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Easter Egg Hunt ~ Saturday, April 19
from 2 to 3 in Beltsville
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 Last Sunday I got to see first-hand the joy of little ones running around with Easter baskets looking for all the eggs that were hidden among the trees and shrubs at our Beltsville store. This event was the idea of our store manager Sissy McKenzie, and with the help of her staff it turned out to be one of the best events of the year so far.
I spend a lot of time talking about my family and the nursery in these emails, but what's more important are our terrific employees. I hope that you also have seen that YOU, our customers, and your families, are what make our "Behnke Family" complete. The little things, like games for the kids, will make us smile. Lunch room conversations after something like this Easter Egg Hunt are always fun! We share with each other the antics of the children, which leads to lots of laughter and giggles. Very few can watch a little one run through the azaleas and not laugh out loud.
Watching families on Sunday with their children line up to get their photos taken with Miss Bunny was wonderful. I felt like I was at Disney World! Seeing their reactions to Miss Bunny is like so many "Kodak Moments." Some walk right up and pose, while others, a little bashful, hang back and watch and wait. Please remember if you ever want to share any of the photos you take at the nursery you can find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Use #behnkes whenever tagging a photo you want to share.
Miss Bunny, Peter Cottontail's little sister, will be back this Saturday, April 19 from 2 to 3 at our Beltsville location! She was at the nursery last weekend and had so much fun helping to find all the Easter Eggs that she wanted to have one more FREE Easter Egg Hunt before she has to hop off to help Peter!
Sissy and her helpers ask that all children be with an adult 18 years or older. Each child 10 years and younger will leave with a goodie bag and the top 3 finders will also get a Special Prize! ~ Stephanie Fleming
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Traditional Easter Lilies
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Forced Bulbs For Indoor Beauty
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Choose from Hyacinths, Tulips or Daffodils ~ 20% Off till April 20th
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 Perfect for Easter Decorating. Alone or placed together in a basket! |
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Lily & Gladiolus Bulbs (packaged)
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 Prepare for a spectacular summer with these blooming beauties in your garden. Big flowers and lots of color.
To extend the gladiolus bloom time, stagger your planting through the spring and look for early, mid and late season varieties. Shop NOW for best selection.
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Featured Flora Arrangement: "Spring Sunrise"
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 Spring arrives bringing promises of many things we love, warmer days, welcome showers, singing birds, and gentle sunrises. The Behnke Florist brings the colors of a spring sunrise by arranging peach and orange-toned roses and berries nestled against white hybrid lilies in a soft green glass bowl.
Today is a perfect day to bring someone more than a promise or treat yourself to a Spring Sunrise (you don't even have to get up early). Priced $37.99
Call our Florist Shop in Potomac for more details.
301-983-4400
Available for pick-up at the Behnke Florist, next to our Garden Center in Potomac. Or, request delivery in the Potomac area for an additional $12. Call 301-983-4400 to place an order.
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This Week's Garden Club Special: Fairy Garden Accessories (excludes plants)
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20% OFF thru April 20, 2014
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All Fairy Gardening Accessories (Furniture & other knickknacks) It's hard to attract the wee folk to your yard without the right furnishings. Create a quiet sitting area in your home or yard so your tiny friends can hang out and relax. Plus, just in this week, for this special, an assortment of little fairies and gnomes!
You must be a Behnke Garden Club member to get this special sale.
To join, just Sign Up Below! It's FREE! 
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Dianthus, Dicentra, and Digitalis
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All Now On Sale 25% OFF! thru April 20th!
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 Looking for spring color? Stop in and check out old fashioned garden favorites in our perennial department, all of them "must haves" for your own English Cottage.
- Stately biennial Digitalis (Foxgloves) that will seed liberally around the garden. (reg price 10.99 & up)
- Fragrant Dianthus (Pinks) with their scent of cloves and flowers in whites, pinks and reds. (reg price 10.99 & up)
- Arching Dicentra (Bleeding Hearts), with their whimsical flowers in whites, pinks and reds.
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Berry Good Advice for Gardeners
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All Strawberry Plants 25% Off till April 20th
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 Let's run through a berry quick overview to help you decide which berry to grow. Strawberries Strawberries are perennials (they come up every year). Plant in early Spring. You can also grow them in a container. Space plants about 18" apart. Bury the roots, but not the center crown-it needs lots of light and fresh air and add mulch to retain moisture and discourage weeds. Expect ripe berries about 30 days after the blossoms are pollinated by bees. Strawberries multiply by sending out "runners" or long vine-like shoots. Raspberries (and blackberries) Plant in early Spring, spaced about 3 feet apart. Because most raspberries send long canes upward as they grow, they will need support. Plant them next to a fence or create a simple support alongside the row with some stakes and wire. Feed raspberries and blackberries in the Spring and Fall with a high-quality, organic plant food like Holly-tone. Water at a rate of about an inch per week and spread organic mulch two to three inches deep around plants. Raspberries ripen Summer through Fall and once they get going, raspberries can produce fruit for years-maybe even indefinitely.  Blueberries Besides being delicious, blueberries are just what the doctor ordered-they're loaded with healthy antioxidants. Blueberries do best in soil that is very acidic. You can easily increase the acidity of your soil with safe, non-toxic Espoma Soil Acidifier. Blueberry plants come in high bush and low bush varieties. Space them 6, 2 and 15 feet apart, respectively. Plant in early Spring. Right after planting, spread a layer of organic mulch over the ground. Apply two inches of water weekly. Blueberries ripen mid to late Summer. Blueberries fruit best with a mix of varieties for good cross pollination and an extended ripening season. No matter which berry is your favorite, all of them like rich, well-drained, acidic soil (very acidic for blueberries), full sun, organic mulch and about 1" to 2" of water per week. Even if you haven't decided which berry to grow yet, getting started is as easy as one-two-three. Four and five, too. - Select a growing area with full sun.
- Work the soil 8 to 10 inches deep.
- Mix in lots of rich organic compost-especially if you have sandy or clay soil.
- Feed with a high-quality organic plant food in the area around the root zone, such as Espoma Holly-toneŽ.
- Pick when ripe and bursting with flavor-and enjoy.
That covers the basics-but there is one more thing. Remember, you're not the only one who likes berries. You can keep birds away by hanging shiny objects like foil strips or old CDs nearby. When it comes to neighbors and family, you're on your own.
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~ Miri Talabac, Behnke's Woody Plants Buyer
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 On the fence? Find out what vines you can paint your walls, fences, arbors and pergolas with this season (and for many seasons to come!). We carry several native vines as well as other well-behaved beauties for your garden pallette. Sun, shade, evergreen or decidious, every garden could use a great vine to give your space that extra dash of color without using much space. |
Free Talk: How to Plan Your Landscape: by Kalyx Landscaping
Location: Beltsville
Date: Saturday April, 19
Time: 10am & 1pm
PLUS!
Discover Rain Gardens & How to Design Your Own
Date: Sat. April 26 & Sun. April 27 Time: 10 am and 1 pm each day Cost: FREE Get the dirt on rain gardens: how to create one and why they are so important. Check with your county, you may be eligible for a rain garden REBATE.
 Orchid & Heritage Plants Diagnostic & Re-Potting Clinic with Carol AllenIn Potomac: Saturday, April 19
In Potomac: Sunday, April 20
(9:30 am - 4:30 pm)
 Cooking Demo with Chef Cole from Cafe' Rue
'"White Bean & Tuna Salad with Roasted Garlic & Rosemary Infused Oil" Location: Beltsville
Date: Saturday, April 19
Time: 9 am
We are excited to welcome Chef Cole from Beltsville's Cafe Rue to Behnke's! Once a month, he will perform an in-store cooking demonstration for us, using fresh herbs and vegetables!
His first demonstration will be on April 19 at our Beltsville location at 9am! So save the date, grab a friend and plan on having a fun time while you watch Chef Cole create his amazing dish of 'White Bean & Tuna Salad with Roasted Garlic & Rosemary Infused Oil!' Please call 301-937-1100 or go online to reserve your seat for this Free Cooking Demo. 
Your Edible Garden, with Carol Allen: Getting Down & Dirty, Planning your Vegetable Garden
Location: Beltsville Date: May 3 & 4 Time: 10 am & again at 1 pm each day Join Carol as she offers timely tips each month and explains how you could get the most from your edible garden. ALL questions are welcomed, and after class, take part in a Free hands-on activity.  Free Mother's Day ActivityLocation: Beltsville Date: Saturday, May 12 Time: 11- 3pm Cost: FREE Dads, grab your kids 10 and under and let them pot up a beautiful annual for Mom! Plus, we will have everything they need to make a special card just for her. 
Book Signing "Hellstrip Gardening : Create a Paradise between the Sidewalk and the Curb" with award winning author Evelyn J. Hadden; Location: Beltsville Date: Saturday, May 31 Time:10:30am
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Behnke's Quick Buttons
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Just click on the blue button for a direct link
 April's Gardening To-Do List
Spring Flora Feature: Spring Sunrise
 Check out all the great Spring Sales
 Hummingbird Season Begins!  Taking appointments for Spring planting and yard clean up.
 SAVE THE DATE:
April 19th: Chef Cole from Cafe Rue
Easter Egg Hunt in Beltsville 2 -3pm
May 11th: Special Mother's Day Project for Kids
May 31st: Book Signing "Hellstrip Gardening : Create a Paradise between the Sidewalk and the Curb" with award winning author Evelyn J. Hadden; 10:30am Beltsville
June 7th: Garden Party to benefit the Friends of Brookside Gardens
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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 Spring HoursBeltsville & Potomac
Monday - Friday ~ 9 to 7
Saturday ~ 8 to 7 Open Early
Sunday ~ 9 to 6
Note: The Behnke Florist is closed on Sunday
Garden Centers open regular hours on Easter Sunday
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