Announcing the Joint Annual Meeting of The Arizona Native Plant Society and The American Penstemon Society
June 12-15 2026
Theme:
Exploring the Botanical Diversity, Ecology, and History of Arizona’s Native Flora and the Special Contributions to the Arizona Flora by Penstemons
Meeting summary:
The meeting offers field trips to public and private gardens, and a range of papers and posters presented in two formal gatherings that cover many aspects of Arizona’s native flora and penstemons.
Two joint formal gatherings will be offered.
The first is organized by the APS on Friday, June 12, 2026, 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM
at the Elks Lodge No. 499, 2101 N. San Francisco St., Flagstaff.
The second is organized by the AZNPS on Saturday, June 13, 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the Lowell Observatory, 1400 West Mars Hill Rd., Flagstaff.
Participants are may register for one or both sessions. Field trips are included with all registrations.
Brief Formal Gathering Agendas (more details on the schedule page):
Friday, June 12, 2026 – Organized by American Penstemon Society (Elks Lodge)
5:00 PM to 6:00 PM: Registration and Social hour. Hors d’oeuvres served.
6:00 PM to 8:00 PM: Brief APS annual business meeting, keynote speaker, field trips information
Saturday, June 13, 2026 – Organized by Arizona Native Plant Society (Lowell Observatory)
12:00 PM to 12:30 PM: Light refreshments and beverages. Introductions.
12:30 PM to 6:00 PM: AZNPS and APS presentations and posters.
6:00 PM Buffet dinner, including vegetarian options. Tour Lowell Observatory until 11:00 PM.
Sunday, June 14, 2026: Field trips Monday, June 15, 2026: Optional field trip
Registration closes on May 26, 2026 and is limited to AZNPS and APS members.
Additional details and Registration form is online American Penstemon Society Meetings
News and Blog Items
Here are some recent and interesting items. Click the link for the full article.
- Opening for a Part-Time Biological TechnicianPart Time Biological Easement Compliance and Maintenance Position GENERAL: The Tepa Companies are seeking a Part-Time Biological Technician that will oversee and perform periodic easement compliance monitoring and maintenance of the properties under easement restrictions,… Read more: Opening for a Part-Time Biological Technician
- Botany 2026 Conference – Registration is Now Open
The 2026 Annual AZNPS Botany Conference will be held on June 12 – 15 in Flagstaff in conjunction with the American Penstemon Society Annual Meeting. The conference theme is Exploring the Botanical Diversity, Ecology, and… Read more: Botany 2026 Conference – Registration is Now Open - Conserving and Recycling at the Waterman Sitehttps://tucson.com/news/local/environment/desert-restoration-recycles-christmas-trees/article_6fe1a0f2-d207-11ef-ac79-fb981aa2c89e.html Christmas trees get re-used to preserve rainfall in the Sonoran Desert.
- Flagstaff Chapter Meetings you can viewRecordings of Past MeetingsThe following presentations were recorded in 2024 and can be viewed the Flagstaff Chapter’s Facebookpage or at The Arizona Native Plant Society website.Megan Swan, Hannah Andrascik, Christopher Calvo, NPS Southern Colorado Plateau… Read more: Flagstaff Chapter Meetings you can view
- 6 AGAVES DOMESTICATED BY SOUTHWESTERN INDIGENOUS PEOPLE
DBG Garden researchers Wendy Hodgson, Andrew Salywon and volunteer Jane Rosenthal describe six rare domesticated agave species whose clones remarkably can still be found living in ancient agricultural fields in Arizona that have not been tended for hundreds of years.
