<html><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><div>THE CATOCTIN MOUNTAINS: MARYLAND'S BLUE RIDGE</div>Maryland Native Plant Society Annual Conference<div>September 26-27, 2009</div><div>Thurmont Regional Library, 76 E Moser Rd, Thurmont, MD</div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;">Saturday morning</span> speakers:</div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;">Elizabeth Byers</span>, Vegetation Ecologist, WVA Natural Heritage: "HIGH MOUNTAIN FLORA."</div><div><!--StartFragment--><p class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align:justify"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">The world's mountains share remarkably similar ecological
themes, including adaptation to extreme environments, high degrees of endemism,
topographic complexity, and compaction of climatic zones. Looking at the extraordinary plants
that grow on Mt. Everest, Mt. Kenya, Mt. Huascarán, and ending up back home in
the lovely central Appalachians, Elizabeth will highlight some of the threats
to these fragile ecosystems, and explore potential ways to preserve them.</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
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</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;">Woody Bousquet</span>, Chair Env Studies, Shenandoah U: "MARYLAND'S BLUE RIDGE MTS IN THEIR APPALACHIAN CONTEXT."</div><div><br></div><div><!--StartFragment-->
<h3 style="margin-top:4.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left:
0in;text-align:justify;page-break-after:auto;tab-stops:right dotted 207.0pt"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal;">Today's Catoctin flora has been
shaped by geologic history, glacial epochs and its location within the
Appalachian chain. These mountains
serve as corridors and refugia for native plants and animals. Woody will place the Blue Ridge flora
in its Appalachian context by discussing the mountains' formation and
subsequent changes.</span></font><o:p></o:p></h3>
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</div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;">Saturday afternoon and Sunday</span> field trips in the Catoctins and nearby areas.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;">Saturday evening</span> dinner and social.</div><div><br></div><div>Cost: $65 (members); $50 (non-members); $30 for Saturday dinner.</div><div><br></div><div>For more information, see <a href="http://www.mdflora.org">www.mdflora.org</a></div><div><br></div></body></html>