Chapters in Maryland

Wild Ones Chesapeake Bay is deeply rooted in natives!

Guest speaker: Kerry Wixted

Join us for our bi-monthly Garden Chat to connect and learn about “Charismatic Carnivorous Plants” with our guest speaker Kerry Wixted. Carnivorous plants seem like something from folklore, but did you know we have almost 20 species growing in Maryland? Learn about carnivorous plant adaptations and species that exist around the world and in Maryland.

Kerry Wixted is a vegetation ecologist with the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission. She has over 15 years of experience studying the flora and fauna of Maryland and has held positions with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. 

Event is open to the public. Wild Ones members are encouraged to attend and invite a guest!

Registration is required in advance for this meeting. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Want to win a free copy of “Carnivorous Plants” by Dan Torre? We are giving away this fascinating, beautifully illustrated book to one lucky attendee at random at the end of the event.

This beautiful garden is spread across nearly an acre of land. There are multiple rain gardens and constant reassessment of water flow and retention. There is continuous planting of native shrubs, trees, and perennials as chunks of grass and non-native ground cover are replaced with native plantings every year. Multiple non-native trees have been removed and more will be removed over time. In the last 3 years, about 40 trees and 7000 shrubs and perennials have been planted. The goal is to have a native, fully self-sustaining ecosystem.

**Members receive advanced access to register for events with limited space. If space is available, registration will open to the public 4-5 weeks prior to the event.

Cristina has been native gardening on her property in Poplar Hill (Baltimore 21210) for more than 25 years. She bought the property in the ‘90s and, as with most properties, it was riddled with non-native invasive plants and featured an excess of turf grass. She started by restoring one small area at a time, gathering and planting native plants in each section of her yard.

Cristina has managed to eliminate all turf grass on her property. Different heights of plants create a multi-layered garden design. Each section is heavily planted AND visually neat and intentional. Woodchip pathways guide visitors to each area in the landscape. The garden also features a pond in the sunniest part of the yard with flagstones, a cascading water feature and native plants.

**Members receive advanced access to register for events with limited space. If space is available, registration will open to the public 4-5 weeks prior to the event.

After moving to this 2/3-acre lot in Bel Air 3 years ago, creating native gardens and an oasis for wildlife has been the priority.

The established wooded section of the property has all native trees and has mostly been cleared of invasive plants allowing the native seed bank to flourish. 

The front yard was almost all turf grass and is in full sun. After receiving 5 deliveries from Chip Drop (estimated 80 cubic yards), a large portion of the grass was smothered creating beds to fill with native bushes and perennials and pathways to enjoy the gardens. 

The property includes a koi pond that has been transformed into a habitat that toads and frogs use for breeding in the spring and hibernating in the winter.

Many of the plants, particularly the bushes, remain small but hundreds of plants have been added and there is plenty to enjoy! 

**Members receive advanced access to register for events with limited space. If space is available, registration will open to the public 4-5 weeks prior to the event.

This event has sold out. Email [email protected] to be added to the waitlist. 

A collaboration between Wild Ones Chesapeake Bay, Deale Library, and Southern Maryland Native Plant People. Native plants will be shared with participants. A table with information regarding the benefits of native plants, Wild Ones membership information and plant lists for native plant conditions and garden design. Wild Ones Chesapeake Bay members will be available to answer questions and provide other guidance for including native plants in residential gardens.