According to their website The Maryland Native Plant Society's mission is to promote awareness, appreciation, and conservation of Maryland's native plants and their habitats. They pursue their mission through education, research, advocacy, and service activities. The society has nine chapters located throughout the state and were established in order to further the mission of the Maryland Native Plant Society.
The Wye Oak, which was estimated to be 500 years old, was known to be the largest white oak, Quercus alba on record both in Maryland and the nation with a girth of 31 feet, 10 inches. Sadly, in 2002, a severe thunderstorm blew through Wye Mills, Maryland and toppled the tree.
The Chesapeake Bay is the nation’s largest estuary. It is 200 miles long from its northern headwaters to the Atlantic Ocean. The Bay is home to over 2,700 species of plants and animals. Captain John Smith was one of the first English explorers to map the Bay and in 2006 the nation’s first “all-water” National Historic Trail was created along Captain Smith’s 17thcentury routes. Aptly called the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail. Please see the website of the Chesapeake Bay Program for more information.