"The changing of seasons reminds us that staying the same was never life's intention"

Anonymous author

President’s Message

We are thrilled to welcome Ivy, a stunning new horse sculpture created by renowned artist Claire McArdle. This beautiful addition to the Formal Garden was made possible through two years of dedicated collaboration between our Sculpture Committee, park staff, and generous community partners. I encourage everyone to visit her this month, take a moment to enjoy her serene presence, and appreciate the incredible craftsmanship of all who brought her here. Read more about Ivy and her journey below.

Curious about what’s happening with the Retreat Property?

Since finalizing the Master Plan last year—with its core focus on preserving the natural land while opening public access—the project has now reached the stage where specific decisions are being made; general concepts are now turning into official, on-the-ground plans.  

The AA County Department of Public Works has scheduled a public meeting on November 18th at 6pm in the Eastport Library for an opportunity to view these plans firsthand and ask questions. 

More information is provided below. We hope you will attend this meeting and share your thoughts! If you aren't able to make the meeting, you can still participate. Send your questions to me using the link below and we will make sure to submit them to the Department of Public Works.

On a lighter note, check out the new Games & Puzzles section on the Friends website! Created by Ranger Logan, these Quiet Waters and nature-themed puzzles are a fun way to test your park knowledge. Just click the "Games" icon in the banner menu to play.

See you in the Park!

Kristin Pauly, President

November Photo Contest Winner

by Christine Edwards

Through the eyes of the photographer...

I love wandering through Quiet Waters in the fall with my camera. The trees are spectacular, and there's always the chance of seeing interesting wildlife. On the morning that I took this photo, I noticed the mist rising in from a field off to my left as I headed toward the Visitor Center. I parked my car and tried numerous shots to capture the vibrant leaves along with the haze. The one that seemed most successful was the single backlit tree. Normally the "Rule of Thirds" (a composition guideline) tells photographers to avoid putting single subjects in the middle of the frame, but for some reason this positioning seemed to work. Even though the tree had already lost a fair amount of leaves, it still stood tall as a colorful testament to the fading beauty of the season.

Adopt A Spot

Join us in making a difference to the health and beauty

of Quiet Waters and remember...

"The greatest threat to our planet is the belief

that someone else will save it."

Robert Swan

After More than 35 Years, A Horse Has Returned to Quiet Waters Park!

That would be beautiful Ivy, the new horse sculpture donated by renowned sculptor Claire McArdle who, like us, loves Quiet Waters Park. Ivy just took up residence in the Formal Garden.

Let us fill you in on just some of the backstory. Sculptures like this don’t just appear. It takes a team of caring people to bring them to you and your donations to cover the costs. Ivy is the result of an ongoing conversation with Claire, started over two years ago when she met with two members of the Sculpture Committee to visit her Gaia Torso, also in the Formal Garden. Claire agreed to create a new sculpture for us of a horse, in honor of Ivy, the horse who lives next door to her in Colorado and in memory of all the horses who used to inhabit the Park.

We then all agreed little Ivy required a place on which to stand so she could be seen from a distance. Several conversations and meetings later, Claire and her assistant designed an arched metal pedestal mimicking the arch under Ivy and representing the flow of life. Hmmm. Who will make the pedestal? Did you know the Park system has a brilliant metallurgist? We didn’t until, at the suggestion of Shelley Ridge, our Park Superintendent, Bob Short, Kinder Farm Park’s maintenance supervisor offered to fabricate the pedestal, with the able assistance of Larry Sanders, our beloved maintenance supervisor. And then to coat the pedestal so it would not rust and with a color compatible with Ivy’s marble. Where to look? We found this final team member in Steve Wisooker, the owner of Custom Performance Coating, who kindly picked up, beautifully sanded, powder coated, and delivered the finished pedestal to the Park.

And then to bring Ivy to her Formal Garden home. Larry, Bob and several members of the maintenance team gathered on a beautiful mid-October morning. A concrete pad had already been poured, with precisely located predrilled holes. The three pieces of very heavy sculpture that make up the new Ivy sculpture had to be transported to the site without damaging any of them. Then the three separate pieces had to be lifted and aligned perfectly to meet the concrete footer’s and pedestal's predrilled holes, done again, to precisely meet those in the

horse and her base. And finally all were secured to keep the sculpture safe. We are fortunate to have such caring, talented people on the Park staff.

Ivy looks forward to meeting you. She suggests that when you visit, pause, breathe and feel her calm energy. And as you leave her, look back and listen. Was that a whinny?

Oyster Recovery Partnership

Join us in welcoming the Park's newest inhabitants to the kayak dock. Starting in September the kayak dock became home to 3 cages of oysters. As part of the Maryland Grow Oysters Program the park is now working with the Oyster Recovery Program and the Arundel Rivers Federation to grow baby oysters (spat) and then release the mature oysters onto the oyster reef in Glebe Bay in May 2027.

These reefs serve as crucial habitat for numerous life forms such as barnacles, white anemones, grass shrimp, cube worms, skillet fish, blue crabs, sea squirts, bennies, gobies, and red-bearded sponges--all while the oysters are helping filter the bay. As a guest to the park you can help by leaving the cages untouched so that the baby oysters can grow into healthy adults. Stay tuned for more information about future interpretive programs and your chance to encounter some of the myriad life forms that call these oyster reefs home!



2026

Turtle Study

The 2026 Box Turtle Study season has come to a close. The cold weather at the beginning of the season and the extreme heat of the summer definitely had an effect on the number of box turtles found this year. However, park staff and volunteers still found a good number of box turtles, many of them being recaptures. Recaptured individuals are those found and notched in previous years. Recaptured box turtles are very important because they help us track where the individual turtle has been found over the years. Accumulating this data will help us map the individual box turtle's territory.

I'd like to thank park staff, and volunteers for contributing to the study this year. We're finding fewer deceased turtles on the road, and more people are willing to move the turtles across the road in the direction they were heading. If anyone is interested in volunteering for the study next year in any capacity, please email Ranger Pauline using the link below.

November

Bird Bulletin

Courtesy of Kate Neall, owner of Wild Birds Unlimited in Gambrills

• If your feeders have been quiet lately, hang in there—activity usually picks up as November progresses. Keep feeders clean and stocked with fresh, nutritious food

to attract migrating and resident birds. As temperatures drop, especially overnight,

birds will need reliable food and water sources that are ready for them!

• Project FeederWatch runs from November 1 through April. This survey tracks birds seen in backyards, nature centers, and other locations across North America. You don’t

need a bird feeder to participate—just a place where you enjoy watching birds! The schedule is flexible – you can count weekly or just once during the winter, for as long or as briefly as you like. Learn more: www.birds.cornell.edu/pfw

Join the Anne Arundel Bird Club on their monthly walk on November 15 in Quiet Waters Park on paved paths through habitat that includes mature deciduous forest, wood edges, mowed fields, wetlands, and a native plant garden, along with sweeping views of the open waters of the South River and Harness Creek. Meet at the parking lot at the end of Quiet Waters Park Road past the Visitor Center, the amphitheater and dog park. For further information email Jim Collatz or call 301-254-0188.

This event is recurring the 3rd Sunday of each month September through May.

Time is 8:00-10:30

600 Quiet Waters Park Road

Annapolis, MD 21403

Visit Eastern Watersports located in the park for all your on-the-water sports -- kayak, canoe, paddle board and Hobie Cat sailing rentals provider! Eastern Watersports brings a long history of waterfront expertise from their three other locations.

Where to Find Them

• Location: Simply follow the parking signs to the Blue Heron Lot and take an easy stroll down to their rental hut.

To see their full schedule of Eastern Watersports offerings or to book a rental, click on the link below. 

Honor Your Loved One

While Helping Your Favorite Park!

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.

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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