As most of you know by now, I love social media. One of the main reasons are the sayings that show up from time to time. This one came across Facebook today and it really made me stop and think.  I have been watching my own daughter embrace a healthy lifestyle which includes eating fresh vegetables more often. Listening to her talk about how excited she is about different recipes and food choices has made me so proud of her. That day last week when she posted on Facebook something about how awesome Brussels sprouts were left me just shaking my head. Who is this woman and what did she do with my little girl who would not even touch a bean, much less a Brussels sprout in the past? I have noticed that even my 2 year old grandson will reach for fruits or vegetables while saying no thank you to cookies.

I am so very excited to see this happening not just with my daughter but also with her friends.They are starting their families and wanting to grow vegetables and have yards or decks that give them a nice, calm environment. For so many years it has seemed like we have been in a "hurry up and go" lifestyle. Gardening used to be considered the #1 hobby but slowly over the last 20 years or so it slipped way down the list. I think it might be on the way back.  Watching the young families wander into Behnke's each day with their children is wonderful. They are embracing modern technology and good old fashioned common sense at the same time. They use their smart phones to look up the plants and vegetables and educate themselves on what might work for them. They Google to find out the best practices for growing organically and what is safe for their children and pets. They are listening carefully when our experts at the garden center explain the difference in chemical remedies and what exactly is a "Native' Plant."
Behnke's is very lucky to have on staff some of the most informed people when it comes to all the questions they have. I am learning new things all the time by asking questions myself. I will leave you with a so-true quote that, yes, I found on Facebook!

Have you ever gotten excited at the garden center by all the different colors of plants? You walk in in during the Spring and it almost overloads your senses. Colors, textures, and smells... You have annuals, perennials,herbs, tropicals, vegetables and little shrubs...and what the heck is that?.. and the ideas start pouring in. The next thing you know, you have found the perfect color combination and pots for your deck or front steps and you're off to buy your soil.
Now I have to say, I love potting up containers. Love the mess I make and the results I get, but I know sometimes I do not plan correctly and either have too many plants for the pot ( I know, one can never have too many plants) or not enough.
One of the most common reasons folks end-up getting frustrated is that they either do not get enough soil for their pots, or way too much.   This week, let us do the work for you. You pick out the plants and containers that you like from our extensive offerings, and we will will supply the soil and labor to pot them up for FREE!  We will be using Behnke-recommended Espoma® Organic Potting Mix for all of our containers.  Yeah, you're gettin' the good stuff!!
Next week, if we remember, we'll tell you how to figure out how much soil you need for your next at-home potting project.

Perhaps no flowering shrub is more instantly recognizable than the rose. Whether you plant them in a garden all to themselves or - as I prefer them - mixed with other shrubs, perennials or annuals, they will gift you with colorful flowers from May to frost. Many have fragrances from the classic musky "tea" rose to various spice or citrus overtones. Modern varieties have good disease resistance and a repeat-blooming nature that give you the best bang for your buck. Feed them regularly with Espoma Rose-tone and cut the shrub types back in late winter.

• Cucumbers
• Bell Peppers
• Sweet Peppers
• Hot Peppers
• Scalloped Squash
• Yellow Squash
• Zucchini
• Tomatoes
• Eggplants
• Melon 

You must be a Behnke Garden Club member to get this special discount. You can sign up at any of our cashiers or online

Potomac Bonsai Association - Annual Bonsai Auction - Open to the Public
Location: Beltsville Store
Date:

May 24
Time: 10 am 

Sponsored by the Potomac Bonsai Association. Pick up your bidding numbers 9 am to 10 am. Bidding starts at 10 am

What Do Butterflies Like?: Learn how to design your own butterfly garden
Location: Beltsville
Date: May 24 & 25
10 am & again at 1 pm each day

Discover how to put out the "welcome" mat for butterflies by creating a new garden or adding to an existing garden.

Book Signing - Hellstrip Gardening:
Create a Paradise Between the Sidewalk and the Curb; with award winning author Evelyn J. Hadden

Location: Beltsville
Date: May 31
Time: 10:30 am