Workshops

 

GNPS occasionally hosts workshops that focus on topics related to plant identification or plant ecology. Some workshops offer hands-on learning about topics such as pruning or transplanting plants. Educational materials and a chance to practice your new skills are typically provided to give our members more in-depth learning and a way to take home what you learned. Workshops are also conducted by individual chapters.

Check our calendar for listings of upcoming Georgia Native Plant Society workshops. We would love to hear from you if you are interested in leading a workshop or have a topic that you would like to learn more about.

News & Events

iNaturalist Workshop at Oaky Woods Wildlife Management Area

iNaturalist Workshop at Oaky Woods Wildlife Management Area

Join the Fringed Campion Chapter at the Oaky Woods Wildlife Management Area with conservation researcher, Will Rogers (The State Botanical Garden of Georgia at UGA), to learn how to use the iNaturalist phone app to full advantage. Oaky Woods is a 12,750-acre property in Houston and Pulaski Counties that includes remnant blackland prairies, upland forests, creek bottomland, and bog/ swamp areas. Learn more about the plants of Oaky Woods: https://www.saveoakywoods.com/about-oaky-woods/plant-species.
Before visiting Oaky Woods, participants will need a valid hunting or fishing license or a lands use pass (visit https://gooutdoorsgeorgia.com/)
Participants are responsible for their own transportation to and from Kathleen, GA. Trails are uneven and may be muddy, so full mobility is required.
Space is limited; GNPS membership and registration is required: https://forms.gle/mKp4WugA5T5i26Ja6
For any last minute updates, visit the Facebook event page: https://fb.me/e/7sfjSkG9Q
Propagating Without A Mist System Workshop

Propagating Without A Mist System Workshop

The Fringed Campion Chapter invite GNPS members to participate in a hands-on workshop at Flat Creek Natives in Perry, GA on Feb. 16, 2023 from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m.  Workshop presenters are Paul Sumner and Amy Heidt from the Coastal Plain Chapter.  In this workshop, participants will learn the advantages of this propagation method, how to construct floating beds, mix planting medium, and plant the trays. Seed saving and storage will also be covered.

$25.00 registration fee. Link for online payment is included in the registration form.

Advance registration required. Register here: https://forms.gle/MEvphxUSieMb88p96 

Workshop size is limited to 15 Georgia Native Plant Society members.

Virtual event news from our partner, Atlanta Audubon

ATLANTA AUDUBON HOSTING A VARIETY OF VIRTUAL EVENTS

(Atlanta, Ga,) June 4, 2020 – Atlanta Audubon is hosting a variety of virtual events on birds and bird-related topics during this time of social distancing. Atlanta Audubon has seen a huge uptick in interest in bird watching during the COVID-19 outbreak. In response, we have developed a number of free and low-cost webinars, Facebook Live events, and other resources to bring the joy of birding into people’s homes. Visit our website at https://www.atlantaaudubon.org/digital-resources.html for a complete listing. Many of these digital events are recorded and available for later viewing on our website or YouTube channel.

FACEBOOK LIVE EVENTS

Virtual Bird Walks on Facebook Live
When: Fridays, June 5, 12, 19, and 26
9:00 AM
Where: Atlanta Audubon Facebook page

Since social distancing is throwing a kink in our Atlanta Audubon spring bird walks, we’re bringing a walk to you via Facebook Live. Join us on the Atlanta Audubon Facebook page each Friday at 9:00 AM for a virtual bird walk with Atlanta Audubon staff and volunteer field trip leaders as they explore their yards or nearby birdy patches and talk about what birds they are seeing. We will conduct these Virtual Bird Walks weekly on Fridays until we can resume in-person bird walks.

UPCOMING WEBINARS

Early Bird Book Club Online
Sunday, June 7
2:00 PM to 3:00 PM

Since the Early Birds Book Club can’t meet in person due to the COVID-19 outbreak, we’ll meet online instead. We’re still catching up on missed book clubs, so we’re planning to make up our missed April meeting on June 3 via webinar.

This month, we’ll be reading Feathers: The Evolution of a Natural Miracle, by Thor Hanson.

The Early Birds welcome all who enjoy reading about birds, birding, and birders. We are a “no commitment” book club—some folks come every time and others occasionally. Register for this free virtual event at https://www.atlantaaudubon.org/early-birds-book-club.html

Lunch & Learn: Paraguay Trip Report with Adam Betuel
Wednesday, June 10
12:00 to 1:00 PM
Free to attend, but registration required

In 2017, Adam Betuel, Atlanta Audubon director of conservation, and Paul Smith, an authority on Paraguayan birds who is active in scientific research, conservation, and tour leading, led a group of intrepid birders on a birding adventure to Paraguay. During the 14-day adventure, the group visited the wet and dry Chaco, Cerrado, and Atlantic Forest and took a trip to the famous Iguazu Falls in Argentina.

Enduring bumpy roads and a few “unplanned” incidents, the group saw 320 species of birds along the way, including the Greater Rhea, White-winged Nightjar, Spot-billed Toucanet, Black-bodied Woodpecker, and Quebracho-crested Tinamou, to name just a few.

Adam will share photos of birds and tales of their adventures during his presentation and show us the amazing bird diversity of this often overlooked country. Register for this free virtual event at https://www.atlantaaudubon.org/digital-resources.html.

Lunch & Learn: eBird Webinar with Adam Betuel, Atlanta Audubon Director of Conservation
Wednesday, June 17
12:00 to 1:00 PM
Registration Fee:  $7.00

Do you keep track of the birds you see? Did you know this information can be used by scientists to inform conservation decisions that benefit birds and people? Join Adam Betuel, Atlanta Audubon’s director of conservation, for a workshop guiding you through the various uses of eBird, the free online checklist program that has revolutionized the way information about birds is collected and shared. No prior experience is needed.

In this workshop you will learn to:

  • Keep track of the birds you see (and see more birds)
  • Use eBird to figure out where to look for certain species or plan birding trips
  • Share checklists with friends

Learn more or register for this webinar at https://www.atlantaaudubon.org/digital-resources.html.

Lunch & Learn: Creating a Sanctuary for Wildlife with Gabe Andrle, Atlanta Audubon Habitat Conservation Coordinator
Tuesday, June 23, at 12:00 to 1:00 PM
Registration fee: $5

Transforming your greenspace into a wildlife sanctuary can be an incredibly rewarding journey that not only allows you to experience greater biodiversity in your own backyard but also gives you a way to contribute directly to conservation. Your backyard, garden, or balcony can become a haven that directly supports the birds that we all love. Join Gabe Andrle, Atlanta Audubon’s Habitat Conservation Program Coordinator, for this workshop on Creating a Sanctuary for Wildlife. You’ll learn what makes a great sanctuary and how you can begin the journey of transforming your space into a place that supports birds and other wildlife and can even become certified as an Atlanta Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary.

Learn more or register for this webinar at https://www.atlantaaudubon.org/digital-resources.html.

The Atlanta Coyote Project with Dr. Chris Mowry
Wednesday, June 24
7:30 to 8:30 PM
Free to attend, but registration required

Join us for a fascinating presentation from Dr. Chris Mowry on the Atlanta Coyote Project and their current collaboration with the Urban Wildlife Information Network, based out of Chicago’s Lincoln Park Zoo. The project is studying the overall biodiversity (including coyotes) in Atlanta while also making geographic comparisons with other cities. Why study urban wildlife, including coyotes? Wildlife can be surprisingly abundant and diverse even in the densest of cities, including Atlanta. Studying urban animal communities helps us understand stressors on wildlife populations, species interactions, and sources of human-wildlife conflict in order to preserve biodiversity, maintain ecosystem function, reduce property damage, foster safe neighborhoods, and encourage positive associations with wildlife.

Chris Mowry is an associate professor of biology at Berry College, in Rome, Georgia, a position he has held since 1994. Chris teaches courses in introductory biology, ecology, and conservation biology, and has an active research program centered on animal ecology. His research focuses on urban coyote populations in the metro Atlanta area through the Atlanta Coyote Project, which he founded in 2014 with Dr. Larry Wilson (Fernbank Science Center, Emory University). Chris also studies the feeding ecology and conservation of non-human primates, particularly lemurs and African monkeys, as well as chytrid fungus in amphibians. Students are involved in all aspects of his research. He holds a B.A. in biology from Wake Forest University and an M.S. and Ph.D in ecology from Emory University.

Learn more or register for this webinar at https://www.atlantaaudubon.org/digital-resources.html.

June Monthly Meeting:  Atlanta’s Secrets, Hidden Trails, and, of course, Birds with Jonah McDonald
Sunday, June 28
3:30 to 5:30 PM
Free

Since we still can’t meet in person, we’ve rescheduled this event as a free webinar. See below for registration details.

Though birding in Atlanta is not secret, we birders do look at the city differently. Whether you’re looking for new places to go birding or wanting to learn unusual and forgotten stories about the city, Audubon is excited to welcome author Jonah McDonald to our June Monthly Meeting.

About the presenter: Jonah McDonald is an Atlanta writer, storyteller, historian, and naturalist. His new book, Secret Atlanta: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure contains 90 short stories about unusual and forgotten places in Atlanta. He is also author of the popular guidebook Hiking Atlanta’s Hidden Forests: Intown and Out and serves as a DeKalb County park naturalist at Mason Mill Park. Jonah has only been avidly birding for a year, but loves exploring his city via bicycle, canoe, or foot, and believes that there is a new story to learn and tell around every bend. When he’s not already on an adventure, Jonah loves finding a new one. You are sure to be inspired to go on your own adventure after his talk.

Learn more or register for this webinar at https://www.atlantaaudubon.org/digital-resources.html.

Atlanta Audubon is building places where birds and people thrive. We create bird-friendly communities through conservation, education, and community engagement.

2020 Symposium Registration is Open

JOIN US for the GNPS 2020 NATIVE PLANT SYMPOSIUM

Saturday, February 29, 2020

Middle Georgia State University Conference Center, Macon, GA

Inspired by the February book release of Nature’s Best Hope: A New Approach to Conservation that Starts in Your Yard from Doug Tallamy, we invite you to be among the first to hear his new message.

This symposium is about connections between native plants and the fauna that rely upon them. Growing more native plants, creating native habitats, and connecting our greenspaces to sustain all of nature is needed more than ever. We all have an important role to play.

Come learn how you can help.  Register now for early bird savings and join us in our mission to promote the stewardship and conservation of Georgia’s native plants and their habitat.  (Vendors can register by emailing symposium@gnps.org.) 

The speakers and full agenda are described here.

Georgia’s Native Azaleas Workshop

Georgia’s Native Azaleas Workshop

Azaleas are among Georgia’s most beautiful plants and are stunning in our gardens.  On March 11 a half-day program (9am – 1pm) at the Chattahoochee Nature Center will be led by two of the State’s experts on azaleas.  They will use photographic slides to discuss all twelve native azaleas of Georgia.  Topics will include learning detailed identifying characteristics; where each species is found naturally; proper gardening techniques; and native azalea hybrids.  A tour of the grounds of the Chattahoochee Nature Center will supplement the identification information.

The program will be led by Ken Gohring, who has held many leadership positions in the Georgia Native Plant Society,  and Charles Andrews, who is a historian and has been involved in studies on the genetics of azaleas..  Both have served as president of the Azalea Chapter of the American Rhododendron Society (Charles is the current president) and are members of the Vaseyi Chapter of Azalea Society of American.  They have both gardened extensively with azaleas; Charles owns property with thousands of native azaleas.

You may register HERE .  There is a $5.00 fee, which includes all program materials and entry into the Chattahoochee Nature Center.  Questions may be addressed to workshop4@gnps.org.

Directions to the CNC can be found on the GNPS Calendar.

 

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