In Brief

Purchase Native Trees, Shrubs

Need trees and shrubs for your landscape? Go native at MDC’s George O. White State Nursery

Incorporating native trees and shrubs into your landscape can help wildlife habitat and soil and water conservation while improving the appearance and value of your property. MDC’s George O. White State Forest Nursery near Licking offers a variety of low-cost native tree and shrub seedlings for reforestation, windbreaks, erosion control, wildlife food and cover, and other purposes.

The nursery provides mainly one-year-old, bare-root seedlings with sizes varying by species. Seedling varieties include pine, bald cypress, cottonwood, black walnut, hickory, oak, pecan, persimmon, river birch, maple, willow, sycamore, blackberry, buttonbush, hazelnut, redbud, ninebark, spicebush, elderberry, sumac, wild plum, witch hazel, and others.

Seedlings are available in bundles of 10 or increments of 25 per species. Prices range from 34 cents to $1 per seedling. Sales tax of 6.1 percent will be added to orders unless tax exempt. There is a $9 handling charge for each order. Receive a 15 percent discount, up to $20, off seedling orders with a Permit Card or Conservation ID Number.

The nursery grows millions of seedlings each year, but some species are very popular and sell out quickly. Occasionally some seedlings succumb to uncooperative weather or hungry wildlife, despite the nursery staff’s best efforts.

Learn more and place orders through MDC’s 2021–2022 Seedling Order Form. Find it at MDC regional offices and nature centers, online at mdc.mo.gov/seedlings, or by contacting the State Forest Nursery at 573-674-3229 or StateForestNursery@mdc.mo.gov.

Place orders now through April 15, 2022. Orders will be shipped or can be picked up at the nursery near Licking from February through May.

Honor Missourians Who Contributed to Conservation

The Missouri Conservation Commission is seeking nominations for the MDC Master Conservationist Award and the Missouri Conservation Hall of Fame.

Both awards recognize citizens who make outstanding contributions to conservation. The Master Conservationist Award honors living or deceased Missourians while the Missouri Conservation Hall of Fame recognizes only deceased individuals. Those who can be considered for either honor are:

• Missourians who performed outstanding acts or whose dedicated service over an extended time produced major progress in fisheries, forestry, or wildlife conservation in Missouri.
• Employees of conservation-related agencies who performed outstanding acts or whose dedicated service over an extended time produced major progress in fisheries, forestry, or wildlife conservation in Missouri.

Anyone can submit a nomination, which should include a statement describing the nominee’s accomplishments and a brief biography.

Criteria and nomination forms for the Master Conservationist Award are available at short.mdc.mo.gov/Zyp. Similar information for the Missouri Conservation Hall of Fame is available at short.mdc.mo.gov/ZyG.

Please submit nominations by Dec. 31 to Julie Love, Missouri Department of Conservation, PO Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0180 or email to Julie.Love@mdc.mo.gov.

A screening committee appointed by the MDC director meets annually to consider nominees, with the commission providing final approval.