Central Maryland Research and Education Center Covering 7/1 through 12/31/2018

Bay-Wise Master Gardener Update

To: Bay-Wise Master Gardeners and MG Coordinators; Sherry Frick; Nancy Allred;

Erin Mellenthin; Alexa Smarr; Penny Jacobs; Courtney Coddington; Doris Behnke; Luke Gustafson; Emily Zobel; Susan Trice; Ashley Bodkins; Joyce Browning; Georgia Eacker; Sabine Harvey; Esther Mitchell; Rachel Rhodes; Mary Antonelli; Michaela Boley; Annette Cormany; Ginny Rosenkranz; Stephanie Mathias; Sara Tangren; Beth Bukoski; and Jon Traunfeld

From: Wanda MacLachlan Subject: Bay-Wise Update Date: January, 2019

Greetings Maryland weather frequently made headlines in 2018. This was the wettest year on record, according to the rain gauge at BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport, where our official precipitation amounts are measured. We shattered the 2003 record of 62.66 inches with 71.82 inches in 2018. Interestingly, we just about equaled our yearly average amount of precipitation (43.45“) just in the months of May, July, September and November (42.23”). Although the airport is where our official readings are made, Catonsville and Thurmont recorded more than 80 inches of precipitation this year! Of course, we began this New Year with temperatures reaching 61 degrees. What will 2019’s weather be like? How will that affect our gardening practices? Will we see even more invasive species moving into our area because of our evolving climate? What’s your prediction?

Certified Landscapes Despite all the rain, Bay-Wise Master Gardeners certified 126 new landscapes during the second half of the year. This is up from the 77 certifications during the first half of the year. See our new table on page 2 that summarizes all Bay-Wise Certified Landscapes by County. According to my records, we’ve had ten new Bay-Wise Master Gardener landscapes certified as demonstration sites since our last newsletter. The names of the proud owners, the counties where they live, along with the dates of certification of these special landscapes are listed at the top of the following page.

to you for your landscape certifications.

(410) 531-5973 FAX (410) 531-5567 wtm@umd.edu ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 11975 HOMEWOOD ROAD ELLICOTT CITY, MARYLAND 21042-1545 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

LOCAL GOVERNMENTS U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE COOPERATING ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY PROGRAMS

Page 2 of 13

2018 Certified Demo Landscapes Between 7/1 & 12/31/18

(listed by certification date) First Name Last Name County B-W Training Demo Certification Date Betty McAtee Queen Anne’s 9/29/2018 11/3/2018 Cathy Schmidt Talbot 9/29/2018 6/11/2018 Harriet Beck Charles 4/3/2014 8/21/2018 Debbie Green Washington 3/11/2013 9/8/2018 Moira Weldon Frederick 10/20/2006 9/18/2018 Gayle Jayne Queen Anne's 11/11/2015 10/3/2018 Barbara Graham Queen Anne's 9/29/2018 10/6/2018 Rebecca Shillingburg Frederick 8/11/2016 10/8/2018 Judy Fulton Baltimore 5/13/2013 10/19/2018 Harry Merritt Baltimore 9/13/2014 11/9/2018

2018 Certified Landscapes by County Between 7/1 & 12/31/18

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BW MG 2 1 2 3 1 1 10 MG 3 1 1 2 2 5 2 3 1 20 Client 32 4 17 5 13 2 4 4 3 84 Non-residential 2 3 2 1 2 1 1 12 TOTALS 37 5 23 7 3 18 7 8 7 6 3 2 126

Bay-Wise Advanced Trainings In 2018, we only had one Bay-Wise Advanced Training on the eastern shore, which increased our ranks by 16 new Bay-Wise Master Gardeners. Since our inception, we have trained 1,386 Bay-Wise Master Gardeners around the state. In September, Queen Anne’s and Talbot Counties hosted a training that graduated 16 new Bay-Wise Master Gardeners with 4 returnees sitting in for an update. Congratulations to Lise Crafton, Margaret Kauder, Bobbie Barbara Kestenbaum, and Lisa Marcus from Anne Arundel, Kathy Burtman from Dorchester, Mary Gedney, Jan MacDonald, Paula Reeder and Nancy Robson from Kent, Barbara

Graham, Jacqueline Kelly, Larry Lorenz, and Dora Roderick from Queen Anne’s, and Missy Corley, June Middleton, and Cathy Schmidt from Talbot Counties, respectively. We were also happy to see Kit Foster, Gayle Jayne, Carol Jelich and Karen Wimsatt from Queen Anne’s County returning for a refresher course.

We expect great things from you all!

Upcoming Advanced Trainings So far, we have two scheduled Bay-Wise advanced training sessions for this spring. Calvert County is conducting training in March, and Frederick & Washington Counties are hosting training in April.

Page 3 of 13 For more details, visit our website, www.extension.umd.edu/baywise, and look for the link in the top right corner to find out when the next training in your area will occur. As always, if you haven’t attended one in a while and would like a refresher, you are welcome to sit in on an advanced training if space is available. Ask the contact person whether there is room in the class for you. You don’t have to pay the registration fee but you must bring your own HomeWork binder because you won’t receive a new one (unless you pay the registration fee). To schedule an advanced training for your county, assemble a group of at least 20 Master Gardeners (don’t forget you can work with other counties to reach your minimum of 20 attendees), select three training dates and a venue and then contact Wanda MacLachlan to work out a schedule.

Bay-Wise Statistics THANK YOU to each and every Master Gardener who has taken the Bay-Wise advanced training. Since the beginning of the program in 1996, you have certified a total of 2,166 client landscapes and 241 non-residential landscapes. In addition, 649 of you have had your landscapes certified as demo sites (and 492 are still maintained as such)! Since our inception, we have trained a total of 1,386 Master Gardeners as Bay-Wise volunteers and 400 of you are still actively participating on your local committees.

News From the Counties: Anne Arundel It looks like this team has again won the award for largest number of certified landscapes! Co-chairs, Jim MacNicholl and Robin Gill, report that their committee held steady at 35 members over the past six months. They certified 35 client landscapes and 2 non-residential sites (Saint Luke’s Restoration of Nature and Magothy River Pre-School). They currently have 11 ongoing consultations that should soon lead to certifications. Longtime co-chairs, Jim and Robin report the following: “We participated in the following publicized activities: Cape St. Claire Garden Club Presentation, Magothy River Association Annual Meeting, Watershed Stewards Academy Annual Conference, Galesville Heritage Society Presentation, Davidsonville Green Expo, Hillsmere Garden Club Presentation, London Town Plant Sale, St. Andrew by the Bay Earth Day, Waugh Chapel Elementary Presentations, Bodkin Elementary Environmental Day, Ask-A-MG Plant Clinic at Riva Farmers' Market, Cape St. Claire Native Plant Sale, AA County Fair, Crofton Library's Celebrate Trees event. “We also received a very nice write up in our local paper this past year. The link below will take you to the article. http://www.capitalgazette.com/neighborhoods/ac-cm-around-broadneck-20180128-story.html” Baltimore County Leslie Erickson and co-Chair, Debbie Bacharach, inform us that their 34+/- active committee members have certified 2 demo, 18 client, and 3 non-residential (Zion United Church of Christ, Baltimore County Game & Fish Association, and the Park School garden) landscapes in the past six months. Since July 1, their team taught Bay-Wise principles to 615 adults and 515 youth at 9 different events. They report: “It was a tough year in the Bay-Wise

Page 4 of 13 demonstration garden with high heat alternating with rain all summer. Our rain garden got a workout and the weeds were quite happy. It was, understandably, hard to entice volunteers out to pull them.”

Baltimore County Bay-Wise Master Gardener, Tom Potyraj demonstrating the watershed model during the Jacksonville

Elementary School STEAM night Baltimore City Co-chairs, Dorothy Wells, Debbie Schwartz, and Stephanie Chupein, report that their committee grew to 40 since July. They’ve certified 5 client landscapes during the second half of 2018. Here is their report: “On 9/9/18 the Baltimore City Bay-Wise committee members were treated by Patty Parsley of the Living Classroom Foundation (and also a Master Naturalist through the Baltimore Aquarium) to a tour of Masonville Cove. Masonville Cove is an urban wildlife sanctuary consisting of 70 acres of water and 54 acres of cleaned-up wetlands, nature trails, and a protected bird sanctuary. It is part of the Shores of Baltimore Land

Trust. The property was created by Maryland Port Administration (MPA) to provide a place to put dredged materials. The property is a Dredged Material Containment Facility (DMCF) so the ground is all capped to keep any pollutants contained. In spite of what is below the ground, above ground is a very wild and wonderful place tucked in between I-895, the Patapsco River, a parking lot where cars are unloaded from ships and the Hanover St. Bridge. The day we were there (during the only 2 hours that it didn’t rain) it was teaming with wildlife. Masonville Cove is open to the public and I recommend making a visit, especially if you are a bird enthusiast.” Calvert New Chair, Melanie Crowder, (with the help of Judy Kay, Karen Anderson, and Deborah Noyes) shares that the Calvert County committee of 24 kept themselves busy giving presentations to 20 residents at 2 different sessions and staffing exhibits for 360 adults and 136 youth during 2 separate events. Melanie shares, “Calvert County Master Gardeners received many requests for community and home owner Bay-Wise activities in the latter half of 2018. Educational outreach was provided to two homeowner associations including Scientists Cliffs and Simmonds Ridge. Results included 1 homeowner certification and 3 consultations. Simmonds Ridge Community also extended an invitation for Master Gardeners to return to suggest Bay-Wise plantings for the shared common space. This activity is targeted for the spring of 2019. This is a relatively new community, where the developer removed existing trees and shrubs and replaced them with non-native selections. The homes border a woodland area with slopes that includes low lying areas that stay wet. “Bay-Wise education was provided at local community events including “Taste the Beaches” in North County and “Patuxent Appreciation Days” on Solomon’s Island in Southern Calvert. Master Gardeners provided educational materials, Bay-

Page 5 of 13 Wise displays and interactive educational activities for youths. These popular events resulted in 4 Bay-Wise consultations and 2 certifications. Materials at the Master Gardener table at the “North Beach Farmers Market” included Bay-Wise information and led to several homeowner visits.

Calvert County Bay-Wise Master Gardener, Penny Moran, handing a

free native pollinator plant to a gentleman at the Patuxent Appreciation Days event

“A total of 11 Bay-Wise consultations and 7 certifications were completed from July to December, including 5 residential and 2 non-residential landscapes. Non-residential certifications were provided to Calverton School as well as Bowensville Farm and Nursery. Calverton is a private school (with grades 1-12) attended by an international student population. Parents at Calverton have previously worked with the Master Gardeners to create a now flourishing native plant garden in the courtyard area. “At our Bay-Wise team meeting held in August we reviewed current educational resources and homeowner packets. We also created new packets and discussed best practices for Bay-Wise visits. A January Bay-Wise committee meeting is planned to discuss 2019 goals and to strategize options to reduce printing costs and improve electronic communications, such as development of the Calvert Bay-Wise web page.

“Plans are underway for Calvert County to host an Advanced Bay-Wise advanced training in March 2019. Details are included below: We are pleased to announce that Calvert County will host Advanced Bay-Wise Advanced Training on the 2 consecutive Wednesdays of March 13 and 20, 2019 from 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM at the Extension Office in Prince Frederick. A third field day is also required date/ location TBD. All three days are required for successful completion. Pre-registration is required and is not confirmed until $50.00 payment fee (check made payable to the University of Maryland) has been received. There is no cost for those who are taking the course as a refresher (and are active Master Gardeners) who have already successfully completed Advanced Bay-Wise Advanced Training. Class size is limited to the first 30 registrants. To Register: Call the Calvert Extension Office at 410-535-3662. You will be asked to provide the following: name, address, phone number, Year/County you became a Master Gardener, if Bay-Wise retraining - need Year/County BW Training ***Registration is not confirmed until your check has been received at the Calvert Extension Office. Make check payable to the University of Maryland. Check must include name, address, phone number, the year you became a Master Gardener. Make sure to state that this is for the Advanced Bay-Wise Training. Mailing Address Calvert County Extension Office 30 Duke Street P.O. Box 486 Prince Frederick, MD 20678 Main: 410 535-3662 Alt Phone 1: 301 855-1150 Fax: 410 535-2438 Visit Web Page Please call the Calvert County Extension Office to register or if you have questions. You may also mail your check to the Extension Office with the above information.”

Page 6 of 13 Carroll No report submitted. Cecil Master Gardener Coordinator, Doris Behnke, reports “Cecil County is in a non-active state for Bay-wise at the present time. We are doing some restructuring.” Charles Chair, Janet McGrane informs us that their 28-member team certified one demo and two client landscapes the second half of the year. They presented two “Who Polluted the Potomac?” simulations to 70 attendees, including 58 youth.

Charles County Bay-Wise Master Gardener, Gail Walker having

students from Grace Lutheran look for the Potomac River on a map in preparation for the “Who Polluted the Potomac?” activity

Janet reports: “On October 9th, four Master Gardeners presented Who Polluted the Potomac to 3rd, 4th and 5th graders at Grace Lutheran School in La Plata Maryland. The children were very engaged and had lots of questions. Many of the

children were unaware of watersheds and how they were connected to the Chesapeake Bay. Using a large Maryland map placed on the floor, we had the children find their location (school), town, county, rivers and the Bay. Many of the children in all the classes were able to think of creative ways they could improve their own environments including talking to their parents about what they learned. The presentations ran an hour and if time allowed could have gone longer. The teachers were supportive and very appreciative of the event. We have received additional inquires to provide this activity to more students.” Frederick Chair, Christina Renshaw, is supported by Subcommittee chairs: Barbara Millunzi, certifications; and Suzanne Hill, education. The Frederick Co. Committee grew to 29 active members. They certified 2 demo, 15 client, and 1 non-residential landscape (Schley Park) sites so far this year. They also taught Ephemeral Native Plants for Ephemeral/Oligolectic Bees to 75 other Master Gardeners at 3 meetings. Harford Chair, Beatrice Filburn, dealing with the remnants of our spring floods, was unable to submit her mid-year report. She apologizes and has shared her committee’s entire years’ worth of activities. Their committee consists of 10-15 members who certified 7 client landscapes this year. They also had one consultation that should lead to a certification in 2019. We appreciate their perseverance through such a tough year. Bea informs us, “MG’s Joan Parris, Bea Filburn, and Bryant DeBruyne hosted a Bay-Wise information table at the Aberdeen Proving Ground Environmental Fair September 18, 2018. Bay-Wise related information was distributed and 8 interested parties signed up for future Bay-Wise certifications. Our scheduling efforts this year have been dampened by record rains making it difficult to achieve outdoor certification reviews. We will

Page 7 of 13 continue to pursue more certifications in the coming year.” Howard Bay-Wise Master Gardener Chair, Linda Decker reports that their committee of 46 did not certify any landscapes the second half of the year. This does not mean that they were inactive. Read on to see how busy they have been. Here is Linda’s report: “Since the catastrophic rainfall and flooding in Ellicott City this year, residents of Howard County have become acutely aware of the need to manage storm water. Through the first half of the year, members of the Bay-Wise team went to 12 homes to consult with homeowners about their properties and offer advice on landscaping solutions to deal with heavier than normal rainfall. During the second half of the year, the activity intensified. We involved thirty of our Bay-Wise Master Gardeners and completed an additional 29 visits to residents. Sylvia Huestis, Ruth Vriend, Linda Decker and Kent Phillips led multiple visits this year assembling teams of 2-4 Bay-Wise Master Gardeners to make home visits. This was followed by a formal report documenting the issues and proposed solutions. They included property schematics overlaid with topographic data from the Howard County interactive mapping system which highlighted the water flow. Recommendations might have included construction of dry stream beds, installation of rain gardens or other conservation landscaping. Lists of native plants suitable for the site were also provided. Homeowners received a copy of a client handbook prepared by our team covering a variety of landscaping topics and information on accessing state and local programs. For example, the Columbia Association and Howard County both have rain garden programs which will cover 75% of the cost of installing a rain garden. Other programs for tree planting or installation of riparian buffers are not widely known and our teams help connect the public with the appropriate programs. “Alison Milligan presented the Bay-Wise message at the Maryland State Fair with six lectures on Bay-

Wise Landscaping and Conservations Landscaping for Pollinators. Paul Beares met with local garden clubs to also share the Bay-Wise message. Additionally, Barb Schmeckpeper aided by other volunteers conducted classes at the Alpha Ridge landfill location where we distribute free rain barrels to Howard County residents. The county acquires used food grade barrels and readies them for hardware. We provide information on assembling the rain barrel and proper installation and use. Since June, fifty-four people participated in these classes and a total of 31 rain barrels were distributed bringing the annual total to 75. Also at the landfill, we have a demonstration garden. It has matured since its original planting and volunteers from the Bay-Wise team led by Dick Hammerschlag and Mark Wallace have reworked the design to trial native plants in an area beset with a large deer population. They published Alpha Ridge Trial Garden Synoptic Report in November detailing the first year results. “In addition to formal speaking engagements, we took our trifold exhibits and handouts to the Robinson Nature Center for two events. “Wild for Water” involved six of our Bay-Wise Master Gardeners and together they reached 58 residents including 27 children. A month later at the Robinson Open House another team interacted with 48 people including 29 children. In the past we have been disappointed with our participation at Robinson, but this year with the inclusion of materials targeting children including puzzles, coloring sheets and stickers designed by Nancy Lemich we were able to entertain children with a Bay-Wise message while also imparting information to their parents.

Page 8 of 13 “In October, we again participated at the University of Maryland College of Agriculture & Natural Resources CMREC open house. Bay-Wise Master Gardeners were on hand to greet visitors and explain Bay-Wise concepts. We brought our Native Plant display and used materials with children to reinforce the interdependence of native plants and pollinators. “In August we installed a display at the Miller Library in Ellicott City on the life cycle of the monarch butterfly and steps the public can take to protect and foster them. The exhibit created by Nancy Lemich and Sherry Conklin is not the first display this team has installed at Miller. Because the message is accompanied by such eye-catching artwork, the librarians at Miller have asked for additional educational displays.” Prince George’s Franchella Kendall, Chair, reports that their committee of 54 members has certified 6 client and 2 non-residential sites (Friends of Lower Beaver Dam-Magnolia Springs and Friends of Lower Beaver Dam-Ken’s Corner) within the past six months. Franchella adds that “In partnership with the Cheverly Green infra-structure Committee initiative, we certified two non-residential areas that the Friends of the Lower Beaver Dam Creek maintain.

Instructional sign showing the types of native vegetation found along

the Lower Beaver Dam Creek Trail

“The members of this group spend many hours cleaning up Tributaries of the Lower Beaver Dam Creek that flows through Cheverly. They maintain a nature trail and remove invasive plants. The Cheverly Green Infra-structure Committee plans to continue the Bay-Wise promotion through May 2019.” Queen Anne’s Chair, Debbie Pusey, reports that their committee certified 3 demo and 4 client landscapes while making 3 consultations that have not yet lead to certifications over the last 6 months. Debbie shares, “The QAC Bay-Wise Program partnered with Shore Rivers, our local river keepers association to offer a river friendly yards program. Shore Rivers uses targeted, science-based outreach from water quality monitoring data to target residential areas. With this data on hand workshops are held in communities that could benefit from nutrient and sediment reduction strategies thus creating a “River-Friendly Yard.” For this program homeowners learn that a river-friendly yard is one that mimics the natural environment and filters runoff with the goal of improving water quality. Through this partnership Shore Rivers and the Master Gardeners offered 6 workshops on Bay-Wise Landscaping and creating River-Friendly Yards to homeowners throughout the Mid-Shore reaching over 80 individuals.” St. Mary’s Linda Crandell Chair, reports that their small committee of 5 members is beginning to gain ground again. They certified 6 client landscapes this past summer and fall. They’ve also been reaching out to their community at 2 events (that ran at the same time) reaching over 650 youth and adults. Linda shares: “The second half of 2018 has been very exciting for the small, but dedicated Bay-Wise Team in St. Mary’s County. Our new MG Coordinator is Mary Kathryn Antonelli, and she is very interested in, and supportive of, our Bay-Wise activities. In August she spent a day coming with us on Bay-Wise visits where we certified the properties of two new St. Mary’s County Master Gardeners.

Page 9 of 13 During the last six months we have certified six properties and because of our outreach activities this fall our list of residents to follow-up with has grown to more than ten. One of the most wonderful things about the properties we have certified recently is that although the properties are all very (very, very) different, each one is a wonderful example of the potential for diversity in a Bay-Wise landscape. They have also provided us the opportunity to reach out, here in St. Mary’s County, with the UME MG mandate of educating residents about safe, effective, and sustainable horticultural practices that build healthy gardens, landscapes, and communities… and of course a healthier Chesapeake Bay Watershed.” Talbot Master Gardener Coordinator, Mikaela Boley, reports that their committee of 23 certified 1 demo and 2 client landscapes during the second half of 2018. They also have 13 consultations expected to lead to certifications in 2019. They also taught Bay-Wise principles to 123 garden club members and conference attendees. Here is their report: “The Talbot County committee has 23 active Bay-Wise trained members. As a follow-up to this year’s work, we will look to complete 5 certifications in the first half of 2019. “The committee is excited to welcome new interns Rita Mhley, Marilyn Reedy, Sheilah Egan, Mary Ellen Olcese and Cathy Schmidt. For all of our Bay-Wise meetings and activities, we welcome Master Gardeners and interns who have not yet been able to go through Bay-Wise advanced training so they can build their knowledge. We’re so pleased with the ongoing work last year’s interns Nancy Gooding and Kathi Bangert have done to update their project at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum (CBMM) in St. Michaels. The plantings are along a walk adjacent to the St. Michaels Harbor that floods several times each season. This exposure to brackish water has presented a challenge that Nancy and Kathi have been watching closely to determine if better plant selections will withstand heartily these conditions.

Please come visit the CBMM in St. Michaels to see this, the rain garden work led by Mary Sue Traynelis! Both display a beautiful array of native plants. “In addition to meeting with homeowners and conducting consultations and certifications, Talbot County’s Bay-Wise program continues to evolve with ways to engage Master Gardeners and community residents in expanding Bay-Wise best practices. One Bay-Wise Master Gardener Reenie Rice, wrote an article in a popular local publication, Attractions Magazine, to reach and educate homeowners about the Bay-Wise program. The article featured information on Bay-Wise best practices, living shorelines and the upcoming 25th Anniversary of the Bay-Wise program. Reenie also spearheaded the Master Gardener effort to host an “Ask a Master Gardener” table at the local farmer’s markets to help homeowners with a multitude of questions; Bay-Wise trained and other Master Gardeners have helped out at table. “Our Bay-Wise group focuses on creating learning opportunities for our members so we are better prepared for Bay-Wise consultations. Early on in the year, Bay-Wise Master Gardeners, Janet Mackey and Pat Jessup, took the initiative to update materials used on Bay-Wise Consultations and Certifications, including standardizing the format for the report we send after each consultation. The group held monthly meetings from spring through fall in members’ gardens to observe and learn about different approaches to implementing Bay-Wise best practices. These experiences help us offer practical suggestions on Bay-Wise consultations. We currently are working on developing template lists of suggested native plants that meet the requirements in the Bay-Wise Yardstick (such plants to attract beneficial insects or to create a conservation landscape). We include plants that we know grow well in Talbot County and are fairly easy to find to purchase. We have also organized a native plant sale for our members and plan to repeat it next spring, expanding orders to Master Gardeners from neighboring counties. We organized a field trip to Chesapeake Natives to

Page 10 of 13 learn how they propagate native plants, and held a native seed workshop where members cleaned seeds, prepared them to be stratified in our refrigerators for spring planting, and potted seeds to stratify during the winter outside. By growing more natives, our members are better able to make specific native plant recommendations. “Janet Mackey developed a presentation that could be used by any Bay-Wise Master Gardener group about the Bay-Wise program and inspire members of the audience to request a consultation. At the close of the initial presentation made by Janet and Lisa Ghezzi at the invitation of Oxford Garden Club, six members requested Consultations. “Talbot Bay-Wise Master Gardeners continue to create and maintain demonstration gardens as a way to teach best practices, showcase native plants and reach prospective clients. Recently, we partnered with YMCA of the Chesapeake to plant a new demonstration garden in the heavily used parking area. The program intends to certify the area in early 2019, which features xeriscaping, low-growing plants that will support several season’s worth of blooming. The area has an added challenge of height restrictions for visibility purposes. “Our winter programs include offering a public showing of the movie, “Hometown Habitat: Stories of Bringing Nature Home,” and conducting a hands-on workshop on cleaning and sharpening garden tools. The screening of the film “Hometown Habitat” took place on January 9th at 2:00 P.M. at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum Van Lennep Auditorium. This event was free and open to the public, and included a discussion afterwards with recommendations for the audience.” Washington Master Gardener Coordinator, Annette Cormany and Co-chair, Ann Aldrich report that although their committee has dropped to 12, they’re still active. They certified 1 demo and 1 non-residential

landscape (Boonsboro Library) over the past six months. They conducted a workshop for 23 residents in August. Ann reports, “The Bay-Wise team created and staffed an educational display for our annual Pollinator Palooza event which links 3 Master Gardener teaching gardens on campus. We reached 395 children and adults who learned the importance of protecting pollinators. “We developed and taught a demo garden workshop on creating meadows and certified our teaching gardens at Boonsboro Library where monthly activities range from classes and plant clinics to children’s storytimes. “We taught visitors about invasive plants and native plant substitutes at a plant clinic at Hagerstown City Market and shared Bay-Wise garden practices at our Boonsboro Days event. “The Bay-Wise team also helped to plant several pollinator gardens in public spaces including an elementary school and 2 parks in partnership with the Monarch Alliance, a local grassroots organization that promotes pollinator protection.”

More Assorted Stuff Meet Your New State Master Gardener Coordinator Stephanie Mathias recently joined the HGIC staff as the Maryland State Coordinator for the UME Master Gardener Program. She graduated from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County with a B.S. in Environmental Science and has since worked with the Coastal Bays Program, the Aquarium, and GreenTrust Alliance. Stephanie enjoys working and learning outdoors and has particular interest in

Page 11 of 13 native plants and conservation landscaping. She’s looking forward to meeting you all! New Bay-Wise Logo & Links By now you’ve probably noticed that we have a different logo. While revamping their logo to meet University of Maryland Extension’s new standards, the HGIC created a new logo for the Bay-Wise program. The purpose was to visually unify major Master Gardener programs for our audiences. Former Master Gardener Advanced Training Coordinator, Alicia Bembenek, worked hard to make this transition from old to new easy. She created links to documents explaining everything you need to know to use the new logo – including where, when, how, which variation, and which file type. There’s even a short instructional PowerPoint. Please take the time to read the appropriate documents here: https://umd.app.box.com/v/MasterGardenerLogo. I have referred to these documents on numerous occasions as I update my documents. When you are ready to print fliers, order new T-shirts, or any other promotional items. Click http://umd.box.com/v/UMEBayWiseProgram to access all new Bay-Wise logos. The Bay-Wise signs are also transitioning to the new logo and color. To make this transition easier, our original heron is still prominent on the sign although the color of the sign is a much grayer blue than the original. New Bay-Wise PowerPoint Templates HGIC asks that we now use the new Bay-Wise PowerPoint presentation templates they’ve created (using the new logos) whenever we create a slide presentation. They are under the Bay-Wise section on this page: https://extension.umd.edu/mg/volunteer-resources/presentations-templates-and-teaching-tools

Or, if you are starting from the MG Homepage, click on Volunteer Resources Presentations, Templates, and Teaching Tools. Have You Measured the Square Footage of Your Property for the Bay-Wise Statewide Survey Yet? One of the overall goals of the Bay-Wise Landscape Management program is to improve water quality in the Chesapeake Bay. That change can only come about if each of makes individual changes on our own properties. Each little change does add up. While you and I, personally, can’t officially measure the improvements to the bay, we can measure the changes we’ve made in our own landscapes. How many of those changes have we collectively made? The only way to find out is for you to tell me. I would like to survey you to determine how many and what type of changes you’ve made to your landscape as a result of being a Bay-Wise Master

Gardener. Be on the lookout for a Qualtrics survey in your e-mailbox within the next

several months. I’m still working on creating the survey but while you wait, there is something you can do, namely, measure the square footage of your property, separating out your impervious surfaces, (house, driveway, sidewalks, patio, etc.), from your pervious ones, like your lawn (and in some cases former lawn) and garden areas. This is one of the measurements needed to determine Bay-Wise improvements to your landscape. Watershed Moments Workshop The Carroll County Forestry Board is sponsoring a workshop entitled "Watershed Moments" that will include a series of presentations by experts on topics ranging from flood risk management to protecting honeybees and other pollinators. Morning coffee, snacks and lunch is included in the registration fee of $51.75. The workshop will be held March 23, 2019 at Wesley Freedom United Methodist Church in Sykesville, MD.

Page 12 of 13 Click here to register on-line, or visit the Carroll County Forestry Board website at www.carrollcountyforestryboard.org. To register by mail print out the agenda and mail in the tear-off registration form with your check payment. Registrations are due by March 15, 2019. Contact Donna Davis, donnal.davis@maryland.gov, or 410-848-9290 for more information New Regulations for Lawn Fertilizer Use Took Effect in October 2018 The Maryland Department of Agriculture announced that new regulations regarding the use of fertilizer products took effect October 1 as a result of changes made to Maryland’s Lawn Fertilizer Law during the 2018 legislative session. The changes make regulations for organic fertilizer products consistent with those for synthetic products. Additionally, they give professional fertilizer applicators more choices in the products they can use. Specifically, the new law addresses the following:

• Allows lawn care professionals to apply up to a half-pound of soluble or insoluble nitrogen per 1,000 square feet from November 15—December 1. Currently, only soluble nitrogen is allowed.

• Removes the requirement that organic fertilizer products be “low phosphate.” The change allows these products to be applied according to the University of Maryland’s recommendations and soil test results.

The Fertilizer Use Act of 2011—also known as Maryland’s Lawn Fertilizer Law—authorizes the Maryland Department of Agriculture’s Nutrient Management Program to regulate the use of fertilizer on turf not used for agricultural purposes. It requires both homeowners and lawn care professionals to follow the University of Maryland’s fertilizer recommendations and use best management practices when fertilizing lawns. In addition, the law requires lawn care professionals to be licensed and certified by the Maryland Department of Agriculture to apply fertilizer to the properties they manage. The department maintains a list of certified lawn care professionals

along with additional information on Maryland’s Lawn Fertilizer Law on their website at www.mda.maryland.gov/fertilizer. For additional information on the Maryland’s Nutrient Management Program, visit the program’s website. Native Plants for the Small Yard Kate Brandes, Conservation Landscaping Program Manager at the Lehigh Gap Nature Center in Slatington, PA, wrote a 60-page, book on home landscaping to support the local ecology. The book is written for landscapes in the ridge and valley physiographic province – hardiness zone 6B (-5 – 0 degrees F.) so many of the plants recommended in the book will thrive especially well in the lowland areas of western Maryland. The book can be found on line and can be downloaded for free at: http://lgnc.org/project/native-plants-for-the-small-yard/. Well & Septic Information Daphne Pee, a recent speaker on hydrology, wells & septic systems in our Bay-Wise advanced training, offers some well water and septic posts that she and our new hydrology, wells & septic systems expert, Andy Lazur have posted. Visit their homepage: breathingroom.umd.edu. Then click on "Private Wells" and "Septic Systems" in the "Categories" menu on the right-hand side of the page (it looks like a word cloud). You could explore this website for hours learning about many helpful topics that have nothing to do with Bay-Wise Landscape Management! Bay-Wise 25th Anniversary Talbot County Bay-Wise Master Gardener, Lisa Ghezzi and I are looking for some of you willing to work with us to plan a 25th anniversary celebration in 2021. If you would like to work with us in planning the events, contact me at wtm@umd.edu. Before you know it, 2021 will her so we should start planning for this event sooner than later.

Page 13 of 13 100% Certified? Sadly, many of you have not had your landscapes certified yet. So far 649 “demo landscapes” have been designated throughout the state. Over the years, 1,386 of you have taken the Bay-Wise advanced training. This means that only 46% of you have certified landscapes. If you aren’t among the few, the proud, the “certified,” consider having it done this year. Contact your county’s Bay-Wise committee chair to set up an appointment. The process is easy & fun and one of the rewards is increased visibility in your neighborhood as an expert on ecologically sound landscaping. One of the successful indicators of the Bay-Wise Landscape Management Program is to have all Bay-Wise Master Gardeners’ landscapes certified as demonstration landscapes. Let’s see how many more we can get certified in 2019. Interested in Planting Trees?

The Maryland Urban and Community Forest Committee (MUCFC) is a volunteer group of citizens, professionals, and government officials united to protect and enhance Maryland's forest ecosystems. MUCFC

is a sub-committee of the Maryland Association of Forest Conservancy District Boards. Every county in the state has a Forestry Board. The primary functions of the Committee are to 1.) Promote and coordinate the Maryland Community PLANT award program that officially recognizes communities planting and caring for trees, and 2.) Administer grants to communities, through their local Forestry Boards, that promote planting and care of trees. If you are interested and would like more information about membership, please contact Wayne Lucas, 301-324-2684 or me, at 410-531-5973. If you are interested in applying for a grant of up to $1,000, or learning more about MUCFC, visit: http://dnr.maryland.gov/forests/Pages/programs/urban/mucfcgrant.aspx There are 2 grant cycles this year: February and July.

Wanda MacLachlan Contact Information: wtm@umd.edu 410-531-5973 11975 Homewood Road Ellicott City, MD 21044