Events

Join us as we explore the meadow habitat at Port Tobacco River Park! We are 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 will start with a 20–30-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. 

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. 

Maximum of 15 attendees. RSVP to Lynne Wheeler, Wild Ones Chesapeake Bay Membership Chair, at [email protected]

Rain date: September 14

Note: "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."

Discover how ecological landscaping with native plants can make your landscape more resilient and help address the climate crisis. This webinar will highlight practical, evidence-based approaches to designing and maintaining landscapes that build resilience to climate change and support native biodiversity. Join Wild Ones for a free webinar, “EcoBeneficial Landscape Strategies for the Climate Crisis,” featuring environmental horticulturalist and ecological landscape designer Kim Eierman.

Cape Conservation Corps will hold their annual Fall Native Plant Fest & Sale on September 20, 2025.  As every year, they will have thousands of native plants, some for sun, some for shade, some ground covers, some grasses, some ferns, some bushes…. in other words plants for any taste, as long as they are native ! https://capeconservationcorps.org/

The City of Bowie has begun transitioning some of its stormwater ponds to native pollinator habitat. This showcase is at the first pond to be improved.

Join Sam Droege, other researchers, and City staff to see the work completed by both volunteers and contractors to improve aesthetics and provide habitat for pollinators. In 2017, excavation of the existing dry pond began, and all trees were cut to enlarge the pond (footprint and depth) in an effort to meet State stormwater treatment mandates. 

The Midwood Lane stormwater pond is a unique site with an unknown-at-the-time soil pH that would rival the drainage from any acid mine in western Maryland. It was killing large swaths of the standard turf grass planted by the contractor and required annual reseeding by staff. With guidance from current and retired staff of the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and the City's Environmental Advisory Committee, a transformation to pollinator-friendly plants and grasses began in 2023. This is an interesting case study that will help others determine how they can make their stormwater management areas more natural and ecologically-sound.  

We also will hear about the ongoing results from Lorraine Clarke, a Professor from Prince George's Community College, that she and her students have been doing on what native bees this project and other pollinator gardens in the City of Bowie are attracting.

For more information or to RSVP, please contact [email protected] or 301-809-3043

Speakers:

Sam Droege is a biologist with the U.S. Geological Survey at the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center in Maryland. He has coordinated major wildlife monitoring programs, including the North American Breeding Bird Survey and the North American Amphibian Monitoring Program, and has developed community-based initiatives like BioBlitz and FrogwatchUSA.

Currently, Sam focuses on native bee conservation, leading efforts to create comprehensive monitoring programs and online identification tools. He also works on reviving the North American Bird Phenology Program to document migration

If you missed it, check out our blog post on Sam’s recent webinar/panel discussion hosted by Wild Ones in which Sam discussed the critical roles that wild native bees play in our ecosystem and how we can support all pollinators in a balanced and evidence-based way.

Elmer Dengler, member of Wild Ones Chesapeake Bay, worked for 31 years for USDA, Natural Resources Conservation Service (formally Soil Conservation Service) in the States of Montana, Rhode Island, and Maryland. 

In retirement, Elmer has been the technical lead with the City of Bowie Natural Resources subgroup of the Green Team for approximately 10 years, including the successful development of 4 demonstration pollinator gardens and the transformation of a grass stormwater management pond into a diverse pollinator habitat area.  He also advises the Bowie City Council as an appointed member of the City's Environmental Advisory Committee. Elmer leads the growth of over 2,000 native plants annually at the USGS Bee Inventory and Monitoring Lab for free distribution to the public at over a dozen educational programs on or related to pollinator habitat. 

Elmer is a wealth of knowledge on many environmental topics.  In fact, in preparing for this event, he noted that few realize that Doug Tallamy's students also conducted some of the chickadee study in Bowie.  

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, we 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. 

Madeline Potter is a 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.

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." 

Registration is required in advance for this meeting.

SAVE THE DATE! "Monarchs & MIlkweed" Butterfly Festival is back for 2025 at Merkle NRMA on Saturday, September 27th from 10 a.m.- 2 p.m.

NEW for 2025- Guest Speaker: Madeline E. Potter, Faculty Specialist for Entomology and Integrated Pest Management, University of Maryland Extension Home & Garden Information Center

Bring your native plants and seeds to trade with other gardeners at this annual native plant swap at the “Front Yard” native gardens. Fall is the best time for planting, so this event is a great way to add new plants to your native gardens and to obtain seeds for winter sowing native plants.

This free event offers both experienced and new gardeners a chance to add native plants to their yards. In doing so, you will be creating habitat for our native birds, bees and butterflies.

If you're new to gardening with native plants, this event is the place to get started! Meet and chat with native-plant enthusiasts, view native plants in the Front Yard gardens, and take home free plants and seeds! 

If you're an experienced native gardener, please spread the joy by bringing your favorite plants and seeds to swap and share.  

Strange as it sounds, we're trying to prevent the spread of invasive jumping worms, so please follow these simple steps when bringing your plants to the event: 

Dig up your plants. 
Shake the dirt off the roots. 
Gently rinse the roots clean.  
Label each plant (include the botanical name if you can). 
Bring them to the Swap & Share in a bucket of water or wrapped in wet paper and tucked in a plastic bag.

For more information, contact Liz Curtz, Friends of St Clements Bay, at [email protected] or Marlene Smith, Wild Ones Chesapeake Bay, @ [email protected]

In addition to Wild Ones Chesapeake Bay, participating partners include Friends of St Clements Bay, St. Mary's County Master Gardeners, St. Mary's County Master Naturalists , Butterfly Alley, and the Leonardtown Butterfly Trail. 

Details coming soon! 

Join WOCB and The Friends of Anne Arundel County Trails along the B&A Trail in Severna Park, MD to learn about how you can make a difference for our local bees, birds, and butterflies in your own backyard!

Come grab FREE native plants to make your home a beautiful stopping place for native pollinators! Some bags will be provided to take home your new plants, or bring a bag or box of your own.

We will have activities for the kids including chalk art and more TBA.

You can also view the native gardens managed by the Chartwell Garden Club at the Ranger Station.

We hope to see you there!!

Details coming soon!