Virginia Native Plant Society on the Land Conservation Assistance Network

Virginia Native Plant Society
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last updated: July 2019

Mission

The Virginia Native Plant Society is dedicated to the protection and preservation of the native plants of Virginia and their habitats, in order to sustain for generations to come to the integrity of the Commonwealth’s rich natural heritage of ecosystems and biodiversity for purposes of enjoyment, enlightenment, sustainable use, and our own very survival. To this end, we advocate and follow practices that will conserve our natural endowment, and we discourage and combat practices that will endanger or destroy it. We are committed to do all we can to slow the accelerating conversion of natural landscape to built and planted landscape and to reduce its damage to natural ecosystems.

VNPS: What Do We DO?

“A plant society? What is that? What kinds of things do you do?,” asked a somewhat incredulous young man visiting a VNPS table recently. One of the things we do, of course, is to have educational display tables at all kinds of events, where people can ask questions like this one! To the inquirer, I gave a brief overview of the society’s mission and activities, but when I got home, I kept thinking of all the things I hadn’t mentioned.

The Virginia Native Plant Society’s tag line is “Saving wildflowers and wild places.” That certainly covers a lot of ground! And each chapter has its own unique way of responding to the call to action. I’ve only been a member for two years, so there are probably many things I don’t know about, but in case anyone asks you, here is a list of some of the things we do.

VNPS

Maintains a Registry Site Program to protect places with “an exemplary occurrence of a habitat, a plant community, or a plant species

has an annual fundraiser to benefit special causes, The Flora of Virginia and the Flora of Virginia Project are two examples of recent ones

on some occasions, subject to many considerations, does plant rescues/relocations

chapters lead walks and give programs that teach the public about native plants

chapters also help with school and community programs and gardens, and some give small scholarships

chapters propagate plants and hold plant sales

chapters volunteer at local parks, removing invasives, planting and maintaining native plants

VNPS holds two annual events, a spring workshop dedicated to academic study of timely topics, climate change this year; and an annual meeting in the fall, held in different parts of the state, with speakers and field trips. Each year there are several additional extended, overnight field trips in places of special interest

features a Wildflower of the Year, highlighting a native plant in complete botanical detail and producing a brochure for public use

the Society’s various committee chairs follow legislation that may impact native plants or natural areas and keeps the membership informed. Recent initiatives include letters written to urge a ban on pesticide use, and a campaign to have members support additional funding for the Natural Heritage Program. Chairman go with interested members to meet with legislators in Richmond.

has an Invasive Alien Plant group that coordinates activities, meets with folks at Natural Heritage and also follows legislative issues

maintains a website, the website keeps a current list of native plant nurseries, invasive plants, plant sales, and events

has an active Facebook page covering plants, plant news, and all chapter’s activities

produces a quarterly newsletter: Sempervirens

has a knowledgeable and dedicated Board of Directors that meets quarterly

has a part-time office manager who fields and re-reroutes inquiries, manages memberships, handles registrations, makes deposits. She is in the office at our mailing address at Blandy Farm.

works in close association with a number of partners, including:

♦ the Virginia Natural Heritage Program
♦ the Flora of Virginia Project, which now includes the Digital Atlas of the Virginia Flora,
♦ the State Arboretum of Virginia,
♦ the Mid-Atlantic Invasive Plant Council
♦ the Plant Conservation Alliance

Contact Virginia Native Plant Society

REMINDER: This listing is a free service of LandCAN.
Virginia Native Plant Society is not employed by or affiliated with the Land Conservation Assistance Network, and the Network does not certify or guarantee their services. The reader must perform their own due diligence and use their own judgment in the selection of any professional.