On Sunday, November 2, 2008, New England Wild Flower Society’ Board of Trustees held its Annual Meeting at Garden in the Woods, 180 Hemenway Road, Framingham, MA, and elected three First Term Trustees (Marjorie Greville, Patrick M. Tynan, and Carrie Waterman), three Renewing Overseers (Betsy Madsen, George McCully, and Terry Wiechmann), nine First Term Overseers (Ruah Donnelly, Rob Held, Jo-Ann Lovejoy, Michele Mittelman, John F. Page, Anne Serrell-Jones, Tony Wain, Robin Wilkerson, and Richard S. Wood) and announced its 2008 Outstanding Achievement Awards. 

Dr. Elizabeth Farnsworth, research botanist, spoke to the attendees about the work of New England Wild Flower Society with the Online Flora. Dr. Farnsworth saw this exciting work building curiosity and enthusiasm in making botany up-close and personal among a growing future generation of botanists.

The Society presented 12 awards to organizations and individuals that demonstrated creative vision and exceptional achievement in furthering the goals of New England Wild Flower Society to conserve native plants and their habitats.

One of two Awards for Outstanding Service to the Society went (posthumously) to the late Dr. Marylee Everett for many years of invaluable service to the PCV program and its precursor, and for superior dedication to the Society’s Conservation Department as a weekly volunteer. The second Outstanding Service Award was presented to Gwen Collins for 14 years of enthusiastic volunteer service to New England Wild Flower Society at Garden in the Woods, including membership outreach and children’s education. 

The Conservation Award went to Dr. James Wickis for outstanding service to plant conservation in several New England states, completing United States Geological Survey quad surveys with meticulous detail, and working as an inspiring, good-humored Invasive Plant Atlas of New England (IPANE) and Plant Conservation Volunteer (PCV).

The Education Award was given to Project Native in Housatonic, MA for inspiring new and experienced gardeners to plant local natives, for collaborating to restore native landscapes, and educational publications and programs that reach beyond the region. The Kathryn S. Taylor Award for a Private Garden was presented to Ken Cleaves’ Garden “Shleppinghurst”, Lincolnville, ME, for outstanding transformation of a former quarry into a picturesque, lovingly maintained sanctuary, using hardy native plants in traditional and unusual ways that artfully blend into their surroundings.

The Society accorded The Homer Lucas Public Landscape Award to The Edward F. Piela Wildflower Garden at Stanley Park in Westfield, MA, for providing the public with an educational, peaceful oasis, where over 200 wildflowers grow in a well-maintained, natural setting below a canopy of towering pine trees. 

Each New England state had its own award winner. The Connecticut State Award went to Michael Nadeau for educating the public about organic landscaping methods, designing with natives, and the dangers of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers through his work with Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA), Ecological Landscaping Association (ELA), and Plantscapes Organics. Jill Weber received the Maine State Award for two decades of tireless efforts to inventory natural resources, rare plants, and invasive species throughout the state, and for numerous botanical contributions to local, state, and federal organizations.

The Massachusetts State Award went to Melissa Dow Cullina for her key role in identifying and mapping rare plant species for the Biomap Project, and for countless hours revising and improving the rare plant list for Massachusetts. The New Hampshire State Award was given to The Fells, Newbury, NH for significant contributions to the preservation of native plants and their habitats through educational programs, plant propagation and sales, and thoughtful stewardship of a special historic property. Peter Lockwood received the Rhode Island State Award for dedicated, extensive, and precise studies of the flora of Rhode Island, leading to the discovery of new rare and endangered species. The Vermont State Award was presented to David Brynn for exemplary and innovative work to conserve and cultivate the forests of Vermont, benefiting private woodland owners and the community at large.

The large audience at the annual meeting welcomed each award winner enthusiastically. Following the awards ceremony, refreshments were served.