Michael Bergin, Northern Virginia Real Estate

A few weeks ago we gave you a long list of things to do in Northern Virginia from now until the first of the year. Lots of festivals and art shows, corn mazes and pumpkin patches.

Today we're going to focus on fall garden tours and workshops.

Fall is a great time to plant and/or start planning for next spring.

With incredibly hot and dry weather behind us (we hope), it's time to assess the damage and perhaps readjust existing garden plans.

Whatever you need to do in your garden, these tours and workshops are a perfect launching pad for your imagination.

Oct. 2 - Green Springs Garden, Fall Garden Festival

Oct. 3 - Meadowlark Botanical Gardens, Potomac Valley Native Plant Collection

Oct. 7 - Turkey Run Park, work with the Nature Conservancy to remove invasive plant material. 703.732.5291

Oct. 9 - Green Spring Gardens, drought tolerant natives for water-wise landscaping.

Oct. 9-10 - State Arboretum, Arborfest

Oct. 19 - Green Spring Gardens, "Select Natives and Control Invasives"

Oct. 23 - Meadowlark Botanical Gardens, Ornamental grass tour

Oct. 23 - Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve, "Fall Colors at Dyke Marsh"

Oct. 30 - Riverbend Park, 60th anniversary hike to Great Falls, call 703.759.9018

Nov. 4 - Turkey Run Park, work with the Nature Conservancy to remove invasive plant material. 703.732.5291

For a complete list that includes Maryland and the District of Columbia, click here.

And if you don't have a garden? Call me at 703.927.4554 and we'll find you one - and a house to go with it.

Ft. Belvoir will host it's 15th Annual Octoberfest Sept. 30 - Oct. 3 on Freemont Field. Octoberfest celebrates the traditional German holiday with authentic food, music and beer.

Look for a bazaar and bake sale, carnival rides, keg tapping ceremony, 10K run/walk, dancing and a host of vendors.

Open to the public, Sunday, Oct. 3 is Military Family Appreciation Day.

The Friends of the Duncan Library need your donations for their annual fall book sale. CD's, DVD's, trade paperbacks** and hardcover books are now being accepted.

The Friends is a 501(c)(3) organization so all donations are completely deductible.

**Mass market paperbacks (you know, the small ones that are hard on the eyes) are persona non grata.

POTOMAC WEST INTERIORS has developed a monthly (or a least periodic) series of guest speakers. First intended as a way to bring folks into the store, the series has taken on a life of its own. Owner Susan Driscoll looks for interesting folks who work/live locally and have something of value to offer to her audience.

This next week the speaker will be Christopher Johnson, ND (Naturopathic Doctor).

Described as a system of healing that is completely natural and safe, yet powerful and grounded in science, homeopathy works with seasonal allergies, chronic pain, sinusitis, anxiety and depression, digestive orders, headache, skin conditions, ADHD, autoimmune conditions and more.

September 30, 7:00pm at Potomac West Interiors, 1517 Mt. Vernon Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22314. Please call 703.519.1911 for reservations.

You have probably passed Elegance Inc. on King Street in Old Town Alexandria a thousand times. You have noticed the one-of-a kind wedding dresses in the window.

You have admired the sumptuous fabrics and luxurious embellishments.

But have you ever gone in?

No? Well, let me tell you what you are missing.

Filled with original designs, imported fabrics and trim, bridal veils and more, Elegance Inc. is where to come when you want to stand out from the crowd.

Mother of the bride? Embassy soiree? A special anniversary? This is where you need to be. Elegance Inc. is an extraordinary boutique.

Originally from Afghanistan, owner Roya Hashimi studied fashion design in Germany for seven years and then met her husband while on vacation here in the United States.

Speaking no English and armed only with a fierce desire to make beautiful clothes, Roya bought remnants from G Street Fabrics, made over 100 sample designs at home, and set up shop at 1311 King Street.

With now perfect English and 13 years behind her, word of mouth has been her only advertising.

The designs that line the long main room - and the always enticing front window - are the ultimate come on. Oh to be that slim and slinky!

Looking beyond the dazzle however, you see the attention to detail and the couture finishes that support the substantial price tags.

It's worth remembering that each design, each pattern is unique and hand cut.

Roya specializes in evening wear and often does entire bridal parties from the bride and groom, to attendants to family members.

As she laughingly noted, the more complicated the better. Once, while still a student, she took out and resewed a zipper 17 times before it met her exacting standards!

Alterations are also part of the work at Elegance Inc. This is not the place for a hem or a few darts but if you are hard to fit or have "problem areas" the higher cost is well worth it. Trust me, I know.

There is another side to Roya's business too. Knowing that paid work was the best form of independence for women in her home country, Roya started a small factory in Afghanistan.

The women do intricate bead work, turning out unique belts and trim that Roya uses in her designs. The past few years have taken a toll on this cottage industry but Roya is convinced that she is on the right path.

Now it's your turn. The next time you pass Elegance Inc. on King Street in Old Town Alexandria; the next time you notice the one-of-a kind wedding dress in the window; the next time admire the sumptuous fabrics and luscious embellishments, go in. You'll be glad you did.

And if you want to do a bit of looking beforehand, click here for the Elegance Inc. Web site.

I will also be the first to tell you that my spouse/partner, Virginia, played a big role in this post!