New England Wild Flower Society honored Christopher Mattrick of Campton, New Hampshire with the 2007 Conservation Award, given to an individual or a group for outstanding achievement in furthering the conservation of temperate North American plants and their habitats throughout the New England Region. The Society is America's oldest plant conservation institution, and an innovative leader in work with rare plants, invasive plants, and volunteer programs. Society Overseer Jane Goedecke presented the award to Mattrick describing him as a "botanist's botanist."  She thanked him for his efforts, resulting in the Society's Plant Conservation Programs receiving national and international acclaim for their excellence and effectiveness.  "Mattrick's leadership, enthusiasm, and dedication continue to live in the work of hundreds of volunteers," she said.

Mattrick accepted the award describing Society volunteers as "Courageous Conservationists"  —  those who do good work that needs to be done, even though it might not always be popular. "Thank you to the volunteers, the Society, and to my family for helping me do the right thing." he said. Mattrick's contributions are central in the battle with invasive plant species in New England.  Second only to development, invasive species are the leading cause of loss of biodiversity worldwide, and they present a critical conservation issue, especially in the face of climate change.

Mattrick serves as Forest Botanist for the United States Forest Service of the White Mountain National Forest based in Laconia, New Hampshire, managing thousands of acres of habitat. He led native plant activities at the Society for many years, first as the Rare Plant Curator, co-founding the New England Rare Plant Garden at Garden in the Woods in Framingham,  MA, including the popular “invasive plant jail” exhibit. As Senior Conservation Program Manager and expanded the Society’s Plant Conservation Volunteer (PCV),  resulting in the Society's conservation accomplishments awarded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, among others. Mattrick is co-author of the Society’s Field Manual of Invasive Plants for the Northeast and contributed to extensive articles and website resources on native plants.                                                       

The Society honored Dr. Thomas Vining of Bowdoin, Maine with the 2007 Taylor Education Award, that recognizes an individual or a group for original and significant work that promotes public understanding and appreciation of temperate North American plants.  Vining received the award for providing diversified and high-quality botanical education through the Delta Institute of Natural History, his publications, and collaborations.

Tom Vining has been an inspiring teacher and naturalist throughout his career.  His extensive publication credits include articles for the Bulletin of the Josselyn Botanical Society of Maine, co-author of the Flora of Maine, a Manual for Identification of Native and Naturalized Vascular Plants of Maine with New England Wild Flower Society's Arthur Haines, and Living on the Edge, co-authored with Ruth Grierson, a guide to tide pool animals, seaweeds, and seaside plants, both published by V.F. Thomas Co. In August 2003 Dr. Vining founded the Delta Institute of Natural History in Bowdoin, Maine, on the principle that environmental protection and enjoyment of nature is enhanced with a greater knowledge of its diverse interrelationships. A talented and generous collaborator, and willingly offers the Institute's facilities to many nature organizations for their meetings, and continues to teach on a volunteer basis at other New England institutions providing engaging, well-researched, and humor-filled expertise.

The Nauset Garden Club of Cape Cod received the Homer Lucas Award for Public Gardens for creating and maintaining the Lyn Peabody Wildflower Gardens, a lovely naturalized garden promoting native flora, located on the grounds of the Museum of Natural History in Brewster, Massachusetts.  The award recognizes exceptional achievements in landscapes for public enjoyment that display wildflowers or other temperate North American native plants for aesthetic and educational benefit, with excellence of design and maintenance in all seasons.

 "I was blown away" said Dana Jost, Honorary Trustee of the Society and co-chair of the award with Betty Jost. Virginia Baker and Mary Finem of the Club accepted the award saying, "The garden became a living memorial to all who have worked there with plantings dedicated to them.  It captures the hearts, minds, and energy of dozens of women of the Nauset Garden Club.  A favorite time is when the spring ephemerals are in bloom and the sunlight pours through the trees, and the sight of bloodroot and trillium are very welcome." The club is a member of the National Garden Clubs of America, celebrating the theme of native plants under the presidency of Barbara May, National President from Wayland, Massachusetts.

For more information about the awards, or to nominate an individual or group for the 2008 awards, contact Karen Pierce at kpierce@newenglandwild.org. Phone 508-877-7630 or TTY 508-877-6553.    ---