Meadow

green plants with white flowers growing abundantly in a meadow surrounded by trees
A meadow located in Mallows Bay Park. Photo: McIntosh/NOAA

Meadows throughout Mallows Bay Park, managed by Charles County, contain a variety of grasses and wildflowers, such as broomsedge, bluestem, goldenrod, milkweed, asters, and fleabane. These plants provide cover, food, and nesting sites for songbirds, insects, and small mammals. Efforts to restore native plants in these meadows are underway, as they are critical to bees, butterflies, and other pollinators.

Labeled illustration of a freshwater wetland ecosystem that shows beavers with a dam and lodge, as well as surrounding wetland plants.
Illustration of ecosystem components for a meadow habitat. Image: Jing Graber/NOAA