Wildflower Workshops in Idabel

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Native plants are part of Oklahoma’s heritage and many organizations, such as the Oklahoma Native Plant Society, work to preserve them for future generations.

Learning about Oklahoma’s native environment and planting natives in our gardens are two ways individuals can participate in preservation. Using native woodland gardens, wetland areas, native trees, grasses and flowers, reduce the amount of work you have to do to keep your surroundings beautiful.

Native plants are easier to grow and maintain than the imports from Europe and Asia because they adapt more easily to our weather extremes and soils. After they are established they require fewer chemicals and water.

These plants support the wildlife native to our area since they are already evolved to live in their shelter. In every area, as more development occurs, natural habitat decreases. The preservation and new planting of natives allows Oklahoma butterflies, birds and other species to survive.

The Oklahoma Native Plant Society is holding its 31st Annual Wildflower Workshop on September 26 and 27 at the Museum of the Red River in Idabel.

The Museum of the Red River has a collection of the world’s finest southeast archeological and historic materials, modern Southwest ceramics, contemporary Amazonian Kuna needlework and pre-Columbian ceramics from Mexico.

Ken and Marilyn Stewart of Wild Things Nursery, Seminole OK will be there Friday offering native plants for sale. Vendors will also include the local wood turners association and a gem and mineral club. Oklahoma Native Plant Society will also have a booth. There will be plant t-shirts and books for sale.

ONPS has arranged a full day of workshops and a plant sale on Friday plus interesting field trips on Saturday.


Friday speakers and Topics

Dennis Wilson, Topic - “Ecologies of McCurtain County”
Wilson is an instructor at Southeastern Oklahoma State University and Research specialist at Oklahoma State University Field and Research Service.
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Berlin Heck - Topic – “Oklahoma Champion Trees of McCurtain County”
Heck is an avid birder, Retired Director of the Little River national Wildlife Refuge. Heck was formerly with National Wildlife Refuges at Great Meadows NWR, Concord, MA. Member of OK Ornithological Society.
Heck will describe the different environments that exist in McCurtain County which are vastly different than some of the other parts of Oklahoma. The Red Slough is a wetland and birding paradise and the pine forests of southeastern Oklahoma are unique.
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Quintus Herron - Topic “A Vision of Nature”
Dean of McCurtain County Foresters and president of Herron Industries, the largest private tree growing company in the country. Quintus and Mary Herron received the OK Governor’s Award for building the Museum of the Red River, providing a $50,000 grant to the McCurtain County Community fund and contributions to the Oklahoma Forest Heritage Center in Beaver’s Bend State Park.

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Lynn Michaels - Topic - “Those Darn Composites: How to Identify members of the sunflower family”.
Michaels is currently working on a degree in environmental conservation at Rogers State University and is Regional Director of Oklahoma Native Plant Society.
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Bruce Hoagland - Topic - "Wildflowers of Mccurtain County" An overview of native plants.
Hoagland is Director of the Oklahoma Natural Heritage Inventory and Department of Geography, University of Oklahoma.
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Dinner speaker Michelle Finch-Walker, topic “Oklahoma’s Forestry History”
Walker is Communications Specialist, Oklahoma Forestry Service, former director of the Oklahoma Forest Heritage Center and serves as fire information officer on Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team.
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Saturday 7:30 a.m. Field trip to Quintus Herron Nature Center and Tiak Southern Coastal Plain Natural Area.

If you go
31st Annual Wildflower Workshop
Museum of the Red River Idabel OK

Sept 26 Speakers 8 a.m. through dinner
Sept 27 Field trips 7:30 a.m. through lunch
Registration form usao.edu/~onps/events.html

Registration $12
Lunch $8, Dinner $12
Field trip $21 includes transportation and lunch

REGISTRATION DEADLINE SEPT 15TH
Mail registration by Sept 15 to Lynn Michael, 9843 E 500 Rd, Claremore OK 74019-1361.
Information 918-381-0219 and 918-744-8001

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