Latin for Gardeners: October 2018

October’s Native Maryland Plant
Callicarpa americana (L.) (kal-lee-KAR-pah ah-mer-ih-KAY-nah)
Common Name: American Beautyberry

Remembering that this is the centennial of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA)¹, you can help feed our winged-friends by planting this month’s plant:  Callicarpa americana.  This shrub has a berry that is simply hard to ignore – they are a bright, almost metallic purple and they stand out in the garden well into the wintering season.

This Coastal Plain shrub will attract pollinators in the spring and a variety of birds in late winter.  It is frequently planted in a conservation landscape because it provides both food and cover for birds.  The berries appear as clusters (cymes) and cling tightly to the sprawling woody branches.  This is a very adaptable shrub that can be pruned heavily and will recover in one season. For this reason, you can even grow it in a large pot and prune it to 6” in the spring – it flowers on new growth. Its beaded branches also make beautiful dry arrangements. Callicarpa spp. can also be planted as a vegetated buffer plant along streams and waterways – not in the water but along the stream where it will prevent erosion and add to the diversity of plants that support birds. If you’re able to visit the Howard County Conservancy this fall, you can see the unusual white variety of Callicarpa americana blooming now - Callicarpa americana var. lactea is in the lower garden to the left of the entrance. 

Callicarpa comes from two Greek words: callos meaning beauty and carpos, fruit – referring to its most distinguishing feature.  The specific epithet, americana, is Latin for “from the Americas”.

NOTE: You may have heard that American Beautyberry has been used as a folk remedy to prevent mosquito bites. In fact, a chemical isolated from Callicarpa spp. has been shown to act as a mosquito repellant; callicarpenal has been patented by the USDA Agriculture’s Research Service² and is used as a mosquito repellent.

~ Alison Milligan – MG/MN 2013
Master Watershed Steward Class 7
aligmilligan@gmail.com

¹ https://www.audubon.org/news/the-migratory-bird-treaty-act-explained

² https://agresearchmag.ars.usda.gov/2006/feb/mosquito

Steward Spotlight: Bob Keddell

Why did you become a Master Watershed Steward?
Environmental Education has always been a major part of my 40+ year education career.  I have enjoyed the privilege of helping youth and colleagues create State of Maryland Green School Status, fulfilled multiple Chesapeake Bay Trust Grants, participated in research with renowned Smithsonian Environmental Scientists in the local region as well as the country of Panama.  This was an opportunity to extend and improve my career emphasis.

Bob Keddell and Class 10 Environmental Literacy Candidate Tatiana Klein

How did you hear about WSA?
My participation at organizations like the Maryland Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education and other conferences have helped me become aware of highly active environmental organizations like WSA.

Why is restoring the waterways important to you?
My first response is that I have been in more streams with kids than I can recall or count.  Water is magic when working with youth rather it is in the great outdoors or with an aquarium in a school.  Water quality always takes center stage right alongside the quality of life and learning.

Why did you choose to focus on environmental literacy?
I am an educator first and foremost.  My career spans opportunities to work with thousands of “at risk” or kids who need to get outdoors to feel whole.  There are really two parts then to “environmental literacy”.  (1.) “Environment” or an ability to understand and appreciate ecosystems and (2.) An ability to act upon that knowledge to maintain all that one learns through civic engagement.

What was one of the most surprising things you learned during the certification course?
I have often worked with informal education organizations and their environmental missions.  It was good for me to see and appreciate individual citizens’ missions to make a difference.

What was your favorite aspect of the Master Watershed Steward certification course?
Working in a collegial team to complete the capstone requirements.

What advice do you have for our Class 11 Steward Candidates?
Jump in the water, the water is cool.

How do you plan to continue engaging the community in your environmental efforts?
I have currently named myself a post capstone project entitled “PROJECT INTERGROW”. Rather it is successful or not it will be worth the mission behind the project – to bring environmental education in meaningful hands on ways to minority populations in Inner Annapolis.

Remembering Kincey Potter

Along with most of the environmental community in Anne Arundel County, I am weeping at the loss of my dear friend Kincey Potter and simultaneously so thankful to have had her in my life.     

Kincey’s list of accomplishments and significant contributions to water quality in Anne Arundel County cannot be understated.  So many local organizations—South River Federation, Anne Arundel League of Conservation Voters, String of Pearls, Watershed Stewards Academy—have benefited from her tenacity, vision and leadership.  Kincey worked for years building political and popular support for a dedicated revenue stream for watershed restoration.  When the Watershed Protection and Restoration Fee was implemented in 2013, and later challenged in 2015, she worked hard to organize speakers for public hearings, sat down with elected officials to discuss details, and later, celebrated the accomplishments of this program.  You can read more here.

Kincey’s passion and tireless activism for clean water have had an impact on all the residents of Anne Arundel County.  But I also want to share a bit about what Kincey meant to me personally.   If you are lucky, you have in your life a person who tells it like it is, pushes you beyond your comfort zone and is 100% positive that you reach your goals.  Kincey was that person in my life. 

When I first shared the idea of WSA with Kincey back in 2007,  I was so excited about this new model to engage communities and thought it was just the right compliment to the work of great watershed organizations like South River Federation.  Kincey’s response was, “Well that sounds like a great idea, but you will never get people to commit to becoming Master Watershed Stewards.”  Nevertheless, Kincey rolled up her sleeves and jumped right in.  She served on the very first committees that designed the WSA Course and developed the Consortium of Support Professionals.   Her experience with organizational development made her an instrumental part of the first WSA Advisory Board and it was her signature that graced the incorporation paperwork when WSA became a 501 c 3 organization in 2010.   By the time the first class of Master Watershed Stewards graduated in 2010, she was hooked.  Here we are 10 years later, with over 200 Master Watershed Stewards who have dedicated themselves to making their communities healthier and their streams cleaner.  It is certainly not an understatement to say that WSA would not be what it is today, if not for Kincey. 

Starting a non-profit is hard work, and there were many bumps along the way.  Through it all, Kincey’s faith in WSA and her faith in me never waivered.    She was not deterred when a task seemed daunting, and never, ever gave up.   As the first WSA Board Development Chair, Kincey mentored our organization, and me in particular, through engaging individuals and corporations in the mission of WSA through financial support.  She led by example, she gave, and she invited others to give.  

Most of all, she admired the work of Watershed Stewards.  Kincey has always been an action-oriented leader, and firmly believed that less talk and more action, whether for in-ground projects or implementing strong environmental policies, is the winning formula.    I think this is why she resonated so strongly with WSA. 

In Kincey’s honor, please join with me in taking action today: pick up some dog poop, talk to someone about stormwater, pull some invasive plants, give to your favorite environmental organization.  Kincey knew that all actions, big and small, can make a difference.  Join me in celebrating the memory of this amazing leader, mentor, and friend by taking action today!

Suzanne

Steward Spotlight: Katie Matta

Katie Matta, Class 10

Steward Candidate Thomas Marston (left) and Katie Matta (right) installed a rainbarrel on Marc Wirig’s home in Hillsmere.

Why did you become a Master Watershed Steward? 
I work for the Environmental Protection Agency, but most of my work is done on a computer. I was interested in doing hands-on environmental work that would benefit my community, especially the drainage creek in my backyard.

What was your capstone project?
It's Kitty Duvall Creek Buffer Planting Project. This little creek drains 142 acres of Hillsmere Shores community into Duvall Creek which opens to the South River. On October 13th the planting effort will take place - three conservation landscapes in three backyards and three buffer plantings on slopes and banks within 20 feet of the creek in three backyards. Two of the properties were identified as good candidates for rain cistern/barrels, which were installed September 13th with the help of a property owner and four other WSA volunteers.

How did you hear about WSA?
I moved back to Annapolis in November 2016 and did some internet searches on local environmental organizations.

Why is restoring the waterways important to you?
I grew up in Annapolis and learned about Chesapeake Bay issues at various environmental camps including one at Arlington Echo. When I was 16, I volunteered for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation at Meredith Creek, a place where I had gone marsh mucking and canoeing at summer camp. It's rewarding to come home and do work through WSA that is directly linked to Bay health.

Katie Matta and Ann Brown planting natives at the Class 10 project.

What was one of the most surprising things you learned during the certification course?
I was surprised with the number of restoration projects completed and in the pipeline by AA County and the South River Federation.

What was your favorite project you worked on after becoming a Master Watershed Steward?
I've never applied for a grant before and it's rewarding to gain the skills and confidence to do so. I applied for and received a South River Federation Stewardship grant for my capstone project.

What advice do you have for our Class 11 Steward Candidates?
If there are Stewards in your neighborhood, talk to them about your project ideas and get their input. If this is the first time you are getting involved in your community, get to know board members/officers/involved residents. They have experience and insight that may be useful as you finalize your project idea and seek community buy-in. Your classmates and other Stewards are a great resource - many have environmental or project experience beyond the WSA classroom and are willing and able to lend a hand. Don't be afraid to ask for help!

How do you plan to continue engaging the community in your environmental efforts?
I wrote an article for our community newsletter about rain barrels and I will continue to write short articles for our newsletter on various rainscaping topics. Several other Hillsmere Watershed Stewards have expressed a willingness to write articles as well. Maybe I will apply for another South River Federation grant if there is interest and financial support (you need matching funds) for another project. A longterm goal (dream?) is to make Kitty Duvall kayak/canoeable again. Through my project I found out that 30 years ago I could have put a kayak in my backyard and floated down to Duvall Creek. I would love to do that!

When you work full time and have young kids and move to a new area, it is not easy to meet other adults. My husband and I were able to attend the South River on the Half Shell and the GreenGive Kick-off Party this year and ran into Stewards and Hillsmere residents who I wouldn't have met if it wasn't for WSA. These friendships are just forming, but we are starting to feel more a part of our neighborhood and greater Annapolis community.

Kevin Green, Thomas Marston, Monica Maynard, Katie Matta and Marc Wirig install a rain barrel in Hillsmere.