Maryland Native Plant Society upcoming events

MNPS Field Trip: Tee Time to Tree Time: Lake Arbor Restoration (Friday) (10/16/2026)

Fri, 16 Oct 2026 14:00:00 GMT

Co-sponsoring Organization: Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, Prince George's County Parks

Leader: Kerry Wixted

Location: Lake Arbor Golf Course, Mitchellville, Prince George's County

Description: Join vegetation ecologist, Kerry Wixted, on a meander at Lake Arbor Golf Course. This area has been acquired by the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission and is in its first phase of reforestation. Learn about the current reforestation efforts made possible by the Chesapeake Bay Trust and Maryland’s 5-million Trees Initiative and how we are working with Casey Trees to reforest the site. Visit the recently planted driving range and learn about the pod-styled planting being conducted as well as lessons learned in the process.

Kerry Wixted is a vegetation ecologist with the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission.

Notes: Moderate hike. The path down the driving range is grassy and is a sloping hill. Closed toe shoes and long pants are recommended.

ONLINE REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. Limited to 15 people. Registration through 10/4 for members only**. Directions will be included in registration confirmation.

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** Note that you may have received this email even if you are not a member. Our website allows non-members to have a "Contact Account" to receive emails about upcoming field trips, programs, and other events. A "Contact Account" is not a "Membership". When you login, click on your name (it should be on the top right of the page); if there are no details on membership, you are have a "Contact Account" only. Consider joining to support our programs and take advantage of members-only early registration.

TNC Cranesville Swamp Volunteer Work Days (10/23/2026)

Fri, 23 Oct 2026 14:00:00 GMT

Join us for a group work day in this unique boreal swamp habitat! Together, we'll combat non-native invasive species such as autumn olive that are found on the preserve.

You may volunteer for how ever many hours you wish. Work will take place on Friday October 23 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm.

For more information about this important work contact: volunteerwv@tnc.org. To register as a volunteer, please follow this link: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=wW2-eY7Xu0uyK9mUwKQXpwqcVZ-ZqsFGs9lDpf20qdNUNzJXMkg4TjdYM0dINFo0SVpSTDBESjBGRi4u

MNPS Field Trip: Step Back In Time - Ecological Restoration in Kensington (Saturday) (10/24/2026)

Sat, 24 Oct 2026 14:00:00 GMT

Step Back In Time - Ecological Restoration in Kensington

Leader: Danila Sheveiko

Join owner/operator Danila Sheveiko on a tour of urban farm, apiary, and model ecosystem restoration project featuring (almost) all-native ground cover with hundreds of local ecotypes of plant and mushroom species native specifically to Montgomery County. Discover the area’s natural history and learn how to work together with medicinal and edible natives to help heal the land and restore ecological integrity.

Field Trip Assistant: Jill Fonda Allen

YOU MUST REGISTER IN ORDER TO ATTEND AND RECEIVE DETAILS. Registration closes 10/22

After you register, you will receive a registration confirmation email with a link to the location and additional details.

The program is free and open to the public.

If you enjoy MNPS programs please consider clicking here to make a donation. And don't forget to renew your membership!

Note that if you donate through the event registration, and subsequently cancel, the donation will temporarily appear as a credit. It will take time for the donation to be reinstituted to your account. Donations and membership dues are non-refundable.

MNPS Monthly Program: Weed Warriors: Volunteers in Action by Corinne Stephens and Kerry Wixted (10/27/2026)

Tue, 27 Oct 2026 23:00:00 GMT

Speakers: Corinne Stephens and Kerry Wixted

Want to tackle invasive plants? Weed Warrior programs with the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission empower community members to take an active role in conserving parks by removing invasive plant species.

This talk will highlight the long-running Weed Warrior program at Montgomery Parks, established in 1999, alongside the newly launched program at the Department of Parks and Recreation, Prince George’s County. We’ll cover the core components of successful Weed Warrior programs, strategies for engaging and supporting volunteers, and key lessons learned. We'll also provide insights and considerations for building or strengthening volunteer-driven invasive plant management programs as well as ways to get involved.

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS:

Corinne Stephens, Natural Resources Specialist III, manages the Montgomery Parks Weed Warrior Volunteer Program that empowers and trains community members to help Montgomery Parks staff manage non-native, invasive plants on parkland. Corinne spent over 15 years in the enviro non-profit sector and has over 22 years of experience in partnership building, community engagement, volunteer management, and wildlife habitat conservation. Corinne has been a lifelong volunteer and was a past president of Friends of Sligo Creek. She holds a BS in animal science and environmental policy from Rutgers University and an MS in wildlife policy from Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine. For her Master’s, she worked with the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife to document the exact locations and risk factors involved in turtle road mortality!

Kerry Wixted is the vegetation ecologist with the Park Planning and Environmental Stewardship Division, M-NCPPC, Department of Parks and Recreation, Prince George’s County. She has more than 15 years of experience studying the flora and fauna of Maryland with roles with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife and Heritage Service and the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies.

YOU MUST REGISTER IN ORDER TO RECEIVE THE ZOOM LINK

We can accommodate the first 300 people who enter the Zoom meeting at the meeting time. After you register, you will receive a registration confirmation email with a link to the Zoom meeting. Registering does not guarantee a space in the Zoom meeting.

Zoom opens at 7:00PM for pre-program board update and member Q&A. Presentations begin at 7:30PM and generally run until 8:45PM.

The program is free and open to the public.

This will be recorded and available on our Webinars page.

If you enjoy MNPS programs please consider clicking here to make a donation. And don't forget to renew your membership!

The Lost Trees of Willow Avenue with Mike Tidwell - Free Author Event (SUN) (11/15/2026)

Sun, 15 Nov 2026 18:00:00 GMT

An Adkins Arboretum Event! In the Eastern Shore.

You're invited to a free author event.

Join author and climate activist Mike Tidwell for a discussion of his new book, The Lost Trees of Willow Avenue: A Story of Climate and Hope on One American Street. Through a story of his own Takoma Park neighborhood, Tidwell explores the local impacts of climate change, while also highlighting stories of resilience, community action, and environmental hope.

Copies of the book will be available for sale at the event and the author will be signing. The Lost Trees of Willow Avenue is also for sale in the Adkins Arboretum Gift Shop.

Advance registration is required. Please register with Adkins Arboretum here: https://adkins.donorshops.com/product/ltwa1126/the-lost-trees-of-willow-avenue-with-mike-tidwell-november-15-2026

Ecological Landscaping Speaker Series & Native Garden Tours

In 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026, Adkins Arboretum received funding from the Chesapeake Bay Trust (CBT) to provide outreach and education to local Homeowner Associations (HOAs) and the general public, supporting environmentally friendly landscaping practices.

This series was developed by building on the Naturally Better Landscaping project, in partnership with ShoreRivers, Eastern Shore Land Conservancy, Pickering Creek, Phillips Wharf, and Wild Ones. It is offered free of charge thanks to funding from CBT and Queen Anne’s County, and open to the general public.

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Note that an "Account" is not A "Membership" Our website allows non-members to have a "Contact Account" to receive emails about upcoming field trips, programs, and other events. When you login, click on your name (it should be on the top right of the page); if there are no details on membership, you are have a "Contact Account" only. Consider joining to support our programs and take advantage of members-only early registration.

MNPS Monthly Program: Carex Hidden in Plain Sight by Chris Frye (11/17/2026)

Wed, 18 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Carex Hidden in Plain Sight: Exploring the Wild Homes of Maryland's Most Diverse Plant Family.

Speaker: Chris Frye

Look closely at almost any landscape in Maryland—from a coastal marsh on the Eastern Shore to a rugged mountain trail out west—and you are likely standing near a sedge. Members of the genus Carex are the unsung heroes of our local ecosystems, yet these fascinating, grass-like plants are often completely invisible to the casual observer. This presentation pulls back the curtain on the hidden world of Maryland’s sedges. We will take a visual tour across the state to discover the incredibly diverse places these plants call home. You will learn about the tough, widespread sedges that hold our everyday woodlands together, as well as the ultra-rare botanical treasures hiding out in specialized spots like limestone glades, boreal wetlands, and unique sandy barrens. Whether you are a backyard gardener, a weekend hiker, or just curious about local nature, you will leave with a new appreciation for these quiet masters of the Maryland wilderness.

Christopher Frye is the State Botanist for the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and a leading authority on Mid-Atlantic flora. For over 30 years, he has been in the field studying, tracking, and protecting the plant life of our region. Christopher directs state-wide plant conservation efforts and serves as the chief editor of the official Rare, Threatened, and Endangered Plants of Maryland. Christopher specializes in plant ecology, evolution, and conservation genetics and has a personal fondness for the genus Carex.

YOU MUST REGISTER IN ORDER TO RECEIVE THE ZOOM LINK

Zoom opens at 7:00PM for pre-program board update and member Q&A. Presentations begin at 7:30PM and generally run until 8:45PM.

The program is free and open to the public.

This will be recorded and available on our Webinars page.

If you enjoy MNPS programs please consider clicking here to make a donation. And don't forget to renew your membership!