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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>The Xerces Society is pleased to announce the release of <span class=A3><i><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>Pollinator Plants of the Central United States: Native Milkweeds</span></i></span><span class=A3><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>, </span></span>a comprehensive guide to using the native milkweeds of the lower Midwest and Central U.S. in habitat projects and gardens. Xerces’ Project Milkweed is working to promote the benefits of including milkweeds in habitat plantings for monarch butterflies, pollinators such as native bees, and other beneficial insects.<span class=A3><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'> This new guide makes it simpler for land managers and gardeners to select—and obtain—the most appropriate species of milkweeds for their locale. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span class=A3><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span class=A3><i><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>Pollinator Plants of the Central United States: Native Milkweeds</span></i></span><span class=A3><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'> de­scribes the importance of milkweed to wildlife, provides an overview of milkweed establishment practices, and profiles numerous species that are commercially available and can be incorporated into seed mixes and planting plans. Five milkweed species that have special conservation status are also profiled. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span class=A3><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;line-height:12.05pt;text-autospace:none'><span class=A3><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>The guide was developed by Brianna Borders and Eric Mader of the </span></span>Xerces Society, in collaboration with Allen Casey (USDA-NRCS Missouri), <span style='color:#221E1F'>John M. Row and Rich Wynia (USDA-NRCS Kansas), Randy King and Alayna Jacobs (USDA-NRCS Arkansas)</span>, and with Dr. Chip Taylor of Monarch Watch. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span class=A3><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>Download the guide from the Project Milkweed web page, </span></span><a href="http://www.xerces.org/milkweed/">http://www.xerces.org/milkweed/</a><span class=A3><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span class=A3><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span class=A3><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>You can also find it in the relevant regions of the Pollinator Conservation Resource Center, </span></span><a href="http://www.xerces.org/pollinator-resource-center/">http://www.xerces.org/pollinator-resource-center/</a><span class=A3><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span class=A3><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:windowtext'><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p><p class=MsoNormal>This guide was produced thanks to funding from the Monarch Joint Venture and with the continuing support of the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>________<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:6.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b>Matthew Shepherd<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class=MsoNormal>Communications Director<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:6.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b>The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class=MsoNormal>Protecting the Life that Sustains Us<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:5.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal>628 NE Broadway, Ste 200, Portland, OR 97232-1324, USA<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#0070C0'><a href="mailto:mdshepherd@xerces.org"><span style='color:#0070C0'>mdshepherd@xerces.org</span></a> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal>Tel: (503) 232-6639 ext. 110<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Toll free: 1-855-232 6639 ext. 110<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Cell: (503) 807-1577<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Fax: (503) 233-6794<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:6.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal>Stay in touch:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='color:red'><a href="http://www.xerces.org/"><span style='color:red;text-decoration:none'>xerces.org</span></a></span></b> <b><span style='color:#17365D'><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Xerces-Society/193182577358618"><span style='color:#17365D;text-decoration:none'>Facebook</span></a></span></b> <b><span style='color:#984806'><a href="http://www.xerces.org/enewsletters/"><span style='color:#984806;text-decoration:none'>E-newsletter</span></a></span></b> <b><span style='color:#0070C0'><a href="https://twitter.com/xerces_society"><span style='text-decoration:none'>Twitter</span></a></span></b><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:6.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal>The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation is an international nonprofit organization that protects wildlife through the conservation of invertebrates and their habitat.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:6.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal>To join the Society, make a donation, or read about our work, please visit <span style='color:#0070C0'><a href="http://www.xerces.org/"><span style='color:#0070C0'>www.xerces.org</span></a></span>.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>