Garden Club News

The Garden Club had a wonderful program on Roses presented by Carol Allen last month. As a rose grower of many types of roses, she revealed a wealth of history on the many cultivars of roses as well as personal experience on the growing habits, blooms, fragrance and care of roses. Pruning was well covered in this talk.

The video recording of the talk can be found HERE.

GARDEN CLUB – POP-UP PLANT SALE

Saturday, May 15 at10:00 am - 2:00 pm

What would the spring time be without a Garden Club Plant Sale?!

One day only! A pop-up shop featuring locally-grown flowers, herbs, vegetables, grasses, and more; all raised with love by members of the Garden Club. All plants are available on a first-come-first-served basis. Quantities are limited so come early to get your favorites.

Museum members will have the first hour of the event to themselves! The on-site sale will open at 10:00 am for Museum Members and Garden Club Members and at 11:00 am for the general public. Click here to confirm your membership status. Click here to become a member today.

Hanging baskets are available for pre-sale only to be picked up the day of the event.

You can expect to find:

Unique varieties of vegetables such as Heirloom Tomatoes, Shishito Peppers, and Long Island Cheese Pumpkin
Herbs such as Thai Basil, Thyme, and Italian Parsley
Annuals such as Geraniums and Snap Dragon
Perennials such as Agastache and Bleeding Heart
Grasses

Garden Club members have been busy growing vegetables and annuals in local greenhouses.

From the 2020 Plant Sale

Garden Tour

When planning your summer travel in the northeast, you may like to make a detour to see the Heritage Museum and Gardens in Sandwich, Mass. This year marks the 100th anniversary of Charles Dexter purchasing the land where he began his rhododendron hybridizing work. The North American Hydrangea Test Garden showcases some of the newest hydrangea cultivars on the market. Additionally, the McInnes Garden will continue the pollinator theme, while the Garden of the Senses will feature a newly planted succulent area as well as more herbaceous perennials.

Amy snapped many photos during her 2020 trip to Massachusetts

A few of our local flower displays include:

Schwartz Peony Garden

Peony Garden in Seneca Creek State Park The Schwartz Peony Garden is a living reminder of one of the great commercial horticulture operations in Montgomery County. Now located in Seneca Creek State Park’s Day Use area, the garden was originally planted at Summit Avenue in downtown Gaithersburg.

Between 1915 and 1924 a prosperous real estate broker and flower fancier, Mr. Edwin P. Schwartz, collected heirloom peonies from dealers in Holland, France, England and Germany as well as the United States. Mr Schwartz’s mansion home, which once overlooked the garden, is now Gaithersburg City Hall. By the 1920s the family had become prominent peony root stock dealers, publishing a catalog offering hundreds of different varieties for order by mail. In the 1940s the family moved their commercial garden operations to five acres in what is now Seneca Creek State Park.

Thousands of individual peony plants in scores of varieties still bloom in the park every May and June. Visit the display garden and walk the open fields to enjoy the spectacular flowers in all their colors and varieties.

Brighton Dam Azalea Garden

Roses at the Franciscan Monastery

McCrillis Gardens

Winterthur Gardens

Beyond the Garden Gates, Downtown Frederick Garden Tours
May 15-16

Havre de Grace Garden Tour and Mart

The Philadelphia Flower Show June 5-13

More info and tickets here

Gardening Hints

Use coffee filters in the bottom of pots to keep the soil from leaking out the bottom.
Dust cinnamon on top of the soil to prevent fungus from killing small seedlings. It can also be useful as a rooting hormone on stem cuttings.
For deep planters, fill the bottom with old cans, water bottles and plant pots. This will improve drainage and make the planter lighter.
Put old sponges into the bottom of a plant pot that dries out quickly.
Use a post hole digger when planting larger plants, shrubs or trees.
Place an empty soda bottle or milk jug, with small holes punched in the bottom, near newly planted tomatoes or shrubs to fill with water. It will release slowly.

What's Blooming in your Garden?

Marge's Grecian windflower

Trillium

Serviceberry

Bloodroot

Virginia Bluebells

Redbud

Supporting Food Insecurity in Montgomery County

A collaborative effort between Harvest Share, the Master Gardeners and the Rainbow Community Development Center, called Growing Healthy Futures, provided materials for creating a green garden out of repurposed crates and educational materials needed to successfully plant, grow and harvest the vegetables. Additionally, throughout the summer, some of our Garden Club members provide fresh produce to this community outreach center through Harvest Share.