Celebrating Wildflowers
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Plant of the Week: Bristly Sarsaparilla
This shrubby member of the ginseng family (Araliaceae) is found across the northeastern portion of North America. Read more about bristly sarsaparilla…
Pollinator of the Month: Franklin’s Bumble Bee
Franklin's bumble bee holds the distinction of having the narrowest distribution of any bumble bee in the world. Read more about the Franklin’s bumble bee…
Beauty of It All: Terrific Trilliums
Trilliums hold a special place in the hearts of naturalists, botanists, horticulturalists, and outdoorsmen and outdoorswomen worldwide. Read more about trilliums…
Ethnobotany…plants sustaining people
Ethnobotany is the study of how people of a particular culture and region make use of indigenous (native) plants. Read more about ethnobotany…
Explore Rare Plants on our National Forests and Grasslands
“Caring for the land and serving people”, the mission of the U.S. Forest Service, means caring for rare plants and their habitats, and helping people learn about these special plants on our national forests and grasslands. Read more about rare plants….
Forest Service Regions
The nine Forest Service regions are broad geographic areas, usually including several states, encompassing 155 National Forests and 20 National Grasslands. These lands include a vast treasure of diverse landscapes, ecosystems, fauna, and flora. Explore the wildflowers of the Forest Service's Regions….
Welcome!
Celebrating Wildflowers is dedicated to the enjoyment of the thousands of wildflowers growing on our national forests and grasslands, and to educating the public about the many values of native plants.
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Celebrating Wildflowers News
Monarch Conservation Webinar - Urban Monarch Butterfly Conservation
Posted August 21, 2019
Please join us for next week's Monarch Conservation Webinar, Tuesday, August 27th at 2PM EDT (1pm Central, 12pm Mountain, 11am Pacific).
We often think of urban areas as dead zones for wildlife habitat. However, cities can play a surprising role in conserving monarchs and pollinators. In this webinar, we'll hear success stories and how you can get involved in conserving monarchs in cities from the Field Museum's Urban Monarch Conservation program, the Million Pollinator Garden Challenge, and the National Wildlife Federation's Mayor's Monarch Pledge.
Conserving Rare Oak Species in the United States
Posted August 5, 2019
With support from the USDA Forest Service, The Morton Arboretum and Botanic Gardens Conservation International United States, have just published a comprehensive Conservation Gap Analysis of Native U.S. Oaks. Results from the analysis provide natural resource land managers and botanical gardens with a roadmap for implementing the crucially important conservation actions necessary to protect rare U.S. oak species.
Oaks are critical to the health and function of forest and shrubland ecosystems in the United States, providing valuable habitat for pollinators and food for birds and mammals. However, many native oaks are threatened with extinction in the wild by such factors as climate change, fire suppression, urban development and pests/pathogens.
Learn more about conserving rare oak species…
Illinois Coalition Unveils Comprehensive Mowing Guide
Posted June 24, 2019
Pollinators, the busy bees behind the scenes, are essential for sustainability of our ecosystems and natural resources. A coalition of scientists and eleven organizations and agencies in Illinois have developed a mowing resource to help Illinois residents and land managers provide food for pollinators, who in turn do the same for us.
Learn more about "Mowing on the Farm"…
USDA Proclamations - National Pollinators Week and National Grasslands Week
Posted June 19, 2019
The Secretary of Agriculture of the United States, Sonny Perdue, proclaimed the week of June 17 - 23, 2019, as National Pollinator Week (PDF) and the week of June 16 - 22, 2019, as National Grasslands Week (PDF).
Forest Service Sponsoring an Event to Highlight Pollinators
Posted June 13, 2019
In celebration of Pollinator Week, the Ouachita National Forest and its partners are holding the annual Bees, Bugs and Butterflies Pollinator event in Hot Springs, Arkansas, June 20.
The event, which highlights the important contribution pollinators make to the world’s ecosystems, will take place at the Arlington Lawn in downtown Hot Springs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
“During National Pollinator Week, we want to provide information to the public on how pollinating species enable them to enjoy the state’s diverse wildlife, along with their favorite fruits and vegetables,” said Susan Hooks, Ouachita National Forest botanist. “Many plants need to be pollinated in order to produce food for wildlife and humans.”
Read more about the pollinator event in Arkansas…
Pollinator Week - June 17-23, 2019
Posted June 12, 2019
National Pollinator Week is a time to celebrate pollinators and spread the word about what you can do to protect them.
Twelve years ago the U.S. Senate’s unanimous approval and designation of a week in June as “National Pollinator Week” marked a necessary step toward addressing the urgent issue of declining pollinator populations. Pollinator Week has now grown into an international celebration of the valuable ecosystem services provided by bees, birds, butterflies, bats and beetles.
Pollinator Week was initiated and is managed by the Pollinator Partnership. See the Pollinator Week web page…