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When I was growing up, my grandfather, Albert Behnke (Opa) would go outside and cut bunches of branches of the many different evergreens in his garden. I especially remember the large holly trees he would collect clippings from. Once he came into the house, he would start his part of decorating. While we were making cookies and apfel kuchen with my grandmother, Opa would place the beautiful branches all over the house: on the fireplace mantel; atop pictures; on tables; over each window..everywhere! And because they were just cut and so very fresh they would last through the season. I think this is why I love the smells of fresh cut greens during this time of the year. They bring back memories of my grandparents and all the excitement of the Christmas season. It's also what starts me decorating every year when it seems like there is no time. I'm building memories for my children and grandchild.~ Stephanie Fleming
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Christmas Open House at Beltsville
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Saturday, December 7 10 to 4
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Enjoy a photo-op with Santa Claus, at Beltsville ~ Remember #behnkes for all your Instagrams
11am to 2pm Saturday at the Open House, and again on Sunday.
 Visit our Christmas Shop This year's Christmas Shops at both of our garden centers are filled with special keepsake ornaments and decorations that your familly will treasure for generations. We have a beautiful selection of hand-carved German Smokers, Nutcrackers and Pyramids. If you like pewter, you might be interested in our selection of German Pewter Ornaments by Wilhelm Schweizer. Each piece is truly a handmade item, as every one is cast individually from molds carefully engraved in slabs of slate. 
Beltsville's Fresh-Cut
Greens Tent
Natural Custom Wreaths, Garland & Greens... Deck the halls and your home with beautiful fresh cut greens. Nothing says "Welcome" better than the natural smell of pine at your front door. We have everything you need to create just the right look.
If you have a special look in mind, we can create custom wreaths and bows for you at BOTH garden centers.
Check out our Facebook Album for many of our Fresh Trees, Decorations, Wreaths and Poinsettias
Music by Fugitive Brass Quintet
Noon to 2pm; Beltsville
The Fugitive Brass Quintet was created in 1995 by brass musicians from the Washington, D.C. area. As they say: "While our group members enjoy Classical, Jazz, Baroque, Broadway, Dixieland, and many other music styles, our instrumentation is traditional for a brass quintet: two trumpets, a French horn, a trombone, and a tuba."  Sonja Behnke Festerling will be at Behnke's with her fellow Beltsville Rotarian's 'Ringing The Bell' for the Salvation Army! The bell ringing season starts in November and runs through Christmas Eve. It only takes one shift to raise enough money to provide two nights of shelter and four warm meals for the men, women and children who enter the doors every day of the shelters.
 PLUS...a Special Activity! Paint a Poinsettia 10am to 3pm; Beltsville. You buy the Poinsettia and we provide the paint and instructions. NOTE: We will have plastic gloves and goggles available. The paint will stain clothes or shoes so come dressed to mess! It is best to let them dry overnight; we will hold them for you to pick up the next day or later in the week.
Call for details 301-937-1100
And...if you don't want to paint your own, see below).
SPECIAL This week
All painted Poinsettias: $3.00 Off regular prices
Christmas Open House at our 
Potomac Store:Saturday, December 7
w/ Jim Dronenburg (11 to 2)
Beautifully decorated Christmas Shop
Many European hand-made ornaments
The Behnke Florist
Stop in and say "hello" at our florist shop. Evelyn and her talented designers have the little Florist Shop decorated for the holidays. See our Florist holiday special in the links, below.
Potomac Manager's Specials
Watch for some 'Specials' just in Potomac!
Browse through our extensive selection of fresh-cut trees and holiday greens. And for gifts: we are bursting at the seams with blooming orchids (including a new shipment of lady slipper orchids from Hawaii), poinsettias, cyclamen, kalanchoe. Everything you need for your home, office and friends.
Light Refreshments At Both Garden Centers
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Give The Gardener You Love a $50 Behnke Gift Card And Receive An Additional $5 Behnke Gift Card For You
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With the purchase of every $50 Gift Card (online or in our garden centers)
receive a FREE $5 gift card; now through December 11.
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This Week's Behnke's Garden Club Special:
25% Off All Ornaments in our Christmas Shops
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 If you're a member of our FREE Garden Club you can take advantage of our weekly specials just for you!
ALL Christmas Ornaments 25% OFF
Dec. 5 to Dec. 11
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A Poinsettia For Everyone
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 Traditional or Not... at Behnke's we have poinsettias in every color and size. Beautiful, locally grown poinsettias that you can enjoy throughout the season. If poinsettias are not for you, pick out one of our many other blooming flowers like Christmas Cacti or Cyclamen. Complement any of the Bloomers with healthy green foliage like our Norfolk Island Pines from our tropical houseplant selection. Both of our garden centers also have adorable 'Mini Poinsettias' They make great little gifts for family, friends, teachers, secretaries, neighbors and are also a great party decoration and keepsake. All mini poinsettias are self-watering in ceramic pots for easy care.
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Getting the Most out of your Fresh-Cut Christmas Tree
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Larry Hurley, Behnke's Perennial Buyer
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 What are the keys to a long-lasting Christmas tree this season if you are planning on enjoying a cut tree instead of an artificial tree? Well, think of a Christmas tree as sort of a large cut flower. Different types of trees hold their needles for shorter or longer times, just as, say, a cut mum lasts longer than a cut rose in a flower arrangement. Freshness counts, water is important, cool temperatures and some humidity in the house are better than hot and dry. First: Christmas trees are grown on farms, or "plantations" specifically for harvest as Christmas trees. They are sheared and shaped to make a full, Christmas-tree shaped tree. When my wife was growing up in central Wisconsin, one of her summer jobs as a fourteen year old teenager was shearing Christmas trees with a machete. Ah, the good old days. 
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The Noble Fir: The Name Says it All
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 You don't get a name like "Noble" for nothing. These trees are "storybook" Christmas Trees with a terrific shape. They are very full, and the strong branches support any sized ornaments.
The up-turned blue-green needles are soft and won't stab your arm as you hang ornaments. They "smell" like Christmas (kind of citrus-pine)...you just have to sniff one for yourself.
They have GREAT needle retention (in other words, they last a long time). This is the favorite Christmas tree of many of the Behnke Christmas Tree Lot Elves.
We also have Fraser Firs, our most popular tree ~ good needle retention, fragrant (not citrusy, but still Christmas-y), and sturdy branches; needles are dark green with bluish undersides.
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Special Announcement From Potomac
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 Orchid lovers and people who love orchid lovers, we have not forgotten you during this holiday season.
Our Potomac store just received 30 'Bulldog' Paphiopedilum orchids straight from Hawaii! Ladyslippers, that is.
That is in addition to our beautiful selection of Phalaenopsis orchids. See you in the greenhouse!
Our Beltsville store also has a great selection of Phalaenopsis!
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For years, Behnke's has been proud to be part of the Toys for Tots campaign with the United States Marines. You can bring your NEW unwrapped toy to either of our locations and they will be picked up by the Marines in time to make the children in our area happy.
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Behnke's Quick Buttons
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Just click on the blue button for a direct link
  December's Gardening To-Do List
December Featured Arrangement: "Precious Metals"Made from fresh-cut boxwood 
Most trees and shrubs, half-price.
Remaining perennials at Beltsville, $3.99 each,
excludes Winter Hellebores, which are 25% off.
Time for a Garden of Lights, and December Links
by Susan Harris, Behnke's Garden Blogger
 Taking appointments for yard clean up.
 SAVE THE DATE:
Dec. 7: Christmas Open House
Dec. 14: The National Capital Area Chapter of the Gesneriad Society Open House
at our Beltsville Garden Center. From 10:30 to 11:30 Visitors Welcomed.
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Behnke Nurseries
Beltsville: 301-937-1100
Potomac: 301-983-9200
Florist: 301-983-4400
Email: behnkes@behnkes.net
Web Site: www.behnkes.com
Behnke's December Hours
Beltsville
Monday - Saturday ~ 9 to 7
Sunday ~ 9 to 6
Potomac
Monday - Saturday 9- 7
Sunday 9 - 6
Note: The Behnke Florist is closed on Sunday
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