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President’s Message
“Everything good, everything magical happens between the months of
June and August”
Jenny Han
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Folklore has it that in spring, fairies seek out woodland homes where they can settle and flourish for the summer. This year, they will find the perfect sanctuaries right here in Quiet Waters Park! Starting June 6th, local artists and residents will be placing beautifully crafted, handmade fairy houses along the Holly Trail. We invite you to explore this magical neighborhood and welcome the season's most enchanting visitors! There is information below about the Welcoming Festivities on June 6th and the Fairy Workshops on the following weekend, June 13th.
Mark your calendars! The Friends of Quiet Waters Park Annual Meeting and Election is happening on Monday, June 8th at 6:00 PM in the Garden Gallery (Visitor Center). Come out to review our past year's highlights, and help elect our new Board Members. Light refreshments will be served, and we would love to see you there!
HELP WANTED
With so many wonderful activities on the horizon, the Friends could use your help to bring it all to life! We are looking for enthusiastic volunteers to join the fun. Whether you have a knack for finance to help with budgeting, technical skills to support our IT needs, or a creative eye for designing flyers on Canva, we have a place for you! Registration information is below.
This is a magical time of year, so plan to join the fun!
See you in the Park!
Warm Regards,
Kristin Pauly, President
NEWS ALERT! Follow Us On
Instagram @thefriendsofquietwaterspark to see
beautiful captures of the park!
AND DON'T FORGET TO TAG US IN YOUR PHOTOS SO WE CAN SHARE YOUR WONDERFUL FAIRYHOUSES! #QuietWatersFairyFestival
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June Photo Contest Winner
Fishing the Hard Way
by Bill Reichhardt
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Through the eyes of the photographer...Bill Reichhardt
I remember taking the photograph in the small inlet off of Harness Creek behind the Holly Pavilion. For what seemed like forever, I watched this Snowy Egret carefully make his way along the shoreline while constantly looking for small fish in the shallow water. Attempting to get a better angle, he climbed on to the dead tree limb you see in the image. That also gave me a few seconds to get closer. The strike was over in a split second, but using a telephoto lens and a shutter speed of 1/3200 second froze the bird and the splashing water. However he missed the fish.
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Clap if you believe . . .
Quiet Waters Park and the Friends of Quiet Waters Park Sculpture Committee are, by popular demand, again hosting this year's
Fairy House Festival!
Fairy Houses made of materials found in nature will be on display within the woods of Quiet Waters Park June 6-28.
Enchantment begins on Saturday, June 6, 1:30-3:30 PM at the Holly Pavilion - all are invited and Fairy - like costumes are encouraged!
The opening event will feature:
Live Music. Atmospheric accompaniment courtesy of
Annapolis Symphony Orchestra musicians*
Live Performance. A 3 pm special presentation of the "Fairies Dance" performed at the amphitheater by the
Ballet Theater of Maryland
Refreshments. Light refreshments will be served with the support of Graul's Market and Trader Joe's
Weather permitting*
Free to all and donations to the Friends of Quiet Waters Park help to make this event happen
| Follow us on Instagram @thefriendsofquietwaterspark and don't forget to tag us and our partners in your photos so we can share your wonderful Fairyhouses! #QuietWatersFairyFestival #AnnapolisSymphonyOrchestra #BalletTheaterofMaryland | | | | |
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Annette Uroskie, "The Three Graces," Watercolor | | Both the Willow and the Garden galleries will hold the watercolor works of Annette Uroskie and Joan Machinchick thru July 27, 2026; their exhibit is titled “Water, Water on the Wall. Annette and Joan have enjoyed a long friendship, met through sailing but drawn together through a love of art. They share a mutual awe of the majesty of life-giving water which coaxes the garden into bloom, and enlivens the paint into art. They portray its surface, its depths, its moods, its life within and the line where it meets the land and earth comes alive. | | Joan Machinchick, "Dusk at Sullivan Island," Watercolor | | | | |
Annual Membership Meeting | | |
The Friends of Quiet Waters Park was founded just after the Park was formed in 1990. We are a Membership Organization and in June we hold the Annual Meeting.
This years’ meeting will take place on Monday June 8th at 6pm in the Garden Gallery of the Visitor Center.
All current members are invited to attend and vote. There will be a review of the past fiscal years’ activities and the election of Board Members.
Vote to Join the Board for a 2-Year Term
- Thomas Perkins
- Patricia Sanborn
Vote to Renew 2-year Term
- Kathryn Feldman
- Ray Sullivan
- Chevon Howie
The full slate of Board members for FY27 and FY28 is:
Kristin Pauly, President
Irene Howie, Secretary
Lynn Goff, Ex-Officio Fine Arts Committee
Kathryn Feldmann
Karl Hauss
Candace Love
Thomas Perkins
Tricia Sanborn
Ray Sullivan
Joan Verbeck
Chevon Wright
Shelley Ridge, Park Superintendent, ex-officio non-voting member
All Board meetings are open to the public, dates and times of upcoming Board Meetings are on the Friends website calendar.
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Upcoming Invasive Species Clean Up Events
Join us for our June invasive removal events at Quiet Waters, and help us make a
difference in stopping the spread!
Training, extra tools and gloves will be provided for all invasive removal events.
When: Wednesday, June 10th, 8:30 to 10:00.
Where: Meet at the Sycamore Pavilion
What: We will be removing privet, English Ivy, honeysuckle and wineberry along the trail between the Sycamore and Sassafras Pavilions.
No sign up, just show up!
When: Saturday, June 20th, 9:30 to 11:30.
Where: Meet at the Blue Heron Parking lot at the top of the compost trail.
What: We will continue to remove privet, English Ivy, honeysuckle and wineberry
around the perimeter of the parking lot and continue down the trail.
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There will also be a Special Weed Warrior Event at Quiet Waters On Saturday, June 13th, 9:45 to 12:00. Details are in the below flyer.
Anne Arundel County Weed Resistance will hold an invasive removal event, as well as certify volunteers to become Weed Warriors.
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Watch the website for additional information on events in July and August! In the
meantime, If you have any questions or would like to volunteer, contact Terri McKenna or Ranger Liz Schilder!
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The Bay’s Bounty
With Memorial Day and the advent of summer, thoughts turn to Chesapeake delicacies. Quiet Waters has been an abundant source of oysters, crabs and fish for thousands of years. Quiet Waters was a seasonal encampment for the Mataponi, ancestors of Maryland’s present Piscataway Conoy tribes. The Mataponi lived along the Patuxent River near present-day Fort Washington, Accokeek and Mattawoman Creek. To harvest the Bay’s bounty, they paddled and portaged to Quiet Waters and other brackish coves and creeks of the South, West, and Rhode Rivers.
Archaeologists have found no evidence of native villages in Quiet Waters. Yet the oyster middens (huge piles of discarded shells) in the park, featuring charred shells, mean that oysters were likely harvested, preserved, and transported back to the Patuxent villages to feed those communities through the winter. In addition to providing food, the oysters shells were used to construct pots.
Want to learn more and touch an oyster shell? Check out the wayside sign on the Holly Pavilion trail, the same trail where you’ll enjoy the June 6 – 28 Fairy House Festival.
| | | | Quiet Waters Park Oyster Midden | | |
Thanks to Historic London Town and Gardens,
archaeologists Jim Gibb and Jessica Jenkins and
Piscataway Indian Citizen Mario Harley for information
in June's History Corner.
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| • Keep Food and Water Flowing! It used to be common practice for many to stop feeding birds in the spring/summer months with the belief that they “don’t need it”. Unfortunately, over the last 30+ years, there has been significant habitat loss and there are now parking lots and buildings where trees used to be – wild birds now need our support year-round. Recent research shows summer to be the most abundant season for birds to visit feeders as they try to replenish valuable nutrients from the demands of nesting. Besides, you wouldn’t want to miss out on summer’s spectacular display of colorful birds and the entertaining antics of baby birds trying to master feeding from our feeders, would you? | | |
• June is National Perennial Plant Month! Remember the significant habitat loss over the last few decades? Well, adding native plants to your yard is a valuable (and attractive) way to support your local pollinators! June is the perfect time of year to purchase and plant perennials, if you haven’t already done so. Your birds, bees, and butterflies will thank you!
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Have you come across a baby bird? Here’s what you need to know:
When to Help:
Injured: Bleeding, broken limb, or dragging wing.
Orphaned: You are certain the parents are dead, or the nest is destroyed.
Nestling on Ground: It has few or no feathers, or eyes are still closed. If you find a nestling (featherless) and can find the nest, put it back immediately. (Note: It is a myth that parents will reject it if touched by humans).
Dangerous Location: It is in the middle of a road or high-traffic area.
Call a local wildlife rehabilitator for assistance.
When to Leave it Be:
Fully Feathered: If the bird has most of its feathers and can hop, it is a fledgling
learning to fly. It is normal for fledglings to end up on the ground at times while learning
to fly.
Active: It is alert, hopping, or fluttering wings.
Parents Nearby: You see adult birds watching or bringing food.
*If you’re ever unsure what to do – call a local wildlife rehabilitator for assistance.
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2026 FQWP Photo Contest – Now Open!
| | We’re excited to welcome entries for the 12th Annual Friends of Quiet Waters Park Photo Contest. Share your best images of Quiet Waters Park—nature scenes, wildlife, water views, sculptures, seasonal landscapes, and park events. | | | | |
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Nature Center Sundays
Join the park ranger every Sunday from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm for Nature Center Sundays, a special opportunity to immerse yourself in the beauty of the outdoors.
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Infant/Toddler Hike
Join Ranger Liz every Tuesday for a fun spring hike! The location changes each week, so ask the gate attendant where we are.
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Individual annual memberships help us fund projects & events in the Park.
Become a member today!
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Not ready for a membership, but would still like to donate?
Click below to donate today!
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Honor Your Loved One
While Helping Your Favorite Park!
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Next time you are in the Visitors Center, visit the Memorial Tribute Tree in the entrance foyer installed by the Friends of Quiet Waters Park and park staff. The tree offers those wishing to honor loved ones an opportunity to purchase gold, silver, and copper leaves and special features such as acorns or mini trees. These will be custom engraved with your personal messages. The engraved feature will be a perpetual tribute to your loved one and proceeds benefit the park.
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Interested in sponsoring programs at Quiet Waters Park?
Our local sponsors help support Friends of Quiet Waters Park activities.
Contact us for more information: Info@friendsofquietwaterspark.org
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Friends of Quiet Waters Park
www.fqwp.org
Stay Connected via Facebook
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