By Craig Maxwell and Theresa Morr reporting for Native Plant News
On June 8, get ready to dig into the green goodness at the North Carolina Native Plant Society’s Annual Meeting–Indoor Plant Auction-Outdoor Plant Sale-Picnic! More details about the meeting, plant sale, payment options, directions, and parking can be found on the registration Remember, this event is for members only (plus one guest) and advance registration is required.
Registration closes on June 3rd.
Here’s what you need to know
We look forward to welcoming native plant aficionados from every nook and cranny of North Carolina at the scenic campus of Pfeiffer University in Misenheimer, NC, to celebrate our shared passion for native plants. There will be time to visit tables of community organizations in front of the Chapel, stroll through campus native gardens, and hike along nature trails. The Annual Picnic & Meeting is an occasion to renew old friendships and forge new connections with fellow plant enthusiasts hailing from all corners of the state.
The charming Pfeiffer University Chapel will be the site for the meeting and awards announcements followed by the much-anticipated auction of unique native plants generously donated by NCNPS members. All plant and auction sales go toward our general fund to help us achieve our mission “to promote the enjoyment and conservation of North Carolina’s native plants and their habitats through education, protection, cultivation, and advocacy.”
Following the plant auction, picnic drinks and barbeque, fresh salads, and desserts will be offered indoors in the air-conditioned Jane Freeman Building. We encourage everyone to bring their own plates, cups, and utensils to reduce waste, but we will have them available for those who need it. Attendees will have a choice of indoor eating areas or outdoor shaded picnic areas with entertainment provided by Pollen Oats, our resident botany band. Please bring a lawn chair with you if you’d like to eat outdoors.
Don’t miss out on the greenest gathering of the year! Mark your calendars, spread the word, and get ready to go “All In for Native Plants” on June 8th, 2024. Let’s make this a day to remember!
Many thanks to the Annual Picnic & Meeting Planning Committee: Craig Maxwell and Theresa Morr with Ellen Bird, Sara Byrd, Ed Davis, Carrie DeJaco, Carol Fox, and Jennifer Lee.
Craig Maxwell is the Southern Piedmont Chapter chair and lives in Charlotte. He discovered a passion for native plants during 2020 and has been working towards a native garden certification and certificate of native plant studies ever since. In addition to organizing chapter events, Craig spends his free time hiking, kayaking, and helping friends convert their yards into native plant communities.
Theresa Morr, former North Carolina Native Plant Society secretary, is a member of the Southern Piedmont Chapter. Passionate about environmental stewardship, she has volunteered for a number of years with the NCNPS. She earned a certification in the Native Plant Studies program of the UNC Charlotte Botanical Gardens and was a volunteer with the North Carolina Wildlife Federation, serving as a chapter chair and as a habitat steward. Her home property is designated as a NCNPS Native Plant Habitat and a Backyard Wildlife Habitat.