Maryland snake identification

Question: Hoping that you can help us identify the snake found in Anne Arundel county, Maryland in Arnold. Thank you.

responder: Answered by the Home and Garden Information Center (HGIC), University of Maryland Extension. For timely gardening information and tips, subscribe to our Maryland Grows blog and quarterly newsletter. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Replied May 15, 2023, 10:58 AM EDT
response: This appears to be a Northern Watersnake, a very common species that occurs state-wide in wetter habitats. They are non-venomous but reportedly not shy about biting when handled or disturbed.  Miri

responder: The Question Asker Replied May 15, 2023, 11:30 AM EDT
response: thank you!

responder: The Question Asker Replied July 24, 2023, 8:13 AM EDT
response: My name is Edward and I live in the Annapolis area.   It’s spring, my roses start out, looking healthy and robust and beautiful!!   Sometime after that first bloom, everything goes downhill   My Roses end up looking wilted and unhealthy.    The leaves have spots and the whole plant looks sickly   Some of my neighbors have gigantic rose bushes that stay beautiful and full and look healthy all summer long   Any ideas how I could solve my issue and have more beautiful roses?   Thanks for your ideas and thoughts   I attach 3 photos of my rose bush.   Ed Wilson  Annapolis Maryland

responder: Answered by the Home and Garden Information Center (HGIC), University of Maryland Extension. For timely gardening information and tips, subscribe to our Maryland Grows blog and quarterly newsletter. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Replied July 26, 2023, 11:55 AM EDT
response: Hi Ed,  Roses can be difficult and tedious with their care to have healthy happy look shrubs full of blooms. A number of factors can play into their stressed appearance.  You can explore rose problems on out Rose Diagnostic page. It looks like we are seeing some symptoms of roseslug sawfly damage and maybe some rust on the leaves.  Management of symptoms for any leaf spots of fungal disease either rust symptoms or leafspot can start with careful watering, only watering the base and avoid splashing up on the leaves.  (https://extension.umd.edu/resource/watering-trees-and-shrubs ) Removing any fallen leaves through the season and after a frost. Trimming off any heavily diseased branches. Next spring if you want to try to stay on top of symptoms, you can apply a  labeled fungicides for rust  to slow disease development. Fungicide applications would have to be repeated (based on product label instructions) throughout the summer. It isn't curative for the fungus and has to be kept up through humid weather.  Fungicides may harm pollinators or other organisms, so use them with caution and do not spray open flowers.  For the sawfly damage, there are 3 different species that can affect roses in Maryland and depending on when the larvae emerge for the species, is when you can target their population. You can check under the leaves to see if you notice any of the worms present. They may have already matured to adult flies and in that case there isn't a treatment that should be used that won't harm other pollinators or beneficials that may be on the plant. The damage on the leaves won't heal so as new growth emerges, the old damaged leaves will fall off. If the infestation is light, pick off the larvae by hand and destroy them. They can be dropped into a container of soapy water to kill them. To control heavy infestations, use horticultural oil or spray with spinosad. Target the undersides of the leaves.Control is the same for all three species. After review treatments and management strategies, feel free to reach out with further questions.  Emily