MEMBERSHIP DONATE
For online sale visit LowerShoreLandTrust.org starting March 1. Online link will be shared soon.
Pick up Date and Location: All orders are available for pick up at the Lower Shore Land Trust's office on May 2. Address: 100 River Street, Snow Hill, MD 21863.
For additional information: 443-234-5587
Sponsored by MNPS Eastern Shore Chapter Co-sponsoring Organization: Adkins Arboretum
Location: Tuckahoe State Park (via the Park Office) in the morning and Adkins Arboretum for lunch and afternoon.
Description: Join us for an observant walk through two of the Eastern Shore’s most beloved natural areas—Tuckahoe State Park and Adkins Arboretum—as we welcome the earliest blooms of the season. Before the canopy leaf out and the forest floor slips back into shade, a brief, brilliant parade of spring ephemerals rises, flowers, and fades. This is our chance to catch them in their fleeting moment. This is also the time when some of our most beloved native trees and shrubs are in full bloom too.
The Tuckahoe–Adkins landscape is a mosaic of Coastal Plain habitats—swamp forests, seepage slopes, sandy ridges, and rich bottomlands. That diversity means a longer, more varied early spring show than you’ll find in many other parts of the Shore. We will weave in and out both parks, which is actually part of the same complex. Tuckahoe State Park offers wild, unfiltered forest communities where ephemerals carpet the open floor. Adkins Arboretum provides a curated, accessible look at native species, including some that are harder to find in the wild. Together, they give us a full picture of what early spring looks like in the Mid Shore’s natural heritage.
Leaders: Leslie Cario and Cristina Niciporciukas Leslie Cario is the Horticulture and Natural Lands Director at Adkins Arboretum. Cristina Niciporciukas is the Eastern Shore MNPS Chapter Chair.
What we will look for: a carpet of blooming trout lilies, skunk cabbage, spring beauties, jack in the pulpit, Virginia bluebells, golden ragwort, cranefly orchids, blooming mayapples, Canada mayflowers, not to mention blooming sassafras. If you follow Jim Brighton's MD Plant Big Year via Substack, we will try to spot some of the plants he shared on the Feb 22 edition.
For additional information: Please reach out to Cristina Niciporciukas at eschapter@mdflora.org
FREE EVENT
ONLINE REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. Registration Deadline: 04/10
Bring: Please wear good shoes (boots preferred), and bring water, lunch, and snacks. Bring your favorite plant identification resources. We will use iNat to help ID plants and any other living thing as we move along the paths.
Cancellation Policy: Event will proceed in drizzle but be cancelled if heavy rain or thunderstorm; cancellation will be emailed at least 2 hours before meeting time.
Invasive Species Removal Work
Tuesday April 14 (rain/snow date Thursday April 16)
Bear Pen Run Wildlands from 9:00 am to noon
Adult volunteers are needed to continue control efforts of Japanese Spiraea and Garlic Mustard in the Bear Pen Run Wildland area of Savage River State Forest. These control efforts help preserve rare plants and animals such as Eastern Leatherwood and West Virginia White Butterfly. Bear Pen Run is designated as a "Type I Wildland" [a primitive area which by its size and location is in effect untouched by urban civilization and can offer the experience of solitude and self-reliance; Type I wildlands are usually lands located at higher elevations that protect watersheds and are ecologically vulnerable to human interferences].
Savage River State Forest is providing logistical support. The Western Mountains Chapter of the Maryland Native Plant Society will provide snacks. Volunteers should bring their own water and tick spray, as well as wear water-proof trail shoes/boots since there are several stream crossings with rough terrain. There will be a limited number of work gloves available, if needed. Sorry, but no pets are allowed and no rest rooms are available.
For more information or to volunteer, please contact Ron Boyer by email at wmtchapter@mdflora.org Volunteers will be asked to provide a phone # and/or email address that can be used in case of a last minute cancellation due to severe weather or unforeseen circumstances. Free camping is available at New Germany State Park the night before for volunteers coming from a distance. If interested in camping, let Ron know so that arrangements can be made ahead of time with park staff.
Fungi as Keys to Unlocking Orchids Conservation
Speaker: Melissa McCormick, PhD
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Melissa McCormick is a Senior Ecologist at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC) and is the Director of the North American Orchid Conservation Center (NAOCC). She earned her B.S. degree Trinity University (San Antonio, Texas, 1992) and Ph.D. in Ecology, Evolutionary Biology and Behavior from Michigan State University (1999). Melissa joined SERC in 1999, first as a postdoctoral researcher, then a research scientist, and now as a senior ecologist. Her main research focus is on associations between plants and mycorrhizal fungi, with a strong focus on orchids. In 2011, with Dennis Whigham, she co-founded NAOCC at the Smithsonian. The goal of NAOCC is to safeguard the native orchids of the US and Canada, through propagation, preservation, and education. She has authored over 60 peer reviewed scientific publications about orchids, their mycorrhizal fungi, their pollinators, and other drivers of plant distribution.
Sponsor: Maryland Orchid Society
This meeting is hybrid. We ask that you register for your preferred option; after registering, you will get Zoom login information and in person location information.
Physical location: Hybrid, options to attend by zoom or to attend the Maryland Orchid Society meeting at Woodbrook Baptist Church, 25 Stevenson Lane, Baltimore 21212
The program is free and open to the public.
YOU MUST REGISTER IN ORDER TO RECEIVE THE ZOOM LINK
In person meeting begins at 7:00. Zoom opens at 7:45PM. Presentations begin at 8:00PM and generally run until 9:00PM.
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, as well as the in person location information.
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.
Sponsors: Maryland Native Plant Society, University of Maryland Extension, Baltimore City Forestry Board
Moderator: Claire Cambardella
Panelists: Ashley Bowers, Dr. Solange Filoso, Dr. Andrew Macdonald, Rod Simmons, Rob Schnabel
This meeting is hybrid: in-person and on Zoom.
In-person location: Ellicott City, MD 21042
This event will start promptly at 7 PM and go until 9 PM. | No pre-program or announcements beforehand. If you are attending in person, be sure to arrive a few minutes early to take your seat so we can start on time.
DESCRIPTION: Stream restoration projects are reshaping waterways across the country — but are they always the right solution and completed using best practices? This expert panel brings together professionals with deep, diverse experience in stream reconstruction to examine the practice from every angle: the science, the outcomes, the economics, and the community impact.
Join us for a frank, evidence-based conversation that asks the hard questions: When does stream restoration work, and when does it fall short? What alternatives exist? Who bears the cost, and who benefits?
YOU MUST REGISTER IN ORDER TO ATTEND IN PERSON OR TO RECEIVE THE ZOOM LINK
When registering, you will select either the in-person or Zoom option. After you register, you will receive a confirmation email with a link to the Zoom meeting, as well as the in-person location information.
We can accommodate 100 registrants in person, plus the first 300 people who enter the Zoom meeting starting right before the event.
An Outdoor Volunteer & Learning Activity
Leaders: Christine Campe-Price, Friends of New Germany State Park & Liz McDowell, MNPS
Want to help preserve our regional biodiversity? Then bring your work gloves, kneeling pads, favorite weeding tools, & some elbow grease to remove unwanted plants from the native plant garden. As you work, you’ll learn how to identify common weeds and why protecting native plants is so critical for wildlife. Meet at the native plant garden near the dam. Please bring your own water bottle, insect spray, & sunscreen. In case of rain this activity will be cancelled.
Directions: From I-68 take exit 22 and follow signs for New Germany State Park. Turn left into the park onto McAndrews Hill Road. The program will be held in the native plant garden near parking lot #5.
No registration.
Join the MD/DC Chapter of The Nature Conservancy for this annual tradition!
This is the 30th anniversary of planting red spruce at TNC preserves in western MD. This year TNC will be returning to their first planting site at the Glades Preserve in Garrett County. This work is in collaboration with the Central Appalachian Spruce Restoration Initiative (CASRI) to restore red spruce to their native range in Central Appalachia. You may volunteer for one or both days, and stay for whatever portion of the planting hours is convenient for you. Planting will take place on Friday from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm and on Saturday from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. For more information about this important work and/or to register as a volunteer, please follow this link:
https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=wW2-eY7Xu0uyK9mUwKQXp-JBVysK0MFGuCFq77zwq8pUNTBWTlY3UFhSWEMySEVNWUY3QVFRNEYxVS4u&route=shorturl
Join plant enthusiasts and weed warriors Jill Fonda Allen and Fred Proctor, as well as Lauren Hubbard plant scientist as we explore spring in this botanically rich park. Depending on the weather, we may see spring ephemerals such as bloodroot and May apple. Mid-April is bloom-time for the Showy orchid, known to be in this park. Many of the parks native plants are sending out shoots and buds.
Leader: Jill Fonda Allen, Fred Proctor, Lauren Hubbard
Location: Rachel Carson Conservation Park (Montgomery Parks)
ONLINE REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. Limited to 15 people. Registration through April 10 for members only. Directions will be included in registration confirmation.
Bring: Sturdy shoes/boots, bug spray, hat, long sleeves/pants. Optional magnifying glass, cell phone for iNAT, small ruler. Note: There are no restroom facilities at this location.
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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.
Sponsor: Eastern Shore Chapter
Leader: Sean Sipple
Location: Millington WMA. Directions will be sent to all who register.
Description: In this field trip, we will visit one of the Eastern Shore’s most fascinating and least understood wetland systems: the Delmarva Bays. These wetlands support an extraordinary suite of plants and animals, including several rare and state‑listed species. With luck, we may encounter the state‑endangered Featherfoil (Hottonia inflata) in bloom — one of the signature species of these seasonal ponds. Often called vernal pools because of their seasonality, Delmarva Bays are actually geologically unique landforms with an ecological richness all their own. Delmarva Bays are also among the most threatened wetland types on the Coastal Plain due to historical drainage and land conversion, making them an important conservation priority.
Our trip will take place at Millington Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in eastern Kent County. Managed by Maryland’s Wildlife and Heritage Service, Millington’s 4,000 acres include hardwood forests, pine stands, meadows, fallow fields, agricultural plantings, forested bottomlands, and a number of Delmarva Bays. We’ll explore spring flora across multiple habitat types and document the diversity we encounter along the way.
Notes for Participants: Be prepared for uneven ground, off‑trail walking, and potentially muddy conditions depending on recent weather. Much of our time will be spent moving through woods and meadows rather than on established trails. Areas might be very wet as we approach the ponds. Bring your camera or smartphone — we’ll be documenting plants, wildlife, and anything else we discover throughout the day.
For additional information: Contact Cristina Niciporciukas eschapter@mdflora.org
ONLINE REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. Limited to 16 people. Registration through April 20 for members only, open to non-members afterwards. Directions will be included in registration confirmation.
Bring: Please bring food and beverage for snack. Restroom facilities are non-existent. While still early in the season, ticks and chiggers are always present, so please practice precautionary measures. Wear hat and weather appropriate clothing. Waterproof boots a must as terrain might be really wet as we get close to the pond areas.
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 a "Contact Account" only. Consider joining to support our programs and take advantage of members-only early registration.
Sponsoring Organization: Bay Ridge Community
Location: Bay Ridge Community Marina Clubhouse; 80 East Lake Drive, Annapolis, 21403. Bay Ridge is located at the eastern end of the Annapolis Neck Peninsula.
Bay Ridge’s 2nd Annual Native Plant Sale will include 22 Maryland Piedmont-Coastal Plain species. There are species for all types of gardens ranging from some that thrive in full sun to others that welcome shade. Some prefer dry soils and others thrive in moist soil. There’s a plant for every part of your yard and every species has an important role to play in strengthening biodiversity, helping insects and feeding birds. Species will include flowers, grasses and sedge. Anne Arundel County’s Watershed Stewards Academy will be on-site with information and resources on how to become involved in tree planting and environmental stewardship in Anne Arundel County. The plant sale begins at 8:00 a.m. and at 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Susan Minnemeyer, NaturePlus Natives founder and Watershed Steward, will be speaking about site evaluation and plant selection and installation.
For additional information: Martha Boudreau; martham.boudreau@gmail.com, 202-445-9110
Celebrate spring with educational tables, programs, and a plant sale!
All day plant sale and resource tables, plus live music & food!
Special Presentations:
11:00 am Wild Bees of Pennsylvania
1:00 pm Conserving the Small Vital Lives of Insects & Other Invertebrates
Free admission! No registration needed!
For more information on this event, follow this link to the Pennsylvania Native Plant Society website.
Family Fun on the Farm – Join us for our first Open House of the year! Purchase native plants from our annual sale. We’ll have a variety of options including fan favorites such as butterfly weed, paw paw trees, and more! Shop for plants in person or pick-up your on line order. Tour our museums and exhibits: Farmhouse Museum, Living Off the Land Agricultural Museum, Miner’s Mule Stable, Boarding House, Blacksmith Shop, Mine Opening, Gatehouse, and the 1822 Kitchen & Garden. Then grab a bite to eat and visit with local vendors. Make and Take activities for all ages including a plant your own herb station, wreath making, and paint your own plant tags! At 3:00 p.m. join AmeriCorps Alum, Reillee Beeman for a guided birding hike. Meet at the Evergreen Barn!
Parking: Please park in the upper parking lot and walk down over the hill. Spaces in the small lot beside the Gateway Pavilion are reserved for those needing ADA accessibility.
Event Details: https://evergreenheritagecenter.org/event/spring-festival/ Online Native Plant Shop: https://evergreenheritagecenter.org/shop-maryland-native-plants-evergreen-heritage-center/
Event Details:
Online Native Plant Shop:
https://evergreenheritagecenter.org/shop-maryland-native-plants-evergreen-heritage-center/
11th annual Mountain Maryland Native Plant Festival
Saturday May 9 at New Germany State Park in Garrett County
Discover the important connection between native plants, people, & wildlife! (download event flyer)
Evergreen Heritage Center - Mount Savage, MD Wild Indigo Native Nursery - Grantsville, MD Wood Thrush Native Plant Nursery - Floyd, VA
Evergreen Heritage Center - Mount Savage, MD
Wild Indigo Native Nursery - Grantsville, MD
Wood Thrush Native Plant Nursery - Floyd, VA
ABPH Art - Accident, MD (handmade paper art) Appalachian Wax Works - Oakland, MD (quality goods from the bee hive) Brouses Big Bowls - Bedford, PA (hand turned wooden bowls) Eddie Spaghetti Art - Maidsville, WV (lino cut prints & more) Keen and Bright - Swanton, MD (glass creations) Marta Fiscus Photography - Cumberland, MD (award winning macro photos) Peggy Nixon Designs - Salisbury, PA (note cards, prints, and watercolor paintings)
ABPH Art - Accident, MD (handmade paper art)
Appalachian Wax Works - Oakland, MD (quality goods from the bee hive)
Brouses Big Bowls - Bedford, PA (hand turned wooden bowls)
Eddie Spaghetti Art - Maidsville, WV (lino cut prints & more)
Keen and Bright - Swanton, MD (glass creations)
Marta Fiscus Photography - Cumberland, MD (award winning macro photos)
Peggy Nixon Designs - Salisbury, PA (note cards, prints, and watercolor paintings)
American Forest Foundation Evergreen Heritage Center Friends of New Germany State Park Garrett County Forestry Board Garrett County Solid Waste & Recycling Garrett Trails Maryland Chapter of The American Chestnut Foundation Maryland Conservation Corps Maryland Master Naturalist Program Maryland Native Plant Society Mountain Laurel Garden Club UMCES Appalachian Laboratory University of Maryland Extension - Garrett County Master Gardeners
American Forest Foundation
Evergreen Heritage Center
Friends of New Germany State Park
Garrett County Forestry Board
Garrett County Solid Waste & Recycling
Garrett Trails
Maryland Chapter of The American Chestnut Foundation
Maryland Conservation Corps
Maryland Master Naturalist Program
Maryland Native Plant Society
Mountain Laurel Garden Club
UMCES Appalachian Laboratory
University of Maryland Extension - Garrett County Master Gardeners
10:30 AM - Tree ID - Learning to identify trees without leaves is a challenge. Discover other tree features that help with identification on this easy walk with a Park Ranger Noah Manges! 12:00 Noon - Plastics, Plants, Pollinators, and People - Raymond Najjar, Penn State University and Liz McDowell, MD Native Plant Society Plastics are remarkable materials that have transformed our lives in a relatively short time. Their unique properties make them extremely useful but at the same time a menacing environmental and human health threat. Microplastics have found their way around the globe, impacting both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. This presentation will cover the rapid growth of plastics production, the fate of plastics in the environment, the impacts of plastics on plants, wildlife, and people, and potential solutions to what may be viewed as a crisis comparable to global warming and biodiversity loss. Dr. Najjar is a Professor of Oceanography at Penn State University, where he has been teaching since 1993. He conducts research on topics in oceanography and climate science, focusing on how climate change and human activity influence coastal waters, such as the Chesapeake Bay. Plastics pollution is a current research interest of his, particularly the role that estuaries play in trapping river-borne plastics. He also recently developed a general education course at Penn State on plastics in the environment. Ms. McDowell has called Mountain Maryland home since 1979. It was here while working on her MS in Wildlife Management at the Appalachian Lab that she discovered nature and a passion to share it with others. As coordinator of the Western Mountains Chapter of MNPS, she manages the annual MT MD Native Plant Festival, leads field trips, teaches wildflower identification, and gives presentations on regional biodiversity. 2:00 PM - Native Plant Garden Tour - Visiting New Germany's demonstration garden is always a joy. Learn about the 70+ plants native to our region from Christine Campe-Price, Friends of NGSP. All day - MMNPF Bingo - Explore the entire festival and win a prize! All day - Nature Center - Investigate the cool animals found at the Park!
10:30 AM - Tree ID - Learning to identify trees without leaves is a challenge. Discover other tree features that help with identification on this easy walk with a Park Ranger Noah Manges!
12:00 Noon - Plastics, Plants, Pollinators, and People - Raymond Najjar, Penn State University and Liz McDowell, MD Native Plant Society
Plastics are remarkable materials that have transformed our lives in a relatively short time. Their unique properties make them extremely useful but at the same time a menacing environmental and human health threat. Microplastics have found their way around the globe, impacting both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. This presentation will cover the rapid growth of plastics production, the fate of plastics in the environment, the impacts of plastics on plants, wildlife, and people, and potential solutions to what may be viewed as a crisis comparable to global warming and biodiversity loss.
Dr. Najjar is a Professor of Oceanography at Penn State University, where he has been teaching since 1993. He conducts research on topics in oceanography and climate science, focusing on how climate change and human activity influence coastal waters, such as the Chesapeake Bay. Plastics pollution is a current research interest of his, particularly the role that estuaries play in trapping river-borne plastics. He also recently developed a general education course at Penn State on plastics in the environment.
Ms. McDowell has called Mountain Maryland home since 1979. It was here while working on her MS in Wildlife Management at the Appalachian Lab that she discovered nature and a passion to share it with others. As coordinator of the Western Mountains Chapter of MNPS, she manages the annual MT MD Native Plant Festival, leads field trips, teaches wildflower identification, and gives presentations on regional biodiversity.
2:00 PM - Native Plant Garden Tour - Visiting New Germany's demonstration garden is always a joy. Learn about the 70+ plants native to our region from Christine Campe-Price, Friends of NGSP.
All day - MMNPF Bingo - Explore the entire festival and win a prize!
All day - Nature Center - Investigate the cool animals found at the Park!
The Maryland Native Plant Society is partnering with both New Germany State Park and the Friends of New Germany State Park to sponsor this FREE event! The public is welcome to attend (no registration required) but your support of the vendors and organizations through your purchases is deeply appreciated! Enjoy, hot dogs, snacks and drinks at the Lake House or pack a picnic lunch and spend the day at this beautiful mountain park!
Driving Directions:
From Baltimore: West on I-70 to Hancock. Pick up I-68 and travel through Cumberland, MD. Continue west to Exit 22. Enter the roundabout and take the fourth exit onto Chestnut Ridge Road. Pass the Comfort Inn and follow Chestnut Ridge Road for three miles to New Germany Road. Turn left and travel two miles to the New Germany State Park entrance on left. Travel time ~ three hours. Signs will direct you to parking for this special event.
From Washington, D.C.: Take 270 north to Frederick, MD. Pickup I-70 west and follow directions above for Baltimore. Travel time ~ 3.5 hours.
From Pittsburgh, PA/Morgantown, WV: Take I-79 to I-68 east into Maryland to Exit 22 toward the Comfort Inn. Enter the roundabout and take the first exit onto Chestnut Ridge Road. Travel about three miles to New Germany Road. Turn left and travel to the New Germany State Park entrance on left. Travel time ~ one hour from Morgantown and 2 hours from Pittsburgh. Signs will direct you to parking for this special event.
Additional information to follow as details become available. Questions? Phone the park office at 301-895-5453 or email Liz McDowell at wmtchapter@mdflora.org
Co-sponsoring Organization: M-NCPPC, Department of Parks and Recreation, Prince George’s County.
Leader: Kerry Wixted Co-Leader: Judy Fulton
Location: Louise F. Cosca Regional Park, Prince George County.
Description: Join Vegetation Ecologist, Kerry Wixted, for a fun ramble through the woods west of Cosca Lake at Louise F. Cosca Regional Park! This hike is a plant blitz—part exploration, part science—where we’ll slow down, look closely, and document the plants that call this area home. Several rare species have already been discovered nearby, and with sharp eyes and a little luck, we might uncover more hidden botanical gems. We’ll be using iNaturalist to record our finds, contributing valuable data toward a comprehensive plant list for the park. Whether you’re a seasoned plant nerd or just plant-curious, come help us turn a hike into a discovery mission!
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.
For additional information: Please reach out to Kerry Wixted at Kerry.wixted@pgparks.com or 240-716-8389.
ONLINE REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. Registration Deadline: 05/12
Bring: Please bring whatever you need for a walk in the woods! This means good shoes, water, lunch, and snacks. Bring a hand lens if you have one, as well as your favorite identification resources.
Co-Sponsoring Organization: M-NCPPC, Department of Parks and Recreation, Prince George’s County.
Leaders: Kim Stringer. Kerry Wixted and Chris Garrett
Location: 5904 Suitland Rd, Hillcrest Heights, MD 20746
Description: Celebrate 50 years of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) managing Suitland Bog Natural Area with a pre-birthday bash hike! We’ll start in the upland area, travel down to the terrace gravel bog to botanize along the boardwalk then will check out a few other areas of botanical interest.
Kim Stringer is a Park Ranger with the Natural and Historical Resources Division M-NCPPC, Department of Parks and Recreation, Prince George’s County. 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. Chris Garrett is the Natural Surface Trails Supervisor with the Natural and Historical Resources Division M-NCPPC, Department of Parks and Recreation, Prince George's County.
ONLINE REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. Registration Deadline: 6/3
Webinar Recordings page and on the MNPS YouTube channel
Program Resources and Handouts
