The Athens-East Piedmont Chapter of the Georgia Native Plant Society
Overview
The Athens-East Piedmont Chapter of the Georgia Native Plant Society is active in the Athens and East Piedmont area.
Contact
You can reach us by email or visit our Facebook page.
How can I join?
For current members, login and update your chapter affiliation through the chapter affiliation form. For new or renewing members, you can also select your chapter affiliation on the membership form.
Chapter News & Events
Athens East-Piedmont April Meeting, “Prescribed Fire: A Critical Tool for Plant Diversity”
The Athens-East Piedmont Chapter will meet on Wednesday, April 9th from 6 pm – 7:30 pm at Sandy Creek Nature Center for a presentation from GADNR Wildlife Biologist Forrest Marchinton.
This presentation will be an overview of fire on the historical landscape, and a look at how careful use of fire maintains and encourages native plant and animal diversity today. Forrest “Buck” Marchinton is a Wildlife Biologist with the Private Lands Program of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. For 25 years he has advised landowners on how to improve their properties for wildlife. A third-generation biologist, Buck lives near Athens, Ga with his wife (an online instructional designer at UGA) and a small pack of dogs.
All Athens-East Piedmont Chapter meetings are always free and open to the public.
We are able to have a free meeting space at the Nature Center in exchange for committing volunteer hours for the Athens-Clarke County Office of Sustainability projects. Watch for information on upcoming opportunities on Facebook and in our chapter newsletters.
Following the meeting we hold a native plant and seed swap for those who are interested.
Athens-East Piedmont Native Plant Sale
Voice Your Support for House Bill 145: Sweetbay Magnolia as the State Flower
Exciting news! Representative Deborah Silcox (R-Sandy Springs) and cosponsors Rep. Scott Hilton (R-Peachtree Corners), Rep. Jan Jones (R-Milton), Rep. Ron Stephens (R-Savannah), and Rep. Matt Reeves (R-Duluth) have filed House Bill 145 to change the state floral emblem to sweetbay magnolia. The bill will go to the Special Rules Committee for consideration.
This is a great time to reach out to your state representative to voice your support for a change to the state flower! Click here for brief instructions on how to engage your state legislators on this topic.
