Claude Monet said, “My wish is to stay always like this, living quietly in a corner of nature.” Homestead Gardens is the one-stop shop for helping people create nature corners of their own.
Illustration courtesy of the author.
Whether or not you’ve visited their robust garden center & nursery just off Ritchie Highway or the sprawling grounds of their Davidsonville center, you can see their great work all throughout Annapolis and Anne Arundel County.
Homestead has been a pillar of the community, supporting efforts of West Street’s light canopy, Main Street’s iconic flower baskets, and the ArtWalk Crosswalk planters in the Arts District. Most recently hosting Corks for a Cause, a benefit for the University of Maryland Baltimore Washington Medical Center Foundation, their name is known about town for their generosity.
Image courtesy of the author.
Beyond their philanthropy, Homestead has built a community around the joy and education of tending to nature. For the seasoned gardener, The Golden Spades is a laid-back meet-up for ages 50+ to enjoy seminars or field trips led by Homestead’s master horticulturist. For some all-ages fun, plan a picnic with the family at the Barnyard with potbelly pigs, alpacas, chickens, and goats– oh my!
Their calendar has a full line-up of workshops and events, including an upcoming Matching Pollinators and Plants lesson, as well as the Crape Myrtle Festival in July. If you can’t make it to a workshop anytime soon, the Homestead blog is full of great ideas including specialty gardens, ways to get kids interested in plant-life, and inspiration for plantings in home decor.
Here are some of Homestead’s recommendations for Maryland native plants to support the local ecosystem:
Illustrations courtesy of the author.
Illustrations courtesy of the author.
Illustrations courtesy of the author.
Illustrations courtesy of the author.
Illustrations courtesy of the author.
Illustrations courtesy of the author.
Illustrations courtesy of the author.
