Welcome to May! This month, Brian Daly Designs invites you to step outside and immerse yourself in nature with enriching outdoor events and educational landscape and gardening classes. Hosted across DC and Northern Virginia, these events will inspire, educate, and deepen your connections with the natural beauty of our planet. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener, green thumb enthusiast, or just trying to explore the offerings of our local area, there’s something for everyone to enjoy this spring.

Family-Friendly Fun

Spring into the vibrant colors of May with these family fun events! Perfect for the little ones and the entire family, these activities cater to everyone’s learning levels and interests. From Playful preschool programs that explore magical creatures and the colors of the garden to the Pup Days at Meadowlark Gardens, these events will provide joy and educational experiences that celebrate the warm weather and fun vibes May brings.

On May 14th and 15th, visit Hillwood Estate, Museum, and Gardens with your young gardener (ages 2-5) for an exploration of the vibrant array of colors found in gardens. On May 28th and 29th, you can find another preschool program at Hillwood that sparks your child’s imagination with stories of magical creatures in gardens. Combine imagination with idyllic gardens and find your child endlessly entertained and inspired by nature. Green Spring Gardens has a similar offering on May 13th for outdoor fun and exploration for children ages 3-5. Finally, you’ll get a chance to meet other young gardeners and enjoy this afternoon of play. Meadowlark Botanical Gardens that even our furry friends love to get outside and run around on the lush grounds of this garden; bring your family and your dog for a day of fun on May 1st and 15th.

Landscaping Education Classes

Deepen your gardening knowledge and enhance your green skills with this selection of education classes in May. Whether you’re looking to master the art of vegetable gardening, discover secrets of successful plant propagation, or looking to identify local tree species, this list of workshops will give you practical advice and hands-on experience.

First, at Hillwood Estate, Museum, and Gardens, learn how to design your own native plant container garden. These container gardens are great for people who are looking to brighten up smaller spaces with radiant blooms. This month at Meadowlark Gardens, learn the technique of propagating when dealing with difficult to root plants. This class offers hands-on experience, pro tips, and applicable knowledge for air layering. For a class that offers takeaways applicable in everyday life, attend the Tree ID for Beginners at Winkler Botanical Preserve. Focusing on trees in our local area, this class will offer you a guide for identifying common trees in everyday life.

Lastly, if you’re looking for a class that will yield tasty results, attend the Best of: Summer Vegetables at Merrifield Garden Center. This class will teach you all the important parts of gardening and care for vegetables; from selection and planting to care and growth, become an expert in seasonal summer vegetables.Also at Merrifield Garden Center this month are the Pollinator Gardens and Soil Health classes.

Learn how to support and attract hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees by incorporating annuals, perennials, trees, and shrubs into your garden. Soil Health and the Soil Food Webb discusses the microorganisms present in soil and their importance in the operating system of nature. Learn how to manage and harness your soil to grow healthy plants.

Virtual floral design with spring’s beloved peony is facilitated by Hillwood Estate, Museum, and Gardens, and is sure to result in a beautiful arrangement.

Gardening Tours

Exploring the blooming blossoms of local gardens through guided tours are a great way to enjoy fresh air, embrace wondrous sights, and get inspired for your own gardening projects. These tours provide an intimate look at the design and plant selections that shape these gardens. From the serene paths of the Woodland gardens at Hillwood to the vibrant displays of spring flowers, these tranquil gardens are sure to be enjoyed by everyone. This month, enjoy the Gardener’s Focus Tour: Woodlands Path at Hillwood Museum. This tour not only takes you through the breathtaking, lush terrain of the path but also offers information of native plants in our ecosystem.

At Green Spring Gardens, see the showcased seasonal blooms while learning about the growth of this garden, from its origins to its current mission today. This tour is perfect for adult garden enthusiasts looking for garden bed design inspiration. Oatlands garden is hosting a peaceful walk that focuses on the habitat and life of the Bluebird on May 19th; this tour is fitting for bird sighting adventures and bluebird enthusiasts.

Enrichment Activities

Enhance your connection with nature through these enriching activities designed to soothe the soul, sharpen the senses, and connect you with your local area. Delve into the practice of forest bathing to rediscover the therapeutic powers of nature, or unveil the mysteries of nocturnal wildlife with a night hike. If you’re looking for something outside the ordinary, to experience the natural world, or to help keep the natural world clean, these activities are perfect for you.

Multiple times this month, Hillwood Estate, Museum, and Gardens offer an immersive experience exploring the healing aspects of nature with a guided forest bathing walk. Slow down, awaken your senses, and deepen your connection to our planet with forest therapy guides. Potomac Overlook Regional Park is looking for individuals who want to give back to the community by helping to maintain the beauty of this local park. On May 18th, Potomac Overlook Regional Park is offering a Night Hike and Campfire featuring nocturnal wildlife. This event is a great outdoor family bonding event (ages 7+) that gives a peek at nighttime sights that we hardly get the pleasure to see.

We hope that you find inspiration and enjoyment this month through these activities and classes.

At Brian Daly Designs, we are committing to enriching our community’s connection with nature. To start your landscaping transformation or for any other inquiries, please contact us at briandalydesigns@gmail.com.

Happy gardening!