April Is Officially Oregon’s Native Plant Appreciation Month!
Last Updated on July 2, 2025 by Tom Pratum
 Peacock larkspur (Delphinium pavonaceum). Photo by Judi Sanders. |
| Thank you to all the individuals and organizations who helped make it happen- Senate Bill 547 has officially passed both the Oregon Senate and House and has been signed into law by Governor Tina Kotek, designating April as Oregon’s Native Plant Appreciation Month! This milestone is the result of a remarkable collaborative effort. It began when Bennett Burns of the Portland Garden Club, in partnership with the Garden Club of America, approached the NPSO to support and lead legislation recognizing the value of our native flora. Luci Moody, of NPSO’s Portland Chapter, invited her state senator, Janeen Sollman, to champion the bill as a chief sponsor- and she agreed. Likewise, Judi Sanders, NPSO’s Native Plant Appreciation Month coordinator, secured support from her senator, Sara Gelser Blouin, who also signed on as a chief sponsor. A broad bipartisan group of legislators joined as regular sponsors, including Senators Brock Smith, Campos, Lieber, Meek, Reynolds, and Weber, and Representatives McLain, Nathanson, and Walters. Behind the scenes, the Native Plant Appreciation Month Committee- Judi Sanders, Luci Moody, Virginia Bowers, Cydne Casper, and Morgan Barnett, with assistance from Dr. James Mickley and support from the Garden Club of America, prepared key documents in support of the bill. Their work was bolstered by the advocacy of many NPSO members and partner organizations who reached out to their legislators and submitted testimony. |
 Organizations that signed on to support SB 547. |
| This is a tremendous victory for Oregon’s native plants and a meaningful step toward greater public awareness and appreciation of our botanical heritage. – Judi Sanders |