A mosaic of canopy covers, understory and herb layers "The Eastern deciduous forest biome that stretches from Canada to Georgia is the world’s richest temperate woodland ecosystem with a diverse mix of plants that thrive in the shade of the canopy trees. It is in the ground layer of the woodland understory where the most botanical biodiversity resides." - Ecological Landscape Alliance London Town's Fall Plant Sale is happening next Saturday, September 26, 9am - 2pm. It will highlight many options to design a diverse understory and herb layer. Many of the woodland forest layers can be easily grown in suburban and urban areas. Ferns, shrubs, tree seedlings that form the rich layers under the tall canopy trees will be available at the sale. Plant combinations are key! Good companions that complement each other, over contrasting, each other's habit will make for a self sustaining landscape. Featured at the plant sale, will be a special select group of Azaleas (evergreen and deciduous) that were grown in Maryland. Hostas, Solomon's seal, Toad Lilies, Ferns, Wild Ginger will all pair well as the base of Azaleas. All these plants will be available at the sale and they are mostly all transplanted from the gardens! Super adaptable to a heavy clay-sand mix. Shrubs that pair well with Azaleas include Pieris, Mahonias, Viburnums, Fothergilla, and Oak Leaf Hydrangeas. Here is an excellent read on woodland gardens and creating diverse layers. London Town's gardens are an excellent example of woodland shade gardens. Join us at Plant Sale next weekend to find out more about our select varieties of woodland layers available at the sale. Fall bulbs, seasonal items, succulents will also be available.

Mint Julep Colonial Cocktails: Fish House Punch and Mint Julep September is sold out, so we've added a new date on Tuesday, October 6, 6:30pm! Register here Historic London Town & Gardens 839 Londontown Road Edgewater, MD 21037 From punches to bounces, syllabubs to juleps, colonists imbibed a wide variety of alcoholic beverages. At Colonial Cocktails, you’ll get to make and enjoy two historical drinks and learn about colonial tavern culture. In this session, you’ll enjoy a variety of punch known as Fish House Punch, featuring rum and cognac. Explore the origins of the Mint Julep, originally a medicinal drink, just in time for the Derby and Preakness Participants must be 21+. For the safety of participants and staff, this event will be held outside with appropriate distancing, group sizes, and cleaning in accordance with CDC and local guidance. Members: $25 Non-Members: $30 (Become one today!) Pre-Registration Required. REGISTER HERE

Thursday, October 1, 2020 4:00 - 9:00pm ​ Join us at Pirate’s Cove Restaurant & Dock Bar (4817 Riverside Dr, Galesville, MD 20765) for our next Dining to Donate fundraiser evening! Just ask for the special $25 3-course fundraiser menu. 40% of each dinner will go directly to London Town.  You can enjoy their large outdoor patio and deck with gorgeous water view, indoor seating, or carry-out options. It's a delicious way to support London Town and Pirate's Cove. ​ Fundraising Menu ​ Salad Choice: Mixed Green or Caesar Salad ​ Main Course: Select from the following: Rockfish Sandwich and Chips Cove Meatloaf Fried Chicken and Gravy Chili Lime Shrimp Chicken Caesar Salad ​ Dessert Choice: Beignets or Bread Pudding ​ Thank you to Pirate’s Cove for hosting this fundraiser for London Town! We hope to see many of you at this yummy event! ​ Reservations highly recommended. Call Pirate's Cove at (410) 867-2300.

Did you know that more than 20% of plant species are in danger of extinction? According to the Botanic Gardens Conservation Index, many of the world’s amazing diversity of plants are threatened or endangered. Public gardens – like London Town – work to ensure endangered and threatened plants survive by using “ex situ conservation.” What is ex situ conservation? It literally means “off-site conservation.” In other words, London Town protects plants by growing them here, outside of their natural habitat. This makes sure that the plants will continue to survive, even if their habitat is threatened or destroyed. We are also expanding our propagation efforts and saving more seeds. But here’s the cool thing – ex situ conservation isn’t limited to London Town. You can grow rare, endangered and threatened plants in your own garden too! We’re making sure to share a number of these plants and seeds at our Plant Sale on Saturday, September 26, 9am – 2pm. It’s free to check out! Plus all proceeds support our gardens. Learn more at www.historiclondontown.org/plantsale. Curious if a plant is threatened or endangered? You can look up the name of any plant (or animal) here to see if they are on the list: https://www.iucnredlist.org/

Photo of the William Brown House by Bob Peterson. A framed copy of this photo will be available in our online auction this November! Though 2020 has been an unprecedented year with many unexpected things coming our way, we are still moving ahead with the preservation work on the c.1760 William Brown House. As you may know, the Brown House is the only building still standing from the original colonial London Town. Today, it is a National Historical Landmark. Because it has been a little while since you had a more thorough update, we thought it was a good time to let you know what has already occurred and what we think the next few months will bring us in regards to the preservation project. I'm pleased to report that the recent tornado did not damage the building. It did, however, manage to blow open the heavy hatch in the attic! However, the tornado did impact our gardens. You can read more about that here. Worcester-Eisenbrandt worker repainting a cellar level window on the William Brown House We have fully finished the first phase of preservation work. This phase focused on sealing up the building to stop moisture from getting inside. Worcester Eisenbrandt worked for many months on this project. All of the windows were taken out and fully repaired before being replaced. Quite a bit of repointing was done to the bricks. And some additional support work in the attic was built. This was a critical need for the long-term preservation needs of the building. The second phase will start later this year. We are currently receiving bids to work on the electrical and HVAC systems. The core components of both systems go back to the 1960s or 1970s. So, we feel that it is past time to ensure that these systems can last for the next few decades. The HVAC system in particular needs to be upgraded and made more energy efficient. Example of issues with the riverside porch on the William Brown House. This will be repaired soon. Once the HVAC and electrical systems are taken care of, we will then be able to finish repairs on the two porches that still need work. Thanks to your generous support of our "Repair the Porch" fundraising appeal this past December, there is enough money to completely repair the riverside porch. That porch receives the worst weather and thus deteriorates more quickly than the other porches. The porch off of the tavern room will also be repaired, and the stairs will be added back on to it. We will also finish rebuilding the tavern's lost bar! The Coronavirus challenges this year delayed our timeline a bit for this project. But since we expect to get the HVAC and electrical systems project finished within the next few months, the bar will be built immediately thereafter. I cannot wait to host a drinks event with all of you there! Thank you to everyone who supported the "Build the Bar" challenge. Screenshot of the virtual tour of the William Brown House Although the William Brown House is currently closed to the public, the public programs team created a phenomenal virtual tour for you to explore and enjoy. You'll learn a lot of extra information not usually found on a guided tour. And, you can be as leisurely as you want. Check it out here: https://www.historiclondontown.org/wbhtour As always, there is never a dull moment here at London Town. This project is only one of many that is occurring now. Anne Arundel County finished the parking lot expansion this past spring. And we received word this summer that we received full funding for our new education pavilion. That project should also occur during this upcoming winter. Once the work actually starts back up on the William Brown House we probably restart some regular social media and blog posts to take you behind the scenes. You can read previous posts here. Stay tuned! And thank you so very much for your support! Sincerely, Rod Rod Cofield Executive Director rodcofield@historiclondontown.org

London Town's woodland gardens: Rhododendron 'Dexter', with Ostrich Fern and wild ginger Our goal for the Plant Sale is to bring you closer to London Town's unique living collections and conservation goals. On Saturday, September 26 (9am - 2pm), you can take home botanical specimens directly transplanted from the grounds at London Town and specimens matching London Town's collections (e.g., ephemerals, bulbs, ground covers, shrubs, mid-canopy layers and more). Plants in peril - those that are rare, threatened and endangered in the wild - need our attention now. Some flora and fauna have fragile populations in the wild. Zoos and botanical gardens are sanctuaries for ex-situ conservation of these species. Learn more here. "In situ is Latin for 'on site', in situ conservation is therefore the conservation of species diversity within normal and natural habitats and ecosystems. By comparison, ex situ conservation focuses on safeguarding species by keeping them in places such as seed banks or living collections. Because our natural systems face many threats, conserving them is not easy, and must use many techniques." - Botanic Gardens Conservation International Primary goals of curation of London Town's plant collections are: responsible ex-situ conservation of species building sustainable landscapes with informed ecological restoration choices utilizing sound propagation practices for further enhancement of species The Plant Sale includes plant material that directly comes from London Town's grounds as a way of sharing unique botanical specimens grown with care. Conservation is critical for those species of which only a few are left in the wild. Conservation is also key to bringing attention to many species that go unnoticed, for not every plant is as common as the bright red knock out rose. For example, did you know that Asarum canadense, wild ginger, is considered threatened in Maine? Star Anise, Illicium floridanum Anise Trees, Illicum henryi and Illicium floridanum, both grow prolifically at London Town. Both are considered threatened in the wild. A beautiful evergreen shrub, it would go unnoticed as its flowers aren't as bright as roses or tulips. But what makes Illiciums cool is that they were one of the first flowering plants to evolve! All plants at the sale are grown in zone 7-9. Also, for the first time, we will have seeds for sale, collected from London Town's unique collections. The current list of plants and seeds are available here. Plants from London Town's gardens: From left to right: Sinocalycanthus, Jack in the Pulpit (Arisaema ringens), Azalea seed capsule, Azalea 'Glen Dale', Camellia on Azalea glade, Illicium henryi Given the constant change in urban and forested landscapes, plants aren't in peril alone. Sustainable landscapes, fragile habitats and vulnerable plant relations are also in peril. With informed knowledge of species and plant relations, one can contribute immensely to saving a habitat, saving a species, regardless of its origin. Come and join us on September 26th and learn about woodland plants that deserve a second look.

Ostrich Ferns for sale, directly from our gardens! Thinking about coming to the Plant Sale on Saturday, September 26, 9am - 2pm? You can now preview the plant list (with more being added). (And... if you become a member, you can come to the Preview on Friday, September 25, 12pm - 4pm PLUS you'll get 10% off all sales both days!! Become a member here) The Plant Sale is London Town's biggest fundraiser just for the gardens. All proceeds go directly to support and care for the gardens. Learn more about the Plant Sale here. See you on the 26th!

Cooler nights and early sunsets are a gentle reminder of the fall weather approaching soon. The grass blades are certainly enjoying the cooler days, but the pollinators are rushing to feed. Featured in London Town's Fall Plant Sale on Saturday, Sept. 26th will be many nectar feeders such as: Toad Lily, Black-eyed Susan, Buddleia, Gillardia, Asters, Begonia, Anemones, etc. And yes, there will still be ample time to get these in the ground. "Worldwide, bees, butterflies, and other important insect pollinators are in decline due to many factors, but mainly loss of habitat. Maryland farmers understand the importance of pollinators to our food supply. They are planting wildflower habitats on their farms that support pollinators. You can help, too— regardless of where you live—by planting a pollinator garden that supplies food, shelter, and water for adult insects and their offspring." https://mda.maryland.gov/resource_conservation/counties/Tip7.pdf Late summer flowers mostly have longer lasting blooms. Especially for compound flowers of Gillardias and Rudbeckias. With proper planning, one can add ample nectar pots for several pollinators in both shade and sun gardens. Design your woodland gardens with late summer bloomers such as Toad Lily, Trycyritis sps., Begonias, and Anemones mixed in with evergreen shrubs. Sun gardens have ample choices for nectar feeders, but if you want long last blooms then go for Rudbeckia hirta varieties (Black-eyed Susans). One of the most reliant and giving shrub is Gillardia. For more information about London Town's Fall plant sale, click here: https://www.historiclondontown.org/plantsale. Ground covers, medium sized pollinator and evergreen shrubs, native shrubs -- there will be ample to choose from. "Biodiversity comprises both the species richness of a habitat and the interactions occurring between species. These interactions are even more vulnerable to change than the species themselves and their loss may lead to failure of ecosystem function." https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5566368/ Late summer garden flowers play a crucial role in feeding several pollinators. Think ecosystem, think habitats as you think color and beauty for your summer gardens. Come and join us for our plant sale on Saturday, Sept. 25th and 26th and learn about design choices with several pollinator feeders.

Originally published last April, we're bringing this post back in celebration of the upcoming program Children's Tie-Dye Tote Bag Workshop on Saturday, July 25, 2020 at 10:30am. Learn more and sign up today. Spaces are limited! Dye pot using marigold Fabric Dyeing in the 18th Century Humans love color. One of the most common ways to express this love is through clothes. For thousands of years, people have used the color of their clothes to not only express personal preferences but also status (royal purple) and occupation (British soldiers and their red coats). Modern dyes were accidentally discovered while researching uses for coal tar in the mid-19th century. Synthetic dyes have been used since then. So how did people dye fabric before this? Dyers used a variety of plants, lichens, fungi and insects to create dye recipes that made good colors. Plants that make a good stain usually do not make a good dye. An example is green grass stains that fade to yellow. Over time, dyers learned which plants gave better colors than others. Natural dyeing was a complicated, time consuming, and usually smelly chemical process. Mordants (chemical binding agents) were used to help the dye bond to the fibers of the fabric. They could also alter the colors of the dye, so a variety of shades could be created. 18th century dye sample books and fabric sample books show a variety of bright vibrant colors. Professional dyers would protect their dye recipes from competitors. Marigold dye on linen Yellow and Tan Yellows and tans are the most common dyes from plants. The most used European yellow dye came from the weld plant. Other sources from the New World became popular because they were easier to use. Silk dyed a brilliant yellow was fashionable in the 18th century. It must have looked amazing in a candle-lit ballroom. Blue European woad was the main source of blue until the importation of the indigofera plant from tropical regions. Dyeing with indigo is intriguing. It doesn’t turn blue until exposed to oxygen. The fabric removed from the dye pot looks yellow but rapidly changes color. To get a very dark blue, repeated dips in the dye bath and exposure to oxygen are necessary. Green It may sound strange, but there is no good sole source for deep green dye.The chlorophyll that makes plants green does not convert to dye. Shades of green can be made but a true deep green needs the fabric to be dyed in yellow then blue. Cochineal dye in pot Red Red mainly came from the madder plant but plenty of roots were needed and it tended to fade. The discovery of cochineal insects in Mexico was a tremendous revolution in dye. The dried, ground cochineal created a vibrant, colorfast and popular red. It became an important source of wealth for the Spaniards, who had control of Mexico. They guarded the source carefully but “industrial espionage” was rampant in the 18th century. People risked their lives to steal and try to breed cochineal. Today, cochineal is easily purchased, and natural dyeing is a hobby. Dye plants can be grown or collected in the wild. Natural fibers, like wool and linen, have to be used but are easy to find. Color outcomes are always unique, so it is an interesting pursuit. Cochineal dye on linen Dyed with tumeric Dyeing with Turmeric Note: A list of additional options besides Tumeric are at the bottom When dyeing fabric, for best results, one should use a mordant or fixative. A mordant allows the molecules of dye to bind to fibers. Mordants also affect the final color of the fabric – dulling or brightening the final tone. Some mordants include iron or copper. One favorite mordant is alum because it provides one of the clearest, brightest final hues. It can be found online or in some grocery stores near canning goods. Fixatives do much the same thing that mordants do, allowing the dye to stick to the fiber more easily. Salt, vinegar, and baking powder are all common fixatives. Instructions for using a mordant or fixative: Let’s use salt for this example, because it’s something everyone has in their pantry. For every gallon of water, use 1 cup of salt. This is a 16 to 1 ratio. Bring to a boil. Soak your fabric in the water and bring down to a simmer. Stir occasionally, for an hour. Allow the fabric to cool in the water. To dye the fabric, follow the instructions below, placing the still wet fabric into the dye bath. If you choose not to use a mordant or fixative, proceed with the following instructions. Dye Bath: Fill a stockpot ¾ of the way full and bring to a boil. Add 2 tablespoons of powdered turmeric – you can always add more for a deeper yellow, but you can’t take it back. Place your fabric in water and stir occasionally. Leave it in the simmering water for at least 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, pull your fabric out of the dye bath and hang to dry. Turmeric is a very bright color. It will quickly dye skin, wood, and fabric. Be careful not to let the drying fabric to drip onto floors, furniture, or clothing. If possible, allow the fabric to dry outdoors. Wear clothing you don’t mind getting dirty. Drying tumeric dyed cloth When your fabric is dyed, be careful not to wash it with other items. Wash it on its own at least 10 times, or until the water it is in washed in runs clear. You can test this by soaking it overnight and checking to see that no color transfers to the water. If you have not used a fixative, your fabric may never stop transferring its color. For best results, your fabric should be 100% natural fiber, like cotton or wool. Modern linens may work, but many have been treated with wrinkle resistant products that impede dyeing. Begin with a relatively pale color, like white. Be careful using caustic chemicals, like the mordants. Make sure you’re dyeing fabric in a well-ventilated area. As a general rule, don’t use the same pots for dyeing and cooking. While the examples we have given are all food safe, this is still a good rule of thumb. Other Natural Dyes Onion Skins - Yellow Red Cabbage - Seafoam or Pink Queen Anne’s Lace - Yellow Marigolds - Yellow Walnut Hulls - Brown Dandelion Roots - Brown Avocado Pits - Pink Sources: http://www.allnaturaldyeing.com/mordants-fixatives/ Good places to purchase products: https://www.dharmatrading.com/dyes/?gclid=CjwKCAjw95D0BRBFEiwAcO1KDNs61EfvFtWxaLPWPO0_Zr5-xaeF2hPxCUp27Bgy-cnYqJ4Uky6kCBoCQGYQAvD_BwE Enjoyed Today's Post? Sign Up for the Children's Tye-Dye Tote Workshop! Saturday, July 25, 2020 10:30am – 11:30am ​ Design your own London Town inspired tie dye tote bag!  Learn the art of fabric dyeing during the colonial era. Take a walk through the gardens and see some of the natural materials used to make dye. Then create your own modern tie-dyed masterpiece to take home. For the safety of participants and staff, this workshop will be held outside with appropriate distancing, group sizes, and cleaning in accordance with CDC and local guidance. Member Children: $20 Non-Member Children: $25 (Become a member today!) ​ Pre-Registration Required Maximum of 20 attendees Sign up today! Space is limited and seats are already filling up.

Sleeping beauties, ephemeral warmth for a cold winter garden. Plan in the fall, and reap in the spring. Spring bulb treasures begin with proper fall planning and planting. Bulb planting can begin as early as late summer and early fall. But September is the time to plan and buy your bulbs. Now you can buy wild Tulips, Crocus, Trout Lilies and many bulbs at our Fall Plant Sale on Saturday, Sept. 26th, 9am - 2pm! Learn more here. One of the most common spring flowers are Daffodils. "Daffodils (Narcissus sps.) are among the easiest plants to grow, which makes them a great choice for beginning gardeners and for introducing children to gardening" Source: https://ahsgardening.org/wpcontent/pdfs/Daffodils_TAG_MA11.pdf Bulbs, corms, tubers, rhizomes... there are many underground treasures that make every spring spectacular. But what does each type look like? Here is a close look at botanical insight of each type and planting guides: https://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=22668 https://extension.umn.edu/planting-and-growing-guides/growing-bulbs-indoors From top left going clockwise: Wild Tulip 'Tarda', Spring Crocus, Trout Lily (Erythronium americanum), Pink Scilla, Scilla bifolia, Blood Root, Sanguinaria canadensis, and Bleeding hearts, Dicentra spectabilis Spring at London Town's Gardens brings many bulbs: Daffodils, Crocus, Tulips, Scilla, Trout Lilies, etc. Overall, Daffodils and Tulips are one of the most common and well recognized bulbs. In fact, Tulip mania dates back to the 17th century! "One early 17th century bill of sale recorded the following transaction for a single bulb: 'two loads of wheat; four loads of rye; four fat oxen; five swine; twelve sheep; two hogsheads of wine; four barrels of beer; two barrels of butter; 1,000 pounds of cheese; a bed with linens; a suit of clothes; a silver tankard and a sizeable wagon to haul it all away.'” Source: https://ipm.missouri.edu/MEG/2016/10/Tulip_A_Brief_History/ Among several ephemeral beauties, London Town also features wild Tulip varieties such as 'Tinka', 'Praestans', 'Tarda' and 'linifolia.' The wild Tulip varieties are more perennial and hardy compared to some of the colorful hybrids. Here is a good link: https://www.pacifichorticulture.org/articles/tulips-in-the-wild/ Now you can buy these wild Tulips and many more at London Town's Fall Plant Sale on Sat. Sept.26th. More Information: https://www.historiclondontown.org/plantsale Come and pick your own bulbs, or buy a pre-mixed bag of bulbs. Plant sale will also feature many other woodland ground covers, native shrubs and ornamental treasures suitable to Zone 7. Plan in the Fall and reap in the spring. Spring bulbs, when given the best care and proactive planting in early fall, will surely mesmerize anyone who catches their sight. Sleeping beauties, ephemeral bulbs are the true treasures of a cold deciduous winter garden, adding warmth and beauty even with one small bloom.

Fluttering, airy-light and painted foliage of the woodland gardens Colorful flowers liven up a deep green garden like a bright full moon in the dark night sky. But then there are sparkly stars too in the night sky that can brighten up even the darkest of the skies. Colored foliage (leaves) are the 'stars' of a deep green woodland garden or any garden for that matter. Introducing today: our first segment of 'Plant Sale Treasures,' which will feature plants you can buy in our Fall Plant Sale (Sept. 26th): Japanese forest grass, Sensitive fern and Painted Japanese fern. Three excellent choices to brighten up a garden/pots for the entire growing season. Shade Loving Japanese Forest Grass Hakonechola macra, Japanese forest grass, is a shade loving grass! Yes, an ornamental grass that loves the shade; now does this grass need any more selling points? Hakone grass works perfectly in a border, giving a lively edge to a bed, but it can also be a good focal point to draw attention. Maintenance free, moist shade loving grass. When the soft winds blow, the long linear fine grass blades seem to dance along. The light airy look of the leaves and its waving in the wind adds ample visual appeal to a garden. More information: https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=b168 Sensitive Fern Native Sensitive Fern Sensitive fern, Onoclea sensibilis, is a native fern. It is a wetland plant indicator, excellent for clay soils, partial or full shade, and loves moist conditions. When planted in the right spot, it can take over and establish itself well. The tall lobed leaf stalks flutter beautifully in the wind and when planted in a mass, they add depths of interest to a woodland garden. More information: http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=l300 Painted Japanese Fern Painted Japanese Fern Saved the best for the last: Painted Japanese fern, Athyrium niponicum. Color, texture, visual appeal, you name it and this fern has it all. Another prefect combination for a moist, shaded woodland garden. The leaves are white-grey green with a red midrib and have a delicate appearance. It pairs well with any deep greens. More information: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athyrium_niponicum Who needs flowers when you have shining bright foliage 'stars' to liven up the deep green shade gardens all year long? Using foliage to add color in a garden is a design principle that is seldom used. Light airy foliage of ferns and grasses can add softness to an otherwise dense thick shade garden. These plants and many more will be available for purchase during London Town's Fall Plant Sale: Sept. 26th (and Sep.25th for members and volunteers). More info: https://www.historiclondontown.org/plantsale Also, check out our member and volunteer pre-order list: https://www.historiclondontown.org/post/plant-sale-pre-order Fall Plant Sale​ ​ Member & Volunteer Preview: Friday, September 25, 12:00pm - 4:00pm General Admission: Saturday, September 26, 9:00am - 2:00pm ​ Historic London Town & Gardens 839 Londontown Rd, Edgewater 21037 FREE TO ATTEND! Members & Volunteers get 10% off (Become a member today!) Our annual sale moves to September! This is an important fundraiser for London Town. All proceeds go to support the gardens at London Town. Thank you for supporting a local 501c3 nonprofit (tax ID: 52-1396159) What Will You Find At The Sale? Plants hardy to zone 7a and 7b and that do well in heavy clay and sand mix. Plants that are well represented in our gardens and are thriving in various habitats at London Town, including: woodland gardens (filtered shade); rain gardens and ornamental gardens Our stock comes from reputed vendors and is hand picked Part of our plant material is lifted and transplanted form the gardens and is well accustomed to clay/sand mix found at London Town 80% of our stock is exotic plants that are of high botanical and ornamental value. But we will have a few natives too ​ List of plants for sale will be available in early September. Stay tuned! ​ Members & Volunteers Only: Plant Sale Pre-Order Members and Volunteers can pre-order select plants from now until August 31st.  ​ Order online here ​ You must be a member or existing volunteer to participate. If not a member already, please join us here. Members & Volunteers receive 10% off all pre-orders and all orders during the Plant Sale. Pick up your order at London Town during the following windows: ​Wednedsay, 09/23: 10:00am - 1:00pm Thursday, 09/24: 10:00am - 1:00pm Friday 09/25: 12:00pm (Noon) - 4:00pm Saturday, 09/26: 9:00am - 2:00pm Questions? Contact us at gardens@historiclondontown.org.

Naked Ladies, Zinnias, and Cannas In the heat of summer, when most pastel colors have faded from the color palette, there are flowers of Lycoris squamigera, Zinnias, and some Cannas that can add the soft pinks back to the canvas again. Naked Ladies (Lycoris squamigera) Lycoris squamigera, most commonly and famously known as the 'Naked Lady Lily,' is a woodland summer treasure. The flowers are pastel pink, fragrant and the stalks stand tall and naked, AKA without any leaves at the bottom at all. The bulbs sends out only leaves in the spring and much after the leaves die down, the flower stalks come up in mid summer. If you are looking for a bulb to soften the deep greens of your woodland gardens, then Lycoris squamigera will do just the trick. Currently at London Town, they are blooming in the spring walk and in the ornamental gardens amongst the Hostas. Zinnias (Zinnia marylandica and Zinnia elegans) A summer's must for the sun gardens is a Zinnia. There are ample colors and forms to choose from. Two of my picks are: Zinnia marylandica and Z. elegans. Amongst the bright colors, there are some soft pastels colors easily available to add softness to a summer garden. As a kid, I remember picking Zinnias from high elevation valleys of India, a carpet of sturdy bright flowers, a sight to behold. Zinnias are easiest to start from seed and grow outdoors after frost, they are also easy to transplant even for the little ones. They are treated as annuals in Mid Atlantic, but you can store the flower heads and spread the seeds out in spring for more. (More information: https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/zinnia-elegans/) Cannas Lastly, Cannas must be made synonymous with summers! Summer gardens would be incomplete without bursts of Cannas. Even though they are also treated as annuals in zone 7, they can be hardy and come back, if planted in a frost protected garden bed. Canna 'Coral pink' is one of the Cannas blooming at London Town. (More information: https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=264586&isprofile=0&) Zinnias and Canna varieties have ample pinks to add to a full sun summer garden, but nothing can beat the Naked Lady Lily's pastel pinks in the woodland gardens. Summer flowers, pink or bolder, have colors that seem to last longer like the long sunny days of summer. Fall Plant Sale​ ​ Member & Volunteer Preview: Friday, September 25, 12:00pm - 4:00pm General Admission: Saturday, September 26, 9:00am - 2:00pm ​ Historic London Town & Gardens 839 Londontown Rd, Edgewater 21037 FREE TO ATTEND! Members & Volunteers get 10% off (Become a member today!) Our annual sale moves to September! This is an important fundraiser for London Town. All proceeds go to support the gardens at London Town. Thank you for supporting a local 501c3 nonprofit (tax ID: 52-1396159) What Will You Find At The Sale? Plants hardy to zone 7a and 7b and that do well in heavy clay and sand mix. Plants that are well represented in our gardens and are thriving in various habitats at London Town, including: woodland gardens (filtered shade); rain gardens and ornamental gardens Our stock comes from reputed vendors and is hand picked Part of our plant material is lifted and transplanted form the gardens and is well accustomed to clay/sand mix found at London Town 80% of our stock is exotic plants that are of high botanical and ornamental value. But we will have a few natives too ​ List of plants for sale will be available in early September. Stay tuned! ​ Members & Volunteers Only: Plant Sale Pre-Order Members and Volunteers can pre-order select plants from now until August 31st.  ​ Order online here ​ You must be a member or existing volunteer to participate. If not a member already, please join us here. Members & Volunteers receive 10% off all pre-orders and all orders during the Plant Sale. Pick up your order at London Town during the following windows: ​Wednedsay, 09/23: 10:00am - 1:00pm Thursday, 09/24: 10:00am - 1:00pm Friday 09/25: 12:00pm (Noon) - 4:00pm Saturday, 09/26: 9:00am - 2:00pm Questions? Contact us at gardens@historiclondontown.org.