Maryland Native Plant Society

Adkins Arboretum on Maryland's Eastern Shore is seeking volunteers to assist the staff in the removal of invasive non-natives on the Arboretum's 400-acre site. Volunteers will be trained by the Arboretum staff. Workdays are Wednesday from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm.

Join the Holly Arboretum Volunteer Crew as they maintain the historic holly trees at Warrior's Rest. Work includes invasive vine removal, mulching, mowing & pruning. Bring work gloves, clippers and a smile.

Become an Urban Weed Warrior!

Baltimore City Recreation and Parks has started its own Urban Weed Warriors program.  Training will include weed ID, removal techniques, and native alternatives to exotic flora.  The training will lead to certification as a weed warrior, whereby volunteers can work on their own to help control non-native invasives in City parks.  There will also be information about organized weed-pull activities throughout the summer.

Weed Warrior activities are scheduled throughout the year at Cylburn Arboretum, Herring Run Park, Leakin Park, and Wyman Park.

We will focus on the old-growth South Woods section during the Fall and Winter. It's very interesting and beautiful. Join us in removing Creeping Euonymous, oriental Bittersweet, Japanese Honeysyckle, Winged Burning Bush, Multiflora Rose, etc.

Weed Warriors are needed for the forested areas surrounding the gardens. You will be given directions so that you may work independently, weekends or weekdays, on your own schedule.

Monthly removal work parties. Tools and refreshments are provided.

Cromwell Valley Park is a wonderful rural park just outside the Beltway on Cromwell Bridge Road.  The "Beehive Woods" is looking much better-we are almost down to the road.  The stream has now been revealed and is quite pretty.  We even found an old pump house in among the bushes and a little dam that had been created for collecting water for the farm. Our Habitat Restoration Team has a tough assignment to eliminate non-native invasives, and needs all the help we can get.  We have tackled multiflora rose, Japanese barberry, kudzu, garlic mustard, mile a minute and many others. There is still lots to do.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service would like help removing invasive exotics from Eastern Neck Wildlife Refuge (1730 Eastern Neck Road, Rock Hall, MD).

Rachel Cliche, a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologist and the invasive species specialist for the Chesapeake Marshlands National Wildlife Refuge Complex, will lead the outings and teach you how to identify the plants and management strategies.

The Greenbelt Homes, Inc., (GHI) housing cooperative in Old Greenbelt has 85.6 acres of stewardship forest as well as other wooded parcels. The Woodlands Committee is actively involved with urban forestry management. Regular work sessions for the removal/eradication of non-native invasive plant species and tree plantings are scheduled throughout the year. Also scheduled are bird counts and native landscaping seminars and guided hikes.

Regular invasive plant removal outings.

Join our team to remove the non-native invasive plants from our forests and nip these NIPs in the bud before they spread and threaten the special habitats and rare plants found on the Sanctuary. Those interested in continuing this effort throughout the year can adopt their very own plot to monitor, map, and manage the invasives.

More information on Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary Adopt-a-Plot Program.

The Friends of Lower Beaverdam Creek hosts the monthly removal of non-native invasive plants from Woodworth Park.

All age groups can help rescue our native flowers, ferns and other plants from the non-native species which are covering 30-90 percent of the surface area of our parks we have worked so hard to preserve. Tools are provided, but wear work gloves and sturdy shoes.

Weed Warriors Wanted!

The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission’s (M-NCPPC) Forest Ecologist is assembling a team of volunteers (Weed Warriors) to monitor and remove non-native invasive plant species in Montgomery County Parks, and we need your help! As a Weed Warrior volunteer, you will receive a short training session from the Forest Ecologist in the identification of, removal and control techniques for non-native invasive plants. Weed Warriors can then work at their own pace and choose a schedule that best suits them. Many current Weed Warriors live near a M-NCPPC Stream Valley Park or Regional Park and do their volunteer work while walking their dogs or taking an occasional hike through their neighborhood park. Whether you choose to work individually or in a group, your efforts will contribute to the control of non-native vegetation in the 32,500 acres of Montgomery County parkland.

Conservation Stewardship Project at the Middle Patuxent Environmental Area (MPEA) will be meeting on the fourth Tuesdays of the month from 9:00 a .m . - 11:30 a.m. from March to October . Each trip will have both an educational component and a work component.

Our endeavors will take place at Patapsco Valley State Park - right off Rte 1 in Elkridge. Light refreshments will be provided. Bring any pruning and digging gear you have, especially gauntlets.

The area is suffering from invasive everything - especially kudzu and ivy and grape vines, but we also have tree of heaven and mile a minute. It's a depressing sight seeing all the vines taking over and literally pulling the trees down. Can't wait til we drag them down and FREE THE TREES!

Help protect native plant biodiversity near DC!

The Nature Conservancy, in partnership with the National Park Service, will continue all season with invasive plant control workdays in the Potomac Gorge, a 15-mile stretch of river valley between Great Falls and Georgetown with over 200 rare plants and 5 globally rare plant communities. Volunteers are welcome to sign up for a variety of workdays, where we cut or pull some of the most problematic weeds, often in scenic areas. We will hold two more Weed Warrior trainings, where volunteers learn 13 non-native plant species, adopt an area and work independently in the National Parks in the Potomac Gorge.

Wishing for weeders in Laurel

Wholesome river with lots of curves seeks outgoing naturalists for invasive species removal and native plant propagation, possibly leading to complete restoration of the wild.

All are welcome. We'll be sure to have something to warm the body and soul.

Pot luck follows.

Battling "Botanical Bullies" in the Bear Pen Wildlands

Adult volunteers are needed to continue control efforts of Japanese spiraea 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. Kerrie Kyde, Invasive Plant Specialist with the Maryland Wildlife & Heritage Service, is providing technical support. Larry Maxim, Savage River State Forest manager, is providing work tools. Mike Gregory, Big Run & New Germany State Park manager, is providing free camping the night before for any out-of-town volunteers. Elk Ridge NatureWorks is coordinating the project and providing snacks and drinks for volunteers with assistance from the Savage River Watershed Association.

Friends of Sligo Creek (FOSC) has launched RIP, its Removing Invasive Plants Project. RIP is an all-out effort to remove the invasive vines and shrubs in Sligo Creek. We will gradually build a corps of residents to come out for regular organized events in each section of the park. We welcome anyone who would like to take part in the fun! All Friends of Sligo Creek plant removal activities are done under the auspices of the Parks Department.

Impromptu events in several sections are planned for late Winter to Spring. From mid-April to mid-June we will work on removing all garlic mustard. For a schedule, see http://www.fosc.org/RIPEventSched.htm. Sites are between New Hampshire Avenue and Arcola Avenue.

The Audubon Naturalist Society is seeking volunteers to help remove non-native plants from its Woodend Sanctuary in Chevy Chase. Volunteers will be trained by staff and/or experienced volunteers. Trained volunteers may be authorized to work independently or join group work sessions.