Sustainable landscaping.  Buzzword or wave of the future? We are losing bird species, butterfly populations, and bees at an alarming rate, even here in rural Talbot County! Join Mikaela Boley, from the University of Maryland extension office here in Talbot County, as she walks us through the building blocks of creating a sustainable landscape that can provide us with years of enjoyment without negative impact on the environment.

Native plants are a critical part of our ecosystem that perform priceless services in the landscape. Cultivated landscapes have lost touch with nature and often sport non-native plants that have little to no benefits to the environment. With a little understanding of what native plants need, we can build better backyards that provide habitat, food, and support for wildlife.

This three-week course will take a close look at native plants that are suitable solutions for a variety of gardening needs – shade, sun, pollinators, and planting for all seasons.  

What to Expect:

Learn how a sustainable landscape can work with our local habitat in mind, as well as minimize the impact on the environment with less need for labor, irrigation, fertilizers, insecticides, and pesticides.  Companion field trip to be announced.

Mikaela Boley

Mikaela Boley

Mikaela Boley is the Principal Agent Associate in Talbot County for the University of Maryland Extension Service. One of her responsibilities is to educate the community about home horticulture practices that are sustainable and beneficial to the environment. Mikaela also coordinates the local Master Gardener program, a volunteer service that provides further outreach and education. She holds a B.S in Environmental Horticulture from the University of Minnesota and a Masters in Applied Entomology from UMD- College Park. Her expertise is in Native Plants of Delmarva, Landscape Design, and Bay-wise Practices for sustainable landscapes; she enjoys sharing her love of native grasses and native plant propagation. You can also find her co-hosting the Garden Thyme Podcast with fellow University of Maryland faculty Rachel Rhodes and Emily Zobel.

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