Find Ferns - Saturday, May 14 - Hike Glendening Preserve in search of a variety of fern species. 9am-noon @ Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary, 1361 Wrighton Rd., Lothian. $3. rsvp: 410-741-9330; www.jugbay.org.

A Philosopher’s Global Lecture - Thursday, May 12 - Dr. Robert Ginsberg speaks on The Global Village in the Millennium — how globalization has influenced the economy, local businesses, human rights principles; and yet violence is still a problem. Sponsored by Maryland Humanities Council. Lunch served. 11:30am-1pm @ Smithsonian Environmental Research Ctr., Schmidt Conference Ctr., 47 Contees Wharf Rd., Edgewater. free; rsvp to So. Anne Arundel Chamber of Commerce: 410-867-3129.

Composting Demo - Wednesday, May 11 - Compost your own scraps and yard waste; also receive a free compost bin and goody bag, then tour native plant gardens. Also May 21. 6pm @ Quiet Waters Park Rd., Annapolis. $5 entrance fee: 410-263-5812.

Call for Early Morning Birds - Tuesday, May 10 - Learn to identify and view birds on a short hike. Bring field guide and binoculars. 8:15-11:15am @ Patuxent Research Refuge North Tract, Rt. 198 between the Baltimore-Washington Parkway and Rt. 32, Laurel; rsvp: 301-497-5887.

Swing Through the Treetops - Saturday, May 7 - Travel 100 feet into the air for a look over the treetops; then take boat rides or canoe trips, hike on nature trails, explore science labs open with demonstrations, jump on a hay ride, seine, crab, catch oysters; plus enjoy food and more at the Smithsonian Environmental Center Open House. Park at Central Middle School, Mayo Rd. and Rt. 214 in Edgewater; then hop the free shuttle. 9am-5pm @ Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, Edgewater. free: 443-482-2218; www.serc.si.edu.

Annapolis Bike-to-Work Rally - Friday, May 6 - Leave your car at home and ride into downtown Annapolis before work. Celebrate Bike 2 Work Day with refreshments, T-shirts and prizes. Sponsored by the Annapolis Regional Transportation Management Association 7-9am @ Annapolis City Dock. rsvp: 410-897-9340.

Butterfly program - Saturday, May 7 - Patuxent Research Refuge will hold a "Butterflies: Nature's Festival of Colors" program from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Powder Mill Road near Laurel for age 10 and older. A field guide, water and appropriate dress are recommended. 410-497-5887.

Beautiful Bugs - Wednesday, May 4 - Explore the world of bugs on this nature hike. Bring water and dress for the outdoors. Ages 5-7. 2-3:30pm @ Patuxent Research Refuge North Tract, Rt. 198 between the Baltimore-Washington Parkway and Rt. 32, Laurel; rsvp: 301-497-5887.

Monitoring the Bay's Band Aids

According to the Sunday Capital, a research team based out of the University of Maryland has found that groups performing restoration efforts on the Bay have done a poor job of monitoring the results of those restorations to see, what if any, improvements to the Bay have been produced by them. It's a serious finding, both for the health of the Bay, and the future of over $1 billion in funds spent annually across the nation on stream restoration projects.

Over 4,700 projects in the Chesapeake region were reviewed, but less than 6% of those projects had any sort of follow-up monitoring. Bay restoration guru, Keith Underwood concurred with the UMD researchers that more follow-up is required, and offered that, "The monitoring that's going on doesn't mean anything."

As someone who has taken part in a number of these projects, I certainly concur, but with a few caveats. First, most of these projects are the result of hard work by an almost completely volunteer workforce. The people planting trees, using biologs to help prevent erosion, and working to save shoreline are everyday citizens. They've chosen to give their time to help improve their creek/river/and the Bay, but chances are, they may well not have the long-term committment to follow-up monitoring these projects, or the skills to do so even if they did. Surely, it would add some additional costs to the operating expenses of the Foundations and Agencies that fund these projects, but it would seem to make sense for them to have at least one or two people on staff who were trained in water-quality monitoring who could examine the efficacy of these projects and then make that information publicly available.

23rd Annual Plant Sale - Wednesday, May 4 - Buy home-grown bedding and vegetable plants, hanging baskets and native wildflowers. Tawes State Office Building lobby, off Rowe Blvd., Annapolis: 410-260-8189.