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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- January 2026 Garden Chat – Grants for Gardens and Maryland Native Plant Month
2026 is off to a mission-aligned start for Wild Ones Chesapeake. Our January Garden Chat focused on the Wild Ones mission to promote native landscapes through education, advocacy and collaborative action. Our Garden Chat attendees were treated to a presentation by Unity Gardens, followed by an update on the “Make May Maryland Native Plant Month”… Read more: January 2026 Garden Chat – Grants for Gardens and Maryland Native Plant Month - Gifting, Sharing, and Winter Sowing Seeds
National Seed Swap Day (January 31, 2026) and Valentine’s Day (February 14) are just around the corner. Looking for a last-minute gift idea that won’t break your budget and will be cherished by gardening friends? Consider creating native plant seed kits! First, package individual species of native seeds. Prepare instructions for growing, such as our… Read more: Gifting, Sharing, and Winter Sowing Seeds - Media and Awards – 2026
Wild Ones Chesapeake Bay is deeply passionate about highlighting the accomplishments of our chapter and of our members. We are excited to begin 2026 with two notable achievements of chapter member, Esther Bonney. “A Conversation with Robin Wall Kimmerer & Esther Bonney” There’s still time to register for the upcoming free Wild Ones National webinar,… Read more: Media and Awards – 2026 - Larry Weaner – Living in a Liberated Landscape: My Yard
When Wild Ones put out a request for chapter leaders to host upcoming National webinars, Wild Ones Chesapeake Bay president Marlene Smith jumped at the opportunity. And she was delighted to be chosen to introduce Honorary Director Larry Weaner’s presentation, “Living in a Liberated Landscape: My Yard.” Larry Weaner is a nationally recognized landscape designer… Read more: Larry Weaner – Living in a Liberated Landscape: My Yard
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