• Project No. and Title: WERA1013 - Western Region Evaluation and Introduction of Native Plants
• Dates: 02/21/2025 to 02/21/2025
• Contacts: [Esther E McGinnis]

This authorizes the annual meeting: .
The meeting will be held on 02/21/2025 at virtual. :

Admin Advisor: Darrin Boss (dboss@montana.edu)

WERA-1013: Western Region Evaluation Introduction of Native Plants<br /> 2024 Annual Meeting<br /> February 21, 2025<br /> 12:30 pm central time<br /> Business Meeting<br /> • Welcome and brief introductions from existing members and new members<br /> • Darrin Boss, our Administrative Advisor from Montana State University and Vance Owens our USDA-NIFA representative were not able to join the meeting<br /> • Approval of minutes from 2023<br /> o Jim Klett moves to approve<br /> o Orville Baldos seconds the motion<br /> • Year runs from November 1, 2024 through October 31, 2025<br /> • Efforts to recruit new members; suggestion to recruit JJ Chen from University of Wyoming; possibly recruit from Washington State University and Montana State University<br /> • Listserv communications seem to be working<br /> • Chair Elect, Donald Merhaut, talked about organizing in-person meeting in April or May 2026<br /> o Fly into Ontario, CA <br /> o Meeting centered around Riverside, California<br /> o Visit the Santa Ana Botanical Garden and local nurseries<br /> o Possibility of traveling to the Huntington Botanical Gardens and the Santa Barbara Botanical Gardens<br /> • Colorado State working on plant introductions with Utah State<br /> • Discussed federal funding uncertainties<br /> • Donald Merhaut, University of California-Riverside is the Chair Elect for November 1, 2025 through October 30, 2026<br /> • Nobody volunteered to be nominated to be the incoming chair or secretary due to funding uncertainties<br /> • Professional development opportunities<br /> o International symposium on the ISHS Germplasm of Ornamentals, Fort Collins, Aug. 2025<br /> o American Public Garden Association meeting in Denver, June 2025<br /> o ISHS in Greece<br />  <br /> • Close out the business meeting<br /> o Jim Klett moved to approve<br /> o Brandon Miller seconded<br /> Station Reports<br /> 1:30 PM Jim Klett, Colorado State University, Professor Emeritus<br /> Plant Select<br /> <br /> 1:50 Youping Sun, Utah State University, Associate Professor<br /> Utah Agricultural Experiment Station Annual Report<br /> <br /> 2:10 Orville Baldos, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Associate Researcher<br /> Updates on Native Hawaiian Ornamentals Research<br /> <br /> 2:30 Brandon Miller, University of Minnesota, Assistant Professor<br /> The Resilient Landscape Horticulture Program at the University of Minnesota<br /> <br /> 2:50 Esther McGinnis, North Dakota State University, Associate Professor<br /> Ornamental and Native Grass Evaluation for Rain Garden Environments<br /> <br /> 3:10 Adjourned<br /> <br /> List of Meeting Attendees<br /> • Jim Klett, Colorado State University, Emeritus<br /> • Heidi Kratsch, University of Nevada-Reno<br /> • Orville Baldos, University of Hawaii<br /> • Youping Sun, Utah State University<br /> • Urusula Schuch, University of Arizona-Tucson<br /> • Brandon Miller, University of Minnesota<br /> • Don Merhaut, University of California-Riverside