Dear Members,
There is no better time to take the helm of the Shasta Chapter of the California Native Plant Society than after a spectacular rainy season ensuring that there will be plenty of plants to showcase and lots to discuss and see in the upcoming months. Those of you reading this are probably sighing with relief that elections are over, you avoided being written in as Secretary, and are now wondering who this new president is.
Fear not, my plant-loving friends, I was you at one time, avoiding the call or eye contact to volunteer for a position on the Executive Board. After serving as a Member-at-Large for four years, I saw the contributions each member brought to the table, their enthusiasm for the Chapter, and most of all their love for all things botanical. When asked if I would be willing to step up and allow Susan Libonati-Barnes to retire as president, I couldn’t say no. Thank you, Susan, now you are free to propagate to your heart’s content. Susan has served as the Chapter’s president for multiple terms. She has done an exceptional job including navigating the Chapter through all things Covid, and I for one will be looking forward to seeing the Propagation Committee’s rows of happy native plants at our upcoming Spring 2023 Native Plant Sale. I feel privileged to volunteer with these dedicated Board members and look forward to meeting all of our members, and making new friends.
The real reason most of us are part of this Chapter is our love of plants, especially native plants. I love certain aspects of the seasons we have here in Redding, but by far, spring is my favorite for the flowers and the extra buzz of activity we enjoy from our pollinators and wildlife. In my yard, we had the usual suspects kicking the spring season off: Henderson’s shooting star (Primula hendersonii), checkered fritillary (Fritillaria affinis), Indian-warrior (Pedicularis densiflora), and white-leaved manzanita (Arctostaphylos viscida), followed now by these adorable fields of popcorn-flower (Plagiobothrys sp.). As I am fortunate to travel for my work, I plan to showcase plant species not only from our area, but other parts of California. We are so lucky to live in a state with such incredible biodiversity!
I am looking forward to seeing you on the trail, at a propagation event, or a Chapter meeting. As a reminder, our Chapter meetings will be in-person for April and May, so come out and join us. And, as the old saying goes, “many hands make light work.” If you are able and willing, we do have some vacancies on the Board: secretary as well as webmaster. We would love to have you on the Board.
Kindest regards,
Amy Henderson, President
