MEMBERSHIP DONATE
For ages 16 years through adult
Learn to identify some of our evergreen plants. We’ll explore the meadows and forest in search of the ferns, herbaceous plants, and trees that are green in the winter.
Location: Gatewood Preserve, 2800 Grays Road, Prince Frederick. Directions will be provided to those who register.
Co-sponsored by Calvert Nature Society
Leader: Karyn Molines
Wear warm clothes for standing around outside (we won't be moving very fast)
Bring (optional, but useful) a 10x hand lens, binoculars, field guides. Bring water, lunch and/or trail snacks.
There is no water on site. There is a portable toilet. Closest "modern facilities" are in Prince Frederick Town Center (there's a WaWa, Starbucks, etc)
Registration required
For information contact Calvert County Natural Resources, 410-535-5327
Speaker: Sarah F. Jayne
Jayne will discuss things we can all do to implement Dr. Doug Tallamy's guidelines for making our residential properties more welcoming to native insects, birds, and other wildlife by removing non-native and invasive plants, installing appropriate native plant species, and other actions. Jayne's book "Nature's Action Guide: How to Support Biodiversity and Your Local Ecosystem", published in 2024, is based on Dr. Tallamy's books "Bringing Nature Home: How You Can Sustain Native Wildlife" and "Nature's Best Hope" and principles encouraged by the Homegrown National Park initiative.
Sarah F. Jayne is an environmentalist, educator, and wildlife advocate who has gardened for over 45 years from California to the East Coast. Her book Nature's Action Guide: How to Support Biodiversity and Your Local Ecosystem is a companion to Doug Tallamy's Nature's Best Hope and features 15 urgent actions to support biodiversity. Sarah’s work has been featured in The Joe Gardener Show, A Way to Garden podcast, Homegrown National Park, and the New York Times.
YOU MUST REGISTER IN ORDER TO RECEIVE THE ZOOM LINK
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.
Most people think of orchids as exotic tropical beauties. But our state hosts over 40 species of orchids ranging from tiny beauties to eye catching blooms. We may walk past them (or on them!) in natural areas from the coastal plains to our western mountains. A typical walk in any state forest you may see 4 to 10 species, some common some rare. Among this diverse and incredibly prolific native orchid population, one of the showiest species is the slipper orchid genus Cypripedium, which Dr. Riley has successfully propagated over many years of growing experience. Dr. Riley’s expertise and curiosity have led him on many native orchid adventures, a few of which he will share with us tonight. Join us for an entertaining and inspiring peek at Maryland’s native orchids.
Speaker: Clark Riley, PhD
Clark Riley has been an active orchid grower since 1957. At the age of six, he got his first plant, a probably-collected Yellow Lady Slipper (Cypripedium pubescens) from a perennial nursery. The plant died a miserable death in a short time, but not before blooming and cementing a love of orchids that has lasted over half a century. He has labored ever since to make amends by promoting the sound cultivation of Lady Slippers. He grows a wide range of orchids, including several thousand terrestrials, hardy species, and Lady Slippers, Brazilian Laelias, and specialty Phalaenopsis, often from seed. He was the producer for the book and CD of Proceedings of the North American Native Terrestrial Orchid Conference. He is a life member and past president of the Maryland Orchid Society. He is a member of the American Orchid Society, where he is on the speaker’s bureau. He can be reached at DrRiley@aol.com or visit his website https://cyps.us "Cypripediums in the House and Garden"
Additional resources: https://northamericanorchidcenter.org (NAOCC), Orchids of Calvert County YouTube November 2025.
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:
University of Maryland Extension, 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.)
Zoom opens at 7:00PM for pre-program board update and member Q and 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!
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.
SAVE THE DATE! Saturday May 9, 2026
11th annual Mountain Maryland Native Plant Festival
New Germany State Park in Garrett County
Discover the important connection between native plants, people, & wildlife!
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!
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? Email Liz McDowell at wmtchapter@mdflora.org
Webinar Recordings page and on the MNPS YouTube channel
Program Resources and Handouts
