Cast Off for the Caribbean!

Gala in the Garden ~ “Cast Off for the Caribbean”

Saturday, June 16, 2012 at 6:30 p.m.

An event like no other, the Gala in the Garden – “Cast Off for the Caribbean” will take place at Sotterley Plantation on Saturday, June 16th at 6:30 p.m. The Mama Jama band’s Caribbean vibe will draw you to the Colonial Revival Garden, where Canard’s Catering will be serving foods kissed by island flavors! The tent will be brimming with magnificent live and silent auction items and refreshing cool drinks, as you cast yourself away on a fantasy of turquoise seas and sugary beaches.

ADVANCED RESERVATIONS REQUIRED. Tickets available online at www.sotterley.org (as of May 1st) or call 301-373-2280. The $100 per person admission supports Sotterley’s important educational programming.
Something New: A list of auction items will be available on our website prior to the event: http://www.sotterley.org/.
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Gardening Workshop #3 - Edible Landscaping

Jennifer Horton: Edible Landscaping
Saturday, May 19th - 9:00 – 11:00 a.m.

Interested in growing veggies and herbs, but intimidated by the thought of breaking new ground? No need to dig a new bed or border! Jennifer Horton, Master Gardener Coordinator for the University of Maryland Cooperative Extension Office for St. Mary’s County, will discuss incorporating edibles into existing landscape beds. Participants will learn how to analyze their site, as well as select and maintain the right plants to insure a beautiful and TASTY garden this season.

As a University of Maryland Extension-St. Mary’s employee and a Master Gardener, Jennifer Horton is committed to getting research-based horticultural information to home gardeners. She coordinates the UME-St. Mary’s Master Gardener program and oversees 85 Certified Master Gardeners as they volunteer in St. Mary’s County, providing education and support to various sites. She also supports the statewide UME-Master Gardener initiative of “Grow It, Eat It” which aims to help Marylanders produce their own affordable and healthy food using sustainable practices. Her passion is to teach about vegetables, herbs, mini-gardens, tree keys, and seasonal garden tips.

Advance reservations required. Please call 301-373-2280 or 800-681-0850 to make your reservation, as space is limited. Pricing for this event: Non-members: $15 per person; Members: $12 per person.
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Gardening Workshop #2 - GREEN Gardening!

Linda Crandall:
Green Gardening - Saving the World One Yard at a Time
Saturday, May 12th – 9:00 – 11:00 a.m.

Going Green is more than just a passing trend; making more eco-friendly choices has become a vital part of our everyday lives. Linda Crandall, St. Mary’s County Master Gardener and Bay-Wise Coordinator, will offer sound suggestions on bringing planet preserving techniques and practices to gardening. From selecting the right plants and materials to disposing of yard waste, simple steps make a difference.

Come and learn some tips and strategies for ways to have a beautiful yard without having a negative impact on the world around you. Everyone will leave knowing how to garden smarter, no matter what size of yard they have, while at the same time helping our local environment and promoting better water quality in the Chesapeake Bay.

Ms. Crandall is also a wonderful cook who loves preparing meals using the fresh vegetables and herbs that grow in the little potager right outside her kitchen door. Linda has lived here in St. Mary's County for more than 25 years, and along with her work as a Master Gardener, she also volunteers locally at Annmarie Garden.

Advance reservations required. Please call 301-373-2280 or 800-681-0850 to make your reservation, as space is limited. Pricing for this event: Non-members: $15 per person; Members: $12 per person.
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Summer Mini Camps - "Sotterley Colonial Farm"

“SOTTERLEY COLONIAL FARM”

July 9 - 11, 2012 - Grades 3 - 5
July 16 - 18, 2012 - Grades 6 - 8
July 23 - 25, 2012 - Grades 3 - 5

Students will have the opportunity to learn about Sotterley's history as a farming community in creative and fantastically fun ways!

Working on team projects
Hiking in the morning
Visiting animals
Experiencing nature
Learning and experiencing foodways of the colonial period
Learning about tools, planting, eco-system, and animal husbandry
Learning how the river and the tidewater was and is still unique
Crabbing
Fishing
Playing Colonial games
Making items to take home
... and more!

Small group format, teamwork, problem solving, hands-on sensory activities.

Groups are limited to 25 students.
Tuition: $95. Tuition for children of Sotterley Members: $85.
Click here for registration forms!

Mother's Day at Sotterley!

An Unforgettable Way to Honor All Mothers!

Sotterley Plantation is pleased to announce a special gift for all mothers on Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 13, 2012. From Noon ~ 4 p.m., mothers will receive the Guided Tour of the 1703 Plantation House at HALF PRICE!

We welcome you and your mother to stroll the exquisite blooming gardens, walk the plantation grounds and nature trails, see the historic outbuildings including our original 1830’s Slave Cabin, or picnic out on the lawn while enjoying the breathtaking views of the Patuxent River. Top off the day with buying a memorable gift at the Museum Shop, located in the Visitor Center. It will be a day she will never forget!

For more information on upcoming Sotterley Plantation events, visit our website at www.sotterley.org.

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Sotterley to Create Community Garden Plots!

As awareness increases in our community to buy local and choose organic produce, more people than ever are also taking an interest in trying their hand at small scale farming and gardening. Not everyone has the land or space to grow a garden in their own yards, however, and more and more people are investigating joining a community garden. To this end, Sotterley will be hosting just such a community garden for the first time in 2012 and we will have a limited number of plots available for people ready to get their hands dirty! Sotterley’s Community Gardens will be yet another way that our site not only supports our community but connects it to our agrarian past.

Sotterley’s Community Garden Plots will be located just behind the Visitor Center, and ground has already been broken to get the plots ready for planting. There will be ten 20-foot by 30-foot plots available at a cost of $70/plot for the season ($50/plot for members), or $35/plot for a 10-foot by 30 foot area. ($25/plot for members). The season will run from April 1 – October 1.

To find out more details please contact Kim Husick at the Sotterley office at 301-373-2280 or by sending an email to officemanager@sotterley.org.

“Slavery at Jefferson’s Monticello: An Insider’s View” - Speaker Series Event

2012 Speaker Series at Sotterley

Elizabeth Chew, Ph.D. and Rex Ellis, Ph.D.
“Slavery at Jefferson’s Monticello: An Insider’s View”
Wednesday, May 30 7:00 p.m. in the Barn

Sotterley Plantation is proud to partner with The Boeing Company in announcing the upcoming 2012 Speaker Series presentation entitled “Slavery at Jefferson’s Monticello: An Insider’s View” by curators Elizabeth Chew, Ph.D. and Rex Ellis, Ph.D. They will present their journey of conceptualizing and producing the exhibition, Slavery at Jefferson’s Monticello: Paradox of Liberty.

Dr. Elizabeth Chew is Curator at Monticello and is involved with the research on and interpretation of the Monticello house, its collections, the Jefferson family, and the enslaved community. She curated the exhibitions To Try All Things: Monticello as Experiment at the Thomas Jefferson Visitor Center and Crossroads: Domestic Work at Monticello in the lower level of the house, both of which consider the contributions of enslaved people. She is the co-curator of Slavery at Jefferson’s Monticello: Paradox of Liberty with Rex Ellis.

Dr. Rex M. Ellis is the Associate Director for Curatorial Affairs at the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Dr. Ellis is responsible for planning, developing, directing, and managing all curatorial collections and educational programs. Under his leadership the curatorial and education teams develop, preserve, document, and interpret scholarship and collections of the museum through exhibitions, education and public programs. Prior to this position, Dr. Ellis was the first African American Vice President for the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation where he managed all programs and operations and served in this capacity for eight years.

This event is FREE to the public. Advance reservations are required due to limited seating. Call 301-373-2280 to make your reservation.

Because of the generous grant and continued support from The Boeing Company, Sotterley Plantation is able to offer this important community outreach, fulfilling its mission of serving as an educational resource and cultural venue while it seeks to preserve, interpret and research the plantation’s diverse cultures and environments through its history.

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Gardening Workshop #1 - RICK DAVIS: Flower Arranging & Design!

Saturday, May 5th - 9:00 – 11:00 a.m.

In the first of three gardening workshops, Rick Davis, Owner and Lead Creative Director of award-winning D.C. based floral and event design firm Amaryllis, Inc., brings his expertise to Sotterley. As an innovative leader in the field of floral arranging and design, he will share some fabulous techniques for creating stunning showpieces from a bounty of beautiful blossoms.

Rick is known for his creativity, attention to detail and use of unique product. He has won multiple awards for his work and has been featured in numerous publications, including Town & Country, Victoria, Washingtonian, Southern Accents, Engaged Magazine, Washingtonian Bride & Groom and Grace Ormonde’s Wedding Style magazines, as well as the Washington Post.

Rick grew up in St. Mary’s County and has always had an affinity for the County and for Sotterley Plantation. In fact, he has done numerous weddings at Sotterley last year, including one that had to be moved up a day at the last minute because of last year’s infamous Hurricane Irene. Rick lives on his farm in Hollywood where he raises rare and heritage breeds of fowl and livestock. When he is not creating fabulous events for Amaryllis clients, he can be found in his garden at the farm where he grows vegetables, hydrangeas, dahlias and other flowers for the shop.

Advance reservations required. Please call 301-373-2280 or 800-681-0850 to make your reservation, as space is limited. Pricing for this event: Non-members: $15 per person; Members: $12 per person. To attend all three Gardening Workshops, the discounted rate is $40 per person for non-members; $30 per person for Members.

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Good Things Do Come in Threes!

Gardening Workshops at Sotterley in May

Rick Davis: Flower Arranging & Design
Saturday, May 5th - 9:00 – 11:00 a.m.
Rick Davis, Owner and Lead Creative Director of award-winning D.C. based floral and event design firm Amaryllis, Inc., brings his expertise on floral arranging and design to Sotterley. His work has been featured in numerous publications including Town & Country, Victoria, Washingtonian, and Southern Accents. Known for his ever-flourishing creativity, attention to detail, and use of unique products, Mr. Davis is an innovative leader in the field of floral arranging and design. Learn from the best how to create a stunning showpiece from a bounty of beautiful blossoms.

Linda Crandall: Green Gardening - Saving the World One Yard at a Time
Saturday, May 12th – 9:00 – 11:00 a.m.

Going Green is more than just a passing trend; making more eco-friendly choices has become a vital part of our everyday lives. Linda Crandall, St. Mary’s County Master Gardener and Baywise Coordinator, will offer sound suggestions on bringing planet preserving techniques and practices to gardening. From selecting the right plants and materials to disposing of yard waste, simple steps make a difference.

Jennifer Horton: Edible Landscaping
Saturday, May 19th - 9:00 – 11:00 a.m.
Interested in growing veggies and herbs, but intimidated by the thought of breaking new ground? No need to dig a new bed or border! Jennifer Horton, Master Gardener Coordinator for the University of Maryland Cooperative Extension Office for St. Mary’s County, will discuss incorporating edibles into existing landscape beds. Participants will learn how to analyze their site, as well as select and maintain the right plants to insure a beautiful and TASTY garden this season.

Advance reservations required. Please call 301-373-2280 or 800-681-0850 to make your reservation, as space is limited. Pricing for this event: Non-members: $15 per person; Members: $12 per person. To attend all three Gardening Workshops, the discounted rate is $40 per person for non-members; $30 per person for Members.

Landscape Restoration Project Set to Change the Face of Sotterley

Six months ago, Hurricane Irene swept through our area causing tremendous devastation. Extensive damage to the buildings in Sotterley’s historic core and the loss of over 170 trees throughout the site caused us to close our gates due to safety concerns. Our first goal was to clear the massive amount of debris from the various affected structures and the grounds, in order to hold our scheduled sustainable events and continue with our important education programs. Within three short weeks, the gates were opened as we welcomed visitors and students back on site.

Much work still needs to be done before we have fully restored Sotterley’s landscape, gardens, and nature trails. To help us achieve this goal, a new Landscape Committee has been formed to work in conjunction with our pre-existing Grounds Committee on the Landscape Restoration Project. The plan will be completed in stages depending on the funding that we receive, and Sotterley plans to use staff and volunteers for the needed labor as much as possible to stretch out our donated dollars. Already, the Sotterley Garden Guild, a volunteer group, has been a vital part of our clean-up efforts. Sotterley intends to use as many native plants and trees as possible, the goal being to incorporate seedlings and replantings already on site. Wood from downed trees
is currently being transformed for the hardscaping elements (fencing, slate paths, etc.) which the Landscape Plan will include.

One of the particularly exciting hardscaping elements already being created from some of our red cedar trees are new benches! For many years Sotterley has needed additional seating upon which visitors can pause to rest or simply take in the amazing view and ambiance of our lovely site. These benches will be permanently installed in various locations and will make each visitor’s experience to our site a more welcoming one.

Landscaping and Bench Donations Gladly Accepted!

Donations can help make the restoration of our landscape possible! Bench donations ($150 suggested), or donations of any size toward the landscaping plan will allow us to begin work once the final plans have been laid in the months ahead. Every donation will help to place a new bench, tree or shrub around Sotterley and will move our beloved site further down the path of post-storm recovery.

Education is at the heart of everything we do at Sotterley Plantation, and ultimately we want to continue being the perfect educational back-drop for the thousands of students and visitors who come to our site annually. Your generous support can help make this a reality as we work tirelessly to restore our site. We invite you to come and visit often in 2012 to watch our progress!