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Adkins Arboretum Announces Spring Native Plant Sale—Online!

Prepare for spring in the garden! Adkins Arboretum, offering the Chesapeake gardener the best selection of landscape-ready native plants for more than two decades, announces its Spring Native Plant Sale. All proceeds benefit the Arboretum’s rich variety of education programs, scheduled to resume later this year, that teach about the Delmarva’s native plants and their connection to a healthy Chesapeake Bay.

Due to ongoing recommendations regarding COVID-19, the spring sale will be conducted entirely online. Orders will be accepted through Thurs., April 8 at adkinsarboretum.org and will be fulfilled via timed pickup. There will be no in-person shopping at the Arboretum.

Plants for sale include a large variety of native perennials, ferns, vines, grasses and flowering trees and shrubs for spring planting. Native flowers and trees provide food and habitat for wildlife and make colorful additions to home landscapes, whether in a perennial border, a woodland garden or a restoration project. Native honeysuckle entices hummingbirds, while tall spikes of purplish flowers grace blue wild indigo. Milkweed provides critical energy for monarch butterflies on their winter migration to Mexico, and native azaleas present a veritable rainbow of colorful blooms.

As always, Arboretum members receive a generous discount on plants that varies according to membership level. To join, renew your membership or give an Arboretum membership as a gift, visit adkinsarboretum.org or contact Kellen McCluskey at kmccluskey@adkinsarboretum.org.

Yarnstorming Returns to Adkins Arboretum

Yarnstorming is back! For the second year running, Adkins Arboretum is partnering with local yarn artists and the Fiber Arts Center of the Eastern Shore (FACES) to create a whimsical and exciting visual experience in the trees around the Arboretum Visitor’s Center.

Also known as yarn bombing, guerrilla knitting, kniffiti, urban knitting and graffiti knitting, yarnstorming is an art form that employs knitted or crocheted yarn in place of paint or chalk. Fiber artists, both veterans and those new to yarn art, will adorn native trees with everything from pompoms to needle felted animals to branch and trunk wraps and hammocks for woodland creatures.

Yarnstorming creations will be on display March 6 through April 3 at the Arboretum, located near Tuckahoe State Park in Ridgely. The public is invited to view the exhibit daily from dawn to dusk. For more information, visit adkinsarboretum.org.

Photo Credit: Kellen McCluskey

Adkins Arboretum is a 400-acre native garden and preserve at the headwaters of the Tuckahoe Creek in Caroline County. For more information, visit adkinsarboretum.org or call 410-634-2847, ext. 0.

Located in Denton, the Fiber Arts Center of the Eastern Shore is a destination for the area’s many quilt and fiber art enthusiasts, visitors, and residents to view historic and recent works by quilters and fiber artists from Maryland’s Eastern Shore and Delmarva Peninsula. For more information, visit fiberartscenter.com or call 410-479-0009.

This Week’s Festive Fun in Caroline County: December 14th – 20th

Make your days merry and bright! Here are a few festive and fun ways to celebrate the holidays this week in Caroline County!
Please be sure to wear a mask and practice social distancing so that we can all have a safe and happy holiday. 

  • The town of Hillsboro invites you to enjoy the beauty of the holiday season as hundreds of luminaries light the streets of Hillsboro on December 19th from 5-8pm. There will also be a guided candlelight labyrinth walk and hot cider by the fire at the Retreat House from 6-8pm.
  • Update on Whoville Village Holiday Park:  Due to flooding and ice, the December 18th & 19th Whoville Village Holiday Park has been cancelled.
  • Head to the Federalsburg VFW Post 5246 for their Drive Thru Santa Event on Saturday, December 19th from 12-2pm. Santa and his elves will be collecting your letters and handing out cookies!
  • Santa will be making spirits bright at Ridgely Pharmacy on Saturday December 19th from 10am-12pm. Santa’s elves, Rudolph, The Grinch, and Mickey & Minnie will also be making an appearance! All COVID-19 regulations will be followed.
  • Santa will also be in Federalsburg on Sunday, December 20th at 5:30 pm for a special drive-through Christmas event at Chambers Park! The park will be decorated to bring holiday cheer to all!  Santa will be accepting letters, so be sure to remember to bring them! Find out more here.
  • Don’t miss Ridgely’s enchanting display of holiday lights at Railroad Memorial Park! The lights are on display every evening now through the New Year starting at 5pm. Walk through the illuminated park and on the Rails to Trails and stop at the “Selfie Stations” along the way! Share your photos on social media with the tag #ChristmasinRidgely.
  • The Ridgely Historical Society’s Christmas House Decorating Contest will be judged on December 20th! Take a walk or drive through town and enjoy the decked-out homes!
  • The Federalsburg Heritage Museum is open Fridays and Saturdays from 10am-2pm through December 31, and they will also be open for the holidays on December 21, 22, 23, 28, 29 and 30. Stop by the museum to learn about the local history, and then shop for holiday gifts wrapped in memories, including their annual pewter Christmas ornaments depicting local landmarks, books written by local authors, and Jack Sealman cards and prints.
  • Take a stroll through downtown Denton to enjoy the decorated storefronts and shop windows in Downtown Denton Main Street’s Holiday Window Contest. You can then vote for your favorite window online! Find out more here. 
  • The Denton Town Council is hosting a Holiday Decorating Contest this year. Nominate your favorite house by December 15th, and vote for your favorite house by December 22nd! The top three entries will be presented town proclamations and a gift card.
  • Check out “Connecting Kuumba Through Community,” the latest exhibit at the Fiber Arts Center of the Eastern Shore. This exhibit will showcase a diverse range of talents including quilting, crochet, fashion and accessory design, collage, and more, and feature creations made by local and regional artists, as well as heirloom pieces. The artwork will be on display at FACES in Denton through December 31, 2020. They are open Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 12-4pm.
  • Take a winter walk through Adkins Arboretum, a 400-acre nature preserve and native garden in Caroline County! Though their Visitor Center is currently closed, the grounds are open for your enjoyment! View a trail map here.
  • Support the small businesses in your community by shopping local this holiday season! Our downtowns are full of wonderful shops where you can find unique, one-of-a-kind gifts. Please wear a mask and practice social distancing while shopping so we can all have a safe and happy holiday!

Planning ahead? See the full December 2020 event calendar here.

This Week’s Festive Fun in Caroline County: December 7th – 13th

Make your days merry and bright! Here are a few festive and fun ways to celebrate the holidays this week in Caroline County!
Please be sure to wear a mask and practice social distancing so that we can all have a safe and happy holiday.

  • Head to Ridgely to check out their enchanting display of holiday lights at Railroad Memorial Park! The lights are on display every evening now through the New Year starting at 5pm. Walk through the illuminated park and on the Rails to Trails and stop at the “Selfie Stations” along the way! Share your photos on social media with the tag #ChristmasinRidgely.
  • Don’t miss Greensboro’s Lighting of the City and the Whoville Holiday Village on December 12th! The Whoville Holiday Village will run every Friday and Saturday evening from 5-9pm through January 2nd. This event follows the protocols of COVID-19 and social distancing. Masks are required.
  • Take a stroll through downtown Denton to enjoy the decorated storefronts and shop windows in Downtown Denton Main Street’s Holiday Window Contest. You can then vote for your favorite window online! Find out more here. 
  • Take a winter walk through Adkins Arboretum, a 400-acre nature preserve and native garden in Caroline County! Though their Visitor Center is currently closed, the grounds are open for your enjoyment! View a trail map here.
  • Take a candlelit tour of historic Exeter, located at 408 Old Denton Road in Federalsburg. This tour is hosted by the Federalsburg Historical Society and takes place Saturday, December 12th from 4pm – 7pm.
  • Learn to make your own giftwrap at the Foundry Gallery in Denton on December 12th from 1-3pm as part of Second Saturdays! This event is free, but registration is required to save your spot! This event is free, but registration is required to save your spot! There will be assigning time slots. Social distancing and masks are required.
  • Check out “Connecting Kuumba Through Community,” the latest exhibit at the Fiber Arts Center of the Eastern Shore. This exhibit will showcase a diverse range of talents including quilting, crochet, fashion and accessory design, collage, and more, and feature creations made by local and regional artists, as well as heirloom pieces. The artwork will be on display at FACES in Denton through December 31, 2020. They are open Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 12pm – 4pm.
  • Support the small businesses in your community by shopping local this holiday season! Our downtowns are full of wonderful shops where you can find unique, one-of-a-kind gifts. Please wear a mask and practice social distancing while shopping so we can all have a safe and happy holiday!

Planning ahead? See the full December 2020 event calendar here.

Connecting Kuumba Through Community: Black Fiber Artists Showcase

The Fiber Arts Center of the Eastern Shore (FACES) invites you to join them in a celebration of black fiber artists from around the Eastern Shore at the “Connecting Kuumba Through Community: Black Fiber Artists Showcase.” This exhibit will showcase a diverse range of talents including quilting, crochet, fashion and accessory design, collage, and more, and feature creations made by local and regional artists, as well as heirloom pieces. The artwork will be on display at FACES in Denton from November 5, 2020 to December 31, 2020.

“Kuumba” means creativity in Swahili and is the sixth principle of Kwanzaa, an African American celebration of family, community, and culture. The purpose of kuumba is to use our creativity to enrich and beautify our communities. Kwanzaa was created by Dr. Maulana Karenga, an Eastern Shore native, in 1966 as part of the black liberation movements happening in the United States during that time. Kwanzaa occurs from December 26th to January 1st.

Come out and support black fiber artists and learn more about Kwanzaa!

FACES hours:  Thursday, 12-4:00pm, Friday, 12-4:00pm, Saturday, 12-4:00pm

Contact:  Kathleen McCulloch
Phone:  443-448-4611

 

Email:  info@fiberartscenter.com

 

Weekend Fun in Caroline County: Halloween Edition!

This weekend is chock-full of spook-tacular Halloween fun! Here’s what’s happening in Caroline County! For information on how to keep your family safe while enjoying Halloween activities, click here. 

Trick or Treating in Caroline County
Below are the recommended hours for Trick or Treating in Caroline County. 
Town of Preston: Saturday, October 31st, 6pm8pm
Town of Denton: Saturday, October 31st, 6pm7:30pm
Town of Ridgely: Saturday, October 31st, 6pm8pm
Town of Greensboro: Saturday, October 31st, 6pm8pm
Town of Federalsburg: Saturday, October 31st, 6pm7:30pm
Town of Hillsboro: Saturday, October 31st, 5:30pm7pm

Hillsboro’s Halloween Pet Costume Contest
Saturday, October 31st, 2pm – 4pm
Hillsboro Park
Dress up your pet in the perfect Halloween costume and enter this fun-filled contest for your chance to win prizes! Meet at Hillsboro Park for pictures and viewing! Pets and owners will be socially distanced on the walking track. Contest judges will announce the winner on the town’s website and Facebook! Don’t have a pet? Bring a lawnchair and watch the fun! Find out more here!

Book Signing by Robyn Brown, Author of SAM: A Ghost Story
Saturday, October 31st, 10am – 1pm
What’s New Shop, 224 Market Street, Denton
The What’s New Shop invites you to a book signing by Robyn S. Brown, author of SAM: A Ghost Story. Robyn is a Deacon in the United Methodist Church and currently serves as a pastor at two churches in Kent County, and is also a Hospice Chaplain. Learn more about the book signing here.

Federalsburg Trunk or Treat Hosted by VFW Post 5246
Saturday, October 31st, 2pm – 4pm
VFW Post 5246 Parking Lot, 2630 Veterans Drive, Federalsburg
Come out to this free, fun-filled afternoon where you can “Trunk or Treat” at decorated cars! There will be games, food, fun, and prizes for the best decorated car! Contact: Lacy Whitby, 410-463-4855

Pumpkin Patch at Rawlings Farm
Saturday, October 31st and Sunday, November 1st, 10am – 4pm
Rawlings Farm,14700 Greensboro Road, Goldsboro
Head to Rawlings Farm for the final weekend of the season and grab your last-minute pumpkins and mums! Find out more at Facebook.com/RawlingsFarmMD.

Greensboro’s Halloween House Decorating Contest
Saturday, October 31st
Greensboro is hosting a Halloween House Decorating Contest! The Greensboro Police Department will be judging and awarding prizes for the top three entries! Take a drive or stroll through town and check out the haunted decorations! Find out more here.

Preston Historical Society’s Haunted Porch
Saturday, October 31st, 6pm – 8pm
Preston Historical Society, 167 Main Street, Preston
If you are out Trick-or-Treating in Preston on Halloween, be sure to stop by the Preston Historical Society’s Haunted Porch (if you dare)! Candy will be placed in individual treat bags and placed on socially distanced tables so everyone can have a safe, but still fun, Halloween experience. Find out more here.

Preston Historical Society to host Veterans Roundtable Ceremony

On Saturday, November 7, 2020, at 11 AM, Preston Historical Society will host the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter #648 of the Mid-Shore as they present a Roundtable Ceremony in memory of all veterans who lost their lives while serving in the military, as well as those designated as a POW or MIA. The ceremony will be narrated by Roland Boggs, president of Chapter #648, with a representative of each of the five branches of the military participating. The public is invited to attend this ceremony, which takes place at the Preston Historical Society Museum located at 167 Main Street in Preston.

Masks must be worn and social distancing practiced when on the premises. For more information on this and other historical society events, visit www.prestonhistoricalsociety.com, Facebook, or call 410-943-1891.

Mactoberfest 2020

Do you love mac and cheese? Do you love a road trip? Then this event is for you! Join the Caroline County Chamber of Commerce for their 2nd Annual Mactoberfest! This year’s event will feature a journey through beautiful scenic Caroline County where you will taste the best mac and cheese from our local chefs and help select the Big Cheese 2020! A digital map to the 10 mac and cheese stations will be provided! Along the routes there will be entertainment, great food, raffles, freebies, selfie stations and more! Do not miss this one of a kind event!

Road Trip Locations: Preston Automotive, Outstanding Dreams Farm, Caroline Culinary Arts, Nich’s Coffee, Cafe’ Paradiso, Pete’s Peteza Food Truck, Roadhouse 313, Tenchi Spanish American Kitchen and Ridgely Pharmacy

Purchase tickets to the event here.

Preston Historical Society’s 5th Anniversary Celebration

The Preston Historical Society will celebrate its 5th anniversary of the opening of its museum, located at 167 Main Street, Preston, on Saturday, October 17, 2020, from 10 AM to 2 PM.  The museum first opened on Saturday, October 17, 2015, and since that time the museum space has expanded to include the second floor of the museum and the opening of its Agriculture Building, featuring farming memorabilia and a room devoted to the hunting, trapping, and fishing history of the Preston area.

To celebrate its first five years, the society will be hosting antique vendors on the front lawn the day of the anniversary celebration. Refreshments will be available for purchase at the anniversary celebration and items will be raffled off, including gift certificates and gift baskets.  Goody bags and balloons will be offered to children. Due to COVID-19, masks and social distancing are required when on the campus of the Preston Historical Society Museum.

For additional information on the event, and to check for any change of plans due to COVID-19, visit www.prestonhistoricalsociety.com, Facebook or Instagram at “Preston Historical Society,” or call 410-310-5454.

Adkins Arboretum Releases Field Guide Series, Virtual Education Materials

Want to learn more about native trees and plants? Adkins Arboretum has released a series of family-friendly field guides as an introduction to some of the more than 600 species of native shrubs, trees, wildflowers, ferns, grasses and vines found on the Arboretum site.

While the Arboretum’s public education programs are on hold due to safer-at-home advisories, grounds are open daily for exploring. The new Adkins Field Guides provide a helpful starting point for exploring the natural world or introducing a young naturalist to the wonders of the wild.

Each guide includes a video and printable support activities with select points of identification and examples of each species’ ecological benefits and cultural significance. All allow ample opportunity for exploration. Currently, guides are available for American beech, paw paw, shining sumac and white oak.

The field guide series was produced by Schoolhouse Farmhouse of Cordova and was made possible through generous funding by the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority and Stories of the Chesapeake Heritage Area. Music for the first four guides was performed by National Music Festival musicians during the Arboretum’s 2019 Forest Music program. The bassoon composition, titled “Arboretum,” was written by Brad Balliett specifically for this performance.

The Adkins Field Guides comprise just one of several initiatives to make outdoor education accessible, both to those who visit the grounds in person and those who visit online. Each Thursday, staff release a new, family-friendly “Take It With You!” activity that visitors can use to add an extra layer of fun and adventure to their walks at the Arboretum. Visitors can download a PDF or simply snap a photo of the activity with their phones. A paper copy is posted on the back door of the Visitor’s Center, along with other information to keep members and friends up to date.

Sylvan Kaufman, the Arboretum’s science advisor and the principal of Sylvan Green Earth Consulting, has developed a series of short education videos about the natural history of some of the plants on the Arboretum grounds. Each video is packed with information on identification, plant-animal interactions and some human uses for the plant. In addition, monthly “What’s in Bloom?” guides, information for birders, and the Arboretum’s recently revamped Native Plant Database provide valuable resources for exploring nature at Adkins and beyond.

The Adkins Field Guides and all other virtual resources are available at adkinsarboretum.org.