Dr. Tallamy’s Reply to “What’s all the fuss about native plants?”
Our blog this week is a letter written by Dr. Doug Tallamy, Professor and Chair of the Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology at the University of Delaware, and author of Bringing Nature Home. Written to the New York Times last week: Subject: Misinterpretation/factual errors in article on Gardening for Climate Change Dear Editor: I am…
VNPS: What Do We DO?
“A plant society? What is that? What kinds of things do you do?,” asked a somewhat incredulous young man visiting a VNPS table recently. One of the things we do, of course, is to have educational display tables at all kinds of events, where people can ask questions like this one! To the inquirer, I…
The Plantwhacker Wins!
For years, while mercilessly killing non-native invasive plants at Long Branch Nature Center, I have harbored the admitted fantasy that the invasives’ removal will magically reveal some cool, unexpected native plants. And to be sure, I have seen some nice native plants and have been able to track how many of them respond positively to…
Natives Are Glamorous Plants!
“Natives are the most glamorous things in the world,” says Randee Wilson, “It really gnaws on me to hear people refer to natives as weedy.” Randee shared his opinion recently with a group of people who are working on a native plant marketing partnership. There may be some non-natives that are beautiful, too,” Randee said, …
Spring Ephemerals: Catch ’em While You Can
April is perhaps the very best month in Virginia to catch a sight of these extraordinary flowers that grace the landscape for such a brief time. To be ephemeral is to be short-lived, fleeting, brief. Bluebells, merrybells, Dutchman’s breeches, squirrel corn, trilliums, lady slipper orchids, bloodroot, hepatica, trout lily, twinleaf and toothwort; even their names…
The Flora of Virginia Project Gets Noticed!
The Flora of Virginia Project continues its upward trajectory with recent coverage by both press and radio of the opening of its truly grand exhibition in the Library of Virginia in March. Members of the Virginia Native Plant Society can take justifiable pride in the fact that we generously helped to fund first the book,…
New Book: Wildflowers and Grasses of Virginia’s Coastal Plain
Here is a new book you will want to have as Virginia’s spring bursts forth and you are out in the field with “need to know” questions! Specifically designed to be easy to use, flowers are grouped by color and quickly located with color-coordinated tabs at the top of each page. Grasses have their own…
DCR Natural Heritage Budget Not Approved
I am very sorry to report that despite a good effort on the part of the VNPS leadership and many of its members who wrote to their Delegates and Senators, the budget amendment to add $900,000 and seven full time staff for DCR’s Natural Heritage Program failed. There was no explicit vote, just an absence…
Get the Flora of Virginia into an Exhibition
Let’s get the Flora of Virginia into an exhibition at the Library of Virginia! The Flora, a result of many years of fundraising and research, published a this time last year, has already become an invaluable resource for botanists at every level of interest. An amazing exhibit is planned for an extended time, from March…
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