While you celebrate the Green today, make plans to join us in the Green House tomorrow, March 18, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m., at Homestead Gardens, 743 West Central Avenue in Davidsonville. It's just a few minutes south of Annapolis (there is plenty of free parking) and well worth the drive.

We've been invited back to celebrate the arrival of spring by Homestead during its Garden Show 2010, "Kaleidoscope of Color," which runs March 13 - 21. Our Green Drinks will be held right in the middle of the show week. Remember what a terrific time we had there last year and how wonderful it was to be among the flowers at the end of winter. And don't we need that now after this winter?

With the show's theme being color, sustainability is brought into the picture by showing how plants of all kinds can provide pops of color in your landscape, including vegetable gardens -- which will be displayed this year -- and colorful perennials and natives that add texture and color to your bedding annuals. Color is great because it really can encompass everything!

For you gardeners out there, Homestead will have lots of information about organic gardening, native plants and more. There is plenty to learn about having a beautiful landscape while being friendly to the Earth.

We are lucky to have three establishments providing us with tasty appetizers this time.

First, thank you to Herrington on the Bay Eco-Lifestyle Events, the first Chesapeake Bay Caterer in Maryland to achieve Green Certification as awarded by the nation's Green Restaurant Association. They will delight us with Tomatoes Caprese Skewers: Marinated tomatoes, fresh Mozzarella and basil leaf served on a bamboo skewer. They also will offer Raspberry Cheesecake Lollipops which are dipped in dark organic chocolate. Yum!

Homestead Gardens' new cafe will preview its offerings, even before it formally opens, with Maryland-grown products including cheeses and yogurt from Chapel Country Creamery, a dairy farm in Easton. They will also present Hydroponic Lettuces from Chesapeake Greenhouse in Sudlersville with Tessemae's dressing from Annapolis and Little Rhaggi's Crackers from Ocean City. There also will be sheep cheese from the Cherry Glenn Goat Cheese Company in Boyds. If Homestead's tomato crop is still producing we'll enjoy their home-grown hot house tomatoes too.

Our adult beverages will be provided by: Bay Ridge Wine & Spirits with organic, sustainable wines; by our friends at Bud Light Lime, the "Summer State of Mind" beer; and Level: A Small Plates Lounge will provide a very special custom wine punch.

We are so grateful to Homestead for hosting us again and we'll hear a few words from the company's Head Honcho, Don Riddle. Homestead is known for giving back to the community, and for years it has supplied the beautiful hanging flower baskets and planters that add to Annapolis' charm in the warm months. The effort is now under the umbrella of Bloomin' Annapolis. Read more about it here and see how you can help out.

Being among the flowers and greens will surely get you in the mood not only for gardening but also for community beautification. So, Jim Martin will give us a few words about Annapolis' GreenScape program, coming up on April 17. 

As always, bring your name badges from work (or the ones from the last Green Drinks that you forgot to return), and any news postings you might want to put up on our info-corkboard. We can also put a few volunteers to work helping us greet new arrivals, pour wine, etc. If you're new to Green Drinks this is a great way to meet folks. Send us an email if you'd like to help.

And remember, your job at Green Drinks is to "Meet One New Person and Learn One New Thing." See you tomorrow!

(There's plenty more coming up. Read on.)