Linking Up with PlantsMap

Installing tree or plant identification trails is a common project for VMN chapters.  Thanks to donations from VMN volunteers to our annual campaign, we now have a way to link those projects together and connect them to the VMN program as a whole.  We have established a presence with PlantsMap, a Virginia-based company that produces plant tags with QR codes and an online space to host information about plant identification trails and the individual plants on them.  VMN chapters conducting these kinds of projects can now order PlantsMap tags with the Virginia Master Naturalist logo.  Volunteer donations covered the set-up fee.  Their projects can be linked to the program online, so that one can visit PlantsMap.com and search for all plant collections associated with Virginia Master Naturalists.  

The Headwaters Chapter was one of the first chapters to pilot the use of PlantsMap since we set up the logo option.  For their spring project, the Headwaters basic training class identified trees at Cooks Creek Arboretum, part of the Bridgewater town park system.  Their goal was to provide accurate on-site tree identification and information about these resources to educate and inform the public who utilize this area.  Under the guidance of Adam Downing (Senior Extension Agent with the Virginia Cooperative Extension office), the trainees identified major tree species and installed PlantsMap signage.  Besides name identification, the signs include digital QR codes that lead the user to more information about the species and GPS based identification online.  As the Tree ID Team shared, ”Our hope is that visitors will appreciate knowing what trees they are looking at and something about each of them.”

Several other chapters are now using this plant tagging resource.  We encourage additional chapter projects that choose to use PlantsMap to connect with the Virginia Master Naturalist statewide program’s logo and identity on the site.