February General meeting and Monarch Butterfly Program
Sandy Spring Museum Garden
General Meeting and Program – February 8
Bring
back the butterflies! Join the Garden Club 3-5pm (note time change due
to the Winter Farmer’s Market open from 10-2pm at the museum) for an in-depth presentation
on Creating Monarch Waystations from renowned naturalist and
conservation specialist, Denise Gibbs. Learn about the state of various
species of butterflies and the basics of butterfly gardening. To get
a jump on the spring, we will launch our own conservation project by
propagating the native milkweeds that are essential to the monarch life
cycle.
Connecting People and Monarchs
Resources Guide for Parks, Nature Centers & Nature Preserves
Compiled by Denise Gibbs, Monarch Conservation Specialist, Monarch Watch, d.gibbs@monarchwatch.org
in cooperation with Monarch Joint Venture and National Recreation & Park Association
Where to purchase milkweed plants
Monarch Watch’s Milkweed Market http://monarchwatch.org/milkweed/market/
(pesticide-free plugs, species native to your ecoregion)
Other milkweed vendors
http://monarchwatch.org/milkweed/market/index.php?function=search&table_name=vendors
State by state: contact your local arboretum and local native plant society for info on native plant sales.
Free milkweed plants for schools and nonprofits
Monarch Watch http://monarchwatch.org/bring-back-the-monarchs/milkweed/free-milkweeds
Where to purchase milkweed seeds
The Xerces Society’s Project Milkweed “Find Sources of Native Milkweed in Your State, Milkweed Seed Finder”
http://www.xerces.org/milkweed/
Monarch Watch’s Monarch Waystation Seed Kit: http://monarchwatch.org/waystations/seed_kit.html
For Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions: Ernst Conservation Seeds http://www.ernstseed.com/
Collecting milkweed seeds
Nicole Hamilton of the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy shows you how to remove seeds from the milkweed
seedpod in this YouTube video-- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7LV1tDHK1c
Monarch Joint Venture; hand collecting and mechanical harvesting
http://monarchjointventure.org/news-events/news/milkweed-seed-harvesting-and-prairie-restoration
Maryland Native Plant Society’s guidelines for responsible collecting of native plant seeds
http://www.mdflora.org/Resources/Publications/GardenersGuidelines/gguidelines02.pdf
Native Plant Society of Texas, collecting milkweed seeds, with photos showing perfect time for harvesting
seedpods at http://npsot.org/wp/story/2014/5885/
Creative ideas for sowing or broadcasting seeds
Seed balls http://organicgardening.about.com/od/organicgardening101/ht/How-To-Make-Seed-Balls.htm
Save the dates: April 12 Courtyard Gardening Social and Plant Swap May 16 Garden Tour June 6 Strawberry Festival Visit our Facebook page: Sandy Spring Museum Garden Club
2015 Spring Gardening Conference by Mont Co Master Gardeners
2015 Spring Gardening Conference
Presented by the Montgomery County Master Gardeners
Adapt, Evolve, Engage:
Gardenin Strategies for Today and Beyond
Saturday, February 21, 2015*University of Maryland Extension Montgomery County Office, 18410 Muncaster Rd., Derwood, MD
$55 per person or $100 for two, includes lunch
*Snow date – February 28, 2015 (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. Landscape Tricks of the Trade – Susan Bell
Susan will share tips and short cuts she has gathered over the years through her design/build/maintenance firm. Learn how to achieve design goals, resolve common mistakes, and improve your property value. Susan will also help you understand how to create healthy gardens and streamline your maintenance routine.
B. Capsicum College – Eric Wenger
From sweet to heat, if you love peppers, this class is for you! Come find out how to successfully grow, harvest, eat, and store all sorts of peppers from Eric, the Chile Master!
C. Water Gardens: An Engaging Ecosystem – Heather Zindash
Water gardens create a cool oasis, bringing peace and tranquility to any landscape. Whether a container water garden or an in-ground pond, adding a water feature will add a focal point to your landscape. Creating its own engaging ecosystem, it will attract and support beneficial bugs and local wildlife for your enjoyment and education. It will even attract friends and family!
Session II (10:40 – 11:45)
D. Bees, Beneficials and Blooms – Marie Rojas
Want to help the honeybees and other pollinators, but confused about what plants to put in your garden? Interested in attracting all of those insect “good guys” to your property, so that they’ll do some of the pest management for you? Learn what to plant and why and find out who’s providing what ecosystem services to your landscape.
E. Maximizing Small Garden Spaces – Susan Bell
Do you love to garden, but don’t have a lot of room? Susan will provide space saving ideas for smaller, urban gardens – from townhouse lots to apartment balconies. Emphasis will be on techniques for growing and maintaining a variety of plant combinations in confined spaces or containers.
F. DIY Irrigation – Les Rucker
Water is crucial for establishing new plantings and during prolonged drought. While some find great solitude in holding the
hose for hours on end, most of us are looking for an alternative –
particularly when planning to be away. Learn about affordable alternatives to commercially installed irrigation systems. Hear what Les has done to ensure that his garden receives the right amount of water and only when it is needed.
Lunch (12:00 – 1:00)
Informal lunchtime talks are open to anyone interested:
Master Gardener Demonstration Garden – Darlene Nicholson
Come learn all about this free resource for gardeners, right here at the Ag History Farm Park! This short presentation will highlight aspects of the wonderful demo garden – herbs, water features, perennial shade garden, deer deterrent planting,
children’s garden, butterfly garden, and planting structures.
Plant Clinics and How to Use Them – Plant Clinic team member
Got gardening questions? Plant Clinics have the answers! We have walk-in clinics 11 months of the year, nearly every day of the week, in Montgomery County. We’ll fill you in on what we do and how to best utilize this invaluable service.
Session III (1:00 – 2:05)
G. Lawns, Landscapes, the Environment and You – Eric Wenger
Learn about what is polluting the Chesapeake Bay, where the pollution is coming from, and what you can do about it.
H. Perennial Shade Gardens – Les Rucker
Les will give a brief overview of the importance of light, soil and moisture, and then share his personal perennial shade garden strategies. Special emphasis will be given to hydrangeas, as Les grows many species and varieties.
I. A Few of Our Favorite Herbs – Pat Kenny and Heather Whirley
Pat and Heather will define herbs, discuss in detail how to grow them, what parts to harvest, and how to use them. They’ll cover their top 15 herbs – an assortment of annuals, perennials, biennials and bulbs/rhizomes. Their combined knowledge includes 50+ years of growing (and killing) herbs, just the right recipe for learning!
Wrap-up (2:15 – 2:30)
Open question-and-answer forum with presenters. Last of the fabulous door prizes will be awarded.Click here to register: http://mcmgconference.eventbrite.com
2015 Garden Club Programs and Events
We hope everyone had a delightful time with their family and friends over the holiday. The Sandy Spring Museum Garden Club has many wonderful events and activities planned for 2015. As you're getting your 2015 organized, we thought that you would like to put these dates on your calendar:
General Meeting and Program – February 8Bring back the butterflies! Join the Garden Club 3-5pm (note time change due to the Winter Farmer’s Market open from 10-2pm at the museum) for an in-depth presentation on Creating Monarch Waystations from renowned naturalist and conservation specialist, Denise Gibbs. Learn about the state of various species of butterflies and the basics of butterfly gardening. To get a jump on the spring, we will launch our own conservation project by propagating the native milkweeds that are essential to the monarch life cycle. Please help us meet the demand for project supplies by sending an RSVP to Chelsea.Soneira@gmail.com no later than February 1.Trip to the National Cathedral and Afternoon Tea – February 10thJoin us on Tuesday February10th from 12:30-4:30.Enjoy an in-depth Cathedral tour followed by afternoon English tea with sandwiches, scones, and a scenic view of Washington. The tour begins inside the nave, directly through the west entrance on Wisconsin Avenue. Tea follows at 2:45 pm in the Pilgrim Observation Gallery. The cost is $30 per person (no Cathedral admission fee is required).Checks for $30 should be made out to SSMGC and mailed toKathy Gaskill at 19709 Golden Valley Lane, Brookeville, MD 20833.Courtyard Gardening Social and Plant Swap - April 12thBeat those winter blues and join the Garden Club as we celebrate the return of the growing season by getting our hands dirty! There is something for everyone at our Courtyard Gardening Social and Plant Swap on April 12th from 2- 4 pm. Bring your gloves and dig in as we clean, divide and plant and make labels. Get ready to add something special to your own garden, too, as we will cap off our afternoon with a plant and seed swap. Please bring a plant and/or seeds for the swap and a bag to carry home cuttings from our garden cleanup! To help with planning, please RSVP to Chelsea.Soneira@gmail.com by April 1 and note what kind of gardening role you want for the day.Garden Tour – May 16thBe inspired at the Garden Tour on May 16! Immerse yourself in local flora, food and fine art by touring five fabulous gardens located on the North New Hampshire Avenue Corridor. Then, celebrate over wine and hors d'oeuvres at a special sixth garden from 4:00-6:00 p.m. You will be able to enjoy the full event for $30, or you will be able to purchase individual tickets for the tour ($15), lunch ($8) and Wine in the Garden ($10). There will be further information on how to purchase tickets and, of course, opportunities to volunteer, so keep watching your inbox!Sandy Spring Museum Strawberry Festival – June 6thEveryone enjoys the Strawberry Festival; you won’t to miss it. The Garden Club has plans for planting seedlings and plants at two local high school greenhouses. As you are looking at the seed catalogs this winter, think about your seedling and plant donations.Questions contact Andrea Mohr the Plant Booth Chair at thatsamohre@aol.comStay connected to the Sandy Spring Museum Garden Club by joining us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sandy-Spring-Museum-Garden-Club/384895391667140)
Greens Sale Success
We want to thank everyone that came out and helped with this year’s Greens Workshop and Sale. The wreaths, arrangements and swags were absolutely beautiful. We had an absolutely marvelous sale this year.We appreciate the support of all our friends and members without them we would not have had such a successful sale . We want to give a special thanks to Sunny Banvard our amazing Greens Sale Committee Chair for her dedication and hard work throughout the year. We also want to acknowledge Kathy Gaskill and Mary Dominique for their leadership in Greens Collection and Breakdown. Finally we recognize Penny Sidell for all the hours she spent working behind the scene.Again thank you all for your help,Amy Cohen and Pat Ebner, Co-Presidents
Prepping for the Holiday Greens Workshops
Snippy Tree Trimmers and Breakdown Buddies Prep for the Holiday Greens Workshops
Garden club members have been braving the cold to cut greens this week.
Back at the Basement Workshop, our eager elves have been busy breaking down the large branches. Boxwood was sorted and cut for wreaths and kissing balls and coloful mixed greens were made into beautiful wreaths using the marvelous "Wreath-o-matic".
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Jane and Julie having fun with the wreaths.
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