Small Gardens, Big Buzz: The 5th Annual Pollinator Garden Tour
- Margot Resto
- May 12
- 3 min read
Updated: 18 minutes ago
Have you ever walked past someone’s house and wanted to get a closer look at what’s blooming deep in their garden? Have you ever wanted to talk with other plant lovers, ask questions, get handy tips for your own gardening adventures? Then do yourself a favor and buy a ticket to the Lower Shore Land Trust’s 5th Annual Pollinator Garden Tour and you’ll have the unique opportunity to see 9 featured private gardens, meet the garden hosts, meet like-minded plant lovers, and learn about the benefits of incorporating native plants into any size landscape, all while observing plein air artists create works at each garden from the beauty of nature. Each garden will include native species designed to support and celebrate pollinators.
“Small Spaces, Big Impact” - This year for the first time the tour is gathered in a close, largely walkable vicinity throughout the lovely, historic, small town of Berlin. Garden explorers will have the chance to see all 9 private gardens without having to spend extra time driving between locations, and they can do it all in one day. The theme this year is “Small Spaces, Big Impact” highlighting the fact that whether you have a tiny container space or a full-sized garden, you can make a significant impact on the health and survival of our essential pollinators.
Consider if you will that all of these gardens are part of a larger patchwork of gardens which provide critical habitat for pollinators seeking and hopscotching across native plant destinations. By providing native plants in your corner of the world, you’re fostering pollinator visitors in yet another stopover destination for food, water and safety, which in-turn creates a healthier, happier environment for all living things.
While strolling through the curated, private gardens, you will have the rare opportunity to watch plein air artists create pieces capturing their perspective of each garden’s personality, in the outdoors, in real time. New this year: Children’s Plein Air Art Site where children can express themselves with help from instructors who will guide them in creating their own experience of nature’s beauty, instilling a respect for nature and awareness of our role in its survival.
To kick-off the excitement of the Saturday Garden Tour, a “Pre-Tour Party” will be held on Friday, June 6th, 6-9pm at Sisters Wine Pub in Berlin, with food, wine and live music by local Berlin favorite, Rob Bailey. A few surprise musicians will step up to the stage throughout the night, and guest bartenders will try their hand at serving the crowd. Proceeds from the evening will go to benefit the Lower Shore Land Trust.
As a finale to this special community event, a Plein Air Art Exhibit and Sale will be held Friday, June 27th, from 5-7pm at Bishop's Stock Fine Art, Craft & Wine Gallery in Snow Hill, Maryland, generously hosted by Ann Coates. The event will showcase the paintings created during the tour, offering guests the opportunity to purchase these unique pieces. Wine, hors d’oeuvres, and live music by classical and jazz virtuoso guitarist Quinn Parsley will enhance this elegant evening, which is free and open to the public.
The Garden Tour will be held one-day only on Saturday, June 7th, 8am-4pm. Tickets are $30 in advance and $35 at the door, and $10 for Children 12 years and under (this ticket also provides entry into the Children’s Plein Air Art Site). visit Pollinator Garden Tour 2025
The Lower Shore Land Trust is grateful to its generous Pollinator Garden Tour Sponsors to date: Sisters Wine Bar, Calvin B. Taylor Bank, SU Fulton School of Liberal Arts, Bishop’s Stock Art Gallery, Broad Bookkeeping Co., David D. Quillin Architecture, Duke Marshall Group, Bluebird Farms, Inland Bays Garden Center, Ernst Conservation Seeds, Goody Hill Sand & Gravel, Church Mouse Ministry, and LinkBank.
For more information about the Pollinator Garden Tour and to learn how you can support the pollinator and habitat work of the Lower Shore Land Trust, visit www.lowershorelandtrust.org or call 443-234-5587.
