August 2024 Nature Events: Garden Walks, Family Fun, and Outdoor Adventures
August is here! The peak of summer brings a bounty of natural beauty and opportunities for nature events and outdoor adventures before heading into the cooler autumn months. Make the most of the warmth by touring our local gardens. From learning the duties of a farmer who cultivates our natural world, to exploring wildlife on the river during a guided kayak session, to many educational classes on floral design, this comprehensive list promises an eventful month for all outdoor enthusiasts. When visiting these spots, keep in mind that the second boom of landscaping season is coming in the fall! Look out for yard inspiration to share with Brian Daly Designs as you explore this month in order to make your horticultural dreams come true.
Nature Events for Family Fun in the Sun
Embrace the joys of nature while creating lasting memories and learning lessons with your loved ones this month!
Farms and farmers play a pivotal role in landscaping as they are the backbone of the resources and practices used to shape the field of landscaping. For all of our little landscapers out there, expand your point of view by learning about where agricultural work all starts through the Farmer for a Day program at Temple Hall Farm. This program allows your little ones to experience the life of a farm helper and have private, up close interactions with the farm animals! Also at Temple Hall Farm is an experiential learning opportunity for children 0-6; Storytime on the Farm begins with the telling of a natural or farm focused story and ends with putting this story into a tangible experience by meeting animals or a nature walk throughout the property. To round out family fun, take the whole family, especially your pups, to Meadowlark Botanical Gardens on August 7th and 21st for a chance to roam the grounds with your dogs! Not only will you be able to enjoy the views, but your pups will also enjoy the never ending greenery and ground space.
Garden Walks
For one of the best nature events this month, join the team at Meadowlark Gardens for a one hour tour of their 95 acre property! Take in the beautiful views from their many themed gardens and greenhouses while learning about Meadowlark. To finish the walk, there will be a silent, meditative section to independently reflect. Just a Walk at Meadowlark will run on August 6th, 13th, 20th, and 27th.
For a more specific and targeted garden walk, think about what you would like to get out of your visit. If you’re looking for flower filled yard inspiration, we suggest that you check out Washington National Cathedral gardens. With a variety of blooms in every color, this garden is the perfect inspiration for striking a balance with your perennial selection. Hillwood Estate also offers yard inspiration from their gardening and plants placed around the estate. If you’re looking for more of a scenic spot to just take in the views, visit Meadowlark Gardens for the Korean Bell Garden exhibit. And if you love greenery, be sure to visit Hillwood Estate, Museum, and Gardens for their beautiful greenhouses and Oatlands Garden to see how shades of green can work to compliment each other.
Enrichment
Ground yourself in nature this month with the Japanese practice of forest bathing! This mediational method of de-stressing and connecting with the earth will rejuvenate you for the upcoming week. The U.S. National Arboretum is running this 2 hour guided meditation on August 17th. Meadowlark is offering their experience as a morning 2 hour session also on August 17th. On this same weekend, Green Spring Gardens will be hosting the Potomac Branch of the American Begonia Society for a presentation of begonia varieties and an opportunity for a Q&A and guidance on how to select begonias. If you prefer to enjoy life from the water, visit Pohick Bay Regional Park on August 4th to watch the sunrise and wild birds fly over you on the water while kayaking!
Educational
Hillwood Estate, Museum, and Gardens is hosting their well known virtual floral design webinar this month! Sign up for this class to learn how to curate the perfect rustic creation for a casual setting using flowers that are local to the DMV region. For a more seasonally focused class, join Merrifield Garden Center’s Q&A and Virtual Plant Clinic on August 15th. This class will leave you with garden tips specifically for the month of Summer and the planting conditions of August! Merrifield is hosting another seasonally focused class this month, but this time it focuses on the transition from summer to fall. Get prepared for the fall vegetable garden season with this in person class on August 31st. Getting inspired? Looking for professional expertise to guide your landscaping vision? Reach out via our Contact Form or at brian@briandalydesigns.com with any questions and we would be happy to help. With so many activities listed about, let’s finish summer off with a bang!
