Learn How to Put Your Garden to Bed

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And Grow Your Garden at CCC This Fall

Fall can seem like a time of endless chores. It doesn’t have to be.

In a class titled “Put Your Garden to Bed: Plant, Prune, Pull, Protect, & Plan,” garden maintenance will be discussed. The course aims to help you streamline fall chores and know when you need to do what. This two-evening course will be held at Carroll Community College’s main campus.

How, when and why to prune native species will be explored. Elm trees, for example, should only be pruned during the coldest days of January and February while hollies prefer a trim in late winter or early spring.

Ever wonder when and how to add plants to your garden? Fall is an excellent time to plant native perennials, specifically spring-blooming ones, as well as shrubs and trees. Adding plants to a garden in the fall allows them to build up their root systems before the stresses of summer.

The class will explore other subjects ranging from invasive plants, how to help pollinators survive the winter to the challenge of deer. The class will briefly explore how to start planning new design ideas for spring.

By the end of the course, you’ll know how to help your garden and its pollinators through the colder months, ensuring a healthy, vibrant garden come spring.

The class costs $70 (includes a $60 fee), # PDE-172.

Carroll County residents deduct $10 per course. Maryland non-Carroll County residents deduct $5 per course. Maryland senior adults pay fees only.

The class will be held Tues. and Thurs., Sept. 23 and 25 from 6:30 to 8:30 pm (two sessions), on Carroll Community College’s main campus. The instructor is Laura O’Callaghan.

To register, click here and go to page 49.

Photo by Matthias Boeckel, Pixabay.

Fly with Fireflies July 25

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At the Eldersburg Library

Fireflies create moments of magic and mystery when they light up summer nights. Learn more about them at a special event titled “Protecting the Jewels of the Night: How You Can Support Fireflies.“ Adults and children 6 and older are welcome. Children will be able to create masks among other activities.

The event will be held July 25 from 1 to 2 pm at the Eldersburg Library, 400 W Hemlock Dr., Sykesville, Maryland. The event is open to the public and free of charge.

”Protecting the Jewels of the Night“ is sponsored by the non-profit Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation. The international, science-based organization seeks to protect invertebrates and their habitats. Their key programs are pollinator conservation, endangered species conservation and the reduction of pesticide use.

Photo by Mike Lewinski, Flicker, Creative Commons.

Bees, Butterfly and Firefly Masks

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Among Free Activities at the 4H Children’s Day

Bees, butterflies, fireflies, dragonflies, and damselflies will be among the stars of the insect world featured at a booth at the 4H Children’s Day. These activities are sponsored by the non-profit Xerces Society.

Gardening activities and games created from recycled materials as well as literature about best gardening practices will be available for children and adults at the Carroll County Master Gardeners’ (MG) booth, next to the Xerces table.

4H Children’s Day will be held Tuesday, July 29 from 9 am to 2 pm at the Ag Center. Children of all ages can make masks, take home stickers and play games at the Xerces and MGs booths in the Ag Center’s vendor area. There also will be numerous handouts about bees, butterflies, and other invertebrates as well as gardening information for children and adults.

The booths are sponsored by the non-profit Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation and the UME CC MGs.

Xerces, an international, science-based organization, seeks to protect invertebrates and their habitats. Their key programs are pollinator conservation, endangered species conservation and the reduction of pesticide use.

The UME CCMG aims to provide information to the community about sustainable horticultural practices.

The booths will be in the vendor area in front of the Ag building, 700 Agriculture Center, Westminster, MD 21157.

Native Plants