Roland Behnke

I remember when I was a little girl my grandmother, Rose Behnke, had a very large map on the dining room door of Vietnam. She would mark where my Uncle Roland had been while flying C130's. He would also send us eight-track tapes (on large reels) with wonderful recorded messages home. In his early years he helped with the Behnke business. He entered the U.S. Air Force through the Aviation Cadet Program in 1953 and graduated with the class 55-Q. His first assignment was with the Strategic Air Command as a B-47 co-pilot in Lincoln, NE. He flew many planes during the course of his years in the Air Force including the C-119, T-39, T-6, C-130, B-25, and the C-47. He was awarded the Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medals for flights while in Vietnam. He continued his Air Force career until he retired in 1976. After he retired he returned to Behnke Nurseries for many years, serving as President till he retired once again and moved to St. Mary's with his wife Ele.

William in Korea - Inchon Harbor - Dec 1953 -1954

My Uncle Will joined the United Stated Marines when he was 18. He went to boot camp in South Carolina and then was stationed at Camp Pendleton in California. From there he was deployed to South Korea and served till 1957. He  returned to California where he still lives with his bride of 50 years, 5 children, and many many grandchildren.

Uncle Albert joined the United States Air Force and served from 1971 to 1975. He was stationed in England. His brother, Roland had the honor of swearing him into the Air Force.

Mark Behnke

Then there is my cousin Mark Behnke (Roland's son) who joined the United States Air Force in  1989. Mark flew the AC130 during his time in the military, and then also returned to Behnke's where he set up our I.T. department, and was later President of the company. He is an aerospace engineer, and lives in Maryland with his wife and 3 children.

Benjamin Albert Behnke

My cousin Carl Behnke's son, Benjamin Albert Behnke, (Roland's grandson) joined the United States Army last Fall. He is almost done with his training and will be reporting to Ft. Riley in Kansas in a couple weeks. We are all so very proud of Ben and all the other men and women who serve our country.

 
 

Tropical Hibiscus : Perfect by the pool, beautiful by the front door, Tropical Hibiscus are quite a show. Big, colorful flowers in bright yellows, oranges, pinks and reds (sometimes bi-colors) make a bold statement and create an "island setting" in any area--and blooms all summer. Color selections vary each week.

Hibiscus need a low phosphorus, high potassium food, just like palms. We suggest Jack's Classic Palm Food. Hibiscus are available in bush and tree-forms.

Behnke's Garden Club Special:
All Shade & Flowering Trees 20% Off

(These hand- painted signs were created by Adrienne Neff, Behnke's Graphics Dept.)

Behnke's has a large selection of vegetable plants and herbs! Whether it's tomatoes in a pot on your deck or a large garden in your back yard, we have what you need!

Use Garden-tone for your vegetable garden. Garden-tone is an all natural plant food formulated specifically for vegetable gardens. It is safe, long lasting, and will provide the nutrients necessary for vigorous and productive plants. Garden-tone's all natural formula contains Bio-tone®, our proprietary blend of beneficial microbes. Bio-tone biologically enhances our natural plant food to ensure superior plant growth.

On this week's shopping list...Cucumbers, Bell Peppers, Sweet Peppers, Hot Peppers, Scalloped Squash,Yellow Squash, Zucchini, Tomatoes, Eggplant, Melon. 

Leafgro® is a superior quality compost used extensively as a source of humus for soil improvement. Made by the Maryland Environmental Service from composted leaves and grass clippings that would normally have been disposed of in a landfill; from a humble beginning as organic waste into a valuable resource!

Impatiens is getting a lot of attention these days and it is not the kind of attention gardeners want to hear. You may not be aware of the problem, but our most beloved shade annual is at risk from a new plant-fungal disease.

 

The symptoms of the disease, which is called downy mildew, begin as slightly off-color foliage (slight yellowing) and slight wilting/curling down of foliage. If weather conditions are favorable, the disease continues to progress, causing all of the leaves and flowers to drop off, and ultimately, the plant dies.  The disease affects the standard, seed-grown impatiens; there are some other types of impatiens that are resistant to the disease (see below).

 

Although commercial growers can control the disease in their greenhouses through application of chemicals, this is not practical in the garden center or for the homeowner.  We have decided not to carry the traditional impatiens plants at our garden centers until the plant breeders develop disease-resistant strains. Rest assured that this is a high priority in our industry.

 

All is not lost; there are many alternatives to old-fashioned, seed-grown impatiens. Listed below are some suggestions for some wonderful plants for you to try in your shade garden.

 

Disease Resistant Impatiens:

 

• Sunpatiens and New Guinea Impatiens--Neither is susceptible to Impatiens Downy Mildew so they are an excellent alternative.  Sunpatiens are more vigorous than the traditional New Guinea series and will bloom in both sun and shade. The key to growing any New Guinea Impatiens is providing ample water.
• Divine Series New Guinea Impatiens--Delivers outstanding color options and garden performance, heat and drought tolerant. Provides masses of flowers all season long.

 

 

 

• Classic, Old-fashioned Wax Begonias--Wonderful in mass plantings, color until frost and perform well in sun or shade. Low maintenance.
• 'Big' Begonia--They look like a wax begonia but are the size of the dragon wing-type begonia. The flowers of the Big Begonia stand atop the foliage in addition to the sides of the plant making it ideal for the landscape.
• Dragon Wing Begonia--simply one of the most beautiful begonias ever! Large red blooms on wing-like light green foliage. Spectacular in the sun or shade garden.
• Sparks Will Fly Begonia--A real stunner in the garden or patio shade containers; gentle orange blossoms, beautiful dark green almost bronze foliage, mounding growth habit.
• Whopper Begonia--Extra large blooms, huge plants with shiny bronze foliage. Minimal maintenance requirements. Makes a bold statement in the shade garden.

Tuberous Begonias

 

 

 
  

 

 

 

                                                                            Torenia  

Gardeners value Torenia for its superior performance in extreme heat and humidity, and exotic appearance in small garden settings, mixed combos and colour bowls. Also suited to indoor containers. A great shade performer, this is an alternative to traditional impatiens. 

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

May 24  THIS SATURDAY!
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  THIS WEEKEND!
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

Friends, Gardeners, Plant Lovers: join us at Behnke Nurseries in Beltsville Maryland on Saturday, June 7th for the fourth annual Garden Party to benefit the Friends of Brookside Gardens. This is an opportunity for interested people to see what garden clubs have to offer their members, meet plant enthusiasts, ask questions, and maybe even join a club. Representatives from many different organizations will be participating.

The idea is for members of different groups to share with each other and pass on their knowledge and enthusiasm to Behnke's gardening customers.  But there's more to it than that-- anyone who brings a garden plant from home can participate in the "plant swap".

Larry Pendelton from Old Line, Fine Wine Spirits & Bistro

We will have a FREE Wine Tasting Offered by  Old Line Fine Wine Spirits & Bistro &  Food for sale from Soul of the South Catering.

There will be many wonderful items offered as raffle prizes.

All money raised from the raffle goes to the Friends of Brookside Gardens, supporting the magnificent public garden in Wheaton, so dear to all of us in the Washington, DC area. Last year almost $3,000 was raised. 

If you belong to a garden club or plant society and would like to be part of this party contact Stephanie at sfleming@behnkes.net