A non-profit organization to promote the study and conservation of Alaska native plants.
The Alaska Native Plant Society (AKNPS) is a non-profit organization dedicated to studying and conserving Alaska native plants. General membership meetings are open to the public and are held on the first Monday of every month from October through May. Various guest speakers give presentations on topics related to native plants and AKNPS members give informative slide shows, plant family, and mini- botany talks. During our October meeting, members share photos from their summer adventures. See our Recent News to learn about recent activities.
There are numerous volunteer opportunities including leading public hikes, invasive plants control, plantings and cooperative work with other local groups. Local events are listed on the Upcoming Events page.
General Information
The Alaska Native Plant Society was formed in 1982 by a small group of enthusiastic amateur and professional botanists for the purpose of educating Alaskans about their native flora and the growing need for its protection. We accomplish this through:
- Monthly meetings, held on the first Monday of each month, October through May (with occasional exceptions due to holidays), at 7 PM via Zoom and/or in person at the Campbell Creek Science Center in Anchorage. All interested persons are welcome.
- Field Trips, ranging from half day local outings to multi-day excursions throughout Alaska. Some prior trips have been to Kodiak, Seldovia, Chitina / Kennicott, and Denali National Park.
- Displays at local malls during “Celebrating Wildflowers” periods.
- Publication of Borealis, our bi-monthly newsletter for members, October through May.
- Compilation of Alaskan flora references in a bibliography.
- Recommended publications for Alaskans interested in collecting seed and propagating native plants.
- This website which is an ongoing project for which volunteers are welcome.
Recent News
A few spots are available on our Windy Corner field trip, coming up this Sunday (May 18)! RVSPs and a signed waiver are required.
The "Wildflowers of Indianhouse Ridge" self-guided plant hike along Turnagain Arm is now open to the public!
With permission from Chugach State Park, Alaska Native Plant Society volunteers have placed small, temporary markers next to 48 native plants along the lower portion of the Indianhouse Ridge Trail. The markers will be in place until May 21, 2025 and you can view an online checklist of plants here: https://aknps.org/field-guides/wildflowers-of-indianhouse-ridge/.
Can't make it on those dates? An extensive plant checklist and field guide for Indianhouse Ridge is available at https://aknps.org/field-guides/
Directions: This trail begins at Mile 104.5 of the Seward Highway. There is a small, unmarked pullout with room for 4-5 cars.
Questions? Contact Dennis Ronsse at dennis.ronsse@gmail(dot)com.
#AKNativePlantMonth
Alaska State Parks
📷: Phyllis Rogers
Join us for Week 2 of Alaska Native Plant Month! This week's events include the following:
+ Respectful Foraging webinar TODAY @ noon; register at https://alaska.zoom.us/meeting/register/hTL1TXZdRB2e8PH2OwI6Vw
+ Get the Buzz on Pollinators in Alaska webinar Wednesday @ noon; register at https://bit.ly/ANPSpollinators
+ Campbell Creek Science Center Wildflower Garden work party, Saturday, 9-noon; sign up at https://bit.ly/CCSC-Work-Parties
+ Enhancing Pollinator Habitat with Native Alaska Plants, a free workshop in Delta Junction, Saturday, 10-2 (see attached flier)
+ Two native plant walks at the Eagle River Nature Center and two native plant walks at Turnagain Arm (visit our event calendar for trip details: https://sites.google.com/aknps.org/alaska-native-plant-month/event-calendar)
#AKnativeplantmonth
UPCOMING #AKnativeplantmonth workshop (May 27 & 29):
Trees dominate our landscapes and inspire us with their grandeur. They grow to inspiring heights and live to great ages. Yet, they all start from a tiny seed. Do you ever wonder how they grow?
In this two-session Trees to Wood Workshop: How Trees Grow & Wood Properties, we will explore the growth process and learn how the cambium layers make new wood and bark. Students will learn about growth rings, heartwood, and how conifers differ from broadleaf trees. Each tree species produces unique wood characteristics, and we will investigate some of the more common types, mainly oak and pine.
Session 1 (May 27): Introduction to the basics of secondary woody growth (how trees grow, cambium layers including the bark and wood)
Session 2 (May 29): Characteristics of wood (hardness, grain, cuts, and uses). Bring a hand lens, if you have one, writing utensil, and a notebook.
This workshop is taught by AKNPS member Cindy Johnson, a retired biology professor and award-winning instructor, in partnership with the Campbell Creek Science Center.
Learn more/sign up here: https://www.recreation.gov/ticket/10089159/ticket/10253626
NOTE: When you sign up for the first session on May 27, you are automatically signed up for the second session. If there is no “A” on a program date when attempting to select an event date, that means the event is sold out.
We hope to see you tomorrow (Wednesday, May 7) for the first of four sessions in the Alaska Native Plant Month Webinar Series, each Wednesday of the month at noon!
This week, we'll hear from Sarah Jansen of St. Isidore Farm about growing native wildflowers in Interior Alaska. See the flier for details and register here: https://bit.ly/ANPSwildflowers
#aknativeplantmonth
With UAF CES Anchorage Outreach Center, UAF Cooperative Extension Service
Want to learn about how to honor, preserve and protect traditional Native knowledge as it relates to native plants? Curious about Alaska native plants in the Lily family and the medicinal value of willows?
Celebrate #AKnativeplantmonth with us by joining our Alaska Native Plant Society Meeting via Zoom at 7 pm, Monday, May 5. The meeting is open to the public and includes a short business meeting and the following speaker program:
+ Featured Presentation: Honoring, Preserving & Protecting Traditional Native Knowledge and Use of our Plant Relatives, presented by Tia Holley
+ Plant Families: Monocots, Liliaceae (Lily Family), presented by Marianne Batchelder
+ Mini-Botany: Medicinal Plants, Willows, presented by Beth Baker
Our Zoom meeting link is sent to members via email announcement. If you are a non-member who needs the Zoom link, you can join our 'Meeting Link' Facebook group at Meeting Link: Alaska Native Plant Society
