Plants & Blooms
The plants at Annmarie are part of the experience, not just a backdrop for the art. Flowering trees and azaleas draw visitors in each spring, while summer’s garden beds provide food and shelter for butterflies, bees, and other wildlife. Take a look at what’s growing—and what might be living among it.
The Butterfly Garden
Located beside the Arts Building, the 4,800-square-foot Butterfly Garden features more than 35 species of pollinator plants. Established in 2009, it was transformed from a weedy patch into a refuge for native plants, insects, and other wildlife by Annmarie staff and volunteers Mary Oritt, Linda Crandall, and Liz Stoffel.
Visitors enjoy the garden’s color and activity, while Annmarie faculty and the Calvert County Master Gardeners use it as a teaching garden. Since its creation, Annmarie has added more native planting beds throughout the grounds to support pollinators.
Glenn Dale Azaleas
Annmarie’s Glenn Dale azaleas bring a burst of color to the Garden each spring. Developed by horticulturist B. Y. Morrison beginning in the 1930s, these hybrids were bred for varied blooms, cold hardiness, and an extended flowering season.
The first Glenn Dale azaleas were planted at Annmarie in 1997. Since then, young volunteers have helped plant more than 500 shrubs. Their flowers range from white and soft pink to vivid red and purple, sometimes with stripes, flecks, or contrasting edges. The collection typically puts on its strongest display in late April and early May, depending on the weather.
What’s Blooming When?
Bloom times change with the weather, but this guide offers a glimpse of what each season may bring.
| When | What to look for | Where to look |
|---|---|---|
| Early spring | Daffodils, hyacinths, and tulips | Garden beds throughout Annmarie |
| April | Flowering dogwood and Eastern redbud trees | Throughout the Garden |
| Late April–early May | Glenn Dale Azalea Collection | Front garden paths, near Arts Building |
| July–August | Butterfly Garden and giant hibiscus blooms | Beside and behind the Arts Building |
| July–September | Black-eyed Susans | Garden beds throughout Annmarie |
| Late October–November | Fall foliage | Throughout the Garden |
Small Wonders: Maryland Garden Visitors
The gardens offer more than flowers. On a warm day, pause near the blooms and see who has stopped by.
| When to look | What you might find | Where to look |
|---|---|---|
| Late spring through fall | Butterflies, including monarchs and swallowtails, visiting flowers for nectar | The Butterfly Garden and other flowering beds |
| Summer into early fall | Monarch eggs or striped monarch caterpillars | On the milkweed in front of the Arts Building |
| Spring through fall | Native bees and other pollinating insects |
Milkweed is a host plant for monarch caterpillars, so a few holes in its leaves may be a clue to look more closely. Please enjoy any eggs, caterpillars, or other garden visitors with your eyes and leave them undisturbed. Sightings vary with the season, weather, and what’s in bloom.
