Much to Learn and Admire in the Dog Days

By Joel M. Lerner
Saturday, August 2, 2008

Take advantage of some interesting exhibits, lectures, workshops, tours and other educational programs in August. Events are free unless otherwise noted. Many require registration, so call ahead.

The District

Through Oct. 13: "One Planet -- Ours! Sustainability for the 22nd Century." Exhibition focuses on how we can live in the future, showcasing garden and interpretive sculptural displays. Daily 10 a.m.-5 p.m. U.S. Botanic Garden, 100 Maryland Ave. SW, 202-225-8333, http://www.usbg.gov.

Through mid-October: "Power Plants." Exhibit garden showcases plants offering a diverse array of alternative energy possibilities. Learn about sustainable-agriculture-based renewable energy sources. National Arboretum, 3501 New York Ave. NE, 202-245-4521, http://www.usna.usda.gov.

Aug. 13: National Garden. Robert Pritchard will lead a tour through the recently opened National Garden. Learn about plants growing there and which roses seem to do best in the Washington area, plus what plants attract pollinators to your garden. Tour canceled in the event of rain. 1-2 p.m. U.S. Botanic Garden.

Aug. 14: Saving seeds: demonstration and tour. Zach Lester and Georgia O'Neal of Tree and Leaf Farm in Loudoun County will demonstrate the process of preparing seed for saving. They will be harvesting heirloom tomatoes, eggplants and cucumbers from the terrace garden, teaching the importance of heirloom seeds and discussing varieties saved and sowed for this garden. 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. U.S. Botanic Garden.

Aug. 20: "Growing a Forest for a City." Bill McLaughlin and staff from Casey Trees will lead a tour through the National Garden discussing trees native to our region, selected to thrive in our urban environment. Learn the concept of "right tree, right place." 11 a.m.-noon. U.S. Botanic Garden.

Aug. 23-31: Baltimore Bonsai Club exhibit. Trees from private bonsai collections will be featured. Demonstration 1 p.m. Aug. 31 by a club member. Time will be available for questions about creating and training bonsai. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. National Bonsai & Penjing Museum, International Pavilion & Special Exhibits Wing, National Arboretum.

Maryland

Through Sept. 21: "Wings of Fancy, World of Flight." Asian, Costa Rican and North American butterflies are featured in this exhibit. Surround yourself with freely flying butterflies. Daily 10 a.m.-4 p.m. $5 adults; $4 ages 3-12. Brookside Gardens, 1800 Glenallan Ave., Wheaton, 301-962-1400, http://www.brooksidegardens.org.

Through Sept. 21: Summer conservatory display. A visit to the lush tropics of South America and Asia with colorful plants that thrive in the heat and humidity. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. Brookside Gardens.

Aug. 2-3: Cactus show. Sponsored by National Capital Cactus and Succulent Society, Aug. 2, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Aug. 3, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Visitors Center Auditorium. Brookside Gardens.

Aug. 9 and 20: Composting demonstrations and native plant gardens. Learn how to make compost in your back yard, and receive a free compost bin and goody bag. Visit native plant gardens and learn about plants you can grow in your garden. Demonstrations Aug. 9 at 10 a.m. and Aug. 20 at noon. Park admission $5. Canceled in event of rain. 600 Quiet Waters Park Rd., Annapolis, 410-757-7780.

Aug. 17: Daylily sale. Sponsored by National Capital Daylily Club. 9 a.m. until sold out. Outside Visitors Center, Brookside Gardens.

Virginia

Aug. 2: History of Blandy Experimental Farm. A guided walk through the gardens of this Shenandoah Valley research facility. Meet at kiosk. 10-11 a.m. $5. Blandy Experimental Farm, State Arboretum of Virginia, 400 Blandy Farm Lane, Boyce, 540-837-1758, http://www.virginia.edu/blandy.

Aug. 3: Bilingual family walks. Stroll a 1 1/2 -mile flat trail and boardwalk over a freshwater wetland at Huntley Meadows Park, a wildlife sanctuary and nature park in southern Fairfax County, with Cindy Maldonado, who will interpret park information in English and Spanish. Exhibits in the visitor center explain the importance of wetlands to animals and people. 3-4:30 p.m. Huntley Meadows Park Visitor Center, 3701 Lockheed Blvd., Alexandria, 703-768-2525.

Aug. 3: Late summer tour of Potomac Valley Native Plant Collection. See the collection and learn about the life histories of these plants. 2 p.m. Meet in Visitor Center, Meadowlark Botanical Gardens, 9750 Meadowlark Gardens Court, Vienna, 703-255-3631, http://www.nvrpa.org/parks/meadowlark.

Aug. 7: "Bugs in the Garden." Join Bonnie Deahl and learn about garden insects, both pests and beneficials, and then explore Blandy Experimental Farm's gardens to see insects up close. 9 a.m.-noon. $8. State Arboretum of Virginia.

Aug. 10: Honey harvest. Meadowlark beekeeper Mary Ellen Kirkpatrick will demonstrate the process of harvesting honey from bees and explain steps needed to extract it from the honeycomb. Taste a variety of honey. Participants will learn about honeybees, native bees, wasps and the differences among them. 10 a.m.-noon. Visitor Center, Meadowlark Botanical Gardens.

Aug. 16: Invasives control at Turkey Run Park. Help the Nature Conservancy control invasive plants in the Potomac Gorge at Turkey Run, off the George Washington Memorial Parkway. Wear work gloves and boots. Bring water, snacks and tools. Call Alan Ford, 703-732-5291, for more information.

Aug. 21: "Telling Time in the Garden." Join Steve Carroll to see photos of a clock garden, in which plants open their flowers throughout the day. Learn how flowers can be used to tell time. 7-8 p.m. $8. State Arboretum of Virginia.

Aug. 23: Terrarium workshop. Join Johanna Zinn and create an indoor garden. Terrarium, plants and soil provided. 9:30-11:30 a.m. $20. Green Spring Gardens Park, 4603 Green Spring Rd., Alexandria, 703-642-5173, http://www.greenspring.org.

Aug. 23-24: Annual begonia show and sale. Sponsored by Potomac branch of the American Begonia Society. Attend demonstrations and workshops. Wide variety of begonias will be offered. Aug. 23, 9-4:30 p.m.; Aug. 24, noon-3:30 p.m. Green Spring Gardens Park.

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.