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2005 DeDecker Botanical Grant Awards

The Bristlecone Chapter of the California Native Plant Society has recently awarded these grants for botanical projects. The Mary DeDecker Botanical Grant Program annually awards funding for projects that increase the understanding and appreciation of our region’s unique native flora.

Local project recipients are:

The Lee Vining Schools Native Plant Interpretive Garden Project, submitted by Ilene Mandelbaum. The garden project goal is to honor the cultural traditions of our diverse community groups through the selection of traditional food and medical crops for study and or propagation. It is the first and only school and community garden in Mono County.

Mono County Eastern Sierra Watershed Program, Riparian Vegetation Component, submitted by Bartshe Miller, Education Director of the Mono Lake Committee. Students will learn in small groups at various hands on stations measuring data along the riparian system. 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students in Mono County will be involved in the program.

Valentine Eastern Sierra Reserve (VESR) Native Plant Project, submitted by Leslie Dawson and Sherry Taylor. Objectives include to enhance Mammoth Elementary School biological science curriculum through hands on learning, continue the current VESR Native Plant Project curriculum, diversify the plants in the VESR nursery, and expand the curriculum to include a botany lesson on flowers, pollination and plant survival. As a final project, the students will restore a site with multiple species of plants.

Buy a Plant, Fund a Grant

Karen Ferrell-Ingram the California Native Plant Sale Chairperson stated that proceeds from the annual September Native plant sale fund the DeDecker Grants. The grant program is a fitting way to remember Mary DeDecker’s many contributions to the people and plants of the Eastern Sierra.