Events

2026 Annual Meeting and Wildflower Weekend, May 29-31, at Flaming Gorge

2026 Annual Meeting Alert! The 2026 Wyoming Native Plant Society Annual Meeting and Wildflower Weekend will be in and near the Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area, May 29-31 (Friday-Sunday). Activities will be based out of the Fire Hole Canyon Campground, 30 miles south of Rock Springs. Nearby destinations include brilliant cushion plant mosaics of color, and visits to one of Wyoming’s narrow endemics, Green River greenthread (Thelesperma caespitosum). Attendees will also have an option of an extremely deep look at Green River country, with a trona mine tour 1700 feet belowground as an early Friday morning option that will require arriving by Thursday night (May 28). The same Green River Formation that yields trona deep belowground is uplifted above ground and seen in the towering sandstone pillars surrounding the Flaming Gorge with its colorful associated flora. Look for the itinerary, registration and campground reservation information here and in the March newsletter.

 

April is Wyoming Native Plant Month!

Once again, Governor Gordon has proclaimed that April is Wyoming Native Plant Month. We join many other states in this annual celebration to enjoy and appreciate our native flora.  Read the Proclamation here.

Poster Contest Winners!

A drawing of a butterfly and a flower.
Karen Eyre

We are excited to announce the winners of their poster contest celebrating April 2025 as Wyoming Native Plant Month! The contest, open to all Wyoming 6th-8th graders, invited students to create a poster around the theme: “Wyoming Native Plants and Pollinators: Better Together.” We are thrilled with the level of participation and the quality of the posters submitted by all the talented young artists which beautifully showcase the importance of native plants in our state and their vital role in supporting Wyoming’s indispensable pollinators.

A drawing of bees and Indian Paintbrush.
Gloria Phillippi

After reviewing many wonderful and submissions from students across the state, these four winners have been selected:

  • Evelyn Brown (8th gr) from Douglas Middle School, and her teacher, Emily Jensen
  • Harper Davis (6th gr) from Worland Middle School, and her teacher, Jennifer Simmons
  • Karen Eyre (7th gr) from Lyman Intermediate, and her teacher, Kenneth Relei
  • Gloria Phillippi (6th gr) from Douglas Middle school, and her teacher, Emily Jensen

Additionally, Honorable Mentions were awarded to five other talented students reflecting the high level of creativity and engagement in this year’s contest. Honorable Mentions are awarded to the following students:

  • Yaseena Basitkhan (7th) and her teacher, Jennifer Weber

    A drawing of a hummingbird and Indian Paintbrush.
    Evelyn Brown
  • Sara Brooks (7th) and her teacher, Sadie Payne
  • TandiLyn Norcross (8th) and her teacher, Emily Jensen
  • Lincoln Martinson (7th) and his teacher, Jennifer Simmons
  • Sage Polk (7th) and her teacher, Kristi Hibbert
A drawing of flowers and pollinators.
Harper Davis

The Wyoming Native Plant Society thanks all participants for their efforts in highlighting the importance of native plants to our ecosystem and looks forward to next year’s contest.

These four students, along with their respective teachers, will each receive $250 and the four students will receive their framed poster after it has been displayed in participating libraries throughout Wyoming.

 

The posters can be viewed at these libraries during these months:
Converse Co. (Douglas), June
Niobrara Co. (Lusk), July
Sheridan Co (Sheridan), August
Crook Co. (Sundance). September
Weston Co. (Newcastle), October
Uinta Co. (Lyman), November