Accent on Natural Landscaping

Donna VanBuecken

Senators Vote Unanimous – April 2021 Is National Native Plant Month

It finally happened! In a grand bipartisan move, the U.S. Senate authorized this April 2021 as National Native Plant Month.

We hope the benefits of our native plants lead to an understanding of our pollinators that depend on it. Royal catchfly (Silene regia) outstanding among the bergamot (Monarda fistulosa), purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) and black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia hirta). Photo by Joan Rudolph.

Senate Resolution 109 was introduced and co-sponsored by Rob Portman (R-OH) and Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) to the Senate on March 15th. It was passed by unanimous vote on March 25th. Please join us in thanking our senators for supporting this resolution.

The two senators recognize the importance of native plants to environmental conservation and restoration, as well as in supporting a diversity of wildlife. Senator Hirono also co-sponsored the “Botany Bill” which seeks to improve management of botanical resources on federal public lands.

Supporters

This resolution includes Wild Ones and the Native Plant Societies of Florida, Oregon, Washington, and North Carolina, as well as our partners, the Garden Club of America and Doug Tallamy.

Here is the Wild Ones response: “Native Plants, Natural Landscapes promotes environmentally sound landscaping practices to preserve biodiversity through the preservation, restoration and establishment of native plant communities. Recognition of a Native Plant Month supports education and advocacy efforts in many organizations to restore native ecosystems and support all of our efforts to heal our planet,” said Jen Ainsworth, Executive Director of Wild Ones: Native Plants, Natural Landscapes.

What can you do to help?

Please take a minute to mention this to like-minded friends, colleagues, and professional acquaintances, letting them know that April 2021 is Native Plant Month for the United States. Let’s see if the House of Representatives will agree.

You can help by reaching out to your representatives to let them know you support the bill and to ask them to co-sponsor/sign-on to the bill. E-mail or call your representative to ask them to introduce or co-sponsor a House companion resolution to Senate Resolution 109 designating April as National Native Plant Month. The benefits of native plants to the biodiversity, beauty, resilience, and economic security of this nation are grossly under-appreciated. This resolution will help raise awareness about the need to enjoy, conserve, and restore our country’s unique native-plant communities. Find Your Representative.

If the House sponsors a resolution, there is a renewed hope! We must keep the Botany Bill legislation alive.

Read: Botany Bill S2384.

Read: Botany Bill HR1572.

We hope this new recognition of the benefits of our native plants leads to an understanding of the circle of life. Who knows? The native plants may harvest carbon dioxide more efficiently through photosynthesis.

Read the full Press Release for the Resolution.

Read the Resolution.

 

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Women’s History Month

It’s Women’s History Month. Since 1987, Women’s History Month has been observed during March in the United States. This year’s theme is a celebration of women’s contributions to history, culture, and society.

History of Women’s History Month

The actual celebration of Women’s History Month grew out of a week-long celebration of women’s contributions to culture, history, and society organized by the school district of Sonoma, California, in 1978. Presentations were given at dozens of schools, hundreds of students participated in a “Real Woman” essay contest, and a parade was held in downtown Santa Rosa.

A few years later, the idea had caught on within communities, school districts, and organizations across the country. In 1980, President Jimmy Carter issued the first presidential proclamation declaring the week of March 8 as National Women’s History Week. The U.S. Congress followed suit the next year, passing a resolution establishing a national celebration. Six years later, the National Women’s History Project successfully petitioned Congress to expand the event to the entire month of March.

Women’s History Month is a dedicated month to reflect on the often-overlooked contributions of women to United States history. From Abigail Adams to Susan B. Anthony, Sojourner Truth to Rosa Parks, and Ruth Bader Ginsburg to Hillary Clinton, the timeline of women’s history milestones stretches back to the founding of the United States. (History)

Wisconsin’s Women of Conservation

They is more to do. Graphic illustration by National Women’s History Alliance

Wisconsin women have significantly contributed to the continuing knowledge and practice of the conservation ethic by engaging in education, scientific, literary, historical, and charitable pursuits that recognize the principles of the conservation movement, as featured by the Wisconsin Conservation Hall of Fame.

According to Data USA, 78.5 percent of conservation scientists and foresters in the U.S. are male. As recently as the 1940s, there were almost no women working professionally in Wisconsin conservation. (Schlitz Audubon Nature Center)

Some of Wisconsin’s outstanding women:

Nina Leopold Bradley Inducted 2013

Ruth Clusen inducted 2002

Emily Earley inducted 2010

Frances Hamerstrom inducted 1996

Ruth Hine

Wilhelmine La Budde inducted 1990

Ingebord “Ingie” Lother inducted 2018

Charlotte Lukes inducted 2018

Karen Oberhauser

Lorrie Otto inducted 1999

Pearl Pohl inducted 1991

Katherine Rill

Aroline Schmitt inducted 2019

Christine Thomas inducted 2017

Olive Thomson

Emma Toft

Dorothy Vallier inducted 1996

Milly Zantow inducted 2017

As Kamala Harris said, at the victory speech at Wilmington, Delaware: “Dream with ambition, lead with conviction, and see yourselves in a way that others may not, simply because they’ve never seen it before, but know that we will applaud you every step of the way.” I wish for you to be everything that you have dreamed about.

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The e-mail photo is by Donna VanBuecken.

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WOFVA Chapter Plant Sale Orders Due March 31, 2021

Female monarch nectaring rough blazingstar (Liatris aspera).

Are you starting to get excited about spring and getting out in your yard? Digging in the dirt? Planting new plants, trees, and shrubs? Are you asking yourself what you can do for butterflies, bees, and other pollinators? Then you should know about the Wild Ones Fox Valley Area Chapter’s annual native-plant sale. Orders for native plants, trees, and shrubs are due Saturday, March 31, 2021.

Native plants are the host plants and food source for most native pollinators and insects. They evolved together, so it’s natural that they would rely on each other for their preservation. In this day and age of bee-colony collapse, monarch-butterfly loss, and insect eradication, it’s important for all of us to do our part by gardening for wildlife. Without bees and other insects, many of the foods we eat would not be pollinated naturally, which means our meals would be a different experience and would become more costly.

The Wild Ones Fox Valley Area Chapter’s annual spring native plant sale will be held at the WILD Center in Neenah, Wisconsin (2285 W. Butte Des Morts Beach Road, Neenah, Wisconsin), on May 22, 2021.

Chapter volunteers sorting pre-orders of native plants.
Chapter volunteers sorting orders of native plants.  Photo by Donna VanBuecken.

The plant sale order form identifies all plants, trees, and shrubs offered as to ecotype (shade, sun, mesic, etc.). There are also some pre-designed collections of prairie and shade plants available, and a listing specifically for monarchs and pollinators. If you need assistance in selecting native plants, see alternatives to non-native cultivars and nativars.

Plants are in 4-inch pots and are more than reasonably priced at $6 per plant. Trees and shrubs are individually marked. There is also special pricing available for non-profits purchasing plants for their outdoor learning centers and habitats.

Don’t forget to place your order!

Orders are due Wednesday, March 31, 2021.

Pick up is May 22, 2021, from 9AM to 2PM.

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The e-mail photo is by Robert Carlson.

http://www.accentnatural.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/WOFVA-PlantSale-BackUp.docx

 

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Train Women

March is Women’s History Month, and International Women’s Day of 2021 is March 8th.

As you know, I am a steam-railroad fan. I love riding on trains. What better way than having an All-female steam crew to help Strasburg Rail Road mark International Women’s Day.

On the Strasburg (Pennsylvania) Railroad engine 475, in the cab will be Andrea Biesecker as engineer and Shelley Hall as fireman. Congratulations!!

In a first, all-female engine crew runs Strasburg Rail Road train

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The e-mail photo is by Donna VanBuecken.

 

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