LOCALevents

Classes, Events, and Plant Shows/Sales

• Through April 24 Orchids: Hidden Stories of Groundbreaking Women On January 29, the Smithsonian Gardens and the U.S. Botanic Garden opened their 26th annual orchid exhibition in the Robert and Arlene Kogod Courtyard of the Smithsonian American Art Museum and National Portrait Gallery. The exhibition “unearths” stories of women who have enriched the understanding and appreciation of orchids. It is free and open during museum hours.

• Saturday, February 19, 9am–2pm 2022 Spring Conference The Montgomery County Master Gardeners invite county residents and all interested gardeners to their spring conference. It focuses on sharing information that will help local gardeners create and maintain sustainable gardens to enjoy now and for years to come. It will be held via Zoom. Registration link: https://2022mcmgconference.eventbrite.com.

• Thursday, February 24, 6:30–8pm Garden Book Club Discuss The Well-Gardened Mind: The Restorative Power of Nature by Sue Stuart-Smith. You can order it at https://amzn.to/3HxDUhk. To join us for this Zoom meeting, register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwtduurpjwvH9M4PaEpk21e421 SriSQD3ky.

• Friday, February 25, 7–8pm Roses 101 To help your roses thrive and to get the most out of their colorful blooms, join Kathy Jentz for this informative class hosted by Homestead Gardens. This class will be a virtual presentation that covers how to choose the right rose for your garden, types of roses, and general care. This class is free, but requires registration. Participants will receive a coupon to use on the store’s selection of 2022 roses and rose care products. Register at https://homesteadgardens. com/. • Saturday, February 26, 12:30–4pm Washington Gardener Seed Exchange at Brookside Gardens in Wheaton, MD. You must pre-register to attend at: WGSeedEx.brownpapertickets.com.

• Sunday, February 26, 3–4pm Seed Starting for the Spring & Summer Garden With food shortages and supply chain issues, never has growing your own harvest been more popular as a solution for feeding yourself and your family reliably delicious produce. Learn how to plan your spring and summer harvest garden, whether you’re using a large plot, a small yard, or even a patio! Kathy Jentz will teach participants about frost and freeze dates in our area, how to combine plants to make the most of your space, and how to plant seeds for harvest success. This class is free, but registration is required. Participants will receive a coupon to purchase Homestead Garden’s seed starting kit. Register at https://homesteadgardens.com/.

• Saturday, March 5, 1–2pm Getting the Most Out of Small-Space Urban Gardens Virtual Program Using examples from area gardens, Kathy Jentz will illustrate basic design principles for maximizing garden space. Get ideas for common small-space challenges, such as creating privacy, adding light to shady areas, and finding lowbudget design solutions. This program will be presented virtually. A Zoom link will be emailed no later than the morning of the program. Fee: $15 per person. Code 4PD.8XP8. Register online at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/parktakes or call Green Spring Gardens at 703642-5173.

Looking Ahead

• Saturday, March 26, 11:30am Seasonal Containers for Food and Beauty (Online Lecture) Container gardens bring joy, particularly in an urban setting. From edible plantings to unexpected scents, containers can add seasonal lift no matter what size pot is available. During this online lecture, join Teresa Speight, owner, Cottage In The Court, author of Black Flora (coming spring 2022), and co-author, The Urban Garden: 101 Ways to Grow Food and Beauty In The City (coming spring 2022), as she shares hints, tips, and suggestions that can add value to basic containers, all while they are simply beautiful. Free, but pre-registration required. Go to https://www.usbg. gov/OnlinePrograms.

• Saturday, March 26, 9am–3pm Native Plants: Forces for Conservation and Community The 35th Annual Lahr Symposium returns with its tradition of presenting subject matter experts on ecological, botanical, and horticultural advancements in a daylong program. Join the U.S. National Arboretum to learn and find inspiration from the invited speakers. This year’s program will be held virtually. It highlight the role of public gardens in native plant awareness and explore research about the impact of woodland wildlife on the dispersal and evolution of oak species. For more details, contact programs.usna@ars. usda.gov.

• Sunday, March 27, 9am–2pm Native Plant Sale This sale will take place along Meadow Road between the U.S. National Arboretum’s Visitor Center and National Herb Garden, and will feature several native plant vendors. Be prepared to wear a mask when browsing plants and interacting with vendors. Registration is preferred, but not required. See https:// www.fona.org/.

Event Listing Updates

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How to Submit Events

To submit an event for this listing, email washingtongardenermagazine@gmail. com with “Event” in the subject line. Our next deadline is March 5 for the March 2022 issue, for events taking place after March 15. o