PNPS Annual MeetingMark your calendars - details to follow.
Saturday, October 18th (8:30 am to 2:00 pm) Shaver's Creek Environmental Center | Petersburg, PA No Mow May, or Maybe NotThe “No Mow May” initiative started in the UK with the goal of supporting pollinators. During this virtual panel presentation, we explored "No Mow May" in the context of Central Pennsylvania, discussed other issues that go hand-in-hand with pollinator conservation, and learned about additional strategies we can use to support pollinators year round. Watch the recording here.
Our speakers included: Kristy Gallo, Xerces Society Ambassador; Cathryn Pugh, PNPS President and Penn State Extension; and Michael Skvarla, Penn State Department of Entomology. The Dirty Dozen vs the Birdy Dozen
As you work on your landscaping, please remember the Dirty Dozen, a list of twelve invasive plants frequently found at nurseries and landscape retailers that should be avoided. The Dirty Dozen
Better yet, considering adding some of the Birdy Dozen to your gardens to attract birds. The Birdy Dozen Check more information on Invasive Plants and recommendations for alternatives on our Plant Information and Landscaping page. |
In Bloom:WILD about Geranium
Wild geranium (Geranium maculatum) is a cheery wildflower that lights up woodland openings. This clump forming native makes a beautiful groundcover in a naturalized garden setting. A large colony is a lovely sight to behold. The palmately lobed leaves are topped by rose-pink to lavender flowers (rarely dark purple or white). If you take a closer look, you’ll see darker colored fine lines. These “nectar guides” lead bumblebees, various solitary native bees, flies, and butterflies to the nectar and pollen. A mining bee, Andrena distans, is a specialist pollinator of wild geranium. Wild geranium blooms for about a month (sometimes longer in cooler weather) in late spring to early summer. The foliage may stay green all summer if the soil is kept moist. This plant is one of the easier native flowers to grow. It prefers rich soil in partial sun or light shade, but will tolerate poor or clay soil and full sun with moist soil. In other words, it’s hard to go wrong with wild geranium. It’s easily propagated by seed or by dividing the roots in early spring or fall. If seeds are sown outdoors in the fall, they won’t require artificial stratification. BUT you need to time it just right in order to harvest the ripe seeds before they catapult themselves far and wide! Wild geranium has few pests, just watch for aphids and slugs. Rust and leaf spot may occur if conditions are too damp or crowded. Another common name for wild geranium is cranesbill geranium. The word Geranium is derived from geranos which is the Greek word for crane. This refers to the shape of fruit capsule, which looks like a long beak. Photo and article courtesy of Karen Smith. Upcoming Events - Mark your calendars
PNPS Annual Meeting - Saturday, October 18 - (8:30 am to 2:00 pm)
Mark your calendars - details to follow. Shaver's Creek Environmental Center | Petersburg, PA 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 [email protected].
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.
Read More.... 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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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:
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 [email protected] Contact Us:For general inquires, email us at [email protected] Our mailing address is P.O. Box 807, Boalsburg PA 16827
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