If you didn’t join Behnkes and Washington Gardener Magazine for the ride to Philly for the amazing flower show (oldest, largest, doggone best in the U.S.), here’s a taste.

You enter through this 25-foot simulated wave. Very cool!

Surf's up!

Asian and Eastern-style front yards.

My favorite front porch - funky and tropical.

Love this!

Bizarre displays of bamboo. Don't try this at home!

Local landscapers show off their decidedly Eastern style.

Orchids were everywhere, even in the Market section.

Miniature garden entries.

Terrarium entries in gorgeous containers. Terrariums were selling well in the Market, too.

Pressed plant entries. That's right - all plant parts.

Two more pressed-plant creations - because they're so awesome.

In addition to this sampling of displays and judged entries, there’s a large market and several stages filled with talks and demonstrations by experts.  Fun day!

Photo credit for wave:  Philadelphia Flower Show.

Our Potomac location is fully stocked for our customers’ holiday needs – trees, cut greens, wreaths, decorations – the works!  And this Saturday at 2:00 we’ll be showing customers How to Make a Boxwood Tabletop Tree.  They’re traditional, and add a great vertical element to any room .

Great assortment of poinsettias

Large assortment of tree decorations, too.

We do custom wreaths and swags - just choose your decorations.

Fresh trees, wreaths and roped greens. Really fresh!

And don't forget - orchids make great gifts!

Longwood Gardens is no doubt the premier public garden east of the Rockies (and probably west of them, too).   But what surprised this frequent visitor was discovering my favorite time to visit is mid-winter!  Why?  Because of the outdoor displays and especially the 4.5-acre heated indoor conservatory.  It features a giant Art Nouveau tapestry made from pink poinsettias and ferns, and amazing floral displays.

So join Behnkes and Cheval’s garden tours for our day trip to Longwood – this is a trip for gardeners, and everyone else.

• Date: Thursday, December 15, 2011.
• Meet at: Behnke Nurseries, 11300 Baltimore Ave., Beltsville, MD.
• Leave: 10:00 a.m. Return: 6:00 p.m.
• Cost: $103.  Reserve online.
• Registration deadline Dec. 12, 2011. No refunds after Dec. 1, 2011.

Price includes admission to Longwood, charter coach with bath, cafe voucher (choice of appetizer, entree, dessert and fountain beverage or coffee) garden DVD on ride, raffle for garden goodies, goody bags, bottled water and snacks.

Horticultural highlights this season:
General Indoor Highlights

• Amaryllis
• Begonias
• Calla-lily (Zantedeschia)
• Coleus (Solenostemon)
• Cyclamen coum (Cyclamencoum)
• Euphorbias
• Heaths (Erica)
• Heathers (Calluna)
• Lilies
• Narcissus
• Orchids
• Poinsettias (Euphorbia pulcherrima)
• Primroses (Primula)
• Red Stem Dogwoods (Cornus stolonifera)
• Roses
• Winterberry Hollies (Ilex verticillata)

General Outdoor Highlights

• Topiaries
• Conifers

Posted by Susan Harris.

This Saturday, October 15 from 9 to 4:30 in Potomac, everyone’s favorite orchid expert will be answering your questions, diagnosing your orchid problems, and repotting every orchid in sight (okay, just the ones that need it but she’s ready).

Carol has become so popular with local orchid growers, we’re noticing some regular attendees, and new converts to the joys of orchid-growing.  So we’ll be offering Carol’s help this Saturday and again on November 12 and December 10.  She’s that popular.

More about  Carol

A quick look at her resume reveals knowledge of waaaay more than orchids.   Looks like we could pick her brains on just about anything plant-related:

Carol Allen has been involved in gardening and horticulture since childhood.  She has worked in almost all aspects of the horticultural industry and confesses to being a confirmed ‘plant-a-holic’. Carol enjoys teaching people about plants and their care and occasionally teaches at the University of Maryland, College Park.  Fascinated by the interplay of pest and prey, Carol recently returned to college and earned a degree in horticulture.  She is currently enrolled as a graduate student in plant science at the University of Maryland where her research is in transfer of virus disease in orchids.

Carol speaks to various plant groups and societies on a wide range of horticultural topics.  She can be heard at Brookside Gardens teaching organic gardening, speaking on building a butterfly garden at a local garden club, teaching master gardeners about houseplant care, or talking about pests and diseases at a regional orchid society.  She is an integrated pest management specialist and a licensed pesticide applicator in the states of Maryland and Virginia.  Readers are informed and entertained by her column in the Washington Gardener magazine on pest issues.  Carol confesses to growing a wide range of plants in and around her home that she shares with cats, anoles, tropical frogs, tropical fish, and pet snakes.

On Columbus Day weekend,  (Oct 8-10) The National Capital Orchid Society will present its 64th annual Orchid Show at the U.S. National Arboretum – FREE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC! Plan to visit, bring friends, see thousands of unique orchid plants in bloom, partake in educational lectures, meet the ‘Orchid Doctor’ to help answer questions, visit the Sales Tent with top-quality vendors for plant and supply sales, unique orchid-themed gifts, and much more! Fall is one of the best blooming seasons for orchids in DC, so come prepared for a wonderful selection of orchids to see and buy!

Click here for details.