Diverse Landscapes of Maryland's Piedmont and Western Shore

Event Co-Hosts: University of Maryland Extension Maryland Native Plants Program and University of Maryland School of Landscape Architecture

      

The Maryland Native Plant Society's fall conference features presentations, workshops, and field trips so you can 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.

Location: University of Maryland, College Park

Parking on Saturday: Free at Regents Drive Garage/Lot B (behind Hornbake Plaza). Other campus lots are free on the weekends if highlighted in green on UMD’s campus map (pdf) (webpage). Please read parking signs carefully to avoid expensive parking fines.

If you would like to volunteer on the day of the conference, email conference@mdflora.org.

MNPS Conference Agenda (PDF)

Day 1 | Saturday, September 12

7:45 - 8:45 AM Check-inand continental breakfast

8:00 AM - 2:00 PM Sponsor tables (indoors)

10:00 AM - 2:00 PM Plant sale by Maryland certified native plant nurseries, plus other booths (Hornbake Plaza, open to the public) (see sale booth details)

Morning Session (see presentation details)

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8:45 - 9:00 AM Welcome and logistics

9:00 - 10:00 AM Soldiers Delight's Serpentine Barrens: Restoration of a Globally Rare Ecosystem with Amazing Plants. Paula Becker (Wildlife and Heritage Service, Maryland Department of Natural Resources)

10:00 - 11:00 AM The Toxic Truth About Neonic Pesticides: Threats to Pollinators, Natural Ecosystems, and Our Health. Dan Raichel, Maya Korb (Natural Resources Defense Council)

11:00 - 11:15 AM Break

11:15 AM - 12:15 PM Restoring Vernal Pools and Preserving Their Fragile Habitats. Michael Hayslett (Virginia Vernal Pools, LLC)

12:15 - 12:20 PM Announcements

Afternoon Session

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12:20 - 1:00 PM Bag lunch pick-up

1:40 - 1:45 PM Field trip meet-up

1:45 - 2:00 PM Departure and driving to field trips (all locations within ½ hour drive)

2:00 - 5:00 PM Field trip or workshop (not a complete list)  Conference Registrants will receive an email with the complete list in order to choose a field trip or workshop.

Workshops Options:

1. Asteraceae Identification. Clare Walker, Ph.D.
2. Native Plants, Healthy Gardens: Mid-Atlantic Beauty at Home, Design workshop. Ann English and David Myers, Ph.D. (UMD Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture)
3. Plants to Dye For! Maile Neel, Ph.D. (UMD Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture, UMD Herbarium)
4. Sketching Asters – Draw One to Know One, Botanical drawing. Jen Brown
5. The Native Food Forest: Talk and Walk. Shane Brill (Perennial Nutritional Therapy)

Field trip examples out of many options:

• Buck Lodge Community Park, Powerline, and Bog (Adelphi)
• Ancient Vernal Pools of Adelphi Manor (MD)
• Oxbow Lake and a Whopping Wetland (Laurel)

5:00 - 5:15 PM Break

5:15 - 6:30 PM Poster session and reception

Evening Session (Additional $30 fee paid during conference registration)

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6:30 - 7:30 PM Dinner buffet

6:55 - 7:00 PM Announcement of poster awards

7:00 - 8:00 PM Conservation of Maryland’s Native Orchids. Melissa McCormick, Ph.D. (Smithsonian Environmental Research Center) (see presentation details)

8:00 – 8:05 PM Closing remarks and information about Day 2

Day 2 | Sunday, September 13

Field trips in the Maryland Piedmont and Western Shore

Various times. Field trips at various locations in the Maryland Piedmont and Western Shore Sign-ups available after field trips finalized.  Conference Registrants will receive an email with the complete list in order to choose a field trip or workshop.

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