Blanche Dean Chapter April 2019 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, 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 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

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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. As a supplemental “political/social” fact, it was pointed out how Alabama, the 22nd state, “broke the mold” with the design of its Great Seal. The river system is vividly and powerfully emphasized on the Seal. Readily known already was its contribution to the area’s economics and social stratification.

Alabama is a geologically rich state, with isolated pockets, which has contributed to its massive diversity. It is #1 in the flow of water per acre. There are in excess of 330 species of fish! There are at least 25 species of darters, we actually having a darter FESTIVAL. Average annual rainfall is 58 inches. Two-thirds of the state, and a portion of adjoining state segments, comprise the Mobile River Basin. Historically, as concerns the human social scene, the Native Americans revered the mountainous areas and their abundant supplies of water. Many religious rituals centered around these areas.

Eugene Allen Smith, the state’s first department geologist, was a capable and tireless worker. He initiated much of the state’s industrial uses of the river system. The riverboat era started in about 1820. In hindsight, we now know that this wasn’t all good. Some fish species, as sturgeons, have been lost to electricity-generating dams, Lay Dam in 1914, and Mitchell Dam, in 1926, being the first. Coming to the forefront, with regard to knowledge, was a realization that a sensible balance was going to have to be drawn between “unbridled economics and a healthy environment”. (We’re still learning.)

The health of rivers is being affected by more than dams. Toxins, in the form of commercial pharmaceuticals (“a sleeping giant”) are a growing threat. Invasive species are stubborn and deadly. Protection of our rivers is a popular conversational piece. Success will depend upon the addition of labor and pecuniary resources (“putting money where the mouth is”). Some sacrifices are inevitable (Let’s think twice about that seawall, Mable”). Etc. We have to educate the next generation! The need for a state water plan is glaringly obvious. Let’s be serious.

The presentation concluded at 8:02 p.m. with questions and answers going forward until 8:15 p.m. We will again convene on Monday, April 1, 2019, same time, same place. Be careful of fools.

Respectfully submitted,

Charles E. Gleaton, Recorder

Annual dues support the cost of our frequent gatherings, the speakers at the meetings, our field trips and the newsletter. Although membership dues are accepted throughout the year monies are formally collected at the annual pot luck meeting in March.

If you would like to pay your dues, please make your check payable to

Blanche Dean Chapter – AWS and send it to our treasurer: Ida Gleaton - 3201 Argonne Forest Lane - Duncanville AL 35456 Individual Membership is $10; Family Membership is $15.

The Blanche Dean Chapter would like to offer the opportunity to join the Alabama Wildflower Society, our state organization. Individual Membership is $10; Family Membership is $15 Please make check payable to: Margie Anderton, 271 Co. Rd 68, Killen, AL 35645 Or include it with your Blanche Dean dues check and we will give it to the state AWS society.

visit us on facebook as Blanche Dean Chapter of Alabama Wildflower Society or on our website: www.alabamawildflower.org President - Linda Sherk . Vice President of Programs - Marty Schulman . Treasurer – Ida Gleaton . Recorder – Charles Gleaton Chris Underwood - Newsletter & Web Site - Karen Hutchinson

Blanche Dean Chapter Meetings 2019 Held at the Homewood Library at 7 p.m. Monday, April 1 Tuesday, May 7 Monday September 16 Monday, October 14

Sneak Peek! Ruffner Mountain/Turkey Creek Native Plant Sale List Sa le i s April 6th, from 9am -2pm, and April 7th, from 1pm -4p m. ***Plants listed below does not guarantee availability at the plant sale. All plants are in limited quantities.*** Onoclea sensibilis, Sensitive Fern Trees and Shrubs Herbaceous Plants Penstemon digitalis, White Beardtongue Aesculus parviflora, Bottlebrush Buckeye Andropogon glomeratus, Brushy Bluestem Phlox divaricata, Woodland Phlox 'Blue Moon' Aesculus pavia, Red (Scarlet) Buckeye Asclepias tuberosa, Butterfly Weed Physostegia angustifolia, False Dragonhead Asimina triloba, PawPaw Athyrium filix-femina, Lady Fern Pityopsis graminifolia, Narrowleaf Silkgrass Acer negundo, Box Elder Baptista australis, Blue Indigo Polygonatum biflorum, Smooth Solomon's Seal Acer rubrum, Red Maple Bouteloua curtipendula, Sideoats Grama Pycnanthemum flexuosum, Appalachian Mountain Asima trilby, Pawpaw Callicarpa americana, American BeautyBerry Mint Pycnanthemum incanum, Silverleaf Mountain Betula nigra, River Birch Calycanthus fluorides, Eastern Sweetshrub Mint Pycnanthemum muticum, Clustered Mountain Callicarpa americana, American Beautyberry Carex amphibola, Eastern Narrowleaf Sedge Mint Cephalanthus occidentalis, Buttonbush Carex flagellifera, Copper Sedge Pycananthemum pycanthemoides, Southern Cercis canadensis, Redbud Carex cherokeensis, Cherokee Sedge Mountain Mint Chionanthus virginicus,White Fringetree Carex vulpinoidea, Fox Sedge Ratibida pinnata, Gray Headed Coneflower Clethra alnifolia, Sweet Pepperbush Chasmanthium sessiliflorum, Longleaf Woodoats Rhododendron canescens, Piedmont “Sweet” Cornus , Flowering Dogwood Coreopsis lanceolata, Lanceleaf Tickseed Azalea Cornus foemina, Swamp Dogwood Cyperus strigosu, False Nutsedge Rhus copallinum, Winged Sumac Crataegus spp. , Hawthorn Decumaria barbara, Climbing Hydrangea Rudbeckia laciniata, Green Headed Coneflower Crataegus marshallii, Parsley Hawthorn Deschampsia cespitosa, Tufted Hairgrass 'Goldtau' Rudbeckia fulgida, Orange Coneflower Cyrilla racemiflora, SwampTiTi Echinacea purpurea, Purple Coneflower Rudbeckia fulgida var. fulgida, Orange Coneflower Diospyros virginiana, Persimmon Elymus virginicus, Virginia Wild Rye Rudbeckia hirta, Black-eyed Susan Dirca palustris, Eastern Leatherwood Eragrostis spectabilis, Purple Lovegrass Rudbeckia trilby, Brown-eyed Susan Euonymus americanus, Strawberry Bush Muhlenbergia capillaris, Pink Muhly Reullia caroliniensis, Wild Petunia Fagus grandifolia, American Beech Schizachyrium scoparium, Little Bluestem Ruellia humilis, Wild Petunia Frangula caroliniana, Carolina Buckthorn Sorghastrum nutans, Indian Grass regia, Royal Catchfly Ilex vomitoria, Yaupon Holly , Fire Pink Itea virginica, Virginia Sweetspire Amsonia tabernaemontana, Eastern Bluestar Silphium integrifolium, Wholeleaf Rosinweed Itea virginica, Virginia Sweetspire 'Henry's Garnet' Anemone virginiana, Thimbleweed Silphium perplexum, Old Cahaba Rosinweed Liriodendron tulipifera, Tulip Poplar Aquilegia canadensis, Eastern Red Columbine Sisyrinchium angustifolium, Narrowleaf Blue-Eyed Morella cerifera, Southern Wax Myrtle Aruncus dioicus, Goat's Beard Grass Nyssa sylvatica, Blackgum Asarum canadense, Canadian Wild Ginger Solidago odora, Sweet Goldenrod Persea palustris, Swamp Bay Asclepias syriaca, Common Milkweed Solidago rugosa, Fireworks' Roughleaf Goldenrod Pinus echinata, Shortleaf Pine Baptisia alba, Wild White Indigo Stokesia laevis, Stokes' Aster 'Peachie's Pick' Pinus palustris, Longleaf Pine Baptisia australis, Blue False Indigo Sysmphyotrichum ascendems, Long Leaf Aster Pinus palustris, Longleaf Pine Baptisia australis var. aberrans, Glade Wild Indigo Symphyotrichum ericoides, Heath Aster 'Snow Prunus mexicana, Mexican Plum Chelone glabra, White Turtlehead Flurry' Prunus serotina, Wild Black Cherry Conoclinium coelestinum, Blue Mistflower Symphyotrichum georgianum, Aster Ptelea trifoliata, Hoptree Coreopsis grandiflora var. inclinata, Glade Tickseed Symphyotrichum laeve, Smooth Blue Aster Quercus alba, White Oak Coreopsis pulchra, Woodland Tickseed 'Bluebird' Quercus alba, White Oak Echinacea purpurea, Purple Coneflower Symphyotrichum novae-angliae, New England Quercus falcata, Southern Red Oak Erigeron pulchellus var. pulchellus, Lynnhaven Aster Quercus falcata, Southern Red Oak Carpet' Robin's Plantain Symphyotrichum novae-angilae, New England Quercus montana, Chestnut Oak Eryngium yuccifolium, Rattlesnake Master Aster 'Purple Dome' Quercus macrocarpa, Bur Oak Eurybia hemispherica, Southern Prairie Aster Symphyotrichum oblongifolium, Aromatic Aster Quercus negra, Water Oak Euonymus americanus, Hearts-A-Bursting 'October Skies' Quercus oglethorpensis, Oglethorpe Oak Eupatorium purpureum, Joe Pye Weed Thelypteris kunthii, Southern Shield Fern Quercus phellos, Willow Oak Eutrochium fistulosum, Trumpetweed Thistle cirsium, Pasture Thistle Quercus rubra, Northern Red Oak Fragaria virginiana, Native Strawberry Tiarella cordifolia, Heartleaf Foamflower Quercus stellata, Post Oak Helenium autumnale, Sneezeweed Tipularia unifolia, Crane-fly Orchid Quercus shumardii, Shumard Oak Gaillardia grandiflora, Blanket Flower Tradescantia virginiana, Virginia Spiderwort Quercus velutina, Black Oak Glandularia rigida, Verbena Trillium cuneatum, Little Sweet Betsy Rhus aromatica, Fragrant Sumac Helianthus angstfolius, Swamp Sunflower Verbesina alternifolia, Wingsteem Rhus copallium, Winged Sumac Helianthus maximiliani, Maximilian Sunflower Verbesina gigantea, Tall Ironweed Rhus glabra, Smooth Sumac Hibiscus coccineus, Scarlet Rosemallow Verbesina virginica, Frostweed Sambucus canadensis, Elderberry Hibiscus moscheutos, Swamp Rosemallow Vernonia noveboracensis, New York Ironweed Sassafras albidum, Sassafras Hyndrangea quercifolia, Oakleaf Hydrangea Viola papilionacea, Wood Violet Taxodium distichum, Bald Cypress Iris brevicaulis, Zigzag Iris Viola pedata, Bird's Foot Violet Ulmus minor, Elm Tree Iris cristata, Dwarf Crested Iris Viola walteri, Walter's Violet Vaccinium arboreum, Sparkleberry Itea Virginia, Virginia Sweetspire Zephyranthes atamasco, Atamasco Lily Vaccinium virgatum, Brightwell' Blueberry Juncus effusus, Common Rush Zizia aurea, Golden Alexander Vaccinium virgatum, Powder Blue' Blueberry Liatris spicata, Dense Blazing Star Vaccinium darrowii, Darrow's Blueberry Lobelia cardinalis, Cardinal Flower

Vaccinium stamineum, Deerberry Ludwigia alternifolia, Seedbox Viburnum acerifolium, Mapleleaf viburnum Lycopus virginicus, Virginia Bugleweed V i n e s Viburnum dentatum, Arrowwood Manfreda virginica, False Aloe Bignonia capreolata, Crossvine Gelsemium sempervirens, Margarita' Yellow Viburnum nudum, Possumhaw Monarda bradburiana, Eastern Beebalm Jessamine Viburnum rufidulum, Rusty blackhaw Monarda fistulosa, Wild Bergamot Lonicera sempervirens, Major Wheeler' Coral Monarda didyma, Red Beebalm Honeysuckle Oenothera fruticosa, Evening Primrose Wisteria frutescens, American Wisteria Oenothera lindheimeri, Siskiyou Pink' Butterfly

Gaura