Attendees of our July 2026 Garden Chat were treated to an inspiring presentation by our guest speaker, Kerry Wixted. Did you know that Maryland does not have “bogs”, but rather we have “fens” that are home to carnivorous plants? You may be wondering, what’s a fen? Fens are nutrient-rich, groundwater-fed wetlands, while bogs are nutrient-poor, rainwater-fed wetlands with acidic conditions. Kerry’s talk inspired me to want to visit some of our local “fens” to see carnivorous plants in Maryland.
“Charismatic Carnivorous Plants”
Carnivorous plants seem like something from folklore, but did you know we have almost 20 species growing in Maryland? Learn about carnivorous plant adaptations and species that exist around the world and in Maryland.
Kerry provided a link her Wakelet on Charismatic Carnivorous Plants for additional resources.
About the Speaker:
Kerry Wixted is a vegetation ecologist with the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission. She has over 15 years of experience studying the flora and fauna of Maryland and has held positions with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies.
Kerry’s presentation received an overwhelming number of positive reviews. Here’s what attendees had to say:
I learned a lot! Thanks!
Excellent presentation!
Wide ranging and informative
This lecture was so unique. Thank you for the information and for all your preservation work!
Very informative. Very enjoyable. Information was nicely balanced – not too basic not too advanced.
Excellent presentation and very informative.
It was great to hear about these charismatic plants. Thanks!
Additional Links and Resources:
Kerry’s Wakelet – includes information and resources on a variety of topics
“Best Native Plants for Pollinators” – Presentation by Kerry from September 2020
✍️M.Smith
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!
