A presentation of the Ecological Landscaping Speaker Series & Native Garden Tours
Adkins Arboretum • 12610 Eveland Road • Ridgely, MD 21660
Sunday, August 23, 2026 • 1–2:30 pm
Meet Eylse
Elyse Jurgen, M.Ed, CBLP, CERP, owner of Waxwing EcoWorks Co., is a community collaborator inspired by rebuilding biodiversity. Ample hikes and plant community observations spark her imagination, bringing a rare blend of art and science into her practice. Her work deepens your connection to place, and empowers you to take meaningful action to maximize your land’s potential to support watersheds, wildlife, and enhance human well-being.
She is certified as an Ecological Restoration Practitioner (CERP), Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional (CBLP), Permaculture Designer, and earned an Ecological Gardening Certification from Mt. Cuba Center. She holds a Master’s Degree in Environmental Education, 7-12 Biology Teaching Certification, and participated in Cornell University’s Civic Ecology program. She is currently enrolled in a Qigong teaching certification program as a means to tend to our best restoration tools–our human bodies.
Ecological Landscaping Speaker Series & Native Garden Tours
In 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026, Adkins Arboretum received funding from the Chesapeake Bay Trust (CBT) to provide outreach and education to local Homeowner Associations (HOAs) and the general public, supporting environmentally friendly landscaping practices.
This series was developed by building on the Naturally Better Landscaping project, in partnership with ShoreRivers, Eastern Shore Land Conservancy, Pickering Creek, Phillips Wharf, and Wild Ones. It is offered free of charge thanks to funding from CBT and Queen Anne’s County, and open to the general public.
