What your gardening friends really want for Christmas

By Susan Harkins and Paula Mullins

It’s that time of year, and you’re in luck if a gardener is on your gift list. If you’re the gardener, send a link to this article to all of you secret Santas!

Passionate gardeners are probably the easiest people to please. If you’re close, you might already know that they’re searching for a specific orchid or drooling over a new set of shiny loppers. On the other hand, if you’re not sure, we can help.

Close to the holidays, you can purchase traditional holiday plants most anywhere. Amaryllis, paperwhites, and holiday cacti will show up everywhere and they’re affordable. They’re not natives, and not all gardeners are keen on house plants; if they don’t have any, skip this suggestion.

Tools are personal, but a gardener can almost always use a new set of good hand pruners, a hori knife, or a good pruning saw. A gardener can never have too many pairs of gardening shears, and they come in all sizes. If your gardening friend tends to lose tools (I know I do), a tool apron might be high on their list. It should have lots of pockets in different widths and lengths to corral they’re favorite hand tools.

A vase or planter might be just the ticket. Like tools, a gardener can never have too many. For that reason, make sure it’s spectacular or unusual in some way. They probably have tons of normal vases and planters already.

As odd as it might sound, you might hook up with a local farmer and purchase compost to be delivered in early spring. Then, help your gardening friend spread it—helping is as important as the purchase.

If your gardener is a little older, consider a new gardening cart to replace their awkward wheelbarrow. Gorilla carts are durable, easy to handle, and they come in more than one size! An easy-to-handle, flexible, lightweight gardening hose of at least 100 feet would be great. I love my bench that provides comfort whether I’m kneeling or sitting, and the handles help me get up and down.

For the reader, consider a number of gardening books: Growing and Propagating Wildflowers of the United States and Canada, by William Cullina; Gardening for the Birds, by Thomas G. Barnes; Kentucky’s Last Great Places by Thomas G. Barnes, Plant Life of Kentucky by Ronald L. Jones (this is for the studious gardener); Trees & Shrubs of Kentucky by Mary E. Wharton and Roger W. Barbour, Edible Wild Plants by John Kallas, PhD; Wildflowers and Ferns of Kentucky by Thomas G. Barnes and S. Wilson Francis; Bringing Nature Home by Douglas W. Tallamy; The Living Landscape by Rick Darke and Doug Tallamy; and many more.

A small pop-up greenhouse would be a certain winner, especially if you offer to help put it together! They come in a variety of sizes and prices. Make sure your friend has space for it before you make the purchase.

If you’re feeling especially generous, a potter’s table would be a huge surprise and a certain hit! Before you purchase anything, size up their surroundings: Do they really have room for one? If it needs to stay outside, purchase something durable, such as resin or stainless steel. They come in lots of sizes with different amenities, so you’ll have lots of choices.

Most gardeners love nature in general, so anything in that vein is a good bet. A membership to a nearby private garden or arboretum will be well-received. In our area, we have Yew Dell Gardens and the Waterfront Botanical Gardens, both in Louisville. The Arboretum in Lexington is public, so a membership isn’t necessary. However, if your gardening friend has everything already, you might consider a donation in their name.

A pretty water feature is always nice, especially if you help with (or pay for) installation. Garden art is iffy—it’s personal, but if you know the gardener well, you can probably pull it off.

If you still can’t decide, consider a gift card they can use to purchase a squirrel-proof bird feeder that really works, seed packets, tools, mulch, bulbs, nursery plants, and so on. Consider a gift card to a native nursery, such as Ironweed Native Plant Nursery in Columbia Kentucky or Dropseed Native Plant Nursery in Goshen (neither uses pesticides or sell plants treated with neonicotinoids.)

You might not have to spend any money at all. A hand-made coupon and a sincere promise to return in the spring and help your gardening friend put in a new bed, spread mulch, or just clean up the winter mess would be a gift from the heart that your gardening friend will never forget. I think I’m adding this one to my own list!

Finally, for the native-loving gardener who has everything, consider a KNPS membership or some branded gear. For information about memberships, read https://www.knps.org/membership/. You can browse the KNPS Gear Shop for KNPS branded gear. You can’t go wrong with either!

This article was originally published by the Franklin County Hort Newletter, but has been adapted for native plant lovers.

Paula Mullins and Susan Harkins are master gardeners with the Frankfort area group, Capital Area Master Gardeners. This group services Franklin, Anderson, and Woodford County.

Preparing wildflower seeds using the stratification method

By Susan Harkins

Growing new native wildflowers from seed is inexpensive and satisfying if you really enjoy the hands-on approach. In Kentucky, most native wildflowers require some form of preparation, such as stratification or scarification. In this article, you’ll learn how to stratify your seeds, because it is the most common method required by Kentucky natives. 

Stratification, defined simply, is the act of creating layers. For our purposes, stratification is the process of breaking down a seed’s outer protection so it can germinate. Nature does a great job of this. When seeds drop to the ground, they overwinter in the cold, moist soil. The constant change in temperature and moisture works to grind or dissolve the outer covering. By spring, many of these seeds are ready for the warm spring weather and germination. Many Kentucky natives will reseed year after year without any human intervention. 

If you want more control, you can collect seeds and force the germination in flats, pots, and even milk jugs. But for most of the native seeds you collect, you can’t wait until spring to sow them — they won’t germinate until the next year, if at all.

How to prepare seeds manually using stratification

Sowing seeds outside is easy, but sometimes disappointing because Kentucky winters are often too mild to properly stratify your seeds. Some people force the issue by preparing their seeds in the refrigerator (don’t freeze them). Or, you can prepare the seed trays in November or December and leave them outside. Over the years (literally), I’ve learned the hard way that no single method produced better germination consistently. For that reason, I’m going to share the easiest methods: wet paper towels, sand, or vermiculite.

Using paper towels

This is a picture of seeds layered between moist paper towels.
Photo credit: Common License

Paper towels are cheap, but seeds often stick to the towel, which makes it difficult to remove the seeds for planting. Use two moist paper towels, layering the seeds in between, leaving lots of room between the seeds. Don’t fold the towels, doing so will clump your seeds, making it more difficult to separate them for planting. Instead of using two paper towels, you can use one and fold it over once. After preparing your seeds between the layered paper towels, slip the towels into a zip lock bag and seal it. Mark the bag with the date and species. Put the bag in the refrigerator and forget about it until it’s time to transfer to a planting medium.

If the stratification period is long, check occasionally to make sure the paper towels remain moist. Be sure to seal the zip lock bag or the contents will dry out quickly and the seeds will be useless. 

When you’re ready to plant, you can lay the paper towel out on your planting medium and cover lightly. There’s not need to separate seeds from the paper towel unless the seeds are clumped together.

Using sand

Sand is my least favorite method. It tends to dry out quickly and requires constant checking. It’s also difficult to remove the seeds for planting. You can spread the sand mixture by handfuls over your planting medium, but the sand just doesn’t offer the best control. If you try this method, use fine sand, add your seeds, place in a zip lock bag and place in the refrigerator. 

Using vermiculite

You can use vermiculite or even moist potting soil, but vermiculite retains moisture longer. This is my favorite method because it’s so easy to move the contents to your planting medium. I grab a handful and roll it back and forth in the palm of my hands so the seeds are positioned well. However, this method will consume more refrigerator space, but unless you’re dealing with dozens of species, you should be able to squeeze these bags in somewhere.  

If you have an extra refrigerator, you can skip a step. Prepare seed trays without holes with your planting medium, add your seeds, and stack them in the fridge. Keep an eye on them so the soil remains moist. Be careful not to overwater because the water will stand in the bottom of the tray. You might find that a spray bottle works better than watering. When the stratification period is over, you can remove the trays to a warmer area for germination. You’re completely bypassing that middle step of moving the seeds from the plastic bag to a plant medium, which can be tedious. 

Using nature

This is a photo of several seedling trays.
Photo credit: Common License

If you prefer to let nature do the work, you can prepare seed trays with your planting medium, spread your seeds, and set outside in a protected area, such as a patio or beside the house. Doing so provides protection from strong winter winds.

Be sure to mark your flats or draw a map so you know what’s germinating next spring. Use flats with holes so the water doesn’t stand in the flat, causing seeds to rot.  

Marking your trays can be difficult. I recommend an art paint pen because it’s more durable than even a Sharpie in the winter elements. A map is the most dependable because small mammals and birds will often eat your seeds and while doing so, displace your markers. 

Many growers have adopted the milk jug method. You cut the jug in half, leaving enough of a connection to create a flipping lid. Fill the bottom with your growing medium, close the lid, and secure it with waterproof tape. The jugs create little greenhouses. As warmer weather arrives, you can flip the lids back, add a bit of water as needed, and leave them open for the day. But be sure to secure the lids at night while the nights are still cold. Once the seedlings are ready to plant, you can move to seedling trays or small pots.

The one issue you have with any outdoor method is Kentucky’s unpredictable weather. The stratification period requires a temperature of 40 degrees or lower for the period. It can be difficult to get 90 days of those colder days in Kentucky.

In spring, you’ll be moving these jug seedlings earlier than usual because the seeds germinate earlier in the jugs. Once removed from the safety of the jugs, be prepared to protect your seedlings when the nights turn cold. For more information on this method read, How to turn a milk jug into a mini greenhouse by Emilie Grace Yochim.

Just try it

If this is all new to you, I recommend that you try more than one method, just for the experience. You might find that one method works better for you than another, although I have never found this to be the case. I use the easiest and least expensive method because some years I have a bumper crop and some years, I sigh and buy fill-ins from a nursery because the resulting crop is so pitiful. You might also find that some species germinate easier than others. It’s trial and error, but you will learn fast.

Most purchased seed packets will include the length of the stratification period. If not, you can usually find a resource on line with a quick search. My favorite resource is Growing and Propagating Wildflowers of the United States and Canada by William Cullina. You might have to look for a copy in book stores that sell used books, because it’s been out of print for a long time.

Propagating trees and shrubs from seeds can be done, but cuttings are quicker and easier. Look soon for an article on this method.  

Fall Planting Guide: Native Perennials to Plant Before Winter

By Teri Silver

Fall is a good time for planting flowers and greenery because native perennials develop stronger root structures as the weather gets colder. Fortunately, Kentucky is home to many native trees, flowers, herbs, and grasses, that you can add to your garden in the fall. There’s nothing like enjoying nature in the bluegrass state.

When choosing native plants for your landscape or garden, implement integrated pest management strategies to keep your yard and garden from being chewed up by bugs. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is an eco-friendly approach to preventing pests in the garden with as little pesticide as possible.  

Kentucky’s native plants include trees, shrubs, and groundcovers, but native perennial flowers do more to add color to your homestead. Here are a few to consider when planting this fall. The following natives, planted in fall, are a great way to add specific colors and more natives to your flower beds.   

White Flowers

This is a picture of wild strawberry
Wild strawberry; photo credit common license.
  • Snowbank (Boltonia asteroides), also known as white doll’s daisy has stems with masses of white daisy-like flowers that bloom in late summer to early fall. They make great floral borders for beds and gardens. Also called false aster, these flowers prefer full sunlight.
  • Wild strawberry (Fragaria virginiana) or Virginia strawberry has small white flowers that bloom in spring. Their small red fruit, which resemble strawberries attract birds and small mammals. This native wildflower spreads by runners and makes nice groundcover.
  • Hardy hibiscus (Hibiscus moscheutos) is also called rose or swamp mallow because some blooms come out pink. The 5-inch blooms open from July to September. As you might guess, they like moist soil.     
  • Crested Iris (Iris cristata) is also known as Tennessee white. It has white blooms with yellow accents and fans of green leaves. Crested Iris spreads nicely for shaded groundcover.

Go Red!

This is a picture of native honeysuckle.
Native honeysuckle; picture credit common license.
  • Cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis) produces spikes of red flowers that hummingbirds love!  Blooms begin in mid-summer and often persist into early fall. Although they’re usually red, you might see flowers of rose, pink, or white.
  • Bee balm (Monarda didyma) grows on tall, narrow stems in red showy floral bracts. Its earthy scent foliage gives birds a steady landing place. This flower prefers full sunlight to partial shade and requires good ventilation to avoid mildew.  
  • Little redhead (Spigelia marilandica), sometimes called woodland pinkroot sprouts dark red tubular blooms with light yellow insides. Glossy green stalks highlight the colors that attract hummingbirds.
  • Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) produces clusters of red trumpet-shaped flowers that begin blooming in mid-spring. This semi-evergreen plant attracts bumble bees, hummingbirds, and songbirds who chomp on the blooms and red berries. There’s also a yellow variety. When purchasing, be sure to get the native species and not one of the invasive alternatives, bush and Japanese honeysuckle, often sold in nurseries.

Pink and Purple

This is a picture of pale purple coneflower.
Pale purple coneflower; picture credit common license.
  • Pale purple coneflower (Echinacea pallida) features soft purple-pink petals shooting through green cones. It thrives in full sun to partial shade. Flowers bloom in June and July. This naturalized species isn’t a true native to Kentucky, but you will find it in many gardens and natural settings.   
  • Pink turtlehead (Chelone obliqua) has hot pink floral spikes that bloom from mid to late summer. Dark green glossy leaves set off these snapdragon-like flowers that attract butterflies and hummingbirds.
  • Fall phlox (Phlox paniculata) has small pink flowers that bloom in large numbers. Phlox resists mildew and attracts butterflies and hummingbirds. 
  • Obedient plant (Physostegia virginiana) is easy to care for, but often aggressive, so give it plenty of room. This sweet-smelling perennial has glossy green leaves and spires of light pink-rose blooms.

Orange and Yellow

This is a picture of butterfly milkweed and a monarch butterfly.
Butterfly milkweed; photo credit common license.
  • Butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) has the perfect name,with bright orange blooms that attract bees, birds, and butterflies. Butterfly milkweed grows up to three feet tall, once well established, blooms from June to August, and prefers full sunlight.
  • Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) is a standard Kentucky prairie flower growing cultivated and wild in summer landscapes. Bright yellow daisy-like blooms have black or brown seedhead centers that attract pollinating butterflies, bees, and birds. Black-eyed Susans bloom from June to September.
  • Golden aster (Chrysopsis mariana) is a yellow daisy-like flower with yellow seedhead centers, that’s also known as Maryland aster. Pollinators love them and they provide fall nutrition from August to October.
  • Sundrop (Oenothera fruticosa) are pale or bright yellow four-petal blooms on hairy stems. Pollinators and hummingbirds flock to this spreading perennial, which prefers full sunlight and well-draining soil.  

Fall plantings

The Kentucky Native Plant Society promotes conservation and education about native plants growing in various state ecosystems. And because winter will be here before you know it, it’s time to get started on your fall planting. Native perennials should be in the ground about six weeks before the first possible frost.

Picture of Teri Silver

Teri Silver is a journalist and outdoor enthusiast. She and her husband live on five acres with a vast lawn, three gardens, a farm, a pond, many trees, and a lot of yard work! The best parts of the year are summer and fall when home-grown veggies are on the dinner table.

2024 Pollinator Garden Grants

By Susan Harkins

This year, we were thrilled to receive numerous applications for our pollinator grant program. Selecting the winners was no easy task, as each proposal showcased incredible dedication and innovation. However, after careful consideration, we’ve chosen five projects that not only promise to enhance public education but also boast strong collaborative partnerships. Without further ado, let’s meet the winners!

Forestry Outreach Center

Located in Berea, the Forestry Outreach Center plans to utilize their grant to create more accessible community spaces celebrating native plants and wildlife. Equipped with informative signage, the area will transform into a captivating self-guided tour for the community. Students will lend their hands for the project while the dedicated staff ensures its upkeep. Berea’s educational staff will fulfill the crucial role of educational partners, enriching the learning experience for all involved.

Legacy Grove Park

Legacy Grove Park, managed by the nonprofit Legacy Greenscapes, stands as a testament to visionary park design. Featuring a sprawling two-acre play area inspired by Kentucky’s iconic landmarks, nature trails teeming with indigenous flora and fauna, and extensive ADA-accessible pathways, the park is a haven for both nature enthusiasts and families. With this grant, the park aims to establish garden beds brimming with native species, further enriching its ecological tapestry. Supported by a passionate volunteer program and led by garden curator Anna Campomanes, Legacy Grove Park is poised to continue its mission of environmental stewardship and community engagement.

Owensboro Community and Technical College (OCTC) Fund

Owensboro Community and Technical College (OCTC), dedicated to empowering individuals and transforming communities, will utilize their grant to establish a vibrant pollinator garden near the administrative building. Situated in a high-traffic area, the garden will serve as a living classroom for students and the public alike. With plans to incorporate the garden into various curricula and open its doors to the community, OCTC exemplifies a commitment to accessible education and environmental awareness.

St. Xavier High School

The Environmental Club at St. Xavier High School embarks on an exciting journey with this grant to create a pollinator garden within their school grounds. Providing students with a hands-on learning experience, the garden aims to raise awareness about the importance of preserving habitat diversity. Supported by Environmental Biologist II, Rebecca Clark, from the Kentucky Division of Water, and bolstered by a dedicated group of students and parents, St. Xavier High School is poised to become a hub of environmental education and activism.

Corbin School of Innovation

Their pollinator garden will be on site at Corbin School of Innovation which is a shared space with Corbin Elementary School. Both schools will be using the pollinator garden for scientific observations, calming space, and research for environmental education projects/biology. Support will be given from our maintenance department who will maintain the area around it. The Montessori middle and high school will be maintaining and up keeping the garden through weeding and replacing plants as needed yearly.
The Corbin Garden Club has also offered to come and add plants to it as needed. The Whitley County Extension has also offered to help with preparing the garden beds

We Encourage You to Apply

As we look forward to the next grant cycle, slated to open in January, we invite all interested parties to consider applying. Subscribers of The Ladyslipper will receive timely announcements and updates. While anyone is welcome to apply, we do emphasize a few key requirements:

  • An educational partner with agricultural expertise must be involved to guide the project over a two-year period.
  • Preference will be given to projects integrated into curricula.
  • Preference will be given to projects accessible to the public, within reason.

Let’s continue cultivating a greener, more sustainable future together.

Plant shrubs now for vibrant colors this fall

Now that spring is really here, it’s time to start planning for the fall. Right now, is the perfect time to critically review your property for areas that fall flat during the winter. You can still see the empty spots and it’s time to plant! What follows is a list of shrubs that provide a bouquet of fall colors for you to consider.

Itea virginica (Virginia sweetspire)

  • Growth: 3 to 5 feet tall.
  • Autumn Colors: Red to orange.
  • Notable Features: This shrub shines with its small cascading white flowers in summer and vibrant fall foliage, making it an excellent alternative to burning bush, an invasive species, although it doesn’t get as tall as burning bush.

Rhus glabra (smooth sumac)

  • Growth: 9 to 15 feet tall.
  • Autumn Colors: Orange to red.
  • Notable Features: Recognized for its striking color and upright fruit clusters, smooth sumac is drought-resistant and adaptable to various environments.

Viburnum opulus L. var. americanum Aiton (American cranberrybush)

  • Growth: 8 to 12 feet tall.
  • Autumn Colors: Purplish-red.
  • Notable Features: Not only does it display vibrant fall foliage, but it also bears bright red berries that persist in winter, offering food for birds.

Viburnum prunifolium (blackhaw viburnum)

  • Growth: Up to 15 feet tall.
  • Autumn Colors: Purple-red.
  • Notable Features: This large shrub or small tree provides spring flowers, autumn color, and fruit for wildlife. It’s drought tolerant once established.

Physocarpus opulifolius (ninebark)

  • Growth: Up to 6 feet tall and wide.
  • Autumn Colors: Red, though not as vivid as other shrubs.
  • Notable Features: Ninebark stands out for its peeling bark, spring flowers, and a form that provides visual interest throughout the year.

Vaccinium corymbosum (highbush blueberry)

  • Growth: Up to 12 feet tall.
  • Autumn Colors: Fiery reds and oranges.
  • Notable Features: Beyond their delicious berries, highbush blueberries offer striking fall foliage. They require acidic soil and adequate moisture to thrive.

Callicarpa americana (American beautyberry)

  • Growth: Up to 6 feet tall and wide.
  • Autumn Colors: Subtle foliage change; renowned for vibrant purple berries.
  • Notable Features: The neon lavender berries of American beautyberry steal the show in fall and winter, creating a spectacular contrast with its foliage and attracting wildlife.

Aronia spp. (chokeberry)

  • Growth: Up to 6 feet tall.
  • Autumn Colors: Red.
  • Notable Features: Chokeberry is notable for its glossy summer foliage, white to pink spring flowers, and dark berries, along with its striking fall color. It’s a hardy, versatile plant suitable for various landscapes.

Corylus americana (American Hazelnut)

  • Growth: 10 to 16 feet tall and wide.
  • Autumn Colors: Yellow, orange, and red foliage.
  • Notable Features: This shrub is celebrated not just for its autumn color but also for its edible nuts that serve as important wildlife nourishment.

Lindera benzoin (spicebush)

  • Growth: 6 to 12 feet tall.
  • Autumn Colors: Bright yellow leaves in autumn.
  • Notable Features: It’s a crucial host plant for the Spicebush Swallowtail butterfly. Fragrant yellow flowers in early spring and red berries in fall make it a year-round interest plant.

 Euonymus americanus (strawberry bush)

  • Growth: 4 to 6 feet tall.
  • Autumn Colors: Reddish-purple leaves with bright red seed pods that reveal orange seeds.
  • Notable Features: Known colloquially as Hearts-a-Bustin’, this shrub offers unique visual interest with its colorful seed pods in addition to its fall foliage​.

Rhus aromatica, fragrant sumac

  • Growth: 2 to 6 feet tall, making it an excellent ground cover or low shrub option.
  • Autumm Colors: A brilliant display of scarlet, orange, and purple leaves.
  • Notable Features: Drought-resistant and aromatic, this shrub is notable for its attractive foliage and berries that support local wildlife​.

Planting these native shrubs in spring ensures they become well-established by fall, ready to showcase their brilliant autumn colors. Each species not only adds visual interest to the landscape during the cooler months but also supports local biodiversity by providing habitat and food for wildlife.

Comments are open, so please feel free to add your own favorites for fall color.

Call to Action: KNPS Now Accepting Applications for Native Plant Pollinator Garden Grant

Volunteers planting the pollinator garden.
Volunteers planting the pollinator garden at EKU’s Science for Sustainable Living Initiative

The Kentucky Native Plant Society (KNPS) is thrilled to announce the continuation of its Native Plant Pollinator Garden Grant, following a successful pilot phase last year. In its initial year, six grants of $500 each were awarded, marking a significant step towards promoting biodiversity and environmental education.

Our mission is to encourage people to establish pollinator gardens. They don’t have to be huge or even aesthetically beautiful for our purposes. They simply need to exist where humans can see them, commune with them, and learn about them.

The grant’s objective

The grant aims to foster the establishment of native plant pollinator gardens, emphasizing not only the ecological benefits but also the educational enrichment they provide. Through these gardens, KNPS seeks to nurture a deeper understanding and appreciation of native plant species and their crucial role in pollination.

This unique initiative partners with organizations that share an educational mission for two reasons:

  • Pollinator gardens often fail. They have plenty of people willing to help, but the organization often lacks the expertise to establish and maintain a successful garden.
  • We hope that these gardens will ‘put the bee in the bonnet’ of visitors. If only a few visitors go home and plant a few native plants for pollinator support, we all win.

These gardens can serve as vital educational tools, offering firsthand learning opportunities about pollination, plant species, and ecosystem health for our native plants.

Grant details

Details can be found on the application form, but in a nutshell, if you have a group of volunteers and a site that’s open to the public, within reason, or you plan to use the garden for educational purposes, and you have an educational partner, you qualify. If you don’t have an educational partner, we encourage you to apply because we can help you find someone.

To apply for a grant, follow this link to the KNPS Grants page. There you will find more details about the grant and a form to apply. But hurry, funds are limited. It doesn’t matter to us if you plant immediately or this fall, only that you plant in 2024. If you have any questions, email us at Grants@knps.org

What to give the native plant lover who has everything this holiday season …

Give the gift of a KNPS membership!

It’s that time of year, and if you’re looking for a special gift for someone who has everything and says, “I don’t need anything,” consider a KNPS membership or swag. Your gift is sure to be a big hit because it supports the KNPS mission:

The purpose of this organization shall be to serve as a medium of fellowship and information exchange among botanists, both amateur and professional, to promote conservation of native plants and natural plant communities of Kentucky; to promote public education in botanical science; and to encourage botanical research in Kentucky.

Membership is open to everyone. Anyone who appreciates native plants and understands the importance of preserving our natural heritage is welcome! You can even purchase a gift membership for an active member — we’ll simply extend their active membership.

Some members have lifetime memberships so for those folks, consider a donation in their name.

KNPS depends entirely on volunteers and the contributions of members and friends to accomplish our goals. We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.