Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

" Minutes of the 2011 meeting were reviewed and approved unanimously. Bret Hess was excused from the meeting. " Termination report: there is a requirement to complete a termination report and submit a renewal proposal. Genhua Niu will prepare the draft of the termination report. " Renewal Application: Since the project will expire soon, Tracy Dougher, Heidi Kratsch, and Larry Rupp agreed to prepare the renewal application. The direction of future project and objectives were discussed. " Discussion on research: The group discussed the future funding opportunities and research activities. Potential funding agencies and possible future activities were listed by the group. But the group did not come up with a decision on what and where to submit proposals or what type of future research activities to pursue at this time. " Proceedings: Steve Love and Mike Stevens will continue to compile the proceedings of the annual meeting (a summary of the activity presentations). " Future Meeting Locations: next years meeting locations will be held in Reno, Nevada for 2013 and Salt Lake City, Utah for 2014. " Election: Larry Rupp will be chair and Genhua Niu will be chair-elect for 2013.

The initial objectives of WERA1013 were to: 1. Establish a regional system for development, evaluation, and introduction of new native plant materials and cultivars, especially plants that facilitate water conservation. Several research projects were initiated in each of the respective regions while collaborations were established across the region. Research projects included, evaluation of Idaho fescue for turf applications, evaluation of fine fescues for turf applications, completion of a five-year trial of the shrub species Dirca with ongoing work on the genetics and ecology of the shrub, shrub congeners from eastern and western North America in the genera Ptelea and Sambucus, salinity tolerance of native plants for low quality water used for irrigation, identification and clonal propagation of Acer grandidentatum, and development of seed-propagated Epilobium canum. Coordinated efforts at development and evaluations occurred across IA, CO, UT, ID, NV, and MT. Approximately 500 accessions of native plants, representing over 300 species, were evaluated for performance as low-water landscape specimens across the intermountain west. Approximately 150 superior selections of native plants were established into seed increase and propagation blocks. Exchange of plant material occurred between several of these states. Recommendations and selections have been released throughout the intermountain west through the Colorado Plant Select program and the Idaho partnership established with Conservation Seeding and Restoration, an Idaho-based native plant nursery. 2. Coordinate regional efforts to provide education to both the public and industry professionals on native plant propagation/production, water conservation benefits and use in ornamental landscapes, and maintenance of native-plant-dominated ornamental landscapes for efficiency of water use. Since 2010, the University of Wyoming has been hosting the official web site (http://www.uwyo.edu/wera1013/) for the WERA1013 Native Plants project with a title of Native Plants for the Intermountain West. We have requested a change in the url for the page since few people would know to look for wera1013. Over the last year the plant list has grown to include 32 native species. Information on each species includes common and Latin names, descriptions, cultural requirements, and landscape values. It also includes a list of native plant growers in 10 western states (AZ, CA, CO, ID, MT, NV, NM, OR, UT, WY). Unfortunately, the number of hits the website received is not known. UW completely revamped its web sites in early October 2012 and the numbers are not available. An e-journal was developed for publication of our respective findings on the website. Throughout the intermountain west, WERA1013 experts addressed various native plant production, design, and planting issues in presentations to a range of groups from homeowners to landscape designers to growers. A coordinated exchange of experts reached growers and designers at the Idaho Horticulture Expo, Idaho Nursery and Landscape Association, Wyoming Growers Conference, Montana Nursery and Landscape Association, ProGreen Expo in Denver, CO, Southern Nursery Association Research Conference, American Society for Horticulture Sciences. Education within each state also occurred locally at nurseries, retirement communities, master gardeners, native plant societies, schools, and garden clubs. Native plants were incorporated into Master Gardener programs in NV and MT with classes on water-efficient landscapes and participation in research on native plants. Master Gardener volunteers were organized and educated in maintaining and collecting data and seed of the native perennial research/demonstration gardens. Plant recommendations were distributed to several local conservation districts. Short-term Outcomes: 1. Increased knowledge about the reliability and regional adaptability of native plant materials targeted for use in water-conserving landscapes. Evaluation gardens and green roofs have been established in several of the intermountain states (UT, ID, MT, WY, NV) providing valuable information on reliability and adaptability. Native plant information on the WERA 1013 website benefitted consumers through knowledge of plant availability and general care requirements. Higher success rate in growing plants on the consumer end resulted in decreased costs to them for replacement plants. Scientifically, researchers on this project have provided more information on the limits of several species for landscape use and hybrids and accessions are being distributed to growers. Information on these species are available through our scientific publications. 2. Opening of new regional markets for native plants, facilitating production of native plant materials on a larger scale and resulting in greater profitability for propagators and growers. The web site for the Native Plants for the Intermountain West provided information for enhanced production of various native plants in the intermountain west. This resulted in reduced losses and costs for commercial growers and increased success in producing these plants. The ProGreen Expo, Idaho Nursery and Landscape Association, Idaho Horticulture Expo, Wyoming Growers Conference, Montana Nursery and Landscape Association, Southern Nursery Association Research Conference, American Society for Horticulture Sciences talks included over 500 people in the audience who wanted to ask far more questions of the speakers/panels than there was time for. Several in attendance were from Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Colorado, and Utah greenhouses and nurseries. Attendees learned about potential new plants for niche markets and opened discussion on the issues facing the industry. 3. Regional education and outreach programs leading to greater willingness of homeowners to adopt native plant concepts and landscape professionals to promote native plant designs. Presentations on native plants in various aspects (adaptability to the region, tolerance to environmental stress, etc.) gave both commercial growers and home gardeners exposure to native plants. Outreach to Master Gardeners who attended local presentations and classes increased awareness of the value of using native plants in their yards and gardens. Interest was created in Master Gardener Native Plants Clubs. Demonstration gardens were created across several of the WERA1013 regions to provide further knowledge about use of native plants in water-efficient landscapes. 4. Increased use of water-conserving native plants by landscape professionals and by the consuming public as measured by increased sales of native plant materials by growers and retailers. Several home gardeners have shared with WERA 1013 participants that they are altering their landscapes to include more native plants to reduce water consumption in their landscape. Industry professionals can now select a regionally appropriate Sphaeralcea species that is stable genetically to result in increased plant landscape performance and consumer confidence in the native plant production industry. The Plant Select program has seen increased plant sales (sales grew from $1.46 million in 2007 to $1.68 million in 2012) to commercial companies and home owners each year, resulting in more satisfied gardeners since growing adaptable plants for this region. Outputs: Annual meeting of WERA-1013 involved both public and private stakeholders. WERA 1013 website includes plant descriptions, annual meeting proceedings, membership list, and regularly updated native plant growers list. E-Journal of the WERA1013 research and station reports at the annual meetings. This file is available at http://www.uwyo.edu/wera1013/publications.asp. Plant evaluation forms and descriptive parameters were developed to assist with native plant information management. The presentations from the 2011 ProGreen native plant panel generated four new files for educational and extension purposes. A special publication at University of Nevada Cooperative Extension Special Publication was developed: Some Good Native Plants for Great Basin Landscapes. A book (2011) was published, Water-Efficient Landscaping in the Intermountain West, that includes a chapter on native and drought-adapted plants. In Colorado, two plant patents are pending for two of the 2011 Plant Select introductions. One Plant patent was received for our 2012 Plant Select® introduction, Delosperma P001S  Fire Spinner" Ice Plant. Report of all WERA-1013 outputs was published and placed on plantselect.org website for WERA-1013. Also, plantselect.org has been updated with information on all of our 2012 recommendations and introductions including how to use in landscape situations. A University of Nevada Cooperative Extension Special Publication was developed: Boron- and Salt-Tolerant Trees and Shrubs for Northern Nevada, which includes many recommendations for native plants. From all member states, a number of oral and poster presentations from their research results were given over the past 5 years at professional meetings. Activities: Activities of the web site sub-committee are ongoing as the site needs consistent updating and maintenance. We are able to do this with the assistance of Randy Anderson (recently retired) and now Ann Tanaka, the UW College of Agriculture and Natural Resources Communications and Technology web site coordinator. WERA1013 members regularly add to the plant list database of information and the UNR Master Gardeners update the grower list. Idaho Botanical Gardens coordinated a CSREES-Specialty Crop Research Initiative Research and Extension Planning grant on "Increasing Intermountain Native Plants in the Horticulture Industry" that involved the Intermountain Native Plant Growers Association, University of Idaho at Aberdeen, Utah State University, and Montana State University. Individual states continue to collaborate on their native plant evaluation programs. The Berry Building green roof has been a collaborative effort involving a campus-based committee, landscape designers, and the green roof consultant. We all worked together to determine plants species for the roof. The landscape designers located the plant material and seeds, and Karen Panter was in charge of growing 26 species from seeds to planting on the roof. In 2012, activities have centered on monitoring overwintering survival of plants on the green roof and also monitoring their regeneration from either seeds or underground systems. Now that the plants on the roof were removed and replanted, this presents an opportunity to quantify their survival from a catastrophic event. UT, NV, MT Master Gardener and university curriculums were changed to include native plant benefits and care. Master Gardeners were educated and involved in development of demonstration gardens as well as native plant research. More than 15 presentations have been given at the major grower and landscape association in each of the WERA 1013 states by WERA1013 participants, including a multi-expert panel discussion at the ProGreen Expo. Milestones: The WERA 1013 website went live in 2010 and initial information for the site was gathered. The site currently lists members of the WERA1013 committee, as well as industry and federal partners. A native plant list has been started with some containing plant descriptions and production information. A grower list has been added and links to other pertinent web sites will be added as time goes on. Additions to the WERA 1013 website, particularly the plant descriptions database were made on a regular basis since 2012. In 2010, we developed a speaker's bureau for our project, and secured speaking engagements for our members in our respective states. Several of us presented at various state nursery and landscape association meetings each year. These workshops and seminars were specifically designed to educate the public to the value and use of native plants. The major milestone for the green roof was planting the vast majority of the plant material in the summer of 2011. The roof is open to the public and anyone can view it at any time. Cooperation planned for testing for salt tolerance with Texas WERA-1013 member on certain Plant Select plants. Also, research protocols developed for evaluating future Plant Select introductions for two research sites in Colorado. Utah and Idaho researchers distributed plant materials to a commercial nursery for the first time.

[2009] Love, S.L., K. Noble and J. Robbins. 2009. Short-Season/High-Altitude Gardening and Landscaping: Landscaping with Native Plants. UI Bulletin No. 862. Love S.L., T. Salaiz and M. Stevens. 2009. Bear River Range native seed collection excursions. Sage Notes INPS 31:1, 5-7. Love, S.L. 2009. Methods for cleaning penstemon seed. Bull Amer Penstemon Soc 68:89-92. Love, S.L. 2009. Penstemon spotlight - Penstemon fremontii. Bull Amer Penstemon Soc 68:2-4. Niu, G., M. Gu, and D.S. Rodriguez. 2009. Effects of substrate and salinity of irrigation water on the growth of Sophora secundiflora. Proceedings of Southern Nursery Association 54:1-7. Niu, G. and D.S. Rodriguez. 2009. Salt tolerance of ten bedding plants. Proceedings of Southern Nursery Association 54:405-410. Reed, M. and L.A. Rupp. 2009. The effect of etiolation on rooting of Acer grandidentatum cuttings. International Plant Propagators Society Western Region Annual Meeting. (Abstract). Rupp, L.A., M. Reed, W.Varga, V.P. Rasmussen, and C. Neale. 2009. Collecting Acer Grandidentatum clones in northern Utah: An overview. The International Plant PropagatorsSociety Combined Proceedings. 58:379-380. Stott, L., L. Rew, & T.A.O. Dougher. 2009. Native Multispecies Sod: An Alternative Rehabilitation Method for Disturbed Lands. Restoration Ecology. Early view published online 17 June 2009. Beddes, T. and H.A. Kratsch. 2010. Nodulation of Seaside Alder Topdressed with Controlled-release Fertilizer. HortTechnology 20(4): 740-745. Boyer, N.Z. and W.R. Graves. 2009. NAA is more effective than IBA for rooting stem cuttings of two Nyssa spp. Journal of Environmental Horticulture 27:183-187. [2010] Broderick, S.R., M.R. Stevens, B. Geary, S.L. Love, E.N. Jellen, R.B. Dockter, S.L. Daley and D.T. Lindgren. 2010. A survey of Penstemons genome size. Genome (In Press). Lenahan, O.M., W.R. Graves, and R. Arora. 2010. Cold hardiness and deacclimation of Styrax americanus from three provenances. HortScience:in press. Love, S.L. and T. Salaiz. 2009. Selectable variation among species and accessions of plants included in the Idaho Native Plant Domestication Project. Report of the Native Plants Cooperative 1:7-9. Love, S.L. 2010. Penstemon spotlight Penstemon albomarginatus. Bulletin of the American Penstemon Society 69:2-4. Peterson, B.J. and W.R. Graves. 2009. Variation in development and ?response to root-zone pH among seedlings of Dirca palustris (Thymelaeaceae) from three provenances. HortScience 44:1319-1322. Peterson, B.J., Graves, W.R., and J. Sharma. 2009. Color of pubescence on bud scales conflicts with keys for identifying species of Dirca (Thymelaeaceae). Rhodora 111:126-130. Richards, M.R. 2010. Selecting and Propagating Clones of Bigtooth Maple (Acer grandidentatum Nutt.). Thesis. Utah State University. Rupp, L.A., W. A. Varga, and D. Anderson. 2010. Selection and Vegetative Propagation of Native Woody Plants for Water-Wise Landscaping. Proceedings of the 16th Wildand Shrub Symposium. May 2010, Utah State University. (in press) Rupp, L.A. and W. A. Varga. 2010. Locating, Documenting, and Collecting Clones of Native Utah Plants. Annual Report to the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food Specialty Crop Block Grant Program. Rupp, L.A. and D. Anderson. 2010. Propagating Superior Clones of Native Utah Plants for Use in the Landscape Industry. Annual Report to the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food Specialty Crop Block Grant Program. Stevens, M.R., B. Geary, S.R. Broderick, B.J. Ewell, R.B. Dockter, M.A. Mendenhall, S.L. Daley, J.D. Daley, T.J. Mock and S.L. Love. 2009. Understanding Penstemon diversity in an effort to initiate a breeding program within the genus for urban landscapes of the Intermountain West. Report of the Native Plants Cooperative 1:4-6. Stott, L., L. Rew, and T.A.O. Dougher. 2010. Native Multispecies Sod: An Alternative Rehabilitation Method for Disturbed Lands. Restoration Ecology. 18(5):742. [2011] Broderick, SR, MR Stevens, B Geary, SL Love, EN Jellen, RB Dockter, SL Daley and DT Lindgren. 2011. A survey of Penstemons genome size. Genome 54:160-173. Cook, S and L.A. Rupp, 2011. Drought Tolerance: A Database of Irrigation Requirements of Woody Landscape Plants of Northern Utah. Utah State University Extension Factsheet. http://extension.usu.edu/files/publications/publication/Horticulture_Drought_2011-01pr.pdf Croft, A., Rupp, L. A., Kratsch, H. (2011). Landscape Maintenance Water-Efficient Landscaping in the Intermountain West. (H. Kratsch, Ed.) Utah State University Press. Hayward, Pat (2011) What Makes a Great Plant Select Plant. Colorado Green 27(6) 24-26. Klett, James E. (2011) Plant Select for 2012 Colorado State University Research Update, Colorado Green. 27(5) 10-11. Klett, J.E., & Greeb L. (2011) Tough and Proven Perennials for Colorado. Colorado Green 27(6) 12-13. Klett, J.E., & Greeb L. (2011) Under Used Perennials for Colorado. CNGA LooseLeaf 29(6) 20. Kratsch, H. 2011. Some Good Native Plants for Great Basin Landscapes. University of Nevada Coop Ext Special Publication. Kratsch, H. 2011. Water-Efficient Landscaping in the Intermountain West: a professional and do-it-yourself guide (Editor). Utah State University Press, Logan, UT. Love, S. 2011. Penstemon spotlight Penstemon montanus. Bulletin of the American Penstemon Society 70:7-10. Love, S and T Salaiz. 2011. Domestication of native plants. Sage Notes (Idaho Native Plant Society) 33:8-12. Love, S and T Salaiz. 2010. Studies on Indian paintbrush establishment. Report of the Intermountain Native Plant Cooperative 2:15-19. Niu, G., D. Rodriguez, and M. Gu. 2011. Response of Sophora secundiflora to nitrogen form and rate. HortScience 46(9):13031307. Niu, G., D.S. Rodriguez, M. Wang, T. Starman, and D. Zhang. 2011. Response of zinnia to saline water irrigation. Acta Horticulturae (in press). Niu, G. and D.S. Rodriguez. 2011. Salt Tolerance of Selected Bedding Plants. Southern Nursery Association 56:146-151. Niu, G., D.S. Rodriguez, and C. McKenney. 2011. Salt tolerance of five wildflowers. 56:152-156. Panter, K. 2011. Berry PrairieGreen Roof, http://www.uwyo.edu/berrycenter/greenroof/, accessed 11 November 2011. Panter, K. 2011. The Berry Prairie, http://berryprairie.blogspot.com/, accessed 11 November 2011. Panter, K. 2011. First Blog Ever, http://karenpanter.wordpress.com/2011/08/08/first-blog-ever/, accessed 11 November 2011. Panter, K. 2011. More Green Roof Plants, http://karenpanter.wordpress.com/2011/08/17/more-green-roof-plants/, accessed 11 November 2011. Richards, M.R. and L.A. Rupp. 2011. Propagating Bigtooth Maple. Utah State University Extension Factsheet. http://extension.usu.edu/files/publications/publication/Horticulture_Trees_2011-03pr.pdf Rosenberg, D. E., Kopp, K., Kratsch, H., Rupp, L. A., Johnson, P. G., Kjelgren, R. K. (2011). Value Landscape Engineering: Identifying Costs, Water Use, Labor, and Impacts to Support Landscape Choice. Journal of the American Water Resources Association, 47(3), 635649. Rupp, L. A., Varga, B. A., Anderson, D. 2011. Selection and Vegetative Propagation of Native Woody Plants for Water-Wise Landscaping Proceedings of the 16th Wildland Shrub Symposium. Salaiz, T and S Love. 2010. Selection and improvement of Idaho fescue germplasm for turf applications. Report of the Intermountain Native Plant Cooperative 2:39-41. [2012] Anderson, R.M. and L.A. Rupp. 2012. Selecting and Evaluating Accessions of Epilobium Sect. Zauschneria (Onagraceae). Poster presentation. International Plant Propagators Society  Western Region Meeting, Ventura, CA. Cope, K.R. and L.A. Rupp. 2012. Cutting Propagation of Juniperus osteosperma. Poster presentation. International Plant Propagators Society  Western Region Meeting, Ventura, CA. Dougher, T. Rocky Mountain Maple photograph in Portneuf Valley Tree Guide, http://pocatello.us/se/documents/residents/lawn/2012%20Portneuf%20Valley%20Tree%20Guide%20small.pdf. Greeb, Lidsay and James E. Klett. (2012). Long Lives Perennials. CNGA Looseleaf. 30(5)18. Klett, James E. (2012) Horticulture Related Water Studies. Colorado Water. 29(2)6-7. Klett, James E. (2012). Perennials that pack a punch. Colorado State University Research Update. Colorado Green. 28(2) 16-17. Klett James E. (2012). Plant Select for 2013  Colorado State University Research Update. Colorado Green 28(6)12-13 . Klett James E. (2012). Top Perennial Performers. CNGA Looseleaf. 30(2)(18-19. Kratsch, H., J.A. Skelly. Designing Landscapes for Northern Nevadas Arid Climate. UNCE Special Publication 11-15. Love, SL. 2011. Designing, installing, and maintaining native plant landscapes and xeriscapes. In: INLA Certification Committee (Eds.), Certified Nursery Professional Manual. Idaho Nursery and Landscape Association, Idaho Falls, ID Love, SL. 2012. Penstemon spotlight  Penstemon atwoodii. Bulletin of the American Penstemon Society 71:2-6. Love, SL and T Salaiz. 2011. Commercialization of native plant species; Evaluation of Idaho fescue (Festuca idahoensis) germplasm for use as native turf. Report of the Native Plants Cooperative 3:10-17. Niu, G., M. Wang, D. Rodriguez, and D. Zhang. 2012. Responses of zinnia to saline water irrigation. HortScience 47(6):793797. Niu, G., D. Rodriguez, and S. McKenney. 2012. Response of selected wildflower species to saline water irrigation. HortScience 47(9):1351-1355. Niu, G., P. Osuna, Y. Sun, and D. Rodriguez. 2012. Seedling emergence, growth, and mineral nutrition of ornamental chile peppers irrigated with saline water. HortScience (in Press). Norris, K.D. and W.R. Graves. 2012. A Narrowly Endemic Dirca from Mexico Outperforms its Broadly Distributed Congener in the Upper Midwest. HortScience in press. Richards, M.R., L.A. Rupp, R. Kjelgren, and V.P. Rasmussen. 2012. Selection and budding propagation of native bigtooth maple for water-conserving landscapes. HortTechnology. 22:669-676. Richards, M.R. and L.A. Rupp. 2012. Etiolation Improves Rooting of Bigtooth Maple (Acer grandidentatum) Cuttings. HortTechnology. 22:305-310. Rupp, L.A. 2012. Cercocarpus ledifolius var. intricatus in the Landscape. WERA-1013 website. http://www.uwyo.edu/wera1013/plantlist_cercocarpus-ledifolius.asp Rupp, L.A., R.M. Anderson, and M.R. Richards. 2012. Mound Layering of Selected Acer grandidentatum clones. Poster presentation. International Plant Propagators Society  Western Region Meeting, Ventura, CA. Sriladda, C., H.A. Kratsch, S.R. Larson, and R.K. Kjelgren. 2012. Morphological and Genetic Variation among Four High Desert Sphaeralcea Species. HortScience 47:715-720.