Events

Winter sowing native seeds with horticulture management students

Event Information: https://stmalib.libnet.info/event/12022938

Learn from the experts on how to get a head start on your garden this year with winter seed starting!

Native plants are critical to supporting birds, butterflies, bees and other pollinators, but they can be expensive! Join Marlene Smith, president of Wild Ones Chesapeake Bay, and Molly Moore, president of Southern Maryland Audubon, as they introduce participants to the 10 simple steps to winter sowing. Learn how to grow your own natives from seeds, in milk jugs in the dead of winter. In this in-person workshop, you’ll seed your own containers to take home. We will have milk jugs available, along with all other supplies, including seeds. Please bring at least one clean milk jug (translucent, not white) to help replenish our supplies to keep these workshops going. Workshop is free and open to all. Registration required.

This program is made possible with support from Wild Ones Chesapeake Bay, Southern Maryland Audubon, and Friends of St. Clements Bay.

Habitat Gardening in Maryland will help gardeners make informed decisions for their outdoor spaces by understanding how our environmental system functions. Debbie Swartz will describe a practice she refers to as holistic gardening: a way of gardening that emphasizes environmental stewardship to protect biodiversity and keep our waterways clean. This philosophy of gardening involves stopping erosion, planting native plants, gardening organically, and allowing nature to cycle and work its magic.

For ages 16 years through adult

Learn to identify some of our evergreen plants. We’ll explore the meadows and forest in search of the ferns, herbaceous plants, and trees that are green in the winter.

Co-sponsored by Wild Ones Chesapeake Bay, Calvert Nature Society and Calvert County Division of Natural Resources

Leader: Karyn Molines

Wear warm clothes for standing around outside (we won't be moving very fast)

Bring (optional, but useful) a 10x hand lens, binoculars, field guides. Bring water, lunch and/or trail snacks.

There is no water on site. There is a portable toilet. Closest "modern facilities" are in Prince Frederick Town Center (there's a WaWa, Starbucks, etc)

Free event, but registration is required.

See Maryland Native Plant Society website for specific directions and to register by clicking on the blue REGISTER button on the left hand side of the page:
https://mdflora.org/event-5845087

Join us for our bi-monthly Garden Chat with a presentation by Lynne Wheeler, Wild Ones Chesapeake Bay Membership Chair, and Marlene Smith, Wild Ones Chesapeake Bay President. Lynne and Marlene will introduce you to seed sowing & propagation to grow your own native plants from seed. They will include some of their own tried-and-true methods to inspire you this growing season. Learn how easy and fun it is propagating natives from seed! 

All Wild Ones members are welcome to attend and invite a guest!

Leader: Karyn Molines

For adults, although teens 16 years and older may attend.

All trees do not look alike in winter! We'll learn the basics of plant identification using winter keys and field guides, then take a hike to use our knowledge (so make sure you bring outdoor weather clothes). This program is designed for those with little or no experience and will focus on twigs, buds, and bark. Geared for adults, but teens 16 or older may attend.

Wear warm clothes for standing around outside (we won't be moving very fast). Bring a snack or lunch if you think you'll get hungry. (Optional, but useful) a 10x hand lens, binoculars, field guides (we'll have some to lend out).

Location: Kings Landing Park, 3255 Kings Landing Road, Huntingtown, MD directions to be provided to those who register)

This is a free program.

Co-sponsored by Wild Ones Chesapeake Bay, Calvert Nature Society and Calvert County Division of Natural Resources

Registration required.

Join CSM faculty, staff, and students for an educational and interactive seed saving workshop! The event will be held on Friday, February 14th at CSM LaPlata Campus ST Building Room 223 from 1-3 PM, and will be led by WOCB President Marlene Smith. We invite you to learn about the basics of recognizing and harvesting seeds from native plants, and put this knowledge to use with plants gathered from the La Plata Campus Pollinator Gardens. The seeds saved at the workshop will directly support the CSM Bee and Bird Campus initiatives and the new CSM Seed Library, scheduled to open on March 3rd. The Seed Library will distribute free seeds to the CSM community and residents of Charles County, fostering sustainable gardening practices and strengthening protections of pollinators and wildlife.

This is a members' only, private event. 

Spring is in sight! Sharpen your pruning skills with this workshop.

Join us as Chris Pax, designer of Leonardtown Library’s Front Yard, shares techniques for why, when, and how to prune woody plants for healthy growth and natural beauty.

Chris will focus on pruning strategies for the Maryland native trees and shrubs that provide essential habitat for our birds, bees and butterflies. Good pruning practices benefit non-native trees and shrubs as well, so join us to make a pruning plan for your yard!

Chris is the owner of Annapolis Native Landscape Design in Annapolis MD. Since the very beginning of her design career, she’s been passionate about gardening with native plants, and is in demand as a speaker for Master Gardener and Garden Club groups throughout Maryland. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn more about keeping your garden in good health and looking great!

This program is sponsored by St. Mary's Public Library, Frirends of St. Clements Bay, and Wild Ones Chesapeake Bay.

All are welcome to join this free virtual panel discussion exploring the vital roles of native, solitary, and honeybees in pollination and biodiversity. Featuring experts Sam Droege (USGS), Dave Hunter (Crown Bees), and Dr. Lora Morandin (Pollinator Partnership), this event will discuss into the challenges pollinators face, the balance between managed and wild bees, and actionable ways to support all pollinators.

Gain insights from over 90 years of combined experience and learn how to advocate for pollinator habitats through planting native species, participating in community science, and adopting responsible management practices.

Event Information: https://stmalib.libnet.info/event/11297832

Join Marlene Smith, president of Wild Ones Chesapeake Bay, and Molly Moore, president of Southern Maryland Audubon, as they introduce participants to the 10 simple steps to winter sowing. Learn how to grow your own veggies, herbs, annuals, and native plants from seeds, in milk jugs in the dead of winter. 

In this in-person workshop, you’ll seed your own containers to take home. We will have milk jugs available, along with all other supplies, including seeds. 

Please bring at least one clean milk jug (translucent, not white) to help replenish our supplies to keep these workshops going. Workshop is free and open to all. Registration required.

Participating Partners: University of Maryland Extension Master Gardeners, St. Mary's County Community Development Corporation, St. Mary's Garden Club, Southern Maryland Audubon Society, and Wild Ones Chesapeake Bay.

Our communities need more native gardens! However, proposing, planning, and carrying out garden projects can be complicated. Jimmy Rogers of Vibrant Gardening will discuss several community projects he's led in Laurel, MD, and share the opportunities and red flags he looks for when planning a new project. He will talk about creating a vision, gathering and engaging project stakeholders, planning the work, and ensuring that the garden continues to thrive in the future. There will be time for Q&A at the end.

Are you or your group interested in distributing native plants to your community? Learn how to get free seedlings from Bona Terra to give to your community during our Seedling Giveaway Training Session!

Once a member in a leadership position of your group attends this workshop, your group will be qualified to receive free community pots of seedlings to give out at your event! Here are the steps!

Fill out the sign-up form here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe8_u-of8nZ3J4WRfj1kCtufWrwVnVf-ktY0KcEAstJgtUteg/viewform?usp=headerCome to the Seedling Giveaway Training Session on Saturday, March 1st from 10am to 1pm. The workshop will take place at our new nursery location (you will receive the address after you fill out the form) either outside if the weather is clear or indoors if necessary. Be sure to wear layers either way, and bring a notebook to relay this information to your team!

One of the main things that we'll be going over is how to organize and set up your seedling station to make it easy for you to give out as many seedlings as possible. Our experience has been that there is some pretty high demand for the free seedlings, and having some systems in place helps everything run much smoother. We will be going over:

How to organize and set up your seedling stationSupplies you’ll needOrganizational stuff: labelling, information distribution, and recording dataHow to divide seedlingsChoosing which quantities and species will work best for your eventDifferent roles for each volunteer Q&A from Marlene Smith, President of Wild Ones Chesapeake Bay and experienced Seedling Giveaway Organizer and Distributor

Come hear all about the Lexington Manor Passive Park Community Garden and learn the fundamentals of gardening from a Master Gardener!

All are welcome! Come join us for all or just part of the afternoon's activities. We will first learn about how to use the LMPP Community Garden! Renters, volunteers, and interested community members alike are invited to learn about this fantastic community resource. After the garden orientation, there will be a Gardening 101 Class taught by a Master Gardener.

The schedule for the afternoon is as follows:

2 - 3 p.m.: Orientation. Learn how the Community Garden works, review the rules, and ask questions.

3 - 3:30 p.m.: Gardening 101 Class. Learn from the experts how to make your garden a success! Whether this is your first growing season or you're just looking for a refresher, your garden will thank you.

3:30 - 4 p.m.: Meet & Mingle. Can't get enough? Stick around to chat with the Community Garden's Planting Committee and meet your Community Garden neighbors!

Co-hosted by Lexington Manor Passive Park Community Garden and St. Mary's Public Library - Lexington Park

Learn the basics of designing a home garden using native plants with Ana Lee of Perfectly Imperfect Gardens.

Spring is just around the corner! Join us as Jessalyn Mehkram, the Earth Liaison, shares with us her tips on designing a native garden. 

In this workshop, participants will gain a better understanding of what goes into planning a native garden and how to go about it with simplicity and ease. Jessalyn will cover a straightforward basic timeline of the process, from a quick hands-on observation of the space to selecting plants based on aesthetic choice, wants, and habitat. Planting and maintenance will also be covered. Jessalyn wants to make it as easy as possible so everyone can leave the workshop feeling empowered to get their garden started.

Following the indoors workshop, Jessalyn will lead us on an interactive plant walk in the Front Yard gardens, rain or shine.

RSVP required.

Public gardens hold tremendous power to influence landscaping norms and inspire change. By showcasing the beauty, functionality, and ecological value of native plants, these spaces help foster biodiversity, advocate for sustainable practices, and engage communities in environmental stewardship. 

This webinar will explore how public and demonstration gardens serve as powerful tools for native plant advocacy. Attendees will learn how gardens move beyond aesthetics to spark action—turning appreciation into engagement and inspiring participants to replicate these practices in their own communities.

We will hear insights from Nicole Machuca, Environmental Social Scientist at the Field Museum, on how public gardens influence behaviors, foster stewardship, and connect people to conservation efforts through research and community engagement. The Wild Ones Capital Region NY and the Wild Ones San Diego (CA) Chapters will share their experiences building native plant demonstration gardens and how these spaces drive community engagement, education, and advocacy. And We'll finish with a conversation exploring how public gardens create a lasting impact beyond planting day moderated by Kelly Kapuzzi, Demonstration Garden Char with the Wild Ones Hocking Hills (OH) Chapter.

Wild Ones Chesapeake Bay is deeply rooted in natives! Join us for our bi-monthly Garden Chat to connect and learn from other native plant garden enthusiasts in our area. 

Got Questions? Need information? We’ll be discussing what’s next to do in your gardens (or NOT to do), where to find native plants for spring planting, and provide chapter and national updates. 

If you have any questions you would like to discuss, let us know in advance. One of the best things about belonging to Wild Ones Chesapeake Bay is that many of our members have expertise/experience with using native plants in landscapes. One of the benefits of coming together either virtually or at events is being able to use the collective knowledge of the group to enhance your gardening experience.

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.

Register in advance for this meeting:
https://wildones-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/NVpFn6qsQxSf0wNtHHcFog

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

All Wild Ones members are welcome to attend and invite a guest!

Join us as Ben Beale, the local St. Mary’s County Extension Agriculture Agent with UMD, shows us how to plan for and install an affordable and efficient drip irrigation system for your home garden.

Learn how to save time, energy and water with a well-designed drip system.  Weather permitting, we'll take a tour of the newly installed drip system in the Front Yard native plant garden in front of the library. 

Beale currently serves as the Extension Educator for Agricultural Sciences with the University of Maryland Extension office in St. Mary’s County.  He focuses his programming efforts in crop production, farm management and alternative crop development. Beale holds a BS degree in Agricultural Sciences and MS degree in Management and Marketing. Beale grew up on a tobacco and vegetable farm in Southern Maryland and enjoys working on the family farm in his spare time. 

Co-sponsored with Friends of St. Clements Bay and St. Mary's Public Library

Visit us at the Lexington Manor Passive Park Cherry Blossom Festival this Saturday, March 29, from 12-4 pm. And join us at 2:30 in the Lexington Manor Passive Park Community Gardens for our last winter sowing workshop of the season.

Now is the perfect time to sow vegetable seeds and native seeds that do not need the chill of winter to break dormancy. We will have a selection of native seeds to choose from.

Winter sowing is the process of planting seeds outdoors in a container during the winter months. The container remains outdoors until the seedlings emerge in the spring. The container protects the seeds from animals and harsh weather, but the exposure to colder temperatures breaks dormancy and the seeds germinate. The container also provides an ideal environment for germination in the spring.

The best time to winter sow perennials and hardy annuals is generally December to March depending on the weather conditions in your area. These seeds require a consistent period of moist, cold temperatures before germination occurs in spring. Tender plants including annuals and vegetables can be sown later in spring (March or April) as they do not require a cold period in order to germinate.

Containerized seedlings stay more compact and do not need to be hardened off before planting in the garden. Winter sowing is ideal for those with limited indoor space for seed starting. No special lighting or equipment is required for germination.

Heather Evans of Design Your Wild will talk about how to use trees and shrubs to add structure to a native yard – creating privacy, dividing rooms, adding winter interest, blurring edges, and creating cooling shade. Trees and shrubs also generally support many times the number of native insects as wildflowers.

This Festival was created by the citizens of the Mid-Atlantic region to celebrate our charismatic Ospreys, to educate the public, agencies, and owners of structures to foster an attitude of co-existence and conservation awareness throughout the Chesapeake Bay and its estuaries.

Cost to attend: $20 - Family, $10 - Individual 

Proceeds from the Festival go to non-profit organizations who have a vested interest in protecting and conserving Ospreys, Bald Eagles, other wildlife, and natural areas.

 https://marylandospreyfestival.org/2024-maryland-osprey-festival-event-schedule/

Saturday, April 5, 2025 Spring Wildflower Events

1pm Slide show at Scientists’ Cliffs Association (SCA) Community House

2pm Walk on a nearby ACLT trail to identify ephemeral spring wildflowers

Please join us for a Spring Wildflower Show and Tell followed by a walk in the American  Chestnut Land Trust (ACLT). It will be a great time to review the wildflowers in our area and hopefully identify some not so common native species. Several knowledgeable “botanizers” will be present to help answer questions and identify our ephemeral (fleeting) wildflowers during the walk.

We will meet at the Scientists’ Cliffs Community House for the slide show, then walk to ACLT. Wear sensible walking shoes and garments to fit  the weather. ACLT has miles of trails, but we normally only walk about a half mile as the plant identification tends to slow us down greatly.

Non-SCA participants will need to request a parking pass by April 3 ([email protected] or 703-258-4998). We will need to process the pass, and it will need to be displayed on your car’s dashboard. The pass will be distributed to the drivers that day. If it is raining heavily, we will have the slide show on April 5 at 1 pm and the walk on April 6 at 2 pm, providing the weather cooperates.

Directions to the Community House at Scientists’ Cliffs

From the north and south, take MD Route 2/4, Solomons Island Road, toward Prince Frederick. Turn east onto Parker’s Creek Rd (left from the N, right from the S).

In .5 miles, turn right onto Scientists’ Cliffs Road.  

Continue about .8 miles and turn right onto Aspen Road, the Gate A entrance.

In .25 miles, bear left onto Alder Road (sign for Community House).

In .1 mile, arrive at the Community House, 3500 Alder Rd, Port Republic, MD 20676

This event is co-hosted by Scientists’ Cliffs and Maryland Native Plant Society event.

Vegetative buffers are a great way to help protect our river right in your own “back yard.” Drop by the pavilion and receive your free bundle of native plants - help protect our Port Tobacco River!

Celebrate Earth Day with us.

Awareness of the many benefits of adding native plants to our landscapes has been growing significantly in recent years and this has resulted in native plants getting some attention by Maryland lawmakers.  Join us as Kirsten Hoffman and Judy Fulton share the details of recent legislation that promotes native plants by creating the Maryland Native Plants Program and legislation that strengthened Maryland's invasive plant laws.  Both bills are currently being implemented, and they will provide updates on new resources that these laws have made available and discuss what work is still to be done.  

Kirsten Hoffman is one of the founding members of the Maryland Native Plant Coalition which has written and passed two important pieces of state legislation: 2023’s HB950/SB836 creating the Maryland Native Plants Program and 2024’s HB979/SB915 strengthening Maryland’s invasive plant laws. She is a member of the Executive Board of the Green Towson Alliance and heads up their legislative affairs workgroup supporting efforts to improve Baltimore County’s environmental sustainability.  Kirsten is the treasurer for the Maryland Native Plant Society and recently became a Maryland Master Naturalist.  She is part of a Master Naturalist team working on a habitat restoration project at Cylburn Arboretum.  For the past three years, she has been a Blue Water Baltimore tree steward for her neighborhood and has helped residents select and plant over one hundred native trees. Kirsten is a registered architect in the state of Maryland and performs flute and piccolo with Flutopia Baltimore.

Judy Fulton, founder of EcoPlant Consulting, believes healthy ecosystems are crucial for human survival. She transforms places overrun by invasives into native landscapes, shares her knowledge via workshops and field trips, and serves as an expert in invasive plant litigation. Judy is Vice President of the Maryland Native Plant Society, and a member of the Maryland Invasive Species Council and the Board of the Mid-Atlantic Invasive Plant Council. She has earned a Harvard MBA and three Maryland’s Top 100 Women awards from the Daily Record.

During recent Maryland legislative sessions, she was pleased to help write and pass the 2023 Maryland Native Plants Program (HB950/SB836) and the 2024 Maryland Invasive Plant bill (HB979/SB915). Her consulting, her co-authoring Plant Invaders of Mid-Atlantic Natural Areas, Field Guide, and her lead role in creating the Mid-Atlantic Invaders Tool, an online guide to more than 900 invasive species, have positioned Judy as a sought-after advisor in eco-restoration.

Registration required. 

Meet with a variety of local "green" organizations that are helping preserve the natural beauty of Southern Maryland!

Learn ways to save money through energy efficiency programs, hear about how to save the bay with oysters, take home your very own milkweed for monarch butterflies, and more!

Visit the Wild Ones Chesapeake Bay table to learn all about monarch butterflies. We will be providing three varieties of stratified milkweed seeds (common milkweed, swamp milkweed, and butterfly weed) for attendees to sow their own pots to take home to grow milkweed for monarch butterflies.

Come and explore the beauty of native plants at the Parkette Pollinator Patch in Leonardtown. Meet members of the Leonardtown Butterfly Trail team to learn about the native plants in the pollinator patch. Learn about monarch butterflies and take home stratified milkweed seeds (common milkweed, swamp milkweek, and butterfly weed) to plant in your own gardens, courtesy of Wild Ones Chesapeake Bay.

May First Friday in Leonardtown - Leonardtown Events

Facebook event

Wild Ones Chesapeake will be participating in this free event that offers both experienced and new gardeners a chance to start a robust garden - with both native plants and veggies! 

If you're new to gardening, this event is the place to get started! Meet other garden enthusiasts, tour the LMPP Community Garden's varied planting beds, and take home free plants and seeds! 

If you're an experienced gardener, please spread the joy by bringing your favorite plants and seeds to swap and share. Please limit your generosity to vegetable plants and native plants - and maybe even some spare gardening equipment if you have it!

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

Walk-ins welcome; register to receive a reminder email. In the event of inclement weather, this event will take place in the Lexington Park Library meeting rooms.

For more information, contact Carla Wilson, LMPP Community Garden Manager, at [email protected]

Native Plants are essential because they are the foundation of the ecosystem. Native Plants are those that an ecosystem depends on in order to thrive. We can help fight the biodiversity crisis one yard at a time.

Presentation includes information on Coastal Plain ecoregion, Critical area, Right plant, Right place and suggestions for various situations (Sun/Shade). 

Included will be take home copies with information on local sources, internet sites for research and the Maryland Native Plant Society Booklet on suggested native plants. 

Native Plants are essential because they are the foundation of the ecosystem. Native Plants are those that an ecosystem depends on in order to thrive. We can help fight the biodiversity crisis one yard at a time.

Presentation includes information on Coastal Plain ecoregion, Critical area, Right plant, Right place and suggestions for various situations (Sun/Shade). 

Included will be take home copies with information on local sources, internet sites for research and the Maryland Native Plant Society Booklet on suggested native plants. 

Would you like to help create a garden for birds? Learn about a new project to provide the Thames Street Park herons with a native planting beneath the trees they nest in. 

Join us in a discussion of how the ecological relationships between native birds and native plants can make gardening fun and meaningful. We’ll talk about how plants fuel birds through nesting season, migration, and year-round. We’ll also discuss the importance of a layered habitat structure and how that relates to designing a garden for the Thames Street Park herons. 

Gardening is about noticing. Learn how to notice and support the birds in your garden and around your neighborhood.

Due to storm,s trees have fallen on live power lines, blocking all access to the nursery and Rosaryville State Park. Out of an abundance of caution and in coordination with park rangers, we’ve made the difficult decision to cancel cancellations the festival.

We are currently exploring the possibility of rescheduling the event so please stand by. We’ll keep you posted as soon as we have confirmation.

——————

Chesapeake Natives’ mission is to propagate. promote and protect native plants of the coastal plains and piedmont that form the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. We aim to restore home and public landscapes and park lands in this region with local ecotype native species (LENS) that best contribute to biodiversity, our best natural defense against the impacts of climate change. 

"Join us for the Third Annual Rosaryville Native Plant Festival & Chesapeake Natives' 20th Anniversary Celebration!
Come out to Chesapeake Natives Nursery in Rosaryville State Park on Saturday, May 17th from 10AM–2PM for a day of nature, community, and celebration! In addition to our wide selection of *local ecotype native species (LENS)* grown from wild-collected seed in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, enjoy live music, food trucks, educational activities, local artists, and partner organizations.  
Our knowledgeable volunteers will be on hand to help you find the perfect plants for your space, and to share how LENS support pollinators, wildlife, and a healthier Bay. Celebrate 20 years of impact with us—we can't wait to see you there!"
 

Join Wild Ones National Board President Loris Damerow for a special presentation as part of Week 3 of the 2025 Less Lawn More Life Challenge, “Native Plants Planted Right.” Loris will walk us through the basics of native plant gardening- from choosing the right plants to planting and maintaining them with confidence.

Join us on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, at 5 p.m. CT for the YouTube Live premiere of this 30-minute webinar. Native plant experts from  Wild Ones, Plan it Wild, Homegrown National Park, ReWild Your Campus, and others will be active in the live chat throughout the presentation and for 30 minutes after the webinar, giving you plenty of time to ask questions and engage! 

This event is designed for newcomers to native gardening and is part of the national Less Lawn More Life Challenge, hosted by Plan It Wild in collaboration with Wild Ones, iNaturalist, Homegrown National Park, Pollinator Partnership  and many others! 

See more about the Less Lawn More Life Challenge:  https://www.lesslawnmorelife.com/ 

Wild Ones Chesapeake Bay is deeply rooted in natives! 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.

Members of Wild Ones are committed to restoring native landscapes and educating the public. We are often asked a seemingly simple question: “Which are the best native plants?” This month's presenter is Barry Stahl, a professional horticulturist with a career in public gardens throughout the Washington DC area. As a volunteer, he has served as a Master Naturalist, Tree Commissioner, Community Garden Designer and Board Member at Chesapeake Natives Nursery. In 2019, along with his wife Kathy Shollenberger, he founded the Wildlife Habitat Program through Prince George’s Audubon Society. Barry's presentation points out that there are many considerations and he provides a framework for optimal plant selection.

Register in advance for this meeting:
https://wildones-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/ZdnUkIzlS0-QKaEqR9v6DA#/registration

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Join Wild Ones Chesapeake Bay and Nurture Natives at our Bona Terra Community-Led Seedling Giveaway at NatureFest 2025 at the College of Southern Maryland, La Plata campus, on May 31 from 10 am – 2 pm. We are also joining forces with Southern Maryland Audubon and the Town of La Plata to share the message of “Shared Spaces: Creating Bird-Friendly Cities and Communities.” Providing native plant seedlings is the perfect way to help restore biodiversity in our communities.

Prepare to be amazed, get your hands dirty, and have loads of fun as we learn about the beauties of nature together! NatureFest is a vibrant, family-friendly event celebrating nature and wildlife. Launched during COVID to inspire outdoor exploration, it has grown significantly in its five years. Last year, over 400 children and their families attended, and with support from 30+ mission-aligned partners and a new collaboration with the College of Southern Maryland, we anticipate 500+ attendees this year. The festival features hands-on activities like gardening and wildlife conservation, live presentations from environmental experts, creative workshops in nature-inspired art and photography, and interactive exhibits highlighting native plants, wildlife, and sustainable living practices.

The Chesapeake Mermaid will be on hand as part of her 15th Anniversary tour, bringing her enchanting show to NatureFest 2025, captivating audiences with tales from the bay and introducing them to her fascinating wildlife companions. 

More details coming soon.

Don't miss this opportunity to hear Sam Droege speak in person on native bees at NatureFest. NatureFest is a free, family-friendly event for all ages. 

The primary driver for losses in native bees is how we treat the land we own.  Pavement, houses, lawn, row crops, and growing season mowing reduce or even eliminate bees from a landscape that at one time supported them. It’s really a pretty simple cause and effect relationship. To reverse the loss is also relatively simple.  Mowing only once a year in the winter and reintroducing native blooming plants back into our yards, roadsides, field edges, parks, municipalities, and industrial areas is part of the solution.  The other part is husbanding what natural environments we have: removing deer, controlling invasive plants, and managing for biodiversity.

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.

NatureFest is a free, family-friendly event for all ages.  Registration is encouraged.

This town event will highlight the Bird City Pocket Park and the importance of adding native plants to our landscape - which dovetails (bird joke) nicely with this year's World Migratory Bird Day theme Shared Spaces: Creating Bird-friendly Cities and Communities. Approximately 6 tables from local environmental/nature groups will provide free native plants, information on how to propagate and why native plants are important to our landscape. Kids will be provided with chalk to decorate the sidewalks with nature oriented objects such as plants, birds, and bees, as well as laugh and dance with Polly the Pollinator (adult in a Bee costume). 

Join us for Southern Maryland Native Plant People's next native plant and seed swap - Sunday, June 22 from 1-3 PM at Kings Landing Park in Huntingtown, MD. We will be in Pavilion 1 - you can park in the lot on the right next to the barn. There will be signs and WOCB members there to help direct you.

Bring native plants and seeds to share with others - native plants to the Maryland coastal plain only please, if you're not sure, just ask. We are happy to help. To help prevent the spread of invasive plants or troublesome insects like jumping worms, please bring your plants either as bare root or rinse them and pot them in fresh, sterile potting soil. We also ask that you label them (Latin and common name, please!) so we don't forget what we have when we get back home.

If you're new on your native plant journey, that's wonderful - come to learn and take some plants home to get started, you don't need to bring anything to participate.

This event is done in partnership with Wild Ones Chesapeake Bay chapter and Calvert Nature Society.

Healthy yards filled with native plants attract, feed, and shelter local pollinators. Learn from Amy Henderson how you can join Leonardtown's Butterfly Trail by planting a butterfly stopover in your yard.

Leonardtown’s Butterfly Trail is a growing effort to support pollinators (especially birds, bees, and butterflies) by creating a landscape corridor of habitat and nutrition for them from the library to the wharf and across surrounding neighborhoods.

Amy Henderson is a member of the St. Mary’s County Garden Club and Wild Ones Chesapeake Bay. She volunteers regularly at the Leonardtown Library’s Front Yard Garden and has become a passionate advocate for native plants and pollinator-friendly ecosystems. With the help of other local native plant enthusiasts, she’s helping to establish and expand the Butterfly Trail in Leonardtown.

Join the Town of North Beach for an afternoon of insect-inspired fun! From pollinator plant potting, bee crafts, Bug Olympics and the Insect ZOO, there's something for every curious critter. 12 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. North Beach Nature Center.

Chesapeake Natives Inc. Spring Festival brings together Native Plant enthusiasts and other non-profits like the Audubon Society during their open house sales event. "Join us for the Third Annual Rosaryville Native Plant Festival & Chesapeake Natives' 20th Anniversary Celebration!
Come out to Chesapeake Natives Nursery in Rosaryville State Park on Sunday, June 29th from 10AM–2PM for a day of nature, community, and celebration! In addition to our wide selection of *local ecotype native species (LENS)* grown from wild-collected seed in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, enjoy live music, food trucks, educational activities, local artists, and partner organizations.  
Our knowledgeable volunteers will be on hand to help you find the perfect plants for your space, and to share how LENS support pollinators, wildlife, and a healthier Bay. Celebrate 20 years of impact with us—we can't wait to see you there!"

From rain barrels and downspout redirecting to rain gardens and no-mow lawns, there is a lot the average household can do to help keep our waterways clean!

Join Caroline DiGiovanni, Watershed Restoration Educator for the University of Maryland Extension, and learn how our home landscapes can help to protect water resources. We will explore our connection to local and regional waterways and learn about the many ways we can protect water resources without even leaving the backyard!

This event is supported by Friends of St. Clements Bay and Wild Ones Chesapeake Bay.

Registration required.

The closing event of this year’s Less Lawn More Life Challenge, will be led by Lisa Olsen, Chapter Liaison at Wild Ones. In this webinar, you’ll learn how small, personal actions like planting native species and removing invasives, can ripple outward to inspire neighbors, change policies, and reshape communities. 

During the premiere, native plant experts from Wild Ones and collaborating organizations will be active in the live chat. They’ll be ready to answer questions, share tips, and connect viewers with resources. The live chat will remain open for 30 minutes after the webinar, giving you plenty of time to ask questions and engage. Please note: You must be logged into a YouTube account to participate in the chat. 

The Less Lawn More Life Challenge is a free, 12-week action series designed to help people transform traditional lawns into vibrant, life-supporting native plant habitat. Each week, participants complete a simple challenge like planting a native shrub, removing invasives, or observing pollinators to reimagine their outdoor space and take meaningful steps toward restoring biodiversity at home. 

It’s not too late to get involved. Catch up on the weekly videos and start your rewilding journey today at https://www.lesslawnmorelife.com/ 

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. 

Wild Ones Chesapeake Bay members, Robin Madel and Sue Williams, will give a presentation on turning residential gardens into more biodiverse native plantings. Topics include ecoregions, critical areas, and considerations for choosing native plants.

Registration link:

https://wildones-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMrdu6prD8uHdd-vmHGA-5JIO4AIASvnzsd   

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

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!