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Growing Up At Behnke's
~ Stephanie Fleming
Ice Skating
Rose Behnke with her children, Roland, Sonja and William (Albert came years later) 
I often write about the making of memories, and this time of the year they seem to come more often. So many things can trigger memories, old photos, a certain song, the smells of something wonderful cooking in the oven, they all bring memories.
I love creating new memories but lately I have enjoyed going over old memories with my mother, Sonja Behnke Festerling. Mom loves talking about growing up in Beltsville in "that old shack that Dad built," Dad being my grandfather, Albert Behnke.
The other day when talking and looking over the many photos we have that my grandmother Rose Behnke took, she started smiling as she recalled all the good times they had ice skating on the ponds that used to be at the nursery. That of course brought up my memories of those ponds, and how much trouble my brother and I would get into when we would take old cardboard boxes and slide down the hill and over the ice.  At that time, we had ducks and swans and the ice had to be broken for them so we were not to go out on that pond.  Amazing to me that the memory for me was the joy of sliding down that hill and not of the punishment we got when our mother found out!  
Growing up on the nursery was one big adventure for my mother and also for me! I have this book we have been filling out, To My Daughter, With Love: A Mother's Memory Book .. it's all about her memories of her grandparents in Germany, her mother, herself and of course me! Take time during the upcoming season and sit still and write down your very favorite memories. Add a photo or two and one day your children or grandchildren will say to you, "Tell me about this picture."
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 Open House Christmas

CHRISTMAS DECORATING WORKSHOPS
During Behnke's Christmas Open House  Saturday, November 22

Make a Holiday Centerpiece  10:00 am
($35 includes materials)
 
Make a Christmas Porch Pot  11:30 am
($45 includes materials)
 
Make a Christmas "Della Robbia" Wreath  1:30 pm
($40 includes materials)
 
Make a Christmas Boxwood Tree 3:00 pm
($30 includes materials)
 
Register at behnkes.com or call (301) 937-1100
 
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Open House Special ~ Saturday Only ~
25% Off Thanksgiving Centerpieces
Thanksgiving Centerpieces
 
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Novelty Poinsettias
Luv U Poinsettia
With names like Luv U and Tapestry (there are at least 12 different varieties), our Novelty Poinsettias stand out in a crowd. They are so much more than traditional red, pink or white creating wonderful focal points in a room.

Friday, Saturday & Sunday
November 21 - 23, 2014
All Novelty Varieties 25% OFF

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Tips for Selecting Your Poinsettia
By Marian Parsley, Annual Plants Buyer
Poinsettias
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas here at Behnke's. Our Christmas shop is beautifully decorated, the first set of Christmas trees and greens have arrived, and the greenhouses are filling up with Poinsettias, Cyclamen and Christmas Cactus.

Our Poinsettias are beautiful again this year. I visit our local growers throughout the season to select the best plants. Red is hands-down the most popular color, but If you're not a fan of the traditional, why not try something different?

There are numerous "novelty" varieties to choose from in some wild shapes, colors and sizes. Or, if you just want a splash of color in your home or office try a white, pink or marble poinsettia. Marble is a definite stand-out, featuring eye-catching salmon-pink-and-cream-bicolor bracts perfect for use as a dining room table centerpiece or on a corner table, any place you need a little splash of color
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Behnke Garden Club Special:  All Artificial Wreaths, Sprays, Tabletop Trees, Picks, Swags & Garland 25% OFF!
Bunch of greens
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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Small Business Week At Behnke's
Starting Monday, November 24th

Small Business Week
Details
Monday, November 24th  Behnke Gift Card Special ~ Buy a $50 Gift Card and get a FREE $10 Gift Card  

Tuesday, November 25th  ALL Kids Toys 20% OFF ~ Including Melissa & Doug 

Wednesday, November 26th  The Entire Christmas Shop 20% OFF ~ Including all German Nutcrackers, Snow Babies, & Jim Shore

Thursday, November 27th Thanksgiving Day and we are closed to enjoy the day with our families 

Friday, November 28th  ALL Authentic Mexican Talavera pottery 20% OFF, Plus, 20% OFF All Ducky Bonsai Plants

Saturday, November 29th All Fairy Garden Accessories 40% OFF, Plus, 20% OFF All Ducky Hong's Bonsai Plants

Sunday, November 30th  Purchase a fresh cut Christmas Tree and get 50% off an undecorated wreath, Plus, 20% OFF All Ducky Hong's Bonsai Plants
 
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Happiness Is A Fresh Load Of Christmas Trees! 
  Miri Christmas Trees
We are not really sure what goes on in Miri's head but she LOVES unloading the tractor trailers that arrive! Her enthusiasm just makes us have to snap a photo each time. You have seen her before but today was something else. The smells of pine and the sight of Miri just throwing herself on this mountain of trees made me laugh..  Thank you Larry Bristow for this great photo. 

So, one week before Thanksgiving and on schedule, our magnificent Christmas Trees are here along with fresh greens and wreaths!  

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Lava Stone Penjing (Root over the Rock)         

Ducky's Special Project
Penjing

Lava Stone Penjing (Root over the Rock)        


A landscape Penjing is a miniature landscape created by carefully selected lava rocks and small live plants. Natural lava rocks have a lot of holes so that the plant can take root in the rock. In winter, using a humidifier will lead to long-lasting flowers that are easy to care for.


How to take care of Penjing.....

1. Water the plant thoroughly and completely immerse the pebbles in water twice a week, mist with a spray bottle frequently.  

2. As the water in the pebbles evaporates, it helps to provide humidity for the plants.

3. Prune as  needed is to refine the shape of plants, prune growth areas.

4. Put near a window for sunlight. Avoid heat sources.

 

Jessica's Garden: 'The Plight of an Only Child'
by Jessica Crawford, Behnke's Garden Blogger 

Jessica Crawford This past week basically centered around our son Grayson.  It was his third birthday and we celebrated with a party over the weekend for family and all his little buddies.  The difference in Grayson between ages one to two was not nearly so pronounced as the transition between ages two to three.  At his second birthday he was hardly talking and still maintained many of his baby features.  At age three, his mouth is a running motor and a little boy stands before us.

 

This is also the first year that he was aware of his birthday.  It all began two months ago when he started asking me when his birthday party was, after a long string of several months attending many other kid's parties.  I suppose he figured he had to have a birthday approaching shortly himself.  
 

I decided that with everything else we are managing currently to take it easy on myself this year.  I kept the menu simple and so that I would be able to prepare an item or two each day leading up to the party itself.  Grayson is at the age where our family, his friends and their parents (our friends) join in the celebration.  When planning his parties, they need to be kid-friendly but also enticing to adults.
 

One of my favorite party foods to prepare is mini quiche.  You can add whatever ingredients you like to a basic quiche recipe.  This weekend we had spinach feta and cheddar bacon mini quiche.  The best part is that one recipe for a basic quiche generally yields approximately fifty mini quiche and stretches your budget quite far.  Not to mention they look adorable and tasty.
 

Jessica CrawfordFor Grayson's Birthday gift this year, we gave him his newly renovated bedroom.  We've been telling him for weeks that his bedroom was too dirty for him to go into and that he needed to stay out.  When we purchased the farmhouse, his bedroom was one of the darkest and dingiest rooms in the house.  It had badly water damaged black floral print wallpaper peeling off the walls, a crumbling closet, worn hardwood floors and a wallpapered ceiling.  After weeks of hard work and dedicated, my husband and I are so proud of his room. 

 

 

    
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Find Jessica's recipes and more about Grayson's Bedroom 
toys for tots
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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Tips
November's Gardening To-Do List
Weekly Sales
Garden Blog BPPS
Taking appointments for Fall planting and yard clean up.
Activities
Dec. 6 & 7 ~ Orchid Repotting with Carol Allen
contact us
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Behnke's Hours 

Beltsville
Sunday  - Friday ~ 9 to 6
Saturday ~ 8 to 6 Open Early
 
Behnke Nurseries Contacts:
Beltsville: 301-937-1100
Email: [email protected]
Web Site: www.behnkes.com
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