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June 8, 2023

Chestertown Spy

Nonpartisan and Education-based News for Chestertown

Local Life Food and Garden Notes

May Mart Blooms Again: Chestertown Garden Club’s Premier Garden Sale

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The Chestertown Garden Club’s annual May Mart will once again offer the opportunity to purchase plants to start, fill in, and enhance your gardens while also supporting the beautification of Chestertown. This event will take place Friday, May 5, 9am-1pm, in Memorial Park, downtown Chestertown, rain or shine.

Buyers will have a broad selection of plants to choose from for any type of garden be it shade or full sun and lots of plants to attract pollinators at prices you will love. Thanks to the generosity of Tideland and Angelica Nurseries there will be a wonderful selection of shrubs. Cash and checks for all purchases will be appreciated.

All the plants will have tags with the information you need regarding the basics of what they require. Club members will be happy to answer any questions regarding such things as spacing, pruning, dividing, and propagating.

There will be an “All Things Garden” section that is fun because you never know what you’ll come across. You’ll likely find gently used items like tools, flower pots, vases and lawn or garden ornaments. In the past there have been scarves, garden hats, and an apron or two. But there will definitely be artfully arranged flowering containers.

In addition to the plants there will be homemade baked goods and a raffle. You may purchase three tickets for $5 to win a $100 gift certificate that can be used at your choice of any Chestertown area shop or restaurant.

The funds raised at May Mart go towards the beautification of Chestertown. In partnership with the town, the Garden Club maintains Fountain Park and Memorial Park on an ongoing basis and decorates the parks and the downtown area each year for the holiday season.

As their logo proclaims, the Chestertown Garden Club has been “Rooted in Community Since 1931”. Since the installation of the beloved fountain in Fountain Park they have been actively improving community life. Their most recent innovation, the “Good Seeds” garden, involved the collaboration of parents, teachers, students, businesses and the Town to install landscaping at Garnet Elementary School. As well as beautifying the streetscape, an environmental learning space was created and is in full use by the school.

Your Visit to May Mart provides a wonderful opportunity to get joy from gardening while supporting your community!

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Master Gardeners on Track to Consult on a Record Number of “Bay-Wise” Properties

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Homeowner Trish Reynolds (l.) received Bay-Wise certification for her property following a Spring 2022 visit by a Master Gardener team that included Carol Jelich.

With the Chesapeake Bay stroking our shores, Talbot County residents have generally shown interest in local waters and the environment. Talbot County Master Gardeners have found this even more apparent in 2022.

Since the start of the year, Master Gardeners have certified 9 Talbot County properties that now qualify to wear “Bay-Wise” signs. They have consulted with an additional 21 residents–significantly more than in prior, pre-pandemic years. Bay-Wise visits encourage property owners to follow sustainable landscape care practices that benefit our local waterways and the environment.

According to Master Gardener Coordinator Mikaela Boley, “The process is simple. Homeowners may contact my office to set up a free consultation with a team of Master Gardener volunteers who are University of Maryland trained and accredited. The team visits the property to see what has been accomplished and references the Bay-Wise Yardstick, which has a number of practices and suggestions listed for homeowners to achieve a more ecological landscape. This one-on-one contact is especially worthwhile, if you, for example, face storm water run-off issues or need planting recommendations.”

She adds, “After you implement additional recommended Bay-Wise practices, the team will follow-up for certification. When sufficient beneficial practices are in place, the property receives Bay-Wise certification and a free sign.

“Once certified, property owners are quite proud of their efforts and hope that their environmental diligence will inspire neighbors, to benefit all.”

Talbot County homeowners interested in learning more about the Bay-Wise program, contact Mikaela Boley (mboley@umd.edu /410-822-1244). Link to the state’s Bay-Wise website for further information and to download a copy of the Bay-Wise Yardstick: extension.umd.edu/baywise.

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May Mart Blooms Again

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If you are looking for new, native plants for your garden or have a question about gardening, plan to stop by the Chestertown Garden Club’s annual MAY MART on Friday, May 6th from 9am to 1:00pm in Memorial Park in downtown Chestertown.

This much anticipated annual Spring event offers an abundance of local, non-invasive plants for sale, along with “Everything Garden” tools and containers and a boutique of “Don’t Think Twice” treasures.  The baked goods table will be filled with home made pies and cookies.  Preordered box lunches can be picked up between 11:30-1 and a limited number will be available for purchase at May Mart. This year’s raffle will offer a prize everyone would want: a $100 gift certificate to the Chestertown business of the winner’s choice.

Proceeds from May Mart go towards the beautification and maintenance of Chestertown’s Fountain and Memorial Parks.  The Garden Club also decorates Fountain Park and downtown Chestertown for the holiday season.

The Chestertown Garden Club was founded in 1931 to bring together women with a mutual interest in gardening and environmental awareness.  Today, the civic minded group has an active membership of over 60 women and men.  Members contribute labor, time and resources to improve and maintain Chestertown’s public spaces.  The CGC provides informative meetings, local flower shows and field tripsto area gardens.

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Beyond the Garden Gate: Unearthing the Secret Garden

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Marta McDowell

The Garden Club of the Eastern Shore is pleased to present a program by the New York Times best selling author and renowned gardener Marta McDowell, who is well known for her books which follow “the relationship between the pen and the trowel.” She will share her love of horticulture and garden history with a look into her newest book, Unearthing the Secret Garden.

Marta explores the inspiration of Frances Hodgson Burnett’s much-loved book The Secret Garden published in 1910. The Secret Garden follows the story of Mary, Dickon and Colin inside the locked doors of the Secret Garden at Misselthwaite Manor. Marta will help us see how these gardens evolved and were influenced by her book before, during and after its publication.

Marta’s best known books include Beatrix Potter’s Gardening Life, which shows how Ms. Potter’s love of flowers and gardening appears in her work in the beloved The Tale of Peter Rabbit and Emily Dickinson’s Garden Life, which explores the influence of Emily Dickinson’s gardens on her poetry.

Marta currently teaches landscape history and horticulture at the New York Botanical Gardens. She has been a featured speaker at the Chicago Botanic Garden, Smithsonian Institution and Beatrix Potter Society’s Linder Lecture at the Sloane Club in London. Marta is the 2019 recipient of the Garden Club of America’s Sarah Chapman Francis Medal for outstanding literary achievement. Her garden is included in the Smithsonian’s Archive of American Gardens.

Join the Garden Club of the Eastern Shore and Marta for her lecture with tea and scones followed by a light boxed lunch. In addition to a complimentary copy of Unearthing the Secret Garden, attendees will also have the opportunity to participate in a silent auction, including several “Eastern Shore Adventures” such as an “Elegant Tea for Twenty” at an Oxford waterside home and a “Flower Design Class for Eight” led by Samantha McCall.

All proceeds from the event will benefit the college scholarship program and community projects of the Garden Club of the Eastern Shore. Each year, the Talbot County-based club awards a college scholarship to a deserving high school senior in the county whose scholastic accomplishments, community work and chosen field of study are consistent with the club’s objectives. The club has awarded 19 scholarships since the inception of their Scholarship Program.

Marta’s presentation will take place at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, April 8 at the Oxford Community Center in Oxford. To make a reservation to see Marta McDowell, send your check for $100 with contact information payable to GCES to P.O. Box 1924, Easton MD 21601. Your ticket includes a complimentary copy of Unearthing the Secret Garden, lunch, a chance to win all four of Marta’s books personalized by the author and a silent auction including several Eastern Shore Adventures. Proof of COVID vaccination and booster required.

Founded in 1963, the Garden Club of the Eastern Shore is committed to stimulating knowledge of horticulture, aiding in the protection of trees, shrubs, wildflowers and birds and encouraging all conservation practices.

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Adkins Arboretum Announces Spring Native Plant Sale—Online!

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Prepare for spring in the garden! Adkins Arboretum, offering the Chesapeake gardener the best selection of landscape-ready native plants for more than two decades, announces its Spring Native Plant Sale. All proceeds benefit the Arboretum’s rich variety of education programs that teach about the Delmarva’s native plants and their connection to a healthy Chesapeake Bay.

To ensure the best-quality plants, sales will be conducted entirely online. Orders will be accepted Thurs., March 3 through Thurs., March 31 at adkinsarboretum.org and will be fulfilled via timed, scheduled pickup in late April and early May.

Butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa) thrives in a wide variety of conditions and provides nectar for butterflies, including the monarch. Photo by Kellen McCluskey.

Plants for sale include a large variety of native perennials, ferns, vines, grasses and flowering trees and shrubs for spring planting. Native flowers and trees provide food and habitat for wildlife and make colorful additions to home landscapes, whether in a perennial border, a woodland garden or a restoration project. Native honeysuckle entices hummingbirds, while tall spikes of purplish flowers grace blue wild indigo. Milkweed provides critical energy for monarch butterflies on their winter migration to Mexico, and native azaleas present a veritable rainbow of colorful blooms.

As always, Arboretum members receive a generous discount on plants that varies according to membership level. To join, renew your membership or give an Arboretum membership as a gift, 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 call 410-634-2847, ext. 0.

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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Talbot County Garden Club Announces Its Winter Lecture Series

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Jenny Rose Carey

The Talbot Count Garden Club is proud to announce a spectacular line-up of nationally renowned speakers beginning in January of 2022. The lectures are free and open to the public.

All lectures will be at the firehouse at 315 Aurora Park Drive in Easton.

Tuesday, January 25, 2022, at 11 a.m.

Jenny Rose Carey, former director, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society’s Meadowbrook Farm.

Jenny Rose Carey is an avid hands-on gardener, brought up in England by a family of gardeners and botanists. Jenny will take guests on a visual tour of her gardens of “Northview” in Amber, PA.

Tuesday, February 22, 2022, at 11 a.m.

Claire Jones, Certified Professional Horticulturalist, Landscape Consultant and Floral Designer.

Celebrate the coming of Spring! Claire will go over different tips and tricks for working with various spring plant materials and cut florals. She will demonstrate three floral arrangements using different techniques that will be raffled off at the conclusion of the program.

Wednesday, March 23, 2022, at 11 a.m.

Neil Sanders, Author

As the spouse of an avid gardener with no “real” responsibilities other than to dig holes and move rocks, Neal has had lots of time to observe gardeners and their foibles. “Gardening is Murder” is a humorous talk that addresses gardening from a spouse’s view.

About the Talbot County Garden Club

The Talbot County Garden Club was established in 1917 to enrich the natural beauty of the environment by sharing knowledge of gardening, fostering the art of flower arranging, maintaining civic projects, supporting projects that benefit Talbot County and encouraging the conservation of natural resources.  Noteworthy projects include maintaining the grounds of the Talbot Historical Society, Talbot Library, the fountain and childrens’ gardens at Idlewild Park, and numerous other gardens and activities.  There are currently just over 100 active, associate and honorary members.

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Garden Club of the Eastern Shore Scholarship

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Each year, the Garden Club of the Eastern Shore (GCES) awards a merit-based scholarship of up to $5,000.00 to a graduating senior who attends high school in Talbot County and expects to major in horticulture, landscape architecture or design, botany, environmental science, agriculture or a related field. Scholarship applications are available from guidance counselors in all Talbot County high schools and may also be obtained by calling Dorothy Whitcomb at 443-385-0486.

The GCES Scholarship is entirely merit based.  Outstanding academic achievement along with volunteer or work experience, which shows a strong work ethic and a commitment to excellence, will be considered when evaluating applications.

GCES President Nance duPont says: “The Garden Club of the Eastern Shore has awarded 18 scholarships to Talbot County students since 1999.  The club is committed to supporting motivated students who have shown an interest in pursuing studies in ecology, horticulture, landscape design or related fields.  Previous recipients have become successful teachers, landscape architects, designers, and environmental researchers, both here on the Eastern Shore and around the country.”

The GCES is focused on promoting environmentally sound landscape practices and providing educational programs for the community that explore conservation practices and environmental issues.  In addition to awarding its scholarship for the past 18 years, the GCES spearheaded the restoration of Easton’s Thompson Park and continues to maintain it. The club also contributes to various community services projects in Talbot County.

For information about GCES programs or to make a contribution to the scholarship fund, please call Dorothy Whitcomb at 443-385-0486.

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Chestertown Garden Club Members Flower Show “Hello Gourd-Geous”

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The club held a members challenge competition to further enhance flower show skills. Working in teams to create a design that must include the use of a gourd as the principal design feature. Amazing entries were evaluated by Accredited District One Flower Show Judges. This is an excellent opportunity for new members to develop confidence that will encourage future participation in more formal shows. Each entry was judged on principals of design, creativity, plant material use and overall presentation. Members and their guests were invited to return in the afternoon for a cocktail party to celebrate the winning entries.

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC on November 2, 2021, 10:30 AM, at the Chester River Yacht and Country Club “TIME TO PRUNE” with quest speaker Cindy King. Cindy will speak and demonstrate techniques of pruning so that we may work in our gardens with an understanding of plants, and how to control their growth patterns. Cindy has been running the garden center at the Mill at Kingstown for 21 years. She is a certified professional horticulturist through the Maryland Nursery, Landscape, and Greenhouse Association, and serves as a board member of the MNLGA’S education committee as well as serving on the Board of Directors.

No charge or pre-register.

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“She Shed”, an Upscale Resale Event

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Byers’ Choice Carolers

The Garden Club of the Eastern Shore will be hosting an upscale resale event called the “She Shed” on Friday, November 5 and Saturday, November 6 from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. in the old News Center location in Easton’s Talbot Town Shopping Center.

This indoor sale of upscale items will benefit the Club’s Scholarship Fund, which is a merit-based scholarship granted to a graduating senior who attends high school in Talbot County and plans to major in horticulture, landscape architecture or design, botany, environmental science, agriculture or a related field.

Garden Club members have been gathering all kinds of interesting and unique items to be sold, including Byers’ Choice Carolers, Limoges china, Italian pottery, Sur La Table, vases, yard art, furniture, beautiful glassware, decorative baskets, attractive flower pots, rugs, women’s accessories, collectable birdhouses and much more!  Mark your calendar now to attend this wonderful sale and go home with irresistible treasures at amazing prices!

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Talbot Master Gardeners Win International Prize For “Exemplary” Nurture Nature Workshop

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Talbot County’s Master Gardener Program will receive an International David Gibby Search for Excellence Award in September during the 2021 International Master Gardener Conference. This prestigious award – named for the founder of all Master Gardener Programs – spotlights our University of Maryland Extension Master Gardeners’ “Nurture Nature Coaching Workshop.” The event took place in person, pre-pandemic, in the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum’s Van Lennep Auditorium in early March 2020.

This year’s IMG Conference, hosted by the Virginia Extension Master Gardener Program, will take place virtually. More than a thousand program volunteers from 50 states, Canada, and South Korea are expected to attend. The award, judged by peers, recognizes “exemplary group projects that show significant learning by Master Gardeners or the public” that “frequently serve as models, influencing the development of Master Gardener-led programs throughout the world.” Talbot County’s 3rd place award appears in the “Program/Workshop” category with those from Fulton County, Georgia and Manatee County, Florida.

Photo: Talbot County Master Gardener Volunteers have been recognized with an international award for an innovative workshop designed to help our community garden more sustainably. Sharing the award are (Back) Mary Ripple, Melinda Hudson, Pat Jessup, Marilyn Reedy, Mary Sue Traynelis, Reenie Rice, Mikaela Boley (Front) Kathi Bangert, Mary Ellen Olcese, Janet Mackey, Rita Mhley, Sheilah Egan, Carol Jelich. Not pictured are Desne Roe, Leslie Coleman, Elizabeth Whiteley, Mary Revell, Janet Friedberg, Charlotte Meyer, Mimi Morris, Janis Trainor, Chris Myles-Tochko. Photo credit: Ron Ketter

The “Nurture Nature Coaching Workshop” involved more than 20 local Master Gardener Volunteers. As educational outreach, it encouraged residents to take actions in their own yards to make room for nature and create healthier living landscapes.

The workshop began with a brief video segment from a Joe Lamp’l “Growing a Greener World” television episode featuring entomologist Doug Tallamy, emphasizing how important it is for gardeners to plant native plants and create habitat for insects and birds.

In a subsequent panel discussion, 5 Master Gardeners shared stories and examples of ways they reduced their lawns and increased garden areas to support wildlife.

Afterwards, participants were offered the opportunity for one-on-one coaching with Master Gardener volunteers stationed around the auditorium.

To reinforce key points of the workshop, volunteers developed a brochure highlighting 10 achievable steps that participants could take to reduce lawn and “nurture nature” on residential properties ranging from multi-acre to small, townhouse yards.

The free program reached audience capacity with nearly 90 registered more than a week in advance. Post-program evaluations demonstrated that participants were enthusiastic to include more native plants, reduce lawn, and increase wildlife habitat. Additionally, nearly a dozen audience members requested Bay-Wise consultations by Master Gardener volunteers to help identify natural stewardship strategies for their own properties.

Talbot Master Gardeners continue to offer free Bay-Wise property consultations by request to:
Senior Agent Associate Mikaela Boley / mboley@umd.edu / 410 822-1244

To learn more about the Master Gardener Program, visit: https://extension.umd.edu/locations/talbot-county

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.