If you love birds and nature, or just want to learn more about wildlife, come out to the inaugural edition of the Maryland Osprey Nature Festival in Lusby, MD. See live raptors up close, attend lectures with wildlife experts from all over the state, participate in bird watching, and enjoy nature at this idyllic venue. It will be an event for the entire family and people of all ages. There will be live music throughout the day and the opportunity to purchase some of Southern Maryland's favorite dishes, including pulled pork and braised beef. $10 per family, $5 for individuals. April 2, 11:00 am to 4:00 pm; Lusby, Maryland. More information and tickets.

Maryland Day will be celebrated state-wide on the weekend of March 25-27, with free admission to regional parks and events throughout the state. Events on Friday, March 25 include commemorating the founding of Maryland at the state’s birthplace at St. Clement’s Island Museum, with free admission to the museum all day, free water taxi rides, official ceremony featuring guest speakers and program, and more. Hancock’s Resolution will be offering a free virtual program to honor James Spencer, founder of Freetown. More Maryland Day celebrations:

Pride of Baltimore in Annapolis: Pride II will be in Annapolis from March 25-27 and open to the public for free deck tours from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm Saturday and Sunday.

Join the Annapolis Maritime Museum for Maryland Day on March 26th from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm to discover the oyster’s important impact on our local maritime heritage and the ecology of the Chesapeake Bay. $1 admission for one day only. family-friendly activities, including an oyster shell craft and small boat building kit to take home. Registration and more information. 

London Town officially reopens on Maryland Day weekend. Enjoy free admission all weekend long along with hands-on activities, guided tours, and more.

On March 27, the B&O Railroad Museum will present Maryland on the Rails: The B&O’s Contribution to Maryland History public tour. The tour is included with regular admission. 

Once again the Susquehanna Greenway Partnership is hosting its annual Paddling Film Festival World Tour. Enjoy the films, experience some excellent storytelling, and learn about opportunities for outdoor recreation on land and water trails in your own backy and on the Susquehanna Greenway. The film presentations will inspire you to explore rivers, lakes and oceans, push extremes, embrace the paddling lifestyle and appreciate wild places. $15 tickets ($20 at the door). April 9, 1:00 pm to 3:30 pm; Lewisburg, PA. More information and tickets.

Did you know that dinosaurs are with us still today? Join the Audubon Society of Northern Virginia to hear a virtual presentation by Douglas Futuyma, Distinguished Professor Emeritus in the Department of Ecology and Evolution at Stony Brook University. Learn how birds evolved and continue to evolve, how they became so diverse, why they are so brightly colored, and more. This event is free but registration is required. March 27, 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm. More information and registration.

Looking for an opportunity to get on the water for the first time this spring? Join the Pickering Creek Audubon for a canoe trip on the Tuckahoe, from the mill pond upstream through both open marsh and wooded wetland, with a chance to see herons, owls, beavers, wood ducks and turtles. Canoes, paddles and lifejackets provided. Space is limited so reserve your spot ASAP! April 23, 9:00 am to 11:30 am; Pickering Creek Audubon, Easton, MD. More information and registration.

According to floriography buttercups are a symbol of childishness.

Wildflowers and other plants have long been utilized as foods, medicines, and even communication. In this virtual lunchtime program Little Buffalo State Park will present some of the interesting folklore behind some of our region’s common plants and wildflowers. Learn about the Doctrine of Signatures and floriography. The program will be via Microsoft Teams, but there is no need to download the program. March 28, 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm. More information and registration.

Looking for a great hike with the promise of some excellent spring birding? Join the Virginia Sierra Club for a hike in Garland Dodd Point of Rocks Park, located on the Appomattox River in Chester, Virginia. The Indigenous Algonquian people lived here, Captain John Smith explored this area, and the park has remnants of Union earthworks. The trails through the forest offer viewing access for a variety of typical eastern birds, and the boardwalk through the marsh provides an excellent place to study a number wetland birds and dragonflies. The trails are mostly easy to walk, with a couple of steep hills. Total hiking time will be 1-1.5 hours. April 16, 9:30 am to 11:00 am; Garland Dodd Point of Rocks Park, Chester, VA. More information.

Historic Annapolis, Inc. held the Grand Opening of the Museum of Historic Annapolis at its location at 99 Main Street on March 19. The museum unveiled its groundbreaking permanent exhibition, Annapolis: An American Story. The new exhibit shares dramatic stories of Annapolis and its diverse people – revolutionaries, visionaries, and champions of our nation’s continuing quest for liberty and justice – who helped to shape our American story across more than 450 years. The story is told via an inspiring film, three floors of colorful exhibits, and an amazing collection of objects. You can also continue your deep dive into Annapolis history with visits to partner sites like Banneker-Douglass Museum, Hammond-Harwood House, the Maryland State House, William Paca House and Garden, and more.

Have you thought about converting your lawn, or part of your lawn to garden spaces, but are afraid of the back-breaking work required? Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia have a how-to video to show you how to create garden spaces without digging deep and flipping or cutting turf. Extension Master Gardener Becky Halbe will describe methods – including lasagna gardening – she has used on her property and elsewhere to spare her back and quickly and more easily go from grass to a garden filled with flowers, native plants, or vegetables. Watch Grass to Garden: Creating a New Garden Space.

Head out on the water and learn firsthand the experiences of Captain John Smith's Voyage on NOAA's Chesapeake Bay interpretive Buoy System. CBIBS provides real time weather and environmental information, as well as a glimpse into living Chesapeake Bay History. You can also download the app for your Android or iPhone from the website. Note: some buoys may be offline with no data currently available.

Take a virtual tour of the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail from your computer or mobile device! To help you plan your trip before you go, the Chesapeake Conservancy partnered with Terrain360 to bring you virtual tours of the trail’s great rivers. Sit back and virtually explore the Elk, James (sponsored by the James River Association), Nanticoke, Northeast, Patapsco, Patuxent, Potomac, Rappahannock, Sassafras, Susquehanna, and York rivers. Check out some of the Chesapeake’s special places like Werowocomoco, Fones Cliffs, Baltimore’s Inner Harbor and Mallows Bay. We hope to eventually bring you a virtual tour of the entire Chesapeake Trail! Explore the Chesapeake's great rivers on our website.