Shore Land Stewardship Council, an initiative of Adkins Arboretum, will sponsor “First Stop for the Bay Symposium” on Saturday, June 13, 2009, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michaels, MD. The Symposium will introduce Critical Area property owners in Talbot, Caroline, Kent and Queen Anne’s counties to best landscaping practices, as well as provide tips for working with local planning departments toward a healthier Chesapeake Bay.
Morning speakers include: Mary Owens of the Critical Area Commission who will inform the audience about the Critical Area and how it is regulated; David Nemazie of University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science who will present the science behind the Critical Area regulations; and Martin Sokolich, Talbot County Long Range Planner, who will discuss how county planning departments can work with landowners to help protect the Chesapeake Bay. A panel of county staff from Caroline, Kent, Queen Anne’s and Talbot counties will be on hand to answer individual questions.
During the mid-day break, lunch will be served and copies of the Shore Land Stewardship Council’s new book, The Green Book for the Bay: An Illustrated Guidebook for Critical Area Property Owners Living on Maryland’s Eastern Shore will be distributed. The book was made possible through grants from Town Creek Foundation, Chesapeake Bay Trust, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Master Gardeners will host display tables that promote Bay-Wise practices and attendees will be invited to sign up for Bay-Wise consultations. Workshop sessions include: building a living shoreline, presented by Environmental Concern; building a rain garden, presented by Environmental Concern; touring a Bay-Wise public garden, presented by Master Gardeners; and touring a Bay-Wise private garden, presented by Master Gardeners. There will also be a reception and a native plant sale at the end of the day at Environmental Concern where Master Gardeners will be on hand to answer questions about the rain garden and Bay-Wise certified garden on site. A variety of native plants will be available for sale, or may be ordered in advance for pick up that day.
Symposium sponsors include Adkins Arboretum, Shore Land Stewardship Council, Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, Critical Area Commission, Environmental Concern, and University of Maryland Extension Master Gardeners. The registration fee of $25 per person includes continental breakfast, lunch, and a copy of the Council’s new book, The Green Book for the Bay: An Illustrated Guidebook for Chesapeake Bay Critical Area Property Owners Living on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.
To register, visit www.firststopforthebay.org or call Adkins Arboretum at 410-634-2847, ext. “0”. The registration deadline is Friday, June 5, 2009 and space is limited, so register early.