The Idaho Native Plant Society is a statewide non-profit organization dedicated to promoting interest in native plants and plant communities, and collecting and sharing information on all phases of the botany of native plants in Idaho. We seek to foster an understanding and appreciation of our native flora and to preserve this rich heritage for future generations.
Native Plant Appreciation Week
The Idaho Native Plant Society is excited to officially announce Native Plant Appreciation Week, April 23-29, 2017 showcasing the importance of native plants to Idaho’s natural heritage. Contact your local chapter for special events, such as native plant sales, in celebration of this week.
Sage Notes
Here is the latest issue of our statewide newsletter, Sage Notes.
Annual Meeting
Plan to attend the 2017 Annual Meeting in Challis, Idaho July 14-17th. Link to more details
Photo Contest
We are pleased to announce the return of the INPS photo contest! The rules and format have been simplified. Show us your best and win the recognition of your peers! For contest rules, click here:
| INPS Contest 4.docx |
Idaho Botanical Foray
The Idaho Botanical Foray is a plant collecting trip that meets annually during the summer. Hosting rotates among the state’s 4 largest academic herbaria. You can learn more by visiting this Facebook page.
Mapping Milkweeds and Monarchs
Idaho Fish and Game has teamed up with the Xerces Society to engage citizen scientists (like you perhaps!) in a project to collect data on populations of native Milkweeds and sightings of Monarch Butterflies. Here is a link to the Western Monarch Milkweed Mapper and and article explaining the project, https://idfg.idaho.gov/blog/2017/02/idahos-monarch-connection.
Native Plant Conservation Campaign News:
The Botanical Sciences and Native Plant Materials Research, Restoration, and Promotion Act (aka “Botany Bill”) was introduced in the House of Representatives on February 21, 2017 by Rep. Mike Quigley(D-IL) and Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen(R-FL). The bill, H.R.1054, would provide increased staffing for federal botany programs, establish new programs to fund training for federal botanists, support the groundbreaking National Seed Strategy, and require states to utilize native plant species where possible and practical. The bill was developed by the Plant Conservation Alliance Non-Federal Cooperators Committee, the NPCC, the Botanical Society of America, the Garden Club of America and others. Many NPCC Affiliate organizations have also endorsed this bill. Click to read a summary of the bill and learn what you can do!
Endangered Species Day is May 19, 2017! World Biodiversity Day is May 22, 2017!
Throughout May, wildlife refuges, aquaria, parks, botanic gardens, schools, libraries, museums, and community groups will hold tours, exhibits, classroom discussions, habitat restoration projects, children’s programs, field trips and other activities to raise awareness about endangered species and biological diversity.
Hundreds of events are held in the United States and around the world each year for Endangered Species Day and World Biodiversity Day. Endangered Species Day
- Offers opportunities to participate in direct hands-on activities that help at-risk plants and wildlife
- Reminds us of the importance of protecting our threatened and at-risk species;
- Highlights the many stunning success stories of species recovery; and
- Promotes the everyday actions people can take to protect disappearing plants and wildlife and their remaining habitats
Events include:
- Open houses (Botanic Gardens, Nature Centers, etc)
- Wildflower and nature walks
- Pollinator garden planting
- Rare plant habitat restoration
- Festivals (e.g. pollinator festivals, eco-festivals)
Join or Organize an Event this May! To join or help plan an event near you, see the online event-finder (live in April, 2017) If you want to organize your own event, find inspiration and examples of past Endangered Species Day events on the NPCC Speak Out for Plants Page.
If you are interested in organizing an ES Day event or collaborating with other groups in your area to plan an event, please register online and download tools and information from the Endangered Species Day Website .
