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November 2024 — Volume XXX, Number 6 — Published by the Georgia Native Plant Society
GNPS Receives Education Grant for Pilot Program
GNPS was recently awarded a grant to implement a new educational pilot program called “Broadening Community Beautification: How to Get Started with Native Plant Habitats.” This program, funded by a Microhabitat Program Incubator Catalyst Grant from the Village & Wilderness organization, will test a package of tools to educate a broader audience on native plant habitats through partnerships between 5 GNPS chapters and 5 Keep Georgia Beautiful Foundation (KGBF) local affiliate groups. Next year, an in-person outreach program will be hosted by each participating KGBF affiliate, featuring a presentation by the local GNPS chapter, a resource toolkit and a free native plant for participants.
Participating partnerships in this pilot include: the Coastal Plain Chapter and Keep Tift Beautiful; the Fringed Campion Chapter and Keep Macon-Bibb Beautiful; the Intown Atlanta Chapter and Keep Chamblee Beautiful; the North Metro Atlanta Chapter and Keep Roswell Beautiful; and the West Georgia Chapter and Keep Carroll Beautiful. After the pilot concludes, an evaluation will be conducted to understand the program’s effectiveness, needs and gaps, and potential to scale. GNPS would like to extend its thanks to Village & Wilderness for its support of this new initiative.
GNPS Certified Habitats Recognized on GAPP Map
Left: Map of all GAPP sites. Right: GNPS certified habitats and educational garden contributions to GAPP map.
We are excited to share that GNPS certified habitats and educational gardens are now displayed on the Georgia Pollinator Partnership map, or the “GAPP map.” The mission of the Georgia Pollinator Partnership is to create and restore viable pollinator habitats around Georgia for butterflies, bees, moths, bats, hummingbirds and other beneficial animals by educating audiences about pollinator decline and promoting the use of pollinator gardens as a solution. As a GAPP partner, GNPS promotes our habitat certification and restoration programs through this map and provides online educational materials on the GAPP website hosted by the UGA State Botanical Garden of Georgia. Click here to view the GAPP map. Different layers can be turned on and off so you can view the different types of pollinator gardens in the network. GNPS habitats are indicated by a white flower.
Habitat loss is one of the leading causes of decline for native pollinators globally. By mapping pollinator gardens, partners within GAPP can better track the types of pollinator resources available across Georgia. You can help us fill the “GAPP” by creating pollinator habitat in your yard or neighborhood. The GNPS Habitat Certification program offers a list of criteria and guidelines that can be followed to develop your garden. The program offers both silver and gold certification. If your property doesn’t yet qualify for GNPS certification, you can check out the other yard recognition programs on the map as a starting point. For pollinator gardens in public areas, GNPS offers the Educational Garden recognition as a part of its larger restoration program. Educational Gardens demonstrate an array of native plants in a garden setting in order to educate the community, and qualifying projects receive small grants to purchase plants. When you qualify for either of these GNPS programs, you have the option to display the general location of your certified property on the GAPP map.
GNPS would like to extend its appreciation to the GAPP partners and Georgia Department of Natural Resources staff who have dedicated their time to developing this valuable resource.
Plant Spotlight: Last Stem Standing
Ellen Honeycutt
It’s finally fall y’all, and the plants respond to the fading sunlight by fading away themselves. Perennial flowers diminish and deciduous plants drop their leaves. This is the time of year that the message to “leave the leaves” is quite strong and it’s an important one. Equally important is the message to leave old plant stems in place; that one usually is louder in the spring as people get outside to get ready for new growth. But if we tidy up in the fall, then the spring message is too late.
Left: Example of a stem used by bees for nesting. Right: Spotted beebalm. Photos by E. Honeycutt
Leaving sturdy plant stems, especially the ones from perennials, provides support for stem-nesting bees. This graphic from The Xerces Society illustrates how stems from this year (2024) are used by stem-nesting bees in 2025 to create the generation of 2026. The plant growth in 2025 surrounds the old stem sections of 2024 so it really isn’t very noticeable. Here is an example from my yard, showing how the new growth of spotted beebalm (Monarda punctata) is rising to surround the old stems. I have cut them to the recommended height in the Xerces’s graphic.
Enjoy fall and help the critters too by ecosystem-friendly gardening practices like this one. It’s just one more thing we can do in our habitats.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is Seeking Public Input on Proposal for Okefenokee Expansion
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced it is considering a proposed boundary expansion of the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge in southeast Georgia. The acquisition boundary expansion includes the proposed Twin Pines mine site, as well as other areas surrounding the Refuge. Conservation actions on the lands within the proposed boundary expansion would strengthen protection of the hydrological integrity of the swamp, help provide habitat for the gopher tortoise, mitigate impacts of wildfires and more severe and longer-lasting droughts and provide opportunities for longleaf pine restoration to benefit the red-cockaded woodpecker. The public may submit input by November 18, 2024 via email to Okefenokee@fws.gov. More details including a FAQ sheet, map and public meeting information can be viewed at https://www.fws.gov/refuge/okefenokee.
Statewide Opportunities
Plant of the Year Voting Begins on Monday, November 4
Get excited - it’s almost time to vote for the 2025 Plant of the Year! The slate of nominees with photos and descriptions will be announced on Monday, November 4 via email. Voting will be open from November 4-30, 2024. Only current GNPS members will be eligible to vote. Check out our past winners on the Plant of the Year web page.
Kicking the State Flower Campaign into High Gear
In mid-November, the GNPS Advocacy committee will ramp up education and awareness efforts about changing the state flower to a native species. The end of the calendar year is a critical time to make your state representative and senator aware of this campaign. How can you get involved? Refer to the GNPS advocacy webpage that has an information sheet, tips sheet (including what to say to your legislators) and a FAQ. If you have any questions, please reach out to Advocacy Chair, Michael Cowan at michael.cowan@gnps.org.
Chapter Updates
Athens-East Piedmont
Annual Chapter Meeting, November 10
Join us on Sunday, November 10 from 2:00-3:30 p.m. for a jam-packed annual chapter meeting at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Athens that includes the following activities:
Biennial elections for our board of directors. Please contact Connie Gray at cpowersgray@gmail.com or any officer if you are interested in getting involved with our board and committees.
Heather Gladfelter, post-doctoral student at UGA, will give her presentation “Surviving Extinction: The Mystery and Majesty of Frankinia.” Franklinia alatamaha, the Ben Franklin tree, is considered to be extinct from the wild for centuries but survives thanks to the horticulture trade. Heather’s research provides insights about why this is the case. Plants of the Franklinia will be available for sale (4” plants for $10 each, cash only) and sales will support her research.
Chapter seed swap: bring your extra seeds to share with others and maybe find new treasures to take home!
Limited plant sale: there are still some native plants remaining from our spring sale. Watch our Facebook group for a list of species and prices. In addition, we will have Chapter yard signs and t-shirts available to purchase.
Third Annual Chapter Holiday Potluck, December 11
Let’s celebrate another great year together on Wednesday, December 11 at 6:00-7:30 p.m. at Sandy Creek Nature Center featuring the year in review of our chapter and recognition of the work our wonderful volunteers have done to make this organization work! Contact Connie Gray at cpowersgray@gmail.com for more information.
Augusta’s River Region
Recovering from Hurricane Helene
Having been hit full-on by Helene on September 27, Augusta's River Region Chapter has been in something of a state of disarray while members clear away debris and remove trees from their roofs. Our planned native grass workshop was postponed for a future meeting and fall plant sale was canceled. Some members are participating in cleanup efforts at local nature parks. Sometime before the end of the year, we hope to get out to Heggie's Rock, hold a regular chapter meeting, and meet with a youth garden club in Augusta to help them plan a pollinator garden they hope to have added to the Rosalynn Carter Butterfly Trail.
We also hope to revisit the newest conservation area in Columbia County, Laverlea, and participate in a conservation "speed dating" event in Richmond County. (And no, we won't be going out dancing afterwards--this kind of speed dating is for connecting landowners with local conservation technical providers and other resources!)
Coastal Plain
Muhly Grass Planting on Jekyll Island
Coastal Plain Chapter Propagation has been growing Gulf Muhly Grass (Muhlenbergia sericea) in partnership with Birds Georgia for dune restoration on Jekyll Island. The out planting is scheduled for November 15 and 16 from 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. If you are interested in helping with the planting, click here to register to volunteer.
Fringed Campion
Native Plant Sale, November 9
Join us at Wesleyan College in Macon on Saturday, November 9 for a native plant sale from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Federated Garden Clubs Holiday Flower Show, November 15-17
Visit us at the Federated Garden Clubs of Macon Holiday Flower Show on November 15-17 at Highland Hills Baptist Church in Macon.
Invasive Plant Removal Workday, November 16
Please join the Fringed Campion Chapter on Saturday, November 16 from 9:00-11:30 a.m. for a workday at Amerson River Park in Macon. We will be removing woody and viny invasive plant species from the park.
Check our Facebook page for updates on our programs and events. You can also contact us with any questions at our email: fringedcampion@gnps.org.
Intown Atlanta
Annual Chapter Meeting, November 9
Join the Intown Chapter for a presentation from Trecia Neal, “Will Climate Change Affect Native Plants?” as the feature portion of our Annual Meeting on Saturday, November 9 at 11:00 a.m. at Campbell Hall of Agnes Scott College. We will also present chapter highlights from the past year, the Intown Chapter board election, and the opportunity to buy chapter-exclusive merch. Registration is free and required: Register Here.
Programming & Education Committee Meeting, November 13
It’s time to start event planning for 2025. The Intown Programming & Education Committee will meet via Zoom on Wednesday, November 13 at 5:00 p.m. If you’re interested in attending, joining the committee, and helping to shape Intown’s offerings, please email our committee chair, Donna Shapiro: shapiro.donnas@gmail.com.
Seed-Starting Workshop, December 14
Save the date: on December 14th, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m., we will be hosting a seed-starting workshop with the GNPS Stone Mountain Propagation Project. This hands-on workshop will cover the importance of growing from seed, the best seedling mediums, methods of stratification (including indoor and winter sowing), and seedling care. Registration information will be sent out later this month.
North Georgia Mountains
Annual Chapter Meeting, November 9
The annual meeting will be held on Saturday, November 9 at 10:00 a.m. at the Union County Public Library in Blairsville and will include a presentation about invasive species.
New Benches for Beasley Knob
Work continues at the Beasley Knob Native Plant/Connect to Protect Garden near Blairsville, which suffered some issues in its first year. Benches have been constructed for the garden. More native garden design work is on the horizon for the Chapter in conjunction with the Georgia Fairgrounds/Hamilton Gardens that will greatly increase the visibility of the message about the importance of native plants.
New benches for the Beasley Knob Native Plant Garden. Photo by T. Romaine.
North Metro Atlanta
Old Rucker Park Weed Wrangles, November 9 and December 14
Join North Metro Chapter members and ReForest ATL for a good ol’ fashion weed wrangle at the Old Rucker Park Habitat Restoration site on Saturday, November 9 and Saturday, December 14 from 9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. These invasive plant removal events are organized in cooperation with the Alpharetta Community Agriculture Program. Come help us and learn from experts about removing invasive plants.
Habitat restoration work continues at Heritage Park in central Cobb County with tasks including invasive removal, native plantings, and garden maintenance. Learn more below:
The West Georgia Chapter’s annual meeting was held on October 15. Officers for 2025 will be Beth Chance – President and Jackie Miller – Secretary/Treasurer. The office of Vice President is currently open and any interested members should email info_westgeorgia@gnps.org. Other board positions include Elyse Wheeler as Past President, Ann Ethridge and Diane Rooks as Co-Directors of Education, Carol Hight as Director of Buffalo Creek Trail, Gary Frizzell as Director of Programming, and Scott Maxwell as Member at Large.
Holiday Program, December 10
The Chapter’s annual holiday program will be held on Tuesday, December 10 at the Carroll County Agricultural Education Center. The program will include dedication of the mosaic bench installed at Buffalo Creek Trail earlier this year through the generosity of Frank and Elizabeth Bennett. Attendees will also have an opportunity to test their winter plant identification skills by participating in Mike Strickland’s twig ID contest, a West Georgia Chapter holiday tradition. Socializing and refreshments will begin at 6:30 p.m., followed by the program at 7:00 p.m. and drawing for door prizes at the close of the meeting.
Georgia Gives on Giving Tuesday is December 3rd!
Still in Bloom! 2024 Plant of the Year Shirts
Our Plant of the Year, Blue Mist Flower (Conoclinium coelestinum), is finishing up its bloom across the state. You’ll be totally in season with your POY shirt! Check out the new hoodie style for those cooler fall days. Browse our online store for a variety of styles and colors. Each design has both 100% cotton and 60/40 cotton poly blends available - click on “size and fabric info” on each product’s page for the specific details.
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