Wild 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 pest management, and related topics. She also serves as the Faculty Lead for the Maryland Master Gardener Pollinators Subprogram.
On Saturday, September 13, from 9 am – 12 noon, join us for a “Meadows Matter: A Nature Walk about Habitat, Pollinators, and Beneficial Insects in our Ecosystem” with Madeline Potter as we explore the meadow habitat at Port Tobacco River Park! The Port Tobacco River Park and Tom Roland Natural Resource Area is a perfect location to have a talk and walk about why meadows matter. We will start with a 20-to-30-minute talk at the pavilion about the vital connections between climate change, native plants, and the insects that sustain them, followed by a walk along the meadow as we attempt to identify native plants, butterflies, dragonflies, and birds! Bring your binoculars, butterfly net, smart apps, field guides, and/or camera! Let’s see how many species we can document. There is a maximum of 15 attendees. Please RSVP to Lynne Wheeler, Wild Ones Chesapeake Bay Membership Chair, at [email protected] to reserve your spot.
The park offers a diverse nature experience – river shoreline trails, forest, and meadows! It was created as a vision by local environmental groups who saw the importance of converting farmland to become a natural and more biodiverse ecosystem. Since its inception in 2015 groups have added over 1000 native trees to help capture the watershed and thereby help to protect and improve the water quality of our Port Tobacco River, as well as creating 15 acres of meadow – a declining habitat that is vital for our insects and other pollinator species. Learning about native plants and the insects that sustain them is our passion, and one we love to share!
Our friends with the Port Tobacco River Conservancy will join us at the pavilion with a display about their recent conservation efforts for the Port Tobacco River, as well as free mini-birding guides and educational material provided by the Southern Maryland Audubon Society.
On Tuesday, September 23, from 7 – 8:30 pm, join us for our bi-monthly Garden Chat to connect and learn from other native plant garden enthusiasts in our area. We welcome gardeners that are just beginning their journey to those with many years of experience as we all continue to learn about native plants and their ecosystems.
This month we present “From Bloom to Buzz: Protecting Pollinators and Beneficial Insects Amid Climate Change” by Madeline Potter. In this presentation, Madeline will explore the vital connections between climate change, native plants, and the insects that sustain them. This talk highlights the crucial role pollinators and other beneficial insects play in ecosystem health and native plant survival. Learn about fascinating insect-plant relationships, the impacts of climate change on these species, and practical conservation actions you can take. From container gardens to larger green spaces, discover how to create and manage habitats that foster biodiversity and support beneficial insects in your own garden. Visit our Event page for the registration link and click here to print a copy of the presentation handout that outlines key learning objectives and provides space for you to take notes as you explore different ways to support pollinators and beneficial insects.
Did you know that the University of Maryland Extension website has a section devoted to Pollinators? This year they have enhanced the site with educational resources and tools to help you and your community celebrate and learn about pollinators. Check out their offerings:
- Maryland Pollinator Week Toolkit
- Pollinator Educational Tools & Tips Webinar
- Native Bee Habitat Webinar
Prior to her current position, Madeline was the Master Gardener Volunteer Coordinator and Horticulture Educator for UME in Howard County, MD, where she managed a team of over 170 volunteers and led numerous presentations, workshops, and outreach programs, reaching thousands of community members. She holds a B.S. in Sustainable Horticulture and an M.S. in Entomology, both from the University of Maryland, College Park. With over six years of experience in outreach and education, Madeline has also conducted research to support sustainable management strategies for invasive insect species.
Madeline is currently developing statewide resources and tools to support pollinator habitat certifications, recognition programs, and educational initiatives. A key goal of her work is to increase public awareness of Maryland’s diverse pollinator species—including bees, wasps, flies, beetles, butterflies, and moths—and their varied habitat needs. She is committed to creating inclusive, learner-centered educational experiences that connect people with science-based knowledge and empower them to take action for pollinator conservation.
“University programs, activities, and facilities are available to all without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, age, national origin, political affiliation, physical or mental disability, religion, protected veteran status, genetic information, personal appearance, or any other legally protected class.”
For a full list of our upcoming chapter events, please visit our Events page and/or Chapter Calendar.