MEMBERSHIP DONATE
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.
Many folks know that “sedges have edges,” but beyond that, sedges – members of the Family Cyperaceae -- can be difficult to identify. This is especially true for members of the genus Carex. The Maryland Biodiversity Project lists 177 taxa in the genus, while FloraQuest lists 170 species, but who’s counting? No matter the number, the genus is intimidating – but it’s doable for those willing to put in some time and effort. To celebrate the “Year of the Sedge,” we’ll dive right into this crowd. We’ll first review the botanical terminology needed to identify these plants. Then we’ll work together to identify some of the more common Carex species found in Mountain Maryland.
This hands-on workshop is geared toward serious ‘nature nerds’ interested in spending their free time with a hand-lens, botanical manuals, and plant specimens. Registrants must bring their own hand-lens, plus botanical manuals such as Flora of West Virginia or Plants of Pennsylvania, and/or botanical apps such as FloraQuest or Flora of Virginia. Interested participants should consider viewing the special MNPS zoom presentation scheduled for June 24 on Carex terminology as a prelim to this workshop.
Workshop Leaders: Kevin Dodge, Garrett College, and Liz McDowell, MNPS
Kevin has taught in the Natural Resources and Wildlife Technology program at Garrett College since 1987, where he tricks his students into learning the identification and biology of plants and animals and the workings of the ecological communities of the Central Appalachians and beyond.
Liz came to Mountain Maryland in 1979, where 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, gives presentations on regional biodiversity, and is a card-carrying ‘nature nerd’.
ONLINE REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. Limited to 12 people. Registration through July 14 for members only. For additional information please contact Liz at wmtchapter@mdflora.org
Cancellation Policy: In the event of unforeseen circumstances requiring the cancellation of this workshop, an email will be sent to participants by 7:00 am.
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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 Montgomery County field trip kickoff! Trip leaders will provide training and guidance on leading field trips while we enjoy walking through this botanically diverse park. Join other native plant enthusiasts and learn how to lead a field trip yourself. No experience or botanical expertise required.
Leaders: Jill Fonda, Heidi Hayes, Lauren Hubbard
Location: Rachel Carson Conservation Park (Montgomery Parks)
Sponsoring Organization: MNPS Montgomery County Chapter
ONLINE REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. Limited to 20 people. Directions will be included in registration confirmation.
Bring: Close-toe shoes/boots, long sleeves, long pants, socks over bottom of pants, sun hat, sun screen, water, bug repellant. Optional: binoculars. Note: There are no restroom facilities at this location.
Event will be cancelled in case of thunderstorms, air quality of red, or high winds 15 mph. Rain Date: 8/2/26.
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.
AN EASTERN SHORE CHAPTER EVENT.
Leader: Abby Lorenz
Location: Turner's Creek Park
Description: Explore the habitats of Turner’s Creek and the Sassafras Natural Resources Management Area, where geology, ecology, and human history intersect. Upland deciduous woods, grassland meadows managed for Northern Bobwhite habitat, tidal marshes, and tall bluffs overlooking the Sassafras River create a dynamic landscape. Along the way, encounter native plant communities shaped by natural processes and generations of human use, including a thriving population of American lotus in Turner's Creek. The walk also highlights the area's cultural history, from its Indigenous heritage and Captain John Smith's 1608 exploration to present-day conservation efforts.
Abby Lorenz' Bio: Abby Lorenz is the Director of Public Engagement at Adkins Arboretum, where she develops programming that connects people with the ecology, culture and landscapes of the Delmarva Peninsula. A native of the region, she has over a decade of experience in public horticulture, including roles at Mount Cuba Center, Lincoln Park Zoo, and Unity Landscape Design/Build. Abby completed a 13-month leadership program at Longwood Gardens, focusing on mission-driven public horticulture. A passionate advocate for native plants, she believes that public gardens are powerful spaces for fostering connection and understanding. Abby holds a B.S. in Horticulture from Virginia Tech and a BFA in Ceramics from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
For additional information: Please reach out to Cristina Niciporciukas at cnicipo71@outlook.com or 973-216-5216
FREE EVENT
ONLINE REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. Limited to 12 people. Registration Deadline: 08/14
Address and directions will be included in registration confirmation.
Bring: Please bring binoculars, hat, water and snacks. Please wear boots and 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: Rebecca Henson, Spring Song Museum
Rachel Carson (1907‒1964) was a world-renowned writer and trained biologist and is considered by many as the mother of the modern environmental movement. She lived her adult life in Maryland, first as a graduate student at Johns Hopkins and then moving to Montgomery County for closer proximity to her civil service work in College Park and Washington, DC. This talk will provide an overview of Carson's life and written works, discussing her courage, ecological philosophy, and clear-eyed wonder in the natural world around us, including the Northwest Branch of the Anacostia River, Rock Creek Park, and the Chesapeake Bay. It will also explore why Carson wrote her final book, Silent Spring, how it succeeded in shifting public perception about the environment, and where she had hoped her career would go next. Rebecca will briefly share the plans for the creation of the Springsong Museum in Silver Spring, a vibrant community museum celebrating Rachel Carson, a place where visitors of all ages will connect to the natural world through her work and example.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER: Rebecca Henson founded Springsong Museum in 2021 with the mission of creating a museum that connects community and nature through the wonder and wisdom of Rachel Carson and to bring new life to a previously vacant historic industrial building and site in Silver Spring. Before Springsong, Rebecca worked at Nature Forward's Woodend Sanctuary helping to run the nature bookshop, consulted for the nonprofit Ceres, and led environmental screening and advocacy at Calvert Investments for 9 years. A Maryland Master Naturalist, she is a current board member of Neighbors of the Northwest Branch, the watershed organization stewarding a major tributary of the Anacostia River. She enjoys serving as a judge for Maryland History Day. Rebecca has a BA in History from Vanderbilt University and an MA from the University of Bath (UK) in Politics, Policy, and Society focused on comparative environmental policy and was named a 2026-2027 Beinecke Research Fellow at Yale University for her work with the Rachel Carson Papers. She believes deeply in leaning in to wherever it is one lives.
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.
Co-sponsor: The University of Maryland Extension with host Lisa Kuder
Physical location: Central Maryland Research and Education Center (CMREC) 4240 Folly Quarter Road Ellicott City, MD 21042 Directions: Enter the building at the front door under the portico. (The door next to the parking lot will be locked.)
The program is free and open to the public.
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.
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.
Maryland Native Plant Society 2026 Annual Conference Diverse Landscape of Maryland's Piedmont and Western Shore
Event Co-Hosts: University of Maryland Extension and University of Maryland School of Landscape Architecture
The Maryland Native Plant Society's fall conference features speakers and field trips to learn more about our native plants and their habitats. Discover the unique landscapes of Maryland’s Piedmont and Western Coastal Plain from globally rare ecosystems such as magnolia bogs to the resilient and prevalent oak-hickory forests. Virtual conference registration ($30) for the morning talks is available
Open to conference attendees and the public. Maryland certified native plant nurseries will be selling plants, and a botanical artist and several organizations will have tables.
Free Parking on Saturday: In Progress.
The five workshops are listed below. Sign-ups for these workshops will be available when the field trips have been finalized.
Negative effects of pesticides on native ecosystems, plants, and animals.- Maya Korb, Natural Resources Defense Council
On Sunday, field trips will take place at various locations in the Maryland Piedmont and Western Shore. Descriptions, leaders and sign-ups will be available when the trips have been finalized.
If you would like to volunteer on the day of the conference email conference@mdflora.org
Due to the holidays in September (Labor Day, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur) and several large events at the venue, it was especially difficult to select a date for our annual conference this year. We recognize some members of our community may not be able to join us on the dates we chose and for this we are truly sorry. MNPS treasures our diverse community and wishes to welcome everyone as we explore and celebrate native plants and their habitats. Thank you for understanding and let us know how we can include you in the future. - The MNPS Conference Planning Committee
To attend in person, please go to this event: MNPS 2026 Annual Conference: Diverse Landscapes of Maryland’s Piedmont and Western Shore
Registration includes the Saturday morning program.
Virtual Attendance does NOT include field trips.
If you need to cancel, email Karyn Molines at conference@mdflora.org. Full refunds (except for administrative fees) are available for cancellations prior to August 12. A 50% refund will be issued for any cancellation received by August 31. Refunds are not available for cancellations after September 7.
Registering for this event, you will choose both Saturday and Sunday field trip options.
All guests must also be registered for the conference.
We reserve the right to cancel your registration if you are not also registered for the conference.
Saturday Field Trips are from 1-5 p.m.
Sunday Field Trips start & end time varies. See description.
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.
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.
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!
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Speaker: Corinne Stephens
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.
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!
Webinar Recordings page and on the MNPS YouTube channel
Program Resources and Handouts
