Pollinator Gardens Trail

“If every homeowner converted just even one fifth or one quarter of their yard to [native] flowering plants that were pesticide free, that would have a huge impact on pollinator populations.”

Heather Holm biologist pollinator garden

Heather Holm

Biologist, Pollinator Conservationist, and Award-Winning Author

backyard pollinator garden

Take a road trip to visit a variety of pollinator-friendly, native plant gardens throughout scenic Harford County!

Visit the gardens and enjoy their beauty and tranquility.

Learn from our webpages about the importance of pollinators and ways to increase the number of pollinator habitats and pathways that help support bees, birds, caterpillars, butterflies, moths, and other insects.

Bring your “Sprouts” – see the materials for kids to learn about pollinators in the “Sprouts” section.

Pollinator Garden Harford County Maryland
Photograph by Marlene Stamm

Want to list your garden on the trail?

If you have a pollinator garden in a publicly-accessible location in Harford County, we’d like to invite you to apply to become a stop on the Pollinator Gardens Trail. This is a great outreach opportunity for businesses, government agencies, schools and civic institutions. Learn more and apply by following the link below.

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View a Map of the Pollinator Gardens Trail

See the locations of all of the Pollinator Gardens Trail stops throughout Harford County. Online and print (PDF) maps are available.

University of Maryland Extension Master Gardeners Pollinators

Harford County Extension Office Native Border Garden

Address

3525 Conowingo Rd
Street, MD 21154

website

Description

The Harford County Extension Native Border Garden has been a partnership with the Agriculture and Natural Resources (AGNR) Healthy Watersheds; Family & Consumer Sciences and Nutrition Educator Jennifer Dixon Cravens; 4-H Youth Educator Marylisa Schaedel; and Harford County Master Gardeners. 

The flower bed serves a dual purpose: the decorative border provides curb appeal for the Harford County Agriculture Center entrance and the floral display accents the Barn Quilt artwork. 

In addition, this pavement border garden is a great example of what can be achieved when your soil conditions are hard clay and your exposure is full sun and south-facing (with the added challenge of radiant heat from the blacktop).   

Hours of Operation

Dawn to Dusk


Harford Glen Environmental Education Center Logo

Harford Glen Environmental Education Center (Harford County Public Schools)

Address

502 W Wheel Rd
Bel Air, MD 21015

website

Description

Harford Glen hosts a variety of native plants throughout the property. There are three main gardens that will be featured on this trail. The first garden is located in front of our Dining Hall, near the edible garden. The second garden surrounds the main pavilion and provides a myriad of native plants that feed a variety of pollinators. The third garden is located around the historic Mansion House. 

Hours of Operation

Mon-Sun 7am-7pm when Harford County Public Schools are NOT in session.

Parking

Parking is available in the lower lot by the pond and the upper lot behind the buildings.


City of Havre de Grace Maryland Logo

Havre de Grace Pollinator Garden, Moore Family Homestead Property

Address

319 Lafayette St
Havre de Grace, MD 21078

website

Description

The first class of Harford County’s Watershed Stewards Academy gave three lucky stewards a chance to establish a pollinator garden on property belonging to the City of Havre de Grace in the spring of 2018.

This garden on the land known as the Moore Family Homestead is public land to be designated as a park area. In addition to enjoying the garden, citizens of and visitors to Havre de Grace are encouraged to experience the other parks, museums, and beautiful ecological restoration features, just a short walk from the garden.

While some of the original plants turned out to be not well suited for the location of the garden, the current native plant species are now well-established in the area, providing food for pollinators and homes for insects during the winter months.

Hours of Operation

Dawn to Dusk

Parking

On-street parking or grass parking behind the Decoy Museum.


Maryland State Police Logo

Maryland State Police Bel Air Barracks

Address

1401 Belair Rd
Bel Air, MD 21014

website

Description

The Maryland State Police requested help from the Harford County Master Gardeners to make their Bel Air Barracks attractive to bees and butterflies, as well as improve the curb appeal of the campus.

In January 2022, Master Gardeners covered the grass to the left of the building entrance with layered cardboard and then covered the cardboard with compost to kill/smother the grass. Months later, the pollinator garden was installed with native plants donated by Master Gardeners.

In February 2023, this project was awarded a grant from the Chesapeake Bay Trust for conservation landscaping and to address storm water issues. Work continues at this location.
We invite you to come visit and see the results of this awesome project!

Hours of Operation

Dawn to Dusk

Parking

Bear left on entering the parking lot and park in visitor spaces near the front entrance.


Susquehannock Wildlife Society Logo

Susquehannock Wildlife Society, Inc

Address

1725 Trappe Church Rd
Darlington, MD 21034

website

Description

Through a series of habitat restorations and unique native fruit tree orchards, Susquehannock Wildlife Center provides a special look at a large pollinator meadow, mini-meadows, native plant beds, water conservation elements, a stream, reforestation areas, a pond, wetlands, and trails, as well as local ecosystem exhibits showcased inside the center.

Hours of Operation

By appointment only. Limited hours once exhibits are completed.

Parking

Marked grassy area in front of building and paved driveway.


Unitarian Universalist Church Logo

Unitarian Universalists Fellowship of Harford County

Address

2515 Churchville Rd
Churchville, MD 21028

website

Description

Our garden was born in May 2017 when church members planted 600 plugs one foot apart to promote rapid coverage and eliminate the need for mulch.

A grant from the Harford County Department Watershed Protection and Restoration funded the garden as a demonstration program in Conservation Landscaping to show how plants can conserve water and reduce the need for mulch. The design plan was provided by Claudia West of Northcreek Nurseries in Pennsylvania.

Hours of Operation

Any time except Sunday mornings (and best to avoid 9am and 3pm on school days).

Parking

Parking is available in front of the church.


Harford County Maryland Government Logo

Eden Mill Nature Center Pollinator Garden

Address

1617 Eden Mill Rd
Pylesville, MD 21132

website

Description

Eden Mill Pollinator Gardens Consist of 8 gardens throughout the park. All have some pollinator plants, but the tier gardens adjacent to the Barn are the ones most dedicated to the cultivation of native pollinator plants.

Hours of Operation

The Nature Center and Grist Mill are open from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. The park is open Dawn to Dusk.

Parking

Parking is available on the lower lots immediately before the left turn onto Eden Mill Rd.


Harford County Maryland Government Logo

Anita C. Leight Estuary Center Pollinator Garden

Address

700 Otter Point Rd
Abingdon, MD 21009

website

Description

You will find this unique pollinator garden as you walk from the parking lot to the Estuary Center building (which houses exhibits on the Chesapeake Bay, live reptiles, an indoor turtle pond, and activities for children).  In addition to the Pollinator Garden Trail certification, this property is Bay-Wise certified.

The garden was first planted when the Estuary Center was built in 1996 and includes more mature native shrubs and trees than most. This provides a look at the mature size and appearance of native shrubs that will enhance a home garden. These also provide nectar sources for pollinators and host their caterpillars. This garden is unique to the Pollinator Gardens Trail (PGT) as few other PGT gardens feature so many native shrubs and trees. There are also native wildflowers present, with more being found in the adjacent stormwater bioretention garden. Hiking trails through the park are another wonderful addition to explore.

The Center partners include Harford County Parks and Recreation, Otter Point Creek Alliance, the Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, the Izaak Walton League of America, and the University of Maryland Master Gardeners.

Hours of Operation

The park is open Dawn to Dusk.

Parking

There is public parking near the garden.


DAR Conservation Committee Pollinator Garden

Address

Hays House Museum & Historical Society of Harford County

324 Kenmore Ave
Bel Air, MD 21014

website

Description

The Pollinator Garden located at the Hays House Museum is the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Conservation Committee project initiated by the Governor William Paca Chapter accepting the support of the State Regent to promote the importance of pollinators. Chapter members volunteer to maintain and improve this project. The Chapter accepted the care of the Herb Garden when a Historical Society volunteer retired from that task.  Please contact Sharon Gauss or Lizanne Smith with your interest and questions (sharongauss@comcast.net, lizweaves@gmail.com).

Hours of Operation

By appointment only for now  (contact lizweaves@gmail.com

Parking

At the Hays House Museum


Harford County Climate Action Regenerative Native Pollinator Garden

Address

Behind Rockfield Manor

501 Churchville Rd
Bel Air, MD 21014

website

Description

The HCCA designed and planted this native pollinator garden in 2021, using regenerative agricultural practices (which include no tilling, compost, leaf mulch, and no pesticides).  This garden is located at 501 E. Churchville Rd, Bel Air, MD otherwise known as Rockfield Manor.  Take the driveway down to the back and park at the end farthest from the barn.  Walk to the gravel path, just below the parking lot, and continue 25 yards heading away from the barn, the garden will be on your left.

Hours of Operation

Dawn to Dusk

Parking

Behind Rockfield Manor


Ladew Topiary Garden Pollinator Meadow

Address

3535 Jarrettsville Pike
Monkton, MD 21111

website

Description

During the 1990s, Ladew converted over six acres of lawn to wildflower meadow to provide wildlife habitat, create biodiversity and reduce carbon emissions by eliminating the need to mow this area weekly.  The wildflower meadow features numerous native, pollinator-friendly plants, including coneflower, black-eyed Susan, Joe Pye Weed, milkweed, goldenrod, aster and many more.  Due to its appeal to pollinators, especially butterflies, the meadow was the inspiration for the construction of Ladew’s native butterfly house in 2014, which is nestled within the meadow.  Several meandering paths are carved throughout the meadow, showcasing the native plants and pollinators, as well as bluebird boxes and their residents, other wildlife, and Ladew’s annual sculpture exhibits.  Maintaining a large space as a meadow can have its challenges, particularly with managing non-native, invasive species.  Our management methods include: mowing the whole space once a year, typically in March; mowing patches of invasives during the summer bloom time, before they go to seed; and conducting a prescribed burn every several years. We welcome and encourage visitors to explore this habitat for its beauty and educational value.

Hours of Operation

Six days/week, April – October, ~9am-4pm

An admission fee is required (please see this page for PGT visit information)

Parking

Large (free) parking lot, about a 1/10 of a mi walk from the Pollinator Meadow.


Harford County Maryland Government Logo

Churchville Recreation Center Rain Garden

Address

111 Glenville Rd
Churchville, MD 21028

website

Description

The Watershed Stewards Stewards Academy Class of 2020 constructed this Rain Garden at the Churchville Recreation Center to treat stormwater runoff from the roof of the adjacent pavilion. This is a beautiful garden and a great example of a rain garden for pollinator plants.  It is very self sustaining and well designed with all around access. An educational sign explains how the rain garden is designed to work.

Hours of Operation

Daylight hours, daily.

Parking

There is ample parking across the road from the recreation center and pavilion.


Harford County Maryland Government Logo

Mariner Point Park Rain Garden

Address

100 Kearney Dr
Joppa, MD 21085

website

Description

You will find this lovely rain garden on the left side of the Welcome Center (which is the blue-roofed building on your left as you enter Mariner Point Park).

The Mariner Point Park rain garden is an example of a best practice for mitigating roof runoff.  Placed close to a building and existing bed, the garden contains Maryland native, pollinator friendly plants.  The surrounding area includes lawn, trees, parking lots, and the Gunpowder River.  The garden was installed in the Spring 2022 by students of the Harford County Master Watershed Ambassador Program who continue to monitor and maintain it.

Hours of Operation

Daylight hours, daily.

Parking

Public parking adjacent to the Welcome Center.


Todd Park Food Forest Pollinator Garden

Address

121 Seneca Ave
Havre de Grace, MD 21078

website

Description

The Todd Park Food Forest Pollinator Garden was established in 2021 within the Todd Park Food Forest, a project of the Havre de Grace Green Team that was started in 2016.  Currently consisting of 30 fruit and nut trees, three blueberry permaculture beds, and the pollinator garden, the whole area is maintained by a group of Green Team volunteers known as the tree adopters.  The food produced by the trees and bushes is available for harvesting by anyone in the community, and helpful signs placed throughout the food forest depict the parts of the plant along with harvesting and other tips.  The pollinator garden, with native flowering plants blooming from spring to fall, is conveniently located next to the food forest plants so that it can attract insects that in turn pollinate the trees and bushes.

Hours of Operation

Daylight hours, daily.

Parking

On street parking available.


Harford County Maryland Government Logo

Tollgate Park Rain Garden

Address

704 North Tollgate Rd
Bel Air, MD 21014

website

Description

This beautiful rain garden is located near the soccer fields at Tollgate Park and contains 100% native plants that support pollinators and bloom at various times throughout the summer.  We hope that those attending sports events at this location will take the time to enjoy the beauty of this 10’x10’ pollinator habitat and learn about rain gardens!

The Class of 2018 Harford County Master Watershed Ambassador Program installed this rain garden to address runoff from the adjacent building. It is currently maintained by Watershed Ambassadors.

Hours of Operation

Daylight hours, daily.

Parking

There is a large parking lot next to the playing fields.


Tydings Memorial Park Pollinator Garden

Address

708 South Washington St
Havre de Grace, MD 21078

website

Description

The pollinator garden at Tydings Memorial Park was installed by the Havre de Grace Green Team in 2024 using a grant from the Chesapeake Bay Trust and Harford County with support from the City of Havre de Grace. Professional native plant landscapers and Green Team volunteers used natural materials including stone and wood and installed over 250 native plants representing 30 species. The garden provides pollinator habitat, stormwater management, and natural beauty to the park, and informs visitors with signage about the garden’s purpose and plant species. Visitors are encouraged also to visit the less formal pollinator meadow (not officially part of the Pollinator Gardens Trail) installed with the same grant located in the downtown area on St. John Street behind the water plant next to the shore. Both gardens are maintained by Green Team volunteers.

Hours of Operation

Daylight hours, daily.

Parking

Please park in the City Marina parking lot, next to Tydings Memorial Park.

Concord Point Lighthouse and Keeper’s House

Address

Concord St
Havre de Grace, MD 21078

website

Description

As a National Historic Site,  Concord Point Lighthouse and Keeper’s House is a natural fit for History and Horticulture.  We seek to present a look of historical importance with both the structures and the landscape. 

Hours of Operation

Daylight hours, daily.

Parking

Free street parking available.


Have Further Questions?

Visit our contact page for ways to reach out to us. We’re here to help you on your journey!

Pollinator bee

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