January 2026 Garden Chat – Grants for Gardens and Maryland Native Plant Month

Posted on | Advocacy, Our Education, Our Work, Public Outreach

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” initiative led by Mary Ellen Pease.

Unity Gardens: Education and Collaborative Action

We would like to thank Unity Gardens for their inspiring presentation which included an introduction to Unity Gardens (Pat Mitchell), informative content about native plant selection geared towards native plant enthusiasts (Mary Yee) and followed by information on applying for either a Unity Gardens grant or a Chesapeake Bay Trust Community Engagement and Restoration Mini Grant (Richard Hergenroeder). 

Each Spring and Fall, Unity Gardens awards grants  to local communities to support planting initiatives that use the power of native plants to address issues like stormwater runoff, pollution and habitat loss. Unity Gardens funds groups such as homeowners’ associations, faith-based organizations, schools and scout groups, garden clubs, and other qualified nonprofits. Spring 2026 Applications will be accepted Feb. 15 – April 1.

For more information on the variety of grant programs offered by the Chesapeake Bay Trust, visit their Chesapeake Bay Trust Program Navigator page.

Sources of native plants mentioned during the presentation included:

Additional native plant resources in our area include:

Resource Links:

Unity Gardens shared a variety of online resources that are available to help us select native plants.

AA County native-plant-list.pdf

Native Plant Center – Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay

Native Plants for Wildlife Habitat and Conservation Landscaping in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed | FWS.gov

Keystone Native Plants – Eastern Temperate Forests – Ecoregion 8

Maryland Native Plant Society – Landscaping with Native Plants

Maryland’s Best Native Plant Program – Marylands Best

Maryland Native Plant Guide – Piedmont Version

Unity Gardens Contact Info:

Feel free to contact Pat, Mary, Richard, or Kathy Nolte, Unity Gardens Executive Director.

Pat Mitchell: [email protected]

Mary Yee: [email protected]

Richard Hergenroeder: [email protected]

Kathy Nolte: [email protected]

Commemorative Maryland Native Plant Month: Advocacy

Following the presentation by Unity Gardens, Mary Ellen Pease, a member of the Guilford Garden Club, introduced us to the Commemorative Maryland Native Plant Month bill. Mary Ellen is leading the advocacy efforts in Maryland for the Garden Club of America. In 2022, The Garden Club of America launched a program designed to establish a Native Plant Awareness Month in every state and the District of Columbia. As of 2025, 44 states and DC observe a native plant month each year, with 11 states converting proclamations to permanent law. We ask that Maryland join these states.

The Commemorative Maryland Native Plant Month bill is cross-filed in both houses of the Maryland General Assembly. To find out the progress of each bill, enter the bill # in the Search box at the top of the MGA website and click the search icon.

Read HB 0217

HB 0217 is being heard in the Government, Labor, and Elections (GLE) Committee.

Read SB 0229

SB 0229 is being heard in the Education, Energy, and the Environment (EEE) committee.

We Need Your Support!

All five Maryland chapters of Wild Ones are supporting the commemorative plant month bill, and we urge all Maryland residents to join us to show your support. Showing your support can be as quick and easy as signing the online letter of support. In addition to signing the letter of support, please share the QR flyer and Facts Sheet which has important talking points. Whether speakikng to family and friends, emailing, or sharing on social media, every point of contact makes a difference.

If you’d like to take your support further, there are additional steps you can take to ask Maryland legislators to support the bills. Start by identifying your specific representatives, crafting a concise message, and using the right communication channels (phone calls, emails, in-person visits, and/or written testimony) to contact your local representatives.

1. Identify Your Legislators

You have one Senator and up to three Delegates representing you in Annapolis. 

  • Focus on your district: Constituent voices carry more weight than non-constituents.
  • Use the “Find Your Legislator” tool. Click the word Lookup that displays above the map, enter your street address and zip code, then click Find. Scroll down to the Maryland Legislative District section to view your District #, Senator. and Delegate(s). Here is an example for my address:
  • Identify Committee Members: Now that you have the names of your Senate and House representatives, identify if your representatives are on the one or both of the committees hearing the bill. HB 0217 is being heard by the GLE Committee, whose members are listed here and choosing Membership. (Neither of my representatives, Harris or Odom, are on the GLE committee.) SB 0229 is being heard by the EEE Committee, whose members are listed here and choosing Membership. (Delegate Harris from District 27 is on this committee, so I will direct my communications to his office.)
2. Prepare Your Message
  • Be Specific: Reference the bill number (e.g., HB 2017 or SB 0229) and your position (in support = favorable).
  • Use Your Own Words: Personalized, heartfelt stories are more effective than form letters.
  • Explain the Impact: Briefly state how this bill impacts you, your family, or your community.
  • Make a Clear Ask: Clearly state, “I urge you to vote YES on HB 0217 (or SB 0229)”. 
3. Contact Methods
  • Email (Best for general advocacy): Use the email addresses found in the MGA directory, ensuring you include your full name and address to prove residency. Use a simple message like the example above. Note: You can email all your representatives directly from the Find Your Legislator tool.
  • Phone Calls (Best for urgent, last-minute action): Call the Annapolis office during the session. You will likely speak to a staffer. Use this (simple) script: “Hello, my name is [Name] and I am a constituent from district [Number]. I am calling to urge [Senator/Delegate Name] to support [Bill Number]”.

General Assembly Switchboard: 410-841-3000 / 301-858-3000

Toll-Free (Maryland only): 1-800-492-7122

  • In-Person/Virtual Meetings: Call the district office to schedule a meeting. Prepare a “one-pager” (a document with talking points) to leave behind or used the document prepared by Mary Ellen Pease. 

Address: Legislative Services Building. 90 State Circle, Annapolis, MD 21401

  • Written testimony: To submit written testimony, individuals MUST create a MyMGA account* through the MGA website. Click here for a tutorial. Written testimony submission will open two (2) business day in advance of the scheduled bill hearing and will be open from 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Written testimony should be prepared in advance and saved as a PDF in order to upload in MyMGA. (Suggested format for file is “HB0217_your name or organization_FAV_date.pdf”, but this isn’t mandatory. For written testimony, please note: the MGA website does not support Internet Explorer. Microsoft Edge is the preferred web browser; however, other web browsers will have the capability.

We will provide updates as soon as we are aware of the bills’ hearing date(s).

4. Key Tips for Success
  • Timing is Key: Act early in the session. If the bill has passed the “crossover” date (mid-March), time is limited.
  • Be Polite and Respectful: Even if you disagree, remain courteous.
  • Follow Up: Send a thank-you note if they support the bill.
  • Use Social Media: Use hashtags like #MDGA26 (for the 2026 session) on Facebook/Twitter/X to publicly tag legislators. 
Contact Information
  • General Assembly Switchboard: 410-841-3000 / 301-858-3000
  • Toll-Free (Maryland only): 1-800-492-7122
  • Mailing Address:
    • The Honorable (Name)
    • House of Delegates/Senate
    • 6/11 Bladen Street
    • Annapolis, MD 21401 

For more information, visit the Maryland General Assembly website.

*Steps to Create a MyMGA Account

To track bills or to submit written testimony, you will need to create an account on the Maryland General Assembly website. View MyMGA New Account video here.

Step by step:

  1. Go to the MGA website registration page.
  2. Fill in Details: Enter your first name, last name, email address, and create a password.
  3. Confirm Email: Check your email for a message from [email protected] and click the link to finalize registration.
  4. Sign In: Once confirmed, you can sign in to the MyMGA portal to track legislation and submit written testimony during the submission period.

** Steps to Submit Written Testimony via MyMGA Account

Note: The system usually opens for submissions 2 business days before the hearing at 8:00 a.m. and closes at 6:00 pm. Submissions must occur within the specific timeframe. View Witness Sign Up video here.

Step by step:
  1. Log In to the MyMGA account that you previously created.
  2. Sign Up: Click on the MyMGA icon in the upper right hand corner and select “Witness Signup” in the drop down on the day the bill is open for submission of testimony.
  3. Select Bill: Find the specific committee and bill number (HB 0217/SB 0299)
  4. Set Position: Indicate if you are for (FAV), against (UNF), or support with amendments (FWA).
  5. Upload PDF: Upload the PDF file of your written testimony. CLICK SAVE!
  6. Timing: The system usually opens for submissions 2 business days before the hearing at 8:00 a.m. and closes at 6:00 p.m. 
Tips for Successfully Submitting Written Testimony
  • PDF Requirement: All documents must be in PDF format.
  • Required Info: Include your name, address, and the bill number on the document.
  • Browser: Use Chrome or Microsoft Edge for best performance.
  • Consistency: Ensure your MyMGA account name matches your name on the document.

If you have questions or need assistance, please reach out to your local Wild Ones chapter, or contact Mary Ellen Pease at [email protected]

Additional resources:

Maryland General Assembly Video Tutorials

Tips for Using My MGA for Maryland Legislative Testimony courtesy of Marie LaPorte

Maryland Native Plant Month QR code flyer courtesy of Mary Ellen Pease

Maryland Native Plant Month Facts sheet courtesy of Mary Ellen Pease

A Call to Action: Support the Maryland Native Plant Month Act – Wild Ones Greater Baltimore Chapter

Advocacy – Wild Ones Greater Frederick Maryland Chapter

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 new YouTube channel and email subscriber list!

Wild Ones’ mission is to promote native landscapes through education, advocacy and collaborative action.
We invite you to join Wild Ones Chesapeake Bay or find your local Wild Ones chapter here.