If you’ve been following us for a while, you’ll know that Volz Neighborhood Park, NeighborSpace’s 14-acre forested site in Middle River, is home to a large variety of native plant species. Late last month, NeighborSpace treated its Conservation Champions to an exclusive “wildflower walk” in Volz Park.

We were extremely fortunate to have not one but two native plant experts share their knowledge with us:

 Native plant expert Judy Fulton guided the walk, stopping to draw attention to interesting specimens and to point out identifying characteristics of different species. Judy is Vice President of the Maryland Native Plant Society, and a member of the Maryland Invasive Species Council and the Board of the Mid-Atlantic Invasive Plant Council. During recent Maryland legislative sessions, she helped to write and pass the 2023 Maryland Native Plants Program and the 2024 Maryland Invasive Plant bill. In addition, she has co-authored the widely recognized Plant Invaders of Mid-Atlantic Natural Areas – Field Guide, which NeighborSpace uses as a resource in its Neighbors for Native Plants course.

Lisa Kuder started us off with definitions, shared information about the Maryland Native Plants Program, and answered questions about gardening with natives. Lisa is the new Native Plants and Landscapes specialist at the University of Maryland Extension. She is responsible for rolling out the Maryland Native Plants Program, legislated by the aforementioned 2023 bill and designed to increase the understanding of the importance and supply of native plants in Maryland.  

Of all the native species identified during the Wildflower Walk, the Pinxter Flower (Rhododendron periclymenoides) in full bloom was likely the showiest.

Judy pointed out different characteristics to look for when distinguishing between fern species, such as tapering of the leaf, a clumping or spreading habit, and the shape of the pinnae (“leaflets”). We counted 7 different fern species at Volz Park.

Left to right: A type of Lady Fern ; Sensitive Fern, so called because it dies back at the first touch of cold ; a type of Wood Fern ; Christmas Fern, Maryland’s most common evergreen fern

Volz Park is home to hundreds of Jack-in-the-Pulpits. This unique native plant prefers consistently moist, rich soil and can live for over 25 years. It has the ability to change from male to female (and back again) depending on growing conditions from year to year.

The spring ephemerals are fading away again but I look forward to returning to Volz Park throughout the spring and summer to see the ferns leafed out and the pepperbush in full bloom!

Interested in opportunities like these? Become a member of NeighborSpace’s Giving Circle! Conservation Champions are donors who give $1,000 or more in a year. Contact Phyllis at phyllis@neighborspacebaltimorecounty.org or (443) 850-2756 to learn more.