Maine News Updates

A Wells woman received the 2009 Maine State Award from the New England Wild Flower Society on Sunday during the organization's annual meeting in Framingham, Mass.

The society's trustees recognized Nancy McReel for her creative vision and exceptional achievement in conserving native plants and their habitats.

McReel was certified in native plant studies through the society in 1990. Since then, she has done botanical inventories for the Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve and several land trusts.

She also has documented invasive plants and led field trips for the wildflower society and the Maine Audubon Society.

Currently, she is updating state records of rare plants and collecting seeds of native shrubs to be planted at the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge in an effort to restore habitat of the endangered New England cottontail rabbit.