About

What: NatureFest

NatureFest is an annual community event for Charles County children ages 4-12. Charles County Master Gardeners contribute plants and seeds, horticulture-related activities. The inaugural event was hosted by the Neighborhood Creative Arts Center at Tilghman Lake Park in La Plata. In 2025, it was located at the College of Southern Maryland, La Plata.

For more information on NatureFest, visit the NatureFest event page.

What: Nurture Natives

October 2022 was the inaugural tree and shrub giveaway. On April 29, 2023, Charles County Master Gardeners will once again partner with Nurture Natives at Maryland Day on the University of Maryland campus in College Park. Hundreds of free native shrubs and trees will be distributed to Maryland residents from 10 am – 4 pm.

In late 2021, NCAC, Charles County 4-H, and Charles County Master Gardeners were awarded a grant to train teen pollinator ambassadors. As part of that project, 18 teen ambassadors learned about the importance of pollinators, challenges they face, and ways they can be supported.  Teens used that knowledge to develop fun, interactive activities to teach younger children and adults about pollinators at schools, camps, and outreach events.  Through their efforts a total of 665 people; 447 youth and 218 adults learned about pollination. 

Download the Nurture Natives: A Guide to Invasive Species and their Native Look-Alikes

When:  Plant sale held on the 3rd Saturday of May

Project Leader Name:  Terry Thir

Contact Info: thirccmg@aol.com

Annual fundraiser to create a fund for yearly MG projects and activities.  The MG plant sale is held at the La Plata Farmers Market on the 3rd Saturday of May.  MGs grow annual flowers, vegetables, and herbs by seed to sell.  We also sell all types of plants (houseplants, ornamentals and edibles, heirlooms, perennials, and annuals).

 When:  Upon Request

 Project Leader Name:  Vacant                       

MGs answer questions from area residents on a wide range of plant-related topics.  Residents may bring in samples of diseased plants for diagnosis or some with questions about their lawn or garden.  Master Gardeners also provide Extension brochures and information to clientele.  Plant clinics are held at the farmers markets and other public events.

Project Leader Name:  Rose Markham

Contact Information: rosemarkham@comcast.net

Invite a team of Charles County Bay-Wise 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.

The Bay-Wise program is a landscape education program that focuses on water quality and conservation efforts in protecting Maryland waterways and the Chesapeake Bay.  It comprises a set of environmental topics, that when used in landscape management, protects the quality and quantity of the water in Maryland. The landscape owner fills out the Maryland Living Landscapes Metric. The homeowner checks off actions based on eight habits for following best practices.  Each action taken is worth 3 points; earn 80-100 points to be considered for a certification visit. Homeowners are given advice on potential opportunities to improve. Additional visits may be scheduled. 

When: Volunteers meet first Wednesday of the month April-October at 10:00 a.m.

Project Leader:  Rose Markham

Contact Information:  rosemarkham@comcast.net

This is a historic property.  Master Gardener installed and maintain the herbal garden which was commonly found in gardens in the 1800’s. MG also maintain the iris border, pruning, and garden clean-up.

When:  On-going

 Project Leader(s):      Terry Thir                         Kathleen Jenkins

 Contact Information: ThirCCMG@gmail.com      kgjenkins@comcast.net

The Charles County Extension Service Demonstration Gardens is located on the front lawn of the UMD Extension Office in Bel Alton, Maryland. Sections of the front lawn will include at least nine different gardens that incorporate a variety of themes and/or purposes. The demonstration gardens will provide education for the public, including signage, tours, training, and information about the content of each garden. One garden has been completed at this time, which is considered a Historical Garden, which was designed to mimic a riverside/costal spring landscape. We are currently working on a Bay-Wise demonstration garden and planning for the Native Pollinator Demonstration Garden. Future guided tours by a Master Gardener will be available to the public, schools, and other organizations.

When - Year round

Contact:  Suse Greenstone sgreenstone@melwood.org

MGs work collaboratively with the Manager, Horticulture Therapy Programs, Melwood Horticultural Training Center. MGs assist with hands-on seasonally focused therapeutic horticulture activities with Melwood participants (and planning and/or teaching classes). The activities range from learning about indoor plants and tropical fruits and healthy living skills in the winter months, to three-season outdoor gardening and pest control, simple production greenhouse skills, nature studies, creative expressions, seasonal eating to teaching basic horticulture skills and pre-vocational market gardening and landscaping. Program sessions take place predominantly at the Melwood Recreation Center in Nanjemoy. MD. Indoor and outdoor classroom settings include outdoor vegetable and pollinator gardens. The Melwood Recreation Center greenhouse, and indoor classrooms, activity areas and kitchens.   

When – As requested

Project Leaders Name:  Terry Thir, Gail Walker

Contact info: thirccmg@gmail.com   gail.enid.walker@gmail.com

"The Misadventures of Peter Rabbit in Farmer McGregor's Vegetable Garden" interactive puppet show teaches elementary children about eating nutritious vegetables, how vegetables are grown, how they are used in recipes and foods they eat daily. Farmer McGregor and Peter Rabbit will talk to the kids about growing and eating vegetables, what are good bugs and bad bugs, and, most importantly, why you should listen to your parents. 

We are available to perform the puppet show for home schoolers, clubs, public schools, scouts, and other interested parties.
 

When – April - October

Project Leader – Brent Burdick,

Phone and Email: B361220601@comcast.net

The project is to provide assistance to the Southern Food Bank & Outreach Services’ Community Learning Garden.  Their garden is used to demonstrate home gardening; to educate youth and other activity groups, to include home schoolers; and to harvest produce for use in their Food Truck operation and to provide fresh supplements to their pantry bags.  MGs and Interns provide advice and help to maintain the Community Learning Garden; plan and conduct education sessions; and assist in harvesting produce for Food Bank use.  The garden area and beds are relatively small and are located behind their offices in Waldorf.  In 2019, educational activities were conducted during weekdays at various times over the summer.  MGs and Interns delivered educational activities in informal class training, presentations, and hands-on activities in the garden, displays in the garden area, and through the demonstration garden itself.  Maintenance and related activities for the demonstration garden were conducted during days/evenings and weekdays/weekends as needed throughout the growing season.

Where: Charles County Senior Centers

Project Leader: Michelle Chenault     

Contact info: vmchenault@gmail.com

Classes and hands on activities are provided for special senior populations. Presentations and workshops for all county seniors are scheduled throughout the year.