2023 Annual Meeting
Saturday, September 30, 2023
Join us as we celebrate the year with morning and afternoon plant walks, educational lectures, and a native plant sale! Come discuss new topics on Native plant research in the state of Pennsylvania, and meet other Native Plant enthusiasts, as well as the Pennsylvania Native Plant Society members. Educational talks led by Rachel Palkovitz, Justin Mansberger, and PNPS Grant winners! Topics range from American Ginseng Research to Native Plant Landscaping. This is a free event and open to the public, but registration is required! Click here for details. 2023 Annual Facebook Photo Contest
The PNPS Facebook Photo Contest has ended without receiving any entries. The Board will review the contest idea and come up with a proposal for next year. Click here to enjoy the beautiful photos from past years: https://fb.me/e/79v3kCEJW
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:
Winged Sumac Truly Does Shine!
Winged sumac aka shining sumac (Rhus copallinum) is one of four Rhus species native to Pennsylvania. It is easy to ID by the winged stalks between the small leaflets that make up the large compound leaves. Allow me to sing the many praises of winged sumac, especially to those of you with naturalized woodland gardens. Winged sumac blooms in creamy white to green flower clusters for several months during summer. While some might say the flowers are insignificant, the native bees, butterflies, and other insects that visit the flowers for nectar and pollen would certainly disagree. And then there are the leaves! The beautiful shiny green leaves of spring and summer turn brilliant red in fall, adding autumn interest to a woodland garden. Winged sumac spreads via rhizomes and with its large compound leaves will form attractive thickets if allowed. Winged sumac is host plant for the larvae of spring and summer azure butterflies and red-banded hairstreaks. I recently discovered it is one of the host plants for the Luna moth, and I'll be sure to search the beautiful specimen in my photos in future summers! Winged sumac also has high wildlife value. If pollinated, the flowers form maroon fruits in early fall which persist through winter. The fruits are an important winter food source for gamebirds, songbirds, and small mammals. Consider planting some winged sumac for your winged visitors. They and their four-footed friends will thank you. If you wish to learn more about this beautiful large shrub/small tree which is native to most of PA, please visit https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=RHCO Article and photo courtesy of Karen Smith 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.
Read more... 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.... Upcoming Events - Mark your calendars
September 30, 2023 - PNPS Annual Meeting, Shaver's Creek Nature Center - click here for details
May 4, 2024 - Central Pa Native Plant Festival, Millbrook Marsh
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.
|
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:
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 Contact Us:For general inquires, email us at info@panativeplantsociety.org Our mailing address is P.O. Box 807, Boalsburg PA 16827
|
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.
Social Media
Facebook Page: Find information on events and interesting articles on our Facebook page.
Facebook Forum: 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 14,000 members strong and growing! |
