ROCK HALL, MD — The Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge will celebrate the 25th anniversary of its Butterfly Garden on Saturday, September 19, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. The public event, themed “Celebrating 25 years of Butterfly Gardening: Honoring our Past, Cultivating the Present, and Planting Seeds for the Future,” features guided tours, educational activities, and hands-on community art projects.

The celebration takes place at the refuge’s Bayview Butterfly Trail area, located at 1730 Eastern Neck Road, Rock Hall, MD 21661.

Family-friendly educational booths will be located throughout the area, featuring the University of Maryland Department of Entomology’s Traveling Insect Zoo, Kent County Master Gardeners, and the Chestertown Environmental Committee exhibiting “A Slice of Life – It’s All About Monarchs.” Guided garden tours will highlight the history of the garden.

In addition, local plein air artists will be painting and providing free painting instruction for pre-registered youth ages 6 through 12. To register, visit http://www.friendsofeasternneck.org/.

The anniversary event is sponsored by the Fish and Wildlife Service Retirees Association. Admission to the refuge and all anniversary activities are free and open to all ages. For more information, email info@friendsofeasternneck.org.

About Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge:

Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge, managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and located on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, is a 2,285-acre island which supports a wide variety of habitats including brackish marsh, natural ponds, upland forest, and grasslands for a diversity of wildlife. The refuge holds the designation of Important Bird Area by the National Audubon Society.

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