Dear Members,

Our new Fall/Winter program catalog is now available online and your personal copy has been mailed to your home address. We offer a wealth of exciting programs on a wide range of topics. The months ahead are a great time to develop new skills, acquire new knowledge, meet new friends, and travel to beautiful places. Discover what the Society has to offer and remember that members receive a 20% discount on all our education programs across the region!

The staff of New England Wild Flower Society

Why should you kill your lawn?

"Lawns are a soul-crushing timesuck", read the headline of a recent article on washingtonpost.com. According to NASA, lawns are the single biggest irrigated crop in the United States, and require copious amounts of pesticides and fertilizers to grow well in our climate. Convert part of your lawn to a low-maintenance native plant garden to save both your time and the environment!

Sanctuary Stewardship Day

Nasami Farm is home to the Society's native plant nursery. The 75-acre site features beautiful wildflower meadows and wetlands as well as a unique Black Gum-Pin Oak-Swamp White Oak perched swamp. Our Contributor, Supporter, Sustainer, and Conservation Circle members are invited to help the Sanctuary Committee maintain the beauty of this property at this month's Sanctuary Stewardship Day. RSVP: (508) 877-7630 x3104.

Register now!

Want to learn how our certificate programs in Native Plant Studies can help you fulfill a dream, start a new career, or simply enjoy a new interest? We have a full year's worth of certificate courses now available for registration.

2015 Service to the Society Awards

Congratulations to Chris Gradijan and Ervina Hamilton, winners of the 2015 Service to the Society Awards! Their many years of dedicated volunteer service and hard work on behalf of the Society is deeply appreciated and will be recognized at a special luncheon before the Intern Walk presentations.

Conservation Circle: Save-the-dates

We are honored to have as our guest for the Conservation Circle's 2015 Leadership Summit, on September 24, Barbara De Rosa-Joynt of the U.S. Department of State, who will join us remotely to discuss international policies addressing threats to biodiversity, and especially the Convention on Biological Diversity, which includes a Global Strategy for Plant Conservation. We are also delighted to thank Dinny McIntyre and John Stevens for kindly hosting a special cocktail party on September 30 for the Conservation Circle to celebrate the Society's 115th anniversary. Invitations for both events will be mailed soon.

Fall planting at a discount

Our Garden Shops' Fall Plant Sale will be advertised to the public beginning on Saturday, August 30 at Garden in the Woods and Nasami Farm but members may shop FIRST, beginning on August 22, at both locations.All plants will be 25% off for members, 15% off for non-members. Contact: (508) 877-7630 x3209.

Thank you x115

In honor of the Society's 115th anniversary this year, many generous individuals have become Contributor members with dues payments of $115, or have given donations of $115 to the Spring Appeal. Several of you have given even larger gifts! On September 29 we are having a special event and look forward to saying "THANK YOU" in person.

Don't forget to add membership@newenglandwild.org
to your address book so we'll be sure to land in your inbox!