Native plant initiative makes waves in Bay restoration
In the heart of Chesapeake Bay country, a remarkable native plant collaboration between Providence Greenhouses and the Environmental Center at Anne Arundel Community College (AACC) is quietly making waves in ecological restoration efforts. Their mission? To collect bay grass, wetland, and native perennial seeds from local areas surrounding the Chesapeake each fall, nurturing them into thriving plants for restoration projects across the region. Here's how they're turning seeds into solutions for the Bay's ecosystems.
Cultivating Local Ecotypes
The team at Providence Greenhouses and AACC's Environmental Center meticulously gathers native seeds, ensuring they're sourced from the Chesapeake Bay's ecosystems. By growing these local ecotypes, they create plant stock that is better adapted to the region's unique environmental conditions and has higher success rates in restoration projects.
Tailored Restoration Solutions
Providence Greenhouses focuses on growing plants according to specific restoration needs as part of their commitment to ecological stewardship. Whether it's bay grass for wetland restoration or native perennials for shoreline stabilization, their grow-out plugs cater to the demands of restoration initiatives in the area, providing tailored solutions for each project.
"It is an amazing opportunity to provide local ecotype plants to restoration companies, which are argued to be even better suited for the environment and have better success rates," said Rachel Carey, manager of Providence Greenhouses.
Providence Greenhouses actively contributes to other important environmental restoration projects, including the rebuilding of Poplar Island in the Chesapeake Bay. The organization has also worked with several organizations and companies in Maryland to meet their larger-scale commercial growing needs, including the Army Corps of Engineers, Dominion Energy, Maryland Department of Natural Resources, and Maryland Therapeutic Riding.
Skills Development and Attention to Detail
Beyond the ecological impact, the team at Providence Greenhouses emphasizes skill development among their staff.
As a subset of Providence of Maryland, Providence Greenhouses provides vocational training and employment for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in a working nursery. Here, team members continuously gain in-depth knowledge of horticulture and commercial nursery practices while building professional skills for community employment. Not only are they learning how to grow and sustain beautiful plants native to Maryland, but they are also gaining job skills they can use to achieve greater independence.
From honing consistency and fine-detail motor skills to maintaining unwavering labeling habits, every aspect of plant production is approached with a dedication to quality and precision.
Diverse Plant Offerings for Public Sales
While their primary focus is on restoration projects, Providence Greenhouses also cultivates native container plants for public sales events. These events offer a diverse array of native plants, from those that attract pollinators to species that help manage stormwater runoff, catering to a variety of landscaping needs.
Plant enthusiasts and eco-conscious gardeners won't want to miss their upcoming Spring Sale on May 10-11, featuring a wide selection of native plants, or their Milkweed Madness Sale during National Pollinator Week, June 17-21, highlighting plants crucial for supporting pollinator populations.
Providence Greenhouses' dedication to cultivating native plants not only beautifies landscapes but also contributes to the health and resilience of the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem. Through their efforts, they're sowing the seeds of a greener, more sustainable future for generations to come.
To learn more about Providence Greenhouses, email Rachel Carey at [email protected]. Providence Greenhouses is located at 370 Shore Acres Road
Arnold, MD.
Learn more about the Environmental Center at Anne Arundel Community College.
