On Dec. 11, 2020, KNPS held our first virtual membership meeting and botanical symposium. For several years, KNPS has organized a botanical symposium in the fall with a goal of bringing together professionals, citizen scientists, academics, gardeners and students in order to learn about what’s going on in the world of Kentucky Botany. Despite the pandemic year, we thought it was important to continue this event.
We had over 120 people join us online for several hours of informative presentations and interesting discussions. We know that many people wanted to join us but were unable to for various reasons. Here are all of the presentations.
Keynote Address:
The Flora of the Southeastern United States – its Evolution, Exploration, and Conservation
Dr. Alan Weakley
Alan is the Director, UNC Herbarium (NCU), North Carolina Botanical Gardens, as well as Adjunct Associate Professor, Department of Biology and Ecology, Environment, and Energy Program, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. More about Dr. Weakley
State of Kentucky Plant Conservation and KNPS Updates.
Jen Koslow, Tara Littlefield, Nick Koenig, & Jeff Nelson
Jen is an Associate Professor in Biological Sciences at Eastern Kentucky University specializing in plant ecology. Tara is the Rare Plant Program Manager & Botanist in the Plant Conservation Section of the Office of Kentucky Nature Preserves, as well as the KNPS President. Nick is a student at EKU and KNPS Ladyslipper Associate Editor. Jeff is a KNPS Board member and a life long amateur naturalist.
Inventory, Monitoring and Management of Rare Plants and Communities in State Nature Preserves and Natural Areas
Devin Rodgers
Devin is a Botanist with the Plant Conservation Section of the Office of Kentucky Nature Preserves.
Remnant Grasslands and Pollinator Habitat Along Kentucky’s Roadsides
Tony Romano
Tony is a Botanist with the Plant Conservation Section of the Office of Kentucky Nature Preserves.
Native Plant Propagation Projects
Emily Ellingson & Heidi Braunreiter
Emily is the Curator and Native Plants Collection Manager at The Arboretum: State Botanical Garden and a KNPS Board member. Heidi is a Botanist with the Plant Conservation Section of the Office of Kentucky State Nature Preserves and Vice President of KNPS.
Exciting Kentucky Botanical Discoveries
Mason Brock & Tara Littlefield
Mason is the Herbarium Collections Manager at Austin Peay State University, Clarksville Tennessee. Tara is the Rare Plant Program Manager & Botanist in the Plant Conservation Section of the Office of Kentucky Nature Preserves and President of KNPS.