Minnesota Plant PressThe Minnesota Native Plant Society Newsletter

Volume 21 Number 4 Summer 2002

Monthly meetingsMinnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge

Visitor Center, 3815 East 80th St.Bloomington, MN 55425-1600

952-854-5900

6:30 p.m. — Building east door opens6:30 p.m. — Refreshments,

information, Room A7 – 9 p.m. —Program, society business7:30 p.m. — Building door is locked9:30 p.m. — Building closes

ProgramsThe MNPS meets the first Thursday in

October, November, December, February,March, April, May and June. Check theWeb page for additional programinformation.

Oct. 3: “Buckthorn Busting,” by JanetLarson, MNPS board member andlandscape designer in Natives Division ofSupreme Companies; Plant of the Month:to be announced.

Nov. 7: To be announced.

MNPS Web sitehttp://www.stolaf.edu/depts/biology/mnpse-mail: MNPS@HotPOP.com

Dec. 5: To be announced.

Botanical illustrationmelds science, artby Vera Ming Wong(Abstract of Dec. 6, 2001 talk)

My mission, and that of my solo company, Arakunem Arts, is toeducate and inspire people to help protect and restore nature in ourenvironment. I work towards this mission as a natural science illustratorby creating visual artworks (and writings) that convey significantinformation about natural subjects accurately, with some aestheticgrace, for nature conservation projects, organizations and agencies.Through my experiences splicing science and art, I’ve developed strongpersonal biases. These may differ from those of other artists andillustrators of plants, who have their own perspectives, priorities andopinions.

Labeling“To illustrate” means to illuminate, clarify or elucidate, usually

through visual images, or to demonstrate or provide an example, eitherin actuality or through visual images.

A “botanical illustration,” therefore, is simply a visual image thatconveys observations, concepts and information about plants or theirprocesses, usually in collaboration with written text, preferably withsome aesthetic grace. A picture may indeed be worth a thousand words,if it can show, quickly and concisely, images that would be difficult todescribe. Aesthetically engaging illustrations can also attract attention,enhance the visual appeal, or help visually oriented people learn faster.

Botanical illustration is often equated with infinitesimal detail, butthe level of detail rendered should be appropriate to the purpose,message and presentation format of the illustration.

Botanical illustration for research requires accuracy in depictingplants, to avoid misleading or misinforming viewers. Accuracyinvolves showing the right number of parts, in the right places, atwhatever level of detail is used. But “accuracy” is different from“precision” or “degree of detail.” Drawing tiny hairs on a leaf mayadd detail, but if the leaf is hairless, or if the hairs are the wrong shape,those details are inaccurate and misleading. If the leaf edge is thecritical characteristic to show, hair details may be distracting.

Continued on page 4

Plant sale thanksThank you, volunteers and plant donors.

Your efforts made the June 2002 plant salea success. There were many species, andplants were in excellent condition. Wehope they are flourishing in your gardens.

Proceeds totaled $454.75, comparedwith $360.50 in 2001 and $424 in 2000.The highest total was $593.35 in 1999.The plant sale is the Minnesota NativePlant Society’s primary money-makingproject.

Minnesota Native Plant Society’s purpose(Abbreviated from the bylaws)

This organization is exclusively organized and operated for educationaland scientific purposes, including the following:

1. Conservation of all native plants.2. Continuing education of all members in the plant sciences.3. Education of the public regarding environmental protection of plantlife.4. Encouragement of research and publications on plants native toMinnesota.5. Study of legislation on Minnesota flora, vegetation and ecosystems.6. Preservation of special plants, plant communities and scientific andnatural areas.7. Cooperation in programs concerned with the ecology of naturalresources and scenic features.8. Fellowship with all persons interested in native plants throughmeetings, lectures, workshops and field trips.

MNPS Board ofDirectors

Acting President: Joel Dunnette,4526 Co. Rd. 3 S.W., Byron, MN55920; 507-284-3914 (W); 507-365-8091 (H); dunnette.joel@mayo.edu

Vice-President: Harriet Mason,905 5th St., St. Peter, MN 56082-1417; 507-931-3253; cmason@gac.edu

Interim Secretary andConservation Committee Co-Chair: Meredith Cornett, 1520 N.9th Ave . E., Duluth, MN 55805; 218-728-6258; mwc@duluth.com

Program Chair: Linda Huhn,2553 Dupont Ave. S., Minneapolis,MN 55405; 612-374-1435

Field Trip Chair: Jason Husveth,1284 N. Avon St., St. Paul, MN55117; 651-222-2009;j.husveth@att.net

Janet Larson, 7811 W. 87th St.,Bloomington, MN 55438; 952-941-6876; janetlars@pclink.com

Esther McLaughlin, BiologyDept., Augsburg College,Minneapolis, MN 55454; 612-330-1074; mclaugh@augsburg.edu

Douglas Mensing, 5025 RussellAve. S., Minneapolis, MN 55410;952-925-3359 (W), 612-926-8637(H); dougm@appliedeco.com

Conservation Committee Co-Chair: Ethan Perry, , 1520 N. 9thAve. E., Duluth, MN 55805; 218-728-6258; etperry@hotmail.com

Tr easurer: David Johnson, 6437Baker Ave. N.E., Fridley, MN 55432; 763-571-6278;MNPS@HotPOP.com

Listserve Coordinator: CharlesUmbanhowar, ceumb@stolaf.edu

Minnesota Plant Press editor:Gerry Drewry, 24090 NorthfieldBlvd., Hampton, MN 55031; phone,651-463-8006; fax, 651-463-7086;gdrewry@infi.net

Sharing and Connectingby Joel Dunnette, MNPS Acting President

Our goal is conservation of native plants. But we often act singly,independently of others. To reach our goal, I feel strongly that we need toshare and connect. This connection is needed not only with native plantsthemselves, but also with other enthusiasts, and with the general public.Sharing can help us and those we share with — intellectually, emotionally,and politically. Sharing is the way that we make the connections that arenecessary for accomplishing great things. We need to share experiences —each of us knows some things that nobody else knows! And we need to gobeyond sharing with other enthusiasts, so that we connect with neighbors,teachers, students, and the general public.

People today have largely lost their connection with nature. This loss isespecially noticeable at the local level; people say they care about naturebut express that caring only toward far away, special places. We need torestore the personal connection with nature that people need to make gooddecisions about their local environment. How can we expect people toappreciate and use native plants if they have no concept of what “nativeplant” means?

Reach out to those around you and help them make the connection tonature that sustains each of us. There are many opportunities. These includeparticipating in work projects, helping with school projects, writing notesfor others to read, helping staff information booths, and just sharing yourenthusiasm and knowledge of native plants with friends and neighbors. Ilead field trips and give talks on native plants and the animals that rely onthem. Articles are always welcome. Neighbors and friends ask about my“wild” plantings; some ask how they can have their own.

Keep the “big vision,” but work locally. I am finding so much to do inthe Rochester area, that I will be quite busy with local projects. Those ofyou in the Twin Cities area may not see or hear much from me in the comingyears, but know that I will be busy enhancing the knowledge, appreciationand use of native plants. I hope you will too.

by Mark J. Leoschke, botanist,Wildlife Bureau, Iowa Department ofNatural Resources

I first heard this wonderful andinspiring tale at a prairieinvertebrates meeting at LutherCollege last October. It is a story ofserendipity, discovery (literally insomeone’s front yard prairieplanting) and return from extinction.We still have a lot to learn about ourown fauna.

There is an Iowa connection heretoo — at least one of the eight historiccollections came from Iowa earlierthis century. It is quite possible thatthis moth is lurking out there in Iowa,just waiting to be discovered!

The article that follows is from theWisconsin Department of NaturalResources Web site. The Webaddress is www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/es /sc ience /p ro jec t /p ro jec ts /ros_moth.htm.

[Note by Charles Umbanhower:This story really does speak of whatwe are attempting to do withprotecting and restoring native plantcommunities. Rosinweed is notfound in Minnesota, but the moregeneral lesson still applies.]

In 1998, DNR Researcher RichHenderson collected a few insectlarvae that he noticed were causingheavy feeding damage on the prairiewildflower rosinweed (Silphiumintegrifolium). He reared these toadult stage, and they turned out to bea small moth. Rich passed the mothsalong to Les Ferge, an expertlepidopterist in Madison, Wis.

Two years and a couple moreexperts later, the moths wereidentified as Tabenna silphiella, inthe moth family Choreutidae. Rich’scollection and the identificationprocess were no small achievements,

as this particular species hadpreviously been known by only eightother specimens, and no larvalinformation had been gathered sincethe species was first described fromspecimens collected from rosinweedin northern Illinois in 1881!

Formal publication of thesefindings will be in the near future.Meanwhile, this article and photoshave been placed on the Web toprovide hobbyist and experts alikewith information that will enablethem to look for and identify therosinweed moth on their own, eitherthrough feeding sign or by rearingout larvae to adults. This type ofwork from volunteers will addgreatly to our knowledge of thedistribution range and life history ofthis species.

Typical feeding damage onrosinweed is caused by the larvae ofTabenna silphiella. The earliest setsof leaves are most affected, duringthe months of May and June. Theplant continues to grow through theattack, producing new leaves. Afterthe larvae pupate, usually in midJune, the plant will continue to growand produce new leaves not affectedby the feeding.

Note the window-pane feedingpattern and the silken webbing thatpulls the leaf edges together. Larvaelive solely within this webbing asindividuals or in small colonies.

‘Extinct’ rosinweedmoth is rediscovered

Doug Mensing joinsMNPS boardby Meredith Cornett

The MNPS Board met at DebStrohmeyer’s home on June 9 andofficially welcomed Doug Mensing,one of our newest board members,into the fold.

Doug is a certified ProfessionalWetland Scientist and is a seniorecologist with Applied EcologicalServices, Inc. He has worked in theecological, conservation andrestoration fields, since1991. “I’mexcited to be on the board,” he said.“I want to expand the outreach of theNative Plant Society.”

Many, many thanks to Joel for histwo-term presidency, to Deb forgoing the extra mile as secretary, toHarriet for her service as vicepresident, and to David Johnson forhis extremely reliable andcomforting guidance as treasurer.

Officers were to have been electedfrom among the board members atthe meeting. However, a fewmembers were not present, and wedecided that all members should giveit some serious thought over thesummer so that we can make a quickdecision at our September boardmeeting. New members are notexpected to serve as officers duringtheir first year.

The slate of officers at this timeincludes: president (open); vicepresident, Linda Huhn; secretary,Meredith Cornett; treasurer, DavidJohnson.

Monarch butterfly field trip is Aug. 18Tag Monarch butterflies at Iron Horse Prairie Scientific and Natural

Area on Aug. 18. This rich tallgrass prairie serves as a fueling stop forthousands of Monarch butterflies on their journey southward. Catchingand tagging will start at about 1:30 p.m. Greg Munson of Quarry Hill NatureCenter will lead the tagging, and Joel Dunnette will help inform folks aboutthe prairie. For more information about the field trip, call Joel at home,507-365-809.

Botanical illustrations for research,public education, interpretive signs,advertising or other situations mightbe simple or complex; rough orelegant; detailed, bold or looselyrendered, as long as they accomplishtheir purpose: to illuminate, clarifyor elucidate, or demonstrate plants,or concepts about plants.

Botanical art vs. botanicalillustration

What distinguishes “botanicalillustrations” from “botanical art”?The line between them is pretty fuzzyand perforated, defined mostly byintent, purpose and presentation ofthe work.

A non-illustrator artist may chooseto portray a plant for personalreasons, express subjective thoughtsor feelings about the plant, use theplant image as a metaphor for anotherissue, and employ any preferredstyle. Plants depicted in the artworkmay not be the actual message of theartwork.

Botanical illustrators createcollaborative artworks to conveyparticular ideas, usually inconjunction with text. Illustrationsand text share mission and goals, butplay complementary roles. Botanicalillustrations focus on the plantsthemselves, or some aspect of theplants. As partner to science, theystrive to present the plant objectively;and minimize the illustrator ’sopinions, feelings or metaphoricalviews. I like to think of it as trying tolook from the plant’s point of view.

Aesthetics and styles, in both “art”and “illustration,” are subjective andephemeral, therefore not a usefuldistinction between the two.

The seedCreating a collaborative piece with

text and illustrations usually involvesmany roles: experts in the field,authors, publishers, editors,

illustrators, graphic designers, andfunders. The originator, or seed(often author, editor or expert)generates the idea, then finds peopleto fill other roles. One person oftenwears many hats in the process.Occasionally, the illustratororiginates a project.

SproutingThe social, historical, academic

and personal environments are thesubstrate in which the originator’sopinions, ideas, goals and objectivessprout, develop a particular message,and find the audience to grow.

BranchingBotanical illustrations serve botany

(or other plant-related fields) throughart.

The different branches of plant-focused science have differentobjectives and goals. Illustrationsmust adjust accordingly. Forexample:

1. Plant Taxonomy: showdiagnostic characteristics todistinguish between taxonomicgroups.

2. Developmental Plant Biology:show growth stages, patterns, andresponses of plants to genetic andenvironmental conditions.

3. Plant Ecology: emphasizehabitat, environmental needs,associated species, predators,pollinators, symbionts, parasites, etc.

4. Horticulture, Silviculture:emphasize general appearance, formor use of plant; distinction betweenvarieties; demonstrate how-to orpathology.

5. Agriculture: demonstrateplanting, growing, harvesting,storing; or parts of plant used/ eaten.

6. Nutrition: show kinds of plantsto choose, or preparation or cookingmethods.

BuddingCombined with practical

considerations of availability andcosts, goals and objectives guidesuch choices as publication medium,format, scope and deadlines, for bothtext and images. Where and whatkind of botanical illustrations wouldbe most effective, and why?Answers to these questions help setmany parameters for the illustrations,such as subject(s), size, color or B/W, and sometimes medium ortechnique. Usually the illustratormakes creative choices affecting thevisual image, loosely called the “Artof Illustration,” such as:composition, media, technique, andstyle, which affect the impact,attractiveness, attitude and clarity ofthe illustration.

FertilizingAn illustrator who understands the

subject, context, and audience of theillustrations can make more choicesthat “speak” more effectively to theviewer. A botanical illustrator’sprimary sources of visualinformation are usually specimens ofthe plant to be illustrated (alive orpreserved), and secondarily, othervisual documentation (photos, otherdrawings or diagrams).Consultations with experts in thefield provide additional information,background and context. Expectedusers of the materials, or productionexperts, can provide additionaladvice and direction.

IntegrityEach of the collaborators may have

different priorities for the illustration.The illustrator must consider and tryto accommodate these differentpriorities while supporting the goalsand objectives, and maintainingmessage and integrity of the artwork.This is also part of the Art ofIllustration.

FloweringIn creating a botanical drawing, an

artist/illustrator creates two-dimensional visual images that

Continued from page 1Botanical illustrations

represent plants. My drawings startout as rough approximations ofgeneral shapes that I see. Yours cantoo.

We start with the most basic, all-encompassing, simple shape that wecan find. Through a process ofadding, subtracting and modifyingthe basic shape with other smaller,relatively simple shapes, we embarkon a journey of revisions andrefinements. Paying attention to theaccuracy of the shapes we’re using,both positive and negative, helps usmaintain appropriate proportions.Sensitive contour drawing takes careof complex edges and folds.Eventually, a line drawing of theplant grows at the tips of our pencils.

The lines and shapes themselvesimply layers of objects in space, butto add to the optical illusion of threedimensions, we can add shading, orcolor. For dramatic, high-contrasteffect, we can push all dark areas intoblack, and all lighter areas into white.Switching tools, if we cut away thelight areas from a linoleum or woodblock, we’ll print the dark areas. Or,we can reverse our thinking, to drawlight areas with white pencil on darkpaper.

Whichever direction we choose, itall starts with a seed, an idea, a needto convey some specific informationabout this plant, or an idea related tothis plant, to fulfill a purpose or worktowards a mission. From this flower,perhaps another seed will grow.

AddendaIllustrate with drawings orphotographs?

People often ask why I botherdrawing plants and other naturalsubjects. Wouldn’t photography bequicker? Perhaps, but they dodifferent jobs. Often, a perfect, or“average” specimen needs to beillustrated, but may not actually exist(where is the perfectly average

human?). An illustrator can combineelements of several specimens tocreate the perfect average.

Under variable light conditions, anillustrator’s eyes adjust more easilyand over a wider range than a camera.Wind, extreme temperatures andbiting insects can still be limitingfactors. Distracting backgrounds areeasily eliminated by simply notdrawing them.

With very small subjects, thecamera’s depth of field is verylimited. The illustrator’s eyes re-focus constantly, to draw the entirespecimen in focus. Even withadvanced technology, there stillseems to be a need for people whocan draw plants well.

Sources: specimens orphotographs?

Many people ask if I work fromphotographs, and if not, why not?Yes, I occasionally work fromphotographs, but I prefer to drawfrom live specimens, where I can seethe gesture, growth form and habitof the plant, how it responds to itsenvironment, and better understandthe cause of individual variations.

Drawing from live specimens helpstremendously in getting the drawingto look three-dimensional and“alive,” but also requires me totranslate three dimensions into two.A photograph does that for me, butdoesn’t allow me to see the plantfrom different angles or to lookcloser. When I’m drawing from aphotograph, I find myself lookingbehind the photo to try to see theother side of the plant.

When live specimens aren’tavailable, I use herbariumspecimens. Although the three-dimensionality of the plant is lost, thegrowth form is retained, and thediagnostic characteristics by whichthe plant is identified are mostlyavailable. Combining photographswith herbarium specimens is the bestsubstitute for a live specimen.

Which are art, which areillustrations?

How do you categorize highlydetailed, delicate watercolors ofbeautiful flowers, or intenselydetailed pen-and-ink drawings ofvarious parts of a particular plant,crammed onto a page?

Botanical illustrations from othertimes and cultures may be presentedin different styles and media:

• Old European wood engravingsof stylistically flattened herbs;

• Chinese paintings, in “splashedink” (calligraphic) or “workingbrush” (carefully rendered) styles,of garden plants;

• Ancient Egyptian murals ofpapyrus and wheat;

• Australian aboriginal paintings ofimportant food plant tubers.

From my viewpoint as anillustrator, any of these could beeither art or illustration.

Restore native plantsto the North Shore

Collect seeds from grasses, shrubs,or trees to custom grow forrestoration and regeneration projectsin North Shore state parks, such asGooseberry River, Split RockLighthouse, and Tettegouche.

Under the direction of the NorthShore parks resource specialist orpark manager, volunteers will betrained in how to collect and handleplants, seeds, or cones from specificplants in the park. Volunteers mustbe able to work outdoors in a varietyof conditions, follow instructions,and work safely. A time commitmentof one full day, or a couple of halfdays, during the week is preferred.

The need for volunteers varieseach season. Collection generallyoccurs in late summer or early fall.Contact Harley Hanson, North ShoreParks Resource Specialist, TwoHarbors, at 218-226-6376 orharley.hanson@dnr.state.mn.us.

McKnight Foundation tolaunch public servicecampaign on open spaceby Meredith Cornett

In September, nearly two years of planning will culminate in a grassrootspublic service campaign aimed at protecting vital open space in the TwinCities region. The 12-month campaign will kick off in mid-September withads and a campaign Web site.

Planned by an alliance of Twin Cities nonprofits, government agencies,academic centers, and The McKnight Foundation, the campaign will

Dakota Countybond issue wouldsave natural areas

Dakota County residents will voteNov. 5 on a referendum that wouldprotect high priority natural areas andfarmland, rivers and drinking waterin the county. If the measure passes,the county will issue $20 million inbonds to fund the program.Matching funds may increase thetotal to up to $40 million.

Participation will be voluntary, andprotected land can remain private.The funds will be used to purchaseperpetual conservation easements orto purchase natural areas. Half of themoney is to be spent to protectnatural areas, and half to protectfarmland that adjoins natural areas orbodies of water. An implementationplan lists criteria and priorities. Acitizens’ advisory committee willreview applications and recommendland to be protected. An annual auditwill be conducted.

Hundreds of citizens and nineorganizations were involved in fouryears of planning and research thatculminated with the Farmland andNatural Areas Protection Plan. Thecounty board adopted the plan Jan.29, with a 5 to 2 vote. In April theyvoted unanimously to hold the $20million referendum. It will be“County Question 1” on the ballot.The bond issue will cost the ownerof an average $160,000 house about$18 annually for 10 years.

A citizens’ committee, “Vote Yesfor our Land and Water,” issupporting the referendum. Co-chairs are Bev Topp, chair of theEureka Twp. Board of Supervisors,and Rick Hansen, chair of the DakotaCounty Soil & Water ConservationDistrict Board. Gerry Drewry, editorof the Minnesota Plant Press, is co-chair of the outreach committee.

For additional information, go tothe Web site, www.voteyeson1.org.

MNPS Web site tellshow to help protectnative plantsby Meredith Cornett

MNPS members can find out howto get involved with native plantconservation by visiting theConservation Committee Web site.Go to the society’s Web site and clickon “Conservation Committee,” ortype in this address: www.stolaf.edu/depts/biology/mnps/cc.html

Currently, information is availableon how to take action on thefollowing topics:

• Help shape the future ofMinnesota’s national forests (over4.5 million acres of native planthabitat);

• Advocate equal protection forplants under the Federal EndangeredSpecies Act through the Native PlantConservation Campaign;

• Spread the word about impactsof non-native earthworm invasionson Minnesota’s northern hardwoodforests;

• Encourage the City of Duluth toconserve significant native plantcommunities at Spirit MountainRecreation Area and on Park Point.

encourage metro area residents tobecome involved in civic, municipal,and state decisions on how land isused.

The campaign Web site will containa wealth of information about openspace issues in the Twin Cities region,including examples of sites that areendangered. Visitors will also be ableto nominate favorite open spaces thatthey feel need protection.

Other Web site features will include:• A citizen tool kit;

• Information for landownersinterested in alternatives todevelopment; and

• Ways that citizens can getinvolved with protection effortsalready underway by organizationssuch as Friends of the MississippiRIver, Great River Greening,Minnesota Center for EnvironmentalAdvocacy, Minnesota Land Trust,1000 Friends of Minnesota, SierraClub, and Trust for Public Land.

This is an important time for action— many critical land use decisionslie ahead in 2003. Be sure to checkout the new campaign Web site inmid-September. Then join inspeaking out to protect open spaces.The next generation will thank you.

Visit The McKnight Foundationonline at http://www.mcknight.org/,and keep an eye out for links to thecampaign Web site in September.

Plant Loreby Thor KommedahlWhat is Grass of Parnassus?

It is a low-growing, bog plantcalled Parnassia palustris, and it isa member of the saxifrage family.This flowering plant is native tocentral and northern Minnesota.

How did it get its name?Dioscorides, a first century Greek

physician and author of MateriaMedica, named the plant “Agrostisen parnasso,” the grass of MountParnassus — a place in Greece sacredto Apollo and the Muses. The nameParnassia was selected either tohonor the name used by Dioscoridesor else to recognize this as an alpineplant; it grows in northern latitudesaround the world. “Palustris” meansboggy or marshy, to show it to be abog plant.

How can one recognize the plant?It is a smooth perennial growing

in calcareous fens, has a bare stemarising from basal, heart-shapedleaves, and has prominent veins inthe five white petals. The “bare” stemdoes have a single, small leaf abouta third of the way up the stem. Thefruit is an egg-shaped, four-partedcapsule.

Is the plant useful economically?Not really. Some have transferred

plants to their gardens. Dioscorideswrote that juice from the roots, whenmixed with wine, honey, somemyrrh, pepper, and frankincense, isan “excellent medicine for theeyes”— maybe in his day!

Ideas are shared at NorthAmerican Prairie Conferenceby Joel Dunnette

Every other year folks interested in prairies gather for the North AmericanPrairie Conference. I have had the pleasure to attend a few, including thisyear’s edition, which was held in Kirksville, Mo. As always, it was goodto be able to share information and enthusiasm for our prairie heritage.There were four to six concurrent sessions, so I only sampled the diverseinformation and discussion. Here are some ideas of note:

• Many projects are on a much larger scale than 10 years ago. Projectsof 1,000+ acres are now common.

• There is also more urban use of native plants.

• Several states have programs for local origin seed. Although differing,these states are working toward similar goals.

• There was good discussion about the mechanics, economics, andsociology of production of native plants. Missouri’s “Grow Native” programis pushing native plants into the general horticultural marketplace.

• Monitoring of plants varies widely. There are some reasons fordifferences. But we need to do much more to be able to save, recall, shareand compare data.

• Discoveries are still being made, especially about insects andinteractions that plants have with insects, grazing animals, mychorhizae,haying or burning, as well as interactions between plants.

• We know relatively little about prairie insects, or indeed, native insectsin general.

• There is often great specialization of knowledge, and a need to sharenot only knowledge but also efforts.

• Methods for control of reed canary grass are emerging. Timing andchoice of herbicide are important, as is rapid re-vegetation with desirablespecies.

• There is some very interesting prairie in Missouri, often remaining dueto the widespread practice of haying mixed vegetation fields.

• Missouri’s dedicated funding for conservation is having a wonderfulimpact.

• There were not many folks from Minnesota. At each conference, thereare many people from the host state; only after attending several prairieconferences do I get a good sense of the widespread interest in prairie acrossthe region.

• Several presentations pointed out the importance of persistence inpursuing goals.

The next North American Prairie Conference is set for Madison, Wis., in2004. I plan to attend — how about you?

Environmental Web sitehas local information

ForMyWorld, an EnvironmentalDefense and National WildlifeFederation Web site, has localinformation by Zip codes. Theaddress is www.formyworld.com.

Summer 2002 Issue

Minnesota Native Plant SocietyUniversity of Minnesota220 Biological Sciences CenterSt. Paul, MN 55108

NON-PROFIT ORG.U.S. POSTAGE

PAIDMinneapolis, MNPermit No. 2233