On Sat., May 17, when the vibrant blue false indigo is in bloom, Adkins Arboretum brings its second annual native garden tour, “Celebrating Natives,” to Queen Anne’s County.
“Celebrating Natives” is a different kind of garden tour, one that focuses on sustainable approaches to Eastern Shore gardening. The Centreville branch of the Queen Anne’s County Free Library is the hub of this self-guided driving tour of outstanding gardens in and around Centreville and Queenstown. The tour not only highlights the beauty of the gardens but emphasizes their importance in a biodiverse landscape.
The tour features seven unique gardens, each demonstrating varying commitments to native plantings and uses of sustainable practices such as rain barrels and composting. The gardens range from the library’s seven-year-old rain garden, created to address stormwater runoff, to gardens several generations in the making.
The first garden tour of its kind on the Eastern Shore, “Celebrating Natives” exemplifies the Arboretum’s mission of teaching about and showing by example the importance of using native plants in restoring balance to the ecosystem and fostering community relationships. Native plants are those that grew and thrived on the Eastern Shore before the introduction of European settlers. Because these plants have adapted naturally to the region’s ecology of climate, insects and wildlife, they are a better choice than non-native plants.
“Celebrating Natives” will take place Sat., May 17 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets are $20 in advance and $30 at the library on the day of the tour. For more information or to order tickets, visit www.adkinsgardentour.org or call 410-634-2847, ext. 0.
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