Native Plant Rescue Program
This is a major effort and an integral part of the Georgia Native Plant Society, and it was a motivating factor in the formation of the GNPS. The purpose of the rescue program is to relocate native plants that are in the direct path of development. It is a community effort undertaken with the developer's written permission and with many hours of volunteer labor. Rescued plants go to nature centers, parks, schools, public gardens and backyard habitats
Frequently Asked Questions
Originally prepared by
Jeane Saylor Reeves, Advisor Plant Rescue Program
Who can participate? Any member of the Georgia Native Plant Society can participate in plant rescues. Members may bring a guest with certain restrictions. Check with the lead facilitator on each particular rescue for permission. Children under the age of 14 cannot participate due to liability issues. At each rescue, all participants are required to sign both a hold-harmless agreement and a participation agreement.
May I bring a friend/spouse? Membership in GNPS is a family membership; therefore, your spouse is a member. A friend, if a Georgia resident, can come on a single rescue before joining the GNPS.
Is there any cost to go on the rescues? No, there is no cost (except for sweat equity). Participation is a benefit of membership in GNPS.
How do I learn of rescues? Members are notified of rescues by e-mail. They can also learn of the dates for scheduled rescues in NativeSCAPE, our GNPS newsletter, and they can contact the Rescue Director by telephone or e-mail for further information. Additionally, rescues are listed on the Plant Rescue Schedule page with the descriptive data for each site. The scheduled rescues are usually the first Saturday and third Sunday of each month, except January and July (too cold, too hot). There are also "pop-up" rescues, which are scheduled quickly for various reasons. Members are alerted by e-mail, with at least two days' notice. The pop-up rescues are also posted to the listing of rescues on the web site.
How often can I come? Rescues are open to all members but are usually limited in size to approximately 15 people. When the sign-up list is full, you will be notified and will be placed on a waiting list in case of cancellations.
How are the rescue properties discovered? We learn of potential rescue sites through our members, from newspaper articles, from developers, and from concerned citizens. To proceed with site procurement, we must be given a contact name and a telephone number. When we are notified of potential sites, the sites are checked out prior to beginning the site procurement process.
Where are the rescues? The sites for which we get permission to save plants are usually wooded and are slated to become subdivisions, office parks, even reservoirs. We try to have two or three properties available for each scheduled rescue day. They are most often in the greater metro Atlanta area. At some point, when we have enough trained volunteers, rescues will be offered throughout Georgia.
How long do we stay? Our rescues last about two hours, sometimes less in very cold or hot conditions. If lightning is seen or heard, even distantly, we leave the woods immediately.
What supplies do I need to bring? To carry the plants, we use plastic grocery bags, doubled for strength. (To avoid mix-ups, prior to the rescue, please use a marker pen to add your initials to the bags.) Buckets with handles also work well. Large drawstring garbage bags are good for heavier plants such as shrubs, small trees, or large ferns. You will need a shovel, a hand trowel, or both. These need to be marked with your initials in case they are misplaced. In warm weather, you may want to bring insect repellent and drinking water. Have water available in your vehicle for your rescued plants to help them to survive the shock of being transplanted.
What should I wear? The woods, while beautiful, are often host to poison ivy, ticks, and biting or stinging insects. We recommend long pants, long-sleeved shirts, socks, sturdy shoes, and perhaps a hat.
Will there be someone there to help me? Yes, the rescues are generally a mix of experienced, knowledgeable people and newcomers; men and women; young adults and older ones. You will find that we are happy to share our expertise on plant identification and replanting.
Are the plants we dig going to live? Yes, most likely. Most of them are surprisingly tough, and if given good and proper care, they will thrive when transplanted.
How hard is it? Native plant rescues are not "a walk in the park." They are lots of fun, but also involve climbing steep slopes, crossing creeks, and maneuvering fallen trees. People of all ages join in our rescues, but it's best to be at least somewhat fit. Just carrying heavy bags of plants and damp dirt back to cars can be strenuous.
What will I find? Every site is different, but in general, you will find various wildflowers, ferns and mosses, shrubs such as native azaleas or viburnums, and small trees such as beech, maple, and redbud. Some sites have unusual, special plants, which we are always delighted to find and save from the earthmovers.
Where do all the plants go? The ferns, wildflowers, shrubs and trees we save are given new homes either in GNPS members' home gardens and habitats, or they are transplanted to public facilities and projects of the GNPS, such as nature centers botanical gardens or Master Gardener projects.
Alternately, do I get to keep my plants? While you are not required to give away any of the plants that you dig, occasionally a facilitator will ask or suggest that a small percentage of the plants be donated to a GNPS-aided public garden or project in need of certain native plant material.
Can I come back on my own? NO. The only time you can be on any rescue property is when you are there under the leadership of a trained GNPS facilitator, with the proper forms, on a sanctioned native plant rescue. Otherwise, it is considered trespassing.
Can I sell the plants I find? Again, NO. To make money from the plants that are rescued would be a violation of the generosity and trust the developers place in the GNPS. The only exception is that of the annual GNPS Plant Sale, which is a fundraiser to support the projects of our non-profit organization.
How can I join the Society? There is an application form with the address on the Membership page. Soon after you become a GNPS member, the Rescue Director will be notified of your membership, and you will be contacted via e-mail with a welcoming note, which will describe how the notification system and the rescue program works. You will be so glad you did join GNPS, and not just for the rescues. This is a wonderful group of interesting, bright, caring folks with a challenging mission, and you will fit right in!