Environment & Natural Resources

Get ready to dive into the fascinating world of Maryland’s native bees! Join Madeline Potter, UME Faculty Specialist for Entomology & IPM, for this interactive webinar where we will explore the critical role native bees play in sustaining native plants and resilient landscapes, while spotlighting the diversity and unique stories of our local pollinators. Learn how to support a variety of native bee species by creating bee-friendly habitats—from planting diverse natives to leaving bare ground and stems, minimizing pesticides, and offering clean water sources. Along the way, we will share train-the-trainer tips to help educators inspire others to take action for native bees. Whether you’re a pollinator advocate or just bee-curious, this session will leave you buzzing with ideas to make a meaningful impact in your greenspace and community!

Get ready to celebrate National Pollinator Week (June 16-22, 2025)! Join Madeline Potter, UME Faculty Specialist for Entomology & IPM, for an interactive session to equip you with tools, resources, and creative outreach strategies to support pollinator-themed education during National Pollinator Week. We’ll explore ideas for engaging community events and activities, walk through planning tips, and collaborate in a brainstorming session to spark inspiration. Bring your ideas and let’s build impactful, pollinator-friendly programming together!

Have you noticed something odd about crape myrtles in your area? Have you heard of the invasive crapemyrtle bark scale? Join Madeline Potter, UME Faculty Specialist for Entomology & IPM, to learn about a spreading invasive insect that is impacting many crape myrtles throughout Maryland. During this engaging, science-based session we will bust common myths, learn how to spot crapemyrtle bark scale in the landscape, and talk through sustainable management strategies. We will also explore how this pest ties into the bigger picture of biodiversity and building healthier, more resilient landscapes. Bring your questions—this will be an interactive webinar with Q&A and a hands-on brainstorming activity to help you create outreach tools and strategies for effectively informing your communities about invasive insect pests.

Trailer: https://vimeo.com/1053870100
Directed by Ian Cheney for the Wonder Collaborative
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Film Background: At the height of the pandemic, many scientists were concerned about how their work had become so divisive and how public trust in science had eroded. At the same time, many admitted that the very things that first drew them to science—the joy of discovery, the awe of understanding the world, the endless curiosity—had been overshadowed by the pressures of grants and career demands. With that in mind, the producers wanted to make a film that speaks to this moment and honors science in a way that reconnects it to the broader human experience?

They set out to celebrate an activity essential to both research and humanity itself: observation. The goal was not to lecture but to invite dialogue, to honor scientific inquiry without demanding that there is only one path to knowledge. In short, this is an experiment, in science filmmaking at some level, but more generally in creating community around the instincts that guide us all. And that’s why Observer does not end with the final credits. Part of the experiment is finding new ways to take it out into the world to learn from all of those willing to share their powers of observation.

The film screening will be followed by a brief, guided group activity in which viewers become the Observers.

From planning to pruning, mistakes can be made when landscaping.  Advice from a Pro?  The more you know, the better it will go!

Join the Cecil County Master Gardeners at their annual Plant Swap!  Bring plants in containers labeled with:  plant name, care instructions, and growing conditions.  Plants should be pest/disease free and have a good root system.  PLEASE DO NOT bring invasive plants to swap.

University of Maryland celebrates Ag Day 100 at Maryland Day on Saturday, April 26! 

Visit Ag Day Avenue to make new friends at the Campus Farm, grab a plant, discover innovative research, meet student clubs, enjoy live music, try our special Ag Day ice cream, check-out our recently planted tree, and much more as we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the original Ag Day! Plus, there will be a special opening ceremony at the farm at 9:30am. 

A 3-part series on the Maryland Bay-Wise Program.  Through this three-part educational series, you will learn how to maintain environmentally-sound gardens and yards by using sustainable gardening practices that improve water quality and conserve natural resources for future generations.  Session Dates:  April 15, August 19, and November 18, 2025.  All sessions start at 6:30 PM.

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.