NativeSCAPE Published by the Georgia Native Plant Society

April 2012

Volume XVIII, Number 2

President’s Message 2

Plant Rescue News 9

Chapter News 18

Upcoming GNPS Events 19

Membership Renewal 20

Newsletter Editor

Ellen Honeycutt

Newsletter staff: Sharon Parry and Pat Smith, Proofreaders NativeSCAPE is published quarterly by the Georgia Native Plant Society. A subscription is included with membership in the

GNPS.

Copyright 2012 by the Georgia Native Plant Society. All rights reserved. Articles may not be reprinted without permission of the

author.

Volunteering at Mill Creek Nature Center By Hank Ohme Page 3

Hank tells us a bit about his volunteer work at Mill Creek Nature Center.

Hydrangea quercifolia

Plant Focus: Spiderwort (Tradescantia spp.) By Lillian Huffman Page 6

Beautiful blue flowers worthy of consideration.

GNPS 2012 Survey Results Page 14

By Ron Smith

Results of the 2012 Member Survey

Heritage Park By Price Crafts Page 11

Meet some of the regulars at this restoration project.

Upcoming Plant Sale Page 17 By Sheri George

Our annual Plant Sale is fast approaching—April 14th!

Website Updates Page 15

By Mike Strickland

Create a login to take advantage of new features

US Forest Service research used in new, invasive-plant

software Page 16

2

This message from the GNPS president comes to you at our busiest time of

year – the spring! Seeing my garden come back to life after the dead of

winter is both satisfying and inspiring. Now that I know which plants finally

pushed through the leaf cover, I’m excited all over again about gardening

with native plants and about my role as your GNPS president for 2012.

Many of us joined GNPS originally to learn from and participate in the many

programs GNPS has to offer. Our predecessors, trailblazers that they were

back in 1994, made a great start for us; we sure have grown from the

original 35 members back then to the over 800 members today. It is now

our responsibility to keep the momentum going. GNPS cannot continue to

provide the wonderful programs and events without the help of its

dedicated membership, so my message to you today includes a request for

your help.

This volunteer based society desperately needs all of you! Some of our

members are already pouring hours and hours of their time and energy into

programs and events all year round, but our volunteer base must grow for

us to be able to sustain our society and this falls fairly and squarely on your

plate today! There are so many ways that you can give just a few hours of

your time and make a change. Thankfully the big jobs are taken - the GNPS

board seats are filled and most of the committees have chairs - but there

are oh so many other tasks to be done.

GNPS constantly offers many amazing opportunities for you to become

involved. Since it’s a fact that most of us learn more from actual hands on

experience, I highly recommend that you volunteer to help with the plant

sale. The upcoming plant sale on April 14 is the best way possible to

become familiar with native plants because you handle so many of them

and see their plant labels over and over again. The GNPS garden tour the

following day on April 15 will provide you with invaluable insight into how

you too can landscape with natives, show you vignettes of plants and allow

you to see mature shrubs and trees in private settings. If you volunteer to

man a shift, you will probably make a new friend or two as well.

Looking forward, I would like for 2012 to be a year for bringing GNPS

members together more. You can benefit from volunteering with the long

standing members of GNPS who have a lot of knowledge about Georgia

native plants. Attend a rescue or a work day so that you can gain valuable

native plant information to share with your friends! Your input can change

lives and truly help our native plants too, so step up and don’t be shy!

Make the effort to learn a little and give a little more in 2012.

President’s Message By Jacqueline McRae

NativeSCAPE April 2012 Georgia Native Plant Society

P.O. Box 422085

Atlanta, GA 30342-2085

www.gnps.org

770-343-6000

GNPS Board of Directors

President

Jacqueline McRae

Vice President

Charles Brown

Secretary

Kimberly Ray

Treasurer

Paula Reith

Members-at-Large:

Ron Smith

Susan Hanson

Keith Kaylor

Director of Communications

Ellen Honeycutt

Director of Conservation

Marcia Winchester

Director of Education

Julie Newell

Director of Membership

Jane Trentin

About your membership in the Georgia Native Plant Society

Your membership dues and

donations help support our mission which is:

To promote the stewardship and conservation of Georgia’s native

plants and their habitats -

By sponsoring meetings, workshops, an annual symposium, grants,

scholarships, the native plant rescue program, and this newsletter -

utilizing an all-volunteer staff of dedicated native plant enthusiasts. We look forward to and appreciate

your continued support. Membership renewal forms for 2012 can now be completed online or by

completing the form on the last page of this news letter.

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NativeSCAPE April 2012

Volunteering at Mill Creek Nature Center by Hank Ohme

I really have enjoyed being a member of the GNPS for a number of years. One of the things I like best is being able to share ideas and information with fellow members. I recently shared

some information with Ellen Honeycutt, and she asked me to share it with you too.

Besides being a member of the GNPS, I am also a member of the Georgia Wildlife Federation, an organization committed to conservation. The GWF owns and manages three properties in Georgia – the Alcovy Conservation Center in Covington, The Wharton Conservation Center in

Towns County, and Mill Creek Nature Center (MCNC) in Buford.

I have been a volunteer at the 88-acre Mill Creek Nature Center since 2004. It is a suburban green space situated between the Mall of Georgia and I-85. MCNC is teeming with flora and fauna and contains wetlands as well as uplands. The property at one time was a farm. When the Mall of Georgia was developed, the property was preserved as a wetland area and is protected by a conservation easement under the jurisdiction of the Georgia Piedmont Land

Trust (which I also volunteer for).

(Continued on next page)

Green tree frog (Hyla cinerea) - the official state

amphibian of Georgia

4

NativeSCAPE April 2012

Volunteering at Mill Creek Nature Center Continued from Previous Page

Over the years, a trail system has been developed with two bridges constructed to cross over Ivy Creek. A network of boardwalks makes it easier to traverse those trails, but they are not all

connected.

Eagle Scout projects have enhanced the property with the addition of picnic tables, an amphitheater, trash receptacles, a kiosk, wood duck boxes, and a bird blind. Other volunteers have added owl and bird houses and contributed to the beauty of the property by picking up

trash.

Many educational classes for birders, backpackers, and wilderness survival have been conducted as well. We conduct three events annually – Earth Day, National Trails Day, and

Rivers Alive.

One thing that is near and dear to all your hearts is the large presence of world class Chinese privet (Ligustrum sinense). We realize the harmful effects of this non-native, invasive species. We are routinely working on removing this pest little

by little. It is an enormous task!

Cephalanthus occidentalis , buttonbush

(Continued on next page)

Bignonia capreolata , crossvine

5

Volunteering at Mill Creek Nature Center Continued from Previous Page

NativeSCAPE April 2012

Each spring we delight in observing MCNC come to life with its beautiful flora. We have jack-in-the-pulpit, silver bells, wood sorrel, buttonbush, trout lilies, and other plants. We enjoy a variety

of trees, including river birch, sycamore, red maple, alder, black willows, ash, and oak.

We welcome you to come and visit us any day of the week from dawn to dusk. Our trails are for foot traffic only. For information, directions, or to make any comments concerning Mill Creek

Nature Center, please contact me at hrohme29@gmail.com.

You can also browse www.gwf.org or search for us on Facebook as “Georgia Wildlife Federation”.

All photos by Hank Ohme.

Arisaema triphyllum, Jack in the pulpit

Cardinal flower, Lobelia cardinalis

Possum

6

Spiderwort (Tradescantia spp.) By Lillian Huffman

NativeSCAPE April 2012

Years ago my mother gave me a clump of spiderwort that she found along the side of a road in

central Alabama. I have thoroughly enjoyed these friendly blue flowers ever since. They are

easy to grow – perhaps too easy; if you don’t dig out volunteer seedlings when they are young,

they will soon grow into big clumps that are hard to remove. My plants have blue flowers, but I

have also purchased interesting varieties of nursery plants with rosy violet or dark purple flowers.

Last summer I started walking at the Kennesaw Mountain Battlefield Park and noticed spiderwort

growing in profusion on Little Kennesaw Mountain. I knew that spiderworts are native plants, but

this was the first time I had seen them growing wild. My interest was piqued to learn more about

them.

Tradescantia are monocots and, like many monocots, they grow in clumps with long narrow

leaves. Bloom time begins in April and extends sporadically throughout the summer. The flower

stalks have clusters of flower buds at the top, but only a few open each morning. The 1-1/2” to

2” flowers are usually blue but can be purple, violet, and occasionally white. They have three

petals and showy yellow stamens. Up close they are strikingly beautiful. As with many of our

natives, we must slow down and get close to truly appreciate them. By noon, if the day is sunny,

the flowers wilt and shrivel to a fluid jelly; however new buds will open the following day.

Smooth spiderwort, Tradescantia ohiensis Lillian Huffman

(Continued on next page)

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Spiderwort (Tradescantia spp.) Continued from previous page

NativeSCAPE April 2012

I found conflicting accounts of the source of spiderwort’s common name. The Ladybird Johnson

Wildflower Center alludes that it got its name because the angular leaf arrangement suggested a

squatting spider, while Missouri’s Kemper Center offers that when the stems of spiderworts are

cut, a viscous stem secretion is released which becomes threadlike and silky upon hardening,

like a spider's web. The genus name, Tradescantia, honors John Tradescant, who served as the

gardener for King Charles I in the seventeenth century and brought spiderwort back from

explorations in America to the gardens of England.

In Georgia, we are likely to encounter three species of Tradescantia: T. hirsuticaulis, T.

virginiana, and T. ohiensis. The smallest of the three (12”-18”) is Tradescantia hirsuticaulis,

also called hairy spiderwort because of its hairy stems and leaves. It grows along rock outcrops

and is very drought tolerant: putting out its foliage during the winter, blooming early, and often

going dormant in the summer. Tradescantia virginiana, the Virginia spiderwort, grows 18”-24”

and has hairy pedicels (the stem that attaches each single flower to the inflorescence). This

helps to distinguish it from Tradescantia ohiensis (or smooth spiderwort) which is taller (2’-3’)

and has smooth leaves and stems with a waxy, glaucous coating.

However, to really identify spiderworts, you need to study them with a plant key like Weakley's

Flora of the Carolinas in

one hand and a hand lens

in the other. Even then,

since spiderworts

hybridize easily, it is hard

to tell what you have.

The commercial varieties

(Tradescantia x

andersoniana) are usually

crosses between T.

ohiensis, T. subaspera,

and T. virginiana and can

escape from gardens,

causing even more

confusion.

(Continued on next page)

Tradescantia ohiensis, smooth spiderwort growing abundantly on

Little Kennesaw Mountain in the middle of May . Photo by Lillian Huffman

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Spiderwort (Tradescantia spp.) Continued from previous page

NativeSCAPE April 2012

Spiderwort is a valuable wildlife plant. The Xerces Society lists spiderwort as a beneficial

pollinator plant, especially for bumble bees. I also learned that it is eaten by deer, rabbits, and

turtles; fortunately it is a vigorous plant and can take some grazing. I even found an “Eat the

Weeds” video showing how to sauté the stems in dry sherry, olive oil and soy sauce for human

consumption. The chef explained, “People say these stalks taste like asparagus or beans, but

the truth is they don’t. They taste like spiderwort. … It has its own green taste, mild, with a bit

of a crunch.”

Spiderworts are very adaptable to moist or dry ground and sun to part shade. Most keep a low

clump of evergreen leaves in the winter. I would, however, be a little cautious about planting

spiderwort in a garden bed, especially the larger smooth spiderwort, because of its tendency to

crowd out other plants and to flop if not staked. I do like spiderworts planted with shrubs that

can compete more effectively. When shrubs overgrow the spiderworts, the spiderwort will come

through the branches which will keep it from flopping over. I also have spiderworts planted

along a picket fence where I can easily tie them up. They would do well in a meadow situation

or on a difficult slope interplanted with native grasses.

Spiderworts add a delightful blue sparkle to the landscape. I hope that you will keep your eye

out for this flower in the wild and consider growing it in your yard.

White form of Tradescantia virginiana Ellen Honeycutt

9

Native Plant Rescue News By Lynn Almand

NativeSCAPE April 2012

Spring Rescues: So Many Plants...So Little Time

We are beginning spring's peak rescue season. The April schedule is on the website, and we've just finished the March rescues. Spring came early this year, and we'll be in a digging frenzy until the weather is hot and the soil dry and hard--and then we'll dig some more. I tell people all the time that plant rescues are addictive. Even when I'm heading up a hill at a rescue laden with what feels like 50 pound bags, telling myself I'm just too old for this, I know I'll be back at it again before my muscles have time to heal. Why do I keep punishing this old body this way? Because when I

think of what the plant's future is if I don't dig it...I just can't stand it! I also need to tell you that my love for plant rescues is not entirely altruistic because I just love seeing these plants in my garden. Did our symposium speakers tell us that's a good thing? Yes, they did. Creating wildlife habitats is what it is all about. Here's a great idea, although not my own: on every rescue, share at least one plant with a friend. You will inspire them to include more natives in their gardens and increase their plant biodiversity. What could be more fun than to share natives

and inspire others!

In the early, early cold spring days (actually winter, but I'm tired of that word) we are out in our gardens searching for the first sighting of our treasures: the first trout lily (Erythronium umbilicatum), the first bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis), the first everything! Have you noticed that those "firsts" have flower colors that wake the rest of the garden? Just look at the

trout lily pictures a good friend recently took in my garden. They are screaming yellow.

(Continued on next page)

Photo by Ron Wallace

Photo by Ron Wallace

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Native Plant Rescue News Continued from Previous Page

NativeSCAPE April 2012

The bloodroot's brilliant white blooms are like a light bulb against the brown of the woodland leaf cover. They came from rescues, our plant sales, or as gifts from my fellow GNPS rescue

friends.

I wish I could say I practice what I preach about smart rescuing and not digging too many plants, but that doesn't always happen. Just when I've said I'm not digging another plant, I find that one plant I can't leave behind. Do you do that too? I imagine the big work boot of the bulldozer operator stomping around it right before climbing into the machine and cutting its head off! Before you know it, I’ve scooped it up and added it to my stash--just another pound of dirt to

carry out, another treasure destined for a new life.

Sheri George and her merry plant sale committee are in the final stages of planning, potting, labeling, and doing all the other millions of tasks needed to put on the best native plant sale in the southeast (or possibly the world). Plants from our very generous donating nurseries are gathered, the Stone Mountain Propagation team is making their final plant preparations, plants are purchased from select nurseries, plants propagated from plant rescues are lovingly tended, and we hope you are working toward the same goal--caring for plants you've rescued and potted

for the sale.

This year, rescued plants will be marked with a red flag because we want to show the public how our plant rescue program is all about helping the environment. Saving the plants is only the first step. We can garden for wildlife in our own gardens and help others do the same by donating plants to the plant sale. Sterile habitats in backyard gardens can be replaced with plants rich in wildlife benefits. I hope you will participate in this sharing so we can create a sea

of red flags!

We can tell our plant sale customers, "We saved them just for you!"

Happy rescuing!

Remember, never dig native plants on public property, or on private property without the

permission of the owner, and ONLY if the plants will be lost to development. Join a GNPS rescue

instead and help us save the plants legally with other people who love native plants.

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NativeSCAPE April 2012

Heritage Park: Volunteers are worth their weight in gold By Price Crafts

Ah gold! In the early 1800s, European settlers' lust for it cost Native Americans their home in what is called "Heritage Park" today. Those driven out on "The Trail of Tears" knew the real gold in the Park was the gift of nature itself: sweeping hills, unclouded streams, clean sweet air, a forest of diverse native plants, and animals they cared for and relied upon to survive. Many who displaced them did not share their respect for the land. Forests were cleared, apex predators were eradicated, and non-native plants were introduced to America. Without natural checks and balances, non-natives such as English ivy (Hedera helix), Chinese privet (Ligustrum sinense), Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica), Asian wisteria (Wisteria sinensis and Wisteria floribunda), and kudzu (Pueraria montana) have driven out many native plants over the years. Fortunately, the gold is returning to Heritage Park in the form of a dedicated group who share the dream of a Park restored to its native heritage. Since 2001 they have removed tens of thousands of non-native, invasive plants and replaced them with those that God put there: native plants which sustain and are sustained by native insects, birds, other wildlife, and yes, even us. Ironically, many of the people restoring Heritage Park are not Georgia natives. Who are they? They are as varied as the plants and animals they protect. Some are in the work force, some are retired. One loves to read while another prefers sky-diving. Gardening novices and master gardeners work side by side. They are all GNPS members who put our mission statement into practice: "To promote the stewardship and conservation of Georgia's native plants and their habitats through education and with the involvement of individuals and organizations." Consider Sharon Petty, a long-time volunteer. Perhaps the Park is graced by her presence as a result of a childhood vacation to the Smokies. With a landscape so different than her native Oklahoma, the majestic mountains and vast green spaces left an indelible print on her mind. She admitted being hooked on Heritage Park after seeing its bounty of mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum) and other native plants. She passes on her concern for the Park by taking time to speak with the many children who frequent it. Still a traveler, Sharon is planning a trip to the Balkans, Montenegro and Budapest this year. Connie Ghosh, a speech therapist with Cobb county schools, provides strong leadership for the restoration of Heritage Park. She was instrumental in annihilating a new-found Park invasive, Perilla frutescens, from areas beyond the GNPS-sponsored section. Her highly detailed workday reports capture data such as what was in bloom and when, water levels, wildlife observations, and weather conditions. Trend analysis of the data will help in conserving Park resources. Connie's volunteer efforts are not confined to Heritage Park. She supports "Adopt-A-Stream" by monitoring water quality of the creek by her middle school and has initiated a habitat restoration program there to inspire the next generation of conservationists.

(Continued on next page)

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Heritage Park Continued from Previous Page

NativeSCAPE April 2012

Dave McDaniel, who lives near the Park, cares for the community as if it were his own backyard. In fact, the whole world may be Dave's backyard, as he is into so many worthwhile projects. Luckily for us, Heritage Park is one of them. He's an officer and active member of the Mableton Improvement Coalition, pursues grants for community improvement, and is the kind of neighbor everyone wants to have. His wife Mickie has delighted Park volunteers with delectable home-cooked dishes. When extra muscle is needed to transplant a tree or extricate a large privet, Dave is on it. His strength and sense of humor lighten the workload. In our fast-paced world, how often do you meet someone who will truly listen? Cynthia Patterson is one of those rare people who will. Her soft-spoken, gentle spirit is a soothing presence at our workdays. The gentleness vanishes when she attacks English ivy! A true environmentalist, Cynthia not only picks up bottles and cans tossed into the Park but recycles them too. She generously volunteers for the National Park Service as well. Her reasons for volunteering include her desire to improve a small section of the world, being outdoors, working with other volunteers, and learning about native plants. The world is a much better place with Cynthia in it. Angelic Angela Eanes out-runs the energizer bunny. She rescues people, plants, and animals. In the past year she took in a dog that had been mistreated. 'Sady' could not remain scared and fearful, with an owner like Angela. Heritage Park volunteers have watched Sady's progress from workday to workday, as Angela's kindness has helped Sady trust people again. Talk about one who takes a lemon and makes lemonade, Angela removed the non-native invasive Perilla frutescens from the Park and her property and then made tea with it! Despite her busy schedule, she somehow finds time to support the Park and testifies it's a de-stressing experience. Her workday photos and captions beautifully chronicle Park happenings. John Purcell with the Parks and Recreation department is a man given more to action than words. As busy as he is, particularly in view of the county's personnel reductions, John has been a faithful supporter of GNPS's efforts at Heritage Park. His easy-going demeanor contrasts with the havoc he wreaks on Chinese privet. He's never met a weed wrench, bobcat, or hacksaw he didn't like. It's an honor knowing John and having his support of the Park. Former GNPS President Ellen Honeycutt has contributed not only her knowledge of woody plants but also her quick-witted, unique takes on life to Heritage Park workdays. A skillful diplomat and impartial judge, she moderates discussions to achieve optimal outcomes with everybody feeling as though they 'won'. Her experience at the Park has enhanced her knowledge of wetland habitats. Behind those clear blue eyes lies much wisdom, and she readily shares it with trail-goers.

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Heritage Park Continued from Previous Page

NativeSCAPE April 2012

David Zaparanick, an expert on native and non-native plants and habitat restoration, is normally a patient man. His blood pressure will rise when there's talk of removing poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans). Whereas most people disdain it for its skin-irritating properties, David knows this native vine provides berries for birds and cover for wildlife. His thoughtful, analytical approach was demonstrated one day as he cleared privet from the little pond area. A rather lanky, unattractive limb on a northern oak (Quercus rubra) overhanging the pond seemed to invite its demise. Though unclear what purpose the limb served, David decided its unattractiveness did not merit its removal. Later, an Eastern phoebe, a member of the flycatcher family, was repeatedly observed perching on that limb before skimming the water for insects. Yet another volunteer is a former GNPS President and well-known by many GNPS members. She has led countless plant rescues, contributed innumerable plants and expertise to the GNPS Plant Sale, and is in all respects, a master gardener. Finding an exceptional native plant is as much fun for her as for those that find an unexpected $20 bill. Those who spend any time around her soon see her passion is not limited to native plants. A fabulous resource manager, Marcia Winchester really cares about people and animals too. Indeed, there is gold in them thar hills. Thank you and God bless you, Heritage Park volunteers! Editor’s note: The author of this piece is herself a dedicated volunteer at Heritage Park. Price Crafts lives near the Park and frequently offers up services such as plant storage at her house or quick visits to the Park to water newly planted things. She helps us identify the birds in the Park by both sight and sound. Her love of all things natural and her own artistic talents keep the billboards there festooned with animal drawings and whimsical games for young visitors. You can even find her artwork on our website as coloring pages for kids. Please visit the Heritage Park page on our website for pictures of our workdays.

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GNPS Membership Survey: Setting Our Course By Ron Smith

NativeSCAPE April 2012

At its December meeting the GNPS Board decided to hold a retreat to focus on long-term goals and organizational

planning. The Board recognized the importance of member input in this endeavor. Of particular interest was

understanding member priorities regarding mission, what motivates people to join and participate in GNPS, and how we

could more effectively meet the expectations of our membership. The Board surveyed members, and at its March retreat,

reviewed results from 296 respondents (out of 905 total members).

According to the respondents, GNPS priorities should focus on native plant education, rescuing/preserving native plants,

and propagating plants for resources. The members’ priorities seemed to align with the GNPS mission statement, “To

promote the stewardship and conservation of Georgia's native plants and their habitats through education and with the

involvement of individuals and organizations”.

The extent to which our members participate in activities is some indication of how well we’re doing. Four out of five

respondents participated in at least one activity in the past year. 48% attended a rescue – our most popular activity. Other

high-participation activities were the plant sale, the symposium, and attendance at bi-monthly meetings held at the Atlanta

Botanical Gardens (ABG). 60% supported having a second plant sale at another venue. 90 persons said they either

currently volunteer for GNPS, would like to, or would consider doing so.

When deciding whether to participate in an activity, location and subject matter stood out as most important. 54% said the

travel distance to GNPS meetings is too far. A number of persons said we need other chapters or meeting places. For

those considering whether to attend a meeting, the presentation topic is the key determinant. The most suggestions for a

specific speaker topic centered on landscape design using native plants. 66% of respondents would participate more if

GNPS offered additional workshops/field trips; however, they should be conveniently located. Top suggested learning

activities were plant identification/propagation, hikes, and nature area visits.

Considering our society is all-volunteer managed and operated, how well we’re doing is underwritten by our ability to attract

and involve more members. 63 members expressed interest in becoming volunteers, or in doing additional volunteer

assignments. 30 members would work to form new chapters. 46 said they would assist with a Stone Mountain plant sale.

For those interested respondents who provided their contact information, a Board representative will contact you. Since

the survey was confidential, we only have contact information for those respondents who entered their contact information

in a survey comments box. For those who did not provide contact information, please visit our website and select

“Volunteer” to communicate your interest in the existing opportunities presented, or send an email with your interests to

volunteer@gnps.org.

The GNPS newsletter (NativeSCAPE), website, Facebook page, and listserv are the media through which GNPS

communicates with members and the public. 81% of respondents preferred the electronic newsletter format over a mailed

copy at additional cost to members. 91% use the website. All website destinations experience significant usage, with

those related to plant identification/propagation and GNPS events being the most popular.

The Board ended its retreat committed to maintaining an ongoing planning process and to achieving three immediate

objectives; increase educational opportunities through workshops, field trips and garden designs, look at other options for

meeting venues and times, and ensure future meetings offer high value. In addition, the Board sees many possibilities for

expanding GNPS’s size, reach and services. However, our current leadership and management resources are straining to

maintain the status quo, let alone attain our vision of what could be. For instance, we imagine GNPS, in the near-future,

partnering with youth groups in educating teens and children about native plants. Our “youth initiative” is one of several

opportunities for qualified members to take a leadership role with GNPS by developing programs, spearheading initiatives,

or serving on the Board. If you believe your professional qualifications or leadership experience could contribute to GNPS,

and you want to make a difference, please let us know.

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GNPS Website Member Logins By Mike Strickland

NativeSCAPE April 2012

You may have noticed a new section on the navigation menu. This new section will allow GNPS

members to create a login that allows some special functionality on the website.

The setup process is fairly simple. Click the

Login link, enter the primary email address

associated with your membership, and click

register. You will receive an email with

further instructions. Follow those

instructions and you'll soon be logged in. If

you have difficulty, please drop me a line.

At present, a logged in member will have a

navigation menu link to the latest newsletter

(no more looking for that email with the URL

in it), and if you visit the PDF Newsletter

Index page, you'll be able to view all of the

newsletters we have scanned so far, in

addition to the ones available to everyone.

Also your membership and rescue forms will

be pre-filled with your information.

You can update your membership

information via the Account Settings link on

the navigation menu. You can find out when

your membership runs out, change your

chapter affiliation, change your mailing

address, phone number(s), email address(es)

and whether you want to receive the GNPS

listserv and electronic newsletter. On this

page, you can also set the navigation menu

to scroll with the page, like it used to do, if

it is too long for your screen.

You can also “opt in” to participate in a

directory—only your name and city will be

displayed. Other members can send you an

email and you can choose to respond or not.

Feel free to check out the settings page,

but only change your membership infor-

mation if it is incorrect, as an email will be

sent to the Database Manager, so GNPS has

a record of any changes made in the Mem-

bership Information section.

16

Press Release: US Forest Service research used in new, invasive-plant software iPhone application helps people identify harmful, nonnative plants

NativeSCAPE April 2012

U.S. Forest Service research and funding have led to the development of a free software application that will help people identify and control destructive invasive plants in Southern forests and grasslands. Development of the application is part of the Forest Service’s multi-faceted strategy to reduce the impact of nonnative species – animals, pathogens and plants. These foreign invaders deplete water supplies, poison wildlife and livestock, and damage property in urban and rural areas at a cost of about $138 billion annually. Cogongrass, nonnative privets, autumn olive and tallowtree are among the most common plants plaguing the South. “Invasive plants are one of the greatest threats to our forests and grasslands,” said Leslie Weldon, deputy chief for National Forest System. “They damage our environment and economy by destroying native trees and plants and limiting access to recreation areas. This new application provides an opportunity for more land owners, land managers and concerned citizens to join the fight in protecting our lands.” The Invasive Plants in Southern Forests: Identification and Management application is currently only compatible with Apple products – iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch – and available through iTunes. The software provides photos and information that allow users to identify the 56 nonnative plants and plant groups currently invading the forests of the 13 Southern states. Versions for other operating systems are being explored. A grant from the Southern Research Station funded the application, which was developed by the University of Georgia Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health. The software is based

on Southern Research Station field and management invasive plant guides.

Like the guides, the app divides invasive plants into trees, shrubs, vines, grasses, ferns and forbs and provides identification keys, photos and management recommendations. App users also get simple, on-the-spot options for treating invasive plants. Since their release, more than 200,000 copies of the Southern Research Station guides have been distributed. The plant app is expected to inform many more people about the impact of invasive plants and to get them involved in eradication efforts. Future versions of the application will include the ability to directly report new sightings of select species into the Georgia Center’s Early Detection and Distribution Mapping System, which provides a quick way to submit photos and report new sightings of invasive plants on the spot throughout the United States. Suggestions for improving the application can be emailed to the app’s creator, Chuck Bargeron, at cbargero@uga.edu or submitted to the iTunes Website. For more information on the threat of invasive species, go to the Forest Service’s Invasive

Species Program page at http://www.fs.fed.us/invasivespecies/

17

Annual Plant Sale

NativeSCAPE April 2012

Please refer to our website for current information on project workdays and times.

Thank you!

"Spring would not be spring without bird songs."

-- Francis M. Chapman

April would not be April without…

The Georgia Native Plant Society’s Annual Spring Plant Sale

McFarlane Nature Park

Marietta, GA 30067

Saturday, April 14, 2012

10 am – 2 pm

The GNPS Annual Spring Plant Sale cannot be successful without…

Volunteers and Plants

(Please go the GNPS Plant Sale Page and sign up to volunteer Friday and/or Saturday)

Set-up Day

Friday, April 13, 2012

Volunteer hours: 10 am until done

We will be unloading plants, placing plants into their appropriate areas, organizing

those areas, tidying up plants, watering plants, identifying and labeling plants,

placing plant description cards, setting up customer parking, setting up canopies.

Lunch and drinks will be provided

Sale Day

Volunteer hours: 9:30 am to 2:30 pm

Volunteers needed for Parking, Ticket Writers, Road Directors, Loaders, Cash-

iers, Holding Area, Sales, and “Whatever needs to be done.”

All Volunteers Will Receive:

2012 Plant of the Year (Bloodroot) Volunteer T-shirt

Fun, Education and Fellowship

Please sign up today to be a part of the Georgia Native Plant Society’s Annual Fundraiser!

"In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt."

-- Margaret Atwood

18

Chapter News By Flo Hayes, WGC Chapter President

NativeSCAPE April 2012

The West Ga. Chapter of GNPS is off and running for 2012. We have started a series on plant identification. This series, by Carol Hight, will focus on many plants in bloom or with special interest at the time of the meeting. The intent of the series is for folks to get out and see the plants in their native habitat or readily identify them when on rescues. Mike Strickland's

pictures are used on the power point presentations. Thank you Carol and Mike.

Mike and Gina Strickland invited WGC-GNPS to develop an area on their property for a nursery to maintain plants and “baby” those that may need TLC. These plants will be used at Buffalo Creek as well as for other projects or areas we are involved with such as Sweetwater State Park. Bob Barr, Frank Bennett, Carol Hight, Mike Strickland, Marc LaFountain and Flo Hayes met to clear off the cement pad and prepare the area to be used

for potting, labeling and keeping them. What a fun day we had.

We have a field trip to Birmingham Botanical Gardens planned on April 14 as well as our

public meetings to continue the identification series.

Our next scheduled public meeting is April 17 at 7.30 pm at the Ag. Center in Carrollton.

Come and join us!

Here some of the WGC members join a group of facilitators for

a special rescue to get plants for the restoration work at

Buffalo Creek.

Photo by Ken Gohring

19

Upcoming Events

NativeSCAPE April 2012

Saturday, April 14th, Annual Plant Sale—see page 17

Sunday, April 15th, Members-only Garden Tour—Three gardens this year, two in Smyrna and

one in Atlanta. Look for the detailed brochure to be emailed to you by April 6th.

Sunday, May 6th, Ninth Annual Field Trip to Len Foote Hike Inn - Ten rooms have been

reserved for GNPS members. Rooms are spare with only an upper and lower bunk and a few

shelves and hooks for storing belongings. There is a community bathhouse with showers, sinks

and composting toilets. Linens and towels are provided as are soap and shampoo. Breakfast and

dinner are served family style, and everyone is encouraged to leave no waste. The Hike Inn

prides itself as being a model for environmentally conscious living. You will be given a tour

before dinner and time to relax or play games in the sunroom during your stay. Our own Julie

Newell will be our after dinner speaker giving us ideas for making a difference for the

environment by "thinking like a bee."

The best part of the field trip is hiking in on the Hike Inn trail and viewing the many wildflowers

that will be in bloom in early May. In fact, the trip is timed to coincide with the peak bloom

time of the pink ladyslipper (Cypripedium acaule). Mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum) should

also be in bloom on the Approach Trail, an alternate return route from the Hike Inn. For

registration, call 1 (800) 581-8032 or go to reservations@hike-inn.com. Room rates are the same

as last year, $100.05 for a single person in a room or $146.05 for two people in a room. For

further information on the Hike Inn and how to plan for your trip, go to www.hike-inn.com.

Tuesday, May 8th, May Meeting: Georgia Wild Gardens - Hugh Nourse and Carol Nourse. This

program will show the beauty of plant habitats throughout the State with close up views of many

wildflowers in those habitats. This work is the result of working on "Guide to the Natural

Communities of Georgia" for the last seven years. The authors are Leslie Edwards, Kay Kirkman,

and Jon Ambrose. The Nourses were the major photographers and trailed after the authors in

every corner of the State from St. Mary's in the Southeast to Chickamauga Battlefield in the

Northwest to Rabun Bald in the Northeast to Lake Seminole in the Southwest.

Hugh and Carol Nourse are botanical photographers volunteering at the State Botanical Garden

since 1996. Their books include "Wildflowers of Georgia," "The State Botanical Garden of

Georgia," and "Favorite Wildflower Walks in Georgia." They have provided images for the

National Forest web page "Celebrating Wildflowers," Linda Chafin's "Field Guide to the Rare

Plants of Georgia," and other magazines and books.

20

Georgia Native Plant Society Membership & Renewal

Memberships are effective for one calendar year, beginning January 1st.

Choose membership level: (Select one)

___Individual/Family ($20) ___Senior, 55 and older ($15)

___Full-Time Student ($15) ___Corporate/Commercial/Educational ($50)

___Lifetime Individual/Family ($250)

Affiliation:

___No Chapter Affiliation ___West Georgia Chapter

___Check here if in addition to my membership renewal, I have included ______ to be distributed as follows:

___Education ___Conservation/Propagation/Restoration

___Jeane Reeves Memorial Grants and ___Unrestricted Scholarship Program

Total Enclosed: ____________ Check # _______________

Trade Name (if applicable): _______________________________________________________________________

First Name: ______________________ Middle Initial: ____ Last Name: __________________________________

If Family, list additional names: ____________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________

Address: ________________________________________________________________________________________

Home Phone: ___________________________________ Work Phone: ____________________________________

Email Address: ___________________________________________________________________________________

(Email address is required if you wish to receive the Listserv and/or Electronic Newsletter.)

___ Check here if you prefer NOT to receive emails from our list server which contain information about meetings,

plant rescues, work parties and other items of interest to the membership.

The full-color newsletter will be sent electronically. If you require a print version, which will be black and white,

check here: ___

Please mail completed renewal form to the following address: GNPS, PO Box 422085, Atlanta, GA 30342-2085

Hydrangea quercifolia