In observance of Earth Day and to promote the campaign Green the Grounds.org, here's my report about a green governor's mansion landscape in my own state, Maryland.
Back in 2004 a Maryland Master Gardener, eager to promote landscaping practices that protect our beloved Chesapeake Bay, wrote to Joseph Altemus, horticulturist at the governor's mansion in Annapolis, to inquire about the landscaping practices there. The upshot was a visit to the grounds by Master Gardeners of Howard and Anne Arundel Counties to see how the landscape scored using Maryland's excellent BayWise certification and turns out, it scored 68 points – far more than the 30 needed to be certified as BayWise. We're talking double! Kudos to the governor's horticulturist for his good stewardship. In fact, we'd love to hear from him to learn more about this success story.
A recent interview with Georgia Eacker, Howard County Master Gardener Coordinator, revealed that five years later the landscape still looks great and still proudly displays the "Bay-Wise-Certified" sign. She told me she has a photo of then-Governor Bob Ehrlich and horticulturist Altemus, both beaming with the Bay-Wise sign, and we'd love to get a copy to display here on Green the Grounds.
This Just in – a Veg Garden Next
From a press release of April 21, 2009: First Lady Katie O’Malley will celebrate National Gardening Month and Maryland Grow it Eat it Month by planting a food garden at Government House. First Lady O’Malley will be joined by beginner gardeners who will learn basic techniques of gardening from
First Lady O’Malley has partnered with
Maryland will be one of the first states, if not the first state in the nation, to have a backyard food garden at the Governor’s home. The vegetable garden will set a realistic example of what
More about Bay-Wise Landscaping
Here's a brief overview, and here's an even briefer one:
- Fertilize wisely
- Water efficiently
- Mow properly
- Control stormwater runoff
- Mulch appropriately
- Recycle yard waste
- Use Integrated Pest Management
- Plant wisely (with plants suited to your site)
- Encourage wildlife
- Protect the waterfront
They DO seem to have all the bases covered. Great program!
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Susan,
It’s heartening to hear that Maryland’s governor is leading by example and hopefully inspiring Maryland residents to green their own gardens and grow some of their own food.
I live in CT and I can’t say the same about our governor. In a nod to Green The Grounds and Earth Day, I wrote a blog post about simple steps my governor can take to make the grounds of her Residence sustainable.
Thanks for raising awareness about Green the Grounds – let’s hope people start listening!
Wow, it’s a good thing that former Governor’s Schaefer’s significant other, Hilda Mae Snoops, had all those nasty trees chopped down on these grounds in the early ’90’s or there wouldn’t be enough sun for all those veggies today!!
What can I say, Master Gardener’s rock!
With massive budget cuts needed in California, we came perilously close to losing our county’s cooperative extension office last month, which oversees 4H and other ag programs in addition to MGs. It’s still barely hanging by a thread. Disappointing to know that just when the general public and city and state governments are finally beginning to embrace sustainability, a program basaed on volunteerism which is only a tiny part of the overall county budget would be considered for the chopping block.
That’s pretty cool that the first lady is pitching in like that., and even better that the Governor’s mansion is showing leadership by becoming Bay-Wise. Most excellent.
Ginny, I’m so glad someone remembers Hilda Mae. Maryland seems like such an anonymous, quiet, boring little state. When people from outside this area hear “Maryland” they usually think crabs. But we Marylanders are pretty progressive….had a gov who had a live-in companion who he never married. We’re hip!