When Greek scholar
turned cattle rancher Claude A. Barr died in 1982, he left behind a
lifetime of discoveries and observations about South Dakota flora.
He was “a self-taught wizard of Great Plains native plants,” says
Cindy Reed, a South Dakota native and protege of Barr’s. To
preserve Barr’s legacy, Reed founded the Great Plains Native Plant
Society in 1984.
Public awareness about native
plants is needed because invasive species and modern ranching and
farming practices are pushing out native plants, says
Reed.
As part of its outreach efforts, the
Society hosts wildflower field trips, holds an annual seed exchange
in which members share Great Plains seeds with plant enthusiasts
around the world, and publishes a quarterly
newsletter.
The Society is also developing the
Great Plains Botanic Garden on 350 acres outside of Hermosa, S.D.,
in honor of Barr, whose own botanic garden attracted researchers
from around the world. Eventually the garden will have pathways for
self-guided tours, trails for longer walks, and a visitors’ center.
It will also offer educational programs, and provide opportunities
for scientific research. The main attraction, though, will be
plants from every corner of the Great Plains, including the
pasqueflowers, the golden pincushion cactus and, of course, the
Claude Barr penstemon.
For more information,
contact Cindy Reed at 605/745-3397 or
cascade@gwtc.net.
This article appeared in the print edition of the magazine with the headline Spreading seeds of knowledge.
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