By Chapter Chairs reporting for Native Plant News Spring 2025
Central Coastal Plain Chapter
Central Coastal Plain Chapter hosted their annual Seed Swap & Share and Holiday Social at Shortway Brewery in Newport where 25 attendees had the choice of 81 seed varieties! Leftover seeds were shared with local Master Gardener groups. Dell Hagwood and Michelle Fitzpatrick planned and coordinated the Seed Swap. Chapter Co-leader Carol Peoples and other chapter members gave presentations to Onslow County Master Gardeners and other Master Gardener groups.
Oconee Bell Chapter
Oconee Bell Chapter members represent the NC Native Plant Society at recent events that included a hands-on seed-gathering workshop in partnership with Highlands Cashiers Land Trust on trust property McKinney Meadows. Future meetings with the Land Trust will inform property owners impacted by numerous landslides from Hurricane Helene. Chapter members will distribute handouts and show Oconee Bell social media videos that will also be shared as future YouTube posts. A reference to the United States Geological Survey (USGS) Landslide Observation Dashboard will be available.
Reid (Triangle) Chapter
Margaret Reid Chapter. Winter months with chapter members took us outdoors for our holiday social at the Reid Garden and on field trips. Along the Eno River, we learned about geology, flood history and winter tree identification from Pete Schubert. At Horseshoe Farm Park Nature Preserve in Raleigh we looked at organisms large and small, and guide Tracy Feldman showed us an insect-induced gall on a goldenrod stem.
Southern Piedmont Chapter
Southern Piedmont Chapter. Volunteers at Barton Creek Meadow pull invasive species, pick up trash, and treat Autumn Olive (Elaeagnus umbellata), which is ranked a Severe Threat in North Carolina and more states. An initial native meadow planting is completed by Southern Piedmont Chapter members, University City Partners and University of North Carolina Charlotte Botanical Gardens. The chapter’s Annual Seed Share benefits from diligent work of seed collectors; leftover packets were sent to several NCNPS mountain chapters. The 2024 Annual Seed Share turnout was the chapter’s largest yet, with many first-time attendees. Beth Davis receives the NCNPS President’s Award for Service for her long-term outstanding efforts to further the mission and purpose of the Society.