Jeff Nelson
KNPS President 2022-2024
I hope this message finds you all well. As we move into late fall, Kentucky remains in drought conditions, with most of the state in moderate to severe drought. Down here in the Jackson Purchase we have had no significant rainfall since early July. As devastating as drought is to agriculture and gardens, the response of our native plants and plant communities to these conditions can be quite instructive. In low, moist, woodland communities, such as can be found in the Ohio River floodplains, the shady soils retained enough moisture, well into September, for most native species to continue to grow and bloom. On a visit to Ballard WMA in mid-August for example, we saw several native species in bloom, including the spectacular Carolina spiderlily (Hymenocalis caroliniana, syn. H. occcidentalis).
The response of bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) is another example of the resilience of our native plants and of the sometimes unexpected results of disturbances such as extreme drought conditions. Bald cypress grows in typically flooded areas such as lake margins, swamps, and river floodplains in far western KY, southern IN, and southern IL. As this photo of the bald cypress at Horseshoe Lake in Alexander County, IL, shows, trees that normally stand in 3′-4′ of water are completely dry, with the trees surrounded by mud flats. Rather than being a completely negative situation though, occasional drought conditions are essential to the well being of this species. Bald cypress seeds cannot germinate in the standing water that normally surrounds the trees. They must have moist, bare soils. A close examination of the areas around these trees reveals that there are many bald cypress sprouts. A new generation of bald cypress has begun, entirely due to the drought we are experiencing.
Our native plants and ecological systems have evolved and adapted over hundreds and thousands of years to the vagaries of the climate. Droughts are difficult times for all of our native flora and fauna and there will certainly be higher mortality rates because of them. In diverse, natural communities, however, most of our native species of flora will survive and, with normal rainfall this winter, will be back next spring, just in time for next year’s Wildflower Weekend 2023.
On a beautiful fall day, October 15, dozens of KNPS members and friends came together at Blue Licks Battlefield SRP for our first in-person Fall Meeting since 2019. Blue Licks is one of the few locations in the world (three counties in KY and one county in IN) where the globally rare goldenrod, Short’s goldenrod (Solidago shortii) can be found. The day began with presentations about Short’s goldenrod by Dr. Carol Baskin and Jess Slade. In the afternoon the group, led by KNPS Vice-President Heidi Braunreiter and Immediate Past President Tara Littlefield, explored a limestone glade community. The group saw Short’s goldenrod in bloom, along with two other species of native goldenrod, gray goldenrod (S. nemoralis) and tall goldenrod (S. altissima). Other native species of note that were in bloom included Great Plains lady’s tresses (Spiranthes magnicamporum), white gentian (Gentiana alba), and agueweed (Gentianella quinquefolia). It was wonderful to come together and share our love of Kentucky’s native plants. For another person’s experience, be sure to read Kristin Bailey Wilson’s post about the day, KNPS 2022 Fall Meeting Provides Information and Community.
The first six months of my term as President has coincided with the Society’s return to in-person activities, exploring the bounty of Kentucky’s native plant communities with other native plant lovers. As wonderful as it has been, we are planning and looking forward to 2023, with even more opportunities for us all to come together and experience and learn more about the native plants of Kentucky. As planning for 2023 progresses we would love to hear from all of you. What kinds of things would you like to see the Society do next year? Are there locations in Kentucky that you love and would like to see shared with other native plant lovers? Would you like to help out with planning and organizing events such as Wildflower Weekend? If you have any thoughts about the Kentucky Native Plant Society and how we might all further our mission of education, preservation, and conservation, please email us at KYPlants@knps.org.