MNPS Meeting: "Diversity of Maryland and Virginia Plant Life"

Maryland and Virginia both contain a wealth of native plants and habitats, including many which are common to both states. For years, folks in Maryland have enjoyed Brown and Brown's excellent Woody and Herbaceous Plants of Maryland references, which are also particularly useful in Virginia. Marion Lobstein, a well-known local botany professor and founder and steering director of the Flora of Virginia Project, will give a presentation on efforts to produce an illustrated botanical reference of Virginia's flora. This work will be a valuable resource to those of us in Maryland, because it will include many additional species that are not listed in Brown and Brown's taxonomy but that occur in Maryland, including many species at the border of the state that may be present. In this presentation, Marion will talk about reasons for the high floristic diversity in both states, including soils, climate, proximity to glaciation but not being glaciated, "mixing bowl" of northern and southern species, etc., and will have photos showing examples.

There will be a mailing party before the meeting, starting at 6:00pm. Volunteers are welcome - the more helping hands, the merrier! Native plants will be given to volunteers, courtesy of Chesapeake Native Nursery.

Location: White Oak Library - Large Meeting Room

Directions: Exit the Washington Beltway at New Hampshire Ave (exit 28). Go north about 2 miles. The library is the first building on the right, once you have passed under Route 29, just after the Sears store.

There will be refreshments and door prizes. Pot luck refreshments are always welcome.

The meeting is open to non-members.

Meetings take place on the last Tuesday of each month.