Herndon Garden Tour Set for June 24
he annual Herndon Garden Tour, a celebration of eclectic and elegant gardens in the Town of Herndon, will be held Sunday, June 24, noon – 4pm.
Admission to the tour is $10 in advance, $15 on the day of the tour. Tickets are available in advance at the Herndon Community Center, 814 Ferndale Avenue; Herndon Florist, 716 Lynn Street; and ArtSpace Herndon, 750 Center Street. Tickets are also available the day of the tour at the Herndon Community Center and ArtSpace Herndon.
The self-guided tour features five gardens:
*760 Van Buren Street, Denise and Bruce Napoli, gardeners. A primarily shady garden, with occasional explosions of color that attract birds and butterflies
*890 Ashburn Street, Ellen and Walt Bottiny, gardeners. A peaceful garden oasis, complete with perennials, annuals, herbs –and Ellen’s collection of gourd birdhouses.
*1021 Monroe Street, Lorna Schmid and David Boldt, gardeners. The focal point of this expansive garden is an exotic water feature, as well as plenty of shade plants and sun-loving flowers.
*896 Young Dairy Court, Nate and Michele Ament, gardeners. These professional landscape architects have created a unique garden retreat, with a carefully-constructed mix of hardscapes and softscapes.
*742 Florence Place, Tom Spiers, gardener. This lush, mature and diversified landscape is home to at least 100 different kinds of plants, with colors and textures coordinated to create order – but not too much order.
The Herndon Garden Tour is produced by the Cultivating Community Initiative, a program designed to encourage neighborhood beautification and build community spirit. All programs are developed through the input of resident volunteers.
Advising on Hazardous Waste Reduction
Reduction and proper disposal of common hazardous materials should be a priority in all households within the Town of Herndon, advises the town’s Department of Public Works (DPW).
DPW has created a page on the town’s website, www.herndon-va.gov (town services/refuse & recycling/household hazardous waste) that defines hazardous waste products – household cleaners, yard care products, paints and paint thinners, petroleum products, rodent poisons and other commonly used products – and emphasizes why proper disposal of such products is critical.
"Sanitation workers can be injured from toxins, corrosive materials or ignitable materials improperly mixed with regular solid waste," said Robert B. Boxer, director of Public Works. "Additionally, improper dumping of these materials on the ground or in waterways can threaten wildlife."
According to DPW, the safest way for town residents to dispose of household hazardous waste is to carefully package and transport materials to Fairfax County’s Household Hazardous Waste site at I-66 Transfer Station Complex, 4618 West Ox Road, Fairfax. Operating hours are Thursday – Saturday, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m., and Sunday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
The town’s Web site lists ways residents can reduce use of hazardous products by switching to safer alternative products; by purchasing products only in quantities as needed; and by storing hazardous products appropriately.
Scout Collects Electronic Equipment
Danny Rieder, Life Scout with Troop 913 – sponsored by St. Joseph Church – will be collecting old computers (towers/laptops), monitors, printers, scanners, cell phones, keyboards or other electronic equipment to be donated to Computer Recycling of Virginia (CRVA) – a recognized recycling Non-Profit Organization. Refurbished equipment is provided at no/low cost to underfunded schools and community groups in Virginia. Equipment that is unusable will be taken apart and recycled.
There are two options for data security: CRVA will "zero" out all hard drives upon receipt at their facility; or, if desired, scouts can remove the hard drive and destroy in donor’s presence. Restrictions: maximum weight of 75 pounds for any one single item; donations limited to 20 items, unless otherwise agreed in advance. Tax deductible receipts will be available upon request.
For more information, contact drr1ieder3@gmail.com.
The collection, for Rieder’s upcoming Eagle Project, will take place on Saturday, June 16, 8 a.m.-noon, at St. Joseph’s School, 750 Peachtree Street, Herndon.