The Native Plant Society of Northeastern Ohio Awards

Tom Sampliner
The Gentian Award for 2022

Tom’s interest in botany began as a toddler when his grandmother Jennie walked him in the neighborhood. She stopped at wildflowers telling him fascinating stories about them. When he was in college, he always had plants on his windowsill. After college he continued his interest in plants and joined groups at the Natural History Museum, the Botanical Garden and affiliates. He served as president and board member for other groups including the Indoor Gardening Society, various orchid groups and continues to this day contributing articles and images to various journals and newsletters.

Tom began his involvement with the native plant society in the early 1980’s. He was nominated as treasurer in 1984 becoming President in 1990, Writing and editing the journal for nearly 10 years. Tom was also Vice President of Ohio Native Plant Society. Tom remained president until 2000 but continued to be on the board as education chair for many years. Tom has a great interest in Mushrooms and Orchids, raising some orchids at home as well as travelling around the world to photograph the many species. Tom’s extensive travels took him to Sicily, Manitoba Canada, Costa Rica, the Greek Isle of Rhodes and Thailand which he shared in pictorial retrospectives at Geauga Park District usually kicking off our program series in January.

Tom’s love of orchids led him to study the Spiranthes genus or Lady’s tresses orchids, which revealed one species was actually two which he shared in a special program last year.

We thank Tom for his many years of service to The Native Plant Society.

The plaque has a picture of a fringed gentian and says:

Gentian Award
For Dedication to the Native Plants of Ohio
Tom Sampliner
2022

This tribute was given by Judy Barnhart, president of the Native Plant Society of Northeastern Ohio.