ASPB EDUCATION FORUM

ASPB Supports International Plant Conservation Outreach Efforts in Oklahoma City

Roberta Rowland and Mary Green work at the Endangered Plants Booth. Photo by Teresa Randall.

In early spring 2010, Teresa Randall, director of educational programs at the Oklahoma City Zoological and Botanical Garden, contacted ASPB. Teresa was in search of quality outreach materials for the zoo’s International Migratory Bird & Plant Conservation Day on May 15. ASPB promptly sent a bushel of bookmarks, plant science puzzle pages, and biology education resources for event participants to use or take home.

Unfortunately, severe tornado watches developed on May 15, and Plant Conservation Day was canceled. But the zoo’s horticulture and education specialists regrouped quickly to create an Endangered Plants Booth for inclusion in the zoo’s Endangered Species Day, which was already planned for May 22. Endangered Species Day brought clear skies and over 3,000 visitors, and the Endangered Plants Booth staff finally enjoyed ample opportunities to share information featuring plants with the hundreds of interested individuals and small groups who came by that day.

Roberta Rowland, horticulture technician at the zoo, led live plant demonstrations. Booth visitors were enthralled by facts Roberta shared such as, “Only a few hundred of Wollemi Pine (Wollemia nobilis) still exist in the wild. It is extremely rare and one of the oldest species in the world. The zoo is lucky to have one in its greenhouse. If it continues to grow well in Oklahoma’s climate, we’ll be able to grow more here in the future.”

Roberta brought the concept of endangered plants to a personal level by encouraging visitors to grow native species in their own yards. “Milkweed isn’t so common in the wild anymore, but you can easily grow it in your yard and help feed butterflies,” she said.

Visitors also enjoyed learning about the zoo’s 15 Golden Barrel Cactus (Echinocactus grusoniiand) and seeing banana trees, which the zoo is successfully growing despite the nontropical climate.

“I want kids to connect that food comes from plants,” Roberta said, “not just the grocery store.”

Reactions to her message were positive. Visitors of all ages lingered at the booth, asking questions and swapping gardening stories. One girl said it was her favorite booth of the day.

Roberta was pleased at the response and hopes to do more activities about endangered plants in the future. “When people become interested in plants, they will take more steps in becoming good stewards of the earth,” she added.

ASPB supports year-round successful outreach efforts such as this OKC Zoo event. Information about the materials available for an outreach event in your area can be found here.

Amy Dee Stephens
Writer for OKC Zoo