Fall 2025 has been a busy one for Wild Ones Chesapeake Bay (WOCB), starting with a meadow walk in early September through our participation at the Leonardtown Library’s Diamond Jubilee the last weekend of October and planting a hedgerow in the Front Yard native garden. Whether virtual or in-person, there was something everyone.
September
Meadows Matter: A Nature Walk about Habitat, Pollinators, and Beneficial Insects in our Ecosystems
On September 13, 2025, we explored the meadow habitat at Gatewood Preserve in Calvert County. We were fortunate to have as our primary leader Maddie Potter – Faculty Specialist in Entomology and Integrated Pest Management, University of Maryland Extension Home and Garden Information Center. We started with a brief talk from Maddie about the vital connections between climate change, native plants, and the insects that sustain them, followed by a walk along the meadow as we identified native plants and insects.
From Bloom to Buzz: Protecting Pollinators and Beneficial Insects Amid Climate Change
On Tuesday, September 23, Wild Ones Chesapeake Bay was proud to host “From Bloom to Buzz: Protecting Pollinators and Beneficial Insects Amid Climate Change” with Madeline Potter. In this presentation, Madeline explored the vital connections between climate change, native plants, and the insects that sustain them, highlighting the crucial role pollinators and other beneficial insects play in ecosystem health and native plant survival.
Monarchs and Milkweed at Merkle
On September 27, members Marlene and Bill Smith, Lynne Wheeler, and Robin Madel were on hand at At Monarchs and Milkweeds at Merkle, answering native plant questions and giving out over 100 FREE quart pots of seedling mixes courtesy of Bona Terra Nursery. There were three seedling mixes of fall nectar plants to choose from, including the Pocket Prairie Garden, the Pollinator Keystone Garden, and the Big Butterfly Garden. Each quart contained approximately 25 seedlings, for a total distribution of over 2500 seedlings. Free milkweed seeds were also distributed.
We met and talked with lots of old and new friends and enjoyed visiting the tables of other local environmental groups:
- Integrated Monarch Monitoring Program (IMMP) & MD Master Naturalist program
- Plant Pest & Weed Management- Spotted Lanternfly Information Table
- MDOT- State Highways
- University of Maryland Extension, Madeline Potter
- University of Maryland Extension Master Gardeners, Prince George’s
- Nanjemoy Creek Environmental Education Center & Master Naturalists
- Prince George’s Soil Conservation Service
- DNR Forestry
- Maryland Natural Resources Police
- Schmidt Center- Prince George’s County Public Schools
And our mascot, Misty, won first place in the pet category of the costume contest.
Special thanks to Maryland Department of Natural Resources for the invitation!
Fall Plant Swap at North Beach Nature Center
On September 28, members Sue Williams and Robin Madel led our first of two fall plant swaps. We returned to the North Beach Nature Center, the site of our first seed swap in partnership with Southern Maryland Native Plant People and the Town of North Beach. It was a beautiful day for native plant enthusiasts to share conversations and rehome native plants.
October
October took us from one end of our region to another, starting with our native plant swap at the Leonardtown Library Front Yard native gardens to Make a Difference Day with the Friends of Anne Arundel County Trails at the Earleigh Heights Ranger Station. Through these and other channels, we distributed over 2000 native plants that we grew from seed at the USGS Bee Lab.
Fall Plant Swap at the Leonardtown Library Front Yard Native Garden
Wild Ones Chesapeake Bay celebrated our third annual fall plant swap at the Leonardtown Library Front Yard native garden on October 4. We distributed 12 flats of native plant plugs grown from seed by members Marlene, Bill, and Miranda at the USGS Lab this year. Our partners from the Friends of St. Clements Bay and the St. Mary’s County Club were also on hand to help distribute plant donations and answer questions about native plants. Special thank you to Forrest Tech and Career Center volunteer, Ryder, for volunteering to assist with giving away free milkweed seeds. Ryder is a student in the Natural Resources Management class taught by chapter member Dorothy Birch.
Make a Difference Day
We had a beautiful day on October 25 for the second annual Make a Difference Day hosted by the Friends of Anne Arundel County Trails. Organized by Miranda Yourick, Friends Vice President and Wild Ones Chesapeake Bay member, the main event was held at the Earleigh Heights Ranger Station and featured free native plants and seeds courtesy of Wild Ones Chesapeake Bay.
Leonardtown Library Diamond Jubilee
On October 25, we were honored to have an outreach table at the Leonardtown Public Library’s Diamond Jubilee. Chapter members Amy Henderson and Mary Anne Friesen were on hand to share information on native plants and the partnerships between Wild Ones Chesapeake Bay, Leonardtown Butterfly Trail, St. Mary’s County Garden Club, and University of Maryland Extension Master Gardeners. Through our partnerships, we collaborate to educate the public on the benefits of native plants, install and maintain native gardens, and are helping to relaunch the Leonardtown Butterfly Trail.
But wait…. There’s more!
The above events were just a fraction of our activities this fall. We volunteer regularly at the Leonardtown Library Front Yard Gardens, and this fall was no exception. We were busy with activities for all ages – from working with high school students in the Natural Resources Management class at Forrest Tech Center, to supporting family-friendly outreach programs like “Tots in the Garden” and working with scouts to install a new native hedgerow.
Seed Collecting with Forrest Tech Students
On October 1, the students from the Natural Resources Management class at Forrest Tech Career and Tech Center learned about native seeds groups, followed by seed collecting with members Marlene and Bill Smith, Dorothy Birch, Liz Curtz, and Debra Pence. The students took the seeds back to school to dry, and we’ll be working with them in November and December to clean native seeds.
Tots in the Garden
University of Maryland Extension Master Gardener and Wild Ones Chesapeake Bay member Debra Pence led groups of children and their parents into the garden on Saturday, October 18, to observe and explore nature and their surroundings. Families learned about trees changing color, seeds sleeping in the ground and what they will grow into, pollinators, and the other lives that live in the garden. Leaf rubbing, exploring a pool of leaves, and opening acorns to see what’s inside were huge hits with the children. Click here to see more photos.
Hedgerow installation with Troop 793
Overcast skies and brisk breezes did not dampen the spirit of our volunteers who came out on October 29 to plant the new hedgerow at the Leonardtown Front Yard Native Garden. Led by Wild Ones Chesapeake Bay member Liz Curtz (President of Friends of St. Clements Bay) and Brennan Peabody (owner of EcoBay Landscaping), volunteers from Wild Ones Chesapeake Bay, Leonardtown Butterfly Trail, St. Mary’s County Garden Club, University of Maryland Master Gardeners, and local Scout Troop 793 planted 27 shrubs along the berm behind the garden to provide food and shelter for butterflies, birds, and other wildlife.
Shrubs include buttonbush (C. occidentalis), American beautyberry (C. americana), winterberry (I. verticillata), highbush blueberry (V. corymbosum), American cranberrybush (V. trilobum), sweetspire (I. virginica), and summersweet (C. alnifolia). Click here to see more photos.
…. and more at CSM!
We also returned to the College of Southern Maryland (CSM)to help with pollinator garden maintenance on September 26 and a native seed cleaning workshop on October 10.
What’s next for Wild Ones Chesapeake Bay?
October 2025 marks the two-year anniversary of our chapter’s relaunch. It has been another wild year full of tireless hours of volunteer work to connect people with native plants in Southern Maryland. So what’s next for Wild Ones Chesapeake Bay? It goes without saying that we’ll be hosting workshops to clean and package native seeds for the seed libraries that we support and hosting winter sowing events to propagate more native plants from seeds.
And we are currently in the planning stages of expanding our program offerings through our ongoing collaboration with the Leonardtown Butterfly Trail, St. Mary’s County Garden Club, and University of Maryland Master Gardeners. From relaunching the Leonardtown Butterfly Trail (which includes planning and participating in town events, working on a new trail brochure, creating signage, and so much more!) to expanding our outreach programs at the Leonardtown Library, our partnerships are helping to grow the native plant movement.
Some of our chapter members are working on new presentations for 2026. Do you have a topic of interest or a speaker you’d like us to host? Email us and share your ideas.
Wild Ones Chesapeake Bay is deeply rooted in native plants and cultivating partnerships, while striving to educate, advocate, and collaborate to connect people and native plants for a healthy planet. Our vision is native plants and natural landscapes thriving in every community. Check out our Events page, Google calendar, Facebook, and/or Instagram for our upcoming events. And don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel!
