At the VAS Executive Committee meeting, Marion gave a detailed report on the project on behalf of the Flora Committee and Botany Section: there was strong support for the project and Marion was advised to request at the Fall Council Meeting additional funds from a new source of funds ($50,000) the Academy has recently acquired

In late May, Marion met with Alan Weakley in NC and has a copy of the latest draft of his Flora of the Carolinas and Virginia. He is very excited about the Flora of VA Project and is willing to be the primary author of the Flora of Virginia. His work is currently more of a guide without species descriptions or illustrations. It is roughly 95% complete with species and roughly 85% complete on genera and families. He is ready to begin discussions on format and other details for the Flora of Virginia.

In late May, Marion met with Frank Robinson (Executive Director), Holly Shmitzu (Director), and E.K. Rose (volunteer head of the herbarium) at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden in Richmond. These individuals were supportive of the project and had some excellent suggestions regarding fund raising, etc., for the project.

At the VNPS (Virginia Native Plant Society)nn Annual Meeting in early June, Marion presented background on this project to the VNPS Board of Directors and the Board voted unanimously to support this project. At this Board meeting, one Board member stepped forward to make a pledge of her own funds towards the project and assured the support of her chapter. Marion also spoke to VNPS members attending the Annual Meeting’s business meeting. Questionnaires regarding the Flora Project were given out to VNPS members attending the Annual Meeting and a good percentage of these have been completed and returned to Marion. The data from VNPS members’ response to this questionnaire is being compiled and analyzed to provide valuable feedback for the Flora Project. A database of names of VNPS members and other individuals (such as the list of names from the last Botany Section meeting) willing to assist in support this Flora Project is also being compiled and will be added to the names of others who have already responded to the initial questionnaire. Also at the VNPS Annual Meeting, Leo Stoltz, a PWWS member, volunteered to expand the initial questionnaire and has developed the questionnaire form that will be included in the next VNPS Bulletin.

The Virginia Botanical Associates met in mid-June and are still supportive of the project but would like to see more details (

The Board of Directors of State Arboretum of Virginia and the Director of Blandy Experimental Farm (Michael Bowers) are supportive of the project; at the July 12 meeting of the Board, there was a vote of unanimous support for the project; Bowers has given advice on establishing a 501C3 as a nonprofit foundation to carry out this project

The Director (Doug Coleman) and staff of Wintergreen Nature Foundation are supportive of the project; Doug has recently completed a strategic plan for the Foundation as well as a case for support and is will to help in developing these for the Flora Project

The most exciting recent developments to move the Flora Project forward are the identification of both a manager and a professional fund-raiser for the Flora Project. Recently, Chris Ludwig of the Virginia Natural Heritage Program announced that, once funds are raised to support the manager of the Flora Project position on a fulltime professional basis, he would serve in this position. Chris is one of the most respected botanists in Virginia and an excellent manager. Joslin Gallatin, immediate past president of the FOSA Board, is spearheading initial fund-raising activities for the Flora Project and, once sufficient funds are available, will continue in this position on a professional basis. During Joslin’s tenure as FOSA Board president, she was successful in leading Board’s efforts to gain the first-ever Virginia Legislative support for the State Arboretum of Virginia.

Chris Ludwig, Joslin Galatin, and Marion Lobstein plan to meet on August 12 to continue planning for fundraising, strategic plan development, budget, establishing of a 501C3 (nonprofit) foundation, mission statement development, questionnaire development, advisory committee membership ideas, and other details of the Flora Project. Input from the VA Flora Committee will be very important at this meeting. Before this meeting, a list of these topics will be sent out to members of the VA Flora Committee for comment.

Marion has been away (followup at home) teaching her Field Botany class at Blandy the last month. She involved her students in determining what college students would be looking for in keys, descriptions, format, etc., for a Flora of VA. Nicky Staunton, who will be the new president of the Virginia Native Plant Society, was in the class and is very dedicated to ensuring VNPS does all it can to support this project.

Progress on this Flora Project is really happening very quickly and is very exciting. We are going to have a contemporary Flora of Virginia!