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November 2025 — Volume XXXI, Number 6 — Published by the Georgia Native Plant Society
Introducing the 2026-28 Strategic Plan
We are pleased to share the GNPS 2026-28 Strategic Plan with you! After eight months of work including more than fifty stakeholder interviews and work sessions with chapter leaders, the path forward became very clear — GNPS needs to CHAMPION the stewardship and conservation of Georgia’s native plants and their habitats. The GNPS Board of Directors adopted this unified strategy to build capacity for education and public engagement while strengthening organizational infrastructure. The strategic priorities for the next three years are:
1. Increasing visibility through education and communication,
2. Strengthening chapter support and infrastructure, and
3. Building internal capacity through staffing and fundraising.
The plan comes at a time when our mission is more critical than ever. Membership and program participation has grown tremendously, yet public knowledge about the significance of native plants and their critical role in habitats continues to lag. Meanwhile, hundreds of native plant species in Georgia are declining, and non-native and invasive plants continue to dominate landscapes. We need to educate beyond the choir. The 2026-28 strategic plan balances aspirational goals (education, visibility, reach) with critical capacity development (staffing, infrastructure, chapter readiness), enabling GNPS to scale its impact in the years to come.
We invite you to read the 2026-28 Strategic Plan and get excited about the foundations to be laid. Everyone can be a part of this work. Let’s work together to be champions of native plants and their habitats.
Membership Updates
GNPS members are the heart of the organization, and we are grateful for every one of you. To ensure that our programs continue to grow and thrive, we are updating our membership structure.
Chapter Affiliation x 2
We are excited to announce that all GNPS members will be able to affiliate with up to two chapters beginning on November 1, 2025. This change has been enacted based on feedback from you, our members, who want to stay abreast of activities in neighboring chapters. In your account, you will be able to choose a primary and a secondary chapter affiliation. Primary chapter affiliation is your main or “home” chapter and the one for which you are a voting member. You may not vote in your secondary chapter’s elections. You will receive communications from both chapters. We hope this change encourages you to explore new areas of the state and get involved with other chapters. Click here for login to your GNPS account and update your chapter affiliations. Questions may be directed to membership@gnps.org.
Membership Level Changes and New Opportunities
As our organization continues to grow and expand our impact, we’re updating our membership program to better support the work that makes our mission to champion the stewardship and conservation of Georgia’s native plants and their habitats possible. The new Root Level memberships are similar to those offered before with a modest increase in price. For those that are able to support at a higher level, we are introducing Keystone Membership Circles where donors will have priority access to some new and exciting programs around the state.
All membership contributions will allow us to:
Enhance the programs and services that directly benefit our members and influence the broader community.
Invest in essential resources that strengthen our chapters and long-term sustainability.
Expand our staff and the tools we need to deliver high-quality outcomes.
Every dollar of membership support goes directly toward advancing our mission and implementing the bold priorities laid out in our new strategic plan in addition to supporting our education, conservation and advocacy work across the state. By adjusting dues now, we ensure that our programs remain strong, responsive, and effective for years to come.
See below for a summary of our new membership structure:
The new rates for Individual, Dual (formerly Family) and Student/Limited Income will go into effect on Wednesday, November 12, 2025. If you renew on or after November 12, the new rate will be in effect. The Senior Membership level will be discontinued, and upon renewal, current Senior members will be presented with all membership levels and asked to choose a new level. Dual membership replaces Family membership and will be limited to two people per account. Lack of resources should not prevent anyone’s participation in GNPS, so we are combining the Student level with an option for those with limited incomes regardless of age.
We know you have questions, so we have prepared a FAQ Sheet for your reference. Please direct questions to state GNPS staff at membership@gnps.org. Our members are the heart of the organization and we deeply value your continued partnership and commitment. Together, we’re building a stronger GNPS capable of making a real difference. Thank you for your continued support!
Plant Spotlight: What’s Keeping You From Gold
Ellen Honeycutt
Our Habitat Certification program has two levels of certification: Silver and Gold. There are two considerations that separate the two levels: the amount of native plants (1/3 vs. 2/3 of your property) and the presence of Category 3 invasive plants. In this article, we’ll talk about identifying when you have Category 3 invasive plants that need to be removed in order to qualify for the Gold level.
GNPS uses the designations provided by the Georgia Invasive Species Council (GISC) and their list can be found here. Note that when you are on that page, you can sort them by invasive category using the State Category column at the top. Take some time to also review the Category 1 and 2 invasive plants because both levels require those to be removed. Autumn fern (Dryopteris erythrosora) and butterflybush (Buddleja davidii) are two Category 2 plants that surprise people.
The Category 3 plants are a mix of things that you or a previous owner might have planted (ajuga, monkey grass, barberry, sweet autumn clematis, wintercreeper, common daylily, rose of Sharon, lantana) and weeds that have crept in (Johnson grass, Queen Anne’s lace, mahonia, porcelain-berry vine, musk thistle). In order to achieve Gold level certification, these Category 3 plants must be removed and ongoing infestations must be managed (i.e., remove them as soon as they reappear).
If you’re not sure if you have any of these, use the scientific name provided to find pictures and descriptions in a search engine. Or use a reputable website like the Flora of Southeastern United States; for example, here is a link on that website to Ajuga reptans.
If you have questions about the certification process, feel free to reach out to us at habitatcertification@gnps.org. Removing invasive plants not only helps you get certified but it helps to keep the invasives out of your neighborhood. Spread the word, not invasives!
Statewide Opportunities
Plant of the Year Voting Begins November 5!
Thank you to all who participated in the Plant of the Year (POY) 2026 nomination process. We received 81 submissions! Here are the candidates for POY 2026:
Pawpaw (Asimina triloba)
Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis)
Hearts-a-bustin’ (Euonymus americanus)
Spicebush (Lindera benzoin)
Sweetbay magnolia (Magnolia virginiana)
Sparkleberry (Vaccinium arboreum)
We have changed the POY submission and voting protocols. Read about the improvements by clicking below.
Looking for a unique hands-on volunteer experience? Join one of the Community-Supported Propagation sites, Stone Mountain Propagation Project inside of Stone Mountain Park or Boy Scout Road Nursery in Byron, for a rewarding workday this fall. All workdays are listed on the GNPS event calendar under workdays. Over the Thanksgiving weekend, both sites will have a workday — a great opportunity to #OptOutside before the holiday season really kicks into gear!
November Pop-Up Plant Sale at SMPP
Stone Mountain Propagation Project (SMPP) is hosting one last pop-up plant sale this year to make space for next year's plants. Shopping is open to all. Attendees must register for a ticketed time slot to shop between 10:00 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Tickets are $6 and non-refundable, however the ticket price can be applied to your purchase. Click here to register!
Remembering Jim Smith, GNPS Past President
We are sad to share the passing of past president and board member, Jim Smith. Jim served as president in 2000, and was involved in many facets of GNPS including as a rescue facilitator. His deep knowledge of native plants and passion for the natural world will be greatly missed.
Chapter Updates
Athens-East Piedmont
Annual Membership Meeting, November 16
Join us on Sunday, November 16 from 2:00-3:30 p.m. for our annual membership meeting at the Athens-Clarke County Extension Office (275 Cleveland Road, Bogart) to learn about the GNPS Habitat Certification program. Athens-East Piedmont member and habitat Certifier, Lisa Stephens, will be sharing information about the program and how you can certify your property as a native habitat. A member of the State Board of Directors will also join us to share a presentation on the new GNPS strategic plan. We will also discuss our chapter plans for 2026, which will include how best to use some of the profits we’ve made from our plant sales and opportunities for members to get involved.
Bring any native plant seed you have to spare to share in our seed swap! Please make sure that you have labeled your seed packets well with common and botanical names, if possible. We will have extra envelopes for anyone who needs them.
Holiday Pot Luck, December 10
Celebrate the holidays with us on Wednesday, December 10 from 6:00-7:30 p.m. at Sandy Creek Nature Center (205 Old Commerce Road, Athens). Bring your favorite dish to share and get to know other members of our chapter! We do not have a presentation in December. Bring a family member or friend if you like!
Visit our Chapter’s webpage or join our Facebook Group for more information as we may add more activities in the next couple of months as the temperatures cool off!
Augusta’s River Region
Seed Collection, November 16
Join us for a seed collection event at the McDuffie Public Fishing Area (PFA) on the morning of November 16. The purpose of this is to assist the PFA in the expansion of their native sandhills habitat.
Upcoming Chapter Events
Later this fall a member of the State Board of Directors will join us to share a presentation on the new GNPS strategic plan via Zoom. And for something completely different--we are planning a night UV walk for sometime in the next couple of months (date TBA). On this walk in the night woods, we will take our UV flashlights along to reveal the UV-fluorescence of some lichens, fungi, and other biota.
Join the Coastal Plain Chapter for a free online seminar on Monday, December 1 from 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. about the new GNPS 2026-28 Strategic Plan. A state GNPS Board member will present the mission, vision, guiding principles and goals for the organization plus other information from the state organization. Click here to register. Contact Paul Sumner (paul.sumner@gnps.org) if you have questions.
Annual Fall Conference a Success!
The Fall Annual Meeting of the Coastal Plain Chapter was held on October 25 at the Chehaw Creekside Center in Albany. The theme of the meeting was “Using Native Plants for Restoration and Beautification.” The program included presentations on Plant Conservation Efforts on Georgia Power Rights-of-Way (Georgia Power), Getting Started with Native Plants/Conservation Areas on Roadsides (GDOT), and Sharing Spaces: Homes for Plants and Pollinators in our Developed Landscapes (GDNR). The Chapter Board for 2026-2028 was elected and participants were able to take home native seeds.
Native Plants for UGA Pollinator Research
The Coastal Plain Chapter provided over six hundred native plants for University of Georgia researchers. Plants were used in four separate regional sites in a two-year project on improving and expanding native plants areas to promote pollinators for agricultural plant pollination. Plants were placed in the field in April and October at four sites across the state. Plants were held for out planting at the Coastal Plain Chapter Propagation Area between February and October of 2025 for the project. Pictured below are plants in the ground at one of the sites.
Prescribed Fire Burner of the Year
Heather Brasell, Coastal Plain Chapter member, was awarded the Mark Melvin Prescribed Burner of the Year for 2025 by the Georgia Prescribed Fire Council. The award was presented at the annual meeting in Valdosta on September 23. Pictured below is Heather with Shan Cammack, President of the Georgia Prescribed Fire Council.
Fringed Campion
Annual Chapter Meeting, November 8
Join us for our annual chapter meeting at Toney Auditorium in Willingham Hall at Mercer University in Macon. In addition to the business meeting, the chapter will hold board member elections, learn about the new GNPS strategic plan, and hear a presentation on ferns from Connie Gray, President of the Athens-East Piedmont Chapter.
Identify and Eradicate! November 15
Join us for an Identify and Eradicate Invasive Plants ID and Removal Workday at Wesleyan Arboretum in Macon with partners, Birds Georgia. We will focus on the “Fearsome Five”: Chinese Privet, Nandina, English Ivy, Bahia Grass, and Autumn Fern. Please register for this event here.
Nature Day at Amerson River Park Native Plant Garden, December 7
Bring the family out to visit the native plant garden and create a natural bird feeder. Visit us on Facebook for more details.
Intown Atlanta
Bird City Designation in Decatur
The City of Decatur partnered with local organizations, including the Intown Atlanta Chapter of GNPS, to become the first community to be designated as a Bird City by Birds Georgia! The work Intown GNPS does to promote native plants in the community, including habitat certification, community events, and habitat garden tours, was part of the impressive application that Decatur’s urban naturalist, Allison Ericson, submitted to earn this designation. We are proud to play a role in this accomplishment and congratulate the City of Decatur on this well-earned recognition of the work they do to protect and improve native wildlife habitat.
(Chapters interested in pursuing this program in their area may contact Nikki Belmonte for more details.)
Intown GNPS Board Members Lauren Owens and Laura Qadri along with City of Decatur Urban Naturalist Allison Erickson
Annual Chapter Meeting, November 9
Join us at our 2025 Annual Meeting on Sunday, November 9 at 1:00 p.m. to celebrate the accomplishments of the past year, find out what is planned for 2026, and hear from the dynamic Malcolm Hodges. The meeting will take place at Trees Atlanta Kendeda Treehouse (825 Warner St SW, Atlanta). Registration is free and helps us know how many people to expect, so register today!
Intown Atlanta Chapter Happy Hour, December 4
Join us at Red’s Beer Garden on Thursday, December 4 for a community happy hour. Drop in anytime between 5 and 8 p.m. Food and drink will be available for purchase. No registration required.
Restoration Site Workdays
Come out to one of our restoration site workdays to learn about invasive plant removal and repair damaged habitats at our local parks.
Annual Chapter Meeting & End of Year Reception, November 1
Please join us on Saturday, November 1 from 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. for the Maritime Chapter’s annual business meeting followed by an end of year reception at the Coastal Georgia Botanical Gardens. The Board of Directors will reflect this chapter’s achievements over the last year, share strategies for the future, and review our finances. Following this meeting, we invite you to stick around for refreshments and to socialize with members. This is an excellent opportunity to help shape the future of our chapter and to learn more about ways to get involved.
North Georgia Mountains
Chapter Meeting, November 8
Join us on Saturday, November 8 at the Union County Public library in Blairsville from 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. to hear from speaker, Bill Zeigler, on habitat preservation, influenced by years of work related to zoos. Ellen Honeycutt, GNPS State Board chair, will join us to share a presentation on the new GNPS strategic plan. .
Beasley Knob Garden Workday, November 10
We will be expecting to have a work day for the Beasley Knob garden, including applying mulch along the walkways and in the garden. Our two other gardens installed in the middle of October at the Towns County Courthouse and at the Hamilton Gardens fairgrounds may need some attention, so stay tuned and be sure to visit these new gardens!
Garden installation at the Towns County Courthouse in October.
North Metro Atlanta
Annual Business Meeting with Keynote Speaker, Joe Lamp’l
Join us for our annual business meeting on Saturday, November 8 from 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. either in-person at East Cobb Library (4880 Lower Roswell Road, Marietta) or join virtually via Zoom. Click here to RSVP
Explorations of Native Plants in the Piedmont: Foundations, Fillers, and Flourishes: Native Sedges for Every Garden, December 10
Shannon Currey of Izel Native Plants will share her expertise on native sedges, which are gaining recognition for their versatility and positive ecological impact in landscaping. These herbaceous perennials—primarily from the genus Carex—make excellent alternatives to mulch, turfgrass, and invasive groundcovers, especially in shaded areas. They not only enhance garden aesthetics but also provide vital food, shelter, and nesting materials for wildlife.
Join us on Wednesday, December 10 at 7:00 p.m. to discover the many roles native sedges play and the wide range of benefits they offer. By the end of this session, you’ll know which species are best suited to your region and how to use them to create beautiful, sustainable landscapes. Register for the webinar!
Native Plant Rambles
Join your fellow North Metro Atlanta Chapter members for an educational walk in the woods. These "rambles" offer a great way to learn about the native plants and to meet new friends who are also native plant enthusiasts!
Habitat restoration work continues at Heritage Park in central Cobb County with tasks including invasive removal, native plantings, and garden maintenance. Learn more below:
Holiday Party and Propagation Workshop, December 9
The West Georgia Chapter’s 2025 Holiday Party will be held on Tuesday December 9 at the Carroll County Agricultural Center. The program will include a winter sowing workshop where you’ll prepare your own seed propagation jugs, with seeds and growth media supplied by the chapter. 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.
Plant of the Year Gear
Get the plant lover in your life a fabulous holiday gift this year! Help us spread the word about these outstanding plants by wearing them. 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
