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It's been a long time since I have been at our Garden Center in Beltsville for any length of time. Between being at our Potomac location for a few weeks during our consolidation process, and then staying with my Mother after her accident, I feel like I have been gone forever!
(Thank you everyone for all your cards: Mom, Sonja Behnke Festerling, is doing much better and hopes to go home soon!)
A few weeks ago, I got a phone call from our store manager, Sissy McKenzie, telling me that long-time Behnke associate Mary Stoner had a wonderful idea! I was at the hospital with mom, and all I heard was something about buying backpacks, "Back-To-School-Night," and working on a project with Emmanuel United Methodist Church.
Imagine my surprise when all of a sudden I was getting emails from department buyers and managers about the upcoming "Back-To-School-Night Specials" along with such enthusiasm that they could make this work! Make what work, you might ask? Why, filling 300 backpacks with everything for children in our community for the upcoming school year! We are asking for help from you by donating supplies to fill the backpacks. Behnke's is supplying 100 backpacks, and pencils, while Emmanuel UMC will assemble and distribute the backpacks next week.
We will have a drop-off box for donated supplies at the front of the nursery from 6 to 8 this Friday night. Once here, you can also reward yourself with a special coupon and SPECIAL sales through out the garden center.
Was this a planned event? Nope! But sometimes the spur-of-the-moment ideas turn out to be some of the very best. Everyone working together to make something a success! So we invite everyone to come out Friday night and be part of Behnke's "Back-To-School-Night" and let's get those backpacks filled! I would like to Thank Mary, Sissy and everyone else for all their ideas and hard work!
The supplies the schools need most are pens, pencils, rulers, glue or glue sticks, crayons, colored pencils, scissors, erasers, spiral notebooks, pencil boxes or bags, composition books and notebook paper. (Click on the box below for more information.)
They could also use protractors, compasses, graph paper and calculators or book covers as well but these are not a priority.
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Click on this "flyer" for the list of supplies needed.
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Behnke's Garden Club Special:
Hardy Perennial Hibiscus 25% OFF!
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Must be a Behnke Garden Club member to get this special price. To join, just Sign Up Here! It's FREE! |
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Herbaceous Perennial Hibiscus
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Larry Hurley, Behnke Horticulturist
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 There are lots of different hibiscus out there. Tropical Hibiscus are used as landscape plants in Hawaii, Florida and other climes that are usually warm-or even tropical-year round. Here we use them as patio plants in the summer, and houseplants in the winter.
The shrub, Rose of Sharon, is a Woody Hibiscus. Officially Hibiscus syriacus, it is the National Plant of South Korea. Rose of Sharon does well here but has a reputation for weediness, although some of the newer forms don't seed out into the garden like the older ones did.
What I am writing about is a third type of Hibiscus, the Herbaceous Perennial Hibiscus that die to the ground each winter, overwinter as a crown, and resprout in late spring to flower in summer. Most of the perennial hibiscus that we sell are hybrids between several species, many of which are native to Maryland. You should be able to see them in bloom in summer in marshy areas (for example, where the Patuxent River crosses Highway 4 east of DC; big white flowers).Behnke Nurseries has sold perennial, or hardy, hibiscus for many years.
Through a relationship with the breeder, Robert Darby, we were the first to sell Hibiscus 'Lord Baltimore,' the classic red. This was back in the 1950's, when Mr. Darby was working part time at Behnke's, in addition to his "real" job at USDA. Mr. Darby also released the popular pink hybrids 'Lady Baltimore and 'Anne Arundel,' and 'Turn of the Century,' which looks like a pink and red pinwheel.
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Behnke's Garden Bloggers...
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We are excited about some new writers for our Garden Blog since our wonderful Susan Harris has semi-retired (no worries, you will still hear from Susan from time to time). I have known Jessica since she was a little girl, and her mother would bring her to our wholesale nursery while she shopped for her landscape company. I think everyone will enjoy Jessica's fun-loving out look on gardening. We will also have postings coming soon from our favorite florist, Evelyn Kinville. Enjoy! Stephanie Fleming
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 Hello All! Thank you for welcoming me to the Behnke's Garden Blog. My name is Jessica Crawford and I have long since come to terms with the fact that I am addicted to my garden. Mostly my fruits and vegetables but I am also serious about my flower gardens.
This addiction has also led me to many other mini-and-not-so-mini addictions: jamming; canning and preserving; cooking and experimenting with new flavors in the kitchen; foraging; crafting with things found in my own back yard or nature; re-purposing and up-cycling; bargain hunting; scouring yard sales for hidden gems; and simplicity and frugality in my everyday life.
It all started as far back as my memory can retrieve. Born to two horticulturists, I think itwas just destined to be in my blood. I have vivid memories of trucking around my parent's yard and gardens in a pair of garden wellies and coveralls, sweaty and covered in dirt, helping to water the plants, check on the veggie patch or plant annuals. In terms of the canning, my maternal grandmother started that fire for me. We started canning
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Jessica's Grandparents Home in England.. Over 400 years old
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together when I was very young. My grandparents own a 60 acre farm in Southern England where I would spend every Summer as a child. I remember picking gooseberries and currants with my Grammie, cleaning them up, boiling them down, and straining them through a pillowcase suspended from the ceiling, specially reserved for jelly making. Then waking up early in the morning to finish the jelly. We still exchange canning recipes.
Now, my husband and I live in an 1880's farmhouse which we have committed ourselves to renovating for the next 20 years. We have a vivacious and adventurous two-year-old son named Grayson who already thrives outside in the fresh air. Our hopes for the future are to have a mini homestead where we can focus on self-sufficiency, teaching our son about growing your own food, have a little plot of land and a handful of animals. Currently I work part time as a Landscape Design Assistant. I've always felt that my passions have been a contribution to our family by putting a little money back in our pockets by putting our own food on the table.
As we grow and evolve in our adventure, I hope you enjoy the journey right alongside us. I am greatly looking forward to sharing snapshots of our lives with you!
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Fall Vegetables Are Here!
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 Marian Parsley, our Annual Buyer/Manager said that our Fall Vegetables are arriving just in time for this weekend.
Besides the basics, there will be many different types of kale and also some mustard plants! This is a good time to start getting your Fall garden in order.
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Coming Soon! We will be adding more talks with Christopher Lewis to our Fall & Winter Schedule  Friday, August 15 from 6 to 8pm Back to School Night At Behnke's.... Bring school supplies and receive a special Behnke Coupon to use
FREE Talk - Tall Fescue Lawn Care: START NOW & FIND OUT HOW
w/ Carol AllenDate: August 16 Time: 11 am & again at 2 pm The best lawn care starts now, NOT in the spring. Learn about controlling weeds, seeding and fertilizing properly. Discover Earth-friendly practices and products
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photo of Jessica Crawford's garden
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FREE Talk - Making the Most of your Fresh Vegetables & Fruits: Canning & Freezing w/ Carol AllenDate: August 23 Time: 11am & again at 2pm Discover how to save your delicious summer flavors into the winter and save money by making the most out of your harvest. Imagine making chili in January using your fresh tomatoes from the summer before.  Orchid Re-Potting Clinic with Carol Allen Carol's advice is always FREE. Just bring in the plants you are concerned about.She will tell you how to resolve problems, and, for a minimal fee, she will expertly re-pot them, showing you how.
(9:30 am - 4:30 pm)
Look For Carol at Behnke's in Beltsville
September 13 & 14
October 12 & 13 during the National Capital Orchid Society Fall Show & Sale
November 8 & 9
December 6& 7
Weekends in October: Visit our Children's Fall Fun Area
with activities for children 10 and under.
 Saturday, October 4th 7th Annual Chili Cook Off & Harvest Festival
9:30 to 4:30 pm
Chili Tasting begins at noon, with all proceeds going to Beltsville Rotary Club.
Do you make the best chili ever? Why not, join in the fun and take part in our Chili Cook Off!  Email, sfleming@behnkes.net for details!
Old Line Fine Wine & Bistro will be back for beer tasting!
October 11 to the 13, 2014
The 67th National Capital Orchid Society Fall Show 
Last year due to the Federal Government's Shut Down the NCOS came to Behnke's to hold their Fall Show. It was such a success they wish to come back this year! If you love orchids this is an event you do not want to miss.
Saturday, November 8
Behnke's Fall Craft Show 
This will be our 7th year for the Craft Show. Each year we get many new crafters along with some of our past favorites. There will be food and fun for the kids! It is also when we kick off our yearly
Toys for Tots campaign.
If you are a crafter, artisan, or vendor of unique items and would like to participate, email Stephanie at sfleming@behnkes.net
 Saturday, November 22
Behnke's Christmas Open House
Stop in and see our beautiful poinsettias while getting a head start on your holiday decorating. Bring the children for photo ops with Santa and enjoy some FREE hot cocoa and cookies. There will be FREE activities for the children!
Saturday, November 29
Small Business Saturday
The 2015 Event Calender is being worked on now! We are planning lots of great talks and demonstrations throughout 2015 with even more activities for children. After another great Garden Party this year we have already picked the date for next year. Mark your calendars for June 6, 2015! |
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Behnke's Quick Buttons
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Just click on the blue button for a direct link
 August's Gardening To-Do List
 
Meet our newest Behnke Garden Blogger, Jessica Crawford
 Taking appointments for Summer planting and yard clean up.
 
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Behnke's Summer Hours
Beltsville Sunday - Thursday ~ 9 to 6 Friday ~ 9 to 8 Open Late
Saturday ~ 8 to 6 Open Early
Behnke Nurseries Contacts:
Beltsville: 301-937-1100
Email: behnkes@behnkes.net
Web Site: www.behnkes.com |
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