MEMBERSHIP DONATE
Sponsoring organization: Howard EcoWorks
Location: Holly Hills | Howard EcoWorks, 14270 Burntwoods Rd, Glenwood, MD 21738, USA
For more information: https://www.howardecoworks.org/event-details/holly-hills-fall-festival
Holly Hills Fall Festival, a family-friendly open house celebrating two years of stewardship at our 16-acre headquarters in Glenwood.
Come explore Holly Hills, learn more about the work happening across the property, and see how this special place is growing into a hub for native plants, conservation, environmental education, and green workforce development.
Activities
AN EASTERN SHORE CHAPTER EVENT.
Leaders: Leslie Cario and Cristina Niciporciukas Location: Adkins Arboretum
Visit the early‑succession North Meadow at Adkins Arboretum, a habitat alive with shifting light, tall grasses, and emerging wildflowers. Early‑succession meadows are young, fast‑changing habitats created after disturbance. They shift constantly, offering a landscape in motion. Adkins North Meadow is a biodiversity hotspot, packed with pollinating insects and the birds that depend on them. We will also appreciate Overcup Oaks (Quercus lyrata) upclose—the oak species that helped spark the Arboretum’s founding vision.
Along the way, we will explore Nestled in Nature, a peaceful gathering space designed by Campion Hruby Landscape Architects with artistic contributions from ceramicist Mike Pugh and craftsman Peter Battcock.
The North Meadow will soon be home to Woodhenge, a developing public art installation by Vicco von Voss. Crafted from six slabs of a lightning‑struck tree, Woodhenge will blend art, nature, and community. Check the prototype at the Visitor Center after the walk.
Plants we will look for
After the walk… Rhythm & Roots!
Stick around for Rhythm & Roots, Adkins’ afternoon beer fest—good music, good brews, and the perfect way to round out a day of orchids, oaks, and art. Rhythm & Roots runs from 1 to 4 pm, so you can start celebrating as soon as the walk ends.
Note: Rhythm & Roots has a separate fee. Please check the Adkins Arboretum website for details.
Leader's brief bios: Leslie Cario is the Horticulture and Natural Lands Director at Adkins Arboretum. Cristina Niciporciukas is the Eastern Shore MNPS Chapter Chair.
ONLINE REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. Limited to 12 people.
The walk is a FREE EVENT. Check the Adkins website for details and fees on Rhythm and Roots. https://adkins.donorshops.com/product/randr26/rhythm-roots-september-26-2026
For additional information: Please reach out to Cristina Niciporciukas at cnicipo71@outlook.com or 973-216-5216
Bring: Please bring hat, water and snacks. Use insect/tick repellant. We will mostly follow well maintained paths but even those can have ticks.
Cancellation Policy: Event will proceed in drizzle but be cancelled if heavy rain, thunderstorm or extreme heat; cancellation will be emailed at least 3 hours before meeting time.
Speaker: Dr. Martha Weiss
Floral Biographies and Urban Foraging Portfolios: Strategies to Make Botany Relevant, Relatable, and FUN for Plant Agnostics.
Dr. Weiss will talk about some of the strategies she has developed over the years to make botany interesting and relevant for students who otherwise would not give plants a second thought. Among other things, she'll describe exercises focusing on a close examination of floral behavior, and will highlight some of her favorite fall foraging treats.
Dr. Martha Weiss is a professor of biology at Georgetown University, where she studies plant-insect interactions and tries to sneak a dose of botany into every course she teaches, regardless of the subject. She received a BA in geological sciences from Harvard University, a PhD in botany from the University of California, Berkeley, and postdoctoral training in insect behavior from the University of Arizona, Tucson. Her research derives from a close observation of nature and centers around experimental exploration of questions in insect ecology and plant–animal interactions.
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!
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.
An Adkins Arboretum Event: In the Eastern Shore.
Stewarding family land for future generations.
Join certified arborist and Adkins Arboretum Board member Garrett Dickel for an evening walk through his family's 6 acre living landscape shaped by 7 years of ecological stewardship. Click below for a short video about the Dickel's property. https://www.youtube.com/watch?si=6eCVBmrB2d3jEM7C&v=yghQ5xScgp8&feature=youtu.be
Explore meadows, wetlands, and woodlands while discussing native plants, habitat restoration, and practical ways to work with nature to achieve a functional, diverse, and aesthetically pleasing landscape. The walk will be on mowed trails and wood chip paths.
Carpooling and bug spray are encouraged.
Advance registration required. Exact address will be provided after registration. Register with Adkins Arboretum in the link below: https://adkins.donorshops.com/product/dpt26/dickel-property-tour-september-30-2026
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.
Contact Jill Fonda Allen Jill.fonda.cgc@gmail.com: 301-704-9401
Please join us for our second meeting to build the Montgomery County Chapter community of the Maryland Native Plant Society! We plan to move forward with setting up a group chat, planning field trips, and to brainstorm educational and social events for the coming season. Share your ideas and enthusiasm with as we build our community. Together we can find new ways to promote awareness, appreciation and conservation of native plants in the many special places in and near Montgomery County.
Reservations are not required, but will help us plan for the meeting
For more information: Jill Fonda Allen: jill.fonda.cgc@gmail.com
If you are unable to attend the meeting, please send Jill your ideas.
We hope to see you, so together we can promote awareness, appreciation and conservation of native plants in our local Montgomery County parks and neighborhoods.
ONLINE REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED. Limited to 75 people.
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.
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.
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
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.
Webinar Recordings page and on the MNPS YouTube channel
Program Resources and Handouts
