Wicomico County

Our Vision:  University of Maryland is the preeminent Extension organization in the nation by providing the residents of Maryland with the highest quality of public service, distinguished educational programming, and cutting-edge research that addresses their needs.

Our Mission:  To enhance the quality of life for people and communities by disseminating unbiased, research-based, educational information.

Who we are... Extension is a national partnership between the U.S. Department of Agriculture, state land-grant universities, and county government. In Maryland, Extension comprises the off-campus educational arm of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources of the University of Maryland, College Park. As faculty members of the university, county Extension agents and educators teach residents research-based information concerning agriculture and natural resources, family and consumer sciences and 4-H youth development in their communities.

University of Maryland Extension has continued to provide science-based solutions for over 100 years and our goals have never wavered. We are passionate about building healthier families, homes, and communities, improving our agricultural production systems, instilling valuable life skills in our youth, and creating a sustainable environment and Chesapeake Bay.

The Wicomico County UME faculty and staff provide a broad range of outreach through workshops, seminars, classes, clinics, newsletters, consultations, and media efforts related to the following topics:   

  • 4H Youth

    4-H & Youth

    Khadidra Washington, PhD, 4-H Educator
    kwashin7@umd.edu
    301.226.7720

    Melissa Esley-Collins, 4-H Program Assistant
    mesleyco@umd.edu
    301.226.7719

  • Agriculture, Farming

    Agriculture

    Haley Sater, PhD, AG Educator
    hsater@umd.edu
    301.226.7718

  • Master Gardening

    Home Gardening

    Ginny Rosenkranz, Horticulture Educator & Master Gardener Coordinator
    rosnkrnz@umd.edu 
    301.226.7715

  • Food, Nutrition

    SNAP-ED

    Lauren Holfeld, SNAP-ED Educator
    lholfeld@umd.edu
    301.226.7716

  • Sliced squash, zucchini, tomatoes, and onion in an iron skillet.

    Health & Wellness

    Lynn Matava, FCS Educator
    lmatava@umd.edu 
    301.226.7713

Tradescantia virginiana  

Plant of the week... 

...or Spider lily is a clump forming native herbaceous perennial that thrives in full to part shade and moist, fertile, well drained soils.  The plants can grow from 1 ½ feet tall to 3 feet tall and spread out 1-1 ½ feet wide. The one-inch purple to blue 3 petaled flowers have 6 bright yellow stamen that glow against the dark blue and bloom for one day.  Clusters of buds occur at the top of the flower stems, opening a few buds each morning giving color to the garden from late May to early July.  When in bloom, the flowers attract many pollinators including bees, bumble bees and butterflies.   The dark green arching foliage can be up to a foot long and an inch wide with an entire margin and folded in the middle to form a grove. The stems of the spider lily have a viscous secretion when cut which becomes thread-like and silky when it hardens, looking like a spider’s web.   After flowering, trim off the stems to encourage more flowers later. The plants grown in the southern parts of Maryland may go dormant during the heat of summer, but the foliage will emerge in the autumn.  Spider lily plants are cold tolerant in USDA zones4-9 and are tolerant of wet soils and Black Walnut.  There are no serious diseases of insect pests, but wet weather in early spring can bring snails that feed on the foliage. These lovely flowering natives can be planted in woodland gardens, pollinator gardens and even rain gardens. 

Ginny Rosenkranz
  • Master Gardening
  • Master Gardening

Free Internet Training

Marylanders Online offers FREE internet training and support to help you learn to use the internet. Call the Marylanders Online Call Center to build your internet skills and online confidence at your own pace.

Sign up today. 1-866-206-8467. Monday-Friday, 9:00 am - 3:00 pm, marylandersonline@umd.edu.

If you wish to speak with the Lower Shore Tech Educator, contact Keri Grant, 240-758-4533; kgrant16@umd.edu.

Agriculture in Wicomico County