fall 2012 blue ridge wild flower society newsletter

7/31/2019 Fall 2012 Blue Ridge Wild Flower Society Newsletter

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Index

Greetings........................................................1

New Members...............................................

1Recent Field trips .........................................3

Calendar Events ............................................4

Club Officers ..................................................5

Farewell to member .....................................6

Blue Ridge Wildflower Society; A chapter of the Virginia Native Plant Society September 2012, Vol. 33, No. 3

Thefeeloffallisintheair.Iguess

usuallyaroundLaborDayweekendwe

begintogetthisfeeling.

Schoolsarebackinsession,andasan

oldteacher,Isometimesgetthatfeelingof

needingtogetreadyforclasses.

However,itdoesntlastverylong!Isup-

poseaftergoingtoschoolfor18yearsand

teachingfor40,Iamprogramedtoget

goinginthefall.Thishasbeenanunusualyearforplants

withthewarmearlyspringandthenhot

anddrythissummer.

Manyspeciesofplantswereblooming

earlierthannormal.Thenonourtripto

FenwickMinesinmid-August,wefound

about70differentplantsinbloom.Ihave

noticedthatthewingstemalongtheroadsisreallyabundantthisfall.

Mycardinalflowershavebeenvery

showy.

Otherkindsofplantshavedriedupor

Letter from the PresidentBy Rich Crites

Please turn to Presidents Letter, 2

Welcome New Members

Mike Bentley of Roanoke

Teresa Baga of Roanoke

Eva Jo Wu of Roanoke

Candy Andrezejewski of Roanoke

Diana Christoplos of Roanoke


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deerusedthemforasnack.

Thedogwoodberrieshaveturnedred,

andIhavenoticedtherobinsarebeing

attractedtothem.Theymustbestart-

ingtofeeltheurgetomigrate.Theyare

beginningtobunchupandactingsome-

whatgoofy.

Iwonderwhatthefallleafcolorswill

belikeafterourearlierandwarmerthan

usualspringfollowedbythehotdrysum-

mer.UsuallythesecondandthirdweeksofOctoberaregoodforleafpeepers.

Maybetherewillbesomebrilliantcolors.

Thishasbeenagoodyearforthe

BRWFS.Wehavehadgoodfieldtrips,

andthelectureshavebeenexcellentwith

greatattendance.Also,ourplantsalewas

verysuccessful.Wealsohaveaddedsome

newmemberstoourchapter,sowenow

haveabout115.Alltheaboveactivities

wouldnotbepossiblewithoutyourhelp

andparticipation.Thankyou.

Andjustareminder:ifyouareanold

memberintendingtobepartofthechap-

terandhavenotrenewedyourmember-

ship,youneedtoanteup!Wearegoingtostartpurgingthemailinglist.

Thisbringsmetomynextpoint.Iwill

besteppingdownaspresidentthisfall

andwewillbeelectingsomenewofficers.

Ourbylawssayanofficercannotserve

morethantwosuccessiveterms.Outof

Continued from Page 1

Presidents Letter:

the115,weneedpeopletostepuptothe

plateandserve.

Youdonothavetoknowalltheplants

andleadwalks!ButchKellyisheadingup

acommitteetofindsomeofficers.Call

himandserve!Wellbetheretohelpyou.

Icantfinishthisletterwithout

thankingtheboardmembers,theother

officers,thenewsletterandpublicrela-

tionsworkersandthewildflowersale

committeefortheirwork.Withthis

group,thesetwotermshavebeenveryrewarding.

Also,thankstomywifeConniefor

helpingtogetthingstogether,setupand

cleanup,includingme!ThankstoButch

Kellyforfindingmanyofthespeakersand

attendingthestateboardmeetingsinmy

stead.(Ihateboardandplanningmeet-

ings).

Finally,Iwouldcallyourattention

totheagendaforourfallactivities.Ryan

Huishisgoingtobetalkingabouthow

plantsareusedintheAppalachiansatour

meetingonSept.24.Thisissomematerial

heusesinhisclassthatheteachesatHol-

lins.Therearenofieldtripscheduledforthe

fallbecausewehavefoundthatwithso

manyotherautumnactivitiesgoingon,

theydontdowell.

Haveagoodfall,andIllseeyouatthe

meetings.


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Calendar of Events Vol. 33, No. 3Fall 2012

Monday, Sept. 24

Time: 7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Leader: Rich Crites

Contact: 774-4518

Meet: Roanoke Church

of Christ, 2606 Brandon Ave.

Club Meeting: Appalachian Plants and Their UsesRyan Huish is a professor of biology at Hollins University.

He will share with us the uses of our local flora.

Ryan is very knowledgeable in the field of ethno-botany. He is well

traveled, and it will be a very informative evening.

Club Meeting: The state and fate of Stadium Woods

As most everyone knows the stadium woods at VA Tech

has been in the news for most of the year. Come hear Jeff

Kirwins story of the fight to save these ancient giants. He

will explain how and why the fight is not over.

As you may recall Jeff is one of the co-authors of the

recent book Remarkable Trees of Virginia. He has led us

on a field trip and presented a program to us in the past.

Club Meeting: Tree Hazard Assessment in Your Yard

Aborist Carl Absher will talk to us about

this summers derecho, the stadium woods

and APCOs tree maintenance and storm

cleanup. He will discuss what trees to plant,

where to plant , and what and where not to

plant. Carl will also give some ideas as to

what conditions predispose trees to failure

over the years and how those conditions can

be recognized early. Carl has a forestry degree from Va. Tech and is a board

certified arborist.

Club Meeting in Lynchburg TBA

Monday, Oct. 22

Time: 7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Leader: Rich Crites

Contact: 774-4518


of Christ, 2606 Brandon Ave.,

S.W.

Monday, Nov. 26

Time: 7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Leader: Rich Crites

Contact: 774-4518


of Christ, 2606 Brandon Ave.,

S.W.

Matt Gentry, The Roanoke Times

November

Time: TBA

Meet: TBA


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President ....................................Rich Crites (540) 774-4518

[email protected]

Vice President ............................Rudy Albert (540) 774-2279

[email protected]

Secretary.................................Marci Albert(540) 774-2279

Treasurer .............................Gail MacFarland(540) 380-2150

Historian..............Betty Kelly (540) 384-7429

Membership.............................. Butch Kelly(540) 384-7429

[email protected]

Newsletter............................Michael Belcher(540) 989-6384

[email protected]

Blue Ridge Wildflower Society Officers

Remarkable Trees of VirginiaFriday, Sept. 14 at 7 p.m. at the UnitarianUniversalist Church of Roanoke. 343-5080.Free

Discover Mudlick CreekEnjoy a day playing in the creek. Search forwater critters, such as crayfish and mayflylarvae to help determine the health of thecreek. The group also will conduct tests fornitrates, phosphates and other commonwater contaminates. Bring a lunch and beprepared to get wet.

Sunday, Sept. 16, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.$10 fee. Register online at www.roanoke-countyparks.com or by phone at 772-PLAY.

Explore Bottom Creek GorgeA hidden gem of Southwest Virginia, BottomCreek Gorge is home to many rare aquaticand terrestrial species as well as Virginias

second highest waterfall. Walk along thestream, visit old homesites and enjoy the

beauty of this old-growth forest while learn-ing about the history of the area. The hike isapproximately 5 miles of easy-to-moderateterrain.

Sunday, Oct. 14 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. forages 10 and older. $30 fee.Register online at www.roanokecountyparks.com or by phone at 772-PLAY.

Digital Photography Nature in the FallEvery year mother nature reminds us to stopand notice her brilliant hues and colors. Roa-noke County Parks and Rec is offering Naturein the Fall at Garst Mill Park. Attendees willtake a walk around the park as they learn totake pictures. Be sure to wear comfortableshoes or boots and bring your camera andowners manual.

Saturday, Oct. 20, 10 a.m.to noon at GarstMill Park. For ages 18 and up. $18 fee.Register online at www.roanokecountyparks.com or by phone at 772-PLAY.

Some other events you may be interested in


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Blue Ridge Wildflower SocietyP.O. Box 20385

Roanoke, Va 24018

We say goodbye to a good naturalist and friend

By Rich Crites

Dr.HughSmith,aprofession-

algeologistandagoodbota-

nist,passedawayonAugust31.Hughhadbeeninillhealth

forsometime.

Hetaughtmanyyearswith

meatVirginiaWesternCom-

munityCollege,wasalong

timememberoftheBRWFS

andservedaspresidentofthe

chapter.

Hewasalwaysreadytogo

outonafieldtrip,especially

afterretirement.Onthefieldtrips,hewould

explaintheinterestinggeologi-

calfeaturestome,andIwould

pointoutinterestingplants.

Ithoroughlyenjoyedour

trips!

Illmissmycolleagueand

goodbuddy.

Hugh P. Smith

November 28, 1920

August 31, 2012

fall 2012 blue ridge wild flower society newsletter

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