Announcing Our Fresh New PNPS Logo:  Conveying Symbiosis with Style!

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We’ve hit the refresh button and updated our logo! In order to better communicate our purpose and recharge our outreach efforts, our new logo more effectively conveys the connection between native plants and wildlife in a Pennsylvania context, in one elegant graphic.
A picture tells a thousand words, but how do you best impart those words simply, cleanly, and attractively? PNPS turned to the Pennsylvania State University’s Department of Graphic Design to help us develop a fresh logo that could communicate the essence of our organization: advocating the conservation and use of native plants and, crucially, the understanding that native plants support wildlife, while identifying as a Pennsylvania organization.

Huiwon Lim, Assistant Professor in Graphic Design at Penn State, with an MFA in Graphic Design and MA in Environmental Graphic Design, generously offered his services and those of his student team (Sarah Bodnar, Samantha Chung, Grace Southern, and Lucas Sterrett)  to work with us to create a brand-new and improved design, pro bono.

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PNPS Annual Meeting
Saturday, September 12, 2020

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we held our Annual Meeting this year via Zoom.  If you were not able to attend, we recorded the program and will be posting a link shortly.

What is a Native?

A native plant is one that occurs naturally in a particular region, ecosystem, or habitat without direct or indirect human intervention. We consider the flora present at the time Europeans arrived in North America as the species native to the eastern United States. Native plants include all kinds of plants from mosses and ferns to wildflowers, shrubs, and trees. 

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Why Natives?

Because native plants are adapted to the growing conditions where you live, they are often easier to grow, and less susceptible to challenging conditions than non-native plants.  Many Non-native plants are also invasive, and threaten out our native plant species.

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In Bloom:

Have you been searching for a fall blooming flower with vibrant color?  Look no further than bold and beautiful New England aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae).  This native wildflower often blooms until frost and is a powerful pollinator magnet to boot!  The pink or purple flowers with golden centers attract many species of bees and other insects.  Since it blooms in the fall, it is also an important source of nectar for migrating monarch butterflies.  In addition, Doug Tallamy's research shows that the caterpillars of over 100 species of moths and butterflies, including several species of crescent butterflies, feed on the leaves of asters.  And once the flowers have gone to seed, they are eaten by many birds, including cardinals, goldfinches, and towhees. 

New England aster is an easy to grow perennial that prefers moist to average soil and full sun to part sun.  It can be affected by powdery mildew, especially in humid conditions with poor circulation.  This colorful wildflower grows 3-6 feet tall, so it may need staking.  The plants can also be pinched back once or twice in early summer for a shorter, bushier plant.  New England asters can be propagated by seed or by dividing in the fall every 2 or 3 years.  This ensures an abundant supply of purple and yellow blooms to add to your flower beds or to share with friends.  The bees, the butterflies, and the birds will thank you!


If you have a favorite plant or photo, send it to webmaster@panativeplantsociety.org for a future publication.

 Article and photo courtesy of Karen Smith

Upcoming Events

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many events are being cancelled.   Please be sure to double check before you head out to an event.

Check our Complete Calendar for all upcoming events.  If your event isn't listed,  let us know and we can add them to our Calendar - email webmaster@panativeplantsociety.org. 
Saturday, Sept 12, 2020 - PNPS Annual Meeting via Webinar.  Click here for details

Get Involved!

Membership Dues and Donations

PNPS is committed to supporting programs and events advocating for the use of native plants. Money obtained from memberships and donations go to the following:
  • Grants: PNPS provides support to community projects with donations of plants or grants to purchase plants.
  • Outreach: PNPS representatives travel across the state to various community events and set up an information table to distribute educational and other outreach materials. 
  • Newsletter: PNPS publishes a semi-annual newsletter to our members.
  • Annual Meeting: PNPS sponsors an annual meeting with speakers discussing a variety of topics relating to the use of native plants. This is also open to the general public at either no or low cost.

We accept donations and membership payments online and by check. Thank you for your support!
Membership dues online - please click the Become a Member button  to pay through Paypal or with a credit card.
Membership by check - Click here for instructions

Donations online - please click the Donate button to pay through Paypal or credit card.   For other options, click here.

PNPS is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.  If you would like to learn more please email  info@panativeplantsociety.org  

Volunteer - Your help is needed!

There are always opportunities to help, regardless of your level of expertise.   Click the button to see what volunteer opportunities area available.  
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Join our Facebook forum to share photos, events and opportunities related to natives plants and our mission. Our group is closed and you must submit a request to join. We do this to help us keep out spam and maintain this group as a respectful forum for people interested in native plants.  You must submit a request and answer 2 simple questions to join, even if you are added by a current member.

We are over 13,000 members strong and growing!

Contact Us:

For general inquires, email us at  info@panativeplantsociety.org        Our mailing address is  P.O. Box 807,  Boalsburg PA 16827