President’s Message,
October 2024

Pip[er Lawrence in new venue. D. Burk.
Our September 19, 2024, Chapter meeting speaker, Piper Lawrence, botanist with Chicago Botanical Gardens, talking about the Seeds of Success program that he was involved in, in our area, this past spring and summer. This was our first meeting in the Turtle Bays Nursery Classroom---a gorgeous space with easy accessibility. Photo taken by Don Burk.

October!  Although our field trips and outings are winding down for the season, there is still plenty happening in the Shasta Chapter native plant world!  Our big event, of course, is the Fall 2024 Native Plant Sale this Friday, October 4 (members-only), and Saturday, October 5.  Fall is the best time for planting, so head out to the Shasta College greenhouses and load up on native plants!  

As a mid-month treat, our October 17 Chapter meeting will feature a talk on ethnobotany by Shasta College botany instructor Susannah Fulton.  Be prepared for an interactive evening with a focus on local native plants and lots of samples to examine!  The meeting will begin at 6 PM at our new venue, the Turtle Bay Nursery Classroom building—but show up a bit early for socializing and hopefully some other botanical entertainment.  

40-year cake. L. Burk.
And there was cake! It should have said 41 years, but we lost track… Photo taken at the September 19, 2024, Chapter meeting, by Laurie Burk.

We are also so pleased to welcome our newest Shasta Chapter CNPS Board member, Jeremey Kelley!  Jeremey recently joined our Board as a Member-at-Large, and his contagious enthusiasm is already being felt.  Jeremey gave a short pre-meeting walk at Turtle Bay before our meeting last month, and has tons of ideas to help move our Chapter into the future.  

Jeremey Kelley on Turtle Bay pond walk. R. Morris.
New Member-at-Large Jeremey Kelley leading the September 19, 2024, pre-meeting walk to a created natural pond on Turtle Bay property. Photo taken by Ryan Morris.

Hope to see you soon—at the plant sale, at the Chapter meeting, and out on the trail! ~Don Burk, President