Annapolis Calls 400 Volunteers for City Garden Event

Nearly 400 volunteers are expected to roll up their sleeves this spring to plant gardens across Annapolis, continuing a beloved tradition that's made the city bloom for years.

GreenScape 2026 kicks off Saturday, April 25, inviting residents to help beautify public spaces throughout the Maryland capital. Mayor Jared Littmann is calling on community members to join the annual volunteer effort that transforms parks, sidewalks, and common areas into colorful garden spaces.

The program makes it easy for anyone to participate. Annapolis provides all the supplies, including plants, mulch, trash bags, and gloves. Volunteers simply show up ready to dig in and help with planting and ongoing garden care throughout the season.

Last year's turnout proved just how much residents love getting their hands dirty for a good cause. The 2025 event saw volunteers plant 1,481 perennials, 54 trees and shrubs, and 241 herbs and vegetables in a single day.

Getting involved requires just one simple step: pre-registration. An organizational meeting is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. on March 4 at the Pip Moyer Recreation Center, where volunteers can learn more and place their plant orders.

Can't make the meeting? No problem. Residents can download the order form at annapolis.gov/GreenScape and email it to coordinator Marisa Wittlinger.

The Ripple Effect

Community garden projects like GreenScape do more than just make neighborhoods prettier. They bring neighbors together who might never otherwise meet, create welcoming spaces that encourage people to spend time outdoors, and give residents ownership over their shared environment.

The vegetables planted through the program often end up feeding local families, while the perennials and trees provide years of beauty and environmental benefits. Every flower bed maintained by volunteers saves the city resources that can go toward other community needs.

Programs like this also inspire similar efforts in surrounding areas, showing other municipalities how small investments in supplies can mobilize hundreds of willing hands.

This April, Annapolis will once again prove that when a city provides the tools and residents provide the energy, beautiful things grow.