Baltimore County Master Gardeners of University of Maryland

Baltimore County Master Gardeners of University of Maryland Baltimore County Master Gardeners teach sustainable, effective, home gardening & landscaping practices. This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

Our goal is to engage the community and enhance the health of Maryland’s ecosystems and waterways. Accommodation request, contact your local UMD Extension Office at least two weeks in advance. We encourage you to share your comments and ideas. We value and respect diverse viewpoints and welcome productive dialogue within our Terp community. However, comments created on this platform by other users and not by the university do not reflect the opinions or views of the University of Maryland. Furthermore, we retain the discretion to remove comments for any lawful reason, including but not limited to comments that:

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This page is not monitored 24/7. If you have an emergency, please contact the appropriate authorities. Press the Learn More button and join our mailing list for monthly newsletters with timely articles and information on BCMG programs and classes.

It's Bay-Wise Wednesday!Katy, A trained Master Gardener and her daughter, Caroline, have created beautiful, fun and crea...
09/23/2026

It's Bay-Wise Wednesday!
Katy, A trained Master Gardener and her daughter, Caroline, have created beautiful, fun and creative gardens on their property in the Patapsco Watershed. The property supports native plants, pollinators and many mature keystone tree species. With a colorful combination of year round native plants blooming and a clean water supply, the yard is full of pollinators and birds. Caroline tends to the blooming flowers and is sure to keep debris from the storm drain, protecting the watershed, while her Dad is busy tending tree sapling for a possible neighborhood “tree library”. The evergreens planted along the slope to the driveway is visually stunning and helps slow water runoff. Katy has thoughtfully planned for resilient and responsible gardening and her yard is a joy for her family and an inspiration to her neighbors.

Congratulations to Alyson, whose yard has been certified as Bay-Wise! In the Loch Raven watershed, Alyson has planted a ...
09/19/2026

Congratulations to Alyson, whose yard has been certified as Bay-Wise! In the Loch Raven watershed, Alyson has planted a wide variety of fruit trees, and has reduced her lawn considerably. She has a wonderful vegetable and herb garden and uses marigolds, chives, and garlic to reduce pest damage. Her garden is full of native plants and friendly to pollinators, beneficial insects, and birds.

Congratulations to Mary Beth and Aaron of Parkville on their newly Bay-Wise certified property in the Back River watersh...
09/16/2026

Congratulations to Mary Beth and Aaron of Parkville on their newly Bay-Wise certified property in the Back River watershed area. Flower gardens full of native plantings welcome birds and pollinators in the front yard and raised beds are utilized for vegetable and herbs in the back.
Nothing goes to waste in this yard as grass cuttings and other green debris are collected for composting, twigs and branches turned into habitat piles for wildlife shelter, and wood chips are used for mulch.

Aaron and Mary Beth are working to mitigate runoff and standing water with native tree plantings and are planning a rain garden along with their neighbors that spans their two properties. What a great way to share Bay-Wise actions and help restore healthy conditions in the Chesapeake Bay!

A big shout-out to the Master Gardeners in the southwest section of Baltimore County, who put on our first big event in ...
09/14/2026

A big shout-out to the Master Gardeners in the southwest section of Baltimore County, who put on our first big event in the Oella Demonstration Garden this weekend! From "why native plants?" to Bay-Wise habits, they covered it all with participants. We look forward to offering more learning opportunities to the public in this beautiful space- stay tuned!

Congratulations to George, whose Timonium yard has been certified as Bay-Wise!George tends several garden beds that feat...
09/11/2026

Congratulations to George, whose Timonium yard has been certified as Bay-Wise!
George tends several garden beds that feature a number of natives, including monarda, and blue mistflower. In the Loch Raven Reservoir watershed, he manages water wisely, and has a vegetable and herb gardens that are flourishing despite frequent visits from a deer family.

Great activity in the Children's Garden this Saturday!Join Master Gardeners in the Children's Garden at the Baltimore Co...
09/10/2026

Great activity in the Children's Garden this Saturday!
Join Master Gardeners in the Children's Garden at the Baltimore County Master Gardeners Demonstration Garden on Saturday, September 12 from 10-12:00 noon for a drop-in activity. This week we'll learn about monarch butterflies and search for hungry caterpillars. Participants make butterfly wands and take them on an imaginary journey through the gardens seeking milkweed and nectar!
In cases of inclement weather events will not take place.
Location:
Baltimore County Master Gardeners Demonstration Gardens
Baltimore County Agricultural Center
1114 Shawan Rd
Cockeysville, MD

It's Bay-Wise Wednesday! Habit 8 asks gardeners to educate friends, family, and neighbors about Bay-Wise/Water-Wise MD L...
09/09/2026

It's Bay-Wise Wednesday! Habit 8 asks gardeners to educate friends, family, and neighbors about Bay-Wise/Water-Wise MD Living Landscape practices. Tap into your social network to spread the word and help make widespread environmental improvements by posting informational signs; leading a garden or landscape tour of your Bay-Wise property; and educating your local leadership: HOA, municipal or county governments about why these practices are best for wildlife and humans, too.

Congratulations to Christine in Rodgers Forge for becoming our newest Bay-Wise certified gardener! Christine has packed ...
09/04/2026

Congratulations to Christine in Rodgers Forge for becoming our newest Bay-Wise certified gardener! Christine has packed an impressive amount into her rowhouse yard by making thoughtful and creative use of the space available to her. Her impressively steep front-yard slope has been cleared of invasive ivy and is now being transformed with a wide variety of native plants that provide valuable benefits to wildlife while also helping to stabilize the slope and reduce erosion.

In the backyard, Christine has removed all of the turf grass and replaced it with native plants and vegetable raised beds. She is also taking responsibility for the health and protection of a venerable maple tree, recognizing the important role mature trees play in supporting a healthy landscape.

Through all of these efforts, Christine is demonstrating how even a small urban yard can make a meaningful contribution to protecting and improving the health of the Jones Falls watershed. Her commitment to sustainable gardening practices is truly commendable.

Congratulations, Christine, and welcome to the Bay-Wise community!

It's Bay-Wise Wednesday! Congratulations to Sue, whose yard has achieved Bay-Wise certification.Nestled within the beaut...
09/02/2026

It's Bay-Wise Wednesday! Congratulations to Sue, whose yard has achieved Bay-Wise certification.

Nestled within the beautiful Middle River watershed, this exceptional waterfront property offers stunning views and a deep connection to the natural environment. Visitors are welcomed by a vibrant Monarch garden, alive with the gentle movement of butterflies and the busy hum of pollinators.

The property reflects a thoughtful commitment to environmental stewardship and follows the eight Keystone habits for creating a healthy, resilient, Bay-Wise garden. Organic yard and kitchen waste are recycled, helping to enrich the soil naturally and reduce waste.

Through the efforts of the Gunpowder Valley Conservancy, a beautiful rain garden has been installed on the property and is filled with a diverse variety of native plants. Water conservation is also an important part of the property's landscape practices, with rain barrels capturing valuable rainfall and strategically selected native plants helping to conserve water while supporting local wildlife.

Protecting the waterways and shorelines surrounding this beautiful property remains a top priority. Through thoughtful gardening practices, native plantings, water conservation, and a commitment to reducing environmental impacts, this waterfront home serves as a wonderful example of how homeowners can create a beautiful landscape while helping to protect and preserve the Chesapeake Bay watershed for generations to come.

Address

1114 Shawan Road
Cockeysville, MD
21030

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 8am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 8am - 4:30pm
Thursday 8am - 4:30pm
Friday 8am - 4:30pm

Telephone

(410) 887-8090

Website

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