Late Summer in the Chiricahua Mountains September 16, 17, and 18, 2023
Southwestern Research Station, Portal, Cochise County
The Cochise and Tucson Chapters of the Arizona Native Plant Society are again sponsoring a long weekend in the Chiricahua Mountains of southeastern Cochise County. These richly diverse mountains are one the northern-most islands in the Madrean Archipelago that encompasses parts of Arizona, New Mexico , Sonora, and Chihuahua. Come enjoy this weekend with us. Whatever the weather, there will be botanical treats and great company.
Tentative Schedule: Day 1: Arrive mid to late afternoon, check in, eat supper and head for the education center for some plant talks and discussion.
Day 2: An all-day field trip to a location to be determined. Or alternatively, stay nearer SWRS and attend one or both of two shorter field trips. Happy Hour at the pool before dinner. Evening program in the station’s education center consisting of a plant ID workshop for plants encountered during the field trips.
Day 3: A morning field trip, lunch, and then depart.
Registration: Accommodations, including meals, will be provided by the Southwestern Research Station.
PLEASE CONTACT DOUG RIPLEY (jdougripley@gmail.com) FOR THE REGISTRATION FORM.
Comments Off on Invasive Species Alert – Stinknet!
Help control the spread of Stinknet to protect native habitats and prevent wildfires!
Also known as Globe chamomile (Oncosiphon pilluliferum), Stinknet is a noxious weed that is spreading quickly throughout central Arizona. In Spring and early Summer, flowering Stinknet plants can easily be spotted, as they look like little yellow lollipops. If you have it on your property, take action to remove and dispose of the plants before the seeds ripen and have a chance to spread!
Learn more by viewing our Stinknetpamphlet, which is available in English and Spanish. Please download, read, and share this important information with others!
Stinknet plant flowering. Photo credit: Lisa Rivera
Comments Off on Happenings – Spring 2023 Newsletter
The Spring 2023 edition of Happenings is now available!Download a copy to learn more about activities of Arizona Native Plant Society chapters around the state.
Comments Off on Arizona’s Desert Tortoise Adoption Program
Did you know that Arizona has a Desert Tortoise adoption program?
This was the topic of the Phoenix Chapter’s May meeting. Kellie Tharpe of the Arizona Game and Fish Department gave a feature presentation. The recording is available to watch any time on the AZNPS YouTube Channel.
Watch the video to learn about the adoption program, including how to create tortoise habitat in your yard using native plants!
Tucson Bird Alliance is hiring one Invasive Plant Strike Team Crew Member! The position has been posted to several job boards and is listed on our website, links below. Please share this opportunity with any qualified applicants!
Applications (resume and cover letter) should be emailed to jobs@tucsonbirds.org and will be accepted through January 4, 2026.
Comments Off on New Directions in American Landscape Symposium
37th Annual NDAL SymposiumSeeing the Forest and the TreesDesigning Landscapes that Integrate Regional Specificity with Global Commonality Incorporating a region’s indigenous plant communities and ecological processes is at the heart of ecology-based design. But no natural system operates in isolation or is forever immune to change…..especially today where the effects of watershed alteration, soil disturbance, plant globalization, and climate change are at play worldwide. Our Symposium will begin by zooming in on techniques for regionally-specific landscape analysis and design. We will then widen the lens and learn how disturbance, ecological science, and cultural land practices across regions can factor into those processes. Finally, we will explore how an expansive view of landscape art can unify this micro/macro divide in landscapes ranging from expansive to intimate.
Jan. 15-16, 2026 at Kean University in Union, NJ (just outside NYC)
Monsoon Mixer Our annual Monsoon Mixer was postponed until September, in hopes that late rains would bless us. At that time, we gathered at Slow Body Brew, an eclectic pub located in the industrial area near downtown. It was nice to see friends, exchange some cool plants, publications, and summer stories. We were honored to have AZNPS President Doug Ripley join us.
Madera CanyonField Trip At the end of August, we ventured into Madera Canyon in the Santa Rita Mountains with guide extraordinaire Doug Moore. Although the creek was dry due to the ongoing drought, we saw flowering Bouvardia.
Passive Water Harvesting Field Trips October featured two field trips, one to Honeybee Canyon, in the Tortalita Mountains, and the other in Oro Valley and Oracle, led by Chuck LeFevre of Common Sense Passive Water Harvesting. The tour included touring water harvesting landscapes along roadways, public common areas, and both small and large front yards that employed berms, a rock dam, and other passive-water harvest projects.
Meetings Friday, December 5, 10:00 – 11:30 AM. Kenda Svoboda, North Zone Botanist, Tonto National Forest: Searching the Sierra Ancha for Rare Plants
Kenda is North Zone botanist for the Tonto National Forest. The presentation will take place at US Forest Services Ranger Station, 1009 State Route 260, Payson.
Friday, January 9, 10:00 – 11:30 AM. Wendy Hodgson: Grand Canyon—More Than Just Beautiful, Awe-Inspiring Views, Neat Geology, and Weird Squirrels!
Wendy is herbarium curator emerita and senior research botanist at the Desert Botanical Garden. The presentation will take place at the Payson Public Library, 328 N McLane Rd, Payson.
Field Trip Friday, February 6, 10:00 – 11:30 AM. Teri Balaska: Sonoran Sentinels: Keystone Guardians of the Desert Botany Walk
Teri is vice president of the Tonto Basin Chapter. The botany walk will take place at the Saguaro Monitoring Site. This is located three miles east of Highway 188 on Greenback Valley Road/Forest Service Road 71 (across from the new Tonto Creek Bridge), Tonto Basin.
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The Phoenix Chapter is undergoing a revitalization effort after a period of inactivity. A planning meeting for this effort was held on November 22, for present chapter members as well as invited potential new members. Meeting participants were briefed on the proposed revitalization effort and potential future chapter activities and given an opportunity to share their ideas for future initiatives that the chapter could offer.
As this process moves forward, chapter members will be informed of its progress as well as new projects and activities that will be offered. Please contact either Peter Pawliuk (peterpawliuk@gmail.com) or Ammar Mand (sonoranstarts@gmail.com) for more information or to volunteer to assist with the revitalization project.
Comments Off on The chapter is currently on winter break
The chapter is currently on winter break, and talks will resume in March 2026. For details about upcoming meetings, please see our email distribution list (naris123@cs.com), Facebook page, or AZNPS.com.
The following presentations were recorded in 2025 and can be viewed the Flagstaff Chapter’s Facebook page or at The Arizona Native Plant Society website. Tea Time with Native Plants: Ashley Doyle Nursery Restoration Efforts of Bebb’s Willow (Salix bebbiana): Adair Patterson Propagating Native Plants: Amelia Blake Analysis of Potential Hazards to the Future Conservation of the Endemic Alpine species San Francisco Peaks Ragwort (Packera franciscana): Catherine Young
We are pleased to announce that the Cochise Chapter, which has been in an inactive status for the past two years, is being brought back to life! A very successful meeting was held on October 11 at the San Pedro House in Sierra Vista, during which plans for the rejuvenation of the chapter were presented to current members along with prospective new members. Attendees were asked to explain what types of activities they would like to see the chapter pursue. The attendees concurred with a suggestion that monthly meetings should resume and feature a guest speaker. Other activities such as field trips were also discussed and they will be organized as the new chapter progresses. The chapter has scheduled its first formal meeting for January 31, 2026, at 10:00 AM in the conference room of the Sierra Vista Library, 2600 E. Tacoma Street, Sierra Vista. For more information, contact Amy Metz (amy13jsa@gmail.com).
Chapter Meeting Saturday, January 31. Doug Ripley: The Natural History of the Dragoon Mountains, Cochise County, Arizona Doug is a charter member and the long-time president of the Cochise Chapter of the Arizona Native Plant Society. His presentation will illustrate his observations of the Dragoon Mountains flora and fauna using photos he took during the past 17 years, as part of a study he undertook with Jim Verrier to document the flora and vegetation of the mountains. The presentation will take place at 10:00 a.m. in the conference room of the Sierra Vista Library, 2600 E Tacoma Street, Sierra Vista.
Comments Off on Chapter meeting for November 13, 2025
The Sonoran Desert: A Global Bee Biodiversity Hotspot, Presented by Tanner Bland, Program Coordinator, Tucson Bee Collective
Thursday, November 13, 2025
Meeting and Presentation, 7pm in person and on Zoom (link below)
U of A campus, Environment and Natural Resources Building (ENR2), Room S210 (NOTE ROOM CHANGE on 2nd floor), 1064 E. Lowell Street, Tucson AZ
The Tucson Bee Collaborative is a partnership between the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, University of Arizona Insect Collection, and Pima Community College. The Collaborative is focused on documenting native bee biodiversity, understanding their local conservation status, and involving students in place-based education while participating in cutting-edge molecular research. Our current research efforts focus on sequencing the DNA of every bee species in the Tucson Basin and providing detailed records of their abundance and diversity through time and space.
In this presentation, Tanner will discuss the evolutionary origins, classification, and life histories of some native, solitary bees from the Sonoran Desert region. He will focus on the evolution of bee-plant relationships, using data from his research, which attempts to document how often bees visit certain plants, particularly those of conservation concern.
ABOUT OUR SPEAKER
As the program coordinator for the Tucson Bee Collaborative, Tanner Bland conducts outreach, identifies bee specimens from their collections, and works to expand a DNA barcoding program to include high schools, community colleges, state parks, etc. that help them reach the goal of surveying and monitoring the local bee fauna of the Tucson Basin.
A master’s student in the Entomology department at the University of Arizona, Tanner’s research focuses on using museum bee specimens to understand past and present trends in pollination services performed by native, solitary bees using DNA from pollen grains. Currently, the lab is assessing the diversity of cacti visited by native cactus bees in the genus Diadasia.
Tanner’s other area of expertise is in the ecology, evolution, and phylogenetics of the largest bee genus in North America, Perdita, the fairy bees. They are remarkable in their number of specialized interactions with plants, and Tanner is using them to better understand the evolution of bee diets, how and when specialist bees evolve, and their role in the conservation of rare or imperiled plant species.
ZOOM LINK
As many of you know, we have been having problems getting the Zoom link to work some months. We regret this, but are doing our best. We would be delighted if some tech-savvy member who comes to our meetings in person would like to volunteer to help us with technology for monthly meetings. IF THIS PERSON IS YOU, please email us at nativeplantstucson@gmail.com and identify yourself!
SAVE THE DATE! Holiday Chapter Meeting December 11, 2025
Member’s showcase
We will celebrate the holidays at our December meeting on Thursday, December 11 with hot cider and some holiday treats, so please bring something to share. There will be two short programs with an opportunity to socialize afterward.
Aaron Peretz from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will share his experiences in the Ironwood National Monument. Susan Husband will talk about the University of Arizona Herbarium and the experience of being a volunteer.–
Comments Off on The Phoenix Chapter of the Arizona Native Plant Society (AZNPS) is reawakening after a two-year hiatus
We’re thrilled to invite you to our revival meeting on Saturday, November 22, 2025, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM at the South Moutain Visitor Center (Environmental Education Center), located at 10409 S Central Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85042.
What is AZNPS all about? AZNPS is a statewide nonprofit dedicated to the knowledge, appreciation, conservation, and restoration of Arizona’s native plants and their habitats. With eleven chapters across the state, the Society connects plant enthusiasts, scientists, educators, and restoration advocates. AZNPS promotes native plant use in urban landscapes, publishes the Plant Press Arizona journal, and organizes field trips, workshops, and restoration projects that celebrate Arizona’s botanical diversity.
Special features at the revival meeting:
Native Seed Library: Browse and take home seeds of locally adapted native plants to support your own restoration or landscaping efforts.
Free Plant Raffle: Enter to win a selection of native plants—perfect for your garden or community space.
Get involved: We’re looking for passionate individuals to help shape the future of our chapter—whether by attending events, volunteering, or stepping into leadership roles. Your voice is essential: we’ll be conducting polls to learn what kinds of activities and initiatives matter most to our community in the coming year.
Whether you’re a longtime member, a curious newcomer, or someone who simply loves the Sonoran Desert’s flora, we welcome you to join us. Let’s reconnect, reimagine, and rebuild a vibrant Phoenix Chapter together.
Comments Off on Tucson Chapter Meeting – October 9, 2025
Arizona’s Night Shift: Bats as Ecological Heroes
Presented by Susan Chappel, Kartchner Caverns State Parks
Thursday, October 9, 2025
Meeting and Presentation, 7pm in person and on Zoom (link below)
U of A campus, Environment and Natural Resources Building (ENR2), Room S225, 1064 E. Lowell Street, Tucson AZ
Susan Chappel will introduce us to the hidden lives of Arizona bats and the essential roles they play in our environment, as predators and natural pest control agents and as pollinating superstars for a variety of native plant species. Bat populations are under threat from a spectrum of challenges, and our speaker will discuss actions we can take to assist our flying mammalian neighbors.
Susan Chappel is a ranger with Arizona State Parks and Trails at Kartchner Caverns. She leads cave tours and participates in outreach at this amazing State Park. In the summer, when the Karchner Big Room closes to protect its breeding bat colonies, she guides bat walks at the Caverns. She is passionate about sharing the love and respect she has for our wildlife. Her interest in bats was first ignited when her youngest daughter fell in love with the book Stellaluna. Susan encouraged her interest and it has led her to her current role in bat education and outreach.
Meet : Nursery entrance gate at 5845 N Camino de la Tierra
Directions : Turn south off Orange Grove at the Camino de la Tierra traffic light. Camino de la Tierra is between Thornydale and Mona Lisa, east of I-10.
Nursery manager and AZNPS member Amy Belk will show us native plants from seedlings to maturity. This is a great way to learn how to identify a wide range of our native species.
The Pima County Native Plant Nursery (NPN) grows native plants for landscaping projects in public spaces such as roadsides and medians, restoration sites, flood control properties, libraries and parks. This small, 4-acre nursery operates differently than a standard retail nursery, with inventory driven by upcoming public projects rather than sales forecasts. Because the plants are grown for restoration, a robust IPM (Integrated Pest Management) program with organic pest control methods is in place. As part of the Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan, the nursery specializes in common, threatened, and rare species found in the Sonoran Desert.
After the native plant nursery tour, those who have time can also visit Prickly Park, adjacent to the nursery. The Park is a successful collaboration between Pima County and the Tucson Cactus and Succulent Society (TCSS), a local non-profit organization that rescues and salvages succulent species from private residences and large development projects all around town. Many of these rescued plants find their way to Prickly Park, where they can be enjoyed by the public for years to come. Come see how this once gravel mine and landfill has been transformed into a truly unique greenspace that now hosts a variety of wildlife!
Honeybee Canyon
Saturday 11 October, 7:30 am to 10:30 am
Meet : Honeybee Park parking lot, 13880 N Rancho Vistoso Blvd
Directions : Turn off Oracle Road and drive NW on 1st Ave in Oro Valley. Continue through the Tangerine light where the road becomes Rancho Vistoso Blvd. Past the Vistoso Highlands light the road curves and descends to Honeybee Canyon. Slow down as you cross the bridge as the parking lot entrance is right after the bridge. Best to use a GPS.
After an historically dry July and August, Honeybee Canyon received regular rains in the month of September resulting in a surge of plant growth. We will walk one mile up Honeybee wash with granitic shelves on either side that provide natural trellises for desert grasses, flowering plants, and cacti. The sandy canyon floor has vegetative islands of seep willow, burrobrush, and Gooding willow. We will see various desert vine species including wild snapdragon, twinevine, and pipevine. As we slowly gain elevation we will see Justicia longii,Coursetia bushes and a Escobaria cactus. Near the top of the canyon we will see the beautiful Owl petroglyph panel. Several plants will be in bloom at the time of this field trip.
Over the past year AZNPS has joined with the Vistoso Hiker Club in an effort to “rewild Honeybee Canyon”. Volunteers have made a sustained effort to manually and chemically take out buffel/fountaingrass, African lovegrasses and bermudagrass from the areas we will visit. Already native plants are emerging in the controlled areas.
Common Sense Passive Water Harvesting in Oro Valley and Oracle
Saturday 24 October7:30 am to noon
Meet : Trader Joe Parking lot on SE corner of Oracle/Magee. Just north of the shopping carts. We will carpool. Limit: 15 participants RSVP to tucsonaznpstrips@gmail.com
We are bringing back our pre-Covid popular annual learning tour about common sense passive water harvesting in Oro Valley and Oracle, led by Chuck LeFevre. Chuck is a berm, rock and boulder placer extraordinaire. Water harvesting landscapes will be visited along roadways, public common areas, and both small and large front yards. You will be impressed by the simplicity and sheer common sense of these passive water harvest projects. In Oracle we will also have a chance to botanize in and around the water harvest sites. For those who have time, we will stay and eat brunch together at the new Riot Grill in Oracle.
Instead of our regular meeting, we are encouraging our members to attend the talks and activities happening this month with the Flagstaff Festival of Science. Activities include a Harvest Festival at Colton Garden, the keynote presentation ‘Indigenous Food Systems Science’, an open house at Restoration Soils, and Navajo Food and Environmental Research Presentations. More information can be found at https://scifest.org/schedule-2025/
See you there!
October Chapter Meeting:
Tuesday, October 21, 7:00 PM. Ashley Doyle, herbalist and forager As a community herbalist, Ashley emphasizes empowerment in a self-sufficient lifestyle, through her herb work, known as Cinderfly Apothecary. Her work in the Flagstaff region includes wild food and herbal medicine workshops and the creation of a magazine, The Underground Good Witch Watch.
With an academic background in Nutrition and Dietetics, she has been immersed in the Flagstaff community since 2007 sharing the benefits of foraging, wildcrafting, and gardening.
6:00 – 9:00 pm @ Slow Body Brewing Company 831 E. 17th Street, Tucson.
COME RECONNECT WITH YOUR NATIVE PLANT ROOTS! This is a great chance to see old friends and make new ones, all while enjoying a pleasant evening on the Slow Body Patio.
Beverages will be available from Slow Body
Light refreshments provided (bring something to share if you wish)
Food truck available for more substantial fare
· Preview of the upcoming Tucson Native Plant year
· PLANT SWAP – bring an extra plant or two, and swap with your friends
· Book for sale – we will have a limited number of copies of the new book by our friend and recent past president Jack Dash and Luke Takata, “The Southwest Native Plant Primer: 235 Plants for an Earth-Friendly Garden,” just out from Timber Press. See the review in the last Plant Press Arizona. Copies are $24.99 and we will take checks or cash (no credit cards).
SeptemberMeeting – In-person meeting at the Colton Gardens, Museum of Northern Arizona Stay tuned for details
October Meeting Tuesday, October 21, 7:00 PM. Ashley Doyle, herbalist and forager As a community herbalist, Ashley emphasizes empowerment in a self-sufficient lifestyle, through her herb work, known as Cinderfly Apothecary. Her work in the Flagstaff region includes wild food and herbal medicine workshops and the creation of a magazine, The Underground Good Witch Watch.
With an academic background in Nutrition and Dietetics, she has been immersed in the Flagstaff community since 2007 sharing the benefits of foraging, wildcrafting, and gardening. Stay tuned for more details.
Comments Off on Webinar: Cities are the Place to Bee:
The Role of the City in Shaping Bee Communities,
Thurs., Oct. 16, 7:00 p.m. EDT
North American Native Plant Society is thrilled to announce that our next webinar will take place on October 2, 2025 and will feature bee ecologist, Anthony Ayers! Anthony will delve into how urban environments influence bee diversity, the impact of native plant richness, and the surprising ways residential gardens and public green spaces can become thriving sanctuaries for pollinators. You’ll learn which plants bees love most, how even small-scale gardens can make a big difference, and why public understanding of native bees is crucial for long-term conservation.
Through urbanization, humans have dramatically transformed natural landscapes into built-up environments, presenting numerous challenges for pre-existing biodiversity. Native bees in particular face threats from habitat loss and pollution to the spread of invasive species.
But there is hope! The urban parks and residential yards that make up a considerable portion of a city’s green space represent often untapped opportunities to create habitat for native bees.
In this webinar, Anthony Ayers will draw on his PhD research to delve into how urban environments influence bee diversity, the impact of native plant richness, and the surprising ways residential gardens and public green spaces can become thriving sanctuaries for pollinators. You’ll learn which plants bees love most, how even small-scale gardens can make a big difference, and why public understanding of native bees is crucial for long-term conservation.
Authors Jack Dash and Luke Takata will be on hand at the Museum of Northern Arizona Saturday August 16 from 2-3 p.m. for a launch of their new book The Southwest Native Plant Primer: 235 Plants for an Earth-Friendly Garden.
The Southwest Native Plant Primer is your essential guide to 235 native wildflowers, grasses, vines, cacti, and trees ideal for creating a beautiful garden that supports the environment. Designed for gardeners of all experience levels, this book highlights plants suited to the unique landscapes of New Mexico, Arizona, and the southern regions of Utah and Colorado. Whether you’re just getting started or looking to deepen your native plant knowledge, this primer offers practical inspiration for making a lasting impact in your yard—and beyond.
The book ties in perfectly with the Museum’s Shifting Life Zonesexhibit, on view now in the Courtyard Gallery and the Jaime Major Golightly Courtyard.
Non members will need to pay the admission fee to get in. This will not be recorded or available by zoom.
Thursday September 11, 6:00 – 8:00 pm at Slow Body Brewery.
COME RECONNECT WITH YOUR NATIVE PLANT ROOTS! This is a great chance to see old friends and make new ones, all while enjoying a pleasant evening on the Slow Body Patio.
Beverages will be available from Slow Body.
Light refreshments provided (bring something to share if you wish).
Food truck available for more substantial fare.
· Preview of the upcoming Tucson Native Plant year
· PLANT SWAP – bring an extra plant or two, and swap with your friends
· Book for sale – we will have a limited number of copies of the new book by our friend and recent past president Jack Dash and Luke Takata, “The Southwest Native Plant Primer: 235 Plants for an Earth-Friendly Garden,” just out from Timber Press. See the review in the last Plant Press Arizona. Copies are $24.99 and we will take checks or cash (no credit cards).
There’s lots to see out there – join us this month!
August 10 Roadside Grasses
August 16 Summer Bloomers at CSP
August 17 Waterman Restoration
August 23 Native Grasses and street runoff water harvesting
August 30 Madera Canyon Plant Walk
Roadside Grass Field Trip
Sunday 10 August 2025, 7:30 am to 9:30 am
Meet on the north side of the Trader Joe’s Parking area on the SE corner of Magee/Oracle
Roadsides are unlikely but surprising places to find dozens of native (and non-native) grasses.Join John Scheuring on a driving grass tour of roadside basins brimming with various grass species. We will see 12-14 native grasses and 3 invasive grasses. This will be a great way to learn our common grasses by seeing them side-by-side in bloom.
In addition to grasses, we will walk through swathes of blooming Arizona Caltrop. A highlight of the tour will be Trailing Grama Grass (Bouteloua diversispicula), the newly discovered roadside species common in Sonora that had only been previously found in Arizona in one remote area of Ironwood Forest.
We will not park or walk on busy roadways but bring a reflective vest if you have one.
Summer Bloomer Plant Walk : Catalina State Park
Saturday 16 August, 2025, 7 am to 10 am
Meet : Drive straight ahead past the CSP entrance to the north side of the main parking lot. We will meet at the kiosk near the cactus tile mosaic wall
Join Arizona Native Plant Society members on a leisurely walk through Upland Desert and Riparian plant communities along the 3-mile Canyon Loop trail. We will see reliable summer bloomers like Arizona Caltrop, the Orange Flameflower, Desert Honeysuckle and various Four o’clock species. An early summer morning is a great time to learn about key desert plants; including trees, grasses, and cacti. Besides the plants we will learn about geology and critters great and small.
Summer Plant Walk : Waterman Restoration Site
Sunday 17 August, 2025, 7 am to 10 am
Directions : Turn off I-10 onto Avra Valley Rd (Exit 242), turn west and drive 19 miles straight ahead. Turn left after the brown Interpretive Sites sign and drive one mile, bearing left.
Join Arizona Native Plant Society conservation chairman John Scheuring on a stroll through this impressive desert restoration site 15 years after getting a monoculture of buffelgrass under control and installing passive water harvesting. The setting is a limestone foothill slope snuggled at the base of the Waterman Mountains on Ironwood Forest National Monument.
We will see many of 130 native species growing on the 18 acres with focus on the keystone species that serve to restore and maintain the desert. Trailing four o’clock, Desert Hibiscus, Prickly lettuce, Desert Fairy Duster and various Abutilon species will be in bloom. In addition we will see actively growing bio-crust composed of a mix of mosses and lichens. We will see transplanted saguaros rescued by TCSS as well as the successful use of discarded Christmas Trees to reduce erosion in channels and headcuts. We will walk slowly over uneven ground for about a mile.
Join Jennifer Patton and Ben Wilder of Wilder Landscape Architects on a tour of a recently constructed streetside stormwater harvesting project. This project, funded by the City of Tucson’s Storm to Shade program, features twenty-four species of container grown native plants including four species of grasses, and a seed mix consisting of an additional thirty-three native species (12 of those grasses). Learn how the City is putting roadway runoff to work on City-owned parcels to grow shade.
Wilder will provide an overview of the project, and provide identification tips for the following grasses that you will see:
If we are lucky, there will also be successful germination of the numerous native plant species that were seeded, and we can have fun identifying those as well.
We will not park or walk on busy roadways but bring a reflective vest if you have one.
Five plant communities come together on Madera Canyon’s Proctor Loop Trail. Join naturalist Doug Moore for an ANPS monsoon nature walk in the canyon. We’ll take a stroll around “the Loop” looking for monsoon plants/flowers, and also insects, birds/nests and other nature.
Park & meet at the Proctor Parking Area. We will walk the .75 mile Proctor Loop. The monsoon season has brought precipitation to the canyon; both summer plants and animals are active. This is an easy to moderate walk on mostly paved trail with some uneven sections and mild altitude loss/gain. (We may take the primitive trail up to the upper bridge below the White House Loop, if not too overgrown!)
Bring a bag lunch; the group can picnic at Proctor (or higher in canyon if too warm) after the walk.To participate, you MUST be able to walk/stand for several hours. There are benches along the trail at intervals.
Please wear comfortable walking/hiking shoes. Bring water, binocs, hand lens, sun hat, & insect repellent; optional: camera, walking stick
Don’t wait to sign up as space is limited; walks often fill up fast!
Cautions:
1) Chiggers occur in the grassy habitat around/above Proctor. Bring insect repellent or powdered sulfur, consider wearing long pants and stay on the main trail as much as possible.
2) Monsoon weather can change quickly; safety is our utmost priority! If thunderstorms develop or lightening becomes possible, we will stop the walk and return to the parking area as quickly as possible.
3) There can be lots of wildlife on the road to the canyon in the morning. Please drive carefully and watch for wildlife! Enjoy these special animals and take care not to run them over!
In March, we were fortunate to host a program by Melissa Sevigny, author of Brave the Wild River: The Untold Story of Two Women Who Mapped the Botany of the Grand Canyon. It is always exciting to hear authors talk about their books, the challenges and successes of their experiences. The inspiration for Melissa’s book came from a display at NAU’s Cline Library and the ensuing conversation and encouragement of the Special Collections librarian.
April 2025: Pima County is unusual, and fortunate, in having a native plant nursery where plants are grown for restoration projects and mature plants are temporarily housed during construction projects. Amy Belk, manager of the Pima County Native Plant Nursery, was our April speaker, sharing some of the key differences between growing for restoration and growing for production or retail markets. Through education, they are also helping to bridge the botanical gaps between community development and conservation of our natural and cultural resources.
Upcoming! Plans are underway for our chapter’s annual Monsoon Mixer, held in July or August. This event is a way for members and plant enthusiasts to enjoy a social evening, highlighted by plant give-aways, raffles, and in some years a silent auction. Some years the event has even been blessed with a monsoon rain.
Tuesday, June 17, 7:00 PM: Becky Hardy. Butterflies: How To Attract Them To Your Garden Have you ever wondered how to attract more butterflies to your garden? Join Becky Hardy to find out. She will share tips on how to create a successful butterfly habitat as well as information about the different families of butterflies. Along with this information, she will share photos of some of the high-elevation species one can expect to find in the Flagstaff area.
Becky is first and foremost a butterfly enthusiast. She has had a lifelong passion, interaction, and observation of butterflies. Over the years, she has reared thousands of butterflies across multiple species. Becky shares her passion for butterflies with others by presenting to member-based organizations and at various nature festivals, as well as leading butterfly walks, garden talks and citizen science events. She also shares her enthusiasm for birds, butterflies, and native plants by facilitating adult, youth and school events. She is Northern Arizona Audubon Society’s education chair and most recently co-founded a local chapter of the nationally recognized North American Butterfly Association. The local chapter, Butterfly Enthusiasts of Northern Arizona (BENA), is a member based wildlife conservation and education nonprofit working to create a world where butterflies thrive, for the benefit of nature and people throughout Sedona, Flagstaff and the Verde Valley. For more information, visit Butterfly Enthusiasts of Northern Arizona.
Saturday, June 21: Becky Hardy. Aspen Corner, San Francisco Peaks Becky will lead a butterfly walk at Aspen Corner, Snowbowl Rd. Field trips generally leave from south end of the Walmart parking lot on Woodlands Boulevard on Saturday following the talk, April-October. Carpooling is usually available. Please watch social media for specific details.
Tuesday, July 15, 7:00 PM: Adair Patterson. Nursery Restoration Efforts of an Isolated Population of Bebb’s Willow (Salix bebbiana) in Northern Arizona Bebb’s Willow.
Photo: Max Licher
Bebb’s Willow (Salix bebbiana) populations in the lower Four Corners states are rare and isolated due to a number of climatic factors including global warming and glacial retreat. Located on the San Francisco Peaks, Arizona’s largest stand of Bebb’s Willow has historically flourished, but is currently at risk of extirpation. Due to a lack of reproductive success, prevalence of stand replacing fire and inconsistent precipitation, there has been very little seedling recruitment over the past century and 0% recruitment recorded in the past three decades. The NAU Research Greenhouse, in collaboration with The Nature Conservancy, are taking steps to help preserve the existing Bebb’s trees and restore fresh seedling to the area.
Adair Patterson is the manager of the NAU Research Greenhouse, a master gardener, and a botanical enthusiast in Flagstaff.
Hybrid meeting: in-person and via Zoom. Register in advance once in order to attend any of the meetings virtually: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/fCOe0-qlSZmMeGZNsNfV_ After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Use the link Zoom sends or the passcode 242464 to join the meeting.
Growing for Restoration – The Pima County Native Plant Nursery Program
Presented by Amy Belk, Director Pima County Native Plant Nursery
Meeting and Presentation, 7:00 pm in person and maybe on Zoom (link below)
U of A campus, Environment and Natural Resources Building (ENR2), Room S225
1064 E. Lowell Street, Tucson AZ
ZOOM LINK FOR APRIL AND MAY MEETINGS: Please note that we may not be able to zoom these meetings because we lack volunteers to help with tech management. If you sign on and there is no meeting, that is why.
DESCRIPTION: Pima County’s unique Native Plant Nursery Program supports the Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan by providing resources for local wildlife within public space projects, and by salvaging and replacing native plant species disturbed by public development projects. This talk explores some of the key differences between growing for restoration and growing for production or retail markets. Amy will talk about some of the exciting ways this program is helping to bridge the botanical gaps between community development and conservation of our natural and cultural resources.
Amy Belk (she/her) is a lifelong student and plant enthusiast who has managed Pima County’s Native Plant Nursery Program since 2021. She is currently pursuing a B.S. in Environmental Science from the University of Arizona and loves learning something new every day. Amy has been a Certified Arborist with ISA since 2015, and has worked in horticulture in Southern Arizona for more than 20 years. When not working, studying, tinkering in her garden, or spoiling her beloved sausage dog, she’s probably playing her guitar.
Comments Off on CELEBRATE THE 135th ANNIVERSARY OF THE U of A HERBARIUM
ARIZ is 135 years old! “ARIZ” is the official code for the Herbarium of the University of Arizona – and it’s celebrating its birthday! Come spend an evening under the stars celebrating this amazing legacy. All your favorite native plant and botanist friends will be there!
BioBlitz in the Santa Ritas on March 23, 2025 at 10AM
The Great Old Broads for Wilderness are planning a BioBlitz on Sunday March 23, 2025 at Barrel Canyon on the east side of the Santa Rita Mountains, close to the areas imperiled by the Copper World mine. The boundaries are directly over an aquifer that is sustaining riparian trees and other plants. The goals of the Bio-Blitz are to: • Identify any rare, threatened, or endangered species that are adjacent to Copper World mine • Create community awareness for people who care about our Sky Islands being destroyed • Generate a groundswell of opposition to future gambits by Hudbay (Canadian mining company) • Engender delight in this glorious part of our state!
Once we hear from you, we will send out additional details about parking and the meetup location. Please consider joining us! It’s going to be a fun day in a beautiful place!
Ashley Hall, Rangeland Management Agent Ashley will share her work on the Tonto National Forest. This presentation will be held at the Tonto Basin Chamber of Commerce, 45675 N Arizona Highway 188, Tonto Basin.
Thursday, April 3, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM.
Liz Makings, Research Specialist & ASU Herbarium Collections Manager Liz will lead a botany walk at Bushnell Tanks, located in Sunflower off State Highway 87. Pack a snack and water and wear sturdy hiking shoes.
Friday, April 4, 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM:
Patti Fenner, Executive Director of the Friends of the Tonto National Forest Patti will share information on how to ID, remove, dispose, and report Stinknet, an aggressive, nonnative invasive weed that has arrived in the Tonto Basin. We will meet at Tonto Basin Chamber of Commerce, 45675 N Arizona Highway 188, Tonto Basin.
Friday, May 2, 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM:
Laird Blackwell. Wildflower Adventures Laird is the author of numerous wildflower books. He will share his field work in this inspiring presentation. A year-end potluck will follow in the Chapter President’s garden/arboretum, 268 E Stephens Way, Tonto Basin. Please bring a dish to share.
Tuesday, March 18, 7:00 PM: Catherine Young. Analysis of Potential Hazards to the Future Conservation of the Endemic Alpine Species Packera franciscana
Catherine Young, a junior at the NAU School of Forestry, will present the important conservation breakthroughs that she has made for the threatened alpine sunflower, Packera franciscana. The species is only found near Flagstaff, above the treeline of the San Francisco Peaks. She successfully established the first captive population of these plants outside of a greenhouse setting. Her observations in the field suggest that a new hybrid zone has formed within the last 10 years. She has also created the first tissue culture protocol to produce genetically identical plants to those in the wild. The most recent developments are laying the foundation for her future project that will attempt to predict the response of the species to potential hazards such as climate change, competition with hybrids, and wildfire.
Tuesday, April 15, 7:00 PM: Amelia Blake. Propagating Native Plants
Growing uncultivated plant varieties can be challenging. They often have seed dormancy, unique soil needs, and don’t grow well in containers. Because of this, many native plants are not available in the nursery trade and native plant enthusiasts are left to cultivate their own. Amelia will discuss strategies for successful native-plant propagation.
Amelia is co-owner of Lily of the Filed Nursery, which focuses on growing native and heirloom plants that are especially well-adapted to the Flagstaff area. Amelia spent her childhood working with plants at the NAU Research Greenhouse during her father’s tenure as greenhouse manager. She received her B.S. in Plant Sciences from the University of Arizona. She then worked at Native Plant and Seed for three years before opening Lily of the Field Nursery in 2020 with her husband. She sells at most local markets, runs the Gardeners’ Market in east Flagstaff each spring, and sells by appointment from her home in the Upper Greenlaw neighborhood. Hybrid meeting: in-person and via Zoom.
Recent Molecular Phylogenetic Analyses of Alpine Spring Parsley, Pseudocymopterus montanus Alpine spring parsley (Pseudocymopterus montanus) is known to be highly variable morphologically and in its phenology. Dr. James Smith will present preliminary results that separate what we commonly call Pseudocymopterus montanus into several separate well-supported clades.
Dr. Smith is the Director of the Snake River Plains Herbarium at Boise State University. His research interests include the phylogenetics of western North American Apiaceae and using Sanger sequencing techniques to discover cryptic or near cryptic species within many widespread species. This will be a virtual event with Dr. Smith presenting from Idaho. The presentation will not be recorded.
U of A campus, Environment and Natural Resources Building (ENR2),1064 E. Lowell Street, Tucson AZ Room S225
Psittacanthus sonorae. Photo by Mark Dimmit
Humans often harbor prejudices regarding parasites, but parasitic plants have evolved fascinating adaptive strategies for their lifestyles, as well as providing some surprising benefits to wildlife and people. Although only 1% of angiosperms are parasitic, they are very successful. What factors foster the evolution of parasitism? What stimulates germination and how do these plants find their hosts? How do parasitic plants affect community structure? Let’s have a closer look at these plants to see what’s going on under the surface.
Arceuthobium microcarpum. Photo by Pinau Merlin
Pinau Merlin is a naturalist, speaker and writer and a long-time member of AZNPS. She is the author of several books and over 100 articles about the wildlife, natural history and ecology of the desert southwest, and was a contributing author to The Natural History of the Sonoran Desert. Pinau is also a natural history consultant for nature documentary films about the Sonoran Desert region. Her work has been featured on PBS and NPR and in Smithsonian and National Wildlife magazines.
The March program, featuring author Melissa Sevigny will be on Monday, March 17 at the usual time and place (7:00 pm at ENR2 Room S225 and on zoom). NOTE- this is MONDAY, not Thursday as is our traditional meeting day. Melissa is the author of Brave the Wild River: The Untold Story of Two Women Who Mapped the Botany of the Grand Canyon. Her book has won several awards, including the National Outdoor Book Award for History/Biography, and was a New Yorker Best Book of 2023. Ms. Sevigny is a science journalist at KNAU Public Radio in Flagstaff. She will also be appearing at the Tucson Festival of Books, March 15 and 16.
The Amazing World of Yuccas and Their Pollinators Presented by Wendy Hodgson, Senior Research Botanist at the Desert Botanical Garden
Yuccas are a widespread and important keystone species in our desert and mountain landscapes throughout the Southwest. Wendy will share the story of the incredible relationship between yuccas and hesperoyuccas and their pollinators. She will highlight incredible research by passionate investigators from the time these pollination relationships were first announced to the scientific world to the present, focusing on species occurring within our Sonoran and Mohave deserts. She will also address important questions as to how these pollination mutualisms will be affected by climate challenges.
Wendy has lived in and loved the Sonoran Desert for 55 years. She is Herbarium Curator Emerita and Senior Research Botanist at the Desert Botanical Garden. She studies southwest U.S. and northern Mexico floristics, with an emphasis on the Grand Canyon region. She also investigates the ecology of rare and endemic plants of the Southwestern US and northern Mexico and conducts research on the taxonomy and systematics of Agave, Yucca, and Hesperoyucca, including the study of pre-contact agave domesticated species. As an ethnobotanist, Wendy also specializes in Sonoran Desert food plants and is the author of Food Plants of the Sonoran Desert. She has collected over 33,500 herbarium specimens, including housands of specimens in difficult groups like Agavaceae and Cactaceae. Wendy works to foster diverse participation and collaboration in science by all interested parties, including community scientists and especially Indigenous Peoples, whose voices we have neglected to hear for far too long. Come to learn from Wendy about the fascinating stories of yuccas and their pollinators!
Meeting, Presentation, 7pm in person and on Zoom U of A campus, Environment and Natural Resources Building (ENR2), Room S225 1064 E. Lowell Street, Tucson
Save the date: February 13, at 7:00 pm. Pinau Merlin will talk about parasitic plants.
On Friday, November 1, our chapter met at the Shoofly Ruins in Payson to learn about grasses in the Tonto National Forest. Kenda Svoboda, North Zone Botanist from the Payson Forest Service, described several grass species as well as other plant species located in the area and provided useful handouts and a microscope for further identification.
Friday, December 6, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM. Botany Over the Bridge, Tonto Basin Join us for a 10-mile roundtrip adventure to explore the plant diversity in a chain-fruit cholla forest, desert ridge, and riparian area. This driving tour will include three stops and minimal walking. Directions: From Highway 188 in Tonto Basin, turn east on E Tonto Creek Bridge Rd. After crossing the new bridge, continue straight on FS Rd 71/Greenback Valley Rd. The road turns to gravel at 1.3 miles from Highway 188. Continue on the gravel road for 2.2 miles. Turn right into large parking area. You do not need high-clearance or 4-wheel drive. Carpooling will be encouraged at our first stop.
Friday, January 3, 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM. Boyce Thompson Arboretum Carpooling will be arranged from Tonto Basin. Please RSVP so we can secure a group rate and/or library passes.
Wendy Hodgson: Pre-contact Agaves in the Southwestern United States: Rediscovering Lost Crops Among the Hohokam and Other Arizona Cultures Location: Payson Public Library, 328 N McLane Rd, Payson, AZ
Comments Off on Flagstaff Chapter Meetings you can view
Recordings of Past Meetings The following presentations were recorded in 2024 and can be viewed the Flagstaff Chapter’s Facebook page or at The Arizona Native Plant Society website. Megan Swan, Hannah Andrascik, Christopher Calvo, NPS Southern Colorado Plateau Network:Taking the Pulse of Vegetation Communities in National Parks on the Colorado Plateau Mariola Barrera:Plant Demography and Fecundity Traits for Mutton Bluegrass (Poa fendleriana) Zane Robertson:The Genetic Identity and Range of Rumex orthoneurus (Polygonaceae) Jesse Duff-Woodruff: A Day in the Life of an Agency Botanist Wendy McBride:Conserving Rare Plants and Their Pollinators Janice Busco: The Life and Seasons of the Living Roof Catherine Young: The Efficacy of Using Terminal and Axillary Bud Cuttings as a Means of Propagation for the Endemic Alpine Species San Francisco Peaks Ragwort (Packera franciscana
Re-hydrating and Re-enlivening Our Communities with Rain-watered Neighborhood Food Forestry
Presented by Brad Lancaster
Thursday, November 14, 2024
Live at 7:00 pm or on zoom
U of A campus, Environment and Natural Resources Building (ENR2), Room S255 — 1064 E. Lowell Street, Tucson AZ
This presentation is about neighborhood forestry efforts empowering citizens, and contractors, to effectively plant the rain and native food-bearing vegetation to grow vibrant and resilient abundance where they live, work, and play. Then train them up and support them with the education, guidance, collaborations, and policy that enable them to better steward the plantings for decades to come. Dramatic results include cooler neighborhoods, healthier eating, a revitalization of indigenous cuisine, deeper connections with people and place, reduced flooding, skill building, greater soil fertility, and more beauty and joy. The strategies and practices are accessible to all and most are free or cost no more than the price of a shovel. View these strategies in practice at: https://dunbarspringneighborhoodforesters.org/
Presenter: Brad Lancaster
Brad Lancaster is the author of the award-winning book Rainwater Harvesting for Drylands and Beyond and co-founder of Neighborhood Foresters. Since 1993 Brad has run a successful permaculture education, design, and consultation business focused on integrated regenerative approaches to landscape design, planning, and living. In the Sonoran Desert, with just 11 inches (280 mmm) of average annual rainfall, he and his brother’s family harvest about 100,000 gallons (378,000 liters) of rainwater a year on an eighth-acre (0.05 ha) urban lot and adjoining right-of-way. This harvested water is then turned into living air conditioners of food-bearing shade trees, abundant gardens, and a thriving landscape incorporating wildlife habitat, beauty, medicinal plants, and more. The goal of his work is to empower his clients and community to make positive change in their own lives andneighborhoods—by harvesting and enhancing free on-site resources such as water, sun, wind, shade, community, and more.
Comments Off on An Introduction to the History, Geology, Flora, and Fauna of theDragoon Mountains, Cochise County:
Thursday, October 10, 7:00 PM: Douglas Ripley, President, Arizona Native Plant Society.
One of the “Lesser Sky Islands” of southeastern Arizona, the Dragoon Mountains possess an incredible history, geology, flora, and fauna. Since retiring to Cochise County in 2008, Doug Ripley and his good friend, well-known Arizona botanist Jim Verrier, have been studying the Dragoon Mountains with a goal of compiling a floristic catalogue and eventually publishing a comprehensive flora of the area. In this talk, Doug will present an introduction to the mountains by summarizing the work he and Jim have accomplished to date using photos taken and data collected during their field work. Location: The ENR2 Building, University of Arizona
Friday, October 4, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Becky Settje. Tools of the Trade Learn about websites and books to help identify Arizona native plants and practice using a hand lens. Following the presentation, we will use our new skills to identify some native plants in the chapter president’s garden.
Kenda Svoboda. Grasses of the Mazatzal Foothills Kenda Svoboda from the Payson Forest Service will lead us in a grass walk at the Deer Creek Trailhead located at the intersection of Highway 87 and Highway 188, south of Rye. Bring your hand lens, if you have one, and have fun learning how to ID grasses in the field.
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Don’t miss our last meeting of 2024!
Megan Swan, Christopher Calvo, and Hannah Andrascik will be presenting “Taking the Pulse of Vegetation Communities in National Parks on the Colorado Plateau ” . The Southern Colorado Plateau Network is one of 32 Inventory and Monitoring Networks across the U.S. The National Park Service established these networks to inventory natural resources in parks and track their condition. This information helps park managers to make decisions about the natural resources in their parks. One of the important things we monitor are plant communities, where we have over 17 years worth of data. Come learn about our group, our techniques, and our science, as we explore long-term vegetation trends within our regional habitats. Megan Swan is a Plant Ecologist who has worked monitoring upland ecosystems for the National Park Service for over 15 years. Hannah Andrascik is the Upland Vegetation Field Crew Lead and has been with the National Park Service for over 11 years. Christopher Calvo is a Biologist and Science Communicator and has been doing science in the southwest US for 19 years.
The meetings are now being held at Highgate Senior Living Center at 1831 N Jasper Dr. on McMillan Mesa. Park anywhere in the parking lot or on the street. Buzz to be let in if the door is locked and come upstairs to the second floor. The meeting is the 3rd Tuesday, October 15 at 7 PM.If attending virtually, register in advance for this meeting at: https://bit.ly/FlagAZNPS
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
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Back by popular demand, the AZ Native Plant Society and the University of Arizona Herbarium will offer a two-day combination lecture and hands-on workshop for students serious about doing grass ID work. The course goals are to impart sufficient knowledge for students to make wise decisions regarding collection of grasses, to provide complete information on grass morphology, and to teach the use of keys for identification of most Arizona species. Handout materials, dissecting scopes, tools, and pressed grass specimens for study will be provided. The first day will be lecture mixed with hands-on work. The second day can be for review if needed or desired and questions, plus working with keys from various references. Total enrollment for the class is 18 students. Last year the class filled rapidly, and a waiting list was established. This year we will consult the 2023 waiting list and offer class slots to individuals on last year’s waiting list and who wish to take the course this year.
Instructors: Mike Bauer with assistance from several AZNPS members, Dr. Shelley McMahon, Herbarium Curator and Associate Professor, UA, and George Ferguson, UA Herbarium Collections Manager. Sponsors: University of Arizona Herbarium and Arizona Native Plant Society
There are two, one-day classes scheduled. When: November 1 and November 15 2024, 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM Where: University of Arizona Herbarium, Herring Hall Cost: $40 For Registration Contact: Douglas Ripley, jdougripley@gmail.com, 520-909-3132
After being in an inactive status for over two years, we are planning to reactivate the Cochise Chapter! An in-person meeting will be held on Saturday morning, October 11, at 10:00 AM at the San Pedro House Nature Center, San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area, 9800 AZ-90, Sierra Vista, AZ
We will meet at the ramada behind the house.
The meeting will include a review of the history of the Cochise Chapter and outline projects and activities that could be offered in the future. Participants will be encouraged to offer suggestions for future programs and activities. Following the meeting, attendees are invited to join a nature walk along the San Pedro River in the San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area.
Contacts for more information: Douglas Ripley, jdougripley@gmail.com, 520-909-3132 Amy Metz, amy13jsa@gmail.com, 303-507-8571 The Chapter has established a Facebook website (http://www.facebook.com/ AZNPSCochise) where much useful information about the chapter and its members is posted.
Friday, December 1, 10:00 – 12:00 PM Exploring the Foothills of the Four Peaks Wilderness at Rock Creek Trailhead located on Forest Service Road 445 & Highway 188. This botany walk will highlight keystone species in the riparian areas of the Tonto National Forest.
Comments Off on 6 AGAVES DOMESTICATED BY SOUTHWESTERN INDIGENOUS PEOPLE
Published in the Annals of Botany, Desert Botanical 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.
Comments Off on Browse the Index of “Plant Press Arizona”
Published semiannually in themed issues, the “Plant Press Arizona” offers in-depth articles on a topic, such as rare plant conservation and regular features such as book reviews, committee reports, and spotlights on specific native plants.
All current and back issues of “Plant Press Arizona” have been professionally indexed. Our Index page is here.
Comments Off on Bisbee Earns National Wildlife Federation Recognition
This story is part of the Arizona Spotlight episode which aired on August 24, 2023.
A group of volunteers in Bisbee is celebrating their city’s official designation as a Community Wildlife Habitat by the National Wildlife Federation.
The group, Project Wildlife: Bisbee, got at least 100 property owners to commit to planting native species to provide food for pollinators, cover, and a place to raise young.
Regular evening programs are presented on the third Tuesday of the month, March through October, at 7:00 PM via Zoom. Some of the meetings have been recorded and can be viewed the Flagstaff Chapter’s Facebook or at The Arizona Native Plant Society. For details about upcoming meetings, please see our email distribution list (naris123@cs.com), Facebook page, or AZNPS.com. Field trips are typically held the weekend following the evening presentation. Watch the email distribution list for information about upcoming field trips.
Tuesday, September 19, 7:00 PM: Andrew Salywon. Using Trained Dogs to Detect Endangered Spiranthes delitescens The objective of this work is to determine the ability of detection dogs to identify the presence of Spiranthes delitescens. If successful, the use of detection dogs would be a powerful tool to aid future surveys to relocate historical populations or discover previously undocumented populations of Canelo Hills ladies’ tresses. Utilizing trained dogs and their powerful sense of smell can greatly aid conservationists by making plant surveying much more efficient, thus requiring less human effort and resources. Spiranthes delitescens have recently been observed in small numbers at only one of four historically documented sites.
Tuesday, October 17, 7:00 PM:
Lane Butler. Assessment and Status of Rumex orthoneurus, a Rare and Vulnerable Forest Service Conservation Agreement Species on the Tonto National Forest
This talk will tell the story of Rumex orthoneurus on the Tonto National Forest from the late seventies to the present. How have populations changed? How has management changed? What actions have been taken to conserve the species under Conservation Agreements? What is the species status today and what does its future look like? Lane will address these questions and more. Lane Butler is currently working on several rare and endangered plant conservation grants at the Desert Botanical Garden. She enjoys hunting for (and finding!) rare plants, especially flowering Arizona hedgehog cacti on the Tonto National Forest. In 2015, she earned her Master of Science at ASU in Plant Conservation Biology in the riparian plant community ecology lab. Her project emphasized the relationships of plant and butterfly abundance and diversity to stream-flow permanence along Sonoran Desert streams.
Comments Off on Tonto Basin Events: September-December 2023
We will kick off the fall season with a Meet & Greet Social on
Saturday, September 30, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM at 268 E. Stephens Way, Tonto Basin.
Regular Chapter meetings will resume in October. Locations, dates and times will be posted on our Facebook (https://tinyurl.com/27eb2hj3) and Instagram (www.instagram.com/aznpstontobasin/) accounts.
First Friday Field Trips will begin October 6 and be held monthly thru May at various locations in Gila County. Details and updates for all our chapter meetings, First Friday Field Trips, and special events will be posted on our Facebook and Instagram accounts. If you don’t want to miss out on our Chapter’s activities, please email your contact info to tontobasinnativeplants@gmail.com. We would love to have you join us! Our chapter is looking for volunteers to help with botany walks, community service events and social media. If you would like to help, please contact us at tontobasinnativeplants@gmail.com.
Calendar of Events Saturday, September 30, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM: In the Garden Meet & Greet Social at 268 E. Stephens Way, Tonto Basin, AZ 85553 Bring your coffee or tea and enjoy the company of other plant loving folks while we have fun identifying native plants in a six-acre garden.
Friday, October 6, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Plant Families Botany Walk, Payson, AZ (exact location TBD )
Saturday, October 28, 4:30 PM – 6:00 PM: Nighttime Pollinators & Full Moon Walk,
268 E. Stephens Way, Tonto Basin, AZ 85553 Friday, November 3, 10:00 am – 12:00 PM: First Friday Field Trip, Tonto National Monument
Saturday, November 18, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Botany 101, Tonto Basin Chamber of Commerce, 45675 N. Highway 188, Tonto Basin, AZ 85553
Friday, December 1, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Exploring the Foothills of The Four Peaks Wilderness
The goal of this field guide is to enable readers to identify 54 flowering plant families. The focus is on illustrating the field recognition characters with photographs. Take the plunge – learn the characteristics of the plant families presented here – and in short order you will be automatically classifying the plants you encounter.
U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management. 2021. Recognizing Plant Families of the West: Field Guide. Bureau of Land Management, Colorado.
Comments Off on Late SummerField Trips, Workshops and Mixers
We have a number of excellent field trip offerings at this time for AZNPS members. Contact emails are not the same for all trips, so pay attention to the email address inserted in each trip announcement.
Don’t forget our Monsoon Mixer and Plant Swap on Friday, August 18th at the MSA Annex on 267 South Avenida Del Convento
A Morning Stroll in a Happily Recovering Desert at the Waterman Restoration Site
Directions : Turn west at I-10 Avra Valley Road exit 242
Drive west exactly 19.5 miles
Turn left immediately after the HOLCIM sign
Drive straight ahead 1 mile, bearing left all the way
Meet at the first turn-out
The Waterman Restoration site on Ironwood Forest National monument is now in full desert recovery with over 110 native plant species and a gradually increasing number of insects, birds, small mammals, reptiles and even visits of desert sheep. In the mid-2000s this same site was known as the “Mother of all Buffelgrass Patches.” After generous recent rains, the desert is now coming alive. Perennial plants are leafing out and new plants are emerging underfoot. We will stroll through a desert in various stages of restoration, walking among mid-size and newly emerging desert trees, ocotillos, and bushes; learning how to identify them in different phases. We will learn about many overlooked plants that are powerful restoration agents and soil builders. We will see plant succession in action among trees and shrubs. We will also see how simple water harvesting techniques have brought life-giving moisture to the landscape and healed areas that had been bare and apparently “sterile.” Best of all, we will discover new things from participants who happen to see something unexpected or who have knowledge or observations to share with the group. This will be an opportunity to enjoy the desert together and learn from one another!
Roadside Grasses, including the newly discovered roadside Trailing Grama
Sunday 20 August
8am to 10am
Meet on the north side of the Trader Joe’s Parking area on the SE corner of Magee/Oracle
Roadsides are unlikely but surprising places to find dozens of native (and non-native) grasses. Join John Scheuring on a driving grass tour of roadside basins briming with various grass species. This will be a great way to learn our common grasses by seeing them side-by-side in bloom. We will also see Trailing Grama Grass (Bouteloua diversispicula), the newly discovered roadside species common in Sonora that had only been previously found in Arizona in one remote area of Ironwood Forest. We will not park or walk on busy roadways but bring a reflective vest if you have one.
Lower Carrie Nation Trail Plant & Nature Walk
Madera Canyon
Saturday, August 268:00 am- 1:00 pm
Leader: Doug Moore. Friends of Madera Canyon Naturalist
Limit: 10 participants; AZNPS members only
on the Wrightson loop drive)RSVP totucsonaznpstrips@gmail.comMeet at Mt. Wrightson Picnic Area: 3rd upper right-side parking lot (with 1st restroomon the Wrightson loop drive)
Morning plant/nature walk on the beautiful lower Carrie Nation Trail, hiking up to & just above the “big rock” at the 2nd stream crossing seeking wildflowers, plants, birds, butterflies, & more We will watch for Elegant Trogon, Chiricahua Mountain Larkspur, Charles Mason’s Ragwort, Huachuca Mountain Addersmouth, Orchids, & other monsoon specialties along the trail.
Description: Approx. 1.75 miles roundtrip; moderate to difficult hiking on uneven, rocky ground w/ steady elevation gain & a stream crossing. The trail is mostly shaded, but the weather may be warm. Must be able to hike/stand for several hours & negotiate long downhill returning to parking area. Participants need to be in good physical shape & health for this activity!
Bring: water, good hiking shoes or boots, walking stick/poles, binoculars, sunscreen, sun hat & trail snacks for stop at the top. Optional: hand-held camera. Note: May need to return to parking lot immediately in the event of thunderstorm & lightening.
Sabino Canyon Herp and Plant Trip
Sunday, August 20th, 6pm-8pm
Meet at the Sabino Canyon Visitors Center
RSVP to nativeplantstucson@gmail.comJoin Tucson Herpetological Society President Robert Villa and AZNPS Tucson Chapter President Jack Dash on a natural history walk in Sabino Canyon. We will be looking out for reptiles, amphibians, plants, and whatever else we happen across. This trip is open to members of THS and AZNPS and is free (however Sabino Canyon does charge an $8 parking fee). Despite our lack of reliable rainfall this summer Sabino Canyon should hold some interesting species for us to discuss. We will be hiking in the evening so flashlights/blacklights are encouraged for the walk back to the parking lot. Remember to bring plenty of water.
Late Summer in the Chiricahua Mountains
September 16, 17, and 18, 2023
Southwestern Research Station, Portal, Cochise CountyQuestions or More Information: Please contact Doug Ripley at jdougripley@gmail.com
The Cochise and Tucson Chapters of the Arizona Native Plant Society are again sponsoring a long weekend in the Chiricahua Mountains of southeastern Cochise County.
These richly diverse mountains are one the northern-most islands in the Madrean Archipelago that encompasses parts of Arizona, New Mexico , Sonora, and Chihuahua. Come enjoy this weekend with us. Whatever the weather, there will be botanical treats and great company.
Accommodations, including meals, will be provided by the Southwestern Research Station.
Comments Off on Late Summer in the Chiricahua Mountains, September 16, 17, and 18, 2023
Southwestern Research Station, Portal, Cochise County.
The Cochise and Tucson Chapters of the Arizona Native Plant Society are again sponsoring a long weekend in the Chiricahua Mountains of southeastern Cochise County. These richly diverse mountains are one the northern-most islands in the Madrean Archipelago that encompasses parts of Arizona, New Mexico , Sonora, and Chihuahua. Come enjoy this weekend with us. Whatever the weather, there will be botanical treats and great company.
Tentative Schedule: Day 1: Arrive mid to late afternoon, check in, eat supper and head for the education center for some plant talks and discussion.
Day 2: An all-day field trip to a location to be determined. Or alternatively, stay nearer SWRS and attend one or both of two shorter field trips. Happy Hour at the pool before dinner. Evening program in the station’s education center consisting of a plant ID workshop for plants encountered during the field trips.
Day 3: A morning field trip, lunch, and then depart.
Registration: Accommodations, including meals, will be provided by the Southwestern Research Station.
PLEASE CONTACT DOUG RIPLEY (jdougripley@gmail.com) FOR THE REGISTRATION FORM.
Comments Off on Mark Your Calendar for the Monsoon Mixer
Annual Monsoon Mixer:
This year’s AZNPS Tucson chapter Monsoon Mixer is scheduled for August 18th at 6:30pm at the MSA Annex at 267 South Avenida del Convento, Tucson, AZ 85745. Put the date on your calendars, and keep an eye out for further updates. This will be a plant like last year, so set aside native plants, native plant literature, and seed to exchange. Membership is not required to attend this event.
Comments Off on July Flagstaff Chapter AZNPS meeting July 18th, 7 PM, Nora Ventrella – Rare and Restoration Plants of The Navajo Nation
The July meeting of the Flagstaff Chapter of the AZNPS will be the third Tuesday, July 18th, at 7 PM via Zoom. You will need to register ahead of time to get a Zoom invitation.Nora Ventrella – Rare and Restoration Plants of The Navajo Nation; Conservation Activities of the Navajo Natural Heritage Program
Nora Ventrella has been the botanist for the Navajo Natural Heritage Program with the Navajo Nation Department of Fish and Wildlife for the past 6 years. As a part of this program she collects, manages, and disseminates information on threatened and endangered plant species on Navajo lands, and is the curator of the Navajo Nation herbarium located in Flagstaff. This talk will cover monitoring and conservation efforts by NNHP focused on threatened and endangered plants of the Navajo Nation. This talk will also focus on seed banking and plant propagation activities conducted by the newly created Diné Native Plants Program; a tribally-run restoration program focused on bringing native and culturally-important plants back to tribal lands.
Nora has her master’s degree in plant biology and conservation from the joint program between Northwestern University and the Chicago Botanic Garden. Her research background focused on Colorado plateau flora, invasive species, local adaptation, and seed sourcing for restoration.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Arizona Native Plant Society talks are free and open to the public. See aznps.com to become a member.
Comments Off on FILM RELEASE – Native Seeds: Supplying Restoration
The International Network for Seed-based Restoration (INSR) is thrilled to announce the upcoming release of “Native Seeds: Supplying Restoration,” a nine-part video series about the native seed supply chain in the Western United States. Episodes will be posted weekly starting June 29 atser-insr.org/native-seed-film. The summer series will culminate in the release of a feature-length film version on August 24.
Filmed over four seasons, this documentary series explores the people working to scale up the supply of native seeds to meet the growing restoration demand, weaving together footage with seed collectors, farmers, researchers, and land managers across the Western United States. We see the extensive scale of damage to vast landscapes and meet tenacious people who are finding creative, scrappy solutions to restore ecosystems.
Thank you to the many PCA federal and non-federal cooperators who were involved in the funding and production of this video series!
Visit the PCA twitter (@natseedstrategy) or Facebook page (@PlantConservationAlliance) to view the trailer today. Updates about the series will be posted on these social media pages throughout the summer as the episodes are released.
Comments Off on Upcoming AZNPS Volunteer opportunities June-July-August
This summer there will be several conservation related volunteer activities to support our ongoing native plant restoration efforts on the Waterman Restoration Site and A-Mountain. If you are interested in participating please contact for details : aznpsconservation@yahoo.com
Foothill Palo Verde Pod Harvesting along west Avra Valley road. Seed from this harvest will be planted at the Waterman Restoration and on A-Mountain. Volunteers will clear (lop) undergrowth to make room for harvest, catch seed pods with tarps, and whack trees to harvest the pods.
Date and Time : 7am on Saturday 1 July
Meeting Location : Intersection of Avra Valley and Pump Station Roads (1st cattle guard)
Wear : sturdy boots, long sleeved plants and shirt, and bring work gloves
Baby Saguaro transplanting on the Waterman Restoration Site. Volunteers will meet at the Waterman Restoration Site to dig holes, pre-water, and transplant baby saguaros gifted to AZNPS by the Tucson Cactus and Succulent Society.
Date and Time : 7am on Saturday 1 July
Meeting Location : Waterman Restoration Site. 19 Miles from I-10 on Avra Valley Rd, then turn left at the new Holcim sign and drive straight for 1 mile, bearing left.
Wear : sturdy boots, long sleeved plants and shirt, and bring work gloves
Comments Off on Native Plant Art Show at UA through August 3
Native Plant Art Show
This summer the UA Special collections Gallery is running a show titled: “Inspired by Plants: the Art and Science of the UA Campus Floregium”
This show features illustrations of the plants in the Joseph Wood Krutch Garden at the University. The exhibit runs until August 3. Click the link below for more details
Comments Off on Wild Ride on a Roller Coaster, Spring 2023, Part 3
What an incredible spring this has been and my story continues to the east to the Rincon Mountain foothills, March, April, and May and south to Santa Cruz County, May.
Throughout February and March, the Rincon foothills were rather drab compared to Picacho Peak and the Watermans. A hard freeze during the winter had killed the tops of the brittlebush, so they had to resprout new buds before they could bloom. But snow in early March gave a nice boost to seedlings, including plants in the mustard family. Gordon’s bladderpod (Physaria gordonii), western white bladderpod (Physaria purpurea), and jewel weed (Streptanthus carinatus arizonicus) were blooming in abundance by early April.
But something was missing. There were almost no spring native bees. Andrena prima is an early native bee that specializes on the bladderpods. In previous years of good blooms, there had been dozens, if not hundreds, of these red and black bees in Colossal Cave Mountain Park. This year, I saw a total of only three Andrena prima bees over weeks of checking several miles of trails.
Physaria gordoniiAndrena prima on Physaria gordoniiStreptanthus carinatus arizonicus
One of the earliest cacti to bloom is Echinomastus erectocentrus, which can bloom in late March or early April. It is a treat to see its pale pink flowers tucked in among the rugged limestone of the Rincon foothills. Littleleaf sumac (Rhus microphylla) and broom milkwort (Polygala scoparioides) are also among the early bloomers, though many people may not notice them. As the temperatures warm, those are followed by yellow mariposa lilies (Calochortus kennedyi) and the incredible blue Cochise beardtongue (Penstemon dasyphyllus).
There are easily over 100 species of plants that flower during the spring in this area, so I can only include a tiny fraction of them here. The hillslopes of the Rincon foothills host a succession of large plants putting on a show during March, April, and May. First, the banana yucca (Yucca baccata) is the main show, followed by ocotillo (Fouquieria splendens), followed by foothills palo verde (Parkinsonia microphylla), and lastly, the stately saguaros (Carnegiea gigantea).
Among my favorites though are the less conspicuous, smaller flowers, among them, snapdragon vine (Maurandya antirrhiniflora) and Arizona Wrightwort (Carlowrightia arizonica), which reminds me of a flock of tiny swans taking flight. In shady spots, especially near the banks of washes, Thurber’s desert honeysuckle (Anisacanthus thurberi) attracts brilliant metallic green broadbill hummingbirds.
Yucca baccataYucca elataFouquieria splendens and Carnegiea giganteaFouquieria splendens and Carnegiea giganteaMaurandya antirrhinifloraCarlowrightia arizonicaAnisacanthus thurberi
And now South to Santa Cruz County. By late May, the snow of early March seems like a distant memory. Temperatures routinely reach the mid 90’s., and the ephemeral poppies and lupines are long gone. But late May has its own wildflower rewards. Desert willow (Chilopsis linearis), white thorn acacia (Vachellia constricta), prickly poppy (Argemone pleiacantha), saguaro (Carnegiea gigantea), coral bean (Erythrina flabelliformis), and soaptree yucca (Yucca elata) flowers are familiar to many. But other flowers may be less familiar. Among my favorites are kidneywood (Eysenhardtia orthocarpa), because the clusters of white flowers smell like root beer. Another favorite is the rock trumpet (Mandevilla brachysiphon), which smells like gardenias to me. I also love the purple scalystem (Elytraria imbricata) because it has such whimsical looking flowers. Sandbells (Nama hispidum) are another favorite, sometimes forming a mound of purple flowers.
But one special plant had eluded me for all these years: a wild Arizona rainbow cactus (Echinocereus rigidissimus) in bloom. This had long been on my wish list. I always found one just a little too soon or a little too late. This spring, Santa Cruz County granted my wish, with several cacti in full bloom. One especially large specimen had 8 massive flowers. The Arizona rainbow cactus makes a fitting grand finale to this roller coaster ride of spring wildflowers.
Comments Off on Tucson saguaros in a “super bloom” thanks to winter rain
John Scheuring, Conservation Committee Chairman for the Arizona Native Plant Society, appeared on TV-KOLD to talk about this. He said it’s been years since Tucson has seen this many saguaro blooms.
“This year we had wonderful winter rains. We didn’t have that much, maybe about four inches, but they were well spaced during the month of December, January and February,” said Scheuring.
Yuma will forgo regular monthly, in-person meetings for the foreseeable future. Instead, we will focus on outdoor activities, such as field trips and work projects, with a virtual format for meetings and similar indoor activities. Announcements of these events and other news updates will be posted via email. If you would like to receive updates, please contact us at our chapter email (yumanativeplant@gmail.com) and ask to be put on our list. Chapter Offices President: Valerie Morrill; Vice President: Karen Reichhardt; Secretary: Deirdre MacDonald; Treasurer: Tom Fox
Trip Reports This spring, Yuma came to life again, both the chapter and the desert! Following a hiatus, members reconvened in time for a limited but surprisingly good spring bloom. During our first outing, we visited Imperial Sand Dunes, Tumco Historic Mining District, with the option of a tour of the Center of the World. The sand dunes stop is a favorite of ours, as we can count on seeing the unusually tall creosote. But what we hadn’t expected was an abundance of blooming flowers. En route to our next stop, we marveled over a small runnel exploding in pink. There we were, again so enamored with the array of blossoms, we oohed and aahed in delight. We eventually completed the half-mile or so to our destination, but instead of entering the historic site, we made a side trip down a wash to see even more spectacular blooms. We had the presence of mind to take the obligatory photo (after about half of us had left, of course!) to prove that we had indeed been there. Perhaps next time we’ll try to see the site.
We made our second field trip to Painted Desert trail, in the Imperial Wildlife Refuge. This trail, through bands of volcanic tuff, is colorful in its varied palette of infertile ash, but it is not known as a wildflower hotspot. However, 50 species later, our group was content with the outing. Again, we posed for an obligatory photo after several of our group had headed back to civilization. We were glad we remembered how to document, even if it was old school.
On a completely different note, the city of Yuma reached out to our chapter to collaborate on the annual dinner theater event, Native Gardens. In conjunction with Master Gardeners and AZ Wildlife Federation, we advised on native plant ingredients for set design, table decor, and dinner and specialty beverages (prickly-pear margaritas!). In addition to acknowledging our collaboration in the printed programs and during performances, the city gave us the opportunity to provide information displays. And perhaps by accident, we also performed as extras in the play. This sort of collaboration could be a wonderful opportunity for chapters across the state. It gave us exposure to upwards of 900 attendees, providing them with access to information on native plants that may be new to them. For additional information on Native Gardens, please see playwright Karen Zacarías’s website (www.karenzacarias.com/plays/native-gardens-2/).
Lastly, the summer is a time for Yumans to hibernate, estivate, or migrate. We will continue learning and exploring our virtual options to stay engaged and look forward to returning in the fall with field trips across our region. Stay tuned.
Comments Off on Ironwood Forest National Monument, March and April
Wild Ride on a Roller Coaster, Spring 2023, Part 2
by Jillian Cowles
What an incredible spring this has been!
The contrast between the Ironwood Forest National Monument and Picacho Peak was startling. Though not far apart geographically speaking (about 13 miles as the raven flies), there was very little overlap in the species of wildflowers blooming.
Ironwood Forest National Monument
In March, the Ironwood Forest National Monument had miniature composites (Monoptilon bellioides and Eriophyllum lanosum) scattered across the ground, in some areas as numerous as the stars in the sky.
Desert anemones (Anemone tuberosa) and scorpionweed (Phacelia crenulata) added touches of pink or purple. Caliche mallow (Sphaeralcea laxa) blooms with pinkish flowers in the Waterman Mountains, different from the orange form seen more commonly in the Rincon foothills. The mallow specialist bee Diadasia diminuta can often be seen in these flowers.
Anemone tuberosaPhacelia crenulataSphaeralcea laxa and Diadasia diminuta bee
To be expected, plants in the mustard family (Brassicaceae) were among the earliest blooming wildflowers, including Gordon’s bladderpod (Physaria gordonii) and jewelweed (Streptanthus carinatus arizonicus).
By mid-April, hedgehog cactus (Echinocereus fasciculatus), mountain larkspur (Delphinium scaposum), rock hibiscus (Hibiscus denudatus), and many other flowers were blooming.
Some were tiny, such as the spineflower (Chorizanthe rigida) and Guadalupe cat’s eye (Cryptantha maritima).
Chorizanthe rigidaCryptantha maritima
The Waterman restoration site was carpeted with a dazzling mass of brittlebush flowers, beautiful to see. But it was also getting hot by mid-April. Even photographing a few plants such as desert pincushion (Chaenactis stevioides), desert trumpet (Eriogonum inflatum), and threadstem (Nemacladus orientalis) left me wiped out. I never did get photos of the spectacular brittlebush.
Chaenactis stevioides and grasshopper nymphChaenactis stevioidesEriogonum inflatumNemacladus orientalis
Saturday, June 17th, 7:30 AM – 11:30 AM Natural History Institute hosts a Prescott Chapter of Arizona Native Plant Society field experience to the Alligator Juniper that serves as a Granite Mountain Hotshot crew memorial. Join us on this Father’s Day to visit what is sometimes referred to as the “Grandfather Juniper.” Bring snacks, water and be prepared to walk up to 5 miles.
Saturday, July 15, 8:00 – 1:00 PM Highlands Center for Natural History hosts a Prescott Chapter of Arizona Native Plant Society guided walk and workshop. Learn more about the parsley and carrot plant family with a short stroll followed by a hands-on investigation at the Discovery Gardens ramada. Bring snacks, water and be prepared to walk up to one mile.
Saturday, August 26, 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM City of Prescott Community Nature Center and Highlands Center for Natural History hosts a Prescott Chapter of Arizona Native Plant Society community and family-friendly Wildflower Celebration event. Participants can expect to go on short, guided walks and engage with hands-on learning activities. Bring snacks, water and be prepared to walk up to one mile.
Meetings Tuesday, June 20, 7:00 PM: LoriAnne Barnett Warren and Madeline Burton. Arizona’s Magnificent Trees. The Arizona Magnificent Tree Program, managed by the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management, recognizes trees in our state that are the largest of their species, both here and nationwide, as well as those that have cultural significance to our community members. Each year we accept nominations for new trees that qualify, using all of the champions to tell a story about the value of trees in our communities and forests. This presentation will provide an overview of our program, share how to nominate a tree, and highlight some of the amazing trees in and around Flagstaff. We will also share how you can be involved with the program as a nominator or a certified tree measurer! Join LoriAnne Barnett Warren, the Urban and Community Forestry Program Manager at the Department of Forestry and Fire Management, and our Urban Forestry Specialist, Madeline Burton, for insight into this one-of-a-kind program
Tuesday, July 18, 7:00 PM: Nora Ventrella. Rare and Restoration Plants of the Navajo Nation: Conservation Activities of the Navajo Natural Heritage Program Nora Ventrella has been the botanist for the Navajo Natural Heritage Program with the Navajo Nation Department of Fish and Wildlife for the past 6 years. As a part of this program she collects, manages, and disseminates information on threatened and endangered plant species on Navajo lands, and is the curator of the Navajo Nation herbarium located in Flagstaff. This talk will cover monitoring and conservation efforts by NNHP focused on threatened and endangered plants of the Navajo Nation. This talk will also focus on seed-banking and plant propagation activities conducted by the newly created Diné Native Plants Program, a tribally-run restoration program focused on bringing native and culturally-important plants back to tribal lands. Nora has her master’s degree in plant biology and conservation from the joint program between Northwestern University and the Chicago Botanic Garden. Her research background focused on Colorado plateau flora, invasive species, local adaptation, and seed-sourcing for restoration.
Friday, August 11, 4:00 – 6:00 PM: Potluck & Plant Swap at the MNA Colton Community Garden See members live and in-person! We’ll meet to swap native plants, native seeds, and botany books. Bring a dish to share. No alcohol, please
This is a two-day combination lecture and hands-on workshop for students serious about doing grass i.d. work. The goals are to impart sufficient knowledge for students to make wise decisions regarding collection of grasses, to provide complete information on grass morphology, and to teach the use of keys for identification of most Arizona species. Handout materials, dissecting scopes, tools, and pressed grass specimens for study will be provided. The first day will be lecture mixed with hands-on work. The second day can be for review if needed or desired and questions, plus working with keys from various references. Instructor: Mike Bauer Sponsors: University of Arizona Herbarium and Arizona Native Plant Society When: August 11 and 25, 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM Where: University of Arizona Herbarium, Herring Hall Cost: $25 Registration contact: Doug Ripley (jdougripley@gmail.com
Comments Off on Wild Ride on a Roller Coaster, Spring 2023
by Jillian Cowles
What an incredible spring this has been! Reflecting back upon the millions of wildflowers I have seen, it has been difficult to organize the material into something smaller than the Encyclopedia Britannica. Finally, I decided to divide up the material into regions. Picture a compass, with Tucson in the middle. We will be chasing a progression of wildflowers starting in February and running through May: first North-west (Picacho Peak). Additional posts will then go West (Ironwood Forest), then East (Rincon Mountain foothills), and last of all South (Santa Cruz County).
The desert is a land of contrasts: hot and cold, blinding sunlight and deep shade, delicate ephemerals and enduring rocks, tiny belly flowers and towering saguaros. So, fasten your seat belts for a wildflower ride.
Part 1,Northwest: Picacho Peak, February and March.
In over 45 years of living in southern Arizona, I had never seen Picacho Peak’s poppies in bloom. Between a brutal work schedule and over a decade of drought, I had given up on ever seeing the poppies on Picacho Peak. So, you can imagine how I felt when I first saw them this year, after an excellent winter rainfall. It was early morning in late February. Only about a dozen people were quietly walking on the trails, speaking in hushed tones as though they were in church. The Mexican gold poppies (Eschscholzia californica ssp. mexicana) were gradually opening as the sun rose higher. None had been trampled yet. As each of the millions of poppies fully opened, they reflected a radiant light. It was as though I were standing among a million tiny suns. Photographs can only hint at the beauty. It made me wish that Vincent van Gogh were still alive; perhaps he could have captured the intensity of the colors.
The east end of the park near the entrance had rivers of gold poppies flowing down from the slopes and pooling on the flats. A few lupines (Lupinus sparsiflorus) and patches of purple scorpionweed (Phacelia crenulata) provided occasional contrast.
But at the west end of the park, near Sunset Vista Trailhead, a reef of rock towered over slopes that were splashed with almost solid patches of gold poppies and blue lupines. And at the far end of the park was a sea of blue lupines.
Subsequent visits to the park in early March were still lovely. There even was a sure sign of spring: a western diamondback rattlesnake enjoying the warmth of the March sun. Unfortunately, the nice spring temperatures brought out more humans as well. By mid-March, the crowds had trampled numerous paths among the poppies. It was time to move on.
Interlude: Snow. March 2. On March 2 I woke up to snow! What the heck?! Six inches of snow in the Rincon foothills broke palo verde branches, but also provided a nice, deep soak to the wildflowers of the desert.
Comments Off on Award Recognition given to Tom Orum and Nancy Ferguson
Saguaro National Park invited the Tucson’s native plant community to attend an award ceremony for Tom Orum and Nancy Ferguson at Saguaro National Park East on Friday June 2, 2023 at 6:00 PM. Tom and Nancy received the Raymond M. Turner Award for lifetime achievement in science at Saguaro National Park. The award, named in honor of the late Sonoran Desert ecologist Ray Turner, celebrates Tom and Nancy’s nearly five decades of monitoring of saguaros in the park on plots that have been surveyed every year since 1941.
My neighbor calls this weed/volunteer in my yard a “brittle bush”. I like the yellow flowers. Is it a keeper?
If you call this a weed in front of us, we’ll give you an earful. Brittlebush (Encelia farinosa) is called tohavs by the O’odham. Sometimes in their creation stories, coyote is called the same thing. Not because he is silvery white (as the etymology of that word implies) but because coyote was raised on a hill and often laid in a bed of brittlebush leaves.
Brittlebush is an iconic shrub of the Sonoran Desert. Silvery shrub growing to about 4×4’. May need cutting back occasionally or may freeze back during cold spells. Grow in full sun, takes low water when established, root hardy to 5° F. Leaves look more silvery in drier, sunnier locations. May look green with more shade or water. Flowers heavy in spring, sporadic the rest of the year. Flowers are visited by various insects including butterflies, moths, flies, bees, wasps, and beetles. There are some native bee species that specifically and exclusively depend on this plant. The dominant herbivores on brittlebush leaves are the larvae and adults of the leaf beetle Trirhabda geminata. Desert tortoises love the flowers. This species is an important colonizing plant in foothill regions, acting as a nurse plant for many other plants. Brittlebush was used by native tribes for medicinal and other purposes.
Found on dry, rocky or gravelly slopes below 3,000 ft. in southwestern Utah, southern Nevada, Arizona, southern California; south into northwestern Mexico.
Our plant nerd answer for this question is from the Spadefoot Nursery in Tucson.
Dear Plant Geek, is there an Arizona native chile?
Yes, the chiltepin! It is our only local native chili and it’s native in a variety of habitats like in riparian areas, mesquite bosques, and rocky foothills. Looking more like a small round berry than a chile, the Chiltepin – pronounced “chill tuh peen” – is one of the oldest of the very few remaining wild chiles still available. Considered by many to be the mother of all chiles, it is the only indigenous pepper to the U.S., still growing on shrubs under nurse plants in canyons throughout southern Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and northern Mexico.
Its name comes from the Aztec Nahuatl language – spoken when Cortés arrived and still used today by approximately 1 ½ million people in Mexico – of chiltecpin, “chilli” + “tecpintl”, meaning “flea chile”. The pea-sized scarlet berries are an irresistible snack to the wild birds who are credited with their spread from South America all the way up to the southern U.S. and why they are also known as “bird peppers” in the Southwest.
Today this unique little chile goes by many names – chile tepin, chile del monte, chillipiquin, a’al kokoli (in O’odham), chiltepictl (in Nahuatl), amash (in Mayan), chilillo, chilpaya, huarahuao, and piquen.
On first taste, the heat is intense and unapologetic, coming on fast and strong – the flavor introduces itself later. The heat quickly passes, leaving you with a fruity, mineral flavor. Grow in full to part sun, with moderate to regular water, will suffer some frost damage most winters if not covered but most often recovers quickly. The more sun you provide the more fruits you will get but also the more you will need to water. Birds also love the fruits and spread them naturally, lending this and many similar peppers to be called “bird pepper”.
Comments Off on The Beautiful Procession of Palo Verde Flowers
by John Scheuring
Across the Sonoran Desert regions of Arizona there is a prolonged Palo Verde bloom each year starting in late March, spanning the entire month of April and extending well into May. Blue Palo Verde (Parkinsonia florida) leads off the flowering and overlaps with the onset of Foothill Palo Verde (Parkinsonia microphylla) in mid to late April. The transition is so subtle that many people are not aware of the two distinct Palo Verde species.
Blooming Blue Palo Verdes in the background and Foothill Palo Verdes in the foreground
Blue Palo Verde has evolved in desert ephemeral washes where it thrives alongside other species that require more soil moisture than is available on dry desert slopes (bajadas). Blue Palo Verde flowers are rich deep yellow. Each flower is composed of several petals that are all deep yellow.
Blue Palo Verde with rich yellow flowersBlue Palo Verde flower with all yellow petals
Foothill Palo Verde has evolved alongside the Saguaro (Carnegiea gigantea). Both of these species are especially well adapted to well drained desert slopes and can tolerate prolonged periods of drought. Well over 95% of the Palo Verdes in Arizona are Foothill Palo Verdes. Foothill Palo Verde flowers appear distinctly lighter yellow than those of Blue Palo Verdes. The “keel” petal of the Foothill Palo Verde is white while all the other petals are light yellow.
Foothill Palo Verde with light yellow flowersFoothill Palo Verde flower with light yellow petals and a white “keel” petal
Look up anywhere on our desert slopes and you will find the oft forgotten Foothill Palo Verdes side by side with the iconic saguaro cactus.
Comments Off on Central Arizona’s Desert Defenders
Desert Defenders is a collaborative, community science program focused on finding, mapping, and removing invasive species.
Desert Defenders is a partnership of organizations and volunteers from around the Valley, including the Arizona Native Plant Society. Through individual and collective efforts, native plants and wildlife can thrive!
Hello, Plant Friends! On March 4, 2023, we had a table at the Sustainable Living Expo at the Show Low Elks Lodge. It was such a great event! We were thrilled to meet so many of you who stopped by the table to say hello and chat about native plants.
Our tableraffle basket winner was Jacci, congrats! We will have another raffle basket at a later event, it was great fun!
We want to keep everyone updated on our upcoming events!
March Meeting: Starting Native Plants Workshop Join us for the first workshop of our new Gardening with Native Plants series! This is for all ages and material will be provided with a hands on workshop. We’ll be going over the seed starting basics when it comes to native plants and showing you ho to start native seeds. You’ll be able to take home your potted seed!
Host: Michelle Straight – Master Gardener
When: Saturday, March 25th at 10:15 am – noon Where:Snowflake-Taylor Library 418 West 4th St S Snowflake, AzMore Upcoming EventsOur events are always free (unless noted), but we do encourage you to become a member of the Arizona Native Plant Society. Your membership and support of AZNPS helps to ensure that our vital education, conservation, and plant sciences work continues to grow and bloom.
Spring Art Journal + Photo Walk Come join us for our first art journal and photography walk where we will share tips and methods on how to document native plants in creative ways using a sketchbook or camera. Host: Jess Rollar (local sketch artist) and Bob Rollar (local nature photographer) When: Saturday, April 8th from 9 am – 10:30 am Where: Show Low Creek Meadow 769 S White Mountain Rd, Show Low, AZ
2nd Annual Native Plant Sale Save the date for our upcoming native plant sale! This time we’ll be indoors and away from the high winds, we’re partnering up with the wonderful White Mountain Nature Center this year. When: Saturday, May 3 from 10am – 1pm Where: White Mountain Nature Center 425 N Woodland Rd, Lakeside, AZ
Tuesday, April 18, 7:00 PM: Gayle Gratop, Susan Holiday, and Patti VanTuyl. Gardening with High Elevation Native Plants There are many benefits to gardening with native plants, including increasing biodiversity in your yard, conserving water, and providing food and habitat for local pollinators. This presentation will cover the basics of incorporating native plants into your garden. Learn how to choose the best plants for your environment, find out where to get them, and hear some expert tips on how to become a successful native plant gardener from Gayle Gratop of UA Coconino County Cooperative Extension and Master Gardeners Sue Holiday and Patti Van Tuyl.
Tuesday, May 16, 7:00 PM: Debbie DeWolf Allen. The Brothers Boutelou and the Grass They Barely Knew: A Journey into Botany, History, Exploration, and Two Remarkable Men Botanical names can be challenging to pronounce and to spell, yet they hold a treasure trove of meaning. Latin plant names often describe a distinctive characteristic of the plant, but sometimes they honor a person: some mysterious, unknown figure from the past who must have some importance in the botanical world. In this talk by Debbie Allen, we delve into the origin of the name Blue Grama Grass, Bouteloua gracilis. Blue grama is native to the Southwest, and it is charming, distinctive, and easy to identify. The origin of the genus name, Bouteloua, takes us back to a tale that intertwines two Spanish gardeners from the late 1700s, an enlightened king of Spain, an expedition to explore the New World, and some remarkable botanical drawings that were lost for almost 200 years. Come take a fascinating journey that encompasses botany, history, exploration, and a tale of two exceptional men.
Tuesday, March 21, 7:00 PM: Carrie Cannon. Plants of the Mojave Desert and Traditional Tribal Uses
Although the desert may seem devoid of life, it is actually home to hundreds of unique species. Some are only visible or appear alive for a short time, while others grow for hundreds of years; many are found nowhere else on Earth. Participants will learn about many traditional tribal plant uses, plant life that makes North American Deserts unique, and how the Mojave Desert stands apart from the rest of America.
Carrie Cannon is a member of the Kiowa tribe of Oklahoma and is also of Oglala Lakota descent. She has a B.S. in Wildlife Biology and an M.S. in Resource Management. She began working for the Hualapai Tribe of Peach Springs, Arizona, in 2005, where she began the creation of an intergenerational ethnobotany program for the Hualapai community. She is currently employed as an ethnobotanist for the Hualapai Department of Cultural Resources. She administers a number of projects promoting the intergenerational teaching of Hualapai ethnobotanical knowledge, working towards preservation and revitalization to ensure tribal ethnobotanical knowledge persists as a living practice and tradition.
Comments Off on Join Us for Monthly Meetings at EAC Campus
Upper Gila Chapter
The Upper Gila Chapter has chosen to suspend monthly meetings during the summer months. We will resume on September 21, with monthly meetings on the 3rd Thursday of each month at 5:00 p.m. at Eastern Arizona College’s Discovery Park Campus.
Eastern Arizona College
Discovery Park Campus
1651 W. Discovery Park Blvd. Safford, AZ 85546
The address will get you as far as the parking lot and main building, but to get to the meeting in the southern building you drive a route that’s posted for personnel only so hopefully this map helps. It’s possible to park in the main lot shown and walk to the building but much nicer to drive the whole way.
Comments Off on Remembering Ellen Dorn (1950 – 2023)
Ellen Dorn, a longtime member and supporter of the Arizona Native Plant Society, passed away unexpectedly on January 4, 2023, in Tucson, Arizona. Born in Philadelphia, she graduated from Lower Merion High School in Ardmore, Pennsylvania (1968) and earned a BA degree from Temple University (1980), and Masters degree in classical Persian literature from the University of Washington, and did significant work towards a Masters degree in classical Chinese literature. Ellen eventually moved west and was employed as a librarian in Seattle, Washington, for several years before moving to Flagstaff, Arizona, where she was employed as a librarian with the City of Flagstaff library system. As a young woman, she spent some time in China where she worked as an English language teacher.
Ellen and Bahar
In 2010, Ellen relocated to Tucson where the center of her life was either directly or indirectly associated with the University of Arizona. As someone deeply interested in medieval and ancient history, she was a frequent patron of the UA Libraries. Her other major interests were rooted in the biological sciences. She devoted much of her time as a valuable volunteer with the University Turf Farm operation and Desert Legume Program. At the UA Herbarium she volunteered two days a week engaged in various activities such as mounting plant specimens (over 10,000), helping to maintain the collection’s records, and assisting with plant identifications for herbarium visitors. Ellen was also an extremely able and valuable teaching assistant for the various general botany and plant identification courses sponsored by the Arizona Native Plant Society and the UA Herbarium. As a member of the Tucson Chapter of the Arizona Native Plant Society, Ellen provided articles and performed other services for the Society’s journal, Plant Press Arizona.
She was predeceased her parents, Albert and Anna Dorn, and by her brother, Michael Dorn. She is survived by a cousin in Philadelphia and her beloved dog, Bahar, who has been adopted by a friend. Ellen will be remembered as a gentle, intelligent, and scholarly friend.
Comments Off on Mark Your Calendar for Chapter Events
February 24: Chapter Meeting, 10 – 12noon, Payson Public Library
Tonto Natural Bridge Park Ranger, Micah Kipple will present “The Great Sympatry: How Similar Species May Be Related, But Different.”
March 3: First Friday Field Trip, 1:00 – 3:00 pm, Mills Ridge parking area on FS Road 429 and Highway 188 (Roosevelt Lake) “Sentinels of the Sonoran Desert.”
March 23-29 Chapter Community Service Project at Tonto National Monument: Revegetation and Nonnative Invasive Plant Removal
April 21: Chapter Meeting, 10 – 12noon, Tonto Basin Chamber of Commerce, Gila County Extension Agent, Chris Jones, will present “A Noxious Problem: Nonnative Invasive Plants of Tonto Basin.”
May 5: First Friday Field Trip: “Botany, Burgers and Brews!”
Meetings are held in the evening on the second Wednesday of the month. For location and additional information, contact Carrie Cannon Carrie.Cannon@hualapai-nsn.gov
During the winter months, our chapter will be assisting the Tonto National Monument by planting agave, saguaro, prickly pear, and yuccas in the area that was affected by the 2019 Woodbury Fire. Sturdy boots are required as we will be working off-trail. We will also work on removing non-native, invasive plant species during the winter. This is a great way to learn many of the plants in the Tonto National Forest. Snake gaiters, gloves, and tools are provided by the monument; in addition, participants will be required to complete a release of liability. Dates will be determined by the resource staff at Tonto National Monument
As a newly developing chapter, we are in the process of setting up our Facebook and Instagram accounts. Please contact us at tontobasinnativeplants@gmail.com for more information. First Friday field trip will begin in December from 1:00 – 3:00 PM and continue thru May 2023. Locations will be determined based on trail accessibility, plant diversity, and parking. Monthly Chapter meetings will begin in January and continue thru May 2023. We will not meet during the summer months of June, July, and August.
We are having a Chapter Meeting, Saturday, January 21 from 10:00 – 12 noon. We will be meeting at 268 E. Stephens Way, Tonto Basin, AZ. You can include our chapter email for more info about the meeting.
Comments Off on Videos from 2022 AZNPS Annual Botany Meeting
The 2022 annual meeting was another online success, with a little different format than the previous two years: one day of presentations on Saturday December 3, 2022 over about six and a half hours, with breaks.
If you missed it — or if you were there and want to rewatch any of the sessions — hop on over to the AZNPS YouTube channel, or click the playlist contents below.
Comments Off on Maricopa Pollinator Pathway: Garden Certification Program for AZ
The Maricopa Pollinator Pathway is a new initiative of the Maricopa Native Seed Library which helps to build interconnected pollinator habitat. The Pathway also offers a free pollinator habitat certification program for Maricopa County and other low & intermediate desert areas of Arizona (under 3000 feet elevation).
Danielle Carlock, the seed library’s founder, recently gave a presentation about the Maricopa Pollinator Pathway to the Phoenix Chapter. The presentation recording is available on the Arizona Native Plant Society’s YouTube channel. Watch to learn how to create pollinator habitat in your outdoor space using native plants. Then, certify your habitat with the Maricopa Pollinator Pathway!
The Phoenix Chapter assisted in the development of the habitat certification criteria. So, we are excited to help promote the Maricopa Pollinator Pathway and increase the number of pollinator-friendly gardens in Arizona. We encourage you to spread word about the program to your family, friends, and neighbors!
Comments Off on Native Plants for Desert Tortoises: 2022 Update
The Phoenix Chapter collaborated with the Arizona Game and Fish Department to update the Native Plants for Desert Tortoises pamphlet. The native plants listed provide captive desert tortoises a nutritious diet. (These plants are also great choices for landscaping, even if you don’t have a tortoise!)
Arizona’s desert tortoise adoption program is open to all Arizona residents. Native Plants for Desert Tortoises provides tips on creating and maintaining a tortoise habitat, which is required to adopt a tortoise.
Desert tortoise adoption was the topic of a recent Phoenix Chapter meeting, where Kellie Tharpe of the Arizona Game and Fish Department gave a feature presentation. The recording is available to watch any time on the AZNPS YouTube Channel.
Phoenix Chapter Vice President, Pam McMillie, passed away unexpectedly in September after experiencing health issues. The loss of Pam has left us heartbroken and stunned.
Pam was our VP for 2 years and brought a wealth of experience, with a background in gardening, environmental stewardship, ecological restoration, education, and military service. We benefited from her expertise and joyful presence at our virtual Chapter meetings, and she was heading our new Outreach Committee.
If you did not have the pleasure of meeting Pam, below are links to two articles that highlight her passion for wildlife and gardening with native plants.
Also, during our Chapter meeting in August, Pam mentioned that the following 3 books “changed her understanding of the wild”:
Where the Wild Things Were by William Stolzenburg
What the Robin Knows by Jon Young
The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben
Pam may be gone, but her giving spirit will live on through programs and activities she championed as a leader with our organization, as well as Maricopa County Parks, Phoenix Parks, the Texas Native Plant Society, and as a Master Naturalist in Arizona, Virginia, and Texas.
Phoenix Sonoran Preserve, one of Pam’s favorite places to hike. Photo credit: Pam McMillie
As stated in her obituary, “In lieu of sending flowers or other donations, please take a few minutes for yourself to enjoy a bit of the outdoors in a park or have a walk along a trail which was one of the things Pam so very much loved.”
The feature presentation of our November Chapter meeting is dedicated to Pam and her help in developing and implementing the Maricopa Pollinator Pathway. We will also remember Pam at a future Phoenix Chapter member meet up in the great outdoors.
The Founding of the Ironwood Forest National Monument, and an Update on the I-11 Project
Presented by Carolyn Campbell
We will meet at 7:00 pm at the ENR2 building, University of Arizona Campus, Room 107S. Parking is available at the 6th street garage. You must have a credit card to pay for parking; cash is not accepted. For the zoom link, contact nativeplantstucson@gmail.com.
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