At the November 4th Annual Meeting held at Garden in the Woods headquarters, New England Wild Flower Society honored native plant achievements in conservation and horticulture, including those of distinguished  Massachusetts individuals and organizations.

Elizabeth Kneiper of Weston received the Massachusetts State Award.  This award honors an individual or organization that has done great works in the field of botany or horticulture benefiting a New England State.  Phoebe McCarthy of the awards committee commended Kneiper for expanding the knowledge of lichens through her dynamic teaching and scientific inventories and by providing field experience for amateurs and professionals saying, "She taught us to learn and laugh about lichens."

Kneiper thanked the Society remarking, "The Society took a chance on me and habitat-focused programs introducing people to the language of lichens.  Thank you to New England Wild Flower Society for all your work conserving the plants that also helps to conserve the lichens that grow on them." Kneiper expressed appreciation for the New England Botanical Club and Dr. Donald Pfister of the Harvard University Herbarium who nominated her for this honor.  

Kneiper's work contributes significantly to the knowledge and preservation of lichens and appreciation and awareness of their function as indicators of air quality in habitats. As a gifted teacher, she introduces many people to the fascinating world of lichens, and likes nothing better than to present the subject in enough depth to allow students to continue to pursue the interest independently.    She brings prodigious knowledge and intensity as well as captivating humor to her classes, as she continues to serve on the faculty of New England Wild Flower Society that offers the nation's largest public native plant education program.  She has also taught at Polly Hill Arboretum, the Berkshire Garden Center, and the Arnold Arboretum.  

Kneiper is Curator of the New England Botanical Club Herbarium of Cryptogams and prepares inventories of lichens across habitats, including work for the Nature Conservancy and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. A graduate of Skidmore College, the University of Maryland, and the Harvard University Extension, she was a teaching assistant to the famed naturalist, E.O. Wilson and is a longstanding member of the American Bryological and Lichenological Society.

Ruth Nastuk of Lincoln, Massachusetts was recognized with the Service to the Society Award for years of cheerful and faithful service to the non-living collections of the Society-the library and the Image archive. She began her volunteer career with the Society in 1994, attracted to the peace and beauty of the Garden in the Woods site, and “found her own ecological niche assisting with the Society’s library collections,” described Society Trustee Barbara Pryor, who presented the award.  

“Nastuk appears faithfully each week, welcoming the opportunity to learn.  She is a mainstay of the library committee."  Nastuk thanked the Society saying, “It’s been a pleasure to work here with plant friends and people friends, and I’ve learned a lot, too.  It’s a different type of learning and I expect to go on for years.” 

To nominate an individual or group for next year's awards contact Karen Pierce at kpierce@newenglandwild.org or visit www.newenglandwild.org.   Phone 508-877-7630 or TTY 508-877

6553.