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Program Resources and Handouts
Where: Online store is now open to browse and make your list, online ordering starts March 17, 10 am https://muddy-branch-alliance.square.site/ Plant Pick Up on Saturday April 27 at the Bohrer Park Activity Center
Please be available to pick up your plants on Saturday April 27. If that won't be possible, please let us know right away at lgwc@muddybranch.org. We will be able to care for your plants at another location, but only for a few days.
Explore dozens of species of native plants, all guaranteed to add beauty and color to your yard while supporting butterflies and other pollinators, attracting songbirds, and helping to keep our local streams clean and healthy.
You'll be able to choose between rare Maryland flora and widespread popular natives. We've brought you hard-to-find local-ecotype plants of unusual species, so you can enjoy these beautiful blooms in your yard while protecting their wild cousins. Or, choose from among cost-conscious offerings of more common forbs, grasses, and ferns. We even have a vine this year! More than forty species will be available to choose from.
All our plants are genuine natives, real species (not cultivars), and available for convenient .
The preview of this year's sale is now open - and at 10 a.m. on Sunday , March 17, you'll be able to choose the plants you want to take home! Plants always sell out very quickly, so make plans right now to reserve your favorite natives on March 17.
Thank you for being a good steward of the Muddy Branch and Seneca watersheds! This year's native plant sale is made possible by the Muddy Branch Alliance; the Gaithersburg Parks, Arts and Recreation Corporation (G-PARC); and YOU.
Directions: Activity Center at Bohrer Park, 506 S Frederick Ave, Gaithersburg, MD 20877 https://www.google.com/maps/place/Activity+Center+at+Bohrer+Park/@39.1333959,-77.1945783,15z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x89b7d2cb6a854295:0xfe4db8d3585c55ff!8m2!3d39.1333959!4d-77.1945783!16s%2Fg%2F11btn1dchg?entry=ttu
Leader: Jody Longhill
Location: Scientists' Cliffs Community House, Calvert County
Note: This is a lecture, not a field trip. Google Slide Presentation on Spring Ephemerals Native to Maryland (indoor presentation)
Jody Longhill is a Master Gardener, member of Wild Ones Chesapeake Bay, and the Maryland Native Plant Society. She has previously presented on Butterflies Native to Maryland and Identifying Invasive Plants for the Garden Smarter Program in Calvert County and The Maryland Native Plant Society.
For additional information: Kathy Daniel kdaniel20816@gmail.com
ONLINE REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. Directions will be included in registration confirmation.
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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.
Co-Sponsoring Organization: Maryland Biodiversity Project
Leader: John Hall
Location: C&O Canal at Sharpsburg, Maryland, Washington County
Join us as we explore Spring ephemerals along the C&O Canal at Sharpsburg. We will walk along the towpath and climbing the ridge at the edge of the Canal to explore a variety of habitats. This area has many spring ephemerals including Twinleaf, Dutchman’s Breeches and Trillium. We will spend a few minutes at the beginning of the trip learning to use iNat to make observations. Participants who want to use the iNat app should create an account and download the app before the trip (local cellphone coverage will be limited).
Directions will be included in registration confirmation.
ONLINE REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. Limited to 20 people. Registration through 3/23 for members only.
Notes: We will walk about 2 miles with a little hill climbing. Trails may be muddy so wear appropriate footwear. Weather in April can be unpredictable, please check the forecast before the trip.
Bring: water, snack, field guides. Participants who want to use the iNat app should create an account and download the app before the trip (local cellphone coverage will be limited). There are no facilities nearby so you should bring everything you need to be out for a few hours, including snacks. There is usually a restroom (port-a-potty) at the parking lot.
Cancellation Policy: The trip will only be cancelled in the event of very inclement weather. We will go in light rain. Participants will be contacted if we postpone the trip to April 7.
Contact: (for additional information; not to register) John Hall at email: jdhall2@gmail.com;
Please consider the safety, health, and well-being of all participants in our programs and stay home if the participant is ill.
Leader: Kathy Daniel and David Braun
Location: American Chestnut Land Trust, South Side, Calvert County
Join us for a hike on one of the beautiful trails of the American Chestnut Land Trust to search for spring ephemeral wildflowers and other early emerging plants.
Notes: We will walk about 2 miles with a little hill climbing. Trails may be muddy so wear appropriate footwear. Weather in April can be unpredictable, please check the forecast before the trip. Wear closed-toe shoes/boots, socks over bottoms of pants to exclude ticks
Kathy Daniel & David Braun are Maryland Master Naturalists and members of the Maryland Native Plant Society and Wild Ones Chesapeake Bay chapter.
For additional information: David Braun, dbraun7247@yahoo.com, 703-258-4998
ONLINE REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. Limited to 20 people. Registration through 3/23 for members only. Directions will be included in registration confirmation.
Bring: tick repellant/clothes, water & snacks, field guides. There is usually a restroom (port-a-potty).
Cancellation Policy (e.g., trip will proceed in drizzle, but will be canceled if heavy rain or thunderstorm; cancellation will be emailed at least 2 hours before meeting time): Trip will proceed in drizzle, but will be canceled if heavy rain or thunderstorm; cancellation will be emailed at least 2 hours before meeting time.
Rain Date: Sunday, April 7, 2-4 pm
Online Sale Only beginning April 8.
Pick Up April 27 at Maydale Nature Classroom 1638 Maydale Drive Colesville, MD 20905
Contact: 301-962-1496 MCP-Maydale@montgomeryparks.org
For more information visit MaydaleNature.org
Beautify your backyard, be a good neighbor to wildlife, and support nature programming at Montgomery Parks by shopping our Native Plant Sales
This sale benefit Maydale Natural Classroom. Our herbaceous perennials are propagated from seeds collected by our team from parks, and then cultivated as local ecotypes at our facility, Pope Farm. We also offer a limited selection of trees.
The link is here: https://montgomeryparks.org/plant-sales/
SOLD OUT! Please note, there is a waiting list. So if you are registered but no longer able to attend, please email Garrett College CEWD so that someone may be able to take your place. Fortunately the sessions will be recorded and posted to the UME YouTube Channel; the link will be added here as soon as they become available.
Make the critical connection between native plants, people, and wildlife!
9:00 Check-in
9:30 Evidenced-based Ecological Landscaping Approaches with Native Plants - Karin T. Burghardt, Assistant Professor, University of Maryland College Park, Department of Entomology
Humans actively manage and alter the majority of earth's habitats. In this presentation, Dr. Karin Burghardt outlines ways that decisions within one's own personal scope of management (gardens, yards, parks, and other green spaces) alter plant/insect interactions particularly the successful completion of insect life cycles. Further, Dr. Burghardt suggests tweaks that can be made to practices such as native plant selection, vegetational complexity, yard care, and pest management to retain biodiversity and function in the spaces we inhabit everyday.
Dr. Karin Burghardt is an Assistant Professor in the Entomology Department at the University of Maryland and a Research Associate at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center. Trained as a community ecologist, she specializes in understanding plant-insect interactions in human-modified landscapes ranging from suburban yards to abandoned agricultural fields to managed forests. By examining how human management practices alter the support of biodiversity in these spaces, the lab’s research program helps determine best practices for how humans can share space with a variety of flora and fauna.
Karin received her M.S. and PhD in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Yale University working with Oswald Schmitz on herbivore-induced defenses in goldenrod plants. Prior to that she received a B.S. from the University of Delaware in 2007 working with Douglas Tallamy on the role of non-native plants in ecosystems. Find more information on the lab’s work on her website.
10:30 Break
10:45 Climate Resilient Gardening - Pru Foster, PhD, Maryland Native Plant Society
As human driven climate change accelerates, rain and temperature patterns in our gardens are changing. This impacts frost dates, water table levels, soil health, pollinators, and plant pests and diseases. Knowing how to successfully garden in this changing environment may seem overwhelming, but eco-friendly practices actually go a long way to resolving this dilemma. In this talk, Dr. Foster will explain how Maryland’s climate may evolve and practices to promote a resilient ecosystem in our gardens, now and into the future.
Pru Foster has a diploma in Horticulture from the Royal Horticultural Society in the UK, similar to a Master Gardener certification, and one in garden design from the Garden Design School of Bristol Botanic Garden. She currently serves on the board of the Maryland Native Plant Society as secretary and is assistant editor for their publication Marilandica. She is also active in her local garden club and Wild Ones chapter, as well as stewarding her one acre lot for wildlife and beauty.
Pru has a PhD in astrophysics, but spent most of her paid career working on the impacts of climate change on ecosystem distributions and biodiversity. She was a co-author on some of the very first papers linking climate change to a species extinction - a rather depressing honor. Pru has also been a life long activist working in areas like great ape rights, sustainable lifestyle choices, voting, and most recently, native plants. She is author of “A Drop of Grace: Finding and Protecting our Common Ground” - a call to all to embrace low impact choices. She writes a monthly sustainable choices newsletter, “A Prudent Lifestyle”, which is available for free at prufoster.substack.com
11:45 Lunch
12:45 Controlling Invasive Plants - Judy Fulton, Principal, EcoPlant Consulting and Vice President, Maryland Native Plant Society
Biodiversity is crucial for the survival of life on earth as we know it, but a third of U.S. native plants are headed toward extinction, and two-fifths of our ecosystems are at risk of collapse. Worldwide, 60% of plant and animal extinctions have been partially or completely due to invasive species. In this talk, Judy Fulton will describe how invasive plants are so successful at taking over, the damage they cause, and how to manage them. Come hear how we can all help native plants in Maryland's natural areas and in our own backyards.
Judy Fulton, founder of EcoPlant Consulting, believes healthy ecosystems are crucial for human survival. She transforms places overrun by invasives into native landscapes, shares her knowledge via workshops and field trips, and serves as an expert in invasive plant litigation. Judy is Vice President of the Maryland Native Plant Society and a member of the Board of the Mid-Atlantic Invasive Plant Council. She has earned a Harvard MBA and three Maryland’s Top 100 Women awards from the Daily Record.
Because she is passionate about natives and healthy natural communities, Judy is active in promoting native species and in fighting invasive species. During the 2023 Maryland legislative session, she worked with the Sierra Club on a number of bills and was pleased to see the Maryland Native Plants Program signed into law. Currently, she is working on proposed Maryland invasive plant legislation. Her consulting, her co-authoring Plant Invaders of Mid-Atlantic Natural Areas, Field Guide, and her lead role in creating the Mid-Atlantic Invaders Tool, an online guide to more than 900 invasive species, have positioned Judy as a sought-after advisor in ecorestoration.
1:45 Break
2:00 Cultivating Place: Returning Natives to Your Landscape - Linda Kramer & John Totten, Landscape Consultants and Woodland Plant Nursery Owners
Western Maryland, although small in size, contains a wonderful diversity of plants and habitats. Mountain bogs and swamps as well as one of the hottest driest habitats in the Mid-Atlantic mix with more familiar fields and forests. Translating this abundance into your own landscape can be a fascinating journey. Join us as we take a hands-on look at using native plants to invoke the special places that surround us.
Linda and John own both a landscape gardening firm and a woodland plant nursery and have been active in native plant education and conservation for many years. John holds a Master's Degree in Forest Ecology from the University of Michigan and Linda received a Master's in Education from Penn State. They have taught classes on native plants, community ecology, propagation and horticulture for Penn State, Chatham University and Phipps Conservatory. In addition, they have consulted on native plant projects for the Pennsylvania Turnpike, Chatham University, Pittsburgh Zoo, and Fallingwater.
3:00 Symposium ends
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Sponsored by the Mountain Laurel Garden Club, Maryland Native Plant Society,
Garrett College CEWD, and University of Maryland Extension.
PLEASE NOTE:
This is an approved MD Master Naturalist & MD Master Gardener Advanced Training Event.
Conservation landscaping resource books will be available for purchase from MNPS (cash or check only.)
What: Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy's Native Plant Sale
Where: Morven Park main parking lot, 17195 Southern Planter Lane, Leesburg, VA
Native plants add beauty and interest to your garden year round and provide important habitat for wildlife. Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy’s Native Plant Sale is the place to buy spring-blooming flowers, vines, trees, shrubs and ferns from four local native plant nurseries: Hill House Farm & Nursery, Nature By Design, Seven Bends Nursery and Watermark Woods.
The sale takes place at Morven Park’s visitor parking lot (access via main entrance on Old Waterford Road) in Leesburg, VA. Each of the nursery owners are on hand to provide expert advice, along with knowledgeable volunteers from Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy. The sale runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. If you have boxes for carrying your plants, please bring them. If you have extra boxes, bring them for others to use.
Community groups including the Loudoun County Master Gardeners and Virginia Master Naturalists participate in the event, sharing information on their programs and how to support local wildlife with native plants. The sale also provides an opportunity to learn more about Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy’s programs. LWC’s “Wild Shop” offers books and other merchandise for sale.
Questions: Contact nativeplantsale@loudounwildlife.org
Sponsor: Church of the Redeemer Locations: 5603 N. Charles St. Baltimore, MD 21210
Directions: From Baltimore Beltway (1-695), take exit 25 south. Follow Charles St. for 4.0 miles and turn left into the church entrance.
Wild Ones of Greater Baltimore will be leading a tour of Redeemer’s north parking lot and talking about the native plants and stormwater remediation efforts incorporated in the design.
Visit us online: www.facebook.com/BaltimoreNativePlantSale
Not all vendors accept credit cards. Please be prepared to pay with cash or check.
Co-sponsored by Friends of St. Clements Bay
For adults, although teens 16 years and older may attend.
Location: Leonardtown Library, 23630 Hayden Farm Ln, Leonardtown, MD 20650
Leader: Karyn Molines
For adults and older teens.
Learn more about the native trees of Maryland and offers strategies for selecting and placing a tree in your yard at home.
Maryland's native trees come in an amazing array of sizes and shapes. They can provide beauty and boost the environmental health of your home landscape, no matter how large or small the space. Learn more about their many benefits, from supporting nesting birds and beneficial insects to improving air and water quality. The talk will conclude with a walk around the Library's "Front Yard" for an up-close look at the native trees that are the focal points of our native plant garden.
We'll learn the basics of plant identification using keys and field guides, then explore the library grounds and gardens to use our knowledge. This program is designed for those with little or no experience and will focus on leaves, twigs, and buds.
The workshop will be an indoor and outdoor class. We will not walk very far outside, but dress for the weather and for standing around outside.
Ms. Molines has focused her career on being a naturalist and educator, overseeing environmental education programs, field trips and workshops for the public, families, adults, school children, and teachers. She is a founding member of the Maryland Native Plant Society, and assists with their annual fall conference, web site management, and membership chair.
Optional: Bring a hand lens, pocket knife, binoculars and your favorite tree guide.
VOLUNTEER ACTIVITY
Adult volunteers are needed to continue control efforts of Japanese spiraea and garlic mustard in the Bear Pen Run area of Savage River State Forest. Bear Pen is designated as a Type 1 Wildland and like other natural areas around the State is threatened by a variety of exotic invasive species. Savage River State Forest is providing logistical support. Local community members will provide snacks for volunteers.
Participants should bring their own water & tick spray, and 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 on the project or to volunteer, please contact Ron Boyer by email at lmcd.mnps@gmail.com Volunteers will be asked to provide a phone # and/or email address that could be used in case of last minute cancellation due to severe weather or unforeseen circumstances. If cancelled, the rain/snow date will be on Wednesday April 17.
Where: Butterfly Alley, 23944 Hollywood Road, Hollywood, MD 20636
Plant sales start on April 19th, 2024
Standard plugs are 4.5″ deep by 2″ square. Wide plugs are 4″ deep by 2.25″ square.
To reserve plants, email carrie@butterflyalley.net. Reserved standard plugs require a minimum of 3 per species.
Please pick up reserved plugs: Friday, April 19th 9am-5pm, Saturday, April 20th 9am-5pm Sunday, April 21st 12pm-5pm unless other arrangements are made.
Payment at time of pickup.
Local non-profits and community gardens are eligible for a 30% discount.
https://butterflyalley.net/
For information and to reserve plants, email carrie@butterflyalley.net
Sponsoring Organization: Maryland Native Plant Society, Calvert Nature Society and Calvert County Natural Resources Division
Location: Flag Ponds Nature Park 1525 Flag Pond Parkway Lusby, Calvert County, MD
In this workshop, you'll learn how to use iNaturalist to photograph and map your observations in a few easy steps. You'll learn about the MNPS Spring Plant Blitz, City Nature Challenge and other projects that can use your observation, how to verify other observations, and other basic features of the iNaturalist app.
We'll spend the last half hour inside, to explore the iNaturalist web site, uploading our observations as well as spend time identifying the things we find--and maybe even identify other iNat users' observations.
Whether you're a current iNaturalist user or brand new to the technology, join us for this fun learning opportunity.
ONLINE REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. Registration for MNPS members through April 6, then it opens for non-members.
Co-sponsoring Organization: Wild Ones National Capital Chapter
Leader: Linda Rieger
Location: Private Garden, River Falls Community, Montgomery County
Garden walk to learn about native plants and deer and water management.
Linda has her Master’s degree from Purdue University and a Postgraduate Professional License from the Commonwealth of VA through 2028. She has been providing STEM activities for teachers and their classes coming to the C & O Canal including identification of native plants for 7 years. She has been offering presentations to organizations on “Developing a Native Garden” for over 4 years. Most of her garden plants have tags on them by common and scientific names. She has been in the Potomac Village Garden Club for 25 years and is a Master Gardener through the University of Maryland Extension Services. Linda is on the board of the Wild Ones, Nation’s Capital Region.
Handouts: handouts for plant list and lots of information on deer repellant plants
For additional information: Linda Rieger, lindarieger@verizon.net 703-731/2020
ONLINE REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. Limited to 10 people. Registration through 4/1 for members only. Directions will be included in registration confirmation.
Cancellation Policy: Trip will proceed in drizzle, but will be canceled if heavy rain or thunderstorm; cancellation will be emailed at least 2 hours before meeting time.
Rain Date: None
Speaker: Deborah Barber
YOU MUST REGISTER IN ORDER TO RECEIVE THE ZOOM LINK
Deborah Barber will explain how to use iNaturalist to scope out an area’s biota. She'll provide tips for making identifiable photo and audio observations. She'll highlight other features such as protecting a location’s privacy, connecting with citizen and expert naturalists worldwide, and showing off the incredible diversity of the greater DC area during upcoming the City Nature Challenge. (April 26-29)
Through live demos, questions, and discussion we'll learn more about the power of using iNaturalist to document biodiversity.
We recommend that you create an iNaturalist account and download the app on your phone. https://www.inaturalist.org/
Deborah Barber, is Director of Land Conservation for the Maryland/DC Chapter of The Nature Conservancy. She is responsible for the management of the chapter's land holdings, including easements and public preserves, for their conservation, research, and recreational value.
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.
Join the MD/DC Chapter of The Nature Conservancy for this annual tradition!
This is a two day event taking place on: Friday April 26 from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm and Saturday April 27 from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. Volunteers may sign up for one or both days; come when it is convenient for them during the event hours; and stay as long as they want. To register or for more details on the Why, Where, and What, please follow this link:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/red-spruce-tree-planting-tickets-827207498897?aff=oddtdtcreator
Online Sale Only beginning May 1.
Pick Up May 11
Shop in-person: May 18-19 10am-2 pm
Pope Farm Nursery, 7400 Airpark Road | Gaithersburg, Maryland 20905 Please note Pope Farm is only open to the public during sale hours.
For more information visit MoCoParks.org/LGPlantNative
This sale benefit Locust Grove Nature Center. Our herbaceous perennials are propagated from seeds collected by our team from parks, and then cultivated as local ecotypes at our facility, Pope Farm. We also offer a limited selection of trees.
New Germany State Park in Garrett County
Discover the important connection between native plants, people, & wildlife!
Wood Thrush Native Plant Nursery - Floyd, VA Evergreen Heritage Center - Mount Savage, MD Native Roots, Inc - Mineral Wells, WV Wild Spirit Native Plants - Thurmont, MD
Wood Thrush Native Plant Nursery - Floyd, VA
Evergreen Heritage Center - Mount Savage, MD
Native Roots, Inc - Mineral Wells, WV
Wild Spirit Native Plants - Thurmont, MD
Marta Fiscus Photography - Cumberland, MD (award winning macro photos) Peggy Nixon Designs - Salisbury, PA (hand-painted slates & note cards) Keen and Bright - Swanton, MD (glass creations) Peasant’s Parcel - Capon Bridge, WV (grow your own mushrooms) Appalachian Wax Works - Oakland, Maryland (quality goods from the bee hive)
Marta Fiscus Photography - Cumberland, MD (award winning macro photos)
Peggy Nixon Designs - Salisbury, PA (hand-painted slates & note cards)
Keen and Bright - Swanton, MD (glass creations)
Peasant’s Parcel - Capon Bridge, WV (grow your own mushrooms)
Appalachian Wax Works - Oakland, Maryland (quality goods from the bee hive)
10:30 to 11:30 am Jen Johnson, Owner/Operator, Native Roots Inc. “Restoring Ecological Services with Native Plant Gardening” 12 noon to 1:00 pm Ian Caton, Owner/Operator, Wood Thrush Native Plant Nursery “Super Tough Wildflowers” 1:30 to 2:30 pm Mitch Hall, Director of Landcare Services, Fourth River Workers Guild, Pittsburgh, PA “Reading Between the Lines”
10:30 to 11:30 am
Jen Johnson, Owner/Operator, Native Roots Inc.
“Restoring Ecological Services with Native Plant Gardening”
12 noon to 1:00 pm
Ian Caton, Owner/Operator, Wood Thrush Native Plant Nursery
“Super Tough Wildflowers”
1:30 to 2:30 pm
Mitch Hall, Director of Landcare Services, Fourth River Workers Guild, Pittsburgh, PA
“Reading Between the Lines”
Ranger-guided walks ("Eating Invasives" and "Tree ID") plus a unique bingo game!
University of Maryland Extension - Garrett County Master Gardeners Garrett Trails Maryland Conservation Corps American Forest Foundation Garrett County Solid Waste & Recycling Evergreen Heritage Center Maryland Department of Agriculture - Spotted Lanternfly Program Garrett County Forestry Board Friends of New Germany State Park West Virginia Chapter of The American Chestnut Foundation Garrett Soil Conservation District Maryland Native Plant Society
University of Maryland Extension - Garrett County Master Gardeners
Garrett Trails
Maryland Conservation Corps
American Forest Foundation
Garrett County Solid Waste & Recycling
Evergreen Heritage Center
Maryland Department of Agriculture - Spotted Lanternfly Program
Garrett County Forestry Board
Friends of New Germany State Park
West Virginia Chapter of The American Chestnut Foundation
Garrett Soil Conservation District
Maryland Native Plant Society
The Maryland Native Plant Society is partnering with both New Germany 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 & organizations through your purchases is deeply appreciated! Only snacks and drinks are available at the Lake House, so pack a picnic lunch and spend the day in this beautiful mountain park.
DOWNLOAD EVENT FLYER!
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.
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 lmcd.mnps@gmail.com
Registration through April 11 for members only.
Location: Taylor’s Island/Slaughter Creek, Dorchester County There’s limited parking, so we’ll meet Cambridge to consolidate the number of vehicles before heading to the field trip location
Leader: Deborah Barber
Deborah will provide an introduction to the preserve and a quick review of iNaturalist on peoples’ devices,. We'll then spread out in all directions to make observations of whatever interests them. We ask that participants upload their observations within 4 days so Deborah (and others) can review them within the week and help with IDs.
Notes: It is often very wet there, even at low tide, so rubber boots would be best.
Prepare beforehand: Download the iNaturalist app on your phone, create an iNaturalist account, and remember your user name and password! https://www.inaturalist.org/signup
Bring: fully charged phone or digital camera, water, snack, field guides.
More Information: https://www.nature.org/en-us/get-involved/how-to-help/places-we-protect/frank-m-ewingrobinson-neck-preserve/
ONLINE REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. Limited to 10 people.
FREE
Please consider the safety, health, and well-being of all participants in our programs and stay home if the participant is ill. Full refunds will be given for cancellations due to health concerns.
On May 15, 2010 several members of the Western Mountains Chapter of MNPS went for a leisurely walk to botanize from the old schoolhouse to the lake and back. Using the species list created that morning 14 years ago, we’ll retrace this route to see how species richness has changed over time. Today’s walk will not come close to covering all the cool plants found in the over 400 acres of New Germany State Park. So pack a picnic lunch and spend the afternoon discovering more species on your own!
Leader: Liz McDowell & Ron Boyer
ONLINE REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. Limited to 13 people. Members have priority registration until April 1.
Notes: this is an easy to moderate walk ~ 1.5 miles in length with some hills, wet areas, and uneven tread due to tree roots & rocks.
Rest room facilities are available in the Lake House across the dam from Parking Lot #5.
Bring: insect spray for ticks, water, snack, field guides, & binoculars.
Cancellation Policy: this walk will be cancelled due to severe weather
Contact: For additional information email Liz at lmcd.mnps@gmail.com
Directions: included in registration confirmation.
Speaker: Jenan El-Hifnawi
Ask A Bumble Bee! Exploring Bumble Bee Floral Preference
This session explores the “Ask A Bumble Bee” (AABB) program; a citizen science initiative dedicated to understanding bumble bee floral preference. In addition to learning how to participate in the program, attendees will hear some of our latest research findings; ultimately walking away with practical information for creating and observing bee-friendly gardens!
Jenan is a Maryland native and local ecology enthusiast! After graduating from UMD with a bachelor’s in biology, she was awarded a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship to fund her Masters degree at UMD. She now is working towards this degree, exploring the impacts of the ice age on the evolution of various South American bee species. She also is the coordinator of the program we will discuss today; Ask A Bumble Bee!
Lear more about ASk a Bumblebee https://u.osu.edu/askabumble/