Reminders....

Tomorrow's BSW meeting, TUesday October 7, will be held at the USBG at 6
PM (instead of the regular 7 PM starting time.)
(See webpage for further info:  http://botsoc.org )

Next month's meeting will be on Wednesday, November 5, rather than on the
regular day which is election day this year.  Carole Bergmann, Forest
Ecologist with Montgomery County, MD, will be our speaker.

The next fieldtrip will be on November 8 to Chapman's Landing.  See:
http://botsoc.org/fieldtrips/BSWChapmansNov08.doc

The annual holiday dinner will be at the Aria Restaurant on December 2.
Details will follow soon.

Last Saturday, BSW member Jean Worthley's Hodgepodge Lodge was installed
at the Howard County Conservancy property.  See this article which was in
the Baltimore Sun a few days ago:
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/howard/bal-ho.cabin02oct02,0,1599495.stor\
y

(Flyer for the November meeting is available at:
http://botsoc.org/nov08.doc)

The next BSW meeting will take place on Wednesday, November 5, rather than
on Tuesday the 4th which is Election Day.

Carole Bergmann, Forest Ecologist with Montgomery County, MD and BSW
member, will be our speaker.

Her topic: The Plant Life of the Serpentine Barrens Conservation Park
(a.k.a. Big Pines Serpentine Area) in Montgomery County, MD.

The meeting will be in the Waldo Schmitt Room Smithsonian Institution,
National Museum of Natural History, 10th St. and Constitution Avenue NW,
Washington, DC. Use the Constitution Avenue entrance; wait to be escorted
up. As usual, light refreshments will be served prior to and after the
presentation.

Pre-meeting dinner: 5:30 P.M. at the Elephant & Castle Pub and Restaurant,
1201 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., Washington. Phone 202-347-7707. The
restaurant is diagonally across from the Old Post Office Pavilion at 12th
and Pennsylvania, a few blocks from the Museum, with Federal Triangle the
nearest Metro station, and Metro Center also nearby.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++\
++++++++

Our next fieldtrip will be on the Saturday following the meeting.  The
trip is to Chapman's Landing.  Details can be found here:
http://www.botsoc.org/fieldtrips/BSWChapmansNov08.doc

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++\
+++++++++

Our holiday banquet will be held on Tuesday, December 2 at the Aria
Trattoria.  The invitation is here:
http://www.botsoc.org/dec08dinner/dec08.pdf

The menu is here: http://www.botsoc.org/dec08dinner/bsw2008menu.doc

And the dinner registration/dues form is here:
http://www.botsoc.org/dec08dinner/2008banquet-and-dues.doc

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Just wondering if anyone has been seeing any Jack-in-the-Pulpits in bloom?
I was very surprised to see a couple at Potomac Overlook Park in Arlington
this week.

(Flyer for the November meeting is available at:
http://botsoc.org/nov08.doc)

The next BSW meeting will take place on Wednesday, November 5, rather than
on Tuesday the 4th which is Election Day (and is finally here!!!!)  We
will be electing officers for the coming year at this meeting.

Carole Bergmann, Forest Ecologist with Montgomery County, MD and BSW
member, will be our speaker.

Her topic: The Plant Life of the Serpentine Barrens Conservation Park
(a.k.a. Big Pines Serpentine Area) in Montgomery County, MD.

The meeting will be in the Waldo Schmitt Room Smithsonian Institution,
National Museum of Natural History, 10th St. and Constitution Avenue NW,
Washington, DC. Use the Constitution Avenue entrance; wait to be escorted
up. As usual, light refreshments will be served prior to and after the
presentation.

Pre-meeting dinner: 5:30 P.M. at the Elephant & Castle Pub and Restaurant,
1201 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., Washington. Phone 202-347-7707. The
restaurant is diagonally across from the Old Post Office Pavilion at 12th
and Pennsylvania, a few blocks from the Museum, with Federal Triangle the
nearest Metro station, and Metro Center also nearby.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Our next fieldtrip will be on the Saturday following the meeting. The
trip is to Chapman's Landing. Details can be found here:
http://www.botsoc.org/fieldtrips/BSWChapmansNov08.doc

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Our holiday banquet will be held on Tuesday, December 2 at the Aria
Trattoria. The invitation is here:
http://www.botsoc.org/dec08dinner/dec08.pdf

The menu is here: http://www.botsoc.org/dec08dinner/bsw2008menu.doc

And the dinner registration/dues form is here:
http://www.botsoc.org/dec08dinner/2008banquet-and-dues.doc

Please send in reservation to Paul Peterson by November 25.

We need volunteers for the Botanical Society of Washington Food
Committee for 2009 meetings.

If you would like to bring one (or more) of the following snack items to
each 2009 meetings please email Carol Spurrier, Carol_Spurrier@...,
Chair of Food Committee.

1) nuts
2) cookies
3) cheese & crackers
4) juice
5) alternate, available to back up for others unable to attend

We request that for any meeting you will not be attending, that you
contact the chairperson so that an alternate provider can be arranged for
you're your designated food item for that meeting.

Please bring your receipt to the meeting for cash reimbursement.

Please try to keep the price in the $5-10 range, or up to $15 for cheese
and crackers per meeting.

(Doubling up the item for 2 months supply is okay for non-perishable
items, extras can be stashed in the Dept. of Botany)

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Our holiday banquet will be held on Tuesday, December 2 at the Aria
Trattoria. The invitation is here:
http://www.botsoc.org/dec08dinner/dec08.pdf

The menu is here: http://www.botsoc.org/dec08dinner/bsw2008menu.doc

And the dinner registration/dues form is here:
http://www.botsoc.org/dec08dinner/2008banquet-and-dues.doc


Please send in your reservations to Paul Peterson by Novemebr 25.

And even if you are not planning to come to the banquet, please send in
your 2009 dues.

It's getting to be close to the time for the annual BSW banquet on
December 2!

Please get your checks and form to Paul Peterson by the 25th.  You may
also wish to email him to let him know you are planning to attend.
PETERSON@...

Form, menu and invitation can be found on the website:
http://botsoc.org/

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

And I just got a notice about a forum tomorrow sponsored by the National
Capital Society of American Foresters:

Forest Management Solutions for Mitigating Climate Change in the U.S.

Thursday, November 20, 2008
4:00 - 5:30 PM

   http://ncsaf.org/Program/ClimateChange.htm

Webpage asks for RSVP by noon today but if you were interested in going,
you could email and see whether you could still RSVP even though past the
deadline.

If you haven't yet sent in your check for the banquet, but want to come -
email Paul Peterson and let him know.  PETERSON@...

Please tell him your entree choice.

Here are the three choices:

Pan Seared Chicken Piccata with Penne Pasta and Caper Beurre Blanc Sauce

Pappardelle with Primavera Sauce and Seasonal Vegetables

Pan Seared Salmon Fillet Served with Pesto Mashed Potatoes and Sauted
Spinach, Oregano Tomato Sauce

Form, menu and invitation can be found on the website:
http://botsoc.org/

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Remember - Tuesday is the banquet at the Aria Restaurant starting at 6 pm.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Pat Ford wanted to make sure BSW members saw the article about the
   in today's Post about the absence of acorns this year.


Rod Simmons and Alan "Whittemire" are both quoted in the article.


Acorn Watchers Wonder What Happened to Crop

   By Brigid Schulte

   The idea seemed too crazy to Rod Simmons, a measured, careful field
botanist. Naturalists in Arlington County couldn't find any acorns. None.
No hickory nuts, either. Then he went out to look for himself. He came up
with nothing. Nothing crunched underfoot. Nothing hit him on the head.

   To view the entire article, go to
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/29/AR2008112902045.\
html?
referrer=emailarticle

(For illustrated copy of flyer, please email me at kathy@... size
about 4 MB)

Celebrating Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve: Art, Science, and Conservation

Friday, 5 December 2008. 69 p.m. George Washington University, Room 113,
1957 E Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. The nearest Metro station is
GWU/Foggy Bottom (at 23rd Street and Eye Street, N.W.). Street parking
should be available though paying a meter is required until 6:30 p.m.

Introduction by Ms. Glenda Booth (President, Friends of Dyke Marsh), plant
photo essay by Professor Elizabeth F. Wells (George Washington
University), overview of biodiversity and arthropod research in DMWP by
Professor Edward M. Barrows (Georgetown University), art by Mrs. Maria
(Mania) Panayotopoulos, and the thought-provoking film

On the Edge: The Potomac River, Dyke Marsh (2006, 43 minutes).

Light refreshments. Free, open to the public!

Contacts are Dr. Elizabeth Wells, efwells@...; Ms. Glenda Booth,
gbooth123@...; and Dr. Edd Barrows, barrowse@....

Cosponsors are Friends of Dyke Marsh, George Washington University BiSc
158 (Field Botany) and Department of Biological Sciences, Mr. and Mrs.
Nick Afentakis, and the Georgetown University Center for the Environment
and Department of Biology.

When I sent out the announcement earlier about this event, I failed to
include this invitation from Beth, as well as a timeline for the evening.
(See below.)

And since sending it, Edd Barrows sent me the URL where he has the flyer
for it online:

http://gushare.georgetown.edu/xythoswfs/webui/_xy-5029479_1-t_Ynw2ALHV

You are invited to an event celebrating Dyke Marsh (a freshwater marsh on
the Potomac just south of Alexandria) this Friday from 6:00 to 9:00 pm in
Room 113, 1957 E Street, and in the lobby outside the room.  There will be
a program from 6:00 to 7:30, and a reception and art show of original
paintings of Dyke Marsh scenes, with refreshments from 7:30 to 9:00 pm.
This event is for my Field Botany class, BiSc 158, which has studied the
marsh this semester, and for guests.

> 6:00 Welcome and introduction of participants
> 6:05 Glenda Booth, President of Friends of Dyke Marsh
> 6:15 Elizabeth F. Wells, Photo essay of plants in Dyke Marsh Wildlife
> Preserve
> 6:30 Edd Barrows, Overview of biodiversity and arthropod research in
Dyke
> Marsh Wildlife Preserve
> 6:45 Film "On the Edge: The Potomac River, Dyke Marsh"
> 7:28 Nick Afentakis introduces Maria (Mania) Panayotopoulos
> 7:30 Reception and art show of original paintings of Dyke Marsh scenes

Please get your 2009 dues in now.  $10 for one $15 for two at the same
address.

Send them to:

Paul Peterson
Department of Botany, MRC-166
National Museum of Natural History
Smithsonian Institution
P.O. Box 37012
Washington, DC 20013-7012

If you are not sure whether you owe dues for 2009, you can check this
spreadsheet:

http://www.botsoc.org/BSWASHDUES2009.xls

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

   Date: Tuesday, January 6th 7:00 PM

Speaker: Dr. Paul Yarowsky

Topic: Water-Insoluble Neurotoxins from Cycas micronesica Recreate the
Spectrum of Guamanian Neurological Diseases

      Dr. Yarowsky is Associate Professor of Pharmacology and Experimental
Therapeutics at University of Maryland School of Medicine. His talk will
focus on the relationship of Cycas micronesica, the people on Guam, and
human degenerative diseases.

   Meeting location: Cathy Kerby Room (Room CE-340), Smithsonian
Institution, National Museum of Natural History, 10th St. and Constitution
Avenue NW, Washington, DC. Use the Constitution Avenue entrance; wait to
be escorted up. As usual, light refreshments will be served prior to and
after the presentation.

Pre-meeting dinner: 5:30 P.M. at the Elephant & Castle Pub and Restaurant,
1201 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., Washington. Phone 202-347-7707. The
restaurant is diagonally across from the Old Post Office Pavilion at 12th
and Pennsylvania, a few blocks from the Museum, with Federal Triangle the
nearest Metro station, and Metro Center also nearby.


Webpage:  http://www.botsoc.org/

There's now a flyer for the January 6th meeting posted at
http://botsoc.org/jan09.pdf

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Please get your 2009 dues in now if you have not already. $10 for one $15
for two at the same address.

Send them to:

Paul Peterson
Department of Botany, MRC-166
National Museum of Natural History
Smithsonian Institution
P.O. Box 37012
Washington, DC 20013-7012

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Fairly recent Washington POst article on Ginkgo in Washington
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/12/AR2008121204097.\
html

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Next BSW Meeting

Date: Tuesday, January 6th 7:00 PM

Speaker: Dr. Paul Yarowsky

Topic: Water-Insoluble Neurotoxins from Cycas micronesica Recreate the
Spectrum of Guamanian Neurological Diseases

Dr. Yarowsky is Associate Professor of Pharmacology and Experimental
Therapeutics at University of Maryland School of Medicine. His talk will
focus on the relationship of Cycas micronesica, the people on Guam, and
human degenerative diseases.

Meeting location: Cathy Kerby Room (Room CE-340), Smithsonian
Institution, National Museum of Natural History, 10th St. and Constitution
Avenue NW, Washington, DC. Use the Constitution Avenue entrance; wait to
be escorted up. As usual, light refreshments will be served prior to and
after the presentation.

Pre-meeting dinner: 5:30 P.M. at the Elephant & Castle Pub and Restaurant,
1201 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., Washington. Phone 202-347-7707. The
restaurant is diagonally across from the Old Post Office Pavilion at 12th
and Pennsylvania, a few blocks from the Museum, with Federal Triangle the
nearest Metro station, and Metro Center also nearby.

Webpage: http://www.botsoc.org/

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++=

Happy Holidays to All!

Next BSW Meeting
Date: Tuesday, January 6th 7:00 PM
Speaker: Dr. Paul Yarowsky
Topic: Water-Insoluble Neurotoxins from Cycas micronesica Recreate the
Spectrum of Guamanian Neurological Diseases

(Further details can be found at the bottom of this email.)

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

New tree ID manual for Virginia:
http://www.dof.virginia.gov/website/index-online-store.shtml

****************************************************

From Steven Lonker:

The Montgomery County Sierra Club is sponsoring four talks this winter
that may be of interest to members of the Botanical Society of Washington.
Jean Schwab, EPA's GreenScapes Program Manager, will give the first talk
on Sunday, January 11:

ENVIRONMENTALLY BENEFICIAL LANDSCAPING FOR SMALL AND LARGE PROPERTY OWNERS
Sunday, January 11, 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Jean Schwab, EPA's GreenScapes
Program Manager, talks about gardening with native plants; limiting
pesticide, fertilizer, and water use; controlling storm water runoff;
reducing waste through composting; and success stories. Bethesda Regional
Services Center, Room A, 4805 Edgemoor Lane, Bethesda, MD.  301-438-3453
Free.

The rest of the schedule can be seen here:
http://maryland.sierraclub.org/montgomery/sections/events.asp

Other talks include: Managing Deer In Suburban Landscapes and Gardening
for Wildlife

***************************************************************************

From Edd Barrows:

Please check out environmental events at
http://www1.georgetown.edu/centers/environment/58651.html and mark your
calenders.

***************************************************************************

If you are not sure whether you owe dues for 2009, you can check this
spreadsheet:

http://www.botsoc.org/BSWDUES2009.xls

Dues of $10 for one, $15 for two at the same address should be sent to:

Paul Peterson
Department of Botany, MRC-166
National Museum of Natural History
Smithsonian Institution
P.O. Box 37012
Washington, DC 20013-7012

***************************************************************************

Date: Tuesday, January 6th 7:00 PM

Speaker: Dr. Paul Yarowsky

Topic: Water-Insoluble Neurotoxins from Cycas micronesica Recreate the
Spectrum of Guamanian Neurological Diseases

Dr. Yarowsky is Associate Professor of Pharmacology and Experimental
Therapeutics at University of Maryland School of Medicine. His talk will
focus on the relationship of Cycas micronesica, the people on Guam, and
human degenerative diseases.

Meeting location: Cathy Kerby Room (Room CE-340), Smithsonian
Institution, National Museum of Natural History, 10th St. and Constitution
Avenue NW, Washington, DC. Use the Constitution Avenue entrance; wait to
be escorted up. As usual, light refreshments will be served prior to and
after the presentation.

Pre-meeting dinner: 5:30 P.M. at the Elephant & Castle Pub and Restaurant,
1201 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., Washington. Phone 202-347-7707. The
restaurant is diagonally across from the Old Post Office Pavilion at 12th
and Pennsylvania, a few blocks from the Museum, with Federal Triangle the
nearest Metro station, and Metro Center also nearby.

Webpage: http://www.botsoc.org/

Squirrel story, redux - from a recent USA Today:
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/environment/2009-01-15-acorns_N.htm?POE=clic\
k-refer

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

A flier for the next BSW meeting on February 3rd is now online, available
for download at http://www.botsoc.org/feb09.doc  (The photo I used on the
announcement was taken by a man in England who readily gave me
permission to use it.  I found it on the CalPhotos website which I had not
previously known about.
http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/photographer_query?query_src=&where-name_full=\
Mike+Ireland&one=T
)

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Dues are due for anyone who has not yet paid for 2009.  Send $10 for one
or $15 for two at the same address to: Paul Peterson, Botany Dept., MRC
166, National Museum of Natural History, P.B. 37012,
Washington, DC 20013-7012

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Celebrate the 900th meeting of the BSW!

Date: Tuesday, February 3rd 7:00 PM

Speaker: Jun Wen

Topic: Evolution of Asian-North American Disjunct Plants

We'll have a birthday cake on hand as part of the refreshments.


Meeting location: Cathy Kerby Room (Room CE-340), Smithsonian
Institution, National Museum of Natural History, 10th St. and Constitution
Avenue NW, Washington, DC. Use the Constitution Avenue entrance; wait to
be escorted up. As usual, light refreshments will be served prior to and
after the presentation.

Pre-meeting dinner: 5:30 P.M. at the Elephant & Castle Pub and Restaurant,
1201 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., Washington. Phone 202-347-7707. The
restaurant is diagonally across from the Old Post Office Pavilion at 12th
and Pennsylvania, a few blocks from the Museum, with Federal Triangle the
nearest Metro station, and Metro Center also nearby.

If you're not sure whether you've paid your 2009 dues, please check this
updated .xls file and see.  http://www.botsoc.org/BSWASHDUES2009-1-27.xls

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Tuesday's meeting is our 900th!  Come and have some birthday cake!

Date: Tuesday, February 3rd 7:00 PM

Speaker: Jun Wen

Topic: Evolution of Asian-North American Disjunct Plants

   Meeting location: Cathy Kerby Room (Room CE-340), Smithsonian
Institution, National Museum of Natural History, 10th St. and Constitution
Avenue NW, Washington, DC. Use the Constitution Avenue entrance; wait to
be escorted up. As usual, light refreshments will be served prior to and
after the presentation.

Pre-meeting dinner: 5:30 P.M. at the Elephant & Castle Pub and Restaurant,
1201 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., Washington. Phone 202-347-7707. The
restaurant is diagonally across from the Old Post Office Pavilion at 12th
and Pennsylvania, a few blocks from the Museum, with Federal Triangle the
nearest Metro station, and Metro Center also nearby.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Managing Deer in Suburban Landscapes, Sat. Feb. 7, 2 p.m.-3:30 p.m.

Frustrated with deer overpopulation and crumpled fenders, personal
injuries, ruined gardens, and lyme disease, then come to this talk
sponsored by the Montgomery County Sierra Club. Doug Tregoning,
Principal Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources and Director of
the Montgomery County Cooperative Extension, speaks on the causes of
higher deer populations and the use of repellents, barriers, and
plant management to deal with these increasing populations. Brookside
Gardens Visitor Center, 1800 Glenallan Ave., Wheaton, MD. Free. RSVP
Steve Lonker at steven.lonker@... or
301-438-3453.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

You may have heard about the woman jogger who was attacked by the rabid
fox a few weeks ago.  Here is a video of her appearance on Letterman
talking about the incident.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNHu9pqz7B0

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

White House Farmer??

This website is looking for your vote on a possible White House Farmer -
http://whitehousefarmer.com/
inspired by Michael Pollan's 10/12 letter to the next president
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/12/magazine/12policy-t.html?_r=2&ref=magazine&ore\
f=slogin&oref=slogin

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

A set of 5 presentation on the genera of bees of Eastern North America is
available at:

http://www.slideshare.net/sdroege

The compressed slide shows are also available for downloading at:

ftp://ftpext.usgs.gov/pub/er/md/laurel/Droege/)

Feel free to link to these guides, embed them in web sites, or use them in
talks wherever you please.

There are fewer and fewer excuses now for not learning your bee
identification.

sam

Sam Droege  sdroege@...
w 301-497-5840 h 301-390-7759 fax 301-497-5624
USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center

Blandy looking for Plant Ecologist:
http://www.virginia.edu/blandy/ecologist.htm

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++==

Upcoming VNPS events:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vnps-pot/message/2253

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Remarkable Trees Lectures coming up in April
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vnps-pot/message/2260

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Next BSW Meeting

Date:Tuesday, March 3rd 7:00 PM

Speaker: Elizabeth Kellogg

Topic: Grasses and Their Flowers

       Meeting location: Cathy Kerby Room (Room CE-340), Smithsonian
Institution, National Museum of Natural History, 10th St. and Constitution
Avenue NW, Washington, DC. Use the Constitution Avenue entrance; wait to
be escorted up. As usual, light refreshments will be served prior to and
after the presentation.

      Pre-meeting dinner: 5:30 P.M. at the Elephant & Castle Pub and
Restaurant, 1201 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., Washington. Phone 202-347-7707.
The restaurant is diagonally across from the Old Post Office Pavilion at
12th and Pennsylvania, a few blocks from the Museum, with Federal Triangle
the nearest Metro station, and Metro Center also nearby.

2009 Meetings:

      * January 6 - Paul Yarowsky
      * February 3 - Jun Wen - Evolution of Asian-North American Disjunct
Plants
      * March 3 - Elizabeth Kellogg - Grasses and Their Flowers
      * April 7 - Jamie Whitacre - Botanical Art in the U.S. Capitol:
Brumidi's Fruits and Flowers
      * May 5 - Pedro Acevedo ? Caribbean floristics
      * June 2 - Leslie Overstreet re: Catesby
      * September 1 - Members' Night
      * October 6 - Wayne Esaias - re: pollinator decline
      * November 3 - Markku Miettinen - re: Scandinavian fens and bogs
      * December 1 - (tentative date) - Annual Banquet - President's Talk -
Pat Ford

The first field trips for 2009 have been scheduled.

April 4 will be to the Carderock area along the C and O and will be led by
Dan Nicolson.

A trip to the other side of the river, Turkey Run Park, (off the GW
Parkway) has been scheduled for April 11.

Other suggested areas can be found on this page
http://www.botsoc.org/bswfieldtrips.html

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Jamie Whitacre will be speaking about:

Botanical Art in the U.S. Capitol: Brumidi's Fruits and Flowers
7 PM on April 7

From Rod Simmons
Rod.Simmons@...

Hi all,

I spoke with Lou Aronica today and we chose April 25 & 26 as dates for the
St. Anthony's Wilderness BSW field trip, with May 2 & 3 as alternate dates
if the others don't work.  Please let's more or less take an email vote if
the April dates work for this and we'll set the dates if we get enough
takers. (Note from Kathy: please reply to Rod:
Rod.Simmons@... ) Lou says the site is loaded with spring
wildflowers, ferns, and other plants at that time of year.  Kathy, would
you please send this out to folks?  Thanks.  I'll also make an
announcement at next month's meeting.

This trip could be a one day or an 2-day overnight trip, depending on
folks' interest.  There's a nice place to stay and eat nearby for
overnighters:

Doyle Hotel in Duncannon, PA   http://www.doylehotel.com  (717)834-6789

The place caters especially to AT hikers and has nice rooms for $25 a
night.

The sites for the May 30-31 foray to State College/Lewisburg area can be
seen on a great website:

Go to http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/FORESTRY/oldgrowth

Find the cluster of D4, D3, and D5 in lower center of PA map and click on
each to see photos and descriptions of different field trip sites that are
in very close proximity to each other, including one to a black spruce
mountain peatland - Bear Meadows Natural Area (D4).

Thanks,

Rod

From Rod:

The majority of responses back thus far have selected the April dates as
best for them.  I'll get a fuller description of the St. Anthony's
Wilderness trip (I have Bob Yacovissi's photos as well) and accommodations
for the May 30-31 trip.

Some hotel/motel information for the St. Anthony's Wilderness trip:

1. Doyle Hotel in Duncannon, PA http://www.doylehotel.com (717)834-6789.
The place caters especially to AT hikers and has nice rooms for $25 a
night.

2. Someone recommended: The Stardust Motel on Rte 15 in Duncannon,
717-834-4433, is also a good choice. Not quite as cheap as Doyle Hotel,
but very reasonable and you get your own bathroom.

From Rod Simmons.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Thu, 19 Mar 2009 22:23:44 -0400
From: Rod.Simmons@...
Subject: please comment on threats to native flora - Potato Dandelion in
      Mattawoman area

Kathy,

If you get a chance, would you mind sending this link to BSW members with
request to check out article and to consider posting comments?  Comments
can be anything from just a few words to longer.  (Jim Long sent this
along.)  Extra points for including the Botanical Society of Washington in
comments!  (also VNPS, etc.)

Thanks,

Rod


http://cbf.typepad.com/bay_daily/2009/03/the-dandelion-that-stopped-a-highway-pr\
oject.html

Several fieldtrips are in the works for the next couple of months.

# April 4, Saturday - Bear Island - C and O Canal - Mile 10.5 (Maryland) -
9:00 AM.
# April 11, Saturday - Turkey Run Park (Virginia) - Time and meeting place
TBA
# April 25-26, Saturday-Sunday - St. Anthony's Wilderness, PA.
# May 9, Saturday - Joint trip with the MNPS and the VNPS to do field
surveys and have a field botany workshop along Mattawoman Creek.
# May 30-31, Saturday-Sunday - State College-Lewisburg, PA area. Visit an
old-growth forest. Joint trip with PNPS and MNPS.

Details can be found here:
http://www.botsoc.org/bswfieldtrips.html

* * * * * * * * ** * * * * * * * * *  * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Next meeting:

Date: Tuesday, April 7th 7:00 PM

Speaker: Jamie Whitacre
            Fellow, U.S. Capitol Historical Society

Topic: Botanical Art in the U.S. Capitol: Brumidis Fruits and Flowers

Flyer for posting: http://botsoc.org/apr09.pdf

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

A couple of Bluebell stories in last Friday's Post:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/19/AR2009031901281.\
html

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/achenblog/2009/03/bluebell_season.html

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Note: Harbinger of Spring in full bloom at Turkey Run on Sunday.

Two upcoming talks by BSW members:

Sunday, March 29
2:00 p.m. at the Ashburn Library
Stan Shetler will be speaking about
SPRING BIRDS AND WILDFLOWERS, THEIR INTERWOVEN WORLD
Free program is sponsored by the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy
http://www.loudounwildlife.org/blog/

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Join the Friends of Dyke Marsh and the Virginia Native Plant Society
                        Wednesday  May 13, 7:30 p.m.
                                    and learn about
                     the Plants of the Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve

          Speaker: Dr. Elizabeth Wells, Botanist, George Washington
University

Dr. Wells will lead a visual "walk" through the preserve and discuss the
many, varied wetland plants and zones of the Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve.
Huntley Meadows Park Visitor Center, 3701 Lockheed Boulevard, Alexandria,
VA 22306.

                              Free and open to the public

Saturday, April 4 - Bear Island. (MD) Park across from Old Angler's Inn.
Meet at 9:00.  Bring water, lunch, binoculars, hand lens, fieldguides

Lots of Bear Island info: http://www.botsoc.org/2009BearIsland.rtf

Alan Whittemore has compiled Dan Nicolson's list of things seen in flower
on our April trips into a master list:
http://botsoc.org/fieldtrips/Bear_Island_master_list.doc

Saturday, APril 11 - Turkey Run. (VA) A.M. Time will be determined on
April 4.


Tuesday, April 7 - will be the next BSW meeting.  Speaker: Jamie WHitacre.
Topic: Botanical Art in the U.S. Capitol: Brumidis Fruits and Flowers
Details on Webpage: http://www.botsoc.org


Information about trips farther into the future can be seen here:
http://www.botsoc.org/bswfieldtrips.html

April 5, 2009

Hi All

This is my plan for 11 April 2009 for Turkey Run Park, weather willing.

Meet in parking lot C1 at 9:30 a.m. If there are not enough parking spots
in C1, park in C2. You can walk from C2 to C1 through the picnic area.
There are restrooms in the picnic area.

As a group, we'll pool our knowledge, stop at 11 designated stops, discuss
each stop, and update Park worksheets.

We'll need people to be in charge of lists for Invertebrates, Vertebrates,
Dicots 1, Dicots 2, Dicots 3, Dicots 4, Monocots, Nonflowering Plants,
etc. I'll put the worksheets (lists) and the vegetation map online later
this week. This is an active-learning exercise.

Green cheers, Edd Barrows

__________________________

Stop 1. Orientation. Successional Tuliptree Forest (Circumneutral Type)
(Community 25), parking lot and picnic area.

Stop 2. Dry Mesic Chestnut Oak  Northern Red Oak Forest (Community 3).

Stop 3. An Embarrassment of Riches. Rich Boulderfield Forest (Community
10).

Stop 4. Go West People! Community 10, slope east of Turkey Run.

Stop 5. Moss Madness (Community 10).

Stop 6. Repeated Richness. Rich Cove  Mesic Slope Forest (Twinleaf  Blue
Cohosh Type) (Community 7)

Stop 7. Slopes Revisited (Community 10).

Stop 8. Community 7, small stream.

Stop 9. Thrilling Trillum Treat (Community 7).

Stop 10. Pink Perfection (Rich Floodplain Forest) (Community 13).

Stop 11. Colonists near Long Island (Silver Maple Floodplain Forest, many
rock chairs, a lunch site) (Community 14)

On your own, hike west across Dead Run to the American Legion Bridge
wonderful cliffs, even some caves.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Map of Turkey Run Park showing trails and parking:
http://botsoc.org/fieldtrips/turkeyrunmap.jpg

(Not as clear as would be nice as it is from a picture taken of the map
behind glass at the C-1 parking area.)

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Directions:

Turkey Run Park is located in McLean, Virginia, two miles off the Capital
Beltway (Interstate 495) on the George Washington Memorial Parkway (GWMP).

      * From I-495 (The Beltway) - Take exit 43. Follow GWMP for 2 miles to
the Turkey Run Park exit on the right. Follow signs into the park.
      * From Washington, D.C. and Old Town Alexandria: Take the GWMP
northbound. Take a right-hand exit at the Turkey Run Park sign just after
the Parkway Headquarters/U.S. Park Police Substation. Make first right
turn into the park.

From Chain Bridge; Right onto Rt. 123. Right onto the GWMP. Take a
right-hand exit at the Turkey Run Park sign just after the Parkway
Headquarters/U.S. Park Police Substation, which is just beyond the exit
for the CIA. Make first right turn into the park.  Parking area C-1 will
be the first parking area on the left.

http://www.nps.gov/gwmp/turkey-run-park.htm

Our next meeting will be at 7 PM tomorrow, Tuesday, April 7.

Speaker: Jamie Whitacre
            Fellow, U.S. Capitol Historical Society

Topic: Botanical Art in the U.S. Capitol: Brumidi's Fruits and Flowers

Meeting location: Cathy Kerby Room (Room CE-340), Smithsonian
Institution, National Museum of Natural History, 10th St. and Constitution
Avenue NW, Washington, DC. Use the Constitution Avenue entrance; wait to
be escorted up. As usual, light refreshments will be served prior to and
after the presentation.

Pre-meeting dinner: 5:30 P.M. at the Elephant & Castle Pub and Restaurant,
1201 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., Washington. Phone 202-347-7707. The
restaurant is diagonally across from the Old Post Office Pavilion at 12th
and Pennsylvania, a few blocks from the Museum, with Federal Triangle the
nearest Metro station, and Metro Center also nearby.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Field trip reminder, 9:30 AM, Turkey Run.  More information at:
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/botsoc/message/272
Further info will be sent later on the week.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

April Nature Conservancy events - Garlic Mustard pulls and other weeding
and planting events:

http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/maryland/events/

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

MNPS Field trips: http://mdflora.org/events/trips.html

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

VNPS - Piedmont Chapter Events: http://www.vnps.org/chapters/piedmont/

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

See http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/botsoc for the archive of previous
announcements.

Meghan Tice sent some pictures from the Saturday trip to Bear Island.  I
created a Flickr account and put them there.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/37133157@N05/sets/72157616448041186/

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *  * * * * *  * * * *

From Rod Simmons:

We've been spoiled these past several years with all the great local
geologic forays, lectures, workshops, and surveys by our "resident"
geologist extraordinaire Tony Fleming (he's practically a board
member of both plant societies, as well as City of Alexandria
employee!), but apart from all his customized work for us and
assistance, the following geologic field trips are outstanding and a
great opportunity to learn geology or supplement one's knowledge.

   I've always thought that NVCC does the best job locally in
instruction in geology, and field trips offered are wide-ranging
(D.C. and Maryland covered too) and great resource.  (I think all are
1 credit hour.)

Sites include Shenandoah Park, Calvert Cliffs, the National Zoo, Billy
Goat Trail and many others.

http://www.nvcc.edu/schedule/crs2093/schedule_search_result.asp?term=2009+Summer\
&course=GOL&campus=All&zSession=All&submit=Search

Field trip reminder, meet at 9:30 am on Saturday, the 11th at parking area
C-1 of Turkey Run Park.

The trip is on barring torrential rain, earthquakes, tsumanis, and their
ilk. We are tough! Please dress appropriately! (Bring handlens, raingear,
water, lunch, fieldguides, binoculars, etc.)

From Edd regarding materials for April 11 Turkey Run trip:

Each person should have a map so we can study plant communities together.
People who want the long handout for the trip are certainly welcome to
print it. I put a table of contents in the handouts beginning to help
people pick and choose what they might wish to print for themselves.

The Biodiversity workbook for our Saturday biodiversity walk is at:

https://gushare.georgetown.edu/xythoswfs/webui/_xy-5698700_1-t_KnPgwL56

Our map is at

https://gushare.georgetown.edu/xythoswfs/webui/_xy-5698701_1-t_QZ6qxgZ4

The key to the map is at the end of the handout.

Further details, including the 11 stops on the trip:
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/botsoc/message/272

Cell phone contact #   1-301-991-5470

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

From Jil:

Frank Solis of the VA Master Gardeners program sent me a copy of "Common
Native Trees of Virginia" by Ellen Powell of the Virginia Dept of
Forestry. The book is paperback, 120 pages, has nice b&w illustrations,
and covers 78 species in detail. It's very nice. A list of additional tree
species you'll likely encounter in VA, including some invasives, is also
provided. Unfortunately, the term "naturalized" is used for some of them
when exotic or invasive would have been a better choice. Other than that,
it's really a nice field guide.

For a peak, or to download the whole thing, go to:

http://www.dof.virginia.gov/info/index-forms-docs.shtml

Direct link to download the file:
http://www.dof.virginia.gov/edu/resources/pub-Native-Trees-Va_2007.pdf
(5.1 MB)


* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Notes on Claytonia virginica from the The Journal of the Cincinnati
Society of Natural History:

http://books.google.com/books?id=AXwSAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA68&lpg=PA68&dq=claytonia+cinc\
innati&source=bl&ots=kOveqc2_Qs&sig=Ojj3NUe2nmh_TzjASkHf7zYndUI&hl=en&ei=lC7eSbK\
kMdPtlQe-p41a&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** * * * * * * *

From PCA list:

Subject: [PCA] WEB: PDF of Mistaken Identity? Invasive Plants and their
Native
     Look-alikes (Mid-Atlantic)

Mistaken Identity? Invasive Plants and their Native Look-alikes: an
Identification Guide for the Mid-Atlantic

This publication is a full-color, 62-page booklet. The purpose of the work
is to facilitate correct identification of confusingly similar invasive
and native plant species. Targeted at land managers, gardeners,
conservationists, and all others interested in plants, this booklet covers
over 20 invasive species and their native look-alikes.

Higher quality 8meg file:
http://www.nybg.org/files/scientists/rnaczi/Mistaken_Identity_Final.pdf

Lower quality 2meg file for dial-up connections:
http://www.nj.nrcs.usda.gov/documents/Mistaken_Identity.pdf

http://lists.plantconservation.org/mailman/listinfo/native-plants_lists.plantcon\
servation.org

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** * ** * * * * * *

Date: Tuesday, May 5th 7:00 PM
Speaker: Leslie Overstreet
Department of Botany, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian
Institution
Topic: Botany and book-making in the 18th century: Mark Catesby's Natural
history of Carolina, Florida and the Bahama Islands (1731-1743)
Flyer for Posting: http://www.botsoc.org/may09.pdf

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Here are some pictures from Turkey Run.  They were actually taken
yesterday - as the day of the field trip was very rainy which made
managing a camera and an umbrella rather difficult.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/37133157@N05/sets/72157616647357397/

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

VNS Butterfly Gardening Program - Tursday, April 16 7:30 pm
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vnps-pot/message/2301

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Bioblitz at Patuxent River Park - May 30-31
http://dnr.maryland.gov/education/download/022309bioblitz.pdf

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The North American Pollinator Protection Campaign has put online the first
of their series of ecoregional guides (using Bailey's Ecoregions) on
plants for pollinators.

http://www.pollinator.org/guides.htm

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Meeting details on the webpage at:
http://www.botsoc.org/ as well as on flyer http://www.botsoc.org/may09.pdf

The wrong affiliation was given for our next month's speaker, Leslie
Overstreet.

It should have said: Cullman Library, Special Collections Dept.,
Smithsonian Institution Libraries

There is now an updated version of the flyer at the same location as was
the previous version: http://www.botsoc.org/may09.pdf

Rod sent me some pictures from the 4-4 trip to Bear Island taken by his
sister, Jennifer Simmons.  I've uploaded them to Flickr.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/37133157@N05/sets/72157616676376089/