i

SempervirensSummer 2021 The Quarterly of the Virginia Native Plant Society Earth Day 2021 in Va. — Yep, that just happened! n a beautiful cool, sunny, windy Oand glorious Earth Day in 2021,

Boston, Virginia, for a spectacular announcement—theGovernor Northam flew Commonwealth to South From Your Natural Heritage Program By Chris Ludwig (retired) had just received a 7,300-acre gift from the head of Epic Games, Tim philanthropist who oversees the FortniteSweeney, and a noted Rocket conservation League video game franchises. A small portion of one of the grassland restoration units at Difficult Creek Natural Area Preserve. “This announcement represents (Photo taken in June 2019 by Chris Ludwig.) conservation successes in Virginia Management Areas. However, the history,”one of the Northam most significant said in a statement. botanical gem of all these lands is The Governor went on to say that In MayIf you you haven’t can observe yet visited some Difficult of the “Falkland Farms is exactly the kind of directly contiguous to Falkland Farms. rarestCreek Naturalplants in Area the CommonwealthPreserve, do so! priority land we want to conserve and Difficult Creek Natural Area Preserve, by setting it aside for conservation, we with a botanical exploration by Dr. Mill Road including Carolina Thistle will protect the natural habitat and AltonThe Harvill story ofof LongwoodDifficult Creek College started in (flourishingCirsium carolinianum along and near), American Allen’s Ipecac (Gillenia stipulata), and, if you and preserve its scenic views.” then, VaDCR Natural Heritage staff— ecosystem, increase floodplain resilience, Northam’s announcement was from1972 inventoryand is still biologists being written. to land Since the Tall Barbara’s-buttons (Marshallia not hyperbole. Falkland Farms, in protection staff to land stewards—have legrandiiare really attentive, you might find Halifax County, Virginia, is about 11 explored, conserved, and nurtured known from only two sites in the miles north of the state line with ), a spectacular wildflowerEchinacea North Carolina and it will become a laevigata) blooms in June followed holding of the Virginia Department of ofthe diverse 819-acre native Natural Virginia Area grassland Preserve so byworld! Northern Smooth Rattlesnake-master Coneflower ( Conservation and Recreation (VaDCR). vegetationthat it now andcontains 14 global- significant or state- stands (Eryngium yuccifolium). Later in Its 7,300 acres stitch together some summer, the grasses and composites including the elimination of the put on a show. From May through July, remainingrare plants. planted So much loblolly more isstands planned as keep your eyes peeled for our smallest significant botanical sites that are well as continued burning and exotic watershedalready conserved: protection notably, surrounding Staunton species management needed to further Mottled Duskywing, found nowhere KerrRiver Reservoir State Park; by forests the Army held Corps for of restore and enhance the grasslands elseand rarestin Virginia. duskywing butterfly, the and rare species. (See Falkland Farms, next page) Engineers; and numerous Wildlife 2 Sempervirens, Summer 2021 Falkland Farms (Continued from page 1) Here are all of the rare plants recorded from Difficult Creek Natural

AnemoneArea Preserve: berlandieri

Cirsium carolinianum Eastern Prairie Anemone G4 S1 Dichanthelium harvillii Carolina Thistle G5 S1 Echinacea laevigata Harvill’s Witch Grass G1 S1 Eryngium yuccifolium Smooth Coneflower G3 S2 Gillenia stipulata N. Rattlesnake-master G5 S2 This map puts Falkland Farms in context of the surrounding area. Lythrum alatum American Ipecac G5 S1 Marshallia legrandii Winged Loosestrife G5 S2 Cheilanthes castanea Chestnut Lip Fern As VaDCR works to restore Falkland Marshallia obovata Tall Barbara’s-buttons G1 S1 Cirsium carolinianum G5 S2 Farms, there is no doubt that more Matelea decipiens Piedmont Barbara’s-buttons G4 S1 Coreopsis delphiniifolia Carolina Thistle G5 S1 botanical gems will make themselves Pycnanthemum torrei Old-field Milkvine G5 S1 Echinacea laevigata Larkspur coreopsis G3 S1 known. The department will strive Rhynchospora harveyi Torrey’s Mountain-mint G2 S1 Eryngium yuccifolium Smooth Coneflower G3 S2 to provide compatible recreational Sphenopholis filiformis Harvey’s Beaksedge G4 S1 Gillenia stipulata N. Rattlesnake-master G5 S2 opportunities while keeping focus on Sporobolus compositus Long-leafTall Dropseed Wedgegrass G4 S1 Lipocarpha micrantha American Ipecac G5 S1 maintaining and enhancing the native G5 S2 plants of the incredible gift that is But back to Falkland. The good Small-flower Halfchaff Sedge Lythrum alatum news is that the same hardpan G5 S2 Marshallia obovata Winged Loosestrife G5 S2 you can be among those who will explore Falkland Farms. With this management, Mitreola petiolata Piedmont Barbara’s-buttons G4 S1 the property very soon. Even better, Paspalum dissectum over time, we all will be able to watch continuesoils and southgrassland onto flora Falkland found Farms. at Lax Hornpod G5 S1 Sagittaria calycina ThisDifficult property Creek hasn’t Natural yet Area been Preserve blessed Walter’s Paspalum G4 S2 with the attention and nurturing Long-lobed Arrowhead G5 S1 Remember we have barely scratched managedthis southern along Piedmont the way. landscape management as has been in place change and biodiversity flourish,v as it is happens (and it will), then watch out. the surface! Yep, that just happened! at Difficult Creek but when that

FalklandWhile Difficult Farms Creek has the has potential hundreds for of acres with spectacular flora, thousands! work,How small can populationswe be sure? ofWell, many after rare grasslandone full field species season have of inventorybeen found by Natural Heritage staff. In addition, the bottomlands of Falkland Farms have their share of goodies. Here are some of the rare plants known from Falkland Farms, so far: A portion of the Falkland Farms property looking north towards Difficult Creek Natural Area Preserve. Photo taken from drone, March 2021 by Kevin Heffernan, VaDCR Natural Heritage. Sempervirens, Summer 2021 3 Work group convenes to study invasives

Nancy Vehrs From the President,

theirof this initiative year. We on thank this Delegateissue. Nathan David BurrellBulova andof DCR Senator and Larry Dave NicholsMarsden of for

representativeVDACS are the staffto this coordinators work group for and the othernew work key conservation group. Jim Hurley group is members the VNPS arlier this year I wrote about House EJoint Resolution HJ 527 in the Virginia and Glenda Booth representing Audubon are Rod Walker of the Blue Ridge PRISM Japanese Barberry, another invasive plant, can still General Assembly that addressed of Northern Virginia. All three are be purchased at nurseries. (Nancy Vehrs) the issue of the sale of invasive plant species. The Virginia Department of the serious problem of invasive plants. Conservation and Recreation (DCR) and meetingmembers digitally of the VNPS. on June 9 and more The second meeting of the work the Virginia Department of Agriculture thanThe 70 peoplework group attended. convened David its Gianino first group was held in person at Pocahontas tasked with convening a work group. background of the noxious weeds law the lifting of the Governor’s executive State Park in Chesterfield County. With and Consumer Services (VDACS) were andof VDACS related provided regulations. an overview Kevin Heffernan of the order regarding the pandemic, meetings that the departments work with of DCR presented on “Assessing and are now in person only with no projected severalSpecifically, state the agencies, resolution conservation requested Virginia,” which explained the criteria be scheduled at the end of each meeting. electronic access. Public comment will groups, local government associations, usedRanking to determine Invasive Plant the 90 Species species in as If unable to attend the actual meeting, andnonprofits, other stakeholders plant industry to developand agriculture members of the public can provide recommendations regarding statutory comments by email to Nathan Burrell and regulatory changes intended outlined on the Virginia Invasive Plant at [email protected]. To to reduce or eliminate the sale and JimSpecies Hurley List. and That the presentation other conservation would be keep track of future meetings, look for use of invasive plant species in the groupa worthy representatives one to present led to the all ofensuing VNPS. information posted on the Virginia Town Commonwealth and promote the sale discussion. Industry representatives and Hall website by googling “Virginia Town and use of native plants. others were in listening mode. I was one Hall.” Our web admin Mark Murphy That legislation passed, and a work of six people who addressed the work provides news and updates regarding group was created to study the issue and group as part of public comment. All House Joint Resolution HJ527 on our make recommendations by December were in favor of more action to address https://vnps.org/action- alert-phasing-out-the-propagation- and-sale-of-invasive-plants/website; see . Our statewide annual meeting is virtual again this year, but we plan to

forhave more our informationchapters offer on field the eveningtrips on Saturday, September 18. See page 8 17 and 18. I hope that you plan to presentations planned for September Visit vnps.org/meeting21 for online registration.join us both onlinev and in the field. Invasive Callery Pears in late March 2021. (Nancy Vehrs) 4 Sempervirens, Summer 2021 How to Know the Species of Wisteria

ver the 33 years that the Virginia it is a different story when Chinese and OArticle and photographs by W. John• Floral Hayden, fragrance Botany Chair (all flowers open at once) of mature to each other here in North America. has ourNative featured Plant Societynative plant has designated come from a fruits Japanese Wisterias are grown in proximity aWildflower genus that of also the includes Year (WOY), one or only more twice Asian• Pubescence Wisterias (hairiness) comment that hybrids are common in the invasive exotic species. That was the There are three Asian species populationsWeakley et al. that (2012) are naturalized and Weakley in North(2020) Quercus cultivated in eastern North America, two America and that they exhibit complex alba of which have naturalized to the extent case in 2011 when White Oak ( Q. that they ae widely considered invasive parent species. Hybrids may well be more acutissima) was the), which WOY is and, now notably, regarded the as an commonlyarrays of the naturalized features that in North define America the two emergingsame genus invasive includes pest Sawtooth (Virginia Oak Botanical ( Wisteria sinensis than either parent species. Associates 2021). and detrimental to native flora. e have a similar situation with the – Chinese Wisteria. Wisteria Stems twine in a clockwise direction; thatIt stems is worth of W. noting x formosa that Donaldtwine in Wyman the frutescensW ), a close relative of two Asian leaflets 7–13; flowers appear before leaves counterclockwise(1949) and Weakley direction. et al. (2012) It may indicate well species,2021 WOY, and American their hybrid, Wisteria that have ( successionemerge from or winteressentially buds; simultaneously racemes ca be possible, therefore, to distinguish most rampantly escaped cultivation over 6–12 inches long; flowers open in rapid much of eastern North America. Given fruits are velvety pubescent. Locally or American based on their twining stems and are not particularly fragrant; (seeWisterias also below). encountered in the wild as Asian common and more widely distributed Wisteria venusta acrossthat invasive Virginia Wisterias than our are native much American more consideredcommon in invasivethe Piedmont throughout and Coastal much of easternPlain of Virginia,North America. rare in the mountains; – Silky Wisteria. Wisteria floribunda – Japanese Stems twine in a counterclockwise importantWisteria, and to know given howlingering to distinguish questions the direction; flowers appear simultaneously variousabout the species taxonomy of Wisteria of native that Wisterias, one may it is with leaf emergence from lateral buds; encounter in either cultivated or natural Wisteria (Figure 1). Stems twine in a leaflets 9–13; racemes 6 inches or less in landscapes of Virginia. counterclockwise direction; leaflets length; flowers open sequentiallyWisteria and leaves are All species of Wisteria are woody, racemes13–19; flowers commonly appear 8–24 simultaneously inches (but aremoderately glabrescent fragrant; (pubescent fruits are when velvety young, twining, vines with alternate, once-pinnately cultivatedwith leaf emergence specimens from in ideal lateral conditions buds; becomingpubescent. glabrous Whereas or most nearly so at maturity), compound deciduous leaves, and pea-like, have produced racemes up to 48 inches Wisteria venusta are notable for retaining relatively long silky that produce slow-to-dehisce woody fruits. hairs.mature Wisteria leaflets venusta of is not recorded to Differentpurplish-blue species flowers of Wisteria in elongate are commonly racemes in length); flowers open sequentially have escaped cultivation in North America. distinguished from each other based on the and are fragrant; fruits are velvety C following characteristics: consideredpubescent. Infrequentinvasive throughout in the Piedmont much of are sometimes trained by extensive pruning • Direction of stem twining – either easternand Coastal North Plain America. of Virginia; also to growultivated as a stand-alone, specimens shrub-like of Asian Wisterias habit, or clockwise (left to right, dextrorse) or Wisteria x formosa “standard” form. Also, each of the cultivated counterclockwise (right to left, This hybrid originates via crosses Asian species listed above include white- sinistrorse) between Japanese (W. floribunda– Hybrid Wisteria.) and Chinese (W. sinensis . As forms of W. floribunda, W. sinensis, and W. should be expected, these hybrids exhibit xflowered formosa cultivars, their hybrid, and white-flowered are also known in before• Number leaves of leaflets emerge, per at leaf the same characteristics intermediate) Wisterias between naturalized/invasive populations. time• Phenology that leaves – whether emerge, flowers or well appear after the two parents. In their native lands, of North American Wisterias leaf emergence Wisteria frutescens in the broad/inclusive sense. itcourse, is virtually Chinese impossible and Japanese for spontaneous Wisterias – American Wisteria, •Length of flowering raceme hybridsare good, to scientifically form in plants defensible, living on species; Stems twine to• Sequence distal) or ofessentially flower opening simultaneous per in a clockwise direction; leaflets 5–15; raceme – either sequential (proximal racemes 1–12 inches long; flowers open opposite sides of the Sea of Japan. But sequentially and are of variable degrees Sempervirens, Summer 2021 5

Figure 1. Wisteria floribunda, Japanese Wisteria. Figure 2. Wisteria frutescens, American Wisteria. Figure 3. Wisteria macrostachya, Kentucky Wisteria. to Missouri and Illinois and east to listed above to distinguish W. frutescens and western North Carolina. W. macrostachya. Ultimately, the decision of fragrance; fruits are smooth (not Of course, be they distinguished as whether to “lump” or “split” W. frutescens southeasternhairy). Widely Virginia distributed to eastern in eastern Texas distinct species or varieties, both North and W. macrostachya, boils down to: 1) how andNorth more America interior from regions the Coastal (Arkansas, Plain of much variability one is inclined to accept in a Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee). experience shows that they do well single species, 2) how much fuzziness one is Alternatively, some botanists have outsideAmerican the Wisterias native ranges are cultivated, summarized and inclined to accept at the boundary between above. In fact, W. frutescens in the narrow two species, and 3) how well patterns of two entities, as follows: sense, is known to grow well as far north morphological disparity map to distinct dividedWisteria North frutescens American in theWisterias narrow into sense, as Rhode Island, and the Digital Atlas geographic regions. Based on the relatively or W. frutescens var. frutescens – Atlantic of the Virginia Flora shows naturalized populations of W. macrostachya to have been documented in 17 counties of superficialIn summary, summary my effortpresented to distinguish here, my shortlyWisteria after (Figure leaves 2). are Leaflets fully eacutexpanded to Virginia, well east of its traditionally opinion is that the question remains open. acuminate but tips blunt;; flowers open accepted natural range. In garden settings, encountered in Virginia has exposed what a just like the cultivated Asian species, both goodthe species friend of of Wisteria mine might that call, may with be a note and are not particularly fragrant; racemes W. frutescens (in the narrow sense) and W. teethup to 6shorter inches than long; the pedicels calyx tube. and calyces As macrostachya (if recognized as distinct) Asian species appear to exist for the most dbear few, if any, club-shaped glands;W. frutescens calyx can be grown in the “standard” form, partof sarcasm, as a complex “a fine hybridkettle of swarm fish.” Theand twothere which is achieved by assiduous pruning of are multiple ways to interpret the status southeasternefined in this Virginia narrow tosense, Florida and along all long, vine-like, stems. of the two North American taxa. There is a occurs on the Atlantic Coastal Plain, from Wisteria macrostachya, or W. “split” W. frutescens and W. macrostachya clarity, learning more merely illuminates frutescensthe Gulf Coastal var. macrostachya Plain to east Texas. – Kentucky is unresolved.The question The of Flora whether of Virginia to “lump” or thelesson ambiguities here. Sometimes, of complex instead situations. of revealing v WORKS CITED including W. macrostachya as a synonym severalor Mississippi weeks Wisteriaafter leaves (Figure are fully 3). of(Weakley W. frutescens et al. 2012), whereas lumps the them,Digital Leaflet tips acuminate; flowers appear Isely, D. 1990. Vascular Flora of the Southeastern Atlas of Virginia Flora (Virginia Botanical United States; Leguminosae (Fabaceae). Associates 2021) maps these entities as Virginia Botanical Associates. 2021. Digital Atlas of up to 12 inches long (“macrostachya” theUniversity Virginia of Flora. North vaplantatlas.org. Carolina Press, Chapel(consulted Hill. 15 expanded and are fragrant; racemes distinct varieties, with a comment that, June 2021). calyces bearing abundant club-shaped perhaps, status as two distinct species means large-spiked); pedicels and calyx tube. If considered distinct from also treats these plants as varieties of W. Weakley, A. S., J. C. Ludwig, and J. F. Townsend. 2012. Flora of Virginia. BRIT Press, Fort Worth. glands; calyx, teeththe natural about rangeas long of as the frutescensmay be warranted.. Another Weakleysource, Isely (2020) (1990) W. frutescens W. Weakley, A. S. 2020. Flora of the Southeastern United macrostachya extends from eastern notes only “diffuse” correlations among the States. ncbg.unc.edu/research/unc-herbarium/ supposedly distinguishing characteristics Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi, north 17-28.flora. (consulted 15 June 2021). Wyman, D. 1949. The Wisterias. Arnoldia 9 (5/6): 6 Sempervirens, Summer 2021 Tom Wieboldt Pleased to live life as a botanist J.T. Baldwin who was a great ONancy Vehrs goes behind the encouragement to me. The next scenesnce to again introduce Society us President to those year, I was really in my element volunteers whose hard work and learning plant taxonomy from Gus Hall. I already knew most of success. In this chat, Nancy checks in retiredenthusiasm herbarium make VNPScurator such and a native much to the chagrin of the other studentsthe plants who we wereclaimed quizzed it wasn’t on, fair, but I used the opportunity to delve agoplant as enthusiast the longtime Tom curator Wieboldt. for the into families and genera I didn’t Tom Wieboldt outdoors. (Nancy Vehrs) MasseyTom Herbarium Wieboldt retired at Virginia five years Tech. He know, especially grasses. I also grew up near Covesville in Albemarle long hikes to get to remote places. County and currently lives in Giles Hishim. use We of both topo loved maps, ridiculously knowledge of County just west of Blacksburg with soontook planthad a ecology devoted from following Stewart of geology and soils, special interest Ali, his wife of 38 years. Let’s learn a helpersWare whose in the new herbarium wife, Donna, where in ferns, and intrepid desire to see little more about him. we volunteered. Thus began a what was around the bend are just Nancy: As I like to ask everyone I lifelong friendship of doing botany. interview for Sempervirens, how I don’t know how it started, but we me. For the years when I lived near did you develop an interest in were both aware that there were Charlottesville,a few of the ways we he made influenced almost native plants? numerous plants and places on weekly collecting trips together. Tom: It started early as my father the landscape that had not been I spent a couple of years in school taught me some trees and shrubs. revisited since Fernald and Long in Utah which didn’t work out for me. explored them in the 1930s and My heart was with Virginia botany Mehring, introduced me to birding. Rhodora and collecting plants, but a seemingly Then as a teen, my neighbor, Peter and picked some species to go near-death experience from malaria after40s. We on readwhat his came papers to be in termed on a trip to Mexico didn’t help When he moved on to learning “Fernaldizing” expeditions. It was plants, I remember thinking, “Whoa! great fun and, of course, resulted resumed botanizing with Mo and onThat’s adjoining just too farms much!” with But access that didn’tto in many interesting re-discoveries. Donna.either! IAfter came a back few yearsto Virginia working and last long. We were teenage boys A number of those sites are now for a surveyor and occasionally and none of the distractions that state natural area preserves. doing some volunteer work for The thousands of acres of field and forest This period extended past Nature Conservancy, I had a chance plant families to learn so we could graduation during which time I to work as a botanist when the teachkids these each daysother face. when We we divided were outup moved back to Albemarle County and hooked up with my birding Croy and me to develop a list of rare guides at that time, but then my speciesVirginia and Chapter target of some TNC hiredsites for Steve brother-in-lawexploring. We learned gave me from a copy field of who was now passionately Gray’s Manual of Botany, 8th edition. I collectingfriend, Mo plants (Charles all E.)over Stevens, Virginia was called the Virginia Biodiversity was hooked. as part of a coordinated plan by TNC to acquire. This fledgling effort Nancy: Tell us a little about your Alton Harvill to map out the plants academic training and how you of Virginia by counties. Mo became VirginiaInformation Tech Program. due to the We good were graces given launched your botanical career. a mentor in the truest sense of office space at the herbarium at Tom: the word. The way I came to do than a year, the position of Assistant course my second year at The botany was in every way greatly Curatorof Dr. Duncan of the Porter,herbarium Curator. opened In less up I took my first botany and I applied and got the job.

College of William & Mary from influenced by what I learned from Sempervirens, Summer 2021 7

Nancy: Tell us about the herb- whole time, the Massey Herbarium arium and what your position enjoyed a very fruitful collaboration entailed. with the Virginia Natural Heritage Tom: I was employed at the Massey Herbarium for 35 years, discoveries, helping one another with taxonomicProgram, sharing problems, knowledge and continually and responsiblefirst as assistant for the curator, vascular then plant as andcurator fungal when collections Dr. Porter initially. retired. Later, I was Nancy:refining Where our knowledge are some of of the your bryophyte and lichen collections favoriteVirginia flora.places to botanize? were added. Beside standard Tom: I love rock outcrop curatorial duties, we provided communities of all types and have always expended considerable services to the university as well effort to get to and explore them. asidentification the Commonwealth, and information state and Tom Wieboldt indoors. (Nancy Sorrells) federal agencies, and conservation favorite not only because of the to really get to know these groups. organizations. I especially wanted the endemicShale barrens, species, in particular,but almost are more a Massey Herbarium to well represent because of rare species sometimes bryophytes have gained the upper found there. Recently, I’ve learned Working on both was fun, but now and mid-Atlantic regions. I saw my that includes some bryophytes not specimens to herbaria, mostly the the flora of the central Appalachian mission as growing the collection previously known about in Virginia. Masseyhand! I’m Herbarium. collecting I’mand also donating still through personal collecting and I also love wetlands, especially marl active with the Virginia Botanical trading specimens with people I marsh wetlands. The reasons are Associates and, along with Johnny knew who were making important twofold. First, they abound with my Townsend and Gary Fleming, discoveries. There were many favorite genus of plants, Carex, and administer the Digital Atlas of the secondly, many weren’t very well Virginia Flora website. explored. A third would be the fresh a bit of a heyday for botanical Nancy: What advice can you give deficiencies to be filled, but it was tidal marshes of the rivers entering collecting in Virginia due in large part students interested in a career in the Chesapeake Bay. They are such to Alton Harvill’s atlas project. botany? pristine and idyllic places, especially As in every discipline, computers Tom: Over the years at Virginia Tech, began to change the herbarium. The when explored by canoe. I’ve told students that learning plants “Information Age” was upon us and Nancy: Do you garden with native is a lot of work, but if it’s something plants, and, if so, what would we they enjoy, it’s a great skill to have. Herbaria were ideal for the creation find in your garden? But more than that, it opens one’s expectations were changing quickly. of specimen databases, and nearly Tom: I’m not much of a native eyes to the great diversity of species everyone jumped on the bandwagon. plant gardener. I have a small fern on the landscape. This is, I think, the Georeferencing and imaging soon garden with a few select species, single most unappreciated aspect followed. This was a mammoth task, but other than that, have only a few of course, especially for a regional things that are special to me for one collection with limited resources, botanist,of nature it’sin our well culture worth today.being one’sSo, in their natural environs is what avocationally.even if you cannot There find is certainly a job as a a reason of another. Seeing the natives the Massey Herbarium into this new really interests me. need for more botanists, but whether so I dragged my feet at first. Moving era was my “new” job. The National Nancy: What have you been doing our society will acknowledge and since you retired? money into programs to help, and Tom: Science Foundation poured federal we were able to hire students and 2016, I’ve turned my attention to passionsvalue it is as an much open asquestion. possible. I’m It took introduce a lot of people to botany bryophytesSince and retiring lichens. in Although October, a firm believer in following ones and systematic collections, in I collected and tried to identify could actually make a living as a particular. specimens occasionally as much as me quite a few years to find out I 30 years ago, I never had the time I shouldn’t neglect to say that this Nancy: Thank you, Tom! v botanist! 8 Sempervirens, Summer 2021 Virtually Sept. 17-18 Annual Meeting: Virginia is for Conservation Lovers irginia is for Conservation Lovers components of the weekend event presentation of the budget for 2022. Vis the theme for this year’s and duplicate how our “normal” An electronic communication will annual meetings are organized. announce the slate of nominations and annual budget. Directorvirtual annual of The meeting Nature Conservancy,September conduct our annual business will17-18. kick Nikki off our Rovner, weekend Associate on Friday State meetingSaturday on Zoom. evening It willwe willinclude the Natural Heritage Director Jason election of board members and the BulluckTo cap will off team our Saturdaywith Rob night,Evans, to be reckoned with in Richmond, especiallynight. She iswith a conservation members of forceour Visit Manager, for a program entitled “A vnps.org/meeting21 Newthe Natural Chapter Areas for Virginia Protection Natural to us about conservation successes, for online registration. challenges,General Assembly. and legislative She will speak issues. Heritage ProgramThey and will Natural share to hear from a real brieflyArea Preserves.” what is new conservationWe are legal fortunate pro. with budgeting and During the day on staffing and provide a more in depth you will participate on review of recent fieldSaturday, trips we that hope your that land conservation local chapters may offer successes resulting or go on a nature walk in a new Natural Area with friends or family. This will allow us new additions to to have both virtual Preserve and many and “real life” existing NAPs. With the purchase of 820 acres of old-growth forest, a portion of which is seen in this photo, the size of the Chestnut Ridge Natural Area Preserve expanded. (Courtesy DCR)

NIKKI ROVNER Kaine. Nikki has served on the executive committee and as board chair of Virginia’s United Land Trusts. Nikki Rovner is the Associate State On the VaULT website she says, Director of The Nature Conservancy. “Conservation is my passion, both Nikki works to foster strong because of its importance for the partnerships with government future of our planet and because it’s agencies and other organizations endlessly fascinating. It’s what I’ve while advocating for the wanted to do ever since I started Conservancy’s policy priorities with reading Ranger Rick as a child. I state and federal decision makers. feel incredibly lucky that my career Nikki gained experience as a centers on learning about and legislative staffer prior to joining advocating for the natural world.” the Conservancy, and then later Nikki has a B.S. in wildlife science served as Deputy Secretary from Penn State University and a of Natural Resources in the The Nature Conservancy’s Nikki Rovner J.D. from the University of Richmond administration of Governor Tim School of Law. Sempervirens, Summer 2021 9

JASON BULLUCK After his masters research, Jason and endangered species; land contributed to other bird research conservation goals of four governors, in Nevada, Ohio, and Tennessee, including Northam’s now-codified including bird and vegetation data ConserveVirginia; the development Virginia Natural collection and analysis, and use of of a forest fragmentation mitigation Heritage Director GIS for products to help prioritize approach and grant programs; Jason Bulluck conservation work of various entities. the Virginia Pollinator-Smart Solar Before joining the Virginia Natural initiative; development and evolution Heritage Program in 2007, Jason of the Virginia Natural Heritage was an ecologist/project manager Data Explorer for environmental at a private environmental firm in review and conservation planning; Tennessee, where he focused on a and data sharing with hundreds of Jason Bulluck has served as Director variety of NEPA-related fieldwork and partners. Virginia Natural Heritage of the Virginia Natural Heritage reporting involving wetlands, and is long recognized as a leader in a Program since 2017, after leading the threatened and endangered plant Natural Heritage network of over 80 Information Management section of and animal species throughout the programs, based on the program’s the Program for 10 years. Southeast. commitment to the Heritage A graduate with a degree in As Information Manager methodology and continually biology from Appalachian State and Director at Virginia Natural innovating to stay relevant, impactful University, he earned a master’s Heritage, Jason helped lead many and successful in the conservation of degree in avian ecology in 2003. efforts, notably development Virginia’s biodiversity. There he studied the use of southern and implementation of Virginia Appalachian wetlands by breeding ConservationVision, a statewide neotropical migratory songbirds, in land conservation prioritization; order to learn how these declining Virginia’s Conservation Lands species are utilizing these rare and database; predictive distribution disappearing habitats. modeling for rare, threatened ROB EVANS Rob has served as the Natural Area Sempervirens Protection Manager for the DCR’s Natural Heritage for six years. Prior to (ISSN 1085-9632) this, he led the North Carolina Plant Blandyis the quar Experimentalter­ ­ly newsletter Farm, of 400 Conservation Program’s efforts to Blandythe Virginia Farm Native Lane, PlantUnit 2, Society, Boyce, conserve that state’s imperiled flora Va. 22620, 540-837-1600, info@ through many novel restoration projects, scientific assessments, vnps.org. Nancy Vehrs, President; and protection projects. He has also materialNancy Sorrells, in Sempervirens Editor; Karen may be Natural Areas Protection Manager Rob Evans worked for both NatureServe and The reprintedYork, Office if Manager.credit is given Original to the Nature Conservancy as a southeastern Northland College, where he was Sempervirens, and to the author regional vegetation ecologist, and selected for the first Sigurd Olson ofVirginia the material, Native Plantif named. Society, Readers to plant ecologist for the United States Fellowship Award. A native of the are invited to send letters, news Forest Service in Texas and botanist midwest, Rob spends his free time - for the National Forests in Florida. controlling invasive species in the eration. E-mail items to Nancy items, and queries for consid He holds a master’s from Stephen James River Park in Richmond and F. Austin University in Texas, and visiting natural areas across the Next submission deadline: Sorrells at [email protected]. 15, 2021 an undergraduate degree from eastern U.S. 10 Sempervirens, Summer 2021 ‘Pollinator-Smart’ enhances green energy costs of mowing non-native Igovernor signed Executive Order 43 grasses remain static over time, establishingn September ambitious 2019, the statewide Virginia clean while mowing for expertly energy goals including 30 percent of selected native plant species Virginia’s electric system powered from mixes go down as the plants renewable sources by 2030 and 100 become established. percent of electricity from carbon free To encourage solar sources by 2050. This, among other developers and operators incentives, has been the driving forces to consider this ecologically behind renewable energy development responsible approach, in 2019 the DEQ and the Department of Environmental Quality Department of Conservation (DEQ)in the Commonwealth. has issued 60 permits Since 2015,generating the and Recreation-Division of a little over 2,924 megawatts impacting Natural Heritage (DCR) teamed a total of approximately 34,630 acres. up with other experts to An additional 69 new projects have been establish a proposed (3,186 megawatts), totaling . (www. an additional 61,131 acres. dcr.virginia.gov/natural-Pollinator-Smart heritage/pollinator-smartProgram for Virginia ) of solar and onshore wind throughWith the the The voluntary program allows Virginiarequirement Clean of Economy over 16,000 Act, megawatts there is developers to assess their proposed The cover of Virginia’s Pollinator-Smart manual. potential for the development of over project including the planting plan and 200,000 acres in Virginia. other ecological assets of the facility network to facilitate the development of a using a scorecard to determine if they native seed industry in Virginia including solar industry in Virginia, momentum are Virginia ecotypes. The proposed Virginia is buildingWith the nationwide coming of to age combine of the native seed program is similar to the green renewable energy with other include meeting a comprehensive Pollinator-Smart manual criteria on to Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission howbenefit to establishpollinators. native Other pollinator resource habitat tools reduced soil and water runoff, the including the use of the DCR solar a collaborative effort among federal, captureenvironmental of atmospheric benefits carbon,including and (www. Native Seed Program established as the establishment of pollinator habitat dcr.virginia.gov/natural-heritage/ private organizations in 2016. on these solar sites. Most of our native native plant finder application) stateIn and March local of agencies, 2020, the non-profits Cople and pollinator species have co-evolved to develop the native seed mix for a with native plants and are dependent particularsolar-site-native-plants-finder physiographic province. This database application derived from the Elementary Solar Project in insect predators that reduce insect pest Flora of Virginia, a project sponsored by Westmorelandby the new County program. was The designated project specieson them that for foodimpact and agriculture shelter. Similarly, and as the first Pollinator-Smart Solar native bird species depend on native over 1,600 native species. Developers designationSite by including over 75% plants to support a diverse food supply. the Virginia Native Plant Society, includes coverachieved for the highestopen area Pollinator-Smart and panel The economics of solar projects are results of commercially available native zone of the facility in native pollinator also increased by more intensive use of speciescan query suitable the database for a particular providing locality species, using a diverse seed mix a diversity of native plant species. For and other site conditions such as light, of over 20 native species, selecting instance, evapotranspiration rates of moisture, blooming period and height pollinator plant species that bloom native broadleaf species compared to throughout the growing season, cool-season grasses have been shown to developing an approved vegetation reduce air temperature at a solar site and requirements. There is also a monitoring management plan and providing thus increase panel productivity. Annual businessplan to sustain plan including the Pollinator a grower’s Smart habitat for native pollinators. Through certification once established and a Sempervirens, Summer 2021 11

BEFORE & AFTER PLANTING POLLINATOR PLANTS Pollinator Plants & Solar Arrays in the Shenandoah Valley

Cople Elementary School in Westmoreland County, Virginia, became the state’s first gold certified pollinator-smart facility in Virginia. The top photo shows the ground under the newly-built project being prepared for planting. The bottom photo is of the project this summer during the second growing season. (Photos courtesy of Ernst Pollinator Service and VHB) the development of solar energy, the opportunities for students, faculty elementary school expects to save $3.6 million in energy costs over the lifespan of the project. In addition, and the Westmoreland community. anFor email questions to the about pollinator-smart the Virginia team atPollinator-Smart [email protected] Program, please send. the initiative project designed by Sun —S. René Hypes, Project Review Coordinator (Photos courtesy Nancy Sorrells) provideTribe Solar, educ inational collaboration and research with the DCR, Division of Natural Heritage Westmoreland School System, will 12 Sempervirens, Summer 2021 Rare bumble bee visits retirement community The species has experienced OCanterbury on Chesapeake Bay dramatic decline in both in Virginiaver the Beach last three has convertedyears, Westminster population (abundance down to considerable amounts of turf to native about 14% of historic numbers) plant gardens. The primary goal of this and distribution (range reduced transformation has been to create wildlife by approximately 30%) over habitat while beautifying the campus. the past decade. As a result, the Commonwealth of Virginia lists it Bee, Bombus fraternus, bore witness as an “imperiled” species. Recently, a Southern Plains Bumble Despite the vulnerable status of its species, this individual turned to our success (Sam Droege, a bee up to take pollen and nectar from expert from USGS confirmed this ID). Southern Plains Bumble Bee, Bombus fraternus the new wildlife gardens. The the Joe Pye Weed planted in

andSouthern other Plansnative Bumble bees draw Bee sustenance is not fromalone. the Numerous gardens. species Just goes of tobutterflies show that planting natives really can help preserve

our natural heritage! Buckeye Butterfly on Seaside Goldenrod. —Janet Pawlukiewicz (Photos courtesy Janet Pawlukiewicz)

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