Environment & Natural Resources

Learn simple steps to create a colorful pollinator-friendly landscape around your home.  LEARN ABOUT :  pollination and its importance, the many different pollinators, and the colors that attract pollinators.

The course will help landowners convert lawn to natural areas and enhance stewardship of existing natural areas. Based on the guide of the same name, the course provides strategies to landowners of small parcels of land (1-10 acres) that improve the stewardship of their property for personal enjoyment and environmental quality. It uses a hands-on learning approach to help participants develop and implement a plan for their property. Activities include how to map habitat areas, understand basic ecological principles about woodland and wildlife, choose and implement a few habitat management projects, and how to set a timetable and record your progress. Online discussion groups will allow participants to interact with others taking the course. A certificate of completion is awarded when all assignments are completed.

The course costs $125.00 per person, which includes the 108-page “Woods In Your Backyard” guide, workbook, and a tree identification guide. The course is limited to 25 participants, so sign up now!

For more information, go to https://go.umd.edu/the_course. To register through Eventbrite, go to https://go.umd.edu/WIYB_Spring25.

THIS PRESENTATION WILL INCLUDE:  Getting a jumpstart on plants for your spring and summer garden, Interpreting seed catalogs, choosing the best seeds to start under lights, and a 
Question & Answer session.

Discover how to turn any green space-- big or small-- into a thriving haven for pollinators! Join entomologist and University of Maryland Extension Faculty Specialist Madeline Potter to explore the fascinating world of Maryland's local pollinators and the critical role native plants play in supporting them. From container gardens on your balcony to expansive pollinator gardens, you'll learn practical, climate-resilient strategies to provide year-round support for these essential animals. Get inspired to make a difference and help sustain our local ecosystems. Let's work together to create vibrant, pollinator-friendly landscapes!

The University of Maryland Extension and College of Agriculture and Natural Resources will host an all-day workshop focusing on fruits, insects, and management on Wednesday, February 19th, at the Wye Research and Education Center, 124 Wye Narrows Drive in Queenstown.

Garden work can be fun and rewarding, but hard and tiring as well.  You can save time, alleviate stress on your body, and give your plants the best care, by selecting the right tools and accessories for garden tasks.  Join Cecil County Master Gardeners as they display a wide array of tools in their arsenal and explain their uses and how to care for them.

Container gardening is a fantastic way to grow vegetables when yard space is limited.  At this presentation learn which vegetables grow
best in containers and learn techniques and tips for growing vegetables in containers.

This is a rescheduled event.  The original event was cancelled due to inclement weather.

Vegetable gardens need a little love to keep them healthy and productive year after year.  In this session, we will cover steps you can take to not only maintain, but to actually improve your vegetable garden year after year.  Topics covered:  Building healthy soil, crop rotation, pest and disease management, composting, and record keeping.  

UNSURE OF YOURSELF WHEN YOU ARE ABOUT TO PRUNE YOUR WOODY ORNAMENTALS?  JOIN THE CECIL COUNTY MASTER GARDENERS FOR A PRESENTATION ON CONFIDENT CUTS!  

Be a confident pruner by learning:  basic plant physiology, pruning techniques, reasons to prune, and tools needed.  We will also practice with hand pruners.

Learn how to create your own unique soaps.  This workshop will cover everything from ingredients to techniques.  Learn which ingredients to use, how to cut and label the final product, equipment needed, and safety procedures.