Volunteer Highlights

The Byron Day celebration drew a large crowd of 39 Gilbert Byron admirers. After Jacques Baker gave a brief introduction to Byron’s life and guests toured the Gilbert Byron House, people shared their reminiscences as well as poems and photographs.  Jacque and Jean provided a birthday cake for this fourth annual Byron Day event—always held around July 12, Byron’s

birthdate in 1903. Great thanks to the Bakers for organizing the celebration and for providing the birthday treats.

Lavender cookies and ginger snaps, tea and lemonade: these were just a few of the offerings that guests enjoyed at July’s Tea in the Garden.  Thanks to those who prepared the treats as well as to those who prepared the nearby gardens.

Special appreciation, as well, to the Chesapeake Bay Herb Society volunteers who tend the Herb Garden weekly, and to Betsy Petit de Mange and Sue Ornsby who introduced the herbal plants to guests during the event.

Both a thanks and a call for more help:  Thanks to Mary Ann Ray and Cathie Liebl, Pickering Creek’s new brochures have been delivered to places in Easton and St. Michaels.  More help is needed!  We’d like to have them available in libraries, bed and breakfasts, local businesses, and other community gathering spots, in Oxford, Cambridge and Queenstown.  CAN YOU HELP?  Please give us a call.    

A special thank you goes to Erney Maher, our vendor coordinator for Harvest Hoedown, who has spent the last four summers finding new and interesting vendors for our annual fall open house.  He has passed the baton for Harvest Hoedown 2011 on October 9, 2011  to Pat Shehan and other volunteers who will continue his work. 

Last but not least, thank you to Joe Jelich, Ron Weber, Albert Moschetto, and Bill Barnes for helping repair our picnic tables!  Summer campers and visitors are already putting them to good use.

Pickering Creek Profile:  The Herb Garden

It’s 8:30 a.m. on Monday, July 22:  Seven CBHS-ers arrive prepared to brave the heat, for the garden is calling.  A week of unyielding temperatures and the herbs, mostly of Mediterranean origin, are sagging, undoubtedly relieved that the weekly attention they’ve come to expect has appeared.

Lou Russell, an energetic lover of herbs who had been a member of a similar group in Bethesda, Maryland, founded CBHS, the Chesapeake Bay Herb Society, in 2002.  Two years later, after making arrangements with Pickering Creek’s Director, Mark Scallion, the members took charge of Pickering Creek’s herb garden, overgrown and weedy, which stood along the lane at the Center. 

At the winter meeting, volunteer Peggy Hegwood handed out paper and pencils.  “Now everybody draw what you envision,” members were told.  Thus emerged the garden’s plan: the serpentine paths and surrounding beds—a maze intentionally designed to slow one’s pace through fragrant plantings.

The first spring’s work was especially hard.  Pathways were laid with meticulous care, using large ropes to guide their shape and maintain an even width.  The beds were raised and edged with bricks, compost worked into the soil, and small seedlings set in place.  The beginning of a garden that would bring delight!

Seven years later, the garden continues to flourish and please.  One Monday morning when volunteers went to the Tool Shed for hoes and rakes, they found an anonymous note from a weekend kayaker.  “This is the best herb garden I’ve ever seen,” it read.

When you visit, you will notice that the beds have names: Fragrance, Tea, Lemon, Basil, Lavender, Culinary, Shade, and Pizza.  The fourteen CBHS volunteers of the Pickering Creek Herb Garden Committee start the year by dividing the beds up among themselves, taking responsibility for the initial purchasing and planting.  After that, the care of the garden’s territory belongs to all, and the weekly work of watering, weeding, and trimming begins. 

Pollination is the work of bees and butterflies.  They hover over basil—eight varieties, fennel, scented geraniums, Greek oregano, hyssop, thyme, and so many more.  (Laminated lists of the plants are in the mailbox at the Garden, and copies are in the Office.)  Bunnies hide in this verdant paradise, often nibbling favorite herbs, and sometimes encouraged to move along by spray from a volunteer’s hose.

Architectural details at the Garden add welcoming interest.  In the late spring of this year, Jesse Stone, a member of Easton’s Scout Troop 532 built a pergola at the entrance (as his Eagle Project), replicating the one at the front of the neighboring Children’s Imagination Garden.  And a tall obelisk covered with the cheerful red flowers of a cypress vine stands along the opening path.

At October’s Hoedown on October 9th , CBHS volunteers cut snippets of remaining herbs and, upon request, place them in bags for visitors.  (There’s always the worry:  will the Tiger Swallowtails have devoured the Bronze Fennel?)  It’s a lovely time for a stroll along the pebbled paths, and a time to thank the Chesapeake Bay Herb Society volunteers for their dedicated work.

Coming Up in August

New Brochures!   Help spread the word! Let Samantha know if you can help with the distribution of Pickering Creek’s new brochures in Oxford, Cambridge, and Queenstown.

A Call for Trail Checkers:  We are looking volunteers who enjoy walking our trails and keeping them at their best—removing small, protruding limbs, clearing paths, and reporting any major trail damage.  Weekly walks are best, with particular attention after storms.   Maintenance of particular trails can be shared.  The Espenhorsts will take on the Farm to Bay Trail every other week.  What about volunteering to take the odd weeks?  Mary Ann Ray has adopted the Wetland Overlook Trail.  A checker is also needed for the Children’s Trail.  Please lend a hand!

Pickering Garden Days:  In addition to the Herb Garden, well tended by the Chesapeake Bay Herb Society, there are gardens in many places at Pickering Creek—at the driveway entrance, by the bird-feeders behind the office, the Songbird garden, the Byron Garden, and, the largest one of all, the Children’s Garden.  All of them need the attention of loving hands.  Join Samantha on Wednesday afternoons in August, from 5:30pm to 7pm to weed, water, and trim.   Come one Wednesday or come all!

Volunteer Appreciation

Volunteers are welcome at no charge to August’s public program: Starry, Starry night.  Just let Samantha know ahead of time that you are able to attend.

Starry, Starry Night August 27, 7-9pm

Explore the night sky when the moon is almost new and stars shine bright. Go stargazing and learn more about the night sky though stories during this relaxed evening program.  $5 per person.Register online at www.pickeringcreek.org or contact Samantha Pitts at 410-822-4903x26.

Save the Date

National Public Lands Day is coming up on Saturday September 24. Plan on joining the Pickering Creek Staff for a day of stewardship at the Center.

For information and registration for all events, contact Samantha Pitts, Volunteer Coordinator.  Email:  spitts@audubon.org, or phone (410) 822-4309 x26.