Native News Newsletter of the Maryland Native Plant Society July/August 2007 Volume 7 Number 3 Inside This Issue: Upcoming Monthly Meetings President’s Letter Page 2 “Tree Branch Anatomy and Why it Matters” ~ Tuesday, July 31, 7:30 pm MNPS Contacts White Oak Library – Large Meeting Room Page 2 ~ Richard Murray, Arborist and MNPS member, will present a talk on MNPS Announcements/ Volunteer Needs tree anatomy with a focus on branches. Come and discover how the Page 3 evolution of branches offered survival benefits that allowed trees to ~ dominate the terrestrial world for 200 million years. MNPS History 1995-2000 Page 3 Richard will give an introductory talk using tree samples to convey ~ concepts (handling these is encouraged) followed by a summary period General Announcements for questions and discussion. As time allows, the discussion will touch Page 4 on branch pruning. ~ Wildflower in Focus Page 5 “Summer Wildflower Identification Workshop” ~ Summer Field Trips Tuesday, August 28, 7:30 pm Page 6 White Oak Library – Large Meeting Room ~ Invasive Exotic Plant Removal Join Rod Simmons, MNPS member and botanist, for a hands-on plant Workdays identification workshop focusing on meadow and roadside wildflowers Page 7 of late summer. Emphasis will be placed on important and widespread native legumes like Tick-trefoils (Desmodium spp.) and Bush-Clovers (Lespedeza spp.), and some late-blooming plants of the Mint Family (Lamiaceae). Habitat requirements, distribution, and plant rarity will also be discussed. Live material will be used. A hand lens is helpful, but not necessary for identifying most plants. Directions: Exit the Washington Beltway at New Hampshire Ave (exit 28). Go north about 2 miles. The library is the first building on the right, once you have passed under Route 29, just after the Sears store. The Maryland Native Plant Society (MNPS) is a nonprofit organization that uses education, research, and community service to increase the awareness and appreciation of native plants and their habitats, leading to their conservation and restoration. Membership is open to all who are interested in Maryland’s native plants and their habitats, preserving Maryland’s natural heritage, increasing their knowledge about native plants, and helping to further the Society’s mission. Native News President’s Letter (This letter is a revision of the letter written for the unpublished May-June 2007 issue of Native News.) Having been away at the end of March, on returning home I saw that spring had arrived while I was gone. After the dreary, windy days of February and early March, suddenly the natural world was full of new leaves and colorful flowers. My group with the Audubon Naturalist Society found 47 species in flower at Great Falls, VA on March 31….this is the second highest in 16 years of recording there on this date. P.O. Box 4877 Although it was exciting to find so many plants in bloom, we had a concern about the Silver Spring, MD 20914 premature flowering time of many species. Obviously the earlier flowering dates www.mdflora.org over a few years in one small area do not prove global warming, but it may be a symptom of the recent worldwide climate change. Contacts: Because this is such an important issue, MNPS has chosen the theme “Climate Botany……………….. Rod Simmons Change: Global Effects, Local Impacts” for our 2007 fall conference. At the Board [email protected] of Director’s yearly planning retreat on January 15, we decided to establish a Conservation……………John Parrish standing conference committee. This enables us to plan ahead and to help chapters in [email protected] various parts of the state sponsor the annual conferences. Karyn Molines and Rod Field Trips………….….Meghan Tice Simmons will co-chair this new committee. We are delighted that the Western [email protected] Mountains Chapter has agreed to host the conference at Frostburg State University 301-809-0139 on September 29 and 30. Please mark these dates on your calendar and plan to be in Flora of Maryland………Joe Metzger the mountains then! [email protected] Other goals set for the education programs at the planning retreat include Habitat Stewardship……..Marc Imlay exploring possibilities for extended field trips, developing joint field trips with other [email protected] groups, and perhaps reinstituting a spring field meeting. Membership………….Karyn Molines One goal for the botany program is to keep records of species seen on MNPS [email protected] field trips. This is a longtime goal of mine and I would really appreciate volunteers 410-286-2928 willing to make species lists for the Society. You don’t have to be an expert botanist Monthly Meetings…….Rod Simmons – the leader can give the name of the plants. Please let me know if you are interested [email protected] in helping or contact Amy Doll at [email protected]. Amy has agreed to Outreach……………..Carolyn Fulton be the volunteer coordinator for this new program. [email protected] The conservation committee plans to develop a statement of MNPS’ most President……………….Cris Fleming important advocacy priorities. Another goal is to write an annual list for each region [email protected] that targets preservation areas that are threatened by development or other destructive Publications: actions. Marilandica………….. Rod Simmons Under publication committee goals, our web page will soon have a new look [email protected] with beautiful photos taken by new board member Albert Hartley. There were also Native News………….. Meghan Tice suggestions for the Native News, including adding short articles on field trips, [email protected] unusual sightings, articles on the history of the society, and re-establishing the Website.……………………Iris Mars Brickbats & Kudos column. Please let us know if you would like to see any of these [email protected] in upcoming News. A new committee was established this year, the Board Executive Officers: Cris Fleming, President Development/Governance Committee. Kirsten Emigholz agreed to chair this Marc Imlay, Vice President committee and she immediately plunged into work planning and running an Linda Keenan, Vice President orientation for new board members. Kirsten will be working this year to review the John Parrish, Vice President by-laws and update committee names and responsibilities. Linda Keenan plans to Carolyn Fulton, Secretary record activities and accomplishments of the Society to use for the annual report and Gary Steele, Treasurer in appeals to supporters and foundations. The annual planning has enabled the board to focus our work each year by Board of Directors: setting specific goals and projects. An ongoing goal of the board is to communicate Matthew Bazar Albert Hartley with members through meetings, field trips, and publications. Please give us your Carole Bergmann Brady Hartley Lisa Bierer-Garrett Beth Johnson feedback and your suggestions. Also, please volunteer to help with some of the Marney Bruce Joe Metzger, Jr. above projects. Paul Carlson Karyn Molines And remember the poet’s words, “What is so rare as a day in June? Then, if Melanie Choukas-Bradley ever, come perfect days.” I hope you all have been out enjoying them! Kirsten Emigholtz Mary Pat Rowan Cris Fleming Jim Gallion Roderick Simmons Page 2 July/August 2007 Volume 7 Number 3 Native News MNPS Announcements/ Western Mountains Chapter Meeting Volunteer Needs “Favorite Plants Share & Planning Meeting” Tuesday, August 21, 7:00 pm Welcome New Members! Appalachian Laboratory, Frostburg University The following have recently joined the Society: April Amberman, Dan Beisel (Home Garden Design), Marinda We won't be having a guest speaker this month. The MNPS Durkee, Dave Ellis, Chris Gordon, Greenery Nursery and fall conference will be held at Frostburg University on Landscape Center, Rhonda Herman, Dorothy Jachim, Jenny September 29 at Frostburg University, so we need to sign-up Ann Jachim, Randy and Jan Johnson, James Kingdon, Lauren chapter members to help with different volunteer tasks. We'll Kneisly, Liz Lehman, Wayne Longbottom, Caren Madsen, also discuss future program and field trip ideas for 2008. Charles and Mary Beth Mason, Michael Mason, Pamela Finally we ask that everyone bring a few photos of your Mason, Scott and Mabrey Matherly, Jenny McCune, Gaylan favorite native plants to share with members (slide or digital Meyer and Jan Meyer, Margaret O'Connor, Brad Otterson, format). Karin Readel, Paul and Lesa Schmidt, Suzanne Shaffer, Directions: From I-68 take exit 33 (Braddock Rd & Rachel Shaw, Lolli Sherry, Langley Shook, Kate Shoup, Midlothian Rd exit). Follow Braddock Road approximately Anne Parran Sledge, Marianne Starr, Lee-Ann Taylor, Pat .2 miles to the entrance to the Appalachian Lab on the left Thompson and Ed Sledge, and Melissa Wahnbaeck. Thank side of the road (301 Braddock Road). There is plenty of you for your support. parking in front of the building. MNPS History 1995-2000 Volunteers Needed for Plant Lists In December 1991, a group of people met at Brookside MNPS is starting a new project that is aimed at creating plant Nature Center to make plans to incorporate a non-profit lists for areas that we visit and enjoy. Our ultimate aim is to educational society dedicated to the preservation of produce lists of plants recorded in parks and other places Maryland’s native plants and their habitats. A charter was where MNPS does field trips for posting on our website. reviewed and the first charter members joined. On January This would be a service to our members and other interested 17, 1992 the Maryland Native Plant Society formally people who wish to visit these places. A long-range goal incorporated as a non-profit organization. Over the next year, would be to monitor the changes in populations of sensitive we will provide a few highlights of what the Society has done plant species.