Hello, native plant lovers! The Kentucky Native Plant Society is super excited to host a virtual Wildflower Week (April 10 to April 17) jam-packed with workshops, wildflowers, and iNaturalist. We are hoping to have a large group of botanists and plant enthusiasts from around the state join the KNPS Wildflower Week 2021 BotanyBlitz collection project on iNaturalist.
A BotanyBlitz is an event where anyone who joins the iNaturalist project can use a camera to snap a picture of a plant, in a given area (this case Kentucky), and in a given timeframe (this case April 10-17). At the end of the week, we will have a map and totals by numbers, species, and by each person of all the great collections we found! Additionally, expert botanists and people with a keen identifying eye will be able to add comments to your specimens on why they agree or disagree with a certain identification, so we can learn better ways to ID plants in the future.
Below are instructions to join the iNaturalist project and how to use iNaturalist. If you have any questions or would like to be more involved, please contact wildflowerweek@knps.org
Happy Botanizing!
App Instructions:
Download the iNaturalist App (both iPhone and Android)
Create/Sign In to your account.
Click “More” (three dots)
Click “Projects”
Search “KNPS Wildflower Week 2021 BotanyBlitz”
Join Project!
Computer Instructions
Click the following link to the KNPS Wildflower Week 2021 BotanyBlitz iNaturalist Collection Project:
Clovers (Trifolium sp.) are well recognized by the public primarily because of their role as a forage crop and lawn weed. In Kentucky, we have 12 species of clover, but only 3 are native to our state, Kentucky Clover (Trifolium kentuckiense), running buffalo clover (Trifolium stoloniferum), and buffalo clover (Trifolium reflexum). All of our native clovers have declined greatly since European settlement and are state or federally listed as threatened or endangered. Historic accounts from pioneers and historic collections of native clovers indicate that our native clovers may have been more common in the woodlands of our state, particularly in the Bluegrass Region. Our native clovers have common names associated with buffalo since their associated habitat historically occurred mostly along buffalo/animal trails through the forest, which the Bluegrass Region is known for, large ungulates grazing on the grasses and forbs in our woodland systems.
In an effort to increase coordination and collaboration focused on priority native clover (Trifolium sp.) conservation projects in Kentucky, close to 30 botanists, ecologists, researchers, students, and land managers met in late February 2021 to discuss all things native clover (Trifolium sp.). Species of focus included the globally rare and newly described Kentucky Clover (Trifolium kentuckiense), the federally endangered running buffalo clover (Trifolium stoloniferum), and the state threatened buffalo clover (Trifolium reflexum).
The Kentucky Plant Conservation Alliance coordinated the meeting and facilitators from the Office of Kentucky Nature Preserves, Virginia Tech University, Eastern Kentucky University, Austin Peay University, University of Michigan, and Cincinnati Zoo presented information on the current status (population ranks and trends), current conservation measures (land protection and management efforts), current research (life history, management needs, and genetics), as well as seedbanking and propagation efforts The goal of the group is to work more collaboratively together to prevent the extinction or extirpation of these native clovers. If you missed the meeting, here is the agenda, and recorded version and meeting notes
If you are interested in joining our clover conservation group and helping with some of the existing working groups involving research, monitoring, management, propagation, seedbanking, and fundraising for priority clover projects, please contact Tara Littlefield, tara.littlefield@ky.gov. We will continue to provide updates on existing Trifolium projects through the ladyslipper newsletter and at the Kentucky Botanical Symposium this fall. We will also be organizing various volunteer days this summer to help with monitoring and managing running buffalo clover, so be on the lookout for future volunteer work day announcements.
What is the Kentucky Plant Conservation Alliance (KYPCA)?
The Kentucky Plant Conservation Alliance (KYPCA) is a public private partnership of state and federal agencies, land managers, academic researchers, botanical gardens, conservation horticulturists, non-profits, conservation groups, private sector/consultants, community scientists, and volunteers committed to protecting native plants and natural communities of conservation concern with a central goal of preventing plant extinctions. The Office of Kentucky Nature Preserves and Kentucky Native Plant Society both recognized the need for a greater focus on rare plants and formed this alliance in 2016 in order to facilitate collaboration amongst existing conservation groups in the state by providing a framework to bring together the botanical community on focused priority plant conservation projects across the commonwealth. Priority projects are coordinated primarily by botanists and conservation staff at the Office of Kentucky Nature Preserves (OKNP) and collaborative meetings/field days/work days, outreach and volunteer building has been organized primarily by the Kentucky Native Plant Society (KNPS). The KYPCA is also linked with national, regional, and state alliance initiatives like the Georgia Plant Conservation Alliance that help us learn how to most effectively build plant conservation in Kentucky. We seek to prevent plant extinctions and preserve natural heritage for future generations by better leveraging resources of existing partnerships as well as building new partnerships to expand the collective capability of plant conservation in Kentucky.
Why do we need the KYPCA?
“Plants are the foundation of most life on Earth”
Kentucky is a very diverse state floristically, from the Cumberland Mountains in the East to the swamps of the coastal plain region in the west. The diversity is due to the topography and position on the landscape, the variety of geology and soils, the lack of recent glaciation and the history of natural disturbances such as fire and grazing. However, the landscape of Kentucky has changed dramatically since European settlement. Development and agriculture resulted in the dramatic loss of our old growth forests in the east, the grasslands of the interior plateau and the wetlands of the coastal plain. Over 2000 native plants have been documented in Kentucky. Unfortunately approximately 20% of our plants are rare, threatened or endangered. Kentucky has 11 federally listed species and an additional 40 or so plants are globally rare and declining. But there are still plant diversity hotspots scattered in remnant natural areas across the state. 65% of rare plants and 80% of rare natural communities in Kentucky are associated with grasslands, barrens or woodlands that need some level of disturbance (fire, browsing) or edaphic control (rock outcrops) to persist and all of our rare plants and communities need invasive species management. Only a handful of professional staff are able to devote their time to monitoring and managing these rare plants due to limited resources. In order to more effectively conserve these rare species and communities, we need to work collaboratively with partners and volunteers across the state to increase in situ and ex situ conservation of our rarest plants.
What kinds of projects does the KYPCA work on?
We work with our partners to prevent plant extinction and extirpation through in situ and ex situ conservation projects with a central goal of preventing local extinctions. Projects activities can include surveys, monitoring, direct management (invasive species removal/prescribed fire), restoration, seed banking, propagation, introductions, research and outreach. Projects are focused on rare plants that are in most need of immediate conservation action in order to prevent extinction from the state. The rare plant priority list was created by Kentucky Rare Plant Committee, continually updated, and is also the proposed list to add to the Kentucky State Wildlife Action Plan in the next few years. Plants are prioritized by rarity, lack of site protection or appropriate management, and other threats. Since rare plants are a part of larger natural communities, management and restoration of natural areas and partnerships with land managers is key to all projects. Some recent projects include rare plant propagation, native clover conservation, white haired goldenrod community science monitoring and management, roadside rare plant surveys, wood lily and Pine Barrens restoration, rare plant listing and prioritization working groups, and working with partners to add plants to Kentucky’s state wildlife action plan.
How does the KYPCA connect?
The KYPCA connects to partners by coordinating rare plant and community focused meetings and symposiums; coordinating workshops and field work days; providing updates to the KNPS monthly Ladyslipper newsletter and the OKNP quarterly newsletter; through OKNP, KYPCA, and KNPS social media pages; and through our websites www.kypca.knps.org and www.naturepreserves.ky.gov.
How to get involved?
If you would like to get involved with these efforts, contact us at KYPCA@knps.org and formally join our alliance! Please join the Kentucky Native Plant Society and sign up for the KNPS and OKNP newsletters to find out about volunteer opportunities and updates from recent projects. The KNPS is offering small grants to directly help with the KYPCA efforts such as rare plant propagation, and inventory/monitoring of natural areas. Please contact us if you are interested in applying for a grant. If you are an organization and are interested in formally joining, please send us your partnership logo and website info so we can add you to our partner page. Projects that we need particular help with include volunteer coordination, conservation horticulture projects, as well as monitoring and management projects on public and private lands.
Dr. Ronald L. Jones, Foundation Professor Emeritus at Eastern Kentucky University, will be offering two online botany courses this summer. The courses will give students a “fieldlike” experience online thru the use of videos, photographs, and presentations, and thru the use of the keys in Dr. Jones’ book, “Plant Life of Kentucky: An Illustrated Guide to the Vascular Flora.” One course is thru EKU, covering a variety of plants, and the other is at UT Martin, focusing on aquatic and wetland plants.
Aquatic and Wetland Plants
All Online!
University of Tennessee at Martin Reelfoot Lake Environmental Field Station BIOL 306/506, 3 semester hours credit
July 13—August 13 (Summer Term II) Summer 2021
This online course has been developed to give students a “field-like” experience in the age of Covid-19! Videos and photographs from the field will be posted on Canvas. Students will develop skills in keying and identification of aquatic and wetland plants (ferns, wildflowers, shrubs, and trees)—abilities that are highly needed in many types of federal, state, and consulting jobs. Many ecological topics will also be addressed, including typical habitats, wildlife uses, and current conservation issues.
Students will be given daily assignments, Monday through Thursday each week, involving a combination of zoom sessions, internet and reading assignments, and field studies.
Instructor: Dr. Ronald L. Jones Foundation Professor Emeritus, Eastern Kentucky University ron.jones@eku.edu
Adjunct Professor, UTM rjone139@utm.edu 859-893-4529
Topics in Field Biology: Botany – 52886, 52887 – BIO 595/795 – 002
Eastern Kentucky University
3 hours credit. May 17, 2021 – June 25, 2021 Instructor: Ronald L. Jones Foundation Professor Emeritus ron.jones@eku.edu 859-893-4529
This online course has been developed to give students a “field-like” experience in the age of Covid-19! Videos and photographs will be uploaded to Blackboard and then follow-up assignments will be posted. Students will develop skills in keying and identification of ferns, wildflowers, shrubs, and trees—abilities that are highly needed in many types of federal, state, and consulting jobs. Plants from aquatic, wetland, and upland habitats will be included. Many ecological topics will also be addressed, including typical habitats, wildlife uses, and current conservation issues.
Students will be given daily assignments, typically involving a zoom session from 10 am till noon for 3 days a week, on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, and a 3 hour field session, 9 am till noon, on Thursday morning, over the 6-week summer semester. No classes on Fridays.
It’s that time of year when we’re all getting extra antsy for the green-up, and eager to see those spring flowers in full bloom. But keep your eyes peeled in the days leading up to Wildflower Week 2021, there are wonders to behold well before peak bloom!
As tiny new leaves and buds emerge from the ground, before those chloroplasts kick into high gear, the familiar favorites can display a range of spectacular colors and incredible details. You may need to crouch down with a magnifying glass, but you’re in for high drama on a small scale:
Dutchman’s breeches (Dicentra cucullaria)
Check out the foliage and buds of this Dutchman’s breeches, unfurling in surprisingly fiery hues. If you squint, you could almost mistake it for a dragon.
Snow trillium (Trillium nivale)
Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis)
The delicate, subtle detail of Snow trillium venation offers a remarkable contrast to this Bloodroot leaf, coursing with vibrant red sap and looking as robustly vascular as a human heart.
Spring beauty (Claytonia virginica)
Cutleaf toothwort (Cardamine concatenata)
The gracefully balletic spring beauty and cutleaf toothwort emerge in tones of rose and magenta; you can often catch these tiny dancers just peeking out of the leaf litter in early March.
Are you spotting any of these miniature marvels yet? No need to wait for Wildflower Week, feel free to upload your earliest spring observations to iNaturalist and share them with us!
As spring approaches many native plant gardeners are looking for sources of native plants for their landscape. Many organizations have native plant sales in the spring.
KNPS is building a listing of these native plant sales and plant and seed swaps, that will appear on our page, Native Plant Sales in Kentucky and Surrounding Areas in 2021. But to build this list we need your help. If you or your organization are having a sale this spring (or in the fall, if you have the date set), please submit the information about the sale using the form below. If you know of a group planning a sale, please direct them towards this form. Thanks.
Native Plant Sales and Swaps
A form to collect information about native plant sales and swaps in the region
Below is an introductory video explaining ways to use iNaturalist to prepare for your next hike to optimize your Spring Ephemeral Searches or for leisure exploration of Kentucky native plants: