•The North Carolina Native Plant Society began as the
•North Carolina Wild Flower Preservation Society in 1951 and was the brainchild of Mary Tate Graham of Ramseur, Director of the Sixth District of the Garden Club of North Carolina, and Conner Smith (another woman).
•The Society was incorporated in 1956 as a nonprofit organization
• the Articles of Incorporation were signed by
H.L. Blomquist (Duke University Botany Department Chairman)
Alfred Mordecai (medical doctor and horticulturalist)
H.R. Totten (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Botany Professor)
Lionel Melvin (North Carolina nurseryman and one of the first to recommend using native plants in the home landscape)
Herbert P. Smith (husband of Conner Smith, one of the founders).
•The Society was initially very active in Conservation efforts and Native plant gardens across the state,
Working to conserve habitat for Pyxie moss in the Sandhills and support for the Daniel Boone Botanical Garden in Boone. – A major reason to become incorporated was the ability to acquire land to protect the endangered Pixie Moss. By 1958 the efforts to acquire the land to protect Pixie Moss had fallen through.
•Pixie Moss
•Rare, small flowering plants (not true mosses)
Found only in the Sandhills region, and within that area it has yet to be found in the southern counties of Richmond or Scotland; found only in Moore, Harnett, Hoke, and Cumberland counties. This is a very narrow endemic, found only in NC and adjacent SC, all in the Sandhills region
•By 2000
•The Board recognized
•its small numbers could not respond to the needs across the state and several chapters were formed, including the Charlotte (later Southern Piedmont), Triangle, and Triad chapters. Charlotte was the first new chapter formed. The chapter in Raleigh is the first and original chapter.
•In 2004
•The Society’s name was changed to the North Carolina Native Plant Society to show our interest in and commitment to all native plants, not just wildflowers.
Conservation work in 2014
Northern Oconee bells, Shortiagalacifolia var. brevistyla, is one of North Carolina’s rarest plants . Found only in McDowell County, growing along a few streambanks, is at great risk. Most of you know its close cousin, Shortia galacifolia, found in western NC. 2014 NCNPS Donated $3000 to conserve the Carraway Track to protect Shortia galacifolia var. brevistyla.
NCWFPS Celebrates 50th Anniversary Compiled by Charlotte ‘Patterson
It has been 50 years since that first meeting that was held at Mr. and
Mrs. Herbert Smith’s farm in Wilson. The idea began with Mrs. C. A.
Graham, Sr., Director of the Sixth District of the NC Garden Club, who
suggested that a wildflower club be started. Mrs. Smith and Mrs.
Graham made phone calls and wrote those individuals that they felt
would be interested in starting a society.
Since that meeting, the NCWFPS has been a resource for people who are interested in
preserving our natural heritage and for those who are just interested in
the beauty of our native plants. That meeting long ago started one of
the oldest Wild Flower Societies in the country. Well-known and
influential botanists, plant ecologists, and nurserymen helped to start
the Society, including Dr. Roland Totten, Dr. B. W. Wells, Dr. Ritchie Bell,
and Mr. Gordon Butler.
To celebrate our 50th year, we wanted to do something special to
recognize members of the Society who had contributed so much,
especially some of our early officers and trustees. We felt the best way to
do this might be through a series of small celebrations. Small tokens of
appreciation were presented. We presented garden river stones
inscribed with the word “Celebrate” to show our appreciation to a
number of people who had served the Society in various ways over the
years.
Some members of the Society were honored in April 2000, upon the
occasion of our 2000 Spring meeting. We were having our meeting in
the area of their homes. Prior to the Spring 2000 meeting, the writer
represented the Society at a gathering of the Braxton’s friends and
relatives to celebrate Viola Braxton’s birthday. At that birthday
celebration, Mr. and Mrs. Braxton were presented with a garden river
stone and a certificate of recognition. The Society then honored them at
their home with a floating tea as the concluding event of our weekend
activities.
Walter Braxton was president from 1960 to 1962, 1st Vice
President from 1958-60, and was one of the founding members. Viola
Braxton wrote books and educated others about ecological matters in
addition to serving as Editor of the Society newsletter (1960 through
1972). She was Corresponding Secretary from 1956-58. She also
contributed to the production of the first edition of our propagation
handbook (published in 1977). Unfortunately Walter Braxton passed
away in February 6/2001.
We also honored
Emily Allen during the Spring 2000 meeting by
recognizing her contributions to the Society at the Saturday night dinner.
Emily was president of the Society between 1978 and 1982. She also
served as corresponding secretary from 1966-1968, Trustee from 1982-
1986, and has been an ongoing consultant to the board through her
faithful attendance and helpful advice. We visited Emily’s garden for
our Sunday activity during the Spring 2000 meeting, where she proudly
displayed her garden rock for us to see as we entered her garden.
Thirteen additional members were honored during the April 2001
meeting. Although information was often hard to verify and it is certain
that some information is missing, the Committee attempted to list as
many of the honorees’ contributions as possible.
The Society presented the following members with “Celebration” river stones:
C. Ritchie Bell – First director of the NC Botanical Garden, coauthored the Manual of the Vascular Flora of the Carolinas (published 1964 & 1968), specialist in natural hybridization of pitcher plants, helped
to get legislation passed that created the Plant Protection Program under
the NC Department of Agriculture, mentored many native plant
enthusiasts, developed wildflower videos with wife Anne Lindsay.
Ken Moore, Asst; Director at NC Botanical Garden, has been at the
Botanical Garden since its inception. As Pres. of NCWFPS from 1976-
1978, he helped to write the North Carolina Native Plant Propagation
Handbook, organized trips, led trips, contributed articles, set up
programs, organized rescues, helped with zoning fights, started the
Wildflower or the Year and seed collection programs, involved with
Niche Gardens and: Woodlanders and their development of new plants,
and has been an ongoing supporter of the NCWFPS even through his
busy schedule; always providing suggestions, encouragement, and ideas
to help the society grow.
Gretchen Cozart.– Treasurer of NCWFPS for 17 years (1975-1992),
member of the Botanical Garden Board, Has been involved with the
Botanical Garden since its inception and has given many hours of
volunteer time to the Garden and the Society.
Herbert Hechenbleikner – President of the Society form 1968-1970,
worked on the editorial committee for the Propagation Handbook,
organized field trips, started the Van Landingham Glen at UNC-C (a
garden of hybrid and native rhododendrons, and native wildflowers,
ferns, and trees of the Carolinas), retired professor of UNC-C where he
taught for 30 years/ specialist in hybrid rhododendrons, photographed
plants and sought out plants by corresponding with many nurserymen.
Nancy Hillmer – Vice President of the Society between 1988 and 1992
and Programs chair, Trustee between 1994 and 1998, has played many
support roles behind the scenes.
Mercer Hubbard – Editorial committee of the Propagation Handbook,
Editor of the newsletter (1972-1976), Corresponding Secretary (1968-
1972), developed the herb garden at the Botanical Garden .
Nell Lewis – Publicity Chair for the Society between 1968 and 2000,
editorial committee for the Propagation Handbook, has written a
gardening column since 1965 in the Greensboro News and Record
(which she used as a vehicle to promote wildflowers and mentioned the
Society upon occasion), holds many honors in Greensboro including
Greensboro Beautiful Woman of the Year for 1998-99. She designed and
planted the Wildflower Trail in the Greensboro’s Bicentennial Garden
and co-designed and co-planted the Bog Garden. She received several
outstanding service awards from Greensboro Beautiful, NC Agricultural
Extension Service, and Greensboro City Council.
Julie Moore – Vice President of the Society between 1982 and 1988. led
and planned many field trips, was a great connection for the Society
when she worked for Natural Heritage, was guest editor of the Society’s
Propagation Handbook and was a driving force for getting the original
edition completed, has been a consultant to the NCWFPS for many
years and has provided consultation services even when living in
another state.
Ray Noggle – President from 1984-1988, Chair of the Propagation
Handbook committee for many years, has chaired the Scholarship
Committee and continues to provide review services for that committee,
board member of the B. W. Wells Society, retired professor from NC
State
Eleanor Pegg – Founding member of the Society, 1st Vice President
1956 through 1958,President of the Society from 1958 to 1960, 2nd Vice
President/ Membership Chair 1960 through 1962, worked on the
newsletter, Historian for approximately 30 years (from 1963).
Jean Stewart – President of the Society from 1974-1976, Vice President
(1972-1974), Historian (1992-1994), newsletter editorial staff (1982-1994),
Recording Secretary (1966-1970), kept a photo album of Society events,
spent lots of volunteer hours at the Botanical Garden and helped with
the seed propagation project at the Garden, conducted field trips and
rescues, Comments: along with Emily Allen, pioneered wearing pants
at Wild Flower Society meetings; kept seed pods in slide pockets, and
used a mop handle for a walking stick (She said her walking stick was
by” Fuller Brush”). Unfortunately Mrs. Stewart passed away in the
summer of 2000. Her husband, Pearson, who has also been a
tremendous support, accepted the river stone.
Nancy (Teeny) Stronach – Art Editor, Assistant Editor or staff member
of the newsletter between 1972 and 1978, Trustee between 1982 and
1986, Membership Committee chair (1990-1992), Editorial Committee for
the Propagation Handbook, board member of the Botanical Garden,
contributed many hours of volunteer work at the Botanical Garden.
Jane Welshmer – Newsletter editor for 6 years (1988-1994), wrote
many articles related to fern cultivation and propagation for the
newsletter, and served on the Propagation Handbook committee for
many years.
