The Rhode Island Wild Plant Society E- Newsletter
May 2010 |
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| RIWPS - 2010 Annual Plant Sale at URI |
Best Native Plant Sale in Rhode Island
Saturday June 5, 2010 9:00 - 12:00, Rain or Shine
New Location! - East Farm, Rte 108, South Kingstown. 
● ALL PLANTS ARE REASONABLY PRICED Our volunteer Seed Starters have mastered the art of plant propagation on a shoestring budget, donating seeds and cuttings from their own gardens to produce the large range of perennials, ground covers, and native species offered in the sale. Plants also come from RIWPS members who graciously dig plants from their own gardens, making native plants accessible to everyone. ● GREAT SELECTION This plant sale is unique because it features a wide variety of wildflowers and native shrubs often not available in local nurseries. There are plants for every location, wet places (bogs), dry places (drought tolerant), acid soils (rhododendrons and laurels), and shady areas. This is a great opportunity to replace plants lost during our hard winter. Here are just a few examples: Trilliums, Bloodroot, Columbine, Asters, Bleeding Heart, Wild Blue Phlox, Virginia Bluebells, Jack in the Pulpit, May apple, Solomon's Seal, Christmas Fern, Maidenhair Fern and many more. ● AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN about the beauty and value of native plants in the home garden. Knowledgeable members of the RI Wild Plant Society will be on hand all day to answer your questions and give out plant information. ● RARE AND COLLECTIBLE PLANTS One of our best-kept secrets is the Silent Auction at 10:30 am featuring collectible and specimen plants. Every year "hard-core" gardeners turnout to try and out-bid each other for the rare and mature plants featured each year at the auction. ● Smart gardeners should come early for the best selection. RIWPS members only from 8:30 am to 9:00 am.
The 2010 Media Sponsors for this sale are South County Independent Newspapers and the North-East Independent Newspaper. The 2010 Business Sponsors are Belmont Market in Wakefield and Dave's Marketplace in North Kingstown. All the proceeds of this sale go directly to the RI Wild Plant Society's education and conservation programs. For more information call 789-7497, email: office@riwps.org or visit www.riwps.org |
| This Weekend! -- RIWPS' early spring plant sale at the East Farm Spring Festival | |
 The Ninth Annual East Farm Spring Festival is organized and hosted by URI College of the Environment & Life Sciences and the URI Master Gardeners. The event, started in 2002 by a group of URI Master Gardeners who volunteered at the farm, has grown into the biggest public showcase for the College of the Environment & Life Sciences and the Master Gardener Association drawing close to 3,000 visitors to the 72-acre research facility. The festival's main goal is to educate the public on sound environmental practices through workshops and informational booths. This year the RI Wild Plant Society will participate with a special sale of early spring ephemerals. This will include Bloodroot, Trout lilies, Ginger, Dutchman's Breeches, Shooting Starts, Twinleaf, May Apples and Trillium among others. Come early for the best selection.
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| RIWPS -- Volunteer Opportunities | |
May 2010
Our organization continues to grow and we are sorting out the tasks we want to address. That is producing an opportunity for volunteer services - most of them for a short duration.
Following are a number of possibilities:
PLANT SALE
Sandra Thompson is coordinating and recruiting folks for the always popular plant sale. She might very well need more help. Even promises coffee and donuts. Needs folks on Friday 5/7 and Saturday 5/8. Contact Sandra at 884-9483 or sandpault@cox.net.
 ALDRICH HOUSE GARDEN -- Providence
Graham Gardner could us a crew of several people to help with the Spring clean-up the garden at the Aldrich House in Providence, and then to wrap it up in the Fall. May be some minor intermittent pruning, etc. as well. Aldrich House houses the RI Historical Society and is at the corner of Cooke and Benevolent Streets. Please contact Graham at 265-6986 or graham@gardnerwoodwrights.com.
PROGRAMS
Angela Deller, our Vice President for Program is always looking for folks who want to help with program matters - speaking engagements, logistical support, etc. Feel free to contact Angela at 274-6571 or angela.deller@cox.net.
There will be other opportunities as well. These should be enjoyable functions, working with some great people. How about participating?
Jules Cohen
President
To learn more about volunteering click here |
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| GLEANER GARDENS OPENING to Beneift the Rhode Island Wild Plant Society |
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 Memorial Day Weekend
May 29-31, 2010
10:00 am to 4:00 pm each day
Gleaner Gardens in North Scituate
299 Gleaner Chapel Road
North Scituate, RI
Gleaner Gardens, in conjunction with the Rhode Island Wild Plant Society, is please to invite you to its 11th annual Open Gardens at Gleaner Gardens in North Scituate. Come see the gardens that have been featured in several local and national magazines, with over 300 Rhododendrons and Azaleas in bloom and over 100 varieties. Stroll the garden and woodland paths and see the restoration-in-progress of these 50-year-old gardens! A $2 donation per person is being requested to benefit the Rhode Island Wild Plant Society.
Contact Cindy and Chuck at (401) 934-9212 or gleanergardens@cox.net for more information.
| | NATIVE PLANT ADVENTURES - Upcoming RIWPS Programs - May-June |
 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
Jack-in-the-pulpit | GREAT SWAMP SAUNTER-A Walk on the Wild Side in memory of Norman Boyer
South Kingstown, RI
Saturday, May 22, 1:00-3:00 pm
Leaders: Anne B. Wagner and Francis Underwood
Norm Boyer used to slowly drive the back roads of Rhode Island, noting the plants as he went. On this field trip we will saunter along a road in an open section of the Great Swamp Wildlife Management Area noting the plants we see and learning about the habitats we pass through. Every year is a little different, depending upon the weather. Come along with us to see what conditions are like this year. Newcomb's Wildflower Guide and a hand lens are always useful to have with you. Boots are optional; the trail is usually dry.
Moderate
Pre-registration required 48 hours prior.
Email: office@riwps.org | Voicemail: 401-789-7497
Fee: Members $5., non-members $7.
Min. #5, Max. #15
(Raindate: Sunday, May 23,1:00 -3:00 pm)
LATE SPRING BLOOMS AT TRUSTOM POND NWR
South Kingstown, RI
Sat. May 29, 2010, 1:00-3:00 pm
Field Trip
Leaders: Dave & Nancy Clayton (USFWS Volunteer Naturalists)
Easy
Memorials, Memories and Martha
A MEMORIAL WALK FOR MARTHA MARSHALL
Caratunk Wildlife Refuge
ASRI, Seekonk, MA
Sunday, May 30, 2010, 10:00 - 12noon
Leader: Kathy Barton and Helen Lusi
Easy
THE LEDGES OF WASHINGTON COUNTY
Charlestown, RI -- (Burlingame State Park)
Sat., June 19, 2010 ~ 9:00 - noon
Leader: Doug McGrady
Moderate-Strenuous
MEDICINAL PLANTS OF THE FIELD AND FOREST
Carolina Management Area
Sat., June 26, 2010 - 9:00-11:00 am
Leader: Liz Hassinger, DVM
Easy
Click here to see the full descriptions of our Spring Programs.
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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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