Celebrating Wildflowers News Current Year 2018
December 2018
Holiday Tips: Don’t Spread Forest Pests with Your Christmas Tree
Posted December 17, 2018
Ponderosa Pines covered in snow at Mt Bachelor on the Deschutes National Forest. Photo © Forest Service / Flickr in the Public Domain.
Selecting a Christmas tree and decorating with greenery are popular holiday traditions. Here’s how to have all the fun while ensuring you don’t accidentally spread invasive forest pests. Read more about getting a Christmas tree without spreading invasive forest pests…
“Noble” Christmas Tree Illumines Capitol Hill
Posted December 12, 2018
The public gathers around the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree after being officially lit during Lighting Ceremony on the west lawn of the Capitol Building in Washington DC, December 6, 2018. (Forest Service photo by Cecilio Ricardo).
Forest Service Chief Vicki Christiansen gives a speech during the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony at the Capitol Building in Washington DC, December 6, 2018. (Forest Service photo by Cecilio Ricardo).
With a brief countdown and the flick of a switch the towering U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree, on the West Lawn of Capitol Hill, lit up the dark. Visitors from all across America, who stood in near freezing temperatures beneath the majestic pine, cheered as the tree’s thousands of lights glistened the ornaments made especially for it. This year, the tree was a noble fir from the Willamette National Forest in Oregon.
Read more about the "Noble" Christmas Tree…
Monarch Conservation Partners Meeting Puts Planning into Action
Posted December 6, 2018
This November, more than 160 stakeholders from 100 organizations came together to put planning into action at the Monarch Conservation Partners Meeting, co-hosted by the Monarch Joint Venture (MJV) and the Midwest Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (MAFWA). Partners convened from 30 states to share information and advance implementation goals of the Mid-America Monarch Conservation Strategy and the Monarch Joint Venture.
Read more about putting planning into action…
November 2018
The WAFWA Seeks Public Comment on Draft Monarch Butterfly Conservation Management Plan
Posted November 20, 2018
The Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (WAFWA) is seeking public comment on a draft regional plan to enhance and target monarch butterfly conservation west of the Rocky Mountains. In September 2018, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation awarded a grant to WAFWA to develop a regional strategy to improve coordination and conservation among monarch butterfly and other pollinator partners.
Read more about the WAFWA seeking public comment…
August 2018
Journey North on Twitter
Posted August 30, 2018
#monarchbutterfly resting at overnight roosts on migration; mapping reveals pathways to Mexico #citizenscience #STEAM #phenology https://t.co/JM6evzYeAE pic.twitter.com/GB4NmNZwfA
— Journey North (@journeynorthorg) August 29, 2018
Wings of Hope: Monarchs in the Natural State
Posted August 22, 2018
See this YouTube video produced by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service about monarch butterfly conservation efforts in Arkansas
A Quest to Document the World’s Flowering Plants
BY Matthew L. Miller, Writer for the Nature Conservancy August 14, 2018 | Follow Matthew L.
Chris Davidson and Sharon Christoph seeking plants at The Nature Conservancy's Zumwalt Prairie Preserve. Photo © Tim Tower.
Chris Davidson and Sharon Christoph have been on an epic scientific quest to photograph and document every flowering plant journey on earth. It’s a journey that has taken them to 45 countries, and from the deserts of Namibia to the mountainous, temperate forests of Yunnan. Along the way, they’ve collected plant samples for dozens of herbaria and documented numerous undescribed species.
Read more about the Christoph's on Cool Green Science…
July 2018
Monongahela National Forest Celebrates New Partnership with Green Forests Work and Snowshoe Mountain Resort
Posted July 25, 2018
Volunteers work to plant trees across an open tract of tilled soiled among the mountain forest. Photo US Forest Service.
Green Forests Work, Snowshoe Mountain Resort, and the Monongahela National Forest kicked of their new partnership at the Sharp’s Knob Tree Planting event Saturday, May 19, 2018, in Pocahontas County, West Virginia.
Take a look behind the scenes at one of the Snowshoe Mountain Resort's #foreverwild initiatives, a partnership with the Forest Service, American Chestnut Foundation, Green Forests Work, Office of Surface Mining, and The Nature Conservancy. The Sharp's Knob Restoration Project reclaimed a stripped mountain top by planting native trees and digging the ground to allow water back in and prevent runoff.
Join the 2018 International Monarch Monitoring Blitz to help save the monarch butterfly!
Posted July 18, 2018
From July 28 to August 5, 2018, citizens from Canada, the United States and Mexico are invited to participate in the second International Monarch Monitoring Blitz to help identify the monarch butterfly's breeding sites. Launched for the first time last year, the International Monarch Monitoring Blitz aims to provide a valuable snapshot of monarch population status across the monarch flyway.
View the article on the Monarch Joint Venture website…
Pollinator Program Successes Sprouting Up Across Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest
Posted July 2, 2018
Mount Charleston blue butterfly on Nuttall’s linanthus along the Spring Mountain National Recreation Area’s Bonanza Trail, Nevada. Forest Service photo by Katy Gulley.
The Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest is participating in a national effort to reverse the loss of pollinator species. Although the pollinator program is in its infancy, efforts across the Forest has resulted in the improvement of more than 36,000 acres of habitat in the last two years. Improvements have been made through weed treatments, fuels reduction, and watershed restoration projects.
Read more about the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest's accomplishments…
June 2018
Pollinator Week 2018 - Intermountain Region
Posted June 21, 2018
The USDA Forest Service Intermountain Region, published a special issue of their regional newsletter for Pollinator Week. It features information about pollinators, what they are, their decline, and what you can do to help. Also visit the Intermountain Region's News and Events web page for more pollinator news.
Plant a garden that butterflies, hummingbirds, and bees will love as much as you!
Posted June 21, 2018
The Bee Smart Pollinator Gardener is your comprehensive guide to selecting plants for pollinators specific to your area. Never get caught wondering what plants to buy again!
It is available free on both Android and iOS (iPhone, iPad, iPod) platforms.
Go to the Pollinator Partnership BeeSmart web page…
Maintaining and Improving Habitat for Hummingbirds in Alaska
Posted June 15, 2018
Hummingbirds play an important role in the food web, pollinating a variety of flowering plants, some of which are specifically adapted to pollination by hummingbirds. This guide is intended to help you provide and improve habitat for hummingbirds, as well as for other pollinators. This guide provides brief descriptions of the hummingbirds that occur within Alaska, as well as some basic information about their habitat needs.
See the Alaska hummingbird guide and also see other hummingbird guides for other parts of the United States.
National Pollinator Week, June 18-24, 2018
Posted June 11, 2018
Eleven 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.
Visit the Pollinator Partnership for more information about National Pollinator Week, find events, take action, get a toolkit, graphics, poster, fun facts, and sutff for kids.
Join the 2018 International Monarch Monitoring Blitz to help save the monarch butterfly
Posted June 6, 2018
Photo by Wendy Caldwell.
From July 28 to August 5, 2018, citizens from Canada, the United States and Mexico are invited to participate in the second International Monarch Monitoring Blitz (the Blitz) to help identify the monarch butterfly's breeding sites.
Read more about the monarch monitoring blitz…
May 2018
Webinar - Trees for Bees: Pollinator Habitats in Urban Forests
Posted May 29, 2018
Pollinator nest boxes. Credit: Elizabeth Benton.
The Trees for Bees: Pollinator Habitats in Urban Forests webinar (July 10, 2018) provided Extension Agents with information and resources to promote pollinator habitats in urban and suburban forests. Pollinator habitats are important to all landscapes, including urban and suburban forests. Pollinators need numerous resources in addition to nectar and pollen, such as nesting sites, water, and shelter. The webinar covered pollinator habitat needs and ways to promote pollinators in urban and suburban forests.
You can view this archived webinar now on-demand…
National Wildflowers Week 2018
Posted May 22, 2018
United States Department of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue proclaimed May 20 -26, 2018, as “National Wildflowers Week.” National Wildflowers Week will kick off a season-long festival of events highlighting wildflower appreciation, education, interpretation, and restoration activities. The Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service,the Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Land Management, Fish and Wildlife Service, and National Park Service, along with all of our partners who participate in the Federal Interagency Plant Conservation Alliance, will join together to celebrate the diversity of plants and plant habitats found on the Nation’s public lands.
See the Secretary's proclamation (PDF)…
New Plan Aims to Reverse Monarch Butterfly Decline
Posted May 15, 2018
The Midwest Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (MAFWA) welcomes public comments through May 31, 2018, on a draft conservation plan that provides a blueprint for reversing the decline of the eastern monarch butterfly population.
The Mid-America Monarch Conservation Strategy builds on existing efforts of state, federal, and local agencies and private organizations and individuals. It covers a 16-state region stretching from Texas to the Upper Midwest that encompasses the primary production and migratory habitat areas for eastern monarchs. Other eastern monarch states are also collaborating with the plan
For more information, a copy of the draft strategy, and how to submit comments, please visit the MAFWA website at Mid-America Monarch Conservation Strategy.
New Pollinator Partnership Poster: Pollinators and Seeds
Posted May 9, 2018
A diversity of managed and native pollinators supports healthy wildlands and a nutritious food supply in North America. In turn, native plant communities that sustain pollinators are an essential foundation for ecosystem integrity and diversity.
Rebuilding native plant communities after rangeland fires, the spread of invasive species, hurricanes, floods, and severe drought requires seeds that fit the climate and geography to ensure the species longevity. As we restore and rehabilitate these habitats, pollinator health will increase through a diverse food supply of pollen and nectar. Healthy pollinator populations will ensure productive crops and the food security necessary in the 21st century.
Visit the Pollinator Partnership to see the poster and read more about Pollinators and Seeds…
National Pollinator Garden Network Seeks 300,000 Pollinator Gardens to Reach Goal of One Million Registered Gardens
Posted May 2, 2018
Americans concerned about saving bees, butterflies and other pollinators and their roles in our ecosystems are being asked to #beecounted and help the National Pollinator Garden Network reach one million bee-friendly gardens by National Pollinator Week, June 18-24, 2018. See Monarch Joint Venture News…
By creating, planting and maintaining garden, and registering it on the Million Pollinator Garden Challenge map, Americans can contribute to revitalizing the health of bees, butterflies, birds, bats and other pollinators across the U.S.
April 2018
New Handout! Why Grow and Sell Native Milkweed?
Posted April 23, 2018
The Monarch Joint Venture is pleased to announce the release of a new handout: “Why Grow and Sell Native Milkweed?”
This handout provides the public, gardeners, and plant growers and nurseries with a concise description of the importance of native milkweeds and their value to monarchs and to the plant industry! With tips about overcoming barriers to growing milkweed, resources for further reading and examples of native milkweeds for regions across the U.S., this new handout will be a valuable resource for anyone interested in the native milkweed industry. If you’re not a grower or nursery, consider bringing this resource to your local nursery manager if they aren’t already selling pesticide-free native milkweed!
Journey North on Twitter
Cold temps & north winds holding #monarch migration in place - but next generation growing quickly in warm southern regions. Report your sightings! #citsci #STEAM #phenology https://t.co/a2Rj8JmGTX pic.twitter.com/p5d6hHWOFw
— Journey North (@journeynorthorg) April 4, 2018
Bumble Bee Ecology and Conservation
Posted April 9, 2018
Join the conversation to learn the conservation status of North America's bumble bees (including the federally endangered rusty patched bumble bee, Bombus affinis), threats they face, and conservation measures known to support healthy bee communities.
The Bumble Bee Ecology and Conservation webinar will cover the basics of bumble bee ecology and conservation. Participants will learn the status of North America’s nearly 50 species of bumble bees, the threats they face, and the role that important habitat features and land management play in supporting robust bumble bee communities. Participants will also learn basic identification skills as well as the resources available for a more in depth investigation.
This webinar is presented by the USDA NRCS East National Technology Support Center.
February 2018
Monarch Butterfly and Pollinators Conservation Fund 2018 Funding Opportunity
Posted February 8, 2018
The Monarch Butterfly and Pollinators Conservation Fund accepted applications for competitive grant funding in 2018.
January 2018
New Guidelines for Protecting California’s Butterfly Groves
Posted January 23, 2018
Monarchs Clustering on Eucalyptus at Woodlands Village, Nipomo, CA. Photo: Xerces Society, Carly Voight.
To guide land managers, landowners, and community groups who wish to implement management actions to protect, improve, and restore monarch overwintering habitat, the Xerces Society partnered with Stu Weiss of Creekside Center for Earth Observation to publish Protecting California’s Butterfly Groves: Management Guidelines for Monarch Butterfly Overwintering Habitat.
Read more about new guidelines for protecting California's butterfly groves…
Science on the Prairie
Posted January 5, 2018
In the spring, The Nature Conservancy’s 33,000-acre Zumwalt Prairie Preserve in Oregon is known for its wildflowers like these silky lupine (in purple) and lampstongue ragwort (in yellow) found along Zumwalt-Buckhorn Road. Photo © Aaron Huey.
In the rural ranchlands of far eastern Oregon, scientists are studying wildflowers to learn more about the shrinking prairie. Each year, a team of technicians and volunteers from all over the world make the trek to Zumwalt Prairie in far eastern Oregon to examine the flowers. Since about 2006, teams have studied plots of prairie, identifying species, noting invasive plants and generally monitoring how the landscape changes.
Read more about Science on the Prairie on Cool Green Science, from the Nature Conservancy Magazine…