At Carroll Community College
It’s time to let native plants take the spotlight.
Europeans fell in love with America’s native plants at first sight, but Americans have been slower to appreciate them.
Would you like to take a deeper dive into some of Maryland’s more unusual 3,000 native plants? A four-hour class on native versus exotic plants will be held at Carroll Community College Tues., Feb 4, and Thurs., Feb. 6. Titled “Move Over Exotics, Make Way for Natives,” it will run from 6:00 to 8:00 pm.
Photo by Helen Lowe Metzman, USGS
We will discuss which native plants may have originated in Maryland thousands of years ago and which ones travelled thousands of miles over many centuries before they took root here.
When Europeans came to the New World, the exchange of plants and animals between the New and Old Worlds was extensive. The impact on the Americas was profound. Exotics like dandelions, some lilies, queen Ann’s lace, and others were introduced. The flow of plants and insects has continued ever since.
Some of these transplants have been incredibly destructive or created food deserts for native pollinators and other wildlife. While some, like many fruits and vegetables, have been life-sustaining.
If you would like to learn more about natives and make you garden or yard more welcoming to pollinators like butterflies and native bees, this class is for you. If you are looking for atypical, uncommon plants or ones that will grow in a particular ecosystem, sign up now!
Learn more about some of the exotics you may have. Are they doing more harm than good? Are they waiting for you to go on vacation before they spread all over your yard?
Growing a garden that is both a joyful and manageable experience can be challenging. We will discuss reputable local nurseries that can help you with plant choices. We will also talk about how certain combinations of plants–native annuals, perennials, grasses, sedges, ferns, shrubs, and trees–might suit your gardening and lifestyle needs.
Class Details
The class is # PDE-163 on page 55 in the winter catalog. It costs $62 (includes fees: $52). The class will be held on the main campus. The two-part class will be held Tues., Feb 4, and Thurs., Feb. 6, from 6 to 8 pm. (Carroll residents may receive a discount.)
To sign up, click class and go to page 64.
I hope to see you Tues., Feb 4.