Indoors and Out, Opportunities to Enrich Your Knowledge

By Joel M. Lerner
Saturday, November 24, 2007

Here are some horticultural events scheduled for December and January.

The District

Now through Jan. 6: " A Midnight Clear." Check out the model train garden, as well as the miniature replica of the Mall, crafted from plant materials. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Hours extend to 8 p.m. on Dec. 4, 6, 11, 13, 18, 20 and 27. Free. U.S. Botanic Garden, 100 Maryland Ave. SW. 202-225-8333, http://www.usbg.gov.

Dec. 1, 2: Holiday Wreaths Workshop. Create a designer-quality wreath; a selection of freshly cut greens, seasonal materials and other supplies is provided. Dec. 1, 9 a.m.-noon; Dec. 2, 1-4 p.m. Fee: $59. Registration required. U.S. National Arboretum, 3501 New York Ave. NE. 202-245-2726, http://www.usna.usda.gov.

Dec. 1: Family Workshop: Holiday Greenery. Join horticulturist Bill Johnson to create easy-to-make decorations from fresh greens. For ages 5 and up. Children must be accompanied by an adult. All supplies provided. Reservations required. 11 a.m.-noon. Fee: $5 per person. Hillwood Estate, Museum and Gardens, 4155 Linnean Ave. NW. 202-686-5807, http://www.hillwoodmuseum.org.

Dec. 7, 8: Wreath Making. Fashion a wreath tree from cedar boughs, magnolia leaves, berry-laden holly, pine cones and boxwood. All materials provided. Dec. 7, 10-11:30 a.m. or 2-3:30 p.m.; Dec. 8, 10-11:30 a.m. Fee: $35. Registration required. Tudor Place Historic House and Garden, 1644 31st St. NW. 202-965-0400, http://www.tudorplace.org.

Dec. 8-16: Winter Silhouette Bonsai/Penjing Exhibit. A display of trees from the permanent collection, after they have shed their leaves, showing the structure and beauty of bonsai. 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Free. U.S. National Arboretum.

Dec. 8: Holiday Wreath Workshop. Make a wreath with a mix of evergreens, cones and ribbon. Bring additional decorations and your own pruners. 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. or 1:30-3:30 p.m. Fee: $40. Registration required. U.S. Botanic Garden.

Dec. 15: Holiday Herbal Gifts. Make spa products, home remedies and skin balms for gardeners. Recipes, ingredients and materials provided. 1-4 p.m. Fee: $28. Registration required. U.S. Botanic Garden.

Dec. 26, 27; Jan. 22, 23: Full-Moon Hike. Join an arboretum staff member on a five-mile hike, rain or shine, for ages 16 and older. Dress appropriately. Dec. 26 and 27, 8-10 p.m.; Jan. 22 and 23, 7-9 p.m. Fee: $19. Registration required. U.S. National Arboretum.

Jan. 9: Houseplant Care. Can't garden outside? Focus your energy on houseplants. Learn about plant pests and basic care. Noon-1:30 p.m. Free. Registration requested. U.S. Botanic Garden.

Jan. 15: Prevention Strategies for Invasive Species. Learn approaches to prevent the spread of invasive species. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Fee: $55. Lunch provided. Registration required. U.S. National Arboretum.

Jan. 17, 24, 31, Feb. 7, 14, 21: Landscape Design for Homeowners. Through slides, hands-on exercises and homework assignments, this workshop series will provide the tools to transform your garden. 6:30-9 p.m. Fee: $180. Registration required. U.S. Botanic Garden.

Jan. 17: The Gardens of the Adachi Museum of Art. Museum staff members will show the art of Adachi and its connection to the surrounding gardens, called "living paintings." 7-9 p.m. Free. Registration required. U.S. National Arboretum.

Maryland

Dec. 1 through Jan. 6: Year of the Tree. The Washington, Virginia, Maryland Garden Railway Society will run trains through the South Conservatory. The railway will wind through a miniature tree farm and forested parkland. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. Brookside Gardens, 1800 Glenallan Ave., Wheaton. 301-962-1400, http://www.brooksidegardens.org.

Now through Jan. 6: Garden of Lights. The creative spirit of Brookside shines in a half-mile walk glowing with more than 600,000 lights. Displays represent the four seasons. 5:30-9 p.m.; closed Christmas Eve and night and New Year's Eve. Fee: $15 per car. Brookside Gardens.

Dec. 1: Weed Warriors. Join Friends of Sligo Creek and certified Weed Warriors in removing invasive plants along Sligo Creek, Sligo Creek Stream Valley Park and Long Branch Stream Valley Park. Dress appropriately. Canceled in severe weather. 9-11 a.m. Registration required. For information, call Carol Hayes, 202-686-0904; Sally Gagne, 301-588-2071; or the Weed Warriors natural resources management program, 301-942-4709, http://www.fosc.org.

Dec. 2: Winter Wildflower Identification. Not all herbaceous plants disappear in the winter. Join Audubon naturalist staff on a walk through Woodend Sanctuary and Rock Creek Park to identify weeds and wildflowers and examine seed dispersal. 1-4:30 p.m. Free. Registration required. Audubon Naturalist Society Woodend Sanctuary, 8940 Jones Mill Rd., Chevy Chase, 301-652-9188, http://www.audubonnaturalist.org.

Dec. 8: Wreath Workshop. Create a unique wreath using fragrant, freshly cut greens such as variegated boxwood, holly, gold and blue chamaecyparis, and Japanese umbrella pine. 10 a.m.-noon. Fee: $40. Registration required. Brookside Gardens.

Dec. 13: Wreath Making. Make an evergreen wreath. Bring pruning shears and gloves. 5:30-7 p.m. Fee: $25. Registration required. Meadowside Nature Center, Rock Creek Regional Park, 5100 Meadowside Lane, Rockville. 301-924-4141, http://www.meadowsidenature.org.

Jan. 13: Weed Warriors. Join Weed Warrior Peter Gray on the Capital Crescent Trail, removing invasive plants. Dress appropriately. 1-3:30 p.m. Registration required. Canceled in severe weather. Meet at the parking lot of St. Dunstan Episcopal Church, 5450 Massachusetts Ave., Bethesda. Call Weed Warriors program, 301-942-4709, for information.

Jan. 19: through April 13: Spring Display. Colors and fragrances of spring come to the conservatories. Orchids, camellias, jasmine and a variety of bulbs and flowering plants create a contrast to the landscape outdoors. Plants change monthly. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. Brookside Gardens.

Jan. 26: The Plight of the American Chestnut Tree. Efforts are being made to bring back this emblem of the American landscape. Identify trees on this brisk walk in the park. Warm refreshments. 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Fee: $2. Registration required. Black Hill Visitor Center, Black Hill Regional Park, 20926 Lake Ridge Dr., Boyds. 301-916-0220, http://www.blackhillnature.org.

Virginia

Dec. 1: Wreaths With Individuality. Compose your own. Fee includes materials. Bring special decorations, pruners and wire cutters. 2-4 p.m. Fee: $45. Green Spring Gardens Park, 4603 Green Spring Rd., Alexandria, 703-642-5173, http://www.greenspring.org.

Dec. 2: Wreath Workshop. Make your own wreath or centerpiece Using local greens, pine cones and other natural materials. 1 p.m. Fee: $10. Registration required. Potomac Overlook Regional Park, 2845 N. Marcey Rd., Arlington. 703-528-5406, http://www.nvrpa.org/parks/potomacoverlook/index.php.

Dec. 2: Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment Invasive Plant Removal. Remove invasive species at Bluemont Park. Training and tools provided, but bring work gloves, plus pruning tools if you have your own. Long pants and sleeves recommended. 1-3 p.m. Register by calling 703-228-6406. Meet at Bluemont Trail, North Fifth & North Jefferson streets, Arlington.

Dec. 6, 15: Invasive Weed Control. Work with the Nature Conservancy to control species on National Park Service lands in Turkey Run Park. Wear work gloves and sturdy shoes; bring water, snacks and pruning tools. Call Alan Ford at 202-213-6196 for time and location.

Jan. 12, 19, 26: Landscape Design Series for Homeowners. Series of lectures, to help you design a garden, develop its framework and produce a plan, using site analysis, style notebooks and drawing skills. Workshops offer individual attention. 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Bring lunch. Limit 10. Fee: $160 for whole series, or $15 per lecture. Jan. 12, planning and design; Jan. 19, hardscaping; Jan. 26, soil preparation and plant selection. Green Spring Gardens.

Jan. 13: In Search of the World's Most Creative Gardens. Scott Scarfone, landscape designer and author, will lecture on his travels through gardens around the world. 1:30-3 p.m. Fee: $10. Green Spring Gardens.

Jan. 20: Survival in the National Garden. Holly Shimizu, executive director of the U.S. Botanic Garden, will discuss plants in the National Garden. Hundreds of plants, many of them not commonly cultivated, were hand-picked for this garden from nurseries throughout the mid-Atlantic and southeastern United States. This program will examine what survived and what didn't in Washington's weather. 1:30-3 p.m. Fee: $10. Green Spring Gardens.

Jan. 27: Invasive Plants. Sylvan Kaufman, curator of Adkins Arboretum, will share information on identification and control based on her book "Invasive Plants: Guide to Identification and the Impacts and Control of Common North American Species." 1:30-3 p.m. Fee: $10. Green Spring Gardens.

Joel M. Lerner is president of Environmental Design in Capitol View Park, Md. E-mail or contact him through his Web site, http://www.gardenlerner.com.