---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Boyer & McDowell <boyerandmcdowell@...>
Date: Sun, Jun 7, 2009 at 9:04 AM
Subject: Local Native Plant Happenings
To: Liz McDowell & Ron Boyer <boyerandmcdowell@...>


Please note:

If you have received this notice regarding upcoming native plant
happenings in error, please let us know by sending a reply email with
the caption "Remove" in the Subject line.  Your name will promptly be
removed from our list.



Western Mountains Chapter of Maryland Native Plant Society

The Maryland Native Plant Society (MNPS) uses education, research, and
community service to increase awareness and appreciation of native
plants and their habitats leading to their conservation and
restoration.  Membership is open to all who are interested in
Maryland's native plants and their habitats.  Preserving Maryland's
natural heritage, increasing knowledge about native plants, and
helping to further the Society's mission are our goals.  MNPS sponsors
monthly meetings, workshops, field trips, and an annual fall
conference.  For more information, visit www.mdflora.org

The Western Mountains Chapter has formed to expand the efforts of MNPS
on the Allegheny Plateau and Ridge & Valley physiographic provinces of
the central-Appalachians.  Residents of western Maryland, nearby
Pennsylvania and West Virginia, and anyone else interested in learning
more about and conserving the native plants of this region are invited
to join.  For more information contact Liz McDowell, Chapter
Coordinator, at 301-895-3686 or boyerandmcdowell@...



2009 Schedule of Native Plant Happenings in our Region (revised June 6th)



Please note that monthly MNPS meeting locations may change due to
scheduling conflicts beyond our control.

If a meeting must be cancelled, a notice will be emailed ASAP.



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June



June 16

Appalachian Laboratory at 7 pm

Topic – Insects and Disease in the Lives of Forests and Trees

Speaker – Becky Wilson, Western Region Coordinator, MD DNR Urban and
Community Forestry

Trees and forests draw us to their beauty, solitude and splendor.  We
appreciate these and all of the products and services they provide
including wood and wildlife, clean water and air.  There are many
exotic and invasive pests and diseases that are threatening the health
of our forests and urban trees.  There is little natural resiliency
because these invaders have not historically been part of the local
forest systems.  During Becky Wilson’s presentation you’ll learn about
significant pest and disease threats to our forests and tree
resources.  Information on Hemlock Wooly Adelgid, Emerald Ash Borer,
and others will be presented.  With Ms. Wilson’s help, learn to
identify these insects and diseases and the current level of threat in
our region.  Her program will begin immediately following a brief MNPS
chapter meeting.

Directions: From I-68 take exit 33 (Braddock Rd & Midlothian Rd exit).
Follow Braddock Road approximately .2 miles to the entrance to the
Appalachian Lab on the left side of the road (301 Braddock Road).
There is plenty of parking in front of the building.



June 17

Frostburg State University in Compton Hall, Room 226 at 6 pm

Topic – Forestry Summit Listening Session

This meeting is not just for forest landowners – it’s also for
consultant foresters, planning and zoning staff that deal with
forestry issues, SCD staff, conservation group members, and anyone
that cares about forestry in MD.  The purpose of the listening
sessions is two-fold.  First, to receive input from attendees
regarding what they see as most viable solutions for addressing
forestry issues from the following five “key issue areas”: Retention
and Management of Privately Owned Forests; Economic Viability of
Maryland’s Forest Products Industry; Retention and Management of
Publicly Owned Forests; Diversity of Maryland’s Forestry and the Need
to Maintain that Diversity; and Expansion of Value-Added and
Alternative Eco-Enterprise Opportunities.  Second, in conjunction with
receiving this input from attendees, the listening sessions will also
present the results of a “forestry survey” that University of MD
Agro-Ecology is currently conducting, which will be asking prominent
people in MD’s forestry community a series of questions regarding the
solutions they see as most viable for addressing forestry issues from
the same five “key issue areas” listed above.  All of the input from
the listening sessions/survey will be synthesized for the “Summit,”
which will be a forum for interaction on future forest policy for MD
and an opportunity to present current information to attendees on
several of the key issue areas (and in particular, the expansion of
value-added/alternative Eco-Enterprise opportunities).  For more
information contact: Nancy Nunn, Harry R. Hughes Center for
Agro-Ecology at 410-827-8056, ext 128 or nnunn@...



June 19

Bear Pen Wildlands from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm

SRWA Battling Botanical Bullies

Adult volunteers are needed to continue control efforts of Japanese
spiraea in the Bear Pen Run area of Savage River State Forest.  Bear
Pen is designated as a Type 1 Wildland and like other natural areas
around the State is threatened by a variety of exotic invasive
species.  Kerrie Kyde, Invasive Plant Specialist with the Maryland
Wildlife & Heritage Service, is providing technical support.  Larry
Maxim, Savage River State Forest manager, is providing work tools.
Mike Gregory, Big Run & New Germany State Park manager, is providing
free camping the night before for any out-of-town volunteers.  The
Savage River Watershed Association is coordinating the project and
providing snacks and drinks for volunteers.  For more details or to
volunteer, email Savage River Watershed Association at
SRWAcoordinator@... or call Ron Boyer, SRWA invasive species
removal coordinator, at 301-895-3686.



June 20

Rocky Gap State Park (camping area amphitheater) at 7:30 pm

Topic – Going Native in Your Backyard

Speaker – Liz McDowell, Coordinator, Western Mountains Chapter of MNPS

Switching to native plants and using conservation landscaping
techniques is crucial to the long term health of the environment.
Learn how as habitat is lost and exotic species invade the most wild
and rural areas of our region, gardeners can play a key role in
maintaining regional biodiversity.  The many native alternatives to
the exotic invasive plants commonly used for landscaping in our region
will be highlighted.  Discover the connection between native plants,
wildlife and people.  Enhance and preserve regional biodiversity by
simply 'going native'.  Though this is in the park camping area, the
public is welcome to attend.  For more information call Liz McDowell
at 301-895-3686.



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July

July 17 & 24

Elk Ridge Native Plant Preserve from 9 am to noon

SRWA - Wildflower Identification for Beginners

Interested in knowing the names of the wonderful wildflowers you
encounter in forest and field?  Then take this class where you’ll
learn to actually “key-out” local plants using the popular Newcomb’s
Wildflower Guide.  This hands-on, two-part class is being offered on
consecutive Fridays.  Limited to six adults; the total cost is $40;
and pre-registration is required.  All proceeds benefit the Savage
River Watershed Association.  For more details or to register for the
class, call Liz McDowell, SRWA native plant specialist, at
301-895-3686.



July 25

Swallow Falls State Park (camping area amphitheater) at 8:30 pm

Topic – Going Native in Your Backyard

Speaker – Liz McDowell, Coordinator, Western Mountains Chapter of MNPS

Switching to native plants and using conservation landscaping
techniques is crucial to the long term health of the environment.
Learn how as habitat is lost and exotic species invade the most wild
and rural areas of our region, gardeners can play a key role in
maintaining regional biodiversity.  The many native alternatives to
the exotic invasive plants commonly used for landscaping in our region
will be highlighted.  Discover the connection between native plants,
wildlife and people.  Enhance and preserve regional biodiversity by
simply 'going native'.  Though this is in the park camping area, the
public is welcome to attend.  For more information call Liz McDowell
at 301-895-3686.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



August



August 8

New Germany State Park (Old Schoolhouse Nature Center) at 8:30 pm

Topic – Going Native in Your Backyard

Speaker – Liz McDowell, Coordinator, Western Mountains Chapter of MNPS

Switching to native plants and using conservation landscaping
techniques is crucial to the long term health of the environment.
Learn how as habitat is lost and exotic species invade the most wild
and rural areas of our region, gardeners can play a key role in
maintaining regional biodiversity.  The many native alternatives to
the exotic invasive plants commonly used for landscaping in our region
will be highlighted.  Discover the connection between native plants,
wildlife and people.  Enhance and preserve regional biodiversity by
simply 'going native'.  The public is welcome to attend.  For more
information call Liz McDowell at 301-895-3686.



August 11 and 12
University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, PA

Topic – Complicating Factors in Invasive Plant Management:
Circumstances Beyond Our Control?

7th Annual Mid-Atlantic Exotic Pest Plant Council Conference

Learn more about...deer impact on ecosystems, hands-on control
techniques, current research on invasives, and the impacts of climate
change.  For more information or a brochure call 215-247-5777, ext.125
or 156, email jlm@... or visit www.ma-eppc.org.



August 18
Appalachian Laboratory at 7 pm

Topic – Native Orchids of North America

Speaker – Jessie M. Harris, Flower and Nature Photography, Washington, DC.

This world-renowned nature photographer will give a slide presentation
called “The Native Orchids of North America”.  Harris will showcase
native orchids, the real gems of the forest, using the exquisite
photographs that she has taken over the last 30 years.  During her
long and illustrious career she has photographed over 6,000 different
plants.  Her photos have appeared in Audubon calendars, field guides,
magazines and books, including:  Wildflowers of the Smokies, A Field
Guide to Wildflowers of the Rocky Mountains, North Woods Wildflowers,
and Encyclopedia of Endangered Species.  Her program will begin
immediately following a brief MNPS chapter meeting.

Directions: From I-68 take exit 33 (Braddock Rd & Midlothian Rd exit).
Follow Braddock Road approximately .2 miles to the entrance to the
Appalachian Lab on the left side of the road (301 Braddock Road).
There is plenty of parking in front of the building.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



October



October 20
Appalachian Laboratory at 7 pm
Topic -TBA

Natalie Walsh, Graduate Assistant, Department of Biology, Frostburg
State University

Details to follow...

Her program will begin immediately following a brief MNPS chapter
business meeting.

Directions: From I-68 take exit 33 (Braddock Rd & Midlothian Rd exit).
Follow Braddock Road approximately .2 miles to the entrance to the
Appalachian Lab on the left side of the road (301 Braddock Road).
There is plenty of parking in front of the building.