Welcome to Wild Ones Chesapeake Bay Chapter!
We promote environmentally friendly, sound landscaping to preserve biodiversity through the preservation, restoration, and establishment of native plant communities across Southern Maryland.
Wild Ones chapters are a space where like-minded people gather to support each other in learning about landscaping with native plants and to share with others in their communities and networks about why it’s important to reintroduce native plants into public and private gardens and how to go about doing it. Chapters are where change happens. We are excited to offer local residents the opportunity to expand their impact in the natural landscaping movement and help promote native plants!
SAVE THE DATES for our Upcoming Chapter Events
Please join us for one or more of our upcoming events. Most events are free and open to the public, but please note that some require registration. Please be sure to invite friends and family! Visit our Events page, our chapter Google calendar, or our Facebook Events page for registration and/or RSVP information.
Recent Posts/News
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- September Events Featuring Madeline PotterWild Ones Chesapeake Bay is excited to announce two events in September featuring Madeline Potter, Faculty Specialist in Entomology and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) with the University of Maryland Extension (UME) Home and Garden Information Center. In this role, she educates the public and provides training to UME faculty and staff on insect conservation, sustainable… Read more: September Events Featuring Madeline Potter
- Increasing Biodiversity One Yard at a TimeDuring our July 2025 meeting, Wild Ones Chesapeake Bay (WOCB) members Robin Madel and Sue Williams present “Increasing Biodiversity One Yard at a Time” and discuss turning residential gardens into more biodiverse native plantings. Topics include ecoregions, critical areas, and considerations for choosing native plants. Robin Madel is an environmental educator who has been helping… Read more: Increasing Biodiversity One Yard at a Time
- Chesapeake Bay Trust Community Forestry Catalyst FundThe Chesapeake Bay Trust (CBT) has announced that the Community Forestry Catalyst Fund (CF2) is now open! You can find more information, view the Request for Proposals, and start an application by going to the Community Forestry Catalyst Fund website. This program was created by the Maryland Department of Resources Forest Service with funds from… Read more: Chesapeake Bay Trust Community Forestry Catalyst Fund
- Unity Gardens – Cultivating Communities, One Native Garden at a TimeWild Ones Chesapeake Bay is wildly appreciative of our partnerships with businesses and organizations in the community. Unity Gardens recently joined our chapter, and we are excited to share with you their amazing grant opportunity for organizations in Anne Arundel County. Fall 2025 Grant Cycle Unity Gardens are now accepting applications for their Fall 2025… Read more: Unity Gardens – Cultivating Communities, One Native Garden at a Time

A Few of My Favorite Native Things
Native bees buzzing and fireflies lighting
Monarches eclosing and new species sightings
Hummingbirds hover on fast-moving wings
These are a few of my favorite things
Red oaks and white oaks in decades old glory
Dogwoods and redbuds in the understory
Paw paw, persimmon, sassafras seedlings
These are a few of my favorite things
Beechdrops on beech roots and milkweed fluff flowing
Seed heads turn brown as the plants finish growing
Winter approaches and then then comes the spring
When I’ll enjoy more of my native things
When the frost bites
When the wind stings
When I'm feeling sad
I simply remember my native gard’ning
And then I don't feel so bad
by Marlene Smith, President Wild Ones Chesapeake Bay