Over time, our gardens and our garden practices change, and that’s ok. And quite frankly, it’s to be expected. I often say “when we know better, we do better.” One of the many things I’ve learned over the years – native gardens are not “no maintenance”, but they can be lower maintenance, especially this time […] Continue reading "October 2026 WOCB Chapter Pulse – Just Say No to Fall Cleanup"
With the arrival of the fall equinox on September 22, environmental triggers mean the days are drawing near for our migratory garden visitors to take flight and head south. While I will dearly miss the hummingbirds, dragonflies, and monarchs when they leave later this fall, I will continue to enjoy them for a few more […] Continue reading "Monarchs, Milkweed, Migration, and More"
In our last blog, we discussed when to plant container-grown plants (seedlings, plugs, etc.). In this second in a two-part series, we’ll discuss when to plant seeds. For many native plant enthusiasts, nothing beats the thrill that comes from planting a native seed and watching it germinate and thrive into a plant that provides ecosystem […] Continue reading "Fall is the best time for planting! Or is it? Part 2"
In our last newsletter, we suggested that fall is the best time for planting. Although this is a generally accepted concept in the horticulture trade, digging a bit deeper into resources for planting seeds and container-grown plants opened my eyes to the nuances of when is the best time to plant. In this first of […] Continue reading "Fall is the best time for planting! Or is it?"
Experts agree…. Fall is the best time for planting, and with the arrival of meteorological fall on September 1st, Wild Ones Chesapeake Bay is ready to help your garden thrive with a wide selection of events where we will be distributing more native plants throughout our region! From native plant sales, to plant swaps, to […] Continue reading "September 2026 WOCB Chapter Pulse"
Did you know the University of Maryland Extension Maryland Native Plants Program, along with University of Maryland Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture, is co-hosting this year’s Maryland Native Plant Society’s (MNPS) annual conference? In this fifth post in our ongoing series of nonprofit organizations, we introduce you to the Maryland Native Plant Society, […] Continue reading "Nonprofit Spotlight – Maryland Native Plant Society"
With the busy month of July behind us, we’ll take a brief pause during August to catch our breath and plan for our fall events, including numerous plant sales and free plant swaps/shares. You may have noticed we’ve changed the name of our newsletter from “Happenings” to “Chapter Pulse”. We hope this is a better […] Continue reading "August 2026 WOCB Chapter Pulse"
During three recent events, Wild Ones Chesapeake Bay partnered with Nurture Natives to distribute close to 500 common and swamp milkweed plants (Asclepias syriaca and A. incarnata) that we propagated from seed this year. First up: UNIVERSITY PARK (UP) MEADOW DAY, which you may remember from our recent blog, Pollinator Week 2026 Highlights. Meadow Day […] Continue reading "It’s a Wrap on Our 2026 Milkweed Distribution"
Attendees of our July 2026 Garden Chat were treated to an inspiring presentation by our guest speaker, Kerry Wixted. Did you know there are a variety of fens and bogs out there – some of which are calcareous and some of which are acidic. In Maryland, our main distinction is how they fill up with […] Continue reading "July 2026 Garden Chat – “Charismatic Carnivorous Plants”"
Have you noticed that partnerships are key to successful nonprofits? Did you know that Wild Ones Chesapeake Bay partners with University of Maryland Extension (UME) Master Gardeners in several counties? In this fourth post in our ongoing series of nonprofit organizations, we introduce you to UME Master Gardeners, whose mission, vision, and programs align with […] Continue reading "Nonprofit spotlight – University of Maryland Extension Master Gardeners"