Before meadow installation at a LSLT Yards for Creation site, Delmarva Free School. PC: Brooke Orr After meadow installation at a LSLT Yards for Creation site, Delmarva Free School. PC: Brooke Orr Meadows, meadows, meadows. That is all we seem to be talking about in the office lately and honestly, we love it. More and more people across Maryland are discovering just how valuable native plants and native meadows can be for their homes, their communities, and the ecosystems ar

The temperature at the Libertytown Branch tract just outside Berlin read 27 degrees Fahrenheit and with a biting windchill it felt closer to 16. But for the Maryland Department of Natural Resources burn crew gathered on site at 9 a.m. on February 13, those numbers were simply part of the equation. Under a breezy blue sky, the DNR team launched the first prescribed burn of 2026 at the Chesapeake Forest tract, a carefully managed fire that would spend the better part of the day

Mystery Moth Cocoon on a Red Oak in Jared's Yard. PC: Jared Parks Daylight Saving Time is near, and the spring equinox (March 20) is not far behind, though it might not look like it outside my window. Our flower beds are buried in multiple inches (feet in some drifted areas) of snow along with the crocuses that had been in full bloom just the day before, but those are mere trifles. I am busy planning for the warmer days ahead.   I know that certain tasks must be performed as

Over the past few weeks, I’ve had the privilege of sitting with conservation easement holders, supporters, farmers, neighbors, county government partners, and friends as we kicked off outreach for the Lower Shore Land Trust’s next Conservation Strategic Plan. As someone who grew up here on the Lower Shore, has a deep love of the landscape, and now gets to do this work alongside all of you, I can say honestly that these meetings were among the most meaningful moments I’ve had

Sandra Kirkland & Betsy Love's Native Garden, Bunny Hill. PC: Brooke Orr “These freezing temperatures aren’t here forever”, “Don’t worry, Spring is just around the Corner” - this is what I tell myself in the harsh weather days of January and February. And while we aren’t able to dig in the garden we can plan  for a hopeful season brimming with songbirds, bees, butterflies and colorful moths.  Is 2026 the year for your garden make over? Do you have an area on your property you

2026 starts a new chapter for the Lower Shore Land Trust Land Stewards Program. In many years past, LSLT has relied on volunteers to help steward our over 141 easements and 24,500 acres. Starting this year, LSLT will be piloting a program with Salisbury University. Salisbury University Holloway Hall. PC: Brooke Orr This new and exciting program will open the opportunity for young professionals in SU’s Senior Seminar class to get real life, in-field experience, along with lear

Community Development Coordinator, Margot Resto dreaming of her perfect Valentine's Day gift: A Native Plant Sale Gift Card! PC: Brooke Orr 🌺🎶 “I Gave My Love A Native Plant” 🎶🌺 My Valentine sings beautiful songs to me. Another does a little dance around my back yard, putting on a beautiful show for me. Sometimes, I see my Valentines out my window, arriving right on time for a visit. All I have to do is give my Valentines plenty of water and food, and a safe place to live

Yards for Creation Site Visit Meeting with St. Philip's Episcopal Church's Green Team. PC: Beth Sheppard The Lower Shore Land Trust is hitting the airwaves in collaboration with Delmarva Public Media. Conservation Conversations is a brand-new radio segment and podcast that highlights environmental topics specific to the Lower Shore, hosted by me, Lauren Imhof. As I’ve come to discover, the Lower Shore is a special place where forests, marshes, meadows, and waterways come toge

LSLT is proud to use QRcodeChimp  to support our outreach and engagement efforts. Their platform helps us connect people to the right information, quickly and easily, whether that’s through signs, printed materials, or digital posts. Using QRcodeChimp, we’re able to create both static and dynamic QR codes for everything from event signage to program information. For an organization like the Lower Shore Land Trust, access to dynamic QR codes is a true game changer. It allows u

Beth : I’ve never been a New Year’s Resolution follower as it often results in unrealistic expectations for change. Rather, here at the Lower Shore Land Trust I hope to broaden my skills and learn more from the land surrounding us. Being better able to understand the ways nutrients impact soils, taking time to sharpen my lens, observing the close up path of certain insects or turtles and learning the names of butterflies, these are goals I have for the coming year. And, being

Jared on one of his winter walks! PC: Jared Parks The excitement of New Year’s Eve seems to ebb much faster than the other major holidays. Though the Winter Solstice is the shortest day of the year, the three weeks either side of the solstice have nearly identical hours of daylight, so by January 1 st  we are all still in the midst of the shortest days of the year and a good three to four weeks from the noticeably longer days associated with the beginning of February. In my e

PC: Jodi Sulpizio, Penn State Extension LSLT is now accepting applications for Yards For Creation, a program that installs native meadows on public land with a focus on congregations in Wicomico, Worcester, and Somerset Counties. Earlier this year LSLT via their Yards for Creation Program in partnership with Interfaith Partners for the Chesapeake installed a native meadow at The Delmarva Free School ( a member-based intentional land-use recovery community and nature sanctuar

Step 1: Assess and Simplify Plan where you want to make changes for next spring. Rethink your garden expectations and simplify areas that have been problematic or disappointing. We encourage native plants and trees no matter the size of your garden. Consider removing a few higher-maintenance ornamental plants or grass patches to make room for the beneficial features of natives. Step 2: Sift through Research This Winter   Spend the dormant season learning about a few native sp

As we approach the end of the year and celebrate our 35th anniversary, it’s a perfect moment to reflect on how far we’ve come, and the incredible momentum carrying us forward. Matt Heim, Mary Beth Carozza, and King Burnett at Flannel Formal 2025. PC: Lauren Imhof This year brought record engagement across our signature events. Our Native Plant Sale, Pollinator Garden Tour, and Flannel Formal each enjoyed banner years, drawing more participants and supporters than ever before.

Come check out LSLT's Stewardship and GIS coordinators business, Frank Deuter's business: Corddry Crossing Hobbies this holiday season! Located just 1 block away from the LSLT office ( 110 W Green St Unit A, Snow Hill, MD 21863) . There will be open houses and workshops all December long. For more information, please call 410-710-8038 or visit corddrycrossinghobbies.com .

In our 35th year, we celebrate King Burnett, one of Lower Shore Land Trust’s founders. Without King’s vision, hard work, and passion for our rural communities, the Lower Shore Land Trust wouldn’t be here today. This year, we have the rare privilege of honoring King at our biggest celebration of the year, The Flannel Formal. King Burnett PC: King Burnett King is a multi-award-winning leader recognized for his dedication and excellence in myriad arenas, including legislative, e

Pawpaw Tree Flowers PC: Eric Draper, OSU The Pawpaw tree is the largest fruit tree native to North America. The fruit is a small custard-like delight, tasting of a combination of banana, mango, and pineapple, which ripens in late August through September in Maryland. A Native American staple, the fruit of this tree is engrained in North America’s history. If you’re like me, you may be wondering: why? What about pawpaws sets it apart from other native fruit trees like American

As Thanksgiving approaches, we’ve been taking a moment to reflect on what fills our hearts this season. Between the busy days, changing leaves, and community events, it’s easy to forget how much there is to be thankful for the people we work alongside, the landscapes we help protect, and the small, everyday moments that make it all meaningful. In that spirit, we asked our team to share what they’re most thankful for this year and shared some photos of our favorite LSLT memori

At the Lower Shore Land Trust, we usually focus on protecting open spaces and wildlife, not chasing ghosts! But this Halloween, we could not resist sharing one of Board Member  Glenn Irwin’s  favorite chilling tales from his  other role as a ghost tour guide in Ocean City. Glenn during a ghost tour! PC: Glenn Irwin When he is not helping raise funds for events such as our upcoming  Flannel Formal on November 8th , Glenn leads visitors through Ocean City’s haunted past with 

J oin us on Saturday, November 8th from 3-6pm for the 9th Annual Flannel Formal,  the well-known and loved celebration of land...