Minnesota Native Plant Society

Springbrook Nature Center: Dragonflies 101
2016-06-18 13:00 - 15:00 (America/Chicago) | Springbrook Nature Center, 100 85th Ave., N.W., Fridley, MN, 55432, United States
Leaders: John Arthur, MNNPS Board Member and Dragonfly Expert
Digital dragonflies in an analog world? Join us for a different kind of field trip with a focus on dragonflies. We will spend about a half hour in the classroom reviewing dragonflies and then spend about an hour out in the wetland looking for dragonflies, taking their photos when we can get them to pose and netting those that do not want to pose. We will have a projector available so the image will be shown on a very large screen instead of a computer monitor. There is no charge to participate.
Field trips are open to MNNPS members only and pre-registration is required. To register, send an email to: Ken Arndt <ken.arndt@mnrinc.us>

Carpenter Nature Center: Early Summer Ravine/Cliffs
2016-06-12 10:00 - 12:00 (America/Chicago) | Carpenter St. Croix Valley Nature Center, 12805 St. Croix Trail S, Hastings, MN, 55033, United States
Leaders: Jyneen Thatcher, Naturalist and MNNPS Board Member
Come join other MNNPS members for an exploration of the moist cliff areas at Carpenter Nature Center. This is challenging topography, not easily accessed, and not entirely catalogued. Many species of ferns and liverworts are to be found on the cliff faces, including walking fern, fragile fern and bulblet fern. Several unusual woodland sedges are also present, and lily-leaved twayblade should be in bloom along the trail.
Directions and Parking: Carpenter Nature Center is located at 12805 St. Croix Trail, in Denmark Township, Washington County. It is one mile north of Hwy 10, overlooking the St. Croix River. General directions from St. Paul is southeast on Hwy. 61 south, (towards Hastings) then east on Hwy 10 to CR 21 (St. Croix Trail). If you reach the Point Douglas Park on the River, turn back to the first road to the north. At CNC, park in the main lot and meet at the entrance to the visitor’s center.
Due to the challenging and potentially hazardous terrain, this field trip is limited to 12 participants. Please wear sensible shoes and be prepared to scoot or clamber to stay safe.
Field trips are open to MNNPS members only and pre-registration is required. To register, send an email to: Ken Arndt <ken.arndt@mnrinc.us>

Savage Fen SNA and Seminary Fen SNA: Calcareous Fens, Sedges and Orchids
2016-06-05 09:00 - 16:00 (America/Chicago) | WI
Leaders:
Steve Eggers, Senior Ecologist for the St. Paul District Corps of Engineers
Scott Milburn, Senior Botanist/Ecologist for Midwest Natural Resources
See two gems of the Lower Minnesota River Valley consisting of sloping, calcareous, organic soil wetlands with springs and small, groundwater-fed, marl streams. Fifteen members of the sedge family, including 10 species of Carex, as well as the exquisite white lady’s-slipper orchid, are anticipated highlights. Such floristic diversity in the heart of a large metropolitan area is rare. Problems with invasive species (buckthorn, Phragmites, hybrid cattail) will be discussed. Of particular interest will be observing the results of a prescribed burn conducted last spring at Seminary Fen SNA.
To start the day, participants should meet at the parking area for Savage Fen along 128th St. (this road is a dead end). Since this is an all-day field trip, please pack your own lunch, bring plenty of water and bug spray.
Field trips are open to MNNPS members only and pre-registration is required. To register, send an email to: Ken Arndt <ken.arndt@mnrinc.us>

Grey Cloud Dunes SNA: Interpretive Hike with the Sierra Club
2016-06-04 09:00 - 11:00 (America/Chicago) | Grey Cloud Dunes SNA, 7600 113th St S, Cottage Grove, MN, 55016, United States
Leaders:
Kelly Randall: DNR Outreach Coordinator
Larry McCabe: SNA Site Steward
Michael Lynch: Botanist
Grey Cloud Dunes is situated on two sandy terraces along the Mississippi River offering breathtaking views of the Mississippi river valley. The sandy soil is home to unique plant communities in different habitats such as erosional faces and blowouts. Distinctive species adapted to the dry, sandy environment include little bluestem, penstemon, prairie dropseed, sand reed grass, gramma grass, silky prairie clover, among others. Rare sea-beach needlegrass occurs in several of the blowouts; purple sand grass, on bare sand areas. Louisiana broomrape and Hill’s thistles are also found here. North American (blue) racers, an uncommon Minnesota snake, live here.
Field trips are open to MNNPS members only and pre-registration is required. To register, send an email to: Ken Arndt <ken.arndt@mnrinc.us>

Norris Camp and Red Lake WMA: A Northern MN Bio Blitz and a Close-Up Look at Botrychiums
2016-06-04 - 2016-06-05 | Norris Camp, 11536 Faunce Butterfield Forest Rd, Roosevelt, MN, 56673, United States
Leaders:
Malcolm & Rosemary MacFarlane,DNR Co. Biological Survey Volunteers
John Arthur, MNNPS Board Member and Dragonfly Expert
Gretchen Mehmel, Red Lake Area Wildlife Supervisor
Come and enjoy a weekend in the far reaches of northern Minnesota to Norris Camp to explore parts of the Red Lake WMA. Participants will get to hike for much of Saturday and part of Sunday with an evening program on Saturday as well as a good old-fashioned potluck.
Transportation to Norris Camp will be on your own. It is highly recommended to get to Norris Camp Friday evening so you are there right away in the morning for hiking on Saturday.
Overnight arrangements for this trip include free lodging at Norris Camp. Contact John Arthur jdragonflyarthur@gmail.comto make reservations for a room. There is no charge for the rooms at Norris Camp, your only costs for the weekend are getting yourself up to Norris Camp and food for the weekend. Cooking all meals will take place at the Camp where kitchen facilities are available. Saturday evening after the day of hiking we will having a potluck and short program with Malcolm and Gretchen.
THE HISTORY OF NORRIS CAMP:
The history of Norris Camp began in 1933 with President Roosevelt’s New Deal programs. The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) was one of these programs and it became the impetus for creating Norris Camp. The CCC was created to help spur the United States’ economy out of the Great Depression by hiring unemployed young men for public conservation work. Close to 200 men and officers were stationed at Norris Camp performing a variety of tasks.source: Lake of the Woods Tourism
Field trips are open to MNNPS members only and pre-registration is required. To register, send an email to: Ken Arndt <ken.arndt@mnrinc.us>

Nature and Culture: the MN North Shore's ancient, still unfolding stories
2016-06-02 19:00 - 21:00 UTC | Dakota Lodge, 1200 Stassen Lane, West St. Paul, MN, 55118, United States
Speaker: Chel Anderson, Plant Ecologist/Botanist, Minnesota Biological Survey and Co-author, North Shore – A Natural History of Minnesota’s Superior Coast.
POM: Castilleja septentrionalis – northern paintbrush
Book signing to follow program.
Annual plant sale to follow program.

Lost Valley Prairie SNA: Interpretive Hike and Volunteer Event
2016-05-21 10:00 - 14:00 (America/Chicago) | WI
Leaders:
Michael Lynch: Botanist
Steve Poole: Lost Valley SNA Site Steward
Jim Smetana: Lost Valley SNA Site Steward
Lost Valley Prairie is an outstanding example of bedrock bluff prairie. Ridge crests and upper slopes host a diversity of prairie grasses; wildflowers such as puccoon, stiff gentian and prairie smoke. Of special interest are the fire-dependent Hill’s thistle, a Minnesota special concern species, and state-threatened rock sandwort known to occur at only a few sites in the state.
The first part of the day from 10AM to noon will be an interpretive hike led by Mike, Steve and Jim throughout the SNA to observe the plants and creatures that make this place home. Following the interpretive hike there will be lunch (bring your own) and then folks are encouraged to help Steve and Jim with sumac removal for an hour or so. For those staying to help with sumac removal make sure to bring a good pair of work gloves and eye protection. All other tools used for sumac removal will be provided by the site stewards.
Field trips are open to MNNPS members only and pre-registration is required. To register, send an email to: Ken Arndt <ken.arndt@mnrinc.us>

Minnesota Landscape Arboretum: A Spring Wildflower Walk
2016-05-14 10:00 - 12:00 (America/Chicago) | Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, 3675 Arboretum Dr., Chaska, MN, 55318, United States
Leaders: Shirley Mah Kooyman, Professional Botanist and MNNPS Vice President
We will meet at 10 a.m. inside of the Oswald Visitor Center and hike from the back of the building into the main grounds of the Arboretum.
Enjoy a Saturday morning hike with Shirley through parts of the Arboretum to view spring wildflowers including the Grace B. Dayton Wildflower Garden which features native plants of the deciduous woodlands and includes a collection of Minnesota’s state flower, the Showy Lady’s-slipper. Folks should have the opportunity to see many other spring wildflowers like Bloodroot, Trilliums, Virginia Bluebells, Bellwort, Hepatica, Trout Lilies and more.
This field trip will require each participant to pay the entrance fee for the Arboretum. Unless you are a member of the Arboretum there is a $12/person fee to get in. You can also get a free gate pass from Shirley at the Symposium or at the May 5 meeting. The passes will not be sent.
Field trips are open to MNNPS members only and pre-registration is required. To register, send an email to: Ken Arndt <ken.arndt@mnrinc.us>

Anna Gerenday, Entomology Scientist, retired, UMN; Fungi, mostly mushrooms from wetlands of Minnesota, and their plant associates. POM- Alnus incana
2016-05-05 19:00 - 21:00 UTC | Dakota Lodge, 1200 Stassen Lane, West St. Paul, MN, 55118, United States

Linda Haugen, USFS Plant Pathologist; Minnesota's Native Elms: Threats and Opportunities. POM- Ulmus americana
2016-04-07 19:00 - 21:00 (America/Chicago) | Dakota Lodge, 1200 Stassen Lane, West St. Paul, MN, 55118, United States

2016 Symposium - Perspectives in Botany 4
2016-04-02 08:30 - 17:00 (America/Chicago) | Bell Museum, 10 Church Street SE, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, United States
Download the 2016 MNNPS Symposium Registration form
Keynote speaker: the eminent lichenologist Dr. Irwin Brodo. Dr. Brodo is emeritus research scientist at the Canadian Museum of Nature, Ottawa, Ontario. He is the author of “Lichens of North America” and “Keys to Lichens of North America, Revised and Expanded” both published by Yale University Press.
Speakers and Topics:

8:30 AM
Registration (continental breakfast available)

9:00–9:10
Welcome to the Symposium

9:10–9:30
Welcome to the Bell Museum
Dr. George Weiblen, Scientific Director, Bell Museum of Natural History, University of Minnesota

9:30–10:20
The Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas: an online resource for native plants and more
Dr. George Weiblen, Scientific Director, Bell Museum of Natural History, University of Minnesota

10:20–10:40
Break

10:40–11:30
The Process of Developing a Regional Flora and the Development and Concept of the Floristic Quality Assessment (FQA) Methodology
Dr. Gerould Wilhelm, Principal Botanist/Ecologist, Conservation Design Forum

11:30–12:25
Lichens of the Northern Forests
Dr. Irwin Brodo, Emeritus Research Scientist, Canadian Museum of Nature

12:25–1:25
Lunch

1:25–2:15
Ecology and Management of Aquatic Invasive Plants in Minnesota
Dr. Daniel Larkin, Assistant Professor/Extension Specialist Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Biology, & Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center, University of Minnesota

2:15–2:35
Break

2:35–3:30
400 Years of Fire and Wind in Minnesota’s BWCAW
Dr. Lee Frelich, Research Associate and Director, Center for Forest Ecology, University of Minnesota

Download the 2016 MNNPS Symposium Registration form

Beck Marty, MnDNR Ecologist; Water, Potatoes, Timber and the Critically Imperiled Jack Pine. POM-Cirsium hillii
2016-03-03 19:00 - 21:00 UTC | Dakota Lodge, 1200 Stassen Lane, West St. Paul, MN, 55118, United States
Plant of the month will be Cirsium hillii – presented by Erika Rowe
Main talk to be given by Becky Marty, MN DNR Regional Ecologist

Ed Swain, MPCA and UMN Research Scientist; Wild Rice in Minnesota: Recent research on habitat requirements for Z. palustris. POM- The 4 species of Zizania
2016-02-04 19:00 - 21:00 UTC | Dakota Lodge, 1200 Stassen Lane, West St. Paul, MN, 55118, United States

Minnesota Wildflowers - the Quest to Create an Online Field Guide for all of Minnesota's Flora
2015-12-03 19:00 - 21:00 UTC | Dakota Lodge, 1200 Stassen Lane, West St. Paul, MN, 55118, United States
By Katy Chayka and Peter Dzuik.
Plant of the Month: Symphyotrichum novae-angliae, New England aster

Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden and Florelegium project
2015-11-05 19:00 - 21:00 UTC | Dakota Lodge, 1200 Stassen Lane, West St. Paul, MN, 55118, United States
Presented by Susan Wilkin and Marilyn Garber
Annual seed exchange follows the presentation.

A Century of Loss in Minnesota's Lake Plant Communities
2015-10-01 19:00 - 21:00 UTC | Dakota Lodge, 1200 Stassen Lane, West St. Paul, MN, 55118, United States
Presented by Donna Perleberg

Dragonflies 101
2015-06-20 13:00 - 15:00 (America/Chicago) | Springbrook Nature Center, 100 85th Ave., N.W., Fridley, MN, 55432, United States
Digital dragonflies in an analog world? Join us for a different kind of field trip with a focus on dragonflies. We will spend about a half hour in the classroom reviewing dragonflies and then spend about an hour out in the wetland looking for dragonflies, taking their photos when we can get them to pose and netting those that do not want to pose. We will have a projector available so the image will be shown on a very large screen instead of a computer monitor. There is no charge to participate, but pre‐registration is required.
Leader: John Arthur, MNNPS Board Member and Dragonfly Expert

Carpenter Nature Center
2015-06-14 10:00 - 12:00 (America/Chicago) | Carpenter St. Croix Valley Nature Center, 12805 St. Croix Trail S, Hastings, MN, 55033, United States
Come join other MNNPS members for an exploration of the moist cliff areas at Carpenter Nature Center. This is challenging topography, not easily accessed, and not entirely catalogued. Many species of ferns and liverworts are to be found on the cliff faces, including walking fern, fragile fern and bulblet fern. Lily‐leaved twayblade should be in bloom along the trail.
Leader: Jyneen Thatcher, Naturalist and MNNPS Board Member
At CNC, park in the main lot and meet at the entrance to the visitor’s center.
Due to the challenging and potentially hazardous terrain, this field trip is limited to 12 participants. Please wear sensible shoes and be prepared to scoot or clamber to stay safe.

Savage Fen SNA and Seminary Fen
2015-06-06 09:00 - 16:00 (America/Chicago) | WI
See two gems of the Lower Minnesota River Valley consisting of sloping, calcareous, organic soil wetlands with springs and small, groundwater‐fed, marl streams. Fifteen members of the sedge family, including 10 species of Carex, as well as the exquisite white lady’s‐slipper orchid, are anticipated highlights. Such floristic diversity in the heart of a large metropolitan area is rare. Problems with invasive species (buckthorn, Phragmites, hybrid cattail) will be discussed. We’ll also tour a small restoration area where a road fill was removed in 1986 and planted by Prairie Restoration, Inc. in an attempt to restore a calcareous fen community.
Where: Savage Fen SNA (Savage) and Seminary Fen (Chaska/Chanhassen)
Leader: Steve Eggers, Senior Ecologist for the St. Paul District Corps of Engineers
To start the day, participants should meet at the parking area for Savage Fen along 128th St. (this road is a dead end). Since this is an all‐day field trip, please pack your own lunch, bring plenty of water and bug spray.

Minnehaha Falls
2015-05-23 09:30 - 12:00 (America/Chicago) | Minnehaha Regional Park, 4801 S Minnehaha Drive, Minneapolis, MN, 55417, United States
Come join other MNNPS members for a morning hike along the banks of Minnehaha Creek where you will get to view over 50+ different species of native plants found in this popular Twin Cities Landmark. Participants will be led by Mike into several different plant communities of the surrounding Minnehaha Falls area including maple‐basswood forest, mesic oak forest, and black ash seepage swamp.
Leader: Mike Lynch, MNNPS President and Naturalist
Participants should meet at the bridge over Minnehaha Creek above the falls by 9:15AM to check in with Mike prior to the start of the field trip at 9:30 AM. Plan on spending approximately 2.5 hours at the park.

Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden
2015-05-02 10:00 - 12:00 (America/Chicago) | Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden, 1 Theodore Wirth Pkwy, Minneapolis, MN, 55422, United States
Enjoy a hike through the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden, the oldest wildflower garden in the country, for a look at early spring wildflowers. This historic garden is home to over 500 species of plants, all within fourteen acres. We will visit the woodland and wetland areas and have the opportunity to see many spring wildflowers like Dutchman’s Breeches, Bloodroot, Trilliums, Virginia Bluebells, Bellwort, Hepatica, Trout Lilies and more.
Due to the narrow trails within the garden, this field trip will be limited to 15 MN NPS members.
Leader: Shirley Mah Kooyman, Professional Botanist and MNNPS Vice President

We will meet at 10 a.m. at the Wirth Beach House parking lot (where it is FREE to park) and hike to the back entrance of Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden.
Please DO NOT meet at the upper front entrance. If you do that you won’t find us. Also there is a fee for parking at the upper front entrance area.

Coldwater Springs
2015-04-18 09:00 - 11:00 (America/Chicago) | Coldwater Spring, 5601 Minnehaha Dr. S, Minneapolis, MN, United States
Discover spring ephemerals and other spring wildflowers at Coldwater Spring! The Minnesota Native Plant Society will join the National Park Service in searching for and mapping these elusive and beautiful flowers while learning about how they fit into the ecosystem. The maps we make will help the guide future restoration plans at the park.
Coldwater spring is owned by the National Parks Service and jointly managed by the Mississippi River Fund with the help of numerous volunteers. Trails vary from paved asphalt to dirt trails with some steep places, several steps and may be muddy in places after recent rains. Participants should wear sturdy footwear and weather appropriate clothing.
Leaders: Mike Lynch and Park Ranger Neil Smarjesse

2015 Annual Symposium
2015-03-21 08:30 - 17:00 UTC | Bell Museum, 10 Church Street SE, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, United States
“Botanical Ramifications of Environmental Change”
Co-sponsored by the Bell Museum of Natural History
SYMPOSIUM SPEAKERS
Long term ecological history at the prairie-forest border from lake cores: Is the past a guide to the future?
Charles E. Umbanhowar Jr., Department of Biology and Environmental Studies, St. Olaf College
Genetic Foundations of plant adaptation
Ruth G. Shaw, Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, University of Minnesota
A Century of shifts in flowering phenology in the Red River valley
Dr. Steven Traverse, Associate professor, Department of Biological Sciences, North Dakota State University
Using Predictive Models to Explore assisted migration scenarios – pitfalls and opportunities
Pati Vitt, Stone Curator of the Dixon Seed Bank, Plant Biology and Conservation, Chicago Botanical Garden
Spatial signals of climate change in the abundance and distribution of understory species in Wisconsin over 50 years
Jeremy Ash, University of Wisconsin – Madison
Download the brochure and registration form!
