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 the Wild Ones mission to promote native landscapes through education, advocacy and collaborative action, and our vision of native plants and natural landscapes thriving in every community.
University of Maryland Extension (UME) is a statewide, non-formal education system within the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources and the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. UME educational programs are available to citizens and are based on the research and experience of the University of Maryland, College Park.
UME Mission: UME empowers people and communities to improve their lives by offering transformative, science-based education and leading collaborative partnerships across Maryland and beyond.
As a program under the University of Maryland Extension, the Master Gardener Program is designed to train volunteer horticultural educators to support the University of Maryland Extension mission by educating residents about safe, effective and sustainable horticultural practices that build healthy gardens, landscapes, and communities. It “began in 1978 as a means to extend science-based knowledge to the general public by providing horticultural and pest management expertise to help protect and improve Maryland’s natural resources. Today, this popular program can be found in 20 Maryland counties and Baltimore City. UME Master Gardeners are volunteers who combine their love of plants, people, and the environment to help residents in their communities solve problems and make environmentally-sound decisions.”
Master Gardener Mission: We support the University of Maryland Extension (UME) mission by educating residents about safe, effective and sustainable horticultural practices that build healthy gardens, landscapes, and communities.
Master Gardener Vision: We envision a healthier world through environmental stewardship.
University of Maryland Extension Master Gardeners are typically involved in projects focusing on one of six subprograms:
Throughout the Southern Maryland region, Wild Ones Chesapeake Bay collaborates with UME Master Gardeners on a variety of programs and projects that support our vision of native plants and natural landscapes thriving in every community. Following are just a few examples.
Anne Arundel County
In 2024, we first met Anne Arundel County Master Gardener Lauren Toomey at the USGS Bee Lab, where we began propagating native plants from seed to support our local native garden projects and outreach events. This chance encounter grew into a collaboration between WOCB and RePollinate Anne Arundel County in 2025 and again in 2026.
“RePollinate AACO is a co-led initiative between the University of Maryland Extension Master Gardeners and the Watershed Stewards Academy. The native plant nursery is located at the Naval Academy Dairy Farm, 97 Dairy Lane, Gambrills, MD. For four years prior, we were at the Patuxent Research Refuge, USGS Bee Lab in Laurel, MD (we loved our old home!).
RePollinate [and Wild Ones Chesapeake Bay} also partners with Providence Center in Arnold, MD. They have supported our cold-stratification, sowing and germination of our straight species native seed. Our inventory will now be handed off to Providence Center for irrigation support, along with distribution through their public open house events and county restoration projects. Stayed tuned for Wild Ones Chesapeake Bay to inform folks about the native plant open house at Providence Center on September 11 and 12, 2026. RePollinate AACO and Wild Ones will be present to lend their expertise on the selection of the best plants to suit your area.” ~ Lauren Toomey, UME Master Gardener Volunteer, Watershed Steward, and RePollinate project leader
Calvert County
Calvert County Bay-Wise Master Gardeners, Chesapeake Beach Green Team members, and Wild Ones Chesapeake Bay members Melanie Crowder and Karen Anderson are leading a Chesapeake Bay Trust grant-funded project in Calvert County to install two buffer gardens along the Chesapeake Beach Railway Trail. Wild Ones Chesapeake Bay has been invited to participate in two upcoming events.
Best Stormwater Practices for Your Backyard – September 22
Join members of the Chesapeake Beach Green Team and the University of Maryland Extension Home Horticulture Educator for Calvert County to learn about plans to plant a buffer garden using native plants along the Chesapeake Beach Railway Trail!
The program will introduce the partnerships that makes the project possible, the planting plans, how planting this garden can help to protect the water resources from the impacts of stormwater, all while providing co-benefits like supporting pollinators and improving the aesthetics of an area. The information presented will give attendees ideas that can be applied to their own home sites to help control stormwater onsite to protect local waterways, address erosion challenges and address persistently wet areas.
The program will conclude with an invitation to help during the planned planting day on Saturday, October 17, 2026. As the buffer garden grows over the years it will serve as an educational model that members of and visitors to our community can visit for inspiration for Bay-friendly landscaping ideas to use at their own homes!
The Green Team will also have giveaways for participants, including rain barrels and books for adults and children on how to make your backyard more Bay and critter friendly!
Buffer Garden Project/Chesapeake Beach Railway Trail Community Planting Day, October 17
“We are thrilled to work with Wild Ones on this project!” ~ Melanie Crowder
We recently visited the project site to capture some before photos. We are excited to offer this opportunity to our members to volunteer on this project!
St. Mary’s County
In St. Mary’s county, Wild Ones Chesapeake Bay partners at the Leonardtown Library Front Yard Learning Garden, a native pollinator garden and proud member of the Leonardtown Butterfly Trail, to maintain the garden and provide educational programming in collaboration with the Friends of St. Clements Bay, St. Mary’s County Public Library, St. Mary’s County Garden Club, and St. Mary’s County Master Gardeners.
The educational programming at the Front Yard Learning Garden showcases the environmental and ecological benefits of native plants, along with the aesthetic beauty that encourages visitors to adapt ecological gardening practices in their own gardens. Guest speakers from the community and hands-on workshops make for unique learning opportunities for all age groups.
One ongoing program developed and led by St. Mary’s County Master Gardener and Wild Ones Chesapeake Bay member Deb Pence is the wildly popular “Tots in the Front Yard” program, which premiered in the fall of 2025 and returned in 2026 with an eight-month program running from April – November. These programs, supported by volunteer community garden enthusiasts, include activities and guided walks developed for 3–6 year-olds, but the whole family is welcome to join in the explorations.
Past Tots Programs:
Birds and Bugs: Big and Little (April) where tots explored the Leonardtown Library’s Front Yard Pollinator Garden with magnifying glasses and children’s binoculars looking for and identifying birds and bugs in the garden.
Colors in the Front Yard (May) included a scavenger hunt in the Front Yard looking for all the colors in the rainbow and more!
Shapes in the Front Yard (June) looked high and low for all sorts of shapes found in our garden.
Easy Peasy Tree and Flower Identification (July) explored 8 easy-to-identify trees and flowers found in our native gardens and Maryland’s natural landscapes.
“I’ve enjoyed participating in a wide variety of MG initiatives, projects, and programs for over 17 years. My interests span from traditional food and landscape gardening to conservation and environmental landscaping. I most enjoy working with students and families of all ages. When Wild Ones Chesapeake Bay started up in our area of Southern Maryland, I discovered a natural partner for all topics concerning utilizing native plants in gardens with an eye to conservation landscaping. As the WOCB organization grew, we became natural partners to support each other in educating the public about environmentally friendly gardens and landscapes. One of our shared collaborative programs is “Tot’s in the Garden” utilizing the Leonardtown Library’s Front Yard Native Plant Garden. This is a great opportunity to reach families and inspire them about planting native plants and supporting our local ecosystems.” – Deb Pence, UME Master Gardener Volunteer and Wild Ones Chesapeake Bay member.
- Water in the Front Yard Garden! (Saturday August 22, 2026) – Come prepared to get a little wet as we review “What Plant’s Need to Grow” and talk about the importance of nurturing our plants and gardens in the heat of summer with different watering methods and systems.
- Pollinators in the Front Yard (Saturday September 5, 2026) – An end of summer investigation looking for pollinators in our favorite native plant garden.
- Fall in the Front Yard! (Saturday October 3, 2026) – Enjoy exploring the fall garden’s colors, smells, sights, sounds and perhaps tastes in the Leonardtown Library’s Front Yard Garden.
- Sleepy Seeds in the Front Yard (Saturday November 14, 2026) – A fun exploration of seeds and fruits found in the garden for flowers, shrubs and trees. We have flower seeds & pods, shrub fruits and tree nuts to look at, feel and learn to associate with our garden plants.
What’s Next at the Front Yard?
A core group of volunteers from Wild Ones Chesapeake Bay, St. Mary’s Master Gardeners, and the Leonardtown Library recently met to plan future events and programs to advance our county’s knowledge and application of native plant gardening. Known for our free plant swaps and educational events featuring local experts, you don’t want to miss what’s next. Be sure to follow us on social media and check our events calendar on a regular basis, as events and programs are always being added.
Volunteer with Us at the Front Yard
We typically work at the Front Yard one morning a week (Tuesday or Wednesday, weather dependent) to help maintain the beautiful native gardens. If you are interested in joining us, please send us an email. All are welcome at the Front Yard!
Special thanks to UME Master Gardener Coordinator Caroline Digiovanni for her leadership and support of the partnerships between the Calvert County and St. Mary’s County Master Gardener programs and Wild Ones Chesapeake Bay.
✍️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!
