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NativeSCAPE
Hydrangea
quercifolia
Published by the Georgia Native Plant Society
January 2011
What‘s Bugging Your Garden?
Volume XVII, Number 1
by Ellen Honeycutt
Page 3
How to Kill an Azalea
By Ken Gohring
President‘s Message
2
Plant Rescue News
14
Chapter News
15
Plant Focus
16
My Botanical Illustrations, A Walk Through the
Calendar Year
Member Focus
18
By Linda Fraser
Upcoming GNPS Events
20
Website Update
22
Membership Renewal
23
Newsletter Editor
Sharon Parry
Newsletter staff:
Ellen Honeycutt and
Lisa Betz, Proofreaders
NativeSCAPE is published
quarterly by the Georgia
Native Plant Society. A
subscription is included
with membership in the
GNPS.
Page 6
A Visit to Russell Cave National Monument,
Bridgeport, Alabama
By Gina Strickland
Page 8
2011 Plant of the Year
Mapleleaf Viburnum (Viburnum acerifolium)
Page 10
Certificate in Native Plants Program in January
The State Botanical Garden of Georgia launches its fourth year.
Copyright 2011 by the
Georgia Native Plant
Society. All rights
reserved. Articles may
not be reprinted without
permission of the
author.
Page 5
Page 12
Book Review:
Gil Nelson‘s Best Native Plants for Southern Gardens
Page 13
2
Georgia Native Plant Society
P.O. Box 422085
Atlanta, GA 30342-2085
www.gnps.org
770-343-6000
GNPS Board of Directors
President
Ellen Honeycutt
Vice President
Jacqueline McRae
Secretary
Marcie Radokovich
Treasurer
Paula Reith
Members-at-Large:
Charles Brown
Susan Hanson
Pat Smith
Director of Communications
David Haimbach
Director of Conservation
Marcia Winchester
Director of Education
Julie Newell
Director of Membership
Jane Trentin
About your membership in the
Georgia Native Plant Society
Your membership dues and
donations help support our mission
which is:
To promote the stewardship and
conservation of Georgia‘s native
plants and their habitats By sponsoring meetings, workshops,
an annual symposium, grants,
scholarships, the native plant rescue
program, and this newsletter utilizing an all-volunteer staff of
dedicated native plant enthusiasts.
We look forward to and appreciate
your continued support.
Membership renewal forms for 2011
can now be completed online or by
completing the form on the last
page of this news letter.
NativeSCAPE January 2011
President‘s Message
By Ellen Honeycutt
Happy New Year! If you don‘t have a New Year‘s resolution yet, I‘ll be happy to lend you
mine: “I resolve to help more people learn about the beauty and importance of Georgia’s
native plants and conserving the habitats that support them.” GNPS affords us all a way to
do just that, so please join us in helping GNPS reach as many new people as possible.
While we look ahead to the good things we can do in 2011, it‘s inspiring to reflect on our
accomplishments from 2010. In February we participated in the Southeastern Flower Show
and won an impressive slate of awards for our exhibit designed by Shannon Pable. Then
there was our snowed-out Symposium – what timing for Atlanta‘s only snowstorm of 2010!
April was a busy month with our Garden Tour (which was featured in the AJC) and our return
-from-the-drought Plant Sale at McFarlane Nature Park. The Plant Sale, long overdue and
much anticipated, was a stunning success even with a thunderstorm during the event.
In August, the Board was pleased to officially welcome our first new chapter: the West
Georgia Chapter of GNPS, based in Carrollton, GA. In September we were able to reschedule
our Symposium and had a wonderful time. Rescues returned to pre-drought levels, saving
plants which found new homes not only with you, but with your friends, restoration
programs and plant sale customers.
In between all those things, we held bi-monthly meetings with speakers, awarded grant
monies, hosted field trips, sponsored several excellent workshops at our Stone Mountain
Propagation Project area, and toiled cheerfully through monthly (and more) workdays at
SMPP, our adopted trail at Heritage Park in Mableton, and our newest restoration sites at
Buffalo Creek in Carrollton and Mary Scott Nature Preserve in DeKalb County. Volunteers
also staffed tables for GNPS at several events around the metro Atlanta area, from Morrow
to Murrayville, helping to spread the word about our organization.
Just recently we launched a Facebook page for GNPS to help reach more new people. This
will serve as a complement to our website, alerting people to events and resource materials
on gnps.org. Look for us there and your support will help your friends find us too. Like many
organizations, our membership is down over the last few years. You can help by introducing
others to GNPS, inviting them to meetings and other events so they can see the value in
supporting our efforts.
Thanks to good plant sales, donations, and thrifty management of our resources, the GNPS
Board was able to approve monetary gifts to two organizations at the end of 2010: the
Georgia Natural Heritage Program and the North Georgia College and State University
predator beetle lab. In this economy, programs like these can use extra funds and GNPS is
pleased to be able to help. Read more about what these organizations do on our website.
What a busy year! Can we top it? We sure can – with your help and support, we reach
further every year. I hope that each and every one of you will take a more active role in the
Society. We have committee openings for whatever your interest might be and could
certainly use your help at any level. I look forward to seeing you at an event in 2011.
3
NativeSCAPE January 2011
What‘s Bugging Your Garden?
Text and Photos by Ellen Honeycutt
As I walk around my yard – surveying my ―queendom‖ as my
friend Shirley Center says – sometimes I find unusual things.
Perhaps an unexpected bloom or a beautifully colored leaf …
or sometimes I find branches that are stripped of their leaves,
the ground littered with small black dots! These are the
hallmark signs of caterpillars.
Caterpillars are the larval stage of Lepidoptera species or
what most of us call Butterflies and Moths. In between
fluttering around to sip nectar from our flowering plants,
these creatures take a few moments to locate a place to lay
their eggs. Most of them will seek out particular plants, and
these are known as their ―host‖ plants. One of the most well
known host plants is Milkweed (Asclepias spp.). Monarch
Caterpillar on Hawthorn Leaf
butterfly caterpillars feed exclusively on Milkweed plants and
so the butterfly will only lay her eggs on plants in the genus
Asclepias. Lepidoptera that feed on only certain plants in their larval stage are known as ―specialists.‖ Those
that feed on a variety of plants are known as ―generalists.‖ The Moth Sibine stimulea is one such generalist; you
may know it better by the name associated with the larval form:
Saddleback caterpillar. I‘ve encountered this caterpillar on birch
trees, oaks, hazelnuts, blueberries, maples, cherries and
fothergilla.
Once the egg is laid – and sometimes only one is laid and
sometimes there are many – the larva emerges and begins to feed
on the plant itself, usually a leaf. What follows is a cycle
familiar to many of us from school: the caterpillar eats and grows
until it is mature enough to form a chrysalis. The chrysalis is
attached to a branch nearby (usually a different plant) and
remains there until the butterfly (or moth) emerges.
Gulf Fritillary Butterflies with Old Chrysalis Above
At the August meeting of the West Georgia GNPS chapter in
Carrollton, we heard member Gail Woody talk about how the Gulf
Fritillary butterfly lays a single egg on the tendril of the
Passiflora vine rather than on the leaf. I have a rambunctious
Passiflora lutea vine outside my front window so the next day I
looked carefully at some of the tendrils, and I found one – a
single egg right at the tip of the tendril! Within days, the vine
was covered in bright orange caterpillars.
New gardeners are often dismayed to find caterpillar damage on their plants. Perhaps they feel that they have
―failed‖ their plants by not protecting them from ―pests.‖ When it comes to native plants, however, that could
not be farther from the truth! Doug Tallamy is an entomologist with the University of Delaware who has produced
an enlightening book: Bringing Nature Home: How Native Plants Sustain Wildlife in Our Gardens. This book
illustrates with scientific research how native plants feed the insects that support our birds and other wildlife.
Native plants and native insects have evolved together – a perfect relationship that, for the specialists, can be no
other way. According to research cited by Dr. Tallamy, ―up to 90 percent of all phytophagous insects are
considered specialists.‖ Phytophagus insects are those that feed on plants.
(Continued on next page)
4
NativeSCAPE January 2011
What‘s Bugging Your Garden?
(Continued from previous page)
So let them eat! Still dismayed? Don‘t be – in a healthy ecosystem, all components are kept in check. Most of the
caterpillars will be eaten by birds that need them for protein for themselves and their chicks. Some will get eaten
by other insects, and those insects will be eaten by more birds or small mammals.
Sure, sometimes a caterpillar or two can defoliate a
small plant. I discovered that my 18 inch Aralia
spinosa (Devil‘s Walking Stick) was down to its last few
leaflets thanks to 3 plump tobacco hornworm
caterpillars. I know the plant will be fine come spring;
it was mostly done with those leaves anyway. I found
another one on a young Ilex verticillata (Winterberry).
After the caterpillar was gone, it put out some new
leaves to replace the ones that had been eaten.
Of course there are other bugs that feed on plants.
Japanese beetles are a well known type of generalist
beetle that eats plants. This is not the pest we want
in our garden, however, because it is competition for
the native insects. You should be aware that Japanese
Hornworm on Aralia spinosa
beetle larvae overwinter in grass
roots, so reducing the amount of turf
may help or you can research treating the turf with Milky Spore. I recently
encountered a Katydid on one of my oak trees; this insect also feeds on plants and can
itself be a tasty treat for large birds (and my cats!). Don‘t forget the spiders … while
they don‘t eat plants themselves, spiders help keep the numbers of other insects in
check. If they are not in your way, leave them to do their work in keeping things in
balance.
Here are some good websites for
identifying caterpillars and bugs:
http://www.discoverlife.org/
mp/20q?guide=Caterpillars
http://www.whatsthatbug.com/
Katydid on Oak
http://
www.backyardnature.net/
caterpil.htm
Praying Mantis
Tussock Moth on Fothergilla
5
NativeSCAPE January 2011
How to Kill an Azalea
By Ken Gohring
On a forum on the Internet there was a discussion on how to kill an azalea. One individual indicated that a good way
to kill them would be to move them to his yard. A common refrain often heard from our members is ―I finally learned
how to stop murdering them!‖
Over the years, I suppose I have killed quite a few azaleas. When I built my present home, I was determined to use
azaleas extensively in the landscape. I planted several one gallon plants throughout my yard and around my home.
They were doing OK until I decided that I should try to speed them on to bloom size. I purchased a high nitrogen
fertilizer and generously applied it to my new plants. To my dismay, several of the plants soon started to wilt and
die. I realized I had applied too much fertilizer and quickly went about trying to salvage them. I physically removed
any visible fertilizer and watered liberally. I saved most of the plants but lost several. Over fertilization is definitely
one way to kill an azalea. I believe that the fertilization would not have killed established plants but I learned the
hard way to be careful when fertilizing new plants.
Other ways to kill azaleas include over- watering, bad site
selection, planting at the wrong time of the year, poor
planting practices, selection of the wrong species or
cultivar, inadequate mulching, and - the primary reason
why azaleas die - neglect to provide adequate watering,
primarily during the first and second growing seasons.
First, select a site with good drainage. Dig a hole where
you want to plant and fill the hole with water. If the
water is absorbed by the soil in ten minutes, then that
site has adequate drainage. If, however, the water
remains after 10 minutes and you still absolutely want
your azalea at that location, mix in ample pine bark or
other compost and position the plant on a mound such
that the majority of the root ball is above the normal soil
line. Most losses due to over-watering are the result of
inadequate drainage.
One that Made It: Rhododendron canescens
Photo: Ken Gohring
Excessive heat is a concern and planting on the east or
north side of a house is one way to protect from afternoon
sun. Too much sun sometimes results in quick bloom fade. However, one should avoid planting in deep shade as lack
of sun results in poor bloom set, especially with native azaleas. Planting under tall pines is generally good practice.
Planting time is critical. The fall of the year is a good time to plant in Georgia. I planted several native azaleas this
spring and, though I watered, I guess I did not water enough. That, coupled with the hot summer that we
experienced, resulted in the loss of about 50% of the plants. In the past I have used drip systems and more
transplants survived.
Plant selection is important. Try to obtain plants that were grown locally. Seek out local nurseries and ask them
where their plants come from. Many plants available at the big box stores are shipped in from distant sites and these
plants may not adapt well to our local soil and climate. Newly planted azaleas should be watered regularly until their
roots have become established. This is usually the first year or two. In times of low rainfall, all plants, including
established ones, must be watered. Good gardening practices also include mulching well, which helps to keep the
roots cool, conserve moisture, and stabilize the soil.
For more information on azalea care, please visit The Azalea Chapter of the American Rhododendron Society.
6
NativeSCAPE January 2011
My Botanical Illustrations, A Walk Through the Calendar Year
By Linda Fraser
Because I was not familiar with many of Atlanta's native plants when we moved
here thirty-two years ago, I started to collect a herbarium (dried plants) of each
plant on our property. I soon had boxes and boxes of twigs, leaves, notes,
etc... and realized that the best way for me, an artist, to study the plants and
learn to recognize them was to draw them. I now have over a hundred paintings
that travel as the educational exhibit, A Walk through the Calendar Year. As
plants appear in my neighborhood, I keep a record of first bloom and last bloom,
and the location. This is called a phenology. Whenever I have an opportunity to
paint, I go to my records to learn where there is a plant ready to be painted. A
flowering plant may be painted in the spring and then later in the year when it
has fruit. There are insects, etc.. hiding in most of the paintings. It can be like
"Where's Waldo?"
A botanical illustration should answer every question someone might have about
that plant. Therefore, the first priority is to learn everything you can about
your plant from respected books and experts. Then you can select a specimen
that is the best typical example. That spectacular, interesting bloom that is the
Jack in the Pulpit
exception to the rule won't serve your purpose of a botanical illustration. An
(Arisaema triphyllum)
early mistake I made was the selection of the most interesting and colorful
cluster of fruits of Jack in the Pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum) that I could
find. The berries start out green but ripen to a bright red. I chose to paint a cluster that included green and orange
immature berries the same size as the red ones. After painting them, I stood back and realized they looked like a
bunch of M & M candies. I changed my painting to illustrate a cluster one would be more likely to find, a bright red
cluster with insignificant immature berries.
Plants don't sit still! Outdoors, blossoms may follow the sun's tour across the
sky; winds can blow your blossom apart; or they simply wilt and die.
I prefer to dig smaller plants and put them in a pot. I draw and paint them
indoors where the light is stationary and we are all comfortable. My Pink Lady'sslipper (Cypripedium acaule) continued to bloom in the pot for several years
afterwards, but getting smaller each year. I eventually put it back in the ground
and lost it.
I draw blossoms first because leaves and twigs will last longer than flowers. I try
to have an understudy standing by in case I lose my original subject.
The mechanics of posing your plant can be hilarious. Vines may have to be hung
from a chandelier. The base of a horizontal branch may be barely submerged in
a flat pan of water which is perched on top of a tower of boxes, while the tip of
the branch is supported by anything else you can find. Whatever works! All of
this is not only to provide a pleasing composition, but to show all the information
Pink Lady‘s-slipper
needed to identify the plant. Are the leaves opposite or alternate? How does the
(Cypripedium acaule)
top of the leaf differ from the underside? The pattern of the veins, the shape of
the stem (square or round), and the surface textures (smooth, fuzzy, etc..) of all parts of the plant should be
illustrated. Of course color and size should be accurate.
(Continued on next page)
7
NativeSCAPE January 2011
My Botanical Illustrations, A Walk Through the Calendar Year
(Continued from previous page)
I only work from live specimens. And that is how I come across many of my insects. As I was painting the Partridgepea (Cassia fasciculata), I noticed a green caterpillar and a yellow one, each resembling the developing seedpods. My
mission is to report what I see so I put them in my painting as I found them. Years later, in a lecture, I heard
that Cloudless Sulphur (Phoebis sennae) caterpillars are variable in color and habit- the yellow ones feed on flowers,
the dark ones feed on stems. I could hardly wait to check my painting and see if that's the way I painted them. It is.
Partridge-pea (Cassia fasciculata)
There is no substitution for personal observation. Botanical artists throughout the
centuries have included insects and other critters that are consistently found
with the plant they are illustrating. Because the Cloudless Sulphur butterfly is
always found with the Partridge-pea flowers, which it resembles, by the way, I
knew I should include the butterfly in my painting. But, when I put one in a big
jar to paint his portrait, he wouldn't sit still. He kept trying to fly through the
glass. As I didn't yet have the heart to sacrifice a little life for the sake of art or
science, I let him go and, instead, painted the red wasp which is also always
found on the plant. I had no qualms about killing a wasp (I put him in the
freezer). Later I learned about John Abbot (1751-ca.1840) who arrived in
Georgia in February, 1776, and spent sixty years studying and illustrating
southeastern butterflies and other insects and the plants on which they were
found. His collected specimens were displayed in major natural history
collections of Europe. When I saw his illustration of Partridge-pea, I was so glad I
had not put the Cloudless Sulphur in my painting- it would have looked like I had
copied him. But how wonderful it is that, for at least two hundred years, that
plant and that butterfly have worked and survived together. (We can assume
that Abbot did kill his butterfly to paint it.)
I try to include other plants that I find blooming on that particular day, side by
side with my subject, in that particular environment. A plant that enjoys a
dry, sunny location would not be next to one that requires a lot of moisture. I
often include ground clutter of fallen leaves, faded flowers, or seed pods in
that spot, as added information about the subject; the kind of soil, moisture,
and pH the plant prefers will be related to the trees and shrubs above it.
With all these considerations, the final question is, " Is this an attractive
painting?" At the New York Historical Society, I learned that Audubon would
often draw and erase, and draw and erase until he erased right through the
paper. Then he would patch it up with a torn piece of paper and continue to
draw until he got it just right. I have not had to do that, but I did, one time,
peel off a little mushroom I had regretted including in a painting. It had
spoiled the balance of the composition and now is in my journal.
I hope my illustrations of southeastern native plants will promote interest and
appreciation of their excellent qualities, which are sometimes taken for
granted.
From the Editor: Please visit Linda‘s website at:
http://www.lindafraserartist.com/
Round-lobed Hepatica (Hepatica americana)
Heartleaf (Hexastylis arifolia)
8
NativeSCAPE January 2011
A Visit to Russell Cave National Monument, Bridgeport, Alabama
By Gina Strickland
As a Georgia native I have hiked many of the area
parks and trails over the last 40 years. I almost missed
a real treasure. Located in the northeastern corner of
Alabama, Russell Cave National Monument is 8 miles
from the town of Bridgeport. The cave and trails are
located in Doran‘s Cove. For those interested in
Native American history, bird watching, archeology,
geology and native plants of the southeast, Russell
Cave is a great place to visit. The park is comprised
of 310 acres that was donated by the National
Geographic Society to the American people. It was
signed into law as a national monument by President
John F. Kennedy in 1961. Native Americans inhabited
the cave from 6500 B.C. until the mid 17th century,
one of the longest records in North America, making it
an important archeological site. Each year in May the
park hosts a Native American Festival. The limestone
Mike and Gina Strickland at Russell Cave
Photo: Mike Strickland
formations along the trails are unusual and interesting
and really spark the visitor‘s imagination about the
forces of water and pressures that formed them. Russell Cave is site 44 on the North Alabama Birding Trail and
although there are many species that can be observed, it is best known for its Tanagers.
Mike and I visited on Halloween weekend. There was a brief cold snap in the weather. We enjoyed the nip in the air
and the beautiful fall leaves by taking the less traveled route instead of the expressway. We took Hwy 101 out of
Villa Rica by way of Rome which eventually turns into Hwy 48 until the state line when it becomes Alabama Hwy 117.
I really enjoyed the pastoral views as we traveled. It was a relaxing change from the traffic noise and billboards of
the I-75 corridor that would normally have taken us to Chattanooga then south to Bridgeport which is the alternate
route from Atlanta.
The turn into the park is well marked with a large roadside sign for the National Monument. The drive into the park is
very scenic with open parkland and widely spaced trees as visitors arrive at the visitors‘ center. Inside is a museum
that covers the 9,000 years that Native Americans used the cave. There are glass case displays of artifacts that
illustrate the evolution of tools and pottery over time. There is also a movie theatre with an educational video about
the site.
After exiting the rear of the visitors‘ center, a raised boardwalk trail leads to the cave on the lower level and to an
upper trail where one can view a large sink hole that was once another cave. A long ago roof collapse resulted in the
hole we see today. We visited the sink hole first. There is an overlook area with an educational hand-crank audio box
that explains the view. Although it was fall, we recognized some familiar native plants around the overlook area. This
included Christmas fern (Polystichum acrostichoides), ebony spleenwort (Asplenium platyneuron), and fernleaf
phacelia (Phacelia bipinnatifida) that should make a nice show in late March or early April. We backtracked down to
the lower trail that led to the cave area. Russell cave has a double opening in the limestone hillside. The left cave
entrance has a creek that flows into it which is named ‗Dry Creek‘ although it is flowing and is of a fair size. The
boardwalk leads you around towards the right side very close to the limestone outcrop wall. This is where the view of
the native plants gets really nice. We spotted coral bells (Heuchera americana), sharp lobed hepatica (Hepatica
acutiloba), lime stonecrop (Sedum pulchellum), and rue anemone (Thalictrum thalictroides).
(Continued on next page)
9
NativeSCAPE January 2011
A Visit to Russell Cave National Monument, Bridgeport, Alabama
(Continued from Previous Page)
All of these could be spotted growing and hanging from little niches and tiny promontories in the stone wall above the
boardwalk. Immediately beyond the railing is some of the largest Hydrangea arborescens that I have seen. I would
estimate these are at least 6 feet tall and the bloom heads were quite large. The hydrangea was growing quite thick
for about 100 feet at this point on the boardwalk trail and continued up to the cave entrance. The cave roof actually
overhangs a few of the larger hydrangeas so those particular specimens had blooms that were not yet affected by the
recent frost. Visitors cannot walk on the cave floor or go into the cave beyond the boardwalk due to the protection of
the cave species and any remaining artifacts. There is a species of scorpion that lives in the caves that is found
nowhere else. Viewable from the boardwalk is a diorama illustrating some examples of Native Americans as they
might have been at work or at rest in the cave. As we walked past the exhibit, the left side of the boardwalk trail
exits the cave and climbs upward in height. At this point you can overlook the cove floor, which is covered with a
variety of ferns. I observed red stemmed lady fern (Athyrium filix femina), Christmas fern (Polysticum
acrostichoides), ebony spleenwort (Asplenium platyneuron), cinnamon fern (Osmunda cinnamomea), and royal fern
(Osmunda regalis). The fern coverage is quite thick and lush, probably due to the raised boardwalk and railing that
prevents wayward hikers from disturbing the plant life, providing a glimpse of what an undisturbed forest floor looks
like.
Next we went to the upper trail past the sink hole, to the hiking trail. At this point the boardwalk ends and the hiking
trail switches back and forth up the side of the mountain. It is hard to say which I enjoyed more on this trail, the
rocky outcrops or the plants growing on the rocks. Because it is a limestone hillside and has been weathered by water
for centuries, some of the rock forms are very interesting and entertaining. I encourage anyone who walks this trail to
go slowly and really look at the rocks along the trail. Some have very deep tubes and are situated vertically so it is
easy to imagine that in a heavy rain these might run with water like drain pipes. We had fun imagining shapes of
animals and other familiar objects. One stone in particular looked like a large blacksmith‘s anvil and another like a
rhinoceros complete with horn.
Many of these boulders are covered with plants. We
observed resurrection fern (Pleopeltis polypodioides), rock
cap fern (Polypodium virginianum) and walking fern
(Asplenium rhizophyllum), which is in great abundance on
the boulder tops. I am an admitted mossophile and this is
definitely a good place to observe mosses, lichens and
liverworts. The moss on top of some boulders surrounds
sedum, heuchera, rue anemone, violets, rock cap fern and
climbing fern (Lygodium palmatum.) Beautyberry
(Callicarpa americana) was abundant with large specimens
full of shiny bright purple berries. Mike and I know many of
our native songbirds; we observed quite a few familiar
friends as we walked, including a pileated woodpecker. The
backside or downhill portion of the trail is dense in
Rock Cap Fern (Polypodium virginianum) and Walking Fern
(Asplenium rhizophyllum)
undergrowth which gave us a feeling of seclusion and a
better opportunity to observe the birds which hopped among Photo: Mike Strickland
the shrubs eating berries.
We really enjoyed this visit to the Russell Cave National Monument, and plan to return in the spring to see what
plants are in bloom. On the way home we stopped at nearby Bridgeport, Alabama, to visit a train museum and the
walking bridge that crosses the Tennessee River which was part of the Trail of Tears and also the site of a major Civil
War battle. Bridgeport and Russell Cave offer quite a lot for visitors. Mike and I hope you will take the opportunity to
visit some day.
10
NativeSCAPE January 2011
2011 Plant of the Year
Mapleleaf Viburnum (Viburnum acerifolium)
Voted the GNPS 2011 Plant of the Year, mapleleaf
viburnum (Viburnum acerifolium) is a shrub native to
thickets and shaded woods from New Brunswick,
Canada, west to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan,
south to Florida and west to Texas. It grows naturally
in mesic, mixed woods on slopes, bluffs and ravines.
It can be a loosely shaped shrub up to 6 feet tall that
extends itself colonially, suckering to produce a
colony of plants in the right conditions.
Viburnum acerifolium in Bloom
Photo: Ellen Honeycutt
As the name suggests, the leaf of Viburnum
acerifolium resembles that of a maple, particularly a
red maple (Acer rubrum). The oppositely arranged
leaves of the Viburnum is the same arrangement as
the maple, making identification of this plant in the
field just a bit more tricky when it is not in bloom.
The leaves of Viburnum acerifolium are 2 to 5 inches
long and wide, medium to dark green in color and
often have 3 lobes. The edges are serrated and
often have impressed veins.
Mapleleaf viburnum flowers in the spring. The blooms are on
the ends of the twigs, off-white in 1 to 3 inch wide, flattopped inflorescences composed of many small flowers (the
flower structure is known as a ―cyme‖). Properly pollinated
flowers turn into clusters of berries that turn from green to
dark blue in the fall. The fruit is considered to be a drupe, a
fleshy fruit with a single seed that has a stony seed coat or
endocarp. The fruit is popular with birds and rarely persists
through the winter. The mature fruit is also consumed by
many species of mammals.
The low-growing and colonial habit of the mapleleaf
viburnum provides both nesting and escape cover for birds
and small mammals.
Viburnum acerifolium with Berries
Photo: Ellen Honeycutt
(Continued on next page)
11
NativeSCAPE January 2011
2011 Plant of the Year
Continued from Previous Page
Viburnums are in the
Caprifoliaceae or
Honeysuckle family which
includes many flowering
shrubs.
Fall leaf color is
spectacular on mapleleaf
viburnum. The leaves
can range from pale
yellow to magenta on the
same plant, but often the
colors are shades of pink.
Michael Dirr describes the
colors as ―shades of
florescent pink and rosered to grape-juice purplered.‖ Leaf color starts as
early as October and can
last into November,
depending on location.
Once the leaves drop,
leaf and bloom buds for
next spring are quite
visible on the bare twigs.
Mapleleaf viburnum is an
Viburnum acerifolium—Fall Color
Photo: Ellen Honeycutt
excellent garden plant,
particularly given its
natural ability to thrive in part shade conditions and drier soils. This shrub would be well sited under a canopy of
deciduous/mixed pine trees with perennials like native ferns and herbaceous flowering plants. It prefers acidic
conditions. It also works well in a shrub border or as a foundation plant under tall windows. If pruning is required,
it should be pruned after flowering since it flowers on old wood; pruning late in the year will result in fewer
flowers the next spring.
Viburnum acerifolium is not often found in the nursery trade – the production of Viburnum trilobum (now
Viburnum opulus L. var. americanum) seems more common – but it is a plant that is worthy of more attention both
from nurseries and landscapers. It can be propagated from seed and cuttings. In the garden, branches that touch
the ground can root; these rooted branches can then be separated from the parent and planted elsewhere or
shared with friends.
In addition to supporting pollinator insects, mapleleaf viburnum is the larval host for the Spring Azure butterfly.
12
NativeSCAPE January 2011
State Botanical Garden Kicks Off Fourth Year of Native Plants Program
The State Botanical Garden of Georgia in Athens is launching the fourth year of its Certificate in Native Plants
Program in January 2011. This popular program has drawn plant lovers from across north Georgia, with people
traveling from as far as Rome.
Students learn from experts about all aspects of Georgia‘s native plants, including tree and wildflower identification,
native plant propagation, natural history, and plant conservation, earning certificates through coursework, volunteer
hours, and field trips.
―The Certificate Program has attracted a wide variety of students from across Georgia, from landscape designers to
wildlife managers to folks who just love the outdoors and plants,‖ says Botanical Garden Education Director, Anne
Shenk. ―Our graduates have the knowledge and skills they need to be better naturalists, gardeners, and
conservationists.‖
Classes on offer in 2011 include basic botany, plant conservation, natural history of Georgia plants, summer and
winter tree identification, spring and fall wildflowers, wetland plant ecology, plant photography, and propagation
from seed and cuttings.
Classes, field trips, and volunteer opportunities are offered year-round, usually on Saturdays. Classes emphasize
hands-on learning, with a lab or field component included in each class. Volunteer opportunities include seed
collecting and propagation, habitat restoration, and native plant landscaping in local parks. No prior training or
experience is required to sign up for the program.
Michele Ambler, of Suwannee, who graduated with her certificate in January 2010, commented: ―The combination of
indoor classroom studies with outdoor nature walks provided the perfect opportunity to quench my thirst for learning.
CNP is a wonderful contribution to my lifelong desire to connect with a sense of place.‖
Mike Wasko, a 2010 CNP graduate and bog restoration volunteer, said: ―My participation in the CNP program has
given me a much greater appreciation of the natural environment around me and allowed me to experience first-hand
the great diversity of plants in Georgia. I‘ve met some great people, and enjoyed working to preserve and restore a
small piece of the environment around me.‖
To earn the certificate, participants take four full-day
core courses, six half-day electives, and participate in
eight hours of field trips and 16 hours of volunteer
service. Linda Chafin, Conservation Botanist at the
State Botanical Garden who teaches wildflower and
tree identification classes, stated: ―I believe
knowledge is power – Certificate graduates are given
what they need to be better advocates for the
conservation of Georgia‘s natural resources,
particularly our native plants.‖
For more information or to register, call Cora Keber at
706-542-6156 or visit the Garden‘s education website
at http://www.uga.edu/botgarden/educnp.html.
Class of 2009 from left to right: Joel Hitt, Cynthia Fielder, Denise Hartline,
Ed McDowell, Jane O‘Brien, Joyce Stewart, Margaret Rasmussen, Susan Todd
13
NativeSCAPE January 2011
Book Review: Gil Nelson‘s Best Native Plants for Southern Gardens
By Leah Pine, Landscape Architect and Arborist (leahpine.com)
When I agreed to review Best Native Plants for Southern
Gardens: A Handbook for Gardeners, Homeowners, and
Professionals, by Gil Nelson (University Press of Florida,
2010), I planned to borrow a copy. I try to keep a tight
rein on my spending with regard to garden design books,
and I figured I had what I needed.
But then I started thumbing through it at the sales table
and made myself a nuisance. Nelson’s book is packed
with information. It is the sort of book that makes you
want to curl up with it, idly thumbing through it and
reading choice bits and admiring the photographs. And I
was doing just that at the GNPS conference, perched on
any available sofa, blocking traffic and tripping people,
with my nose in the book. So I had to buy it.
Nelson’s book does address the needs of what can be
very different groups: homeowners, gardeners, and
professionals. For those new to the idea of gardening
with natives, there are discussions of: native plant
communities, invasives, theme gardens such as wildlife
and butterfly gardens, and plant families offering
dependable plants for the garden. For professionals,
there is detailed information on cultivars, diseases, plant
families and references to classic texts on various
sidebar subjects. Excellent photographs are scattered
throughout.
Nelson’s book is a treasure chest of information. But it is not always easy to find things in a treasure chest. One tends
to rummage through them, tossing things here and there to find the interesting bits underneath, and then losing those
under the next fascinating discovery. The book is not organized in a way that makes it easy to find things and then
remember how to find them again. (Luckily, there is an index.) But that is also what makes it so much fun.
The section on hollies and the discussions and photographs of many of the other recommended plants are an excellent
addition to the books I frequently consult as a design professional.
It is also useful to have so much related information--ecological history, classic references, new diseases, invasives,
and so forth--in one book. I must remember to allow myself time when I consult Nelson’s book, however, because I will
almost certainly get lost in his treasure trove of stories.
14
NativeSCAPE January 2011
Native Plant Rescue News
By Lynn Almand
I've just sent the rescue year-end report to the board, and I'm still all puffed up like the birds on
the feeder outside my window. Yes, it's cold, but my puffed-up-ed-ness is due to pride. Our rescue
stats surpassed 2009, and that means our facilitators gave you even more rescues than the year
before.
Here are the stats:
Total number of rescues: 69
Facilitator activity:
Led a rescue
69
Co-facilitated
131
Number of active facilitators: 36
Number of requests to attend rescues: 731
That's a lot of planning and time spent by our facilitators to make sure we are saving plants from destruction, teaching members
(and guests) about our lovely natives, and collecting plants for our GNPS projects. And of course you are right out there with us
collecting plants for GNPS projects, the plant sale, your own projects, or your garden. Bravo to the facilitators and the rescuers!
We added one new site in 2010, and we are looking for more. Development seems to be waking up in some areas, and we need lots
of eyes to find new rescue sites. Mike Strickland, our webmaster and fellow facilitator, created a place on the website
(www.gnps.org) for you to tell us about potential sites. On the rescue schedule page find the words, Potential Rescue Site
Information Form, and complete the online form. This creates an email to the site procurement team: Andrea Greco, Sheri
George, Paul Shivers, Russell Brannon, and Lynn Almand. Do you have an interest in being even more involved with finding
potential rescue sites? Please contact me. For more information about finding potential sites, please visit the Plant Rescue FAQ on
our website.
Favorite rescue plant
I asked our facilitators to send me the name of their favorite rescue plant. Lisa Betz and Andrea Greco submitted Hepatica
americana, or Round-lobed Hepatica, Liverleaf. Here‘s what they had to say about this little beauty:
Why it’s my favorite: (Lisa) It is a charmer. Even though Hepatica is a very delicate looking plant, it‘s probably the toughest
wildflower in my woods. Spotting it on a rescue is a rescue blessing and absolutely delights everyone who finds one. It blooms very
early in the year, sometimes even when it‘s partially covered with snow. Also the evergreen leaves are very attractive—rounded,
leathery, evergreen; sometimes mottled with red or purple. (Andrea) It‘s ADORABLE and has a really pretty flower, subtle but nice.
The best way to dig and transplant it: (Lisa) Make sure you get most of the roots and
transplant it in a similar setting. Its preferred habitat are woods, light, acid soil on
hillsides. Sometimes we find it growing on top of rocks. I have never lost a Hepatica
that I rescued. Needs some sunlight for flowering. Be patient, Hepatica roots grow
slowly. (Andrea) Digging: Don‘t tear the roots, but otherwise it‘s not a deep one—not
hard to dig.
Good companion plants: (Lisa) mountain laurel, rue anemone, wild ginger, ebony
spleenwort, partridge berry, bloodroot. (Andrea) Good in partial shade, put it
somewhere you‘ll notice it, because it‘s tiny.
The February rescue schedule will be out soon. Maybe we‘ll find your favorite plant in
2011.
Hepatica americana
Photo: Mike Strickland
15
NativeSCAPE January 2011
Chapter News
By Flo Hayes
On October 16, the West Georgia Chapter held its 2nd annual Fall Workshop. The program began with a presentation by Dr. David
Morgan, Professor of Plant Systematics at the University of West Georgia. He discussed the plant survey he's conducting at
McIntosh Reserve in Carroll County, sharing photographs taken during collection trips. He also spent some time talking about the
impact of the historic flooding that occurred in September 2009. During a break after Dr. Morgan's talk, Gina Strickland
demonstrated how to create a small planter using natives. Afterwards, Tom Patrick, Botanist with the Georgia Natural Heritage
Program, gave a wonderful talk and slide presentation on Trilliums of Georgia.
Each year, the Carroll County Extension Office presents Ag Heritage Days. For two days, students from around the county come to
learn how settlers and American Indians lived in the area. On the third day, the exhibits and demonstrations are open to the
public. The Chapter was invited to have a manned display. Our display centered on using native plants as dyes. There were six dyes
demonstrated. Each had a dyed piece of cotton and linen displayed, along with a jar containing the solution used to dye the
materials. There were also samples of the plants as part of the display. The display board also told about food, cordage and other
ways native plants were used. There was quite a bit of interest in the display and many questions were asked about the display and
our organization. The display was manned by Mike Strickland and Wendell Hoomes.
Our annual business meeting was held on December 21. After enjoying a wonderful pot luck dinner, we got down to business and
elected the 2011 Board of Directors: Flo Hayes (President), Carol Hight (Vice President), Joyce Leighty (Secretary), Fran Forsyth
(Treasurer), Gina Strickland (Past President), Marc LaFountain (Chair Education Committee), Wendell Hoomes (Co-Chair Plant
Rescue Committee), and Mike Strickland (Co-Chair Plant Rescue Committee). Afterwards, Mike Strickland gave a talk and slide
presentation on Identifying Plants in the Off Season. Following the talk, attendees were encouraged to visit the table of plant
samples and ask questions.
(L-R): Mike Strickland (Co-Chair Plant Rescue Committee), Marc LaFountain (Chair Education
Commitee), Joyce Leighty (Secretary), Flo Hayes (President), Gina Strickland (Past President),
Carol Hight (Vice President)
Not Pictured: Fran Forsyth (Treasurer), Wendell Hoomes (Co-Chair Plant Rescue Committee)
We continue work on the Buffalo
Creek Outdoor Education
Area. We have had several
workdays this fall and have
accomplished both removing
invasive plants and planting some
rescued and donated natives. We
planted a nice drift of Christmas
ferns to separate the picnic tables
from the area designated and
already planted with some shadeloving natives. This created a nice
area where folks can picnic and
view a variety of native
wildflowers. We are excited to be
working with Wendell Hoomes,
who has offered to GPS map the
area and give us elevations and
other needed information. Georgia
Master Gardeners and others from
the community continue to be
excited about the project and
offer their support.
To learn more about the West Georgia Chapter and our programs and projects, please visit WWW.wgawildflowers.org.
16
NativeSCAPE January 2011
Plant Focus: Pipsissewa (Chimaphila maculata)
By Denise Hartline
A small evergreen plant found in dry, shady, woods with acid soil, Pipsissewa charmed me the first time I saw its
beautifully marked leaves peeking out from the leaf litter along a trail in Sweetwater Creek State Park. I even loved
its unusual sounding and fun to say common name (pip-SIS-eh-wah). In addition to the name Pipsissewa, Chimaphila
maculata has many common names including Spotted Wintergreen, Striped Wintergreen, Striped Prince‘s Pine,
Rheumatism Root, and more. Its genus name Chimaphila comes from the Greek word ―chima‖ for winter and ―phila‖
for love, which is a well chosen name for an evergreen plant. The species epithet maculata comes from the Latin
word ―macula,‖ meaning spotted. The popular common name Pipsissewa comes from the Cree Native American word
―pipsisikweu‖ which means "It-breaks-into-small-pieces."
In the past, Pipsissewa leaves were thought to contain a substance that could dissolve kidney stones, so it was used in
folk medicine for that purpose. It was also used to treat rheumatism and for a myriad of other purposes. There have
been reports that contact with the leaves may irritate the skin of some people. Although one of this plant‘s common
names is Spotted Wintergreen and it is in the Wintergreen family, it is not
the edible wintergreen used to flavor candy. The edible wintergreen is
Gaultheria procumbens.
Pipsissewa‘s thick, waxy, lanceolate and serrated leaves are embellished
with white to light greenish stripes, and look almost like small tapestries
worked on a darker green background. During early summer, Pipsissewa
sends up a reddish stalk with one to three white to pinkish bell-like
nodding flowers. The small, ¾ inch flowers are exquisite, and definitely
worth bending down for a closer look at them! After the flowers are
pollinated they turn upward 180 degrees and then develop brown seed
capsules that often persist through the winter.
Pipsissewa reproduces both sexually with seed and asexually with
underground rhizomes, so where you find one you should be able to see
more coming up from the rhizomes. Pipsissewa is a pipsqueak of a plant at
only about 2 to 8 inches of height. Often you won‘t see it until your
footsteps happen to kick up some leaf litter and uncover it. Pipsissewa is
supposed to be easily recognizable by its evergreen leaves with the
prominent white to light greenish stripe down the middle. However from
about September to May, when Pipsissewa is not in bloom, I have on more
than one occasion confused Pipsissewa with Downy Rattlesnake Plantain
(Goodyera pubescens) if the plants happen to be missing their bloom stalks
and seed capsules.
Chimaphila maculata in Bloom
Photo: Janet Novak, CT Botanical Society, 2000
(Continued on next page)
17
NativeSCAPE January 2011
Plant Focus: Pipsissewa (Chimaphila maculata)
(Continued from Previous Page)
The two plants are in different families (Downy Rattlesnake Plantain is in the Orchid family) and are very different
plants. But without the ―flower clues‖ provided by a flower, bloom stalk or seed capsule, these two plants can be
confusing since they both have evergreen leaves with a prominent stripe down the middle and grow in the same
areas. After I had seen both non-blooming plants together in the same area enough times, I finally figured out the
differences. Here are photos of both plants with some details that may help in differentiating Pipsissewa and Downy
Rattlesnake Plantain when they are not in bloom:
Downy Rattlesnake Plantain
(Goodyera pubescens)
- Leaves are in rosette form close to the ground
- The oval leaves have smooth edges
- Fine white netlike veins are present on the
leaves
-The beginning of a new flower stalk is present
in this photo
Photo Credit: Janet Novak, CT Botanical
Society, 2000.
Pipsissewa
(Chimaphila maculata)
-Leaves are not all close to the ground;
several are elevated on a stem
- The lance shaped leaves have serrated
(toothed) edges
- The white veins on the leaves are not
as fine and not as netted
- Dried flower stalks and seed capsules
are present in this photo
Photo Credit: Michael Strickland,
Discoverlife.org, 2008.
Pipsissewa is native to the eastern U.S. with a disjunct population in Arizona. It is considered endangered in Illinois
and Maine, and Exploitably Vulnerable in New York. Fortunately, here in Georgia it‘s fairly easy to find Pipsissewa on
many GNPS rescues. It will generally transplant well as long as you remember to locate it where it‘s happiest—in
shady woods with leaf mold, acidic soil, and good drainage. I usually bring along some of the soil and leaf mold from
where I dig the plant to help it adjust to its new location, but that may not even be necessary. Propagation by seed is
reportedly not easy to accomplish, but if your rescued Pipsissewa is happy in its new location, you may get some more
thanks to the spreading of the underground rhizomes.
18
NativeSCAPE January 2011
Member Focus: Mike Strickland, Webmaster
By Sharon Parry
Mike Strickland, a Georgia native, has been
interested in native plants since his childhood.
Growing up surrounded by many acres of
undeveloped woodlands, he spent many long days
wandering and ―rescuing‖ plants. As an adult, while
searching for others interested in native plants, he
and his wife Gina discovered GNPS. They joined
immediately and have been lifetime members since
April of 1999. Mike has served as a Member-at-Large
on the GNPS Board of Directors, is a current plant
rescue facilitator, and a founding board member of
the GNPS West Georgia Chapter. He and Gina live on
26 wooded acres, with a pond, which provides Mike
with plenty of native plant habitats to photograph
and enjoy.
Mike and His 'Assistant' Thrill DuJour
Photo Credit: Gina Strickland
Mike has been a serious computer hobbyist since the
early 1980s. His first computer was an Apple II+ that had 48K of RAM and the first disk drive offered for personal
computers - a 5.25 inch floppy. He learned Apple BASIC and DOS by studying programs and reading books. In the late
'80s Mike purchased an Apple IIgs - a big step up with 256K of RAM and 3.5 inch floppy drives. He also purchased a PC
Transporter - a card that mounted into a slot in the Apple, and would run PC applications.
His first PC was a PS/2 and came with DOS and OS/2 installed. It was his first computer with a hard drive. He used
his knowledge of Apple DOS and BASIC to learn PC DOS and OS/2, along with QuickBASIC. He used both DOS and OS/2
until OS/2 developed a desktop environment.
His interest in computers prompted him to contact the GNPS webmaster, Ken Gohring, about being a member of the
website committee. Ken proposed that he work on a project to take photos of plants in different stages of growth,
throughout the year. He was thrilled to take this on, since it used three of his interests: computers, photography and
native plants. The Native Plant Gallery is one result of this project. The other is Mike's personal website, which
shows photos of plants that were taken in the current month, to aid plant rescuers with plant identification.
He started dabbling with HTML in 2004 and discovered that he really enjoyed building web pages. He used
QuickBASIC to write applications that allowed him to automate building the web pages for his website, A Rescuer‘s
Guide to Georgia Native Plants.
In 2008, he volunteered to serve as webmaster for the GNPS website. One of his first objectives was to move the
website to another hosting service, one that was less expensive and included more features, like PHP, email accounts,
email forwarding and databases. The new service also provides much more web space than we previously had.
(Continued on next page)
19
NativeSCAPE January 2011
Member Focus: Mike Strickland, Webmaster
(Continued from Previous Page)
The implementation of PHP throughout the site has been one of the major improvements, as far as maintenance and
making the website interactive. For visitors, it allows the ability to fill in forms and send emails to relevant parties.
For the webmaster, it provides many functions, from sorting lists and building tables (used on the Homepage, Plant Of
the Year page, and the Plant Gallery), to providing our new discussion forum.
Using PHP and utility programs, Mike automated a number of the page updates. These updates are based on an ‗on‘
and ‗off‘ date—the items appear when the ‗on‘ date arrives and are removed on the ‗off‘ date. This functionality
allows Mike to set up activities in advance, and also keeps the website current. It is used on the Homepage,
Announcements, Rescue Schedule and Events of Interest.
Mike has created online forms for the membership page, the rescue program, for email contacts for Board Members
and Committee Chairs, Plant of the Year nominations and voting, and Symposium registration. His most recent
project, the Native Plant Habitat Certification Form, is now online.
In 2009, GNPS started publishing the NativeSCAPE newsletter electronically. To supplement the PDF, which is
downloaded and read offline, Mike creates an online version, using PHP templates to create the pages.
Mike found new Discussion Forum
software (at no cost) that is a big
improvement over the old version.
Photos are now allowed as part of
the forum postings. There is a
Plant Identification Forum, users
can choose to be notified when
someone responds to their posts,
and spam has been greatly
reduced.
Our webmaster enjoys his duties,
and the membership has enjoyed
the results of his efforts. Our
website is the voice of GNPS, and
we are very fortunate to have
Mike Strickland, one of our most
dedicated members, volunteer as
Webmaster.
One of Mike‘s Many Beautiful Photos:
Joe Pye Weed (Eupatorium fistulosum)
and an unusual female Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly
20
NativeSCAPE January 2011
Upcoming Events
January 1st: Membership Renewal Time
It is time to renew your membership in the Georgia Native Plant Society. It is still one of the best deals going at $20 per
membership for those under 55 and just $15 per membership for those 55 and over. This can be a couple or family, not
just an individual. Corporate/commercial/educational memberships are $50, and full-time students are $15. Or you may
become a lifetime member for just $250.
Go to the website at www.gnps.org, click on Membership, and fill in your renewal form online. Then print and send with
your check to the P.O. Box listed, or if you prefer, use the form on page 23.
Gift memberships may be given, and the recipient will receive a membership packet letting them know of your gift and
the benefits of membership.
Don't miss out on another great year of informative meetings, interesting field trips, plant rescues, the symposium, the
plant sale and members only garden tour. Plus, you will continue to receive the NativeSCAPE newsletter.
Membership rolls are purged each March 31st, so don't delay. Renew now!
February 19th: GNPS 16th Native Plant Symposium
The speakers are booked, the facility is reserved and the brochures are mailed! Now would someone please alert the
weather to cooperate in 2011?
Please plan to join us on Saturday, February 19 th, 2011 for our 16th Symposium. The event this year will return to
Mercer University‘s Atlanta Campus near I-85 and I-285. The speakers will present a variety of topics:
Gardens Inspired by Nature
When Plants are Affected by Transportation Projects
Showy Native Trees and Shrubs
The Soil Food Web
Invasives: Making a Difference in Your Back Yard
If you can‘t find your copy of the brochures, visit the website to get the details and register:
http://gnps.org/shortterm/Symposium_Announcement.php
If you‘d like to help, please contact Ellen Honeycutt via [email protected].
Please refer to our website for current information on project workdays and times.
Thank-you!
21
NativeSCAPE January 2011
Upcoming Events
(Continued from Previous Page)
March 13th (Sunday): Field Trip to the Len Foote Hike Inn
The Georgia Native Plant Society will again be going on a field trip to the Len Foote Hike Inn near Dawsonville,
Georgia. Only this year, we will be going in March instead of May. Sorry, if you wanted to see the pink lady‘s
slippers. We will more than likely be seeing trout lilies instead! The date is set for Sunday, March 13th. The rates
will be the same as last year. Two people may stay in a room with two bunks for a rate of $146.05, or one person
may reserve a room to him or herself for $100.05. This is a discounted rate, and we have ten rooms reserved for our
group. This is one of the best ways to get in two days of hiking and botanizing without having to drive twice or camp
out. You will be served two delicious meals (dinner on Sunday night and breakfast on Monday morning), given an
enlightening tour of the facility, an after dinner program, and a warm bed to sleep in. There are even indoor toilets
and hot showers! What more could you ask?
Go to www.hike-inn.com to see what the Len Foote Hike Inn is all about.
To sign up, e-mail Jane Trentin or call 770 978-1839.
April 30th (Saturday): GNPS Annual Spring Plant Sale
Mark your calendars!
Begin potting your wayward native plants! (Click here for helpful tips.)
Tell your friends that the Spring Plant Sale will be held again at McFarlane Nature Park on Saturday, April 30th.
(Setup will be on Friday, April 29th.)
There will be a new parking and shopping configuration to make the whole event more enjoyable. Thanks go to our
Logistics Committee members: Don Stewart, Marcia Dworetzky, Dianne Wooldridge, Barbara and Paul Virostek.
I look forward to working (okay, having fun) with all of you!
Sheri George
GNPS Plant Sale Chair
May 7th (Saturday): GNPS Garden Tour
The GNPS Garden Tour is a benefit of membership - our tour is never open to the public. Make plans now to save the
date for this special event. The 2011 GNPS Garden Tour will be held on Saturday, May 7th. So far, we have two
gardens in Cherokee County lined up: Marcia Winchester and Debbie Meadows. Woodlands Gardens in Decatur has
agreed to be on the tour and we are still looking for one more garden in the Decatur area to round out the
tour. Please contact Jane Trentin at [email protected] if you know of a native garden to suggest in that area.
Please refer to our website for current information on project workdays and times.
Thank-you!
22
NativeSCAPE January 2011
Website Update
By Mike Strickland
We‘ve made many improvements to our GNPS website this year, most of them a result of our conversion to PHP, a
scripting language that builds a webpage from templates and information, as each page is requested.
Some of the improvements include:
Interactive forms which allow the sender‘s information to be forwarded to relevant parties. These forms are
used for signing up for plant rescues, registering for the symposium, volunteering for the plant sale, and for
contacting Board Members and Committee Chairs.
Replacing links that move down through a long, scrollable, list with links that only display the pertinent
information. For example, clicking a book title in the listing will display only that book's review.
Thumbnails throughout the site that provide larger picture images with captions and detailed plant
information (as on our main page).
A Maps page, which enables clickable links on a number of different pages to provide a Google map of a
specific location with an option to obtain driving directions.
A ―Countdown‖ feature, which was used to count down the number of days until the 2010 Plant Sale.
Sortable lists, templates for page information, central name storage and PHP-built tables have all made the
site easier to keep current and operate smoothly.
We also added several new webpages in 2010, including the 2010 Southeastern Flower Show, the Plant Sale
Announcement, the Volunteer Form, and a number of restoration update pages.
The Plant Rescue pages have been updated to include the reorganization of the committee, new FAQ information, the
ability to display more information when no rescues are scheduled, and the ability to let visitors know if a rescue is
full.
We have a new and improved online Discussion Forum, which provides four specific forums: General Discussion,
Native Plants in the Garden, Plant Identification, and Garden Shots. Visitors can attach pictures, receive emails when
postings are made to specific topics/forums, and sort or search specific topics/posts.
GNPS now has a single email address for visitors to contact for general information, [email protected]. This address is
also included on printed information distributed by the organization.
For those interested, there is a webpage where GNPS websites statistics can be viewed.
23
Georgia Native Plant Society Membership & Renewal
Memberships are effective for one calendar year, beginning January 1st.
Hydrangea
quercifolia
Choose membership level: (Select one)
___Individual/Family ($20)
___Senior, 55 and older ($15)
___Full-Time Student ($15)
___Corporate/Commercial/Educational ($50)
___Lifetime Individual/Family ($250)
Affiliation:
___No Chapter Affiliation
___West Georgia Chapter
___Check here if in addition to my membership renewal, I have included ______ to be distributed as follows:
___Education
___Conservation/Propagation/Restoration
___Jeane Reeves Memorial Grants and
Scholarship Program
___Unrestricted
Total Enclosed: ____________
Check # _______________
Trade Name (if applicable):
_______________________________________________________________________
First Name: ______________________ Middle Initial: ____ Last Name: __________________________________
If Family, list additional names: ____________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
Address: ________________________________________________________________________________________
Home Phone: ___________________________________ Work Phone: ____________________________________
Email Address: ___________________________________________________________________________________
(Email address is required if you wish to receive the Listserv and/or Electronic Newsletter.)
___ Check here if you prefer NOT to receive emails from our list server which contain information about meetings,
plant rescues, work parties and other items of interest to the membership.
The full-color newsletter will be sent electronically. If you require a print version, which will be black and white,
check here: ___
Please mail completed renewal form to the following address: GNPS, PO Box 422085, Atlanta, GA 30342-2085