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How to make your own Christmas wreath | Hertfordshire Gardening Tips | Get …

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YOU don’t have to buy expensive Christmas garlands and wreaths when you can make your own from garden material, Hannah Stephenson reports

If you’ve bought the Christmas tree and now have little left in your budget for wreaths, baubles and other festive garlands, just take a walk in the garden to find some twigs, sprigs and berries which will make pretty adornments – and save you pounds.

Ideal material for adding natural beauty to festive scenes indoors include crab apples, hazel, dogwood, berried ivy, holly, silver birch stems, as well as a variety of seedheads and pine cones.

Pre-lit man-made Christmas paper trees are all the rage this year, but you can create a similar pretty adornment at a fraction of the cost with half a dozen thick stems of willow or birch, tied together with florist’s wire and festive ribbon or raffia and placed in a large indoor trough or pot filled with moist compost and decorative stones as a mulch on the top.

Wind a selection of Christmas lights around the branches, which will give any corner a focal point and takes up less room than a regular tree in a smaller space, or will add a festive glow in another room away from your main tree. If you’re using Christmas lights, don’t add extra water to your pots.

Clippings from your Christmas tree can make the base of a fabulous wreath, using a wire frame wrapped in moss, secured by florist’s wire. Take the tree clippings and feed them into the frame from their stems, making sure all the sprigs face the same way. Again secure with thin wire, circling it all the way around the frame, and then add holly or other evergreen additions, along with pine cones which you can secure with wire or glue, baubles and colourful ribbon for a bow at the top or bottom.

The colourful stems of dogwood also make an easy indoor or outdoor wreath. Weave the most colourful stems together, wiring the first one to create the frame and then weaving subsequent stems around it.

Holly spheres are also easy to make, using a dry oasis ball, strong curling ribbon or raffia and florist’s wire. When you are picking your holly, use end pieces, allowing for two to three pairs of leaves and then trim the bottom pair of leaves off so you have an inch of clear stem.

Pierce the ribbon with a piece of wire so you can thread the wire and ribbon right through the centre of the oasis ball, knotting the ribbon or making it into a loop at the bottom and securing it further by threading more wire through the loop and into the oasis, to secure the decoration when it is suspended.

At the top of the ball, wind the ribbon up to stop it becoming too creased and secure with a paperclip, which you can hold with one hand while inserting foliage with the other.

Starting at the top of the sphere, put in pieces of holly around 2.5-3in long, adding small bits of conifer as you go, working around the ball until it is all covered. By eye, make sure the foliage is even and fill in any gaps with other evergreens. Thuja ‘Rheingold’ is a great ornamental golden conifer to stick between the holly sprigs. You can also use ivy with clusters of berries, leaving the last two leaves of the ivy and the berries, which will fill it out and give the sphere a different dimension.

Other bits and pieces can also be added including seedheads and cones, which may be better glued on. Tie a bow at the top of the sphere with the remaining ribbon and then suspend it from your hanging basket bracket.

Festive natural baubles can be hung off shelves and door handles by making a ball out of chicken wire and then covering it with moss from the garden, secured with florist’s wire, and then adding either sprigs of berries or decorative seedheads. If you want a bit of sparkle, add a spray of glitter to the berries or a little fake snow on to the moss.

And at the Christmas table, create your own festive place settings with dried fruits or small bundles of cinnamon sticks, gluing small cones to the base so they can stand upright, to take florist card holders. The same natural materials can then be added to your Christmas crackers to match.

Garden centre offers tips to keep your Christmas tree healthy

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    • Garden Tip: Watering tips for winter

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    By Heather Prince
    www.thegrowingplace.com

    December 13, 2012 6:34PM

    Goldmops falsecypress as it looks in gardens now has pretty chartreuse foliage making
    a nice bright impact in winter, but proper watering is important to get it established. | Courtesy of Heather Prince


    We’ve had a few rain showers, but in many areas, drought conditions are still present. The ground is not yet frozen, so many evergreen plants could benefit with a drink.

    Recent light rains might not have penetrated very far. Check your soil moisture by pushing your fingers down a few inches under any mulch or use a small trowel to dig down. Feel the soil; is it moist or dry and crumbling? If it’s moist, leave it be, but if your soil is dry, consider watering.

    Evergreens, especially newly planted ones, will benefit from supplemental watering until the ground freezes. This might not occur in our area until after Christmas. For trees, use a slow trickle from a hose for 20 to 30 minutes, and about 15 minutes for shrubs.

    Consider mulching your plants to keep the soil evenly moist. A two- to three-inch layer of mulch in the root zone, but not against trunks or stems, will benefit the plants. By giving your evergreens a little extra care now, you’ll be able to enjoy them for many years to come.

    Garden Tip is courtesy of Heather Prince, The Growing Place, 630-355-4000, www.thegrowingplace.com

    City developing plans to enhance its appearance and functionality

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  • After just a few weeks in existence, the Laurie Enhancement Committee outlined a possible projects list for the city’s board of aldermen Dec. 12.
    The goal of the recently appointed committee is to recommend ideas to enhance the city’s appearance and make infrastructure more functional and to help come up with alternative ways to fund these projects, such as grants.
    Committee member Ron Holtz presented the ideas for potential projects, but said there is no priority to the list at this time.
    With a general consensus of approval from aldermen, the committee does now plan to apply for a TRIM grant, which would involve tree identification markers and proper tree management to maintain trees – such as in the fairgrounds – and help educate the public on forestry. It is a cost share grant for up to $10,000 with recipients’ match at 40 percent, according to Holtz, but volunteer labor on the project could be credited towards the recipients’ in-kind match.
    The board also approved the committee to find a site location and investigate the cost for a possible Lake of the Ozarks West sign. Mark Shellenberg has volunteered to fundraise for the sign, which is planned to be done solely through donations.
    The list
    • Landscaping at the triangle of the junction of Highways 5 and 135 which might include a welcome center or picnic area.
    • Sidewalks and/or bike trails along Hwy. 5 and Route O, at the fairgrounds, ball park and golf course and movie theatre – connectivity is key to these types of projects, according to Holtz; also possibly a crosswalk on Hwy. 5 between G2M and Porters
    • Street lighting
    • More courts at the fairgrounds – tennis, volleyball, basketball
    • Fix up rundown buildings in town, possibly have murals painted on the side of some buildings, and make sure vacant buildings and lots are maintained and mowed
    • A connector road between Hwy. 5 and Route O to open up more development space and improve traffic flow
    • A specific look or palette for buildings to help the city look more planned and coordinated
    • Historic signage
    • Tree identification and markers at the fairgrounds
    • A Lake of the Ozarks West sign – similar to the lit up Lake of the Ozarks sign put up recently that can be seen from Hwy. 54 in Lake Ozark

    • Plans to rejuvenate Babbacome Downs to go on display for the first time

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    PLANS of how a rejuvenated Babbacombe Downs could look after a range of measures are to go on display for the first time.

    Torbay Council has been working in partnership with contractors Glendale Managed Services, which has a grounds maintenance contract for the Downs, to come up with some initial ideas for upgrading the landscaping and are now keen to hear from residents and businesses.

    Measures could include new paths, bins, signposts and flowerbeds as well as removing hedges.

    A spokesman said: “Due to their location on the slope, the flower beds are less visible than previous years and the hedging borders are becoming sparse.

    “The council’s initial proposals are to improve the beds so they are more visible and to replace the hedging.

    “The sea view has become obstructed in certain areas and therefore some vegetation may be cut back and/or removed to reveal the existing shrubbery planting and to provide additional planting.

    “The signage is to be improved at entrance points, the tourist boards are to be moved to more appropriate locations as are the bins which will be improved to help with the high levels of use.

    “The introduction of softwood timber edging to the path in some areas would replace the existing rocks which are often climbed over.

    “Finally, the repair and repainting of railings, bollards and lampposts will lend to the overall enhancement of this stunning location.”

    Cllr Jeanette Richards, executive lead for tourism and environment, added: “There are very few areas across the country that have the view and ambience of Babbacombe Downs and we want to ensure that they look their best and meet the needs of those visiting the area.

    “Many of the ideas are based on investing to save and will not only provide improvements for the area but will make future management easier and in turn reduce costs.

    “The improvement of flower beds should mean that additional costs for reinstating these would not be required every year. However, we are not looking to reduce the overall planting within this scheme.

    “The replacement of the existing bins will also ensure that litter on busy days and event days does not become an issue in the future.”

    The consultation event will be held at The Downs Hotel, Babbacombe, on Monday, December 17.

    Officers will be on hand to discuss the plans from 10am until 12pm and 4pm until 7pm.

    5 Quick Internet Marketing Tips for Landscaping Business Owners

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    Business 2 Community is an independent online community focused on sharing the latest news surrounding Social Media, Marketing, Branding, Public Relations much more. Every day we feature the thought leadership of our open community of bloggers and aim to provide a balanced view of the business landscape based on industry news, trends and real-life experiences.

    NCC opens Sesquicentennial Walkway, new pedestrian thoroughfare

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    North Central College’s new Sesquicentennial Walkway is open to foot traffic and will serve as a new pedestrian thoroughfare through the heart of campus.

    Sesquicentennial Walkway

    Photo courtesy of NCC

    The Sesquicentennial Walkway is a 16-foot-wide path extending between Jefferson and Benton avenues and located in a former alleyway between Brainard and Loomis streets.

    “The walkway was widened and rebuilt so it becomes the main north-south thoroughfare through campus,” says Mike Hudson, North Central College’s assistant vice president for business operations.

    The environmentally friendly design of the Sesquicentennial Walkway features permeable brick pavers, which will aid in stormwater infiltration and collection. The College received an $118,800 grant from the DuPage County Stormwater Management Division to include sustainability features.

    Water will drain into several new rain gardens, which will be planted with native grasses and plants. These areas will increase the amount of open green space on campus and capture stormwater runoff, filtering suspended solids and nutrients that otherwise would drain into the West Branch of the DuPage River.

    The project includes improved energy-efficient, lantern-style LED lighting and enhanced pedestrian crossings at Van Buren and Benton avenues. Overhead utility lines were buried as part of the project and new seating areas were installed. Significant landscaping has been installed, though final landscaping will be completed in the spring and a dedication of the Sesquicentennial Walkway will occur at some point in the future.

    Permeable brick pavers also were installed in the newly redesigned Van Buren parking lot, which was expanded by 16 spaces to a total of 40. The south end of the Sesquicentennial Walkway, near residence halls, features a plaza.

    The Sesquicentennial Walkway is part of the College’s Legacy Project that includes the Riverwalk Gateway, a newly enhanced connection between the College and Naperville’s Riverwalk. The Riverwalk Gateway was dedicated in late October by North Central President Harold Wilde.

    “The Walkway and the Riverwalk Gateway represent two longstanding ‘dreams’ on Hal’s wish list for the College. We’re thrilled that both projects could be completed before his retirement,”

    Paul Loscheider, vice president for business affairs and Rick Spencer, vice president for institutional advancement, said in an email message to the campus community.

    North Central College

    Here comes Farmers Market

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    Posted Dec 13, 2012
    By John Curry

    Click to Enlarge

    Click to Enlarge

    EMC news – Exploring a new gift shop with poinsettias, fresh wreaths, gift baskets and more. Exciting. Enjoying bacon on the bun and hot apple cider in a fireplace environment, with live entertainment. Delicious and enjoyable. And being able to browse for free through the offerings of over 50 local vendors, selling everything from jewellery to knitting to toys and more. Priceless.

    But that and more is what’s happening this Friday, Dec. 14 and Saturday, Dec. 15 at the first annual Christmas Farmers Market being staged at the new Creekside Gardens in Richmond. Well, actually, Creekside Gardens and the gift shop, Creekside Creations Co. may be new but the routes to the site are well travelled as it was the home of Lalonde’s Richmond Gardens for over three decades.

    New owner Scott Cummings has given the place at the corner of Eagleson Road and Ottawa Street in Richmond a whole new look, something which is well worth a visit in itself. And Debbie Goodfellow has turned Ray Lalonde’s former office space and its environs into a homey, comfortable gift shop, complete with a fireplace, leather sofas, a coffee bar and lots of interesting items. The gift shop is also offering workshops and is putting together inviting gift baskets.

    But it is really this upcoming Christmas Farmers Market that you will not want to miss. It runs this Friday, Dec. 14 from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. and then this Saturday, Dec. 15 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. There is free admission, lots of parking and a sheltered, heated area where the over 50 vendors will be set up. There will be apples for sale, wood creations, silver and china, handmade cutting boards, meats, Christmas décor, linens, preserves, baked goods, wooden toys, maple syrup, soap, jewellery and much more there.

    Debbie Goodfellow, in organizing this first annual Christmas Farmers Market at Creekside Gardens, drew upon vendors from both the Carp Farmers Market and the North Gower Farmers Market. In addition, her website call for vendors produced more interest and she has assembled a wide and varied selection of vendors and their goods.

    “I know it’s going to be great,” Debbie says about what will be offered at this Christmas Farmers Market. The only unknown is just how many people will show up – she’s hoping that there’s lots.

    She says that people should drop in for something to eat on Friday evening, enjoying bacon on the bun. It’s meant to be that kind of event – a community social where you will also be able to browse through the vendors and buy a variety of items, all just in time for Christmas gift giving.

    This first annual Christmas Farmers Market is just the beginning for Creekside Gardens. A regular summertime farmers market is being envisioned as well.

    Creekside Gardens, in the tradition of Lalonde’s Richmond Gardens, will continue to offer what you need to have beautiful gardens and landscaping. There are over 30,000 square feet of greenhouse space that will be filled with plants, vegetables, fruit and herbs, all you need for your garden. There will be trees and shrubs, planters and baskets and a full line of gardening supplies including tools, potting soil and fertilizer.

    Creekside Gardens will also be offering a range of gardening services for commercial and residential properties.

    For information about Creekside Gardens, the Creekside Creations Co. gift shop or the upcoming Christmas Farmers Market, please call 613-293-4884.

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    Winners of 26th Annual Keep Montgomery County Beautiful Honored

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    At the 26th annual “Keep Montgomery County Beautiful” community beautification awards ceremony, organizers handed out fifty-six awards, including an “Award of Excellence” in the cityscape category for the Wheaton Triangle Conservation Garden.

    The Dec. 4 ceremony recognized municipal street plantings, community plantings, community landscape projects, outdoor projects at commercial and retail locations, outdoor projects at schools/government buildings/hospitals/churches, under-19 age groups, sustained maintenance, photographs of Montgomery County landmarks, adopt-a-road participants and forestry stewardship.

    The fifty-six award winners represent a number of areas in Montgomery County.

    Silver Spring/Colesville/ Wheaton/Takoma Park-area winners

    CITYSCAPE for municipal street plantings in median strips, near traffic ramps and next to sidewalks:

    Award of Excellence:  Wheaton Triangle Conservation Garden, Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection, Wheaton

     

    COMMUNITY NON-PROFESSIONAL for community plantings maintained by residents through homeowner associations, garden clubs or civic associations:

    Award of Distinction: Kemp Mill Estates Entranceway, Kemp Mill Civic Association, Silver Spring

    Award of Merit: American Elm Park, Friends of Sligo Creek, Silver Spring

    Award of Excellence: Hancock Avenue Rain Garden, Hancock Avenue Rain Garden Committee, Takoma Park

     

    COMMUNITY PROFESSIONAL for community landscaping projects designed and maintained by professional landscape architects or contractors:

    Award of Excellence: The Blairs, The Brickman Group, Silver Spring

    Award of Excellence: Bonifant Homeowners Association, Custom Cuts Lawn Landscape, Silver Spring

    Award of Excellence: Kensington Park Retirement Community, The Brickman Group, Kensington

    Award of Excellence: Leisure World Cascade, McFall Berry Landscape, Silver Spring

    Award of Excellence: Leisure World Globe, McFall Berry Landscape, Silver Spring

     

    COMMERCIAL/RETAIL for outdoor projects at facilities such as shopping malls, restaurants, retail businesses, gas stations, etc.:

    Award of Excellence: United Therapeutics, Ruppert Landscaping, Silver Spring, New

     

    PUBLIC INSTITUTIONAL for outdoor projects at schools, government buildings, hospitals, churches or libraries:

    Award of Excellence: Aspen Hill Library Gardens, Aspen Hill Garden Club, Aspen Hill

    Award of Excellence: Eastern Middle School Rain Garden, Students Friends of Sligo Creek, Silver Spring

    Award of Excellence: Pinecrest Elementary School Rain Garden, Woodmoor Green Team, Girl Scout Troop 1549, Silver Spring, Environmental

     

    SUSTAINED MAINTENANCE for previous triple award winners of the Award of Excellence: 

    First Year/ Commercial/Retail: Silver Spring Metro Plaza, Ruppert Landscaping, Silver Spring

    PHOTOGRAPHY MONTGOMERY COUNTY, BY NIGHT – Any photo taken outdoors in Montgomery County that depicts something fun, beautiful or exciting during nighttime.

    Third: “Carnival Lightning” Elizabeth Koller, Silver Spring

     

    PHOTOGRAPHY MONTGOMERY COUNTY HER PEOPLE – Any photo taken of one or more people involved in County activities, close-up or distant, showing leisure activity, productivity or community service.

    Third: “Hooray for the USA” Fred Shapiro, Silver Spring

     

    PHOTOGRAPHY MONTGOMERY COUNTY AT WORK – Any photo taken of one or more people at work, contributing to the livability and splendor of the County.

    Second: “The Stylist for Tree” De Hou Yang, Wheaton

     

    ADOPT-A-ROAD CLEAN SWEEP AWARDS – for fiscal year 2012 (July 1, 2011 to June 30, 2012) that recognizes volunteer efforts to remove litter from County roadways. 

     

    Award of Excellence for Most Cleanings Reported – Colesville Lions Club, represented by Emory Patton. This group cleaned their road, the extension of Norbeck Road from Norwood Road to New Hampshire Avenue, nearly every day except when prohibited by weather. The group has been with the program for nine years.

     

    Award of Excellence for Most Trash Collected: Izaak Walton League of America Wildlife Achievement Chapter, represented by Meo Curtis.  This group has adopted Mullinix Mill Road, between Route 108 and the Howard County Line.  In FY12 they collected 132 bags of trash – about 350 gallons of trash — plus many recyclable items, hub caps and tires, household remodeling materials, sofas, propane gas containers, partially filled cans of paint and a wedding dress.   They have been with the program for over 15 years.

     

     

     

     

     

    Chevy Chase/Kensington/Bethesda/Potomac-area winners –

    COMMUNITY NON-PROFESSIONAL for community plantings maintained by residents through homeowner associations, garden clubs or civic associations:

    Award of Excellence: Huntington Terrace Citizens Association Triangle Garden, Bethesda, Environmental

     

    COMMUNITY PROFESSIONAL for community landscaping projects designed and maintained by

     

    Award of Excellence: Potomac Falls Entranceways, Fine Earth Landscape, Inc., Potomac

    Award of Distinction: Bethesda Overlook Townhouse Condominium, Potts Consulting and Greenlink, Inc., Bethesda, New

    Award of Excellence: Bethesda Row, Ruppert Landscaping, Bethesda

     

    PUBLIC INSTITUTIONAL for outdoor projects at schools, government buildings, hospitals, churches or libraries:

     

    Award of Distinction: Davis Library, Bethesda Community Garden Club, Bethesda

     

     

    SUSTAINED MAINTENANCE for previous triple award winners of the Award of Excellence: 

     

    Second Year/ Community Professional: Capital Gateway, Ruppert Landscape, Bethesda

    Second Year/ Community Professional: Maplewood Park Place, Valleycrest Landscape, Bethesda

    Second Year/ Community Professional: Potomac Crest Homeowners Association, The Brickman Group, Potomac

    Third Year/ Commercial/Retail: Human Genome Sciences, Ruppert Landscape, Bethesda

    Third Year/ Community Non-Professional: Kenwood Pocket Park, Kenwood Garden Club, Chevy Chase

    Third Year/ Public-Institutional: St. Luke’s Episcopal Church Labyrinth, Bethesda

    THE GOLDEN TROWEL AWARD – Final Year/Fifth Year/ Community Professional: The Carleton Condominium, Valleycrest Landscape, Bethesda

    Photography MONTGOMERY COUNTY HER PEOPLE – Any photo taken of one or more people involved in County activities, close-up or distant, showing leisure activity, productivity or community service.

     

    Second: “Great Falls, Maryland” Donald Bandler, Bethesda

     

     

     

    Montgomery Village/Rockville/Gaithersburg/Germantown/North Potomac-area winners –

    CITYSCAPE for municipal street plantings in median strips, near traffic ramps and next to sidewalks:

    Award of Excellence:  Mattie Stepanek Park Peace Garden, City of Rockville

    Award of Excellence:  Viers Mill Road Landscape Enhancements, City of Rockville, New

    Award of Distinction:  East Rockville Greenway, City of Rockville

    Award of Excellence:  Park Road and S. Stonestreet Land Enhancements, City of Rockville

    Award of Excellence:  Pump House at Croyden Park, City of Rockville, Environmental

    Award of Excellence:  The Ponds at Fallsgrove, City of Rockville

     

    COMMUNITY PROFESSIONAL for community landscaping projects designed and maintained by

    Award of Excellence: Grosvenor Park Grosvenor Park Maintenance Trust Association Monument, Lancaster Landscapes, Rockville

    Award of Excellence: Clarksburg Village Roundabout, Hughes Landscaping, Clarksburg, Environmental/New

    Award of Excellence: The Vistas Homeowners Association Stormwater Management Area, The Brickman Group, Boyds

     

    COMMERCIAL/RETAIL for outdoor projects at facilities such as shopping malls, restaurants, retail businesses, gas stations, etc.:

    Award of Distinction: Gaithersburg Washingtonian Marriott, The Brickman Group, Gaithersburg

    Award of Excellence: National Auto Body, Rockville

    Award of Excellence: Tower Oaks, The Brickman Group, Rockville

    Award of Merit: Twinbrook Sunoco, Rockville

    Award of Distinction: Maryland Soccerplex, Fine Earth Landscape, Inc. Boyds

    Award of Excellence: Lobsang Executive Shell, Rockville, Environmental

     

     

     

    PUBLIC INSTITUTIONAL for outdoor projects at schools, government buildings, hospitals, churches or libraries:

     

    Award of Excellence: The Jewish Community Center, Ruppert Landscaping, Rockville

    Award of Excellence: Master Gardeners Demonstration Gardens, Derwood Agricultural Farm Park, Derwood

    Award of Excellence: Master Gardeners Farmers Triangle Demonstration Garden, Montgomery County Fairgrounds, Gaithersburg

    Award of Excellence: Master Gardeners Heritage Garden, Montgomery County Fairgrounds, Gaithersburg

    Award of Excellence: Our Lady of Good Counsel High School, Rosetta Landscape Management, Olney

    Award of Excellence: Viers Mill Baptist Church, Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection, Rockville, Environmental/New

    Award of Excellence: St. James Episcopal Church Vestry Gardens, American Plant Landscape Division, Rockville, Environmental

    Award of Excellence: Melvin J. Berman Hebrew Academy, American Plant Landscape, Rockville

    Award of Excellence: Montgomery General Hospital Thrift Shop Butterfly Garden, Seedling Garden Club, Olney

     

     

    YOUTH for outdoor projects by an individual or group who are younger than 19 years old.  Adult supervision is permitted, but the majority of a project must be completed by youth:

    Award of Distinction: Rockville High School (RHS) Conservation Landscape, RHS Horticulture and Science Class Students, Rockville

     

     

    SUSTAINED MAINTENANCE for previous triple award winners of the Award of Excellence: 

     

    First Year/ Commercial/Retail: Hughes Network, The Brickman Group, Germantown

    First Year/ Cityscape: Rockville Town Square, Ruppert Landscaping, Rockville

    Second Year/ Community Non-Professional: Cambridge Walk II Homeowners Association, Rockville

    Second Year/ Community Non-Professional: Rockshire Entranceway, Rockshire Garden Club, Rockville

    Second Year/ Commercial/Retail: Washingtonian Center, The Brickman Group, Gaithersburg

     

     

    Photography MONTGOMERY COUNTY YOUTH – For those who are younger than 19 years of age and wish to compete against others their age. 

     

    First: “Helpless Hungry But Still Together” Tatiana Harris, Gaithersburg

    Second: “The First Sign of Summer” Bethany Pereira, Rockville

    Third: “Montgomery County Salutes Amercia” Anna Meleney, Rockville

     

    Photography MONTGOMERY COUNTY, BY DAY – Any photo taken outdoors in Montgomery County that depicts something fun, beautiful or exciting during daytime hours.

     

    First: “Fields of Gold” Lori Ducharme, Gaithersburg

    Second: “Black Hill Fishing Dock” Cynthia Hunter, Montgomery Village, Gaithersburg

    Third: “Sunflower-After Life” Patricia Benjamin, Gaithersburg

     

    Photography MONTGOMERY COUNTY LANDMARKS – Any photo taken outdoors in Montgomery County of a natural or manmade commonly recognized landmark or scene.

     

    First: “Overlook Panorama” Keegan Barber, Rockville

    Second: “Forgotten Memories” Mamqalika Pereira, Rockville

    Third: “Seneca Schoolhouse” Linda Joy, Gaithersburg

     

    Photography MONTGOMERY COUNTY, BY NIGHT – Any photo taken outdoors in Montgomery County that depicts something fun, beautiful or exciting during nighttime.

     

    First: “Out For a Spin” Larry Dean, Damascus

    Second: “Big 17” Howard Clark, Montgomery Village, Gaithersburg

     

    Photography MONTGOMERY COUNTY HER PEOPLE – Any photo taken of one or more people involved in County activities, close-up or distant, showing leisure activity, productivity or community service.

     

    First: “Father/Son Early Spring Hike” Gloria Machlis Heyman, Montgomery Village, Gaithersburg

     

    Photography MONTGOMERY COUNTY AT WORK – Any photo taken of one or more people at work, contributing to the livability and splendor of the County.

     

    First: “Yellow + Blue = Green” Judith MacArthur, Rockville

     

    THE GREYDON TOLSON FORESTRY STEWARDSHIP AWARDS.  The Greydon Tolson award honors his lifetime of service to forestry in Montgomery County and to the Montgomery County Forestry Board.  The award recognizes individuals or organizations that have demonstrated a significant commitment to advancing the science, education, technology, or practice of Forestry.  This year’s winners are Carole Bergmann, resident of Clarksburg and employed by Montgomery Parks, Maryland-National Capital Park Planning Commission, and Linda Pepe, resident of Barnesville. 

    George Weigel’s Winter Season Tip of the Week: How to not kill a poinsettia

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    Lots of new poinsettias end up in the hands on non-gardeners this time of year. So many of them bite the dust early because of the abuse they often endure prior to the sale and the root-rotting care they often get once in the living room.

    Garden writer George Weigel shows you a few easy tips to keeping your poinsettia looking good even into spring in this week’s video.

    For more garden tips, check out the links below.

    george-weigel.jpg

    Look for George Weigel’s Garden Tip of the Week each Thursday. George Weigel is the garden writer for the Patriot-News and also owner of a garden-consulting business for do-it-yourselfers, garden-tour host, frequent garden speaker, Pennsylvania Certified Horticulturist and certified gardening nut.