Our annual reports showcase the amazing work you all do across the state! Check out the 2024 reports below.

The International Master Gardener Search for Excellence (SFE) Awards are named in honor of Dr. David Gibby, the visionary founder of the Extension Master Gardener (EMG) program. SFE includes seven categories in which EMGs can demonstrate meaningful contributions to their communities. 

We had three county programs win awards at the 2019 conference, which you can read about here. We encourage you all to see if your project meets the award criteria and to apply! Please be sure to work with your coordinator or AED.

Click the button below to learn more about the award criteria and application process. Applications close May 1, 2025.

City Nature Challenge is an annual community science competition for cities across the globe to find and document the plants and wildlife found in urban areas. As regional coordinator, the National Aquarium is calling on community scientists to explore, identify and document urban wildlife in the Baltimore metropolitan area.

The 2025 challenge takes place from Friday, April 25^th through Monday, April 28^th. Participants will use the free iNaturalist app to record the species they find during the challenge. All observations made in the following counties and uploaded to iNaturalist during the challenge will automatically be counted toward Baltimore's City Nature Challenge totals: Baltimore City, Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, Harford, Howard and Queen Anne's counties.

The Maryland’s Best Native Plants program aims to bring education, awareness, and recognition to consumers and producers about the importance of native plants. The Maryland Department of Agriculture is launching a new program that will help identify retail locations that are dedicated to offering Maryland native plants!

Why native plants? Native plants are critical to the health of our environment. Plus, they can be easier to grow and require less maintenance. They are crucial for the survival of many of our native pollinators and other beneficial insects, birds, mammals, and reptiles, and can be more resilient than non-native plants in the face of changing weather and climate patterns.

There are three tiers of certification: bronze, silver, and gold which identifies the percentage of native plants compared to their whole inventory - the higher the medal, the higher the percentage of native plants they are carrying. To find a retailer near you, check out the certified nurseries list and interactive Google map.

If you have any questions or concerns about the program, please contact Kristin Hanna at kristin.hanna@maryland.gov.

First Wednesday of the month, April-October, 12:00 – 1:00pm, Zoom

Join us for monthly updates from our UME experts on what questions or hot topics you might encounter at your upcoming Ask A Master Gardener Plant Clinics!

If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in any event or activity, please contact Stephanie Pully on or before 2 weeks prior to the webinar at pully@umd.edu or (301) 226-7616.

Monday April 28th, 2:00pm, Zoom

The UME MGs in Howard County are opening the second half of their monthly meeting for other MGs to join to hear a presentation from Bill Cullina, the Director of the University of Pennsylvania's Morris Arboretum & Gardens.

If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in this event, please contact Stephanie Pully on or before April 14, 2025 at pully@umd.edu or (301) 226-7616.

Wednesday April 30th, 12:00- 1:30 pm, Zoom

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

If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in this event, please contact Stephanie Pully on or before April 16 at pully@umd.edu or (301) 226-7616.

Please allow a few business days for the recording to be posted to our UME Webinars- Master Gardeners playlist.

Wednesday May 14th, 12:00- 1:30 pm, Zoom

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

If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in this event, please contact Stephanie Pully on or before May 1, 2025 at pully@umd.edu or (301) 226-7616.

Please allow a few business days for the recording to be posted to our UME Webinars- Master Gardeners playlist.

Welcome to the Fiber Garden Tour & Demonstration! Join the UME Master Gardeners in Howard County at the Community Ecology Institute for a fun and educational event showcasing their innovative fiber gardens. Explore different types of plants used for fiber production and learn about the process from garden to garment. Our knowledgeable MG guides will lead you through the gardens and demonstrate their fiber processing, offering insights and tips along the way.

If you need a reasonable accommodation, please contact Stephanie Pully at pully@umd.edu or 301-226-7616 on or before May 2, 2025.

Wednesday May 21st, 12:00- 1:30 pm, Zoom

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

If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in this event, please contact Stephanie Pully on or before May 8, 2025 at pully@umd.edu or (301) 226-7616.

Please allow a few business days for the recording to be posted to our UME Webinars- Master Gardeners playlist.

Did you miss any of our continuing education webinars last year?

Check out the recordings below! You can always see both upcoming continuing education opportunities and recorded webinars on the State MG Continuing Education webpage.

Please help share our Spanish resources! You can download it directly from the newsletter by hovering your mouse over the bottom right corner.

Q&A: What Can I Grow in Place of Dogwood?

By Miri Talabac, Horticulturist, University of Maryland Extension Home & Garden Information Center

Starting a Culinary Herb Garden

By Erica Smith, Montgomery County Master Gardener

The University of Maryland Extension programs are open to any person and will not discriminate against anyone because of race, age, sex, color, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, religion, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, political affiliation, and gender identity or expression.