Valley View Farms has scheduled seminars to be helpful and fun for our community. In addition to our classes, we have many informative handouts, plant diagnostic services, water testing for ponds, and extraordinary signage on all of our plants. Most important, we have friendly, knowledgeable personnel to assist in any way we can.* This year we will be donating $5.00 for every project created in our workshops to the WBAL Kids Campaign.
A bioactive terrarium (sometimes called a vivarium) is a self-sustaining ecosystem that mimics a reptile or amphibian's natural environment -- a contained space where living cretaures and various microorganisms and invertebrates live together and encourage a natural balance by breaking down waste materials and recycling them into plant food. Hannah will demonstrate using a container, plants, soil/substrate, and microfauna (insects) to achieve a bio-active environment.
Diagram courtesy of Exo-Terra
Photo courtesy of The Bio Dude
Learn all about winter sowing with Vinaya Frank including the how-to, different techniques, and strategies that will set you up for success with this immensely gratifying gardening activity. Winter sowing is an excellent way to keep your gardening passion active through the dormant winter season using this low-maintenance, cost-effective technique to expand your garden.
Speaker info: Vinaya Frank, Howard County Master Gardener, and Vice President of Wild Ones Greater Baltimore, has been winter sowing for several years. Over the course, she has taken an experimental approach by trying different soils, containers, and types of seeds. In addition to covering the basics of winter sowing during this workshop, Vinaya will share the tips and tricks she has learned through her years of experience.
All supplies will be provided and participants will leave with a completed container. Additional seeds will be available for those that would like to repeat the process at home. Winter sown plants will sprout and be ready for planting in the spring.
Join Bonsai master Martha Meehan of Meehan's Miniatures as she demonstrates winter styling of deciduous trees (other than Japanese maples). Our Plant of the Month is Elm.
Create a new fairy garden or update an older garden with today’s workshop combining the best of design techniques with plants suitable for miniature gardening. Cindi will be our host. Cost of your fairy garden will be based on the pot, soil, fairies, and plants chosen.
Eric will demonstrate repotting an orchid. Bring your orchid; we will lend a helping hand as participants then repot their own plants. There will be a small fee for Orchid Potting Mix.
We’ll supply paper, pencils, templates and extensive knowledge to allow everyone to create a native plants garden for the birds. Speaker TBA
Photo of American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) and cardinal courtesy of the National Wildlife Federation's Garden for Wildlife
Bring in (or purchase) your seed starting supplies and allow Jen K to help prepare seeds and transplants for your cool-weather spring vegetable garden. Bonus: Learn to make seed tapes to make direct sowing easy.
Speaker to be announced
Valley View offers a wide selection of Native Plants for our area and we designate them on our signs. Native plants are adapted to local climates, requiring less water and maintenance. They support pollinators and wildlife, promoting biodiversity. Plus, they're naturally resistant to pests and diseases, making them eco-friendly and sustainable.
A bog garden is a habitat that uses slow-draining, consistently moist, acidic soil that imitates naturally-occurring bog conditions. Create your own container bog garden using carnivorous plants like Venus Fly Traps, Sundews, Pitcher plants (pictured) and more. Learn all about these unique plants and their cultural needs as you plant the garden. Eric and Cynthia present.
Learn the basics about gardening, planning the garden, planting techniques, and maintaining the garden. We will go over how to plant trees, perennials, shrubs and annuals. Learn to properly water, what type of soils various groups of plants need, light requirements and choosing the right plants for the right place. Other topics will include pruning, cutting back and transplanting. We’ll also share the resources available in our area. will moderate the class.
Today will be filled with all sorts of events. Our early morning workshops will lead into our almost-famous plant fashion show. A plant clinic station, where we can analyze your plant, will be available all day. Buy your pot and plant from us, and we will pot it up at no cost, or coach you as you learn to repot. Door prizes will be given each hour. Join us for our last houseplant hurrah before flowering and vegetable plants take over the greenhouse in spring!
Participants will choose a staghorn fern from our selection, and a square wooden or cork plaque. Graham will guide participants on how to attach the fern, creating a living piece of wall art. She will also discuss other ferns that might be planted the same way. Cost: $26.00 (Limited to 30 participants)
The Japanese Kokedama translates to "moss ball". Chris will provide today’s instruction as we transplant plants into muck, then wrap the roots in moss. String design will finish off the project. Kokedama balls can be displayed on a shelf or hung from the ceiling. Average cost of project $29.
Houseplants take the runway today. Our own greenhouse and garden center staff will help model the plants. Our Revue host, Cindi, will pair pots with our many plants. Eric will provide tips on the care of each plant. Garden shop personnel will join the fun, highlighting soils, fertilizers and other houseplant helpers. We’d love some of you to walk the runway with plants too.
Use our Potting Bar to transplant any plants purchased into containers. Our plant specialists will demonstrate and/or assist with the planting.
Today’s seminar teaches enthusiasts about fertilizers, soils, potting and growing requirements. bonsai. Martha of Meehan's Miniatures will also be demonstrating grafting procedures.
New to gardening? Learn about what plants need to grow, growing seeds vs. transplants, how to read seed packets and fertilizer labels, gardening zones and best planting dates, sustainable and organic gardening practices, dealing with weeds, insects, diseases, when to harvest, planting in the ground or in containers, soil amendments, pH, and other gardening practices. Carrie will lead today’s class and discussion. .
Growing edible fruit in our own yards is extraordinarily gratifying. Learn to grow a diverse range of fruit trees, including apples, peaches, plums, pears, kiwi, lemons, limes and more. Speakers: Cynthia
Learn which vegetables are best to grow from seed, and which grow well from transplants. When is the best time to plant cool weather crops for both spring and fall harvest? When are our frost dates? How do we know when it’s time to harvest? What is the timing for planting cool weather crops in spring and fall? Join us for answers to these and other gardening questions. Carrie and Jen wil host.
Out of room? Living in a condo or apartment? Vegetable gardening is still possible using Earthboxes, Smart Pots and other containers. Our staff will share their own experiences of growing vegetables in pots.
Speaker TBA
Valley View offers a wide selection of Native Plants for our area and we designate them on our signs. Native plants are adapted to local climates, requiring less water and maintenance. They support pollinators and wildlife, promoting biodiversity. Plus, they're naturally resistant to pests and diseases, making them eco-friendly and sustainable.
A windowsill garden of herbs is fantastic in any kitchen! Choose from Herbes de Provence, Cocktail Gardens, Italian Kitchen Garden and more. Price dependent on pots and herbs chosen for project.
Join our experts for information to get your lawn green and growing. We’ll discuss the best seed, fertilizer, crabgrass and weed controls and other amendments to use to make your lawn the envy of your neighborhood. Speaker: Lawn and Garden Specialist John James.
Bring in your supplies (or purchase them here), to learn from Jen K what, when, and how to grow transplants for the summer garden. Learn to start seeds for tomato transplants, peppers, basil, cucumbers and other warm weather favorites.
A rain garden is a planted depression in the landscape that collects and allows rainwater runoff from hard surfaces to be absorbed. Rain gardens offer multiple benefits to the community and the local environment, including: reduced flooding and erosion, pollution prevention, groundwater recharge, enhanced wildlife habitat, improved aesthetics; and generally will increase your property values.
Speaker TBA
Download a Rain Garden Fact Sheet, courtesy of University of Maryland Extension, to get started.
Photo courtesy of University of MD extension
Back to basics with 10 ideal herbs to grow in your garden. Herbs are some of the easiest plants to grow, and often resist pests naturally. They add fresh flavors to meals, promoting healthier cooking. Many, like lavender, also have calming scents and medicinal uses. Jen will discuss growing, harvesting and using herbs. She will teach us how to troubleshoot common challenges in the herb garden.