HORThappenings

By Melinda Thompson Landscape Designers Dupont Circle Meet-Up

The Landscape Designers’ Group hosted a Garden Tour and Happy Hour Celebration on Monday, November 8. The tour met at the house of a client of the designer, Amy Chaffman of The Pampered Garden. Tony Weaver, a member of the Landscape Designers’ Group (LDG) and the new president of the club, said the attendees listened to Chaffman explain the design and her process. “We looked at the work that she had done there,” said Weaver. “They replaced the stone patio, installed the fire pit, and modified plantings and the water feature as well. It was a beautiful space.” A good turn-out of about 16 to 18 people toured Chaffman’s home, in two waves over the four-hour period, Weaver said. The waves consisted of one in the beginning and one later in the evening. Along with the tour, the Landscape Designers’ Group was meeting to honor Adele Ashkar, who was retiring from the George Washington University Landscape Design Program. They also held a vote for LDG president due to Julie Hawley stepping down. Weaver was announced as the new president. o

Washington Youth Garden Garlic Festival

an educational program by Friends of the National Arboretum (FONA), supported by the U.S. National Arboretum, hosted their annual Garlic Planting Party. There, people of all ages gathered to enjoy the festivities planned, including garlic and bulb plantings, fall leaf crafts, and herbal tarot card readings. Brianne Studer, the Washington Youth Garden Director of Programs, said, “The garlic planting party was a great way to celebrate the growing season we’ve had at Washington Youth Garden and the people who helped us get there. We’ve harvested and donated over 5,500 pounds of food this year, and our volunteers, teachers, families, and visitors came out to celebrate with us by making fall leaf crafts, planting garlic, harvesting sweet potatoes, enjoying delicious food, and exploring our garden. It was so fun to be in the garden space with so many people again.” Children and adults alike got their hands dirty to plant garlic bulbs. A fun treat was included: food sampling! People were able to try fermented garlic-honey on a piece of bread, scooped from a mason jar. For a Halloween treat, various pies and other garlic-forward dishes were also available to sample. While most of the bulbs were planted by the end of the day, some of the extras were given away to guests for their home gardens. o

Daffodil Bulb Planting

The annual Veterans Day Daffodil Bulb Planting was held again on November 11 at Jesup Blair Park on the border of Washington, DC, and Silver Spring, MD. Members of the Silver Spring Garden Club and additional volunteer guests planted almost 800 daffodil bulbs. The daffodils can be found in bloom next March on either side of the mansion in the urban park. In the last few years, the club has planted several thousand daffodil bulbs on the site to honor those lost in the World Wars.

Founded in 1942, the Silver Spring Garden Club brings together garden enthusiasts in the spirit of education, conservation, and volunteer service. A core component of the organization’s mission involves beautifying parts of the local community. This tradition of service has remained steadfast throughout the decades. o

Melinda Thompson is a senior journalism major with a vocal performance minor and a concentration in women’s studies at the University of Maryland, College Park, MD. She is an intern this fall with Washington Gardener.