Upcoming Events in the Mid-Atlantic

My dad swears that the best way to see the cherry blossoms is to get up very early on a weekend morning so you're downtown by or before 6 am... nobody else is around, and you can drive around and see all the beautiful blossoms, monuments, etc. You could probably even find street parking if you wanted to get out and walk around a little, but he wasn't there for the "sights" generally just for the cherry blossom views.

Of course, you don't see any of the "festival" that way, and I think there's generally a good bit going on, better some years than others.

Jill - When was the last time your father used this strategy? When I was a child we would eat dinner on the 4th of July, then drive downtown and actually park on the mall to watch the fireworks.

They did it when they visited us, hmm, probably at least 4 or 5 years ago.

Jill, I'm sure your Dad's plan would still be a good one. We had neighbors years ago who did that, even on a weekday, and it worked for them. Street parking might be a little tougher now, since they've changed the meter schedules, so guess you'd have to be very aware of when they begin enforcing parking.

I love walking around the blossoms, getting up close and personal (see photo) Even on a crowded weekday afternoon, there are plenty of spots to either just sit and enjoy, and lots of photo ops to be had as you stroll around.

Wow that your Dad can get down there so early - from your house?!!!! Kudos to him!

Another interesting talk in Leesburg, VA. This is sponsored by the Loudoun County Master Gardeners.

April 7. The Miracle of Spring, Our Native Wildflowers, Carol Ivory, Loudoun County Master Gardener. Carol started hiking the C&O Canal towpath in 2000 and couldn't help but fall in love with the native wildflowers along the Potomac. For the past 5 years she has been identifying and studying the wild flowers at Balls Bluff Regional Park. Learn about the great variety of wild flowers found at Balls Bluff and where you can buy native wildflowers that will do well in your garden.

Unless otherwise specified, all Association Meetings are held at 7 PM at the Loudoun County Extension Office, 30 Catoctin Circle SE, Suite B, Leesburg, VA 20175. Lower Level Conference Room.

Association meetings focus on a speaker of interest and are open to the general public.

Daylily---

That is an absolutely gorgeous picture of a Cherry Blossom!
You should frame it!!!
Gita

Thanks, Gita. It was one of those magical days, with bright blue skies, not much wind, and just the right light conditions. Doesn't happen very often! ;-)

Just got an e-mail today:

Free Pollinator Film on Tuesday May 10 at 7:00 pm in Shepherdstown, WV

On Tuesday May 10, 2011 at 7:00 pm The National Conservation Training Center will present the midatlantic Premiere of of the new film Queen of the Sun: What Are the Bees Telling Us? Filmmaker Taggart Siegel will introduce his new film and take questions from the audience. The screening will take place at the National Conservation Training Center, Shepherd Grade Road, Shepherdstown, WV 25443. This film is co-sponsored by the American Conservation Film Festival, Fresh and Local Community Supported Agriculture, and The Locavore Project – WV.

Queen of The Sun is an in-depth investigation to discover the causes and solutions behind Colony Collapse Disorder; a phenomenon where honeybees vanish from their hives, never to return. Queen of The Sun follows the voices and visions of beekeepers, philosophers, and scientists around the world, all struggling for the survival of the bees. The film unveils 10,000 years of beekeeping creating an engaging, alarming and ultimately uplifting film that weaves together a dramatic story that uncovers the problems and solutions in renewing a culture in balance with nature.

An independent filmmaker since the mid-1980’s, Taggart Siegel is best known as the director of the 2006 grass-roots hit The Real Dirt on Farmer John. This critically acclaimed feature documentary about a maverick visionary farmer, won 31 international film festivals awards and was released theatrically around the world.

The presentation is free and open to the public. No tickets or reservations are required. It is part of a monthly series of "NCTC Conservation Lectures” held at the National Conservation Training Center. For more information please contact Mark Madison at (304) 876-7276 or mark_madison@fws.gov
or check out our web page at: http://training.fws.gov/history/publiclectures.html

Herb Festival

Herb Festival on Saturday, May 28 - the Conservatory will be selling spring bulbs and annual plants. Volunteers will be needed to work the following shifts: 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. (unloading van - must be done by 9, so please be at our site by 8), setting up, selling); 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. (selling); 1 - 4 p.m. (selling, 3 p.m. - 4 p.m., shutting down and loading van). Our site is near the Food tents and Crimea Mansion. The event goes on rain or shine; bring water and dress for whatever weather is forecast for the day. We need multiple volunteers for all time slots. Leaking Park is on Windsor Mill Road, near with intersection with Forest Park Ave, close to Kernan Hospital.

DATE: 5/28/2011 (Sat.)

LOCATION: Leakin Park, Windsor Mill Rd & Forest Park

Last time we went there was a guy set up with a scale model coal fired train, the size that people sit on and ride.
Here's a link to lectures, there are also two bluegrass bands on the program
http://www.baltimoreherbfestival.com/program.htm

Thanks! I can see I need to update this thread again...

I need to plan ahead one of these years and save the date for that herb festival.

Are there any other special events on this coming holiday weekend that we should know about? If so, please post to share them!

Was wondering if anybody would be interested in a trip to Lancaster County for a day; We would be going to the Mennonite nursery where I get my rare plants (variegated Dogwood plants, Variegated Rose of Sharon, Variegated Lily of the valley and other neat stuff she has? Then going to another huge Mennonite nursery that has plants we don't have here in Cumberland County, and finally stopping at the Shady Maple Restaurant, also run by Mennonites, that has two Humongeous buffets and a dessert bar that is not only large & lots of selections but has a big sugar free section, as well. Let me know if there is any interest and I can set up a thread for it. Thanks. and if we have time, I can take you to a nursery near us that has only shade plants all hardy here.

This message was edited May 25, 2011 6:42 PM

Buttoneer----

Do you have a date for this event?????

Thanks....Gita

Buttoneer-

We'd sure be interested. When are you thinking of doing the trip?

Pat

Ok, here is the thread for this trip. It will either be Wednesday, June 8 or Saturday June 25, depending on how many people are available for each date.

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1185070/

Thanks, Buttoneer

Wow! This summer has just been flying by. I hope we'll be able to get a good schedule of festivals, garden shows, etc. posted for fall, and hopefully we'll get a few group expeditions together.

Meanwhile, I'm happy to announce that the fall plant swap party will be Saturday, Sept. 10, hosted by yours truly. Here's the thread: http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1207616/ I hope to see you there!

Edible Landscaping (in Afton, Virginia) is hosting its Fall Fruit Festival on Saturday, Sep 24. Tours on the hour from 10AM - 5PM. Many items on sale at 50%.

These are a lot of fun; my wife and I try to go and ogle their plants every year.

Announcement is here:

http://www.ediblelandscaping.com/workshops.php?id=7

Thanks! I've added it to the list at the top. :-)

"Wild Western Prince William County Farm Tour", at various locations in Prince William County, Virginia.

Saturday, September 24 from 10 - 4PM
Sunday, September 25 from 12 - 4PM

The web page is http://www.pwcfarmtour.com/index.html

Haven't ever been to any of them, but that doesn't stop me from recommending the Christmas tree farm (I talked to the son of the owner about it, and it's a fascinating business), and Yankey Farms, which sells tasty produce locally.

Thanks; added it, too! :-)

One of these days, my schedule will be such that I can make it to one of the events I post! Sounds pretty cool, plus there is free food. For what more could one wish?

"Agricultural Options for the Small Landowner

Virginia State University and Virginia Cooperative Extension in Prince William are hosting a panel discussion to explore a range of growing and marketing strategies for small landowners. This workshop is targeted to the new, beginning and part-time farmer who is interested in creating and maximizing profits from their land. A particular focus will be on the availability of resources open to the new grower who is still learning what to grow, how to increase production and how to sell it at a profit.

Thursday, November, 10, 2011, 6:30 - 9:00 pm, at the Old Courthouse, 9246 Lee Street, Manassas VA 20110-5073

REGISTRATION REQUESTED - call 703-792-7747 or e-mail master_gardener@pwcgov.org

THIS PROGRAM IS FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

AGENDA

6:30 pm - Meet and Greet (light refreshments provided)

7:00 pm - Guided panel discussion

8:15 pm - Question and answer session

Refreshments kindly sponsored by Farm Bureau and Farm Credit

The panel will include:

Francis Ngoh, a shitake mushroom farmer from Goldvein, VA; selling product to Whole Foods Market and developing his organic certification

Rick Crofford, an asparagus and berry grower from Botha VA; Part-time grower, producing 6 acres; marketing through an online produce supply

Jay Yankey, a mixed produce farmer from Nokesville, VA; selling seasonally at farm and markets stands, wholesale, and CSA"

https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=1ASC3VIq2hEW2MynvRfiKsaGEmQxdngd51Px_Nhtad0EqTyTfarChIXrx6EeY&hl=en&pli=1

Butterfly talk in Leesburg!

Pat just sent this in -- thanks, ecnalg!

Butterflies in Winter ― Sunday, January 15, 1:30 – 3:00 p.m. Registration Required. Location is Rust Library in Leesburg. Did you leave your garden a little "messy" at the end of the season? Well, hidden in old flower stems or tucked away in a hibernaculum, an egg or caterpillar may be waiting out the chill. And what about the adults? Well - there just may be butterflies in that leaf pile!Where do butterflies go in the winter? How do they hibernate? In what form? How does a miniscule egg form into a beautiful creature of flight? Can you raise butterfly eggs to adulthood for release? Nicole Hamilton will answer all of these questions, show you some overwintering chrysalids and more! Learn how you can help butterfly populations and encourage butterflies to over-winter in your very own backyard. For those interested, following the program, we'll walk around the habitat restoration area and see what signs of butterflies we can find. This free program is sponsored by Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy. Sign up online. For questions, contact Nicole Hamilton at nhamilton@loudounwildlife.org

If there's any interest in a lunch & plant/seed swap
in the Greater Philly area please let me know.
I'm thinking perhaps the 2nd or 3rd week in April and
holding it in a restaurant near the Christmas Tree Shop
in Cherry Hill, NJ, but I'm open to suggestions as well.

Cris

that would be doable

Great idea! We need more Mid-Atlantic swaps and parties in different locations and different times... everybody can't attend every event, much as we'd like to, but the more events we have the more likely that at least one of them will work for you. It's a blast to meet "in person" some of the folks you've come to know online. Thanks, Cris!

Cris, could you please start an "interest" or an "organization" thread for it in the Mid-Atlantic forum? I'll add a link to the first post in this thread.
.
I'm going to check date/cost with Chef Lin tomorrow, and then I'll put up the threads for the "Think Spring!" seed swap in Frederick. I made a couple of cute thumbnail photos for them today. :-) If you're unable to attend the Frederick or Philly area swaps, it may be possible to participate by mail (at least in the Feb. swap). People have taken part in the Frederick swap this way in the past, by pairing up with a volunteer "seed fairy" who will be at the swap (and essentially act as their proxy).

Cris, hope you get a group going!

critterologist- I'll be your money handler again if youd lke. The least I can do!

Thanks, Sally, I'll sure take you up on that! I seem to go in six different directions at once during these things, so it's great to have that taken care of. It's also good to know you're planning to come! (note to Cris... delegation is good! :-)

Chris Ric and I would be interested.
Also we are planning on hosting a Plant Swap probably in May.

OK! The organization thread is up for the Frederick seed swap: http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1237685/

And I just got a flyer from PHS about the 2012 Philly Int'l Flower Show. Theme this year is "Hawaii: Islands of Aloha." I can't wait! http://www.theflowershow.com/ShowInfo/index.html

If you want to try to get a group together for the flower show, just start a thread in the MAG forum, and I'll link it to the event list at the top. :-)

That would be great Cris!!!!

I think a seed/plant swap sounds like great fun and I'd love to attend if it's not Apr 28, which is the date of our garden club plant sale in Mt. Laurel. I'd like it better if it was into the first part of May though. I have coleus I could bring, but sometimes it's too cold for them to be outside in Apr. I t hink the location of Cherry Hill, NJ near Christmas Tree Shop would be ideal.

This message was edited Jan 20, 2012 8:10 AM

One of the reasons I'm leaning towards the 3rd week of April is
that the last "frost" date is around the 15th. So for those who still
want seeds it won't be too late to plant yet for those of us who start
early we'll have seedlings to share.

It also is after all the holy days for the month no-one is excluded.
Will double post this in the "Philly Interest" post in the Mid-Atlantic
Gardening area

April 28 the Mt. Laurel Garden Club is having it's annual plant sale. Plants are really inexpensive. Mostly perennials, some coleus and other annuals. It's at the Mt. Laurel Library, 100 Whitman in Mt. Laurel, from 9am to noon. Frequently we sell out by 11am.
Just off Rt 38.

Sale is outside the library near the front door. There is also a used book sale taking place inside the library. Plant sale takes place rain or shine. Plants range from $2 to about $7. Can't guarantee nothing over $7, but MOST are $2 to $7. Mostly perennials, a few annuals, including coleus.

This message was edited Feb 27, 2012 2:33 PM

Not too far from where my DD lives. I'll definitely put this on my calendar and try to get there, thank you!!!!

I will put it on my NE calendar as well

If you come to the MLGC plant sale, ask for Coleuslover (Shirley). It would be nice to meet you. I will probably be there most of the time.

Ric and I would come. We would be likely to bring small pants rather than seeds.

Yippee! No more naked garden gnomes after Holly & Ric arrive.

Sounds like a road trip to me!!!