SWEET HOME - Alice Smith, longtime botanist in Sweet Home, has been awarded the prestigious Karl Urban Celebrating Wildflowers National Award, announced the Sweet Home Ranger District of the Willamette National Forest.

The award is jointly given by the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management. It recognizes an individual or group of people who exemplify dedication to the Celebrating Wildflowers program through protection of native plant resources, creativity, community involvement, volunteer programs, and educational efforts.

Smith leads interpretive hikes on topics ranging from berry picking to mushrooms, staffs booths at community education events, and provides technical expertise for local watershed restoration projects.

For more information about the USDA Forest Service Celebrating Wildflowers program, visit http://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers.

For information about the Sweet Home Ranger District, call (541) 367-5168 or visit http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/willamette/index.html.

Democrat-Herald