Education and outreach, volunteer activities, restoration work, networking, and much more are some of the many activities that SGI has been involved with this month. Read this newsletter to hear about all our exciting news and announcements, find out about our upcoming events in April, be reminded of our recent blog articles, and find out the hot topics being discussed in our Facebook group.
News and Announcements
Planting and caging royal catchfly in grassland restoration project.
On March 4, Zach Wood, the Georgia Grasslands Coordinator for SGI and the State Botanical Garden of Georgia, conducted an experimental outplanting of Royal Catchfly (Silene regia). The plants were grown by Heather Alley from seeds of the last North Georgia population of this species. These plants are part of a grassland restoration project associated with a river corridor project that all began because of an endangered fish, the Trispot Darter. Zach planted and caged the plants with Joe Kirsch of the US Fish & Wildlife Partners for Private Lands program. This project comes with a 10-year conservation easement and commitment by all partners.
SGI’s new Seeds of Success Director, Marcello De Vitis, Director of Finance & Operations, Layla Dunlap, and Executive Director, Dwayne Estes, visited Roundstone Native Seed to tour their amazing facilities and to discuss continued partnership opportunities on March 5.
Volunteers have begun deadheading, cleaning out thatch, and preparing the Native Plant Teaching and Research Garden at Austin Peay State University for the new growing season.
The Clarksville-based SGI team enjoyed visiting and collaborating with our partners at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia.
On March 12, Jeremy French, Interior Low Plateau Ecoregion Coordinator for SGI and Quail Forever, led a field day for a class from William Penn University. They visited the Dunbar Cave prairie, Guthrie prairie, and Couchville Cedar Glade.
The Clarksville-based SGI team traveled to Athens, GA to visit our partners at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia from March 14 -16. There were many great discussions around our Seeds of Success program, future SGI projects, and grassland and savannah restoration work. The group had the pleasure of visiting with Philip Juras, an exceptional oil painter who captures grasslands in the most natural, beautiful way. Check out his artwork at www.PhilipJuras.com. On the way back home, the group stopped just south of Chattanooga, TN to walk through a savanna remnant where several rare plant species occur. It was a great trip all around!
This year's first Wildflower of the Week video was posted to Facebook on March 16. The video featured cedar gladecress (Leavenworthia stylosa), one of our early blooming, native spring wildflowers that only occurs in the Nashville Basin of central Tennessee.
SGI participated in the conference for the Western Regional Master Gardeners of Tennessee.
Jeremy French, SGI’s and Quail Forever’s Interior Low Plateau Ecoregion Coordinator, was on the Backyard Ecology podcast on March 17. He talked about grasslands and grassland birds in the Eastern U.S. Grassland birds are one of our fastest declining groups of birds, which makes sense given that grasslands are one of our fastest declining habitat types. Conserving our grassland birds means conserving, preserving, and restoring the grassland habitats they depend on.
Jeremy French, Interior Low Plateau Ecoregion Coordinator for SGI and Quail Forever, was recently a guest on the Birdshot Podcast on March 17. He discussed different types of grasslands, the history of Southeastern grasslands, grassland benefits to game birds and other wildlife, challenges and opportunities facing Southeastern grasslands, and much more.
On March 26, the Western Regional Master Gardeners of Tennessee held their annual conference at Liberty Point in Liberty Park, Clarksville. SGI was invited to speak on a bus tour to Dunbar Cave State Park, where we also toured through the restoration site to give the avid gardeners and horticulturists an overview of ecological restoration and conservation highlights. Several key relationships were started with some of the guests and we look forward to working together in several of our workday locations this upcoming season.
Upcoming Events
April 22:
The Cohen Clinic staff and clients are gathering to enjoy their second overview of ecological restoration at our Dunbar Cave Grasslands. The choice of activities includes a continuation of canopy clearing, with an introduction to invasive species management. We will discuss the process involved with the lifecycle of our previously collected seeds, with a clear expectation of reintroducing those seeds this fall. The jewel of this day will be learning to walk out a survey line to seek and record the location of beautiful early spring emergents within the grassy knolls and swales of Dunbar Cave Grasslands. Registration is required.
April 23:
SGI will have an information and education table at the Outdoor Murfreesboro Conservation Days.
SGI and the State Botanical Garden of Georgia will be participating in the Fire Ecology Discovery Day at the South Carolina Botanical Garden.
Recent Blog Articles
5 Most Popular New Discussions this Month from the Southeastern Grasslands Ecology, History, and Biodiversity Facebook Group
Dwayne Estes shared a post about visiting the studio of conservation artist, Philip Juras.
A group member shared an article about how the indigo snake is making a comeback in Alabama.
A group member shared photos of old map reprints which led to a discussion about the historical extent of grasslands in the Southeast.
A member asked about Gifford Pinchot and his opinions about fire.
A member shared pictures from a prescribed fire on his property in Illinois.