By Ron Jones, Foundation Professor Emeritus, Eastern Kentucky University

With the assistance of Tara Littlefield, Office of Kentucky Nature Preserves.

We’re republishing this article because additions have been made.

This botanical timeline is a continuation of the series that appeared in The Lady Slipper in five installments from 2005 to 2008.

• 20(2)—prehistoric times up to 12,000 years ago
• 21(2)—12,000 years ago to 1900
• 22(3)—1900 to 1980
• 23 (1)—1980 to 1998
• 23(2)—1998 to mid-2008.

The goal is to highlight major events in the history of Kentucky botany, including new discoveries, important publications, changes in agricultural developments, major changes or upgrades of herbaria, developments or changes for the Kentucky Native Plant Society, and the retirements or deaths of people that made major contributions to Kentucky botany.  Addition to the list are welcome; please send suggestions to ron.jones@eku.edu.

Events omitted from previous lists:

1980—Dr. Ernest O. Beal passed away in August 1980.  (from his obituary):  Dr. Beal was born on March 7, 1928 in Lancaster, Illinois. He received a BS from Northcentral College in Naperville, Illinois, before going on to attain his MS and PhD from the University of Iowa. He taught from 1954 to 1968 at North Carolina State University, where he received a distinguished teaching award from the Association of Southeastern Biologists in 1966. From 1965 to 1968 he served as Director of a National Science Foundation Academic Year Institute in Raleigh, North Carolina. From 1968 until his retirement in 1978, Dr. Beal was the head of the Biology Department at Western Kentucky University. Dr. Beal also led a full life outside of academia. He was an author of two books and numerous publications, a member of the First Christian Church in Bowling Green, husband, and father to three children. Most notably he was coauthor with John Thieret of Aquatic and Wetland Plants of Kentucky;  Beal initiated the book and invited Thieret to join the project in 1977. After Beal’s death, Thieret completed the book with Beal as first author; it was published in 1986 by the Kentucky Nature Preserves Commission. Upon his death, the Ernest O. Beal Biology Scholarship Fund was established to honor the memory of Dr. Beal: Department Head, lover of Biology, author, and scholar. Through this fund his legacy lives on, helping other students cultivate a love for biology.

1986–KSNPC (Kentucky State Nature Preserves Commission) signed a limited Cooperative Agreement on Plants with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on January 8, 1986 to work cooperatively on rare and federally listed plants in Kentucky. Since then, KSNPC (currently OKNP) has led the states rare plant program that focuses on surveying, monitoring, managing and recovering federally listed and globally rare plants in Kentucky.  The Rare plant program has been managed since 1986 by three successive botanists–Marc Evans, Deborah White and Tara Littlefield.  Currently (2023) this program focuses on the recovery of around a dozen federally listed species and an additional 30 globally rare plants.  This program also oversees the Kentucky’s Rare Plant List, which is updated every 4 years in accordance with the Kentucky Rare Plant Recognition Act of 1994.

1992-2012-Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Salato Center began a native plant propagation program led by Mary Carol Cooper.  This program focused on propagating native forbs and grasses that were important pollinator plants and was instrumental in native plant and pollinator education for Kentucky. 

1994-KSNPC creates the Natural Areas Inventory Program, led by Marc Evans, which focused on surveying and inventorying the remaining remnant natural areas that have a concentration of rare species and high quality natural communities in the state.  The majority of Kentucky’s state nature preserves have been discovered through this program.   Several ecologists/botanists have worked on this program since its inception including Tom Bloom, Martina Hines, Brian Yahn, Deborah White, Tara Littlefield and several other KSNPC biologists.

2005-Delisting of the federally endangered Eggerts Sunflower (Helianthus eggerti).  This species was removed from the Federal endangered species list due to additional populations discovered during status surveys and inventories as well protection efforts and management of several populations in Kentucky.

2007–2012—NSF Grant for Herbarium improvement at Murray State University (MUR). 

Murray State University Herbarium received a five-year grant of about $167K from the National Science Foundation.  The goals of the grant were to improve the existing database, to make the data accessible over the Internet, and to acquire new herbarium cabinets to enlarge and improve storage facilities of the herbarium, under the direction of Dr. Dayle Saar. The herbarium contains an important collection of Kentucky flora, especially from the less studied western region of the state. .

2007—Dave Luzader becomes webmaster of KNPS website.  Dave made great improvements in the KNPS website, and it became a focal point for announcements and organizing the activities of the KNPS.

2007— Major floristic study published on Hancock Biological Station: The Vascular Flora of the Hancock Biological Station, Murray State University, Calloway County, Kentucky, in J. Bot. Res. Inst. Texas 1: 609–630, by Ralph L. Thompson.

Hancock Biological Station (HBS), a 37.5-hectare tract of upland Oak-Hickory Forest adjacent to Kentucky Lake in the Jackson Purchase of western Kentucky, is the biological field station of Murray State University, Murray, Kentucky. A total of 573 taxa have been documented from ten habitats. HBS is a member of the Organization of Biological Field Stations, a consortium of 220 biological field stations in North America. HBS was founded in 1966 and since 1972, it has served as a year-round facility for aquatic and terrestrial biology research and service programs, and it has presented students with opportunities for field classes, independent research, and faculty-directed undergraduate and graduate research.

By Emilie Grace Yochim

When winter creeps in with her cold, frosty air, and gloomy, shorter days, most gardeners can only think about one thing: next year’s flower garden. Well, at least, that’s what runs through my mind. How can I keep myself busy with my garden over the dreary days of winter? Two words: winter sowing.

Winter sowing is a fun, cost effective way to prepare for next summer’s native garden. Defined, winter sowing is a way to start seeds outdoors during the winter months. It is particularly useful for any seeds that require a period of cold, moist stratification to break dormancy and germinate. Another advantage of winter sowing is that you end up with plants that are hardier, and acclimated to the temperature swings. Also, you don’t need to start seeds indoors using fancy grow lights or an expensive greenhouse! 

When to start

When to start? Most winter sowers begin their project on the winter solstice. Typically, you will start with your seeds that need the longest period of time to break dormancy. Those would be the seeds that need 60 to ­120 days of cold, moist stratification. You can winter sow as late as March using seeds that need less time or seeds that need no special treatment. 

What you need

What do I need to winter sow? Well, seeds would be at the top of the list! What “new to me” native plants and grasses would I like to add? What areas need more fillers to support the other plants I already have? Which plants did the pollinators love that I want to increase in number to support them? These are all questions you can ask yourself as you decide on seeds to grow.

Where can I get native seeds to winter sow? Some reliable sources to purchase native seeds include Roundstone Native Seed Company and Prairie Moon Nursery. You can also find native seed swaps in several groups on Facebook in Kentucky, including mine Pollinators, Poof Heads & Native Plants in Kentucky, where you can get seeds for free or a minimal fee to cover shipping costs. 

I have my seeds, now what? The following materials are what you’ll need on hand:

• Gallon milk jugs: The clear ones work best; recycle the caps as they aren’t needed; you can also use such things as two-liter soda bottles and rotisserie chicken containers.
• Potting soil: I tend to use Miracle Gro Potting Mix. Use whatever brand you prefer, but don’t use any that are labeled “moisture control.”
• Duct tape: For sealing jugs.
• Sharpie marker: You’ll want to identify the seeds in each jug. You could also place a plant marker on the inside of your jug.
• Box cutter: For cutting your jug.
• Drill, hot glue gun, or anything sharp you can safely use to make drainage holes in your jug.

The process

With all your materials gathered, you’re ready to start:

1. Using a drill, hot glue gun, or something sharp, make 6 to 8 drainage holes in the bottom of a milk jug. I go around the lower sides of the jug.
2. Use your box cutter to slice your jug from side to side, leaving the handle attached, about halfway down. Don’t cut the entire top portion of the jug; leave a few inches intact. The top will act as a lid that you can open and close.
3. Add 4 inches, or so, of wet potting soil into the bottom of the jug. 
4. Sow seeds according to directions. For example, you’ll sow some seeds on the surface and plant others at specific depths.
5. Close the lid, and tape the jug back together using duct tape.
6. Label the jug with your Sharpie. 

Once your jugs are filled and taped shut, place your jugs in an area with sun. Moisture (rain and snow) will enter through the top creating condensation (aka your greenhouse). You can spray the inside if things start to dry out. 

Now, sit back and let nature take its course! Once spring is here, and temperatures warm up, open your jugs. Be sure to water as needed. If we get a frost or freeze, put the lids back down or cover the jugs with a blanket. 

Once seedlings are ready to transplant in late spring, take them out of their containers, separate them in “hunks,” and plant them directly in the ground. If they’re small and still need more growing time, use the same method, but place them in pots to grow until they’re large enough to put in the ground. If your seedlings are large enough to separate, I’ll use Asclepias incarnata (Rose milkweed) as example, then by all means separate them instead of using the “hunk” method. 

Winter sowing helps us look forward to spring with the anticipation of new life growing in our containers and the pollinators that will enjoy them in the summer. It is a highly addictive project; you have been warned! I winter sowed over 130 containers last year, and I can say I likely won’t do as many this year, but then my plant pals who know me will just laugh and say, “yeah right.”

And, as always, please remember to support your local native plant growers. We need them to be successful in making native plants more accessible to the public and retailers!

Editors’ Note: You can follow Emilie’s backyard restoration by reading Replacing Invasives With Natives Is A Work Of Love.

Emilie Grace Yochim is a homeschooling mom to two teens and has been married to Philip for 20 years. Since 2019, Emilie has developed a slight obsession with pollinators, poof heads (bantam Satin and Silkie chickens), and native plants.

She enjoys educating others about planting natives and identifying pollinators by sharing pictures and information about the native plants, chickens, and wildlife in her yard. She also enjoys making terrible memes and puns that she finds hilarious.

By Anne Milligan

The Kentucky native plants/seed swap movement is now in its fourth year, and this is an update on our progress. As many of you know, our swaps began in 2019 in Louisville, when some of us realized that we needed a venue to share all the extra seeds and plants from our native habitats. As of August 2023, we have 10 regional swaps fanning out from Louisville in all directions and a Louisville citywide Facebook group of over 2,500 members.  

Our newest regional swap group is also a transitional moment for our greater swap network. A young lady in Somerset stepped up to host a swap group for the entire Pulaski County/Lake Cumberland area. She envisions that group as a hub for an expanding swap network independent of the Louisville one.

Our Louisville citywide “big swap” will take place at Jefferson Memorial Forest in Fairdale. The staff offered us the Horine Conference Center for free, and for that we are very grateful. Our big swap brings together the extra seeds accumulated from all the regional fall swaps that took place last November. Regional swap hosts will be present to help guide new folks on native gardening and to check for nonnative species, which we don’t want to spread around.

We’re happy to announce that this past year, many of us expanded into growing the earliest-blooming native species, or spring ephemerals, and we are excited to share those extra seeds in the years ahead at regional spring swaps.

Our goal is to increase the diversity of Kentucky native plant species, primarily by educating property owners/gardeners/landscapers via regional swap groups how to grow and share native species. We understand that, by doing so, we are joining  passionate groups of people all over the world who are helping to restore natural ecosystems essential for life on this planet. To keep up with the various swap events, please join our Louisville Citywide Facebook group by clicking here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/652100455295916

We encourage everyone to establish native plant swap events in every Kentucky county, administered by individuals who are passionate about native species. There has never been a more important time than now to use our own properties to restore native ecosystems, not just for ourselves but for all those who follow.

Editors’ Note: To learn how this group got started, read Follow A Growing Trend And Organize Your Own Seed Swap. Read a review of Anne’s book, “Let the Earth Breathe,” which she coauthored with her husband, Stephen Brown.

Anne Milligan is an artist, singer/musician, and landscape designer. She lives in Louisville, KY with her husband, author and historian Stephen A. Brown.

Sarah Grace and Jonathan Omar Cole Kubesch proudly introduce Joseph Cole Kubesch to the Kentucky Native Plant Society. Joseph joined the Kubesch family on August 20th and has taken quickly to life on the family’s turkey ranch in Pembroke, Virginia.

Jonathan is an editor for The Lady Slipper.