Maryland Native Plant Society upcoming events

MNPS Field Trip: Late Spring at Rachel Carson Conservation Park (Sunday) (05/17/2026)

Sun, 17 May 2026 14:00:00 GMT

Join plant enthusiasts and weed warriors Jill Fonda Allen and Fred Proctor, as well as Lauren Hubbard, plant scientist, as we explore late spring in this botanically rich park.

Leader: Jill Fonda Allen, Fred Proctor, Lauren Hubbard

Location: Rachel Carson Conservation Park (Montgomery Parks)

ONLINE REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. Limited to 15 people. 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.

MNPS Field Trip: Suitland Bog (FRIDAY) (06/05/2026)

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 16:30:00 GMT

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.

For additional information: Please reach out to Kerry Wixted at Kerry.wixted@pgparks.com or 240-716-8389.

FREE EVENT

ONLINE REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. Registration Deadline: 6/3

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.

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.

MNPS Field Trip: Sedges (Carex) of the Chapman State Park (Saturday) (06/06/2026)

Sat, 06 Jun 2026 14:00:00 GMT

Leaders: Rod Simmons and Jorge Bogantes Montero

Location: Chapman State Park, 3452 Ferry Pl, Indian Head, MD 20640. Limited parking is available so we encourage carpooling.

Description: Join MNPS board members, Rod Simmons (plant ecologist) and Jorge Bogantes Montero (conservation biologist), as we explore sedges (Carex spp.) in one of the most scenic parks in Maryland, the historic Chapman State Park. As part of the "Year of the Sedge", we will explore the riparian ecosystems of this park right by the mighty Potomac River in Charles County. The park possesses some of the state's highest Carex diversity in its gorgeous wetlands and floodplain forests.

Difficulty Level and/or Trail Mileage: Easy to moderate, about 1 mile.

Speaker Bios: Rod Simmons is a plant ecologist and conservation biologist, with a background in biology, botany, and geology who has extensively surveyed the flora and natural communities of the mid-Atlantic region, especially the inner Coastal Plain, Fall Zone, and Piedmont of the greater Washington, D.C. area. He is a Research Associate with the National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution; a member of the Virginia Botanical Associates; former contract botanist for NatureServe, National Park Service, and others; and works closely with the Virginia and Maryland natural heritage programs. He is the author of numerous technical reports, papers, and articles, and has published in scientific journals. He is a member and a past president of the Botanical Society of Washington and serves on the boards of the Virginia and Maryland native plant societies. He is a frequent lecturer and field trip leader for various organizations. He recently retired as Natural Resource Manager and Plant Ecologist for the City of Alexandria, Virginia.

Jorge Bogantes Montero is a Natural Resources Program Manager at the Anacostia Watershed Society in Bladensburg, MD. He leads ecological restoration efforts on public parklands in the Anacostia River watershed (in both DC and MD), including wetland restoration, tree plantings, meadow creation, SAV propagation, mussel propagation, wildlife monitoring, and invasive plant management. Mr. Bogantes Montero has a Bachelor's degree in Natural Resource Management and Protection from the Universidad Estatal a Distancia in San Jose, Costa Rica, his native country. Before moving to the U.S., Jorge worked in his country in issues related to tropical biodiversity conservation.

For additional information: Jorge Bogantes Montero, jmontero@anacostiaws.org/ 202-560-6107.

ONLINE REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. Limited to 25 people. Registration through May 29, 2026 for members only. Directions will be included in registration confirmation.

Bring: Closed-toe shoes, water, sunscreen and repellent.

Cancellation Policy: Event will proceed in drizzle but be cancelled if heavy rain or thunderstorm.

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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 Field Trip: Wye Farm: A Model Restoration of Native Wildflower Meadows and Grassland Habitat (SATURDAY) (06/06/2026)

Sat, 06 Jun 2026 14:00:00 GMT

AN EASTERN SHORE CHAPTER EVENT.

Leader: Jon Shaw
Co-Leaders: Cristina Niciporciukas/Wayne Bell

Location: Wye Farm

Description: Wye Farm is a 450‑acre historic estate (ca. 1800) in Queen Anne’s County. It is the family farm of Anne Habberton and is co‑managed with her husband, wildlife artist Jonathan Shaw. In 2021, thirty‑three acres of former cropland were converted to native grasses and wildflowers. Since then, the fields have been managed as early‑successional wildlife habitat through selective mowing and invasive‑plant control.

The transformation has been remarkable. The wildflower meadows provide a shifting display of color throughout the growing season and support an impressive diversity of pollinators, from bees to butterflies. They also offer food and year‑round cover for birds, including declining grassland species such as Grasshopper Sparrow, Field Sparrow, Eastern Meadowlark, and Northern Bobwhite. The project is now considered one of the most successful native wildflower restorations in the region.

Jonathan Shaw will guide us through the heart of the restoration and explain how the habitat is managed to support both plant productivity and wildlife. Expect fields alive with butterflies and other pollinators—and American Goldfinches making the most of the abundant seed crop.

We will mostly follow well maintained paths but even those can have ticks.

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 25 people. Registration Deadline: 06/04

Directions will be included in registration confirmation. A waiver will be signed at the location.

Bring: Please bring water and snacks. Please wear hat, boots and use insect/tick repellant.

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.