Winter sowing is an easy, effective and affordable way to start native seeds and cold season vegetables. Learn how to jumpstart native plants during the winter months, and take a few winter sown milk jugs home! You'll have native plants to add to your garden, come spring.

Join us for a reception to celebrate the 60+ contributing artists, announce the winners of the student visual art competition, enjoy some light refreshments and insect-themed goodies! 

The exhibition will stay open late for this reception, running from 5PM - 7PM. Everyone is welcome! Please visit the exhibition web page for parking information: https://go.umd.edu/insectartshow. 

About the Exhibition: 

Another Look, Another World is an interdisciplinary exhibition exploring how visual art may deepen our understanding of Maryland’s insect biodiversity and inspire greater appreciation for the ecological roles insects play in our environment. The exhibition is part of a University of Maryland Arts for All-funded project aimed at engaging students in science communication through art, increasing awareness of insect biodiversity and ecological roles, fostering collaboration across disciplines, evaluating changes in attendee knowledge, attitudes, and intentions, and contributing to a replicable arts-based model for conservation education.

The exhibition will highlight six Maryland insect species that are included on Maryland’s List of Rare, Threatened, and Endangered Animals. Original works created through the exhibition’s two different open calls will be displayed alongside science-based information about insect ecological roles, insect habitats, and key conservation actions.

Anyone, including University of Maryland students, faculty, staff, and community members, are invited to explore the exhibition, whether by creating and submitting artwork, learning more about Maryland’s insects, or simply taking another look at some small but essential organisms that shape our ecosystems. By bringing art, science, and environmental education together, Another Look, Another World seeks to create opportunities for reflection, discovery, collaboration, action, and new ways of seeing the connections between insects, people, and the places we share.

Join us for the Allegany County University of Maryland Extension Open House on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, from 1 to 6 p.m. at the Allegany County Extension Office, 1 Commerce Drive, Cumberland, MD 21502.

Stop by for an afternoon of discovery and learn more about the programs, resources, and services offered by our Extension team. Meet staff, explore the Demonstration Garden with a Master Gardener, learn about carnivorous plants and gardening, participate in hands-on activities for kids, and bring your pressure canner gauge for testing. Farmers can also connect with our Nutrient Management Advisor, and 4-H animals will be available from 3 to 5 p.m.

As part of the celebration, come enjoy 4-H Week activities from 5 to 6 p.m. For more information, call 301-724-3320.

Salisbury, MD – The Wicomico Extension Office is cracking open a new tradition this Fall with its First Annual Nutterfest. The free celebration will be held Saturday November 7th at the Extension Office. Residents and visitors are invited to come “get a little nutty” and join our faculty and staff in learning more about Extension.

“There is so much happening at the Wicomico Extension Office, and we’d love for more people in our community to come in and see what we have to offer,” says Area Extension Director Nicole Walker. “Whether you’re interested in gardening, agriculture, nutrition and healthy living, or opportunities for young people through 4-H, there really is something here for everyone.”

Extension Agents welcome the community to come out and share some pecan crafts, food demos, and even tree planting. Nutty trivia and local entertainment will be provided, food will be available for sale from a local food vendor.

The name “Nutterfest” came about because of the community’s love of the bountiful pecan trees on the property. 

“Gathering pecans from the trees on our property has become a tradition that many people in our community look forward to each year, and we’re excited to celebrate that tradition with Nutterfest,” explains Walker. “We hope you’ll come out, enjoy everything pecan, and help us celebrate something that has become such a special part of this property and our community.” 

Everyone is welcome to attend this free event. As the name suggests, tree nuts will be present at the event. Attendees with nut allergies are encouraged to take appropriate precautions. Nutterfest will run from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. rain or shine at the Extension Office at 28647 Old Quantico Rd in Salisbury. For more information call 410.749.6141 or email:dlewis97@umd.edu.

Participants will learn from private forest landowners how they have managed their properties for different goals over time. Participants will also learn about conservation cost-sharing opportunities from DNR Foresters and UMD Extension Personnel. Lunch and travel between stops allow for plenty of fellowship and opportunities to learn from other participants and natural resource professionals.

You will get the chance to see the following:

-A recent timber harvest

-Effects of invasive plant controls (mechanical and chemical)

-A state-led tree planting project

-A working sawmill and wood processing operation

This is a van-pool event! Participants will park at the Urbana Park and Ride, then join others in a passenger van to travel between sites.

Registration includes: snacks, drinks, lunch, and a spot in a van. New and beginning forest landowners (owned land for less than 10 years) are eligible for 50% off the registration cost! Email dpratson@umd.edu for discount information.

Registration is limited to 28 people, so make sure to sign up soon!

Other questions? Contact Daniel Pratson, Natural Resources Specialist, at dpratson@umd.edu with questions or accommodation requests 2 weeks prior to the event.

University programs, activities, and facilities are available to all without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, age, national origin, political affiliation, physical or mental disability, religion, protected veteran status, genetic information, personal appearance, or any other legally protected class.

This program consists of a Training Day and an Exam/Signoff Day.  This training day, Thursday, October 1^st 2026, will consist of learning the plan-writing process. After the training day, you will have about 5 weeks, during which time you will study the Nursery Nutrient Management Training Manual and develop your plan. The Exam/Signoff Day will be at a location and on a date “to be announced”. This date will also be for reviewing your newly developed plan (or renewing your old plan). You must write a plan for Maryland Dept of Agriculture (MDA) to become certified. 

The process is relatively simple for small (or low-risk) operations, so if your operation size is less than 5 acres, we would strongly encourage you to think about becoming a certified operator.  If your operation is larger than 5 acres or you run a controlled environment, we would still encourage you to become a certified operator, even though the nutrient management process may be a little more complicated. For nutrient management consultants who wish to learn more about the process for developing nutrient management plans for greenhouses and container crop production, this workshop will offer 6 hours of continuing education credits. 

The cost for this program is $40.00 and includes program costs (including lunch) and the MDA exam fee ($20). For consultants not taking the exam, the cost is $20. Payment will be required at the beginning of the program. A check can be made out to University of Maryland. A receipt will be available. 

If you wish to register, please do so before September 25^th, 2026 by using this link HERE. If you have questions, please send an email to me or call me at 301-226-7835.  If you need any accommodations for this program, please contact me by September 21st.

Wye Research and Education Center is located on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, about 20 minutes from the Bay Bridge. A map to WyeREC can be found HERE. Note the circled area on the map; we will be at the WyeREC Office and Lab location.

Harvesting your own seeds saves you money and gives you more variety in your garden. Master Gardeners Molly Moore and Darcy White will teach you the difference between shakers, beaks, coneheads, and more, and will guide you in cleaning and packaging seeds to take home. We welcome beginners as well as experienced seed collectors.

After the presentation, samples of native plant seeds will be available for practicing your new skills!

Register to receive a reminder email; walk-ins welcome as space allows.

This program is made possible with support from University of Maryland Extension Master Gardener Program and the LMPP Community Garden. This workshop may qualify for continuing education hours for Master Gardeners, Master Naturalists and other University of Maryland Extension programs.

Master Naturalist and Master Gardener Molly Moore will guide us through exercises that will sharpen our observational skills and expand our personal experiences with birds, pollinators, trees, or flowers in the tranquil setting of Lexington Manor Passive Park. Sketchbook, pencil, pen, and colored pencils will be provided.

A nature journal is a personal record of what you see, hear, and feel outdoors. It can be a list of bird sightings, quick sketches, notes, or even doodles. This is not about perfect drawings. The goal is to slow down, observe, and create a record you can look back on with joy.

We will meet in the parking lot of the Lexington Manor Passive Park Community Gardens, 21741 South Coral Drive, Lexington Park. Across from Tulagi Place and Three Notch Theatre, just past the US Post Office on South Coral Drive. Then we will take a 5–10 minute walk to an outdoor seating area to make our observations.

We will be sitting outside—bring a comfy chair or blanket if you’d like. A few blankets and a wooden bench will be available. Please dress for the weather!

In the event of inclement weather, this class will be held at the Lexington Park Library. Register to receive notice of change in venue.

This is a review of principles of biomechanics for safe bending and lifting while gardening, avoiding repetitive stress conditions of the hand, and using energy conservation principles for the most efficient use of your gardening energy. 

This event is at the Prince Frederick Branch of the Calvert Library 

Calvert Library strives to make our events accessible to all. For access questions or requests, call 410-535-0291.

Come learn what plants may not be palatable to deer, why you should use native plants that resist deer browsing and some smart design tips to protect the plants you are growing.

Calvert Library strives to make our events accessible to all. For access questions or requests, call 410-535-0291.