Opportunities 
for the Citizen Scientist 

Okay — you have rethought your home 
landscape and removed noxious non-native 
species. You have planted native and near- 
native species and shared your enthusiasm 
with neighbors. What’s next? Here are 
four suggestions for ways to deepen your 
involvement with the Indiana flora and learn 
more about nature with the whole family. 
Plant Photographic Scavenger Hunt: 
This INPS supported effort was highlighted in 
the spring issue of the Journal. Nonetheless a 
reminder is timely since the project continues 
until somewhat after killing frosts. Participants 
are asked to photo document plants in 
their “ecoregion” by studying the Hunt 
Lists and the detailed information at httos:/ 
herbarium.bio.indiana.edu. Submit your best 
photos and enjoy seeing them on the www. 
midwestherbaria.org data portal. 
The Great Sunflower Project: According 
to their website at www.greatsunflower.org, 
“People all over the country are collecting 
data on pollinators in their yards, gardens, 
schools, and parks. Together, we take counts 
of the number and types of pollinators 
visiting plants (especially sunflowers). Over 
the past few years, scientific studies have 
suggested that both honey bee and native 
bee populations are in trouble. What we don't 
know is how this is affecting pollination of 
our gardens, crops, and wild lands. In 2008, 
we started this project as a way to gather 

Where? — continued from left 
determining if a plant species is known from your 
area, and this is only an introduction to what you 
can do with the site. Previously Kay Yatskievych’s 
Field Guide to Indiana Wildflowers was my 
primary source for identification and determining 
if a plant was native, and while this is a book 
everyone should have, | now find myself checking 
the Midwest Herbaria on a regular basis. The two 
make a powerful combination! 
Howard Webb has a remarkable front yard 
prairie, a “requirement” of karst restrictions. He is 
a member of the South Central Chapter of INPS. 

information about our urban, suburban, and 
rural bee populations and to give you the 
tools to learn about what is happening with 
the pollinators in your yard.” 
You likely have watched various pollinators 
working in your yard. This website provides 
tools for their identification. This includes 
to participants free, downloadable bee 
identification cards and observer booklets. 
Indiana Phenology: “Phenology is nature’s 
calendar — when cherry trees bloom, when 
a robin builds its nest, and when leaves 
turn color in fall. Timing is critical: birds 
time their nesting so that eggs hatch when 
insects are available and insect emergence 
is often synchronized with leafing out of host 
plants.” According to their website at www. 
indianaphenology.org/home “changes in 
phenological events like flowering and animal 
migration are among the most sensitive 
biological responses to climate change. 
Across the world, many spring events are 
occurring earlier, and fall events are 
happening later, than they did in 
the past. However, not all species 
are changing at the same rate or 
direction, leading to mismatches. 
How plants and animals respond 
can help us predict whether their 
populations will grow or shrink, 
making phenology a ‘leading 
indicator’ of climate change impacts.” | 
This is an excellent way to engage 
the younger members of your family! 

Report IN: Have you discovered 
a cluster of invasive plants in your 
area? Share information about 
your sighting via Report IN, an interactive 
Black swallow-wort 
(Cynanchum louiseae) 
program that compiles citizen reports is among the top 20 
of invasive species around the state. new invasive species 
The program is built upon EDDMapS, a being tracked. 
simple, interactive Web interface that lets 
you submit your observations and view 
results through interactive queries into the 
EDDMapS database. Learn more about this 
effort by visiting our INPS website www. 
indiananativeplants. org/invasive-plants/ 
reporting-an-invasive-plant-sighting/. 
Summer 2021 « Indiana Native Plant Society + 7 
yOOUUJoY [Ned 
