Vision & Mission:
Our Vision is a healthier world through environmental stewardship.
Our Mission is to support the University of Maryland Extension mission by educating residents about safe, effective and sustainable horticultural practices that build healthy gardens, landscapes, and communities.
Calvert County Master Gardeners (CCMGs) unite with Maryland Master Gardeners in promoting a healthier world through environmental stewardship and education about effective horticultural practices.
Every day, one or more CCMGs is working up front or behind the scenes to help county residents protect and beautify the land around us...Continue Reading
Activities and Programs
| General Instructions for Activities: Access activities by choosing an activity below and downloading and printing the pdf. Once you complete 10 activities, send a message to the Calvert County Master Gardeners Facebook page, along with a photo(s) of your completed activities. By completing 10 activities, you have a chance to earn a prize! |
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Activities: 2. Composting......coming soon |
DEMONSTRATION GARDENS - The Demonstration Gardens have been Bay Wise Certified and demonstrate ecologically sound gardening to restore the habitat to benefit plants, pollinators, wildlife and ultimately, humanity.
Located at the Community Resource Building (CRB) across the street from the Prince Frederick Post Office.
DOUBLE OAK FARM DEMONSTRATION AND VEGETABLE GARDEN - Volunteers raise and nurture vegetables in a natural way for soil regeneration, and donate them to local food pantries. We work with youth groups for the "Grow-It-Eat-It" program. Our farm includes demonstration, pollinator, and herb gardens, and a food forest. Located at American Chestnut Land Trust.
GARDEN SMARTER - This award winning educational program allows Master Gardeners to share their knowledge and experience with the community. Attendees have the opportunity to ask questions, learn best management practices, and share ideas. The program begins in January with a Community Seed Swap where vegetable, herb, annual flower and native plant seeds will be available for exchange.
2024 Garden Smarter Lecture Schedule
SEED SWAP - 2024 Seed Swap will be held on January 20th from 10:00AM - 12:00PM in the Prince Frederick Library. We will have seeds in the following categories: Vegetable (warm and cool vegetables), herbs, native perennial flowers, annual/perennial flowers, and older seeds of all kinds. We will also have Master Gardener representatives from Bay-Wise, and Plant Sale. There will be an information table for any gardening questions. Registration will be at the door, the day of the event.
Bring your packaged seeds you no longer need to the seed swap (saved or bought for 2020-2023). We are not able to take any unpackaged seeds.
Calvert County Master Gardener Seed Swap Catalog 2024
GUILD AT CALVERT MARINE MUSEUM - Master Gardeners partner with museum staff, to educate the public about good landscaping practices to control storm water runoff, encourage use of native plants, and use integrated pest management practices. Furthermore, composting and effective sustainable horticultural practices are
demonstrated.
NORTH BEACH FARMERS' MARKET INFORMATION TABLE - Displays materials for the CCMG Information Table at the North Beach Farmers’ Market to inform residents about all the programs offered by the CCMG. 2023 schedule (times may vary) May to September Fri: 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. The farmers market is located at 5th Street,
North Beach, MD 20714
PLANT SALE - The CCMG Plant Sale has become known as a source for native plants and organically grown vegetable plants. The Plant Sale is held the first Saturday in May in the parking lot of the CRB. Educational workshops, tours, and a bake sale are also part of the day’s activities.
PROJECT SPUDNIK AT ALL SAINTS EPISCOPAL CHURCH - Youth come together to grow potatoes and other vegetables in containers. The food is donated to area food banks. Participants compost, learn about soil composition and how to improve it, prevent and control disease, companion plants & pollinator gardens.
RAIN GARDEN & STORM WATER MANAGEMENT AT OLIVET UNITED METHODIST CHURCH - The project covers storm water management, planting of a rain garden and installation of native plants to support pollinators in the community.
YOUTH GARDENS AT ANNMARIE GARDENS - The CCMGs developed these gardens as teaching tools for the public and as part of the Annmarie Youth Summer Camp where we instruct children about gardening, nature, and nutrition. The vegetables are donated to local food banks.
Educational Opportunities
Part of being a Calvert County Master Gardener is constantly learning about new horticultural advances. In fact, each Master Gardener is required to complete a minimum of 10 hours of approved continuing education each year in order to maintain the status of Active Master Gardener.
Continuing education hours may be completed through classes, webinars, and other educational opportunities offered by UME, eXtension, nature centers etc.
Viewings in the Prince Frederick office are POSTPONED, please check back for updates.
Backyard Buffers Program
What is the Backyard Buffer Program?
The Backyard Buffer program is supported by the Maryland DNR Forest Service and the Calvert County Master Gardeners with its partner the American Chestnut Land Trust, and provides Calvert County homeowners free tree seedlings to create a native riparian forest buffer in their backyard. Calvert County landowners who have a creek, drainage ditch, stream or other waterway on or near their property are eligible for free trees through the Department's Backyard Buffers program.
Trees intercept rainfall, reducing its impact and allowing the soil to absorb water instead of running off into streams. Trees planted along waterways help improve water quality by absorbing excess nutrients, lowering peak water temperatures, reducing sediment and stabilizing stream banks.
More Information about Maryland DNR's Backyard Buffer Program
Resources
General Gardening
Calvert County Master Gardeners
Provides detailed information about CCMG programs and events, view our Annual Report.
Home and Garden Information Center
The Home and Garden Information Center (HGIC) develops and delivers science-based, sustainable gardening and integrated pest management education for better human and environmental health. Send your questions about plants and pests to the gardening experts "Ask Extension" at the University of Maryland Extension. Publications about almost any aspect of gardening are available on-line, Plant of the Month features, invasive species alerts, native plants and much more.
Maryland Master Gardeners
University of Maryland Extension Master Gardener. Learn about Master Gardener programs, our vision and our mission. Links to county websites, including Calvert County Master Gardeners.
Maryland Biodiversity Project
This is an organization focused on cataloging all the living things of Maryland. You can search for plants and animals and you can submit photos for identification. www.marylandbiodiversity.com
Soil Testing Information
Soil Testing and Soil Testing Labs. Information from University of Maryland Extension on how to collect samples and where to send.
Native Plants
Calvert County Native Plants – Recommended Trees & Shrubs
Published by Calvert County Department of Planning and Zoning, this booklet contains photos and descriptions of plants native to Calvert County. Read More
Calvert County Native Ferns
Native Ferns Recommended for Use in Calvert County. Read More
Calvert County Native Grasses
Native Grasses for Use in Calvert County. Read More
Native Plants
What Are They? Why Use Them? Brochure
Chesapeake Natives
Learn about native plants from this non-profit organization. Visit “Plant Characteristics” to view photos and learn planting information about many native plants. They list their open house days (one per month March – September) when you can purchase native plants. www.chesapeakenatives.org
Creating a Meadow
http://dnr.maryland.gov/wildlife/Pages/habitat/wawildflowers.aspx
Maryland Native Plant Society
Lists native plants, sources for buying them, and plants that should not be planted (are invasive) in our area. A brochure on how to landscape with native plants is available: https://www.mdflora.org/publications/gardenersguidelines/gguides.html and a link to local native plants sales (check back as event list is updated): https://mdflora.org/plantsales.html
www.mdflora.org
Native Plant Center
Search for plants native to the Chesapeake Bay region. This is the online searchable version of the publication “Native Plants for Wildlife Habitat and Conservation Landscaping – Chesapeake Bay Watershed” (listed below). http://www.nativeplantcenter.net/
Native Plants for Shady Slopes
Native plant suggestions for shady slope areas – University of MD, Extension. Read More
Native Plants for Sunny Slopes
Recommended native plants for sunny slopes – University of MD, Extension. Read More
Native Plants for Wildlife Habitat and Conservation Landscaping – Chesapeake Bay Watershed
An excellent source for names of plants broken down by types: trees, shrubs, vines, herbaceous, etc. with planting requirements, wildlife value and photos and discussions. Read More
Native Plant Guide – Northern Neck of Virginia
Most of the plants in this guide are also native to Calvert County. Read More
Invasive Plants
Invasive Plants of the Eastern U.S.: Identification and Control
An incredible resource about all invasive species with lists by species, state and region. Managed by the University of Georgia and USDA. www.invasive.org
Maryland Invasive Species Council
Lists and provides photos and descriptions of all species, including plants, that are invasive in our area and encourages efforts that prevent the introduction of and how to manage the impact of invasive species on Maryland ecosystems. www.mdinvasivesp.org
Nonnative Grasses
Article discusses commonly used non-natives grasses that have become invasive:http://piedmontmastergardeners.org/article/ornamental-grasses-easy-beautiful-and-invasive/
Plant Invaders of Mid-Atlantic Natural Areas
Published by the National Park Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Describes non-native invasive plants, their history, and native plants to replace them. www.invasive.org/eastern/midatlantic/
The Nature Conservancy
Links to “Guide to the Terrestrial Invasive Plants of the Potomac River watershed brochure (at bottom of the webpage). https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/where-we-work/united-states/maryland-dc/stories-in-maryland-dc/maryland-invasive-species-taking-on-the-invaders-of-maryland/
Mistaken Identity – Invasive Plants and their Native Look-alikes
A guide for the mid-Atlantic region. Read More
Gardening for Wildlife, Including Pollinators
Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the Nature Conservancy
The Wildlife Value of A Messy Garden https://content.yardmap.org/learn/wildlife-value-of-a-messy-garden/
Habitat at Home
Published by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, the information is equally useful to Maryland residents who want to create native habitat in their own yards. Read More
Pollinator Conservation Resources for Maryland – Xerces Society
https://www.xerces.org/pollinator-conservation-resources/72
Native Plants for Pollinators – Mid-Atlantic Region
https://xerces.org/publications/plant-lists/pollinator-plants-mid-atlant...
National Wildlife Federation
Information about creating habitat and protecting wildlife for schools and at home. https://www.nwf.org/Garden-for-Wildlife
Plants for Birds. National Audubon Society
Enter your zip code and receive a list of bird-friendly native plants for your area; shows which birds the plants will help support. Includes trees, shrubs, perennials. https://www.audubon.org/native-plants
Planning a Butterfly Garden – Read More
Native Plant Pollinator Templates (Howard County MD)
Includes garden templates for various light and soil moisture conditions. https://www.howardnature.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Native-Plant-Pollinator-Garden-Templates.pdf
Bay-Wise, Erosion Control, and Rain Gardens
Calvert County Master Gardener Bay-Wise Program
Invite a team of Master Gardeners to your home to evaluate your landscape and give you advice about native plants, ways to control storm water runoff and other Bay-Wise information. Call UME Calvert County at 410-535-3662 to request a visit or go to UME Bay-Wise Program for information.
Calvert County Critical Area Information
Links to critical area brochure, FAQs, form, buffer management. http://www.co.cal.md.us/index.aspx?NID=1246
Calvert County Critical Area Reforestation Evaluation (CARE) Committee
Free Trees in the Critical Area program https://www.calvertcountymd.gov/1254/Critical-Area-Reforestation-Committee
Critical Area Map locator. Interactive Map Viewer
Calvert County Forest Conservation
Explains the requirements of the Maryland Forest Conservation Act http://www.co.cal.md.us/index.aspx?NID=551
Chesapeake Bay Foundation: Bay-Friendly Landscaping
Link to "Living Shorelines" brochure and information about using native plants, wildlife habitat, city and suburban gardens, etc. Read More
Chesapeake Conservation Landscaping Council
Learn the Eight Essential Elements of Conservation Landscaping.
http://www.chesapeakelandscape.org/resources/the-eight-essential-elements/
The Climate Friendly Gardener
A guide to combating global warming from the ground up. https://www.ucsusa.org/resources/climate-friendly-gardener
Controlling Soil Erosion and Runoff
This is the link for Brochure No. 3 “Control Soil Erosion and Rainwater Runoff”. Read More
Creating Berms and Swales
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/special/spaces/creating-and-using-berms-in-the-landscape.htm
http://www.harvesth2o.com/swales.shtml
https://www.landscapingnetwork.com/lawns/berms-mounds.html
Creating a Dry Creek Bed
https://www.diynetwork.com/how-to/outdoors/landscaping/how-to-install-a-dry-creek-bed
Installing Coir Logs and Erosion Control Blankets. Read More
Landscape Professional Directory
Look up by your zip code, landscapers that have taken training in sustainable landscaping practices and are Chesapeake Bay Landscape Certified https://certified.cblpro.org/
Maryland Department of Natural Resources
Links to coupons for planting trees
http://dnr.maryland.gov/forests/Pages/MarylandersPlantTrees/Introduction.aspx
Controlling Mosquitoes
University of MD Extension - Effective ways to Controlling Mosquitoes. Read MoreFact Sheet
Calvert County Mosquito Control. Read More
Rain Gardens Across Maryland
Step-by-step instructions telling how to create a rain garden, native plants to use to attract birds and butterflies. Read More
Rainscaping with Rain Gardens and Ecoscaping
Chesapeake Ecology Center. Website has diagrams of gardens and lists of native plants used in them. http://www.chesapeakeecologycenter.org/
Stormwater Conservation in Your Backyard
Describes need to control stormwater runoff and how to build a rain barrel. Read More
