New England Wild Flower Society honored four Maine residents with awards at the November Annual Meeting held at Garden in the Woods headquarters.  The New England Wild Flower Society is dedicated to protection of native North American flora, and the health of natural habitats. 

Charlie Grunden and Barbara A. Grunden of Falmouth received the Maine State Award honoring individuals or organizations that have done great works in the field of botany or horticulture benefiting a New England State. Molly Beard, Society Trustee, presented the award to the Grundens for sharing superb botanical skills and photography expertise far beyond the call of duty during an unprecedented 896 hours as Plant Conservation Volunteers (PCVs) and Invasive Plant Atlas of New England (IPANE) volunteers.

"Biological diversity is a key value with plant conservation and an integral part of our interest," say Barbara and Charlie Grunden. Both participated in the Society's award-winning Plant Conservation Volunteer program since its inception and have seen new rare plant occurrences, providing reports that are the model of clarity and completeness.

The Grundens thanked the Society saying, “We applaud New England Wild Flower Society and current and former staff like Chris Mattrick, John Burns, Ted Elliman, and the marvelous support of those in the fellowship program like Aaron Marcus and Hannah Vollmer."  In addition to their work as PCV and IPANE volunteers working with conservation action with rare plants and invasive plants, they also serve as Friends of the University of Maine Herbarium, and volunteer for the Delta Institute Herbarium.