Human, Animal, and Environmental Health

For many gardeners, few winter pleasures rival the joy of leafing through seed catalogs, imagining the colors, scents, and harvests to come. That sense of anticipation will be in full bloom at this year’s annual Seed Swap, where community members are invited to browse, share, and take home seeds for the upcoming growing season.

From unique varieties of herbs to beloved annual flowers and coveted, prize-winning tomatoes, the event will offer a generous selection of seed packets. Attendees don’t need to bring seeds to participate, but those with extra or leftover packets are encouraged to contribute. Organizers ask that all donated seeds be clearly labeled so fellow gardeners know exactly what they’re receiving.

The Seed Swap provides both novice and seasoned growers an opportunity to expand their gardens and enhance their landscapes at no cost. Seeds will be available on a first-come, first-served basis, making early arrival a smart strategy for those looking for specific varieties.

Whether you’re planning your first container garden or dreaming of a full backyard harvest, the Seed Swap invites everyone to share in the excitement and promise of a new growing season. This program is sponsored by the Queen Anne’s County Master Gardeners volunteers and our generous sponsors.

Seed Swap Dates:

Saturday, March 7, 2026
10 am to noon
Queen Anne’s County Library-Kent Island Branch (200 Library Circle, Stevensville, MD 21666)

Wednesday, March 11, 2026
6 pm to 7:30 pm
Queen Anne’s County Library-Centreville Branch (121 S. Commerce Street, Centreville, MD 21617)

For further information, please call or make reasonable accommodations to participate in these events email the University of Maryland Extension Queen Anne’s County, Senior Agent Associate for Horticulture and Master Gardener Coordinator, Rachel J. Rhodes, at 410-758-0166 or rjrhodes@umd.edu by February 21, 2026 the events or see us on Facebook @ https://www.facebook.com/QueenAnnesCountyMasterGardeners

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

For many gardeners, few winter pleasures rival the joy of leafing through seed catalogs, imagining the colors, scents, and harvests to come. That sense of anticipation will be in full bloom at this year’s annual Seed Swap, where community members are invited to browse, share, and take home seeds for the upcoming growing season.

From unique varieties of herbs to beloved annual flowers and coveted, prize-winning tomatoes, the event will offer a generous selection of seed packets. Attendees don’t need to bring seeds to participate, but those with extra or leftover packets are encouraged to contribute. Organizers ask that all donated seeds be clearly labeled so fellow gardeners know exactly what they’re receiving.

The Seed Swap provides both novice and seasoned growers an opportunity to expand their gardens and enhance their landscapes at no cost. Seeds will be available on a first-come, first-served basis, making early arrival a smart strategy for those looking for specific varieties.

Whether you’re planning your first container garden or dreaming of a full backyard harvest, the Seed Swap invites everyone to share in the excitement and promise of a new growing season. This program is sponsored by the Queen Anne’s County Master Gardeners volunteers and our generous sponsors.

Seed Swap Dates:

Saturday, March 7, 2026
10 am to noon
Queen Anne’s County Library-Kent Island Branch (200 Library Circle, Stevensville, MD 21666)

Wednesday, March 11, 2026
6 pm to 7:30 pm
Queen Anne’s County Library-Centreville Branch (121 S. Commerce Street, Centreville, MD 21617)

For further information, please call or make reasonable accommodations to participate in these events email the University of Maryland Extension Queen Anne’s County, Senior Agent Associate for Horticulture and Master Gardener Coordinator, Rachel J. Rhodes, at 410-758-0166 or rjrhodes@umd.edu by February 21, 2026 the events or see us on Facebook @ https://www.facebook.com/QueenAnnesCountyMasterGardeners

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

Stop by the Queen Anne's County Library in Kent Island with all your questions about gardening, garden pests, plant problems, and insects. Master Gardeners will be on hand to give tips and tricks to support our wildlife in the winter. Master Gardeners will be on hand from 10 am to noon on Saturday, March 14, 2026.

If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in this activity, please contact your local University of Maryland Extension Office, Rachel Rhodes (410) 758-0166 or rjrhodes@umd.edu by February 28, 2026.

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.

Whether you’re growing vegetables, herbs, or annual flowers, starting seeds indoors is an affordable and rewarding way to jump-start the growing season. Join the Queen Anne's County Master Gardeners for a hands-on class on Saturday, March 7, 2026, at 10 am at the Queen Anne's County Library in Kent Island (200 Library Circle, Stevensville, MD 21666) as we guide you through growing healthy seedlings.

If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in this activity, please contact your local University of Maryland Extension Office, Rachel Rhodes (410) 758-0166 or rjrhodes@umd.edu by February 21, 2026.

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.

Join us as Andi Pupke, Education Director with Chesapeake Wildlife Heritage, as we learn about enriching our landscapes to create monarch habitat. This interactive class will discuss selecting the best plants to provide habitat throughout the growing season. This event is free and open to the public.

If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in this activity please contact your local University of Maryland Extension Office, Rachel Rhodes (410) 758-0166 or rjrhodes@umd.edu by February 5, 2026.

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.

Join the Queen Anne's County Master Gardeners during our monthly meeting as Concetta Gibson, President of Wild Ones Delmarva, discusses the ins and outs of container gardening with native plants. Concetta will guide us through selecting the right containers for the right plants, as well as layout, arrangement, and maintenance. This event is free and open to the public.

If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in this activity, please contact your local University of Maryland Extension Office, Rachel Rhodes (410) 758-0166 or rjrhodes@umd.edu by January 1, 2026.

If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in this activity please contact your local University of Maryland Extension Office, Rachel Rhodes (410) 758-0166 or rjrhodes@umd.edu by January 1, 2026.

The event will be held at the Queen Anne’s County 4-H Park on Route 18 (https://www.qacfair.com/directions) to kick-off the spring planting season.
General attendance is free, doors open at 7:30 am and programming will begin at 8:00 am. It's a great opportunity to network with other farmers and ag businesses. Credits for Nutrient Management, Pesticide Recertification and Certified Crop Advisors will be offered. Lunch will be provided.

As in past years, we are seeking sponsorships to help offset the cost of lunch for attendees. Sponsors will be given display space as well as space in the program to inform attendees of any new products and/or services. See Eventbrite page for sponsorship opportunities.

If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in this event, please contact Caroline Welch at University of Maryland Extension - Queen Anne's County at 410-758-0166 or cwelch13@umd.edu by February 13, 2026.

Zoom Webinar

Join us for the 2025 Mary Shorb Lecture in Nutrition given by Dr. Leena Hilakivi-Clarke. The lecture will be on gut dysbiosis as a mediator of increased breast cancer in female offspring born to obese mothers.

The Mary Shorb Lecture in Nutrition is a jointly hosted event by the Department of Nutrition and Food Science and the Department of Animal and Avian Sciences. Over 47 esteemed speakers have presented since its start in 1970.

The 2025 Mary Shorb Lecturer is Dr. Leena Hilakivi-Clarke. She is a professor and assistant director for Faculty Affairs at the Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota. Hilakivi-Clarke's current research interests focus on women's health, including studying interactions among exosome, gut microbiome, and breast cancer. She has published over 180 scientific papers and trained nearly 90 graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and junior faculty in her laboratory.

There will be a reception from 1:45 to 2:45 following the lecture.

Stop by the library with all your questions about gardening, garden pests, plant problems, and insects. Master Gardeners will be on hand to give tips and tricks to make your home garden flourish, help troubleshoot tricky growing situations and offer encouragement on creating the perfect garden for your space. This month’s topic is “Holiday Houseplants”.