pm – 8:30pm
NEW Location: Mill Creek Parish United Methodist
Fellowship Hall
7101 Horizon Ct
Derwood, MD 20855

Speaker: Lauren Hubbard, Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional, Native By Design, LLC
Hostesses: MCT Garden Club members
About Native by Design, LLC:
Native by Design, LLC, founded by Dr. Lauren Hubbard, provides landscape design, consultation and project management with a focus on sustainable approaches that will provide beauty, support the ecosystem and reduce your long term maintenance needs.
About the Speaker:
Laura Hubbard works with not-for-profits, homeowners and municipalities to support their efforts to transition to sustainable landscaping practices. Her services include site assessment, project planning and design, educational workshops and community outreach, and project management. She places an emphasis on approaches that are both beautiful and functional while also reducing long term maintenance, creating sustainable landscapes that serve the client and the environment.
She has extensive experience as a project manager, providing grant writing and implementation services to support education and environmental issues. Dr. Hubbard has a Ph.D. in Plant Biology and has used her advanced training to support efforts to maintain biodiversity within our plant communities. She is a Master Gardener, a certified Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional, a certified Landscape For Life Trainer, and a member of the Maryland Native Plant Society. Dr. Hubbard was formerly a board member with the Long Island Native Plant Society.

Cost: FREE, Donations gratefully appreciated!
See our Donations page for online and offline payment options:

Donate

RSVP: info@mctgardenclub.org
NOTE: If Montgomery County Schools are closed due to inclement weather, the Garden Club meeting will be cancelled.

MCT Garden Club February 26th Program on Regenerative Small-Scale Vegetable Production
2019-02-26 19:30 - 20:30 | Mill Creek Parish United Methodist, 7101 Horizon Terrace, Derwood, MD, 20855
Please join us for a Common Root Farm presentation by Erica Coady and Ryan Kalivretenos on “Regenerative Small-Scale Vegetable Production”. Refreshments will be provided.
Topic: Regenerative Small-Scale Vegetable Production
Date: Tuesday, February 26, 2019
Time: 7:30pm – 8:30pm
NEW Location: Mill Creek Parish United Methodist
Fellowship Hall
7101 Horizon Ct
Derwood, MD 20855

Speaker: Erica Coady and Ryan Kalivretenos, Common Root Farm
Hostesses: MCT Garden Club members
About the Speakers:
We are Ryan and Erica, your local farmers! We started Common Root Farm in 2018 to continue our passion for growing the highest quality and most nutritious produce. The name “Common Root” represents our deepest interest in starting the farm–to provide a place for the community as a whole to take part in and benefit from. We have had the fortune of developing our vision at Goondiwindi in Derwood, Maryland.

Cost: FREE, Donations gratefully appreciated!
See our Donations page for online and offline payment options:

Donate

RSVP: info@mctgardenclub.org
NOTE: If Montgomery County Schools are closed due to inclement weather, the Garden Club meeting will be cancelled.

MCT Garden Club Meeting Program on Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi: The Key to Soil Health
2019-01-22 19:30 - 20:30 | Mill Creek Parish United Methodist, 7101 Horizon Terrace, Derwood, MD, 20855
Please join us for a Maryland Native Plant Society presentation by Michelle Wenisch on composition, needs of healthy soil “Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi: The Key to Soil Health”. Refreshments will be provided.
Topic: Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi: The Key to Soil Health
Date: Tuesday, January 22, 2019
Time: 7:30pm – 8:30pm
NEW Location: Mill Creek Parish United Methodist
Fellowship Hall
7101 Horizon Ct
Derwood, MD 20855

Speaker: Michelle Wenisch, Maryland Native Plant Society
Hostesses: MCT Garden Club members
Cost: FREE, Donations gratefully appreciated!
See our Donations page for online and offline payment options:

Donate
NOTE: If Montgomery County Schools are closed due to inclement weather, the Garden Club meeting will be cancelled.

RSVP: info@mctgardenclub.org

Mill Creek Towne Garden Club 50th Anniversary Meeting Topic: Regionally Adapted Plants for Montgomery County MD Gardens
2018-04-24 19:30 - 21:00 | Mill Creek Parish United Methodist, 7101 Horizon Terrace, Derwood, MD, 20855
Please join us to celebrate our 50th Anniversary Celebration! We have rescheduled this event to Tuesday, April 24th. Please note there is a NEW LOCATION and New Topic: Regionally Adapted Plants for Montgomery County, MD Gardens! We will have a special guest speaker, Kathy Jentz, Washington Gardener Magazine Publisher and Editor. Refreshments and cake will be served. Kathy Jentz will be bringing a limited supply of FREE copies of the Washington Gardener Magazine! We hope you can join us.
Topic: Regionally Adapted Plants for Montgomery County, MD Gardens
Date: Tuesday, April 24, 2018
Time: 7:30pm – 9:00pm
NEW Location: Mill Creek Parish United Methodist
Fellowship Hall
7101 Horizon Ct
Derwood, MD 20855
Speaker: Kathy Jentz, Editor, Washington Gardener Magazine
Hostesses: MCT Garden Club members
Cost: FREE, Donations gratefully appreciated!
See our Donations page for online and offline payment options:

Donate
NOTE: If Montgomery County Schools are closed due to inclement weather, the Garden Club meeting will be cancelled.
Regionally-Adapted Plants for Montgomery County, MD Gardens
Plants that have proven themselves in Montgomery County, MD. Low-maintenance gardening is the goal of many of us in our busy lives and the key is planting the right plants got our local climate. We’ll talk about some native plants, of course, but mostly we’ll explore the tried-and-true plants that can take clay soil, deer, and/or periods of drought. Season-by-season, we’ll share our favorite plants that excel in our local gardens.
Kathy Jentz Bio
Kathy Jentz is editor and publisher of Washington Gardener Magazine. A life-long gardener, Kathy believes that growing plants should be stress-free and enjoyable. Her philosophy is inspiration over perspiration.
Kathy’s work has been featured in numerous Washington, DC-area publications and she appears on regular gardening guest spots on television and radio programs in Washington, DC.
She is also the Green Media columnist for the Mid-Atlantic Grower newspaper, where she does a great deal of hand-holding and coaxing to get independent garden centers, plant breeders, and other horticultural businesses to join the social media revolution and maximize their online brands.
RSVP:
Please RSVP to info@mctgardenclub.org.

Brookside Garden's Guided Group Tour
2018-04-21 10:30 - 11:30 | Brookside Gardens, 1800 Glenallan Ave., Wheaton, MD, 20902, United States
Join us for a horticulturally-oriented, guided adult group tour of Brookside Gardens, where we will enjoy the splendors of spring flowers! Tours are led by well-trained volunteer guides and last approximately one hour. We encourage questions from participants.
Registration required.
Deadline for registration is Monday, April 2, 2018.
Registration is available online and offline. Please complete the form below for online payments.
Online Payments

Offline Payments
For offline payments, make checks payable to Mill Creek Towne Garden Club.
Please send checks to:
Betty Laffan
MCTGC Treasurer
7612 Warbler Lane
Derwood, MD 20855
Thank you!
Questions?
For questions, please send an email to: info@mctgardenclub.org or call 240-912-5508.

Getting Your Garden Ready for Spring: MCTGC 50th Anniversary Celebration Community Event
2018-03-20 19:30 - 21:00 | Mill Creek Towne Elementary, 17700 Park Mill Dr, Derwood, 20855, United States
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Due to inclement weather, this event is CANCELLED. See note from Montgomery County Public Schools.
Montgomery County Public Schools will have regular, on-time dismissal today, March 20, 2018. However, due to pending weather conditions, all after-school and evening activities are canceled.
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Celebrate the first day of Spring and our 50th Anniversary on Tuesday, March 20th! We will have a special guest speaker, Kathy Jentz, who will present “Getting Your Garden Ready for Spring”. Refreshments and cake will be served. Kathy Jentz will be bringing a limited supply of FREE copies of the Washington Gardener Magazine! We hope you can join us.
Date: Tuesday, March 20, 2018
Time: 7:30 pm – 9:00pm
Location: Mill Creek Towne Elementary School
All Purpose Room
17700 Park Mill Dr.
Derwood, MD 20855
Speaker: Kathy Jentz, Editor, Washington Gardener Magazine
Topic: Getting Your Garden Ready for Spring
Hostesses: MCT Garden Club members
Cost: FREE, Donations gratefully appreciated!
See our Donations page for online and offline payment options:

Donate
NOTE: If Montgomery County Schools are closed due to inclement weather, the Garden Club meeting will be cancelled.
Kathy Jentz Bio
Kathy Jentz is editor and publisher of Washington Gardener Magazine. A life-long gardener, Kathy believes that growing plants should be stress-free and enjoyable. Her philosophy is inspiration over perspiration.
Kathy’s work has been featured in numerous Washington, DC-area publications and she appears on regular gardening guest spots on television and radio programs in Washington, DC.
She is also the Green Media columnist for the Mid-Atlantic Grower newspaper, where she does a great deal of hand-holding and coaxing to get independent garden centers, plant breeders, and other horticultural businesses to join the social media revolution and maximize their online brands.
RSVP:
Please RSVP to info@mctgardenclub.org.

January Mill Creek Towne Garden Club Meeting Topic: Gardening for Wildlife
2018-01-23 19:30 - 20:30 | Mill Creek Towne Elementary, 17700 Park Mill Dr, Derwood, 20855, United States
Hello Neighbors, Fellow Gardeners, and Friends!
Happy New Year to you! This winter, to help us create wildlife-friendly habitats, our January program will be on “Designing a Certified Wildlife Habitat”, presented by Susan Bell, Master Gardener. Susan will describe the four things needed to attract wildlife to our gardens. These are food, water, shelter and nesting sites. She will discuss some of the best of our native plants that supply the fruit and berries food the animals require, also the flowers that attract the most pollinators who sustain our food crops. Since our birds depend on lots of insects for their nestlings. All wildlife augment their diets with insects too, so you will learn the importance of decaying wood/snags and other plant material that support life. She explains the need for restricting the use of fertilizers and toxic chemicals; and returning to the use of natural materials and simple methods to protect the environment.
We hope you can join us. Below are the meeting details.
Date: Tuesday, January 23, 2018
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Location: Mill Creek Towne Elementary School Teacher’s Lounge
17700 Park Mill Dr.
Derwood, MD 20855
Speaker: Susan Bell
Topic: Gardening for Wildlife
Hostess: Heather Whirley
Cost: FREE, Donations gratefully appreciated!

NOTE: If Montgomery County Schools are closed due to inclement weather, the Garden Club meeting will be cancelled.
Susan Bell
In 2002, Susan Bell followed a life-long passion for gardening to become a licensed landscape contractor. She has helped hundreds of homeowners envision, create and install the gardens they always wanted. Additionally she helps by providing hand pruning and seasonal maintenance services to keep gardens healthy and in tip-top shape. As a Master Gardener speaker, Susan develops design and garden maintenance presentations to pass on knowledge gained through years of hands on experience.

September Mill Creek Towne Garden Club Topic: Preparing Your Gardens for Winter
2017-09-26 19:30 - 20:30 | Mill Creek Towne Elementary, 17700 Park Mill Dr, Derwood, 20855, United States
Mill Creek Towne Garden Club Meeting Topic: Preparing Your Gardens for Winter
Tuesday, September 26, 2017
Time: 7:30pm – 8:30pm
Mill Creek Towne Elementary School
Teacher’s Lounge
17700 Park Mill Dr.
Derwood, MD 20855
Hi Fellow Gardeners and Neighbors!
In September, join us to hear Master Gardener, Bonita Condon talk about “Preparing Your Gardens for Winter” and learn some tips on how to get your garden ready for winter.

About Bonita Condon
Bonita became a Master Gardener in 2014 after retiring from the National Institutes of Health. She is an avid vegetable gardener, love perennials, and combats nonnative invasive species in our parks and grasslands. Her special interests include working with individuals with mobility limitations, raised garden beds, and tools that accommodate special needs. She is a certified Weed Warrior, and an advisor on the Town of Kensington GreenScape committee.

April MCT Garden Club Meeting Topic: Garden Critters
2017-04-25 19:30 - 20:30 | Mill Creek Towne Elementary, 17700 Park Mill Dr, Derwood, 20855, United States
Happy April neighbors, friends, and fellow gardeners!
Spring is VERY much in the air with the trees, plants, and bushes all coming into bloom – we hope you are enjoying this lovely time of year! The Mill Creek Towne Garden Club meeting will be hosting Montgomery County Master Gardener, Mary Hagedorn, at our April 25th meeting. Mary will be speaking about Garden Critters – we all have them, so lets learn more about them!! Please plan to join us for a fun and enlightening evening – the meeting details are below.

Date: Tuesday, April 25, 2017 @ 7:30 p.m.
Location: Mill Creek Towne Elementary School Teacher’s Lounge
Speaker: Mary Hagedorn
Topic: Garden Critters
Hostesses: Carol Hyland, Joan Carpenter

March Meeting Topic: Orchid Care
2017-03-28 19:30 - 21:00 | Mill Creek Towne Elementary, 17700 Park Mill Dr, Derwood, 20855, United States
Hello Fellow Gardeners, Neighbors, and Friends!
What crazy weather for March—cold one day, warm the next!! Our plants and animals are all getting confused!
At the March Mill Creek Towne Garden Club meeting, Montgomery County Master Gardener, Steve Robinson, will deliver a presentation on “Orchids.” Please plan to join us to learn more about these lovely plants. Look below for more information.
Date: March 28, 2017 @ 7:30 p.m.
Location: Mill Creek Towne Elementary School Teacher’s Lounge
Speaker: Steve Robinson
Topic: Orchid Care
Hostesses: Cathy Freel & Kathy Landkrohn

February Meeting Topic: Art Night
2017-02-28 19:30 - 21:00 | Mill Creek Towne Elementary, 17700 Park Mill Dr, Derwood, 20855, United States
Join us for a special art night as Claire Peterson shows us how to make your own creation to give as a gift or keep as your own keepsake! Please wear washable clothes or bring a large tee shirt or apron to cover up. We will have lots of pictures and still life arrangements set up. If anyone wishes to bring pictures of your favorite still life that is perfectly fine. Please note that we will be meeting in the Art room this month so we won’t have to worry about any spills.

Date: Tuesday, February 28th at 7:30pm
Location: Mill Creek Towne Elementary School (Art Room)
Speaker: Claire Peterson
Topic: Art Night—Still Life with Conte Crayons or Pastels
Hostesses: Betty Laffan and Sue Kay

Please RSVP so we can have enough supplies for everyone.

January Meeting Topic: Healing Herbs
2017-01-24 19:30 - 21:00 | Mill Creek Towne Elementary, 17700 Park Mill Dr, Derwood, 20855, United States
Hello Neighbors, Fellow Gardeners, and Friends!
Happy New Year to you! To help us battle any health issues this winter, our January program will be on “Healing Herbs”. Montgomery County Master Gardener Heather Whirley will be sharing her knowledge on the use of herbs. We hope you can join us. Below are the meeting details.
Date: Tuesday, January 24, 2017
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Location: Mill Creek Towne Elementary School Teacher’s Lounge
17700 Park Mill Dr.
Derwood, MD 20855
Speaker: Heather Whirley
Topic: Healing Herbs
Hostesses: Sandy Ceely and Cathy Freel

NOTE: If Montgomery County Schools are closed due to inclement weather, the Garden Club meeting will be cancelled.

MCT Garden Club October Meeting Topic: Planting for Birds
2016-10-25 19:30 - 21:00 | Mill Creek Towne Elementary, 17700 Park Mill Dr, Derwood, 20855, United States
Join us for Montgomery County Master Gardener, Stan Fisher’s talk about Planting for Birds. Learn more about how our yards can be more inviting to these backyard visitors. As always, refreshments will be provided. The meeting information is below and we look forward to seeing you there!

Date: Tuesday, October 25, 2016 @ 7:30 pm
Topic: Planting for Birds
Speaker: Stan Fisher, Master Gardener
Location: Mill Creek Towne Elementary Teacher’s Lounge
Hostesses: Nancy Brady, Claire Peterson

MCT Garden Club September Meeting Topic: Montgomery Countryside Alliance's "Growing Legacy"
2016-09-27 19:30 - 20:30 | Mill Creek Towne Elementary, 17700 Park Mill Dr, Derwood, 20855, United States
Join us for our September community meeting to view “Growing Legacy”, the award-winning film about Montgomery County’s Agricultural Reserve – a national model for farmland and open space preservation. The Agricultural Reserve also serves as the “Green Lung” that cools and cleans the air and protects our drinking water and wildlife. Post-film Q & A features local experts on farming along with filmmaker and Executive Director of the non-profit Montgomery Countryside Alliance, Caroline Taylor. Film produced by Montgomery Countryside Alliance. Door-prize sponsored by Mill Creek Towne Garden Club, Derwood, MD. Refreshments will be provided. This program is for Adults and Teens.
Date: Tuesday, September 27, 2016
Time: 7:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Location: Mill Creek Towne Elementary, 17700 Park Mill Drive, Derwood, MD 20855
Room: All-purpose Room
Hosts: Mill Creek Town Garden Club members
RSVP: info@mctgardenclub.org
*Please RSVP by Sunday, September 25th.

Link to Printable Flyer

About the Montgomery Countryside Alliance
http://mocoalliance.org
Map by Tina Thieme Brown
We:

Educate about the environmental, economic and recreational benefits of local farmland.
Support local farms to strengthen our rural economy.
Celebrate the beauty and abundance of the Ag Reserve.
Conserve the economic value and rural landscape of the Ag Reserve for current and future generations of the region.
Advocate for land use and transportation policies that enhance agriculture and land preservation.

Volunteer for Montgomery Countryside Alliance!
The Montgomery Countryside Alliance has a small full-time staff and there are always volunteer opportunities available. Opportunities range from photography, research, events planning, publications, phone outreach, grant making, and web management. We will try to find opportunities that match your interests. The work is demanding yet fulfilling. This program is approved for Student Service Learning (SSL) hours by Montgomery County Public Schools.
Mill Creek Towne Garden Club
www.mctgardenclub.org
Illustration by Sue Kay
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 to 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.
The club meets once a month, at 7:30 pm on the 4th Tuesday of each month (except for May, July, November, and December). During school year, meetings are held at Mill Creek Towne Elementary school and during the summer, meetings are held at individual member’s homes. Each meeting features a garden-related program.

#‎MoCoAlliance‬ ‪#‎MOCO‬ ‪#‎AgReserve‬ ‪#‎Farm‬ ‪#‎OpenSpaces‬ ‪#‎DrinkingWater‬ ‪#‎CleanAir‬ ‪#‎Parks‬ ‪#‎Garden‬ ‪#‎Rockville‬ ‪#‎Gaithersburg‬ ‪#‎MontgomeryCounty‬ ‪#‎Maryland‬ ‪#‎Nature‬ ‪#‎Wildlife‬ ‪#‎Volunteer

06/25/2016 - Weed Warriors - Friends of Sligo Creek at Forest Glen
2016-06-25 08:00 | Norwood Local Park – Weed Warriors, 4899 Willett Parkway, Bethesda, MD, 20815, United States
Saturdays, 8-10am

Join us this morning to take on the invasive plants along the stream and the bike path. This seciton of Sligo Creek has had a steady group of volunteers working to preserve the secret biodiversity of Sligo Creek. Join us and we may just show you something cool. We’ll certainly teach you how to work the invasives that are probably in your yard too. Work continues in this section to remove undesirable plants, restore forest health and enjoy Sligo Creek throughout the year, usually the last Saturday of the month. Workdays occur in all temperatures, but are cancelled in the event of rain. Wear appropriate clothing, bring your own tools or borrow ours.
Please RSVP by noon on Friday.

MCT Garden Club April Meeting Topic: Shade Perennials
2016-04-26 19:30 - 21:00 | C Peterson’s house, 7825 Rydal Terrace, Derwood, 20855, United States
Hello fellow gardeners, neighbors, and friends!
The Mill Creek Towne Garden Club April meeting is all about planting perennials in the shade. Quite appropriate, since we all have shade somewhere in our yards. The program will be presented by Master Gardener, Les Rucker.

Since our meeting date falls on the Maryland voting day, we will be having the meeting at a member’s home – Thanks, Claire! Please join us to learn more about shade perennials and other gardening tips. Below is the date, time, and location of the next meeting:

Date: Tuesday, April 26, 2016 @ 7:30 pm
Topic: Shade Perennials
Speaker: Les Rucker, Master Gardener
Location: Claire Peterson’s home, 7825 Rydal Terrace, Derwood, MD 20855
Please RSVP by Monday, April 25th via email @ cspeterson84@gmail.com or call 301-869-4249
Hostesses: Claire Peterson, Carol Hyland

04/08/2016 - 2016 Green Matters Symposium: A Garden Gateway
2016-04-08 08:30 | MD
Join us for the 2016 Green Matters Symposium: A Garden Gateway! Brookside Gardens will host this annual educational event on Friday, April 8 from 8:30AM-4:00PM.
New landscapes are designed and constructed everyday in cities and towns throughout the country. Unfortunately, these projects often wreak havoc on the local environment. Demolished materials are sent to the landfill. Soils are compacted and washed away. Tree roots are damaged beyond repair. New materials contain pollutants and travel many miles to the site. Storm water is treated like waste in the design and is diverted straight into our sewer system. New plants are installed without consideration for their mature size, suitability for the site, or nativity to the area. The end product may look beautiful upon completion, but with a great environmental cost and often short-lived results. However, this is not the only way. Using Brookside Gardens’ recent Garden Gateway project as a springboard, the 2016 Green Matters Symposium will focus on elements of a successful, environmentally friendly landscape construction. From thorough planning to hardscape materials, native plants, and local artistry, the Symposium will inspire and offer practical suggestions on how landscape projects can be designed and constructed in an environmentally beneficial way.
Speakers include:

Lori Arguelles, Executive Director of the Alice Ferguson Foundation
Gennadyi Gurman, Head of Interpretation at the Queens Botanical Garden
Mary Pat Matheson, The Anna and Hays Mershon President & Chief Executive Officer at the Atlanta Botanical Garden
Stephanie Oberle, Director of Brookside Gardens
Thomas Ranier, Landscape Architect & Author of “Planting in a Post-Wild World”

Register at ActiveMONTGOMERY.org (Course #14881). Fees: $85 before March 1st; $99 from March 1st onward.
Friday, April 8, 2016 8:30am-4:00pm
Course # 14881Fee: $85 before March 1st, $99 from March 1st onwardRegister online at ActiveMONTGOMERY.org or call 301-962-1451
Green Matters, an annual symposium at Brookside Gardens since 2004, concentrates attention on the intersection of horticulture and environmental issues. Environmental issues. Environmental stewardship is a core value of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), Brookside Gardens’ parent organization. As such, we strive to provide timely information and viable solutions to environmental challenges, because we feel strongly that green does matter

MCT Garden Club March Meeting Topic: Bees, Beneficials, and Blooms
2016-03-22 19:30 - 21:00 | Mill Creek Towne Elementary, 17700 Park Mill Dr, Derwood, 20855, United States
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

02/28/2016 - Black History Month Celebrations 2015
2016-02-28 12:00 | MD
Celebrate Black History Month February 27 & 28, 2016Montgomery Parks is proud to provide this introduction to this rich, local African American history by hosting a series of free, tours, documentaries, and poetry at Josiah Henson Park!
Located in North Bethesda, MD on the historic Isaac Riley Farm this park is where the Reverend Josiah Henson lived and worked as a slave from 1795 to 1830.
Saturday, February 27

Free Guided Tours – Last tour begins 3:00 pmVolunteer historians and archeologists provide free guided tours that retrace the footsteps of Reverend Josiah Henson from his enslavement to escape on the Underground Railroad to freedom in Canada. Walk the grounds where Henson toiled as a slave on the Isaac Riley plantation.
Time Team America Documentary – “The Search For Josiah Henson”Shown at Noon, 1:00, 2:00 and 3:00 pmEach Saturday we will show PBS’ Time Team America’s documentary, “The Search for Josiah Henson,” – an over-the-archaeologists’-shoulder view of discoveries made at our very own Josiah Henson Park.
Spoken Word Poetry Event – Lyrical Rhythms: The Sounds of Freedom3:00 – 4:00 pm | Free AdmissionClose out our Black History Month celebration with our annual poetry event. The month-long festivities conclude on Saturday, February 28 with a spoken word poetry event, “Lyrical Rhythms: The Sounds of Freedom.” Participants of all ages and races are welcome.

Sunday, February 28

Free Guided Tours – Last tour begins 3:00 pmVolunteer historians and archeologists provide free guided tours that retrace the footsteps of Reverend Josiah Henson from his enslavement to escape on the Underground Railroad to freedom in Canada. Walk the grounds where Henson toiled as a slave on the Isaac Riley plantation.
Time Team America Documentary – “The Search For Josiah Henson”Shown at Noon, 1:00, 2:00 and 3:00 pmEach Saturday we will show PBS’ Time Team America’s documentary, “The Search for Josiah Henson,” – an over-the-archaeologists’-shoulder view of discoveries made at our very own Josiah Henson Park.

Josiah Henson Park is a historic resource of international significance because of its association with Reverend Henson, whose 1849 autobiography, The Life of Josiah Henson, Formerly a Slave, inspired Harriet Beecher Stowe’s landmark novel, Uncle Tom’s Cabin. Visit HistoryInTheParks.org for more information.

02/27/2016 - Black History Month Celebrations 2015
2016-02-27 12:00 | MD

MCT Garden Club February Meeting Topic: Creating Children's Gardens: Growing Gardeners
2016-02-23 19:30 - 21:00 | Mill Creek Towne Elementary, 17700 Park Mill Dr, Derwood, 20855, United States
Hi Fellow Gardeners, Neighbors, and Friends!
The next Mill Creek Towne Garden Club meeting is planned for February 23rd at the Mill Creek Towne Elementary School beginning at 7:30 p.m. Two Montgomery County Master Gardeners, Merikay Smith and LeeAnne Gelletly, will be speaking on “Children’s Gardens – Growing Gardeners”. This should be a great talk! We hope you can join us. We look forward to seeing you then! 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: Heather Whirley, Lynn Hughes

2016 Spring Gardening Conference
2016-02-20 08:30 - 14:30 | University of Maryland Extension Montgomery County Office, 18400 Muncaster Rd, Derwood, MD 20855, Derwood, MD, 20855, United States
$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 & Refreshments (8:30 – 9:00)
Welcome & Opening Remarks (9:00 – 9:15)
Session I (9:25 – 10:30)
A. Lawn vs Lore – Patricia Eng and Eric Wenger Do luscious lawns really require constant chemical care? Find out the truth about maintaining healthy turf in your landscape.
B. Designing a Right-Sized Garden – Susan Bell Overwhelmed at the prospect of gardening? Wondering how to downsize your landscape maintenance duties? Susan explores what elements create the most work in a garden and then discusses how to reduce or eliminate those tasks until you have a ‘right-sized’ garden that you can manage easily.
C. Healing Herbs – Heather Whirley Using herbs for healing is shrouded in mystery, going back centuries. Heather will highlight 15 herbs that can be grown in our area, with unique scientific properties that can aid in preventative medicine for overall health. This interactive class will include live and dried samples to smell and touch.
Session II (10:40 – 11:45)
D. Making the Most of the Soil You’ve Got – Mary Hagedorn Many folks bemoan “Maryland clay,” despite the fact that it has many advantages! And we actually don’t all have the same soil. There are many different soil types in our area. Find out how to tell what type of soil you have and tips to make the most of what you’ve got.
E. Creating a Children’s Garden: Growing Gardeners – LeeAnne Gelletly and Merikay Smith Gardening isn’t just for grownups! Inspire kids to learn more about the world of dirt, plants, and bugs. What makes a garden child-friendly? We’ll share garden elements that appeal to kids and ideas on how to incorporate these into your garden. Includes inspirations from public children’s gardens.
F. Managing Garden Pests – Marie Rojas Are organic pesticides always safer than synthetic ones? Come and discover what works and what doesn’t; which insects and diseases are common in our landscapes, and how to prevent them from becoming a problem in yours.
Lunch (12:00 – 1:00)
Informal lunchtime talks are open to anyone interested; register for one or both
Lasagna Gardens – Heather Zindash. Learn the “lasagna method” of gardening! Heather will show you how to create easy, no-till garden beds for food, flower, or ornamental plants.
Tools of the Trade – Joe Ginther. Get ready for spring! Joe will discuss and demonstrate garden tool sharpening and maintenance.
Session III (1:00 – 2:05)
G. Proper Pruning Practices – Do Plants Care? – Eric Wenger Is pruning harmful to plants? Find out the truth about how plants really feel about “surgery!”
H. Simple Seed Starting – Terri Pitts Think indoor seed starting takes lots of time and effort? Think again! Learn simple ways to start your seeds indoors and get a jump start on the growing season.
I. Going Native – Merikay Smith Do native plants really thrive in our gardens without care? Will planting natives really bring in more butterflies, birds, and pollinators? Come and learn how to successfully use native plants in your landscape – be it deer-ridden, shady or sunny, wet or dry, or sloped.
Wrap-up (2:15 – 2:30)
Open question-and-answer forum with presenters. Last of the fabulous door prizes will be awarded.

Have questions about EXPLODING THE MYTHS: Facts to Help You Avoid Common Gardening Mythstakes? Contact Montgomery County Master Gardeners

02/13/2016 - Maple Sugaring Days
2016-02-13 15:00 | MD
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.
Ages 3 & up

02/13/2016 - Make It Take It: Valentine Treat for the Birds.
2016-02-13 11:30 | MD
Share a valentine with our feathered friends. Drop by during program hours and create this seasonal delight to take home with you. No registration required. Exact change appreciated.
All ages
