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

    Melissa Esley-Collins, 4-H Program Assistant
    mesleyco@umd.edu
    410-749-6141 ext. 111

  • Agriculture, Farming

    Agriculture

    Haley Sater, AG Educator
    hsater@umd.edu
    410-749-6141 ext. 115

  • Master Gardening

    Home Gardening

    Ginny Rosenkranz, Horticulture Educator & Master Gardener Coordinator
    rosnkrnz@umd.edu 
    410-749-6141 ext. 106

  • Food, Nutrition

    SNAP-ED

    Lauren Holfeld, SNAP-ED Educator
    lholfeld@umd.edu
    410-749-6141 ext. 102

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

    Health & Wellness

    Lynn Matava, FCS Educator
    lmatava@umd.edu 
    410-749-6141 ext. 104

  • Chesapeake, Tidal, Wetlands

    Sea Grant

    Jennifer Dindinger, Watershed Restoration Specialist, Sea Grant Extension
    jdinding@umd.edu
    Office: 410.228.8800

Mertensia virginica

Plant of the week... is also called Virginia bluebells or Virginia cowslips, a lovely native herbaceous perennial that thrives in moist, rich, well-drained soils in part to full shade. They grow as clump forming erect plants 1 to 2 feet tall and 1 to 1 ½ feet wide, and depending on the site blooming from March to May, for about 3 weeks. Plants are cold tolerant in USDA zones 3-9, and have deep taproots that don’t like to be disturbed. The 2-8 inch foliage is attached alternately on the stems, emerging in a deep purple color, maturing into a green blue color with a smooth, oval shaped with wavey margins. The flower buds start out a soft pink that develop into a bright sky-blue trumpet shaped flower. Flowers grow to ¾ to 1 inch long and have a delicate sweet fragrance with 5 petals that fuse together to create the trumpet. They can self-seed and colonize, filling in areas around the trees.   In mid-summer the plant foliage dies to the ground and goes dormant, so they should be interplanted with other shade loving perennials like Trillium, Dicentra, ferns or shade loving annuals for summer color. While they are in bloom bumblebees, long tonged bees, butterflies, skippers, moths, flower flies, bee flies and hummingbirds will visit. Plants are resistant to rabbits, deer and Black Walnuts. There are no serious pests.

Ginny Rosenkranz

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