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February 2007 Vol. 26, No. 1 \ ISSN 1085-9632 4 c

TOSS r'- .; ; a* WsMffiulletin m A publication of the VIRGINIA NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY www.vnps.org Conserving wild flowers and wild places

Arehawkmoths the mysterious pollinators of the Jamestown lily? "Hawkmoth flowers are easy to predict but difficult visitors; and the anthers and stigmas project above the to document," noted botanist Verne Grant in his compre¬ floral tube in a position where a hovering hawkmoth, in¬ hensive review of hawkmoth pollination systems in North tent of sipping nectar, could easily pick up or deposit America ( Botanical Gazette 144: 439-449. 1983). Grant in¬ pollen grains. cluded famestown (atamasco) lilies (among other zephyr So, it is a pretty good bet that lamestown lilies are lily species) asexamples of plants that are probably hawk- pollinated by hawkmoths. Many hawkmoths are active moth-pollinated, but for which the actual pollination in the dim light of evening; indeed, some species are ac¬ mechanism remains undocumented. tive only at night. Thus,answering the simplest question, The white flowers of atamasco lily are visible in the whether or not hawkmoths actually visit atamasco flow¬ dim light of evening or on moon-lit nights, the times ers,is difficult. Almost a quarter century after Grant's pre¬ when hawkmoths are active. The nectar is produced in a diction, the pollinator of atamasco lily remains unknown. floral tube,available tohawkmoths because of their long- Hereis a case where a simple photograph of a hawkmoth coiled mouthparts, but not available to most other floral ( See Hawkmoths page 8 ) Where the water meets the land The lohn Clayton Chapter will be Friday,September14 at1p.m. and will I N S I D E co-hosting the2007VNPSAnnualMeet- end onSunday,September16. ing/Conference this year with the Vir- Speakers and fieldtrips aresched- SOS Program 2 ginia Institute of Marine Sci- uled for Friday afternoon,in- • Page ~ ence (VIMS). Chapter An- s' eluding a kayak trip nual MeetingCoordinator / VNPS \ down the Dragon Run led • VNPS Workshop Page 3 Leslie Herman and the Annual Meeting by Teta Kain, a talk and committeehavebeenbusy l Sept . 14-16 ) walkatJamestownIsland, •Crow's Nest Page 4 planningan exciting week- \ a presentation by Wesley end of lectures, workshops, Greene, Garden Historian with the fieldtrips,and toursbased on the theme Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, • Conservation Page 5 "Where the Water Meets the Land."The and some wonderful presentations of- conference, to be held at VIMS in the fered by VIMS.Theannual meetingwill • New VNPS Walks Page 6 city of Gloucester Point, will begin on (See Annuai Meeting page 2 ) Bulletin of the Virginia Native Plant Society From the president New year holds promise for the past, present, and future Dear members, and vegetation changes from 1607 to 2007. I hope you I'm hoping all of you are off to a good 2007. Late will join us there. We are working on some in-state New Year's wishes— I'm still practicing saying and field trips this spring to complement the theme. Some writing 2007, and I'm still stunned that it is past Y2K, information is available in this issue, but be sure and let alone seven years past. This issue features our new contact us if you want to know more. Wildflower of the Year, the Jamestown or atamasco lily. We are also trying to renew our involvement with Your brochure is enclosed, and there is an interesting the Kew Seeds of Success Program. We are working companion article in this issue. Our chapter's winter with our new partners at the North Carolina Botani¬ walk was terrific, and it is neat that there is so much cal Garden and hope that some of you will want to to see outdoors in any season. And always there is attend our training session with Andy Walker in something new. This year we concentrated on the de¬ March, and help us locate suitable plant populations tails of winter stems of native grasses, and learning for our work. how to tell them apart, as well as visiting old favor¬ By the time you read this, I imagine many chap¬ ites like seed box pods and the red bunches of smooth ters will have lots of spring activities planned. Enjoy sumac seeds. the anticipation during gray winter days. If you are The Annual Workshop is coming up on March 3 bored waiting for a bloom, write a letter. Our winter at the University of Richmond, and your brochure, I conservation article can provide ideas, and you can hope, has arrived. In this commemorative year, we are let our officials know what you would like to see hap¬ focusing on the history of Virginia plant explorations pen that will conserve your favorite plant. Sally Anderson, VNPS President •Annual Meeting Seeds of Success (Continued from page 1) take placeat6p.m.foUowed-by keynote— VNPS training,collecting to help global program , Wet¬ speakerGeneSilberhom author of LastAugustJohnClaytonChapterpresidentHelenHamilton,PresidentSallyAnder¬ land Plants of Virginia and Common Plants son, and South Hampton Roads Chapter member Linda Wilcox attended a training of the Mid-Atlantic Coast, A Field Guide. session at Mt.Cuba Center near Wilmington, Delaware, for theSeeds of Success (SOS) Saturday isfilled withspeakers,includ¬ Programunder theMillenniumSeed Bank Project (MSBP),aglobalconservationinitiative ing Carol Heiser who is the Habitat conceived,developed,andmanaged by theSeed ConservationDepartmentattheRoyal Education Coordinator for the Virginia BotanicGardens,inKew,England.Thisisa renewedeffortfora projectthatbeganin2004, Department of Game and Inland Fish¬ whenVNPSheldatrainingsessionwithleadersfromKewGardens.Mertensiavirginica, eries,and botanist Dr. Donna Ware,for¬ Baccharis hamilifolia, Juniperus virginiam, Jeffersonia diphyla, Elephantopus virginiana and merly of the College of William and Vemonia noveboracensis wereamongtheseedscollected andshipped. ' Mary Herbarium. Some of Saturday s SOSis theU.S.conservation and native plantseed collecting program.The pro¬ fieldtripsincludeanother tripdown the gram brings together a number of partners workingin different parts of thecountry Dragon, tours to the VIMS Teaching under the umbrella of the PlantConservation Alliance.The North Carolina Botanical Marsh and Maritime Forest,as well as Garden (NCBG) and New England Wild Flower Society are now full partners with a trip to the sinkhole ponds at Grafton Kew BotanicalGardens. Ponds Natural Area Preserve led by Since the 2004 training,seeds have been collected following a strict protocol for Rebecca Wilson who is the Chesapeake locating,obtainingland managers' permission,assessing viability of theseed,record¬ BayRegionSteward for theVirginia De¬ ing data,collectingherbariumspecimensandseed and thenquicklyprocessingand partment of Conservation and Recre¬ shipping the seed to England. Now,we will besendingour collections to NCBG for ation. Saturday evening will be cel¬ finalprocessingbefore delivery to Kew Gardens. Forspecificsabout the project go to: ebrated with a party and buffet in www.nps.gov/plants/sos.Currently 29 percent of U.S.flora is threatened,and na¬ Yorktown. Tours to Sassafras Farm, a tiveplantcommunitiesareatcontinued risk.Highqualityseed samplesare urgently nursery in Hayes, take place on Satur¬ needed for restoration purposes,a key focus for theSOSProgram. A list of 63species day and Sunday. The conference will hasbeen assigned to VNPStocollect. closeonSundaywith theboard meeting On February8theJohnClaytonChapter hosted aSeeds of SuccessWorkshopat the inthemorning,andmoregreatfieldtrips, YorkCountyLibraryinorder tointroduceJohnClaytonmembersandvisitorstotheproject some lasting half a day or longer. Look and explain seed collecting methods.The workshop wasled by chapter president Helen for more information in subsequent Hamilton and the SOS National Collections Data Manager, Mary Byrne, who brought newsletters and on the John Clayton trainingmaterialsfromtheBureauof LandManagementofficeinWashington,D.C. website (www.claytonvnps.org). ( See SOS, page 8) Page 2 :rr==February 2007 Bulletin of the Virginia Native Plant Society

* : N Cypress Bridge visit On New Year's Eve,a group from

¬ >•? the South Hampton Roads Chap ' : 4 , ter took afield trip to see the big \/ trees that were featured in the last Bulletin.Atotal of 52 people in 25 to 30 canoes and kayaks paddled five miles to visit the old growth forest at Cypress Bridge. Due to late summer and fall rains the water levels were much higher thanin the photos featured in the previous newsletter.

Lobstein walks and talks Historian to speak at VNPS Workshop Marion Lobstein will be leading Warren R. Hofstra, Stewart Bell northern Shenandoah Valley and the following wildflower walks: Great - . Professor of History at Shenandoah some of the changes in the landscape Falls Park, Va. at 10 a.m. 12:30 p.m on the third Sundays during the late win¬ University, Winchester, will speak at that resulted are explained. ter/spring months (March18,April15, the VNPS Annual Workshop on Although this is definitely a his¬ and May 18); and a Balls Bluff walk March 3. His talk is "A New book, not a plant or natural his¬ Strange tory April 15, 2:30-4:30 p.m. She will con¬ Land:Settlement and Environment in tory book,descriptions of the land are ductSmithsonianAssociates programs the Shenandoah Valley." The work¬ abundant. Locations and ideas about including:U.S. Botanic Garden on Feb. shop will take place at the University settlement are well illustrated with 8 and 10 and the U.S. NationalArbore¬ of Richmond's Gottwald Center for maps, and the writing is meant for a tum April 22 and 27. (www.resident- the Sciences. general audience. Inonesection, a sub¬ associates.org/rap for details). Marion In anticipation of his talk, I read sistencefarming settlement's variety of will be conducting several programs at Dr. Hofstra's 2004 book, The Planting resources is compared to both Native Blandy Experimental Farm in March of NewVirginia: Settlement and Landscape American settlement and bird habitat. and April. Contact Marion Lobstein at 703-536-7150,[email protected] in the Shenandoah Valley. The book is Hofstra quotes many travelers’ ac¬ or www.mblobstein.com for reserva¬ part of a series called Creating the counts in discussing the early land¬ tions. North American Landscape, a group scape,and has attempted to use these TheSouth Hampton Roads Chap¬ of books that considers human history and survey records to examine the re¬ ter is sponsoring Marion's program in the context of the natural environ¬ ports of grasslands or meadows in the "Dream Plants the Jamestown Settlers ment. Thisblending of history and ecol¬ Shenandoah Valley. From references to Found" at the Tidewater Flower and ogy may have begun with William early surveys and journals, to studies GardenShow February17-18.She will Cronon's Changes in the Land: Indians, of forest cover and composition using discuss native plants that early settlers Colonistsand the Ecology of New England trees mentioned in deed survey records came in contact with at Jamestown in 1607. The is to the from 1983, or perhaps that was just (white oaks predominate), to the place¬ chapter contributing of her ¬ when I became aware of the trend. ment and shape of settlers'farms,there Flora Virginia Project as hono rarium. Marion will give similar pre¬ Hofstra's book is a study of the is quite a bit of information on the en¬ sentations at the Virginia Academy of settlement and development of Win¬ vironment of the Valley. Awareness of Science meeting in May and at the Vir¬ chester and Frederick County,but his our environment and how it impacts ginia Association of Science Teachers early chapters work at describing how our lives has now become an integral annual meeting in November . conflicts among the various European part of the study of history. Spring Wildflowers of the Mid- states over their colonies in North ( NOTE: The book is published by Johns Hopkins Atlantic Region dvds are available University Press,and isnowavailableinhard cover America shaped the settlement of the from Marion for $20 with proceeds do¬ or paperback. The paperback is reasonably priced and Valley. The place of New Virginia in available at some bookstores and on the internet,or nated to the flora project. Payment to the settlement of Virginia follows. perhaps in yectcr heal library:) Marion Lobstein,1815 N. Roosevelt St., With the stage set, the history of the SdMy Anderson,VNPS President Arlington, VA 22205.

February 2007: Page 3 Bulletin of the Virginia Native Plant Society Crow's Nest Peninsula: A special place in peril On the evening of November 16, "Potomac Creek Heronry" owned by Virginia,but then the map is enlarged 2006, Nancy Barker introduced the the Northern Virginia Conservation and one sees how close this peninsula John Clayton Chapter to the urgent Trust is one of the largest great blue is to Fredericksburg to the southwest need to protect property in Stafford heron rookeries in the Chesapeake Bay and Washington to the north. The County important for its ecological watershed There are three nests of bald property is currently owned by value and historical significance. The eagles, an extensive list of migratory K&M Properties, which submitted Crow's Nest is a nearly 4,000-acre site and residentialbirds including the gray plans in 2004 and 2006 to develop on a peninsula in Stafford County, catbird and scarlet tanager, and the Crow's Nest - the most recent plan bounded by Accokeek Creek to the creek inhabitants include alewife, proposes 680 houses on approxi¬ north,Potomac Creek to thesouth (just striped bass, American eel, American mately one-acre lots. There is other as they feed into the Potomac River), shad, and short nose sturgeon. developed property nearby so this and by Brooke Road. Barker is the en¬ Gary Fleming, Virginia Division of is not a pristine area. However, many vironmental manager for a consulting NaturalHeritagesaid,"Overall,Crow's interested parties including residents; company in Williamsburg. Nest supports one of the finest— if not county,state,and federal officials;and Theecologicalvalue of Crow'sNest the finest— upland hardwood forests re¬ local and regional environmentalists was richlyillustrated by Barker withex¬ maining in the Virginia Coastal Plain." are eager to preserve Crow's Nest. quisite images of tidal wetlands, wood¬ The calcareous ravine forest habitat in Their ideas and activities as well as lands, native plants, and wildlife. Ac¬ the deep ravines of Crow's Nest penin¬ those of the development interests are cording to the Save the Crow's Nest sula is unique and includes the basic outlined in detail on the websites website (www.savecrowsnest.org),over oak-hickory forest,which has been des¬ such as www.savecrowsnest.org and 1,300 acres of wetlands including 700 ignated as globally imperiled. Tulip pop¬ www.nvct.org/crowsnest. If you are acres of freshwater tidal wetlands are lar, shagbark hickory, American beech sympathetic with their concerns found on Potomac and Accokeek and holly are among the species found for the quality of human life in Creeks surrounding the Crow's Nest in the mixed hardwood forest. Among Stafford County and the need for wild peninsula. These marshes account for the regionally or globally rare plants habitat, these organizations identify 60 percent of all marshes remaining in found atCrow'sNestareginseng ( Parnx several ways to show your support. Stafford County.SpeciessuchasAmerL quinquefolius ), river bulrush ( Scirpus Patricia Gray, John Clayton Chapter can black ducks, mallards,wood duck, fluviatilis ), southern wild rice (Zizania and blue-winged teal use the freshwa¬ aquatica L.),black snakeroot (Cimicifuga Green Spring Gardens ter tidal marshes and wooded swamps racemosa ), showy orchid (Galearis Three items on the Green Spring for nesting, migration, and wintering spectabilis ), and putty root orchid Gardens (Alexandria) Winter Lec¬ habitat.Alarge 70-acregreat blue heron ( Aplectrum hyemale). ture Series calendar might be of rookery along upper Potomac Creek One wonders what could threaten special interest to VNPSers. For fees, , and other information, supporting over 300 nesting pairs is this little jewel along a couple of quiet registration visit www.greenspring.org or call at Crow's Nest.The creeks in a currently protected long obscure corner of 703-642-5173. On Sunday, February 25, from 1:30-3 p.m., hear Doug Magazine features Flora Project story Tallamy, professor of entomology and wildlife ecology, present "A Plea The Flora of Virginia Project isfea¬ without a Flora of Virginia newer than for Native Plants." He talks of the di¬ tured in the February 2007issue of Vir¬ 1743, the our only flora ever, year minishing biodiversity as sprawl with an ar¬ authored , was ¬ ginia Living illuminating by John Clayton pub creeps into natural areas in the East ticle by Nancy Ross Hugo. (February lished in Europe. and sends a plea for planting native 2007). Nancy writes of the path fol¬ Nicky Staunton searched through plants to nourish local wildlife. On lowed by Chris Ludwig to be co-au¬ descriptions of all of theflorasfor North¬ Sunday, March 4 from 1:30 - 4 p.m., thor and editor of the new Flora.Lara east U. S., West Virginia, Maryland and Elizabeth Fortson Wells, professor of Gastinger's illustrations are featured evenGray'sbefore turning to the Flora of botany, will discuss "Early Folk Uses in the article along with information North Carolina where Bartonia vema was for Non-Native Plants in Northern " " " about her interestingbackground lead¬ identified.Themysteryplanthad notbeen Virginia. An Intentional Garden is the on , March 18, from ing to being the primary artist toillus¬ seen in Virginia since the botanist topic Sunday ' trate our 2011Virginia Flora. Frederick Pursh observed it in the1700s. 1:30 - 3 p.m. Green Spring Gardens former director, Don , Johnny Townsend (VNPS board The Flora of Virginia Project Board Humphrey shares his latest garden design, a member) is ¬ alsocited as hewas recently is grateful to Nancy Ross Hugofor get mixed border of tall perennials, a named asco-author with ChrisLudwig ting our story out to the 71,000 readers wildlife garden filled with fruit for and Alan Weakley for Virginia's own of Virginia Living and to Garland Pol¬ the birds, a vegetable garden for the Flora. Nancy includes an anecdote lard, editor, who chose to use Nancy's humans, a garden for the humming¬ about a layperson'sattempt to identify story of the current Flora of Virginia due birds, a berm with shrubs and shade a mystery plantobserved at FalseCape to be published in 2011. plants, and a patio. Page 4 February 2007 Bulletin of the Virginia Native Plant Society = Know the conservation score of your representatives By the time you read this, the 1. Did your delegate and senator 4. Was any legislation passed to state legislature will have met and, initiate or, at a minimum, actively protect citizens against Strategic ^ in all probability, concluded its support efforts to combat Lawsuits Against Public Participa¬ 2007 session. In December 2006, Virginia's contribution to global tion (SLAPP) suits? some influential members of the warming? In some Virginia locations, de¬ legislature were pushing for a 30- Unless the trend is reversed, velopers have sought to discourage day session - a short session that rising sea levels will submerge public involvement by filing suits would not bode well for many con¬ many of the Chesapeake Bay's his¬ against individuals who have spo¬ servation issues. Why? Because, in toric islands. Much of historic ken out against development pro¬ a shortened session there would be Jamestown will be underwater by posals. SLAPP suits penalize citi¬ a tendency to address high profile the year 2107. Virginia power com¬ zens who want to get involved, ex¬ issues like transportation and bud ¬ panies are looking to spend billions press their opinions publicly and get, while giving short shrift to vi¬ of dollars on coal-fired power exercise their right to free speech in tally important conservation issues plants, including one on the edge planning and development pro¬ related to wetlands protection, land of the Jefferson National Forest. cesses. Although these suits are an conservation,smart growth, global What position did your delegates abuse of the legal system, they can warming, forestry, and energy, to and senators take on the Allegh ¬ still have a chilling effect on con¬ name a few. eny/Dominion proposal for a new servation advocacy. We need legis¬ It is dangerous to try and pre¬ transmission corridor, low-emis¬ lation designed to protect citizens dict what any elected body will do sions vehicles for the state fleet and from SLAPP suits. but, when the dust settles, and your development of low-carbon renew¬ senators and delegates have re¬ able energy sources? 5. What, if anything, was done to turned home from Richmond, it curb land-disturbing forestry prac¬ might be a good idea to look at what 2. What did the legislature do to tices? What did the legislature do they have done and how they voted improve the quality of the air you to promote sustainable forest man¬ i on conservation related issues. In breathe? agement? What action, if any, was other w'ords, construct a scorecard The Shenandoah National taken on the wilderness bill? so that when you have the oppor¬ Park is the nation's third most pol¬ Our elected representatives tunity to influence or inform oth¬ luted national park, according to a should not hear our concerns, for the ers, you speak with knowledge of recent edition of Frommer's Virginia. first and only time, during or imme¬ what your state delegate or senator Smog, soot and mercury are seri¬ diately preceding the legislative ses¬ has done (or not done) to further ous threats to our health, but they sion - when their time is at a pre¬ the well being of Virginia native can be threats to flora and fauna mium. When you attend public hear¬ plants. A scorecard will help you as well. Did your representatives ings,speak with elected representa¬ track their conservation votes in the do anything during the 2007 ses¬ tives, write letters, e-mails and ar¬ last session and determine what sion to require older coal-fired ticles, and engage in other commu¬ they need to do to rectify things the power plants to meet higher pol¬ nity activities during 2007, keep your next time around. lution control standards? Did they scorecard in mind and plant the You will not see a bill intro¬ do anything to curb sources of air ¬ seeds of conservation wherever and duced in the 2007 legislative ses¬ borne mercury? whenever you can. If your senator sion that deals specifically and pri¬ and delegate did not adequately rep¬ marily with conservation of our 3. Was anything done during the resent your conservation views dur¬ native plant species in Virginia. 2007 session to promote wetlands ing the 2007 session, you should let But, if you believe things in nature protection? them know, now and throughout the are interrelated — the reliance of Did your representatives pro¬ rest of the year. one thing on another for mutual vide significant and reliable fund ¬ I would be remiss if I did not give well-being, propagation and sur¬ ing for land conservation? Virginia credit where credit is due. Some of the vival — you also recognize the im¬ is loosing important habitat at an information for items1-5 was drawn portance, for example, of air qual¬ alarming rate. If we are to reverse from the Virginia Conservation Brief¬ ity, global warming, land conserva¬ or slow down this trend, funding ing Book (2007), published by the Vir¬ tion, and wetlands protection to is needed to protect the Chesapeake ginia Conservation Network and Vir¬ the VNPS conservation mission. In Bay watershed, for local purchase ginia League of Conservation Voters the spring of 2007, here are some of development rights (PDR) pro¬ -Education Fund. If you would like to things to ask yourself about the grams, and for the Virginia Land 2007 legislative session: Conservation Foundation. ( See Conservation, page 7)

February 2007: Page 5 Bulletin of the Virginia Native Plant Society Takea walk on the wild side with new statewideVNPS trips Virginia abounds with scenic areas of tionally diverse flora,especially considering pants and long sleeves and bring work botanical richness. Take this opportu¬ it is in an urban area of the East Coast. gloves. After a lunch break, Cris Fleming nity to visit some of these stunning More than 1,400 different plants grow leads a walk down a somewhat steep trail River shore, and takes a places with some of our most know¬ within the Potomac Gorge including to the Potomac ledgeable trip leaders.We hope to make many rare species. more moderate return trail. Recently these trips yearlyevents,and to take our Difficult Run, May 5 (Saturday), The named a VNPS registry site, this mature members to some of our registry sites, Potomac Gorge, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. - Rod forest with interesting understory vege¬ Simmons, and to rocky and sandy preserves and parks. This year we are a leading regional ecologist tation gives way VNPS Registry co-chair, will lead this trip. shores along the river. Cris, a former offering field trips in York River State A major watershed of Fairfax County that VNPS board member and a botanist Park, the Potomac Gorge, and Shenan¬ flows into the Potomac below Great Falls, with many years ex-perience in the area, doah National Park. Trips vary in level Difficult Run is a rugged, wild place with hopes to show us few-flowered valerian of difficulty so please read descriptions waterfalls and massive rocky outcrops.S®-. ( Valeriana pauciflora ), Short's rockcress carefully. Space is limited and registra¬ pect to see a wide variety of spring wild- ( Arabis shortii),starry falseSolomon's-seal tion is required at least 10 days be¬ flowers,including spiderwort (Tradescantia ( Maianthemum stellatum), and field chick- fore the hike. There is a $10 fee per viginiana ), yellow pimpernel ( Taenidia weed (Cerastium arvense ssp. velutina ). hike with an extra $4 for the canoe integerrima) and bird's foot violet (Viola ^Shenandoah National Park, Hawksbill trip. The Turkey Run hike is free for pedata ). Melic grass ( Melica mutica ) and a Gap Area, June 9 (Saturday), 10 a.m. - workday participants. See registration number of sedges grow in this rich, rocky 3 p.m. - Sample some of the park's high- form below. woods. The walk continues to Mather elevation natural communities with Gary **April 28 (Saturday): York River State Gorge where there is a sweeping pan¬ Fleming,vegetation ecologist with the Vir¬ Park - The park has 2,250 acres of beautiful oramic view of the Potomac River. A po¬ ginia Department of Conservation and Rec¬ and diverse naturalareas includinga coastal tential extension of this walk is to continue reation, Division of Natural Heritage. This estuary.Two different hikes in the morning to Great Falls for a round trip distance of ap¬ hike, of moderate difficulty on steep and and an afternoon canoe trip. proximately five miles. rocky trails,leavesfrom the HawksbillGap , ( ), Taskinas Creek Trail Walk April 28 (Sat¬ Great Falls Park May 5 Saturday The parking lot (Milepost 45.6) and lasts four urday), York River State Park, 10 a.m- Potomac Gorge, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. - Marion to five hours. Natural communities to be noon - This will be an easy 1.5 mile-hike Lobstein, associate professor of biology at explored include boulderfield woodlands on the Taskinas Creek Trail. A variety of theManassasCampus of Northern Virginia with mountain ash and yellow birch, rich habitats from an upland mixed hardwood Community College,will lead aneasy walk cove forests, high-elevation seeps and starting from the visitor's center at Great greenstone barrens. Sturdy footware, pref¬ forest with chestnut oak and mountain ~ ~ laurel to a small brackish marsh along the Falls ParETHighligHts include water w!F erably hiking boots, require;!! creek will be explored. Timed to combine low ( Decodon verticillatus ), the rare few- Shenandoah National Park, Stony Man with canoe trip. flowered valerian ( Valeriana pauciflora ), Nature Trail, June 9 (Saturday). 10 a.m. - Powhatan Forks Trail/Majestic Oak Trail starry false Solomon's-seal ( Smilacina 3 p.m. - For a less challenging hike that Loop Hike, April 28 (Saturday), York River stellata) and the anglepod milkweed still offers an abundance of wildflowers State Park, 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m. -Donna Ware, ( Matelea obliqua). Views of Great Falls from and a stunning view of the Shenandoah Curator Emeritus of the Herbarium at the the bluffs. Valley, join Maryland Native Plant Society College of Williamand Mary,willlead a hike Turkey Run Invasive Workday May 6 board member Joe Metzger at Stony Man ( ), 10 a.m.-12:30 .m. and hike, Nature Trail to see of ferns of moderate difficulty throughvarious habi¬ Sunday p . Expect a variety tats in the watershed of a small York River 1:30-4 p.m. - Join Mary Travaglini of the and possibly white clintonia, (Clintonia Nature for an ¬ umbellulata) and shrub in flower. tributary. Communities to be explored in¬ Conservancy invasive re honeysuckle clude coastal plain bluffs, fringing and moval work party in the gorge. Wear long Meet in Stony Man trailhead parking area. pocket marshes, and a ravine-bottom swamp with large leatherwood ( Dirca palustris ) shrubs. Other highlights include Field Trip Registration the Majestic Oak, ericaceous shrubs in Park entrance fees are not included in the registration price. For all hikes, wear sturdy flower,and a viewfrom the bluffs of Purtan shoes or boots and be prepared for bugs and sun. Bring water and lunch or snacks. Bay, the location of Werowocomoco, Chief Please mail your registration with your field trip choice(s) to: Powhatan's capitol in 1607. VNPS FIELD TRIPS, 400 Blandy Farm Lane, Unit 2, Boyce VA 22620. Taskinas Creek Canoe Trip, April 28 Name Address (Saturday), York River State Park, 1-3 City State/Zip p.m. - Taskinas Creek and its surround ¬ Telephone email ing watershed total 525 acres and are des¬ Field trips ($10 person except canoe and Turkey Run) NOTE: To register for ignated a Chesapeake Bay National Es¬ / tuarine Research Reserve. Explore the the Turkey Run workday and free field trip on May 6, contact Shirley Gay 703- rich salt-marsh ecology of this creek with 920-1913 or [email protected]. Include phone number with any message. a park naturalist and VNPS board mem¬ ber Helen Hamilton. Taskinas Creek Trail, April 28 **May 5 (Saturday) and May 6 (Sunday): Taskinas Creek ($14),April 28, (please do not bring your own canoe) The Potomac Gorge - The many different Powhatan Forks/Majestic Oak Loop, April 28 habitats of the Potomac Gorge - upland for¬ ests, dry bedrock terraces, floodplain Difficult Run, May 5 Great Falls, May 5 woodlands and prairies, and ponds and Hawksbill Gap, June 9 StonyMan Nature Trail,June 9 marshes - are part of a region of excep¬ TOTAL Page 6 February 2007 Bulletin of the Virginia Native Plant Society ; Exhibit features VNPS Botany Chair and Flora Project artist W. John Hayden, Professor of Bi- February 27 at 7 p.m. His talk,"From drawing workshop entitled "Botanical 1 ology and Curator of the Herbarium, Flower to Flora:The Nuts and Bolts of Art and Illustration." The gallery talk University of Richmond and co-cura¬ Floristic Botany," will be followed by and drawing workshop are free, but tor of the exhibition, "Native Plants of a reception and preview of the her¬ participants need to register for the Virginia: Selections from the Univer¬ barium exhibit until 9 p.m. workshop at 804-287-6324. sity of Richmond Herbarium," willde¬ Friday,March 23,from 2 to 4 p.m. The Lora Robins Gallery of De¬ liver a lecture in conjunction with the artist Lara CallGastinger, botanical il¬ sign from Nature exhibit will run Lora Robins Gallery of Design from lustrator and artistfeatured in the ex¬ from February 28 to June 24. Gal¬ Nature exhibit opening on Tuesday, hibition,will presenta gallery talkand lery hours are Tuesday through Friday,11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Satur¬ Permaculture design course offered day and Sunday 1 to 5 p.m. The A 72-hour certificate course course provides tools to help design gallery is closed during spring in permaculture design, Sustain ¬ and develop an individual's urban or break (3/ 3 to 3/12) and Easter ability Strategies for the Blue Ridge, rural property in a sustainable man¬ weekend. For more information, willbepresented by the Association for ner, revitalize local communities, and call 804.289.8276 or visit http:/ / Regenerative Culture and the Blue help restore ecological balance. museums.richmond .edu /lrg / Ridge Permaculture Network over five Permaculture promotes land use sys¬ index.html. The exhibit will be weekendsat the Rockfish Valley Com¬ tems that work with natural rhythms open during the VNPS Annual munity Center (RVCC) in Nelson (See Permaculture, page 8) Workshop. Admission is free. County at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains (March 2-4, 16-18, March. 30-April 1, 13-15, and 27-29). This Conservation (Continued from page 5) Permaculture Design Course lays the • foundation for understanding the learn more about the issues referenced in this article, I encourage you to visit workings of natural systems and for www.vcnva.org and www.valcvef.org/citizensguide where you can study the designing human environments that issues in much greater detail.VNPSisan active member of the Virginia Conser¬ vation Network and I encourage you to take advantage of its resources.Simi¬ t produce food, shelter, and energy. It larly, the idea of keeping a political scorecard is not a new one. For example, the also provides participants with mod¬ Virginia League of Conservation Voters (VALCV) publishes a Virginia General els of community development and ex¬ Assembly Conservation Scorecard that is most helpful to the conservation ac¬ tension by which they can create net¬ works of support for themselves and tivist. Last year'sscorecard is available at the www.valcv.org site. empower others to do the same. The Leo Stoltz, VNPS Conservation Chair

See the address label for your membership expiration date VNPS Membership/Renewal Form The Bulletin Name(s) ISSN 1085-9632 Organization is published five times a year Address (Feb., March, June, August, Nov.) by City State Zip Phone E-mail Virginia Native Plant Society Individual $30 Student $15 Blandy Experimental Farm Family $40 Associate (organization-name individual 400 Blandy Farm Lane, Unit 2 Patron $50 as delegate above) $40 Boyce, VA 22620 Life $500 Sustaining $100 Enroll me as: Member at large or Member of _ Chapter (540)837-1600 ? [email protected] Gift membership Please send gift card in my name. www.vnps.org

Iwish tomakeanadditionalcontributionto _ _Chapter,Amount _ Sally Anderson, President _State office of VNPS, Amount _ Nancy Sorrells, Editor Do not exchange my name with other organizations Original materialcontained in the Bulletin may be Do not list me in a chapter directory reprinted,providedcreditisgiven toVNPSand the author,if named.Readersareinvited tosend letters, Make check payable to VNPS and mail to: newsitems,or originalarticlesfor theeditor'scon¬ sideration.Itemsshouldbetyped,ondiskinMicrosoft VNPS Membership Chair, Blandy Experimental Farm, 400 Blandy Farm Lane, Word ore-mailed to:Editor,3419ColdSpringsRd., Unit 2, Boyce, VA 22620 Greenville,VA24440,or [email protected] Membership dues are tax deductible in the amount they exceed $5. Contributions The deadline for the next issue is March 1. are tax deductible in accordance with IRS regulations. February 2007: Page 7 Bulletin of the Virginia Native Plant Society VNPS SOS Statewide •SOS •Encourage plant conservation (Continued from page 2) Workshop and throughout theworld byfacilitatingac¬ The aims of the Millennium Seed Bank cess to and transfer of seed conserva¬ Hands-on Training Projectare: tion technology. WHEN: March 24 full day event •Collect and conserve10 percent, over •Maintain and promote the public in¬ 10 a.m. 24,000 species,of theworld'sseed-bear¬ terest in plant conservation. WHERE: University of Richmond ingflora,principally from the dry lands, •Provide a world-class facility as a fo¬ with Andy Walker, NCBG SOS by 2010. cal resourcefor this activity. Coordinator •Carry out research to improve all as¬ Jan Newton, John Clayton Chapter CONTACT: Nicky Staunton at pectsof seed conservation. Nicky Staunton,VNPS 2nd VP nstaunton@earthlink . net or •Makeseeds available for research and 540-547-2813 for information or species reintroductioninto the wild. •Permaculture to register. (Continued from page 7) Former VNPScollectorsand those and patterns to create sustainable interested in collecting for Seeds of •Hawkmoths . cultivated ecosystems Participants Success will meet for review and up¬ (Continued from page 1) will learn how to design and build date by their SOS American South hovering over an atamasco lily, with gardens, homes, and neighborhoods Atlantic Coast coordinator, Andrew enough detail to permit identification that modellivingecosystems.The cost Walker, Herbarium Curator, Univer¬ of both the plant and the insect, could for the course is $895, and a few work sity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. make a real contribution to Virginia's trade positions are available. Early To deliver viable seeds efficiently natural history. Of course, complete registration is encouraged as space within the protocols, training is nec¬ documentation of hawkmoth pollina¬ is limited. Lunches and snacks will be essary. At this workshop we will tion would require more data, e.g., re¬ provided. Students will be responsible review the protocols including assess¬ covery of atamasco pollen from the for their own overnight accommoda¬ ing seed viability, collection methods bodies of floral visitors,comparison of tions off-site, as well as transportation and shipping. Theory and practice of seed set in visited flowers versusflow¬ toand from thesite.For a list of accom¬ seed banking will be covered. Then a ers bagged toexclude visitors, record¬ modationsclose to RVCC, go to http: / collection will be attempted to teach ing peak times of nectar production, /www.nelsoncounty.com/visit/lodg- participants how to take and record etc. But a good, clear, photograph ing. -For more information visit herbarium samples, how-^o ovnlunk , would be a greatstart.Surelysomeone www.permacultureactivist.net / the amount of seed available and how^ out there is up for the task of expand¬ DesignCourse/PcSyllabus.htm or con¬ to collect, record and process appro¬ ing the knowledge base of the VNPS tact Christine Gyovai at 434-982-6464 priate amounts of seed. Please join us 2007 Wildflower of the Year. or [email protected]. for this informative session. W. John Hayden, VNPS Botany Chair

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