Photo by Randy Hope

The Potomac Valley Audubon Society welcomes Larry Stritch, former National Botanist for the US Forest Service!

SCHEDULE

• 6:30 PM: Social time with light refreshments. In order to reduce waste, we are asking that people bring their own mugs. 
• 7:00 PM: Presentation begins!
• 8:00 PM: Approximate end of the program – though it may last longer depending on questions and discussion!

PVMN Continuing Education Eligible

This in-person program is free and open to the public. All ages are welcome to attend.
We will also be offering this program virtually! Here is the Zoom link so you can join in from home. If you are not able to attend live, in-person, or virtually, you can view a recording of the Monthly Program presentation later! We typically post the recording within several days.

Presentation Description – As springtime gardening season (and the native plant sale!) approaches, learn about native plants, pollinators, and how to develop a plan for a pollinator garden/meadow from Larry Stritch, the former National Botanist for the US Forest Service!

What does it mean for a plant to be “native?” Who are the pollinators in the Eastern Panhandle and in Washington County, MD? After addressing these topics, Larry will move into a discussion about what native plants do for pollinators and how to develop a plan for a native plant pollinator garden/meadow. He will share the story of how he and Penny planned, constructed, and planted the meadow and native plant garden at their home. He will also discuss what needs to be done outside the growing season for pollinators and other insects to survive and thrive in winter.

About the Presenter:

I began learning about gardening from my mother and grandfather as a young child. In 1985 I graduated with a Ph.D. in botany from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. I then went to work for the Illinois Department of Conservation in a natural heritage program. In late 1988 I went to work with the US Forest Service as the Forest Botanist on the Shawnee National Forest. Later I became the Regional Botanist, Eastern Region. The Regional Forester assigned me to be his lead on the conversion of the Joliet Army Ammunition Plant to become the Nation’s first national prairie. The Illinois Conservation Act of 1995 became Law in February 1996. The Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie was created. In 1998, I became the National Botanist for the Forest Service. There are two projects that I am extremely proud of. One is the native plant policy, FSM 2070. As of today it is still the only official native plant policy of a federal agency. Secondly was my work on pollinators including the Monarch Federal Interagency Task Force, USDA Policy Task Force and finally I was appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture to be the USDA member of President Obama’s Pollinator Health Task Force. Out of this PHTF, on May 19, 2015, President Obama issued the “National Strategy to Promote the Health of Honey Bees and Other Pollinators.” I retired from the US Forest Service in March, 2016. Penny and I enjoy gardening, our membership in PVAS and other nature activities.