Scarlet Rose Mallow (Hibiscus coccineus)  The flower pictured is from a plant purchased last fall at the Arkansas Native Plant Society (ANPS) Native Plant Auction.  If you are looking for native plants that are hard to find, this is the place for you!  Picture by Mike Weatherford

ARKANSAS NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY
FALL 2014 MEETING & PLANT AUCTION
October 10-12, 2014
TEXARKANA, ARKANSAS

The fall meeting of the Arkansas Native Plant Society (ANPS) will be held in Texarkana, Arkansas with field trips to surrounding parks and natural areas. Please plan to join us as we tour some of the unique habitats of the West Gulf Coastal Plain, including chalk woodlands, blackland prairies, and sandhills.

HOTEL AND MEETING LOCATION

Holiday Inn Express and Suites Hotel Texarkana East
5210 Crossroads Pkwy, Texarkana, AR 71854
Phone: (870) 216-0083   http://www.texarkanaeasthotel.com

ANPS has reserved a block of 30 rooms (25 double queens and 5 kings) at the reduced rate of $89.00 plus tax per night. This rate includes high-speed wireless internet and a hot breakfast each morning. Reservations must be received by September 26, 2014 to guarantee the reduced rate. Be sure to mention that you are attending the Arkansas Native Plant Society meeting when making your reservation.

Several other hotels are located in the immediate area, including:

Comfort Suites – (870) 216-8084
Hampton Inn – (870) 774-4267
Best Western Plus – (870) 774-1534

Meals: Potluck snacks will be offered on Friday and Saturday evenings. Drinks will be provided by ANPS. Please feel free to bring a dish or snack to share. All other meals are on your own. Texarkana has many restaurant options, including well-known local spots such as Bryce’s Cafeteria and Cattleman’s Steakhouse, and a couple large grocery stores near the hotel.

Some notes about the field trips:  We will provide full information about field trip locations on Friday evening.

Some of the prospective field trips are located in areas that have very few restaurant options. You may want to come prepared with lunch supplies in case we aren’t able to find a place to eat between the morning and afternoon walks on Saturday.

AGENDA

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10

5:30-7:00 pm: REGISTRATION   Public Welcome.   Not a member yet?  For more information about being a member of the Arkansas Native Plant Society click here.

Registration costs $5.00 per person and occurs in the Newcrest Meeting Room of the Holiday Inn and Suites.   (No preregistration is required.)

Sign-up sheets for Saturday and Sunday field trips will also be available, along with descriptions of each trip.

7:00 pm: NATIVE PLANT AUCTION

The fall meeting begins with the annual native plant auction, which raises funds for our scholarships and grants program. This informal and fun auction features native plants grown by our members. Items such as books, seeds, plant presses, jams and jellies, and crafts are also often included in the auction. If you have something to donate, please bring it with you and give it to one of the meeting organizers to add to the auction.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 11

8:30 A.M.  Field trips depart from the hotel parking lot.

7:00 P.M: EVENING PROGRAM

Theo Witsell, botanist with the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission, will talk on the subject, “Habitats and Rare Plants of Southwest Arkansas”.

Business Meeting will follow the evening presentation.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 12

8:30 A.M.  Field trips depart from the hotel parking lot.

ANPS Shirts:  Remember, shirts are only available for sale at the spring and fall meetings.  Please do not ask to reserve one or that we mail you one.  We can’t.  For more information about the ANPS Shirts, click here.  (See website under About.)

Questions?  Contact Jennifer Ogle at ranunculus73@gmail.com and 479-957-6859.

Please visit our website at http://anps.org