Special Events

There are a ton of special member events happening in 2024.  Select the name of an event below to learn more about these fun member opportunities.

Soldiers Delight Hike led by Paula Becker

Spring is arriving at Soldiers Delight Natural Environment Area, located near Owings Mills. Comprised of 1900 acres, it is the largest remaining serpentine ecosystem in the eastern United States. Its signature bedrock and serpentine, coupled with the presence of fire over time, have shaped a one-of-a-kind ecosystem, creating ideal conditions for supporting over 27 rare, threatened, or endangered species of plants and animals, as well as rare insects, rocks and minerals. Paula Becker, who gave our May 2023 lecture on this fascinating area, will lead us on a 1.5 – 2 hour hike as she teaches us about this extraordinary area. The hike is limited to 15 members and will fill quickly. Register using the button below.

Event Details

Date: Saturday, April 6, 2024 (Rain Date – Sunday, April 7)
Time: 9:30 am – 11:00 am
Location: Soldiers Delight Natural Environment Area – Owings Mills, MD
Registration:  Members can register using the button below.

Want to attend but not a member? Not a problem.

Join the Horticultual Society of Maryland today using the button below then come back here to register for this great event!

Blue sky with large white clouds, below the sky a stretch of trail at Solders Delight Natural Environmental Area in Owings Mills Maryland

Garden Tour: A Woodland Garden in Full Springtime Splendor

The garden in front of the house is in full sun, with flowering trees and shrubs (dogwood, Styrax, redbud, corylopsis, deciduous azaleas) and lot of myosotis sylvatica (forget-me-nots), Iris species, peonies and geraniums.  Daffodils and tulips may still be blooming.  

The garden inside the deer fence flows down the near side of the ravine and up the other side.  Beginning at the stone terrace, ringed by azaleas and camellias, the path descends past a viewing platform, the “Hill of Rocks” and many hydrangeas and aucubas, reaching the woodland garden. 

There is an ephemeral stream of sorts in the ravine, with a rustic wooden bridge.  The woodland garden features rhododendrons, azaleas, ferns of many kinds, hellebores, Epimedium, dogwoods, bulbs, woodland peonies, gingers, and woodland wildflowers. Something is in bloom every day of the year!

Note: Because the terrain is very steep and hilly, it is important to wear suitable shoes.

Event Details

Date: Saturday, April 20, 2024 (Rain Date – Sunday, April 21)
Time: 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Location: Ruxton, MD
Registration:  Members can register using the button below.

Want to attend but not a member? Not a problem.

Join the Horticultual Society of Maryland today using the button below then come back here to register for this great event!

Woodland Garden Staircase

Garden Tour: Whipps Garden Cemetery

The cemetery plot was bought in 1855 by William Whipps as a family burial plot.  Beginning in 1987 the formerly neglected cemetery was transformed from a weedy acre to the marvelous site it is today, with numerous small gardens surrounding the gravestones.

The Whipps Garden Cemetery is tended by Garden Clubs, Master Gardeners and other volunteers, the gardens include extensive spring bulbs, native plants, roses, herbs and is Bay-Wise certified. Come with us as we stroll through the cemetery, with an orientation and history by Betty Whipps and volunteer docents.

The tour is limited to 25 members, so register early.

Event Details

Date: Saturday, April 27, 2024
Time: 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Location: Ellicott City, MD
Registration: Members can register using the button below.

Want to attend but not a member? Not a problem.

Join the Horticultual Society of Maryland today using the button below then come back here to register for this great event!

Previous Garden Tour Pop-ups

In spring 2021, we revived a Hort Society tradition of having member gardens open on a casual basis—with our Spring Pop-up Tours. Held one Saturday in April and two Sundays in May, the “pop-ups” featured the usual lush and splendid vistas of a big tour, with fewer people, less stress, and time to savor. These images represent a small sample of what was seen and enjoyed.

Photos by Paula A. Simon

Garden of Nancy and David Blois

Garden of Sally and Ed Barker

Garden of Vicky Storrie and Doug Nelson

Garden of Amy Urdang and Charles Schmitz

Garden of Devra He’ui and Jim Kitterman

Garden of Tanya and Bruce Jones

July 2019

50th Anniversary Celebration

A wonderful celebration of this incredible milestone in the Horticultural Society of Maryland’s history.  Click here to view photos from the event.

April 2018

The Great Dixter Way with Fergus Garrett

Fergus Garrett, head gardener at Great Dixter Garden, UK, presented two outstanding programs to enthusiastic sold-out audiences. The programs included a lecture, Designing With Plants the Great Dixter Way, and an afternoon seminar, Succession Planting in the Mixed Border.

www.greatdixter.co.uk

Fergus portrait photo: Martin Ogden

July 2016

100th Birthday Party for Pauline Vollmer

A celebration in appreciation of Pauline Vollmer’s inspiration and contributions to Baltimore’s horticultural community over a lifetime, culminating in the building of a center for horticulture, the Vollmer Center at Cylburn Arboretum. The event was co-hosted by: Federated Garden Clubs of Maryland, The Horticultural Society of Maryland, Cylburn Arboretum Association and the City of Baltimore, Horticulture Division.

Pauline Vollmer greets visitor at 100th Birthday Party

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September 2015

Silber Garden Plant Sale

HSM members and friends eagerly made new homes for the exceptional plants that were offered at the Silber Garden Sale. We are grateful to Jean and Douglas Silber for donating their garden plants to raise money for HSM. Many volunteers worked hard to make the event a success.

Peter Beinamen and Nancy Raskin, ready to assist shoppers

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May 2015

Tashiding:  A Splendid Day and Successful Event

HSM members Douglas and Tsognie Hamilton graciously opened their Western Run property, Tashiding, for a tour and luncheon to benefit the Vollmer Center Garden on May 31, 2015.  Thanks to the Hamiltons, our sponsors, guests and volunteers the event raised more than $8,500.

Invitation photograph courtesy of Robert Cardillo

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