Mountain Maryland Native Plant Festival

11th Annual Mountain Maryland Native Plant Festival Discover the important connection between native plants, people, and wildlife at this FREE event on Saturday May 9th from 10 AM to 3 PM! Held at beautiful New Germany State Park in Garrett County, this festival has something for everyone! A great variety of plants native to the Mid-Atlantic region will be available for sale from three nurseries: Evergreen Heritage Center - Mount Savage, MD; Wild Indigo Native Nursery - Grantsville, MD; and Wood Thrush Native Plant Nursery - Floyd, VA. In addition to native plants there will be nature-themed items offered for sale. Artisans include: ABPH Art - Accident, MD (handmade paper art); Appalachian Wax Works - Oakland, MD (quality goods from the bee hive); Brouses Big Bowls - Bedford, PA (hand turned wooden bowls); Eddie Spaghetti Art - Maidsville, WV (lino cut prints and more); Keen and Bright - Swanton, MD (glass creations); Marta Fiscus Photography - Cumberland, MD (award winning macro photos); and Peggy Nixon Designs - Salisbury, PA (note cards, prints, and watercolor paintings). Attendees will also have an opportunity to visit ‘Information & Education’ displays created by conservation groups and local government agencies. Experts will help answer your questions on native plant and natural resource topics. Participating groups include: American Forest Foundation, Evergreen Heritage Center, Friends of New Germany State Park, Garrett County Forestry Board, Garrett County Solid Waste and Recycling, Garrett Trails, Maryland Chapter of The American Chestnut Foundation, Maryland Conservation Corps, Maryland Master Naturalist Program, Maryland Native Plant Society, Mountain Laurel Garden Club, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science - Appalachian Laboratory, and University of Maryland Extension - Garrett County Master Gardeners. At noon, there will be a special program geared for teens and adults in the Recreation Hall called “Plastics, Plants, Pollinators, and People”. Dr. Raymond Najjar, Penn State University, and Liz McDowell, Maryland Native Plant Society, will discuss these remarkable materials that have transformed our lives in positive ways as well as their negative impacts on plants, wildlife, and people. In addition there will be guided walks: “Tree ID” at 10:30 AM with Park Ranger Noah Manges and “Native Plant Garden Tour” at 2:00 PM with Christine Campe-Price, Friends of NGSP. Throughout the day families can also play a unique Bingo Game and visit the cool New Germany Nature Center. New Germany State Park, Friends of New Germany State Park, and Maryland Native Plant Society are sponsoring this festival. Your support of the vendors and organizations through your purchases is deeply appreciated! Please come prepared to use cash or check (due to limited cell service, credit cards may not be accepted). Enjoy hot dogs, snacks, and drinks at the Lake House, or pack a picnic lunch and spend the day at this wonderful mountain park!