What We Do
MLGC Civic Development Continuing Community Projects
The Library Gardens Committees coordinate the planting and maintenance of three gardens at the Ruth Enlow Library Branches of Garrett County in Accident (25 years), Oakland (32 years), and Grantsville (12 years).
The Conservation Committee has partnered with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources staff at the Discovery Center assisting elementary students with activities about pollinators and their plants during field trips to the center in May and June. The students are from Garrett and Allegany County public schools.
Another project of the Conservation Committee was to create a large rain garden at the Sang Run State Park in June of 2019 that serves as an ongoing educational project for the Junior Rangers, local public-school children, and those visiting the park. This project was funded by three grants MLGC received: one each from the State of Maryland, Espoma Plant America, and Ames Tools PLANT AMERICA. The rain garden demonstrates how to deal with storm water runoff using the proper native plants. This is another partnership with MD DNR staff to promote and participate in different projects going on at the park. In 2022, interpretive signage was added to the rain garden and three other areas of the park to highlight and explain the meadow, pollinator plants and wildlife. This was made possible by a grant from Garrett Heritage, and donations from Park Volunteers and MLGC.
The Conservation Committee has partnered with the Environmental Science teachers and students at Northern Garrett High School to plan, supervise, and maintain various native plant projects with the students since 2014. We have constructed a large demonstration meadow garden; provided guidance in wetland replanting and restoration; and helped students construct and plant a memorial flower garden.
Another partnership that the Conservation Committee established was at Friendsville Elementary School. The committee chair consulted with the principal, and the committee guided the students in planting a rain garden to mitigate stormwater runoff from the parking lot to the playing field in May of 2021. This project was in conjunction with funding and support from the Yough Glades Chapter of the DAR.
The Conservation Committee’s newest project was to establish a native pollinator meadow at the Hickory Environmental Education Center. It was a collaborative effort by Northern High carpentry students who constructed the fence; Northern High science students who did all the planting, and MLGC who worked with the science teacher to prepare the soil, design the meadow and coordinate everything during April and May of 2022. The meadow will serve as a demonstration garden for all the Garrett County Students who visit Hickory during the school year for their science curriculum.
MLGC held its 21st Annual Country Gardens Tour featuring gardens throughout Garrett County on Saturday, June 25, 2022. This was an important community educational event, as well as our major fund-raiser. The tour featured four residential gardens; an invasive plant display, floral design demonstrations; and a Habitat for Humanity community garden project display.
The Floral Design Committee creates a special Holiday Wreath for the Maryland State House as FGCMD’s contribution from Garrett County. Garden clubs from each Maryland county contribute a wreath or tree for this project. This wreath depicts many of the special flora and fauna from our county.
The Horticulture Committee held a perennial plant sale on Saturday, June 4, 2022, in downtown Oakland. Plants were donated from our members’ gardens. This has been an ongoing event for the past 17 years. The committee and club members staff the sale, offer assistance to visitors about the plants, and give guidance on planting and maintaining them.
The Horticulture Committee is beginning a new community- based program of taking small bud vases with a floral arrangement to the local Dennett Road Nursing Home. Working with other committees, we hope to include local children and teens to expand our outreach program by using member’s floral material from their gardens to share with the elderly.
We also have partnered with Ashley Bodkins and staff at University of Maryland Extension for many of our projects. They also have participated with their Master Gardeners at our garden tours over the past several years with relevant displays and educational materials. They are usually available to assist with our youth projects.
The H4H Committee partnered with the Garrett County Habitat for Humanity to create the first native plant garden at a Habitat for Humanity home in Hopeland. The garden has 12 different native plant species and a total of 64 individual plants. All plants were selected for their value to pollinators and are thriving.
For the MLGC 21th Annual Country Gardens Tour the H4H Committee created posters describing the creation of our first native plant garden at a Habitat for Humanity home and the value of native plants. We staffed the displays jointly with Garrett County Habitat for Humanity and discussed the importance of using native plants in gardens and the work that Habitat for Humanity is doing in Garrett County.
The H4H Committee is preparing for its next native plant garden at a Habitat for Humanity home. With help from Habitat for Humanity volunteers, we are building two outdoor benches, a potting bench with a sink, two outdoor planters, and a cold frame. These items will be used as raffle items to fund our next native plant garden at a Habitat for Humanity home in Garrett County. To help build public awareness of the H4H Committee, we will be displaying these raffle items on a float in the Autumn Glory Parade.
Junior & Senior Environmental Science Students at Northern High
The Conservation Committee has partnered with the Environmental Science teachers and students at Northern Garrett High School to plan, supervise and maintain various native plant projects with the students since 2014. We have constructed a large demonstration meadow garden; provided guidance in wetland replanting and restoration; and helped students construct and plant a memorial flower garden. These gardens are maintained by the students with ongoing guidance from our committee members.
The Conservation Committee has partnered with the Environmental Science teachers and students at Northern Garrett High School to plan, supervise and maintain various native plant projects with the students since 2014. We have constructed a large demonstration meadow garden; provided guidance in wetland replanting and restoration; and helped students construct and plant a memorial flower garden. These gardens are maintained by the students with ongoing guidance from our committee members.
MLGC Scholarship
In the firm belief that our natural world should be studied, appreciated, and protected, the Mountain Laurel Garden Club began offering a scholarship in 2009-10 to contribute to the ongoing education of a deserving student. The scholarship is to be awarded to a qualified student, entering the sophomore year, who plans to major in a field of study related to Agriculture, Forestry, Environment, Horticulture, Natural Resources and Wildlife Technology. This scholarship, administered by Garrett College Foundation, is to be used for tuition and books. As of June 1, 2012, the amount of this annual award is $1,000.
The scholarship for 2019-20 was presented to Stephen Jones; for 2020-21 Brady O’Brien is the recipient. In preparation for the coming year another $1,000 check was presented to the Garrett College Foundation in June. As of 2015-16, an additional $250 is budgeted annually for adult continuing education in courses or workshops related to the same fields listed above, as well as for any of the NGC education courses. Donations by the community at large are 501(C)3 tax deductible.
In the firm belief that our natural world should be studied, appreciated, and protected, the Mountain Laurel Garden Club began offering a scholarship in 2009-10 to contribute to the ongoing education of a deserving student. The scholarship is to be awarded to a qualified student, entering the sophomore year, who plans to major in a field of study related to Agriculture, Forestry, Environment, Horticulture, Natural Resources and Wildlife Technology. This scholarship, administered by Garrett College Foundation, is to be used for tuition and books. As of June 1, 2012, the amount of this annual award is $1,000.
The scholarship for 2019-20 was presented to Stephen Jones; for 2020-21 Brady O’Brien is the recipient. In preparation for the coming year another $1,000 check was presented to the Garrett College Foundation in June. As of 2015-16, an additional $250 is budgeted annually for adult continuing education in courses or workshops related to the same fields listed above, as well as for any of the NGC education courses. Donations by the community at large are 501(C)3 tax deductible.
Scholarship Committee with the 2019 recipient Stephen Jones
