By Stephanie Fleming
From Behnke GardeNews Fall 2008 Newsletter

Tired of your coworkers shuddering when they see you coming their way, waving a catalog of over-priced chocolates? Raising money can be tough on your self-esteem! But everyone loves flowers, and at Behnke Nurseries, we have fundraisers to fit your group’s needs. For generations, our professional growers have consistently produced high-quality, long-lasting, and the most beautiful plants. It’s no wonder that Behnke’s is the first choice for quality seasonal plants in the Baltimore/Washington area.

“Behnke Signature Mums” are ideal for your fall fundraising campaign. Our generously-sized mums come in a rich palette of autumn colors. “Behnke Signature Poinsettias” set the standard for Christmas plant décor. We offer four colors of poinsettias for fundraisers: red, pink, white and marble; available in multiple sizes. Fresh Evergreen Wreaths round out the offering, allowing your customer an additional choice.

The “Behnke Spring Bedding-Plant Fundraiser” offers a wide selection of colorful Behnke-grown annuals in cell packs and pots. Easiest of All: “Behnke Nurseries’ Fundraiser Days” may be scheduled year-round. Members of your group shop at Behnke Nurseries on your selected day, and identify themselves as members of the group at checkout. For all non-sale items purchased on that day by your group, Behnke Nurseries will rebate up to 20% of the purchase price to your organization!

Everyone at one time or another either fundraises or buys from a fundraiser… what better way to raise money for a group or to support a group, than with beautiful Behnke plants? For further information, including forms, contact Stephanie Fleming, at Sfleming@behnkes.net or 301-937-1100.

[UPDATED: Chili Cook-Off for 2010 informarion]

Come to Behnke Nurseries this October 4, 2008 as we welcome the Mason Dixon Pod of Maryland’s Premier Chili Club to our First Extreme Chili Cook-Off at our Beltsville location. Benefiting the Beltsville Rotary Club, Behnkes will have a day of fun and food! New Chili Cooks are always welcomed to the friendly competition where the winner is ALWAYS the charity!

There will be a “People’s Choice Award” where you can purchase for $5.00 a tasting kit to sample the different Chilies. You can always go back for another bowl when you pick the one you like the best. (for an additional cost) All the money raised will go to the Beltsville Rotary Club.

For more information about the Mason Dixon Pod Maryland’s Premiere Chili Club check out their web site at Mason Dixon Chili Club. We are so excited that they are coming to help us raise funds for the Beltsville Rotary Club’s charities. As a added bonus, they will let first time cooks compete with no entry fee. If your interested in joining in the fun as a cook send an email to sfleming@behnkes.net

Remember to mark your calendars! October 4th! A day’s worth of fun along with all the plants you need for the Fall. Watch Behnkes.Com for more information as the time gets closer!

Capitol Beltway Perennial Show

Sponsored By Washington Gardener Magazine to benfit Earth Share, a national federation that supports the country’s most respected environmental non-profit organizations, visit www.earthshare.org

The Perennial Show highlights the joys of growing the aristocrats of decorative gardening-summer perennials. This final show in the series will run Saturday, June 21st and Sunday June 22nd, and will feature the most extensive collection of perennial varieties in the Washington Metro area. Feast your eyes on the incredible variance in color, texture, structure and growth habits.

Thanks to Douglas Bolt of the Beltsville Garden Club for providing photos of the event.

The Beltsville Garden Club was founded in 1952, primarily by individuals from the USDA, and currently has 220 members from throughout the area, including some Behnke Nurseries staff.

This is an active club, with interesting meetings, summer field trips and friendly members. Proceeds from plant sales benefit the Duckworth School, a Prince George’s County school which serves students with moderate to severe disabilities ages 5 through 21.

For more information, visit: http://beltsvillegardenclub.org/bgc2.html

The first annual Beltway Azalea Show at Behnke Nurseries at Beltsville brought together a number of groups to celebrate the area’s most popular flowering shrub. Co-sponsored by Washington Gardener Magazine, and Earth Share, a national environmental organization, Behnke Nurseries offered an amazing assortment of azaleas, just coming into their blooming season.

Highlights included a wine tasting on Friday night, featuring the wines of Maryland-vintner Boordy Vineyards. Friday and Saturday temperatures were pleasant, and people enjoyed wine under the big tent, surrounded by Behnke’s many plant offerings.

Exhibitors included the Master Gardeners of Prince George’s County; Pogo Organics selling compost tea and “tea” making equipment; Washington Gardener Magazine; Riverbend Nursery offering advice on deer-resistant perennials; Friends of the National Agriculture Library — a national treasure of horticultural information in Beltsville; the Agriculture Research Service, also in Beltsville; the Four Seasons Garden Club, and the Beltsville Garden Club. Tree seedlings, native perennials and raffle tickets were sold to raise money for Earth Share.

Remember that Sunday when we suddenly caught up from our three-inch rain deficit? That coincided with the Azalea show, and put a bit of a damper on the Sunday activities, turning handouts into papier mache and creating some interesting new (but temporary) aquatic features at the nursery. That Mother Nature; such a sense of humor.

We are looking forward to welcoming you to the upcoming Capital Beltway Perennial Show, coming in June!