November 10, 2021

20th Anniversary of ‘Friends of Black Hill Nature Programs’ Group Will Be Celebrated Virtually on Monday, Nov. 15, With Renowned Entomologist Doug Tallamy

Black Hill Regional Park

The 20th anniversary of the “Friends of Black Hill Nature Programs” group at Black Hill Regional Park in Boyds will be celebrated with a virtual event from 6-8 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 15,  Montgomery Parks, part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, and The Friends of Black Hill Nature Programs, a nonprofit organization that supports environmental and community-based initiatives for Black Hill Nature Programs, will host the celebration, which will feature professor, entomologist and author Doug Tallamy as the guest speaker.

Black Hill Regional Park is located at 20930 Lake Ridge Drive in Boyds.

The event will include the group’s 2021 annual meeting and a silent auction. To view the silent auction items, click here.

This meeting is free to attend, but participants must pre-register to receive the meeting link. Register Here.

“To celebrate our 20th anniversary and our accomplishments over the years, we have the privilege of having renowned entomologist and well-known native plant ambassador Doug Tallamy as our guest speaker,” said Friends of Black Hill Nature Programs President Keri Pérez. “One of the things the Friends strive to do is educate and promote the importance of native plants, so having Tallamy speak is our way of expressing gratitude to all of our members and educating people about the importance of planting native.”

Professor Tallamy is the author of the best-selling books Nature’s Best Hope and The Nature of Oaks and Bringing Nature Home: How You Can Sustain Wildlife with Native Plants. He has been featured/interviewed by the New York Times, National Public Radio, Associated Press and various other outlets. He speaks nationwide about his concerns that the approach to gardening must change.

Professor Tallamy will share his insights on the critical importance of native plants. He advocates traditional approaches to gardening must change. He believes that home gardens can become forces in conservation as well as bridge the gaps between parks and preserves in providing habitat for native species.

"The Friends of Black Hill Nature Programs have worked tirelessly to ensure that the community has a thriving space to visit, learn and play in Black Hill Regional Park," said Black Hill Visitor Center Facility and Program Manager Jennifer Scully. “I am grateful for their advocacy and financial support in recent years to help us have a teacher-naturalist internship program, summer camp scholarships and our future SEED classroom complex.”