A presentation of the Naturally Better Landscaping Speaker Series
Adkins Arboretum • 12610 Eveland Road• Ridgely, MD
Saturday, October 25, 2025 • 2–3:30 pm
Discover how community-driven change can reshape the landscape.
Join residents of the Cove Creek Club as they share how their Homeowners Association transformed its landscaping using native plants after attending the Naturally Better Landscaping Speaker Series. Learn how their community gained support, educated neighbors, and brought environmentally conscious design to life.
This presentation takes place at Adkins Arboretum in Ridgley, MD. It is free and open to all. Advance registration is highly recommended.
About Cove Creek Club
This real-life success story from Queen Anne’s County offers a look at how community-driven change can reshape the landscape, literally and culturally. Attendees will hear directly from Mary Harms and Rebekah Sims, who led the initiative and now serve as co-chairs of the Cove Creek Club’s Common Areas Committee. They’ll share their experiences building support within their HOA, navigating concerns about aesthetics and maintenance, and working through the practical steps of implementation.
The presentation will also feature Jay Bosanko, President of the Cove Creek Club Board of Directors, who will offer insights into how the board approached the transition to native landscaping, and Paul Drummond, the landscape designer who helped translate the community’s goals into a thoughtful and ecologically sound design.
Whether you’re part of an HOA, neighborhood group, nonprofit, or just a homeowner curious about how to bring native plants into your own space, this session will provide valuable ideas, strategies, and inspiration.
Naturally Better Landscaping Speaker Series
In 2023, 2024, and 2025, Adkins Arboretum received funding from the Chesapeake Bay Trust to provide outreach and education to local Homeowner Associations (HOAs) and the general public, supporting environmentally friendly landscaping practices.
This speaker series was developed as part of the Naturally Better Landscaping project, in partnership with ShoreRivers, Eastern Shore Land Conservancy, Pickering Creek, and Phillips Wharf, and is offered free of charge, thanks to funding from the Chesapeake Bay Trust and Queen Anne’s County. It is open to the general public. Not all presentations will be held at Adkins Arboretum.
