Welcome!
The Mill Creek Towne Garden Club in Derwood, Maryland was established in 1968 with the mission to stimulate and increase knowledge and interest in all facets of gardening among amateurs, establish an active community beautification program and to encourage civic beautification, and foster group activities for the benefit of the members and the community. The garden club also landscapes and maintains the Mill Creek Towne entrances and common areas.
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Mill Creek Towne Garden Club
The club meets once a month, at 7:30 pm on the 4th Tuesday of each month (except for May, July, November, and December).
You went to the garden center. You bought flowers to
help the bees. The tag said "Pollinator Friendly!"
You planted them. A bee visited.
The bee died.
Most plants sold at big-box garden centers and
nurseries are pre-treated with neonicotinoid
insecticides. These are systemic — they're absorbed
into every cell of the plant. The roots. The stems.
The leaves. The pollen. The nectar.
When a bee feeds on the nectar of a neonicotinoid-
treated flower, it ingests the insecticide. The effect
isn't always instant death. It's worse.
Neonicotinoids disrupt bee navigation. The bee can't
find its way back to the hive. It flies in circles
until it's exhausted. It dies alone, lost, in your
neighbor's yard.
A sub-lethal dose causes the colony to slowly
collapse. Workers forage less efficiently. The queen
lays fewer eggs. Larvae develop poorly. Over weeks,
the hive dies.
Your "pollinator-friendly" plant was pre-loaded with
the #1 chemical linked to pollinator collapse.
How to buy truly bee-safe plants:
Ask the garden center directly: "Were these treated
with neonicotinoids or systemic insecticides?"
Buy from local native plant nurseries — they rarely
use systemics.
Look for "neonicotinoid-free" labels — some nurseries
are now advertising this.
Grow from seed — guaranteed untreated.
After purchasing treated plants: wait 1 full growing
season before allowing pollinators to visit — the
chemicals can persist in the plant for 1-3 years.
The bee on the label was a marketing graphic.
The chemical inside the pot was the real product.
Ask before you buy. Or grow from seed.
#gardeningtipsandtricks
#Neonicotinoids #BeeSafe #PollinatorFriendly
#DidYouKnow #FakeBeeLabels #NativePlants #SaveBees
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Native Plant Solutions: Perennials That Work in Deer Territory
Wednesday, June 10 at 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.
Fee: $15 or $12 for FOBG members
Instructor: Shannon Currey, Izel Native Plants
Location: Zoom lecture (recording available to registrants)
When deer belly up to your garden buffet, it’s enormously frustrating. This session focuses on deer-resistant perennials and strategies to coexist in their presence. From phytochemicals to structural adaptations, many plants have evolved strategies to minimize browsing. No plant is completely off limits with the hungry hordes, but there are species that rarely make the menu. Join us for a look at native perennials that will give you beauty and ecological benefits even if you’re gardening in deer territory.
Register:
t.e2ma.net/click/x4125j/9dltig/dhq6fx
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Hiking Histories
Tuesday, June 9 | 11 am to 2 pm | All Ages | $12 |
Agricultural History Farm Park
18400 Muncaster Road
Redland Maryland 20855
Come explore the Farm Park’s unique trails while uncovering its rich past with Hiking Histories! This 2–3 hour guided hike takes participants along the Farm Park’s 5.5 miles of trails, blending outdoor exploration with engaging historical insights. As we hike through meadows, woodlands and historic landscapes, you’ll learn about the people, places and events that shaped the area – bringing local history to life in a vivid and memorable way. Perfect for curious hikers and history enthusiasts alike, Hiking Histories offers a refreshing mix of exercise, discovery and a deeper understanding of the land beneath your feet.
We’ll meet in front of the big red barn on the historic side of the Farm Park – just follow the gravel road up toward the barn and park in the grassy lot marked “Visitor Parking.” Be sure to dress for the weather, wear sturdy footwear, and bring water.
Register:
montgomeryparks.org/events/hiking-histories-hiking-histories-june/
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