The Rhode Island Wild Plant Society E- Newsletter
March 2010 | |
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RIWPS Annual Meeting & Lecture - Saturday, March 13
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 ANNUAL MEETINGNorth Kingstown
Saturday, March 13, 2010
1 pm - Business meeting &
Inductionof new officers and
Board of Directors
2 pm - Refreshments & fellowship
2:30 pm - Guest Speaker
North Kingstown Senior Center
44 Beach St., North Kingstown 02852
For Directions go to www.northkingstown.org
If your last name begins with the letters A-M please bring refreshments to share.
Forests in Transition: Conservation Challenges for the Future
Speaker: Thomas J. Rawinski
Rhode Island supports a rich variety of plant life, including trees of many kinds. But forests are under threat as never before from insect pests, tree diseases, invasive plants, and overabundant white-tailed deer. Tom Rawinski, a U.S. Forest Service botanist, will discuss forest health and biodiversity conservation issues in Rhode Island. Concerned citizens can play an important role in mitigating these threats, and conserving Rhode Island's wondrous natural heritage.
Tom is a US Forest Service botanist based in Durham, NH. His work focuses on invasive plant issues in the New England-New York region. He began his professional career in 1982 with The Nature Conservancy, classifying New England's natural communities and conducting field studies throughout the Northeast. In recent years Tom has worked for the Massachusetts Audubon Society as their director of ecological management. In 2001 Tom received the New England Wild Flower Society's Conservation Award.
RIWPS Annual Meeting is Free and Open to the Public
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RIWPS 2010 "Nature's Timeless Garden"
A WINNER AT THE RHODE ISLAND FLOWER & GARDEN SHOW
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| Organizations that helped RIWPS with our 2010 Flower Show exhibit |
SPECIAL THANKS TO:
Bartlett Tree Expert Seekonk, MA
Blue Moon Farm Perennials Wakefield, RI
Clark Farms Wakefield, RI
Farmer's Daughter South Kingstown, RI
Gardner Designs Providence, RI
Nelumbo Water Gardens Wickford, RI
Nickerson Tree & Landscape South Kingstown, RI
Out in Front Horticulture Exeter, RI
Precision Firewood Charlestown, RI
Sylvan Nursery Westport, MA
Tranquil Lake Nursery Rehoboth, MA
Please patronize the businesses that have been so generous to RIWPS and helped make this our best garden ever |
| Special Thanks to all RIWPS Flower Show Committee Members and Volunteers |
2010 Flower Show Committee
Bob Anderson, Shirley Anderson, Bob Baxter, Kim Botelho, Lou Cadwell, Dede Cohen, Jules Cohen, Andy Daigle, Rich Dalidowitz, Graham Gardner, Dave Gumbley, George Ireland, Judy Ireland, Roy Jeffrey, Chris Kalina, Tysh McGrail, Susan Shuster, Sally Shwartz, Moe St. Pierre, Sandra Thompson, Frances Topping, Barney Webster, Marnie Webster.
2010 Flower Show -- Volunteer docents and planters
Susan Ahrud, Chris Anderson, Gayle Anderson, Karen Asher, Bonnie Baker, Karla Bassler, Karen Beck, Richard Bianculli, Marissa Britt, Harvey Buford, Cheryl Cadwell, Pat Cahalan, Mary Chace, Claire Dalidowitz, Eileen DaRosa, Jackie Dawley, Angela Deller, Paul Dolan, Margaret Downes, Hillary Downes-Fortune, Cindy Gianfrancesco, Sylvia Hampton, Valerie Harper, Sindy Hempstead, Rosemary Hobson, Chuck Horbert, Sarah Keisling, Larry Kelland, Linda Lapin, Lynn Leahy, Doug McGrady, Debra Meyers, Paula Morrissey, Mary Murphy, Karen Nissen, Jim Norman, Nancy Nowak, Sarah Parrott, Marcia Pena, Jane Perry, Mary Pezza, Joan Pilson, Garry Plunkett, Isabel Pollack, Dave Renzi, Eric Roberts, Linda Sardone, Linda Sollitto, Debbie St. Pierre, Judy Tarlaian, Judie Tenebaum, Lynn Thompson, Paul Thompson, Mary Lou Upham, Debbie Van Dam, Nancy Weiss-Fried, Sally Woodruff, Leslie Wooler. |
| NATIVE PLANT ADVENTURES - Upcoming RIWPS Programs - March-April |
 NEEDLES AND CONES
Portsmouth Library
Sunday, Mar. 21, 2010, 1:30 - 3:30 pm
Lecture, with photos and cut specimens
Leader: Garry Plunkett
Northeastern woodlands are enlivened in winter by an array of evergreen trees and this program will freshen your knowledge of our native conifers. Join us to rediscover the delight of flat, friendly firs and square, sticky spruces. You'll go home knowing the difference between larches and tamaracks, why some hemlock needles are upside down, and wondering why gymnosperm seeds are naked.
Easy. Rain or shine
Pre-registration required
 TREE ID IN SPRING
Scituate
Sat., April 10, 10 am - 12 noon
Field Trip
Leader: Paul Dolan
February may make you shiver, but April sunshine will warm your hearts. As spring starts emerging, our trees and shrubs will be awakened. This field trip will inform you on what buds and leaves are emerging, You will learn how to identify our natives, invasives and cultivars, by their leaves, buds, and flowers. Come for a stroll in the northwest corner of our state in the Scituate reservoir watershed. Our leader is an enthusiastic forester and teacher. This will be the second trip in Paul's seasonal Tree ID series.
Easy
Pre-registration required 48 hours prior.
Fee : Members $5., non-members $7.
Min. #5, Max. #15
Weather date and time: Sun. April 11, 1:00 - 3:00pm
"A SENSE OF WONDER"
A film about the compelling story of Rachel Carson's appreciation of the natural world and her fight to protect it.
Courtesy of The Nature Conservancy of Rhode Island
Movie followed by discussion.
North Kingstown Library, 100 Boone St.
Sat., April 17, 2 pm
This film begins in Miss Carson's summer home as she was preparing to leave. Fighting cancer, she fears this may be her last visit to her beloved Maine coast. The story continues two months later in the furor over her book Silent Spring. Carson is simultaneously battling the chemical industry, the government, and the press to get her message to Congress and the American people.
It is an inspiring story of her courageousness, and the impact her tenacity and voice have had on the environment
Easy
No registration necessary. Open to the public - invite your friends!
Fee: Free
Max. 50
 RHODE ISLAND VIOLETS
15 Evergreen Drive, Johnston
Sat., April 24, 10-12noon
Leaders: Helen Lusi and Kathy Barton
Join Helen and Kathy in exploring the world of Rhode Island's native violets in Helen's garden. These two women have many years of experience in growing, searching for, writing, leading walks about and sharing their knowledge of our state flower, Viola sororia, and many more of our state's native violets. We will walk in the garden, look at slides and maybe even taste something made by Helen using her famous violet syrup.
Easy
Members $5., non-members $7.
Min. #5, Max. #15
Rain or Shine
 UNDERSTANDING NEWCOMB'S WILDFLOWER GUIDE
47 Sawmill Rd., Harmony
Sat., May 8, 10 am to 12:30 pm
Garden Walk and Lecture
Leader: Cheryl Cadwell
In order to effectively use any plant guide, you need to be familiar with the anatomical terminology and the variations that can often be frustrating when using a key. This class will be aimed at beginners, but should make a good refresher session for those with more experience. Bring a wildflower guide, preferably Newcomb's, a magnifying glass and wet weather gear in case it rains. Cheryl's beautiful garden will provide many specimens for practicing your keying skills.
Easy
Fee: Members $5., non-members $7.
Min. #5, Max. #20
Rain or Shine
Memorials, Memories and Martha
A MEMORIAL WALK FOR MARTHA MARSHALL
Caratunk Wildlife Refuge
ASRI, Seekonk
Sunday, May 30, 2010, 10 - 12noon
Join Kathy Barton at Caratunk Wildlife Refuge for a spring wildflower walk in memory of Martha Marshall, Marine sergeant, past president of RIWPS and a long time employee of the Audubon Society of RI. Bring your memories of Martha and if you didn't know Martha come and meet an extraordinary woman.
Easy
Fee: Members $5., non-members $7.
Min. 5, Max. 15
Weather Date & Time: Mon., May 31, 10-12noon
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| Other Programs of Note: |
2010 Land & Water Conservation Summit
Location: URI Memorial Union, Kingston Campus
Saturday, March 27
Time: 7:45 am - 4:30 pm
Brought to you by the Narragansett Bay Estuary Program, RI Land Trust Council and the RI Association of Conservation Commissions
REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!!!
http://www.landandwaterpartnership.org/summit.htm
The 2010 Land & Water Conservation Summit has an excellent line up of workshops and a not-to-miss keynote address by Tom Horton, Award Winning Author and Chesapeake Bay Biographer who will speak on "Saving the Chesapeake Bay's Land & Water: Lessons learned after 25 years."
Early Registration ends March 5
$40 Includes lunch and breaks. After March 5: $55
Register on-line or download registration information at the Rhode Island Land and Water Partnership web site: http://www.landandwaterpartnership.org
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The Rhode Island Wild Plant Society
is a nonprofit conservation organization dedicated to the preservation and protection of Rhode Island's native plants and their habitats.
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