2020 Native Plant Sales & Events
*March 14, 2020 update: Due to the cancellations of public gatherings, please check directly with the event’s coordinator for updated information.*
The Native Plant Sales & Events calendar is updated regularly so check back often. Contact us to add an event.
Scroll down for main events by month.
DELAWARE, MARYLAND, NEW JERSEY, PENNSYLVANIA, VIRGINIA, WASHINGTON DC, WEST VIRGINIA
EVERYWHERE: Look for your county’s upcoming spring native shrub and tree seedling sales. These young plants are offered to homeowners at an irresistible price.
MARYLAND: Marylanders Plant Trees was launched in 2009 to encourage citizens and organizations to partner with the State to plant new trees. Today, citizens can still take advantage of our coupon program to receive $25 off the purchase of a native tree at 86 participating nurseries across the State.
NEW JERSEY: The South Jersey Landscape Makeover Program is a unique program to provide homeowners, municipalities, and farmers with expert advice and financial assistance to create rain gardens and other “green infrastructure” projects that capture polluted stormwater and prevent it from entering our lakes, rivers, and bays. We’ll host a series of rain garden design workshops and offer free technical advice and funding for homeowners and municipalities. Farm owners will also be eligible for grants to implement stormwater best management practices. This program is for select municipalities in the Rancocas River, Hammonton, Salem, and Maurice-Cohansey River watersheds, but there may be opportunities in other municipalities depending on the project and location.
PENNSYLVANIA: Pennsylvania Game Commission’s Howard Nursery produces bare-root seedlings for wildlife food and cover on State Game Lands. The nursery has been producing and distributing 2 to 8 million seedlings annually for wildlife food and cover since 1954. All Pennsylvania landowners may purchase seedlings for wildlife food and cover, watershed protection, soil erosion control, and for reclamation of disturbed areas, such as surface mine site and utility right-of-ways.
VIRGINIA: Arlington County StormwaterWise Landscapes Program. Applications for 2020 will be accepted from February 1 – March 15. The StormwaterWise Landscapes Program provides funding for voluntary projects that will reduce stormwater runoff from your property. Stormwater carries pollutants such as oil, bacteria, dirt, and lawn chemicals to our local streams. Installing practices on your property that collect or slow stormwater — allowing it to soak into the ground — keeps pollutants out of streams.
VIRGINIA: Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District’s Native Seedling Sale. This year’s seedling sale features small shrubs and trees which are hardy in small spaces and bear gorgeous flowers and fruits, and display beautiful colors. The fruits and flowers that these plants grow are important food sources to birds and pollinators, and are delicious treats for us! By planting these native species, you are directly contributing to the betterment of our environment. The plants in each package clean our water and air, prevent soil erosion, provide valuable habitat, and add beauty to your property. Orders for 2020 seedling packages opens February 4th.
VIRGINIA: Potowmac Chapter of the Virginia Native Plant Society First Wednesday Plant Sales. Plant Sales are held on the First Wednesday of the month (June through October) at our propagation beds across the driveway behind the Horticulture Center at Green Spring Gardens in Alexandria, VA. Our knowledgeable Propagation Bed Volunteers are looking forward to visiting with you and helping you select the right plants for your environment.
VIRGINIA: Grants and Discounts: list courtesy Plant NOVA Natives.
Your regional Native Plant Society is the perfect resource for not only native plant sales but also information, field trips and other events:
Delaware Native Plant Society
Maryland Native Plant Society
The Native Plant Society of New Jersey
The Finger Lakes Native Plant Society of Ithaca, New York
Native Plant Society of Staten Island, New York
New York Flora Association
Pennsylvania Native Plant Society
Delaware Valley Fern & Wildflower Society, Pennsylvania
Virginia Native Plant Society
West Virginia Native Plant Society
VIRGINIA
January 1
Friends of Mason Neck State Park: Tundra Swan Walk, Lorton
Have you ever seen Tundra Swans, those amazing birds that migrate thousands of miles from the Arctic to spend the winter in our region? Their haunting calls are nearly impossible to forget! You’ve got a great opportunity to see the Tundra Swans at 12:15 pm on January 1, when the Friends of Mason Neck State Park will lead a guided walk to see them. We’ll start from the Woodmarsh Trail parking lot, on the left side of High Point Road a short distance BEFORE you get to the Park’s Contact Station. We’ll walk about a mile over fairly level ground to the viewing area. You’ll likely hear the birds before you see them. We’ll have binoculars and telescopes so you can view the swans and other water birds and we’ll also help you identify them. There’s no charge for this event, which is open to everyone. Come out and enjoy the first day of 2020 with the Friends! The trails can be a little muddy, so be sure to wear sturdy shoes or boots. Mason Neck State Park is also offering guided First Day Hikes in the park on January 1. You can see their schedule of hikes at Mason Neck State Park First Day Hikes.
PENNSYLVANIA
January 9
Morris Arboretum Landscape Design Symposium 2020, Bryn Mawr
THE CULTURE – ECOLOGY BOND: Perspectives for Landscape Design. Culture and ecology exist in a dynamic relationship: culture shapes ecology and vice versa. Our 2020 conference will explore this feedback loop as it pertains to landscape design and management. From historical as well as contemporary perspectives, our presenters will consider the complex, sometimes overlooked ways in which culture and ecology interact and what this means for how ecology-based design can be most effective.
DELAWARE
January 18
Mt. Cuba Center presents: Edible Native Plants for Every Garden, Hockessin
Thanks to books like Doug Tallamy’s Bringing Nature Home, there’s an increasing interest among homeowners, property managers, and municipal governments to include more native plants in their landscapes. Not only do native species attract and support beneficial insects, some species are edible by people too! Join Russ Cohen, expert forager and author of Wild Plants I Have Known…and Eaten, as he extols the comestible virtues of native edible plants. Learn basic identification tips, season(s) of availability, preparation methods, and guidelines for safe and environmentally responsible foraging. Enjoy samples of goodies made from wild-collected native edibles after the presentation. Copies of Russ’s book will be available for purchase and signing after the lecture.
VIRGINIA
January 19
Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy presents: Adventures with Raptors, Brambleton
Join raptor rehabilitator Liz Dennison and Belinda Burwell of Wildlife Veterinary Care in Boyce for an informative Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy program about raptors and their place in our natural world. The program will be followed by an opportunity for everyone to personally visit, interact with, and take photos with their ambassador birds. All are welcome.
EVERYWHERE!
January 20
Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service
To honor the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., his birthday has been declared a national day of volunteer service. Volunteering is a great way to help fellow human beings and the environment. Plus it’s personally rewarding.
VIRGINIA
January 24 – 26
Winter Wildlife Festival, Virginia Beach
Witness winter wildlife all around Virginia Beach; whether it’s following fascinating bird activity, exploring the natural areas of our community or the musings of harbor seals . Learn what it takes to properly observe and identify wildlife in their natural settings. Registration opens November 15th, 2019.
DELAWARE
January 28
University of Delaware presents: Let’s Talk About Birds & Bees: The Bees, Newark
Recent headlines and studies of global insect declines, 1 million species threatened with extinction, and 3 billion fewer North American birds leave many people concerned. Let’s explore what WE can do in our own backyards to make a positive difference. The Bees featuring Dr. Debbie Delaney will give us the ABC’s of the cause of the decline, its repercussions, and landscape plants and practices we can employ to make a positive impact.
DELAWARE
January 29 – 30
2020 Delaware Wetlands Conference, Wilmington
Join us on January 29th and 30th, 2020 as more than 320 wetland enthusiasts, experts and students from the Mid-Atlantic region gather in Wilmington, Delaware to attend the 9th biennial 2020 Delaware Wetlands Conference. Participants will share the latest in wetland research, innovations to outreach and education, and the progress of conservation programs. Ample opportunities will also be provided to network and make new connections.
MARYLAND
February 1
World Wetlands Day Festival, Abingdon
Celebrate World Wetlands Day inside at the Estuary Center! There will be food and fun activities for all ages. A special guest appearance – Wetland Deli – Music, games and a scavenger hunt – Exhibitors – Live animal demonstrations – and more! Visit www.ramsar.org for additional activities and information for World Wetlands Day.
DELAWARE
February 4
Delaware Nature Center presents Dr. Doug Tallamy: Nature’s Best Hope, Hockessin
Doug Tallamy’s first book, Bringing Nature Home, awakened thousands of readers to an urgent situation: wildlife populations are in decline because the native plants they depend on are fast disappearing. His solution? Plant more natives. In this new book, Dr. Doug Tallamy takes the next step and outlines his vision for a grassroots approach to conservation. Nature’s Best Hope shows how homeowners everywhere can turn their yards into conservation corridors that provide wildlife habitats. Through his lecture, walk away with specific suggestions you can incorporate into your own yard. If you’re concerned about doing something good for the environment, Nature’s Best Hope is the blueprint you need. By acting now, you can help preserve our precious wildlife—and the planet—for future generations.
VIRGINIA
February 8
Stop Mowing, Start Growing: Native Plants for Beginners, Woodbridge
Whether you are new native plants and what they can do for your property or looking for alternative landscaping ideas this event is for you! Native plants can: create a beautiful yard; save time so you can enjoy other activities; create habitat for birds & pollinators; save money on fertilizer & pesticides; improve water quality; curb erosion. Let us help you to stop mowing and get going on your dream landscape!
DELAWARE
February 11
University of Delaware presents: Let’s Talk About Birds & Bees: The Birds, Newark
Recent headlines and studies of global insect declines, 1 million species threatened with extinction, and 3 billion fewer North American birds leave many people concerned. Let’s explore what WE can do in our own backyards to make a positive difference. Doug Tallamy is a professor in the Department of Entomology & Wildlife Ecology at the University of Delaware, where he has authored 95 research articles and has taught Insect Taxonomy, Behavioral Ecology, Humans and Nature, and other courses for 36 years. Chief among his research goals is to better understand the many ways insects interact with plants and how such interactions determine the diversity of animal communities.
VIRGINIA
February 12 – 14
Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden Winter Symposium: Uncertain Times, Reliable Gardens, Richmond
Join seasoned gardeners and green industry professionals to explore how concepts of beauty and order are changing based on deep research into how plants behave and how they are reacting to climate change. The importance of native plants and an understanding of plant communities help designers and gardeners create more resilient gardens and contribute to the health of the biosphere in the face of climate change. Registration now open.
VIRGINIA
February 15
Virginia Tech presents Woods & Wildlife Conference, Roanoke
Over 10 million acres of Virginia’s woods are privately owned. The Woods & Wildlife Conferences provide information, tools, and personal contacts to help private woodland owners keep their woods, and the wildlife that live in them, healthy and productive. A variety of topics are offered to appeal to owners of both small and large tracts, and both new and experienced owners. These day-long conferences are held in February. To date, over 2,000 woodland owners have attended a Woods & Wildlife Conference.
MARYLAND
February 21
Montgomery County Parks presents Green Matters Symposium: Practical Solutions For Ecologically Sustainable Landscapes, Silver Spring
This symposium will offer practical solutions to help shift the focus of gardening and landscape design away from merely aesthetics and towards creating and managing sustainable landscapes. Industry experts will explore how native plants can be incorporated into our landscapes while realizing the ecological benefits through plant community-based design strategies. Attendees will learn ecological gardening and maintenance practices that lead to a “greener” and more resilient garden. Case studies will shed light on how to minimize the environmental impact of humanmade landscapes ranging from home gardens to commercial projects.
MARYLAND
February 22
Anne Arundel County Watershed Stewards Academy’s Leap Into Action: 9th Annual Conference, Millersville
We are excited to announce Doug Tallamy as the featured speaker for our annual conference! Doug is a professor at the University of Delaware and author of Bringing Nature Home and The Living Landscape. Doug’s extensive knowledge in sustaining biodiversity by selecting native plants and the increasing importance to preserve our land will surely encourage you to take action! Whether you’re a seasoned Steward, a stormwater professional, or just getting started in the wide world of watershed restoration, this year’s conference has something for everyone.
VIRGINIA
February 23
Virginia Native Plant Society’s February Author Lecture: Dr. Doug Tallamy, Manassas
February’s Author Lecture this year will be given by renowned entomologist and ecologist Doug Tallamy. Dr. Tallamy will have his new book available for signing, Nature’s Best Hope: A New Approach to Conservation that Starts in Your Yard. (Timber Press, Available February 4, 2020). This is a wonderful opportunity to hear an inspiring message and learn how you can help biodiversity on your own property.
VIRGINIA
February 29
Virginia Tech presents Woods & Wildlife Conference, Roanoke
Over 10 million acres of Virginia’s woods are privately owned. The Woods & Wildlife Conferences provide information, tools, and personal contacts to help private woodland owners keep their woods, and the wildlife that live in them, healthy and productive. A variety of topics are offered to appeal to owners of both small and large tracts, and both new and experienced owners. These day-long conferences are held in February. To date, over 2,000 woodland owners have attended a Woods & Wildlife Conference.
MASSACHUSETTS
March 4 – 5
Ecological Landscape Alliance Conference & Eco-Marketplace 2020, Amherst
Attend ELA’s 26th Conference & Eco-Marketplace to reenergize your practice and prepare for spring! Network with other professionals and enjoy this year’s inspiring presentations full of information you can apply in practice. ELA offers two full days of research and field-tested expertise as well as innovative case studies on a wide variety of topics.
VIRGINIA
March 5
Audubon Society of Northern Virginia: Winter Birds with Larry Meade, Reston
Many of our winter birds, such as waterfowl and sparrows, are still around, but they are joined by early migrants returning to breeding territories. In this workshop, we will discuss birds that occur here at this time of year, with a special focus on species that are migrating into our region and their arrival dates. An ancillary field trip offers a chance to encounter many of these birds in their natural settings. Larry Meade, ASNV Education Committee and President of Northern Virginia Bird Club, will lead.
NEW JERSEY
March 7
2020 Native Plant Society of NJ Annual Meeting & Plant Sale, Medford
We will have speakers presenting information on native plant communities, plant related vendors and our “sticks and twigs” the first public native plant sale in the state. Members who are current in their dues will receive a discounted admission price and will have first chance at registration.
NEW YORK
March 9
Westchester Community College Landscape Conference: Places for Pollinators: Designing Welcoming Landscapes, Valhalla
News headlines shout the startling facts of the decline in pollinator populations and the resulting threats to plant life. Across the country bees, butterflies, and birds have become celebrities as a growing demand to create appropriate habitat gains steam through professional and grassroots actions. Find out about the needs of pollinators and the challenges they face. Explore designs and native plants to use in creating beneficial sites. Discover the movement that is changing backyards and community landscapes while supporting the survival of these critical creatures. Speakers and presentation titles: Maria van Dyke, What Bees Need: Survival Essentials and Threats; Andrew Sell, Strategies and Designs to Improve Landscape Performance; Annie S. White, Ph.D., How Native Plant Cultivars Affect Plant/Pollinator Interactions; Mary Ellen Lemay, Pollinator Pathways: Connecting Habitats Town by Town. Register today!
MARYLAND
March 11
Blue Water Baltimore presents Gardening for Nature Workshop, Baltimore
Join Herring Run Nursery and the Patterson Park Audubon Center for this unique workshop and plant sale at Charm City Meadworks! Learn how to transform your home, school, work, or community space into a paradise for local birds, butterflies, and bees. Experts from the Audubon Center and Blue Water Baltimore’s Herring Run Nursery will be on hand to share practical tips and scientific support for gardening with native plants. Learn how to incorporate habitat and improve water quality, no matter what size garden you have. Leave with resources you need to beautify your outdoor space, attract beneficial wildlife, and improve Baltimore’s environmental resilience. The taproom will be open and our Nursery will have native plants for sale! This event is free to attend; please register in advance.
NEW JERSEY
March 11
Native Plant Society of NJ: Vine Identification-Unraveling Their Identity, Natural History & Importance, Mahwah
An overlooked and misidentified group, vines are often targeted for eradication. Learn how to identify our local native species and their importance to the ecology. We will review some common introduced vines and highlight those that are invasive, as well as discuss the use of native vines in the home landscape. An instructor at the NY Botanical Garden, with focus on native plants, Nancy Slowik is also a faculty member in their Urban Naturalist program. Nancy is the author of two field guides on local flora of the South Palisades. Formerly the director of Greenbrook Sanctuary, she also provides guidance with restoration of the Ramapo Mountain State Park.
PENNSYLVANIA
March 12
Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve’s 20th Annual Land Ethics Symposium: Creative Approaches for Ecological Landscaping, Doylestown
Each year, this informative conference focuses on ways to create low-maintenance, economical and ecologically balanced landscapes using native plants and restoration techniques. Participants have opportunities to network and share their experiences with peers at this professional program. The symposium is geared toward professionals, including landscape architects, designers, contractors and the green industry, environmental consultants, land planners, managers and developers, and state/municipal officials.
VIRGINIA
March 12
VNPS presents: Piecing Together Nature’s Puzzle, Alexandria
The Virginia Native Plant Society, Potowmack Chapter, presents naturalist Alonso Abugattas. Nature is intricately interconnected. While we certainly don’t know how all the pieces fit, we can have some informative fun trying to put them together. Join us for an interesting look at how pieces of the “nature puzzle” fit together, focusing on our native flora and wildlife of course. Get a peek at just how interdependent are plants, fungi, insects, wildlife, and even humans can be and try to piece together some parts of our local nature puzzle. Take a look at host plants, oligolectic bees, ethnobotany, and other wildlife interactions. You may not look at our natural world the same way again.
NEW YORK
March 13 – 14
12th Annual Ithaca Native Landscape Symposium, Ithaca
There is a global movement to embrace sustainable landscapes. However, the appropriate use of native plants in these landscapes often remains tangential because knowledge of native plants is often inadequate. Similar long-established symposiums in other regions of the US have successfully raised awareness of native plants, and increased the confidence of an entire region of professionals and enthusiasts in their use of these plants. Our goal is to do the same for Upstate New York. The Symposium is for landscape architects, designers, educators, Master Gardeners, government employees, homeowners, gardeners, naturalists and anyone else eager to learn more about this growing movement.
DELAWARE
March 14
Mt.Cuba Center presents The Humane Gardener: Nurturing Habitats for Wildlife, Hockessin
Why do we call some insects “beneficial” while others are “pests”? Why do we welcome some larger animals to our garden while calling others “nuisances”? Why are some plants considered “desirable” while others are “weeds”? In this myth-busting talk, Nancy Lawson discusses how common gardening methods perpetuate misperceptions about the wild species living among us. Discover practical ways to put humane gardening philosophies into action by protecting nesting sites, eliminating unintended hazards, identifying and nurturing plants that provide food and shelter, and humanely resolving conflicts with mammals and other commonly misunderstood creatures.
NEW JERSEY
March 14
Pinelands Preservation Alliance: 31st Annual Pinelands Short Course, Galloway
A day long event featuring educational presentations that explore the unique history, ecology, and culture of the Pinelands. Held at Stockton University’s Galloway campus.
PENNSYLVANIA
March 14
Hardy Plant Society/Mid-Atlantic Group: March into Spring XXIV, Media
This year our theme gives a wink to Jane Austen, an icon of 18th century literature, because our symposium is featuring four renowned contemporary authors who are launching their new books. Expect a wide-ranging and informative day covering the latest news on plants, design, and science. You’ll be engaged and energized by intriguing new ideas from our speakers, fine plants offered for sale by local growers, irresistible goodies at an enticing silent auction, and new friends you’ll make among the kindred spirits attending from the tri-state area. The day begins with Ken Druse and a focus on scent in our gardens, while we savor his exquisite garden photos and plant scans by Ellen Hoverkamp. That idyll will be followed by Tom Christopher sharing the inspiration behind a wonderful public garden, Wave Hill, on the Hudson. In the afternoon, Kim Eierman will encourage us further with planting ideas to nurture pollinators from early spring through late fall. Doug Tallamy will share his latest research into the complex web woven among plants, insects and other fauna and ourselves.
VIRGINIA
March 21
Creating a Wildlife Sanctuary on Your Property: The Audubon at Home Program, Mason Neck State Park, Lorton
What can you do on your own property to attract and support wildlife? To learn how, join us at Mason Neck State Park’s Jammes House for the presentation on “Creating a Wildlife Sanctuary on Your Property: The Audubon at Home Program.” Betsy Martin will talk about the Audubon at Home program and Wildlife Sanctuary certification and will explain Habitat Best Practices. Laura Beaty will relate how she transformed her yard into a wildlife habitat with a slide program entitled: “Your Landscape as Habitat.” She will show how to support nature’s relationships in your wildlife habitat, and why it’s important to view your habitat from two perspectives: the eyes of turf-grass traditionalists and native pollinators. She’ll show you the truth behind the phrases, “The greater the plant diversity the greater the wildlife” and “Plant it and they will come.” This program is cosponsored by the Friends of Mason Neck State Park and The Audubon Society of Northern Virginia. This is a free program, but registration is required.
VIRGINIA
March 21 — Registration opens Feb 1
Loudoun County Master Gardeners: Let’s Get Growing Annual Gardening Symposium, Leesburg
2020 Speakers include Ginger Woolrich – a trained landscape architect and garden consultant, Woolridge is co-author with Tony Dove of Essential Native Trees and Shrubs for the Eastern United States: The Guide to Creating a Sustainable Landscape; Ira Wallace –a seed saver, an educator, and the essential intellectual and physical energy behind Southern Exposure Seed Exchange—one of the country’s best known and most respected sources for heirloom and open-pollinated seeds organic seeds; Sam Droege –wildlife biologist at the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, part of the US Geological Survey. He is widely published in journals and has been the editor of numerous government publications on birds and insects; Dennis Dimick –retired journalist and photography editor with the National Geographic.
PENNSYLVANIA
March 26
York College of Pennsylvania presents: Making Insects: A Guide to Restoring the Little Things That Run the World, York
Dr. Doug Tallamy will describe simple changes to our landscape and our attitudes to support the insects that play an essential role in our lives. This event is free and open to the public.
MARYLAND
March 28 — STAY TUNED!
US Fish & Wildlife Service: Patuxent Research Refuge Birthday Bash, Laurel
Celebrate the Birthday of the National Wildlife Refuge System! Activities will include crafts, games, educational activities, and much more. All programs are free and registration is not needed.
WASHINGTON DC
March 28
34rd Annual Lahr Symposium & Native Plant Sale 2020, Washington DC
The 34th Annual Lahr Symposium continues the tradition of presenting subject matter experts on ecological, botanical, and horticultural advancements in a daylong program held at the US National Arboretum. Hear about current research on the ecology and impact of invasive plants, learn about the positive role beneficial insects can play in your landscape, and expand your knowledge of the many ways native plants and ecosystem-based design bring beauty and ecological benefits to the home garden and wider world.
MARYLAND
March 29
Chesapeake Natives Open Greenhouse Sale Days, Upper Marlboro
Join Chesapeake Natives at our Mt. Airy Mansion Greenhouse (9640 Rosaryville Road Upper Marlboro, MD) the last Sunday of the month, March-September, from 10AM-2PM for our Open House Native Plant Sales! Shop the best quality native plants in Maryland, grown from locally gathered native seed on site at Mt. Airy. Let us help you find the right native plants for your space. If you can not make any of these sales you always have the option to shop our selection of native plants by appointment! Email sales@chesapeakenatives.org if you want to schedule a time to visit us at the nursery.
VIRGINIA
April 1
Virginia Native Plant Society, Potowmack Chapter, First Wednesday Plant Sale, Alexandria
Plant Sales are held on the First Wednesday of the month (June through October) at our propagation beds across the driveway behind the Horticulture Center at Green Spring Gardens in Alexandria, VA. Our knowledgeable Propagation Bed Volunteers are looking forward to visiting with you and helping you select the right plants for your environment.
MARYLAND
April 4 — STAY TUNED!
Howard County GreenFest 2020, Columbia
This year’s GreenFest will celebrate the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. The event will focus on increasing knowledge about choices we can make to better the environment.
MARYLAND
April 4
Native Plant Social with The Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, Annapolis
There will be free local refreshments and native plants, as well as a kid’s corner, a pop-up farmers market, and other interactive activities. Alliance staff will be present to help handout the native plants (one per person and while supplies last), to provide information about the plants, and to answer any questions the public might have about the Alliance and the work that we do.
NEW JERSEY
April 4
Native Plant Society of NJ, Jersey Shore Chapter: Jersey-Friendly Yards, Barnegat
Be inspired to create your own Jersey-Friendly garden using native plants that are adapted to local conditions, support wildlife and conserve water. (Scroll down their website page for this Jersey Shore Chapter listing.)
VIRGINIA
April 4
Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy’s Spring Native Plant Sale, Leesburg
Native plants add beauty and interest to your garden year-round and provide important habitat for wildlife. Flowers, shrubs, trees, vines, and ferns will be available for purchase from a trio of Virginia-based vendors: Julie Borneman of Watermark Woods Nursery in Hamilton; Janet Davis of Hill House Farm and Nursery in Castleton; and Randee Wilson of Nature by Design in Alexandria. The sale, sponsored by Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy, is staffed by volunteers who are knowledgeable about native plants. Other community groups will also participate, sharing information on how to support local wildlife.
VIRGINIA
April 11
Prince William Conservation Alliance: Bluebell Festival at Merrimac Farm WMA, Nokesville
Please join us on Saturday, April 11, to welcome spring, celebrate nature close to home and view the fabulous Virginia Bluebells that carpet the Cedar Run shoreline for nearly a mile. Meet local organizations and people who are working to improve our community. With some of the best Northern Virginia naturalists leading tours and activities, we’re looking forward to a special day at an outstanding natural area. Family-friendly and free of charge.
VIRGINIA
April 11
Fairfax County’s Riverbend Park: Bluebells at the Bend, Great Falls
Celebrate the Virginia Bluebells that carpet the early spring forest at Riverbend Park. Witness the mass bloom of thousands of bluebells and spring wildflowers across the Potomac River, and enjoy fun-filled activities for the whole family. The Bluebell Festival runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Pre-sale tickets are $7 online until April 10. Regular tickets are $9 at the gate.
POTOMAC RIVER WATERSHED
April 18
32st Annual Potomac River Watershed Cleanup
The Annual Potomac River Watershed Cleanup has become a decisive catalyst for progress that ignites people’s interest and passion for the environment and community action. The largest regional event of its kind, the Cleanup provides a transforming experience that engages residents and community leaders and generates momentum for change.The Potomac River Watershed Cleanup has grown from a small shoreline cleanup at Piscataway National Park to a watershed wide network. What started as a few cleanup events along the Potomac River is now a regional event spanning Maryland, Virginia, the District of Columbia, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania.
VIRGINIA
April 18 – 19 — STAY TUNED!
Virginia Living Museum Spring Native Plant Sale, Newport News
Choose from an incredible array of beautiful and unusual native plants for a variety of garden sites and styles, from wet ponds to dry rock gardens. These VLM nursery propagated plants include excellent options for attracting butterflies, hummingbirds, and other wildlife to your yard. VLM horticulture staff will be on hand to answer questions, discuss the wildlife benefits of native plants, and help with any particular gardening situations. Sale held rain or shine.
EVERYWHERE!
April 22
It’s Earth Day! The theme for Earth Day 2020 is climate action.
The enormous challenge — but also the vast opportunities — of action on climate change have distinguished the issue as the most pressing topic for the 50th anniversary. Climate change represents the biggest challenge to the future of humanity and the life-support systems that make our world habitable. The first Earth Day on April 22, 1970, activated 20 million Americans from all walks of life and is widely credited with launching the modern environmental movement. The passage of the landmark Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act and many other groundbreaking environmental laws soon followed. Twenty years later, Earth Day went global, mobilizing 200 million people in 141 countries and lifting environmental issues onto the world stage. More than 1 billion people now participate in Earth Day activities each year, making it the largest civic observance in the world.
MARYLAND
April 24 – 26
Adkins Arboretum’s 2020 Spring Open House & Native Plant Sale, Ridgely
Prepare for spring in the garden! Shop the region’s largest selection of landscape-ready native trees, shrubs, perennials, ferns, and grasses for spring planting. Guided walks, discount for members. Check back in March for information on placing presale orders.
NEW JERSEY
April 24 (members only) & 25
Pinelands Preservation Alliance Spring Native Plant Sale, Southampton
A great way to help preserve our native flora — and our environment in general — is to plant native vegetation around our homes and businesses. Luckily, New Jersey residents have lots of beautiful and interesting native plants to choose from. When you landscape with native plants, not only are you likely to save money and resources by using less fertilizer, soil additives, and water, you are also helping to strengthen the complex web of connections linking native species and ecological processes in your local ecosystem. Plant the Pinelands in your garden this spring!
MARYLAND
April 25
Audubon Society of Central Maryland Native Plant Sale, Mount Airy
In April of each year, the ASCM holds a Native Plant Sale. Over these years, the Native Plant Sale has continued to grow in scope and popularity, becoming a “Don’t Miss It” event among area gardeners for the unique selection of fresh, healthy plant stock that not only comes from local suppliers, but is natively suited to our unique regional weather and soil conditions. Profits from our Native Plant Sale help to provide the critical funding needed for our ongoing programs of environmental education and habitat preservation in our local area. We truly appreciate your support!
PENNSYLVANIA
April 25
Lancaster Native Plant and Wildlife Festival, Lancaster
We hope you make a day of it and meet all of these awesome people who care for the earth, learn what they have to offer and how you can help! Tracie from Raven Ridge Wildlife Center with live animals!; Elyse Jurgen of Waxwing EcoWorks will present “Green Mulch”: Using native plants as groundcover; Linette Mansberger, avid nature observer, eco traveler, and wildlife photographer, will present “Bats: Our Friends of the Night;” and Mark Kocher, wildlife rehabilitator volunteer, will share live birds of prey and their stories on the lawn in the festival area!
VIRGINIA
April 25
Northern Alexandria Native Plant Sale 2020, Alexandria
The Spring Northern Alexandria Native Plant Sale is coming Saturday, April 25, from 9am to 2pm. Many vendors will be hosted at this event for the 34th time – the largest native plant sale in the Washington DC area! The spring sale is the last Saturday in April. The fall sale is the last Saturday in September.
MARYLAND
April 26
Chesapeake Natives Open Greenhouse Sale Days, Upper Marlboro
Join Chesapeake Natives at our Mt. Airy Mansion Greenhouse (9640 Rosaryville Road Upper Marlboro, MD) the last Sunday of the month, March-September, from 10AM-2PM for our Open House Native Plant Sales! Shop the best quality native plants in Maryland, grown from locally gathered native seed on site at Mt. Airy. Let us help you find the right native plants for your space. If you can not make any of these sales you always have the option to shop our selection of native plants by appointment! Email sales@chesapeakenatives.org if you want to schedule a time to visit us at the nursery.
VIRGINIA
April 26
Virginia Native Plant Society, Jefferson Chapter Native Plant Sale, Charlottesville
The Jefferson Chapter of the VNPS will hold their Annual Native Plant Sale on April 26th. Come early for the best choices. We have the best prices in town!
EVERYWHERE!
April 26 — Moved to webinar! Registration now open.
Audubon Society of Northern Virginia presents The Humane Gardener: Nurturing Habitats for Wildlife, Reston
Why do we call some insects “beneficial” while others are “pests”? Why do we welcome some larger animals to our garden while calling others “nuisances”? Why are some plants considered “desirable” while others are “weeds”? In this myth-busting talk, Nancy Lawson discusses how common gardening methods perpetuate misperceptions about the wild species living among us. Discover practical ways to put humane gardening philosophies into action by protecting nesting sites, eliminating unintended hazards, identifying and nurturing plants that provide food and shelter, and humanely resolving conflicts with mammals and other commonly misunderstood creatures.
DELAWARE
April 30 (Member Day), May 1 – 2
Delaware Nature Society’s Native Plant Sale, Greenville
Our Native Plant Sale features more than 300 rare, unusual and favorite varieties of native wildflowers, trees, shrubs, ferns and aquatic plants for all growing conditions, including drought-tolerant. Some are introductions from the nearby Mt. Cuba Center and many species attract wildlife such as birds and butterflies.
MARYLAND
April 30 (Member Day), May 1 – 3
Montgomery Parks Black Hill Nature Center Program’s Annual Native Plant Sale, Boyds
The Friends of Black Hill Nature Program Invites you to their 2020 Native Plant Sale. Many of the plants on sale have been cultivated locally and most are important food and shelter sources for Maryland butterflies, birds, and an array of other wildlife. All proceeds support nature programming at Black Hill Visitors Center.
DELAWARE
April 30 (Member Day), May 1 – 2
Delaware Nature Society’s Native Plant Sale, Greenville
Our Native Plant Sale features more than 300 rare, unusual and favorite varieties of native wildflowers, trees, shrubs, ferns and aquatic plants for all growing conditions, including drought-tolerant. Some are introductions from the nearby Mt. Cuba Center and many species attract wildlife such as birds and butterflies.
MARYLAND
April 30 (Member Day), May 1 – 3
Montgomery Parks Black Hill Nature Center Program’s Annual Native Plant Sale, Boyds
The Friends of Black Hill Nature Program Invites you to their 2020 Native Plant Sale. Many of the plants on sale have been cultivated locally and most are important food and shelter sources for Maryland butterflies, birds, and an array of other wildlife. All proceeds support nature programming at Black Hill Visitors Center.
MARYLAND
May 2
Delmarva Pollinator Festival & 13th Annual Native Plant Sale, Snow Hill
This FREE event is the largest pollinator festival in Maryland, Delaware, and Virginia, it brings together more than 1,000 students, plant-lovers, vendors, community members, nonprofit partners & more, to celebrate our native pollinators. This all-ages, family-friendly event, along the Pocomoke River, will include live music, local food, crafts, kids-activities, and much more! This event helps to educate community members about the benefits of our resource-based industries. Attendees can also purchase from hundreds of native plants and take them to their home or business – further supporting the pollinators that give us healthy, local foods.
PENNSYLVANIA
May 2
PA Native Plant Society’s 2020 Central Pennsylvania Native Plant Festival, Boalsburg
Native plants for sale, educational talks, hikes, food and many resource tables are at this year’s festival. New this year: music by the Crooked Line acoustical bluegrass band.
VIRGINIA
May 2
Virginia Native Plant Society, John Clayton Chapter Native Plant Sale, Williamsburg
More information on the way…
MARYLAND
May 3
Howard County, Robinson Nature Center Native Plant Palooza, Columbia
Come shop our 7th annual native plant sale! By planting native and properly caring for your plants, you can save on the cost of water, fertilizer and pesticides while providing a habitat for butterflies, insects and other local wildlife. During the Native Plant Palooza, you can purchase native plants from a host of local vendors with a portion of proceeds from the sale benefiting the Nature Center. Learn how to create and maintain compost (Howard County residents are eligible to receive a free compost bin), discover how plantings can effect water quality and “Ask a Master Gardener” about plants or issues you are encountering in your yard and garden.
MARYLAND
May 9 — CANCELLED
Maryland Native Plant Society: Mountain Maryland Native Plant Festival, Garrett County
Discover the important connection between native plants, people, and wildlife at the 7th annual Mountain Maryland Native Plant Festival! A large variety of plants native to the mid-Atlantic for sale all day! Scheduled programs & activities highlight native plants & biodiversity! Local experts answer questions on native plants & other conservation topics!
NEW JERSEY
May 15 & 16
D&R Greenway Land Trust Native Plant Sale, Princeton
D&R Greenway’s Native Plant Nursery is dedicated to restoring a rich diversity of native flora to the local landscape. We supply plants for ecological restoration projects, school projects and to the general public for use in home gardens. The Nursery stocks over 50 species of native plants, which are essential for native wildlife and for ecosystem function. These include trees, shrubs, perennial wildflowers, grasses, sedges & ferns. These plants are purchased from reputable native plant growers
NEW JERSEY
May 15 – 17
Wetlands Institute Native Plant Sale, Stone Harbor
Aligning your garden and landscaping to be beneficial to butterflies, pollinators and songbirds is a great way to help support a healthy environment. Few things are as interesting and wonderful as butterflies and hummingbirds enjoying a vibrant and beautiful garden. We have selected a beautiful array of plants that will bloom throughout the season and provide all the various food resources that butterflies, songbirds, hummingbirds, and other pollinators need to thrive. Knowledgeable native plant and garden naturalists will be on hand to answer questions and many of the plants are in the gardens at either the Stone Harbor Bird Sanctuary or Institute for a firsthand look.
PENNSYLVANIA
May 16 — Rescheduled for September 18th, 2021!
The Foundation of Sustainable Forests: 9th Annual Field Conference: Loving the Land Through Working Forests, Centreville
A spotlight on Keynote Presenter Doug Tallamy‘s presentation, “Nature’s Best Hope”: Recent headlines about global insect declines, the impending extinction of one million species worldwide, and three billion fewer birds in North America are a bleak reality check about how ineffective our current landscape designs have been at sustaining the plants and animals that sustain us. Such losses are not an option if we wish to continue our current standard of living on Planet Earth. The good news is that none of this is inevitable. Tallamy will discuss simple steps that each of us can- and must- take to reverse declining biodiversity and will explain why we, ourselves, are nature’s best hope.
MARYLAND
May 31
Chesapeake Natives Open Greenhouse Sale Days, Upper Marlboro
Join Chesapeake Natives at our Mt. Airy Mansion Greenhouse (9640 Rosaryville Road Upper Marlboro, MD) the last Sunday of the month, March-September, from 10AM-2PM for our Open House Native Plant Sales! Shop the best quality native plants in Maryland, grown from locally gathered native seed on site at Mt. Airy. Let us help you find the right native plants for your space. If you can not make any of these sales you always have the option to shop our selection of native plants by appointment! Email sales@chesapeakenatives.org if you want to schedule a time to visit us at the nursery.
NEW JERSEY
June 7
New Jersey Audubon Native Plant Sale, Jackson Township
Come for a wonderful selection of native wildflowers, ferns, grasses, shrubs, and small trees to turn your backyard into haven for wildlife.
EVERYWHERE!
June 22 – 28
National Pollinator Week
National Pollinator Week is a time to celebrate pollinators and spread the word about what you can do to protect them. Thirteen years ago the U.S. Senate’s unanimous approval and designation of a week in June as “National Pollinator Week” marked a necessary step toward addressing the urgent issue of declining pollinator populations. Pollinator Week has now grown into an international celebration of the valuable ecosystem services provided by bees, birds, butterflies, bats and beetles. Pollinator Week was initiated and is managed by Pollinator Partnership.
MARYLAND
June 28
Chesapeake Natives Open Greenhouse Sale Days, Upper Marlboro
Join Chesapeake Natives at our Mt. Airy Mansion Greenhouse (9640 Rosaryville Road Upper Marlboro, MD) the last Sunday of the month, March-September, from 10AM-2PM for our Open House Native Plant Sales! Shop the best quality native plants in Maryland, grown from locally gathered native seed on site at Mt. Airy. Let us help you find the right native plants for your space. If you can not make any of these sales you always have the option to shop our selection of native plants by appointment! Email sales@chesapeakenatives.org if you want to schedule a time to visit us at the nursery.
MAINE
July 19 – 22 — Rescheduled tentative dates: July 18-21, 2021
Hog Island Audubon Camp: Creating Bird-Friendly Habitats, Bremen
Learn how to attract birds to properties large and small – A special 3-night/4-day program. Discover how to make your property irresistible to birds and pollinators! This three-day session focuses on enhancing wildlife habitat on properties large and small. Presentations by entomology professor Doug Tallamy, author of Bringing Nature Home, will emphasize restoring natural relationships between native plants and insects, and offer tips for attracting insects that in turn attract birds. Dr. Tallamy’s entomology perspective will complement bird perspectives from Audubon’s Dr. Stephen Kress, author of The Audubon Society Guide to Attracting Birds who will discuss the co-evolution of native plants and native birds, and provide tips for creating bird-friendly habitats that mimic native plant communities, without using harmful pesticides.
MARYLAND
July 26
Chesapeake Natives Open Greenhouse Sale Days, Upper Marlboro
Join Chesapeake Natives at our Mt. Airy Mansion Greenhouse (9640 Rosaryville Road Upper Marlboro, MD) the last Sunday of the month, March-September, from 10AM-2PM for our Open House Native Plant Sales! Shop the best quality native plants in Maryland, grown from locally gathered native seed on site at Mt. Airy. Let us help you find the right native plants for your space. If you can not make any of these sales you always have the option to shop our selection of native plants by appointment! Email sales@chesapeakenatives.org if you want to schedule a time to visit us at the nursery.
MARYLAND
July 28 — Rescheduled from 3/31/20
Maryland Native Plant Society: Native Planting: An Insect’s Point of View, Kensington
Learn about planting native plants and other yard landscape techniques to support native insects. Karin Burghardt is an Assistant Professor of Entomology at the University of Maryland.
MARYLAND
August 30
Chesapeake Natives Open Greenhouse Sale Days, Upper Marlboro
Join Chesapeake Natives at our Mt. Airy Mansion Greenhouse (9640 Rosaryville Road Upper Marlboro, MD) the last Sunday of the month, March-September, from 10AM-2PM for our Open House Native Plant Sales! Shop the best quality native plants in Maryland, grown from locally gathered native seed on site at Mt. Airy. Let us help you find the right native plants for your space. If you can not make any of these sales you always have the option to shop our selection of native plants by appointment! Email sales@chesapeakenatives.org if you want to schedule a time to visit us at the nursery.
VIRGINIA
September 26
Northern Alexandria Native Plant Sale 2020, Alexandria
Come find native perennials, shrubs, and trees for sun or shade. A dozen or more vendors from three states (VA, MD, PA) will be hosted at this event, the largest commercial native plant sale in the D.C. metro region. This sale is held twice a year. The spring sale is the last Saturday in April. The fall sale is the last Saturday in September.
MARYLAND
September 27
Chesapeake Natives Open Greenhouse Sale Days, Upper Marlboro
Join Chesapeake Natives at our Mt. Airy Mansion Greenhouse (9640 Rosaryville Road Upper Marlboro, MD) the last Sunday of the month, March-September, from 10AM-2PM for our Open House Native Plant Sales! Shop the best quality native plants in Maryland, grown from locally gathered native seed on site at Mt. Airy. Let us help you find the right native plants for your space. If you can not make any of these sales you always have the option to shop our selection of native plants by appointment! Email sales@chesapeakenatives.org if you want to schedule a time to visit us at the nursery.
NEW JERSEY
October 17
Jersey Friendly Yards Conference 2020, Toms River
Join us at the 2020 conference and learn how to create healthy habitat for wildlife in your Jersey-Friendly Yard! Destruction of natural habitat throughout the world has led to a serious declines in populations of pollinators, birds, and other wildlife. By gardening for wildlife in our yards, we can help reverse this trend. As Dr. Doug Tallamy, author of Bringing Nature Home and Nature’s Best Hope says, “Garden as if life depended on it.” The Jersey-Friendly Yards website is designed to guide you through the steps to a healthier, more wildlife-friendly yard. The conference will include a featured speaker and two “choose a workshop” sessions. Fall is the perfect time to add native plants to your landscape. At the conference’s native plant sale, New Jersey growers will offer a great selection of wildlife-friendly native plants ready for fall planting. In the conference exhibit area, chat with our knowledgeable exhibitors and pick up additional information about how to landscape for wildlife and a healthier environment.
WEST VIRGINIA
October 30 – November 1
Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay’s 15th Annual Chesapeake Watershed Forum, Shepherdstown
The Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay’s 15th Annual Chesapeake Watershed Forum is a watershed-wide event reaching over 400 restoration and protection practitioners to inspire and empower local action towards clean water. We share successful tools and techniques, build capacities of local organizations, foster partnerships, educate on new initiatives, network among each other, and celebrate our successes. Registration for the 2020 Chesapeake Watershed Forum will open in late August.