Back in 2004 a Maryland Master Gardener, eager to promote landscaping practices that protect our beloved Chesapeake Bay, wrote to Joseph Altemus, horticulturist at the governor’s mansion in Annapolis, to inquire about the landscaping practices there. The upshot was a visit to the grounds by Master Gardeners of Howard and Anne Arundel Counties to see how the landscape scored using Maryland’s excellent BayWise certification and turns out, it scored 68 points - far more than the 30 needed to be certified as BayWise. We’re talking double! Kudos to the governor’s horticulturist for his good stewardship. In fact, we’d love to hear from him to learn more about this success story.
A recent interview with Georgia Eacker, Howard County Master Gardener Coordinator, revealed that five years later the landscape still looks great and still proudly displays the "Bay-Wise-Certified" sign. She told me she has a photo of then-Governor Bob Ehrlich and horticulturist Altemus, both beaming with the Bay-Wise sign, and we’d love to get a copy to display here on Green the Grounds.
A Howard County Master Gardener involved in the certification (Holly) wrote about Altemus:
We were actually impressed with his awareness of our 'issues' - the bottom line we preach is that basically everything we do in our own backyards affects the water quality of the Chesapeake Bay. He was already implementing best practices management of the landscape, so it was a win-win for both of us- we verified they were doing things "right," gave them several signs to display on the property saying so to public, and they got whatever political capital they chose to use. It served as a demo landscape for others- doing the right thing doesn't mean one has an unkempt, messy landscape.
I'd encourage the new [Obama] administration to also incorporate more native plants in their landscape to support wildlife habitat (which we continue to lose at an alarming rate- their "wildlife" may just be insects, but the bottom of the food chain supports the rest) as well as a kitchen/victory garden.
This Just in - a Veg Garden Next
From a press release of April 21, 2009: First Lady Katie O’Malley will celebrate National Gardening Month and Maryland Grow it Eat it Month by planting a food garden at Government House. First Lady O’Malley will be joined by beginner gardeners who will learn basic techniques of gardening from Maryland's Master Gardener Coordinator, Jon Traunfeld.
April is National Gardening Month, Earth Month, and Governor O’Malley has also declared April to be "Maryland Grow it Eat it Month,” said First Lady O’Malley. “In celebration, and together with the University. I encourage all Maryland families to plant their own garden to save money, to eat healthy, and to protect our environment.”
First Lady O’Malley has partnered with University of Maryland Cooperative Extension to promote their new campaign, “Grow It Eat It,” which encourages Maryland families to improve health and save money by growing fresh vegetables, fruits and herbs using sustainable practices. The campaign hopes to encourage 1 million Marylanders to produce their own affordable, healthy food. More information on the campaign and the University's Master Gardener program can be found at www.growit.umd.edu.
Maryland will be one of the first states, if not the first state in the nation, to have a backyard food garden at the Governor’s home. The vegetable garden will set a realistic example of what Maryland families can do in their own backyards. Here's a story about it by the editor of Washington Home and Garden Magazine.
More about Bay-Wise Landscaping
Here’s a brief overview, and here’s an even briefer one:
- Fertilize wisely
- Water efficiently
- Mow properly
- Control stormwater runoff
- Mulch appropriately
- Recycle yard waste
- Use Integrated Pest Management
- Plant wisely (with plants suited to your site)
- Encourage wildlife
- Protect the waterfront
They DO seem to have all the bases covered. Great program!
