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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- Believe It or Not, Seed Collecting Has Started in Our Native Gardens!
Seed collection time, like bloom time, differs from native plant to native plant. While I anxiously await each species to bloom as the seasons progress from spring to summer to fall, seed collection follows a similar progression and has been underway since late April here in my southern Maryland gardens. Collections began with Packera aurea… Read more: Believe It or Not, Seed Collecting Has Started in Our Native Gardens! - June 2026 Happenings! Wild Ones Chesapeake Bay
Happy Meteorological Summer! Thank you to all our chapter members who were involved in various activities and events during May. We closed the month with our wildly successful NatureFest. With over 1,000 registrants and over 50 vendors, it was our biggest and most successful NatureFest in its 6-year history. Thank you to our chapter members… Read more: June 2026 Happenings! Wild Ones Chesapeake Bay - NatureFest 2026 Wraps Up Native Plant Month
The last week of May was bustling with preparations for NatureFest 2026. Now in its 6th year, this is our premier spring event in Southern Maryland. NatureFest has grown since its inception in 2021 from its humble beginnings at Tilghman Lake Park to an annual event that attracts more exhibitors and attendees each year. 2021… Read more: NatureFest 2026 Wraps Up Native Plant Month - Native Plant Month Continues in Southern Maryland!
The second and third weeks of May brought many more new and exciting ways to celebrate native plants across our region, including another native plant month proclamation, transplanting native seedlings, conducting a garden tour, and so much more! Week of May 10-16 Town of Leonardtown Proclaims May Native Plant Month The second week of Native… Read more: Native Plant Month Continues in Southern Maryland!
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