october 2011 native scape ~ georgia native plant society

7/31/2019 October 2011 Native Scape ~ Georgia Native Plant Society

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NativeSCAPEPublished by the Georgia Native Plant Society

October 2011

Volume XVII, Number 4

Presidents Message 2

Plant Rescue News 15

Chapter News 16

Upcoming GNPS Events 17

Membership Renewal 20

Newsletter Editor

David Haimbach

Newsletter staff:

Ellen Honeycutt, SharonParry, and Lisa Betz,Proofreaders

NativeSCAPE is publishedquarterly by the GeorgiaNative Plant Society. Asubscription is includedwith membership in theGNPS.

Copyright 2011 by theGeorgia Native PlantSociety. All rights

reserved. Articles maynot be reprinted withoutpermission of theauthor.

Fall Color with Georgias Native PlantsBy Denise Hartline Page 3

A large portion of North America, including Georgia, is fortunate to have

conditions that favor great fall color in trees. Denise Hartline and Karen Lindauer

share examples, and a table that highlights some recommendations, from trees to

groundcovers.

Hydrangeaquercifolia

Native Shrubs: Continuing Our Landscape HeritageBy Rick Huffman Page 8

Our July guest speaker returns with a reminder that our native landscapes tell a

lot about who we are, and how we see our place in the world. He offers some

recommendations for designing your outdoor rooms with native shrubs.

The Miniature ChestnutBy Jim Smith Page 12Some of us still mourn the loss of our native chestnut, Castanea dentata. Jim

shares some information about chinquapins, a species of miniature chestnut

found in the eastern United States, including Georgia.

What Lies BeneathBy Sharon Parry Page 10

Sharon shares one womans quest to reclaim a forgotten corner of her back yard,

banishing a snake from her suburban garden of Eden, and discovering whats been

fighting to survive under the overgrowth of vines and ivy both poison andEnglish. A reminder that reclamation begins at home.

A Chapters Tale: Celebrating Year One of the WGCBy Flo Hayes and Gina Strickland Page 13

The journey of the West GA Chapter of GNPS.


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Cool weather, at last! Nature starts to wind down now, but it is a good time forhumans to get things done and take stock of what happened this year. Ive gotnew plants to put in the ground and new milkweed seedlings to relocate or pot up.I was thrilled to see a Spicebush Swallowtail caterpillar rolling himself up for thewinter in my Lindera benzoin shrub (Spicebush). This is my first caterpillar on thisplant. Hummingbirds have been fighting over my Cardinal flower blooms, and fruitis heavy on my viburnums and buckeyes now. These are just some of the ways thatI feel like my native plant efforts are reaping rewards in 2011. I have promisedmyself to reduce my lawn further in the days ahead and plant more varieties ofperennials to add color, nectar, and food.

These are exciting times for GNPS: our plant sales are back in full swing with thebig sale in April and smaller sales at meetings and at the Audubon tour. I hope we

can get the Stone Mountain Propagation team to sell plants on that side of town inthe future. A new plant brochure for residents of the Coastal Plain is in the finalediting stages. Look for an announcement soon; the PDF version will be posted onthe website. We partnered with Coastal WildScapes on this project and hope tocontinue the partnership to create more resources for our coastal members.

This issue contains several important dates for 2012: our annual Symposium inFebruary and the Plant Sale and Garden Tour events in April. Please make a noteof them so that you can plan to share these events with us. Its not the same

without you.

Thank you to all that volunteer for GNPS. We still have areas that need volunteers:Merchandise, Field Trips, Membership, and Propagation. Lets fill those committeevacancies and get more activities going and reach more people; its all a great wayto learn more about native plants, how to grow them, and how they fit into thenatural communities in which we live. Please contact me or any Board member ifyou can help.

We appreciate your membership in GNPS. Please encourage others to join invitefriends to meetings, host them as a guest on a rescue, pass along newsletters witharticles of interest or bring them to our plant sales and work activities. After adecline that started with the drought, our membership level has stabilized around800 members, down from levels as high as 1200 back in 2004. Members are the

best source of referrals so your help would be fabulous (and gift memberships areavailable). Dues are still only $20 a year for Individual/Family and $15 a year forSeniors (including spouse). We have now entered the renewal period for 2012 andwould appreciate your continued support.

This is my last column as President. I have enjoyed serving as President these lasttwo years. Im not planning to go anywhere so I hope to see you at GNPS meetingsand events in the future. I love sharing plants and knowledge with others andGNPS is an excellent way to keep doing that. I hope you feel the same. Keeppassing on your knowledge and your support for our organization to others; in doingso you help GNPS to grow just like our plants do.

Presidents MessageBy Ellen Honeycutt

NativeSCAPE October 2011Georgia 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

Kimberly Ray

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 theGeorgia Native Plant Society

Your membership dues anddonations help support our mission

which is:

To promote the stewardship andconservation of Georgias native

plants and their habitats -

By sponsoring meetings, workshops,an annual symposium, grants,

scholarships, the native plant rescueprogram, and this newsletter -

utilizing an all-volunteer staff ofdedicated native plant enthusiasts.We look forward to and appreciate

your continued support.Membership renewal forms for 2011can now be completed online or by

completing the form on the lastpage of this news letter.
http://gnps.org/geninfo/Membership_Form.php?formtype=2http://gnps.org/geninfo/Membership_Form.php?formtype=2


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NativeSCAPE October 2011

Fall Color with Georgias Native Plantsby Denise Hartline

After the long, hot, and dry summer of 2011, fallis finally here. Weve all been anticipating cooler

temperatures and the color changes in the leaves

that the arrival of autumn brings. This amazing

transformation happens when longer hours of

darkness trigger biochemical processes in

deciduous trees. These processes prepare the

trees for winter by absorbing the nutrients in

their leaves and storing them in their roots. As

the trees absorb the nutrients, their leaves turn

different colors, much to our delight, before they

finally fall from the trees to enrich the soil.

A large portion of North America, including most

of Georgia, is fortunate to have conditions that

favor great fall color in trees. Those conditions

include large deciduous forests, a temperate

climate with four distinct seasons, and a diversity

of tree species in the forests. Forests with more

diversity display a broader spectrum of fall colors

and, because different trees

begin the color change processes

at different times, the colorseason lasts longer. In some parts

of Europe and Asia, only a few

tree species dominate the

deciduous forests. Fall color

displays in those areas can be

intense, but brief and of uniform

color. In tropical rainforests,

deciduous trees shed their leaves

only gradually, turning from

yellow to brown. In a report

compiled for The NatureConservancy, Georgia was ranked

as one of the top ten states for

plant diversity. From the lofty

heights of leaves on trees down to

small berries on groundcovers at

our feet, there is an abundance

of fall color to be enjoyed in

Georgia.

(Continued on next page)

Viburnum acerifolium Photo: Ellen Honeycutt

Lowbush blueberry Photo: Ellen Honeycutt


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Fall Color with Georgias Native PlantsContinued from Previous Page

GNPSs own Karen Lindauer, a Master Gardener who is a gardener at Georgia Perimeter College Botanical Garden,knows a lot about native fall color, and enjoys sharing her knowledge and experiences with others. She created

and presents a very informative talk with the wonderfully alliterative title Flowers, Fruit, and Foliage for a

Fabulous Fall. Karen encourages people to use native plants that produce fall color in various ways. One of

Karens favorite fall plant combinations for the garden is purple asters and yellow sunflowers; for example, New

England Aster (Symphyotrichumnovae-angliae) and Stone Mountain Daisy (its actually a sunflower, Helianthus

porteri ). Asters may grow too tall and floppy for your garden, and Karen recommends cutting them back to one-

half their height in May and then again in June. This will keep them from getting too tall, and they will produce

more flowers. This trick also works with other perennials that grow tall, such as Joe Pye Weed, Helianthus species,

ironweed, and others.

I am very grateful to Karen for allowing me to use her talk as a resource for this article. If you would like to hear

Karens talk, it will be presented next August or

September at Georgia Perimeter College Botanical

Gardens Plant Talks. Check their website (http://

gpcnativegarden.org/) next year in late summer for the

Plant Talk schedule.

There are so many plants that provide us with fall color

that a table seemed to be the easiest way to organizethem. The table , which begins on page 4, and

continues on pages 5 and 6, summarizes only some of

the native plants in Georgia that display fall color. The

table includes many of the plants that Karen mentions

in her presentation, and is loosely organized from trees

(at the top) to groundcovers (at the bottom). Unless

noted, most plants will develop better fall color if

located in areas with more sun.

Highbush blueberry Photo: Ellen Honeycutt Sourwood and chestnut oak Photo: Denise Hartline

Sassafras in transition Photo: Denise Hartline
http://gpcnativegarden.org/http://gpcnativegarden.org/http://gpcnativegarden.org/http://gpcnativegarden.org/http://gpcnativegarden.org/


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Ideas for Fall Color with Native Plants in GeorgiaType of Plant Plant Name Common Name Fall Color(s) Comments

Tree Acer leucoderme Chalk Maple Leaves scarlet, orange& gold in late fall Usually under 25tall; multi-trunked

Tree Acer rubrum Red Maple Leaf color variablefrom red to yellow Usually 40-60

Tree Amelanchier ar-borea Serviceberry Leaves yellow to gold Usually under 30;birds love berries

Tree Caryaspecies Hickories, manyspecies Leaves glowing yellowto gold Usually over 50; verydependable fall color

Tree Cornus alternifolia Alternate leafdogwood Leaves maroon to redto purple; Berries dark

purple Usually under 25Tree Cornus florida Dogwood Leaves red in early

fall, Berries red Usually 20-40Tree Diospyros virgini-

ana PersimmonLeaves gold to orange

in early fall, Fruit or-

ange Usually 30-70Tree Nyssa sylvatica Black Gum Leaves bright red in

early fall Usually 30-60Tree Oxydendrum arbo-

reumSourwood Leaves brilliant deepred in early fall; Flow-

er spikes pale yellowUsually 30-70;

spring flowers re-

semble lily-of-the-valley

Tree Quercusspecies Oaks, many species Leaves various colors;depends on species

Fall color may not be

as dependable as

hickoriesTree Sassafras albidum Sassafras Leaves yellow, gold,orange and red in early

fall Usually 35-50

Shrub Rhus aromatica Fragrant SumacLeaves orange, red,

purple and yellow in

the fall; Berries are

redUsually 6-12

Shrub Callicarpa america-na American Beau-tyberry

Clusters of purple ber-ries along stem length;

some have white ber-

riesUsually 3-9, arching

stems

Shrub Euonymus ameri-canus Hearts a burstin

Leaves red, fuchsia,

salmon or cream in late

fall; Bright red fruit

bursts opens to reveal

red seedsUsually 6-12; deer

will munch on themShrub Itea virginica Virginia

Sweetspire Leaves yellow, red, orpurple Usually under 8


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Ideas for Fall Color with Native Plants in GeorgiaType of Plant Plant Name Common Name Fall Color(s) Comments

Forb, perennial Helianthus angusti-folia Swamp Sunflower Gold fall flowers

Many other helian-

thusspecies work

wellForb, annual Helianthus porteri Stone MountainYellow Daisy, Con-

federate DaisyProfusion of yellow

flowersFound on granite out-

crops but grows well

in a sunny gardenForb, perennial Symphyotrichum

novae-angliae New England Aster Lavender flowers w/orange-yellow centersLarge and showy;

larval host for Pearl

Crescent butterflyForb, perennial Eupatorium fistu-losum Joe Pye Weed Soft pink flowers

A butterfly magnet;

looks great w/ Heli-

anthusForb, perennial Eupatoriumperfo-

liatum Boneset Clusters of white flow-ers in fall Soft, cloudy texture;Great for pollinatorsForb, perennial Conoclinium coeles-

tinum Blue Mistflower Bright blue to violetflowersMay spread aggres-

sively but is easily

pulled upForb, perennial Actaea pachypoda Dolls Eyes, White

BaneberryWhite berries with

black stigma scar that

resemble dolls eyesPlant & berries can

be poisonous to hu-

mansForb, perennial

Gentiana saponaria

Soapwort Gentian,Harvest Bells

Blue-violet bottle

shaped flowers thatopen only partiallyNeed wet areas to

thriveForb, perennial Arisaema triphyl-

lum Jack in the Pulpit Terminal cluster ofbright red berries Hooded flower inspringForb, perennial Maianthemumrac-

emosum Solomons PlumeTerminal cluster of

deep red berries; yel-

low leavesWhite bloom in

spring; arching stemsForb, perennial

evergreen low

shrub to

groundcoverGaultheria procum-

bens Wintergreen,Eastern Teaberry Leaves turn reddishpurple; berries are red Leaves have oil ofwintergreen scentForb, perennial,

evergreengroundcover Pachysandra pro-cumbens Allegheny spurge,Mountain spurge

Previous years leaves

display mottled silver/green/purple appear-

anceNeeds shade and

moisture; less inva-sive than Asian

pachysandraForb, perennial,

evergreen

groundcover Mitchella repens Partridgeberry Scarlet berriesCreeper with small,

round, dark green

leaves; prefers acid

soilGrass, perennial Muhlenbergia

capillaris Hairy-awn muhly,Pink muhlyDeep pink flower

stalks with airy

texture Drought tolerantEvergreen

mosses (non-

vascular plants)Polytrichum spe-

cies and othersHaircap moss, and

othersShades of green

Need moisture; make

a great background

for colorful fallenleaves


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Native Shrubs: Continuing Our Landscape HeritageBy Rick Huffman


Landscapes should reflect the heritage and culture of a

region and say something about who we are and wherewe live in the world. Native landscapes provide what

the ancients Greeks called genus loci a sense of place.

Of course, North Americas natural landscape has

changed quite a bit from the landscapes our ancestors

knew. Early explorers, Bartram, DeSoto, Douglas,

Michaux, Nuttall, and Townsend documented and

described Americas native flora and original landscape

composition. The forests were rich mosaics of trees,

shrubs, and herbaceous plants. Open areas such as

prairies and savannas provided wonderful vistas of colorand diversity. Then, as now, plants are essential to

human survival, providing medicines, tools and food. Is

our natural heritage represented in our landscapes

today? Is our sense of place?

Including native plants and shrubs in landscape design

marks a return to 'common sense' gardening, and to

landscapes that restore biodiversity and a sense of place.

It is a logical choice to use plants that evolved in a

region because they are adapted to the climate and will

require less maintenance. Although most native shrubsare deciduous, they provide many design options and

enhance wildlife (and human) habitats. Native shrubs

benefit wildlife by providing cover, food, and nesting

habitat. In turn, wildlife helps plants disperse seed and

pollinate. Its wonderful to smell Clethras (Clethra

alnifolia) sweet fragrance and to see hummingbirds

dancing around the plants flowering panicle, or watch

butterflies visit Virginia Sweetspire (Itea virginica).

These experiences, and a thousand others like them,

remind us of the reality of where we are and of our part

in natures system.

DESIGNING WITH NATIVE SHRUBS

As with any landscape project, begin by identifying your

landscape needs and understanding a bit about the plant

community that suits the physical site. Plant

communities are groups of plant species sharing an

environmental niche. The goal is to capture the essence

of the community model and project that into the

design. The key is matching the correct species of

shrubs to the sites environmental and physical

conditions.

The first basic questions relate to the physical

conditions of the site. What is the projects geographic

area or region? Is the site sunny, shady, wet, or dry?

What are the soil conditions? Is the soil pH acid,

alkaline, or neutral? Do you need screening, foundation

plantings, accents or erosion control? Once these

parameters are determined, design and plant selection

can begin.


Kalmia Photo: Ellen Honeycutt

Clethra Photo: Ellen Honeycutt


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Native Shrubs: Continuing Our Landscape HeritageContinued from Previous Page


Native shrubs can fill design needs for flower,

fragrance, fall color, and define spaces as outdoorrooms. Designing with native shrubs allows you to create

something different and unique while working within

tried and true design principles. Instead of traditional

foundation plantings, focus on loose groupings of several

species. This design approach breaks the monotony of

the evergreen mustache and offers a variety of colors,

textures, and forms. Some of my favorite species (for

use in Southern gardens) are Inkberry Holly (Ilex glabra),

Virginia Sweetspire (Itea virginica), Summersweet

Clethra (Clethra alnifolia), Fothergilla (Fothergilla

gardenii), Sweetshrub (Calycanthus floridus) and

Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana). These are very

hardy, versatile and cost-effective shrubs.

In our urban landscape, there is often a need for a

privacy hedge. Some great evergreen choices are Wax

Myrtle (Myrica cerifera), Florida Anise (Illiciumfloridanum), and Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus

virginiana) which can serve as a large shrub or small

tree. The cultivar 'Brody' is a great smaller version of

the Eastern Red Cedar. A sampling of large shrubs for

shade to part shade is Oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea

quercifolia), Catawba Rhododendron (Rhododendron

catawbiense), Mountain Laurel (Kalmia latifolia),

Possumhaw Viburnum (Viburnum nudum), and all the

native azaleas. These are just a small sampling of the

many choices, so be sure to investigate your own

regional options.

Native shrubs can offer new frontiers for Americangardeners while returning our landscapes to a more

natural form. Next time you plant, think about breaking

the mold -and doing the right thing - by landscaping for

wildlife, helping preserve our regional heritage, and

enhancing our understanding of and respect for nature.

Sweetshrub Photo: Ellen Honeycutt

Fothergilla Photo: Ellen Honeycutt

Viburnum Photo: Ellen Honeycutt


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What Lies BeneathBy Sharon Parry


When we moved in to our home 23 years ago, we

decided to let the back corner of our odd-shaped lot go

natural. Even though the area represents almost a

quarter of our half-acre suburban lot, we decided it was

too dry, too shady and too far from the water faucet for

planting anything; we would just enjoy the existing

trees: several large hickories (Carya spp.), tulip poplars

(Liriodendron tulipifera), and loblolly pines (Pinus

taeda) from a distance. We did remove the poison ivy

vines (Toxicodendron radicans) that were climbing the

trees, several of which were the size of a wrestling

champions biceps, but other than a few more poison ivypulls over the years, weve pretty much left it alone.

What happened? Mostly native vines covered the

forest floor. Grapevine (Vitus rotundifolia), Virginia

creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia), and briar (Smilax

spp.) grew in abundance, along with the ever-present

poison ivy, which provided lots of green during the

summer and cover for a lot of visitors over the years.

Chipmunks, squirrels, and rabbits have all set up

housekeeping, and are most likely here to stay. Rat

snakes, opossums, raccoons and even a fox have been

spotted on occasion, and I was OK with all of these.

I was not OK with our most recent visitor though,

a copperhead snake (Agkistrodon contortrix). The

copperhead is a beautiful snake, but a venomous pit

viper is not something I want to stumble over or step on

while traipsing through our overgrown woods. I

understand that their venom is rarely fatal, but Im quite

certain I would die of cardiac arrest should I ever suffer

from one of their bites. Knowing that they prefer

habitats with lots of vines, vegetation and/or debris

(www.snakesandfrogs.com), I decided it was time for a

major cleanup.

It wasnt easy to make the decision to pull out

the native vines which are quite useful to a variety of

wildlife. But after a little research, I decided that it was

OK to remove the vines by hand pulling which leaves bits

and pieces of the vines behind. This would give any

other native plants that were discovered during the

process a chance to grow, while allowing the vines a

more controlled return. It was a good compromise, and

hopefully a logical plan.


From Top left then Clockwise: Poison Ivy, Smilax, Grapevine,

Virginia Creeper, More Grapevine, and a bit of English ivy.

CopperheadSnake (Agkistrodon contortrix)

Photo: Allen Bridgman, S.C. Dept. of Natural Resources,

Bugwood.org
http://www.snakesandfrogs.com/http://www.snakesandfrogs.com/http://www.snakesandfrogs.com/


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What Lies BeneathBy Sharon Parry


Where did I start? I needed access. I thought of

Tarzan movies jungle paths hacked out with machetes.

But I figured the trusty old Weed Eater would have to do.

So my stronger half cleared a footpath around the

perimeter of the area, and a couple more through the

center. (He also collected grass clippings from the front

lawn to spread over these paths to help keep the paths

obvious.)

Then I had to figure out what kind of jungle gear

I needed. Head to toe: floppy canvas hat to keep the

mosquitoes from biting my eyelids and earlobes (they

love me), surgeons mask to prevent an allergy attack

from all the leaf mold attached to the vines, long-

sleeved shirt and pants, leather gauntlet gloves to

protect my arms from briars and poison ivy, and leather

boots just because they make me feel better when I

cant see where Im walking. (I pretended they were

snake proof.)

Of course, I picked the hottest month of the year

to start work on this project, but I was determined. I

committed the first two hours of several mornings each

week to this project. After coffee, I suited up and offI went. I was careful with this suiting up process

wearing clothes and gloves that had been laundered well

to prevent the spread of poison ivy oil. (Did you know

that urushiol can stay potent for years?) And I was also

careful not to put any of the debris into our burn pile.

Smoke from poison ivy vines is a very dangerous thing. I

learned that lesson long ago.

And what did I find tangled up with all the vines I

removed? There were lots of small trees that had been

strangled to death by the grapevine and had to be pulledout, but there were some that were in good shape still. I

also discovered herbaceous plants that had managed to

survive the competition from the vines, and I expect

them to flourish with the increased light and moisture.

Over time, I plan to add rescued plants that like dry

shade, and I hope to keep the sure-to-return vines under

control.

Is the result going to be worth all this effort?

Absolutely! Take a look at some of the treasures Ive

discovered so far. Who

knows what else lies

beneath, ready to

surprise us in the spring

Black Tupelo (Nyssa sylvatica))

Red Maple (Acer rubru

American Beech (Fagus grandifolia)

Blackhaw Viburnu

(Viburnum prunifolium

Heartleaf Ginger (Hexastylis arifolia))

Hearts-a-bus

(Euonymus american

Rattlesnake Plantain (Goodyera pubescens)


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The Miniature ChestnutBy Jim Smith


Some of us still mourn the loss of our native chestnut, Castanea dentata, that was such an important and imposing

component of the forests we remember from our childhood. There were still a few living specimens in the 1930s on

farms in upstate New York and the durable chestnut posts were intact on those same farms into the 1960s. We are

hopeful for the projects to develop a blight-resistant American chestnut through successive hybridization with the

blight resistant Chinese chestnut.

Even now, I frequently see small chestnut trees that sprout from the stumps of the original trees and have marked

some of them as possible contributor to the blight-free projects. Sadly, all of these have succumbed to the virulent

chestnut blight, Endothia parasitica.

Recently, I have received several queries from people who think they have found a chestnut tree bearing fruit. In a

way, they have. What they have found is Castanea pumila, the miniature chestnut best known as the AlleghenyChinquapin. It and several other similar species of chinquapin, such as Castanea alnifolia a shrubby species of the

coastal plain are found as understory shrubs or small trees in the dry deciduous forests from Florida to Pennsylvania

in the eastern United States.

American chestnut and the Chinquapins are not difficult to distinguish from one another. American Chestnut leaves

are glabrous (smooth) on both surfaces and more than 6 inches long. Should it have fruit, the spiny bur will have

more than one nut per bur and the nut will be flattened on one side. The bur will usually be two to three inches in

diameter.

By contrast, the

Chinquapins leaves will

be less than 6 inches long

and be pubescent or hairy

on the underside. Should

it have fruit, each bur will

be about less than two

inches in diameter and

have a single nut that is

not flattened.

Should you find theChinquapin, the nuts will

ripen in September or

October, and the sweet

nuts are edible and

reminiscent of the scarce

American Chestnut.

Chinquapin flowers Photo: Ellen Honeycutt


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A Chapters Tale: Celebrating Year One of the West Georgia ChapterBy Flo Hayes and Gina Strickland


In 2007 the GNPS Board of Directors amended the Society by-laws to permit regional Chapters to form. There were

few restrictions placed on the requirements in order to encourage Chapters and grow the organization by serving

remote areas of the state. Several residents from Carroll County who were GNPS members desired to try forming a

Chapter and sought the backing of other local residents, garden enthusiasts, members of Carroll County and Douglas

County Master Gardeners and some small business persons in the area. Filled with enthusiasm, several residents

from the 5 county area offered their expertise and experience to help form the chapters. Flo Hayes, current

President of the West GA Chapter of GNPS, set up the first meeting at the Villa Rica Senior Center. Thus began our

story.

The Beginning

Flo arranged a first meeting, with interested people, about forming a Chapter and invited individuals who she knew

had skills to help. She invited people with organizational skills, with experience serving on committees, or as Board

Directors or officers of other organizations. As we look back on that first meeting, it was full of great suggestions,excitement about the potential Chapter and lots and lots of questions! We each took away assignments: Calling and

compiling lists of people and contact information from anyone who expressed interest; running notices in local

papers; making announcements at local clubs; speaking with officers and board member of GNPS; researching how

to become a non-profit and get 501c (3) tax exempt status based on education of the public (both of which are

requirements of becoming a Chapter); researching costs; researching requirements for a P.O. Box, Sales Tax, and

opening a bank account; identifying people who were interested in serving as the Officers and Board. After the

initial meeting we formed a feasibility committee whose purpose and function was to identify all of those details

and determine if there was enough community support both for participation and financially to form the Chapter.

We met several more times in the next weeks and it appeared there was indeed lots of support and our first public

meeting was held at the Carroll County Agricultural Center in Carrollton on August 20, 2008. Forty eight people

from the community attended from the nearby 5 county area, along with representatives from GNPS who came tosupport us that evening. A slate of officers was presented and accepted by the attendees and the first officers and

Board were installed that evening. It was a great beginning.

Next Steps

It was a longer journey than we expected, being the

pioneers of the first Chapter. From start to receipt of

official recognition took 18 months. However, it was a

learning experience and overall we look back on it as a

great time. This is due to strong support from the

Presidents of GNPS, Marcia Winchester and Ellen

Honeycutt, the Chapter Liaisons Mary Lou Cannamela andJane Trentin, the Rescue Committee Chair and Regional

Coordinator Lynn Almand and Sheri George, the

Treasurer Paula Reith and other members of the GNPS

Board of Directors. Our own board of directors and

officers worked very hard to bring topics of interest to

the public meetings, form a rescue committee and host

workshops.



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A Chapters TaleContinued from Previous Page


The most important work was done behind the scenes as we raised money, got the state and federal paperwork

done, started a website and opened a bank account and PO Box and documented our activities. Local support came

from residents of 5 counties who donated time and funds. Without these persons it would not have been possible.

The first board included: Gina Strickland, President; Flo Hayes, Vice President; Vickie Lloyd, Treasurer; Gail Woody,

Secretary; Mike Strickland and Wendell Hoomes, Rescue Committee, James Dickinson, Program Director, and Kathy

Howell, Education Committee. Our thanks go out to them for their service and always pleasant enthusiasm

throughout the process. With their support and volunteers from outside sources we were able to host educational

presentations at our meetings and on our hikes. We were able to host fall workshops on topics like landscaping with

native plants, attracting butterflies with food source plants, identifying plants and shrubs in the fall and winter,

container gardening with native plants, invasive plants in Georgia, trilliums of the southeast, azaleas of Georgia and

native plants and trees of McIntosh Reserve.

The Chapter held educational field trips with guided hikes to Buffalo Creek, the Birmingham Botanical Gardens KaulWildflower Garden, Sweetwater Creek State Park and McIntosh Reserve, during which attendees learned about the

native plants, shrubs and trees on those trails. Our small group has also provided speakers to local schools,

community groups and events always with the purpose to educate and raise awareness of the great diversity of

native plants that are found in our state.

The end of the journey and beginning of the rest

In June 22, 2009 we became a non-profit in Georgia and then

we received our letter from the IRS with our Tax Exempt

approval as of June 26, 2009. We had a nice celebration at

our next public meeting and officers from GNPS attended. It

had taken 18 months and many things were learned along the

way about what had to be done and what order it should be

done in. We have worked with the current GNPS Board and

Officers to compile these steps into a Chapter Start-up

Manual that will be available for download on the GNPS

Website. I know it will make the next Chapters experience

easier. If I had only one piece of advice to offer it would be,

do your research, dont spread any one persons time too

thinly and have great people to work with who love native

plants, love teaching people and love the out of doors.

Remember its all about your community and education.

Our future as an organization will depend on the continued support of volunteers in our community and groups likethe Boy Scouts of America and Master Gardeners who have supported us with volunteers in our restoration project

at Buffalo Creek Trail and have ties to the trail. This project has been all about the volunteers who have been just

terrific. A lot of Invasive plants and shrubs have been removed, the trails are being restored and volunteers have

started to replant the forest floor adjacent to the trails. This spring hundreds of plants were installed on the work

days run by Flo Hayes and a native plant bed was established in the Master Gardeners demonstration garden. We

have more projects that need volunteers, and need people who would like to server as future officers and

committee chairpersons. We cant do it without the on -going community support. The future is bright for next year

and we look forward to the growth of the West GA Chapter of GNPS as a supporting organization for restoration in

our communitys green spaces and as a resource for education on native plants.


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Fall, where have you been all summer?

After an incredibly long, hot, dry summer, cooler weather is here and so are native plantrescues. There were nine rescues on September's schedule; we are busy planning Octoberrescues--followed by more in November and December. Then we will pause duringJanuary (brrrrrr) and by February we will restart rescues as we see the signs of the earlyspring ephemerals. Time does fly, doesn't it?

As I write this, fall is definitely in the air, and one of the first signs in my garden is theTulip poplar (Lirodendron tulipifera) leaves beginning to fall, adding a nice layer ofleaves to the woodland floor. One of my favorite garden pastimes (really) is raking, and

right now, I am putting that precious pine straw from my driveway to good use around shrubs. Yes, I confess, I love to

rake. I am also reducing my lawn, and I have found that if I do it by a foot or two at a time, it is a much moremanageable task. There is a bonus, too, because I will have just enough room to add a few more rescued plants.

What is your favorite fall plant? At the moment, mine is Goldenrod. (I'm very fickle when it comes to favorites.) I havethe good old stand-by, Solidago altissima, standing tall in my perennial bed, and the lovely and unassuming WreathGoldenrod (S. caesia) in my woodland. Two more of my favorites are both selections of native species. 'GoldenFleece' (Solidagospahacelata 'Golden Fleece') is a selection by Dr. Dick Lightly, former director at Delaware's Mt. CubaCenter. It grows to only around 20 inches, so it is a great groundcover. Solidago 'Fireworks' (S. rugosa 'Fireworks') may bemore familiar to you as it has been around since 1993, introduced by Ken Moore of the NC Botanical Garden in ChapelHill. It tops out at around three feet tall with 18-inch long arching spires of bright yellow flowers. It is appropriatelynamed, for sure! All of the goldenrods are attractive to many insects and hummingbirds. While you will not see 'GoldenFleece' and 'Fireworks' listed on our rescues, do not pass up the species as just an ordinary 'weedy' roadside plant if youfind it on a rescue. Just find a sunny spot, and you won't be disappointed.

The Beautyberries (Callicarpa americana) are just spectacular right now as are the Sumacs (Rhus spp.) and Chokeberries(Aronia spp.). Don't you love watching the birds find all the berries? There are some left on my Dogwoods. The redberries of the Cornus florida, the purplish black berries of the Pagoda Dogwood (Cornus alternifolia), and the almostporcelain blue berries of the Silky Dogwood (Cornus amomum) are disappearing fast.

I have saved the best for last. We have six new facilitators eager to help on rescues. They are in training now with anexperienced facilitator-mentor, so please welcome them when you see them on a rescue. Once they complete theirfield training, you will see them wearing the familiar (and coveted, sometimes rusty) yellow facilitator name badge.

Jeff Barrett'Reds' BroadheadLola Halpin

Denise HartlineCarol HightDave Saunders

If you are a new member or just never tried our plant rescues, now is the time. Fall is the perfect planting season, andthere are plenty of plants that need saving. The rescue schedule is on our website, www.gnps.org. Just click on PlantRescues and select Rescue Schedule.

Native Plant Rescue NewsBy Lynn Almand

Remember, never dig native plants on public property, or on private property without the permission of the

owner, and ONLY if the plants will be lost to development. Join a GNPS rescue instead and help us save the

plants legally with other people who love native plants.


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Chapter NewsBy Flo Hayes, President, West Georgia Chapter

About 14 members and guests met at Sweetwater Creek State Park at 9:00 on August 20 for our field trip. Westarted the morning with Ellen Honeycutt talking about tree identification. She spent a few minutes showing us howto look at trees, their bark and leaves to help with initial identification. She had some wonderful pictures andillustrations. Ellen explained our initial survey of the tree can often rule out many species and help narrow downour identification options. Then we followed Ellen on about a three mile hike as she pointed out trees and let usput our identification skills to use. We were treated to a wide range of trees that helped us distinguish many treesand tree families. We also toured the ruins of a mill that was destroyed by Sherman's troops during the Civil War.James Dickinson was with our group and very knowledgeable about the mill and how the water wheel worked toprovide power for the mill. Ellen made the tree identification understandable and useful to each of us.

When we returned to the Visitor Center we were met by Phil Delestrez, the Park Manager. Phil walked us aroundthe visitor center and talked about some of the beds they are planting. He showed us the roof top plantingcurrently looked after by the Douglas County Master Gardeners. This is part of the green building that comprises theVisitor Center. Phil then showed us some of the native grasses he has planted. WOW. Some of them are sobeautiful. I think we have all ignored those grasses as we don't recognize them. What a mistake. Some would bebeautiful additions to our gardens.

Phil also talked about his wish list of plans for the visitor center area. One plan is to have volunteers to plan,plant and maintain a native plant area. The area he pointed out offers many possibilities as it has both sun andshade areas. He has asked WGC-GNPS to consider adopting this area as one of our projects. This would be awonderful way for us to help reach the public with the beauty and use of native plants.

The day ended about noon just

as the temperature was climbingtoward the 90's. We all agreed itwas a wonderful day and lookforward to putting our newknowledge to work.

To learn more about the West Georgia Chapter and our programs and projects, please visit WWW.wgawildflowers.org.

The group pauses for a photo before embarking on a day of adventure and newfound skills.

Photo: Mike Strickland
http://www.wgawildflowers.org/http://www.wgawildflowers.org/http://www.wgawildflowers.org/


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Upcoming Events


Please refer to our websitefor current information on project workdays and times.

October 15, 2011: West GA Chapter Fall Workshop

The Chapter will be hosting a Saturday morning workshop on pollinators October 15th from 8:30 to 12:00, at theCarroll County Ag Center. Come browse the native plant sale table and ask questions of Mike Strickland and theCoweta County Beekeeper, Merry Cagle. A $5 donation to the chapter is requested of attendees.

Athena Rayne Anderson will be giving a guest presentation about pollinators and pollinator gardening. She is adoctoral student in ecology at UGA, and the author of a new blog designed to teach folks about the importance andbeauty of pollinators! Visit www.pollinators.infoto learn more!

Master Gardener Gail Woody will be giving a guest presentation about local Carroll County gardening for pollinators,her experiences with butterflies, hummingbirds and bees, and showing her fantastic photo collection of pollinators atwork.

February 11, 2012: GNPS Symposium

The next GNPS Symposium is scheduled for Saturday, February 11, 2012. The event will be held atSouthern Polytechnic State University's facilities in Marietta, GA. We have an exciting group of speakersfor the event, including Doug Tallamy, author of "Bringing Nature Home." As some of you manyremember, Dr. Tallamy spoke at our 2009 Symposium. For this event, he will be presenting frommaterial being gathered for his second book, and the topic will address maintaining curb appeal while

using native plants.

As always we will have lunch included and there will be plant vendors, a book vendor and several othervendors. Please make a note of the date so that you can spend the day with us. Registration informationwill be mailed to members in November.

GNPS membership dues for 2012 can be paid now, starting October 1.

October 15: Deadline for Plant of the Year Nominations

GNPS members may nominate any plant which is native to Georgia until October 15. You may nominate online using

our Nomination Form or send your nomination via email to [email protected]. Include the common name, scientific

name and the reason for your choice.

This program promotes the recognition of outstanding native plants and encourages deeper appreciation of desirable

native plants.

November 8: Meeting

Wet and Dry - Tuesday, November 8, Steve Sanchez will present "Wet and Dry" Two topics of concern in commerciallandscapes are storm water management and landscapes that require little or no irrigation. This presentation willshow design tools and native plant options for these two environments.
http://www.gnps.org/geninfo/Calendar.phphttp://www.gnps.org/geninfo/Calendar.phphttp://www.pollinators.info/http://www.pollinators.info/http://www.pollinators.info/http://www.gnps.org/geninfo/Calendar.php


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Upcoming Events


Please refer to our websitefor current information on project workdays and times.

Hemlockfest 2011November 4-6

Near Historic Dahlonega Ga. on 40 private acres. A three day awareness and fund raising event to help save thehemlock trees and their dependent ecosystems. Includes lots of great live music & primitive camping options!

Help save the hemlock trees from the invasive hemlock woolly adelgid. Most of Georgia's hemlock range is nowinfested and the clock is ticking down as we are in our final years of being able to save these keystone trees, some ofwhom are centuries old. This effort goes far beyond just the concern for the hemlock trees themselves, but reaches

into the many aspects of the ecosystem that will be affected by their loss.

Information at: www.lumpkincoalition.org

Mark Your Calendars for the 2012 GNPS Annual Spring Plant Sale!

When: Sale Day: Saturday, April 14, 2012Set-up Day: Friday, April 13, 2012

Where: McFarlane Nature Park280 Farm Road SEMarietta, GA 30067

Please plan to volunteer and/or shop the plant sale as it is our major fundraiser of the yearplus volunteering (and shopping) is a lot of fun!

Follow the GNPS Archive Page link to see pictures of past plant sales and other activities of GNPS.

http://gnps.org/indexes/Archive_Index.php

Spring Garden Tour Set For April

The GNPS members only Garden Tour for 2012 has been scheduled for Sunday, April 15, 2012.

Mark your calendars now to see the gardens of Linda Fraser, Charles Hunter and others yet to be selected.

Linda Fraser is the creator of our Oakleaf Hydrangea logo and a frequent exhibitor of her native plant in-

spired art at our bimonthly meetings and symposium. Her property is in Northwest Atlanta. Charles Hunter

has lots of native azaleas, trilliums and other spring blooming natives in his west Cobb County garden. Come

learn how he has met the challenge of removing invasives from his property.

If you know of a place in the Atlanta area that needs to be seen in Spring because of its bounty of native

plants, please let any member of the board know. We still need at least two more gardens for our members'

viewing pleasure.
http://www.gnps.org/geninfo/Calendar.phphttp://www.gnps.org/geninfo/Calendar.phphttp://www.gnps.org/geninfo/Calendar.php


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Upcoming Events


Muirs Walk through the South

John Muirnaturalist, prolific author, co-founder of the Sierra Club, and the Father of the National Parksis an iconic figure in the United

States. His name instantly draws us to the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California and Yosemite National Park. A mere two years after the close of

the Civil War in 1867, a 29 year old Muir left his Indiana home and rambled through the woods of the Southeastern United States:

I have long been looking from the wild woods and gardens of the northern states to those of the warm south and at last

all drawbacks overcome on the first day of September 1867 I set forth joyful and free on a thousand mile walk to the

Gulf of Mexico.

With his pocket map spread before him, Muir planned his journey on the outskirts of Louisville, Kentucky. Muir traveled light, carrying only asmall satchel, Miltons Paradise Lost, a New Testament, a book of poems by Robert Burns, and a plant press. He admired the great caves filled

with ferns and the lordly oaks in Kentucky and then encountered the lush flora of the Cumberland Mountains. He later descen ded into the

Tennessee Valley and stopped at Kingston to send plant specimens home to his brother David. He swam across the Chattahoochee River, where

dark water oak and muscadine grape vines filled the banks. He traversed rattlesnakes near Athens, saw the long-leafed pines near Augusta, and

then arrived in Savannah almost penniless and camped in Bonaventure Cemetery for almost a week. After funds came from his brother, he

booked passage to north Florida. As throughout his journey, the plant life and climate continued to offer new surprises:

A new cane-like grass, or big lily, or gorgeous flower belonging to tree or vine would catch my attention and I would

throw down my satchel and press and splash through the coffee brown water for specimens, frequently sinking deeper and

deeper until compelled to turn back . . . sometimes tangled in a labyrinth of armed vines like a fly in a spiders web. Now

climbing a tree for specimens of fruit . . . overwhelmed with the vastness and unapproachableness of the great guarded

ocean of tropic plants.

Muir made his way to Cedar Keys where he contracted malaria, convalescing among the live oak, resurrection fern, and yucca, and sailedfor Cuba after his recovery. His, at times, challenging journey fed his passion for plants that formed the underpinnings of Muir s lifelong

pursuit to conserve the great outdoors in the United States.

You can learn more about Muirs love of botany by visiting the traveling exhibition Natures Beloved Son: Rediscovering John Muirs Botanical

Legacy, hosted by Cherokee Garden Library of the Atlanta History Center, October 12 to December 4, 2011. The Atlanta History Center will be

the only Southeastern venue for this outstanding exhibit. More information is available at atlantahistorycenter.com or 404.814.4046.

Submitted by Staci Catron, Cherokee Garden Library Director, Atlanta History Center

Trees Atlanta Announces 12th Annual Trees Atlanta Tree Sale & Festival

More Than 1,000 Trees and Plants Offered at Annual Non-Profit Fundraiser

Trees Atlanta announced details for the 12th Annual Trees Atlanta tree sale. The nationally known non-profit is hosting the event at their

Platinum LEED certified headquarters, the Trees Atlanta Kendeda Center, located at 225 Chester Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30316. The tree sale is

scheduled for Saturday, October 8th, 2011 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Trees Atlanta donors of $500 or more are invited to attend a preview shopping

night the evening before the sale.

Each October, Trees Atlanta offers more than 1,000 plants including 200 species of trees, shrubs, and tree-friendly vines for purchase by the

public. This years sale, sponsored by Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., focuses on shade trees and native trees that will be planted on the

Atlanta BeltLine Arboretum.

Trees Atlanta is a nationally recognized citizens group that protects and improves Atlantas urban forest by planting, conser ving and educating.

For more information about Trees Atlanta or the 12th Annual Trees Atlanta Tree Sale, visit www.treesatlanta.orgor call 404-522-4097.
http://www.treesatlanta.org/http://www.treesatlanta.org/http://www.treesatlanta.org/


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Georgia Native Plant Society Membership & Renewal

Memberships are effective for one calendar year, beginning January 1st.

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 ___UnrestrictedScholarship Program

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

Hydrangeaquercifolia

october 2011 native scape ~ georgia native plant society

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