An Educational News Source for Chestertown Maryland
Adkins Arboretum has received funding from the Gray Charitable Trust to create a virtual “Birds, Bees, and Dandelion Seeds” field trip program. Nearly 1,000 second-graders in Queen Anne’s and Caroline County Public Schools will participate in the week-long program to learn about plants, pollinators, seed dispersal and Maryland bees.
As part of the virtual field trip, public school teachers will receive five days of interactive lesson plans to use online with their students. The lesson plans will include games, songs, experiments, suggestions for outdoor activities and daily video clips featuring the Arboretum’s native meadow, wetland, stream and forest habitats. Lessons are aligned with Next Generation Science Standards.
In 2019, the Gray Charitable Trust provided funding for bus transportation so that all second-graders in Caroline County Public Schools could participate in the “Birds, Bees, and Dandelion Seeds” field trip at the Arboretum. Positive feedback from students, parents and teachers prompted Arboretum educators to create a virtual version of the program for use while in-person field trips are on hold.
Kellen McCluskey, Adkins Arboretum’s staff photographer and membership coordinator, and volunteer Luke Adelman film Assistant Director Jenny Houghton for the Arboretum’s virtual field trip.
The “Birds, Bees, and Dandelion Seeds” lesson plans and video clips are available on the Arboretum website for use by homeschool families, private schools and the general public. The Arboretum hopes to resume in-person field trips in the fall of 2021.
Adkins Arboretum is a nonprofit organization located in scenic Caroline County on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Although the Visitor’s Center is currently closed, the Arboretum’s 400 acres and five miles of paths are open daily from dawn to dusk. To learn more or to access the virtual field trip and other education resources, visit adkinsarboretum.org.
Adkins Arboretum is a 400-acre native garden and preserve at the headwaters of the Tuckahoe Creek in Caroline County. For more information, visit adkinsarboretum.org or call 410-634-2847, ext. 0.
Each spring, the Queen Anne’s County 4-H Park is the scene of nine different animal species shows. 4-Hers from all over the Eastern Shore and Anne Arundel County bring their animal projects to compete in shows that run simultaneously. This year, due to the Covid-19 Virus, the park was empty. However, the shows went on virtually!
4-H members entered pictures of themselves with their animals. They uploaded front, back and side views of each animal project that they wished to show. The Eastern Shore show committee, comprised of extension faculty and staff from the Eastern Shore, was the first 4-H group in Maryland to use this approach to enable our 4-Hers to show their livestock virtually.
Professional judges evaluated each species. Species included Beef Cattle, Dairy Cattle, Swine, Sheep, Meat Goats, Dairy Goats, Rabbits, Cavies and Dogs. The judges placed the entries and gave constructive, written comments for each one. There were – 46 Beef Cattle entries,15 Dairy Cattle entries, 115 Swine entries, 42 Sheep entries, 45 Meat Goat entries, 25 Dairy Goat entries, 54 Rabbit entries, 11 Cavy entries, and 8 Dog entries for a total of 361 animals entered.A total of 148 4-Hers exhibited in the show. Queen Anne’s County had 59 exhibiters, Cecil had 50, Kent had 12, Anne Arundel had 11, Talbot had 8, Caroline had 5 and Dorchester had 3.
Thanks to the Maryland Agricultural Fair Board for providing the premium money that each exhibitor receives. The Spring Show awards premium money based on the number and species of animals shown versus awarding by placement. A total of $2,821.00 was awarded this year. The Eastern Shore Spring Show is generally the first show of the season and is a vehicle to acclimate the 4-Hers and their animals to the show environment. With the judges’ feedback and comments, they learn how to make improvements for the rest of the show season.
The public is invited to view the pictures and the results, including judges’ comments, on our Queen Anne’s County 4-H website located at extension.umd.edu/queen-annes-county. Click on “4-H and Youth” at the top and then “Fairs&Shows” on the sidebar to view the photos and results. Each species is a separate file.
The following is a list of the Champions and Reserve Champions in this year’s 2020 Virtual Show:
Beef Cattle: Supreme Champion All Breeds, Caroline Saathoff-Caroline County.
Individual breeds– Champion Hereford, Caroline Saathoff- Caroline County, Reserve, Mollie McGeoch-Queen Anne’s County; Champion All Other Breeds, Jacob Turner-Kent County, Reserve, Gavra Goldie-Cecil County; Champion Commercial Heifer, Atlantis Riggin-Kent County, Reserve, Christopher Martin-Queen Anne’s County; Champion Dairy Steer, Jayci Mitchell-Cecil County, Reserve, Christopher Martin-Queen Anne’s County; Champion Dairy Calf, Anna Birney-Cecil County, Reserve, Andrew Kimball-Queen Anne’s County; Champion Beef Steer, Mollie McGeoch-Queen Anne’s County, Reserve, Jaysie Kinnamon-Queen Anne’s County; Champion Beef Feeder Calf, Matthew Deitzel, Reserve, Christopher Deitzel-Queen Anne’s County.
Dairy Cattle: Junior Supreme Champion (Holstein Calf), Andrew Kimball-Queen Anne’s County. Individual breeds –Holstein Junior Calf Champion, Andrew Kimball-Queen Anne’s County; Ayrshire Senior Heifer Calf, Braydon Madron-Cecil County; Brown Swiss Intermediate Yearling, Miranda Tracy-Cecil County; Jersey Intermediate Heifer Calf, Amihan Gage-Anne Arundel County.
Breeding Swine: Supreme Champion Gilt (Berkshire), Brileigh Francis-Queen Anne’s County; Reserve Supreme (Yorkshire), Ethan Wheaton. Champions in Individual Breeds – (All Champions and Reserve Champions are from Queen Anne’s County) – Champion Berkshire Gilt, Brileigh Francis, Reserve, Braelyn Francis; Champion Duroc Gilt, Christopher Powell, Reserve, Ethan Wheaton; Champion Hampshire Gilt, Kailyn Bozarth, Reserve, Kiley Faust; Champion Landrace Gilt, Madison Carson; Champion Spot Gilt, Layla Jones, Reserve, Matthew Deitzel; Champion Tamworth Gilt, Braelyn Francis, Reserve, Kaley Wheaton; Champion Yorkshire Gilt, Ethan Wheaton, Reserve, Brileigh Francis.
Market Swine: Grand Champion Market Hog, Kayley Wheaton–Queen Anne’s County, Reserve Grand Champion Market Hog, Megan Mansfield-Queen Anne’s County. Weight Division Champions – Division One-Champion, Gracie Troyer-Kent County, Reserve, Taylor Jones-Queen Anne’s County; Division Two-Champion, Kayley Wheaton-Queen Anne’s County, Reserve, Christopher Powell-Queen Anne’s County; Division Three-Champion, Megan Mansfield-Queen Anne’s County, Reserve, Caroline Saathoff-Caroline County; Division Four-Champion, Caroline Saathoff-Caroline County, Reserve, Lexi Kern-Queen Anne’s County; Division Five-Champion, Aubrey Clarke-Kent County, Reserve, Reid Clarke-Kent County.
Sheep: Champion and also Reserve Champion Market Lamb, Brigid King-Queen Anne’s County; Champion Wool Breeding, Madelyn Harvey-Cecil County, Reserve, Nathaniel Smith-Cecil County; Champion Breeding Sheep Meat Type, Michael Chambers-Cecil County, Reserve, Lilly McMichael-Cecil County.
Meat Goat: Champion Market Goat, Caitlyn Mitchell-Cecil County, Reserve, Jayci Mitchell-Cecil County; Champion Boer Doe, Jayci Mitchell-Cecil County, Reserve, Caitlyn Mitchell-Cecil County; Champion Boer Buck, Evan DiScuillo-Cecil County, Reserve, Alexis Miller-Cecil County; Champion Myotonic Doe, Andrew Kimball-Queen Anne’s County, Reserve, Caroline Kimball-Queen Anne’s County.
Dairy Goat: Best Junior Doe of Show (Oberhasli), Emma Hutchison-Queen Anne’s County, Reserve, (Lamancha), Madelyn Harvey-Cecil County; Best Senior Doe of Show (Nubian), Brileigh Francis-Queen Anne’s County, Reserve (Oberhasli), Emma Hutchison-Queen Anne’s County.
Rabbit: Best of Show, (French Lop) Samantha Merrell-Kent County. Reserve, (Silver Martin) Gavra Goldie-Cecil County.
Cavy: Best in Show, (Peruvian Senior Sow) Nathaniel Smith – Cecil County. Reserve, (Coronet Senior Sow) Madison Bozarth-Queen Anne’s County.
Dog: Overall Grand Champion, Casey Turner-Queen Anne’s County, Reserve, Jacob Turner-Kent County. Champions – Novice, Casey Turner-Queen Anne’s County; Open, Angela Edelson-Cecil County.
For more information about the Queen Anne’s County 4-H Program, contact the University of Maryland Extension, Queen Anne’s County at 410-758-0166 or email cjohnstn@umd.edu or srosenbe@umd.edu.
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Prepare for fall in the garden! Adkins Arboretum, offering the Chesapeake gardener the best selection of landscape-ready native plants for more than 20 years, announces its Fall Native Plant Sale. All proceeds benefit the Arboretum’s rich variety of education programs, scheduled to resume in 2021, that teach about the Delmarva’s native plants and their connection to a healthy Chesapeake Bay.
Due to recommendations regarding COVID-19, the fall sale will be conducted entirely online. Orders will be accepted through Thurs., Aug. 27 at adkinsarboretum.org and will be fulfilled via timed pickup. There will be no in-person shopping at the Arboretum.
Fall is the best season for planting, and the Arboretum offers the Chesapeake region’s largest selection of ornamental native trees, shrubs, perennials, ferns and grasses for the fall landscape. Many native plants produce seeds, flowers and fruit in fall that attract migratory birds and butterflies. Brilliant orange butterfly weed and stunning red cardinal flower attract pollinators to the garden, while native asters add subtle shades of purple and blue. Redbud and dogwood dot the early-spring landscape with color, and shrubs such as chokeberry and beautyberry provide food and habitat for wildlife.
Native asters add color to the fall landscape and attract butterflies, bees and other pollinators to the garden. Photo by Kellen McCluskey.
For those not sure how to integrate native plants into their landscape, the Arboretum’s Native Landscape Design Center has launched a new service targeted to smaller areas. In a 90-minute smartphone or video call, professional landscape designer Christina Pax will meet with participants to help devise beautiful and sound ideas for an area targeted for design. The ideas will incorporate native plants, support practices that clean and reduce runoff, and bring colorful support for pollinators and birds to the landscape. At the end of the meeting, participants will have a plant shopping list and a sketch that shows where to plant the plants. The fee for this service is $240. To learn more or to sign up, send email to design@adkinsarboretum.org.
As always, Arboretum members receive a generous discount on plants that varies according to membership level. Leon Andrus, the Arboretum’s first benefactor, lived to the age of 101. In honor of his long and fulfilling life, the Arboretum is seeking 101 new members during 2020. To join, visit adkinsarboretum.org or contact Kellen McCluskey at kmccluskey@adkinsarboretum.org.
For more information on plants, purchasing or pickup procedures, visit adkinsarboretum.org, send email to nativeplants@adkinsarboretum.org or leave a message at 410-634-2847, ext. 0.
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Fresh Conversations, a free University of Maryland Extension nutrition education program for people ages 50 years and older will be offered online. Due to COVID-19 pandemic, the in-person program has been delayed until further notice.
Extension Educators Beverly Jackey, MS, RDN and Cheryl Bush, MS, RDN, will be presenting Fresh Conversations to residents in Cecil, Kent, and Queen Anne’s Counties.
The program officially begins on Wednesday, July 29th and includes eight sessions focusing on nutrition topics of interest for older adults, but anyone can attend.
Topics for the 2020 Fresh Conversations online program include:
July 29 Should You Worry About Vitamin D Deficiency?
August 21 Lower Your Stroke Risk
August 26 Go with Your Gut Bacteria
September 9 Dairy Case Dilemma: Is It Really Milk?
September 23 Heart-Healthy Fat Facts
October 7 Sugar: Sinfully Sweet
October 21 Ancient Grains Make a Come Back
November 4 Eating Out and Eating Healthy-Just Got Easier
After attending each session, participants will receive a free copy of the Seasoned Newsletter which includes recipes, food preparation tips and other activities.
To review the complete Fresh Conversations webinar schedule, description of each session or to register for the upcoming sessions, go to:
https://extension.umd.edu/queen-annes-county/family-consumer-sciences/fresh-conversations or
https://extension.umd.edu/cecil-county/family-consumer-sciences/fresh-conversations
Fresh Conversations will be offered by other Extension educators throughout the state on different dates.To find out when you can attend other online programs, visit you county’s Extension website or go to the University of Maryland’s Fresh Conversations page and click on the counties on the bottom of the page at https://extension.umd.edu/fresh-conversations.
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As Dr. Wayne Dyer said, “The only difference between a flower and a weed is judgment.” June weeds are certainly testing our judgment. As we move into our third month of quarantine, our gardens are buzzing with activity. In this month’s episode, we discuss how to become garden detectives with Integrated Pest Management or IPM, fungal spots, timely watering tips, and our features for tip/bug/native plant of the month!
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a research-based holistic approach to pest management that emphasizes biological control versus the use of pesticides until absolutely necessary. In Maryland, we typically experience hot dry summers. Swiftly, our days merge from tranquil and breezy to sweltering and humid. During this time, our plants may show signs of decline. Making sure that they’re properly watered and taken care of will help ensure their survival. For more Watering Tips for Drought Conditions check out Factsheet HG85
Timing:
IPM – Start
Fungal Spots at (~6:55)
Watering Tips at (~10:00)
Native Plant of the Month at (~14:20) “Asclepiassyriaca,” or common milkweed
Bug of the Month at (~20:00) “Water Strides” aka Jesus bugs
Garden Tips of the Month at (~23:00) “Bagworms, warm-season crop updates, and garden updates”
If you have a gardening dilemma or gardening questions join the Garden Hoes (Podcast) on their second installment of “Ask the Garden Hoes,” on Wednesday, June 24, 2020, from 11 am until 12 pm. This live webinar will address real-life gardening questions with a Q&A for participants. Feel free to submit your questions and photos ahead of time online: https://forms.gle/NJaYXxRdaqUYZkmn6. This program is free and open to the public, but registration required: https://go.umd.edu/askgardenhoes
The Garden Hoes Podcast is a monthly podcast where we help you get down and dirty in your garden, with timely gardening tips, information about native plants, and more! The Garden Hoes Podcast is brought to you by the University of Maryland Extension. Hosts are Mikaela Boley- Senior Agent Associate (Talbot County) for Horticulture, Rachel Rhodes- Agent Associate for Horticulture (Queen Anne’s County), and Emily Zobel-Senior Agent Associate for Agriculture (Dorchester County). The University of Maryland is an Equal Opportunity Employer and Equal Access Programs. We want to remind everyone that we are open to all audiences, and will continue to serve our communities.
To listen to the podcast visit https://www.buzzsprout.com/687509 or visit Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GardenHoesPodcast/
University of Maryland Extension programs are open to all people and will not discriminate against anyone because of race, age, sex, color, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, religion, ancestry, or national origin, marital status, genetic information, or political affiliation, or gender identity and expression.
Don’t miss the latest! You can subscribe to The Chestertown Spy‘s free Daily Intelligence Report here
If you have a gardening dilemma or gardening questions join the Garden Hoes (Podcast) on their second installment of “Ask the Garden Hoes,” on Wednesday, June 24, 2020, from 11 am until 12 pm. This live webinar will address real-life gardening questions with a Q&A for participants. Feel free to submit your questions and photos ahead of time online: https://forms.gle/NJaYXxRdaqUYZkmn6 This program is free and open to the public, but registration required: https://go.umd.edu/askgardenhoes
The Garden Hoes Podcast is a monthly podcast where we help you get down and dirty in your garden, with timely gardening tips, information about native plants, and more! The Garden Hoes Podcast is brought to you by the University of Maryland Extension. Hosts are Mikaela Boley- Senior Agent Associate (Talbot County) for Horticulture, Rachel Rhodes- Agent Associate for Horticulture (Queen Anne’s County), and Emily Zobel-Senior Agent Associate for Agriculture (Dorchester County). University of Maryland Extension programs are open to all. To listen to the podcast visit https://www.buzzsprout.com/687509 or visit Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GardenHoesPodcast/
University of Maryland Extension programs are open to all people and will not discriminate against anyone because of race, age, sex, color, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, religion, ancestry, or national origin, marital status, genetic information, or political affiliation, or gender identity and expression.
Don’t miss the latest! You can subscribe to The Chestertown Spy‘s free Daily Intelligence Report here
Starke ‘Wilder’ Evans, a 2020 graduate of St. Michaels High School, is the recipient of the 20th Annual Garden Club of the Eastern Shore (GCES) Scholarship. The $5,000.00 merit scholarship was awarded to Evans in recognition of his outstanding academic record, strong work ethic, and commitment to environmental preservation and conservation.
Evans will attend Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, La. this fall, where he will major in Agribusiness and Plant Science. After earning his undergraduate degree, he plans to return to the Eastern Shore and work in the ornamental and native plant industry.
“In a field of outstanding candidates, Wilder stood out because of his strong academic record, commitment to a career in ornamental plant nursery management, and focus,” Dr. Virginia Blatchley, scholarship committee co-chair says. “We were particularly impressed with his goal of increasing the use of native plants in Eastern Shore gardens.”
The GCES offers a scholarship annually to graduating seniors from Talbot County public and independent high schools. Students being home schooled are also eligible. The scholarship is available to students with outstanding academic records, who are also considering careers in botany, horticulture, agriculture, landscape architecture or design, environmental science, or related fields.
The GCES is committed to promoting environmentally sound landscape practices and to providing programs for the community that explore conservation practices and environmental issues. It spearheaded the extensive restoration of Easton’s Thompson Park and also maintains several gardens in the community including those at Thompson Park and the Academy Art Museum in Easton.
“Kathy Gilson, GCES President says: “Although the Covid-19 pandemic has prevented us from holding our fund raiser this year, the GCES did not consider cancelling our scholarship. We feel that supporting students, such as Wilder, who will work to increase the knowledge of native plants and conservation practices, is crucial to our mission.”
For additional information about GCES programs or to make a contribution to the scholarship fund, please call Dorothy Whitcomb at 410-385-0486.
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There’s never been a better time to become a member of Adkins Arboretum! Amid closures and stay-at-home orders, the Arboretum is committed to keeping its paths open for the many dog walkers, bikers, runners and nature enthusiasts who seek solace in fresh air, open space and the health benefits of spending time outside. Grounds are open daily from dawn to dusk.
These health benefits are numerous. Studies show that time in nature reduces stress, improves mood, lowers blood pressure, improves sleep, accelerates recovery from illness and boosts the immune system. Forests play a particularly important role in healthy immune systems—when we breathe in fresh air, we breathe in the same chemicals that plants release as protection against insects. These chemicals, in turn, help us fight disease.
Photo credit: Kellen McCluskey.
By joining the Arboretum, members support their health and the health of the greater community. In addition, members enjoy free admission throughout the year, as well as discounts on native plants, programs, events and gift store purchases. Although many 2020 programs and events have been canceled due to COVID-19, the Arboretum is re-envisioning its offerings to include creative, self-directed activities for visitors to enjoy on their own. These will be highlighted in a forthcoming calendar and on the Arboretum’s website.
Even as the Arboretum looks to the future with optimism, closures and cancellations are presenting financial challenges. This means that member support is more important than ever. To learn more about membership and all that the Arboretum has to offer, visit adkinsarboretum.org. New members will receive a $10 discount if they join by the end of May.
Adkins Arboretum is a 400-acre native garden and preserve at the headwaters of the Tuckahoe Creek in Caroline County. For more information, visit adkinsarboretum.org or call 410-634-2847, ext. 0.
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