Yard & Garden

Enjoy a day of learning and discovery at the University of Maryland’s springtime open house. Join us for interactive demonstrations, performances and workshops showcasing science and tech, the arts, sports, agriculture and more! This year we celebrate 100 years of Ag Day! 

The Backyard Gardening Webinar Series is a free virtual program designed for gardeners of all levels, offering valuable insights from expert presenters in each session. Hosted via Zoom, these one-hour sessions on Tuesdays at noon are both informative and interactive, providing an opportunity for participants to learn and engage with specialists in the field. Each session covers a specific gardening topic, and at the end of the presentation, there is a Q&A segment where attendees can ask questions and get personalized advice.

Join the Federated Garden Clubs of Maryland (FGCM) for an Earth Day Symposium featuring three of University of Maryland Extension's Faculty members covering topics from ecological landscaping, native plants, and pollinators.

Dr. Stacy Small-Lorenz, Specialist for Residential Landscape Ecology will speak on Ecological Landscaping for a Climate Resistant Watershed.
Lisa Kuder, Native Plants & Landscape Specialist will speak on Beauty, Biodiversity, and Resilience.
Madeline Potter, Faculty Specialist for Entomology & IPM will speak on Protecting Pollinators and Beneficial Insects Amid Climate Change.

Get cozy while learning about how types of tea are grown and looking at tea's connection to American history. 

Become a plant detective and enhance your diagnostic skills! Join Madeline Potter, UME Faculty Specialist for Entomology & IPM, for a three-part plant diagnostic training series with a focus on diagnosing plant damage by insects and other arthropods. Live attendance is highly encouraged to participate in interactive portions of the training, but each training will be recorded if you cannot join us live. Training topics will include diagnostic tools, identification of plant damage categories and types, identification of common arthropod pests, plant diagnostic case studies, and more. Participants will have the opportunity to put their new skills to practice by virtually submitting monthly plant damage specimens. Register to receive webinar recording links and materials.

Schedule:
-Sept. 11th: Diagnosing plant problems
-Oct. 9th: Insect identification
-Nov. 13th: Integrated pest management & working with the public

Join Baltimore City, Maryland based non-profit Backyard Basecamp for their annual Harvest Festival on Sunday, October 27th from 2pm to 6pm (EST). The festival will feature local vendors, family-friendly activities, cooking and food demonstrations, workshops, crafts, food, music and more!

Extension Educator Madeline Potter, will be tabling with an activity about sustainable fall gardening and the benefits of leaving the leaves.

Event Highlights:
-Cooking Demos & Tastings: Savor mouthwatering cooking demonstrations and tastings that will tantalize your taste buds.
-Fun for Kids: Enjoy face painting, pony rides, pumpkin carving, and more activities designed for kids and families.
-Local Vendors: Explore the talents of local vendors and discover unique, handcrafted items.
-Food Truck Delights: Treat yourself to delectable offerings from our food truck.
-Farmstand with Chloe: We’re bringing back the farmstand with Chloe, who will be selling our amazing produce and farm goods.

Join us on October 5th, 2024 for a family fun day at at the farm to see agriculture education in action! Events are geared for children and include tractor races, milking contest, feed bag toss, compost chaos, egg operation, and more! This family event is free to attend and is located at the Frederick County Farm Museum Fall Fest at Rose Hill Manor Park in Frederick, MD. We hope to see you there!

Join Harford County Master Gardeners in conjunction with the Harford County Public Library - Darlington branch to learn what end-of-season tasks to do in the fall and which to leave until spring so that the upcoming season's garden plants and beneficial wildlife will thrive in your yard.

Each person attending must register prior to the program.

Charles County residents will have the opportunity to purchase a limit of two (2) barrels per Charles County household with a discount, while supplies last. Rain Barrels are 60 gallons in size and may be brown, green, gray, or terra cotta.

It may be chilly weather as winter approaches but Master Gardeners will teach you how to cultivate and grow fresh herbs in containers this winter and in your garden next spring. You'll also learn specifics about a variety of common and uncommon herbs.