April 2019 Newsletter
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Blanche Dean Chapter April 2019 Alabama Wildflower Society April’s meeting topic: The History of Lane Park Our speaker will be Jason Kirby and his topic is the History of Lane Park (Birmingham, Alabama) – This presentation covers the History of Lane Park, a 200-acre park which becomes the future home of the Birmingham Zoo and the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. Come see how this park grew from its meager beginnings over the decades to what you see now! (20-30 minutes / PowerPoint presentation) Jason Kirby, I am a native of Gadsden, Alabama, and have lived in Birmingham most of my life. I attended the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) with a background in Biology. I have worked within the Jefferson County Public Library System for the past seventeen years. I currently work for the Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens (FOBBG), formally known as the Birmingham Botanical Society, Inc. for over eight years in the position of Archivist for The Library at Birmingham Botanical Gardens. I am the institutions first Archivist! I created the Archives and Rare Book Room in August 2008. In that position I am in charge of over 300 rare books, Japanese Tea Ceremony artifacts, scrapbooks, antique seed catalogs and garden manuals, plant fossils, botanical prints, photographs and other horticultural and botanical ephemera. I am currently President of the Society of Alabama Archivist (SALA), and a graduate of the Jefferson County Master Gardeners Association (JCMGA) in 2007 and a recent Harrison Fellow of the Historic Landscape Institute at Monticello in 2017. I was honored to receive a lifetime membership to the Garden Club of Alabama by the Edgewood Garden Club in 2015. I have a deep love for gardening, science and history and give numerous presentations to different garden clubs and plant societies across Jefferson County. Celebrate International Endangered Species Day on May 17, 2019 The 14th annual international Endangered Species Day will be celebrated on May 17, 2019, with special events and programs throughout the United States and in other countries planned to recognize conservation efforts aimed at helping imperiled plant and animal species. First held in 2006, Endangered Species Day emphasizes the importance of protecting our threatened, endangered and at-risk species; highlights success stories of species recovery; and demonstrates everyday actions people can take to protect our disappearing species and last remaining open spaces. On May 17 and throughout May, botanic gardens, arboreta, and other public garden areas will join wildlife refuges, zoos, aquariums, parks, schools, libraries, and museums to celebrate endangered Species Day. To find out more, go to Endangered Species Coalition. Thursday, March 28 from 6 p.m. to 7:30. Native Plant Talk at Ruffner Mtn. by Michelle Reynolds, who will speak on “Gardening for Wildlife” and preview the flowers, shrubs, trees and vines which will be for sale the following week. An excellent opportunity to learn blooming times, or sun and water requirements for the native plants being sold. SNACKS, DIPS, CRACKERS, ETC. ARE NEEDED FOR THIS EVENT! If you can bring something, please contact Linda Sherk at 205-405-1643 [email protected]. Blanche Dean Chapter is sponsoring the talk by providing refreshments for attendees. Ruffner Mtn. will provide drinks. Volunteers need to arrive by 5:30 to set up. Sunday, March 31 Wildflower and Native Plant hike at Turkey Creek. Meet us at 1:00 p.m. at the entrance to Turkey Creek Nature Preserve 3906 Turkey Creek Road, Pinson, AL 35126. In the past, we have seen Piedmont Azalea, Bluets, Dwarf Iris, Spiderwort, Cinnamon and Lady Fern, Fire Pink, Sassafras and Toothwort. Please bring a drink, walking stick and bug spray. Call Karen Hutchinson 205-218-6800 or Linda Sherk 205-415-1643 if you have questions. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED for the Ruffner MTN. / TURKEY CREEK Preserves Native Plant SALE & for the Party on Saturday! Saturday, April 6 (9-2 pm) Sunday, April 7 (1-4 pm) Help needed both days! You can select the hours you want to work. Contact Karen Hutchinson 205-218-6800 to volunteer. And, there’s more opportunities to volunteer; on Saturday, Blanche Dean will host a party for volunteers and workers. This event was a great hit with everyone last year and a lot of fun. We will set up at 2 p.m. If you would like to help, contact Linda Sherk at 205-415-1643 or [email protected]. Saturday, April 13 - Natural History Course at Samford ! “Spring Blooms and Birds” Course will be offered from 9-1 p.m., Room 238 by Dr. Ellen McLaughlin, Ret. Samford Biology Professor. To register, please contact Dr. McLaughlin at [email protected] 205-595-0806. Sunday April 28 – Wildflower hike at Ruffner Mtn. Nature Preserve Plan on a moderate 1.2 mile hike up the Quarry Trail and then a 1.8 mile hike on the Possum Loop Trail which goes around the outside of the Quarry. We should see Hoary Puccoon, Red Buckeye, Rue Anemone, False Rue Anemone, Liverwort, Wild Ginger, Oak Leaf Hydrangea, Trillium and much more. Please wear hiking boots or other appropriate footwear for rocky terrain. Bring walking sticks, water, bug spray and snacks. Meet Linda Sherk in the parking lot at Ruffner Mt. Nature Preserve at 1:00PM. Address is 1214 81th Street South, Birmingham, Al.35206. Questions: Linda Sherk 205-415-1643 or email [email protected] June 7-9 Alabama Wildflower Society Meets in Anniston. We will see the Longleaf Pines on the Fort McCall property. Hayes Jackson will be our guide. More information coming soon. _______________________________________________________________________________________ “No occupation is so delightful to me as the culture of the earth, and no culture comparable to that of the garden.” -- Thomas Jefferson _______________________________________________________________________________________ Native Plant Conference 2019 May 30–June 2 Birmingham Botanical Gardens This four-day event will feature pre-conference workshops, field trips, plant vendors, sales of books authored by presenters, a student poster session, art exhibit, and special evening dinner by Spencer Farm. Lunches will be catered by Brick & Tin. See bbgardens.org/npc.php for a schedule of events and conference details. Please join us! Registration is open now! MAY 17 and 18th 2019 Natural Heritage Section of Uchee Creek in Russell County BIO BLITZ All are invited to the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources 2019 Natural Heritage Section BioBlitz, to be held on the newly acquired Uchee Creek Forever Wild tract in Russell County, AL. We will begin at approximately 9:00 a.m. on Friday, May 17th and end roughly at 3 pm Saturday, May 18th. This bioblitz is for biologists, ecologists, scientists, teachers, dedicated students, and those who have an interest in plant/animal life, water resources, etc. If you are interested in attending, please RSVP to me. The tract is approximately 4,735 acres and there is no shortage of diversity. Additionally, there are folks interested in spearheading a nightblitz, for those interested in creatures of the night. Attendees will be responsible for bringing their own camping equipment, food, water/beverages, and bioblitz gear. Arrival: Friday morning/day/evening for campers, or Saturday morning for those who cannot attend Friday. If you arrive after folks have headed out into the woods, don’t worry – we will help get you to some good hotspots. [email protected] ALABAMA WILDFLOWER SOCIETY-BLANCHE DEAN CHAPTER Minutes of March 11, 2019 Tonight’s meeting was, as routine, held at the Homewood Public Library. It was the initial gathering of the year which has come to mean a pot luck meal. Ingestion commenced at 6:20 p.m. It is always a study in human social behavior to observe this group of supposedly refined brethren (many describe themselves as such) descend to the levels of primeval survival and seek their necessary vitamins and minerals. It reveals some small degree of evolution from the time of the limbic system being predominant. Or maybe not? At any rate, happiness therefrom was exhibited. President Linda Sherk called the regular meeting to order at 6:58 p.m. Treasurer Ida Gleaton announced that we had $2355.35 in the kitty. The Society had taken some funds from the late ex-treasurer Maryalys Griffis’ estate gift to the Society and given them to other environmental entities and thank you notices had been received from the Freshwater Land Trust, Ruffner Mountain Nature Preserve, and the Turkey Creek Nature Preserve. Maryalys lives. Dr. Ellen McLaughlin of Samford University announced that she would be having two forthcoming weekend classes, one on the microscope on Saturday, 3-16, and another entitled “Birds and Blooms” in April. Michelle Reynolds, gardening/nature writer, will speak on “Gardening for Wildlife” at Ruffner Mtn. Nature Preserve on Thursday, March 28. The Village Creek Human and Environmental Justice Society, recent winner of a Governor’s Statewide Award, will be having a creek cleanup on March 16. More details of these activities, and others, are in the March Newsletter. Contact can also be had with Linda Sherk. Member James Lowery revealed an impromptu presentation of filming he had done at the Wetumpka Impact Center. He asked for assistance with identifying some of the flowers and other vegetation there. The regularly scheduled presentation commenced at 7:19 p.m. The speaker was Dr. Bill Deutsch, Research Fellow, Emeritus, in the Auburn University School of Fisheries, Aqua-culture and Aquatic Sciences. The presentation revolved around the contents of his recent book, ALABAMA RIVERS, a CELEBRATION and CHALLENGE. The book was later available for purchase. (I got one.) Alabama is indeed a “water state”, having something like 132,00 miles of navigable rivers. The Alabama Bicentennial Commission is fully aware of this and will be showcasing the particulars of such in its Alabama History and Heritage.